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The Girls Who Went To War #4
The Brave Daughters
A moving and emotional family drama set between France and Britain from bestselling author, Mary Wood.
They would fight for their country, at all costs . . .
When Sibbie and Marjie arrive at RAF Digby, they are about to take on roles of national importance. It’s a cause of great excitement for everyone around them. Perhaps they will become code-breakers, spies even? Soon the pair embark on a rigorous training regime, but nothing can prepare them for what they’re about to face . . .
Amid the vineyards of rural France, Flora and Ella can’t bear the thought of another war. But as the thunderclouds grow darker, hanging over Europe, a sense of deep foreboding sets in, not just for their safety but for the fate of their families . . . With danger looming, as the threat of war becomes real, Flora and Ella are forced to leave their idyllic home and flee. Can they make it to safety, or will the war have further horrors in store for them?
The Brave Daughters is the fourth book in the Girls Who Went to War series by Mary Wood.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2020
26 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 15, 2021
I must be one of the only people who didn't like this book which is a shame because I was really looking forward to it. And honestly, there aren't many WW2 stories that I don't like. Maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance but honestly I had trouble getting my head around who was who and related to who and how. What with cousins, brothers, sisters, half brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles and the various love children everyone seemed to have.
The book did provide a family tree at the beginning but as the copy I had was an unformatted ARC from Netgalley it wasn't outlaid in the correct form and was really just a bunch of meaningless people and words which really did nothing to help. As the book is now published I was able to download a sample so I could view the family tree in its correct form...but found I had to keep referring to it and still I was confused.
I read Part One and into Part Two, which had by then catapulted forward two years to 1941. Unlike other books set before and during the war, this one was too caught up in ensuring every single person on the family tree was mentioned to some extent in the lead up to war that it didn't even include the beginning of the war. Most books that are set prior to war breaking out include the event and the reactions to those it will then affect. But this was just a small niggle that really was just magnified by the fact I still couldn't get my head around how everyone was actually related to each other.
I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy this book. But it really was too confusing. Maybe I will revisit it at another time and see how I fare then but for now? I was thoroughly confused.
I would like to thank #MaryWood, #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheBraveDaughters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The book did provide a family tree at the beginning but as the copy I had was an unformatted ARC from Netgalley it wasn't outlaid in the correct form and was really just a bunch of meaningless people and words which really did nothing to help. As the book is now published I was able to download a sample so I could view the family tree in its correct form...but found I had to keep referring to it and still I was confused.
I read Part One and into Part Two, which had by then catapulted forward two years to 1941. Unlike other books set before and during the war, this one was too caught up in ensuring every single person on the family tree was mentioned to some extent in the lead up to war that it didn't even include the beginning of the war. Most books that are set prior to war breaking out include the event and the reactions to those it will then affect. But this was just a small niggle that really was just magnified by the fact I still couldn't get my head around how everyone was actually related to each other.
I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy this book. But it really was too confusing. Maybe I will revisit it at another time and see how I fare then but for now? I was thoroughly confused.
I would like to thank #MaryWood, #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheBraveDaughters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 6, 2020
Oh my word so many characters deserve a mention in this book, Sibbie and Marjie cousin's meeting up in Blackburn at Feniscowles manor with aunt Mags, and Ella and Flors over in laurens herault France. The year is 1939, and Britain is on the brink of war, all having a strong bond, and have memories of the Somme and Belgium, how are all their lives going to pan out is to be told in this book. This book and all the characters blend in together, its a harrowing story of survival from every part of the world and courage to fight. I cannot fault this book, the author takes you into another decade and you will need a few tissues. This is sadly the final book in the girls who went to war, and so much research has been added into this and every one in the series for reader's to enjoy. Some emotional moments to touch your heart,warming, story. I wonder what is next from this lady I'm sure she's got plenty more to tell. And I certainly will not complain. A touching novel it had my emotions running wild.
June 16, 2020
As with all of Mary's books that I have read, this didn't disappoint! Mary writes from the heart with wonderful realistic characters and a highly entertaining, well thought out plot. Mary transported me through each scene which evoked all mix of emotions within me - a first class storyteller! I highly recommend!
My thanks to Pan Macmillan via NetGalley.
This is my honest and unbiased review
My thanks to Pan Macmillan via NetGalley.
This is my honest and unbiased review
May 24, 2020
As I might have mentioned once or twice I’m a huge fan of this author and I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. This was a fantastic way to end this series even though I’m sad that’s it’s ending.
It was great to catch up with Flora, Ella, Mags and their children as they take on new challenges in the second world war. I can only imagine what it must have felt like to be dropped behind enemy lines but thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions I felt I was able to live some of the experience through the characters.
As a parent myself I can well imagine how hard it is letting your children go off to help in a war when you have experience of it. As we have come to expect from this author she doesn’t hold back in describing the gritty, harrowing reality of war which does make for difficult reading at times. It’s hard to imagine that ordinary people put themselves through so much and it helps the reader to understand what a brave thing they did for their country.
Overall I thought this was a fast paced absorbing read that I flew through in a few days. This is the final book in the series but the author does include updates from previous books so you could maybe read it as a standalone – though it’s best to read from the beginning in my opinion. I’m very sad to have finished the series and left behind all the fabulous characters. I can’t wait to see what Mary comes up with next.
Huge thanks to Ellis from Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
It was great to catch up with Flora, Ella, Mags and their children as they take on new challenges in the second world war. I can only imagine what it must have felt like to be dropped behind enemy lines but thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions I felt I was able to live some of the experience through the characters.
As a parent myself I can well imagine how hard it is letting your children go off to help in a war when you have experience of it. As we have come to expect from this author she doesn’t hold back in describing the gritty, harrowing reality of war which does make for difficult reading at times. It’s hard to imagine that ordinary people put themselves through so much and it helps the reader to understand what a brave thing they did for their country.
Overall I thought this was a fast paced absorbing read that I flew through in a few days. This is the final book in the series but the author does include updates from previous books so you could maybe read it as a standalone – though it’s best to read from the beginning in my opinion. I’m very sad to have finished the series and left behind all the fabulous characters. I can’t wait to see what Mary comes up with next.
Huge thanks to Ellis from Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
April 11, 2020
What a fantastic conclusion to this brilliant series, where the young of the families put themselves in grave danger to fight in World War 2 some directly and some indirectly. Mary Wood has a brilliant talent of bringing the characters to life, she includes little snippets of what has happened in the previous books so even if you haven't read them the story still fits together. I can't imagine anything worse than being dropped behind enemy lines to help the resistance wreck havoc on the German occupation of France. Sibbie and Marjie have gone in after comprehensive training and know what's expected of them but no one can prepare them for what they have to face. Florrie and Rosie also faced grave danger when they were accepted to put their nursing skills to good use in Singapore although when they arrived everything seemed so idyllic but it would soon change. I was left bereft when I finished this book it seemed like saying goodbye to good friends who I had got to know so well. There is some love interest in the story but it wouldn't be true to life if there wasn't and for me, it made for a wonderful emotional read.
May 21, 2020
I have a little confession to make. Although I have all of Mary's books at home, I haven't actually read one- until now that is. 'The Brave Daughters' is actually the fourth book in the 'Girls Who Went To War' series but it reads perfectly well as a standalone. My lovely Mam has read all of Mary's books and loved them and we enjoy the same sagas so I just knew that I was going to love 'The Brave Daughters'. I was spot on because I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of 'The Brave Daughters' but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn to this book from the moment I caught a glimpse of the cover and then as soon as I started reading, I just knew that I was going to enjoy the story and that I would find it almost impossible to put the book down for any length of time. I was spot on with both. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would still be sat there reading away over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. I was blown away by the quality of the writing and of the story. Reading 'The Brave Daughters' became an addiction and it was an addiction that I wasn't willing to break. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I immersed myself into the story to the extent that I lost all track of time and I lost track of how quickly the pages were turning. The first time I looked up to check on my reading progress, I was staggered to discover that I had read almost a third of the book. I was totally gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
'The Brave Daughters' is superbly written but then according to Mamma Ginger Book Geek (who isn't ginger), all of Mary's books are superbly written. She has a writing style that is easy to take to and easy to get along with. She creates brilliant characters- some of whom are impossible to dislike and some of whom you would gladly slap. Mary describes her characters so well that they seem just as real as you and I. Mary certainly puts her characters through some trying times. I found that I had taken to some of the characters so well that I went through every emotion that they went through. I felt as though I was part of the story and that is all thanks to Mary's vivid, realistic and fantastic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Brave Daughters' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and particularly to those readers, who enjoy sagas. I will definitely be reading more of Mary's work in the future, starting with her other books that Mam has read, but I haven't yet. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I was drawn to this book from the moment I caught a glimpse of the cover and then as soon as I started reading, I just knew that I was going to enjoy the story and that I would find it almost impossible to put the book down for any length of time. I was spot on with both. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would still be sat there reading away over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. I was blown away by the quality of the writing and of the story. Reading 'The Brave Daughters' became an addiction and it was an addiction that I wasn't willing to break. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I immersed myself into the story to the extent that I lost all track of time and I lost track of how quickly the pages were turning. The first time I looked up to check on my reading progress, I was staggered to discover that I had read almost a third of the book. I was totally gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
'The Brave Daughters' is superbly written but then according to Mamma Ginger Book Geek (who isn't ginger), all of Mary's books are superbly written. She has a writing style that is easy to take to and easy to get along with. She creates brilliant characters- some of whom are impossible to dislike and some of whom you would gladly slap. Mary describes her characters so well that they seem just as real as you and I. Mary certainly puts her characters through some trying times. I found that I had taken to some of the characters so well that I went through every emotion that they went through. I felt as though I was part of the story and that is all thanks to Mary's vivid, realistic and fantastic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Brave Daughters' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and particularly to those readers, who enjoy sagas. I will definitely be reading more of Mary's work in the future, starting with her other books that Mam has read, but I haven't yet. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
May 26, 2020
I am a big fan of this author and I have adored reading this series, The Girls Who Went to War. This is sadly the final book in this wonderful series. The first books introduced me to Flora Mags and Ella, I watched as these three girls grew up and overcame various things in their lives. This book is about the women and of their children.
The setting is in Britain and Europe at the start of WWII, having lived through and served during WWI, the women ha devive experienced the horrors. Now they watch as their own children step up to do their duty and serve their countries.
This is a book that I knew would have me reaching for the tissues, to be honest, I do with pretty much all of this authors books. I could feel the nervousness and fear of the parents as well as the fear and the want of doing their part from the children. I call them children, they are adults and are old enough to serve., but to a parent, your child is always a child no matter how grown up they are.
As is the case with conflicts there are going to be casualties. The author does not shy away from death and injury and in doing so she keeps the story feeling realistic. As much as I wanted all the characters to survive unharmed I knew deep down that this would not have been the case.
What the author has done is to provide the story of the next generation, giving them a real-life event to work through. It is emotional and full of danger, and the risk to life is every present, but the author balances this with positives such as love and the hope that there will be a future for them to return to.
Once again, Mary Wood has created a story that has compassion and is full of emotion, there are a couple of surprising twists and she has given a very poignant ending to the series that felt right.
If you love historical fiction that focuses on the strength of women during hard times, that has a wonderful feeling of unity, family and romance then this is a book that you may enjoy. All four books in this series could be read as stand-alone but to be honest you get5 far more out of them by reading them in order. The Brave Daughters is a wonderful read and one I would definitely recommend.
The setting is in Britain and Europe at the start of WWII, having lived through and served during WWI, the women ha devive experienced the horrors. Now they watch as their own children step up to do their duty and serve their countries.
This is a book that I knew would have me reaching for the tissues, to be honest, I do with pretty much all of this authors books. I could feel the nervousness and fear of the parents as well as the fear and the want of doing their part from the children. I call them children, they are adults and are old enough to serve., but to a parent, your child is always a child no matter how grown up they are.
As is the case with conflicts there are going to be casualties. The author does not shy away from death and injury and in doing so she keeps the story feeling realistic. As much as I wanted all the characters to survive unharmed I knew deep down that this would not have been the case.
What the author has done is to provide the story of the next generation, giving them a real-life event to work through. It is emotional and full of danger, and the risk to life is every present, but the author balances this with positives such as love and the hope that there will be a future for them to return to.
Once again, Mary Wood has created a story that has compassion and is full of emotion, there are a couple of surprising twists and she has given a very poignant ending to the series that felt right.
If you love historical fiction that focuses on the strength of women during hard times, that has a wonderful feeling of unity, family and romance then this is a book that you may enjoy. All four books in this series could be read as stand-alone but to be honest you get5 far more out of them by reading them in order. The Brave Daughters is a wonderful read and one I would definitely recommend.
May 16, 2020
I'm a big fan of Mary Wood's books and I've been eagerly awaiting The Brave Daughters as it's the final book in the four that make up The Girls Who Went to War series. There's plenty of back story in this one so if you haven't read the other three books then you can read this perfectly well as a standalone, although I would really recommend starting at the beginning to get the full build up to all that happens in this one.
Such a lot happened in the previous instalments and there are many tangled relationships stemming from Flors, Ella and Mags, the original 'Girls' who nursed during World War I. I was really pleased to see their family trees at the beginning of The Brave Daughters and I referred to it a lot in the first quarter or so of the book as there are lots of characters to keep track of. This meant that I got off to a slower start than normal but then something so shocking and explosive takes place that I was then well and truly in the thick of the action and I didn't want to put the book down.
The brave daughters are the offspring of the original characters and, just like their mothers, they find themselves in the thick of war, this time World War II. This takes us not only around the UK, but to France where the Resistance are fighting in secret against the enemy, and also to Singapore where two of the girls are nursing. As always, Wood doesn't hold back and there are many terrible events to test the characters. But her distinctive warmth also returns and she drew me completely into their lives.
This is actually my favourite of the four books. I think it's probably because of the many different strands and the different settings which made it so fast paced and exciting. I was rooting for all of the characters and as usual they made me smile and they made me cry.
Mary Wood is one of my favourite writers. I'm never disappointed by her books. I'm sorry to see the end of this series (perhaps the daughters could have daughters!) but always excited to see what comes next.
Such a lot happened in the previous instalments and there are many tangled relationships stemming from Flors, Ella and Mags, the original 'Girls' who nursed during World War I. I was really pleased to see their family trees at the beginning of The Brave Daughters and I referred to it a lot in the first quarter or so of the book as there are lots of characters to keep track of. This meant that I got off to a slower start than normal but then something so shocking and explosive takes place that I was then well and truly in the thick of the action and I didn't want to put the book down.
The brave daughters are the offspring of the original characters and, just like their mothers, they find themselves in the thick of war, this time World War II. This takes us not only around the UK, but to France where the Resistance are fighting in secret against the enemy, and also to Singapore where two of the girls are nursing. As always, Wood doesn't hold back and there are many terrible events to test the characters. But her distinctive warmth also returns and she drew me completely into their lives.
This is actually my favourite of the four books. I think it's probably because of the many different strands and the different settings which made it so fast paced and exciting. I was rooting for all of the characters and as usual they made me smile and they made me cry.
Mary Wood is one of my favourite writers. I'm never disappointed by her books. I'm sorry to see the end of this series (perhaps the daughters could have daughters!) but always excited to see what comes next.
May 21, 2020
This is the fourth and final book in The Girls Who Went To War series and although it can be read as a standalone novel, I would highly recommend that you start with the first book so that you can fully appreciate this amazing saga.
This book is set predominantly between England and France during WWII and it's the turn of the daughters to step up and do their bit for their country just as their mothers did before them. Beginning in 1939, we are re-acquainted with the families just before they find themselves dispersed across the globe when The War breaks out and the strong bonds that everyone has forged are truly tested.
The atrocities of war are always difficult to read about but Mary writes about them so deftly and as always I had a lump in my throat on more than one occasion. I was living and breathing everything that the characters were going through.
It was wonderful to catch up with all the familiar faces from the previous three books who I have come to look upon as my own family, such is the quality of Mary's writing. I was actually quite sad to finish reading The Brave Daughters knowing that there was no more to come. In my head after all the trials and tribulations that they had all battled through, they all went on to live happy and fulfilling lives and got their well deserved happily ever after.
Once again Mary Wood took me on an emotional roller coaster of a ride and it was one that I didn't want to get off. Sadly all good things must come to an end as they say but I just know that there will be another fabulous book from this very gifted author again soon, and I, for one cannot wait!
This book is set predominantly between England and France during WWII and it's the turn of the daughters to step up and do their bit for their country just as their mothers did before them. Beginning in 1939, we are re-acquainted with the families just before they find themselves dispersed across the globe when The War breaks out and the strong bonds that everyone has forged are truly tested.
The atrocities of war are always difficult to read about but Mary writes about them so deftly and as always I had a lump in my throat on more than one occasion. I was living and breathing everything that the characters were going through.
It was wonderful to catch up with all the familiar faces from the previous three books who I have come to look upon as my own family, such is the quality of Mary's writing. I was actually quite sad to finish reading The Brave Daughters knowing that there was no more to come. In my head after all the trials and tribulations that they had all battled through, they all went on to live happy and fulfilling lives and got their well deserved happily ever after.
Once again Mary Wood took me on an emotional roller coaster of a ride and it was one that I didn't want to get off. Sadly all good things must come to an end as they say but I just know that there will be another fabulous book from this very gifted author again soon, and I, for one cannot wait!
May 15, 2020
In the last three books, we read the stories of wartime friends, Flora, Ella and Mags., whose lives become intertwined. In this book, it's the turn of their children as the families flee their home in France as stormclouds loom. As always with Mary's books, there are some moments that make difficult reading as she depicts the atrocities of wartime. The girls, like many people of the time, endure many personal hardships but it is these that make the happier moments sing from the page.
I loved catching up with the friends and seeing their lives and children several years on. Bravo!
I loved catching up with the friends and seeing their lives and children several years on. Bravo!
May 17, 2020
Wow another fabulous book from Mary, book 4 in The Girls Who Went To War series. There is so much going on in this book with all the different characters doing their own special things to help in the war effort. I was totally engrossed from page 1 and had a bit of panic 3/4 through the book when my kindle decided to play up. Happily for me it settled down and I was able to enjoy the rest of this great book. If you love this genre then you will love this book I can highly recommend it and award it a well deserved 5 stars.
October 2, 2020
I hadnt read the previous three books in the series but as the author says, they do all stand alone. I really liked the story and the interwoven lives of all the related people, if at times it was a bit fast and furious with the gushing narratives by the characters, and there were a lot of characters to try and remember as the story unfolds. I did find that i kept looking back to the family trees outlined at the start of the book, to see which character was part of which family.
January 5, 2021
This book is fantastic you feel you are there inside the pages along side of all the characters
You certainly need a box of tissues at the ready
Can highly recommended this book leaving a 5 star rating
You certainly need a box of tissues at the ready
Can highly recommended this book leaving a 5 star rating
March 22, 2021
A good enjoyable read about two sisters and their plight during the war
August 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this last book in the series, at times I've cried tears of sadness and joy but it made the story all the more real. A brilliant ending to a brilliant series.
May 24, 2022
Loved this book from start to finish now completed the 4book series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews