Grafton Girls

World War II #3

by Annie Groves

The new Liverpool-based World War Two saga from the author of Goodnight Sweetheart is a tale of four very different young women thrown together by war. A unique bond is formed as the hostilities take their toll on Britain.

When Diane Wilson leaves Cambridge for Liverpool, destined for Derby House and war work as a teleprint operator, she is intent on mending her broken heart. But will hundreds of miles ease the pain of her betrayal?

From the moment she first lays eyes on Myra Stone in the Wavertree terrace she is billeted to, Diane senses she's bad news. But does Myra's bitterness and caustic wit belie a secret heartache?

Ruthie starts work at the munitions factory, enduring terrible conditions in order to put food on the table for herself and her widowed mother. But Ruthie is befriended by lively and vivacious Jess Hunt who injects colour and fun into the drab surroundings.

All four women are brought together at The Grafton, the local dance hall favoured by American GIs as well as the local girls. In this heady, uncertain time, infatuation and passion blossom. But has each girl found true love – or true trouble?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical, Romance, War, Friendship

Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Penelope Jones Halsall aka: Caroline Courtney, Penny Jordan, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright

Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.

She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.

Penny died on 31 December 2011.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Recommended.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this series gets better there were parts that I didn't like much. This book has no one from the previous two books. Given it's called The Grafton Girls I thought Sally would appear but she didn't. Instead of one main character we follow four. Diane and Myra in the WAAF and Jess and Ruthie who work in a munitions factory. Diane arrives in Liverpool after her fiance broke up with her ready to start new. Myra is married and overall a terrible human. Jess is kind hearted and tough, Ruthie quiet and shy caring for her mother who's absolutely lost since Ruthie's father died. Diane is a nice girl a bit goody goody annoyingly so at times ad self righteous. Myra is awful but has a redemption arc in the end. She hooks up with an American GI who is like her abusive father but she refuses to see it while her decent husband is off fighting. Diane falls for an American major but is too holier than thou to act on it pining for someone who broke her heart and would do it again I've no doubt. By the end of the book she's an idiot. Ruthie and Jess I loved throughout. Ruthie falls for a GI and their romance is so sweet and innocent its the best thing ever. Jess has a love interest as well with Billy who's in the bomb squad a source of contention between them. There's a sort if recycled plot from the previous book. That one had an Italian accused of hurting a girl and this one an American killing another American. Myra redeems herself barely by the end of the book she's still not the greatest but showing signs of improvement. It was a good story and I hope we get to find out where the end of the war takes these girls but I doubt it.

[♥ Ashleigh ♥ Contrary to popular belief I'm not actually mad! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Borrowed this book from a friend at work, who she got from her mum. The plan was to inform her if it was worth reading - My advice was to give a pass.
Set during the war, was mainly focused on the 4 MCs and their potential love interests, nothing really to do with the war which I thought was a bit odd and found rather disappointing.
If you want to read a book set during the war, with a romantic overtone there are much better books out there. I would recommend Jackie French personally.

[Sha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4

'To the future, and the end of the war, and of course, the Grafton,' Jess grinned. 'And to us, the Grafton Girls.'

Wow. That's one long year. I didn't even realise that it's been that long since I started this book. I can barely remember what happened in the first part but I read half of it today. And so I'd write about that.

This book was on the brink of being left unfinished. But I was reorganizing my bookshelf today and thought that it's about time I get this one over with. There are ten other ways I wanted to put this down but I decided to finish it.

And I'm really glad I did. I've learned a lot from this book. It's pretty amazing now that I finished it. It takes me back to 1942, when there were war, chaos, and losses. And amidst that, there's life, love, and most importantly hope. It showed me that even in the most unfortunate circumstances, it's possible for those three things to sprang up.

This book is so heartbreaking and so real. Wow.

[Supritha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had expected this book to focus on the hardships of war, but to my surprise, it was a heartwarming story about the experiences of girls during wartime.

Diane Wilson : She was direct and always strived to do what was right, no matter how challenging it was. I admired her decision to end her relationship with Major Lee Saunders. She carried herself with dignity.
Myras Stone : Throughout the book, she justified her selfishness as practicality. She was undeservingly lucky to be alive and taken back by her Jim, even though she had a child with another man.
Ruthie Philpott : Too gentle and did not stand up for herself when she was blamed for Maureen's actions. She also did not do much to prove Glen's innocence, whereas Diane tried to help Glen more than her.
Jess Hunt : A positive and lively person, I enjoyed her relationships with the every characters in the book and was pleased when she and Billy got together.

[LAURA JONES · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had marked this one down to read and i was not disappointed with it. A great WW2 novel.
Diane Wilson leaves Liverpool to mend her broken heart and become a teleprint operator as her part of the work in the war. can the hundreds of miles solve her heartbreak?
Myra Stone is her room mate but she knows from first meeting they will not be kindred spirits but is her bitterness hide a heartbreak?
Ruthie joins the munitions factory and makes a firm friend in Jess Hunt who brings fun into the factory but one day a troublemaker tries to undermine the friendship.
All four women meet at the Grafton the local dance hall well favoured with GI's as well as local servicemen. Infatuation and passion blossoms but will any of it turn to true love?
a real page turner you cant put it down you keep hoping the best for each character and feel the sadness as well
a great read well worth it

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wartime Love, girlfriends

This is the second book in this series I have read. I couldn't connect with this one like I did the other one. I think I thought the story would be a continuation. But it is the same time period but different characters. For some reason, I kept getting these girls confused. The last third of the book was good. Now I'll read the last of the series and see how I feel about it.

[Rachel Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy read about the lives of friends during World War Two and their romances, losses, adventures etc. So first of all there were a fair few typos that obviously went undetected and parts were predictable tbh! The comeuppance of certain characters was predictable but satisfying lol! Pretty well written generally and in all honesty I couldn’t put it down in parts.

[Jan Tisdale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiction
It’s a ok book at curl up on sofa and become lost in another world.
4 women are brought together, at the local dance hall with American GI’s as well as the local servicemen. Infatuation and passion blossom.

“ book was recommended by my exercise teacher. Took me awhile to read. It was ok. I can see others liking this book.”

[Linda Leedham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow start to the book and could have easily put it down and not bothered reading it. But I always like to finish a book so continued. It became more interesting as I went through the chapters and in the end found it intriguing and wishing the best for all the girls . Good book

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, such an amazing insight into the world of women in WW2!! Couldn't tear my eyes away from the page!

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read many tpyears ago would read again 5 stars.

[Joyce Wenner]

I enjoyed this book on the lives of 4 women in Liverpool England during WWII and the loves and sroows of their lives

[Jill Shortt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reading set in WW2.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another easy read enjoyable story by Annie Groves.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful story of 4 different women who meet during world war 2 in England.

Diane and Myra find themselves billeted and working together at Darby House and Ruthie and Jess work together at the munitions factory, the four come together at The Grafton, a dance hall that is frequented by American GI’s.

Ruthie is befriended by an American Glen; Diane is running away from a broken engagement; Myra does not want to be married to her husband Jim and has visions of a life in America and Jess is in love with her long time neighbour Billy.

[Kathy Huynh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished this novel. It was pretty easy to get through. I enjoy reading about love stories during war and this was about four women finding happiness in the midst of devastation and war. It explores how women handle the unknowing danger that lay ahead and their desperate need for comfort in the arms of a partner that could be here today and gone tomorrow. This book lacked substance but fairly light to read so I didn't mind much.

[Sahara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okayish book. The plot was predictable and there are so many stories similar to this. Story of four girls and their lives and love lives etc. But the interesting part was that the setback was during the world war.
The book is definitely worth a read. But don`t get too excited cuz you might be disappointed.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it Just as Much as when I read it the first time :)

[Rebecca Bausch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and fun. Nothing special, basically chick lit, but an enjoyable read about an era I really don't know much about other than the Holocaust.

[Victoria Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the other books in the series, the ending arrives a little too neatly wrapped, but the careful detail to ordinary lives in an extraordinary time is richly fulfilling.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable but appealing - a pity I somehow wound up with book 3, as (a) I hate reading out of order and (b) Groves is not available in the US.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, quite enjoyable, but the ending, after all the dramas, was disappointing for me.

[Rowlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Annie Groves tale.