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The Bobby Girls #2
The Bobby Girls' Secrets
As the Great War rages on, will the truth come out?
1915. Best friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are proud members of the newly renamed Women's Police Service. While Britain's men are away fighting in France, the girls are doing their bit by keeping the peace at home in London's East End.
But out of the blue, Irene is given the opportunity to be stationed near an army barracks in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Having recently experienced some heartbreak and keen for the adventure, she decides to go. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out, plenty. One of the other WPS girls takes an immediate dislike to her and makes her life a misery. On top of that, the man she thinks could be the answer to all her problems isn't all he seems. And when she finds a psychologically disturbed deserter in hiding, she has a very difficult decision to make . . .
Can Irene overcome all these obstacles without Maggie and Annie by her side, and find true happiness at last?
1915. Best friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are proud members of the newly renamed Women's Police Service. While Britain's men are away fighting in France, the girls are doing their bit by keeping the peace at home in London's East End.
But out of the blue, Irene is given the opportunity to be stationed near an army barracks in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Having recently experienced some heartbreak and keen for the adventure, she decides to go. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out, plenty. One of the other WPS girls takes an immediate dislike to her and makes her life a misery. On top of that, the man she thinks could be the answer to all her problems isn't all he seems. And when she finds a psychologically disturbed deserter in hiding, she has a very difficult decision to make . . .
Can Irene overcome all these obstacles without Maggie and Annie by her side, and find true happiness at last?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2020
65 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 7, 2020
“The Bobby Girls’ Secrets” is the second book in “The Bobby Girls” series written by Johanna Bell and features women who volunteered for the WPS (Women Police Service) in Bethnal Green, 1915. I wasn’t aware the women weren’t paid for their endless duties and had to work in other jobs, often in factories, to subsidise their lives financially. I also didn’t know that they were met with so much animosity from the male police officers and that often other WPS members had different views on how to treat offenders. This series features three WPS girls, Irene, Maggie and Annie and although I haven’t read the previous and first instalment, I still gathered enough to get the sentiment that the three girls are fiercely close and look out for each other physically and mentally. Focusing mainly on Irene in this book, I did find it slow at times and found her personal life to be slightly unrealistic with the many men she seemed to attract but I was invested in her story and rooted for her constantly throughout. When Irene applies for a transfer to a paid position in Grantham, she leaves her beloved friends and joins Mary, Ruth and Helen who have quite different attitudes towards the women caught soliciting with the soldiers staying at the local army camp. Irene is determined to change how these women are treated and instead of being arrested, she aims to get them the help and support they obviously need. Sadly, Irene is met with antagonism and she struggles to convert her colleague’s opinions. This all made for an interesting read and together a side plot of an army deserter and his PTSD and some relationship ‘gaslighting’, I was happily entertained throughout this well written story.
I was very impressed with the research the author must have carried out to write this and the photos and information the author published at the end of the book was excellent, explaining that she used a couple of real life events into the story which I thought was very clever.
Although this was a slow burn, I still found it addictive and I would definitely read more in this series and if First World War domestic stories is your interest you should love this too. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
My thanks to the author and Janice at www.reviewspot.co.uk for my copy I won in a recent competition.
I was very impressed with the research the author must have carried out to write this and the photos and information the author published at the end of the book was excellent, explaining that she used a couple of real life events into the story which I thought was very clever.
Although this was a slow burn, I still found it addictive and I would definitely read more in this series and if First World War domestic stories is your interest you should love this too. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
My thanks to the author and Janice at www.reviewspot.co.uk for my copy I won in a recent competition.
May 9, 2020
The Bobby Girls # 2
Set in 1915. This book focuses more on Irene's story. The three girls are still patrolling their beat in Bethnal Green but certain events that take place makes Irene put in for a transfer to Grantham. Annie and Maggie are sorry to see her go, but understand her reasons why she feels the need for a change. Unfortunately, things don't turn out the way Irene expected. Grantham has huge Army Barracks and it up to Irene and her new colleagues, Helen, Ruby and Mary to keep the prostitutes away from the soldiers.
I don't want to say to much about this story as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. The pace of this book is slower than The Bobby Girls. Some men still don't take the work the WPS did seriously. There is a lot going on in Irene's new job and the hours she worked were much longer. I did find it a bit strange that she broke the ond she had with Annie and Maggie but I did understand the reasons why. I enjoyed this installment into Irene's background and her development. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton and the author Johanna Bell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1915. This book focuses more on Irene's story. The three girls are still patrolling their beat in Bethnal Green but certain events that take place makes Irene put in for a transfer to Grantham. Annie and Maggie are sorry to see her go, but understand her reasons why she feels the need for a change. Unfortunately, things don't turn out the way Irene expected. Grantham has huge Army Barracks and it up to Irene and her new colleagues, Helen, Ruby and Mary to keep the prostitutes away from the soldiers.
I don't want to say to much about this story as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. The pace of this book is slower than The Bobby Girls. Some men still don't take the work the WPS did seriously. There is a lot going on in Irene's new job and the hours she worked were much longer. I did find it a bit strange that she broke the ond she had with Annie and Maggie but I did understand the reasons why. I enjoyed this installment into Irene's background and her development. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton and the author Johanna Bell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2020
The Bobby Girls #2
Set in 1915. This book focuses more on Irene's story. Henthree girls are still patrolling their beat in Bethnal Green, but certain events that take place makes Irene pit in for a transfer to Grantham. Annie and Maggie are sorry to see her go, but understand the reasons why she feels the need for a change. Unfortunately, things don't turn out the way Irene expected. Grantham has huge Army Barracks and it's up,to Irene and her new colleagues, Helen, Ruby and Mary to keep the prostitutes away from the soldiers.
I do ot want to say to much about this story as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. The pace of this book is slower tha that of The Bobby Girls. Some men still don't take the work the WPS did seriously. There is a lot going on in Irene's new job and the hours she worked were much longer. Imdid find it a it strange that she broke her he bond she had with Annie and Maggie butni did understand the reasons why. I enjoyed this installment into Irene's background and her development. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton and the author Johanna Bell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1915. This book focuses more on Irene's story. Henthree girls are still patrolling their beat in Bethnal Green, but certain events that take place makes Irene pit in for a transfer to Grantham. Annie and Maggie are sorry to see her go, but understand the reasons why she feels the need for a change. Unfortunately, things don't turn out the way Irene expected. Grantham has huge Army Barracks and it's up,to Irene and her new colleagues, Helen, Ruby and Mary to keep the prostitutes away from the soldiers.
I do ot want to say to much about this story as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. The pace of this book is slower tha that of The Bobby Girls. Some men still don't take the work the WPS did seriously. There is a lot going on in Irene's new job and the hours she worked were much longer. Imdid find it a it strange that she broke her he bond she had with Annie and Maggie butni did understand the reasons why. I enjoyed this installment into Irene's background and her development. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton and the author Johanna Bell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2020
I really enjoyed The Bobby Girls, and so it was lovely to meet up with Annie, Maggie and Irene, again.
I really felt for Irene and was a little upset that she moved to Grantham, however, I understood why she did.
This is a great story, very well researched and with enough going on to hold your attention.
I loved the photos at the back of the book, I found them very interesting.
I look forward to reading more from this author and I highly recommend!
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for my arc copy.
I really felt for Irene and was a little upset that she moved to Grantham, however, I understood why she did.
This is a great story, very well researched and with enough going on to hold your attention.
I loved the photos at the back of the book, I found them very interesting.
I look forward to reading more from this author and I highly recommend!
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for my arc copy.
October 28, 2020
Having thoroughly enjoyed
"The Bobby Girls"
, the first in this exciting new series, I was excited to read the second book THE BOBBY GIRLS' SECRETS by Johanna Bell. The series features three women who volunteered for WPS (Women Police Service) at the beginning of the Great War to aid the actual police in keeping an eye on women and dealing with them appropriately so they didn't have to. They were not looked upon favourably by their male counterparts, who thought they would only be adding to their work should they require their assistance at any time. They had no powers of arrest and they were unpaid for their service. Many women had to work in factories to subsidise their lives financially whilst working their shifts with the WPS.
As the first book focused on Maggie and her story, this second one was followed Irene, who was not my favourite out of the three girls in the first place. But I was eager to find out more about her and what her backstory was.
1915: The war is still raging while best friends Maggie, Irene and Annie still patrol their beat in Bethnal Green in London's East End. But when Irene's relationship with PC Frank Bird takes an unexpected turn, leaving her shattered and broken hearted, Irene decides she cannot stay to watch the outcome. Upon hearing about the WPS and their plights with the local women and the recent influx of soldiers in Grantham in Lincolnshire, Irene decides to apply for a position there knowing that she could really do some good for the women of Grantham, given her own history. Added to that, the Grantham position is a paid one so there was no need to subsidise her finances with factory work. Maggie and Annie are saddened that she is leaving them but promises to return just as soon her work is done.
When Irene arrives in Grantham she is greeted by Helen, a fellow WPS colleague, who is a lot older than she and the other girls...but a far wiser and experienced one. Irene is excited to meet her other colleagues, Ruby and Mary, but is shocked to find that Mary takes an instant dislike to her. Ruby, on the other hand, is quiet and seems happy to let Mary bully the women instead of stepping in, which is at odds with Irene who would rather help the women rather than have them arrested.
Then on the beat with Ruby one day Irene meets charismatic Charles Murphy, one of the richest men in Grantham running his own very successful business. Irene cannot believe someone of his stature would even look twice at someone like her, poor and penniless with only a couple of tatty dresses to her name. Aware of infatuation, Helen warns Irene about Charles without going into detail but Irene believes Helen just doesn't understand or know him like she does. But even when Charles makes a cruel remark and then rebounds with a compliment, Irene does not heed the red flags...or Helen's warning. But comment after comment, his obvious distaste at her tatty clothing, his views of the WPS, even when he steps in and takes over when she has a situation under control...she does not heed the warning signs.
By this time I was ready to toss the book as I was hoarse from screaming at Irene to wake up to herself. I was increasingly frustrated that she could be so stupidly naive and be taken in by someone and let him alienate her from her colleagues and even her best friends. Soon, all Irene had was Charles...which is exactly the way he wanted it. And by the time she did see him for who he really was, it was too late. She was trapped. Silly silly girl.
I found Irene's role in the WPS and helping the women, which is why she took the Grantham position in the first place, played a backseat to the blossoming romance between her and Charles. I was more interested in her job with WPS, her patrols, her friendships with her colleagues and those with her best friends Maggie and Annie back in London...than some fly by night romance with a controlling man like Charles. I felt this aspect spoilt the story and I found I didn't enjoy it near so much as the previous one because of it. It overtook every aspect of Irene's life and her story...and left me wondering if we could see through him, how could she not?
There were other aspects of the story that floated around in the background - such as the challenges they faced with the local women and the soldiers at the nearby army camp, prostitution and imposed curfews to help deal with the problem. There is also the attitudes to women police as opposed to the "real" police, being men. But there are also issues surrounding the soldiers who have been deemed "deserters" by fleeing their regiment and therefore their duty to serve their country and the consequences of war on both men and women alike. These are things that are of interest to the story along with the heartache that comes with that era.
Despite much of the story frustrating me endlessly, it does improve towards the end giving readers a hopeful conclusion. As Irene was not my favourite character in the first book anyway, her personality is probably one that just irritated me in this book. Needless to say, THE BOBBY GIRLS' SECRETS did have a relaxed easy pace to enjoy the story as it flowed, despite some of it frustrating me.
It was interesting to read the author's notes at the end, as well as the photos included, which gave a sense of reality to the subplot within THE BOBBY GIRLS' SECRETS.
I look forward to the next book in the series "Christmas with The Bobby Girls" and what I am guessing will then be Annie's story. She has a fiance fighting away so no doubt that aspect will feature somewhere there.
I would like to thank #JohannaBell, #NetGalley and #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #TheBobbyGirlsSecrets in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
As the first book focused on Maggie and her story, this second one was followed Irene, who was not my favourite out of the three girls in the first place. But I was eager to find out more about her and what her backstory was.
1915: The war is still raging while best friends Maggie, Irene and Annie still patrol their beat in Bethnal Green in London's East End. But when Irene's relationship with PC Frank Bird takes an unexpected turn, leaving her shattered and broken hearted, Irene decides she cannot stay to watch the outcome. Upon hearing about the WPS and their plights with the local women and the recent influx of soldiers in Grantham in Lincolnshire, Irene decides to apply for a position there knowing that she could really do some good for the women of Grantham, given her own history. Added to that, the Grantham position is a paid one so there was no need to subsidise her finances with factory work. Maggie and Annie are saddened that she is leaving them but promises to return just as soon her work is done.
When Irene arrives in Grantham she is greeted by Helen, a fellow WPS colleague, who is a lot older than she and the other girls...but a far wiser and experienced one. Irene is excited to meet her other colleagues, Ruby and Mary, but is shocked to find that Mary takes an instant dislike to her. Ruby, on the other hand, is quiet and seems happy to let Mary bully the women instead of stepping in, which is at odds with Irene who would rather help the women rather than have them arrested.
Then on the beat with Ruby one day Irene meets charismatic Charles Murphy, one of the richest men in Grantham running his own very successful business. Irene cannot believe someone of his stature would even look twice at someone like her, poor and penniless with only a couple of tatty dresses to her name. Aware of infatuation, Helen warns Irene about Charles without going into detail but Irene believes Helen just doesn't understand or know him like she does. But even when Charles makes a cruel remark and then rebounds with a compliment, Irene does not heed the red flags...or Helen's warning. But comment after comment, his obvious distaste at her tatty clothing, his views of the WPS, even when he steps in and takes over when she has a situation under control...she does not heed the warning signs.
By this time I was ready to toss the book as I was hoarse from screaming at Irene to wake up to herself. I was increasingly frustrated that she could be so stupidly naive and be taken in by someone and let him alienate her from her colleagues and even her best friends. Soon, all Irene had was Charles...which is exactly the way he wanted it. And by the time she did see him for who he really was, it was too late. She was trapped. Silly silly girl.
I found Irene's role in the WPS and helping the women, which is why she took the Grantham position in the first place, played a backseat to the blossoming romance between her and Charles. I was more interested in her job with WPS, her patrols, her friendships with her colleagues and those with her best friends Maggie and Annie back in London...than some fly by night romance with a controlling man like Charles. I felt this aspect spoilt the story and I found I didn't enjoy it near so much as the previous one because of it. It overtook every aspect of Irene's life and her story...and left me wondering if we could see through him, how could she not?
There were other aspects of the story that floated around in the background - such as the challenges they faced with the local women and the soldiers at the nearby army camp, prostitution and imposed curfews to help deal with the problem. There is also the attitudes to women police as opposed to the "real" police, being men. But there are also issues surrounding the soldiers who have been deemed "deserters" by fleeing their regiment and therefore their duty to serve their country and the consequences of war on both men and women alike. These are things that are of interest to the story along with the heartache that comes with that era.
Despite much of the story frustrating me endlessly, it does improve towards the end giving readers a hopeful conclusion. As Irene was not my favourite character in the first book anyway, her personality is probably one that just irritated me in this book. Needless to say, THE BOBBY GIRLS' SECRETS did have a relaxed easy pace to enjoy the story as it flowed, despite some of it frustrating me.
It was interesting to read the author's notes at the end, as well as the photos included, which gave a sense of reality to the subplot within THE BOBBY GIRLS' SECRETS.
I look forward to the next book in the series "Christmas with The Bobby Girls" and what I am guessing will then be Annie's story. She has a fiance fighting away so no doubt that aspect will feature somewhere there.
I would like to thank #JohannaBell, #NetGalley and #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #TheBobbyGirlsSecrets in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 7, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of The Bobby girls’ secrets which is the second book in the series.
It’s 1915 and the war is still raging on. Best Friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are still members of the Women’s Police service and they are proud of what they do. Doing their bit in London’s East end. When Irene’s relationship with Frank takes an unexpected turn. Irene decides that she can’t stay in the East End watching Frank get on with his life. She decides to ask for a transfer. She ends up in the Grantham, Lincolnshire next to the Army barracks, to start a new life and new adventure
But when she arrives the girls that she will be working with are not friendly as her friends Maggie and Annie and one of the girls Mary take an instant dislike to her. She worried about back up when she is out on patrol as Grantham is full of soldiers and prostitutes. But she carries on regardless and helps people anyway she can.
This is another great episode in this series about the Women’s Police service. How women are doing their bit for the war even though some men didn’t take them seriously, as it was a male dominated world and the women were still second class in the eyes of men. I again liked the characters and the storyline, and I couldn’t put this down but, was a bit annoyed about the character Irene she was so naive when it came to Charles even though she was warned about him. I was nearly shouting at my Kindle wake up. A bit slower from the first book, but still a very good read.
It’s 1915 and the war is still raging on. Best Friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are still members of the Women’s Police service and they are proud of what they do. Doing their bit in London’s East end. When Irene’s relationship with Frank takes an unexpected turn. Irene decides that she can’t stay in the East End watching Frank get on with his life. She decides to ask for a transfer. She ends up in the Grantham, Lincolnshire next to the Army barracks, to start a new life and new adventure
But when she arrives the girls that she will be working with are not friendly as her friends Maggie and Annie and one of the girls Mary take an instant dislike to her. She worried about back up when she is out on patrol as Grantham is full of soldiers and prostitutes. But she carries on regardless and helps people anyway she can.
This is another great episode in this series about the Women’s Police service. How women are doing their bit for the war even though some men didn’t take them seriously, as it was a male dominated world and the women were still second class in the eyes of men. I again liked the characters and the storyline, and I couldn’t put this down but, was a bit annoyed about the character Irene she was so naive when it came to Charles even though she was warned about him. I was nearly shouting at my Kindle wake up. A bit slower from the first book, but still a very good read.
September 2, 2020
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
The story was slow in places with very little happening.
Saying that the ending felt very rushed.
Overall this was disappointing when compared with the first book in the series.
The story was slow in places with very little happening.
Saying that the ending felt very rushed.
Overall this was disappointing when compared with the first book in the series.
June 26, 2021
I was so looking forward to hearing more of the Bobby Girls and I wasn't let down it was a brillant read and such a warm read with great characters abs full of friendship secrets and courage and a must read I didn't want it to end.
We go back to three friends Irene Maggie and Annie and they are happy in their role of women's police service but Irene is given the opportunity to to to Grantham to work in a different part of the police and she goes for it. She is excepted and she has to let her friends know she is moving she's lost king forward to it but things soon start to go wrong for her. One of the girls she works with take a dislike to her and it's made difficult and then she meets a man. She thinks her life is made but things start to go wrong her friends try to warn her but she won't listen. Then she finds a man in hiding and she has to make a very difficult decision and with the help of her friends can she make the right one and be happy again.
We go back to three friends Irene Maggie and Annie and they are happy in their role of women's police service but Irene is given the opportunity to to to Grantham to work in a different part of the police and she goes for it. She is excepted and she has to let her friends know she is moving she's lost king forward to it but things soon start to go wrong for her. One of the girls she works with take a dislike to her and it's made difficult and then she meets a man. She thinks her life is made but things start to go wrong her friends try to warn her but she won't listen. Then she finds a man in hiding and she has to make a very difficult decision and with the help of her friends can she make the right one and be happy again.
February 15, 2024
Good book 📖
Irene's story
Irene's story
May 14, 2020
A second exciting visit to the lives of three young women who were amongst the first to serve in the Women's Police Service.
Carrying on from the first book, our three female police officers are now happily living together in their flat whilst two of them continue with extra work to make ends meet. When Irene hears of the opportunity of a paid position with the WPS she decides to pursue it as it will put some distance from her and her recent beau. So she heads off to Grantham where they need all the help they can get due to a recent influx of soldiers and all the issues they bring with them . . .
This is an excellent stand-alone read but I am happy that I read the previous novel as I felt it enhanced my pleasure in the story. It's perfectly clear that the author has done some sterling research both in the social issues of the time and the formative years of the WPS. An exciting story into the world these women entered into and showing that they came from all walks of life to serve their country in this way. A very appealing and enjoyable tale, packed full with details - some which I never considered before. Full of insights into the wartime period on the home front, I have relished everything about this one, including how well-written and memorable this easily flowing story is. Highly recommended to all lovers of wartime domestic sagas and well worth all five glittering stars.
Carrying on from the first book, our three female police officers are now happily living together in their flat whilst two of them continue with extra work to make ends meet. When Irene hears of the opportunity of a paid position with the WPS she decides to pursue it as it will put some distance from her and her recent beau. So she heads off to Grantham where they need all the help they can get due to a recent influx of soldiers and all the issues they bring with them . . .
This is an excellent stand-alone read but I am happy that I read the previous novel as I felt it enhanced my pleasure in the story. It's perfectly clear that the author has done some sterling research both in the social issues of the time and the formative years of the WPS. An exciting story into the world these women entered into and showing that they came from all walks of life to serve their country in this way. A very appealing and enjoyable tale, packed full with details - some which I never considered before. Full of insights into the wartime period on the home front, I have relished everything about this one, including how well-written and memorable this easily flowing story is. Highly recommended to all lovers of wartime domestic sagas and well worth all five glittering stars.
August 26, 2021
Just simply not a good book, Dont waste any time on this because as good as the 1st book was this is sooo bad
June 20, 2022
Good to catch up with the Bobby Girls, I've now read a few of this series and enjoyed them.
December 13, 2020
What an absolute pleasure to return to the world of Irene, Maggie and Annie in The Secrets of the Bobby Girls by Johanna Bell. I loved the first book, The Bobby Girls, as to me it was fresh, exciting and innovative in many ways. One being that I had never heard of the WPS, Women’s Police Service, before. The WPS was set up to protect women and children in general in the war years or women and prostitutes who get into trouble with soldiers on leave. The girls were not welcomed initially by male police officers as they believed the women were not capable of carrying out their roles. But the trio soon proved their worth and became an essential part of the London borough where they patrol the streets. Johanna Bell has brought something new to the wartime saga books which I love to read and highlighted the crucial role women played. In a way they were another string to the suffragette movement and without the dedication of these incredible women would we be in the place we are today as women in society.
The three girls come from vastly different backgrounds but they have formed a strong bond and at this stage they are more like sisters than workmates and friends. I thought this new story would continue to follow the girls as they go about their work in the Boundary Estate but it soon became apparent that Irene was to be the main focus of this book and she would be pushed outside her comfort zone because of her grit and steely courage to do the right thing for women in need. Irene has been hiding numerous secrets from her friends, some the reader is already privy to but you get the sense there is a lot more that she is hiding. She still feels that her fledging relationship with police officer Frank is too good to be true. She believes she is not good enough for him and if he finds out the truth he would dump her in a flash.
But fate has a way of taking over and Irene is left heartbroken and not for the reasons she thought she would be. This gave her even more of a reason to leave and apply for a new job in Grantham where until now the WPS had not been acting in the best interests of the prostitutes there and when she hears this new job will be a paying one it gives her all the more reason to apply. Soon she is accepted and she leaves behind her friends. I thought it was a bold and brave move for Irene to make given she had well established herself working as part of a trio. But deep down she knew she had more to offer and wanted to help as many people as she could. The camp at Grantham is packed full of soldiers and they are not behaving themselves and nor are the woman in the town either.
It would be so easy to judge both the women and men for their actions in seeking out pleasure and in the women's case the need for money to keep their families going during the tough war years and yes I did judge them for some parts of the book. Yet Johanna Bell writes such a convincing story and puts forward such a positive and solid argument that my opinions changed and I felt more empathy for their situations. I also came to really appreciate the work of the WPS, they were a unit ahead of their time and they battled through so many struggles and obstacles to make their cause a worthy and successful one.
No doubt about it, Grantham is a new challenge for Irene. When she meets her new work colleagues and assesses the lie of the land in the town she wonders has she bitten off more than she can chew. Helen Miller is their unofficial leader and the women of the town and their families flock to her for advice. Helen was like the mammy figure with a soft side but for the most part she was all business and worked herself to the bone. Ruby and Mary are her other co-workers. Ruby is quiet and unassuming and was such a frustrating character for the majority of the book. Time and time again she saw Mary being so mean to Irene and she never said a word and turned a blind eye. She was weak and subservient in a way and if she couldn’t stand up to Mary, how was she going to work the streets of Grantham and stop what was going on? Surely they should have all being working together and not have their own individual causes like Irene, Annie and Maggie had done in London.
Irene is someone who always pushes forward and places herself outside of her comfort zone and there were times I wondered how she bit her tongue when Mary was just being downright rude and horrible. Mary was the mean girl, the nasty character that no one could warm to at all. She had the biggest chip on her shoulder and took such satisfaction from patrolling the streets trying to catch women out so they could be thrown in jail. It was like she was trying to boost up her numbers of women caught as if she was in a competition to win a trophy and lots of glory. Mary was distinctly unlikeable and didn’t endear herself to anyone. She showed such prejudice which really highlighted what many women at the time were up against. She was spiteful, vindictive and the most cruel of people and even though the reasons for this become apparent by the end I still didn’t like her. As the saying goes, can a leopard ever change their spots? Irene wants to help Mary to see the women and prostitutes in a fairer light but I think she had a very tough challenge on her hands.
Although Irene’s quest to better the lives of the women of Grantham, and to do so in as peaceful way as possible, forms a very strong storyline throughout the book I enjoyed how a more personal side to Irene began to emerge. We get more clues and insights into her past which helps the reader understand what really motivates her. That’s not to say she is all strong and life is plain sailing for her. I thought when it came to the romance side and her falling for Charles Murphy, who is a rich and important businessman in the town, she showed vulnerability and that perhaps her thinking process and judgement weren’t always straight forward rather they were slightly clouded. I could see what she was falling into as there were plenty of little hints dropped here and there as to the true nature of the avenue she was venturing down on the romantic front. Even the arrival of Annie and Maggie for a visit couldn’t deter her from what she had her heart and mind set on. Even the reader could see she was very much treading a very dangerous path. I was extremely worried as to what would happen to her and kept turning the pages with baited breath eager to see how things would pan out.
I thought it was great that the focus for this book was a different girl as in we certainly get to know a lot more about Irene and even more so that the storyline moved away from London to a different setting to show another side to the work of the WPS. It was brave of the author to think outside the box a bit and keep the story fresh. It would have been so easy to keep the exact same setting and just literally have a direct continuation of book one and just have had similar storylines. Instead she is pushing the boundaries with her writing, providing new, interesting and challenging experiences for her characters.
The Bobby Girls Secrets was a brilliant read and confirmed that Johanna Bell is an author to watch as I can sense this series will go from strength to strength with each book published. Quite often, second and subsequent books in a series can’t match the success of the first in terms of readability and storylines but here Johanna has certainly succeeded in doing that. My only problem is that I left it too long to read considering how much I had enjoyed book one. But on reflection I now have the luxury of diving straight into the next in the series Christmas with the Bobby Girls.
The three girls come from vastly different backgrounds but they have formed a strong bond and at this stage they are more like sisters than workmates and friends. I thought this new story would continue to follow the girls as they go about their work in the Boundary Estate but it soon became apparent that Irene was to be the main focus of this book and she would be pushed outside her comfort zone because of her grit and steely courage to do the right thing for women in need. Irene has been hiding numerous secrets from her friends, some the reader is already privy to but you get the sense there is a lot more that she is hiding. She still feels that her fledging relationship with police officer Frank is too good to be true. She believes she is not good enough for him and if he finds out the truth he would dump her in a flash.
But fate has a way of taking over and Irene is left heartbroken and not for the reasons she thought she would be. This gave her even more of a reason to leave and apply for a new job in Grantham where until now the WPS had not been acting in the best interests of the prostitutes there and when she hears this new job will be a paying one it gives her all the more reason to apply. Soon she is accepted and she leaves behind her friends. I thought it was a bold and brave move for Irene to make given she had well established herself working as part of a trio. But deep down she knew she had more to offer and wanted to help as many people as she could. The camp at Grantham is packed full of soldiers and they are not behaving themselves and nor are the woman in the town either.
It would be so easy to judge both the women and men for their actions in seeking out pleasure and in the women's case the need for money to keep their families going during the tough war years and yes I did judge them for some parts of the book. Yet Johanna Bell writes such a convincing story and puts forward such a positive and solid argument that my opinions changed and I felt more empathy for their situations. I also came to really appreciate the work of the WPS, they were a unit ahead of their time and they battled through so many struggles and obstacles to make their cause a worthy and successful one.
No doubt about it, Grantham is a new challenge for Irene. When she meets her new work colleagues and assesses the lie of the land in the town she wonders has she bitten off more than she can chew. Helen Miller is their unofficial leader and the women of the town and their families flock to her for advice. Helen was like the mammy figure with a soft side but for the most part she was all business and worked herself to the bone. Ruby and Mary are her other co-workers. Ruby is quiet and unassuming and was such a frustrating character for the majority of the book. Time and time again she saw Mary being so mean to Irene and she never said a word and turned a blind eye. She was weak and subservient in a way and if she couldn’t stand up to Mary, how was she going to work the streets of Grantham and stop what was going on? Surely they should have all being working together and not have their own individual causes like Irene, Annie and Maggie had done in London.
Irene is someone who always pushes forward and places herself outside of her comfort zone and there were times I wondered how she bit her tongue when Mary was just being downright rude and horrible. Mary was the mean girl, the nasty character that no one could warm to at all. She had the biggest chip on her shoulder and took such satisfaction from patrolling the streets trying to catch women out so they could be thrown in jail. It was like she was trying to boost up her numbers of women caught as if she was in a competition to win a trophy and lots of glory. Mary was distinctly unlikeable and didn’t endear herself to anyone. She showed such prejudice which really highlighted what many women at the time were up against. She was spiteful, vindictive and the most cruel of people and even though the reasons for this become apparent by the end I still didn’t like her. As the saying goes, can a leopard ever change their spots? Irene wants to help Mary to see the women and prostitutes in a fairer light but I think she had a very tough challenge on her hands.
Although Irene’s quest to better the lives of the women of Grantham, and to do so in as peaceful way as possible, forms a very strong storyline throughout the book I enjoyed how a more personal side to Irene began to emerge. We get more clues and insights into her past which helps the reader understand what really motivates her. That’s not to say she is all strong and life is plain sailing for her. I thought when it came to the romance side and her falling for Charles Murphy, who is a rich and important businessman in the town, she showed vulnerability and that perhaps her thinking process and judgement weren’t always straight forward rather they were slightly clouded. I could see what she was falling into as there were plenty of little hints dropped here and there as to the true nature of the avenue she was venturing down on the romantic front. Even the arrival of Annie and Maggie for a visit couldn’t deter her from what she had her heart and mind set on. Even the reader could see she was very much treading a very dangerous path. I was extremely worried as to what would happen to her and kept turning the pages with baited breath eager to see how things would pan out.
I thought it was great that the focus for this book was a different girl as in we certainly get to know a lot more about Irene and even more so that the storyline moved away from London to a different setting to show another side to the work of the WPS. It was brave of the author to think outside the box a bit and keep the story fresh. It would have been so easy to keep the exact same setting and just literally have a direct continuation of book one and just have had similar storylines. Instead she is pushing the boundaries with her writing, providing new, interesting and challenging experiences for her characters.
The Bobby Girls Secrets was a brilliant read and confirmed that Johanna Bell is an author to watch as I can sense this series will go from strength to strength with each book published. Quite often, second and subsequent books in a series can’t match the success of the first in terms of readability and storylines but here Johanna has certainly succeeded in doing that. My only problem is that I left it too long to read considering how much I had enjoyed book one. But on reflection I now have the luxury of diving straight into the next in the series Christmas with the Bobby Girls.
June 3, 2020
As soon a I read The Bobby Girls, I wanted to read The Bobby Girl’s Secrets. I must say I was not disappointed. After the first one, I just knew that the second one would be worth the wait. This set of girls have captured me and this is turning out to be one enthralling series, with very likeable characters and highly believable plots. This is down to the research that Johanna Bell has put in, and clearly she has a love of this time period. I love too, that even though there’s a lot going on in the women’s personal and work lives, there are strong bonds of friendship, something perhaps people can carry through into their own lives during and after challenging times.
We re-join Irene, Maggie and Annie in 1915 on Bethnal Green. The three women, in their 20s, who made it to join the Women Police Service (WPS) are now firm friends, despite such different backgrounds and having little in common. There is a great camaraderie about them as they look out for each other. Johanna Bell, ensures you really get to know these likeable characters and their personal lives, as well as their working ones and she does it in a way that you want to be involved with them. There’s heartache and hard-hitting issues, and yet it’s a lovely relaxed pace. The book deals with prostitution (nothing explicit), the consequences that war is having on the men and life in-between, such as how hard it is to deal with losing someone you have feelings for and yet not necessarily reciprocated.
Readers will travel to Grantham to see what new challenges are posed and there are some new characters to meet, such as, Mary, Ruby, Helen and Chief Inspector Boldwood. The issues of status are nicely shown and the differences in attitudes and acceptance of policemen and those who are women on the volunteer team, not to mention some tensions between those in Grantham and a Londoner who had an easier time than them. There’s the trials of things being different in London and the countryside. There’s also tensions between stall holders and soldiers, with the merchants giving the men a hard time. There’s also challenges of getting used to the imposed curfews,due to prostitution. It is interesting to read about the different attitudes and opinions on it, from the volunteer women’s police service point of view. It isn’t all work however as romance is in the air, but all is not all as it seems.
The book is very well researched and is very interesting about different attitudes of the time. Although there is less of the characters (apart from Irene) in the first book, this is still a very good read as Irene carries the story forward and it is interesting meeting new characters in a new location. I feel it also gives a wider perspective of what was happening at that time.
Just like in The Bobby Girls, there is a really interesting part in the last pages of the book, after the story has finished and after the acknowledgements, there are some brilliant photos of Grantham and the people depicted within this book.
We re-join Irene, Maggie and Annie in 1915 on Bethnal Green. The three women, in their 20s, who made it to join the Women Police Service (WPS) are now firm friends, despite such different backgrounds and having little in common. There is a great camaraderie about them as they look out for each other. Johanna Bell, ensures you really get to know these likeable characters and their personal lives, as well as their working ones and she does it in a way that you want to be involved with them. There’s heartache and hard-hitting issues, and yet it’s a lovely relaxed pace. The book deals with prostitution (nothing explicit), the consequences that war is having on the men and life in-between, such as how hard it is to deal with losing someone you have feelings for and yet not necessarily reciprocated.
Readers will travel to Grantham to see what new challenges are posed and there are some new characters to meet, such as, Mary, Ruby, Helen and Chief Inspector Boldwood. The issues of status are nicely shown and the differences in attitudes and acceptance of policemen and those who are women on the volunteer team, not to mention some tensions between those in Grantham and a Londoner who had an easier time than them. There’s the trials of things being different in London and the countryside. There’s also tensions between stall holders and soldiers, with the merchants giving the men a hard time. There’s also challenges of getting used to the imposed curfews,due to prostitution. It is interesting to read about the different attitudes and opinions on it, from the volunteer women’s police service point of view. It isn’t all work however as romance is in the air, but all is not all as it seems.
The book is very well researched and is very interesting about different attitudes of the time. Although there is less of the characters (apart from Irene) in the first book, this is still a very good read as Irene carries the story forward and it is interesting meeting new characters in a new location. I feel it also gives a wider perspective of what was happening at that time.
Just like in The Bobby Girls, there is a really interesting part in the last pages of the book, after the story has finished and after the acknowledgements, there are some brilliant photos of Grantham and the people depicted within this book.
May 22, 2020
This is book two in the Bobby Girls series and we meet the same characters as in book one, Irene, Maggie and Annie.
Irene takes centre stage in this story and although she likes her life in London with Maggie and Annie, after suffering a blow from Frank, whom she believed to face her future with, she decides to make a clean break and gets a transfer to Grantham. There is a large army barracks opened up at Belton Park nearby and this makes a lot of work for the police force, including the women of the Women's Police Service. The sole reason for the women's police to be there was to keep an eye out for prostitutes sneaking into the camp and local women also trying to get into the camp and "entertain" the soldiers. The army base was huge and Irene was surprised to find out it had it's own hospital, church, cinema and even a railway line.
Has Irene gone from the "frying pan to the fire" though! She doesn't want to appear weak in front of the other recruits but she has her doubts about the way they do things and treat other people. After a blow to the face by a fellow officer, Irene seriously has thoughts as to whether she has done the right thing. Who will be Irene's friend now, she so misses Maggie and Annie.
Will she find love and happiness or will she take the offer of love, and hope that it is a gesture to be treasured and not scorned. The list of events that Irene has to deal with grows page by page with prostitution, army deserters, neglected children and thieving to name but a few. She just doesn't know who to turn to and who to trust.
As you read through this book, you can't help but be drawn into Irene's story, although she had a rough start in life she overcame it all to serve the communities with the Womens Police Service. Will the Police Service stand by her?
I really enjoyed this book, even more so than the first book, and was so totally immersed in Irene's story both in the Women's Police Service and in her personal life that I was sad when it finished, although the comment at the end that there is to be another book "Christmas with the Bobby Girls" made me glad that there is to be more tales of the Bobby Girls. I can't wait. A great 5☆ WW1 saga.
Irene takes centre stage in this story and although she likes her life in London with Maggie and Annie, after suffering a blow from Frank, whom she believed to face her future with, she decides to make a clean break and gets a transfer to Grantham. There is a large army barracks opened up at Belton Park nearby and this makes a lot of work for the police force, including the women of the Women's Police Service. The sole reason for the women's police to be there was to keep an eye out for prostitutes sneaking into the camp and local women also trying to get into the camp and "entertain" the soldiers. The army base was huge and Irene was surprised to find out it had it's own hospital, church, cinema and even a railway line.
Has Irene gone from the "frying pan to the fire" though! She doesn't want to appear weak in front of the other recruits but she has her doubts about the way they do things and treat other people. After a blow to the face by a fellow officer, Irene seriously has thoughts as to whether she has done the right thing. Who will be Irene's friend now, she so misses Maggie and Annie.
Will she find love and happiness or will she take the offer of love, and hope that it is a gesture to be treasured and not scorned. The list of events that Irene has to deal with grows page by page with prostitution, army deserters, neglected children and thieving to name but a few. She just doesn't know who to turn to and who to trust.
As you read through this book, you can't help but be drawn into Irene's story, although she had a rough start in life she overcame it all to serve the communities with the Womens Police Service. Will the Police Service stand by her?
I really enjoyed this book, even more so than the first book, and was so totally immersed in Irene's story both in the Women's Police Service and in her personal life that I was sad when it finished, although the comment at the end that there is to be another book "Christmas with the Bobby Girls" made me glad that there is to be more tales of the Bobby Girls. I can't wait. A great 5☆ WW1 saga.
March 17, 2021
As the Great War rages on, will the truth come out?1915. Best friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are proud members of the newly renamed Women's Police Service. While Britain's men are away fighting in France, the girls are doing their bit by keeping the peace at home in London's East End.But out of the blue, Irene is given the opportunity to be stationed near an army barracks in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Having recently experienced some heartbreak and keen for the adventure, she decides to go. What could possibly go wrong?It turns out, plenty. One of the other WPS girls takes an immediate dislike to her and makes her life a misery. On top of that, the man she thinks could be the answer to all her problems isn't all he seems. And when she finds a psychologically disturbed deserter in hiding, she has a very difficult decision to make . . .Can Irene overcome all these obstacles without Maggie and Annie by her side, and find true happiness at last?Grantham in Lincolnshire became the first provincial town to form a branch of the Women's Police Service. Impressed by the achievements of the WPS in Grantham, two of the women were made full members of the police force. In August 1915 in Grantham, Edith Smith of the WPS was appointed the first woman police constable in England with full power of arrest.In February 1915 Boyle and Damer Dawson fell out over the use of the WPV to enforce a curfew on women of so-called 'loose character' near a service base in Grantham, which proved unacceptable to Boyle and her beliefs.In contrast, Damer Dawson took a more pragmatic line, with the support of most of the WPV's members.The Annual Report that Smith wrote at the end of her first year suggests that her work focused on the regulation and control of the ‘prostitutes’ and ‘frivolous girls’ who flocked through the streets of Grantham at night attracted by thousands of servicemen stationed in the town’s two army camps.This phenomenon of ‘khaki fever’ had cemented the argument for the deployment of women police.
May 16, 2020
I really enjoyed the first book in this series telling of Maggie, Annie & Irene who were among the first recruits in the Womens' Police Service. It is 1915 & Irene asks for a transfer to Grantham after having her heart broken.
In Grantham she faces many of the challenges of keeping women safe. There is a large Army base nearby & needless to say there are a lot of young girls ready to have their heads turned! As well as having to cope with a fellow officer who is very hard on 'loose women' she is swept off her feet by a local business man. She has prided herself on being an independent woman, but Charles seems to want her to be the 'little woman' at home!
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. The relationship between the three women was at the heart of that & just focusing on Irene left me a bit cold- especially as a lot of the time I wanted to shake some sense into her! I kept waiting to find out why Charles was so intent on marrying her!
This is a well researched & well written story. Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book.
In Grantham she faces many of the challenges of keeping women safe. There is a large Army base nearby & needless to say there are a lot of young girls ready to have their heads turned! As well as having to cope with a fellow officer who is very hard on 'loose women' she is swept off her feet by a local business man. She has prided herself on being an independent woman, but Charles seems to want her to be the 'little woman' at home!
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. The relationship between the three women was at the heart of that & just focusing on Irene left me a bit cold- especially as a lot of the time I wanted to shake some sense into her! I kept waiting to find out why Charles was so intent on marrying her!
This is a well researched & well written story. Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book.
March 8, 2020
Gives a voice to all the women real police officer's during WW1
Three courageous women
Full of compassion and warmth
This is book two, and tells us Irene Wilson's story and secrets.
Bethnal Green London 1915, Irene, Maggie Smith, Annie Beckett, all working together and sharing a flat are very close friend's now. Patrolling the street's full of drunken soldiers and prostitutes and all the residents grow to call on these girl's in desperate needs with problems. They were accepted and needed Irene wants to learn more about what she could do up north in Grantham, and with things not going to well for her in Bethnal Green she applies for a transfer, her friends are in doubt The sacrifice would be worth while so commandant Frosty organised her transfer. There's a secret reason for Irene doing this that's to be told in the book. I was shedding lot's of tears while reading, her story will touch your heart in so many ways, the job in the WPS has inspirational tasks, harrowing and tiring. The characters in the book we meet along the way, some good some bad fit in perfectly so you will enjoy every single page . All these women should be given a big shout out for many year's ahead. Secret's to be told either big or small, the author's done so in this fantastic book. And I just cannot wait for book three.
Three courageous women
Full of compassion and warmth
This is book two, and tells us Irene Wilson's story and secrets.
Bethnal Green London 1915, Irene, Maggie Smith, Annie Beckett, all working together and sharing a flat are very close friend's now. Patrolling the street's full of drunken soldiers and prostitutes and all the residents grow to call on these girl's in desperate needs with problems. They were accepted and needed Irene wants to learn more about what she could do up north in Grantham, and with things not going to well for her in Bethnal Green she applies for a transfer, her friends are in doubt The sacrifice would be worth while so commandant Frosty organised her transfer. There's a secret reason for Irene doing this that's to be told in the book. I was shedding lot's of tears while reading, her story will touch your heart in so many ways, the job in the WPS has inspirational tasks, harrowing and tiring. The characters in the book we meet along the way, some good some bad fit in perfectly so you will enjoy every single page . All these women should be given a big shout out for many year's ahead. Secret's to be told either big or small, the author's done so in this fantastic book. And I just cannot wait for book three.
May 21, 2020
I throughly enjoyed book one The Bobby Girls and was looking forward to reading this book and I wasn’t disappointed. Book one told the story of Irene, Maggie and Annie’s adventures as they joined the WPS patrolling around Bethnal Green. This book sees Irene leaving London and her friends to move to Grantham. Irene is a very private person and she struggles to let people in and to let them know about her hard family life growing up. At first Irene thinks everything is going well after her transfer and her finding a friend in Charles Murphy. Unfortunately things aren’t as bright as Irene first thinks. This book sees Irene struggle with a lot of difficult situations and problems to deal with. I won’t go into details and spoil it for other readers but I will say read this book you won’t be disappointed. A well deserved 5* read and I look forward to reading book three when it comes out.
March 25, 2020
I loved the first book and couldn’t wait for the sequel. I have to say I found the second book not a as gripping as the first initially and would definitely call it a “slow burner” .
This book focused more on Irene and once I persevered I did not want to put it down. It definitely became more interesting as time went on - I don’t like to comment too much or reveal the storyline because I feel it spoils it and you do get a feel for it by reading the synopsis.
I would recommend this book but not sure if the storyline was a little too slow at first.
This book focused more on Irene and once I persevered I did not want to put it down. It definitely became more interesting as time went on - I don’t like to comment too much or reveal the storyline because I feel it spoils it and you do get a feel for it by reading the synopsis.
I would recommend this book but not sure if the storyline was a little too slow at first.
April 3, 2020
It’s 1915 and best friends Irene,Annie and Maggie are in the Women’s Police Service. They are trying to keep the peace while the men are at war. Suddenly, Irene is chosen to be stationed out of London and she decides to go. What can possibly go wrong. ? Unfortunately it doesn’t go to plan.. will she overcome it all without the support of her two friends?
This was a very enjoyable read, well written and the characters are very likeable. It appears to be well researched and is filled with interesting story line
This was a very enjoyable read, well written and the characters are very likeable. It appears to be well researched and is filled with interesting story line
May 14, 2020
Netgalley copy for a honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 1st book, 'The Bobby Girls', I just had to read this one, and, I'm so glad I did, this book follows Irene's ups and downs as she moves to Grantham to fulfill her dreams of helping more women of the 'night'. Some very endearing characters who you come to love.
Happy there are another two books in this wonderful series by Johanna Bell, who, is a new author to me.
Fully recommend you read the first two.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 1st book, 'The Bobby Girls', I just had to read this one, and, I'm so glad I did, this book follows Irene's ups and downs as she moves to Grantham to fulfill her dreams of helping more women of the 'night'. Some very endearing characters who you come to love.
Happy there are another two books in this wonderful series by Johanna Bell, who, is a new author to me.
Fully recommend you read the first two.
March 28, 2020
I don't know why but I didn't find this book quite as good as the first. In the first book, I found the bond between the three girls was unbreakable so was a little bit disappointed when Irene moved to Grantham, She moved for various reasons but one of them was because of a broken heart, she soon finds herself embroiled in another relationship but will it lead to more heartbreak?
May 10, 2020
I liked this book. A great storyline and well thought characters make this book engrossing and entertaining.
The historical background is well researched and vivid, the plot kept me hooked and the characters are fleshed out a likeable.
Can't wait to read the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The historical background is well researched and vivid, the plot kept me hooked and the characters are fleshed out a likeable.
Can't wait to read the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
May 10, 2020
Maggie, Annie and Irene began the service together and followed on through their training.
Irene has secrets in her past that she is too embarrassed to reveal. Little does she know when it those very secrets that assist the girls with a big job they have on. The descriptions in the book have you sitting upright and fearing for the girls. Definitely recommend.
Irene has secrets in her past that she is too embarrassed to reveal. Little does she know when it those very secrets that assist the girls with a big job they have on. The descriptions in the book have you sitting upright and fearing for the girls. Definitely recommend.
December 6, 2021
Good Book
This was a nice addition to the series. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, but I enjoyed the first book more. It focused on Maggie, but still included Irene and Annie. This was mainly Irene. The secondary characters just didn’t connect with me as much as in the first. A nice ending, though.
Looking forward to Annie’s story in book three.
This was a nice addition to the series. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, but I enjoyed the first book more. It focused on Maggie, but still included Irene and Annie. This was mainly Irene. The secondary characters just didn’t connect with me as much as in the first. A nice ending, though.
Looking forward to Annie’s story in book three.
April 2, 2020
A great follow on from The Bobby Girls and this book certainly delivers us Irenes story who along with her friends patrols the streets full of drunk soldiers and ladies of the night.If i say more it will spoil the book for readers but it is most definatley worthy of a read 5*
May 19, 2020
The second book in the series and while I enjoyed it, it was more Irene's story and even though we met new characters, I missed Annie and Maggie. I spent most of the book shouting in my mind for Irene to wise up about Charles and I liked the ending where it ends happily so far for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2020
Irene
Irene one of the bobby girls decided to move to Grantham to get over a broken heart once there her problems really started in her private life and her professional life a really fantastic book and well worth 5 stars
Irene one of the bobby girls decided to move to Grantham to get over a broken heart once there her problems really started in her private life and her professional life a really fantastic book and well worth 5 stars
October 11, 2020
A lovely follow up to The Bobby Girls No. 1.
I enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars. I will not give the story of the book away, so I will not spoil for future readers. I recommend this book and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
I enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars. I will not give the story of the book away, so I will not spoil for future readers. I recommend this book and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
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