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The Shop Girl's Soldier
A brand new wartime family saga, perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Val Wood
Southampton, 1905
Young Ellie-May and Jack are best friends, having grown up together on the same street and been inseparable since birth. But when Jack and his mother are forced into the workhouse, the pair are separated.
Reunited years later aged 16, Ellie-May and Jack fall in love and plan to marry. But when WWI approaches, once again they are torn apart as Jack enlists to fight.
As the years pass, Ellie-May and Jack continue to fight to be together while being torn apart by circumstances beyond their control. Will they finally find their happiness? And will it be together?
Southampton, 1905
Young Ellie-May and Jack are best friends, having grown up together on the same street and been inseparable since birth. But when Jack and his mother are forced into the workhouse, the pair are separated.
Reunited years later aged 16, Ellie-May and Jack fall in love and plan to marry. But when WWI approaches, once again they are torn apart as Jack enlists to fight.
As the years pass, Ellie-May and Jack continue to fight to be together while being torn apart by circumstances beyond their control. Will they finally find their happiness? And will it be together?
400 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2020
25 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 16, 2025
Good read
October 13, 2023
I'm finding this book really hard to rate. On the one hand it was suspenseful but on the other hand it was the most frustrating of stories. It took me right to the very end of the book before Ellie-May Bramhall and Jack Pickup who fell deeply in love with each other in their early teens, were able to get married. Unbeknown to Jack, El was pregnant with their daughter Penny when he went off to fight in WWI and he didn't know she existed and didn't meet her until Penny was a young adult.
As the years rolled by there seemed to be one obstacle after another not only to delay their marriage but prevent El and Jack from even meeting one another again.
Karen Dickson fleshed out her characters well and I felt as though I had a good understanding of their character. However, El and Jack were in their fifties before they were able to get married. It was such a shame that all the best years of their life had already passed them by and so many people got hurt along the way.
The book didn't drag, it was certainly interesting but I found myself constantly sighing.
As the years rolled by there seemed to be one obstacle after another not only to delay their marriage but prevent El and Jack from even meeting one another again.
Karen Dickson fleshed out her characters well and I felt as though I had a good understanding of their character. However, El and Jack were in their fifties before they were able to get married. It was such a shame that all the best years of their life had already passed them by and so many people got hurt along the way.
The book didn't drag, it was certainly interesting but I found myself constantly sighing.
May 2, 2021
This is the second book I have read by Karen Dickson and I must say that it did not disappoint me. The book followed the story of Elli-May and Jack and their families through from childhood from 1905 to 1953. With all their ups and downs and traumas in their lives. I recommend this book and to me it was a⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.
October 31, 2021
Excellent
I absolutely enjoyed this book immensely, so much so that I couldn't put it down. So many twists and turns, really intriguing!
I never like to spoil a story by revealing anything, but I recommend this book!
I absolutely enjoyed this book immensely, so much so that I couldn't put it down. So many twists and turns, really intriguing!
I never like to spoil a story by revealing anything, but I recommend this book!
July 3, 2020
a really enjoyable read thoroughly enjoyed it
July 20, 2020
Very good, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would recommend it
November 9, 2021
Should be more then 5 stars
I think I have found my new favourite author.
Read both books now and both were wonderful
Great stories and characters
Can’t wait for more
I think I have found my new favourite author.
Read both books now and both were wonderful
Great stories and characters
Can’t wait for more
November 7, 2023
This was another good book that Karen wrote, well worth a read
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews