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The Shop Girl's Soldier
AS WAR APPROACHES, WILL HER LOVE GUIDE HIM HOME?
‘An exciting, fresh and talented new voice – a five-star read!’ CAROL RIVERS, author of Molly’s Christmas Orphans
Southampton, 1905.
Ellie-May and Jack have been inseparable since birth. They are best friends, having grown up together on the same street. But when Jack and his mother fall on hard times they are thrown into the workhouse, and he and Ellie-May are forced into a goodbye.
Four years later, now aged sixteen, Jack returns to Southampton and is reunited with Ellie-May. Quickly they both realise that their feelings for each other go beyond friendship, and with Jack home for good the pair are finally free to be together. But when WWII approaches, Jack’s duty to his country is hard to ignore and when he enlists to fight, they are once again torn apart.
Will Ellie-May and Jack find their way back to each other before it’s too late?
A brand new wartime family saga, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Val Wood
‘An exciting, fresh and talented new voice – a five-star read!’ CAROL RIVERS, author of Molly’s Christmas Orphans
Southampton, 1905.
Ellie-May and Jack have been inseparable since birth. They are best friends, having grown up together on the same street. But when Jack and his mother fall on hard times they are thrown into the workhouse, and he and Ellie-May are forced into a goodbye.
Four years later, now aged sixteen, Jack returns to Southampton and is reunited with Ellie-May. Quickly they both realise that their feelings for each other go beyond friendship, and with Jack home for good the pair are finally free to be together. But when WWII approaches, Jack’s duty to his country is hard to ignore and when he enlists to fight, they are once again torn apart.
Will Ellie-May and Jack find their way back to each other before it’s too late?
A brand new wartime family saga, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Val Wood
480 pages, Kindle Edition
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