A Sister’s War

The Victory Sisters #3

by Molly Green

⭐ Don’t miss the new uplifting historical saga series from Molly Green, set at famous Bletchley Park: Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park – available to pre-order now! ⭐



Britain, 1943


Ronnie Linfoot may be the youngest of three sisters, but she’s determined to do her bit…



Against her strict mother’s wishes, Ronnie signs up to join the Grand Union Canal Company, where she’ll be working on a narrowboat taking critical supplies between London and Birmingham.


But with no experience on the waterways, she must learn the ropes quickly. She’s facing dreadful weather, long days, and rough living conditions. At least she isn’t on her own.


In the toughest times, will Ronnie and her fellow trainees pull together? For even in the darkest days of war, hope and friendship can see you through…



An uplifting tale of courage and camaraderie, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Elaine Everest.



‘Molly Green creates realistic characters and situations that keep you turning the pages’ Katie Fforde, Sunday Times bestseller


'A moving, gripping story set during WW2’ Kitty Neale, Sunday Times bestseller

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

448 pages, Paperback

Published May 25, 2021

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Victory Sister's #3

Britain 1943: Ronnie Linfoot maybe the youngest of three sisters, but she's determined to do her bit. Against her strict mother's wishes, Ronnie signs up to join The Grand Union Canal Company, where she'll be working on a narrowboat taking critical care supplies between London and Birmingham. But with no experience on the waterways, she must learn the ropes quickly. She's facing dreadful weather, long days and rough livinmg conditions. Will Ronnie and her fellow trainees pull together?

This time we learn about Veronique's (Ronnie) story. Her story is intriguing. We learn about the women who transported cargo on the canals during the war. You can tell that the author had done her research before writing this book. Friendships were forged by people who wouldn't normally mix. Although this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBookUK and the author #MollyGreen for my ARC #ASistersWar in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as its set during the Second World War but, it wasn’t the usual type of story this one was set on the Grand canal. The story dealt with women who worked the boats up and down the canal during the war. This made the story a little different which was very interesting. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m feeling somewhat bereft on finishing the final book of the Victory Sisters series but Molly Green has saved the best till last. The story of Ronnie is enchanting with all the ups and downs of young love coupled with the camaraderie and rivalry between the girls and women working on the canals during the Second World War. I loved glimpses of the older sisters and their mother. The ending will stay with me for a long time. Fabulous!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t you know that there’s a war on? Well, not really. I picked up this book because I was interested to read about another element to the Second World War. However, the story just dragged on far too long about Ronnie’s canal-boat training, with very little else to break the monotony.

I certainly didn’t get a true sense of the times that Ronnie was living in. True, she is faced with rationing and severe sexism with how men were so resistant to the ‘wenches’ working on the canals. However, there were very few references to the global conflict taking place and I really missed this. I wanted to get a sense of the times and the hardships, alongside what it was like to use the canals to transport essential goods. This was noticeably absent in the book.

It didn’t help that I hardly warmed to the protagonist, Ronnie. I appreciated the writer’s emphasis on Ronnie’s young age, especially as this was quite common at the time, with youngsters inflating their age in order to help out with the war effort. However, it was her naivety, stroppiness and general attitude that rubbed me up the wrong way. True, she faces several battles with her trainer, Dora, and fellow trainee, Angela, but it always felt like there was a drama surrounding Ronnie. I’m not sure whether this was because Green was presenting Ronnie to have had a rather sheltered upbringing, but it did get a bit tiresome that the character appears to move from one calamity to the next.

The scenes with Will were not very pleasant and I had not predicted some of his plot developments. This added a bit of intrigue to an otherwise slow story, but I did think the ending was too prolonged for my liking. Although I have not read the previous two books of the series (which focus on Ronnie’s older sisters), it was nice to see them all reunited in the final chapters. It gave me a sense of this support network that Ronnie used to have and you certainly don’t need to have read the other stories to get to grips with this plot. At the same time, I didn’t think I had missed out with not having read the other books!

This was clearly researched but it did not deliver enough on the historical element. I wanted to see this more vividly; instead the book read like a tired saga that was a bit cliched. On the whole, I did not warm to the characters and whilst there were some parts of the story that I started to enjoy, it was not enough to fuel me through the novel.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sister’s War by Molly Green is a great WWII era historical fiction that is the third in a trilogy: The Victory Sisters. Each book focuses on one of the Linfoot sisters: Lorraine (Raine), Suzanne (Suzy) and the youngest (Ronnie). Raine found her calling flying planes with the Air Transport Auxiliary and Suzy found hers singing overseas with ENSA (Entertainment National Service Association). Ronnie wants more then anything to find her calling and to do her part for her King and Country as well.

I love Ronnie. I think she is my favorite. She has a natural attraction, interest, and talent for helping animals. Through her job as a vet-tech assistant (not yet certified as a graduate vet-tech), she thought she had found her purpose, but now questions if she really has the fortitude to follow through with some of the emotionally difficult aspects. Due to the fact that the book starts out at Ronnie being 2 months shy of 17, she is not permitted to participate in The Land Army, and therefore with limited options, stumbles upon the unique occupation of working on a boat as part of the Grand Union Canal Company. She and Suzy fib on her paperwork stating she is 17, and somehow talk their extremely conservative French mother, Simone, into agreeing. What the reader then gets to see is Ronnie experiencing life, as in actual life. She learns on the job, finds friends, a romantic interest, and finally her path and purpose in life. Despite several obstacles, Ronnie is finally able to feel as if she was able to contribute to the cause and by war’s end, is able to decide on her true career path and calling as a VT. I loved seeing Ronnie grow up, mature, and find happiness. I think she is smart, feisty, determined, heartwarming, and a great young woman. I learned so much about this unique profession.

I loved the overarching theme of the sisters’ stories and bonds. I loved each one visiting and being a part of each separate story. The three books came together flawlessly.

I also enjoyed the sub story with Simone and Pierre and I am so glad they found their happiness as well.

I love this series and wish it could continue. I recommend this one for anyone that loves a great family story as well as WWII era novels taking place in England.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/18/21.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ronnie is the youngest of three sisters and the only one still at home with her Maman, Suzy is traveling with the ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association), and Raine is flying with the women's Air Forces. At first, Ronnie wanted to be part of the Land Army, working on a farm, but she was too young. When she saw a newsreel at the movie theater that described the boat girls who moved cargo up and down the canals and found that she was closer to the minimum age to be part of the program. She wasn't quite old enough to enlist in the program, but with Raine's help, she gets accepted.

In many ways this book reminded me of a book I read last year--The Boat Girls (reviewed here). While the plots are not the same, the description of the life of the boat girls or boat wenches, as some call them, is pretty much the same in detail. The training was tough and took only the hardiest girls to complete the training. The training boatwoman, Deadly Dora, is hard as nails and exacting in her expectations of the girls' performance on the boats. The girls training with Ronnie were quite the assortment and added color to the plot of the book. Among the other characters are Will Drake, a young local man who follows the boats up and down the cut; and Michael Scott, a constable for the Grand Union Canals.

What I like about how Molly Green wrote her characterizations is that she gave Deadly Dora a sympathetic back-story that makes her more than just a taskmaster, but gives her likability. Molly is quickly becoming one of my favorite World War II era authors. Her books are well-researched, her settings are completely believable, and her characters are wholly fleshed-out.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a trip up the cut on a narrow boat.

Avon Books UK and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about Ronnie, a young girl who underwent extremely difficult training to become a Boatwoman with the Grand Union Canal Co. During the 2nd world war. The author has researched this subject very well and has provided a courageous, heartfelt story with some unexpected twists along the way.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boat girl

This is the story of the Boat Girls working for The Grand Union Canal Carrying Company in WWII. These young women some of them only seventeen did a man's work carrying cargo such as coal, wool, timber, cement, sand, iron and shells for explosives on narrow boats down inland canals. In 1948 they were given badges with the initials IW for Inland Waterways. It is a part of history which I did not know about before reading this book. The book is fiction, but it is based on these events in history.

Ronnie, which is short for Veronique, is the youngest of three sisters. Her other two sisters are working for the war effort. Ronnie applied to be a land girl because she is an outside girl and loves working outside. She was turned down because she was too young. She saw a clip about the boat girls at the movies in a newsreel and decided that was what she wanted to do for the war effort.

The story follows Ronnie as she trains to be a boat girl. Three young girls in the front narrow boat and three in the barge boat in the back. Very small spaces for three people. the story is about the boat girls, but it is about relationships between these young women and their own personal stories. How these young women dealt with the cold, the crowding, the hard work, the relationships and life in general during the times of rationing and war.

It is also Ronnie's story of her growing up during this time. Her attraction to two different young men and how she dealt with this and decided what was the best way forward for her. Her friend ship with her trainer, and with the other girls. Heartbreak with the disastrous loss of her friend Margaret and the cat Lucky she left behind.

I loved the characters and the historical content. It is a good third book in the series about these three sisters. I read the first two and loved this one just as much. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Thanks to Molly Green, Avon books, UK and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review and advanced copy of the book.

[Ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't usually read anything of this sort of genre, but I was so drawn to the cover image and the blub, I thought I'd make a change for the new year and read something that was out of my usual comfort zone. (Thanks NetGalley!!)

Meet Veronique, with two sisters already out helping with the war effort, she's desperate to go out and join them, doing her bit for the country whilst the men were out on the front lines. The book follows her training on the canal boats, taking coal and other important cargo between Birmingham and London.
There's no glamour to the hard work women took on during the war, but this is such a heartwarming tale of friendship and personal endeavor. I enjoyed reading about the hard times as much as I did the good, it left me with an odd sense of pride for Ronnie and the other girls, for all the good they achieved.

I was even more impressed at this stand-alone tale when the acknowledgments told me that Molly Green had also written tales about the other sisters. 'A Sister's War' was genuinely enjoyable in its own right, but I like it even more now that I know that there are two other stories with the same sisters to lose myself in.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

1943 Downe near Bromley in Kent and war is still on going.
Ronnie Linfoot seventeen years old applied for the women's land army and was turned down because she is too young. After applying to the ministry of transport for a position on the canal boats to haul cargo she didn't mention her age and didn't get turned down. It would be backbreaking work but she was healthy and strong. Her journey begins. A heart warming story that drew me in like I was there with Ronnie right till war ends with a celebration street party. Beautiful written by a unique story teller. Loved it

[Saskia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the series, but you can read it as a standalone. I haven’t read the other books but was able to follow the story without problems.

The story is about Ronniw who goes to work on the Canal Board and it follows her journey from the first training days. The story is mostly about Ronnie's own personal journey, she really grows up during the training and her relationship with the other trainees and her first love.

There wasn’t as much story or details about the actual canal boats as I hoped for, but nevertheless I enjoyed the story.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story by a superb author.
I read the book that comes before this one (A sister's song) a while ago and I was happy to go back to reading about the Sisters. This book is about the youngest sister, Ronnie who is desperate to get involved in helping the war effort. She applies for working on the canals and that's where the majority of the story is set. She and the other girls working in the canal, have some adventures, some difficult times and some fun.
Would recommend.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sister’s War by Molly Green is the 3rd book in The Victory Sisters. This book can be read as a standalone, but I did enjoy reading the series in order. I thought A Sister’s War was well-written with developed characters. In this book, we get Veronique “Ronnie” Linfoot’s story. She is the youngest of the three Linfoot sisters and she is anxious to do something to aid the war effort. She is not yet seventeen which makes it difficult for her to join a program. Ronnie was turned down for the Land Girls which was her preference. Her mother, Simone was delighted. Simone would prefer that her daughters wear pretty dresses, do embroidery and other ladylike tasks. Unfortunately, Simone has three independent, rebellious daughters. Raine is a pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary and Suzy is a singer with ENSA. Ronnie sees a newsreel that mentions the canal girls and she sets out to learn more information. Ronnie applies to be boatwoman transporting goods along the Grand Union Canal with the Grand Union Canal Company. We follow Ronnie and five other ladies training with Dora Dummitt who is a harsh taskmaster. The author did her research for this book. I can envision life on the canal in the narrowboats from the author’s descriptions. It sounded like a rough job with long hours. I could not imagine having to open and close the locks along the canal by hand. The cold and wet were relentless. The boats were small with limited room. It was fascinating learning about the canal girls. They transported items needed for the war effort. I was curious after I finished the book and looked up more information about the canal and the boats (transport by boat ended in the late 1970s and the boats are now being used for people to live in). I like that we get to catch up with Ronnie’s sisters, Suzy and Raine. A Sister’s War is a satisfying conclusion to The Victory Sisters trilogy. I enjoyed reading A Sister’s War as well as the other two books in this engaging historical series.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ronnie, short for Véronique, is the youngest of three sisters, one of whom is an Air Transport Auxiliary pilot and the other a member of ENSA. Although not quite seventeen, Ronnie is determined to ‘do her bit’ for the war effort and after seeing a clip about the women working as crew on the canals in a newsreel, she decides this is how she wants to make her contribution.

Hard physical work, long hours, cramped quarters and a focus on self-sufficiency are keys to life on the inland canals in a time of war – a ‘man's job’ carrying cargo such as coal, wool, timber, cement, sand, iron and shells for explosives on narrow boats.

The author portrays this life beautifully, warts and all, and in some depth. Many books set in the Second World War tend to glamorise or romanticise stories; no danger of this here! As a reader, you not only have an engaging story but very well-researched period detail.

Ronnie is portrayed sympathetically as she deals with the harsh conditions, her rough and ready supervisor, the transfer from naive teenager to young woman. And as with the author’s two previous ’sister’ books, there is romance, but again, not sentimentalised. And along with a mystery, there are, of course, grim moments and destroyed chances.

This third book in the series wraps up the stories of other characters introduced in the two previous books very satisfactorily. High recommended.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is there not to like about a Molly Green novel?

All the characters in this entertaining and highly readable and enjoyable wartime adventure on the canals of England are superbly drawn, and very likeable (most of them – even taskmistress Dora). The youngest sister of three girls, Ronnie (Veronique) Linfoot, I immediately adored. Sixteen years old and determined to ‘do her bit’ for the war effort, she lies about her age and goes off to train how to handle narrowboats carrying essential cargo the length and breadth of England.

Along with Ronnie and her friends, we struggle through the hard training, the ups and downs, the laughter, loves and the dangers of life on the canals, the long hours, the endurance and the prejudices... in the eyes of many, the canals were not a place for women, even during wartime. Things go right, things go wrong. There is a war on, after all.

I did wonder if I would enjoy this third part of Ms Green’s stories about these three sisters as much as I did the previous two, but if anything, this one was even better. As an added bonus, it really doesn’t matter if you have or haven’t read those two instalments in the series, for each are so well written they are perfectly adequate stand-alone novels.

I know it is a terrible cliché but this series would make superb TV drama.

A very highly recommended read


Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sister's War - book 3 in the Victory Series.

Against her mother’s wishes, Ronnie signs up to join the Grand Union Canal Company, where she’ll be working on a narrowboat taking critical supplies from London to Birmingham and back again. 

But without an ounce of experience on the waterways, she must learn the ropes quickly, and the job doesn’t come without its challenges: dreadful weather, long days and rough living conditions. 

I enjoyed this book about Ronnie, without having read book 1 or 2 it was not hard to follow. I never knew about the work these brave women did on the canals, the long hours and strenuous jobs would have been a very different life for most of these women, these are the women that helped push change for the female sex.

The friendships and commeradite that were formed were heart felt and the best parts of the book. I felt the book dragged on in places and I struggled with keeping my interest for a bit in the middle.

Would recommend this book, especially to anyone interested in learning what life was like for the women in the war. I will be going back to read the first two books about the other victory sisters.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the title should be ♥️The Canal Boat Girls♥️
Reading this story was very intriguing, interesting, heartwarming and heartbreaking.
What a amazing opportunity to learn about the women working on the canals transporting cargo vital during WWII!
The historical aspect of this book was very well researched.
I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and their quirky personalities.
I have not read the previous books in the series. I definitely will be getting them as soon as I can. I enjoyed Molly Greens writing style.
Publish date: 18 March 2021
Thank you to NetGallery, Avon Books UK and author, Molly Green, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely novel about a young woman coming of age during WWII and working in a niche but critical area- the inland waterways. The canals were used to transport all sorts of critical martial around Britain and young women were responsible for them. Ronnie is the youngest of three sisters (their stories were told in the earlier books) and she's determined, as they were, to contribute, despite her mother's disapproval. This wasn't an easy assignment by any means but it bonded Ronnie and her colleagues into friends. As this is a WWII novel, you know there's going to be a bit of heartbreak (no spoilers), a little romance, and a positive attitude on the part of the protagonist. No spoilers from me but know that it's a good read that has a twist or two. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Susan Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed the previous two excellent books about the older sisters in this series, I was looking forward to reading about Ronnie's experiences on the canals and this certainly didn't disappoint. Milly Green captured the cheekiness of a teenage girl, full of optimism facing a challenge far beyond her expectations. I loved Ronnie's character and especially her determination to master the skills required to work long hours on a coal barge. All the characters were wonderfully well developed, especially the formidable Dora who trained the young girls. I also greatly appreciated the seamless incorporation of information about how the boats operated, giving a detailed picture of life on board. A great read.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little Historical Fiction! The writing was easy to fall into and the main character, Ronnie, was a joy to read about. The whole thing felt well researched and explained, especially considering my knowledge on this particular point in history isn’t perfect. The supporting cast of characters were also fun to read about and provided a lovely array of personalities. Overall, this was a good book, one that kept my entertained throughout!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #ASistersWar. All opinions are my own.

[Excel Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to see an email from the publisher informing me of an exclusive offer to read this book as they love the review I did of the previous book ( A Sister’s Song) in this series.

This time around, I read about Veronique’s story. I really enjoyed the twists and plots.
The characters in the plot were realistic and easy to follow.

I have read Molly Green book and I am happy to include her under my favourite authors of historical fiction sagas. Her style of writing is very unique and clean. I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

[Lucy Dunphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fantastic piece of historical fiction. I only wish I read the two previous books in the series beforehand. I just loved this book and didn't want it to end. I didn't know how I was going to take to Ronnie, her being so young, but I suppose you had no choice but to grow up before your time during the dark days of the war. She was so mature, focused, compassionate and brave. I laughed, I cried, I was shocked at a few turn of events. A brilliant read that I can wholeheartedly recommend to lovers of historical fiction.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the Victory Sisters series and although I hadn't read books 1 and 2, I was straight away engrossed in this story of Ronnie (Veronique) Linfoot who against her mothers wishes and being too young, although only by a couple of months, applies to work on the canal boats on the Grand Union Canal. Ronnie has her fair share of ups and downs, her fellow work mates are both friendly and spiteful sometimes, but she was determined to make it work, but she has to work hard in all conditions to do so. I love anything to do with the inland waterways so this book was just "up my street", a saga book set in WW2 on the inland waterways and full of warmth and camaraderie 💖.

[Catherine Laverick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, the story of Ronnie’s journey as a young girl working on the canal boats during WW2. Anything that could go wrong for her did and sometimes spectacularly. Reading about the living conditions and the long hard hours, but also about her falling in love for the first time made it a book I didn’t want to put down, I had many a night where matchsticks were needed because I had to read another chapter. Molly Green is a new author to me and I shall definitely be reading more of her books.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the youngest of the Linfoot Sisters story. Veronique or Ronnie as she preferred to be called was the last one at home with Maman. Her two sisters were off delivering planes and entertaining the troops ENSA. Ronnie loved the outdoor life and would prefer to join the land army, but unfortunately wasn’t able to do this. At a film with her friend Lois, Ronnie sees on the Pathe News women working the boats on the canals and decides she’d like to try this. We follow Ronnie’s experiences as she learns the life of the boat people. An enjoyable read

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a really good book telling you the story of the girls who worked the canal boats when the War was on. I certainly could not put this book down.

This is the third book in the series I never read the other two but you can read this as a stand-alone.

Ronnie is the youngest sister in the family and is only 16 and wants to help with the War effort she gets rejected for being a Land Girl as she is too young. She decides to become a canal boat girl.

We see Ronnie really enjoying this and matures as the story goes along.

We see romance also there is funny bits in the book and also some sad bits.

I would recommend this book.

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and even though it is the third book in a series I had not read the first two books but you can read this on its own.

Ronnie is the youngest sister and feels she wants to do something to help in the War effort, she is too young to work as a Land Girl she is able to work with the canal boats. She matures as the weeks go on.

It is a hard job and she is quite a slight girl but seems to manage on the canal.

There is romance, funny but and also some sad bits in this book.

I would recommend this book

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Although not yet quite seventeen, Ronnie is determined to do her bit for the war effort, like her two older sisters. But after the Land Army turns her down on account of her age, she learns about women working on the canal boats, applies, and is accepted. Once on the boats, Ronnie makes friends with the other girls (except one), and also meets two very different young men, vying for her attention. A fascinating look at an unknown service women performed during the Second World War. Recommended.

[Linda Metzger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know anything about the work these women did on the canals and the long hours. The strenuous jobs are a very different life for most of these women.

The friendships that were formed were heart felt and the best parts of the book. I felt the book dragged on in places and I struggled with keeping my interest for a bit in the middle.

I would recommend this book, especially to anyone interested in learning what life was like for the women in the war..

[Rona Nimmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sister’s War
by Molly Green

Against her strict mother’s wishes Molly at 17 joins The Grand Union Canal Company to take narrow boats with supplies between Birmingham and London during WW2. Follow Molly and the other young trainees on their journey as they learn the backbreaking work on the canals going their bit in the war effort. The secrets and mysteries unfold along the way a unique tale very enjoyable 4.5/5