For Better For Worse

by June Francis

With war on the horizon, can she find peace?

Grace and Dougie have been courting for years, so when Dougie decides to emigrate to Australia he expects Grace to follow once she turns twenty-one. Grace used to be besotted with the handsome man, but she is increasingly worried by his bullying behaviour and gambling. On her way home from seeing Dougie off at the docks, Grace is nearly run down by a truck driven by widower Ben, who is on his way to the hospital to see his young son.

Soon, Grace has agreed to look after Ben’s child while he recovers from his accident. As they spend time together Ben struggles to ignore his growing feelings for Grace. But Dougie is determined not to let Grace go and when war breaks out he returns to England. With her old flame to contend with, never mind the relentless German bombers, will ever Grace find peace and love?

From Liverpool’s much-loved saga novelist comes a tale of love and heartache in wartime, which fans of Kitty Neale and Katie Flynn will love.

Genres: Historical Fiction

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2020

About the author

Although, June was born in the seaside resort of Blackpool, she has lived all her life in the port of Liverpool, home of the Beatles. One of four children, her love of stories began when her father told her 'The Little Match Girl', which left her in floods of tears, but also with a desire to make up stories, herself. As soon as she could read she was doing a three mile walk to the local library. She passed the scholarship to Liverpool Girls' College where her English teacher told her that she had a great imagination. Despite this, June did not believe she could ever be an author, so on leaving school, she became a cash clerk. She married at twenty-two, has three sons, ran a church playgroup for ten years and it wasn't until her youngest started school that she joined a Writers' Club and turned her hand to writing articles about What She Knew for a woman's magazine. But her first love had always been books and eventually she wrote her first two medieval romances for Mills & Boon. After doing another two, she had an urge to write a family story set in Liverpool during WWII. This was bought by another publisher. Since then she has had thirty-three books published.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh dear. A good story but so many errors. When Grace had her daughter, she was pleased to see that she had all of her ‘20’ fingers and toes. Plus Wallis Simpson was spelt as Wallace. Lots of other spelling errors throughout

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of For Better For Worse by June Francis for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

For Better For Worse is an intriguing historical fiction novel with complex characters and an involved plot. The pacing kept me engaged from the beginning until the end. Ms. Francis must do extensive research because the detail and authentic feel to the setting is amazing.

Grace’s character has a great many facets. She is under twenty in the beginning and a mature woman by the end. During this saga, she experiences life in pre-WWII and in the midst of WWII, all the way to the aftermath. There are complex family relationships, starting with her cousin, Dougie. Then later ones with his oblivious mother, one contentious sister and another one who attempts to bridge the rift between them. I liked Grace’s character and enjoyed following her character growth and great love for her children.

This was not the easiest review to write without including spoilers. The book description does not give the reader a true picture of this novel’s depth. The story is complicated at times, but it intrigued me, and I enjoyed it a great deal.

If you enjoy novels depicting life before, during, and after WWII, then you will love the historical details in For Better For Worse by Ms. Francis, since it includes an excellent example of life during this turbulent period of history. Happy reading!

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I could not put this book down.

It is about Grace who lives with her Aunt. She and her cousin Dougie have fallen in love and want to emigrate o Australia to build a new life but her Dad refuses until she is 21.

After waving Dougie off at the dock she is just about run over by Ben. Grace and Ben become friends.

We see what happens to Grace over the next 10 years, she has a few incidents which are not nice ones for her.

I would certainly like to read more books by this author.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a lovely read I didn’t want to put it down. It tells the story of Grace, whose Mum dies when she’s young so her Aunt and her family help her Dad Norman to bring her up. Her cousin Dougie wants to marry Grace and emigrate to Australia. As she’s underage Norman refuses to give his permission and Dougie leaves alone. This book follows Grace as she struggles with her family by her side to cope with life’s ups and downs during World War Two. I recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

[Linda Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

History Lesson?

First of all why did the author keep repeating "Merseyside"? No such name existed then, Liverpool was in Lancashire the Wirral Cheshire. Liverpool and surrounding areas was changed to Merseysido5e in 1974. Maybe a bit of research would have come in useful.
Secondly apart from the history lesson about the war the story line was weak and the ending very disappointing.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart warming saga beautifully written can’t wait to read more of June Francis books
She takes you on a journey of the families at wartime and you feel like your a part of them with each page you read. A definite must read

[Lynda Matson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not My Fav

Very wordy, a lot about family, too much for me. Too long. I read countless book & researched, just not my fav.

[Judith Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Good holiday reading even on a hot beach it was too good to put down. I like the derail of wartime Liverpool

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am actually reading the paperback version of this book by Canelo and it has 364 pages, considerably more pages than the only version available on Goodreads of a Kindle.