Secrets of the Chocolate Girls

Chocolate Girls #3

by Annie Murray

From Annie Murray, the bestselling author of The Bells of Bournville Green, comes Secrets of the Chocolate Girls, another gritty family saga about love, war and chocolate . . . September 1940, Birmingham.While her husband and daughter work at the Cadbury's Bournville factory, Ann Gilby has her hands full at home with her other daughter, Sheila, newly returned home with baby Elaine. With Sheila's husband away doing his bit in the RAF, Ann knows she should be grateful to have all her children safe under one roof. But she can't help but fear for their uncertain future as bombs fall ever closer to her Birmingham home. Part of her yearns for the carefree days of her youth when she also worked the line at Cadburys, filling trays of chocolate shells.But mostly Ann tries not to think of the past at all since that would mean she would have to confront her oldest secret, one she's kept since the last war and the one that could easily rip her family apart . . .

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2022

About the author

Annie Murray was a ‘childhood writer.’ Her career was helped a great deal by belonging to Tindal Street Fiction Group in Birmingham and by winning the SHE/Granada TV Short Story Competition in 1991. She has published short stories in a number of anthologies as well as SHE magazine. Her first regional saga, Birmingham Rose appeared in 1995 and reached the Times bestseller list. She has since published more than a dozen others, including the ‘Cadbury books,’ Chocolate Girls and The Bells of Bournville Green, Family of Women and her latest, A Hopscotch Summer. Annie has four children and lives near Reading.

Reviews

[Novelle Novels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this authors books as although the writing is similar she creates characters that you love and has some twists. I hope she writes more books with the family from this book.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh what a most lovely story as we meet the Gilby family from Bournville village, secrets in wartime 1940. Beaumont road, a family with secrets, Annie and Len their children Sheila, Joy, Martin and granddaughter Elaine, Ann and Len met while working in the Cadbury's factory and he's still there along with daughter Joy, with war time on going in Birmingham this family are soon pulled apart in many ways.
I loved reading this whole book from start to finish, the author has done such a good job of letting her readers been pulled into the story, full of ups and downs along the way, chapter after chapter it's one such story that set your emotions all over, I loved all the characters with such a lot of research blended in. this is a book that stands out on it's own to be enjoyed. Top star's from me and more.

[Samantha Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I expected to be.
Reading the other chocolate girls book. I thought maybe the others characters would appear.
But Annie Murray made sure that this was completely new story to read.
I was surprised to read what happened.
I will look forward to reading more Annie Murray books.

[Trudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is book 3 in the chocolate girls series it doesn't follow on from the other books and features a new family. The story is excellent and I really felt like I knew this family. Annie brings Wartime Birmingham to life and I love reading her books.

[Abbie Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story!

[Sue Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book a lot such a lovely story

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, these books have been re released under different covers.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This woman has to ask herself, when she is still very young and inexperienced, two questions. Is there such a thing as lasting love at first sight? And should you break a promise to one who has suffered?

If the heroine had trusted her feelings above her sense of duty and penchant for security, her life would have been completely different. A marriage entered into with doubts on either side will always have the potential to break down, especially when events conspire.

As well as this central storyline there are others related to the family members and the fact that war is going on. Very absorbing, with well-rounded characters - you want all of them to get resolution. I was a upset when I neared the end and felt a bit let down in this regard - until I realised that this is Part One of a trilogy! Next, you should read 'Wartime for the Chocolate Girls'.

Respect to the WVS (later the WRVS) for their brave service! The whole book is very good about the Home Front. This family is working class but fairly comfortable, with nice employers, but the realities of war obviously affect them just as they would everyone else living in or near a big city.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Birmingham during WW2, mainly in the Cadbury village and factory. The storyline is centred on Ann, Len, and their three children, Sheila, Joy, and Martin. There are plenty of secrets in this family, but will the family survive the fallout both the war and family secrets are going to drop on this close-knit family. I loved the camaraderie between the characters, and the storyline as a whole has so many secrets. Now, I'm reading the second book in this series, "Wartime for the Chocolate Girls " as I can't wait to find out what happens to the family.

[Pritthijit Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Murray forte is writing historical fiction. Family drama is the principal theme to her novels. On the backdrop of Cadbury factory it makes an interesting read. The World War 2 reaches a significant breakthrough. Combining the historical time featuring a story of how life was like in the time makes you feel that you are part of the story. The attention to details are superb. The characters draw you to the story as each character have different experiences. Secret of Chocolate is a great read filled with so much drama. I enjoyed the book immensely. I love her novels very much.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 of the Chocolate girls another great story from Annie Murray
Continuing the lives of the women who work in the Cadburys chocolate factory during the 2nd World War and the changes their lives continue in Bourneville through bombings of the City of Birmingham
Can’t wait to start book 4

[Tiffany Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gripping from beginning to end Annie Murray is truly amazing.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book which I listened to on audio, it’s part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone.

[Maureen Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preferred others in the series, slow start, plodded along.

[Fiona McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never disappoints. Cracking story

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story

[Sue Hickling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book .

[Paul]

Hy

[Jane Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the history of Cadburys and Birmingham in WW2 in this story. The family story was good to, different, not just a straight love story, complicated like life can be

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets come out about Anne's past what are the secrets, and is her marriage a farce? this book is another I couldn't put down

[Margaret Baseley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book in this series. Nice to meet different families.x

[Susan Marie Ballain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book centered around a 1940 WWll and the Cadbury factory and the family drama!
It was not my usual genre but I did enjoy this book!

[rosemonde hartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult to get started, and the jumping from time to another was offputting