The Greatest Love
A Ration Book Victory by Jean Fullerton is a marvellous historical novel. It is the final book in the East End Ration Book series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The action takes place in 1945 as Britain is nearing the end of the war. This is interspersed with a backwards glance to Ireland in the late nineteenth century as the reader hears about the youth of the Brogan family matriarch. We witness life and light in a young life. It is good to hear of Queenie’s background as it helps us to understand her character, exactly what has shaped her life. She was not born an old matriarch, once she was young with hopes and dreams and loves. Outwardly she looks old, but inwardly her youthful heart and spirit remain.
The whole book is about love. The love for our family members – not necessarily blood related but those whom we love and who love us.
We witness the fierce love that protects and sacrifices in contrast to the ‘love’ that uses a person. We may not always agree with the choices made by the young, but love stands beside them.
There is a love that has never died. It has stood silently by but has run deep. There are some very emotional scenes towards the end – don’t forget the tissues!
The east end community spirit is strong. It is warm and welcoming as lives pull together.
Victory in Europe was a day of celebration and perfectly capture by Jean Fullerton. I particularly liked the scene meeting the young Princess Elizabeth.
World War II claimed many lives – but ordinary daily life continued as people still fell in love, married and had children.
A Ration Book Victory was a wonderful read. It was a snapshot in time that showed the indomitable British bulldog spirit as people kept calm, drank tea and carried on. I loved it.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
A Ration Book Victory
Jean Fullerton, the RNA-shortlisted queen of the East End, returns with the final nostalgic and heart-warming story of the Brogan family.
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In the final days of war, only love will pull her through . . .
Queenie Brogan wasn’t always an East End matriarch. Many years ago, before she married Fergus, she was Philomena Dooley, a daughter of Irish Travellers, planning to wed her childhood sweetheart, Patrick Mahone. But when tragedy struck and Patrick’s narrow-minded sister, Nora, intervened, the lovers were torn apart.
Fate can be cruel, and when Queenie arrives in London she finds that Patrick Mahon is her parish priest, and that the love she had tried to suppress flares again in her heart.
But now in the final months of WW2, Queenie discovers Father Mahon is dying and must face losing him forever. Can she finally tell him the secret she has kept for over fifty years or will Nora once again come between them?
And if Queenie does decide to finally tell Patrick, could the truth destroy the Brogan family?
Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3KIKxA5
Author Bio
Born and bred in East London Jean is a District Nurse by trade and has worked as a NHS manager and as a senior lecture in Health and Nursing Studies. She left her day job to become a full-time writer in 2015 and has never looked back.
In 2006 she won the Harry Bowling Prize and now has seventeen sagas published over three series all of which are set in East London.
She is an experienced public speaker with hundreds of WI and women’s club talks under her belt, plus for the past fifteen years she has sailed all over the world as an enrichment speaker and writing workshop leader on cruise ships.
Social Media Links –
Website: http://jeanfullerton.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jean-Fullerton-202631736433230/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanFullerton_
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