It’s an honour today to be sharing my review for East End Angels by Rosie Hendry as part of the blog tour.
Strong-willed Winnie loves being part of the crew at Station Seventy-Five but her parents are less than happy. She has managed to avoid their pleas to join the WRENS so far but when a tragedy hits too close to home she finds herself wondering if she’s cut out for this life after all.
Former housemaid Bella was forced to leave the place she loved when she lost it all and it’s taken her a while to find somewhere else to call home. She’s finally starting to build a new life but when the air raids begin, it seems she may have to start over once again.
East-Ender Frankie’s sense of loyalty keeps her tied to home so it’s not easy for her to stay focused at work. With her head and heart pulling in different directions, will she find the strength to come through for her friends when they need her the most?
Brought together at LAAS Station Seventy-Five in London’s East End during 1940, these three very different women soon realise that they’ll need each other if they’re to get through the days ahead. But can the ties of friendship, love and family all remain unbroken?
East End Angels is available to purchase now and you can get a copy from the following retailers – Amazon UK – eCopy Paperback | Amazon US -eCopy Paperback
MY THOUGHTS
East End Angels follows the lives of Bella, Frankie and Winnie who are all ambulance drivers during the blitz. Three very different young ladies from different backgrounds who come together and form a bond during a very difficult and terrible time.
As soon as I opened up the book I felt myself transported back in time. Rosie Hendry has a beautiful way of writing that completely draws the reader into the story. I could hear the bombs and smell the smoke as I totally and utterly got swept away. The descriptions throughout the book are incredible and it was very easy to visualise every detail as I was reading.
I really found myself caring for the three main characters, what brave young ladies they are. I couldn’t imagine having to go out during an air raid, driving round the streets of London while bombs are dropping all over the place but that’s what these ladies do and what an incredible job they do as well. I have to say I also fell in love with Trixie, the gorgeous little dog.
East End Angels is a beautiful and well crafted story, I really didn’t want it to end and really hope there will be a follow on book as I need to know more and find out what happens next. I think this would make a fantastic TV series, I could just see it up there with Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife, I really think it would be a huge hit. It’s very clear that there has been a lot of research done by the author, I forgot I was reading a fictional story at times and Bella, Frankie and Winnie and three characters that wont easily be forgotten.
So if you are looking for a book that you can totally throw yourself into, escape and be taken back in time then East End Angels is definitely one for you and one I will be highly recommending.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rosie Hendry lives by the sea in Norfolk with her husband and two children. East End Angels is the first book in her uplifting and heart-warming saga series that follows the lives and loves of Winnie, Frankie and Bella, who all work for the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service (LAAS) during the Blitz. Listening to her father’s tales of life during the Second World War sparked Rosie’s interest in this period and she loves researching further, searching out gems of real life events which inspire her writing.
To connect and find out more from Rosie Hendry just click on one the following links Twitter | Facebook | Website
FOLLOW THE TOUR
It's all about the books 