An emotional family story. I especially liked the 1950s London setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC>.

Lizzie’s Daughters is a gripping and compelling tale of secrets, danger and redemption from Rosie Clarke’s talented pen.

For Lizzie Larch, keeping her two daughters safe and out of harm’s ways in 1950s London is a constant struggle. Her girls, Betty and Francie, are growing up and are desperate to experience the world and tread their own path. But with jeopardy round every corner, will Lizzie manage to keep her girls on the straight and narrow? Or will they get their heads turned by avaricious foes intent on using Lizzie’s daughters for their own selfish gain? Both girls are talented and creative, but although they are sisters, their characters are worlds apart. While Betty is headstrong and impulsive, Francie is callow and easily influenced. Will both girls end up being easy prey for men who could cause them nothing but harm?

Eldest daughter Betty is headstrong and determined to follow her dreams – regardless of whether her parents approve of her decisions or not. Clashing with her stepfather Sebastian has become a daily occurrence and when they have yet another argument, Betty decides that she will not stand for his interference and constant scolding any longer, so she runs away plunging her family and friends into endless worry about her well-being.

Worried about his stepdaughter’s safety and determined to right the wrongs of the past, Sebastian decides to use all of his contacts to track Betty down and bring her back to safety. Consumed by this dangerous overseas mission, Sebastian wonders whether he will ever manage to find his missing stepdaughter and whether he will ever manage to track her down and bring her back home.

Back home, Lizzie has got other problems to contend with. Despite the great risks to her health, she is determined to give her husband the son he has always wanted. But torn apart by worry about her daughter’s well-being and with her health in jeopardy, has Lizzie bitten off more than she can chew? Or will happiness finally be within her grasp?

Will Betty ever be returned to the bosom of her family? Or is she lost forever?

Rosie Clarke is a terrific storyteller who spins a yarn full of intrigue, passion, danger and excitement. Lizzie’s Daughters is a spellbinding and riveting 1950s saga that readers will struggle put down which is sure to appeal to fans of Lesley Pearse and Rosie Goodwin. Fast-paced, engrossing and searingly emotional, Lizzie’s Daughters is a saga of redemption, survival and the ties that bind that continues to cement Rosie Clarke’s standing as one of the saga world’s most exciting and most gifted writers.

Lizzie’s Daughters by Rosie Clarke is the third book in The Workshop Girls series. We travel back to 1958 in London, England where we join Lizzie Winters and her family. Lizzie is married to Sebastian Winters, and they have two daughters, Betty and Francie. Betty is seventeen, naïve, stubborn, spoiled and headstrong (very much like her birth father). Francie is fourteen years old and currently at an art college. She is a talented artist. Lizzie owns Lizzie Larch Hats and has workrooms that construct her designs. Betty wishes to quit school and go to work in them. Sebastian, her stepfather, wishes for her to get an education and insists she stay in school. Betty has been going out to the clubs at night and has met Pierre Saint-Jacquez. Betty fancies herself in love with Pierre and, after a nasty argument with Sebastian, she disappears with him. But will life in Paris be what Betty expects? Francie entered a contest with Styled magazine and won second prize. She is thrilled with the tickets to a fashion show (the prize she wanted). But when the first prize winner doesn’t turn up, Francie finds herself modeling at the show. Francie is then roped into modeling for photo shoots and her school career is in jeopardy. Lizzie has been told not to get pregnant again, but she wants to provide Sebastian with a son. She finds herself with child and put on bed rest. Francie is brought home to take care of Lizzie while Sebastian heads to Paris to locate Betty. Before Sebastian can complete his mission in Paris, he is sent to East Berlin. Sebastian has been trying to locate an old friend’s daughter for three years, and she has finally been found. It will be a dangerous trip to get her out of country and back to England. To see how the story ends, pick up Lizzie’s Daughters.

Lizzie’s Daughters is well-written and engaging. I liked the characters, the settings and the time period. It was a captivating time in Europe as nations slowly recovered from the war and the Cold War was just beginning (East Berlin had yet to erect the Berlin Wall). I found Lizzie’s Daughters easy to read and it had a decent pace (a couple of slow sections). Rosie Clarke is a descriptive writer and tends to get a little wordy. There are several storylines going on in the story (as you can tell), but they are not overly complicated (or difficult to keep track of). I give Lizzie’s Daughters 4 out of 5 stars. Lizzie’s Daughters is a British novel so you will find the spelling of some words different. Lizzie’s Daughters is the third book in the series, but is easily a stand-alone. I do want to go back and read the first two books in the series (curious to see where it all started). I did feel the book was a little long. I felt a little editing would have enhanced Lizzie’s Daughters. Betty’s naivete did begin to wear on me after a time. I did not believe she would ever wise up to the ways of the world. I was disappointed with the ending. It was incomplete (needed an epilogue). I hope that there will be another novel in The Workshop Girls series (so I can find out what happens).

Thanks Netgalley. I enjoyed this book but wish I had read some of the authors other books beforehand.

I have read both books in these series but sadly i didn't get into this one, it wasn't as good as her others.

This was a wonderful and heartwarming story. I adored the setting, I have such a soft spot for the 1950's, so this was perfect for me.
The character work was superb. I felt like I knew them as if they were my own friends or sisters.
A book I can see myself rereading when I want something comforting and beautifully written.

Excellent book! Great characters and a brilliant storyline. I would highly recommend this book.