It’s 1915 and best friends Irene,Annie and Maggie are in the Women’s Police Service. They are trying to keep the peace while the men are at war. Suddenly, Irene is chosen to be stationed out of London and she decides to go. What can possibly go wrong. ? Unfortunately it doesn’t go to plan.. will she overcome it all without the support of her two friends?

This was a very enjoyable read, well written and the characters are very likeable. It appears to be well researched and is filled with interesting story line

A great follow on from The Bobby Girls and this book certainly delivers us Irenes story who along with her friends patrols the streets full of drunk soldiers and ladies of the night.If i say more it will spoil the book for readers but it is most definatley worthy of a read 5*

As soon a I read The Bobby Girls, I wanted to read The Bobby Girl’s Secrets. I must say I was not disappointed. After the first one, I just knew that the second one would be worth the wait. This set of girls have captured me and this is turning out to be one enthralling series, with very likeable characters and highly believable plots. This is down to the research that Johanna Bell has put in, and clearly she has a love of this time period. I love too, that even though there’s a lot going on in the women’s personal and work lives, there are strong bonds of friendship, something perhaps people can carry through into their own lives during and after challenging times.

We re-join Irene, Maggie and Annie in 1915 on Bethnal Green. The three women, in their 20s, who made it to join the Women Police Service (WPS) are now firm friends, despite such different backgrounds and having little in common. There is a great camaraderie about them as they look out for each other. Johanna Bell, ensures you really get to know these likeable characters and their personal lives, as well as their working ones and she does it in a way that you want to be involved with them. There’s heartache and hard-hitting issues, and yet it’s a lovely relaxed pace. The book deals with prostitution (nothing explicit), the consequences that war is having on the men and life in-between, such as how hard it is to deal with losing someone you have feelings for and yet not necessarily reciprocated.

Readers will travel to Grantham to see what new challenges are posed and there are some new characters to meet, such as, Mary, Ruby, Helen and Chief Inspector Boldwood. The issues of status are nicely shown and the differences in attitudes and acceptance of policemen and those who are women on the volunteer team, not to mention some tensions between those in Grantham and a Londoner who had an easier time than them. There’s the trials of things being different in London and the countryside. There’s also tensions between stall holders and soldiers, with the merchants giving the men a hard time. There’s also challenges of getting used to the imposed curfews,due to prostitution. It is interesting to read about the different attitudes and opinions on it, from the volunteer women’s police service point of view. It isn’t all work however as romance is in the air, but all is not all as it seems.

The book is very well researched and is very interesting about different attitudes of the time. Although there is less of the characters (apart from Irene) in the first book, this is still a very good read as Irene carries the story forward and it is interesting meeting new characters in a new location. I feel it also gives a wider perspective of what was happening at that time.

Just like in The Bobby Girls, there is a really interesting part in the last pages of the book, after the story has finished and after the acknowledgements, there are some brilliant photos of Grantham and the people depicted within this book.

I don't know why but I didn't find this book quite as good as the first. In the first book, I found the bond between the three girls was unbreakable so was a little bit disappointed when Irene moved to Grantham, She moved for various reasons but one of them was because of a broken heart, she soon finds herself embroiled in another relationship but will it lead to more heartbreak?

I loved the first book and couldn’t wait for the sequel. I have to say I found the second book not a as gripping as the first initially and would definitely call it a “slow burner” .

This book focused more on Irene and once I persevered I did not want to put it down. It definitely became more interesting as time went on - I don’t like to comment too much or reveal the storyline because I feel it spoils it and you do get a feel for it by reading the synopsis.

I would recommend this book but not sure if the storyline was a little too slow at first.

I really enjoyed this book! A great story line that kept me hooked and excellent main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

Another great book by this author, Strong characters and fabulous storyline. Can't wait for the next book.

Well, I thought the 1st book The Bobby Girls was great, this follow -on The Bobby Girls’ Secrets excelled. It is so descriptive when discussing characters I found myself quite scared of Charles and I kept feeling that Irene deserved some happiness.
It was good to hear about Maggie and Annie. Fully recommend it and deserved all 5 stars. Look forward to the next one.

Booklover BEV






Gives a voice to all the women real police officer's during WW1
Three courageous women
Full of compassion and warmth
This is book two, and tells us Irene Wilson's story and secrets.
Bethnal Green London 1915, Irene, Maggie Smith, Annie Beckett, all working together and sharing a flat are very close friend's now. Patrolling the street's full of drunken soldiers and prostitutes and all the residents grow to call on these girl's in desperate needs with problems. They were accepted and needed Irene wants to learn more about what she could do up north in Grantham, and with things not going to well for her in Bethnal Green she applies for a transfer, her friends are in doubt The sacrifice would be worth while so commandant Frosty organised her transfer. There's a secret reason for Irene doing this that's to be told in the book. I was shedding lot's of tears while reading, her story will touch your heart in so many ways, the job in the WPS has inspirational tasks, harrowing and tiring. The characters in the book we meet along the way, some good some bad fit in perfectly so you will enjoy every single page . All these women should be given a big shout out for many year's ahead. Secret's to be told either big or small, the author's done so in this fantastic book. And I just cannot wait for book three.

Loved how the book follows on and felt heartbroken when 3 became 2 and how could anyone dislike her. Dont want to give the story away but roll on the next book