I must be one of the only people who didn't like this book which is a shame because I was really looking forward to it. And honestly, there aren't many WW2 stories that I don't like. Maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance but honestly I had trouble getting my head around who was who and related to who and how. What with cousins, brothers, sisters, half brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles and the various love children everyone seemed to have.

The book did provide a family tree at the beginning but as the copy I had was an unformatted ARC from Netgalley it wasn't outlaid in the correct form and was really just a bunch of meaningless people and words which really did nothing to help. As the book is now published I was able to download a sample so I could view the family tree in its correct form...but found I had to keep referring to it and still I was confused.

I read Part One and into Part Two, which had by then catapulted forward two years to 1941. Unlike other books set before and during the war, this one was too caught up in ensuring every single person on the family tree was mentioned to some extent in the lead up to war that it didn't even include the beginning of the war. Most books that are set prior to war breaking out include the event and the reactions to those it will then affect. But this was just a small niggle that really was just magnified by the fact I still couldn't get my head around how everyone was actually related to each other.

I am disappointed that I didn't enjoy this book. But it really was too confusing. Maybe I will revisit it at another time and see how I fare then but for now? I was thoroughly confused.

I would like to thank #MaryWood, #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheBraveDaughters in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

I'm absolutely delighted to be today's stop on the blog tour for The Brave Daughters, the fabulous new book by Mary Wood. This is the fourth and final book in The Girls Who Went To War series and although it can be read as a standalone novel, I would highly recommend that you start with the first book so that you can fully appreciate this amazing saga.

This book is set predominantly between England and France during WWII and it's the turn of the daughters to step up and do their bit for their country just as their mothers did before them. Beginning in 1939, we are re-acquainted with the families just before they find themselves dispersed across the globe when The War breaks out and the strong bonds that everyone has forged are truly tested.

The atrocities of war are always difficult to read about but Mary writes about them so deftly and as always I had a lump in my throat on more than one occasion. I was living and breathing everything that the characters were going through.

It was wonderful to catch up with all the familiar faces from the previous three books who I have come to look upon as my own family, such is the quality of Mary's writing. I was actually quite sad to finish reading The Brave Daughters knowing that there was no more to come. In my head after all the trials and tribulations that they had all battled through, they all went on to live happy and fulfilling lives and got their well deserved happily ever after.

Once again Mary Wood took me on an emotional roller coaster of a ride and it was one that I didn't want to get off. Sadly all good things must come to an end as they say but I just know that there will be another fabulous book from this very gifted author again soon, and I, for one cannot wait!

It was wonderful to catch up with all the familiar faces from the previous three books who I have come to look upon as my own family, such is the quality of Mary's writing. I was actually quite sad to finish reading The Brave Daughters knowing that there was no more to come. In my head after all the trials and tribulations that they had all battled through, they all went on to live happy and fulfilling lives and got their well deserved happily ever after.

Once again Mary Wood took me on an emotional roller coaster of a ride and it was one that I didn't want to get off. Sadly all good things must come to an end as they say but I just know that there will be another fabulous book from this very gifted author again soon, and I, for one cannot wait!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Arc edition of this book, in return for an unbiased review.

Amazing!! This story revolves around five girls who sign up and fight in the war but not only do they fight for their country they fight for their families and the men they fall in love with. Gut wrenching and heartfelt this book tells of some of the horrors of war and the loss and betrayal of loved ones. It also shows the indomitable spirit and strength of women if the era. I definitely recommend.

I am a big fan of this author and I have adored reading this series, The Girls Who Went to War. This is sadly the final book in this wonderful series. The first books introduced me to Flora Mags and Ella, I watched as these three girls grew up and overcame various things in their lives. This book is about the women and of their children.

The setting is in Britain and Europe at the start of WWII, having lived through and served during WWI, the women ha devive experienced the horrors. Now they watch as their own children step up to do their duty and serve their countries.

This is a book that I knew would have me reaching for the tissues, to be honest, I do with pretty much all of this authors books. I could feel the nervousness and fear of the parents as well as the fear and the want of doing their part from the children. I call them children, they are adults and are old enough to serve., but to a parent, your child is always a child no matter how grown up they are.

As is the case with conflicts there are going to be casualties. The author does not shy away from death and injury and in doing so she keeps the story feeling realistic. As much as I wanted all the characters to survive unharmed I knew deep down that this would not have been the case.

What the author has done is to provide the story of the next generation, giving them a real-life event to work through. It is emotional and full of danger, and the risk to life is every present, but the author balances this with positives such as love and the hope that there will be a future for them to return to.

Once again, Mary Wood has created a story that has compassion and is full of emotion, there are a couple of surprising twists and she has given a very poignant ending to the series that felt right.

If you love historical fiction that focuses on the strength of women during hard times, that has a wonderful feeling of unity, family and romance then this is a book that you may enjoy. All four books in this series could be read as stand-alone but to be honest you get5 far more out of them by reading them in order. The Brave Daughters is a wonderful read and one I would definitely recommend.

As I might have mentioned once or twice I’m a huge fan of this author and I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. This was a fantastic way to end this series even though I’m sad that’s it’s ending.

It was great to catch up with Flora, Ella, Mags and their children as they take on new challenges in the second world war. I can only imagine what it must have felt like to be dropped behind enemy lines but thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions I felt I was able to live some of the experience through the characters.

As a parent myself I can well imagine how hard it is letting your children go off to help in a war when you have experience of it. As we have come to expect from this author she doesn’t hold back in describing the gritty, harrowing reality of war which does make for difficult reading at times. It’s hard to imagine that ordinary people put themselves through so much and it helps the reader to understand what a brave thing they did for their country.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced absorbing read that I flew through in a few days. This is the final book in the series but the author does include updates from previous books so you could maybe read it as a standalone – though it’s best to read from the beginning in my opinion. I’m very sad to have finished the series and left behind all the fabulous characters. I can’t wait to see what Mary comes up with next.

Huge thanks to Ellis from Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

I have a little confession to make. Although I have all of Mary's books at home, I haven't actually read one- until now that is. 'The Brave Daughters' is actually the fourth book in the 'Girls Who Went To War' series but it reads perfectly well as a standalone. My lovely Mam has read all of Mary's books and loved them and we enjoy the same sagas so I just knew that I was going to love 'The Brave Daughters'. I was spot on because I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of 'The Brave Daughters' but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn to this book from the moment I caught a glimpse of the cover and then as soon as I started reading, I just knew that I was going to enjoy the story and that I would find it almost impossible to put the book down for any length of time. I was spot on with both. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would still be sat there reading away over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. I was blown away by the quality of the writing and of the story. Reading 'The Brave Daughters' became an addiction and it was an addiction that I wasn't willing to break. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I immersed myself into the story to the extent that I lost all track of time and I lost track of how quickly the pages were turning. The first time I looked up to check on my reading progress, I was staggered to discover that I had read almost a third of the book. I was totally gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
'The Brave Daughters' is superbly written but then according to Mamma Ginger Book Geek (who isn't ginger), all of Mary's books are superbly written. She has a writing style that is easy to take to and easy to get along with. She creates brilliant characters- some of whom are impossible to dislike and some of whom you would gladly slap. Mary describes her characters so well that they seem just as real as you and I. Mary certainly puts her characters through some trying times. I found that I had taken to some of the characters so well that I went through every emotion that they went through. I felt as though I was part of the story and that is all thanks to Mary's vivid, realistic and fantastic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Brave Daughters' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and particularly to those readers, who enjoy sagas. I will definitely be reading more of Mary's work in the future, starting with her other books that Mam has read, but I haven't yet. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Wow another fabulous book from Mary, book 4 in The Girls Who Went To War series. There is so much going on in this book with all the different characters doing their own special things to help in the war effort. I was totally engrossed from page 1 and had a bit of panic 3/4 through the book when my kindle decided to play up. Happily for me it settled down and I was able to enjoy the rest of this great book. If you love this genre then you will love this book I can highly recommend it and award it a well deserved 5 stars.

Mary Wood writes gritty, gutsy and gripping historical sagas rich in drama, emotion and intensity and in her latest tale, The Brave Daughters, she has penned a captivating tale of courage, adversity, sorrow, hope, triumph and love lost and found that will hold readers spellbound.

Sibbie and Marjie can barely contain their excitement. They have just arrived at RAF Digby and are desperate to hear of the role they will play during the war. Determined to do their bit for the war effort and to do whatever it takes to defeat the enemy, Sibbie and Marjie are prepared to make whatever sacrifices necessary and face untold dangers in order to save lives and keep their loved ones safe. However, after being put through a rigorous training regime, little do they realise that no amount of training and preparation will prepare them for the magnitude of what they are about to encounter. Sibbie and Marjie will need strength, courage and resolve to survive as one wrong step is all it takes for the two of them to lose everything they hold dear to their hearts…

In rural France, best friends Ella and Flora cannot believe the world might go through another devastating war. Having nursed through the First World War, the painful memories of that devastating conflict still haunt the two women. With the safety of their loved ones to think about, Ella and Flora cannot bear the thought of their families enduring the pain and suffering which they went through last time. As dark clouds gather over the idyllic life which they have made for themselves in the picturesque vineyards of rural France, Ella and Flora realise that they’ve been left with no other choice but to flee. But will they manage to make it to safety? Or will the Second World War hold more horrors for the two of them?

Saga readers know that they are in good hands when they pick up a book by Mary Wood and this talented writer has once again penned a heart-breaking, hopeful and captivating saga that will keep readers glued to its pages with her latest novel, The Brave Daughters. A searingly emotional tale written by a master storyteller, The Brave Daughters is a beguiling tale brimming with danger and pathos that deftly explores women’s strength in times of great adversity and the power of love, loyalty and friendship.

Saga fans looking to lose themselves in a brilliantly researched, wonderfully written and immensely evocative wartime saga need to put Mary Wood’s The Brave Daughters at the very top of their auto-buy list.

In the last three books, we read the stories of wartime friends, Flora, Ella and Mags., whose lives become intertwined. In this book, it's the turn of their children as the families flee their home in France as stormclouds loom. As always with Mary's books, there are some moments that make difficult reading as she depicts the atrocities of wartime. The girls, like many people of the time, endure many personal hardships but it is these that make the happier moments sing from the page.
I loved catching up with the friends and seeing their lives and children several years on. Bravo!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for asking me to read and review.
This story was a wonderful read.
It is well written with some great characters and as a reader you feel you are right there with them. The plot draws you in and keeps you turning those pages.
A brilliant, heartwarming read.

What a fantastic conclusion to this brilliant series, where the young of the families put themselves in grave danger to fight in World War 2 some directly and some indirectly. Mary Wood has a brilliant talent of bringing the characters to life, she includes little snippets of what has happened in the previous books so even if you haven't read them the story still fits together. I can't imagine anything worse than being dropped behind enemy lines to help the resistance wreck havoc on the German occupation of France. Sibbie and Marjie have gone in after comprehensive training and know what's expected of them but no one can prepare them for what they have to face. Florrie and Rosie also faced grave danger when they were accepted to put their nursing skills to good use in Singapore although when they arrived everything seemed so idyllic but it would soon change. I was left bereft when I finished this book it seemed like saying goodbye to good friends who I had got to know so well. There is some love interest in the story but it wouldn't be true to life if there wasn't and for me, it made for a wonderful emotional read.

Wow, this book is so powerful. The strength of feeling behind the words shines through. You will need tissues.
We have all the characters from the rest of the series, this being the last one and I might add, well worth waiting for.
There is Ella, Flors, Mags and Betsy. Then The daughters, Sibbie , Marjella, Rosie, Florida and Daisy. We follow the ups and downs of the girls and their partners. Yes there is sadness and death which is described so beautifully, I felt like I had lost one of my own at one point.
Mary Wood has lived up to expectations yet again. Highly recommend. Look forward to the next series.

booklover BEV 

Oh my word so many characters deserve a mention in this book, Sibbie and Marjie cousin's meeting up in Blackburn at Feniscowles manor with aunt Mags, and Ella and Flors over in laurens herault France. The year is 1939, and Britain is on the brink of war, all having a strong bond, and have memories of the Somme and Belgium, how are all their lives going to pan out is to be told in this book. This book and all the characters blend in together, its a harrowing story of survival from every part of the world and courage to fight. I cannot fault this book, the author takes you into another decade and you will need a few tissues. This is sadly the final book in the girls who went to war, and so much research has been added into this and every one in the series for reader's to enjoy. Some emotional moments to touch your heart,warming, story. I wonder what is next from this lady I'm sure she's got plenty more to tell. And I certainly will not complain. A touching novel it had my emotions running wild.

Mary Wood has done it again. Brilliant book like all the rest. Love family sagas you will love this book love about wartime you will love this book