This is the third book in the series.
It is written so well and is compelling. I loved following the characters from previous books and hearing more about them.

Fantastic, lovely characters and a wonderful plot too. I love the author and this one didn't disappoint.

I really enjoy WWII fiction and I enjoyed this book. The friends have started new adventures in their lives and now WWII starts. Thankfully that they have their friendships and that helps them get through the tough times. This book makes me want to go back and read book 1 and 2.

Having thoroughly enjoyed RAINY DAYS FOR THE HARPERS GIRLS, I'm really sorry that I didn't start this series from the beginning because now I feel like I missed out on so much, despite the author giving us plenty of background so that this book can be read as a standalone. I guess I'm a little cross with myself because I didn't enjoy the second book and gave up on it before it really went anywhere. The main problem I had with it was that I didn't feel drawn into it from the beginning and it felt like it had picked up halfway through something that may have carried over from the first book.

This was no so with this book - RAINY DAYS FOR THE HARPERS GIRLS. I was swept up in the trials and tribulations of the Harpers girls from the start. And it was then that I wished I had tried reading the previous one again...despite not really having the time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it has made me want to go back and read the first two and get my hands on the fourth one so I can continue in the stories of each of the girls and their loved ones.

Set in and around Harpers Emporium on London's exclusive Oxford Street, we follow the stories of the girls and a little of their fellow workers. Everyone has a backstory and as the reader, we are given enough detail to bring us up to speed and to continue following. We rejoin Beth, Sally, Rachel and Maggie, but are also joined by a few new faces (which possibly made their debut somewhere in the last book, I can't be sure) in Miss Minnie, Marion Kaye and Becky Stockbridge, daughter of Harpers' manager Jonathan Stockbridge. With Beth and Sally marrying in the last book and moving out of the flat they shared with Rachel and Maggie, Miss Minnie moved in after the death of her dear sister.

It's 1914 and with the war now looming on the horizon, there is a tension surrounding the growing hostilities in Europe as well as the Suffragette movement. The story picks up from where book two left off I assume with newly married Ben and Sally Harper expecting their first child and about to celebrate the second anniversary of the opening of Harpers. The couple have many plans for the celebrations trying to remain positive in the face of the growing conflict in Europe.

After recovering from her miscarriage and her aunt's tragic death, Beth is also enjoying newly married life to her husband Jack Burrows, a merchant seaman who is often away for weeks at a time. But Beth isn't completely lonely as she shares Jack's father's house in her husband's absence. Fred Burrows works in the mailroom at Harpers so he isn't a stranger to Beth. Jack's younger brother Tim has taken a shine to Maggie and the two begin a tentative courtship before becoming secretly engaged when war breaks out.

Rachel Craven has found new love in William Bailey after contending herself to widowhood for the rest of her days. The couple marry just prior to war being declared and spend just one night together before William must attend training. With Rachel marrying, the flat is too much for Miss Minnie and Maggie to keep on, so they move in with the Burrows shortly before Rachel's wedding.

But the biggest surprise of all is Miss Minnie's announcement. Although she moves into the Burrows house with Maggie, she is only there for a short time until she too is wed to the one and only man she has ever loved. Who might that be? Well, I think I will leave that for you to discover for yourself.

And then there is Marion Kaye. Of all the women at Harpers, she is the one I felt for the most. She is one of umpteen children, the second eldest, and with her mother constantly taken to her bed, it is up to Marion to keep the house running. Her father is away at sea for long periods at a time, though the family have grown to be thankful for those long absences for he is nothing but a vicious brute. Marion's older brother Dan stood up to him and then promptly left to make his own way in life, as he couldn't stand by and watch their father beat the life out of their mother. Her brother Robbie who came after her, works down at the docks but when war is declared he is quick to sign on for King and country. That leave Marion to take care of her three younger siblings as well as her mother. Until fate steps in one night in the form of her father, who returns home drunk and with a fire in his belly to go another few rounds with their weakened mother. But will she survive this latest beating?

Despite her sad home life, Marion has caught the eye of her neighbour Reggie Jackson who is determined to make Marion his girl. Fully aware of what Marion has to contend with and her brutish father, Reggie is forever spoiling her and her siblings with special treats in the form of extra food, tickets to the football for her brothers or a trinket for her. He leaves her with a promise as he also goes to sign on to fight for King and country.

Times are hard for many, especially those with large families to support, whilst others are lonely and unmarried. But together, there is a sense of support and the bond of friendship between the women that runs throughout the story.

I really enjoyed this book...more than I thought I would. So I shall have to go back and give "Love and Marriage at Harpers" another go sometime to appreciate the full background of these extraordinary women. I recommend that you start from the beginning though this book can be read as a standalone.

As I was reading, I did have a sense of familiarity in finding it very similar to the Mrs Boots series by Deborah Carr and the Liberty Girls series by Fiona Ford. There is also a nod to Selfridge's with Ben Harper, the man behind Harpers Emporium, also being American. If you enjoy any or all of these, then you are sure to enjoy the Harpers Emporium series.

Overall, RAINY DAYS FOR THE HARPERS GIRLS is wonderful story for fans of historical fiction and sagas. If you love Dilly Court, Nadine Dorries and Pam Howes, you will love this series.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #RainyDaysForTheHarpersGirls in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy Rosie Clarke's writing style. Her characters are easy to sympathize with, faults and all. This is a lovely series and I look forward to reading more!

The Harpers girls have returned and this time they have a few new recruits with them. With the second anniversary of Harpers’ opening upon them, Sally, Beth, Maggie, and Rachel are joined by new friends Marion and Minnie. Sally has a baby on the way, Beth longs for one of her own; Rachel is waiting on a proposal and Maggie hopes and fears for one of her own at the same time. And of course, Harpers is bustling, busier than ever with war looming closer and closer on the horizon.

New girl Marion has it rough at home, Dad either drunk or absent, Mom broken from heartache after heartache, and five siblings to look after and provide for almost all on her own. But next door neighbor Reggie is ready and willing to offer a helpful hand. Minnie is grateful to Rachel for helping her settle into her new role as seamstress at Harpers but never expected to run into her old flame at the store -- and he just so happens to be her supervisor. Will they be able to reconnect?

The series’ ensemble of characters has grown and grown with each installment, full to the brim. While lovely to see how each individual story entangles with the next, the narrative does get a bit jumbled, each voice not quite distinct enough to hold its own. Additionally, with so many storylines vying for attention, they begin to resemble each other, following the same expected path with few surprises in store.

Again, the male characters are written in such a way where I could see the author making a comment on the inherent patriarchy of the time, but are also romanticized to the point where I doubt a statement is being made. One particular moment, where a husband blames his child’s illness on his wife’s neglect stands out as harsh and entirely false -- and unnecessary. And yet he was absolved immediately. An interaction like that is not one a mother is likely to forgive or forget with any kind of ease, when her child is of the utmost importance to her.

Just as the girls and their respective men prepare for war, it feels as if this installment is all in preparation for the next: war hasn’t arrived, but they’re making plans for when it inevitably does; this book doesn’t have one specific climax, but with war being the main topic of the next, I can only assume it will then arrive. It’s a slow climb, building to an end we have yet to see.

Thanks to the publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Trigger warning: domestic violence/abuse, death.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this Arc.
Rosie Clarke can always be depended on to deliver a heartfelt and beautiful book.
This was filled with joy, laughter and a few tears.
I would highly recommend it.

Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls by Rosie Clarke is the 3rd novel in Welcome to Harpers Emporium series. This is a series that is best read in order. Each book builds upon the previous one. I like the characters in this engaging historical series. We follow the different characters who work at Harpers Emporium. I find them to be realistic. Each person has their own struggles and issues that they are dealing with at the present time. I like that the ladies are involved in women’s suffrage. Rachel likes her new job as floor walker at Harpers and has a beau. He betrayed her with an article he wrote, so she is not sure that she can trust him. Marion Kaye is a new hire at Harpers. Her mother is ill and has basically given up on life thanks to her bully of a husband. Marion is responsible for caring for her mother, her younger siblings, and the house even though she is only seventeen. Reggie Jackson has shown his interest in Marion, but she is unsure about marriage (who can blame her). Miss Minnie likes living with Rachel and the other ladies, but she still grieves the loss of her sister. Miss Minnie gave up the love of her life to stay with her sister. Imagine her surprise when she runs into the same man at Harpers. Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls takes place in the spring of 1914 when the situation in Europe is escalating. I thought the author captured the time-period with the various historical events and how people felt about the looming war. I enjoyed catching up with the characters in Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls. I like Rosie Clarke’s conversational writing style which draws the reader right in. I enjoyed the descriptions of the various products sold at Harpers (the jewelry, hats, scarfs, and handbags). I liked the reference to Yardley products which makes my favorite soap. I am looking forward to the next tale in Welcome to Harpers Emporium series. Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls is an entertaining historical novel with missing merchandise, impending conflict, financial strain, budding romance, upcoming birth, and store expansion.

Rosie Clarke simply never fails to deftly blend warmth, drama, emotion and joy in her gripping historical sagas and she is on top form with her latest novel, Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls.

It’s 1914 and the dark gathering clouds of war are fast approaching. The years ahead will have plenty of anguish and despair, but for the time being, the future seems bright and promising for Ben and Sally Harper. With the birth of their first child to look forward to, the couple are full of exciting plans for the future, even if the coming months might prove to be their most challenging and difficult yet due to circumstances beyond their control. Will Ben and Sally’s love sustain them in the hardest of times? Or will they realise that sometimes love alone simply isn’t enough?

Beth Burrows has had her fair share of heartache in the last couple of years. Not only has she miscarried her baby, but she also had to contend with the grief of her Aunt’s tragic death. Gradually recovering from the agony and emerging from her ever-consuming grief, she is slowly but surely settling into married life with Jack. Will Beth ever manage to be completely happy? Or is further upheaval in store for her?

As new girls join Harpers Emporium and begin to settle into their new routine and become a part of the fabric of the store, drama, laughter, sadness and support are certainly never in short supply. But the one thing all the employees must remember is to always be there for one another, because in the coming months all of their lives will be changed forever…

Rosie Clarke’s warm-hearted sagas are about friendships and communities pulling together and triumphing over all the obstacles standing in their way and in Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls, she has penned a hopeful, compelling and dramatic saga that will warm the spirit and even bring a tear to the eye as readers find themselves completely and utterly captivated by this brilliantly told London saga.

Written straight from the heart, put the kettle on, find a comfy chair and get ready to be swept away by Rosie Clarke’s latest novel, Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls.

With Britain on the brink of the First World War, this is a rich seam of history to set this saga in. You are taken beautifully through the changing times, from peaceful life, through the first doubts of unrest, to the attitude that it will be all over by Christmas, then to the awful realisation that this is going to be long haul. You get to follow the lives of different levels of society but a feeling of solidarityand common goals emerges.

Whilst the life in the Department store goes on, you are shown some great details about daily life in the capital. I particularly enjoy the social history of the time and the attitudes of men and women shown toeards the Suffragette cause. You also get to learn about the treatment some men suffered when given the white feathers to signify cowardice and to shame people into enlisting. This is a skilful blending of historical detail, social and political issues and personal stories of family life.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Rainy Day for Harper Girls is a heart-warming and compelling tale of lives of women working at the Harper Emporium before and during the war in Britain.

Though it is the third book in a series, I read it as a stand-alone. Although, this meant that it took me some time to get acquainted with the characters and their background stories. The PoV alternates between the multiple women protagonists of the book, offering a view into the domestic joys and sorrows of these women.

The overarching theme of women solidarity and friendships through volatile life circumstances and amidst the backdrop of the women suffrage movement is beautifully portrayed. The bonds of friendship ran deeper than family and it was evident that all the women cared deeply for each other. It was also heartening to see that in spite of intense passion each of them held for their job, they never pulled each other down.

The place where I found the book lacking was the character development. Too often I got confused between the characters as there were not many characteristics identifying them uniquely. Initially I attributed it to my limited knowledge of the series, but I did not see it improving as the book proceeded. The experiences of all the women were different and unique, but their personalities were not carved out individually. This limited my investment in the book and the characters.

That being said, I loved how cosy and feel-good this book was. A perfect and refreshing read for a summer afternoon, Rainy Day for Harper Girls is a beautiful and heart-warming wartime tale. Recommended for all historical fiction fans, and definitely recommended to learn more about the Women's Suffrage Movement before and during the first World War.

4☆ Historical Saga that is Highly Compelling, Heart Warming, Poignant and Authentic

Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls is the third book in the series, I have read the first but for some reason missed the second 🙈 but still didn't have too much trouble catching up!
However I highly recommend reading them in order as there is a fair amount of characters and back stories to get to grips with.

With the Harper Girls books we follow a group of ladies all very different and their lives and journeys working at the Harpers Emporium. In a time where women wasn't equal in the workplace and the suffragette movement was about.

Rosie Clarke takes her readers onto a personal journey with each and everyone of her characters which I really enjoyed.
I loved seeing how much the Emporium had changed and how many more women was employed now.
I love how this series unites and empowers women, friendship and families. The girls are there for each other no matter what.

Rosie creates the perfect ambience, it's Authentic and Rich in History and there is an element of unease as the war approaches.
If you are looking for a Historical Saga that is Highly Compelling, Heart Warming, Poignant, Authentic and has a dash of Romance then Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls is the perfect book for you!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The Harper Girls are back in book 3 of one of the most fascinating historical sagas I have ever read. This one breaks off more into the individual family stories which includes a baby and marriages. A comfy cuddle up in the blankets type of read. It can stand alone but why when the saga is SO good!

Life with the Harper Girls goes on. New friends, New baby, new husbands and just as things are going well for them all - War! the girls are bound together to keep the store and their family together with all the men away from home. Great new book in the series, can"t wait for the next one!!

Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls is the third book in the Welcome to Harpers Emporium saga by Rosie Clarke. It can be read as a stand-alone, I know that because I haven't read the first two books but still fully kept up with the story and its characters. That said, I do intend to read the other two now that I have read this and thoroughly enjoyed it.

What I loved about this book is that there isn't focus on just one relationship. There are a few of them and each with their happy moments and their sad ones. I really liked them all but if I have to choose a favourite it has to be Minnie's story. I am not going to give spoilers, but she is a lovely woman who gets a second chance at love and it was so very romantic!

I loved that the story focuses on the workers at Harpers Emporium in London. If you loved Mr Selfridge then you will love this book too. They are entirely different stories but the store and the running of it plays a large part in the book.

Another thing that is focused on is the start of WW2 and although barely started we find out how it affects our couples and families. It's very emotional. And I even learned the reason why men with flat feet weren't allowed to join the army. I am not telling. If you don't know then you will find out when you read the book. Unless you cheat of course and Google it lol!

Another very emotional moment involves rape between a husband and wife. Please do not read this book if it is something that will 'trigger' you. I, for one, cried my heart out. Thankfully there was much love and light in the book too so it balanced out the bad stuff. But just know that you might need to keep a tissue at the ready.

I can't express well enough just how much I enjoyed this book, and I absolutely recommend it.

I was so glad to be back with the Harper Girls in this book 3 of the series. This is such a great read and perfect for fans of saga type books. I would recommend reading the previous books in the series first as there are quite a lot of characters in the story and the previous books will give more background information.

Rainy Days for the Harpers girls is a story following the lives of women that work in a shop called Harpers and follows them before and during the war.

I struggled getting through this, I thought there were too many characters to follow and some of the names seemed a bit too similar so I would forget who was who.

I admit to putting this book down a few times so it took over a month to read it. There was only two of the women's story's I was interested in, it was hard to get into because of jumping around so much and as soon as I did get into it the story jumped to someone else and new characters were introduced and I felt that for most of the characters, to me, the had no depth or personality.

At 90% in, it started to take off and I didn't want to put it down, I feel like the first 90% was working up to the last ten percent but nothing really happened.

I am sorry, but I shall not be recommending this, not will I be reading and others.

There are so many characters in this novel whose lives are running side by side.

(Hint: You should read the previous two books in the series first.)

I had to make some assumptions about each character’s background to understand what’s happening in the present. All the characters have one thing in common– they either work at Harpers Emporium or know someone who does.

An important theme–women’s rights–is discussed in this book, and how the men in the lives of the characters support the movement by varying degrees. Some of the men don’t want their womenfolk to have anything to do with “unladylike” events, whereas others are forward-thinking and hold progressive views.

Even so, the women in the book look forward to finding and marrying decent men and enjoying the security, companionship, and pleasure that married life has to offer.

Marion Kaye is a character who caught my interest. Her fighting spirit in the face of grinding poverty and horrific domestic violence is admirable.

I loved the author’s writing style. All the various side stories flowed well together. It felt like watching a TV series, episode by episode.

The entire novel is about the feeling of belonging and togetherness as the Harpers girls watch out for each other and share in their joys and sorrows. Reading this book gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling and highlights the importance of having good, trustworthy friends.

The book ends with the WWI having reached Britain and the characters signing up for various war duties.

The next book in the series should be quite an interesting read!

(I received an ARC from Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for an honest review.)

I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser and the author for letting me take part in this tour, and thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

I really am a historical fiction fan, and this one was a lovely addition to the ones I've already read. I really liked how it was set further back in time, I often read books set during WWII, so having a book set just before WWI was actually really refreshing and I do really love this time and setting. I read a lot of historical fiction set in WWII and in the countryside, but having this one set in 1918, in the centre of London and in an actual high-end store was very different.

I thought that the author did a really good job with the setting, plotline and characters. I did find a few parts rather boring or mundane, but that's because I'm not really a fan of very "day-to-day" plots, I will say though that it was really rather refreshing and just quite delightful to read something simple for once.

This book is the third in the Welcome to Harpers Emporium series, I hadn't read the preceding too in the series before this one, and I don't think you need to because I didn't struggle to understand anything or who people were as it was explained again. Maybe this would be annoying to someone who read the previous books, but it was really helpful for my reading experience. We meet the characters two years after the events in the first instalment, they are working in Harpers Emporium and going about their daily lives, what I really enjoyed in this story was the addition of the backdrop of the women's fight for rights and freedoms, the references to Emeline Pankhurst and other suffragettes, this is a movement I love to learn about and even though we didn't get much of an insight, I really did appreciate it because a lot of the time in books about the war, other current events are glossed over.

It was definitely a really enjoyable book and I found that the main message of women standing together, both fighting for their rights, but also working together, becoming modern women with rights, freedoms, jobs, becoming wives, becoming mothers, growing up, making friends, it was all really uplifting and it was such a lovely book to read.

I gave this book 4 stars and I would definitely recommend to historical fiction fans.

I LOVED this book, Rainy Days for the Harper Girls, the third book in the “Welcome to the Harpers Emporium” series. I did read this as a stand alone not having read the previous two books and loved it. He setting is in 1914 Oxford Street, London when the First World War was on-going. The men were going off to the war and the women active in the suffragette movement. This was a tough time for everyone and the rich historical detail was written so well for the reader to be truly transported to that time, and the difficulties experienced by many.

Clarke wrote beautifully and easily read over an afrernoon where the writing will easily immerse you into this riveting story I absolutely enjoyed reading about the characters introduced, the enjoyable daily activities, their struggles, trials and tribulations. Though the war in Europe is in the forefront of the story, there were many heartwarming moments, families growing, new romance and other lovely moments that made this read a really fantastic one.

I hope that this series continues as I would love to hear more about this story and the characters. I highly recommend this book and the other books in the series. Well done Clarke on another fabulous installment.