Another great book by this author
The author is really good at writing multiple timelines
This book was so heartwarming and a great end to the series

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Having read others in this series I knew most of the characters and was excited to once again enter their world. The book took a twist that was unexpected and opened a whole new storyline and explained some more of the background.

The bombing that takes place at the coast made me look up the incident and sure enough it did actually happen. How tragic.

All in all a great read and a shame it is the conclusion of the series, I would love to continue this journey.

Sheer escapism, beautifully written, I will look for more of this author’s work.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are exclusively my own.

This is the fourth book in the Liberty Girls series which I did not realise when I got this eARC. So this book is not set at Christmas as I believed and to be honest I am a little disappointed. I am a massive Christmas fan (though I was a scrooge as a child) and I will happily watch a Christmas movie at anytime of the year. At points throughout the book I considered stopping but there was something about these characters that made me want to know how the story concluded. Though the story was focused on Dorothy (Dot) I also enjoyed the snippets of the other characters/ Liberty Girls peppered throughout. Some storylines I felt were obvious and but others were more left field. I do not regret finishing A Christmas Wedding. This book was not my cup of tea but think that people who like books like Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth now a firm Sunday night favourite on the BBC will enjoy this book

Full Blog Post: https://pjsandbooks.wordpress.com/2021/05/29/a-christmas-wedding/

Rating 4.5/5

Dot Hanson is surrounded by her family, one she has created made up of her Liberty Girls. Recently promoted to fabric manager at the store and with her wedding to store manager Edwin on the horizon life is going well for Dot. However, everything she has built is upended when a visit to old friend Ivy ends in Tahereh that leads to some old secret being unearthed.

It was such a treat to be re-united and catch up with my favourite characters from one of my favourite book series. This being the fourth book, I feel as if I know the character so well by this point. I always liken it to catching up with old friends when I return to these stories and seeing what they have been up to.

In this story we see Dot taking centre stage. WE know her quite well from the previous three book as the matriarch of the Liberty Girl. She’s a strong character always on hand to help someone in need with either a cup of tea or a stern word. This book is told from her perspective and as a result we get to learn a little more about her back story. We discover about her family, friend Ivy and along with that a rather big bomb shell. It was lovely delving into her and seeing her more vulnerable side. Despite the challenges this brought she still remains a rock at the centre of the Liberty Girls.

This book also allowed us to catch up with some other characters we have come to love. We see Mary attempting to repair her relationship with her parents. Meanwhile Rose is pregnant, still dealing with the loss of her sight and her husband being away at war. There was also the introduction of some great new characters too who slotted into the Liberty family perfectly. Once again I was struck by the lovely found family element that’s runs through these books. Over the past four books we have seen the family grow and extend and with it the love grow between the characters. Reading them just gives me a feeling of warmth and happiness, it really was the perfect comfort read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Arrow Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wartime and family saga all in one. Loved the book love the author and will definitely read more by the author

I loved this series and I'm sad I won't read other stories about this women.
This was an excellent end, heartwarming and poignant.
It kept me hooked as it's a gripping and highly entertaining story.
Excellent character development, a tightly knitted plot and a vivid historical background.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
This one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Christmas Wedding is the fourth and final book in the Liberty’s Girls series by Fiona Ford and I am sad to leave this wonderful cast of characters who work in such a special shop behind. It was bittersweet when I realised, as I neared the end of this well written story, that this would be the last time that I would read about this group of women who have touched mine and many other readers hearts. But despite this being the concluding part to what has been a fantastic series there was no let up in all the action, more so in the second half, and once again there was lots of drama with plenty of twists and turns thrown in right up until the last possible minute. I felt things really came full circle ad that each woman that had featured throughout got any loose ends tied up and characters we hadn’t known much about before got their chance to step into the spotlight and share a little further detail about themselves.

Dot Hanson has featured prominently in every book yet I always felt there was an awful lot more going on with her than at first meets the eye. Therefore I was so glad that she played an even more dominant role in this story and that we got to see a totally different side to her. There had always been a sense that she was keeping something back from everyone else, and yes although she is the matriarch figure who always does her utmost to help anyone out in their hour of need and does so willingly and with such kindness and graciousness, one wonders would others do the same for her if they could see that she was struggling?

Dot certainly goes through the ringer throughout A Christmas Wedding and at times I wonder would anything positive come forth for her in her life. Up until this point things had seemed to be on an even keel for her as she has reunited with her childhood sweetheart Edwin Button, who is store manager of Liberty’s. They seem very happy together but again I always had that slight niggle that there is something eating away at Dot that prevents her fully embracing happiness. I had no clue as to what it would be and was therefore enthralled as her story unfolded over the course of the book.

That’s not to say that other characters I have become familiar with were forgotten about in the haste to make sure all the mystery surrounding Dot came to the fore. No Fiona Ford balanced all the new storylines perfectly whilst at the same time long running plots that have been woven within each book continued to be deftly explored with each one reaching a satisfying conclusion. In fact the entire book was deeply satisfying and I think the time is right for the author to leave the Liberty Girls and to explore pasture new with any further books she will write. Everything felt as if it was naturally ending even if I was sad to have to say goodbye to characters who have almost become like friends.

Even at this end point new characters were introduced, this being in the form of new shop girl Brenda Higginson who has come from working as a ladies maid to a lowly position in the shop that holds so many memories for so many people. Ivy and her daughter Helen also feature and to be honest as they lived in a different city I thought what are they doing in this book? What role have they to play and will they be worthy of inclusion? Liberty’s is a special place that has long been in Dot’s heart, the shop itself is the stalwart of this story from which everything else flows outwards. All the characters gravitate towards it as a means of security in times of war and trouble and each character cares so deeply for their place of work that they hope it can withstand what the war may throw at it. Be it the worry of being destroyed in a raid or just simply the lack of sales due to restrictions, therefore perhaps leading to financial trouble.

Nothing is easy for Dot and her co-workers, Mary, Rose, Alice and Jean but what always stands out is their friendship. They have a solid and lasting foundation that sees them support in each other be it in their personal life or regarding any dramas or troubles on the shop floor of which there is always plenty. They confided in each other and offer support and guidance when needed. The strongest of these women I would say is Dot and she takes every person under her wing even when they don’t always instant realise they need it. Therefore I was glad to see that this time around she was displaying her more vulnerable side and that she was distracted and maybe not always able to give her full attention to Liberty’s and the fabric department. It showed that she was just like the others and that no one has an easy time in their lives. It’s not all plain sailing and in order to discover what is going on with Dot, we have to go back to her past.

Initially, I did think that for the first half of the book things were quite slow, not much happened and I felt like what could happen to spice things up a bit so to speak or help the plot move along a bit? But having finished the book and contemplated the overall story that slow paced start was needed for everything that was to come in the later half. That in fact there was actually lots going on but that at the time I couldn’t see the relevance of it and therefore that’s why I felt it that little bit too slow.

There is certainly a different side to Dot exposed the further the layers of the story are pulled back. She has very little faith in her abilities despite her friends and co-workers feeling they can to turn to her for anything and she will be the one with the answers or have a plan that could be put in place to solve what they would deem an insurmountable problem. Dot is generous, caring, ingenious, loyal and steadfast. She always knows the right thing to say and the right time to dispense advice but the memories of the biggest mistake of her life haunt her and the reader is constantly wondering what this could have been. It’s clearly not the fact that herself and Edwin were estranged and went on to lead different lives for so long as they are now back together so what could it have been?

As I was reading along, something just clicked with me and I had an idea as to what the crux of Dot’s problem could be but then I wondered was I reading too much into things. Could it be possible? I was quite pleased with myself when all was revealed and I was proven right as it’s rare that I guess what is actually going on long before the reveal arrives. I was keen to see how all the dots of the story would be joined together and the loose ends that had been present from previous books, would they be connected or remain frayed forever? Will her friends and Edwin be there for her when she needs them the most just as she has always been their backbone and security blanket in times of strife and anxiety? At the same time one wonders if Dot can solve and help others confront their problems, why can’t she do the same for herself instead of running away from things?

I loved how when we weren’t following along with the difficulties Dot was facing, that the other girls that I have become very familiar with got their moment as well. Mary whom I felt was kind of forgotten about since the first book got more of a role and it was brilliant to see her story coming full circle as the reason for her getting a job in Liberty’s reared its head as families troubles make themselves known once again. I was desperately hoping that she wouldn’t go against everything that she stood for and all that she had learned under the warm embrace of the Liberty Girls. I wasn’t best pleased with all of her decisions and hoped she would follow her heart and the advice of the others rather than what she felt she was expected to do. There were also some really difficult scenes to read in this story and as I was reading them I thought on how earth could Fiona Ford do this. Was what I was reading actually happening? Even up until the very last minute of said event occurring I was in complete disbelief at what was unfolding, it seemed so unfair and unjust. Fair play to Fiona for venturing where other authors may have not even if my heart broke at what happened.

A Christmas Wedding was a great read and an apt conclusion to a marvellous series that will strike a chord with many. Its perfect for fans of historical fiction with a specific focus on World War Two sagas. I wouldn’t read this book as a stand alone rather read all for together to really enjoy them and get the full experience. Dot and co have told their stories and I now look forward to where will we venture to and who we will meet in the future books from Fiona Ford.

How lovely it was to be reunited with the Liberty Girls in the eventful months leading up to Christmas 1943. The book actually opens with a brief scene set several years previously when Dot - the matriarch of Liberty's fabric department - was still a young woman. She is captivated by the Christmas Tree in the window of the store but astonished when her friend, Ivy suggests they actually go into the shop to look at fabrics for her wedding dress. After all, Liberty's isn't the place for women like her...
This proves to be a clever introduction to what is one of the most important themes in A Christmas Wedding, the changing face of society during WW2 - particularly regarding the role of women in the workplace. The contrast between the wartime experiences of the different classes is examined too and there's a clear contrast between the experiences of the most privileged and the rest of the population - but there are similarities and shared struggles too. It's also fascinating to see how the previously dogmatic attitudes to what was considered scandalous behaviour are beginning to soften.
Dot has become a very different person to that rather subservient young woman at the start of the novel, and is a strong, forthright character. However, despite being a tower of strength for her friends and colleagues, it soon becomes evident that she isn't really as confident as she appears and frequently still doubts her abilities and her self-worth. This is very much Dot's book and I have a real soft spot for this wonderful character. Much of the action revolves around her as she becomes overwhelmed by the burdens of long-held secrets and present-day heartbreak but the various subplots featuring some of the other characters are engaging too; Mary might have believed her family troubles are in the past but a surprise visit changes everything and she has to make a decision about who she wants to be, while Brenda is the new girl on the shop floor but she has secrets too which reveal the vulnerability of young women in service and an unpleasant encounter on a night out means the rest of the Liberty Girls become dreadfully worried for their newest member. Perhaps the most touching aspect of this series is the love which exists between the characters and that's certainly reinforced here as it becomes clear that family isn't always about who you're related to.
There are a number of shocks and surprises during the course of the novel and although the clues interspersed throughout meant I guessed one revelation, I was still intrigued to discover how the characters would react to the disclosure. Thanks to the seamless inclusion of some of the key moments from the previous stories, it's perfectly possible to read A Christmas Wedding as a standalone but I'm sure that many new readers will be tempted to go back to the start of the series to truly appreciate it in its entirety. The wealth of period details give a real sense of time and place to the story and I enjoyed the introduction of a character who is a conscientious objector and therefore somebody whose beliefs put them odds with much of society at that time. Of course, being set during wartime, there are a few deeply poignant, tear-jerking scenes too.
A Christmas Wedding is the ideal book to curl up with as the festive season approaches and is a captivating conclusion to this heartwarming series. I'll miss the Liberty Girls but look forward to reading more of Fiona Ford's novels in the future.

I have loved this series and this the final Liberty Girls novel does not disappoint.
This time the main focus is the matriarch Dot as we learn more of her history and discover whether her and Edwin can finally find happiness. Along the way there is heartache and tears as always and all our favourite characters are back. We learn more about Mary and meet a new girl Brenda
As always we discover more about how the war affected normal people and thos time we also find out a little about conscientious objectors and the war beyond London.
As always the characters are beautifully written and fell like friends.
Another triumph

A Christmas Wedding by Fiona Ford is the fourth and final novel in The Liberty Girls series. Published today, November 12th, with Arrow Publishing it is described as ‘a heart-warming tale of FAMILY SECRETS, ROMANCE AND WINTER WEDDING BELLS, set around the iconic Carnaby Street department store at the height of the Blitz in London.'

I don’t normally gravitate to the saga series genre but something about Fiona Ford’s writing and her ability to create such wonderful and inspiring characters drew me right in. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a home surrounded with fabric and buttons that connects me with Fiona’s work. As I pick up each book I automatically feel a warmth for these amazing women who ran the fabric department of Liberty’s Department Store in London during the Second World War.

It was while visiting Liberty’s that Fiona Ford discovered a plaque dedicated to the men and women of the store, those brave souls who lost their lives during WWII. ‘Intrigued by their potential stories, Fiona secured rare access to Liberty’s records and archives which served as inspiration for this exciting new saga series.‘

With A Christmas Wedding we return to Liberty’s, but this time the story focuses on Dot Hanson, the matriarch of the series. Dot is a character that has grown as the series expanded. We watched as her relationship with her old love Edwin Button was reignited. Theirs was a special relationship. Having parted as childhood sweethearts, they crossed paths again inside the doors of Liberty’s. Their love for each other is clearly evident, and with both now widowed, marriage is inevitable. But Dot is harbouring a secret, one that casts a constant shadow on her life.

As the war progresses and Britain is suffering the horrors of air raid sirens and bombings, Liberty’s staff are determined to keep spirits raised. But as rations are imposed and their stocks are limited Dot and her team are struggling to keep sales up, while also inspiring creativity among their customer base. With Flo Canning having left the team to join ENSA, Dot is promoted to Fabrics Manager but is very unsure of her ability to fulfill this role. Dot’s earlier years have left a mark on her confidence and although never short of a sharp word when needed, she has never felt her skills stretched to a managerial level. With the support of her wonderful and extremely supportive team, Dot tentatively takes on the challenge. Dot is a collector of waifs and strays and as she reaches out to assist a new employee, Dot is struggling. Exhausted from juggling too many balls, her past slowly creeps up on her, leaving Dot very exposed to a broken heart and a sadness that she cannot shift.

Fiona does return to many of her characters from the earlier books, continuing their stories. It was lovely to read more about Mary and how her life has changed beyond recognition from when we first met her in Book 1. Mary, like all the Liberty girls, has had to overcome many obstacles in her life yet, even though her beginnings were very different, the Liberty girls embraced her as their own and were always there for Mary and for each other.

Fiona Ford writes with a very empathetic hand. Her characters all have fascinating stories that are expertly interwoven and developed throughout this series. Fiona provides sufficient backstories in each book, which means a reader can pick up any one of them but, to truly immerse yourself in the lives of these wonderful people, I do recommend you start with the first book, Christmas at Liberty’s

A Christmas Wedding is, as the name suggests, a story about love, relationships and of course marriage. Fiona Ford transports the reader back in time to an era of severe shortages, fear and death, an era of community, unending support, love and laughter. Immersed in their world, the reader can almost feel the pain, experience the joys and imagine many of the emotions as the pages are turned.

A Christmas Wedding by Fiona Ford is another heartwarming, compassionate, inspirational and compelling read about these amazing women (and men) who rallied around and kept the spirits high as the world was collapsing around them. This really is gorgeous historical fiction that will leave you glowing inside. Plenty of tears, laughter and attitude combine to create a richly described story, placing those Liberty girls right into the heart of every reader. The perfect read for these dark Winter days.

I’m such a huge fan of this wonderful series and it was great to back with The Liberty Girls again.

This time the amazing Dot takes centre stage which I was really excited about. Dot has always been one of my favourite of the Liberty Girls and it was great to learn more about her life. I think it’s fair to say she’s had quite a hard life and I found it quite emotional learning about all she had been through. Her past also gives an interesting insight into the class system in Britain at that time and I was shocked that she felt she couldn’t do something like buy fabric from Libertys because it ‘wasn’t for the likes of her’.

As always there was lots going on with the characters with multiple storylines running alongside each other. This kept me firmly absorbed in the story and I loved the way the author writes it so that I felt involved in what was going on. It was especially interesting following Dot as she made preparations for her wedding and learning about all the compromises war brides had to make.

I’ve loved this amazing series and I’m so sad that it’s ending. This author really knows how to write heartwarming, emotional historical saga’s which are always enjoyable to read. She has always managed to keep the books fresh, interesting and completely gripping so that you have to keep reading. I feel like I’ve really gotten to know the characters, almost like they were friends and it’s sad to leave them all behind. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Huge thanks to Rachel Kennedy from Arrow publishing for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

I love anything written by this Author as she writes such wonderful stories that pull you into the book,the characters are brilliant.The Liberty Girls are back and boy is this book full of emotion i have laughed,cried and got angry with them all.Dot,Alice,Rose,Mary along with family are in for some surprises and shocks but as usual they all come together as the Liberty family to help each other and to welcome new members to their team.Thank you Fiona Ford i have loved reading this book and it deserves more than 5*

Fantastic, stayed up late to finish reading it! Great characters with Dot being the centrepiece. Some laughs, some sadness, some happiness. My only criticism is that very little is said about the war; there does not appear to have been any air raids in London in this book (depriving the staff of Liberty's their sleep nor mention of bomb watching etc) or little mention of how the war was affecting London. I'm unsure if there will be another in the series as to where the storyline has been left? If there is I will certainly look forward to reading it.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review. Well the 4th book and the end of an era for the liberty girls.
What a saga this has been from beginning to end with Dot at the helm and her waifs and strays flo Deborah mary Rosie just to name a few I actually felt when reading the last book I was there and laughed and cried it really is an emotional Rollercoaster of a journey I want to give nothing away in my review as I want each person reading the book to enjoy it as much as i have I can highly recommend this OUTSTANDING book and Author not enough stars to do it justice thank you fiona Ford.

A Christmas Wedding is a book I have been waiting for with excitement. I love the Liberty Girls series by Fiona Ford and knowing this is the final one is sad but I am going to teat myself to them all in paperback and re-read them.
The cover of this book is beautiful and so romantic. I adore Dot and in A Christmas Wedding we really get to hear her story and learn more about her. I could really relate to a lot of things that happen to her in this story and I felt moved at each positive step. We also get introduced to some new characters as well as catch up with all the original liberty girls.
Fiona ford has created an amazing, heart-warming and emotional historical saga series and one I have really enjoyed reading. The story lines are gripping and emotional and you really get to know the characters well. I felt like part of the Libertys family.
A Christmas Wedding is a lovely, uplifting historical read.

Book four in the Liberty's series.
Dorothy Hanson is at the wedding venue for Mary Holmes-Fotherington and David Partridge, a beautiful day Mary is like a daughter to her.
And The Liberty's Department Store in Regent Street her co workers, Alice Milwood, Rose Harper and Jean Rushmore are all like family to her.
Hopefully Dot will get her dream wedding to Edwin Button one day they are getting on, but with the war still in full force 1943 she is waiting for the proposal to come.
been offered the job as fabric manager full time she hopes she can full fill her duties with the new sales assistant Brenda Higginson training her in she hopes she can do as well as Flo did with Mary.
This book brings us lots of old and new character's along the way, you feel so drawn in like your sharing their journey with them.
Dot's been through a lot in her life and a few secret's are about to surface with a few surprises.
no matter what heartache she suffers she always bounces back.
I loved every bit of this book, and sadly its the last of The Liberty Girls so will be sorry, but I know the author will have a new series in the future for her readers so its something that I will look forward to.
this is a magical Christmas read that readers will most certainly love reading.