This is book three in the series. It is lovely being back with the characters. I love the community spirit that is portrayed in this series. It is well written and enjoyable

The new story from the Steel Girls! Okay, I'll say a little more, though that should tell you all you need to know. Heartwarming with enough hints of danger, realism, wonderful characters...more, please!

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Charming, engaging, heartwarming and is thoroughly enjoyable!!
I have been fully on board with the series since day one, so it's always exciting to have another 'Steel Girls book on my TBR and as always this did not disappoint.
I have a real connection to these books, not only do I have steel workers in my family history, but I also live a stone's throw away from Sheffield.
There is so much to love about this one, we are now in 1940 and the three women are still working at the steelworks and are now dubbed the three musketeers by their foreman. They slog it out, graft their arse off to get through another day and hope the end of the war comes soon. I loved their courage and tenacity, their unbreakable bond always made me smile. Yes, they all have it hard in this one but they face everything with a stiff upper lip and pure Yorkshire determination and grit. I do love these women and this series and cannot wait for more.

Part of a series featuring the steel girls,their lives and lives. Good characters and a well researched story which gives us an insight into a different kind of war work.

Set in Sheffield during the first year of the war, Patty and her friends are juggling long working hours as steelworkers, with family life, voluntary work and absent menfolk.
A nicely written story examining the relationships between the women and their families, and the struggles to cope, not knowing if the men are alive or dead.
This is the 2nd in the series, but that was not a problem.

Another book in the wonderful series of the steel girls.

We carry on with Betty, Nancy & Patty and their lives in the factory at Vickers. We see where Betty decides to help the troops with sending knitted socks and hats to them this is to keep her busy. Nancy is also worried about her Bert who is in France. Patty and Archie are loved up but have their trials.

The book I felt was a bit slow at times and didn’t quite flow as the other two books. I found the characters worked well together.

More adventures from our steel girls Nancy, Betty and Patty. The girls are really getting into life at Vickers now, and after helping the people of Sheffield keep warm they’ve decided to knit for the troops, and especially the friends of their loved ones. The camaraderie is lovely and they try to rally round whoever is having a difficult moment. It’s heartwarming to know that in the most difficult and trying times in life everyone pulled together. I don’t want to give anything away but the book ended with me wanting to know what happened next. I hope there is more to come from the steel girls

Set in a wartime city, this is a gentle novel that still shows the harsh realities of war. Centred around Vickers Steelworks, the girl’s friendships develop and strengthen. Whilst enjoying the continuing saga, I felt I was learning more about the Second World War and experiences of those living through it.
Betty, Nancy, and Patty help each other cope with the ever increasing physical and emotional stresses of war. You could also feel the anxiety as the air raid sirens sound, people not knowing whether this is the moment that the bombs are going to fall from the sky. There is the gentle blossoming of Ivy and Frank’s companionship and the difficulties that a young Patty has in understanding her boyfriend Archie’s decisions. Nancy finds her fears and emotions increasing over her husband Bert, as there is a lack of news from Norway and France. Betty is buoyed by the steady flow of letters from William who has enrolled with the RAF, making his way to Canada. The book ends on a nail-biting cliff hanger.
I enjoyed the third book of the series and I look forward to the next book. Many thanks to Michelle Rawlins, her publishers and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another WW2 saga about the women of this country served during the war. Life was hard but they carried on to make the best of things. Very good descriptions and characters and worth 4 stars. Can't wait for the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Sheffield is once more the setting as we visit the early spring of 1940. Vickers steelworks is under pressure to turn out vital equipment, including the Rolls Royce airplane engines. 'The Steel Girls' sign up to work in increasing numbers as their men are conscripted.

STEEL GIRLS ON THE HOME FRONT follows chiefly the main characters Nancy, Betty, and Patty who appeared in the two previous stories. Archie, whose heart gave trouble, has made a recovery but his girlfriend Patty wants him to take it easy – the opposite of his intentions. There's a war on, and if he can't go to stop Hitler, he'll do his best from Sheffield.

The tale follows families, coming together amid separation. With men sent abroad amid ominous news from Norway and, later, France, the women find the strength they never needed, to haul steel, cook for the workers, knit scarves, and get organized. In today's world of instant televised news and updates, it's important to remember that letters to and from soldiers were slow to travel and lifted morale, while news arrived by daily paper, radio bulletins, some cinema newsreels, and – unfortunately – by telegram. The Phoney War of these months saw no bombs dropping but many air raid warnings, stretching everyone's nerves and disrupting life.

Several of the older characters recall the Great War so they know all about rationing, and we see gardens being dug, hens being brought home to new coops, and unsifted flour being issued. At this time, though, there's still plenty of food and services. Also, plenty of willing hands. Hard as these months are, the Steel Girls talk and help, they work and dig. The strength of character displayed is based on the author Michelle Rawlins' conversations with women who lived through those years, and while she assures us the people are fictitious, several of the events did occur.

If you'd like to read about the ordinary British people, the indomitable spirit and unity of those days, STEEL GIRLS ON THE HOME FRONT and the earlier two Steel Girls books are well worth a read. I enjoy social history and there's usually a bit of romance to warm the story.

Learn more about Steel Girls on the Home Front

The third book in the series following the Steel Girls of Sheffield and their friends and family. Another excellent book as they pull together to get through the war. Archie was feeling less of a man because he wasn't physically fit to go to war. Made worse with everyone fussy over him he decides to join as an Air Raid Warden much to the horror of Patty. Loved this book and can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to HQ Stories for the invitation to join the blog tour and a copy of the book to read and review. This is the first book I’ve read by Michelle Rawlins (although I do have a couple on my book shelf that have been recommended to me). Steel Girls on the Home Front is published today in the UK.

I was born in Sheffield and grew up nearby, so I enjoyed finding out more about what life was like in the city during the Second World War. Michelle has created characters at different ages and stages in their life, who have changed their lives to work at the steel works, to ensure that the British Armed Forces have the equipment they need to protect the UK.

I haven’t read the two previous books in the series, but I quickly picked up the story. Michelle has looked at how the women of Sheffield had to cope with loved ones being away in the forces, the different voluntary work carried out to help local people and the troops, and how the war impacted on all areas of their lives.

Nancy, Betty and Patty have become a strong team and help each other tackle the challenges they face. I loved the camaraderie between the friends and their other families/friends, and how the story flowed. I’m desperate to know what happens next but will need to wait another year (August 2023) for book 4, Steel Girls at War.

Happy to recommend this enjoyable historical fiction saga book and I look forward to reading more from Michelle Rawlins in the future.

Steel Girls On The Home Front by Michelle Rawlins is a fabulous historical novel and the third book in The Steel Girls series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the previous two books first.
Once more we rejoin the Sheffield steel girls in 1940. It is lovely to catch up with familiar faces. The women continue to do their bit for the war effort – whether it’s operating machinery, serving tea or knitting for the troops, the women always give one hundred per cent of themselves.
There is a wonderful community atmosphere as the characters support each other. There are tears and fears, joy and laughter, love and support. Through all the seasons, none of the women battle alone as those around them offer love and care – whether it’s a listening ear, a drink in the pub, or that old favourite, a cup of tea.
Michelle Rawlins has captured the fears perfectly – there is the fear in the air raids, and also a fear that their menfolk will be killed. Some still remember the after effects of World War I and the devastated lives. The reader’s heart breaks for the young girl who misses her daddy.
War provided opportunities for women and for those whose health prevented them from signing up. Everyone wanted to be useful and to do their bit.
I am thoroughly enjoying The Steel Girls series and cannot wait for book four – especially as book three ended with a jaw-dropping moment.
I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“It’s when you are in the midst of the hardest of times, you witness the best of human nature.”
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I just love historical fiction sagas
And this one did not disappoint! I really felt like I was living through the trials and tribulations with all the steel girls

If you love sagas but this now!

Another fantastic addition to this series and with an ending like that, I already can't wait for the next one! I really recommend this series to anyone who likes wartime fiction. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book, the third in this the series follows on from the previous books easily.

As you start to read from the beginning you feel as though you’re in 1940 and working in the factory and with the girls in their individual homes.

The story was so beautifully written with emotion and the description of places was lovely. Reading this book, I started to understand what the women of Sheffield had to go through during the war, how they had so much support, friendships and love that helped during hard times.

I highly recommend this book, written by an author who transports you into the book and make you feel a part of the characters lives.

Firstly, many thanx to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me the chance to read and review this book
This book is based in Sheffield and centres around the brave women working in the Vickers steel factory. These women worked full time jobs, ran a house and had children to care for, not knowing where their husbands/boyfriends were being sent to fight WW2.

Although the book started out very well, I felt that a lot of it was "fluffed" out with everyday mundane conversation, gallons of tea and sympathy. How women managed to pull through these harrowing times has been described many times and felt that nothing new was written off.

A good story which was bogged down with insignificant and repetitive information. A few of the women stood out from others, Betty, Patty, Ivy etc but my personal thoughts are that it lacked any real "ooomph"!

Can only give 3 stars, I'm afraid but hope there may be another in this series.

Another brilliant book that draws you into the story of the women steel workers during the war.great story and characters.5*

The war in 1940 without the benefit of any hindsight or strategic overview.

This is well-researched historical fiction, but the author has done a good job of finding out (and imagining) what her characters would have known and thought about the early stages of the second world war rather than conducting detailed research into the big picture at any particular stage. Everything is changing because of how the war is going in Norway, but this is all about working class people in Sheffield and they had only the vaguest idea just what it was that was happening in Norway. (Non-fiction works that I have read suggest that in early 1940 the British War Cabinet didn’t really know either. It was only after the surviving Norwegian forces were based on British soil that cooperation and information-sharing really began to happen.)

When the same disaster happens in France, then the Cabinet does know, because British forces have been there in strength for long enough to establish proper communications and the distances are shorter. This magnifies the shock when the public are actually told the worst because their new Prime Minister actually knows how bad things are.

Most of this book is about how the women who work for Vickers in Sheffield cope with not knowing where most of their menfolk are and how much danger they are in. They cope by unselfishly looking after each other and the few men they have left as best they can -and by keeping as busy as they can, not only to “do their bit” and help the war effort, but also to stop themselves thinking about what might happen. (Incidentally, in both NAZI Germany and the Soviet Union the ruling party took control of neighbourliness and social cohesion at every level through national party organisations or local party committees. Britain may have benefited from not having a ruling party as such during the second world war because it ruled out an entire category of fatal mistakes.)

But then there is the question of how such brave and kind women, mostly quite young, make the transition from coping with the unknown to coping with the worst. And that appears to be a question for the next book in this series.