I really enjoyed this novel; it was the fourth in a series; but honestly can be read as a stand-alone. I did not find this out until after starting the book. Upon reading, I want to read the previous books in the series in order to find out more about the characters’ past. This story is told in multiple points of view between Bridget, Phyllis, and Maisie alternating between the chapters. I learned a lot about history with this World War II era historical fiction. The book had a decent pace to it. I rate this novel a 4/5!

I have been aware of the Tobacco Girls series for a while now, but haven't had the time to get stuck in, so this seemed like too good an opportunity to be missed! Heaven & Hell for the Tobacco Girls follows a number of girls who originate from the Tobacco factory in Bristol.

Bridget is leaving the tobacco factory in order to train as a nursing auxiliary, as she is keen to make a real difference to those fighting in the war. But she needs to work out if she can have a career, love and family.

Phyllis has already left the tobacco factory for foreign shores. Based in Malta, she has seen the real impact of the war. Having found love, she has dreams for the future but the unpredictable nature of the war means that nothing is certain.

Maisie remains at the tobacco factory, but feels lonely as her friends leave her behind. When her Grandmother passes away and leaves her an unexpected inheritance she hopes to really help those around her.

This is a novel all about women keeping the home front running for those away fighting. It is about a group of women who want to make their mark and help with the war effort, whilst also realising how much of the world is opening up to them - they have choices, they can look for love on their own terms and they can find fulfilling work. Careers are opening up to them like never before and they are finally starting to be able to make their own decisions on how they want their lives to be.

I read Heaven & Hell for the Tobacco Girls as a standalone novel, but if I'm honest I wish I had read the others in the series first. Whilst the characters all had back stories that were mentioned, I would have preferred to have known about their stories in more detail. That's just me though, this novel gives you more than enough information to be able to thoroughly enjoy it without having read the previous novels in the series! It was also nice to read a wartime novel not based in London. London suffered the brunt of the bombing during the Blitz, but it is often easy to forget that the whole of the country was doing everything it could for the war effort, so it was nice to read a novel set in Bristol!

I am more than happy to recommend this novel to you all. It is a great example of war fiction, but it's also a lovely novel about women, friendship and love.

Set in 1940s wartime Bristol, the reader dips into the lives of three young women. This is the fourth book in the series and though I have yet to read the first, 'The Tobacco Girls', I did read the second and third tales, 'Dark Days for the Tobacco Girls' and 'Fire and Fury for the Tobacco Girls' I hugely enjoyed this story, Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls. Lizzie Lane includes occasional reminders here and there as to what happened to the young women previously, so this works as an individual novel. The women are Bridget Milligan, Maisie Miles and Phyllis Harvey (née Mason), known as the Three Ms. Bridget has joined the nursing service the Civil Nursing Auxiliary and Maisie is working at the W. D. & H. O. Wills tobacco factory, whilst married Phyllis is in the WAAF and is still overseas.

In Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls with the sudden death of her grandmother, Maisie finds herself alone but with a substantial inheritance. She works with her friend, the young, red lipstick wearing Carole, whom she has taken under her wing and is able to help her out when Carole becomes in need. After Phyllis's disastrous marriage, she had resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood until she fell in love with Australian pilot, Mick Fairbrother and now they are planning for their future. Bridget is longing to see her beau, American Lyndon O'Neill, one of the plantation owners supplying tobacco to the factory, however, Lyndon is still trying to get back to England from the US.

Readers get to see the effects of the horror and hardship of war through the author's terrifically evocative writing. There are dashes of delight scattered throughout the tale as well, in terms of treasured friendship, support and love. An atmospheric, gritty and heartwarming read I now find myself desperate to catch up with book one as well as wondering what's in store for the Three Ms in the fifth instalment.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I enjoyed reading the continuing story of Bridget, Phyllis, Maisie and Carole as they do their duty during WWII. Tobacco factory workers, their paths separate during war time aas Phyllis goes to Malta where she is stationed, her pilot boyfriend disappearing one night during a surveillance mission, Bridget joins up as a nursing assistant with hopes of becoming a full fledged nurse, and Maisie and Carole remain at the factory, holding down the homefront.
This is the story of their lives and how things change during war time. It shows each girl's different way of coping with the challenges they face and addresses their dreams and hopes for the future after the war ends.
I really liked the down to earth way the girls are presented, it makes them real and lifelike. I could imagine meeting someone like Bridget or Maisie and becoming friends with them. The characters are easy to identify with and the book reads smoothly taking us on their separate journeys.
I enjoyed this continuing story and hope to read the next installment as soon as it comes out. I recommend to all historical fiction fans, a quick easy read for a day off. Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley, and to Boldwood Books for having me on this blog tour.

It certainly was Heaven and Hell of the Tobacco Girls in this latest instalment of Lizzie Lane's series. It's 1943 and life around the world is hard for everyone. The women are all struggling with loss - it's WWII and everyone is struggling! I felt like I was the fourth M (due to my surname also beginning with M); I was captivated from start to finish.

Well what can I say? Lizzie Lane has made me cry again. She is the absolute master at taking her readers on an emotional journey with her superbly written WW2 sagas. These Girls have already been through so much, there can not possibly be anything left for them. How very wrong! Book 4 in this series is outstanding. Each of the girls, although appear to have gone their separate ways because of the war that is still raging, still write to each other and are very much keeping their friendships alive. the 3 ‘M’s’ are still going strong.

If I had to pick a favourite Tobacco girl then Maisie would just pip Bridget and Phyllis to the top spot. I adore her feisty nature, the way she stands up for Carole, who she has taken under her wing. She takes no nonsense from the American soldiers and she faces her own battles with strength and courage. Bridget and Phyllis face their new lives with just as much verve but I definitely have a soft spot for Maisie.

I could literally write pages on how much I love this book and Lizzie Lane. I thoroughly enjoyed my revisit to the tobacco Girls and can not wait to see what is on the Horizon for them. This is an utterly addictive book that is written with such quality that you can not fail but to be drawn in to the lives of the families and friends. Even some of the undesirable ones have some redeeming features, well all but one! but I’ll leave you to find out about that despicable person!

One of the things I love about Lizzie is that she tells a good story, warts and all. It’s not all hearts and flowers, its honest, gritty and truly gripping. Everyone needs to read the The Tobacco series. It’s flippin’ fantastic, (I do think the series is better as a whole but each book does work well as a stand alone, you will want to read them all though)

4.5 stars. Another book I couldn't put down in the Tobacco Girls series. The love these girls have for one another in the scary time of war is just heart warming. Some real brutal parts along with some heartbreaking ones but seeing how people come together in a time of need is lovely. I can't wait to see what the next book brings, will Sid return, will Carole find her way in life? I feel feel like there's so much more in this series to come

The fourth book in The Tobacco Girls series, HEAVEN AND HELL FOR THE TOBACCO GIRLS picks up from where the previous one left off as we follow the lives and loves of the Three M's - Bridget Milligan, Maisie Miles and Phyllis Mason (now Harvey).

To recap, the three girls became friends whilst working at the Wills Tobacco Factory (I can never recall its full name) in Bristol. Bridget and Phyllis had been friends for some time with young Maisie Miles joining their group with the onset of war in 1939 when her stepfather Frank Miles saw fit to have her employed there so she could then furnish him with information regarding deliveries and routes, thus Frank then relieving the delivery lorries of their cargo to sell on the black market. His partnership with local gangster Eddie Bridgeman saw him land himself in hot water, paving the way for Eddie to try and nab his hands on the very young Maisie...just how Eddie likes them. Once he tires of them, he then pimps them out to keep him in the lap of luxury to which he's accustomed. But Maisie was a force to be reckoned with, and with the help of her new friends, saw Eddie Bridgeman off, along with Frank Miles, in the hands in the local constabulary. Phyllis Mason had been walking out with Robert Harvey, forced together by her mother who saw herself above her class. But Phyllis saw fit to better herself by taking typing classes to become a secretary, only falling into bed with her tutor and up the duff soon after. He fled and Phyllis was stuck with Robert whom she married to give her baby a better future. But when Robert was declared missing believed dead and Phyllis miscarried, she then fled the imprisonment of her mother in law and signed up with the Royal Women's Air Force and being sent abroad where she met the love of her life in Malta - an Australian named Mick Fairbrother. Meanwhile Bridget Millgan's family has been separated due to air raids on the city with her younger siblings living in North Devon for the past two years but now they are home, but home is no longer familiar to them. Feeling restless herself, Bridget longed to see her beau, American Lyndon O'Neill, one of the plantation owners supplying tobacco to the factory in which she works. But Lyndon has been trying to make his way back to England to be with the girl he loves.

Now it's 1943 and Bridget has signed up to join the Civil Nursing Auxiliary with plans to become a nurse and do her bit to help with the war effort and with Phyllis now in the services herself in Malta, leaving Maise the last one of the three M's at the tobacco factory. But Maisie has stepped up since she was the young girl who joined all those years ago and has taken young Carole under wing just as Bridget and Phyllis had done for her...particularly as Carole reminds her so much of her younger self. With her bottle blonde hair and fire engine red lipstick, Carole idol is Jean Harlow and in her naivete sets out to replicate the actress in looks and spunk. But unbeknownst to her, dangers lurk in the background that could bring her world crashing down and change her life forever. Wise beyond her years, Maisie foresees trouble before it hits in some cases (others not so much), but in any case she is there to help and support the young girl who has no one. Having inherited a house, land and money from her grandmother, Maisie invites Carole to come and live with her...which suits Maisie since she doesn't much fancy living alone either. But then there is someone linked to her father that threatens to take everything from her, citing her claim to be who she says she is. There is only one way she can prove who she is and that is to see the one person she never wished to see again - Frank Miles. But can Maisie keep what is rightfully hers?

Since the attack on Pearl Harbour in the last book, which Lyndon just managed to escape, the Americans have finally joined the war bringing with them many sought after items that have long since been rationed in Britain - lipstick, nylons and even things like chocolates and sweets. But the only thing from the US Bridget longs for is Lyndon, who is working tirelessly to try and get back to the woman he loves. But it has been so long between letters, Bridget's mother Mary fears Lyndon is just uttering promises he doesn't intend to keep in order to have his way with her daughter. Needless to say, when she does come face to face with Lyndon the air is frosty indeed. In the meantime, she has signed up to be a nursing auxiliary but her dedication and aptitude see her being recommended for training to become a fully-fledged nurse. But the one thing that nurses cannot be is married...so should Lyndon return to England, she must hold him off until she is fully qualified. But it has been so long Bridget fears will she ever see him again?

Phyllis Mason, though still Harvey but in name only, has been through much in the past few years as well as her life. Her mother has long since scarpered for a life with her own man, adding that there was no room for Phyllis, and so she has had no one to count on but her friends and herself. But now that she is abroad in Malta there is only herself to look out for her. After her train wreck of a marriage, Phyllis resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood...until she met and fell in love with Australian Mick Fairbrother and together they continue to make plans for her future, despite her still being married to Robert Harvey. Phyllis plans to divorce her brutish husband and rid herself of him and his horrible mother, but that is no mean feat stationed hundreds of miles away on an island in another country. Meanwhile, the couple remain happy and continue to plan their future together and she has written to her friends that she has finally found love of her life. Mick is a pilot flying for the RAF but being a pilot is a dangerous occupation. He could easily be shot down and disappear into the sea...and Phyllis fears every time he goes out on a mission. Will Mick return safely to Phyllis or is she destined for heartbreak once again?

This series continues to grow from strength to strength as situations change and the threat of invasion grows ever near. A lot of research has gone into this series to make it the success that it is and to bring each and every character to life...even the hateful ones. But HEAVEN AND HELL FOR THE TOBACCO GIRLS is tinged with sadness as we bid farewell to a couple of much-loved characters, one of which even brought a tear to my eye. As always, the story is filled with grief, anxieties, love and laughter as each come into their own as they grow from strength to strength (just as this series has).

HEAVEN AND HELL FOR THE TOBACCO GIRLS is an engaging addition to The Tobacco series that was a quick read as I revisited the women and their lives in Bristol and beyond. My one complaint is the ending. It was so abrupt, I turned the page to find only "Historical Notes" instead of another chapter. I felt like I was in the middle of a conversation that just ended abruptly with the disappearance of whoever I may have been talking with. It was just gone.

I look forward to seeing where Book 5 takes the girls as they move towards the European invasion and D-Day, marking the beginning of the end of the war. And where the girls will go from here.

With tears and laughter, HEAVEN AND HELL FOR THE TOBACCO GIRLS (in conjunction with the rest of the series) is perfect for fans of wartime sagas such as Rosie Clarke, Pam Howes and Nadine Dorries.

I would like to thank #LizzieLane, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #HeavenAndHellForTheTobaccoGirls in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Bridget Milligan, Phyllis Mason Harvey, and Maisie Miles are back. Phyllis is in Malta where she has fallen in love and believes this man is the one. Bridget is leaving the tobacco factory and joining the Civil Nursing Auxiliary. She misses Lyndon who is in the states but trying to find a way to get back to England. Maisie Miles is the last of the 3Ms left at the tobacco factory. After having a goodbye party for Bridget, Maisie returns home to find her grandmother dead in the parlor. Maisie’s inheritance leaves her wondering where she fits in and how to proceed with her life. Caroline has been promoted to giving tours to visitors at the tobacco factory. She loves her new job and is working hard to lose her accent plus improve her diction. Caroline offers to do a good deed and ends up with an unexpected complication. Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane is the fourth novel in The Tobacco Girls series. While Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls can be read as a standalone, I believe it is best to read the series in order. It will allow you to have the complete background on the characters and follow their journey from the beginning of the war. It is the spring of 1943 in Bristol. The war has been going on for years and rationing is taking its toll. I thought Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls was well-written with developed characters. The characters are realistic and suited the time period. The author captured the era with the war activities, clothing, rationing, language, and the war news. Everyone wants to do their bit. We get to meet a couple of new people who enter the ladies’ lives. I like how all different races and nationalities are portrayed in this story. The war allowed our Bristol ladies to meet people from other countries right in their hometown. Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls is an emotional story. There is grief, love, joy, anger, and sadness in this dramatic tale. We get to learn more about the ladies and their families. Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls is told from multiple points-of-view. I found it a little difficult in the beginning, but I found it easier as I got further into the story. There is some violence in the story that might be a trigger for some people plus there is bigotry (just to let you know). The story ends leaving me wondering what will happen next with The Tobacco Girls. Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls is a dramatic tale with nosy neighbors, tons of tea, fashion rationing, flamboyant flyboys, medical miracles, nimble nuptials, and daring dames.

This second book in this series carried on from the first straight away. I throughly enjoyed re-visiting the girls and reading about their highs and lows. Reading about the hospital during the Blitz was very interesting as well as the exploits that the three girls get up to. I hope there is a third in this wonderful series. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series by Lizzie.

It was lovely meeting up with the girls.

In this book, Bridget has joined the nursing services, and becomes fascinated with the miracles of modern medicine. But she’s also got decisions to make…..

Phyllis is still in Malta where she witnessing those hurt in war and their injuries. It also looks like she’s finally found true love.

Maisie, is the only one working at the tobacco factory. But, after her grandmother passes away, she’s left on her own.

We meet new characters along with characters from the books coming back.

The books can be read as stand alone, I recommend you read all the books in the order.

Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls continues the story of the 3M's: Maisie, Phyllis and Bridget

I am just new to this series and have enjoyed catching up with the 3 friends.

War changes everything and these friends have managed to maintain their strong friendship through hell and high water.

They all have their strength and they all have their problems but through it all even though they have gone their separate ways their bond continues.

I missed Book 3 but managed quite easily to follow Book 4 .

I am so glad I picked up this series and I can't wait to catch up the 3 M's soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for most enjoyable and informative read.

I have enjoyed this series from the first book.Loved catching up with the 3Ms their lives have changed they’ve moved to different places but still I was totally involved loved reading about them their new adventures.Highly recommend this series.#netgalley#boldwoodbooks

Somehow I missed the last book but it didn't detract from the story but I will be making sure that I get a copy very soon.. Following the lives of the 3M's lives as they progress and life changes for them. Enjoy a good read, you wont miss out if you haven't read any of the others but you may well want to read them if this is your first in the series. Well worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC

I have read this series from the beginning and loved every book. It was so nice to catch up with the 3 'M's. Although they have all moved in different directions and in different parts of the world. Another great b9ok in the series. I loved it just as much

My thanks to netgally for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review, which I freely give.

Once again we meet up with the 3 M's who are now split up. Phyllis is still doing her bit in Malta. Bridget has signed up, also to do her bit by signing up to become a nurse. Maisie who was living with her Grandmother, finds that she passed away whilst out for the evening.

We meet the mother-in-law of Phyllis and once again is causing trouble. Maisie has a letter from a solicitor in regards of her Grandmothers will. Has she got to move out of the house ? Well you will have to read it to find out !

The siblings of Bridget return home from the country where they had been evacuated. Upon arriving home the notice a strange smell. They live the near the Gas works ! This took me back to when I was a child early 1950's. We also lived near a gas works and it was not pleasant, but in those days you learnt to live with it. Lyndon comes back to England from America. He is an instructor. However he wants to join the air force.

It all makes for another great read which I can recommend.

I just love this series, This is the 4th book in the Tobacco Girls series. It was great to catch up with Bridget, Maisie and Phyllis again, feel like they are old friends. Looking forward to the next installment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Tobacco Girls Book 4

Bridget Milligan donned a uniform and joined the nursing services where she becomes intrigued with the miracles of modern medicine. She's also torn between family loyalty, her new career and Lyndon O'Neill, the love of her life.

Phyliss Harvey is still serving in Malta where she sees the casualties of war first hand. Finally it seems like Phyllis with true love.

Maisie Miles is left holding the home front at the tobacco factory, but with the sudden death of he grandmother finds herself once more alone in the world.

This story includes: grief, joy and anxiety. We meet some new characters but some old faces from previous books make a welcome return. As before, we get more backstories about he characters. The story is told from multiple points of view. This series is well written and the books could be read as standalones, but I recommend you read all the book in order they were written in. You won't be disappointed.

I'm really enjoying this series of the Tobacco Girls. The girls are all now doing their own thing for the war effort and only Maisie is still working at the factory . They have all matured and changed since their first days of working there. I do like that we see into each of their separate lives. The trials and tribulations , ups and down of life in a country at war.
There are a few surprises in this book , one that I felt sad about. I feel I know these girls and that's a credit of the author's ability to draw you into their lives ,it makes it a real page turner.
Please don't stop writing this series.

This was an engaging WWII-era story of three young women who are working or have worked at W.D. and H.O. Wills, a well-respected tobacco factory in Bristol, England. The three ladies are from working-class backgrounds and call themselves the “three M’s”—Maisie Miles, Bridget Milligan and Phyllis Mason (later Harvey). Their lives, loves, and career struggles are well-described and keep the reader’s interest.

While I have not read the rest of the books in the series, I have come to love the #BoldwoodBooks authors who write about lives of the average people and especially women, during WWII. Therefore I requested this ARC from #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks, and it did not disappoint. I will be reading more by this author and in this series.

One thing I particularly loved was how the author portrayed small details of the times: for example, girls who wanted to advance to tour guides at the factory learned “to sound their haitches” as Carole the tour guide did, this being an indication of the upper classes. Another interesting point was the shortage of makeup and how young women knew to melt the last bits with Vaseline to prolong their small supply. The groundbreaking new use of penicillin was of interest, my parents both being WWII vets. I had no idea exactly when its wider use began. And finally, that mixed marriages were forbidden to US soldiers at the time was an unknown based on prohibitions in some states.

I enjoyed this multi-faceted story greatly and thank #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the ARC.