This is part of a WWII Series. It can be read as a standalone.
It is well written. The characters are relatable and believable. A great book

Another great story from Jean. I've loved the Ration Book series from the start and wasn't let down at all by this new one. Wonderful characters, terrific writing! More, please!

I have been a fan of Jean’s work for a while now. I am particularly fond of the series the ‘Ration Book Series’, which is set in the East End of London. I have read and loved all the books in the series. When I heard that Jean was due to release another book in the series, I knew that I had to read it just as soon as I could. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because the eighth book in the ‘Ration Book Series’ is called ‘A Ration Book Victory’ and it was released on 5th May 2022. I adored reading ‘A Ration Book Victory’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that I love the character of Queenie Brogan and I warmed to her from the very start. In fact I ended up feeling as though she had become a friend of mine and I felt all protective of her. This book is more focussed on Queenie and events as they have happened throughout her life. In the prologue we meet Queenie in 1877, when she was still living in Ireland with her family. Queenie was rather fond of a lad called Patrick that she had met and had got to know and the feelings were reciprocated. Only something happens that leads to the couple breaking up. When we catch up with Queenie in 1945, she is married to a man, but her childhood sweetheart happens to be the local priest, who is gravely ill. Secrets start to be revealed and the truth emerges. How does this affect Queenie and Patrick? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my word, I was drawn to ‘A Ration Book Victory’ the moment I saw Jean’s name on the cover of a book that I hadn’t read yet and as soon as I started reading, I knew that there was no chance of me doing anything other than reading for the rest of the day. I picked the book up only intending to read a chapter or two to make a start but I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story and in the lives and loves of the characters that I was still sat there reading over 6 chapters and an hour later. This was one of those stories that stayed with me whether I had the book in my hand or not. If I wasn’t reading the book I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book to one side for any length of time then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth. I had taken so well to the character of Queenie that I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. I soon got to the end of ‘A Ration Book Victory’ and I had to say a reluctant goodbye to Queenie and the rest of the Brogan clan. I found ‘A Ration Book Victory’ to be a gripping and an at times emotional read.
‘A Ration Book Victory’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Jean Fullerton. Jean has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Jean’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintains a fairly brisk pace throughout. Jean clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes them seem just as real as you and I. Reading ‘A Ration Book Victory’ took me on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Jean makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action.
In short, I adored reading ‘A Ration Book Victory’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jean’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

The book is the sixth in the East End Ration Book series, and sadly the last. It is the eighth overall in the Ration Book series.

From the gorgeous cover, to the beauty of Jean's writing I adore every minute I get to spend with the Brogan family and the residents of Mafeking Terrace.

Beautifully written, with the characters we've grown to love. I've enjoyed seeing them develop throughout the series. Queenie the family matriarch was definitely my favourite, with a heart of gold and her feisty nature.

Community spirit and camaraderie was everything during the war, lifting spirits and everyone coming together like one huge family.

The stories are heartwarming, uplifting and an absolute pleasure to read.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved all the Ration Book series and this is the same, every one can be read as a standalone or as the series. It is a great shame that this will be the last one unless Jean decides to carry this on until the end of rationing as that was in 1954 giving another nine years of following these characters. I am so sorry to see this finishing as they have all been so enjoyable despite being about the war years. Well worth 5 stars, wish I could give this far more.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC

What a joy to return to the noisy, chaotic and emotionally-charged Brogan family. I have read and loved all the previous books in the Ration Book series and this one appears to be the final one, which feels bittersweet. They are fabulous books, all set in World War 2 in the East End of London, centering around a large working class household headed by Jeremiah Brogan. This one placed the focus on Queenie, Jeremiah's matriarchal Irish mother, and flicked between her teenage years in Ireland and the 1940s. Featuring the full cast of interesting characters that Jean Fullerton has drawn so beautifully, it is a fascinating, fun and emotionally powerful read that held my attention throughout. Loved it.
With grateful thanks to NetGalley, Atlantic books and Jean Fullerton for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read 4 books in these series and the characters were like old friends, the type of friends you are happy to meet and catch up with them.
This is the last book and I had to say goodbye to these characters and this places. It was also one of the most emotionally charged and poignant. It moved to tears, made me smile, kept me hooked and turning pages.
Queenie is a great character, a strong woman who face a lot in her life and her relationship with Father Mahon dates to a shared past in Ireland.
Their story is the main plot in this compelling book, but we also meet the other member of the Brogan clan. The past and the future plays a relevant role in this book, and it was the excellent closure of a good series I loved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Corvus, Rachel's Random Resources, and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Ration Book Victory is the eighth and concluding instalment of Jean Fullerton’s WWII East End saga and catches up with the big-hearted Brogan family in the final months of the war. Previous books have focused on specific family members and this book elaborates on indomitable matriarch Philomena Dooley, known to all in the East End as Queenie, and traces her story right back to childhood in the Irish village of Kinsale. As grandmother to Jeremiah and daughter-in-law Ida’s seven children and great-grandmother to eight and still rising, Queenie has plenty of demands on her time. Nevertheless she is a faithful devotee to the local parish of St Breda and St Brendan’s and in particular long-serving priest, Father Patrick Mahon, but it is only when he collapses and the full extent of his declining health comes to light that the Brogan’s start to notice the impact it has on her. Throughout the series Queenie has always played her cards close to her chest and although she has always hinted that her and Father Mahon knew each other as children in Ireland, she has several undisclosed secrets that threaten to unsettle those closest to her.

The novel employs a dual timeline and moves between the village of Kinsale, County Cork in 1877 when Philomena was five years old through to 1890 and her arrival as wife to Fergus and mother to Jeremiah in the East End that she has long called home. As the action moves back and forth between Queenie’s early years in Kinsale to present day London (opening in 1945) the story that unfolds isn’t particularly surprising given several heavy-handed hints but it is sensitively done. Alongside the overarching story focusing on Queenie and Father Mahon, the entire Brogan clan are planning for the future and thinking about life after the war. Jeremiah’s expanding removal and delivery business is threatening to outgrow its premises, Billy’s real mother wants to play a part in his life and with Mattie, Cathy, Jo and Charlie all married, the soon to be reunited family seems to be growing by the day. Although I found the opening of the novel involving and pretty action-packed as Fullerton updates readers on the lives of all of the family members, I was disappointed that by halfway through the book seemed to be marking time in preparation to draw to a close. Apart from tying up some obvious loose ends I found the content of the second-half prosaic, even for a WWII saga novel, and the pace sluggish.

Despite only having read two previous instalments of this series I had no problem keeping track of the plentiful cast of characters or picking up the stories that I had missed, but this concluding instalment will mean most to diehard fans of the series and is very much about brighter days ahead after the VE Day celebrations.

Wow what an ending to a fabulous series. I have enjoyed following the ups and downs of family life with the Brogan’s of Mafeking Terrace. We have seen the family grow up, get married, have children, and deal with the hardships of life during World War Two. This last book was especially touching as we learned about how it all began. Matriarch Queenie Philomena Dooley/ Brogan as a young girl in Kinsale Ireland starts off the wonderful emotional journey of her life by falling in love with the love of her life Patrick Mahon. Grab the tissues for this emotional rollercoaster of a read. You can’t help but fall in love with the great characters in this series. A well deserved five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another fantastic book from Jean Fullerton based on the East End Brogan Family. Queenie is the matriarch of the family and although she grew up in Ireland she moved to the East end of London where she started her own family. It’s best to read the books in order to understand who is who! Loveable characters written in an easy to follow style. Thanks Jean and your publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

A beautiful emotional and heartbreaking continuation of the much loved “ Brogan” family, and such a lovely surprise to finally finding out about “ Queenie and her Patrick a look back to their youth and what happened , had tears at times and so made me admire queenies. strength and timeless love for a man she knew she had lost to the church , this has been the very best book of the series , thank you Jean , absolutely loved it .

Wow I love this author. This book did not disappoint loved all the characters and how the author brought them to life. I enjoyed it so much I finished it within 24hrs.
Would highly recommend

Visiting the Brogan family again is eventful as always, this time concentrating mainly on Queenie’s story which is told in dual-time frame which flows like one.
While following Queenie past & present the story of her grandson Billy in interwoven so well giving the impression of history repeating itself by not listening to your parents and going against your upbringing. Loved it.
We also follow granddaughter Jo through her trials to become a parent and her struggles with Tommy being away.
I don’t think I’ve ever read death described so beautifully, to say I shed a tear or two ! This book will stay with me for a long time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Don’t do this book justice.

Loved catching up with all the characters from this series and reading about how Queenie and the father were childhood sweethearts, as usual a well written and descriptive storyline which I couldn't put down, can't wait to read more

What a wonderful finish to a fantastic series! I have loved being with the Brogan family from the very beginning. The highs, the lows, the love affairs and the disasters, all were intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable. All of us know or knew families like this at one time or another which makes it so real. Indeed, my own Great Grandmother was a bit of a 'Queenie'.
All the family are here again but make no mistake, this is Queenie's and Father Mahon's story from start to finish. There are flash back chapters to Kinsale, in Ireland, in the eighteen hundreds which tell their story from the beginning and it works really well.
A thread of sadness runs through this book and at times I outright cried. Queenie is a great character and I loved discovering what the bond between herself and Patrick was.
I'm only sorry I won't get to spend time with the Brogans anymore but I can't wait to see what this author serves us up next!

Another great instalment of the ration book series. Loving these novellas and hoping for further instalments.
Fantastic read

A bangin read, grab the hankies,
The Brogan Family in the final days of WW2 February 1945 Book six sadly the end of this wonderful series what a journey it's been.
Mafeking Terrace, London. Queenie Philomena Brogan loves her brood that are all still growing giving her sweet balm of old age. The war with Hitler and Germany is ending,
she has lived here with her son Jeremiah and Ida for thirteen years sailing over from Kinsale Ireland as a widow.
This book is a cracking ending and Queenie Philomena Dooley takes us back to 1880 as a fifteen years old as we learn the true story and its not one to be missed.
I do phrase the author for all her hard work for creation this wonderful series that we grow to love the Brogan family as our friends and neighbours. It brought so much comfort to me reading all the characters own stories and the changes that will happen in the coming months for them.
this book made me laugh and cry, an incredible heart-warming read right through to the end. And its a final goodbye to the series but the books will live on and give enjoyment to read again and again. I will miss the Brogan's and look forward to hopefully a new series to come from this author. Loved it all.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this good old fashioned read and how very hard it was for people during this period, it was all about friendship and looking out for one another.

A beautifully written book, completing the Ration Book series.

Queenie Brogan lives in the East End with her extended family. This book tells her story in a dual timeline, from her childhood in Ireland where she met Patrick Mahon, to the modern day where Patrick is their local parish Priest. What we're given is a story about lifelong love, secrets and hurt.

This was actually the first of the series I'd read, and it works well as a stand alone - although there are a lot of characters, the author gives just enough information to allow the reader to get to know them quickly without needing to know the previous stories. I will definitely be looking out the earlier tales now, I really enjoyed this one.

Loved it! Sadly the last in the Ration Book series, but Jean Fullerton saved the best for last. A wonderful read, finishing the story of the Ration Books between England 1940’s and Ireland 1800’s telling the love story of Father Mahon (Patrick) and Quennie Brogan (Philomena), childhood sweethearts. The book is filled with love, heartbreak and even a mention of the Kray twins! I’ve loved this series and I’m sad that the story has come to an end. Wonderful series and a must read. I wish I could give it 10 stars.