This is a compelling historical novel. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
The characters are well developed and realistic.
An enjoyable book

Loved this book! Thought the story was engaging and a good measure of drama, romance and humour. Can't wait to read more from Sheila!

This is the third installment of Reckoner's row and it feels like I've never been away. The characters are all familiar after reading the first two books and it feels like I'm back on the street.

I was thinking some questions would be answered and truths come out and I was pleasantly pleased they did.

Arrangements are being made for Evie and Danny's wedding and also the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2nd. The row comes together pooling their hard-earned resources to make both events a success.

Evie is dreaming of a white wedding with a beautiful princess gown and all accessories, but in reality that looks
impossible. Poor Danny's haulage firm is struggling financially and going downhill fast. Jealous Susie puts a spanner in the works, she's always wanted Danny for herself and can't stand the thought of him marrying Evie.

I really enjoyed this saga of hardship, close-knit families, and drama.
It was one that I found myself keep going back for more.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book. xx

Sheila Riley has really captured the essence of life around the time set in this book and her clever writing carries the reader along on a rollercoaster of emotions.

Sheila Riley continues her gritty and gripping Liverpool set series Reckoner’s Row with another emotional and captivating installment: The Mersey Mothers.

It’s 1953 and there is great excitement in the air as it is Queen Elizabeth’s II Coronation year. The mothers of Reckoners Row have all come together and are planning a celebration to commemorate this wonderful occasion. However, it’s not all street parties and bunting in Reckoners Row as earth-shattering secrets and shocking revelations come to light and threaten to cast a shadow over the upcoming celebrations.

Evie Kilgaren has got a lot to look forward to. She is counting down the days until her summer wedding to Danny Harris. But there is trouble brewing as Skinner & Sons has got a new rival willing to do whatever it takes to put them out of business. Evie is willing to move mountains to save the company. But will her efforts be in vain? Or will there be light at the end of the dark tunnel she seems to have fallen into?

When Ada Harris is summoned to the bed of her estranged husband, she doesn’t know what to expect. However, even she wasn’t prepared for the bombshell which sprang forth from his lips; a shocking confession that well and truly pulls the rug out from under her feet: he knows who really killed Ada’s mother. Has an innocent man been falsely imprisoned? And is a dangerous killer still walking the streets with his eyes set on Ada?

The coming months will not be without its challenges for the Mersey Mothers of Reckoners Row, but if they stick together, there is absolutely nothing these strong, generous and courageous women cannot conquer.

Sheila Riley is such a wonderful storyteller who really knows how to draw her readers into her stories and create worlds full of colourful characters it is impossible not to care about. The Mersey Mothers is a heartfelt, emotional and compelling saga about women’s strength during tough times, the power of friendship and the ties that bind set in a close-knit Liverpool community.

A superb Liverpool saga that tugs at the heartstrings, The Mersey Mothers is the latest immersive and engaging tale by Sheila Riley.

I have been a fan of Sheila’s work for a little while now. I especially love the series set on ‘Reckoner’s Row’. ‘The Mersey Mothers’ is the third book in the series. I loved the first two books in the series and I have been (im)patiently waiting for the third book to be released. Well the wait is over as ‘The Mersey Motherrs’ was released on 19th April 2022. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Mersey Mothers’ but more about that in a bit.
As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was on to a good thing and that I would find it rather difficult to put this book to one side for any length of time. I was right on both counts. I felt as though I had been reunited with old friends in the form of the different characters. I had initially picked the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of different characters that I would still be sat there several chapters and an hour or two later. I became addicted to this story and it was constantly on my mind. If I wasn’t reading the book then I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book down for any reason then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down another path entirely. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘The Mersey Mothers’ and I had to say goodbye to the residents of ‘Reckoner’s Row’. I found ‘The Mersey Mothers’ to be a gripping and emotional story, which certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Mersey Mothers’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Sheila Riley. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly steady pace throughout. Sheila clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. Sheila’s characters seem just as real as you and I. This story certainly took me on something of an emotional journey and I went through every emotion that the various characters went through.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Mersey Mothers’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Sheila’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I am sorry but for some unknown reason I simply cannot get in to reading this book. I have no idea why since it is the same as a hundred others I have read and enjoyed. But maybe that is the why. It is the same as the others I have read. I may be looking for something different. I do not by anyway mean to detract from or put people off from reading this novel. There is nothing wrong with it, it simply is not the one for me at this time. You could call it a case of reader burnout for the subject matter!
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

This is a great series which captures the spirit of the time, through the period detail, especially when you read about the characters' daily lives. 1953 was a landmark year for the United Kingdom, as it was the year HM Queen Elizabeth was crowned and I enjoyed its inclusion in the story, as it affected life in Reckoner's Row. Life in Liverpool is still affected by the Second World War as rationing and shortages are still affecting daily life.

At the beginning, you are shocked by an incident which happened in 1947, six years before most of the story is set. It is a powerful opening chapter which has repercussions throughout the story. The characters live in a close- knit community with a keen sense of place. There are several mysteries to unravel but ultimately it is a satisfying story, with well- drawn characters and a credible, range of emotion.

In short: Well written historical fiction with a great sense of place
#blogtour

I’ve read a few of Sheila Riley and this one was amazing a nice fluffy read I loved great writing style and amazing characters and chemistry you love.

This one picks up three years after the last book, "The Mersey Girls." Each book can be read on its own, and you will be fine. In fact, I have not yet finished all of the others. However, I believe it is most likely beneficial to read them in order. In this book, we find out more about why and how Evie's mother, Rene, disappeared, only to be found when the canal thawed. If that wasn't enough, her father was arrested for the murder and imprisoned in a mental asylum for the criminally insane.


Of course, this is only one part of this family saga. There are several different stories that play out in this book, and each one is as compelling as the next. That is one thing I am finding that I love about this series. It is like watching a movie, seeing how everyone has their own story and how it plays out.


I found that I couldn't put this one down when I picked it up and managed to read the entire thing while I was in treatment. It kept me entertained and my mind engaged. As always, this is a beautifully written story. Each character plays well off the others, and the environment plays such an integral part of the story.

The Mersey Mothers by Sheila Reilly is another chapter in the Mersey saga. Things are going well, for the most part. Danny and Evie's wedding is coming up soon, although the hauling yard is not doing well. There is new competition that seems to want to put them out of business and is not only undercutting their prices, but is up to mischief as well. Evie is the bookkeeper and is not telling Danny how bad things really are. Instead she is keeping books for others businesses, and not mentioning to him. Their father has escaped from the hospital for the criminally insane where he has been since he killed their mother. Lucy is making a name for herself as a hair stylist. Ada has finally gotten ride of Bert, leech that he was and the pub is doing nicely with Angus as the publican. Life is pretty good for all of them.

Of course, when life is goo that simply means something will go wrong. Evie's and Lucy's brother comes home from his National Service in Korea so that goes in the plus column. Other good things happen, too, but bad things come along as well. It is a tumultuous time for all of them. It is part of life, though, when one looks at it over the years. Grace and her rich husband make life better . . .what good people they are. It is a good life, overall, and this is just a chapter. It is fun to read these long-term stories. We're well out of World War II now, and the new queen, Elizabeth, is being crowned. What better thing to set the tone?

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Mersey Mothers by Boldwood, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #boldwood #sheilareilly #themerseymothers

I did not realize this Was book 3 in yhe series. And I feel I then cannot give a fair review. But I can tell you this, I absolutely have to read the first in the series

Third book in the Reckoners Road series one of my favorite series.Loved reading about the preparation for the Coronation all the activity on the block.Strong women wonderful cast of characters looking forward to next book in series.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks

Book Review “The Mersey Mothers” by Sheila Riley
APRIL 25, 2022 ~ NIKIPRESTON
BOOK REVIEW NO: 103


SYNOPSIS/BOOK BLURB

The Mersey Mothers

Liverpool 1953

January sees the dawn of the Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation year as the mothers of Reckoners Row unite in preparation for the celebration of the new Queen.

Meanwhile Evie Kilgaren is dreaming of her summer wedding to Danny Harris, but trouble looms for Skinner & Sons with a new rival trying to put them out of business, but no-one knows why….

Ada Harris is summoned to the bedside of her estranged husband, who, in his dying moment confesses to a deadly secret – he knows who really murdered Evie’s mam Rene all those years ago and the consequences are far reaching.

Has an innocent man been jailed and is there still a murderer walking carefree?

Will Evie get the happy-ever-after she so longs for with Danny? And will The Mersey Mothers unite and still be friends?

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3svsdSB

REVIEW ~ NIKI PRESTON ~ 5 STARS

This is my second book by Sheila Riley but the first in the Reckoner’s Row Saga. The Mersey Mothers is book 3 of this historical saga, however I don’t feel that I missed to much but having said that I do now want to read to other two. So in all honesty, I think it’s better to read all three.

This is a beautiful story, full of passion, strong morals and unbreakable friendships, no matter what has happened. Everyone living in and around Reckoner’s Row has a huge sense of community and they stick together through thick and thin. Ada is a brilliant character. she won’t let anything get her down even though she has a tough life. I really loved her forthright nature. In fact a lot of the women are forthright and it’s great to read. She actually reminded me of my Grandma. She wore the same wrap around pinny, lived in a very similar community and I couldn’t help but smile.

Evie and Lucy are wonderfully written women. Evie, looking after her younger sister since their Mother’s demise. They have a superb relationship and I utterly adored them both.

The Mersey Mothers is written so well, the plot is great and it evokes strong strong emotions that you find yourself having a chuckle one minute, feeling really angry the next then full on tears. A totally compelling read that absolutely lives up to being a saga.


Author Bio –


Sheila Riley wrote four #1 bestselling novels under the pseudonym Annie Groves and is now writing the Reckoner’s Row series under her own name. She has set it around the River Mersey and its docklands near to where she spent her early years. She still lives in Liverpool.

Social Media Links –

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SheilaRileyAuthor/

Twitter https://twitter.com/1sheilariley

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sheilarileynovelist/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SheilaRileynews

With Thanks for the Advance copy to ……….

Rachel Gilby https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/

Sheila Riley https://www.facebook.com/SheilaRileyAuthor/

Boldwood Books https://www.boldwoodbooks.com/

The Mersey Mothers is the third installment in the Reckoner's Row series, featuring Evie Kilgaren, her sister Lucy and her fiance Danny Harris. Set against the end of WWII, the story tells of the girl's father being incarcerated for the murder of their mother.

Evie is dreaming of her perfect wedding while Danny is struggling to keep his business, Skinner & Sons, a haulage company, afloat. Why is a rival company trying to put him out of business, a fire brings everything to a head.

Ada Harris, the woman who raised Danny, not his biological mother, goes to her dying husband's, bedside to learn a secret that could ruin everything for her, Evie, and Lucy.
With the Queen's coronation and the wedding looming in the future, the friendship between Ada and Danny's real mother is in peril.

Was an innocent man incarcerated for a crime he did not commit? If you read the previous two books in the series, this one brings back all of the characters, their stories, loves, and ambitions to the forefront. A family sage written with knowledge of the Merseyside in 1953. Will the wedding go as planned?


I loved the story, no computers, no cellphones just ordinary people, each with a story to tell in a time where there is still rationing, from the war, eight years later. I was born in the same year and I totally loved the story, the excitement of Ada getting her first tv. I remember those days.

If you want a book or series to get lost in, Reckoner's Row series is a must-read!

I would recommend reading the Reckoner's Row series in order starting with the first book, The Mersey Orphan, to gain some understanding about the setting and the characters background. Even though, each installment can be read as a stand-alone.

The Mersey Mothers is a detailed story that focuses on the community of Reckoner's Row...

I like how Riley has created a vivid imagery and provided a good amount of research into some important events in british history. The writing style has a mixture of dialogue and description, yet becomes a little repeative in regards to some the information given. The frequently change viewpoints can become confusing...I had to reread what I had read to gain some understanding as to what character was being discussed.

The character development of The Mersey Mothers is ok. The characters are realistic with some character that the reader could sympathise with and others you disliked. Each character has their own agenda and personility that becomes apparant as you learn more.

I would strongly recommend reading The Mersey Mothers to lovers of Women's Fiction and Historical fiction, as it is a character driven emotive tale filled with action, drama, deceit, friendships, family and a sense of community as the reader learns more...

I loved reading about life in early 1950's Liverpool. Telling us about a typical street preparing for the coronation and a wedding whilst trying to keep businesses alive was an eye opener. The characters are very believeable and I was captivated so much, I read it in a day. A lovely read.

The third in the series, although easily read as a standalone. I love my historical fiction, so found it a highly, enjoyable read.

I enjoyed getting to know all of the mothers and the other characters of Reckoners Row.

Close knit families, community spirit and friendship are what make these family sagas so lovely to read. They never let anything dampen their spirits and just got on with life.

Heartwarming, lovely and an author whose other works I will definitely be checking out.

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

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this first book in this series. For a change it was set in the fifties which made it more interesting. The clothes, people and the privations of that time was brought to life and as it wasn’t very long after the Second World War you could tell that people were still struggling with food and housing. A wonderful start to a new series. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This was my first book by Sheila Riley and I can see now why her novels are so popular. The book is so engaging and easy to read that it's impossible not to fall in love with its fabulous characters!

It starts with a grim prologue. If you've read the previous books in the Reckoner's Row series, you already know that Evie Kilgaren's mother was murdered in 1947. Here we get a brief glimpse of what happened and know the case wasn't as clear-cut as it appeared to the investigating authorities. Is it possible that Rene's husband, Frank Kilgaren, was wrongly convicted and sent away to the Asylum for Criminally Insane?

The main events take place in 1953. Evie is preparing for her summer wedding with Danny Harris (Skinner). They are doing their best to keep Danny's delivery business afloat, but the company is in trouble. Ada Harris, the woman who the woman who raised Danny is called to the deathbed of her estranged husband Bert and finds out he knew who really killed Evie's mother Rene.

It is very easy to follow the story even if you haven't read the previous parts. Having said this, I wish I'd started from the beginning of this family saga- the writing style is extremely enjoyable and I loved all the historical detail that put the story into a wider context and brought it to life for me.

Heartwarming, family and community-oriented, full of likeable, strong characters, The Mersey Mothers has a lot going for it and will be much appreciated by the readers who enjoy the historical fiction genre!

The third novel in this series by Sheila Riley and very well written and enjoyable. Please if you haven't read her other books please do so as you will want to reads more of this author. This is well worth 5 stars. Enjoy

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC