Cleethorpes 1939
With the country teetering on the brink of war everyone faces an uncertain future.
Destitute after the tragic death of her father, aspiring singer Jessie Delaney and her family have no choice other than to accept the charity of relatives to ensure a roof over their heads.
Spiteful Aunt Iris soon has Jessie dreaming of a life filled with colour and excitement that she knows the theatre can offer. How can Jessie escape the drudgery, support her family and pursue her dreams?
Through her father’s connections Jessie finds work as a Variety Girl in a new show at the Empire in Cleethorpes, a small seaside theatre on the east coast. But taking the job means flying solo and leaving her family and her sweetheart, Harry behind..

The first book in a new series set in Cleethorpes at the end of the 1930’s. I enjoyed this first book and look forward to reading more in this series. 3.5⭐️

Heartwarming saga set just before the start of World War 2. Jessie longs for a career in the theatre but faces many struggles before making this happen.

It's wonderful to find a new author in one of your favourite genres. I was intstantly drawn to the cover and requesting to read.
Jessie's dad had a life on the stage and after she loses him and has to stay with relatives she is drawn to look for work in Variety calling on her dad's contacts. I loved the story and the building friendships between the girls.
Tracy Baines is going to be one to watch- can't wait to read more.

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

This is the first time I have read this author and I really enjoyed it

The story begins May 1939 with rumblings of war. Jessie who is the central character is living with her widowed mother and brother at her Uncle and Aunts home. Exchange wicked stepmother for Aunt. Jessie longed to go on the stage in the footsteps of her father. Her Aunt was disgusted. Jessie is going out with Harry headstrong Jessie decides to follow her dream and she heads for the theatre. She makes friends with Frances from the dance troupe that she has joined and she takes her to her digs where she soon settles in.

Plenty of action, worry for Jessie, unwelcome advances from a male performer in the show. This book ends on September 2nd 1939 - the eve of the beginning of WWII.

There is a follow up book due out later which I am looking forward to. I can recommend this and give it 5*

Many thanx to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read and review this book.
Having never read any other books by this author I looked forward to reading it as the book description had all the intrigue and timeline I enjoy.
The Variety Girls is a lovely, easily read book based on the entertainment world just prior to WW2 being declared. The story was a good one, albeit we can guess how the book ends, it still kept my interest up until I finished reading!! Jessie's tale must have been one which was played out many times before in real life, without the same ending!! A few characters will, no doubt, resonate with readers, having tripped over them in our own life!!
I enjoyed the story and makes me want to travel to Cleethorps to visit all the places mentioned. Sounds like a wonderful holiday town.
Looking forward to reading the next part of this series, I'm sure I will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Tracy Baines for the chance to read this ARC in return for a frank review.

This was my first book by this author but was well written and a great read.

A seaside variety show was something I knew little about but I really enjoyed this book , it was a joy and a gentle story that I read really quickly.

I understand it is part of a series and number 2 is waiting for me to read - I shall enjoy reading about the girls and their lives as WW2 starts.

Thank you again to all involved

Enjoyed this book set in the entertainment business just before the war, lovely characters and a lovely seaside setting, a determined young lady who wants better for her mother and brother, sadly lost her father and they ended up living with his brother as they had no where else to go, she misses the entertainment business their father and mother were in and vows to return and help her mother and brother have a better life than they have now. With help from new found friends and her lovely young man she turns all of their lives around

I absolutely loved this book by Tracy Baines. Set in 1939 with World War Two looming it’s got everything you need for a great read. The characters are good and you quickly get drawn into the ups and downs of their lives. This book tells the story of Jessie who with her Mum and brother Eddie they’re struggling to deal with life after the death of their father Davey. I can’t wait for more from the Variety Girls.

A great lovely read set just before WW11 came along. A young female wants to get into the world of show biz. Does she manage to do so and what happens along the way. Read this good book and you can find out what happens. Well worth 5 stars. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Vibrant read, beautifully described. After the death of her husband Grace Delaney and children Jessie and Eddie are living with relatives.
While uncle Norman is a peaceable man who has found work in his office for Jessie, the same can’t be said for his wife Iris who has a cruel streak to her. She makes life unbearable for Jessie who then decides to contact an old friend of her fathers from the families time working in the show halls. Jessie is fortunate to get a position at the Cleethorpes Empire with the Variety Girls, but this means leaving her sweetheart Harry behind. What will become of them? Will Jessie change after being on the stage !
There are tough times ahead, although Jessie has managed to make some good friends are they all what she thinks.
You really need to read this book. It is gripping, I couldn’t put it down.

The Variety Girls by Tracy Baines

Set just prior to ww2 in an English seaside town , we meet Jessie and her family ( mother and younger brother ) who after the death of her father , and her mother unwell , move into their aunt and uncles house.
The aunt Iris is rather a stick up , pompous , and spiteful woman who seems to want to make their life an unhappy one.
However Jessie is determined to make something of her herself on the stage , and managed to get herself a job as a Variety girl. Will everything come together for her ?
I loved this first book in the series , and look forward to reading the next one. The character Jessie is a good one and I enjoyed hearing and following her journey as she tries to make something of herself at a time in history when the world was tethering on the brink of war.

★★★★ 4.5 stars

Another delightful wartime saga this time set in the seaside town of Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire just prior to the war beginning. It moves along at a gentle pace whilst still keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. And by the books end, you will be hankering for the second one to see how things pan out for the characters.

It's 1939 and Jessie Delaney lives an isolated and sheltered life with her aunt and uncle in Norfolk. Her father had died the year before afterwhich her mother Grace called on her only other surviving relative, her cousin Norman and his wife Iris, to take them in. But Jessie feels stifled within the dark dim walls of the Victorian house called The Beeches. She and her fourteen year old brother Eddie dream of bigger things beyond The Beeches and Jessie's hope is that she can make enough money to take them all away from the horrible stifling atmosphere Iris brings to the house. Ruling the place with an iron fist, Iris belittle Jessie every chance she gets deeming her selfish and wilful, the type of girl Harry Newman would never dream of settling down with.

But Jessie knows better. She throws in her boring mundane job at Norman's solicitors office and heads to Cleethorpes where her father's agent, and now her agent, has gotten her a job as a Variety Girl at the Empire Theatre. Grace, Eddie and Harry are thrilled for Jessie...Iris and Norman not so much "after all they've done for her giving her a home and a job". Despite being happy for her, Harry is sad that Jessie didn't confide in him her plans and wonders if she loves him as much as he loves her. Her dreams to be on the stage seem to take up all her energy Harry wonders if there is room for him. But he loves her and he will support her for as long as she needs him to.

Upon moving to Cleethorpes, Jessie knows no one but soon makes friends within the entourage and her new kindly landlady, Geraldine. The work is hard and tiring but Jessie thrives knowing she is doing what she loves. She meets many people and makes friends in Frances and Dolly. But there is a fly in the ointment with overt Billy Lane who thinks the world of himself and tries hooking Jessie for himself.

And then Eddie calls with the news that their mother is ill but when Jessie calls to speak to her aunt Iris answers and says her mother is perfectly fine but is resting; that there is no need to worry for Eddie was prone to exaggerate, she says. However, when Harry calls upon Grace he is shocked and makes the journey to Cleethorpes to bring Jessie home.

As much as Jessie loves singing, music and being on the stage, will she put her dreams ahead of her family when they need her? And will Harry be patient and wait for her? Or will she lose him altogether?

A delightful read from start to finish, THE VARIETY GIRLS begins in the summer prior to the war beginning in September. There are rumours and hints that it is just on the horizon but life goes on and should war arrive on their shores then people will need cheering up.

Although a wartime saga (albeit just prior), THE VARIETY GIRLS has a vastly different flavour to it. It is not of the make-do-and-mend type of tale of rationing and taking shelter from air raids...not just yet. And while there are whispers of the war, life goes on and Jessie has dreams to fulfil. It will be interesting to see how the next book pans out with the war having already begun by that stage to see how it affects the characters and their lives.

I am reminded of Pam Howes Bryant Sisters series and Rosie Archer's The Force's Sweetheart series, in which music and song play a big part through ENSA. I wonder if that will come into the story or will Jessie remain in the seaside town of Cleethorpes?

An enjoyable read all round, THE VARIETY GIRLS is a delightful tale set during the troubling times when war was on the horizon. Gently paced, it is an easy read with likeable characters, as well as some aptly placed unlikeable ones. I look forward to the next book "Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls" .

I would like to thank #TracyBaines, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheVarietyGirls in exchange for an honest review.

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

Charming and sweet. A good light read about Britain just before WWII started and the world changed. I would like to read more about Jessie and her adventures,

Loved this book and so glad there will be a series made of it. Great readin well written and shows the lives before and during ww2 and how people coped. Loved loved loved and can’t wait for the next instalment
Highly recommended read

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC

Wow loved this book I read it today in one sitting. Family saga at its best can't wait to read more by this author