This is the second book in the series. It is better if read in order. This book is about love and friendship in wartime. The majority of the characters are very likeable. An enjoyable story

From start to finish, a glorious tale of friendship. Well researched, always a bonus IMHO, this was a joy to read. Bring on the next!

Readers who enjoy Rosie Clarke and Elaine Everest’s sagas will not want to miss out on Tracy Baines’ heartfelt and enthralling tale, Hopes and Dreams for The Variety Girls, set in Cleethorpes just when the Second World War was declared.

September 1939 and the world is at war again. As wives, mothers and daughters bid goodbye to their husbands, sons and fathers who are off to do their duty for king and country, the women left to keep the home fires burning find themselves having to cope and survive amidst all the uncertainty and upheaval that war brings with it. Sacrifices need to be made and pennies have to be pinched, so when the theatres are shut down, close friends Jessie and Frances start to wonder just what the future will hold for them unable to do the one thing they love most in the world: perform…

Frances had once dreamed of becoming a dancer and she had pursued her ambitions and thought that the world was hers for the taking – until she fell in love and found herself abandoned by her lover. Heartbroken and in possession of a secret that could have life-changing consequences, Frances does not know which way to turn or how she is going to be able to keep a roof over her head. Will her lover’s return from a tour in America be the answer to all of her problems? Or the beginning of even more heartache? Frances is not the only one with secrets as Variety Girl Ginny has her own skeletons in the closet. Ginny is keeping her fingers crossed and hoping for the best. But is hope enough when everything seems so hopeless and desperate?

Will the Variety Girls find the strength to keep forging on during these uncertain times? Or will their secrets end up tearing them apart?

Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls is an enjoyable heart-warmer perfect for curling up with. Tracy Baines is a talented storyteller with a great gift for bringing to life the joys, sorrows and frustrations of life in wartime England. Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls is full of strong women who find themselves tested like never before doing their utmost to keep one foot in front of the other.

Written straight from the heart, Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls is a delightful wartime saga from Tracy Baines and I cannot wait to read the next installments in what promises to be a brilliant new series.

A lovely catch up with the Variety Girls- trying to keep the theatres open during the war years. This book puts Frances in the spotlight and it's great to get to know her better. I am loving this war time saga and the theatrical element is really interesting. I can't wait to read more. My second book by Tracy Baines and I am really glad to have found a new saga author.

This is the 2nd book in the series. This begins on Sunday 3rd September 1939. To quote the famous phrase of the time 'The day war broke out' We follow Jessie and Frances through various troubles. The secrets that had been kept begin to unfold, but I am not saying what or who, you will have to read the book to find out. We also meet new girls and entertainers.

When war was first declared all theatres had to close, so there was problems with that. The girls got themselves jobs.

I can recommend this book and have no hesitation in the 5*

I would recommend reading the first book in The Variety Girls series, The Variety Girls to gains some understanding of the characters and setting used...eventhough, each installment can be read as a stand-alone...

Hope and Dreams for the Variety Girls is a fast paced story that is extremely detailed...

Baines has created a unique and interesting plot of how people in the music industry would have been effected by WW2. There are brief mentions of realistic events, such as the evacuation and blackout adding an authentic feel throughout. The writing style is easy to follow with a good mixture of description and dialogue.

The character development of Hope and Dreams for the Variety Girls is good. The reader is mainly about the dancing troupe, The Variety Girls made up of three woman, Frances O’Leary, Jessie Delaney and Ginny Thomspon, although there are other acts and characters mentioned. The trio have become as tight-knit family and look out for each other no matter what...

Frances, much like others in the country is nervous as she waits for the prime minister's announcement regarding the war. When the resulting announcement that the government will be closing places of entertainment until further notice both Frances and Jessie are left unemployed needed to get another job as soon as they can. Frances was once been in love with Johnny Randolph and thought he loved her in return yet four years ago he left to go on tour in America promising to send tickets to her but he never did, upon finding out that Johnny has return to the UK Frances is angry...

Jessie is fearful for what a war means for her brother, Eddie and newly announced fiancee, Harry (recently joined the RAF)...many women had been left to fend for themselves after WW1 and now the same was happening again...

Johnny cares deeply for his sister, Ruby. Johnny is doing his best to put things right after he decided to leave making new contract in America, in order to safe Ruby from her out of control behaviour. The pair have rented a flat back in London, and plan to look for work somewhere safe. Johnny is pleased to be home amonst the familiar streets and sounds of the UK. He has lost all hope of a happy ending of his own, Yet things begin to change when he sees his old flame, Frances...

I would recommend reading Hope and Dreams for the Variety Girls to people who enjoy women's fiction, historical fiction and sagas set in WW2, as it is an emotive character driven story filled with secrets, hope and community as everyone comes together to help each other...

This was an absolute delight to read and I enjoyed every minute of it!

A beautifully written, highly evocative, heartwarming drama set in the world of wartime musical theatre.

With a credible cast characters that soon felt like old friends. I love the friendships built, their camaraderie and spirits were never dampened even though war had just broken out.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series already.

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

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book two in the variety girls series. The first book was my first book by Tracy and I couldn’t wait for this next book. We read all about Jessie and her family in the first book. This book carries on from the last one but it concentrates on Frances one of the other variety girls. We are just at the start of World War Two in this book and things are in a mess as nobody knows what’s going to happen and at first the theatres all shut down. Just like the first book you get drawn into the characters lives right from page one. There are lots of ups and downs for the girls in this book. Exactly like book one Tracy leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the variety girls in the future.

A beautifully written story that draws you in, mostly because of the warm, authentic detail of the characters. I got totally immersed in the character's lives and could just imagine the time, area and the community.
I didn't realise this is actually book 2 of the series but it reads well as a standalone. It focuses mainly on Frances' story, which was really interesting and heartbreaking at times. I loved her character and Johnny, it was very sad to find out the truth about their past.
I'm excited now I know there is another book to read, which I think focuses on Jessie, who we still hear a lot about in this book. I sincerely hope there will be future books where I can revisit these characters

This heartwarming book, had me flying through the pages and cheering for the beautiful Variety girls. A beautifully written storyline, it is heartbreaking, funny, enjoyable and I read it with a big smile on my face. The characters are so loveable. I highly recommend reading this beauty of a book.
My rating 5/5

Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls
As war is declared can The Variety Girls keep smiling through…

Cleethorpes – September 1939

Struggling to keep their spirits up as the reality of war hits home and theatres are closed, friends Jessie Delaney and Frances O’Leary search for work to see them through until they can sing and dance again.

Frances, once upon a time followed her dreams of becoming a dancer but soon found herself with a broken heart and a precious secret when her lover abandoned her. Keeping her secret from her friends grows more difficult as time passes and their friendship grows..

But with her lover returning to England from a successful tour of America, how long will it be before the truth comes to light?

Secrets aren’t good for anyone and Frances isn’t the only one hiding things from her friends. Ginny Thomspon, another Variety Girl is hoping for the best. But is hope enough?

Can the Variety Girls pull together to help each other through the tough times or will their secrets tear them apart?
Thank you netgalley and boldwood for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. #netgalley #hopesanddrramsforthevarietygirls

I do enjoy a saga, especially those set in England during WWII, so I was very keen to read Tracy Baines’s Variety Girls series. The fact it was set in Lincolnshire (where I’m from) and was about theatre just jumped it to the top of my pile.
This is the second book in the Variety Girls series, but can easily be read as a standalone.
The story begins in Cleethorpes in September 1939. Frances O’Leary (23) and Jessie Delaney (18) are both Variety Girls, but are now worrying that war is approaching. Jessie’s fiancé Harry is in the RAF, so she is worried about his future safety. As it is indeed announced that the country is at war, it is also declared that all places of entertainment are to be closed. That includes the Empire Theatre and the Variety Girls are suddenly without a job.
Frances and Jessie live in Geraldine’s terraced house in Barkhouse Lane along with Grace (Jessie’s mother) and a former ballerina, Eddie (Jessie’s younger brother, nearly fifteen) and Geraldine herself.
The third Variety Girl is Virginia (Ginny) Thompson who is 19 and a dancer. Rita, Kay and Sally make up the rest of the troupe, but those three leave when the war is declared. Frances, Jessie and Ginny vow to continue singing and dancing somehow and include Dolly too, who works at the theatre. It turns out Frances and Ginny may both be hiding a similar kind of secret…
The girls are all wonderful characters, very believable and you quickly start to care about them. The book is full of ups and downs, friendships and relationships, secrets and drama – and all beautifully written. I do enjoy books where there’s a great group of female friends.
I loved seeing all the little normal bits that make up the women’s days – household chores, cooking and preparing food, etc. It sets the scene really well for everyday life at the start of the war and is very evocative. But then we have the more exciting side of the theatre, all the singing and dancing to provide escapism from the horrors of the war to come.

The Variety Girls are back in the second book in the series set in Cleethorpes. It is 1939 and WW2 is about to be declared as we follow Frances and Jessie who are having to adapt and adjust to a different way of life because all the theatres are being closed. As war is starting to unfold and the girls have their own problems to deal with, Frances is finding life harder as she fights with her conscience while trying to keep her past hidden, then feeling guilty for not sharing it with her closest friends. Then out of the blue an old dance partner returns, will her secrets be revealed?
In this fabulous book we learn about the lives of struggling dancers and their fear when WW2 is declared and their pressing concerns about putting food on the table and loved ones having to go to war. We read of people's vulnerabilities and weaknesses, and how friendship and love rise above all these challenges. And yet for all their secrets and worries the girls want to make Christmas a time to be remembered.
Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls is a lovely heartwarming story and although this is the second book in the series you don’t have to have read the first one to follow the story. It can quite easily be read as a standalone.
I have loved reading this book and following the girls is an emotional read but well worth it.
This is an excellent book for anyone who likes Historical sagas as everything feels so authentic, after all it’s the every day lives of people that make real history, isn't it? I will definitely be reading more books by Tracy Baines.

A brilliant book, you won’t be disappointed.

Many thanks to the publishers, author and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Having read the first book in this series and enjoyed it, I looked forward immensely to reading the second book and I have not been disappointed!

The same characters appear in the storyline along with a couple of new ones which, in my mind, makes this book even better than the first!

WW2 has started and with the closing of places of entertainment, the girls need to find other work. This makes for interesting reading and very good story lines. Loved this book and hope there will be a third one soon!

I must give this book 5 stars as it ticked all my boxes and more!!

Thank you #netgalley, #boldwood and #rachelsrandomresources for letting me read this ARC.
Such a good read, fascinating, funny, heart breaking and inspiring all in one.
The characters are well rounded and written in an interesting way, just what you want when reading a war inspired story.
Not many women sit and slice runnerbeans together these days. Mentions of the Great War and the loss and strength people lived through, just heart breaking. Enjoy the s0ngs, piano and routines that the Variety Girls bring into the story. Tissues at the ready for some of the emotional parts.
Beautifully written, truly touching and fun to boot.

I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to be approved to read this ARC as I’d read the first book in this series and I loved it so much! Historical Sagas have a special place in my heart.

This story focuses on another Variety Girl Frances, I had a few thoughts and feelings about her when I read the first book so I was intrigued to find out if I was right or not. ( Don’t worry you get enough background to read this book as a stand-alone).

This begins immediately after the previous book ends so you don’t miss a single thing!. Jessie and her family got a happy ending tinged with sadness and rumours of the War being declared at any moment are on everyone’s minds.

I absolutely adore this series and was happy that it was Frances story this time as her story is a story that everyone can relate to as the same kind of things happen in all walks of life and in every era.

I loved how we still got everyone else’s story too so we got to keep up and no one was forgotten about.

The dramas and sorrows that everyone had to endure was just heartbreaking to read and the author really makes you feel like your living though it with everyone in Cleethorpes as she writes so beautifully.

A lovely read the characters come alive feel like they are old friends,I enjoyed reading about theater life in their lives.Looking forward to more from this author. #netgalley#boldwoodbooks

The second book in the Variety Girls series sees the story pick up directly where it left off in the "The Variety Girls" previously. This time, however, the story focuses on Frances with Jessie taking a a backseat to this story. It was lovely to revisit my time in Cleesthorpes with the girls once again.

At the close of the previous book, rumours of war had been looming all summer but that didn't deter the girls from putting on the performance of their careers. Jessie was offered a place in a West End show after talent scout Vernon Leroy had come to watch her perform, and best of all, her true love Harry had proposed. But Harry had already volunteered with the RAF so if war came he would be flying some treacherous missions.

Picking up directly after Jessie's doubly exciting news, it's 3rd September and all of Britain has awoken early to await the announcement from London at 11am. And it's the news no one wants to hear but were prepared for - Britain was at war with Germany. And immediately, all theatres were closed until further notice leaving Frances and Jessie and many others out of work. Never one to give up, Frances finds work at the Fisherman's Inn with her kindly landlady and boss Lil, and Jessie at a solicitor's office drawing on her previous experience working in her Uncle Norman's firm before joining the Variety Girls.

When the theatre owner Jack Holland announces that the Empire will reopen, but in a limited capacity, the girls step up and start rehearsing their act to perform between cinema screenings that are also being played. But with the girls' other work committments it soon becomes difficult to pin each of them down to specific schedule. For Frances, Sundays are out and no one can understand why for she remains tight-lipped about it.

Meanwhile in their dressing room is a photograph of her adored little niece Imogen...but what no one knows is that their relationship runs much deeper. And now Frances has received news that the sweetheart, the love of her life, who had abandoned her four years ago for the bright lights of America and promises to write and send her a ticket to join him, is back in England. Frances' heart was broken then and she would not allow it to be again. More importantly, she would not allow Imogen's to be broken. She had trusted Johnny and he had cruelly abandoned her...but had he really? And now that he is back, will her secret finally be revealed?

A delightful tale, HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE VARIETY GIRLS is about love, life and friendships in the face of war and tragedy. The war is but a backdrop and is, in fact, barely mentioned. The story that unfolds is about love and friendships and secrets. As everyone knows secrets have a way of coming out and not always in a good way.

I certainly enjoyed this tale, far more than the first one I think, though I'm not sure why as they are both equally just as enjoyable and just as well told. And the characters are very likeable...bar one, of course, just as in the first book.

Although HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE VARIETY GIRLS is the second in the series, it can suffice as a standalone with enough background information that doesn't leave you scratching your head as to what you may have missed. And equally so, as this one is Frances' story and the first one was Jessie's.

A thoroughly enjoyable tale, I can't wait to rejoin the girls in the next installment to see what awaits them...and who will be the focus next time? Ginny, maybe? Or Dolly? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

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

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

Just when you think you have the worlds troubles on your shoulders along come. Your true friends to help ease the load.
Gorgeous book, you won’t be disappointed.
As war is starting to unfold the girls have their own problems to deal with. Frances is finding life harder as she fights with her conscience while trying to keep her past hidden, then feeling guilty for not sharing it with her closest friends. Then out of the blue an old dance partner returns , will her secrets be revealed.
Jessie, Ginny and Dolly still work at the theatre keeping everyone entertained with their acts and costumes, do they have any secrets?
My favourite character is Lil, you can just picture what she would look like.

This was a quick read for me. As a lover of historical fiction, especially WWII stories, I thought this was different in the way it revolved around the theatre. I liked the friendships between the girls, and got sucked in like I was there! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this arc. Now I will go back and read the first book in the series. I would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Tracy Baines for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I had read the first book in the series and looked forward to this one - and it did not disappoint.
It is possible to read this as a standalone book but obviously the context is easier to follow if one has read the first book.

It wasn't until something happened in the latter chapters that I realised that I had read this book before when published under a slightly different title and publisher. I don't know why I didn't notice before to be honest but the part I recognised was not something that appears in all books of this genre or historical fiction of WW2 in general.
However this did not mean I did not enjoy catching up with the characters that we met in the first book.

I won't provide spoilers for the storyline - but there is sadness, exploitation in a way and redemption and love

It also does not mean I would not read any further books that may be in the series if they appear

Thank you again for the chance to read this ARC