Tracy Baines is back with an emotional, dramatic and wholly compelling 1940s saga that will go down a treat with fans of the genre: A New Year for the Seaside Girls.

With the new year fast approaching and the Empire set to close for another season, the time has come for the Seaside Girls to move on and to think about what the future might hold for them. For Frances O’Leary things certainly seem to be on the up when Johnny Randolph returns with heartfelt promises that he will make things right for her and her daughter. After all this time, can the two of them finally be a family? Can Frances be happy at last? Or will an unexpected turn of events end up putting a spanner in the work and her entire future in jeopardy?

Jessie Delaney has a long-cherished dream that she would like to make a reality. The problem is that following her heart and making this dream come true will mean leaving everything and everyone she loves behind. Can Jessie ever really have it all? Or is she merely fooling herself into thinking that she could be the one in charge of her own destiny?

The Seaside Girls will need to prepare themselves for some tough times ahead, but as they do their bit for king and country, they come to the conclusion that with love, laughter and the friendship that means the world to them, they can get through anything – as long as they have the courage to fight for their dreams.

Saga readers will love this gritty, heartwarming and entertaining World War Two tale by Tracy Baines. Perfect for Rosie Clarke and Nancy Revell fans, A New Year for The Seaside Girls is a hopeful, poignant and hugely enjoyable saga about second chances, the complexities of family ties, and the power of love that I loved losing myself into.

Tracy Baines writes with a strong sense of time and place and readers will immediately feel transported back in time and they will laugh and cry alongside her characters and be reluctant to bid goodbye to them by the end of the the last page.

Written straight from the heart, A New Year for The Seaside Girls is a satisfying and captivating saga by Tracy Baines.

An enjoyable read. Well written story with nicely crafted characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled with this one. I have read this author before, but not this whole series. I made it about 20% through and gave up. I like her style, but just didn't care much about the characters. While it wasn't for me, other readers might like it. Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC.

A New Year for the Seaside Girls sees us return to North Lincolnshire where the girls are living. I love reading boss based in Lincolnshire being a proper yellowbelly myself. Strong character Frances, learning to trust again and fabulous storytelling in how mental health issues were dealt with in the early years of the second world war along with the everyday lives of the women combine into a great book

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

I have read most of this series and thoroughly enjoyed them but this book felt as though there was no real focus as to where it was going. I kept waiting for the excitement to start.......but didn't find it!! Sorry but can only give 3 stars as I didn't find this book great reading unfortunately

Loved this sweet book. It was such an easy read and I lost myself in it very quickly. The story was lovely and I hope there is more to come. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is book 3 and loved it so much. I hope there is more to come as the story was kinda left open…. And I want to know what happens next.

If you enjoy family saga’s about the war, then this book is for you

This is the 3rd book in the series and I was looking forward to it as I really enjoyed the 1st 2 books. I will point out I think it is best to read the first 2 books as It will make more sense. This book seems to be mainly about Ruby, it irritated me as it was more Ruby and less of the girls. Quite a good read, others will perhaps enjoy more than I did.

Third book in the series about the seaside girls. A WW2 series and not one to be missed. To get the best from these books it would really pay to read them in order so as not to miss any part of it. 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I’m late to the party on the Seaside Girls trilogy, so before I say anything else, please know: while reading the first two books would likely be helpful, A New Year for the Seaside Girls works just fine as a stand-alone novel. There was enough backstory, both explicit and in context, that the continuing elements were easy to follow, the the events specific to this novel were interesting and well written.

As a former theater kid, I always love stories that are set backstage and in the wings of performance spaces, and this novel is a perfect example of that. Set in 1940, against the early days of World War II, this book looks at what happens to working performers when theaters go dark, but bills still have to be paid, and life must continue. While this is, at heart, a family story with a hearty splash of romance, author Tracy Baines did not shy away from the gritty reality that comes with the theatrical life. Sometimes, accommodations can be sketchy. Sometimes gigs can be slightly unsavory. This book doesn’t soft-pedal those things, but it also isn’t a tragedy, and it does soften the edges somewhat to serve the story.

Frances, former lover of Johnny (and mother of his unknown-to-him child) and Ruby, Johnny’s sister and stage-partner, are the real stars of this novel, and it is their stories we follow. Both women are strong, capable, and determined, but they handle challenges in different ways. Where Frances builds a network of other performers, including a dancer who took care of her daughter for a long while, Ruby is the type to retreat. She comes out of her emotional hibernation when necessary, but her first reaction is to shield herself, and there is nothing wrong with that. What I liked about both characters is that they are loving and giving, each in her way, and they are never pitted as adversaries, just different personalities with different needs.

Johnny is the male lead, and he’s forced to be “the man” of both the performing family he has with his sister, and their parents (who are off-stage in many ways) and of the family he has formed and is rediscovering with Frances. What I liked about him was that he didn’t rush into his lover’s life and dictate changes. Instead, he supported her choices, even when his own desires were delayed.

Author Baines handles all the characters deftly, letting us see what teach is thinking and feeling while balancing plot and exposition.

Overall, this novel is a satisfying conclusion to a series that was clearly written with both love and expertise. It’s an historical family saga that mixes drama, romance, filial love, and “that business we call show,” into a meaty, satisfying story that should entertain any reader.

Goes well with: hot chocolate spiked with a splash of rum.

I don't usually read historical saga series but this one stole my heart. The characters are so well written with a complexity that draws you in. The storyline feels so real and relatable and I will definitely be adding the previous installments to my muy read TBR

The book begins at the start of 1940. We meet Ruby Randolph, who has been performing on stage since she was four years old. With her elder brother Johnny, they had been top of the bill at Grimsby’s Palace Theatre, but now Ruby is ill.
We also meet Johnny’s ex-girlfriend Frances O’Leary as Johnny discovers he has a young daughter called Imogen. He finds out his mother and sister never passed on the letters the two lovers wrote to each other. In the meantime, Frances’s theatre career has suffered as she’s had to care for their child.
The story is set around the theatre and those working in it, so if you are interested in that kind of thing, this will be a perfect read for you. I loved that it was set in Lincolnshire as that is where I am from and I loved all the characters, especially how the seaside girls (variety girls) look out for each other. It has a great family feel to it and everyone is very believable, so you get involved in the story quickly and hope everything will turn out well.
This book ticks lots of boxes. If you are a fan of historical novels set in World War II, you will love this. Also fans of sagas set in England. I love these kinds of books, so I knew I would enjoy this. It is the third in the series, but can be read as a standalone as the author explains anything you need to know. However, I personally recommend reading any series in the correct order.
Tracy Baines has a lovely writing style. Her novels are easy to get into, easy to follow and her characters are authentic. Highly recommended.

Travel back to Cleethorpes in 1940
To this holiday resort, by the sea.
There the war is changing lives
As new ways are needed to survive.

Variety performers have new roles to play,
Keeping others’ spirits up day by day.
It doesn’t matter if they’re at home or with the troops
The war is certainly throwing their lives into loops.

Secrets from the past are shockingly revealed
Letters written but then hidden and replies concealed.
A daughter comes as a huge surprise
Maybe through her their future lies?

Sometimes rescuing come from a surprising source
Helping put away feelings of depression and remorse.
There’s even a stray dog to help hearts to heal
As air raids make worries harder to conceal.

A historical novel with great characters who
Share the war time experiences they’re going through.
There’s theatrical performers, including some who dance,
And some who need forgiveness and another chance....

For my complementary copy, I say a huge thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This is the third book in the Seaside Girls series and just like the previous books this is another excellent read. A lot of this book centres around Ruby Randolph and her battles with life. This was at times quite an emotional read at times and I loved every page. The author has written this book so well and with brilliant descriptions that I actually felt that I was back there in the 1940’s living their lives. This book can easily be read as a standalone but I do highly recommend the previous books in this series as they are also superb reads.

Johnny returns to make things right with Frances and finds out that he has a young daughter. All is not so easy for Johnny and Frances as Johnny's sister Ruby is really struggling. A fantastic heartwarming historical story that felt like coming home to old friends. Mr Brown was a favourite character and I am looking forward to reading more of him as he is so generous and kind. I felt all the emotions alongside the girls from heartache and tears, joy and love to fear and the unknown. The thing I felt most of all was community and friendship. A great book to take you away to another world.

It was good to catch up with the girls again. There’s been a lot happening for Jessie, Frances and little Imogen. Even Grace now she’s better is busy with her sewing and also the WVS. It was also nice to look closer at Ruby Randolph and to understand how she was like she was. Little did she realise that the little girl she tried to keep secret was going to be the one to her the most. If you are a lover of historical sagas then I can highly recommend this series.

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

This is book 3 in The Seaside Girls Series (previously called The Variety Girls) and I’ve read and enjoyed the previous 2 so I just knew this third book would be just as good!.

Can The Seaside Girls all truly find happiness in the New Year?, I can’t wait to find out what 1940 brings for everyone in this fantastic series.

Reading this story was just like returning to old friends, it’s been a while since I read the last book but the story refers to previous events so you feel all caught up and able to enjoy the story without feeling like your missing something .

I was engrossed in the story and stayed up until 2am to finish it, all the Girls get a new beginning of sorts including Ruby, I can’t give too much away as it will spoil the book but it was so emotional in parts and brought a tear to my eye. All the characters are one big blended family and I adore them all.

With so many stories left to be told I hope we get another book and because I need more of “Mr Brown” he was amazing.

Part of a great saga. Was a great book. I really enjoyed it. Waiting patiently over here for the next one

Historical saga, heartwarming and full of interesting characters with their own struggles and successes. Part of a series best read in order.

Cleethorpes 1940,
The Seaside Girls Frances O'Leary and Jessie Delaney, holding on the Empire Theatre and the old years are about to roll into the new.

Johnny Randolph is back on leave, and gets to meet his three years old daughter Imogen, his and Frances love child, who has missed out on so much not knowing her father, thanks to his now deceased mother and sister Ruby, it's a new start, his sister suffers deep troubles as we learn more in this book about her will she ever find happiness?

Book three I got straight into after the first two in this wonderful series, you feel you are there with all the wonderful characters that show through by the author.
Some are emotional chapters that put a tears in your eyes as you read and also bring you big smiles, I could not fault anything about this just sorry to see the end.