I am a huge fan of Elaine and her work and I have been for a few years now. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed every book that Elaine has released to date. I just love the way in which she writes such fabulous historical fiction. I read the synopsis of 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' and it certainly sounded like I was in for a treat. I couldn't wait to start reading and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my copy of the book and settled down for what proved to be one heck of a read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' but more about that in a bit.

I was drawn to this book by the fact that I saw Elaine's name on the cover of a book that I knew I hadn't read yet. As soon as I started reading I realised that firstly I was in for a treat, secondly that I would become addicted to the story and thirdly that I wouldn't be able to put the book down for any length of time. Well I was spot on in all my predictions. I 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 the different characters that I was still sat there reading several chapters and an hour or two later. From the on, reading this book became rather addictive and I was like an addict in need of her next fix. I had my own suspicions as to how the story was going to develop so of course I had to keep reading to see if I had guessed correctly or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction . The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. Part of the reason why I enjoyed the story so much has to do with the main characters, who ended up feeling more like friends rather than characters in a book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls'. I found 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' to be a gripping and emotional story which certainly kept me guessing.

'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Elaine Roberts. Elaine has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Elaine's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Elaine's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. Elaine has clearly done an awful lot of research into the time period during which this story takes place and this makes the story seem that bit more authentic. This was one of those stories that certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, twists and turns and so on. I found myself going through the same emotions as the characters were going through. I always find that the sign of a good book is when I enjoy the story so much that I 'live' it as if it were real. That's exactly what happened with 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls'. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' and I would highly recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Elaine's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Set towards the end of the First World War, the story concerns a young girl who's mother dies and who has to grow up quickly to support her grieving father and sister, even though her father doesn't want her working. However, once he interrupts an intruder at his work on the docks and is injured, Ellen has to step up and find work.

Her first job is at Foyles Bookshop, a place she has loved for years and associates with her mother. But they cannot offer her enough hours so she takes a second job at a local newspaper. Then her father is arrested as the police think he, and possibly Ellen too, are complicit in passing information to spies about movements at the docks. Its down to Ellen to find the truth and she hopes her journalist colleagues and bookshop friends will be able to help her.

Its a cosy read, but the plot is detailed and interesting and the characters well drawn. The reader sympathises with Ellen and is willing her on to clear her father's name. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, February 23, 2024
A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls







Ellen was the oldest. She took the responsibility of the house after her mother died. She wanted to get a job but her father was strict and forbid her from looking. Until one day it became a necessity for her to earn an income.

A wonderful story of Ellen and her experiences in the workplace. She worked part-time at two jobs. She was employed at the newspaper and at a bookstore she frequented often since she was a child. She loved what she was doing especially at Foyle's Bookshop. The friendships she made and the support they gave her at Foyle's was much more than she ever imagined.

Ellen was on a mission to prove her father was innocent of any wrongdoing after he was arrested for being a spy. With the help of her family and friends she made at the store and at the newspaper, she set out to discover who was the "real" spy.

I enjoyed the book and became fond of Ellen and her family. She learned that asking for help is not a weakness.

I didn't realise that this was book 4 in the series! I haven't read any of the others so it was quite difficult to pick up and learn about all the characters. Despite that I did enjoy the book, so much so I have now purchased the first three books so I can read them in order.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Pros: I liked the mystery and the thought behind this tale and the fact it was set in a bookshop (you can never go wrong with that!) I enjoyed the characters and the fact that it is the fourth installment means that the characters are well liked. I like the formula of adding new girls to the shop and bringing their stories to meet the existing girls. Their friendships and continuations of their stories are what keeps the series alive, I'm sure.
The cons: I found it quite a lot of information in the beginning to find out who the Foyles girls all were and who married who and what had happened to each girl. It became easier to get them straight as I went through the book.
It was also very obvious from the start who the culprit was and the fact that the main character, although likable, didn't remember the things that she witnessed which could have solved things a lot earlier. She also had a flair for doom and gloom instead of the backbone that she sometimes remembers that she has.
The book, especially towards the end was a bit cutesy for me. The way that Ellen was constantly blushing and apologising and every conversation was politically correct and well communicated with no 'taking it the wrong way' mistakes of normal life. In those cases, it was quite unrealistic.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and my introduction to the Foyles girls. It kept me interested and I thank the author and publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

I have been familiar with the author's Foyles Bookshop series though I have never read it. I have read the first in her West End Girls series which I enjoyed but I'm not sure how I missed the following ones after that.

I am confused by where this book actually stands as Amazon have it advertised as the first in a series though there are already three books previously published in this series. Despite never having read the first three, I can see that this one is a standalone story all of its own and yet it complements the already existing characters in Foyles bookshop.

It's 1918 and war has been raging in Europe for four years. Many are beginning to wonder when will it ever end? So many lives senselessly lost...and for what? But everyone on the home front does their bit to raise the spirits of their boys, supporting them or offering them a free brew as they step off the train at Victoria station. It's not much, but it's something.

Ellen and Mary Beckford have grown these past four years since the sudden death of their beloved mother. Their father Harold continues to work at the docks until the day he is attacked and left with a broken leg. With such an injury and his leg in plaster for the next two months, Harold is unable to work.

Ellen realises the time has come for her to go out and find work to support her family but her father is a traditionalist. He believes it is his sole responsibility to provide for his family and yet he is unable to do so. He is firmly against Ellen going out and seeking work to support the family as he believes that is his role...regardless of the fact that he can't do so.

So it is with apprehension she approaches Foyles Bookshop on Charing Cross Road in the hope of gaining some work there as it would be a dream come true for her to work amongst all those books. But as luck would have it, one of their full time girls has recently given birth to her second child and while she is toying with the idea of returning on a part time basis, there is a vacancy available for Ellen. She starts off small - dusting and cleaning and getting to know the bookshop even better than she already does. But she also knows that the part time hours are not enough to pay the rent and put food on the table. And so she manages to garner a second job as an office girl for a newspaper. Things are beginning to look up. If only her father would speak to her, since he has given her the silent treatment ever since she defied him and went out to work.

But if Ellen thought things were looking up, she was sadly mistaken as one night police came knocking on their door and asking her father all sorts of questions about his attack and why she was always seen down at the docks so regularly. It seems they found some damning evidence which places her father in the frame for being a spy...and she as his suspected accomplice.

Ellen is horrified and sets out to piece together as much information as she can about her father's attack, his memories of the night and the man he chased down, as well as photos the police inadvertently left behind. Can she find enough proof to uncover the truth and prove her father innocent? Or will he be shot as a spy?

An interesting and absorbing tale that I devoured in a day, this was indeed a quick read that I soon lost myself in. Though I have never read the previous Foyles Bookshop books, I felt the warmth and family atmosphere that was held within the doors of that fine establishment and I must say I look forward to going back and starting from the beginning.

A delightful read that was heartwarming and entertaining.

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

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

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

even though this is book isnt the first book in the series i still felt the warmth of the bookshop and the friendships that have been built there

ellen and her sister mary always visited foyles bookshop with their mother and enjoyed reading... but tragedy struck this family and their father ruled with an iron fist

but that fist came untangled when break ins started to happen at his place of work and he started to look guilty, when an accident occurs and their father with a broken leg can no longer work its up to ellen to try and earn money to keep them afloat and occuring her fathers wrath ellen finds a job

but dark clouds are on the horizon for this family as trouble again comes to their door

have to say i love the sound of this book shop and wish there were more like it today.... will be looking out for more from this author

Light WWI cozy mystery

I enjoyed reading A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls. It is a nice light mystery set during WWI. Since this is book 4 (?) of a series, I did find it hard to pick up the nuances, especially at first, so would recommend starting with book 1 of the series. After I got into the book, though, the plot was very engaging, a cozy mystery.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

This was set mainly in 1918 and although there was danger, reading this gave me a warm, comfortable feeling. I think it was because of the way that most people pulled together and helped one another as though they were a close family. Ellen Beckford had always had a love of books, having been encouraged by her mum. Her dream job would be to work in the book store. However, her father holds traditional views of women working. There are a number of interesting secondary characters, a spy to uncover and possibly a beginning of a romance. I hadn’t read any of the previous books in this series but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. I received a copy and have voluntarily read it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sometimes I am wary when I read the blurb of a book when it mentions words like heartbreaking, dark times and destitution. I don't expect books, especially ones based during a world war, to be all sweetness and light. But I do hope there is a good balance of uplifting moments to make the sad ones easier to cope with. I am happy to say that although the blurb of this book had a couple of my trigger words, it was still a delightful read. Even the sad moments weren't too unbearable.

What I particularly liked about this book is that it didn't only focus on the terrors of the war or a romance between characters. It had a captivating storyline where Ellen, a main character, has to prove her father innocent of ridiculous spying charges. Another bonus is that a lot of the time, as expected because of the name of the book, the story involves the people, including Ellen, who work at Foyles Book Store. It's far more than just a book store which you will discover for yourself if you read the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ellen's story and found it believable and exciting. Her life changed once her mother passed away and her father was injured and unable to work. Ellen had to grow up fast and as her character developed I liked the book more and more.

It was good to be back at Foyles, I really enjoy this series, I still have a couple of books to catch up on and will do so asap.

I enjoy books set during the war and the authors writing style really brings it to life. I felt the Beckford sisters emotions as they dealt with their grief at losing their mother, but also having to step up in helping there father in running the house. Not forgetting having to prove that they weren’t spies!

I loved the interactions in the bookshop and how important it was too the sisters, bringing a sense of safety.

Another wonderful read and story about London during wartime and the way people reacted, came together, helped out and made life long friendships. A great addition to an already great series and one that brings family, drama. sagas and so much more into a journey that is tough and scary.

Great characters, a quick and quite easy read and one that I enjoyed immensely.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have really enjoyed this book as I have all the other Foyles Bookshop books .This one is about Ellie Beckford who looses her mother and whose father gets injured down at the docks where he works.Ellie decided she has to get a job as there is no money coming in due to her father not being able to work.Ellie gets a job at Foyles bookshop very much against her father wishes.Her father then gets accused of being a spy but can Ellie prove him innocent.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood

i really enjoyed reading this book catching up with the original members of staff in foyles bookshop and the addition of a new member and the storyline around alice definately 5 stars .

Great to be back with this next in series book. If you like historical sagas then this is the book for you. Get carried away with the girls working in the book shop and the family. 4 stars and one to be read.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC

I loved this book, a heart warming book set in London 1918

This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone, but I always prefer to read the series in order, so I can get to know everyone.

Lovely book, which I really enjoyed.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

Set in 1918, We are introduced to the Beckford family, who we get to know better from the previous books. After the death of his wife, Harold is being strict with his daughters Ellen & Mary.

Whilst at work, Harold has an accident, so in order to bring in some money, Ellen applies for a job at Foyles , the bookshop she’s loved.

With twists and turns, the story kept me hooked from beginning to end.

I recommend this book.

London. 1918: the world is being torn apart by war, but for the girls of London's Foyles bookshop, where there is hope and friendship.

Ellen Beckford and her sister Mary are living under their father's shadow. Before their beloved mother died, they had dreamed of bright futures, but torn apart by grief, Harold Beckford barely lets his daughters out of his sight. Then Harold is injured during a break-in at his office at London's docklands, and can no longer work. And with prices rising and food scarce, Ellen has no choice but defy her father's rules and seek employment She finds a position at Foyles bookshop, and the other shop girls quickly take her under their wing.

Filled with characters you'll love and others you'll love to hate, I was totally engrossed in this story. It tells of the struggles the Beckford family have after their mother, Ada dies and their father, Harold's office gets broken into and he is accused of theft. Ellen wants to clear her father's name. This is a well-written story. It can be heartbreaking in places but it's an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #WlaineRoberts for my ARC of #AWartimeWelcomeFromTheFoylesBookshopGirls in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the story very much. i didn't realize there are several books in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. will definitely look up the other books.

Another wonderful book in the series.,it was lovely to catch up with the Foyle Bookshop Girls visit with them a.This is saga writing at its best and I enjoyed it from first to last page.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks.