Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for A Ration Book Victory by Jean Fullerton. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to take part in the tour and to Corvus for my digital review copy. Do check out the posts by my tour buddies for today, Rachel at Rachel Brimble Romance and Joules at Northern Reader.
There’s also a (UK only) giveaway with a chance to win one of 6 signed copies of A Ration Book Victory. Enter via Rafflecopter here.
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- The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email.
- If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner.
- Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.
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- I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
About the Book
In the final days of war, only love will pull her through . . .
Queenie Brogan wasn’t always an East End matriarch. Many years ago, before she married Fergus, she was Philomena Dooley, a daughter of Irish Travellers, planning to wed her childhood sweetheart, Patrick Mahone. But when tragedy struck and Patrick’s narrow-minded sister, Nora, intervened, the lovers were torn apart.
Fate can be cruel, and when Queenie arrives in London she finds that Patrick Mahon is her parish priest, and that the love she had tried to suppress flares again in her heart.
But now in the final months of WW2, Queenie discovers Father Mahon is dying and must face losing him forever. Can she finally tell him the secret she has kept for over fifty years or will Nora once again come between them?
And if Queenie does decide to finally tell Patrick, could the truth destroy the Brogan family?
Format: Paperback ( pages) Publisher: Corvus
Publication date: 5th May 2022 Genre: Historical Fiction
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My Review
A Ration Book Victory marks the end of an era in more ways that one. Firstly, as the title suggests, it sees the end of the Second World War. Secondly, it’s the sixth and final book featuring the Brogan family. It’s a series I’ve loved since I picked it up at book two, A Ration Book Christmas. That was followed by A Ration Book Childhood, A Ration Book Wedding and A Ration Book Daughter. (There was also a novella, A Ration Book Christmas Kiss.)
A Ration Book Victory not only allows readers to catch up with the Brogan family as the end of WW2 approaches but also explores the early life in Ireland of the formidable matriarch of the clan, Queenie – or Philomena Dooley as she was known then. It’s a tender story of early love that might not have stood up on its own but works well alongside the goings-on in the Brogan household in the final months of the war. However, although the war in Europe may soon be over there’s still fighting continuing elsewhere and not everyone is yet out of danger.
What an extensive clan the Brogan family have become! The book gives us an endearing picture of a multi-generational household, where everyone pitches in and there aren’t many problems that can’t be solved over a cuppa. It’s a family that includes a surprising amount of diversity including adopted and illegitimate children, and interracial relationships.
The book has a beautifully judged balance of humour – a case of mistaken identity during the VE Day celebrations springs to mind – and moments of sadness. I doubt many will have a dry eye as Queenie faces up to the impending death of the man she has known – and loved – for fifty years, Father Mahon. And I’m quite sure readers like me will be praying that characters such as Nora Mahon and Aunt Pearl get a suitable come-uppance.
I thought A Ration Book Victory was the perfect ending to the series with all of Ida’s and Jeremiah’s children branching out and moving on, as are they themselves. ‘The world had changed, and the Brogans had changed with it.’
In three words: Warm, emotional, engaging
Try something similar: The Woman with the Map by Jan Casey
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About the Author
Born and bred in East London Jean is a District Nurse by trade and has worked as a NHS manager and as a senior lecture in Health and Nursing Studies. She left her day job to become a full-time writer in 2015 and has never looked back.
In 2006 she won the Harry Bowling Prize and now has seventeen sagas published over three series all of which are set in East London.
She is an experienced public speaker with hundreds of WI and women’s club talks under her belt, plus for the past fifteen years she has sailed all over the world as an enrichment speaker and writing workshop leader on cruise ships.
Connect with Jean
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Requiem in La Rossa by Tom Benjamin. My thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in the tour and to Little, Brown for my review copy. Do check out the post by my tour buddy for today, Sandra at 
About the Book
About the Author
