This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Enjoyed this book which tells of the lives of the women who worked in the Shipyard in the Second World War. This was the first book I read in the series and wish I had read the other books first.

Victory for the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell is the fifth novel in the Shipyard Girls series. We join the ladies in Sunderland in January of 1942. Jack’s wife, Miriam has ruined Gloria and Jack’s chance at a happily ever after. Miriam had uncovered devastating secrets on Gloria’s friends that would ruin their lives. Jack is sent off Scotland to manage the Clyde, and Gloria is left to manage on her own and raise their daughter, Hope. Helen Crawford is enjoying her role as shipyard manager until she discovers her father has been having an affair with Gloria and that Hope is her half-sister. Helen is devastated and finds comfort in the arms of Mr. Theodore Harvey, a doctor at the local hospital. Rosie returns from her impromptu vacation with Peter to share good news with her friends. She misses Peter and throws herself into her work to keep herself occupied. When Gloria shares with Rosie what happened with Miriam, they conspire to eliminate the impact the secrets would have on the ladies. The truth about Martha’s parentage is their biggest obstacle. Bel learns that Pearl told Maisie about her birth father, so she becomes obsessed with learning about her biological father. Pearl has never wanted to talk about it and she still does not. She underestimates Bel’s determination to obtain the truth. Find out what happens next for these courageous women in Victory for the Shipyard Girls.

Victory for the Shipyard Girls is not a standalone novel. You need to read the book in the Shipyard Girls series in order (a worthwhile investment). Victory for the Shipyard Girls picks up where Shipyard Girls in Love ended. Nancy Revell has a writing style that draws the reader right in. I was fully engaged by this book with its inviting writing style and its rapid pace. We get to know more about the characters in each book. I like how this diverse group that have become close friends (they are a family). The ladies continue to develop in each new installment of the Shipyard Girls series. There is a large cast of characters, but it is easy to keep track of them and their storylines. Victory for the Shipyard Girls focuses on Helen, Gloria, Rosie, Bel and Pearl. There are some amazing revelations in Victory for the Shipyard Girls. Pearl’s story takes us back in time to learn how she gave up Maisie and conceived Bel. We get to know more about Pearl and what led her to drink copious amounts of alcohol. I stayed up very late (even for me) to finish reading. I wanted to find out what happened to next and the identity of Bel’s birth father (wow). Victory for the Shipyard Girls takes us through June 30, 1942 and ends with a cliffhanger. We must wait for Courage of the Shipyard Girls to get the answers we desire. I am giving Victory for the Shipyard Girls 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).

I’m a huge fan of The ShipYard Girls series so I was very excited to read an early copy of Victory For The ShipYard Girls, the fifth book in the series.

This book starts off pretty much where the last one finished, with the reader being thrown straight back into the story. The style of the book is written as if the reader is actually there watching all the action unfold firsthand. This made me feel much more involved in the story as if I was one of the girls and I felt like I knew the characters personally so I cared about what happened to them. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens.

I loved all of the ShipYard Girls and enjoyed reading their interactions with each other. The warmth, compassion and support they show each other in these difficult times was heartwarming to read about. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to have loved ones fighting and not knowing what was happening. The girls attitude to the hardships they find themselves facing was great to read about too and I was very impressed with the way they just carried on.

There is a lot of action or drama in the book with something always happenning to one or more of the girls which keeps the readers interest and ensures the book is hard to put down. The fact that the book is set in the second world war adds tension to the story as you get the feeling that anything could happen at any time, and often does.

The story is brilliantly paced and seemed believable with the author never over dramatising events which I really liked. The additions to the characters story were really well done and I can’t wait for the next story especially as this one ends on a cliffhanger!

Huge thanks to Rachel Kennedy from Arrow Publishing for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour. If you like historical sagas filled with strong woman and brilliant friendships then you’ll love this book.

I have loved all The Shipyard Girls books and this didn't disappoint.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to my book loving friends.

Victory for the Shipyard Girls, book five in Nancy Revel's Shipyard Girls series, sees an uncertain future for all the women involved in what is turning out to be an engrossing series. Centred around a group of women working in one of the Sunderland shipyards during World War Two each book has been going from strength to strength. This story sees the continuation and development of many previous storylines which have keenly held my interest right from when we were first introduced to an incredible bunch of women who keep going no matter what life throws at them. Not only have they to contend with the constant worry and danger that the war brings with it but also they have many personal problems to cope with on a daily basis right there in their homes and their place of work.

The story picks up directly from where we last left the women but for those new to the series I love how the author uses a conversation between two characters as a means of bringing new readers right up to date with all the goings on and the endless trials and tribulations that seem to present themselves at every corner. Just as one hurdle is overcome along comes another to throw things way off balance and upset the apple cart. This means of bringing us up to date also serves as a brief refresher for those who have journeyed with the girls since the very beginning.

What I love most about this series is that there are real gritty storylines that the reader can easily lose themselves in, some of which have been brewing since the start and others are new little plots slowly starting to make themselves known. The author never shies away from the harsh realities of the time and shows that during a time of such unrest, upheaval and heartache that everyone left at home had to keep enduring and keep fighting. Just because there was a war on didn't mean everything ground to a halt now that thousands of men were abroad fighting. No the women stepped into the breach and took it upon themselves to keep everything going in the most testing and nerve racking of times.

There was less focus this time on the actual jobs the women did with the ships and I was glad of this, as we had had plenty of previous descriptions of this, and now the more we progress through the series we can focus on specific characters and all the sneakiness and heartache that is ongoing. Several times over I have changed my opinions of certain characters and that's thanks to the way Nancy Revell writes. One minute she has you feeling sympathy for someone and the next I detest them and their actions because of the consequences and fallout that occurs in relation to characters I am deeply invested in and want nothing but good things to happen for. There are always so many surprises and twists and turns thrown which crop up when you least expect it and they keep the story flowing wonderfully as you rapidly turn the pages.

So what of this group of women embracing a very much male dominated world? Well of course they go to work every day and contribute in building and mending ships for the war effort and although the fighting may be across the sea there is still plenty going on in Sunderland that keeps them on their toes. Gloria had a chance at happiness but it was so cruelly snatched from her grasp, that's all thanks to Miriam who is married to Jack. Miriam's family have run the shipyard for years with her daughter Helen now in charge. Miriam is a character I really hate and I have no problems in using that word, she is manipulative and is playing such a game that will ruin and destroy people's lives. She is an expert at blackmail and has such ammunition that at the moment she is keeping close to her chest but Gloria knows if Miriam reveals all her secrets that her friends lives will be ruins.

Gloria couldn't cope with the guilt if this happens and if that meant sacrificing her chance to be with Jack so be it. Gloria is so selfless, always putting others before herself. Her own needs get pushed to the side and although she desperately wants to listen to her heart and do the best for baby Hope she looks at the bigger picture and takes all things into consideration before making an informed choice. I love Gloria as a character she is loyal steadfast and fearless and I am desperately hoping that in future books some sort of resolution can be found for her situation.

Helen is a character I warm to one minute and then by the next chapter she does something which leaves me very confused and also upset because her actions always have an affect on others. In this book we really got inside her head and although to the women who work for her at the shipyard she appears to be made of steel and they stay clear of her, in a way beneath it all life is not that great for Helen. She is confused, alone and very much burdened. She feels abandoned by her father but really his absence is due to her mother's scheming but Helen does not realise this. There is a lot going on underneath Helen's eyes but she can't see it because she is lost in her own world of sadness. She just wants to feel, special, loved and cherished and I think a lot of her actions in this story were a cry for help and she made rash decisions. If she had been thinking straight I doubt she would have gotten involved in the tangled mess she found herself in. Helen needs a solid form of love in her life – a relationship where she can turn her anger, jealousy and bitterness into something positive and life affirming. She certainly needed to change her character and demeanour and in a way grow up and face things head on. I still foresee plenty for her to deal with in future books.

Naturally nice things do happen to the women in this book and I loved how Rosie and Gloria began to work together to help their friends out. Each girl in the group has things to hide, especially things that may be going on at home, and thanks to Miriam both Gloria and Rosie are well aware of these. I thought it was subtly slipped in how the two joined forces and thought of creative and helpful ways to overcome these problems. Little seeds were sown and then they sat back and over time we'll see them start to bloom. I do feel sorry for Rosie though that having such a positive event right at the beginning of the book with her marriage to Peter and the time she spent with him lasting so fleeting in that he has now embarked upon secret war work in France. I feel every bit of her longing for his safe return. I think as a character she has come such a long way since book one. She is more open and willing to accept help and advice and now she is returning the favour whenever she can. One thing I definitely want to know more about is what exactly is going on with her sister at boarding school? There have been teasing hints over the last several books and I feel we need to get to know this girl as she hasn't made an appearance to date.

There are several storylines all running alongside each other, although they are not difficult to keep track of, and perhaps the most intriguing of all this time was that of Bel and her mother Pearl. Over the course of the last two books I feel this aspect of the storyline although it started off as a slow burner it suddenly sprung to life here and at one point I was left open mouthed at what was revealed. It all gels so well together but then we as the reader are aware of the bigger picture that the majority of the characters are oblivious too. We know that if certain things get out in the open then the cat is well and truly set amongst the pigeons and the repercussions will be far reaching and lead to devastating consequences and trauma, hurt and horror for many.

My fifth visit to the shipyard girls was every bit as enjoyable as the previous four books. It's a book where you pick it up and before you know it you find yourself half way through so lost do you become in all the goings on. Each character brings different assets to the story and they all bare their heart on their sleeve and in doing so I have come to really enjoy this series. By the end I am always left wanting more and hate having to say goodbye for a while. Victory for the Shipyard Girls certainly left us dangling on tender hooks with scenes that could lead you to draw any number of conclusions. Sadly I'll have to wait until March 2019 when Courage of the Shipyard Girls will be published but if you haven't previously read of this special group of women I suggest do so.

I adored this book! It is very well written and has a fabulous story!

I loved the characters, they were very well developed and their interaction made the story. The setting and location is spot on and I loved how the past was brought back to life in the pages.

Five stars from me, you are fine to read it as a stand alone too – very highly recommended!!

I am a huge fan of Nancy Revell and I simply adore reading ‘The Shipyard Girls’ series. I (im)patiently wait for each new book to come out and I read it a matter of hours after I get my hands on a copy. So imagine my excitement when I was asked if I would like to take part in the blog tour for ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’. On second thoughts, it would be better for you not to imagine it as the excited dance wasn’t pretty but it was only witnessed by my two Labradors’. Anyway I digress so back to the point. I eagerly opened the front cover of ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ and dived straight in. Oh my giddy aunt it was one hell of a read. I absolutely, totally and utterly loved, no make that adored reading ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ but more about that in a bit.
The characters in ‘The Shipyard Girls’ are certainly a mixed bunch. Some of the characters I absolutely loved and some of the characters I could honestly hit a few dozen times with a wet flip flop. I’ll try not to give too much away. I absolutely love the characters of Gloria, Rosie, Polly and the rest of the shipyard girl gang. I also love the characters of Agnes and Bel. Gloria is a woman, who is a single mother. She was the childhood sweetheart of Jack Crawford, whose daughter Helen is the current manager of the shipyard. Jack was taken away from Gloria by the delightful (note the sarcasm) Miriam but more about the old witch a bit later. Gloria married Vinnie and they had two sons, who have grown up. Vinnie used Gloria as a punch bag and he abused her mentally, physically and financially. Thankfully by the time this book starts, Vinnie is out of the picture. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will soon be taking a very long walk off Roker Pier!! Gloria and Jack have renewed their relationship and baby Hope is the result. Hope is a much loved and much cared for baby. However, thanks to Miriam’s meddling, Jack has been sent up to Glasgow and Gloria is on her own again. I am keeping my fingers, toes and my dogs are keeping their paws crossed that Jack comes back to set up home with Gloria and the sooner the better. Rosie is another main focus of the storylines in this book. Rosie is the supervisor of the Shipyard Girls but that isn’t her only job. Rosie has a part share in a bordello and for many years she worked there to provide for her and her sister. Rosie was determined that her sister should have an education and she should remain out of the clutches of their Uncle who had wandering hands. Rosie has been in a relationship with Peter, who happens to be a policeman. His job doesn’t sit well with her involvement at the bordello. Their relationship hasn’t gone down well in certain quarters and for a time Rosie ended things with Peter. However, the start of this book sees a happy event occurring but their happiness is soon interrupted by a change of duties for Peter. I don’t want to type too much more about exactly what happens to either lady as I don’t want to spoil the book for other readers. Now as for the characters I cannot stand and would happily slap a few dozen times with a wet fish. The main object of my fury is the delightful Miriam. She is a spiteful, vindictive, two faced, manipulative witch. And that’s me being polite. She doesn’t want Jack but equally she doesn’t want Gloria to have him. Deep down Miriam has always known that Jack has never loved her. The only way she could get Jack to marry her was to trick him, which is diabolical. She even stoops so low as to manipulate her own daughter Helen, which is bang out of order and for no other reason than to get one up on somebody. Helen does start to open her eyes to what sort of a woman Miriam is. Miriam is one of those people, who thinks of herself first, second and third. I am so hoping that somewhere along the line, Miriam is going to get what is coming to her. Karma is on its way to Miriam Crawford and hopefully I will be able to watch her downfall. In the previous books of the series, Helen was another character who I disliked. However my opinion of Helen did start to change as ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ went on. In fact I felt very sorry for her by the end of the book.
Blimey oh riley ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ is brilliantly written. The author’s writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn into the story and before too long you find that you can’t stop reading because you care so much about what happens to the characters. At least that is what happened to me at any rate. The more I read, the more I got into the story and the longer I had to keep on reading. For me ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ really is a ‘CPID’ (can’t put it down) book. My intention was to ration how much I read in one session but I was enjoying the book so much that my intention went out of the window and I kept on reading. Before I knew what was happening I had finished the book which I had mixed feelings about. Don’t get me wrong I was pleased to finish the book because at least I knew how this instalment ended but I was disappointed to finish because I was enjoying the book so much that I just wanted the book to continue. I found that the characters were so realistically written that they seemed to come alive and they seemed real to me. I know, I know ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ is a work of fiction but because I so enjoyed this book, the storylines and the characters came alive. If I closed my eyes, I could imagine the places, the storylines and the characters playing out in my head. I am even picturing who should play which character when the series is adapted for television. I can’t believe that it hasn’t been snapped up for development already.
Oh my giddy aunt, ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ was one heck of an emotional rollercoaster of a read. Whilst I was reading this book there were times when I felt myself wanting to cheer, wanting to shout and moments where I found myself feeling ever so angry. ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ has a bit of everything- there’s drama, there’s love, there’s loss, there’s hope, there’s the occasional dash of humour and above all ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ is a book about how women help each other out when the chips are down or when scandal hits.
I have to be honest and say that I adored where the series is set but then I am biased. I currently live in the North East and to me it’s the best area of the country. The area is brimming with stories of how women overcame the toughest of times. ‘The Shipyard Girls’ is set in Sunderland, County Durham, which is a place very close to my heart. At the time this book is set, Sunderland was classed as being in County Durham and to borrow a phrase from my late father ‘Sunderland always was and always will be in County Durham. There was never any of this Tyne & Wear rubbish’. I never knew my grandparents and reading books such as these somehow makes me feel closer to them, as they were from up that way. I loved the regional dialect and I even found myself repeating some of the dialogue between the characters in a Mackem accent. A Mackem is a native of Sunderland.
In short, it’s fair to say that I adored reading ‘Victory For The Shipyard Girls’ and it is another fabulous instalment of the series. ‘The Shipyard Girls’ series just keeps getting better and better. As I indicated above, I can’t believe that ‘The Shipyard Girls’ has not yet been picked up for television adaptation. It would be perfect for adaptation and has the potential to be just as popular, if not more so, than ‘Call The Midwife’. I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a massive and well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I so adored this book! It has brilliant main characters, an excellent plot and it kept me engrossed all the way through. I would highly recommend this book.

It took me a little while to get into this one but I really enjoyed it once I did. Very well written with some great characters. I'm really looking forward to the next installment and catching up with the girls again!

This is book #5 in the Shipyard Girls series. It is however, the first book of the series that I’ve read. It can be read as a standalone book, but I did find it confusing to begin with as I didn’t know the characters. That, thankfully, soon passed as I began to work out who was who and got to know everyone.

It is 1942 and Britain is still in the middle of World War II. The girls are still working in the shipyard in Sunderland, trying their best to keep positive whilst Britain suffers from the ravages of war. The book begins with one of the girls, Rosie and her sweetheart Peter, marrying and spending a couple of days together before Peter goes off to war. Her story does continue throughout the book and I did find a particular fondness for Rosie, being the first of the Shipyard girls that I met!

Each of the girls have their own storyline and are suffering with their own personal problems, but I love the way that they are there for each other and as in true wartime spirit rally round. All of the characters are likeable and the story flows really well. The writing is well researched and realistic, dragging you into right into 1942! As well as the story of the girls, I also loved reading about the shipyard business and the female welders, something which I’d never heard of before.

A truly heart-warming saga of the women of the shipyard. I will definitely be going back to the previous books in the series so I can really get to understand the background stories of all the girls. Would definitely recommend if you love your wartime sagas!

I first met the Shipyard Girls some four books previous to this one, back last year. I stumbled across the second book, had to read the first and I have been hooked ever since. So when I got the opportunity to read this one, I was not going to let it pass me by.

It is now 1942 - the war is still raging on and the Shipyard Girls are doing their best to keep up their own spirits as they work long, tough hours in one of the many shipyards in Sunderland.

Rosie is still in charge of the women welders and she tries to keep herself busy as whilst life has changed for her in some ways, especially with her strong relationship with Peter. Her old life is still playing a part and it is something that she cannot give up, despite the risks. 

Gloria, despite having recovered from her ordeal, is still holding onto some secrets, not her own - but others and she knows that if she does anything those around her will get hurt. 

Bel is put out that her mother Pearl seems to have a stronger bond with Maisie, than her and she is determined to find out her true parentage. Pearl has other ideas. In a change we are taken through flashbacks to Pearl's earlier life and see what has happened to her which may indicate her behaviour in the present. 

Helen is still blazing a trail being in charge at the shipyard whilst her father has had to go to Scotland - his absence is being felt keenly by Helen even though his actions have hurt her deeply. When she discovers the truth about what real love is like, she turns to unexpected quarters for help. 

As with any saga if you follow it from the beginning, the characters are either in the background, still there and well rounded, or they are in the forefront of the plot and we learn more about them whether it be their past or the actions they take in the present. 

I cannot say that these novels have becoming formulaic or boring, the author somehow injects different plot devices into them just to keep us readers on our toes and also covers some of the more less publicised aspects of the Second World War. I am intrigued as to where the author will go next. 

This series of novels has really captured me and it is a long time since I have read any decent sagas which I want to return to and continue the story. I envy anyone who picks up the first of these novels - they have such joy to come.

Well i have to say that i loved catching up with the girls from the shipyard and their families,Rosie and her band of welders are still trying to cope with homelife,work and war.Helen is finding life hard and misses her father,Miriam is still a cold hearted woman.I have loved reading the shipyard girls series and look forward to the next book i don't want to spoil things for other readers but will say well worth 5* and more.