Member Reviews

A great read. I enjoyed reading it and it has a great plot and characters. I also look forward to more books from the author.

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I recently read Mulberry Lane Babies which is the third book in this series and was excited to see what happens in this one, which is the fourth. This is a wonderful wartime series set in London with believable characters and great storylines.
Rose is a newcomer to Mulberry Lane and she arrives looking for somewhere to stay and work. She is hoping for a new start after a difficult time and is befriended by Peggy who gives her a job working in The Pig and Whistle pub. Everything seems to fall into place for Rose but things suddenly take a turn for the worse.
Rosie Clarke has researched this period so well and you really get a feel for this historical time. She writes compelling stories with a great sense of community, friendship, and family.

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This is a brilliant story. It's the fourth in the Mulberry Lane saga and I would recommend that you read the other books first.

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I was so excited to be invited to read New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane and participate in the blog tour, by Victoria Joss at Aria. I have been following Rosie Clarke's Mulberry Lane series since the beginning. If you're not already aware of Rosie's Clarke's Mulberry Lane series, then please go and check them out!

I hate to be predictable but I love historical novels set during WWII! More than that though, I love the characters that Rosie Clarke has created within this series of novels. Peggy Ashley leads a group of strong women who in the face of adversity work hard to keep their families safe, whilst cementing the independence that they have come to rely on while their men are away fighting for their country. New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane introduces us to a new character, Rose Merchant, who joins the Lanes, alone and lost. Alone and lost until she meets Peggy that is! She was a subtle character introduced to an already strong group of female characters and I feel that she really added to the dynamics of the Lanes. Our old favourites also returned in this novel; Maureen, Ellie and Anne. In addition, some of the men are starting to trickle back from the their war efforts; Gordon, who is tragically injured, and Laurie, who has been discharged from his secret wartime work under a dark cloud. Their return changes things for women on the Lanes, and not always in a positive way

New Arrivals in Mulberry Lane can be read as a standalone novel, but I would much rather recommend that you read all four novels in this series. I am already looking forward to reading book five in this series!

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I really enjoyed this book. It was brilliantly written with a great cast of characters that kept me turning the pages. Perfect read to escape from day to day life.

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I love this series of books and was so pleased that there was a new instalment.

It didn’t take me long to get re-acquainted with all the wonderful characters again.

A little time has passed, and things have changed for some of the characters. Peggy, who we hear more from in this book, is now a mother to twins. When Rose, one of the new arrivals, comes along looking for a job, she begins to work for Peggy, and live in. We get to know Rose, and find out more about her past, and the difficult secrets she is keeping.

It’s a tough time for the people of Mulberry Lane. War is still ongoing, and there are terrible shortages. Maureen in the shop has a hard time keeping the shelves stocked. But, as always, people make the best of what little they have, and help each other out.

Another fabulous novel from Rosie Clarke, I really enjoyed it and wished I could just read it all day. Highly recommended.

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1943, Mulberry Lane, London.
This is the fourth book in the Mulberry Lane series. I have not read the other books in this series but definitely feel like I would enjoy reading the back story for these characters and catching up. Rosie Clark writes wonderful war time stories that make you feel as though you are talking to friends. You become invested in the struggles of daily life that war brings with it. The rationing and using coupon books to buy the necessities. This book felt very realistic for the time period portrayed and I look forward to more book by this author.
Pub Date 04 Dec 2018
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Aria through NetGalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

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I have really enjoyed the Mulberry Lane series and this latest instalment is just like sitting down to catch up with old friends. You are really immersed in the war stories, and the friendships and trials and struggles that the war brings with it.
When Rose arrives in the story she’s hiding a secret, will she feel able to trust those around her enough for them to help her overcome her past .
I can’t wait to read more in this series and hope we have more in store by Rosie Clarke

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This Ginger Book Geek is a bit (ok a lot) of a history nerd with a particular interest in the First World War and the Second World War. So imagine my nerdish excitement when I read the synopsis for ‘New Arrivals At Mulberry Lane’? On second thoughts, best not. I have read a couple of the Mulberry Lane series and I really enjoyed them so I couldn’t wait to start ‘New Arrivals At Mulberry Lane’. I was not to be disappointed and I flipping loved reading it but more about that in a bit.
There are a whole host of characters in ‘New Arrivals At Mulberry Lane’ and to single any of them out seems a bit harsh. The two characters I seemed to take to the most were Rose and Peggy. Rose arrives in Mulberry Lane to have a fresh start. At first we don’t know what it is she is running from but as the book continues little clues are given out and then in a wave of emotion Rose tells Peggy all about what happened to her family. It was at this point that I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book and give Rose a hug. Rose is soon take on by Peggy as a general helper around the house and pub and Rose couldn’t be more happier. Rose struck me as being kind, gentle, helpful, friendly and a cracking young lady. Peggy is the landlady of the local pub. Well actually her husband is the landlord and Peggy is just keeping the pub ticking over for his return. Her husband is fighting overseas and he hasn’t contacted Peggy in some time. Part of the reason for that is the fact that Peggy had a fling with an American man, who is the father of the twins Peggy has not long given birth to. Peggy loves the children and she is worried what will happen when her husband comes home. Peggy is a super woman who seems to have unlimited energy. She is a pub landlady, she is the mother of toddler twins, she employs friends in the pub and she always has a shoulder to cry on for those who need it. She just never seems to stop. Peggy is a feisty, determined, stubborn and strong woman. I would love to have a friend just like her.
Oh my word, reading this book felt like I was reuniting with old friends. It didn’t take me long at all to get into the story and familiarise myself with the characters again. In fact the author uses such vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that the characters were my friends. Yes I know this is a fictional book but if I take to a book, I immerse myself in the story and I tend to ‘live’ the story as if it is real.
I love the period of time in which this book is set. The action takes place from 1943 onwards. The author has clearly done a huge amount of research and this shines through in the quality of her writing. She uses such powerful and vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I had been transported back in time and I had just landed in Mulberry Lane. I think that part of the reason why I am so interested in the Second World War is that I never knew my grandparents, who lived through the war and so reading books like this gives me an understanding of the conditions that they experienced and had to live through. It also helps me to feel closer to them as daft as that might sound to some.
I was hooked on this book literally from the first word onwards. The author’s writing style engages the reader from the start and much like a fisherman reeling in a catch so the author reels in the reader. For me ‘New Arrivals At Mulberry Lane’ was a real ‘CPID’ (can’t put it down) book. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because the book came everywhere with me. I found it nigh on impossible to put the book down and if I did have to put the book down then I would count down the time until I could pick the book up again. I just loved the author’s writing style, the storylines and the characters. I had tried to ration how much I read in one session but that intention soon flew out of the window because I couldn’t bear to stop reading more about the loves and lives of Mulberry Lane. I didn’t notice how quickly the time was passing and I was so disappointed when I closed the back cover. I was enjoying the book so much that I just wanted it to continue.
In short, I thoroughly and absolutely ADORED reading ‘New Arrivals At Mulberry Lane’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers, particularly to those fans of wartime sagas. I hope that we hear more from those in Mulberry Lane. Fingers crossed. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

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The author did a brilliant job of capturing the time period in this novel. The characters and plot were also well written. This was a great piece of historical fiction!

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New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke takes us back to 1944. Rose Marchant finds herself on Mulberry Lane in London’s East End looking for a new start. Rose has a secret that she does not want to come to light. Rose worked at a pub back home, so she heads to The Pig & Whistle to see if they are hiring. Peggy Ashley co-owns The Pig & Whistle with her estranged husband, Laurie who is away on war work. Peggy can tell Rose is hiding something, but she hires her and provides her with a place to live. Rose is enveloped into Mulberry Lane where she makes friends and meets someone special that she could imagine marrying. But will they still like her when they find out what she is hiding? Mabel Tandy owns the wool shop on the lane and has Ellie Morris along with her little girl living with her. Mabel has become a mother to Ellie and grandmother to her daughter. Ellie worries what will happen when Peter, her husband, returns home and learns that she kept the child. Tom Barton manages the neighborhood grocery store for Maureen Hart, but he is eager to turn eighteen and join the army. Peggy is thankful to have Rose helping in the pub and with her busy twins. Then Laurie returns home and takes charge of The Pig & Whistle and upsets the whole household. How will life change on Mulberry Lane now that Laurie has returned?

New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane is another delightful addition to The Mulberry Lane Series. Peggy Ashley is the matriarch of Mulberry Lane and watches over the other residents. She is friends with Maureen Hart and Anne Ross. Peggy is known for taking in stray chicks and giving them a helping hand. When Rose arrives, Peggy does not hesitate in offering her a job and a room. The characters in this series are well-developed. Rosie Clarke brings her characters to life making them realistic (characters that we love and others that we love to hate). I look forward to each new book to see how the residents of Mulberry Lane are faring during World War II. All of our favorite characters are back in New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane along with some unpleasant ones. I thought New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane was well-written and engaging. Personally, I recommend reading the books in The Mulberry Lane series in order. Each book builds upon the previous one. We see how the characters handle the war as it progresses. Life continues to go one at home while the war rages on around them. They face financial struggles, heartache, friendship, births, deaths, rationing, love, and fear. There are twists and turns that will keep readers riveted. Rosie Clarke captures the time period with the clothing, movies, slang, rationing, the struggles our characters face, the bombings, and the worry about loved ones off fighting the war. I wish I could tell you more, but I do not want to spoil it for you. I cannot wait for the next installment in The Mulberry Lane series to find out what happens next.

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I am a huge fan of Rosie Clarke and I love her Mulberry Lane series, so I was absolutely delighted to return back to this wonderful community of friends, families and neighbours. As engrossing as always, New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane is the latest installment and it is packed with all the pathos, emotion and heart that have made Rosie Clarke a huge favourite with saga fans everywhere!

In 1943, life is as hard and challenging as ever for the inhabitants of Mulberry Lane in London. In the midst of another cold and bleak winter, some things do not change at Mulberry Lane as this close knit community must continue to make sacrifices and cope and triumph over the many trials and tribulations which life throws their way. Some things might stay the same, but change is an inevitable part of life as the residents of the Lane discover when a mysterious new arrival arrives: Rose Merchant. Her new neighbours would love nothing more than to get to know her better, but is Rose all that she seems? Does she have any skeletons lurking in her closet? Or is she a woman with a dark past that could endanger the lives of the inhabitants of Mulberry Lane?

Rose Merchant is a woman who is used to keeping secrets. When somebody has the kind of baggage that she has, trust and honesty are commodities she can ill afford, for she knows full well that people will not take kindly to the discovery that she is the daughter of a murderer. When she arrives at Mulberry Lane, she vows to continue to keep her cards very close to her chest, however, for the first time in a very long while, she feels like she is part of a community that genuinely cares about her. As warmth, love and laughter enter her heart, Rose finds herself coming out of her shell and beginning to be honest with the people whom she feels comfortable enough to call friends, but Rose’s newfound serenity is threatened by the arrival of Laurie, the estranged husband of Peggy Ashley, Mulberry Lane’s matriarch.

Will Rose manage to triumph over adversity and heartbreak and live the life she was always meant to live? Will happiness ever be within her grasp? Or is she doomed to spending the rest of her life a prisoner of her own secrets?

Dramatic, gritty and gripping, New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane is a fantastic read that is so addictive, readers will be unable to stop themselves from reading the whole book in a single sitting. Rosie Clarke never fails to write sagas that are not only rich in period detail and wonderfully evocative, but they are also always packed with richly drawn characters it is absolutely impossible not to care about.

Poignant, compelling and hugely enjoyable, New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane is an unmissable treat for saga fans by one of the genre’s finest voices: Rosie Clarke.

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New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane was written with such warmth and heartfelt spirit. Being the fourth book in the series there was a lot of names to come to terms with in such quick succession but I didn't once feel that I was left on the back foot in terms of character profiles and back stories as it was all carefully layed out for me.

Our newest arrival Rose was an instantly likeable character who slipped into life in the lane with ease and success and I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between Rose and Peggy. I also loved the chemistry that sizzled and kindled between Ellie and the dashing Sid to create a much sort after love story that warmed my heart and made me smile. The multitude of characters all played their parts with great gusto and the plot was created in the style similar to that of a soap opera with the resident good guys and villains to spice up the action and keep the story lively.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in Mulberry Lane. I arrived as a stranger and left as part of the family and this is down to the warm and inviting writing style of Rosie Clarke. I wholeheartedly recommend spending time on the lane with Rosie, Peggy and the rest of gang. you won't be disappointed.

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I love the Mulberry Lane series, and I really enjoyed this book. It was like catching up with old friends. There was lots going on in this book. There were moments of happiness but also some sad times too. I’m hoping that Rosie will write another book soon, as there are still things I’d like to know how they turned out. I highly recommend this series.

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New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane is very atmospheric. Rosie Clarke does it again. Realistic characters and settings help immerse the reader in 1940s London. I have reviewed many of Rosie’s novels from the Mulberry Lane series and love them all. They all have an easy pace and characters who have secrets and drama in their lives.

What will happen when Rose’s secret is out? I don’t want to give much away and the book had me swept along. 4 stars.

Rosie Clarke is a very talented author.

Thanks to Rosie Clarke and Aria for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review as well as my slot on the blog tour for this title.

I feel proud to also have previosly taken part in the Cover Reveal event organised by Aria. See my post HERE

This is not the first Rosie Clarke book I’ve reviewed and it’s wonderful to review her most recent work.

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WWII domestic sagas are among my favourite kind of reads, and Mulberry Lane makes it to the top of my favourites list.

While we catch up with Peggy and her friends, there is a newcomer to the lanes - a young woman looking for a fresh start in life. Where better than The Pig and Whistle? With her twins now toddlers and a pub to run plus all the food to prepare from scratch to sell in the bar, Peggy is in desperate need of another pair of hands, but no sooner do things settle down than a spanner - and a whopping big one at that - gets thrown into the mix!

I really love this series; not only does the author keep things moving and packs her novels with lots of events from the community, there is always someone new popping up to be drawn into the warmth which Peggy is at the centre of. Definitely a series to read from the beginning, it's always such a pleasure when a new book comes out and I can get to find out what's happening to all my favourites. It's never dull and, I imagine, shows the reality of life for those at home during that terrible war. As with the previous novels, this is a riveting read with the odd surprise and shock and whilst it is a complete read on it's own, I am so looking forward to the next one to find out how things pan out. A great read, and one I have no hesitation in recommending to others who enjoy reading about this time.

My thanks to publisher Aria for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

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Another fantastic book by Rosie Clarke... although I haven't read any of the other Mulberry Series I didn't feel I was missing anything... but that may change when I start the rest of the series which is now on my TBR pile.

There is a lot of sadness, frustration and hard times for the characters in this story but friendships grow and you get a sense of how hard life was in the 40's... but it's also has a warm light-hearted out look on life.
The story is well written, very descriptive and the author has a way of bringing her characters to life and making you fall in love with them.

1943, Mulberry Lane, London. In the midst of another bleak winter, life is hard for the residents of The Lane.
When Rose Merchant arrives at Mulberry Lane, she is carrying a secret that haunts her. How can she tell her landlady and the Lanes' matriarch Peggy Ashley that she is the daughter of a murderer?
As Rose learns that she is amongst friends she gradually learns to trust and even to love. But when Peggy's estranged husband Laurie returns home for good, both Rose and Peggy's lives are once again turned upside down.
Can they both find their way through the heartache to find happiness?

There are lots of plot twists that will have you wanting to come back for more!

I can't wait to catch up on the previous books in this series..

Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.

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Struggling with loss, friendships, choices and fear, the people of the little neighborhood of Mulberry Lane in London’s East End. A major target because of the docks and warehouses, they’ve had relative calm in the ongoing years, if one doesn’t count the relationships and struggles of the people of the area. And Rosie Clark has created a hopeful story full of challenges and community as the “Lanes” band together to share, support, survive and struggle together through the hardships and uncertainties of war, one that seems never-ending.

The women left behind, are making the best of the hardships they are facing: and managing to make decisions, choices, friendships and loss with a strength and sense of community that seems all the more palpable because of the shared struggles. Using deft characterization and issues that pull at the heart, there is a clear sense of a common purpose: getting through the war in the best way possible, with friends and family working with and around the shortages, sharing their worries and joys, building a family out of neighbors and friends – one that cares comes together to help and support one another. There are several characters in this story, and bits of their backstories are shared as this one progresses, but what comes through, above and beyond the ‘what happened to get us here’ is the solid community sense: the friendships that truly provide comfort and understanding, and the fierce determination that these women show in their ability to make the best and most of the resources available to them.

Wonderful for the characters and the resilience shown during the struggles, the ‘homefront’ stories are often more centered on the “land girls’ or those working as spies and codebreakers – but it’s the ordinary people who held the country together through the years with pure determination, despite fears, loss and challenges. Clarke has brought those stories to light with characters that you can’t help but cheer on, empathize with and hope for an easier time. Most of us are unaware of the years of struggle that accompanied the war, during and after, and finding a new respect and understanding of the ways that people came together in times of difficulty and could serve as a model for us all.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

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If you enjoy WWII novels set in London, New Arrivals at Mulberry Lane is a great one.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Another great read from the author. Need to read other stories about Mulberry Lane as it sounds a wonderful place with great people

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