This is the third book in the series
This book is all about friendship and love in war.
It is also written very well.

It was a great novel. Loved reading it and the writer is great. Would most likely read again and recommend to others.

I read The Railway Girls in Love earlier this year but have finally got around to writing my review. I fell in love with The Railway Girls series right from the first book and each time there is a new book out I am excited to see what's in store for them in the next.
The Railway Girls in Love follows Mabel, Joan and Dot as they navigate love during the war. Mabel has put her past behind her and has moved on with her life. She is in love with Harry and their relationship is the best it has ever been, but an old flame linked to the past turns up and Mabel begins to question things and finds herself in a difficult situation. I really enjoyed reading Mabel's story line and finding out more about her past giving even more depth to her character.
Joan has a family mystery to solve and one that I really loved reading about, I didn't really like Joan's Gran much but after finding out more about her through the mysterious past I have grown to like her a little bit more now but poor Joan and the ups and downs she goes through in this book.
The Railway Girls in Love as Dot finds out highlights the importance of friendships, especially during the war when families are split up or a death occurs. I think that's what I love most about this series not only is it well written and has some amazing characters but The Railway Girls highlights the importance of love and friendships during times of hardship and how important they are to get us through those difficult times.
I am very excited for the next instalment of this fantastic series.

Make yourself a cuppa and find a comfy spot on the sofa because you are not going to be able to put down Maisie Thomas’ emotional and heartfelt new saga, The Railway Girls in Love.

Mabel never imagined that she would ever be this happy. Old wounds and past mistakes had almost condemned her to a lonely future, but with the help of her friends and her dashing beau, she was able to put everything behind her. Mabel is completely focused on the future and having fallen madly in love with the dashing Harry starts to hope that their relationship could continue to go from strength to strength. For the first time in a long while, everything seems to be going well for Mabel – until an old flame shows up putting all of her plans and hopes and dreams into disarray. Will Mabel’s happiness turn out to be fleeting and transient after all? Or will she manage to find a way to have the life she has always wanted and dreamed about?

Having been at loggerheads with Bob, Joan has finally managed to make amends and the two of them hope to never let anything come between them. Joan and Bob might have made up, but sadly her relationship with her grandmother is still fraught and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better – if anything, it seems to be getting worse and with a family mystery hovering over them, Joan cannot help but wonder whether she will ever find the answers she is so desperately seeking.

Meanwhile, Dot Green is relishing her new job as a parcels porter. Dot had always put her family first, but for the first time in a long while, she has the opportunity to do something for herself and to forge her own path. Dot cannot remember a time where she had been this happy and begins to wonder whether she will finally found the courage to start putting herself first and follow her heart.

Life for the railway girls is as busy as ever and with the war showing no signs of waning, they are going to need to continue to put their best foot forward and help and support one another – especially as there might even be a wedding on the horizon…

If you love Nancy Revell, then Maisie Thomas’ fantastic Railway Girls series should be at the very top of your auto-buy list. Maisie Thomas is a terrific writer who writes with great insight, flair and sensitivity and in The Railway Girls in Love, she has penned a spellbinding tale about friendship and loyalty that touches the heart and brings a tear to the eye. Maisie Thomas’ characters leap off the pages and straight into your heart and you will be completely gripped by Mabel, Joan and Dot’s stories and find yourself keeping your fingers crossed hoping that they will get their hearts’ desires.

Dramatic, intriguing and sprinkled with plenty of wit and heart, Maisie Thomas’ latest novel The Railway Girls in Love is another unmissable saga by this superb storyteller!

I have been a fan of Maisie’s work for a little while and I have followed ‘The Railway Girls’ series from the start. ‘The Railway Girls In Love’ is the third book in the series and it is another corker of a read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Railway Girls In Love’ but more about that in a bit.
It seems kind of unfair to single out any one of the characters for special attention as I like them all- well apart from Gran that is. I have to say though that I have a special fondness for Dot. She is like a mother hen and the other railway girls are her chicks. Dot is a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend but she also does her bit for the war effort as she also works as a ‘Railway Girl’. Dot is lovely, kind, generous, compassionate and the sort of woman you would love to by your side when times are hard. If I had one little, teensy weeny criticism of her it would be that she is too ‘nice’ and puts up with behaviour from her nearest and dearest that is just not on. I often felt like jumping inside the pages of the book to give those abusing her kind nature a slap with a wet flannel!! Dot does develop a ‘close’ friendship with a work colleague but for the time being that is all it is- a friendship.
Oh my word, ‘The Railway Girls In Love’ is just superb. I was drawn to the book by the fact that I saw the name ‘Maisie Thomas’ on the front cover. As soon as I began to read that was it. I just knew that I wouldn’t be doing anything else bar reading for the rest of the day. I found this book to be unputdownable and a real page turner. I sat down with the book intending to read for an hour or so but I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time. When I looked up to check how long I had been reading for, I was staggered to realise that I had been reading for three hours solid. I soon got through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say farewell to ‘The Railway Girls’.
‘The Railway Girls In Love’ is superbly written as are the first two books in the series. Anybody who knows me, knows that I am not only a book geek but I am also a history nerd, with a particular fondness for sagas set either in the First World War or the Second World War. So you can imagine why I love this series so much. I love the way in which Maisie creates such likeable characters and she describes them so well that they seem as real as you and I. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly gentle pace. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Maisie’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. ‘The Railway Girls’ certainly go on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and I felt as though I went on one too.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Railway Girls In Love’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Maisie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

The Railway Girls in Love is the third instalment in Maisie Thomas’s Railway Girls series which follows a group of women, all from very different backgrounds, who work together on the railways during the war. I have enjoyed the series so far and I felt with this book it really began to find its pace and niche and that we were really given a deeper insight into several of the characters. There is a strong set of female characters present and it’s set at a time when women needed determination and vision in order to make their mark in what until that point had been a very much male dominated work sector.

With so many men away fighting in the war, women stepped up and took their place in such a wide variety of roles and they relished every minute of it. No longer were they classed as just homemakers who raised a family. Worthwhile and important although that role was, women had so much more to offer and it was like they had been waiting in the wings until that point where society needed them the most and they were more than willing to do their duty on the home front. That’s not to say life was plain sailing for them on the railways, there was plenty of opposition in their way not to mention all their personal problems. Several of which really came to the fore in this book.

The opening of the book takes us back to February 1939 and I was slightly confused for a minute as I felt why are we going back in time? We have heard how Mabel, daughter of a factory owner, came to work on the railways. We know she feels extreme guilt at the death of her beloved best friend Althea and this has affected how she is now living her life. So why do we need to go back over this again? I was pleasantly surprised to discover we get an even deeper insight as to what the exact circumstances of Althea’s death were and why Mabel feels that she can never forgive herself for what happened. Finally we have a reason for the root cause of Mabel’s anguish and why she carries such a burden. In the previous book, she was beginning to put the past behind her but the unexpected appearance of a face that once meant so much to her but now only stirs up terrible memories which she has tried to put behind her causes all that to come to a halt.

Mabel has a lot to deal with in this story and she wrestles with her conscience as to what is the right thing to do. Is she happy with her boyfriend Harry even though certain things had come to light previously or is this new/old face knocking at the door of her heart determined not to be ignored? I love that Mabel now feels more confident enough that she can turn to the girls for advice as to what to do. The bond they have all formed is incredible and despite being different ages and from different class backgrounds they share their worries, strife and the bad and good times. All her friends, Dot, Joan, Cordelia, Alison and Colette have encouraged her to embrace happiness. They don’t condemn her for what happened in her past, instead she is urged to share her turmoil and they offer strength, support and advice. Whether she would take this on board I was keen to find out as I knew what I wanted her to do but whether she had come far enough on her personal journey in order to do this and cross the line, that I wasn’t so sure about.

For me Joan was the character whose storyline I found the most interesting. We get an awful lot of answers to questions that really have been niggling away at me ever since book one. A proposal from boyfriend Bob sees her having to confront some family issues, most pressingly her continued estrangement from her grandmother. Having lost her sister Letitia during a bombing raid her Gran is all that she has left and especially during wartime when life is so precious, arguments should not be allowed to fester into something even greater. But saying all that who can blame Joan for feeling the way she does? Her Gran is one of the most horrible characters in this series of books and I can’t feel one ounce of sympathy or compassion for her. Every member of the group always tries to see the good in everybody and mistakes are forgiven but with Gran I found it very hard. She has put Joan through the wringer and as Joan discovers, so many lies have been told about her family history. I loved how Joan had the guts to break free and to venture out and find the answers she has wanted for so long. As her Gran is like a brick wall refusing to open up she knows she will learn nothing there. What a great but sad twist when she returns to her birthplace and I thought what she uncovered really set the cat among the pigeons. Is she strong enough to cope with what she hears? Can she forgive and forget? Or is it all just too much? Will the support and guidance of her friends guide her through and therefore allow her to enjoy her wedding to Bob?

Dot is the final member whose story alongside that of Mabel’s and Joan’s features most prominently. She is a working class housewife who at the central of it all has an absolute heart of gold. She is like the matriarch of the group and a mother hen to all. She is always on the go and will help anyone in need no matter how big or small. You really just want her to take some time for herself and not to always be worrying about others especially her family. Married to Reg who seems to always put her down with his snide remarks and expectations when it comes to the house, working on the railways has given Dot the freedom she has craved for so long. Working on the trains distributing parcels at each stop she is now seeing all walks of life and the wider world. There was one scene here in particular when Dot opened the doors of a train that will have you stopping and struggling to comprehend what it is you are actually reading as it is so horrific.

Dot always takes things in her stride and is flourishing in her new work role. But for Dot is her friendship with Mr. Thirkle starting to tip over into love? To be honest I would love to see this friendship really move to something more. Dot deserved so much better than she got when it came to her family life both in relation to her husband and her two daughters-in-law. I wouldn’t have found fault if she decided to follow her heart but she was so conscious of all aspects of her family and working life that she is still really caught between a rock and a hard place. I wish she was as able to be as open with her friends as they were with her because I know they wouldn’t judge her. I feel Mabel and Joan got some closure in this story but as for Dot things still remain very much open and up in the air for her.

All in all I really enjoyed The Railway Girls in Love. It really moved the various overall storylines on. Yet I still want to read more about Cordelia, Alison and Colette, they are still too much on the periphery. I have a feeling regarding what could be going on with Colette’s because of the way things are written about her. I hope I am way off the mark in this case. Christmas with the Railways Girls will be the next book in the series and I was pleased to see the author mention that the three characters named above will get to share their viewpoints. I have wanted this from book one and I feel the other women have had their stories told. It’s time to let the trio step into the spotlight. I’m already looking forward to seeing what’s in store for them.

Moving onto The Railway Girls in Love, we learn more about the girls as they deal with the events from the early years of the war. Dot, Joan and Mable are still the main focus of this book, but the various secondary characters come more and more to the fore. I especially loved that poor Lizzie's mum plays such a key role, along with claustrophobic Mrs Grayson who we met in the last book.





Dot still has a tendency to get involved in things that might not be her business, but when it affects the people she loves, she can't help herself. She also has grown her friendships within the group, particularly with posh Cordelia. Before the war, the closest that Dot would have come to meeting Cordelia would be if she worked for her as a cleaner or something similar, but in this new world where everyone is performing new roles they are fast friends, often combining to become a formidable pair as they support their friends.





For Joan, this book is the one where she finds out the truth of who she really is, and what happened in her family's tragic past. It also includes showdowns with her gran where they confront the secrets and lies from the past and have to try to build a new relationship, if that is even possible. Joan is the first to admit that she hasn't always made the right decisions, but she realises what it is that she wants from life.





Mabel is also coming to terms with the events of the past that have shaped her, and we finally find out the whole story about the death of the sister of her heart, Althea. This is the story that has been teased right from the beginning of the first book in the series, so it was good to finally know what it was that she felt so guilty about. Mabel is happy with her boyfriend Harry, so it is uncomfortable when an old boyfriend turns up, forcing her to confront those events.





I love the detail that the author includes that makes the characters come alive and become people that we can relate to. For example, I couldn't help but think of us now with the following quote. When I watch something on TV now where people are hugging and kissing, I can't help but think social distancing??? in my mind!



...."She says she's sorry she can't offer you the Bentley, but her store of petrol has almost run out, so she'll be relying on applying for coupons from now on. Between ourselves, she's been on the receiving end of some criticism for using the Bentley."



"It's understandable," said Cordelia. "It's become such a large part of our thinking these days. My neighbour was called away unexpectedly and she asked me to look after her children for the evening. She said all I needed to do was read them a chapter from The Wind in the Willows. It turned out to be the part where Mr Toad drives around. Young Lucy asked where he'd got the petrol coupons and her brother said he must have got them off the black market."



"They played "Bye Bye Blackbird" on the wireless the other day," said Alison, "and I was singing along, but when it got to the bit about "light the light", I found myself thinking: what about the blackout."



As I read this book, I found myself completely invested in the friendship between all of the women, despite their differences in status, age and background. This was particularly true as we reached the end of Railway Girls in Love, where they all came together as one in support of one of their own.







I was also struck by the resilience the people of Manchester had to display as they try to go about their everyday lives. Incendiary bombs falling as you try to get home from work? Find a nearby cellar to wait it out. Your house bombed out, find a new place to live with the help of your friends, church hall flooded when there is a big event coming up, find another location. Of course, these events are stressful but with humour, resilience and the help of your friends anything can be achieved.





I have already seen that there is going to be another Railway Girls book in September. Whilst I still think that there is a lot of story still for Mabel, Dot and Joan, I am hoping that we will get to know some of the other women better too. I particularly think that there is much more to Colette's story than we have been privy to so far.





I have enjoyed all three books in this series, particularly these last two. I am already looking forward to reading it. This is one series that should be read in order, so start with The Railway Girls

This book is part of a series, and although I usually like to read series in order, I don't mind jumping books when it's historical novels. And this one just made me excited about the previous books, plus I was able to understand what was happening in the story, it just made me curious to learn about the past.

The Railway Girls in Love... What amazing title! Very captivation. A book set in Manchester, during WWII, and following three amazing women - Mabel, Joan and Dot.

Now, I have read books set during the World War II, and it's always something that touches my heart. Although Portugal was not really in the war, and although there is a lot of things about that time period that I don't know, I love historical novels that open my eyes and get me going.

This book truly made me curious about the entire railway element. And I'm always intrigued to see the women's role during these time periods. I do believe that not only is it thought provoking about the society and the war, but it also allows me to have some points that I want to research when I don't know something.

Now, the characters... Mabel, Joan and Dot were amazing, I loved them so much and I want to read the other two books so I can see how their lives got to the place that I met them in. They felt familiar and inspiring in a way. I could connect to them and I could understand them as well as getting exciting for each moment and goal accomplished.

Overall, I loved the story and I need to read the previous books so I understand the entire journey, just based on this novel I'm sold on the series.

[I want to thank Maisie Thomas and Penguin Random House UK - Arrow for the Copy of this book, and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own]

I was a bit confused with who was who and their connections. Took some time to get into the story. The railway girls were all friends and by the same token their family and friends were all a big family. There is always the odd exception, Mrs Foster, Joan’s gran who is a difficult woman with secrets to hide. Will Joan unearth them? Dot, the caring grandmother. Will she find more than friendship at work? Mabel, is Harry in love with her or the money her father has?

I love historical fiction and in this story we joined the girls on the railway in Manchester as they all worked hard amongst the frequent bombings of World War II.

This was my first visit to these ladies and the more I got to know them the more eager I became to keep reading. A story that demonstrates some wonderful friendships despite the difficult circumstances everyone found themselves in. Once I hit the 50% mark this story just ran away and I was flying through the pages to see what would happen to Mabel & Harry's relationship as Mabel returns to face some truths from her past and Joan discovers secrets that her Nan had hidden from her.

I loved the smaller stories within the main story and how when I reached the end, I was left with a feeling of happiness that despite being in a war torn country families still found ways to have their happily ever afters.

This is the third book in The Railway Girls series of historical novels and it continues to focus on the lives of Mabel, Joan and Dot as they go about their lives working on the railways during WW2. In this latest novel, the girls are working just as hard, helping to keep the railway network running, but with the effects of war biting ever harder, the women need to pull together even more. The support that each of the women give to each other is what makes this series so special.

There's a lovely familiar feel to the story, and returning to Manchester, in 1941, is like coming home, especially as we have grown to love and admire both the stoicism and northern good humour of this group. Meeting again with Mabel, Joan and Dot is just such a delight, especially, as in this novel, we look more at their personal relationships, and with a hint of love and marriage on the horizon for one of the characters, it shows off the wonderfully warm camaraderie which has developed between these lovely women. Simple survival on the home front is very much in evidence and the author writes with a lovely light touch, showing what life was like during the early years of the war when our towns and cities were a target for German bombers.

There's a great deal of research needed to maintain a successful historical series and the author does a great job at bringing wartime Manchester to life. Like all towns, Manchester had its share of war time tragedy and I think this stoicism in making do and mending is what comes across so beautifully in The Railway Girls in Love, as even on a bad day when things are going wrong for them, they simply get up, and with strength and humour, they carry on with their lives.

Whilst it is perfectly possible to read The Railway Girls in Love as a standalone saga, as with all series, it is better if you start at the beginning in order to appreciate this author's skillful ability to bring place and people alive, and enjoy getting to know, and love, The Railway Girls.

This is book #3 in the Railway Girls series. This is the first book I’ve read from this series, and I have to admit that I think I should have read the previous books in the series first as there are a lot of characters where their back stories are already known. However, I did quickly settle into the story and enjoyed it very much! I love anything to do with trains or railways, so what better book to read for me! Based in Manchester at the beginning of World War II, we are introduced to some lovely characters in Mabel, Joan and Dot. They have all come from different backgrounds, yet all rally around and support each other throughout the trials of wartime, just like you would expect good friends to do.

The storyline moved along well, and I found myself hook into the women’s stories. The work on the railways was researched well and completely original and was, for me, the highlight of the book! Based during the war, the support, friendship and camaraderie of all the characters was clearly evident and the characters all fitted into the story perfectly, each adding their own something to it! The location of Manchester was also really interesting for me, having family links to the area.

Despite the slightly confusing start with not knowing the characters from the previous books, this ended up being a lovely heart-warming, light-hearted and sometimes emotional reads! This is a definitely a series which I will be going back to catch up on, so I can enjoy their stories all the more. Filled with lots of love, family and friendships, this was an easy to read and enjoyable wartime saga which I would definitely recommend.

This is the third book in the series and I have loved it as much as the others. It felt good to be back in the lives of Mabel, Joan and Dot. I have enjoyed reading and watching them develop. They come from different backgrounds and are different ages but the bond they share will last a lifetime. Mabel has a new boyfriend, Joan and Bob are stronger than ever and even Dot is starting to put herself first.

Like the rest of the series this book is well researchedand beautifully written and captures the spirit of the war effort by the women who were left behind to keep the country thriving. Absolutely loved this book and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

My first foray into this series, and a book I really enjoyed!

Mabel is putting the past behind her and and her romance with Harry is thriving - at least, until an old flame makes an appearance and unsettles her. Joan and Bob's relationship is once again on a firm footing - but her estrangement from Gran continues. Dot has always put her family first, but now she has a full-time job her horizons are expanding; is it finally time for her to look after her own needs?

I could have sworn that I had read others in this series, but sadly not. However, I had no problems in picking up the story with this third book which makes an excellent stand-alone read. I'm pleased that the details of the previous two aren't repeated - only the necessary details come out as the story progresses. I've never encountered a book about work on the railways during WWII before, and this was enlightening and entertaining. Lots of information I wasn't aware of, all woven into a gripping tale. In particular, the friendships which pulled women together on the home front are heavily featured, and the characters - from all walks of life - are beautifully developed. Experienced writing always shines through and this is a great read and one I'm happy to recommend and give four stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Georgia Williamson for my spot on this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

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

February 1939, it seems that all distributions factories and other components are been turned over to help with the war in making what they need.

Mabel Bradshaw is holding a guilt, of friend Althea, Joan Henshaw is living in Wilton Close with Mrs cooper, along with Alison and Colette, Mabel thinks of her new boyfriend Harry Knatchbull, also, Joan with her darling Bob Hubble our railway girl's are all loved up.

But will they move on from the past to the future?

All are facing hard times, pulling together.

Easy reading and light hearted. The characters are all very likeable. Parts of the storyline were slightly far fetched at times but this didn't deter from the enjoyment of the whole book. Knowing the Manchester area and the station makes it even more enjoyable. Looking forward to the next in the series later this year.

Book Three in this series and I love them all so couldn't wait read Railway Girl's in Love.
it's February 1939 all distributions factories and other components are been turned over to war work.
Mabel Bradshaw is holding a guilt over her best friend Althea, and Joan Henshaw now lives in Wilton Close with Mrs cooper both along side Alison and Colette, and Mabel is thinking of her new handsome charming boyfriend Harry Knatchbull, and Joan with her darling Bob Hubble our railway girl's are all loved up.
Can they move from the past into the future, this book is all about lasting love during wartime and family and friendship, that leaves an ever lasting glow to all reader's.
Times are hard for all the characters in this series as they pull together.
And I honestly cannot wait to read more from this author Maisie Thomas who has delivered writing from the heart to bring these girl's to life.
I am sure readers will enjoy just as much as I did to The End.

This is the first book I have read by this author, I did enjoy the story line but got confused by all the characters from time to time having to 're read the page again , I love a happy ending and there was one in this book and it's amazing what family and friends can achieve when it's needed

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Having read the previous 2 books in this series was so looking forward to this one, was slightly disappointed with this one,as half of the book is made up if the last two books, a lot of repeating and going over what we have read before, it's good that Joan is finally finding out her past a nice pleasant read.

Sorry this didn’t do it for me. I don’t think it was the book and more me in this case but I struggled with it and didn’t finish it