Finding Friends on Beamer Street is the first book in a brand new saga series by Sheila Riley. As soon as startled reading this book I just knew I was going to love it . This is such a fabulous read with great characters, The main character was wonderful and was filled with courage, strength and determination. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and highly recommend to fans of historical saga books.

Although I felt I’d read a similar book before, I enjoyed this one, a little bit predictable at times but on the whole a good read. The main character was strong and resourceful in her outlook which I enjoyed. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Sheila Riley's previous two series - Reckoner's Row and the Mersey Mistress/Angels - I was excited to discover yet another new series on the horizon. FINDING FRIENDS ON BEAMER STREET is a delightful tale of betrayal, survival, courage and strength against all odds. I just love the characters who are either warm-hearted or nosey and opinionated, with the exception of one of course.

1921: Paddy Redfern is preparing for his secret wedding to Mary Jane Starling when he is accosted by his twin Christie 'Red' Redfern and a plea for money. But Paddy is done bailing his wastrel brother out of scrapes of his own making and refuses to give him what he asks, even when Red pleads that his creditor demands immediate payment or on his own head be it. But Paddy confides that he has no money to spare since he and Mary Jane are about to marry and board the night ferry to Liverpool where they will begin their new life.

With child, Mary Jane is eagerly waiting Paddy's arrival when his no good brother Red intercepts her with warnings that they Paddy has been murdered and that they must flee Ireland for fear of reprisals from her three brothers should they catch up with her. Luckily Paddy had entrusted her with their ferry tickets (as well as their savings safely tucked away) which Red takes advantage of by hurrying Mary Jane across the Irish Sea to Liverpool, where he promised Paddy he would take care of her.

But the moment they set foot on the docks, he leaves her stranded having to make her own way to somewhere safer than here. She spies a teashop and takes refuge there but not before almost being bowled over by a horse and trap. When Red catches up with her, he gives her rough directions to where they need to go before hurrying off once again. Mary Jane knows Red cannot be trusted which is why she never let on about the savings Paddy had entrusted her with, fearing he would just fritter it away on ale and gambling.

With the help of Cal Everdine, Mary Jane finds her way to Beamer Street where Red has them booked into Cissie Stone's lodging house, which is filthy with grime and dirt. Esconced in the attic room under the guise of husband and wife, Mary Jane cleans the room from top to bottom before settling in there. She knows she will have to start earning to build up the savings she and Paddy put aside to escape this horrid place and awful landlady, not to mention the lazy wastrel Red who spends more time at the alehouse or in Cissie's rooms than working on the docks.

Mary Jane comes up with a plan to bake pies and pastries to sell at the market and soon has just enough to rent the empty shop premises across the street, below Cal Everdine's flat. She has had just about enough of Red's cadging and Cissie's filthy place. But then she discovers all her savings gone...every little bit she and Paddy had saved that she had hidden in various places...along with her carpet bag and Red's belongings. The scoundrel had fled with everything she had and not a penny left to pay the rent.

But Mary Jane will not be beaten. Even when she returns the following day to find her belongings strewn on the doorstep of the lodging house, Cissie having turfed her out, Mary Jane will not be beaten. Her only friends since she came to Beamer Street have been Molly Hayward next door and the quiet Cal Everdine from across the street. Molly takes in Mary Jane and gives her a roof whilst Cal gives her his premises to bake her pies and pastries and soon, she has enough once again to rent out the premises below his flat. And it isn't long before her business is thriving and she has orders from all over, as well as the nosey busybodies from down the street who wouldn't give her the time of day when she first moved in. And slowly Mary Jane saves enough to put aside for when her confinement starts and the baby comes.

And then she arrives home one day to find Molly in tears, a letter in her hand. And their worlds come crashing down just as Christmas nears and Mary Jane's baby is due.

FINDING FRIENDS ON BEAMER STREET is a delightfully easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed and cannot wait to rejoin the Haywards and the Everdines on Beamer Street again soon. There is so much going on within this little family and their friends and I enjoyed every minute of my stay with them.

As with all of Sheila Riley's series, FINDING FRIENDS ON BEAMER STREET is a heartwarming tale of love, loss, courage and strength with a beautiful ending. I loved every minute of my stay there and cannot wait to rejoin them all again soon.

Perfect for fans of sagas.

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

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

1921 Cashelree Ireland Mary Jane and Paddy are fleeing to be wed then catching the night ferry over to Liverpool. Mary Jane is with child and when her brothers find out there will be war to pay for paddy. His twin brother Red finds out and rushes to tell Mary Jane that Paddy is dead her brothers got to him and he is going to get her away on the night ferry is she doing the right thing? Red has never been reliable like Paddy and takes her to number 43 Beamer Street the awful landlady Cissie Stone and the place is filthy, she needs to be earning so she can save and get away from there with the help of Cal Everdine and Daisy may and her Mother Molly next door she sells pies and bread down the market using Cal's yard and oven, she has to get out of this house and Red and his skulduggery he is not dragging her down with him she has a unborn baby to think of, thanks to friendship in Beamer Street her savings are starting to grow and she can get her own shop.
This book was so touching to read right through and I enjoyed every page and look forward to more to come from the series.

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

I loved reading this book. The characters were lovely and grabbed your attention.

Mary comes to Liverpool from Ireland and she’s unmarried and pregnant. What should have been the day she wed the father, he was killed.

She has to try and build a life for herself and the baby she’s carrying, the only thing she knows to do is baking.

Molly takes her to her home and she moves in with her family, Mary feels that now she’s stable enough to continue to build her baking business.

A fabulous start to a new series and I cannot wait to read the next book.

I highly recommend this book.

Finding Friends On Beamer Street by Sheila Riley is a wonderful historical novel set in Liverpool in 1921.
The leading lady is admirable and likable. Fresh off the boat from Ireland, she possesses a strength of character and has a will to succeed. She will stand her ground against anyone.
Dreams are important. We all need something to strive for. The reader admires the lead character who does not let set backs hold her back. She uses them as stepping stones towards her goals.
A character is drowning in guilt. An event in the past has a stranglehold as a character continues to punish themselves by denying themselves anything but the basics.
Only a few years after the first world war has ended means life is tough for those who lost husbands and fathers. They could let grief pull them down but instead they live and love and laugh. The wonderful feeling of love and care radiates from the pages.
The residents of Beamer Street don’t have much but there is a generosity of spirit. They all pull together, offering support where it is needed.
There is the theme of riches. Riches has nothing to do with your bank account. The richest people are those who love and are loved.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the residents of Beamer Street. It was a heart-warming novel that filled me with love.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Loved loved loved this book, a wonderful story with characters that jump out of the pages. Mary Jane arrives in Liverpool from Ireland pregnant and unmarried, the father killed on what should have been their wedding day, she has to struggle to survive and build a life for her unborn baby, by doing the only thing she knows, baking and building up a business. Taken in by Molly and her family she finds love stability with them. A great start to what will be a wonderful series I cannot wait to read the next one. Definitely a well deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book

What a lovely book this is to read with a strong woman wanting to make a life for her unborn child.I have really loved this book it is BRILLIANT and fans will also love it 5*

The book was for me about following your Dreams, betrayal, determination , strength, strong women and a sweet romance
What I thought about the book
What a way to start of a new series. You Will love the Main characters , and the nosey and opinionated neighbours. You Will take an interest in following their daily lives.. you Will see their strength shine through, Even though life tries to knock them down, you Will be so proud of them. And it has a sweet romance , that for me gave hallmark vibes.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Finding Friends on Beamer Street by Sheila Riley

Liverpool 1921
Pregnant, Mary Jane Starlings secret wedding to Paddy Redfern ends in disaster when her fiancé is murdered on the way to the church. Paddy’s wayward twin ‘Red’ intercepts Mary Jane and warns that they must flee Ireland for fear of reprisals from her family, never to return.
Too young and terrified to question Red’s motives, Mary Jane, is hurriedly escorted to Liverpool where she quickly discovers Red’s good Samaritan act is a sham when he abandons her homeless and destitute.
However, strength, fortitude and good luck save her when she catches the eye of reclusive Cal Everdine and is befriended by Molly Hayward’s lovable family.
But Mary Jane still has to live with the overbearing guilt of the secrets she holds.
Will she ever be able to follow her dreams and reconcile her past?

Wow , what a fabulous introduction to a new series by this wonderful author. Sheila Riley manages to get under the skin of her characters in such a way that you really feel you are part of the story . It's like watching it unfold in front of you .
Loved Mary Jane and looking forward to finding out more about her life as the series develops.
Can't wait until the next book comes out.

Wow, what a read. If this is the first in the Beamer Street series bring on the rest!
Mary Jane Startlings is one strong woman, I regularly felt angry on her behalf at how badly she was by treated by people and life events after the man she loves gets murdered . She is then spirited away from Ireland to Liverpool for her safety according to lying, cheating Christie Red Redfern (brother of Paddy who she loved). After docking in Liverpool Mary Jane gets helped out by kindly Cal Everdine who treats her to tea in a nearby tearoom as he feels sorry for her.
Once settled in CissyStone’s not so clean attic room Mary Jane starts to look for work, more than Red plans on doing! He’s more interested in Cissy!
I can promise you, you will love it.

This is the first book in a new series, and starts with a bang.

Pregnant, Mary Jane Starlings secret wedding to Paddy Redfern ends in disaster when her fiancé is murdered on the way to the church. Paddy’s wayward twin ‘Red’ intercepts Mary Jane and warns that they must flee Ireland for fear of reprisals from her family, never to return.

Too young and terrified to question Red’s motives, Mary Jane, is hurriedly escorted to Liverpool where she quickly discovers Red’s good Samaritan act is a sham when he abandons her homeless and destitute.

However, strength, fortitude and good luck save her when she catches the eye of reclusive Cal Everdine and is befriended by Molly Hayward’s lovable family.

But Mary Jane still has to live with the overbearing guilt of the secrets she holds. Will she ever be able to follow her dreams and reconcile her past?

A quick, easy read, finished in just under 2 hours.

Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of this lovely read in return for my honest review.

Finding Friends on Beamer Street by Sheila Riley

You won't want to miss this new series of historical sagas set around Liverpool Docks.

Synopsis:
Mary Jane Starling's secret wedding to Paddy Redfern in Liverpool 1921 ends in grief when her fiancé is murdered on his way to be married. After finding Mary Jane, Paddy's evil twin "Red" warns her that they must flee Ireland for fear of repercussions from her brothers.

Red's self-sacrificing act is exposed as fake when he abandons Mary Jane in Liverpool. Lady Luck steps in when Molly Hayward's loving family befriends Mary Jane and she attracts the attention of Cal Everdine. Mary Jane still carries the guilt of her past. Will she find the courage to reveal her secret?

There is a delightful quality to Sheila Riley's writing and it would make a wonderful movie. I found the plot to be heartwarming and reminiscent of a Hallmark setting. The story is clean and doesn't contain graphic content.

Finding Friends on Beamer Street is available on November 16th. My review will be released on November 21st as part of Rachel's Random Resources Blog Tour.

Thanks to Sheila Riley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. Your kindness is greatly appreciated!

@BoldwoodBooks @BookandTonic #FindingFriendsOnBeamerStreet @RachelsRandomResources, @NetGalley #NetGalleyReviewer #Blogtour

Finding Friends 0n Beamer Street, wow I loved how the pages kept flying while I finished reading this story in a day.

I especially enjoyed the lead character Mary Jane who is strong, determined and unapologetic about her ambitions.

#blogtour review to follow.

A real page turner! Mary Jane is about to marry when she is snatched up by her lovers twin brother and taken to England. There she must find a new life and helped out by Molly she bakes her way to life and a new love.