This story was a very enjoyable WW2 historical fiction. I can't remember reading a WW2 story that took place in Manchester before opening Courage for the Home Front Girls. I honestly don't know much about the town.

My mom has talked about it numerous times since she and my dad lived there for a little while after the war ended. I never stopped to think about the damage they may have endured. I never thought about living there during the war. Now I not only think about but want to know more.

Betty works Salvage in Manchester after being caught selling more than she should with rationing. She is working hard to show she deserves a second chance. She even works for Sally, the gal, that busted her for rationing abuses. I honestly did not know that there were actual salvage collection sites.

Betty illustrates just how young and naive some were when the went to work for the war effort. She is easily manipulated. Her big heart gets her in trouble. Her trouble makes for a great read. There is lots of drama as she falls head over heels for Eddie. Family drama added to the story as Betty deals with a stepmother.

I have found most WW2 historical fictions bring people of different backgrounds together. Betty soon has a new co-worker, one that is hiding her identity. Betty notices that Lorna is an up market sort of girl but knows little else about her. I couldn't wait to see what happened when Betty discovered who she was sorting paper and scrap with every day. I didn't see things developing the way they did. I couldn't wait to see how things ended. I do love a happily ever after. This story actually has a few of them.

Another lively and lovely novel of the Blitz. Sally and Betty have a new helper at the salvage yard- Lorna, who is less than enthusiastic about the job. The three pull together though, especially after the area is bombed and disaster strikes. There's a love interest but this is really about female friendship and community. Don't worry if you missed the first book- this will be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this slow burner of a book

this is the 2nd book in the series and it doesnt distract at all from the storyline...

sally has just been made manager at the salvage depot and she loves it, its her bit for the war effort and knows everything she can about what the salvage can bring to the war....

betty is also working at the depot and is hoping to put her past behind her

lorna is a new girl to be added and though sally hadnt been involved in her getting a position at the depot she has no grounds to get rid of her and hopes she can pull her wait.... though at the moment lorna doesnt want to be there at all...its all so far beneath her

as the war carries on betty is at the depot one day when the air raid siren goes off and she goes down to the air raid shelter she isnt on her own as her friend eddie is also there, he came in to say hello

theres trouble ahead for the girls if only they could see it coming....

this is a sunday read slow and steady but its the camaraderie of the girls that keeps the storyline interesting

We are back in Manchester, in 1940, and Sally and Betty are both still working in the salvage depot. They work hard and do a great job for the war effort.

Sally is now the manager of the depot, and when they are told they have a new member of staff, they look forward to some more help.

Lorna has had a hard time, and thanks to the papers, she needs to move away until the dust settles.

Lorna’s father sends her to Manchester to work in the salvage yard. Lorna isn’t happy about having to work there, she enjoys spending her time getting her nails and hair done!

I enjoyed being back with Sally and Betty, they are both such great characters. I wasn’t sure about Lorna to start with, but she did grow on me.

There were plenty of new characters in the tale, and I did like Samuel, who was a bookseller. He’s also doing his bit for the war effort by making sure donated books get to the troops, children etc.

With Betty finally meeting someone, and Sally settling well into married life, the story had plenty to keep me hooked.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a good read.
The characters are well developed.. One of the characters was on my bad side from the beginning. I can see red flags!
This sheds more light on what it was like in London during the Blitz. Everyone had to pull together to survive.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

A big tear jerker!
Book two Chorlton Manchester 1940.
Homefront girls, Betty Hughes and Sally Henshaw working together on shifts as firewatchers, and at the salvage depot during the day, it's all busy busy busy for them both doing their bit for the war effects during the blitz, and the air raid sirens keep coming almost every night.
This book I just could not wait to start, after enjoying book one in this new series from the author, that takes all your troubles away, it's full of love companionship, friendship, with a lot of harrowing details as all the poor people go through during war time, you find yourself turning pages after pages, with all the characters coming to life that brings you such a fantastic story.
A happy and contented booklover awarding big five stars. Hope their is a book three.

Courage for the Home front girls, the 2nd in the series is a great follow up book. Sally and Betty are still working in the salvage yard and they get a new girl Laura, who’s got a secret to hide and doesn’t hide her distaste of either the girls or the salvage yard. A problem for Betty sees the girls work together and form a friendship that stirs them all by surprise. Can’t wait for the next book.

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

It was lovely to be back with Betty and Sally, who is now the manager of the salvage yard

They still get Mrs Lockwood sticking her nose from time to time, even when it’s not needed.

Following her scandal, Lorna arrives to work at the yard, but she thinks that this work isn’t what she should be doing.

We also meet Samuel, who is after some help in the bookshop he owns.

I look forward to reading what comes next in the characters’ lives.

I recommend this book.

Courage for the Homefront Girls is the second book in Susanna Bavin's trilogy, The Homefront Girls.

We are taken back to the salvage yard with Sally, the newly appointed manager, and her friend Betty. The intrusive Mrs Lockwood continues to interfere unnecessarily. Lorna arrives, feeling that salvaging is beneath her, wishing her father had sent her to the West Country after her disgrace. Samuel, a bookshop owner seeking help with organising donated books, meets Betty. Can salvage create harmony between everyone?

The authenticity of the characters and setting made me feel like part of the salvage yard team and the circle of friends. I am eagerly anticipating book three!

Grab your copy today.

Courage for the Homefront Girls is more than just a historical novel; it's a story of inner strength, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Susanna Bavin has crafted a tale that not only honors the spirit of those who lived through the war but also resonates with anyone who understands the power of hope and human connection.

Bavin excels in capturing the WWII era's ambiance, from the sounds of air raid sirens to the solidarity found within the community during blackouts. The detailed setting and historical context are immersive, allowing readers to feel the impact of each bombing raid and the weight of every decision the characters make. A truly inspiring read that captures the essence of its time while providing lessons that are timeless.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I loved the first book in this series, and thankfully the sequel did not disappoint. It picked up where the first left off and brought me back into the world of Sally and Betty. The story was thoroughly engaging and Bavin brings it to life so well. It was well-paced and although Lorna was aggravating initially, Bavin's excellent writing allowed the reader to warm to her. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.

Manchester, 1940. The Blitz is threatening to destroy everything they love. These girls will never stop trying to help their country – and each other. But will it be enough when disaster looms? This was quite the easy read, and when I say that, it's never negative.
I sat down for a few hours and flew through the book, and it entertained me.

This is book two in the series about the Home Front Girls, although I think it could be read as a stand alone story.
We meet Betty and Sally again working at the Salvage Yard where Sally is now in charge. Their friendship and working relationship is strong but when a new girl Lorna joins their Salvage Yard, things are certainly strained as Betty and Sally can see straight away that Lorna is not used to working in this type of environment, in fact she is not used to working at all! There is a big secret surrounding Lorna, ( but no spoilers here) who hilariously finds everything below her. Soon Betty finds herself being taken advantage of, will her friends be able to use their friendships to help her? When the bombing raids are really bad, will the three girls get through them without losses?

I truly loved the camaraderie between the three girls in this story. The Salvage Yard was such an important feature of life during the wartime years but its never really spoken about, its like a modern day recycling centre, where everything was repurposed and reused. I have read the first book in this series too which was also very good and I am now hoping for another book in this series featuring these three girls.
A well deserved five star read.

#CouragefortheHomeFrontgirls #Netgalley

After reading book 1 I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this early. It features Sally and Betty again and they are joined by a new girl called Lorna. This story flowed so nicely and I struggled to put it down at times as I just wanted to keep reading. Can't wait for book 3!

I loved this! The first one in the series immediately got me hooked and it was the perfect new wartime series that I was looking for. The first one isn’t completely necessary for the enjoyment of the second as the author fills you in and it can be a great place to jump in but I’d thoroughly recommend reading number one because it was so good.

It was such an enjoyable read and I honestly couldn’t wait to get stuck into the second. I adore all the characters, from new salvage manager Sally and all round good (but gullible egg) Betty and in this one, we have a whole new member to the duo, now trio, Jilted Lorna.

Lorna’s character was a great addition and she was one of those that you slowly get to know, not sure if you like at first and then very rapidly love and start to root for. She’s from higher society and of course, wartime work is beneath her but she is enveloped into the salvage fold and starts to see life from a different perspective. She actually ended up being one of my favourites!

This one was another great story and one that had me quickly flying through the pages. I was sad to finish it but so happy to have read it. They are so addicting! Next one needed stat.

Another brilliant read. As I said with the first book it's great when you know so many of the places and helps you to picture the storyline happening.

The characters are all well described and you can't help but feel you know them as individuals. Some you like, others not so! I could see where the storyline with Eddie was heading and was glad Betty got justice!

The book is well written and an enjoyable bedtime read. Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and Susanna for allowing me to read an Arc copy. I look forward to the next in the series!

First of all this is book number 2 in the series and I have read the first one.
I Just love when you get so connected and invested in the book that you feel a part of the community. You sigh when the Main characters are naive, you laugh with them. And you cry with them. So this book makes you feel. What I thought was minus with this book, some parts were too predictable. But I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

When Sally and Betty hear that there is going to be a new girl joining them they could have imagined how difficult this was going to be. The situation wasn’t helped by the knowledge that the new girl Lorna was going to be billeted with the formidable Mrs Lockwood who saw herself as manager in waiting (although there isn’t much waiting involved). Lorna has secrets she doesn’t want the others knowing about, Turns out she’s not the only one!
Will Betty find herself a man when she gets swept off her feet by Eddie Markham! He certainly tries hard to convince her she’s the girl for him, but is he all he seems, maybe he’s better suited to his sidekick Leon Hargreaves!

I loved the variety of characters and their descriptions , as in the first book my least favourite was Mrs Lockwood.
I learned a lot about how salvage was used in wartime, especially bones!

I do hope there will be another in this series.