Really good book that I would highly recommend to family and friends. Liked the style of how the author writes so will look for other books she has written since reading this book.

A gripping read. Enjoyed how the story unfolded and the strength of the main character and how she held her family together. Would recommend this book.

Sheila Riley’s Family Ties on Beamer Street is a poignant, emotional and superbly told Merseyside saga perfect for Lyn Andrews and Rosie Clarke fans.

Since the day they met, Peggy and Dar Tenant have been determined to rise above the poverty of their childhood and to make their dream of security and respectability a reality. At long last it feels like the stars have aligned for them when they prepare to buy their first home, however, just when their dreams are within reach, they are suddenly snatched away by a cruel twist of fate. Dar has an accident and Peggy’s entire world comes crashing down around her ears.

With Dar in hospital, it’s up to Peggy to keep their dream alive, but keeping the wolf from the door is anything but easy, as she quickly discovers. As the pressure begins to take its toll, however, the good people of Beamer Street rally round her. When Peggy decides to ask her sister Violet for help though, little does she realise that her formidable sibling might have a dark secret of her own…

As Peggy fights for her future and that of her family, will she manage to reconcile the shadows of the past? Or will old ghosts and never forgotten secrets end up destroying everything she holds dear to her?

A gritty Liverpool-set saga full of character, atmosphere and heart, Family Ties on Beamer Street is terrific page-turner by Sheila Riley sure to bring a tear to the eye. A compelling read about the dreams that sustain us, the hope that sees us through and the relationships we forge that keep us going even when the odds are stacked against us, Family Ties on Beamer Street is an absolute treat for saga aficionados everywhere.

Liverpool 1926, in the midst of the General Strike.
Peggy is doing her best, scraping by, saving as much as she can, so she and Dar can buy their own home. On the day they are supposed to finally become homeowners, disaster strikes when when Dar is seriously injured in an accident at the docks. Peggy does what's needed to care for her husband and children. Financially she is struggling, despite the money they had saved for the home. Reluctantly seeking help from her sister, Peggy secures an income and finds out a dark secret.

In this fascinating and immersive new twentieth century historical fiction novel, readers follow Peggy and Dar Tenant following a devastating dock accident that shatters their world and their source of income. Forced to scrimp and save money to keep the roof over her children’s heads while Dar is in the hospital, Peggy must make personal and financial sacrifices and revisit the struggles of her past that she has attempted to move on from. As time passes and life gets harder as the winter of 1926 approaches, the people of Beamer Street rally around the Tenant family as Peggy’s sister Violet’s help hides a dark secret. With complex characters and difficult circumstances, Sheila Riley brings the General Strike to life in incredible detail and an emphasis on how it affected the workers on the Liverpool docks. With alternating perspectives between Peggy and Violet, readers discover the secrets and tensions underlying their relationship, and Riley knows how to bring characters to life and does so throughout this novel. The characters are the star of this novel, and the various struggles and conflicts really humanize Peggy and make readers sympathize with her over the course of this fascinating, complex, and emotional new novel.

Family Ties On Beamer Street offers readers an intriguing glimpse behind the scenes in Liverpool, mostly during the 1926 national strike. The atmosphere is clearly tense with strikers unhappy that some dock workers are continuing to work. Peggy Tenant is the central character in this story and she’s strong, proud and fiercely protective of her family. As the story opens, she and her husband Dar are about to buy the Beamish Street home they’ve rented and saved for over the seventeen years of their marriage. A workplace injury puts paid to that plan and we then see how Peggy copes with the enforced changes to her life, ably assisted by oldest daughter Millie and son Jack. I truly admired Maggie’s forthright treatment of Dar’s employer Henry Hutton, who had never lodged Dar’s sick leave contributions with National Insurance. He was a gready, lazy bully, but Maggie clearly had his measure. I was both fascinated and horrified by the slum conditions Peggy’s mother Maggie lives in. Maggie, a hard character, has had a difficult life with her seafaring husband having left home years earlier and never returned. Peggy’s kind heart shines through as we see her visiting Maggie each week with food, money and a willingness to clean Maggie’s hovel from top to toe for her. The friendship Mggie has with local healer Ellie and baker Molly is uplifting. Their care for each other is admirable. Meanwhile, Dar’s hospital care was an eye-opener as was the facility he was discharged to for rehabilitation. That was certainly a contrast to the Liverpool docks! when disaster strikes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which has enriched my knowledge and understanding of life on the docks a century ago.

The Beamer Street series by Sheila Riley is a historical saga that brings the highs and lows of living in 1920s Liverpool. I am a North West girl, and Liverpool isn't that far from me. I love being swept back to the times of my own grandmother. Sheila Riley does that so easily.

A wonderful set of characters brings this story to life. Peggy and Dar are just about to by their home on Beamer Street. That is until Dar has a terrible accident while saving a life. When things go from bad to worse, Peggy finds herself having to delve into their saved money pot. As their savings go down, Peggy wonders what will happen next.

Such a poignant story with the trademark humour that us Northerners are known for. Sheila Riley weaves a tale in which I could imagine actually happen. These were hard years, and not many people escaped the worry and poverty. The sense of community was everything, and this is crystal clear. I believed every word I read and was with Peggy throughout.

I am a historical fiction/saga fan and love being taken back in time. This is a brilliant addition to the series, and I am looking forward to the next instalment! Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my gifted widget.

This 3rd book in this saga and well worth the wait.
Set in the 1920's it will pull at your heartstrings. Such another memorable story from Sheila Riley. I love the characters and warmth that flows through the story
.It is great to catch up with old friends and discover new ones.
It has an emotional pull to it. It is surrounded by community, care, and strength. Struggles and challenges Help and support of the community, tragedy.This third book in the saga truly feels like it was worth the wait. Set in the 1920s, it beautifully captures the emotions and experiences that tug at our heartstrings. Sheila Riley has crafted yet another memorable story that resonates deeply. I find so much joy in reconnecting with familiar characters while also discovering new ones who feel just as relatable.

The narrative carries a profound emotional weight, highlighting the importance of community, care, and resilience. It thoughtfully explores the struggles and challenges we all face, while showcasing the incredible support that can arise from a caring community in times of tragedy. It’s a heartfelt reminder of the strength we can find in one another during difficult times.This third book in the saga is well worth the wait. Set in the 1920s, it will tug at your heartstrings. Sheila Riley has delivered another memorable story. I love the characters and the warmth that flows through the narrative. It’s great to reconnect with old friends while discovering new ones.

The story possesses a powerful emotional pull, surrounded by themes of community, care, and strength. It explores struggles and challenges, along with the help and support of the community as they face tragedy together.

The third book in the Beamer Street series, but certainly reads well as a standalone. This is exactly the kind of historical fiction that I love and can’t put down. I was lucky enough to grab this on audio, and I will admit that I ignored everyone around me so I could get as much listening in as possible.

Peggy’s story is a powerfully emotional one, and her determination makes her such an admirable character. I also enjoyed seeing her transformation from someone who would never have accepted help or a job she considered “beneath” her to a more open-minded, empathic character. She was on a true journey and I loved it.

The writing was vivid and brought the setting of 1926 Liverpool to life on the page. I easily pictured everything in my mind – I almost felt like I was watching a saga in my mind as I read. I was truly swept away.

Wonderful characters and a strong story made this a five star read.

Another great read from Sheila in the Beamer Street series. This book concentrates on Peggy and Dar Tenant. Peggy and Dar had been married for 17 years and to celebrate they were about to buy their home number 3 Beamer Street. When they’d married they did not get their family approval because of their different religions. Both hard workers they decided to prove the family wrong. They scrimped and saved from the day they married and finally they had the money to buy their house. Disaster strikes and Dar is badly hurt saving the life of a young lad that works with him and nearly dies. The terrible accident was caused in the first place by the boss’s negligent nephew who was drunk at the time. Dar was a contentious worker and had paid into the sick pay scheme so thought Peggy and their family would be okay while he was in hospital recovering. Unfortunately he didn’t realise his unscrupulous boss had tricked him and there was no sick pay.
Peggy finds herself having to use the house money to pay for Dar’s medical bills and to feed and keep a roof over her children’s heads. Not afraid of hard work we follow Peggy as she try’s to do the best for her family. In the long months before Dar comes home Peggy is pushed to her limits. Will she be able to keep her family safely in their home that they were so proud of.
All the books in this series can be read as standalone books but they are great community stories and you will enjoy the whole series.

Another book in the Beamer Street series, this time the book was centred around Peggy and her tribulations after Dar is hurt in a serious accident at work. Peggy must find a way to find money to help her family stay afloat. Another great instalment in this fantastic series.

Sunday, January 5, 2025
Family Ties on Beamer Street


Life isn't always what we expect. Things can happen that will change the course of our lives.
Peggy was proud of the life she made with her husband, Dar. But one terrible accident changed everything.

Peggy was stronger than she thought. When times got tough, she got tougher. She had to provide for her family.

I really liked Peggy. She was determined to give her children a better life than she had. She was determined to save her home. She didn't waste time in questioning "Why me?".

Beamer Street was a great place to live. Neighbors became family. They were there to help each other out. Sadly, you don't see that much today. I have neighbors that I have never met.

I loved the book. Peggy was a character that you can root for.

Dreams of a better life...

The third book in the Beamer Street series sees 1926 and Peggy Tenant face a new wave of challenges leading to different way of life she never thought possible. Marrying the love of her life, Dar Tenant, when she was just sixteen years old, Peggy and Dar endeavoured to put a little money away each week to save up and buy the house in which they have lived for the past seventeen years since they were wed. Dar has a good job as a stevedore on the docks with Huttons Logistics even if Hutton himself was a stingy toff.

But now the day has come when this afternoon, all the money they had saved for the past seventeen years stashed in a suitcase under the bed, Peggy and Dar were off to buy their own home. At last, their family would have the security they could only dream of.

And then tragedy strikes. On the very day they are to buy their house, Dar has a nasty accident at work leaving him with a fractured skull and femur. And the cause of the accident is nowhere to be seen, having scarpered drunk on job before he could be found out. Miles Houseman, Hutton's spoilt and entitled nephew, was operating the crane hauling hessian sacks of sugar when it was clear the load was going to spill. Everyone tried shouting to warn Houseman who was oblivious and Dar jumped in to save the young lad who was in danger of being knocked flying. The end result was Dar's injuries seeing him in hospital and rehabilitation for months. But Dar assured her all would be well when his sick pay comes through, to which he'd been contributing for the past eight years against such an occurrence.

With four mouths to feed and rent to pay, Peggy refused to accept any kind of charity, no matter how well meant it was. And so she had no choice but to take up her elder sister Violet's offer of ship cleaning. It was hard work but the money was more than Dar brought home from the docks. And she found she actually enjoyed the work and the banter with the women. It even gave her a new appreciation for Violet.

For better or worse, Peggy refuses to give up and is determined to restore their home to what it was before Dar's injury. So that when he came home, he would have the home comforts once again and the family ties that bind them together.

Another heartwarming quick read that I devoured in a day. I enjoyed meeting up with the folk of Beamer Street again though it has been a while. And I look forward to meeting up with them again soon.

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

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

Family Ties on Beamer Street is the third book in the Beamer Street series. While this book can be read as a standalone I would really recommend reading the other books as they are also excellent reads. This time the focus is on Peggy and her husband Dar who are saving hard to buy their own home on Beamer street . But just as they are about to see their dream coming true tragedy strikes. One of the things that really struck with while I was reading this was the way everyone looked out for each other and helped each other during difficult times. Life is a struggle at times and people have to work hard but still they smile and are there for one another. Like the previous books in the series I was absorbed into the storyline from the very first page. Sheila Riley has talent of writing wonderful saga books that I struggle to put down as soon as I start reading and this one was certainly no exception

This is a fairly predictable and formulaic family saga concerning a young woman and her family - her mother doesn't seem to like her much, her husband adores her, someone in the family has a secret (we guessed early on what it was). However, when her husband is injured at work, she finds coping alone very difficult. The obvious solution of getting a job just doesn't seem to be on her radar - I appreciate it was a different time and women had to bow to the male ego when they would rather live in poverty than let their wives work, but really, if no money was coming in what was the option! After a lot of angst she does take up work, which is very hard when you're running a household with no modern appliances.

Overall I found the attitudes and prejudices hard to bear and felt the author was rather playing on her view of how life was years ago rather than based on any verifiable facts. I failed to sympathise much with the characters and felt most of the storylines had been played out before, with more success.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another excellent addition to this series.

Since the Tenants, Dar and Peg, got married, they have scrimped to save a little each week and now - finally - they are within touching distance of buying their own home. This has been their dream and they are rightly proud of all the sacrifices they h I ave made to reach this point. But when someone is in danger on the docks, Dar doesn't hesitate to save them from serious injury - putting himself in danger and risking it all . . .

This is a great tale of adversity and, whilst I thought it was a tad sugar-coated, it makes for a great read. I do enjoy domestic historical fiction and this holds it's own with the best of them. A series well worth reading and, for me, 4*.

My thanks to the publisher for my vopy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

This story had a real sense of a community pulling together during hard times. It is set in 1926 at the time of the General Strike. The story told how tensions were high due to non strikers and the picket line, also between religious groups. Peggy and Dar are determined to improve their lives and those of their children and are prepared to work hard to achieve their aim. There are family secrets that are revealed later, although I must say I had worked out what they were mush earlier on. I hadn’t read any of the previous books but this didn’t hinder my reading of this book. This was an easy read but I prefer something with more tension. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Family Ties on Beamer Street is part of a saga. I haven't read any of the other books prior to this one and occasionally I did feel as if I was missing some back story to one or two of the characters. It certainly didn't stop me from enjoying this story.

When a book starts with something wonderful about to happen, you guess that something bad is about to happen instead. Peggy and her husband, Dar, the main characters in the book were meant to be buying their home. Instead, something bad happens, meaning the money put aside for the purchase must be spent on living costs, etc. How they manage to make ends meet plays a large part in their story. What poor Peggy endures had me close to tears a few times, bless her.

I love the way people tried to help her and the family but did it in such a way that Peggy's pride wouldn't be hurt. She certainly had more than her fair share of things to deal with, not least a demanding mother, and some shocking secrets to discover.

Although a very emotional story it didn't leave me feeling too sad at any point and the ending was pure perfection. I had no idea how the story could end believably, but the author managed it. I really want to read all the books in the series, prior to and after this one because I really think it will be a great series.

This another great book in the Beamer Street series .In this book we follow the story Peggy Tenant that lives at 3 Beamer Street with her husband Dar and 4 children. Dar works at the docks for Henry Hutton and is a good worker.This day Peggy and Dar are going to the bank as they have been saving up for all of their 17 year marriage to be able to buy the house they are in and that day has now come.Tragedy happens ,Dar has accident at work before they are able to go to the bank,will Dar survive .Peggy has to start using the money they have saved to help keep them but things start to go down hill for Peggy as the money starts to dwindle away.What will happen to them all.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books.

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

I really enjoyed this book.

The story portrayed how the working class people faced difficulties and dealt with them with pride and determination, they will do whatever it takes in order to look after their loved ones.

Peggy’s husband suffers an accident at work and the dreams they had for their future are put at risk. She will now do her best to keep the family together.

There’s secrets revealed that affect them all and will change their lives.

I highly recommend this book.