All the Fun of the Fair

What a delightful read! I loved this story from beginning to end! What an insight into the travelling fair community in the 1950s. Lots of great characters and good stories for each of them. I will be looking for more by this author.

This is a saga (and it looks like the first of many books) which centres on the Grundy family and their lives and most of all the fair they own, run and travel with around the country. If you thought being in the fair was one of the best jobs in the world then this book will certainly change your mind.

The community of the Grundy Fair is strong and it needs to be with everything that they have to deal with in the pages of the book and this fair season. Gemma made a choice to be with the man she loves, Solomon known as Solly and leave behind another life to live this one. A life that will see them treated as gypsies, tinkers, thieves and vagrants.

Sonny made a choice about love and it seems that his was not going to be the happy ending that he wanted. So he is out to prove a point about people who work in the fair.

Then there is a cast of characters who populate and run the fair, Velda can read the future, predict what happens with her gift, but can anyone guess her secret? Ren and her candy floss may be small but she is feisty and stands up for what she believes in and knows that she needs to be heard.

Donny and Susie, have started married life together for very different reasons. Is the fair the right place to save a marriage.

A girl turns up at many of the stops of the fair, she is looking for someone, but who? And what do the shaven, suited thug looking men want on their frequent visits?

This story has so much packed into it, I thought I would be reading forever, but like all good novels it came to an end and left me wanting more. I was transported to the fair, to the hard work, the back-breaking work in all weathers to bring some joy to people in local villages only a once a year. The strength of friendship and the value of community.

A great read and an author who I want to read more of.

I absolutely loved this book. From page one I was drawn into the lives of all the characters. It was nice to see how the show people survived and also coped with the obstacles put in their way. A throughly enjoyable read and I hope Lynda will maybe think of doing a series about the lives of Grundy's Fair.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Canelo for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Ellie from Canelo for organising the Blog Tour!

This story is based around a travelling fair in the 1950’s. The Grundy family have run the fair for years travelling round to different towns. The hours are long and the work is hard but family and friends hold the fair together. But as times move on, so must the fair. Can it survive?

My first Lynda Page book. This was a completely different book to what I was expecting. I’ve never read a book that is set on a travelling fair! Based around the Grundy family who have run the family business for decades, it gives an insight as to what life was like on a traditional fairground. I don’t know how fairgrounds are run today, but I imagine the work and hours that go into running these are long and hard, just like it is in this story. What is also shows though is the friendship, family and loyalty which are spread throughout the Grundy family and all their friends and workers. It was great to see the relationships between them all.

This isn’t just a story about a fairground though, it’s a great family saga full of love and laughter! Would definitely recommend!

I have been a fan of Lynda's books for quite some time and was pleased to see a new book on its way. This book tells the story of the Grundy family who own and operate a fair, along with their showman family. The story gives a very good insight into the fairground world and all that goes on behind the scenes in their well knit community. The book has a sure but steady start with an introduction to the main characters and presents some interesting situations, which leave the community and some of its members with life changing situations. This book is a good start to what I hope will be the beginning of a new series, to fill the gap the Jolly’s left behind.