War in the Valleys

Set in Wales. There has been a disaster at the local mine. Lots of people are out of work and Violet has just received a telegram from the new telegram boy. Life is about to get even worse.

I enjoy books set in this era. I found this book heartbreaking to read, so much sadness. As if loosing her husband wasn't bad enough. But I loved the way the tight-knit community came together with unbreakable friendship bonds. I hadn't heard the word 'cariad' but it was so fitting to the story. I enjoyed this book and will be looking out for more books by this author.

Dorcalon Wales,1916, this is the second book in this series.
Violet Jones and her two small children Benjamin and Clarice are coping, with her husband Charlie in the 13th battalion [Welsh] Division and has been sent to the front, she receives a letter from a fellow soldier Dylan Davies how he was a hero and would he pass on the message that he was ok and coping well. Hywel Llwellyn use to be her lodger but Charlie said it wasn't fit to have a single man in the house so after he was shot he moved in with his sister, but Violet knew he always had a soft spot for her. she was eager for Charlie to come home but a knock on the door its young George Lewis the telegram boy. Private C Jones is dead.
Times are set to be a hard struggle from now on for Violet, its going to be a long battle ahead,and I just loved reading her story. the characters, in the community and family make this book it's own. A unique book for readers to certainly enjoy.

Wow, I chose this because I had read the first one but this one really is a compelling read. I loved all the factual information relating to the war and all the welsh terminology used. No I didn’t know what they meant but the way in which the story was written put across the loving endearments and names used. Read it in quick time as I was dying to find out what happened and no can’t say I took to Olsen. Loved the other characters. When you get a good book from an author it just makes you greedy and long for the next one. Francesca please take note.

War in the Valleys is a a Soul-stirring and openhearted Drama that will definitely keep you turning the pages! The book is full of wonderful characters, but the main storyline character seems to be Violet. Her husband volunteered to go fight on the frontline even though he was exempt because he worked in the mine. He perished in the war which left Violet bereft at his loss, but more importantly she now was the only one responsible for her children and their welfare. Plus she had other overwhelming conflicting thoughts and then pressures from family.
Violet and the community don’t realize how much of an impact the War and the deaths are going to be of importance!

The author is so expressive by showing the emotional aspects of a war torn community and those left behind. People who are used and abused. Workers that are not compensated for there work and the conditions are beyond tolerable! The food rations are not always doled out fairly and some people are starving! How sad a country doesn’t protect those who are helping the protectors, but if you have nothing to protect?

This was at first a little slow, but once you really start reading you truly get into what the author is doing and I would recommend this book.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Francesca Capaldi takes us back in time to life in Rhymney Valley in Wales. Dorcalon is a small village where life centres around the mine although the mine is more in the back ground with the author focusing on the residents themselves.

You get a real sense of how hard life was for many during WW1. Many of the men had gone off to fight leaving the women to do more at the mine as well as trying to make ends meet and look after the family home and inhabitants. Violet is one such character that we meet and I felt for this young mother who has so many issues to face. One being her over bearing mother in law who made my blood boil so many times when reading about her.

There is a fair bit of drama that unfolds within the village and it was like watching your favourite soap at times to see if certain characters were going to get away with their actions or if they would be found out. I loved the sense of community and the friendships, although at times some of these were put under strain.

War in the Valleys is another great story by the author that captivated my mind and heart. There is some great characterisation that had me go through so many emotions as these characters lives got under my skin. It’s a great insight into how people lived in those days and didn’t envy the women keeping house without all the mod cons we have nowadays. A must read for historical fiction fans who love to be transported to a time gone by where emotions are high and friendship and hope is strong.

War in the Valleys by Francesca Capaldi is a great historical fiction novel about Wales during WWI.

War in the Valley is set in Dorcalan, a small mining community in Wales. Violet is struggling at home while her husband is fighting in the war. Violet has two young children.

War in the Valleys is very emotional. Violet has so many struggles at home and it seems like everyone is making it worse. Violet has to deal with her nosy mother-in-law, working, raising children, struggles with her friends, and less support than she would like from her parents. Violet and the community are also struggling with the effects from war. There is little money, a shortage of food, and loss of family members and friends.

Violet is the main character in War in the Valleys, but her friends are a big part of the story. They are dealing with their own struggles. Violet is dealing with disappointing her friends.

I really enjoyed the characters in War in the Valleys. Violet is always trying to do what is best for her family. Her kids are her number one priority all the time. Sometimes she makes decisions to try to protect them that ends up alienating her friends.

There is so much drama in this small town. Everyone is paying attention to everyone else. There are many gossips. Lying, cheating, stealing, and going to jail are all present in this novel.

War in the Valleys is the second book in the series. I didn’t read the first book and didn’t realize this was from a series until I read the acknowledgements. I didn’t feel like there was anything I didn’t understand by not reading the first book.

I recommend War in the Valleys to fans of WWI historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and Hera books for War in the Valleys.

Back in June 2020, I shared my review for the debut novel by Francesca Capaldi, Heartbreak in the Valley (https://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.home.blog/2020/06/13/blog-tour-for-heartbreak-in-the-valley-by-frances-capaldi/). War in the Valleys takes us back to Dorcalon in Rhymney Valley, starting a couple of months later.

I enjoyed returning to meet the characters, to find out what had happened after the explosion in the mine and the police investigation into racketeering. The primary focus of the first book was Anwen, in this book we find out more about Violet, one of her best friends.

Violet has to deal with loss and a lack of money. Sadly, someone who claims to be ready to help her, is actually trying to undermine her and is making her life more difficult. Violet needs her friends more than ever, but they are also busy dealing with an unexpected addition to the family and working long shifts in a munitions factory.

The losses of local men on the battlefields and down the mine, the lack of food and the poverty could make this a depressing read, but the story is full of community spirit and some humorous moments. I must admit that this was my favourite book of the series, possibly because I knew the characters better by the end.

A large cast of characters, many of whom we have met before, battle hardship and loss in First World War Wales in this second instalment of the series. It's a small village community but that doesn't stop it having more than its fair share of crime, vindictiveness, romance and drama. Elizabeth meets a potential suitor, Anwen finally marries, and big decisions about the fate of an abandoned baby bring family discord. This is largely Violet's story however, as she copes with widowhood, young children, food shortages, working in the mine, and an unwanted visitor who makes her life unbearable but won't go away. As Violet's feelings for Anwen's uncle Hywel begin to grow, under her mother in law's watchful eye, and at the mercy of her vicious tongue, can they ever become more than just friends? Well researched and authentic. A not always comfortable read but an absorbing one.

July 1916. Young mother, Violet Jones, lives a tough life in the Rhymney Valley, caring for 4-year-old Clarice and baby Benjy on her own while soldier husband Charlie fights on the Front Line. But when tragedy strikes, Violet’s life becomes even harder.While they may be far from the battlefields, the effects of WW1 take their toll on the small mining community of Dorcalon, with food becoming scarce and more and more of their young men losing their lives.With very little money coming in, and two babies to care for, Violet takes in a relative to help make ends meet.But far from easing her burden, it might turn out to be the worst decision she’s made.As the Great War takes its toll on the nation, Violet faces her own battle. All alone in the world, can she protect her children, and herself? And will she ever find joy out of the depths of despair?The Pals battalions of WWI were specially constituted battalions of the British Army comprising men who had enlisted together in local recruiting drives,with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues, rather than being arbitrarily allocated to battalions.Rhondda Valley is a former coalmining area in South Wales, previously in Glamorgan.It embraces 2 valleys – the larger Rhondda Fawr valley (mawr) and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley (bach).It is most noted for its historical coalmining industry, which peaked between 1840 and 1925.Miners' institutes,aka Workingmen's institute, are large institutional buildings that were typically built during the height of the industrial period as a meeting and educational venue.In Britain, they were owned by miner groups who gave a proportion of their wage into a communal fund to pay for the construction and running of the building.As WWI went on,German submarines targeted commercial shipping and Britain's reliance on imported food led to shortages.There was no way to meet demand and prices rose, which disproportionately affected the poorest.For those not fighting,media and politics made it clear that their patriotic duty was to secure Britain’s food supply through allotments.