The Wartime Singers

This book was amazing. I've read all of Lesley's previous books but this one was in a class of its own. I adored most of the characters, thought the story was highly engaging and really, really didn't want it to end. I hope there's a sequel. I can't wait for Lesley's next book.. She is an author who is going to go far, I think.

I love a wartime novel and usually feel as though I am involved with the characters, this novel didn't disappoint, it was a great storyline and a real pleasure to read. 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I love how this book begins. I love that you see from the beginning how tough and determined Lizzie is. How she overcomes hardship and is continually looking forward to bettering herself and her circumstances. I was overjoyed when she found the farm and the safety that came with it and then her godmother and everything that came with that.

Her relationship with Harry intrigued me and I really enjoyed reading about them and rooted for them as a couple from the very first meeting! He’s such a gentleman and the whole war they were a strength to each other.

The story ended with me literally crying but was well written, unexpected but fitted with the characters and their personalities so well.

I previously read the orphan twins by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Completely different story but if you love this, check that out! You’ll love that also! I’m not an emotional person but Lesley Eames really brings out the emotion in me!

I’d like to thank Lesley Eames, Aria Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this copy to read and review.

This book was SO good! I love me some historical fiction! I honestly couldn’t stop reading it. I absolutely enjoy literally anything that takes place in WWII…so if you do also, GO READ THIS RIGHT NOW!!

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

“Such a lovely book by Lesley Eames. Could put it down, read in one sitting.”.

Set in 1914, it’s the story of three ladies, Margaret, Lizzie and Penrose. Lizzie came to live with Margaret after she ran away from her home, following a sudden personal loss. Penrose was the girl who was her friend.

They want to do something to lift the spirits of those servicemen who are coming back home, sick and injured.. Lizzie and Margaret both have talents that they could put to use, and perform at different places where soldiers attend or are healing following injuries.

With the war continuing, all three women have their own struggles. But it seems that they’ll need one another more so now, than they did when they first new one another……

Recommend It.

Having read one of Lesley Eames books, The Orphan Twins, I was very sure that this particular book of hers will be interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lizzie, Polly, Margaret, Harry and Matt were characters I was always looking out for while reading the book.

I love how the title came about and it is so perfect for the plot.

I could empathize with some characters and I was pleased at some scenes. I am not going to give out spoilers but you need to check out this book.

Lesley Eames writes well. I am looking forward to any other books she is going to write by God’s grace.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

I really enjoyed this book, the first I’ve read written by Lesley Eames but won’t be the last. I liked the characters and thought it was nicely written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for a review. I will leave this review on Amazon once it is published.

Set around the first world war I fell in love with the book and Lizzie from the start. She's preparing to leave her controlling father in the middle of the night and head to London to stay with Margaret, her godmother. Their relationship blossoms through their desire to sing and entertain the troops. When Lizzie's friend arrives after being jilted the duo become a trio.

I absolutely loved this book. It's full of drama, sadness, happiness and hope. There is also a beautiful romance. I enjoyed the storyline it flowed really well throughout the years and I honestly didn't want this to end. Highly recommended

Another excellent book from Lesley Eames with a lovely story and characters that go together so well i can't wait for Lesley's next book.BRILLIANT 5*

Loved it, especially the twist at the end.. We follow the life of Lizzie who despises her overbearing father who pays little attention to his daughter, more so when her mother dies. Lizzie then embarks on a different way of life where she has good friends in Davie, Polly, Edith, Matt and his family. She makes contact with Harry during a bombing raid. This book takes you a journey especially of emotion. Loved it

Set mainly in London over a span of about a decade, this is an achingly beautiful and poignant book which enticed me at the first sentence. The story is about love, loss, sorrow and hope. No matter the circumstances hope is a constant, even if in tiny slivers. Healing is a theme, too, including the power of music.

In 1909, Lizzie is raised in a loveless environment. Her mother has died and her father is cruel and unapproachable. But when another woman moves in, Lizzie's problems are compounded. She feels her only choice is to leave and seeks out her godmother in London, a woman she doesn't know. Their relationship evolves and where there was once angst there grows love. The two desire to help in the war effort and with their musical talents sing and play the piano to those convalescing. Polly, Lizzie's dearest friend from home is inexplicably jilted by her fiance so she moves to London and reluctantly joins the music duo which becomes a trio.

As the story unfolds we are privy to the relationships of these women, amongst themselves and with others including Davie, Matt and Harry. I love that the book is about true love rather than lust and shows how our decisions affect life. It is unfathomable to imagine how life was during the war, a constant worry and all about survival. Dreams are crushed, lives are extinguished. The author manages to write about the good and the bad with grace.

Gorgeously written with thoughtfulness, this story captured my heart. Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction and General Fiction lovers ought to pick up this winner of a book, both gentle and powerful.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this lovely book.

Absolutely loved this book was drawn in from the start and couldn't stop reading, fantastic characters and a lovely storyline about poor Lizzie who is neglected by her horrible father so decides to run away and ends up getting rescued by Matt and his lovely family and once recovered hopes her godmother will take her in, such spirit and hope in this well written book and loved the wartime storyline

I enjoyed this book!
Lizzie Kellaway ran away from her disinterested father and cruel stepmother at age 13 and finds her godmother Margaret, a curmudgeon piano teacher who softens with her new housemate. When World War I begins, they play the piano and Lizzie sings for wounded servicemen. Her friend Polly soon joins them.
Polly was engaged, but Davie decides he wants his freedom. Lizzie met Matt when she was on the run, and thinks of him as a brother. She meets Harry when he assists her after a Zeppelin attack. They become engaged. Lizzie, Polly, and Margaret have hard decisions to make about their romantic lives.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Lizzie, Margaret, and Poppy are such a lively group of woman whom I found myself wanting to become my closest friends. I found them to be very brave and caring individuals who each faced heartaches and struggles, but with determination, strength, and support were able to persevere. Their talents brought them together to help others and in doing so, they were able to help one another face and overcome the biggest heartaches and obstacles in their own lives. Fantastic writing. I would recommend.

Music and Romance

A beautiful story of three women doing their part in the war effort. Lizzie, Poppy and Margaret form a singing group to entertain the wounded soldiers at hospitals and convalescent homes. They later sing at fundraising concerts to help the families of the wounded soldiers.

The three women find romance along the way. I loved reading this book. This is a wonderful and happy wartime romance. It is a clean romance and I so appreciate that. I find so few books without swear words and explicit scenes in them. This book is a breath of fresh air.

I loved all the characters. Even Lizzie's stepmother and her friend were great evil characters. I truly loved the characters of Lizzie, Poppy and Margaret. I especially liked Matt and his family which came across with such love and warmth.

I am glad I found this book and author, I will definitely read anything else she writes. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Lesley Eames, Aria and Aries, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review a copy of the book for an honest review.

This is by the author of The Brighton guest house, which I have read and enjoyed. This story spans about 10 years. The central character is Lizzie who we meet as a child and leave her as a Lady. Lizzie is an only daughter, her mother has died and her cruel father installs a single lady to 'educate' Lizzie. Lizzie has made friends secretly with 2 other children from the same village. The woman who 'educates' her is the 'wicked stepmother'. Lizzie eventually runs away, to find her mothers friend and who is her Godmother. On her journey to the railway station, she meets Matt who rescues her. Eventually she arrives in London and finds her Godmother, who takes her in. Time marches and WWI begins. We go through the war with the zeppelin bombings, food shortages worry about the men at the front. This is where the singers emerge. WWI comes to an end. As I had enjoyed the Brighton guest house, I felt sure this would be as good. I have struggled to find words to describe this book. It was breath-taking. Brilliant and for me I enjoyed better than the Brighton guest house. I can fully recommend this book.

Thank you to netgally for the ARC for an honest review which is freely given.

Lizzie is miserable living with her father Edward Maudsley, she runs away and her plan is to find her godmother Margaret Penrose in London? Margaret is an unmarried lady, she teaches piano, she provides Lizzie with a safe place live and she thrives under her godmothers care. Always in her thoughts are Polly and Davie her friends from Witherton and the Warren family who she met on her trip to London.

When WW I starts, Lizzie and Margaret want to do something to help the sick and injured serviceman and not everyone is good at knitting. Margaret plays the piano, Lizzie has a lovely singing voice and they decide to preform small concerts at convalescent homes and hospitals. It’s a huge success, music lifts the spirits of the wounded and the staff. Poppy arrives in London, brokenhearted, Lizzie and Margaret find her a job through a mutual friend. To take her mind off her problems; Lizzie encourages Polly to join them in entertaining the troops and she enjoys it. They meet a fellow singer Jack Lomax, they start preforming concerts to raise money for war widows and disadvantaged children. All three women face challenges, uncertain times, the war years drag on, all of England is feeling the pressure and the Spanish flu breaks out.

The Wartime Singers is a delightful story, the characters are warm and charming and I really liked Lizzie, Margaret, Polly, Matt, Edith and Jack. As we know music and songs were popular during all wars, the musical theme worked well in this story, it was fitting for a book about WW I and I really liked it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I loved reading every single page of this heart-warming saga and five stars from me.

Witherton England 1909, Lizzie Maudsley could not wait to get away from her father Edward, for the past year her Mama lay in St Paul's Church yard that has brought big changes to her life, her father's new woman Miss Susan Monk arrives to Briar Lodge and takes over everything including her education how she yearns to go to school but her Father is tight with money then they announce they are to be married and Lizzie flees to London to live with her godmother Miss Margaret Penrose.
This book takes us through the Suffragette movement and onto the great first world war, and lizzie hungers to do more along with Margaret and Polly the Penrose Singers are formed to entertain servicemen in convalescent homes.
What a delight this book is to read as we take up Lizzie's journey, I so enjoyed reading every page, saga readers will get pulled into this book right to the end

With thanks to netgalley and lesley Eames for an arc in return for an honest opinion.
Having read this authors previous books I knew it would be a goodie.
The wartime singers is a journey of highs and lows the main characters being Lizzie Polly and Margaret and how they survive through the war years there singing bringing joy to injured soldiers there love and respect for each other was beautiful, the lives of George Jack Harry and Matt intertwining with with these beautiful souls was far from straightforward such a beautiful and poignant tale. I have nothing but praise for this outstanding book and can highly recommend.

The Wartime Singers by Lesley Eames is a wonderful WWI-era historical fiction saga that I truly enjoyed.

This book is set in London during the years of WWI. Here we follow along as Lizzie, Polly, and Margaret are joined together into a band of sorts to help instill hope, spirit, and a moment of happiness for the soldiers and the citizens that are going through such trials and struggles during the war. Each woman comes to the group with their own complicated pasts, hopes, dreams, fears, and are each navigating through their own life issues as well.

I loved following along and seeing where their paths took them. There were a few twists and turns to keep it all interesting, and I really, really enjoyed the ending.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Aria & Aries for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.