As always there is a fair bit of action in the book which kept me absorbed in the story and unable to put the book down. It was interesting to see that all of the girls were affected by something in this book which is unusual for this series I think. I might be looking to far into it but I think it bonded them all together more. I felt this was the most emotional book of the series so tissues definitely recommended. Rosie Miller lives a double life, she works as welder at the shipyard and she’s part owner in a business. When her younger sister Charlotte Thornton runs away from her Harrogate boarding school, she arrives on Rosie’s doorstep unannounced, she needs Charlie to return to school and before she discovers how Rosie's managed to pay for her expensive education. It's the events of D-Day which lead to the most dramatic scenes of the novel, however. With Rosie, Polly and Gloria desperately longing for the safe return of their husbands and sons, this rollercoaster read left me emotionally wrought. I can't give anything away here - but I strongly advise having tissues ready...

Dr John Parker and Helen Crawford are still just good friends, Dr Eris works along side John in the Asylum and wants him for herself, has Helen lost John forever? Rosie Miller and her younger sister Charlotte are the at the forefront of this story as Charlotte grows older and begins to question anomalies she has noticed with regard to her schooling, Rosie's work and friendship with Lily. Charlotte appears to have an obsession with Lily, who she has come to see as a mother figure of sorts, bombarding Rosie with endless questions she isn't sure how to answer. Rosie has worked hard to shelter her sister from the truth...but is she doing the right thing? Or are some secrets best left untold? And mother hen Gloria signs up to escape her brutal husband, but finds she cannot run from her problems.The area of Sunderland around the shipyard comes alive as only someone who knows the area well can provide, I especially enjoy the vernacular, and during the banter between the friends I have a strong geordie accent in my head whenever one of them speaks. The only one not showing support is shipyard manager, Helen. But looks can be deceiving, and beneath her cold exterior, Helen is wrestling with demons of her own, including one life-changing decision that could lead to potential ruin. The biggest character arc has been Helen, who in the first novel was awful to the women, but through finding herself has become a key part of the women's group. And it is these women who step in to help Helen make the right choices over the man she loves. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how this plays out. A Christmas Wish For The Shipyard Girls’ is the 9th book in the bestselling series featuring ‘The Shipyard Girls’. I have been a fan of this series right from the very beginning. I have read, reviewed, loved and raved about every book in the series to date. As soon as I finish reading the latest book in the series, I immediately look forward to the next book in the series and (im)patiently wait until I can get my hands on a copy. ‘A Christmas Wish For The Shipyard Girls’ is the latest in the series and it was released on 1st October 2020. I was fortunate enough to have a sneaky peek at an early review copy and boy oh boy, it is another amazing addition to an amazing series written by an amazing author. I absolutely ADORED reading ‘A Christmas Wish For The Shipyard Girls’ but more about that in a bit. New to the asylum attached to the Ryhope, Dr Claire Eris had set her sights on the dashing Dr John Parker from the moment she set eyes on him. She knew of his close friendship with Helen Crawford and while she openly stated she had no problem with that, inwardly she would do everything within her power to keep the two apart. Claire could see that the two were smitten with each other, even if neither of them could, so it would do nothing for her plans if they were to spend any time together and suddenly realise their feelings were reciprocated. So when Helen would call for John, the message would be surreptitiously be given to Claire who would "pass it on to John"...only she wouldn't. Therefore, John would think Helen no longer wanted to confide in him and Helen would think John didn't care enough for her to return her calls. The next step in her plan was to snare John as her husband...and then Helen would never stand a chance.

Head-welder Rosie is just about managing to keep her double life hidden from little sister Charlotte's prying eyes. But Charlotte senses something is up and, with a secret this big, the truth is bound to come out.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The shipyard girls have been through so much in the last couple of years. Will they finally get the happy ending they so richly deserve? Or will tears and anguish end up putting paid to their celebrations?

Rosie is flourishing in her role as head-welder while still keeping her double life a secret. But a dashing detective is forcing Rosie to choose between love and her duty. With life in the shipyards tougher than ever, will the strength of their friendship see them through to victory? She adds: “I’d ended The Shipyard Girls series and I had loads of my readers messaging me asking me to take the characters further. He is from the higher sort of levels of society, and I just thought, there’s a story here. The story begins at the end of the 40s and takes you into the 50s. You watch Angie go through a lot of emotional turmoil. I hope readers will enjoy seeing her grow and develop.Yet saying that I did love the story, there is a moment nearing the end that screamed ‘Officer and a Gentleman’ and I fell in love with this series right there and then. If you have watched that film you will know which scene I am referring to, if not – well, all I will say is watch the film, read the book and see for yourself. Overall, I found this such a delight to read, it’s charming, steadily paced and flows with ease from one character to the next, I liked the atmosphere of 1940’s Sunderland, the close-knit community and the shipyard industry are interesting and insightful, the writing is eloquent and engaging which keeps you reading. In the shipyard, new people are constantly coming and going, but the new recruit is certainly raising plenty of eyebrows for the girls. There is something very odd about Helen’s newest employee, Bel, but nobody can quite put their finger on it. What is it about her that has made everybody suspicious about her? Are the girls being unfair towards her? Or should they trust their instincts and try to dig deep about this mysterious arrival? Are the girls ready to uncover the truth? Or should some things just remain hidden? Although the title of the book is A Christmas Wish for the Shipyard Girls, this isn't a Christmas story as such and much of the action takes place in the preceding months, starting from May 1943. Invariably meticulously researched, the earlier chapters continue to illustrate the devastating impact of the Blitz on Sunderland. It means the Shipyard Girls work even harder as the ships they have already repaired are damaged once again but as always Nancy Revell beautifully describes the collective stoicism of the community and the way in which they pulled together to support each other. Rosie's squad of welders must work gruelling hours in the yard as they prepare for the Allied invasion of Normandy. All the while Rosie herself waits anxiously for news of her husband Peter, who is carrying out dangerous work as an undercover operative in France.

Meanwhile Helen is caught between two men - but must hide her true feelings from the one she loves. Can her fellow women welders help Helen follow her heart? As frequent readers of my blog will know, I’m a huge fan of this fantastic series. There is just something about it which is perfect to snuggle up with and lose yourself in for hours at a time. The women are very likable and relatable, each one brings their own personality and unique character to their little group which kept the story moving steadily forward, I really enjoyed getting a snapshot into each of the women’s characters, but this is predominately Polly’s story. Pearl has no wish to relive the past but stumbling across it, she realises that she might be able to make her daughter Bel's wish come true - to close the door on the past. Shipyard Girls in Love” is the fourth novel in the “Shipyard Girls” series and was released in the year 2017. Sunderland in 1941. With a minor break in the air raids that provide a much needed break from the war, things look up for Rosie, who’s fallen head over heels for Detective Sergeant Miller. However how long could their romance last in these uncertain times?Once again the message of love, hope, faith and charity radiates from the book and I thoroughly enjoyed the story and seeing the continuation of certain storylines which have kept me riveted but also the introduction of some new ones. That's what makes this series so good, nothing is rushed and resolved within a chapter or dealt with in a light-hearted manner. Instead I think everything is very true to life at the time and having plots begin in book one and even now at this stage said storylines are still progressing that's what keeps the reader glued and always eager to return and read more about the shipyard girls. Victory for the Shipyard Girls” is the fifth novel in the “Shipyard Girls” series and was released in the year 2018. Sunderland in 1942. With the war showing zero signs of letting up. Helen’s thriving in her role as manager of the shipyard. However at home the return of her dad brings a startling discovery that rips her family apart. And there is something odd about yard manager Helen’s newest recruit Bel. But in resolving to uncover the truth, Helen might discover more than she bargained for… Reading 'Christmas With The Shipyard Girls' really took me on one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, highs and lows, love and hate and well you get the picture. I found that I was so in tune with the characters that I went through every emotion that the different characters were going through. This series has a bit of everything- there's drama, romance, drama, betrayal, humour, love, pessimism and optimism. The tensions of wartime, with men away and society experiencing upheavals, are shown. I expect I would like this better if I'd followed the series to date. I'm also not sure what the triumph of the title refers to, unless it's the end of the Desert War.