It starts off quite innocently in 1938 with Cadi Williams getting ready for the annual village fete in Rhos, a small mining community in Wales, where she lives with fairly poor family. She is to be crowned Rose Queen and it will be the most important day of her life so far. While Jez is in Africa, someone from the past starts spreading vicious rumours that could threaten their relationship, and Cadi finds herself torn between keeping secrets and telling the truth to protect those she holds dear. The novel started off well with the idea of Cadi joining the WAAF and wanting to do something useful and productive during the war effort. However, the plot became messy and small minor incidents became blown out of proportion into drama that divided many characters. The idea that Cadi had nightmares after the explosion at the Greyhound pub was not carried out throughout the rest of the novel, it was mentioned once and never again. I think having a deeper analysis to why Cadi was impacted this way and how she could overcome these scars left by war would have made her character more developed. Cadi also appeared as someone who follows gossip and rumours without seeing the facts; this is evident in her feud with Daphne and her relationship with Aled.

Rose Queen by Katie Flynn | Goodreads The Rose Queen by Katie Flynn | Goodreads

Their lives in Liverpool could not be more different that where they have run from, they meet Maria, single handedly running a pub, and this gives them hope that without a man around, they can still stand on their feet. Cadi and Poppy may have a Rhos sensibility, but opening their eyes to the outside world gives them choices-will they remain the girls who want to be remembered for competing at the Rose Queen festival, or do they want to become women of the world? Feisty welsh girl Cadi is bored of life in a small mining village and wants to experience the big wide world away from her father's wish to marry the local farmer boy. She goes off with her best friend Poppy to Liverpool to try and sign up as service girls as the War is just beginning. For young people then it seemed exciting and the thing to do to serve their country. However, as they are too young they have to find another plan. The heatwarming festive follow-up to The Rose Queen , from beloved Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Flynn. It’s nothing like the life of Lilac Larkin. This beautiful young woman is assured and self-possessed. She has a nice job working as a maid. But when that comes to a close and she starts up working at a factory, she hopes that her life continues to hold that same promise.

This is my first book by Katie Flynn, I think I was expecting something different, a bit grittier in parts I guess, it was nice… even the events such as the bombing were written lightly. It was a pleasurable book however I don’t think I would read anything by this author again, that’s just my personal opinion.. Katie Flynn is a very popular author with a huge fan base. The setting is Liverpool in England and the year is 1905. The month is December, and it is the dead of winter. Dawn is breaking on a morning that is blustery with wind and raw, and this is the time when a newborn baby is placed at an orphanage’s front door. This baby girl has been abandoned but placed at the steps where she can be hopefully taken in and cared for. A story of heartbreak and love, this book will keep you enthralled from start to finish' Northern Echo Two young girls, with minimal life experience, try to do their civic duty and sign up to join the war efffort. For Cadi and Poppy, being chosen as the village Rose Queen is as far their ambition goes. These are two young women woth social and cultural restrictions on their ambitions, career prospects, and any decisions which they make will be immediately judged and weighed on the moral scale of village sensibilities. Liverpool, 1941: After German bombs shatter the life Cadi has built for herself in Liverpool, she is more determined than ever to sign up and do her bit.

Rose and a Promise - Penguin Books UK A Rose and a Promise - Penguin Books UK

There, she reconnects with long lost family - but will she be able to uncover the truth that tore them apart all those years ago? In her darkest hour, Cadi is comforted by her friends, and with their support and guidance she begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel. But she will face more than one unexpected turn along the way. Katie Flynn was born in Norwich and attended Norwich High School, where she was extremely happy and extremely undistinguished. Published at the tender age of eight, in Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories, she joined a Writers’ Circle as an adult, publishing short stories, articles, etc; only turning to novels in 1971 because the postal strike cut off her main source of income! The kindness of this stranger sets her on a different path, and Libby heads to Liverpool with a determined mind and hope in her heart.The girls help develop the pub into a thriving b&b, and befriend a girl who is beaten by her father trying to persuade her to leave home just as they did. Also for the added romance is Jez, who had rescued them from the hands of a drunken man, and now has his sights firmly on Cadi. I did feel rather sorry for poor Poppy at this point as all the boys seem to fall for Cadi.

The Winter Rose By Katie Flynn | Used | 9781529158076 | World The Winter Rose By Katie Flynn | Used | 9781529158076 | World

Against their parents wishes, they travel to Liverpool with their heads full of adventure, and the intention of joining up. As they’re both underage, they’re immediately turned away. With their hopes scuppered, it seems they will have to return home with their tails between their legs. Then fate leads them to The Greyhound pub, managed single-handedly by Maria, since her husband left for war. Cadi and Poppy leave their home town in Wales to Liverpool to sign up as WW2 is breaking out , Cadi wants more from life than being married and chained to the kitchen sink.Cadi joins the WAAF and makes friends and settles into her new role well. The book explores the war roles for women, the homelife and bombing causing housing issues, friendships made and strengthened and the issues many people faced. Absolutely loved this newest Katie Flynn book. You can always depend on this author to give you your money's worth! Cadi and Poppy encounter "adult life" during WW2 in a way that would teach them both the true meaning of family and love. Along the way they meet many characters, some unsavoury, but who leave their marks. The heatwarming festive follow-up to The Rose Queen, from beloved Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Flynn.