I really enjoyed The Girls of Victory Street. That story took us up to through the early years of WWII. Well, early in terms of US involvement.
I mentioned in the first review how I liked that the war was more background than central focus in the first book of the series. It was effective and made it possible for the reader to really understand the characters, their perspectives and the choices they made.
That turns out to be important, because in the second book, the war takes more of a personal toll on most of the characters. It ends up being a good thing that we got insight in the first book.
As in “Victory,” Bella takes centerstage. After the events of the first book, she has some baggage that she is dealing with, even as she tries to make a return to singing with The Bryant Sisters.
I liked how the singing group was a touchstone both for the participants in the group and the people they sang for.
That’s been a strong thread through both books: the healing power of music. How even in the darkest of times, songs can see people through to better times.
It’s a thought worth keeping in mind.
But I digress. Back to Bella.
She didn’t have the easiest of times in the first book, and for the most part, that remains the same. She is torn in several directions as she suffers tremendous loss and the hope of a better future in short order.
On top of all of that, WWII is in full force, and bombs are dropping all over Liverpool.
The story is engaging, the characters are likeable, and it’s an easy and entertaining read. Of course, I’m not going to tell you what happens to Bella – you’ll have to read for yourself.
But I’ve become invested in these characters and I look forward to seeing what is in store for them.

Wedding Bells on Victory Street by Pam Howes is the 2nd novel in The Bryant Sisters series. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not indulged in The Girls of Victory Street. Bella Rogers along with her two best friends (Fran and Edie) are known as The Bryant Sisters. They are with ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) traveling around England and Wales entertaining the troops as well as citizens. Bella is in love with Bobby Harrison who suffered severe injuries when his plane went down. He is waiting for a new prosthetic leg and then hopes to join the tour with Bella. Bella loves Bobby and hopes to marry him, but she has yet to tell him about her son, Levi. She is worried what Bobby will think about her when he learns that she has an illegitimate child with band leader, Earl Franklin Jr. Levi is with her mother, Mary and her sister, Molly in Llanoudno, North Wales. Bella misses her son, but she knows that he is safer on the farm. The ladies on the tour are having trouble with the magician Frederico, Master of Magic (aka Freddie). They know the sleazy man is up to no good, but the three singers need proof. It is 1943 and the war shows no signs of slowing down and neither do the bombings. I thought Wedding Bells on Victory Street was well-written with developed characters and gentle pacing. There is plenty going on in this emotional novel as you can tell. I just gave you a little taste of what to expect in this dramatic tale. There is drama, romance, wrongdoings, beautiful songs, manipulation, tension, and so much more. The author captured the time period with the music, clothing, war events, and the language. I like how Pam Howes included Glenn Miller who performed with ENSA just before his death. I enjoyed the heartwarming ending. It was great to see how some of the characters developed. I really liked the change in one character (spoiler). For those readers who enjoy historical sagas (Pam Howes Lark Lane series and Nancy Revell’s Shipyard Girls), you do not want to miss Wedding Bells on Victory Street. Wedding Bells on Victory Street is a poignant historical novel with spectacular singers, an immoral magician, a sweet son, an aspiring sister, a sickening conflict, and a rocky romance.

Historical drama full of interesting characters and a good storyline. This continues the story of the Bryant sisters who entertain the troops in Britain,their loves and lives..

Following the Bryant Sisters on their journey around the circuit and their live during WW2. This was a really great read and one that I didn't want to put down and also I didn't want it to come to the end. This is a 5 star novel and I hope we hear more about the sisters and families.

Thanks to \netgalley and publisher for the ARC

This is the second book following The Bryant Girls around the country. A good story with great characters who you feel you get to know personally, especially Bella who is the main character

We are back again with the follow on from " The girls on victory street"
The Bryant sisters so-called because Bella, Edie, and Fran all worked at the Bryant match factory when they started to sing together and entertaining the troops.
When the love of her life Bobby Harrison does the dutiful thing and marries a girl who claims to be pregnant by him, Belle has a one night with a black American soldier Earl Franklyn junior the result being Little Levi her son who is being looked after by her mum and sister safely tucked away in the countryside.
Years later Bobby is badly disabled whilst in action, resulting in him losing a leg, his wife whom he realised after marriage tricked him, doesn't want to know him, and does a runner.
Meanwhile, The Bryant sisters are working Ensa entertaining the troops up and down the country. Their manager a kind caring man looks after his entertainers. But their joy is marred by the magician in the troop Fredrico master of magic, he has wandering hands and leers after the girls. He's a nasty piece of work so when Basil their manager lets him go he vows revenge.
There is a lovely reference to Glenn Miller.
Excellent research has been done to make this story more believable, it is well written with some likable characters. A great saga
I love Pam's stories especially The rock and roll years with "The raiders"
THANK YOU NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this excellent book. xxx

A welcome return to the Byrant sisters and their time singing with ENSA through the war. The story carried on nicely from the first book and didn't waste time by relating back to the first book, so it would be more enjoyable if you read the first booking the Victory Street series so you would be able to enjoy the next stage of their story. There are some wonderful twists and turns with Bella, so it is not your usual boy meets girl straight to a happy ending story.

This is the second book in a series following The Bryant Sisters, three girls who worked in the Bryant & May match factory in Liverpool before the war started & they joined ENSA, going around entertaining the troops with there singing. It particularly focuses on Bella who had to come to terms with losing the man she loved when he married someone else & having to leave her baby with her mother whilst she was away on tour.

Pam Howes characters are easy to engage with. She captures the times these women were living in & the things they had to cope with. This was quite a quick read & as I was keen to see how everything would work out. I suppose this could be read as a stand alone but it really should be read in order.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for granting this book. This is book 2 and is a follow on from The Girls of Victory Street, however, if you didn’t realise it could still be read as a stand-alone as Pam Howes is brilliant at threading the history of the characters and relationships through the books so you can follow it easily. Really enjoyed book one and highly delighted that this book was even better -( did not think it possible).

I was hooked from page one and read each chapter eager to discover more about The Bryant Sisters, especially Bella, who had suffered heartache in the original book when her first love Bobby ended up marrying under false pretences. It’s a story based through the war years with hardships, love, heartache and grittiness built in. I do not like to give the story away but I feel sure any reader will not be disappointed and I only hope there is another follow on book. Love love loved it!!!!

Wedding Bells on Victory Street is Book 2 in The Bryant Sisters series. I am glad that I was approved a copy of the book via NetGalley.

The story follows the Bryant Sisters as they travel the country during WWII, providing entertainment for the troops. I directly read this book without having read the first one, but it did affect the story for me. I was able to easily connect with the main characters and follow their journey in this book. The story revolves primarily around Bella and her family, her relationships with the other girls who form the Bryant Sisters as well as Bobby, her childhood love. The story is well-written and flows so well that I finished the book in one sitting. 

The setting of the story is heart-wrenching with death and uncertainty looming over all the characters. I loved how Bella's Mother and sister stepped up to help her and how the entire community who lived in and around Victory Street band together to support each other. As the war progresses, the characters learn to rely on themselves and one another to move forward. The author has done a great job with the story, the settings and the characters are adorable.

This is a love story set in the time of WWII and it brings to us a feeling of hope for the characters and a feeling of joy in spite of all the sadness. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to everyone!

Wedding Bells on Victory Street by Pam Howes is the continuing story of the Bryant Sisters, singers during World War II who travel the length and breadth of England, entertaining troops. It is primarily the story of story of Bella Rogers and the love of her life, Bobby. Bobby had previously married a girl who had claimed to be pregnant, but of course, lost the baby a few days later. Bella, in her grief, had a brief affair with Earl Franklin, Jr., who once she found herself pregnant, announced he was married and had a child back in the United States. Bella, being the primary support of the family, left her son, Levi, in Wales, where her mother and her sister, Molly were riding out the war, escaping from the nightly bombings in Liverpool. She misses her son while her mother is falling in love with him and planning an adoption.

This is a well-written story with lots of twists and turns. Booby's mother, who had been a huge snob even though she had changed her life for the better, has come around full circle, grateful that her son was returned to her, if somewhat the worse for wear, despite the fact she had lost he husband in the same accident. She is no longer opposed to Bella and Bobby marrying but there are problems to be overcome. These are all really likable people who, like many others, were simply trying to live their lives as best they could. It is a little simplistic, but heart-warming and wholesome. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book full of interesting, but simple people. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Wedding Bells on Victory Street by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #Weddingbellsonvictorystreet

I was so excited to be going back to Victory Street again! I was so taken with the last book in this series. I love books about this era, and this series is a little different, as the girls tour around the country singing.

So much has happened for the girls since they first became the Bryant Sisters. They’ve toured the country, entertaining the troops, but they have all known love and loss, and heartbreak in the difficult times of war.

Bella has been through a lot, but I was really hopeful that she would finally get her chance with Bobby, who she never stopped loving. The story also tells us about her mother’s life in the countryside, where she has been evacuated with the children.

There’s something about this book that just feels like being back with old friends again. No matter how long it’s been since reading the last one, it’s so easy to just slip back into the lives of all of those on Victory Street. The characters are so real, and as a reader, you will care about them all.

I was totally captivated by this wonderful book, and just enjoyed every minute of it. I’m really hoping for another one in the series soon. Can’t recommend it highly enough. Cancel everything, put your feet up, and just be absorbed in it.

Bella, Fran and Edie made up the singing trio, The Bryant Sisters, who’d been entertaining the troops up and down the coast of England and beyond during the war. Bella’s little one, Levi, was living with Bella’s mam, Mary and sister Molly at a farm in Wales where they were evacuated, with the bombs raining over Liverpool and the rest of the country. Meanwhile back at home in Liverpool, Bella’s boyfriend since childhood, Bobby was home from the war after being dreadfully injured in the same plane crash which killed his father.

One of the other entertainers in the tour which The Bryant Sisters were travelling, along with their manager Basil, was causing problems with his drinking and roaming hands so Basil had to terminate his contract. But rather than licking his wounds, and finding another job, he decided on revenge. The evil of his thoughts, and determination to wound and damage saw trauma for Bella and The Bryant Sisters. What would happen to the trio? Would Bobby want nothing to do with Bella when she revealed her secret?

Wedding Bells on Victory Street is the 2nd in The Bryant Sisters series by Pam Howes and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in 1943 as the war entered its final years, and filled with emotion – from happiness to sadness, joy and devastation – Ms Howes has a way with words which drew me in and kept me fully involved with the story. When someone received their come-uppance, I was very pleased! Cheering in fact 😉 Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I was so looking forward to returning to Victory Street with the Bryant Sisters. This book was as good, if not better than the first. The Bryant Sisters series is absolutely phenomenal.

The Bryant Sisters are back performing on Victory Street. Bella is in love with Bobby Harrison who returns home after being injured when his plane went down. Bobby is in love with Bella and wants to marry her, but Bella has yet to tell him about her son Levi. She is afraid that when he finds out that she has a son, that he won’t want to marry her. Bella’s son is with her mother and sister in Northern Whales because she knows that it is a safe place for him to be, while the war effort still in full swing. As the story progresses you can’t help but find yourself connecting emotionally with the characters. This is a story, of love, loss, trust, emotional saga and hope.

For those that love to read historical fiction, this one is a must. Like the first novel The Girls of Victory this novel was just as gripping and engrossing. This unputdownable book will have you up all night flying through the pages. Get comfy because once you start this book, you won’t be able to stop until the very end. I loved the continuation of this series, and I look forward to more.

Saga fans will not want to miss out on Pam Howes’ gripping and warm-hearted new novel, Wedding Bells on Victory Street.

In 1943, the Second World War might be showing no signs of slowing down, but despite of all the worry, heartache and anguish surrounding her, life for Bella Rogers couldn’t be better. As a member of the singing trio The Bryant Sisters, Bella loves nothing more than getting up on stage and singing her heart out cheering the boys on the frontline who are making the ultimate sacrifice for king and country. The Bryant Sisters’ melodic voices and cheerful harmonies are putting a smile on everyone’s faces, however, when the war hits too close to home, a devastated Bella finds herself mourning the death of her beloved father. With her entire world blown apart, Bella needs to be strong for her mother, but luckily for her, her sweetheart Bobby is back from the war giving her a reason to keep going and count her blessings.

Bobby might be missing a leg, but Bella is grateful that he is alive and by her side when so many other men hadn’t been so lucky. Bella is head over heels in love with Bobby, but she has a dangerous secret which she is keeping very close to her chest. Dare she confess the truth to Bobby? Should she reveal her secret to him? Or will her confession end up putting paid to any hope Bella might have of a future with the man who means the world to her? Can she trust Bobby with her secret? Or is Bella about to lose everything?

As bombs begin to fall down on Victory Street, Bella realises that the future isn’t guaranteed and that she might end up losing both her home and her family. Will Bella be strong enough to snatch her chance at happiness? Or will the enemy’s bombs leave not just destruction and mayhem in their wake, but also Bella’s broken heart?

Wedding Bells on Victory Street is a heart-wrenching and emotional saga about love, loss and family readers of atmospheric, involving and dramatic novels need to add to their auto-buy list. Pam Howes brings wartime Liverpool to vivid life and readers will laugh and cry with her characters and hope that they will manage to triumph over all the obstacles standing in their way despite of all the trials and tribulations which they face on a daily basis.

Bella Rogers is a fantastic heroine. Fiercely loyal and immensely resilient, Bella is a wonderful character who instantly comes alive on the page and who will have readers eagerly turning the pages desperate to find out whether she will ever find the happiness she is searching for.

A superb historical saga, Pam Howes’ Wedding Bells on Victory Street is a terrific page-turner readers will thoroughly enjoy.

I was so excited when I saw there was going to be a follow up to The Girls Of Victory Street and this didn't disappoint. This is a wonderful story of hope, friendship and love set during the dark, scary days of war. It was wonderful to catch up with all the characters from the previous book and I was particularly thrilled with Fanella's transformation from an uptight snob to a much softer and friendlier character. There are a few twists and it's a bit darker than the previous book. This is a fantastic read that I'd recommend to anybody who loves a good historical fiction read.

Wedding Bells on Victory Street is the second in the Byrant Sisters series from historical fiction author Pam Howes. Pam has written several series at this stage and all are really enjoyable. This book is set during World War Two and is a continuation from the first book but it can easily be read as a standalone as the backstory is supplied within the first few pages. So in that sense new readers are not missing out at all as to what has previously happened and long term fans are given a nice refresher. This makes it very easy to dive straight back into the life of Bella Rogers and her family as they grapple with all the troubles and strife that the war throws in their direction. Life is not easy for any of them but they make the best of the cards that they have been dealt. This book proved to be another great read from an author whose books I have come to always look forward to and the way it all ended, wrapped up everything very nicely which made me think this is the last we will hear from this family and perhaps with her next book Pam is moving to pastures new in terms of introducing us to a whole new set of characters.

But for now I really did enjoy revisiting Bella and without doubt she is the stand out character of this book. Although it was lovely to see some of the more minor characters getting some more attention this time around and being allowed to share their stories. I loved how lots of the unresolved storylines from book one continued and flowed directly into this new book. I had felt upon completion of The Girls of Victory Street that there were numerous loose ends and that perhaps it ended quite abruptly. Thankfully those niggles I had were resolved the further I delved into this story and I thought everything flowed so brilliantly and that there was even more background story coming to the forefront, in particular in relation to Bella’s mother Mary and her sister Molly. Not to mention Bella’s love interest Bobby.

Truly there was a lot going on here but it kept the book fresh and had me rapidly turning the pages to see how would things turn out. Would good triumph over evil so to speak? Would certain characters wise up to what was going on right in front of them? Would Bella find the peace, solidarity, friendship and love that she craves so desperately in the most turbulent of times? I was eager to find out and my only regret is that I raced through the book so quickly that my time with Bella and co was very short. But, that’s my own fault but at the same time it’s a sign of a good book.

Bella continues to travel around the country, working for ENSA, alongside her good friends Fran and Edie. They are a singing group and Bella is getting to follow her passion and at the same time she feels she is doing her bit for her country entertaining the troops. It’s tough being away from her family who have been evacuated to a farm in Wales but she knows what’s happening now is for the best. You do see her loyalties torn though between doing what she loves and being away from her baby Levi who was a result of a brief fling with an American soldier. But Bella knows he is in good hands with her mother Mary and sister Molly.

I loved the chapters set at the farmhouse in Wales. The descriptions of the daily life on a farm during the war were excellent and provided a good contrast between the life Bella was experiencing on the road. In a way the farm offered a bit of normality, if you could call it that, during the most difficult of times. It became a sanctuary for Mary and she felt safe and secure. Although I will say I didn’t particular like Mary’s idea regarding baby Levi. I could see she was coming from a place of love and support but it didn’t sit right with me and I didn’t feel it was her place to be thinking of making such an offer. It slightly turned me off her as a character for a while before my opinion changed once again to that of a more positive one.

I enjoyed the will they/won’t they of the relationship between Bella and Bobby that had spilled over from the first book. There were so many obstacles in their way chiefly that being his wife Alicia, who was such a horrible character and I don’t think I will ever forget how cruel and spiteful she was in her actions. Bobby, was a character who I felt got a lot more attention on him this time around and also his family. We saw a totally different side to his mother Fenella. She is no longer a snob and has been very much humbled and she really did a complete 360 personality wise. She showed much more compassion, care and empathy and I knew deep down she was rooting for Bella and Bobby, hoping that things would turn out ok for them.

An unexpected visitor to Fenella’s doorstep opened up a whole other avenue of storylines within this book and it was just brilliant. I almost forgot the war was happening and this new aspect to the series took hold and held me in its grasp. Mystery, intrigue, danger, hatred and much more abound and as mentioned previously this is what allowed characters who perhaps lingered in the background to step into the spotlight and you get to see something dark and gritty happen to them. Yet at the same time Bella wasn’t forgotten and I absolutely loved how all the various threads that were spun eventually wound together so carefully and a such became deeply satisfying as we neared the conclusion.

That’s what I really enjoyed about this book, it went just that little bit beyond the typical wartime family saga of which I am a big fan and have read so many books based around this time. There was lots of drama throughout and the storyline surrounding Fenella and her guest had such a significant impact on everyone else. I will say I loved that there was no big deal with regard to Bobby knowing the story behind Levi’s birth. That has been done to death in many other books and it was brilliant to see such genuine acceptance and love. It allowed for the focus to shift to other storylines and I was thankfully Levi’s birth wasn’t a huge mystery and Bobby showed what a wonderful man he was, especially given all the trauma he had been through. Losing his father and then suffering such a life changing injury himself was not easy but he showed remarkable spirt throughout and I think his love of Bella and the fact it was reciprocated really stood him in good stead. I was desperately hoping they would get through the obstacles of which there seemed to be many being continuously placed in their way.

Bella has plenty of secrets which threaten to spoil her potential happiness. I think she frustrated me a bit in that in the first half of the book she wasn’t as open as she should have been and she was constantly going back and forth over whether Bobby would accept her. I thought she should have had more faith in him and really listened to what her heart was telling her. But aside from this little issue which in turn went on to be explored very well, I really did like Bella and feel like she the glue that heled everyone together.

Wedding Bells on Victory Street had the most loveliest and apt of conclusions. I loved how the characters all worked together to bring about happiness and make their lives the best they could be so that when war would eventually be declared over they would have some joy and stability in their lives. This is another winner from Pam Howes and old and new readers will enjoy every minute of it.

I loved this novel and I loved its strong and resilient characters who face the hardships of living during WWII.
It’s the second book in the Bryant Sisters series and can be read as a stand-alone as it’s rich of explanations about what happened before.
I read in an afternoon and found it compelling and entertaining and I loved the sense of purpose and hope that animates the characters.
There’s a war, people are dying, bombs and food scarcity but the characters hope in a better tomorrow and hope is what animates them.
The plot flows, is tightly knitted, and it’s full of twists and turns. I rooted for Bella and Bobby and appreciated Mam, Fenella and Ruth.
The villain of the story is interesting, an excellent villain you cannot help detesting.
The author is a good storyteller and there’s a lot of attention to the details and an excellent character development.
It’s the perfect book for these bleak times and it’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved this second Bryant Sisters book that continues to tell the story of brave men and women who faced so much loss, heartache and pain and bravely soldiered on in wartime Britain.

As the Bryant sisters continue to entertain the troops, Bella’s Mum still reeling from the loss of her young daughter, takes her other daughter and Bella’s baby to the countryside to keep them safe and also to prevent gossip about the baby. She’s constantly worried too about her husband who is serving somewhere in the front.

Meanwhile in Liverpool, Bella’s sweetheart, Bobby, home from war and recovering from the loss of a leg is waiting for Bella to come home. His Mum, Fenella and he are also recovering from the loss of his Dad in the same air crash in which Bobby was injured.

How will Bella, very much in love with Bobby, break the news that she’s had a baby with another man? Will Bobby accept her? How will his Mom react?

I absolutely love how everything came together so beautifully and unexpectedly in the end. I didn’t expect the story to have the kind of drama it did – a bit of a mystery, romance, a sweet baby and most of all love and fellowship with people putting family, community and country before their own needs.

Another sweet and heart-wrenching World War 2 story that’s a winner from this author!

This is my first WWII Novel that I've read. Its not my normal genre but I'm glad I chose to give this a try.

Pam howes is an exceptional writer and it shows in this book.

It is emotional and heart wrenching but at the same time its also full of happiness and hope.

I will definately read more from her again.