although this is 4th in the series by Elaine Roberts, it's also works as a stand alone novel.
it's another great read set in ww1 times.
very easy writing style and thought it was very enjoyable.

I’ve always enjoyed this author and this book is no exception. You feel like you’re part of the story and no matter how many characters there may be in a book you feel like you’re a part of that world and invested in these characters as well. This would be a perfect beach read!

✨My Thoughts✨

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ellen and Mary’s father is a “traditionalist” and even more so since his wife died.

They’re all overcome with grief.

Ada, Ellen and Mary’s mother believed strongly in Votes for Women and wanted a bright and different future for her daughters but her husband hated change but when circumstances take a turn for the worse Ellen is forced to go behind fathers back and take a job at her favourite place Foyles Bookshop.

I enjoyed this so much and because I’ve not read a saga book for a while I think I loved it that bit more too.

You can tell it’s been well researched as you feel fully immersed in the era.

I’d be inclined to read the previous books set in the bookshop as all the other girls sound amazing and I’d love to read the backstories

This was an enjoyable read set in WWI England at Foyle's Bookshop. After her father breaks his keg under suspicious circumstances and can't work, his daughter Ellen starts working at Foyle's Bookshop and a newspaper office. When he's accused of spying, she starts investigating to try and find the truth about what happened.

This is the 4th in a series. I read it as a stand-alone story, but I'll check out the others in the series since they give you a back story to some of the other characters. This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the mystery as they investigated what was happening and the accusations against her father. Ellen had to go against her father's wishes to work, but she ended up in Foyle's, one of her favorite places since she had great memories there with her late mother and enjoyed reading and writing. there's a little bit of everything mystery, spying, romance, and living through a war.

Thanks to @boldwood, @netgalley and the author for this ARC

Family, friends, and the future...all things we can never truly be certain of, but place our trust in nonetheless, come what may. If we're lucky, we choose wisely and things play out as planned; if not, we suffer the consequences to make it to another day. Most of us will be on the winning side most of the time, but there are times that are darker which befall us all, and it's up to us to let the light back in.

Such is the case here for Ellen and her father. Times were hard enough without the sudden departure of one of their beloved, but they didn't let it strike a death toll for their present, nor their future. They pulled together as best they could, did what needed doing to survive, and fought like heck to shut down the naysayers trying to throw shade on their good name for their own nefarious reasons. Are they successful? Well, that's for me to know and you to READ in order to find out, but I will say this...no task undertaken in the name of love and family is ever done only halfway. Ellen, along with the help of her new friends, will learn much about life, much about matters of the heart, and much about the importance of fighting for those we care about most...including ourselves when necessary.

By book's end, things are set to right, or as right as they could be, and we're given a window into what may still be on the horizon for the characters we've come to know and love during our time between the pages. A great addition to the series that can certainly be read as a standalone, and the perfect pick for Historical Fiction fans that like their stories with a bit of heart.

Elaine Roberts does another fantastic job in showing the hard times in London 1918. It had a great feel to it and worked with the wartime. I was emotional invested and thought it worked well with what I was hoping for.

I enjoyed this book eben though I didn’t realise it was a series and this was the 4th book, I’m going to read all the others now and I’ll re read this. Still a great book and sounds like a great series.

In this charming historical fiction novel, Elaine Roberts brings readers to World War I London where sisters Ellen and Mary live under their father’s thumb after their mother’s untimely and sudden death. When their father breaks his leg after getting mugged, however, things get complicated when he cannot go to work and the police suspect both Ellen and her father of spying for the Germans. Ellen takes things in her own hands, getting a job at her favorite local bookstore and at a local newspaper while also trying to solve the mystery of the dock break-ins since the police aren't interested in proving her father’s guilt. Full of twists, turns, and a lot of complex side characters, readers have to solve this mystery with Ellen and help her keep her world together before her father is arrested. Roberts’ characters are complex and well-developed, and their relationships are realistic and extend beyond the scope of the novel. The Foyles Bookshop and the docks are excellent settings characterized by their differences and the people that work there. This is a strong historical fiction novel with a great mystery at the heart of it, and readers are sure to enjoy this latest installment!

Young Ellen and Mary love to shop at Foyles for books with their mother and Grandmother. They are a happy family. However, after the girls’ mother is killed, dark days arrive. The First World War is blazing, and Harold, their father, who works on the docks has his office broken into. Afterwards, he is accused of being a spy. Can Ellen prove his innocence? Can the girls at Foyles, where she now works, help her? Can John, her would-be boyfriend, be trusted?

This is a sweet romantic wartime mystery. I haven’t read any of this series before but I must check the others out now. I did think that the story would involve Foyles more, but maybe the others do.

I received this free ebook fromNetGalley in return for an honest review.

A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls - Elaine Roberts 📚

This was the first book I read but they are part of a series, that can all be read as standalone.
I thought this was a nice easy read and seeing the relationships that Ellen creates. She is trying to solve the mystery of the docks break in, to prove her father’s innocence.
I loved the chapters that revolves around the bookshop and wish these had been included more.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find this on audiobook through my local library.
I absolutely loved loved loved this book! I was not expecting it to be a mystery and so that was a very pleasant surprise.
I loved all the characters and the sisters were so nice to each other and I loved how family works together through difficult times. Very clean read and and can't wait to read more from this author.

A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls
by Elaine Roberts

A beautifully written book set in the dark times of London in 1918. The story follows trials and difficulties of Ellen and her family . Ellen recently started work in Foyles when she felt she had to help her family survive in the hard times since her mothers death dealing with this grief and her father injures from a work break in and with her father being accused of spying and could ultimately be shot for treason if found guilty . Follow the girls from the shop as the solve who is really spying and save Mr Beckford.

A wonderful book with the camaraderie of the girls in the book and the many characters good and not so good that you find annoying and dislike. Throughly enjoyable read. 4.5/5

Warm-hearted, absorbing and wonderfully immersive, saga fans will be hooked by Elaine Roberts’ A Wartime Welcome for the Foyles Bookshop Girls.

Ellen and Mary Beckford had once had bright hopes for the future. But when their mother died, their father was consumed by grief, anger and despair and the two sisters now live under his shadow. Harold Beckford barely lets his girls out of his sight, but when a break-in in his office at the London Docklands leaves him unable to work, Ellen realises that she needs to do something to keep the wolf from the door and a roof over all of their heads. Defying her father’s wishes, Ellen secures a position at iconic London bookshop Foyles and with the other shop girls taking her under her wing, she quickly begins to feel like she has found somewhere she belongs.

However, it looks like Ellen’s happiness will be short-lived when her father is accused of a terrible crime that could end up costing the whole family everything. With her friends’ help, Ellen seeks to do everything she can to clear her father’s name and save her whole family from penury. But will she manage to keep them all close? Or is heartache, grief and unhappiness going to be in store for the Beckfords?

Elaine Roberts skillfully blends drama, humour, pathos and warmth in this terrific wartime saga. A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls is an engaging, enjoyable and poignant tale about the power of friendship, the ties that bind and the hope that keeps us going forward when the chips are down that will delight saga readers everywhere.

Written straight from the heart, Elaine Roberts’ A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls introduces us to new heroines with stories I simply cannot wait to read – roll on the sequels.

A Wartime Welcome From the Foyle’s Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts is a heart-warming story of World War I in London and a typical family there where the mother stayed home and cared for the children and the home and the father went to earn a living. That started to change when the mom, Ada, was hit by an out-of-control car and they lost her. They managed for several years until their father broke his leg. Knowing how he felt, the eldest daughter, Ellen, went and got a job anyway. Her favorite place in the world was Foyle’s Bookshop so she went there and started part-time the next day. She met a man there, John, who told her she could get a job at his newspaper, too. That he would set it up. And he did. Life was going well until after several visits the police came and arrested Pa as a spy. He worked at the docks and had access to sensitive information. He also owned a camera and they had found a roll of film where he had fallen chasing a robber. She lost both jobs, as no one could keep on an employee who had been accused of being a spy on the front page of the paper.

This was a wonderful look into a time gone by in a place I have never been. It is a story of family and of friendship. It is also a story of betrayal, on several on the parts of several people. The descriptions of the bookshop were heart-warming for a bibliophile and the support she got from her co-workers was amazing considering how long she’d been there. It was a touching book and brought home how accusing the wrong person can wreak havoc on many people. It also was a moving account of people who chose to do the right thing. It was a very delightful and entertaining book. I loved every minute of imagining someone else’s life. Thanks Elaine Roberts!

I was invited to read A Wartime Welcome From the Foyle’s Bookshop Girls byBoldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #ElaineRoberts #AWartimeWelcomeFromTheFoylesBookshopGirls

I began reading this book without knowing it was the fourth in a series. I don't think it matters though and I think they can all be read as a standalone. Will I be reading the others? Absolutely! I loved it and the fact that Foyles bookshop is a real place, with seven shops throughout the UK is just brilliant.

I loved Ellen and the friends she made at Foyles but I hated some of the characters she met working at the newspaper office. The author did a great job of helping us hate the villains and love Ellen and her friends and family.

Even though it's wartime, these types of books always make me feel like curling up with a cuppa and immersing myself into the character's lives for a few hours. With a bit of mystery, lots of friendship and some great writing, I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A Wartime Welcome From the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

Recently, I have taken to reading more novels set during wartime, and this is set during WWI. At the start, I found it quite comforting to read, as I found myself warming to the characters. As a book lover, I typically enjoy novels centred around locations such as bookshops and libraries, which is why I decided to read this. I felt aware of the characters and their love for books, and I appreciated that quality. I feel that books can provide readers with an escape during difficult times, and that's something that should be celebrated.

Of course, there was more to these characters than just their love for books, and as I read on, I began to feel as though each character was on their own personal journey. There were some highs and lows; some moments that made me smile, and some that tugged at my heartstrings. It was a satisfying read, as it provided me with a little escape, and I found it light enough to read in one sitting.

I didn't realise that this was actually part of a series, so I may be interested in reading the others too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

This is the fourth part of The Foyles Bookshop Girls, but the first I have read and it works very well as a standalone, though I would always recommend people read a series in order if they can.
The story is set in London in 1918. Four years after the death of her mother, Ellen (18) and Mary Beckford (15) live with their father Harold and their grandmother Phyllis Burton. One of the girls’ favourite things has always been going to Foyles Bookshop.
After Harold becomes injured and can’t work, Ellen goes against her father’s wishes and takes a job at the bookshop she loves. There’s a lovely group of people there including the other young girls - newly-married Molly Greenwood and Victoria Appleton (24, engaged to Ted) and Alice, who is on maternity leave.
I’m sure most, if not all, readers love books set in a bookshop and I certainly do, especially one as famous as Foyles, although I think I’ve only been there once myself. I could easily see the setting and wished I was there looking at all the books and chatting with the staff.
Overall, it’s an enjoyable story of friendship, family and a touch of romance. I felt the background of the First World War feels very evocative, though never too depressing. There are a lot of strong female characters to love, especially Ellen herself. There’s a mystery amongst it all too, as Ellen tries to work out why the police are questioning her father about events at the docks, where he has worked for a long time.

I would recommend reading The Foyles Bookshop Girls series in order, starting with the first book, The Foyles Bookshop Girls. This will help to gain some understanding of the characters and setting.

A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls is a detailed fast paced story that has a slow revealing plot. Although the story opens in the year 1914, the plot looks at London in 1918.

Roberts has researched the society, customs and lifestyles of the working class people of Britain as WW1 slowly comes to an end. Women's rights, suffragettes, rations, air raids are mentioned, adding to the authentic feel of the plot. The writing style has a mixture of dialogue and description with a small amount of repetitive points. There were also some scenes that were predictable...

The character development of A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls gives the reader a brief background. The characters are realistic and interesting with their own personalities and mannerisms.

Ellen's traditionalist father has become isolated since the death of his wife 4 years prior. When he is accused of theft at work then later has an accident Ellen finds work at the bookshop to help with the household bills much to the dislike of her father...

Molly works at Foyles bookshop, even though she is a married woman....

Alan works as a photographer at the local paper. He is searching for a big story... although there is something highly suspicious about him...

Overall I feel that A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls gives an interesting look into the events of the war. I thoroughly enjoyed the bookshop side of things. As I am yet to read the series from the start little lost in what was happening at times. Ellen's story is seen more, the other characters' viewpoints tend to be more of a background.

I would suggest reading A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls to people who enjoy reading historical fiction and sagas based around the end WW1, as it is a character driven story about hardship, friendship and family, as well as a deep sense of community...

A return visit to Foyles and a few new characters to add to the mix. This is Ellen's story, based around a mystery break-in at the docks where her father works and her attempts to prove he was not involved. The crime aspects were a bit long and repetitive with no surprises at all in their resolution.. I much preferred the chapters focusing on the bookshop and her other job at the newspaper office. And the budding romance, of course.

I am a huge fan of Elaine and her work and I have been for a few years now. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed every book that Elaine has released to date. I just love the way in which she writes such fabulous historical fiction. I read the synopsis of 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' and it certainly sounded like I was in for a treat. I couldn't wait to start reading and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my copy of the book and settled down for what proved to be one heck of a read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' but more about that in a bit.

I was drawn to this book by the fact that I saw Elaine's name on the cover of a book that I knew I hadn't read yet. As soon as I started reading I realised that firstly I was in for a treat, secondly that I would become addicted to the story and thirdly that I wouldn't be able to put the book down for any length of time. Well I was spot on in all my predictions. I picked the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I was still sat there reading several chapters and an hour or two later. From the on, reading this book became rather addictive and I was like an addict in need of her next fix. I had my own suspicions as to how the story was going to develop so of course I had to keep reading to see if I had guessed correctly or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction . The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. Part of the reason why I enjoyed the story so much has to do with the main characters, who ended up feeling more like friends rather than characters in a book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls'. I found 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' to be a gripping and emotional story which certainly kept me guessing.

'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Elaine Roberts. Elaine has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Elaine's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Elaine's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. Elaine has clearly done an awful lot of research into the time period during which this story takes place and this makes the story seem that bit more authentic. This was one of those stories that certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, twists and turns and so on. I found myself going through the same emotions as the characters were going through. I always find that the sign of a good book is when I enjoy the story so much that I 'live' it as if it were real. That's exactly what happened with 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls'. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Wartime Welcome From The Foyles Bookshop Girls' and I would highly recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Elaine's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.