I love the Harpers series and this book is just as good as the rest. It is an emotional read for a few of the characters are going through difficult moments. We are now into 1929 just before the depression and I hope Rosie has more to come for us in this series. Sally Harper and her friends and employees are finding things hard at the moment but one thing is the love and friendship and respect for each other that shines through. I highly recommend this series.

Enjoyable installation in a long series; there was quite a lot of expository content which provided good (yet in-your-face) context since this is the 9th installment. The characters are likeable and if you had a previous reading relationship, it feels like this storyline remains fresh. If this is your introduction to the Harpers store, the book can stand alone. I imagine it would be more fulfilling if you'd read the previous eight books but it's not essential.

Another delightful installment to the Harpers Emporium series although I found this one a little slower off the mark than previous ones in which I easily dived and devoured. It is still a fairly quick and easy read though it feels as though so many have come and gone with only a few of the originals left. I normally eagerly await a Harpers book but this one didn't feel as though it hit all the marks as previous ones. But that could just be me too.

The years is 1929 and Ben's aunt has summoned him back to America to take over her affairs during the course of her illness and in the event of her subsequent death. This of course takes him away from London and Harpers, though the latter is left in Sally's capable hands. She has promoted Kitty Wilson as her assistant and taken on a new secretary Ruby Rush.

Meanwhile Beth has new neighbours but there is something familiar about them but she isn't quite sure. She continues her several mornings work at Harpers whilst caring for her husband Jack, children and father in law Fred whom she has encouraged to return to Harpers on a part time basis since the loss of his wife.

Sally is busy running a household and the store, along with her many charities she patronises. A face from her past returns with some sobering news but is on hand to offer her assistance should she need it. Meanwhile she has her hands full with children Jenny and Peter and the ever-changing future before her. She hates being separated from Ben but he is honour-bound and hopes that they will soon be reunited.

There is love on the horizon for one or two of the Harpers girls but will anything come of it? And yet, troubled times are ahead of them. Will those concerned heed the warnings before it's too late?

Unlike many previous books, Harpers features more of a backdrop than the feature but that's OK because the store is well established and is the heartbeat of all those who are employed there and those who walk through its doors. This is one of my favourite series and can't wait to see what's in store for them next. I'm especially interested in Ruby's story. And I did like that this one did not end on a cliffhanger.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TroubledTimesAtHarpers in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Harpers Emporium #9

3.5 stars rounded up

London, 1929. Torn between the love of his family life in London and a deathbed promise to an American relative, Ben Harper makes a fatal decision that may change the course of many lives. Honour-bound, Ben remains in New York to investigate who is responsible for the suspected fraud, corruption, and the department stores failings. His findings point to organised crime and shadowy gangsters who will stop at nothing to get what they want. Sally Harper and the children return home to oversee the smooth running of the thriving Harpers Emporium. With the help of Beth Burrows, Ruby Rush and Kitty Wilson, Sally plans for an ever-changing future with the cards she's been dealt.

It did take me a few chapters to get into this ninth Harpers Emporium book. There's a few new characters to keep track of. Sally and Ben Harper run the new store, but Ben's aunt asked him to help her in the American store.The pace is steady. The era the books are set in has been well-researched. We get love, loss, romance and fraud.

Published 1st June 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley BoldwoodBooks and the author #RosieClark for my ARC of #TroubledTimesAtHarpersEmporium in exchange for an honest review.

its like we know the people in these book now. we have followed them over time and years. we have followed the emporium too. so we have come to care for the people and th store. and its not been lived in in the best of times in our world history. through it all their is people, humans, and they all are able to have good points and bad points, good days and bad. but through it all there is a gathering of love,support and friendship.
Rosie knows how to write her books. and she does her series so well. and if you enjoyed this book read the others. then please go and read the other series Rosie Clarke has put her brilliance too. because ive fallen for her others too and im sure you will love them just as much.
Rosie knows how to write people. in all their scopes. and she knows how to help us see into a time we werent ever part of. the writing feels well researched too which adds reality and depth to the pages you are reading.
this was a great addition to the series. and i think it could even mean we have more. oh please let there be more.
i really do have my favourites in this book and i want to see the with their happy endings. and its good to see even in different times there are people trying to make the difference they can to people who might not always be seen as "worthy".

Oh, gosh, this one saw all of the emotions coming out to play! Sadness, happiness, humour too in some ways!
There was excitement and, overall, a sense of new beginnings and new experiences to be had! Probably the best one in the Harper's series yet!
I can't wait for the next book in the series to find out what happens next!

A well-written historical novel full of twists. The power of females during those days shines to the fore of this work. Brilliant read!

Another thrilling read in the Harpers series. Ben Harper is in America and is dicing with some dangerous people whilst trying to untangle the web of his aunts large emporium. Meanwhile Sally is keeping Harpers running smoothly in London.
Great to catch up with characters old and new, and as usual written perfectly.
Looking forward to the next book in the lives of the Harper family.

A lovely read set around a department store and WWII. Great characters and enjoyable storyline. Would recommend this book.

This book is so good, i love the Harper books, they are books you never want to put down, i cant wait for more.

It is now 1929 at Harpers.Ben Harper has to go to America as his aunt is dying and she want him to take over the store that she owns there.It seems that everything is not as it should be and his aunt thinks her son has something to do with it.Ben is talking about the whole family moving over there but Sally doesn’t won’t to go with their children Peter and Jenny.Kitty Wilson is being trained up so she can take some of the work load off Sally so she can have a bit more time off with her family.Sally thinks Ben might get into deep water if he tries to prove that his cousin is behind the fraud at the store but doesn’t believe all Sally says.Ruby ,a new secretary in Sally office helps a gentleman lodger where she lodges as he is suffering bad nightmares flash backs too the war.He suddenly goes away then Ruby hears he has died which upsets her as she was falling in love with him.What will happen between Ben and Sally and how will Ruby carry on now her love has died.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood.

Troubled times at Harbour house had me reading the book in 2 days. I absolutely loved it from start to finish. I had to keep going to see what happens to Ben, how Sally was going to cope. Ruby's story was so intriguing, and Kitty's news as well. Beth had me on the edge of my seat worrying about what would happen. The series so far has been fabulous and loved every single book i have read so far. Can't wait to see if there will be another one, as would love to see what happens to all the women. Another fabulous book in this series. Loved it!

Historical drama featuring Harper's department store through troubled times. Great to renew old acquaintances and meet some new characters.

This was an easy quick read about a department store set in 1929. Mrs Harper runs the store while her husband has gone to New York to deal with his late aunts shop there. It’s got some great characters and caught onto the plot quickly. This is a series and i hadn’t read the others, but the story was easily readable by itself. A 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

A wonderful book and storyline from Rosie Clarke in the Harper Emporium series. Although always best to read in order I found this book would be easy to understand even if you hadn’t read others. Sally and Ben Harper who run the shop have a lot going on with the London store and then the American store that Ben’s aunt has asked him to help her with. So with the help of Kitty and Beth and the new secretary Ruby the ladies join forces to lift up Harpers.
Thanks to Rosie and her publisher and NetGalley

Book number nine in the series feels like it has run its course for me.
While I enjoyed the first five or six books, this one didn’t quite hold my attention in the same way. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and it really helps to read the earlier books to understand their stories.
The cast seems to keep growing, which left me a little confused at times. I did push through to the end, but I found it more of a chore to pick back up compared to the excitement I felt with the earlier installments..

I nearly gave up on this book quite early on as the first few chapters really didn't grip me. It was a very slow first half but I pushed through and it definitely got better during the second half. Though this was pretty slow, I still hope there will be a further book in the Harpers series.

Centered around the owners of Harpers Emporium, their friends and employees, Troubled Times at Harpers is full of love, romance, fraud, loss and mystery. Overall this was a good read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Book 9 of 9 - Rosie Clarke write great stories with believable characters. An enjoyable book. This ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review. This review is mine.

Another fantastic book in the Harper Emporium series. Sally’s life is turned upside down with the death of her beloved husband Ben. With help from her friends at Harpers, she has to find the strength and resolve to cope with overall control of the store as well as caring for her two children and the numerous charities she is involved with. Hopefully we can find out in the next book in the series.

Being the ninth of Rosie Clarke's 'Welcome to Harpers Emporium' series, 'Troubled Times at Harpers' sweeps readers back into the Harper family's lives and strife in 1929 London along with their dedicated employees. Distracted by family and commitment, Ben Harper is sent to New York City to pursue suspicion of fraud only to find ominous ties to organized crime.

In the meantime, Sally Harper, along with familiar faces such as Beth, Kitty, and Ruby, charts a changing future for the successful Harpers Emporium at home. The author masterfully interweaves hope, dreams, and survival storylines against the background of an ever-changing age. Although some of the storylines are left hanging, leaving us waiting for more to come, the close friendships and community at Harpers continue to warm the heart, and this is another compelling and enjoyable read for fans of the series.