The Tobacco Girls
‘A gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked.’ Rosie Goodwin
The start of a thrilling new series, from bestselling author Lizzie Lane which follows three friends through thick and thin.
Bristol 1939.School leaver Maisie Miles suspects her father, a small-time crook, has an ulterior motive for insisting she gets a job at the W. D. & H. O. Wills tobacco factory but keeps it to herself.
She’s befriended by effervescent Phyllis Mason and kind-hearted Bridget Milligan who take pity on her and take Maisie under their wing.
But beneath their happy go lucky exteriors they all harbour dreams and worries about what the future holds.
Engaged to be married Phyllis dreams of romance and passion but when it comes there are dire consequences.
Bridget seemingly the level headed one harbours a horror of something unspeakable that she cannot easily come to terms with.
There’s great comradeship at the tobacco factory, and with the advent of war everything is about to change and even the closest friendships are likely to be strained.
My Thoughts.
When Maisie Miles finishes school, she knows more than anything that she needs to get away from York Street and her abusive father. However her father has other plans for Maisie, and instead forces her into a job at the W.D&H.O Tobacco Factory. As Maisie reluctantly accepts her fate, she soon meets Phyllis and Bridget, two of her fellow workmates in the factory. Phyllis is newly engaged and is still trying to navigate her way through the many lessons that life has to offer. Bridget comes from a large Irish family, and is one of seven siblings, and she knows that she wants more than the life her own mother lives. When Maisie starts at the factory, Bridget and Phyllis take her under they wings as they all try and navigate their way through love, life, and the many complications of family life. All of this taking place as WWII is beginning.
I truly loved this book right from the start. Lizzie has such a beautiful writing style that the story grasps your attention immediately and holds it firm until the very end. The characters are all so wonderfully unique, each with their own complex backgrounds which makes them all so likeable and endearing to the reader. I loved following the growing friendship of Maisie, Bridget and Phyllis throughout the story, and the ways in which they all pulled together and supported each other through some troubling times was incredibly heart warming.
The story is written beautifully and is perfectly paced to keep the readers interest. As the story progresses you truly feel as though you form a connection with the three girls, and a fascinating insight into life prior to the war. Lizzie also highlights some of the many issues that arise between those that have money, and those that are in the poorer working class. The way in which the author also portrays the harsh realities that most girls faced those days, being forced into marrying and starting families rather than furthering their own education, was heartbraking.
Beautifully written, unique characters and a truly fascinating storyline. I loved everything about this book!.
Author Bio – Lizzie Lane is the author of over 50 books, a number of which have been bestsellers. She was born and bred in Bristol where many of her family worked in the cigarette and cigar factories. This has inspired her new saga series for Boldwood The Tobacco Girls, the first part of which will be published in January 2021.
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Victoria Wilks 