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    Wartime for the Shop Girls
    Heartache for the Shop Girls
    A Store at War
    Audiobook series6 titles

    The Shop Girls Series

    Written by Joanna Toye

    Narrated by Olivia Dowd and Becky Wright

    5/5

    ()

    About this series

    The latest in the heartwarming WW2 family saga series!

    ‘Uplifting and full of warmth, this tale of friendship and love is another brilliant instalment in this much loved historical fiction series’ MyWeekly

    ‘This heartwarming, nostalgic book is a fitting finale to a delightful series’ Woman’s Weekly

    Summer 1945. After victory in Europe, best friends Lily, Gladys and Beryl are looking to the future. But even with this happy news, their lives are far from simple…

    Despite Lily’s joyful summer wedding, she has doubts over what her heart wants now. As she adjusts to her role as young wife, could this signal the end of her position at Marlows?

    The return of Gladys’s husband Bill raises questions of their family life as he struggles to find work after the Navy, and for Beryl big changes at her bridal shop are afoot.

    As the girls start to move on with their lives, they have never needed to stick together more…

    Acclaim for The Shop Girls series

    'Jo writes with a sure hand and a light touch… a real page-turner with a spirited heroine who will worm her way into readers' hearts. A sparkling new voice in fiction' VERONICA HENRY

    ‘Cheerful and uplifting… I thoroughly enjoyed it’ KATIE FFORDE

    ‘Highly recommended – an engrossing story with a charmingly forthright heroine’ ANNA JACOBS

    ‘Warm and wonderfully page-turning’ ANNIE GROVES

    ‘Captivating… a triumphant debut novel’ Women’s Weekly

    ‘Family drama, community spirit and love… [a] warm, compassionate read’ People’s Friend

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 24, 2015
    Wartime for the Shop Girls
    Heartache for the Shop Girls
    A Store at War

    Titles in the series (6)

    • 1

      A Store at War
      A Store at War

      A Store at War

      Joanna Toye
      4/5 - 3 ratings
      4/5 - 3 ratings

      'Cheerful and uplifting…I enjoyed it immensely' Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde ‘Such a good read!’ 5* Goodreads reviewer It’s 1941 and as the air raid sirens blare, Lily Collins is starting work in Midlands department store Marlow’s. She learns the ropes from her sophisticated boss Miss Frobisher alongside shy fellow junior Gladys. But her friendship with young salesman Jim draws her into a swirl of secrets. And with the war progressing to crisis point, Cedric Marlow and his staff must battle nightly bombings and the absence of loved ones to keep going. A Store at War weaves together a strong sense of community with a vivid evocation of a time when every man, woman and child was doing their bit. ‘Cheerful and uplifting… I enjoyed it immensely’ Katie Fforde ‘Highly recommended’ Anna Jacobs 'A real page-turner with a spirited heroine…A sparkling new voice in fiction' Sunday Times bestseller Veronica Henry

      'Cheerful and uplifting…I enjoyed it immensely' Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde ‘Such a good read!’ 5* Goodreads reviewer It’s 1941 and as the air raid sirens blare, Lily Collins is starting work in Midlands department store Marlow’s. She learns the ropes from her sophisticated boss Miss Frobisher alongside shy fellow junior Gladys. But her friendship with young salesman Jim draws her into a swirl of secrets. And with the war progressing to crisis point, Cedric Marlow and his staff must battle nightly bombings and the absence of loved ones to keep going. A Store at War weaves together a strong sense of community with a vivid evocation of a time when every man, woman and child was doing their bit. ‘Cheerful and uplifting… I enjoyed it immensely’ Katie Fforde ‘Highly recommended’ Anna Jacobs 'A real page-turner with a spirited heroine…A sparkling new voice in fiction' Sunday Times bestseller Veronica Henry

    • 2

      Wartime for the Shop Girls
      Wartime for the Shop Girls

      Wartime for the Shop Girls

      Joanna Toye
      5/5 - 2 ratings
      5/5 - 2 ratings

      War brings changes three friends could never foresee… ‘Highly recommended’ Anna Jacobs ‘A warm domestic drama’ People’s Friend It’s 1942 and as shortages of staff – and goods – begin to bite, young Lily Collins is nervously stepping up to sales junior at Marlow’s department store. Bombs are still falling and Lily and fellow shop girls Gladys and Beryl need a stiff upper lip to wave boyfriends, husbands and brothers goodbye, especially with a baby on the way and grim news on the wireless. Jim, who works with Lily at the store, seems restless, and nothing can prepare Lily for the secrets that come tumbling out when her favourite brother comes home on leave… Somehow, she must keep smiling through. Community, family and friends rally round as her home town – and the whole country – is tested once again.

      War brings changes three friends could never foresee… ‘Highly recommended’ Anna Jacobs ‘A warm domestic drama’ People’s Friend It’s 1942 and as shortages of staff – and goods – begin to bite, young Lily Collins is nervously stepping up to sales junior at Marlow’s department store. Bombs are still falling and Lily and fellow shop girls Gladys and Beryl need a stiff upper lip to wave boyfriends, husbands and brothers goodbye, especially with a baby on the way and grim news on the wireless. Jim, who works with Lily at the store, seems restless, and nothing can prepare Lily for the secrets that come tumbling out when her favourite brother comes home on leave… Somehow, she must keep smiling through. Community, family and friends rally round as her home town – and the whole country – is tested once again.

    • 3

      Heartache for the Shop Girls
      Heartache for the Shop Girls

      Heartache for the Shop Girls

      Joanna Toye
      5/5 - 3 ratings
      5/5 - 3 ratings

      The new book in the heart-warming WW2 family saga series! ‘Just the balm our souls need right now’ Women’s Weekly Summer 1942. Despite grim reports on the wireless and rationing hitting hard, Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls from Marlow’s department store are determined to put out the bunting for a family party. But Beryl’s husband Les returns from North Africa a changed man, and Gladys worries for her own fiancé’s safety. The store is losing staff to the war effort and Lily’s young man, Jim, is torn over where his duty lies. Then comes the knock on the door that everyone dreads. Lily’s family, always the heart of her world, is rocked to the core. The small Midlands town – and Lily’s beloved Marlow’s – must face their greatest challenge yet.

      The new book in the heart-warming WW2 family saga series! ‘Just the balm our souls need right now’ Women’s Weekly Summer 1942. Despite grim reports on the wireless and rationing hitting hard, Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls from Marlow’s department store are determined to put out the bunting for a family party. But Beryl’s husband Les returns from North Africa a changed man, and Gladys worries for her own fiancé’s safety. The store is losing staff to the war effort and Lily’s young man, Jim, is torn over where his duty lies. Then comes the knock on the door that everyone dreads. Lily’s family, always the heart of her world, is rocked to the core. The small Midlands town – and Lily’s beloved Marlow’s – must face their greatest challenge yet.

    • 4

      Christmas for the Shop Girls
      Christmas for the Shop Girls

      Christmas for the Shop Girls

      Joanna Toye
      5/5 - 1 rating
      5/5 - 1 rating

      Uplifting and heartwarming: drama, courage and romance at Marlow’s department store this Christmas For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff – not to mention a store coping with war damage – will be a real challenge. But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families, and their town, will never forget.

      Uplifting and heartwarming: drama, courage and romance at Marlow’s department store this Christmas For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlow’s Department store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff – not to mention a store coping with war damage – will be a real challenge. But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families, and their town, will never forget.

    • 5

      The Victory Girls
      The Victory Girls

      The Victory Girls

      Joanna Toye
      5/5 - 3 ratings
      5/5 - 3 ratings

      The new book in the heart-warming WW2 family saga series! As the tides of war turn, friendship has never been more important… Spring 1944. As the Allied forces push on towards longed-for victory, Lily Collins yearns to join up and do her bit. But where does her duty lie? Her best friend Gladys faces having her first baby alone, with her new husband back with the Navy. And their friend Beryl is run off her feet building her bridal-hire business amid the bomb damage. So while wedding bells are ringing for others at Marlows Department Store, where Lily works, will they be heard for Lily herself – or does fate have another twist in store? Acclaim for Joanna Toye ‘Warm and wonderfully page-turning’ Annie Groves ‘A wonderful testament to friendship as the Allied Forces push on towards victory’ Women’s Weekly ‘Family drama, community spirit and love…[a] warm, compassionate read’ People’s Friend

      The new book in the heart-warming WW2 family saga series! As the tides of war turn, friendship has never been more important… Spring 1944. As the Allied forces push on towards longed-for victory, Lily Collins yearns to join up and do her bit. But where does her duty lie? Her best friend Gladys faces having her first baby alone, with her new husband back with the Navy. And their friend Beryl is run off her feet building her bridal-hire business amid the bomb damage. So while wedding bells are ringing for others at Marlows Department Store, where Lily works, will they be heard for Lily herself – or does fate have another twist in store? Acclaim for Joanna Toye ‘Warm and wonderfully page-turning’ Annie Groves ‘A wonderful testament to friendship as the Allied Forces push on towards victory’ Women’s Weekly ‘Family drama, community spirit and love…[a] warm, compassionate read’ People’s Friend

    • 6

      Wedding Bells for the Victory Girls
      Wedding Bells for the Victory Girls

      Wedding Bells for the Victory Girls

      Joanna Toye
      5/5 - 2 ratings
      5/5 - 2 ratings

      The latest in the heartwarming WW2 family saga series! ‘Uplifting and full of warmth, this tale of friendship and love is another brilliant instalment in this much loved historical fiction series’ MyWeekly ‘This heartwarming, nostalgic book is a fitting finale to a delightful series’ Woman’s Weekly Summer 1945. After victory in Europe, best friends Lily, Gladys and Beryl are looking to the future. But even with this happy news, their lives are far from simple… Despite Lily’s joyful summer wedding, she has doubts over what her heart wants now. As she adjusts to her role as young wife, could this signal the end of her position at Marlows? The return of Gladys’s husband Bill raises questions of their family life as he struggles to find work after the Navy, and for Beryl big changes at her bridal shop are afoot. As the girls start to move on with their lives, they have never needed to stick together more… Acclaim for The Shop Girls series 'Jo writes with a sure hand and a light touch… a real page-turner with a spirited heroine who will worm her way into readers' hearts. A sparkling new voice in fiction' VERONICA HENRY ‘Cheerful and uplifting… I thoroughly enjoyed it’ KATIE FFORDE ‘Highly recommended – an engrossing story with a charmingly forthright heroine’ ANNA JACOBS ‘Warm and wonderfully page-turning’ ANNIE GROVES ‘Captivating… a triumphant debut novel’ Women’s Weekly ‘Family drama, community spirit and love… [a] warm, compassionate read’ People’s Friend

      The latest in the heartwarming WW2 family saga series! ‘Uplifting and full of warmth, this tale of friendship and love is another brilliant instalment in this much loved historical fiction series’ MyWeekly ‘This heartwarming, nostalgic book is a fitting finale to a delightful series’ Woman’s Weekly Summer 1945. After victory in Europe, best friends Lily, Gladys and Beryl are looking to the future. But even with this happy news, their lives are far from simple… Despite Lily’s joyful summer wedding, she has doubts over what her heart wants now. As she adjusts to her role as young wife, could this signal the end of her position at Marlows? The return of Gladys’s husband Bill raises questions of their family life as he struggles to find work after the Navy, and for Beryl big changes at her bridal shop are afoot. As the girls start to move on with their lives, they have never needed to stick together more… Acclaim for The Shop Girls series 'Jo writes with a sure hand and a light touch… a real page-turner with a spirited heroine who will worm her way into readers' hearts. A sparkling new voice in fiction' VERONICA HENRY ‘Cheerful and uplifting… I thoroughly enjoyed it’ KATIE FFORDE ‘Highly recommended – an engrossing story with a charmingly forthright heroine’ ANNA JACOBS ‘Warm and wonderfully page-turning’ ANNIE GROVES ‘Captivating… a triumphant debut novel’ Women’s Weekly ‘Family drama, community spirit and love… [a] warm, compassionate read’ People’s Friend

    Author

    Joanna Toye

    Joanna Toye joined the production team of The Archers after reading English at university, and became a scriptwriter for the programme for over twenty years. She has also written a number of spin-off books about the long-running radio drama. On television she has written for Crossroads, Family Affairs, Doctors and EastEnders.

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