From the bestselling author of The Harpers Emporium and The Mulberry Lane Series.
1914 Oxford Street, London – There are hard times ahead for the Harpers girls…It is two years since Harpers Emporium opened its doors and life is good for Sally and Ben Harper as they look forward to the arrival of their first child.Beth Burrows is settling into married life with Jack and is gradually recovering … settling into married life with Jack and is gradually recovering from her miscarriage and Aunt’s tragic death.
Harpers welcomes some new faces and they all become part of the daily life at the busy store.
However, whilst the sun is shining on the streets of London, dark clouds gather over Europe as war looms
threatening rainy days for the girls…
more
Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls by Rosie Clarke is the 3rd novel in Welcome to Harpers Emporium series. This is a series that is best read in order. Each book builds upon the previous one. I like the characters in this engaging historical series. We follow the different characters who work at Harpers Emporium. I find them to be realistic. Each person has their own struggles and issues that they are dealing with at the present time. I like that the ladies are involved in women’s suffrage. Rachel likes her new job as floor walker at Harpers and has a beau. He betrayed her with an article he wrote, so she is not sure that she can trust him. Marion Kaye is a new hire at Harpers. Her mother is ill and has basically given up on life thanks to her bully of a husband. Marion is responsible for caring for her mother, her younger siblings, and the house even though she is only seventeen. Reggie Jackson has shown his interest in Marion, but she is unsure about marriage (who can blame her). Miss Minnie likes living with Rachel and the other ladies, but she still grieves the loss of her sister. Miss Minnie gave up the love of her life to stay with her sister. Imagine her surprise when she runs into the same man at Harpers. Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls takes place in the spring of 1914 when the situation in Europe is escalating. I thought the author captured the time-period with the various historical events and how people felt about the looming war. I enjoyed catching up with the characters in Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls. I like Rosie Clarke’s conversational writing style which draws the reader right in. I enjoyed the descriptions of the various products sold at Harpers (the jewelry, hats, scarfs, and handbags). I liked the reference to Yardley products which makes my favorite soap. I am looking forward to the next tale in Welcome to Harpers Emporium series. Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls is an entertaining historical novel with missing merchandise, impending conflict, financial strain, budding romance, upcoming birth, and store expansion.
I LOVED this book, Rainy Days for the Harper Girls, the third book in the “Welcome to the Harpers Emporium” series. I did read this as a stand alone not having read the previous two books and loved it. He setting is in 1914 Oxford Steet, London when the First World War was on-going. The men were going off to the war and the women active in the suffragette movement. This was a tough time for everyone and the rich historical detail was written so well for the reader to be truly transported to that time, and the difficulties experienced by many.
Clarke wrote beautifully and easily read over an afrernoon where the writing will easily immerse you into this riveting story I absolutely enjoyed reading about the characters introduced, the enjoyable daily activities, their struggles, trials and tribulations. Though the war in Europe is in the forefront of the story, there were many heartwarming moments, families growing, new romance and other lovely moments that made this read a really fantastic one.
I hope that this series continues as I would love to hear more about this story and the characters. I highly recommend this book and the other books in the series. Well done Clarke on another fabulous installment.
Love and War
The Harpers Girls, working at Harpers Department Store, are like family. They care for each other and stick together. Sally , Rachel, Marion, Minnie, Beth, Maggie, and Becky joining in to help. They all have to find the strength to manage as war threatens and then is declared in Britain.
This is a story of the girls, their husbands, boyfriends, rekindled loves, and brothers. Of sending loved ones off to war. Of the day to day existence working at Harpers and what it means to each of the girls. Their home life, challenges, and heartaches. The marriages and romances and loss of loved ones. How they come together to help and encourage each other.
I love how the book describes the dresses they wear and make. The fabric, the colors and the textures. That even when times are grim whether at home with the family or with those gone to war the girls always are at home at Harpers and they are always there for each other.
I love the Characters, all the girls and their husbands, boyfriends and loves. The store characters and the little girl Jenny. How Becky is growing up in a troubled time and is making the most of it, gaining a new stepmother, working a Harpers and meeting that handsome soldier at the dance. I hope there is another book so we can hear more about Becky and her soldier and how the other’s fare in the war, the one that went to be a nurse, and the men that left for war.
I love this series as well as the Mulberry Lane series. Rosie Clarke just writes good clean reading, what a refreshing book. It is wonderful after reading something more intense to pick up one of Rosie’s books and just sit back and enjoy the story. I would recommend this book and the series.
Thanks to Rosie Clarke, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book for an honest review.