Sheila Riley

The Mersey Angels by Sheila Riley takes readers back to 1916 in England where our characters are dealing with injured soldiers from the war. Ruby Swift decides to turn Ashland Hall into an auxiliary hospital. Ruby, Archie, Anna, and Ellie move into the hunting lodge as a drill sergeant of a doctor takes over the hospital. Each person is worried about a loved one while they work to help the injured soldiers. The Mersey Angels can be read as a standalone in case you have not had the show more opportunity to read The Mersey Mistress. I thought The Mersey Angels was easy to read with developed, realistic characters. The author did her research for this series. She captured the time period, so the reader felt like they were back in 1916. I liked most of the characters with my favorite being the formidable Ruby Swift. She was a clever, shrewd woman. Ruby did not let any grass grow under her feet. If she had an idea, she was off to make it happen. The Mersey Angels is an emotional novel. There is heartache, hope, deep sorrow, disgust, joy, love, and hope. We get to follow Anna, Ruby, Ellie, Lottie, and Izzy as they go about their everyday lives with the additional workload of helping the war effort. Each person “wants to do their bit.” They experience losses, but they continue to have hope. With loved ones away fighting in the war, they worry they could receive a dreaded telegram. A telegram in 1916 told you if your loved one was missing in action, dead, or injured. There were, on occasion, telegrams that would bring joyful news. Letters would be exchanged between those at home and those away. Women at home worried when they did not receive consistent communication. The war wreaked havoc with mail delivery. While most of the characters are those that readers will love, there are some that you will love to hate. Jerky Woods is one of those. I just wanted to shake Lottie who was naïve and refused to see the man’s true nature. The Mersey Angels is an appealing novel that will delight fans of historical fiction. The ending will leave you smiling. The Mersey Angels is a compelling tale with a dedicated doctor, an awe-inspiring woman, an absent brother, a despicable son, courageous soldiers, and a waging war. show less

The Mersey Angels by Sheila Riley takes readers back to 1916 in England where our characters are dealing with injured soldiers from the war. Ruby Swift decides to turn Ashland Hall into an auxiliary hospital. Ruby, Archie, Anna, and Ellie move into the hunting lodge as a drill sergeant of a doctor takes over the hospital. Each person is worried about a loved one while they work to help the injured soldiers. The Mersey Angels can be read as a standalone in case you have not had the show more opportunity to read The Mersey Mistress. I thought The Mersey Angels was easy to read with developed, realistic characters. The author did her research for this series. She captured the time period, so the reader felt like they were back in 1916. I liked most of the characters with my favorite being the formidable Ruby Swift. She was a clever, shrewd woman. Ruby did not let any grass grow under her feet. If she had an idea, she was off to make it happen. The Mersey Angels is an emotional novel. There is heartache, hope, deep sorrow, disgust, joy, love, and hope. We get to follow Anna, Ruby, Ellie, Lottie, and Izzy as they go about their everyday lives with the additional workload of helping the war effort. Each person “wants to do their bit.” They experience losses, but they continue to have hope. With loved ones away fighting in the war, they worry they could receive a dreaded telegram. A telegram in 1916 told you if your loved one was missing in action, dead, or injured. There were, on occasion, telegrams that would bring joyful news. Letters would be exchanged between those at home and those away. Women at home worried when they did not receive consistent communication. The war wreaked havoc with mail delivery. While most of the characters are those that readers will love, there are some that you will love to hate. Jerky Woods is one of those. I just wanted to shake Lottie who was naïve and refused to see the man’s true nature. The Mersey Angels is an appealing novel that will delight fans of historical fiction. The ending will leave you smiling. The Mersey Angels is a compelling tale with a dedicated doctor, an awe-inspiring woman, an absent brother, a despicable son, courageous soldiers, and a waging war. show less

A Safe Haven on Beamer Street, by a new to me author, Sheila Riley is an emotional heartfelt story that I could not put down. The author takes her readers on a picturesque journey from Lancashire village of Lavender Green in 1916 to the docks of 1926 Liverpool.

The story centers around Elodie Kirrin a.k.a. Lady Elodie Caraway. Elodie is forced into an abusive marriage by the villainous Lord Silas Caraway after the mysterious death of her mother. With the help of lifelong love and friend show more Aiden Newman, Elodie finally makes her escape with her daughter. Aiden takes them to his aunt, Molly Haywood of Beamer Street in Liverpool, who takes them in as lodgers no questions asked. Here Elodie changes her name to Ellie Kirrin. She decides to follow in her mother’s footsteps, and use the training she learned from birth by setting up an apothecary to help heal those less fortunate. With Aiden’s help her dreams come true, or do they? Will Lord Caraway find Elodie (Ellie) and carry out his threats? Grab a copy of this intriguing story to find out.

Riley captured me from the prologue and kept me engaged to the end with her exquisite vibrant prose, vivid characters, and great imagery. Even though I have not read the first book in this series it did not matter as A Safe Haven on Beamer Street works as a standalone due to Sheila Riley’s fantastic storytelling.

Thank you Boldwood Books for the complimentary e-copy of this awesome book via NetGalley. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own. show less

"Using the only weapon in her armory, she attacked with her tongue as a form of defense."

1947 England. An agonizing story of a family and their neighbors in post war poverty, fighting to live in the ruins and through rationing. Evie is trying her best to better herself, earn a higher wage and bring her brother and sister home from Ireland where they had been evacuated to a relatives house. Her mother was pretty rough around the edges and took up with questionable men after her father had show more been killed in the War. There's an undercurrent of crime in the area loosely tied to the black market. Every one of the people in this community are tough, survivors. There are some interesting twists and mysteries, and you can't help but want the best for these people. Lots of depth and a storyline that keeps you involved to the last page, wondering about a sequel.

Quotes
"The war years had given them a determination to get on with life, tomorrow could take care of itself."

"Optimism. Anticipation. Love. And most of all that inner strength that made anything, and everything, seem possible."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” show less