The Patchwork Girls by Elaine Everest is out now, published by Pan Macmillan in paperback original, priced £7.99. The book is also available in ebook and audiobook format.
The paperback is available from all good book retailers including Waterstones, WH Smith, independent book stores and certain supermarkets.
To buy the ebook link: https://amzn.to/3AyCPCh
Book Blurb
1939 – After the sudden and tragic loss of her husband, Helen returns to her mother’s house in
Biggin Hill, Kent – the one place she vowed she’d never go back to. Alone and not knowing where to turn, she joins the local women’s sewing circle to find some companionship and comfort, despite being hopeless with a needle and thread. These resourceful women can not only ‘make- do and mend’ clothes, quilts and woolly hats, but the fast-formed friendship with Lizzie and Effie mends something deeper in Helen too.
When the reason for Helen’s husband’s death comes to light, her world is turned upside down
yet again. The investigating officer on the case, Richard, will leave no stone unturned – but it’s
not long before his interest in Helen goes beyond the professional. As she pieces together old
fabrics into a beautiful quilt, will Helen patch up the rifts in her own life?
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book. All opinions are my own and no content may be copied. However, authors and publishers may use elements of my reviews for quotes.
I am so pleased to be involved in the blogtour celebrating and promoting the launch of Elaine Everest’s latest novel: The Patchwork Girls.
Elaine Everest has seamlessly woven a WWII saga that is filled with the usual community spirit from the era, a murder mystery, a cosy romance all whilst blending fact with fiction. I was completely hooked by this story!
Helen is reeling from the sudden death of her husband which also resulted in the loss of her home and her job, she has no alternative but to return to the Kent countryside to live with her mother and step-father. Helen’s relationship with her mother has always been strained but since her mother re-married the relationship is very frosty. Helen coping with her grief is also feeling anxious being back with her mother and step-father and is keen to find herself a distraction so when she sees an advert for a sewing club she decides to join. Attending the sewing club and meeting Lizzie, a patchwork enthusiast, is the start of many life changing events for Helen.
However, Helen’s life is about to become even more complicated as her late husband’s death may have been from the result of foul play and Helen is now having to prove her innocence. Can Helen prove her innocence or will she always be looking over her shoulder? Will we find out the truth about the death of her husband?
I loved the sound of the sewing club bringing women together from all ages and backgrounds united in ‘making do and mend’, producing clothing for the men at war and building a lasting friendship during an awful time. Learning about the history of the patchwork quilts was fascinating and it has given me a thirst to learn more.
Another side to the story was about the survival of dogs during conflict and this too was a subject I hadn’t envisaged during the war and was quite fascinating. I do often find when an author brings animals into a storyline it brings out a softer side to the characters and this was lovely to witness.
I do love how novelists can bring history to life giving the reader an insight into another life and another time.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
About the Author
Elaine Everest is the author of bestselling novels The Woolworths Girls, The Butlins Girls, Christmas at Woolworths and The Teashop Girls. She was born and raised in North-West Kent, where many of her bestselling historical sagas are set. She grew up listening to tales of the war years in her hometown of Erith, which has inspired her own stories.
Elaine has been a freelance writer for 25 years and has written over 100 short stories and serials for the women’s magazine market. She is also the author of a number of popular non-fiction books for dog owners.
When she isn’t writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school in Hextable, Kent. She now lives in Swanley with her husband, Michael and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry.
Twitter: @ElaineEverest
Website: https://www.elaineeverest.com/
Author Bio – Chrissie, 2016 winner of the Romantic Novelist’s Elizabeth Goudge writing trophy, is a seasoned tea drinker and a tenacious trainer of her welsh terrier, Oscar. She has always loved match-making a book to a reader. Writing the kind of book she loves to read takes this a step further. She has written two contemporary sagas, A JARFUL of MOONDREAMS, a contemporary story about family relationships, secrets and how dreams can come true, and THE BARN OF BURIED DREAMS, a contemporary story about two sisters who are struggling after the death of their mother. ROSE’S CHOICE is her first historical saga and is set where Chrissie lives in Northumberland. When she is not writing or reading, you will find Chrissie walking Oscar on the beautiful Northumbrian coastline, travelling or spending time with her family and friends.
Author Bio – Jean Fullerton is the author of thirteen novels all set in East London where she was born. She also a retired district nurse and university lecturer. She won the Harry Bowling prise in 2006 and after initially signing for two East London historical series with Orion she moved to Corvus, part of Atlantic Publishing and is halfway through her WW2 East London series featuring the Brogan family.
Glynis Peters, lives in Dovercourt, Essex, England.
Jean Fullerton is the author of twelve novels all set in East London where she was born. She is also a retired district nurse and university lecturer. She won the Harry Bowling prise in 2006 and after initially signing for two East London historical series with Orion she moved to Corvus, part of Atlantic Publishing and is half way through her WW2 East London series featuring the Brogan family.
1st Prize – all 4 of Catherine Byrne’s previous books in paperback .
kraftireader 