Kerri Turner
Reviewed by Helen
This was a compelling and poignant read that had me turning the pages, it starts off with part one during World War 2 England and then part two England 1963, such a moving story about people and what they do during and after the war, how their lives change and looks into their feelings, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it is emotional so some tissues will be needed.
Evelyn Bell is living with her married sister during the war and volunteers to do her bit against her sisters wishes she ends up working for the volunteer woman’s searchlight regiment and loves what she does, but as the war ends and Evelyn is back home with her sister she feels like she needs to be doing something. When at a festival she discovers a group of entertainers, who live and perform from a ship The Victory there are many acts onboard and Evelyn finds herself a job and feels needed again.
The years pass and Evie as she is known now travels around Europe with the show and becomes part of the family, most of them have secrets and emotions that have come through life and the war. Evie and another worker Flynn get very close but Flynn suffers from his part in the war and their time together is not easy. Tragedy changes everything and people move on as best they can.
In 1963 a young girl Lucy is rescued by a total stranger who knows her parents and taken to the Isle of Wight, here she finds love and friendship from past performers on The Victory and finally answers to questions never before answered about her mother Evelyn Bell.
This story is beautifully written, taking in the emotions of people, the struggles they have and finally finding that happiness, yes I cried and I cheered the characters on in this story I felt for them so much, in the years they performed and worked lights to make people happy they suffered in so many different ways. This is a moving and emotional story that MS Turner has bought to life on the pages, the descriptions made me feel like I was watching the shows, a fabulous story that I highly recommend.
5 stars
Expected publication:
January 20th 2020
by HQ Fiction
