Avon Wartime with the Cornish Girls Walker Betty

1941. The bombs still fall, but in St. Ives Christmas is finally approaching for the Cornish Girls… • With the war ongoing, Lily is feeling anything but festive. That is, until Eva asks if she’ll join her in working at an officers’ convalescent home, lifting her spirits no end • Eva came to St. Ives to be near the man who almost gave his life to protect hers. But will the wounded pilot ever helpto heal himself by opening his heart to love? • Rose suspects the local orphanage is mistreating its charges – and it’s her job to uncover the truth before it’s too late… • Can the Cornish Girls help one another through the darkest days in order to give everyone in St. Ives the sparkling Christmas they so deserve? • The second in the uplifting wartime Cornish Girls series, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas

April 1942. Enemy gunfire on Penzance beach brings the Cornish Girls rushing to the rescue… • Yearning for adventure, Demelza dreams of one day joining the fire wardens. But before she can do so, gunfire during a trip to the beach provides her with an unexpected opportunity to get stuck in • On hand to help the wounded beachgoers, Lily draws admiration with her nursing skills and is offered an exciting new position in the hospital in Penzance • And swayed by her niece, Lily’s Aunt Violet agrees to take in three evacuees rescued on the beach, though they turn out to be more of a handful than she bargained for • But even as the war rages around them, the biggest challenge facing each woman turns out to be one of the heart. Can the Cornish Girls help one another to open themselves up to love…?

One summer can change everything . . . Recommended for readers who loved Summer at Shell Cottage, The Cornish House, Tremarnock and Poldark. "Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read." Katie Fforde "Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!" Jill Mansell Demi doesn't expect her summer in Cornwall to hold anything out of the ordinary. As a waitress, working all hours to make ends meet, washing dishes and serving ice creams seems to be as exciting as the holiday season is about to get. That's until she meets Cal Penwith. An outsider, like herself, Cal is persuaded to let Demi help him renovate his holiday resort, Kilhallon Park. Set above an idyllic Cornish cove, the once popular destination for tourists has now gone to rack and ruin

Christmas with the Teashop Girls is a heartwarming and moving story of wartime love, bravery and hope, by the bestselling author of the Woolworths series, Elaine Everest • It is late 1940 and the war feels closer to home than ever for Rose Neville and her staff at the Lyon's Teashop in Margate. The worry of rationing hangs overhead as the Nippies do their best to provide a happy smile and a hot cup of tea for their customers. When a heavy bombing raid targets the Kent coastline, Lyon's is badly hit, throwing the future of the cafe into jeopardy • The light in Rose's life is her dashing fiance Capt. Ben Hargreaves and planning their Christmas Eve wedding. But she must also plan to take two new step-daughters into her life and get on the right side of her wealthy mother-in-law, Lady Diana

In times of trouble, can wishes come true? • A factory floor might not be their first choice of a place to spend Christmas but pulling together and making do is exactly where the Bomb Girls shine • Gladys, back from singing for the troops in Europe, quietly takes her place on the cordite line. Her old friends are determined to bring back her spark while they work hard to help their country • But what dark secret lies in Gladys's heart? • Will the girls see out another year in a country at war? • And, if everyone does their bit, despite the worry, pain and toil, will the Bomb Girls be able to enjoy a wonderful Christmas for all?

Sunderland, 1942: Christmas is fast approaching, and with it comes a flurry of snow and surprises • Against all odds, Polly's fiance has finally returned home from the front line. If they can keep things on an even keel, she might get the winter wedding she's always dreamed of • Meanwhile shipyard manager Helen is determined to move on after a turbulent year. Her sights are set on breaking the yard's production record and no one, not even the handsome Dr Parker, is going to get in her way • And head welder Rosie's little sister Charlotte has turned up unannounced. Why is she back and so set on staying? • Join the shipyard girls as they navigate through life, love and war this Christmas

Yorkshire 1944: All they want this year is a truly happy Christmas • The end of the war feels tantalisingly close, but Air Transport Auxiliary girls Bobbie, Viv and Mary have plenty more flights in their beloved Spitfires yet - battling everything from snow to enemy fire on their journeys • Risking their lives doing their bit for their country, this Christmas they're determined to have some festive fun. But as they set about bringing good tidings for all, a stern and mysterious new flyer in the form of Peggy arrives. What secret is Peggy hiding? • Mary has a wedding to plan before her fiance is sent away, then makes a devastating discovery so shameful she can't tell the other girls. Bobbie's beau issues an ultimatum, and Viv is wondering whether she wants a man at all

Manchester, 1941 • Christmas is the season for family and friends, and this year the railway girls will need each other more than ever • Cordelia appears to have the perfect life. When her daughter Emily arrives home unexpectedly, she can't wait to introduce her to her friends. But when things don't go to plan, Cordelia must decide where her loyalty lies • Things aren't going too smoothly for Alison either. Her beloved boyfriend has yet to propose, but there's a charity fundraiser dance and she's dressed up specially. Surely, tonight must be the night • Colette's friends are envious of her devoted husband; he meets her after every shift on the railway, and accompanies her around town. But Colette has a secret, one that will change her life - if only she knew who to confide in

War brings changes three friends could never foresee… • 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

April 1941 • Almost losing her life in a bomb blast while serving in the Women's Volunteer Service has made Ann Gilby take stock of what's really important - her family • With daughter Sheila back home, and Joy still working munitions at the Cadbury factory and engaged to her soldier sweetheart, home life feels more settled too. Ann has even come to an uneasy truce with her husband, Len, despite her recent discovery of his infidelity and the fact that he has fathered a child with another woman • But what Ann has not reckoned with is Marianne, Len’s other woman, turning up on her doorstep - a woman with a mysterious past • Only Ann has secrets of her own and one day soon she knows she will have to tell her youngest child, Martin, who his father really is

In the midst of war, can they find a reason to celebrate? • 1915. Patrolling is the last thing on the minds of Women's Police Service recruits Annie, Maggie and Poppy right now, because Annie and her fiance Richard are about to get married. She's been waiting for this day her whole life, but when it finally comes it brings only heartache and Annie doesn't know if she can go on • The influx of soldiers to the capital means that the WPS's work is more important than ever, though, and Annie's country needs her. She and the girls are posted to the bustling heart of the city and she hopes the new job will distract her from her sorrow • It certainly does that. Soon the biggest bombing raid of the war causes chaos on their patch. On top of that, Annie suspects that a group of men are forcing European refugees into prostitution and resolves to stop them by Christmas