I am delighted to share my review of Changing Times at Harpers by Rosie Clarke. This is a fabulous series and now that World War I is over and people are getting back to how things used to be.

My huge thanks to Rachel for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book via NetGalley.

London Spring 1920
Harpers is beginning to flourish once more after the end of the war but for Sally Harper the problems continue.
Husband Ben is moody, sometimes distant, and she feels he is shutting her out at home and at work, but why?
It takes a terrible tragedy to make them realise their love and respect is still true.
The ladies and girls who work at Harpers continue to battle with problems in their own lives.
Marion is still trying to reach her war-damaged husband and Lilly is battling with her pain and shame.
It’s a period of transition for all.
The doors of Harpers are busy welcoming new and returning staff whilst bidding a fond farewell to others.
This is the beginning of a new era and there is a fresh buzz of excitement in the air.

Purchase Link – HERE

MY REVIEW

With the Great War over things are starting to return to normal, well as normal as it can be. It is 1920 and Harpers is beginning to see stock and also customers. There are new lines available as shipping and transport routes are now open. For some, it is a chance to get back to the way things used to be, for others they like the new freedom that they had. Women are being forced back into their previous roles as wives and mothers rather than workers. Some prefer to be out working and earning a wage though. Luckily for those who work at Harpers, there are things in place to help with this.

The Women’s Movement is becoming a little more prominent and they are gaining a footing. Some of the men returning have got mental and physical wounds that need to heal, it is now that we start to realise the psychological impact war has, it has a name ‘shell shock’.

For those at Harpers, there are changes afoot, people have come and people have gone, some have moved on and some have married. This is what Harpers is all about, giving people a chance and helping them where possible. With each of the books, there are a few new characters to get to know, and this story has some very interesting ones and some fabulous storylines.

Sally and Ben are still trying to deal with the store and their family, they will also have some other shocking news to cope with and it is going to test them. As for the new characters, well I will let you meet them, they are different but hard working, for the most part. They each have their own past and it does shape who they are in the story.

With war and death there is grief and how it is dealt with can affect how you are seen. Obviously, there will be sadness, but also resentment. The latter shows its head in various ways and can have some consequences that I didn’t see coming.

Once again the author brings in some of the news of the day, and these help remind the reader of the time and era they are in. The fashions and how women were so daring to wear a hemline just under the knee made me chuckle. There is still however poverty that has always been an issue and it has not gone just because the war is over. People are still overcrowded and families do tend to live together.

This is a fabulous series and I have read these in order, well I started from book 3, but I have been addicted to them from there. I am aware of things from the first two books as the author does give a brief but handy recap of things.

The story is one that shows how people are coming to terms with life after the first war, The Great War. How attitudes are changing and that things are never going to be the same. A sense of family and friendship is strong in this series and it continues with this book. One for fans of sagas, historical fiction and romance and one I would definitely recommend. I adore coming back to this series and seeing what the author has lined up for the girls at Harpers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire.

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