A Ration Book Victory: Perfect for fans of Ellie Dean and Rosie Goodwin (Ration Book series 8)

Once again we're back amongst the Brogan family. I must confess I found it hard in the beginning to remember the previous books stories, perhaps this forgetfulness is down to my 70 years! Once it all came flooding back to me I could enjoy the journey with the family. Poor Queenie still so in love with Father Mahon, we learn her story of long ago in Ireland. As well as the rest of the families stories, this book proves to be a great read as are the rest of the series. Top marks to Jean Fullerton.

So is this the end of the Ration Book series? I rather think it is and although I’m sad to see it go I think it’s probably time. Everyone’s story has come to a satisfactory end. Going back to the 1890’s to tell us the start of Queenie’s (Philomena) and Father Patrick’s story in the 1890’s is pure genius.

I loved this book really captured by all the characters.I have read all of the series thoroughly enjoyed them quite sad that this is the last book shall.miss the Brogans especially Queenie.

This book very cleverly brought the back story of Queenie and Father Mahon together and finally released the family to move on… A great story line Jean Fullerton, I was totally engrossed from my first book ‘ A Ration book Christmas. I then had to go back and read the first in the series, but that was not necessary to the plot. Xx

Really enjoying this series of books

A lovely series if books set in world war 2. A very good read.

A Ration Book Victory is the eighth and concluding instalment of Jean Fullerton’s WWII East End saga and catches up with the big-hearted Brogan family in the final months of the war. Previous books have focused on specific family members and this book elaborates on indomitable matriarch Philomena Dooley, known to all in the East End as Queenie, and traces her story right back to childhood in the Irish village of Kinsale. As grandmother to Jeremiah and daughter-in-law Ida’s seven children and great-grandmother to eight and still rising, Queenie has plenty of demands on her time. Nevertheless she is a faithful devotee to the local parish of St Breda and St Brendan’s and in particular long-serving priest, Father Patrick Mahon, but it is only when he collapses and the full extent of his declining health comes to light that the Brogan’s start to notice the impact it has on her. Throughout the series Queenie has always played her cards close to her chest and although she has always hinted that her and Father Mahon knew each other as children in Ireland, she has several undisclosed secrets that threaten to unsettle those closest to her.The novel employs a dual timeline and moves between the village of Kinsale, County Cork in 1877 when Philomena was five years old through to 1890 and her arrival as wife to Fergus and mother to Jeremiah in the East End that she has long called home. As the action moves back and forth between Queenie’s early years in Kinsale to present day London (opening in 1945) the story that unfolds isn’t particularly surprising given several heavy-handed hints but it is sensitively done. Alongside the overarching story focusing on Queenie and Father Mahon, the entire Brogan clan are planning for the future and thinking about life after the war. Jeremiah’s expanding removal and delivery business is threatening to outgrow its premises, Billy’s real mother wants to play a part in his life and with Mattie, Cathy, Jo and Charlie all married, the soon to be reunited family seems to be growing by the day. Although I found the opening of the novel involving and pretty action-packed as Fullerton updates readers on the lives of all of the family members, I was disappointed that by halfway through the book seemed to be marking time in preparation to draw to a close. Apart from tying up some obvious loose ends I found the content of the second-half prosaic, even for a WWII saga novel, and the pace sluggish.Despite only having read two previous instalments of this series I had no problem keeping track of the plentiful cast of characters or picking up the stories that I had missed, but this concluding instalment will mean most to diehard fans of the series and is very much about brighter days ahead after the VE Day celebrations.

A bangin read, grab the hankies,The Brogan Family in the final days of WW2 February 1945 Book six sadly the end of this wonderful series what a journey it's been.Mafeking Terrace, London. Queenie Philomena Brogan loves her brood that are all still growing giving her sweet balm of old age. The war with Hitler and Germany is ending,she has lived here with her son Jeremiah and Ida for thirteen years sailing over from Kinsale Ireland as a widow.This book is a cracking ending and Queenie Philomena Dooley takes us back to 1880 as a fifteen years old as we learn the true story and its not one to be missed.I do phrase the author for all her hard work for creation this wonderful series that we grow to love the Brogan family as our friends and neighbours. It brought so much comfort to me reading all the characters own stories and the changes that will happen in the coming months for them.this book made me laugh and cry, an incredible heart-warming read right through to the end. And its a final goodbye to the series but the books will live on and give enjoyment to read again and again. I will miss the Brogan's and look forward to hopefully a new series to come from this author. Loved it all.