Boon's Bookcase

Rosie's Dilemma

by

Jennie Felton

When war is declared in September 1939, Rosie Mitchell reluctantly returns from London to the Somerset mining town of Hillsbridge to be with her widowed mother. She had fled to the city some years earlier to escape the heartache and shame of a disastrous end to her relationship with the man she has always loved, and still does. Now she will once more be brought face to face with him, and with her rival and childhood friend, Anne Hastings.

Back in her hometown, there is no avoiding the attentions of Julian Edgell, the charming doctor who had broken her heart. But another man too comes into her life. A man she finds very attractive, but who will disclose nothing about himself. Can she trust either of them? Or will her heart be broken all over again?

Rosie's dilemma unfolds against the backdrop of war with all its hardship, danger, heroism and sacrifice. as well as the anxiety for loved ones which no-one, be they ordinary working folk or local aristocracy, can escape.

REVIEW

Rosie and Freda have moved from the Somerset village of Hillsbridge to Bermondsey in South East London, but when war breaks out in 1939 Rosie's feels it's time to go home to be with her widowed mother Winnie, but she feels torn about returning as she left to get over a romance with aristocrat Julian Edgell, who was the boyfriend of her once best friend Anne Hastings. 

Frances Hastings (Anne's mother) owns the grand house in Hillsbridge and Winnie works for her and when war is declared Frances takes it upon herself to be the leader of the local WVS (Women's Voluntary Service) and is trying to enrol all the ladies of the village (including Winnie). She also takes on an evacuee called Billy, who she may live to regret taking under her wing!

Freda decides to leave London also and joins the Land Army and is lucky enough to be sent to a farm not far from Hillsbridge and as soon as she arrives, she knows that this was the right decision for her and the farmer isn't bad looking either!

When Rosie is at Waterloo train station waiting for her train back to Somerset, she is accosted by some boys and a dashing Army Officer Clarke intervenes and fends them off and ends up being on the same train and so keeps Rosie company until they get to their destination. 

After a while there is a dance that is organised by Frances Hastings in the village and Clarke decides it is time he met up with Rosie again as he had taken quite a shine to her, but were Rosie's feelings mutual?

Rosie decides she quite likes the dashing Irishman and she goes to the dance with him and so starts a romance between them, but Rosie can't seem to forget Julian, so will this come between her and Clarke?

Rosie throws herself into the war effort and becomes an ambulance driver and also learns nursing skills where these are put to good use on a "secret" mission to France when Clarke asks her to accompany him to try to bring a family back to England who were in extreme danger from the Germans, little did Rosie realise how close to home this mission would be.

This was such a great story and even though this is one of the longest books I think I have read, it captured me from beginning to end. It had a great mix of characters (some I didn't like at all!) and even Rosie had me shaking my head sometimes because I just wanted her to come to her senses sooner rather than later!

This is another great read by the author and I have read nearly all of her books. Thoroughly researched with great detail of the war effort and characters that you will love, hate and everything in between!

Can't wait for the next one...