Title: Christmas at
Woolworths
Author: Elaine Everest
Genre: Historical Saga
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback
Release Date: 2nd
November 2017
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07258TTJR
The blurb:
Even though there was a war on, the Woolworths
girls brought Christmas cheer to their customers
Best friends Sarah, Maisie and Freda are brought together by their jobs at Woolworths. With their loved ones away on the front line, their bonds of friendship strengthen each day. Betty Billington is the manager at Woolworths, and a rock for the girls, having given up on love . . . Until a mysterious stranger turns up one day – could he reignite a spark in Betty?
As the year draws to a close, and Christmas approaches, the girls must rely on each other to navigate the dark days that lie ahead . . .
With so much change, can their friendship survive the war?
Best friends Sarah, Maisie and Freda are brought together by their jobs at Woolworths. With their loved ones away on the front line, their bonds of friendship strengthen each day. Betty Billington is the manager at Woolworths, and a rock for the girls, having given up on love . . . Until a mysterious stranger turns up one day – could he reignite a spark in Betty?
As the year draws to a close, and Christmas approaches, the girls must rely on each other to navigate the dark days that lie ahead . . .
With so much change, can their friendship survive the war?
Guest Post - Five Things about Sarah, Maisie and Freda
Sarah Gilbert
Sarah is the wife of Alan. They met and fell in love at
Woolworths.
1.
Sarah is a romantic and wants nothing more than to live a happy
life with her husband and to have a large family. The war is hindering her
chances of that happening.
2.
Sarah is embarrassed by her mother, Irene, who tries to hide
that she is working class and these days prefers to mix with people who will
advance her husband’s career.
3.
A doting mother to young Georgina she will never forget her
daughter’s arrival in the world during an air raid.
4.
Sarah has no idea how good she is at her job as a supervisor at
Woolworths and is very much Betty’s right hand girl.
5.
Sarah considers herself to be nothing more than a wife and
mother but when the chips are down and people need saving she is the girl you
want by your side.
Freda Smith
Freda came to Erith from her home in the Midlands and stayed.
1.
Small for her age what Freda lacks in stature she makes up for
in steely determination.
2.
Freda would like to be more like her mates Sarah and Maisie and
find romance. So far she has been unlucky in love. What is around the corner
for our young friend?
3.
Sarah’s husband, Alan, treats Freda like the young sister he
never had. When she decides she would like him to teach her how to ride his
faithful motorbike, Bessie, he fears the worse.
4.
Freda looks up to her two friends but feels she is not quite
like the two older women. However, Maisie and Sarah re in awe of Freda who can
not only hold down a job at Woolworths but help run the Brownie and Girl Guide
pack as well as volunteer for war work. There’s no stopping the dynamic
youngster.
5.
Freda lodges at Ruby Caselton’s house where she is treated like
one of the family. Ruby, who is Sarah’s grandmother, would go to the ends of
the earth for her favourite lodger.
Maisie Carlisle
Maisie joined Woolworths at the same time as Sarah and Freda.
1.
Maisie’s past is much of a mystery to all her friends. She has
secrets yet to share.
2.
Maisie can turn an old bundle of rags into a wearable outfit.
She’s the woman to go to as the war progresses and they all need to make do and
mend.
3.
If something is needed then Maisie knows a man who can get hold
of it for you. With her first husband, Joe, working on the docks she still has
contacts.
4.
Maisie may have married into a posh family when she met David
Carlisle it hasn’t changed a hair on her blonde head.
5.
Maisie loves to sing and can break hearts with a sad song or
have a party up and dancing with a rousing song. She’s the perfect friend.
Author Information
Elaine Everest, author of
Bestselling novel The Woolworths Girls and The Butlins Girls was
born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her books are set. She
has been a freelance writer for twenty years and has written widely for women's
magazines and national newspapers, with both short stories and features. Her
non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to broadcasting
on radio about our four legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many
topics on radio from canine subjects to living with a husband under her feet
when redundancy looms.
When she isn't writing,
Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school at The Howard Venue in
Hextable, Kent and has a long list of published students.
Elaine lives with her
husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent
and is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Crime Writers
Association, The Society of Women Writers & Journalists and The Society of
Authors as well as Slimming World where she can been sitting in the naughty
corner.
