Love Books, Read Books
A Readers Musings and Reviews
Blackpool Lass by Maggie Mason #BlogTour @Authormary #Giveaway #BookReview
Paperback – 20 Sep 2018
Book Blurb
The perfect read for fans of Mary Wood, Kitty Neale, Val Wood and Nadine Dorries
Orphaned and destitute, will Grace find her own way in the world?
When Grace’s Ma passes away and her Da’s ship sinks with all hands, Grace is utterly alone in the world. She’s sent to an orphanage, but the master has an eye for a pretty young lass. Grace won’t be his victim, so she runs, destitute, into the night.
In Blackpool, she finds a home with the kindly Sheila and Peggy – and meets a lovely airman. But it’s 1938, and war is on the horizon. Will Grace ever find the happiness and home she deserves?
My thoughts
This is a wonderful story of a teenage girl who suffers many trials and tribulations in her young life some of which no-one, let alone a thirteen year old, should suffer. After loosing all her family in a short period of time Grace is sent to an orphanage. Maggie Mason pulls no punches in describing what happens to Grace and the other’s that spent time in the orphanage. Grace will not have any of it and soon runs away back to her hometown of Blackpool.
Connecting with friends who take her in we read of how her life goes. This book covers the period 1924 to 1945 with the main story taking place between 1932 and 1941. Life is harsh and you have to work hard to even scrape a living so friends and family are important and these relationships are lovingly brought to life by Maggie Mason.
The author not only tells a terrific story but her characters are great and she brings them to life wonderfully. Gracie is the main character tough and determined as she needs to be to get through what life throws at her. There are many other characters in the story one or two not so nice but by and large the folk that Gracie encounters are warm, generous with what they have, kind-hearted and very supportive. The sense of family – in all it’s sense – and place is really well done in this book.
Not everything goes the way Gracie would want and life in these times gives her, and the women of that era, difficult and unpleasant things to deal with. Still it was life back then and it is right to include it and the author does so subtly and honestly without needing to be graphic weaving these parts of life into the story really well.
We are between the World Wars and life is beginning to change although attitudes and society are slow to keep up men still expect to be the head of the household but women are starting to see this shouldn’t be the way. It might take some time but the book reflects well on the desire and how women strive for a life in which they are treated in a fairer way.
I’d like to take a moment to say how well the sense of place is told in the book. Knowing Fleetwood and, to some degree, Blackpool it was lovely to recognise some of the places and things written about. Conjuring up memories of childhood, albeit in the 1960s and 1970s, of playing on the Mount, taking a ride on the tram, the fun of the seaside and, of course, the illuminations.
Gracie is a terrific character and supported in the story with her Granny, Peggy, Sheila, Aunty Maggie and many more this makes for a wonderful, heartwarming but realistically told story. This is one for those who enjoy something a little more substantial and will certainly appeal to readers who enjoy a story with a strong sense of setting, period and society. The Blackpool Lass is one such book and easy to recommend.
Blog Tour and competition!
With thanks to Mary Wood for the invitation to be part of this blog tour, for which I was delighted to say ‘yes’, and to Sphere for a paperback copy of Blackpool Lass.
“Just to let you know that I am putting on a competition……., I will make up a random question to answer, or just ask for a comment. The prize will be a signed book.” Maggie Mason. Well now isn’t that fantastic? Follow her Facebook Page to get all the details. *Good luck folks!
So do check out the rest of this wonderful tour….
*Please note I am not responsible for this giveaway, this giveaway is the responsibility of the author.*
Information
Publisher: Sphere (20 Sept. 2018)
Paperback: 432 pages Language: English
ISBN-10: 0751573159
ISBN-13: 978-0751573152
Buy: Amazon
Author
Maggie Mason is a pseudonym of author Mary Wood.
Love Books, Read Books 
Thank you everyone. You are all in the draw. Love you all xxx
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another phenominal read….cant say it but hope I’ve spelt it right..(phenomenal that is !..) x x x x x x x
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Glad you enjoyed the book
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Autumn is here but, I don’t need an excuse to curl up with your books xx
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Enjoy it, Sheila.
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A great review for a really great book.
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Thank you, Janice. Glad you enjoyed the book and my post.
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A great review cannot wait for Mary’s next book out
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Thank you, Chrissy for your kind words.
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Mary Wood/Maggie Mason is a wonderful author and a lovely person as well, all her previous books have been amazing and I am so excited to read this one x
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Enjoy!
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Yet again another great review. wow the new book ‘Blackpool evacuee’ looks like being another great read. Mary, you are really spoiling us Thank you xxx
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Thanks for your kind words, Helen.
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Yet another perfect review and so well deserved x
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Glad you enjoyed reading it, Sharon.
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Another brilliant review Mary xx
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Thanks for your kind words, Margaret.
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Loved Blackpool Lass cant wait for maggies next book in Dec. Favourite Author. Mary Wood
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Glad you enjoyed it, Gill.
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Amazing where you find the words to write such good books
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Glad you enjoyed it, Antoinette.
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a fantastic review for Maggie Mason blackpool and blog thank you I loved this book Maggie Mary is going far look forward to evacuee
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Thanks, Beverley. Glad you enjoyed – the book and my blog.
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Love your books Mary you never lonely with a book to read. Thank you from bottom of my heart for keeping me company. Xx
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Glad you enjoyed. You’re right – never lonely with a book to read.
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Great review! X
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Thanks, Judith. Glad you liked it.
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Great Blog on Mary’s fab book
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Thank you, Lady-Anna. Glad you liked it.
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Thank you Anna, much love
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Thank you so much, Janet, this is such a lovely, informative blog with a review at the heart of it that thrilled me. So happy you enjoyed the book and thank you for hosting me. Much love, Mary x
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