The Silver Ladies of London

by Lesley Eames

1920's London. This is a heart-warming story of friendship, loyalty, courage and love. Perfect for the fans of Elaine Everest and Daisy Styles.

Dismissed without references when their employer's valuable necklace goes missing, friends Ruth, Lydia, Jenny and Grace try to rebuild their lives far from home in London.
A surprise financial inheritance and gift of a beautiful silver Rolls Royce leads them to set up in business as female chauffeurs and the Silver Ladies of London is born.
But driving is a man's world and the girls face a future fraught with constant challenges.
Soon their business; romances and even their friendship come under threat.
Can the Silver Ladies overcome their struggles and find love, success and happiness? Featuring four heroines, a scandal, a secret and a silver Rolls Royce.

Genres: Historical Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2018

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silver Ladies of London by Lesley Eames sweeps readers back in time to 1923. Ruth Turner is returning to her employer’s home of Arleigh Court after a surprising meeting. Unfortunately, the day quickly takes a downturn when Ruth along with her three friends are accused of stealing Mrs. Arleigh’s necklace and dismissed without references. Unable to find employment in their town because of the accusations of thievery, Ruth comes up with a plan. She inherited some funds along with a carriage house in London from her aunt. This will allow them to start over away from the stigma. In the carriage house they find a gorgeous and rare Silver Ghost Rolls Royce. They come up with the plan to open a car for hire service called the Silver Ladies. With their combined talents, anything is possible especially if they are willing to work hard to achieve their goal. The business soon takes off, their friendship is stronger than ever, and the girls have found romantic partners. But soon all they hold dear is threatened from a dangerous menace. How will they overcome this obstacle?

The Silver Ladies of London is well-written and engaging. I just love the four main characters of Ruth, Jenny, Lydia and Grace. I liked seeing the four ladies develop over the course of the book. The author took the time to flesh out each character and bring them to life. Each one of them has their own talents, weaknesses and secrets. I enjoyed the descriptions of London, the hairstyles and fashions, and the gorgeous Rolls Royce. There is plenty of action going on in the book that moves the book forward. There is a slow spell in the middle, but then the pace picks up once again. The Silver Ladies of London has a unique premise with four women starting up a car for hire service in the 1920s in London. They were brave to embark into business a male dominated world. I was happy to see all the storylines wrapped up at the end of the book and I appreciated the epilogue (it will have you smiling). I am giving The Silver Ladies of London 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The Silver Ladies of London is a charming, historical novel with a sweet, happy ending.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I absolutely LOVED this story - it was excellent, very well written and it has some brilliant characters!!

I loved the setting for the book and it was a delight for me to read. The writing style is excellent and you do feel as though you are living the story with Ruth, Lydia, Jenny and Grace! I love books of this period and historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and this one will be up there with my top reads of the year so far.

Five stars from me, very highly recommended and a MUST for any fans of historical fiction over the WWII period!

[Lynda Dunwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatly enjoyed reading this heart-warming saga set in the 1920s. Well rounded characters, young women making their way in a male dominated world but doing it in style. Each has their hang-ups and their doubts but together they make a success of a chauffeur business driving a beautiful Silver Rolls Royce. They drive, they organise, they promote their business, triumph over discrimination and meet worthy menfolk - bravo to the girls or should I say chauffeuses. Highly recommend this read for a cosy afternoon or delightful beach read.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very lovely story, well written and interesting.
I loved the story, the unusual profession of the heroines and the way they were written, so realistic and full of life.
A fun and enjoyable read.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Aria and Netgalley for this ARC

[ABCme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Aria for the ARC.

It's early 20th century when four young woman are being fired from their servant jobs in the English countryside for a crime they didn't commit. They decide to move to London and start up their own business. Quite a daring thing to do in a man's world. A string of exciting events follows, moving at a good pace, entertaining me all the way.
The characters are very well developed, a team of lovely ladies, each with her own quirks. Such a joy to see them grow and blossom, making their dream come true.
If you're looking for a delightful story with a happy ending, The Silver Ladies Of London is definitely the friend you should invite. A very pleasant read.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

1920s London a time of great change. Four friends in rural England, all under immense pressure of their own. All seeking a way out of their present circumstances. It came in a very strange way.

Accused of a theft of a valuable necklace, dismissed without references which in a small town was a death knell for any hopes of finding employment, the four girls face a very bleak future. An unexpected inheritance for one of the girls who is determined that all four should benefit, they take themselves off to London with high hopes of doing something with their lives.

A silver Rolls Royce is at the heart of their enterprise and despite it being completely out of the ordinary, they offer their services as lady chauffeurs to anyone wanting their services. Faced with opposition from all sides, obstacles being constantly thrown in their way the girls find not just professional satisfaction from jobs well done but personal happiness as well.

Light hearted but at the same time very descriptive of the attitudes of people in England towards working, independent women was a nice feature. It was not an easy ride at all. How families themselves could be the oppressors - you did not need the outside world at all to be a stumbling block for any step forward was very apparent in many lives.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly original. Here is a cast of characters any reader can identify with, and a story full of rich historical details. My one complaint is that I couldn't put it down, and now I'm sad that it's over. This needs to be a series - and a Netflix Original. It would be fantastic.
I would like to thank Ms. Eames for a book with sweet, clean romance, sappy, but not overly so - not to what I call "Hallmark-y". I loved the characters, I loved their individuality and Ms. Eames ability to write from each girl's perspective with a different voice. I just need to read more about them - even some novellas that include wedding and honeymoon adventures.... I'm just not ready to give them up!

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

the year 1923, Ruth,Lydia,jenny and Grace, female chauffeurs running the business The Silver Girls. its a hard struggle for all these ladies in a mans world, this book gripped me from chapter one, it takes us through love, fallouts,tragedy and happy times along the way. i loved every bit of this book

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 1920s tale of a group of ladies who are dismissed from work and try to put their lives back together again. They end up setting up a business where they drive a silver Rolls Royce they inherited. This is a very original idea for a group of friends who are trying to survive in male-dominated London where they moved to from a rural area of England. The Silver Ladies of London is a very fast-paced and engaging historical fiction novel and I'd recommend it. The characters are well fleshed-out too. The plot is packed with struggles, challenges and triumphs as the ladies go through life.

Thanks to Lesley Eames and Aria for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review and also a chance to take part in the blog tour for this title.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set between the World Wars, this book gives us glimpse into the changing times. Going from servants to entrepreneurs, our heroines are living life to the fullest at a time when there were not a lot of opportunities. I really enjoyed the story and the writing of this book. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

[Isobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved everything about this book, especially the characters. I enjoyed being swept along by their stories and couldn't wait to read what happened next. Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far and looking forward to reading other books by this author in the future.

[Alice Milan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

A great story with terrific characters. I have a soft spot for Hux and fell madly in love with Jonny. Loved it from start to finish.

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome fiction romance plus

I just finished reading this fabulous story. I loved the era it was set in and of course London even though I'm from the USA. The characters are unique as are their situations in the world of true love. The plot is solid, and the novel moves along in great fashion. The tie up of the characters near the end gave a sense of happiness and love unending. Extremely few errors noted and they don't take away from this 5 star book!!

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth, Lydia, Jenny, and Grace are a dynamic team of women who are ahead of their time. Set in the 1920s, this novel explores how these four picked themselves up from being fired from their jobs. Admittedly, the set up for this is a little unrealistic- an inherited silver Rolls Royce- but it's still cool. Becoming chauffeurs is not something many would have opted for as a rebound but it works for them. The women are well fleshed out and you'll probably find a favorite (not telling which was mine!). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good old fashioned story telling!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
An interesting about women who fight and succeed to do jobs that normally were considered only for men. An easy read with a romance and a good ending.

[Robbie White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very quickly became immersed in these characters and their plight in life. I loved how they each had completely different personalities but they also had their quirks and issues. I thought they meshed well together.
I found myself getting frustrated with the uppity "ladies" in the book and the men that gave them a hard time but then I remembered that was how the MAN's world was back then and women can be mean to each other even today.
This was a quick but enjoyable book for me and I would propose you read this book.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting to read this for quite some time; just needed a little gap in my tbr and I have to say it was well worth waiting for!

Ruth, Lydia, Jenny and Grace are four young women who have become friends through working and living together; but it comes as a shock when they are all dismissed, albeit unfairly, on the same day. With very little chance of finding further employment in the small town of Ruston, they decide to head off to London in the hope of improving their lot in life, with the help of an unexpected inheritance one of them is astonished to receive.

A beautifully written and warm-hearted novel, this is a really enjoyable saga encompassing not only the four girls but also their extended family and the acquaintances they make in the capital city. With several strong story lines, there is plenty happening to keep the reader glued to the page - I certainly was! Lots of details about the period make this quite mesmerising; not only what is going on in London at that time, but also about general life, the class system, fashion and so much more. Throw in a bit of mystery and it all adds up to a super 5* read - and one I'm very happy to recommend! I'm also putting Lesley Eames on my list of 'must-read' authors. 

I purchased this book for myself. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

[Catherine James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to find it very difficult to read fictional stories for a variety of reasons but I found this book very engaging and easy to read. I loved the historical aspect and a lot of research has clearly gone into creating an authentic portrayal of London in the 1920s. Highly recommended!

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silver ladies

Oh wow this book was amazing why have i left it so long before reading it i loved the exploits of the girls feisty Lydia ,soft hearted Grace, pretty Jenny, and lovable Ruth what an adventure 5 STARS .

[Joanne D'Arcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my eye, it looked like my sort of book -  historical saga. I know nothing of the author and so decided to take a risk, it was either going to work or not.

I am pleased to say it worked and it worked really well that I had to keep reading, way past my bedtime! (Thank goodness I was on holiday!)

1923 Northampton.

Four girls Ruth, Lydia, Jenny and Grace all work together in a big house in domestic roles.

That is until the day they are dismissed without references.

But that is the day that it all changes for them.

Ruth, has come into some money thanks to a kindly aunt and much to her parents chagrin and a codicil of the inheritance, she takes the money and runs..... to London.

And Lydia, Jenny and Grace all go with her.

What they find is a very different place from the one they left behind, but with determination and a silver Rolls Royce also left to Ruth they decide to make a life for themselves.

Lydia the feisty and outspoken of the four, is only happy when she is driving a car and fiddling under the bonnet. Her mother ran out on her more than fifteen years ago and her father is not interested, who would miss her?

Jenny has style and can make something out of nothing when she is faced with old clothes or material. Wanting to escape a rather odious step father who has other plans for her, Jenny thinks she is safer in London.

Grace is determined to make some money to make sure her grandmother is well looked after. The natural leader, organiser and administrator of the four she uses all these skills to set them up and makes sure she can leave the all behind when she has to return.

Four strong female characters, all with faults come together and focus on all their positive strengths to take one Silver Rolls Royce and provide a service for people in London in a time when women have only just recently obtained the vote and then not all of them and that the First World War has changed many perceptions.

This is a great discovery of a novel, really well written and it was great to watch the four girls discover London for the first time and witness the changes that were going on around them. Of course there is some romance on the horizon and it comes instantly and sometimes as a slow burning love but whatever gets in their way, may it be distance, violence, threats or even fire the Silver Ladies have a strength to carry on.

A very good historical saga which focuses on different aspects of the 1920s and is a novel that doesn't show women in a pure domestic light.

[Marea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in the 1920s in England. Grace, Jenny, Lydia and Ruth became friends when working together as maids at Arleigh’s Court. Just as Ruth is returning from meeting with a lawyer, all 4 of them are suddenly accused of stealing Mrs Arleigh’s necklace and promptly fired without references. With those accusations against them they know they will not be able to find work again in their small town. Ruth comes up with a quick solution, one that will help her and the others get away from it all. The meeting with the lawyer had informed her that she inherited money and a carriage house in London from her late aunt. With conditions, Ruth is not allowed to give a dime to her shrew of a mother, her father or her jerk brothers. What wasn’t mentioned in the late aunt’s will is that in the carriage house there is the dreamiest luxury car that is rare – a Silver Rolls Royce. A house, a car, and money allow 4 amazing ladies to start up their own company, women’s chauffeur company called the Silver Ladies. With Lydia already knowing how to drive and fix cars, Grace a perfect whiz at handling the office, Jenny sewing the uniforms and working along side Lydia, and then Ruth working a job to make sure they can pay the bills until the business takes off. Now the question is will there be enough for the ladies to overcome all the odds and become a success? Especially when a person from the past comes back to haunt Ruth and blackmail her?? What about romance, will any of the ladies be lucky in love?

We often read about books from the 40s and women overcoming odds, but not much about the 20s. This book was definitely different in a good way. Each lady was unique in her own way, some having to overcome more than others but it still showed life wasn’t easy for a lot of people back then. I loved how she finished off each character and made their endings happy. It is definitely a book to add to your library.

[Julie Lence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! In early 1920's England, four different women form a tight bond while working as maids for a snooty rich woman. Just as they're gaining independence, they're accused of stealing and fired from their positions. Three don't want to return to their childhood homes and the 4th worries how she's going to continue to provide for her ailing grandmother, but with rumors circulating as to why they were fired, finding new jobs proves difficult. Then Ruth suddenly inherits a substantial sum of money from her late aunt, providing she doesn't give one cent to her shrew of a mother. Eager to start over with Lydia, Grace and Jenny, the 4 set off for London to find Ruth's aunt has also left her a luxurious car and a garage/apartment to house the car and live. It makes perfect sense for the foursome to form a partnership as the first women in London to offer chauffeured rides for a fee, each bringing a skill to the business. Lydia drives and fixes cars. Grace is a whiz at accounting and managing an office. Jenny sews their uniforms and Ruth gets a job to keep the funds coming in until the business begins to earn them a profit, and to pay off a blackmailer.

I enjoyed watching the foursome start up their business and strive for success while trying to overcome rotten childhoods and clear their names of theft. Along the way, 4 men from various walks of life with their own unique personality enter their lives, each bringing something to the table to further the women's success while adding elements of romance and a test of true friendship when one of the girls finds herself in love with the other's beau. Grab a copy today and immerse yourself in a great tale.

[H.M. Holten · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sweet Diversion Set in the Early Nineteen-Twenties
Four young women, Ruth, Jenny, Lydia, and Grace work together in a household in a small town. Their employer is a wealthy woman with a temper to reckon with. As a necklace disappears – stolen – she accuses her employees of the theft and dismisses them without references.
The four women, disgraced, and therefore unemployable must think of other options for making a living. In this gloomy setting, there is one spark of light. Ruth has inherited some money together with a carriage house in London. It transpires that there is a bonus in the carriage house – a Silver Ghost Rolls Royce. The four friends have the talents necessary to start a business, a car hire service that they dub the Silver Ladies.
Ms Eames is a dab hand at narrating and bringing her characters to life. The women meet unexpected trials and tribulations, their secrets and weaknesses help to keep the interest of the reader. There is a cast of lovers, villains, families, and friends to match the four protagonists, brave souls, who confront a male-dominated world to find a place in life. All in all, this is a charming confection of escapist delights.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this book has been published the title seems to to have changed names from The Silver Ladies of London to The Runaway Women in London!

What a wonderful Debut book by Lesley Eames. These four ladies from Northamptonshire are wrongly of accused of theft by an overbearing snobbish employer. They are left without references, there is only one of the ladies that holds the answer and is threatened if she tells.
Ruth one of the maids is left an inheritance by an auntie. Each of these girls, Grace, Jenny, Lydia and Ruth all have family issues. and stories of their own. With the dismissal of their jobs they cannot get work locally so they go to London and so the story goes on to a happy ending.. To find out you must read it. It was a book that I could not put down and read it in a day. A definite recommended five star read.

[Janette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book set in 1920's London, it is a heart-warming story of friendship, loyalty, courage and love which I couldn't put down.

Well written with a great cast of characters, I loved the relationships between the four girls. It was lovely to read of such strong women in the male-dominated 1920s. The characters were all believable and engaging. A story of love, tragedy, new beginnings with ups and downs throughout.

I was surprised to find out this was a debut novel as it is so well written and compelling. I am really look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Christina J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre

This was a mediocre book, nothing real deep, no masterful plot. I found things a bit awkward with the friends secretly longing for each others' boyfriends and everyone being so enthusiastic about it. And they all fell in love with people they barely spoke to, and next thing you knew, they were getting married. You've got your token villain who gets his in the end. You knew he would. I mean, it's an okay read, but I did find it a bit redundant and predictable. My least favorite character was Lydia. She needed a huge attitude adjustment. She needed a good arse whippin'.

[chlorinda naish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cars!

Did not get into this book, found I could not pick up from where I left off ,as easy as other books. Had to go back a couple of pages to see if I could . I am sure others found it a good book but I thought it lost its way.Sorry.

[Rosie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This an excellent read by a superb author the story takes place in 1923 where four friends are forced to leave there homes and travel to London each girl have there own story to tell …………Lolly if you see this you must read it😊

[Gary David Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Enjoyed the story. Different and non predictable!. I have been blessed with good friends so this an e,tra but from me.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

Loved it! Couldn't put it down! Always a great read before bed or By time of day! Love this author