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Sandgronians Trilogy #2
Blackpool Sisters
'In the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson'
Jean Fullerton on Blackpool Lass
The second book in the Sandgronians trilogy
1902
Babs and Beth are identical in looks, but very different by nature. Kidnapped by gypsies a decade ago as young girls, Beth has accepted their plight, but Babs has always yearned for their real mother, Tilly, and their beloved hometown of Blackpool.
Convinced the best thing for them is to be reunited with Tilly, Babs tries to persuade Beth to escape. But Beth is too afraid, and Babs knows if she wants to find their mother, she'll have to do it alone.
1914
Babs' life has been blighted by misfortune since the night she walked away from her sister, but at last she found peace and purpose as a nurse. She's never given up hope of finding her family, but now the war is sending her to France, away from them. Or so she believes.
As the Great War rips families apart, is it possible that Babs and Beth will be reunited with each other, and their mother, at last?
The perfect read for fans of Mary Wood, Kitty Neale, Val Wood and Nadine Dorries
Jean Fullerton on Blackpool Lass
The second book in the Sandgronians trilogy
1902
Babs and Beth are identical in looks, but very different by nature. Kidnapped by gypsies a decade ago as young girls, Beth has accepted their plight, but Babs has always yearned for their real mother, Tilly, and their beloved hometown of Blackpool.
Convinced the best thing for them is to be reunited with Tilly, Babs tries to persuade Beth to escape. But Beth is too afraid, and Babs knows if she wants to find their mother, she'll have to do it alone.
1914
Babs' life has been blighted by misfortune since the night she walked away from her sister, but at last she found peace and purpose as a nurse. She's never given up hope of finding her family, but now the war is sending her to France, away from them. Or so she believes.
As the Great War rips families apart, is it possible that Babs and Beth will be reunited with each other, and their mother, at last?
The perfect read for fans of Mary Wood, Kitty Neale, Val Wood and Nadine Dorries
- GenresHistorical Fiction
432 pages, Paperback
Published August 18, 2020
55 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 16, 2023
Another great read.. heartbreaking plot in places .. it’s about one family, their friends and all the ties that bind them!
One thing that’s really annoying me is that
I just can’t work out which character is going to die next.. teeth grinding stuff 😖 grr…
it’s always a favourite though 😥
One thing that’s really annoying me is that
I just can’t work out which character is going to die next.. teeth grinding stuff 😖 grr…
it’s always a favourite though 😥
December 27, 2019
The year is 1902. Identical twins Beth and Babs are put into the care of gypsies Roman and Jasmine and they both miss their ma Tilly. It's a long way back to Blackpool for the girls and unknown to them their ma was now in Ireland. Babs eventually takes off on her own to find her ma and suffers harrowing consequences throughout the story. Will the three ever be reunited? This book takes us right through to 1916. It's a long journey. The second book from the sandgronian trilogy that I found breathtakingly good. Do have tissues at the ready. Its a harrowing story. I loved it all and look forward to the next instalment coming next year.
March 21, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, it had been a while since I had read the first book in this series but I soon picked up Tilly's story and brought back to mind all that had previously happened to her.
This story is shared between Tilly, her family and friends in Blackpool and her twin daughter's Babs and Beth who were stolen by gypsies many years before. The book covers around fourteen years of their lives which of course is filled with heartache but there are good times along the way. Now I'm looking forward to reading the last book of this series and seeing if everyone settles, but there's sure to be a few more bumps in the road.
This story is shared between Tilly, her family and friends in Blackpool and her twin daughter's Babs and Beth who were stolen by gypsies many years before. The book covers around fourteen years of their lives which of course is filled with heartache but there are good times along the way. Now I'm looking forward to reading the last book of this series and seeing if everyone settles, but there's sure to be a few more bumps in the road.
October 7, 2020
Starting a new Maggie Mason book is always a cause for excitement for me. In Blackpool Sisters I was keen to find out what happened to Tilly and her daughters, Babs and Beth, after the end of the first in the trilogy, Blackpool's Angel. Each book can be read as a standalone but it's always best to start at the beginning, I think, and acquaint yourself fully with what's gone before. I couldn't remember everything from Blackpool's Angel but Mason is really skilled at giving enough away to serve as a reminder or background for those new to the books.
Tilly has been longing to be reunited with her twins who were taken from her by gypsies. Although she's carried on with her life, not knowing where they were has broken her heart. As Blackpool Sisters begins in 1902 the girls are now 13 and whilst Beth is relatively content with her life, Babs is desperate to get back to Tilly and their home town of Blackpool.
The book is split into two parts. The first section tells us what happened when Babs tried to return to Blackpool and also allows us to follow Tilly in her day to day life. Then in 1914 war has broken out and the girls become nurses in France. I thought having these two distinct sections worked really well as we didn't need to know what happened in the intervening years, only the major events in each time and the First World War was such a pivotal time in history.
As I've come to expect, Mason doesn't hold back on putting her characters through the mill. This might be a saga but it sure isn't a cosy story. Nobody escapes unscathed but I always love the way that this author has everybody pulling together with a real sense of community and friendship.
I absolutely raced through this book. Despite the fact that there is some hard-hitting stuff going on, I find Maggie Mason's books so easy to read, so engrossing and so full of heart and spirit. I'm really looking forward now to the final part of the trilogy, A Blackpool Christmas, and seeing what happens to these feisty women next. I loved Blackpool Sisters!
Tilly has been longing to be reunited with her twins who were taken from her by gypsies. Although she's carried on with her life, not knowing where they were has broken her heart. As Blackpool Sisters begins in 1902 the girls are now 13 and whilst Beth is relatively content with her life, Babs is desperate to get back to Tilly and their home town of Blackpool.
The book is split into two parts. The first section tells us what happened when Babs tried to return to Blackpool and also allows us to follow Tilly in her day to day life. Then in 1914 war has broken out and the girls become nurses in France. I thought having these two distinct sections worked really well as we didn't need to know what happened in the intervening years, only the major events in each time and the First World War was such a pivotal time in history.
As I've come to expect, Mason doesn't hold back on putting her characters through the mill. This might be a saga but it sure isn't a cosy story. Nobody escapes unscathed but I always love the way that this author has everybody pulling together with a real sense of community and friendship.
I absolutely raced through this book. Despite the fact that there is some hard-hitting stuff going on, I find Maggie Mason's books so easy to read, so engrossing and so full of heart and spirit. I'm really looking forward now to the final part of the trilogy, A Blackpool Christmas, and seeing what happens to these feisty women next. I loved Blackpool Sisters!
August 31, 2020
Well after being blown away with reading Blackpool's Angel I had to go straight onto reading the sequel Blackpool Sisters. This starts in 1902 and Tilly's two daughters Babs and Beth are now thirteen years old and are missing their mother. No spoilers here, but plenty of emotions and great storylines that really pull you in. This one also spans the first world war and how they all do their part in the conflict. Lots of involvement with Babs and Beth as they both go onto doing their bit in the war effort and wonder more and more each day about Tilly their real mother. All three main characters are all very strong characters who know what they want in life and will fight to get what they want. This is another cracker of a book by Maggie Mason that pulls you in from the first pages and holds you there till the last. A well deserved 5☆ read, absolutely loved it.
December 30, 2023
I found this book at a community library. I was torn on this rating.. Although I wasn't fond of the writing, felt like some characters were cliches/stereotypes and didn't feel like the characters had much depth; I still enjoyed this book, every chapter had its own drama and it wasn't boring! The sheer amount of drama just didn't give the characters themselves time to develop. I didn't realise it was a series until near the end, and would probably still search out and read the other two in the series. A trashy magazine of a book, which is it's appeal :)
November 21, 2023
I did enjoy the story despite it feeling a little rushed in parts. Especially since so many characters were killed off. I did enjoy that Beth and Babs had such polar opposites personalities yet were so alike in many ways.
Unfortunately I found typing errors in chapters 12 and 19 where Babs is accidentally named Tilly for instance in the prison when Mavis remarks how big babs belly was getting. It says how big Tilly was.
Unfortunately I found typing errors in chapters 12 and 19 where Babs is accidentally named Tilly for instance in the prison when Mavis remarks how big babs belly was getting. It says how big Tilly was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2021
A little gem.
I loved how we went from character to character in the different chapters. The story is far from predictable, lots of twists and turns to keep you glued to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you Maggie for an excellent story.
I loved how we went from character to character in the different chapters. The story is far from predictable, lots of twists and turns to keep you glued to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you Maggie for an excellent story.
April 29, 2020
I throughly enjoyed the book, was not quite sure how it would be, but it was good so good. It kept my interest from beginning to end. And I also did some weeping, which I always know is a good sign that the book has been good. Seriously looking forward to the final book of the trilology, I am confident that it will not disappoint.
January 21, 2021
What an amazing book! Totally gripped. Couldn’t wait to read more. Looking forward to reading the other two books in the Sandgronian trilogy.
March 29, 2021
really enjoyed the story how when the twins came back together with there mother they ended up taking the same route of work
October 4, 2021
A Brilliant kindle book
July 14, 2022
Good story. Like all this author's books
Read
January 22, 2023Looking for a new author and took a punt on this book to start with. Now I have finished it I want to read the rest of the series.
August 20, 2023
It was another brilliant read
March 19, 2024
Blackpool Sisters
Excellent read , just couldn’t put this down . I,m now looking forward to the last one in this trilogy . Would highly recommend
Excellent read , just couldn’t put this down . I,m now looking forward to the last one in this trilogy . Would highly recommend
August 24, 2024
Bit of a long winded book for me, for some reason. It was interesting, but always seemed to miss something. Quite an unexpected ending...
September 5, 2023
A brilliant story,I couldn't put it down once I started it.
March 5, 2020
Another great book from Maggie Mason following on from Blackpool Angel. Cannot wait for the third.
December 20, 2019
Beth and babs
Tilly is still missing her daughter's but has Ivan and Eliza but for Beth and Babs there world is falling apart. But can they be reunited with there ma .this is a fantastic book it has adventure sadness and happiness a really fantastic read 5 STARS.
Tilly is still missing her daughter's but has Ivan and Eliza but for Beth and Babs there world is falling apart. But can they be reunited with there ma .this is a fantastic book it has adventure sadness and happiness a really fantastic read 5 STARS.
June 26, 2023
Great book.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews