The East End Girl in Blue

The Girls in Blue #2

by Fenella J. Miller

As the war rages on around her, one girl in blue's life is about to change forever... Even in wartime, East End girl Nancy Evans has reason to hope. She's a rising star in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and she'll be walking down the aisle any day now... but then a brutal night of bombing changes her life forever.Newly pregnant and single, Nancy swaps her blue uniform for a pinny, taking on housekeeping duties for handsome village doctor, David Denny. And though Nancy tries to stay cheerful and contribute to the war effort in any way she can, it isn't long before she finds herself leaning on David for comfort...The countryside is a world away from the home she grew up in, and Nancy soon learns not everyone approves of her Poplar roots – or her romantic entanglement with David. But David doesn't care about where she comes from... does he?

Genres: Historical Fiction

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2021

About the author

Fenella Jane Miller was born in the Isle of Man. Her father was a Yorkshire man and her mother the daughter of a Rajah. She has worked as a nanny, cleaner, field worker, hotelier, chef, secondary and primary teacher and is now a full time writer.

She has over twenty five Regency romantic adventures published plus one Jane Austen re-telling and one YA romantic fantasy.

see also Fenella-Jane Miller

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Evans grew up in Poplar in London’s East End, her ma’s a housewife, her father and brothers work at the docks. She joins the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, and she’s just finished her catering, cooking and butchering course. Nancy’s engaged to Tommy Smith, he works as a spitfire mechanic and the battle of Britain has just started. Their wedding is only days away, when Tommy is killed and in shock Nancy goes to stay with her friend Jane’s in-laws at Chalfont in the country.

Nancy feels a bit odd, she thinks it’s due to mourning Tommy and she faints one day while out for a walk. She meets the local doctor David Denny, he explains she’s expecting a baby and Nancy can’t return to the WAAF’s. When David's notified he’s going to be proving a home for three evacuees, he employs Nancy as his housekeeper and she still feels like she’s still helping the war effort.

The children’s mother Violet isn’t well, so Nancy looks after young Billy and Betty. The children soon settle into life in the country, they like Dr David, his dog Polly and they seem like a family. David and Nancy develop feelings for each other, she doesn’t think she’s good enough to be a doctor’s wife and David’s not sure he can change her mind.

Through all the ups and downs and stress of a war. Nancy and David need to decide if they have a future together, Nancy underestimates how capable she is, she would make an excellent doctors wife and mother. The East End Girl in Blue is a story about Nancy gaining confidence, helping others with her sewing skills, making things over, and admitting she loves a certain doctor.

I enjoyed the second book in The Girls in Blue series, four stars from me, I'm looking forward to reading The Officer Girl in Blue and Charlotte's experiences as a WAAF during the war.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The East End Girl in Blue by Fenella J. Miller is an excellent WWII era historical fiction novel. It has it all: excellent character cast, suspense, obstacles, history, and a dash of suspense and romance. I really liked it.

This looks to be a continuance of another book, The Girls in Blue, however I read this book first and it can be read as a stand-alone. However, I think it will be truly treasured more so if read after the other book as there are recurring characters from the first.

These books follow along a group of girlfriends that are all leaning on one another during these terrible times of war in England all the while trying to find themselves, their purpose in life, love, and all trying to do their own part for the war effort. Last book featured Jane (and Oscar) and her quest, and this focussed on her friend and fellow one-time WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) Nancy Evans and her journey into becoming a young woman.

Nancy has made her own mistakes but is a good person at heart and is stronger then she realizes. She is loyal, smart, fiery, and I was in her corner from the very beginning. I also enjoyed her relationship with David Denny. They work well together and are perfect for one another. I enjoyed the suspense, obstacles, and of course the positive ending.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Aria & Aries for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/6/21.

[Kathy Downey]

London during WWII was filled with those men and women who volunteered to fight in whatever way they were able. Some were nurses, doctors, pilots, infantry, sailors, even cooks! Which is where Charlotte, an East End London girl, found herself. She was two weeks from her wedding when her fiancée surprised her with an overnight on their free time. Never realizing that this encounter would change Charlotte's life forever. Dr. David Denny would become an important man in her life and she in his. Nothing would prepare them for all the events that would happen over the next few months! The country doctor would no longer choose to stay in the country but return to London to volunteer in the Royal Free hospital while Charlotte stayed and took care of his house and the evacuee's that David had come live with him. Twists, turn, lies, and disappointments ensued, love endures even beyond the class divisions.

[Carol Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars are a bit much, but nevertheless a good story. My problem was I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters. A bit light & fluffy for my taste.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Fenella’s work for a while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written but I have read several of her books and I have enjoyed every single one of them. I read the synopsis for ‘The East End Girl In Blue’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of gripping and emotional read that I have come to associate with Fenella. ‘The East End Girl In Blue’ is the second book in ‘The Girls In Blue’ series and what a cracking read it was too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The East End Girl In Blue’ but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the character of Nancy Evans and I warmed to her from the very start. Before long I began to consider Nancy to be a friend of mine and I felt all protective towards her. Nancy is in the ‘Women’s Auxiliary Air Force’ (or WAAF for short). Her boyfriend is in the forces too and they make plans to marry. Not everything goes to plan and Nancy is left picking up the pieces and trying to rebuild her life. Will Nancy find the ‘happy ever after’ ending that she so deserves? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves as I am not going to tell you.
I was drawn into this story from the very beginning and I as then taken on one hell of an emotional journey. To say that reading ‘The East End Girl In Blue’ became addictive is a bit like me saying that I like books- in other words a massive understatement. Part of the reason why I enjoyed this book so much is the fact that I loved the character of Nancy Evans and I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out for her. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fil in the odd half hour but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over an hour and several chapters later. I had mixed feelings about this story. I wanted to finish it because I needed to know how this story concluded but I was enjoying the story so much that I just didn’t want the story to end. I found ‘The East End Girl In Blue’ to be an emotional and gripping read, which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The East End Girl In Blue’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Fenella J. Miller. She certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a compelling story. Fenella certainly writes stories that never fail to pull on the heartstrings. I love the very vivid and realistic way in which Fenella describes the conditions of the day. I haven’t got any grandparents so reading books such as this one is the closest I am going to get to knowing what conditions were like during the Second World War, when my grandparents were young. For me, the story in ‘The East End Girl In Blue’ hit the ground running and maintained a gentle pace throughout.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The East End Girl In Blue’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Fenella’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Yvette · Rating 3 out of 5]

All Nancy Evans wants is to do her bit for the war effort and marry her fiancé, instead she is grieving his death at the home of her friend's in-laws. And instead of returning to her WAAF posting, she is meeting the local village doctor in a most unexpected way and discovering that anticipating her wedding vows has left her unwed and pregnant.

Doctor David Denny is a bit stuck, still grieving the death of his wife and child, going on with his practice but looking to leave the village to contribute to the war as a surgeon in London when Nancy crashes into his life and everything begins to change.
While she thinks him too old, and he thinks her too East End, they slowly begin to appreciate each other's character. As they interact with each other and various residents of the village, both old and new, grief begins to lessen and love to grow.

The East End Girl in Blue is book two of Fenella J. Miller's Girls in Blue trilogy. I read it last and eagerly anticipated Nancy's story, the heroines of all three stories having been introduced in book 1. I enjoyed the bit of will they/won't they realize they belong together and the addition of the children evacuated from their bombed home in London, but was a bit surprised as this became a story of how Nancy's service as a WAAF comes to an end. I find that my typical reactions to Fenella J. Miller's writing, at least so far, is that so very much happens to these characters that it verges on, but never becomes, soap opera and that the use of slang feels overdone. And while it gave me pause when Nancy's East End speech and rough language were commented previously in the trilogy, I found it more bothersome when David made the same comments.

All in all, this is another diverting read that is easy on the history lessons, a bit of a coming of age story with romance and peril. If you enjoy historical fiction - and don't mind a bit of language and premarital/marital intimacy - set on the British home front of World War II, this book and this trilogy may be just the comfort read you are looking for.

This review refers to an ebook I recommended for purchase and then was able to read through my library's Overdrive service.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The East End Girl in Blue by Fenella J. Miller is the 2nd book in The Girls in Blue series. I believe it is best to read the series in order. I thought this historical novel captured the time period and the feelings as well as the attitudes of the people. Women were strong during World War II. I am amazed at their can-do attitude and their ability to create meals from limited resources. Nancy Evans is a resilient woman whose whole life is changed in an instant. She had planned to work her way up in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. Instead, Nancy finds her fiancé dead just before their wedding and she finds herself in the family way. She has no choice but to make a new plan. We experience what life is like in England during World War II. There are frequent bombings, evacuees, and rationing (food, petrol, clothing). Your home could be bombed at any minute which is a frightening thought. Doctors and other essential personal worked long hours. They would get little rest or time off. The author captured the experiences of the people in Great Britain during World War II. The East End Girl in Blue also talks about the struggles of evacuating families, the toll the war can take on a single mother, narrow minded people, and rampant gossip. I thought this book was well-written with realistic characters. I stayed up quite late to finish this historical tale. I like that we get to catch up with Charlotte and Jane. Jane’s story is told in The Girls in Blue and we will get Charlotte’s story later in 2021 in The Officer in Blue. I wish the author had provided a better introduction of our characters in the beginning. While I had read The Girls in Blue, I was confused in the beginning (it had been several months, and I have read over a hundred books since then). The story does contain British slang (most of the words can be discerned from the context) and some foul language. The East End Girl in Blue is an absorbing historical novel with an abundance of bombs, foodstuff scarcities, evacuated children, war rationing, a dashing doctor, fine friends, and an enrapturing romance.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War 2 is brought to life in The East End Girl in Blue. No longer having to rely on dry history books, the reader gets an idea of how horrific it was for those on the ground during the bombings. I realize the story is fiction but it is riddled with facts, true locations, and the struggles incurred by the citizens of England.

Many young women, like Nancy Evans, served in the WAAF. They did their part for many reasons. Nancy escaped Poplar to serve and to fall in love. Grasping moments of happiness leaves her pregnant and her fiancee dead. Like my own aunt, she was left without a job, without a husband but will all the struggles. The East End Girl in Blue touches on some of those struggles, some of the challenges, some of the views they were subjected to every day. Nancy is lucky enough to find safety in a small village posing as an expectant resent widow.

Dr. David Denny is lost after the loss of his wife. He goes day to day caring for the villagers, taking any payment they can make. HIs life is shook up when Nancy Evans (Mrs. Smith) comes to stay with the local vicar.

Dr. Denny struggles with his sense of duty, his sense of station, his sense of worth. Doing his bit helps but also hurts. He finds himself. He looses himself. He finds love, a very complicated love.

The East End Girl in Blue is full of side stories allowing the reader a deeper understanding of wartime England. Evacuating families out of dangerous areas was not easy. Children were abandoned. Parents struggled mentally. People were opinionated, lacking compassion. For many the class divide was to deep that they fell into the cracks. The citizens of England struggled to survive as lands are destroyed, buildings crumbled and food became scarce. Reading about the characters within the story gave a better understanding of all the struggles.

I have a new respect for my family that struggled to survive, hid in the bomb shelters, went to bed hungry not knowing it they would survive another day.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely second instalment, and a worthy sequel to the first!

Nancy Evans feels at home in the WAAF; she is gaining experience and promotions and, to top it all, she has her Tommy and their wedding is looming. Until one night of heavy and calamitous bombing changes everything. Finding herself pregnant and alone, Nancy leaves the service and looks for work elsewhere, ending up as a housekeeper to David Denny, local doctor and handsome with it. Although she tries to cope with her problems alone, it's not long until David becomes a trusted friend and support. While Nancy is very happy with the rural life she is carving out for herself, it's not long before the wagging tongues of a small village get gossiping but David doesn't care about that - or does he?

I really enjoyed the first in this series where the main focus of three friends was Jane; this time around it is Nancy's turn - and what a story she has to tell! It's a stark reminder of how the class system affected ordinary folk and how the second world war changed things. Nancy is a beautifully drawn character, full of goodness and gumption. Both main characters are damaged souls who are doing their best with the hand life has dealt them and I was silently cheering for them all the way through. This is a packed tale, with lots going on and plenty of twists and turns along the way. An enjoyable, engaging read and I'm already looking forward to the next one. Fenella J Miller never disappoints and this is a novel I'm happy to recommend to all lovers of wartime sagas. 4.5*

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in WWII England, the story is about love, loss, resilience and hope. Ambitious East End girl Nancy Evans has earned the two stripes sewn on her sleeve, has taken the cook and butcher course and is a leading aircraft woman. She cooks and cleans and sneaks any available time to visit her fiance. However, war is brutal and one heroic action changes everything forever.

Nancy discovers she is pregnant and on her own and feels she must resign from her position. She finds work keeping house for kind Dr. David Denny. They become fast friends and the friendship blooms into much more and their pasts become memories. The book focuses on the war but more so on the characters at the forefront. Nancy discovers a passion and compassion for others as she does her part in the war effort. Others' views on and reactions to a pregnant single girl are shown which also reveal Nancy's character. I like that she grows throughout and works hard with a great attitude.

The perspective is an interesting one and I enjoyed the book overall. What lacks a bit for me is convincing depth, a little lighter than expected. However, sometimes light is what we need.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fascinating eARC.

[Deborah J. Nobles · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the title and a brief description, I was intrigued. As a fan is “Call the Midwife”, I have enjoyed stories that involve Poplar and the East End. Throw in women who made a contribution in England during WWII, and I’m hooked. My first impression of Nancy was not positive. She was very rough around the edges but I quickly learned that she had ambitions to make a better life for herself. After her fiancé is killed and she finds herself in a delicate condition, she winds up in Chalfont Manor to be the guest of her friend’s in-laws. Nancy discovers a new life without Tommy, one where she can be happy, productive and useful. There were times when I found myself exasperated with Nancy - she wasn’t great at making a decision and sticking with it. She was extremely bright, hard-working and willing to do whatever it took to help others. I did enjoy the story although I expected more of the action to be in the East End.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria Fiction for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Yannick Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The East End girl in Blue is the second book from the serie "The girl in Blue".
I read the first one and enjoyed it.
This one is about Nancy who grew up in a poor neighboorhood in London. She works
for the WAAF and is about to marry but tragedy happens and she finds herself pregnant and
have to leave her job.
She finds a job in a small village where Jane familly, one of her best friend live.
Working for Doctor David Denny is going to change her life forever, contrary to her
David comes from a comfortable familly and when loves comes knock at the door of their heart
they have to fight against the fear of not being good enough for each other especially Nancy.

I liked Nancy's courage and perseverance also the fact that she learn to write and read with Dr Denny.
However there were time where I struggle with her indecision and constant change of mind regarding the
relationship.

Overall it's in interesting book and I would like to read the rest of the serie.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anticipating your wedding vows especially when your wedding is only two weeks off is usually not a big deal, but when it’s wartime anything can happen. Nancy Evans is devastated when her fiancé who is a mechanic and you would think relatively safe from the bombs, that’s not what killed him.
She is distraught and ends up with her friends in-laws and meets Dr.David Denny.
Even though Nancy falls in love with him she feels she isn’t good enough.
How does a person get over there concerns about class stations?
The author tackles quite a few issues that still happen today that will affect young couples or even older people as well. It’s all about perception and the author does such a remarkable job about portraying it in the book that makes the characters believable.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

[Dorothy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in a series about the Girls in Blue, Fenella J. Miller's THE EAST END GIRL IN BLUE is principally a WWII wartime romance, but the book takes in a lot more than that--including what the war does to people--whether in country towns or the middle of London--and how Brits respond to the war according to their situation and sometimes their social class. Class distinction plays a big role in the love story, because Nancy, although pretty, bright, and capable, comes from the East End and speaks like her family and neighbors. Country doctor David comes from money and has the, education, confidence, and ambition that go with his station. While they love each other, they can't "sort themselves out" without dealing with their conscious and unconscious class beliefs and expectations. A charming and satisfying book!

[Elizabeth Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

The East End Girl in Blue

Hornchurch RAF base 1940
What a delightful book written by Fenella Miller. Nancy Evans a sprightly young lady who joins the WAAF and manages to work in the kitchens. Not long after beginning at Hornchurch RAF her fiancé is killed in a fluke accident. Her life takes a shocking sudden turn which feels like her whole world has turned upside down. When she realizes she is pregnant her outlook on life and her plans have to be changed. She has to figure out how she will support herself as she must leave the WAAF. She decides through some help from friends she will become a housekeeper, but what happens is unexpected and riveting. Fenella writes a magnificent story that keeps the reader intrigued right to the end, with a lot of emotion that is delightful and compelling.

[Lucy Dunphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The East End Girl in Blue decent read, it's just not the most memorable WW2 saga I've read. As with the previous book in the series, I can tell a lot of research has gone into it. David and Nancy's relationship was a
little frustrating at times and I found Nancy a bit selfish. Overall, I am glad I read it and I'm interested in reading about Charlotte's story.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

War years.in England

Loved the history and to walk through with a family and what they went through daily. Nancy was a WAFf and was to be married in two days and she spent a night with her fiancé. She then got the news that he had been killed in an accident. Later she found out she was expecting his baby And you will need to read the rest of the story for the history as well as what happens to Nancy

[Michelle Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Another fantastic book.
I had trouble putting it down.
It's the second book I have read from Fenella J Miller, it certainly won't be the last as book 3 from this series is ready and waiting to be read.
I do hope we get go find out more, of these couples I.e what happens with the couples ect.
I'm glad David and Nancy finally married, I was routing for them to get married. Also hope she gets her sewing machine.

[Rachael Lord]

I’m not going to rate this because it wouldn’t be fair - I haven’t read it. I started the first chapter but just couldn’t handle the language. Our key character talks in a sloppy way, indicating her lower class upbringing (which I have no objection to). But the incorrect grammar, slang etc is so thick through the text (working its way into the descriptive text as well as the speech) that for me it overshadowed the story and made it too stressful to read.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl in Blue series continues and this one finds us following Nancy’s story. Widowed just days before she is to marry, and pregnant already,Nancy escapes to the countryside to recover. There she meets some
Wonderful people and begins to work for a local doctor. The love story that follows is filled with ups and downs - read it in a day!

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book series

I have throughly enjoyed this book series and can't wait for book 3. The characters are great. They live and love in a very difficult time but they just get on with it as the English always do. Fenella is a master storyteller. I highly recommend these books.

[J Leslie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written!

You have a really good editor, and as well, a talented spell checker. I read about 300 books a year, I am old and crippled. Reading doesn't, bring my pain level to an uncomfortable point.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant ww2 series

I loved this book and book1 by fenella set in ww2 following the lives of the girls who signed up and changed their lives I love a happy ending too can’t wait for book 3

[Theadore Ziemba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent wwII at home support book

Unique view inWWto the life of unmarried expecting women women during thus times. Also the classic differences between the classes even during WWII.

[Sally Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely wartime book from this author. Nancy is a great character and I love the way she picks herself up and gets on with life after her devastating blow, and I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series

[MRS J P WELSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner

Delightful characters the storyline keeps you guessing and hoping all will be well. I could imagine the village and villagers all wanting to know everyone's business most enjoyable

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

The author, Rubella J. Miler, has a great way of making the reader feel the are in war torn London. She brings the characters alive as they live a complicated life. Anxious to read the next in the series.

[Isobel Macfarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

East end girl

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It keeps you on edge the whole way through and let's you know what life was like for families during the war and the difference between classes.

[Jennifer Cadge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Absolutely loved this book could not put it down,only took me two evenings to read it .
I just love the ear stories

[Kathryn L. Loewenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable!

Well written and a good plot! Very believable characters. Really felt the emotions of the main characters. Hope others enjoy this as much as I did.