Secrets of the Railway Girls

Maisie Thomas

Sep 2020 · The railway girls series Book 2 · Random House

About this ebook

The second novel in the uplifting railway girls series. Perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Margaret Dickinson.

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Manchester, November 1940

As the war continues and secrets threaten the railway girls, they will discover the true meaning of friendship.

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For Dot, her job on the railways is everything. Transporting parcels around the country gives her pride that she is doing her bit for the war effort, but a growing friendship causes problems when home and work collide.

Joan loves her boyfriend Bob dearly, but when tragedy strikes, her heart is torn apart, and she is forced to make a decision that could hurt those she loves most.

Meanwhile Mabel has finally found a place to call home and her relationship seems to be going from strength to strength. However, the relentless bombing in the Christmas blitz is about to destroy everything she holds dear, and she will need her friends' courage and generosity now more than ever.

Brought together by their work on Manchester's railways, the three women find that with the support and encouragement of each other, they can get through even the most challenging of times.

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**Maisie's brand new novel THE RAILWAY GIRLS IN LOVE is available to pre-order now. Just search: 9781787463981**


Readers LOVE the Railway Girls . . .

'Beautifully written with a quiet charm' Jaffareadstoo

'Suberbly written . . . a gripping read' Ginger Book Geek

'Stunning . . . perfectly paced' Frost Magazine

'Poignant' Donna's Book Blog

Ratings and reviews

Secrets of the Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas is the 2nd tale in The Railway Girls series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the books in order. I enjoyed reading this gently paced historical novel. I thought Secrets of the Railway Girls was well-written with friendly, relatable characters. Dot, Joan, and Mabel are the focus of this installment. Dot Green is the mother figure of the group. She is such a hardworking, caring woman. Dot has a big heart. Joan was raised by her strict Gran who favors Joan’s sister over her. Mabel Bradshaw was devastated when her best friend died in a motor accident with her at the wheel. She left her home and came to volunteer for the war effort. Dot, Joan, Mabel, Cordelia, Alison, and Persephone all work for the railroad in various positions. They have stuck together and are there for each other. I like how they help each other through the difficult times and how close they have become. The war is escalating with new rules enacted each day. Rationing has begun which causes ques at the shops. Getting needed supplies is a challenge and cooks need to be creative. I thought the author captured time and place beautifully. The ladies face a variety of problems such as grief, heartache, and attitudes from men at work. The bombings are escalating. Lives and homes are lost. The ladies are all trained in first aid and are out during the bombings helping the injured. There is more drama in Secrets of the Railway Girls. The author really brought her characters to life. I felt I was experiencing the bombings and other events with them. I enjoyed the mystery of who is stealing from the food bank. I like how they worked to catch the culprit. Secrets of the Railway Girls is charming historical novel that left me eager for the next installment.

About the author

Maisie Thomas was born and brought up in Manchester, which provides the location for her Railway Girls novels. She loves writing stories with strong female characters, set in times when women needed determination and vision to make their mark. The Railway Girls series is inspired by her great-aunt Jessie, who worked as a railway clerk during the First World War.

Maisie now lives on the beautiful North Wales coast with her railway enthusiast husband, Kevin, and their two rescue cats. They often enjoy holidays chugging up and down the UK's heritage steam railways.