War in the Valleys by Francesca Capaldi #BookReview #Valleys2 #BlogTour #Hera #BookOnTheBrightSide #5*

WW1 marches on, but 1916. Young mother, Violet Jones, lives a tough life in the Rhymney Valley, caring for 4-year-old Clarice and baby Benjy on her own while soldier husband Charlie fights on the Front Line. But when tragedy strikes, Violet’s life becomes even harder.While they may be far from the battlefields, the effects of WW1 take their toll on the small mining community of Dorcalon, with food becoming scarce and more and more of their young men losing their lives.With very little money coming in, and two babies to care for, Violet takes in a relative to help make ends meet. But far from easing her burden, it might turn out to be the worst decision she’s made.

As the Great War takes its toll on the nation, Violet faces her own battle. All alone in the world, can she protect her children, and herself? And will she ever find joy out of the depths of despair?

A captivating, emotional saga set in WW1 – will tug on your heart-strings and bring a tear to your eye. If you like Nadine Dorries, Rosie Goodwin or Sheila Newbury you will adore this beautiful Welsh saga.

A Superb Saga!

Another author new to me .. how did I miss her debut novel?

Whilst her husband, Charlie, is fighting on the front in France, Violet remains at home in Wales looking after their two young children. Struggling to make ends meet, she is left in dire straits when unwelcome news arrives. More than ever she needs her friends but what she gets is a relative who makes it harder than ever to keep those relationships going. Will Violet manage to continue on and work through the despair she feels?

I’m disappointed in myself that I missed this author’s debut novel; until I completed this one I had no idea that it was a sequel. This one is a superb read – it caught my attention very quickly and I couldn’t read fast enough; in fact, I read on long after I should have been in the land of nod. The author has a real skill at language – somehow I managed to read it all in a Welsh accent! A really solid story, beautifully told and, best of all, it only reveals events of the past to explain those of the present. An absolutely riveting read and a total delight to read. If you enjoy a saga with a strong family base then this is one for you. Highly recommended and, in my opinion, worth a glowing five stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Book On The Bright Side for my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

Tags: historical saga

• Format: ebook
• Size: 315 pages
• Publisher: Hera
• Publication Date: 25 November 2020
• Links: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55851572
  • https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Francesca_Capaldi_War_in_the_Valleys?id=5IcIEAAAQBAJ
  • https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/war-in-the-valleys
  • https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Valleys-captivating-emotional-wartime-ebook/dp/B08LYWMPTR

Author Bio

Francesca has enjoyed writing since she was a child, largely influenced by a Welsh mother who was good at improvised story telling. A history graduate and qualified teacher, she decided to turn her writing hobby into a career in 2006. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Each month she writes a competition post for the Romantic Novelists’ Association blog.

Writing as both Francesca Capaldi and Francesca Burgess, she has had numerous short stories published in magazines in the UK and abroad, as well as articles in several magazines and newspapers. Her short stories have been included in the anthologies 100 Stories for Haiti, Diamonds and Pearls and 7 Food Stories from Rome. She’s also been placed or shortlisted in a dozen national writing competitions.
Three pocket novels have been published by DC Thomson, one of which, Danger for Daisy, is available as an ebook.

Her World War 1 saga, Heartbreak in the Valleys, is published by Hera Books.

Francesca currently lives in Kent with her family and a cat called Lando Calrission.

Social Media

Website: www.writemindswriteplace.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @FCapaldiBurgess

Facebook: @F.Capaldi.Burgess

Instagram: @francesca.capaldi.burgess

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