This is my third book by Lizzie Lane although they have all been from different series. I will say that she is excellent at making you feel as though you are right there with her characters. You can feel the worry and emotions that these women must have went through during the war.
Tough Times on Coronation Close by Lizzie Lane
Series: Coronation Close #4
Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction

As the war rages, the women must keep the home fires burning…

Bristol 1941

Coronation Close survives the brutal Bristol Blitz but with rationing, call up papers and new rules and regulations everyone’s lives are changed forever.

Resident do-gooder PC Percy Routledge's obsession with rules being upheld finds him spying and reporting fellow neighbours on the slightest infraction whilst his poor brow-beaten wife, Margaret can only watch on in shameful silence. It’s whispered that one day he’ll get his comeuppance…

Times are hard for everyone and Thelma Dawson certainly has her fair share of upset. Devastating news arrives that her son Charlie’s ship has been torpedoed and sank in the Atlantic, his whereabout unknown. Will he ever return to his wife and their unborn child? Meanwhile, seventeen years old daughter Mary has had her head turned by a certain overseas soldier. But where will temptation lead them?

Tough times, it seems, are here to stay and the women of Coronation Close all have their own battles and problems to overcome. As friendships are nurtured and relationships are tested, tragedy strikes and some home truths need to be faced.

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Heaven and Hell for The Tobacco Girls, Family Affairs at the Orchard Cottage Hospital

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review

Even without reading the earlier books in the series, I found The Close to be a richly woven, emotional story that swept me into the lives of its characters from the very first page. Set during the hardships of wartime, this book beautifully captures the daily struggles of ordinary people—especially the women—trying to protect their families and hold their community together.

Jenny and Thelma, neighbors and close friends, are at the heart of this story, and their bond felt authentic and deeply moving. The challenges they face as mothers, especially with their teenage daughters growing into young women, added a relatable and heartfelt layer to the narrative. I also really enjoyed the introduction of the new family on the Close—and the mystery surrounding Percy Routledge added a fascinating twist!

Though I didn’t have the background of previous books, I never felt lost. The characters are so well written and the setting so vividly drawn that I quickly felt connected to this community. I truly appreciated the quieter, reflective moments, and I found myself invested in each of their stories.

This was a tender, immersive read with warmth, tension, and a strong sense of place. I’m now eager to go back and read the earlier books—and even more excited to see what comes next for the residents of the Close!

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