Woolworths

Following on from her bestselling historical fiction The Woolworths Girls, Christmas at Woolworths is the heartfelt second book in Elaine Everest's Woolworths series, set during World War 2. Even though there was a war on, the Woolworths girls brought Christmas cheer to their customers. Best friends Sarah, Maisie and Freda are brought together by their jobs at Woolworths. With their loved ones away on the front line, their bonds of friendship strengthen each day. Betty Billington is the manager at Woolworths, and a rock for the girls, having given up on love . . . Until a mysterious stranger turns up one day – could he reignite a spark in Betty? As the year draws to a close, and Christmas approaches, the girls must rely on each other to navigate the dark days that lie ahead . . . With so much change, can their friendship survive the war? 'A real Christmas treat' – Choice Christmas at Woolworths is the festive second book in Elaine Everest's much-loved Woolworths series. Elaine Everest was born and brought up in north-west Kent and has written widely – both short stories and features – for women's magazines. When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school in Dartford, Kent, and the blog for the Romantic Novelists' Association. Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent. She is also the author of The Butlins Girls and The Woolworths Girls. Expect trouble and strife . . . and a big Christmas helping of love and goodwill as we join the girls for a seasonal visit to our favourite Woolworths store A real Christmas treat Fabulous ... heartwarming A warm, tender tale of friendship and love . . . sweet as a Woolies Pick 'n' Mix Heartwarming . . . a must-read A lovely read Elaine brings the heyday of the iconic high-street giant to life in her charming novel

A Mother Forever is the moving story of one woman's journey through the hardest trials of her life and how the love of friends and family pulls her through. From the bestselling author of The Woolworths Girls Elaine Everest, this book tells the tale of Ruby and how it all began . . . 1905: Ruby Caselton may only be twenty-five years old but she already has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Heavily pregnant with her second child, penniless and exhausted, she is moving her family into a new home. The Caseltons left their last place when they couldn't pay the rent, but Ruby's husband Eddie has promised this will be a fresh start for them all. And Ruby desperately hopes that this time he will keep his word. With five-year-old George at her feet and her mother having a cross word for everyone and everything, life is never dull at number thirteen Alexandra Road. It doesn't take long before Eddie loses another job and once again hits the bottle. It's up to Ruby to hold them all together, through thick and thin. She remembers the kind, caring man Eddie once was and just can't give up on him entirely. What she doesn't know is that Eddie has a secret, one so dark that he can't bear to tell even Ruby . . . Through Ruby's grit and determination, she keeps food on the table and finds herself a community of neighbours on Alexandra Road. Stella, the matriarch from across the way, soon becomes a friend and confidante. She even dreams that Ruby will ditch the useless Eddie and take up with her eldest son, Frank. But when war breaks out in 1914, the heartbreaks and losses that follow will fracture their community, driving both Stella and Ruby to breaking point. Will their men ever return to them? A Mother Forever is a moving but heartwarming story about the family we're connected to through blood, but also the family we make for ourselves with neighbours and friends. A prequel to The Woolworths Girls, it can also be listened to as a compelling novel in its own right. A warm, tender tale of friendship and love . . . sweet as a Woolies pick'n'mix - Milly Johnson on The Woolworths Girls A Mother Forever is an unputdownable, moving novel from Elaine Everest, the bestselling author of The Woolworths Girls. Elaine Everest, author of bestselling novels The Woolworths Girls, The Butlins Girls, Christmas at Woolworths and Wartime at Woolworths, was born and brought up in north-west Kent, where many of her books are set. She has been a freelance writer for twenty years and has written widely for women's magazines and national newspapers, both short stories and features. Her non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to her broadcasting on radio about our four-legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many topics on radio, from canine subjects to living with a husband under her feet when redundancy looms. When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school in Hextable, Kent, and has a long list of published students. Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent, and is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, the Crime Writers' Association, the Society of Women Writers and Journalists, and the Society of Authors. Heartwarming . . . a must-read A warm, tender tale of friendship and love . . . sweet as a Woolies pick'n'mix A lovely read Elaine brings the heyday of the iconic high-street giant to life in her charming novel

Cosy up with the next festive instalment in Elaine Everest's much-loved “Woolworths” series. Kent, 1953. The Woolworths Erith store, a beloved cornerstone of the community, faces closure if the December turnover fails to increase. And, as if store manager Betty Billington doesn't have enough on her plate, personnel shortages and a troublesome new employee add to the strife. With Christmas on the horizon, Betty and her staff must strive to find solutions to improve business and keep the store running—from special events for late-night customers to a festive group trip into central London. The Erith Players pantomime also promises to draw a crowd, injecting excitement into the local community. With the store festooned with decorations, lifting the spirits of customers and Betty, can a Christmas miracle save their beloved store? “A Christmas Wish at Woolworths” is a heartfelt tale of resilience, community and an unwavering spirit during hard times.