Telegrams and Teacakes: A heartbreaking World War Two family saga

· Bookouture
4.7
11 reviews
Ebook
350
Pages

About this ebook

‘There was no denying it, being cheerful was a challenge. You just had to be grateful for small mercies: a sunny day, a night without an air raid, an extra rasher of bacon from the butcher.’

 

England, 1942: 23-year-old Betty runs away from Bristol to make a new life for herself. Betrayed by her husband, Betty flees to the seaside town of Bournemouth, where she has fond memories of childhood holidays. There, she finds a small family bakery, in desperate need of a new shop girl…

 

At the Barton Bakery, Betty finds a sanctuary with shopkeeper Audrey Barton, but Audrey is fighting battles of her own. Her husband is at war and in grave danger, she is heavily pregnant, and her customers are horrified by the demands imposed by rationing.

 

Audrey’s stepsister Lily receives a letter from a man she once loved very much, a man she thought was lost to her forever. He offers her a new future with him, but one that will mean sacrificing so many of her hopes and dreams…

 

As Winston Churchill tells the country to ‘never give in’, the women of the Barton Bakery struggle on to keep their families, homes and loved ones safe in a time of turmoil.

 

Telegrams and Teacakes is a romantic World War Two saga full of heartbreak and hope, perfect for fans of Diney Costeloe, Nadine Dorries and Sheila Newberry.

 

What readers are saying about Telegrams and Teacakes:

‘I couldn't stop grinning… a truly wonderful story that totally enveloped me. With so many lovely characters, they really do capture your heart making this an emotional rollercoaster of a read. An endearing read that can be read and enjoyed, again and again.’ By The Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

 

‘A beautiful, beautiful story. Based during the war it tells the story of a family, friends and neighbours of a bakery and how they strive to overcome hardships. Lots of tears and laughter. Highly recommend it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 

‘Absolutely loved this book. I'm a huge fan of wartime sagas with believable characters and this definitely ticked that box. It was a realistic and fascinating glimpse into the past and I was gripped from page one. Couldn't wait to get to the end and see how things unfolded.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 

‘The writing instantly transports you back… an emotional rollercoaster of a story – sadness and tears over what they had to suffer but also a heart-warming story of family and friendships. Highly recommended.’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

 

‘Absolutely marvellous… my emotions were ripped apart as I was left in tears more than once…  truly engaging, filled me with warmth’ Robin Loves Reading, 5 stars

 

‘Beautifully written, heartfelt and also feel-good… I love reading stories like this… It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 

‘There was a real sense of pulling together and hope. Amy has managed to get the right blend of humour and heartache… a must for any reader.’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews, 5 stars

 

What readers are saying about Amy Miller:

‘You will love this … An absolutely brilliant family saga and one which I can highly recommend. A perfect read for these colder nights curled up with a nice cup of tea!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 

I couldn't put this book down and it kept me hooked until the very last page.' Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

 

‘Genuinely heartwarming… I loved everything… I cannot recommend this book to you enough - I thought it was superb!!’ Donnas Book Blog, 5 stars

 

'I absolutely loved it... a wonderful story of love, romance, family, friendship, secrets, charity and a tasty bakery.' Little Miss No Sleep

 

‘Heart-warming and emotional and a book that I didn't put down until I turned the last page. I couldn't help myself but devour this gorgeous story in one go.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

 

‘Heartbreaking, heart-warming and utterly divine… a book which is destined to make you see life in a different light.’ The Writing Garnet, 5 stars

Ratings and reviews

4.7
11 reviews
Kristina Anderson
July 24, 2019
Telegrams and Teacakes is the third novel in A Wartime Bakery series. I thought the story was realistic in its portrayal of life at home during World War II. It depicts how individuals at home did not have it easy (not as rough as a soldier of course). They kept the shops and factories operating while the soldiers were off fighting. Rationing in effect and new items are added frequently, bombs hitting the area, and spending nights in air raid or Anderson shelters. I like how the people in the community banded together to help each other out. They did not leave a person to struggle on their own. I thought Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is a beautifully written novel with genuine characters. I love the characters in this story with Audrey Barton being my favorite. Audrey is a strong woman who is the mother figure for many as well as a confidant and pillar of strength. She has backbone, grit, strong moral character and a loving heart. Each character is different with a story of their own. Telegrams and Teacakes should be read after the first two books in the series. Each story builds upon the previous in A Wartime Bakery series. Telegrams and Teacakes is an emotional tale (have a hanky handy). The characters emotions poured from pages and enveloped me. Amy Miller has a special touch. The people during this time had to have grit in order to survive. I like how they look for the bright spots to help them overcome adversity. I hope this is not the last tale in A Wartime Bakery series. I want to follow the characters stories through the end of the war. Telegrams and Teacakes is a heartwarming, expressive and endearing story.
11 people found this review helpful
Gaele Hi
September 13, 2018
At this point, 1942: everyone is tired of the war: shortages, rationing, air-raids, silence or long-delayed letters from the front, and the never-ending refrains about doing your part, keeping calm and carrying on and the never-ending worry that will overwhelm if you let it. Audrey is busily working to keep her little ‘bakery family’ safe and fed – but things are wearing. Her assistant has moved on to live near her new husband’s family, little Mary is thriving and the adoption is in process, Lily’s daughter Joy is thriving and everything is ticking along – even baking the ‘national loaf’ and keeping all the records required isn’t more than usual. What is bothering her is that Charlie, away at war, hasn’t responded to the three letters she’s sent – informing him that, even in wartime, they have their own little miracle – she’s pregnant, something they both thought impossible. But a young woman in a threadbare dress and obviously desperate arrives with the advertisement for a shop assistant clutched in her hand and an aura of fear, and Audrey, known for ‘taking in strays and those in need’ brings her on. Betty is twenty three, married, and possessing a huge secret. Things with her husband Rickard haven’t been what she hoped: no kids, no real time together, and his frequent disappearances have raised suspicions. A bit of covert following and questions and she discovers that her husband has another wife and three children a few blocks over. Taking the savings, the clothes on her back and her need to leave – she hops a train and lands in Bournemouth, the advert for a shop assistant at Barton Bakery. These aren’t small, contained stories just as Audrey’s life isn’t small and contained: she’s built a little family in her small home: nurturing and caring and sharing burdens, from little Mary who’s thriving and settling in from her own traumas, her brother and his wife as he recovers from his injuries and ptsd, Lily and her little daughter Joy, even taking Betty under her wing and giving her a place to thrive and feel safe, even as she’s still stinging from her husband’s duplicity. When things press even harder, and Audrey won’t slow down despite being heavily pregnant and worrying about her husband off at war, Betty’s husband appears on the doorstep with this three children and then disappears – as always, Audrey reorganizes everything and the three tots are brought into the home. The keep on and move forward determination is striking, and the heart of Audrey- a lovely character full of the heart, strength and compassion and above all love. Miller’s exhaustive research is evident in these stories: from actually feeling the stressors and pressures of daily life dealing with shortages, rationing and making ends meet through the long-term exhaustion from the constant interruptions from air raids, the never-ending worries about men away and the what next in the ups and downs of wartime. Eminently readable, easily engaging and utterly heartwarming because of Audrey and her openness and heart, grab this series if you want a story to transport you and give you new ‘book best friends’. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
9 people found this review helpful
Yvonne England
August 21, 2018
Great author. Lovely, well written books. Really enjoyable to read. Would recommend.
16 people found this review helpful

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