I was really excited to reading this book as soon as I got it for two reasons. Firstly, Annie Murray is one of my favourite authors, her style of writing captures my imagination instantly. Her books always run in a series of at least two books so that you can follow the story of the characters. Secondly, I am obsessed with canal boats and always have been since an early age. I buy decorative items from a local man who paints the floral detail on canal boats for a living and as a sideline paints the same detail onto pots, pans and other beautiful pieces.
What I didn’t realise when I bought this book was that it was part two in a series, which luckily I had already read the first book called “The narrowboat girl”. It was a couple of years ago that I read it but as soon as I started on “Water gypsies”, I was transported back into the world of canal boats as if I had read both books one after the other. Whilst you can still read “Water gypsies” without having read “The narrowboat girl”, I do believe you should read them in order to get a better understanding of what character Maryann’s childhood was like before she became a boat woman. Perhaps a good suggestion on my part for the publishers and indeed authors would be to identify their books on the cover so that we can understand its part of a series! With a bit of luck you never know a publisher might be reading this review.
“Water gypsies” tells a more in-depth story of what life was really like for a boat woman in the 1940s and the hardships that were faced that we perhaps don’t think about now.
I felt there was two main points to the story and the way of life for boat families, where they struggled with a large family, little money, hard work for the husband on top of this was World War II.
From the start of the book I was gripped, whereas sometimes i feel starting a book the story line is slow on the uptake. There were so many unexpected twists and turns throughout the story that I just simply struggled put the book down. Annie’s wonderful descriptions of inside the boat caught my imagination so much that I could almost imagine myself being there. Her use of local slang also had me reading the book in my head with a Birmingham accent which was where the character Maryann originated. Overall I think this book was one of the best saga genre books that I have read in a very long time and I will admit that I actually read the last quarter of the book in one go because i was so intrigued to its ending (I finished it at 2am). If you love a little bit of history alongside your romance and saga books like I do then this book is the one for you.
This sounds like such an interesting book, I’d love to hear more about the saga if you read more! Thanks for sharing x
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Thank you for reading my review. I definitely will write about it if I read anymore because it’s a lovely story
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I love history and immersive books too so I will have to check this author out!
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I’d highly recommend it. She has written so many amazing books that will have you gripped
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What a lovely surprise to find out this was the sequel to a book you had already read. They both sound good, will put them on my holiday read list.
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I’d definitely recommend it, they are both great books
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Sounds like a fun read! I love the title and the idea of exploring life on canal boats. Having a little history in the mix adds to the allure of the story. 🙂
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It was so gripping. I love books that you can really get stuck into
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Great read, really well written!
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Thank you
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I don’t think I have heard about this author or book before. It sounds really interesting! I was rubbish last year with reading so I want to definitely read more this year. Reading posts like this motivate me to read more. Thank you for sharing Kelly xx
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She is a good author, I’d definitely recommend reading a book from her. I’m glad I can motivate you 😀
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Thank you! Xx
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It’s lucky you had read the first one, I find it so annoying when I’ve bought a book and started reading only to realise I’ve missed one.
I’ve just read a book about a woman having a change of scenery on a house boat and really enjoyed it, made life on the water appealing.
Looks like a great read x
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I agree, this book also made life on the water appealing, so much so that I’d quite like to hire one for a week to see for myself. Thank you for reading
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I’m also obsessed with canal boats, lol. It seems like a very interesting read.
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I’d definitely recommend reading the book. It gives such an inside into what life is really like on a boat
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Sweet! Since I grew up with boats, my parents took me on one every weekend, I definitely want to read both of the books in this series. Sounds like a great combination of history and good characters.
Karen | https://OurCarpeDiem.com
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It’s such a good story, I hope you enjoy them 😀
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I’ve never read anything by this author but I’m definitely intrigued! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for taking the time to read my review
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This sounds like a great book I should put on my reading list. Thanks for the fun suggestion!
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I’d definitely recommend it 😀
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That sounds like such a great book! Thanks for the recommendation!
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Thank you for reading my review
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This looks like an awesome read! I didn’t even know a “boat woman,” was a thing! I love historical novels, and I crave gripping stories (you’re right, so many books are meandering). Definitely adding this to my reading list. Thanks!
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I have
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We are all avid readers in our house. Love hearing about great reads. Will check this one out!!!!
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Thank you for reading my review, I hope you enjoy the book
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sounds like a book I would enjoy! Thanks for the recommendation.
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Thank you for reading my review
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Interesting! I’ve never even heard of boat women. Thanks for this.
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They seem to be very strong women. Thank you for reading my review
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I don’t think I’ve read anything set on a canal boat before. This sounds like a great read – a series I’ll look out for for sure. Great review!
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I hope you like it as much as I did
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Been looking for a good book recommendation lately, thanks for the amazing review x
FATIMAH • ROSEYGOLDBOX
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I hope you enjoy it, it’s a very gripping book
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Sounds like a book I’d like to read. I’m not sure if I‘be heard about canal boats. Now you have piqued my interest.
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I love them and am so intrigued by how people can live in such a small space. I hope you enjoy the book yourself
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This sounds like a really great and interesting book to read. I love history and to learn about life in the past. Putting this on my reading list! Thank you for doing this review!
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I hope you enjoy it. I love history too and I love how this goes into a past that is sadly non existent today
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I think canal boats are so cute and it would be great to read about what it used to be like to live on one – thanks for sharing
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Oh, I know the feeling of reading a book only to belatedly realise its part of a series. It’s great luck that you remembered the previous book 🙂 The canal setting is gorgeous. This sounds like just the book for me right now. Fab review Kelly
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