Patricia A. McBride

The Picture House Girls by Patrica McBride takes us back to the spring of 1939. Lily Baker is working two jobs plus taking classes. Lily is a smart young lady who is determined to get ahead. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, but I found the story a little sluggish in the middle. We get to join Lily at her job at the Dream Palace, at her classes, at home, and out with her best friend, Jean. I thought the author captured the time period. I knew it was set in England, but the author failed to capture the locale. It could have been anywhere in England. I enjoyed the references to the movies that were playing at the Dream Palace. The story does contain mental and physical abuse from a father/spouse as well as stalking. I was shocked at how the police treated someone who was being terrorized by a man. The Picture House Girls has romance, drama, and suspense. It was helpful to have read The Button Girls, the Lily Baker prequel. Now that war has been declared, new adventures await Lily.… (altro)

The Button Girls by Patricia McBride is a prequel to the Lily Baker series. It is a short story that tells us a little about Lily Baker’s life in 1938. The chapters lacked a flow. They were more like separate scenes. I enjoyed getting to know a little about Lily. She is a smart girl with a plucky personality. Unfortunately, Lily’s father is free with mouth and fists. Mental and physical abuse happen and are discussed. I did not like how women accepted it as their lot (the laws were quite different back then). The Button Girls has a good main character, but I did not like the choppy story.… (altro)

The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride transports readers to the East End of London in 1940. Cordelia Carmichael is taking over as the head librarian of the Silver Town Library over her mother’s objection. Cordelia will be staying with her rapscallion brother who is more interested in having a good time than in helping others. Cordelia works with Mavis and Jane who help her acclimate to the East End. I found The Library Girls of the East End to be easy to read. Cordelia, Jane, and Mavis are the three main characters. I like that each girl has a different personality. Cordelia has a different leadership style from her predecessor. She welcomes input from Mavis and Jane as well as the volunteers. The residents of the East End welcome Cordelia. She may have finally found where she belongs. There are a variety of quirky characters that visit the library. The library is more than a building that houses books. It becomes the heart of the community. Unfortunately, bombings have become an everyday occurrence. You never know how long you could end up in an air raid shelter. The author included a variety of shelters from the underground to Anderson shelters. I like how people comforted each other during the long, scary hours in the air raid shelters. One of the librarians finds romance. We are privy to her thoughts on the gentleman’s looks, behavior, and physique. I found it a tad nauseating after a while. I would have preferred the focus to stay on the three women, their growth, and how they help their community. I thought the author captured the time period and the setting. I liked the ending. It will be interesting to see what happens next for the East End librarians.… (altro)