Spare Brides By Adele Parks

[amazon_link id=”1472205391″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]’Spare Brides’ is the latest book by ‘Sunday Times’ best-selling author Adele Parks.

New Year’s Eve 1920. The Great War is over and it’s a new decade of glamorous promise. But a generation of men and women who survived the extreme trauma and tragedy will never be the same. With countless men lost, it seems that only wealth and beauty will secure a husband from the few who returned, but lonely Beatrice has neither attribute. Ava has both, although she sees marriage as a restrictive cage after the freedom war followed. Sarah paid the war’s ultimate price; her husband’s life. Lydia should be grateful that her own husband’s desk job kept him safe but she sees only his cowardice.

A chance encounter for one of these women with a striking yet haunted officer changes everything. In a world altered beyond recognition, where not all scars are visible, this damaged and beautiful group must grasp any happiness they can find – whatever the cost.

As a fan of Adele Parks, I was delighted to hear that she was returning in 2014 with a new book and when I heard that ‘Spare Brides’ was going to be her first historical novel, I was even more excited to read it.

With a stunning front cover of a 1920’s lady, I delved straight into the world of glamour, sequins, love and poverty. The story is seen from the perspectives of the four leading ladies, Lydia, Ava, Sarah and Beatrice in a time where marriage and children are expected of women, socialising with the rich whilst trying to ignore the doom and gloom of the poverty and heartbreak that the war had brought over the country creating a bleakness in the story that was evident from page 1.

Our leading ladies all live quite comfortable lives but behind closed doors, they all harbour a sadness caused by what they are missing.

Lydia leads a happy life with her husband Lawrence, the only thing missing is child to make their family complete but after years of trying with no success, they realise that it is not meant to be. But when handsome and troubled solider, Edgar catches Lydia’s eye, she discovers that it is not only a child that her life has been missing, as she discovers a new passion and lust for life, that she didn’t have with stable and reliable Lawrence. Ava is quite the independent and fiery character who wants more to life than socialising and be seen as a serious businesswoman. Beatrice longs for love and marriage but is preparing herself for a life of solitude whilst her sister Sarah, lost her husband Arthur at war leaving her behind with two children. Sarah is lonely, not only missing the presence of a lover but also a companion.

All four women are delicious characters but it’s Lydia that stood out to me more, as she was more central character. Having become accustomed to an easier and more privileged upbringing, Edgar shows her a different side to life, the dark side of the war, the dank clubs stinking of beer and misery and an uninhibited lust for life.

‘Spare Brides’ is a beautifully written and gripping story set against the misery of the war. The story shines through the vibrance of the characters, the glamorous parties and glittering fashion.

Adele has taken a brave step with ‘Spare Brides’ stepping away from contemporary fiction and has achieved a fabulous and classic story of love, friendship and hardship that leaves the reader wanting more!

You can buy [amazon_link id=”1472205391″ target=”_blank” ]Spare Brides from Amazon [/amazon_link] and will be available to buy from good bookshops.