War time family sagas - plus audiobook recommendations

[booklover125212]

Hi everyone
Completely by chance I came across Ginny Bell's Dover Cafe book series and have been absolutely hooked. There is another one coming out next year, but having rattled through all the ones in the series so far, I am looking for recommendations for similar wartime sagas that span several books.

Also - does anyone have any recommendations for where I can enjoy free audiobooks. I have Libby with my local library, but they are light on the wartime family sagas (they seem to prefer ebooks).

Thank you!

P.S It goes without saying I would really recommend the Dover Cafe series!

Better imo. The Century trilogy by Ken Follett is one of my favourite reads ever. I think I've read all of his books except the new one.

Not so much a family saga but the Rose Code by Kate Quinn is a brilliant war time read.

I've seen the TV series it was brilliant. So sad there wasn't another season. Is this the same?

I love Forbidden Places by Penny Vincenzi.

That's my favourite book of all time. Sadly not so keen on anything else he wrote. I dont think they've aged well.

I've just been doing a re-read, since Delderfield came up on another thread. Struggling to finish Horseman, but still enjoyed TSTAMD.

I’ve always loved RF Delderfield, especially The Avenue Goes to War and Dreaming Suburb.

A standalone not a series: In Spite of All Terror by Hester Burton. The central character, Liz, is a grammar school girl from the East End who is evacuated to Oxfordshire on the outbreak of war and is billeted on a middle class family.

And the Levant trilogy which follows on…

Penny Vincenzi Spoils of Time trilogy covers both the First and Second World Wars, it is excellent.
Annie Groves Article Row series, not as good but still entertaining.

BBC Homefront is on bbc sounds I thoroughly
enjoyed it not an audiobook as such but lots to keep you going!!

The Balkan Trilogy- Olivia Manning
And the Levant trilogy which follows on…

And the excellent bbc adaptation starring Ken B & Emma T when they were known but not yet superstars.

RF Delderfield The Avenue and The Avenue goes to War. Not so much one family but neighbours and families living in the same street.

If you have a subscription Spotify do audiobooks but there is a limit on how much you can listen to. 🤔

James Farner
Ellie Dean
Cynthia Harrod Eagles
Lilian Harry
Donna Douglas
Elizabeth Darrell