The second in the ‘Steel Girls’ series returns to the Vickers Steel Works, a major war manufactory in Sheffield, in 1939. With more men being called up to train every week, and rumours of rationing, everyone is determined to do their bit. The war hasn’t really fallen on the English population yet, but families are separated and women are taking vacant jobs. CHRISTMAS HOPE FOR THE STEEL GIRLS plays out at the close of the year.

Patty Andrews and Betty Clark are doing jobs in a strongly male environment which previously would have been unthinkable for women, such as crane driver. With their friend Nancy, a mother of two, they are determined to make 1939 a Christmas to remember for all the right reasons. William proposed to Betty at the outset, but has been posted off to Doncaster with the RAF. Archie, a strong young steelworker, is in a reserved occupation so he trains Patty on the hulking crane. Bert, Nancy’s husband, is a serviceman, posted abroad. I appreciate the variety of characters. Unfortunately, I hadn’t read the first book, so I tended to get some of the names mixed up as, all being from Sheffield, they had similar voices.  By mid-book I had sorted them out and was ready for the addition of the glamorous Daisy to the mix.

Reading about a war environment in Europe many years ago feels strange given today’s headlines. Britain has little heavy industry left and this steelworks story is like a living museum. With hardship falling on families, the determined young women establish a swap club for un-needed clothing at the factory. As they have been there longest, the trio ease the path for other women coming to do their bit. We also see that with no real state aid, the local people feel too proud to accept charity and have nowhere to turn but family if they have problems. The characters are concerned about their love lives and the shock of war keeps hitting home in different ways.

Michelle Rawlins previously wrote Women Of Steel, a non-fiction account of the women of Sheffield who kept the war effort running by taking on these jobs. By fictionalising her works she has added a welcome dimension of the human drama, and brought the experiences to a wider audience. CHRISTMAS HOPE FOR THE STEEL GIRLS is told for the reader of historical and women’s fiction who may not pick up non-fiction very often, and who will enjoy a good gossip. I’m keen to read more by Michelle Rawlins.