Life and Love at Mulberry Lane: The next instalment in Rosie Clarke's Mulberry Lane historical saga series (The Mulberry Lane Series, 9)

Life and Love at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke takes us back to Mulberry Lane where The Pig & Whistle is closing for renovations. Peggy and Able Ronoscki are heading to America on a much-deserved vacation. Maggie Rowan will handle the food for the bar and the new restaurant while Fay Ronoscki is handling her new catering venture. Both ladies are excellent chefs, and they want to make of success of both businesses. Love may derail their plans when an up-and-coming singer sets his sights on Fay and a racing car driver fancies Maggie. The family is shocked when they receive news that Peggy has been injured, and she is in critical condition. The family will need to rally together to get through this difficult time. Life and Love at Mulberry Lane is the ninth book in The Mulberry Lane series. While Life and Love at Mulberry Lane can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order to get the full experience. It is spring of 1961 which brings changes to Mulberry Lane. Clothes, music, and attitudes are different. It is great to catch up with Peggy, Able, Janet, Pip, Maggie, Fay, Freddie, and the other characters. The author has created a great cast of characters for this series. I find the characters to be realistic and relatable. As with each book in the series, we are introduced to new characters. Freddie, Fay, and Maggie are growing up. While each one of them says they wish to delay getting married until their careers take off, cupid has a way of striking when you least suspect it. I have enjoyed seeing the characters grow up and begin their own families. I like how the family members are close and are there for each other. The people who live on Mulberry Lane are part of the extended family. We get to see how each member of the family copes with change, setbacks, and injuries. I thought the accident that injures Peggy and Able suited the time period and events happening in America. Peggy's injuries were unexpected. The author captured 1961 with local and world events, the music references, the books, movies, and the change in people's attitudes. I like that we get to see more career opportunities opening for women. While the younger generation is open to the shift in values, some of the older generation is still clinging to traditional values. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next with the residents of Mulberry Lane. Life and Love at Mulberry Lane is a historical tale about family, community, friendship, and love.