‘I was gripped from the very first page… It was heartbreaking… I smiled through these happy times with them but also shed tears… I could not put it down… Will undoubtedly pull at your heart-strings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 starsA heartbreaking, unputdownable and utterly unforgettable story of two young sisters cruelly abandoned by their mother at … abandoned by their mother at an orphanage. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will lose their hearts to this stunning World War Two novel.
1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – and they are confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most.
1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them.
But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with.
Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again?
Shirley Dickson’s next heart-wrenching novel, Our Last Goodbye is available to order now! Make sure you have the Kleenex ready…
Readers are losing their hearts to The Orphan Sisters:
‘Perfect… I could not put it down… Had it finished in just over a day, reading it during every spare minute I had!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘A beautiful story! Had me in tears from the very beginning. I couldn’t put this one down.’ A Book With Review, 5 stars
‘Outstanding… I absolutely loved this superb page turner.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Make sure you have tissues handy… The story is heartbreaking with a little happiness thrown in… Worthy of 5* and more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Promises to keep you turning the pages as your heart attempts not to break. A book you will lose yourself in!’ All The Good Books
‘A gorgeous character-driven, coming-of-age story about family bonds, love, and hardships of war. Exceptionally beautiful… I have already recommended the book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘A beautifully written coming-of-age story… I didn’t want to put down… Tugs at your heart strings.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘I love the story… A tale of family, heartbreaks, and forgiveness!… The characters are wonderful… The book is written so beautifully!… It’s not a story I will soon forget! I definitely recommend this book to others!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Emotional and inspiring.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Superb!… A page turner of a read as I was so engrossed… A compelling and emotional story that will tug on the readers’ heartstrings.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘Have a Kleenex nearby!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
Beautifully written and ready to capture the reader’s heart.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘I loved this book from the beginning – I was recommending it at only 20% in!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 starsmore
The Orphan Sisters, the debut novel of author Shirley Dickson, opens in 1929. Dorothy, age 8, and Etty, age 4, are rushing down the street with their mother, suitcases swinging by their sides. Etty thinks they are going someplace special but soon realizes that this is one trip she never wanted to take.
For the complete review, go to https://kindredconnection.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/the-orphan-sisters/.
In 1929, four year old Esther and eight year old, Dorothy were told by their mother that they would be going to a special place. Esther was excited to ride in the tramcar while Dorothy was less excited about their trip. Arriving at Blakely Hall, an asylum for orphaned children run by Mrs Knowles, was to be the girls’ new home until they turned fifteen. Esther, being so young, could not understand why their mother had abandoned them, but Esther knew that she could endure anything as long as Dorothy was by her side. The orphanage was not a nice place and Mrs Knowles ran the asylum with an iron fist. Esther learned to toughen up and harden her heart just to make it through until she could finally leave.
Now that both sisters are out of the orphanage, times are getting a lot harder especially since war is on the horizon. Both Esther and Dorothy find themselves, for the first time in years, learning how to live on their own always vowing to stay together and in the back of their mind, always wondering why their mother left them. Their journey takes them through love, loss, and the atrocities of war as they each find themselves and learn what they are both capable of becoming.
The Orphan Sisters is a beautifully moving story and I found myself invested in both Esther and Dorothy’s lives right from the beginning. Esther is definitely the defiant one who questions everything. She goes after what she wants and is determined to make a difference in the war. Her sister, Dorothy, is the the nurturer. She is content with her life and seems to be more of the peacemaker and takes things as they come. Esther and Dorothy could be no more different than night and day, but the love that they had for each other is so touching and heartfelt. Esther and Dorothy are fleshed out characters that I could not help feeling for and wanting good things to come to both of them especially during a war where people were losing their lives and family members.
Shirley Dickson really shines light on what it must have been like during World War II and how fearful people had become especially with nightly raids and air horns blowing constantly. But on the same token, Dickson shows that war can not break someone’s spirit and that people can persevere during trying times. Esther and Dorothy lived life to the fullest – falling in love, experience heartache, making friends, losing people they loved. The Orphan sisters embraced life and everything that comes along with it.
I am so shocked that The Orphan Sisters is Shirley Dickson’s debut novel. It feels as if Dickson has been writing forever and she has a backlog of bestsellers under her belt. Dickson puts so much heart into this story and it shows. She will pull you in with her writing and never let go even after the last page is read.
The Orphan Sisters left me completely breathless. It is a heartbreaking tale that at times brought me to tears. This is truly a remarkable and outstanding story and I can honestly say this is and will be my top read of the year. There are not enough of stars available to give this book, that’s how good it is. Shirley Dickson has acquired a new fan. If you love stories set during World War II, then I urge you to pick up a copy and immerse yourself in a wonderfully written unputdownable book.
This is a beautifully written heartbreaking story of two sisters, Dorothy 8 and Esther “Etty” 4, who were left by their mother at an orphanage, Blakely Hall, in November 1929. They did not know why they were being left there but they kept hoping their mother would come back; however, she never did. Dorothy was the first to leave and go to work for a local family when she reached a certain age. When Etty was old enough to leave, she was allowed to go and live with Dorothy who had a job and a flat by that time. Dorothy meets, falls in love and marries Lawrence “Laurie” Calvert. He is sent off to war in the Navy as a signalman in a submarine. Etty meets Trevor Milne and begins dating him but then she meets Billy Buckley who is dating her friend May and falls in love with him. Lots of unforgettable, heartbreaking things happen in this story that will definitely tug at your heartstrings. This story is about family, heartbreaking events and forgiveness. I absolutely loved this superb page turner. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this outstanding book in exchange for an honest review.
This book, while heart-string-pulling, is definitely well-written and will keep you engaged. The characters are so well-developed that they almost seem real. Etty is like no main character I have read before and I love it! Dorothy? I would look up to her too! I’m even considering adopting the moto “what would Dorothy do” because she just seems like a spectacular human being. This is a great read, just make sure you have some tissues nearby when you get to the last 100 pages.
Painted a clear picture of two orphan sisters who lived during WWII.
I truly enjoyed how the author wove the sisters’ strong love for each throughout the different story lines. A beautiful story intertwined with history.
Initially heart breaking WW2 story of two sisters with their lives and losses. Very tenderly written.
Realistic
So sad. War does awful things to our lives. A great read
Haunting, heart-breaking, and hopeful! This story depicts the complicated relationships all humans have.
I liked this book. It is set during WWII and tells the impact it had on the main characters but the story is really about hope, family and depending on each other. It is not sappy women’s fiction.
I enjoyed this book a great deal. It really gave me a better understanding of what people went through during WWII. Some of the dialect was hard to understand and that’s why I gave it 4 stars. I would give 4.5 stars if possible because it was a good story.
Ended too quickly. Needed a wrap up chapter.
Rembering of the horrors that England went thru
Powerful, young girls trying to survive war. Lacking experience young girls on the verge of adulthood must grow up fast under the fear of war and change
The vivid portrayal of life in England under siege during WW11 was very moving and hearreneing. Makes the ;present pandemic seem like a day in the park
I loved this book! It is a page turner! The story keeps teh reader hooked as no expected events unforld. The story is very well imagined, it had very good characters, and the book is very well written. I really loved it!
Esther and her sister Dorothy were told by their mother that they were going on a special trip, but their mother deceived them, the trip she promised wasn’t exciting or special… it was nothing but heartbreaking. She abandoned them at Blakely Hall, an asylum for orphaned children, and left them to deal with the terrible Mrs Knowles. The woman ruled the orphanage with an iron fist, and her expectations for the children were high and the conditions were barely livable.
Once they both turned of age they were able to leave Blakely Hall, and be free from the wretched Mrs. Knowles. But with the country at war, and the constant threat of air raid attacks it was hard to embrace their new found freedom. They found themselves a little home to share and tried to make the best of things. Little did they know that was just the beginning of many highs and lows that they would face…
The Orphan Sisters is a beautifully concocted historical tale of survival, hope, love, and the bonds of sisterhood. Between the pages of this one readers will meet two sisters who face many hardships due to their spiteful mother, and the dangerous environment they find themselves living in. But they are both determined to not let their trials define them and they fight hard to find a little happiness. But the journey getting there is filled with many emotional highs and lows. Their harrowing journey had me completely captivated from beginning to end, once I met them I didn’t want to let them go. I highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it’s perfectly penned words are bound to take you on an unforgettable literary journey!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
This book had hold on me from the first few pages. A good read.
This was a great read. I enjoyed the characters and the story. I love reading about different time periods to learn a little about the way theylived and this book is good at giving that.