Sunday, February 20, 2022

BLOG TOUR - A Place to Call Home


DESCRIPTION:

Shilling Grange Orphanage, England, 1949. She would do anything to protect the innocent children in her care. But soon they could be sent into danger…


When Clara Newton’s fiancé died during World War Two, she thought her life was over. But now she looks after orphans who, like her, lost everything during the war. Children like sweet little Peg who won’t speak, and Joyce whose body was scarred by polio. Clara loves them all dearly, even though life as a housemother can be lonely – especially now that Ivor, a D-Day war hero with dark brown eyes who once helped with the children, has disappeared…

But then Clara receives some terrible news. The orphanage is going to be sold and the children sent far away. Joyce and Peg will be taken to a notorious home for disabled children. The others will be sent to Australia, where Clara fears they will be mistreated by unknown families. Any day now, the children could lose everything she worked so hard to provide…

With wealthy buyers lined up to purchase Shilling Grange and a ship already docked waiting to carry the children away, Clara is desperate. She must find loving new homes for them quickly, but time is running out… Can she save the orphans before they lose everything all over again? And even if Ivor returns when she needs him the most, will it be too late?

A completely heart-wrenching and unforgettable historical novel, set after the devastation of World War Two. Perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Diney Costeloe and The Orphan Sisters.


BUY LINKS:
MY THOUGHTS:
 
Title:   A Place to Call Home 
Author:  Lizzie Page
Series:  Shilling Grange Children's Home #2
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:   Historical Fiction 
Format:  Kindle ARC 
No. of Pages:   331
Date of Publication:   February 17, 2022
My Rating:   5 Stars

Clara Newton lost the love of her life during World War II. However, she has not given up on life. In fact, she does what she can for the orphans under her care at the orphange where she works. It is not just a job. In fact, it is so much more. Clara receives tragic news - the orphanage is going up for sale and she and the children will likely be separated. 

Each child is precious to Clara. Consider Joyce, suffering from polio. Then there is Peg, a child who does not speak. Young Alex, who loves Clara but wants his father. Evelyn, discriminated against due to her skin color and one who is wise beyond her years. Each child, as well as a few others, are very dear to Clara. She cannot imagine the children being split up, with some of their prospects that would hardly be liveable. 

Clara searches high and low to find homes for the children. They have already lost so much, she cannot bear to think of them losing even more. Meanwhile, a man who once touched her heart, Ivor, has returned after the war. Perhaps Ivor can help her keep the home, or at least protect the children.

A Place to Call Home is the second book in the Shilling Grange Children's Home series. The first book, The Orphanage, introduced Clara and showed her remarkable strength as she lovingly cared for all of the children. This second book could be read as a standalone, but readers will not be disappointed if they take the time to read the two books in order.

I loved these children, especially Evelyn, a girl of tender years who has seen it all but never stopped smiling, even after great loss. Love was the hallmark of the orphanage, even with the sad situation they all were facing. Equally heartbreaking and touching, this book was a stellar read from beginning to end.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lizzie Page is the pseudonym of Sam Lierens, a mum of three, who has lived and worked in Paris, Tokyo and London and loves combining her love of history with fiction.

She loves reading ALL the books, and always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to her to write historical fiction.

She lives with her family and dog by the sea in South East England.She enjoys traveling and she's had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling - but being a writer is her absolute favourite.

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizzie.page.75
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizziepagewrite
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17677783.Lizzie_Page
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizziepagewriter/

 

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