I enjoyed this book despite finding it rather 'twee'. Maisie has been brought up in an orphanage since she was 4 years old. Her twin brother was adopted and she was prevented from keeping in touch by the cruel Matron of the home. Now that the orphanage has become a hospital for injured soldiers, Maisie finds herself as a nursing assistant. When she meets handsome Canadian serviceman Cam, she starts to believe she has found true love. But both have to survive the war in order to have their dream lives...…. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
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This was my first read by this author, and while I wanted to love the story and the characters, it just kind of fell flat for me, there were moments that stood out and made the book good but there was no real WOW moment that made me jump up and down with joy.

This book is about Maisie, a young women who grew up in an orphanage and was never adopted and really only finds out who she is when the orphanage is closed and turned into a war hospital and then that's where the story takes off and secrets are revealed.

Overall a good read

This was a very moving story taking place during the Second World War. IT covered the whole gamut of human emotions with some very appealing characters and some not quite so nice. The conclusion was very emotive but ended on a high.

What a book it was so good.

It tells the story of Maisie who is a orphan and lives in a orphanage.  She had a twin brother but he ended up being adopted while she stayed in the orphanage.  There is some members of staff who are not nice to her.

It tells you what happens to Maisie througt the War where she meets Harry Cameron (Cam) and ends up writing to him.

I certainly could not put this book down and read it very quickly.  There is heartache and romance in this book.

I would read more books by this author.

Maisie Reynolds has been at the Holly Bush Orphanage since she was 4 years old.  She is now 19 and is still there.  Her bushy red hair and reticent personality has kept her from getting adopted and has caused her to be teased by the other orphans.  Her twin, Jack, was adopted early and she has never heard from him.  The Matron of the orphanage seems to hate Maisie, and always tells potential adoptive parents that Maisie is no good and lazy which, in reality, Maisie is just the opposite.  World War 2 is now blasting its way around the English countryside; and when Matron is killed during a bombing attacking and the temporary Matron is killed as well, Maisie finds herself in charge of the orphanage as the military takes it over for a hospital for military personnel suffering from what is now known as PTSD.  Will Maisie be up to the tasks she takes on and will it change her life forever in many different ways?

I absolutely loved Maisie and how she faced and overcame each challenge presented to her.  She learned she had capabilities beyond what she thought and found that she did have an inner beauty as well as outer beauty that others appreciated.  This is my first novel from Peters, and I loved her historical knowledge of the orphanages that sprang up during WW2 as children were left without parents due to bombing.  Her character development was also spot on  with both the major and minor characters.  The letters and poetry that she included between Maisie and Cam was so heartwarming, and I looked forward to reading each of their letters especially Maisie's beautiful poetry.  

I will certainly be looking for Peters' previous books as this one was so enjoyable.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book  from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Maisie Reynolds has grown up at the Holly Bush orphanage in Southampton. At the age of 17, she realizes she'll never be adopted. Separated from her twin brother Jack at the age of five and with no memories from her parents, Maisie is looking for answers about her past. When WOII arrives in Engeland, all the orphans except Maisie are moved from the city.  The building will be turned into a care home for wounded soldiers. Maisie's future is unsure. Will she be able to set up a life on her own? Can she find her brother? 

I must start with the fact that this wasn't a book for me. It is a standard WOII fiction, a genre that dominates the book store shelves. These kind of books tend to feel like they are all the same. 

This is a coming of age story with good character building. Maisie is a young naive girl trying to make the best of the situation. She has some lovely friends in Charlie and Joyce. I enjoyed to read about all the secondary characters and their lives during the war. But the plot is just too thin for my liking. Especially the mystery around Maisie's family is too far fetched and there are too much coincidences in how the revelations slowly unfold. There is also a heavy romance plot line, in the form of boy meets girl and they are instantly in love. 

Britain in times of war made for a fine scenery. In times when the world outside comes to a halt due to a global pandemic, it's strange to read about normal life going on through the bomb attacks of the Germans. 

If you love some WOII fiction with some drama and romance, this might be the perfect holiday read for you. 

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in return for my honest opinion.

I have spent this last week reading The Forgotten Orphan. This is my first Glynis Peters’ book.. I thoroughly enjoyed  this book set mostly at Holly Bush Orphanage  near Southampton, England during WWII. Maisie Reynolds has been raised at this orphanage. Her twin brother was separated from her at the age of four. For some reason, The Matron and her assistant make life extremely hard for Maisie. As the book starts, she is turning eighteen, does not know where her brother is, being treated like a servant and WWII has started. This book made me think of a Dicken’s novel. A good story, a protagonist who is treated badly but the protagonist is able to maintain a good heart through out her journey to get answers.

We follow Maisie through all of her problems. She has no birth certificate, and can’t find her brother. During one of the bombings, both the matron and her assistant were killed and Maisie is left in charge . This is a lot for an eighteen-year-old. And the military is taking over the orphanage as a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. One problem after another, and still Maisie moves forward. Of course she does have some good friends that care about her and a dashing Canadian paratrooper, Cam, enters the story.

I thoroughly loved the journey the author took me on while reading this story. My thanks to Harper Collins and One More Chapter for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

Maisie was left at Holly Bush House orphanage with her twin brother Jack when she was 4 years old, Jack was adopted but Maisie stayed there having a miserable childhood until the war started.   As children were being evacuated from London the orphanage became a rehab centre for injured servicemen and Maisie now 15 stayed on to work there. 

A great book I loved how Maisie's character grew over the story, finding love with Cam, and overcoming the disadvantages of her childhood

Maisie Reynolds was abandoned when she was little, separated from her twin brother and forced to grow up in Holly Bush Orphanage. The world was at war and Hitler's devastating bombs were getting closer. Fate had other plans for Maisie and a secret from her past changes everything.  When she meets Canadian paratrooper, Cam, Maisie learns that love might not be lost to her. But not before D Day and her past life brings a tragic twist.

Maisie grew up in an orphanage and she was the last one left when it closed. Maisie never got adopted or rehomed. She was always left out an unloved. She didn't didn't know why she was treated differently.  She never knew what had happened to her twin brother, Jack. Yhis us the story of Maisie coming of age, falling for a Canadian who will change her life. A story of hope, courage, forgiveness and acceptance. This is a well written story of romance and mystery set around WWII. 

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #GlynisPeters for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Forgotten Orphan by Glynis Peters is a story full of hope, love, perseverance, coming of age, finding one's purpose, forgiveness, and acceptance. A fast-paced read that pulls you in and holds your attention until the surprise ending. The Forgotten Orphan is for anyone that enjoys a great WWII storyline with a bit of mystery and romance.

The Forgotten Orphan by Glynis Peters is an historical fiction novel that takes place mainly in England during WWII. This was my second book by Glynis Peters and it did not disappoint. 

This is the story of a young woman named Maisie who grew up in an orphanage without love. She was never put up for adoption and worked at the orphanage until it closed. The orphanage became a long term medical facility with soldiers that had PTSD and other injuries during the war. Maisie stayed to help and care for these soldiers.  I loved, that despite everything, the main characters journey to find herself was truly inspiring. 
 
The setting was so vividly written. You could imagine the orphanage, the town and the main characters room.  You could feel the bombs drop. I felt that the character development was wonderful. You could feel the sadness, torment, hope, friendship, and love.  I had a hard time putting it down. 

This is a beautiful and heartbreaking story. This book was very well written, a joy to read. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Peters has in store for us next. Well done. 

Thanks to Glynis Peters, Harper Collins U.K., One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley, One More Chapter and Harper Collins UK for a copy of the Forgotten Orphan in exchange for an honest review.

The Forgotten Oprhan follows Masie Reynolds, who was abandoned at Holly Bush orphanage when she was a young child along with her twin brother, who was later adopted. 

Throughout her childhood, Masie was not treated very well at the orphanage, and longed for a life outside of it,

To be honest, I didn't get very far into this before calling it quits. I love historical fiction and stories about coming of age, but this read like it was written for young adults or those in grade school — which is totally fine — but the way it was done just didn't do it for me.

I enjoyed the premises, but I wanted more out of it, especially with a subject matter like this and set during WW2.

Maisie Reynolds has lived at Holly Bush House orphanage most of her life having been left there with her twin brother, Jack, around the age of four. Shortly after arriving she experienced the heartbreak of being separated from Jack when he was adopted. The story begins with Maisie, now a fifteen-year-old, having “resigned herself to the ranks of the unwanted” accepting that she will probably never leave the orphanage. 

Almost overnight everything changes with the start of World War Two and Holly Bank House is requisitioned by the Government as a medical rehabilitation and recovery centre. Maisie is concerned that she no longer has a home but it quickly transpires that she is a great asset to the medical staff with both her knowledge of the house and her caring and compassionate nature in helping the patients.

This is a beautifully scripted tale of heartbreak, beauty, strength, and love, centered around Maisie who ultimately shows that she doesn’t let her past define her future. It covers the harrowing experiences of many during the war, of losing loved ones, and the destruction of the bombings which were very descriptive. There was so much beauty in the writings, including Maisie’s poems, and letters sent to her serviceman sweetheart. Through this relationship we see Maisie’s understanding of real love grow and mature, something she hadn’t experienced before.

Overall, this was a beautifully scripted story of strength, love, and self-belief during a time of great sorrow and heartbreak. I would highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys historical fiction.
Many thanks to Glynis Peters, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley.

This is the first time that I have read a book by Glynis Peters and on the strength of this it certainly won't be the last.

This is one of the few books that I have given a 5 star rating to this year. What I particularly liked is the way that the character of Maisie is developed as the novel progresses. There is also a varied cast supporting characters which adds to the charm of the story. The timeline of the narrative takes us from Maisie's tragic childhood, being separated from her twin brother. Tracing her journey into adulthood, in Holly bush, a children's home near Southampton. 

This is at times a very upsetting book, yet at the same time is very uplifting. 

Glynis Peters has managed to produce a historical fiction book which captures many aspects of what life must have been like on the home front during the Second World War. 

I give my thanks to Glynis Peters, Netgalley and HarperCollins UK (First Chapter) for a copy in exchange for this review.

This is the story of Maisie who was an  orphan in Holly Bush House,  Maisie was always left out and was never rehomed  or  adopted , why was she always treated differently to the other kids? What happened to her brother James.

This is Maisie's story of coming of age and finding the true story of her life, with interesting twists and a plethora of characters, this a great story of a girl finding herself and the women she will become.

I enjoyed this book on so many levels. It was interesting as well as heartbreaking. I love these sort of books and it was so well written. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I would definitely like to read more of hers. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Having read the authors previous 2 book's, I washing looking forward to this, it certainly didn't disappoint, great story, great characters, I will be looking out for more books by this author

Maisie and her twin brother Jack were left at the orphanage. Her brother and many other were adopted. Poor Maisie wasn't. She was unloved and unwanted. Unable to leave the orphanage she cared for the other children until they were adopted. 

This is a beautiful, heartbreaking story. I'm a big fan of historical fiction in this era so I was drawn in straight away. I loved, that despite everything, even Maisie could find love and her journey to find herself was truly breathtaking. So although it is really sad there is always hope. I loved it.

Maisie Reynolds was abandoned at Holly Bush Orphanage in Southampton when she was about four years old and with her twin brother Jack. Left in the care of Matron Gloria Mason, Maisie had a miserable childhood, while other children were adopted including her own brother she was always over looked and it hurt. She stayed at the orphanage, Maisie loved to look after the children, she wanted them to feel that someone cared about them and she made a difference in many children’s lives. 
England’s at war, it’s no longer safe for the children to stay in London and the orphanage will be closed. It’s going to be used as a rehabilitation and recovery centre for injured soldiers. Maisie doesn’t have a lot of confidence, she has no qualifications or skills and she has no idea what she will do when it closes? Maisie’s kind, helpful, efficient, and she’s offered work at the center and becomes the housekeeper. Maisie’s always plagued by self doubt; she wants to know who she is, why was she left at the orphanage and what happened to her brother Jack? She meets Canadian paratrooper Harry Cameron or Cam, he’s from British Columbia, they fall in love, the war drags on and she continues to look for clues about her past.
The Forgotten Orphan is a story about Maisie’s quest to find answers about her identity; she will uncover hidden secrets, discover things she wasn’t expecting and it’s shocking. But Maisie is tenacious, determined, she has an incredible big heart, so does Cam, he stand by her and together they overcome many obstacles. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review; I enjoyed the story and four stars from me.

Finding Opportunity in the Rubble
As a former U. S. History teacher, there are few things I enjoy more than a gripping historical fiction novel…but therein lies the problem when it comes to reviewing historical fiction: I’m notoriously hard to please. This is particularly true when the book is set during WWII, which happens to be one of my favorite time periods to teach. With that explanation out there, I have to say that I had a hard time reviewing The Forgotten Orphan; I disliked the book intensely for the first 60%, but found the last 40% to be amazingly redeeming. Would I tell a history teacher to stock this in their classroom library, no. But, would I recommend it to someone who enjoys historical romances, yes. Hence my 3.8 rating: if you can accept this book as a romance that just happens to be set during WWII it is very enjoyable, but if you are looking for the type of historical fiction that is steeped in thought-provoking factual back story, this isn’t the book for you. See the source image

The heroine of the story, Maisie Reynolds, is a young woman to whom life has been anything but kind. She and her twin brother Jack, were consigned to an orphanage at age 4, and shortly thereafter Jack was adopted. Maisie spent her entire life in the orphanage, being used a source of free labor by the Matron in charge, and feeling that she was never given a real shot at being adopted. She wonders who her mother was, where her brother wound up, and why she has been almost systematically disadvantaged in the adoption process. But through it all, she remains hopeful that she will find love, have children of her own, and build a life of meaning helping others. She longs to be of service doing something meaningful for the war effort, and she gets her chance when two successive orphanage Matrons die during the bombing raids of the Blitz. It is at this point that her relationship with Canadian paratrooper Harry Cameron (Cam) begins to blossom. Cam helps Maisie realize that her dreams of a better life and family of her own could become reality, as long as they both survive the war.

Sounds like a promising basis for a plot right? I thought so too! But although I found Maisie likable enough, I felt like the book spent a bit too much time focusing on her feelings of self pity and almost overpowering goodness in the face of extreme diversity. Maisie is the only character who was wholly fleshed out, but she lacked any real negative qualities, making her hard to connect with. The characters revolving around her were one dimensional, and served a specific purpose to the plot, then faded into See the source imagethe background. The fate of her mother was predictable, as were the reasons for Maisie’s lack of adoption prospects. Her early interactions with Cam felt a little forced and flat to me, but this was more than made up for later on, when they finally had a real spark, brought about by Maisie’s personal tragedies and Cam’s unwavering loyalty.

From a historical standpoint, I felt that the portrayal of the air raids, and people’s varying reactions to them, was done well. The eerie feelings of walking through a bombed out town, waking to the wail of an air raid siren, and being caught out in the middle of a bombing were written with great precision. Maisie’s feeling of being too weary to bother running to shelter because the thought of dying alone in the dark of a cellar evoked a powerful feeling of sympathy. Where I felt a lack of connection to the historical time frame was in the descriptions of the wounded from D-Day that Maisie was helping to nurse, and in her musings on the Holocaust, which seemed almost like a throw-away obligatory mention, rather than something included to bring meaning to the story. However, this was counterbalanced by her understanding of the fact that the U. S. and British retaliatory bombings on Germany were affecting women and children there in the same way that she had been affected by the German raids, and that was a powerful observation. See the source image

So to conclude: this story would have been a home run for me if it had included a bit more historical fact to develop the back story of the events in the book, such as on the Blitz, the Allied retaliation, and D-Day. Bonus points could have been had for talking about the economic situation that existed at the time that Masie and Jack were brought to the orphanage, to flesh out the motivations of the adults involved. But, as I said, if you can read this simply as a romance novel that is set in the past, it is a sweet and sensitive story of a girl’s search for family and love, and her ultimate fulfillment.
3.8