What an amazing story! A totally riveting, thoroughly researched book based on real characters and true events.
A teenaged Marcella Caretto having recently moved to Nice had dreams of becoming a singer but her family pressured her into attending college to learn the sewing industry. There she meets lecturer Michael Navratil. Michael is a charming, suave character who sweeps her off her feet. During a trip to London he secretly arranges for them to be married. Returning to Nice they open a business designing and making high end outfits for the very wealthy. Michael soon becomes controlling and cruel to Marcella and seems to be jealous of her love for their two young sons. Finally in 1911 she plucks up the courage to consult a solicitor and files for divorce. Following the court hearing the boys are put into the temporary care of Marcella’s aunt until the judge has decided which parent will get custody. After spending Easter Monday 1912 with the children he fails to return them.
The Titanic is about to make her disastrous maiden voyage to New York and Michael, using a stolen passport, buys tickets for himself and the boys. Margaret Hays is the third main character in the story. She grows bored on her European trip with her friend Olive and Olive’s mother Lily and the three decide to cut short the trip and return home to New York on the Titanic. The tragic events that follow link Marcella and Margaret for ever. After discovering her boys are alive Marcella’s mission is to find them. A task made more difficult because of their father travelling under a false name.
I was surprised to learn that this is a true story. The epilogue tells us what happened next and gives fascinating information about the individual people involved. I was so enthralled by this unforgettable, heart rending story. It’s the first Celia Imrie book I’ve read but I’ll definitely be reading more!
Thank you to netgalley and Bloomsbury publishing for the opportunity to read such a memorable book

This is the first novel I've read by Celia Imrie, and I loved it. It wasn't till I read the final section that I realised it was the true story of the last survivor of the Titanic sinking.

There is plenty of interest before we embark on the ship, especially Marcella's relationship with Michael, where she is the victim of his controlling behaviour. When she starts divorce proceedings, the sheer difficulty of a woman extricating herself from a marriage in the early 20th century is painfully described.

The characters and their motivations in this novel are fascinating and the story is told with clarity. I find it remarkable that such detailed records were kept at the time, enabling the author to piece together the history with such accuracy and to bring it to life on the page.

Nice is a city I love, so I will read other titles by this author and look forward to immersing myself in that lovely city.

Wow!!! This was incredible!!!! I loved everything page of this book and I really wasn’t expecting it!!! What a genuinely heartwarming book

Orphans of the Storm whisks readers back in time to September 1911, Nice, France, where readers meet Marcella, who has children and is in the process of divorcing her husband. Celia Imrie really captures that sense of nerves as Marcella wonders if she should go through with it or not, even though she has already stepped foot into the solicitor's office. Readers also see what happened in the lead up as time flips back to 1907.
It's an interesting part of history with this slant of life, as not many women would have contemplated this at that time, but there were some that certainly did. It brings a bit of history that isn't talked about much or shown very little at this time. It's certainly attention grabbing and brings, perhaps, a fresher appeal, so even if it is isn't a reader's usual genre or time period for reading about, I think they'll find something different in Orphan's of the Storm.

Marcella works as a tailor and readers are treated to all sorts of fabrics, in words, but really she would rather be a singer. The romantic entanglement was one between Marcella and Michael, but all isn't what it seems. It becomes one of controlling behaviours. Celia Imrie captures love and this darker side very well and shows how things start to turn in this relationship and the increasing jealousy of Michael. It's written with disarming authenticity and readers can really be pulled in further by this.

There is also some humour to be found within the characters, which lifts it and brings something more jovial to the story.

The book also shows what was happening from Michael's life from 1912 in Calais and the people he meets. It also shows his life in London. The attention to detail is inspired. Celia Imrie has a talent for creating an epic story that enthralls and holds you there in the world she creates. There's the crowds of people at RMS Titanic and the atmosphere and the sense of the scale of the journey being embarked, that readers then join too.

There are twists and turns that ensue, involving Marcella, Michael and the children in reaction to what happened in previous years.
There is also the fact of being on the Titanic. Although everyone knows what happens, there is still drama injected from involving the family and of course the iceberg. Tension, action and emotions are written very well, in a believable manner. The book also takes readers beyond that fateful day of the Titanic and illustrates what happened next most excellently. Moving onwards from that is a bit about the characters you've just read about. This book is based on some real people. A great deal of research has clearly gone into this to create not only a compelling story, but one that goes onto say a bit more about the people behind the fictional story beforehand, which is as fascinating as fiction.

The Orphans of the Storm is even better than I thought it would be and the writing really is exquisite and captivating. This is a book I highly recommend.

Three things to observe.
Miss Babs can write! Anything that takes place in April 1912, will almost certainly involve the Titanic sinking. It’s most unusual when a book is read, that you want one of the major characters to; oh, let’s say die, become horribly injured or given a prison life sentence, but, I found myself doing just that. ! What a total lowlife, scumbag, bully, devious, lying b____d, but I do feel that the book would have flat without such a person.
This novel involves theft, deception, and controlling cruelty and violence, child abduction and this is before we even board the Titanic! A real Tour de Force of a book, such a gripping and exciting read that offers a great deal of heartbreak with a few interludes of happiness and pleasure. What is so amazing is, this book is based upon fact, the true stories are blended really well with necessary fiction, in order to fill the gaps, and the epilogue gives the factual resume. Some names have been changed to avoid confusion, in a Catholic country, there is a plethora of Michaels, Maria’s Louis’s and Tony’s.
I admired the bravery of the wife, her love for her children, to sue for divorce in these times , the early twentieth century and in Naples , well that’s not a light undertaking, especially when females had no rights in law and all the power rested with the men.
The descriptions of life on board the Titanic were gorgeous, but so class dominated, there was mention of Molly Brown, but it is a story that is known world wide. From the minute the life boats were launched, the story became poignant and more vivid, the debate about that last piece of music played by the band was interesting, I hadn’t heard of that before.
A stylish read, thought provoking and really sensitively written. A five star read.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for my e- galley in return for my honest and unbiased opinion. I will leave reviews to commercial retailers later.

Really enjoyed this book. After a few very heavy, complicated reads this was a pleasant change. Although there were various timelines and people, they were easy to follow and the characters easily identified.
Poor Marcella, a frustrated teenager who just wants to be a singer, when she meets Michael she falls for his charm and suave ways. he takes her to London and marries her before she has time to consider her position. Marcella and Michael both work in the clothing industry, making high quality garments, gradually Michael's true, controlling and evil personality shows itself, by then Marcella is the Mother to two boys and trapped.
eventually Marcelle seeks a divorce and Michael steals the boys and embarks on an ill fated Titanic trip.
Marcella is initially devastated to learn of the death of her two sons, but sees a newspaper article about two orphaned boys, she then has to fight bureaucracy and suspicion to win back her boys.
Fascinating to find that this is based on a true story. Epilogue rounds characters stories off well.
Thanks To Celia and NetGalley.

Nice, France, 1911: After three years of marriage, young seamstress Marcela Caretto has finally had enough. Her husband, Michael, an ambitious tailor, has become cruel and controlling and she determines to get a divorce. But while awaiting the judges' decision on the custody of their two small boys, Michael receives news that changes everything. Meanwhile fun-loving New York socialite Margaret Hays is touring Europe with some friends. Restless, she resolves to head home aboard the most celebrated steamer in the world - RMS Titanic.
As the ship sets sail for America, carrying two infants bearing false names, the paths of Marcela, Michael and Margaret cross - and nothing will ever be the same again. From the Sunday Times-bestselling author, Celia Imrie, Orphans of the Storm dives into the waters of the past to unearth a sweeping, epic tale of the sinking of the Titanic that radiates with humanity and hums with life.

I was keen to read this book as I've enjoyed previous books by this author.
On reaching the end of the book I was interested to learn that the book is based on factual characters, and found the resume of each of them very interesting.
This was another page turner, and bound to be another best seller.

This was such a lovely read! It is inspired by true events and you can tell great research has been done. The first 60% of the book I would say is more a family drama, which I found enjoyable. Main character is Marcella who meets and falls quickly in love with Michael. After a few years of marriage and two little boys, things turn sour and Marcella wants to divorce Michael. Have to say I actually forgot this book was based on the Titanic because it doesn’t get introduced until the last third of the story. Overall a fantastic read, highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise sounded interesting and I love the titanic. However this book wasn’t for me at all. I wasn’t gripped like I wanted

I found the first half of this book extremely slow and was going to give up but I thought "one more chapter".
It was the right decision because the book became gripping and the pace faster.
A good mix of facts and fiction, a vivid historical background and an interesting story.
I enjoyed it but you have to be patient.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Nice, France, 1911 After three years of marriage, young seamstress Marcela Caretto has finally had enough. Her husband, Michael, an ambitious tailor, has become cruel and controlling and she determines to get a divorce. But while awaiting the judges' decision on the custody of their two small boys, Michael receives news that changes everything. Meanwhile fun-loving New York socialite Margaret Hays is touring Europe with some friends. Restless, she resolves to head home aboard the most celebrated steamer in the world – RMS Titanic. As the ship sets sail for America, carrying two infants bearing false names, the paths of Marcela, Michael and Margaret cross - and nothing will ever be the same again.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I found it to be well written with engaging characters. The story is told from the point of view of the three main characters. I did struggle with the first half of the story & found myself flipping through pages & nearly gave up. However once The Titanic was boarded the pace changed & I found myself totally gripped - so very much a book of two halves for me. I loved the mix of fact & fiction, there was an awful lot of research to produce the book & I loved the behind the scenes at the back of the book
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

After what I thought was a bit of a slow start, this book became utterly gripping as Michael boards the Titanic. However, discovering at the end that the story is fact interwoven with fiction, made the start feel much more pertinent. Well written, fascinating characters and a portrayal of history, this is a great story to read. It’s particularly amazing that however extreme it seemed at times, it is based on real events.

Orphans of the Storm is a historical book based on true characters and events ,set in the early 1900's in Nice ,I did find the first half of the book very slow and drawn out ,it was only after I had read the first half that for me the story got interesting ,I would have liked more on the story aboard the Titanic .I didn't realise until the end that the characters were real and did exist .The story is told through three POV ,Marcella .Michael and Margaret ,the book was well researched and interesting .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

Overall a great read. I thought the first part of the story a little slow but it certainly picked up. Research was meticulous and thorough..

Set in Nice in the early part of the twentieth century the story, based on fact, relates the tale of a young woman realising she is in an abusive marriage sets out to divorce her husband. That is something that was almost unheard of in those days. His revenge was terrible - he snatched their young children and boarded a ship bound for New York. The Titanic. The characters were extremely well depicted and my thanks go to NetGalley for a preview

The more I read of this story the more it gripped me until I didn’t want to put it down. The way the true story was interwoven in with the fiction was amazing. The story is told from three viewpoints, Marcella, Michael and Margaret. Marcella, at the start, was a naive seventeen year old who had dreams of becoming a famous singer. However, fate had a different plan for her. The reactions of the people on the Titanic and the Carpathia seemed very true to life. The extensive research really added to the interest of this story. This was a very engaging read with memorable characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Orphans Of The Storm by Celia Imrie is a thrilling and powerful historical novel based on fact.
It is set around the early 1900s in France, London, on board the ill-fated Titanic and in New York City. As the storm physically rages around, it is mirrored by mental anguish and a stormy relationship.

The book tells the story of Marcella, her marriage and, ultimately, their connection to the Titanic. It was an enjoyable read nonetheless and one based largely on true events, which made it all the more interesting. I also thought Celia Imrie's book really brought out the lives of those who were on board the Titanic and made me consider things related to that ill-fated voyage in a different way. I thought the explanation at the end of the book of the research and various inspiration for the story was also really interesting and showed the amount of work that went into telling this fascinating tale.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

What a stunning historical tale. This beautiful story is set primarily in early 1900s Nice, based on the Navratil story, their difficult marriage and Marcella's petition for divorce due to her ill treatment ove there husbands petty jealousies concerning other men and indeed their own infant sons. There are a host of wonderful characters, some sinister and spiteful and others more sympathetic. Eventually the tale lapses onto the infamous Titanic. The breathtaking descriptions of life on ship and the harrowing scenes during its demise are riveting. I was astounded by how many "facts" around the Titanic were mere gossip strengthened by false newspaper claims. So much of the story and the characters are based on superb historical research, which makes this book so powerful . An epic story. #celiaimrie #netgalley #bloomsbury

Orphans of the Storm is a captivating and compelling piece of narrative non-fiction set in actress and author Imrie’s second home of Nice, France. The novel follows the story of a mother’s quest to find her children against all odds, set against the epic backdrop of the sinking of the legendary Titanic. Beginning in Nice 1911, young French woman Marcella Caretto strives to protect her children from her husband, Michael Navratil, who has become cruel and controlling since their whirlwind romance. Marcella has finally had enough and determines to get a divorce, but Navratil has made a devastating plan of his own. When he disappears one night, smuggling their two toddler sons aboard RMS Titanic, she can’t possibly imagine the depths of tragedy and discovery that await her. Will she ever see her beloved sons again?

This is a moving, haunting and sweeping tale of love and loss with Imrie having intricately woven this touching literary historical fiction. Inspired by a real and astonishing true story, this novel is bursting full of compassion and humanity. It’s a beautiful, heart-rending and heart-soaring read that paints a vivid picture of the past, and readers will race through the pages, desperate to find out our heroine’s fate and won’t be disappointed in the most beautiful of endings. Set aboard the fateful 1912 voyage of RMS Titanic, Imrie’s richly atmospheric period novel entwines the destinies of a group of sharply drawn characters with humanity, compassion and page-turning aplomb. As the great ship sinks below the waves and with the violins gently weeping as fate takes hold, this tale will haunt long after the last page is turned.

Orphans of the Storm is a novel based on the real lives of a family caught up in the Titanic shipwreck. It was quite slow going until we got to the Titanic section, then it got more pacy and urgent.

As with television docudramas, possibly my favourite bit was the postscript, finding out what happened to all the characters after the story ended.

A recommended read for historical fiction fans.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.