The Runaway Orphans

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Pub Date 9 Jun 2022 | Archive Date 12 Jun 2022

Description

Two sisters. One secret. A daring wartime journey…

Desperate to escape their stepfather’s house, sisters Amy and Lillian stow away aboard a train full of children being evacuated from London and the threat of Hitler’s bombs.

Arriving in the seaside town of Worthing, they are taken in by kindly Norah and her husband Jim.

With their future now entrusted to strangers, can the girls finally find a safe harbour in these dark days of war? And will they find the strength to confront what they have been running from, when their past finally catches up with them?

An absolutely heart-breaking and uplifting wartime story of courage, sisterhood and the power of love. Perfect for fans of Shirley Dickson, Glynis Peters and Lisa Wingate.

Readers love Pam Weaver:

A beautiful, heart-warming yet sometimes heart-wrenching book… I was left with a smile on my face’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Such a remarkable book from start to finish… It will touch your heart… Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I couldn't put it down it was so captivating’ Goodreads reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Family saga at its best. Such lovely story lines and you actually feel like you are in the book’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A warm story about love, betrayal, family… I loved the ending. It was incredible!’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved this book, I couldn’t put it down’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lovely book, couldn't stop reading it… There are lots of secrets in this story which keep the reader gripped til the very end… Would definitely recommend’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was hooked from the first page… Read it for yourself and experience this brilliant book’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two sisters. One secret. A daring wartime journey…

Desperate to escape their stepfather’s house, sisters Amy and Lillian stow away aboard a train full of children being...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9780008366247
PRICE US$7.99 (USD)
PAGES 400

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Average rating from 83 members


Featured Reviews

Really enjoyed this book, can't go wrong with Pam Weaver books, i liked the characters, and i will be buying this for my Mum.

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I loved this book, it has well-developed characters, the storyline is gripping .and emotional, Once I started it I didn't want to put it down and read it in two sittings.

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Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
Pam you have wrote such an emotional book based in the war family saga at its best absolutely brilliant

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This book was impossible to put down once I started it. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. I hope there is another story so I can learn whether the three girls ever find each other.

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What a wonderfully written emotional story two sisters who use the evaccuation as a means of escaping their stepfather.Amy and Lillian travel by train and eventually end up in Worthing at the home of police sergeant Jim and his wife Norah,As Norah helps settle the little girls she tries to find out where they are from but they stay tight lipped and as life goes on the girls settle in to their home.Lillian goes to school but Amy gets a job in the police canteen Norah has four evaccue children living with them and they all settle down to life in Worthing. This a very emotional book and had me in tears a few times.Excellent 5*

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Read this in one sitting what an enjoyable read as usual from Pam Weaver.
This was a usual ww2 saga with a few twists and turns. Hope there will be further books on Roz & Felix.
The book is focused on the journey of two Jewish children escaping from Germany st the start of the war and follows their lives.
Great read

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I loved the emotions this book puts the reader through. Stunning absolutely stunning!
All I can say is this author has gained a forever reader with me!
Because they are damn good at what she does and that's making me glued to my kindle and forgetting about life!

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What a wonderful storyline, absolutely loved all the characters and how they all pull together in times of crisis, could not out this book down, would highly recommend

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it’s a while since a I have read a book by this author and I had forgotten what a great storyteller she is. Absolutely loved this tale from page one I was hooked and read it in 3 sittings as I could not wait to find out what happened next . A deeply moving and compelling tale with touches of humour highly recommended.

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An absolutely spellbinding story of two sisters who escaped from an abusive father during the evacuation of London. Found by a wonderful couple they love, then are found by their father. Follow an intriguing trail of suspense as they try to get away. Great story.

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Absolutely loved this book from the first to the last page, following the story of Norah and Jim and 3 girls who they take in to their home and their hearts during the 2nd World war. The story has great characters with stories of love, tragedy, abuse and heartache. Fantastic book.

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So emotional that will touch your heart. I love this author's work.
Jim and Nora Kirkwood in Worthing and two young girl's running from their stepfather, you are going to need lots of tissues for this book. It's a wonderful atmospheric journey and I enjoyed every single chapter. Thank you Pam Weaver for another beautiful read.

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So this was an emotional but amazing story. I loved the characters and im hoping fir a sequel as I felt like there maybe?

If your into WW2 books then get this one.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this emotional book.

My thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by other reiewers

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Tissues needed for this WW2 saga, very emotion al heartwarming tale. Lovely characterisation. I really enjoyed this book.

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Pam Weaver is a new author for me and from the first page I knew I was going to love this book. I read it in a day and when I finished it I was left with questions and wondering if there was ever going to be a 2nd book.
It all starts with a brutal step father and two you girls who get the chance to escape as evacuees. They board a train in London and keep changing trains but little do they know they are working their way back towards the place they need to get away from. By chance they come across Jim and Nora Kirkwood in Worthing and begin to feel safe. Everything goes wrong and the girls are retuned to their step father.
There is so much to say about this lovely book but you just need to read it yourself and enjoy it. So well written and great characters.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon books for the chance to have the early read. My question is will there be a 2nd book as so many unanswered questions.

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Norah and her husband Jim who is a local policeman are getting on with their everyday normal lives when war begins. They take in two evacuee sisters and then another two girls are delivered to their doorstep. These girls have ran away from their stepfather and with good reason.
Norah and Jim know nothing about the girls and the girls are giving nothing away but when their step father finds them Norah and Jim are drawn into a whole different world, one where they could lose everything.
Well that was some read. This story tells you how unfair life can be. How people with power and money can do what they like. There is also a kind of karma about the book too which is very satisfying.
There is a good mix of characters, the good, the kind, the annoying and the downright horrible. All put together to make a cracking read.
I couldn't put this book down once I started and I can't help hoping there might be a sequel.
Pam Weaves knows how to weave a story through your mind and keep it in your thoughts long after you have put the book down.

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A very emotional journey with this story of love hope and tragedy, during war times in the UK.
Emotional and physical abuse to women and how it impacts on their lives forever
Times are hard but people pull together to help each other in times of war and hard times
Great story

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I love world war 2 books and books about children, this was simply wonderful. Atmospheric, moving and brilliant.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

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Set during the second World War in Worthing, Norah, a good-hearted young policeman's wife finds herself not only taking in a couple of evacuees but also putting up her cantankerous mother-in-law Mrs Kirkwood, an old school caretaker Ivan, who has recently been made homeless and her London family's pets! When two more young girls are brought to her she initially thinks they are evacuaees, but when they refuse  to reveal their surnames or home addresses she realises that they are running away from something. This is a heart-warming and emotional read, with lovely historical description of life at the time.

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The Runaway Orphans is the first book from Pam Weaver that I have read, and I can’t wait to read more.
Amy and Lillian are sisters and live with their stepfather. But Amy now fourteen was abused by her stepfather and now Lillian is at that same age. Amy worries that she will be next. So, the girls stow away on an evacuee train full of children and get far away as possible from their Stepfather. But they are caught and as it is late, they are brought to Norah’s house which is already full of evacuees to stay with her and her husband Jim who is a Policeman in Worthing. The girls don’t speak about their father and Norah knows that there is something that it is not right about them, and they realise how when their Stepfather turns up and takes them away.
Thank You Avon for a copy of The Runaway Orphans by Pam Weaver. This is a beautifully written, emotional story about 2 sisters in WW2. I loved the storyline, and I couldn’t put this down. I hope that there is a sequel to this story to find out that happened Lillian. 5 stars from me.
.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was invested in the plight of characters from the first page making it impossible to put down once I started it. The story was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. I really hope there is another story as I felt there were some unresolved story lines - do the three girls ever find each other, do they go back to their mothers country or remain in England

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What a beautiful book. I couldn't stop reading until the last page. The characters if Jim and Norah and the girls they end up getting involved with all came to life on the pages.
It left me wanting more. I hope there will be follow on.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review
#pamweaver

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Two sisters and a secret…war time…historical fiction…families and friends…despair…this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…Written by a talented and gifted author, this is a quick read about a common occurrence during the war…this could a true story…however, some actions are so appalling…

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The Runaway Orphans was an emotional story which had me hooked from the first page. Set in England during WW2, 2 sisters escape their abusive step-father when children are being evacuated from London. They end up with Norah and Jim, a couple who just can't stop helping people out. The step-father is a very powerful man and causes all sorts of grief for Norah and Jim. There was an ensemble of great characters. Jim's mother Mrs Kirkwood was brusque, but with some help softened over time. Norah's parents and sister were kind and lovable right from the start and you can't help falling in love with Amy and Lily. I would love a second book as there were some unresolved story lines. Very touching read.

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This was a heartwarming and at times heartbreaking read. There are some books which are like that, simple and normal but still such good reads. This was one of those. Thank You for the review copy. All the best.

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Wow I love this author. This book did not disappoint loved all the characters and how the author brought them to life. I enjoyed it so much I finished it within 24hrs.
Would highly recommend

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Such a sad premise for a novel - children believing that they are better off running away during the war than with their step father. They are right though. The shadow of the three girls step father hangs over the whole book and impacte negatively on the lives of his step daughters, the family that takes two of the girls in during the outbreak of the war and their friends and family. The backdrop of the war flavours a sad tale of three orphans and how they survive.

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What a rollercoaster of emotions this book gives. The story focuses around Norah and jim who take in 2 evacuees from London during the war. One of them is harbouring a horrifying secret that has a huge impact of all of their lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and will look out for other books from this author.

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The resettlement of children from London to the countryside in England during the Blitz of WWII provides the means for two sisters to escape from the horror of their lives with their child molester stepfather. Since they are not on the formal listing of "orphans" they end up with a policeman and his wife who are sadly childless. The girls use their birth names and their deceased mother's maiden name to avoid being found by the stepfather. When he does track them down, the policeman's wife is suspicious. She doesn't give up on reuniting with the girls. Great read!

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Read this book in ONE sitting. Desperate to escape their stepfather’s house, sisters Amy and Lillian stow away aboard a train full of children being evacuated from London and the threat of Hitler’s bombs.
Arriving in the seaside town of Worthing, they are taken in by kindly Norah and her husband Jim. Heartbreak, love, and abuse but a story to lift your heart. Wonderful story.

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