Virginia, 1933: Her heart broke as she took in the scene before her. There were too many orphans and not enough beds. The rags they wore barely covered them and they hadn’t eaten in days. How could anyone let innocent children live like this? She picked up a tiny girl who’d cried as she moved past her cot. “I’ll be back soon, little one.”
Never in a million years did Lauren Greenwood think she would be destitute and without a penny to her name. But when her father mercilessly disowns her in the depths of winter, that is her fate. Now homeless, Lauren finds America in the devastating grip of the Great Depression––children run wild in the icy streets, endless queues for soup kitchens line frosty sidewalks, and desperation hangs in the air.
All alone in the world, Lauren finds an orphanage in the sprawling fields of the Virginia countryside, surrounded by snow-topped mountains and magnificent fir trees––a safe haven for those who have nowhere to go. But she is appalled to find children living in shocking conditions, huddled together for warmth, their hunger keeping them awake at night as the temperature plunges. The home for unloved orphans is on the brink of closure and the helpless innocents may lose the roof over their heads…
Lauren, heartbroken by the rejection of her own father, vows to provide these poor orphans with the love she never received. With Christmas just around the corner, she refuses to see them cast out onto the street, where they will not survive. When she sees an advertisement in the local newspaper, with an anonymous benefactor donating money to families crippled by the Depression, it could be the answer to her prayers.
Can Lauren save these children who have been rejected by the world? Or in a time of so much suffering, is there simply no hope?
A heartbreaking yet hopeful tale about a brave young woman who gives up everything to help unloved children who have nothing. Fans of Before We Were Yours, The Orphan Train and Diney Costeloe will adore this poignant historical novel, which shows that a little bit of kindness can go a long way.
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About the author
Having always been a fan of history, Rachel Wesson tries to combine her love of history with a good story.
Rachel was born in Kilkenny, Ireland but considers herself to be from the capital, Dublin, as that’s where she spent most of her life. Every Saturday Rachel’s father took her and her two sisters to the library, and to get ice-cream after, to give their mother a break. It took a long time for Rachel’s sisters to forgive her for the hours she spent choosing her books!
Rachel drove everyone nuts growing up, asking questions about what they did during the War or what side they were on in the 1916 rising etc... Finally, her Granny told her to write her stories down so people would get the pleasure of reading them. In fact, what Granny meant was everyone would get some peace while Rachel was busy writing!
When not writing, or annoying relatives, Rachel was immersed in books. Her report cards from school commented on her love of reading especially when she should have been learning. Seems you can't read Great Expectations in Maths…
Later in life, after a doomed love affair and an unpleasant bank raid during which she defended herself with a tea tray, she headed to London for a couple of years. (There is a reason she doesn’t write romance!). She never intended staying but a chance meeting with the man of her dreams put paid to any return to Ireland. Having spent most of her career in the City, she decided something was missing. So she packed in the job and started writing. Thanks to her amazing readers, that writing turned into a career far more exciting and rewarding than any other.
By
Rachel Wesson
Reviewed
By
Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews
First, I want to thank Rachel Wesson, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Lauren Greenwood’s character in a Home for Unloved Orphans by Rachel Wesson is a breath of fresh air, inspiring, she has a heart and she gave a powerful message at the beginning of the book. In a world that we live in today it is nice to see such an inspirational storyline such as hers that she did for those two special little girls.
I fully admit that Historical Fiction is not a genre that I usually review. However, the two children on the cover and the title caught my eye as well as the description. So, I figured I gave it a chance.
Instantly, this book will get you into the Christmas spirit as you will have the song Away in a Manger playing in your head over and over again.
Maggie and Biddy, two adorable poor little girls, will tug hard on your heart strings. The dialect Rachel uses for them to speak is too cute for words. Not to mention they said the cutest things. For example they thought their father could sing...but yet their father was at Sing Sing.
Rachel brings up some very important statements and life lessons in this book. Some that are even more important in today’s time.
I live in NY State so I totally could understand when it was mentioned that New York really is a tale of two cities. The richest and the poorest of society live almost door to door.
I laughed when Lauren’s father mentioned that thinking was bad for your brain. Your job is to look pretty and land a rich, successful husband. Who says that?!
This book made me hungry with the amazing southern breakfast buffet Lauren shared with her father.
Rachel mentioned some important events in history such as the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression, etc.
This is a book that is a subject that is close to Rachel’s heart and she discusses it in the letter in the back of the book.
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