1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them.
But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with.
Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again?
Kindle Edition, 367 pages
Expected publication:
January 22nd 2019
by Bookouture
Genre: Historical Fiction
Kristine's Thoughts:
** I received an advanced readers copy from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, Thank you!
The Orphan Sisters followed the lives of Dorothy and Etty from the time they were little girls into adulthood. It started in 1929 when the girls were eight and four. This was when, for some unknown reason, their mother (mam) dropped them off at Blakely Hall (an orphanage) and walked out of their lives. At fifteen Dorothy aged out and four years later Etty followed. The book followed their lives as they struggled to adapt to life outside of the strict orphanage during a time when the country was in the throws of war.
I liked this book. I really liked it. As far as WW11 historical fiction goes, this book was very simplistic compared to most I've read. Although there was plenty of tragedy to be found in the pages, it wasn't as detailed or traumatising as many I have read. What it was that I enjoyed about this story was the bond between the two sisters. I also enjoyed how it focused on society and what was acceptable behaviour at that time in history.
As far as the characters went, I adored Dorothy. I struggled at times with Etty, she didn't always make the best decisions, but in the end I was always in her corner. The relationship between the two sisters was really what made this book. It was the heart of the book and what kept me turning the pages. It seemed that no matter what life would throw at them, they could survive as long as they had each other.
This book turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me. It left me very satisfied and thankful that I had the opportunity to read it. The simplicity of the writing made it easy to finish quickly. This book would be good for people who are just starting to get into WW11 historical fiction as it isn't as heavy and daunting as some. I will definitely pick up more work by Shirley Dickson in the future.
The Orphan Sisters followed the lives of Dorothy and Etty from the time they were little girls into adulthood. It started in 1929 when the girls were eight and four. This was when, for some unknown reason, their mother (mam) dropped them off at Blakely Hall (an orphanage) and walked out of their lives. At fifteen Dorothy aged out and four years later Etty followed. The book followed their lives as they struggled to adapt to life outside of the strict orphanage during a time when the country was in the throws of war.
I liked this book. I really liked it. As far as WW11 historical fiction goes, this book was very simplistic compared to most I've read. Although there was plenty of tragedy to be found in the pages, it wasn't as detailed or traumatising as many I have read. What it was that I enjoyed about this story was the bond between the two sisters. I also enjoyed how it focused on society and what was acceptable behaviour at that time in history.
As far as the characters went, I adored Dorothy. I struggled at times with Etty, she didn't always make the best decisions, but in the end I was always in her corner. The relationship between the two sisters was really what made this book. It was the heart of the book and what kept me turning the pages. It seemed that no matter what life would throw at them, they could survive as long as they had each other.
This book turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me. It left me very satisfied and thankful that I had the opportunity to read it. The simplicity of the writing made it easy to finish quickly. This book would be good for people who are just starting to get into WW11 historical fiction as it isn't as heavy and daunting as some. I will definitely pick up more work by Shirley Dickson in the future.
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