This is a heartbreaking historical fiction novel that is set during World War II. Daisy and her sister Peggy are evacuated from their home in London and sent to live somewhere where their mother believes will be safe from bombings. When their new town is bombed, the girls put their trust in an "official" who takes them to a farm. The girls find out that the official lied and they are being held captive and forced to work on the farm. The girls try to escape but are heartbreakingly brought back to the farm.
In present time, Daisy's daughters are cleaning out her house and come across the secrets of her childhood that Daisy has kept from them all this time. The more they learn about Daisy's past, the more they understood the mother they thought they knew.

Thank you for the review copy of this book in return for a full and frank review which is my own opinion.

I did enjoy this book though I found it hard to read due to the inconsistent movement to the Second World War and present day. Just as one was reading one part of the story then it would revert to the other time frame but in an odd way to me.

I dont want to give away too much of the story but it involves Daisy and Peggy, two sisters, who are sent to Plymouth as Evacuees but end up homeless due to the bombing of the city. They are picked up by man who says he is a Billeting Officer and taken to a farm on the edge of Dartmoor - there with 4 orphans they are treated in less than human ways. Sadness, love and loss follows though to say more would be a spoiler but in time Daisy's daughters find the journal she wrote at the end of the War so their experiences could be documented.
So when Helen - Daisys daughter found the Journal I expected the narrative to be in that form - not in the same one as the rest of the book.
I also felt cheated that one of the main characters just disappeared - it was easy to assume what had happened to him but it isnt mentioned - even when a Gravestone is found where one would have expected him to be mentioned.
So I have given this book 4 stars - not because it was not a good book or one that I didnt want to finish but because I found it so very frustrating to read. I have read other Ann Bennett books and didnt have this problem.
Thank you to all involved in be being able to read this book

A really good read which is based over 2 timelines. Daisy’s life during World War 2 is heartbreaking. Her fight to survive is so brave. Her story is memorable and it was a pleasure to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I absolutely loved this story. It made for some tough reading at times. Based during the war years in Britain. It tells of love, loss and most of all survival. I laughed and cried throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Laura and Helen's mother, Daisy has had a stroke. She's now living in a nursing home while Laura and Helen were clearing out their mother's home, they discover some letters and a key. They discover journals telling all about Daisy's life during WWII.

WWII. Daisy has been evacuated from her home in London with her younger sister, Peggy. The first house they were sent to got damaged by a bomb so they are sent to the countryside. Along with other children they are forced to work on the farm. The working conditions are terrible.

This is a moving story that's hard to read in places. It's narrated by Daisy during WWII and Helen in the present day. The two stories merge together seamlessly. The chapters are told alternately by the two women. Peggy is a sickly child and Daisy had vowed to look after her. Along with Daisy and Peggy, working on the farm were another two boys and two girls. These children suffered at the hands of the farmers. I enjoyed this historical fiction novel that's filled with twists.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #AnnBennett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This was a fantastic and emotional read, full of love, loss, and survival.

After being evacuated from their home in London during WWII, Daisy is left with the responsibility of looking after her younger sister, Peggy. But life in their new home is short lived as they are once again displaced after a bombing. Just when they think they’ve found solace in yet another home out in the countryside, they soon discover it‘s not all it’s cracked up to be. They, along with other orphaned children, are forced to work on a farm and live in deplorable conditions. It is during her time there that Daisy learns some harsh life lessons and ultimately must sacrifice everything to save the ones she loves.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. At times is was so heartbreaking and difficult to read. Daisy and Peggy had already been through so much, even before they were sent to the farm, but to see them being physically and emotionally abused on top of it all was just awful. I did appreciate the romance aspect between Daisy and John as well, but I wish there had been a little more to their story before the book had ended. Regardless, I highly recommend this book!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3519895034

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Runaway Sisters" in exchange for my honest review.

This book was as moving as "The Orphan House" was. A warning though: there is a lot of violence throughout the narrative provided by Daisy. It was told in two voices: Daisy - during the Second World War and Helen: in the present day. When Daisy suffers a stroke and daughters Laura and Helen begin clearing out their former home Black Moor Hall to sell, they come upon letters in an old cupboard hidden behind a wardrobe that changes their lives forever. It also gives them an understanding of their mother that they never had before. Helen felt that she never lived up to her mother's expectations, that she was always disappointed in her, that she wasn't more like her sister Laura. They have so many questions: why did their mother change her name, where was her younger sister now, why were they not allowed to go to the farm in the hollow, who was Ordinary Seaman J. Smith of the HMS Berkeley?

Daisy (15) and her sister Peggy (10) were evacuated to Plympton in July 1940 to stay with a Mr & Mrs Brown. One night during an air raid, the Brown's house takes a direct hit and only the girls survive. A Billeting Officer - a stranger to them, drives them to somewhere unknown where they will be safe. They were taken to a derelict farm where they were forced to work along with 2 other girls and 2 boys. Anyone that tries to escape is dealt with severely. The government sanctioned the use of children for farm work. It was legal and there was no where else for them to go. Evacuated children were often made to suffer at the hands of their cruel and indifferent hosts. They were exploited and made to work on the land, they had their ration books taken away from them and the food that should have been theirs went to the host families. Children were a source of cheap labour.

As Laura and Helen dig into the past, they find that the Land Registry has a record of Back Moor Farm being sold at auction and bought by a Dr. Daisy Cavendish of Black Moor Hall.

A key and a safe deposit box in Harrow may provide the answers. Out of incredibly deep sadness, perhaps the girls can find some happiness for their mother.

Struck by this wartime story, I was turning pages quicly to see what happens to Daisy and Peggy, alone trying to survive. Learning to give yourself while saving others, this is a very emotional book. I enjoyed reading it and it kept me tied to the very end. Thanks to Net Galley for giving me the chance to read it.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Runaway Sisters' by Ann Bennett

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 15th September 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I am looking forward to reading more!

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing and emotional blurb. I was also looking for an I between book to fit between my usual crime and thriller genre and this looked perfect. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 29 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Helen and Daisy. I enjoy books written in third person with several protagonists as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.

This book is based in in the UK. I love books set in the UK as I live in Wales, UK and sometimes I have been to the places so can picture them better.

This book is very well written with beautiful descriptions that had me completely absorbed in the storyline. It was written very smoothly especially with the multiple timelines that blended in well together and gave the bigger picture in the best way that it could have.

The storyline was heart wrenching and emotional, packed with suspense, drama, romance, tension and much more. I could not put it down and it will be one of those books that stay with me for a long time after. The story of Daisy, Peggy, John and the other orphans was heart breaking and then the added spark discovered at the end.

The characters were very realistic and had a variety of personalities. Some I loved and some I hated with a passion. I enjoyed reading all about how their lives changed from the beginning of the war to many, many years later.

I believe Ann did alot of research into the war and it is sad to know that this could have easily been a true story. I have definitely got another top author to add to my favourites list.

Overall a page turning, heart wrenching historical novel that will stay with you for a long time after you've finished reading.

Genres covered include Historical Fiction and Historical Romance.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of a good book!!!

272 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

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I couldn’t put this book down, read it in no time. Story starts with sisters Peggy and Daisy then in another time frame it’s sisters Helen and Laura who were Daisy’s daughters. You really don’t notice the change of the time frame as the story just flows. Loved it, recommend it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book so much I went out and purchased every other book Ann Bennett has written. The Runaway Sisters starts off slow but stick with it as the build up is necessary. I usually don't like dual timeline series but this worked. Having sisters myself, I thought the author captured the love/hate relationships siblings can have. I'd do anything for my sisters and vice versa but we can fight like nobody's business too. I want to say I lovedd the WW2 sections and I did but love is the wrong word. They were written so well and got me totally caught up in the horror the girls were subjected too. The boys too. I could smell the pigs!

I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a great book which doesn't hid the less than glorious experiences kids went through in the war years.

Sisterly bond and Sacrifice! What would you do for your siblings! Daisy must decide to make a decision that ultimately preys on her for decades! Wartime can make you make decisions in split seconds but in hindsight one should not have to pay for those choices when they are themselves but children. In 1940, England was under the onslaught of war things were chaotic at best and so many people took advantage of the opportunity. They cheated and abused those under their care and even obtained others illegally as we would call it today, child trafficking.

The author weaves a trail of tears and tribulations of minors caught in traps of evil . She has caught the essence of the pain of the victims and those who later were also afflicted as a result of the victims treacherous treatment. The author developed the evil and good so poignant that when the book ended, I was devastated there was no more! I pray there is a sequel because I have to know more of the pain of those who were harmed by the Black Moor Farm!

Thank you to the authors and publishers who work diligently for us the readers.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Oh my word this book was totally brilliant. Right from the first chapter I was drawn into this story. A brilliant story with excellent characters. This was at times an emotional read so keep the tissues handy.

This novel is a dual time frame story with two different narrators telling their stories. The modern day story is about two grown up sisters Laura and Helen who are intrigued by what they find in their mother’s house. The Historical thread is a World War 11 story about two children called Daisy and Peggy who are evacuated from their London home to Devon.
The modern story sees Laura and Helen clearing out their mother’s house ready for sale, as she has had a serious stroke and is now residing in a care home. They come across some letters, a key and some photographs, kept safely away from peering eyes. Their mother had always refused to talk about her history so these old items pique their interest. They decide to investigate because what they have found intrigues them. This story is told by Helen, the younger of the two sisters.
The historical story is told by Daisy. Daisy and Peggy live with their Mum and Dad in war torn London. It is 1940 and Daisy is fifteen when she and her little sister are evacuated to Devon after a strike near their home. She makes a solemn vow to her mother that she will look after her sickly sister and as the train is leaving the station her mother is seriously injured right in front of her girls when the station is bombed. They could only watch in terror as their long journey begins, worrying about their mother and their father who has gone to war.
The two stories are merged together seamlessly with chapters told alternately by their narrators. The modern story I found fascinating. I enjoyed Laura and Helen’s determination to unravel their mother’s shameful secrets and lies being greatly aided by modern technology right at their fingertips. I also enjoyed the renewal of their relationship bit by bit.
I thought the themes of criminality, slavery, coercion, bravery and new beginnings well suited the historic story. Ann Bennett had researched the times well and used facts to enhance her story. But I found the war scenes very violent and disturbing. I know every war is a terrible event but I was very surprised about the corruption and ill-treatment of children in this thread. I enjoyed both threads in totally different ways but my favourite part was the final revelation. It was joyous, but did end abruptly. I would have liked this part to have been elaborated upon.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. The novel was well told and enjoyable. It’s a 3.5* review from me.

A heartbreaking story of WW2
Two sisters are clearing out their mother’s house after she suffered a stroke which puts her in a nursing home. Laura and Helen were never close but as they unravel their mother’s secrets, they develop a close relationship.
Letters, a key, and a diary tell them the story of a past they had no knowledge of.
Their mother Daisy, along with her much younger sister Peggy were evacuees from London during the war. Circumstances led them to a farm where they were held captive, in horrific conditions, and used as free labour.
This is a story of relationships between sisters. It is also a chilling reminder that there are some who will exploit the innocent to further their own nest. It is a great read, harrowing at times but a great story.
My only negative was the ending which I thought was a bit rushed and could have been expanded.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have just finished this brilliant book which had me totally engrossed from the beginning. It was very emotional, and it definitely pulled at the heartstrings. I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

My first by Ann but will definitely not be my last.

Mother's Secret Past

This book captured my attention from the first and held it until the end. It brought tears to my eyes at times and smiles to my face at other's . It was truly a great read.

Laura and Helen's mother Daisy has a stroke and they have to take her to a nursing home. They are clearing out her house to sell it when they discover some letters and a key which leads to a journal telling the story of Daisy's life during the war. Daisy had never talked about her past and now she cannot. Her Journal tells the story.

The story is of young evacuee's from London during the bombing. They often evacuated young children to the country to stay with other's for safety. Sometimes the homes were not so safe. This is the story of some evacuees and orphans that were in a place that was cruel, and heartbreaking. It is a story of their survival in a hostile environment. A story of young children being starved and whipped and worked like dogs by a cruel farmer. The system failed them, their attempts at escape failed and some perished.

It is not the first I have read about orphans or evacuees during the war being mistreated, but it is one of the most horrific. Many children were helped by this system, but there were those that were sent into horrible places with no escape. Although this is fiction the subject of which it speaks truly did exist.

The love of the sisters Daisy and Peggy was heartwarming as was that of John and Daisy. They has so much courage for such young people. I still have tears writing this review. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to Ann Bennett, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an emotional story set during World War II and following the story of evacuees, Daisy and her younger sister Peggy. The book begins in present day with Daisy’s adult daughters who are sorting out Daisy’s house following her move to a nursing home. They discover family secrets which have been hidden for many years, and the story then takes us back to World War II where we pick up Daisy’s story as a teenage girl.

I love wartime books, and this had the added interest of also being set in present day. Daisy’s daughters obviously had no idea of her wartime experiences, and as the story switches between times the secrets begin to come tumbling out. I loved Daisy and Peggy’s characters and just wanted to scoop them up and take them home. There are so many books where evacuees have positive experiences with nice loving families, but unfortunately this wasn’t the case for these characters. Forced to work on a farm, doing hard labour and sleeping in a barn, Daisy and Peggy can only dream of their lives back at home.

Set mainly on Dartmoor, the author has done an amazing job of capturing the bleakness of the landscape, mirroring the bleakness of the situation for the two girls. It is an emotional storyline and it brought me to tears on several occasions. I loved the switch in times and felt for the characters in present day just as much as in the past. The story grabbed me from the very first chapter, and I was hooked the whole way through the book, captivated by the wartime story. It can be a difficult read at times, experiencing the cruelness that the girls suffer, but the author has written it sensitively and balances these upsetting times with the beauty of love, family and friendships which is an important theme throughout the book. I did want to know more from the ending though, and am really hoping there may be a second book to continue the family’s story.

This isn’t just a wartime saga, but a story of some of the parts of war that we tend to forget. We remember the soldiers, the people left behind in the cities and the towns, but we don’t always remember the children sent away from everything and everyone they’ve ever known. This is however, not just a heart-breaking story but also heart-warming at times. It will definitely pull at your heartstrings and make you reach for your tissues! A wonderful story of family secrets, love and loss. Would definitely recommend!

Daisy is fifteen and her younger sister, Peggy is four years younger. They are evacuated during the war to the countryside. Their father is at war in Africa and their mother is in the hospital.
Once they are at the farm life for the girls changes. They are forced into hard labor helping run the farm with four other children that are orphaned. Not only is the work hard they are given little to no nourishing food. The only clothes they have are threadbare and not at all what is needed for the cold weather they are forced to labor in. The sleeping accommodations are an old barn with worn blankets.
They are guarded by a man named Red and two mean dogs that are trained to hunt them down and attack.
Any hope of escape is shortlived when one of the orphan boys is shot whilst trying to reach the roadway.
Daisy is especially concerned because her sister is sick with a heavy cough and fever. She had promised her mother to take care of Peggy. That is made more difficult when they are locked in a horse corral without any blankets. All they have to keep them off the concrete floor in the middle of winter is a bit of straw.
A heartbreaking story of heartache, and the courage to take chances and the determination to right wrongs. Extraordinary story. Recommended.

I loved reading this book it draws you in and pulls at the heartstrings,i will make sure i buy this one and read it again at my own pace,Brilliant book 5*