An emotional story that will pull on every one of your heartstrings. There was no corner of the US that was not devastated by the Great Depression. This book focuses on the mountains of Virginia where two young women have started an orphanage, taking in the children whose parents can no lunger care for them. As the Depression deepens, so do their worries of being able to provide for these children and keep them safe. Though fiction, there were many such places throughout the US. Rachel Wesson has done an excellent job of reminding us that we are all connected.

I truly enjoy reading historical fiction books. Though this one was set in a time that was different for me. The characters are well developed and the storyline deals with some difficult issues. The author does a great job of describing life during the great depression. I was not aware of the fact that a lot of people who lived in the mountains of Virginia had their homes absconded and were forced to move elsewhere in order to create a national park. The author has done a significant amount of research. Her ability to share the truth while making the story interesting was impressive. An emotional read that I strongly encourage you to put on your to-be-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I had never heard of this author before, and was intrigued to request this due to the cover art and synopsis. I didn't realize it was the 2nd in a series. I would like to go back and read the first book, as well as other books by this author. This was a heartwarming novel, and I loved that it was based in Virginia (my home state). I also loved the era of the 30's/Great Depression. I give this 4 stars.

Really enjoyed this read. Couldn’t put it down. I look forward to reading more written by this author. I highly recommend.

This is a Historical Fiction. I love the characters of this book, and I really love books that has hard headed and strong well women as the main characters. This book is well-written, and the storyline is great. This is covers some hard hitting topics, and there is some heartbreaking things in it. This book as these heartbreaking topics, but it is cover so well. The beginning was slow moving and it to me a few characters to get pulled in. This is a great historical fiction book to read if you do not want a book not about war. There is a little about the war, but it is a super small part of the book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Bookouture) or author (Rachel Wesson) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This was a good read but a little slow for me. It was emotional with a good storyline but I just found it a little drawn out in places.

Its still a recommended read just not something I would normally go for.

Thank you Netgalley

I tried so hard to like this book, I just couldn’t engage with it at all. I didn’t feel a connection to the story or any of the characters

I was given a copy of The Baby on the Doorstep by Rachel Wesson. This is the second book of the series but I haven't read the first one but it didn't stop me enjoying this book. The novel is set in the 1930's in America. A children's home is run but Lauren and Becky, when the land they are on is set for a government order they must fight to save the home. This book had lots of other stories running through it, which help with the story. I really enjoyed this novel, will definitely read more by this author.

A Baby on the Doorstep,why I chose this I have no idea cause my heart broke all the way through the book! If your wondering if her style of writing came across the pages,don't sorry they did! Watch how so many can't take care of themselves and to make sure their child will live and be taken care of,there's parents give up their child to the Orphanage. Only what everyone doesn't know,the orphanage is struggling to stay afloat and taking one day at a time to feed these children that she's responsible for and have a home for them. Some parents will be back after this depression they will find a job and come get their child,I pray,but I can't move they might not find me. Watch and learn how Lauren fights to keep the children. The town the sheriff,are they going to help? Read this heartwarming story of forgiveness,sacrifice and love! Received from Net Gallery.

Tissue alert. I Just loved this book. I adored the Main characters their strength, their hearts, their love and their adorable personalities. AND The children, awww and the children with their own stories. How they grew from love and tenderness . An emotional read.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion!

I really wanted to engage with this book and I kept picking it up and putting it down. It's possible I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it. As a mother of two, the idea of raising a child, only have the threat of it being taken from you broke my heart.

This was a historical fiction story that had the best characters! I loved that they were wonderfully created and full of personality. The story was a little difficult to get into at first, but after a few chapters, I understood who the characters were, and I was fully invested! I found this to be quite an emotional read, but one that I couldn't put down!.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

A baby is left on the doorstep of Hope House and immediately joins the family of proprietors Lauren Greenwood and Becky Tennant. Both women are committed to caring for 'unloved orphans' as the house was previously described, but their home is threatened by the creation of a national park...
A Baby on the Doorstep is the sequel to A Home for Unloved Orphans. We catch up with former heiress Lauren Greenwood and her orphanage. The Depression continues to impact on everyday life and now a national park is being created which threatens the local community and ultimately Lauren's home as well.
This is a book that pulls at the heartstrings. So many of the characters have suffered from poverty or cruelty so our emotions are instantly affected. Lauren is like a lioness, fiercely protecting her cubs. She is a staunch friend and has given up a great deal to enjoy her freedom. Lauren subverts the patriarchy of the time by being independent and, despite her developing romance with Edward, is only prepared for relationships based on equality.
There are plenty of little historical details which add an air of authenticity, such as references to the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and the sinking of the Morro Castle. I also enjoyed the plot of Edward visiting Germany to see his Jewish relatives and rescuing the children against the backdrop of Nazi persecution.
However, Becky and Lauren's continued rejection of their suitors became a little tiresome. I also found it was stretching my credulity a little far with the number of guests that kept being drawn to the house depsite the miniscule income. The ending felt very unrealistic but was certainly dramatic and enjoyable to read!
A Baby on the Doorstep is an emotional book that cleverly uses historical detail to bring the engaging characters to life.

A baby on the Doorstep by Rachel Wesson is an emotional read. One that will tug on your heartstrings from all the trials and tribulations faced during The Great Depression. At the heart of it all stands Hope House, an orphanage run by Lauren and Becky, both still young women themselves. While this is a fiction story, there are many historical facts that run parallel. It was heartbreaking to hear a part of our history that is not often talked about. The relocation of thousands of people who lived on the mountain in Virginia had their homes taken from them and their land was seized in order to create a national park. So many displaced families now homeless, with very little money, young children they can now no longer care for properly and having to make a terrible choice of letting their babies go and hopefully be welcomed into the fold at Hope House instead of a county home. Here is where this story begins, when a father makes a tough choice having to leave his baby daughter, Maisie, on the doorstep of Hope House, with a letter promising to return one day.

Even though Lauren and Becky struggled to make ends meet so they can take care of the children in their care I could see how hard they worked themselves to ensure the safety of the children. Both women have troubled painful pasts and have a hard time trusting men even while having a good man in their life wanting to help. Lauren and Becky are both strong but damaged and I loved seeing how they both grow in the story and their passion they have for the orphanage even while facing money problems and a possible eviction looming over their heads.

I do want to preface this all by saying, I did have a little bit of a difficult time within the first 20 pages or so keeping up with every character in the story and I felt like the beginning of their stories was already told previously, so I did a little search and realized this is a second book in a series. The first book, A Home for Unloved Orphans, was on my TBR this entire time, Ugh! I am definitely going to have to read it next. Although this is technically the second book, it can be read on its own, although I would probably suggest to pick up the first book as well.

This is a truly beautiful story and one I am glad to have read.

After reading A Home For Unloved Orphans, I had been waiting for this second book in the Orphans of Hope House series. I was not disappointed in the least. This historical fiction story picks up where the first left off. It is still in the depths of the depression and Lauren Greenwood is still trying to save the world, one child at a time. This book brings several more children to Hope House under different circumstances. Lauren and Becky welcome them with open arms.

I loved this story. Spending time with Lauren, Becky, Nanny Kat, Edward, Big Will, the orphans and all their friends was wonderful. Watching them support each other to survive and make ends meet was inspiring. This historical fiction story is full of strong, stubborn, caring, sacrificing women. Rachel Wesson has written a well-plotted story that is full of hard hitting, but accurate situations. Several themes were heartbreaking and I was crossing everything that could be crossed that things would turn out. These characters, that lived a simple life, were able to take on many others, making it a David and Goliath story at times, but truth will prevail. One of the major plots was a difficult time in US history and one that I was not aware of. It was heartbreaking to hear about the forced relocation of thousands of people who lived on the mountain in Virginia had their homes taken from them and their land was seized in order to create the Shenandoah National Park. This was a major part of this story. I recommend this story to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially that set in the U.S. I am looking forward to another installment of the Hope House series.

My 1st book by this author. Beautifully written and very emotional. Set in Virginia during the depression. A story of poverty, hard choices, strong women and hope. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

This is an emotive rollercoaster read set in the Depression of the 1930s and making it very clear what happened to so many people during this era. I hadn't realised this was the second book in a series until I'd finished it and I have to say that not reading the first book didn't detract from my enjoyment of this one.

Lauren Greenwood is endeavouring to run Hope House, an orphanage, but money is tight for everyone and for children who have no one else that is even worse. She is struggling to keep food on the table for all the orphans and to keep paying the mortgage on the home where they live. The story starts with a baby girl secretly being left on the doorstep by her father after the family lost their home and were unsure how they could keep her safe. He leaves a note telling them her name, Maisie, and promising to return for her.

This story tells how Lauren and Becky work together to look after Maisie and the children in their care with the support of some great friends. The two women are strong, supporting each other and caring for the children but the depression is making it difficult. There are more children in need of succour, less sources of funding, and a danger of them losing their home as part of the national park developments. With unrest in Germany adding to the mix, this is a moving story of caring, battling for the less fortunate and romance, a beautifully told story that keeps you guessing and turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and suggest you keep the tissues handy if you read it.

With several potential romances, lots of surprises - especially in a court case - this is an enthralling read I have no hesitation in highly recommending. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

This is a historical fiction set in Virginia through the Depression era.

The main character is a strong willed woman which I love to read about in books.

The book hits some hard hitting topic matters but it doesn't take away from the main story.

The community as a whole takes care of each other.

The story flows well with great characters.

Highly recommend.

The Depression takes it toll on so many, but indigent families in the hills of Virginia are hit the hardest. During this time period is also the rumblings of possible war overseas. All these factors affect the human element surrounding the area.
Lauren Greenwood was once a society princess until she finally was able to see the real plight of the Hill People. She takes over the running of a home for children and soon funds start to dry up, but this strong woman and others will not give up.

This story is not just the plight of the depression, but of the effects on those directly involved in a small community that try to keep afloat not only there own direct personal families , but the community itself.

The author draws us into the book by first making you aware of a plight of children, but then she builds these amazing characters that mesh together so well. I only would have liked more with the couples and families instead of so much on whether who is in love with whom or gossip. I think the storyline like needed just a little more cohesiveness.

However, I still loved the book and would recommend this book!

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

My first time reading a book by this author and I must say it is a beautiful and tearful read.

What makes a parent give up a child?

Sometimes events make caring for a child impossible and feeling they have no other choice, they give the child up. It must be such a hard choice to make!

Lauren knows each one of the children at the orphanage is not without hope. Maybe things will get better and parents will return to find their children. Yet times are very hard and already she has no way to keep the children fed and housed forever. The bank wants payment, food is low, and that is when Little Maisie is left to her care.
A good read if you like inspirational and emotional reads; and Maisie sounds so adorable!