An amazing book, loved the book a slow boiler but equally amazing book like all good historical fiction it starts as a dialogue between John and Joy while the revelation of secret happenes fast and it's impact are muted still it's a good book

Oh what a gorgeous book this is! Shirley Dickson is a master of historical fiction that really tugs at your heartstrings, and this latest book is just a superb example of this.

The characters are marvellous, and I particularly liked Lily. She’s a woman ahead of her time, not wanting to just stay at home and be a housewife, and her war work is particularly interesting. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but she goes to work in the Women’s Timber Corps, to be a “lumberjill”, part of the Women’s Land Army. I had heard lots about Land Girls before, but never about the WTC, and I found it fascinating.

In the beautifully crafted plot we meet Ethel, who has her own sad story, and her and Lily’s lives will be forever intertwined after the fateful night of the bombing.

There is so much to this very rich and poignant story, there is heartbreak and loss, family and friendship and a secret that will change lives.

An emotional rollercoaster that manages to be both heartbreaking and also heartwarming, this epic novel will have you completely spellbound throughout. I loved it.

What a captivating read! The story starts with Lilly as a child who finds a patchwork quilt while playing hide and seek with her brother. Hence the story begins, we follow Lily through her years from working as a lumberjill where she meets Ethel and Bella. Up to marrying John and then starting a family. The story covers the war years where John goes off to serve his country, how will Lily cope on her own.
Loved the way the story developed and unfolded.

Lily still lived at home with her parents but had met John while working at the cinema. John and she had become close and when John knew he was to be deployed, he proposed to Lily. Her delight and John’s, along with Lily’s parents agreeance saw the couple be married a few days later, before John left to join in the war effort. It was 1941 and Lily was devastated to see John go, but knew they’d keep in touch by letter.

When Lily decided to join the Women’s Land Army and become a land girl, she worked with timber in Scotland. The women were all billeted together, and meeting Ethel and Bella saw Lily form deep friendships with the women. With both Lily and Ethel pregnant, they left the Land Army and travelled by train back to Lily’s home where Ethel, with no other family as she was an orphan, stayed with Lily for company while John was away. But the German bombers were still dropping their loads and spending time in the shelter became the norm. It was when Ethel was in labour that tragedy struck and Lily was left, distraught and unsure what to do for the best…

The Orphan’s Secret is another heartbreaking historical novel by Shirley Dickson which I thoroughly enjoyed. Be aware though that the blurb is VERY misleading. Lily was an excellent MC; a warm and caring young woman with her Mam and Dad, plus three brothers, one younger than her. I enjoyed the depth of the story which spanned from 1941 to 1953, and how much lives changed through the war years and afterwards. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

“The Orphan’s Secret” by Shirley Dickson tells the lovely story between two friends - Lily and Ethel. Although the summary posted here focuses on Ethel and Karl, the story is mostly about Lily and John (in fact, Ethel doesn’t appear until nearly halfway into the book). This book opens in 1953, then returns in time to about 1940, then slowly returns to the 1950s. Although I’ve read a number of books set in England during WWII, this book was the first time I ran across the term “lumberjills.” The author went into a bit of detail about what the women did - from cutting the trees, loading the logs onto trucks, clearing the land - but presented it in enough detail to educate, but not overwhelm the reader. I happened to also appreciate the author's description, though brief, about Dunkirk, giving a bit of historical background yet also describing the incredible evacuation. I liked one of the minor characters, Bella, for her straight talking manner (and occasional voice of reasonable logic). But - as others have said - this book tugs at the heartstrings; although I had an idea about 60% of the way through what could possibly happen, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book (and I have to admit, I really liked the eventual outcome). There are some trigger warnings, including miscarriage, death, and bombings, but I believe that the author treated the description of these very humanely.

🛩💥🤰Tragedy strikes, but love and Joy remain👧

The last half of this novel was everything I expected and more: a marvelous tear-jerker that is touching, tragic and yet buoyed by steadfast love, friendship and loyalty in a war-torn Britain in the 1940's and 50's. Strong women ready to serve their country, love wholeheartedly and sacrifice for the next generation. And, in the end, it is a father who ensures that, as far as possible, all remains right with his children and promises are kept.

The first half of the story had me questioning repeatedly: where is the orphan mentioned in the title? I can understand that the author wanted to set the stage for the later revelations and hardships and she did an excellent job describing the privations and tough choices brought about by World War Two's assault on the British homeland and its troops abroad. But, for me, she spent too long building up to the core events that make Lily, John, Ethel, Bella and Joy's story sing.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Before you start reading this book can I suggest you have plenty of tissues close to hand as this book will most certainly make you cry. A story set in the North East of England during World War 2. This book wasn’t just good it was fabulous and I felt quite bereft after finishing it. This was an emotional and gut wrenching read at times but it is also a wonderful story. This author is fast becoming a favourite of mine and every time I hear she has a new book out I know I’m in for a treat.

What an emotional, page turner The Orphans Secret is! I loved the whole thing : setting, characters, storyline.

What a compelling page turner, the author pulled me in and didn’t let go.
You’ll find yourself living in WWII England, rationing, bomb shelters, bombs dropping. At first we walk with Lilly, we see her finding love and then her husband is sent off to fight, and how she does her part. Not an easy time, but she is a light to so many people, and yes, she makes some lifelong friends.
How Lilly handles the loss and found of her baby, follows wishes, and the return of her husband. Such heartwarming and I think I would have done exactly as she does!
Life is not smooth, but keep reading right to the end, and keep the tissues handy.
Such a great read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookouture, and was not required to give a positive review.

Wow, this book really pulled the emotions. I loved it but, oh boy it was so very sad. I loved the fact that it dealt with a different side of WW2. I never knew that we had Timberjills during this time and I found that very interesting. The characters were all so interesting and I,loved them all. Such a lovely book to read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Shirley Dickson writes wonderful atmospheric and very emotional books that pull at your heartstrings and this book will have you in tears with its heartbreaking story.Excellent 5*

**Content warning for this book. Miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss are dealt with.**
As you might guess from a book called the Orphan's secret. This book is one that will play on your emotions and pull on your heartstrings. From the blurb, you might be thinking that the main characters in the book are Ethel and Karl. While they do feature in the story and play important roles, this is really John and Lily's story. In fact, we don't meet either Ethel or Karl until we are around halfway through.
This novel is set in wartime and much of the hardships that our characters face are due to that. Dealing with husbands sent overseas, women finding their role in this strange world of the home front, bombing and rationing. A lot of the action also takes place with the lumberjills, the young women who went out to fell trees for the war effort. While I had heard of and knew a little about the women's land army, this is the first time that I'd come across the lumberjills. Really, what a lot of our women folk faced during that period is hard to comprehend.
I don't want to give away too much of what happens in this book, but it is certainly one that sends you on an emotional rollercoaster. I had an idea of what might go on and in some ways, I think that helped. Although I was emotionally invested in the characters, guessing what was coming helped make it less upsetting.
This was an interesting and gripping read and one that I really enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Words are not enough to say how much I loved this book. I was hooked from the vey first page right to the very end.. I took my time, I read 2 chapters each day and found I was thinking of the storyline whilst doing boring housework, shopping etc, This book made me think of how many suffered during the war years, how people found love in difficult times and how many women did 'their bit by doing 'mens work' and keeping industries alive.

I cant wait to discover Shirleys other books.

Make sure you have tissues nearby as you will shed a few tears. This was a beautiful,heartwarming story filled with courage, love and friendship. This is my second Shirley Dickson book and it wont be my last. I loved this story

The Promise

A very emotional tearjerker of a story. A friendship between two woman, a wartime romance, and a child left motherless and needing a home.

Lily and Ethel meet while working with the land army as Lumberjills in the forest. When they both find out they are expecting they leave the service and go to Lily's home. Lily's husband John is away at war so it is comfort for Lily to have Ethel share her home as Ethel is an orphan and has no place to go.

One night as they huddle in the backyard shelter they make a promise to each other that if something happens to one the other will care for their child. Later there is a bombing, one mother and one child survives and the promise is kept, but also a secret must be kept as well. A secret that is kept for years. When the secret finally comes out it will affect many lives.

This is a story of love, heartbreak and happiness during WWII. A story of family, hard times, happy times and a secret that could destroy everything.

It is a very good read and I would recommend it. I have read many of the author's books and they never disappoint.

Thanks to Shirley Dickson, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.

What an incredibly heartbreaking story that I could not put down. This is another fantastic WWII Historical Fiction Book by Author Shirley Dickson. Lilly has led a sheltered life helping her mum take care of the house, her father and her brothers. She meets and marries John Radley who goes off to war. Lilly decides she wants to help with the war effort and joins an organization where she works in the forest with other Lumberjills. She meets and becomes friends with Ethel who has been shunned by the other girls. When Lilly discovers she is pregnant for the third time after suffering two miscarriages, she resigns from the Lumberjills. When she leaves, she invites Ethel to come and live with her since Ethel is also pregnant. This story has a lot of intricate skillfully woven plots that held my interest from the very beginning to the end. Warning: Tissue alert!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this touching and tragic book that kept me reading through the night.

It’s probably best if you go into this one with a box of tissues and a free afternoon with no commitments. I was a blubbering mess!

At the core of this story is a woman who, during the worst moment of her life, makes a split second decision that she’d never have made otherwise. She is able to move forward with her life because she views the outcome as a gift from the hand of fate that allows her to honour the promise made to her friend.

The author manages to stuff equal amounts of pain and suffering with love and joy to take you on an emotional roller coaster. You’ll read about a girl who is pregnant and shunned, forbidden love, miscarriages, wounded soldiers, birth during a bomb raid, death, and a second chance at love. Dickson explores the question whether a lie of omission is really a lie. I can’t tell you what the orphan’s secret is, you’ll have to read to find that out!

I do prefer a tauter plot, but the author was able to zero in on the diction and daily wartime life in 1941 so superbly, that I kept reading and opted to scan over the extraneous bits. The synopsis makes one think this story is about Ethel and Karl, but I felt it’s really about John and Lily. Regardless, the sense of place and time is on point and the character development is fantastic.

I loved the bit about the quilt in the narrative and thought the cover design was spectacular.

Publishes Nov. 9, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Shirley Dickson, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A heartbreaking story
You will need lot's of tissues
In the North east town of South Shields England WW2 1940
Lily Armstrong plans to marry John Radley her mam isn't happy as she isn't yet twenty one he is going to be posted abroad and only has four days leave her dad is happy for them both so they have a wedding to arrange they had been together eighteen months now and adored each other his mam is handing over her house in foley avenue as she is moving to Scotland to stay with her sister.
The war is raging and all Lily wants is to be a mother but things don't go as planned for the couple its heartbreaking so Lily volunteers in the ambulance service to learn to drive then gets taking on in Scotland as a lumberjill.
I absolutely loved this bookas the author takes us right through WW2.
Beautiful, enchanting leaving me in tears with a big lump in my throat right to the end.

Wow what a read! Be prepared to shed a tear. What an absolute mind spinning, beautiful story this was! when i read a book i like a book to keep me gripped from the beginning and this book certainly does that!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Shirley Dickson for allowing me to read this Arc.
A truly, truly beautiful story. Based during the war this is a story of tragedy, Heartbreak and love, but it wasn't without laughs.
This is an absolutely beautiful book that should be read by everyone.