BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'An Orphan's Song' by Lizzie Page.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Lizzie Page,

Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 13th July 2022.

This is the third book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in the 'Shilling Grange Children's Home' series but can be read as a standalone. The first book I read is called 'The Orphanage' which is the first book in the series and 'A Place To Call Home' which is the second book in this series and I would highly recommend them both.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I am a HUGE fan of Lizzie after falling in love with her books 'The Orphanage' and 'A Place To Call Home' and if this is half as good as that was it is bound to be a page turning read. The synopsis also stated that "Fans of Before We Were Yours, Diney Costeloe and The Orphan Sisters will be reaching for the tissues and reading all through the night." I am a huge fan of 'Before We Were Yours' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. 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 44 chapters and a letter. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Clara Newton. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Wow!!! Yet another absolutely captivating heart warming and tear jerking stunning page turner ♥ Well done Lizzie on yet another stunning success!

This book is absolutely beautifully written and it had me absorbed from the first page to the last. The vivid descriptions really put me in the storyline with Clara and the children and the cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

This series itself was quite unique for me as in I have never actually read a fictional book about a children's home apart from the first book in this stunning series 'The Orphanage' and 'A Place To Call Home' which is the second book I have read several non fiction foster books but never any fictional so I have been looking forward to getting sucked into this continuation of Shilling Grange children's home !!

The storyline is filled with heartbreak, love, friendship, family, shocks, tension, sadness, hope and much more. My mind and heart was completely captivated throughout and I couldn't stop turning the pages from start to end. I have loved this gorgeous series from the start and I look forward to meeting Clara and the gang every time I turn the pages of Lizzie's next success. I loved that the children of the Michael Adam's Children's Home are finally given something to look forward to in this book. I also adored that they were finally seen as something other than orphans, apart from certain stuck up snobs who we meet in this book! My heart was absolutely in my throat when a certain even happened at approximately 60% and my heart absolutely broke for Clara, I won't say anymore about that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers!! I was completely shocked and saddened by the way certain people spoke and acted but you will always have horrible people in this world. There are several parts where I found tears running down my face which isn't an easy feat so you may want a box of tissues on standby and I would definitely clear your schedules as this really is unputdownable. I cannot wait until the next book in this beautiful and amazing series comes out!!! If it is half as addictive as this, 'The Orphanage' and 'A Place To Call Home' then it is bound to be a winner!!! I absolutely loved how this book ended even if it ended in even more tears!!! This would make an absolutely stunning TV series!!

Although this is the third book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I absolutely fell in love with the kids and I absolutely adored Clara in what she was doing for them in 'An Orphan's Song' and I was over the moon to "meet" them all again. I love that the main protagonist is a strong female who went from someone who seemed to have certainly chosen the wrong job and really annoyed me on several occasions with her materialistic ways to a fighter and a role model for the children and I enjoyed watching her grow and develop in 'The Orphanage', 'A Place To Call Home' and now in 'An Orphan's Song', and watching her grow and develop even more in this book. Clara is now a complely different woman to the one we first met and I love how her number one priority is always the children even when she has had enough and needs some her time, which she most certainly needs after certain events in this book!! I absolutely love how she fought for the children even when it felt like she was banging her head against a brick wall she never gave up!!! She was not only struggling with everything that was going on with the council but with the children, her own emotions and feelings and much more yet she continued to keep going strong even when, at times, she just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. I was so proud of her during the end and I was also absolutely over the moon and was clapping and shouting "Finally!!!" which gave me a few strange looks!!I look forward to meeting her again in the next book in this wonderful series. I could not stand Mr Browne who I found to be horrible and insensitive nor Julian who I found to be a stuck pillock from the start. This book sees two new Orphan's enter the orphanage, Denny and Clifford. I fell in love with Denny from the start he was such a sweet boy, he has definitely become a favourite along with little Peggy who takes him under her wing bless her. Clifford isn't as easy to take in and causes a poor Clara to be even more over stretched and over stressed than she already is but I won't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Clara does later take another orphan later in the book and I'm looking forward to finding out more about her and see how she settles into the home once she has been there for a while. I wonder if Gladys is really as perfect as she seems to be? I loved all the children who each had their own unique personalities. I think Evelyn and Peg are very sweet, Rita has come along beautifully since the beginning and I was absolutely landed for her after what happened, I did miss Alex, Barry and Billy and Peter in this book as they were all such huge personalities and I would love to see where their seperate lives take them. Although they have left the orphanage I love how Clara stays in touch with them and it shows how much of an amazing woman she is and also how different she is to book one 'The Orphanage'. It was wonderful seeing how Maureen had grown and matured so much from 'The Orphanage', 'A Place To Call Home' and through this book. An absolutely fantastic mix of characters and I am looking forward to meeting Clara, Ivor, the current children and the new children in the next book.

Congratulations Lizzie on yet another absolutely gorgeous book ♥ This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors. Here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely heartwarming, soul lifting unputdownable book that will captivate your heart, body and mind.

Genres covered in this book include Historical Literary, Romance Literary, Saga, Coming-Of-Age Story, Historical Fiction, Literary Sagas and War Story amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Before We Were Yours', Casey Watson, Harry Keeble, Shane Dunphy, Louise Allen, Angela Hart, 'The Orphanage', 'A. Place To Call Home', Diney Costeloe and and anyone looking for a heartwarming book on children's homes.

396 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free if you have kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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I was so happy to be back at the orphanage reading about Clara and the children that she takes care of. I enjoy so much how she fights for each of the children that are in her care even despite the circumstances that they are going through.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

England, 1951. A tear-jerking and uplifting story about children orphaned by war, the grieving young woman who cares for them, and their journey together to healing.



When Clara Newton’s American pilot fiancé died during the war, she thought she might never heal. But now she has a new life looking after orphans in a children’s home named in his memory. Like wide-eyed, musical little Rita, who refuses to believe her mother died during the Blitz. With the Festival of Britain approaching, Clara is delighted to see the children singing and preparing to audition together. And with D-Day war hero and handyman Ivor living next door, she begins to open her heart once more.



But when a deeply troubled orphan arrives on Clara’s doorstep, she faces her greatest challenge yet. Clifford has arrived without a background file and while Clara struggles to meet his needs, she is desperately in need of help. Turning to Ivor for comfort, she is broken-hearted when he decides he may never be ready for love again, as he adjusts to life as a single father.



Clara has never failed to help any of the orphans in her care. And when little Rita encourages Clifford to join their singing group, she hopes he may begin to find his way. But soon he endangers not only their beloved plans for the Festival of Britain but the lives of the other children…



When disaster strikes, can Clara save the orphans and make Rita’s dreams of singing for Britain come true? And while Ivor cares for his baby alone, can Clara have a future with the man she loves.

What a beautiful tear jerker, the only thing is that I don't think this book can be read as a standalone so I'm going to buy the first two books in this series and read it again. All the characters are so loveable and I really think I will enjoy it more reading it by the series order. I will be looking out for the next one. Thank you netgalley and bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#netgalley #anorphanssong

An Orphan’s Song, will hit you directly in the heart. This story is book 3 in the Shilling Grange Children’s Home series and I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss any of these books. This story takes place in England 1951 and is a story of the children separated from their families during the war. This book will have you raging and then crying. Truly heartbreaking but beautifully written. I could not put this book down. I loved it so much that even though I have the eARC of the book, I went and bought the book to keep on my shelf to read again.

Lizzie Page does an amazing job telling this heartbreaking story. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

#anorphanssong #lizziepage

Sometimes a book blurb just catches your eye, and the latest one for me was Lizzie Page's An Orphan's Song. I saw it in a book blogger Facebook group, so I requested it and was quite excited not only to get receive it but be a part of the book tour as well.

What a great read! After the death of her American pilot fiancé during WW2, Clara has found a purpose for herself in caring for orphans at a children's home. The children provide her with a reason to go on and as they come and go into her life, Clara forms special bonds with them. It is touching to see that the orphans who do move on stay in touch with Clara and their "siblings" at the home. Add in Ivor, the widower next door who also has a bond with Clara, and one wonders what the future just might hold for her.

I will say (and this isn't the first time) that I'm now going to have to go back and read the prior entries in the series.

Read more on RockyMountainReads.com

Many thanx to Lizzie Page, NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book
I have read a few of Lizzie Page's books and really looked forward to her latest, not knowing that this was a 3rd book in the series.
Took me some time to warm to the story and to know the characters but eventually enjoyed the story line.
Having been born in the same era as this book was set, it was an interesting read. The main character, Clara, tries her best to care and give emotional strength to the children in her care but poor Clara needs that support herself!
A very readable and enjoyable book, just wished I had read the previous 2 books first.

It was 1951 and Clara Newton continued to be housemother for the children of the Shilling Grange Children's Home, feeling affection for the children who stayed, and the ones who had moved on. Peter was now working in London, while many of the others kept in contact with her, letting her know their lives were happy. A new boy arrived by the name of Clifford but the Council was unable to supply his file. Clara was upset as she needed the notes to give her some clarity on the boy's life before the Children's Home. And Clifford proved to be a problem, getting into trouble at school, creating problems at home. Clara didn't know what to do.

Then Anita began preparing the children into a choir for their audition in the Festival of Britain, and they were astounded to see how well they did together. Rita played the piano and sang, while Peg was a marvel on the drums. Clifford and another new boy, Denny, harmonized together, with Maureen and Evelyn perfect additions. The choir was successful with their audition and continued on toward the finale. Meanwhile Clara wasn't sure what was going on with Ivor. He'd changed since baby Patricia had arrived - she wasn't sure how Ivor felt. She knew how she felt but didn't know what to do about it...

An Orphan's Song is the 3rd in the Shilling Grange Children's Home by Lizzie Page and I quite enjoyed it. I felt this one was a little long and drawn out, but on the other hand I loved catching up with characters from the past novels, as well as meeting new ones. I'm keen to see where they all go in the next episode. Recommended.

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

Those of you who have followed me for a while will know how much I love the Shilling Grange Series. Part one and two were easily among my favorite reads the last few months, so I was keen to pick up an Orphan's Song to see where Clara's (and the children's) story goes. Lizzie Page definitely does not disappoint with this one!

An Orphan's Song has a cast of both familiar and new characters and focuses on the musical talent of some of the children as they prepare for a performance at the Festival of Britain. Of course, like the previous two instalments, this book is full of Clara's love for the children, and vice-versa. It is at once a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of life after the war. It is the continuation of the tumultuous relationship between Clara and her neighbor Ivor. Page creates such lifelike characters, that I am always amazed when I realize I am reading a book rather than watching a movie.

I loved returning to Shilling Grange, and while this could theoretically be read as a stand-alone, I'd highly recommend to read this series in succession to get the most out of this beautiful piece of historical fiction.

An Orphan’s Song is the third book in the Shilling Grange Children’s Home series by Lizzie Page. Although, the main character Clara would insist that it is now known as the Michael Adams Children’s Home. She pointed this out to the reader and to many of the characters time and time again and at first honestly I found it annoying but then soon after every time it was mentioned it brought a smile to my face. It highlighted how loyal Clara is and how she always wants to do everything by the book in order to achieve the best possible outcome. But as the author herself mentioned in the end notes, this special place will always be referred to as Shilling Grange. Despite this being book three, An Orphan’s Song is easily read as a standalone as the relaxed, informal and gently flowing nature of the storytelling fills you in on the relevant bits that occurred in previous books. The necessary information is not thrown at the reader in a page or two so as to overwhelm or confuse but instead little titbits are dropped in every now and then which only serve to enhance a situation or to help understand the background to a certain character.

This series is really enjoyable. It’s warm and comforting and Clara and all her children and the various extra characters really grow on you and get under your skin and it’s just so nice to return to familiar territory and know that a lovely heart-warming story awaits you between the pages. The story picks up a little bit after where A Place to Call Home concluded. Clara and her neighbour Ivor whom I think every reader are just waiting and waiting for the pair to get together, well they seem to be giving each other the cold shoulder at the moment. Ivor has always been there to help Clara ever since she took over as housemother at the home. Small little things were always done for her and the children and there is no doubt about it that Ivor is very kind and caring. But in this book, Ivor was very preoccupied having admirably taken on his ex-wife’s baby and was parenting solo. Of course this has thrown a spanner in the works for Clara and it was heart-breaking to see her grappling with her emotions and battling between what she desperately wants and on the other hand what she knows is right for Ivor and baby Patricia.

Clara is the character who has come such a long way on a personal journey of discovery since we met her in book one but here I felt she was going through a really tough time personally and that she was so worried and hesitant throughout the story. Not in relation to the children in her care, although she had the usual battles and ups and downs with them, more so on a personal level. I thinks she felt that things were moving in a positive direction around her for other people yet she remained stuck in a rut. You could see she was desperately lonely and would have given anything to have someone to confide in, to have a relationship with and simply for someone to love and for them to love her in return. I would have loved her to march across the road to Ivor’s workshop and just lay everything on the line and 100% express how she truly felt without tiptoeing around him. But Ivor, in this story, was very much a closed book and they do say the path to true love never does run smooth. He seemed abrasive and caught up in everything else except the one true positive thing staring him in the face. Clara was wise in that she stood back and gave him the time and space that he needs but how long can she wait especially as she carves affection and a physical connection? That’s not to say Clara remains like a spinster she has had and still has her romantic moments in these books but I know who I am rooting for her to end up with. She truly does deserve so much happiness but frustratingly it keeps eluding her even though it is literally on her doorstep.

I think the perfect balance was struck in An Orphan’s Song between focusing on Clara and her emotional state and the lives of the children. The Festival of Britain was a key theme throughout which provided a real focus for the children. I had never heard of this before so it was interesting to read about although Clara at times couldn’t see its value. It was like everyone else around her was moving on from the war years and the harsh times but she didn’t think everything was all fine and rosy in the garden again. Rationing and austerity were still around and she still felt the darkness at times but the festival was about hope and coming back into the light and this was particularly highlighted in something Anita, Dr. Cardew’s wife, says towards the end as she related it back to her own personal war experiences and this really did strike a chord with me.

Once again the children steal the show time and time again. We have old favourites such as Maureen, Peg and Rita whose individual stories are moving along nicely. One in particular was so sweet and heart-warming and it will bring a tear to your eye as you can’t believe that it is happening. But we also have newcomers Denny and Clifford. Denny has lost his parents in a car crash and is suffering badly. Clara knows her job is to support all the children in her care and then let them go when the time is right and this is really highlighted in this particular story. Peter has fled the nest for a job in London but yet you can see that Clara is unwilling to really let him go out into the big bad world. I don’t think she herself would ever have imagined she would feel like this about her charges when she first arrived but it shows how far she has come and that she is loving, affectionate and consistent which is what the children need.

Clara’s patience and tolerance are severely tested when it comes to Clifford. In my mind he has been the worst child to arrive at the home. He was unbearable, rude, horrid, shifty and sly. Nothing more than a bully who goes against her time and time again. It was obvious what he was up to and I wanted to be able to say to Clara, don’t trust him or give him the benefit of the doubt and go ahead and give him the slipper. I thought Clifford’s aspect of the story would turn out in a similar fashion to some of the other children that featured in previous books but I am glad something slightly different did. He was a character who I felt didn’t deserve a heap of love and attention. For me his actions meant he didn’t deserve it.

An Orphan’s Song is a fabulous addition to the series and the themes of various types of love are so well developed and explored. Be it romantic, maternal or familial. You’ll love journeying with Clara, Anita and the children as fame awaits them as they form a group to perform at the Festival of Britain. Their enthusiasm, enjoyment, hope and dedication is infectious. Thankfully, this is not the last we have heard of Clara and the orphans of Shilling Grange and books four and five are in the pipeline. I can’t wait to see what is in store for them next.

An Orphan’s Song is the third book in the Shilling Grange children’s home series. We are back with house mother Carla and the children she cares for. There are some familiar faces from the previous books and some new characters to meet. This book is an easy but wonderful read. As I was reading this book I felt like I was back in the company of friends it such a lovely comfortable read. From the very start right up to the last page this book completely had me captivated and I loved it.

An Orphan's Song, the third Shilling Grange Children’s Home Book by Lizzie Page is a story of the continued rebuilding of life in England after WWII. While there are many stories about the war, not so much about the aftermath. This series has been like a time travel for me to that time with the struggles, heartaches, and ever present hope of a righter future. As a reader I was given a front row view of life in the renamed orphanage, The Michael Adams Children's Home from Clara Newton’s POV. The children are unforgettable and the story truly believable.

I haven’t decided if I want Clara to have a new man in her life. I will say I am even more ready than her for Ivor to stop running hot to cold to hot, etc. You get the picture. Yet this is also entirely believable since Ivor has his own set of problems that war has caused. The Festival of Britain was a delight for the children and me as the reader.

I loved this line, “Maybe it was ridiculous, but Clara sensed that the day, the performance was a marker, it was a sign; maybe they had slipped out of the shadow of the dreary war years, and maybe they had a better future to look forward to, maybe they had more hope.” Hope is a great thing, a needed thing and one to be appreciated all the more when it has been lacking. Read this amazing series today and see if you too don’t become more encouraged and appreciative.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved the book it's amazing continuation of the previous 2 books we are introduced to Cliff, Gladys and Denny 3 different kids with their own needs.
The drama continue between Ivor and Clara

England, 1951: Clara Newton was engaged to an American pilot who, like so many others, didn’t survive World War II. Clara, still heartbroken from losing him, manages to find a new purpose for her life. She tends to the young orphans in a children’s home. Clara see’s so many wonderful talents in each child. Their musical talents are surfacing as they prepare to perform in the Festival of Britain. Clara has lived with these children and has helped them through the hardest times of their lives. Rita, Peg and Maureen have been with Clara for so long, and when a new orphan, Clifford, arrives on their doorstep their lives change once again. Clara has to find anything and everything she can about Clifford because he arrived with no background file. She knows nothing about him. Clara is determined to discover everything about Clifford.

I loved the continuation to the Shilling Grange Children’s Home Series. This story was the third book in the series and is every bit as good as the first two books. I absolutely loved this heart-warming story. The characters of this series are so loveable, and the reader forms a special bond with them. One of my favorite things about the story is how the orphan’s stay in touch with Clara even after they move out and move on with their lives. The story exudes the love that they have for Clara. This is the third installment in the series and can be read as a stand alone. It’s a definite must read, I loved this book and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Lizzie Page for such a wonderful addition to the Shilling Grange Children's Home Series. This emotional and heartbreaking story was well written. It kept my attention from beginning to end. I truly enjoyed it and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Lizzie Page for the chance to read this ARC in return for a frank opinion.

I wanted to know what happened next to the children and characters involved with the Shilling Grange Childrens home and enjoyed, on the whole, finding out.

I did however find this book as stilted as the second book in the series it seeming not to know if it was from Clara's viewpoint or in the first or third person.
This seems to affect the flow of the narrative and makes it hard work to read.
As with the previous books there are characters you warm to and those who annoy intensely.

Having said I found this hard to read I hope that the story continues and I can follow the lives of Clara and The Shilling Grange Children

Having read the first two books in the Shilling Grange Children's Home series, I eagerly opened An Orphans Song. It certainly didn't disappoint me. Clara loves each and every one of the children in her care and will do all she can for them. Some of the children are who we have already met like Rita and Peg but Clara soon welcomes Clifford and Denny into the fold who, despite their hidden challenges, she grows to love and care for as much as the others. You may need tissues.

Shilling Grange Children's Home Book 3

England, 1953. When Clara Newton's American Pilot fiance died during the war, she thought she would never heal. But now she has a new life looking after orphans in a children's home named in his memory. Bit when a deeply troubled orphan arrives on Clara's doorstep, she faces her greatest challenge yet. Clifford has arrived without a background file and while Clara struggles to to meet his needs, she is i desperately in need of help.

The Government has announced that there's to be a festival of Britain to try and raise people's spirits. The children of the orphanage have been taking singing lessons so they decide to audition for the show.

The book is filled with interesting characters and this series is so enjoyable. There's some new children in the home. It will mess with your emotions. I like the authors writing style. It makes these books easy to read and I just loved the ending. This book could be read as a standalone. Hopefully there's more books to come.

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

★★★★ 4.5 stars

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Lizzie Page's delightful tale AN ORPHAN'S SONG.

Following on from "The Orphanage" and "A Place to Call Home" , AN ORPHAN'S SONG is the third in this charming series and takes readers back to Shilling Grange Orphanage, now renamed The Michael Adams Children's Home. Although it can be read as a standalone sufficely, the story works much better when read alongside the previous two.

Clara Newton came to Lavenham, Suffolk just after the end of the war having suffered her own heartbreak in the loss of her fiance, American airman, Michael and whom the home is now named in honour of. Now it is 1951 and Clara has been with the home for some years now and the job she had once shied away from as soon as walking into it, she now embraces with open arms along with the children who reside there in her care. We rejoin the children including Maureen, Rita and Peg as well as villagers in Anita, Dr Cardew, Mr Dowsett, Mrs Horton (nee Bridges), Julian. And of course, Ivor.

Over the years, Clara has seen several come and gone - Terry, twins Billy and Barry, Joyce, Evelyn, Alex and Peter - and has had a few new ones deposited on her doorstep with little to no warning. This time, we meet three new children who make their home at Shilling Grange. Clifford is the first to arrive, with no file so she is unaware of what to expect from the young man...but after just a day or two it is clear that he is precocious and challenging and Clara, who is not one to give up, it at her wits end with how to deal with him. Particularly with no information to help her understand the boy better. Then another new child, Denny, arrives with his own set of challenges and buckets of tears at his predicament. But Clara is more than capable of caring for the children in her care and proves herself more than worthy in this regard...despite her own lack of self-worth or confidence.

But Clara has plenty to keep herself occupied, particularly when a fire breaks out in the barn behind the home one night, threatening to burn Rita's beloved music and piano. The thought of it being so close to the house raises come concern as well as who could be responsible for it. And when another fire breaks out close by, Clara is approached by a "concerned citizen" who had apparently witnessed the culprit and it is then she knows she must do something.

During the last book, under the guidance of Anita Cardew, Rita found her niche in playing the piano despite not being able to read music. Anita was in awe of Rita's natural talent and decided to audition her for the Festival of Britain. Then what began as Rita's performance ended up being something all the children became involved in as they all played a part - singing, dancing, even playing the drums, surprisingly in Peg's case. But they first had to get through the audition afterwhich would come a performance at the Hippodrome in Ipswich. If they were successful they would then go on to London to perform at the Royal Festival Hall. Clara found it difficult to see what all the fuss was about in a country striving to recover from a war that just about decimated them. But the children were stoic and worked hard to achieve their dream of performing...where ever that may be.

As delightful as the series is, the one thing that has irritated me from the beginning is the "will they/won't they" dance between Clara and Ivor. Just when it seemed they were finally getting over themselves and getting their acts together, both of them then went and read things entirely wrong, assumed something completely different and failed to actually talk to each other. This theme has continued over the entirety of the three books and I just wanted to bash their heads together. I didn't appreciate the tantalising the author may have been trying to accomplish here because all it did was annoy me that Clara saw something and imagined something else and assumed it to be true without talking to Ivor. And Ivor? He just did the whole silent male thing and refused to talk at all, instead either escaping to goodness knows where for the most part of book 2 to holing himself up in his workshop out of Clara's way...again, not talking things over with her. I'm not going to say where things may have or haven't ended up with these two this time round but I do wonder what will happen should there be a book 4? For me, this aspect did drop the rating slightly because it was just such an annoying part of the story. They are adults for goodness sake and should behave like adults.

The children are as endearing ever, each with their own little quirks and foibles. Rita, now 11, is still calling "Mama" at certain opportunities despite her being told she was killed in the Blitz (which would have made Rita only 1 at the time...hmmm). Peg still doesn't speak but she is still absolutely adorable. I keep expecting her to surprise everyone and start chattering. But she has uttered nothing since that one and only time of warning "Cows!" in the first book. Maureen is still moody but then she is a teenager. I was most surprised by Peter considering how close to Clara he was. And their last addition was Gladys who tells absolutely everyone that she loves them. There's a definite story there which I feel could be told in a fourth book. I hope the series doesn't end here (as I've seen someone mention it was a trilogy) as what was the point of introducing Gladys at all in that case?

AN ORPHAN'S SONG is a delightfully heartwarming tale that will charm fans of stories of this nature and authors such as Shirley Dickson, Glynis Peters, Lindsey Hutchinson and Diney Costeloe.

I would like to thank #LizziePage, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #AnOrphansSong in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

The Orphan's Song is the third book in the Shilling Grange Children's Home series. Clara Burton is still the housemother, and she has both old and new charges under her care. The first two books, The Orphanage and A Place to Call Home, were very endearing and this third book is just as engaging.

If you have been following this series, you will be familiar with some of the children living at the small orphanage, including Rita, Peg, Maureen, and a few others. When Clara receives a new child, Clifford, he comes without a file, so Clara is unaware of any challenges facing him - a precocious young gentleman who would prefer to be called Cliff. Another new child, Denny, has his own challenges, but Clara proves she is more than worthy when it comes to caring for all of the children.

Clara's time is torn. One thing is that the children have formed a singing group and they have an immediate opportunity to perform an the upcoming Festival of Britain. One of the surprises that Clara finds is that Peg, a child who does not speak at all, is exceptional with playing the drums, and this puts a light in young Peg's eyes. There is another situation that takes Clara's time, and that is a fire in the barn raises quite a bit of concern as she is chilled at the thought that the fire could have reached the house where she and the children are living.

One very special thing about Clara is that once the children move on, like Peter, Clara stays in touch with them. Moreover, her concern for all of the children really shines through, such as when Maureen experiences emotional pain. I also enjoyed Evelyn's role in this book, as she was my favorite child in book two, thus illustrating the benefit of reading this delightful series in order. Each story truly touched my heart. Then there is Clara's neighbor and friend Ivor. I loved his role in this book and really look forward to seeing where things go with him and Clara in the next book in this series.

For a book and series that will make your heart sing, although there are sad moments - especially considering that the children are all orphans - then I highly recommend these books by Lizzie Page.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Shilling Grange Children’s Home series and it starts off just a short while after book 2 finished.
When I opened this eBook it felt like I had come back home, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. Clara Newton is a fantastic housemother because she really does care about the children in the home like they are all her own children and it breaks a little piece of her every time a child is placed with a new family.
In this book which is set in 1951, things are starting to settle from the war now and the Festival of Britain is coming up. The children audition for it and they are put through to go to London’s main event.
There are new children placed at the home and I really felt for little Denny, I just wanted to scoop him up and take him home myself. Clifford another new boy seemed to have a lot of issues that caused his behaviour to spiral, but again living through a war at such a young age, I could see why he was like he was. I absolutely love little Peg, she is such a great character.

Clara and Ivor’s situation is still and problem, one minute they are friends the next they back away from each other, I am rooting for them to finally get together soon!

Overall, this was another fantastic addition to the Shilling Grange Children’s Home series and I hope there will be more books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 3rd book in the series but it's a great standalone book too. I really enjoyed the 2bd book and want to go back a read the 1st book. This book was just as enjoyable. It definitely pulls at the heartstrings.
I love Lizzie Page's writing style and character development. Looking forward to books 4 and 5.