Overview

The acclaimed author of the “sweeping and beautifully written novel” (Woman’s World) The Light Over London weaves an epic saga of love, motherhood, and betrayal set against World War II.

Liverpool, 1935: Raised in a strict Catholic family, Viv Byrne knows what’s expected of her: marry a Catholic man from her working-class neighborhood and have his children. However, when she finds herself pregnant after a fling with Joshua Levinson, a Jewish man with dreams of becoming a famous Jazz musician, Viv knows that a swift wedding is the only answer. Her only solace is that marrying Joshua will mean escaping her strict mother’s scrutiny. But when Joshua makes a life-changing choice on their wedding day, Viv is forced once again into the arms of her disapproving family.

Five years later and on the eve of World War II, Viv is faced with the impossible choice to evacuate her young daughter, Maggie, to the countryside estate of the affluent Thompson family. In New York City, Joshua gives up his failing musical career to serve in the Royal Air Force, fight for his country, and try to piece together his feelings about the family, wife, and daughter he left behind at nineteen. However, tragedy strikes when Viv learns that the countryside safe haven she sent her daughter to wasn’t immune from the horrors of war. It is only years later, with Joshua’s help, that Viv learns the secrets of their shared past and what it will take to put a family back together again.

Telling the harrowing story of England’s many evacuated children, bestselling author Julia Kelly’s The Lost English Girl explores how one simple choice can change the course of a life, and what we are willing to forgive to find a way back to the ones we love and thought lost.

Review

Viv has made a terrible mistake and she has gotten herself pregnant and by Joshua, a Jew, not a good Catholic boy. Her parents are not happy and on the day of their wedding, her mother buys Joshua off and he leaves Viv and her unborn child to pursue a musical career in NYC. Then the war breaks out and Viv must evacuate her daughter, Maggie, to the countryside for safe keeping. But, Maggie is not as safe as everyone thought.

This story will tear your heart out. I do not see how parents evacuated their children. The trust it took! I understand why and I do know many children were saved this way, but how agonizing! And Viv tried her best to keep Maggie with her. But the forces were just too powerful. And oh…it was heartbreaking to read about their separation and Viv’s struggle to visit Maggie.

Then there is Joshua, Viv’s estranged husband and Maggie’s father. He made a terrible decision at the beginning of their marriage. And y’all know I don’t read the blurb…so I read his decision with a cuss word coming out of my mouth! But, he shows back up Viv’s life when she desperately needs his support. And you will have to read about that part yourself and see if you forgive him!

This author has done it again! I have enjoyed all of her books and this one is one of her best! I have thought a little bit about the children who were evacuated but I don’t think I have ever read a book completely devoted to that area of the war.

Need a book which will have you wanting more…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review

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