Rachel Wesson

Bridget Collins is in dire straits - she needs to get out of New York, fast. With two young siblings under her wing, her options are limited.Her priest sends her as an outplacement agent on the orphan trains that run from New York to out west.With almost forty orphans under her care, she's relieved fellow and more experienced outplacement agent Carl Watson, is there to guide her. But Carl is dealing with his own trauma and finds it difficult to handle the pain the orphans are dealing with.Through tears and laughter, everyone on the orphan train has a lesson to teach about love, life and loyalty. And Bridget finds a new, unexpected calling. Every child deserves a happy home and Bridget is determined to do whatever it takes to ensure that happens. No matter what the cost...

Orphan Train Escape

With a broken heart, she sinks to the ground. Tears run down her face as the truth hits her. "You can't do this. She's my daughter, my flesh and blood. I'll never stop looking for her. Never. No matter what you say or do, I'll find her." Galway, Ireland. 1941: While war rages across the world, Kate struggles on her family farm by the wild Atlantic Ocean. Living off rations and looking after her sick father, she doesn't dare dream of falling in love. But when she meets American airman, Tony, whose blue eyes are as stormy as the sea, her life collides with the war in ways she never imagined... They fall madly in love, stealing kisses in the rolling fields, and Tony vows to make her his wife. Their time is cut short when Tony leaves for war, promising to come back for her. Only then does Kate learn she is carrying his child--but when her family find out, she is shunned and banished to a Magdalen Laundry. Imprisoned in the home for unmarried mothers, where the windows are covered in barbed wire, the girls survive on scraps and sleep in a crammed dormitory. Kate writes to Tony to tell him about their child, but she never hears back... Is he even still alive? And when she gives birth to baby Eva, Kate's worst nightmare comes true: her precious child is sold to a stranger. But she made a promise to her darling daughter, and she'll never stop looking for her. Can Kate escape, save her child and reunite her family before it's too late? A heartbreaking, tear-jerking and completely unputdownable World War Two page-turner about the power of a mother's love, and the devastating effects of the war. Fans of Before We Were Yours, Orphan Train and Diney Costeloe will be utterly glued to this unforgettable novel. Readers love Stolen from Her Mother: "Captivated right from the very start and gripped me in its pages until the very end. I couldn't put it down and read it in a few hours... It is so well written with great character development and a storyline that is intensely raw and deals with real situations and issues in a really sensitive way... I was brought to tears... I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. This is a truly heart-wrenching and emotionally destroying read. I loved it, I cannot wait to reread it." Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "If I could give this book 10 stars, I would gladly do it. A beautiful story, tear jerking, breathlessly heartbreaking." Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Dear moms! While the tears in my eyes are drying up, I am writing this letter to all women, especially to moms, because I want to recommend you a wonderful book about a young girl Kate. It is not just a love story or fiction book, it's a great work of art... After reading the book you will never be the same!... My heart was torn to pieces... Brilliant... I am sure that you will love this amazing book as I did." Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A heartbreaking, tear-jerking and completely unputdownable World War Two page-turner. Sheer escapism, beautifully written, I will now look for more of this author's work." NetGalley reviewer

Stolen from Her Mother: An Utterly Heartbreaking World War Two Page-turner Set Between Ireland and America

Thursday, April 11, 1912Inspired by true events, Heart of Disaster is the fictionalized story of the Irish steerage passengers who joined RMS Titanic. The legend says "Thursday's child has far to go" but nobody knew just how troublesome this journey would prove. Four single friends, a newly married couple and a stoker who works in the belly of the gigantic ship meet that fateful night. When disaster strikes, not all survive. Even the ones who live, have lost something forever in the freezing Atlantic Ocean.

A Titanic Novel of Love and Loss

Heart of Disaster

Penny's Secret Mission

Kathleen Green longs for a child of her own. Her work with the orphan trains only serve to heighten her need. When tragedy strikes, will she get the child she always wanted? Will the cost be worth it?--

Orphan Train Tragedy

Sorcha

Kenny Clark knows Santa is magical and only he can find his family. Kathleen Collins fights poverty and desperation every day in her bid to find new homes for the orphans of New York. But what about her happy ever after?In this concluding story to the Orphan Train Trilogy, can the magic of Christmas bring happiness at last?

Orphan Train Christmas

"1852 Illinois, Eva Thompson has her future mapped out. Marriage to David Clarke and a family is all she wants. Her Pa has other ideas. He insists on taking the Oregon Trail to a better life and favors Harold Chapman as Eva?s suitor. Marriage to Harold will provide Eva with everything she needs except .... love. Can David overcome the prejudices of the past, the challenges of the present to give Eva the future she desires? Based on true diaries from Oregon Trail pioneers"--Back cover.

Oregon Bound

"It's 1911 and Lily's plans for her factory are not progressing as fast as she would like. Maria, her sister Rosa, and friend Leonie are still working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Maria and Conrad have agreed it's pointless finding new jobs when they will soon be joining Lily's factory. Rosa can think of nothing but her upcoming marriage and Leonie worries how she is going to look after her four siblings when their mother falls very ill. Frieda is fighting barriers at the hospital. It seems some doctors believe being female and becoming a doctor are not compatible despite her achieving high marks in the recent exams. Will she be allowed to qualify or have her dreams come to a standstill.After Alice's experience, Lily is having major doubts about sending children on the orphan trains. But when a major disaster happens, does she have any choice?" --Amazon.

Orphan Train Disaster

Fans of Before We Were Yours will adore this USA Today bestselling historical novel: A heartbreaking yet hopeful tale about a brave young woman who gives up everything to help unloved children--and shows that a little bit of kindness can go a long way. Never in a million years did Lauren Greenwood think she would be destitute and without a penny to her name. But when her father mercilessly disowns her in the depths of winter, that is her fate. Now homeless, Lauren finds America in the devastating grip of the Great Depression--children run wild in the icy streets, endless queues for soup kitchens line frosty sidewalks, and desperation hangs in the air. All alone in the world, Lauren finds an orphanage in the sprawling fields of the Virginia countryside, surrounded by snow-topped mountains and magnificent fir trees--a safe haven for those who have nowhere to go. But she is appalled to find children living in shocking conditions, huddled together for warmth, their hunger keeping them awake at night as the temperature plunges. The home for unloved orphans is on the brink of closure and the helpless innocents may lose the roof over their heads... Lauren, heartbroken by the rejection of her own father, vows to provide these poor orphans with the love she never received. With Christmas just around the corner, she refuses to see them cast out onto the street, where they will not survive. When she sees an advertisement in the local newspaper, with an anonymous benefactor donating money to families crippled by the Depression, it could be the answer to her prayers. Can Lauren save these children who have been rejected by the world? Or in a time of so much suffering, is there simply no hope?

A Home for Unloved Orphans

Bella Jones and Kathleen Collins are as close as sisters and that’s how they want things to stay. But fate intervenes. Kathleen’s brothers have disappeared, they traveled from New York on the Orphan Train and nobody has heard from them since. She can’t shed her gut feeling something awful has happened to them. She goes looking for them but is she prepared for what she will find? Twins, Megan and Eileen Doyle have lost so much already. Bella can’t let them travel on the Orphan Train alone. She must confront her fears and deal with her past. Can she keep the girls safe or will they too fall victim to abuse? Both Bella and Kathleen are tested in ways they never dreamed possible. Will Justice prevail and allow both girls to get their happy ever after? Or is the cost simply too high?

Orphan Train Trials

Virginia, 1934: In the middle of the night, he crept through the bushes, thankful for the darkness, for the clouds covering the stars. Tenderly, he opened his bag, lifting the small bundle out. With tears in his eyes, he held her tight, not wanting to let her go. But he had no choice––it was the only way. “This is your new home, little one. You’ll be safe here.” Distant rumblings of conflict in Europe have reached even the secluded, snow-dusted mountains of Virginia, where Lauren Greenwood faces a battle of her own. The Great Depression is crippling America, leaving millions of its victims without shoes on their feet and clothes on their backs. Hope House––the orphanage Lauren runs––is suffering more than ever. The one thing Lauren is not short of is love. But with just a handful of dollars to her name, every day is a struggle to feed the orphans and keep a roof over their heads. Yet she refuses to give up. When a baby is left on the porch, Lauren welcomes her with open arms. The abandoned new-born, Maisie, is left with a crumpled letter––her parents begging Lauren to look after the girl and promising to return for her one day. Lauren refuses to allow another child to fall prey to the Depression, and vows to provide little Maisie with the love and protection of a mother. But when the debt collectors come calling, threatening to shut down the orphanage, Lauren runs out of hope. Any day now the children could be thrown onto the frozen streets, where survival is impossible. With tragedy just around the corner, how can she ever reunite Maisie with her parents? And if she doesn’t manage to save the orphans, how will she live with herself? A totally heartbreaking tale with a beautiful and hopeful message––when all else fails, love can save the day. Fans of Before We Were Yours, The Orphan Train and Diney Costeloe will be swept away by this emotional and totally gripping historical page-turner. Readers totally love Rachel Wesson’s Hope House series: “Love love love this book!!! I laughed, I cried and it really touched me.” NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Tissues! I cried… A masterpiece of truth! Eye-opening! I would give this book more stars if I could! I’d definitely recommend this book to everyone!” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I loved each and every minute… Heartwrenching… Reminiscent of Of Mice and Men as well as The Colour Purple, JoJo Moyes’ The Giver of Stars with a dash of Kathryn Stockett’s The Help… Like a warm hug on a winter’s day… An emotional rollercoaster.” Rachel M Writes, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A tearjerker. I sobbed… I KNEW it would be heartbreaking just from the title… But it was worth all the sobbing. I need the second book in the series pronto.” Privat, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I’m speechless, how do I even do this book justice? You need to read this... I laughed and smiled and sobbed… This is a must-read.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I loved this… One of the most heartwarming books I’ve read all year. It is a heartbreaker.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Pulls on your heartstrings… It will bring you to tears and but also make you smile.” NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Felt like I was watching a movie… Will keep you up late reading and page turning, and then it will linger with you! You don't want to miss this one!” Musing by Maureen, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Inspirational, heartbreaking and also uplifting… Flawless… A true artist in storytelling.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Oh my!… An extremely emotional book!” NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “You will need a Kleenex!” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking historical fiction page-turner

A Baby on the Doorstep

“Heartwrenching… I loved each and every minute… Reminded me of JoJo Moyes The Giver of Stars with a dash of Kathryn Stockett’s The Help… An emotional rollercoaster.” Rachel M Writes, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Virginia, 1933: Her heart broke as she took in the scene before her. There were too many orphans and not enough beds. The rags they wore barely covered them and they hadn’t eaten in days. How could anyone let innocent children live like this? She picked up a tiny girl who’d cried as she moved past her cot. “I’ll be back soon, little one.” Never in a million years did Lauren Greenwood think she would be destitute and without a penny to her name. But when her father mercilessly disowns her in the depths of winter, that is her fate. Now homeless, Lauren finds America in the devastating grip of the Great Depression––children run wild in the icy streets, endless queues for soup kitchens line frosty sidewalks, and desperation hangs in the air. All alone in the world, Lauren finds an orphanage in the sprawling fields of the Virginia countryside, surrounded by snow-topped mountains and magnificent fir trees––a safe haven for those who have nowhere to go. But she is appalled to find children living in shocking conditions, huddled together for warmth, their hunger keeping them awake at night as the temperature plunges. The home for unloved orphans is on the brink of closure and the helpless innocents may lose the roof over their heads… Lauren, heartbroken by the rejection of her own father, vows to provide these poor orphans with the love she never received. With Christmas just around the corner, she refuses to see them cast out onto the street, where they will not survive. When she sees an advertisement in the local newspaper, with an anonymous benefactor donating money to families crippled by the Depression, it could be the answer to her prayers. Can Lauren save these children who have been rejected by the world? Or in a time of so much suffering, is there simply no hope? A heartbreaking yet hopeful tale about a brave young woman who gives up everything to help unloved children who have nothing. Fans of Before We Were Yours, The Orphan Train and Diney Costeloe will adore this USA Today bestselling historical novel, which shows that a little bit of kindness can go a long way. Readers absolutely love A Home for Unloved Orphans: “WOW! What a fabulous book!… Grab a Kleenex… I loved this book.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Best book I've read this year… Exceptional… By the end of the book, my tears were dried and I feel the urge to tell everyone about this. It's that good.” Pamela Kelley, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Love love love this book!!! I laughed, I cried and it really touched me.” NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Left me with getting very little sleep over the last 24 hours.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This one just grabbed me from the very beginning and never let me go… I smiled and I felt my heart warm over this amazingly gripping story. HIGHLY recommended!” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book had me captivated from the first page until the last… I fell in love… Absolutely heart-wrenching, beautiful and amazing!!... I was completely hooked throughout and it was definitely a roller-coaster of emotions filled with laughter, sadness, tension, suspense, love and hate. A brilliant start to what promises to be an epic series.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I’m speechless, how do I even do this book justice? You need to read this... I laughed and smiled and sobbed… This is a must-read.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Tissues! I cried… A masterpiece of truth! Eye-opening! I would give this book more stars if I could! I’d definitely recommend this book to everyone!” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A tearjerker. I sobbed… I KNEW it would be heartbreaking just from the title… But it was worth all the sobbing. I need the second book in the series pronto.” Privat, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rachel Wesson

About

Books

Join the club