Shirley Dickson

‘I was gripped from the very first page… It was heartbreaking… I smiled through these happy times with them but also shed tears… I could not put it down… Will undoubtedly pull at your heart-strings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars A heartbreaking, unputdownable and utterly unforgettable story of two young sisters cruelly abandoned by their mother at an orphanage. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will lose their hearts to this stunning World War Two novel. 1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – and they are confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most. 1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them. But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with. Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again? Readers are losing their hearts to The Orphan Sisters: ‘Perfect… I could not put it down… Had it finished in just over a day, reading it during every spare minute I had!... Will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready! Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘What a beautiful story! Had me in tears from the very beginning. I couldn't put this one down.’ A Book With Review, 5 stars ‘Outstanding… I absolutely loved this superb page turner.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Make sure you have tissues handy… The story is heartbreaking with a little happiness thrown in… Worthy of 5* and more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Promises to keep you turning the pages as your heart attempts not to break. A book you will lose yourself in!’ All The Good Books ‘A gorgeous character-driven, coming-of-age story about family bonds, love, and hardships of war. Exceptionally beautiful… I have already recommended the book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A beautifully written coming-of-age story… I didn’t want to put down… Tugs at your heart strings.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘I love the story… A tale of family, heartbreaks, and forgiveness!... The characters are wonderful... The book is written so beautifully!... It's not a story I will soon forget! I definitely recommend this book to others!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Emotional and inspiring.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Superb!... A page turner of a read as I was so engrossed… The Orphan Sisters is a compelling and emotional story that will tug on the readers’ heartstrings.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘Have a Kleenex nearby!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A beautifully sad story… Beautifully written and ready to capture the reader’s heart.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A heartbreaking story of hope, sisterly love and support, and the devastating effects of war. I loved this book from the beginning – I was recommending it at only 20% in!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Brilliant… Beautifully written.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

An utterly heartbreaking and gripping world war 2 historical novel

The Orphan Sisters

‘Absolutely fabulous… Had me hooked from the very first page… Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions and had me in tears by the end of the book.’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars A heart-wrenching, poignant and totally unforgettable tale of a young woman who must finally face up to the secret she has hidden for a lifetime. A beautiful World War Two novel for fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe, that will have you reaching for the Kleenex. 1943, England: On a foggy night during the blackout, twenty-five-year-old May Robinson’s mother is tragically killed. Heartbroken, May isn’t sure she has the strength to harbour the secret she has kept for so many years – a secret her mother devoted her life to hiding, that would tear their broken family even further apart. Vowing to make her mother proud, May trains to be a nurse at Edgemoor General hospital in South Shields, against a backdrop of wailing air-raid sirens and the eternal drone of enemy planes. Tending to wounded, ashen-faced soldiers, fighting to save lives, May is immediately drawn to kind-hearted Richard Bentley, who works tirelessly alongside her. He has sparkling brown eyes, and makes her laugh. In the darkest of days, amongst death and despair, May and Richard are beacons of hope for one another. But why isn’t he fighting in the war like thousands of other brave young men? May knows how she longs to escape her own past, and her mother’s. In this perilous time of such uncertainty, she finds herself asking – how well do they really know each other? And when the shocking truth of May’s secret comes to light, just as the war comes too close to home, can their love survive the impossible? Readers are absolutely loving Our Last Goodbye: 'What an emotional journey... Had me spellbound... A truly emotional read that had me shed tears of happiness and sadness… May’s story is one that will certainly pull on the heart strings and I loved every minute of it.’ By The Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘This book is an absolute treasure beyond words! From page one I couldn't put it down! May's story of true sadness and loss during World War Two brought me to tears!… Any one that loves a great historical read will fall in love with this book immediately as I did!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'I absolutely loved it!... An emotional, heart-wrenching story of love and loss amidst the horror of war... Will tug at your heartstrings... Will have you reaching for the tissues throughout... Wonderful.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Oh boy, I have to say that Our Last Goodbye was one seriously awesome read. I absolutely loved it… Is exceedingly well written... Unputdownable… Oh my word... Will tug on even the toughest of heartstrings… My eyes welled up and I definitely needed a box of tissues.’ Ginger Book Geek, 5 stars ‘Fantastic… Loved this beautiful story… Fabulous… Have tissues handy.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘An absolutely fabulous read!... The writing was absolutely wonderful and had me hooked from the very first page. I loved the characters and really connected with them all… The story took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and had me in tears by the end. I’d love there to be another book to follow up May and Etty’s stories (please say there’s going to be one!!).’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘I'll say no more except Our Last Goodbye by Shirley Dickson is a must read for everyone. So emotional, a beautiful story.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Wonderful… Your heart will just ache… I didn’t want to leave.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Good job Shirley Dickson… A rollercoaster of emotions – love, relationships, mistakes, sadness and suspense.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Superb and beautifully written… Fascinating and insightful… Will completely draw you in and not let go.’ Sibzzreads, 5 stars ‘Unputdownable and emotional… Shirley Dickson has captured my heart in her stories. Dickson is truly a gifted author who will pull every emotion out of you… This one is definitely another 5 star read for me and another top book of the year.’ Sinfully Wicked Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘Just too good to miss. The story builds to an enthralling conclusion which had me reaching for the tissues and desperately wanting to know MORE!’ Waggy Tales, 5 stars

An absolutely gripping and emotional World War 2 historical novel

Our Last Goodbye

England, 1940: A tear-jerking wartime tale of an orphaned baby who needs a home, and the woman who risks everything to provide it. Fans of Before We Were Yours, Wives of War and Diney Costeloe will be utterly swept away by this heartbreaking – yet beautifully hopeful – World War Two page-turner. With the war raging, Lily has learned not to take life for granted. In a time of such tragedy, every day is a gift. Her husband is a soldier, fighting to save their country, and she prays that she will survive – to one day welcome him home. One sweltering July night, bombs rain down. Lily and her dear friend Ethel, who is nine months pregnant, seek refuge in a shelter. Miraculously, a baby girl is born to the sound of ear-splitting shrieks and explosions in the distance. Once the raid quietens, Lily races into the house to find the newborn a blanket. But then the unthinkable happens, planes thundering right over the rooftops… When Lily rouses, finding herself amongst broken glass and crumbled brick, she is devastated to discover that Ethel has been killed – leaving little Joy behind. With tears rolling down her face, Lily makes a split-second decision. To save the orphaned child, Lily must tell a heartbreaking lie, a secret that she holds close to her chest for years. But when the truth comes out, whose lives will be destroyed? And will she ever be forgiven? Readers absolutely love Shirley Dickson: ‘I was gripped from the very first page… It was heartbreaking… I smiled through these happy times with them but also shed tears… I could not put it down… Will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready!’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely fabulous… Had me hooked from the very first page… Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions and had me in tears.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved it!… An emotional, heart-wrenching story of love and loss amidst the horror of war... Will tug at your heartstrings… Will have you reaching for the tissues… Wonderful.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautiful story! Had me in tears from the very beginning. I couldn’t put this one down.’ A Book With Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Outstanding… I absolutely loved this superb page-turner.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Make sure you have tissues handy… The story is heartbreaking… Worthy of 5* and more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Promises to keep you turning the pages as your heart attempts not to break. A book you will lose yourself in!’ All the Good Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A gorgeous character-driven, coming-of-age story about family bonds, love, and hardships of war. Exceptionally beautiful!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautifully written coming-of-age story… I didn’t want to put down… Tugs at your heartstrings.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A totally gripping and emotional World War 2 historical novel

The Orphan's Secret

As they walked towards the railway station, their mother took an envelope from her handbag. 'I want you to keep this somewhere safe.' 'What's in the letter?' 'Listen carefully. You're never to open it unless you or your sister are in real trouble. Promise me.' England, 1943: Home is no longer safe for eight-year-old twins Molly and Jacob. Night after night wailing bombs and screeching planes skim the rooftops overhead. They cradle each other, shivering in terror, not knowing if they will live to see dawn. Their mother, Martha, has no choice but to evacuate them to the safety of the countryside. At the train station, Martha bites back tears as she says goodbye to her precious children. Knowing she might never see them again, she gives Jacob a letter, pressing the envelope into his hands and telling him to only read it if they are in danger. In the country, Molly and Jacob must adjust to life with strangers. Every night they dream of returning home to the arms of their beloved mother. But then the unimaginable happens. Martha is killed in an explosion, leaving the twins all alone in the world. The war has robbed Molly and Jacob of everything - all they have left is one another. Motherless and destitute, they face the grim reality of life in an orphanage. The time has finally come for Jacob to open the letter. What secret does it hold, and could it change the course of their tragic fate? Because if they are together, they can survive anything - but what if they are torn apart? From the bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes an utterly heartbreaking and unforgettable tale of two children who must lean on each other in a time of tragedy and learn the shocking truth of their past. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will be swept away by this sublime World War Two novel.

An Absolutely Heartbreaking and Gripping World War 2 Historical Novel

The Lost Children

‘I just couldn't put this one down. I loved every page and I went through an entire box of tissues before I was done. You will keep turning the pages until the very end because you just won't be able to put it down at all.’ Crossroad Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An utterly heartbreaking tale of two young girls, worlds apart, who are thrown together when they have lost everything. Fans of Wives of War, Before We Were Yours and Diney Costeloe will absolutely love this poignant and moving World War Two novel. Germany, 1939: Eleven-year-old Frieda is boarding a ship bound for England with her little brother, Kurt. Life at home is perilous, with synagogues set alight and innocent lives lost to the Nazis, and they have no choice but to flee. But as Frieda stands on the deck crammed with frightened children, her brother jumps off, back to land. England, 1939: After a devastating childhood at Blakely Hall Orphanage, seventeen-year-old Sandra longs to put her past behind her. But when war breaks out and her brother Alf is sent to fly bombers, she’s completely alone. 1943: When Sandra and Frieda’s paths cross in the remote countryside, each girl finds a home at last. Facing long, terrifying nights in bunkers, they huddle together as planes roar above them and distant explosions shake them to their cores. They console one another – Frieda, with no idea whether her family have been captured or if her brother survived, and Sandra praying that Alf will live to see tomorrow. The darkness of war may shroud them but as long as they have each other, they can keep a little light in the world. Will Frieda and Sandra ever be reunited with their loved ones? And will the two handwritten letters bound their way hold news of happiness… or heartbreak? Readers are losing their hearts to The Outcast Girls: ‘Wow. I was totally gone from Chapter 1… The story of Sandra and Freida is one I will not forget for a long time. Written with so much love! While this is my first book by this author it won’t be my last!’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘Heartbreaking and poignant… Best read with a box of tissues handy as this book is sure to make readers tear up and up again.’ Bookish Jottings ‘Outstanding… What a page-turner this beautifully written, heart-wrenching story… This is a real tug-at-your-heartstrings book.’ Chapter Chatter Pub, 5 stars ‘I can honestly say I loved it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Impossible to put down… I unquestionably loved this book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘I didn’t want to put it down!... A beautifully written story that pulls at your heart strings. Another 5-star read from Shirley Dickson!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Wonderful… I loved every page. A heartwarming story of love and sorrow and an endearing friendship.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Rips at your heartstrings.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Definitely tugged on my heartstrings… I turned the pages quickly.’ Robin Loves Reading, 5 stars ‘Will warm your heart… Will bring tears to your eyes… I truly enjoyed every page. So well worth the stars, and loved it all to the end.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A captivating and emotional wartime saga which pulls on your heartstrings right from the first page… Mesmerising.’ Stardust Book Review, 5 stars ‘I loved it!... Brilliant.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘Wonderful… I was extremely invested, hanging on to every last word… It left me longing for more… A captivating story you can get emotionally invested in!’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘I have literally just finished this and had to come and start writing straight away! I loved it! Honestly what a story, I am a sucker for World War 2 books and this, well I couldn't help get invested in Sandra and Frieda's lives, their heartbreak and their joy.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘I love WWII historicals and The Outcast Girls was just perfect for me. I am now looking for Ms Dickson's backlist, as she is a new author to me.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘I became totally invested in this story almost immediately. I know that I will read this book again.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

Shirley Dickson

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