During World War II, Coventry, England was bombed several times by the German Luftwaffe. The most devastating of these attacks occurred on 14 November 1940. On that evening, 515 German bombers carried out a coordinated attack, code-named Operation Mondscheinsonate (Moonlight Sonata). After the bombing, Coventry lay in ruins.

It is during this attack that the novel, The Secret Orphan, by Glynis Peters, begins. Bombs are falling, and the world of six-year-old Rose Sherbourne comes crashing down. Out the rubble, Rose emerges, orphaned. She is taken out of the city and placed in the care of family friend, Elenor Cardew, a single-woman running a farm in Cornwall.

Now a mother, Elenor must dedicate herself to Rose, giving her all the love she needs. Despite the occasional bombing nearby and the constant war rations, Elenor and Rose are happy in Cornwall. That is until Elenor discovers a dark secret about her daughter’s past. Desperate to keep that secret, Eleanor enlists the aid of a person she trusts completely, Jackson St John, a Canadian pilot. Together, they fight the enemies within to keep the child they both love safe.

From the moment I picked up The Secret Orphan, I did not want to put it down again. The story, with all of its intrigue and plot twists, compelled me to keep reading. I especially enjoyed Eleanor’s story from downtrodden sister, to beloved niece, to devoted mother, to cherished wife. When I arrived at the last page, I wanted to learn more about the characters and their lives after the war. A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction (especially World War II fiction) or romance, The Secret Orphan will keep you entertained while keeping you guessing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Impulse and Killer Reads through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A gripping, page turner set in WWII London. Loved it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

Wonderful, heartwarming read. A WWII historical novel involving Elenor, a young mistreated farm woman travels to Coventry, England to nurse her dieting aunt. There she is thrown into a disfunctional household managed by a strangely disconnected couple and their adorable daughter, Rose. The war begins and many unexpected challenges occur. Who is Rose? Who were her parents? Can Jackson a Canadian aviator save them? These are people you will care about. I promise. Thank you to Harper press for choosing me to read a pre published copy of this book and Net galley for making it available.

This is a first for me by this author.

Keep her secret
Keep her safe
On the 14th November 1940, Hitler’s bombs rain down on Coventry. From the rubble of a bombed-out family home, a young girl is saved … but at what cost?
As the Nazis’ relentless bombs fall during the Blitz of Coventry, six-year-old Rose Sherbourne finds herself orphaned and under the guardianship of a Cornish farmer's daughter, Elenor Cardew.
Elenor knows that the only way to protect spirited Rose is to leave the city and make a new life for themselves away from harm. But soon Elenor discovers that Hitler’s firestorm is not the only thing she must fear when she learns a devastating secret about Rose…
With Rose’s life in imminent danger, Elenor turns to the only person she can trust to keep the deadly secret, heroic Canadian pilot, Jackson St John. And amidst the destruction of war, an unlikely romance blossoms as they find a way to protect the child they have both grown to love…and each other.

Well written and well developed characters... so much so that you feel as if you're part of the story.

Simply amazing story... I didn't want to put it down... I loved it and didn't want it to end and really hope the author writes more about the characters lives after the war.

I'll certainly be looking out for more of this authors work and look forward to future books.

Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.

The best and most beautiful book I've read in a long time! I just didn't want it to end. It starts with Eleanor leaving her two cruel, slave driving brothers on the family farm to go and live with, and look after unwell aunt. But that's when Eleanor's life truly begins.
Also living with her aunt are a live in couple who look after the house. They also have a daughter called Rose.
Then war is declared. Eleanor's aunt passes away and after Eleanor's two brothers are killed in action Eleanor moves back to the family farm. Leaving Rose, whom she has grown to love is breaking her heart. Read on to find out more. Again a beautiful story. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this arc.

~~Reviewed by Monique~~

The synopsis for THE SECRET ORPHAN had immediately grabbed my attention, and judging by the first chapter, it sounded like a book I would really enjoy. Chapter two – which should have been the epilogue – is dated November 2018; thankfully, from then on, the story follows a linear pattern, going back to 1938. I found the book description somewhat misleading because the “secret” part really begins only in the last seventy percent of the story. Before that, it’s mostly about Elenor’s life in Coventry and on her farm in Cornwall. Jackson and Rose do not feature prominently for most of the story.

Ms. Peters’ descriptions are crystal clear, however, I felt the characters lacked definition, and some also displayed behaviour inconsistent with how they had previously been portrayed, particularly Elenor’s brothers who seemed to have been introduced mostly for plot purposes. One character, Dottie, appeared to have been added mainly to be the object of ridicule; even when she proved to be a hard worker and admired for being so, it stopped no one from laughing at her. I, personally, was not amused. The lively dialogues were definitely the highlights of the book, while the narrative conveyed very little emotion; I felt I was merely observing the lives of these people.

The historical facts seemed accurate, apart from the “Canadian Air Forces”, which have been the “Royal Canadian Air Forces” since 1924, commonly referred to as the RCAF. I also hope that in the final version, Elenor will not be “peddling” six times on her bicycle; she never pedalled. The pacing was also problematic as events were slowly set up to be dealt with in a few paragraphs, and the intrigue was rather predictable. If you’re eager to read a novel about a young woman’s life in Coventry and her day-to-day life on a Cornish farm far from the real horrors of war, this book is for you.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline.
There was romance, mystery, tragedy, trials and a happy ending. Everything one would want in a book. I will be following this author as I greatly enjoy her writing.
I hope there is a second book that will follow the characters from the end of this book.

A great read.
Full of content that keeps you wanting to read into the small hours.
I thoroughly recommend this book.

This story was amazingly written and I didn't want it to end, as I became so invested in Elenor and Rose's journeys. This was historical fiction written at its best. I will definitely be seeking out more by this author!

My favorite genre is WW II historical fiction. Glynis Peters has written “The Secret Orphan”, which I found to be an exciting read. It is set in Coventry, England during the war. Rose Sherbourne is a little girl living with her mother and dad who are employed by Maude Matthews.

Elenor Cardew who lives with her brothers on a farm n Cornwall, England is required to go to her Aunt Maude in Coventry to care for her in her terminal illness. Since the Sherbourne’s do most of the domestic work, Elenor tends to her aunt. She befriends little Rose and notices that something doesn’t seem right about the relationship between Rose and her parents. Also as the reader continues the story, there are suspicious goings-on with Victoria and George Sherbourne. The reader is left with suspicions that are not revealed until the end.

I really enjoyed this work by Ms. Peters. It kept my interest and aroused my curiosity throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this novel.

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

Wow! What a fantastic book!
From the first page I was hooked, I loved Elenor, her passion, her character and her loyalty. I would love to have her as a friend.
I loved the intrigue and the history that Glynis Peters researched.
I struggled to put it down, and had to slow down the reading as I didn't want it to end, how bonkers is that? Really enjoyed the different direction that this WW2 story took.

Looking forward to reading Glynis Peter's next.
Thanks to Netgalley, Glynis Peters and Harper Impulse for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

This historical novel will grab the reader's attention at the beginning and hold it throughout. Elenor was a strong character who could hold her own. Her love for Rose was so refreshing during the difficult time of war. There is an undercurrent of mystery concerning Rose's parents Victoria and George. Elenor's relationship with her workers on her farm was heartwarming. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Highly recommended!

Elenor is so happy to be leaving the farm where her twin brothers lord it over her and treat her like a slave. She is going to Coventry to live with her Aunt Maude. Life is different in Coventry. She finds a home, love from her Aunt and her financial means has improved. The very best thing is meeting Jackson. He is her living dream.
After her Aunt died Elenor goes back to the farm. Her brothers were killed in the war and the farm is now hers to run. In Coventry Rose and her mother Victoria who was Aunt Maude's housekeeper are blasted by a bomb. Victoria is killed leaving Rose a small child, an orphan. She remembers Elenor who was always fun, loving and kind. She eventually becomes reunited with her at the farm. Like with all things during wartime, there are many complications going on in Elenor's life. Jackson is a pilot for Canada. Thongs did not end well with them. Now, she has a farm, workers and a small child to care for. No, war is truly devastating.
This a wonderfully beautiful read. I enjoyed it immensely. The storyline, the characters, are written in such detail and description, it's like seeing a film in your head. Extraordinary!

During the Blitz, when German bombs rained on parts of England, little six-year-old Rose Sherbourne finds herself orphaned. She becomes the ward of Elenor Cardew, who is determined to protect Rose at any cost - especially when Elenor discovers a devastating secret about Rose.

Just a warning that the story jumps around a bit at the beginning (just the first three chapters maybe) before settling into a chronological order, so don't be alarmed or worried that the entire novel is like that.

Anyways, although the synopsis focuses on Rose, the real star of the story for me is Elenor because she's the narrator. I love Elenor. The daughter of a Cornish farmer, she leaves her brutish twin brothers to spend time with her formidable aunt on the eve of WW2. Aunt Maude is declining in health and demands Elenor come attend to her, mostly so she can spend time with Elenor before she passes away. At Aunt Maude's, Elenor meets Victoria (the maid of sorts), George (Victoria's jerk of a husband), and darling little Rose (their daughter).

I loved Elenor's feminism. (Is it accurate to call it that in WW2 time? I'm not sure but I'm going for it.) She's introduced to readers basically as her family's slave since her mother passed away; once her father died, she's been working non-stop for her brothers, who don't appreciate her labour around the house and take her for granted. Once she's at Aunt Maude's, she runs into a similar situation with George, who acts as if he is lord of the manor - and Elenor's way of putting him in his place is delicious.

I also adored Elenor's relationship with her aunt, other women in the community, little Rose, and the very charming Jackson (a Canadian pilot).

Elenor takes on a lot of responsibility as the story progresses, and I honestly just loved it all. I have never read a WW2 novel from the perspective of the people back home in England, and I just thoroughly enjoyed it. I think my only criticisms are that it's sometimes very easy to forget Elenor's age (she's 18 at the start of the novel), and she also cries a lot when things go wrong, which got irritating after a while.

But yes. A really great novel set in WW2 that isn't focused on the war part too heavily, but more on the disruption of the quiet lives who are waiting it out back home. Parts of it feel a bit slower, but I was never bored because I loved the interactions of the characters - and I loved Elenor and Rose so much.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Sometimes it is nice to go back in time and I actually did not want this book to end that was how good it was.

Loved this book!! I enjoyed everything about it- the characters, story and writing style. Loved reading about Elenor and I felt like I was right there with her. She was amazing-- running the farm by herself, her love of Rose, and how she treated everyone, especially those who helped her on the farm. Tom, Susie and Dottie were great additions to the farm and loved how they joked about Dottie's donkey laugh. Jackson was the perfect charming pilot. The story was not what I expected and I would never have guessed the secret surrounding Rose. That part came as a complete surprise.

The story centers around WWII and the bombings on England. Elenor leaves the farm she lives on with her two brothers to help take care of her elderly aunt. Even though Elenor owned part of the farm, her brother's treated her like a maid. Elenor loves living at Aunt Maude's house. The housekeeper Victoria and her husband, George and daughter Rose also live with Maude. Elenor meets the dashing Canadian pilot Jackson. Eventually, Elenor moves back to her farm and bombings cause Rose to be reunited with her. When Elenor discovers the secret surrounding Rose, she does everything in her power to keep her safe. My short, little summary doesn't do justice to the book and Elenor's wonderful story.

Definitely recommend the book, especially if you like historical fiction with a dash of romance. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and the author, Glynis Peters, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

A good old fashioned read. Set during WWII, it's the story of Rose and Eleanor. Who really rescued who during the Blitz? Both characters are well drawn and oh so sympathetic. There are some ups and downs and the secret, well, can't spoil it for you. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I know others would like to see the story continued but I think it's perfect the way it ends here.

It took me a while to get into the story and I was tempted to abandon at one point. I'm really glad I stuck with it though as it was a brilliant read once it got going. A good mix of characters and a plot that draws you in once it gets going. Highly recommended for anyone who loves historical fiction, especially when it's a little different to the norm.

Thank you Netgally, This book was great. Rose is a little girl who lived with her parents and a old lady her Mother worked for. This was during War world 2. Elenor comes to live with her Aunt Maude to help care for her at end of her life. She meets little Rose then and falls deeply in love with the little girl when she see's the girl is neglected by her parents . One day as Elenor is out doing errands she meets a handsome man named Jackson .
So much happends but Rose looses both parents, Elenor looses her Aunt who she grew very close to and both her brothers who treated her so terrible .She moves back to her farm runs it Rose ends up with her where she ends up Adopting little Rose after Rose's parents are both killed. Elenor marries Jackson and he,Elenor and Rose live a happy life. .
This is a great read.. I truly enjoyed it.