This story is told from a dual narrative, part present and part during the second world war years. The present story is set in Spain and is based in a beautiful family holiday villa in Andalusia. Jen's brother is keen to uncover the story behind a photograph of two little girls, with their backs to the camera. looking across a bay. The story of the war years is about their ancestors and how they come to be connected to the photograph. Elaine Parker thinks that she is no one special, she works for the British government in London as a clerical assistant. She has a steady boyfriend but her world is turned upside down when she meets and falls head over heels in love with a famous war photographer. who feels the same way about her. She would do anything for him but one thing she won't do is share her family's secrets. The book is loosely based on the story of the war photographer Robert Capa and the author does an amazing job of putting her interpretation of his story into the book..

A great tale of relationships, family, romance and heartache. I really enjoyed this book, flowed seamlessly between the past and present. I even learned something, i was curious and googled the famous war photographer! I will be recommending this to my friends.

This novel is written in dual time frame and tells the stories of two women, their trials and tribulations, their relationships and their families. I really loved the way the two stories eventually wove together and thought it was highly original, thought provoking and a great idea for the story board. It’s about how choices can be made for the wrong reasons, loyalty and love.
In the Blitz years, a young orphaned woman has promised her mother that she will keep her two siblings together and look after them. One brother is a real chancer who ducks and dodges his way through life; a lovable rogue. The other brother is kind and sensitive but is beset by escalating mental health issues. Elaine Parker certainly has to keep her eyes peeled, trying to keep one of them out of gaol and the other out of an asylum. Elaine is helping the war effort by doing clerical work in London, looking out for anomalies in soldier’s letters home, reporting possible secret messages to her manager. She meets an infamous war photographer whose talent for capturing poignant images was well admired. He uses his talent well, is enthusiastic and totally committed to his work. Yes, Robert Capa is certainly going places. He wined and dined Elaine with enthusiasm, even though some Londoners were going hungry, their homes and work places had been bombed out. Elaine developed a taste for the high life and soon Bobby and Elaine were together, enjoying nights of dancing, up-market hotel rooms and passionate love making. Theirs is a serious relationship with Elaine dreading Bobby being called away to photograph war scenes in the most dangerous locations. This is Elaine’s story of her war years and what became of her relationship with Bobby.
Years later Jen has travelled alone to Spain after a contentious split-up with her husband. Her family are already there, sun- kissed by the fiery, relentless sun overhead and enjoying swimming in the Villa’s pool, catching up with each other’s news and downing abundant supplies of wine, their bellies replete after a delicious barbeque. Jen’s brother has come across an ancient tattered family photograph of two young girls gazing across a beautiful bay, smiling and contented, with their young lives ahead of them, full of promise and happiness. Jen’s husband is also abroad with his attractive girlfriend, leaving their son staying with friends when he is meant to be having a holiday with his son. Jen is furious but still her interest has been piqued by this photograph. Her brother is determined to find out more about his family history and this is the basis of Jen’s story.
It took me ages to work out how Jen and Elaine’s stories were linked, if indeed they were. My only criticism with the novel is that it was too long and wordy. I was definitely invested in both threads and thought the storytelling was good and the characters full of interest. I had vivid images of the war years and the family villa in the countryside and I was keen to learn about the characters and their individual stories. I’ll definitely investigate Lizzie Page’s back list of novels because I liked this one. I love to read about friendships, relationships and families and thought deeply about my review.
I received this book through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bookouture in return for an honest review. Thank you for my copy. These are my own thoughts and I have read no other reviews before writing my own. I recommend it as good read and give it 3.5* for the reason I have given. I definitely admired the detailed storyboard, full of promise.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Ms. Page has brought to life characters that you can relate to and you feel like they are member of your family or your circle of friends. The book takes place in two locations and different time periods. The first location is London in 1943 during the war. Elaine "Pinky" Parker works as a typist, transcribing letters while looking for secret hidden messages. The second location is Spain in 2016. The family gathered there are the daughters and grandchildren of Elaine Parker. Ms. Page weaves together the stories of how this family came to be.

Elaine was left to care for her brothers Clive and Alan - both of whom had their demons to fight. She was the girlfriend and later fiancee of the famous WWII photographer Robert Capa, a "foolish" Hungarian who made history photographing the landings at Normandy for 'Life' Magazine. His book "Slightly Out of Focus: The Legendary Photojournalist's Illustrated Memoir of World War II" is still widely available along with several others that he authored. Ms. Page chronicles the choices that Elaine makes - good or bad that she ends up having to live with for the rest of her life.

Gathered in Spain are Elaine's daughters Barbara and Shirley. Barbara never had children but Shirley has Matthew and Jennifer. As they've gathered together, a documentary film maker fills them in on the life that their mother/grandmother lived during and after the war. Many secrets and truths come out during this visit.

The Forgotten Girls has several meanings as you read through the book. I think Ms. Page has once again written an endearing story that will make you laugh, cry, and have great respect for what people went through so many years ago.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I was looking for something different from thrillers and chicklit and was so glad that I picked this book. This is about a clerical worker Elaine and the hardships she endures. What a great read.

Family First

Wartime is a different time to live in. People have to make choices that they would not ordinarily make. Lives are changed by circumstances that are out of their control.

The story is about a clerical worker, Elaine that loses her parents, thus must care for her brothers. She falls in love with a famous war photographer, Robert. Because of her family responsibilities she breaks off her engagement and marries someone else. Elaine and Robert never stop loving each other.

Many years later a documentary is being done on the famous photographer. Elaine's daughters, Betty and Shirley and their children try to find out about the relationship between Robert and Elaine, coming across information and a secret involving Betty.

This book is about relationships during the war and years later. It has romance and heartbreak. There are sad moments and happy moments.

I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Lizzie Page, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.

Inspired by a true story two women living in different times a photograph from the past with a connection to the present.A magical novel that drew me back and forth in time a ove story a book I hated to spend.Highly recommend.#netgaley#bookouture

WW2 London 1943, Elaine Parker is a clerical girl at the government office. the work is all hush hush. Dashing Robert Capa a war photographer and they fall in love. A ladies man but sweeps Elaine off her feet. The book takes us forward to Spain 2016 and Jen's brother Matthew finds a black and white photo of two little girls. I found this book so enchanting to read, breathtakingly remarkable accounts as we go through the London blitz. It opens a can of worms of nana Elaine that leaves you loving all the characters and their stories as its all unfold. Two forgotten daughter's that tells an amazing read as we go back and forth, and i loved it right through to the end.