The Girl Without A Name (Suzanne Goldring) starts in 2004 and then goes back to 1939, with some back and forth after that. This story is sweet and sad, it has some romance and some history. Reading The Girl Without A Name at times filled my heart with joy and others I would have liked to be able to smack someone across the head to knock some sense into them! I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy to review.

This is an excellent well written story. Billie's father Dick had a stroke and is in the hospital. Billie's goes to visit and Dick cannot communicate well but is able to say the word Ruby when Billie finds a black and white photo of a woman she does not recognize. Then the story jumps back to around 1940 and the Blitz where Rubie and Steve are in love. Steve gets sent abroad and Ruby dutifully waits. Steve returns, they go away and never return. Billie investigates how they connect to her father. A really good read if you like ww2 fiction.

Received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest opinion.
Lovely book joining the past,present and future,and a love between Ruby and Stevie.
It was a real page Turner with a surprising twist at the end,loved the description of all the character's with all their faults and all.
Will love to read more novels from this author.recommend it to family and friends.

May contain Spoilers: Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC in return for a honest review. I really don't know where to begin. First off this was my first book by this author and I do plan to read more of her works. I enjoy historical fiction and to learn at the end that this story was based on true events that happened really brought it to life. The book starts off in 2004 where an older man in England is watching a news story about a flood and becomes distraught and has a stroke. We later find out this man is Stevie, one of the main characters. He was called Stevie as his name is finally revealed to be Mr. Stevens. This story is mostly about the lives of Ruby and Stevie who meet when they are both sent out of London during WWII for safety from German bombings. I didn't even realize that families were separated that way. Ruby was lucky and lived with Stevie's older sister Joan in Ms. Honey's home. It was a nice life and far different from Stevie's time on a farm with a family who treated him like a servant. Unfortunately Ruby's mother is killed in a bombing and she is brought back to London to live with her Aunt and Uncle. Stevie has also returned home after running away. They resume a friendship and then turns into more of a love between them. Stevie goes off to do his mandatory service and returns a different person who breaks Ruby's heart. He marries and has three children and then decides he wants to be with Ruby again. Not the most likeable character but seems that he suffered from PTSD from his time in the service. We eventually learn why Stevie was so affected by the current flooding and how this connected him with Ruby. I don't want to say more to give it all away. It took about 80% of the book to figure out why it was named what it is. The ending was unexpected and a pleasant surprise. Great descriptive writing throughout. I would recommend this book but be prepared for some heartbreak.

OH MY GOD! What a book. I was hooked right from the start. Thanks to Bookoture, Suzanne Goldring & NetGalley for this book. The story is pretty simple. But the plot twist at the end, just left me bawling. Words won’t do justice to this book. Please pick it up and read it asap,

Such a wonderful and at times heart wrenching story of Ruby who is orphaned during the London Blitz. Ruby is evacuated and billeted in Devon with other children from her school and is loving her new life with Mrs Honey and Joan. Ruby becomes friendly with Joan’s brother Stevie and this friendship lasts long after the War. Ruby has a sad lonely life but Stevie makes it worthwhile u it’s he is called up to National Service.
The story alternates between the pre and post war period and the early 2000s. We are told the story of Ruby and Stevie through these years and often through the lives of those around them, Stevie’s daughter Billie searches for answers when her father has a stroke.
I really enjoyed this book and will read more of Suzanne Goldring’s books. What starts as a war time love story becomes a mystery but there is plenty in between to keep you captivated. I couldn’t put this book down as I had to find out what happened to Ruby. An outstanding read!

The Girl Without a Name has all the makings of a successful WWII historical fiction novel. I was intrigued from the beginning and constantly found myself wanting to know how it would end.

I felt enraptured by Stevie and Ruby’s stories, both as individuals and as a pair. Sometimes I felt there was too much time between the modern and historical eras, and I felt a tad disconnected from the modern story, but overall I loved it and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review and honest opinions

The Girl Without a Name is a beautiful, haunting tale of the past, present and future, weaved together in love. After Billie finds her father in a chair, suffering from a stroke, she finds a picture in his wallet that brings forth a mystery. Billie sets out, with the help of her father's memories to figure out who was in the picture and solve a decades old mystery.

With the story weaving between present day and WWII's love journey of Stevie and Ruby, this was a story that held me captive until the last page. The character development was perfect and the story was able to time travel without being confusing to the reader, yet still had an element of surprise. This was my first time reading this author and I can't wait to see what else she puts out in the future!

An amazing book on courage and bravery and the treachery of war which changes people's lives forever. A page-turner right from the beginning, as we are transported back and forth to capture the full essence of the story.

Children are sent to the country to avoid being casualties in the German blitz bombings in London. Ruby is sent to stay with Mrs. Honey where she befriends siblings Joan and Stevie. A strong bond of friendship is formed and soon blossoms into love between Stevie and Ruby, however, the war experiences in Stevie's life change their relationship.

This novel caused me to be a bundle of emotions, but I enjoyed every minute of reading it. An excellent read that was so captivating throughout the entire novel.

Summary:
A remarkable wartime story that is totally brilliant. I highly recommend this book.

With thanks to netgalley and Suzanne holding for an early copy in return for an honest review.
First time reading this Author and what an amazing tale I've been totally captivated the whole way through the story of stevie and ruby its heart wrenching at times I totally loved every page and what an amazing ending I can totally recommend this OUTSTANDING book for all.

All she wanted was the boy who promised to build her a dollhouse. But...war changes people.

When Billie finds her father slumped over in his chair, having suffered a stroke, she finds something in his wallet that leaves her with so many questions. As her father recovers, it’s quite clear that this picture as well as others found in the back of his closet trouble him greatly. Alternating from 1940’s & 50’s England and 2004, the author takes on the journey of Ruby and Stevie. Both evacuated from war time London to the countryside where they both have vastly different experiences, hers is wonderful, his is abusive. They both manage to make their way back to London and life takes them in vastly different directions but the love and affection they feel for each other remains...until...Stevie is sent to Palestine and experiences things so traumatic that his behavior becomes irrational and he all but abandons Ruby.

Billie is determined to get to the bottom of things and find out who the girl in the picture is. With the help of modern technology and memories from her aunt, she pieces together her fathers past and discovers he may not be the man she thought he was.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat as many WWII era books do but what it left me with is a greater understanding of PTSD and how it’s effects can go beyond the one that suffers from it. I was hoping for a little more finality but sometimes one never solves the mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookuture for the chance to read this one a little early.

Like other reviewers, I have been thinking about how I could have missed the name of Billie's father. Was he Stevie, or was he Richard. How are we ever going to know why two names. As for the story, it was just great. I couldn't put the book down, and it went everywhere I went. The descriptive passages made me feel like I was there with Ruby sitting at Mrs. Honey's table. I have travelled to England many times, remember the picturesque countryside that was described, and have eaten clotted cream and scones many times. I felt so sad when Ruby had to leave her mother and go to the countrytside to be safe during the war and then I felt even sadder when she had to go back to London to live. She found a home with Mrs. Honey and Joan and thus, she felt secure and loved.. I was so sad for the way Stevie was treated and so glad he decided to leave the farm where he was to stay during the bombing of London.. The friendship story between Ruby and Stevie while they were growing up was so splendid,. Then how their friendship turned into l ove, I could feel the happiness she felt knowing how much Stevie loved her. I hated that he broke her heart and I could also feel her pain at that time. I wish she could have been smarter to know he was "using her" as they were older. Ruby had such a hard life, but she took everything that was handed to her. I am not going to say anything about the ending, but I sure didn't see that coming. WOW. I have previously read MY NAME IS EVA by Ms. Goldring and while I didn't particularly like it at the time I was reading it, I am remembering lots of its twists and turns, and it certainly has left an imipression on me.. Ms. Goldring does the same in The Girl Without a Name. It must be the nature in the way she writes to surprise the reader. I would probably give this book 5 stars because I enjoyed it so much; however, since I am rather confused about Stevie/Richard/Dick.....this book only gets 3. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this.

Wow! I’m not really sure where to begin here. This book has a little of everything—-history, mystery, romance, family, tragedy, all woven together by the enduring spirit of Ruby Morrison. Ruby was one of the children impacted by Operation Pied Piper, a program designed to protect children from the impending onslaught of German bombs to be dropped on London during the Second World War. You can tell the author did her research on this and other historical events in this novel. I read this book in two days! It seamlessly goes back and forth between two periods of time as they eventually interlock in a way that comes together beautifully! I don’t want to get into the facts too much so as to give the story away but I will say that I was so drawn to Ruby‘s coming-of-age story through the Second World War in Britain and her first love and all the emotions and experiences that come with it. A great read for lovers of historical fiction! Thank you to Bookouture, Suzanne Goldring, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ruby and Stevie are only two of a busload of children being evacuated from London to the countryside. Out of all the children these two would have a bond between them that would last a lifetime.
Ruby and Stevie's sister, Joan are blessed to be sent to a widowed woman, Mrs Honey. She is very generous and takes care of these two girls appropriately. Making sure they have proper food, clothes, and a warm place to sleep. Stevie isn't as lucky. He and another young boy are sent to a farm. They aren't given the proper food, clothing and in winter are close to freezing. They are also harshly punished for the slightest mistake or bad behavior.
Stevie is finally able to run away and return home to his parents.
Mostly this is a heartbreaking story of a young girl finding herself. Discovering her strengths and her potential. It is also a story of human frailties and that it's never to late to be sorry.
Great story!!

A touching story of a young orphan, her years as an evacuee and her first love. She suffers loss and rejections and near-death experience. This opens up an escape for her - a new name - a new life. Ruby was no more. She finds true love in the Isles. The man who broke her heart a distant memory.

A fabulous war time story that will really pull at your heart strings. I totally loved this book and the story was just brilliant.

When children were evacuated in ww2 from London to the countryside for safety no-one could forsee the trauma some of these children would face.Devon is beautiful and Ruby loves it so much she does not want to leave,Stevie on the other hand hates it thinks its hell.I have loved this book,the characters and the storyline.

This is a sobering story about the impact of war on civilians, including what really happened to some of the children evacuated from London to so-called places of safety in the countryside. For Ruby, Devon is idyllic, and she does not want to leave, but for Stevie it is hell. The impact on their lives is long lasting, especially when they return years later. The author contrasts the grittiness and horror of London and Palestine with the loving and caring atmosphere of Mrs Honey's cottage. A good novel which brings to light some aspects of the Blitz which I for one had not previously considered.

Dick--or Stevie (why does this man have two names?)--has a stroke, and in trying to help him recover by talking about his past, his daughter tries to figure out why he has a photo of an unknown young woman. She thinks she finds out, but she doesn't. In flashbacks, the reader learns that her dad was, in fact, a dick, manipulating women and using them as a way to cope with PTSD. The mystery woman, we also learn in flashbacks, was an almost unbelievably naive and simple person who yearns after Dick/Stevie for most of her life, until he leaves her to die and she finally gets a clue. Told in very simple and bland language, this novel seems as though it was written specifically for an audience of new adult readers, but it's not the kind of book to get anyone hooked on reading.

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The Girl Without A Name by Suzanne Goldring: historical fiction, WWII, romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Release date: November 5th, 2020
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Thank you to Suzanne Goldring, NetGalley, and Bookouture for gifting me an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
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Have you ever had a best friend with a significant other you weren’t too fond of? You just want to grab them by the shoulders and yell “you’re too good to be treated like this!!!” This book will make you feel that. I could not put down this book!
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Summary:
Weaving between WWII and 50 some years later, Ruby and Stevie are brought together first as childhood friends evacuated from London to avoid the bombings. Friendship turns to love as they age, but things take a different path as Stevie sees more of the cruel side to this world.
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Older in age, Stevie suffers a stroke and as his daughter Billie tries to assist him in his healing, he is obviously triggered by photos and mention of his past. A photo of a young girl in his wallet sets Billie on quest that’s leads her to realize just how little she actually knows about her father, and what he is capable of.

* *The only thing that confused me, and I am wondering if I missed something, is the back and forth between the name Stevie and Dick for one character...