This is a lovely start to what is clearly going to be a big emotional family saga. Ellen's in a terrible place- her mother died, her father moved her from Scotland to the US then abandoned her, and her aunt and uncle are making her life miserable- when she's sent to help Rose and her family deal with illness. And she's still a teen. Much to her surprise, however, she finds a positive spirit in Rose and a home on Amherst Island. And she finds a deep attraction to her neighbor Jed but know that Jed might not be her future. Is his brother Lucas? No spoilers from me. The setting is wonderful and the early 1900s atmospherics, while minimal, are helpful. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This will pull at your heart, especially in the beginning. I'm curious what happens next.

The Orphan's Island is the heart wrenching story of a young Scottish girl named Ellen Copley. Ellen comes from a poor family, her father works on railway engines and the family cannot afford to let Ellen continue to go to school with her friends, instead she must stay home with her mother and keep house, forcing her to grow up at a very early age. Ellen's father tries to give her and the family hope in the dream that one day they will be able to immigrate to America, a land of new opportunities. Unfortunately, any money that the family saves is spent on medicines trying to heal Ellen's quickly declining mother. At the age of twelve Ellen loses her mother and bittersweetly Ellen and her father pack what little belongings they have and immigrate to America.

Several years before Ellen and her father make their overseas journey her father's brother, Hamish, and his wife, Ruth, make the trip to America and lay down roots in a town called Seaton. Ruth and Hamish make a name for themselves in Seaton by opening a general store and are doing well. Ellen and her father set their sites on travelling to Hamish and Ruth in order to get their feet under them in this new country. Ellen has a hard time fitting in with the locals. Coming from Scotland she has a thick Scottish "burr" that she is constantly teased for. She also has a hard time warming up to her Aunt Ruth and Uncle Hamish, as much as she tries, she just can't seem to do anything right in Ruth's eyes. Ruth is forever correcting Ellen to the point that Ellen begins to feel that she will never fit in in Seaton.

Ellen awakes one morning to find that her father has abandoned her to Hamish and Ruth and she feels that her life and any happiness she hoped for is truly over. A letter soon arrives in the mail from Hamish's sister Rose asking to borrow Ellen because of her nursing skills. Seems that all of Rose's children have come down with scarlet fever and Rose needs an extra set of hands to help in nursing her children back to health. Ruth and Hamish are more than obliged to send Ellen off to Rose hoping that maybe she can forget some of her sadness while helping Rose.

Rose's family lives on an island on the Canadian border. It is here on this island with Aunt Rose that Ellen truly begins to find the family life and happiness that she searched for her whole life. When she arrives she quickly finds that she wasn't just summoned to be an extra helping hand around the house, but was asked to come because Rose and her family wanted to know Ellen for Ellen. Ellen grows into herself at the Mcafferty farm and finds a place to call home.

I enjoyed following the life of Ellen. Her story was such a sad one from the very beginning. It was hard to think that the privilege of being able to go to school was not easily obtainable at the turn of the century especially for young girls. Ellen's persistence to not give up and to keep going showed the determination of the human spirit to find a place to settle and a place where one can feel wanted and needed. I think my favorite line from the book that will stick with me is, "Ah Ellen. We can't choose the way people love us. They just do." Throughout the story Ellen faces many different kinds of love some forthwith and easy to see and some that was hidden and took a lot of thought to understand. I think The Orphan's Island was a beautiful coming of age story and I look forward to reading the second book in the series to see where Ellen's life takes her next.

After her mother dies, Ellen's father takes her to America to start a new life with his brother. But things don't work out for him and he leaves poor Ellen with her, not so nice, uncle and aunt. She's soon unwanted and is sent to Amherst Island to be with her Aunt Rose where she is much happier.

I adored this book. It's the first part of a trilogy and it's a nice slow burn book. I loved all the details surrounding her life both in Scotland and her move to America and the island. The story starts in the early 1900's and I just love historical fiction set in this era. At the tender age of 13 there is a hint of romance/love between the Lyman brothers. It's nice to watch her grow up from a young child to a young adult. It's a perfect book to escape to with a rollercoaster of emotions. I am loving it so far and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

This is book number one in the series. What can i say.? What a great way to start a new series. I loved it. I loved the characters, i loved the environment. And i loved watching the Main character growing up. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed reading this book it is the first in a series but can be read by itself. There was a good storyline and interesting characters especially the heroine Ellen. I will look out for the new books and do recommend that you read this book.

Oh what a book! I absolutely devoured this excellent read. The first of a trilogy The Orphan's Island is an excellent historical fiction book.
From the very start I was living the story alongside the main character Ellen and felt like I truly knew each character.
Ellen and her father leave Glasgow to try and make a new life in America. From there you will travel with Ellen through love sadness and her adventures.
I cannot wait for the second book in this trilogy.

Kate Hewitt is a new author for me and boy, does she know how to write a tearjerker! The storytelling is wonderful and draws you in. I cried buckets! I'm so excited to read the next chapter in Ellen's life..........

I get so excited when I get a chance to read a book by Kate Hewitt and this book was no exception. I enjoy so much how the author makes me feel part of the story and I just keep wanting to turn the page.

I particularly enjoyed the characters of Ellen, Aunt Rose and Jed. I can't wait to start on the next book and see where Ellen's adventure continues.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the copy. The views are my own.

By far this book was one of the most depressing novels I have read...aside from WWII stories which I'm prepared to understand are rather sombre. Not one page was entertaining, enjoyable or outstanding. Yes, I finished the book, but won't be looking for the rest of the trilogy. I'll still thank NetGalley for this ARC, but the book won't be recommended.

Home is Where the Heart is.

The Time is 1904 Glasgow, Scotland. After the death of her mother, Ellen and her father leave Scotland and immigrate to the U.S. to a town in Virginia to stay with her Aunt Ruth and Uncle Hamish. They do not feel like they fit in there and her father leaves to work on the railroad in New Mexico leaving Ellen behind. She tries to fit in but does not and is not happy. Her Aunt Rose invites her to Amherst Island in Canada to stay with her and her family. She falls in love with the Island and calls it home.

This is the story of a young girl, her attempts to fit it, finding a home that feels like home. It is the story of the two Lyman brothers Lucas and Jed. She will break one's heart and the other will break hers by falling in love with her friend Louisa.

Ellen searches for her path in life. Where does she really belong, what should she do with her life. Where does she go and what does she do after school. There are few vocational choices for women back then and she has no money to pursue further education.

We journey with Ellen as she makes her choices, as she agonizes over matters of the heart, and as she realizes that family is always family and she is cared for more than she realizes.

This book was sad, happy, and so well written. I could picture the beautiful island, I could feel the emotions and yes at one point I cried. I really enjoyed reading this and I am awaiting book two to continue Ellen's journey in life. Although it is the first book in a trilogy it could be read alone. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy in return for an honest review.

THE ORPHAN'S ISLAND by KATE HEWITT is the beautifully told story of Ellen Copley, who left Glasgow with her father after her mother's death, for a new life in America. Things do not turn out well when her father leaves her in Seaton with his brother Hamish and his "bristly" wife Ruth. Ellen is afraid of loving anyone as those she loves seem to go away and leave her. She knows her mother had no choice, but her father chose to abandon her. This rejection affects her badly, especially as her uncle and aunt have no children and Aunt Ruth is rather strict and unbending. Things improve when she is sent to stay with her Aunt Rose and Uncle Dyle and their five rambunctious children on Amherst Island. where she is loved unconditionally and feels at home at last.
Ellen is very protective of "her" island and does not want to share it with her spoilt and vindictive friend Louisa, nor does she want to share her friendship with the Lyman brothers with her.
We also see the many changes that are taking place in the early 1900's and how they affect the choices Ellen makes.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.
I highly recommend The Orphan's Island to anyone who enjoys inspirational historical fiction. I have read the second book in the trilogy, Dreams of the Island, and am looking forward to reading the third and final novel in the series. These are the first books I have read by this author and they most certainly will not be the last!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The Orphan’s Island by Kate Hewitt is an excellent historical fiction novel that is the first in a trilogy titled: Amherst Island.

This book begins the story of Ellen Copely and her childhood, adolescence, and transition into adulthood. We meet Ellen in 1904 as she and her Dad are finally immigrating to the United States from Scotland. She has just lost her mother whom had been sick for quite some time, and they are finally meeting up with her father’s brother and sister-in-law in Vermont. Not all that was expected by Ellen occurs and she ends up going to a small island, Amherst, in Canada to help with her father’s sister and her many children.

We get to take a peak at life through Ellen during this time as not only an immigrant, but as a young lady trying to figure out who she is, what her purpose in life will be, and trying to find a place that she feels comfortable, accepted, and a rightful home. I love Ellen as a character. She is smarter then she realizes, she has flaws, but she is brave, hopeful, talented with her artistry, and has a good head on her shoulders. I love traveling along with her and experiencing these places for the first time right with her. The author does a great job painting the pictures of the landscapes and how people lived during this time in these locations.

I enjoyed the plot, the pacing, the character cast, seeing Ellen grow up, and I can’t wait to see what happens next in her life with the second book: Dreams of the Island.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 11/3/20 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.