This is the first and only book I’ve read in the Shilling Grange Children’s Home series. Set post WWII in England, it is a heartbreaking story. You have the pleasure of meeting the children housed in the orphanage and getting to have a feeling of their emotions and sense the trauma they experienced as you absorb the story. I enjoy historical fiction books and this was a good one to add to my knowledge of life after WWII.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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A Place to Call Home is the second book in the Shilling Grange Children’s Home series by Lizzie Page. While the story takes off where the first installment (The Orphanage) ended, it could be read as stand alone as the author does a nice job bringing things up to speed (do yourself a favor and read the first! Truly a wonderful read). Heartbreaking yet heartwarming, full of promise and hope, I fell in love with this story and its cast of wonderful characters as the face life in England post WW2. I love watching a Clara grow as Housemother to the children. Her kindness, compassion, support, and strength is the balm these children need. I also loved watching her broken heart begin to heal. This one will have you laughing, crying and cheering on every single success! An overall feel good read, I simple could not put this one down.

A hearty thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance audio copy. Emily Barber does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life and I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment.

This was a really good book. I liked and thoroughly enjoyed the story-line of this book. At times I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next especially the ending. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job of telling the story and bringing out the wonderful atmosphere the author created in this book. I really warmed to the characters and soon became lmmursed in the story. This is the second book in the series which I failed to notice when I requested this book . I did however feel like I should of read the first book as I was missing some of the details from the first book. However, I still really enjoyed this audiobook. 

Many thanks to the author and publishing team for creating such a wonderful heartwarming tale. 

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A story that tugs on your heartstrings. I enjoyed listening, my thanks to NetGalley and publisher for providing a digital audio copy for me to review.

I loved this book ! Clara and her orphans came alive to me. Each had such individual personalities that I felt I knew them. I consider that a very good book ! I found myself relating to Joyce, she came to the orphanage crippled with polio and a bad attitude. She was untrusting and angry. By the end of the story she had transformed to a girl with a future ahead of her.
I enjoy historical fiction and I believe this story was well researched. As soon as I finished I bought the first book in the series , as this was the second book, so I could read more about Clara and her earlier history. I look forward to finding more stories from this author.
Thank you NetGalley , the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

To begin with I was not sure about this book, mainly because I felt the loss of not having read the previous instalment. However as the book continued, I got more and more involved and grew to really love the characters. Of course Clara is wonderful but so are the children and the village support network. In many ways it is a little like a fairy tale for grown ups. Lovely!

This is a lovely book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is set in Shilling Grange Children's Home, which is an orphanage, in England in 1949. Clara, the housemother, is a beautiful person, who fights for the children and does her best for them. The story is heartwarming and inspirational, and it will make you both laugh and cry. This is the second book in the series. I haven't read the first book, but I am going to try and read it as soon as possible, as I really liked this one.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into the book. I've restarted it four times, and finally, the fourth time was the lucky break. Wonderful story of love and trust and fight and triumph, and long road of orphan children to building a family.

Sometimes it takes only one person to change someone's life forever. For the children of the Shilling Grange Orphanage, it was Clara Newton. After the war, she has dedicated her time, life, and heart to the children who lost everything during the war. And by everything I do not mean the material things, besides their beloved parents, they have lost hope, trust, and security.

Once Ms. Newton finally found her way to her children's hearts, she received a piece of devastating news. Their home was up for sale, and kids were spread out thru multiple orphanage houses. With no time for grievance, Clara threw herself headfirst into a long fight for her children.

A beautiful and heartwarming story of a blended family. I was very happy I didn't give up on the book at the beginning. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture publisher for an amazing story.

Shilling Grange Orphanage, England, 1949. Clara Newton is housemother to the orphans at Shilling Grange Orphanage in England. It's 1949, Clara’s fiancé was killed during the war leaving her heartbroken. Two new children arrive, Joyce who has polio, and Evelyn who has lost count of the many times she's been moved.
The children keep her busy and focused and she is determined to improve their lives. But then Clara hears that the orphanage is going to be sold and the children moved yet again. Joyce and Peg to a home for disabled children. The others will be sent to Australia, where Clara fears they will be mistreated by unknown families.
Set after World War Two, the writing is very descriptive, and you can visualise Shilling Grange and the at times difficult (for good reason) children. This is a feel good book that may make you cry, or scream but jump for joy too.
The audiobook is narrated by Emily Barber whose English accent and tone compliments the setting of the novel.

A Place to Call Home by Lizzie Page. Narrated by: Emily Barber is the second book in the Shilling Grange Children’s Home series. This book is so beautifully written I was hooked from the very first few pages and just wanted to read more,, plus, I didn't want it to end. Just beautiful throughout. This book is set in the aftermath of WWII, England, 1949, a housemother Clara, who is wonderful and will do anything in her power to help the children in her charge, she tries her hardest to find homes for the orphans she has come to deeply love and care about.

The narrator Emily Barber was excellent!

I highly recommend this series.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start by saying this was a truly wonderful story! I loved how the house mother (Clara Newton) was so truly good to the children. She saw herself as their mother and fought for them like any mother would. This was truly heart warming.

However, I kind of wish I had read it in book format rather than listening to it on audio. I usually truly love audio books, but this one actually took a lot away from the story for me. The actress that read the story used pretty much the same voice in tone and accent (some times higher in pitch for the men) for every character and narration. Often times, I couldn't figure out which lines were thoughts or narration vs. actual things said by the character in the story. I got confused often between which character was speaking at given times. Every character had a tone and inflection like a person who is from a high society style speech (meaning like when you are speaking to someone who talks like they are superior or more well-to-do than the person they are speaking to). This just didn't fit with the setting of the story (an orphanage with it's orphans and house mother). This sort of spoiled my ability to fall into the story as I typically do when I read or listen. It was hard to become a part of the story in the level of depth where I could visualize being there. This also made it very difficult to envision the characters and what they might look like. I would have given the book a 5 star rating if not for the choice of narration. The book was so good that I only gave this a loss of one star.


I want to thank Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audio book. It was an honor to be selected!

A Place to Call Home (Shilling Grange Children’s Home #2)
by Lizzie Page
After the war, England had a long way to recover. Working at Grange Children's home as a house mother was the mission that she wanted and had. She finds that the historical nature of the home they live in causes more problems then solves. Haunted by he lost beau from the war, she struggles with her personal confidence. She uses all her ability to move mountains to protect her charges.

I wanted to like this one better than I did. This was a second in a series. I didn’t read the first one, but I don’t think it was necessary to have read it to understand what was going on in this book. Following Clara Newton, in 1949 England, Clara is a house mother at an orphanage. A good one. She cares about the kids and tries to help them in any way possible. Clara is still grieving over the loss of her fiancé who dies in the war. Clara receives devastating news that the home that the orphanage is located at is going to be sold. She tries everything in her power to team up with the children and some others to prevent this from happening. I loved the way the children and Clara teamed up to help solve this problem. While I enjoyed the story line, at time it did feel slow. The writing was good. The realistic characters, real life events and the relationships between each character were what made this story more powerful. This was a story about sacrifice, friendship, and hope.

This is Book 2 in the Shilling Grange children’s home series. This book carries on where the first book left off and we are back with Carla Newton and the children she looks after. I really enjoyed this book and the development of all the characters as we progress through the story. I loved reading about the children and each of them had their own little personality which was really good to read about. This book was at times an emotional read but there were also parts that made me smile and laugh out loud..

1949-Clara Newton finds purpose to her life looking after orphans after the death of her fiancé. As a housemother of Shilling Grange Orphanage in England, she becomes attached to several orphans with disabilities. She worked with a war hero, Ivor, but he has disappeared.
Expenses are skyrocketing and the children and Carla try to work together to help save expenses, to save their home. Clara is distraught when she finds out the orphanage is going to be sold and certain children like Joyce, and Peg will be taken to a home for disabled children. Others will be sent to Australia, and Clara is concerned for all the children and their well-being.
Time is running out as Clara is desperate to find the children caring and loving homes. Will Ivor show up in time, to help Clara with all the children? Will they each find loving homes? Heartbreaking but as people band together and try to help each other, it gives one hope.
Thank you NetGAlley, Bookouture and Lizzie Page for this advanced audio. This book is available February 17, 2022.
#bookreview, #audiobook, @booksconnectus, #netgalley, #bookouture, #lizziepage, #stamperlady50, #bookstagram

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Synopsis
Shilling Grange Orphanage, England, 1949. She would do anything to protect the innocent children in her care. But soon they could be sent into danger…

When Clara Newton’s fiancé died during World War Two, she thought her life was over. But now she looks after orphans who, like her, lost everything during the war. Children like sweet little Peg who won’t speak, and Joyce whose body was scarred by polio. Clara loves them all dearly, even though life as a housemother can be lonely – especially now that Ivor, a D-Day war hero with dark brown eyes who once helped with the children, has disappeared…

But then Clara receives some terrible news. The orphanage is going to be sold and the children sent far away. Joyce and Peg will be taken to a notorious home for disabled children. The others will be sent to Australia, where Clara fears they will be mistreated by unknown families. Any day now, the children could lose everything she worked so hard to provide…

With wealthy buyers lined up to purchase Shilling Grange and a ship already docked waiting to carry the children away, Clara is desperate. She must find loving new homes for them quickly, but time is running out… Can she save the orphans before they lose everything all over again? And even if Ivor returns when she needs him the most, will it be too late?

A completely heart-wrenching and unforgettable historical novel, set after the devastation of World War Two. Perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Diney Costeloe and The Orphan Sisters.

Another beautifully written, heartwarming and heart wrenching read from Lizzie Page. The follow up to The orphanage is perfect for fans of Call The Midwife, The Tate and Lyle girls and any others set in the period. It’s stunningly written, beautifully narrated and the perfect cozy, fell-good novel, ideal for a wet weekend. #Jorecommends

A Place to Call Home (Shilling Grange Children's Home Book 2) by Lizzie Page, is such a heartwarming read/listen. Thoroughly heart-wrenching, set in the aftermath of WWII, England, 1949, a housemother is tasked with trying to find homes for the orphans she has come to deeply love and care about.

The reader is gifted with the background of each child and comes to know them personally throughout the story, sensing their feelings, emotions, and the trauma they have felt.

But the orphanage's future is at risk, and they could lose the last of stability - the last of what Clara, their housemother, that has worked so hard to give them and provide. The harsh realities portrayed are true to historical events, yet room is left for hope, love, and is filled with grace.

This story was well written, and the audiobook is well narrated by Emily Barber whose English accent and tone is the perfect vehicle to tell the story.

4.5 Stars

My profound thanks to NetGalley, Lizzie Page, and Bookouture Audio for providing an AAC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Such an emotional story. I was riveted and just had to know how it was going to end. Beautiful!!!

The narrator narrated the book beautifully also and I loved the depictions of the different characters. Great read and audio book.