Love Lizzie Page books. You always know it will be an emotional read and this was totally that! Couldnt put it down! Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 3rd book in the series so maybe at times I felt a little lost ! But over all good book

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 3rd book in the Wartime Evacuees series. It could be read as a standalone book but I think readers who have read the first 2 books would get more out of this book.
I like how the author has focused on 3 individual children with intertwining experiences. You get a nice perspective from each child/woman.

Loved this book. England, 1941: Heartbroken villager Winnie has only just lost her husband when she’s asked to house an evacuee from the city. Will these two lonely souls heal each other’s broken hearts? An inspiring and emotional story of love, loss and hope in the darkest of days. Grab this one or any of the author’s books at curl up and enjoy the wild ride. You won’t be disappointed.

In book 3 of The Wartime Evacuees, we follow Francine’s journey after losing her mum and siblings during The Blitz.

Winnie has recently lost her husband to the war and is still grieving. Running the pub (The Castle) that she and her husband had ran together is keeping her going.

We join Winnie and Francine at their most difficult times, when they both need help and guidance.

My heart went out to both Winnie and Francine. They had both lost their loved ones and both were struggling to cope … until they found each other.

Winnie’s immediate love for Francine was wonderful and I could feel it through the pages.

Francine was wonderful for Winnie, she helped to keep the pub going by coming up with great ideas.

A beautifully told story that had my emotions running all over the place!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

My heart bleeds for Francine. She has been through so much. She had been evacuated once before but her mother wanted her to return to London. She left the safety of the country side for the bombs of London. She soon realizes there is no safe place in London.

She soon finds herself evacuated again, but this time as an orphan. She is dumped in the small village of Kettering. It isn't easy to find someone that can open their heart and home for a little girl lost. The social worker thought he had the best place for her. He thought he could help his friend, Winnie, and a little girl at the same time. Winnie thought otherwise..

Francine is soon placed with an elderly man. He had been on the foster list since 1905. I gained so much from her placement with Mr. Cohen. Francine finds purpose with Mr Cohen. He has a kind heart, something that she desparately needed. It would not last.

Everything changes when Francine enters The Castle Pub. She didn't know where else to go after her guardian did not wake up. Francine finds herself needing a new place to live. Winnie didn't know how much she needed Francine. The patrons had stories to tell, I just needed to listen. Francine was an inspiration as she helped Winnie. She loved the pub and it showed. She was soon finding ways to bring in more customers. The Pub was her safe place.

I was left speechless experiencing the struggles Francine has in school. Francine remained quiet. Francine took what was dished out. The fear of being removed from a safe place was not something I had thought about. My stomache ached. My heart cried. I didn't think it could happen in a small village.

What an incredible read! This story ties together history, a great story, and even more recent event topics into one incredible story. It tells the reality of living through a wartime and what happened when it finished. The characters became relatable and so realistic and it was hard to not be rooted for them and wanting to keep reading to follow their lives.

This story is set in England.
After losing her entire family (except her solider father) because of the Blitz and chicken pox, Francine is shipped off as a refuge.
She has much to learn. Just how far has Hitler’s ideology spread?
While I was disappointed with Francine’s personal relationship, the main story points are engaging and insightful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

The 3rd part in the Wartime series but can be read standalone which i did as i didn't realise it was. Great story which i thoroughly enjoyed .

A well written book about live and friendship during the Second World War. Winnie struggles to keep the castle pub from closure. Francine has lost her family during the blitz and is evacuated to Kettering. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Winnie is obliged to offer a home to Francine. The story evolves around the growing love and affection the two of them have for each other. As Francine gets older she becomes more involved with plans to keep the pub from closure. A warmhearted story.

I loved this book, it was an emotional read. Winnie and Francine meet during the war, they don’t realise it yet but they need each other to heal from the horrors of losing loved ones. It was heartbreaking and sad but also very healing and with hope. Follow these two, a woman and a young girl as they navigate loss and life together. This is a real cozy feel good book, although tragic there is also hope and love which is very uplifting. Highly recommend this book I really enjoyed it. Definitely worth five stars as I couldn’t put it down, I really needed to know how it would end.

When the Salt family seek refuge during the blitz, little did they realise that the shelter wouldn’t protect them. Francine Salt only escaped because she was being looked after by a neighbour to protect the youngsters as she had chickenpox.
When she was relocated to Kettering, care officer Scott Cuthbert thought he’d ask good friend Winnie Eldridge to take her in, only problem was that Winnie herself was suffering after the loss of husband Trevor and she could barely look after herself. Winnie was landlady of The Castle public house where the brewery representative informed her that she had to improve footfall or risk closing, how was she going to manage that? Winnie’s life starts to look up when the Canadian soldiers start to frequent the premises, is she getting over Trevor.
My favourite character was Winnie, least favourite was mr Williams (he was such a bully).

I felt there was a lot packed into last few chapters.

What a lovely story. Vivid and very well researched. Quite an emotional story but with happy vibes. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Book three, The Wartime Mother, can they heal each other's broken heart.
Another absolutely beautiful WW2 novel from this inspiring author.
Kettering Northamptonshire,
Widowed pub landlady Winnie Eldridge and evacuee little Francine Salt together in this heart- wrenching story.
Old Mr Cohen death bring these two together, Winnie takes in Francine and Tiger the cat at the Castle pub without the H.
She won't even think about sending this little girl back to a children's home in London who has lost her mother and siblings and her father away fighting in this war, and Winnie has a threat of a pub closure that both fight to keep open.
I got such a big lump in my throat reading this book that is filled with love, through a special bonding forming with all the highs and lows along the way.
Tissues on the ready as always from this author once again as she takes her reader's into another best seller.
I totally 100% loved it.

"The Wartime Mother" takes place starting in 1941. Francine is an 11 year old girl who has lost her mother, younger sister and brothers in a bombing. Her father is missing and not known as dead or alive. Francine is in need of someone to take care of her. She is first fostered by an elderly man Mr. Cohen. She grows to love the old man and his cat but when Mr. Cohen dies she has to be placed in a new foster home. She is sent to live with Winnie who lives above a pub that is owned by her husband { who is away and fighting in the War} the pub is called "the Castle" Francine enjoys living in the Castle and turns out to be a pretty helper in the Pub. Over the next fews years there are tragedies when Winnie's husband dies in the War. Francine is dealing the hatred by a bully teacher because she is Jewish.
this is a good story about characters trying to survive during World War 2. The book goes from 1941 to about 1955. I liked this book. It has good characters in Winnie and Francine. the author does a good job writing about what surviving during World War 2 and coming together to help each other.

Such a delightful read ! I have loved this novel. The characters are brilliantly defined, their community is so warm and pulls you to The Castle (without the h) pub. I felt I was there with them all and it felt good!
Lizzie Page masterfully writes heartwarming novels. The storyline pulls at your heart, the plot is lively and entertaining, and the characters are more than likeable. Wit also colours this novel (as well as in her other novels!). What I also enjoyed in this novel, is that I learned quite a bit about public house regulations during WWII which I was not aware of. This was interesting!
I highly recommend this novel that brings (warming and cosy) light into a dark period of time.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.