Ratings1
Average rating5
In the tradition of Kristin Harmel and Elise Hooper, USA Today bestseller Marty Wingate transports us to postwar England’s Suffolk coast in a rich historical drama about love lost—and promise found. England, 1957. Olive Kersey’s only love never returned from World War II, and now, she’s alone and penniless. Then, the last person she ever expected to see again returns to Southwold. Olive’s childhood friend, Margery Paxton, arrives to claim her inheritance: Mersea House, a stately old home she plans to turn into the town’s only lodging. Olive’s life takes a sunny turn when Margery hires her to run the establishment. But Mersea House holds its own mysteries—and its own dangers. First, rumors begin to fly when two enigmatic lodgers move in: Hugh Hodson, manager of the town cinema, and Mrs. Abigail Claypool, a recluse and war widow. And then, the completely unexpected: Margery is informed she has a new ward, eleven-year-old Juniper Wyckes, the orphaned daughter of Margery’s first love. Mrs. Lucie Pagett, Children’s Officer at the local authority, informs Margery that Juniper was severely stricken with polio as a child, and makes clear that she could be taken away if her welfare is in jeopardy. But the past is never far behind for the inhabitants of Mersea House, and looming secrets may destroy these friendships they've created.
Reviews with the most likes.
I just finished The Orphans of Mersea house by Marty Wingate and here is my review
It's 1957 and Olive is now alone and penniless. She is weighing her options when her childhood friend, Margery, returns home to claim her inheritance... Mersea house. She plans on turning the place into a boarding house, a boarding house she wants Olive to run. Grasping the lifeline with both hands, Olive agrees.
A letter one day, changes everything. A young girl, Juniper, has been left in Margery's care. A young girl, the daughter of a past lover... A little girl that survived polio. The little girl brings love and life to all the residents of Mersea House but social services are keeping an incredibly close eye on them all and have made it very clear that Juniper isn't necessarily there to stay...
This book was so beautifully written I felt like my heart was going to burst. This book was amply named for the people who all ended up living at mersea house. A man with no family and who had to leave the love of his life. A widow who suffered so much loss and a beautiful little girl who faced such a horrific start to her life but grabbed the small pleasures with both hands. I loved watching her bond with Olive especially. Everyone in the house became a family, not by blood ties or marriage but by a deep love that can only come from allowing people into your hearts when you don't want to get hurt.
I loved the house too. I felt like I knew every creak of the floorboards and walked around with my eyes closed. Everything was described with meticulous detail that I found heavenly and couldn't wait to devour the next page. This unconventional love story really warmed my soul and I couldn't have loved the ending more.
This is the kind of historical fiction I feel everyone should read. It was so breathtaking in the way it all came together.
I cannot recommend this book more! 5 stars
If you love a historical romance with a seaside theme, this has to be on your list!
Thank you netgalley and alcove press for my arc copy in exchange for my honest opinions