🌠 Delighted to host today's final stop on this exciting blog tour 🌠
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| Simon & Schuster 5 September 2019 My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book and to Random Things Tours for my invitation to be part of this blog tour |
London, 1917 When seventeen-year-old Alice falls pregnant, she is forced by her father and stepmother to give up the baby. She simply cannot be allowed to bring shame upon her family. But all Alice can think of is the small, kitten-like child she gave away, and how the father, a young soldier, so beloved, will never have the chance to know his daughter. Meanwhile, Edith and Philip, a couple unable to have children of their own, secretly adopt a baby girl, Irene, given up by a young unmarried mother. Irene grows up knowing that she is different from other children but no one will tell her the full truth. As two extraordinary stories intertwine across two decades, will secrets long-buried at last come to light?
What did I think about it...
Seventeen year Alice has no choice but to give up her baby for adoption as to bring up an illegitimate baby in 1917 is near on impossible especially when Alice cannot rely on her well-to-do parents to support her choice. This decision will affect Alice as she goes through her life and she never forgets the tiny baby she gave away.
Irene grows up knowing that she doesn't quite fit with her family and although she is cared for by her adoptive parents she senses that something just doesn't quite feel right and her life is a constant struggle to try to fit in.
What then follows is a really lovely story which spans the early years of the twentieth century and highlights the changing social situations for those who were left to pick up the pieces after the Great War. On the surface circumstances seem to offer more opportunities for women but as Alice discovers searching for independence is not always an easy path to take and her training as one of the first women GPs is fraught with both prejudice and misunderstanding. With a skilful hand and a fine eye for historical detail the author cleverly weaves together several story strands bringing everything together with such authenticity that I immediately felt as if I was part of Alice and Irene's troubled journey.
The Love Child highlights the dilemma of illegitimacy and of the social prejudice of the early twentieth century and brings to life a strong story of two women who have to learn to deal with the hand that fate has dealt them but they do so in their own indomitable style. The author has captured the essence of this troubled time, and writes so beautifully that it has been an absolute pleasure to read The Love Child. I enjoyed getting to know both Alice and Irene, and ultimately wanted everything to work out well for both of them, however, whether it does or not is for you to find out for yourselves. 😊
The Love Child captured my attention from the very beginning and it quickly became on of those difficult to put down stories, so much so, I carried it from room to room, reading whenever I could find a spare minute. I’ve now read several of this author’s excellent stories and, without doubt, The Love Child is my favourite to date.
Seventeen year Alice has no choice but to give up her baby for adoption as to bring up an illegitimate baby in 1917 is near on impossible especially when Alice cannot rely on her well-to-do parents to support her choice. This decision will affect Alice as she goes through her life and she never forgets the tiny baby she gave away.
Irene grows up knowing that she doesn't quite fit with her family and although she is cared for by her adoptive parents she senses that something just doesn't quite feel right and her life is a constant struggle to try to fit in.
What then follows is a really lovely story which spans the early years of the twentieth century and highlights the changing social situations for those who were left to pick up the pieces after the Great War. On the surface circumstances seem to offer more opportunities for women but as Alice discovers searching for independence is not always an easy path to take and her training as one of the first women GPs is fraught with both prejudice and misunderstanding. With a skilful hand and a fine eye for historical detail the author cleverly weaves together several story strands bringing everything together with such authenticity that I immediately felt as if I was part of Alice and Irene's troubled journey.
The Love Child highlights the dilemma of illegitimacy and of the social prejudice of the early twentieth century and brings to life a strong story of two women who have to learn to deal with the hand that fate has dealt them but they do so in their own indomitable style. The author has captured the essence of this troubled time, and writes so beautifully that it has been an absolute pleasure to read The Love Child. I enjoyed getting to know both Alice and Irene, and ultimately wanted everything to work out well for both of them, however, whether it does or not is for you to find out for yourselves. 😊
The Love Child captured my attention from the very beginning and it quickly became on of those difficult to put down stories, so much so, I carried it from room to room, reading whenever I could find a spare minute. I’ve now read several of this author’s excellent stories and, without doubt, The Love Child is my favourite to date.
About the Author
Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she teaches publishing and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She is married to the writer D. J. Taylor and they have three sons. Her latest novel, Last Letter Home, was a Sunday Times bestseller and a Richard and Judy Book Club pick for 2018.
Twitter @Rachelhore #TheLoveChild
@simonschusterUK
#RandomThingsTours
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