30 review for The Orphan House: Absolutely gripping and heartbreaking historical fiction

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Terry Bourbon – Jan 12, 2021

   What a great story ! The write-up, see above, says gripping and heartbreaking. I have to say I was rivetted, and read the book in 2-3 days. Definitely a page turner, and very gripping, from the standpoint that it was based on a true story. I am not sure where I got that last bit, but somewhere it said based on a true story of a family that ran an orphanage. I found the format good, but initially a little confusing. It starts out with the daughter of the Superintendent of the orphanage taking the What a great story ! The write-up, see above, says gripping and heartbreaking. I have to say I was rivetted, and read the book in 2-3 days. Definitely a page turner, and very gripping, from the standpoint that it was based on a true story. I am not sure where I got that last bit, but somewhere it said based on a true story of a family that ran an orphanage. I found the format good, but initially a little confusing. It starts out with the daughter of the Superintendent of the orphanage taking the reader through a typical day that turns atypical at the orphanage. Connie is in her early teens at the time, and this timeframe is set in the early 1930s, like 1932-34. The story skips into the present day, to Sarah, a woman leaving London to visit her father, as her marriage is crumbling. She stops to get cigarettes at a small store, across from a large old victorian house that happens to be for sale. She is not interested, but walks around the property while smoking, and runs into the estate agent, who shows her the home. He mentions the owner is quite old and just went into a nursing home. There seems to be a rush to sell the property, and the reader quickly realizes that the old owner is Connie, who is now in her early nineties, had a fall, and cannot stay in the home any more. So ordinarily back and forth between characters and timeframes isn't confusing to me, but in this case, a third character is introduced. A woman that predates the first scene in the novel with Connie in her early teens. I found as the novel unfolded, that Anna, the third character, and Connie both have story lines that I was super into, and couldn't wait until the next installment unfolded. Although I liked the character of Sarah, her story seemed rushed, some details and timeframes glossed over, and some of her backstory seemed contrived. Her Dad, however, was another very sympathetic character, and although I guessed his connection early on, he was more engaging than Sarah herself. It was overall a really good read, and the writing was good, just rushed in some areas. I recommend to anyone that is interested in the subject of orphans, orphanages, and historical intrigue.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Judi Albert – Nov 05, 2020

   This was a good read. I like books about orphans. This follows two storylines. One about an old woman who grew up as the daughter of the man who ran the orphanage, and the other is about a young woman who buys the house the old woman grew up in. They work together to solve a scandalous mystery that took place when the older woman was a child.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Marjorie – May 31, 2020

   The Orphan House will grab you from the beginning and won't let go until the end. It is a story of three women intertwined. It is a story of love, secrets and loss. A great travel book to read and a good gift to give. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. I loved it! 5 stars, wish I could give it more. The Orphan House will grab you from the beginning and won't let go until the end. It is a story of three women intertwined. It is a story of love, secrets and loss. A great travel book to read and a good gift to give. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. I loved it! 5 stars, wish I could give it more.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Rachel – Feb 20, 2021

   Super-fast read. I found myself skimming some parts though, and as the parent of an adopted child, some of this was hard to read.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Anna Nolley – Dec 20, 2020

   Loved the historical issues discussed in the book concerning orphans during this era.

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Doreen –

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Rachel QS –

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Jknick –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Sue White –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Christine –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Donna –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Susie Seeber –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Shanda –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Tara Jones –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Kathy Wiebersch –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Judy Ruggiero –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Gayle Kennie –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Evie Caletti –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Megan Schatz –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Katie –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Lois –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Carole Nielsen –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Wendy –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Lisa –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Karryne Fox –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Jacqui Peart –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Maya –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Lisa Cook –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Judi –

30. 

    4 out of 5

    Kellie MacDonald –