Edie’s Home for Orphans

Gracie Taylor

May 2021 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this eBook

A heartwarming tale of wartime courage, and the untold story of the animals who needed a home

Edie’s hopes of serving overseas are dashed when she’s sent to be a Land Girl in a sleepy Cumbrian village.

Prue has shut the world out since her son went away to fight. Yet when asked to take in a Land Girl and two little evacuees from London, she has no choice.

Edie’s heart breaks seeing the children’s cold welcome. But when the evacuees take in a stray puppy, even Prue can’t say no.

It’s not long before Edie realises Applefield Manor could become a sanctuary to all those without a home in wartime. But can she persuade Prue to open her heart, and her home?

A moving, uplifting wartime story that fans of Glynis Peters’ The Secret Orphan will love.

‘A plucky heroine whose heart embraces any stray animal amidst a cast of believable characters you can't help caring for – this is a moving story of friendship and love set against the backdrop of the Second World War’ Molly Green, author of A Sister’s Courage

‘An unputdownable, uplifting read which will tug at your heartstrings’ Rosie Hendry, author of The Mother’s Day Club

Ratings and reviews

Edie’s Home for Orphans by Gracie Taylor is a sweet historical novel. Edie Cartwright wants to do her bit for the war effort, but her health precludes her from joining the WRENs (Women’s Royal Naval Service). She learns that she can join the Women’s Land Army (become a Land Girl). Edie is assigned to Applefield Manor in Cumberland where she will work part-time helping Prudence Hewitt’s gardener, Jack and spend the rest of time at Larkstone Farm. Edie is mystified when she learns that only four people live in such a large home. Soon, two evacuees join the household much to Prue’s dismay. The siblings have had a rough time of it and need love plus reassurance. Edie hopes that the children will help soften Prue’s heart and open the doors to the manor. All lost strays need a sanctuary. Edie’s Home for Orphans is a charming, inspirational tale. It has great characters that include Edie, Prue, Jack, Sam, Tilly, the siblings, and a variety of animals. I liked seeing the characters develop over the course of the story. There are good descriptions of Cumberland, and I thought the author captured the feeling of the war especially how everyone wants to help. I enjoyed learning about the Women’s Land Army. Food was needed to feed the soldiers as well as those at home. With the men off fighting, women were needed on the farms. In Edie’s Home for Orphans, we get to see that there is more than one type of family. The story does contain some mild foul language (less than ten words). I enjoyed Gracie Taylor’s debut novel. I look forward to reading this author’s books in the future. Edie’s Home for Orphans is a heartwarming, uplifting historical novel.

About the author

Gracie Taylor grew up in rural West Yorkshire. After university she spent time in several different cities, but eventually returned to settle in the Dales. Gracie Taylor is a pen name for Lisa Firth, who also writes award-winning contemporary romantic comedies as Mary Jayne Baker and uplifting women’s fiction as Lisa Swift. Edie’s Home for Orphans is her first historical novel.