A Place to Call Home

by June Francis

With the Depression and the Great War in recent history and the Second World War about to begin, emotions are running high. This is particularly true for young Greta Peters who lost her mother, brother and sister to illness and now lives with her father, Harry. Helping them in their grief is their friendly neighbor Rene, and Greta's barmaid grandmother, Cissie Hardcastle. But with so many deaths in her family, it is no wonder that Greta believes her house to be haunted when she comes home one foggy, winter's evening to find a stranger lurking in the darkness. But this was certainly no apparition. Was he a would-be burglar caught in the act, or just a hungry, desperate man? When the two meet again, Greta discovers that the youth's name is Alexander Armstrong and that he has recently left an orphanage from up north. With a connection existing between the Armstrong family and Greta's dead mother, it seems unlikely that Alex would choose their house to burgle. So what exactly was it he was looking for in Greta's house, and is it something that Greta herself can help him to find?

470 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Although, June was born in the seaside resort of Blackpool, she has lived all her life in the port of Liverpool, home of the Beatles. One of four children, her love of stories began when her father told her 'The Little Match Girl', which left her in floods of tears, but also with a desire to make up stories, herself. As soon as she could read she was doing a three mile walk to the local library. She passed the scholarship to Liverpool Girls' College where her English teacher told her that she had a great imagination. Despite this, June did not believe she could ever be an author, so on leaving school, she became a cash clerk. She married at twenty-two, has three sons, ran a church playgroup for ten years and it wasn't until her youngest started school that she joined a Writers' Club and turned her hand to writing articles about What She Knew for a woman's magazine. But her first love had always been books and eventually she wrote her first two medieval romances for Mills & Boon. After doing another two, she had an urge to write a family story set in Liverpool during WWII. This was bought by another publisher. Since then she has had thirty-three books published.

Reviews

[Sanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a top read. June Francis does a fabulous job of entertaining in this book. It draws you in to where you become part of the story, from the point of view of the onlooker.

It is a sad little story in places, certainly from the outset where Greta and her father live together in a house in Liverpool, where World War 2 is looming its ugly head on the horizon. Her father works long hours and then also has a job in the evenings as a Home Guard warden once the war breaks out.

Too many things happen and when Greta finds a young thief had entered her and her father's home, had lit the fire and then helped himself to their food, she becomes angry when she finds him in her father's bedroom going through her late mother's precious things. The boy bolts.

However, the boy re-enters their lives and they find out more about him and why he was there. It is a mystery that needs solving.

Meanwhile, other people, neighbours and Greta's grandmother all become involved in the story and it becomes another story of twists and turns, misunderstandings mixed with joys and sorrows.

A great story...I hope to find more of the work of June Francis.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a sweet love story , set in Liverpool during WW2. This story gives us a glimpse at life during that time.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book from the workplace challenge that is being run by the hospital that I work for. I have to admit that I actually said "oh no" when I received it as it's not the kind of book that I would have ever picked up.

Set in England during the second World War, A Place to Call Home, is full of colourful characters and history. I liked most of the characters, they acted and sounded like real people, particularly Greta who was wise well beyond her years. I realize that people had to grow up quickly during the war, but I felt that she was a bit too grown up at the beginning of the book. Rene and Harry annoyed me a little and I felt that it was fairly obvious what was going to happen with the main characters from very early on, but overall this was a nice, easy read.

I can't say that I will go out of my way to find books by this author in the future, but I don't think that I'd avoid one either.

[C Exley Books (Cassandra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the whole story from start to finish, and I think everyone should read this book. I loved Alex and Greta. I want to read more about them and what happens next for them. I enjoyed reading this book as it was about home life during World War II based in Liverpool and the theme running through this book was mainly on romance. This is the first book I've read by this author, but I will look for more from her.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like such a classic with its old fashioned story and ways. I loved the whole story from start to finish, and I think everyone should read this book. The characters were explained perfectly and I believed I was there with them.

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book - it was about home life during World War II based in Liverpool and the theme running through this book was mainly on romance.

[Xondra Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read, but the constant head-hopping left me a little confused at times. This was a good read all the same. This is the first book I've read by this author. But I will look for more from her.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very enjoyable read from June Francis.