A Child for Sale

by Pam Howes

I reach out, arms aching to hold my newborn baby, and catch just a glimpse of soft, dark-brown hair before someone pushes me back onto the bed. ‘It’s alive,’ says the woman who delivered my child before she places something over my face. My last thought is of my baby’s first cry before my world goes dark.

1964 . When seventeen-year-old Laura Sims realises she’s pregnant, her boyfriend Pete says they will look after and love their baby together; but Laura’s mother turns on them in fury. Wrenched from her home and the boy she loves Laura is thrown into a home for unmarried mothers . With no access to the outside world and treated harshly, Laura fights to keep her child safe and to find a way to escape the nightmare…

2015 . Despite the anguish of losing their firstborn, Laura and Pete have been happily married for fifty years. But they’ve never given up on their lost child. And when Laura uncovers a tattered old diary from someone who worked at the home where she last saw her child, her heart breaks in those who ran the home sold their baby to a desperate, childless family .

Such cruel actions give Laura and Pete a tiny sliver of hope. Is there a chance to find their child, safe and happy, or will their search bring them only heartbreak and devastation?

A totally heart-wrenching and utterly gripping novel about how far a mother will go to find her child. Before We Were Yours , Sold on a Monday and The Orphan Train fans will be swept away by this gorgeous novel that reminds us to never give up on those we love.

What readers are saying about Pam

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ Heart-wrenching … You will need tissues … I just loved it all … Brought tears to my eyes as I read… Just perfect … 10/10 .’ NetGalley reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘My heart felt like it was literally going to burst … Gripping… A powerful and moving story that I didn’t want to end … A must-read.’ By the Letter Book Reviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I love this book so much… So many tears were shed whilst reading this I got a blocked nose! … Oh my days I’m so into this… Fantastic.’ Read Along With Sue Ward

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ WOW what a fabulous book!!… Loads of laughter and tears – it is absolutely a book you will not be able to put down until you finish it, for that reason I had sleepless nights!! I can’t recommend it highly enough.’ Goodreads Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Oh what a corker… Fantastic … Tissues ready though, okay?… Literally moved me to tears , filled my arms with goosebumps … Truly spell-binding, humble, and utterly poignant… Historical fiction at its finest.’ The Writing Garnet

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I loved this book!… You can’t help but get caught up in the story and not let up until the very last page … I’ve laughed and I’ve cried . I do warn you to have a supply of tissues ready , as I certainly needed them!… Kept me reading until the early hours . I just didn’t want it to end.’ Stardust Book Reviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Utterly impossible for me to put down … Devoured the entire book in just one sitting … I loved this book.’ Little Miss Book Lover 87

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2023

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

1964. When seventeen-year-old Laura Sims realises she's pregnant, her boyfriend Pete says they will look after and love their baby together; but Laura's mother turns on them in fury. Wrenched from her home and the boy she loves Laura is thrown into a home for unmarried mothers. With no access to the outside world and treated harshly, Laura fights to keep her child safe and to find a way to escape the nightmare....

2015. Despite the anguish of losing their firstborn, Laura and Pete have been happily married for fifty years. But they've never given up hope on their lost child. And when Laura uncovers a tattered old diary from someone who worked at the home where she last saw her child, her heart breaks in those who ran the home sold their baby to a desperate, childless family.

This is a heartbreaking tale about a home for unmarried mothers. The Pines was run by nuns, and they were harsh on the young women in their care. The women weren't allowed any outside contact. Once the babies were born, they were taken from their mothers.

The story has a dual timeline - the past, 1962 and the present day, 2015, when Pete and Laura had been married for fifty years. We know these homes existed, and we know how badly the young women were treated if they didn't get their chores done on time. This is what makes this well written book hard to read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #PamHowes for my ARC of #AChildForSale in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of A Child For Sale by Pam Howes. This book was written in a dual timeline. It included before the birth of the child (1962) and many years later (2015). It's a heartbreaking story about a home for unwed mothers that is run by the Catholic church (Nuns), and what happened to the mothers and babies. The story brought tears to my eyes as well as happy smiles as I read the book. I really enjoyed this book and would strongly recommend it to others. I gave it a 5 star rating. Well done Pam Howes!

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 


Review for 'A Child For Sale' by Pam Howes. 


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Pam Howes, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous 


Publication date 15th September 2023



This is the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Girls Of Victory House' which is the first book in Pam's 'The Bryant Sisters' series and I would highly recommend it. 



This novel consists of 27 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

 

'A Child For Sale' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Pam discusses cruelty to children, child trafficking, suicide and speaks of the death of children. 


Wow!!! Yet another absolutely captivating heart warming and tear jerking stunning page turner ♥ Well done Pam on yet another stunning success! 


This book is absolutely beautifully written and it had me absorbed from the first page to the last. The vivid and evocative descriptions really put me in the storyline with Clara and the children and the cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly. 


This book has a unique storyline telling the stories of several young girls who were forced to move into 'The Pines', a home for unmarried mother's against their wills. I have never read a book with this storyline before and it was one that had me in rivers of tears on several occasions which is not an easy feat at all!!!! The most heartbreaking thing about this book is that sadly it is extremely realistic and after a quick Google search I can see that what happened to Laura, Anna and several other mothers in this book actually happened to mothers in homes such as Rosemundy House For Unmarried Mothers and Clevedon House, amongst others. There has also been news reports recently on mother's reuniting with their grown children after years or finding out that their real mothers passed away unknowingly to children. I have no idea whether Pam has researched these cases or even had experience of any of it happening to her but I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if either was the case as her extremely emotive writing skills really does ensure the reader feels what these mothers are going through. This book is a heart breaking dual timeline novel where we see Laura and her husband Pete as adults watching the news after a story has come to light about bones being buried in the gardens of the home where they were sent. We then move back in time to when Laura and Pete are teenagers in love and Laura has fallen pregnant. Her father has passed away and her disgraceful mother packs her off to the home rather than Laura "bringing shame" on her and the neighbours (another realistic attitude for this era). Pam weaves the storylines together perfectly and I was absolutely hooked throughout needing to know what happened next I'm each timeline. The storyline is filled with heartbreak, love, friendship, family, shocks, tension, twists,sadness, hope and much more. My mind and heart was completely captivated throughout and I couldn't stop turning the pages from start to end. I was completely shocked, sickened and saddened by certain events. OMG between everything that happens and the emotions flying around I was in absolute tears on so many occasions so make sure you have your tissues at the ready and clear your schedules as you will NOT be able to put this book down!!! I can't say any more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. I cannot wait to get stuck into more books by Pam who has done such an amazing and beautiful job creating and bringing Laura, Pete, Anna, Mike and the rest of the amazing characters to life and I would love to see this book turned into a film!! This story will stay with me for life and THAT is how you know you have done an amazing job!!! 



CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AND GRAB THE TISSUES AS YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN AND YOU WILL BE HOOKED ON THIS EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER RIDE!!!


I was completely invested in each and every one of the characters although I absolutely despised many of the parents along with all the nuns except poor Olive. My heart broke for each of the mums who were forced into the hell that is The Pines!!! How these adults could treat these young mothers like they did, especially some of the parents made me absolutely sick to my stomach and I was so pleased that there was a handful of Angels scattered through this book. I have never needed a happy ending for characters as much as I needed it for these!!! The friendships and relationships that developed through the storm of the home were beautiful and it goes to show that where there is rain there are rainbows!!! I really can't say anything else without giving too much away so all I can say is grab your copy of this amazing page turner today and you won't regret it!!!



Congratulations Pam on yet another absolutely gorgeous book ♥ This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors. I can't wait to read your next success 🥂 


Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first two chapters of Pam's 'The Girls Of Victory Street', which I'd the first book in the 'Bryant Sisters' and a book I have also read and would highly recommend!! 



Overall an absolutely heart-warming, heart-breaking, soul lifting, emotional roller coaster ride of emotions and unputdownable book that will captivate your heart, body and mind. 



271 pages.


This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £6.99 in paperback at time of review via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 



#AChildForSale #PamHowes #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #Kindle Unlimited 



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[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart breaking story about a home for unmarried mothers.
1964 Laura Sims and boyfriend Pete Maxwell go through the anguish of the lost of there baby son who is taking from Laura after his birth and the big fight ahead to find him.
2015 Laura and Pete are still happily married with two daughters but never stopped searching for their son after a television news bulletin they were in for a shock The Pines the mother and baby home that Laura was taking to is on and this leads to a heart breaking story of a child for sale and what the nuns did.
With a lot of other family secrets also to unfold, the mothers come forward on a Facebook group searching for their babies that were sold on by the nuns even shipped to other countries and the babies who later in life find they were adopted.
This book will to open your eyes to the struggle mothers have had to face for years wondering and thanks now to DNA tests.

I loved reading every bit of this book that will bring tears and smiles throughout reading. And a delight to see many happy endings for mothers and fathers that never gave up their search.

The author has captured a remarkable story with a lot of research entailed this novel will definitely become a best seller.

[Emma Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart!

I knew about the homes for unmarried mothers in the 50s and 60s, so I knew going in that this book was going to be emotional. However, I wasn’t prepared for how invested I was going to get in these characters in both the present and past timelines. Pam Howes writes such relatable characters that I wanted to reach my arms into the novel and put my arms around them!

Another element to stories by Pam Howes is the way she immerses you in the popular culture of the time - I learn a little bit about the era my parents grew up in which I really enjoy.

An emotional but uplifting story - I absolutely loved it!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most interesting and harrowing books that I have read. To say that I loved this book would be an understatement. I am always fascinated by these types of historical fiction books – ones about adoptions, homes for pregnant teens, mental institutions etc.. This book made me want to learn more about The Pines.

The historical part of this book was awful. The Pines were run by Nuns! They treated these unmarried mothers horrifically. And they were Catholic Nuns! I can’t get over it. To read about how the babies were ripped away, the mothers were treated as slaves for the nuns – it was all just so disgusting. How could anyone harm anyone? How can a nun harm a pregnant woman? It truly does baffle me!

Then there’s the fictional part of this book. And that was equally harrowing (though the ending let me with a good feeling in my heart). I have two children, and having them ripped away from me after birth is a horrific thought. Being put into a place like The Pines is … well, for lack of a better word, horrific. I know times were different, but if her parents didn’t want to help her and were embarrassed of her, they should have just let her be with Pete. I loved the little scheming with the other girls to get letters out of and into The Pines.

I loved how courageous Olive was – while she was shy and timid, Laura and her friends were nice to Olive. But she tried to help the girls any way that she could. And then after when the police were learning about the events that occurred at The Pines, Olive was once again courageous.

Howes beautifully wove these two timelines and events beautifully together to make one amazing book.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscent of the Magdalene laundries, A CHILD FOR SALE is a heartbreaking tale about a home for unmarried mothers run by five Catholic nuns who instill nothing but fear and terror into young girls who needed compassion, understanding and support during what was a life-changing event for them.

Cheshire, 2015: When the remains of what appears to be an infant is found locked away in a tin box that had been buried in the grounds of what had been The Pines, a home for unmarried mothers in the late fifties to late sixties, police are called in.

At their home in Liverpool, Laura and Pete Maxwell are settling in for the night after birthday celebrations with the family when they see reports on the news about the find. While they are happily married now, fifty years ago they were teenagers when Laura had been incarcerated there and their baby wrenched away from her against her will. And despite the years since, they have never stopped searching for their son.

Manchester, 1964: Seventeen year old Laura Sims and her boyfriend Peter Maxwell find themselves in a quandary when Laura discovers she is pregnant. They have decided to marry but as they are under 21 they need their parents' permission to do. Peter's parents are disappointed by the turn of events but grant their blessing but Laura's mother is having none of it. How dare Laura show her up by such immoral behaviour. She refuses their request to marry and before Laura and Pete could make their escape, Audrey has Laura packed off The Pines in Cheshire. There she meets Anna, and the two forge a friendship that will see them through coming years.

But life at The Pines is a harsh one. The girls are treated like slaves with no outside contact with family or friends for the duration - their penance for their immoral ways. They were punished with no food if their work was not completed or they somehow broke the rules. When they go into labour, they are not to disturb the nuns until their contractions are two minutes apart and only then are they taken to the upstairs delivery room. Their cries could be heard from the floor below and no pain relief is given to the girls (more penance for their immoral ways) after which their babies are whisked away and are never seen again. Some of the girls are told their babies have died, whilst others were adopted to "good God-fearing families more deserving of them".

When Laura's baby son is born, she wanted nothing more than to bring him home. She and Pete were to marry, they could give their son a loving home. But the nuns wrenched him from her, Laura's last memory of his dark hair before a black mask was placed over her face and then...oblivion. When she woke to a kindly face in Olive, Laura was told her baby was gone and she was going home. Home...where was that? In the six months she'd been there, her mother had died and her aunt and uncle had sold her home, thus holding the funds from the sale in trust for her to access when she was 21. The only place she had to return to was a room in student accommodation with Pete until they could marry and buy their own home.

Five decades later and the memories resurface along with the remains. Decades old secrets that have long since been buried in those grounds bring with them the hope of being reunited with their long lost son at last. Their firstborn, cruelly snatched away without permission, stolen from them and sold for profit. Laura and Pete, along with lifelong friends Anna and Mick, as well as the police and extended family, begin the search with fresh leads at their disposal. Dare they hope? They have never given up searching for him. They've never given up hope.

Oh my. This has got to be one of Pam Howes' best yet. I have always thought the mother and baby homes, the Magdalene laundries and the like, would make a wonderful (and heartbreaking) story. And while this is fiction, such places did indeed exist. It is heartbreaking that these girls didn't receive the proper support needed in a world that was swiftly changing whilst society refused to keep up. I love the dual timeline aspect as we meet both teenage and middle-aged Laura and Pete along with Anna and Mick, as their stories unfold.

I absolutely adored this book and read it in one sitting. It is THAT good and it is such a quick read. While it may not always be an easy read, it is written in that easy style that makes the pages seemingly turn of their own accord. This story is packed full of family secrets that Laura must face as the past unravels in the present and everything ultimately comes full circle.

A pure delight to read that will bring tears to your eyes and smiles to your face throughout. Packed full of joys and sorrows, sadness and happiness, A CHILD FOR SALE is Pam Howes best yet. It goes without saying - a well deserved 5 stars.

I would like to thank #PamHowes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #AChildForSale in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Su Thor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Pam Howes has delivered a. Intricately woven tale entwining two stories one in the 1960s and another in 2015. As the story evolves and the facts brought together and emotions run high. So, don’t forget your tissues as you read this book. As I read this book I felt anger at what was happening in 1965 and great sadness that this happened at all. I found myself asking in my head what in 50 years time people might look back on our attitudes with sadness and anger? Thank you Pam for sharing this story and to Bookouture and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Musings

Wow, what an amazing idea for a book, so unique. I am thrilled that I discovered this book in a FB ad. The characters are engaging, but the plot is what entranced me the most. A very happy reader!

[Courtney Wilbur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Mother and Baby home in England in the 60s and the search for the mothers missing children. Read a bit like a diary instead of a novel as I was anticipating but it was an interesting topic!

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com and subscribe to my updates.

I am so happy to be on the book tour for A Child for Sale by Pam Howes. Thanks to Bookouture and the author for a complimentary eARC. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

The book is set up with dual timelines: 1964 and 2015. In the modern timeline, Laura and Pete saw something on the news that piqued their interest: a metal box is found with bones in it at The Pines, a place they knew as a home for unwed mothers 50 years prior. As it turns out, Laura was at the home unwillingly when she was 17, pregnant with Pete’s child but wanting to get married. Instead, her widowed mother shipped her off to this home run by the Catholic church because of the “shame” Laura brought upon the family.

Flashback to 1964 when Laura finds out she’s pregnant. She’s ready to run off with Pete and get married when she’s waylaid by her uncle and aunt, who take her to the home for unwed mothers. There she meets several girls who are also in the same position, shipped off to The Pines without their consent, forced to give up their babies and then packed off and shipped back home.

The young ladies are forced to do all sorts of manual labor and treated like slaves. The nuns are cold, don’t like the girls to get too close to each other, inspect their belongings regularly, and in general, treat the girls as prisoners.

Back in 2015, more digging is done at the sight of The Pines, and many boxes with bones are found. Through contact with the authorities, Laura and Pete hope to find out what happened to their baby Laura was forced to give up at birth. It’s clear the nuns were operating some sort of adoption racket, selling babies to couples they deemed worthy. How long this went on, and what authorities find out about the boxes of bones, is just part of the story.

What makes this book so compelling is knowing that there really were homes like this in many places, that Laura and her friends’ experiences really happened to some unwed mothers and their children. Laura’s story could be any woman’s story of a certain age, shamed for having a baby out of wedlock.

This was a five-star read for me. Part women’s fiction, part historical mystery, A Child For Sale tells a story that needs to see the light. Highly recommend.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Child For Sale by Pam Howes is a powerful, heart wrenching dual timeline novel that has its roots in fact. This novel will tug on your heart strings. It will make you angry at what happened and was deemed acceptable in the past. And it will make you feel grateful that we treat others with more tolerance today.
The action is set in1964 and 2015 in Cheshire and Manchester as we follow two couples who are celebrating forty nine years of marriage in 2015. One pair are childhood sweethearts, the other couple were thrown together by adversity.
In 1964 we follow the fortunes of the young girls who were unmarried mothers and found themselves admitted (by their heartless and judgmental families) to a home for unmarried mothers, run by Catholic nuns. We witness the daily cruelty and the harsh conditions as babies were whisked away to be adopted or sold. It was an abomination and one in which the girls (even if they had loving partners) were completely powerless.
For fifty years, hearts have remained broken, always searching, never healing. A gruesome discovery in 2015 (when renovations begin on an old house) re-open old wounds and a desire to find lost babies. Significant advances in DNA testing and social media re-ignite hope in long broken hearts.
This is a very distressing read. It is awful to see the stigma attached to unmarried mothers in the 1960’s. Even their own families were more concerned with appearances than the welfare of their own children. The cruelty inflicted on the young girls by the nuns is dreadful. The reader’s heart breaks.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. The leading ladies were easy to empathise with.
The modern reader is so thankful that attitudes have changed and no one suffers from the stigmas of the past.
This is a powerful read that tugs at all the emotions. Thank you Pam Howes for highlighting this dreadful time in our social history.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Child for Sale is an emotional and completely gripping read by Pam Howes. Pam is one of those authors who I don’t even need to read the book description as without a shadow of a doubt I’m in for an unputdownable read. And this was certainly the case with this book. Told in dual timeline 1964 and 2015 we meet Laura who at the age of 17 discovers she is pregnant and her boyfriend Pete is determined he will stand by her. However not everyone is happy and Laura is forced to spend her pregnancy in a home for unmarried mothers . In this home the young expectant mothers are treated appallingly but Laura is determined to stay strong for herself and her unborn child. Whilst confined to the home Laura meets Anna and the two girls form an u breakable bond. Each chapter alternates between 1964 and 2015 and in the 2015 chapters we find out a lot more about that actually happened in the home called the Pines during Laura’s time there. Will Laura and Anna find their happy ending or will one of them be left disappointed ?
To say that I started this book early one morning and didn’t put it down until I had reached the very last sentence is not one word of a lie. I was completely absorbed in Laura’s story and was desperate to find out what the outcome would be. Pam Howes has written such an emotionally charged read that you actually feel you’re right there in the story as you race through the chapters. I recommend this book 110%.

[Miranda YEUNG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Child for Sale by Pam Howes

Heartbreaking, gripping and emotional story .

The story had dual timelines, back in 1964 and 2015. In 1964, teenager Laura Sims was pregnant. Her boyfriend Pete Maxwell loved her so much and decided to marry her. But, they needed to inform the parents first.

Laura didn’t have a chance to tell Pete before being sent to a home with all other unmarried mothers by her own mother. The nuns were not friendly to them. Just like a prison. The ladies could not see their newborns once they labored.

In 2015, Laura and Pete were married for 50 years, now with two daughters. They never gave up on finding their son. The Maxwells were told that the babies in The Pines were sold to those family who was desperate for children…

It was a heartbreaking story but at the same time it was a relief to have this story in a dual timeline. Because it’s happy to know that Laura and Pete were married for 50 years at the beginning. Otherwise I reckoned it’s hard for me to enjoy the story plot.

The author also involved other unmarried mothers in the story in both 1964 and 2015, which made the story fuller, showing us their supportive friendship. Under those hard traumatic times, found something to lean on.


A Child for Sale is a must-read that you can’t miss out!

Many thanks to Bookouture and Pam for holding this booktour!

Kindle: 271 pages
Pub date: Sep 15, 2023

[Sheila's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is a heartbreaking tale of a home for unwed mothers in the mid-60s.
The home, called The Pines, was run by cold-hearted nuns who degraded the young girls and treated them as slaves, with no outside contact, while waiting for their babies to arrive.
Once born, the babies taken away never to be seen again.

Laura and Pete are deeply in love and intend to marry once they are twenty-one.
But seventeen year old Laura finds out she is pregnant and is packed packed off to The Pines by her mother, who is ashamed of what the neighbors might think.

The story follows Laura and Pete between the timeline of the 1960s and 2015 .

I loved the story, and although it's fiction, I remember my mother telling me about such places existing when she was a teen.
How the girls were treated badly, and punishment of no food if chores were not done.

Pam Howes wrote a wonderful book about a horric time that I could not put down.

Thank you to Bookature and Netgally for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Hijabi_booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before someone shoves me back onto the bed with my arms itching to touch my new baby, I reach out and catch a fleeting sight of velvety, dark-brown hair. The person who delivered my child informs me that it is alive before covering my face with something. My final memory before the world goes dark is of my baby's first cry.

1964. When 17-year-old Laura Sims learns she is pregnant, her boyfriend Pete promises to care for and cherish their child with her; nevertheless, Laura's mother turns on them angrily. Laura is sent to a home for single moms after being uprooted from her home and the boy she loves. Laura battles to protect her child while being denied access to the outside world and subjected to abuse.
2015. Laura and Pete have been happily married for fifty years despite the pain of losing their baby. However, they have never given up searching for their kid. And Laura's heart bleeds when she discovers a worn-out old diary from a person who worked at the residence where she last saw her child.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read!

This is my first Pam Howes book, but it won't be my last!

Seventeen-year-old Laura finds herself pregnant out of wedlock. It's 1965. At this time, girls are sent away to have their babies in a mother-and-baby home to avoid a scandal in their home towns, and the children are given up for adoption.

Although Laura and Pete want to marry and raise their child, Laura's mother won't hear of it. She claps Laura into The Pines, where Laura is held a virtual prisoner until her son is born and he is immediately whisked away....

I love the way the book is written - it jumps back and forth from 1965 to 2015, following the lives of Laura, Pete, Anna, and Mitch as they try to put the past behind them and cope with life.

Fans of books like 'Before We Were Yours' will love this!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very heart ripping story. Pam manages to bring the characters to life which makes the book so much more enjoyable.
It is a story set both in 1962 and coming up to date 2015 of young unwed pregnant girls being sent to The Pines a place for girls who have disgraced their family by becoming pregnant. Run by cruel nuns.

The book was set around the characters Laura Sims and her boyfriend Pete. They vow to keep their baby but Laura's mother cruely send her to The Pines .

A story of sadness, harrowing and horror. I enjoyed the way Pam marries the two years together, Seeing how they have grown and following their story.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Pam’s books and this one is one of those that you don’t want to put down. An emotional read about young girls getting pregnant and being unmarried in the early sixties. I know this home is fictional but unfortunately a lot of this really happened in real life during this times. It’s a very emotional read but with a feel good factor too. The characters are great and very believable I’m sure a lot of people can think of people like some of the characters. I highly recommend this five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful and heartfelt story. It brought me to tears so make sure you have tissues before reading. It's told from past to present and as the story progresses I could feel my heart shattering. Laura and Pete have there baby cruelly taken away from them and years later they are still together and trying to find what happened to their precious baby. The plot is a strong and powerful one that is written with strength and dignity. I didn't want it to end.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Child for Sale is the latest novel by Pam Howes and what a heart wrenching story it is! Told over two timelines, we learn about Laura meeting Anna in 1964, in a home for unmarried mothers. Both girls become firm friends and find each other after they leave the home. In present day, Pete, Laura’s husband, urges her to come watch an item on the news; it brings their past right into their present. The story is heartbreaking at times, but heartwarming too. I was completely engrossed!

[Jenn Brouwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great heart wrenching tale of loss and sorrow but also of rising and triumphing. I adored the characters and the plot. The back and forth in time worked well for this story. There were heart breaking moments but also tears of joy. This book strikes a perfect balance between the sad and the uplifting. The pace it moves at is perfect. This is a wonderfully woven story that captures depth in the characters and emotion of all sorts. This one is a must read.

[marjorie gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember those days

When I was young and in high school one of our classmates went missing. We were told she was caring for an ill aunt. This was very scary. When I was working at a facility once a month there was a management meeting at a building that had closed the unwed home and was used for meetings and conferences. All I could think of was the many tears that were there.

[Paul Willcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

An O.K read

The premise of this book was quite good. What happened in some mother & baby homes in the 50s & 60s is notorious. But I’m afraid I felt the writing was quite pedestrian, like diary. I, of course, was eager to reach the conclusion but found myself skipping chunks of boring details such as eating cake with the detectives. All a bit twee for me!

[DONNA SWANGER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

A heartbreaking novel that focuses on unmarried teenagers that were pregnant and send to a home for unwed mothers. When they give birth the nuns either tell them the babies died or they drugged them and told them they signed adoption papers. A fabulous book which follows these girls as they try to find their children.

[Carol Mageean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Pam Howes. This is such a heartwarming and engaging story full of twists and turns heartbreak and happiness. Thank you Net Galley for granting this book really enjoyed and would recommend

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost children

Wow what a read it was heartbreaking 💔 but a really good book my eyes are just pin holes this morning I couldn't sleep till it was finished
It brought memories back of a friend who went through similar 5 STAR read

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main story is interesting but the characters are not well developed, the conversations are stilted, and I couldn’t figure out what the random music references were about. I kept expecting one of the adoptees to be a musician.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an emotional read, to think the these poor girls were treated this way is just heartbreaking and to think of the way these nuns behaved is horrendous. But against all the odds there love remained and they had there HEA...Definitely worth the read

[Alana Diehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Child For Sale

A disturbing book of greed. Young unwed girls sent away to have their babies and having them stolen from them at birth. Shows how greed can ruin many lives. Happy ending for some of the families but not all.