Once Upon a Time

by Beverley Latimer

As World War two rages on, two orphaned children meet under the most tragic of circumstances. Together they struggle to survive while hiding from those who seek to destroy them.
A widower with a kind heart rescues them during a snowstorm, and takes them in, and a new life begins.
But it's wartime, and nowhere is truly safe, when danger lurks around every corner.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2025

Reviews

[S.S. Saywack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set during World War Two, in France, we follow the tales of Shem, a Roma boy, and Madeleine, who both have lost their families to the brutality of the invading Nazis. To survive, they form a bond, but even that is not enough, and a kindly man helps them out. Around them, the Nazi occupation of France, the rounding up of jews and other ‘undesirables’, and the constant fear of arrest for being part of the resistance. It is a nicely told tale that spans the war years until liberation in 1945, and in between all the tragedy that occurs. No spoilers. The book has its fair share of triumph and tragedy and is a pertinent reminder of how inhumanity can be countered by humility, charity and compassion. I enjoyed the book tremendously.

[Eva Pasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Harrowing and Heart-wrenching Story

Author Beverley Latimer’s plain-spoken narrative is the driving force behind ‘Once Upon a Time,’ a Historical Romance which captures the realism of those targeted by the Nazi regime during World War II.

Latimer’s characters pulsate with life: the orphaned Madeleine and Shem; Marcel and Monique of the French Resistance; Jean-Paul, Yvette and Maurice, Henri and Marie-Claire—individuals who aided and abetted Jewish fugitives. And, many more who breathed life into this harrowing and heart-wrenching story.

Through reader anxiety over the fate of these life-like characters, the story counters the brutality of the times with the bravery, courage, and self-sacrifice of those who stepped up to save the Jewish, Romani, and mentally challenged.

A story fraught with danger and uncertainty, ‘Once Upon a Time,’ is a must read for its sensitive portrayal of darkness.

[Lucas W Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the first page you are gripped by some shocking and harrowing events. Shem’s papa and grandpapa and the rest of his community are killed. Their crime is that they were simply Roma and Shem only survives as his Papa had the savvy and fortitude to hide his son in the forest beforehand. Grieving for his family and with all hope loss by pure chance he encounters the young Madeleine whose parents have also be killed. Their crime: protecting Jews from the Nazis. Hiding in the forest they soon develop a bond that proves unshakeable but as winter approaches they seek the warmth of a barn where the kindly Jean Paul offers to take them in and the three of them soon become a family. Over the years the love they have for each other trumps any adversity that comes their way but some dangers may prove too much. Even though the story was set in a time where the world was a very dark and inhumane place this book also showed the best that humanity can offer via love, patience, understanding and courage. I was intrigued by the details regarding the French Resistance during the Second World War and was awe struck by their sacrifices to save as much people as possible. The book was very much a pertinent reminder of the fight against fascism and also grimly highlights what could happen considering today’s political climate. Thy writing itself was engaging and well paced. It kept me invested throughout an I read the last half of the book in one day. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Marcia Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming story set during World War Two in France. Two orphaned children, Shem and Madeleine, have both lost their families through the brutality of the invading Nazis. Shem, because his family was Roma travellers, and Madeleine, because her parents sheltered Jews. Traumatised by their horrific experiences, the youngsters are drawn together and hide in the woods from the German army. As the weather worsens, they are forced to seek shelter and are fortunate when a kindly widower takes them in during a snowstorm. However, it is wartime and nowhere is truly safe, and their troubles are far from over. This is an engaging story which highlights the harsh realities of war, whilst incorporating the incredible bravery, compassion and kindness of strangers. I enjoyed the book enormously.

[Tracey Gerrard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story!
Brought together under heartrending conditions, Shem, a young boy from the Roma community and a young girl, Madalaine, seek shelter in the woods and must form a pack to stay safe from the German army. As winter is upon them and danger all around, they are taken in by Jean-Paul, a kind-hearted French farmer whom they come to love as an uncle.
The story tells of the invasion of France and how the French Resistance would stop at nothing to help people reach safety.
Once Upon a Time by Beverley Latimer is a heartbreaking story, as it takes us through all the harsh realities of war. Still, it’s also heartwarming, as we witness the love between the two young main characters as they bond from a young age, then into something beautiful as they grow into young adults.
A well-written and engaging story that I highly recommend.

[D.G. Torrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an incredible read. The story is focused around a boy and a girl in1940s in occupied France, called Shem and Madelaine. People are being rounded up everywhere. A young boy finds shelter in the woods, when word gets out that people are being rounded up and taken away. Shem's father had foresight, knowing what was coming, he built the shelter for Shem for this reason, to keep him safe from the German soldiers. He hides out for a long time, foraging and braving the harsh weather conditions. His father stops visiting at night and this worries Shem. But then, one day, he awakes to screaming. He rises from his shelter and wanders through the woods, until he comes across a scared girl, a year or so younger than him. Shem wins her trust, promises her saftey, and together they hunker down in Shem's shelter. But deep winter turns to harsh snow conditions. They need to find a warmer shelter and after hours of trudging the snow, they happen upon a barn and sleep there for the night. The barn belonged to Jean-Paul, a kind-hearted giant of a man, who allows them to stay in his house and protect them. But the war wages on, the resistance is doing all it can to help people cross the Perenees. Danger lurks at every corner, food is scarce and people in the village begin to flee. Can Jean-Paul continue to protect Shem and Madelaine? What will happen if their real identities are revealed? They have suffered so much and Jean-Paul will try to protect them at any cost. Wonderfully written. I could envisage the scenes as I read on. The characters were wonderful and the story had me hooked from page one. I would love a second book, the story of Shem and Maelaine continued... If I could give this story more stars, I would have! Highly recommend.

[Ryan Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beverley Latimer knows how to grab hold of your heart from page one, and Once Upon a Time is no exception. It's a gut-punch of a story—equal parts devastating and hopeful—told through the eyes of two children caught in the chaos of war. Shem, a Roma boy, and Madeleine, a Jewish girl, are both thirteen when the Nazis tear their lives apart. What follows is a journey of survival, resilience, and unexpected connection. With the help of a French farmer, they find each other and cling to what little they have left. What starts as a sibling-like bond deepens into something far more profound as the years pass.
Latimer doesn't flinch from the harsh realities—fear, hunger, cruelty—but she also gives us courage, loyalty, and the quiet heroism of ordinary people. Her portrayal of the French Resistance is compelling, honoring those who risked everything to stand against fascism.
Her prose is sharp and unpretentious, the pacing tight, and the characters unforgettable. Shem and Madeleine feel like real kids—scared, brave, stubborn, and full of heart. Latimer's body of work is already impressive (The Child at the Window, Broken and Forgotten, Esther's Journey, and more), but Once Upon a Time might be her most emotionally resonant yet.

[Billie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book about a shameful time in our recent history, where Jews, the Roma people, homosexuals, and people with disabilities, whether physical or mental, were exterminated. The story starts when two children, whose parents have been murdered by the Germans in occupied France, are thrown together. Thirteen-year-old Shem, a rough and ready Roma boy, finds well-bred twelve-year-old Madeleine in the forest after her parents have been shot. He vows to keep her safe, but soon they will not be able to survive life in the forest in winter. They hide in a barn and are found by a kind-hearted bear of a man, Jean-Paul. The story continues, where the reader is confronted by the atrocities committed by Hitler and his Nazis, but set against all this horror is the story of resilience, of found family, of new love and extreme bravery. We follow the Resistance fighters as they risk their own lives to help those who cannot help themselves. It’s brutal, and we rejoice when they win and cry when they lose, but they don’t give up until the liberation of France has been completed. It was lovely to read what happens to the character who survived after the end of the way.
As with all this author’s books, you need your hankies at the ready. Highly recommended.

[Helen Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

An affecting story of love and loss

This book is a timely reminder of the consequences of hate-driven conflict on a large scale, told through the intimate lens of a found-family narrative that personalises the repercussions. It’s also a reminder of the true extent of the Holocaust, with characters representing three of the major demographics victimised by the Nazi regime – Jews, the Roma, and the disabled. The two orphaned children at the story’s centre are beautifully portrayed, and their saviour, Jean-Paul, is a stand-out character who lends real heart to the tale. Although this is a heartrending story of the suffering caused by an inhumane dictatorship, it also showcases the compassion and bravery of the resistance fighters and ‘ordinary’ people who, at great personal risk, aided and protected the refugees. As the two children grow up, their changing relationship dynamics are nicely handled, and it was good to know what happened to all the main characters after the war ended. A lovely page-turner that I read in no time!

[Karen Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this title, the reader may think it is a story of children. And it is. But it isn't.
In the midst of the occupation of France, the horror of war touches everyone, young and old. And two children, although 'saved' by the brave actions of their parents, find themselves alone and battling to survive.
This title also allows for a broader embrace of many stories of strength, loss, great love, and sacrifice as Shem and Madelaine are aided. In this way, their story becomes entwined with many others.
The epilogue was especially sweet and poignant for me.