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The Runaway Sisters
I’ll never forget the night when everything changed. I saw the first glimmers of daylight over the roofs from the window before I heard it. We were used to air raids by then and I recognised German engines, but something felt different this time. They were closer than I’d ever heard them before…
Devon, 1940: When fifteen-year-old Daisy is evacuated from her home in London, she knows she must look after her younger sister Peggy. She is the only one who can reassure Peggy that life will go back to normal, reading to her from their one battered children’s book, ensuring she takes the cough medicine their mother tucked in the pocket of her gas mask bag.
But when the sisters’ new home is suddenly bombed, they are taken into the countryside, and Daisy quickly realises that not everyone at home is on the right side of the war. Forced to work in fields alongside orphan children, she finds herself drawn to a young boy called John, who has tried and failed to escape many times before.
Then Peggy gets sick and Daisy knows that, to save her life, they must run away. But now Peggy is not the only one Daisy is desperate to protect. As war rages all around, Daisy learns that sometimes you have to sacrifice everything if you want to save the people you love. And that the choices you make in your darkest days will affect your family for generations to come…
Perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate, Diney Costeloe and Shirley Dickson, The Runaway Sisters is a tale of heartwrenching loss and uplifting courage. It’s a story about family, and the light that can be found in the dark clouds of war.
Devon, 1940: When fifteen-year-old Daisy is evacuated from her home in London, she knows she must look after her younger sister Peggy. She is the only one who can reassure Peggy that life will go back to normal, reading to her from their one battered children’s book, ensuring she takes the cough medicine their mother tucked in the pocket of her gas mask bag.
But when the sisters’ new home is suddenly bombed, they are taken into the countryside, and Daisy quickly realises that not everyone at home is on the right side of the war. Forced to work in fields alongside orphan children, she finds herself drawn to a young boy called John, who has tried and failed to escape many times before.
Then Peggy gets sick and Daisy knows that, to save her life, they must run away. But now Peggy is not the only one Daisy is desperate to protect. As war rages all around, Daisy learns that sometimes you have to sacrifice everything if you want to save the people you love. And that the choices you make in your darkest days will affect your family for generations to come…
Perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate, Diney Costeloe and Shirley Dickson, The Runaway Sisters is a tale of heartwrenching loss and uplifting courage. It’s a story about family, and the light that can be found in the dark clouds of war.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2020
703 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
June 6, 2024
This is a War World II Historical Fiction. I love the characters, and this book was a page-turner form the start. I just wanted this book to have more details and to hit me harder. I just found that this is not the type of historical fiction book I love. If you want a light historical fiction without a lot of details this is the book for you. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Bookouture) or author (Ann Bennett) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
September 6, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Laura and Helen's mother, Daisy has had a stroke. She's now living in a nursing home. While laura and Helen were clearing out their mothers home, they discover some letters and a key. They discover journals telling all about Daisy's life during WWII.
WWII. Daisy has been evacuated from her home in London with her younger sister, Peggy. The first house they had been sent to got damaged by a bomb so they sent to the countryside. Along with other children they are forced to work on the farm. The working conditions are terrible.
This is a moving story that's hard to read in places. It's narrated by Daisy during WWII and Helen in the present day. The two stories merge together seamlessly. The chapters are told alternately by the two women. Peggy was a sickly child and Daisy had vowed to look after her. Along with Daisy and Peggy, working on the farm were another two girls and two boys. These children suffered at the hands of the farmers. I enjoyed this historical fiction novel that's filled with twists.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #AnnBennett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Laura and Helen's mother, Daisy has had a stroke. She's now living in a nursing home. While laura and Helen were clearing out their mothers home, they discover some letters and a key. They discover journals telling all about Daisy's life during WWII.
WWII. Daisy has been evacuated from her home in London with her younger sister, Peggy. The first house they had been sent to got damaged by a bomb so they sent to the countryside. Along with other children they are forced to work on the farm. The working conditions are terrible.
This is a moving story that's hard to read in places. It's narrated by Daisy during WWII and Helen in the present day. The two stories merge together seamlessly. The chapters are told alternately by the two women. Peggy was a sickly child and Daisy had vowed to look after her. Along with Daisy and Peggy, working on the farm were another two girls and two boys. These children suffered at the hands of the farmers. I enjoyed this historical fiction novel that's filled with twists.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #AnnBennett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2020
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Ann Bennett's heartbreaking historical novel THE RUNAWAY SISTERS.
I love dual timeline stories and having read and enjoyed "The Orphan House" by Ann Bennett earlier this year I was excited to devour THE RUNAWAY SISTERS. I was not disappointed.
A warning:
There is a lot of violence and abuse throughout Daisy's narrative and it does make for uncomfortable reading at times.
The story begins in the present day with Helen and Laura clearing out their former home at Black Moor Hall after their mother Daisy had a stroke and is now residing in a care home. The two sisters have been somewhat estranged throughout their lives, what with ten years between them and the pressures they felt they endured by their mother's hand. But now they have reunited to clear out the house and get it ready for sale, reigniting many memories of their years growing up there. When the day comes to begin clearing their mother's room, the sisters come across a hidden door behind the wardrobe and are intrigued by what they find there that will change their lives forever.
Two letters addressed to a Daisy Banks in Plymouth dated 1940 have the women pondering as to who the mystery addressee was. After all, their mother's maiden name was not Banks...plus the letters also spoke of a younger sister Peggy and to their knowledge their mother was an only child. So who was Daisy Banks and why did their mother have letters addressed to her? Along with the letters were a couple of photos - one of a young man in a Navy uniform and the other of what looked to be the same young man with a young woman who bore the striking resemblance to their mother. It couldn't be...could it? What did this all mean? Was their mother Daisy Banks? If so, then why did she change her name before marrying their father?
Plymouth 1940: Fifteen year old Daisy Banks and her ten year old sister Peggy have been evacuated from their home in London to Plymouth, where they were billeted to a Mr and Mrs Brown. They were thought to be safe there but one night the German bombers raided the town leaving much of it damaged. Daisy sat huddled with Peggy on the bed till the explosions ceased before opening the door to their room. When she did she was astonished to discover that while their room and the landing remained in tact, Mr and Mrs Brown's room other the other side was decimated. The girls hastily packed a few things and ran into the street searching for a way back home to London.
They were soon stopped by a man bearing the insignia of a billeting officer who told them that as they were evacuees they were under the responsibility of the government to take care of them. He told them of a lovely place out on the moors on the edge of Dartmoor with animals and other children who were also being taken care of. Peggy's eyes lit up at the mention of animals but Daisy remained wary. However, she knew that London was far away and they had no money to get there so resigned herself to this stranger taking them under his wing.
Believing he was taking them somewhere safe, the sisters climb into his car and the man drives them out onto the moors to a derelict farm where the conditions were nothing like he had described. As soon as they arrived, they were introduced to Farmer Reeves then shoved into a barn and informed that this is where they would sleep before being forced to work with the other four other children - two boys and two girls - who also lived there. Daisy dreamt of escaping but anyone that tries to is dealt with severely. If they spoke out to either Farmer Reeves or Red, the man who brought them there, they were beaten or whipped. As the government had sanctioned the use of children for farm work, it was therefore legal despite the harsh conditions. There was nowhere else to go.
But Daisy had a plan. With John, one of the orphan boys, they endeavoured to make their escape and report Farmer Reeves and Red for the conditions to which they subjected them to. But they had to make their move soon. Peggy was growing weaker in the almost arctic conditions of the barn, her cough getting worse by the day. If they didn't make their escape soon, who knew what future held for them at their cruel hands.
Back in the present day, Helen and Laura search the Land Registry for information on the derelict farm that backs onto Black Moor Hall, the sisters are shocked to discover that it belongs to their mother. They were always forbidden to venture onto the farm grounds and intrigued by the mystery before them, Helen decides to follow the path she remembers seeing her mother taking at times. Through old derelict buildings that had been left to rot for near on a century, Helen follows the path which leads her to something she never expected to find. What brought her mother here so often in secret? Guilt? Or something else?
Then when Helen finds a key that doesn't seem to fit any door in the house, the sisters are taken back to London to unlock the secrets their mother has kept hidden for over 70 years. And nothing will prepare them for the journey that it will take them on and the secrets that they will uncover...
The two stories merge together seamlessly as Daisy's narrative from the past is woven with Helen's in the present and is beautifully told. Daisy and Peggy's story is heartbreaking as is so often the tale of orphans during the war with the physical and emotional abuse they received at the hands of Farmer Reeves and his henchman Red. It was at times difficult to read. And then the romance between John and Daisy was simply heartwarming. I cannot say much more without giving anything away.
An incredibly emotional tale, THE RUNAWAY SISTERS captured my attention from the start and held it until the end, as I finished with tears in my eyes. It is truly a great read that I certainly won't forget in a hurry.
Filled with love, loss, heartbreak, secrets, lies and hope, THE RUNAWAY SISTERS is a heartwrenching historical novel that will stay with long after you have finished reading.
My only critique I have was the rather abrupt ending. All the hope and promise that had been building up, and then I turned the page and...the end. I felt a little cheated in that respect. I felt it needed to end with Daisy, since it was ultimately her story and her secrets that was being uncovered.
But aside from that, THE RUNAWAY SISTERS is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I have no hesitation in recommending to fans of historical fiction, dual timelines and stories about the plights of orphaned children.
I would like to thank #AnnBennett, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheRunawaySisters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Ann Bennett's heartbreaking historical novel THE RUNAWAY SISTERS.
I love dual timeline stories and having read and enjoyed "The Orphan House" by Ann Bennett earlier this year I was excited to devour THE RUNAWAY SISTERS. I was not disappointed.
A warning:
There is a lot of violence and abuse throughout Daisy's narrative and it does make for uncomfortable reading at times.
The story begins in the present day with Helen and Laura clearing out their former home at Black Moor Hall after their mother Daisy had a stroke and is now residing in a care home. The two sisters have been somewhat estranged throughout their lives, what with ten years between them and the pressures they felt they endured by their mother's hand. But now they have reunited to clear out the house and get it ready for sale, reigniting many memories of their years growing up there. When the day comes to begin clearing their mother's room, the sisters come across a hidden door behind the wardrobe and are intrigued by what they find there that will change their lives forever.
Two letters addressed to a Daisy Banks in Plymouth dated 1940 have the women pondering as to who the mystery addressee was. After all, their mother's maiden name was not Banks...plus the letters also spoke of a younger sister Peggy and to their knowledge their mother was an only child. So who was Daisy Banks and why did their mother have letters addressed to her? Along with the letters were a couple of photos - one of a young man in a Navy uniform and the other of what looked to be the same young man with a young woman who bore the striking resemblance to their mother. It couldn't be...could it? What did this all mean? Was their mother Daisy Banks? If so, then why did she change her name before marrying their father?
Plymouth 1940: Fifteen year old Daisy Banks and her ten year old sister Peggy have been evacuated from their home in London to Plymouth, where they were billeted to a Mr and Mrs Brown. They were thought to be safe there but one night the German bombers raided the town leaving much of it damaged. Daisy sat huddled with Peggy on the bed till the explosions ceased before opening the door to their room. When she did she was astonished to discover that while their room and the landing remained in tact, Mr and Mrs Brown's room other the other side was decimated. The girls hastily packed a few things and ran into the street searching for a way back home to London.
They were soon stopped by a man bearing the insignia of a billeting officer who told them that as they were evacuees they were under the responsibility of the government to take care of them. He told them of a lovely place out on the moors on the edge of Dartmoor with animals and other children who were also being taken care of. Peggy's eyes lit up at the mention of animals but Daisy remained wary. However, she knew that London was far away and they had no money to get there so resigned herself to this stranger taking them under his wing.
Believing he was taking them somewhere safe, the sisters climb into his car and the man drives them out onto the moors to a derelict farm where the conditions were nothing like he had described. As soon as they arrived, they were introduced to Farmer Reeves then shoved into a barn and informed that this is where they would sleep before being forced to work with the other four other children - two boys and two girls - who also lived there. Daisy dreamt of escaping but anyone that tries to is dealt with severely. If they spoke out to either Farmer Reeves or Red, the man who brought them there, they were beaten or whipped. As the government had sanctioned the use of children for farm work, it was therefore legal despite the harsh conditions. There was nowhere else to go.
But Daisy had a plan. With John, one of the orphan boys, they endeavoured to make their escape and report Farmer Reeves and Red for the conditions to which they subjected them to. But they had to make their move soon. Peggy was growing weaker in the almost arctic conditions of the barn, her cough getting worse by the day. If they didn't make their escape soon, who knew what future held for them at their cruel hands.
Back in the present day, Helen and Laura search the Land Registry for information on the derelict farm that backs onto Black Moor Hall, the sisters are shocked to discover that it belongs to their mother. They were always forbidden to venture onto the farm grounds and intrigued by the mystery before them, Helen decides to follow the path she remembers seeing her mother taking at times. Through old derelict buildings that had been left to rot for near on a century, Helen follows the path which leads her to something she never expected to find. What brought her mother here so often in secret? Guilt? Or something else?
Then when Helen finds a key that doesn't seem to fit any door in the house, the sisters are taken back to London to unlock the secrets their mother has kept hidden for over 70 years. And nothing will prepare them for the journey that it will take them on and the secrets that they will uncover...
The two stories merge together seamlessly as Daisy's narrative from the past is woven with Helen's in the present and is beautifully told. Daisy and Peggy's story is heartbreaking as is so often the tale of orphans during the war with the physical and emotional abuse they received at the hands of Farmer Reeves and his henchman Red. It was at times difficult to read. And then the romance between John and Daisy was simply heartwarming. I cannot say much more without giving anything away.
An incredibly emotional tale, THE RUNAWAY SISTERS captured my attention from the start and held it until the end, as I finished with tears in my eyes. It is truly a great read that I certainly won't forget in a hurry.
Filled with love, loss, heartbreak, secrets, lies and hope, THE RUNAWAY SISTERS is a heartwrenching historical novel that will stay with long after you have finished reading.
My only critique I have was the rather abrupt ending. All the hope and promise that had been building up, and then I turned the page and...the end. I felt a little cheated in that respect. I felt it needed to end with Daisy, since it was ultimately her story and her secrets that was being uncovered.
But aside from that, THE RUNAWAY SISTERS is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I have no hesitation in recommending to fans of historical fiction, dual timelines and stories about the plights of orphaned children.
I would like to thank #AnnBennett, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheRunawaySisters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 13, 2020
Quickly I realized this book was not for me. I had a really tough time following this story and there was too much physical abuse for me to go on. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this complimentary book. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 3, 2020
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Runaway Sisters' by Ann Bennett
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 15th September 2020
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I am looking forward to reading more!
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing and emotional blurb. I was also looking for an I between book to fit between my usual crime and thriller genre and this looked perfect. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 29 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Helen and Daisy. I enjoy books written in third person with several protagonists as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.
This book is based in in the UK. I love books set in the UK as I live in Wales, UK and sometimes I have been to the places so can picture them better.
This book is very well written with beautiful descriptions that had me completely absorbed in the storyline. It was written very smoothly especially with the multiple timelines that blended in well together and gave the bigger picture in the best way that it could have.
The storyline was heart wrenching and emotional, packed with suspense, drama, romance, tension and much more. I could not put it down and it will be one of those books that stay with me for a long time after. The story of Daisy, Peggy, John and the other orphans was heart breaking and then the added spark discovered at the end.
The characters were very realistic and had a variety of personalities. Some I loved and some I hated with a passion. I enjoyed reading all about how their lives changed from the beginning of the war to many, many years later.
I believe Ann did alot of research into the war and it is sad to know that this could have easily been a true story. I have definitely got another top author to add to my favourites list.
Overall a page turning, heart wrenching historical novel that will stay with you for a long time after you've finished reading.
Genres covered include Historical Fiction and Historical Romance.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of a good book!!!
272 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle 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
#TheRunawaySisters #AnnBennett #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@AnnBennett @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
Review for 'The Runaway Sisters' by Ann Bennett
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 15th September 2020
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I am looking forward to reading more!
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing and emotional blurb. I was also looking for an I between book to fit between my usual crime and thriller genre and this looked perfect. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 29 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Helen and Daisy. I enjoy books written in third person with several protagonists as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.
This book is based in in the UK. I love books set in the UK as I live in Wales, UK and sometimes I have been to the places so can picture them better.
This book is very well written with beautiful descriptions that had me completely absorbed in the storyline. It was written very smoothly especially with the multiple timelines that blended in well together and gave the bigger picture in the best way that it could have.
The storyline was heart wrenching and emotional, packed with suspense, drama, romance, tension and much more. I could not put it down and it will be one of those books that stay with me for a long time after. The story of Daisy, Peggy, John and the other orphans was heart breaking and then the added spark discovered at the end.
The characters were very realistic and had a variety of personalities. Some I loved and some I hated with a passion. I enjoyed reading all about how their lives changed from the beginning of the war to many, many years later.
I believe Ann did alot of research into the war and it is sad to know that this could have easily been a true story. I have definitely got another top author to add to my favourites list.
Overall a page turning, heart wrenching historical novel that will stay with you for a long time after you've finished reading.
Genres covered include Historical Fiction and Historical Romance.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of a good book!!!
272 pages.
This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle 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
#TheRunawaySisters #AnnBennett #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@AnnBennett @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
September 15, 2020
The Runaway Sisters by Ann Bennett is a beautiful contemporary novel that will break your heart whilst simultaneously filling your heart with love.
The novel is set during World War II and concerns the fortunes of two evacuee sisters from London relocated to Devon. Action alternates between another pair of modern day sisters and the war years.
Your heart will break for the two evacuees as sorrow and guilt are heavy burdens to carry through the months and years. Not all evacuees had an idyllic time in the countryside.
Relationships between the sisters are explored. One set are bonded by love. The other set experience sibling rivalry.
Our childhood experiences shape the adults we become. Some of our memories are hidden from view because they are too painful. This means our motivations for life are not understood by others as they fail to probe beneath the surface.
Ann Bennett has created a marvellous set of characters. My heart broke at times as cruelty knew no bounds whilst alternately swelling with the bonds of love.
The Runaway Sisters was my first book by Ann Bennett but I want more, more, more. She is now up there on my favourite author list, which is ever growing. I loved her style of writing. Her characters have lodged in my heart and soul.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The novel is set during World War II and concerns the fortunes of two evacuee sisters from London relocated to Devon. Action alternates between another pair of modern day sisters and the war years.
Your heart will break for the two evacuees as sorrow and guilt are heavy burdens to carry through the months and years. Not all evacuees had an idyllic time in the countryside.
Relationships between the sisters are explored. One set are bonded by love. The other set experience sibling rivalry.
Our childhood experiences shape the adults we become. Some of our memories are hidden from view because they are too painful. This means our motivations for life are not understood by others as they fail to probe beneath the surface.
Ann Bennett has created a marvellous set of characters. My heart broke at times as cruelty knew no bounds whilst alternately swelling with the bonds of love.
The Runaway Sisters was my first book by Ann Bennett but I want more, more, more. She is now up there on my favourite author list, which is ever growing. I loved her style of writing. Her characters have lodged in my heart and soul.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
August 9, 2022
3.5⭐️ rounded up
September 21, 2020
The Runaway Sisters is the second book that I have read by Ann Bennett this year who up until recently was a new author for me. I have to say what a brilliant discovery this author has been as I have thoroughly enjoyed both of the books that I have read. They are great family sagas with brilliant storylines that are extremely well researched, plotted and developed from beginning to end. The characters are varied and in The Runaway Sisters there was action from start to finish with a whole range of topics being dealt with. Not once was there a wasted scene or word, everything was there to keep the story moving forward at a great pace so much so that I was constantly on the edge of my seat to discover what would next befall the characters.
The transitions between past and present were absolutely seamless with not a flaw to be found during these changeovers. The main connection between the past and the present was apparent from the opening chapter yet the real crux of the matter was slowly drip fed through to the reader with subtle hints being dropped every so often should you pick up on them but just enough so the reader could enjoy trying to piece things together for themselves. This book was a quick read, but in a good way because I was reading it so fast as I was so enthralled at the story unfolding, and it was evident that the short time it took me to read it that this story was just excellent.
I loved how right from chapter one we were straight into the action with no messing around and filling in of backstory or long winded introductions. Anything we needed to know we found out as and when it happened apart from a few things that were kept secret until the climax of the book which was necessary as revealing too much too soon would have ruined the book. Everything developed at a superb pace that left me rapidly turning the pages. It also helped that the chapters weren’t overly long or detailed and this just made me want to keep reading on even more.
The first character we meet is Helen as she travels to Black Moor Hall, on the outskirts of Dartmoor in Devon. Alongside her sister Laura, who has a high powered job in London, the house is being sorted and cleared out. Their mother Daisy, who I initially thought had died, is now in a care home having suffered a stroke. Things must be sold to pay for her continued care. The sisters haven’t had the best of relationships and Helen has always felt a distance from her mother. They were never allowed to venture to the outskirts of the property despite all the intrigue that lurked there and this has forever eaten away at Helen. Why did her mother go there every day yet Helen and her sister could not? Now that her mother is not able to communicate as well as she once did and a new stage is becoming apparent in their family life, Helen wonders will things change? She has found her place in life to be difficult and unknown. She has had many broken relationships and never followed her dream to study art. She works in her friends antique shop but wonders whether there is more out there awaiting her?
Whilst clearing out a room in the hall Helen and Laura discover some letters yellowed with age from Daisy to what soon becomes apparent is her mother. They were written when Daisy was evacuated from London. But why is a girl name Peggy mentioned? Daisy never mentioned she had a sister and why was there a name change surrounding Daisy? Just a few questions that arise alongside so many more and so Helen sets out to find out the answers and along the way discovers some secrets and truths she could never have thought possible in relation to her mother. I really enjoyed Helen’s aspect of the story as it was interspersed perfectly with that of Daisy’s. When things got very tense and traumatic in the past the author changed direction and brought us back to the present and it gave the reader that few minutes just to catch their breath and absorb what they had just read whilst at the same time things were advancing in the present as Helen edged closer to the truth. In doing so she was hoping to resolve the issues within her family.
Daisy and Helen were evacuated to Plymouth in 1940. They have a family to stay with but miss their mother desperately and even more so when they discover she did not survive the injuries sustained in the bombing of the train station as they were leaving. Further disaster strikes when the house they are evacuated to is bombed. They emerge unscathed from the wreckage and meet a billeting officer who takes them to new accommodation. But it quickly becomes apparent that all is not as it seems and deciding to go with this man they meet was possibly the worse choice they could ever have made. I did think it a bit odd that two girls would go so readily with someone they literally had just met but I suppose Daisy thought that she was doing the right thing.
As they arrive at Farmer Reeves isolated home on Dartmoor they think they will have a wonderful stay on the farm until the war is over. But this image of perfection could not be further from the truth and what follows was so brilliantly written. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn’t leave the book out of my hands and it’s been awhile since I have read a book like that. That’s what makes me love Ann Bennett’s stories. You think they are just another run of the mill saga books amongst the hundreds published each year but instead between the pages awaiting you are surprising reads that really take you on a journey full of mystery and intrigue and in this case torture, cruelty, deprivation and loss.
You really can’t help but feel for Daisy and Peggy. They expected security but got the total opposite as alongside other orphans they were expected to work long hours toiling away in the fields. Basically they were slave labour and no one knew such a thing was happening. It’s not like anyone was going to quickly come to their rescue. The author described everything so well, the set up on the farm, the conditions they were forced to live in and how they coped on a day to day basis. Daisy was brave, strong and courageous and time and time again she shouldered the burden so Peggy could be spared. But would her actions be enough or prove too costly? Some readers may think the violence and mistreatment described are a bit too much but I think everything needed to be there laid out in black and white with no detail spared as it added to the overall atmosphere being created. The themes being dealt with and how they connected to the past wouldn’t have had the same powerful impact if the author had glossed over facts or spared details.
The characters are all moulded by circumstances by the dreadful ordeal they are forced to endure, and you keep wondering will Daisy and Peggy ever make it to freedom or will the evil, ignorant, brutal and unscrupulous Farmer Reeves have his way? I enjoyed how some romance was thrown in too as it allowed for the creation of several other storylines which only added even more bite to the story. The only slight fault I found was that one or two things became ever so slightly far fetched towards the end and that things were just that little bit too rushed as we raced towards the conclusion. Another chapter or two would have avoided this. But apart from that The Runaway Sisters was an excellent read. It’s a real emotional, page turner that has left me wanting more new stories from Ann Bennett as soon as possible.
The transitions between past and present were absolutely seamless with not a flaw to be found during these changeovers. The main connection between the past and the present was apparent from the opening chapter yet the real crux of the matter was slowly drip fed through to the reader with subtle hints being dropped every so often should you pick up on them but just enough so the reader could enjoy trying to piece things together for themselves. This book was a quick read, but in a good way because I was reading it so fast as I was so enthralled at the story unfolding, and it was evident that the short time it took me to read it that this story was just excellent.
I loved how right from chapter one we were straight into the action with no messing around and filling in of backstory or long winded introductions. Anything we needed to know we found out as and when it happened apart from a few things that were kept secret until the climax of the book which was necessary as revealing too much too soon would have ruined the book. Everything developed at a superb pace that left me rapidly turning the pages. It also helped that the chapters weren’t overly long or detailed and this just made me want to keep reading on even more.
The first character we meet is Helen as she travels to Black Moor Hall, on the outskirts of Dartmoor in Devon. Alongside her sister Laura, who has a high powered job in London, the house is being sorted and cleared out. Their mother Daisy, who I initially thought had died, is now in a care home having suffered a stroke. Things must be sold to pay for her continued care. The sisters haven’t had the best of relationships and Helen has always felt a distance from her mother. They were never allowed to venture to the outskirts of the property despite all the intrigue that lurked there and this has forever eaten away at Helen. Why did her mother go there every day yet Helen and her sister could not? Now that her mother is not able to communicate as well as she once did and a new stage is becoming apparent in their family life, Helen wonders will things change? She has found her place in life to be difficult and unknown. She has had many broken relationships and never followed her dream to study art. She works in her friends antique shop but wonders whether there is more out there awaiting her?
Whilst clearing out a room in the hall Helen and Laura discover some letters yellowed with age from Daisy to what soon becomes apparent is her mother. They were written when Daisy was evacuated from London. But why is a girl name Peggy mentioned? Daisy never mentioned she had a sister and why was there a name change surrounding Daisy? Just a few questions that arise alongside so many more and so Helen sets out to find out the answers and along the way discovers some secrets and truths she could never have thought possible in relation to her mother. I really enjoyed Helen’s aspect of the story as it was interspersed perfectly with that of Daisy’s. When things got very tense and traumatic in the past the author changed direction and brought us back to the present and it gave the reader that few minutes just to catch their breath and absorb what they had just read whilst at the same time things were advancing in the present as Helen edged closer to the truth. In doing so she was hoping to resolve the issues within her family.
Daisy and Helen were evacuated to Plymouth in 1940. They have a family to stay with but miss their mother desperately and even more so when they discover she did not survive the injuries sustained in the bombing of the train station as they were leaving. Further disaster strikes when the house they are evacuated to is bombed. They emerge unscathed from the wreckage and meet a billeting officer who takes them to new accommodation. But it quickly becomes apparent that all is not as it seems and deciding to go with this man they meet was possibly the worse choice they could ever have made. I did think it a bit odd that two girls would go so readily with someone they literally had just met but I suppose Daisy thought that she was doing the right thing.
As they arrive at Farmer Reeves isolated home on Dartmoor they think they will have a wonderful stay on the farm until the war is over. But this image of perfection could not be further from the truth and what follows was so brilliantly written. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn’t leave the book out of my hands and it’s been awhile since I have read a book like that. That’s what makes me love Ann Bennett’s stories. You think they are just another run of the mill saga books amongst the hundreds published each year but instead between the pages awaiting you are surprising reads that really take you on a journey full of mystery and intrigue and in this case torture, cruelty, deprivation and loss.
You really can’t help but feel for Daisy and Peggy. They expected security but got the total opposite as alongside other orphans they were expected to work long hours toiling away in the fields. Basically they were slave labour and no one knew such a thing was happening. It’s not like anyone was going to quickly come to their rescue. The author described everything so well, the set up on the farm, the conditions they were forced to live in and how they coped on a day to day basis. Daisy was brave, strong and courageous and time and time again she shouldered the burden so Peggy could be spared. But would her actions be enough or prove too costly? Some readers may think the violence and mistreatment described are a bit too much but I think everything needed to be there laid out in black and white with no detail spared as it added to the overall atmosphere being created. The themes being dealt with and how they connected to the past wouldn’t have had the same powerful impact if the author had glossed over facts or spared details.
The characters are all moulded by circumstances by the dreadful ordeal they are forced to endure, and you keep wondering will Daisy and Peggy ever make it to freedom or will the evil, ignorant, brutal and unscrupulous Farmer Reeves have his way? I enjoyed how some romance was thrown in too as it allowed for the creation of several other storylines which only added even more bite to the story. The only slight fault I found was that one or two things became ever so slightly far fetched towards the end and that things were just that little bit too rushed as we raced towards the conclusion. Another chapter or two would have avoided this. But apart from that The Runaway Sisters was an excellent read. It’s a real emotional, page turner that has left me wanting more new stories from Ann Bennett as soon as possible.
October 16, 2020
Laura and Helen are sorting through their mother's belongings after she has a stroke and moves to a care home. They discover a secret cupboard containing letters which raise a number of questions about their mum's life.
Daisy Banks and her little sister Peggy are evacuated from London but their mother dies shortly after they leave. Then their house in Plymouth is bombed and their hosts are killed. The girls are found wandering the streets and taken to a farm where they are forced to work but dream of freedom...
The plot is delivered through Helen's perspective in the present and the first person narrative of Daisy in the 1940s. Helen has always struggled to understand her mother's attirtude towards her and this has casued a rift. Through letters and a journal, the terrible truth about Daisy's life doing forced labour, basically slavery, on a farm in war torn Britain is revealed.
There is plenty of drama and action scenes in The Runaway Sisters as the girls attempt to escape the farm. The author creates a feeling of dread as we know that Daisy's daughters in the present have no knowledge of Peggy. I felt that the timelines were well developed and historically accurate but would have liked some references about whether the 'slavery' was based on any real life testimony.
The family relationships felt very realistic (especially between the sibings Laura and Helen, coincidentally the same names as me and my sister!) and the idea of favourites where each thinks their mother favoured the other. The protective relationship between Daisy and Peggy is also very natural and tugs at the heartstrings as the plot develops.
I would have liked a little more explanation at the end, to find out more about the events in between the 1940s and now but I think this is because I was so caught up with the characters that I wanted to know the whole story.
The Runaway Sisters is a captivating book about the horrors of war and the love and grief that bind families together.
I have previously reviewed The Orphan House by Ann Bennett.
Daisy Banks and her little sister Peggy are evacuated from London but their mother dies shortly after they leave. Then their house in Plymouth is bombed and their hosts are killed. The girls are found wandering the streets and taken to a farm where they are forced to work but dream of freedom...
The plot is delivered through Helen's perspective in the present and the first person narrative of Daisy in the 1940s. Helen has always struggled to understand her mother's attirtude towards her and this has casued a rift. Through letters and a journal, the terrible truth about Daisy's life doing forced labour, basically slavery, on a farm in war torn Britain is revealed.
There is plenty of drama and action scenes in The Runaway Sisters as the girls attempt to escape the farm. The author creates a feeling of dread as we know that Daisy's daughters in the present have no knowledge of Peggy. I felt that the timelines were well developed and historically accurate but would have liked some references about whether the 'slavery' was based on any real life testimony.
The family relationships felt very realistic (especially between the sibings Laura and Helen, coincidentally the same names as me and my sister!) and the idea of favourites where each thinks their mother favoured the other. The protective relationship between Daisy and Peggy is also very natural and tugs at the heartstrings as the plot develops.
I would have liked a little more explanation at the end, to find out more about the events in between the 1940s and now but I think this is because I was so caught up with the characters that I wanted to know the whole story.
The Runaway Sisters is a captivating book about the horrors of war and the love and grief that bind families together.
I have previously reviewed The Orphan House by Ann Bennett.
August 18, 2020
Mother's Secret Past
This book captured my attention from the first and held it until the end. It brought tears to my eyes at times and smiles to my face at other's . It was truly a great read.
Laura and Helen's mother Daisy has a stroke and they have to take her to a nursing home. They are clearing out her house to sell it when they discover some letters and a key which leads to a journal telling the story of Daisy's life during the war. Daisy had never talked about her past and now she cannot. Her Journal tells the story.
The story is of young evacuee's from London during the bombing. They often evacuated young children to the country to stay with other's for safety. Sometimes the homes were not so safe. This is the story of some evacuees and orphans that were in a place that was cruel, and heartbreaking. It is a story of their survival in a hostile environment. A story of young children being starved and whipped and worked like dogs by a cruel farmer. The system failed them, their attempts at escape failed and some perished.
It is not the first I have read about orphans or evacuees during the war being mistreated, but it is one of the most horrific. Many children were helped by this system, but there were those that were sent into horrible places with no escape. Although this is fiction the subject of which it speaks truly did exist.
The love of the sisters Daisy and Peggy was heartwarming as was that of John and Daisy. They has so much courage for such young people. I still have tears writing this review. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to Ann Bennett, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book captured my attention from the first and held it until the end. It brought tears to my eyes at times and smiles to my face at other's . It was truly a great read.
Laura and Helen's mother Daisy has a stroke and they have to take her to a nursing home. They are clearing out her house to sell it when they discover some letters and a key which leads to a journal telling the story of Daisy's life during the war. Daisy had never talked about her past and now she cannot. Her Journal tells the story.
The story is of young evacuee's from London during the bombing. They often evacuated young children to the country to stay with other's for safety. Sometimes the homes were not so safe. This is the story of some evacuees and orphans that were in a place that was cruel, and heartbreaking. It is a story of their survival in a hostile environment. A story of young children being starved and whipped and worked like dogs by a cruel farmer. The system failed them, their attempts at escape failed and some perished.
It is not the first I have read about orphans or evacuees during the war being mistreated, but it is one of the most horrific. Many children were helped by this system, but there were those that were sent into horrible places with no escape. Although this is fiction the subject of which it speaks truly did exist.
The love of the sisters Daisy and Peggy was heartwarming as was that of John and Daisy. They has so much courage for such young people. I still have tears writing this review. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to Ann Bennett, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2020
4.5 stars
This was a fantastic and emotional read, full of love, loss, and survival.
After being evacuated from their home in London during WWII, Daisy is left with the responsibility of looking after her younger sister, Peggy. But life in their new home is short lived as they are once again displaced after a bombing. Just when they think they’ve found solace in yet another home out in the countryside, they soon discover it‘s not all it’s cracked up to be. They, along with other orphaned children, are forced to work on a farm and live in deplorable conditions. It is during her time there that Daisy learns some harsh life lessons and ultimately must sacrifice everything to save the ones she loves.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. At times is was so heartbreaking and difficult to read. Daisy and Peggy had already been through so much, even before they were sent to the farm, but to see them being physically and emotionally abused on top of it all was just awful. I did appreciate the romance aspect between Daisy and John as well, but I wish there had been a little more to their story before the book had ended. Regardless, I highly recommend this book!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This was a fantastic and emotional read, full of love, loss, and survival.
After being evacuated from their home in London during WWII, Daisy is left with the responsibility of looking after her younger sister, Peggy. But life in their new home is short lived as they are once again displaced after a bombing. Just when they think they’ve found solace in yet another home out in the countryside, they soon discover it‘s not all it’s cracked up to be. They, along with other orphaned children, are forced to work on a farm and live in deplorable conditions. It is during her time there that Daisy learns some harsh life lessons and ultimately must sacrifice everything to save the ones she loves.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. At times is was so heartbreaking and difficult to read. Daisy and Peggy had already been through so much, even before they were sent to the farm, but to see them being physically and emotionally abused on top of it all was just awful. I did appreciate the romance aspect between Daisy and John as well, but I wish there had been a little more to their story before the book had ended. Regardless, I highly recommend this book!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
September 16, 2020
My Recommendation
4.5 Stars !!! Loved this story about two young girls - Daisy and Peggy, who are sent to the English countryside during WW2 when it was unsafe for them to remain in the city. Soon after they arrive in the countryside, the home they were staying with is bombed and their hosts killed. A "billeting officer" spots them and tells them he's taking them to a safe place and delivers them to a shabby farm. The farmer is using child labor to work his farm and houses the girls and another set of orphans in a barn. With little hope or chance to escape, the girls begin a life of hardship.
Daisy, the oldest girl, has two daughters in the present. Daisy has had a stroke and is at a care facility. Her two daughters Helen and Laura are cleaning out her house and wondering about some of the things they are finding. As they find more things and investigate their mother's past, they come to understand their mother and become closer to each other as well.
The author tells a great tale and I couldn't put this book down. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to read Ann Bennett's other book - The Orphan House.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this book!
4.5 Stars !!! Loved this story about two young girls - Daisy and Peggy, who are sent to the English countryside during WW2 when it was unsafe for them to remain in the city. Soon after they arrive in the countryside, the home they were staying with is bombed and their hosts killed. A "billeting officer" spots them and tells them he's taking them to a safe place and delivers them to a shabby farm. The farmer is using child labor to work his farm and houses the girls and another set of orphans in a barn. With little hope or chance to escape, the girls begin a life of hardship.
Daisy, the oldest girl, has two daughters in the present. Daisy has had a stroke and is at a care facility. Her two daughters Helen and Laura are cleaning out her house and wondering about some of the things they are finding. As they find more things and investigate their mother's past, they come to understand their mother and become closer to each other as well.
The author tells a great tale and I couldn't put this book down. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to read Ann Bennett's other book - The Orphan House.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this book!
September 22, 2020
This is one of the first ones in recent memory where the story actually lives up to the “heartbreaking” part. Even though anything having to do with war is tough to read, this one was especially so. I think Daisy is illustrative of many people who lived during WWII. Their experiences were so harsh that they don’t want to talk about it, and even hide it. I have studied the program that sent children evacuated from the cities to farms for safety. The author did a fantastic job of relating the issues in a realistic way that really hit home. I thought the way that Helen and Laura bonded over discovering their mother’s past was heartfelt, and I particularly liked how learning about Daisy’s history shined light on their perceptions (especially Helen’s) of their relationship with Daisy. Definitely recommend this one. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book.
September 27, 2020
World war 2.
Historical evil inflicted on the vulnerable by evil selfish people.
History is not kind to those who have a conscience. Many sad parts to those children's lives and child hood lost to the innocent.
I did not like the cussing(unnecessary). and sexual contact details could of been left out.
Historical evil inflicted on the vulnerable by evil selfish people.
History is not kind to those who have a conscience. Many sad parts to those children's lives and child hood lost to the innocent.
I did not like the cussing(unnecessary). and sexual contact details could of been left out.
October 3, 2020
Loved this book
This is the first book I read by this author and I was hooked until the very last page It is such an incredible war time story told through the eyes of a young teenager. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read books that take place during the WWII period.
This is the first book I read by this author and I was hooked until the very last page It is such an incredible war time story told through the eyes of a young teenager. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read books that take place during the WWII period.
November 23, 2020
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sisters Daisy and Peggy are evacuated from London during WWII, sent to the countryside for their safety. Forced into child labour on a desolate farm, they suffer abuse under inhuman conditions. When Peggy becomes ill, Daisy must find a way to safe both her sister and herself.
Sisters Daisy and Peggy are evacuated from London during WWII, sent to the countryside for their safety. Forced into child labour on a desolate farm, they suffer abuse under inhuman conditions. When Peggy becomes ill, Daisy must find a way to safe both her sister and herself.
December 5, 2020
Wowww what a book!
Helen and Laura are in the process of clearing out the family home after their mother Daisy has suffered a stroke and had to go into residential care.
A key is found in an old piece of furniture which leads them to unlock the mysteries of Daisy's early life when she was evacuated to Devon during World War II.
Helen and Laura are in the process of clearing out the family home after their mother Daisy has suffered a stroke and had to go into residential care.
A key is found in an old piece of furniture which leads them to unlock the mysteries of Daisy's early life when she was evacuated to Devon during World War II.
December 11, 2020
Ann Bennett has become one of my favorite authors. All of her books are amazing. The Runaway Sisters is about two young girls who are sent to the country during WWII. A switch of plans brings them to a farm that isn’t at all like it should be. Daisy’s two grownup daughters discover their mother’s past while she is in a nursing home. It is a book I am sure you will enjoy.
August 20, 2020
I have just finished this brilliant book which was very emotional, and it definitely pulled at the heartstrings. Saying that it had me captivated from the beginning and I would definitely recommend to anyone.
My first by Ann but will definitely not be my last.
My first by Ann but will definitely not be my last.
August 25, 2020
Oh my word this book was totally brilliant. Right from the first chapter I was drawn into this story. A brilliant story with excellent characters. This was at times an emotional read so keep the tissues handy.
September 27, 2020
Amazing well written book
Loved the book from the very beginning. COULDN,t put it down until I finished. Have often wondered about the happenings to children shipped away during the war, I realize this is fiction but well worth reading.
Loved the book from the very beginning. COULDN,t put it down until I finished. Have often wondered about the happenings to children shipped away during the war, I realize this is fiction but well worth reading.
October 9, 2020
Beautifully written, sensitive story.
I loved this book and it's main characters. I would love to think that there would be a sequel so that I could find out more about Edward's life.
I loved this book and it's main characters. I would love to think that there would be a sequel so that I could find out more about Edward's life.
November 18, 2020
Great reading, felt like I was living in this book. Such a hard sad life for Daisy.
Could not put this book down. Such a gripping story. First time I have read one of Anne's books. Was not disappointed.
Could not put this book down. Such a gripping story. First time I have read one of Anne's books. Was not disappointed.
Read
December 5, 2020Great reax
Have really enjoyed this book I think it's well written and tells us of how some children were treated when they were evacuated thinking they would be safe. It was a lovely ending and I'm glad they managed to reunite mother and son
Have really enjoyed this book I think it's well written and tells us of how some children were treated when they were evacuated thinking they would be safe. It was a lovely ending and I'm glad they managed to reunite mother and son
October 3, 2020
Read this!!
I loved this book! Historical novels are my favorite. This one ended too soon. I wish there was a sequel.
I loved this book! Historical novels are my favorite. This one ended too soon. I wish there was a sequel.
October 8, 2020
Great book
I so enjoyed this story - very well written and fast paced. Did not want it to end. A wonderful book!
I so enjoyed this story - very well written and fast paced. Did not want it to end. A wonderful book!
October 21, 2020
Gripping
War stories always have their heartbreaks. This book is heartfelt, gripping, strong characters. Its a hard book to put down.
War stories always have their heartbreaks. This book is heartfelt, gripping, strong characters. Its a hard book to put down.
October 25, 2020
Wow great book.
I really enjoy AB books and this one was no exception. I encourage anyone looking for a good book to read this one.
I really enjoy AB books and this one was no exception. I encourage anyone looking for a good book to read this one.
December 4, 2020
So this is quite a speedy read but actually really enjoyed the story line
December 18, 2022
This sad story of a family with terrible secrets, centres on misunderstanding countered by enduring love. Helen and her older sister Laura must co-operate as they clear their mother’s house but for years they have felt estranged by their mother’s preference for one daughter over the other. Black Moor Hall in Devon was the home they moved to from London after their father died and not all their memories are good.
Moving to 1940 we encounter two other sisters, Daisy and her much loved younger sibling, Peggy. After bombing increases in London their mother puts them on a train to the safety of evacuation in Devon, but when their mother dies, no-one knows where they are. Circumstances put them on a run-down farm where they are expected to work in the fields rather than go to school.
As Helen and Laura try to discover more of their mother’s life they come upon photographs and letters and soon we are able to read Daisy’s story in her own words. It is distressing to read about her wartime experiences, but Helen and Laura are grateful to know more about their mother and inevitably they grow closer. The conclusion is a life-enhancing and satisfactory ending to the story.
Moving to 1940 we encounter two other sisters, Daisy and her much loved younger sibling, Peggy. After bombing increases in London their mother puts them on a train to the safety of evacuation in Devon, but when their mother dies, no-one knows where they are. Circumstances put them on a run-down farm where they are expected to work in the fields rather than go to school.
As Helen and Laura try to discover more of their mother’s life they come upon photographs and letters and soon we are able to read Daisy’s story in her own words. It is distressing to read about her wartime experiences, but Helen and Laura are grateful to know more about their mother and inevitably they grow closer. The conclusion is a life-enhancing and satisfactory ending to the story.
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