De verloren zus

by Kathleen McGurl, Marjet Schumacher (Translator)

Emma's droom komt uit als ze in 1911 een baan krijgt als stewardess op een van de nieuwe oceaanstomers. Na de dood van haar vader kunnen ze het geld goed gebruiken. De eerste reis verloopt voorspoedig, en algauw dient zich een nog grotere kans aan: ze kan mee op het mooiste schip dat ooit is gebouwd, de Titanic. En dit keer monstert ook haar zusje Ruby aan, hoewel Emma niet goed begrijpt waarom, want Ruby heeft nooit van de zee gehouden. Wat ze niet weet is dat Ruby een geheim met zich meedraagt…

Tientallen jaren later stuit Harriet bij het opruimen van de zolder op de oude reiskoffer van haar overleden oma. Onderin vindt ze een foto van drie meisjes waarop geschreven staat: de drie zussen. Haar oma heeft altijd alleen maar verteld over één zusje, dat jong was gestorven. Wie is die mysterieuze derde zus en wat is er met haar gebeurd?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Contemporary, Dual Timeline, Ebooks, Relationships

432 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2021

About the author

Kathleen McGurl lives in Bournemouth with her husband and cat. She has two grown-up sons who have now left home. She always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines and written three books for writers. These days she is concentrating on longer fiction and has published several dual timeline novels with CarinaUK and HQ. She works full time in the IT industry and when she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly.

Reviews

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8✨ for the time line of 2019!
5 glittering stars ✨ for the past timeline of 1911-1920!!!!

When I saw this book was written by Kathleen McGurl, I had to read it and knew that I was in for a treat! This is the fourth book that I read of hers and I've loved them all and learned so much from each one! Her writing style draws you in from the first page. Her research is impeccable. Her facts are honestly the truth.

Three sister ships. Three sisters. Two shipwrecks. An amazing journey.

Harriet is doing her family ancestry and finds her Grandmothers' steamer trunk in the attic from her days of working on the Olympic as a stewardess. Among articles of clothing, she finds an old photo of three sisters. One is her Grandmother, one is her Grandmothers' sister but who is the third one? Her Grandmother only spoke of one sister. This gets Harriet on a deeper search into her ancestors. She is in for a lot of surprises!!

The past storyline really was amazing! They're both great, but I was more invested in the timeline of 1911 - 1920. Emma is the oldest sister,then Ruby and Lily. I really connected with Emma! They live in Southampton, England with their Mom. Emma gets a job as a stewardess first on the Olympic,then the Titanic and 4 years later on the Britannic. I know a lot about the Titanic and really not much about the other two ships..boy did I learn so much more than I expected!! I love history and learning new things is the best! Get ready for a lot of amazing twists and turns. Some I saw coming but two really shocked me!

The characters are believable and relatable. You'll read many names of the real people in this incredible story. Please read the Authors Notes to learn how this book came to be.

I really highly recommend this emotionally moving book to everyone!! Enjoy and Happy Reading! ⛴️

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

1911: As Emma packs her trunk to join the ocean liner Olympic as a stewardess, she dreams of earning enough to provide a better life for her two sisters. She promises them she will be back soon - hoping that sickly Lily will keep healthy, and wild Ruby will behave.

Now: When Harriet finds her late grandmothers travelling trunk in the attic, she's shocked to find a photograph of three sisters inside -her grandmother only mentioned one sister, who died tragically young. Who is the other sister, and what happened to her?

This story has a duel timeline and it's told in the past and present format. It's a heart-breaking story of Harriet's search to find out the truth about her family. The historical part of the story is based on true events. The Olympic was the Titanic and Britannic's sister ship - three sisters, three sister ships. The author has done her research before writing this book. Even some of the characters were real people. The part that was written in the present day were just as interesting.

I would like to thank #NetGalley. #HQ and the author #KathleenMcGurl for my ARC of #TheLostSister in exchange for an honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! This is the first book I've read by this author and I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover her. I love dual time line stories. Usually I read them for the past story as I love history but the present day story in this one was very good as well.
There are truly unlikeable characters in both time lines and I never really took to Harriet. She was a bit bland. I
liked Emma in the past even though I could see where her sister Ruby was coming from when she complained about her bossiness.
The parallels between the sisters in the past, the sisters in the present and the sister ships of Olympic, Titanic and Britannic was inspired. The Titanic piece could have overwhelmed the story but was well written and didn't and I learned more about the Britannic that I hadn't heard before.
The past story probably just shaded it for me but a wonderful read over all.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book with its imaginable situations with the Titanic and the other ships; it had me intrigued. It was an unexpected "twist" I suppose near the end but understandable. There were a f bombs and the Lord's name used here n there but otherwise a decent story. It was interesting to find out more details and learn a bit about ancestry as well. The reconciliation was heartwarming as some estrangements involved. Overall, a great story and I wouldn't mind reading another by this author as they kind of get a "one chance" for me these years.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was so interesting and very readable. It was set just around the time of the Titanic tragedy and after through to the First World War. As I was reading it I could see Rose and Jack from the film Titanic high made it so enjoyable. I was glad it had a happy ending but at times as you can imagine it was sad. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen McGurl has written a compelling dual-timeline masterpiece featuring one family torn apart by the call of the sea. Spanning 100 years, McGurl deftly explores the family dynamics, sibling relationships and the yearning for independence that frays the bonds holding the Higgins family together.

Alternating between 1911 and 2019, we see the tension and fight for identity mounting as the Higgins family navigate children leaving home, alarming health issues, downsizing, misunderstandings, and attempt traversing the wake left by strong personalities. In 1911, three sisters head to sea on three sister ships of the White Star Line. This is the story of their struggle to find purpose, experience love, and remain united despite being pulled in different directions. In 2019, we read of their descendants, struggling with similar issues, and how, given a chance to rectify relationships eagerly take hold of a life preserver thrown their way.

The symmetry McGurl creates is fascinating; it leads readers to consider the possibility of picking up and rebuilding a relationship that had been allowed to flounder. In the first story, Harriet’s grandmother, Emma, struggled to keep the three siblings together and it was her selfless devotion that saved both Ruby and Lily. In the second story, although we never meet John, his mantra keeps Harriet afloat while she struggles to keep their family together. His death was the catalyst for her to reach out to her estranged brother, Matthew. For her daughters, it was also a critical health issue that forced them to consider what it means to be family. I appreciated how McGurl was able to show how important keeping communication lines open is to maintaining family cohesiveness. Harriet maintained her husband’s mantra – love is always open arms – and was rewarded for her dedication.

Like a master weaver, McGurl has managed to create a masterpiece by combining threads to reveal the ties that bind us. If we were to turn over a tapestry, we’d see knotted ends and a mishmash of colour and no concept of pattern or unity. Families are like a tapestry. Once we flip the textile over, we see how the threads have been united to produce something inspiring and beautiful. Both families, if we considered the underside to their tapestry, had messy relationships and threads which didn’t appear to go anywhere. However, once we consider the flip side, we see the bold bright colours of Ruby and Davina, the shades of blue reflecting the ocean journeys of the girls and Harriet, the black thread of disease, and brown threads representing work, both in clearing the attic and in serving on the seas. Without one of those colours, the masterpiece would be lacking. They all come together to create the history and journey of the Higgins family through the ages.

In addition to the author’s brother, her influence in writing was a memoir of Violet Jessop. Interestingly enough, my husband and I, both avid cruisers, sailed with John Maxtone-Graham, the editor and annotator of Violet’s book, many times and heard first hand about Violet. I have a treasured signed copy of Violet’s memoirs gifted by our maritime friend. As a result, McGurl’s invitation to read her newest book was one I immediately accepted and feverishly read. This five-star historical fiction is to be published on May 12, 2021, and is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.

“The Lost Sister” is a powerful reminder about the importance of taking the first step to righting misfortunes, maintaining communication and being willing to throw out a life preserver to those struggling.

Thank you Kathleen McGurl, HQ Digital and NetGalley for the gifted advance copy. I was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you have knowledge of the period of history that a book is set in, it does not make it more predictable. Instead, I was more gripped, wanting to know how Emma and her sister’s fates would be decided in a tragic time of sea travel.

This dual time-line follows seventy year-old Harriet as she prepares to downsize to a smaller property. Living on her own, readers discover that not only does Harriet need to sort through her husband’s trinkets, but also those of her mother and grandmother. It leads to a discovery of a significant family photo featuring her grandmother and two other girls. Although Harriet was aware of one sister, the third girl is a complete mystery. As Harriet starts to make her investigations, it soon becomes clear that her own family is divided and through the present-day narrative, we learn why Harriet’s daughters, Sally and Davina, are estranged; how she and her brother Matthew have drifted apart; and that Harriet is isolated on more levels than we initially realised from losing her husband.

Moving to 1911 and this is where the story of Emma and her sisters unfolds. The excitement of transatlantic travel by luxury liners is central to Emma and her story. Living close to the Southampton docks, Emma firmly decides that cleaning hotels is not for her, but wishes to pursue her dream of being on the sea. Signing up as a stewardess on the ‘Octavia’ proves to Emma that this is the life she dreams of, even if it does mean she is leaving behind her two younger sisters – Ruby and Lily. Family circumstances change and when the opportunity arises of working on ‘Titanic’s’ maiden voyage, Ruby immediately signs up. Emma, promising her mother to protect her sister, follows in her sister’s footsteps. However, as we know, this will not be a successful trip.

As the novel progresses, the narrative effortlessly switches between Emma and Harriet. I loved how seamless this was and, watching events unfold, could not believe how many parallels are made between the different generations of this family. Emma’s narrative was particularly gripping because of my history awareness but, at the same time, I loved being with Harriet on her journey of moving, learning about her grandmother and supporting her daughters. Her estranged relationship with Davina was very touching but, the storyline of her grandson was more harrowing. Therefore, I thought this novel encouraged a range of emotions as you really get to know this family to the core.

I found that I could not put this novel down! I was desperate for Harriet to learn more about the sisters in the photograph. At the same time, I wanted to see her family reconciled and that Harriet would not be as isolated (even if she did not necessarily feel it). Furthermore, I was enthusiastic to see how Emma’s travels would unfold and, throughout the story, was constantly picturing scenes from the 'Titanic' movie. (And, yes, a certain DiCaprio might have featured in those imaginings too!) When the story moved to the First World War, I was interested to see how Emma would participate in the war effort and found that I learnt even more as a result of McGurl’s research and writing.

McGurl’s writing is vivid and captures the excitement of sea travel in the early twentieth century. On the other hand, the writer carefully explores the importance of family connections and how we should not drift apart, despite the differences we may have. Whilst the novel does end on a note of optimism, I could not help but feel a little emotional about all the ties coming together. Perhaps, for me, the story was over too soon: I had felt so invested in the past and present stories that I wanted just that little bit more to read.

I really enjoyed this dual time-line story and felt completely connected to the characters. Laughing and smiling with them, I also felt their sadness and tragedies as well. I think this is a book that will stay with me for a while.

With thanks to HQ Digital, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was rather brave of the author to take on the story of the White Star liners – everyone is so very familiar with the story of the ill-fated Titanic’s maiden voyage, and I wondered how she could play it into a story and make it fresh and new. But she most certainly manages to do so, with a rather lovely dual time story focusing on two generations of women, tied together by the long hidden secrets of three sisters whose lives are changed by Emma’s decision to sign on as a stewardess on the Olympic. What makes this book fresh and different is its focus on individuals – mothers and daughters, sibling relationships – and a story with a strong central mystery and a series of secrets and connections to be uncovered.

I liked the sense of symmetry between the three sisters, three ships in the historical thread. Emma lives with her mother and two sisters – Lily is the youngest and ailing one, difficult for her to leave behind when she signs on for her big adventure, Ruby the one who’s rather going off the rails having become involved in a rather ill-judged relationship. Emma’s experiences in signing on as a stewardess in Second Class are quite fascinating – the whole signing on process, new friendships, a touch of romance, a very different “staff” perspective on the oceangoing experience, the many demands of the passengers she deals with, all feeling very real and well-researched. But family responsibilities loom large, and her promise to look after the errant Ruby has particularly life-changing impacts.

There is something of a saga feel to the historical story, which will delight many – I’ll admit it wasn’t entirely something I loved, but that’s really just a matter of personal taste and preference. And while the Titanic story might have been a familiar one, I knew very little about the story of the third liner, the Britannic – that was particularly fascinating to discover, as well as providing a few dramatic, nail-biting and emotional moments.

But I was entirely hooked by the contemporary thread – Harriet moving on after the loss of her husband, her decision to downsize, the support of her bossy daughter Sally (who also needs support through her own challenges), the sadness of her estrangement from daughter Davina, the neglect of her relationship with her brother. The clearing of the family home uncovers some surprises – the main one being that her grandmother was one of three sisters rather than the two she was aware of, discovered from a picture found in a forgotten travelling trunk in the attic. Harriet takes a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 with her flamboyant and fun friend Sheila, a nice bit of mirroring of Emma’s earlier voyages: and Sheila also introduces her to the Ancestry website, enabling her to dig a little further into the hidden lives of the three sisters.

The contemporary story isn’t stronger than the historical one, and maintaining the links and resonances between them is something the author manages particularly well, but there were times when I found it more engaging. Harriet was particularly easy to identify with – I empathised with the way she’d neglected her relationship with her brother, really liked the tentative steps towards a reconciliation, and there were aspects to her difficult relationship with her daughter Davina that worked particularly well at an emotional level. And there are quite a few surprises – connected with the story of her grandmother and her sisters, but also stemming from the twists and turns of the contemporary one.

This might not have been my favourite of the author’s books, but I still very much enjoyed it – the family relationships in both timelines, the weaving of present day and sometimes familiar historical background, the moments of emotional impact, the clever use of mirroring. And I read it in a single sitting – the author is always a superb storyteller, effortlessly balancing the contemporary and the historical, making you travel with and believe in her characters, her writing fluent and immensely engaging. A very enjoyable read – and one I’d certainly recommend.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'll never forget you."
Oh my days, McGurl knows how to write some harrowing stuff.
I've loved dual timelines for a while, and McGurl does it with ease. I read The Forgotten Gift last year and loved it, still think about it now. Well, this one will definitely stay with me. I received a widget for this title, and I admit (owing to how much I enjoy McGurl's work) I downloaded it without reading the blurb.
Wow, did I need preparing for this one. The scenes on the Titanic were shown with terror and heartache, and this was probably not wise to read when I am struggling in my personal life since a bereavement. Harriet's story was an excellent addition alongside, and showed how past mistakes can keep the fractures in a family alive.
This book captured the emotions beautifully and I will not forget this one in a hurry.
Breathtaking.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

I'm excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Kathleen McGurl's heartbreaking tale THE LOST SISTER.

Three sisters. Three sister ships. One heartbreaking story.

Oh my word! THE LOST SISTER is a compelling dual timeline tale with one family at its heart tragically torn apart both in the past and present. Spanning more than 100 years, family dynamics are explored between sisters and the yearning for independence fraying the bonds that hold them all together. Tension is rife within each household plagued by children leaving home, those left behind, duty, obligations, a wealth of misunderstandings, health issues and decidedly strong personalities. And despite the passage of time, while some things change some things remain the same.

Southampton 1911: Ever since she was 4 years old and experienced the ferry crossing to the Isle of Wight, Emma Higgins has had a love for the sea. So when the White Star Line introduces its new liner Olympic and is looking for new staff, Emma leaves her mundane job at a local hotel and signs up as a second class stewardess for the liner's maiden voyage. Excited at the prospect of taking to the sea, she cannot wait to share her news with her mother and two sisters.

As the oldest, Emma has always felt responsible for helping support her family since their father died when she was 14 and they ultimately had to leave the Isle of Wight and return to Southampton. Ma was a seamstress who took in laundry and sewing jobs to keep them going but as her eyesight began to fail, Emma's wages were needed more and more. The middle sister Ruby also worked at the same hotel and when Emma shared her news, instead of being happy for her, she became resentful that she was to be left behind to do Emma's chores as well as her own while her sister lived it up on the high seas. One of the chores was to help their mother with her younger sickly sister Lily who, after a bout of tuberculosis as a young child, has never fully recovered taking ill at oftentimes. Ma and Lily are, of course, thrilled at Emma's new adventure wishing her well and looking forward to her return and all the stories she'll be able to tell. Ruby instead rebelled, staying out most of the night and even taking up with local married man Harry Paine giving her a reputation...as well as her family by association. She refused to be held back by the mundane existence she was living, looking for excitement wherever she could find it.

Emma thoroughly enjoys the maiden voyage to New York on Olympic, making new friends Violet and Mary as well as a potential love interest in Martin. The work was hard but rewarding as she took in the sights and enjoyed the feeling of freedom on the seas. Upon returning home, she was full of stories of her experiences sharing them with her family, although Ruby remained consistent in her absence. Quickly signing on for the next voyage with her new friends, Emma enjoyed life as a stewardess on Olympic. There was even news that two more sister ships were to follow - Titanic and Britannic. Each voyage was about three weeks in duration afterwhich she would be home for another week or two before sailing again.

The following year 1912, Ruby turned 18. So when her relationship with Harry had fallen apart, she was understandably devastated, but decided to follow in her older sister's footsteps and sign on to become a stewardess. Emma made a promise to her Ma that she would look out for her sister so when they went to sign on they were to do so on Olympic. But then Emma spied Martin and while her back was turned, Ruby went and signed on to Titanic. Inevitably, Emma had to change her sign on to Titanic in an attempt to keep her word, much to Ruby's annoyance who was fiercely independent and wanted to go alone.

But as history goes, Titanic never made it to New York...and as fate would have it, neither would Ruby it seemed. Emma was devastated with the downing of Titanic and the loss of so many people. An image that would remain with her forever. She vowed then never to take to the seas again.

2019: Seventy year old Harriet Wilson is clearing out her attic when she comes across an old sea trunk that had been her grandmother's when she worked as a stewardess on Olympic. Believing it to be locked, she is surprised when her daughter Sally unlatches and opens it, revealing a hundred year old memories buried deep within. In the trunk amidst the moth-eaten uniform and her grandparents' wedding photo was another photo she had never seen before. One of three young girls on the cusp of womanhood. Harriet recognises a younger version of her grandmother but the remaining two are strangers. And yet they all look so alike there could be no denying that they are sisters. But her grandmother spoke of only one sister - surely she didn't have another?

Despite the fact that she should be clearing out boxes so she could downsize, Harriet couldn't help but investigate further. With the help of her friend Sheila, the two women check the 1911 census records to establish whether or not there were indeed three sisters. This in turn leads her to sign up to Ancestry.com and begin researching and building her family tree. And when Sheila informs her of an exhibition in Southampton on Titanic, the two women attend and are shocked to discover names they now recognise on both the survivors and the deceased lists. Who'd have thought that Harriet's family was linked to Titanic?

In the midst of Harriet's new interest in genealogy, is her grandson's battle with leukemia and her fifteen year estrangement with younger daughter Davina. Harriet wishes nothing more than to be reunited with her independent wayward daughter and her two granddaughters whom she has never met. But Davina only contacts Harriet on her terms, blocking her number and never revealing where they are. Desperate for just a bit of her daughter, Harriet is resigned to just accepting the snippets that Davina offers. It is all incredibly one-sided and unfair to keep the blame going on for fifteen years...with Harriet's husband going to his grave without ever seeing their youngest daughter again or meeting his two granddaughters.

And then, Sally's son Jerome takes a turn for the worse when the chemotherapy he'd been on didn't work and all that's left now is a bone marrow transplant. So in the midst of all this, Harriet must juggle Sally, Jerome, Davina's sporadic calls, packing up her house, moving to a new one and continuing the journey of her family's past. But will she find all that she is looking for? And can the sins of the past repair those of the present?

An engrossing story from beginning to end, THE LOST SISTER sweeps you away to another time and into the history of Titanic and her two lesser known sisters, Olympic and Britannic. Kathleen McGurl has meticulously researched the history of these liners interspersing them with a fictional tale of three other sisters around the same time. The journey she takes us on is as emotional as it is heartbreaking through her wonderful cast of characters. Her depiction of Titanic's demise was breathtaking as well as poignant as one of the most famous events in history is interwoven with this book's own tragic tale.

In addition, a character featured in this story Violet Jessop was actually a real person who, as a stewardess and later a nurse, did in fact survive the disastrous Titanic and Britannic sinkings, her memoirs posthumously published and influencing McGurl in that which was to become THE LOST SISTER. It brings an essence of reality to the story that some of which that took place within these pages really did happen.

Of the alternating timelines, it is Emma's story I was more captivated with rather than Harriet's although that indeed became interesting the deeper she delved into the past. I found the similarities between Ruby and Davina as frustrating as each other. Both women were strong-willed and fiercely independent refusing to be held back by duty or obligation. I found Ruby's view of Emma to be similar to that of Davina's of Sally - bossy, being the main aspect. Is it because Emma and Sally were the eldest and therefore felt more responsible while Ruby and Davina were the second children and rebelled against conforming to anyone's idea of how they should behave?

Whilst THE LOST SISTER is a powerful tale of tragedy, loss and regrets it also one of reconciliation, hope and forgiveness. Ensure you have a box of tissues handy when reading this because you will need them. And while I did guess a couple of the hidden surprises in this story it didn't alter my opinion of it. My ratings and opinions are based on my overall enjoyment and those that tug at my heartstrings generally win favour without a doubt.

THE LOST SISTER is a beautiful tale that is an enjoyable and easy read with dual timelines that parallel nicely. It is one of those stories that will remain with you long after you have turned the last page.

Recommended for those who love dual timelines. For fans of Lorna Cook, Fiona Valpy, Suzanne Kelman and Suzanne Goldring.

I would like to thank #KathleenMcGurl and #RachelsRandomResources and #HQStories for an ARC of #TheLostSister in exchange for an honest review.

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

[Nathalie Bakelandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtig, moet je zeker eens lezen of als je het zelf al gelezen hebt zal je zeker volmondig akkoord zijn.
De zusjes Higgins hebben een intens leven gehad waarbij het varen op de zee een centraal gegeven is in hun leven.
Het boek is opgesplitst in twee verhalen het verhaal van Harriet en het verhaal van de zusjes.
Toen ik las dat de Titanic in het verhaal voorkwam was ik meteen geboeid om dit zeker te lezen!
Wat een mooi verhaal!

[Lana Kortchik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Sister is an emotional and at times heart-breaking dual timeline story of friendship, love and family, of life at sea, three sisters and three sister-ships - Titanic, Olympic and Britannic. I've always been fascinated with this time period and the history of the three ships and was really excited to read this book. I wasn't disappointed! From page one I was captivated by all the wonderful characters and didn't want to put the book down. Kathleen McGurl brings these courageous women to life with great skill. They are relatable and realistic, strong and courageous, and although generations apart, they face similar challenges and share similar aspirations. They follow their hearts, while learning to balance their desire for independence with family ties and devotion.

At the same time, the author does an incredible job transporting the reader to the past. Every detail is meticulously researched, painting a realistic picture of the time period, while the chapters set in the present are just as touching and fascinating. I was excited to learn that some of the characters in the book were real and it made it even more special for me. What a stunning story of sisterhood, sacrifice and forgiveness!

For me, the sign of a great book is whether I look forward to picking it up and whether it leaves me wanting more. The Lost Sister definitely did that. I would recommend this wonderful novel to anyone who enjoys beautifully-written historical fiction.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly gripping and heart-wrenching story of sisterhood, love and forgiveness. I was transported back to the age of the giant steamships criss-crossing the Atlantic, and to the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic. The author has done an immense amount of research and really brings this event and era to life – I truly felt as though I was there in that moment with the heroine and I experienced her shock and grief as if it was my own. In the story set in the present, there is also potential heartbreak, and my heart went out to a mother struggling with a seriously ill child, and a grandmother estranged from one daughter and denied access to some of her grandchildren. The courage needed to keep hope alive and to carry on, no matter what, was remarkable, and I empathised with her every step of the way. An emotional roller-coaster that will keep readers turning the pages – highly recommended!

[Lin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great premise

This was a great premise for a story but didn't read well for me.
The story cuts between two different generations of one family.
I found Sally unlikeable and one dimensional, and Harriet predictable and uninteresting.
I skipped through the middle part of the book picking it up a few chapters from the end, and felt I had missed nothing.
I wanted so much more from the idea of the story

[Elke Eelbode · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twijfel tussen 3 en 4 sterren. Het boek leest erg vlot en de personages zijn best leuk, maar het verhaal was me net iets te voorspelbaar. Je ziet het van ver aankomen. Vooral het past gedeelte waarin het verhaal van de gezonken Titanic aan zet was, daar wist je vrij snel hoe het zou eindigen. Wie graag past present leest en geen al te hoge verwachingen heeft zal dit boek apprecieren

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Sister is another compelling read from author Kathleen McGurl. This is a dual-timeline novel that is so expertly written. I think this author knows how to explore the dynamics of family through many years.

The Lost Sister alternates between 1911 and 3019. I really enjoy the fact that the characters are dealing with similar issues in both timelines. This story explores the struggles of finding purpose and experiencing love, and I love how the two characters connected.

The Lost Sister is powerful. The writing was captivating and the characters were realistic. I enjoyed this so much. I really enjoy Kathleen McGurl’s writing and I look forward to the next novel she writes!

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources For allowing me to join this blog tour. I recieved a free copy of this book to review honestly. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

[Nancy Klarich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read of a family’s parallel lives in the past and present . Three sisters in the early 1900s and “adventures” on 3 sister ships of the Olympic, Titanic, and Brittanic make up most of the story. Tragedy seems to follow the family both in the past and the present. Nothing too deep but a nice historical fiction book.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn’t happen often, but I have to confess that the ending of this story literally brought tears to my eyes! It is another dual timeline family drama from the author I believe to be the uncrowned Queen of this genre and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Following the death of her much loved husband, Harriet has been encouraged by her eldest daughter to downsize to a smaller property. In preparation for such a move, the two are sorting the contents of her attic when they discover her late grandmother’s travelling trunk which has a photograph of her grandmother with her two sisters in it. Nothing strange about that, you may assume – but Harriet only ever heard about one sister. This sets her off endeavouring to discover more about her ancestors, especially the three sisters. It also rekindles her need to connect with both her brother and her youngest daughter.

This is a story of two lost sisters – one the daughter of Harriet and the other her grandmother’s sister, who Harriet had never heard about. It is a story of sisterhood – and an intriguing look at the three sister ships, the Olympic, Titanic and Britannic. It is a story of broken relationships, interspersed with illness, tragedy, sacrifice and survival in an enthralling read. It has great characters and gives a very different insight into the lives of crew on the iconic ocean liners. There are plenty of twists and surprises in this dramatic, engaging read and I have already warned you to have the tissues handy just in case that emotive ending affects you, too.

Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚓️REVIEW⚓️

Wow! I loved the The Lost Sister so much that when I finished reading it, I was at a loss for words to describe my reaction. This dual timeline novel is extremely powerful and brilliantly delivered on all sides. I believe it is Kathleen’s crowning glory. Her greatest literary triumph. This novel is a best seller on every level for it has everything: unforgettable characters, engaging action, internal and external conflict, nail biting suspense, character revealing dialogue, perfect dual time line plots, authentic settings and so on. We are fully immersed in this world—mind, body and spirit— soaking in the heart of every scene and lost in these believable characters’ lives: crying their tears, feeling their despair and rejoicing in their triumphs.

I have a soft spot for Titanic stories but I never considered the other two ships, Olympic and Britannic which were included in Kathleen’s novel. Not only do we live through the arrival, excitement, sinking and sadness of the Titanic but we also get an inside view of the other two White Star Line ships—along with the three sisters whose lives are entangled with them.

Meticulously researched, Kathleen uses her knowledge to render an amazing feast of sights, sounds and smells creating a realistic tale emanating with enhanced aura/atmosphere. She has done her job well filling in all the blanks of what happened and may have happened. Thus, delivering an incredible emotional journey of events through a wonderful cast of unforgettable characters.

If you were on a sinking ship and managed to get a lifeboat and could tuck one book in your back pocket to take with you, what would it be? I would recommend The Lost Sister for the days ahead when you were trying to muster courage and find hope in the aftermath, for many of these characters are an excellent example of how to manage and rise above the disasters in life. Emma, Lily, Harriett and Sally particularly deal with their fears in a positive way and ultimately draw upon faith and courage to help them shine light on their seemingly dark paths. They learn how to survive great loss with amazing bravery by never giving up. This story also shows that sometimes the cost or sacrifice in keeping a promise proves high.

As stated in my opening, in my opinion, this is Kathleen’s crowning glory novel—her very best yet. It not only shimmers with heart and soul but literally shines as a beacon of hope and healing—like a bright star in a very dark sky. Ship disasters and other life disasters can suck every ounce of life from a person and although we get a glimpse of this, the will to triumph is very much alive and real in Emma, Lily, Harriet and Sally.

Historical records tell us the Titanic and Britannic sank and many lives were lost. There were survivors, too. Kathleen includes some of the real people who were part of these events, but she also provides another dimension by inserting her own imagined characters, thus giving us many elements of surprise in her plot which keep us furiously turning the pages to see what happens to them. I don’t want to give away anything as I encourage everyone to get this book and read it but there are some surprising twists in the fictional plot line. I will say sister Davina, in the current timeline and sister Ruby from the past, each reflect a more colourful palette with their sometimes rebellious attitude and stubborn love. These two add many interesting variations to the novel’s light and shade, providing a unique and winsome depth to the plots. Why? Because our real world is filled with many kinds of personalities. And for fiction---one might say, the greater the friction, the greater the story where victory and/or defeat is played out before our eyes. The result is a more fascinating, challenging and rewarding narrative. And Kathleen has done this in spades. For we truly believe in every character and invest in them emotionally. The timeline may be dual (and it is!) but the characters are not two-dimensional. They are neither all good, nor all bad. There are flecks of different shades (with some leaning more one way than another at first) but there is growth. We learn what lies behind those negative reactions. For every reaction stems from an action. And Kathleen, being a master-storyteller, takes us effortlessly across all the bumps and effectively handles all the blockages in her characters’ journeys. By the end, every thread (of both storylines) is seamlessly woven together allowing us to understand and see clearly the big picture.

I must add that an offshoot from one of the family themes in this novel is the power of a mother’s love. It runs fierce and strong through the fabric of this story as seen in Harriet (current day) and Amelia (past). The mothers of these daughters play vital roles in both story lines and we see how their responses affect their children. The fathers, John (current) and George (past), play an important part, too, and we see the effects of their influences on their daughters' lives.

If you have not figured out by now, I loved this novel! It is one story I will never forget and many other ships stories will be measured against it.

In closing, The Lost Sister, by Kathleen McGurl is a valiant emotional journey through the hearts of a wonderful cast of characters who deal with fear, heartbreak and loss but also find courage, healing and redemption. Beautifully written and powerfully positive. A must read novel. A HUGE 5 Star/Anchor ⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️ rating from me.

Many thanks to Kathleen McGurl and HQ Stories (Harper Collins) for the opportunity to read and review this exceptional book in advance. The cover design is gorgeous, too! E-book on sale May 12th, 2021 and paperback July 8th, 2021.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed yet another book by this author. She weaves very interesting historical facts that are not commonly known (about sister ships to the Titanic) is a wonderful way. Her characters are lovely and believable and the modern and 1910s on up come together very well. She parallels the stories quite nicely. I live that there is a little romance but nothing crude. Delightful, quick, easy book! Highly recommended.

[Joanne Mcgrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I think Kathleen McGurl is the best at these dual time line stories. I highly recommend this one. It has a wonderful present day story where there is family strife, health issues, attic clearing, moving house and everyone’s current obsession of ancestry and DNA. The storyline in the past was also excellent because it featured a historical event that everyone knows about and putting her characters in it was very unique.

[Lindsey (Bring My Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital, and HQ for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.



OH HEY WHERE MY 90S BABIES THAT WERE OBSESSED WITH SHIPWRECKS AT because hey-oh, this book is for you! Olympic? Titanic? Britannic?? The White Star Line??? Honestly I don't need any other bit of synopsis, this is enough. But if you need more, here's a full review:

Yet another Kathleen McGurl that I completely devoured! In my opinion, there aren't many authors that can consistently write a dual timeline historical fiction with equally compelling timelines, but Kathleen McGurl is definitely one of them. (I know I will for sure continue reading her books and suggesting her to other lovers of the hist fic dual timeline trope.)

Regarding the historical timeline, I love, love, LOVED reading about life as stewardesses on the ship(s), and I loved all of the historical bits that were mentioned in the book. (I do think my slightly above average knowledge of the history of these particular ocean liners hampered some of my potential enjoyment of the book, because there were quite a few things that were supposed to be a surprise that I already knew were coming.)

I had a couple of squabbles with the modern day timeline, namely that I super didn't like the characters and kinda wanted to smack the eldest daughter upside the head (bad decisions were made), and to a lesser extent wanted to smack the youngest daughter upside the head (you're being a prat). All of that being said, I think there was a satisfactory ending to the novel and I liked how the two timelines connected.

Content Warnings: Childhood Leukemia, Shipwrecks, Adultery

[Sally Mander · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LOST SISTER by Kathleen McGurl

The Lost Sister has dual-time narration, between 1911 and 2019. In 1911, responsible sister Emma Higgins has left her employment at a local hotel, to take the chance of seeing the world as a stewardess on board the Olympic, a sea-going vessel. She hopes that her mother can keep their little family together, while she's gone for the three-week voyage. Ruby is the wild child sister, never satisfied with anything and always pushing the rules of home and society. Lily is the sickly sister, she has had a devastating case of TB as a youngster and seems to catch any little illness that comes along. Emma and Lily are close. Ruby and her mother are close.

The Olympic is a sister ship to the Titanic, the Britannic is also a sister ship to the Titanic. At one point, all three sisters go to sea, Emma is the sister who goes on board each of the ships, with her two sisters. Each ship has its own adventure.

In 2019, Harriet has recently lost her loving husband and has decided to consolidate her holdings and purchase a much smaller home. She finds a trunk in the attic that was her grandmother's and begins to go through all of the mementos enclosed in it. It was her grandmother's trunk that she used for her sea-going excursions.

There are parallels in the dual timelines, of missing sisters who have taken a path away from their loving families. There are unexpected twists in the story that catches you off guard that make it a memorable and favorite book.

It is an interesting take on the Titanic disaster of 1912. Highly recommend.

Thanks a million to #netgalley for the complimentary copy of #thelostsister I was under no obligation to post a review.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a truly magnificent story, which has evoked so many different feelings within me, some of joy, some of shock and a fair bit emotional too. The author Kathleen has woven such a beautiful emotional dual timeline story which captivates the past and present and moulds them together as one story.

It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of the three sisters, Emma, Ruby & Lily in 1911 and that of Harriet and her family in present day.

I thought the story was brilliantly well written, it's clear from the details within as to just how much research the author Kathleen must have done, she really has done a magnificent job. As for the characters they were all so very well portrayed and believable, I really did just lose myself within all of their individual stories. I truly felt for all of the three sisters in the past, each in different ways, everything they each had to deal with/go through, not to mention the sacrifices some of them had to make.

I really enjoyed how the story was partly focused around the three different ocean liner ships, the Olympic, Titanic and Britannic, it really made me think about all that happened with the Titanic for real all those years ago. Kathleen really has done such an amazing job of bringing those three ships to life in the pages of a book, just shocking and beautiful in equal measures.

So last words, if you love books that tell a story in the present and in the past then I can highly recommend this beautiful tale which is heartbreaking, emotional, shocking, dramatic, gripping, suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the very last chapter.

[Cheryl Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok,not great

Could have been an interesting story due to the historical sinking of the ocean liners. However… the writing was amateurish, thus, made it boring. The dialog lacked imagination. Finally, the poor family in the story couldn’t catch a break! About half way through the book I thought, “No, don’t go another ocean liner because you’ll die”! A little hard to believe.

[Elsa Vermoesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtig boek.
Spannend en met onverwachte plottwists.
Vond het altijd fijn als een boek deels in het verleden en deels in de huidige tijd plaatsvindt.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite fascinated by anything to do with the Titanic and was aware that there were two other White Star liners, her sister ships the Olympic and Britannic. With this book also being about three sisters, my interest was piqued as I wondered if they would suffer the similar fates as the ships - my lips are sealed on that of course! This is also a dual timeline story and the part set in the present featuring Harriet had some parallels to the story in the past. For example, Harriet goes on a short cruise on the Queen Mary II with a friend, which gives her a sense of what life might have been like for her grandmother working on the great liners in the past. The Queen Mary II was the biggest cruise ship of its time just as the Olympic and then Titanic were the biggest ships of their time.

Another common feature was difficult sibling relationships and mother/daughter relationships. Emma, Ruby and Lily in the early 20th century were very different kinds of people. Emma was the hardworking responsible, eldest daughter and the narrator for most of that part of the story. Ruby was the middle daughter, harder to like, a bit of a handful and a bit flighty. The youngest daughter Lily was so sweet and having been ill for much of her young life, was well looked perhaps a bit babied, by her mother. In the present day, Harriet has drifted apart from her brother, though not because of any great falling out. She also has an estranged daughter and grandchildren she never sees. Her daughter Sally who stayed nearby always looked out for her mother, although was a bit over-bearing at times, However, with another issue having a huge impact on her life, I could see why she was so protective of her family. The author portrayed all these relationships very realistically and they felt like an accurate portrayal of the sometimes strained relationships within families

Kathleen McGurl had me fooled for quite a bit of her story with her clever way of writing about the sisters and what Harriet knew about her past. Just as Harriet found out things about her ancestors that she hadn’t known, the author took me completely by surprise at points too. I found the story revolving around the ships and the sisters particularly fascinating, especially knowing what happened to each of the ships. I was reading eagerly to find out the fate of the sisters. The contemporary storyline was more of an unknown of course making it just as absorbing a read. This is a story of secrets, sacrifice and loss but at the same time manages to be a very uplifting read. A lovely story blending historical fact and fiction with a compelling contemporary strand too.

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILERS BELOW!

The book was well written and full of historical snippets. I loved learning about Titanic's sister ships and what life was like for the workers on them.
I enjoyed the search of family history and how complex it was. I also liked piecing together how these different sets of sisters were connected.

That being said....as I kept reading, I got more and more frustrated with the "independent" sisters.
Ruby and Davina were SO selfish and cruel! Ruby later claimed that she was "misunderstood" and had to break ties because they'd "never understand" and were "bossing her around". Why do bad girls always claim they're "misunderstood"? There was no misunderstanding! She was simply a bad person who kept making bad decisions!
She ignored and pushed away her sister just because she got a job traveling. She got with a married man and didn't care about flaunting it. She willfully signed up to work on Titanic when her sister had suggested otherwise and then kept getting drunk on the ship. Then she flirted with her sister's boyfriend for kicks! And then she let her family think she died!!
Heartbroken, her mother got ill with grief and died. Her sister Emma was wrecked with guilt and went so far as to sacrifice herself to make sure she never lost another sister. Ruby got on the first lifeboat, whereas Emma searched and searched for her and only got on the last lifeboat available. But did Ruby care if her sister was in danger or dead? No! She didn't bother looking for her! Made me SO angry what she put her family through and then had the nerve to let others believe she had a cruel family.
Davina also just up and left her mother as a teenager, cut them off and never let her mother meet her grandkids or ever visit. She also made it seem like her family was soooo evil when really they just wanted to be closer to her. She had no hard life to excuse her behavior and it was petty and cruel.
She at least came around at the end though, so that was something. I wish Emma had gotten her HEA like Harriet did but....didn't happen.
So while i enjoyed the overall plot and history in the novel, i couldnt stand the two selfish sisters.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Lost Sister by Kathleen McGurl. I truly enjoyed this book. The Lost Sister has a dual timeline - one timeline is contemporary and the other is in the early 1900s. In the contemporary storyline, Harriett has lost her husband and decided she should downsize to a smaller home. Her older daughter comes over to help her sort through the items stored in her attic. As they sort, they reminisce and laugh and come across an old trunk that belonged to Harriett's grandmother. Harriett begins to sort through the old trunk and her interest is piqued upon finding a picture of her grandmother and two sisters. Her grandmother never said she had two sisters, only one. Harriett sets out to find out to determine if there was a third sister. Her daughter also has a very ill son recently diagnosed with leukemia. So while she tries to figure out the sisters mystery, she is worried about her grandson and also about her estranged other daughter. The other timeline is told through Emma, the oldest of the Higgins sisters. Their father died young so their mom is raising the three girls. Emma learns of a new ship, the Olympic, which is sailing to New York and determines that not only would she love the adventure of working on the ship, she would be able to contribute more to the family's income. Although Emma loves working on the ship, she does not like leaving her mom home with her two younger sisters, Ruby and Lily. Ruby has become rather rebellious and upset that Emma is gone for three weeks at a time. Lily had tuberculosis as a young child, and she still has bouts of the illness. Emma's love for sailing carries her on many adventures which eventually involve each of her sisters. Sometimes in the dual timeline stories, I do not like the contemporary storyline very much, but in this book, I really enjoyed both timeline stories. I could not put the book down in order to learn the stories of Harriett and Emma. There a few twists and turns and one I did not see coming which kept me intrigued.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book to read, not only because I have a keen interest in RMS Titanic but it is also a dual-timeline book which I always enjoy.

The story starts in present day with Harriet who’s recently been widowed and is decluttering her attic as she prepares to move from her large family home to a smaller property. During the sort, she comes across her grandmothers sea trunk from when she worked on board ocean liners. Amongst the items is a photograph of three sisters. This discovery surprises Harriet as her grandmother only ever mentioned having one sister.

The other part of the story begins in 1911 where we meet Emma (Harriet’s grandmother), who has just landed a job as a stewardess on board RMS Olympic during her maiden voyage. Emma lives in Southampton with her mum (Ma) and younger sisters Ruby and Lily. She is aware of the impact her leaving will have on the family – Lily suffers for poor health and Ruby can be selfish and a bit wild – Emma is concerned she won’t take her responsibilities of helping in the house seriously enough. Emma settles in well to her new role but when family life suffers a painful blow, suddenly all three sisters find their lives changed.

As the story unfolds, Harriet learns more about her family and the three sisters, with some heartbreak and surprises along the way.

I enjoyed this book immensely, particularly the parts describing events onboard the liners. The fact that parts were taken from the memoirs of Titanic survivor Violet Jessop made this much more than just a story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the review copy.