Trust Me

by Lesley Pearse

Does family always come first?

Two young sisters sent far, far from home ...

When tragedy deprives little Dulcie Taylor and her sister May of their parents, they are sent first to an orphanage and then shipped off to begin a new life in Australia. But the 'better life' the sisters are promised in this new and exciting country turns out to be a lie.

It seems everyone who ever stood up for them, who ever said 'trust me', somehow betrays that trust: their parents, teachers and the sisters at the convent. But then Dulcie meets Ross, another orphanage survivor, and finds a kindred spirit. Can Dulcie ever get over the pain of the past and learn to trust again? And does she have the strength to fight for her own happiness as well as that of her sister?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Chick Lit, Drama, Ebooks

709 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Lesley Pearse is one of the UK's best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of over 2 million copies of her books to date. A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end, Pearse introduces you to characters that it is impossible not to care about or forget. There is no formula to her books or easily defined genre. Whether crime as in 'Till We Meet Again', historical adventure like 'Never Look Back', or the passionately emotive 'Trust Me', based on the true-life scandal of British child migrants sent to Australia in the post war period, she engages the reader completely.
Truth is often stranger than fiction and Lesley's life has been as packed with drama as her books. She was three when her mother died under tragic circumstances. Her father was away at sea and it was only when a neighbour saw Lesley and her brother playing outside without coats on that suspicion was aroused - their mother had been dead for some time. With her father in the Royal Marines, Lesley and her older brother spent three years in grim orphanages before her father remarried - a veritable dragon of an ex army nurse - and Lesley and her older brother were brought home again, to be joined by two other children who were later adopted by her father and stepmother, and a continuing stream of foster children. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley's early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling.

Reviews

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Li este livro em 5 dias, pode-se dizer que o devorei, que o respirei, que o bebi e principalmente vivi.
Tantas emoções e tão fortes.
Fabuloso como todos o da Lesley Pearse.
Muito especial, acredito que nunca me vou esquecer desta história.
Nota máxima.
Recomendo.

[Maria Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Está bastante expectante em relação a este livro. Gostei ficamos a conhecer a realidade dos orfanatos naquela altura e quiçá agora ainda assim seja embora se escondam as coisas, no entanto como já alguém referiu o final foi previsível no meio do livro e isso estragou um pouco a história é depois foi demasiado triste todas as pessoas da infância de Dulcie acabarem por falecer sem terem conhecimento da realidade q ela passou. também seria interessante se tivessem explorado a questão da May quem era o pai biológico, no entanto, posso dizer que gostei.

[Adelaide Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5* Uma história de ficção tão próxima da verdadeira realidade dos infantários dirigidos por religiosos. Os orfanatos que arruinam seres humanos tirando-lhes a infância e gerando nos adultos que por ali passam sentimentos de ódio e de culpa por si mesmos

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel for the children who suffer in the hands of crazy, immoral, and abusive adults. That said, I could never recommend a book that was so against the Catholic Church.

There are those who hurt people in all sorts of organizations and knowing that abusers can infiltrate the Sacred Catholic Church is not really surprising, as churches are full of people and people are sinners.

The entire Church is not to blame for the sinners who associate themselves with her. Just like all teachers and schools are not to blame for the many teachers who have abused students.

The blame rests solely on those individuals who caused the abuse and personally allowed it to happen.

I pray for the abused and hope that in the future abusers are weeded out and stopped before they can hurt a child.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s just one criticism of Lesley Pearse’s books that I must get off my chest, and that’s the horrid “chick-flick” style covers on her books (including the ones featuring photos of pretty women). My version of ‘Trust Me’ is particularly bad; yellow with pink bows and flowers and oversized pink and baby blue text. It’s so awful that I would not be seen reading it in public.

Thank goodness for Good Reads and Amazon reviews, as without having read them I’d never have picked up her books in a shop, or even a junk sale. But Lesley Pearse’s books are outstanding.

‘Trust Me’ is an excellent and engaging historical-fiction. Over the past week I’ve enjoyed Dulcie’s journey, and late last night stayed up way too late because I just had to know how it would all end. If one day it comes out with a more attractive cover I’ll replace my dreadful ‘girlie’ version, as this book has earned a place on my shelves.

[Mariazita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mais um livro fabuloso de Lesley Pearse.Desta vez fala-nos de uma realidade, o terror dos orfanatos Australianos do século passado,estórias arrepiantese infelizmente reais, tão bem caracterizadas neste livro que nos tira a respiração.Vidas destruidas na infancia que tornam a vida como adultos muito dificíl e triste.O destino de duas irmãs que foram abandonadas á sua sorte nestes orfanatos e como conseguiram seguir em frente com todas as cicatrizes deixadas na sua triste infancia.
Muito bom.

[Liliana Rio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lesley Pearse está no top das minhas autoras favoritas. O livro que mais me fascinou foi " Segue o Coração" mas não houve nenhum que não gostasse. Este especialmente marcou-me profundamente e quando-o terminei fiquei com uma tristeza tão grande que o meu coração chorava, isto tudo porque uma obra de ficção baseada em factos reais abalou-me como nunca pensei, a migração infantil é algo que eu nem soube que tinha existido, sei sim que nos orfanatos e conventos dirigidos por freiras maltratavam crianças, mas tanta crueldade, tanta tortura e tanto sofrimento que muitas vitimas jamais recuperaram a serem infligidas por pessoas ditas de "Deus" é impensável, eles que deviam ser o mais próximo de pessoas puras, cheias de bondade, amor e compaixão, eram simplesmente monstros que infelizmente muitos não tiveram que pagar pelos seus atos porque eram encobridos pela Igreja Católica e pelos seus superiores mas espero sinceramente que paguem ou que estejam a arder no inferno!!!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arrasador! Uma história sobre como a vida pode ser muito dura e injusta, desde a tenra infância e em como os que mais poderiam trazer de bom, por vezes só trazem o mal.
É uma história de abandono, maus tratos, exploração, abusos, mas também de amor, segundas oportunidades, perdão e redenção.
Um livro que nos deixa muitas emoções.

[Tempo de Ler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Construída com grande habilidade, a história de Confia em Mim é muito comovente, especialmente porque reflete a triste realidade imposta a imensas crianças na segunda metade do século XX, 'despachadas' de orfanatos britânicos para a Austrália onde viriam a sofrer exatamente nas mãos daqueles que as deviam proteger.

Irmãs, mas de personalidades muito diferentes, Dulcie e May são arrancadas de uma vida relativamente feliz, apesar da mãe negligente, e em pouco tempo perdem tudo e todos os que estimavam. São enviadas para um orfanato onde sofrem bastante devido à rigidez das regras impostas pelas freiras e, mais tarde, para a Austrália. São as diferenças nos seus carácteres que acabam por conduzir Dulcie por uma via e May por uma outra bem diferente.

Além de comovente, como disse, esta história é também angustiante se pensarmos nas vidas que ficaram realmente marcadas pelos horrores sofridos na infância, pelos traumas que impediriam estas pessoas de desenvolver relações saudáveis na sua vida adulta, vivendo diariamente com a culpa e a vergonha. Lesley fez um excelente trabalho na sua tentativa de retratar estas pessoas, sendo especialmente bem-sucedida na construção de personagens que facilmente viríamos a odiar se olhássemos para elas apenas de modo superficial. Por vezes egoístas, insensíveis ou intransigentes, estas personagens vivem presas na sua dor e usam-na, infelizmente, para se autodestruírem ou para magoar aqueles que estão mais perto.

[Ana Ávila l Livros, Lifestyle e Cenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desde as personagens, história e a narrativa em si, foi um livro intenso! ❤️💚💜 Num mês em que tanto se fala em saúde mental, deixo-vos a minha recomendação de leitura. Conheçam melhor este título no novo vídeo no canal 🎬

[Babi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um livro muito bom da Lesley Pearse. Uma história forte e comovente, que retrata a força de uma jovem mulher. Gostei muito.

[Margarida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acho que o livro não precisava de ser assim tão grande mas, fora isso, gostei bastante. Impressionante como é baseado em factos verídicos. Apesar do tamanho, lê-se muito bem, pois a escrita da autora é simples e cativante, como habitual. Já tinha saudades de uma dramalhão destes.

[Zézinha Rosado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma vez mais Lesley Pearse não desilude de todo... este é mais um romance sobre a força e determinação das mulheres, numa época em que podiam ser consideradas o sexo fraco, mas que mostram que podem ser mais fortes do que todos imaginam.
Dulcie e May são duas irmãs que bastante cedo são entregues a um orfanato de cariz religioso e que sofrem maus tratos tanto a nível físico como psicológico.
A dada altura os seus caminhos separam-se, tendo estado vários anos sem saber do paradeiro uma da outra.
É curioso ver que, embora ambas tenham sido criadas no mesmo ambiente, o caminho e rumo de vida de cada uma será de acordo com as suas convicções pessoais e com a bondade que existe (ou não) no seu coração.
A história está bem conseguida, se bem que acho que o final podia ter sido melhor desenvolvido, dá a impressão que o livro foi "acabado à pressa"... de qualquer maneira toda a narrativa está repleta de grande carga emocional.
Um livro a não perder pelos fãs da autora.

[Marta Clemente · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Em meados do séc XX o Plano de Migração Infantil destinava-se a aliviar a pressão nos orfanatos britânicos que se debatiam com a convulsão social de seis anos de guerra e, ao mesmo tempo, a povoar as colónias com "boa cepa britânica branca".
É este o mote deste livro de Lesley Pearse, que nos conta a história de duas irmãs inglesas institucionalizadas que são levadas para a Austrália à revelia da família, juntamente com mais alguns milhares de crianças inglesas ao abrigo do referido plano.
As crianças, que viviam em orfanatos frios e húmidos sem o mínimo de condições eram aliciadas para começar uma vida nova num país quente, que lhes era apresentado como paradisíaco e como uma grande promessa para o seu futuro.
Mas à chegada eram utilizadas como trabalho escravo, mal tratadas e muitas delas ainda abusadas sexualmente.
A denúncia foi feita quando estas crianças se tornaram adultos traumatizados e com as suas vidas destruídas por quem mais os devia ter protegido.
Um livro com uma escrita crua, descritiva e muitas vezes chocante.
Gostei muito de ler.

[Carol Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read! I won’t forget it anytime soon.

The atrocities and horror that were perpetrated on innocent young children in the middle of the 21st Century under the guise of The Child Migration Scheme is almost beyond belief. It was a scheme intended to be for the good... thought up to relieve pressure on British orphanages struggling after six years of War and desperate shortages of both food and goods. In actuality it was the beginning of a lifelong nightmare for thousands of mostly British Children tempted by the thought of a wonderful life in a land portrayed to them as paradise. Australia, with its wide open spaces, blue skies and sunshine, exotic animals, fruit falling from the trees ripe for the picking and promises of beautiful beaches... what deprived child living in dire straits in freezings British orphanages wouldn’t be tempted to put their hands up for a chance of all that promised splendour?
May they all now Rest In Peace.

[Sarah De Clercq · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would never want to be a character in a Lesley Pearse novel

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trust Me (2001) explores some very contentious issues, such as the role of orphanages (mainly those run by Christian/Catholic orders), pedophilia, and brutality. It is a text that deals principally with trauma and its effects on human beings. This is where Pearse's strength lies, in her ability to write about characters that one can relate to, or at least characters that we, as readers, care about. Yet, there are some indiscrepancies in Trust Me, such as variations between facts and claims, that hinder its status as a great work of literature.

As a book over 700 pages long, Trust Me's basic storyline is that two little sisters, Dulcie and May, after being made destitute by a tragic event involving their mother and father, are sent to an orphanage and then shipped off to Australia, supposedly to live 'better' lives. Unfortunately for Dulcie and May (and other characters), everyone in this novel who is in a position of trust and should know better turns out to be lying to them. Therefore, the title of this novel, Trust Me, is an ironic reminder of the fact that, in such a world where such things as rape and pedophilia exist, you cannot really trust anyone, especially those who seem to embody the essence of trust. But there are some exceptions, as Dulcie, in particular, finds out. Trust Me is set in the 1940s/1950s onward.

One of my first impressions of this novel is that it adopts the use of perspective to portray events from a different point of view. Therefore, when Susan Sims, Dulcie and May's teacher and friend, goes to visit them she observes:

'As she turned into Akerman Street she saw May jumping a skipping-rope turned by two big girls. It was quite obvious she didn't belong here, for there was a glow about her - rosy cheeks, shiny, neatly plaited hair, and plump legs. She was chanting breathlessly as she jumped, her short dress leaping up to give glimpses of white knickers' [p. 75].

That is something very odd (almost voyeuristic) to observe with regard to a little girl jumping a skipping-rope, and these sort of viewpoints set the tone for the rest of the book. The first orphanage the two sisters are sent to (after their mother's death and father's imprisonment, a set of circumstances which are never really explained), the Sacred Heart, is described as 'cheerless, the nuns dour, cold, and unimaginative' [p. 94]. This is a fundamental problem with Trust Me, in that the main issues of trust are firstly authorial before anything else. How can you label an orphanage as such, and let us remember that most orphanages offered a huge service to their local community to children that, whether we like it or not, were most likely abandoned by uncaring parents, before Dulcie's and May's first experiences there? Even if these observations may arguably be justified later on, these one-dimensional descriptions are a recurrent encumbrance straining the authorial voice of this novel. Also, 'unimaginative' is hardly the most inspired of criticisms.

The orphanage the sisters are sent to, the Sacred Heart, is (conceivably) a dismal place for such small children. They are enthralled by the prospect of going to Australia, believing that a better future is in store for them there. It is the Mother Superior who advises them otherwise, 'The old lady half smiled. "I'd like to be warm all the time too," she admitted. "But Australia isn't just warm, it's very hot. It's a very long way away too, you couldn't just hop on a train and come home"' [p. 155]. For some reason, Australian orphanages are much worse than their English counterparts. They must read a different version of the Bible down under. Or maybe it has to do with the fact that there are much more Catholic orphanages there, although the Sacred Heart was a Catholic orphanage, so this is confusing:

'Dulcie had thought the punishments were severe enough at the Sacred Heart, but they were nothing to the ones here. Like there, bed-wetting was punished by making the girl stand with the wet sheet over her head, but she also got the strap. Being forced to kneel on a gravel path for an hour or two could be used to punish anything from talking after lights out to not knowing multiplication tables. The strap was ever present...' [p.173].

The diction used here is significant, 'The strap was ever present' ironically refers to the lack of God's omnipresence in such an orphanage. It is the strap which is ever present in such a hellish place, not God. Elsewhere, Pearse makes a very important distinction between churches and God, between dogma and spirituality:

'Dulcie hadn't seen a priest or been anywhere near a church since she arrived here and she had no intention of ever doing so. She had turned her back quite firmly on all that "claptrap" as Pat (her employer after the orphanage) called it. But that was the Catholic Church, they'd lied and cheated her, she'd found what they did in the name of God was evil. But the God her granny had taught her to pray to was still there, she saw His handiwork every day out in the bush, felt His comforting presence all around her. She hadn't quite given up on Him' [260].

Pearse does not make the mistake of saying that all the nuns are 'evil', however, even if previously she does imply that all Catholic priests are (evil) in the above-mentioned quotation, a prejudiced statement if ever there was one. The majority of them, in fact, are good people, as Dulcie found out while she was going through one of the most difficult periods during her time under their care:

'It was weeks before Dulcie recovered. For the first fortnight she hobbled about, unable to sit down. Yet courage, she found, was admired above all else in Australia, even by the Sisters. They were far kinder than they had been previously, giving her easy jobs which required no bending or stretching, patting her shoulder when they saw her wince with pain. Sister Ruth, one of the gentlest of the nuns, came into the dormitory each night to smooth some ointment over the weals. Even crusty Sister Anne found a a cushion for Dulcie to sit on at mealtimes' [p. 191].

(I could go on with the analysis, but then this wouldn't be a mere review, it would end up like something resembling a thesis.)

Obviously, Trust Me is a work of fiction, and some details are exaggerated to convey a sense of the indignity and brutality Lesley Pearse believes existed in orphanages across England and Australia. We may never know the truth in this regard, but Pearse is an overly superficial and biased critic in the way she concentrates her attention exclusively to orphanages, without any reference to the impact of Dulcie's and May's troubled childhood with a neglectful and adulterous mother, for example. These will forever remain contentious issues; whatever our own opinions on the subject, we should always let history be the judge of things, not our own personal feelings (which can or cannot be trusted).

[Marina Horner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although a work of fiction, this book throws a light on the children sent to orphanages in Australia after the war and the horrific conditions they had to endure. A tough but enlightening read.

[Victoria ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. This book.
I don't know what to say.
Okay, first of all, I'm only 16, & this is WAAAAY different from the books I usually read.
Like, veery different. The closest in my 'Read' shelf to this book would probably only be the Memory Keeper's Daughter.
& I think due to many sexual & normal abuse parts I felt uncomfortable, that it's rated 4 Stars and not 5.

But I loved it.
This is the first book that I LOVE that took me a few days to finish, because I had to take my time to read it slowly, and make sure I understood it before I went on.
Like, 720 Pages!

Dulcie is the sweetest character ever, & May, I disliked her for a while, but near the end I felt the most sorry for her.
God, to think this some of the going ons in the orphanages actually happened in real life!
How could they call themselves Christians? That's beyond me!
I mean, I know it's not based on a true story, but still. . .

I'm so glad I chose this book.
Amazing.
There were no funny parts, so no laughing moments,
But there WERE parts that made me smile, angry, and almost cry.
I'm touched. & It's AMAZING to see them develop! Like, I'll be on page 500, look back to page 20 or so, & I'm like, WOW! She's all grown up now!
& The years, and the development of technology over time. I got it all. I LOVE THIS.

It's such an amazing read, and Lesley Pearse writes wonderfully, & I would recommend this well, definitely mature readers!

I think I'll need to read a couple of regular, cliche, teen fiction books to recover before I can read another one of these.
But I'll definitely be looking forward to reading more of Lesley Pearse's books!

[Pooja Jeevagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another heart-wrenching novel, with substantial reality to it...

Unlike the last one, this one isn't on the Indian background and hence, probably not much to identify with...but then again, it probably shows what existed in West few decades ago, might be the Indian truth today...

Just made me feel, adopting someone is really a nice cause...if only that wasn't a big taboo in the society...makes way more sense to give an existing person a better chance in life rather than bringing another angel on earth...

And people of God, should at least try to remain human...double faced is the way of humanity, but even that should have its limit...

A whooping 700+ pages read over the weekend...I thought I would be stuck with this novel for a week or two...and amazed myself by finishing it within 2 days...even if you can't relate to it...and can't even bring yourself to imagine all that's badly going in the novel, you 'll keep turning the pages...read them...and not be able to leave them...because we all wait for the happily ever after...even if there are millions who never get it in reality...

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma leitura importante sobre um acontecimento histórico muito pouco falado- o Plano de Migração Infantil- onde órfãos que viviam em orfanatos britânicos eram levados para a Austrália como uma forma de "aliviar" os orfanatos britânicos e para enraizar uma "cultura branca" nas colónias, esta considerada a mais pura e benéfica. Este livro mostra cenas chocantes entre crianças e padres/freiras, como cenas de violência física, emocional e violação.
No entanto, não concordei como algumas cenas de violência doméstica foram tratadas neste livro dando a impressão que a autora desvalorizou estes assuntos muito importantes que não devem ser aceites por nenhum mulher ou homem.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favourite of mine which I read when it was released & have never forgotten. The story was so tragic and moving because it is based on the sad realities of orphanages in Australia during the 50's and 60's.
This book stayed with me for a long time and it shows that Lesley really researched this subject. The story has everything - betrayal, tragedy, murder, friendship and love. A definite must read, I can't imagine anyone not liking this brilliant book.

[Lian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my book club, I was a bit dubious as its not the sort of book I read but it was so well written and such an amazing story I really enjoyed it but was sad that this sort of thing actually does happen in real life. It took me longer than normal to read as I had to concentrate a bit more but I found myself really caring about Dulcie and what happened to her. Definitely recommend this book.

[Jane Woodcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. It's different from my usual genre. Was given this book ages ago, but kept putting off reading it for a couple of reasons. First as I said before it's not my usual read, also it was a big book, over 700 pages and since I started reading it, have bought/been given others that I really want to read, but I had already began t read it. Was hooked from the very beginning. It was a heart wrenching story, some parts I believe are from true experiences.

[Cassandra Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was fantastic I couldn't put it down and enjoyed all 710 pages of it the characters were great and I would highly recommend this book to any one. if I could give it more stars it would definitely be a 10/10 this is the first book ive read by this author and I certainly will be reading more of hers very soon!

[Lynn Kyle-smyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best book I've ever read. The author makes you feel everything that the characters feel, you are truly thrown into Australia and every situation the girls find themselves in. Beautifully written with wonderful characters who you get to know so well. A must read!

[Louise Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Lesley pearces book and this is no exception. To be able to make you connect with dulcie and at least try and understand what she went through and felt during her life. I would recommend to anyone

[Sarah Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, horrifying what so called Christians can do!

A well written book, very sad read at times, will stir feelings of revulsion against so called strong Christian believers.

[Liza Perrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking, moving account on the subject of the Child Migrant Scheme from Britain to Australia in the mid-twentieth century. Full review to come...

[Adriana Cahongo]

Como todos os livros da Leslei Pearse, fantástico!