The Abandoned Daughter

                                                                               

The Abandoned Daughter by Mary Wood is the second book in The Girls Who Went To War series.

Voluntary nurse Ella is haunted by the soldiers' cries she hears on the battlefields of Dieppe. But that’s not the only thing that haunts her. When her dear friend Jim breaks her trust, Ella is left bruised and heartbroken. Over the years, her friendships have been pulled apart at the seams by the effects of war. Now, more than ever, she feels so alone. 

At a military hospital in France, Ella befriends Connie and Paddy. Slowly she begins to heal, and finds comfort in the arms of a French officer called Paulo – could he be her salvation?

With the end of the war on the horizon, surely things have to get better? Ella grew up not knowing her real family but a clue leads her in their direction. What did happen to Ella’s parents, and why is she so desperate to find out?

The Abandoned Daughter by Mary Wood is the second book in The Girls Who Went To War trilogy.

Mary lives in Blackpool and enjoys researching the history of her home town, coming up with some surprising facts and excited to uncover material for future books. 

Born the 13th child of 15 children, Mary experienced life at the raw end. Though she says of her childhood that though poor they were happy and were rich in love. 

Mary writes full time now having ended her 9 - 5 working life in the Probation Service. This experience gave the grittiness she brings to her writing as Mary says she feels compelled to tell it how it is. 

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https://www.authormarywood.com

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My Review

This is Ella's story, one of three friends we met in 'The forgotten daughter'. From the start, we see that Ella has to deal with the effects that being a volunteer during the war has on her and her friends as well as the personal consequences of what Jim does to her. As always, this is a true- to- life, gritty story that holds no punches - it is hard to imagine how much suffering one person can endure. This book draws you into Ella's circle as one by one her friends and family are taken from her or use her badly. Having to rely only upon herself, we see her inner strength as she deals with each misfortune that life throws at her. There is light at the end of the tunnel and told in Mary Wood's inimitable style, the reader is there beside Ella all the way.