The Orphans of Mersea House: A Novel by Marty Wingate
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Web ID: 16376221Charming and warm
Synopsis Olive Kersey and Margery Paxton each suffered losses in World War II and now find hope and a new reason to live in the Suffolk countryside. My Overall Thoughts Picturesque is the word that pops to the top of my mind after reading this novel. I really felt transported to this small country town. It's a quick read with charming characters in a charming setting. This isn't a book where you will learn more about a historical event, but one set after WWII where you will get to savor a slice of life during that time period. What I Didn't Love The story would have been better for me if I got to know Margery better. Olive is the main character, but that is not apparent until half way through the book. At the beginning, I really believed there were two protagonists and I just kept waiting to hear Margery's story. She remains a very enigmatic figure throughout the story, though she is front-and-center through much of it. I would have loved to have her character developed more. Potentially Offensive Content Sex (not graphic) Violence (not graphic) What I Loved I was captivated by the setting and the characters. The book is truly scenic. The townspeople are real with real personalities, real flaws, and real charm. I loved that. The growing relationship between Olive and Juniper is beautifully portrayed. This is a book to curl up with in a cozy chair with a hot cup of tea on a cloudy day. It's quick and delightful and will warm your heart.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A novel about recovering from war and loss
Olive is alone and desperate for a job when an old friend offers her the post of housekeeper at her new lodging house in this sensitive, sweet story. It’s 1957, and the Suffolk coast of England is still reeling from WWII. Everyone has secrets, except for Juniper, a young girl who needs help managing her post-polio disabilities. Will a disparate group of strangers be able to come together as a community?
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
New Beginnings
Olive is at the start of a new beginning in her life. She is penniless, her mother has passed away and she is days from being evicted from her rented home. She must find a job and start her life anew. Then something special happens. Olive's childhood friend Margery arrives back in town. She has been given an inheritance of a manor house called Mersea house. Margery wants to turn it into a boarding house and she hires Olive to run it. Everything appears to be running smooth when Margery gets a letter in the mail informing her that she is the ward of an eleven year old girl named Juniper who happens to be the daughter of her first love. Not only that , but Juniper is the victim of Polio and walks with walking sticks and braces. Olive and Margery work hard to make an accessible room for Juniper. Juniper arrives along with the trying children's officer Mrs. Pagett. There is no pleasing this lady who pops in without notice. They are at a ninety day probation period with Juniper and Mrs. Pagett has taken a dislike to Olive. In a small town rumors fly about readily. When rumors are started about the boarders living in the house and rumors about Margery returning to London it causes panic at the house. Will Olive and Margery be able to quiet the rumors and prove to Mrs. Pagett that Mersea house is the best place for Juniper? This was a good read and I enjoyed it. The characters were wonderful. It has humor and romance and lots of love in it. A few secrets and some soul searching going on there as well. New beginnings for many and some great choices to be made. Thanks to Marty Wingate for writing such a wholesome and loving story, to Alcove Press for publishing it, and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Orphans of Mersea House
The Orphans of Mersea House by Marty Wingate is a wonderful heartfelt read. England 1957 the reader finds Olive Kersey alone after taking care of her ill mother. She runs into Margery Paxton, a childhood friend, who has returned to claim her inheritance. It is an old home and store but she intends to refurbish it and turn it into a long term lodging. Margery wants Olive to run the home while she fixes up the old store of her uncle's. Two immediate guests arrive and then a ward of Margery's, 11 year old Juniper Wyckes, shows up as orphaned and having suffered from polio years before wearing leg braces. Each person has a backstory and secrets. This is a lovely novel about how different unrelated people can make a family.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Takes you back to simpler times
Olive is alone after caring for her mother and is in need of a job. She applies for a caretaking job, but her friend Margery moves back from London and tells her to not take that job but join her at Mersea Boarding House. Olive and Margery are life-long friends. Olive is the sweetest person. Margery is an ok friend, but a bit tough. They take in two boarders both with a story behind their personalities. One day Margery gets a surprise when she is contacted by social services and is asked to care for her old boyfriend's daughter. Juniper is a sweet girl who lost her mother to polio and now her father. Juniper also suffered from polio and years of surgery and the iron lung. THE ORPHANS OF MERSEA HOUSE is a heartwarming book that has endearing characters and a nostalgic storyline. You won't want to stop reading because it takes you back when things were simpler but not necessarily better but just plain sweet. Enjoy when you read this book. 4/5 This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Beautiful story
The Orphans of Mersea House by Marty Wingate is a lovely story about friendship, family, in every sense of the word, love and home. Olive and Margery were old friends who lost touch for many years and were lucky enough to find each other again when they both needed friendship the most. Margery came back to Southwold, a small, rural town in England, to claim an inheritance. Her uncle left her a lodging house and a small store. Since Olive’s family had all passed, Margery asked her to run the lodging house and Margery herself would run the store. Soon after opening, Mersea House has two lodgers and soon find out a child will be moving in as an old beau of Margery’s has died and has named Margery as her ward. These boarders, although not true orphans, all needed a home and acceptance by loved ones, and Mersea House gave them that and more. It’s easy to fall in love with every single character, even the town gossip. The relationships that grow from living under the same roof are perfect. I’m thrilled that I had a chance to read such a beautiful story during these turbulent times. It brought hope and happiness to my life and I’ll cherish this story for awhile. Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC of The Orphans of Mersea House. This is my honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great book, answers the question Who makes a famil
I wish to thank NetGalley and Alcove Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is a really positive historical fiction set in post war Britain in a seaside village. It is not what I had expected when I read the title but I loved meeting all of the wonderful characters in the story. It is a quick read and one filled with friendships in all age levels and strong women. It is and not filled with negative dysfunctional families. It shows clearly that families can consist of strangers bonding together to help one another. The main characters are Olive and Margery who run a bed and breakfast. One day a social worker knocks on their door to deliver a small girl identified as Margery’s ward. She has suffered from the effects of polio and needs special care. As more guests arrive at the home each contributes to the story in their own way and are presented in a positive, caring light. This is a book for all age levels and is really a sweet reads. Do not miss this one.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Historical Fiction
This is a Historical fiction. This book takes place after World War II, and it is really just about people putting themselves back together. The characters in this book are so great, and they all make this book what it is. My favorite character is Juniper, and that little girl made this book 5 stars. That little girl really shows everyone that you can really overcome anything. I love Mersea House, and that the people that are staying at the Mersea House become one big family. This is a great read. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com