Another Historical read for me, and something that would have passed me by.

Why did I pick it up? – If it hadn’t been recommended in a Facebook group I am in then I don’t think i would have (Thanks Cyndi)

This story was one that made me absolutely stunned, I had no idea that this was something that was practised, and also that it was STILL being practised up to the 1980’s!!

I was crazy mad listening to this book, how people can have been given this much authority over other human beings is just mind blowing.
If you are a Jodi Picoult fan then you will probably love this one too.

Anyhoo, back to my review!

My Thoughts

Set in the 60’s in Rural Grace County, Jane Forrester goes for an interview for a job as a social worker, much to the dismay of her fiance, he is unhappy in the fact that she is getting a job, let alone a job that might undermine his position as a doctor, and make him a laughing stock at the Golf Club, none of his friends wives work after all!

Jane wants to work, and feels that this would be an ideal position for her, that she may be able to do some good, she may even be able to help people less fortunate than her.

She gets the position and shadows another worker until an accident sets her on her own to carry on the job.

Ivy is one of her cases.

15 year old Ivy lives on a Tobacco farm with her family, her parents both died so she is now in the full time care of her grandmother, but her grandmother is ill, so it is Ivy that is doing the caring. Looking after her grandmother, her mentally ill sister and her sisters 2 year old son William is no mean feat, they rely on Welfare to get money for the family, they work on the Tobacco farm to pay for their lodgings.

Ivy has her own problems, she is epileptic, and because she is 15, she is “obviously” going to start sleeping around, I mean, look at Mary Ella her “feeble minded” sister, she had William after all!
They managed to fix that though, at least she won’t be bringing any more “retards” into this world!

Ivy is an ideal candidate for the program, it just needs to be signed off by the Social Worker, of course you don’t tell her what it is you are doing, just tell them that they look ill, Mary Ella had her “appendix” out, and look, she’s perfectly fine now!!

Jane cannot believe what is happening to these young girls, but what can she do, she’s already been reprimanded for something she did wrong, she may even lose her job.

This story is based on true events that happened, in the authors notes she does say that she didn’t want to focus on the actual deed, but to focus on the families and the aftermath, but some of the stories that she read about it were truly horrifying.

🎧🎧 – Brilliantly narrated by Alison Elliot, this story is one that will probably stay with you for a while!

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About the book

Bestselling author Diane Chamberlain delivers a breakout book about a small southern town fifty years ago, and the darkest—and most hopeful—places in the human heart

After losing her parents, fifteen-year-old Ivy Hart is left to care for her grandmother, older sister and nephew as tenants on a small tobacco farm. As she struggles with her grandmother’s aging, her sister’s mental illness and her own epilepsy, she realizes they might need more than she can give.

When Jane Forrester takes a position as Grace County’s newest social worker, she doesn’t realize just how much her help is needed. She quickly becomes emotionally invested in her clients’ lives, causing tension with her boss and her new husband. But as Jane is drawn in by the Hart women, she begins to discover the secrets of the small farm—secrets much darker than she would have guessed. Soon, she must decide whether to take drastic action to help them, or risk losing the battle against everything she believes is wrong.

Set in rural Grace County, North Carolina in a time of state-mandated sterilizations and racial tension, Necessary Lies tells the story of these two young women, seemingly worlds apart, but both haunted by tragedy. Jane and Ivy are thrown together and must ask themselves: how can you know what you believe is right, when everyone is telling you it’s wrong?

Have a great day!

Vicci

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TGIF book lovers!

Excited to share with you today my review for this delightful book! A huge thank you to Rachel for my invitation to the tour and to Victoria Cooke for her engaging story!💕

It Started With A Note

One lost letter. A chance to change her life!

Superhero single mum Cath always puts other people first. But now that she’s seen her son safely off to university (phew!), life seems a little, well…empty.

So when Cath unexpectedly discovers some letters written by her great-grandfather during the First World War, she decides to take herself on an adventure to France to retrace his footsteps.

Cath expects to spend her holiday visiting famous battlefields and testing out her French phrase book. What she doesn’t anticipate is that her tour guide, the handsome Olivier, will be quite so charming! Soon Cath isn’t simply unearthing the stories of the past – she’s writing a brand new one of her own, which might end up taking her in a very unexpected direction…

My Thoughts

A lovely romance set in France sprinkled with history!

This was another wonderful romance from Victoria Cooke. Something I really enjoy about her stories is they are full of lovable relatable characters that you truly enjoy getting to know. Cath The female MC in this story is a single mother whose son has just gone off to university and now she needs to re-define who she is. As A single mother whose kids are almost all grown up I could really relate to this. when your kids are young being a mom defines you, my friends were my kids friends moms, my trips were taken when my kids had a competition or tournament, everything I did I did for them, and I don’t regret a single moment. All this is to say I could completely relate to Cath, perhaps I should go search out some old letters, I believe my grandfather was in WWI and then I should head to France myself.

Cath discovers a box of her grandfather’s letters sent to his wife and daughter, during the First World War. Feeling a bit lost because her son has just gone off to university Cath decides to take a trip to France, to see where her grandfather had served during the war, A war he did not return from. Once in France she meets the handsome tour guide Olivier. But is Cath ready for this new chapter in her life?

A tender love story packed with some pretty colorful characters. The romance between Cath and Olivier was sweet, they had a genuine authentic connection. I also learned some things in this book through all the visits to the French war sights. There is a definite blend of melancholy and beauty in the story. Another well-crafted romance from Victoria Cooke! Recommend!

*** Big thanks to HQ Digital for my copy of this book ***

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Started-Note-brand-new-uplifting-adventures-ebook/dp/B07D45VCSL

US – https://www.amazon.com/Started-Note-brand-new-uplifting-adventures-ebook/dp/B07D45VCSL

Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/it-started-with-a-note-a-brand-new-uplifting-read-of-love-and-new-adventures-for-2018

Author Bio –

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of her career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in her hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first romantic comedy novel, ‘The Secret to Falling in Love,’ in 2016.

Cooke’s third novel, Who Needs Men Anyway? became a digital bestseller in 2018.

Social Media Links –

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16345710.Victoria_Cooke

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaCookeAuthor/

Tweets by VictoriaCooke10

https://www.instagram.com/victoriacookewriter/

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of It Started With A Note (UK Only)

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