Shirley Dickson

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About Shirley Dickson

Shirley says she is a prime example of 'never give up on your dream.'

Shirley is an international bestseller. She signed with Bookouture in 2018 and has written to date three stirring World War Two historical novels.

She lives under the big skies of Northumberland with her husband, family and lucky black cat.
She wrote her first short story at the age of ten for a magazine competition. She didn't win but was hooked on writing for a lifetime. For many years she wrote poetry and short stories and got many rejection slips.

Success followed when Shirley decided to get serious about writing novels after she retired.

Shirley would like to say a huge thank you to her readers, reviewers and book bloggers for their support.

Follow Shirley on her Facebook 'Shirley Dickson Author' page.

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The Lost Children: An absolutely heartbreaking and gripping World War 2 historical novel Sep 30, 2020

by Shirley Dickson

( 3,798 )

$3.99

As they walked towards the railway station, their mother took an envelope from her handbag. ‘I want you to keep this somewhere safe.’
‘What’s in the letter?’
‘Listen carefully. You’re never to open it unless you or your sister are in real trouble. Promise me.’

England, 1943: Home is no longer safe for eight-year-old twins Molly and Jacob. Night after night wailing bombs and screeching planes skim the rooftops overhead. They cradle each other, shivering in terror, not knowing if they will live to see dawn. Their mother, Martha, has no choice but to evacuate them to the safety of the countryside.

At the train station, Martha bites back tears as she says goodbye to her precious children. Knowing she might never see them again, she gives Jacob a letter, pressing the envelope into his hands and telling him to only read it if they are in danger.

In the country, Molly and Jacob must adjust to life with strangers. Every night they dream of returning home to the arms of their beloved mother. But then the unimaginable happens. Martha is killed in an explosion, leaving the twins all alone in the world.

The war has robbed Molly and Jacob of everything – all they have left is one another. Motherless and destitute, they face the grim reality of life in an orphanage. The time has finally come for Jacob to open the letter. What secret does it hold, and could it change the course of their tragic fate? Because if they are together, they can survive anything – but what if they are torn apart?

From the bestselling author of The Orphan Sisters comes an utterly heartbreaking and unforgettable tale of two children who must lean on each other in a time of tragedy and learn the shocking truth of their past. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will be swept away by this sublime World War Two novel.

**Readers absolutely love The Lost Children:**

‘THIS. BOOK. WAS. AMAZING. It made me sob so bad… Beautiful… Everything was perfect.’ The Confessions of a Music and Book Addict, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Right from the very first page this book had me sucked right in. I didn’t want to stop reading it. I was hooked… Utterly fantastic story… Heartbreaking… I will admit to shedding tears. So tissues are a necessity when reading this absolutely awesome book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Completely captivated me… Completely heartwarming and uplifting… Managed to leave me with a smile on my face and a happy feeling in my heart… I was caught at the very first page and didn’t put it down until I’d finished it!… You will absolutely love this!!… Such a wonderful read!!!’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Outstanding… What a fantastic page-turner!… Heart-breaking… Keep the tissues handy because you will need them!’ Goodreads Reviewer,

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback

The Orphan Sisters: An utterly heartbreaking and gripping World War 2 historical novel Jan 22, 2019

by Shirley Dickson

( 2,661 )

$3.99

‘I was gripped from the very first page… It was heartbreaking… I smiled through these happy times with them but also shed tears… I could not put it down… Will undoubtedly pull at your heart-strings. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

A heartbreaking, unputdownable and utterly unforgettable story of two young sisters cruelly abandoned by their mother at an orphanage. Fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe will lose their hearts to this stunning World War Two novel.

1929: Four-year-old Etty and eight-year-old Dorothy are abandoned at Blakely Hall orphanage by their mother, never to see her again. With no other family to speak of, the sisters worship their beloved mam – and they are confused and heartbroken to be deserted by her when they need her the most.

1940: Etty and Dorothy are finally released from the confines of Blakely Hall – but their freedom comes when the country is in the grip of World War Two and its terrors. Amidst a devastating backdrop of screaming air-raid sirens and cold nights huddled in shelters, the sisters are desperate to put their broken childhoods behind them.

But trouble lies ahead. Dorothy must bid goodbye to her beloved husband when he’s sent to war and Etty must nurse a broken heart as she falls in love with the one man she can never be with.

Etty and Dorothy survived the orphanage with the help of one another and neither sister can forget the awful betrayal of their mother, which has haunted them their whole lives. But when a shocking secret about their painful childhood comes to light, will the sisters ever be the same again?

Shirley Dickson's next heart-wrenching novel, Our Last Goodbye is available to order now! Make sure you have the Kleenex ready...

**Readers are losing their hearts to The Orphan Sisters:**

‘Perfect… I could not put it down… Had it finished in just over a day, reading it during every spare minute I had!' Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘A beautiful story! Had me in tears from the very beginning. I couldn't put this one down.’ A Book With Review, 5 stars

‘Outstanding... I absolutely loved this superb page turner.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Make sure you have tissues handy… The story is heartbreaking with a little happiness thrown in… Worthy of 5* and more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Promises to keep you turning the pages as your heart attempts not to break. A book you will lose yourself in!’ All The Good Books

‘A gorgeous character-driven, coming-of-age story about family bonds, love, and hardships of war. Exceptionally beautiful… I have already recommended the book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘A beautifully written coming-of-age story… I didn’t want to put down… Tugs at your heart strings.

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback , MP3 CD

The Outcast Girls: A completely heartbreaking and gripping World War 2 historical novel Jan 24, 2020

by Shirley Dickson

( 1,962 )

$3.99

‘I just couldn't put this one down. I loved every page and I went through an entire box of tissues before I was done. You will keep turning the pages until the very end because you just won't be able to put it down at all.’ Crossroad Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An utterly heartbreaking tale of two young girls, worlds apart, who are thrown together when they have lost everything. Fans of Wives of War, Before We Were Yours and Diney Costeloe will absolutely love this poignant and moving World War Two novel.

Germany, 1939: Eleven-year-old Frieda is boarding a ship bound for England with her little brother, Kurt. Life at home is perilous, with synagogues set alight and innocent lives lost to the Nazis, and they have no choice but to flee. But as Frieda stands on the deck crammed with frightened children, her brother jumps off, back to land.

England, 1939: After a devastating childhood at Blakely Hall Orphanage, seventeen-year-old Sandra longs to put her past behind her. But when war breaks out and her brother Alf is sent to fly bombers, she’s completely alone.

1943: When Sandra and Frieda’s paths cross in the remote countryside, each girl finds a home at last. Facing long, terrifying nights in bunkers, they huddle together as planes roar above them and distant explosions shake them to their cores. They console one another – Frieda, with no idea whether her family have been captured or if her brother survived, and Sandra praying that Alf will live to see tomorrow.

The darkness of war may shroud them but as long as they have each other, they can keep a little light in the world. Will Frieda and Sandra ever be reunited with their loved ones? And will the two handwritten letters bound their way hold news of happiness… or heartbreak?

**Readers are losing their hearts to The Outcast Girls:**

‘Wow. I was totally gone from Chapter 1… The story of Sandra and Freida is one I will not forget for a long time. Written with so much love! While this is my first book by this author it won’t be my last!’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘Heartbreaking and poignant… Best read with a box of tissues handy as this book is sure to make readers tear up and up again.’ Bookish Jottings

‘Outstanding… What a page-turner this beautifully written, heart-wrenching story… This is a real tug-at-your-heartstrings book.’ Chapter Chatter Pub, 5 stars

‘I can honestly say I loved it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Impossible to put down… I unquestionably loved this book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘I didn’t want to put it down!... A beautifully written story that pulls at your heart strings. Another 5-star read from Shirley Dickson!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Wonderful... I loved every page. A heartwarming story of love and sorrow and an endearing friendship.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Rips at your heartstrings.

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback

Our Last Goodbye: An absolutely gripping and emotional World War 2 historical novel May 29, 2019

by Shirley Dickson

( 1,876 )

$3.99

‘Absolutely fabulous… Had me hooked from the very first page… Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions and had me in tears by the end of the book.’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

A heart-wrenching, poignant and totally unforgettable tale of a young woman who must finally face up to the secret she has hidden for a lifetime. A beautiful World War Two novel for fans of Wives of War, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe, that will have you reaching for the Kleenex.

1943, England: On a foggy night during the blackout, twenty-five-year-old May Robinson’s mother is tragically killed. Heartbroken, May isn’t sure she has the strength to harbour the secret she has kept for so many years – a secret her mother devoted her life to hiding, that would tear their broken family even further apart.

Vowing to make her mother proud, May trains to be a nurse at Edgemoor General hospital in South Shields, against a backdrop of wailing air-raid sirens and the eternal drone of enemy planes. Tending to wounded, ashen-faced soldiers, fighting to save lives, May is immediately drawn to kind-hearted Richard Bentley, who works tirelessly alongside her. He has sparkling brown eyes, and makes her laugh.

In the darkest of days, amongst death and despair, May and Richard are beacons of hope for one another. But why isn’t he fighting in the war like thousands of other brave young men?

May knows how she longs to escape her own past, and her mother’s. In this perilous time of such uncertainty, she finds herself asking – how well do they really know each other? And when the shocking truth of May’s secret comes to light, just as the war comes too close to home, can their love survive the impossible?

**Readers are absolutely loving Our Last Goodbye:**

'What an emotional journey... Had me spellbound... A truly emotional read that had me shed tears of happiness and sadness… May’s story is one that will certainly pull on the heart strings and I loved every minute of it.’ By The Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘This book is an absolute treasure beyond words! From page one I couldn't put it down! May's story of true sadness and loss during World War Two brought me to tears!… Anyone that loves a great historical read will fall in love with this book immediately as I did!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

'I absolutely loved it!... An emotional, heart-wrenching story of love and loss amidst the horror of war... Will tug at your heartstrings... Will have you reaching for the tissues... Wonderful.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Oh boy, I have to say that Our Last Goodbye was one seriously awesome read. I absolutely loved it… Is exceedingly well written... Unputdownable… Oh my word... Will tug on even the toughest of heartstrings… My eyes welled up and I definitely needed a box of tissues.’ Ginger Book Geek, 5 stars

‘Fantastic… Loved this beautiful story… Fabulous… Have tissues handy.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Absolutely fabulous!...

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback , Audio CD

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**Readers absolutely love The Lost Children:**

**Readers are losing their hearts to The Orphan Sisters:**

**Readers are losing their hearts to The Outcast Girls:**

**Readers are absolutely loving Our Last Goodbye:**

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