The Orphan's Mother — Marion Kummerow

“Heartbreaking… Had me in tears so many times… Sure to tug at your heartstrings over and over again. I devoured this book in one sitting… Completely unputdownable… Absolutely heartbreaking.” Pageturners ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



1945, the German-Polish border: A mother and her little boy are torn apart, and with the Nazis on one side and Soviet forces approaching on the other, so begins an unforgettable tale of courage, heartbreak and motherhood in wartime.



In the icy grip of winter, Emma is about to face the most impossible decision -- stay to search for her missing son, or get her daughter to safety.


In the last days of the Nazis, she's desperately trying to escape Poland, with her two young children and little more than the clothes on their backs. With the Russian Red Army advancing, she knows their safety relies on them crossing the border, even if it's into the Nazi warzone. She swears to herself that she'll do whatever it takes to keep their family together.


But before they can reach the border, her little boy Jacob falls ill, his once-sparkling blue eyes getting dimmer with each moment that passes. And Emma knows she has to get him to a hospital, where she hands him to a kind nurse, saying to him “If we are separated, Jacob, know that I'll come looking for you. And I'll always find you.”



She feels sure they will be reunited the next day. But then the bombing starts. And when she reaches the hospital again, she finds it deserted, her darling son gone. 


Though her heart tells her she has to stay and find him, she faces an impossible choice. She would risk her own life for Jacob in a heartbeat, but as her daughter Sophie's tiny, frozen hand slips into her own, Emma is forced to make a heartbreaking decision. Unable to find any trace of her beloved son, she knows she must at least get her daughter to safety.


But she can never forget the promise she made to her little boy. That if they were ever separated, she'd come looking for him. That she'd always find him. 


Whatever the danger, whatever the risk. She knows what she has to do. Because there is nothing stronger than a mother's love…


An utterly unforgettable and devastating story, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Stolen from her Mother and Sold on a Monday. 


Readers are loving The Orphan's Mother:



“Heart-wrenching… Tugged at the heart strings like nothing I have read… Intense and emotional… Profoundly touching.” @Fiction_Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


“I was so consumed… that I read it in a day (and believe me… that is something I don't think I have ever done before)… Heart-wrenching… I really couldn't put it down… Unforgettable.” Novel Delights ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


“My heart broke and I could deeply feel the agony both the children and mothers were experiencing. Grab tissues before you read… Spectacular… A unique slice of WW2 history.” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


“A heart-wrenching book that shows the effects of war on families and what happens when those families are ripped apart. A truly heartbreaking read that made me cry many times.” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


“A heart-rending story of how war tears families apart, the lengths a mother will go to to protect her children, this book was beautifully written and descriptive, couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


“A heartbreaking and emotional book that will tear you up… Memorable… Very touching… This book will take you on a journey that will make you emotional and heartbroken at the same time. Worth five stars!” Tropicalgirlreadsbooks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


“Will tug at your heartstrings… Marion Kummerow is a born storyteller… Loved this.” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐