Molly's Christmas Orphans

Molly Swift #1

by Carol Rivers

JUNE 1940, EAST LONDON.

Eastender Molly Swift, at 27, has already suffered the tragic loss of her two year old daughter Emily, to the flu outbreak of 1935. Now she waits for news of her shopkeeper husband Ted, who volunteered at the outbreak of war, for the British Expeditionary Forces.

Molly, intent on running the general store with the help of her retired father, Bill Keen and ex-proprietor of the business, listens to the wireless broadcasts on the D Day landings. But Ted perishes, leaving Molly a widow, her only source of income, the store they had built up together.
The East End is soon subject to a horrific blitz by the Luftwaffe and unprepared for the vicious aerial attack on London timed to coincide with the tidal low point of the River Thames. Water mains are severed by the unloading of 10,000 fire bombs on the city. Swift’s General Store in Roper Street falls victim to a fierce explosion. Will Molly and her father survive the impact and is tragedy once again looming large in valiant Molly’s life?

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Christmas, Fiction

415 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2017

About the author

I’ve been fortunate enough to have made my living by writing and I’ve enjoyed a long and harmonious relationship with my publisher, Simon&Schuster. But in recent months I can only stand in awe of the growing and robust numbers of Indie authors whom I admire so much and who have revolutionized the publishing industry. There is fire in the belly of this movement, giving a whole new aspect to the accepted norms in the publishing world. I’m mind-blown at the variety of genres born of digital technology and I’ve made many friends in the Indie world. On-line life for me has become rich and diverse with tales of Indie adventures and successes that are simply staggering. This is mouth-watering stuff and I feel privileged to be here on Goodreads. If you want to know more about my East End novels, with their tough, rough, but warm-hearted Cockney characters, then perhaps you’d like to visit my website at www.carolrivers.com where you’ll gain an insight into the Rivers novels and their history.

Reviews

[Margaret Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and loved the characters. Some say it’s a rather predictable ending but aren’t most of this type of book? I got much more than I expected when I began the story. The author has a wonderful style of describing events which make you feel and ‘see’ what’s going on. Molly is just a beautiful kind lady and I’m glad it all worked out in the end for her and for Cissy after her past escapades which she had been driven to out of the only way she knew how to survive. But it all ends well for the main characters but also reenforced the ravages of WWII in the East End of London and makes me glad I was not alive then like my forefathers. Some survived some didn’t.

[Carol Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t find this book quite as good as the first. Book called ‘A Wartime Christmas’
Somehow I just couldn’t engage with the characters. 🤷‍♀️

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read but slow and predictable at the end

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my top ten books of this year I really enjoyed it. The main character Molly has a strong personality and has had to cope with major problems and changes in her life. Set in the east end of London during the second world war the story starts with Molly, who runs a local store with her father, being at the hospital after a nasty air attack, she is badly dazed and her dad is injured. Here she meets the other main characters in the story, Andy a merchant seaman and his two young children and a young woman Cissy . As you read on you are drawn into the life's of these people and the grit of the wartime east end spirit shines through each page. Carol Rivers writes about the East End of London in a way that you feel you know the people and places so well. If you love East End sagas you will love this book and it will also appeal to fans of call the midwife.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

molly swift widowed and running swifts general store in roper street with her father bill keen during the second world war. after her fathers accident in hospital she meets and forms a unlikely friendship with cissy brown. cissy comes to help molly run the store and taking in evie and mark miller after their mothers death as andy their father is sent back to sea.its a roller coaster ride for them all along the way throughout the war. filled with heartache laughter and tears. loved this read it really tugs on your heartstrings and you just want more. this author has a way of getting you involved in the story all the way through.

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable book to read,highly recommend this read.

[Ann Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story about girl struggling with home, love in WW 2

[Lyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book 5 stars because I really could not put it down. Well written and clearly portrays the East end and the war it endured.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mollys Christmas Orphan was such a brilliant, un-putdownable read, I was so drawn in by the characters of Molly Swift who had already suffered the tragic loss of her two year old daughter, and is now having to go through the outbreak of war, and all the ups and downs it brings.

I read this book within a day, I couldn't put my kindle down, this is a definitely recommended read and will be looking at more books by Carol Rivers.

[Nia Parry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it was just a nice, easy read that gave us an insight into life in the East End during the war. It was a bit like a soap, as it followed the life of the main character and the challenges that she faced. It was easy to follow and was great for a bit of light entertainment reading

[CLAIR Withers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mollys Orphans

Really enjoyed this story. It enabled me to switch off & appreciate how lucky we are to have what we have. It’s a great story about Molly & her life through the war.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas

Carol you have done it again what a brilliant read laughter tears happiness sadness Molly what a woman been through hell , but she had the strength to get through it I felt I was Molly , and the way every one helped each other I was riveted from page 1 and yes crying in places . What can I say if I could of awarded 10 stars I would but only allowed 5 can't wait for your next one so 5 STARS IT IS .

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What lovely a book i really enjoyed the story,Molly and cissy were a great pair together.With all that molly had been through i felt so sorry for her than along comes cissy and the children.Her life turned around and then Andy became her hero,i could say more but i don't want to spoil the book for others but well worth 5*.

[Susan Mcknight · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reader of author Carol Rivers and I haven't been disappointed, couldn't put the book down !! Loved all the characters and Molly what she went through all the heartache and to be rewarded at the end. Cissy loved her and so glad she got the family she needed. Will be reading this author again...

[sheila lowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Molly,

Because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great to read about somebody who goes the extra mile during hard times, helping others when she had such a tough time losing husband and child.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a Carol Rivers book for awhile and this didn't disappoint! Molly is a likeable main character, my favourite was Spot. I hope we revisit them one day when the war is over!

[Mrs Margaret Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

This is a true to life book of the war and the trials that people had to live with. Enjoy

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from Carol Rivers. With Carol's books you can get right into them and find yourself living with the characters. A recommended read.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book and very easy to read. First time reading a Carol Rivers book. I think I will read more

[Carolyn Fitzmaurice · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story set in the Second World War with a very generous heroine who finds happiness after some sad losses.

[janice kordek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book its a book that really pulls you in I just couldn’t put it down so many twists and turns well worth a read

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice enough story but don't feel it was right to put 'Christmas' in the title as it wasn't the main focus of the book.

[Maggie Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not get into this book at all