August 1, 2012
Hanna Foster and her younger brother, Jack, were orphaned when they were young children and spent a lonely childhood in a London orphanage, Hanna acting as de facto mother to Jack. When Jack is placed with a greengrocer, the pair thinks they could be a new beginning, but the man is a slave driver, and Jack decides to escape, enlisting in the merchant navy. Hanna is fortunate to find a position as nanny to a well-to-do family with three-year-old twins, and, suddenly, life for the Fosters looks rosy. Jack loves being at sea, and Hanna has found a kind and generous employer and loves looking after her two young charges. But when WWII breaks out, the pair fears their happiness will be short-lived. Will the war change everything? Or will it strengthen the spirited siblings? Matthews' latest historical romance is sure to appeal to fans of the genre, who will be delighted with the old-fashioned innocence of the story, the heavily nostalgic tone, and the brave, winning, and plucky Fosters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)