The Orphan’s Secret Library
Alice Carmichael is an orphan living with her grandmother in Norfolk during the Second World War. Alice tries to escape from the trauma of her parents’ loss by devouring classic literature in her grandmother’s library. But she is pulled out of her reverie in 1943 when tragedy strikes again. Still only 17, Alice is forced to live in a village by an airbase where she befriends sisters Hettie and Hilda. Hettie takes in boarders from the airbase, and Hilda is the postwoman, delivering letters and packages on her bike.
Hilda has an accident, so Alice takes on her role, adding a book swap delivery service and then a library, to cheer up villagers. They include glamourous Clara and disabled Richard. She also befriends handsome American ground crew airman Blake. But this is war. Is everyone who they say they are and who can Alice trust? Things escalate and Alice finds herself in the middle of a spy adventure with the library at the centre of things.
The book is an enjoyable read for those who like old-fashioned romance, and the power of books theme is handled well. However, I found Alice appearing a little too mature for her years, especially on a visit to bombed-out London, and some characters could have been fleshed out more.
