Lost Daughter Of India

One woman. One impossible choice. Her daughter or her happiness ... When Caroline meets Kamal the attraction is instant. He's enchanting, charismatic and she can't wait to set up a new life with him in India. Both their families are against the union but Caroline is convinced they'll come round, especially when she gives birth to a beautiful daughter, Asha. Asha is an adorable child but Caroline, homesick and beginning to hate the remote Indian village they live in, struggles with motherhood. Kamal is hardly ever there and she feels more and more isolated. In the grips of severe depression Caroline flees back to America, leaving Asha behind. Ten years later ... Caroline recovered from her illness, is consumed by thoughts of the daughter she abandoned. Desperate to find Asha, she reunites with Kamal, intent on tracking her down. Will they ever be able to find their lost daughter? If they have any chance, they must confront the painful truths of the past and a terrible secret that has been kept for many years, until now. A heart-breaking and beautifully written story of loss, secrets and the strength of a mother's love against all odds. If you enjoyed Diane Chamberlain and Lucinda Riley then this book will find its way into your heart and stay there. What everyone is saying about Sharon Maas: 'I have read and loved all of Sharon Maas's books but this one! Wow! I think this is her most emotional and beautiful book yet! Such a powerful story, so brilliantly narrated, in such a way that you feel part of it all and are left bereft when it is finished. Five Stars!' Renita D'Silva 'This book has everything. Great characters, interesting perspective and strong settings. Put all these together with a fantastic writing style and this easily makes my top 10 books of 2016 list.' Lexi Reads 'Heartbreaking, poignant and intriguing ...This truly is a powerful story that will fascinate and engross you from the very beginning until the very end. ' What's Better than Books 'The writing is stunningly evocative and sensual ...I just felt immersed in the story and setting from the start.' The Book Trail 'Exceptional ... evokes a whole range of emotions.' Batty About Books 'A beautifully written story of love against all the odds.' Portobello Book Blog 'A wonderful and heartrending book.' Sean's Book Reviews 'A beautiful mesmerising work ... I was completely transported.' Krafti Reader 'A terrific writer.' Barbara Erskine 'A page-turning story, full of humanity, crossing cultures and continents, reminiscent of Andrea Levy.' Katie Fforde 'A beautiful story about tragic love and ultimately about forgiveness... with powerful messages about love, life and learning to let things go in order to be happy.' Life With Joy 'Rich in detail and emotion and has the most beautiful and real description of loss I have ever read.' Shaz's Book Blog

A family on a faraway island. Seas crawling with Japanese spies. A terrible war creeping ever closer… 1940 When Rosie loses her mother and is sent to Sri Lanka to live with her mother’s friend Silvia and her three sons, her world changes in a heartbeat. As she is absorbed into the bosom of a noisy family, with boys she loves like brothers, she begins to feel at home. But the war in Europe is heading for Asia. Searching for comfort from the bleak news and the bombings, Rosie meets a heroic soldier on leave, and falls in love for the first time. Yet the war will not stop for passion; he must move on, and she must say goodbye, knowing she might never see him again. She is left with just a memory. Meanwhile, one by one, the men she considers brothers leave to fight for their island paradise. As she waits in anguish for letters that never come, tortured by stories of torpedoed ships and massacres of innocent families, she realises that she, too, must do her bit. Rosie volunteers to work in military intelligence, keeping secrets that will help those she loves and protect her island home. But then two telegrams arrive with the chilling words ‘missing believed captured’ and ‘missing believed dead’. Who of those that she loves will survive the devastating war, and who will she lose? An emotional and heartbreaking read with rich historical detail set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka during World War Two. Fans of Hazel Gaynor, Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah and Clare Flynn will be swept away by Those I Have Lost. What everyone’s saying about Those I Have Lost: ‘An emotional and heartbreaking story… Will keep you up all night reading this book!... five stars!’ Tropical Girl Reads Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book was beyond amazing.’ Bookstagram ‘I loved the characters in this book… This was my first book by Sharon Maas but it definitely won’t be my last as it was a well researched and engrossing read.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A similar writing style to Victoria Hislop… took me on a journey through Asia during the Second World War… I couldn’t put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A stunning novel of WWII, of loves lost and found and the resiliency of the human spirit to survive and begin again.’ Fictionvixenreads ‘Unforgettable characters and setting!’ Cayo Costa What everyone’s saying about Sharon Maas: ‘If only I could give this book 100 stars rather than 5!… Captivated me right from the start. This book is epic, a mesmerizing book of strength through unimaginable losses… Heartbreaking and beautifully written, this is a gripping tale of bravery… One of the best and most memorable historical books I've ever read!’ Deanne’s Book Thoughts, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Blew me away and I absolutely loved it… Oh my goodness me this was one seriously fantastically, heartwrenching tale… I became addicted… this book got to me more than any other book I have read… one hell of a fantastically brilliant book.’ Ginger Book Geek, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘If only I could give this book 100 stars rather than 5!... This book is epic, a mesmerizing book of strength through unimaginable losses… Heartbreaking and beautifully written this is a gripping tale of bravery… One of the best and most memorable historical books I’ve ever read!’ Deanne’s Book Thoughts, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When the Nazis march onto the cobbled streets of Colmar on November 1st 1940, Josef, a Jewish violin maker, gathers his wife and daughters closely to him and tells them everything will be alright. But one year later, three sharp knocks on the door at midnight turn his seventeen year old daughter Sarah’s world upside down. As the oldest child, Sarah must be the first to leave her family, to make her escape in a perilous journey across France via Paris to Poitiers. And she must hide who she is and take a new name for her own safety. For now, bilingual Sarah is no longer a French Jew but a German girl. As she bids farewell to her beloved father and family, Sarah has hope, against all odds, that she will see them again when the war is over. But, travelling through the mountains she finds herself in terrible danger and meets Ralf, a German deserter, who risks his own life to save her. Ralf and Sarah continue their journey together, keeping their identities secret at all cost. But when Ralf is captured, will Sarah pay the ultimate price for sharing who she really is? A gripping and heart-breaking account of love, bravery and sacrifice during the terror of war. A story of standing up for what you believe in; even if it’s going to break your heart. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Ragged Edge of Night. Readers have fallen in love with The Violin Maker’s Daughter : ‘From the minute I opened this book I was completely enthralled. I couldn’t put it down. It was well thought out and expertly written… Really a great read and I can’t wait to look into other books by this author!’ Being Perry, 5 stars ‘This is the first book I have read by Sharon Maas and from the moment I started reading it I just could not wait to continue reading it. It’s sad, its poignant, its uplifting and it tells the wonderful story of Sarah, the violin makers daughter and her journey as she flees her home country, to escape Nazi's …Beautifully written and a memorable read.’ Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Sharon Maas never disappoints! She is one of my favourite authors and with this wonderful, harrowing, heart breaking tale of courage and love in the face of unimaginable danger, she has cemented her place as one of the best historical fiction writes of today, right up there with Antony Doerr and Kristin Hannah. I SO loved this beautiful story… so stunningly realised. …I would very highly recommend this book and give it ten stars if I could. If you're going to read one war book this year which marks the 75th anniversary of D-day, make it this one!’ Renita D’Silva, 5 stars ‘A gripping, heartbreaking, but yet heartwarming historical fiction (that is based on real facts concerning Colmar, Alsace and Lorraine as well as French and German Resistance)... It is raw and emotional, yet a necessary story to tell … A great read. 5/5 stars’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘I loved it! Once I started reading, I could not stop... I was on the edge of my seat… This is the first book I have read by this writer, I am eager for more!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A heart wrenching story of bravery, love and sacrifice.’ For the Love of Books ‘I’m a huge fan of historical fiction and this one didn’t disappoint. I felt it was a good book about the horrors of wartime France.’Goodreads Reviewer

“I always hoped [Mary Williams] would tell her incredible story. She's a writer of uncommon clarity and humor, and the arrival of her memoir is cause for celebration." —Dave Eggers, author of What is the What As she grew up in 1970s Oakland, California, role models for Mary Williams were few and far between: her father was often in prison, her older sister was a teenage prostitute, and her hot-tempered mother struggled to raise six children alone. For all Mary knew, she was heading down a similar path. But her life changed when she met Jane Fonda at summer camp in 1978. Fonda grew attached to the bright girl and eventually invited her to become part of her family, becoming the mother Mary never had. Mary’s life since has been one of adventure and opportunity—from hiking the Appalachian Trail solo, working with the Lost Boys of Sudan, and living in the frozen reaches of Antarctica. Her most courageous trip, though, involved returning to Oakland and reconnecting with her biological mother and family, many of whom she hadn’t seen since the day she left home. The Lost Daughter is a chronicle of her journey back in time, an exploration of fractured family bonds, and a moving epic of self-discovery.

‘You and me – we’re sisters, not enemies. We’ve got a real enemy at our door and we need to focus on that – together, united. I don’t want to be fighting you as well.’ In the small French town of Colmar, swastikas hang from lampposts, tanks are lined up outside the town hall, and twenty-one-year-old Marie-Claire is in love. She will do anything for her childhood friend Jacques, including spying on her German boss, Dietrich Kurtz. Anything to make Jacques see her in a new light, as something more than just a silly little girl. But when Jacques rejects her, everything changes. Mortified and stung, Marie-Claire feels the need for revenge. She turns her back on those she loves and is catapulted into a new life. Her little sister Victoire is aghast at her sister’s traitorous behaviour, not least because Marie-Claire is endangering Victoire’s own life-threatening mission, hiding Jewish refugees in their mother’s wine cellar. And when Marie-Claire marries Kurtz, Victoire knows her relationship with her sister has been poisoned for ever. But when Victoire learns someone she loves is in terrible danger, her only choice is to trust the sister who betrayed her. Kurtz, Marie-Claire’s cruel and heartless husband, has key information and Victoire must persuade Marie-Claire to obtain it, even if it means risking Marie-Claire’s life. As secrets come to light and close bonds are broken, will the sisters be able to heal old wounds? An unforgettable and unputdownable story of two sisters ripped apart by World War 2. Fans of The Nightingale and The Ragged Edge of Night will fall in love with Her Darkest Hour. Praise for Her Darkest Hour: ‘I adore, admire and look up to this author. She is one of my absolute favourite writers - I read anything and everything she writes and needless to say she never disappoints… this is definitely her best book yet. Beautiful and powerful, heartbreaking and empowering…. Everyone needs to read this book now more than ever. If you are going to read one book during these strange extraordinary times we are all living through make it this one.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this novel, with its wonderful cast of characters and gorgeous prose. The storyline was engaging and flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great historical novel with interesting characters’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It's a beautifully descriptive read that made me feel as if I was standing on the sideline watching the story play out until the end’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I love historical fiction, and I really enjoyed this. It's my first novel by Sharon Maas, and it definitely won't be my last. The story is beautifully written.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book… a powerful read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I really liked this book! There is a lot of depth to it … There were several parts, I couldn't breathe thinking the character was going to get caught.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Praise for Sharon Maas: ‘If only I could give this book 100 stars rather than 5!… This book is epic, a mesmerizing book of strength through unimaginable losses… Heart-breaking and beautifully written, this is a gripping tale of bravery… One of the best and most memorable historical books I’ve ever read!’ Deanne’s Book Thoughts, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Adopted from India when she was six and raised in Spain, the author takes a heart-wrenching trip back to India as an adult to uncover her roots and discover a sister she never knew.

‘I was utterly mesmerized… powerful, moving, and heartwarming… I devoured this book, and it is no doubt a five-star read.’ Goodreads reviewer Perhaps it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Perhaps it’s true that you only know what you truly love when you no longer have it. But I wouldn’t have known any of this if I hadn’t left it all behind to discover where my home truly was… Growing up in British Guiana in the 1950s, Sharon Maas has everything a shy child with a vivid imagination could wish for. She spends her days studying bugs in the backyard, eating fresh mangos straight from the tree and tucked up on her granny’s lap losing herself in books. But with her father campaigning for the country’s independence and her mother away for work, there’s a void in Sharon’s heart, and she craves rules and structure. The books she devours give her a glimpse of life in a faraway country: England. And although none of the characters in these books look like her, her insatiable curiosity leads Sharon to beg to be sent to boarding school. Life at a conservative, Christian school is quite different from Sharon’s liberal, atheist upbringing. Girls march silently and single file along corridors and earn badges for deportment. There are twice-daily hymns, grace before and after meals and mandatory bedside prayers. And, all the girls are posh and white, while Sharon is the only one with dark skin. Will she ever fulfil her dream of horseback riding over green hills and going on adventures like her literary heroes? And has she truly found what she was looking for in this chilly corner of the world, thousands of miles away from home? You will be swept off your feet by the unputdownable story of Sharon Maas’s extraordinary childhood in British Guiana and England, a beautiful and inspiring coming-of-age tale of self-discovery, determination and chasing your dreams. Praise for The Girl from Lamaha Street: ‘To say this story was inspirational would be an understatement. I was utterly mesmerized… As a woman of color, I recognized myself and my experiences in the pages of this memoir… powerful, moving, and heartwarming… I devoured this book, and it is no doubt a five-star read.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Beautiful. Poignant. Phenomenal. This was a beautiful read and I learnt so much. I cried and I smiled and there was nothing more that I wanted from this book. Truly a gem.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Enlightening… powerful… Beautifully written… I found myself turning and turning, immersed in the story. A wonderful, evocative read.’ Nicki’s Book Blog ‘Engaging and intriguing… so good that I was completely enthralled from beginning to end.’ NetGalley reviewer ‘An incredibly moving, truly inspiring story of the power of determination. An absolutely stunning read.’ Katharine Birbalsingh ‘Fascinating and poignant… an astoundingly honest and intimate memoir.’ Angela Petch