Scattered

I hadn't realised the Home Children Migrant Scheme existed, so was very interested to read about this. And ever since growing up with Anne of Green Gables, I've loved stories set in Canada, and Nova Scotia in particular, so I was thrilled to return there in this book. The storyline was interesting, with shipwrecks, remote islands, heroes and villains, and an ongoing mystery to solve. I was annoyed by the naivety of Maggie and Nash, who both seemed to think they could divulge everything they knew to the 'bad guys' without suffering any consequences. Other than that, and the lack of any real mention of God other than the odd mention of Providence controlling things, I enjoyed this book by new author Nola Lorraine. Well worth a look.

Nola's debut novel, Scattered, follows the story of Maggie in her quest to find her lost brother and sister. Maggie must overcome devastating circumstances and a classic villain to get to her family. I was enthralled by the powerful and poetic descriptions of Maggie's struggles, and I was particularly struck by the disaster on page one-it kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next! Scattered is beautifully written and the courage of the female protagonist is compelling. An uplifting historical fiction with touches of faith, romance and the love of family and friends.

Scattered is a historical novel mostly set in Nova-Scotia in 1882. Maggie's parents both died from illnesses in England and she was separated from her younger brother and sister while she was working In Europe as a governess. Her orphaned siblings were sent to Canada without her knowledge as part of the Home Children Migrant Scheme to work on Canadian farms. \\n\\nMaggie's mission to find her brother and sister doesn't begin well when the ship she travels on is caught in a wild storm and she is shipwrecked on Sable Island. Maggie eventually makes it to Halifax but encounters many obstacles including an over-attentive factory owner and an inquisitive newspaper reporter who turns out to be more valuable than he first appears. \\n\\nThis is an enjoyable story with many twists and turns as Maggie investigates the disappearance of her brother and sister. There is adventure, mystery and romance as Maggie is sometimes so close to locating them but at other times seems unlikely to ever see them again. \\n\\nNola Lorraine has crafted a well-written and well-researched story which moves at a good pace. It's interesting to read about this period of history and appreciate the difficulties that many faced. \\n\\nOverall a great read. \\n

Scattered,' Nola Lorraine's debut novel is a Christian historical fiction novel, with a hint of mystery and romance. Maggie O' Loughlin is trying to find her brother and sister who were sent to Canada as part of the Home Children Migrant Scheme. Industrialist and Board member for Home children Thaddeus Tharaday offers to help find the children, but Maggie always seems to be one step behind them. With the help of the charming reporter, Nash Halliwell the mystery starts to unfold. Maggie is a caring character with a strong love for family, who relies too much on her own strength; until tragedy strikes and she learns that God will never leave her. While the characters are believable they are a bit two dimensional and the relationships formed are underdeveloped. Overall it is a well written book however the ending is slightly rushed. 'Scattered' is a suspenseful, easy read that readers of historical Christian romance will enjoy.