The Lost Girls of St Ann’s

???? ‘I was gripped throughout, falling in deep, empathetic love with the characters.’ P.H., Amazon reader‘Has that rare ability to write about love, motherhood and friendship without sentimentality.’ Val McDermid‘Complex and satisfying.’ The Sunday Times‘Warm, compassionate and engrossing.’ Yorkshire Evening PostThree babies born the same night — to three young mothers, worlds apart but connected by fate.Discover the heart-wrenching and utterly unforgettable story of three young mothers, and the precious baby girls they gave away.Manchester, 1960.When you’re young, unmarried and pregnant, in a shaming society that will never understand, there’s only one place left to go. St Ann’s mother and baby home.That’s how restless Joan, who dreams of a glamorous new life in the Big Smoke, finds herself shut away with two unlikely new roommates: spirited Megan and timid country-girl Caroline, who fell pregnant on her first time. Abandoned by their families, they have no one to rely on but each other, as they wait out the days before they birth their babies — only to be parted from them forever.On a sultry May night, before the stroke of midnight, three baby girls are born — and given away to three eagerly waiting families.But for Joan, Megan and Caroline, birth is just the beginning. Try as they might to move on with life beyond the convent walls, their mistakes have a way of catching up with them.When the past comes knocking, the three women are forced to confront the choices they made. Will they ever be reunited with their lost daughters?Please note this book was previously published as Trio.Readers of Shirley Dickson, Freda Lightfoot, Sally Worboyes, Bill Kitson, Tania Crosse, Pam Howes and Sold on a Monday are sure to be swept away by this emotional family saga, spanning four decades and three generations. Just be sure you have a box of Kleenex at the ready . . .Readers are losing their hearts to The Lost Girls of St Ann’s:‘Engrossing.’ Sunday Telegraph????? ‘I love books about women’s strength, society and human emotion. The Lost Girls had it all!’ Grace‘Poignant and true to life. I couldn’t put it down.’ Maureen Crank, CEO of After Adoption‘A captivating story filled with tears, tragedy, humour and happiness.’ Booklist‘Intelligent and emotionally engaging.’ Daily Telegraph???? ‘As I turned the pages I kept sobbing, sometimes with sheer joy and relief and sometimes with deep sorrow . . . Staincliffe’s powers of observation are acute.’ P.H.‘Homespun, humane, deeply satisfying . . . Staincliffe writes brilliantly and compassionately about things that matter.’ Literary Review????? ‘I hated having to put this book down. An emotional read.’ Mary????? ‘Really enjoyed this book . . . a very engaging read.’ GertrudeALSO BY CATH STAINCLIFFEDETECTIVE JANINE LEWIS MYSTERIESBook 1: BLUE MURDERBook 2: HIT AND RUNBook 3: MAKE BELIEVEBook 4: DESPERATE MEASURES