The Foundling - Stacey Halls

Bess has no option but to leave baby Clara at The Foundling, a hospital where children are raised and looked after until their mothers can come back for them if their situations ever improve. After 6 years of saving money, Bess thinks she finally has enough to get her daughter back but when she goes to claim her, she's told that Clara has already been claimed!

How heartbreaking it must be to have to leave your baby somewhere, even if you believe that they will be better cared for there than you could ever do. It seems like Bess has such a hard life, though even she is better off than some of the others leaving their babies. It's wonderful how her father, Abe's, care for Bess is described even though he seems so gruff and untalkative. On the other hand, her brother Ned talks as if he cares but doesn't actually do anything to help her or the family. The two men are so opposite in their behaviours.

There are so many mysteries, I never could have imagined how this would be resolved, but it does have a wonderful ending.

I really loved listening to this audiobook. It is full of such wonderful descriptions and heartfelt emotions and the narration is great, really bringing the story to life.

I've slightly adapted a Lost & Found Cocktail to fit the ingredients I have at home. Shake the following ingredients with lots of ice: 2 shots of gin, 1 shot of apple sourz, a dash of sugar syrup and 6 dashes of angostura bitters. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice and top up with soda.