
by Lorna Cook
World War II & HolocaustAdded on January 12, 2026
‘Transporting and profoundly moving…this is a gripping, sweeping romance to break your heart.’ ―Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House‘A total treat…I was transported by this beautiful tale of sisterhood, family drama, war, and love. The Distant Daughter is an unforgettable read.” ―Jenny Ashcroft, author of Beneath a Burning SkySingapore, 1941: Singapore City lights up with explosions as the first Japanese bombs rain down. Until now, the war has seemed a distant threat for Issey and her friends, drinking and dancing at Raffles. But with the Japanese invasion looming, Issey knows she must leave. Mysterious, handsome Alex Cartwright has sworn he will see her to safety.Cornwall, 2025: Nursing a broken heart, Lamorna flees her life in Singapore, returning to Trelenna, her Cornish family home. With ambitious plans to save and finance the crumbling house, her sister Zennor needs Lamorna’s help.When Zach, a local archivist, suggests telling the house’s story through the family archives, Lamorna discovers a battered leather diary written by Issey, a young woman living a glamorous life in 1940s Singapore.Within its pages, she finds the gripping story of Issey’s desperate escape. Fascinated by the links with her own life, Lamorna longs to know: did Issey and Alex survive the horrors of the Japanese attack on Singapore? And can their story of enduring love, strength and sacrifice inspire Lamorna to embrace a new life—and new love—at Trelenna?The Distant Daughter is an epic, heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly enthralling family story, perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Karen Swan and Kate Morton.
This story is dual timeline and looks at the invasion of Singapore during WWII. This was the first I knew of this and the history was sad, yet intriguing. I loved all the main characters in both timelines. There’s a bit of a mystery surrounding the outcome for several of the main characters during WWII. This definitely had me on the edge of my seat. The romances ran deep. There were two descriptive scenes of sex and some profanity. I chose not to deduct a star for this, though I did blush. Outst
Thank you Amazon Prime for this early review copy. I devoured this novel right from the first page. Loved both timelines, intricately researched, richly layered, fantastic settings and breathtaking love story. Book 2 is too far away!
I haven’t encountered stories inspired by Japanese attacks on SE Asia or Singapore in my reading. So when Amazon first reads offered this book AND it included Singapore AND Cornwall (two favorite locations) I had to read. I liked the emotions encountered by the two lead characters, the balanced supporting roles played by the 3 men along the way, and the near non-fiction possibility of the threadline.

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