Those I Have Lost

‘An emotional and heartbreaking read… Unforgettable… Exceptional… As soon as I thought I could exhale, my heart was once again broken.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As a terrible war creeps ever closer, one young woman desperately tries to protect those she loves…

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.

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:

‘Completely pulled me in… Beyond amazing… Captivating… Unforgettable… This is without a doubt, a must, must read.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An emotional and heartbreaking story… Will keep you up all night reading this book!… Five stars!’ Tropical Girl Reads Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved the characters… This was my first book by Sharon Maas but it definitely won’t be my last… Engrossing.’ 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

‘Just beautiful… A masterpiece… Stunning writing… A must read’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Another stunning read from Sharon Maas!… Beautiful, well-written captivating, poignant’ A Haven for Book Lovers

‘Unforgettable characters and setting!’ Cayo Costa