Boon's Bookcase

The Street Orphans

by

Mary Wood

BLOG TOUR

Today, it's my turn on the Blog Tour for the wonderful Mary Wood's new novel, The Street Orphans. I have to admit that this is the first book I have read from this author, but as a saga lover, I'm sure it certainly won't be my last! Please find my review below.

Thank you so much to the author for letting me be a part of this fabulous tour.

Blurb

Born with a club foot in a remote village in the Pennines, Ruth is feared and ridiculed by her superstitious neighbours who see her affliction as a sign of witchcraft. When her father is killed in an accident and her family evicted from their cottage, she hopes to leave her old life behind, to start afresh in the Blackburn cotton mills. But tragedy strikes once again, setting in motion a chain of events that will unravel her family’s lives.

Their fate is in the hands of the Earl of Harrogate, and his betrothed, Lady Katrina. But more sinister is the scheming Marcia, Lady Katrina’s jealous sister. Impossible dreams beset Ruth from the moment she meets the Earl. Dreams that lead her to hope that he will save her from the terrible fate that awaits those accused of witchcraft. Dreams that one day her destiny and the Earl’s will be entwined.

Review

When Ruth's father is tragically killed, the family are turfed out of their home within a day of his death and with nowhere else to go, the family decide to up sticks and move to Blackburn to try and make a new life for themselves in the cotton mills. A tragedy along the way involving a horse and carriage ends with the death of Ruth's mother and the Earl of Harrogate's arrogant, bully of a brother. Never did Ruth or her siblings know that what happened that day, will come back to haunt them all in more ways than they could ever imagine.

The Earl of Harrogate is married to Lady Katrina, but the only person he has on his mind is Ruth. When he tries to help Ruth and her siblings to make a better life for themselves, he doesn't take into account Lady Katrina's scheming sister Marcia, who will do whatever it takes to get the Earl to herself!

There are twists and turns at every corner in this historical saga. It's not secret that I love a saga and this one didn't disappoint! 

In traditional saga style, there are some uncomfortable topics that the author writes about, but I have no doubt that these were the terrible things that women had to endure during those times. 

This was a great story of good over bad, love over hate, rich and poor - everything you need for a really good historical saga!! 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read my first book by this author and as I said before, this will certainly not be my last! 

About the Author

Born in Maidstone, Kent, in 1945, the thirteenth child of fifteen children, Mary's family settled in Leicestershire after the war ended.

Mary married young and now, after 54 years of happy marriage, four children, 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, Mary and her husband live in Blackpool during the summer and Spain during the winter - a place that Mary calls, 'her writing retreat'.

After many jobs from cleaning to catering, all chosen to fit in with bringing up her family, and boost the family money-pot, Mary ended her 9 - 5 working days as a Probation Service Officer, a job that showed her another side to life, and which influences her writing, bringing a realism and grittiness to her novels

Mary first put pen to paper, in 1989, but it wasn't until 2010 that she finally found some success by self-publishing on kindle.

Being spotted by an editor at Pan Macmillan in 2013, finally saw Mary reach her publishing dream.

When not writing, Mary enjoys family time, reading, eating out, and gardening.

One of her favourite past times is interacting with her readers on her Facebook page.

 www.facebook.com/HistoricalNovels
And on her web page: www.authormarywood.com
She is also on Twitter: @Authormary

To order a copy of the book from Amazon click here