MY REVIEW
I hadn't read any of Lynette's books until The Workhouse Girl even though her novels have caught my eye over and over again. Why? Because I am a huge fan of stories set in the workhouse or amongst the poor the Victorian period.
This book stars heroine Enid Hardcastle and follows her, her friends and family as they struggle through the hardships of the working class families living and working in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil. Enid eventually lands a position as a maid of all work at one of the 'big houses' and the story follows her interactions with the people above and below stairs.
Well written and evocative, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it kept me turning the pages - I particularly liked getting to know the secondary characters who were as well-drawn as the protagonist. A recommended read for any fan of the workhouse saga!
Once a workhouse girl, always a workhouse girl...
Enid Hardcastle has always had a hard life, but when
her family can’t make ends meet and are moved to the workhouse, it feels like
things can’t get any worse.
But luckily for Enid, her friendship with local boy
Jimmy gives her the strength she needs. Also from the cold, hard streets of
Merthyr, Jimmy has made his name as an entrepreneur, repairing boots and
hand-delivering them to the fine people of the town.
Enid has seen for herself that you can make a better
life for yourself, so with Jimmy’s help, she sets about trying to save her
family.
But there are even darker places than the workhouse,
and as the rumour mill churns, it appears there’s an even more dangerous fate
she will need to avoid…
An emotional and
nostalgic historical saga that will have you turning pages, engrossed. Perfect
for fans of Sheila Newberry and Lynn Johnson.
Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/workhousegirlsocial
Author Bio –
Lynette Rees lives in Wales and has been writing
since she was a child. She's in the fortunate position of being a hybrid author
- as well as independently publishing some of her novels, she's also published
with Boldwood Books.
The Winter Waif, the story of one young girl's
struggle to overcome adversity following the death of her mother, was published
by Boldwood Books in January 2024. This will be followed by two other titles
focusing on the lives of another two children growing up in the bustling Welsh town
of Merthyr Tydifl where the ironworks and coalpits are the main industries and
a life of hardship is the norm. The second in the series, The Workhouse Girl,
will be published on May the 31st. This book tells the tale of a fourteen year
old girl whose family hits hard times when her father loses his job at the
ironworks and they’ve little choice other than to enter the workhouse. This
will be followed by a third book at the end of the year.
Lynette enjoys the freedom of writing in a variety
of genres including: crime fiction and contemporary romance, though her first
love is historical fiction which complements her interest in local history and
genealogy. When she's not writing, or even when she is writing, Lynette enjoys
a glass of wine and the odd piece of chocolate as she creates stories where the
characters guide her hand. She honestly has no idea how a story will turn out
until the characters tell their own tales in their own unique ways.
The most important thing to Lynette is her family
and her stories illustrate this with their warm characters who often show a
great deal of compassion for others and the plight they find themselves in.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlynetterees
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynetteRees0
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/LynetteReesNews
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lynette-rees
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