I’m happy to say I am bringing you my review on my tour stop for The Runaway Children by Lindsey Hutchinson. Thank you to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for my copy of the book.
A heart-warming saga about surviving against the odds and finding a family, from top 10 bestseller Lindsey Hutchinson.
In two rundown, abandoned houses, at the side of a barren Black Country heath, live six children with no family but each other. Abandoned or orphaned, every day is a fight to find food and keep warm. But they are determined to stay free of the clutches of the workhouse and the horrors that would face them if they were ever torn apart.
Dora Parsons lives with her mother Mary and her evil grandmother Edith. Edith’s house may be comfortable and warm, and food is plentiful, but every day Dora suffers at the hands of her spiteful gran. Desperate to protect her child, Mary longs to run away but she has no money to keep them alive and nowhere else to call home.
When fate intervenes and Mary and Dora meet the children, events are set in train that will change all their lives forever. But will the friends find peace and comfort at last, or does the chill of the winter signal the most desperate ending of all…
The Queen of Black Country sagas is back with a heart-breaking, page-turning story of survival, friendship and what it means to be a family. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.
I have read several of Lindsey Hutchinson’s books and can always guarantee that whichever book you are reading will tug at your heartstrings one moment and be heartwarming the next. I expected nothing less than this as I began The Runaway Children.
Dora Parsons is a young girl who lives, along with her mum at her grandmother’s house due to financial issues. Her grandmother, Edith, is a nasty woman who makes Dora and her mothers life’s hell. Dora befriends ‘Skinny’, a boy who lives in 2 abandoned houses along with other children who she also makes friends with. Her grandmother is determined Dora won’t have friends, so she does her utmost to deter them all. Dora’s mum knows that they need to get away after Dora’s grandmother breaks her arm. How will they manage to break away from Dora’s grandmother? No money and no job won’t get them far, will it? Will Dora’s new friends help, or will they have to stay?
A historical saga that is set around the 1880s, when workhouses were common and struck fear into the heart of many people who found themselves in dire straits. The author has created characters that you take to your heart immediately…well, everyone apart from Edith, Dora’s nasty grandmother. Well developed and believable, you can’t help rooting for Dora and her mum as they put up with the horrible behaviour of Edith towards them. It’s heartbreaking to think this is how some people lived back then.
Lindsey Hutchinson has woven a tale that is magical in its telling. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions as the story unfolded. The ending is beautiful, too. I was totally captivated by this story and got so involved. I was sorry as I got to the end of the book so quickly, but that is the sign of a good book, after all.
A story that will inspire you and warm your heart as Lindsey Hutchinson’s storytelling always does. A highly recommended read for any historical saga readers out there.
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Author Bio
Lindsey Hutchinson is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children. She was born and raised in Wednesbury, and was always destined to follow in the footsteps of her mother, the multi-million selling Meg Hutchinson.
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