The story if the resilience of one young girl who lost everythingin the destruction of Coventry, She put aside her grief to save other broken lives and bring hope to so many not least of which was a little orphan thief, When people come together in love they can conquer hopelessness. There is a lesson to be learned in these pages. A real heartwarming story.

Family is those you love

The Orphan thief was set in WWII but it was surprisingly different. What a refreshing read.

Ruby, returning home found her home demolished, her parents and siblings dead. At sixteen she was overwhelmed with grief. She ran to her grandmother's house only to find that her home was gone as well. A disaster worker helping the neighbor Fred to the hospital told her to check to see if her grandmother was among the injured. She found her grandmother on the deceased list as well. What to do now? The first night she slept in the park in a den in the ground. The next day she found food in town at a Red Cross truck. She decided to go to Fred's house her grandmother's neighbor, he was gone, but she spent the night there. The next day they started demolishing the houses on the block as they were unsafe. She then went to her family's bookkeeper's office, as she knew no one else. He was deceased in his chair from a heart attack. When the workers came to take him away she let them think he was her Uncle and would watch over his home. She then went to see a friend of her mother's , Helen, that used to buy dresses from her mother, who was a seamstress. She took papers to Helen from the bookkeeper's desk and found out the land and property belonged to her father and was now hers.

This is the beginning. How Ruby brings Fred and Beatrice and finally the young boy , Tommy to live with her and how Fred and Beatrice
become guardians for both her and Tommy is within the story told in the book. Also her romance with John the Canadian Army photographer. The story of Tommy and the evil Earl and how he came to know Ruby is also in the story told. It tells the story of how Ruby, a young lady transforms into an adult. It also tells the story of a young orphan boy Tommy and his life as a thief.

It is a sad story at times with the loss of Ruby's family, but there is so much love from others it is a happy story. Ruby is so resourceful and so grown up at an early age.

The story is heartwarming, the characters are so charming and true to life it is like watching it all play out in your head. I sincerely enjoyed this book with a breath of fresh air into the WWII genre. I know that you will enjoy it as well. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Glynis Peters, One More Chapter / HarperCollins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book.

A story of a teen's courage and determination during WWII. Left an orphan after bombs fell over Coventry, Ruby is determined to make a positive contribution. She strives to see the Shadwell name live on. The characters are likeable and interesting. Rather predictable story but enjoyable.

Ruby Shadwell did not expect to see what she saw. After running an errand for her mother she returns home to find a crater where her home stood. Her parents, younger brother and sister had been in that house. They were gone. She rushes to the next street to look for her grandmother. That home is also gone.
At the age of sixteen dury Hitler's blitz, alone was not the ideal place to find herself. She knows that her family is gone. But she carries the Shadwell name and will do everything in her power to honor that name. To make the name mean something in her town of Covington. She will not leave her town, she will strengthen it and offer hope for everyone that has had si much loss.
A book written about the bravery and determination of a young girl. Heartwarming, well worth reading!

Enjoyed this historical novel very much. The characters were well drawn and the story flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended.

4 stars

This is a wonderful, if predictable read. It is the story of sixteen-year old Ruby Shadwell who while delivering something to a neighbor, her entire family is wiped out by a German bomb in Coventry, England.

As she makes her way in her new world, she learns much and discovers the value of neighbors, friendship and self-reliance. She grows up quickly and becomes somewhat embarrassed by her previous “childish” behavior as she now sees it.

She meets neighbor Fred who is slightly shell-shocked, Beatty, the semi-adorable Tommy and of course her beloved Jean-Paul or John as he prefers to be called. She has encounters with evil people out to get what they can and those who generously give of their time and resources.

I liked this book. It was entertaining and gave much information about the conditions post-bomb attack in England. While it described the horrific conditions the survivors had to endure, it also spoke of hope and the endurance of the human spirit.

I want to thank Harper Impulse and Killer Reads/One More Chapter for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters is an interesting, enveloping, and enjoyable historical fiction book that makes for a great, fast read.

This book is set during WWII and focusses on Ruby, a strong female protagonist who’s life is completely changed during the horrific bombing and destruction of Coventry, England during air raids from the Germans during WWII. This book spans from 1940-1945.

This book is not just about a “love story” and a “ happy ending”. This story adds obstacles, perseverance, overcoming odds, as well as loss before arriving to a bittersweet and satisfying ending.
I loved Ruby, Beatty, Fred, Tommy, and John.
The author made the characters realistic and likable. I also thought the pacing and events were appropriate and created well with a nice flow to what I feel is a great ending.

This is the second book that I have read by Ms Peters and I thoroughly enjoyed it just as much as The Secret Orphan. I look forward to further books by this author.

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This is posted to my GR account immediately and will post to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

I cannot express how much i enjoyed reading 'The Orphan Thief'. This must easily be one of my favourite reads this year! Loved the main characters, especially Ruby. It did bring back memories of stories told by my late parents who were slightly younger than Ruby when the bombs rained down. So true to life! Glynis Peters is an author whose books i shall be watching out for. A well deserving five stars from me. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, which i have voluntarily given.

From the title of this book i thought it was going to be about some one stealing orphans but was surprised to read about Ruby,Fred,Beatty and Tommy of how they came to being together.I found this book told a story that was sad, and funny and of a determination not to be cowed by Hitlers bombs and the devistation of Coventry.I will highly recommend this book and well done to Glynis Peters 5*

The Orphan Thief is a wonderful, well written story of perseverance during the dark days of WWII. Fourteen year old Ruby, who lost her entire family during German bombing, brings two similar souls together to form a new family group and figure out how to survive and perhaps even thrive. The author has done an amazing job spotlighting the hardships and the small but significant times of joy and satisfaction. As an avid reader of WWII stories this one certainly rings true as the story follows Ruby until she turns 21. Readers are introduced to her parents’ friends Beatty and Fred, who having lost their homes find shelter and purpose with Ruby, and Canadian war photographer John, whose presence conjures more grown up feelings. They also meet street urchin, Tommy and his ‘Uncle’ Earl, a mean, nasty man...and that is the only spoiler I will give. Glynis Peters is a new author for me, but I will be watching for more by her. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.