When I first saw the cover and title of The Orphan Thief I thought it would be more about a girl helping orphan's during the war. But it's actually centered around a teenage girl named Ruby Shadwell going through her daily life after her city was bombed in the Blitz. 

The very beginning of the book was very good. I could feel the intense loss that Ruby was feeling when her entire family was killed by a bomb that hit their home. I could feel the shock she felt as she looked into the crater where her home once stood. 

Then the book went into the daily life of Ruby and how she was rebuilding her life literally from the rumble of her home town. She started rebuilding her life by finding, fixing, and selling lost items found throughout the city, but would also try and find its original owners. Ruby was helping the town get on its feet again with her business. I thought this was a very admirable quality for a teenager during a horrific war. 

I did feel that the life re-building part of the book was way too long and, in all honesty, I was getting bored until about 50% in when a character named Earl was introduced. Earl was an evil character who was harassing Ruby and was keeping small orphaned children locked away. He forced these children to steal for him. When he was introduced then the title made sense but he wasn't in the book for very long, only a few chapters. 

There was a love interest of Ruby as well. Jean-Paul Clayton, who was a military photographer for the Canadian army. He was occasionally in the book and I felt like he needed to be more prominent based on how "in love" Ruby was with him and the fact that they ended up engaged and had children. I just couldn't see why they fell in love in the first place. 

There were other characters in the book, but it was really just about Ruby and her daily life. Overall, there were parts of the book I really enjoyed, but I felt it needed a lot more about Earl and an orphan named Tommy for the title to make sense. I think it also needed more of Ruby and Jean-Paul if the end goal was for them to be together after the war.

The War brought us all together.

Ruby is suddenly an orphan when her families home is destroyed by a bomb in England. As a young girl of 15, she slowly picks up the pieces of her life along with a family friend. Together Fred a father figure and Ruby meet others including Tommy a little boy that captures their heart. Tommy seems to be lost in this war and under the care of an uncle that poorly mistreats him. Ruby is encouraged to set up a store of recovered items that Fred fixes and she shelves in hopes of getting the items to their rightful owners or selling them. The war brings much uncertainty but Ruby finds certainty in her friendship with a Canadian Photographer. Their relationship develops as they try to build hope of the future.

The handful of people in Ruby's life brings clarity and Tommy the orphan thief.

I struggled with reading this as it was hard to believe and by that, I just could not have empathy for the characters in their struggles. Towards the end and the relationships begin to be more bonded, the story became more captivating. My struggle was more of character development than the story.

A Special Thank you to Harper Impluse and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Ruby’s story made the novel. This is a first class historical fiction novel. Great writing and style. WW II is the time period and Glynis captured the era perfectly.

★★★★ 4.5 stars

Glynis Peters is a new author to me and despite my ever-growing TBR list, I decided to take a chance on her because I'm a sucker for historical fiction. And I wasn't disappointed. THE ORPHAN THIEF was a delight to read from start to finish.

Set in Coventry between Christmas 1938 and May 1945, THE ORPHAN THIEF begins during the Blitz - a terrifying time for England when the Germans attacked large populated cities with constant air raids day and night. Coventry did not escape unscathed. And when 16 year old Ruby Shadwell returns to the crater where once her home had stood, she knew without a doubt that she had lost her entire family in one fell swoop. Even her grandmother who lived on another street was found amidst the rubble that had once been her home.

Shocked and devastated, Ruby was surprised to find someone she knew had escaped the German's wrath. Fred, who lived across the street from her gran, stood shell shocked in the midst of the rubble surrounding him until a medic lead him away to an awaiting ambulance. Fred's house still partially stood so Ruby made her way through the remnants and put aside some mementos for Fred to keep. But as she had nowhere to stay and she was essentially underage, Ruby made herself something to eat and a bed for the night in the corner of Fred's kitchen. It wasn't until she heard voices outside the next day, she was certain the enemy were coming back to finish the job, so she grabbed Fred's mementos and hurried away without being seen.

When Ruby found herself on the street of her father's accountant, she decided to go to him for help, knowing Stephen would be more than happy to oblige. However, when she got there she discovered Stephen slumped over his desk. He had been dead some time, possibly his heart gave out. Upon writing to Stephen's sister to inform her of his death, Ruby received the news that his sister had passed a couple of years before. However, the sister's husband wrote a letter stating permission for Ruby to stay at the flat whilst clearing out Stephen's office and belongings, selling everything to pay off any debts and to keep anything left for her trouble. Ruby had no idea who Stephen's landlord was and had no way of contacting him to pay any rent that may have been in arrears.

After sorting through his paperwork into piles and matters of importance, and with some help from her friend Helen, she was shocked to discover that her father had in fact been Stephen's landlord - which explained why no one was around to collect the rent - and that as his only surviving relative, she inherited the property. Not only that, but Helen discovered that Ruby's father had a tidy sum stashed away in a bank account of which would no pass to Ruby...although she had to get her papers in order first since they would have all been destroyed in the bombing.

It was sifting through the rubble and remnants that gave Ruby an idea...which she shared with Helen. To find items that could be salvaged or repaired from the rubble, tag them and either return them to their owners or, if there was no one, sell them. Ruby decided she wanted to open a shop to keep the Shadwell name going from her family's grocery store.

Before long, Ruby was reunited with Fred who, with no real home to return to, moved in with Ruby and became an honourary grandfather to her. Along the way, we meet Beatty whose home was also destroyed, and Fred and Ruby welcome her into their home also. And once again, Ruby feels like she has a family surrounding her.

Then she meets street waif Tommy, who couldn't be more than 6 years old. Ruby suspects he is up to no good but she can't resist his boyish charms and his strange cockney accent. And in a way, she reminds him of her little brother, so she decides to take him under her wing. So when Tommy brings her pieces of jewellery he claims belongs to his auntie who needs money for them to pay the rent, Ruby is suspicious but couldn't see the boy out on the street with no food and takes the items in return for £2.

As time goes on, and Tommy keeps bringing more and more items to her to sell, Ruby begins to wonder about his family. The pieces were exquisite and obviously worth a lot of money so Tommy's family must have come from a wealthy background and fallen on hard times. But whenever she asked to meet his mother, Tommy would either deflect her questions or get angry and storm away.

Throughout the time from when she was rendered homeless to owning and operating Shadwell's Buy and Sell, Ruby meets Canadian Jean-Paul Clayton, a photographer who captures the war through his camera lens for the Canadian RAF. More than once, he has caught Ruby in her private moments of grief for which she is enraged with him. And although THE ORPHAN THIEF is not a romance, Ruby finds herself falling in love with Jean-Paul who is known to her as John, the English derivative of his name. But when John goes missing, Ruby fights to keep herself going with the love of her new family around her.

As Ruby's story unfolds, you see her grow from girl into a young woman - a woman wise before her time. But with Ruby's is also Tommy's story and his life as an orphan thief. Their stories will make you laugh and make you cry.

A moving story with characters so heartwarmingly real, THE ORPHAN THIEF is a different type of tale in the WW2 genre. Whilst it described the terrifying events during wartime England and the horrific conditions the survivors endured, it also portrayed hope where there is none and the strength and endurance of the human spirit.

THE ORPHAN THIEF is engaging from the first page that you won't want to put it down as you feel every emotion as if you were there living the moment alongside Ruby, Fred, Beatty and Tommy.

The only thing keeping THE ORPHAN THIEF from a 5 star rating was the ending. There was a bittersweet end which I won't spoil but I thought could have happened if events had taken place in the correct order. Whilst many women did find themselves unmarried and pregnant, they generally married soon after. And didn't go on to have another two children before walking up the aisle two years later. Ruby had plenty of opportunity to marry in those subsequent two years and didn't so that lacked believability for me. It was a different time and while it is acceptable practice now it certainly wasn't then. So I am dropping half a star because of that...and the bittersweet ending that could have been much happier done the right way around. I'll say no more, but those who have read it will know what I mean.

Compelling, emotional and bittersweet, THE ORPHAN THIEF is definitely worth reading. You will fall in love with everyone (except Earl) and want to take them all home to tuck up safely forever. And despite never having read Glynis Peters before, I would definitely look out for her again. It was a pleasant surprise.

I would like to thank #GlynisPeters, #NetGalley and #HarperImpulse and #KillerReads for an ARC of #TheOrphanThief in exchange for an honest review.

The period of the book is fascinating, set throughout the Second World War, starting when Coventry was bombed by the German Luftwaffe in 1939. The only survivor of the Shadwell family is sixteen years old Ruby who starts to rebuild her life amongst the rubble and war-ravaged lives. The rubble is her salvation as she collects and restores items damaged during the bombing raids. Ruby acquires a business licence to resell the items and so begins a drama of interactions with various friendly and deceitful characters.

Fred, Helen, Beatty, Tommy and John all contribute to the sense of lives deeply affected by the war and the devastation of cities like Coventry. From the elderly Fred to the street urchin Tommy, the extent of issues facing survivors is addressed with diverse scope and interest. The community spirit can be seen at times of catastrophic events, but there will always be some who try to take advantage of vulnerable survivors.

The story will probably be categorised as a romance novel but because of the wider character threads and historical content, I think this is quite limiting. The balance generally worked for me but I can imagine the romance readers will want more of a love story and the general fiction readers will want more observational drama with the various characters. The romance thread is sparked when Ruby meets Canadian soldier and photographer Jean-Paul (John) Clayton when he stops by her shop to ask directions.

The storyline around Tommy is probably the most engrossing as we see a range of situations and characters that provide a spectrum of light and dark machinations. He is an intriguing character and we see how the surroundings and adult interactions can influence the direction of a young orphan boy.

The Orphan Thief is an easy read with an engaging story, although at times it felt mechanical and predictable. At the beginning of the book with the bombing of Coventry and the loss of Ruby’s family, I felt it lacked emotional impact but was more diverse in the story. The canvas was there for high emotion, psychological turmoil and a challenging period in world history but it didn’t quite deliver for me. The last quarter of the book followed a full-on romance narrative, which I believe Glynis Peters is very adept at writing.

I would rate this book 3.5 stars and recommend it to readers that enjoy a splash of historical fiction, romance and an easy read with a good assortment of characters. Many thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Ruby Shadwell, only 16 years old, arises from the WWII destruction of Coventry, England, to go on to build a new life and business for herself. She deals with challenges head-on, and the people she meets along the way give her a new family, providing her with support and love after the loss of her own family.

This is a delightful Historical Romance Novel where true love waits to conquer everything, including the ravages of war.

Taking place in the quiet Countryside of Coventry England during WW2, our young heroine, Ms. Ruby Shadwell, finds herself alone and struggling to stay alive after a bombing Blitz ordered by Hitler.

Ruby draws on a strength she didn't know she possessed; fiercely independent and resourceful, she decides to rebuild her life by starting a business in the ruins of her beloved Coventry while the country is at war.

A young street waif named Tommy, introduces Ruby to the handsome and industrial Canadian Sargent Jean Paul...
With his help, Ruby might be able to rebuild her life and find a love that's strong enough to outlast the war.

3⭐
Thank you to NetGalley Harper Impulse/Killer Reads and the author Ms. Glynis Peters for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy.

Title: The Orphan Thief

Author: Glynis Peters

Genre: WW 2 historical fiction

pages:400

rating:4.5

When all seems lost…

As Hitler’s bombs rain down on a battered and beleaguered Britain, Ruby Shadwell is dealt the most devastating blow – her entire family lost during the Coventry Blitz.

Hope still survives…

Alone and with the city in chaos, Ruby is determined to survive this war and rebuild her life. And a chance encounter with street urchin Tommy gives Ruby just the chance she needs…

And love will overcome.

Because Tommy brings with him Canadian Sergeant Jean-Paul Clayton. Jean-Paul is drawn to Ruby and wants to help her, but Ruby cannot bear another loss.

Can love bloom amidst the ruins? Or will the war take Ruby’s last chance at happiness too?

My thoughts

This is the first time I've read anything by this author and I actually enjoyed the story ,in fact this this the 5 WW2 historical fiction I've read this year and while I loved only 4 of those this one has made the list of them that I like and will be picking up again to readr.Just like them this story deals with the obstacles that challenged many people during the Second World War. How people had to persevere in every day challenges for survival. And how some even came together and made a new family for themselves when they lost everything, and I do mean everything. The characters seem to come alive and off the page, and with that they make you feel every thing they felt and went through,there was times I just wanted to cry and infact did so. With that said I want to thank the Publishers as well as NetGalley for letting me read and review it.

Very interesting story of survival. 16 year old Ruby loses her family, her home, and the family's business during the bombing of Coventry. A story of how Ruby survives and builds a new life for herself. New friends, new business, a love interest. This is not a romance, but more a story of survival and moving on with life. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I enjoyed reading “The Orphan Thief”. The story is very heartwarming and the characters are so interesting. It is a heart wrenching tale set in World War II in Coventry England during the blitz, focusing particularly on the effects of the attack on 14th/15th of November, 1940.
It follows a young girl Ruby who loses her whole family in the attacks, and it is a story of how she rebuilt her life in the wake of such devastation. It is a tale of found family, inter-generational friendships, and first loves. Glynis Peters is an author whose books I will be watching for.

This book is set in Coventry in the WWII period. Its is very easy to read and follow the story that is based on 16 year old Ruby . She loses her family in the bombings and has to learn to trust and rebuild her life.
It is definitely worth a read and is up there as one of my favourite books of this year.
Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy .
#historicalfiction. #NetGalley

This wasn’t a bad read.. but wasn’t quite what I expected either!
I was hoping for more of a story line, but loved the bit of romance it held.

Another wonderful novel set in WWII. A great read!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A lovely story depicting the struggles of surviving World War II. The theme of community and friendship runs throughout the book as the survivors rebuild their lives amongst the rubble of their bombed homes. Ruby is a strong, determined young woman, who brings together a new family whilst building a new future for herself.

The romance between Ruby and her Canadian soldier was sweet, a good contrast with the shadowy figure of her new landlord.

The Orphan Thief is the story of Ruby Shadwell during WWII. At the age of 16 Ruby is left all alone in the world during one night of bombing in 1940. During the following days she starts to build a new family when she finds her grandmother's neighbor Fred still alive and takes him into her new home. She then meets a family friend who agrees to be her legal guardian. Ruby has this idea to open a buy & sell shop where people could not just buy things they need and sell items when they need funds, but also Ruby would take in items found at bombed homes, repair them, and keep them for the true owners until they come and claim them.

One of her new customers is Tommy, a little boy who brings in his aunt's jewelry to sell. Something seems a little fishy about Tommy but Ruby trusts him. There are two parts to this book. The first is a love story between Ruby and a Canadian photographer, John. The other (more title story line) is a WWII version of Oliver Twist if it was Rose's story.

It took a while to get into the story but about halfway through it starts to move along faster and became fairly enjoyable. This is not a war story but instead a story that happens to occur during the war years.

This was a good historical romance book set during Hitlers time . It held my interest throughout.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book and

The Orphan Thief is the story of 16 year old Ruby Shadwell who loses everything when the Germans bomb Coventry during the second world war. Left with nothing but the clothes she stands in, Ruby is determined to survive. With the help of a small group of other survivors, Ruby manages to thrive among the death and devastation of Coventry.

A heartbreaking story of courage and survival with a good cast of characters which was an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Orphan Thief is a standalone book by Glynis Peters. This author is new to me but I wanted to take a chance on her because I liked the idea of the story.

I must admit that the book had less romance than I expected and I didn't really believe the chemistry between Ruby Shadwell and Jean-Paul Clayton (Canadian soldier). But that said, their stories, especially Ruby's were enough to make the book worth reading.

Set in WW2 the book starts with a shocked teenaged Ruby staring at a crater in the ground where her house used to stand. Germans had bombed and hers was one of the houses hit. She lost her whole family in one go. There you have the kind of heartbreaking scenes that this book has more of but which I won't share because I don't want to give too much away. What I will say is that Ruby is the focus of this book and her trials and tribulations are many. The light moments are brought by two lovely people who become her guardians, and of course by Jean-Paul (John).

Personally, I like a book that is less bittersweet than this one. I know it is set during a dire time and I couldn't expect all sweetness and light, but it definitely could have done with more than it had. I like a fair balance between light and shade and this book leaned more to the shade. My heart broke for not only Ruby, but also a young character, Tommy, plus despite some light moments, Ruby's guardians, and a friend of hers too. Too many tears for me. But, hey, if a book can make a person that emotional, and you like a tear-jerker then this book is perfectly written and is perfect for you.

I think the story was well written and although not exactly my cup of tea, I will recommend it. I just want to warn you that you will need a large box of tissues, and maybe a nice cup of tea, or a glass of wine to help you during the read.

Will I read more books by this author, hmm, maybe, I will have to read a sample perhaps to check on the levity of it, and not pick one set during the war.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a WII historical fiction centered on a girl Ruby who has lost everyone and everything in the bombings of London. This novel seemed to drag a bit and the chAracters seemed flat.. The writing was very well researched but again didnt seem to pull me in as a reader. I did like the theme of family and appreciated the Love that Fred, Beatty and Tommy all had for each other and made a family even without blood ties.

To be honest I found the plot thin and the characters were undeveloped. The style of dialogue did not match the times that the book was set in at all. Very disappointing.