It’s WW2 in Coventry. Hitler’s bombs are raining down on the city. 16 year old Ruby Shadwell comes home not only finds her home gone but, also her family too and a crater in the ground left in its place. With the shock of what happened she goes to her Grandmothers house only to find she also has had the same fate. Ruby still grieving but is determined to get on with her life and build a future for herself. Along the way she meets Fred, Beatty and little Tommy, her own little family. She builds a business of buying and selling things until the shop is bombed and she does her own bit for the war with several of the other survivors of the war they knit things for the troops.
One day while searching for things through the debris she meets a Canadian soldier photographer John Clayton they become friends and later sparks fly. But this is not a romance novel more about how people coped in the war in Coventry.
I thank you NetGalley and Harper Impulse for a copy of this book. I have read many historical novels like this one. But this is slightly different than others I have read. For a start it’s set in Coventry. It’s about courage, growing up and having the determination to get a better life in the times of the war. I really enjoyed this, and I will be looking out for more books from this author in the future. 4 stars from me.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters is a story that takes place during World War II when Coventry, England was under siege from the Blitz. Sixteen year old Ruby Shadwell lost her entire family when a bomb hit the house they were living in. All alone in the world Ruby creates a family of her own with others who have been displaced by the bombing. Fred Lester her Gran’s neighbour becomes her honorary Grandfather, Beatty Price who’d lost her husband and home comes to live with them, Tommy Jenkins an orphan who’d been tricked by a Fagin like criminal and young Canadian soldier Jean-Paul Clayton. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking Ruby’s story is one that will inspire you with her grit and determination during a time of great difficulty and loss. Publishing Date November 28, 2019. #NetGalley #TheOrphanThief #GlynisPeters #HarperCollinsPublishers #HarperCollinsCanada #bookstagram #historicalfiction #harperimpulseandkillerreads #onemorechapter

Ruby lost everything as the result of the German bombing of Coventry. Her parents, her grandparents, her home. She is only 16 but somehow she pulls herself up and together and created a life not only for herself but also for the small family of other survivors she bonds with. The mystery of the story is young Tommy who is integral to keeping Ruby, Fred, and Beatrice fed and on an even keel. Set between 1940 and 1945, this is WWII Homefront fiction with a lovely romance as a bonus. John, a Canadian photographer, winds his way into Ruby's heart. No spoilers but you'll be happy with how things work out. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the genre.

When you read the first chapter of this book, you feel as if you are reading a dystopian sci-fi fantasy. A sixteen girl lives in a ruined, grey nightmare landscape, and survives by her wits, while avoiding capture by the authorities. But it’s not dystopian, this book is based on true events, and really is a historical romance. I prefer to call it a sweet fairy tale as it is a simply told, but lovely tale.

The book is set in Coventry, England. Coventry was bombed many times during the Second World War by the German Air Force. The most devastating of these attacks occurred on the evening of 14 November 14, 1940, and continued into the morning of November 15. The book begins at this point in time. Ruby Shadwell is a plucky girl, raised in a loving family. Her parents operated a grocery store. All this is wiped away by the horrific bombings. She like many others, has lost all she had, although she comes to learn that inside her she still possesses a strong will to live and love.

The characters are so precious, and you will bond with them. They reminded me of Charlie’s family in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. From nothing, they create a life together, an old man, an older lady, and a puzzling you boy from London. Their world is a proper and plain world, a different time than now. Their “once upon a time” story spreads love and good will to themselves and others. A handsome Canadian soldier appears, like a Prince Charming in the eyes of Ruby.

The book closes with the end of the War. Love and the birth of new babies has replaced the grey skies. As I read the touching conclusion, I thought that surely babies born as the War ended must have been the most loved children, as bombs gave way to hope.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads/One More Chapter for this digital advance review copy. This is my honest opinion.

An emotional read which has been touching and gripping from the beginning.

A huge thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC of this book.

I read a lot of WWII-era books. They're some of my favorites. However, this one didn't meet my expectations. I really wanted to love it, but I just didn't. There was more of a focus on Ruby and her surviving after the loss of her family. I had a hard time connecting with her. It was odd that she didn't understand things with Earl and Tommy. For sixteen, she seemed very naive. I've never read anything by Peters in the past. I may consider checking out some of her other books.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a great book, I was not expecting it to be so good. A 5 star read from me

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't really for me. It's a nice enough book, don't get me wrong, but it just felt a little too melodramatic for me. Ruby's struggles were incredibly moving, especially her initial grief at the beginning of the book, but her naivety as the book continued became a bit grating, especially when considering the obvious villain of the book (how did she not see it?!)

If you're already a fan, you might enjoy it, but for me, it just didn't really work.

Hartrending and moving. I am not ashamed to say I cried reading this book, a very touching read. Not easy but good.

This book is definitely one of my favorite WWII books.

The story is about Ruby Shadwell who los her family in the bombing. She finds hope as she finds a family who come together and support each other during the war.

The times are tough but love prevails. There is a reason for naming the book- the orphan Thief. Read the book to find out!

I loved how the book is hopeful and positive despite the dreadful times. Ruby's reactions to her ups and downs in her life was realistic. I connected with ruby emotionally!

I would buy this book in a heartbeat when it released!

Thank you #netgalley for allowing me review this book for honest feedback!

It was OK. I really wanted to like this book as much as I loved "The Secret Orphan," but it just didn't click with me. Yes, it took place during WWII, but it didn't feel like the usual historical fiction books that I read. The book centered more around Ruby as she coped with the loss of her family, surviving on her own and her relationship with Fred and Beatty. The characters were lovely. I loved Fred and Beatty. Instead of constantly asking Tommy about his mom, aunt or home, why didn't Ruby try to find out what was really wrong. She had to think something strange was going on with all the items he brought to sell??? Earl was just screaming- I'm a criminal. How did Ruby not realize what was going on around her? She seemed so smart. I'm not sure how she could be shocked when she learned the truth about Tommy or Earl. It's hard to believe Ruby was only sixteen.

I say give the book a try, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Impulse and Killer Reads through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A good all round book but title spoils it.
Enjoyed this book.

This book is set during WWII and covers Coventry, England during the German air raids, sending Great Britain and its citizens into destruction of property, loss of family and the most horrendous period of time. With the main protagonist, Ruby, we read as she describes her feelings, the loss of her entire family and home, a young girl of 16 left alone to face the obstacles and life ahead of her. The true grit of the English can be felt as you read through these pages, the saying "keep calm and carry on" applies to each and every person during this time in this country. As a new family of strangers take hold and are there for Ruby, she is given the chance to honor the memory of her family, pull herself up by the bootstraps and indeed "carry on."

Then there is Tommy the little 6 year old orphan boy who worms his way into her heart. No matter his "antics" he is hard not to like...no matter how difficult the times, he does whatever is necessary to survive.

This book was different from other WWII HF novels I have read. Given the struggle of the English during the war, it takes on a different perspective, one you rarely read about. The characters have depth, the story line although sad, is a good read. I know the author has another book currently out there, one I will definitely read.
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This heart wrenching story follows Ruby thru her teens as she loses her family and her home during a bombing raid. She is forced to break into homes to find food and find places to rest, but spends her days picking up items left after homes and businesses are blown to bits. She finds some people too, and together they form a sort of family. She opens up a shop where items are bought, fixed and sold, and makes a decent living until the shop is bombed. Then, she must decide to rebuild or what?

I liked this book just fine. It is a tale that is set in Coventry, England during WWII. Ruby, a sixteen year old girl must learn to find her way after the Germans bombed her neighborhood and she loses her family.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads/One More Chapter for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in November 2019.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.

I think the name of the book gives away a bit too much of the story since the mystery of this boy is a large part of the book. I liked most of the beginning of the book about Ruby and how she copes with the loss of her family. I was interested in the story, but it didn't really seem to go anywhere and came across as a bit repetitive with John showing up to photograph Ruby at the ruins of her family home multiple times, asking Tommy about his family ad nauseum without ever really investigating the situation on her own, etc..

This is a heartfelt and poignant story of a young girl who loses her family in the Blitz and is determined to find hope in the chaos. She shows great resilience by caring for others. The characters are well portrayed, and it's a story that is hard to put down.

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.