Cradle of Thorns

by Josephine Cox

Forced to flee from home, a young woman faces the unknown... but not alone.

Nell Reece has never known her mother, and her father's burden of guilt about his wife has kept him cowed for years, working as a common labourer on his sister's farm. But for all her aunt's spiteful attempts to break Nell's independent spirit, she has never succeeded. But now Nell, pregnant and alone, is forced to leave behind the men in her life, believing she might never be able to return.

With little but the clothes she wears, she travels across the Bedfordshire countryside of 1890. When she encounters a scruffy urchin called Kit, a ten-year-old orphan who's lived his whole life on the streets, she takes him under her wing. The pair become devoted friends, never knowing where their journey will take them, but each aware that the time will come when there must be a reckoning.

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Romance

452 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of sixteen, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at university but was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home. Instead, she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. She is now a No.1 bestselling author with over 40 books to her name.

She wrote dark psychological thrillers under the name Jane Brindle.

Reviews

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nell is in trouble, she is pregnant and won't tell her family who is the father is.
Her aunt is livid and wants her thrown out and her father is too scared not to.
So starts a life on the road full of hardship yet also friendship as Nell's sunny nature draws her good pals.
But deep down her heart is with her childhood love, Bill she longs to go back home but will the real father want to claim his child or will her aunt harm them?
A story full of secrets and lies, love, loss, redemption and faith in a brighter future.
I adore Josephine Cox novels, she has never written a bad story and this was no exception.
Brilliant.

[Judy Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1890, it's the story of a wandering pregnant woman, Nell, who can't go home because her aunt wants her to have an abortion. Along the way, she picks up a homeless boy, Kit, who has a lot of street smarts but nothing in the way of education or manners. The two have various adventures, including running into some people who help them out and one man with ill intentions.

Meanwhile there are folks at home worried about Nell.

It all works out in the end. I think many of the views and activities are very true to the 1890's. Good historical perspective.

[EILEEN SHEPPARD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming

This book had a bit of everything, the main character young Nell lived with her tyrant of an aunt and a coward of a father. The book is about them, her friends and her adventures when at 17 she takes to the open road alone and desperate. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had excitement, terror, sadness, laughter and I read it in two sittings. I just couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend this book to all.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nell lives with her father, Don and her aunt, Lilian. Lilian is a cruel woman who has some kind of “hold” over Don. Nell, secretly pregnant, decides to leave her home and travel by horse and buggy across the country looking for work. Later on, her adventures and tribulations are shared by Kit, a young, homeless boy. Bill, a lifelong friend, travels across country trying to find her and bring her back home. It was a light read but one that kept me interested until the end.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Hard to put down

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favourite at the moment is Bad Boy Jack, this one was alright.

[Sharon Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

This was a really good read. Josephine Cox at her best. Never disappointed with any of her books that I have read.

[Mary Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely spell-binding

My friends, my doctor's receptionist and all who read this. I love all Josephine Cox novels but this, so far is my favourite.

[Dorothy Tysall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

A super read . History of the period well reviewed , just did not want to put the book down.

[Erika Larsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

En mycket bra, fin, gripande och spännande bok!

[Chantelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written, very childlike and hard to believe. I gave up after a few chapters.

[mrs s.j French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

Very good book quite emotional book she takes you into the story and it turns out well in the end

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a reliably good tale from Josephine Cox. Interesting characters that made you care about them woven into a good story.

[Mrs Jacqueline Tite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Briliant

Really good, couldn't put it down.
Great characters very good story, keeps you gripped until the end.
Would highly recommend.

[Margaret Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it very much. Look forward to reading more of Josephine Cox .

[Alan Depledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant read

Thrilling from start to finish. A story that keeps you captivated throughout. Great holiday read, so you’ve got plenty of time.

[Julie Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read 5* brilliant

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

An unlikely tale with a predictable ending.

[Joan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book

This book is absolutely brilliant from start to finish I really enjoyed it Josephine Cox is a wonderful author I've read many of her books.

[Melissa Done · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have been shorter!

[Apryl Surette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cradle of thorns

A very good yarn and a great read. Josephine Cox is an author to follow. Her characters are adorable and true to life.

[Vicki Klemm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic listen about a very strong and determined young woman.

[Priscilla Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating!

This book was well written and held your interest throughout. A very good read for sure and I would highly recommend.

[lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unstoppable read ...

Was spell bound from beginning to end .... excellent story of love and betrayal. Definitely worth a read . Loved every minute... sad when it ended

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am very critical. This author is very popular and wrote many books, so I don't begrudge her success. But this book was so much an exercise in telling, not showing, that it was laborious to read. The main character is feisty, kind-hearted and spirited because the author keeps making the other characters say so. The wicked aunt is cruel and callous because everyone says so, despite the fact her horrific actions are so obviously sufficient for the reader to make that judgment call. Everyone ends up at a convent. I won't read any other books by the author.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only recently started to read Josephine Cox novels and i can honestly say out of the 6 i've read so far there is not one i haven't enjoyed. The story was gripping and very sad in places.

[Carobe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vagga av törnen.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

another excellent read from Josephine cox...difficult to put down

[Jane Kilby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Book

This was another lovely book, couldn't put it down, each page makes u want to read more. Well done Josephine.

[maggie turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cradle of Thorns

This book is better on the second reading. A very good story of hope that fo!loss a bed of sorrows to be transformed into happiness.