Looking For Jamie

by Angela Rigley

A young boy, found bedraggled and starving, all he knows is his name, Jamie. He is taken in by the household of The Grange who soon come to love him as their own, especially the master David Dalton. Some months later Tillie Raven is released from prison where she had been sent for stealing a loaf. Now she has to find her son, not knowing if he is still alive, but where should she look first?

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 17, 2010

About the author

Angela lives in Derbyshire, has 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great granddaughter. She loves singing in church choir, gardening, flower arranging, genealogy, having traced ancestors back as far as 1475, Scrabble, sudokos, reading, bird watching, lambs, as well as, of course, writing her novels and silly poems.

Reviews

[Angela Rigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! You had me with your beginning paragraph - I felt so sorry for the little boy! Wonderful imagery of a starving, lost child - enough to tear one's heart out. You have tremendous talent at writing imagery and developing characters. I loved all your characters in the Brightmoor Estate including Tom Briggs, gamekeeper; Nellie, housekeeper; Freda, cook; ruby, parlour maid; Sam, groom; and David and Jamie! They all make a lovely family once David takes in Jamie.

You write such beautiful characters that your reader immediately feels she/he knows them and mourns not only for poor little Jaime but also for David who lost his beloved Elizabeth and son, Frederick, in a carriage accident. And you delight the reader by bringing David and Jamie together playing in the snow and then when David finally lets his emotions go while, once again, playing the piano, the reader knows that he is starting to heal. Nellie is also a wonderful mother-figure for Jamie.

What a despicable person David's sister, Annie, is: hypochondriac, critical, and she humiliates poor Jamie! You have drawn her in very vivid tones especially when she sides with her spoiled little liar of a son, George. One almost wonders how Annie could have raised a child as sweet and caring as Sarah. But thank goodness Sarah was there to see the truth of how Jaime tried to save George, not hurt him as George reported.

This is a marvellous book.

Patricia Laster

[Barbara Derksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Near death, Jamie Raven has lost his way and his memory after his mother leaves him in a barn to find food. Destitute, he stumbles upon the property belonging to an English aristocrat who is dealing with depression and loneliness after the accidental death of his wife and son. Tom, the gameskeeper, Nellie and Freda, the cook and housekeeper, and Ruby the chambermaid add color and character to this English manor house called The Grange. Where is the mother of this little boy? How did he happen to be wondering all alone, almost near the point of starvation and exposure?

Angela Rigley does a great job of building believable characters who hold the interest of readers. They remain true to their character throughout the story. I was drawn into the story almost immediately and had no trouble picking it up again after a short break. I fell in love with Jamie as did the 'Master' who discovers Cupid in the package of this small boy. A highly recommended read for any, whether a Brit or not.

[BlueBug · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a well written historical drama/romance that took place in 19th century England. Little Jamie is discovered starving and ill on the Grange lands belonging to David Dalton by servants who hide him away in one of the rooms of the manor, hoping to help him restore him to health. When the master of the house discovers what they've done, he isn't sure how to feel as he lost his own wife and son in a tragic accident just a couple of years prior. The story follows the pair as the man learns to feel again, and the child finds someone he can depend on for his care. All the while, in the background is the child's mother, Tillie Raven, who recently released from debtor's prison is on a diligent search for her missing son. When she discovers where he's been living, everything changes, and the real adventure begins.

I thought it was sweet and heart wrenching along with heart warmingly realistic. It moves a little slow at first but finds its bearings rather quickly. Jamie is a likable little boy who plays on every heartstring as he works his way into everyone's lives including the servants. He's so adorable, and when his mother shows up at the manor, things truly take a turn. I liked it very much. I love a good historical novel, and this one had me mesmerized.

[Bobbie Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! Honestly, it felt a little slow to start with. Not in a bad way, necessarily. Sure, the action took a while to play out, but it was never so slow that I didn't want to finish reading it. I loved the characters and I always love a good historical fiction book. I love getting lost in a different country and a different time period and this book accomplished that perfectly. Every character was so fantastically written that I legitimately believed any or all of them could have been real and this story could certainly have played out in real life. The only thing I had trouble with in this book was the romance element. It's not that I don't love romance in stories like these; I totally do. I love romances that blur class lines and complicate things for everyone involved. In this case, though, I felt like the romance was poorly developed. I could see the chemistry between the characters and I definitely enjoyed it, but I felt like the feelings were a bit rushed. Indifference became love with very little provocation and almost no display of these characters actually spending enough time with each other to have fallen in love. I might have believed the connection more if they'd had some illicit feelings for each other in the past or something, but the whole thing felt a bit rushed to me in comparison with the rest of the story. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this one and I hope to read more from this author!

[Samantha Vickery · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read, nice historic romance.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bittersweet...

This is a bittersweet historical novel set within the oppressive world of the late 19th Century ..the opening chapter is so interesting and well written that it immediately drew me in...

There are so many varied characters and whether they were a force for good or otherwise they all contributed to the original plot...

This book runs the gamut of emotions at times it made me feel elated and at others just plain sad.... but overall this is an uplifting story of hope and I thoroughly enjoyed it.... I received a copy of this book through the Quirky Blind Date with a Book

[Shannon Davison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. The characters just draw you into their world. Tillie's journey to find her son tugs at your heart. Such as delightful read. Looking forward to more from this author. I voluntarily reviewed a copy via Quirky Blind Date with a Book.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! It's set in the 19th century which adds a romantic feel to it. It's reminiscent of books actually written in that time period.

Tillie is a mom struggling to survive. When she steals to provide for her young son, she's sent to debtor's prison.

Meanwhile, Jamie, her young son is lost, alone, hungry and without his memory. All he knows is his name. When he's discovered alone in the woods, he's brought to the Brightmoor Estate, the owner of the manor, David Dalton is immediately protective of him. As time goes by, Jamie becomes the son, David needs. David becomes the father Jamie wants.

When Tillie is set free from prison, she desperately searches for her son. She shocked to learn where he ended.

A wonderful story that kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed but think the second book is even better

[Catherine Vickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for Jamie is a tender and emotionally rich historical novel set in the late nineteenth century. Angela Rigley tells a compelling story of memory, motherhood, and second chances through the lives of two people searching for connection in very different ways.

Jamie’s quiet struggle to rebuild a life without memories is both touching and believable, while Tillie Raven’s desperate determination to find her lost son adds powerful emotional weight to the story. The contrast between Jamie’s new life at the Grange and Tillie’s harsh reality creates a sense of tension and hope that carries the narrative forward.

Beautifully paced and full of heart, this novel explores love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child. A thoughtful and engaging read for fans of historical fiction and character-driven stories.

[Diana Ridout · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally charming story. By the end of chapter one I was completely captivated by the little rag a muffin that is Jamie and he and the other characters just grew from strength to strength. Written with a beautiful simplicity that masks deep emotions, glimpsed occasionally, that are at play just beneath the surface.
Clearcut and believable characters, excellent descriptions and a story that will endure in my mind for a long while.
I look forward to reading more about this little lad in the next book :-)