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The Unfortunate
Living on the sinister streets of Jack the Rippers' London, Evie Harper is determined to survive at all costs. As Evie struggles to survive, she experiences a taste of evil. When opportunity strikes, she leaves the menacing streets behind, but quickly learns that danger doesn't just hide in darkened alleyways, it also lurks within golden cages. Despite the challenges and obstacles that block her way, Evie quickly learns that the only things in life that matter are freedom and love. Life as a courtesan teaches her that life is a game. A game where fortune favors the bold.The Unfortunate is a page-turner filled with adventure, menacing danger, sweeping drama, utter betrayal, tragic heartbreak, and intense passion. The Unfortunate lurks down the haunted streets of London's East End, treks across the globe and lands upon the battle-scared French landscape of both World Wars
571 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2019
7 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Nelson-Sinclair
9 books5 followersWendy Nelson-Sinclair lives in the heart of North Texas along with her two kitties, Pippy and Freyja. Wendy enjoys writing both historical fiction and historical fantasy fiction. She writes stories about people who let nothing stand in their way. People who overcome odds, hurdle past obstacles, and set their own paths, dictating their own terms.
Wendy's debut historical romance , The Unfortunate, was released in April 2019. Her historical fantasy series, The Island of Mists, debuted in July of the same year. The Voyager, Book Two in the Island of Mists series, will be released in April of 2020, followed by Book Three, The Island's Daughter, in December of 2020. Her standalone romance mystery, The Secrets of Water, debuted in January of 2020.
For more information, please visit: https://www.wendynelsonsinclair.com/
You can also follow Wendy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wendy.nelson...
or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wendy_nelso...
Wendy's debut historical romance , The Unfortunate, was released in April 2019. Her historical fantasy series, The Island of Mists, debuted in July of the same year. The Voyager, Book Two in the Island of Mists series, will be released in April of 2020, followed by Book Three, The Island's Daughter, in December of 2020. Her standalone romance mystery, The Secrets of Water, debuted in January of 2020.
For more information, please visit: https://www.wendynelsonsinclair.com/
You can also follow Wendy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wendy.nelson...
or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wendy_nelso...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 19, 2020
A Kaleidoscope of a Life💃💋💔💘
ADULT Historical Victorian Tragic Romance💕 and Fictional Biography of Evangeline💃💋💔💘, born into extreme poverty.
Born about 1875, the book takes us through the long life of Evangeline💃💋💔, the daughter of a french prostitute living in London. Heart rending destitution💔 of life in the worst of London's streets becomes her world 🌎 after her mother dies, leaving fourteen year old Evie💃💔 and her younger sister, Carmela👩 completely alone and living on the streets. The worst thing happens when Carmela👩 is kidnapped while Evie💃 is trying to find food. Evie💃💔 spends her life wondering what happened to her.
Evie's life takes a turn and she is forced to become a street prostitute because she has no skill to get a job of any kind and there are so many people all trying to find work all the time. Eventually she learns to become a laundress from a kindly neighbor in the slum she lives in.
During this time, in 1888, Jack the Ripper is also terrorizing the prostitute population in London. Several women she knows are killed by him. Evie💃💋 eventually meets Tobias🐺🍆⛲🎨 a young Scottish artist, and they find true love 💘.
Her life takes turn after turn, it's two steps forward and one back, and she meets a Lord who wants Her as his mistress. He educates her and has her taught to be a lady but his obsession knows no bounds and she finally determines he is crazy after he beats her time and time again, nearly killing her. She narrowly escapes and a prudent investment of her pin money nets her a small fortune. Now she is finally free, or so she thinks.....
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook for 99¢ from Amazon 📚
The book's timeline jumps forward without warning or explanation at times, and I found this somewhat confusing with loose ends left dangling.
The first part of the book is very depressing and the reader wonders if Evie's circumstances will ever get better. They do, but there is always a setback that she must overcome to keep moving forward. The book is quite long, but it's a totally absorbing if somewhat incredulous tale of a woman living through the greatest upheavals in the history of the 🌎world.
There are some fairly numerous instances of historical continuity problems throughout the book, but I overlooked them because of the epic quality of the story and the long period of time it covers. The number of crazy and dangerous people who get involved in Evie's life is astounding! Well worth reading, though! Her story is mesmerizing, if somewhat ridiculous. Needs a thorough editing.
ADULT Historical Victorian Tragic Romance💕 and Fictional Biography of Evangeline💃💋💔💘, born into extreme poverty.
Born about 1875, the book takes us through the long life of Evangeline💃💋💔, the daughter of a french prostitute living in London. Heart rending destitution💔 of life in the worst of London's streets becomes her world 🌎 after her mother dies, leaving fourteen year old Evie💃💔 and her younger sister, Carmela👩 completely alone and living on the streets. The worst thing happens when Carmela👩 is kidnapped while Evie💃 is trying to find food. Evie💃💔 spends her life wondering what happened to her.
Evie's life takes a turn and she is forced to become a street prostitute because she has no skill to get a job of any kind and there are so many people all trying to find work all the time. Eventually she learns to become a laundress from a kindly neighbor in the slum she lives in.
During this time, in 1888, Jack the Ripper is also terrorizing the prostitute population in London. Several women she knows are killed by him. Evie💃💋 eventually meets Tobias🐺🍆⛲🎨 a young Scottish artist, and they find true love 💘.
Her life takes turn after turn, it's two steps forward and one back, and she meets a Lord who wants Her as his mistress. He educates her and has her taught to be a lady but his obsession knows no bounds and she finally determines he is crazy after he beats her time and time again, nearly killing her. She narrowly escapes and a prudent investment of her pin money nets her a small fortune. Now she is finally free, or so she thinks.....
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook for 99¢ from Amazon 📚
The book's timeline jumps forward without warning or explanation at times, and I found this somewhat confusing with loose ends left dangling.
The first part of the book is very depressing and the reader wonders if Evie's circumstances will ever get better. They do, but there is always a setback that she must overcome to keep moving forward. The book is quite long, but it's a totally absorbing if somewhat incredulous tale of a woman living through the greatest upheavals in the history of the 🌎world.
There are some fairly numerous instances of historical continuity problems throughout the book, but I overlooked them because of the epic quality of the story and the long period of time it covers. The number of crazy and dangerous people who get involved in Evie's life is astounding! Well worth reading, though! Her story is mesmerizing, if somewhat ridiculous. Needs a thorough editing.
August 29, 2021
Tears and triumph
The Unfortunate is a remarkable story. Written in the first person, it reads like the incredible autobiography of a woman whose near-century of life takes her from the slums of Dickensian London to the posh brick mansions of the mid-20th century Boston elite. Evie's path of repeated peril, heartbreak, survival and triumph plays out against the great upheavals of the 20th century - the decline of European nobility and the rise of the merchant/entrepreneurial class, World War I, economic instability, World War II, and the post-war refugee exodus from Europe. She is a unique young woman, blessed with an innate sense self that refuses to allow those around her to determine her self-worth or to limit her future. The friends she makes are her treasures, the men she allows into her life shape her bright mind and her survival skills, and those whom she loves and loses spur her on to rise above, defy injustice, weather setbacks, and to become what she most wished to be. Wendy Nelson-Sinclair's clear and thoughtful writing keeps the focus on Evie's internal dialogue, making her motivations clear. She comes alive through her thoughts and feelings, as the reader lives through the events of a turbulent era right along with her. It is a profoundly sad, bittersweet, and ultimately moving tale of a life well lived in the face of incredible obstacles. Totally recommended reading! This is a voluntary ARC review: 4.5 stars.
The Unfortunate is a remarkable story. Written in the first person, it reads like the incredible autobiography of a woman whose near-century of life takes her from the slums of Dickensian London to the posh brick mansions of the mid-20th century Boston elite. Evie's path of repeated peril, heartbreak, survival and triumph plays out against the great upheavals of the 20th century - the decline of European nobility and the rise of the merchant/entrepreneurial class, World War I, economic instability, World War II, and the post-war refugee exodus from Europe. She is a unique young woman, blessed with an innate sense self that refuses to allow those around her to determine her self-worth or to limit her future. The friends she makes are her treasures, the men she allows into her life shape her bright mind and her survival skills, and those whom she loves and loses spur her on to rise above, defy injustice, weather setbacks, and to become what she most wished to be. Wendy Nelson-Sinclair's clear and thoughtful writing keeps the focus on Evie's internal dialogue, making her motivations clear. She comes alive through her thoughts and feelings, as the reader lives through the events of a turbulent era right along with her. It is a profoundly sad, bittersweet, and ultimately moving tale of a life well lived in the face of incredible obstacles. Totally recommended reading! This is a voluntary ARC review: 4.5 stars.
May 28, 2021
"The friendships and family that you meet and collect along the way are the culmination of a well-lived life. Love is the meaning of life. Love in all forms. Love unconditional. Love unconquerable. Love everlasting."
"The Unfortunate" is a compelling read of Evangeline Harper, who is faced with a tough life of poverty after her mother's passing. Her indomitable spirit shines brightly throughout the book as she navigates life purely driven by survival. It's impossible not to be inspired by Evie as she faces triumphs and tragedies and travels far and wide across the world. Her thirst for knowledge and her determination and intent to leave behind a legacy better than hers is riveting. I must admit that a lingering cloud of melancholy was my constant companion as her life and well-being. At some points, it wasn't easy to envision a brighter future for her. Her realistic love story with Tobias is simply magical and beautiful, and I couldn't help but smile at their scenes. Numerous time jumps shift the pacing of the book and sometimes left me confused. The numerous subplots sprinkled across the chapters tie in extremely well. Some moments were over-the-top, but it does not take away from the central theme of survival, love and hope. A 4 star read!
I received this ARC via Booksprout, and this honest review is left voluntarily.
"The Unfortunate" is a compelling read of Evangeline Harper, who is faced with a tough life of poverty after her mother's passing. Her indomitable spirit shines brightly throughout the book as she navigates life purely driven by survival. It's impossible not to be inspired by Evie as she faces triumphs and tragedies and travels far and wide across the world. Her thirst for knowledge and her determination and intent to leave behind a legacy better than hers is riveting. I must admit that a lingering cloud of melancholy was my constant companion as her life and well-being. At some points, it wasn't easy to envision a brighter future for her. Her realistic love story with Tobias is simply magical and beautiful, and I couldn't help but smile at their scenes. Numerous time jumps shift the pacing of the book and sometimes left me confused. The numerous subplots sprinkled across the chapters tie in extremely well. Some moments were over-the-top, but it does not take away from the central theme of survival, love and hope. A 4 star read!
I received this ARC via Booksprout, and this honest review is left voluntarily.
August 29, 2021
When I accepted this as an ARC, I did so as a reprieve from my usual genres. It was to be the second of such books. I have found myself blown away & regretting not broadening my horizons sooner. I figured The Unfortunate was going to simply be a work of general fiction. It has been anything but! The Unfortunate has been an incredible several hours, that has taken me through periods of history – love & loss, achievement, failure & bootstrapping, history & fiction, & a woman who lived it all. Wendy made me want to know more about Evangeline’s life, and then she delivered it! Never have I read a work of historical fictional autobiography that pulled me in and made me feel like I was there, in the periods of history, and like I was living and feeling everything Evangeline felt. I rode the rollercoaster, with its ups, downs, curves, and blindspots. There were surprises and disbelief that made the story even more interesting and that kept my attention all the way to the last page. I knew it was going to have to end, though I did not want it to – and what a well rounded end that Wendy delivered. This book deserves something more than stars. It deserves the time and heart of readers. ❤
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 26, 2021
"Love everlasting," said it all.
When I read the description of the story I knew I had to pick up this arc. The book did not disappoint in any way. The book is written in Evie's view of her life. The daughter of a prostitute nothing about her life is easy. Tobias and Evie meet he is a Scottish artist and she has worked the street and as a laundress. This is all during the time of Jack the Ripper but Jack is not her real threat. The story moves from past to future and many parts are depressing. The story is gripping from low to high to again low Evie’s journey was fascinating. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
When I read the description of the story I knew I had to pick up this arc. The book did not disappoint in any way. The book is written in Evie's view of her life. The daughter of a prostitute nothing about her life is easy. Tobias and Evie meet he is a Scottish artist and she has worked the street and as a laundress. This is all during the time of Jack the Ripper but Jack is not her real threat. The story moves from past to future and many parts are depressing. The story is gripping from low to high to again low Evie’s journey was fascinating. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
November 21, 2020
This book is so unlike the books that I usually read. The character of Evie is so amazing. The life she led the places she lived. Not all was good some were down right aweful, but that did not stop her. She was a prostitue, a mistress, and smart. Tnhis story really held my attention and kept me ingaged to find out what happens. The story was written especially well and the charcters were wonderful. Everything just flowed together. An absolute must read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2021
This follows the life of Evie who is the daughter of a prostitute who dies leaving the young Evie and her sister who ends up getting kidnapped. She has to become a prostitute to survive and mistress and a laundress. She is mistreated beaten but through it all she survives and comes out stronger. It was hard not to be emotional as I read Evie's story which shows what a strong character she is.
August 23, 2021
I don't read often historical romance, but "The Unfortunate" caught my eye with its pretty cover and interesting blurb. As someone who likes reading about the Victorian era, I enjoyed reading Evie's story. Evie endured so many hardships. Throughout the book I grew emotionally attached to Evie and I was glad when she got her happy ending. The writing was very good and didn't spare any detail.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews