What do you think?
Rate this book
The Orphans of Bell Lane
A heartwarming Victorian saga, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Maggie Hope and Kitty Neale.
'I couldn't stop reading this story . . . a real page turner' Sheila Newberry
1860s London
Orphaned at a young age, Rosa has always looked out for her younger sister, Grace, protecting her from the dangers and bullies of the workhouse.
So when Grace is suddenly faced with a world without Rosa, she finds herself alone and forced to make difficult decisions about her future. Can she really walk away from everything she has built to protect the children Rosa has left behind?
Returning to the gang-ruled streets of south-east London, Grace is determined to build a better future for herself and for the children of Bell Lane - no matter what the cost . . .
'I couldn't stop reading this story . . . a real page turner' Sheila Newberry
1860s London
Orphaned at a young age, Rosa has always looked out for her younger sister, Grace, protecting her from the dangers and bullies of the workhouse.
So when Grace is suddenly faced with a world without Rosa, she finds herself alone and forced to make difficult decisions about her future. Can she really walk away from everything she has built to protect the children Rosa has left behind?
Returning to the gang-ruled streets of south-east London, Grace is determined to build a better future for herself and for the children of Bell Lane - no matter what the cost . . .
- GenresHistorical
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2019
22 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Ruthie Lewis
3 books20 followersRuthie resides in Edmond, OK and is the mother of two amazing grown sons, and a daughter who was a life-long dancer and brought light into the lives of everyone who knew her, and now dances with Jesus.
Think avalanche! — Unstoppable devastation; loss; reshaping of the entire landscape - a GPS repositioning. That’s what happened to Ruthie’s “perfect” life. Just when life was getting good, devastation and tragedy quaked, burying her.
Only a mother’s love encapsulated her with the strength to dig out, gasp for breath, and seek the fire to comfort and warm.
Peace and abundance was the fruit that bloomed, as she never took her eyes off the sometimes, tiniest spark of light, enabling her to take the next breath. Would she, or even could she follow that spark - or lay down and die?
Choices — there’s always a choice. Now, that spark of inner light is a flame, brighter than any firefly’s glow, emanating through Ruthie’s writing, speaking and Life Coaching, empowering others to connect with their inner light, with a message so powerful it will make your toes tingle, knowing how to live “the good life” (Eph. 2:10 amp.) and survive an avalanche.
You see, though the landscape is drastically altered, the majestic mountain stands.
Just like the firefly - LET YOUR GLOW SHOW!!!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 17, 2019
A lovely strong story with characters that blend well and i have really enjoyed this book and can highly recommend this book well worth the 5*
September 14, 2020
a very deep and intriguing story which tells a lot about the life people lived at the time. Was not sure I would enjoy this book but I found it hard to put down.
Rosa after losing her parents has to go to the workhouse. All she has in her life is her younger sister Grace who she is determined to protect. Life is hard and cruel and after a while due to the way the workhouse is run they are seperated. They are fortunate that an aunt comes to take them away from the workhouse and live their lives together.
Grace is taken in by a family and starts teaching. Rosa becomes a seamstress and then marries having a family.
Suddenly Grace is facing life without Rosa and has to make some really hard decisions about her future and what is the best thing to do. It means walking away from everything she has to protect Rosa's children so can she do it?
Returning to south east London the streets are full of dangerous gangs and poverty is everywhere. The children are in a dreadful state and have an awful life many left alone to survive. Grace is determined to build a future a much better one for herself and the children of Bell Lane.
It is for a fiction book very detailed and I learnt a lot more about life in that time. I would really recommend reading this
Rosa after losing her parents has to go to the workhouse. All she has in her life is her younger sister Grace who she is determined to protect. Life is hard and cruel and after a while due to the way the workhouse is run they are seperated. They are fortunate that an aunt comes to take them away from the workhouse and live their lives together.
Grace is taken in by a family and starts teaching. Rosa becomes a seamstress and then marries having a family.
Suddenly Grace is facing life without Rosa and has to make some really hard decisions about her future and what is the best thing to do. It means walking away from everything she has to protect Rosa's children so can she do it?
Returning to south east London the streets are full of dangerous gangs and poverty is everywhere. The children are in a dreadful state and have an awful life many left alone to survive. Grace is determined to build a future a much better one for herself and the children of Bell Lane.
It is for a fiction book very detailed and I learnt a lot more about life in that time. I would really recommend reading this
September 28, 2020
Heartbreaker
A Heartbreaking story that will leave a lump in your throat.
Sister's Grace and Rosa Perrow orphans in Bell Lane workhouse Rotherhithe Chelsea.
Rosa now ten years old is leaving the schoolroom as set to work, leaving five years old graces facing the bully Sara.
Their family died of the cholera her big sister is her protector.
Both rescued by their Aunt Edith who takes them to hackney we move on to at twenty three years old Grace is now with the Clare family and teaching in the Clare school.
Her sister Rosa married still remains in Bell Lane Rotherhithe.
But after becoming ill Grace goes to care for her and husband and three children till her death.
This is such a big tear jerking read. I had to stop in places what Grace entails in her life ahead will really pull the reader's into the story.
I loved the whole emotional story.
It will definitely pull at your heartstrings right from beginning to the end.
A Heartbreaking story that will leave a lump in your throat.
Sister's Grace and Rosa Perrow orphans in Bell Lane workhouse Rotherhithe Chelsea.
Rosa now ten years old is leaving the schoolroom as set to work, leaving five years old graces facing the bully Sara.
Their family died of the cholera her big sister is her protector.
Both rescued by their Aunt Edith who takes them to hackney we move on to at twenty three years old Grace is now with the Clare family and teaching in the Clare school.
Her sister Rosa married still remains in Bell Lane Rotherhithe.
But after becoming ill Grace goes to care for her and husband and three children till her death.
This is such a big tear jerking read. I had to stop in places what Grace entails in her life ahead will really pull the reader's into the story.
I loved the whole emotional story.
It will definitely pull at your heartstrings right from beginning to the end.
January 29, 2020
I found this to be a really enjoyable book, by an author that is new to me. I will be looking out for more books by Ruthie Lewis in the future.
The story is set in London between 1849 and around 1870 at a time when gangs ruled the streets and the Police had little or no control over the areas of Rotherhide and Bermondsey.
The historical details were accurate and I was able to imagine the area around Bell Lane with the wonderful descriptions. I was interested in the Ragged schools, and how they were set up and managed. I would recommend this book, it's entertaining, educational and emotional in equal measure.
The story is set in London between 1849 and around 1870 at a time when gangs ruled the streets and the Police had little or no control over the areas of Rotherhide and Bermondsey.
The historical details were accurate and I was able to imagine the area around Bell Lane with the wonderful descriptions. I was interested in the Ragged schools, and how they were set up and managed. I would recommend this book, it's entertaining, educational and emotional in equal measure.
June 5, 2020
Although predictable throughout which took that “don’t want to out it down” feeling away slightly, it was an enjoyable read with an important storyline that reminded me that education hasn’t always been as accessible as it is today and that we take it for granted.
July 8, 2021
3.5 stars
Generally a good read. Quite heartbreaking on times.. I enjoyed it as I listened to an audio book.
I didn't give it 4 stars, due to the fact of some bad language.
On the whole a lovely book.
Generally a good read. Quite heartbreaking on times.. I enjoyed it as I listened to an audio book.
I didn't give it 4 stars, due to the fact of some bad language.
On the whole a lovely book.
July 27, 2021
Nice book!
Nice enough story but lacked proper storytelling as it went over and over same things happening ? Became boring to me three quarters through so just glanced through till end.
Nice enough story but lacked proper storytelling as it went over and over same things happening ? Became boring to me three quarters through so just glanced through till end.
December 11, 2020
Real page turner, lovely book.
July 30, 2019
As orphans Rosa and Grace are forced into the workhouse. Rosa being the eldest looks out for Grace to stop her being bullied.
Moving forward. Rosa has married a loving husband who generously gives a lot of his wages away to anyone who gives him a sob story often leaving his own 3 children without enough to eat or a comfortable home life.
Grace has been placed with The claire family who are well to do who and have a daughter with whom Grace has become her companion. She has trained to become a teacher and life is good. When Grace returns to see her sister she notices how frail she has become and the cough she has is worrying. She clears their rent arrears and leaves enough food to keep them going. Eventually the inevitable happens and consumption hits Rosa. Leaving the children motherless, Grace decides to move back to the family but has a mind to teach the children the 4 "r's" Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and religion. Word gets out and many more children want to be taught by Grace, encouraging her to find somewhere bigger she can take on the eager children.
Meanwhile, there are frighteningly gangs of girls with knives who will stop at nothing to feed themselves and their siblings. But Grace stands up to one of them when they try to stab her. With the generous help of the locals and a charity, she finds the ideal place for her school under the railway.
This is a lovely story of struggle and hardship. It kept me engrossed from the first page and the 5 stars are very worthy
Moving forward. Rosa has married a loving husband who generously gives a lot of his wages away to anyone who gives him a sob story often leaving his own 3 children without enough to eat or a comfortable home life.
Grace has been placed with The claire family who are well to do who and have a daughter with whom Grace has become her companion. She has trained to become a teacher and life is good. When Grace returns to see her sister she notices how frail she has become and the cough she has is worrying. She clears their rent arrears and leaves enough food to keep them going. Eventually the inevitable happens and consumption hits Rosa. Leaving the children motherless, Grace decides to move back to the family but has a mind to teach the children the 4 "r's" Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and religion. Word gets out and many more children want to be taught by Grace, encouraging her to find somewhere bigger she can take on the eager children.
Meanwhile, there are frighteningly gangs of girls with knives who will stop at nothing to feed themselves and their siblings. But Grace stands up to one of them when they try to stab her. With the generous help of the locals and a charity, she finds the ideal place for her school under the railway.
This is a lovely story of struggle and hardship. It kept me engrossed from the first page and the 5 stars are very worthy
January 15, 2020
I enjoy this book it was enlightening and easy read
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews