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Button Street Orphans #4

The Lonely Orphan

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The emotional, heartrending story from the bestselling author of The Orphans of Halfpenny Street and An Orphan’s DreamCan he find a new family?Schoolboy Luke runs away to London, far from the abusive orphanage where he grew up. Desperate not to end up as a petty criminal, forced to beg for scraps on the street. Luke wanders the East End docks searching for honest employment and a morsel of food.

Longing to be a part of the close-knit community, Luke volunteers to work with the local doctor and his wife. Their welcoming home is all he’s ever wished for. But not everyone wants the best for Luke and his new friends.

A dangerous man is looking for revenge, and Luke risks being pulled into the dark criminal underworld of the docks. Will he be forced to sacrifice the life he’s built for himself in order to protect those he’s grown to love?

Reader’s love Cathy Sharp

‘A brilliant book!’ 5* Amazon reviewer

‘Enjoyed every page’ 5* Goodreads reviewer

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2022

43 people are currently reading
91 people want to read

About the author

Cathy Sharp

28 books43 followers
Cathy Sharp is happily married and lives with her husband in a small Cambridgeshire village. They like visiting Spain together and enjoy the benefits of sunshine and pleasant walks, while at home they love their garden and visiting the Norfolk seaside.

Cathy loves writing because it gives pleasure to others, she finds writing an extension of herself and it gives her great satisfaction. Cathy says, 'There is nothing like seeing your book in print, because so much loving care has been given to bringing that book into being.'

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Community Reviews

5 stars
145 (52%)
4 stars
83 (30%)
3 stars
36 (13%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Sharon.
18 reviews1 follower
June 20, 2022
Meant for a very young reader

This book has a pleasant story, but it’s presented very simplistically, with far more verbiage than necessary. It’s written largely with non-complex sentences and with very little in the way of descriptive passages. A large amount of space is given to explaining each characters thoughts, which are perfectly obvious from whatever experience they’ve just gone through. There is only one character in the book who isn’t almost comically perfect, with the highest possible motives and character traits, and that one character is almost comically evil—a rapist, child abductor, and murderer.

The book might be suitable for someone with beginning reading skills, such as someone who is just learning English.
35 reviews
June 12, 2022
Good characters

The author loves her characters and knows her story. The rhythm of her writing is awkward. I finished the book but doubt I will follow this author due to her style of writing.
71 reviews
May 4, 2023
Very good

I've enjoyed the whole series but I'm a perfectionist for detail and surely the bells wouldn't have chimed for Jeff and Margerets
wedding as there was a war on and bell ringing was stopped.
I also find it quite repetative, saying the same things over and over again.
195 reviews
June 26, 2023
Luke ran away from abuse at the orphange to life on the streets. Does he find happiness and a family.
Tim and his sister live with his Mother Betty, who is struggling to pay the rent and to feed her family, What will become of them and will they find happiness
Profile Image for Carolyn.
198 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2023
easy read

A lovely story of orphan survival, bad people but a whole slew of good ones who really wanted to help make a difference.
Profile Image for Arlene.
12 reviews
November 27, 2025
I found everyone was just toooooo sweet, also very repetitive, but nice story
493 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2025
Another brilliant well written book by Cathy Sharp on the Button Street Orphans this book and all the others are such lovely stories and recommended reads.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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