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An Orphan's Choice
Orphaned Jenny and her chimney sweep brother Noah eke out life in a cellar dwelling in the heart of the slums.
Noah is the main breadwinner, but he is treated horribly by his master. Worried for her brother's safety and health, Jenny resolves to put her talent for singing to good use and begins trawling the low inns and taverns at night entertaining the punters.
When she catches the attention of a music hall manager and is offered a spot on the stage, it seems like a dream come true. But her newfound success can't include her brother.
Will Jenny choose Noah over the bright lights of the theatre? And will he want her to?
Readers love Emma Hornby's gritty and gripping thrillers:
Noah is the main breadwinner, but he is treated horribly by his master. Worried for her brother's safety and health, Jenny resolves to put her talent for singing to good use and begins trawling the low inns and taverns at night entertaining the punters.
When she catches the attention of a music hall manager and is offered a spot on the stage, it seems like a dream come true. But her newfound success can't include her brother.
Will Jenny choose Noah over the bright lights of the theatre? And will he want her to?
Readers love Emma Hornby's gritty and gripping thrillers:
- GenresHistorical Fiction
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2023
About the author
Emma Hornby
14 books64 followersEmma Hornby was born and raised on a tight-knit, working-class estate in Bolton, England. She is a mother of three wonderful children and fiancée to one very patient man.
History has always been her passion and she grew up with her nose buried in sagas. Before pursuing a career as a novelist, she had a variety of jobs, from care assistant for the elderly to working in a Blackpool rock factory. She later wrote short stories and non-fiction pieces for the internet, print and stage, and also worked as a freelance poet.
Her books are gritty historical family sagas, set in Victorian and WWII Bolton and Manchester, which she began writing after researching her family history. The colourful folk she unearthed gave her plenty of inspiration; like the characters in her novels, many generations of her family eked out life amidst the squalor and poverty of Lancashire's slums.
Emma's first book, A Shilling for a Wife, was the bestselling debut saga novel of 2017. Her debut WWII book, Her Wartime Secret, was shortlisted for the 2022 RNA Romantic Saga Award. Her other titles regularly appear in the official bestsellers' charts.
Visit Emma's website at emmahornby.com for more.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 31, 2023
How far will she go to protect her family.
Sixteen years old Jenny Brodings never managed to hold down a job, her brother Noah at only nine years old a chimney sweep boy working for Totty, she had to get him away from that man and the job it's not doing his health any good. After the death of their parents she vowed to look after him her oldest sister Coral and husband Martin had family of their own to take care of so strong willed and speaking her mind is her big downfall. she had to change her ways and now rather than later.
Meeting with George Sixsmith she gets a job with Hyacinth Harewood in her pub The Balloon keeping all the punters in order and singing along with George sets her on for more work, as she becomes little songbird of Lancashire, she is making more money and looking to a future for her and her brother. But this all leads to trouble ahead and big fall outs with her family and friends as you read on.
Oh I just love this author and this book once again does not fail me in my enjoyment of reading, heart breaking, so real, and emotional chapters right to the end.
As we find out if there is happiness for Jenny through all her struggles.
With her determination shining through and finding secrets and her love for George can the love survive through it all.
big five stars once again from a contented Booklover.
Sixteen years old Jenny Brodings never managed to hold down a job, her brother Noah at only nine years old a chimney sweep boy working for Totty, she had to get him away from that man and the job it's not doing his health any good. After the death of their parents she vowed to look after him her oldest sister Coral and husband Martin had family of their own to take care of so strong willed and speaking her mind is her big downfall. she had to change her ways and now rather than later.
Meeting with George Sixsmith she gets a job with Hyacinth Harewood in her pub The Balloon keeping all the punters in order and singing along with George sets her on for more work, as she becomes little songbird of Lancashire, she is making more money and looking to a future for her and her brother. But this all leads to trouble ahead and big fall outs with her family and friends as you read on.
Oh I just love this author and this book once again does not fail me in my enjoyment of reading, heart breaking, so real, and emotional chapters right to the end.
As we find out if there is happiness for Jenny through all her struggles.
With her determination shining through and finding secrets and her love for George can the love survive through it all.
big five stars once again from a contented Booklover.
July 6, 2023
Emma Hornby does it again
Brilliant page Turner full of great characters
Sometimes tearful, and at other times fraught as Jenny doesn't listen to sound advice.
Thank you Emma
Brilliant page Turner full of great characters
Sometimes tearful, and at other times fraught as Jenny doesn't listen to sound advice.
Thank you Emma
July 15, 2023
Another gripping story.
A page turner from start to finish. An excellent book I didn't want it too end . Will done Emma , it was a superb read .
.
A page turner from start to finish. An excellent book I didn't want it too end . Will done Emma , it was a superb read .
.
October 10, 2023
Love all Emma Hornby book
This book is just the same as all Emma Hornby books you can't stop reading till you get to the end brilliant absolutely brilliant.
This book is just the same as all Emma Hornby books you can't stop reading till you get to the end brilliant absolutely brilliant.
February 15, 2026
A really good read about a Sisters love for her brother, struggling from day to day to put food on the table and coal on the fire. Jenny tries to make money any way she can. With a beautiful singing voice she hopes to get famous by joining the music hall. Things don't turn out quite as she expects. A hard life gets even harder.
September 26, 2023
True love conquers all!!!
A must read.
A must read.
December 8, 2023
Emma's stories are always a good read, this had Happy and sad moments. Really enjoyed it
April 28, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐️
Was in the mood for an old fashioned historical saga and this did not disappoint. There was a bit too much going on towards the end, but a lovely book nonetheless.
Was in the mood for an old fashioned historical saga and this did not disappoint. There was a bit too much going on towards the end, but a lovely book nonetheless.
January 7, 2026
A wonderful read. Full of life and its hardship in 1800. How choices can have an impact on life's journeys and how we can change things.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews