Digging With a Spoon

The Streets of Cardiff #1

by Anne Main

A story of survival and a mother's love for her child set the turbulent and impoverished post-war docklands of Cardiff's Tiger bay. In 1928 aged 21 and pregnant, Elizabeth Evans was forced to flee from her respectable home in Alma road when her father Evan threw her out and disowned her. Elizabeth reinvented herself as widow Betty Jenkins and washed up on the tough streets of Tiger Bay; her determination to keep her baby meant she had to do everything she could to survive. Determined to that Ivy should escape to a better life, Betty keeps Ivy shielded from the realities of Tiger Bay. Shy, trusting and unworldly, Ivy is vulnerable to smooth talking liars and rogues like Jimmy Benson who is on the hunt for lodgings in Tiger Bay. Unaware of what really lies under the Dubliner's affable Irish charm Betty invites trouble into her home and into their lives in the shape of Jimmy Benson. Jimmy makes his living on the dark underbelly of Cardiff's Tiger bay; a dangerous man with no scruples or kindness. Jimmy takes advantage of young Ivy and tricks Betty into allowing Ivy to marry him. Soon Ivy finds out that is she married to a controlling bully who does not love her or their daughter June. Just like her own mother Betty all those years before, Ivy vows to protect her own darling daughter June at all costs; beneath her meek and shy exterior Ivy has an iron will to survive. Ivy's love for June is overwhelming and with the help of her friend Norah she can face the world.

505 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2021

Reviews

[margaret bale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disappointed being I live in the Roath area of this city. And what a bad end to what could have been a reasonable book. Won’t bother to read her books again

[Sarah Meah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the whole series but was sick of correcting the mistakes as I was reading them, anne main really needs to sack her editor

[Joy Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, in fact I love the whole Series