Lizzie's Secret Angels

Lizzie #2

by J. Robert Whittle

The Lizzie Series continues as Canadian author, J. Robert Whittle, introduces the first sequel to his popular debut novel, " Lethal Innocence" picking up at the exact moment this book ends in 1805 London, England. Lizzie Short returns from her first big adventure, presumably accomplished to aid the long-suffering British people's efforts during the Napoleonic Wars. We learn more in Book Two as this sometimes precocious (now 12 year old), oftentimes aggressive, yet adoringly selfless, enterprising young heroine, discovers a distressing secret hidden by local authorities. The ensuing involvement of Lizzie and her cohorts, the gypsies and various young people, adds an exciting new direction to this historical adventure series. In " Lethal Innocence" we discovered that young Lizzie is always game for a new challenge and Whittle does not disappoint us in "Lizzie's Secret Angels". Lizzie, now growing into a beautiful teenager, whom both Ada and Martha (Joe's employees) suspect is older than her years, continues to prove she can be both a fierce opponent and a compassionate ally as she moves forward in her new quest for justice. "Lizzie's Secret Angels" utilizes all the earlier characters from Book One as Lizzie forms a 'family' around her. The new, amusingly diverse characters Whittle adds in this highly entertaining second novel, again proves that the author is, without question, worthy of the attention being given to him by his delighted readers. Lizzie fans of all ages and both sexes, claim to not only laugh, but weep, with their favourite heroine. They will not be disappointed as Lizzie discovers a stunning secret - one from her own past - which will totally change the perspective of her life. Semi-autobiographical in nature, Whittle has drawn on his own experiences as an extroverted, yet sensitive child, very much like Lizzie as he grew up in Huddersfield, Yorkshire during the Second World War. Secret Angels will keep you enthralled until you discover you've turned the last page, but don't despair, we are told Lizzie will return in Book 3!

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

I'm a retired coal mining engineer who was born in Yorkshire, England and helped to raise my 8 younger siblings. I also had an older sister but I didn't help much with her! At the age of 19 I become the youngest mining engineer in England's history, too young to even claim my degree. Instead, the British Coal Board under whose scholarship I had gained the degree, hired me. At 24, they kindly gave me probably the most dangerous job known at the time ... leading a first response to disaster team all over Europe. We did some other jobs that were actually pretty cool even by today's standards. The come-on was the pay and having been an entrepreneur since the age of 6 (beginning of WW2 when times were very tough), money was very important to me and my Lizzie Series is loosely based on that part of my life. No doubt why I continue now at age 80!) About 12 years later, after fellow miners took bets that I wouldn't live past 32, I moved my family to Australia and worked in construction on the desert 1200 miles from Perth and drove that dusty road regularly often sleeping in my car! Years later, I took a job for the Canadian Gov't, in construction up near the Arctic Circle on Baffin Island. Eventually I came to Victoria BC, met my second wife Joyce and, at her suggestion, began writing books while recuperating from a surgery in 1994. It seemed I had a natural ability ... lots of reviews can be found on our website as they were written down on paper or told to me, internet was new back then! I meet and talk to my fans personally as I sell my books at markets. Many of our readers are too busy bugging me for another book to use computers so you won't find many reviews on the internet. You could help us by changing that :) My books are finding a younger generation of adults now (always read by kids too) since we began in 1998. Classic, family friendly stories never seem to totally lose their charm and Joyce and I hope ours won't be either.