How can Bella Hart escape the hell of the Victorian workhouse? Fleeing the abuse that she suffered there, the lonely outcast hopes her new life in a factory town can provide the esteem and affection she craves. Torn between the worlds of masters and workers, Bella falls for the enigmatic Jack, but their relationship shatters when his true identity is revealed. In a desperate bid to revive her … her love, Jack unearths Bella’s past, with tragic consequences.
After a devastating fire, a secret emerges that seals Bella’s fate, and that of everyone and everything she holds dear.
Fans of Catherine Cookson and Victorian historical romances will love this book.
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Elizabeth Keysian Workhouse Waif
This is a good story with a great ending. A story of the cruelty and endurance of a small girl who grew up in a workhouse for the poor and indebted, where she had to fight daily to stay alive and unhurt. Then her luck appears to change when she finds her freedom, a job as a teacher, someone she wants to explore feelings with, and then a long lost half brother and her mother find her to take her home to her rightful place… if only it ended just before there. I throughly enjoyed this engaging historical storyline with a rollercoaster of emotions of angst, danger, sacrifice, and hope.
Happy Reading
Content: Adult content.
Elizabeth Keysian has outdone herself with Workhouse Waif! It was gritty, emotional and entirely captivating. I was hooked from the very beginning and held captive by the storyline, the characters and beautiful writing that brings it all together. It’s not often I get to read an engaging story where the characters are poor/working class. Bella is a wonderful heroine. I love her forthright, lets not beat around the bush attitude…a very refreshing heroine who has been through a lot but doesn’t really seem to dwell on anything. I actually really loved that. I dislike when a character has a woe is me my life was so hard attitude but not our Bella! Extremely likeable character. Jack too! He was so easy to like, a very alluring character who had great chemistry with the heroine. He was very down to earth. I really didn’t want the book to end! I highly recommend this book!
Amazing… I am trying to find the words to describe this journey of Bella, who has so many trials and tribulations while surviving in the workhouse, but is almost impossible. The research and time Elizabeth Keysian had to spend and her imagination to create this story truly amazes me. Yes that word again but it fits. It was almost painful at times what Bella and some of the other girls endured but she had a spirit that would not be curbed!
Bella was taken under the wing of one of her teachers and was able to escape to another town and become a teacher to the children there of the mill. One day she wanders over and is fascinated with the hugh machinery and she meets Jack. He is the son of the owner of the mill but she does not realize that until later.
They form a friendship of sorts and things are set in motion that Bella never expected. I really do not want to give anything away because there are so many facets that need to be taken in to realize the brilliance of this story. Truly one of the best books I have read this year and I hope there will be more. I highly recommend…
WOW… I Am Speechless! Workhouse Waif by Elizabeth Keysian is truly one of the best books I have read this year! This tragic story of Bella seemed so real and a mack truck could have and I would have never know it as I was so lost in this story. It is one of those books that you stay up all night reading it and I just couldn’t put it down. I had to know if Bella got her HEA after everything that had happened to her. Elizabeth’s writing of this book was pure genius and I can’t even image the research she had to do. The characters are wonderful and her descriptions so clear. This story has bullies, wanting a family, an amazing teacher, fights, cruelty, evil, injury, kindness, rescue, a terrible fire, wanting freedom, love and so much more. I can’t say enough about this book. I highly recommend you read this story… you won’t ever forget it.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
What an amazing story! It’s both dark and lighthearted at the same time, intense and fun, as well as tragic and romantic. There is so much going on withing these pages, and so many lovable characters that you couldn’t help but love it.
It’s a girl’s journey from childhood to womanhood. The book beautifully captures her struggles and her kind soul. No one can turn Bella Hart into a cynic. The world can try but she is determined to persevere. So much is buries in her past and she isn’t sure if knowing it is better or worse. One thing is for sure though, life would never be the same again. However, Bella doesn’t believe in giving up and she hopes to find a way to come to terms with her new reality.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, it’s so good that I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. A wonderful and soulful story of a ‘workhouse waif.’ I’d recommend this book to all readers, especially those who enjoy good historical fiction.
Workhouse Waif by Elizabeth Keysian is the story of Bella.
Bella has not had a easy life at all. Bella has worked in a workhouse most of her life and just now breaking free to take on a new position trying to get to the life that she wants. Jack is the son of the owner of the workhouse. Jack and Bella bump heads but there is a connection between them. Jack has to deal with the different status they have and try to come to grips with his thoughts toward Bella’s status. This was a page turning read that focused on Bella with the romance portion threaded through her story. It should a strong women fighting to be more than she was and what people wanted her to be. Enjoyed this book.
I hate writing reviews. Really, really hate it. But every once in a while a book comes along and when I sit in front of this empty box, I want to rub my hands together, give a little cackle and try to write something that does the book justice. This is one of those books. Workhouse Waif by Elizabeth Keysian is a spectacular historical fiction with a touch of romance. Ms. Keysian has provided readers with a well-written book populated with a stellar cast of characters. Bella has spent her life in the workhouse and this is her story. When she finally escapes she takes a teaching position but still has her troubles. This book has plenty of drama, humor, action, suspense and a touch of romance. I enjoyed every word of this book and can’t wait for my next book by Elizabeth Keysian. Workhouse Waif is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Bookfunnel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.