The Pick-Pocket's Plight (The Pick-Pocket Series #2) by Lindsey Hutchinson
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas
Read: 19th January 2025
Published: 25th October 2024
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
They only had each other – now they’re being torn apart.
When thirteen-year-old Bertram Jordan is arrested and sent to a penal colony in Australia, his biggest regret is leaving behind his friend Alice Truelove. The children were each other’s comfort when they had to live rough on Wednesbury heath, surviving on whatever meagre funds they could pilfer from passing market-goers. Now they must face their futures alone.
While BJ is learning to survive and then thrive on a cattle ranch in Fremantle, surrounded by the hundreds of other men and boys who have been shipped from England, Alice is making her own way in the poverty-stricken Black Country. When a stroke of good fortune means that Alice can start her own business, she cunningly disguises her young age, and before long has established a thriving bakery. As her business grows, so do her responsibilities, and Alice relishes the opportunity to help those who helped her when she was down.
But every night as Alice and BJ rest their heads on opposite sides of the world, both go to sleep with the same last thought. Will they ever see each other again?
The Queen of Black Country sagas is back with a fascinating tale of bravery, forever friendship, heartbreak and joy. Perfect for all fans of Katie Flynn, Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.
MY THOUGHTS:
Will she ever see the boy who saved her again?
When BJ, Bertram Jordan, is sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia, his biggest regret (and worry) is leaving behind his friend Alice. An adept pick pocket, BJ took Alice under his wing when the pair lived rough on the Wednesbury streets, setting up camp on the heath ans surviving on the meagre funds they could pilfer and scavenging in the market.
But now, BJ was gone. And Alice must face the near future without him. At first, taken in by the Greens who always took pity on the pair, giving them leftovers from their bakery so that they wouldn't go hungry, Alice came to look at them as the parents she didn't have. They picked up where BJ left off and began teaching her how to bake. Until one night a fire tragically destroyed their bakery and claimed the lives of Alice's new found mentors. Alice went back to what she knew - pilfering and pick-pocketing. Until a surprising find offers her new hope.
Now Alice runs a small bakery on Russell Street, employing a family as sale assistants and cleaner as well as a couple of bakers. So successful does her business become that she finds herself having the means to buy new premises to open a second bakery, thanks to her "savings" found from her pick-pocketing days. Going from strength to strength, Alice can barely keep up the demand and begins looking for a third larger premises. But is she biting off more than she can chew? Would it be the success her other two are?
Meanwhile in Australia, BJ is well into his seven year sentence serving on a cattle station out of Fremantle. The owner of the station, Mac, is a fair man and sees a potential in BJ taking him under his wing and training him up for bigger things. Soon the uneducated boy from the Black Country finds himself getting an education, learning to read and write and overseeing the hundreds of convicts on Mac's land. The boy is whip-smart, coming up with some good ideas which bode well for not only Mac, but the rest of the convicts under his watch.
Though it's been four years since he left England, neither BJ nor Alice have forgotten the other. Both continually write full of news of their plights while each are secretly counting down to when BJ gets his Certificate of Freedom. But what then? BJ has made a life for himself in Australia. He enjoys the work and Mac is like a father to him. He longs to return to Alice but what will that mean for him?
Another heartwarming easy read from Lindsey Hutchinson. I loved it from beginning to end. I found I slipped back into BJ and Alice's story with such ease and though I didn't want to leave, it ended all too soon. I look forward to the third book which I'm sure will be equally endearing.
As this is the second book and follows on from the first, I recommend you read "The Pick Pocket Orphans" first. BJ and Alice are to warm your hearts.
I would like to thank #LindseyHutchinson, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #ThePickPocketsPlight in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Lindsey lives in Shropshire with her husband and Labrador, loves to read and enjoys photography.
Social Media links:
Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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