Cover Image: Pearl of Pit Lane

Pearl of Pit Lane

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Member Reviews

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

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Glenda Young is fast becoming the queen of the historical saga. I first read her books after noticing how popular they were with library borrowers, and this one doesn’t disappoint. An absorbing tale that kept me up late reading.

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Loved this book. Keeps you wanting to know what happens next. Can’t wait for the next one by this brilliant author.

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Saga fans who enjoy the gritty, dramatic and heart-warming novels of Rosie Goodwin and Anna Jacobs are going to want to add Glenda Young’s name to the top of their must-buy list. Her latest saga, Pearl of Pit Lane is a spellbinding tale of courage, survival, love and loss that tugs at the heartstrings and will keep readers absolutely glued to the page.

Annie Grafton had made a promise to her sister Mary on her deathbed: that she would look after her daughter Pearl and always be there for her. Annie vowed to protect and take care of Pearl, however, life in post-war Ryhope is anything but easy for a single woman with no money, prospects or an education. Forced to sell her body and walk the streets to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, each day is a struggle for Annie. Annie had done her utmost to shield her niece from the harsh realities of her profession, but as Pearl got older, there was simply no hiding from the fact that all that stood between them, homelessness and destitution was prostitution. Selling her body has enabled Annie to keep herself and Pearl fed, clothed and watered, but with each passing day, surviving has become a struggle. With their landlord increasing the rent on the room they live in and Pearl getting older, Annie does not know which way to turn and it looks like her beloved niece is going to have to follow her aunt and begin to sell her body as well. However, Pearl has got other ideas about how she will earn her keep and secure her future.

Pearl knows how tough things are for her aunt. Not scared of rolling up her sleeves and working as hard as she possibly can, Pearl is adamant that she will not follow her aunt into prostitution. Selling her body is definitely not something which she is prepared to do – especially as she witnesses the depraved and lascivious desires of some of the men who pay her aunt for her services. Pearl knows that forging her own path is going to be tough for a girl like her from a pit village, but she will not be deterred. She is determined to make something of herself and to prove all those people who doubt her that she is capable of becoming her own woman. All the odds might be stacked against her, but Pearl will not cowed and she vows to succeed and provide a secure future for herself.

Pearl is determined to make her own rules and to be the architect of her own destiny and on her journey towards fulfilment, she will encounter plenty of hardships and challenges, but the girl from the lane will never lose hope – but she may lose her heart…

Glenda Young is a master storyteller and Pearl of Pit Lane is a gritty, gutsy and gripping saga which has at its heart a determined, resilient and resourceful heroine readers cannot help but admire. Pearl is a wonderful character it is impossible not to care for. She is intelligent, courageous and never loses hope even when everything seems to be against her. A bold, brave and brilliant heroine readers will root for, Pearl is a character that is sure to linger in the heart and mind long after the last page is turned.

An exquisitely written saga from a writer with a very bright future ahead of her, Glenda Young’s Pearl of Pit Lane is storytelling at its finest.

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I have been a fan of Glenda's work for a little while now. I have read, reviewed and loved each of the three books that she has written about the lives and loves of the people of Ryhope, which is a little village just outside of Sunderland in the North East of England. I read the synopsis for 'Pearl Of Pit Lane' and I knew that I had to read it as soon as I could. So without further ado, I grabbed a copy of the book, settled down in my comfy spot on the sofa and began to read. Oh my word, 'Pearl Of Pit Lane' is an amazing book, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely adored the character of Pearl Edwards and I immediately warmed to her the first time I met her. Part of me might be slightly biased towards her because we share the same hair colour. Anyway back to the point. Pearl hasn't had the easiest of upbringings as her mother died shortly after giving birth to Pearl and Pearl's birth father isn't on the scene. Pearl was brought up by her maternal Aunt called Annie, who loves her dearly. Annie has a part time job but it doesn't bring much money in and so Annie has to earn money another way. Things become even more financially stretched and Annie is forced to ask the unthinkable of Pearl. Without giving too much away Pearl has other ideas and she decides to make a new life for herself. Her new life isn't without its hardships and there are many ups and downs. Pearl is a feisty young lady, who typically for a redhead has a stubborn streak about her and a determination to prove her doubters wrong. Will Pearl make a success of her life? Will she find the 'happy ever after' ending that she so deserves? Well for the answers to those questions and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
The first thing that attracted me to this book was the fact that Glenda has written it. The second thing that attracted me was the bright and vibrant cover. Pearl and her red hair certainly makes the book stand out on the shelf. Thirdly, I absolutely loved, no make that adored the fact that the book is set in Ryhope, which as I mention at the top is a little village just outside of Sunderland. At the time of the story Sunderland was in County Durham, but it is now part of Tyne & Wear. I can almost hear Papa Ginger Book Geek telling me that County Durham stretched from the River Tees to the River Tyne, always has and always will. Anyway I digress again slightly so back to the review. Bear with me a little bit- I have been researching my family tree and as is common with a lot of North Eastern families, I have a long family history of at least 6 generations of coal miners. Some of my ancestors actually came from Ryhope. Of course they died way before I was born but by reading books such as Glenda's, I feel closer to them and I have a greater understanding of the conditions of the time and the circumstances in which they lived.
It took me no time at all to become addicted to this fabulous book. As soon as I started reading that was it, I knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. 'Pearl Of Pit Lane' is the true definition of an unputdownable pageturner. I couldn't get enough of the story and I had to keep reading to find out what fate had in store for Pearl. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of the story, which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that in a negative sense but I was enjoying the characters, the storylines and the author's writing style so much that I just didn't want the book to end. Reaching the end of the story meant that I had to say a temporary goodbye to Ryhope and to Pearl.
'Pearl Of Pit Lane' is extremely well written but then I think that to be true of all of Glenda's books. She grabs your attention from the start and draws you into the story. In Pearl, Glenda Young has created a strong female lead, who is impossible to dislike and who feels more like a friend by the time you reach the end of the story. 'Pearl Of Pit Lane' certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey with all the highs and lows, ups and downs, happiness and sadness and well you get the picture. Reading 'Pearl Of Pit Lane' is as near to travelling back in time and walking the same streets as my ancestors as I am going to get. I genuinely felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's all down to Glenda's exceptional storytelling and her very vivid and realistic descriptions.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Pearl Of Pit Lane' and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Glenda's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

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What an amazing tale of a time off hardship but with determination and grit our heroine shines through.
I real page tuner I was drawn into the story of Pearl and her life in Ryhope being raised by her aunt. Annie has a hard life and to get money she has to do the most unthinkable kind of work, but even with some money coming in it is still not enough and life gets harder leading to Annie to do something that is unforgivable. Pearl however is not willing to turn to the kind of work her aunt is doing and leaves home seeking a new life wherever she can. A hint of romance may change her fortune perhaps.
I have read books by Glenda before and always find them heart warming despite the times and struggles her characters face, they are also well researched leading to some brilliant scenes.
A brilliant read that kept me up late into the night.

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Thank you net galley for introducing me to this author. I really enjoyed this book and felt totally immersed from page one right to the very last page. The characters and storyline were gripping and I will definitely read other books by this author.

I have rated this book 5 stars and would definitely recommend if you wish to read a book that will hold your interest all the way through.

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After Pearl’s Mum dies giving birth to her she’s brought up by Annie Grafton. They live in a room above the shop that Annie works in, but after running up debts she also works Pit Lane as a prostitute. On turning 16 Pearl is promised a job which unfortunately is given to the man’s son instead. With her debts piled high and no jobs anywhere Annie tells Pearl she will have to sell herself on Pit Lane with her. Distraught at this thought Pearl runs away. Starving and trying to steal an apple from a Grocers, Pearl comes across the owner Jim who takes a shine to her and offers her a job. Has Pearls luck finally changed for the better. This book tells of the ups and downs Pearl has as she tries to make a better life for herself. A great read with some interesting characters in it a 5 star book.

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Such a good book I couldn't put it down. I loved Pearl and her Auntie Annie. If you like Dilly Court then this book is right up your street.

Living with her Aunt Annie after her mum died. Her aunt raises her to the best of her abilities. They live in one room that leaks, when it rains, has damp climbing the walls and a big hole in the middle of the room that if you didn't know it was there you would fall through it.

Annie works as a prostitute on Pit lane in Ryhope, they are so desperate for money that Annie persuades Pearl now 16 to walk Pit Lane in the hope of a punter. Pearl is horrified and dead against it but they are so desperate. Pearl makes the decision to run away before she has to do the deed.

Pearl looks for work but nobody wants to employ her until she goes to her last shop a Greengrocers where a lovely old man called Sid agrees to take on her and her dog Boot so he can catch rats. He offers her a room above the shop. But his wife is a nasty woman with thoughts of grandeur, she is aiming for her son to marry the local doctor's daughter, but he is too cowardly to stand up to his mother, then he meets Pearl....

I really recommend this book it is described in such detail that you feel you are actually living it with Pearl.
Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading and reviewing this book x

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I am so happy to have discovered this wonderful author through NetGalley.
What a lovely story that kept me interested and gripped to the end.
Pearl Edwards mom died shortly after giving birth to her and was brought up by her aunt Annie Grafton, with lots of love but in extreme poverty. As well as having very little money for food and necessities, Annie must deal with her slum landlord/boss, who allows the small room that Annie rents from him, to decay and fall apart around them.
In the world that Annie lives, there is only one way to survive, and that is to work Pit Lane. When it becomes clear to pearl that she is also expected to work on Pit Lane, she decides to run away and try and make a different way of life to survive.
I loved Pearl’s character, strong and feisty, as well as many others in this book.
This was a great page turner that I could not put down, highly recommended.

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Another 5star read from Glenda Young. Pearl of Pit Lane has everything to keep you reading as Pearl’s life unfolds, sometimes in the most unexpected way. It will leave you wanting more.

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