I never truly liked Josie, raised as a lady, because she is unthinking, hypercritical, and selfish, but I came to appreciate her flawed but contrite nature.

In this novel, they just seem to happen upon each other, in the wrong part of the country and for no apparent reason other than that it needs to happen to continue the story. The child of a noblewoman born out of wedlock is also in her care after she found the mother already in labor by the river.Kate hurried homeward as fast as the iron-clad pattens would allow, wrapping her thin shawl a little tighter around her head and shoulders. She lived in the rat infested stables with the smell of horses clinging to her hair and clothes, while Josephine Damerell, the spoilt, petted and over-indulged daughter of the house, dwelt in luxury. Normally a protagonist of hers falls on hard times, and is destitute in London for most of the novel. Until a chance meeting forces Kate and Josie to confront the truth of that night nearly twenty years before - a truth that turns both worlds upside down and threatens to destroy their friendship forever. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products.

Whilst Kate grows up knowing only poverty and servitude, Josie's world is one of privilege and luxury. This novel set in the 19th century about two babies born to very different circumstances is compelling. This fit the bill: a princess and the pauper fairytale, as it were, with evil uncles and stepmother, two foundlings, honorable men (and a few dishonorable ones), and a story that rockets between country estates and London's East End, and a happy ending, of course. If you like historical fiction with strong personalities, tangles built out of society’s expectations, a love story, and a touch of mystery, this is one not to miss. The Romany grandmother finds a safe home for this girl as well, both children growing up believing themselves legitimate.The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. A lot of drama and twists of fate before the happy ending coupled with an unexpected turn-around in circumstances. I know this happens in fiction, but usually it's because they are seeking the person they suddenly find. Although the reader can see the way the book will go the reader stays interested and needs to find out how things unwind.

One was of Romany heritage and one from higher social standing but circumstances swapped their upbringing. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband. The story begins with an awkward friendship between a spoiled, manipulative lady and her lifelong friend who begins the book as a beleaguered housemaid.It begins in the night on a hill where a Romany woman awaits the birth of her daughter’s illegitimate child for whom she has arranged a home. One of the men, despite being smitten, leads another girl on for almost the entire book and although there are suggestions that it's to protect her honour, this is suspect and doesn't quite ring true given the circumstances. While some might protest the love story for Kate and Harry (a man whose wealth comes from trade), including Kate, there are enough historical accounts to show that love did defeat the class and wealth barriers, especially among those who earned their wealth.