The Thief's Daughter

Victoria Cornwall

Jan 2017 · Choc Lit

About this ebook

A woman driven to crime finds love with a man of the law in this tale of eighteenth-century Cornwall, “full of twists and turns” (Buried Under Romance).
 
England, 1779. Though many citizens of Cornwall have resorted to smuggling as their only means of survival, Jenna Cartwright has determined to always abide the law. But when her brother is sent to debtor’s prison, Jenna must do whatever it takes to free him. Housekeeping by day for one Jack Penhale, she joins a gang of violent brigands each night on Cornwall’s rocky coast.
 
A professional thief-taker, Jack knows to keep his business private, even from his charming new housekeeper. He has come to Cornwall to find the criminals who killed his father, but his mind keeps returning to Jenna’s innocent, bewitching smile. As their lives become entangled, and the worlds of justice and crime collide, the love-struck pair must decide where their allegiances lie.
 
This “striking” tale of passion and survival brings to life an unforgettable time and place in history (Historical Novel Society).

Ratings and reviews

Jack Penhale is a thief-taker, one of the best in the business. He’s first encountered Jenna as she’s running from assisting her husband’s death during a hanging, to the anger and dismay of the crowd. Now without a home or support, she’s gone to the Mop Faire, hoping to find employment. While Jack isn’t interested in having anyone in his home, he finds himself with a housekeeper, one that he’s intrigued by far more than he should be. What follows is layered, complex and completely organic in feel. Jenna is nothing like her family, and has worked incredibly hard to overcome the name she was born to, going so far as to marry the first who showed interest: a horrible man who was as free with his fists. She’s only got her brother Silas as family, he’s now in debtor’s prison and consistently abusing her trust and caring for him with lies, schemes and more lies. Jack is determined to discover just who is running the smugglers in the area, he’s been brought in by a local man with political connections and ambitions to achieve that goal. But, he’s still not told Jenna of his work, and she’s not shared her life in it’s entirety with him. Both have plenty of secrets they keep, but his treatment of Jenna: teaching her to read, providing her safe haven, even treating her as an equal and with respect is like nothing she’s ever encountered, and feelings are growing. Despite his determination to not need anyone, or anything, Jack’s desire for and attraction to Jenna, the person she is: loyalties and curiosity included, have him battling his own secretive nature and worries that if she knew what he was doing, she’d be in danger, or share her knowledge with those who can’t be trusted. Victoria Cornwall brings the place, time and these characters to life: while you understand Jack’s quandaries: understanding that people are starving and the smuggling puts a few meager pennies into their pockets; pennies that could mean the difference between existence and starving, his determination to root out the ringleaders and end the terrorizing of merchants and townsfolk from the smugglers is one that he clearly struggles with. Not everything, for him, is black and white after Jenna appears in his life: he’s seeing the greys and having a difficult time balancing the crimes and punishments wth his own personal prejudices. For her part, Jenna has never been able to rely on any but family, and even knowing that Silas is more prone to lie than truth, she can’t overcome the doubts and questions that he places in her mind: still thinking as the little girl with only her brother to protect her. When you add the writing and the complexity of life experience, desires for more and the reality of the secrets held far too long, the story builds into clear pictures as you read on, wishing that things work out even as you believe they just may not. Corruption, larceny, tension and moments of heat where the connection between Jack and Jenna sparks into flame, the story unfolds in a way that demands attention and keeps giving more. I can’t wait to see where the next book leads, as I’m ready to go back to see the changes and progress as time marches on. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review after receiving a copy of this ebook from NetGalley. This novel is a flawlessly written, fabulous read! Reminiscent of Poldark in subject matter, but with a style and perspective all its own, The Thief's Daughter is a gripping, emotional look at the dark underbelly of smuggling during its heyday in one Cornish community. Told largely from the perspectives of an honest young woman born into a family of thieves and smugglers, and a man bent on vengeance after the murder of his father, this novel is also a beautiful love story between two hurting, but healing hearts. The author's evocative description of the landscape makes the wild, rugged seas almost another character. The characters are fascinating people, and the plot is well thought out and moves quickly. I loved this book and I think it would make a great movie!

About the author

Victoria Cornwall grew up on a dairy farm in Cornwall. She can trace her Cornish roots as far back as the eighteenth century and it is this background and heritage which is the inspiration for her Cornish based novels. Cornwall is married, has two grown up children, and a black Labrador, called Alfie. She likes to read and write historical fiction with a strong background story, but at its heart is the unmistakable emotion, even pain, of loving someone. Following a fulfilling twenty-five year career as a nurse, a change in profession finally allowed her the time to write. Cornwall is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Historical Novel Society.