Belle

Local Description

Review from our February Newsletter: This is an incredible story of courage and resilience. Set in the slums of London in the early thirties where prostitution and crime is prevalant. Young and naive Belle, who lives in a brothel owned by her mother, knows very little of what goes on in the rooms upstairs. 

When a fatal mistake results in her witnessing a murder the repercussions change her life forever. She is abducted from the streets of her home village and sold to a brothel in Paris. This is the beginning of her journey across Europe. The people she meets and the experiences she has makes her a fictional hero to any who read this story. Belle shares her enormous heart with many people along the way but she must learn the hard way that some are not willing to give it back. Although the happily ever after ending is not quite what I wished had happened, a sequel is due to be released this year.

I highly recommend this book - it is stunning.

Evie Thorp

Description

The international number one bestselling author tells the story of a strong woman trying to be good in a world gone bad, taking us from London to New Orleans and beyond in this powerful, moving historical novel. She witnessed a murder - and now her life is in danger . . . Fifteen year-old Belle, though raised in a London brothel, is an innocent. But when she witnesses one of the girls brutally strangled by a client, she is cast into a cruel, heartless world. Snatched from the streets and sold into prostitution, she is made a courtesan in New Orleans. At the mercy of desperate men who crave her beauty and will do anything to keep her, Belle's dreams of home, family and freedom appear futile. Are Belle's courage and spirit strong enough to help her escape? And what will await her at the end of the long, dangerous journey home? Lesley Pearse, author of the UK and international best-sellers A Lesser Evil and Trust Me, takes her heroine from London to New Orleans and beyond in her powerful and moving historical novel Belle. Belle is a heroine of our times- a strong woman trying to be good in a world gone bad. Fans of Susan Lewis will love Lesley Pearse's style. Praise for Lesley Pearse: 'With characters it is impossible not to care about ... this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail 'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella 'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly Find Lesley on Twitter @LesleyPearse or find out more on her website, www.lesleypearse.co.uk

Author description

Lesley Pearse's novels have sold close to 4 million copies in the UK alone. Her thirteen most recent books, including Stolen, Gypsy, Faith and Hope - each of which occupied a Top Three slot in both hardback and paperback - are huge bestsellers and are all available as Penguin paperbacks. Lesley lives near Bristol and has three daughters and two grandchildren.