First, you take Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Add in the flavor of Victoria and The Rogue by Meg Cabot with a heavy dose of Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. Sprinkle in a little of Will and Elizabeth from The Pirates of the Caribbean and voila! Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon is formed!
To survive her harsh childhood in London's underworld, Olivia is raised as Oliver and finds friendship in a group of street urchins, led by Jack, the Artful Dodger. Tragedy separates the childhood friends, but fate brings them back together as Olivia and Jack reunite in the realm of polite London society. Friendship blossoms into romance against a backdrop of tea parties, intrigue, theater, crime, sentiment, murder, and secrecy.
Cleverly utilizing the Dickens classic as a solid base, Langdon's Olivia Twist is a fun read for fans of the classic story and readers of time-period romances.
Reviewed by Chiara Genovese, Zauel Library
