Belle by Lesley Pearse
Belle was raised in a brothel in London but despite her innocence being protected from the "activities upstairs", it's shattered when she witnesses a murder. She is snatched and sold to work in prostitution in Paris and then onto a "gaming house" in New Orleans, far from home. It's not long before she becomes home sick and decides to break out from her courtesan ways. However her hopes and dreams of owning her own hat shop are dashed once again when she must flee New Orleans and go back to Paris. Pearse has once again struck the heart strings with a story about a woman whose courage and determination never ceases despite the down falls. Her writing is admirable and this novel is challenging to put down. Lesley Pearse is one of the UK's best selling authors and "Belle" proves how deserving this title is. Other novels by the author to read are: "Gypsy", "Faith", "Hope" and "Secrets." "Belle" is out in all good book stores 3 February 2011, £18.99 hardback. Naomi Havergal