Dora's Workhouse Child: Victorian Romance

By: Dolly Price

Narrated by: Megan Green

Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

Blackwell Union Workhouse hid a secret for eight long years. Two daughters born behind the dark walls thrust into the arms of the wrong mothers - one mother the Master’s wife, the other a slave of poverty, Dora.

Phoebe and Claretta, the workhouse babies, switched at birth and thrust into an uncertain future.

As the years unfurl, destiny sends the young ladies in different directions, but their hearts are bound. One runs, the other seeks. One haunted by fears, the other reaching for a faith and a future. Both longing for love.

Their stories are woven into a lifelong saga that will keep you listening to the heart-rending end.

Will Phoebe discover her roots and finally find peace? Will Claretta’s past prevent her opening her heart to the arms of the man she has grown to love?

Two ladies forged in an unlikely sisterhood. The men who seek to love them. The long journey from workhouse to a world filled with deepest tragedy and soaring joy.

This is the story of Dora’s workhouse child - a historical Victorian romantic saga. If you like Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you will love reading, Dora's Workhouse Child.

©2019 PureRead Ltd (P)2020 PureRead Ltd

An anticlimactic family saga, not a romance

Although this novella had some good points, it left me rather unsatisfied, and I found it difficult to finish. I know a lot about the Victorian period in England, so I was pleased at the realistic historical details. The social structure, the daily life, the details of the workhouse, and everything else was very accurate for England in the late nineteenth century. Before I chose this audiobook, I could tell from the description that it is definitely not a “romance” in the modern sense of the word. It is a dramatic family saga covering two generations. It might barely qualify as a “romance” in the nineteenth century literature use of the word, but any brief romantic feelings are downplayed more so than even in the “romantic” novels of Thomas Hardy such as “Tess of the D'Urbervilles”. However, I think that Thomas Hardy is a much more talented and entertaining writer than Dolly Price.

What bothers me is the boring way the author Dolly Price writes about the events in this family saga. At several points in the story, I could tell that some dramatic event was going to occur (like meeting the birth father), and I was looking forward to it. However, when the event occurred, it was written with no increase in tension or dramatic effect. It sounded as dull as when the characters were just eating breakfast. These anticlimactic moments happened many times during this 4.25-hour book, and this writing style made it difficult for me to finish the book. The final section was a little more interesting than the rest, thankfully.

The narrator Meghan Green had very accurate English accents and even a few German ones. She was fairly good at distinguishing the many different characters' voices. However, her pacing was a little too consistent. My main complaint with the narrator is that she always sounded like she had nasal congestion, and therefore all the characters sounded like they had nasal congestion.

The book was okay for teens and adults. There was no bad language. There are a few instances where the reader can infer that sex occurred, but it is barely mentioned (such as 'she joined him in his bed') and definitely not described. There is a common theme of Victorian literature exploring the really bad consequences of a woman having premarital sex. As in actual Victorian society, the woman was blamed for the act, not the man. This book does not have a Christian theme. At least some characters had a happy ending.

I requested and received a free audiobook copy via #AudiobookObsession, and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
#AudiobookObsession Reviewer

Dora's Workhouse Child

Though this followed a common premise,a mix up in babies,the story took turns that made it interesting.I enjoyed it.Megan Green was a very good narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

Dora's Workhouse Child: Victorian Romance review

This being a romance aside, I actually enjoyed this historical book. Five stars and worthwhile.

Great Historical Romance Mystery

This is the second book I have read by Dolly Price and narrated by Megan Green. I absolutely love it! There is romance and mystery. A great listen!

Historical Victorian Romance Saga

Dora's Workhouse Child: Victorian Romance is a intriguing historical victorian romance saga. A intricately weaved piece of literature that is affecting. The characters are compelling with complex personalities. I was highly captivated listening to this saga unravel and wished there was more.

Narrator Megan Green intonation kept me listening. Her inflection fir the time period and settings. I could distinct between the characters.

I hope get a chance to listen to other audio's from this author


🎧 Audiobook Obsession 🎧

Emotional Historical Victorian Romance

This was my first Dolly Price's book. Dora's Workhouse Child is an interesting historical Victorian romance. The storyline is complex and emotional. The characters are interesting. Megan Green did a good job with the narration. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Very Enjoyable

This intriguing little story of Phoebe & Clara was very enjoyable. It kept my interest and I really just wanted it to continue even more. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Enjoyed

This was the first book I've read/listened to by Dolly Price. I really enjoyed the audio although a few "sayings" seemed out of place for the time period. But who knows, maybe I'm completely wrong! I enjoyed the storyline, although I didn't like most of the characters. Crazy. But I didn't want to pause so I could find out what happened with Phoebe. Clara was my favorite character.

Megan Green did an great job. I enjoyed her voice. Her performance was well done for male and female voices.

#AudiobookObsessionReviewer

I LOVED IT!

I loved it! The narration was great and kept me entertained! The author did a great job with the character builds and plot! This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last! I look forward to reading more books by this author! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Good yarn

Quite different to what I normally read (or listen to) but enjoyed the story. Turned out a bit different to what I was expecting, not all happy ever after for everyone. All in all well worth listening to.