Olivia Twist is an innovative reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic tale Oliver Twist, exploring what might have happened if Oliver had actually been a girl disguised for her own safety, who grows up to confront her tangled past. Perfect for fans, young and old, of Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and Edgar Allan Poe.
Olivia Brownlow is no damsel in distress. Born in a workhouse and raised as a boy among thieving London street gangs, she is as tough and cunning as they come. When she is taken in by her uncle after a caper gone wrong, her life goes from fighting and stealing on the streets to lavish dinners and soirees as a debutante in high society. But she can't seem to escape her memories ... or forget the teeming slums where children just like her are still scraping by just to survive.
Jack MacCarron rose from his place in London's East End to become the adopted "nephew" of a society matron. Little does society know that MacCarron is a false name for a boy once known among London gangs as the Artful Dodger, and that he and his "aunt" are robbing them blind every chance they get. When Jack encounters Olivia Brownlow in places he least expects, his curiosity is piqued. Why is a society girl helping a bunch of homeless orphan thieves? Even more intriguing, why does she remind him so much of someone he once knew? When a villain from his past threatens Olivia's future, Jack finds himself wondering if going legit and risking it all might be worth it for love.
"This clever retelling of Dickens' Oliver Twist is perfect for readers who love romance, adventure, historical settings, and heroines who can kick butt in formal gowns." - Booklist, starred review