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First Love, Last Love
A powerful story of two sisters, and the love that changed their livesIt wasn't a privileged childhood, but it was a happy one. Sybil and Lizzie Cream, brought up in a fisherman's cottage on the edge of the cold North Sea were content to leave privilege where it with their friends the Wintertons. Christina Winterton was the same age as Sybil and the two girls were inseparable, but it was Lizzie whom Ralph Winterton, three years older, found irresistible.Then war came to East Anglia, and so did Manchester-born Fenn Kitzmann now of the American Army Air Force. At their first meeting he is attracted by Sybil's subtle charm, but before he sees her again her own personal tragedy has struck, and he finds her changed almost out of recognition...
514 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1992
105 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Judith Saxton
45 books20 followersPseudonym of Katie Flynn.
Katie Flynn was born in Norwich and attended Norwich High School, where she was extremely happy and extremely undistinguished. Published at the tender age of eight, in Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories, she joined a Writers’ Circle as an adult, publishing short stories, articles, etc; only turning to novels in 1971 because the postal strike cut off her main source of income!
At first she wrote under several different names – Judith Saxton, Judy Turner, Lydia Balmain, Judith Arden – but her Katie Flynn books were a delight to write and proved far more popular than she had dreamed. She has now published nearly ninety novels, twenty-seven of which are Flynns. Her most recent titles are: Lost Days of Summer and Christmas Wishes.
Katie Flynn was born in Norwich and attended Norwich High School, where she was extremely happy and extremely undistinguished. Published at the tender age of eight, in Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories, she joined a Writers’ Circle as an adult, publishing short stories, articles, etc; only turning to novels in 1971 because the postal strike cut off her main source of income!
At first she wrote under several different names – Judith Saxton, Judy Turner, Lydia Balmain, Judith Arden – but her Katie Flynn books were a delight to write and proved far more popular than she had dreamed. She has now published nearly ninety novels, twenty-seven of which are Flynns. Her most recent titles are: Lost Days of Summer and Christmas Wishes.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 3, 2018
This is not merely a love story.
It's a heart-breaking saga of guilt, selflessness, family, loss, and war, for sure- with love overpowering them in some way or the other, it isn't still a true love story, see.
The actual romance begins on page 409 and the book ends on 512, so no, I don't consider it a love story in the sense the term is generally viewed as. Now it does have plenty of familial care and love but we can't call that a 'love story' although in the literal sense it is but we don't want to mistakenly be taken as a sicko who swoons over incestuous love, now do we? Yeah... totally offtrack here. I just wanted to prove a point. Anyhow, moving on...
First Love, Last Love is a, and I quote what Northern Echo wrote:
"One of the most touching wartime romances I've ever read."
I don't agree with the "romance" part (for further details refer to the previous paragraph if you have [though God knows how that's possible if you've come this far] no idea what I mean) but, I am vigorously nodding at the whole "touchy wartime" thing.
Speaking of, the writer showed, with intense details, the horrors of World War II and how lifelong friendships and unlikely relations bloom in the times of ruin and chaos.
How one meeting, one smile can change the course of our entire life, how one act of kindness can be blown up in the face of motherhood in the shape of weapons of destruction.
How the most sacred and pure relations can turn out to be toxic and selfish when on the other hand, mere strangers can create miracles out of thin air and help us on our feet, sometimes even literally.
Coming back to the romance part, it is romantic indeed but toward the very end; and I believe that elevated the sweetness and desire for it. Molded it into something more special than it already was, and everything that happened in the pages previously climaxed in those hundred pages for me. I couldn't have hoped for anything better!
Yet, there was this constant nagging at the back of my mind, the stench of war prominent throughout the book that overshadowed love, even at the very end when all was right and the war was over. Maybe that was done on purpose, I don't know. It was strong.
The book speaks the ugly truth about war and poison brewing relationships, the destructive lustrous nature of humans and the difference between the rich and the poor in the 1930s when the war was looming over like a sinister dark cloud and in the 1940s when the men were out risking and giving their lives for their countries while women and children struggled with the effects and tried to survive each day, praying for their men's safe return. So you see, it is much more than a romantic novel. It's a thought-provoking narration of war and what it did to humanity, no matter how fictional the situation now.
The book captured me, entranced me, enchanted me and made me a part of itself in its entirety.
I became the innocent Sybil Cream and later, a selfless landgirl; I dived into the life of young bullied Fennimore Kitzmann, watched him turn into a strong and brave pilot that bombed the Nazis. I watched them grow into wonderful adults and fall in love with each other, I saw as if directly from the beach of Pakeby and the streets of Manchester.
It's a heart-breaking saga of guilt, selflessness, family, loss, and war, for sure- with love overpowering them in some way or the other, it isn't still a true love story, see.
The actual romance begins on page 409 and the book ends on 512, so no, I don't consider it a love story in the sense the term is generally viewed as. Now it does have plenty of familial care and love but we can't call that a 'love story' although in the literal sense it is but we don't want to mistakenly be taken as a sicko who swoons over incestuous love, now do we? Yeah... totally offtrack here. I just wanted to prove a point. Anyhow, moving on...
First Love, Last Love is a, and I quote what Northern Echo wrote:
"One of the most touching wartime romances I've ever read."
I don't agree with the "romance" part (for further details refer to the previous paragraph if you have [though God knows how that's possible if you've come this far] no idea what I mean) but, I am vigorously nodding at the whole "touchy wartime" thing.
Speaking of, the writer showed, with intense details, the horrors of World War II and how lifelong friendships and unlikely relations bloom in the times of ruin and chaos.
How one meeting, one smile can change the course of our entire life, how one act of kindness can be blown up in the face of motherhood in the shape of weapons of destruction.
How the most sacred and pure relations can turn out to be toxic and selfish when on the other hand, mere strangers can create miracles out of thin air and help us on our feet, sometimes even literally.
Coming back to the romance part, it is romantic indeed but toward the very end; and I believe that elevated the sweetness and desire for it. Molded it into something more special than it already was, and everything that happened in the pages previously climaxed in those hundred pages for me. I couldn't have hoped for anything better!
Yet, there was this constant nagging at the back of my mind, the stench of war prominent throughout the book that overshadowed love, even at the very end when all was right and the war was over. Maybe that was done on purpose, I don't know. It was strong.
The book speaks the ugly truth about war and poison brewing relationships, the destructive lustrous nature of humans and the difference between the rich and the poor in the 1930s when the war was looming over like a sinister dark cloud and in the 1940s when the men were out risking and giving their lives for their countries while women and children struggled with the effects and tried to survive each day, praying for their men's safe return. So you see, it is much more than a romantic novel. It's a thought-provoking narration of war and what it did to humanity, no matter how fictional the situation now.
The book captured me, entranced me, enchanted me and made me a part of itself in its entirety.
I became the innocent Sybil Cream and later, a selfless landgirl; I dived into the life of young bullied Fennimore Kitzmann, watched him turn into a strong and brave pilot that bombed the Nazis. I watched them grow into wonderful adults and fall in love with each other, I saw as if directly from the beach of Pakeby and the streets of Manchester.
August 16, 2014
This book really kept me interested, with its location in England, and time period of years surrounding WWII. Two sisters grow up in an impoverished condition, while being friends with a family with ample means. The characters were endearing, and relationship situations very believable. The plot took some interesting turns...I wanted the ending to be what it was, but did not know how it would get there.
June 12, 2022
What I really loved about this book was all the detail about what everyday life was like for the characters. It made me appreciate just how much life has changed in the last 70 years or so.
May 4, 2024
Another good read from Katie Flynn (writing as Judith Saxton). Judy Turner, her real name, was born in Norwich so this is why the city and East Anglia features so much in her books. I'm Norwich born myself so I can relate to her descriptions of the city and surrounding towns and villages. I notice that she combines real and fictitious places which is something I've done with my stories.
The first half of the book was like reading two different stories and as time went on I was beginning to wonder when the two would intertwine. There were a few ridiculous coincidences and a 21 year old not knowing about the 'birds and bees' was particularly unbelievable. I also felt there were a few unnecessary parts, for example, the naming of all of the children in her class which had nothing to do with the storyline and also parts of the last few chapters seemed overly strung out a bit. I'm sure that the 500 pages plus could have been condensed to less.
The first half of the book was like reading two different stories and as time went on I was beginning to wonder when the two would intertwine. There were a few ridiculous coincidences and a 21 year old not knowing about the 'birds and bees' was particularly unbelievable. I also felt there were a few unnecessary parts, for example, the naming of all of the children in her class which had nothing to do with the storyline and also parts of the last few chapters seemed overly strung out a bit. I'm sure that the 500 pages plus could have been condensed to less.
March 9, 2019
Absolutely loved this book as it was set in Norfolk, I was born in this county so was lovely toimagine the characters walking along streets I knew in Norwich City. Would highly recommend this book had me hooked right from the beginning.
March 15, 2021
Brilliant Read
I really enjoyed this book. People called the GI's but although Fenn was born in England, he escaped to America and comes over to England to fight in the war and helps his first love.
I really enjoyed this book. People called the GI's but although Fenn was born in England, he escaped to America and comes over to England to fight in the war and helps his first love.
January 31, 2018
First love,last love
Very good storyline and funny but also sad in places. The sort of book which you want to keep reading to see what happens next.Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Very good storyline and funny but also sad in places. The sort of book which you want to keep reading to see what happens next.Thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 14, 2019
Good story, but the beginning was too slow and detailed.
Read
December 28, 2019Very good read
I would recommend this book to anyone. Kept me enthralled.Good reading all the way through.I like all of her books
I would recommend this book to anyone. Kept me enthralled.Good reading all the way through.I like all of her books
January 7, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 24, 2021
First love ,last love
Enjoyed this novel immensely. Could picture all the characters and places. Can't wait to read another of Katie Flynn's novels.
Enjoyed this novel immensely. Could picture all the characters and places. Can't wait to read another of Katie Flynn's novels.
December 8, 2021
will update to kindle as had this as a paper back and gave to a neighbour.
another great book by katie.
another great book by katie.
March 11, 2023
Not Katie's normally great storyline. I got to 43% and gave up. I just couldn't get into it
February 26, 2017
It was o.k.
July 13, 2014
I gave this book 3 stars because the chapters were too long and I was 50% through the book before all of the characters came together. I nearly put it down several times with the intent not to complete it, but the characters kept me coming back. Just too wordy.... too long. But the historical parts were fabulously written. I feel really torn about this book, as you can probably tell.
January 18, 2013
Another good WW2 saga from Katie Flynn...I particularly enjoyed the village portrayed because I was able to see images on google and it really set the scene. Sympathetic and realistic characters round out the history and setting.
January 21, 2015
1992 UK
favourite quotes:
A son is a son till he takes him a wife, but a daughter’s a daughter the rest of your life. (Chapter 14, p 300)
You don’t listen to the words when you want the truth from a son, you listen to the way he says the words!(Chapter 23, p 501)
favourite quotes:
A son is a son till he takes him a wife, but a daughter’s a daughter the rest of your life. (Chapter 14, p 300)
You don’t listen to the words when you want the truth from a son, you listen to the way he says the words!(Chapter 23, p 501)
December 17, 2012
Really really enjoyed this book. It made me want to cry at times too. Much better than I expected too.
May 14, 2015
Very good reading, with very believable characters. Living between the two main settings of the book I could really imagine walking through the settings within the book.
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September 7, 2018Grey
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews