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Family Hall #1
Weil die Hoffnung nie versiegt
South-east Queensland , 1875
Three pioneering women, one epic struggle — in an unforgiving land where love carries the highest price
BRIDIE... Caught between the love she feels for her husband, and her hatred for her scheming stepson — she is the keeper of family secrets. Patiently she waits for the day when she can finally reveal the truth.
MADDIE... While devoted to her family, she soon discovers that love alone will not protect them from the harsh and hostile land that they have made their home
KITTY... Emerging into womanhood, she is loved by one man, desired by another. However she finds that sometimes there are no choices in life.
A sweeping saga that tests the boundaries of faith and courage, When Hope is Strong is a story to treasure.
Three pioneering women, one epic struggle — in an unforgiving land where love carries the highest price
BRIDIE... Caught between the love she feels for her husband, and her hatred for her scheming stepson — she is the keeper of family secrets. Patiently she waits for the day when she can finally reveal the truth.
MADDIE... While devoted to her family, she soon discovers that love alone will not protect them from the harsh and hostile land that they have made their home
KITTY... Emerging into womanhood, she is loved by one man, desired by another. However she finds that sometimes there are no choices in life.
A sweeping saga that tests the boundaries of faith and courage, When Hope is Strong is a story to treasure.
- GenresRomanceHistorical
589 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 1, 2020
Uplifting
May 30, 2023
Wow, that was intense! At first, I wasn't sure what to make of it or if I liked it at all but as the story progressed with the different characters, especially through the eyes of Bridie, Maddie, and Kitty.
It was fascinating to read about how they individually tackled the daily struggles, hardships, friendships, betrayals, and secrets that could destroy everything they hold dear.
This sisterhood of sorts as they juggle these obstacles during the late 1800s in rural Australia with clear distinctive personalities clearly demonstrates an inner strength that rivals their male counterparts whose power and ambition threaten to shatter these women's constant struggle to survive.
It was fascinating to read about how they individually tackled the daily struggles, hardships, friendships, betrayals, and secrets that could destroy everything they hold dear.
This sisterhood of sorts as they juggle these obstacles during the late 1800s in rural Australia with clear distinctive personalities clearly demonstrates an inner strength that rivals their male counterparts whose power and ambition threaten to shatter these women's constant struggle to survive.
March 15, 2014
This is the powerful beginning of an elegantly woven historical saga that continues with her next book Song from the Heart. Set in the South Eastern corner of Queensland the reader can appreciate the hardships these pioneer women encountered during their lives. We see through their eyes into a wild untamed landscape that the civilised world is only beginning to conquer in the Booli town.
This is where we meet BRIDIE who meets and marries in whirlwind courtship a man she grows to truly love, Hedley Tarlington. He is gentle and kind to his loving attentive wife. Bridie has to bear the unwanted attentions of her stepson and open hatred of her step daughter. She endures the burden of keeping dark secrets in order to survive while extending the warm hand of friendship to her neighbours.
MADDIE arrives with her husband Ted Hall, his brother Dan, younger sister Kitty and young children Beth and Emma. The safety of paved streets and rows of cottages they left behind in the city Maddie finds it difficult to adjust. The trees, dust, heat and endless hours of work, take their toll as the little reward weighs heavily on her fragile soul and health. The visits Bridie makes become welcome relief from the grinding lifestyle.
KITTY on the other hand thrives in the unkempt beauty of her surroundings. Growing into womanhood a delight with lessons learnt from friendships made and lost. She faces the sadness of loosing a very dear friend in a neighbour who she virtually adopts as a Grandfather figure. She understands the joy of being loved and the confusion of physical attraction.
At the outset this book shows the daily struggles and choices people made to forge a living in an untamed land. The friendships made and lost become real and personal. I enjoyed the way these three women saw their world and how they shared it. Bridie with her visionary outlook on what her world could become. Maddie who sunk into a sullen resignation of her world turned upside down. She wanted Kitty to escape the drudgery of the world she'd come to know. Yet Kitty, with her youthful excitement for a future, saw nothing but beauty in her surroundings.
If you've not read this fine local artists work before then give yourself a treat. You'll soon be engrossed and unable to put the book down until the final page is turned.
Merged review:
This is the powerful beginning of an elegantly woven historical saga that continues with her next book Song from the Heart. Set in the South Eastern corner of Queensland the reader can appreciate the hardships these pioneer women encountered during their lives. We see through their eyes into a wild untamed landscape that the civilised world is only beginning to conquer in the Booli town.
This is where we meet BRIDIE who meets and marries in whirlwind courtship a man she grows to truly love, Hedley Tarlington. He is gentle and kind to his loving attentive wife. Bridie has to bear the unwanted attentions of her stepson and open hatred of her step daughter. She endures the burden of keeping dark secrets in order to survive while extending the warm hand of friendship to her neighbours.
MADDIE arrives with her husband Ted Hall, his brother Dan, younger sister Kitty and young children Beth and Emma. The safety of paved streets and rows of cottages they left behind in the city Maddie finds it difficult to adjust. The trees, dust, heat and endless hours of work, take their toll as the little reward weighs heavily on her fragile soul and health. The visits Bridie makes become welcome relief from the grinding lifestyle.
KITTY on the other hand thrives in the unkempt beauty of her surroundings. Growing into womanhood a delight with lessons learnt from friendships made and lost. She faces the sadness of loosing a very dear friend in a neighbour who she virtually adopts as a Grandfather figure. She understands the joy of being loved and the confusion of physical attraction.
At the outset this book shows the daily struggles and choices people made to forge a living in an untamed land. The friendships made and lost become real and personal. I enjoyed the way these three women saw their world and how they shared it. Bridie with her visionary outlook on what her world could become. Maddie who sunk into a sullen resignation of her world turned upside down. She wanted Kitty to escape the drudgery of the world she'd come to know. Yet Kitty, with her youthful excitement for a future, saw nothing but beauty in her surroundings.
If you've not read this fine local artists work before then give yourself a treat. You'll soon be engrossed and unable to put the book down until the final page is turned.
This is where we meet BRIDIE who meets and marries in whirlwind courtship a man she grows to truly love, Hedley Tarlington. He is gentle and kind to his loving attentive wife. Bridie has to bear the unwanted attentions of her stepson and open hatred of her step daughter. She endures the burden of keeping dark secrets in order to survive while extending the warm hand of friendship to her neighbours.
MADDIE arrives with her husband Ted Hall, his brother Dan, younger sister Kitty and young children Beth and Emma. The safety of paved streets and rows of cottages they left behind in the city Maddie finds it difficult to adjust. The trees, dust, heat and endless hours of work, take their toll as the little reward weighs heavily on her fragile soul and health. The visits Bridie makes become welcome relief from the grinding lifestyle.
KITTY on the other hand thrives in the unkempt beauty of her surroundings. Growing into womanhood a delight with lessons learnt from friendships made and lost. She faces the sadness of loosing a very dear friend in a neighbour who she virtually adopts as a Grandfather figure. She understands the joy of being loved and the confusion of physical attraction.
At the outset this book shows the daily struggles and choices people made to forge a living in an untamed land. The friendships made and lost become real and personal. I enjoyed the way these three women saw their world and how they shared it. Bridie with her visionary outlook on what her world could become. Maddie who sunk into a sullen resignation of her world turned upside down. She wanted Kitty to escape the drudgery of the world she'd come to know. Yet Kitty, with her youthful excitement for a future, saw nothing but beauty in her surroundings.
If you've not read this fine local artists work before then give yourself a treat. You'll soon be engrossed and unable to put the book down until the final page is turned.
Merged review:
This is the powerful beginning of an elegantly woven historical saga that continues with her next book Song from the Heart. Set in the South Eastern corner of Queensland the reader can appreciate the hardships these pioneer women encountered during their lives. We see through their eyes into a wild untamed landscape that the civilised world is only beginning to conquer in the Booli town.
This is where we meet BRIDIE who meets and marries in whirlwind courtship a man she grows to truly love, Hedley Tarlington. He is gentle and kind to his loving attentive wife. Bridie has to bear the unwanted attentions of her stepson and open hatred of her step daughter. She endures the burden of keeping dark secrets in order to survive while extending the warm hand of friendship to her neighbours.
MADDIE arrives with her husband Ted Hall, his brother Dan, younger sister Kitty and young children Beth and Emma. The safety of paved streets and rows of cottages they left behind in the city Maddie finds it difficult to adjust. The trees, dust, heat and endless hours of work, take their toll as the little reward weighs heavily on her fragile soul and health. The visits Bridie makes become welcome relief from the grinding lifestyle.
KITTY on the other hand thrives in the unkempt beauty of her surroundings. Growing into womanhood a delight with lessons learnt from friendships made and lost. She faces the sadness of loosing a very dear friend in a neighbour who she virtually adopts as a Grandfather figure. She understands the joy of being loved and the confusion of physical attraction.
At the outset this book shows the daily struggles and choices people made to forge a living in an untamed land. The friendships made and lost become real and personal. I enjoyed the way these three women saw their world and how they shared it. Bridie with her visionary outlook on what her world could become. Maddie who sunk into a sullen resignation of her world turned upside down. She wanted Kitty to escape the drudgery of the world she'd come to know. Yet Kitty, with her youthful excitement for a future, saw nothing but beauty in her surroundings.
If you've not read this fine local artists work before then give yourself a treat. You'll soon be engrossed and unable to put the book down until the final page is turned.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews