Days of Hope

by Lyn Andrews

It’s 1945 and the war is finally over. For the Devlin family in Liverpool, the wartime years have been almost too much to bear. But at long last sisters Grace and Chrissie can return to their normal lives. Level-headed and hard-working, Grace wants nothing more than to meet a nice man and settle down. Vivacious Chrissie, though, craves fun and excitement – and there’s not much of that to be had in the austere post-war years. So when Chrissie meets Pat Kilroy, a handsome Irishman, she’s swept off her feet and eagerly follows Pat to Ireland. Chrissie soon realises she has made a terrible mistake, and Grace rushes to her side to help. But the consequences of Chrissie’s actions are to be as far-reaching as they are devastating.

Genres: Fiction, Romance

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Lyn Andrews is one of the the UK's top one hundred paper-back bestsellers. Born and brought up in Liverpool, she is the daughter of a policeman who also married a policeman. After becoming the mother of triplets, she took some time off from her writing whilst she raised her children. Shortlisted for the romantic Novelists' Association Award in 1993, she has now written twenty-one hugely successful novels. Lyn Andrews divides her time between Merseyside and Ireland.

Reviews

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, I tried to like this story, I really did, but the attacks on Chrissie, who obviously suffered mentally, and the false blame by both the author and the other characters was painful to read and by the time the story was over I was angry with everyone for what they did to her. Was it because she was a girl? I noticed her behaviour was very similar to her brother Billy, but he was the family darling, even though Chrissie was younger.

Also there is no human alive like Grace, you'd have thought she was the Messiah - pictured as a pure virgin, although she gossips and lies about her sister. Everyone was self-centred in this story, but poor Chrissie got the worst of it.

Having grown up with people with mental illness, I can only surmise that this sort of attitude leads to the alienation and suffering they have to endure.

Despite the repetitious phrasing and lengthy descriptions of food and clothing, had Grace been written with flaws, and the treatment of Chrissie handled differently this wouldn't have been so bad. In fact it might have been pretty good.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a good book. I really loved it! It shows that being impatient is not right. You have to think before making decisions. It is better to know what you are getting yourself into before diving in. It also tells that it is better to try than not trying. It is a book about the lives of sisters after the World War 2, and their different approach towards life.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

just finished this book I really enjoyed it.... life as it was just after the war in Ireland and Liverpool, aninteresting ending.
Plenty going on in the story to keep you riveted to the pages. As always an excellent read from an excellent author.

[DubaiReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for the Abridged Audio version.

My gut feeling about this audio-book was that it was too heavily abridged. I felt I was losing a lot of the interesting, character building detail, and just following the bones of the story. This just simply wasn't enough to hold my attention.
It is a shame that reviews for audio-books are not submitted separately because a poor abridgement affects the rating for all editions.

The central characters were two sisters, Chrissie and Grace, who had survived the war and were both ready for exciting new lives. Grace was ready to work hard, settle down and start a family with a loving man; Chrissie however, was more wild, inclined to rash decisions and rather selfish.
When one of their friends gets married, Chrissie spots a handsome young Irish farmer, Pat Kilroy, and immediately falls in love. True to character she is ready to rush accross the seas to him, with widespread repercussions on her whole family.

A rather typical story, with not a lot to offer. I have other books by Ms Andrews on my shelves so I will read my next book in hard copy to give the author a fair try.
Recommended for fans of Audrey Howard or Lillian Harry.

[Magpie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Riddled with clichés and a yawningly predictable plot. I was left wondering if troubled Chrissie only existed (and then conveniently died) as a plot device the whole way through so that not only could the virtuous Grace marry, but the 'bad girl' could get her comeuppance. I doubt I will be reading anything by this author again.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I love it when there is a life lesson to be had. A book that makes you question your own life and people behaviour around this.

I loved the two main characters more so for Chrissie.

A good read for a cold winter night.

[Jane Woodcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. Such a slow start. Took me ages to get into it. Got bit better in the middle, and had a good ending. Days of hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was thinking that while I was reading, thinking how many days is it going to take me to finish this, so I can get on to a good'un lol.

[Sana Merchant · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to put it down solely for the story.
No person is perfect, no person is full of flaws.
Grace was too perfect for me.
I absolutely despise the road Grace and Pat were on. Especially with the relationship they shared. It was too much for me.

[Cathy Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

1945 at the end of the war in Liverpool, the Devlin family has almost had too much to bear. The novel describes the long struggle back to a more normal life.

[A Red Headed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book of Lyn Andrews I picked up and even thou I normally like to read books that are during the war, I really enjoyed this book.
Although it was full of a lot of tragedy I did not once want to put it down.

[Linda Leedham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story would recommend reading it , It shows the devastation of what the war caused not just in those that fought in the war but also what the families had to endure and the effects of there life after war .

[Shahrun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical family saga. You get the drama, love, life, betrayal, birth, marriage and death you’d expect from this type of book. Just what I wanted whilst doing a bit of sewing: Nice easy listening.

[mrs c lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

unputdownable!

As usual Lyn Andrews brings us another fabulous story. I was hooked on page one.. Her storytelling is second to none.

[Jecefel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me how to be strong, have courage and hope which Grace always have. Nice book

[Alison White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I've never read any of this authors books before but will certainly read more. The only Critism is that the end was rushed.

[Cherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful story from Lyn Andrews.

[Mandy Downie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always love her books, this wasn't the best one but I still enjoyed it.