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The heart stone
When war takes Jessie’s love away, she must fight for her own survival
1914 - and everything changes for Jessie on a day trip to Blackpool. She realises her true feelings for her childhood friend, Arthur, then just as they are travelling home from this rare treat, war is declared.
Arthur lies about his age to join his Pals’ Regiment. Jessie’s widowed mother is so frightened of the future, she agrees to marry the vicious Amos Morgan, making Jessie’s home an unsafe place for her. Before he leaves, Arthur and Jessie admit their feelings and promise to wait for each other. Arthur gives Jessie a heart-shaped stone to remember him. But with Arthur far away, their love leaves Jessie with a secret that will see her thrown from her home and terribly abused when she can hide the truth no longer.
Faced with a desperate choice between love and safety, Jessie must fight for survival, whatever the cost.
1914 - and everything changes for Jessie on a day trip to Blackpool. She realises her true feelings for her childhood friend, Arthur, then just as they are travelling home from this rare treat, war is declared.
Arthur lies about his age to join his Pals’ Regiment. Jessie’s widowed mother is so frightened of the future, she agrees to marry the vicious Amos Morgan, making Jessie’s home an unsafe place for her. Before he leaves, Arthur and Jessie admit their feelings and promise to wait for each other. Arthur gives Jessie a heart-shaped stone to remember him. But with Arthur far away, their love leaves Jessie with a secret that will see her thrown from her home and terribly abused when she can hide the truth no longer.
Faced with a desperate choice between love and safety, Jessie must fight for survival, whatever the cost.
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 18, 2021
About the author
Judith Barrow
8 books67 followersJudith Barrow, originally from Saddleworth, a group of villages on the edge of the Pennines, has lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, for over forty years.
She has an MA in Creative Writing with the University of Wales Trinity St David's College, Carmarthen. BA (Hons) in Literature with the Open University, a Diploma in Drama from Swansea University. She is a Creative Writing tutor and holds private one to one workshops on all genres.
She has an MA in Creative Writing with the University of Wales Trinity St David's College, Carmarthen. BA (Hons) in Literature with the Open University, a Diploma in Drama from Swansea University. She is a Creative Writing tutor and holds private one to one workshops on all genres.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 20, 2021
I have read all of Judith Barrow’s previous novels and was delighted when a new book was announced.
As always the author has created a cast of characters that embody all aspects of human nature and are guaranteed to elicit an emotional response. Combined with the harsh reality of life during this dreadful period in history, Judith Barrow has written a compelling saga .
The book covers seven years in the lives of two young people who face moments of joy but also untold dangers, loss, and at times despair. Arthur at only 16 is thrown into the maelstrom of the first year of the war leaving behind Jessie, his first and only love, to face her own devastating life events on the home front.
Times were very hard and despite the progress made by the suffragette movement, for women it was even tougher. Despite some enlightened men, particularly in this small village, the pressure was applied forcing women into marriages doomed from the start.
I am not going to share any spoilers but I do recommend The Heart Stone as a wonderful story with well drawn characters which will certainly bring you to tears from time to time. The author deals with the heartbreak and trauma with great sensitivity but does not shy away from writing honestly. This includes a thread of hope running through the novel which leads to a fitting conclusion to the story.
As with all the books of Judith Barrow, I highly recommend The Heart Stone. It is a story that will linger in your mind for a long time to come.
As always the author has created a cast of characters that embody all aspects of human nature and are guaranteed to elicit an emotional response. Combined with the harsh reality of life during this dreadful period in history, Judith Barrow has written a compelling saga .
The book covers seven years in the lives of two young people who face moments of joy but also untold dangers, loss, and at times despair. Arthur at only 16 is thrown into the maelstrom of the first year of the war leaving behind Jessie, his first and only love, to face her own devastating life events on the home front.
Times were very hard and despite the progress made by the suffragette movement, for women it was even tougher. Despite some enlightened men, particularly in this small village, the pressure was applied forcing women into marriages doomed from the start.
I am not going to share any spoilers but I do recommend The Heart Stone as a wonderful story with well drawn characters which will certainly bring you to tears from time to time. The author deals with the heartbreak and trauma with great sensitivity but does not shy away from writing honestly. This includes a thread of hope running through the novel which leads to a fitting conclusion to the story.
As with all the books of Judith Barrow, I highly recommend The Heart Stone. It is a story that will linger in your mind for a long time to come.
February 24, 2021
The Heart Stone is a novel that grabs you, stirs your soul, bruises your heart but leaves you ultimately satisfied.
The book begins with the announcement of WWI and its effect on Jessie, 16 years old and in love for the first time.
Judith Barrow is known for creating authentic backgrounds of time and place and this novel is no exception. Jessie’s story plays out in a small northern mill town where its occupants are no strangers to hardship.
The effects of the war on the community form a natural backdrop to the claustrophobic atmosphere of those left behind. The men who signed up were put in a Pals’ Regiment which meant that any losses were felt heavily in the district; it also resulted in trauma for those who witnessed first-hand the horror of war on the minds and bodies of those they knew so well. The mothers, sisters, wives and children wait anxiously every day for the post, praying that it will bring a reassuring letter and not a dreaded telegram.
Jessie has the odds stacked against her but, despite being a girl in a brutal, man’s world, she has a spirit that refuses to be cowed. We go through these experiences with her, such is the power of Judith Barrow’s writing, and some of those experiences are enough to make you rage and weep at the unfairness and cruelty that comes her way.
I don’t want to say more for fear of revealing spoilers, but this is a compelling read with scenes that will haunt you long after you’ve finished the book. To balance this are moments that will make you cheer at the resilience of the women and the close bonds that are formed from unexpected alliances.
The Heart Stone is an outstanding book.
The book begins with the announcement of WWI and its effect on Jessie, 16 years old and in love for the first time.
Judith Barrow is known for creating authentic backgrounds of time and place and this novel is no exception. Jessie’s story plays out in a small northern mill town where its occupants are no strangers to hardship.
The effects of the war on the community form a natural backdrop to the claustrophobic atmosphere of those left behind. The men who signed up were put in a Pals’ Regiment which meant that any losses were felt heavily in the district; it also resulted in trauma for those who witnessed first-hand the horror of war on the minds and bodies of those they knew so well. The mothers, sisters, wives and children wait anxiously every day for the post, praying that it will bring a reassuring letter and not a dreaded telegram.
Jessie has the odds stacked against her but, despite being a girl in a brutal, man’s world, she has a spirit that refuses to be cowed. We go through these experiences with her, such is the power of Judith Barrow’s writing, and some of those experiences are enough to make you rage and weep at the unfairness and cruelty that comes her way.
I don’t want to say more for fear of revealing spoilers, but this is a compelling read with scenes that will haunt you long after you’ve finished the book. To balance this are moments that will make you cheer at the resilience of the women and the close bonds that are formed from unexpected alliances.
The Heart Stone is an outstanding book.
January 17, 2022
The Heart Stone is a compelling story about the impact of WW1 on a two families living in a small town in the United Kingdom.
When the story opens, Jessie's father has recently passed. He owned a small bakery and ownership has passed to her mother, a weak woman who was totally dependent on her husband. Arthur has left school and is working at a local mill with a lot of other young men. His mother is widowed and takes in washing to put food on the table.
Jessie and Arthur go on a day trip to Blackpool with Arthur's best friend, Stanley, and his posh wife, Clara. Jessie has a most wonderful time, seeing the ocean for the first time, and also coming to the realisation that her long friendship with Arthur has deepened into love. On the way back on the train, the news that Britain has declared war on Germany becomes know to the travelers and there is great excitement.
Jessie's mother starts a relationship with a horrible and selfish man, Amos Morgan, who is a lecher and can't leave Jessie alone. Arthur gets caught up in the propaganda about the war and, together with a number of other lads from the mill, enlists and is sent to France. Before he leaves, he and Jessie have a sad and emotional farewell when he shows her a love letter he has left for her, hidden behind a stone shaped like a heart in a wall. Jessie later discovers she is pregnant as a result of this last meeting with Arthur and she faces terrible shame and hardship as a result.
Jessie is a lovely young woman with determination and spunk. she is, however, a minor and dependent on her mother. When her mother marries Amos Morgan, she is left in a difficult position as she has no-where to go and no-one to confide in other than Arthur's mother who lives across the road. Stanley has also enlisted and Clara, who has discovered she is pregnant, has returned home to her wealthy family. It is sad and emotional to read about how Jessie's life spirals out of control largely because of her mother's inability to stand on her own two feet and make a life for herself, despite inheriting the bakery. She ruins Jessie's life with her ill advised marriage which gives Amos access to her teenage daughter. As the story progresses, the reader comes to admire Jessie more and more as she manages to overcome the difficulties she faces as a single mother in a society that ostracizes such women.
Arthur is a kind young man but he makes mistakes due to his youth. The first is putting Jessie in a position where she becomes pregnant and is turned out of her home. The second is the action he takes during the war which impacts heavily on his mother and Jessie.
Edna, Arthur's mom, is a strong woman. She stands by Jessie when she is forced to leave the bakery after her pregnancy becomes known to Amos. She struggles to make a living and provide for them both, but she does it and she helps Jessie hugely with the baby after he is born. In many ways, Edna is more of a mother to Jessie than her own mom and she is honourable, determined, and brave. Edna stands up to Amos on certain occasions and does her best to protect Jessie from his unpleasant advances.
This is a beautifully written book with an interesting storyline that follows the course of WW1. It is very revealing about life for civilians as a result of the war, and especially life for women who were left without providers to raise children on their own.
When the story opens, Jessie's father has recently passed. He owned a small bakery and ownership has passed to her mother, a weak woman who was totally dependent on her husband. Arthur has left school and is working at a local mill with a lot of other young men. His mother is widowed and takes in washing to put food on the table.
Jessie and Arthur go on a day trip to Blackpool with Arthur's best friend, Stanley, and his posh wife, Clara. Jessie has a most wonderful time, seeing the ocean for the first time, and also coming to the realisation that her long friendship with Arthur has deepened into love. On the way back on the train, the news that Britain has declared war on Germany becomes know to the travelers and there is great excitement.
Jessie's mother starts a relationship with a horrible and selfish man, Amos Morgan, who is a lecher and can't leave Jessie alone. Arthur gets caught up in the propaganda about the war and, together with a number of other lads from the mill, enlists and is sent to France. Before he leaves, he and Jessie have a sad and emotional farewell when he shows her a love letter he has left for her, hidden behind a stone shaped like a heart in a wall. Jessie later discovers she is pregnant as a result of this last meeting with Arthur and she faces terrible shame and hardship as a result.
Jessie is a lovely young woman with determination and spunk. she is, however, a minor and dependent on her mother. When her mother marries Amos Morgan, she is left in a difficult position as she has no-where to go and no-one to confide in other than Arthur's mother who lives across the road. Stanley has also enlisted and Clara, who has discovered she is pregnant, has returned home to her wealthy family. It is sad and emotional to read about how Jessie's life spirals out of control largely because of her mother's inability to stand on her own two feet and make a life for herself, despite inheriting the bakery. She ruins Jessie's life with her ill advised marriage which gives Amos access to her teenage daughter. As the story progresses, the reader comes to admire Jessie more and more as she manages to overcome the difficulties she faces as a single mother in a society that ostracizes such women.
Arthur is a kind young man but he makes mistakes due to his youth. The first is putting Jessie in a position where she becomes pregnant and is turned out of her home. The second is the action he takes during the war which impacts heavily on his mother and Jessie.
Edna, Arthur's mom, is a strong woman. She stands by Jessie when she is forced to leave the bakery after her pregnancy becomes known to Amos. She struggles to make a living and provide for them both, but she does it and she helps Jessie hugely with the baby after he is born. In many ways, Edna is more of a mother to Jessie than her own mom and she is honourable, determined, and brave. Edna stands up to Amos on certain occasions and does her best to protect Jessie from his unpleasant advances.
This is a beautifully written book with an interesting storyline that follows the course of WW1. It is very revealing about life for civilians as a result of the war, and especially life for women who were left without providers to raise children on their own.
February 26, 2021
Breathtaking, raw, beautiful, harsh, realistic and incredibly moving. These are all the words I would use to sum up this wonderful book.
I've been a dedicated follower of Judith Barrow's fiction for some time because I love the historical settings of her novels and the gritty reality she writes about. This one is quite a tough read as it is set between 1914 and 1921, so it covers the whole WW1 period with all its attendant emotions and horrors. What I loved about it is that it focuses on life from the perspective of the women left behind to cope and then later to either mourn or deal with their horrifically wounded and traumatised men. The heroine of the story, Jessie, also has to grow in these years from a 16 year-old typical teenage girl to a strong, self-contained young woman who has to face harshness and abuse that no one should ever have to deal with.
All the characters are well-drawn and credible, both the kind and the cruel and I could easily visualise the streets in which the novel took place as well as the beautiful countryside to which Jessie escapes. There is a great sense of place to the book, which is something I always appreciate.
I literally could not put this book down even when I knew I should be working. It is a superb addition to Judith Barrow's already remarkable collection of period novels.
I've been a dedicated follower of Judith Barrow's fiction for some time because I love the historical settings of her novels and the gritty reality she writes about. This one is quite a tough read as it is set between 1914 and 1921, so it covers the whole WW1 period with all its attendant emotions and horrors. What I loved about it is that it focuses on life from the perspective of the women left behind to cope and then later to either mourn or deal with their horrifically wounded and traumatised men. The heroine of the story, Jessie, also has to grow in these years from a 16 year-old typical teenage girl to a strong, self-contained young woman who has to face harshness and abuse that no one should ever have to deal with.
All the characters are well-drawn and credible, both the kind and the cruel and I could easily visualise the streets in which the novel took place as well as the beautiful countryside to which Jessie escapes. There is a great sense of place to the book, which is something I always appreciate.
I literally could not put this book down even when I knew I should be working. It is a superb addition to Judith Barrow's already remarkable collection of period novels.
February 18, 2021
Whenever I read a well written historical saga, I wonder why on earth I don’t do so more often. This wonderful book entirely took over my life and my waking thoughts for as long as I read it: it engaged me from its opening pages, I became totally involved in Jessie’s struggle for survival, and it really was story-telling at its very best.
It’s not, I must admit, the easiest book to review at length – the story is full of twists and turns that I really don’t want to risk revealing, but which will make your heart ache every bit as much as they did mine. At the story’s heart, Jessie is just magnificent – ordinary in so many ways, but wholly exceptional as she grapples with situations that draw on every possible bit of bravery and resilience that she can summon. I really loved her, and the hurt I felt at every challenge she faced became almost physical. Sometimes, it’s all so raw that it’s difficult to read, very emotional but with such authenticity that you live and breathe every moment of cruelty and danger, sadness and loss. I will say that the lighter moments are few and far between, but there is real warmth and joy in the friendships and some of the family relationships – I particularly enjoyed her complex relationship with Edna, Arthur’s mother, and the closeness that developed.
The historical backdrop is wonderfully drawn – the whole book is a real lesson in how to use research into the social, political and industrial background to bring an era and setting to life and make it entirely real. The focus is on the home front, but there are excursions to the battlefields and front too – searing and powerful, acutely affecting.
Although Jessie is very much the story’s focus – so compelling that it’s impossible to look away – the characterisation of the supporting cast is superb too, the unsympathetic characters (that’s something of an understatement) inspiring real anger and hatred, those who show rare acts of kindness equally well rounded. But my goodness, the story-telling – the pacing, the dialogue, the moments of the unexpected, the emotional highs and lows were all just so perfectly handled.
It’s a few days now since I finished reading, but Jessie’s story is still occupying my thoughts – and that’s a sure sign of a rather special book. Very highly recommended… I loved this one.
It’s not, I must admit, the easiest book to review at length – the story is full of twists and turns that I really don’t want to risk revealing, but which will make your heart ache every bit as much as they did mine. At the story’s heart, Jessie is just magnificent – ordinary in so many ways, but wholly exceptional as she grapples with situations that draw on every possible bit of bravery and resilience that she can summon. I really loved her, and the hurt I felt at every challenge she faced became almost physical. Sometimes, it’s all so raw that it’s difficult to read, very emotional but with such authenticity that you live and breathe every moment of cruelty and danger, sadness and loss. I will say that the lighter moments are few and far between, but there is real warmth and joy in the friendships and some of the family relationships – I particularly enjoyed her complex relationship with Edna, Arthur’s mother, and the closeness that developed.
The historical backdrop is wonderfully drawn – the whole book is a real lesson in how to use research into the social, political and industrial background to bring an era and setting to life and make it entirely real. The focus is on the home front, but there are excursions to the battlefields and front too – searing and powerful, acutely affecting.
Although Jessie is very much the story’s focus – so compelling that it’s impossible to look away – the characterisation of the supporting cast is superb too, the unsympathetic characters (that’s something of an understatement) inspiring real anger and hatred, those who show rare acts of kindness equally well rounded. But my goodness, the story-telling – the pacing, the dialogue, the moments of the unexpected, the emotional highs and lows were all just so perfectly handled.
It’s a few days now since I finished reading, but Jessie’s story is still occupying my thoughts – and that’s a sure sign of a rather special book. Very highly recommended… I loved this one.
February 26, 2021
Jessie: sixteen years old, with a revolting stepfather and the boy she loves going off to war ... the stage is set. I was thoroughly engrossed in this book all the way through, looking forward to getting back to it each time. The aforementioned revolting stepfather, Amos Morgan, was so despicable that I was hoping for his comeuppance all the way through the first section of the book, and don't get me started on Bob Clegg....
What struck me most, throughout, was how hard life was for women in those times. I questioned, now and again, why Jessie put up with all that she did, but you can't judge a woman of the second decade of the 20th century by even the standards of a woman, say, in the 1950s. Especially not one who is poor, and not that well educated. Then there's the First World War propaganda that sent all those young men off to almost certain death, and made them feel guilty when they didn't want to go—one of the biggest crimes against humanity in history. Not to mention the fate of deserters. Words fail me.
My favourite characters were Clara, Jessie's educated, progressive friend, and Arthur, Jessie's love who went to war. The chapters written in his point of view were stunningly good; Ms Barrow portrayed his haunted, disturbed mind so well. Although her main characters are usually female, it's her male characters that are often the most memorable—Bob Clegg's dialogue was masterful.
This is definitely my favourite, all round, of all the books by Judith Barrow that I've read. Previously, my favourite was A Hundred Tiny Threads, which tells me I like her historical fiction the most. I think it's because her settings and characters are all northern working class of the, 'aye, love, I'll put the kettle on when you've filled the coal scuttle and boiled the cabbage for our tea, and that Ada Bloggs over t'road is no better than she ought to be' type, which I find slightly depressing in more modern times, but, pre-World War II, it's far enough away not to be so!
As with most books there were odd occasions when I was a little frustrated by a development, but much of this is just personal taste—if domestic wartime dramas are your thing, I guarantee that you will love this book!
What struck me most, throughout, was how hard life was for women in those times. I questioned, now and again, why Jessie put up with all that she did, but you can't judge a woman of the second decade of the 20th century by even the standards of a woman, say, in the 1950s. Especially not one who is poor, and not that well educated. Then there's the First World War propaganda that sent all those young men off to almost certain death, and made them feel guilty when they didn't want to go—one of the biggest crimes against humanity in history. Not to mention the fate of deserters. Words fail me.
My favourite characters were Clara, Jessie's educated, progressive friend, and Arthur, Jessie's love who went to war. The chapters written in his point of view were stunningly good; Ms Barrow portrayed his haunted, disturbed mind so well. Although her main characters are usually female, it's her male characters that are often the most memorable—Bob Clegg's dialogue was masterful.
This is definitely my favourite, all round, of all the books by Judith Barrow that I've read. Previously, my favourite was A Hundred Tiny Threads, which tells me I like her historical fiction the most. I think it's because her settings and characters are all northern working class of the, 'aye, love, I'll put the kettle on when you've filled the coal scuttle and boiled the cabbage for our tea, and that Ada Bloggs over t'road is no better than she ought to be' type, which I find slightly depressing in more modern times, but, pre-World War II, it's far enough away not to be so!
As with most books there were odd occasions when I was a little frustrated by a development, but much of this is just personal taste—if domestic wartime dramas are your thing, I guarantee that you will love this book!
February 20, 2021
On a day trip to Blackpool, in 1914, sixteen-year old Jessie realises that the feelings she has for her friend, Arthur, run far deeper than that of mere friendship. However, after this idyllic day trip to the coast is over, life for both Arthur and Jessie would change forever.
As WW1 is declared Arthur is determined to fight for king and country and joins one of the PALS regiments leaving behind his sweetheart with only the promise of meeting up with her again once the war is over. Everyone expected the fighting to be done with by Christmas and for a very special reason the time can't go quickly enough for young Jessie.
What then follows is a heartbreaking family saga about the struggles of surviving, not just the hardships of wartime, but also during the personal tragedies which test Jessie's mettle time and time again. So visceral and raw is Jessie's suffering that it becomes unbearable at times to see just how much she had to endure in her personal life when all ever she wanted was to be happy with Arthur.
With excellent research, and a fine eye for all those special little details, the author brings the history of the time to life, both on the brutal battlefields of Northern France, and in the steady camaraderie and stoicism of a small community which has been split apart by war, and where gossip and sly innuendo flourished on street corners and in back kitchens. The characterisation is excellent, some people you love, whilst others you love to hate but without doubt they all bring something vital and valuable to this rather special story of tragedy and heartbreak.
The Heart Stone is a beautifully written historical saga by an author who creates characters who not only come to life on the page but who also touch you emotionally as their complicated lives progress
As WW1 is declared Arthur is determined to fight for king and country and joins one of the PALS regiments leaving behind his sweetheart with only the promise of meeting up with her again once the war is over. Everyone expected the fighting to be done with by Christmas and for a very special reason the time can't go quickly enough for young Jessie.
What then follows is a heartbreaking family saga about the struggles of surviving, not just the hardships of wartime, but also during the personal tragedies which test Jessie's mettle time and time again. So visceral and raw is Jessie's suffering that it becomes unbearable at times to see just how much she had to endure in her personal life when all ever she wanted was to be happy with Arthur.
With excellent research, and a fine eye for all those special little details, the author brings the history of the time to life, both on the brutal battlefields of Northern France, and in the steady camaraderie and stoicism of a small community which has been split apart by war, and where gossip and sly innuendo flourished on street corners and in back kitchens. The characterisation is excellent, some people you love, whilst others you love to hate but without doubt they all bring something vital and valuable to this rather special story of tragedy and heartbreak.
The Heart Stone is a beautifully written historical saga by an author who creates characters who not only come to life on the page but who also touch you emotionally as their complicated lives progress
February 21, 2021
This book was the perfect read to curl up with on a cosy evening. Gently paced, with likeable characters, I read this in 24 hours. The story follows the usual path of romance novels, in that there are two characters who love each other, yet must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles before they can be together. Set in a small village during the first world war, it captured the tone perfectly of what life was like in the North of England early in the 20th century. While it mainly focused on how the wives, mothers and those men who were unable to join up coped with life during the war years, later in the book there was some insight into some of the horrors that the men who had gone off to war faced. Particularly emotional was the account of how some of the men and boys (some were only sixteen) were executed for desertion, when today it would be clear that they were suffering for post-traumatic stress disorder. This was a lovely book and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy both romance and historical fiction.
This was a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2021
As with her previous books, what you get in this latest - The Heart Stone - from the pen of Judith Barrow, is consummate storytelling. Other reviewers have detailed the riveting story. I’m reviewing the writing, which in my view is exceptional.
Once again we are privy to the internal and external life of a brilliant central character. Jessie is as courageous as she is challenged. The rawness of her fears and struggles in the face of the horrors of war and its aftermath, are acutely observed. It is her resilience that shines, moving the story as well as Jessie herself, through the big-picture drama and the everyday, as the story unfolds. It’s perfectly paced, cleverly structured and an absolute joy.
What I particularly appreciate about Judith Barrow's novels is her attention to detail. There is a breadth of history in this book. It's almost panoramic in places; it's also deeply personal: the horror of war encapsulated in the experience of one man. A man Jessie loves. But love, not least in a time of war, is never easy for women. And life on the home front during both world wars presented women with a myriad challenges, with choices which were sometimes no choice at all.
The Heart Stone is an unflinching, very real portrayal of people - families - at war. Above all it is a love story to the women who survived WW1. And those who didn't. Highly recommended. Not enough stars.
Once again we are privy to the internal and external life of a brilliant central character. Jessie is as courageous as she is challenged. The rawness of her fears and struggles in the face of the horrors of war and its aftermath, are acutely observed. It is her resilience that shines, moving the story as well as Jessie herself, through the big-picture drama and the everyday, as the story unfolds. It’s perfectly paced, cleverly structured and an absolute joy.
What I particularly appreciate about Judith Barrow's novels is her attention to detail. There is a breadth of history in this book. It's almost panoramic in places; it's also deeply personal: the horror of war encapsulated in the experience of one man. A man Jessie loves. But love, not least in a time of war, is never easy for women. And life on the home front during both world wars presented women with a myriad challenges, with choices which were sometimes no choice at all.
The Heart Stone is an unflinching, very real portrayal of people - families - at war. Above all it is a love story to the women who survived WW1. And those who didn't. Highly recommended. Not enough stars.
February 27, 2021
It is 1914 and war is declared. Childhood friends, Jessie and Arthur declare their love for each other on the day he set to join the army and consummate the relationship. Jessie falls pregnant and her life becomes a series of trials and conflict, but she fights and fights. She is a well-drawn character with a distinct voice during a time when women did not have a voice. The enthralling narrative is fraught with conflict and heartbreak, but there are powerful moments of kindness and tenderness. Thank goodness for the warmth of the maternal role models in Jessie’s life – what an inspiration! This love story remained with me long after I had turned the first page. Jessie will always have a special place in my heart.
I adore all of Judith Barrow’s novels as her writing breathes life into history through her characters; she is not afraid to deal with hardship and horrible people.
I adore all of Judith Barrow’s novels as her writing breathes life into history through her characters; she is not afraid to deal with hardship and horrible people.
November 18, 2020
loved this book from page one a historical drama 1900s - about a young girl called Jessie and her love Arthur. Such an interesting and absorbing story which transformed me to the war years with ease. The book follows the trials and tribulations of Jessie’s life and ongoing relationships. The bond she has with Arthur, her mother and best friend. The raw emotions, abuse and events that Jessie went through made me hold my breath at times. I don’t like to give the storyline away but would recommend this book and will certainly seek this author out again. Thank you Net Galley for granting me the advance copy
March 28, 2021
The beginning of the First World War marked a change for many people. For Jessie life changed in a less obvious way. She realized that she is actually in love with Arthur, her friend since childhood. The lure of joining up, even lying about one’s true age, is too much, but things are not always that simple. Jessie is a strong minded young woman, who works hard in the family bakery and shop, but sometimes strength is not enough. This is a moving story of many parts of Jessie’s experience which may well have been common to many women at the time, of domestic struggles, even violence, but also of deep love for family and those moments of true love. Jessie’s resilience in the face of challenges must last for a long time, with the help of true friends who support and care for her through everything. In a time when women had to rely on each other, when even the vote and other rights were a distant dream, this is a book of a fight to survive, despite everything. Written with a strong sense of time and place, this a brilliantly researched novel where the story is never interrupted by the display of historical facts . It manages to balance life at home while women waited for news, with the filtered tales of life in the trenches and the truth of the fear of soldiers’ experiences. It also shows how not everything improved with the end of the War, and some situations became even more difficult. Friendship, love and hope distinguish this compelling novel, and I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this memorable novel.
The novel begins with a Prologue, in which Jessie returns form Blackpool with her friends to be greeted by the headline “Britain At War”. The first few chapters deal with the trip, how it is the first time Jessie has seen the sea, how she and Arthur spend a memorable day with their friends Clara and Stanley. She had hesitated about going and leaving her newly widowed mother to cope with the bakery. She realizes that her mother, a nervous woman, will be frightened by talk of war. Jessie is concerned about Amos Morgan, who hangs around the shop. Her fear is soon realized, and even exceeds her expectations. Arthur is caught up in the drive for volunteers for the army, and despite being under age announces his imminent departure for war. He is convinced that it will all be over soon, and finds a spot for their reunion, marked by a heart shaped stone on a hill above the town. Meanwhile Jessie keeps in touch with her determined friend Clara, as they both fear for their loved ones away from home.
There are some severe trials for Jessie and some of her friends in this book, but there is always progress. It emphasizes how people were convinced that the War would be over quickly, that the men would return home soon, and life would go back to normal. This author is extremely successful in conveying the sense of how people thought, the fear of what people would say about women’s situation, and the sheer physically of life in the first half of the twentieth century, especially for women. The character of Clara is a wonderful supporting character, who shows what a woman can achieve given better circumstances. Altogether this is a memorable book for all the right reasons, and I thoroughly recommend it as showing the reality for women in tough times.
The novel begins with a Prologue, in which Jessie returns form Blackpool with her friends to be greeted by the headline “Britain At War”. The first few chapters deal with the trip, how it is the first time Jessie has seen the sea, how she and Arthur spend a memorable day with their friends Clara and Stanley. She had hesitated about going and leaving her newly widowed mother to cope with the bakery. She realizes that her mother, a nervous woman, will be frightened by talk of war. Jessie is concerned about Amos Morgan, who hangs around the shop. Her fear is soon realized, and even exceeds her expectations. Arthur is caught up in the drive for volunteers for the army, and despite being under age announces his imminent departure for war. He is convinced that it will all be over soon, and finds a spot for their reunion, marked by a heart shaped stone on a hill above the town. Meanwhile Jessie keeps in touch with her determined friend Clara, as they both fear for their loved ones away from home.
There are some severe trials for Jessie and some of her friends in this book, but there is always progress. It emphasizes how people were convinced that the War would be over quickly, that the men would return home soon, and life would go back to normal. This author is extremely successful in conveying the sense of how people thought, the fear of what people would say about women’s situation, and the sheer physically of life in the first half of the twentieth century, especially for women. The character of Clara is a wonderful supporting character, who shows what a woman can achieve given better circumstances. Altogether this is a memorable book for all the right reasons, and I thoroughly recommend it as showing the reality for women in tough times.
July 24, 2021
This is a beautifully written heartfelt story that takes place during the beginnings of World War I through 1921. It's the story of love and war and the people whose lives are affected, painted beautifully with imagery and prose by this talented writer who is known for her heart-wrenching family saga historical fiction storytelling. It's a story about struggles, love, hatred, abuse, survival, and highlighting the strength of the women left to endure.
Jessie and Arthur are best friends since childhood, now teenagers at the tender age of 16, who've discovered their friendship has blossomed into true love, Arthur decides he must enlist to join the war, despite his not being of legal age yet.
Jessie's widowed mom runs a bakery and Jessie works alongside her mom to run the store, but at the news of upcoming war, quite a few bakers enlisted, leaving mom with the decision to marry Amos Morgan, head baker, who Jessie detests and remains puzzled why her mother would succumb to allowing Amos into the family business by marrying him.
In her own worries, Jessie and Arthur's friendship turns into a romantic relationship just before Arthur announces he's enlisted - under-aged, but the thrill of asserting his manhood calls, and he volunteers to join the fight with his country, England. This decision leaves Jessie distraught and tightening her bond with Arthur's widowed mom, Edna, as they can share their worries and commiserate together.
Months pass no word from Arthur, but Jessie, now pregnant from their last goodbye stint continues to visit the the heart stone up the hill where they declared their undying love forever before Arthur left. Meanwhile, Amos the pig, married to Jessie's mother, finds every opportunity to 'touch' Jessie. This was enough for her to revolt and move into Arthur's mother's home with her as a safe place and company to raise the baby.
Time passes and there's no word from Arthur, but Jessie keeps in touch with her friend Clara, married to Stanley, Arthur's best friend who also enlisted for war. Stanley eventually returns home - in a wheelchair, but home. Jessie travels to visit them in hopes to discover some news about Arthur.
Back at the bakery, Jessie's mom falls ill and becomes bedridden, putting more pressure on Jessie at work - and more time around the pig, Mr. Morgan. After mum passes, Morgan takes over the bakery, even though it is rightfully in mum's will left to Jessie, and that presents another interesting tidbit as to how he took over and what happened after; karma perhaps? And then suddenly, another baker, 'old' friend of Jessie's, Bob Cleg, proclaims a sudden desire for Jessie. Somehow these two end up married - not in a good way, and a lot more dramatic things happen along the book to keep us turning the pages, and alas, Arthur returns home! This changes the dynamic of things to come now that Jessie is unhappily married to a man she can't stand and the love of her life returns. And to find out what happens next, you are going to want to read this book!
Jessie and Arthur are best friends since childhood, now teenagers at the tender age of 16, who've discovered their friendship has blossomed into true love, Arthur decides he must enlist to join the war, despite his not being of legal age yet.
Jessie's widowed mom runs a bakery and Jessie works alongside her mom to run the store, but at the news of upcoming war, quite a few bakers enlisted, leaving mom with the decision to marry Amos Morgan, head baker, who Jessie detests and remains puzzled why her mother would succumb to allowing Amos into the family business by marrying him.
In her own worries, Jessie and Arthur's friendship turns into a romantic relationship just before Arthur announces he's enlisted - under-aged, but the thrill of asserting his manhood calls, and he volunteers to join the fight with his country, England. This decision leaves Jessie distraught and tightening her bond with Arthur's widowed mom, Edna, as they can share their worries and commiserate together.
Months pass no word from Arthur, but Jessie, now pregnant from their last goodbye stint continues to visit the the heart stone up the hill where they declared their undying love forever before Arthur left. Meanwhile, Amos the pig, married to Jessie's mother, finds every opportunity to 'touch' Jessie. This was enough for her to revolt and move into Arthur's mother's home with her as a safe place and company to raise the baby.
Time passes and there's no word from Arthur, but Jessie keeps in touch with her friend Clara, married to Stanley, Arthur's best friend who also enlisted for war. Stanley eventually returns home - in a wheelchair, but home. Jessie travels to visit them in hopes to discover some news about Arthur.
Back at the bakery, Jessie's mom falls ill and becomes bedridden, putting more pressure on Jessie at work - and more time around the pig, Mr. Morgan. After mum passes, Morgan takes over the bakery, even though it is rightfully in mum's will left to Jessie, and that presents another interesting tidbit as to how he took over and what happened after; karma perhaps? And then suddenly, another baker, 'old' friend of Jessie's, Bob Cleg, proclaims a sudden desire for Jessie. Somehow these two end up married - not in a good way, and a lot more dramatic things happen along the book to keep us turning the pages, and alas, Arthur returns home! This changes the dynamic of things to come now that Jessie is unhappily married to a man she can't stand and the love of her life returns. And to find out what happens next, you are going to want to read this book!
May 15, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, the publisher and Judith Barrow for the chance to read this book.
I read another review where the reviewer states that the book stayed with them after they had finished it - and I felt the same each evening when I had to put it down to go to bed - I have to admit to an extra 5 mins here, chapter there and more sometimes.
It was a story of the hardships of WW1 - the boys that went to war, underage, for the patriotic chance to help their King and Country, the women left behind often cowed by those men who didn't go to war and made to feel inferior.
In fact, the main character, Jessie, was married to a man who did so purely because 'What was hers was his' when in fact the Law had changed and she was entitled to inherit her family business in her own right.
Jessie. like so many thought she had lost her love and married for respectability.
Her lost love, forced to become and act like a man when little more than a boy himself and was traumatised by what he had seen and endured in the Trenches of WW1 which was described with horrific detail by the author. This meant it was obvious the book was well researched for the finer details of how futile and terrible aspects of WW1 were.
I have written far more about the storyline than I would normally but I felt it important to point out that this was more than a tale of love and loss in WW1 - there was the horror of the Trenches, injuries sustained, women left behind struggling to cope emotionally and financially, domestic abuse and in the end redemption and hope.
Though not necessarily complete healing for the soldiers traumatised by the scenes they had endured.
If normally you would pass this book by then maybe give it a chance
Thank you again to the published, author and NetGalley - this opinion is mine and mine alone
I read another review where the reviewer states that the book stayed with them after they had finished it - and I felt the same each evening when I had to put it down to go to bed - I have to admit to an extra 5 mins here, chapter there and more sometimes.
It was a story of the hardships of WW1 - the boys that went to war, underage, for the patriotic chance to help their King and Country, the women left behind often cowed by those men who didn't go to war and made to feel inferior.
In fact, the main character, Jessie, was married to a man who did so purely because 'What was hers was his' when in fact the Law had changed and she was entitled to inherit her family business in her own right.
Jessie. like so many thought she had lost her love and married for respectability.
Her lost love, forced to become and act like a man when little more than a boy himself and was traumatised by what he had seen and endured in the Trenches of WW1 which was described with horrific detail by the author. This meant it was obvious the book was well researched for the finer details of how futile and terrible aspects of WW1 were.
I have written far more about the storyline than I would normally but I felt it important to point out that this was more than a tale of love and loss in WW1 - there was the horror of the Trenches, injuries sustained, women left behind struggling to cope emotionally and financially, domestic abuse and in the end redemption and hope.
Though not necessarily complete healing for the soldiers traumatised by the scenes they had endured.
If normally you would pass this book by then maybe give it a chance
Thank you again to the published, author and NetGalley - this opinion is mine and mine alone
March 8, 2021
Arthur and Jessie’s first day trip to the seaside is momentous for two reasons. Firstly, because Jessie realises her feelings have deepened to love towards Arthur, someone she’s only ever considered a friend before. Secondly, because as they return home the announcement is made that Britain is at war.
It is 1914 and Jessie and Arthur are sixteen. She is the baker’s daughter and just as she realises she is in love with Arthur, and he with her, he lies about his age and signs up, because everyone says it will all be over by Christmas.
Jessie is left with a widowed mother, who, worried she won’t be able to cope takes the terrible decision to marry a man she hopes will look after her. Nothing could be further from the truth and Jessie is left trying to support those she loves from the brutality the war has brought to their lives.
Judith Barrow, an excellent story teller, has always conveyed a superb sense of place and time in her writing and The Heart Stone is no exception. This is a gritty family saga that takes a long hard look at the lives of the women left behind and is filled with well-developed characters that you’ll like or loathe. Highly recommended for everyone who enjoys superb writing and who loves a well-researched story they won’t want to put down.
It is 1914 and Jessie and Arthur are sixteen. She is the baker’s daughter and just as she realises she is in love with Arthur, and he with her, he lies about his age and signs up, because everyone says it will all be over by Christmas.
Jessie is left with a widowed mother, who, worried she won’t be able to cope takes the terrible decision to marry a man she hopes will look after her. Nothing could be further from the truth and Jessie is left trying to support those she loves from the brutality the war has brought to their lives.
Judith Barrow, an excellent story teller, has always conveyed a superb sense of place and time in her writing and The Heart Stone is no exception. This is a gritty family saga that takes a long hard look at the lives of the women left behind and is filled with well-developed characters that you’ll like or loathe. Highly recommended for everyone who enjoys superb writing and who loves a well-researched story they won’t want to put down.
March 27, 2021
This book is really enjoyable could not put it down.
Jessie works for her family bakery, she has a childhood friend Arthur who works in the factory.
Jessie has realised she has feelings for Arthur but does he like her the same way. Arthur decides to join up as War has broken up even though he is underage. Before he leaves he tells Jessie how he feels about her.
Jessie is a strong woman but she goes through some hardships in the next few years will she ever have her happiness.
Would recommend this book,
Jessie works for her family bakery, she has a childhood friend Arthur who works in the factory.
Jessie has realised she has feelings for Arthur but does he like her the same way. Arthur decides to join up as War has broken up even though he is underage. Before he leaves he tells Jessie how he feels about her.
Jessie is a strong woman but she goes through some hardships in the next few years will she ever have her happiness.
Would recommend this book,
September 8, 2022
Very enjoyable!
My heart ached for the main female lead at time’s, her life was so full of hardships. I really dreaded one part in particular but I’ll not reveal spoilers ;)
It’s certainly a must read
My heart ached for the main female lead at time’s, her life was so full of hardships. I really dreaded one part in particular but I’ll not reveal spoilers ;)
It’s certainly a must read
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