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A Mother's Hope

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It is a dreadful November; rain and sleet batter young Martin while he tries to hitch a lift to Liverpool. He hears a bus approaching but has no money, so when it stops to eject a weeping girl, then speeds away, he hurries to catch up. Companions in misfortune, Martin and Rose slog on together. Each has a secret which neither wishes to part with. And when they go their separate ways, they don?t expect to meet again. But fate decrees otherwise . . .


From the Hardcover edition.

480 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2009

83 people are currently reading
247 people want to read

About the author

Katie Flynn

99 books216 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

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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5 stars
576 (58%)
4 stars
257 (26%)
3 stars
101 (10%)
2 stars
29 (2%)
1 star
18 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
330 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2020
Yet another good read by Katie Flynn.
This story is set a little later than others I have read, although it doesn't actually mention dates I imagine it to be set in the early 1960's.
It's about Rose and Martin who meet in Liverpool at a time when they both fell on hard times. Martin is sleeping rough and Rose has a tenth floor flat in a tower block that is being paid for her by a friend. Rose is pregnant and doesn't realize that her friend, Mrs Ellis plans to adopt the baby, when she learns this from the doctor her and Martin run away to Rhyll and pretend that they are husband and wife so that they can get a room. Life eventually becomes easier but there are more troubles ahead for Rose, Martin and their friends.
Profile Image for Scherry Siganporia.
37 reviews14 followers
August 2, 2011
"Readers!! The book is a journey. As you go through it you experience the life of little Rose and a discriminated 'weirdo albino' guy who are friends ....and more...Very real to read about a poor unemployed guy and a pregnant girl - who meet by chance and spend a lifetime helping and saving eachother from the cold, hunger, hate, abuse and more..

I will leave you with this thought - 'if you ever have to make a list of the 10 best books you have come across, you would definitely think of this book as one of them. I said 'think' not actually put it in the top 10! So you see, definitely worth the read, the time and ofcourse do read it any time of the year!! Its a brilliant story, very simple, very innocent, very well written and I love the dog 'Don'...and cried my heart out for the darling struggling hero of the book. Read it for sure! Its a remarkable fiction whcih feels real.

On thing though - the name of the book is very misleading..I kept expecting 'the mother' to emerge in Rose....she is barely 16 herself and her character is very well mapped....thoroughly enjoyed this book..

Happy Reading!
Scherry :) "
Profile Image for Nona.
353 reviews3 followers
January 7, 2020
This is a delightfully written story - easy on the brain and ears in my case as I listened to the audio book.
One knew that eventually everything should turn out OK, but the writer Katie FLYNN added some twists and turns along the way. The story gave me insights as to what life was like in England after the war, for those who had no family, and very little money.
I doubt this book will 'set the world on fire' and rise to the top. What I can say is that towards the end the audio on my computer got lost somewhere and for a day and a half I was without audio. I installed/uninstalled drivers several times, fiddled with controls etc. and somehow got the audio back.
There was a Windows Update and a power outage recently so maybe either one of those caused the audio to fail. Who knows? Anyway I was rather put out as I found myself really wanting to know how the story ended, and was relieved when the audio was fixed. What does this say? Well sometimes listening to stories, there are scratches etc. that interfere and I miss a lot of dialogue and really don't care. This one was different.
Recommended
Profile Image for Ronald.
282 reviews
February 2, 2023
A remarkable story!

I really enjoyed reading A Mother's Hope. It has all the elements of a great story , well-told and with lots of twists and turns. Rose and Martin have two different lives and become good friends, but Martin is different from other people causing others to not accept him. Martin is ever faithful to Rose, but Rose holds a secret and eventually their lives split due to factors beyond their control. Fears and worries take hold. Will they find each other again, and what does the future hold?
This novel deals with issues of discrimination, marital abuse, poverty, friendship, love and marriage, dreams, children and the struggles of daily life. I highly recommend this book to the reader, it will certainly hold your attention!
1 review
April 22, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. From beginning to end, I just wanted it to go on and on ....



I would recommend it. I just loved it. If only the dog called Don could have lived longer .. My only regret.
Profile Image for Laura jones.
59 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2020
a baby is found in a doorway the mother meant to come back but did not have chance.
this is the story of her growing up and meeting martin who becomes a great help in her miserable life but then has to go to war.
good book
Profile Image for Heather Copping.
648 reviews12 followers
May 12, 2023
I have been listening to this on audiobook, and one thing I really enjoyed was the fact that the reader read it in a Liverpool accent, which gave it a real sense of belonging. Good storyline as always with Katie Flynn books.
413 reviews9 followers
June 6, 2023
My first by this author. A story of orphans and how their lives travel a path looking for happiness. Found it difficult to put down. If you like Catherine Cookson or Josephine Cox you will enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Bernadette Firth.
56 reviews2 followers
May 20, 2018
Brilliant

A wonderful story of love, hope and friendship, well written. A compelling read, I love this author. Brilliant and enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Raneem.
374 reviews11 followers
October 8, 2018
It is sloooooow ...but the characters are good and storyline is ok
51 reviews
August 23, 2019
Brilliant

Definitely deserves the 5*** rating was brilliant as always and kept me gripped all the way through just wish I could sit and read it all in one go well done Katie Flynn.
Profile Image for Roxana.
2 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2024
heart warming book

Lovely story. It is about love, fear of love and characted development. Found it very relaxing while settling into motherhood.
Profile Image for Charley Lawrence.
42 reviews
August 25, 2024
A good, well written story. I did not get bored of this book and it did not seem overly far fetched
Profile Image for KFK.
424 reviews6 followers
September 28, 2024
A love story with lots of drama between Rose, Martin, Millie and Scott and their babies. Easy read.
Profile Image for Diane Young.
76 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2023
A must read

I enjoyed this story and felt all the feelings the characters had. My only regret is that I almost stop reading it when Don the dog got killed. If you use a dog of any animal in you story it should never get hurt, abused or killed. Don was the best character in this story an no reason for him to be killed! It served no purpose in the story! He could still be loved and included with the family. I am still feeling sad and miss him 😔
840 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2012
The cover looked as though it would contain total chick lit and I was not disappointed. Needed something painless and unlifting to counter the rest of my tumultuous life. It was a lovely, easy read with very one dimensional characters - good having good happen to them and bad getting their comeuppance. Few surprises, housewife's ending but a book I didn't want to put down so cannot complain.
Profile Image for Debbie.
250 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2013
I honestly felt I would never get through this book.I felt the way they talked with a very strong accent in the beginning of the book was pretty much gone half way through the book. I felt like the people they met in the book took away from the story of Rose and Martin. Just really too bad that the author started out with a good story and it just went all awry after a quarter of the way through.
2 reviews
July 19, 2014
I've never met a mother's hope trice the first time I read it I really enjoyed it and I Pittway undergoing medical evidence and thoroughly enjoyed it down and show anybody like to know Slav story happy ending love this
Profile Image for Laura Coia.
25 reviews3 followers
January 7, 2011
a nice easy read normally i am more into thrillers but i really enjoyed this.
Profile Image for maz.
9 reviews
March 5, 2016
Easy to read , I couldn't put it down !
40 reviews
May 7, 2016
I enjoyed this book as it was easy to read.
It was very predictable but well written.
Profile Image for Susan.
17 reviews
June 7, 2012
Really couldn't wait to see how this would end . .I wasn't disappointed . .
Profile Image for Booklover BEV.
1,680 reviews50 followers
July 26, 2015
really enjoyed this story like all katies books always a joy to read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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