When Tomorrow Came in Clearly Christian Readathon

Feb 05, 2023 Katja Labonté rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: autumn-fiction, anxiety-depression-guilt-etc-books, cottagecore-aesthetic-books, british-fiction-and-nonfiction, violent-content-books, well-done-plot-books, well-done-characters-books, 5-of-10-hearts, historical-fiction-genre, rags-to-riches-trope-books

5 stars. I have been looking forwards to this since reading the author’s debut Beneath His Silence and ended up enjoying it even more than BHS. While the latter struck me as having a few anachronisms or sometimes jostled me out of the time period, this one was much more of a smooth read for me. The late 1700s-early 1800s England setting was quite fun; and I really enjoyed the Great Expectations feels that came with the prison ship. I even felt some Henty “vibes” with the outlaw and all t 5 stars. I have been looking forwards to this since reading the author’s debut Beneath His Silence and ended up enjoying it even more than BHS. While the latter struck me as having a few anachronisms or sometimes jostled me out of the time period, this one was much more of a smooth read for me. The late 1700s-early 1800s England setting was quite fun; and I really enjoyed the Great Expectations feels that came with the prison ship. I even felt some Henty “vibes” with the outlaw and all that jazz.

The characters were probably my favourite part. Gilbert was pretty epic all around, and a very realistic character while still being super sweet and amazing. Nan wasn’t the type of heroine I usually appreciate, but I ended up liking her and her whole arc made a lot of sense to me, although sometimes I felt like she was just a leetle bit oblivious. Heath was simply darling (even if sometimes I wish he’d stiffened his spine a little… he broke my heart by his calm hopeless acceptance of terrible things!!), and Temperance was super cute, and Charlotte was… well, Charlotte—cute and trouble. And Mr. & Mrs. Stanhope were amazing, while the marchioness gave me strong Lady Catherine de Bourgh feels. Lord Somerset was freaky while Lord Humphries was just sorta… despicable… in a tolerant and indifferent way.

The plot was my second favourite thing. The beginning was heartbreaking but really set the dramatic stage well with the children in the street. I adore stories of found family and adoption and I loved seeing Heath and Nan growing up in their respective homes. Both storylines were amazing and I loved learning of both equally. There were any number of twists and turns, and just the right mixture of angst and sweetness. Although it’s supposed to be a chilling Gothic mystery, I found it very warm and wholesome somehow—just because the characters were almost all so sweet and loving. And I loved the whole PTSD addition.

The romances were super cute (although it took me a bit to warm up to one in particular because I LOVE family relationships—IKYK) and the mystery + suspense was carried out to the end, with so many different layers and clues! (THAT ENDING THOUGH. I just couldn’t decide what would happen and I was hooked.) There were two things I wasn’t a fan of (check the content list) and I felt that the spiritual message was rather weak; but overall I quite enjoyed it—much more so than BHS, as I said—and I look forwards to more by Hannah Linder.

Content: I was NOT a fan of how there are several “close calls” (to two different girls) drawing tension up for an attempted r*pe scene, although the scene itself is actually super brief and undetailed—I had been keyed up for way more; nor was I a fan of how much sexual tension appeared MAJOR SPOILER (view spoiler) END OF MAJOR SPOILER And also the kisses were just a wee bit too passionate for me—they were brief, but I was still skipping lines because it just felt indecent to me. Personal opinion. Besides some kissing, hugging, & hand-holding, there is one brief scene where a married couple wake up on the morning after their wedding night—no details really, at least not that I can recall, but it is there. Finally, there’s child abuse; mentions of prostitution several times; language (frequent uses of devil, bloody, etc); and one minor character is a drunkard.

A Favourite Quote: They had clung to it, that thought, and survived on little more than its hope. Maybe sometimes along the way they’d stopped believing. So many hurts, so many things that went wrong, so many times it seemed tomorrow would never come. Maybe it was here. Right now. Or maybe it would never come. Maybe there was just today. Nothing more, nothing less. Just the present, with all its pleasures and hurts, with the future just always out of reach. Perhaps tomorrow had never been meant for them at all. Perhaps tomorrow belonged to God.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “You know what Mr. Puttock said.”
“He also said once he heard his pig conversing with his cow.”
“A Bansbury tale, I’m sure.”
“Indeed, but should one trust such a fellow? … He was either top-heavy with too much gin, unstable in the mind, or is simple enough to imagine such a story could garner anyone’s amusement.”
“It obviously garnered yours, as you’re still talking about it.”

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.* ...more

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May 20, 2023 Lisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Oh this book was just filled with all the good things that make a book great! Love, scandal, family and hope! I truly enjoyed all the characters! I was so pleased with how well the storylines all meshed together. I was so surprised by the turn of events and I LOVE THAT! Great book!

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Sep 14, 2023 Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) rated it it was amazing

Wow! What a story! There is so much happening in this book! Brother and sister, Heath and Nan, are left in the care of a horrible abusive woman that they “run away” to the streets. Nan is hit by oncoming carriage in the street and taken in by the kind gentleman who hit her. Heath stays out of sight; he wants his sister to have a better life. The kind gentleman, Mr. Stanhope, tries to find Heath and leaves him a note to where his sister will be, but he never comes. Mr. and Mrs. Stanhope make Nan Wow! What a story! There is so much happening in this book! Brother and sister, Heath and Nan, are left in the care of a horrible abusive woman that they “run away” to the streets. Nan is hit by oncoming carriage in the street and taken in by the kind gentleman who hit her. Heath stays out of sight; he wants his sister to have a better life. The kind gentleman, Mr. Stanhope, tries to find Heath and leaves him a note to where his sister will be, but he never comes. Mr. and Mrs. Stanhope make Nan part of the family, with the children they already have including Gilbert the oldest child. As the years pass, Gilbert and Nan grow up together and are really close. The younger sister Charlotte also tags along but she is much younger. Heath grows up to with a Vicar. Eventually Heath and Nan reunite, not only with each other but with their long-lost father. However, things may not be a perfect as they appear. Soon Gilbert starts having feelings of a different nature towards Nan but will she return them? Okay that’s all I’m going to write on the story because there is just so much to it.

The writing is so good, but it does jump around a lot between character perspectives so be prepared for that. I really liked Heath’s character. I liked that there was a romance story for him as well. Gilbert and Nan are great characters as well. I really liked them. Them being together romantically was a little odd for me because they are practically brother and sister but I was still fine with it. Hannah Linder, really likes to surprise you with different elements in the story. I audibly gasped a couple of times at different events. So good! Overall fantastic read and clean, definitely recommend! Looking forward to her next book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Content: child abuse, somewhat graphic injuries, death, attempted rape (not much detail)

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author, publisher, netgalley and austenprose. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. ...more

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Jan 11, 2024 Kayla Green rated it it was amazing

“Perhaps tomorrow belongs to God.”

Do y’all know that old country song “Don’t Take the Girl”? Several points in this emotionally raw novel made me think of that Tim McGraw song. Fans of tropes of “touch her and die” and “friends-to-more-maybe” and “love after hurt” will enjoy this book.

When Tomorrow Came is a historical novel that delves into shattered hopes, disappointment caused by grandiose dreams of others’ essence being enlightened via reality, and navigating adult love and life with unheal ...more

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Mar 12, 2023 Betsy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book got off to a very fast start and kept moving from there. Siblings Heath and Nan Duncan had a rough start in life, living several years on the streets as children before their lives took different paths. When they reconnected as young adults, they aimed to please their long lost and newly-returned father, providing the impetus for their actions throughout the book. Of all the characters, Gilbert was my favorite due to his caring and winsome personality; however, I loved the whole Stanho ...more

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Apr 03, 2023 Victoria rated it it was amazing

BOOK REVIEW - When Tomorrow Came - Hannah Linder - 5/5 Stars

THE STORY
I don't know about you but I just love discovering new authors! When Tomorrow Came is just Hannah Linder's second book and the first I've read but already I'm hooked on her beautifully haunting writing style. It's one of those stories that just gets better and better with every page read and keeps sucking you deeper and deeper into the story. The story is has a different more deliciously dark twist than your average Regency tal ...more

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May 03, 2023 Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama rated it really liked it

Shelves: on-my-shelves, reviewed-on-my-blog

This was my first read by Hannah Linder and I was truly captivated and engaged in the story from the very beginning. This definitely is a Regency era storyline with a gothic feel. Immediately we are introduced to the two main characters Nan and Heath. We meet them as children as they have been abandoned by their father and are left to fend for themselves. While on the streets Nan is rescued by a proper wealthy gentleman and to give her a better life Heath doesn't come for her but rather tries to ...more

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Apr 02, 2023 Katie rated it really liked it

3.5 stars. Overall, this book is well-written by a talented author. The characters were interesting, and there were some exciting twists in the story. While the romances did not interest me personally, the plot was so intriguing that I kept reading. I skimmed parts of the book, because two aspects of the book made me uncomfortable: (view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 15, 2023 Kim Griffin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

When Tomorrow Came starts off as a heart wrenching tale about brother and sister, Heath and Nan, who were orphans living on the streets of London. The opening chapters remind me of Oliver Twist with its gritty description of their life on the streets. They are soon separated and their lives take distinct turns. Many years later they cross paths again bringing a mixture of pain and happiness.

This story is written in third person with a changing perspective between several main characters and inc ...more

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Mar 28, 2023 Karla Cook rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of characters and their intertwining relationships in When Tomorrow Came. The book opens in 1801 with two children trying to survive on the streets. The brother is old enough to sort of fend for himself but not quite capable enough to also provide for his 6-year-old sister. When a kindly gentleman rescues the little girl, the brother is relieved that she will be safe and cared for, but he chooses to hide and not allow himself also to be rescued from the streets. ...more

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Sep 02, 2023 Brandi | RB Momma Reads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, 2023

I absolutely loved this book. This is my first novel by Hannah Linder and I'm looking forward to catching up with her other novels.

From the Prologue I was captivated. As soon as the tale began I needed to know what those poor children were going to do, how they would survive and why were they left all alone?! I think this story is so heart-wrenching. The things these siblings overcome, paired with the loyalty of Heath, and his overall desire to take care of Nan, above his own care and comfort, ...more

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