Darkest Before Dawn

by Katie Flynn

The Todd family are strangers to city life when they move into a flat on the Scotland Road; their previous home was a canal barge. Harry gets a job as warehouse manager and his wife, Martha, works in a grocer's shop, whilst Seraphina trains as a teacher, Angela works in Bunney's Department Store and young Evie starts at regular school.Then circumstances change and Seraphina takes a job as a nippy in Lyon's Corner House. Customers vie for her favours, including an old friend, Toby.When war is declared the older girls join up, leaving Evie and Martha to cope with rationing, shortages, and the terrible raids on Liverpool which devastate the city. Meanwhile, Toby is a Japanese POW, working on the infamous Burma railway and dreaming of Seraphina...Darkest Before Dawn is a warm passionate story that makes it easy to see why Katie Flynn is one of Britain's most popular saga writers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

404 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2005

About the author

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.

Reviews

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gentle heartwarming story about three girls and their mother who all find love. The girls are aged 18, 15 and 10 when World War 2 begins, and being set in Liverpool they go through the bombing raids and destruction. It might seem strange to describe a book set in a war as gentle but even though the author describes death and destruction its in a nongraphic way. The book is more about the girls who become women than about a war. Their mother too finds love after the girls father is killed. This is a nice story even if pretty predictable.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Love books set in this era and this book was no exception. Recommended.

[Grooveyem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite slow and gentle story, it took me a while to get into it, however I ended up really quite invested though I wasn't overly fond of the ending; it felt a little abrupt following the buildup. I usually like my books a bit snappier and can understand why some thought it was boring, however I found the characters to be engaging and the setting quite interesting.

[O'Train Disene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that I am rating 5 stars, is this one. Haven't read any other books of the author as of yet, but I'll be damn sure to get others.

The Todd family is starting their life anew by moving to the city that is strangely new to them. Love is tested between Seraphina - Eldest girl in Todd family and Toby - one of the closest friend of Seraphina from the young age.

War drift them apart. Evie, the youngest in a family, doesn't like the idea of Seraphina marrying another person. Evie takes it upon herself to try to convince her older sister that her heart belongs to Toby. And Toby only.

What happens when love gets contagious, and the proverb: "Out of sight, out of mind" takes its effect on wrong people?

This book is AWESOME!!!

[Hemant Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Katie Flynn book I’ve read, and this did not disappoint. She introduces the characters so well, and you just want to find out more about them.
The characters and the sets / scenes are described in such exorbitant details that it gets a little boring and stretched at times .
The book is also somewhat predictable but is nevertheless a must read for anyone who enjoys reading about the WW2 era.

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Story! First book of Katie Flynn's that I've read. I really enjoyed this story and will be reading more of her books. This story follows a family thru the horrors of the bombing on England during the war with Hitler.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

gave my book to a neighbour by mistake..... wanted to keep my paper backs by Katie as Love her books.

Had to get the kindle edition. ( space saver) by using kindle.

another great book by katie.

[Isobel Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Reading

I loved the way the book involved is in the story as I read it I felt involved with. the family .it shows how much family pulls together in times of crisis makes do holds on and waits for a brighter day to come

[Sandra jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Brilliant page turning could not put it down so real l relived it from 1939. Thanks Katie.from an old scouse

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good read but a rather quick ending.

[dave jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Katie once again didn't disappoint book was brilliant from beginning to end. Now I need to find my next read loving the 99p books absolute bargains

[Mai · Rating 1 out of 5]

Super boring

[Heather carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read from start to.finish

[Linda Hobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Chery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good storyline.

[Helen Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

Bloody amazing . true love always wins xxxxx I knew the ending. But was amazing to read it. Here's to the next saga xxxxxx

[Heather R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a thing for historical romance novels set in Liverpool. What can I say? I'm allowed, damnit.

[Sam Pennock · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

[Kathleen Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't be bothered to get past the first chapter Yawn!!

[Fi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect easy reading fodder

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story about family life in Liverpool during World War 2. It outlines the stresses and hardships experienced by those at home which has a happy ending.