Hold on to Hope

East End Nolan Family #4

by Jean Fullerton

Kate Ellis learnt the hard way that falling in love with the wrong man could be your undoing. It was nine years ago that she fell for the charms of Freddie Ellis, only to discover his criminal ways. With her husband in prison, Kate has fought hard to give her two children everything they could need. But now Freddie is back and threatens to destroy everything she has worked for. Captain Jonathan Quinn has resigned from the army after the needless death of too many of his men. But when his father disowns him and his fiancée breaks their engagement, Jonathan finds himself in desperate need of work. Accepting a friend's proposal of acting as headmaster at a local school, Jonathan is determined to leave the army behind and turn his life around. When Kate and Jonathan's paths cross, the attraction is instant. But with Kate still a married woman, they know it can never be. As Kate grows more distant, Jonathan finds solace in the arms of another woman, and Kate is left to wonder if she will ever find true love again...

Genres: Historical

296 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2012

About the author

I was born into a large, East End family and grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. I still live in East London, just five miles from where I was born. I feel that it is that my background that gives my historical East London stories their distinctive authenticity.

I first fell in love with history at school when I read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then I have read everything I can about English history but I am particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th century and my books are set in this period. I just love my native city and the East End in particular which is why I write stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive.

I am also passionate about historical accuracy and I enjoy researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of my characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where my characters played out their stories.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy reading, traditional romantic, historical family saga with a few swear words and a bit of violence thrown in to make it a bit more gritty than average.

Poor but respectable Kate runs a cafe near the docks in London working hard to keep her young son and daughter happy and healthy. Her estranged husband Freddie turned out to be a right bad lot and it was a relief to her when he went to prison and stopped pestering her, but he's out now and his lazy shiftless nature doesn't stop him feeling he's entitled to some of her earnings and a place in her unwilling arms.

Captain Jonathan Quinn having lost an eye in battle and seen the painful and pointless death of too many of the men under his charge has offended his father by resigning from the army and when a post as headmaster of a school in the docklands area of London presents itself as an option he takes it on, little knowing that this will throw Kate into his path. The instant attraction between these two must be ignored, with her a married woman and he a headmaster the scandal of a relationship between them would rock both their worlds.

Set in a well researched East London setting in the Victorian era it has an authentic period feel and lots of grimy locations to make you shudder and be glad you live in the present age.

This is the 4th in a set of separate but related novels about the same family and not having read the others made it a bit harder to follow you'd be better reading them in the right order.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate and Jonathan

Wow well book 4 loved up to the other 3 books by Jean Fullerton it had everything going for it i had tears reading it Kate had been through a really tough marriage with Freddie but stayed strong for her children it's a book that is a must read it's well deserving of 5 STARS if i could give it more I would .

[Cheryl Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it was the last of four about the same family it could be read as a book on it's own. I couldn't stop reading it to see what happened but I didn't want to read it as I didn't want to finish it.

[carol kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read all 4 these books one after the other and loved them all. 📖

[Yvonne Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dieselblackcat

Woo! What a great series have read them all and these are the books you can’t put down. Yes Jean writes like Dilly Court. They are both excellent writers.

[Annemarie Farthing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all the characters in this book 😍
I will be looking out for more of Jean Fullertons books now! A really good, fast moving tale.

[J.J. JOHNSTONE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Another great read. Thoroughly enjoy this authors books, I feel I am with the family when I read them. Would recommend the series.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyed reading all 4 books 📚 🤓 🐛 📖 guttered they are over, but I can always read them again 👌🏼

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true romance book, set in Victorian East London. Jean Fullerton sets the scene wonderfully, and when reading the book I found myself transported back in time. From the descriptions in her writing, I could almost feel the atmosphere, smell the smoke in London and put myself amongst the bustle of daily life in the Victorian times. The attention to detail is very consistent throughout and so it’s easy to become lost in the book, I sat down with the book, and hours flew past before I even knew it!

The main character Kate is such a likeable person. While her husband had been in prison, Kate was busy working hard, trying to provide a better life for her children. Then her husband returns and is set on destroying everything. As the reader, I really felt for Kate, and couldn’t pull myself away from the book because I had to know what happened next in the story.

Kate and Jonathan’s paths cross and there is an instant attraction between them. Their relationship was enchanting, Jonathan was the perfect gentleman and a man you could fall in love with yourself. It was so lovely that I wanted it to carry on for a lot longer!

Jean Fullerton writes beautifully and injects knowledge into the tale effortlessly. This story sweeps you off your feet and transports you away for a few hours, a very enjoyable read!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on to Hope
I received this book from Goodreads and couldn't wait to start reading it. I wasn't disappointed.
The heroine Kate is all one could ask for, beautiful, feisty, a good mother and an astute survivor. The problem is that she is married to a
wrong'un.
The hero Jonathan is a battle-scarred ex soldier with his own problems.
The story is played out amidst the poverty and squalor of Victorian London. We have the tart with a heart..........of pure evil! Also a simpering young lady who is out to catch the dashing captain. She is pretty on the outside, but poisonous within!
I spent many pleasant hours sitting in the sun reading this,willing everything to work out for Kate and Jonathan.
The final few chapters are spellbinding and I just couldn't stop reading. My evening meal was late that night!
I will certainly look out for other books by Jean Fullerton.

[Louise Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a couple of Jean Fullerton’s books now and I really do like the style in which she writes. I love the East end of london references and all the detailed descriptions of the times and areas.

The Author writes a strong leading ladies and always an attractive man, but there is never a simple romance. Kate is no exception to the rule in this book. The struggles that the families face seem totally real to the times they are set in and therefore makes the book seem more real. Say son the back of the book, a real page turner of which I have to agree!

Without hesitation I would read other works by this Author.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book though a giveaway on goodreads and I was happy I won this book, I really liked reading this book and it was well written and I thought the story was beautiful and I couldn't stop turning the pages and I really liked the characters and I also thought it was a beautiful and brilliant love story. And I really recommend this book if u like love and true story's and I would definitely read more books by jean Fullerton she has written her book so lovely and it was also a really great read.

[Beverley Davenport Wilkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a very interesting read. It is about love and hope of family life during the war. A young girl has married the wrong person and is suffering bullying and did not realise he was a criminal. He ended up in prison and she had 2 children to care for on her own. A soldier from the war ends up teaching at the school that the children go to. Mum and teacher's path cross and they are attracted to each other. Their lives finally sort themselves out. It was a very good book, an 'unputdownable' read.

[Louise Groom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a recent goodreads giveaway. I found this book interesting to read and hard to put down once I got going and really enjoyed reading. (I found the first few chapters difficult to get into at first. Although the shorter chapters made me want to continue and read more. I would definitely consider reading more books by this author :)

[Cel Jel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to an audio book from my local library, but the last disc was damaged, so I had to buy the book to find out the ending. I enjoyed the story, yelling at the CD player at times.