The Journey

The Journey #1

by Josephine Cox

This bestseller from the country’s number one storyteller is a deeply moving and powerful tale of love and courage. Three strangers are thrown together by chance. It’s an encounter which is destined to change all of their lives for ever.

When Ben Morris comes to the aid of Lucy Baker and her daughter Mary, he is intrigued by the story behind their frequent visits to the local graveyard. Later, invited into their home, an old Edwardian place suffused with secrets of the past, Ben hears Lucy’s remarkable tale – one she must tell before it’s too late.

The story of Barney Davidson, his family and the part Lucy played in his extraordinary life, is one of a deep, abiding love and an incredible sacrifice.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of sixteen, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at university but was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home. Instead, she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. She is now a No.1 bestselling author with over 40 books to her name.

She wrote dark psychological thrillers under the name Jane Brindle.

Reviews

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a Josephine Cox book in ages! I normally love her books, and this was no different. I thoroughly enjoyed this emotional story. The characters were very endearing, and I was completely absorbed by the story. So much so that I had to start Journey's End straight after finishing this, as it follows on where The Journey ends.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my favourite books. I enjoyed every word. Highly recommended.

[Sharon Haylock · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't usually write reviews, but this book got my hackles up a bit.
This is the second Josephine Cox novel that I have read; the other I gave 4 star rating, but his was very disappointing. How one tries to make Barney out to be some sort of hero for the way he treated his wife & children was complete rubbish -he didn't just belittle & punish himself - he would have belittled & punished his whole family for many long years. Any man with an ounce of love & courage in him would have confided in them & his boss, gone to America with them & seen out his days there. Oh, & people who know little about farm scenes such as potato digging should not write about them without getting their work edited by someone who does! Why on God's earth Vicky would be taking crockery & cutlery to the creek to wash them, when in the previous sentence they were eating sangers wrapped in greaseproof paper was a mystery to me. Poorly edited. Will not be bothering with the sequel.

[Priscilla Asir · Rating 1 out of 5]

The starting was good. it had a suspense factor that kept me turning the pages. But towards the end it was all so predictable and sounded more than a movie script rather than a book. I felt the plot and character;s actions were highly irrational.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful drama telling the dual stories of the Lucy Baker the Davidson family.
When Lucy is left high and dry pregnant and thrown out of the family home after a quick tumble with the womanising Edward Trent she takes up with her friend Bridget who runs a local establishment where ladies "entertain."
But when Edward makes a sudden reappearance and Lucy thinks its a longed for reunion for her and her son to make a family life her dreams are shattered when after a bad fall where Lucy is left unconscious Edward makes off and she is rescued by local farmer Barney Davidson, him, his wife Vicky and three children take her and Jamie her son and look after them as their own family but when a turn of events ensure that the Davidsons have to move to America with their employer to resurrect a derelict family farm he owns Lucy is suddenly left alone.
But then Barney finds out he has a life threatening heart problem and is unable to join his family in Boston so in grief and despair he sets out on a path to make his family leave him so they won't see him suffer and they can live the "American dream" in the meantime growing ever his greatest support Lucy.
Can anyone in this tragic situation come out a winner and can any of the characters eventually find happiness?
Set with heartbreak and obstacles along the way, doomed relationships, upheaval and family bereavements the Bakers and Davidsons have a lot of hardship to overcome on their "Journey."
Engaging and well written characters make this novel an enjoyable page turner.
Well worth reading.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was written in typical Josephine Cox style - in other words very well written. I found it at times to seem quite "cheesy" - as certain events and how they played out didn't seem believable. The opening story of an elderly/mature lady and her daughter meeting a stranger in a graveyard and the subsequent relationship/s that develop don't ring true in modern society - either rural or urban. The overall background story, that of the sacrifice of a man to ensure a happy future for his family could be believed at a push, as I appreciate, and know that similar sacrifices have been made over the years, but, it was the events in the lead up to the sacrifice that just seemed too far fetched. It seems a shame that some authors feel they have to stick to recognised, albeit successful, formula to guarantee a best seller, but sacrificing richer and more believable characters and scenarios in order to do this seems a pity. Overall this is still readable, as is the sequel, but I'd say you'd have to be a dedicated Jospehine Cox fan to take this one under your wing.

[LittleBookDruid · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I can say is, it was a good book. The start was really overwhelming, at the middle, though the story got slow, it was still enjoyable. Since the writer always kept the element of suspense. Barney's sacrifice, though not much interesting and a bit pointless if you ask me. Really make me intrigued. Again by the way writer wrote it. Cox's talent as a storyteller is remarkable. I am pretty exited to read Journey's end. Since in the end of this one, I really didn't felt like it ended. In fact, I felt like it only has started. :D

[mrs congeniality · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me by a special friend. The emotional attachment I’ll have with this book will go far with me.

A well written novel describing the love between people, the sacrifices made to keep your loved ones happy and the drama that conceals it all.

Tears left my eyes towards the end of the book.

I think this was my first Josephine Cox novel, I’m sure she’s got better ones to read. I would also definitely like to read the sequel to this one, which is Journey’s End.

[Gillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part one of a two-parter spanning several years of the characters in the book.
I suppose it's a chick lit, yes , but well written and a good story. It's truly hard to believe the special "sacrifice" which one man makes for his family but at least it has a happy ending - when you finally get to the end of Part Two - called Journey's End.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Josephine Cox, which I read a while ago. I have loved all her books and not many left that I haven't got around to reading yet. I have since read Journey's End, which was also excellent.

[Jo Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

!st time that I've read one of her books, will probably be the last. Whilst the characters were well written, the story needed more (became a bit unbelieveable) ....... Enjoyed it to start with, but by the last 5 chapters just wanted it to end. Thought it was a week ending.

[Julia Povall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like the simplistic, predictable plot. Gave up and won’t be reading any more by this author.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Drivel. Cardboard characters, repetitive narrative, ludicrous scenario. Chuck in any more sugary sentiment and I'd have been positively ill.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this novel at a book fair and it sat on my shelf for many years. A few weeks ago, I added it to my donation pile even though I had never read it. Since I'd never taken an interest in this book, I figured I never would. But my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to find out what exactly Barney had done that labelled a hero. What ultimate sacrifice he'd made that was inspiring. Well...aside from this story being slow and most of the characters being unlikeable, I could not for the life of me understand how Barney could be considered a hero for the way he treated his wife and children. I thought it was simply ridiculous! If he'd had courage and that much love for his family, he would have shared what he was going through and left behind a loving legacy. I should have done what I had originally intended with this book...add it to my donation pile without reading it! It annoyed me more than anything else. The writing is good and the author is talented, but this story fell flat.

[Jose Puttanani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful theme for a family movie that has the potential to make the soft-hearts to cry in the end. A beautiful family, with the best man as father, an angel like woman as mother and lovely and friendly children. They are looking after an young girl and her child and they all make the best family in the history of the world. Suddenly the life of the man turns upside down and he finds way to sacrifice himself that even the best of the best good guys could not imagine. Then life goes on. That is 'The Journey'

While Josephine Cox has written the story flow gently and steadily capturing all the happy and rarely unhappy moments in the lives of the characters, what lacks in the story is surprises and an ending that would draw standing ovation. Only three stars from me.

[John Fletcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first Josephine Cox and it will be my last. Noting that the author had a Cambridge degree led me to expect something worth reading. It wasn't. It's archetypal chick-lit, very repetitive, far too long, and the plot is utterly implausible. No one in the story even mentions the obvious solution to Barney's quandary. And reaching the end, I discovered I'd have to read her 'Journey's End' sequel to get the full story. No way! Makes me glad that Cambridge University decided they could manage without me all those years ago!

[GingerOrange · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.

Terribly boring. The storyline was slow to a painful degree. The climax came in very late into the book and it wasn’t even all that exciting. Characters felt super one dimensional. The plot line was completely unrealistic. The only positive was that I found the dialogue and style of speech different and interesting.

Overall, nothing to hold my attention.

[Carol Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this- I was looking for a bit of escapism, light reading, you know, but I found the style of writing really pedestrian. Sorry, Ms Cox, don't think I'll read any more of your stories. Could have been a good'un, as the story premise had a couple of nice twists in, but...not for me.

[Hiteishi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing plotting of characters and story. It is beautiful how the characters have been given a perspective from the other side of the story (which is generally unseen). Story amazingly highlights the significance of love and sacrifice.

[Kat Ashworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaborate and heartbreaking tale of love and loyalty. The book ends with so many unanswered questions, I had to start reading the second in the series straight away.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a good story but would have liked to know more about the family overseas, though that may be in another book. I felt a bit let down by the ending and Lucy's choices.

[Elaine Watson]

This is not a review as I read this back in 2013 - just updating my read list

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

a surprisingly enjoyable read but also very sad

[jayne hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery of Barney Dickson will be found out

Why Lucy met Barney she never though she would end up with him as he was happy with Vicky until his Dr tells him something else

[Kirsty Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fab. Thoroughly enjoyed it so much that I ordered rhe follow up book and I'm going to read it next

[Josie Murrell]

awesome book, so real it felt like a true story, well written!

[Kay Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read and now I will be ordering its sequel book to read.

[Ruth Mala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful write up full of emotions - wonderful plot for a movie thought I’m not a fan of what Barney did to his family.

[Blanca M. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a powerful story. Very similar to my own. I loved how the writer intertwines all the emotions and feelings in such a wonderful way that you never know till the end how it's going to end. Very intriguing throughout the whole book. But what a beautiful end. Thank you. This book really touch my heart. In case anyone would like to read my story, my book "Jesus Led, I simply followed," can be ordered at JTOA735@outlook.com.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve not read a Josephine Cox before and I loved it. It was a good story with likeable characters. Read it in 4 days. Best of all I’ve just discovered there is a sequel so I’m off to start that.