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Raven Hall Saga #3
A Sister's Hope
Finalist for the Romantic Novelist Association's 'The Romantic Saga Award 2023' for A Mother's WarNorth Yorkshire, 1941.It's been two years since war broke out and the dangers of war are becoming ever more real for the Calvert-Lazenby family. With Raven Hall requisitioned as a maternity hospital, Rosina is rushed off her feet helping to care for the new young mothers and barely has the time to worry about young sergeant Harry who has been posted abroad. Until foreboding news arrives . . .Meanwhile, against Rosina's wishes, eighteen-year-old Connie decides to leave school and move to Scarborough to train as a carpenter's apprentice, sharing a flat with her friend Stella and the mysterious Valentine. Valentine is enigmatic and Connie would love to get to know her better, but little does she know how things will get much worse for them both . . .Nowhere is safe in wartime.Praise for Mollie 'Mollie Walton captures your attention from the very first page and doesn't let go!' Diney Costeloe'A Journey. Compelling. Addictive' Val Wood'Feisty female characters, an atmospheric setting ... A phenomenal read' Cathy Bramley'Evocative, dramatic and hugely compelling. I loved it' Miranda Dickinson
- GenresHistorical Fiction
384 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2024
8 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 1, 2025
A Sister’s Hope is the third book in the series and is based around Rosina’s life in Raven Hall and Constance (Connie) who is Rosina’s third of five daughters.
With Raven Hall requisitioned as a maternity hospital, Rosina has a lot to deal with, not least the awful matron who wants Rosina to move out of her home!
Connie has left school and is working in Scarborough as a carpenter’s apprentice for a large factory, all doing their bit for the war effort. When her friend, Val, is murdered, Connie struggles with her death. She decides to look into the murder herself, as she feels the police aren’t looking further than their noses.
With Grace in the navy, Evvy still working in London and the twins still at school, Rosina worries about them all.
Her relationship with Harry continues to flourish, but with him being posted abroad, she needs to keep herself occupied and hope he’s back home soon.
This story tugged at my heartstrings. I felt for Connie, she was grieving the loss of her friend, as well as feeling lonely in Scarborough. A headstrong young lady, who didn’t want to admit defeat to anyone. I loved Connie’s commitment to her job as an apprentice carpenter. This wasn’t something that I had heard of women doing during World War Two, so I found this to be informative and enjoyable learning all about what the women did. Such a difficult environment for them too, surrounded by men who didn’t want them there.
I love Rosina’s character, a lady who loves her children as well as her family home. She will stop at nothing to ensure those around her are treated fairly as well as being looked after.
I was fascinated by the descriptive writing about Connie’s carpentry, this showed how much research would have been done by the author.
I thoroughly enjoyed being back with the Calvert Lazenby family and lost myself completely in this book.
With Raven Hall requisitioned as a maternity hospital, Rosina has a lot to deal with, not least the awful matron who wants Rosina to move out of her home!
Connie has left school and is working in Scarborough as a carpenter’s apprentice for a large factory, all doing their bit for the war effort. When her friend, Val, is murdered, Connie struggles with her death. She decides to look into the murder herself, as she feels the police aren’t looking further than their noses.
With Grace in the navy, Evvy still working in London and the twins still at school, Rosina worries about them all.
Her relationship with Harry continues to flourish, but with him being posted abroad, she needs to keep herself occupied and hope he’s back home soon.
This story tugged at my heartstrings. I felt for Connie, she was grieving the loss of her friend, as well as feeling lonely in Scarborough. A headstrong young lady, who didn’t want to admit defeat to anyone. I loved Connie’s commitment to her job as an apprentice carpenter. This wasn’t something that I had heard of women doing during World War Two, so I found this to be informative and enjoyable learning all about what the women did. Such a difficult environment for them too, surrounded by men who didn’t want them there.
I love Rosina’s character, a lady who loves her children as well as her family home. She will stop at nothing to ensure those around her are treated fairly as well as being looked after.
I was fascinated by the descriptive writing about Connie’s carpentry, this showed how much research would have been done by the author.
I thoroughly enjoyed being back with the Calvert Lazenby family and lost myself completely in this book.
September 27, 2024
Another wonderful addition to the Raven Hall saga, which follows the lives of Rosina Calvert-Lazenby and her five daughters during the Second World War.
This time, the focus falls on Constance, Rosina's third daughter. Connie has determined that she will leave school and join her friend, Stella, in Scarborough. Stella has assured Connie that she can have a job at Haddington's, where she can train as a carpenter - Connie is determined to contribute towards the war effort. As well as working together, Connie and Stella share a room, with another girl, Valentine, also lodging in the same house. Shortly after starting her new life in Scarborough, Connie is devastated to lose her new friend, Val, in horrible circumstances. Connie is dogged in her efforts to find out what happened to Val.
Meanwhile, in Raven Hall, it's all change again. Rosina has offered the Hall to be used as a Maternity Hospital, but had not expected to face difficulties with Matron! There is much to deal with as the months pass.
Once again, I have nothing but praise for this novel. Mollie Walton has researched the carpentry work carried out by women in the war, and the difficulties met by women taking on men's work. I continue to be engrossed in the lives of these characters and look forward to meeting them again soon!
This time, the focus falls on Constance, Rosina's third daughter. Connie has determined that she will leave school and join her friend, Stella, in Scarborough. Stella has assured Connie that she can have a job at Haddington's, where she can train as a carpenter - Connie is determined to contribute towards the war effort. As well as working together, Connie and Stella share a room, with another girl, Valentine, also lodging in the same house. Shortly after starting her new life in Scarborough, Connie is devastated to lose her new friend, Val, in horrible circumstances. Connie is dogged in her efforts to find out what happened to Val.
Meanwhile, in Raven Hall, it's all change again. Rosina has offered the Hall to be used as a Maternity Hospital, but had not expected to face difficulties with Matron! There is much to deal with as the months pass.
Once again, I have nothing but praise for this novel. Mollie Walton has researched the carpentry work carried out by women in the war, and the difficulties met by women taking on men's work. I continue to be engrossed in the lives of these characters and look forward to meeting them again soon!
February 19, 2024
Book Three 1941 and nowhere is safe in wartime.
A compelling story of a sister's hope, when women took on a difficult roles, when not all heroes are in uniform some are in overalls.
Rosina Calvert Lazenby living in Ravens hall along with Bairstow her trusted employee and friend, in strange times of war gets the approval to turn the hall into a maternity hospital, a safe haven for expectant mothers, now she must await Matron a fussy one. Rosina is staying put nothing will make her leave the hall, it's also her five daughters home as they come and go and also her secret lover Harry Woodvine.
Her eighteen years old daughter Connie wants out of school, and working in the factory along side Stella and Val these are the heroes in overalls, doing the mens work.
Connie's journey working hard in the workshop, opens your eyes.
A added bonus to the story involves the murder of valentine O'Neille her dear friend and workmate and Connie finds herself pulled into looking for her murderer.
So this book has a bit of everything as the bombs fall, and the sirens brawl, peacetime is a long way ahead yet for this family. I loved reading and enjoying every bit of this series.
A compelling story of a sister's hope, when women took on a difficult roles, when not all heroes are in uniform some are in overalls.
Rosina Calvert Lazenby living in Ravens hall along with Bairstow her trusted employee and friend, in strange times of war gets the approval to turn the hall into a maternity hospital, a safe haven for expectant mothers, now she must await Matron a fussy one. Rosina is staying put nothing will make her leave the hall, it's also her five daughters home as they come and go and also her secret lover Harry Woodvine.
Her eighteen years old daughter Connie wants out of school, and working in the factory along side Stella and Val these are the heroes in overalls, doing the mens work.
Connie's journey working hard in the workshop, opens your eyes.
A added bonus to the story involves the murder of valentine O'Neille her dear friend and workmate and Connie finds herself pulled into looking for her murderer.
So this book has a bit of everything as the bombs fall, and the sirens brawl, peacetime is a long way ahead yet for this family. I loved reading and enjoying every bit of this series.
February 22, 2024
Once I started reading this, I couldn’t leave it down as it was intriguing mixed in with some heartbreaking and romantic moments, Mollie Walton certainly knows how to keep her readers guessing as to what is coming next and without running it for everyone, two of her characters for different reasons had lucky escapes. I do hope that there will be another book in the series as one least storyline needs to be wrapped up . Another 5 star read from me.
March 24, 2025
Utter load of bollocks. Had to force myself through it all because the reviews were so good. But no — awfully boring book. Nearly fell asleep reading it. I very nearly DNF’d this book, which I never do but I persevered through because I’m just such a strong girlie xxx
Trigger Warning: Extremely long (monotonous) chapters.
Didn’t cry.
Trigger Warning: Extremely long (monotonous) chapters.
Didn’t cry.
May 16, 2025
Unputdownable
I don't think I have ever read a book that's gripped you right from the start Rosina Harry Evvy and poor Connie this book in fact the whole series deserves to get the romantic novelist association award I can only give them five stars but it deserves so many more stars than that Mollie Walton is an extrodinary author as she pulls you in beside the characters if you haven't already read this series then I would highly recommend them
I don't think I have ever read a book that's gripped you right from the start Rosina Harry Evvy and poor Connie this book in fact the whole series deserves to get the romantic novelist association award I can only give them five stars but it deserves so many more stars than that Mollie Walton is an extrodinary author as she pulls you in beside the characters if you haven't already read this series then I would highly recommend them
November 24, 2025
bit slow in place. needs a final one as feels like the story isn't finished
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews