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A Child Called Hope: The true story of a foster mother’s love

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A dramatic debut short story from London-based foster carer Mia Marconi.

An incredible chain of events that began in Italy during WWII with an illegitimate pregnancy shaped Mia’s destiny. The illegitimate child was her father, a lost soul who she idolised. Protecting him instilled in her an instinct to care for the vulnerable and, after a chance meeting with a chaotic foster family, she decided fostering was her vocation.

In an incredible twist of fate, the first baby she fostered was born to an unmarried Italian girl. Then came Hope, so badly damaged by her teenage mother’s alcoholism she was in hospital for a year. Finally discharged and settled in Mia’s happy home, what happened next would make Mia question if she could carry on.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 28, 2014

48 people are currently reading
128 people want to read

About the author

Mia Marconi

12 books17 followers

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5 stars
225 (56%)
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90 (22%)
3 stars
61 (15%)
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18 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Gabby.
2,566 reviews26 followers
December 31, 2021
hard hitting!

A sad but lovely pathway of tales that shows the damage that choices make to so many lives but also the different paths so many can take from the same experience. It is a shame to never know what happened with so many of them but I am glad she was able to support and help them to learn joy as well as the feeling of love. I will admit you will need the tissues with this one!
32 reviews
July 2, 2017
Interesting book of a foster carers love for a child.

Very short book but worth your time. Her love was beautiful. This is a good read for most. You can finish it in a short time
1 review
January 28, 2018
Good story

It was very touching and any parent or person with a heart can relate to the character. I enjoyed it.
45 reviews
November 25, 2022
Emotional

Quick and easy reading. Heavy subject matter. You can feel the love Mia has for children coming through the pages. I wouldn’t say the writing is top notch but it is gripping reading and not every book has to be great literature. For fans of Cathy Glass, Maggie Hartley, Casey Watson and others.
Profile Image for Debra Pratt.
2 reviews
September 14, 2018
Was a great book. I love foster care book's.

This book was a well thought out book. I would read mores books written by this author. I would recommend it.
182 reviews5 followers
May 17, 2025
The book starts by going back to WWII in Italy where an illegitimate pregnancy shaped Mia’s destiny.

The illegitimate child was her father, a lost soul who she idolised. Protecting him instilled in her an instinct to care for the vulnerable and, after a chance meeting with a chaotic foster family, she decided fostering was her vocation.

In an incredible twist of fate, the first baby she fostered was born to an unmarried Italian girl. Then came Hope, so badly damaged by her teenage mother’s alcoholism she was in hospital for a year. Finally discharged and settled in Mia’s happy home, what happened next would make Mia question if she could carry on.

I have had this on my kindle for the longest time along with the others from Mia. I picked it as I need something for my letter C in the alphabet challenge and I am glad I did. It was a nice easy quick read which is what my palette needed. For such a short read it didn’t feel like it was rushed or lacking. Although I did feel the end was a bit abrupt but I am assuming that’s because what happens next carries on in book 2..

A lovely but heartbreaking story. Mia gives insight into her life as a foster carer beautifully but also being honest about the rawness of it; how difficult but also rewarding it is and also the sacrifices that her and her family had to make.

I will definitely be reading the others and if true life stories are your thing then you will enjoy this. ♥️
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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