A Sparkle of Salt

by Evelyn Hood

As the 20th century matures, the years bring fresh problems for the Lowrie family, first introduced to readers in The Shimmer Of The Herring. James, rejected by his betrayed and embittered wife Stella, has to fight hard to keep his beloved steam drifter, the Fidelity, while his sister Bethany struggles, inch by painful inch, to gain the financial independence she craves. Innes Lowrie, the youngest of the family, is busy raising his ever-increasing brood.
As the years go by, James and Bethany find themselves battling over her beloved son, Bethany wants him to find a life far from Buckie - and away from the danger of discovering the dark family James, father of three daughters, sees Adam as the natural successor to the Fidelity and a fisherman's life. Adam, meanwhile, is more interested in Etta Mulholland, Innes's foster daughter.
But the day must come when he has to choose between pleasing his mother or following the man he knows as his uncle...

Genres: Historical Fiction

342 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2003

About the author

Pen name is Louise James, Eve Houston.

Reviews

[Jessica Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to The Shimmer of the Herring, this book kicks off five years after the end of the last one. The First World War has ended and the fishing community of Buckie has lost many faces to the conflict and to the flu epidemic following. James is back from mine sweeping in the North Sea, and Innes is also back from the trenches after being invalided out of the army following a poisonous gas attack.

The most interesting part of this series is always the varied highly gendered roles within the community and how the men and women's lives are dictated by these social codes. This book follows the next generation of Lowrie's and Pate's and their extended families to the fishing ground at Lerwick in Shetland and again down to Yarmouth and gives a fascinating incite into the changes within the industry including the shifting international markets. However, for the working men and women of Buckie, unless they are willing to accept the taboo of going against their predetermined roles (Stella is a great example of this, and I loved her evolution in this book) nothing ever really changes, and the wheel turns once again, with the rather bleak ending seeing a man tied to manual labour impregnating a woman he doesn't really love, marrying her for social clout and personal gain, and then leaving her to rely on his income.

Bethany and James....I just feel so so sad for them. I really really wanted them to run away together (even though I know it's icky) and actually find happiness. But these books aren't about romance, but reality, and are all the better for it.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope for the Future by Evelyn Hood is book two in the Lowrie family story and finds James returning from almost four years away using his boat to help in the war effort (the Great War). He doesn’t rush home but when he gets there he is surprised at how everyone has changed. His mother has died and his wife has moved them into her house, which is his now. He wants to sell her (from her father) house to raise money to buy out the rest of his boat but Stella refuses. She plans to make it a guest house, which proves to be lucrative. The children become adults in this novel and still the ghost of Weem Lowrie rules their lives. During the course of the book, Gil, Bethany’s husband dies, very young. This changes the course of her life.

These are very engaging characters, well written by Hood. It covers many years and many changes. Child grow to adulthood, people die, others marry. Some, life Zelda and Innes just keep having children. It is struggle as many died during the war and others don’t want to fish anymore. This is a good story, in which people mature that should have years earlier, and even some young ones mature. Some are happy, others are not. It is more a slice-of-life than a book with a plot and that’s OK as it works well for this kind of saga. It is still good reading, which isn’t always the case with sequels. The characters are maturing nicely.

I was invited to read Hope for The Future by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #EvelynHood #HopeForTheFuture

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lowrie Family #2

Buckie, Scotland 1918: Brothers James and Innes Lowrie return home to their wives and families after the war, Innes working for a shipbuilder, and James returning to sea and the families fishing business. Sister Bethany Pate and Innes have sons and heirs to the family, but James does not. Inner takes in orphaned Etta Mulholland., adding to his already large family.

in 1931, the new generation take the helm and pursue various careers in Buckie's fishing industry, some are content to take on the roles their parents have chosen for them, while others rail against these structures. Adam Pate longs to join the man he knows as his uncle James as a fisherman, while his mother wants him to study at university and find a life far from the danger of discovering family secrets. Trouble brews whenever Mulholland begins to work as a herring gutter.

war is overland brothers James and Innes return home. There is quite a lot packed into this second installment of The Lowrie Family. The story has dual timeline and in 1931 the next generation start working. Everything isn't isn't straightforward, there are some bumps along the way.

Published 18th December 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #EvelynHood for my ARC of # HopeForTheFuture in exchange for an honest review.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the second book in this emotional historical fiction series from Evelyn Hood, readers follow brothers James and Innes Lowrie, their wives, and their families as they return home to Buckie, Scotland, in 1918 after serving in World War I. The Lowrie clan, including orphaned Etta Mulholland, are ready to take the helm and work in the fishing industry in 1931, some in familiar roles and others in new ones. These decisions and new relationships set different members of the family against each other, and the family must take on these new challenges and try to keep the family together. The characters are the stars of the book, and the novel builds brilliantly off the previous book in the series. Readers will love the depth of detail in the narrative and the multiple storylines, which allow readers to really understand all of the characters’ emotions and experiences. The historical setting is detailed and vibrant, and readers will also really enjoy the complex relationships that change and develop over the course of the narrative. Another masterful novel from Evelyn Hood, fans of her other titles and emotional historical fiction novels will love this brilliant new addition to the Lowrie Family series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the series, although it would probably stand alone, following the lives of the fisher folk in Scotland. Time has moved on a little, indeed there are a few time jumps in the book which leaves the reader feeling that perhaps the author didn't have enough material and wanted to just highlight the main events.

James is still self-centred, locked in a fairly unhappy marriage as he won't make any effort with his wife Sheila, and only happy when at sea. Stella is still angry with Bethany over past events and the parentage of her son Adam. The story then swings to the next generation, who all seem to be keen to marry cousins or close friends. Bethany has her hands full with her selfish stepdaughter, her hard working stepson and her wild son keen to get to sea at the first opportunity.

The first book went into interesting detail about the fisher girls and farlins and their hard lives, so this is not repeated here. Its a pleasant family saga, and paints a picture of the life of those reliant on the sea for their income between the Wars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope for the Future by Evelyn Hood is the second book in The Lowrie Family series. While Hope for the Future could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading Echoes of the Past before embarking on this story. This story begins when the two brothers return to Scotland after World War I. I thought the story was well-written with developed characters. It is an emotional story. The author vividly depicts the realities faced by those who depend on the sea for their livelihood. The temporal shifts within the narrative prompted reflection, and the conclusion was particularly moving and poignant. Hope for the Future is an agreeable and touching Scottish saga.

[Storied Conversation · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully layered family saga set in Buckie, Scotland, spanning the years after WWI and into the next generation. With dual timelines, rich historical detail, and emotionally complex characters, this second installment explores inheritance, identity, and the long shadow of family secrets. Immersive, thoughtful, and deeply satisfying—I’m fully invested in this series.


Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random REsources, and the author for giving me an arc of the book. All opinions are my own.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story of a hard way of life.

[Kacey/Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuing saga of the Lowrie family. Again the characters grab your heartstrings and has you hoping for the best for all.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Echoes of the Past. It starts as the two brothers return to Scotland after serving in WWI. It is such a good story. Heartbreaking, well researched. Evelyn Hood is a great author.