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Cliffehaven #17
With Hope and Love
Cliffehaven, May 1945.
The war in Europe is over, but for the residents of Beach View Boarding House its effects are still far reaching.
Cockney evacuee Ivy and her sweetheart Andy are saving to get married and return to London. But when her sister and parents succumb to one of the last V-2 attacks, Ivy must make a heart-wrenching choice.
Meanwhile Peggy Riley is doing her best to keep spirits at Beach View high whilst she anxiously awaits news of her husband Jim, who is still serving out in the Far East.
If they can keep hope and love alive, there is every chance they will make it through the darkness.
The war in Europe is over, but for the residents of Beach View Boarding House its effects are still far reaching.
Cockney evacuee Ivy and her sweetheart Andy are saving to get married and return to London. But when her sister and parents succumb to one of the last V-2 attacks, Ivy must make a heart-wrenching choice.
Meanwhile Peggy Riley is doing her best to keep spirits at Beach View high whilst she anxiously awaits news of her husband Jim, who is still serving out in the Far East.
If they can keep hope and love alive, there is every chance they will make it through the darkness.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2019
About the author
Ellie Dean
36 books141 followersEllie Dean lives in Eastbourne, which has been her home for many years and where she raised her three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 2, 2022
The war in Europe has finally ended, the residents of Beach View Boarding House in Cliffehaven celebrate and can’t wait for the men to return home. The owner Peggy Reilly is busy working in the office at Solly’s clothing factory, looking after the boarding house and her youngest daughter Daisy and worrying about her husband Jim.
Second Lieutenant Jim Reilly is fighting the Japanese in Burma, with his Scottish mate Jumbo McTavish, they hear about the war ending in Europe and Jumbo gets out his bagpipes. The 14th Army has fought hard and it’s been a long campaign, the tropical weather means it’s hot and humid and when it rains, it’s the perfect conditions for mosquitoes, leaches, malaria and ulcers. Jim dreams of returning to Cliffehaven to be with Peggy and his children and this keeps him going.
Three of Peggy’s older children are living in Somerset, at Owlet Farm with widow Aunt Violet and Peggy assumes they will move back home? Her eldest daughter Anne calls to say they won’t be returning just yet, she waiting to hear from her husband Wing Commander Martin Black who’s a prisoner of war in Germany and their happy living in the countryside. Peggy’s other daughter Cissy loses her job when the war ends, she moves back into Beach View, and Cissy finds all the extra people staying there a right nuisance.
Peggy has grown close to the evacuees staying with her at Beach View, with the end of the war and she’s busy planning engagement parties and weddings. Ivy is marrying her finance Andy, Peter a wounded Australian soldier has proposed to Rita, and Ruby’s Canadian boyfriend Mike has popped the question and wants her to move to Canada?
I received a copy of With Hope and Love by Ellie Dean from NetGalley and Random House UK in exchange for an honest review. It describes the hardships of living in England during WW II, children being evacuated and people made homeless from the bombing, the celebrations when the war in Europe ended, and the struggles men faced returning to civilian life and especially those who were prisoners of war. Three and a half stars from me, I enjoyed the narrative, however it did end rather abruptly and this could be because the book is part of a series.
Second Lieutenant Jim Reilly is fighting the Japanese in Burma, with his Scottish mate Jumbo McTavish, they hear about the war ending in Europe and Jumbo gets out his bagpipes. The 14th Army has fought hard and it’s been a long campaign, the tropical weather means it’s hot and humid and when it rains, it’s the perfect conditions for mosquitoes, leaches, malaria and ulcers. Jim dreams of returning to Cliffehaven to be with Peggy and his children and this keeps him going.
Three of Peggy’s older children are living in Somerset, at Owlet Farm with widow Aunt Violet and Peggy assumes they will move back home? Her eldest daughter Anne calls to say they won’t be returning just yet, she waiting to hear from her husband Wing Commander Martin Black who’s a prisoner of war in Germany and their happy living in the countryside. Peggy’s other daughter Cissy loses her job when the war ends, she moves back into Beach View, and Cissy finds all the extra people staying there a right nuisance.
Peggy has grown close to the evacuees staying with her at Beach View, with the end of the war and she’s busy planning engagement parties and weddings. Ivy is marrying her finance Andy, Peter a wounded Australian soldier has proposed to Rita, and Ruby’s Canadian boyfriend Mike has popped the question and wants her to move to Canada?
I received a copy of With Hope and Love by Ellie Dean from NetGalley and Random House UK in exchange for an honest review. It describes the hardships of living in England during WW II, children being evacuated and people made homeless from the bombing, the celebrations when the war in Europe ended, and the struggles men faced returning to civilian life and especially those who were prisoners of war. Three and a half stars from me, I enjoyed the narrative, however it did end rather abruptly and this could be because the book is part of a series.
August 28, 2019
The second last book in the series and it's definitely winding down.
All the girls that have been staying with Peggy Reilly in the boarding house are making plans and moving on. Ron now lives at the pub with Rosie which means Harvey has also moved out so the house is getting quieter all the time.
However, the odd get together and knees up are still happening as there are quite a few weddings in this one and Peggy is expecting her family to come back from Somerset where they were evacuated to at the beginning of the war but things don't run smoothly on this front.
There still seems to be plenty of food and drink when there's a party which rankled a bit with me. After all these are still days of war and as far as I can remember rationing didn't end completely until 1952.
There's a lot of crying and 'eyes welling up' which is a pet hate of mine in novels. It was all a bit sickly sweet at times.
I enjoyed it though as I have loved the series. Peggy is still my favorite character and I hope she'll get her reward in the last book, due out in January.
All the girls that have been staying with Peggy Reilly in the boarding house are making plans and moving on. Ron now lives at the pub with Rosie which means Harvey has also moved out so the house is getting quieter all the time.
However, the odd get together and knees up are still happening as there are quite a few weddings in this one and Peggy is expecting her family to come back from Somerset where they were evacuated to at the beginning of the war but things don't run smoothly on this front.
There still seems to be plenty of food and drink when there's a party which rankled a bit with me. After all these are still days of war and as far as I can remember rationing didn't end completely until 1952.
There's a lot of crying and 'eyes welling up' which is a pet hate of mine in novels. It was all a bit sickly sweet at times.
I enjoyed it though as I have loved the series. Peggy is still my favorite character and I hope she'll get her reward in the last book, due out in January.
September 7, 2019
From the first Cliffhaven book There'll be Blue Skies to book 17 With Hope and Love i have walked alongside Peggy in everything she has had to do.I have laughed,cheered and of course cried and as always Ron makes me smile or laugh.I must say that i have loved reading of the War in Europe coming to an end and of peggies dearest wish her children coming home after a six year absence.A Truly beautiful story to read i will post my review on amazon when we get back home.Thank you Ellie Dean now the wait begins for book 18.
August 29, 2019
Loved it! Now I can't wait for the final book.
I am so invested in this series that I was just as upset as Peggy to see some of her precious "chicks" move on. The war in Europe has now ended but still everyone waits for the war in Japan to be over too. This book sees weddings and baby announcements aplenty, departures and homecomings, still some tragedy and upset and the familiar mix of warmth, smiles and the all encompassing family which is Beach View.
Jim and Peggy will be reunited soon...
I am so invested in this series that I was just as upset as Peggy to see some of her precious "chicks" move on. The war in Europe has now ended but still everyone waits for the war in Japan to be over too. This book sees weddings and baby announcements aplenty, departures and homecomings, still some tragedy and upset and the familiar mix of warmth, smiles and the all encompassing family which is Beach View.
Jim and Peggy will be reunited soon...
August 29, 2019
**I am reviewing the audio version of this book**
I am not sure what else I can say about this series of books that I haven’t already said. This book was just as wonderful as the other books.
Every time I read another book in this series, I become so engaged with the characters that I feel like they are real. I don’t know how Ellie Dean does it, but she takes the reader from Tragedy to laughing out loud effortlessly.
The Narration was good, although throughout the series, I did get used to Annie Aldington and Julie Maisey. Once i got used to the current Narrator’s voice though, it was all good.
.
A friend made the comment that when she’s finished one of the Cliffehaven books, she has trouble getting in to another book, because they are that good. I have to agree. The whole series has had me hooked from start to finish.
I am going to be very sad when this series is over.
I don’t usually reread books, but I would definitely consider rereading this series in the future.
This series I feel is best read in order, although they can be read as stand alone.
Would highly recommend.
I am not sure what else I can say about this series of books that I haven’t already said. This book was just as wonderful as the other books.
Every time I read another book in this series, I become so engaged with the characters that I feel like they are real. I don’t know how Ellie Dean does it, but she takes the reader from Tragedy to laughing out loud effortlessly.
The Narration was good, although throughout the series, I did get used to Annie Aldington and Julie Maisey. Once i got used to the current Narrator’s voice though, it was all good.
.
A friend made the comment that when she’s finished one of the Cliffehaven books, she has trouble getting in to another book, because they are that good. I have to agree. The whole series has had me hooked from start to finish.
I am going to be very sad when this series is over.
I don’t usually reread books, but I would definitely consider rereading this series in the future.
This series I feel is best read in order, although they can be read as stand alone.
Would highly recommend.
September 1, 2019
With the war in Europe now at an end, and VE Day declared and celebrated, thoughts now turn to those who were serving in the European theatre of war coming home, and the marriages and departures of Peggy's chicks that will eventually ensue. But the war in the Far East against the Japanese is still ongoing, and for Peggy's husband Jim, stationed in Burma he is wondering if he will even survive it, and for Peggy at home in Cliffehaven how Jim will react to the change in her independence after six long years of war. Wanting everyone to come home to stay immediately (family), and discovering that her chicks are going to disappear at a faster rate than she expects or wants, we start to see a vulnerability in Peggy appear and the tough veneer that has sustained her through the war years must be maintained whilst slight cracks appear internally.
I have really enjoyed the BVBH/Cliffehaven series, but for me, it has gone on for far too long, it didn't really need 18 books to tell the story. Some of the books could have been dispensed with entirely. 'Shelter From the Storm,' concerning April who has become such a minor character she has had no more than a few lines since. The two books devoted to Mary Jones 'While We're Apart,' and 'Sealed With a Loving Kiss,' were nonsensical, nobody else had two books devoted to them, especially as the character is no longer mentioned and no longer lives in Cliffehaven. 'The Waiting Hours' certainly could have been absolved into either of the books aside it. The word "homecoming" is mentioned so much in WH&L that this book should have been called 'Homecoming,' and a new title given to the final book, as there is only Jim left to return.
Throughout the entire series has come the unrefutable proof that Peggy Reilly really is the glue that holds this family together. Her unbelievably big heart to help those needing shelter from the storm, or those just needing a roof and place to call home, and her long-suffering personae of dealing with her sister Doris, and her equally nightmarish sister-in-law Pauline, to say nothing of her husband and father-in-law Ron, who in the early books were unbelievably lazy and slippery, thinking that a large dollop of Irish blarney would eradicate them from doing any work around the house. If it wasn't for Peggy, this series could never have been written. Mother, surrogate mother, loyal daughter-in-law, surrogate daughter and true friend, Peggy encapsulates them all.
As much as I love all the positives of Cliffehaven, there are also numerous negatives. Everything in Ellie Dean's Cliffehaven always appears to be far too excessive:
Cissy returns from RAF Cliffe with 'bulging suitcases,' the girl has been in the WAAF, spending undoubtedly much of her time in uniform as they did and space in her hut would be at a premium sharing it as she did with 7/8 other girls, not really an opportunity to acquire bulging suitcases.
It took Peggy all her time to get Ron to do 'repairs around the house' when he lived at Beach View. Does she really think he will willingly do them now he lives at The Anchor where Rosie undoubtedly has a list of jobs to do, and his beloved ferrets and Harvey live there with him too?
After 6 years of war, make-up was virtually impossible to get hold of; everyone though is always 'immaculately made up' in full make-up.
Ration books are never mentioned as being handed over to Peggy and there always seems to be an excess of food for the parties they hold. It seems illogical that Alf the butcher would be able to lay his hands on a baron of beef to feed 20 people without someone noticing, but then Peggy has never really seemed to think it wrong about the items that appear on the table, be it black market, under the counter or poached. I noticed that Fred the Fish doesn't get a mention in WH&L. I wonder if he has been caught for his under the counter activities?
When Martin & Roger are flown home to England by the USAAF, anybody with a grain of sense knows that you don't give men who have been on iron-rations for years, and then starved and forced-marched across Poland and Germany 'food aplenty,' and especially drink!!!
Finally, the most ridiculous incident involves Freddie Pargeter. I find it highly unlikely that the RAF would send an aircraft for Charlotte, her children, his sister Kitty and her child; possibly an RAF car for Charlotte & Kitty, but definitely not the children. Having read about the Matron's of that time, no matron would have allowed young toddlers/babies into the room - oxygen bassinets or not - of a desperately ill man with typhoid, dying or not.
Chumley is pronounced as such but spelt Cholmondeley, as originally spelt in one edition and then no more.
The addendum at the end of the book introducing some of the Cliffehaven characters has mistakes and words spelt incorrectly:
Frank Reilly serves in the Civil Defence, yet it has been spelt in the US version - Defense.
Cordelia Finch is mentioned as being in her 80s, yet in WH&L it clearly states she has just celebrated her 80th birthday.
Martin Black has his rank noted as Station Commander, but in the main text his rank is Air Commodore - surely a one-star rank would be tied to a desk, and not fly on ops?
Cissie's American pilot is known as Randolph throughout, but here it is spelt as Randolf.
Sarah Fuller is noted as still working for the Women's Timber Corps, although she left there in 'On a Turning Tide,' and now works at the Town Hall.
It will be interesting to see how the final book ends and what/where/how all the characters end up and what they are doing. The most interesting part of the story will obviously be how Jim adapts a) to civilian life after his war years in the Far East, and b) how he adapts to Peggy newfound independence after working in Solly's factory and managing Beach View on her own. I imagine that Jim's attitude will be as it was, remember he is a child of the Edwardian era and male. There are definitely going to be tussles ahead.
I have really enjoyed the BVBH/Cliffehaven series, but for me, it has gone on for far too long, it didn't really need 18 books to tell the story. Some of the books could have been dispensed with entirely. 'Shelter From the Storm,' concerning April who has become such a minor character she has had no more than a few lines since. The two books devoted to Mary Jones 'While We're Apart,' and 'Sealed With a Loving Kiss,' were nonsensical, nobody else had two books devoted to them, especially as the character is no longer mentioned and no longer lives in Cliffehaven. 'The Waiting Hours' certainly could have been absolved into either of the books aside it. The word "homecoming" is mentioned so much in WH&L that this book should have been called 'Homecoming,' and a new title given to the final book, as there is only Jim left to return.
Throughout the entire series has come the unrefutable proof that Peggy Reilly really is the glue that holds this family together. Her unbelievably big heart to help those needing shelter from the storm, or those just needing a roof and place to call home, and her long-suffering personae of dealing with her sister Doris, and her equally nightmarish sister-in-law Pauline, to say nothing of her husband and father-in-law Ron, who in the early books were unbelievably lazy and slippery, thinking that a large dollop of Irish blarney would eradicate them from doing any work around the house. If it wasn't for Peggy, this series could never have been written. Mother, surrogate mother, loyal daughter-in-law, surrogate daughter and true friend, Peggy encapsulates them all.
As much as I love all the positives of Cliffehaven, there are also numerous negatives. Everything in Ellie Dean's Cliffehaven always appears to be far too excessive:
Cissy returns from RAF Cliffe with 'bulging suitcases,' the girl has been in the WAAF, spending undoubtedly much of her time in uniform as they did and space in her hut would be at a premium sharing it as she did with 7/8 other girls, not really an opportunity to acquire bulging suitcases.
It took Peggy all her time to get Ron to do 'repairs around the house' when he lived at Beach View. Does she really think he will willingly do them now he lives at The Anchor where Rosie undoubtedly has a list of jobs to do, and his beloved ferrets and Harvey live there with him too?
After 6 years of war, make-up was virtually impossible to get hold of; everyone though is always 'immaculately made up' in full make-up.
Ration books are never mentioned as being handed over to Peggy and there always seems to be an excess of food for the parties they hold. It seems illogical that Alf the butcher would be able to lay his hands on a baron of beef to feed 20 people without someone noticing, but then Peggy has never really seemed to think it wrong about the items that appear on the table, be it black market, under the counter or poached. I noticed that Fred the Fish doesn't get a mention in WH&L. I wonder if he has been caught for his under the counter activities?
When Martin & Roger are flown home to England by the USAAF, anybody with a grain of sense knows that you don't give men who have been on iron-rations for years, and then starved and forced-marched across Poland and Germany 'food aplenty,' and especially drink!!!
Finally, the most ridiculous incident involves Freddie Pargeter. I find it highly unlikely that the RAF would send an aircraft for Charlotte, her children, his sister Kitty and her child; possibly an RAF car for Charlotte & Kitty, but definitely not the children. Having read about the Matron's of that time, no matron would have allowed young toddlers/babies into the room - oxygen bassinets or not - of a desperately ill man with typhoid, dying or not.
Chumley is pronounced as such but spelt Cholmondeley, as originally spelt in one edition and then no more.
The addendum at the end of the book introducing some of the Cliffehaven characters has mistakes and words spelt incorrectly:
Frank Reilly serves in the Civil Defence, yet it has been spelt in the US version - Defense.
Cordelia Finch is mentioned as being in her 80s, yet in WH&L it clearly states she has just celebrated her 80th birthday.
Martin Black has his rank noted as Station Commander, but in the main text his rank is Air Commodore - surely a one-star rank would be tied to a desk, and not fly on ops?
Cissie's American pilot is known as Randolph throughout, but here it is spelt as Randolf.
Sarah Fuller is noted as still working for the Women's Timber Corps, although she left there in 'On a Turning Tide,' and now works at the Town Hall.
It will be interesting to see how the final book ends and what/where/how all the characters end up and what they are doing. The most interesting part of the story will obviously be how Jim adapts a) to civilian life after his war years in the Far East, and b) how he adapts to Peggy newfound independence after working in Solly's factory and managing Beach View on her own. I imagine that Jim's attitude will be as it was, remember he is a child of the Edwardian era and male. There are definitely going to be tussles ahead.
November 28, 2025
Would've been four stars but a few things annoyed me and one plot line disturbed me a bit. First off the fact that to Peggy cheating and lying in a relationship is true love, but when two single people hit it off it's a wartime fling. She continues with the Sarah is in love with that American with the girl's name who lied about being married because he's a pompous twat who thought girls would throw themselves at him despite there being an airbase with dashing heroic pilots from America, Canada and Australia among other places. Then he took advantage of a vulnerable girl who was far from home away from the man she loved enough to marry and her parents, not knowing what became of them. But sure Peggy that's a love story. Now I get why you ended up with the man you did, cause Jim enjoyed chasing women before he was shipped out.
The disturbing story was something right out of VC Andrews Heaven, where the dad sells his kids off. Ivy learns her parents were killed in a raid. While going to pick up her young siblings the family they've been billeted with has sent them to posh schools, made plans for them and wants to adopt them. What? What if their parents were still alive. Why is this painted as a wonderful story? It's disturbing a borderline kidnapping. You knew it was temporary! These people sound insane to me. Taking advantage of parents who want to keep their kids safe by turning them into your own because your not able to have any of your own is creepy and terrifying not a wonderful happy ending to a story.
Other annoyances are the constant wearing of makeup and perfume, the fact that the war has been over for five minutes yet one family has a full roast dinner and another has a full chicken for dinner. But yet at times it seems the author remembers hey there's a war on and suddenly they have stewed or very weak tea and everyone is thinner. Also that café is still suspect. I get having access to milk, butter and eggs, but flour and sugar? Do they also come from cows and chickens? Maybe it's an English thing.
But otherwise the story itself was good. There were times when I saw the old Peggy that I enjoyed in earlier books before she became a hypocritical know it all busy body she is today. She used to be a listening ear and hope things would work out before, now she thinks she knows what's best for everyone.
There's goodbyes, a lot of marriages, pregnancies and after going through the war without any major losses the gang suffers two major losses in a row although one of the losses didn't ring true and was written more for dramatic purposes than reality.
This was a pretty decent book about PTSD and how difficult adjustments are. Charlie is angry about returning home, Martin and Roger are lost following their harrowing time in a POW camp and the losses they suffer during and after the war and grow distant from their wives and families. There's a few chapters in Burma which I wanted to care about but I've never really liked Jim that much.
Like the previous book this one ends with the war ending only now the bombs have been dropped and its all over leading to the next and what should've been last book in this overly stretched out series. I wish Rita and Sarah would live happily ever in Australia with their loving Australian husbands but sadly I can guess Sarah will continue to be a cheating dumbass and if so I hope she lives miserably in America. He only wanted you cause you were alone and vulnerable sweetie. The Sarah plot line is as bad as Queenie from Queen of the Mersey and this along with Peggy becoming less sweet mothering figure and more I know what's best for everyone no matter what has soured this series. Maybe once I get past Homecoming it'll improve, but honestly I wish it ended and the planned prequel series had gone ahead instead.
The disturbing story was something right out of VC Andrews Heaven, where the dad sells his kids off. Ivy learns her parents were killed in a raid. While going to pick up her young siblings the family they've been billeted with has sent them to posh schools, made plans for them and wants to adopt them. What? What if their parents were still alive. Why is this painted as a wonderful story? It's disturbing a borderline kidnapping. You knew it was temporary! These people sound insane to me. Taking advantage of parents who want to keep their kids safe by turning them into your own because your not able to have any of your own is creepy and terrifying not a wonderful happy ending to a story.
Other annoyances are the constant wearing of makeup and perfume, the fact that the war has been over for five minutes yet one family has a full roast dinner and another has a full chicken for dinner. But yet at times it seems the author remembers hey there's a war on and suddenly they have stewed or very weak tea and everyone is thinner. Also that café is still suspect. I get having access to milk, butter and eggs, but flour and sugar? Do they also come from cows and chickens? Maybe it's an English thing.
But otherwise the story itself was good. There were times when I saw the old Peggy that I enjoyed in earlier books before she became a hypocritical know it all busy body she is today. She used to be a listening ear and hope things would work out before, now she thinks she knows what's best for everyone.
There's goodbyes, a lot of marriages, pregnancies and after going through the war without any major losses the gang suffers two major losses in a row although one of the losses didn't ring true and was written more for dramatic purposes than reality.
This was a pretty decent book about PTSD and how difficult adjustments are. Charlie is angry about returning home, Martin and Roger are lost following their harrowing time in a POW camp and the losses they suffer during and after the war and grow distant from their wives and families. There's a few chapters in Burma which I wanted to care about but I've never really liked Jim that much.
Like the previous book this one ends with the war ending only now the bombs have been dropped and its all over leading to the next and what should've been last book in this overly stretched out series. I wish Rita and Sarah would live happily ever in Australia with their loving Australian husbands but sadly I can guess Sarah will continue to be a cheating dumbass and if so I hope she lives miserably in America. He only wanted you cause you were alone and vulnerable sweetie. The Sarah plot line is as bad as Queenie from Queen of the Mersey and this along with Peggy becoming less sweet mothering figure and more I know what's best for everyone no matter what has soured this series. Maybe once I get past Homecoming it'll improve, but honestly I wish it ended and the planned prequel series had gone ahead instead.
November 19, 2019
The seventeenth book in the series...one more to go...what will I do when it's over? I have come to love the characters in this series like family! It isn't very literary, it probably isn't very historically accurate, but it is homey. I describe it the Coronation Street of the book world. We have traveled through the dark days of WWII with these people, and now the war in Europe is over. This book picks up as the characters are celebrating the victory in Europe. Everyone is looking forward to moving on with their lives. Romances that have been on hold are rapidly progressing toward marriage, and families that have been separated are getting to know each other again, but not everyone gets a happy ending. Homecoming isn't easy, not everyone comes home, and not all wartime romances lead to happily ever after. And while there is safety now in England, not everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. The war against the Japanese is not over, and not all of our characters have their loved ones at home. This series has a huge cast of characters and many story lines, and this book brings many of those to a close. Sometimes things work out improbably well, and this series is definitely guilty of seeing things through rose colored glasses, but I still love it. I have to wait a little while until the last one comes out, and when it does, I am going to savour it.
August 22, 2019
I love this genre of books and I loved this one, it's the first I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
It's heartwarming and full of emotions, you cannot help rooting for the characters and like them.
The historical background is well researched and vividly described, the cast of characters is likeable and fleshed out, I loved Peggy above all.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, it will make you smile and almost move to tears.
A very good reading experience, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's heartwarming and full of emotions, you cannot help rooting for the characters and like them.
The historical background is well researched and vividly described, the cast of characters is likeable and fleshed out, I loved Peggy above all.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining, it will make you smile and almost move to tears.
A very good reading experience, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
October 3, 2019
I think this is the best in the Cliffehaven series so far. Absolutely fantastic book, full of emotion and you are taken on the journey entirely with the characters. Fantastic read
August 18, 2019
This Ginger Book Geek absolutely loves historical fiction and in particular historical fiction set during the Second World War. You can probably understand why I was drawn to the Cliffehaven series. I became a fan of the series and of Ellie Dean when I had the good fortune to pick up a copy of 'The Waiting Hours' a couple of years ago. 'The Waiting Hours' is the thirteenth book in the series. Since then I have very (im)patiently waited for each new book in the series as well as trying to catch up with the earlier books in the series. The latest book in the series is called 'With Hope & Love' and it is due to be released on 22nd August 2019. I was extremely lucky to receive a review copy and wowzers 'With Hope & Love' is one hell of a read and a fantastic addition to the Cliffehaven series. I absolutely loved it but more about that in a bit.
There are so many wonderful characters within this book that it seems a bit harsh to single one out for special attention. That said, I think that Peggy Reilly is a saint and then some. She is the owner of Beach View Boarding house. She is married to Jim, who is currently fighting out in Burma and they have five biological children but over the years, Peggy has welcomed people into Beach View with open arms and they are as much family as her own biological family. I hope that makes sense. If she sees anybody in need, then she is always ready with a cup of tea and a shoulder to cry on if needed. As a result Peggy's extended family is made up of all sorts of different and fun characters. Peggy has the wonderful and mischievous Ron as her father--in-law. Ron isn't in this book as much as I might have liked but you can't have everything. Ron is always up to something be it legal or otherwise and he keeps ferrets for pets. Ron has finally settled down with Rosie, who is the landlady of the local pub. Rosie is now one of Peggy's best friends. Peggy cares for her youngest daughter, who is still a toddler, but at the same time she has a job within a factory and she has a sort of supervisor/ office manager type role, which she excels at. Whilst Peggy is at work, Daisy (her youngest) is cared for at the factory nursery. Peggy is just 'Wonder Woman'!! She has a large extended family to guide and care for, she has a full time job, she does some voluntary work and she tries to keep Ron in line. I don't know how she makes room for everything that she has going on in her life. However, in a sense it's understandable that Peggy keeps herself so busy because she is desperately worried about her husband Jim fighting in Burma and not knowing whether or not he is ok, she is worried about her family members who have been evacuated out to live in safety and she is worried about her Beach View family. I really felt for Peggy when VE Day (victory in Europe) came along because on the one hand she wants to celebrate the fact that peace has broken out in Europe and they are no longer at risk but at the same time she is jealous because she wants her Jim to return home to the arms of his loving family, where she can care for him and nurse him back to health. Peggy isn't naïve though and she realises that things have changed since Jim left Britain's shores and she has gained a certain amount of independence, which might not go down too well.
Oh my flipping word, 'With Hope & Love' is a fantastic read and a great addition to the series. As soon as I began to read the synopsis, I felt as though I had been reunited with old friends. I enjoyed getting to know the different characters again and before long I felt like they had never been away. I tried to ration how much I read at once because I wanted to prolong my enjoyment of the book but that attempt at rationing soon went out of the window. I was enjoying the book, the storylines and the characters so much that I just couldn't put the book down. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. The book certainly seemed to develop a hold over me and I feared that if I put the book to one side, I risked breaking that hold and missing some vital part of the story. The more I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of the book, which I was so disappointed about. I don't mean that I was disappointed with how the book ended because that couldn't be further from the truth, but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue on and on.
'With Hope & Love' is superbly written but then I wouldn't expect anything else from Ellie Dean. She has a writing style that is easy to get along with and easy to get used to. Ellis draws you into the story from the first word onwards and she keeps your attention throughout the story by keeping the various storylines interesting, the characters realistic and by introducing the odd twist and turn during the story. Ellie writes in such a way that reads as if it is a chat between friends and not as a book. I hope that makes sense. Ellie has created characters- most of which you will definitely take to with the occasional character that will make you want to slap them silly with a wet fish. On several occasions, I felt myself want to jump inside the pages of the book to sort certain characters out, whilst sticking up for the characters I had developed a soft spot or two for. Ellie writes so realistically and beautifully that I felt as though I was part of the story myself. In fact I almost had my suitcase packed to go to move into Beach View. Yes I know, that is technically not possible as Cliffehaven is fictional and I would need a Tardis to travel back in time but a person can dream.
Reading 'With Hope & Love' certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all sorts of different emotions flying about. There were highs, lows, ecstasy, sorrow, heartache and there was certainly lots of drama. I felt emotional whilst reading 'With Hope & Love' because with each new book that is released comes the realisation that the Cliffehaven series is that bit nearer to the end. The author has indicated that the series will soon finish, which I will be disappointed about but after all, all good things must come to an end.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the brilliant 'With Hope & Love' and I will definitely be recommending this book to other readers. 'With Hope & Love' is sure to soar to the top of the bestsellers list and that is nothing more than Ellie Dean deserves. The Cliffehaven series goes from strength to strength. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Fortunately I don't have too long to wait because the next book in the series is called 'Homecoming' and it is due for release on 23rd January 2020. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
There are so many wonderful characters within this book that it seems a bit harsh to single one out for special attention. That said, I think that Peggy Reilly is a saint and then some. She is the owner of Beach View Boarding house. She is married to Jim, who is currently fighting out in Burma and they have five biological children but over the years, Peggy has welcomed people into Beach View with open arms and they are as much family as her own biological family. I hope that makes sense. If she sees anybody in need, then she is always ready with a cup of tea and a shoulder to cry on if needed. As a result Peggy's extended family is made up of all sorts of different and fun characters. Peggy has the wonderful and mischievous Ron as her father--in-law. Ron isn't in this book as much as I might have liked but you can't have everything. Ron is always up to something be it legal or otherwise and he keeps ferrets for pets. Ron has finally settled down with Rosie, who is the landlady of the local pub. Rosie is now one of Peggy's best friends. Peggy cares for her youngest daughter, who is still a toddler, but at the same time she has a job within a factory and she has a sort of supervisor/ office manager type role, which she excels at. Whilst Peggy is at work, Daisy (her youngest) is cared for at the factory nursery. Peggy is just 'Wonder Woman'!! She has a large extended family to guide and care for, she has a full time job, she does some voluntary work and she tries to keep Ron in line. I don't know how she makes room for everything that she has going on in her life. However, in a sense it's understandable that Peggy keeps herself so busy because she is desperately worried about her husband Jim fighting in Burma and not knowing whether or not he is ok, she is worried about her family members who have been evacuated out to live in safety and she is worried about her Beach View family. I really felt for Peggy when VE Day (victory in Europe) came along because on the one hand she wants to celebrate the fact that peace has broken out in Europe and they are no longer at risk but at the same time she is jealous because she wants her Jim to return home to the arms of his loving family, where she can care for him and nurse him back to health. Peggy isn't naïve though and she realises that things have changed since Jim left Britain's shores and she has gained a certain amount of independence, which might not go down too well.
Oh my flipping word, 'With Hope & Love' is a fantastic read and a great addition to the series. As soon as I began to read the synopsis, I felt as though I had been reunited with old friends. I enjoyed getting to know the different characters again and before long I felt like they had never been away. I tried to ration how much I read at once because I wanted to prolong my enjoyment of the book but that attempt at rationing soon went out of the window. I was enjoying the book, the storylines and the characters so much that I just couldn't put the book down. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. The book certainly seemed to develop a hold over me and I feared that if I put the book to one side, I risked breaking that hold and missing some vital part of the story. The more I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of the book, which I was so disappointed about. I don't mean that I was disappointed with how the book ended because that couldn't be further from the truth, but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue on and on.
'With Hope & Love' is superbly written but then I wouldn't expect anything else from Ellie Dean. She has a writing style that is easy to get along with and easy to get used to. Ellis draws you into the story from the first word onwards and she keeps your attention throughout the story by keeping the various storylines interesting, the characters realistic and by introducing the odd twist and turn during the story. Ellie writes in such a way that reads as if it is a chat between friends and not as a book. I hope that makes sense. Ellie has created characters- most of which you will definitely take to with the occasional character that will make you want to slap them silly with a wet fish. On several occasions, I felt myself want to jump inside the pages of the book to sort certain characters out, whilst sticking up for the characters I had developed a soft spot or two for. Ellie writes so realistically and beautifully that I felt as though I was part of the story myself. In fact I almost had my suitcase packed to go to move into Beach View. Yes I know, that is technically not possible as Cliffehaven is fictional and I would need a Tardis to travel back in time but a person can dream.
Reading 'With Hope & Love' certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all sorts of different emotions flying about. There were highs, lows, ecstasy, sorrow, heartache and there was certainly lots of drama. I felt emotional whilst reading 'With Hope & Love' because with each new book that is released comes the realisation that the Cliffehaven series is that bit nearer to the end. The author has indicated that the series will soon finish, which I will be disappointed about but after all, all good things must come to an end.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the brilliant 'With Hope & Love' and I will definitely be recommending this book to other readers. 'With Hope & Love' is sure to soar to the top of the bestsellers list and that is nothing more than Ellie Dean deserves. The Cliffehaven series goes from strength to strength. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Fortunately I don't have too long to wait because the next book in the series is called 'Homecoming' and it is due for release on 23rd January 2020. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
August 23, 2019
With Hope and Love is the seventeenth book in the Cliffehaven series by Ellie Dean. It really feels like we are making our way towards the conclusion of what has been a brilliant war time family saga series as now the war has been declared over and Peggy's chicks are starting to fly the nest. I only discovered this series four or five books ago so it is proof that you can pick up any of these books and slot right into the overall story. Saying that I don't think With Hope and Love would be the best book to start with as overall it really is a book where loose ends are begun to be tied up and there is nothing dramatically new as there had been in the previous books I had read. To get a real feel for the series go back a few books or even to the start if you so wish.
Saying that I did enjoy the story overall as it sees lots of little plots which I presume had begun in book one and the books that followed on have some resolution and characters who had so desperately missed their loved ones got some definitive answers be they positive or negative. There are lots and lots of characters to keep track of, and to remember how people are connected, but at the back of the book there are several pages which give a brief synopsis and background to several of the main characters. This is invaluable as you can flip back and forth to get information or just to reaffirm things regarding certain characters in your mind.
No doubt about it the stand out character, the one whom everyone turns to in a crisis and the person who really has held the whole show together over the last six years of war, is Peggy. She is such a brilliantly written character and one you root for all the way. Having no tourists at her guesthouse in the seaside town of Cliffehaven since the outbreak of war she opened her doors to those in need of a home. Evacuees, family members or women simply needing a place to stay whilst they engage in war work or at the nearby aerodrome. Women who then go on to feel like family and become known as Peggy's chicks. Peggy is a mother figure to everybody and is always there to offer advice or to just to listen to whatever troubles or issues that crop up.
In this book we get to see inside the real Peggy and there is a vulnerability shown to her. That all the worries and burdens she has shouldered for so long are starting to come to the surface. She should be so excited and happy that the long years of war have come to an end but yet she can't fully embrace this new found peace that everyone else seems so readily and willingly able to grasp. That's simply because the future of her immediate family is not yet secure and those she has longed to see arrive home on her doorstep have yet to do so.
Peggy's husband Jim is still away fighting in the jungles of Burma as the war in the East is not yet over. I really understood how Peggy was feeling, on one hand she was delighted to see so many reunions at home and that the stories of her chicks were starting to see a resolution. Marriages that people have longed for start to happen and those imprisoned abroad begin to arrive home. But on the other hand the person she longs to see with every fibre of her being remains very much far away and really all she wants to do is hold Jim in her arms. I love how Ellie Dean paints such a realistic picture of war and that the fact it was over in Europe did not mean that everything went back to normal overnight. So many changes had happened and people had to adapt to those and to continue to make the best of what they had.
Throughout this book Peggy was filled with even more worry and anguish as I don't think she truly believes that Jim will make it home until she sees him standing on the doorstep of Beach View House. Again we had chapters dotted throughout told from Jim's viewpoint and I loved this as it took us away from Cliffehaven and showed just what a tough time Jim was continuing to experience. We can tell he is fed up and at the end of his tether and just desperate to get back home into the warm embrace of his family. But when will this become a reality instead of just a dream or will it ever happen at all? We are left guessing throughout and this keeps the reader engaged and interested in the story.
After six years of hardship, deprivation, tragedy, devastation, loss and grief the country has altered dramatically but the hope, courage and positive spirit still exists in Cliffehaven. We get an insight into how the town is trying to get back on its feet and also as to how the various girls Rita, Ruby, April, Kitty, Charlotte,Fran and Ivy and many more are finally seeing their dreams come true. There are too many characters to mention and too many sub-plots surrounding them but suffice to say I was pleased with how things worked out for women I had come to call friends over the course of the books I have read in this series. They had plenty of challenging decisions to grapple with and it was interesting to see how these choices would affect the rest of their lives.
There were numerous characters whom we had never actually got to meet in previous books because they had been anyway and all we ever got were mentions of them. Yes, I know they would have featured in the earlier books in the series but I have not had the opportunity to go back and read these so I was delighted to see Cissy, Peggy's daughter, return to the family fold. She was so different to what I thought she was going to be and at times I found it difficult to comprehend that she was Peggy's daughter like wise with Anne. Anne had been away in the country with her young family and two brothers for the duration of the war and now was the time to come home but she was reluctant to do so. Both Anne and Cissy surprised me with their actions. At times I wondered did they have the same values and beliefs as their mother did? Surely they knew that Peggy wanted everyone back under one roof or nearby in Cliffehaven. But as the story progresses we see that both Cissy and Anne are battling with their own circumstances and that time, patience, forgiveness and talking things through may well be the only way to grasp the point they have been striving to reach.
Overall this was another enjoyable read in the series but I do feel stretching it out beyond the next book might just be pushing things a little too far. It feels as if the time is right to being this series to a close when the next book is published. All the characters have come to feel like family and you desperately hope that everyone will get the good ending they deserve but like with real life this cannot always be the case. The themes and messages conveyed throughout the book are done so very well and Ellie Dean has highlighted successfully how Peggy and her chicks have navigated the ups and downs of the war.She has shown that for Peggy and many others that family are life's blood and the reason to keep going even in the darkest of times.Can she keep this sentiment close to her heart as she waits for her beloved to safely return home? Only time will tell and I look forward to the next book Homecoming which will be published in January 2020.
Saying that I did enjoy the story overall as it sees lots of little plots which I presume had begun in book one and the books that followed on have some resolution and characters who had so desperately missed their loved ones got some definitive answers be they positive or negative. There are lots and lots of characters to keep track of, and to remember how people are connected, but at the back of the book there are several pages which give a brief synopsis and background to several of the main characters. This is invaluable as you can flip back and forth to get information or just to reaffirm things regarding certain characters in your mind.
No doubt about it the stand out character, the one whom everyone turns to in a crisis and the person who really has held the whole show together over the last six years of war, is Peggy. She is such a brilliantly written character and one you root for all the way. Having no tourists at her guesthouse in the seaside town of Cliffehaven since the outbreak of war she opened her doors to those in need of a home. Evacuees, family members or women simply needing a place to stay whilst they engage in war work or at the nearby aerodrome. Women who then go on to feel like family and become known as Peggy's chicks. Peggy is a mother figure to everybody and is always there to offer advice or to just to listen to whatever troubles or issues that crop up.
In this book we get to see inside the real Peggy and there is a vulnerability shown to her. That all the worries and burdens she has shouldered for so long are starting to come to the surface. She should be so excited and happy that the long years of war have come to an end but yet she can't fully embrace this new found peace that everyone else seems so readily and willingly able to grasp. That's simply because the future of her immediate family is not yet secure and those she has longed to see arrive home on her doorstep have yet to do so.
Peggy's husband Jim is still away fighting in the jungles of Burma as the war in the East is not yet over. I really understood how Peggy was feeling, on one hand she was delighted to see so many reunions at home and that the stories of her chicks were starting to see a resolution. Marriages that people have longed for start to happen and those imprisoned abroad begin to arrive home. But on the other hand the person she longs to see with every fibre of her being remains very much far away and really all she wants to do is hold Jim in her arms. I love how Ellie Dean paints such a realistic picture of war and that the fact it was over in Europe did not mean that everything went back to normal overnight. So many changes had happened and people had to adapt to those and to continue to make the best of what they had.
Throughout this book Peggy was filled with even more worry and anguish as I don't think she truly believes that Jim will make it home until she sees him standing on the doorstep of Beach View House. Again we had chapters dotted throughout told from Jim's viewpoint and I loved this as it took us away from Cliffehaven and showed just what a tough time Jim was continuing to experience. We can tell he is fed up and at the end of his tether and just desperate to get back home into the warm embrace of his family. But when will this become a reality instead of just a dream or will it ever happen at all? We are left guessing throughout and this keeps the reader engaged and interested in the story.
After six years of hardship, deprivation, tragedy, devastation, loss and grief the country has altered dramatically but the hope, courage and positive spirit still exists in Cliffehaven. We get an insight into how the town is trying to get back on its feet and also as to how the various girls Rita, Ruby, April, Kitty, Charlotte,Fran and Ivy and many more are finally seeing their dreams come true. There are too many characters to mention and too many sub-plots surrounding them but suffice to say I was pleased with how things worked out for women I had come to call friends over the course of the books I have read in this series. They had plenty of challenging decisions to grapple with and it was interesting to see how these choices would affect the rest of their lives.
There were numerous characters whom we had never actually got to meet in previous books because they had been anyway and all we ever got were mentions of them. Yes, I know they would have featured in the earlier books in the series but I have not had the opportunity to go back and read these so I was delighted to see Cissy, Peggy's daughter, return to the family fold. She was so different to what I thought she was going to be and at times I found it difficult to comprehend that she was Peggy's daughter like wise with Anne. Anne had been away in the country with her young family and two brothers for the duration of the war and now was the time to come home but she was reluctant to do so. Both Anne and Cissy surprised me with their actions. At times I wondered did they have the same values and beliefs as their mother did? Surely they knew that Peggy wanted everyone back under one roof or nearby in Cliffehaven. But as the story progresses we see that both Cissy and Anne are battling with their own circumstances and that time, patience, forgiveness and talking things through may well be the only way to grasp the point they have been striving to reach.
Overall this was another enjoyable read in the series but I do feel stretching it out beyond the next book might just be pushing things a little too far. It feels as if the time is right to being this series to a close when the next book is published. All the characters have come to feel like family and you desperately hope that everyone will get the good ending they deserve but like with real life this cannot always be the case. The themes and messages conveyed throughout the book are done so very well and Ellie Dean has highlighted successfully how Peggy and her chicks have navigated the ups and downs of the war.She has shown that for Peggy and many others that family are life's blood and the reason to keep going even in the darkest of times.Can she keep this sentiment close to her heart as she waits for her beloved to safely return home? Only time will tell and I look forward to the next book Homecoming which will be published in January 2020.
August 25, 2019
Ellie Dean is a consummate storyteller who is back with another enthralling, captivating and heartwarming installment of her much-loved best-selling Beach View Boarding House series, With Hope and Love. Whether you are a first timer or a regular visitor to Cliffehaven, one thing is for certain: all it takes is for you to read the first chapter of this book to fall under Ellie Dean’s magical spell.
It’s 1945 and the Second World War is finally over. All over England, people are out celebrating the end of this awful conflict that has wreaked so much havoc and despair and caused so much misery, heartache and misery. For the first time in six years, the future looks bright and promising, but just because the war has ended, it doesn’t mean that life can go back to normal in a heartbeat. The war has had far-reaching consequences and devastating repercussions for every single person in England – a sad reality which the residents of Cliffehaven are only too aware of. Loved ones have been lost, promises have been broken and houses have been razed to the ground, but through it all friendship has seen the inhabitants of the Beach View Boarding House through many a dark time.
Peggy Reilly is absolutely overjoyed that the war is over. Finally, after six long years she can have her beloved family all around her again, but it’s going to take time for her to feel her husband Jim’s arms embracing her once more. Still fighting the Japanese in Burma, Peggy is worried sick that something will go wrong and she will end up losing Jim at the eleventh hour. Will Jim ever return to Cliffehaven? Can happiness ever be within reach for Peggy and Jim or will a cruel twist of fate end up tearing them asunder once and for all? In times like these, family is a great comfort, but a dismayed Peggy is heartbroken to learn that her daughter Anne, who had been evacuated to the countryside, plans to continue to live in her rural idyll for the foreseeable future rather than return home to be with her mother. Is further heartbreak in store for Peggy? Or will the stars finally align and provide her with the happy future she is so desperate for – with her family.
It’s not just Peggy who is going through a difficult time. Her daughter Cissy cannot wait to be reunited with her beloved boyfriend, Randy, but as she hasn’t heard anything from him in months, will she ever see the man she loves with all of her heart ever again? Is Randy as trustworthy as Cissy thinks he is? Or has he been lying to her all this time? Rita is also in love with Australian Peter and although she is overjoyed when he proposes to her and asks her to live with him in Australia, she finds herself torn between following her heart and staying in England to be with her family. Meanwhile, Cockney evacuee Ivy cannot wait to begin a new life with her beloved Peter in the East End of London, but when tragedy strikes she is faced with a heart-wrenching dilemma only she can solve.
Will this run of bad luck for the residents of Beach View ever end? Or will the hope and love that has seen them through the darkest of days provide them with the strength and courage needed to triumph over all the obstacles standing in their way?
Put the kettle on, find a comfortable chair and get ready to lose yourself in Ellie Dean’s latest touching, tender and warm-hearted saga, With Hope and Love. As always, Ellie Dean draws you into the story from the very beginning and you will become so involved with the lives of the residents of Beach View that putting With Hope and Love Down will prove impossible. Written straight from the heart, With Hope and Love is a fantastic saga of friendship, family, love, loyalty and the ties that bind that you will simply not be able to stop reading.
Ellie Dean has done it again and with With Hope and Love, has written an emotive, engrossing and immensely enjoyable World War 2 saga fans of the genre are going to love.
It’s 1945 and the Second World War is finally over. All over England, people are out celebrating the end of this awful conflict that has wreaked so much havoc and despair and caused so much misery, heartache and misery. For the first time in six years, the future looks bright and promising, but just because the war has ended, it doesn’t mean that life can go back to normal in a heartbeat. The war has had far-reaching consequences and devastating repercussions for every single person in England – a sad reality which the residents of Cliffehaven are only too aware of. Loved ones have been lost, promises have been broken and houses have been razed to the ground, but through it all friendship has seen the inhabitants of the Beach View Boarding House through many a dark time.
Peggy Reilly is absolutely overjoyed that the war is over. Finally, after six long years she can have her beloved family all around her again, but it’s going to take time for her to feel her husband Jim’s arms embracing her once more. Still fighting the Japanese in Burma, Peggy is worried sick that something will go wrong and she will end up losing Jim at the eleventh hour. Will Jim ever return to Cliffehaven? Can happiness ever be within reach for Peggy and Jim or will a cruel twist of fate end up tearing them asunder once and for all? In times like these, family is a great comfort, but a dismayed Peggy is heartbroken to learn that her daughter Anne, who had been evacuated to the countryside, plans to continue to live in her rural idyll for the foreseeable future rather than return home to be with her mother. Is further heartbreak in store for Peggy? Or will the stars finally align and provide her with the happy future she is so desperate for – with her family.
It’s not just Peggy who is going through a difficult time. Her daughter Cissy cannot wait to be reunited with her beloved boyfriend, Randy, but as she hasn’t heard anything from him in months, will she ever see the man she loves with all of her heart ever again? Is Randy as trustworthy as Cissy thinks he is? Or has he been lying to her all this time? Rita is also in love with Australian Peter and although she is overjoyed when he proposes to her and asks her to live with him in Australia, she finds herself torn between following her heart and staying in England to be with her family. Meanwhile, Cockney evacuee Ivy cannot wait to begin a new life with her beloved Peter in the East End of London, but when tragedy strikes she is faced with a heart-wrenching dilemma only she can solve.
Will this run of bad luck for the residents of Beach View ever end? Or will the hope and love that has seen them through the darkest of days provide them with the strength and courage needed to triumph over all the obstacles standing in their way?
Put the kettle on, find a comfortable chair and get ready to lose yourself in Ellie Dean’s latest touching, tender and warm-hearted saga, With Hope and Love. As always, Ellie Dean draws you into the story from the very beginning and you will become so involved with the lives of the residents of Beach View that putting With Hope and Love Down will prove impossible. Written straight from the heart, With Hope and Love is a fantastic saga of friendship, family, love, loyalty and the ties that bind that you will simply not be able to stop reading.
Ellie Dean has done it again and with With Hope and Love, has written an emotive, engrossing and immensely enjoyable World War 2 saga fans of the genre are going to love.
September 6, 2019
With Hope and Love is the seventeenth book in Ellie Dean's Cliffehaven series and with the war in Europe finally over, Peggy Reilly could be forgiven for thinking that life is finally going to become a little easier. However, what this novel beautifully - and often very poignantly - demonstrates is that the effects of the war lasted long after the VE Day celebrations ended.
Although many of the men who have been away for so long are finally able to return to Cliffehaven, they all come home bearing the scars of war; whether physical, mental or both. I thought Ellie Dean captured the anguish that those who came home felt so well - their conflicted emotions often driving a wedge between themselves and their families after the initial euphoria of their homecoming faded. The unpredictable behaviour of these men is shown here to be hurtful and frightening to their families who suddenly found a virtual stranger in their midst. The importance of finding somebody they could talk to about their experiences is also explored and is a reminder that often these were men who were badly let down by the authorities who failed to provide the support they desperately needed, with many suffering from what we now understand to be PTSD. Of course, not everyone came back and even at this late stage, the brutality of the enemy brings heartbreak back home.
As always, there are a few chapters which follow Peggy's husband, Jim who is still fighting in the Far East. The ferocity of the Japanese soldiers is renowned of course, and even though the Allies have driven them back, it seems that they will never surrender. Readers have the benefit of terrible hindsight here, and the inevitability of the decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki hangs over the book as we know what will eventually force Japan to accept the war is finished.
Meanwhile, Peggy is forced to wait anxiously for news while still taking care of her 'chicks' - the young women who have made Cliffehaven and the Beach View Boarding House their home. With the series drawing to a close, there are a few goodbyes here as some of the young women who have benefited from Peggy's wise words, no nonsense advice and loving care, are finally able to spread their wings and begin their new lives away from the seaside town. It's not all smooth sailing, however, and Ivy in particular has a big decision to make. It was often young people who were left with these dilemmas and With Hope and Love is a touching reminder of the burdens they faced at a time when their lives should have been more carefree.
There are plenty of lighter moments too, as for all the heartbreak, this was also a time of optimism. Reunited couples mean wedding bells and as always, the community pulls together to ensure those embarking on a new life together have a day to remember. There are new baby announcements as well, and a welcome return for Betty and Brendon who are one of my favourite couples and a pair I hope to see more of in the next book - even if that means more from the dreadful Pauline (who has taken over from the still reformed Doris as the character most in need of a few sharp words from Peggy!) With everybody looking towards the future, it's not surprising that the changing political landscape also plays a part with the characters discussing the upcoming election as the Conservatives led by the hero of the hour, Winston Churchill faced Clement Attlee's Labour Party who promised sweeping social reforms. The result is obviously not a shock to readers - unlike some of the characters - and I'm looking forward to seeing if the policies introduced by the new Government will feature in the next book.
With Hope and Love is as engrossing as I've come to expect from this series and the cliffhanger conclusion ensures there will be an anxious wait for the publication of the final novel, Homecoming next year which will be a bittersweet moment. I've loved getting to know Ellie Dean's characters; the authenticity of their lives and the various dramas they have faced have meant this is a series which is a heart-warming - yet never trivialising - testament to the resourcefulness and courage of those who lived through the Second World War. Highly recommended.
Although many of the men who have been away for so long are finally able to return to Cliffehaven, they all come home bearing the scars of war; whether physical, mental or both. I thought Ellie Dean captured the anguish that those who came home felt so well - their conflicted emotions often driving a wedge between themselves and their families after the initial euphoria of their homecoming faded. The unpredictable behaviour of these men is shown here to be hurtful and frightening to their families who suddenly found a virtual stranger in their midst. The importance of finding somebody they could talk to about their experiences is also explored and is a reminder that often these were men who were badly let down by the authorities who failed to provide the support they desperately needed, with many suffering from what we now understand to be PTSD. Of course, not everyone came back and even at this late stage, the brutality of the enemy brings heartbreak back home.
As always, there are a few chapters which follow Peggy's husband, Jim who is still fighting in the Far East. The ferocity of the Japanese soldiers is renowned of course, and even though the Allies have driven them back, it seems that they will never surrender. Readers have the benefit of terrible hindsight here, and the inevitability of the decision to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki hangs over the book as we know what will eventually force Japan to accept the war is finished.
Meanwhile, Peggy is forced to wait anxiously for news while still taking care of her 'chicks' - the young women who have made Cliffehaven and the Beach View Boarding House their home. With the series drawing to a close, there are a few goodbyes here as some of the young women who have benefited from Peggy's wise words, no nonsense advice and loving care, are finally able to spread their wings and begin their new lives away from the seaside town. It's not all smooth sailing, however, and Ivy in particular has a big decision to make. It was often young people who were left with these dilemmas and With Hope and Love is a touching reminder of the burdens they faced at a time when their lives should have been more carefree.
There are plenty of lighter moments too, as for all the heartbreak, this was also a time of optimism. Reunited couples mean wedding bells and as always, the community pulls together to ensure those embarking on a new life together have a day to remember. There are new baby announcements as well, and a welcome return for Betty and Brendon who are one of my favourite couples and a pair I hope to see more of in the next book - even if that means more from the dreadful Pauline (who has taken over from the still reformed Doris as the character most in need of a few sharp words from Peggy!) With everybody looking towards the future, it's not surprising that the changing political landscape also plays a part with the characters discussing the upcoming election as the Conservatives led by the hero of the hour, Winston Churchill faced Clement Attlee's Labour Party who promised sweeping social reforms. The result is obviously not a shock to readers - unlike some of the characters - and I'm looking forward to seeing if the policies introduced by the new Government will feature in the next book.
With Hope and Love is as engrossing as I've come to expect from this series and the cliffhanger conclusion ensures there will be an anxious wait for the publication of the final novel, Homecoming next year which will be a bittersweet moment. I've loved getting to know Ellie Dean's characters; the authenticity of their lives and the various dramas they have faced have meant this is a series which is a heart-warming - yet never trivialising - testament to the resourcefulness and courage of those who lived through the Second World War. Highly recommended.
August 25, 2019
This is book #17 of the Cliffehaven series. I was excited to give this series a try as I have heard so many good things about these books. As this was the first book I have read from the series, I probably shouldn’t have started at number 17 though!! The story begins in 1945 and the war in Europe has just ended. It continues following the lives of the occupants of Beach View Boarding House and their extended friends and families.
I have to admit I found it really difficult to keep up with all the characters. There are LOTS of characters and I thought that I would get to grips with who was who as the book moved on, but by the end I still found myself confused with all the different names. I assume though if you have read the previous 16 books in the series, you will know exactly who everyone is by the time you reach this book!!
The story, however, was lovely and showed the true wartime spirit shining through. Fair play to all the ladies left behind while their men went to war, keeping the home fires burning and having to contend with the ravages of bombings, death and rationing. They were truly all heroes in their own right. This book shows us that despite the war in Europe being over, it didn’t mean the hardships were over with rationing still in place and jobs that the women were doing were now being taken back by men returning from war. There was, however, happy times ahead for the occupants of Beach View Boarding House with weddings, pregnancies and new beginnings galore!
The characters were all wonderful, but with particular reference to Peggy who runs the boarding house. Her husband, Jim is still fighting in the Burma Campaign, she has five children and yet still takes many others under her wing. Despite not quite remembering who was who, I did connect with some of the other characters like Anne and Ivy, whose stories brought tears to my eyes. The author’s writing was very realistic and at times I felt like I had been taken back 70 odd years and put right in the middle of all the dramas, sadness and happy times that were in this book. This is certainly a series that I would like to go back to the beginning with and get to know all the characters that little bit more before the series ends. We are left with a cliff-hanger at the end of this book though, so at least we can look forward to another book from this series!
I would definitely recommend, but I would also recommend reading some of the previous books as well to meet the characters and storylines. It is a wonderful example of a wartime saga filled with family, friends, love and sadness. I will definitely be waiting with anticipation for the next book of the series!
I have to admit I found it really difficult to keep up with all the characters. There are LOTS of characters and I thought that I would get to grips with who was who as the book moved on, but by the end I still found myself confused with all the different names. I assume though if you have read the previous 16 books in the series, you will know exactly who everyone is by the time you reach this book!!
The story, however, was lovely and showed the true wartime spirit shining through. Fair play to all the ladies left behind while their men went to war, keeping the home fires burning and having to contend with the ravages of bombings, death and rationing. They were truly all heroes in their own right. This book shows us that despite the war in Europe being over, it didn’t mean the hardships were over with rationing still in place and jobs that the women were doing were now being taken back by men returning from war. There was, however, happy times ahead for the occupants of Beach View Boarding House with weddings, pregnancies and new beginnings galore!
The characters were all wonderful, but with particular reference to Peggy who runs the boarding house. Her husband, Jim is still fighting in the Burma Campaign, she has five children and yet still takes many others under her wing. Despite not quite remembering who was who, I did connect with some of the other characters like Anne and Ivy, whose stories brought tears to my eyes. The author’s writing was very realistic and at times I felt like I had been taken back 70 odd years and put right in the middle of all the dramas, sadness and happy times that were in this book. This is certainly a series that I would like to go back to the beginning with and get to know all the characters that little bit more before the series ends. We are left with a cliff-hanger at the end of this book though, so at least we can look forward to another book from this series!
I would definitely recommend, but I would also recommend reading some of the previous books as well to meet the characters and storylines. It is a wonderful example of a wartime saga filled with family, friends, love and sadness. I will definitely be waiting with anticipation for the next book of the series!
May 19, 2020
Sadly this is not one of her finest. Don’t get me wrong I’m one of Ellie’s biggest fans. Indeed I have now completed 17 of the 18 books in the Cliffehaven series within the last year. I have found them almost always to be informative, heartbreaking and joyous in equal measures. This book however reads almost like an epilogue, tying up loose ends even with one more book to come. Although I’ve read them in order to get the full benefit of the wonderful stories most others can be read as stand alone, but this book cannot.
I am so pleased to know that Ellie came through her serious illness during the writing of this and of course wish her every success for the future.
I now look forward to reading the final instalment to this series, and must repeat my heartfelt thanks to the author for providing me with such marvellous entertainment and knowledge of a very dark period of our recent history.
I am so pleased to know that Ellie came through her serious illness during the writing of this and of course wish her every success for the future.
I now look forward to reading the final instalment to this series, and must repeat my heartfelt thanks to the author for providing me with such marvellous entertainment and knowledge of a very dark period of our recent history.
August 24, 2019
It's been a long wait for the latest installment of life in Cliffehaven. But it was well worth the wait!!
Finally the war is over, and Peggy can look forward to her family finally returning home to her. Lots of changes are afoot at beachview, but are they all good? Will Jim be home soon? Will all the RAF boys return home to their loved ones? Did Ron settle down to married life with his beloved Rosie?
As always Ellie's books are filled with such wonderful descriptions, that you can imagine the scenes before your eyes. There were some laugh out loud funny parts, and a few tears. We have another long wait ahead of us for the next book, which will sadly bring the series to a conclusion, but that just means we can re read them all again and again.
Another wonderful addition to the collection, thank you Ellie for giving us the gift that is your cliffehaven saga.
Finally the war is over, and Peggy can look forward to her family finally returning home to her. Lots of changes are afoot at beachview, but are they all good? Will Jim be home soon? Will all the RAF boys return home to their loved ones? Did Ron settle down to married life with his beloved Rosie?
As always Ellie's books are filled with such wonderful descriptions, that you can imagine the scenes before your eyes. There were some laugh out loud funny parts, and a few tears. We have another long wait ahead of us for the next book, which will sadly bring the series to a conclusion, but that just means we can re read them all again and again.
Another wonderful addition to the collection, thank you Ellie for giving us the gift that is your cliffehaven saga.
August 27, 2019
Brilliant as usual
Having read everyone of the series as they have been released I couldn't wait for this one. It has been brilliant learning all about Peggy and her brood chicks throughout the war and although it's fiction there has also been a lot of facts as well. The research that Ellie has done must have been very time consuming but so well written. Feel as if I know the characters with all the good and very sad times. One of my favourites has been Ron and Harvey with all their antics and heroics. Love the way the war is now over and the country is changing and reshaping. Sorry that the next book will be the last one but can't wait until January when it all ties up. A truly excellent series and hopefully Ellie already has plenty of new ideas to keep writing. Took advantage of a perfect hot bank holiday to relax in the shade and enjoy.
Having read everyone of the series as they have been released I couldn't wait for this one. It has been brilliant learning all about Peggy and her brood chicks throughout the war and although it's fiction there has also been a lot of facts as well. The research that Ellie has done must have been very time consuming but so well written. Feel as if I know the characters with all the good and very sad times. One of my favourites has been Ron and Harvey with all their antics and heroics. Love the way the war is now over and the country is changing and reshaping. Sorry that the next book will be the last one but can't wait until January when it all ties up. A truly excellent series and hopefully Ellie already has plenty of new ideas to keep writing. Took advantage of a perfect hot bank holiday to relax in the shade and enjoy.
September 11, 2019
Yet another fantastic instalment in the beach view series. I’m going to be very sad when these come to an end. The vivid descriptions of war and post war life truly immerse you in what must have been an absolutely terrifying time. I’ve laughed and cried reading this book. Even though I know how the war ended and who won along with the defining moments of war the description of how the characters are listening to events unfold on the radio really did have a profound effect on me. Wonderful books worth more than 5 stars
August 26, 2019
I absolutely love Ellie Dean and the Cliffhaven series, not sure what I will do when they come to their fruition. Tamara McKinley aka Ellie Dean’s books are equally fab. I can’t wait for the next instalment from Cliffhaven or from Tamara McKinley.
Thank you for many many hours of wonderful reading and I have enjoyed every single one of your books and look forward to the next ones. Thank you
Thank you for many many hours of wonderful reading and I have enjoyed every single one of your books and look forward to the next ones. Thank you
August 31, 2019
This like all the cliffehaven books follow the story of the residents of beach view
The war has ended and the characters are coming to terms with how the war has changed them and loved ones
Well written as always looking forward to the next book I will be sad to say goodbye to cliffehaven
But hope Ellie Dean presents us with another saga to follow
The war has ended and the characters are coming to terms with how the war has changed them and loved ones
Well written as always looking forward to the next book I will be sad to say goodbye to cliffehaven
But hope Ellie Dean presents us with another saga to follow
January 27, 2022
I have enjoyed every single one of the Cliffehaven books, but, knowing that there is only one more to go, I read this one with a new appreciation for Ellie Dean's artistry
But, one nagging little loose end: what was in the envelope that Peggy gave to Ruby from Cordelia? And, wasn't there a similar mystery with something destined for Danuta?
But, one nagging little loose end: what was in the envelope that Peggy gave to Ruby from Cordelia? And, wasn't there a similar mystery with something destined for Danuta?
August 30, 2019
Another wonderful episode
Took another box of tissues to read through this wonderful story. Eagerly waiting for January 23, 2020! I'm planning to read the whole series AGAIN! Thank you Ellie Dean!!
Took another box of tissues to read through this wonderful story. Eagerly waiting for January 23, 2020! I'm planning to read the whole series AGAIN! Thank you Ellie Dean!!
September 1, 2019
Wonderful as always
As a huge fan of the Cliffehaven series I eagerly awaited this 17th instalment and was not disappointed. Only one book left now in Jan 2020 but I know I shall return to this wonderful series for years to come. Highly recommended. Five stars.
As a huge fan of the Cliffehaven series I eagerly awaited this 17th instalment and was not disappointed. Only one book left now in Jan 2020 but I know I shall return to this wonderful series for years to come. Highly recommended. Five stars.
September 1, 2019
Beachview
Wow wow wow I loved this book lots of happiness but lots of sorrow also those poor girls and poor Peggy still waiting for Jim to come home can't wait for next book please don't let it be the last one 5 stars.
Wow wow wow I loved this book lots of happiness but lots of sorrow also those poor girls and poor Peggy still waiting for Jim to come home can't wait for next book please don't let it be the last one 5 stars.
October 15, 2019
Fantastic and full of life's changes.
Can't wait for the next series, this issue has brought us all up to date with the whole family and its ups and downs. I. feel drawn into the whole series. Looking forward too the next book.
Can't wait for the next series, this issue has brought us all up to date with the whole family and its ups and downs. I. feel drawn into the whole series. Looking forward too the next book.
October 26, 2019
Although sad that there is only 1 more book left to read in this excellent series I absolutely loved this. The characters feel like real family members and I enjoy reading what happens to them. I'm equally sad and looking forward to reading what happens next to Peggy, Jim and her family
October 20, 2021
Started this and straightaway I knew that it was going to be not very enjoyable. I hadn’t read any others in the series as I didn’t realise it was part of a series. Boring and too many characters which I had no idea what had happened in the previous books. Very disappointed.
November 24, 2023
Freedom at last
These books are so well written I cannot put them down when I start another I've only got 2 more to go and I'm feeling really sad I won't be reading about this lovely family and their trials and tribulations
These books are so well written I cannot put them down when I start another I've only got 2 more to go and I'm feeling really sad I won't be reading about this lovely family and their trials and tribulations
March 29, 2024
Another great story from Cliffhaven and the ups and downs of Beach view guest house
This is a great lot of books getting sad to be coming to last books so far
Great Author and brings you into every book from start to finish
This is a great lot of books getting sad to be coming to last books so far
Great Author and brings you into every book from start to finish
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