Journey's End

The Journey #2

by Josephine Cox

It has been more than twenty years since Vicky Maitland last set foot on English soil. Two decades ago she left the city of Liverpool with her three children—leaving behind the husband she dearly loved, who had cruelly and inexplicably turned against them all—to begin a new life in America. Now nervous and apprehensive, with a fateful letter burning a hole in her pocket, Vicky has finally come home in search of the truth and the shattering secrets behind Barney's shocking betrayal—secrets only Vicky's old friend, Lucy Baker, knows but swore never to reveal . . .

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Historical, Historical Romance

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

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

She wrote dark psychological thrillers under the name Jane Brindle.

Reviews

[Jules]

Loved this. If you've read The Journey then Journey's End is a must read, if you want to find out how this emotional story ends. Loved the characters and didn't want to put this down.

[Nova]

Lame! unbelievable characters; no plot to speak of and long paragraphs describing the menu for dinner or afternoon tea. Didn't get much past half way till I started speed reading/skimming to get to the end

[Tia Sparrow]

Such a ridiculous storyline, it isn't credible that people would speak or react to situations as they do in the book. Had to force myself to finish it and won't read anything else by the author. Picked it up off Suggested Reads shelf at local library, so was hoping for more.

[Somer Schaffer]

Just long and boring at times, if shorter it would have been more entertaining, but it dragged on. I'd skip a few pages here and there because they were just descriptions...

[Shirley Revill]

Absolutely enjoyed. Storytelling at it's best.

[kelly Challans]

Was only the last part of the book where anything really happened wouldn’t recommend

[Carol]

Maybe 3 and 1/2 stars is better. I don't think I was in the mood for this story of deception with over tones of evil at the end. A man who had a fatal disease pretended to be a drunk and womanizer to chase his family away so they could go to America and have a 'good life' and not have to watch him die. 20 years later Lucy, his care giver and "wife" decided that the wife and children needed to know the truth which she had been sworn to keep secret. She wrote to the wife and let her know of Barney's deception and that started a huge uproar in her family as everyone took sides for and against their beloved father.

[Margaret]

How can I put this, this book was very boring I had to skip lines to come to the end and nothing was interesting until the end.It kept on rambling on and on with no content to many details for nothing.

[Kat]

Pretty sappy stuff and hard to believe a group of adults TWENTY YEARS LATER AND ON would collapse into tears thinking of Barney and what he did. Just sappy and not believable even for a fiction story. Not one of her best at all.

[Rinburevolution]

By the time I got about halfway through, I wanted to punch Barney in the d*ck for being "Mr. Perfect". The ending seemed tacked on as an afterthought, why they included Edward at all is beyond me.

[Natalie]

Not one of her best. Found it a bit slow and skimmed through most of it. Overall though an easy read

[Gav Johnson]

Did not finish. Read first 20 pages and I was done. Only picked up off the shelf to read as I'm in between books. This is one of my wife's. Simply couldn't be arsed with it. Bored me.

[Claire]

The storyline is dull. Why wait twenty years to tell a secret. I taught maybe the secret was that barney had done something drastic only to find out he was dying and send his family packing off to America.
The fact that his family still felt the same way as they did twenty years later is ridiculous.

I was disappointed when Edward Trent showed up at the wedding. I was expecting more action. It would make a better story if he had taken lucy away. Have more lone time together to speak about what happened to their son. It would have made it more interesting when the wedding guests realise she was missing.......

When ronnie came to England and started dating Amy, we didn't find out the reaction everyone had when they found out, he was barney's son.
Thomas and Leonard came to England to tell Vicky she was been followed and could be in danger and she told them to leave.

But then shortly later they show up to the wedding with Susie. Where did she come from, no one had seen her since her mother left America.

Was all very rushed at the end.

[Jill Barnes]

A very disappointing effort from Josephine Cox. I have enjoyed her books in the past ,but this one has such an unrealistic plot, it makes for a really weak story. Who, in his right mind would deceive his family in to thinking he'd become a drunkard and womanizer, when he is actually terminally ill? Ok, as a result they emigrated to a better life in America, but the pain and heartache he caused affected everyone psychologically, damaging their emotions. And, what is even more incredible, this terminally ill man then goes on to have a new wife and child before he finally dies. Not J C's usual writing style either. A lot of retrospective thoughts and repetition. A most unsatisfactory read.

[Barbara]

This story revolves around a man named Barney and many unanswered questions. Why did Barney do what he did? How did Barney do it? Whatever happened to Barney and so forth. Lots of gossip amongst family, relatives and friends and then one of the main characters Lucy decides it’s time to resolve these issues.

Not the most exciting book I ever read, but my heart did warm to the characters and their personalities. Found the story a little repetitive and drawn out. At least I know the full story about Barney now. lol.

[Patricia]

I got to the end, which after so much impending doom was quick and flat. The whole idea of Barney pretending to be a womanising drunk so his family would leave him to die without them was ridiculous. I didn't like the writing style, which seemed almost amateur at times - odd for someone who's churned out so many books.

[Kat Ashworth]

The author created a level of tension in this second novel that wasn’t present in the first of the series. The culmination of choices and actions woven together through each unique character peaks in the last few chapters. Eager to see how it all unravels.

[R E Hanger]

Well thought through romantic drama.

Mostly believable characters. All the necessary coincidences for good reading. Good overcomes evil . Nothing too sordid. Keeps you reading to the end

[Mrs J Johansen]

I almost didn't bother to read this book as I found the first chapter very irritating with an endless, and pointless, conversation between two women. However I gave it a second chance. It was OK but overly wordy at times and a rather predictable plot.

[Mhairi]

3.5 - didn't realise when I picked this up it was the second in a series but I thought it was good nonetheless. First Josephine Cox book and definitely an author I wouldn't mind trying some more from.

[Stella Heuer]

Easy reading interesting story about family secrets and promises made and how they devastate lives. Interesting concept that people more likely to want to know the truth than being protected from it.

[Beverley Harrison]

Good book

Really good reading and a very ok interesting tale love this author and all of the books I have read

[Peter Mitchell]

Dreadful!

[Katherine]

Josephine Cox fan.

Have been a fan for many years.
As soon as you start reading you are hoping for a happy ending for her wonderful characters.

[Pat]

Have read her books for years but enjoying them very much.

[beverley jones]

Fantastic read couldn't put it down

Loved the journey so read this follow up was fantastic didn't want it to end will be reading more of this authour

[jayne hay]

Continue the love the two woman have for .Barney

When Vicky left for American and a new life she though Barney didn't love her anymore but Lucy knew the truth

[Lynn Hutchinson]

Reliably good tale from this author. Believable, sad but uplifting too.

[Carol bentley]

Amazing

Very good read I love Josephine Cox books read her books for years just about read them all only a couple to go.

[Nicola Ashton]

Great read

Couldn’t wait to read this sequel and I wasn’t disappointed I was gripped right from the beginning till end. Fantastic.