Maybe This Time

by anna-king

* In the East End of London at the turn of the twentieth century, life - and love - has never been less straightforward . . .Standing at the corner of Morning Lane on a Sunday lunchtime is a weekly ritual for sixteen-year-old Jane Flynn. With her parents ready to serve the Sunday roast, sending Jane to wait outside the pub is the only way her beloved brothers Shaun, Pat and Rory will finish their Guinness and return home.But when Rory sees Jane being harassed by local bully Barney Hobbs, it isn't long before the Lord's Day is interrupted with a flash of his Irish temper. Barney and Rory have a rivalry that goes back many years - a mutual hatred inflamed by the seductive Cathy Meadows, the girl who broke up Rory's relationship with the poor but pretty Josie Guntrip, the girl who broke his heart by leaving him for the better-off Barney.When Cathy returns to the East End, Rory finding himself besotted once more, and with Barney using Jane to get at him, he hasn't the time to give Josie a second thought. Which is a shame, because not only has Josie never stopped loving him, but with the death of her spiteful, overbearing mother, she's about to get a surprise that will change her life for ever . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction

372 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2004

Reviews

[Mela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a good storytelling. It is such kind of a book you can take to your purse and then read it in a park or a bus. When someone makes you to interrupt reading you won't be angry because you can easily continue reading, without thinking what you have been reading before.

I haven't yet read many books which take place in the East End of London. I will remember The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose for long. But I am not sure how long I will remember this book. Yes, I like this book, I have read it fast. But if this book had been a little longer I would have begun to be bored.

So, because it take place in the poor part of London in the beginning of XX century it is often harsh. If you like only a climate of Regency romances you shouldn't pick it. For me it was interesting to see that love for different people mean something else, that decisions made by them differ from those made by rich and privileged people. So, I don't regret reading it and if you have this book on your shelf you can try by yourself. But if you are looking for a book which takes place in the East End, which is moving, which has a great love story - better buy The Tea Rose (or The Winter Rose) by Jennifer Donnelly.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about an Irish family living in the East End of London at the turn of the twentieth
century. About family life and love which is never straightforward. I enjoyed reading this book
and would recommend it.

[Gary David Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good

Seems like these stories end so abruptly. What happened to Jane and her baby? Did mother and father come home? All of a sudden Rory loves her?

[Pam Watmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the East End of London and Jane Flynn is being taunted about her facial birth mark by Barney Hobbs and is rescued by her brother Rory Flynn. Rory and Barney have a history over a girl called Cathy. This book follows the lives of the families in the East End, the hardship of the times and the community of the area, those that stick together. Josie is a carer for her Mother who is very mean and nasty and spiteful to her and leaves her out of the will but when she dies they find a lot of money hidden in the bed which allows her to survive and flourish with the help of her neighbouring family the Flynns. To complicate matters Rory used to go out with Josie but dumped her for another girl creating heartbreak. This book explores what it was like to live in those times from hand to mouth and the desires of a young girl recently orphaned having to reply on the help of their neighbours together with the complications of Cathy who married an older rich man coming back into their lives creating jealousy between Rory and Barney. You feel the pain and thoughts of the characters in this book.