Hold on to Hope

Jean Fullerton

Orion, Feb 2012

Hold on to Hope is Jean Fullerton’s fourth novel set in Victorian East London. It is a vivid and beautifully written book that brings all of the sights and sounds of this hard working area of the city to life.

Everything that heroine Kate Ellis has worked hard for, including her children, is put into jeopardy when her estranged husband returns from a spell in prison. Captain Jonathan Quinn, a dashing ex-Army Officer, becomes headmaster at the local school and recognizes Kate’s plight. Sparks instantly fly between the two, but Kate is a married woman so how could anything happen?

Fullerton is a fantastic writer who has brought this part of Victorian London alive to her readers. The characters are so well crafted that the reader feels they actually know them. I enjoyed reading Hold on to Hope so much; Kate is the perfect heroine and Jonathan the perfect gentleman. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Our Classification: Keeper Shelf

Our Opinion: A beautifully written story that brings the Victorian East End to life

Reviewer: Sarah Taylor