"""Intelligently plotted and populated with a host of complex and charismatic characters, this is a gem of a romance. Highly recommended!""

In this short novel by the talented T N Traynor, the reader gets to follow the ups and downs of Hope Bennett who's living in Liverpool in the 1950s. When Hope attempts to fling herself off a ferry into the River Mersey, she is stopped by John Walker, a man broken by the loss of his childhood sweetheart. Like the protagonist's name, this is a story of 'hope' as the two central characters try to find a way of escaping the city slums for a better life.

Although this is a romance, in many ways it's a rather gritty story. And I liked that. I also liked how the author described the 1950s Liverpool setting. I wouldn't want to live there - not in the 1950s anyway -but it's an excellent setting for this story. In terms of the characters, I could tell the author knew them well and wanted the reader to know them just as well. As a result, I was very much rooting for Hope and John all the way to the end.

If you enjoy intelligent romance and the thought of getting to know two highly complex and flawed characters, this book is very much for you. Although it's not overly long, there's a lot going on in every chapter, and the author's writing style - simple, not overly descriptive - perfectly fits the historical romance genre. If I had to sum up it in a sentence, I'd say this story is perfect for readers looking for a smarter romance, where everything is not perfect and probably never will be.

Very enjoyable!

A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review

 thewsa.co.uk"