It’s the best day of his life–the worst of hers.She left her soul behind in the dead silence of a hospital room.He is bright with hope after being so close to losing faith.One moment in time leaves their paths unavoidably entwined.An invisible connection held by one heart beating between them.***Previously part of the anthology; Then There Was You.
When Hope Ends: life begins
By freyabarker
There are few authors who can meld mature characters and emotion-based stories as well as Freya Barker. When Hope Ends (life begins) is equal parts love story and emotional family drama. Jude and Mika’s story is beautifully written and when Ms. Barker adds children into her stories they soar to new heights.
Jude sees Mika on the worst day of her life; living every mother’s worst nightmare. Their chance encounter foreshadows events to come and sets off a chain of events that is life-changing for everyone involved. When life in the city becomes unbearable for Mika, she decides to rent a seaside cottage. Her first visitor is an inquisitive little girl who shares Mika’s interest in photography and just happens to be Jude’s daughter.
Kelty and Mika become fast friends and Jude feels a pull to the beautiful tenant renting his cottage. Filled with emotions and love this story illustrates the power of love to overcome even the most devastating life events.
Ms. Barker’s characters are realistic and driven by passion and love of family, both biological and adopted into the clan. Her characters are well-developed and multi-faceted. While her stories are character and often emotion driven, Ms. Barker’s humor and wit shines through to make the reader smile.
I am not an emotional reader, but on more than one occasion this story had me misty-eyed and I could not put it down. So grab your favorite cuddly blanket, a box of tissues and a glass of wine or cup of coffee and settle in to read this amazing story. You’ll be glad you did.
I have no more to say that it was just perfect!
Mika meets Jude on a mother’s worst day. She rents a cottage from him, unknowingly. This beautiful story of death, organ transplants, blended families is absolutely beautiful. I cried, I laughed. I will definitely read more by this author
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is such an emotional read. I cried, smiled and swooned. Great book that was well worth the tears.
If you’ve read her books before and thought Ms Barker had previously pulled you’re heart out, chucked it in a blender, blitzed it then tried her damnedest to put it back together….. you ain’t felt nothing yet!!!!
When Hope Ends (Life Begins) was one hell of a read full of heartache, heartbreak, emotions, love and yep, most definitely hope. I worked my way through the best part of a box of tissues, was a red faced, sobbing, not fit for going out in public mess for a lot of the read but man, it was worth it!!
Freya Barker is a fabulous storyteller, her books feel like they come alive as you read and her characters are so real, relatable (and for the most part) likeable!
Grab your hankies, pull up your big girl pants and get reading this fabulous story.
A 5*, most certainly recommended read.
When Hope Ends is written by Freya Barker. I thought this was an amazing book. The characters were great and fun to read.
Jude and Cassie are Keltys parents who were worried she would not get a heart transplant in time. It just so happens that Mikas son Jamie was dying so Kelty got his heart.
Later on in the story, Mika rented a place in another state from where she was living. Everything there just reminded her of her son and she wanted to start new in another place. She had been sitting on her porch when she met Kelty. She had an idea that this little girl was the one who received her sons heart.
When she met her landlord she put two and two together that this was the man she had seen in the hospital the day her son died. Everyone got along great.
I laughed, cried, and did not want the story to end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A fantastically written story that will take your emotions on a roller coaster ride. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be angry and upset and you’ll become attached to the characters and fall in love with them. The story is so well written you won’t want it to end. This is one of those stories you can read over and over and never tire of it and love it even more than the last time you read it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a quick and easy read. The storyline is well-crafted, intriguing, suspenseful, has drama and steam. The characters are defined, and likable with sizzling chemistry. I liked it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great storyline,beautiful characters. Very well written, engaging and interesting.
For her, it was worst day of her life , or so she taught.
For him,the same day became the most important one.
From this day they will be connected for the rest of their life. A one heart will joint them forever.
This is a great story that I recommend
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow…..what a read. As a parent, this story will bring to the forefront a parent’s worst fears. This story broke my heart, I felt all the emotions of the characters as if I sat right along side them. A great story of a tough situation and how it can turn things and bring about happiness in the end. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
OH MY GOD, this book was amazing. I was crying, laughing, yelling throughout this book. Thos book reminds me a lot of the movie Return To Me. You develop am emotional attachment to each character as you read it. They are well developed and the love a mother flows through Mika. You can feel her pain and heartache. Mika and Jude are made for each other. You will fall in love with this book. Oh and the last part of the book is priceless. HEA. Well worth the read, and the reread.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This author was a first read for me. I was not disappointed. Ms. Barker writes using real -life situations that are not always tied up with a pretty bow but ends beautifully. Characters are the type you would encounter in real life with faults and imperfections. I was drawn in front the start and would read more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emotions…..all the emotions. When Hope Ends brought every one of my emotions to the fore front. Mika’s loss was heartbreaking; I could not imagine the pain/loss she has had to endure.
Tear rating is being activated for this one:
I’ve read several books written by Freya Barker; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
A sweet story with a touching theme. A mother’s grief and a father’s joy collided in a way no one anticipated. Great characters and beautifully described setting. Another great Freya read
Firstly get the tissues ready you gonna need them as this really is a story that will break your heart and mend it at the same time. Mika sustains a tragic and drawn out loss that almost breaks her and Jude gets a second with his daughter, fate then decides to make them keep bumping into each other whether Mika likes it or not. You can feel the struggles Mika has and how torn she is about being around Jude and Kelty while she is trying to pull herself together and how Jude wants more but doesn’t know how deal with it. Ugh I just loved this book so much as you really do go through heartbreak with Mika and Jude then along the rock road through to heart mending.
Who are Mika and Emmett? What is going on in their lives? Who is Jamie? Who are Jude and Cassie? Oh my goodness, their daughter is precious! Be prepared to have waterworks reading this story! The title totally fits this story and is very apropos after reading the story. The only thing I wish is that we would have heard more about what happened with the lawyer and the talk about the Boston Telegraph. This was such a sweet story that focuses on donations. It touched me in so many places that I will have to hold onto this book and reread it.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
A fresh start
Mika is looking for a fresh start after tragedy.
Jude is a father to Kelty. He co parents with his former friend with benefits.
Kelty was sick.
Now, Mika befriends Kelty and Jude, but there are invisible ties that bind them.
Recommend.
Voluntarily reviewed
Her son is taken off life support, making his heart available for transplant. His daughter is next on the list. Mika knows who Jude is from that day in the hospital, and from a fund-raiser a few months later. But she doesn’t know his association with the cottage she rents. She meets Kelty first, and is taken with her, meeting Jude later. As they become closer, she tries to explain about their situation, but he waves her off. And the longer she waits, the harder it is to try to have the conversation. Until it’s forced on them. There were lots of ugly tears as I read this book – some of sadness, many of joy. I absolutely love how the author portrayed the adults as adults – no games, no drama, just mature people dealing with tough situations in mature ways. Jude’s relationship with Cassie, and later with Mark, is a prime example of this. Mika’s journey to move beyond Jamie’s death is just heartbreaking, and yet she endured with the help of good friends and her desire to get better. This book is exactly why Freya Barker is one of my must read authors.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4.5 Stars
This was such a beautiful story. It had me tearing up a few times. If you’re looking for a story that will melt your heart and one of healing this is it. Poor Mika what she has gone through just breaks my heart and makes me ope she can find some peace. The title fits this book so much. It’s a beautiful meaning for Mika as well. Jude and Kelty melt your heart. Kelty is so adorable and steal our heart right fro the start. I would highly recommend this book.You do not want miss out on this one.