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
When Hope Ends (life begins) is a beautiful, heart breaking story. This is actually my second time reading it, and I still felt so many emotions just like I did the first time. (Have kleenex nearby) As a parent my heart hurt for Mika, and Jude, but little Kelty put it back to together again. I liked the small town feel, and the characters were great.
What an incredible read. This had me so emotional that I cried like a baby. I always say my favorite reads are romantic comedies but then a story like this comes along. The author just draws you in and makes you feel their pain and the love that they feel. Well done.
As far as I am concerned this is a must read story I found myself crying as I read this well written beautiful story. Mika is in the hospital at the same time as Jude is, her’s for a very sad reason and his for a reason of hope, and joy. They bump into each other in the hallway but do not really meet. Mika moves from Boston to Orleans to start over, and she meets a little girl Kelty. When she meets Kelty’s Dad she realizes their lifes are linked. I recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is such a uniqueness about this story. It has a fresh story line, and showcases a strong heroine trying to get back to her new normal after a tragic loss, and a hottie single dad Jude, who has faced many challenges as a single dad of a child with a life threatening illness.
I love that this book has a few lessons in it…. communication between couples can be the difference between a big issue and resolving problems that come about. One lesson that stuck with me is the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Mika’s name had been smeared across the headline due to her ex, and she had very good reasons for her actions…very selfless actions. But those that hear and see the news sometime have only 1/2 of the story. This story is full of rich characters and all the feels…and ultimately that HEA we all crave.
I have read a lot of Freya Barkers books and they in no way led me to believe that this book would be so heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time Be prepared when you read this one have the tissues handy because you are going to need them.
Mika and Jamie’s story will break your heart While Jude and Kelty’s story will uplift you and you will wonder if fate played a part in bringing Mika and Jude continually into one another orbit. This is a story that once read you won’t forget in a hurry
Get your tissues ready! So full of emotion, heart wrenching and hopeful!! Loved the characters and the story premise!! Do not miss this one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a beautiful and emotional story this was to read. I totally totally enjoyed it. But then whats not to love about Freya Barkers books.
Mika and Jude are such wonderful characters, and i fell in love with them both, hope, joy and total love in a totally roller coaster story .
There is so much one could say about this but really its a book that has to be read, but just by its title alone can one guess what this story is about.
So for those that get to read this book, tissues are a must.. 5 stars plus more if i could.
Originally published as part of a multi-authored anthology entitled Then There Was You, Freya Barker’s When Hope Ends (Life Begins) has just been re-released on its own. This is the story of a single mother named Mika Spencer, a single father named Jude Parks, and how one decision changes the course of their respective lives and leaves them linked in ways so rare yet ultimately awe-inspiring. Fair warning: You may require a fair number of tissues on-hand.
I’ve spent a couple of days trying to figure out how to write this review without giving much of anything away because I honestly don’t want to spoil the book for anyone. You’ll get what’s going on a couple of pages into the prologue, and from there, I knew I was in for a heck of a heartrending read. Mika’s thirteen-year-old son, Jamie, and Jude’s nine-year-old daughter, Kelty, are the loves of their lives and do play integral roles in their parents’ story.
Freya Barker is an author whose work has enticed me in the past, but this newest book of hers is exceptional. It has a wholly different feel compared to her previous releases. Yes, it’s heartrending, but it’s brimming with hope, and the reminder of how a single act can be life-changing in the best or worst of ways. From devastation, we not only learn to survive, but we can truly begin to thrive like Mika and Jude. Five stars go to When Hope Ends (Life Begins).
Not for the faint of heart.
This was is kinda a heart jerker what with her son being pulled off life support and his daughter being the heart donor.
Wow, right?!?!
I don’t think I could be in her shoes and be around him or his daughter.
But these characters make it work.
I highly recommend you read this awesome story!
Favorite Quotes:
… he pays attention, and let’s be honest, that’s not always a quality evident in the opposite gender.
I’m so grateful having had this amazing opportunity to learn that when hope ends for one, life begins for another
“I don’t know who this woman is. I’ve never heard so much cursing in my life.” I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. I remember this part too. Cassie had made me feel about an inch tall with her sharp tongue while she was delivering Kelty. She’d even smacked me because I was breathing too loudly.
My Review:
Freya Barker writes stories with all the feels, but this one was pure heart – some parts were heart-warming, others were heart-wrenching, and still more were heart-skipping and heart-stirring, but they were all only the good kinds of heart-related reading that shouldn’t lead a fear of heart-stoppage, possible angina, the need for CPR, or a cardiology referral. The heartfelt storylines were engaging and relevant with writing that was easy to fall into and alternated between steaming up my glasses, raising my heart rate, putting a smile on my face, and squeezing my coronary muscle like a two sizes too small pair of Spanx. It was divine. I’ll gladly ride on Freya Barker’s bus until the wheels fall off.
What a beautifully written story. Mika and Jude were such wonderful characters. Their story was one of heartbreak and hope.
Mika is an incredibly brave and strong woman who has to make the ultimate sacrifice but knows with every fiber of her being that she is making the right choice. And on that day she crosses paths with Jude, not knowing at the time what an intricate part of her life he will become.
Jude and his daughter Kelty are facing an uncertain future and when he crosses paths with Mika he has no idea that she will be giving him his miracle.
I loved everything about this story and their journey. This one will stay with me for a long time
I received a copy for review purposes.
When Hope Ends (Life Begins) is a gift to the heart. Last your I was disappointed in the amount of emotional books I read, I love me a good heartbreaker, but this book started my year off right. This story is filled with loss, heartbreak, hope, and love. It had me crying and smiling throughout. If you love an emotional read that fills you with hope pick this up today.
Freya Barker is an awesome author , the reason I can say that with all honesty is the fact she can make you feel like you are in her book and you feel the emotions her characters are going through, Mika well she has to make a very hard decision and that changes her whole life, the decision is one I do not know if I could make , fate or destiny keeps putting her and Jude( he is affected by her decision) in each other’s paths and when they act one it wow, you really need to read this book
First, before reading, grab tissues. This is one of the best serendipitous stories I’d ever met. The blending of Jude & Mika’s stories was heartbreakingly beautiful. It takes a loss, or an almost-loss, to find the beauty in the things we tend to take for granted. The simplicity of the mundane, life in all things, the beauty of nature and in human kind. Not all is pretty but it was definitely beautiful.
When Hope Ends by Freya Barkeris a beautiful story filled with a full range of emotions, from heartbreaking to heartwarming moments all wrapped up into one story.
Two families, two children all bound together through tragedy, sacrifice and love. The loss of a child is a pain that no one can imagine and Mika wanted her sons death to mean something. So when she decided to donate his heart, fate placed her right in the path of one beautiful young girl and her dad. Mika gets to see what joy has been brought to this family through her loss. Little did she know that Jude and his beautiful daughter, Kelty would open her heart up again to hope and love and she in turn would give them everything.
This book…. I can’t even describe the feels this book brings. From the moment you find out you are pregnant, every instinct you have is to protect that being, so a parents worst nightmare is something happening to that child, no matter the age. For Jude, his little girl being sick and needing a heart to get better, this is his worst nightmare. When he gets the magic call one night saying that a heart is available, his prayers are answered. For Mika, her heartbreak is another’s gain, her worst nightmare will help someone else.
A twist of fate brings Mika into Jude and Kelty’s lives, neither have a clue just what they will mean to each. One struggling to start a new life, to find a new meaning to life; while the others learn to enjoy the new found lease on life that they have gained. This story was such a roller coaster, and had me sobbing from pretty much the beginning, just when I would get a handle on it, something else would pop up and there I would go needing the tissues again. I love that Freya Barker can pull these emotions out me. That as an author she has you feeling this hurt with the characters, has you going through the motions with them is a testament to how amazing an author she is. I give this 5 stars.
This is such a beautiful sad story at times and it captured my heart. Absolutely loved this story and even more loved the characters. Jude and Mika are perfect for each other and sweet little Kelty is adorable. They had to go through so much to get to their happy place and am so happy they did. I would get this more than five stars if I could. Wonderful!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is devastating heartbreak and grief when a young boy, Mika’s son Jamie, is taken off life support and she donates his organs. A young girl, Kelty receives his heart as a transplant. Jude runs into Mika after she disconnects her son and Kelty is in surgery. Karma strikes when she goes to the cape in the same place as Jude’s restaurant. She suspects that Kelty got Jamie’s heart, but Jude has no idea and she needs to tell him. You are happy that they are getting closer but you fear what will happen when the secrets come out. It’s a very poignant story and you might need a few tissues. Very well written and good read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When Hope Ends follows Mika, Jude & his daughter Kelty. Mika’s life was shattered when her son was in a horrific accident and she had to make the decision to turn off his life support. Before that though she made the heart wrenching decision to donate his organs so that some good could come out of his death.
Mika, tormented by the press, tries to find herself again by renting a cottage away from the city. It just happens to be owned by Jude. His daughter, Kelty, received her son’s heart. The story follows their emotional journey.
It is a beautifully emotional book, following the different perspectives. Thoroughly recommended.
Mika faced one of the most devastating events a parent can face with the traumatic injury and later death of her young son.
Faced with an angry and vindictive ex husband, and her own determination , she makes hard choices, some of which put her career in jeopardy due to a smear campaign by her ex.
A series of events leads her to unexpected challenges and a life reimagined in ways she could never have predicted.
Intense emotional adventure that also highlights the importance of sacrifices for the benefits of strangers in the face of tragedy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.