Summer’s out at Hope Hall by Pam Rhodes
Paperback published by Lion Fiction 23rd April 2021
Hope Hall thrums with activity under the summer sun. Sea cadets march in the yard and happy chatter issues from English as a Foreign Language classes while the weekly Food Bank reaches out to those in need.
Kath is determined to honour the origins of Hope Hall, which was founded in memory of those lost during the two world wars. It’s all hands on deck as the centenary celebrations continue, but Kath’s effort set her on a collision course with Celia Ainsworth , a descendant of the family that donated the land.
Added to this, a mysterious homeless man proves tricky for Sheelagh to identify, and a handsome stranger looks set to lead Kath a merry dance.
Summer’s Out at Hope Hall is fun and deeply moving story that celebrates the power of hope.
MY REVIEW
It’s been quite a while since I have managed to busy myself into a trilogy, that’s stole my time away. Pam Rhodes just does just that with her beautiful tale she spins through chapter after chapter. All the characters have now become like real in my home after reading her trilogy and getting to know the characters more each time a new trilogy comes along. Pam Rhodes has now become one of my favourite authors, I just simply can’t get enough of the beauty of the trilogy. Roll on September when the next trilogy is published. Pam Rhodes certainly is a huge credit to Lion Press.
I’m so excited that Pam Rhodes has published her second novel Summer’s out at Hope Hall, in this delightful relaxing trilogy. I enjoyed so much Pam Rhodes first book, Springtime at Hope Hall, that I was bursting to read the second book. I now can’t wait to read the third book in the trilogy Christmas at Hope Hall, that is coming out in September 2022.
Summer’s out at Hope Hall was commissioned before Covid-19. So here’s the good news fortunately character Kath Sutton’s community and its environs have been fortunate enough to escape any traces of the virus. You won’t find any masks, vaccines or hand sanitizer. This sounded good to me as we all want to escape to a dream world of a well written trilogy and further more it’s bliss to take us all back to where we were before this dreadful pandemic ever began.
In this delightful trilogy Kath Sutton and the strong strength of characters all are involved in different ways of helping the community hall she runs. It clearly puts a stamp on how community’s within this story come together in need of help.
Some of the story made happy for certain characters or pleased for them while other scenes made me cry.
The character I most engaged with is 47 year old Maggie, who finial gets her Decree Absolute from her husband, now she is a free woman, and about to move in her new home.
Hope Hall are having a Centenary Celebration Day, in memory of two world wars where Kath Sutton is chairman, administrator of Hope Hall. The Reverend James Bernard is the vicar of St Mark’s, leading the Centenary church.
Centenary Day inside St Mark’s Church brought tears to my eyes where during the First World War many young men lost their lives. Tears were in my eyes as letters were read out in the church, about a son that was in the army in 1916, with letters addressed to his sweetheart who he married. I won’t say what was in the letters as I don’t want to spoil it for you lovely readers. What I can tell you it all though near the ending made tears in my eyes there is a perfect ending, until the next book Christmas at Hope Hall, where we can happily meet all the characters again. I do wonder what Pam Rhodes has in store next time. I hope you all enjoy Summer’s out at Hope Hall as much as what I did.
ABOUT PAM RHODES
Pam Rhodes has presented the BBC’s Songs of Praise for many years. She has written several popular novels, and Summer’s out at Hope Hall is the second book in her delightful trilogy.
You can find Pam Rhodes on Twitter @PamRhodesTV
Bookread2day 