This was such a tragic but yet hopeful story. The author does such a great job of making the reader draw to the characters smoothly. The reader gets hooked and has a hard time putting down the book.

A Widow's Hope is a poignant and touching saga based on past times but the author brings the story alive with her words. The character of Eppie suffered much more than I could cope with but she is a strong and determined woman who sacrifices and strives through everything. The story is brimming with details and hope. It gets rather gritty and the grief sometimes breaks you. I think the writing style is just beautiful.

Lovely easy story to read with well written characters. Really enjoyed it and will look for other books from the same author.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Publisher Boldwood Books for the chance of the early read

A Widow’s Hope by Evelyn Hood is a tender, heartfelt story set in a Scottish fishing village in the mid-1800s. Life by the sea may look picturesque, but it’s often harsh and unforgiving. Eppie, a young widow after her husband is lost to a violent storm, embodies quiet resilience—hardworking, compassionate, and unafraid to speak her mind. Sending her daughter to live with family so she can earn a living, Eppie eventually finds work as a housekeeper for a wealthy yet unhappy family.

The novel beautifully captures the contrasts of village life: beauty and danger, joy and grief, poverty and privilege. Hood’s vivid descriptions bring the salt air, bustling harbor, and lilting Scottish dialect to life. Her characters are richly drawn—layered, flawed, and deeply human. Through challenges and unexpected turns, the story affirms that strength, integrity, and kindness remain a person’s greatest treasures.

One of my favorite reads this year—poignant, uplifting, and unforgettable. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood book for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

This book was a delight to read. It follows the life of Eppie Watt who has suffered great loss and is trying desperately to support herself and her beloved daughter Charlotte. Eppie is torn when she is offered employment that means leaving Charlotte behind with her parents. The book is based in Portsoy amongst the fishing community where Eppie started her married life with Murdo, until the sea took him from her, after which she was fortunate to be offered a position up at the big house with Alexander Geddes, local businessman, where will this lead?

I loved that the story just flowed. My favourite character was Eppie who was kind and caring, least favourite was Mrs Geddes who had a nasty streak.
It was very familiar as I live in Moray and recognised several places. Now I have another by this author based in the city I was brought up in.