There’s nothing I like more than a bit of a family drama with a love interest thrown in for good measure. Pocketful of Dreams is written by Jean Fullerton and was published through Corvus Books in August this year.  The book ticks all the boxes for me and adds a good helping of spy drama and intrigue too.

We meet the East End Brogan family as the country finds itself at war. Mattie Brogan longs to better herself whilst her mother would like nothing more than for her to settle down, get married and have a family. The Brogan family are regular church goers at the Catholic Church led by Father Mahon and everyone is preparing for the forthcoming marriage between younger sister Cathy and her beau Stan.

Mattie loves her family, her Dad is the local rag and bone man, her Nan, Queenie, runs an on the street bookies. But Mattie wants more, she’s got a Pocketful of Dreams and is studying to get her exams after work.

The arrival of young Father McCree brightens up the church services and Mattie is instantly attracted to the young priest. But is he what he seems?  It certainly appears that Stan isn’t quite the nice young man who the Brogan family believed him to be.

As war progresses we read about the rise of Oswald Mosley and the far right groups and how in certain areas there is a real undercurrent of racism which will impact on Mattie and her family. Her sister’s marriage is full of secrets and Mattie becomes involved with a particularly unpleasant character.

There are lots of twists and turns through a Pocketful of Dreams and you do find yourself really getting behind Mattie, hoping she’ll see through Christopher and save herself from danger.  Add in the romance that seems impossible to follow through between her and Father Daniel McCree and this becomes quite a page turned.  It’s an enjoyable read and I can recommend it, I won’t ruin the ending for you.

I believe that a Pocketful of Dreams is the first in this particular family saga and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.  I’ve included my Amazon Affiliate link below for your reference.

disclosure:  we were sent the item mentioned in exchange for an honest review