Hope against Hope is a richly-plotted historical romance set between 1838 and 1848. Sisters Carrie and May Hope lose both home and livelihood when their Leeds pub is sold out from under them to make way for the coming of the railway. They head for Harrogate to find work and lodging in the spa town's burgeoning hotel trade. But they fall prey to fraudsters and predators but are also driven apart by misunderstanding, pride and a mutual sense of betrayal and resentment.

Alex Sinclair, a warm-spirited Scot, is a railway engineer. His childhood friend, Charles Hammond despises himself and his life. He is a physician, a profession for which he lacks both aptitude and enthusiasm. The futures of both men are bound up with those of the two sisters.

As time passes, the sisters overcome their adversities through hard-work and determination. But underneath, both grieve for the sister they have lost. Feeling spurned by Carrie whom he loves, Alex pours himself obsessively into new railway projects. Meanwhile, having been almost destroyed through gambling, drunkenness and self-loathing, Charles starts on the long and difficult road to redemption and fulfilment.

Carrie and May have now been estranged for several years. There seems little hope of reconciliation or of either of them or finding love and lasting happiness. But this is 1848, the 'Year of Revolutions'. The streets of Paris erupt once more in bloody insurrection...while Alex Sinclair is commissioned to bring the railway to Harrogate.

"Living in Harrogate for nearly 30 years, I was surrounded every day by its rich Victorian heritage which I felt would make a great background to a novel," Sally explains. " I have always been drawn to steam railways and the social history of the early Victorian period, which bears little resemblance to what we now think of as 'Victorian.' The so-called 'railway mania' of the 1840s where fortunes were made and lost resembles the dot-com boom of today and must have been as exiting and disturbing to those who lived through it as modern technological developments are today and I wanted to reflect that. I also wanted to write a Dickensian-style novel containing a host of colourful characters and an integrated plot--not to mention a big dollop of warmth and humour. It was huge fun to write and I 'hope against hope' it's a fun read."

Described as a 'rich slice of Yorkshire Victoriana', audio rights have been sold and there is a Turkish edition in preparation.

Link to Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905802196/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i1?pf_r...

Amazon US:  http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Against-Sally-Zigmond/dp/1905802196/ref=sr_1_...