I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by Harlequin Enterprises, Limited on July 17, 2018
Source: The Publisher
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 224
His scars are visible. Hers are hidden...
After tragedy claimed her husband's life and her son's ability to walk, Hannah King doesn't want a new man. She has her family, a home and mounting debts. Scarred Amish bachelor Jacob Schrock offers Hannah the job she desperately needs. But while Hannah helps Jacob resolve his accounting issues, can she and her little boy also heal his wounded heart?
A Widow’s Hope is the first book in the Indiana Brides series by bestselling author, Vannetta Chapman. It’s been awhile since I last sat down to review a book. Life got crazy and though I finished this book over a month ago—the story is still fresh in my mind. These are characters that I have carried with me. I adored them. I loved this whole story.
I feel that characters with disabilities often fall into a box of expected bitterness and despair. This isn’t always the case. Some of the strongest, most determined people I know are children who are differently-abled. I hate saying “disability” because it is so limiting but that is neither here nor there and this review isn’t the place to debate the term.
Anyway, this book is very well written. I have to admit, I was worried by the length. Often a short story falls flat, it feels rushed and the ending leaves me unsatisfied. That didn’t happen with this book. Vannetta Chapman proves time and time again that she can write a solid story even in a novella or short story. A story so solid that the characters and the lessons they learned and the fuzzy feelings that you had while reading will stick with you for some time.
This book was about so much more than a little boy in a wheelchair. It was the story of love, hope and forgiveness. It was about a man, scarred—not only physically but emotionally. It was about a woman who has suffered the loss of love and the loss of her child’s health.
This book was about letting go of our fears and learning to love each other, trust in God and allowing ourselves to heal. God doesn’t expect us to carry a load of guilt and shame. We just need to accept His will and His forgiveness—letting it seep into our hearts and soothe all of our cares and burdens.
If it isn’t evident at this point in the review—I loved this book and it spoke to me on a deep, emotional level. It came for me at a time when I felt broken inside—things that I had no control over and that were not my fault were bogging me down. I needed to turn my own scars over to God and just accept them. They’re a part of who I am but I don’t have to let them make me bitter, nor do I need to walk around in a constant cloud of guilt.
I really can’t wait to see where the rest of this series takes us. If the following installments are half as good as this one, they’ll all be a hit.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Christian or Secular: Christian
ASEL Rating: no profanity, violence, bedroom scenes, or other content that could otherwise be considered disturbing.
Themes: Romance, Parenting, Redemption, Special Needs
Suggested Age: 13+
About Vannetta Chapman
Vannetta Chapman holds a BA and MA degree in English and has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. She published a novel with Abingdon Press called A Simple Amish Christmasin October of 2010. Her first Quilt Shop Murder Mystery, Falling to Pieces (Zondervan) was released in September of 2011 and received the 2012 Carol Award for best mystery. She currently lives in the Texas hill country.
I love stories by Vannetta Chapman. Always good and always a special read.
She’s such a great author!