Shadows of Hope by Georgiana Daniels

 

A story of hope in the aftermath of inconceivable betrayal and broken dreams

 What if. . .
. . .you struggled with infertility but unknowingly befriended your husband’s pregnant mistress?

What if. . .
. . .the woman you were seeing behind your wife’s back gets pregnant, threatening your job and marriage?

What if. . .
. . .your boyfriend never told you he was married and you discover you’re pregnant?

Crisis pregnancy worker Marissa Moreau suspects her husband is cheating, but little does she know how close to home her husband’s infidelity hits. College student Kaitlyn Farrows is floundering after a relationship with her professor leaves her pregnant. Soon she lands a job and a support system at the local pregnancy resource center and things seem to be turning around. But when Marissa and Kaitlyn become friends, neither one knows they share a connection—Colin, Marissa’s husband and Kaitlyn’s former professor. When their private lives collide, the two women must face the ultimate test of their faith and choose how to move forward as they live in the shadows of hope.

This story had me clinging to my tablet—a real page turner. The emotion packed into each character oozed right off the page. Amid such turmoil, there remains hope throughout. The author gives food for thought, allowing us to see room for forgiveness in this heartbreaking dilemma. The MC, Marissa, holds tightly to her faith as she looks for answers to how—or if—her marriage can be saved.

Shadows of Hope is ideal for a book club. as there are questions following the story to guide your discussion.

The story is told from the POV of each of the three main characters: the infertile wife, the cheating husband, and the pregnant girlfriend. This book is well edited. The pace is wonderful. I will gladly read more from this author.

I thought about giving it four stars because I would have liked a few more twists and turns, and I felt the tiniest bit unsatisfied with the ending. But I went with five since I really loved the story so much I couldn’t put it down!

Review of Unplanned (A Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense Novel Book 1) by Alana Terry

Selection from Amazon Synopsis:

When Kennedy Stern’s childhood pastor

asks her to volunteer at his new 

pregnancy center, she carves time out

of her rigorous college schedule 

to promote the cause of the unborn.

  After receiving a disturbing call 

from someone far too young to 

carry a child, Kennedy can no 

longer blindly hide behind the 

pro-life platitudes she grew up 

believing. She resolves to locate 

the unknown girl but winds up 

entrenched in a mystery that 

grows more convoluted 

as it unfolds.

While browsing for some Christian suspense, this synopsis grabbed my attention—the main character questioning strongly-held beliefs on the pro-life issue. I enjoy a good book that challenges me to think. I find that every time I am made to question elements of my faith, it only serves to strengthen them, and this book was no exception.

Strong pro-life supporters need not fear the suggestion that those beliefs will be presented as invalid.

This book should only be read by adults and mature teens. The subject matter is not for young readers, or for readers that dislike gory details. This book does NOT detail abortion procedures, but does have a graphic description of a bloody scene in one part of the book. 

Kennedy is thrown into a situation that makes her question her stance on abortion—a stance that seemed black-and-white before she received a crisis call from a pregnant thirteen-year-old. Having been raised in a culture that highly values the opportunity to worship God, Kennedy is also blind-sided by the nonchalant way faith is sometimes lived out in the United States.

There is not much development in the secondary characters.  Although the plot was questionable at times, and the manuscript could’ve used a closer look by an editor, it was still a good thought-provoking read.