“Hope” by Angie Thompson, Aurora Currier, Brooklyn Kramer, Brooklyn O’Brennan, Chelsea Burden, Clarissa Choo, Courtenay Burden, Deigan Marie, Erika Mathews, Jacie T., Jae Fisher, Jovey L., Karlissa R. Mattson, Katja H. Labonté, Kearra R. Mattson, Martha Abilene, M.L. Milligan, Olivia Godfrey, P.D. Atkerson, Rebekah A. Morris, Savannah Dawn Marie, & Tiffany Michele

Synopsis

“Hope,” I thought. “What a small word for such a big thing.”
The broken world groans. Oh, for a beacon of light! Where is something to live for—to kindle the spark of excitement, to calm the heart, to impart love, joy, and peace—and perhaps to shine the light of God’s glory on earth as in heaven?
Hope.
In these twenty-two sweet stories and poems, experience the dawning of a sure, unfailing hope. Join a plethora of relatable characters young and old in their journey through the heights and depths of suffering—a cancer diagnosis, a shocking accident, the loss of a dear family member. Wrestle with the agony of a missing loved one, an unavoidable mortgage, or a tough move. Experience the ache of rejection and loneliness, misunderstanding and oppression, and illnesses both physical and mental. Yet in the midst of each heartache winds a strong, undying cord of hope—that light in the darkness, that beacon, that anchor of the soul. As you smile, cry, and sigh through each heartfelt piece, perhaps you too will grasp ahold of your own hope again.
For our God is our glorious Hope.

My Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎

5+ stars (6/10 hearts). Oh my heart. This book is just gorgeous and so, so filled with hope!! It was such a wonderful, encouraging read, full of wonderful characters + families. I teared up over several of these stories! It’s just such a peaceful and hopeful and happy collection… As someone who struggles constantly with anxiety and depression, I found this book full of little nuggets of hope. It’s definitely a book I’ll be pulling out sometime when I feel blue. 

A Personification of Hope by Jae Fisher
4 stars. A lovely poem, full of imagery and delicacy… I enjoyed it.

Her smile is always on her face,
Even in the darkest of days…

Missing, Not Dead by Karlissa R. Mattson
4 stars. Aw, this story is so sweet and funny! I loved the children; they were all so real. The story made me chuckle. 😉

The Reeds firmly held on, hoping and praying faithfully. As Jim’s family, they would never stop.

Hope’s Treasure by Kearra R. Mattson
3 stars. A cute little story, with some delightful characters. I particularly liked Cody. 😉

“She’s my dream, Mom, my answer to prayer. God let my hope come true.”

A Man & a Brother by Angie Thompson
5 stars. Ahh, another lovely addition to the Quiet Valor books! This one comes right after A Threat & a Promise and it was delightful. Inger was a wonderful woman; and I liked Althur; and I enjoyed seeing Eben & Rolfe! 😉 😉 There was a lovely message too ❤

“Althur’s failing was in letting go of hope. But how much better are we?”

Choices by P.D. Atkerson
4 stars. We also know I’m a fan of the AKA Simon Lee/Deadlock series. This is Pastor Jonathan’s perspective of an important happening set after Exploit … 😉 I enjoyed seeing Gregory from another POV!

After everything the boy had been through, if their moving there brought hope into his life, Jonathan would gladly do it again.

Sing a Song Again by Katja H. Labonté
I won’t rate this one because it’s mine, but I love it. This story is a very personal one with a good deal of my own experiences and feelings in it. It still makes me cry… I hope it can be a blessing and an encouragement to someone!

“And that, my dear, is hope—the belief that good will come no matter what.”

What Matters Most by Aurora Currier
3 stars. This is a very short story but sweet and hopeful ❤ 

All the years of anger and strife between them, all the fights … everything was gone, washed away by tears of forgiveness.

Keeping Up Hope by Rebekah A. Morris
4.5 stars. This is an abridged version of Keeping Up Hope. It’s very sweet and old-fashioned and encouraging, just delightful! Jolie & Ellianna are adorable and Stephen is such a wonderful big brother 😉 And their town!! So lovely!

“Hope makes not ashamed. I won’t give up hope yet. God hasn’t forsaken us and He won’t forsake us now! Keep your hope up, Mama.”

On the Wings of Hope by Deigan Marie
4 stars. Such a sweet little story, very real and encouraging! I love how it included Emily Dickinson’s “Hope” poem ❤ and how it included writing! 

“Keep on hoping, Jasmine. Even when the days seem dark. Don’t ever lose heart.”

Wordless Hope by Martha Abilene
5 stars. Ohhh, I loved this story! I downright cried over it. It was so encouraging and beautiful and full of HOPE… ahhh, so good, so GOOD. I identified with Nora… and her sister was amazing ❤

All they needed to do was be still and know that whatever happened, no matter how tragic it seemed, God would work it all out for their good. 

Have Hope by Jovey L.
4 stars. A lovely little story about friendship & hope & writing. ❤ Olivia + Jessie’s friendship was so sweet, and I loved watching them together! 

I learned to always have hope, because with God, nothing is impossible. 

Sea of an Unknown Future by Savannah Dawn Marie
5 stars. What a beautiful poem… one I really identified with and cried over 😉 I think a lot of young adults would appreciate this one…

You know the plans You have for me 
(I know right now I don’t need to know.), 
Plans for my welfare and not for calamity 
To give me a future and a hope.

His Embrace by Clarissa Choo
4.5 stars. Another lovely poem, encouraging poem… ❤ No other words really… 

An embrace 
in an eternal place 
free of grief and pain.
Hope.

Dare to Hope by M.L. Milligan
3 stars. A fun fantasy story with a good message, and quite well done for such a tiny format! 

It was times like this one when he dared to dream of the impossible…. It was when his heart dared to hope.

Her Name was Hope by Jacie T.
3 stars. A very short story, but sweet, and with a sweet message. 😉 

“I have hope in Jesus, and with that hope I know I will see [him] again and I don’t have to wish him back…”

Looking Up by Olivia Godfrey
4.5 stars. I loved the message of this story… it was so good. Dane & Penny were great characters and I was inspired by the grit and resolution they displayed in such a hard time!

“Dane, it’s not a matter of knowing when things get better, just trusting that they will…. That’s what hope is. When life looks bad, that’s what we lean on.”

Whose Hope He Is by Erika Mathews
5 stars. It’s no secret I love the Truth From Taerna books, and this one, set five years after Promise’s Prayer, isn’t an exception. I loved it so, so much… It was just so full of encouraging truth and hope!! 

And since each of them had rooted their souls in Adon Olam as their hope, they found that in every circumstance of life, He was enough.

The Meaning of Resurrection by Chelsea Burden
5 stars. I cried over this one shamelessly. THE POEM. Oh, the poem. That is one of my favourites now. It is so good, so beautiful, so well done, so full of truth… The message of this story is wonderful.

And with them I lift my witness,
Breathing hope to all who crave: 
“There can be no resurrection
Where there never was a grave!”

A Hope to Trust by Courtenay Burden
5 stars. Courtenay Burden is the only modern author I know whose books feel exactly like they were written two hundred years ago—and I don’t say that lightly. I loved the voice of this story, the characters, the message… ❤

“Trust Me. Trust Me enough to hope, even when all the world is dark besides. Trust Me, like Abraham, ‘who against hope believe in hope.’”

Hope Assured by Brooklyn O’Brennan
3.5 stars. This was a very realistic story, portraying very well the depths of despair one can fall in… and how important Hope is… and how to find it again. ❤

God is my Hope. He is the Hope that will keep me going. Hope that I’ll one day wake in His presence and be gone from this world of pain.

Look to the Wildflowers by Tiffany Michele
4.5 stars. Such a funny, sarcastic, light-hearted, yet deep story with excellent characters and a great message… 

“So, how did she get over the block?”
“Simple enough. She went on a hope hunt.”

Redeemed by Brooklyn Kramer
5 stars. This story reminded me of “Avalon” and “The Sword, the Ring, & the Parchment,” two of my favourite allegories. It was beautiful, so beautiful! Reminded me again how full of HOPE salvation is…

She remembered the One who called her beloved and gave her a life worth living. She fought for the One who set her free of the evil that once consumed her…

*I received a free copy of this book and was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1592419616
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KF5WTNG/
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KM26ZYP/
Kobo: https://kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hope-227
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940161137888
PubShare: https://pubshare.com/books/hope
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59472740-hope