Naomi's Hope

GIVEAWAY

DREXLER, JAN
NAOMI'S HOPE

When the future is threatened by the past, can she trust herself to make the right choice?

Despite growing pains in her 1846 Amish community in Indiana, Naomi Schrock has settled into a comfortable life in her parents' home with her adopted son, Davey. Surrounded by family and friends, she tries not to think about the fact that she's not at the top of any man's list of potential wives. Yet when Cap Stoltzfus moves into the area and befriends Davey, Naomi finds herself caught between the plans she has made for her future and the tantalizing though that Cap might be part of a life she never dared to hope for.

When a couple shows up claiming to be Davey's true family, Naomi and Cap must unite to make the decision that will determine the boy's future -- as well as their own.

My Review:

The third and final book in the Journey to Pleasant Prairie series and it's a bittersweet read because I'm not ready to let this Amish settlement go. No worries if you haven't read Hannah's Choice and Mattie's Pledge because Naomi's Hope makes a wunderbar gut standalone read. :-) But I also enjoyed catching up with some familiar faces -- sharing their joys and their sorrows in this final installment.

The mix of historical and Amish genres is a huge draw and Drexler does it so well. She brings the pioneering spirit to life through an array of appealing (and not so appealing!) characters. In fact there is one snide, conniving reprobate that put me in conniptions time and time again. Sometimes I had to stop reading because I couldn't see past the steam coming out of my ears. I fumed and railed and gnashed my teeth as I contemplated gruesome outcomes for this character! He's not one I will easily forget.

But I'll remember Naomi too -- though for very different reasons! She's a courageous young woman who takes in an orphaned boy and raises him as her own even though she's not married. Her family has endured a lot of hardships over the years and though she doesn't waver from the faith, her personal convictions are sorely tested and she's often at odds with God.  "If she could, she'd tell God a thing or two about how he controlled his world." (p. 228) Loved her defiant questioning because it leads to some real soul searching and, ultimately, answers. But she struggles to get there and I could totally relate to that.

And then there's Cap -- a lonely stranger fighting his own battles. He's drawn to the Schrock family -- especially young Davey and his intriguing mamm. There's great dynamics between Cap and Naomi. A bit adversarial at times, often awkward but also incredibly sweet. Cap just really needs to work on his communication skills. But then Naomi is quick to take offense when it comes to criticism of her parenting. There's some lovely fireworks within the pages of this book which makes the romance all the more fun.

Add in a mischievous little boy with an adventurous spirit who stirs up trouble even when he's trying to be good and you get the kind of read it's easy to lose yourself in. A triumphant conclusion to an amazing series.

My thanks to the author and Revell Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Naomi's Hope, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you include your email address in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 11 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.