I loved this book. It is a quick easy read. Very entertaining and clean. Hannah works for Jacob. She has lost her husband and her son s disabled from the same accident. Can a love grow between Hannah and Jacob? Of course it .can.

Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Hannah & Matthew's lives are fraught with hardships for a number of reasons. All of it stemming from one incident. Who is Jacob? Why does he show up at Hannah's parent's home? What do we learn about Jacob? What has happened in his life? What happens with Matthew when he meets Jacob? I felt my heart break a bit at 31% into the read. Tissues were needed for me off and on after that to the end. This was my first book by this author and now I will be looking forward to reading more. This definitely won't be the last of her books I read.

A Widow's Hope was a very sweet story about learning how to start living again after tragedy. Both Hannah and Jacob have been scarred by life--his, from a fire, are mostly visible; hers, from an accident that killed her husband and permanently disabled her young son, are not. Witnessing the two of them learn to open up to others and grow closer to each other was very rewarding--I had tears in my eyes toward the end, not once but twice!

Though there were times that I wanted to shake Hannah for her extreme helicopter parenting, she does manage to both loosen up eventually *and* demonstrate that yes, she has reason to be a bit overprotective of his health by the end, so it was hard to stay upset with her. Jacob needed to let go of the guilt that he felt over his parents' deaths, which he eventually manages, thank goodness.

The biggest obstacle to their relationship was Hannah and Jacob's own beliefs about their future prospects. Neither one is initially able to believe that another person could possibly be satisfied with what they have to offer--her because of her widowhood and disabled son, him because of his scars and guilt. Watching them both realize that they have so much more to offer than they originally thought is very rewarding

This was my first book from this author, but it definitely won't be my last!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

An endearing story. The aspects of faith and culture were for the most part well handled and it was interesting to see romance in a culture with different social mores. However, I would have liked a little better understanding of what was and was not acceptable in terms of using modern technology as I am not familiar with the adaptations in the Amish culture. Also, the use of Pennsylvania Dutch words without any explanation of their meaning left me lost a times as the meaning of certain words was not always intuitive.

A Widow’s Hope touched my heart in more ways than one!! It was a story that hit close to home! My 9 year old son was born with Spina Bifida and is a full time wheelchair user. So, I related to Hannah very much! This was a beautiful story filled with heartache, with hope, and with trials. And, also faith and trust in the Lord! I also loved how Hannah said, we all have scars, some just aren’t seen outwardly! That’s so very true. I just loved this story!!!

This was a decent Amish read with some minor inconsistencies. This was different from a lot of other Amish books I have read. More modern in their ways. Hannah was struggling with Matthews condition, every mother has a hard time letting her baby grow up, but for Hannah it was harder. Matthew has special needs, but he also needs to grow on his own and be a little boy! Jacob has his own problems but when he comes back into Hannah's life to build a playhouse everything changes. Can they help heal each other?

The author has presented us with two hurting individuals, one has lost her husband and her only child was injured in the accident, the other blames himself for not being able to save his parents, even though he has scars that show he tried.
I found it amusing that these two know each other from their childhood and a disastrous date, but neither is really ready to move on with all that has happened to them.
Come and watch, or read how these two fumble around each other, and when the chips are down will they be able to come together, or will it tear them apart?
I did enjoy this read by this author.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

Hannah King's life changed in a blink when her husband was killed in a farming accident, and her three-year-old son was injured in the same accident. Left to care for a paraplegic toddler, she moves back home to Goshen, where she has a home, her family, and the weight of the world on her slender shoulders. She needs to find a job, but not just any job will do. It must be flexible enough to accommodate her son's therapy sessions. Even though her father says that she and her son are not a burden, she knows that's not true. When she learns he's in danger of losing the farm, she is frantic to find a way to help.

Jacob Schrock is a craftsman. He can make almost anything from wood, but the thing that brings him joy are the playhouses he builds for special needs kids. When he is commissioned to build a playhouse for Hannah's son, he is happy to reconnect. Could she be the one who might see past his scars to the tender heart he possesses?

When Hannah learns that Jacob has a job to offer - one that she could actually be good at - she demands that he hire her. As she cleans up his office, and brings order to the chaos, can they each get past their own personal tragedies, to see the second chance they're being given?

I know Vannetta Chapman more for her full-length novels than for her Love Inspired stories, but this one was beautifully done. She perfectly shows her readers into the heart of overprotective Hannah who has already lost so much. She also shows Jacob's heart, and everything he has endured.

Readers who enjoy the Amish fiction genre, will love this story. The romance was sweet, and the characters were nicely fleshed out. By the time I finished, I felt like they were friends.

An inspirational and encouraging story about accepting ourselves and the scars life has given us, some apparent some not, and finding the courage to the take the risk to live fully again after life has knocked us down.
There is something sweetly comforting and endearing about these Amish stories, that simple lifestyle, the caring for your neighbor, and helping to carry each other's burdens and keeping each other accountable. In A Widow's Hope, the characters are more integrated into the modern world than in some other Amish stories I have read, but the main core values, morals, and principals are firmly in place.
While Hannah is struggling with the economic burden of taking care of her son after the accident that killed her husband, the family and community hold her close and helps her find her place in life again. I loved Hannah's spunk, her spirited attitude, and how no one tries to dial her down. She knows her strengths and she knows her struggles and is willing to challenge her boundaries to survive and protect her son.
For six years, Jacob has hidden behind the scars a fire that killed his parents left on his face. He is a talented carpenter with a kind and giving heart. He loves his family but carries the burden of guilt for not being able to rescue his parents. He is a humble and loyal man, so sweet and caring, loving towards the kids of the kin.
I loved the spark between Hannah and Jacob from the first moment they are reunited. The banter between them had me chuckling, the way they challenged each other to be the true and better version of themselves was admirable.
Within the adorable and lovely story, there are endearing life lessons embedded and learned. No one survives life without scars, visible or invisible to the human eye, without some sort of pain and suffering shaping us to be the people we are. But with time, hope, and faith, and with the support of our peers, we can overcome, we can learn to accept, and grow to be a honed version of our true selves.
An absorbing and heartening tale, filled with hope, kindness, goodness, and compassion.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

What a beautiful story about tragedy, hope and love. I loved the theme in the book about scars. Some people have scars that are visible. People tend to stare at the scars and judge a person. Other scars are deep and emotional. You can't see them but they are there.

Hannah is a good character and I liked how she dedicated her life to her four year old son in a wheelchair. She has had a hard time with
a loss and now must come to terms with her son's disabilities. It must be so hard to see your child go from a vibrant person, to one who needs help with simple everyday things. My heart went out to Hannah. Some may think she is overprotective, but I could understand how she wanted to make sure he was happy and enjoyed his life.

Jacob is a welcome gift from God. At least that is how I saw him. He was humble but carried a great burden that holds him back from being happy. His business is in need of some help and Hannah is perfect for the job. Her accounting ability may help get Jacob out of trouble with the IRS. I did laugh as they started spending time together because I wasn't sure who was the most stubborn.

The best part of the story for me was how a young boy named Mathew never saw himself as handicapped and never allowed Jacob's scars to stop him from being his friend. Their bond was genuine and I loved how the author used that relationship to remind us that if we look past scars and disabilities, we see what God sees in people. Emotional scars may be hidden, but God will bring those out in order to heal. Matthew is a great character who taught this reader what it means to not judge, not be afraid and to never give up.

I received a copy of this book from the author The review is my own opinion.

Hannah King comes back to live with her parents after her husband was killed in a tragic accident that also left her 4 year-old son, Matthew, in a wheelchair.



Jacob Schrock is a carpenter with a passion for building playhouses for children with special needs. He builds a house for Matthew, who is excited and wants to help, to which Hannah agrees.



I like how Hannah wants her son to do as many things as he can for himself and not feel limited by his chair. She also wants to help her parents keep the farm, which is at risk due to them helping with Matthews bills. She takes initiative and asks for a job helping Jacob with his accounting.



Jacob is great with Matthew, and enjoys Hannah's company. He makes an effort to talk to Hannah everyday, and finds himself looking forward to seeing her. He has his literal scars, and doesn't think that he has a chance for a relationship.



I like the interaction between Hannah and Jacob, I loved Jacob's heart for disabled children and how he helps connect Matthew with other disabled children Amish and English alike. Hannah is a great mother, she struggles with being over protective, but she wants to empower her son. Great dialog, and believable characters. Enjoyable read!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

A very sweet story that is an encouragement for families that have a family member with a disability. I like the way the author allowed readers to see the different struggles that Hannah and Jacob had. The author did a great job showing that disabilities affect everyone around, some positive and others negatively. Highly recommended!

I love Chapman’s books, and I love Love Inspired books, so I was excited for this book, which combines them book … and it didn’t disappoint!

After the loss of her husband, Hannah moved in with her parents to raise her young son Matthew, who has a spinal injury from the same accident that took her husband’s life. Jacob’s heart is in making playhouses for children with special needs, though he works as a carpenter, in general. He is battling scars, inside and out, since the loss of his parents in a house fire a few years ago. He is also trying to get things organized for an IRS audit, and he desperately needs help. Hanna wants a job so she can help with her family’s growing bills, and she goes to work for Jacob. Can God use this opportunity to help them both heal?

This is such a wonderful story, and some parts brought tears to my eyes. You can’t help but love the characters, especially Matthew, and there are so many heartfelt scenes. Hannah and Jacob are both dealing with scars and blame themselves for things beyond their control—something that will likely resonate with many readers. Themes of loss, love, trust, family, and redemption are key. As a former special education teacher, I’m drawn to stories with characters with disabilities, and Chapman did a great job crafting Matthew’s character, as well as depicting the struggles associated with parenting a child with a disability. Overall, this is a sweet, encouraging, and inspiring story that depicts how God can use anything, even our lowest moments, for His greater purpose. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

A Widow's Hope Is another great Faith based story by Vennetta Chapman. Like other books by her she leaves a piece of herself in her writings and it shows in the way the Characters in the story line flows and gets you connected with them as soon as you start reading. This is a story of healing, loss, gain, love and faith. The latter being the key. This is one story I could not miss out on.

A Widow's Hope is an ideal Amish Romance read. Vanetta Chapman captivated me with Hannah's story. Well written and a delightful read!

This was a very good Amish read that didn't have too much preaching in it but did have a lot of inner-dialoguing within the two main characters.

It took so long for Hannah King to get off of her high-horse and learn to accept help that at times I wanted to hit her with her prayer cap.

We do get our typical HEA and a few laughs as well a few tears.

*ARC supplied by publisher