Cover Image: The Hope

The Hope

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This pair have been on quite a journey and are just at the midpoint of their lives. The heartbreak and grief they have experienced in the past prevent them from easily allowing a deeper relationship to form. Ruth especially is antagonistic towards Owen in the beginning of the book, but over time and through the shared responsibility of the farm and Grace, she learns to let go of past hurts and see Owen for his good attributes. Owen's choice to spend his life pursuing his missing sister is a noble one, but also leaves him without family and not much time with friends. It was gratifying to see his devotion to Grace and his determination to prove to Ruth that he can be depended on. There is some mystery and suspense as the answers to the question of who Grace is and where she came from slowly come to light. I enjoyed the detailed information about life on the farm, raising and shearing sheep, and Amish customs.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

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In this second story in the Amish of Cedar Grove series by Patricia Davids, the female protagonist is another Amish widow. When Ruth Mast runs into someone from her past, her husband's cousin Owen Mast, this bring her no joy at all. However, Owen came back to Cedar Grove with purpose. He wants to set matters right with Ruth and her family. Meanwhile, one day a little Amish girl name Grace just happened to come to his doorstep. Who is this little girl and what role will she end up playing in something forever happening between Owen and Ruth?

Ruth simply has no use for Owen. They share a difficult past and she treats him with disdain. Owen handles Ruth quite well. He shows remarkable fortitude and kindness. Meanwhile, while Ruth and Owen have their interactions, there is still the mystery of little Grace.

Having read just a few of Patricia Davids' books before reading The Hope, and The Wish, the first book in this series, I easily downloaded these books without reading the blurbs. I know going in that her books will have remarkable storytelling, strong emotionalism, and the sweet satisfaction of happily ever after. I definitely got what I was looking for when I read this book. And, as soon as I finished this, I read the next book in the series, The Promise.

Many thanks to HQN Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

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I highly recommend this book. But I warn you once you start it you won't want to stop. I lost sleep and was late for work because it was so good I had to finish it.

This is a must read. You will laugh and cry at the same time.

Thank you netgalley and harlequin for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

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I always enjoy books written by this wonderful author and this book was no exception. Patricia Davids has written another complex and suspenseful story that kept me from my daily chores while I learned of Ruth and Owen’s history and hoped that they would somehow be able to come to terms with past mistakes and a lack of trust that separated them many years ago. Ruth is determined to give Owen the cold shoulder but when Owen discovers a young Amish child on his property during a blizzard he needs Ruth’s guidance and the two characters must work together with the police and the community to find Grace’s mother on the few clues Grace is willing to give them. The continuing search for Grace’s mother, the second chance romance and a renewed faith in each other guarantees a captivating and mesmerizing read. I read a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

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This is such a heart-tugging story. The mystery surrounding little Grace and how she is found alone in a snowstorm is an intriguing one. Grace is a sweet little girl and just wants her mother to find her. As the whole Amish community searches for her mother, Ruth and Owen try to give Grace the “safe place” she needs. Ruth, who is now a widow, is having to deal with working alongside Owen, who has disappointed her several times in the past. I loved how the Amish and English communities came together to take care of Grace and try to find her mother. There’s some suspense to this story, too, and the ending did not come about as I thought it would I loved this author’s writing style and I’ll be looking for Patricia Davids’ next book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own
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"The Hope" features several elements that kept me reading and interested in the story. The plot revolves around Amish widow Ruth, the return of her first love Owen, and the appearance of a lost child. The romantic tension between Owen and Ruth keeps readers guessing as well as hoping for their reunion. The appearance of a lost child, and the attempts of the Amish community to find her mother, adds another layer of interest to the story. Since Ruth owns a sheep farm, readers will also learn about caring for and shearing sheep!

I found the plot of this story to be realistic and plausible, and the characters were finely drawn and described. The addition of the lost child Grace and various animals and families add to the likeability of this story. The book also demonstrates the differences between Amish communities and the changes in Amish life in accordance with changes in society and modern life in general.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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I really liked Patricia Davids' new story, The Hope, about the Cedar Creek Amish in Kansas. I actually read both books in the series, this one and The Wish, in two days! I am waiting excitedly for the third. This story follows widower Ruth and wanderer Owen. The two had been sweethearts as teenagers, but Owen had left one day without saying goodbye. Since then, Ruth had a hard time trusting him, even though he was like a brother to her husband before he died. When the two are forced together by circumstance and the need of a small child, Ruth finds that he is not the man he thought she was. Can the two of them work past their differences? And who is the little girl that landed on Owen's doorstep? I would definitely recommend this story! I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Suddenly his jumbled world clicked into place and he knew exactly what he had been searching for and never found. A safe place. A home. For his body and his heart.

Owen had run away from Cedar Grove years ago. The woman he loved Ruth Mast and the memories of his family that were tragically killed. His 3 year old sister is the only one whom remained in his family and he knew that he could not have a place with Ruth until he found his sister who was taken by another family member.

Owen has come back to Cedar Grove years later to help Ruth on her sheep farm. Ruth now a widower of 4 years and two grown children of her own, is not thrilled about Owen coming back to help. Owen and her late husband Nate were family members and Owen knew that he owed it to Nate and to Ruth to come help. The emotional roller coaster of Owen and Ruth and the time spent away becomes a tough road for them to maneuver, but their faith and an abandoned 3 year old Amish girl brings them together.

In searching for the little girl's family known only as Grace; Ruth and Owen begin to see each other differently. Owen sees the sister he never found and Ruth begins to see a broken man that needs healing. Together they are determined to find Grace's mother and why did she end up in Cedar Grove. Whom was she running from that she had taught Grace about safe places. A bond starts to form between Grace, Owen and Ruth. Will it be a long lasting bond as they find out the truth.

Ruth and Owen's story is about second chances and how God works to bring healing to a broken heart.

A Special Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

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The Hope by Patricia Davids will tug every heartstring! Owen Mast returns to Cedar Grove to watch over his uncle's farm. As a youth, he and Ruth had walked out together for a time. He left to search for his sister and spent the next 20-plus years going from Amish community to Amish community, always a few steps behind the aunt who took her and ran with her. Ruth married his cousin, Nathan, and never looked back. Widowed for four years now, she is skeptical that Owen's return could be a good thing. He's come back before, but he always leaves.

When a little girl appears on Owen's front porch in the middle of a snowstorm, Owen is at a loss as to how to care for her. She can only tell him her first name and refuses to divulge anything else, although she deems him "safe". He begins to realize that this little girl has led a very difficult life when, everywhere she goes she looks for a "safe place" to hide from "the bad man." Owen enlists Ruth's help with little Grace, and the girl begins to blossom under her care. Can he unravel the mystery of where she came from, and find the mother that Grace appears to have lost?

Readers of Amish fiction will enjoy The Hope. Patricia Davids is a favorite of mine and I always look for her books. The Hope is a bit longer than her usual Love Inspired titles, but the story is well done.

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The Hope is a well written and entertaining inspirational romance. A good plot with well developed and believable characters. If you enjoy reading inspirational romance novels I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

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I really got immersed in this read, how I loved being back in Cedar Grove, my second visit with these folks, and these books can be read alone.
A lost love, and moving on with your life, marrying, children, and then becoming a widow. Enter the lost love, and he is there to help, and you want nothing to do with him. Things do get interesting here with danger, arrival of a precocious three-year-old, new babies being born, and new feelings. Put all of these things together, along with a few chuckles, and you have a page turner story in your hands!
I am now hoping for more visits with these folks!

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

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The Hope by Patricia Davids is the second novel in The Amish of Cedar Grove series. The Hope is a sweet story about second chances, hope, love and unexpected surprises. I thought The Hope was well-written and it moved along at a nice steady pace. There was a good flow between Owen and Ruth’s sections. I like that we get to see the situation from a woman and a man’s point-of-view. Ruth Mast is a strong woman who is a widow with two children. Her eldest, Ella has been married two months and is departing on her wedding trip. The couple will then move to Jamesport, Missouri. That leaves Ruth’s seventeen year old son, Faron at home who has wanderlust in his eyes. Owen’s stories about traveling around the country have inspired Faron to make a trip of his own, but he has yet to tell Ruth. Owen Mast became an orphan from a buggy accident as a child. Only himself and his three year old sister, Rebecca survived the accident. They were sent to live with two different relatives. Owen promised Rebecca they would get back together and he has been trying to find her since he became an adult. The Hope is a multifaceted novel. Owen finds little Grace and she clings to him. The child gives odd answers and has evidently had a rough life though it is obvious she had a loving mother. Owen and Ruth take care of Grace while the search for the child’s mother as well as answers. Grace is an endearing little girl who stole the show. I especially loved the scene with Grace and Polkadot, the sheep. It was interesting to learn about Icelandic sheep which Ruth raised on her farm (I am now going to seek out some of their wool). I was surprised that the sheep were not washed prior to shearing them. The story has romance and mystery mixed in with mending broken fences. There are wonderful messages in The Hope. The Hope can be read as a standalone if you have not had the time to read The Wish. I started The Hope and kept reading until I finished it. The ending was just delightful. My favorite line from the story is “…home is where your heart is happy.” The Hope is a captivating story that will tug at your heart.

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Very cute story about second chances and finding love when you least expect it. I loved the little girl's connection to Owen and how she only felt safe with him. I felt like she was the one who brought Ruth and Owen together. I appreciated how Owen changed and what finally changed him.

** ARC received from Netgalley **

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I give this book 5 stars. No reason not to.
I love this authors books and this story is no exception.
I believe people deserve 2nd chances. It's what the Lord would do.
Poor little Grace. Why is it always the children who take the brunt of most things on life? I wanted to snatch her up and take care of her myself!
Owen is a wonderful character. I enjoyed reading about him and watching him develop into the person I knew he could be.
Ruth is a cool person. I like her personality too. I really enjoyed the banter between her and Owen and Earnst. Can I have him as my uncle too?
This book is a quick and delightful read about two people that life has dealt them with unfair blows. But hey, who said life would be easy? The Lord said it was never meant for it to be.
Believe me, I really wanted to shake Ruth and Owen fir nit seeing what was right in front all along!! Sometimes it takes a child to wake up some adults and make them see what their hearts need. After all, it's God, family and love that makes our hearts happy and makes a home! Don't wait until it's too late to enjoy it!!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and the messages that were inside the book. You won't want to put it down until you finish it.
If you live in Amish country please be aware of them if they are on the road. They have the right to be on it as well.
Take caution please please Too many accidents are involved with the Amish because of unconcerned or careless drivers!!
I recommend this book
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own.

My

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