Passages of Hope

I enjoyed this book very much. I usually find it hard to read dual timeline stories, but this flowed gently back and forth. Olivia lives in the 1800''s. A member of the incredibly brave conductors who helped passengers along the dangerous pathways of the underground railroad, she risks everything. Gracie is a young woman in the current 2022 timeline. She is in mourning for her grandmother who she was a caregiver for. Her life is in turmoil as her uncle angrily reacts to her inheriting his mother's house in Philadelphia. A house with secrets.

This work of fiction has a foundation in truth about William Still and the underground railroad network activities that he led and meticulously recorded. There is also a character who is based on a factual person who caused great harm during this time period. If a reader had interest in learning about the harrowing escape of enslaved people or the brave and dedicated souls who helped lead them to freedom and safety this is an excellent book.

This is a set of sweet 'love' stories, a tribute to dedication to saving lives and the value of history. There is a careful handling of the horrendous suffering and violence for "passengers and conductors". I feel that this could be a good introduction for younger readers, around twelve or so to start learning about the importance of the underground railroad.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader's copy of this book. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy history, learn about part of the process for researching family history and historical buildings. It is an interesting story with believable fictional characters.

Passages of Hope Review
I appreciate a novel that can convey the horror of an actual time-period without making it unsuitable for young people to read. I could easily recommend this book to young people, and feel like there are life-lessons included in both the historic story, and the modern day characters, without becoming too graphic. This story told of the amazing self-sacrificing people who worked the underground railroad system of transferring enslaved people to freedom. It included a look at the evil of the time period, based upon a historical disguised enemy. Also, the modern story contained strong characters facing issues that relate to life today. The author created a dual-timeline that flowed wonderfully. I always look for author’s notes that relate which elements of the story were based on historical facts. Well done Terri J Haynes, I will look for more books by this new-to-me author. If romance is part of a historical novel I prefer when it is not main focus, and this story was balanced with lighter elements relieving the tension of a sad and serious subject.
Thanks to Net Galley, and Barbour Publishing for an advance copy (releases in Nov. 2022). No review is required but given gladly.
#Passages of Hope, #TerriJHayes, #NetGalley, # Barbour publishing

Wow!! I loved this book!! Olivia and Gracie may be worlds apart but they share their love, faith, and bravery across time nonetheless! I loved the back and forth passages of time!

The author is a master story teller and I loved how the family drama was incorporated! A family of faith can be trying at times and I love how Jesus was always present to make things better! (Christina Fiction and their authors are life!!)

The bravery in this book rings as true and fierce as a chorus in heaven!! I felt my heart pounding with such anticipation!!

God bless this author!!

I love this Doors to the Past series of books - they've all been very interesting historical reads with a current dual timeline story to follow. Passages of Hope was another fantastic story with strong female characters and wonderfully written!

Gracie inherits her grandmother's historical home after she passes and moves in. She's doing construction to turn part of the house into a yarn shop when a historical discovery is made. What is the hidden room in the cellar? In 1855, Olivia uses that room to house passengers as they pass through Philly.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Passages of Hope by Terry J. Haynes is a very interesting story of the journeys through life of two generations in Philadelphia. Olivia lives with her husband Douglas in the 1830's. The are working with escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. They have no children and eventually adopt a baby girl. Gracie McNeil in the present day has inherited the house from her grandmother. When sonething unusual turns up during some remodeling, she begins to investigate the history of the house. The story goes back and forth between Olivia and Gracie’s lives as they live their lives day to day in the house. This style kept me intrigued and staying up late to finish the book. I can’t even imagine the fear and terror the slaves felt as escaped horrific circumstances in the south trying to find a better life for their families. The subject is handled well and realistically in the book without unnecessary focus on it. I give this book 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.