Reviews
Sweet Romance with a Deeper Message
Jessie’s Hope, as the title implies, is a story of hope, but it goes far deeper than that. The main character, Jessie Smith, has been paralyzed from a young age in an auto accident which also took her mom’s life. Jessie dreams of the perfect wedding to her fiancé, Matt Jansen. Jessie’s desire to connect with her alcoholic father, who abandoned her after the accident, leads to bitterness, disappointment, and the revelation of secrets long buried.
The story delivers a strong message of family love and devotion. Her papaw, Homer, and mamaw, Martha, go to great lengths, despite limited financial resources, to make Jessie’s wedding dreams come true. They are there for her when she experiences her darkest moments of doubt as one obstacle after the other stands in her way.
Author Jennifer Hallmark captures the struggles of a young handicapped person and those affected by her limitations in a realistic manner. She gives her characters depth and courage and portrays their spiritual journeys from weakness to strength through faith in a realistic manner.
I especially enjoyed the spirit of community caring and support for Jessie and the complete turnaround of one character’s attitudes and behaviors when she experiences compassion and caring she did not expect to find.
This book sparked my interest from the first moment and held me captive to the very last word. It is a sweet romance told against the backdrop of the Southern lifestyle with characters who find redemption and the healing power of God’s love and forgiveness.–Patti Shene
Sweet Southern Romance with a Strong Theme of Forgiveness
I enjoyed this sweet romance by debut author, Jennifer Hallmark. Set in rural Alabama, it took me back to my childhood days in Georgia through the front porch swing, slamming screen doors, southern dialect, and sweet tea. A heart-warming story of triumph over tragedy and hope in God when life doesn’t turn out the way we’d hoped. Along with likable and believable characters, the strong theme of forgiveness makes this book one to read.–Deena
