'A Hope Undaunted' by Julie Lessman

Genre:  Inspirational Historical Fiction

About:(From Goodreads) The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luke McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

Why I wanted to read this book:

• I am a big fan of gentle reads. Sometimes I just need a book that allows me to feel comfortable and draws me a bit closer to God, this one did just that, but not in a preachy manner.

What worked for me:

• 1929! I haven't read a lot of books that took place during this time frame and I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into the flapper attitude, women coming into their own, and seeing how the Stock Market crash impacted a family.
• Katie O'Connor- what a great gal!! She knows (or believes that she does) what she wants and isn't afraid of going after her goals. I laughed at her checklist for qualities in a husband. And I cheered her on with her passion for studying law and being her own woman!
• Luke McGee- the author did such a wonderful job of creating him. He's lived a hard life on the streets and wants a family to call his own. I loved how vulnerable he allowed himself to be with Katie and others that he let into his life. His fierce loyalty to his friends made me absolutely love him.
• Katie's family- I almost felt like I was watching an episode of The Waltons...I wanted to be a part of this family.
• The faith that certain characters had. I felt myself very drawn to their patience and belief that God is in control. I often like to think that I'm in control, but when I read books like this, I am once again presented with the knowledge that God is driving this car...not me.
• Characters were not portrayed as do-gooders with no faults. Lessman painted realistic people with problems that are prevalent in contemporary times.
• The romance was tastefully done and at time I caught myself sighing wistfully!!!  I admit to crushes on Luke and Parker!!!

What didn't work for me:

• Not a thing...it all worked! But if you're not comfortable with scripture or characters who frequently call on their faith in God, then this book may not be for you.

Recommend? I would absolutely recommend this to my friends who enjoy Christian fiction or gentle reads. I'm a new fan of Lessman's writing. I'm planning on reading her series, "The Daughters of Boston" very soon.

My Rating: 4.5/5


Thank you to Amy of Winsome Media Communications. for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review.
My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.
They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.






© 2010, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

Review Style patterned after Show Me 5 

'Dangerous Neighbors' by Beth Kephart

1. Title of book: Dangerous Neighbors

2. Words to describe the book: mystery, heartache, sibling love and hatred, growing pains, history, thought-provoking, the U.S. perched precariously on the edge of modern inventions, women's suffrage, and a changing society.

3. Location or characters you met:

• Katherine: She is the youngest of twin girls, yet she has always felt responsible for the welfare of her sister Anna. She's thoughtful, quiet, contemplative, follows the rules, and takes much to heart.
• Anna : She is the impulsive twin and though she doesn't mean to be hurtful, many of her actions could pose disastrous consequences to her sister and family. She's a dreamer and sees no difference between classes in society. She's ruled by her heart and rarely ever thinks with her head.
• Philadelphia: This city is so rich in U.S. history and it's one that I want to visit some time in the future. 
• 1876 Centennial Exhibition- directly quoted from book-" a World's Fair of unprecedented proportion that brought upwards of 10 million people to fairgrounds just west of central Philadelphia during a six-month period." Can you just imagine how crazy and exhilarating this time in history would have been for those that lived there?

4. Things you liked/disliked:

• The writing was simply exquisite. I've read almost all of Kephart's work and believe that she is a pure word poet. The scenes flow into one another seamlessly and the descriptive words that she used invoked quite sharp and vivid pictures in my mind!
• Being a bit of a history buff, I was totally enthralled with the Centennial Fair and all that it encompassed. I love a book that makes me want to do some research. I also love a book that uncovers a time period of United States history that I knew nothing about!
• I enjoyed the love story between Anna and her baker. Oh, to be young, naive, and so in love with someone that you would pretty much risk all sorts of wrath just to be with that person.
• I ached for Katherine. As a mother, I wanted to grab her and crush her to my heart to give her some sort of comfort. Comfort that her own mother refused to acknowledge and to give. I am glad that Katherine's father seemed to be somewhat attuned to Katherine's emotions.
• I absolutely was thrilled to see that Beth has made a teacher's guide for this novel. My teacher's are always looking for books that will be interesting, informational, and exciting. Having a guide makes it that much easier to recommend to a teacher who is looking for an unique time period of United States history to share and enrich our children's education.

5. Rating:  4.5/5 



Thank you to Nicole of Winsome Media Communications. for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review.
My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.
They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.

Review Style patterned after Show Me 5