The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh

  The Gift of Hope

Book Summary

The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh has Hope Beiler asking Aaron Kanagy for assistance.  He is the last person Hope’s wants to ask after accidentally hearing something unkind he said previous year.  It also does not help that there is unexplained animosity between their fathers.  Hope wants to get her sister, Hannah a special wedding gift, but she lacks funds.  Aaron wants to spend more time on his woodworking, but his family needs his help in their gift shop.  Hope proposes a trade:  she will work in the gift shop while Aaron works on the bed for her sister.  After getting agreement from Aaron’s mother and Hope’s grandmother, Hope begins working at the gift shop.  She soon finds that she enjoys working at the shop where her artistic skills come in handy plus she is good with customers.  Aaron finds himself looking forward to spending time with Hope who smiles brighten his day.  He can imagine a future for the two of them.  Unfortunately, Hope’s father discovers she is working for the Kanagy’s and will not allow her any further contact.  The only way there can be a future for Hope and Aaron is overcome the dissention between their fathers.  With God’s help along with Mammi Beiler, it just might happen.

 My Thoughts

The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh is cute Amish novel.  I enjoyed this first book in the Unexpected Gifts series.  I thought it was well-written with steady pacing and developed characters.  I liked the characters in this story that included Hope Beiler and Aaron Kanagy.  I especially loved Hope’s grandmother, Mammi.  She was a delight.  Another fun character is Aaron’s mother, Ruth.   I enjoyed the setting of Charity Creek.  It sounds like a charming town.  The romance between Aaron and Hope was sweet.  Their two families are at odds with each other, but the only two people who know why are not spilling the beans.  Aaron does not understand why Hope is not friendly to him in the beginning.  He has no clue that Hope overheard him something uncomplimentary the previous year.  I like how Hope’s bridge played into their romance and the story.  It is special how Aaron and Hope complemented each other.  Hope and Aaron both had unexpected gifts that worked well together.  The Gift of Hope had joy, faith, hope, and love.  While The Gift of Hope is a predictable story, it did not hinder my reading pleasure.  I am eager for the next book in the Unexpected Gifts series.  The Gift of Hope is a sweet Amish tale with wondrous woodcrafts, a bonny bridge, a matchmaking mama, a furious father, a gregarious grandma, and two feuding families.  

The Gift of Hope is available from Amazon*.  You can find Kristen McKanagh's other novels here.  Thank you for reading my review today.  It is hard to believe it is the last day of April.  Tomorrow I am featuring Confessions from the Quilting Circle by Maisey Yates.    I hope that you have an inspiring day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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