Beloved Hope (Heart of the Frontier Book #2)

This book picked up the story of the three sisters that we met in Treasured Grace and continues it, with Hope as the main character. She is still hurting, bitter, and fearful as a result of the attack on the Whitman Mission. This story was more character-driven than action-filled, but there were some suspenseful moments. Justice was served to some of the perpetrators of the Whitman Mission Massacre, a horrific event, but author Tracie Peterson deals with it delicately and appropriately. It is a story of hope; seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of despair.

I thought it was great that the story for each of the sisters continued, which gave cohesion to the series. This novel could be read as a stand-alone, though.

Fans of "prairie" fiction will enjoy this tale, set in Oregon in the 1850s.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, for review purposes. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Tracie Peterson's "Beloved Hope" focuses on the character Hope Flanagan who survived the Whitman Mission massacre. She suffered more than her other sisters and throughout the story the reader will get a feel of how rape truamatizes a person. She has built a wall around her to help her survive but she doesn't understand how some of the other women who suffered the same fate and survived have gone on with their lives. Hope lives in fear. She is afraid of life. Then an Army lieutenant, Lance Kenner, asks to be her friend, to enter her reclusive world after finding her in the jail ready to kill the Cayuse Indian responsible for many of the killed and raped at the Mission. Can Hope find healing or will the fear and hate eat her alive? Can she trust in God again? Can she trust a man in her life? Read to find out how Hope handles these decisions. I received this book from BethanyHouse Publishers to read and give my honest opinion.

Unfortunately, I picked up this title before reading book one in the series, and it was not meant to be a standalone title. I struggled through chapter one (very dry and felt forced), and halfway through chapter two I gave up trying to finish the book.

Since I wasn’t able to finish reading the book, I have no idea if the story was any good. I never made it to the actual plot because the first chapter and a half that I read were all recapping the previous book (which didn’t really help, and if you’d read the previous book would have been unnecessary to re-read).

Having read other books by Tracie Peterson, I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt and give this book three stars… I’m guessing it got better. It just wasn’t a book for me, a busy mom with limited time to read.

Starting where Book 1 left off, we now follow Hope, Grace's sister. Hope struggles with healing form the tragedy at the Mission that took place 2 years earlier. Nightmares and feelings of insecurity. After giving up her baby and trying not to relive the past, it all gets stirred up again after the knowledge of the trial of those responsible with the massacre and the personal horror she went through.

Hope struggles to find ways to let go of her anger even after all have moved on. As she meets Lance a military soldier that is there to help with the trial, she finds it hard to resist a friendship with him even though she would rather be left alone. Will her past always define her, or can she move beyond it with love in her future.

Beloved Hope is a story of love, trust, forgiveness, healing, and FAITH. What a wonderfully unabashedly hearttouching book. It shows the grief of a loved one and the process she goes through to learn to love and while she does this she decides to go to court and relive through the deaths in court - she has to also trust in GOD for healing. A new man walks in to her life - will she open her heart - trust GOD with her heart? Will these men who killed every one she loved and knew get away with it? can she trust GOD with that? Can she face them again? Can she trust GOD for that? Can she trust GOD? I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher and the Netgalley; all the opinions expressed in this review are all my very own.

Dramatic and emotional, Beloved Hope is a beautifully told tale! As I began reading, I was immediately drawn in and captivated by the story that unfolds. Hope Flanagan’s strength is admirable, and my heart ached for her and all she endured. I love Tracie Peterson’s storytelling and look forward to continuing the Heart of the Frontier series!

Although I have not read the first book in this series, I was able to enjoy the continuing story line. I do hope to read Treasured Grace soon, as I am eager to know more about the background of the characters and the beginning of their journeys.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

First off, this book it the second in the “Heart of the Frontier” series. It can be read and understood without reading the first of the series. The events of this book do tie into the events of the first, however, Peterson does a good job of providing enough of a recap that new readers do not find themselves lost.
I wanted to like this book. Upon receiving a copy of this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find a list of dozens of other novels written by Peterson on the flyleaf. I love finding new, engaging authors who already have a long repertoire of books to go through; but that is not the case here.

Let’s start with the redeeming part of this book: It was historically accurate. The information about the Whitmore Massacre is accurate, most of the names given of those who perished are actual people who were killed, and dozens of women and children were taken captive. The time frame between the massacre and the trial is accurate, the outcome of the trial is accurate, the sentencing and execution are accurate, the dates used are accurate—you get the point. And while I love historical accuracy in stories like this, it is not enough to overcome some of the other faults.

As a work of romance, I don’t have too many issues. Hope and Lance’s story is cute. Grace and Alex’s relationship is established in the first novel in the series, and continues to expand and grow throughout this novel. And youngest sister, Mercy, takes her first steps into the field of romance and learns a lot about who she wants to be.

BUT! Hope is suffering from PTSD, and the steps she goes through to overcome that are not necessarily accurate or enough. By this I mean, Lance gives hope space, he lets her make the decisions about what she wants their relationship to be. And that’s great, but the main “crutch” to Hope overcoming her PTSD is faith. And I have a very, VERY, hard time believing that in the midst of a trial that drags up all those awful memories, that faith alone is enough.

Which brings us to the religious aspects of this novel. I fully understand that this is Christian Fiction. But this was overkill. While reading I often felt that Peterson made a list of verses and passages from the Bible that fit in with the messages she wanted to include, and then shoved every. single. one. into this book. At one point, instead of just including the words of passages she goes as far as to state that the passage comes from Psalm 56:3. Now this documentation isn’t inherently bad, but as the novel wore on there was a definite thickening of religious messages included, and in the final 60 pages, suddenly it was all important to actually state where in the Bible these words were coming from.

It was just too much. This novel started out as lighthearted as one can be when dealing with a rape survivor, and continued on a path that actually gave that character, Hope, a personality and a future. She wasn’t just a victim and she wasn’t portrayed as being helpless, but as the novel came to a close suddenly is wasn’t about the progress Hope made, but about the messages of faith that pertained to her situation.
I just felt like I was reading a list of biblical messages that pertained to fear and faith. I did enjoy the relationships presented between the characters, and the historical aspects of the plot. But overall, this one missed the mark for me.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beloved Hope is another home run by Tracie Peterson. The second book in her newest series, Heart of the Frontier. Hope, the middle sister of the Flanagan girls is the center on attention in this story of forgiveness and learning to love after loss. Both Hope and Lance have pasts that they would prefer to forget and leave behind but together they learn to grow and put their past in God's hands. Beloved Hope is a must read novel that explores forgiveness and the growth and hope you can experience once you let go of your hurt and pain.

5 out of 5.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Tracie Peterson does it again. This is an excellent book filled with the struggles of two people with difficult pasts. They learn to except the will of God and move on with their lives. And of course we have the satisfyingly sweet romance.

I didn’t read the first book in the series (yet), but I didn’t feel lost. The author fills in the needed background information smoothly, and without a feeling of background overload.

I would give this book a five out of five stars.

Bethany House provided me a copy of this book for an honest review.

Sometimes you just need a good old fashion heartfelt, warm your toes book. And this book delivered. It wasn't a snuggle down, get cozy in a blanket heartfelt book though. This book delt with issues. From when a family of three sisters moved out west in with a wagon to train, to the aftermath of a massacre, to finding hope, strength, and courage to move on from the tragedies of life. The best part about this book is that it's a trilogy and there's one more after this! Happy readying my friends.

I have read many of Tracie Peterson’s books and all have been excellent and this one doesn’t disappoint! Her books are so riveting that I get so engrossed and an hour or more goes by as I’m lost in the world she creates. I so love the Bible teachings and lessons that are woven in the storylines. This series is a must read!!

Tracie Peterson does it again. This is an excellent book filled with the struggles of two people with difficult pasts. They learn to except the will of God and move on with their lives. And of course we have the satisfyingly sweet romance.

I didn’t read the first book in the series (yet), but I didn’t feel lost. The author fills in the needed background information smoothly, and without a feeling of background overload.

I would give this book a five out of five stars.

Bethany House provided me a copy of this book for an honest review.

Sometimes you just need a good old fashion heartfelt, warm your toes book. And this book delivered. It wasn't a snuggle down, get cozy in a blanket heartfelt book though. This book delt with issues. From when a family of three sisters moved out west in with a wagon to train, to the aftermath of a massacre, to finding hope, strength, and courage to move on from the tragedies of life. The best part about this book is that it's a trilogy and there's one more after this! Happy readying my friends.