Forevermore
by Cathy Marie Hake
Published by Bethany House
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Reviewed by Edyth Abraham
Hope Ladley never stays in one place too long. Hope and her donkey, Hattie, flit from one place to the next as the Lord directs her, and for this harvest season, God seems to be directing her to Jakob Stauffer’s farm. The aloof and grieving farmer has a young daughter and a timid, hurting and pregnant sister. Can Hope live up to her name and bring healing and happiness to the family through her faith in God?
Jakob Stauffer has enough things to worry about. He has to raise his daughter alone, now that his precious wife is gone. His sister Annie is back home trying to get away from an abusive husband. And his home has been in chaos since his wife died. He hires Hope to relieve his sister during her pregnancy and to bring some semblance of order to their lives. But since hiring Hope, the chaos in his home has seems to have increased. She launders only few articles of clothing, cans only few jars of pickle and only does things half way. Did he do the right thing in hiring her?
Forevermore is a great story of hope and faith triumphing over sorrow and evil. Even though it delves into serious topics such as abuse and grief, it is also a hilarious book. I laughed page after page as I followed Hope’s antics. The greatest laughs came from the way Hope, who cannot read or write, butchered many common clichés.
Throughout the book Hope is portrayed as sunny, thoughtful and full of life, a person who always sees the glass as half full. However, Hake also portrays her as a person who occasionally battles fear and confusion, making her very real and somebody who readers can identify with. Annie’s recovery from abuse is often depicted as one step forward and two steps backwards, something that is extremely reasonable.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an entertaining and uplifting story. Hake, an author I have never read before, is now on my “Favorite Author” list. I am eagerly looking forward to her other books.
Armchair Interviews says: Hake is an award-winning romance writer who inspires her readers.
Author’s Web site: http://www.CathyHake.com