Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love? Years ago, an accident robbed Jessie Smith’s mobility. It also stole her mother and alienated her from her father. When Jessie’s high school sweetheart Matt Jansen proposes, her parents’ absence intensifies her worry that she cannot hold on to those she loves.With a wedding fast approaching, Jessie’s grandfather Homer has a goal to find the perfect … has a goal to find the perfect dress for “his Jessie,” one that would allow her to forget, even if for a moment, the boundaries of her wheelchair. But financial setbacks and unexpected sabotage hinder his plans.
Determined to heal from her past, Jessie initiates a search for her father. Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love when additional obstacles—including a spurned woman and unpredictable weather—highjack Jessie’s dream wedding?
Written for the General Market (G) (I): Contains little or no; sexual dialogue or situations, violence, or strong language. May also contain some content of an inspirational nature.
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Do you like your fiction with a Southern twang? I could actually hear the drawl when reading the dialog in Jennifer Hallmark’s debut novel, Jessie’s Hope. I recommend this story about realistic characters finding hope in the face of bitterness, abandonment, guilt, and feeling unworthy.
This one gets a 4.8 on my star scale, and I’m waiting to read Angeline and Ben’s story.
Touching story of forgiveness–multiple stories, actually. Everyone in “real” life has someone they need to forgive. This multi-level story is the same. Jennifer Hallmark does a masterful job of showing hurts and consequences and the joy of forgiveness.
This is a good story of restoration through forgiveness and hope. I especially like the believable characters created by author Jennifer Hallmark and the way these characters overcame difficulties.
Wheelchair-bound Jessie Smith shows courage as she faces challenges and disappointments in her life. As a great hero, Matt Jansen is filled with compassion, devotion, and tenderness toward his fiancée. The townsfolk involved with preparations for the upcoming wedding add to the delightful story. If you like small-town southern stories of romance and faith, I believe you will enjoy Jessie’s Hope.
Favorite quote: She couldn’t change her past, but she could step into a different future, one brimming over with possibilities.
*I won a copy of this book with no requirement to write a review. This is my honest opinion of this novel.
Jessie’s Hope is the story of a family in need of hope, healing, and restoration. Filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of the south, it was a delight to this southern girl’s heart
Jessie’s Hope by Jennifer Hallmark is the author’s debut novel and a heartwarming slice of life in the south. All the way from sweet tea to characters who still answer yes, ma’am and no, sir. The story takes readers on Jessie’s journey after her high school boyfriend proposes and together, they plan their wedding. But this is no ordinary love story. Jessie lost the use of her legs when she suffered a horrendous car accident that took the life of her mother. One obstacle after another keeps the reader wondering if the characters will be able to overcome each problem. All the way from a missing wedding gown to a life-threatening tornado.
Throughout the story I rooted for Jessie, her fiancé Matt, and her wonderful grandparents who raised her. Jennifer excels in writing memorable characters, placing them in situations that seem impossible to overcome.
Absolutely loved this book. It’s heartwarming but realistic. All of the characters are 3-D, and it’s a book that’s great for all ages. I absolutely cannot wait to read the sequel.
This was a wonderful story of overcoming life’s obstacles with a sweet country flare. At age ten Jessie survived an auto accident that killed her mother. After learning she was paralyzed and would live in a wheelchair the rest of her life, Jessie wished she would have died too. With her mother gone and abandoned by her father, Jessie felt like she was unloved and alone. But her mother’s parents took care of her and loved her like a daughter.
Jessie felt like her life was turning around after she got a marriage proposal from Matt, her longtime beau. But soon doubts of his true love started creeping in Jessie’s heart. How could he possibly love a woman that wasn’t whole? Then as wedding plans progressed, money issues kept coming up and Jessie and Matt’s ideas seemed to get thrown under the bus.
How will they be able to salvage hope out of these dire circumstances?
I quickly fell in love with these characters. Homer in his overalls, a farmer, trying to make ends meet. Martha, working to keep her household together and her granddaughter’s spirits up. And all those in the community that loved Jessie and Matt and tried to help in any way they could. And Matt, what a standup guy who truly loved Jessie and tried to reassure her that he always would. And being from Alabama, mentioning the Crimson Tide a couple of times didn’t hurt either!
This was a new author to me but I will keep her on my reading radar.
I received this ebook in a contest I won but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Jessie’s story!
The characters are well thought out and presented and the story moves along nicely to a satisfying ending.
Love this sweet, southern faith-filled story. Like drinking lemonade while sitting in a porch swing! So good!
Sweet story of finding love, trust and forgiveness after tragedy. With Jessie’s life different due to an accident in the past, can she find love and happiness? Will limitations cause her to lose hope? This is a heartwarming story that I enjoyed very much. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.