A story of hope in the aftermath of inconceivable betrayal and broken dreams What if. . . . . .you struggled with infertility but unknowingly befriended your husband’s pregnant mistress? What if. . . . . .the woman you were seeing behind your wife’s back gets pregnant, threatening your job and marriage? What if. . . . . .your boyfriend never told you he was married and you discover you’re … .your boyfriend never told you he was married and you discover you’re pregnant?
Crisis pregnancy worker Marissa Moreau suspects her husband is cheating, but little does she know how close to home her husband’s infidelity hits. College student Kaitlyn Farrows is floundering after a relationship with her professor leaves her pregnant. Soon she lands a job and a support system at the local pregnancy resource center and things seem to be turning around. But when Marissa and Kaitlyn become friends, neither one knows they share a connection–Colin, Marissa’s husband and Kaitlyn’s former professor. When their private lives collide, the two women must face the ultimate test of their faith and choose how to move forward as they live in the shadows of hope.
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The author did a fantastic job of twining together the lives of the characters in a believable way.
So real, something that happen in life. ” Some through the water, some through the fire, all through great trials, but God leads the way”
Really liked the characters and how the author developed them over the course of the book. Some you love, some you hate, but they all have their own story. Shadows of Hope was well-written and realistic, you don’t often see these topics covered in Christian literature. Ms. Daniels did her research and made it believable.
plot was messy, not a happily ever after
I only got approximately 39 pages and not the entire book!!!
Shadows Of Hope Is heart wrenching and it gets you to feel some very strong feelings as you read this. I mean how stupid he is and how awful for her and what an impossible situation. What breaks my heart the most is that this really happens and that this mess and broken hearts and dreams are torn asunder. Let me tell you this, the ending ends in a for real ending not a fluff ending – cool. How do Christians react in this situation? Well you have to read in find out – to be in full disclosure one of the three is not a Christian. I can’t imagine going through what they all go through and not have GOD to Lean on. What an awful situation. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
Shadows of Hope
I have to say I was so excited to read this book! After reading what this book was about, I thought I have got to read this, especially since I have never read a Christian book like this before. This is not my typical kind of book to read, but let me say, I was hooked! I absolutely did not want to put it down! I turned page after page to see how things would really work out. I enjoyed the many emotions played out in this story and throughout the characters. Some I wanted to hug, and others I wanted to slap!
The only down side to me in this book was the very fact that it seems the author rushed the end and left us with a lot of unanswered questions. Maybe there will be a book two that will pick up where this one left off. I do hope so anyway.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. This is my honest opinion of this book.
Shadows of Hope Georgina Daniels
A stressed marriage. A stressed wife. A stressed husband. Infertility. Both seeking something and growing apart.
Marissa Moreau, after years of waiting and hoping that this month would be the month, finds she need to reach out of the protective world she built around herself, applies for and obtains a position with a crisis pregnancy center. Soon her co-workers become her friends and her support system.
Kaitlyn Farrow, a young college student, is in love and involved in an affair with one of her college professors. She works in a popular coffee shop, frequented by college students, business professionals and just about anyone who loves a great cup of coffee with a tasty bakery treat. And Marilyn Moreau.
Kaitlyn soon learns she is expecting, with truly no place and no one to turn to, as the love of her young life has broken off their relationship before she is able to tell him her news. Marilyn befriending Kaitlyn, soon realizes there is more going on with her than being overwhelmed with her studies and work. Marilyn invites Kaitlyn to the crisis pregnancy center when Kaitlyn confesses the truth behind how poorly she has been feeling.
The stressed husband? The college professor? His name is Colin Moreau, Marilyn’s husband. What will happen when the new friendship collides with the stressed marriage? The stressed wife?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Infertility, infidelity and an unexpected pregnancy are some of the trials that Marissa, Colin and Kaitlyn face in Shadows of Hope. Marissa’s miscarriage and her inability to conceive again has created a great strain in her marriage to Colin. The pressure he feels to give Marissa a baby has caused him to turn to a younger woman and his affair with one of his college students results in her getting pregnant. Marissa suspects that Colin has strayed but she has no idea that the young pregnant woman that she has befriended is actually the woman that her husband has been seeing!
Shadows of Hope allows us to witness the turmoil from each of their points of view and the author has realistically portrayed their hurts, their shame, their uncertainty and their efforts to correct their mistakes. I was at first disgusted with Colin’s betrayal but I could also see that Marissa had contributed to the loss of intimacy and commitment in their marriage. Kaitlyn isn’t blameless but she possesses an innocence in her belief that Colin is single and that he loves her. I was surprised with the ending but it is actually a very realistic ending. Marissa’s favorite saying was “God’s got this” and she said this many times in this story. While I believe that God is always with us I also understand that He often gives us a different outcome than what we thought or hoped for.
Author Georgiana Daniels has written an entertaining and thought-provoking novel. Shadows of Hope is raw and emotional but it is also a story filled with faith and hope.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. This is my honest opinion and my review is voluntary.
Marissa works at a pregnancy crisis center, while she, herself is unable to have the child she and her husband, Colin have long desired. Month after month is a disappointment. Their marriage has grown cold and distant, yet they both still yearn for a child of their own.
Marissa begins to suspect a larger problem in her marriage and goes so far as to spy on Colin. Her coworker, Tristan tells her that the truth usually isn’t as bad as the not knowing. Was he ever wrong about that one.
Colin is a professor at a college and had became involved with one of his students. The guilt drove him to break things off. Little did he know that Kaitlyn had earth shattering news for him. After repeated attempts to tell Colin her news, she was finally able to tell him they were expecting a baby. Colin seemed most afraid that the university was going to find out as he was up for tenure.
While both Marissa and Kaitlyn are professing Christians, it seemed shallow. They both prayed and Marissa sometimes attended church with her mother. Colin wanted no part of Christianity.
Marissa had met Kaitlyn at The Bean, the coffee shop she frequented. Upon learning of Kaitlyn’s pregnancy, she encouraged her to come to the pregnancy center for help. This led to the two becoming friends and Kaitlyn even working part time there. All the while, neither had any idea that Marissa was married to the man who was the father to Kaitlyn’s unborn child. Marissa had not taken Colin’s last name when they married, which seemed strange to me, but it’s one of the reason no dots were connected.
Kaitlyn had no idea Colin was married, but once he confessed that to her (after being told of her pregnancy), she realized she did not want to be with a man who could do that to his wife.
Colin seemed weak to me. He first wanted his marriage to work out, but when he thought Marissa would never forgive him, he then told Marissa they could be together and raise their child. It seemed he didn’t care who he was with. Just a needy man who wanted to be with a woman. Colin needed a slap upside the head. In the end, he did want to work on his marriage.
Marissa knew Tristan had feelings for her. Feelings he never acted on. But, she seemed uncaring and leaned on him in her crisis.
This was a fast paced story and I loved it until the end. I would have given it five stars if not for the ending. I don’t want to reveal what my disappointment was as to not spoil the ending for others. It just was not at all what I expected.
I was given a free ecopy of this to read by the publisher, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Sometimes life imitates art. Not % but close. I really enjoyed reading Shadows of Hope by Georgina Daniels. It was thought provoking to be sure.
Marissa and Colin are married and not able to get pregnant after last miscarriage. They fall about and he ends up having an affair. The girl gets pregnant.
The story is how they deal with this little problem. I rooted for the wife and the other woman. The only redeeming quality the husband had was wanting to be in the baby’s life.
My take away is to always keep your eyes on God, don’t give up your faith, and Christians really should not marry non Christians.
Great questions in the back of the book for a book club or to do on your own. I would recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Perfect example of decisions dictate destiny, whether good or bad ones. Real life characters with real life issues that many wish to hide from and pretend they don’t exist. This story unfolds using three peoples viewpoints and switches back and forth in a smooth and well written way. It deals with pain, rejection, duplicity, forgiveness, and faith. It shows that when we pray we don’t always get the answer we want or expect, as we can’t control others choices. At times you don’t like the characters and want to change them, but hurting people hurt people unless we give it over to God and forgive to free ourselves. This is not a fluffy read, but has depth and deals with difficult subject matter that is written amazingly well. I enjoyed reading this and recommend to others.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Shadows of Hope by author Georgiana Daniels is a well written faith-based fiction. The story is about the choices people make and the consequences which are left for each person who is affected by those decisions. The author is successful in conveying a theme regarding the actions we take in this life can cause a ripple effect of love and joy or disappointment and misery for others. It does have a Christian belief in some of the characters asking God for guidance in daily life, but the author realistically shows even people of the Christian faith have differing thoughts or belief in Biblical teachings.
In this story, Marissa works each day to help the lives of high-risk mothers and babies with her longtime friend Tristen at a grant-funded clinic. Marissa is struggling with a problem of infertility after the miscarriage of her baby. Her relationship with her husband Colin has changed since the miscarriage and they are not as close. Colin has his own priorities as he is seeking for tenure at the university where he teaches and has a lab for his research. He is worried that his secret affair with a student may become public before a tenure decision is announced by the board. Kaitlyn is an adult student who fell in love with her professor and found herself pregnant even though she was taking precautions. She had no idea he was married.
All of these characters revolve around each other as the story unfolds. The support system between parents and adult children can sometimes go awry when personal beliefs are being imposed on others, regardless of the circumstances. The author allows the characters in this book to come to terms with hard choices and the changes they need to implement for a better life.