Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can … live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.
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The certain hope
Tara and Luke have love at first sight. He wants to get married two weeks after proposing. Seems a little fast to their friends and family. Will they be able to pull it off?
The book did seem a little long to me but for most part I did enjoy their story. Tara has a lot of property from inheritance. Her parents had recently passed away. It did seem like to me Luke was telling her what to do with it too much. That was just my opinion. I did relate to the job she had.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an review. This is my own opinion.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Tara Simpkins feels all alone now that she has lost both her parents. So when she has some work done on her house, she is attracted to one of the guys working. But is her attracted to her? Well she soon finds out, but it’s nothing like she thought it would be!
I liked Tara and her shy personality and I felt sorry for her being so lonely. But Luke, I just couldn’t like him and his demanding, obnoxious attitude. With Tara, he tries to be this sweet talking guy, but with his family and during Leah’s appearance in the story, I found him hateful and rude. My heart went out to Tara because she is being pulled two ways, with Luke pushing her into a quick marriage, and her friends trying to talk her into taking it a little slower.
Now, I know those who have experienced love at first sight, and marriage is working fine for them may disagree, but at the same time it is smart to be cautious. And I think The Certain Hope is a really good book to make a person think twice about going into a marriage so fast because there was certainly enough warnings from Tara’s friends as well as Luke’s family. I would love to have know more about Luke and Tara’s marriage, if it worked out ok for them? The problems they faced, if any, about not getting to know each other better before they plunged into marriage.
Overall, I did enjoy the story. For me, Luke’s personality caused me to want to keep reading, because I wanted to find out what happens with the two. As obnoxious as he was, the book just wouldn’t have been a good read without it. And I feel Ms. Jackson does an excellent job of weaving the issues together so the plot runs so smooth. This is the second book I’ve read from Ms. Jackson, and I enjoy her writing. So I encourage you to check out The Certain Hope as well as other books by this author.
I received this book from Prism Tours to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.
The Certain Hope is a story of hope, love and faith. It tells the story of Tara Simpkins, who is grieving the loss of her parents and dealing with a fragile heart. She finds herself falling in love at first sight. Can she move on from her grief and follow her dreams?
I enjoyed The Certain Hope. I found an instant connection to Tara and Luke right from the start. This story is reminiscent of my own life story, which I am loved seeing in a book. So, I had no problem reading and turning the pages and see how it all ends for the two.
I am giving The Certain Hope five plus stars. I recommend it for readers who love a beautifully, well written and clean stories. I believe it is a must read and I highly recommend it. I would love to read more like this one by EC Jackson in the future.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
The Certain Hope is a story of love at first sight and I really enjoyed it. Tara Simpkins has had a horrific couple of months caring for and watching her parents pass away one after the other due to a fluke disease. We meet Tara as she is getting her roof replaced and waiting for Luke (whom she thinks is Andy) to let her know the job is done. Tara really likes Luke and has looked forward to seeing him the three days he worked on her roof. Tara, however, is not really a go getter. Due to some failures and bad instances in the past she is not one to take chances.
Luke on the other hand also has felt the instant connection with Tara and he is not about to let his future wife get too far away. Luke was an interesting character. On one hand he was really romantic and on the other he was determined to have his own way at any cost, a bit too controlling. Tara is overwhelmed at first by his pursuit of her and his marriage proposal on their first date.
All of Luke’s family and Tara’s friends think having a quick wedding is not a good idea and they express their feelings on the matter. But Luke is not taking no for an answer and Tara is not sure what to do: follow her dream with Luke or really slow things down. I liked watching both of them grow in this story, Tara stepping out of her shell and Luke loving Tara in the right way.
This was a unique story that showed the positives and negatives of falling in love so quickly and throws in a few surprise twists as well. This was my first book by author Jackson and I look forward to more of her stories.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Ok, let me just say this. If you, like me, are skeptical about love-at-first-sight stories, this book probably won’t change your mind. It will, however, give you some good insight about many issues surrounding a rushed relationship.
I had a really hard time liking Luke. The man steamrolls his way over his family and Tara. He’s abrupt and blunt without apology. Plus he doesn’t take criticism well. Lucky for him, Tara offsets his flaws (at least they did for me). She’s quiet and considerate. The fact she’s endured some big losses right before meeting Luke made me sympathize with her.
For me, there was no running conflict through the story. The issues seemed to flit in and out and get resolved fairly quick. And the issue that could have been the central conflict held out until the final chapter and then got brushed aside (but again shone a light on Tara’s character).
There are a lot of supporting roles between Luke’s large family and Tara’s friends, but Jackson weaves them into the story so well I never felt lost as to who was in the scene. Much of this book is dialogue with a few internal thoughts which became a lot of telling instead of showing. But, I will admit that for Luke’s personality, it fit.
Perhaps unrealistic for most people, there are stories of love-at-first-sight marriages that are going strong, so even if it’s not your reality, it is entertaining. And may also serve as a cautionary tale to not jump into anything too quickly, especially if the people you trust are conflicted about your decision. And through it all, I was cheering for Tara’s happily-ever-after.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The Certain Hope is a story of that rare occurrence when two people meet and fall in love right away. Still, with such a whirlwind of changes, doubts and fears are bound to “set in”. Tara and Luke are both in their thirties and want children. Tara is bombarded when Luke wants a life together right away. Friends and family try to talk them into a longer courtship. Luke is determined, Tara insecure and fearful.
Will love conquer?.. Will the pressures from others win, or will the past and present collide and the happily ever after destroyed?
The characters are very realistic and the scenes are portrayed well. The Book Title and Cover image are very “fitting”. The story is well-written. I felt the one situation was slightly prolonged but otherwise captivating.
This book contains several great discussion points. It is a perfect book for Book Club discussions. There are great points bought up in the story expressing the pros and cons of each situation.
I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating.
This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.
The Certain Hope is a story of love at first sight and I really enjoyed it. Tara Simpkins has had a horrific couple of months caring for and watching her parents pass away one after the other due to a fluke disease. We meet Tara as she is getting her roof replaced and waiting for Luke (whom she thinks is Andy) to let her know the job is done. Tara really likes Luke and has looked forward to seeing him the three days he worked on her roof. Tara, however, is not really a go getter. Due to some failures and bad instances in the past she is not one to take chances.
Luke on the other hand also has felt the instant connection with Tara and he is not about to let his future wife get too far away. Luke was an interesting character. On one hand he was really romantic and on the other he was determined to have his own way at any cost, a bit too controlling. Tara is overwhelmed at first by his pursuit of her and his marriage proposal on their first date.
All of Luke’s family and Tara’s friends think having a quick wedding is not a good idea and they express their feelings on the matter. But Luke is not taking no for an answer and Tara is not sure what to do: follow her dream with Luke or really slow things down. I liked watching both of them grow in this story, Tara stepping out of her shell and Luke loving Tara in the right way.
This was a unique story that showed the positives and negatives of falling in love so quickly and throws in a few surprise twists as well. This was my first book by author Jackson and I look forward to more of her stories.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Thank you in advance to the author, E.C Jackson, for providing a complimentary copy for review. A positive review was not required, all words and thoughts are my own.
Not counting “Pajama Party” – The Certain Hope is the author’s third novel in the “Hope Series”.
To start off; I felt a disconnect with this story and the characters. I didn’t know if it was because I was reading it during bad weather; we were having a serious winter storm at the time which was uncharacteristic; or because I was in the middle of the worse sinus and ear infection of my life.
I honestly had to push myself to finish this book despite how it grabbed me right off. Then my interest waned, and it isn’t because I read one right after the other – I previous read A Gateway to Hope and A Living Hope prior to this one. I did read another book in between this one to give myself a break.
As of note, I have read some series from book one (#1) to book twelve (#12); which happened to be Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Series; so it wasn’t “series burnout”; in fact I have read that one from beginning to end a few times and didn’t feel the way I did with this one. I kept struggling with this book. It seemed a bit muddled after about the first chapter.
There are trigger warnings of grief, loss, suicide, or even Luke’s controlling nature. And, I don’t know if Luke’s personality was a turn-off or the whole story.
At first “Andy” (or as we come to learn – Luke) seemed like a dream come true. Tara fell in love with him and he obviously fell in love with her. Seemed perfect.
Tara is asked to go on a blind date with this “Luke”, she’d rather think of “Andy”, and she learned – they’re the same guy. It should work right off – yet, there is something there.
Yet, within the first three chapters, Luke has arranged a blind date with Tara and proposed. The wedding? In two (2) weeks. There is seemingly no explanation for this. And, I wasn’t even sure where this was going. After all, the two had one thing in common – the loss of their parents. His from a very graphic car accident, Tara’s died from an illness contracted on a cruise; so there should be a connection.
But, adding to that, Tara is also having to deal with the massive estate she’s been left.
Thankfully Tara is a bit overwhelmed and wants more time and to “pray on it”. Luke wants an immediate answer even though he doesn’t give a reason to her. He keeps it to himself.
Tara’s friends (all four) say “no”, and that would honestly have said something to me too despite how perfect he seemed.
Luke then begins to have thoughts of his ex-girlfriend, Leah. The relationship falling apart apparently is the reason he wants to immediately marry his “soul-mate” Tara. And, he is relentless about the two (2) week wedding date.
They are apparently perfectly matched – even their political and social views. There is a slight reference to politics, but only slight. And, Luke even offers her a job at his family’s business.
Tara makes note of Luke’s control issues, and even thinks about bolting from the relationship. He wants to move into her place, but since it needs work, he wants her to move in with him.
Tara finally relents and agrees to marry Luke in two (2) weeks. And, despite their objections – her friends even start helping her plan the wedding.
One part I didn’t like was Luke wanting to divide and sell vast amounts of Tara’s estate – rental homes as well as classic cars before knowing the true intentions of her parents. Her grandfather restored cars and as a result, there are quite a few. This becomes part of the plot a little later on in the story. I did wonder why she’d want to hang on to it all though as it seemed so overwhelming to have.
Since they are getting married, and Tara attends church – her church requires at least ONE (1) counseling session for couples over 30. That was a bit confusing as I’d never heard of it. But, as I don’t attend services – I ignored it, though still found it interesting.
But, as with any story – more conflict ensues. This is in the return of Leah, Luke’s ex-girlfriend, rather a mention and warning of it. Yet, she doesn’t officially return until about 40 pages before the end of the story. But, Luke hasn’t told Tara about Leah though.
And, there is a reason he hasn’t – he was with her for ulterior motives. This is where a mention of pre-marital intimacy is mentioned, which was prior to the story.
Eventually, Tara learns what her parents had intended for the estate and with Luke’s eager help – things get dealt with.
Tara is stunned as to the nature of Luke and Leah’s relationship which had to do more with “revenge” than with a loving nature. This was a stunning part of the story and I didn’t even see it coming.
The story did, to me, seem to have a rather open-end to it. I was also wondering the “why” of Leah’s return since it seemed SO close to the end and it wasn’t really resolved.
Unlike the first book, A Gateway to Hope, this doesn’t have a “cast of characters” in the beginning. There are a LOT of characters to keep up with, so it can be confusing and even overwhelming at times.
As with the previous two novels, Jackson’s writing is vivid and descriptive, almost immersing the reader into the novel. At times this was heart-breaking and yet endearing.
Like the previous books – this book has strong Christian themes; which are definitely central to the plot of the story. Themes such as forgiveness (even in the worst of scenarios), second chances, and redemption are abundant. There is no foul language or any intimate on-page scenes in any of the books. There are some references to pre-marital intimacy which is prior to the beginning of the book.
The cover depicts the couple featured in the book like the first book, and is an absolutely beautiful cover for a self-published series, and could easily be movie-of-the-week “poster” quality. Whoever Jackson got to design these covers is a winner!
As stated with the other two books, while these are a “series”, they are definitely standalone books and are not connected in any way by characters or cities. They are merely a themed series. It is not necessary to read the other books as the events in this book are not mentioned in the next book: The Confident Hope. Characters from A Living Hope and A Living Hope do not appear here, nor do these characters appear in that book.
Fans of the genre and more serious romances will more than likely enjoy this book.
My Thoughts on The Certain Hope:
I knew I’d like this book because I had previously read Gateway to Hope by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. This book did not disappoint. Her unique style of writing was evident and her very unique plots were amazing.
Wow. Just wow. Okay so our two main characters are Tara and Luke (or is he Andy?). Bit of a laugh there in the first chapter or two when Tara has to learn that she had the wrong name assigned to the man she’s fallen in love with.
This book was so fun to read. So impractical but also such a great read for this day and age.
Tara and Luke fall in love. Love at first sight. And they tell their friends. Then Luke finagles a “blind” date with Tara through some mutual acquaintances. What could go wrong? Or what could go right?
So, Luke as Tara to marry him. . . in two weeks! Yikes! She’s recently lost both her parents to a mystery virus and her whole world is upside down. She’s only ever been on one other date before in her life.
Will they marry? In two weeks or two years? And what about this Leah? Tara keeps hearing about her from others.
Such a great and fun read. Not overly Christian though. That is to say, there are not a lot of scriptures within the book, not a lot of exact Bible references. There are references to sex and sex within or outside of marriage. One of our main characters has not remained pure.
I do recommend the book for mature audiences. It is not a book I would let my teenage daughter read, but I do enjoy the unique and out there work of this author. It’s definitely not like anything else I’ve ever read. I do sense a theme in her writing though. The leading men are rather sure of themselves and have a way of trying to work all situations to their own advantage.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
What I think you should know:
Tara Simpkins has just lost both her parents to a mysterious illness and falls in love with Luke Cassidy the first time that she meets him. Luke also falls in love with her and is determined to marry her in two weeks.
What I wish I would have known:
I could not put this book down, it was like watching a car accident, I just couldn’t turn away. I didn’t want to put the book down until I knew what happened. It was one of those things were you know you can’t change the outcome, but you think that just by watching you might can help in some way.
What I could have done without:
Luke was beyond bossy, I will be honest if it was my best friend about to marry him I would be running her to an abused women’s shelter. I don’t want any single women to think that this behavior is safe.
This is a unique Christian Romance, I really enjoyed it even if I didn’t approve of every character or every decision made.
Note: I know and understand that some people (like my husband) believe in love at first sight, I on the other hand take weeks to commit to a new pair of shoes and YEARS to commit to marriage even when I know that I love someone.
I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
I can’t really explain this but I had jitters the whole time I read this book. It gave me anxiety and I felt overwhelmed by the story. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but think you need to get to know each other better. Tara bothered me because she captures Luke’s attention and immediately decides he is the one. Luke feels the same and before we know it, they are engaged.
The more I knew about Tara the more I believed she needed to slow down. She has just lost her parents and seemed to be making hasty decisions that she never quite seemed sure of. Luke was kind but very demanding and had a tendency to bully for what he wanted. There are a few parts in the story where they agree especially about how important faith and family is to them. I lost count of how many times someone told either Tara or Luke to postpone the wedding. Get to know each other better they said. I kept questioning what the rush was.
I wanted to sit Tara down and tell her until she heals from her parents death, she won’t be able to fully give her life to Luke. There is a secret that Luke is hiding which could cause Tara to rethink the marriage. Why does he wait so long to divulge it? One of the best parts of the story is when they are being counseled by the pastor. He asks questions that should have sent up red flags, but they both are so determined to marry, they almost seem to say what they think the pastor needs to hear.
Each of them have assets but Tara is the one that has some valuable cars that Luke is determined to sell. Okay I have to say it. Luke is pushy, emotional abusive at times and Tara hardly speaks up for herself. How is this a marriage that God will bless? I din’t like the whole concept of desperation to get married and ignoring red flags that should have stopped the wedding. The ending disappointed me for personal reasons. I wanted something else to happen but in the end I guess love prevailed.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
This was a very unusual book, but in a good way. It started out a bit strange for me in that Tara fell instantly in love with “Andy” who came to supervise a roofing job for her home. He as well fell instantly in love with her but each kept it secret.
He arranged a “blind” date with her through mutual “friends”. Tara was shocked to learn her “Andy” was really Luke. He kept proposing, she kept turning him down.
Tara was lonely, her only family was her parents and they passed away within a month of each other. She wants a husband and children but is this too fast? Her close friends think so. His family does too. How will they work it all out to please everyone or will they? What happens when his ex-girlfriend of five years shows up ready to marry Luke? I also had trust issues of my own with his family and their taking over her finances and her parents will. What happens will blow you away! Check it out!!
I received an ebook copy of this novel from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.