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kbranfield's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
A Hope Remembered is the final installment in Stacy Henrie's wonderful World War I series, Of Love and War. It is an absolutely breathtaking novel of healing, love and faith that fans of historical romances are going to love.
Nora Lewis lost her fiancé during WWI and her parents to the Spanish flu, so when she learns she has inherited a sheep farm in the English countryside, she sells her Iowa farm and embarks on a new life. The first person she meets is aristocrat Colin Ashby who also suffered devastating losses during the war. The two form an unlikely friendship that eventually turns to love, but will a troubling secret destroy their chance at happiness?
Nora is a strong, independent young woman and she is very eager to gain the knowledge she needs to succeed in her new endeavor. She is surprised by the warm welcome she receives in the village and from her closest neighbors, and she is quickly accepted into the local community. She treasures her burgeoning friendship with Colin, but she is also distressed by her attraction to the handsome flyer. Nora is desperate to protect herself from further heartbreak so she tries to ignore her growing affection for Colin and when she learns upsetting information about him, she is quick to push him away. Nora soon discovers she might have been wrong about him, but is it too late to repair their fractured relationship?
As the youngest son, Colin never planned on inheriting his family's estate. However, after his beloved brother dies during the War, he returns home to honor his family obligations. Stunned to learn that his family is on the brink of financial ruin, he reluctantly agrees to his father's plan to secure their future. Colin is torn between family loyalty and his unexpected feelings for Nora and he is dismayed when she learns about his father's plan. He is distraught when she refuses to listen to his side of the story, but he also understands why she feels betrayed by him. Colin comes up with an alternative solution to save his family, but will he be able to salvage his relationship with Nora?
Colin and Nora's relationship begins with friendship and slowly grows into something much deeper over time. They instantly bond over their mutual losses and they truly enjoy one another's company. Their conversations are meaningful and as they open up about their painful pasts, they gradually find a measure of peace. Their most significant discussion becomes a turning point for Colin and he slowly begins to recover his lost faith.
A Hope Remembered is an uplifting and gratifying novel with a gentle undercurrent of faith. This wonderful story of love and friendship is quite riveting and the cast of characters is immensely appealing. The story is meticulously researched and historically accurate. The setting is absolutely perfect and Stacy Henrie brings the English countryside vibrantly to life. This outstanding conclusion to the Of Love and War series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series.
A Hope Remembered is the final installment in Stacy Henrie's wonderful World War I series, Of Love and War. It is an absolutely breathtaking novel of healing, love and faith that fans of historical romances are going to love.
Nora Lewis lost her fiancé during WWI and her parents to the Spanish flu, so when she learns she has inherited a sheep farm in the English countryside, she sells her Iowa farm and embarks on a new life. The first person she meets is aristocrat Colin Ashby who also suffered devastating losses during the war. The two form an unlikely friendship that eventually turns to love, but will a troubling secret destroy their chance at happiness?
Nora is a strong, independent young woman and she is very eager to gain the knowledge she needs to succeed in her new endeavor. She is surprised by the warm welcome she receives in the village and from her closest neighbors, and she is quickly accepted into the local community. She treasures her burgeoning friendship with Colin, but she is also distressed by her attraction to the handsome flyer. Nora is desperate to protect herself from further heartbreak so she tries to ignore her growing affection for Colin and when she learns upsetting information about him, she is quick to push him away. Nora soon discovers she might have been wrong about him, but is it too late to repair their fractured relationship?
As the youngest son, Colin never planned on inheriting his family's estate. However, after his beloved brother dies during the War, he returns home to honor his family obligations. Stunned to learn that his family is on the brink of financial ruin, he reluctantly agrees to his father's plan to secure their future. Colin is torn between family loyalty and his unexpected feelings for Nora and he is dismayed when she learns about his father's plan. He is distraught when she refuses to listen to his side of the story, but he also understands why she feels betrayed by him. Colin comes up with an alternative solution to save his family, but will he be able to salvage his relationship with Nora?
Colin and Nora's relationship begins with friendship and slowly grows into something much deeper over time. They instantly bond over their mutual losses and they truly enjoy one another's company. Their conversations are meaningful and as they open up about their painful pasts, they gradually find a measure of peace. Their most significant discussion becomes a turning point for Colin and he slowly begins to recover his lost faith.
A Hope Remembered is an uplifting and gratifying novel with a gentle undercurrent of faith. This wonderful story of love and friendship is quite riveting and the cast of characters is immensely appealing. The story is meticulously researched and historically accurate. The setting is absolutely perfect and Stacy Henrie brings the English countryside vibrantly to life. This outstanding conclusion to the Of Love and War series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series.
momwithareadingproblem's review
5.0
I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
A Hope Remembered by Stacy Henrie is such a sweet story of friendship, love, and the ability to overcome even our darkest hour. Nora Lewis is starting over after the war took her fiancé and the Spanish flu took her parents. She has inherited a distant relative's sheep farm in the Lake District of England. So selling her small farm in Iowa, she sets off on a new journey, both excited at its possibilities and grieving the loss of the familiar. Colin Ashby is back at his parents' estate Elmthwaite Hall after losing his older brother in the war. Colin feels the life he had before the war is unattainable as he now stands to inherit the title meant for his brother, but it isn't what he thought. Elmthwaite is facing bankruptcy and to save his childhood home may mean sacrificing a new life with the pretty American girl who just took over the sheep farm down the way.
I LOVE these characters and their story! In fact, this one may be my favorite of the entire series. Nora is such a treasure. She has faith that God is in direction of her life, moving halfway across the world to take over a sheep farm and start over. I can't say I blame her. If I had lost everyone I love as she has, I would want a new start too. Except for Nora she has closed off her heart and is unwilling to open it back to love and the potential of loss. It's sad and such a heartrending story as she slowly opens herself to new possibilities throughout the book. I loved reading her journey as she realized loving is a part of life and blood doesn't necessarily equal family.
And Colin :D I adored him! He is such a lost character at the beginning of the story. He had big plans and dreams for when the war ended. He wanted to travel and see the world. But with the death of his brother, those dreams have to be put on hold. He now stands to inherit his father's title of baronet, a title he doesn't want, but a promise to his brother to never turn his back on Elmthwaite keeps him from leaving. What I love about Colin is that he is a good man at heart. He loves his family, his friends, and he has big dreams, dreams he's willing to give up for his family.
Nora and Colin's relationship is complicated to say the least. Nora finds a friend in Colin, but ignores her attraction to him as she feels it would be a betrayal to her fiancé. Colin is also attracted to Nora, in fact he finds himself falling for her, but to save Elmthwaite he needs to talk her into selling the sheep farm to his family. I loved reading as their relationship grew and ultimately they developed a friendship that is a strong foundation for any love story :D
Overall I love this series and was happy with the conclusion the author gave to the characters. Nora and Colin are wonderful and I loved reading their story! Nora is quick-witted and her faith in God leads Colin back to his own roots. Colin is wonderful as he learns to stand up for what he believes is right and follow his own heart. If you enjoy historical fiction, a clean romance then I highly recommend you check out Stacy's Of Love and War series. I promise you won't be disappointed!
A Hope Remembered by Stacy Henrie is such a sweet story of friendship, love, and the ability to overcome even our darkest hour. Nora Lewis is starting over after the war took her fiancé and the Spanish flu took her parents. She has inherited a distant relative's sheep farm in the Lake District of England. So selling her small farm in Iowa, she sets off on a new journey, both excited at its possibilities and grieving the loss of the familiar. Colin Ashby is back at his parents' estate Elmthwaite Hall after losing his older brother in the war. Colin feels the life he had before the war is unattainable as he now stands to inherit the title meant for his brother, but it isn't what he thought. Elmthwaite is facing bankruptcy and to save his childhood home may mean sacrificing a new life with the pretty American girl who just took over the sheep farm down the way.
I LOVE these characters and their story! In fact, this one may be my favorite of the entire series. Nora is such a treasure. She has faith that God is in direction of her life, moving halfway across the world to take over a sheep farm and start over. I can't say I blame her. If I had lost everyone I love as she has, I would want a new start too. Except for Nora she has closed off her heart and is unwilling to open it back to love and the potential of loss. It's sad and such a heartrending story as she slowly opens herself to new possibilities throughout the book. I loved reading her journey as she realized loving is a part of life and blood doesn't necessarily equal family.
And Colin :D I adored him! He is such a lost character at the beginning of the story. He had big plans and dreams for when the war ended. He wanted to travel and see the world. But with the death of his brother, those dreams have to be put on hold. He now stands to inherit his father's title of baronet, a title he doesn't want, but a promise to his brother to never turn his back on Elmthwaite keeps him from leaving. What I love about Colin is that he is a good man at heart. He loves his family, his friends, and he has big dreams, dreams he's willing to give up for his family.
Nora and Colin's relationship is complicated to say the least. Nora finds a friend in Colin, but ignores her attraction to him as she feels it would be a betrayal to her fiancé. Colin is also attracted to Nora, in fact he finds himself falling for her, but to save Elmthwaite he needs to talk her into selling the sheep farm to his family. I loved reading as their relationship grew and ultimately they developed a friendship that is a strong foundation for any love story :D
Overall I love this series and was happy with the conclusion the author gave to the characters. Nora and Colin are wonderful and I loved reading their story! Nora is quick-witted and her faith in God leads Colin back to his own roots. Colin is wonderful as he learns to stand up for what he believes is right and follow his own heart. If you enjoy historical fiction, a clean romance then I highly recommend you check out Stacy's Of Love and War series. I promise you won't be disappointed!
melissasbookshelf's review
5.0
Stacy Henrie is a favorite author! She writes her characters with so much depth and emotion that it’s easy to feel close to these characters. Like the previous two books in the series, the premise revolves around WWI. In this story, both Nora and Colin have experienced the devastating loss of loved ones in the war. Nora lost a fiancé and Colin, his older brother. Both are searching for a way to heal from their grief.
When Nora unexpectedly inherits a sheep farm from a relative in England, she decides a new start is just what she needs after not only losing her fiancé but her parents as well. She travels alone from a small town in America to a beautiful English village where she meets the handsome son of a British aristocrat who just happens to be her neighbor. But, what does he see in an orphaned sheep farmer?
Colin is a pilot and the second son now set to inherit his family’s estate after losing his older brother. Up until his brother’s death, he enjoyed a carefree life with little responsibilities. Now he’s learned that his family’s estate is in jeopardy. His father is pressuring him to do whatever it takes to save it. When he meets Nora, he is charmed by her grit and determination to make her newly acquired sheep farm work. He admires not only her beauty, but her strength. However, his relationship with Nora is complicated not only by his family’s needs, but by the very property she’s inherited.
Loved this Cinderella like story! Nora and Colin were such likable characters. I loved Colin’s charm and teasing manner. It’s easy to see why Nora falls for him. Nora is a strong character with those hidden insecurities that make her completely relatable. I wanted her so badly to be able to make a success of her farm.
The villagers in the small town are endearing and I loved the setting with the beautiful lake nearby and the green hills. With a forbidden romance, suspense, mystery, and a beautiful setting, this is definitely one historical romance fans will enjoy. Highly recommend the entire series as each book explores a different aspect of how the war impacted people.
When Nora unexpectedly inherits a sheep farm from a relative in England, she decides a new start is just what she needs after not only losing her fiancé but her parents as well. She travels alone from a small town in America to a beautiful English village where she meets the handsome son of a British aristocrat who just happens to be her neighbor. But, what does he see in an orphaned sheep farmer?
Colin is a pilot and the second son now set to inherit his family’s estate after losing his older brother. Up until his brother’s death, he enjoyed a carefree life with little responsibilities. Now he’s learned that his family’s estate is in jeopardy. His father is pressuring him to do whatever it takes to save it. When he meets Nora, he is charmed by her grit and determination to make her newly acquired sheep farm work. He admires not only her beauty, but her strength. However, his relationship with Nora is complicated not only by his family’s needs, but by the very property she’s inherited.
Loved this Cinderella like story! Nora and Colin were such likable characters. I loved Colin’s charm and teasing manner. It’s easy to see why Nora falls for him. Nora is a strong character with those hidden insecurities that make her completely relatable. I wanted her so badly to be able to make a success of her farm.
The villagers in the small town are endearing and I loved the setting with the beautiful lake nearby and the green hills. With a forbidden romance, suspense, mystery, and a beautiful setting, this is definitely one historical romance fans will enjoy. Highly recommend the entire series as each book explores a different aspect of how the war impacted people.
cwillis626's review
4.0
Cuuuuuuuute :) masterful mix of WWI history, mystery, and romance. Loved the setting in England and the characters and everything! My only complaint would be that it was a little too short and rushed at the end, but very unpredictable in revealing plot twists! Really well done, and I can't wait to read more in this series.
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