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A review by momwithareadingproblem
Hope Rising by Stacy Henrie
5.0
I don't even know where to begin!
Hope Rising by [a:Stacy Henrie|5778153|Stacy Henrie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1340140237p2/5778153.jpg] is book two of her Of Love and War series and tells the story of Evelyn, a war nurse, and Joel, Livy's surviving brother and soldier. Joel is fighting at the front lines when he is injured and his best friend is killed. He is sent to the nunnery turned hospital where Evelyn works to be treated. Evelyn on her last leave fell in love with a soldier...(do you see where this is going?) Now she is pregnant and Joel brings news that her soldier, the man who told her he'd marry her is dead.
Evelyn is a finicky character to me. I had a hard time liking/relating to her. The book starts with her defending her morals. She won't fraternize with the soldiers because it's against the rules, then in a moment of weakness she decides a coffee won't hurt, next thing you know it's 12 weeks later and oops! She's pregnant. Okay I can overlook that. Then she receives news that Ralph (that's the soldier) is dead via his best friend, the irresistible and handsome Joel. She says she'll never love again. But then she makes this proposal to Joel (I'll go there in a minute) that completely contradicts that. I get it she's a woman, it's her job to change her mind, but really?! Honestly though I didn't connect with Evelyn, by the end of the story I was able to see things from her point of view and sympathized with her. So it's not all bad!
Joel reminds me of a guy-version of Livy from book one. Joel is the oldest child, has received news that his brother is dead, his sister is now married, and now his best friend dies in a battle that Joel feels guilty for. His struggles are relatable as he struggles with overwhelming guilt and grief, and also struggles with his faith in God. Joel doesn't ever give up on Him completely. He learns after his injuries that the life he's always wanted is no longer possible (not saying more because spoilers!!!) and he questions the path God has set him on. Then he meets Evelyn the girl Ralph was going on and on about, learns of her predicament and questions what he should do. He feels an overwhelming need to help her, but the question is how.
Back to Evelyn's unusual proposal...Okay so I struggled with whether or not to include this in my review, but I decided it would be okay because it occurs fairly early in the book. However I'm putting in a spoiler box so if you wish to skip it you can. I don't think it will spoil the book though if you read it. Joel wanting to help Evelyn as much as he can, decides to become her friend and get to know her. Their relationship blossoms into a beautiful friendship as they grieve together and learn to lean on one another.
I liked their relationship! I felt that it progressed naturally and the author does a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life. In addition to the characters is the landscape of scenery of war in Europe and the life these people live. It's written in such a way that you feel the action and the dreary mud and rain, but also the bright spots of sun and happiness.
Overall I laughed, I cried, and my heart ached for these characters and the trials they were put through. Historical fiction has always been one of my vices and this author has done her research, keeping the time and culture present throughout the book. Not only that but it is a clean read with Christian influence throughout which just enhances it for me. If you enjoy historical romance, clean romance, and inspirational fiction I highly suggest you check out not just this book but all of Henrie's novels!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Hope Rising by [a:Stacy Henrie|5778153|Stacy Henrie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1340140237p2/5778153.jpg] is book two of her Of Love and War series and tells the story of Evelyn, a war nurse, and Joel, Livy's surviving brother and soldier. Joel is fighting at the front lines when he is injured and his best friend is killed. He is sent to the nunnery turned hospital where Evelyn works to be treated. Evelyn on her last leave fell in love with a soldier...(do you see where this is going?) Now she is pregnant and Joel brings news that her soldier, the man who told her he'd marry her is dead.
Evelyn is a finicky character to me. I had a hard time liking/relating to her. The book starts with her defending her morals. She won't fraternize with the soldiers because it's against the rules, then in a moment of weakness she decides a coffee won't hurt, next thing you know it's 12 weeks later and oops! She's pregnant. Okay I can overlook that. Then she receives news that Ralph (that's the soldier) is dead via his best friend, the irresistible and handsome Joel. She says she'll never love again. But then she makes this proposal to Joel (I'll go there in a minute) that completely contradicts that. I get it she's a woman, it's her job to change her mind, but really?! Honestly though I didn't connect with Evelyn, by the end of the story I was able to see things from her point of view and sympathized with her. So it's not all bad!
Joel reminds me of a guy-version of Livy from book one. Joel is the oldest child, has received news that his brother is dead, his sister is now married, and now his best friend dies in a battle that Joel feels guilty for. His struggles are relatable as he struggles with overwhelming guilt and grief, and also struggles with his faith in God. Joel doesn't ever give up on Him completely. He learns after his injuries that the life he's always wanted is no longer possible (not saying more because spoilers!!!) and he questions the path God has set him on. Then he meets Evelyn the girl Ralph was going on and on about, learns of her predicament and questions what he should do. He feels an overwhelming need to help her, but the question is how.
Back to Evelyn's unusual proposal...Okay so I struggled with whether or not to include this in my review, but I decided it would be okay because it occurs fairly early in the book. However I'm putting in a spoiler box so if you wish to skip it you can. I don't think it will spoil the book though if you read it.
Spoiler
So Evelyn knows that once the army finds out she is pregnant she will be discharged and sent back to live with her grandparents an unwed mother. Her other option is to hide the pregnancy as long as she can and pray she doesn't get sent to the front lines. She creates another option when she learns that Joel's dreams have been crushed by his injuries and asks him to wed her.I liked their relationship! I felt that it progressed naturally and the author does a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life. In addition to the characters is the landscape of scenery of war in Europe and the life these people live. It's written in such a way that you feel the action and the dreary mud and rain, but also the bright spots of sun and happiness.
Overall I laughed, I cried, and my heart ached for these characters and the trials they were put through. Historical fiction has always been one of my vices and this author has done her research, keeping the time and culture present throughout the book. Not only that but it is a clean read with Christian influence throughout which just enhances it for me. If you enjoy historical romance, clean romance, and inspirational fiction I highly suggest you check out not just this book but all of Henrie's novels!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.