About the Book Book: A Journey for Hope Author: Stacy T. Simmons Genre: Contemporary Romance Release date: January 17, 2023
With one “yes” everything Hope Fuller has sought could be hers.
Hope Fuller has life all planned out. Following a short trip to Briar Creek, North Carolina to help her sister, Hope will return home to Florida and begin her teaching career. Alas, keeping her trip short proves challenging after she sees someone from her past—a handsome lawyer who makes her heart want to plant itself within the community.
Dylan Gaines is just starting out his small-town legal practice and has his own plans for life. However, his reunion with Hope just might change some of them. Then again, their last attempt at romance ended up straining their friendship.
What will it take for Dylan and Hope to strike out on a different journey this time, one where love takes the wheel and leaves solitary plans in the dust?
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About the Author
Stacy T. Simmons writes uplifting fiction that delights the reader’s romantic sensibilities. Thirty-four years of marital bliss is a great contributor. She is a mom of two grown children, and she and her family have a menagerie of pets she likes to call “Noah’s Ark.” You can find her working on her next manuscript with a piece of dark chocolate and a cup of coffee nearby. She loves to connect with her readers via her web site at www.stacytsimmonsauthor.com
More from the Editor A Light to the World by Denise Barela This is a hard one for me to write and share. I’m writing this article, not as an author, but as an editor. This past year we lost an amazing sister in Christ, and her loss has been felt even in the small things. This month, Stacy T. Simmons’ book, A Journey for Hope releases. We were still in the editing process when she passed away, so I’ve taken over the editing of the book and have been working hard to ensure it stays as true to the way she wrote it as it can be. Stacy worked hard on this book, and we wanted to make sure her words were shared with her readers. Stacy was such an encouragement to so many people. She would respond to emails letting you know how grateful she was or sending a little bit of encouragement for that particular day. She’s touched so many people’s lives, and it was so heartwarming to see all the authors posting how much she’d touched their lives in the last several years. We wanted to honor her memory and hard work with this book. I’ve never had to take on another author’s role in applying edits. I’ve only ever tackled my own as a whole. I know I’m bound to make a few mistakes since I don’t know all the thoughts she put into some of what she wrote, but I’m doing my best to keep her ideas and message intact. I’m so grateful for the privilege of knowing her for the short time I did. She was an incredible person whose love for the Lord shone through. I know I’ll get to see her again in heaven one day. Until then, I will work to bring her story to the world all shiny and polished. I hope you find her words inspiring and heartwarming.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 10
HappyWhenReading, February 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11
Back Porch Reads, February 11
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 12
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 13
An Author’s Take, February 14
deb’s Book Review, February 15
Christina’s Corner, February 15
Simple Harvest Reads, February 16 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 17
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 17
She Lives To Read, February 18
Sylvan Musings, February 19
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 20
Holly’s Book Corner, February 20
Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 20
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 21
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, February 21
Texas Book-aholic, February 22
Blogging With Carol, February 23
For Him and My Family, February 23
Giveaway To celebrate Stacy’s tour, Celebrate Lit is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
My Review:
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Celebration Lit tour; however, my opinions are my own.
First let me say, I was sorry and shocked when I heard of Stacy’s passing. She had been a guest on my blog and a supporter of my writing on various social media sites. She brought a light to the world and a smile to my face.
Next, let me say I enjoyed this book, especially the proposal—that’s not a spoiler in a romance, is it? I loved reading about places in North Carolina I’ve visited, and some I haven’t.
But…I know there might be a trend not to say anything negative because a beloved friend wrote the book before she passed. However, that wouldn’t be honest. I honestly think she needed to have a chance to edit this before publishing and even an editor couldn’t quite fix a few crucial things.
Of those—first is the glaring issue that nothing ever really happens. There is no dark moment. There is no crisis. The story is a nice, realistic love story where there is no real doubt that the couple are going to be together. Then, there is their past relationship—unless I totally missed it, we never know why they broke it off before. Finally, the heroine’s best friend disappears and misses out on a very important event at the end of the book that’s just not realistic.
So, I enjoyed the book but I wish the author had been given a chance to fix issues I’m sure she would have caught—and I wish the author was still around to live her life, too.
But we both believe in a God who loves His children and wants what is best for us—and she is getting to experience His love firsthand right now, and nothing could be better than that.