Monday, November 18, 2024

HOPE LIKE WILDFLOWERS by Pepper Basham, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney


REBECCA'S REVIEW:

"Winter pansies. A simple little wildflower and yet, the way it rose toward the light despite the snow and wind captured a part of her doubts and wouldn't let go."

Lush with Appalachian wisdom and lore, this novel ushers in a vibrant modicum of hope; much like wildflowers pushing stubbornly and doggedly through a dusting of winter snow. Charming characters, bearing the brunt of past mistakes and poor decisions take center stage in this most remarkable story of everlasting restoration from the inside out . . .

Banished from her family, ("You done ruint yourself, girl. And I ain't got no place for ruint young'uns.") her father's declaration still ringing in her ears, Kizzie McAdams manages to trek across her beloved mountains towards the father of her unborn child, Charles Morgan. Collapsing from fatigue and pains signaling that her time was about up to secure shelter, Kizzie is rescued by a friend in time to provide a safe delivery. But after that? . . . .her starry eyed indiscretions have only made Charles more determined to make promises that he has no intentions of keeping.

There was only one Person who could give Kizzie the everlasting, enduring love that she so separately sought . . . and it was embodied in a Savior who offered a promise that He could (and would!) keep . . . "I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine".

Deciding to begin her new life in a new place, Kizzie and baby Charlie travel towards The Hollows one snowy evening where a chance meeting with an injured man (who imagines she is a "snow spirit" in his delirium), defies all expectations of leaving romance behind. Safe guarding her tender heart is going to be much harder than she thought . . . around Noah Lewis.

The sweetest of restoration stories . . . for only God can redeem what we cannot change. . . giving us hope . . . like wildflowers.
*I received a copy from the publisher, and I also purchased a copy. 4.5 stars

SEE PAULA'S REVIEW

BackCover Blurb:
An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong

Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams's story.

Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.

Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.

Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose? 

Barbour Fiction, October, 2024
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