Heartwarming story of strength and compassion -- Room for Hope

From the aroma of Neva's "savory vegetable stew" in the very first paragraph, to the "smile of pure hosanna" in the last paragraph, Kim Vogel Sawyer vividly engaged all my senses in her heartwarming story, Room for Hope.  Kim has crafted a beautiful story filled with strength and compassion, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression.

Neva and her children, Jesse, Randall and the other characters come to life on the page as their lives are turned upside down and they face a variety of challenges.  One of things that makes Kim's stories so fantastic is her ability to draw her readers into the almost real lives of the people she writes about.

If you love great historical fiction written from a Christian perspective, I'm sure you will enjoy Room for Hope -- as well as everything else Kim Vogel Sawyer has ever written!

Thanks to Kim and her publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

In a desperate time, can Neva find forgiveness for a grievous wrong—and make room for hope?

Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon. In his absence, she faithfully runs the Shilling Mercantile, working to keep their business strong as the Depression takes its toll, and caring for their twins.

When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.”

Neva’s heart is shattered as she realizes that Warren’s month-long travels were excuses for visits with his secret family. She wants nothing more than to forget Warren, but can she abandon these innocent children to an orphanage? Yet if she takes them in, will she ever be able to see them as more than evidence of her husband’s betrayal and love them the way God does?

About the Author:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the highly acclaimed, best-selling author of gentle stories of hope such as What Once Was Lost and Through the Deep Waters. With more than one million books in print, Kim has garnered numerous awards including the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. She lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don. She enjoys travel, quilting, and spending time with her daughters and grandchildren.