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BOOK REVIEW: A Shelter of Hope
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by: Laura V. Hilton Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: A Shelter of Hope Author: Tracie Peterson Publisher: Bethany House ISBN: 0-7642-0048-8 Genre: Inspirational/Historical/Romance Simone Dumas is terrified of her father. He beats her and her mother and comes home drunk on a daily basis. Simone’s mother finally has enough of the cruelty and takes Simone’s baby brother and flees, promising Simone she’ll come back and rescue her. But before the mother can reach safety, Simone’s father murders her and the baby. Not knowing what else to do, Simone stays with her father, learning when to avoid him. But when his cruelty surpasses reason, Simone finally finds the courage to flee. Scared for her life, Simone runs from the vast Wyoming Territory and heads the one way she’s sure her father won’t—East. But as she heads east, it never seems far enough away, until she reaches the huge town of Chicago. She’s told a person could live there all their life and never see the whole town. Chicago feels safe. Needing work, Simone applies for a job as a Harvey girl. Jeffery O’Donnell is desperate for help and hires Simone, despite the fact that she doesn’t have any references. But something isn’t quite right about the lovely petite woman with hidden talents. Soon, he starts developing feelings for Simone in spite of the fact that she harbors disturbing secrets. Will these secrets have the potential to destroy lives? Will love be able to endure? A Shelter of Hope is the first book in the Westward Chronicles. It is well-written and engaging. I felt sorry for Simone living in such abusive situations, and in spite of the fact that her mother is a minor character in the book, I cried when she abandons Simone and is killed. Jeffery is trying to run a business long-distance and is desperate for help to the point of not waiting the usual time to check Simone’s past. He is every way a gentleman, and is intrigued by the mysterious Simone. Ms. Peterson is skilled at bringing the bustling depot and Harvey House restaurant to life, as well as the historical time period in which the story is set. I highly recommend A A Shelter of Hope for an enjoyable read. $12.99. 302 pages. |
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