Passages of Hope by Teri Haynes is a split-time novel that switches between present-day and 1855 Philadelphia. It chronicles the story of two women, Olivia and Gracie, whose stories intertwine.
When Gracie inherited the house from her grandmother, she was surprised to discover that the house held a secret. This puts her on a path to discover the secrets of the house while retaining ownership of it. Gracie’s ownership of the house created problems in her family that were not fully explained and were not resolved.
I did not connect with Gracie. I felt as if we were thrust into her grief before we got to know her. Also, there were too many threads in her story, many of which were not resolved or felt rushed. She spent too much time crying and not enough time fighting for what she claimed she believed in. Even the yarn shop that she claimed was her dream career was fought for by her deceased grandmother and Clarence more than by her. I kept waiting for her to confront her uncle who was mean to her the entire book, to fight for what she believed in, but she never did.
I enjoyed the side character of Mia and was intrigued by the hints of her story that appeared throughout this book. I also enjoyed watching the characters search for clues that proved the history of the house and its connection to the Underground Railroad
In 1855, Olivia is a conductor on the Underground Railroad and her story was fascinating. I found myself looking forward to Olivia’s chapters as I waited to see what would happen to the characters. Passages of Hope gave an interesting glimpse into what life may have been like for the passengers and conductors of the Underground Railroad. Still, there were threads in Olivia’s story that felt rushed as the author tried to resolve the issues.
Readers will be reminded that God has a plan for their lives though the plan may not unfold how they expect it to.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.
About Passages of Hope
Discover the Story Behind a Secret Passageway
Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure. Gracie Kingston begins renovations on the Philadelphia house inherited from her grandmother and finds a secret room. It is connected to a house nearby, the home of William Still, the man known as the father of the Underground Railroad. As she researches, she discovers a mystery in her house’s ownership.
In 1855, Olivia Kingston helps a mother and her young child by hiding them in a secret room in her home. As she helps, she learns that there may be an impostor conductor in their community. As Gracie’s and Olivia’s stories intertwine, they learn the meaning of sacrifice and love.
Purchase Passages of Hope on Christianbook | Barbour Books
About Terri J. Haynes
Terri J. Haynes holds a certificate in Creative , an Associate’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Theology. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, a 2010 Genesis Finalist ryland.