Acquired Book By: I’ve been hosting for Prism Book Tours since September of 2017 – having noticed the badge on Tressa’s blog (Wishful Endings) as we would partake in the same blog tours and/or book blogosphere memes. As I enquired about hosting for Prism, I found I liked the niche of authors and stories they were featuring regularly. Oft-times you’ll find Prism Book Tours alighting on my blog through the series of guest features and spotlights with notes I’ll be hosting on behalf of their authors when I’m not showcasing book reviews on behalf of Harlequin Heartwarming which has become my second favourite imprint of Harlequin next to my beloved #LoveINSPIRED Suspense. I am also keenly happy PRISM hosts a variety of Indie Authors and INSPY Fiction novelists.
I received a complimentary copy of “The Certain Hope” direct from the author E.C. Jackson in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
On why this story appealled to me:
I love seeking out new authors of Inspirational Fiction on a regular basis – previously, I started to notice there are certain novelists of INSPY Lit who are not having a lot of light shined on their stories – these are the authors who are writing about religious heritage, culture and history which is outside of Christianity and/or authors who are writing about POC or other cultural heritages outside the regular scope of where INSPY Lit generally is focused upon. The unique thing there is the fact that INSPY is a full encompassing of *all!* religious beliefs and faith backgrounds – it is not limted by any individual religion because it is an umbrella which involves everything.
This is why I love seeking out different stories by an eclectically diverse sea of voices – I would have been reviewing & showcasing the works by Piper Huguley (@piperhuguley) if I hadn’t run into a bit of an issue in requesting her books & her series through ILL’ing resources. (this refers to inter-library loan) I am still intending to re-borrow her stories and finally bring her stories to Jorie Loves A Story. Til then, I savour the time I had within the first novel I read of hers and I can’t wait to return.
I regularly read stories of the Amish and Mennonite as much as I seek out Eastern Religious stories and stories which either offer a Jewish or Judeo-Christian perspective inasmuch as keeping an open mind about which religious backgrounds are explored through Inspirational narratives. This has also included LDS Fiction in the past and I still keep a ready eye out on new releases of LDS INSPY Lit as LDS is another protestant branch of the whole of Christianity.
Having said this – what really motivated me to want to read “The Certain Hope” is that it felt a bit like my love of Harlequin Heartwarming series – in how you can stumble into one of the latter installments and find your footing rather quickly. OR how if you pick up a Love INSPIRED or a Heartsongs Presents story, you immediately know your going to be in for a lovely Sweet Romance!
Being a hybrid reader of both INSPY & mainstream Lit since I was a child it is old hat now to move between both worlds of literature. I have been blessed this *2019!* to be able to join more than a few INSPY blog tours via Prism Book Tours. I was hoping I might be able to start joining INSPY focused blog tours as these stories are an uplift to my readerly life to devour & savour – how keen then, this Spring I’m off to a great start after having read the wonderful stories by Joanne Biscof!
On a very simplistic level – it was the name of the series which wooed me to wanting to read this novel – the *HOPE* series – what more could you ask for as a singular title in naming an INSPY serial? I hope my spotlight today might encourage you to seek out this author and her stories – however, you’re popping by to see what I’m currently reading – THIS is the book I have in hand!
The Certain Hope (Spotlight)
by E.C. Jackson
Source: Author via Prism Book Tours
Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.
Places to find the book:
ISBN: 978-0996181228
Also by this author: The Certain Hope
Also in this series: The Certain Hope
Published by Self Published
on 19th June, 2015
This series is self-published by the author
The Hope Series:
A Gateway to Hope (book one)
A Living Hope (book two) → Pajama Party: The Story (companion story)
The Certain Hope (book three) ← where I enter the series!
Converse via: #INSPYRomance + #SweetRomance
as well as #INSPYbooks + #Contemporary Romance
Available Formats: Trade Paperback and Ebook
About E.C. Jackson
E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. For three and a half years she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals. Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years naturally led to her current endeavor of writing inspirational romance novels and teen and young adult fiction. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.
A note from E. C. Jackson: “The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on my website and Facebook author page. If every person reading my book feels connected to the characters, my job is done.
how this story begins with a lovely preface of inspiration:
We are treated to a quotation from the (CJB) or the Complete Jewish Bible – it is a clever quote to have preface the story as it speaks to the humbling grace of faith and how by living a faith-lived life we are given certain assurances whilst alive and also extending into the next life. It is also speaking about the goodness of the world and how by doing random acts of kindness we are filling the spirit of others we might not realise need the boost of spirit prior to our paths crossing theirs. This is one reason why I know Ellen has made such a special impact on her viewers lives – she promotes “be kind to one another” after every show and throughout the show as it airs as well. For her, she’s living her kindness one day at a time and one hour of motivating people to extend an act of thoughtfulness and mindfully becoming aware of those in your community of whom you might be able to offer an encouragement of support.
The quotation in this novel speaks to the same humbling truth of how the kindnesses we give and the acts we do for the goodness of the moment their given is what unites us as a community but also as a society. For the more good we can exalt and purposefully bring forward the more Light and Peace there shall be in the world. For each soul who seeks to lift the spirits of another is a testament to our individual walks of faith as much as our sisterhood and brotherhood connections to one another as we’re all related through the trinity of which our beliefs are founded and rooted.
why i am wicked thrilled to be involved on this blog tour:
Last year, I had an unexpected pleasure of joy of hosting Becky Wade!! For the very first time since I developed my goals for reading *70 Authors of INSPY Lit* – I honestly felt like I was starting to get my rhythm moving in the right direction for this self-directed reading challenge of mine! There were other moments, too! Such as when I first started reading Brenda S. Anderson’s Coming Home series and when I finally had the chance to begin the Texas Gold series by Kellie Coates Gilbert!
As previously mentioned, I also was thrilled to have discovered Piper Huguley’s The Home to Milford College series – and my journey into seeking out more diverse voices in INSPY Lit continues this year, as I’ve stumbled across the collective works of E.C. Jackson! I was a bit worried about stepping into this series where I am – on the third novel in the established series – however, I am hoping I won’t regret this choice, as sometimes I break my own cardinal rule about NOT reading series out of sequence – as despite the fact I know most readers, authors & publishers have established an accord where “standalone” means it can “be read by itself” and be fully complete – I’ve had the opposite perspective for most of my life! Laughs with mirth.
I like tucking into how the stories and series begin as it lays down the foundation not just of the sequencing of the stories in a series – but it gives a valid entry point into a author’s particularly unique styling of narrative. In those cherished first stories of a series, the author develops his/her/their vision for the series, establishes the rooting of how this series would become centered and of course, the choices in which characters will kick-off the series.
For these reasons, I am wicked thrilled to bits to be on the blog tour celebrating Ms Jackson’s style of INSPY Literature! I can’t wait to tuck closer to her narrative and to develop my thoughts on behalf of the story I am seeing reveal itself in front of me! It is a lovely bit of joy to find the Indie Authors who are writing INSPY and especially the kind of INSPY I love to be reading! Let us remember to champion their voices and their stories – Indies have a special level of respect in my life as I’m an Indie girl at heart with Indie sensibilities! Not just as a reader but as a writer, too! Don’t just take my word on it – see how I broached this subject this week!
This blog tour is courtesy of:
Be sure to watch my tweets
to know when to return in order to know
what my ruminative thoughts were for this lovely novel!
{SOURCES: Book covers for “A Gateway to Hope”, “A Living Hope” and “The Certain Hope”, book synopsis, author biography, author photograph of E.C. Jackson, the tour host badge and Prism Book Tours badges were all provided by Prism Book Tours and used with permission. Post dividers badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: Stories in the Spotlight and the Comment Box Banner.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2019.
I’m a social reader | I tweet my reading life
#JorieReads | #INSPY #SweetRomance#newtomeauthor @ec_jackson
Quotation in this novel speaks to the humbling truth of how the kindnesses we give in the moment their given is what unites us as a society
?️https://t.co/Nf1sqYXwMT | @PrismBookTours
?#bookbloggers ?#IndieAuthors pic.twitter.com/QUt8R4VInQ— Jorie #WyrdAndWonder ?? (@joriestory) March 21, 2019
Jorie, thank you for hosting The Certain Hope! I will look forward to your tweet.
Thanks for stopping by Ms Jackson!
I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts and I loved writing this post ahead of revealling my review! I hope your having a wonderful week thus far and thanks for focusing on the INSPY side of Romance.