
Kristina Anderson
The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh is cute Amish novel. I enjoyed this first book in the Unexpected Gifts series. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing and developed characters. I liked the characters in this story that included Hope Beiler and Aaron Kanagy. I especially loved Hope’s grandmother, Mammi. She was a delight. Another fun character is Aaron’s mother, Ruth. I enjoyed the setting of Charity Creek. It sounds like a charming town. The romance between Aaron and Hope was sweet. Their two families are at odds with each other, but the only two people who know why are not spilling the beans. Aaron does not understand why Hope is not friendly to him in the beginning. He has no clue that Hope overheard him something uncomplimentary the previous year. I like how Hope’s bridge played into their romance and the story. It is special how Aaron and Hope complemented each other. Hope and Aaron both had unexpected gifts that worked well together. The Gift of Hope had joy, faith, hope, and love. While The Gift of Hope is a predictable story, it did not hinder my reading pleasure. I am eager for the next book in the Unexpected Gifts series. The Gift of Hope is a sweet Amish tale with wondrous woodcrafts, a bonny bridge, a matchmaking mama, a furious father, a gregarious grandma, and two feuding families.