The Gift of Hope

Kristen McKanagh

Apr 2021 · Unexpected Gifts Book 1 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

A cheerful giver is twice blessed in this first novel in an Amish series by Kristen McKanagh.

Hope Beiler needs Aaron Kanagy’s help. She is determined to give her sister a beautiful new bed frame as a wedding present, and Aaron is the best carpenter in Charity Creek. Unfortunately, she can’t move past something he said last year…and there’s unexplained animosity between their fathers that makes interacting difficult. 

Aaron wishes he could spend more time honing his woodworking craft, but his parents need help running their gift shop. When Hope approaches him with a solution that will allow them both to achieve their goals, he accepts. As they work together, Aaron finds himself captivated by Hope, and it becomes easy to picture a lifetime partnership together.  

Unfortunately, Hope’s already wounded pride means she doesn’t give Aaron the answer he expects. At the same time, her father discovers what they’ve been doing and forbids Hope from seeing the Kanagys anymore. As secrets from the past come to light, will these two strong-willed souls—and their families—learn that pride comes before every fall, but hope helps us rise again?

Ratings and reviews

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.

About the author

Sweet contemporary and Amish romance author Kristen McKanagh grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) and an MBA. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it. Kristen also writes award-winning steamy contemporary romance as Kadie Scott, and award-winning paranormal and YA fantasy romance as Abigail Owen. No matter the genre, she loves to write happily-ever-afters that shine with home, heart, and humor. Kristen currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero husband and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.