“Except God don’t create accidents. We only think there are accidents because we don’t know what God has in mind.”
Jenilee Lane saw the tornado rip through the nearby town, wondering why she is spared. She can see damage to the neighbor’s farm house and takes her father’s tractor to see if anyone needs help. She knows he’ll be mad about it when he and her brother get back from Kansas City, but she feels she had to check. She hears a cat mewing when she gets there and discovers a girl and her grandmother trapped in the cellar and rescues them. This small act of defiance to her father’s wishes at the age of 21 sends her life down a different path than it was headed.
I’ve enjoyed several of Lisa Wingate’s books and recently read the first book in this series, Tending Roses. I put Good Hope Road on hold right after finishing Tending Roses and it was available as an ebook from my library in just a week. Wingate’s book Before We Were Yours is one I highly recommend.
As Jenilee waits to hear about how her father and brother fared through the numerous tornadoes, she starts helping in town. She’s spent years working for the town vet and helps him provide medical aid to the town’s injured. Whenever she walks in town, she gathers up the papers and photos she finds and then starts posting them in the town armory for people to claim. The power of community and connection shows as the book explores how both Jenilee and the town recover from this disaster.
Good Hope Road is a story about breaking free, following your heart and forgiveness. The characters are believable and the story captivated my attention. Readers who love books that really delve into a character’s life will enjoy Good Hope Road.
Have you experienced a disaster first-hand? Share your story in the comments!