Passages of Hope (Doors To The Past Series)

The contemporary part of the story follows Gracie's research about the house, her efforts to start her own knitting business, and her developing relationship with Clarence, her neighbour's grandson. It's a sweet romance, but the depth in the story is in Gracie's personal journey. Gracie suffers from a deep-seated feeling of unworthiness, not helped by her Uncle Ryan, who seems to take every possible opportunity to find fault or bring her down. \\n\\nOlivia's story is where all the tension comes in. While we, the reader, know the house has survived, we have no idea of what happened to Olivia or her """"passengers""""-in particular, Beulah, a young mother escaping with her ill daughter, Hope. \\n\\nOlivia lives on the same street as well-known conductor and abolitionist William Still, and brings Still and his work to life brilliantly - the communications, the records, and the ever-present challenge presented by the slave catchers. As a history lover, I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the novel. \\n\\nRecommended for fans of dual timeline fiction from authors who aren't afraid to address some of the tougher aspects of US history, or those looking for Christian fiction featuring BIPOC characters. \\n\\nThanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.