Book Review of 'Abounding Hope' by Cindy Kay Stewart

Hello Bookworms!

Welcome to another week and another review from yours truly! It's been a few months since I've read a good World War II historical fiction, so I was excited to finally get to read Abounding Hope, a new release from Cindy Kay Stewart. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this powerful novel and have a wonderful start to the week!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Abounding Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Abounding Hope
Series: Circle of Hope #1
Author: Cindy Kay Stewart
Publisher: Hope Springs Press LLC
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Genre: WWII Christian Historical Romance

Poland’s looming defeat forces an American teacher to escape with children wanted by the Nazis.

It’s late August, 1939, and the world is on the brink of war. The Nazis are threatening Poland, but American teacher Irena Simmons refuses to flee to safety. She’s dedicated her life to serving in her church and school, and she’s watching over the little German boys she whisked to safety the year before. When her former classmate, Jonathan, surprises her in Lvov and insists she leave with him before the war starts, Irena balks. Nothing will interfere with her work—especially a man making demands.

American shipping magnate Jonathan Huntwell had a crush on Irena in school. When their former classmates select him to travel to Poland and escort her out before it’s too late, he doesn’t expect the inner turmoil she ignites in him. Although honor-bound to aid any friend in trouble, Jonathan acknowledges that Irena is more than an obligation to him. However, he must keep his feelings hidden, or he’ll jeopardize their friendship.

Irena soon discovers that the Gestapo agent she successfully evaded in Germany has found her in Poland, and he’s after her young charges. When the Germans invade, Jonathan is in Denmark on business, too far away to help. As the rising danger threatens everything Irena holds dear, she must find a way to protect those she loves.

Based on true events and backed by extensive research, Abounding Hope is sure to delight fans of WWII adventure cloaked in sweet romance. Come to the place where the war began and discover hope in the darkest places.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Bookbub

My Review

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially those that are set during World War II, so I was excited to pick up a Christian fiction that fit this criteria and dove in with both feet. I was not disappointed with this powerful story that shows a rather unique perspective.

Irene is an American that is teaching and living in Poland when the whispers of the Second World War start becoming more than rumors, and Irene has to flee with several of her students in hopes to get away from the looming German threat. Her childhood friend Jonathan is there to help her and the children along the way, but due to certain choices and circumstances that go along with trying to leave this volatile area during this tumultuous time they are separated, leaving Irene to go on this very scary journey alone.

The main characters are truly living on a prayer as they traverse the darkness that is Europe trying to escape the heavy hand that is the Nazi regime, not only with their own lives but the lives of innocent children. Their faith is tested but remains strong despite all of the issues that arise at an alarming rate, a fact that was uplifting and inspiring to me.

These are characters that you want to root for, and even though there isn’t gruesome details about what the characters endure that does not take away from how powerful this story is at its core. Hearing the voices of the children was quite unique, though I felt like there was quite a bit of unnecessary dialogue that could’ve cleaned up the narrative a bit, but that was my only complaint. I thought Abounding Hope was masterfully written with characters that you can’t help but fall in love with that are sadly found fighting to survive one of the most nightmarish times in history.

My Rating: ★★★★

About the Author

Cindy Kay Stewart, a retired high school social studies teacher, current church pianist and Christian historical romance author, writes stories of hope, steeped in love, and anchored in faith. Passionate about revealing God’s handiwork in history, Cindy loves to research until she uncovers hidden gems to share with her readers. She resides in North Georgia with her college sweetheart and husband of forty-two years. Her daughter, son-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren live nearby.

Connect with Cindy by visiting cindykaystewart.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of Abounding Hope, and an e-book copy of Escape (true stories of escape from WWII)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 9, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 16, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!