Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham | Review
One of my new favorite books.
Check the back cover, followed by my review.
Back Cover
An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong
Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams’s story.
Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.
Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.
Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose?
My Review
This book had me captivated from the start. Kizzie’s story will stay with me for awhile, especially after reading the background of it in the Author’s Note (be sure to read it).
Pepper’s gift of storytelling is astounding in Hope Like Wildflowers. So beautifully and delicately written, and with intense heavy themes. So, so well done.
Danger, forgiveness, repentance, a love story, and so much redemption in these pages. The words ‘too wonderful’ from Psalm 139 never jumped out at me before, but it will now.
Hope Like Wildflowers is one of my new favorite historical fiction reads, not just of the year, but all time. Read with tissues.
I give Hope Like Wildflowers 5 stars.
Note: Hope Like Wildflowers is part of a series! Be sure to read Laurel’s Dream and The Heart of the Mountains both, by Pepper Basham, as well!
About the Author
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC, where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com; Facebook: @pepperbasham; Instagram: @pepperbasham; Twitter: @pepperbasham; BookBub: @pepperbasham.
