And those who Know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

I was so drawn into this story. We can be drawn to faith in God because of many reasons. Some desire blessing, a good life, a strong family. All good reasons but for it to be lasting and on a strong foundation it must be for Christ alone. Hannah Prescott received a phone call that changed her life completely. It exposed a lie that she had been living without realizing. Her mother had married an Amish man without considering the cost of the Amish life. The sacrifices made were to great so she had left with her 5 year old daughter. Now Hannah a successful chef and the with the call from her mother's parents to see them before her grandfather dies, makes the ultimate sacrifice. She also meets the father she does not remember.

Her emotions are big. Wondering what life would have been like if she would have stayed Amish. What did she miss in community and family, and faith. She dives deeper in know her Amish roots when she takes a part time job caring for a widowers children. She slowly is drawn to the Amish way and understanding of faith, sacrifice, and love. Highly recommend.

A special thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I do believe I have discovered a new favorite author! Ms. Johnson created a wonderful novel about a young woman who was quite alone in the world that discovered she had an incredible family who was missing her for almost her entire life.

Hannah was finally able to settle down as a young adult with the start of her career as a chef in a quality restaurant when she was in her 20's. She grew up in the only life she remembered being moved from place to place as her mother moved from one relationship to another. She believed her father to be deceased, and knew of no family beyond her mother. She loved her mother, but never felt she had any stability to her life. She learned to cook and started taking over all meal preparations (including the purchase of food and ingredients) and cleaning when she was just 9 or 10 years old. She later went on to cooking school, as this was an area she loved.

One day while she was at work at the restaurant, she received a phone call from a woman claiming to be her grandmother. This was following a call from her mother telling her to not accept any such calls, as the individuals calling her would fill her with lies. Anyhow, she discovered grandparents, an Amish father, an Amish step-mother, and many step siblings.

This book went on to delve into such wonderful and deep aspects of such a broken childhood, and wove in such wonderful attributes of love and forgiveness that this story was very hard step away from. The mother was clearly struggling from some form of mental illness. Hannah struggled to forgive her mother for all she took away from her, but then she discovered and realized that her mother truly did love her in the only way she could. Her mother's outlook on life was very different...likely due to the mental illness. The character development in this story was beautiful! I loved the depth of emotions when Hannah met all of her family (grand parents, and father). She found the life she was born into, and ultimately belonged in. Much of her love of cooking was explained thru those who initially worked on teaching her these things. The story also showed how many of the characteristics we are raised with and taught at an early age do stay with us for life. They do guide us as we become adults, and shape who we become.

I will absolutely be watching for more books by this author. Her story telling is a delight to read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 stars

I have completely enjoyed every book in the Tompkins’ Mill series by Janice Kay Johnson, but Finding Hope is hands-down my fave of the three, and I’m so sad that it’s the final book. I would gladly return to these characters in a heartbeat, and I hope Johnson has some more Amish romance up her writing sleeve!

Since meeting Gideon on the pages of Mending Hearts, I very much wanted a happily-ever-after for him & his precious kids – and I wanted a front row seat to watch it happen. Johnson definitely delivers, with instant sparks between Gideon & Hannah and a nearly-immediate connection between his kids & Hannah as well. Gideon’s tenderness toward his children, his easy laughter with Hannah, his dedication to his farm & his neighbors … each of these things meant Hannah wasn’t the only one who was a bit weak in the knees whenever he showed up on the page. That first kiss…. SWOON!! Be still my heart!

Hannah is such a compelling heroine. Stolen away from her Amish father by her flighty mother at only five years old, she’s always struggled to ‘belong’. Returning to Tompkins Mill over twenty years later, she feels right at home with her mother’s non-Amish parents but is surprised at how easy it is to adjust to her Amish family as well. The language, the worship, the work, the food, even the buggies – they all tug at her memories and fill her with a sense of purpose and belonging. But feeling at home and converting to the Amish faith are two very different things, and I appreciated the approach the author took with this aspect to Hannah’s story.

I also loved the gentle notes of faith included here, particularly as it deals with forgiveness and how it’s impossible on our own strength, without God’s help. Hannah’s mixed emotions regarding her mother are authentically addressed, honest feelings met with honest advice & the peace that passes understanding. Gideon is not without his own need to forgive, for both past and present wounds and, while their two situations are different on the surface, at the heart of the matter there are many similarities.

Bottom Line: Finding Hope by Janice Kay Johnson is a heartwarming and romantic finale to her fabulous Tompkins Mill series. The series theme of returning home resonated deeply with me, in unexpected ways, and the characters have taken up their own place in my heart. Especially in Finding Hope. Gideon, Hannah, Zeb, and Rebekah are each endearing in their own ways, and I also delighted in catching up with the people I loved in the first two books. I think it’s also fair to warn you that you will – at some point in the story – begin drooling over the yummy food that Hannah whips up, so be prepared haha. Love, faith, and of course hope flourish in this story, and I look forward to any additional inspirational romances from this author in the future!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

FINDING HOPE is the third and final book in the TOMPKIN’S MILL series by Janice Kay Johnson, and I didn’t want it to end. I savored every word in this rich story of how the worlds of the Amish and Englischers once again come together in unexpected ways. This is Gideon and Hannah’s story, but it is so much more as we’re transported to the small town of Tompkin’s Mill. I love how Gideon’s children were such a large part of the story.

The characters have a real depth to them. Hannah’s life was shaped through the selfishness of her mother’s actions, and Hannah was heartbroken to hear the lies her mother told throughout her life. Hannah’s relationship with the family she never knew was heartwarming but heartbreaking for all that they missed out on. Her mother was hard to like, given her self-centeredness.

It was pleasurable to meet up with characters we’ve met before in the previous two books, though this one stands alone well enough. The story involves secrets and lies, the church, counseling, and family. There are multiple storylines woven seamlessly together. The descriptions of the food were rich in detail, and a lot of Deitsh words sprinkled throughout (clearly explained) added another layer of realism to the story.

FINDING HOPE is filled with introspection and the strength of their faith. There is ultimately love and a happily ever after, but I wish the story had gone on just a little longer.

I’ve read all the books in Ms. Johnson’s TOMPKIN’S MILL series. Her writing reminds me of both Amy Lillard and Rachel J. Good, two authors who are my go-to for Amish stories no matter where they are set. Give her books a try if you haven’t already.

A Recommended Read!

Finding Hope by Janice Kay Johnson is the 3rd A Tompkin’s Mill Novel. It can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend each book in this charming Amish series. I thought Finding Hope was well-written with developed characters. I loved the unique concept of this book. A woman who learns that her mother took her away from her family when she was five years old. She discovers she has a large extended family, and she spent her early years as Amish. I was able to put myself into Hannah’s place courtesy of the author’s writing which allowed me to understand what she is experiencing. My attention was grabbed right away, and it was held until the end. The story moved along at a good pace. I liked the alternating point-of-view that allowed us to see things from different perspectives. I was up late finishing Finding Hope (I wanted to find out how everything turned out). I enjoyed returning to Tompkin’s Mill for this heartwarming Amish tale.

Now this is the third book in this series that I have read, but I really don’t think you would be lost, except for some great reads, to pick this one up.
I love the way this author’s mind works, what a great concept, and we are gifted with her words for this page turner of a book. Yes, page turn I did, I needed answers and the thus I was riveted and enjoying this read.
Can you remember you life at five? Some yes, and for Hannah, this is the last time she saw her father and Grandparents. Then what her mother does to her father, but in a way it was a gift, and she now has brothers and sisters.
I love how this read all worked out and wrapped up, so sad, some wonderful, but left me wanting more!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Berkley and was not required to give a positive review.

"Finding Hope" by Janice Kay Johnson is the third book in the Tompkins Mill series. Hannah is low key and goes with the flow; her mother enjoys life to the fullest, so Hannah is used to taking care of things. However, Hannah learns that she was stolen from her Amish father at a young age. Hannah decides she must learn who she is and what she could have been. She connects with her father and her Amish heritage. Hannah must decide if she is willing to leave her familiar life for a new beginning.

Thank you to @NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel for review.