This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for review. It is by some of my favorite authors. The story is about placing orphans in compassionate homes. Some of it is difficult to read because of the plights of the children, but other parts are heartwarming. Try this one.

This is the sequel to "Unyielding Hope," and if you're the fan of the Hallmark shows "When Hope Calls," you'll want to check these books out.

This book picks up where the prior book ended, with Lillian and Grace continuing their work with the orphans, so it's best to read them in order. There is a bit of a romance angle, but it's not the key focus, which I appreciated. I liked the fact that the main story centered on the faith journey for each character.

The story immerses the reader in the early 1900s in Canada. Great attention was paid to the historical details. It's easy to engage with the characters and root them on. And it's heartwarming to see faith in action throughout the book.

In a world filled with formulaic romance novels, Sustaining Faith, by my very first favorite author, Janette Oke and her daughter, Laurel Oke Logan, is a refreshing change. A sequel to Unyielding Hope, Sustaining Faith continues the story of Lillian and Grace, sisters separated at the death of their parents.


In this novel, Lillian and Grace continue their work with orphans, striving to protect them from unscrupulous potential adoptive parents and to find them loving homes, all while they deal with the ramifications of a white lie told to protect the children in their care.

Meanwhile, Ben Waldin is doing his part to protect an orphan he rescued in England and protected on the long journey to Canada by ship and then west by train, all while searching for his own family.


While there is a hint of romance between Lillian and Walter, the focus of the story is really the journey of faith that each character must take. It's a slice of life that doesn't really end with the end of the book.


It appears that the novels were written to go with the Hallmark series, which is a bit disappointing since Hallmark hopelessly mangled both the Love Comes Softly and the Canadian West series beyond recognition. It makes me wonder how the Oke duo would have handled the story without considering the guidelines of the show.

That said, I did enjoy stepping into the lives of these characters and learning more about orphans and adoption in this time period.


The first book is available free from Kindle Unlimited, so grab it now so you can read it before Sustaining Faith is released June 1!

Karen


*I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sustaining Faith by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

A deeply moving and heartwarming story of faith and new-found family. For those who have enjoyed Janette Oke’s books this is another wonderful look at Canada in the early 1900s. The second book in the When Hope calls series, Sustaining Faith continues the story of Lillian Walsh and her sister Grace who run a Children’s Home in the wilds of western Canada.
The authors attention to historical detail is wonderful. I especially enjoyed how they shed light on the plight of immigrant children during this time period, and
I found myself becoming very emotionally attached to the characters as I cheered them on along their journey.

SUSTAINING FAITH is the second novel in the When Hope Calls series by JANETTE OKE and LAUREN OKE LOGAN. It is a beautifully written book in which we are taken right into the characters' emotions. Being about orphans, namely Home Children sent to Canada from Britain, it is heart wrenching, especially when you come across those who try to profit from unpaid labour, like the Szwedas, or those who are not doing their job like Quinley Sinclair.
However there are people who are prepared to do anything they can for the children. Lillian Walsh is distressed that she told a lie to save the six year old twins, Milton and Mattie, nearly losing the children's home she runs with her sister Grace because of it. Ben Waldin feels sad for the children he looks after on the ship to Canada. He makes a decision to save Jane Henry's life, which also involves subterfuge.
There is so much uncertainty with regard to the children's future and Lillian and Grace, who are both Christians, are sustained by their faith, realizing that the Lord can sort out their problems much better than they can in their own strength. In fact we see Christianity in action as they care for their charges with unconditional love.
It is an enjoyable and inspirational read which gives a person a great deal of food for thought, and it is one I highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. the opinions in this review are completely my own.