** “He’d always been taught that only in God’s perfect will lay the fullness of peace and joy.” **

Denise Weimer brings us the story of the 1865 sinking of the steamship Sultana in “When Hope Sank,” the third installment in the A Day to Remember series.

The overfilled Sultana is on its way to deliver released Union prisoners of war when an explosion occurs, killing about a thousand on board. Fortunately, Dr. Cade Palmer is able to escape, but badly injured.

After overhearing a secret meeting discussing an impending deadly situation, Lily Livingston quickly responds to the accident, saving Cade and bringing him to her uncle’s inn on the Mississippi River. While recuperating, the two grow closer, and also work together to figure out what might have caused the explosion and if further deadly deeds might occur.

“When Hope Sank” is a fictionalized telling of an actual event, filled with drama, intrigue, secrets and romance. Weimer does a great job of creating characters that are inspiring and brave, yet flawed and relatable. She fills the story with some great themes, too, like sharing pain makes it more bearable (“Pain is pain. It just hurts. … But it hurts a little less if you share it”); God can bring good from evil; God’s perfect will; truth and justice; and God can bring healing and redemption out of horrible circumstances.

Fans of historical fiction and Civil War era stories will love “When Hope Sank."

Five stars out of five.

Barbour Pub Inc. provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Readers who love Civil War fiction will not want to miss this story of the sinking of the Sultana. Based on true events, the author makes history become alive as many Union soldiers lost their lives as the ship blew up and sank. Readers will follow in the steps of Lily as she rescues Cade, an Union soldier and strives to help survivors in her uncle's guest house. Recommended!

Wonderfully written historical story of the sinking of the steamboat Sultana. The historical aspects of the story made it come alive and I was engaged from the beginning. The main characters are well-developed and lead interesting lives filled with hardships. Their struggles tugged at my heart.

The storyline takes place just after the Civil War with countless injured soldiers. There are accounts of espionage, deception, and betrayal, but the story also shows hope and faith in God. It's a good over evil, and sacrifice over selfishness story. You will be thinking about the story long after the last page is turned. An excellent and exciting story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Another great read from A Day to Remember series. I'd recommend, especially historical fiction fans.

Cade Palmer has been released from Andersonville at the close of the Civil War and has joined over 2000 passengers on the Sultana, bound for the North in order to muster out of the Army. A sudden disaster has all scrambling for their lives into the Mighty Mississippi. Helping with rescue efforts, Lily and her brother Jacob come upon Cade and his friend James and bravely bring them to safety.
The catastrophic explosion was dramatically portrayed. The realism was relatable. The subsequent story of Caleb’s recovery and the interesting facts woven in about spies, ciphers and machinations of the Confederacy even after the South surrendered, made for an enjoyable, thought provoking read.
Lily and Cade grow closer as she nurses him. “Pain is pain. It just hurts. But it hurts a little less if you share it.” And through it all they cling to God and His promises: “There is a perfect God waiting at the end of this. He will see justice done.”
I enjoyed this imagining of the real event of the Sultana disaster at the end of the Civil War.
*I read a copy of this book provided by Barbour via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

This book is part of a series of 6 novels about American disasters that have occurred and changed history due to the way it transformed landscapes and the lives of people who were there when it happened,

This book takes place in Arkansas during the Civil War – Confederate versus Union soldiers. A fiery explosion on April 27, 1865 of steamship Sultana, rendered over 2000 men either dead or flailing in frigid Mississippi River waters.

Lily Livingston, who works at her uncle’s inn, helps rescue some of the soldiers and take them to the inn to be taken care of. One soldier, Cade Palmer, has many injuries and she helps care for him. Together they try to figure out what caused the explosion.

This is an action-packed book that centers on faith, redemption, friendship, romance and so many other emotions. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical books.

I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

This was a well written historical fiction book.
It has a nice blend of mystery and some romance.
It’s a fast paced book that I read in one day.
Thanks to the publisher for the early copy

This is a great historical fiction taking place at the end of the Civil War. The steamship Sultana was carrying hundreds of POWs on their way north when it sank. Hundreds of men drowned in the Mississippi River. Luci Livingston and her brother Jacob rescued Lieutenant Cade Palmer and Cade was brought to their family inn where he and others who were rescued were nursed from their injuries. The book has mystery, deception, betrayal, romance and faith. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to give it a positive review.

Even though the Civil War is over, emotions on both sides are running high. Lt. Cade is badly injured from an explosion on the Sultana. The Union soldiers were on their way home when it sank. Lily, a southerner, risks her life to save him from drowning and her uncle opens his tavern to the wounded. Cade struggles with regret over the loss of his friend James. He felt responsible for him & to give him protection, even though he is badly injured himself. Things get even more dangerous when Lily and Cade discover a secret coded message that will change everything. But when Lily is kidnapped, an injured Cade makes rescuing her his top priority. "When Hope Sank" by Denise Weimer is a well written, action packed novel that is full of plot twists. It was very enjoyable to read & full of suspense. I received a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.

Days after being released from the horrific confines of Andersonville prison members of the U.S. Union military were loaded on to the steamship Sultana. The most disastrous of maritime tragedies took place April 27, 1865, when the vessel exploded on the Mississippi River. When Hope Sank, by Denise Weimer is a fiction story based on the disaster.
This is the story of Lieutenant Cade Palmer of the Union army who is rescued by Lily, the niece of local inn owners, Southerners. He is in fear of losing his ability to practice medicine due to injuries sustained. She is questioning her place and commitments made before the war. Danger surrounds them both.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book through NetGalley and this is my own unsolicited opinion about it. The author has done well in interspersing factual information from the time period when the country was still reeling from war, the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the unrest between citizens in this work. The book is full of intrigue, talk of sabotage, questions about the tragedy and investigation. I enjoyed reading about the time period, way of life in the region and the medical practices of the time when dealing with wounded people.
I think it is a story that shows the testing of faith, family dynamics and what God may will for His people. I found this to be an excellent addition to the "A Day to Remember" series.
I give it a 4.8

When Hope Sank is the third addition from the exciting mutli author series, A Day to Remember. Denise Weimer's contribution is based on the Civil War era steamboat explosion, Sultana. I thought the author did a great job writing about this disaster from the past. Lily and Cade's story is intriguing. I found it to be full of faith, trust, and hope. It was a book that could not be easily put down.

When Hope Sank is definitely a five star read. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean historical fiction based on real events in American history. I look forward to the next installment from A Day to Remember series to see what other disaster will be covered next.

I received a copy of Denise Weimer's When Hope Sank from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

WHEN HOPE SANK by DENISE WEIMER is one of the novels that feature American disasters that have affected the country and human life. It is a beautifully and sensitvely written account of the explosion and sinking of the river boat Sultana that was carrying freed prisoners from the Andersonville P.O.W. camp on April 27th 1825, shortly after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Feelings are high in Arkansaw after the Confederate defeat and the arrival of Union soldiers at River Rest, the establishment belonging to Lily Livingston’s uncle Thad, brings out hatred amongst the Southern sympathiers.
Uncle Thad, Lily and Lily’s young brother Jacob save the badly burned Lieutenant Cade Palmer, who is a qualified surgeon, and his friend James. Lily takes it upon herself to nurse Cade and to start with he is worried that Lily is his enemy….
I like to see how Cade and Lily, whose walk with God is sadly lacking due to the horrors they have each been through, grows as they pray for one another and for others……
It is a story about courage, unselfishness, understanding, compassion, forgivenes, hope and renewed trust in God, against a backdrop of evil, jealousy, hatred and fear.
I cannot recommend When Hope Sank highly enough. I found the book exciting and inspirational, giving one a great deal of food for thought.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGally from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

When Hope Sank is the third book in Barbour’s fantastic multi-author A Day to Remember series. This compelling fictional historical romance story recounts the April 27, 1865, sinking of the Sultana, a commercial steamboat transporting over two thousand former Union prisoners back home after the Civil War, and the aftermath for one of its survivors Cade Palmer and Lily Livingston, a resident of a small Arkansas town, who helped rescued him. I love the way their unlikely romantic relationship develops. The well-structured plot flows smoothly at a fitting pace. The characters are engaging and true-to-life. Intriguing suspense, authentic history, a hope-filled faith thread, and a bit of romance combine to make a poignant, satisfying read. I highly recommend this book and the series! Note: Each book in the series is a standalone and can be read in any order.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lily Livingstone heard the phrase "Free Arkansas" from a rough looking man who was admitted to her uncles' private rooms at the River Rest's Inn.
It was April of 1865 and the Civil War had just ended, but their part of Arkansas had been taken over by the Union since mid 1862 so the end of the war meant soldiers were coming home.

Lily got a call to serve in the back bar room and her cousin Beth was there with the man from the alley. His name was Frenchie and he tried to attack Lily but she was saved by Sutton, a friend of her old boyfriend Cecil Drake who was due back in a month. Lily also overheard them talking about blowing up a coal barge with paroled Yankee prisoners in it coming out of Memphis.
Lily got out of there as fast as she could!

A week later, Cade Palmer, an Army doctor and former prisoner, was on an overloaded coal ship out of Memphis along with his fellow released prisoners out of Andersonville, a horrible POW camp, when he heard explosions. He ran out of his cabin along with hundreds of others, trying to find safety. Cade found James his friend, when the boat was collapsing, and he injured his hand keeping a timber from smashing into James. Cade grabbed a door and flung it overboard, trying to save him and James, but they were both injured and barely hung on.

That night, Lily and her brother, Jacob, were woken up to help save people from a wreck, the same boat that stranded Cade and James. Lily and Jacob stretched out over a whirlpool to grab Cade and James from death!

The rescued men were put up in Lily's Uncles' hotel, and Lily helped nurse Cade who was bitter from his treatment and severely injured from the wreck. Lily and Cade grow close and find secrets...

What's not to love about this book? Swoon worthy romance? Check. Mystery and adventure? Check. Story of redemption and forgiveness? Check. This book grabbed my attention from the get go and never let go! What an awesome tale of the most unlikley circumstances that will keep you riveted and turning pages long into the night. I can't wait to delve into the other books within the series after getting a taste in this book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Denise Weimer held my interest to the end, as usual. After the civil war, the south and the north are far from friendly with each other. Lily and her brother are forced to live with their innkeeper uncle after their parents are killed. One night, the steamship Sultana explodes near the inn, ultimately killing over half its occupants. Lily and Jacob join in the rescue efforts along with the townspeople though feeling are mixed about the passenger list of the Sultana containing ex-POWS, now on their way back home. Many have been imprisooned in Andersonville, the tales of the horrors there familiar to them.
Lily and Jacob risk their lives in hte freezing river to save an man and his more critically injured friend. Amidist the screams and shouts they drag Cade and James to the shore where they are transported to their uncles inn along with other inhured men. Overnight the inn becomes more of a hospital than a travelers refuge, but the adventure is just beginning for Lily. She finds herself attracted to the handsome Lieutenant Cade, at odds with her aunt and cousin over the care of the men, and embroiled in a mysterious Confederate conspiracy.
Lily works to maintain her neutrality, nurse Cade to health and still perform her duties at the inn despite attention from her former beau, Cecil who wants more than she is willing to give.
Will Lily meet a fate worse than death as the conspiracy unravels and the role of her family is revealed? Can Cade's injuries heal sufficiently to re-establish his medical career? More importantly at the moment, does he have enough strength in his burned body and broken limb to rescue her from the gruesome plan of the dreaded Frenchy?
Weimer has written a page turner adventure, a heart fluttering romance and a history lesson all entwined together in When Hope Sank. You will thoroughly enjoy this one.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for an honest review

This is my favorite of the three books I've read in this series! All of these books are based on disastrous, and therefore sad events in history, but this one has more of a plot to it along with a mystery. Plus it ends a lot better, with much more hope! The characters are great too!!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

When Hope Sank by Denise Weimer occurs at the end of the Civil War. Times when families turned against each other. When a river boat explodes from possible sabotage and the town rescues the passengers, Lily Livingston jumps in to rescue two caught in a whirlpool. Lieutenant Cade Palmer barely survives. Can he trust Lily and the town to care for him even though the war is over? Between sabotage, sympathizers, and those trying to keep the war alive, what will happen? Who can be trusted? Unexpected twists throughout the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Riveting Story!

This might be my favorite book yet by author Denise Weimer! Taking place at the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War, When Hope Sank focused on the explosion of the steamship Sultana and its aftermath. In addition to the riveting action and drama from the event itself, this story shed light on the hostilities that still persisted after the war was over. There was heroism, bravery, espionage, family difficulties, spiritual encouragement and love, all of which made this book very hard to put down! Lily had already experienced much tragedy in her life prior to the Sultana explosion, and I greatly admired her strength of character as she worked through several difficulties in her current situation. And Cade, what a tremendous example of courage, not only in recovering from his physical injuries but also in making peace with his past and with God. While part of a series about disasters, I love the hope and blessings that could be found in spite of the tragic events. This book kept me up late and had me thinking about it after I finished. Highly recommend!

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are my own.

When Hope Sank is the installment 3 in the A Day to Remember historic disaster fiction series. The Sultana, a steamboat transporting Union POWs up north via the Mississippi River, explodes in Arkansas on April 17, 1865, About 2,000 men end up in the Mississippi River.

Lily follows her Uncle Thad to help rescue as many Union men as they can from the river. They bring the men back to Uncle Thad's inn to help them heal, despite the town being known to have Confederate sympathizers. One of those men, Cade Palmer, quickly forms a bond with Lily while she cares for him. Her attitude brings him hope as he struggles with injuries that may end his dream of being a surgeon.

Information surrounding the Sultana's explosion emerges and sabotage is a possible cause. Lily is conflicted with the idea that she might have been able to stop the explosion and save thousands of lives by reporting a conversation she overheard at her uncle's inn day before the explosion. Could she really have changed the outcome? Will her decision to withhold this information affect her and Cade's growing friendship?

Denise Weimer perfectly combines hope, romance, and historical details in When Hope Sank. I appreciated the message of hope and God making good from the bad. While quick, the romance between Cade and Lily is sweet and is based on ideals and faith. I look forward to reading more by Denise Weimer!