I am confused about what I think about this book. On the one hand, it was a sweet story that was very detailed and had a nice outcome. It also dealt with some difficult issues that could legitimately happen to someone. I like a fairly likely story as opposed to something completely far fetched. That said, I have read far too many Christian books that show a non-believer experiencing a short struggle with their spirituality only to finally "get it" and become converted. This, I have never seen take place and so when I read about it over and over in Christian literature, I find it frustrating. God is capable of anything, and I realize this, but the frequency of the same short struggle (and who has time to pose a long struggle in a fiction book? I know this is a constraint) seems overused to me. I am taking something out on this book that I find to be chronic in this genre which isn't totally fair. I don't mean to peg just this book, I'm just voicing my overall frustration with this type of theme. Nonetheless, I think the author writes well, as the story was well told. If this had been my first dance with Christian fiction, this would have been the cat's meow! This is a cute story with likable characters. Hope is fun and spontaneous--the kind of person everyone likes--and is very easy to become attached to. Jay is genuinely nice, and (much to Hope's surprise!) is quite American acting for someone who was born in India.It was fun to watch their meeting and the subsequent growth of their friendship. Eventually their relationship changes to something more, and I found it particularly sweet when they started acting different and letting their feelings show, but at the same time they're not quite sure what to make of the subtle change in direction of their relationship.At times I felt the "preachy" level got up just a tad too high, although considering that Jay's search for truth and understanding is a fairly large part of the plot, I'm not sure it could be helped. Honestly, "preachy" isn't really even the right word....It's not heavy-handed, there's just a fair amount of conversations between Jay and Hope where they discuss Bible verses or various points of her faith.Overall, this was an enjoyable story, and though it's the first book I've read by Chautona Havig, I'm sure it won't be the last! I'm looking forward to checking out some of her other books in the future.
What do You think about Discovering Hope (2012)?
Humerous, easy reading. Good for a holiday! The cultural understanding made for interesting reading.
—DDizzle
This is a sweet story of friendship, loss, and faith. I enjoyed it completely!
—ellie00325
