(I know I worded that terribly, but just trust me on this.I guess that's a good reason to buy the book - see for yourself!) I think that the central themes in this story - hope, healing, forgiveness, trust, and growth - are probably really important messages to read about, especially in the world right now and it's definitely a quick, sweet, and impactful story to read! Sometimes when that first step toward freedom is taken (whether literally/physically or spiritually), things get ten times harder instead of better - and Lena's story proves that if you just keep trusting God and moving forward regardless of the problems you'll face as you progress, you'll still be able to move on and find a better situation for yourself. Lena's story really focuses on looking for that one bit of hope, that one thing that proves you'll get through the situation you're in now and also the importance of trusting God.

The book follows her as she learns to open up to one or two folks about her problems at home, and also earns her way into the hearts of those she serves in the mountain region near her home. She's also judged by a few townsfolk, who assume her to be just as terrible as her mother. This story not only works with the issues that Lena faces at home, but also with the problem that she has as a packhorse librarian - which many real packhorse librarians dealt with 'back in the day': not many people along her mountain route trusted her easily.

She's written so well that she seems to practically pop out of the pages, and you'll find yourself rooting for her from the beginning. As soon as I heard about the Packhorse Librarian novel series, I was super excited to read them - so naturally, I was even more excited to have the opportunity to beta and be an ARC reader for A Strand of Hope! Lena's story starts off with a bang, and it's easy to empathize with her character.

A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero