Beaded Hope [Paperback]

Cathy Liggett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2010

2011 Carol Award winner for Women's Fiction from ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers)Four American women, all with their own challenges, embark on a mission trip to South Africa. Their lives are changed as they encounter a group of South African women who suffer from AIDS yet demonstrate great joy and faith in the face of overwhelming adversity. When the Americans discover the amazing beadwork that has been taught to generations of women in the community, they uncover a way to help these proud people support their families by selling their craft.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Inspired by the real-life charity Beaded Hope, Liggett’s novel portrays three Ohio women at pivotal points in their lives who journey to South Africa on a mission trip. Gabby, the child services director for Graceview Church, is reeling from a miscarriage that spells the end of her hopes for having a child. After her rebellious teenage stepdaughter, Katie, is in a minor car accident, Heidi is stunned to learn that Katie is pregnant. Icy newswoman Cassandra sees an opportunity to revive her flagging career when she reads about the mission to South Africa in the Graceview newsletter. Gabby, Heidi, Katie, and Cassandra travel together to Mamelodi, South Africa, to meet with a woman named Jaleela, who has an idea she believes can help her community: making beautiful beaded jewelry that can be sold in America. The American women agree to help, and all of them, even, to her own surprise, Cassandra, are surprised to discover just how much they’re inspired by Jaleela, who is battling AIDS while raising two children. A heartwarming read. --Kristine Huntley

From the Back Cover

Coming through the airport terminal door, Gabby paused on the sidewalk and squinted into the sun. A stout lady standing next to a young girl caught her eye. The woman’s coral blouse looked stretched to its limits, as did the flared, brightly colored patterned skirt she wore, both a beautiful contrast with her dark skin.
What an unlikely-looking welcoming committee, Gabby considered. But maybe we look just as odd to them. Four women coming from the other side of the world—to do what? Save them? Save South Africa?
If they only knew. She couldn’t speak for the rest of her group. But didn’t she need someone just as badly to save her from herself?
When four women embark on a mission trip to South Africa, they all have selfish reasons for going. What none of them expects is how profoundly their lives will be transformed by those they meet.
A moving story about the power of faith and hope to overcome even the most tragic circumstances, Beaded Hope was inspired by a nonprofit organization of the same name. Learn more about it at www.beadedhope.com. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this novel will go to support Beaded Hope.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414332122
• ISBN-13: 978-1414332123
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Coney Island was never at the top of my list when I was a kid (scaredy cat!). My favorite places were the library, the card shop and hardware stores. As my husband will tell you, it's a good thing that books were my first love. I'm a lot better at fixing up characters in stories than anything that involves a hammer and nails or even super glue. Besides writing, I enjoy impromptu visits from our two grown kids and doing the empty-nester thing with my one true love. We're also enjoying the latest addition to our family, a Boxer mix named Chaz.
Please visit me at www.cathyliggett.com. I'd love to hear from you.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational and Touching June 8, 2010

By silenceiseverything VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I received Beaded Hope as part of the First Reads program. Let me admit that had I known that this was classified as "Christian Fiction", I probably wouldn't have entered to win a copy. Not that there's anything wrong with Christian Fiction. It's just that I'm not a particularly religious person so I tend to shy away from anything with a religious slant to it (unless it's non-fiction or horror). Probably due to my preconceived notions of Christian fiction, Beaded Hope ended up exceeding my expectations.

I thought that Beaded Hope was a great book. There was a bit of "The Lord will help you if you believe" type of praying, but I felt that was more about the characters personal problems and a part of what they did on their day-to-day life. I didn't feel like I was being beaten over the head with the preaching so that definitely made me enjoy the book more.

I ended up liking all of the main characters. They were all extremely flawed women and I was interested in whether or not they were going to solve their problems. The supporting characters in this book were amazing! I found myself shedding tears from one of their storylines and inspired by the countless others. Some of the book was a bit predictable (mainly the end to Gabby's storyline), but it didn't dampen my enjoyment of this book or its characters (mainly Cassandra, who I found hilarious).

So, in the end, I enjoyed reading Beaded Hope. It did drag a bit in the middle, it picked right back up after that. This was a great inspiring novel about the good of the human spirit and about what comes from helping one another. It's definitely recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Real African heroes October 12, 2011

By LeAnne Hardy

Format:Paperback

Gabby is fleeing a disintegrating marriage after years of fertility treatments and miscarriages. Heidi and her daughter Katie are hiding the secret of teen pregnancy that has ostracized them at home. Cassandra is a no-longer-up-and-coming reporter, hoping for the big story that will rejuvenate her career. The four of them end up on a missions trip to South Africa where they meet women whose faith and passion to help others transforms their lives.

I loved this book because the African women were like women I have met in my years living there. Liggett portrays them as heroes--women with strong faith in God who open their homes to orphans and children on the street, women who visit the sick and aren't afraid to talk out loud about AIDS, women who love their children as passionately as you or I.

Switches in point-of-view to introduce the various characters slowed down the beginning a little bit. And of course, three scenarios also necessitated three endings. (Fewer than Tolkien!) But once I knew these women, both American and African, I was committed to seeing their journey through.

Calling Mamelodi a "village" is probably intended to convey the idea of a supportive community, but I suspect most readers visualize a smaller, more rural setting than the sprawling, peri-urban community of nearly a million people that is the real Mamelodi. But in the end, "Mamelodi" is a just name. This story could have taken place anywhere in South Africa, urban or rural.

Beaded Hope is about women helping women--African women helping each other and reaching out with grace to their clueless American visitors. The Americans go home changed, and readers will be too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Open the eyes of Christians to a field ripe for harvest! January 4, 2011

By Debbie Hudson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was an awesome story! I am not going to write about how I loved the characters as you can read the many reviews about that. I just wanted to say the book really opened my eyes to the great need in Africa. Especially to the children surrounded by the effects of Aids. I knew about Aids in Africa however it was a head knowledge not a heart knowledge. I want to Thank the author for giving me the heart knowledge! It left me wanting to do something to help! (which I think is exactly the effect she was going for)
I cannot afford to take a trip to Africa to help but I can help with bracelet sales. I have gone to the website to order bracelets.
Here was the idea God gave me. Buy the book on Amazon to give to a friend. Buy a bracelet from the website. When giving the book give a wrapped package and card that is to be opened only after they have read the book. In the card let them know which of the ladies made their new gift and ask them to do the same for another friend.
I am the church Librarian and this book is going to our library. I will put a note inside the book with this idea and God will provide the Blessing.
Many Thanks to the author for using her skill as a writer and doing the part God laid out for her!!!! May God Bless you abundantly!
I would love to hear from other readers any ideas they might have or if you used the idea God gave me.
Now that we have a small way to help let's make sure we do our part!