Customer Reviews

Eliza's Hope

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first thing I liked about this book was it didn't paint a 'sweet' picture of the past. People were not cardboard cut-outs from a Harlequin television movie. They lived in the book. It was easy to relate to Eliza.

I enjoy books set between 1900 - 1940 - but I hate the 'wind at my back' nothing horrible ever happens, and everyone is so nice, type of story. I want a real story that I can escape into.

While I don't write the best reviews, I had to stop by and give this one a 'two thumbs up.'

Eliza Lily was orphaned as a child and ran away from her foster father and from a past she can't quite remember. William Bennett and his sister Jewel took her in and raised her as their cousin.
William left town to make a name for himself in the big city to prove himself to his father. On a trip home he notices that Eliza isn't the little girl she once was. In hopes of marrying Eliza off William takes his sister and Eliza to the city.

Eliza's past comes back to haunt her and could ruin any relationship she could hope to have with the Bennett family. Can William and Eliza overcome society and a haunted past to be together or will William let society rule his behavior?

I had a hard time getting into Eliza's Hope through no fault of the author. Vicki Gaia did a wonderful job with the research and story. During the timing of Eliza's Hope wonderful things were happening in the world. Ms. Gaia did a great job portraying the emotions of the woman's suffrage movement and society's reaction to the movement. There was a part of the story where Eliza is trying to get people interested in the movement and she is attacked by a mob. I felt as if I was right there with Eliza.

The part of the story that I really got into was the mystery of Eliza's past. Ms. Gaia played that out in a way that keeps you guessing. I also enjoyed the secondary character or Jewel. Her love story was almost more entertaining for me than Eliza and Williams'.

All in all Eliza's Hope was a good story with excellent research and passion for a subject that should be dear to all women's hearts.

Jambrea
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Eliza is determined NOT to be a woman of her times. Instead she is a woman ahead of the times. Feisty, intelligent and independent, Eliza is a character to remember. William is her match in every way.... Watching the two of them fall in love is an enjoyable, excellent read.