Forevermore (Only in Gooding! Series #2) [Abridged] [Audio CD]

Cathy Marie Hake (Author), Brooke Heldman (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

There’s no one quite like Hope Ladley.  A veritable dandelion in the wind, she blows from one farm to the next, roaming the Texas countryside as an itinerant cook. When she rides her mule, Hattie, onto the Stauffer farm, Hope knows this is the place the Lord wants her to be. Jakob Stauffer, though grateful for a cook to assist his pregnant sister and young daughter through harvest, is baffled by Hope’s unconventional methods as she gets things done around the farm. Yet he can’t deny the way her sunny disposition and unstinting love make changes of a different kind…even within his own heart.  When harvest is over, will Hope return to her wandering ways or embrace the dream of forevermore?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...light yet thought-provoking - humorous yet serious.... This story was a delightful read." -- Trudy Smith, OnceUponaRomance.net

"Cathy Marie Hake paints characters so real they nearly walk off the page." -- Delia Latham, faithwebbin.net --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Like a dandelion in the wind, Hope Ladley blows from one farm to the next, helping cook for the field hands during the harvest. Illiterate and often twisting cliches and Bible verses into mind-boggling observations, Hope leaves widower Jakob Stauffer baffled by her unconventional ways. But her sunny disposition and unstinting love make changes of a different kind around the place. His little daughter and the pregnant sister he's shielding from an abusive husband adore Hope, and things are getting accomplished even if Hope's methods are unique.

Then Jakob's brother-in-law shows up and threatens the newfound peace and happiness of the farm. With Jakob's future uncertain and his heart tangled, can the farmer convince Hope to take root and remain as his wife? --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Oasis Audio (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598593188
• ISBN-13: 978-1598593181
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,293,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FOREVERMORE is Fabulous!, March 22, 2008

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forevermore (Paperback)

Like a breath of fresh air, Hope Ladley drifts in from one farm to the next landing wherever the good Lord leads her to offer help around harvest time. Arriving at the farm of widower Jakob Stauffer she finds him still grieving for his departed wife. Jakob hasn't relaxed in some time while trying to hold things together for his young daughter Emmy Lou and shield his heavily pregnant sister Annie from a violent husband. Hope's upbeat personality and loving quirky ways quickly win over Annie and Emmy Lou, but it's going to take much more to break through the hard overprotective shell Jakob has developed to trust anyone with his heart let alone what's left of his family.

*** Just as mentioned above, Ms. Hake's latest story depicting the cliché mangling, illiterate, itinerant wanderer Hope Ladley is indeed a breath of fresh air. What Hope lacks in book learning (due to dyslexia) she overflows with trust in the Lord, love, and human understanding. What a marvelous creation of a character this author has brought forth for all to admire and enjoy!

Likewise, Jakob was fashioned with a deep sense of honor and unfathomable pain after the loss of his wife and child, and not having been able to protect his sister from being beaten and abused by her lowlife of a husband. His trust did not come easy with constant worry over his daughter Emmy Lou coming to harm, or his sister's abusive husband discovering her condition. Hope was a complete puzzle to him, especially her odd way of getting things done while severely mangling well-known bible verses and clichés - which - when she explained her version, began to make sense.

Hake did a brilliant job of letting Jakob see the reasoning behind Hope's seemingly hap-hazard way of getting things done. As more heart-wrenching events unfolded, it would be through Hope's understanding and ingenuity that Jakob would be able to weather the obstacles tossed his way. His "pact" with Hope was drawing closer to the day she would again `mosey on down the road' to the next place the Lord led her to, but Jakob knew he had to somehow convince her to stay with him forevermore.

By re-introducing neighbors of the Stauffer's from previous book, FANCY PANTS, Hake rounds out Hope and Jakob's story with a plethora of even more realistic and likeable characters. Definitely a stand-alone, FOREVERMORE is a wonderful depiction of earlier times when neighbors helped neighbors and every one pitched in with many hands easing the load. Bible verses were judiciously used at perfect moments within the story giving the reader even more to absorb, especially when mixed up and interpreted Hope's way. The reader will find plenty of light heartedness as well as some very tense moments as Annie's abusive husband resurfaced, as well as an emotional health related issue concerning young Emmy Lou.

Hake is superb at writing compelling and thoroughly enjoyable stories. Bottom line, FOREVERMORE is a fabulous uplifting read that fans of inspirational historical stories are sure to embrace. Highly recommended reading.......


Marilyn Rondeau

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A cute story but slightly lacking., January 2, 2008

By 

R. Stoddard (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Forevermore (Paperback)

(The previous reviewer gave an excellent synopsis so I will skip writing one) The first book of this genre that I ever picked up was Letter Perfect by this author. I loved that book and love this author. Her books (Forevermore included) are lighthearted and usually have a touch of intrigue- nothing that is too terrifying, but enough to brush the story with excitement. That said, let me now justify giving this just 3 stars.

The lead character, Hope Ladley, is flawless. She is so flawless she is next to Jesus in perfection. NOBODY is this perfect. I enjoy a good, moral character but for me they need to be relatable. Hope is thoughtful, whimsical and loving. Even her flaws are morphed into assets. SLightly unconventional but only because she is so considerate. Her slandering of the cliches was cute for awhile but after awhile they started to annoy me...meanwhile, her co-characters grew less annoyed and seemed to enjoy them toward the end. (I was under the impression that she slaughtered words because she was illiterate(because she was dyslexic)). I was thrilled when she finally showed a little gumption toward the end of the book instead of just taking it.

Jakob is, fortunately, a flawed character. He is what saved this book from being 2 stars. He is a loving father and a hard worker who is willing to sacrafice everything to protect his abused sister from her husband. I liked him.

As usual, Hake has wonderful secondary characters. THey are well developed. I also enjoyed the fact that this was a spin off from Fancy Pants (remember when Sydney saved the little girl from the well? Well this is that family).

All in all, a good story. It was fun to read and there was some excitment with the abusive husband aspect. If you enjoy Hake's other books you will also this one. I enjoyed it despite the mediocre rating. I read it in one day. I just didn't find the lead character believable or realistic which is an important thing to me.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining...but not as a romance, August 5, 2008

By 

Born Again - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forevermore (Paperback)

I picked up this book after I read Fancy Pants and really enjoyed it. This is the second book from this author I've read. I know I shouldn't compare books, but I didn't like this one quite as much as Fancy Pants.

It does mention characters we met in the previous book which was nice. I was happy to see what had become of Syd and Tim.

I really liked the character of Jakob in this novel. I think he made a great leading man. I enjoyed the storyline with Annie and her abusive husband, it gave the novel a little edge which I enjoy.

I think the weakest part of the book for me was thinking of Hope as a romantic lead. I found Hope funny and endearing. She reminded me right away of Amelia Bedelia, a character from children's books who is always mixing up what people say.

Unfortunately for me, once I got the image of Hope as Amelia Bedelia in my head, it made it hard for me to see her as a romantic lead. She is a zaney woman who fits a hat onto her mule and mixes up common sayings. The chemistry between her and Jakob just wasn't there for me. I couldn't see the two of them matched up very well.

I found this book to be entertaining, and certainly not a waste of time. The christian message was heartwarming. But as a romance, I found this book was slightly off it's mark.