Customer Reviews

Her Mother's Hope (Marta's Legacy)

5 star:		(127)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I couldn't put this book down and am now anxiously awaiting the sequel. I have read and enjoyed all of her books so my expectations were high when I heard she had written another book. I was not disappointed. She is my favorite author, her characters are real, they are not perfect. You don't always like them but they are true to themselves. I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.

I believe that this book is one of Francine Rivers' best. As always, her characters are captivating, drawing the reader close. This book is in particular about family--how important it is and the repercussions of what poor decisions are.
I am definitely waiting for the sequel! :)

Not right. Not right. Not right. You want to know why not right? Because it ended. And now I have to wait for the second book. And I must know what happens! Hooked. Completely hooked on the story, the characters, wow. Francine Rivers is a wonderful story teller. Right from the first page, Marta just pulled at my heart. I was rooting for her, wanting her to fly, just as her mother told her to. Follow your dreams girl! You can do it. When she met Niclas her husband, I know it. I knew he'd be the one, even if she didn't know it that exact minute. And oh how she gave birth to Hildie. I was so worried for that little girl.

You know what Marta is trying to accomplish in the way she is raising Hildemara. I know why she's doing it, but you just want to shake her and say go about it a different way. There has to be a better way.

Following Hildemara through her journey as she finds herself, wanting to please her mom. Tore at my heartstrings.

Watching both women and the tests that their faith is put through. It just seems like these poor women go through one trial and tribulation after another. But they get through them, well, all of them except the last one and I don't know if they got through it or not. I need the next book.

I'm literally just all clenched up because I want the next book. I want to know what happens. I can't tell you what happened in Her Mother's Hope because I never ever give spoilers to the book because I want you to read them. What good is reading it if you know how it ends.

Let me tell you though, it ends and Francine Rivers leaves you craving more. Literally craving it. You want to know what happens with this mother and daughter. I even want to know what happens with her other 3 children. And what happens with Trip and Hildemara and their 2 children. I can't just keep hanging like this. I am now waiting anxiously for Her Daughter's Dream, which will be released in fall of 2010. Francine Rivers, when? When in the fall of 2010. I need it on my Amazon Wish List.

If you are like me and you like books that just go right to your heart, I highly recommend Her Mother's Hope. I couldn't put it down.

I have to give a big thank you to Francine Rivers, AME, and Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book. I am eagerly (if you can't tell) anticipating the next release! Tyndale, I have found comes out with some of the most inspirational wonderful reads. Check out some more of the authors.

As a fan of author Francine Rivers best selling novel Redeeming Love I was excited to learn that she was coming out with a new long book. I mean five hundred pages long. It is not often that you can find good epic novels these days and I was eager for this first book in a two book series. In reading Her Mother's Hope I was not disappointed. Very thought provoking it makes me consider my own actions in raising my daughter as well as to look back on experiences of my own childhood and memories of my mother while I was younger. Mis-communication is a powerful thing that often does not get resolved and on the off chance that things can be put to right opportunities are invaluable.

The note from the author at the end of this book tells you that this book was a journey of her own in an attempt to understand a misunderstanding between her mother and grandmother. It is fascinating to see history intertwined into the pages of fiction and bring the characters to life. Even though this is her family story brought to view, it is easy to see bits and pieces of other lives in the characters. I find this book to be very educational and eye opening. You never seem to realize how when you try so hard to do one thing you might be accomplishing another.

Full of emotions all over the spectrum Her Mother's Hope is a book that you will want to make time for as it will be hard to put down. I recommend the story, I look forward to sharing it with my mother and I am eager for the second book in the two-book series "Her Daughter's Dream".

I agree with the other reviewers...this is one of the most depressing Christian novels I have ever read. I have enjoyed this author's previous novels and was excited to see a new one when this one came out. I was so disappointed. It is just not an edifying read. I kept waiting for Marta's heart to change, for a story line showing the redemptive transformation of lives. It just didn't happen. This is not a small book and I consider the time I spent reading it wasted time.

Understanding the complexitiy of a character through their actions is a thoughtful way to develop interesting characterization. At first I liked Marta, one of the narrator's in this book and then I got very angry with her several times. Did she really mean well through tough love? Was she self centered or courageous and generous? Did she become a contradiction when the reader examines her devotion to God and the Bible and her devotion to her loved ones? I picked up this book not knowing that it was in the category of Christian reading and for anyone hesitating reading it for that reason I encourage you to read this book. I am a Jewish woman and did not find the book preachy; these characters are devout and flawed but realistic for their time period.

This book will tear at your heart throughout the entire book. It is a great story about a mother and a daughter and the hardships that they endure throughout their journey from Switzerland. I really liked how they moved around a lot and ended up in Canada then California. This is a great story that will have you connecting with the characters. Another similar book that I really enjoyed is Ellenvale Gold. This is a great story that takes place in the 1850's Australia and I really enjoyed that setting since there are not many books taking place there. This one shows the hardships of a woman during the gold rush and how she overcomes all the obstacles. This one has movie written all over it.

As a fan of author Francine Rivers and I love that the book was 483 pages long. It is not often that you can find good epic novels these days and I was eager for this first book in a two book series. The next one will be Her Daughter's Dream. As I was the baby of our large family I was close to my Mama and as I have three sons and one daughter she is my baby and we have always been very close.

In Her Mother's Hope, Francine Rivers captures the complex relationship between mothers and daughters. Starting prior to WWI, the story of a woman driven from home in Switzerland and eventually making it to America. It's a story of anger and bitterness. The marriage in the story breaks my heart and makes me smile all at the same time. Marta determines to make a life for herself and struggles to overcome obstacles that stand between her and her dream.

The children's thoughts of their parents does the same thing. It made me wonder how my own children see me and my husband. There's tragedy, hope, frustration, and pain. About a third of the way in, the book starts to focus from Marta to her oldest daughter, Hildemara Rose. Marta fears Hildemara is too weak and that she should toughen up to avoid what her weak younger sister suffered in her short life. It makes life difficult for Hildemara, who is a loving and caring girl who only wants to help other people.

Marta desires to fulfill her own mother's dreams for her and Hildemara. It is interesting to see the different path each woman takes on their way to this goal.
The story flowed beautifully and is never boring as some long books are.

If you are looking for a quick read, this is not the one. But, if you are a Christian looking for an engaging story that will connect with your personal walk with God, time is not an issue. It is beautifully written, with extraordinary insight into the mother daughter relationship.
I recommend it highly and give this one (as all Francine Rivers novels) high marks.


NOTE: I received a copy of this book from Paula at aMe publisher for reviewing purposes.

In Her Mother's Hope, Francine Rivers presents a story that transcends time lines and border lines, reaching to the very core of the mother/daughter relationship. At 483 pages, Her Mother's Hope is not a short read, but for me, it was a quick one. I found myself hesitant to put the book down, even when I knew I had to. One of the things I appreciate most about Rivers' writing is the elegant simplicity of her prose. Not once did I stop to note how skillfully the book was crafted. Not because her writing isn't skillful, but because her mastery of craft is invisible. In other words, I was so completely lost in the lives of Marta and Hildie that I stopped being a reader and instead became a participant. And even though the end leads us to the brink of Book Two, it's done in a way that doesn't feel abrupt or unfinished. What it did was make me want to run out and buy Her Daughter's Dream... but I'll have to wait for September to do that.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for reviewing purposes.

I have loved all of Francine Rivers previous books and was looking forward to this series. I must say, "Her Mother's Hope", left me feeling heavy hearted and that I had read a secular book with some God thrown in, rather than uplifted as her previous books had left me. I understand this is a loosely based biography but feel the content, descriptions and scenarios could have been written in a way that brought honor and Glory to the Lord. Too many details. I understand the situations and traumas were real, and many experience the same etc...but it should be our goal to not focus on the details of a situation, but recognizing and empathizing with trauma etc..?Sharing what the Lord has done through the situation to bring Himself Glory. Example is Francine's book,"Redeeming Love". We knew scenarios etc..but didn't have to have the details. I was left uplifted, encouraged and looking at the Book of Hosea in such a blessed way. I will be throwing this book away.