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We Hope for Better Things

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available
2020 Michigan Notable Book
2020 WFWA Star Award Winner
2019 Christy Award finalist
***

"In this powerful first novel . . . Bartels successfully weaves American history into a deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A forbidden interracial marriage, an escaped slave, an expectant mother waiting for her Union soldier to return—all of these stories are deftly told by Bartels, as she explores the hard realities of racism and its many faces during various eras of American history. . . .Compelling characters make this winning debut also appealing for fans of general historical fiction."—Library Journal
"Bartels' debut tells the story of three Balsam women, each of a different era, told against the backdrop of racism and violence in America. . . .will appeal to fans of faith-based women's fiction authors like Colleen Coble."—Booklist
*****
When Detroit Free Press reporter Elizabeth Balsam meets James Rich, his strange request—that she look up a relative she didn't know she had in order to deliver an old camera and a box of photos—seems like it isn't worth her time. But when she loses her job after a botched investigation, she suddenly finds herself with nothing but time.
At her great-aunt's 150-year-old farmhouse north of Detroit, Elizabeth uncovers a series of mysterious items, locked doors, and hidden graves. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding. And as Elizabeth soon discovers, the past is never as past as we might like to think.
Debut novelist Erin Bartels takes readers on an emotional journey through time—from the volatile streets of 1960s Detroit to the Michigan's Underground Railroad during the Civil War—to uncover the past, confront the seeds of hatred, and discover where love goes to hide.
*****

"We Hope for Better Things has it all: fabulous storytelling, an emotional impact that lingers long after you turn the last page, and a setting that immerses you. I haven't read such a powerful, moving story since I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. This book will change how you look at the world we live in. Highly recommended!"—Colleen Coble, USAToday bestselling author of the Rock Harbor series and The View from Rainshadow Bay
"A timely exploration of race in America, We Hope for Better Things is an exercise of empathy that will shape many a soul."—Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials

"I applaud [Erin's] courage, her authenticity, her beautiful turn of phrase, the freshness of her imagery, and the depth of her story that speaks to a contemporary world where understanding is often absent. We Hope for Better Things is a remarkable debut novel."—Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of Everything She Didn't Say

"Erin Bartels's We Hope for Better Things shares the joys and sorrows of three women from different generations. A roller coaster of emotions awaits as you share the lives of these women and hope along with them for better things."—Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of River to Redemption

"Storytelling at its finest. Erin Bartels delivers a riveting story of forbidden love, family bonds, racial injustice, and the power of forgiveness. We...
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    • Library Journal

      DEBUT Fresh voice Bartels writes about three generations of women in Detroit, MI, as they navigate the muddy waters of the civil rights era, the Underground Railroad, and current times. Elizabeth Balsam is a reporter at the Detroit Free Press, until she screws up an investigation and finds herself out of a job. When she meets James Rich, he starts her on a search for a relation she didn't know she had. The mysteries that surround her at her great-aunt's farmhouse bring her reeling into the past, as she finds graves and photographs that uncover decades-old secrets. A forbidden interracial marriage, an escaped slave, an expectant mother waiting for her Union soldier to return--all of these stories are deftly told by Bartels, as she explores the hard realities of racism and its many faces during various eras of American history. VERDICT The themes of this novel are much needed within Christian fiction. Compelling characters make this winning debut also appealing for fans of general historical fiction.--Julia M. Reffner, North Chesterfield, VA

      Copyright 1 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      January 1, 2019
      Elizabeth Balsam is an established journalist at the Detroit Free Press, the preeminent newspaper of Motor City. But when her investigation into the 1967 riots costs Elizabeth her job, she is forced to look at the direction her life is taking and consider whether it's the right one. Contemplating her next move, she moves in with her great-aunt Nora, a woman burdened with a heavy heart. As Elizabeth learns more about Nora and her own family's history, she comes to realize that maybe the road she is on is the one God had intended for her all along. Bartels' debut tells the story of three Balsam women, each of a different era, told against the backdrop of racism and violence in America. Though some of their paths lead to forbidden love, heartbreak, and even death, the women's stories of love, hope, and inspiration will appeal to fans of faith-based women's-fiction authors like Colleen Coble.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

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