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Doors to the Past #10

Passages of Hope: Doors to the Past, Book 10

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Discover the Story Behind a Secret Passageway

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Gracie Kingston begins renovations on the Philadelphia house inherited from her grandmother and finds a secret room. It is connected to a house nearby, the home of William Still, the man known as the father of the Underground Railroad. As she researches, she discovers a mystery in her house’s ownership. In 1855, Olivia Kingston helps a mother and her young child by hiding them in a secret room in her home. As she helps, she learns that there may be an impostor conductor in their community. As Gracie’s and Olivia’s stories intertwine, they learn the meaning of sacrifice and love.

Audible Audio

First published November 1, 2022

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About the author

Terri J. Haynes

14 books373 followers
Terri J. Haynes, a native Baltimorean, is a mom, prolific knitter, freelance graphic artist, and former Army wife (left the Army, not the husband). She is also the owner of AT Haynes House Yarns, a hand-dyed yarn business. She loves to read, so much that when she was in elementary school, she masterminded a plan to be locked in a public library armed with only a flashlight to read all the books and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As she grew, her love for writing grew as she tried her hand at poetry, articles, speeches, and fiction. She is a storyteller at heart. Her passion is to draw readers into the story world she has created and to bring laughter and joy to their lives.

Terri holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theology, a Master's degree in Theological Studies and a certificate in creative writing and graphic design.
Terri serves on Project Knitwell’s board of directors and is the chairwoman of DMV Fiber Friends. She lives in Fort Washington, MD, just outside Washington, DC with her husband and three adult children.

Visit her website, terrijhaynes.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
Profile Image for Toni Shiloh.
Author 56 books1,862 followers
November 1, 2022
The moment I saw this gorgeous cover, I knew I had to read it. Did I mention this book is also a dual timeline?

I love how Ms. Haynes puts us right in the beginning. Gracie has just inherited her grandmother's house in order to fulfill a dream. She's facing a lot of opposition but there's a quiet strength in her she hasn't yet discovered is there. But then the moment comes when she finds that secret room and I was hooked (could that be a crochet joke?)!

Read full review at:
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.
3,922 reviews1,763 followers
November 22, 2022
I am so late exploring this multi-authored series, but I am definitely going to be making up for that lapse in bibliophile judgement! 'Passages of Hope' is an excellent example of why I need to backtrack.

Exceptional storytelling with dual timelines intricately woven together to build up to an impactful conclusion with so many nuances to both plot and character development in both timelines...well, I'm gobsmacked! And stymied about what to say and keep this review spoiler free -- and there's so much I want to say!!!!

I especially appreciated the parallels in the issues Olivia and Gracie struggle with. On the surface, their story arcs seem very different, but at the heart of each is their misguided (and stubborn) idea that they need to do everything all on their own. Learning to accept proffered help, to grow closer in relationships as they work towards a common good, to grasp the concept that accepting assistance isn't a sign of weakness -- so inspiring because we are at our most vulnerable when we risk letting people in. But, oh the impact others can make on our lives (and we on theirs) is so powerful and Haynes really showcases that here.

Both timelines are fast paced and emotionally riveting. There's angst and treachery and even romance! And so many nuggets of faith and wisdom -- sometimes from unexpected places. Inspiring and goose bumping and stand-up-cheering by the end.

https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/20...
Profile Image for Staci.
2,296 reviews666 followers
November 1, 2022
1855 and present day Philadelphia

Another nice addition to the Doors to the Past Series!

In the present day thread, Gracie has just inherited her grandmother's home, much to the displeasure of her uncle. Gracie's dream is to open a thread store on the ground level and live in the second story. Then she discovers the house may have been a part of the underground railroad.

In 1855, Olivia and her husband Douglas are living free and with successful careers (seamstress and doctor). Both put their lives on the line to help slaves make their way to freedom.

The author brought the time period to life through two engaging threads.

My gratitude to publisher Barbour for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Paula Shreckhise.
1,530 reviews137 followers
October 30, 2022
“Living around so much history makes you feel your importance and your insignificance.”
Gracie has inherited a house in Philadelphia from her Gran. But it is not without its problems such as back taxes and a relative who is not pleased that she got the house. She wants to turn it into a yarn shop which her Gran supported. While renovating to accommodate her shop, she happens on a secret room. This is what connects the dual timeline. We go back and forth from 1855 to the present and see what part this house plays in the Underground Railroad. Each time period was unique and interesting, and kept me turning pages.
Olivia was a strong lady in a dangerous time since she and her husband, a doctor, were free blacks. They had to watch every step lest a slave catcher try to capture them and sell them .
Added to the present day story was a sweet romance. What a nice touch that Gracie and Clarence grew closer while he helped her research the history of her house. In a letter that Gran left for her, Gracie finds reassurance in spite of the turmoil. “You have God. And trust me. He is enough... You are loved with a love that has traveled down through history and arrived at your heart.”
Excellent writing. Another fantastic addition to the Doors to the Past series.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Review Crew. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Michelle.
175 reviews34 followers
November 1, 2022
I loved this split time novel for so many reasons—the modern setting, the history of the Underground Railroad, the likable characters, the main characters who are crafters and makers. This is definitely one of my favorites from the Doors to the Past series, and I look forward to reading more books from this author!
Profile Image for Jeanne Alfveby Crea.
971 reviews106 followers
October 28, 2022
Wonderful story! I love the Doors to the Past series, and Passages of Hope is a terrific addition!

Passages of Hope by Terri J. Haynes is a compelling dual timeline story involving the Underground Railroad in Philadephia. In the present day story, Gracie MCNeil inherits a three-story row house from her gran. She has been alone much of her life except for her close relationship with her Gran. Now she's gone and Gracie is suffering from grief. As Gracie implements a few small changes to accommodate her knitting business, a secret room is found that could have been used for the underground railroad. Her gran's best friend Miss Lila, and her grandson Clarence are very interested in this development. I love nerdy and sweet Clarence who is a researcher and helped lead to the discovery of William Still's home. Clarence "wore glasses that seemed to magnify the kindness twinkling in his eyes."

Back in 1855, Olivia Kingston lives across the street from William Still (the father of the Underground Railroad.) Olivia is a free black woman who is a conductor of the underground railroad, helping escaped slaves find freedom. She also runs a dress shop, and tries to keep many of details of her 'secret' job from her husband, one of the town's only black doctors, to protect him.

Author Terri J Haynes does a beautiful job with both timelines, I could not stop turning pages. I love the story, and the history! Immediately after finishing, I googled The Underground Railroad by William Still and put it in my Amazon cart!

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy, all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Abigail McKenna.
909 reviews150 followers
October 17, 2022
*4.5 stars

Oh, I enjoyed this! I don't think I've ever read a book set in Philadelphia during the days of the Underground Railroad, so that alone was fascinating! But adding in the contemporary storyline, and loveable characters, and it turns into something really special.

I really liked Gracie from the first chapter; I don't knit, but it's a beautiful art form, and seeing her love for it come to life was great. Her story is one of grief, but also an adorable love story between her and Clarence. The history nerd in me loves Clarence, haha!

Olivia's story was so interesting, teaching me about a part of history I haven't studied as much as I'd like to. Her plot had more harrowing moments than Gracie's, but reflected so much strength and hope.

Most of the time in a split-time novel, I prefer one storyline over the other, but here I found that I enjoyed both equally. I wanted to see both of these ladies succeed, and while Gracie's struggles didn't seem quite as dire as Olivia's, they were still relatable to life in the 21st century.

Overall, it's a lovely book, and I'm so glad I read it! 4.5 stars from me!

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
Profile Image for Liz Tolsma.
Author 41 books1,779 followers
November 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The Underground Railroad has always fascinated me, and Terri Haynes does a wonderful job of bringing this history to life. Danger surrounds the characters as they take in "passengers" and deal with a ring of slave catchers determined to send these escapees back to their bondage in the South. There was a wonderful amount of suspense that kept me wanting to turn the pages. I was invested in the story. In the contemporary storyline, I liked the main character. The romance went a little fast for me, but it was sweet. In addition to solving the mystery of the past and of the secret room the owner finds in the basement, it deals with grief, greed, and honesty. I do recommend this read. Well worth your time! Terri is a new-to-me author, but I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Profile Image for Jalynn Patterson.
2,216 reviews38 followers
November 29, 2022
About the Book:

Discover the Story Behind a Secret Passageway
 
Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Gracie Kingston begins renovations on the Philadelphia house inherited from her grandmother and finds a secret room. It is connected to a house nearby, the home of William Still, the man known as the father of the Underground Railroad. As she researches, she discovers a mystery in her house’s ownership. In 1855, Olivia Kingston helps a mother and her young child by hiding them in a secret room in her home. As she helps, she learns that there may be an impostor conductor in their community. As Gracie’s and Olivia’s stories intertwine, they learn the meaning of sacrifice and love.

My Review:

My favorite history is American history. Good or bad or whatever, doesnt matter. I enjoy learning more about America.This story takes place in America during the late 1800's during the height of the slave trade. Why not a very "fun" thing to learn about it is interesting and informative and it does us all good to learn about that time period--as much as possible. It is part of our history. It also has present day Philadelphia as a back drop.

 I really enjoyed learning more about that time period and learning more about Gracie. This is a story that is generational so you have intertwining stories which is always fun. Time is a contributing factor in each story whether it is that of Gracie or Olivia but that were very easy and interesting--which makes for a great read. 

**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Emily.
441 reviews63 followers
December 20, 2022
2 AMAZING 5-star reads in a row! This is a new to me author, and she knocked it out of the PARK. I will FOR SURE be keeping my eyes open for more of her books! I was so immersed in both storylines, but I have to say that Olivia’s is one of those that you just ponder and think on awhile after the book closes. I can’t really put into words what the things she struggled with and how she lived impacted me. The perspective of her story is quite unique, not an angle I have read much on before, and it has sent me off to learn more about the Free Black Underground Railroad conductors and stationmasters.
I greatly enjoyed Gracie’s plot, the yarn store was so fun to read about, and she was such a wonderful character to root for! I loved Clarence, and Mia, and the supporting cast.

I think what I loved the most about this book was that Terri J. Haynes was not afraid to bring out the flaws of the main characters front and center and deal with them. She did it so realistically, and not at all over dramatically, as tends to happen in a lot of what I read. She did it in a way that made you love the characters more, and reflect on your own self.

Saying that this is a really great book is putting it mildly.

I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Marilyn.
1,268 reviews
October 28, 2022
This is a fantastic dual time line with the historical period of 1855 and the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia. The tale is penned in a pictorial and expressive script that had me involved with the life of Gracie and Olivia. The history and the risks individuals took to assist with the transferring of slaves through the Underground Railroad was emotional and touching in all they endured.

The characters lives were complex with their background and came to life from the beginning. My heart went out to Gracie and Olivia with all they faced but continued on despite struggles knowing God loved them and their heritage showed through love from one generation to the other.

Fans of dual timeline plots and history will enjoy reading Passages of Hope by Terri J. Haynes in the Doors of the Past series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publisher without any obligation to write a review. I have expressed my own thoughts.
Profile Image for Mimi.
782 reviews112 followers
October 18, 2022
This was a powerful story that sheds light on the Underground Railroad. It was so interesting how the secret room came to be in when Gracie's contractor finds it as they're renovating her gran's home that she's recently inherited.

We get to know Gracie after the loss of her beloved gran. She's had a rough life and she's dealing with a lot in this story. Her storyline was a bit depressing because honestly, not much is going well with her life. Everything and everyone seems to be against her. She has glimmers of light with her gran's friend & grandson. Clarence, as well as her cousin.

I loved Olivia's story. Loved it while it was incredibly difficult to read because of the horrible injustices done to fellow human beings. Her story, as well as the others in her community helping slaves and free Blacks find safety, was inspiring. It helps us to remember there's good in the world amidst the evil. I felt like I kept holding my breath with how fragile all of their safety was in trying to keep their work secret.

There were parts of the "present" story that seemed a bit clunky and a couple spots that I didn't quite understand. Overall I enjoyed the story and it really made me want to read more about those who aided in the Underground Railroad.

*I read this book thanks to the publisher via Netgalley. This is my personal opinion.
Profile Image for Sarah.
639 reviews56 followers
November 21, 2022
Able to be read in any order, the Doors to the Past series weaves together a historical and a contemporary storyline that demonstrate the resounding impact of the past upon the present through the situations of the characters. Each book reveals the connections between the contemporary characters and their historical counterparts and how their lives reflect an extraordinary continuity between generations. History, suspense, and romance await!

For every dreadful, tragic event, there is a hopeful side, a thread of redemption interwoven to encourage us to press on and to hold fast to our faith in the Lord. The blight of slavery in the United States led to the creation of the Underground Railroad, the effect of which continues to have an impact today, as Terri Haynes demonstrates in her novel Passages of Hope. A dual-timeline story set in Philadelphia, the two main characters are Gracie in the present day and Olivia in 1855. Gracie is not used to having help with anything, and Olivia tries to do everything without help, both shouldering more than necessary as we all do at times because we think that is easier than surrendering control. The truth, however, is that while hard times are inevitable, loving friends help lift us up, and the Lord tells us to give our burdens to Him.

Passages of Hope deals with the topic of grief in a unique way. Herself a free Black, Olivia experiences the sorrows of slavery through her work as a stationmaster on the Underground Railroad while also deeply longing for a family with her husband: “To tell her children the story of their history. That their grandparents and parents were conductors and stationmasters and took up this sacred work to help others.” Over 150 years later, Gracie has had a difficult life of just scraping by but had a special relationship with her grandmother, and “her life was better with Gran in it. Now Gran, like her mother, had gone to the sweet by-and-by and left Gracie in the grim here and now.” I felt a special empathy for Gracie because my own mom passed away not long ago, and the grief still feels fresh. Again, though, hope whispers; while she sees herself as a failure and believes that she does not deserve her inheritance, Gracie’s name itself serves as a reminder that God’s grace is unmerited. Indeed, may we, too, realize the Source of our hope and love: “And she now knew that no matter how bad things were, she could always hope in love.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jasmine.
1,293 reviews43 followers
December 16, 2022
Will love and sacrifice change their lives?

I love hidden passage/room stories and when you add on over a century of family secrets plus the Underground Railroad, well, there you go. That is a lot of interesting stuff in one 250 page book...

I have been enjoying the Doors To The Past series since the very first book and one of my favorite things about this series is the variety. Variety in locations, eras, and definitely in the main characters. Passages Of Hope features a historic black neighborhood in Philadelphia and two women separated by over 150 years who face personal adversity and come out stronger in the end.

Terri J. Haynes did a great job with her characters and interweaving their historical and contemporary threads. While, the present day story of Gracie clicked with me a little bit more I did find Olivia's 1850s life as an Underground Railroad conductor to be quite interesting.

If you are up for a fairly quick read that is part of a series but can be read standalone, one that has a good mystery and a truly historic setting, check out this book...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Profile Image for Michelle Kidwell.
Author 36 books84 followers
November 28, 2022
Passages of Hope
by Terri J. Haynes
Pub Date 01 Nov 2022
Barbour Publishing, Barbour Fiction
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance


I am reviewing a copy Passages of Hope through Barbour Publishing and and Netgalley:



When Gracie Kingston begins renovations on the Philadelphia house inherited from her grandmother and finds a secret room. It is connected to a house nearby, the home of William Still, the man known as the father of the Underground Railroad.


As Gracie researches she uncovers a mystery in her house’s ownership. In 1855, Olivia Kingston helps a mother and her young child by hiding them in a secret room in her home. As she helps, she learns that there may be an impostor conductor in their community. As Gracie’s and Olivia’s stories intertwine, they learn the meaning of sacrifice and love.



I give Passages of Hope five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Sarita.
1,508 reviews655 followers
August 4, 2023
I wish I knew about the Underground Railroad before I had my short term stay in Pennsylvania. I would have appreciated the city and its history so much more.

This dual time story did an excellent job of linking past to present and I enjoyed the mystery plot in the historical story line. The author did a great job of giving readers hat unsettling feeling and revealing the plot at the right time.

The slavery part of history, along with WW2, is one of the hardest for me to think back on. The author dealt with this issue in a realistic but sensitive way.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
Profile Image for Tabitha Bouldin.
Author 45 books706 followers
December 10, 2022
Stories about the Underground Railroad are far too few, in my opinion. In this edition of the Doors to the Past, we're given a story about Gracie and Olivia, split by generations, these strong women are determined. Olivia's work and her fierce passion to help others drew me to her story and kept me anticipating her chapters to see how the trouble might resolve. Gracie's chapters were less tense but still impactful, with her family drama and grief weighing her down as she worked through reaching for her dreams and finding the path God has planned for her. I loved how the house played into the story, each woman finding her peace there despite the turmoil in their lives. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.v
Profile Image for Christine.
207 reviews
November 19, 2022
What a great read! It was compelling, engaging, informative, and honestly just one of my favorite books of 2022! The dual timeline novel follows two women, Olivia and Grace. Olivia is active in the underground railroad, while modern-day Grace is coming to terms with the loss of her late grandmother. While addressing many aspects of racism, this book drew me in and captured my heart. I found myself holding my breath and rooting for the heroines and their community as the events of this book unfolded. Honestly, I just can't say enough good things about this book, but I don't want to spoil it, so I'll just say that I highly recommend this book for fans of history, historical fiction, and knitting. It highlights multiple facets of racism, both then and now, in a beautifully heartbreaking way. 10/10, would definitely read more of Terri J. Haynes' works in the future!

I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review, but this review is just that: honest. I was not required to give a positive review. It was easy enough to do that all on my own.
Profile Image for Yamini Kashyap.
31 reviews4 followers
December 3, 2022
Such a beautiful book set in dual timelines. Elegant portrayal of how a handful of free Blacks freed a multitude of Black slaves from their masters, eventually leading to the Civil War in the USA. The primary characters of the book, Gracie and Olivia are as divergent as they could be but the house brings them together in a way that makes one appreciate the importance of heritage and legacy.

It is a quick read and the sweet feel-good flow of writing of this book compels me to check other books of this series(Doors to the Past) out.
Profile Image for Cassandra Haywood.
326 reviews
November 2, 2022
This book is an excellent read. It gives an historical account of the Underground Railroad using a real life person William Still who helped runaway slaves that escaped from their plantation owners to the North where they can live free.
The characters were well developed and you can feel the different emotions that they were going through. Especially since helping runaway slaves to freedom, they can be captured and sold into slavery themselves.
I like how the author intertwines the two main characters Gracie McNiel who has just inherited her grandmothers house in present day and Olivia Kingston who along with her husband Douglas owned the same house back in the 1830’s.
Olivia helped with the transition of the escaped slaves and had a secret room where they were hidden until it was safe for the slaves to move on towards freedom.. Gracie had promised her grandmother that she would open a yarn shop in the house, so when the contractor went to install the sales counter to a wall, it was discovered that there is a secret door behind the wall which leads to a secret room. Since the house is across the street from William Still’s house, perhaps Gracie’s house qualifies for historical status.
It is interesting to see how Gracie and Clarence the grandson of Gracie’s grandmother friend Lila, do research on the house, while the storyline shows what happens during the time Olivia owned the house.
There were a lot of plot twists, history lessons, family problems and romance., that made for a page-turner from beginning to the end.
I highly recommend this book to read and any other books by this author.
Cassandra H.
I voluntarily received this ARC and this review is of my own honest opinion and thoughts.
Profile Image for Susan.
2,737 reviews86 followers
November 12, 2022
This was a wonderful story.... told in two different time periods. Loved it! Highly recommended.
Won it in a giveaway... thank you Terri J. Haynes.
Profile Image for Annette.
2,769 reviews48 followers
October 31, 2022
This book is told with dual timelines.
Olivia helps with the Underground Railroad using a secret room to shelter runaways.
Gracie inherits her house from her Grandma and during some renovations she discovers a hidden room. She starts searching for answers and finds romance along the way.
This is a really good book with strong female characters
Thanks to Barbour publishing for the gifted copy
205 reviews9 followers
September 3, 2022
I haven’t crocheted since January, but this week it was rainy so I picked up my hook again, and I also started Passages of Hope. When I read that Gracie was opening a yarn shop and knits and crochets I was extremely excited. I got a lot of enjoyment out of Gracie’s knitting classes and references to the craft. As much as I enjoyed reading about an art I love, I loved reading about the books actual focus, The Underground Railroad and it’s station masters, even more. Terri J. Haynes crafted a perfect dual timeline, I was equally as thrilled to be reading either Gracie in the modern day and Olivia in 1855.
Olivia is a force, she runs a successful dressmaking shop and uses her home as a station to help runaway slaves on their run to freedom. Olivia and the other members of the railroad in Bella Vista risk their lives and their own freedom with their bravery.
Gracie has inherited her beloved grandmother’s house after her recent passing. While setting up her yarn shop in the house Gracie discovers a secret passage to a hidden room, which is believed to have been used for the Underground Railroad. Seeking the help of her neighbours grandson, Clarence, who was one of the people who worked on getting William Stills house verified as a major part of the Railroad, to get her new home certified as a historical landmark while still trying to get her business off the ground.
This book is actually book ten in a series, Doors to the Past. I have not read any of the other books I this series but did not feel lost at any point. I will need to read the other books now though, this one was too good not to follow up on.
Thank you to Net Gallery, Barbour Publishing, and Terri J. Haynes for providing me a copy of this book to review.
Profile Image for Susan  Faloon.
1,130 reviews
September 1, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much. I usually find it hard to read dual timeline stories but this flowed gently back and forth. Olivia lives in the 1800''s. A member of the incredibly brave conductors who helped passengers along the dangerous pathways of the underground railroad, she risks everything. Gracie is a young woman in the current 2022 timeline. She is in mourning for her grandmother who she was a caregiver for. Her life is in turmoil as her uncle angrily reacts to her inheriting his mother's house in Philadelphia. A house with secrets.

This work of fiction has a foundation in truth about William Still and the underground railroad network activities that he led and meticulously recorded. There is also a character who is based on a factual person who caused great harm during this time period. If a reader had interest in learning about the harrowing escape of enslaved people or the brave and dedicated souls who helped lead them to freedom and safety this is an excellent book.

This is a set of sweet 'love' stories, a tribute to dedication to saving lives and the value of history. There is a careful handling of the horrendous suffering and violence for "passengers and conductors". I feel that this could be a good introduction for younger readers, around twelve or so to start learning about the importance of the underground railroad.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader's copy of this book. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy history, learn about part of the process for researching family history and historical buildings. It is an interesting story with believable fictional characters.
Profile Image for Cover Lover Book Review.
1,464 reviews86 followers
December 1, 2022
Passages of Hope initially caught my attention by the gorgeous cover art. The expression on the woman’s face, especially the eyes, shows so much emotion. Then the story… oh my. It grabbed my heart.

I love restoration stories, dual timelines, learning about the past, and characters that are easy to connect with. This one delivers in all these ways.

I’ve read very little about the slave trade of the 1800s, so I learned a lot. Gracie’s had a hard life yet showed great hope. I connected with her love for her grandmother, and the pain of losing her. My heart ached for Olivia. I admired her courage and her compassionate heart to help others.

It’s so evident that the author did a lot of research about the underground railroad for this story, and it paid off. Everything feels authentic, raw, and impassioned.

This is an inspiring and riveting story of love, loss, sacrifice, longing, courage, and hope.

First Line: Gracie McNeil stood in front of her gran’s Three-story row house.
Series: Doors to the Past book 10
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction
Author: Terri J. Haynes
Page Count: 256
Content: Clean

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
Profile Image for Barbara.
Author 3 books31 followers
July 1, 2023
Passages of Hope Review
I appreciate a novel that can convey the horror of an actual time-period without making it unsuitable for young people to read. I could easily recommend this book to young people, and feel like there are life-lessons included in both the historic story, and the modern day characters, without becoming too graphic. This story told of the amazing self-sacrificing people who worked the underground railroad system of transferring enslaved people to freedom. It included a look at the evil of the time period, based upon a historical disguised enemy. Also, the modern story contained strong characters facing issues that relate to life today. The author created a dual-timeline that flowed wonderfully. I always look for author’s notes that relate which elements of the story were based on historical facts. Well done Terri J Haynes, I will look for more books by this new-to-me author. If romance is part of a historical novel I prefer when it is not main focus, and this story was balanced with lighter elements relieving the tension of a sad and serious subject.
Thanks to Net Galley, and Barbour Publishing for an advance copy (releases in Nov. 2022). No review is required but given gladly.
#Passages of Hope, #TerriJHayes, #NetGalley, # Barbour publishing
Profile Image for Becky Lewis.
1,058 reviews59 followers
December 5, 2022
“…she was a strong Black woman in a long line of strong Black women.”

“With a little time and patience, any mistake can be fixed.”

Each Doors to the Past dual timeline novels has been incredible, and Passages of Hope by Terri J Haynes will be seared into my memory for a long time.

The suspense of the 1860s story line is palpable and almost unbearable as Olivia Kingston works as a stationmaster on the Underground RailRoad. Who can be trusted and who is the enemy? Olivia’s tendency to try to handle problems on her own creates some real dangers.

I loved the two romances. While the one is more traditional, the other shows a marriage needing mended. I am glad that Haynes allows the reader to see both loves developing and deepening.

Speaking of love, Gracie McNeil is convinced she is a loser and will need a special realization of how much she is loved, if she is to overcome her negative, self-fulfilling thoughts. “Her childhood knitting teacher had told her that she took to knitting like she was born with needles and yarn in her hands. The compliment stung. She had not been born with yarn and needles. She had been born with trouble.” What an intrinsic self-doubt that only God can help an individual overcome!

Haynes populates both stories with wonderful characters. Douglas stands out, as do Clarence, Ms. Lila, and Ada. But the person who is most intriguing to me, is one we never actually meet, Gran.

All these novels stand alone, so if you haven’t read any, Passages of Hope is an excellent place to start. I can’t recommend it enough!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“‘God’s business—’ ‘—ain’t your business,’” “But Gran kept telling me that. That God has His own ways of doing things that we may not understand.”
Profile Image for Nadine Keels.
Author 46 books244 followers
set-aside
November 26, 2022
I was quite pleased to find this split-timeline novel to be a part of the Doors to the Past series, as Christian Fiction can use the diversity in this space.

Something I really appreciate about the historical half of the story is that the heroine in 1855, Olivia, is a free Black businesswoman, married to a free Black physician. I think there've been plenty of historical stories written, including those involving the Underground Railroad, that have depicted Black characters as victims only, rather than painting a fuller picture that reflects more of history. The author here does an understated but effective job of conveying the courage, compassion, capability, brilliance, and dignity of her characters in that period.

Now, I think a few points that describe some of the Railroad work serve to state the obvious rather than trusting the reader a bit more. And sometimes the dialogue is a little stilted.

As for the modern-day half of the story, I didn't connect with the heroine, Gracie, unfortunately. Even with grieving characters in a story, I think that having them in tears can become repetitive after a while. Although I understand Gracie's melancholy, I found her to be decidedly pessimistic and rather down on herself as well. This made it difficult for me to get into the romance thread. I like to find both a hero and heroine to be compelling (not perfect, but compelling) as individual characters, which can make for stronger chemistry. As the tone of Gracie's overall story became too downbeat for my taste, I left about a fifth of the novel unfinished.

Even so, none of that detracts from my points of appreciation above, and I wouldn't mind trying this author again sometime.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
6,155 reviews
November 27, 2022

Passages of Hope is a perfect addition to the multi author Doors to the Past series. I loved Terry J Haynes’ contribution to the series so much. What surprised me the most is that I am a huge historical fiction fan but enjoyed the present day plot of this story. It was interesting how the two worlds and time periods intertwined with one another. I had to keep reading to find out what Gracie would discover with her inherited family home and how Olivia from the past was tied into the tale. It is one of those books, that made me want to abandon every day chores and keep reading until I am completely finished reading to see how it would all end.

I would give Passages of Hope one hundred stars if I could. Readers who enjoy reading historical fiction with dual time lines and based on true events will definitely want to read this one. I would love to read more by Terri J Haynes in the future. She has earned herself a new fan.

I received a paperback copy of Passages of Hope from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Profile Image for Lucy.
1,159 reviews117 followers
December 5, 2022
I was in readers paradise with this amazing dual time line. I’m fascinated with the workings of the Underground Railroad and also with researching history and ancestry so this was my happy place. I love the characters from both eras and how Olivia and Gracie though separated by generations both had to learn to let people in to help them with their struggles. Although it is hard to accept the atrocities of the past we must learn from those horrors and never repeat them. I found hope and faith within these pages that shows how love and goodness triumphs over evil. The adventure part keeps you turning pages quickly and when you throw a little romance in the mix you have a jaw dropping story that expertly knits the past and present, fact and fiction into a beautiful afghan of delight.
I love this series of Doors to the Past but this one puts the cherry on the top. Make sure you scoop up a copy soon.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
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