The Certain Hope

Hope Series #3

by E.C. Jackson

Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.

261 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2018

About the author

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. Thirty-one years later, she adapted the play into Pajama Party: The Story, a companion book to the second book in the five-book standalone Hope series.

Jackson’s favorite pastime is reading fiction. She enjoys taking the journey along with the characters in the books. That also led to her unorthodox approach to story writing. Her vision for each book she writes is to immerse readers into the storyline so they become connected with each character.

“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on her Facebook author page. She feels that if every person reading her books feels connected to the characters, her job is done.

Reviews

[Rosalba Mancuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this novel is perfectly suitable to its meaning. The Certain Hope is the one of a couple of lonely guys that decided to marry after two weeks of dating. The groom believes that everything will go fine, especially if the bride will do only what he wants. He is control addicted, she is a romantic girl who believes in having met the man of her dreams. Through this behavioral contrast, the author built a great story, focused on the burning topics of marriage, loss and control addiction. In my view, the novel is a little, big literary masterpiece for the underlying meaning that oozes from every chapter. I believe that The Certain Hope deserves to be translated internationally and this thought is my certain hope for the success of this gripping romance novel.

[Keila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great creation from EC Jackson. The Certain Hope is an exceptionally written inspirational romance.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Tara Simpkins feels all alone now that she has lost both her parents. So when she has some work done on her house, she is attracted to one of the guys working. But is her attracted to her? Well she soon finds out, but it’s nothing like she thought it would be!

I liked Tara and her shy personality and I felt sorry for her being so lonely. But Luke, I just couldn’t like him and his demanding, obnoxious attitude. With Tara, he tries to be this sweet talking guy, but with his family and during Leah’s appearance in the story, I found him hateful and rude. My heart went out to Tara because she is being pulled two ways, with Luke pushing her into a quick marriage, and her friends trying to talk her into taking it a little slower.

Now, I know those who have experienced love at first sight, and marriage is working fine for them may disagree, but at the same time it is smart to be cautious. And I think The Certain Hope is a really good book to make a person think twice about going into a marriage so fast because there was certainly enough warnings from Tara’s friends as well as Luke’s family. I would love to have know more about Luke and Tara’s marriage, if it worked out ok for them? The problems they faced, if any, about not getting to know each other better before they plunged into marriage.

Overall, I did enjoy the story. For me, Luke’s personality caused me to want to keep reading, because I wanted to find out what happens with the two. As obnoxious as he was, the book just wouldn’t have been a good read without it. And I feel Ms. Jackson does an excellent job of weaving the issues together so the plot runs so smooth. This is the second book I’ve read from Ms. Jackson, and I enjoy her writing. So I encourage you to check out The Certain Hope as well as other books by this author.

I received this book from Prism Tours to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Certain Hope is a story of love at first sight and I really enjoyed it. Tara Simpkins has had a horrific couple of months caring for and watching her parents pass away one after the other due to a fluke disease. We meet Tara as she is getting her roof replaced and waiting for Luke (whom she thinks is Andy) to let her know the job is done. Tara really likes Luke and has looked forward to seeing him the three days he worked on her roof. Tara, however, is not really a go getter. Due to some failures and bad instances in the past she is not one to take chances.

Luke on the other hand also has felt the instant connection with Tara and he is not about to let his future wife get too far away. Luke was an interesting character. On one hand he was really romantic and on the other he was determined to have his own way at any cost, a bit too controlling. Tara is overwhelmed at first by his pursuit of her and his marriage proposal on their first date.

All of Luke’s family and Tara’s friends think having a quick wedding is not a good idea and they express their feelings on the matter. But Luke is not taking no for an answer and Tara is not sure what to do: follow her dream with Luke or really slow things down. I liked watching both of them grow in this story, Tara stepping out of her shell and Luke loving Tara in the right way.

This was a unique story that showed the positives and negatives of falling in love so quickly and throws in a few surprise twists as well. This was my first book by author Jackson and I look forward to more of her stories.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Certain Hope, the third book from the Hope series by E C Jackson, provides the reader a story of hope, love and faith. I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Tara Simpkins. She is grieving the loss of her parents and dealing with a fragile heart. As she tries to move away from her grief, she finds herself learning how to move forward from her heartbreak and how to follow her dreams. It is an emotional read at times but, also, one that warmed my heart. I found an instant connection to Tara and Luke right from the start. This story is reminiscent of my own life story, which I loved seeing in a book. It was not easy for me to put down and had to keep reading and turning the pages to see how it would end for Tara and Luke. I thought it was great.
I am giving The Certain Hope a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love a beautifully, well written and clean story. I believe it is a must read and definitely not to be missed. I am looking forward to the next installment from the Hope series, The Confident Hope, as well as, more releases to come from E C Jackson in the future.
I received E C Jackson's The Certain Hope from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, let me just say this. If you, like me, are skeptical about love-at-first-sight stories, this book probably won’t change your mind. It will, however, give you some good insight about many issues surrounding a rushed relationship.

I had a really hard time liking Luke. The man steamrolls his way over his family and Tara. He’s abrupt and blunt without apology. Plus he doesn’t take criticism well. Lucky for him, Tara offsets his flaws (at least they did for me). She’s quiet and considerate. The fact she’s endured some big losses right before meeting Luke made me sympathize with her.

For me, there was no running conflict through the story. The issues seemed to flit in and out and get resolved fairly quick. And the issue that could have been the central conflict held out until the final chapter and then got brushed aside (but again shone a light on Tara’s character).

There are a lot of supporting roles between Luke’s large family and Tara’s friends, but Jackson weaves them into the story so well I never felt lost as to who was in the scene. Much of this book is dialogue with a few internal thoughts which became a lot of telling instead of showing. But, I will admit that for Luke’s personality, it fit.

Perhaps unrealistic for most people, there are stories of love-at-first-sight marriages that are going strong, so even if it’s not your reality, it is entertaining. And may also serve as a cautionary tale to not jump into anything too quickly, especially if the people you trust are conflicted about your decision. And through it all, I was cheering for Tara's happily-ever-after.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Ruth Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

First of all, this is a clean, faith-inspired romance. No bad language, no sex, and truly nothing objectionable in it at all. The heroine of the story makes clear that she will not have sex before marriage, and our hero has some issues to solve in that area, but other than that, the story is wholesome and presents Christian values. The book is never preachy, hence, my term "faith-inspired."

I will admit that it took me a while to warm up to both Tara and Luke. While their characterizations are perfectly fine, I felt that the story was a bit incredulous at times and strained reality, even for a romance. But that is merely my personal opinion. I struggled to accept Tara's decisions and the way in which she ultimately made her decisions. I felt Luke was a little too controlling and pushy at times. However, in the end, I felt more comfortable with things, thus making it a true romance.

I found parts of the book entertaining, and the writing style was pretty easy to read. For a quick, nice read, this is the ideal book for a Friday or Saturday night curled up in front of the fire or on the beach in the afternoon. The story is enjoyable and has a few fun twists and turns along the way. I believe the author knows her target audience well, and she has delivered exactly what is expected in story, character, and charm.

[Jdeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Certain Hope contained every component I expected to read in a good romance novel with much more added. An excellent read!

[Chautona Havig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Series often have a theme, and the trilogy of books I’ve ready by E. C. Jackson’s is obvious—hope.

She chose her theme well, and the books reflect it in obvious ways. Still, it’s not trite. Jackson kept the layers of hope in her stories subtle when they needed to be and overt when they didn’t. As a whole, this is the element she did best with the series.

But what about That Certain Hope?
Of the three books I read, this one was both my favorite and my least favorite. I like the concept, the basic plot, and many of the peripheral characters.

However, I did find the suspension of disbelief almost impossible in this one. Add to that a “romantic hero” who I cannot like, no matter how hard I try, and it’s a disappointment on many levels.

What I did like best is that the author didn’t hide the fact that such instantaneous “love” was unusual, difficult, and crazy. Because frankly, if she hadn’t, that I’d requested a free review copy wouldn’t have mattered this time. I would have refused to finish it.

I think That Certain Hope would be enjoyed best by people who like to see unusual plot lines carried out in expected ways. That sounds contradictory, but it’s exactly what I mean.

The faith elements in these books offer the thing the series focuses on most—hope. We see hope in what the Lord can redeem, hope in where He will guide us, and hope to someday understand what we can’t today.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all of the books I have read by this author thus far, this is my least favorite. Maybe because I cringed throughout at Luke's pushiness and Tara's introverted nature. This did not seem like a love match, and not especially how quickly it happened. I was right to cringe at different scenes, and if Tara had been my friend, I would have been inserting myself into her life more to tell her to slow down. There is no reason to rush any relationship. I know there are those out there who will say that love at first sight can happen, but there were too many red flags, in my opinion.

However, this story is not without its merit in addressing heartache from the death of parents, faith in yourself, and finding love in whatever form it appears. I think it reminds us that we need to have faith in ourselves and even a higher power. There are lessons to be learned from everything in life; we just have to look for that information each day.

Outside of the main characters, there is a myriad of supporting characters that add depth to the story. The characters vary in personality, and there were some that I wasn't fond of, but all of the characters blended into the story seamlessly. I enjoyed the various relationships between these characters and what they brought to the story.

Overall, the story (and this series) is about hope, and there is hope in this story. It is also about faith, whether that is internal or external. We give this book 3 1/2 paws.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts on The Certain Hope:
I knew I'd like this book because I had previously read Gateway to Hope by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. This book did not disappoint. Her unique style of writing was evident and her very unique plots were amazing.

Wow. Just wow. Okay so our two main characters are Tara and Luke (or is he Andy?). Bit of a laugh there in the first chapter or two when Tara has to learn that she had the wrong name assigned to the man she's fallen in love with.

This book was so fun to read. So impractical but also such a great read for this day and age.

Tara and Luke fall in love. Love at first sight. And they tell their friends. Then Luke finagles a "blind" date with Tara through some mutual acquaintances. What could go wrong? Or what could go right?

So, Luke as Tara to marry him. . . in two weeks! Yikes! She's recently lost both her parents to a mystery virus and her whole world is upside down. She's only ever been on one other date before in her life.

Will they marry? In two weeks or two years? And what about this Leah? Tara keeps hearing about her from others.

Such a great and fun read. Not overly Christian though. That is to say, there are not a lot of scriptures within the book, not a lot of exact Bible references. There are references to sex and sex within or outside of marriage. One of our main characters has not remained pure.

I do recommend the book for mature audiences. It is not a book I would let my teenage daughter read, but I do enjoy the unique and out there work of this author. It's definitely not like anything else I've ever read. I do sense a theme in her writing though. The leading men are rather sure of themselves and have a way of trying to work all situations to their own advantage.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Georgiana Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of the lessons to be learned from reading this book, I give six stars to The Certain Hope, by E.C. Jackson. Most of the Romance books seem to have a wealthy male and a poor or hard-working female. I was delighted to see that this book not only has a hard-working, intelligent male but it shows a smart, wealthy female as well as a loving, hard-working one.
At one point I found myself annoyed because of the long discussions concerning the businesses run by the characters. But the core of the story is what became important to me - love shared, guilt felt, sorrows lived, anger shown, and forgiveness given. I was annoyed at what appeared to be a chauvinistic controlling attitude of the main male character, and the seemingly timidity of Tara. But, as the story progressed I was impressed with the love each of the characters showed for families and friends, as well as for each other.
Some of the story reminded me of my own experiences. When I had the first date with my husband, he informed me that he was going to marry me. My thought then was that he had to be out of his mind. We were married 5 years later, after he was discharged from the Army. We remained married until his death 38 years later.
One of the major things I liked about The Certain Hope is the lesson on forgiveness. I realize that sometimes we say we have, and think we have, forgiven someone of the offence given us, when in reality we still harbor much anger concerning that offence. Forgiving does not mean forgetting what happened, it does mean not holding on to the angry need to avenge the offence. I find that lesson is a moving part of this story. And an attribute that more and more of us need to practice.
I look forward to reading the next book by this author.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you in advance to the author, E.C Jackson, for providing a complimentary copy for review. A positive review was not required, all words and thoughts are my own.

Not counting “Pajama Party” – The Certain Hope is the author’s third novel in the “Hope Series”.

To start off; I felt a disconnect with this story and the characters. I didn’t know if it was because I was reading it during bad weather; we were having a serious winter storm at the time which was uncharacteristic; or because I was in the middle of the worse sinus and ear infection of my life.

I honestly had to push myself to finish this book despite how it grabbed me right off. Then my interest waned, and it isn’t because I read one right after the other – I previous read A Gateway to Hope and A Living Hope prior to this one. I did read another book in between this one to give myself a break.

As of note, I have read some series from book one (#1) to book twelve (#12); which happened to be Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Series; so it wasn’t “series burnout”; in fact I have read that one from beginning to end a few times and didn’t feel the way I did with this one. I kept struggling with this book. It seemed a bit muddled after about the first chapter.

There are trigger warnings of grief, loss, suicide, or even Luke’s controlling nature. And, I don’t know if Luke’s personality was a turn-off or the whole story.

At first “Andy” (or as we come to learn – Luke) seemed like a dream come true. Tara fell in love with him and he obviously fell in love with her. Seemed perfect.

Tara is asked to go on a blind date with this “Luke”, she’d rather think of “Andy”, and she learned – they’re the same guy. It should work right off – yet, there is something there.

Yet, within the first three chapters, Luke has arranged a blind date with Tara and proposed. The wedding? In two (2) weeks. There is seemingly no explanation for this. And, I wasn’t even sure where this was going. After all, the two had one thing in common – the loss of their parents. His from a very graphic car accident, Tara’s died from an illness contracted on a cruise; so there should be a connection.

But, adding to that, Tara is also having to deal with the massive estate she’s been left.

Thankfully Tara is a bit overwhelmed and wants more time and to “pray on it”. Luke wants an immediate answer even though he doesn’t give a reason to her. He keeps it to himself.

Tara’s friends (all four) say “no”, and that would honestly have said something to me too despite how perfect he seemed.

Luke then begins to have thoughts of his ex-girlfriend, Leah. The relationship falling apart apparently is the reason he wants to immediately marry his “soul-mate” Tara. And, he is relentless about the two (2) week wedding date.

They are apparently perfectly matched – even their political and social views. There is a slight reference to politics, but only slight. And, Luke even offers her a job at his family’s business.

Tara makes note of Luke’s control issues, and even thinks about bolting from the relationship. He wants to move into her place, but since it needs work, he wants her to move in with him.

Tara finally relents and agrees to marry Luke in two (2) weeks. And, despite their objections – her friends even start helping her plan the wedding.

One part I didn’t like was Luke wanting to divide and sell vast amounts of Tara’s estate – rental homes as well as classic cars before knowing the true intentions of her parents. Her grandfather restored cars and as a result, there are quite a few. This becomes part of the plot a little later on in the story. I did wonder why she’d want to hang on to it all though as it seemed so overwhelming to have.

Since they are getting married, and Tara attends church – her church requires at least ONE (1) counseling session for couples over 30. That was a bit confusing as I’d never heard of it. But, as I don’t attend services – I ignored it, though still found it interesting.

But, as with any story – more conflict ensues. This is in the return of Leah, Luke’s ex-girlfriend, rather a mention and warning of it. Yet, she doesn’t officially return until about 40 pages before the end of the story. But, Luke hasn’t told Tara about Leah though.

And, there is a reason he hasn’t – he was with her for ulterior motives. This is where a mention of pre-marital intimacy is mentioned, which was prior to the story.

Eventually, Tara learns what her parents had intended for the estate and with Luke’s eager help – things get dealt with.

Tara is stunned as to the nature of Luke and Leah’s relationship which had to do more with “revenge” than with a loving nature. This was a stunning part of the story and I didn’t even see it coming.

The story did, to me, seem to have a rather open-end to it. I was also wondering the “why” of Leah’s return since it seemed SO close to the end and it wasn’t really resolved.

Unlike the first book, A Gateway to Hope, this doesn’t have a “cast of characters” in the beginning. There are a LOT of characters to keep up with, so it can be confusing and even overwhelming at times.

As with the previous two novels, Jackson’s writing is vivid and descriptive, almost immersing the reader into the novel. At times this was heart-breaking and yet endearing.

Like the previous books – this book has strong Christian themes; which are definitely central to the plot of the story. Themes such as forgiveness (even in the worst of scenarios), second chances, and redemption are abundant. There is no foul language or any intimate on-page scenes in any of the books. There are some references to pre-marital intimacy which is prior to the beginning of the book.

The cover depicts the couple featured in the book like the first book, and is an absolutely beautiful cover for a self-published series, and could easily be movie-of-the-week “poster” quality. Whoever Jackson got to design these covers is a winner!

As stated with the other two books, while these are a “series”, they are definitely standalone books and are not connected in any way by characters or cities. They are merely a themed series. It is not necessary to read the other books as the events in this book are not mentioned in the next book: The Confident Hope. Characters from A Living Hope and A Living Hope do not appear here, nor do these characters appear in that book.

Fans of the genre and more serious romances will more than likely enjoy this book.

[Donna C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Certain Hope

What I think you should know:
Tara Simpkins has just lost both her parents to a mysterious illness and falls in love with Luke Cassidy the first time that she meets him. Luke also falls in love with her and is determined to marry her in two weeks.

What I wish I would have known:
I could not put this book down, it was like watching a car accident, I just couldn’t turn away. I didn’t want to put the book down until I knew what happened. It was one of those things were you know you can’t change the outcome, but you think that just by watching you might can help in some way.

What I could have done without:
Luke was beyond bossy, I will be honest if it was my best friend about to marry him I would be running her to an abused women’s shelter. I don’t want any single women to think that this behavior is safe.

This is a unique Christian Romance, I really enjoyed it even if I didn’t approve of every character or every decision made.

Note: I know and understand that some people like my husband believe in love at first sight, I on the other hand take weeks to commit to a new pair of shoes and YEARS to commit to marriage even when I know that I love someone.

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently lost her parents, Tara unexpected finds love and at first sight even. Friends and family caution both Tara and her newfound love they are moving too fast. But they quickly discover “the heart wants what the heart wants”. But then there is Leah, what secret is Luke hiding about her?

The story contains enough twists to keep it interesting. It does an excellent job of exploring the idea of love at first sight.

The friends and family in this book bring added dimensions to the story. If you love reading about antique cars, there is something for you in this book. If you like reading about homes as well as restoring homes, check out this book. If you just want to read a good clean romance, check out this book. Moreover, if you want to read a book about deep family connections and love between siblings you should check out this book. It truly is a book worth reading.

This book demonstrates love, at first sight, can be real. Moreover, the power of family and friendship is also demonstrated. I love the importance given to settings and food. The idea of making memories by connecting special places to special food and special people does incredible things for this book.

So check out this book for yourself.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.

[Gail Hollingsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unusual book, but in a good way. It started out a bit strange for me in that Tara fell instantly in love with “Andy” who came to supervise a roofing job for her home. He as well fell instantly in love with her but each kept it secret.
He arranged a “blind” date with her through mutual “friends”. Tara was shocked to learn her “Andy” was really Luke. He kept proposing, she kept turning him down.
Tara was lonely, her only family was her parents and they passed away within a month of each other. She wants a husband and children but is this too fast? Her close friends think so. His family does too. How will they work it all out to please everyone or will they? What happens when his ex-girlfriend of five years shows up ready to marry Luke? I also had trust issues of my own with his family and their taking over her finances and her parents will. What happens will blow you away! Check it out!!
I received an ebook copy of this novel from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

[LAWonder10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Certain Hope is a story of that rare occurrence when two people meet and fall in love right away. Still, with such a whirlwind of changes, doubts and fears are bound to "set in". Tara and Luke are both in their thirties and want children. Tara is bombarded when Luke wants a life together right away. Friends and family try to talk them into a longer courtship. Luke is determined, Tara insecure and fearful.

Will love conquer?.. Will the pressures from others win, or will the past and present collide and the happily ever after destroyed?

The characters are very realistic and the scenes are portrayed well. The Book Title and Cover image are very "fitting". The story is well-written. I felt the one situation was slightly prolonged, but otherwise captivating.

This book contains several great discussion points. It is a perfect book for Book Club discussions. There are great points bought up in the story expressing the pros and cons of each situation.

I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating.
This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you believe in Love at First Sight? Well, the 2 main characters in this book do! Tara suffers a devasting loss of both parents. She is getting some work done on her home and along comes Luke. They fall for each other rather quickly, even thinking about marriage within 2 weeks. Those around Tara and Luke believe they are moving to fast. Can they survive the critics? Can they find happiness being married to each other?


I really enjoyed this book from the very beginning. LOVE comes at times when we least expect it. That is what happens with Tara and Luke. Luke can be a little to controlling, but I see their relationship flourish as the story goes on. I love a Good romance story and this book delivers!

E.C. Jackson really is a GREAT author and this book is GREAT!!

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara and Luke have love at first sight. He wants to get married two weeks after proposing. Seems a little fast to their friends and family. Will they be able to pull it off?

The book did seem a little long to me but for the most part, I did enjoy their story. Tara has a lot of property from inheritance. Her parents had recently passed away. It did seem like to me Luke was telling her what to do with it too much. That was just my opinion. I did relate to the job she had.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a review. This is my own opinion.

[Emily Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about love at first sight and the trouble that can happen when moving too quickly into a relationship.

While I may not be a huge believer of the whole love-at-first-sight thing. This story does shed a light on some common relationship issues that I think some if not most couples deal with at some point.
An inspirational story that has a lot going for it. It is well written. I did love Tara in this story, she is very relatable and a likeable character.

The Certain Hope is a sweet contemporary romance that make a nice summer read.

[Deana Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't really explain this but I had jitters the whole time I read this book. It gave me anxiety and I felt overwhelmed by the story. I don't believe in love at first sight, but think you need to get to know each other better. Tara bothered me because she captures Luke's attention and immediately decides he is the one. Luke feels the same and before we know it, they are engaged.

The more I knew about Tara the more I believed she needed to slow down. She has just lost her parents and seemed to be making hasty decisions that she never quite seemed sure of. Luke was kind but very demanding and had a tendency to bully for what he wanted. There are a few parts in the story where they agree especially about how important faith and family is to them. I lost count of how many times someone told either Tara or Luke to postpone the wedding. Get to know each other better they said. I kept questioning what the rush was.

I wanted to sit Tara down and tell her until she heals from her parents death, she won't be able to fully give her life to Luke. There is a secret that Luke is hiding which could cause Tara to rethink the marriage. Why does he wait so long to divulge it? One of the best parts of the story is when they are being counseled by the pastor. He asks questions that should have sent up red flags, but they both are so determined to marry, they almost seem to say what they think the pastor needs to hear.

Each of them have assets but Tara is the one that has some valuable cars that Luke is determined to sell. Okay I have to say it. Luke is pushy, emotional abusive at times and Tara hardly speaks up for herself. How is this a marriage that God will bless? I din't like the whole concept of desperation to get married and ignoring red flags that should have stopped the wedding. The ending disappointed me for personal reasons. I wanted something else to happen but in the end I guess love prevailed.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Certain Hope” by E.C. Jackson, the third installment in The Hope Series, delves into the complexities of love, loss, and life-altering decisions. Tara Simpkins, grappling with the recent loss of her parents, faces the challenge of discerning whether her newfound love is a divine match or a desperate escape from loneliness.

The narrative unfolds with a blend of contemporary romance and introspective sections, offering a nuanced exploration of grieving and its profound impact on life choices.

The character of Luke, though not immediately likable, is portrayed with depth, prompting readers to empathize with his flaws and complexities. Tara, an introverted character ripe for influence, prompts readers to reflect on their own responses in similar situations, adding a thought-provoking layer to the narrative.

Jackson skillfully weaves a tale that navigates the fast tempo of romance alongside slower, insightful glimpses into the world of remodeling and construction—a unique and engaging backdrop..

The book not only entertains with its romantic elements but also serves as a platform for meaningful lessons. The story prompts readers to ponder the consequences of grief on decision-making, the impact of external opinions on relationships, and the potential pitfalls of impulsive choices.

“The Certain Hope” is a compelling read that combines emotional depth with contemporary romance, leaving readers with valuable takeaways long after the final page.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Heidi Kelsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a cute story idea but it's a bit misleading/unrealistic in its development. For example, there wasnt much conflict or high point to the book, what seemed like it was going to be conflict ended up being pushed aside and didn't amount to anything. Also, whenever the main characters spoke, the guy spoke in a fancy way using lots of partial cliches and not speaking the way a construction worker would be expected to speak. The girl, Tara, had a tramatic first date but yet she someone went right along with this guy's forceful, demanding, coercing nature and didn't think much of all the red flags. Despite them saying it was love at first sight, they were really just infatuated with each other and it showed when they had misgivings and were overwhelmed. The guy also spoke very rudely to his family whenever they were alone even though he would say they were close. He acted like quite a jerk yet that never came into affect the story.Tara didn't have much of a personality to get drawn into, but I still liked her character. The book is an easy read with a few surprises but it's more of a mushy unrealistic romance - everything works out and the guy always says the perfect things-not the type I usually read.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I signed up to read and review this book, I thought that it held a lot of promise.

The cover art was nice and the blurb for the book was intriguing. However, after the first chapter, I slowly but surely lost interest in the story for several reasons.

The pace was too rushed. The hero and heroine were taking "love at first sight" to a whole new level with references to marriage and moving in together within the first few chapters.

Then within almost every few pages, the characters were considering marrying each other and dropping hints. I know that in real-life, love at first sight happens but in this fiction story everything seemed too rushed for a relationship that was not fully developed.

On a positive note, the characters were interesting and likable. But the plot needed to be more fully developed and the pacing needed to be adjusted.

I cannot give this book more than three stars. But don't be deterred by my review. Just because I didn't really enjoy this story does not mean that you will not. Every reader has their own taste in books.

*I (Alexis A. Goring) received an ARC of “The Certain Hope" from Celebrate Lit. My opinions in this honest review are my own.

[Tabitha Bouldin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a different aspect to The Certain Hope that I could appreciate. Sometimes, when you know, you know. That’s what has happened between Tara and Luke. The initial meeting between them was rather comical and Tara’s internal monologue kept things moving.

There were times when I didn’t care much for Luke’s character. He often felt forceful and coercive. His actions and the fact Tara has just lost her parents made me cautious of their romance, as it was meant to, so the author did well on that aspect.

From the spiritual side, it read well. Tara and Luke believe they are meant to be together, with God’s approval. I can’t argue with that.

The writing was fun and engaging, with plenty of detail and dialogue to keep the story moving toward a solid conclusion. All in all, a different kind of whirlwind romance that I wouldn’t mind reading again.

I requested a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"THE CERTAIN HOPE" by E.C. JACKSON is the third book in the third book in the series and I liked it but it wasn't my favorite of the third. I think it was because even through the book was a clean read and the characters were Christian, I felt the book was filled with too much talk of sex.

I felt the character's pain because both of the main characters have lost both parents.

This book is definitely a fairy tale story. Both characters are rich and fall in love at first sight.

This is another book to read if you are in the mood for a fun read. This book can make you believed that real love is possible in an unlikely way. The characters are like you and me except, I am not rich, and could be your neighbors and friends.

I received a complimentary copy by Celebrate Lit and the author. These opinions are my own.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Certain Hope is the story of Tara and Luke who have both lost their parents in different circumstances but while Luke is firm and confident Tara is just about finding her way. I didn't like Luke at all, because I didn't appreciate the way he kept trying to push for a quick wedding and I felt like Tara wasn't ready. The core of the story is about family and grief and how faith can help you to cope. It's a inspiring romance with a wonderful character in Tara I could feel my heart breaking for her. I loved that she had friends to support her. I had to keep reading this story to find out what the story was with Luke's ex Leah and it was beyond what I could have ever imagined. I slightly warmed up to Luke after it was revealed. A book that I recommend if you have faith.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect story for Tara and Luke

I enjoyed reading the 3rd book from the Hope Series by Ms. E. C. Jackson, the Certain Hope.

This is a perfect story for both Tara and Luke, the Certain Hope. This story is emotional and tragic but beautiful. Reading this story is so real to me, losing my Mom and father-in-law in about 9 days from each other is so hard. Grief is so hard especially when you are alone.

Love at first sight between these two is so beautiful and they got married in a few weeks. My favorite is being honest with each other before the wedding day. True love prevails and is willing to forgive. This Hope Series is beautiful with words of wisdom and the characters perfectly fit each story. I cannot wait to read another Hope Series from this author.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-written, emotional romance. My only serious complaint (and the reason I gave it four stars) is Luke is throwing up serious red flags from the moment we first get his POV. The way the story opens with Tara, I was expecting a sweet life after loss story. Not quite what this was, but it was close. Luke (and the story), moves quickly, and some of the peripheral characters made my skin crawl. I really liked Tara, and my heart went out to her. Not just for the loss of her parents, but her experiences when it came to dating. I loved Tara's group of friends, and I really think they care about her and want her to be happy.

[Red Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Certain Hope is about love at first sight and how Tara is finding out that it's not as simple as it seems. The book was one that I did not enjoy it as much as the other ones because to me I did not like the characters in this book and the pace of the book felt rushed. Overall the author did a great job writing this and I did enjoy reading this. I would still recommend this book to other readers too. Thank you to the author and Pump Up Your Book Tours for the book in exchange of my honest review on this.