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Hope Again #5
Home Run
Phoebe Schenstrom's always been a bit bossy. After all, she's the oldest of ten children, has worked as a nanny and run the children's ministry at the Unity Plenkiss Community Center for three years. But when a clash - or two - with clients leads to her suspension, she needs to prove that she's more than a babysitter.
Her brother's adventure camps for city kids might give her a chance to save her job, but he's invited Ben Taylor to help with it, and Phoebe doesn't want to give Ben the wrong idea... and she certainly doesn't want him to think he's just her fall-back plan.
It should have been a simple camping trip in the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, but someone knew they were coming....
Her brother's adventure camps for city kids might give her a chance to save her job, but he's invited Ben Taylor to help with it, and Phoebe doesn't want to give Ben the wrong idea... and she certainly doesn't want him to think he's just her fall-back plan.
It should have been a simple camping trip in the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, but someone knew they were coming....
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
50 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Cathe Swanson
32 books471 followersAfter 40 years of wandering (but always in lovely places and not in a desert), Cathe Swanson has recently returned to her childhood home and family in Minnesota.
In the summer, she and her husband enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and being outdoors, gardening, hiking, birdwatching, and kayaking. The long winters are perfect for writing books, playing games, reading, and indoor hobbies. Cathe's been a quilter and teacher of quiltmaking for 35 years and enjoys just about any kind of creative work, especially those involving fiber or paper.
Everything inspires new books! A lifelong love of quilting, Cathe’s Swedish heritage and an interest in genealogy led to The Glory Quilts series, and the Hope Again series is inspired by her life in the Midwest and experiences with the elderly, the military, and inner-city ministry. As a child of the 60’s, she’s currently having fun writing about hippies and the Jesus People movement.
Cathe writes books with creative plots and engaging characters of all ages, to glorify God and entertain and bless readers. Her heartwarming stories will make you laugh and make you cry—and then make you laugh again.
In the summer, she and her husband enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and being outdoors, gardening, hiking, birdwatching, and kayaking. The long winters are perfect for writing books, playing games, reading, and indoor hobbies. Cathe's been a quilter and teacher of quiltmaking for 35 years and enjoys just about any kind of creative work, especially those involving fiber or paper.
Everything inspires new books! A lifelong love of quilting, Cathe’s Swedish heritage and an interest in genealogy led to The Glory Quilts series, and the Hope Again series is inspired by her life in the Midwest and experiences with the elderly, the military, and inner-city ministry. As a child of the 60’s, she’s currently having fun writing about hippies and the Jesus People movement.
Cathe writes books with creative plots and engaging characters of all ages, to glorify God and entertain and bless readers. Her heartwarming stories will make you laugh and make you cry—and then make you laugh again.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 9, 2022
God’s grace is better than self-glorification
This story really convicted me and made me think. It can be so easy to get caught up in doing things “for God,” only to realize it was to glorify yourself. God wants us to serve Him with our whole hearts in His way. I was glad to read Phoebe’s story!
This story really convicted me and made me think. It can be so easy to get caught up in doing things “for God,” only to realize it was to glorify yourself. God wants us to serve Him with our whole hearts in His way. I was glad to read Phoebe’s story!
November 1, 2021
I feel like I've been waiting for this book for years! I have loved Phoebe since she appeared in Mrs. Swanson's first book, and I have identified so much with her as she grew up through the next three books in the series. This one was hard to read as Phoebe walks a hard road of ministry burnout - something I can identify a little too closely with - but it was so worth it to see Phoebe really find herself and her calling in the end.
I also loved the journey of growth that Ben went through in this series but especially in this book. The author did an amazing job growing this self-centered, immature young man into a godly and mature man of character, and it was delightful to read.
Finally, I loved the mystery in this book! I love Mrs. Swanson's mysteries the most of all her books because they aren't formulaic at all! I rarely know where she is going with them, and it's so much fun! This would actually have made a very satisfying end to the series, but I must say I was excited to see that it won't be and that we will get Tally's story soon!
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from the author.
I also loved the journey of growth that Ben went through in this series but especially in this book. The author did an amazing job growing this self-centered, immature young man into a godly and mature man of character, and it was delightful to read.
Finally, I loved the mystery in this book! I love Mrs. Swanson's mysteries the most of all her books because they aren't formulaic at all! I rarely know where she is going with them, and it's so much fun! This would actually have made a very satisfying end to the series, but I must say I was excited to see that it won't be and that we will get Tally's story soon!
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from the author.
November 24, 2021
I finally got to read Ben and Phoebe’s story!!! I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I read “Baggage Claim” and it’s finally here! I do admit, though, that when I first met these characters at the beginning of the series, I thought, “Ben is never going to be good enough for Phoebe. She’s amazing, and he’s got the maturity of a teenager.” Little did I know Cathe Swanson’s power of character development! Not only did the characters grow, but they are so very realistic. In fact, one character felt so real I found myself getting seriously irritated and annoyed with her – perhaps because I could relate to her character flaws so well!
And while this book does have some suspense elements, it’s not so suspenseful that you can’t relax and just enjoy the story. It’s a very nice balance. 😊 I highly recommend it! And you could read it on its own, but I think you will enjoy it even more if you read the other books in the series first!
I received a free advance e-copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.
And while this book does have some suspense elements, it’s not so suspenseful that you can’t relax and just enjoy the story. It’s a very nice balance. 😊 I highly recommend it! And you could read it on its own, but I think you will enjoy it even more if you read the other books in the series first!
I received a free advance e-copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2024
Such a great book! Against my better judgment (I had things to do), I read this book in basically one sitting. Having briefly met some of the characters in previous books, this one called to me like a siren, and I did not resist.
I loved the plot and the characters and the scenery. And the realism. I like my fiction to be fun, so I have a love hate relationship with how real this felt. But it spoke to me, allowed me to inspect a few things in me that are going a bit sidewise. I had forgotten how well Swanson does with putting realistic Christianity into her books. The people are real and flawed and God is real and not.
Due to some traumatic events, I’d rate this as a PG-13, but it isn’t overly violent. Romance is clean (brief mention of a teenage pregnancy but it’s not dwelt upon). There is some minor kissing but it is sweet and not sensual.
I loved the plot and the characters and the scenery. And the realism. I like my fiction to be fun, so I have a love hate relationship with how real this felt. But it spoke to me, allowed me to inspect a few things in me that are going a bit sidewise. I had forgotten how well Swanson does with putting realistic Christianity into her books. The people are real and flawed and God is real and not.
Due to some traumatic events, I’d rate this as a PG-13, but it isn’t overly violent. Romance is clean (brief mention of a teenage pregnancy but it’s not dwelt upon). There is some minor kissing but it is sweet and not sensual.
December 8, 2021
The story and characters in this story hit close to home for me. I could identify with Phoebe so much. The Lord has been working on my pride most of my life. Ben was such a sweet man but his past was bumpy. The romance, humor, adventure, spiritual growth of the characters was inspirational. I loved the kids! So realistic. Plus it was a page turner as well. Never a dull moment and I found myself chuckling aloud at some of Phoebe's escapades and Ben's inter action with the children. Great book!
I requested this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review..
I requested this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review..
October 23, 2021
Loved it!
Oh, man. I’ve been waiting for this story since the very first book in the series came out. And what a pay off it was! Man, I love how the author matured the main character without changing who he was. And then the character with burn out? That hit home.
This book is worth every penny. I can’t wait to reread the whole series now that this book is out!
Oh, man. I’ve been waiting for this story since the very first book in the series came out. And what a pay off it was! Man, I love how the author matured the main character without changing who he was. And then the character with burn out? That hit home.
This book is worth every penny. I can’t wait to reread the whole series now that this book is out!
November 8, 2021
Home Run!
I was so looking forward to this story and I was not disappointed! Phoebe and Ben and the kids and some mystery and adventure. It was a great story in the Hope Again Series!
I was so looking forward to this story and I was not disappointed! Phoebe and Ben and the kids and some mystery and adventure. It was a great story in the Hope Again Series!
July 5, 2023
This Contemporary Christian fiction book is in a continuing series, and I am looking forward to reading the final installment! The characters are believable and heartwarming. I was able to read a copy of this book via Overdrive, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.
January 3, 2023
Home Run
Building a Christian camp for kids should go smoothly. No one would bother then, right? Wrong! Things were happening and no idea how. Good clean romance.
Building a Christian camp for kids should go smoothly. No one would bother then, right? Wrong! Things were happening and no idea how. Good clean romance.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews