Winds of Hope

Jayson Wolfe #3

by Anita Stansfield

When it came time for Will and Elizabeth to leave, Jayson felt like a lost child, alone and terrified. Elizabeth whispered near his ear, "I will be praying for you constantly. God will get you through this, Jayson. Nobody else can. He will give you the peace and the strength you need." Jayson nodded but couldn't speak. He turned and walked away, feeling as if he were about to literally descend into the depths of hell. And nobody could spare him from the inevitable consequences of the choices he'd made to bring himself to this point. Not even God could do that. With all the pain and loss he has suffered over the last twenty years, does Jayson have the courage to trust the healing power of the Atonement? To allow his spirit to be touched by a child's testimony? To replace doubt and skepticism with love and forgiveness? In this third chapter of the Jayson Wolfe story, best-selling LDS author Anita Stansfield once again demonstrates her profound understanding of human nature. As the resilience of family relationships are put to the ultimate test, Winds of Hope gently yet powerfully carries the reader through the pages of this exceptionally heartfelt and moving love story.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Lds, Romance, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Religion, Christian Romance

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Anita Stansfield, the LDS market's #1 best-selling romance novelist, is an imaginative and prolific writer whose romantic stories have captivated her readers.

"With sales approaching a half million, Anita Stansfield has clearly found a niche in this market," said Nicole Martin, Publicist for Covenant Communications. "Her popularity stems from her ability to empathize with and write about the issues that LDS women deal with on a daily basis."

"I always write for women like me. It's through my interaction with other women that I've found there are some personal and emotional struggles that are typical," said Anita Stansfield. "I hope my writing makes women feel better about themselves and shows them these real problems can be solved through gospel principles."

Reviews

[Margo Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thoroughly exhausted after reading this series. After reading the first two books in this series, I was just so relieved to have some good things happen to these characters. But, quite frankly, this being my first time reading Anita Stansfield's books, I'm not sure I can pick up another one. It was just too exhausting. If there is another book in this series (which was alluded to in the front of the book)I am not sure I will read it.

I ranked this book with more stars than the previous two books, just because I was so thrilled to finally have good things happen. I did enjoy reading this book, and this book did make the first 600 pages worth it - but I'm just not sure I can invest so much energy into another one of her books. Books are supposed to be a fun escape. So, right now I will escape into a Dean Koontz book.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sad to say that I torture myself. There are few books of this author's that I like. I read to escape life and a lot of her books are bogged down with serious issues that leave me feeling grumpy and depressed. I enjoy reading a book that makes me feel happy and leaves me closing the book with a contented sigh. As I read this, I sat and wondered how many bad things could happen to one family. But it ended up (like they always do) being a perfect happily ever after story. A lot of the language bothered me too--I just can't picture this big rock star saying some of the phrases that came out of his mouth. And he's way too sappy (high-water table) for me. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have a sensitive man, but this guy was just too much for me. I felt that the characters repeated themselves when talking to each other and it didn't feel like a natural dialogue. For me, these things got in the way of the story and it turned into one of her "typical" books. I enjoyed the first two books of the series a lot more and probably won't even bother reading the fourth installment.

[Apzmarshl · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY they get together!! Stansfield didn't let me down this time.....not overly wrought with emotion and analyzing the emotion!! She didn't even use her normal descriptors.
Jasyon goes to rehab. Gets out of rehab having dealt with all of the loss in his life that put him there.
Macy comes home pregnant and abused. She gives the baby up for adoption and makes her life worth living by totally changing her life style.
Jayson finally embraces the gospel. He and Elizabeth marry, have babies, make more music!!

[Cassandra Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the first two books in this series, it was enjoyable to finally get to read about the good stuff. This book really made me contemplate how the choices that we make in our lives can have really long term impacts. This book was a pleasure to read.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really loved all 3 of the books in this series. The storyline was compelling and held my interest at all times. It was hard to put down.

[Julie Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. This is the third book in the Jayson Wolfe series, and it has to be one of my favorites. This book picks up right where the last book left off.
Jayson enters drug rehab. He's become addicted to prescription drugs and has finally hit rock bottom. True to her promise, Elizabeth and her family are still always there for him, and it's their home in Utah that becomes his landing place. After rehab, he stays with them while he tries to put his life back together.
Elizabeth still believes in Jayson, even though he seems to have lost everything. He has more money than any one person would ever know what to do with, but money doesn't buy happiness. His daughter Macy is still gone. His music career is over. He can't seem to play anything anymore, let alone write anything new. His musical gift appears to be all dried up.
Then Elizabeth's prayers seem to be answered. Jayson develops an interest in the Gospel. Their relationship deepens. Things start falling into place, and Jayson begins comparing his life to that of Job. He had everything, lost almost everything, and now his life seems to have been restored to even better than it's ever been. His family grows, and his musical talent seems to be taking him in directions he'd never thought possible. Life couldn't possibly be any better than this.
This was a great addition to the Jayson Wolfe story. I look forward to visiting all my favorite characters again soon.

[Sunnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by this LDS author. I picked it up at the local library and I really loved it. This book isn't book one of the series which is called the Jayson Wolfe Series. But the author begins this book with updates on "what is happening" and where the previous books left things. This helped since I didn't know when I grabbed this book that it was a part of a series. And so I could enjoy it as a stand-alone as well.
Being from a neighboring town of this author, I knew the places she wrote about perfectly. That made it a personal book to me.

She writes of the trials and growth of Jayson Wolfe and his family members. I loved the openness and honesty of the characters in the book, grappling with things of the past and growing beyond them.

A very good book and I will be reading more from this author!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story. This was my mother in laws book so I decided to read it. Wish I would have read the first two but will read the last book in the series. Sweet story.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book. This a good series. Jayson joins the church. Several babies arrive. Goes on concert finds his fathers family with a Grandmother in Virginia. 3rd in Series.

[Kirra · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first two books I was angry that it was such a depressing series! The third book however flipped that right around. Favorite book of the whole series so far!

[Jenna Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series so far. It was refreshingly happy and hopeful ☺️

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was congratulating myself for have 3 down and only 1 more to go in this series (because this series has been completely miserable to read), when the guy who works in the bookmobile informed me that there is a FIFTH book. He told me and I couldn't help myself. I busted out with an, "Oh, CRAP!" He laughed and compared the books to a soap opera. I agreed, only these books are WORSE. Much worse. Why must EVERYONE cry CONSTANTLY. I've stopped caring when bad/sad things happen to these characters. I just think, "Oh, they're crying. Again. Surprise, surprise. I wish they'd shut up and man up." I mean, it's fine having them cry over major stuff. But they are constantly sobbing/weeping/moaning/tearing up/sniffling/etc... over little tiny things that most people don't cry over every single time they happen. And the phrase "high water table"? Don't even get me started on that! Most stupid phrase ever! And the most pathetic way to explain EVERY man in her book being a weepy, whiny baby.
I know some of you are wondering why I haven't just stopped reading these. I'm just the type of person who HAS to finish books (this includes series) that I start. Even if I hate them.
This book would have been a perfect ending to the series, actually. It ended happy and with me feeling a little better about pushing through to the end. But I've still got two more to go. I think Stansfield should have stopped while she was ahead. Or better yet -- she should have stopped before she ever wrote a single word of this entire series...

[Kiley McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This trilogy to "The Sound of Rain" is about Jason again and his new life with his new wife. Jason had gone through a rough patch with the last book and this third book is about how he found a new way of living. He learns that money and fame isn't all that, and he find himself again with his new love, who happened to be his best friend when he was in high school. They were always close, but she had found a new religion she didn't want to ever give up, so instead she shared it with Jason, and he too came to love the religion. Once they had started dating they got married and had a few kids plus the kid Jason had in his previous marriage.

They have not made this book into a movie.

This was a great trilogy to the original story "The sound of Rain". It had caught my attention as well as the other two books. I love the story line, and the characters in this book. I would recommend this book to boys and girls. It was a great mixture of romance and adventure for the guys.

[Sharm · Rating 2 out of 5]

How many times does the word "grateful" appear on every page? It gets very monotonous! I agree with other reviewers who tire of reading how the characters "bawl like a baby" and have "a high water table!" Anita needs to come up with new expressions because all of her characters from book to book all sound the same. Jayson and Elizabeth basically use the same expressions as Michael and Emily Hamilton - "oh help!" Also in her books, there is always a wealthy man who bails everyone out of their financial problems or has plenty of money to help out whenever needed. Too bad that isn't real life! Anita's first few books about Michael and Emily were very good and exciting to read. Now her books are getting very boring, predictable, and not even tempting to buy.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is part 3 of a four part series. I never read the prior books, but I short overview of what happened is provided in this book. It's about a girl and a boy who are high school sweethearts and then turn away from each other but still remain friends through the years. Both of their lives take on a lot of tragedy. This book is about how they work through all of that tragedy.

The story is very predictable, which is a trait that seems to run rampant with many LDS novelists. However, I did find myself getting into the characters. The part where many LDS authors bring up the gospel in their novels is very cliche and I just reads weird to me.

I did enjoy reading the book, but not enough to purchase it for myself.

[Spring Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Anita Stansfield, this book was fairly good. One thing that just drives me crazy in all her books is that all of her male characters break down into tears way too much! Does she think this what women want? weepy men? No thank you! I like that my husband gets teary eyed on only really special occasions, such as the birth of one of our children.

Anyway, I enjoyed the book and am glad that the series is over. Sometimes her books feel like shortened soap operas and make me wonder how much can go wrong in one person's life? However I continue to read them because they are clean and I enjoy how her characters use the gospel to solve their problems.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stansfield has outdone herself once again. Jayson has endured the treatment through the rehab center to detox the perscription drugs he was addicted to. He has also dealt with all the hurt in pandora's box that made him turn to the drugs to feel numb. When he is released he finds that his daughter has come home to him after two years of not knowing if she is dead or alive. She has had her own trials and is 17 years old and pregnant. Through love and patience jayson and macy accept the gospel are baptised and Jayson's dream of becoming a part of Elizabeths family officially come true. They have more children,restart Jayson's carrier and find his extended family.

[Janel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Anita Stansfield. This is her most recent publication and it lives up to her reputation. I love her characters. They have real challenges and real emotions. They also experience real consequences for their choices. This is the 3rd part to the Jason Wolfe story. I got to hear Anita Stansfield speak at our local library and she indicated that she wrote this 3 part book as one book, but the publisher decided it was too long and broke it up into three books. She has actually added a fourth and fifth novel in this series that will be published later this year--I can't wait!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Thank heavens. This third book cleared up a few things from the last one and made everything much more tolerable. Happy ending with an interesting turn of events in the characters lives. I really enjoyed it. A good, clean, uplifting and inspiring book. I even cried. Now that says a lot for me. I would highly recommend it. It was a pleasant read because I didn't have to worry about profanity or inappropriate situations. I have to read these kind of books in between the others just to cleanse my mind.

[Marne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book touched my heart in a way that not many have in a long time. i literally couldn't put it down, and stayed up ridiculously late to finish it. it inspires hope and forgiveness, and shows how miraculous the truth of the gospel really is. it is life altering, and we are so blessed to have it. also, when jayson finds his lost grandmother and family, even though it is just a novel, it brought tears to my eyes. this really does happen!! it was just what i needed to read at this trying time in my life.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about time things finally worked out for Jayson and Elizabeth. Almost a little too heavy emphasis on the whole search/ponder/pray theme and all the repetitive gratefulness running rampant. Other than that, a heart warming story that finally pulls through all the bad times and highlights a lot of really great things for everyone in the story. Especially interesting how Elizabeth ends up on stage with Jayson once again and they manage to get in touch with his own pioneer roots. Amazing what a little genealogy work can bring.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a good place for the series to end, yet there seems to be 2 more books? What terrible heartbreaking trauma are they going to have to go through now? I liked this book but feel there really isn't anything unresolved that would indicate 2 more books. Anyone who reads my reviews might realize I read Anita Stansfield books just waiting for someone to die. I usually mark when it happens! (Because you know it will) No death in this book ... not counting the one mentioned in the epilogue.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this is the third book in a series and it was the best of the series so far. I've always liked the way that Stansfield can approach her LDS romances with a certain ammount of realism. They are romances to be sure, but she always manages to show her audience how the gospel can be applied in even the most difficult circumstances. This book illustrates that in a very uplifting and interesting way. If you love Anita Stansfield you'll love this story.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always have to read Stansfield books far apart and with a deep breath. There is always a character (or two) that has some dramatic meltdown and it's so extreme. She always has the same phrases, like "heaven help me". BUT, it's a good, clean story. If you did away with the characters always falling to their knees in an emotional freeing of pandora's box, on the concrete in the parking lot with anguish, tears, and moaning, I think I would enjoy it even more.

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides the happy ending to the 3 volume story. I enjoyed these books because I liked the characters. Sometimes it seems like the author tries to teach too many messages in one book. That's what this was like; but it didn't detract from my enjoyement of the story. Knowing there would be tragedy in advance of reading it, helped me to keep my attitude light. And I do love a happy ending, which this third book provided nicely.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of the Jayson Wolfe series. The best part was Jayson's conversion story. I loved how he was able to turn his life around so completely. And yes, I did cry.

Where the second book covered about 20 years, this one covered about a year. And what a wonderful year it was for both Jayson and Elizabeth and their respective families. It was nice to see so much happiness in their lives after the tragedies in the first and second books.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series (A Distant Thunder). This book jumps right in and doesn't develop the characters--a risk with series writing. I did appreciate the introduction that summarized the first 2 books--clever. There was so much packed into this story (it could have been 2 volumes), but I can see where the author wanted to include the romance arc, thus she had to include the culmination of many other events.

[mandi. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay we are finally getting to the good stuff. I think the first books were just way too depressing and it was good to finally start reading about some happy stuff happening to these people. I enjoyed this book so much more than the previous ones! It was also interesting to see Jayson go through his struggles and how he overcomes them. Truly inspirational. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am listening to the audio books of this series while I am in my office making my jewelry. I like the characters and the story but there are so many repetitive phrases like "high water table" and "the children's antics" that are said about a million times and now every time I hear either of those phrases I just roll my eyes.
Anyways a decent story, not the best thing in the world but it has been fun to listen to it while I work.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in a 5 part series. I finished book 2 last night and finished this book this afternoon. With Christmas just 2 days away I'll probably take a break and finish the series next week. Unlike the first 2 books, the end of book 3 left things at a point where I didn't have to keep reading the series to see what came next.