"A Breath of Hope" by Lauraine Snelling

A Breath of Hope (Apr. 3, 2018) by Lauraine Snelling.*

While the Carlson family still reside with Onkel Einar and Tante Gerd Strand, Signe and Rune have their own acreage on which to build a place of their own. Einar remains as difficult and ornery as ever. He won’t call Signe by her name, and anything that he can unfairly blame on her, he will. But the long winter has turned to the spring of 1910, and, though the work is as grueling and endless as ever, Signe and her family have found comfort and camaraderie with Gerd, the Benson couple, a neighbor and others from the local Lutheran church. When Rune and Bjorn are not busy helping Einar, they and the other two sons, Knute and Leif, labor on their piece of land to ready it for building a house. Einar, obsessed with his own interests, never helps.

            Signe takes heart, as two of Rune’s siblings are traveling to Amerika and to them in Minnesota. Nilda Carlson (also Signe’s best friend) and her younger brother, Ivar, are set to help on the Strand farm. Nilda is thrilled to go to America, though the transatlantic voyage leaves little to be desired. Nearing Duluth, they meet a fellow voyager named Petter Thorvaldson, who does not appear to be married and is going to Blackduck. There’s also Fritz Larsson, a teacher and organist who teaches English. He, too, is single. Might there be matchmaking in Nilda’s future?

            When a tragedy strikes, will the reason for Einar’s extreme anger toward the community come to light?

            How I enjoyed this story! As with the first story in the Under Northern Skies series, I was impressed with the realism of this inspirational historical fiction novel. The characters are all supremely hard workers; their toil is almost tangible as I picture Snelling’s words in my mind. Einar continues to frustrate me, only because I cannot imagine having such lumps of coal in my heart. I read this winsome story at a brisk pace. Because of all of the modern conveniences I’ve been privileged to grow up with, I am astounded by all of the hard work this family puts in to make a house a home and a farm their own. Through it all, there is a deep connection of faith, which makes love for one another all the stronger.

            Book One: The Promise of Dawn

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”