Thursday, December 10, 2020

About the Book

Book: The Confident Hope

Author: E.C. Jackson

Genre: Inspirational Romance

Release Date: September 15, 2020

Is there hope for this love between friends?

Pamela Hayes is a smart, successful business owner with a supportive family and a thriving bakery. She should be the happiest girl in the world. But she can’t shake the melancholy that accompanies every conversation she has with her best friend, Mark. Pamela doesn’t know how much longer she can hide her true feelings.

Why can’t Mark see how perfect they would be together? She would make a much better girlfriend than the one he currently has. Pamela prays he’ll come to his senses soon and realize he’s with the wrong girl. But when her dream comes true, it isn’t the fantasy she had envisioned.

There is trouble in paradise from the start, and all the red flags she’s been ignoring are starting to threaten her confidence…and her relationship with Mark. She’ll have to rely on family and her faith in God to help her secure the hope she so desperately needs.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

E.C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. For three and a half years she published the Confidence in Lifenewsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals. Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years naturally led to her current endeavor of writing inspirational romance novels and teen and young adult fiction. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.

“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on my website and Facebook author page. If every person reading my book feels connected to the characters, my job is done.

More from E.C. Jackson

When I started writing The Confident Hope, I had an idea of the general story and little else. The only thing concrete was the book’s title and the main characters’ names. Which isn’t surprising. I develop my storylines by letting the characters take me where they will.

As I stared at the computer monitor, I suddenly knew how to begin. Once I had that idea, the first chapter came into focus; then, once again, the words trickled onto the page.

I then had to answer the questions that would direct the story. “Who are Pam and Mark?” and “Why is their story important to tell?” Unfortunately, Pam’s and Mark’s lives mimic what happens to us all. Our hopes and dreams either live or die. Each decision the characters made highlighted who they are and how they chose to handle their seeming successes and defeats.

They could rejoice over obvious successes. Become prideful. Or fail to recognize those blessings. The couple could thank God that some of their aspirations failed. Or pray that the ones they self-fulfilled wouldn’t bankrupt their lives.

Writing about Pam and Mark matured me in numerous avenues. That is what I most treasured about these beloved characters. Viewing their lives added substance to my own during the two years I worked on their story.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed.”

That scripture fed my heart through each trial I faced when penning my fourth book of the standalone hope series. Writing about these cherished characters increased my faith in God’s victorious hand.

MY REVIEW

I have read other books by this author and was very pleased with her writing style. In this book she takes situations and uses her characters to show the ups and downs of a marriage. The first chapter was abrupt to me as we suddenly find the two main characters married and this begins their journey. I wasn’t sure I really liked either Pamela or Mark. They both seemed selfish and stubborn. To my surprise I realized why I didn’t like them. They were a mix of me at the beginning of my marriage. Oh yes I was stubborn, needed to be told over and over that I was loved and boy was I jealous.

I really liked the list they made at the beginning of their marriage. Everything on the list would be good for every couple to follow. I can’t believe the big surprise waiting for Pamela when her and Mark come home from their honeymoon. A lack of communication is huge in this marriage and it causes friction that at times I wasn’t sure could be fixed. But in the midst of all their fights, harsh words and pride was hope. Yes this book is all about hope. We need to never give up and constantly believe that nothing is impossible with God.

The author gives us a glimpse of Mark’s childhood which to me set the stage for him to fail in relationships unless he learns to forgive and trust his wife. I liked watching Mark slowly begin to have a real relationship with his parents. It made sense why he desired to spend a lot of time with Pamela. He had never had anyone when he was growing up give him much attention and he craved that so much it almost felt like he was too clingy with Pamela.

Pamela is a driven woman who spends more time at her shop than with her husband. I had to wonder why she didn’t want to be with him and then I thought maybe she is afraid of rejection. There are a few surprises in the story that does change both Pamela and Mark’s view of marriage. With family problems, insecurity and pride this couple seemed doomed from the start. But there is always hope.

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