The final chapter in the “of Love and War” trilogy, A Hope Remembered is the story of Nora Lewis. Heartbroken over the loss of her fiancé in the Great War and the death of her parents, the inheritance of a sheep farm in England seems like the opportunity a new start. She sells her family farm and most of her belongings and moves, sight unseen, to the Lake District and her great-uncle’s dusty and tired cottage.

On her first night there she meets Colin Ashby, son of the local Baronet. Colin has returned home from a war that took his older brother, the favored son who was expected to inherit the title and the responsibility of their ancestral home. He is lost and struggles under the weight of his father’s disappointment; the hopelessness increases as he learns that the family is in jeopardy of losing their estate and that the way to this is by marrying a wealthy heiress.

In Colin, Nora finds a friend and kindred spirit. Life is complicated by threats from an unknown person wishing to scare her off the farm, the confusion and mystery of why everyone thinks she looks like an aunt she has never met and the sense that something is being kept from her, and by her growing attraction to Colin, who is expected to marry higher than a simple sheep farmer.

Henrie gives us yet another powerful female character in Nora, feisty and strong and a story that draws you in…and once again she has succeeded in leaving me with a book hangover as I wander listlessly, not wanting the story to be over and not quite ready to leave the world she has created..

There is more on my book review as part of the book launch week at http://www.mommaontherocks.com/5538/im-reading-wednesday-hope-remembered ( )

4.5 stars.

A Hope Remembered is the final installment in Stacy Henrie's wonderful World War I series, Of Love and War. It is an absolutely breathtaking novel of healing, love and faith that fans of historical romances are going to love.

Nora Lewis lost her fiancé during WWI and her parents to the Spanish flu, so when she learns she has inherited a sheep farm in the English countryside, she sells her Iowa farm and embarks on a new life. The first person she meets is aristocrat Colin Ashby who also suffered devastating losses during the war. The two form an unlikely friendship that eventually turns to love, but will a troubling secret destroy their chance at happiness?

Nora is a strong, independent young woman and she is very eager to gain the knowledge she needs to succeed in her new endeavor. She is surprised by the warm welcome she receives in the village and from her closest neighbors, and she is quickly accepted into the local community. She treasures her burgeoning friendship with Colin, but she is also distressed by her attraction to the handsome flyer. Nora is desperate to protect herself from further heartbreak so she tries to ignore her growing affection for Colin and when she learns upsetting information about him, she is quick to push him away. Nora soon discovers she might have been wrong about him, but is it too late to repair their fractured relationship?

As the youngest son, Colin never planned on inheriting his family's estate. However, after his beloved brother dies during the War, he returns home to honor his family obligations. Stunned to learn that his family is on the brink of financial ruin, he reluctantly agrees to his father's plan to secure their future. Colin is torn between family loyalty and his unexpected feelings for Nora and he is dismayed when she learns about his father's plan. He is distraught when she refuses to listen to his side of the story, but he also understands why she feels betrayed by him. Colin comes up with an alternative solution to save his family, but will he be able to salvage his relationship with Nora?

Colin and Nora's relationship begins with friendship and slowly grows into something much deeper over time. They instantly bond over their mutual losses and they truly enjoy one another's company. Their conversations are meaningful and as they open up about their painful pasts, they gradually find a measure of peace. Their most significant discussion becomes a turning point for Colin and he slowly begins to recover his lost faith.

A Hope Remembered is an uplifting and gratifying novel with a gentle undercurrent of faith. This wonderful story of love and friendship is quite riveting and the cast of characters is immensely appealing. The story is meticulously researched and historically accurate. The setting is absolutely perfect and Stacy Henrie brings the English countryside vibrantly to life. This outstanding conclusion to the Of Love and War series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series. ( )