🎆 “The Hope Series” by E.C Jackson Tour & “Overflow with Hope” (2024) Book Review 🎆
Book Title: A Gateway to Hope: Hope Series, Book 1 by E.C. Jackson
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 296 pages
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: E.C. Jackson
Release date: June 19, 2015
Content Rating: PG + M. These books contain mature themes.
Twenty-one-year-old Neka is a bit of an introvert, she also happens to be stunningly beautiful.
When she discovers her friend James is about to be dumped, she sees the perfect opportunity to escape from her quiet life. Can she summon the courage to leave it all behind?
James Copley comes from a ruthless family. It’s rubbed off.
Years ago, he disengaged from his brother’s smear campaign, but now his father has offered him an ultimatum, “Get married or lose your seat at the table.”
Plotting to stamp his design on the family business, he proposes to a woman, even though he doesn’t love her.
But his carefully laid plans start to unravel when she leaves him on the day she’s due to meet his family.
Could years of planning his comeback vanish with her departure?
A possible solution comes in an unexpected form: Neka. She’s not only a friend, but the daughter of his benefactor. And she’s right there, offering to support him.
But will her support stretch to marriage?
He attempts to win her over to his plan but collides with her powerful father who wants to leverage the situation for his own gain.
In their fight for survival and love, they are forced to face some uncomfortable truths.
Can they overcome thwarted dreams and missed chances to find true love, or does forcing destiny’s hand only lead to misery?
Book Title: Overflow With Hope: Hope Series, Book 5 by E.C. Jackson
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 241 pages
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: E.C. Jackson
Release date: Nov 9, 2023
Content Rating: PG + M. These books contain mature themes.
Two men. One wrong choice.
Tempia Wade’s life had jumped the rails.
One fateful night, she believed a stranger’s lie rather than the assurance of a trusted friend. For her lapse in judgment, she paid an agonizing price.
Her now-bankrupt life featured shattered dreams, ruined friendships, and the loss of a promising relationship. Now, two years later, the twenty-three-year-old prayed for a second chance with the man she had fallen for at first sight.
Would Cory Sanders finally overlook her egregious mistake in accepting a next-day date and liaison with another man? Or would she have to truly accept life without him?
Thank you in advance to the author, E.C. Jackson, for providing a complimentary review copy through iRead Book Tours. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.
Three years ago (February 2021), through Prism Book tours, I reviewed the first four books of this series:
1 – A
Gateway to Hope
2 – A
Living Hope
3 – The
Certain Hope
4 – The Confident Hope
At that time, I did not know there was a fifth (5th) book in the works. However, once I saw this was being released – I wanted to read it.
Even though this is part of The Hope Series, it is only connected by the “theme” of “Hope”. As some of the books had unresolved issues in them, I was kind of hoping this would tie it all together.
Sadly, it doesn’t.
This takes a similar theme to A Living Hope. If one hasn’t read that yet, I do recommend reading it first.
That said …
Jackson creates a cast of characters that surround the main couple – friends and family. Some want them to succeed, others are cautious, some think it’s a bad idea.
There are going to be themes of narcissism, as well as family discord. These are not the main focal points, but are essential to the characters as well as their experiences.
Jackson begins Overflow with Hope with Cory finishing an HVAC job, and thinking of Tempia. And, for good reason – it’s been almost 14 months since she left her husband, something that Cory helped her with.
But, he’s been trying to get her out of his mind.
Tempia, one year after her divorce, thinks back to how everything began that brought her to this day. She fell in love with Cory at first sight, but a slight accident derailed that. She met Quince, and everything seemed perfect – until it wasn’t, despite all the warnings from her friends and family.
It culminates with Cory “rescuing” her, then ghosting her after. That was 14 months earlier.
Now, she’s trying to piece her life back together. She’s also wondering about Cory, and “hoping” to get a second chance with him, even though he isn’t taking her calls.
Because of a chance incident with Quince, Cory decides to talk to Tempia. They both realize that Quince played a strong role in what happened – however, Tempia had chances to back away. And, he does wonder why she never followed up on all the “claims” friends and family made about Quince.
Cory asks her out on a date to “test” their relationship, to see if it can survive for the long haul. Right off, his father is against it; and Tempia’s father is as well. Whereas the mothers are all for it. The mothers see it as a sign of what is meant to be. Sam (Tempia’s dad) sees her being at Cory’s “beck and call”. Tim (Cory’s father) thinks there are other Godly women that Cory could date.
Still, the two decide to gently ease forward. Their first date is a success. From there, they gradually ease into a relationship. Despite Cory’s good nature, Tempia compares Quince’s pursuit of her with Cory’s “dating”. However, as close as Tempia and Cory become, there is something that holds them back.
Everyone is cautious – even the budding couple. But, Tempia is hampered by her past and overwhelming wants, so much so that it threatens her future.
Like she did with her other books, Jackson creates characters that some readers can identify with. In this story, she demonstrates how people, even with the best intentions, can cause issues. On the other hand, bad relationships sometimes extend beyond the people in them – family, friends, co-workers. Sometimes the damage takes more than an apology to move forward.
There were times I was proud of Tempia, and other times frustrated. Tempia was far too young to be worrying with having relationships. She married Quince at 21, divorced by 22, and then hoping for a romance with Cory at 23. I didn’t mean to, but I wanted to laugh at Tempia feeling as though time was running out. She had a LOT of her life ahead of her. Still, she wanted a marriage right then and there. And, it was that line of thinking that got her where she was with Quince.
After rescuing her, I felt that Cory and Tempia should’ve had a conversation that night, or at best a few days later – after the shock of her “marriage” ending had worn off. Certainly not a year later. He knew what she was going through, and what Quince was like. He had heard the man all but admit his role and that Tempia was merely a “pawn” in his plan. Cory also knew how “young” Tempia was. I do believe that, given her age, some latitude should’ve been given to Tempia by those around her.
After the end of Tempia’s marriage, I think there was room for Cory to be a “friend”. As she later did in the book, I think Tempia needed to seek counseling so she and Cory could progress without the baggage she brought into the relationship. The baggage was apparent when she found herself having doubts when there’d be long silences from Cory (calls or texts unanswered).
This story is also a cautionary tale of “doing one’s research” when it comes to ye olde rumor mill. There were FAR too many red flags here – Tempia’s friends didn’t like Quince, Cory’s friends didn’t like Quince, her family didn’t like Quince. That many people CANNOT be wrong.
This book definitely fits with the theme of The Hope Series, though I didn’t exactly see where the title correlated to the story.
Those looking for clean reads with Christian themes, as well as a diverse cast of characters, should check this series out.
You
can read my review of the first four books here:
https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-hope-series-by-ec-jackson-book-tour.html
RATING:
4 (3.8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 (3.8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 (3.8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
Book Title: A Living Hope: Hope Series, Book 2 by E.C. Jackson
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 286 pages
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: E.C. Jackson
Release date: July 31, 2016
Content Rating: PG + M. These books contain mature themes.
This is a worthy successor to Jackson's earlier novel, A Gateway to Hope.
-- review by Hog on Ice: Books and Independent Learning
It was a match made in heaven. Or so everyone thought. Sadie Mae Cummings is all set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Kyle, when she is assigned to tutor Lincoln, the new college football running back. This sophomore phenomenon has all the girls on campus knocking on his door. But Sadie isn’t interested in his advances.
Lincoln’s overblown ego doesn’t take well to being shunned, and he resolves to make Sadie his own. He pursues her relentlessly, until finally Kyle finds himself shut out of Sadie’s life, with their shared future crumbling around him.
After two years, Sadie’s relationship with Lincoln ends, and she is left having to put the pieces of her life back together. She desires nothing more than to recapture her relationship with Kyle. He has stayed true to the dreams they had planned together, living the vision even without Sadie by his side.
When she moves back to her hometown, she labors to rekindle their love. But things have changed, and Kyle has moved on. Sadie quickly discovers how hard it is to rebuild burned bridges.
Follow Sadie’s story as she fights for a chance to restore broken dreams. Will love endure?
This inspirational romance by E. C. Jackson is book two of the Hope series and is a standalone book.
Book Title: The Certain Hope: Hope Series, Book 3 by E.C. Jackson
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 261 pages
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: E.C. Jackson
Release date: Dec 5, 2018
Content Rating: PG + M. These books contain mature themes.
Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.
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Book Title: The Confident Hope: Hope Series, Book 4 by E.C. Jackson
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 271 pages
Genre: Inspirational Romance
Publisher: E.C. Jackson
Release date: Sep 15, 2020
Content Rating: PG + M. These books contain mature themes.
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.
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Book Title: Pajama Party: The Story by E.C. Jackson
Category: Teen & Adult Fiction (13 to 18 yrs), 241 pages
Genre: Teen & Young Adult Fiction / Teen & Young Adult Christian Fiction
Publisher: E.C. Jackson
Release date: Sep 30, 2017
Content Rating: PG + M. These books contain mature themes.
Most sleepovers are simple. Food, fun, and pillow fights. But sixteen-year-old Karen Duncan has bigger plans for her slumber party. Family troubles have changed her over the past year, and she’s no longer the petty, selfish girl she used to be. Now she’s ready to shake things up with her friends. The guest list comes as a surprise to some and a slap in the face to others. This popular girl has invited some not-so-popular guests. Even more shocking, she’s left out some of the girls she’s hung out with since middle school.
Diane and Evette are outsiders, nervous about being stuck in a house with the same girls who tease them at school.
Kathy, Lisa, and Joann come to the party with the confidence of the in-crowd, but they’re masking inner-turmoil that is bound to surface.
Sandy and Angela are usually the voices of reason…usually. And then there’s Linda, the friend that got away. She may not ever forgive the girls who abandoned her years ago. Karen hopes to change her mind. Her agenda is ambitious, and it could spell disaster. But Karen is convinced God will use this party to spark a new beginning for everyone involved.
This companion book to A Living Hope gives us the inspired story Sadie Cummings wrote for the girls of Shiatown.
E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play "Pajama Party." Thirty-one years later, she adapted the play into Pajama Party: The Story, a companion book to the second book in the five-book standalone Hope series.
Jackson’s favorite pastime is reading fiction. She enjoys taking the journey along with the characters in the books. That also led to her unorthodox approach to story writing. Her vision for each book she writes is to immerse readers into the storyline so they become connected with each character.
“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on her Facebook author page. She feels that if every person reading her books feels connected to the characters, her job is done.
connect with the author: website ~ amazon ~ facebook ~ X/Twitter ~ bookbub ~ goodreads
Thank you for reviewing the last book in the hope-themed series Overflow With Hope. I appreciate your time.
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