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    A New Hope for Christmas
    A New Hope for Christmas
    A New Hope for Christmas
    Ebook97 pages1 hour

    A New Hope for Christmas

    By Erin Stevenson

    4.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    This Christmas, Two Lost and Broken Families Need Restoration.

    Sam Jarrett was just starting to explore spiritual things when his world was shattered. Now, he's completely turned his back on God. Laura Preston is a devoted believer, leaning heavily on her faith to get her through each tortured day.


    Two Chance Meetings Spark a Friendship and a Glimmer of Hope.

    Sam battles God's prodding through Laura's gentle, caring spirit. When another tragedy strikes on Christmas Eve, Sam is sure that God has completely deserted him. Laura tries to show Sam that God loves him and has been there all the time, but how can Sam trust when he has no faith?

    A New Hope for Christmas is a story of restored faith in a God who never leaves us, even when we can't see or feel Him near.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarbourlight Books
    Release dateDec 1, 2020
    ISBN9781522303237
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    4.5/5

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    • 4/5
      This is a fast read but filled with a wonderful story about grief and faith. It is never easy to lose a loved one and when the holidays come around it can be a hard time for some. I liked meeting Sam and Laura. They have both experienced a tragic loss and are faced with the holidays grieving. After losing my brother in 2019 I dreaded the holidays. What really helped me was going to a grief support group sponsored by a church.Sam was angry at God for taking his wife and finds it difficult to go back to church. The emotions go deep for him as he is left to raise their son alone. He notices that his little boy is sad and needs to help him in some way. As Christmas approaches Sam faces another tragedy that will test his faith. Laura is going through the loss of her husband and one of her children. When Sam and her meet at an unexpected place, I just knew it was a divine appointment. Laura tried to comfort Sam and share her faith with him. We never know why things happen but as Laura explains, “God never leaves us nor forsakes us.” The enemy loves to separate us from God and Sam suddenly realizes that he walked away from God. This is a sweet story about grief and finding your way back to God. I love how the author brought two people together to walk a path to hope and happiness. I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

    Book preview

    A New Hope for Christmas - Erin Stevenson

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    A New Hope for Christmas

    Erin Stevenson

    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

    A New Hope for Christmas

    COPYRIGHT 2020 by Erin Stevenson

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. eBook editions are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. eBooks may not be re-sold, copied or given to other people. If you would like to share an eBook edition, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Contact Information: titleadmin@pelicanbookgroup.com

    All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version(R), NIV(R), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

    Scripture quotations, marked KJV are taken from the King James translation, public domain. Scripture quotations marked DR, are taken from the Douay Rheims translation, public domain.

    Scripture texts marked NAB are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition Copyright 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

    Cover Art by Nicola Martinez

    Harbourlight Books, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC

    www.pelicanbookgroup.com PO Box 1738 *Aztec, NM * 87410

    Harbourlight Books sail and mast logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC

    Publishing History

    First Harbourlight Edition, 2020

    Electronic Edition ISBN 978-1-5223-0323-7

    Published in the United States of America

    Dedication

    To Ellie Mae

    1

    Sunny! Sam hugged his arms around his torso, bent his head against the frigid wind, and raised his voice. Sunny! Get in here! He really didn’t want to tug on his boots and coat and go all the way down the hill to the far corner of the backyard. He knew exactly where Sunny was.

    Sam stamped his slippered feet on the mat and peered beyond his back deck into the darkness. He tipped his head back and stared into the night sky, searching for a speck of light, anything to penetrate the blackness that cloaked his soul. But it was completely cloud-covered. Not even one lonely star or dot of light to give him hope.

    Approaching barking and galloping steps snapped Sam out of his reverie, and seconds later, sixty pounds of Golden Retriever slammed against his body. Make that wet, muddy Golden Retriever.

    Sam grabbed the towel he kept by the door and wiped Sunny’s paws. You’re such a beast, he teased. Sunny lunged up to lick his face. She was full-grown but still had the energy and personality of a puppy. What am I going to do with you? he muttered as he dragged the dog into the house.

    Sunny went straight for her water bowl.

    Sam closed and locked the sliding door, suppressing another shiver. He crossed to the sink, washed his hands, picked up his mug, checked the coffeepot and grimaced. Only about two inches left, and it would be bitter and sludgy. He carried the pot and mug to the sink, dumped and rinsed them both. He didn’t need any more caffeine, anyway.

    When he shuffled into the family room, Sunny met him with her favorite stuffed rabbit hanging out of her mouth. Sam ruffled the soft fur on the top of her head, wrestled the ratty toy away, and then threw it to the other end of the room. Sunny galloped away.

    He sank into the buttery soft leather couch and rubbed his hands over his face. Sunny appeared in front of him with the toy but didn’t move. Sam’s shoulders sagged, and he let out a loud sigh. I know, girl, he murmured. Sunny dropped the rabbit and laid her head on his knee. Her soulful brown eyes nearly did him in. Sam stroked her head. I miss her, too.

    Sam gazed around the large family room with high, open ceilings and dark wood beams. His stomach bubbled. Would he even be able to keep the house? They’d bought it just six months ago when they were dreaming big. Before everything changed in one heart-stopping instant.

    That money is still there just gathering interest. As soon as the thought flew into Sam’s head, he pushed it away. Just a year ago, Jennifer’s grandmother had died, leaving her a moderate but generous bequest. Jennifer was adamant that it would be used for something special to honor her cherished grandmother’s memory. She had just begun formulating some ideas when her own life was cut short. Sam pressed his lips together. It would be a sacrilege to dip into that money. As far as he was concerned, it didn’t exist.

    What was left of the day’s fire simmered on the hearth, but there were no beautiful holiday decorations gracing the mantel. It was the first Christmas in this house, and he couldn’t even bring himself to put up a tree.

    Sunny clambered up next to him and put her head in his lap. Sam supposed he should go upstairs, but he didn’t have the energy. And, truthfully, he slept better anywhere but in his own bed these days. He stretched out on the couch and pulled an afghan over himself, and Sunny settled in around his legs. Her soft warmth gave Sam a small measure of comfort.

    But it was many hours before sleep claimed him.

    2

    Tendrils of morning light teased the edges of Laura’s consciousness, and she sighed and snuggled under the covers. A smile tugged at her lips. Patrick would bring her morning coffee soon.

    Mommy?

    Laura jolted awake as reality slammed into

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