A Gentle Hope (Hope Ever After, #2): A Beauty and the Beast Retelling

This book was really a surprise for me. I have always loved fairy tales and tried reading a few retellings over the years but they always disappointed and I never finished one. It’s the same with Austen retellings, so I thought maybe I’m just not into retellings.
But it turns out - like with movie adaptations of books I loved - there obviously are exceptions to my dislike of retellings.

I didn’t get into the story right away. Maybe it was because the language seemed too modern to me but the setting was more fairytale-like, but I’m not sure.
I just know this started to change shortly after Iara was transferred to the castle. I got to know the characters better and better, could relate to them more and picture the scenes show more clearly.

Iara disliked the Prince at first and judged him mostly based on rumors. But they started to interact more frequently and she saw a different side to him and her animosity changed slowly.
I love that this book, albeit short, is more of a slow burn and they don’t fall in love at first sight, but need some time warming up to each other.

But what made this book very special to me was the self-discovery and change both characters go through, the faith message, very well woven into the story and views of self-love vs. loving others and sacrifice, so refreshing in our modern society.

“Love,” the fairy godmother said at last.
“I will not tell you the exact terms of your curse, but I will say that you must learn to love others more than you love yourself.”
“Love!” He scoffed. “I can’t decide to love people. Love is an emotion.”
“Love is a choice,” she said firmly. “You love people when you put them over yourself.”

“... I recognize that all people are equal. We are made in the Creator’s image, and every person has value. …”

“ … I was a Beast, Iara. I will not minimize my cruelties. I am ashamed of who I was.”

I let the quotes speak for themselves, because this is what you get, when you read “A Gentle Hope” and I personally love the message it sends and the story touched me more the more I read.

This book is part of the Hope Ever After series. The proceeds are donated to O.U.R., an organization working against human trafficking.
To quote the author’s acknowledgements:

“This book is about seeing in every person the value he has for each of us, and all Creation stars in Him.”

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own. show less