A Gateway to Hope (The Hope Series #1) by E.C. Jackson
Book Review ~ $50 Gift Card (Limited Availability) ~ Book Trailer ~ Guest Post by Author | #ChristianRomance #StrongChristianValues #Inspirational #Spiritual @iReadBookTours @ecjacksonsuthor @ec_jackson
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Book Details
A Gateway to Hope by E.C. Jackson
Series: Hope Series #1
Published by E. C. Jackson on 06/19/2015
Genres: Adult Fiction 18+, Fiction, Christian Romance
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 294
Source: Amazon PurchaseTwenty-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?
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Trailer for A Gateway to Hope
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Purchase Links for A Gateway to Hope
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Jackson, E. C. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 297 Pages - 05/20/2015 (Publication Date) - E. C. Jackson (Publisher)
Support local bookstores by purchasing on BookShop!
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My Thoughts on A Gateway to Hope
“Gateway to Hope” by E.C. Jackson is a captivating, inspirational romance that weaves a tale of self-discovery and love. Neka, a beautiful introvert, finds herself at a crossroads when she decides to help her friend James escape an ultimatum from his ruthless family. Jackson skillfully develops believable and relatable characters, drawing readers into the intricacies of their lives.
The attention to detail in the plot keeps the reader engaged, with a strong Christian theme underscoring the narrative. As James and Neka navigate the challenges of thwarted dreams and missed chances, the story explores the delicate balance between individual aspirations and the expectations of others.
The novel’s inspirational core shines through as the characters confront uncomfortable truths, making it a compelling read for those seeking a heartfelt love story with depth. Jackson’s exploration of two people trying to forge their paths in life adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative. “Gateway to Hope” is not just a romance; it’s a journey of self-discovery and resilience.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Watch this space for my reviews of the entire series!
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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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About E.C. Jackson
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.
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Guest Post by E.C. Jackson, author of A Gateway to Hope
Writing Sequels to Pajama Party: The Story
What began as a full-length two-act play written and produced some thirty-seven years ago, Pajama Party: The Story became A Living Hope’s companion book in 2017. Going forward, my fervent wish is to showcase the main characters from the teen and young adult novel. However, delving back into nine teenage girls’ mindsets, dreams, and realities may test my resolve more than it did in my late twenties. Yet, my own personal longing and generous book reviews have whetted my appetite for more interactions with my willful young ladies.
A sampling of some of the Pajama Party: The Story reviews:
— “Eight guests. One night. … What if we all had taken the initiative and time to evaluate our friendships and had the courage to change them for the better when we were young?”
— “Karen Duncan decides she’s going to have a pajama party and invite friends that don’t normally hang out together … Nine girls, one Pajama Party, and one long night, makes for an interesting story.”
— “It was interesting to get a glimpse into their lives and see how their friendships developed … I hope E.C. Jackson writes a sequel to this book. I would love to know the backstory of Evette ….”
So would I. And were the girls’ future life choices affected by the sleepover? Or did all or some of the girls forget the lessons they learned that night?
Asking pertinent questions is the easy part, but how does an author proceed with such an ambitious project?
Even though Karen Duncan initiated the sleepover, she shared the spotlight with eight other characters and deserves a book devoted to herself. Going forward, do I dedicate the first sequel to her character? Or begin with Evette as one reviewer had suggested? Where will the other girls fit in?
Probably the best course would be to take a different strategy for each book. While one person’s characterization should, although changed, continue basically as is, someone else’s may require an overhaul and fresh storyline. In either case, I should raise the ante on all the girls’ inclinations and stretch their resolve.
During the sleepover, we gained a sense of the important players in each girl’s life. Except for the truly essential people, everyone’s role is on the chopping block. Either keeping or adding the right characters will enhance the storyline.
My current goal is to write nine spin-off books that capture a slice of each girl’s life. However, writing nine sequels that feature the other girls as supporting characters, plus adding extra players to their story, seems a humongous hill to scale. However, as scripture declared in Romans 4:18, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed …”
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Purchase A Gateway to Hope online from your local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Links
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Jackson, E. C. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 297 Pages - 05/20/2015 (Publication Date) - E. C. Jackson (Publisher)
Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
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Giveaway!
Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of the author of The Hope Series. (one winner) (USA only) (ends Feb 21)
Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for A Gateway to Hope, including the full tour schedule.
The Hope Series by E.C. Jackson Book Tour Giveaway
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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
Tour dates: Jan 15 to Feb 14
Content Rating: PG + M. These books contain mature themes.
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I am collecting the entire Hope series to put on my empty shelf on my new book case.
Congrats! On the new book case and finding a series worthy of filling it.
nice cover, this sounds like a good book
This sounds like a great series!
The book sounds like a real slice of life.
Sounds really good.
Thank you for giving A Gateway to Hope an in-depth book review and spotlighting the guest post.
You are most welcome. I’m looking forward to reviewing the rest of the series.
sounds very compelling. thanks, Gina