Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong | Book Review ~ $30 Gift Card ~ Historical Romance ~Revolutionary War
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong Published by The Wild Rose Press on December 13, 2022
Genres: Historical Romance
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 275
Revolutionary War soldier, Gavin Cullane, has desperate choices to make. He vows never to give up the fight for American freedom, but his role as colonial liaison between the Americans and the British brands him a seeming traitor to his own country. When he discovers the woman he loves is part of George Washington’s secret spy chain, his only choice is to expose his own lies so she can escape.
Tansy Carter risks her life to send messages to George Washington from the captured city of New York. When she is discovered, she must flee the city, and trusting her life to the traitor, Cullane, is the desperate chance she must take.
Will their freedom come at the cost of their love?
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Received from the author or publisher for review.
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Excerpt from Desperate Hope
Charles’s neck turned red as he gulped in air. “I saw the pouch lying there on the table at the café. The soldier wasn’t even looking at it, so I grabbed it. I thought it might have something important in it.”
“Important enough to risk your family’s safety?” roared his father.
“But look what I have. I took them from the pouch before they caught me.” Charles opened his shirt and pulled out a fistful of papers.
Nate snatched the correspondence out of his son’s hand and riffled through the seven pieces. “And once Cullane realizes these papers are missing, he’ll be back. For you!” Tossing the papers on the floor, he shouted, “And the rest of us. How did I get such a foolish son?” Nate paced while Daisy scooped up the letters.
“I’m sorry! I…wasn’t thinking,” stuttered Charles.
“Wait,” said Daisy. She stepped very close to Charles. “I want him to know that his mother is willing to risk her life for her impetuous son. A son who violated our trust, but whose mother will do anything to rescue him. You think about that while I’m gone.”
“Where are you going?” demanded Nate.
“I’m going to scatter this mail on the streets, so it looks like it fell out of the pouch before a foolish, reckless boy stole it. Charles, you think about whether I’ll be able to come home to you.”
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Desperate Hope
Amazon – OneLink for every country
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My thoughts on Desperate Hope
Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong ~ 4.5 Stars for a riveting Revolutionary War romance/thriller.
Gavin Cullane holds his best friend as he lies dying from his battle injuries, vows to protect Alden’s family, and continue the fight for America’s freedom from Britain.
Little did he know what he was getting into. Already half in love with Tansy from listening to Alden’s stories, it doesn’t take much for him to risk life and limb to protect her and her family. Unfortunately, he seems to put them in even more danger.
This book is one part history lesson, part spy thriller, part romance, and a lot of struggle. Whether the characters are struggling with surviving the war, hiding their work to aid General Washington, or avoiding a narcissistic British agent bent on destroying them to benefit his career, love is the glue that holds this story together.
The level of research evident in the story is a tribute to the author. Every character serves a purpose in advancing the storyline. I held my breath at some of the adventures, laughed at the children’s antics, and cried a bit when tragedy struck.
The minute details take this story up a notch. I learned about hiding secret messages in covered buttons and the spy network that enabled General Washington to turn the war effort around against all odds. I confess I occasionally looked up details to see how correct they were. Amazingly accurate.
I would have liked a little more closure on a thread or two of the tale, but I feel it leaves itself open to a sequel, perhaps even a family saga.
Grab a copy of this book today if you enjoy well-researched Revolutionary War stories, with fascinating glimpses into the spy network that defeated the British, tender romance, and family bonds. You won’t be disappointed.
Keeper of My Dreams by Susan Leigh Furlong
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Susan Leigh Furlong
Susan Leigh Furlong was born in the middle of a blinding spring snowstorm at the University of Michigan, which forced her mother to walk across campus in the snow to the hospital while in labor. Susan doesn’t remember any of this auspicious beginning, but it always makes for a good story! As a child she moved across the country six times to various big cities before the age of fourteen because of her father’s career in women’s ready-to-wear clothing. At college she met and married her love, and moved to his small hometown in southern Ohio, and you couldn’t get her out of there with a crowbar! She taught first grade and fourth grade and raised her children who did not have to change schools even once. Creating stories started early in life—as is typical of most writers—even before she could actually write. Then came handwritten pages stuffed in her underwear drawer, followed by stories created on a manual typewriter. Her first computer—a Commodore 64—was replaced by a series of computers and laptops, which her husband promised she could never fill up the storage space, but she always did. At age 32 she performed in her first community theater play—Guys and Dolls—where she quickly realized that she wanted to play ALL the parts, which is exactly what a writer does. She writes and/or directs church-related plays and sketches and also performs and sings with a music and drama ministry, LightReaders.
Her love of history led her to write two plays about her now hometown, presented in reader’s theater-style by local citizens, followed by two non-fiction books about the local history published by Arcadia Publishing. She loves to do the research even though old books and documents make her cough and sneeze! Susan first discovered romance novels when she won a copy of Velvet Song by Jude Deveraux at the local bookstore. She reads all varieties of books, but historical romance is forever her first choice.
Steadfast Will I Be and By Promise Made were published by The Wild Rose Press in 2019 and 2020 respectively. By Promise Made won the NEST – National Excellence in Story Telling – for Historical Romance for 2021. Her third book – Keeper of My Dreams – a continuation of the Cullane family adventures - will be officially released on September 6, 2021.
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Purchase Desperate Hope online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Amazon – Canada
Amazon – France
Amazon – Germany
Amazon – UK
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you want to purchase using my links. 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!
During the tour, Susan Leigh Furlong will award a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Desperate Hope
Full Tour Schedule:
December 15: Candlelight Reading
December 29: Gina Rae Mitchell
December 29: Novels Alive
January 5: Iron Canuck Reviews & More
January 12: Maggie Blackbird
January 12: Sandra’s Book Club
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This sounds like a great book!
Have you considered writing with another author for a one off?
Thank you for sharing your wonderful review of Desperate Hope, I love the cover, synopsis and excerpt and I am looking forward to reading this story myself.
Thanks, Bea. I think you’ll like it.
I read Susan Leigh Furlong’s book, ‘By Promise Made’ and I loved it.
This sounds like a book that I am really going to enjoy!
I hope you do!
Thanks for the great review and excerpt. The book sounds very intteresting. Great cover!
Susan Leigh Furlong is a fairly new author to me. I have read one of her books and I am excited to read this one.
[…] Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong | Book Review ~ $30 Gift Card ~ Historical Romance ~Revolution… […]
Sounds like such a good book.
Gina Rae, Thank you so much for posting and reviewing DESPERATE HOPE. I really appreciate your comments and the support you give to authors. It is greatly appreciated!
This book sounds really good; look forward to reading this!! Thank you!!
Thanks for commenting on DESPERATE HOPE. Please get a copy and enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Your support is appreciated.
The book sounds really good. I love the characters and the book cover.
I hope you will enjoy reading this adventure/romance. I always like to write about close-knit families like the Hemsteads. The cover by Lisa Dawn MacDonald is one of my favorites. Thank you for posting a comment.
Thanks for hosting!
Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong sounds like a book that many readers will enjoy.
I hope you will get a copy and enjoy reading about Gavin and Tansy. The spies during the American Revolutionary War fascinated me, especially that they were not discovered until the 1920s. Now that is secret!!