Then Came Hope

Title: THEN CAME HOPE
Author: Louise M. Gouge
Publisher: Emerald Pointe Books
May 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9785137-3-3
Genre: Inspirational/historical

Delia was born a slave. The Civil War is over, but Delia isn’t sure what to do. All she knows is that she wants to get away from the cruelty of her master. She runs, expecting capture at any time. Instead, she runs into a little band of former slaves making their way north.

Ezra Johns was born free, and he fought with all black Union soldiers. But he’s gotten separated from his unit. He is making his way north to Boston when he meets up with Delia and her friends. Ezra promises to see them safely to Boston—but knows he must lose his Union uniform in the south, because the returning Rebel soldiers hate him, and his kind.

When Ezra is separated from his new friends, another black man offers to lead them. But instead of taking them north, he takes them south, to a white woman who seems to want slaves, even though the war is over. Trouble brews for the little band of former slaves. Will they ever make it north?

THEN CAME HOPE is book two in Louise Gouge’s civil war series, but it easily stands alone. Delia and Ezra were realistic, and very well developed, as well as the secondary characters. I would have liked to have met up with some of these characters and gotten to know them in person.

The faith message is expertly woven in and is not preachy. I found myself hoping that Delia and Ezra would be able to find their way to freedom—even if it isn’t exactly what they dreamed. These characters had me cheering for them from page one. Excellent job, Ms. Gouge! Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 381 pages.