I had the extreme pleasure of working on the cover for this lovely debut novel by Eliza Blackwood and invited her to share her story.

Eliza Blackwood

My debut novel, The Birth of Hope, is really close to my heart because it’s kind of my celebration of survival. After six long years in an abusive relationship, I came through to the other side. There were many days when I wasn’t sure if I’d live or not, and some days, I wanted to die. I wrote this book as a way to heal, not knowing if I would even publish it. Once I was finished, I’d found such healing in the story that I wanted to share that hope with others. It is my wish, with all of my being, that if you’re in an abusive relationship, you will find hope in this story and find the strength to get out and find a new life.

For a chance to win a signed paperback of The Birth of Hope, comment on this Facebook post with your favorite book and then share the post. https://www.facebook.com/ElizaBlackwoodAuthor/posts/1722315074762632

Praise for The Birth of Hope:

“It was an experience. It was a lesson in friendship. It was beautiful.” —Maria

“The Birth of Hope is a touching love letter to the power of friendship and sisterhood. It manages to be heartwarming, funny, and inspiring without ever becoming superfluous, strained, or contrived. Her characters are relatable and I believe most readers - women especially but certainly not exclusively - will find something that resonates with their own experience in life and relationships. As Sophie and Felise meet and their friendship begins to blossom, readers are treated to an aspirational roadmap to what we all often feel we want and need from our friends but struggle to achieve or maintain, and in this respect I believe The Birth of Hope would be an excellent selection for a book club, or for friends to read and discuss together. It is fiction, but there is a great deal of material to digest within that can inform a journey to building stronger, healthier relationships in our real, day to day lives. It's difficult to believe that this is Blackwood's debut as a novelist, as the quality of her writing bears an edge that tends to only come with experience.” —Kelley

“The characters in the story can inspire others to take that first step in reclaiming their lives. Finding strength to leave a bad relationship is difficult, and learning to trust and love again can be even harder. One of the many revelations from Eliza’s novel: Friendship can make the difference; one act of kindness can help someone living in the darkness of shame walk back into the warm sunshine of renewed possibilities.” —Connie

About The Birth of Hope:

Once a fun-loving, free-spirited young woman, Sophie Menger has become an echo of her former self. She’s trapped in an abusive relationship, and her mind and spirit are so broken she doesn’t feel like a person anymore. Sometimes, it seems as if her only purpose is to serve and service her controlling husband. No matter how well Sophie "performs," the abuse continues to escalate. He has threatened to kill her many times over the years, and she’s terrified he will actually make good on his threats one day. Just as she sees a glimmer of light at the end of her dark tunnel, things turn ugly. Will Sophie make it out alive?

Felise Greyson’s life is in shambles. Eight weeks after her husband is imprisoned for embezzlement, she’s stuck in a dead-end job, struggling to pay her bills, friendless, and alone—and now, the unthinkable, she’s pregnant. She never wanted to have children and is panic-stricken by the thought of being a single mother. Feeling utterly helpless, she prays for something—anything—to happen to get her out of this mess. Will Felise be able to embrace motherhood and live up to her beloved late mother's example?

In Eliza Blackwood’s novel, The Birth of Hope, two women must leave the past behind and find happiness amid the chaos of a broken marriage, an abusive husband, and a new baby. Friendship proves to be the ultimate healer – that, and Hope.

Trigger warnings: This book depicts emotional/verbal abuse, physical abuse, and threatened sexual abuse. Infertility is also addressed, and strong language is used.

Amazon (US): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M9E7GK6
Amazon (CA): https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M9E7GK6
Amazon (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M9E7GK6
Smashwords (ePub): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/674011
All Romance Ebooks (ePub, mobi, PDF): https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thebirthofhope-2158642-149.html