Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman

This is an amazing novel. Every once and a while, when I finish a book, I sigh, and wish all novels were this good.

Sabrina's hero was Eric Liddell – ever since she saw the movie as a kid. She would be a gold winning runner and share Christ. But then her dreams came crashing down when she experienced a debilitating disease and could no longer run. Her athletic scholarship went away her freshman year at university. But she could change her dream. She was convinced she could.

One day while studying, she saw a teen gal running across campus, faster than anyone she'd seen for a while. Chugging behind her was the campus police.

Sabrina met the female gazelle a few days later when their grandmothers had arranged a dinner together. Brandy was her name and she needed help. She had gotten herself into trouble one too many times and was heading for juvie – unless, unless Sabrina would help her train and get on the high school's track team.

This is a great novel. Five stars twice over. The characters are portrayed well. I hurt with Sabrina as she tried so hard to help Brandy do what Sabrina could no longer do herself. And I was right along with Brandy, struggling to overcome her past.

The story is so good. There is the dream and then the tragedy of unfulfilled dreams. There is the opportunity to help another. There is a great guy who is willing to see through Sabrina's protective shell to find the real girl. There are the loving grandmas who know just how to say the right things to urge their granddaughters to be their best. And there is trusting God throughout.

I always like to learn something when I read a novel. And I did in this one. Sabrina has a couple of medical conditions and it was very interesting to read about them and the treatments too.

I loved this novel. It is excellent.

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy, She is the author of five previous novels, two of which were finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. Kathryn and her family live in Santa Barbara, California. Find out more at www.kathryncushman.com.

Bethany House Publishers, 321 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.