Finally. Nine years after writing the original story. Four years after pitching it to an editor who showed interest. And twenty months after I signed a contract.

I should now have a “major” in patience.

But like the long pregnancy is mostly forgotten after the beautiful baby is born, I stare at my beautiful book baby and smile. Please smile with me. And if you’d like to read a story that’s clean, full of heartfelt emotion, and southern families, pick up your copy at:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Shop LPC

For those of you in North Alabama, Jessie’s Hope will soon be available at Cold Water Books in Tuscumbia and Mary’s Bridal and Formal Wear in Moulton. Hopefully, I’ll have copies there by July 1st. Thank you to all those who encouraged me on this journey to being a debut novelist. 🙂

Click to tweet: New Southern fiction novel, Jessie’s Hope, by Jennifer Hallmark. Available at Amazon and other fine retailers. #CleanReads #amreading


Jessie’s Hope

Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love?

Years ago, an accident robbed Jessie Smith’s mobility. It also stole her mother and alienated her from her father. When Jessie’s high school sweetheart Matt Jansen proposes, her parents’ absence intensifies her worry that she cannot hold on to those she loves.

With a wedding fast approaching, Jessie’s grandfather Homer has a goal to find the perfect dress for “his Jessie,” one that would allow her to forget, even if for a moment, the boundaries of her wheelchair. But financial setbacks and unexpected sabotage hinder his plans.

Determined to heal from her past, Jessie initiates a search for her father. Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love when additional obstacles—including a spurned woman and unpredictable weather—highjack Jessie’s dream wedding?

Author

  • Jennifer Hallmark

    Jennifer Hallmark writes Southern fiction with a twist. Her website and newsletter focus on her books, love of the South, and favorite fiction. She creates stories with unforgettable characters—her stories are a little eerie and otherworldly but with a positive turn. Jessie’s Hope, her first novel, was a Selah Award nominee for First Novel. Her latest novel, Smoking Flax, was released on January 16th, 2024. When she isn’t babysitting, gardening, or exploring the beautiful state of Alabama, you can find her at her desk penning fiction or studying the craft of writing. She also loves reading and streaming fantasy, supernatural stories, and detective fiction from the Golden Age or her favorite subject—time travel.

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