The Girl from Tomorrow's Town

This is a gently written story and it shows the author's unwavering Christian faith throughout the pages. The depictions of the two main characters, the shy Lily and the gentlemanlike Mr. Basnett can be seen through each meal they had on the train ride, small hand gestures, and polite yet restrained dialog. Years of hardship didn't turn Lily into a rude and bitter illiterate; she remains an innocent angel. Mr. Basnet's unconventional hair style and dancing eye movement only add vividness to his complex characters. The smart design of the story plot that coincides with the historical train wreck doesn't add any tragic feelings to the story at all. It remains hopeful and even a bit humorous. I would only wish the writer can bring out some true devastation of the real-life event, the fun but harsh and bitter life of a circus member at the time, the wild and urgent yearning for a safe and happy life from Lily and the quiet and hidden power from Mr. Basnet. Those could be a more reliable source of faith and hope.

This is book five in the Enduring Hope series. Each book reads as a stand-alone but in my opinion you won’t want to miss any of them. This is a beautiful story of endurance and never giving up woven in with historical facts of the train wreck of 1918 that involved a circus train. I had never heard of this accident and was unaware of the death toll and destruction it involved. I loved how the orphan train was depicted and how it drew me into the story as Lily seeks to find her mother. When the excitement of the circus is added in and Francis enters the picture I was completely captivated to learn his story and he became the perfect hero for Lily. There are so many aspects to this story that I would love to go on about but I do not want to spoil it for other readers so I will just say I found it gobsmacking good. Faith, family, sweet romance, history, and realistic hardships are woven together intricately to produce a story you will not want to put down. Well written with characters that grab your heartstrings and hold on tight. I did not want to quit reading till end and then I wanted more. I highly recommend adding to the top of your TBR pile. I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

Author Naomi Musch truly understands the formula for great historical fiction. Find a little-known subject or event, research it extensively, and then weave a fascinating fictional story around those facts. This is a perfect description of The Girl from Tomorrow's Town, the newest book in the Enduring Hope series. I wasn't familiar with the famous Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus or the train crash that occurred one fateful night in 1918, near Hammond, Indiana. Many circus performers died, many more were seriously injured, and most of their true identities are unknown to this day. Endearing characters, vivid descriptions, and a captivating look at circus life make this a compelling story! Lily Mae Dodge was sent west on the Orphan Train, but she's now heading back east to search for her mother. This search introduces her to Francis Bassett and the performers of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus and eventually leads to her involvement in the tragic train crash. I felt the terror, heard the sounds, and experienced the shock during the crash, along with Lily Mae's desperation when she couldn't find Francis. What follows is a story of faith, hope, and the search for 'happily-ever-after'. I highly recommend The Girl from Tomorrow's Town to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. These are my own thoughts.

5 stars, Family Bonds THE GIRL FROM TOMORROW'S TOWN (ENDURING HOPE BOOK 5) By Naomi Musch Lilly Dodge, 19 finds herself on a train to the unknown. She meets a fellow rider, Francis Basnett, 24 and they slowly strike up a friendship. Lilly is running away, Francis is going to a familiar place. Francis helps Lily see that a job at the circus where he works would be a good place for her too. Lilly wants to see if she can find her mother, since she was given to an orphan asylum and then put on an orphan train, when she was a little girl. Francis is going home to visit his folks, before continuing on with the circus to make their rounds across the country. This is a delightful story. I felt really drawn to Lily and Francis. Highly recommend. I received a complimentary copy of #thegirlfromtomorrowstown by #BarbourFiction #BarbourPublishing #NaomiMusch I was not obligated to post a review. #circus #orphantrain #adoption #family #love #romance #ChristianFiction#strongfemaleprotagonist #inspirational #inspyfic #diverse #disability

When reading a new author and a genre I don't normally read, I find myself unsure of what to expect. In this case, I was completely bowled over by this wow of a story. Lily's story grabbed me from the start, and when Frances came into the picture, I was even more taken in. The characters are well-developed, and the plot twists kept me turning pages. The other things that kept me turning pages were the settings and the events that took place. Having come from those areas of Indiana, I was wowed by all that took place, which I had never heard of. The historical aspects captivated me completely, and I could understand how much research the author, Naomi Musch, did in writing the book. It came through vividly and made me feel as if I were right there experiencing everything with the characters. However, even those who didn't come from the areas in the book are sure to be enthralled by this story of faith, overcoming, forgiveness, family, love, and new beginnings. It is a true gem of a story. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and voluntary.