Hillary E. Peak

This was a very disappointing book. I was expecting a thoughtful portrayal of the emotions and practical issues family members must deal with when a loved one is dying. For me, there was very little emotion. The relationship between the daughter and father boiled down to the things he had done to entertain her when she was growing up, all of which required lots of money. The daughter comes across as spoiled and materialistic, with no emotional depth. The father is only focused on leaving his mark on the world in a way that will garner lots of fame.

The one redeeming aspect is the portrayal of the hospice people. I have been a hospice volunteer for several years, and the description of the hospice nurses and their compassion was very accurate. It was also the only part of the book that had any real feeling. The descriptions of what they ate for breakfast had as much emotion as the father recollections of significant moments in his life.

… (altro)

Wings of Hope is beautifully written story that will pull at your heart strings. A terminally ill father writes to his daughter and requests that she come home and stay with him through his final days. The father and daughter go on a journey of self-discovery that binds them together through the power of love, hope, life lessons, dreams followed, choices made, and that even death could be a heartbreakingly beautiful life experience.

The author weaves a beautiful story told in the first person narrative by the daughter, Jules. It is a story that captivates the reader and brings them along on Jules and Sol's journey. This father-daughter journey of self-discovery is interwoven with wonderful stories from Sol's past, a dream trip to Switzerland and Paris, and life lessons from a father to his daughter to follow her dreams and never settle for something that is safe, to just live life.
Each chapter begins with an inspirational quote about hope, which then leads into the next part of their journey. The attention to detail and thoughtful dialogue is incredibly powerful and makes the story that much more compelling. The loving relationship between Jules and Sol is clearly felt throughout the story, it is such an inspiring relationship, one could only hope to have that kind of relationship between a parent and child. A valuable lesson learned is that the bonds of love remain even after death.

Wings of Hope is a tenderly written story that will touch your heart. For anyone who has lost a loved one, this is a wonderful book that you will be able to relate to, and it will embrace you as you remember your own loved one.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event.

Virtual Book Tour Event: On Saturday, May 11, 2012, in association with Virtual Book Tour Cafe, author Hillary E. Peak participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews. http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/author-guest-post-hillary-e-pe...

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/wings-of-hope-by-hillary-e-pea...… (altro)

I enjoy reading. I read a book a day when I can. The majority are enjoyable and I recommend them, but when one grabs your heart and soul it more than one to recommend. It is one to claim as your own and proclaim the book of the year. This is what I found in Hillary Peak’s book, Wings of Hope.

By the end of the first chapter, I found myself with a box of tissue being used regularly. Why? For several reasons.

The story itself is one to need tissues. Jules finds out her father only has a few months to live. She travels across the country to be with him and finds herself discovering parts of her father she never imagined. She finds depths to his soul that had been hidden from her for years. From San Francisco to New York to Switzerland and Paris, Jules discovers that she is not only finding new facets to her father. She is also finding herself. The Jules that had been buried for years rises to the surface and takes herself and those around her by surprise.

Ms. Peak writes with such deep emotion while not being too flowery or full of unnecessary words. Everything on the pages is for a purpose bringing the reader into the mind of Jules as she sees a father who once could move mountains unable to bring a bite of spaghetti to his mouth. The reader feels the excitement of Europe with her father while sensing the loneliness of being without him coming down the hall of life. The reader feels the resurrection of long thought dead dreams and the hope that sprouts wings to carry one forward to an amazing and unknown future.

This reader found herself in this book. I swear Ms. Peak wrote about me. I connected with Jules as I had lost my father to cancer and only afterwards began to find the strength to follow a dream no matter what the cost. Many readers will be able to find themselves in Ms. Peak’s book and will be reluctant to loan the book out. It is one to keep close by and refer to.

Wings of Hope is one of the best books I have read in years and could easily see as the book to read in 2012. Ms. Peak is a talented author with a bright future on her own wings of success.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*… (altro)

Jules's parents got divorced when she was younger and never really spent that much time with her father. He lets her know he is terminally ill and she takes off to New York to spend his last days with him. She gets to know the real man as they travel to a few places he visited as a medical student.

This is a touching story of daughter and father getting to know one another before time runs out. The story hit home for me in another way as my husband and I have lost a child and I will never forget the last cherished memories I had with him. This book is a tribute to the author's father and the stories about her father that are in the book are true. I enjoyed reading this book and my husband is now even reading it along with my father. If you have lost someone this is a wonderful read. You will cry at times and other things will hit home for you as well.

A must read.… (altro)