We Hope for Better Things

By Erin Bartels

"In this powerful first novel . . . Bartels successfully weaves American history into a deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"A forbidden interracial marriage, an escaped slave, an expectant mother waiting for her Union soldier to return--all of these stories are deftly told by Bartels, as she explores the hard realities of racism and its many faces during various eras of American history. . . .Compelling characters make this winning debut also appealing for fans of general historical fiction."--Library Journal

"Bartels' debut tells the story of three Balsam women, each of a different era, told against the backdrop of racism and violence in America. . . .will appeal to fans of faith-based women's fiction authors like Colleen Coble."--Booklist


*****

When Detroit Free Press reporter Elizabeth Balsam meets James Rich, his strange request--that she look up a relative she didn't know she had in order to deliver an old camera and a box of photos--seems like it isn't worth her time. But when she loses her job after a botched investigation, she suddenly finds herself with nothing but time.

At her great-aunt's 150-year-old farmhouse north of Detroit, Elizabeth uncovers a series of mysterious items, locked doors, and hidden graves. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding. And as Elizabeth soon discovers, the past is never as past as we might like to think.

Debut novelist Erin Bartels takes readers on an emotional journey through time--from the volatile streets of 1960s Detroit to the Michigan's Underground Railroad during the Civil War--to uncover the past, confront the seeds of hatred, and discover where love goes to hide.

*****

"We Hope for Better Things has it all: fabulous storytelling, an emotional impact that lingers long after you turn the last page, and a setting that immerses you. I haven't read such a powerful, moving story since I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. This book will change how you look at the world we live in. Highly recommended!"--Colleen Coble, USAToday bestselling author of the Rock Harbor series and The View from Rainshadow Bay

"A timely exploration of race in America, We Hope for Better Things is an exercise of empathy that will shape many a soul."--Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials

"I applaud [Erin's] courage, her authenticity, her beautiful turn of phrase, the freshness of her imagery, and the depth of her story that speaks to a contemporary world where understanding is often absent. We Hope for Better Things is a remarkable debut novel."--Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of Everything She Didn't Say

"Erin Bartels's We Hope for Better Things shares the joys and sorrows of three women from different generations. A roller coaster of emotions awaits as you share the lives of these women and hope along with them for better things."--Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of River to Redemption

"Storytelling at its finest. Erin Bartels delivers a riveting story of forbidden love, family bonds, racial injustice, and the power of forgiveness. We Hope for Better Things is a timely, sobering, moving account of how far we've come . . . and how much distance remains to be covered. A compulsively readable, incredibly powerful novel."--Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List

"There is the Detroit we think we know, and there is the Detroit full of stories that are never brought to the forefro

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781493416431

Erin Bartels

Erin Bartels writes character-driven fiction for curious people. Her readers know to expect that each of her novels will tell a unique story about fallible characters so tangible that it's hard to believe they are not real people. Whether urban, rural, or somewhere in between, her settings come alive with carefully crafted details that engage all the senses and transport the reader to a singular time and place. And her themes of reckoning with the past, improving the present, and looking with hope to the future leave her readers with a sense of peace and possibility. Erin is the author of We Hope for Better Things, The Words between Us, All That We Carried, The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water, and Everything Is Just Beginning. A two-time Christy finalist and winner of two 2020 WFWA Star Awards and two Michigan Notable Book Awards, Erin has been a publishing professional for more than twenty years. After eighteen years in Lansing, Michigan, Erin and her family are busy enjoying the simple blessings of a less urban life in a small town outside the capital city. You can find her online at ErinBartels.com, on Facebook @ErinBartelsAuthor, and on Instagram @erinbartelswrites.

Book preview

"We Hope for Better Things has it all: fabulous storytelling, an emotional impact that lingers long after you turn the last page, and a setting that immerses you. I haven’t read such a powerful, moving story since I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. This book will change how you look at the world we live in. Highly recommended!"

Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of the Rock Harbor series and The View from Rainshadow Bay

"A timely exploration of race in America, We Hope for Better Things is an exercise of empathy that will shape many a soul. Erin Bartels navigates this sensitive topic with compassion as she shifts her readers back and forth between past and present, nudging us to examine the secrets we keep, the grudges we hold, and the prejudices we may help create even without intention."

Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials

"It’s not easy to weave three time periods into a cohesive narrative, each with its own story and intriguing characters. Erin Bartels has accomplished the difficult. She’s woven together black and white silk threads into a braid so well crafted that a reader will carry forward the braid of love and separation, race and reconciliation, long after the last page is read. I applaud her courage, her authenticity, her beautiful turn of phrase, the freshness of her imagery, and the depth of her story that speaks to a contemporary world where understanding is often absent. We Hope for Better Things is a remarkable debut novel that every reader will see was written by a skilled writer telling a story of her heart."

Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of Everything She Didn’t Say

"Erin Bartels’s We Hope for Better Things shares the joys and sorrows of three women from different generations. Beginning with the turmoil of the Civil War through the race riots of the sixties to modern day, the story peels away excuses and pretensions to reveal the personal tragedies of prejudice. A roller coaster of emotions awaits as you share the lives of these women and hope along with them for better things."

Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of River to Redemption

"Storytelling at its finest. Erin Bartels delivers a riveting story of forbidden love, family bonds, racial injustice, and the power of forgiveness. Spanning multiple generations, We Hope for Better Things is a timely, sobering, moving account of how far we’ve come . . . and how much distance remains to be covered. A compulsively readable, incredibly powerful novel."

Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List

"There is the Detroit we think we know, and there is the Detroit full of stories that are never brought to the forefront. With We Hope for Better Things, Erin Bartels brings full circle an understanding of contemporary Detroit firmly rooted in the past, with enthralling characters and acute attention to detail. It’s a must not just for Detroit lovers but also for those who need to understand that Detroit history is also American history."

Aaron Foley, city of Detroit’s chief storyteller and editor of The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook

© 2019 by Erin Bartels

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-1643-1

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech in chapter 20 is taken from The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/address-freedom-rally-cobo-hall.

Contents

Cover

Endorsements

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Epigraph

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

Epilogue

Author’s Note and Acknowledgments

Excerpt of New Novel

About the Author

Back Ads

Back Cover

For Calvin,

whose compassion gives me hope for the future

Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus.

We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes.

Detroit city motto

one

Detroit, July

The Lafayette Coney Island was not a comfortable place to be early. It wasn’t a comfortable place, period. It was cramped and dingy and packed, and seat saving, such as I was attempting at the lunch rush, was not appreciated.

Thankfully, at precisely noon as promised, an older black gentleman in a baggy Detroit Lions jersey shuffled through the door, ratty leather bag slung over one drooped shoulder.

Mr. Rich? I called over the din.

He slid into the chair across from me. I’d fought hard for that chair. Hopefully this meeting would be worth the effort.

How’d you know it was me? he said.

You said you’d be wearing a Lions jersey.

Oh yes. I did, didn’t I? My son gave me this.

You ready to order? I only have twenty minutes.

Mr. Rich was looking back toward the door. Well, I was hoping that . . . Oh! Here we go.

The door swung open and a tall, well-built man sporting a slick suit and a head of short black dreads walked in. He looked vaguely familiar.

Denny! We’re just about to order. Mr. Rich set the leather bag on his lap and slid over in his seat to accommodate the newcomer.

The man sat on the eight inches of chair Mr. Rich had managed to unearth from his own backside, but most of him spilled out into the already narrow aisle.

This is my son, Linden.

Something clicked and my eyes flew to one of the many photos on the wall of famous people who’d eaten here over the years. There he was, between Eminem and Drew Barrymore, towering over the smiling staff.

I sat a little straighter. The Linden Rich who kicks for the Lions?

Yeah, he said. And you are . . . ?

This is Elizabeth Balsam, Mr. Rich supplied, "the lady who writes all those scandal stories in the Free Press about corruption and land grabbing and those ten thousand—eleven thousand?—untested rape kits they found awhile back and such. She covered the Kilpatrick trial."

I offered up a little smile, one I’d practiced in the mirror every morning since college, one I hoped made me look equal parts approachable and intelligent.

Oh, yeah, okay, Linden said. I see the resemblance. In the eyes.

I told you, Mr. Rich said.

You did.

I’m sorry, I broke in, what resemblance?

A waiter in a filthy white T-shirt balancing ten plates on one arm came up to the table just then and said, Denny! Whaddayawant?

We ordered our coney dogs—coney sauce and onions for me, everything they had in the kitchen for Linden, and just coney sauce for Mr. Rich, who explained, I can’t eat onions no more.

And I need silverware, I added in an undertone.

When the waiter shouted the order to the old man at the grill, Linden was already talking. You are not giving her that camera.

You said the photos—the photos should stay for now, Mr. Rich said. Why shouldn’t I give her the camera? It ain’t yours, Denny.

It ain’t hers either.

No, she’s going to give it to Nora.

Linden took a deep breath and looked off to the side. Though probably anyone else would have been embarrassed to be so obviously talked about as if she wasn’t even there, years of cutthroat journalism had largely squelched that entirely natural impulse in my brain.

I jumped on the dead air to start my own line of questioning. On the phone you said you’d been given a few things that were found in a police evidence locker—that belonged to a relative of yours?

"No, they belong to a relative of yours. Maybe I should just start from the beginning."

I resisted the urge to pull out my phone and start recording the conversation.

But before Mr. Rich could begin, our coney dogs were plunked down on the table in no particular order. We slid the plates around to their proper owners. The men across from me bit into their dogs. I began to cut mine with a knife and fork, eliciting a you-gotta-be-kidding-me look from Linden.

"I’ve been reading the Free Press over the years, Mr. Rich began, and I kept seeing your byline. I don’t know if I would have noticed that all those articles were by the same person if I didn’t have a connection to your family name."

I nodded to let him know I was tracking with him.

And I got to thinking, maybe this Elizabeth Balsam is related to the Balsam I know. It’s not a real common name in Detroit. I don’t know if I’d ever heard it outside of my own association with a Nora Balsam. Now, is that name familiar to you?

I speared a bit of bun and sopped up some sauce. Sorry, no. I don’t think I know anyone by that name.

Linden lifted his hand up to his father as if to say, See?

Now, hold on, the older man said in his son’s direction. You said yourself she looks like her.

I’ll admit you do look like her, Linden said. But—no offense and all—you do kind of all look the same.

I laughed. As a white person in a city that was over eighty percent black, I was used to occasional reminders of what minority races had to contend with in most parts of the country. I didn’t mind it. It helped me remember that the readership I served wasn’t only made up of people just like me.

I wouldn’t say you’re the spitting image, Mr. Rich said, but there’s a definite resemblance in the eyes. If you had blonde hair, maybe a different chin, it’d be spot-on.

I took a sip of water. I still don’t know who you’re talking about. Or what this meeting is all about.

Mr. Rich shut his eyes and shook his head. Yeah, we’re getting ahead of ourselves again. Now, you know well as anyone lots of things have gone by the wayside in this city. We got too many problems to deal with them all. Well, I been looking for something that’s been lost for a very long time. I knew the police had to have it, but you try getting someone on the phone who knows what they’re talking about in an organization that had five police chiefs in five years. And I get it. They got way more important things to do than find some old bag collecting dust on a shelf. He paused and smiled broadly. But I finally found it. Got the call a couple years ago and got it back—and a bit more I hadn’t bargained for. He tapped the bag on his lap, still miraculously free of coney sauce. This camera belongs to Nora Balsam. And I have a box full of photographs for her as well.

I realized I’d been squinting, trying to put the pieces together in my head as to what any of this really had to do with me. I relaxed my face and tried to look sympathetic. And you think I’m related and I therefore can get them to her?

That’s what I hoped.

I wiped my already clean hands on my napkin. I’m sorry, Mr. Rich, but I think you’ll have to look elsewhere. I’ve never heard of her.

The old man looked disappointed, but I was relieved. I had bigger fish to fry and a deadline that was breathing down my neck. I didn’t have time to courier old photos to someone. I glanced at my phone. I didn’t even have time to finish lunch.

I’m so sorry not to have better news for you. But unfortunately, I have to get going. I started to pull some bills from my wallet.

Linden held up his hand. It’s on me.

Thanks. I drained my water glass, pulled my purse strap onto my shoulder, and pushed back my chair a couple inches, which was as far as it would go in the tight space. Just out of curiosity, why was this stuff at a police station? What are these pictures of?

Linden looked at his father, who looked down at his plate as if the answer were written there in the smear of coney sauce.

They’re from the ’67 riots.

I felt my heart rate tick up, scooted back up to the table, and leaned in. Did you bring them?

Denny didn’t think I should.

Why not?

Because of that, Linden said. Because you weren’t interested until you knew what they were, and I knew it would play out this way. He turned to his father. Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say she’d only be interested in getting her hands on the photos?

I sat back, trying to play it cool, trying to put that approachable-yet-intelligent smile back on my face. "Why shouldn’t I be? I’ve built my entire reputation on exposing corruption and neglect in this city. Photos of historic significance left to rot in a police station are just one more symptom of the larger problem. And I’m working on a big piece right now on the riots. Those photos have never been published—I assume. I’m sure the Free Press would pay handsomely to have the privilege of sharing them with the world."

Linden pointed a finger in my direction. There! There it is! Just like I said.

Mr. Rich placed a hand on his son’s forearm. Okay, okay. Just calm down and let me talk a moment.

Linden withdrew the accusative finger and leaned back on his half of the seat, his million-dollar foot stretching out past my chair, blocking me in even as I knew he must want me out.

His father looked at me with tired eyes. Miss Balsam, I’m burdened. I been carrying something around for fifty years that I got to let go of. This camera and those photos have to get back to Nora. Not to the paper, not to a museum or a library. To Nora. Now, I can’t take them. But you could. Are you willing to just look into it? Do a little poking around to see if you’re related like we think you are? And if you are, would you be willing to make contact with her? Kind of ease her into the idea slowly? These photos will stir up a lot of hard memories for an old lady. But I know it in my heart—the Lord laid it on my soul—I need to get these to her.

One of the most important lessons I learned in my first couple years as a professional journalist was not to get emotionally involved with a story. There was simply too much heartbreaking stuff you had to write about. To let yourself empathize with the boy who was being bullied or the man who had lost his business or the woman whose daughter had been abducted, when there was nothing you could do to help the situation beyond making a voice heard—it was just too heavy a burden to bring home with you every night. So I built up a wall around my heart and stayed within it at all times when it came to work.

But there was something about this man’s eyes, the crooked lines on either side of his mouth suggesting he had found as much to frown at in life as to smile about, that chipped away at that wall.

I tapped my finger on the table. Why do you have them if she’s the one who took them?

She didn’t take them. My uncle did. But he’s gone. They belong to her now.

Why?

She’s his wife.

An interracial couple in the 1960s? This was getting interesting. Maybe I could work this into my larger series of articles about the riots and the time surrounding them. It had a great human angle, a larger cultural-historical angle, a connection to a beloved NFL player. I could even frame it as a personal family story if I truly was related. The question was, would I have the time? I still hadn’t been able to crack the protective shield around Judge Sharpe, the white whale of my investigative series, and time was running out.

Okay, let’s say I am related to her. I still don’t know her and she doesn’t know me, so why would she even listen to me?

Miss Balsam, do you believe in God?

The question caught me off guard. Yes.

Do you believe he works all things together for his glory?

My parents believed that. My sister did. I had once. Before I’d seen just how chaotic and messed up and out of control the world was. If journalism had taught me anything, it was that we were all just out there flailing and stumbling through a minefield of dangers and predators and dumb blind chance. But it was obvious that Mr. Rich believed God had given him a task—return these items—and that he would get no rest until the task was completed.

Instead of answering his question, I asked one of my own. Why don’t you just ship it to her?

No, that ain’t the way.

I waited for a logical reason why not, but clearly none was forthcoming.

Would you just look into it? he said.

Those beseeching brown eyes tugged a few more bricks out of my wall.

Sure. I’ll look into it, I said.

Mr. Rich nodded and slid a business card across the table. I avoided Linden’s sharp gaze as I pocketed the card and squeezed out of my chair.

It was so nice meeting you, I said. Thanks for lunch.

I walked out into the windy, sun-drenched afternoon, handed a dollar to the homeless guy who paced and mumbled a few yards from the door, and headed down the street to the old Federal Reserve building, which had housed the shrinking Free Press staff since 2014, and where a pile of work awaited me.

I tried to concentrate on the unending march of emails marked urgent in my inbox, including one from my editor—My office, ASAP—but my mind was spinning out all the directions this new story idea could go. This was decidedly inconvenient because I needed to focus.

I’d been stalking Judge Sharpe through his affable and unsuspecting son Vic for months, and I finally felt like a break was imminent. Vic had texted me last night to set up a meeting after he, in his words, discovered something big I think you’ll be interested to know. I had to get these photos off my mind for the moment, and the best way to do that was to get the research ball rolling.

I slipped out to the stairwell and pulled up Ancestry.com on my phone. A few minutes and thirty dollars later, I was clicking on little green leaf icons that waved at me from the screen. I found my parents and then began tracing my father’s branch back to the family tree. Grandfather Richard, Great-Uncle Warner, and ping, just like that, a great-aunt born Eleanor Balsam.

I typed a quick text to my sister in L.A.

Hey, long time, no see. Family question: have you ever heard Mom or Dad talk about a great-aunt Eleanor or Nora? Let me know. TX.

I waited a moment for a reply. She was probably with a patient. It was also possible she had no idea who was texting her because it had been at least two years since we last talked. I walked back to my desk, pulled up my piece on a black cop who worked the 1967 riots, and gave it one last read before sending it on its way to my editor. It would join my piece on a white firefighter I’d sent him two days ago. The piece on Judge Sharpe, who’d been a National Guardsman during the riots, would complete the triptych. If I could get it written.

It was 1:14 p.m. If I left in five, I’d have time to freshen up before meeting Vic for coffee at the Renaissance Center Starbucks.

My phone buzzed. My sister.

She’s Dad’s aunt. Why? Is she okay?

Leave it to Grace to immediately worry.

I want to visit her. Do you know where she lives?

I stared at the screen, waiting.

As far as I know, she still lives in the old Lapeer house.

She said it like I should know what it was, like The Old Lapeer House was a thing. Even after all this time, it still irked me that my unplanned birth nine years after my sister’s meant that I so often felt like an outsider in my own family, never quite in on the stories or inside jokes.

Address?

Pause.

Mom may have it.

Great. My parents had been medical missionaries in the Amazon River Basin for the past eight years. It wasn’t as if I could just call them up any time I wanted. Mom called on my birthday and Christmas and any other time they happened to be in a town for supplies, but that wasn’t often.

My phone buzzed again.

Or call Barb. 269-555-7185

I didn’t bother asking who Barb was, especially since it was apparent I should already know. I’d cold-call her no matter what. The prospect of getting my hands on those never-before-seen photos of the riots was too tempting to wait for proper introductions.

I looked at the clock again. If I was going to make it to the RenCen Starbucks on time, I had to leave. Now. I grabbed my purse and my bag from my desk and headed back to the stairwell.

Liz!

My editor was the one person in the world who called me Liz.

I’m out the door, Jack. I’ll stop in when I get back. Three o’clock. Four, tops.

I pushed through the metal door, put the box of photos out of mind, and got on with my real work: getting the notoriously circumspect Judge Ryan Sharpe to open up about his involvement in the 1967 riots. Because no matter what image he liked to project to the public, my gut told me that beneath the black robe lurked a man who had something to hide.

two

Detroit, March 1963

Nora was finding it difficult to breathe. The man in the photo wore the same hat, the same suit and tie, the same shoes shined to reflective brilliance. She recognized the nose, the mouth, the eyes, though they were distorted. The high forehead drawn into deep furrows. Lips twisted into a shout. Left hand packed into a fist at his side. Right hand reaching out, clawlike, and wearing a familiar ring. He was lunging at the camera. Or rather, at whoever had held it.

That’s the last photograph I took with that camera, came a silky voice behind her.

Nora spun around to find she stood eye to chest with a man in a loose white button-up shirt tucked into black pants. She took a step back. The man smiling down at her was lean and striking, with skin the color of dark mahogany and deep brown eyes. A badge clipped to his breast pocket proclaimed Exhibitor.

You took this picture?

The man nodded and held out his hand. I took all the photos on this wall.

Where did you take this? Nora asked, ignoring the proffered hand. She certainly wouldn’t shake it.

I took that outside the GM building a few months back. That fellow was mad. Right after I took that photo he smashed my camera on the sidewalk. You believe that? I grabbed it up quick and took off. Saved the film, but that thing ain’t never gonna take no more pictures, that’s for sure.

What did you do to him?

The man held up both hands in surrender. Hey, I didn’t do nothing to that guy.

Well, you must have done something. Why was he so angry? Why would he attack you?

The man shook his head. Men like that don’t need a reason.

Like what?

You know. Big men. They don’t need a reason for anything they do. Do whatever they want, no consequences.

Nora could tell she was scowling. She relaxed her facial muscles. Scowling at twenty meant wrinkles at thirty, or so her mother reminded her with some regularity.

I just don’t understand what would cause him to do that. He’s not— She stopped short and saw something click in the man’s mind.

He opened his mouth, but before he could ask the question, Diane slid up, already speaking.

Did you see that series with the enormous twins on little motorbikes down the south hall? It was hideously creepy. I mean, twins are disturbing anyway and— She suddenly seemed to realize that no one was listening to her. Hey, what’s the deal? She turned to look at the picture Nora was attempting to block with her petite frame. Oh my word, is that your dad? Her voice echoed in the stark hall.

Keep your voice down. Nora tipped her head toward the lanky photographer.

Oh, Diane said. She pulled the strap of her purse over her head.

He took the picture, Nora said under her breath.

The man lifted one hand in greeting, then put both in his pockets.

Serious? She let out a little snort, then stifled her laughter at Nora’s disapproving glare. Well, I guess you two must have something to talk about. I’ll just be over . . . somewhere.

She scuttled off, leaving Nora to face the awkward situation alone.

Listen, miss, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know.

Nora shook her head rapidly. No, no. No need to apologize. But of course I must ask you to take it down.

He frowned. Take it down? It’s the best one of the bunch. Judging doesn’t happen till three o’clock. There’s no way I’m taking it down before then.

Nora clenched her fists and manufactured a smile. Please? Lots of people know my father. Someone will recognize him.

So? He shrugged.

So?

Yeah, so what if he’s recognized? I hope he is. Why shouldn’t he be?

Nora felt herself scowling again. Because that’s rude. It’s incredibly rude to take a picture of someone when they are upset and then plaster it all over for the world to see.

The man’s eyes widened. Rude? Ain’t it rude to attack someone? To destroy someone’s property? You know how much overtime I had to work to afford that camera? I need that prize money. That prize money’s gonna buy me a new camera.

Nora opened her mouth but couldn’t find anything to say.

That’s what I thought, the man said. He turned to walk away.

Wait! I’ll buy you a new camera.

He turned back, mouth twisted, eyebrows raised.

I’ll buy you a new camera, she said again, if you give me that photo right now.

A bemused little smile crept over his face. You’ll buy me a camera?

Yes.

"You gonna buy me a camera?"

Yes, if you give me that photo.

The man laughed. You ain’t gonna buy me no camera.

She took a step forward to show she was in earnest. Yes, I will. You give me the name of the camera you want and I will go straight out right now and buy it for you. All I ask in exchange is that you take down that photo immediately and give it to me when I give you the camera.

Nora felt her insides squirm as the man bit his lip and looked her up and down, considering.

All right, little lady. You got yourself a deal. But you got till just 2:30 to get me a new camera. If you don’t show, that photo’s going back up before the judges come around.

Fine. She dug in her purse for a pen and piece of paper. Write down what you want—exactly what you want. If you’re not specific, you’ll just have to take what you get.

He smirked as he scribbled out Nikon F and then held the paper out to her. She took the slip and looked pointedly at the photo.

All right, all right, he said. It’s coming down. He lifted the framed print off the wall and looked from it to Nora and back again. I can see the resemblance now.

She pressed her lips together for a moment and breathed slowly through her nose. Very funny. Where will you put it?

I got a box, don’t worry.

She stuck the slip of paper into her jacket pocket and looked at the delicate silver watch on her wrist. I’ll try to be back in thirty minutes or so.

He gave her a mock salute. Hey, you know that’s an expensive camera, right? It’s what professionals use. You sure you can afford it?

It was Nora’s turn to smirk. I wouldn’t worry about that.

three

Detroit, July

I didn’t remember the trip back to the office. I knew that at some point, after a disastrous meeting with Vic Sharpe, I had stepped onto the People Mover platform at the Renaissance Center station, careful to keep away from the yellow caution line lest I pass out and fry myself on the electric monorail. Then somehow I was standing at Jack McKnight’s door.

Almost didn’t recognize you in that getup, he said. Come in and close the door.

I did as directed. I’m sorry, Jack, I began. I made a mistake.

He held up his hand. No, I’m sorry. I got wind of that video footage late last night. I tried to catch you before you left. I knew what was coming.

I can still fix this, I said, knowing it wasn’t true.

Jack shook his head. I hate to do this. I wish there was another way, but I have the integrity of the paper to think about. I’m going to need you to sign this.

Still in a fog, I took a pen from his hand and moved toward the papers he was indicating on his desk.

You’ll have a decent severance, he said.

I took a step back. Severance?

Of course. We wouldn’t send you away empty-handed.

Wait, why would you be sending me away? Because of one botched story? Are you kidding me?

Liz, I’m sorry, but Ryan and Vic Sharpe are powerful men, and someone needed to take the blame.

Another step, this one forward, toward my boss. And you laid that on me? That was on you! You told me to—

Liz, it’s done. You need to sign this statement and—

I’m not signing any statement!

"If you don’t sign attesting to the fact that you investigated Judge Sharpe under false pretenses and an assumed identity and release the Free Press from any liability, you’ll get nothing in severance. Nothing."

I don’t remember throwing the pen. It bounced off Jack’s chest and clattered to the floor. We stood for a breath in that awesomely empty space, and I contemplated how suddenly my life had changed in the space of just two hours. Then I thrust open his office door and stalked to my desk. Heads swiveled. Eyes stared. I pulled the last two reams of paper from a box beneath the printer table, plopped it onto my chair, and commenced packing.

Elizabeth?

I shoved a photo of my parents into the box.

What’s going on? Why are you dressed like that?

A coffee mug I hadn’t

Reviews for We Hope for Better Things

[debristow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program. Erin Bartels tells a fabulous story spanning generations of three women with similar issues into an amazing read that brings racism into the forefront. Bartels brings these characters to life with stories that draw the reader in with characters that the reader grows to love. For me, this was a slam dunk five star rating. I do not usually enjoy reading historical fiction but this was so well written with such well developed characters that I absolutely loved both the story and characters from start to finish!

[candyh_64 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While this was an interesting story of three related women of 3 generations, I found it difficult to read with all the jumping back and forth from one generation to another. I do appreciate LibraryThing selecting me to read this book.

[junipersun · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Alternating story lines paint a picture of how interracial relationships have played out in the lives of related women during different time spans in Michigan. Mary, living during the time of the Civil War, is only able to survive with the help of runaway slaves who find her house while her husband is away in the Army. In the 1960's, Nora marries William, a black photographer. against her father's wishes. Her father claims that his family was ruined by black people. When William disappears during the Detroit riots, she isolates herself in her great-grandmother Mary's house, & learns some of Mary's story from Mary's daughter, her great-Aunt Nargaret. In the current time, Elizabeth has lost her job & is convinced to help elderly Nora, her great-aunt. While there she tends the garden with help from a local Black nursery owner and learns about her family buried there.This was an absorbing tale with intertwining relationships which somehow all come together at the end. However, while trying to write this review, I realized that having a family tree would make the specific relationships much clearer, even tho that would spoil some of the mystery.The one part that didn't get tied up neatly is an explanation of Nora's relationship with her parents. We do get a brief scene at the end, but it doesn't seem to flow as smoothly as the rest of the story.Received a free copy as part of Early Readers.

[wearylibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This books deals with three different eras, Civil War, the 1960s, and present. Three women, all related, tell their stories of love, heartache, and prejudice. I tried to get into this book but I just couldn't find myself a part of the story. I felt like I was one outside looking in instead of participating.

[ladyharris · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won this book as part of the Library Thing’s Early Review Program. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review and received no compensation for writing this review.What a debut Erin Bartels! She took us on the journey of 3 generations of exceptionally strong women exploring their thoughts as they consider bi-racial relationships including adultery, racial brutality, and injustice in 3 different time periods ranging from the civil war, the Detroit riots of 1967, and current. I definitely would not call this a romance novel by any means, but a novel of arduous love. Am definitely looking forward to reading more stories by Erin Bartels in the future.

[ladyansel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won this book as part of the Library Thing’s Early Review Program. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review and received no compensation for writing this review.What a debut Erin Bartels! She took us on the journey of 3 generations of exceptionally strong women exploring their thoughts as they consider bi-racial relationships including adultery, racial brutality, and injustice in 3 different time periods ranging from the civil war, the Detroit riots of 1967, and current. I definitely would not call this a romance novel by any means, but a novel of arduous love. Am definitely looking forward to reading more stories by Erin Bartels in the future.

[sandrabrower · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This three generational story had me crying, cheering and raving mad. A perfect debit for Erin Bartels. Mary, Nora and Elizabeth were strong women who each find their worlds being turned upside down. Mary during the Civil War as an abolitionist who helped escaped slaves turn their lives free by teaching, helping and employing these slaves at her own home. Nora during the Civil Rights movement falls in love with William where interracial relationships are highly forbidden or looked down upon. This puts both William and Nora in danger and then Elizabeth finding out her ancestry, the strength of her ancestors and the truth about her own history all because of photographs resurrected from a camera belonging to her great aunt’s estranged husband.

We Hope For Better Things is a rich tapestry sewn together with threads of slavery, segregation and understanding. I feel edified, educated and entertained just from reading this fantastic historical fiction. I look forward to reading more from Erin Bartels she has a shining star ascending in the world of writing.

[hes7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An unexpected request spurs reporter Elizabeth Balsam to dig deep into her family history—and Detroit’s history, too—and stories from the Civil War, the 1960s, and the present day intertwine easily for a truly memorable read.Debut author Erin Bartels pens a beautiful story in We Hope for Better Things. She does not shy away from the complexities of racial tensions and discrimination and through it all, offers well-crafted characterizations—the struggles and courage of these women come to life—to drive the narrative.I absolutely loved We Hope for Better Things, recommend it to readers who enjoy multi-generational stories, and look forward to reading more from Bartels in the future.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is fantastic. I had a hard time putting this book down. This story starts in the present and then goes from the 1950’s and way back to the Civil War. Elizabeth learns a lot about her family that she never knew while staying with Aunt Nora. Nora gets to tell a story that needed to be told and Elizabeth learns who she is. I received a copy of this book from Bookish First for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[fastforward-46127 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a really solid fiction read although I guess it could also be classified as historical fiction because some real-life events were incorporated into the story. I thought the author came up with a unique way to tell a story that deals with the subject of racism. Reporter Elizabeth Balsam meets with James Rich and she leaves their meeting contemplating his strange request. He wants Elizabeth to find an older relative she has never met and give her an old camera and a box of photos. Given recent life events, Elizabeth decides to go through with it and leaves her home in Detroit and heads to her great-aunt's centuries old farmhouse. This story follows three strong female characters in different time periods including the 1800s during the Civil War, the 1960s, and the present day.I found myself drawn to the story lines of the past much more than the current day storyline. Part of that might be because the characters of Mary and Nora felt more fully fleshed out whereas with Elizabeth I felt like I didn't know her quite as well. The fact the book alternated between the three different women and time periods really helped with the pacing in my opinion. Even though the book is close to 400 pages it actually felt like a quick read. I didn't find this book to be quite as touching and moving as other readers have thought, but there are a few good moments that got to me. In particular, I loved the message of not forgetting family history and how important it is to share with the next generation. Overall, I think the author did a good job tackling a tough subject and I appreciated her honesty in the Author's Note at the end of the book in which she discussed her writing process.I am glad I got a chance to read this one as the 1960s Detroit riots are not something I remember ever having an opportunity to read about before in a fiction book and it's always nice to read something different for a change. Definitely recommend as a pretty solid read.I won a free copy of this book from BookishFirst and the publisher. I was under no obligation to post a review here and all views expressed are my honest opinion.

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes.” That is Detroit’s motto. And it is so appropriate, also, to this book, three different stories about three women, all related but each a different generation.Elizabeth Balsam is presently a reporter for the DETROIT FREE PRESS. She is contacted by a black man about photographs of the 1967 race riots in Detroit. They are in his possession, he says, but rightfully belong to Nora Balsam Rich, a white woman who had been married to his uncle, William Rich, the photographer of the photos. Elizabeth learns that Nora is her great aunt and goes to Nora’s home, a big white house in Lapeer County, Michigan, to discuss the photos.Nora’s story begins during the 1960s when she is young, but an adult, living a life financed by her father. They are from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Nora is disowned by her parents when she marries a black man from Detroit, William Rich. Nora and William end up living in the big white house in Lapeer County.Mary, Nora’s great great grandmother, lives in the big white house in Lapeer County during Civil War times. While her husband is away in the army, she takes care of their farm, and her home is part of the Underground Railroad. One escaped slave becomes so invaluable she couldn’t run the farm without him.Although I picked up this book because it is about the part of Michigan where I live, I found much else to like about it. It not only tells about two different points in history; it also adds the mystery of William: What happened to him? Did he abandon Nora? When did he die? Or is he alive?My only problem with this book is one of the coincidences experienced by all three women. It seems unlikely, particularly during the Civil War era, that all three women would have the same experience. There, I haven’t given away any of the plot. But see if you don’t agree.

[bettytaylor56 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful story of three generations of remarkable women and the men they love. Using the settings of the Michigan Underground Railroad during the Civil War and the violent Detroit riots of the 1960s, two interracial couples embrace love in spite of society’s racism.Detroit journalist Elizabeth Balsam is approached by James Rich and asked to find a relative unknown to her to deliver an old camera and photographs that have been in the possession of Mr. Rich. Elizabeth is reluctant to get involved until suddenly she is fired from the newspaper she worked for. Now she has plenty of time on her hands.Elizabeth tracks down Nora and makes her acquaintance. Soon she is moving into her elderly relative’s 150-year-old farmhouse. She is soon captivated by the house – as was I - and her inquisitive nature leads her to exploring this house that is sheltering two generations of secrets. A locked trunk, beds lined up in the attic, a locked room, gravestone markers buried in the garden. Elizabeth is the link between generations to draw out the stories of Mary and Nora. And she also finds love with Tyrese.Mary Balsam is strong and admirable. It is 1861 and her husband Nathaniel leaves her to fight in the Civil War. Escaped African American slave George soon enters her life. In Nathaniel’s absence Mary and George struggle together to manage the farm and soon fall in love. Yet they know their love is doomed. Then, in 1963, Nora met William and they fell in love, another love that is doomed. Shortly after moving into the house William disappears. But what happened to him? Like Mary, Nora also has secrets locked away in her house. It is hard to believe that this is Erin Bartels’ debut novel. It is so beautifully written with great characters. She masterfully weaves together the stories of Mary and Nathaniel, Nora and William, and Elizabeth and Tyrese. The shift from generation to generation is seamlessly done. The settings are so well described I could close my eyes and see myself right in the story. As I turned the final page and sighed with a gentle smile upon my face, I knew this was a book I would be highly recommending to others. Great for fans of historical fiction and multi-generational family sagas.I received this book from the publisher via BookishFirst. All opinions expressed are my own.

[darcia_10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

We Hope for Better Things is beautifully written, but the author's choice of storytelling style made it impossible for me to love it like I could have.This story is told in three timelines. The current timeline with Elizabeth, which the description features, is actually a small part of the story. The second timeline takes place in 1963, and the third timeline takes place in 1861. The two timelines in the past feel far more prominent and engaging than the current timeline.Elizabeth's story is quite short by comparison, and I don't feel I ever got to know her well at all. I actually think her part is the weakest of all the timelines. Nora's story, from 1963, is the most developed. The story feels like it belongs to her rather than Elizabeth. But, just when I'd start falling into Nora's story, we'd again switch to the next narrator. The timeline from 1861 has immense potential, but had to be cut short in order to keep returning to the other narrators. This book is many things; perhaps too many things. We have a love story, family dramas and secrets, a look at racism and its effects from the perspective of three separate eras, and the role of women during the Civil War. It wound up feeling too far-reaching, and I couldn't maintain a connection with any of the characters. Ultimately, Elizabeth's story in the present timeline serves as nothing more than a way to connect all the past to the present.I do hope Erin Bartels writes a historical novel without the added present timeline. Her writing beautifully captures some difficult periods in history, and I'd love for the focus to remain there with a single timeline.*I received a review copy from the publisher, via BookishFirst.*

[lauigl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

EXCELLENT writing!! This story is a gradual build-up. I felt like the writer was taking me on a leisurely stroll through time, casually relating events in the lives of three women, blood relatives. As we continued to walk along I could feel the tension mounting until it reached a crescendo, and I couldn’t bear to abandon it until I turned the last adventure-filled page! We Hope for Better Things is set in and around Detroit, MI, and follows a triple timeline—Lapeer County, 1861 (civil war); the 1960’s (civil rights movement and Detroit riots); and modern day Detroit.When Journalist, Elizabeth Balsam, is given a camera and the promise of some old photographs to deliver to a great aunt she’s never known, by a black man who claims his uncle was married to her aunt, her interest is piqued. The photos, which were allegedly taken during the ‘67 Detroit riots, are just the thing Elizabeth could use to develop the kind of story that aligns with her reputation as one who exposes corruption and neglect. Recently fired, Elizabeth is eager to get her hands on the elusive photographs, but first she has to visit with their rightful owner, her old great aunt, Nora Balsam. Nora lives in the old family house in Lapeer County, Michigan, which was also the home of Nora’s great-grandmother, Mary Balsam. All three women, Mary, Nora and Elizabeth, are linked by blood, and as Elizabeth stays on at the Lapeer house and gets to know Nora through the many objects in her home, where she finds treasures from the attic to the cellar, she’s intrigued. What does it all mean? Close-lipped thus far, Elizabeth hopes that in time Nora will open up and contribute to her story in her own words. As time goes on, and Nora starts talking, secrets about the past overshadow Elizabeth’s career ambitions and she becomes more determined to devote herself to contributing to her family’s legacy.Forbidden relationships, racism, secrets, lies, betrayals, tragedy. Yup, it’s all in there, cleverly constructed with each little fragment eventually coming together to form a unique, atmospheric tale that was impressive. I couldn’t believe this was the author’s first book.Here’s another thing that I loved. Although there were tumultuous scenes and turbulent times depicted, there was not one profane word or gruesome account. That’s what I call excellent writing. When I can envision what a riot must be like through dialog or prose, without having it described to me in expletives, I consider that the mark of a great writer. Very highly recommended.

[kglattstein · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three generations of women finding themselves thrust in difficult circumstances and finding love in unexpected places. We Hope For Better Things encompasses a story told of people who try to see beyond the color of ones skin, yet caught up in the social judgements and racial bigotry of the time in which they lived. I enjoyed how the story would leap from one character to another with the future generation's story giving us some glimpse of how the previous character's story would end. The author Erin Bartels leaves us wondering about some details and wishing for more historical framework, but overall weaves a lovely story of love found during chance encounters within in difficult circumstances. A good book is one I don't want to put down until the end and think about the character's and their stories long after, thus its given a 4 star rating. Read from an advanced reader copy.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is told in three timelines: the Civil War the time of Nathaniel and Mary Balsam; the Detroit riots of the 1960s when Nora Balsam fell in love with the wrong man; and the present, when Elizabeth Balsam discovers previously unknown relatives as she is struggling with the feeling that she is “utterly lost and confused”. The connection these three women have is explained through their experiences with interracial relationships and the heartbreaking consequences that a bigoted, narrow-minded society can wreak.These timelines reinforce that some things never change. Racism, intolerance, inequity, hateful behavior find their way in each generational segment of this book. We always hope for better things but as we know history has a way of repeating itself. This story hurts on so many levels. Hidden love, guilty love, love that is rejected by the population at large, and the lovers who have to fight for their small bit of happiness that should be sacrosanct.There is a mystery to be unraveled, a family tree that needs to be followed, its branches begging for discovery. The descriptions are interesting, the dialog flowing.The twists are subtle, insidious and of the left field variety. This author has tackled a thorny, complicated topic and brought fresh eyes and voices to the challenge of relating history without grandstanding and haranguing her audience. I liked the book even while I was getting angry, feeling uncomfortable and comprehending unnecessary hurt so easily inflicted.Thank you NetGalley and Revell for a copy.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We Hope for Better Things for the lively cast of characters in this book and for a happier outcome for the current people of the city of Detroit. The plot stays strong, wonderfully readable, and compelling with only a few too many predictable coincidences.The main character, Elizabeth, does not fare as well. For too much of the book, she remains a deceitful and unapologetic journalist, then snoops and trespasses on the personal property of her welcoming aunt where she has no rights or reason, and generally is shallow and unappealing where others are honest, strong, and open.The Christian overlay and her eventual redemptions feel contrived while the book's pervasive racism is treated with a straightforward, authentic, and unswerving approach.

[oddandbookish · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book for free from the publisher (Revell Reads) in exchange for an honest review. This was an insightful historical novel about three generations of women from Detroit. It takes place during the civil war, the Detroit riots, and present day. Out of the three stories, I found Mary’s (the civil war one) to be the most compelling and interesting. The present day storyline was probably the weakest just because there wasn’t anything super exciting going on and it was more focused on discovering what happened in the past. I liked how the three stories intersected and connected. The events were woven together nicely and I liked how the secrets slowly unraveled. I also liked that it took place in Detroit and talked about the riots because that isn’t a topic that is often discussed. I also appreciated that the author included a note at the end of the book discussing that any shortcomings or pitfalls are her own fault and acknowledging the fact that she is a white woman writing about people of color. I love that level of awareness and am always happy to see authors admit that. The thing that prevented me from giving it 5 stars, was that it took me a while to connect with the story and characters. It wasn’t until I was near the end that I felt that emotional connection with them. Overall, I enjoyed this look into the past and found this to be a wonderful debut book.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Only a week into the new year, and I have discovered a book that will definitely be on the best of the best list. We Hope for Better Things by debut author Erin Bartels is a novel that you want to savor, yet must keep reading to find out what will happen. Beautifully written, it is a complex mix of present day and the past, because what happens in the past often impacts everything we know today. I came to love the characters even as they act in destructive ways. They are deeply flawed, yet feel ever so right. Added to all this is the backdrop of the Civil War and the Civil Rights eras. There was much to learn about the setting, time periods, and my reaction to it all. This book receives the very rare Very Highly Recommended rating — a six-star, if such a thing existed.We Hope for Better Things begins in present day Detroit with main character Elizabeth, a young journalist hungry for the big story, the juicier the better. But she soon finds herself out of a job and in rural Lapeer, Michigan. A family homestead harbors a reclusive great-aunt and stories that may have a greater impact than Elizabeth could ever dream.Although We Hope for Better Things has not just one, or two, but three story lines, they are so skillfully interwoven that the reader feels just how integral they are to each other. Three very strong female characters dominate — Mary Balsam, a young woman left to run a farm when her husband enlists to fight for the Union, Nora Balsam Rich, who falls in love with the right man at the wrong time, and Elizabeth, who finds her family legacy more important than her own ambition. The novel moves from one story to the other — the 1860/1870s, the 1960s, and the present day — with never a misstep or loss of continuity. The breaks between stories just kept me turning page after page as fast as I could. There’s a lot of history that is involved, but it is really the individual reactions of the characters that steer their destiny. I really liked that. It is easy to see historical movements or circumstances as the product of a society as a whole, but in We Hope for Better Things individual choices are important to the development of those movements and to future generations. There are a lot of parallels between the women, showing that one time doesn’t have any greater or lesser moral authority than another. Racism is the overarching theme in the novel with the author again showing it in very personal ways. Its insidiousness reaches into all aspects of life, including the life of the church. Bartels subtle hand doesn’t take away from the big truths shining through. In the end, the reader knows more than the characters, but there are still some mysteries left unsolved or hinted at. I liked that too, because it is those questions that will fuel great reader discussions. And this novel is perfect for book clubs — you will definitely want to talk about this book.I could go on and on about the merits of We Hope for Better Things, but I will leave you with just one final thing — Read. This. Book. You will love it.Very Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[grammy57 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I requested a review copy of the book through Revell Reads and was granted it. I am writing this review on my own. All opinions are mine.The book is very unusual and is divided among three main characters and how their lives are similar and yet different. It also deals with racism then and now. It is partially a historical fiction novel and partly modern times. The story goes from one era to another quite well.The characters were well developed and you felt like they were real people. The story captured my attention from the very beginning and it was one that I didn't want to put down. The editing was also very well done. It is important to me to have it flow well and the grammar and punctuation be correct.But, and this will take away one star leaving it as 4 out of 5, the story is supposed to be a Christian novel. Not one of the main characters was a Christian or at least a practicing Christian. In the whole book, I would guess, only two or three minor characters would truly be Christian. It did not show anyone's faith but more the lack of faith. It did not address these issues but left them. I enjoyed the book, but I would not recommend it to an unsaved person because if I were unsaved and read this, I would not see any benefit in becoming a Christian. If it were sold solely as a novel, not a Christian novel, I would have not problem recommending it to an unsaved person. Read as a Christian, it was a disappointment that so many opportunities were missed.All in all, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to a limited number of my friends. I give this 4 stars out of 5.

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This fantastic new novel follows three generations of women in Michigan as they fight social issues of their day. Even though it's told in three different voices, the story melds together perfectly. The book is so well written and the characters so realistic that it's hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I can't wait to see what this author writes next.It was very interesting to read a book with three women's voices looking at crucial times of war and racism. Mary fights against racism when she opens her farm to escaping slaves during the Civil War. Nora's struggles are set against the racism in Detroit in the 1960s and the Detroit riots. Elizabeth fights to bring their stories to light during the present day. Even though their times were turbulent, the three woman are strong. The main feelings that I got from this book were of strength, love and resilience in the face of adversity.Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy of this book to read and review.

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very emotional and powerful story that touches your soul and stays there for days after reading it. The author has a poetic way of bringing her characters to life and I felt attached to them. The story is moving and takes us back in time as we hear from several characters. I loved how the author brought them all together and intersected their lives in a way that is memorable and poignant. The beauty of the writing is exceptional and the author has a bright future in the publishing world.The topic of racism is very prevalent in this story as it touches each character in a different way. Elizabeth was a very interesting character and I liked how she was brought in the story to discover her past. The story unfolds as we travel from the Civil War to to the Underground Railroad to the unforgiving streets of Detroit in the 1960s.Mary is left alone while her husband goes off to fight in the Civil War. She is scared but when a man comes to her door for help, she opens her home to him. George is a decent man who comes to be very important in Mary’s life. Having George there could get her into trouble but her faith tells her to not turn anyone away who needs help. Mary has a giving heart and welcomes freed slaves into herhome with kindness and compassion.Nora was probably my favorite character with her loving heart. When she falls in love with William, there are unforeseen consequences. I loved how the author lets readers experience what it is like to be discriminated against and the violence that people are exposed to in a world where the color of your skin dictated how you were treated . People did not accept mixed raced couples and I can only imagine what Nora and William were exposed to. The story definitely shows how judgmental people can be and how hatred spreads through generations. Nora’s discoveries will set the stage for generations with historical facts, secrets and a family that didn’t look at the color of skin, but helped each other out. I loved how the author gave us a historical journey through times and I most appreciated Martin Luther King in the story. His famous speech is one I will never forget.Elizabeth was a great character and I loved how her instincts lead her to her family history. It is amazing how great this book easily glides from one time period to the next. It made me thing of doing a genealogy search and reading about your ancestors . Another great part of the story is when Nora and Elizabeth meet. To me this is where the gaps in the story started to become clearer and how families were torn apart because of racism. It really opens your eyes to how little we have come in this world when it comes to accepting each other.I loved this that was said in the story, “ We read the same scriptures , worship the same Lord. We may sing different songs, but I can assure you that we have been faithful to God.”I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

[sarahgracegrzy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an important book. And it is not for the faint of heart. We Hope for Better Things deals with ugly things. Things that aren't pretty. Things that we don't want to read about. But they are things that we need to read about, we need to know about. And the prevailing message of this book is a beautiful one - one of hope. This flips between the points of view of three different women in three different time periods. Elizabeth in modern-day Detroit, Nora in the 1960s, and Mary in the 1860s. While I found these characters somewhat hard to connect with at times, they were all still very well-rounded and well-written characters.Without a doubt, Erin Bartels is an incredibly gifted author. From page one, I was sucked into the story. Her writing style is so beautiful, and her ability to jump time periods so cohesively is incredible. When we entered Mary's point of view, I was instantly in 1860s-era farm country Michigan. When we switched to Nora's point of view, I was instantly in a restless and ravaged Detroit in the '60s. As a Michigan girl and lover of Michigan history, I soaked up the rich history displayed throughout this book. It is very clear Bartels did her research and did it thoroughly. Overall, this is an incredibly written and extremely thought-provoking book that, while not a happy read, is one that is necessary nonetheless. CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 18+ due to mature themes. [The subject of adultery is dealt with rather heavily, and there are also a couple of implied scenes of intimacy between a husband and wife, as well as a few vague mentions of sex in general and prostitution. Racism is the predominant theme of this book, and there are uses of the n-word and other derogatory terms.]

[ang709 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Three women from three time periods, each confronting prejudice and racism. That's what I was expecting this book to be about, and it was. However, what I was not expecting is that there would be three separate love stories as well. That still could have been OK, but given the circumstances of one of the romances, I could not root for the couple, and I ended up thinking less of the characters involved.The book started out well enough. As I met Elizabeth, Nora, and Mary in turn, I found that I liked and wanted to know more about each woman.The pacing seemed good, and the story moved smoothly between the three timelines, but sometimes many months would pass before we saw a character again. That didn't leave much room for character development.Still, I believe most fans of multi-generational historical fiction will enjoy this. Thank you to BookishFirst for the copy of this book.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great read, from beginning to end the author pulled me in, from Civil War time to present day, we meet the members of one family through the generations. This one of the best books I have read this year, and now looking for more from this writer.We see injustice here in many forms, but mainly racism, and some that preach what they don’t practice. There is also some sweet romance here, and some tragic endings, family dynamics at the highest levels.A don’t miss novel that will leave you wanting more!I received this book through LibraryThing, and was not required to give a positive review.

[mzonderm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading this book is a little bit like viewing history through a kaleidoscope; as you turn the wheel, the colors shift slightly to make a different picture, but one that is made up of the same elements as the one before. Bartels writes vividly across three storylines, each taking place in a different time. The three time periods (1861-75, 1963-7, and modern time) blend and separate as each tell a story about racism and family.Mary unwittingly and then wholeheartedly opens her home to escaping slaves during the Civil War. Her granddaughter Nora must face the realities of racism when she falls in love with and marries a black photographer. Elizabeth, Nora's great-niece, and an aspiring journalist, thinks she's found the story of a lifetime when she's given a camera to return to this aunt she's never met. The story of each woman echoes the others as they search for the truth of themselves, their family, and its history.Because there is a generation missing between Mary and Nora, and between Nora and Elizabeth, some of the past remains hidden, and Bartels avoids several opportunities to wrap everything up with a neat bow. Usually, loose ends at the end of a book make me crazy, but Bartels demonstrates her gifts as a writer by making even this seem like a natural part of the story.

[nadinec.keels · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Detroit reporter Elizabeth Balsam is doing someone else a favor (in part) when she travels to a remote farmhouse to return an old camera and a box of photos to an aunt she doesn't know. But Elizabeth's farmhouse visit soon pulls her into a family mystery tracing back to the Civil War in We Hope for Better Things by author Erin Bartels.It was nice to find this story is split into three timelines—a bonus for someone who loves historical fiction as much as I do. Although I didn't get that attached to the characters, and the present-day developments in Elizabeth's life weren't a big draw for me, I really got into the story during the last quarter or so.Now, extramarital indiscretion is sometimes vital to a plot. But whether affairs are physical or emotional, I just don't enjoy watching them unfold and escalate over the course of a book, especially if the affair stretches out for years. I get frustrated with the characters.While this wasn't groundbreaking or that deep of a read for me personally, it does tell a timely story. I think it's good when a novel doesn't paint the Civil War era with a nostalgic, romantic, Gone-with-the-Wind kind of brush. Fiction that connects historical and contemporary times like this serves as a reminder that America's racial problems didn't end after slavery, or after the Civil Rights Movement of the '50s and '60s, or after the inauguration of the nation's first black president, and that racism is in no way confined to one region of the U.S. or another. Nor is it a problem for any one race of people to confront alone.I did get a little emotional during this story's strong and poignant finish. It isn't tied up with a neat and perfect "happily ever after" bow, but it's beautiful all the same.___________Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

[macnoid · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy books that span generations, and weave the stories together, showing how our lives have been shaped by past ancestors and events of their day, and this book does all of that! I also enjoy the historical details, and how events of the time period impact those experiencing them. Easy to look back at events in history, and think we would have reacted differently, but we are, in many ways, products of our culture and it's influence on us. This book made you stop and think about that a little more ....why we feel the way we do, how we form our opinions.... A good interweaving of stories of the lives of these women....... and history...... overall a good read!

[pomo58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We Hope for Better Things from Erin Bartels is a wonderful debut and a moving story about family as well as society.I found the beginning a little slow for me but not to the point of making me think about stopping. More like just wanting to get through the set-up a little faster. That said, it was probably good that it proceeded slowly and methodically so I could get the names and time frames clear in my mind. So if you start the book and feel it is a little slow, keep going, you will be rewarded.Race, class, and familial ties are front and center in this book. If a sentence or scene rubs you the wrong way keep going and make sure both that you understood it correctly and that it doesn't represent something that the character might learn from later. One reader both grossly misread an early scene (as in even the part quoted does not represent what she claimed it did, she misuses a term that is likely just cliche-talk for her) and, because she did not finish the book, judges the entirety of the book on her misreading of a paragraph. Don't make this freshman mistake, be open-minded and give the book and the characters a chance.If you enjoy historical fiction, especially from the not too distant past and that reverberates for contemporary society, you will enjoy this novel. If you particularly like historical novels that use major historical events as a jumping off point and a bit of a framing device, this will definitely work for you. There will likely be some uncomfortable scenes, as most good books that address societal issues have. These are ideal for thinking about why you feel as you do and, more broadly, how you feel about the issue.Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

[pamelabarrett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This novel follows 3 generations of Michigan women. There is Nora Balsam who was a young white woman of privilege during the 1960’s when she meets a talented black photographer named William. His photos of people document a part of Detroit she has never seen. Soon their friendship blossoms into love even though an interracial relationship is discouraged by both their families. Then there is Elizabeth Balsam a current day journalist who uncovers scandals and corruption; and she is making a name for herself. It is the Balsam name that catches the attention of Mr. Rich because he believes she is related to Nora, and he has something he wants Nora to have, but needs Elizabeth to get it to Nora. When Elizabeth finds out that it is something to do with the Detroit Race Riots of 1967, the time period she has been researching, then she is interested to find out if they are related. The 3rd woman is Mary Balsam who lived in Lapeer County outside of Detroit in 1861. Her husband Nathaniel, an abolitionist, is enlisting to fight in the Civil War. While he is gone he keeps sending runaway slaves to their farm and Mary has to come to grips with her feelings about race, and how it affects their family and community. Mary Balsam’s farm is pivotal to all 3 women.This is a fantastic story, well written, it kept my interest to the last page and left me wanting to read more. This is definitely a book for this time in history and I recommend all my friends, family and readers to check it out. 5 stars.