Description
Abandoned. Forgotten. Alone. At least, that’s what Maddie Bennett has always believed.
Struggling to survive as a freelance writer in London, Maddie’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel. When financial strain forces her to retreat to her aunt’s old stone house in the Scottish countryside, she expects a quiet summer—one where she can hide from the past. But what she finds hidden in the attic cracks everything wide open: a box of letters from the mother who walked away… or so she thought.
As Maddie delves into a past long buried, secrets begin to surface—about her mother’s fractured identity, a truth guarded by the people she thought she could trust, and a love that looked nothing like she imagined. Torn between resentment and revelation, Maddie is faced with a painful question: Did her mother really abandon her—or did she sacrifice everything to protect her?
Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of London and rural Scotland, The Freelancer’s Hope is a powerful story of unraveling lies, rediscovering faith, and learning that even in our deepest pain, God never lets go.
Sharon D. –
I had the chance to read an ARC copy of this story. WOW! In tears from the first chapter to the end. It was described to me as being a story of self love. And God’s unconditional love shined throughout the entire story. Maggie’s story was very emotional, very powerful. Feeling like she wasn’t loved, I connected with that because I’ve felt that way before too. When God shows Maggie a path she never expected, as I read each word, my heart just ached for her. Hope, understanding, faith, love, every emotion you can think of was poured into this story. The characters depth was portrayed so very well. I felt myself reaching into the pages and hugging Maggie and wanted to walk beside her to help from the pain she was feeling. I highly recommend this story. Just grab some tissues and prepare for God’s love to shine!
Jessica Gariepy –
Hey everyone,
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Freelancer’s Hope by Claire Lagerwall, and I wanted to share a few thoughts. These opinions are entirely my own.
First of all, I am truly honored to have the opportunity to work with Claire Lagerwall I Author for a second time on one of her books. It was a wonderful experience.
From the very first line, this book captures you and draws you in. It is impossible to put down.
The book brings light into a dark place, and reminds you that God is there even in the darkest of places.
*Preorders are now live!*
You can pre-order The Freelancer’s Hope for Kindle and paperback directly from Claire’s website—and receive your copy a week early! (clairelagerwall.com)
Prefer Amazon? The book will be officially released on September 6th, with both Kindle and paperback editions available.
The Freelancer’s Hope is part of the Our House on Heather Wynd series, but it can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone novella.
Jill Callanan –
The Freelancer’s Hope draws you in from the very first page. Maddie escapes to Scotland in search of space and freedom to rethink her life in London—but a hidden discovery in her aunt’s attic begins to unravel the truth about why her mother left.
This novella is a true page-turner, the kind you can easily devour in one sitting. Claire’s storytelling is both powerful and imaginative, woven with vivid imagery that awakens all the senses and stirs deep emotion. She has a natural gift for portraying a character’s faith and the journey they take toward hope.
As the truth unfolded, I found myself in tears—for the things lost, and for the new beginnings that grace allowed. The story also left me reflecting on the truths we hide from those we love, convincing ourselves that omissions or softened versions are kinder than honesty.
Claire has done it again—another beautiful, moving read. Absolutely worth picking up!
Michelle Frost –
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of The Freelancer’s Hope by Claire Lagerwall, and I wanted to share a few thoughts. These opinions are entirely my own.
Set in a quaint village in Scotland; the imagery, characterisation and plot twists make this a brilliant novella. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to savour each word because of the beautiful imagery; yet I couldn’t read it fast enough because I was eager to discover the hidden secret of the protagonist’s past.
Maddie is on a journey to discover the truth about her childhood and as the pieces of the puzzle come together, the reader comes face to face with grace and beauty amidst the deep pain of this profound story.
Claire is a masterful storyteller. Maddie’s story will touch you deeply, especially if you too, are seeking answers and healing in your brokenness.
The Freelancer’s hope is fast -paced and yet you’ll feel like you’ve spent hours at a retreat, once you’ve read it . It’s deeply personal and rich in the hope it offers.
Charmaine Goddard –
I received an advance reader copy and wanted to share a few thoughts. These opinions are entirely my own.
This story gripped me from the Prologue and even invented a new word in my house – “unputdownable”! It truly is!
I LOVED The Freelancer’s Hope. It is a beautifully written, easy to read, extremely deep story with strong themes of hope, sacrificial love and restoration running through it. God’s prevenient grace is also a strong theme – His grace that goes before us. I really loved seeing how Maddie started to see this. It is such an important theme, reminding us that He is always there, in the middle of the storm, with us!
This is a book you need to read a few times – because each time you read it you find something new. A masterpiece Claire. Truly. Well-done!!