The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope

By: Rhonda Riley

Narrated by: Stina Nielsen

In the waning months of World War II, young Evelyn Roe's life is transformed when she finds what she takes to be a badly burned soldier, all but completely buried in the heavy red-clay soil on her family's farm in North Carolina. When Evelyn rescues the stranger, it quickly becomes clear he is not a simple man. As innocent as a newborn, he recovers at an unnatural speed, and then begins to change - first into Evelyn's mirror image, and then into her complement, a man she comes to know as Adam.

Evelyn and Adam fall in love, sharing a connection that reaches to the essence of Evelyn's being. But the small town where they live is not ready to accept the likes of Adam, and his unusual origin becomes the secret at the center of their seemingly normal marriage.

Adam proves gifted with horses, and together he and Evelyn establish a horse-training business. They raise five daughters, each of whom possesses something of Adam's supernatural gifts. Then a tragic accident strikes the family, and Adam, in his grief, reveals his extraordinary character to the local community. Evelyn and Adam must flee to Florida with their daughters to avoid ostracism and prying doctors. Adrift in their new surroundings, they soon realize that the difference between Adam and other men is greater than they ever imagined.

Intensely moving and unforgettable, The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope captures the beauty of the natural world, and explores the power of abiding love, and otherness in all its guises. It illuminates the magic in ordinary life and makes us believe in the extraordinary.

©2013 Rhonda Thomas Riley (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Amazing!! BEAUTIFUL Writing and Narration.

this book was really really breathtaking. what an imagination this author has. i mean, the story of adam hope is so interesting and unique and inventive. narrated by the woman who found him, adam's wife, evelyn, it's quite sad at times, extremely thought provoking, and really beautifully written. i haven't listened to anything narrated by Stina Nielsen before...but will check out her other books. she really was a great reader.

i like the fact that though this story revolves around someone so unique and different and special…the true nature of the book is about relationships. it's really a story of unconditional love and love of family.

the character of addie/adam/"A" is so well developed. a supernatural being, of sorts, he's so full of joy and his spirit rings so sweetly in the story. you can't help but love him (her? it?). there is an innocence about him that reminds me of a child, but a maturity and grace that you wonder if he's been around forever. the mystery of his origins, and especially of his "voice" are never resolved…but that doesn't matter (at least not to me). the story that unfolded around him was good enough for me to be satisfied. i felt that, as a reader, i too had to take a leap of faith and accept him for who and what he was…and love him for it without question. just like evelyn did.

it's hard to say anything about the book without sounding like a book report…and moreso because it's really just a pleasure to unwrap and discover for yourself and i wouldn't want to ruin the wonder of this book for anyone. its a great sweeping novel, a fantastic and compelling read and i recommend it wholeheartedly.

perfect 🥰

Loved this book. Different but familiar. Great story. I wish it didn't end. Thank you.

An Enchanting Imaginative Novel

What did you love best about The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope?

The best part of this story is the imaginative mind that wrote it. Such a great love story. The character of Addie/Adam is unlike any other. Evelyn was my favorite character however because of her courage in living out an extraordinary life.

What about Stina Nielsen’s performance did you like?

Although the reader was excellent, as was the story, I did not want to read it in one sitting: I wanted it to last and last and last.

what a lovely trip

A beautifully written love story that like love can sometimes feel larger than life itself. . But when love comes realism and the practical and the physical world can sometimes transcend all that you see feel and do. To fully enjoy this book you have to suspend many of your premises about the real world and just fall into it just like you're falling in love with hope and trust and more than a little faith . That's what this book is for me and why it will always be one of my favorites a chronicle about the incredible faith we have and those who love. Not to mention the added bonus of wonderful writing

interesting book

the beginning of the book I loved it and then I was shocked and then I wasn't sure that I should continue reading it because I thought it was about something that it may not have been about. but then as I read on I think it has an amazing lesson in it for those who are open to lessons

Liked it very much, with reservations

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I don't think they'd make a movie out of it without changing it substantially, because it doesn't go anywhere enough for the screen, I don't think.

Any additional comments?

I loved a lot of this book. But I wasn't entirely satisfied with a few things in the story - I didn't like the way the Christian faith was dismissed without ever being really understood - the most trite and useless answers to the big questions drove me crazy. And yet, the characters cling to church and hymns - all for a very shallow experience for people who are so interested in asking questions. "What kind of God is this?" never seemed to be worth asking.

I also really struggled with the lack of answers about A. It made me feel as though the story was incomplete, without closure. Sometimes life is just like that, but I always felt that it was going somewhere, especially with the voice, and it just...didn't supply enough.

Quirky but wonderful story

I liked this book, with all its quirkiness. Charters were developed beautifully. There were passages that I re-read because they were so well written.
Recommend this book. If I could give it 4.5 I would!

Wonderful!

A beautiful and beautifully read book which will stay with me for a long time. Kudos to the author and the reader who both capture the essence of the Southern voice and spirit.

One of the best books I've ever read

Amazing story telling! I hope to hear more from this author. I couldn't put this one down.

An Amazing Supernatural Story

Adam is a miracle/mystery for his whole existence. this tale will mesmerize you . you will fall in love with Evelyn and Adam. Such a beautiful story.