Book Review: “The Day Hope Walked Five Miles,” by Martha Reed
On an October afternoon in 1986, a man walked five miles down a quiet Indiana road because the woman he loved was in danger. That walk changed two lives forever. In The Day Hope Walked Five Miles, Martha Thorne Reed shares a deeply personal memoir of survival, faith, unexpected love, grief, and the courage to rebuild a life. From a childhood shaped between Panama and Indiana to years spent finding her voice, Martha traces the roads that led her through fear, hardship, second chances, education, vocation, and lasting hope. This is not a story of a perfect life. It is the story of two people who found safety in one another, built a marriage rooted in grace, and learned that love often shows up quietly, steadily, and just in time. When loss changes everything, Martha must learn how to keep walking while carrying the love, legacy, and lessons of the man who once walked five miles to reach her. For readers drawn to inspirational memoirs, Christian life stories, grief and healing, survivor journeys, enduring love, and stories of purpose found later in life, The Day Hope Walked Five Miles is a reminder that hope still walks, even when the road feels too broken to continue.
Martha Thorne Reed is a non-traditional, first-generation college graduate and the Director of the Career Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. She is passionate about helping students discover their vocations, callings, and values as they navigate their own life paths. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana State University while working full-time and caring for her family and aging parents. A native of Panama, she lives in Indiana. Her work in career development and emotional intelligence reflects the journey she shares in this memoir. Her website is: https://marthareedbooks.com/
This review is a week overdue (I do apologize, it’s been a crazy week). When I heard a friend of mine, Martha Thorne Reed was publishing a book, I was ecstatic. We kind of have a personal connection. She worked with my Aunt Barbara back in the 1980s; Aunt Barbara was one of the ones to encourage Martha to write, and over a decade later, Aunt Barbara encouraged me to write. Aunt Barbara set us both on our paths and I like to think she’s watching over us, proud of what we’re both doing. Anyway, Martha’s book is called: “The Day Hope Walked Five Miles: Survival, Second Chances, and the Long Road to Becoming.” A memoir, it features a collection of essays relaying Martha’s life story and the road she had to take to becoming the woman she is today, and to finding true love. It is also the story of a man, who went on a journey of his own. As I read it, I found myself fighting tears, astonished by all Martha went through and how she never gave up hope, despite her circumstances. We’re reminded to hope even when all hope seems lost. Her words and her stories made this jaded cynic begin to believe in true love again. Now, I am going to go re-read it again. I also look forward to Martha’s next book, because after such a dynamic start, there will be no stopping her now! If you’d like to purchase Martha’s book, you can do so here.