"I was what they call a "woman of faith" once. And now? Now I'm just broken."
Title: Where Hope BeginsAuthor: Catherine West
Publisher: Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction
Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness . . .
Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.
But soon, Savannah is given a challenge that she can’t run away from. Forgiving the unforgiveable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.
Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectations.
Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.
But soon, Savannah is given a challenge that she can’t run away from. Forgiving the unforgiveable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.
Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectations.
MY THOUGHTS
Where Hope Begins by Catherine West is one of the best novels I've read this year. Okay, maybe even up there in the all time top twenty. (And just in case you're wondering, top twenty is huge considering I read between 200 and 300 books a year!) Right from the first line to the last, Catherine West compelled me to move forward. Almost like a trance, my eyes kept glue to the page. Word after word, page after page and thought after thought, I didn't want to stop.
"And some days I still believe I deserve this agonizing pain even more than he does."
There's a certain level of intensity in Where Hope Begins that enraptured me. Possibly because there's this special parallel between readers and the characters that necessitate this desire to seek something to hope for. Granted, I pray no one will have to go through what our characters been through, but even if the experiences are not the same, there's still the relativity of feelings one can comprehend.
"There is nothing worse than standing in a crowded room feeling completely alone."
Then there's our "darlin'" Brock.
"Yeah, he's a regular Rhett Butler."
That he is and he gave this story an element of humor plus more. So much that words aren't enough to describe from this non-writer. Like our main characters, Savannah and Kevin, there's brokenness. There's grief and pain. There's also a journey that makes for life's treasures. Brock had struck a chord in my heart, and along with the whole of Where Hope Begins, the different emotions felt so real, almost like the dilapidated greenhouse in the story. It just needed a little TLC, faith and ultimately the sprout of hope. Hope may be the theme here, but there's a bit of second chances for all our characters and in turn the meaning behind it.
Simply put, I love Where Hope Begins. Any book that'll get such a range of emotions from me deserves all stars, and o my stars is right! It's been awhile since a book made me ugly cry my way through, and that deserves all the stars it can get. Don't let this one pass you by.
"Sometimes we are allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness. . ."
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Her most recent novel, The Memory of You, released March 2017 and Where Hope Begins releases in May 2018. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine[at]catherinejwest.com.
What to know more about Where Hope Begins?
Come back tomorrow for my interview with Cathy!!
Thank you so much!! And you get all the hearts. xo
ReplyDeleteRight back at you, Cathy! I LOVE this!
DeleteExcellent review, Annie!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Caryl!!
DeleteWonderful review, Annie! I'm sure this is going to be one of my top reads, too. Definitely one for the keeper shelf.
ReplyDeleteThanks Winnie! Definitely on the keeper shelf. LOL.
DeleteWhere Hope Begins sounds like a story that everyone of us can relate to. I know I have went through some very tough times and I didn't know if I would get through it. There were times I thought God had left me but I keep praying. We know that getting through it makes us stronger, and be sure to Thank God for it.
ReplyDelete