As always I love returning to Good Hope to catch up with some old fictional friends. This time around we are involved with two characters that have beAs always I love returning to Good Hope to catch up with some old fictional friends. This time around we are involved with two characters that have been introduced on the periphery in the past, Piper, the owner of Swoon, and Anders, the brother of Beck. While I always enjoy the introduction of new characters in Good Hope, Ms. Kirk still manages to give us a glance at the lives of our familiar favorites to see how their stories are still progressing.
Although this book focused on the friendship and potential romance between Piper and Anders, I was much more interested in the dynamic between Piper and her sister. I found myself wanting to see what would happen in their relationship since there was definitely a wedge that had the potential to push them apart. Sometimes it isn't always about the love affairs for me, so I enjoyed having this additional story line to keep me interested.
(view spoiler)[Along those lines, I truly do not think every story needs to end with a rushed engagement. As much as I love the Good Hope series, I am starting to grow tired of the same old ending. These stories are obviously meant to bring joy and happiness to the reader, but that doesn't always mean the main characters have to get married within a few months of meeting each other, especially immediately after their first conflict is resolved. It has become much too predictable, which is probably why I welcomed the sister conflict as a distraction. In addition, I think the Gladys-as-a-matchmaker angle has also been exhausted a bit. (hide spoiler)]
Overall I am always pleased to travel back to Good Hope. Visiting the pleasant town, especially around Christmastime is always a welcomed distraction. (I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.)...more
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a very quick read, but was perfectly fullI received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a very quick read, but was perfectly full of the happiness we expect from Good Hope. Marigold and Cade's infertility journey is heartbreaking, especially when all of their friends and family seem to have no problems growing their tribes. This story is heartwarming and surprising, without a lot of distraction. I always like getting caught up on the lives of previous couples from other Good Hope books, but it was nice to have a sweet, quick read to put closure to their story. It was just the break that I needed right when I needed it. ...more
I received an advanced copy of Bachelor games in Good Hope to review, and as always, I was excited to visit one of my favorite small towns once again.I received an advanced copy of Bachelor games in Good Hope to review, and as always, I was excited to visit one of my favorite small towns once again. As always, revisiting Good Hope allows you to catch up with many favorite characters from past books, along with getting to know some others a little better. This time we learned more about Clay Chapin and Bea Appleton. The former who has been mentioned in previous books, but the latter is one that I didn't recognize.
The premise of Bachelor Games is just what it sounds like, although instead of a reality show, the resident matchmaker, Gladys, sets up a dating round robin on a smaller scale. Although it is a cute story, it wasn't one of my favorites.
(view spoiler)[As the matchmaking storylines become more and more prominent in the Good Hope series, I am losing more interest. It is actually annoying me a little since Gladys doesn't always have an actual hand in the final matches, but she always takes credit. The ending of Bachelor Games had me rolling my eyes in disgust because I felt it was far fetched (moving a little fast, in my opinion) and I would be completely annoyed if anyone ever proposed at someone else's wedding. I almost wish one of these books would NOT end with a proposal or wedding. That would be a little more realistic in my opinion. (hide spoiler)]
But the Good Hope series is always a fun, quick read that brings me back to a cozy town that I love to visit. Most times I can guess who will be the subject of the next story and I look forward to the next installment. ...more
Did I just read a script for a Hallmark movie? What a great read for this time of year! I loved visiting Holly Pointe once again and seeing what becomDid I just read a script for a Hallmark movie? What a great read for this time of year! I loved visiting Holly Pointe once again and seeing what becomes of Faith, whom we met in the first Holly Pointe book.
Graham is a widower who is visiting family with his twin girls, and with the help of Faith he sees all that he has missed in their lives by working so much. Faith is pursuing her dreams and doing something creative that she loves, instead of what she thinks others want her to do in the corporate world. This resonates with me, as someone with a handmade craft business, and some of the feelings she has about the way people perceive her work, I feel as well. I also love her quirky side such as the way she dresses for the holiday season and love of all the Christmas events in town. I felt like Faith could be someone I want to spend time with.
As the two get to know each other, we see that they are a good match and help each other grow where they need it. Of course there are miscommunications and stumbles in the road, but they both have a good support system of friends and family to help them navigate it all.
I loved spending time in Holly Pointe and I look forward to meeting more characters in the future. ...more
I am a huge fan of the Good Hope series, so I was very excited to read the next installment, Thankful in Good Hope. Before starting the book I did notI am a huge fan of the Good Hope series, so I was very excited to read the next installment, Thankful in Good Hope. Before starting the book I did not know anything about it, other than it involved Ryder Goodhue, a local business owner, and Trinity McConnell, the sister of a relative newcomer to town. In the last book we saw these two have a brief encounter which set the stage for this story. As I began the story it had the same feel as most of Ms Kirk's other Good Hope novels, but then I was surprised by the twist when Zoe was introduced, and it gave the story a different feel. We still got to revisit all of our favorite characters from previous books, but I felt like the main characters were on the periphery of that group and didn't have to rely on many of them to tell the story. This could have been set anywhere, not just in Good Hope. Because of this, the book felt a little fresher and I really enjoyed it. The backstory of the two characters helped me understand the reasoning behind some of their actions and helped see both sides when there was conflict. I wasn't rooting for one over the other, but instead rooting for everyone. I think my only complaint was interjecting Gladys in the story felt a little forced. Maybe we don't need to see her meddling all the time. Sometimes the main characters can find each other well enough on their own! Overall, it was a very pleasant visit back to Good Hope! Note: I had received an advanced copy of Thankful in Good Hope to voluntarily review....more
I had received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book "One & Only You" from the publisher to voluntarily review. I was very excited to read the 3rd HazelI had received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book "One & Only You" from the publisher to voluntarily review. I was very excited to read the 3rd Hazel Green story, and I was not disappointed. As I have always enjoyed Kirk's Good Hope series, I have also fallen in love with the fictional town of Hazel Green. This story begins immediately with the main character, Rachel Grabinski, suffering a devastating heartbreak. Although she has been portrayed as a bit timid, she gains strength by befriending a newcomer in town, Dixon Carlyle, who helps her move beyond her past. As things progress there are some secrets that threaten to ruin the relationship. I found myself wondering how things would play out, with both Rachel's ex-boyfriend Marc and well as with Dixon. The storytelling was done in a way that left you guessing, but not for an unbearably long time. The story progresses at a good pace, although I felt that the ending was rushed a bit. I would have liked a little more detail of what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue. Overall I was very pleased with this book and Ms. Kirk did not disappoint. I am looking forward to getting to know more Hazel Green residents in the future....more
When I began reading this story by one of my favorite authors and set in one of my favorite fictional towns, I was a little surprised that I didn't knWhen I began reading this story by one of my favorite authors and set in one of my favorite fictional towns, I was a little surprised that I didn't know very much about the primary female character. I wasn't sure if it would hold my interest enough, but as always, I was pleasantly surprised. Sparks Fly in Good Hope takes two adversaries and turns them into an unlikely pair. Greer reminded me a lot of Eliza, another resident of Good Hope, because she is very driven and career minded, but has a warm side that isn't often seen.
The new man in town, Wyatt, doesn't start off on the right foot with Greer, but eventually his kindness wins everyone over. He is quickly ensconced into the town and finds a welcoming home.
The story moves along at a quick pace and it never felt slow or boring. New characters were introduced which definitely made me wonder if we will be hearing more about their stories in the future.
As always, I enjoyed my latest visit to Good Hope....more
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it. I really wanted to love this book, as I do almost eI received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it. I really wanted to love this book, as I do almost everything Ms. Kirk writes, but immediately from the start I knew it was going to be disappointingly predictable. It barely held my interest because there was really nothing based in reality about this story and nothing to make you feel it could veer from the expected. Normally even if I know how a book will end, there are many other characters intertwined that will make it interesting, but in this case the only other "main" character, Claire, was completely annoying. I do love Ms. Kirk as an author, but this one just didn't hit it out of the park for me, like her Good Hope series. ...more
I am a huge fan of Cindy Kirk, especially her Good Hope series, but when I saw that he latest book centered around the Good Hope Pastor, Dan Marshall I am a huge fan of Cindy Kirk, especially her Good Hope series, but when I saw that he latest book centered around the Good Hope Pastor, Dan Marshall and the pseudo"gossip columnist", Katie Ruth Crewes, I was a little underwhelmed. Boy, was I wrong. A Match Made in Good Hope turned out to be one of my favorites in the series, just behind the original stories of the four Bloom sisters. Both Pastor Dan and Katie Ruth have appearances is all of the previous books, but they have never been developed too much, to the point of making them interesting. I will be honest, the picture I had in my mind of Katie Ruth differed greatly from the description given in this book. Pastor Dan had always seemed to be calming presence, but getting to see the more human side of him was enjoyable. This story was very sweet, but also had a little shock value. Normally I can guess what the big "reveal" will be or what the main character is hiding, but for some reason I was a little blindsided by this one - and I liked it! The scenarios in the story were fairly believable, and I truly wasn't sure how things would play out. I found myself understanding both points of view, so it was difficult to know who to side with. Kirk's characters are always very likable, flaws and all; everyone has their redeeming qualities, so you want to see everyone happy in the end. As always, it was wonderful to get an update on all of the previous characters that we followed in prior books, and also see who may be getting set up for their own story in the future. Whenever I finish a Good Hope book I feel like I am leaving behind a neighbor. It is definitely the type of place I would love to live. Note: I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher to voluntarily review....more
I recently received an Advanced Reader Copy of Her Ten Year Secret by Cindy Kirk from the publisher to voluntarily review. I was very excited to hear I recently received an Advanced Reader Copy of Her Ten Year Secret by Cindy Kirk from the publisher to voluntarily review. I was very excited to hear about a new series from a favorite author since I always enjoy books from her Good Hope series. The book on it's own is well written and a fairly quick read. I hate to say that I struggled with it only because I had just read Reunited in Good Hope which had a very similar theme, so it almost felt repetitive to me. The characters were very different, but the overarching theme wasn't. This story also felt a bit rushed to me and I never felt vested in any of the characters. The author's writing is always very smooth and enjoyable so that definitely wasn't the reason I struggled with it. I had no problems getting to the end, but I just wished the story was fresher for me. I probably would have enjoyed Her Ten Year Secret more if I wasn't such a big fan of Kirk's Good Hope series and I had read this at a different time....more
I was very excited to read Reunited in Good Hope, as I've always enjoyed the stories of it's citizens. Right from the beginning, as we learned about tI was very excited to read Reunited in Good Hope, as I've always enjoyed the stories of it's citizens. Right from the beginning, as we learned about the Bloom sisters and continued on with all of their friends from the inner circle, it has been a pleasure to visit this quaint town filled with "neighbors helping neighbors". However this story is a little different as it revolves around Cassie Lohmeier who is an outcast of sorts. We met her in earlier books, but only briefly learned about her struggles as a single mother and her unfavorable treatment of her teenage daughter. In past books I was actually quite dismissive about Cassie because she had few redeeming qualities, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about her life so I could understand her struggles better, and hope that she had the chance at being happy.
When an old flame (if you can call him that), Krew Slattery, comes back to town her whole world is turned upside down all over again. We are able to understand the pain and confusion she felt as an innocent fifteen year old girl, and see why her life spiraled so out of control. As for Krew, it was easy to warm up to the handsome football star when he decides to make right on something terrible he did decades before. Cassie's daughter, Dakota's life is thrown for a loop in the process as well, and her reactions are very raw and real throughout the book. It is hard not to hope everyone gets the silver lining that they deserve.
The book was very fast paced and I never felt like I had to trudge through slow parts to get to the meat of the story. It took place over several months so nothing felt like it was forced into an unrealistic timeline. As with many of the previous stories, I look forward to getting updates on these main characters in future stories about the other residents of this lovely town. This was one of my favorite Good Hope stories since the first few books in the series.
Please note: I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing it....more
I was excited to receive an advanced reader copy of One Step Away from the publisher to voluntarily review. I've always enjoyed the Cindy Kirk storiesI was excited to receive an advanced reader copy of One Step Away from the publisher to voluntarily review. I've always enjoyed the Cindy Kirk stories, as they are set in quaint towns that help transport you to another place. This is the second book in the Hazel Green series and it focuses on Cornelia "Nell" Ambrose, who is an attorney, but at the community events she transforms into town's namesake, Hazel Green. When we last saw Nell, at the end of the first Hazel Green series book, it looked like her past was catching up to her and this time around we get to see just what this past was. I will be honest, it was not at all what I was expecting and it was a nice twist in what could otherwise be a predictable story. One issue I kept having with the book is that the male protagonist, Leo Pomeroy, didn't seem to be as busy with his job as one might expect from a young mayor. It was a sticking point with me that he was able to spend so much time with Nell and his family instead of doing what you would think are day-to-day activities as a town leader. Other than that, the story was different and a little suspenseful, not your typical romance novel, but it definitely still had a lot of those elements, too. In comparison to all of the other Cindy Kirk books that I have read, this one wasn't my most favorite, but it was still enjoyable. As always, Ms. Kirk likes to update us on the lives of past protagonists so we never truly leave anyone behind, which makes me excited to read the next book to get a glimpse at where time has taken Nell and also expand on another character that we've met in previous books. ...more
**spoiler alert** This is the second Tracy Crosswhite book that I've read, and although I like the writing and suspense, if each book in the series is**spoiler alert** This is the second Tracy Crosswhite book that I've read, and although I like the writing and suspense, if each book in the series is going to include a suspect that is stalking/in love with the main character, it is going to get old very quick! ...more
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