Can hope steal their pain?
At the age of eighteen, Lacey Carmichael was a wild girl bent on fun, promised to Jack Carmichael, a straight-and-narrow pastor's kid bent on the seminary. When her father kicks her out of the house, she runs away from Isle of Hope, turning her back on everything she loves. Now, eight years later, she's back as a woman of faith, hoping to make amends to the father she defied, the boyfriend she deserted, and the best friend she denied. Only the bridges she's burned are still smoldering, kindled by an adulterous affair by Jack's pastor father that damaged his son's faith. But can a turning of tables—and hearts—lead the way back to "hope" for them all?
ISLE OF HOPE was a heartfelt story about two families who had once been close and their journey of reconciliation to finding friendship and love again after terrible mistakes tear them apart. With sincere and likable characters, honest moments of caring and inspiration, and plenty of sparks in the romance department, this is a story sure to pull you in and keep you engaged to the end.
From the beginning the story engaged me with the chemistry, banter, and deep history of friendship between these characters. I loved both Jack, Lacey, and their families from the start. Jack was a charming southern boy with plenty of charisma, smarts, a way with kids, and just an overall loyal brother and trusted friend. Lacey was full of sass, her own charm, loyalty, and a deep desire to make restitution for past mistakes. I could feel the sparks fly between these two from the first time they met on the page through the entire story.
There was such a deep connection that had been developed so strongly in the past between Jack and Lacey and their families. There was plenty of hurt there too that had to be overcome and healed for them to move on. I loved both Lacey's grandmother and Tess, Jack's mom. Their compassion and love towards their family, as well as the way in which they led with forgiveness, was what made restitution possible. There were plenty of messy, human moments that showed these characters as perfectly flawed, making them more easily relateable. Those moments of vulnerability, mistakes, and how they struggled to make things right was what made this story for me. Well, that and the romance.
There was very little to complain about in this story. There were parts, small actions and words, that were repetitive. There also were some things resolved a little too easily or nicely and the inspiration was also a little heavy in spots. These were minor things though and didn't deter me from enjoying this story from beginning to end.
I'd recommend ISLE OF HOPE to those who enjoy inspirational romance with plenty of humor, friendship, family, and some serious swoon-worthy romance. A story that focuses on forgiveness and healing for a brighter and hopeful future.
Content: Innuendo and some heavy subject matter, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the tour host, which did not affect my review in any way.
Julie Lessman, award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series, was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine's 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. Julie has garnered 17 RWA and other awards and made Booklist's 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction. Her latest novel, Surprised by Love, appeared on Family Fiction magazine's list of Top Ten Novels of 2014. Her indie book A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.
You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at www.julielessman.com, or through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, orPinterest, as well as sign up for her newsletter. Check out Julie's group blog,The Seekers, Writers Digest 2013, 2014, and 2015 "Best 101 Websites for Writers," and Julie's own personal blog, Journal Jots, voted blog of the month in the Readers' Choice poll of Book Fun Magazine.
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