Where Hope Begins

I don't recall reading any books by Catherine West, but I must say Where Hope Begins is hard to put down.  There is one caveat:  there is so much angst in this book that the reader needs to keep blood pressure medication nearby.  The tension is enough to ring the bell on the sphygmomanometer.  

Savannah Barrington is in the position of being the wife, while her husband has been having an affair with a coworker.  In order to clear her mind, she goes to her parents' home in the Berkshires in upstate New York.  Next door to that home, lives Clarice, her nephew Brock Chandler, and his daughter Maysie.  The first time Savannah sees Maysie she's reminded of the daughter she lost years ago.  

Svannah and Brock really hit it off almost to the point of starting an affair, but they both realized it would not be appropriate and stopped.  They both have secrets and they find in each other someone to confide in and someone to receive comfort from. 

This is not the kind of book you can jump ahead to the end and find out what's going to happen, because it just won't make sense.  The tension among all of the characters builds to the very last page and all of the book has to be read in order to come to any sensical conclusion.  

This IS the kind of book that the reader will need a box of tissues or a very large hankie at hand.  It is somewhat traumatizing, but the characters are empathetic and sensitive.  There are many spiritual applications that are demonstrated in the book, including grace and forgiveness. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a puppy named Hope. 

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book.