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Saving Hope
As a police officer in the small town of New Hope, Rhode Island, Lieutenant Mike Archer rarely sees more than the occasional drunk and disorderly. When a man tries to break into the vacant house next door, Mike is shocked to discover his best friend’s younger brother.
Killian Gregory left New Hope when he turned eighteen, setting his sights on New York City and building a successful web design business. Years later, reeling from a messy breakup, he volunteers to return to his hometown to close out his aunt’s estate. The last thing he expects is to find himself in the arms of his older brother’s best friend…his sexy but very straight best friend.
The more Mike gets to know Killian, the more he’s drawn to him, awakening feelings he’s never felt before. Unaware of Mike’s inner turmoil, Killian fights his growing feelings.
But Mike’s all in, even if he has a lot to prove to keep Killian from running away again.
If you love small towns, best friend’s brothers, and bi awakening, you’ll love Saving Hope.
Killian Gregory left New Hope when he turned eighteen, setting his sights on New York City and building a successful web design business. Years later, reeling from a messy breakup, he volunteers to return to his hometown to close out his aunt’s estate. The last thing he expects is to find himself in the arms of his older brother’s best friend…his sexy but very straight best friend.
The more Mike gets to know Killian, the more he’s drawn to him, awakening feelings he’s never felt before. Unaware of Mike’s inner turmoil, Killian fights his growing feelings.
But Mike’s all in, even if he has a lot to prove to keep Killian from running away again.
If you love small towns, best friend’s brothers, and bi awakening, you’ll love Saving Hope.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2023
102 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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November 19, 2025
Saving Hope is book two in the New Hope series by Annabella Michaels. You can read this as a stand alone but you REALLY should read the first book, New Hope, simply because it is such an amazing books. This is only my second book by this author but I am so in love with her characters. They are kind, caring and so easy to fall in love with, which I definitely did.
We met Lt. Mike Archer in book one, the partner and best friend of Ford. Mike grew up in New Hope, Rhode Island. Now he is a police officer there and lives alone with his black German Shepherd, Shadow. Mike is thirty five years old, single, and seemingly straight. He has nothing against relationships, he just wants that huge love his parents have, that will last a life time. He has never felt that spark with any woman he dated.
Killian Gregory is thirty two years old. He is the younger brother of Mike’s childhood best friend. He left New Hope after high school, wanting to start a big life in New York City. He has a very successful web design business. Killian and his two siblings have recently lost the aunt who raised them in New Hope. After a bad break up in New York, Killian volunteered to go back to New Hope to get his aunt’s house ready to sell which will take a few months.
We’ll just say that the first time these two see each other again was pretty funny. Their houses are next door to each other. As they spend time together, Mike keeps noticing things about Killian that he has never noticed about a man before, the way he smells so good, his eyes, his skin! And his stomach loves to go topsy turvy whenever they are together. He can’t figure out what is going on. He’s never felt this way before. Killian has always had a crush on Mike growing up. And it seems that crush never went away or is reawakened now that they are spending time together again.
“There was just something about him, about being near him, that settled something inside me.”
I love the way things unfolded for these two. It just felt natural. There was no unnecessary angst or drama, just two men falling for each other. I love this little town and would love to go there. I also want to mention Killian’s new friend in town, Wren. I loved him and it seems he might be the focus of the next book in the series, Tasting Hope. In the mean time, I will definitely be exploring more of this author’s work!
We met Lt. Mike Archer in book one, the partner and best friend of Ford. Mike grew up in New Hope, Rhode Island. Now he is a police officer there and lives alone with his black German Shepherd, Shadow. Mike is thirty five years old, single, and seemingly straight. He has nothing against relationships, he just wants that huge love his parents have, that will last a life time. He has never felt that spark with any woman he dated.
Killian Gregory is thirty two years old. He is the younger brother of Mike’s childhood best friend. He left New Hope after high school, wanting to start a big life in New York City. He has a very successful web design business. Killian and his two siblings have recently lost the aunt who raised them in New Hope. After a bad break up in New York, Killian volunteered to go back to New Hope to get his aunt’s house ready to sell which will take a few months.
We’ll just say that the first time these two see each other again was pretty funny. Their houses are next door to each other. As they spend time together, Mike keeps noticing things about Killian that he has never noticed about a man before, the way he smells so good, his eyes, his skin! And his stomach loves to go topsy turvy whenever they are together. He can’t figure out what is going on. He’s never felt this way before. Killian has always had a crush on Mike growing up. And it seems that crush never went away or is reawakened now that they are spending time together again.
“There was just something about him, about being near him, that settled something inside me.”
I love the way things unfolded for these two. It just felt natural. There was no unnecessary angst or drama, just two men falling for each other. I love this little town and would love to go there. I also want to mention Killian’s new friend in town, Wren. I loved him and it seems he might be the focus of the next book in the series, Tasting Hope. In the mean time, I will definitely be exploring more of this author’s work!
April 26, 2023
Saving Hope (New Hope Book 2)
Mike Archer a Police Lieutenant at New Hope Rhode Island has been single for a long time. Now 35 he wants what his friend Ford has found with Dr. Adams. Someone to love and have a future with here in New Hope, his hometown.
Foiling a break-in at his deceased neighbours house he comes face to face with Killian Gregory. Once Mike released the man from a death grip on the ground, both men recognised each other. Killian is the younger brother of Mike’s best friend Reece.
Killian has returned to New Hope to prepare his Aunt’s house for sale following her recent death. His aunt left the house to Reece, Killian and their sister Clarissa to sell and buy something special with the money from the sale.
Unbeknownst to Mike, Killian has had a crush on him since he was 14. Now that he’s temporarily living next door and meeting up occasionally, those feelings are surfacing again, big time.
However, Killian still feels vulnerable following the breakup with his long time boyfriend in New York. Plus the fact that Lieutenant Mike Archer is a straight man. Or is he, he’s been more than kind to Killian since he arrived, helped him find a new bed, cooked him dinner, taken him to local events.
Mike is confused as heck about his burgeoning feelings for Killian. When he speaks with his friend Ford and gets his advice he’s all ready to try and see where this relationship might take him.
But then, Killian may take off back to New York once he sells his aunt’s house. Oh, and he needs to speak to Reece about his feelings for his little brother. Should he also talk to his parents and siblings about his recent discovery about himself.
Mike is Hopeful he can keep what he’s just found.
This was a short, sweet, angst free small town RomCom. A series set in New Hope, Rhode Island. Characters from Book 1 feature here too and I feel that there may be one or two more stories arising in New Hope in the future. Wren St James, the local Bakery Shop owner has caught the eye of a flirty Firefighter and I feel Reece, Mike old friend and Killian’s older brother, might find himself back in New Hope too.
Mike Archer a Police Lieutenant at New Hope Rhode Island has been single for a long time. Now 35 he wants what his friend Ford has found with Dr. Adams. Someone to love and have a future with here in New Hope, his hometown.
Foiling a break-in at his deceased neighbours house he comes face to face with Killian Gregory. Once Mike released the man from a death grip on the ground, both men recognised each other. Killian is the younger brother of Mike’s best friend Reece.
Killian has returned to New Hope to prepare his Aunt’s house for sale following her recent death. His aunt left the house to Reece, Killian and their sister Clarissa to sell and buy something special with the money from the sale.
Unbeknownst to Mike, Killian has had a crush on him since he was 14. Now that he’s temporarily living next door and meeting up occasionally, those feelings are surfacing again, big time.
However, Killian still feels vulnerable following the breakup with his long time boyfriend in New York. Plus the fact that Lieutenant Mike Archer is a straight man. Or is he, he’s been more than kind to Killian since he arrived, helped him find a new bed, cooked him dinner, taken him to local events.
Mike is confused as heck about his burgeoning feelings for Killian. When he speaks with his friend Ford and gets his advice he’s all ready to try and see where this relationship might take him.
But then, Killian may take off back to New York once he sells his aunt’s house. Oh, and he needs to speak to Reece about his feelings for his little brother. Should he also talk to his parents and siblings about his recent discovery about himself.
Mike is Hopeful he can keep what he’s just found.
This was a short, sweet, angst free small town RomCom. A series set in New Hope, Rhode Island. Characters from Book 1 feature here too and I feel that there may be one or two more stories arising in New Hope in the future. Wren St James, the local Bakery Shop owner has caught the eye of a flirty Firefighter and I feel Reece, Mike old friend and Killian’s older brother, might find himself back in New Hope too.
April 22, 2023
I love a good sickly sweet story sometimes.
And this definitely foots the bill. It was super sweet, and almost campy, like the best kind of nostalgia for Hallmark and Lifetime movies. It was VERY MUCH a romance novel. And thankfully, it carried that vibe all the way through and didn’t have any angst or turmoil needlessly thrown in to.. I don’t know… do stuff to the perfectly fine storyline? Whatever people add third act angst and crap to do. I’ve never understood the appeal if the story wasn’t like that to begin with.
My only thing was that the writing seemed almost clinical. Like it followed a very specific outline, and the words were there to regurgitate information to fit it. I definitely don’t remember feeling that way when I read the first book, and it’s not like a bad thing, but I guess it just stood out to me. Everything was perfectly concise and explained the right amount. Nothing was amiss. It just felt.. like a book and less like a story that came to life in my head. The movie in my head felt flat. The detail was there, but the presentation was lacking, I guess.
It didn’t make me not enjoy the story and the characters, though. The editing was pretty solid and though it felt short, it was all done in a way that made it feel completed and not forced into the page count. My only negatives are just my personal opinions, and aside from them, there’s nothing to complain about. It’s a great book. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for the next one to drop.
4.5/5.
And this definitely foots the bill. It was super sweet, and almost campy, like the best kind of nostalgia for Hallmark and Lifetime movies. It was VERY MUCH a romance novel. And thankfully, it carried that vibe all the way through and didn’t have any angst or turmoil needlessly thrown in to.. I don’t know… do stuff to the perfectly fine storyline? Whatever people add third act angst and crap to do. I’ve never understood the appeal if the story wasn’t like that to begin with.
My only thing was that the writing seemed almost clinical. Like it followed a very specific outline, and the words were there to regurgitate information to fit it. I definitely don’t remember feeling that way when I read the first book, and it’s not like a bad thing, but I guess it just stood out to me. Everything was perfectly concise and explained the right amount. Nothing was amiss. It just felt.. like a book and less like a story that came to life in my head. The movie in my head felt flat. The detail was there, but the presentation was lacking, I guess.
It didn’t make me not enjoy the story and the characters, though. The editing was pretty solid and though it felt short, it was all done in a way that made it feel completed and not forced into the page count. My only negatives are just my personal opinions, and aside from them, there’s nothing to complain about. It’s a great book. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for the next one to drop.
4.5/5.
December 4, 2025
DNF @ 23%
There was too much expo dumping about Aunt Shirley in the first couple of chapters. Unlike the previous book where the exposition was bearable because it was directly about the MCs, here it was not because of was just about a dead side character. Sure, she may have been the reason Killian was back, but we didn't need to hear about her entire personality, last years of life, etc. Just a simple, she was traveling a lot and rant around to take care of the house before she died, period.
DNFed when Mike asked himself the "Why am I so fascinated by Killian?" question. In addition to being one of my pet peeves because it's super lazy characterization, it also indicates instalove because they'd literally only hung out ONCE at that point. Mike asking himself why he felt like a king when he made Mike laugh and why he didn't react like he usually did in these situations are questions that the author should be answering with physical evidence. Given how little time they'd actually spent together, the only real answer is instalove and forced affection by the author (hence, lazy characterization).
If perhaps the story had been more interesting, I'd have stuck it out, but the combination of too many expo dumps, lack of real conflict, and the instalovey signs made me not want to continue.
1.5 stars
There was too much expo dumping about Aunt Shirley in the first couple of chapters. Unlike the previous book where the exposition was bearable because it was directly about the MCs, here it was not because of was just about a dead side character. Sure, she may have been the reason Killian was back, but we didn't need to hear about her entire personality, last years of life, etc. Just a simple, she was traveling a lot and rant around to take care of the house before she died, period.
DNFed when Mike asked himself the "Why am I so fascinated by Killian?" question. In addition to being one of my pet peeves because it's super lazy characterization, it also indicates instalove because they'd literally only hung out ONCE at that point. Mike asking himself why he felt like a king when he made Mike laugh and why he didn't react like he usually did in these situations are questions that the author should be answering with physical evidence. Given how little time they'd actually spent together, the only real answer is instalove and forced affection by the author (hence, lazy characterization).
If perhaps the story had been more interesting, I'd have stuck it out, but the combination of too many expo dumps, lack of real conflict, and the instalovey signs made me not want to continue.
1.5 stars
April 20, 2023
it’s fine, kinda boring
This story spends way too much time on details, like the opening scene is the MC coming home from work and taking care of his dog. Now maybe it’s because I am not a dog person but the ins and outs of pet care are not why I read a romance (tbh I feel like pets and small children don’t belong in romances AT ALL but maybe that’s just me). Anyway, the MC is supposed to have this bi-awakening and it all sort of happens off page. Like he has one conversation with his work buddy and then does some research off page and then is totally all in. Like that’s fine, but this story would have way more depth if the author had focused on some of the bigger emotional moments and less on closing out phone conversations.
This story spends way too much time on details, like the opening scene is the MC coming home from work and taking care of his dog. Now maybe it’s because I am not a dog person but the ins and outs of pet care are not why I read a romance (tbh I feel like pets and small children don’t belong in romances AT ALL but maybe that’s just me). Anyway, the MC is supposed to have this bi-awakening and it all sort of happens off page. Like he has one conversation with his work buddy and then does some research off page and then is totally all in. Like that’s fine, but this story would have way more depth if the author had focused on some of the bigger emotional moments and less on closing out phone conversations.
April 22, 2023
Love in New Hope
New Hope R.I. is a small town with wonderful people in it. Killian is back in New Hope to fix and sell his aunts house as per her wishes after she died, then it is back to New York.Only problem is he didn't get to the attorneys office in time to get the key. His next door neighbor is a police officer for New Hope. Well with this mix up things only get better! Mike and Killian's brother were friends threw high school. New love and figuring out you are not who you thought you were makes for the best reading and let us not forget we have fur friends too! So buckle up and get ready for a sometimes funny and a totally mushie love story from Rhode Island!!!
New Hope R.I. is a small town with wonderful people in it. Killian is back in New Hope to fix and sell his aunts house as per her wishes after she died, then it is back to New York.Only problem is he didn't get to the attorneys office in time to get the key. His next door neighbor is a police officer for New Hope. Well with this mix up things only get better! Mike and Killian's brother were friends threw high school. New love and figuring out you are not who you thought you were makes for the best reading and let us not forget we have fur friends too! So buckle up and get ready for a sometimes funny and a totally mushie love story from Rhode Island!!!
May 29, 2023
I just love her books, there is such a mixture of love, family, fun and happiness. It burns me to see other reviews that people give a low rating or complain due to the lack of or no angst or being too sweet. Ok maybe that's not your cup of tea, but then just don't leave a review. I happen to love the slow burn, people getting to know each other and not just jumping in the sack. The families, town, town folk and especially the kids bring so much to the story. I, for one, loved Mike and Killian's story. I loved that Mike didn't run away from his feelings and went for it, being so in love that he wasn't ashamed to tell Reece or his family. Sometimes, ya just need a feel good love story.
June 9, 2023
Slow Burn is not always great
If you are looking for a book that is easy, no drama, no angst, pure fluff - this is it. Sadly, that also means it’s a little boring because it has no excitement either. It’s repetitive and has a ton of (IMO) unnecessary details, so essentially word filler. Sure, it’s not insta-love but waiting until 60% for a kiss made the book drag on, especially with the lack of anything else happening.
I miss the sort of books she used to write, I mean Protecting the Soul is probably one of my favorite books by this author, though I do enjoy that series in general. I guess I want more, and I’m simply not finding it in her writing anymore.
If you are looking for a book that is easy, no drama, no angst, pure fluff - this is it. Sadly, that also means it’s a little boring because it has no excitement either. It’s repetitive and has a ton of (IMO) unnecessary details, so essentially word filler. Sure, it’s not insta-love but waiting until 60% for a kiss made the book drag on, especially with the lack of anything else happening.
I miss the sort of books she used to write, I mean Protecting the Soul is probably one of my favorite books by this author, though I do enjoy that series in general. I guess I want more, and I’m simply not finding it in her writing anymore.
April 22, 2023
Great read, I enjoyed it. A slow burn with Mike liking his best friends younger brother which Mike is confused about because he never crushed on a guy before. Eventually he comes forward to his feelings with Killian and he’s surprised and so happy because he crushed on Mike since he was fourteen years old, so it starts off slow then goes farther and eventually to love and some decisions, but all works out with a happy ending. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
June 14, 2023
Recommend
I really enjoy how this author writes and tells a story. You get sucked into their lives and cheer them on. She provides a rich environment of characters that you meet and you want stories for them all!! Can’t wait for the next book in this series, but also, what about Killian’s brother!
I really enjoy how this author writes and tells a story. You get sucked into their lives and cheer them on. She provides a rich environment of characters that you meet and you want stories for them all!! Can’t wait for the next book in this series, but also, what about Killian’s brother!
May 19, 2023
Loved it!!!
As always Annabella Michaels delivers when it comes to romance and love. I just love how she brings so much love to her characters and it gives me all the feels. I'm loving this series and cannot wait for next in the series. A must read!!!
As always Annabella Michaels delivers when it comes to romance and love. I just love how she brings so much love to her characters and it gives me all the feels. I'm loving this series and cannot wait for next in the series. A must read!!!
May 26, 2023
Cute.
Easy read and pretty predictable story. Moved along nicely. These two were adorable in regards of how they new each other when they were younger. Big brother best friend troupe. one who always thought he was straight the other has had a crush since he was a teen.
Easy read and pretty predictable story. Moved along nicely. These two were adorable in regards of how they new each other when they were younger. Big brother best friend troupe. one who always thought he was straight the other has had a crush since he was a teen.
April 20, 2023
So sweet
Such a sweet, romantic, sexy romance. I adore Annabella Michaels books. There's always family, love, and perfect happiness. This is a story that puts a smile on your face.
Such a sweet, romantic, sexy romance. I adore Annabella Michaels books. There's always family, love, and perfect happiness. This is a story that puts a smile on your face.
April 21, 2023
Mike and Killian
I like the books by Annabella Michaels with a tad more drama but this is a cute book with really no angst and no drama.
I like the books by Annabella Michaels with a tad more drama but this is a cute book with really no angst and no drama.
April 25, 2023
Another great book
June 1, 2023
This one was a bit of a skim through in alot of sections. Bit on the boring side in places with some parts of the storyline moving so quickly.
May 4, 2025
like the first one, it's a nice & sweet romance story. nothing more, nothing less... and sometimes that's just enough 😃
May 18, 2023
This is the second book and wow it was a great read. The storyline was very cute and had low angst and I just enjoyed reading about the love in this small town.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews