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Texas Hearts #1
A Certain Hope
When tragedy loomed near, April Maxwell left life in a big city and came home to tend to her father. Her faith and belief in happy endings all but destroyed, April threw herself into working her father's ranch. But as she struggled with this new life, she found herself headlong in a romantic attachment she never thought possible.
Rancher Reed Garrison resented April's leaving Texas so long ago, but he loved her still. Now Reed wanted her to succeed, to recapture her joy and love of God. He hoped the tender feelings between them would grow—and that this time, April would be willing to put down roots...with him.
Rancher Reed Garrison resented April's leaving Texas so long ago, but he loved her still. Now Reed wanted her to succeed, to recapture her joy and love of God. He hoped the tender feelings between them would grow—and that this time, April would be willing to put down roots...with him.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Lenora Worth
277 books380 followersLenora Worth has written 75 books for three different publishers. She reached a milestone when she received her 50th book pin from Harlequin. Her books have won both regional and national awards and she now has millions of books in print and is a NY Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Currently she is writing both Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense and Tule Publishing. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Lenora has two grown children and lives in Florida.
Pen name: Lenora Nazworth
Pen name: Lenora Nazworth
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 11, 2025
I thought the plot of this novel was should have been finished after Reed and April identified the vandals trying to enter her house. Instead, the plot continued with April vacillating about marrying Reed and then with the introduction of a man from her past. I became impatient with the author's insistence on stretching the plot out more than she needed to.
February 22, 2013
This charming romance is set in Paris, Texas, a small town with a lot of people who have very big hearts. April Maxwell, now a marketing manager with a designer firm in New York City, returns to her sprawling ranch home to care for her dying father. Her childhood friend, Reed Garrison, welcomes her but wonders if she's inclined to settle here or return to the big city. April shares a loft apartment with her amusingly named cousins, Summer and Autumn.
Part of the novel's charm is Reed and April reconnecting and seeing how different their lives are, yet how similar they both are. Along the way, they have a romantic dinner at the ranch, deal with teenage vandals, and argue repeatedly. However, the ending is worth it; it's set in New York City and is very sweet, if a little derivative. A good read for a rainy (or sunny) day.
Part of the novel's charm is Reed and April reconnecting and seeing how different their lives are, yet how similar they both are. Along the way, they have a romantic dinner at the ranch, deal with teenage vandals, and argue repeatedly. However, the ending is worth it; it's set in New York City and is very sweet, if a little derivative. A good read for a rainy (or sunny) day.
August 2, 2017
This book was an enjoyable quick read.
February 2, 2022
Three cousins: April (spring), Summer, and Autumn. Where's Wynter? We don't know. And why April, not May or Vera (short for Primavera - which is 'spring' in several languages)? I don't know that, either. I just know that April does *NOT* suit this suave, gorgeous, high-profile NYC designer. And yet here we are, book #1 in a 3 book series about women named after seasons... but not.
Reed is definitely a cowboy name, though. And he was the good ol' boy next door (also football quarterback to her cheerleader, which for me is instant dislike of BOTH of them). He wanted her to be his home-n-hearth honey, and she couldn't do it - her mom had died and her dad fell apart and started drinking, and there was so much grief, she had to escape, so since she was rich with daddy's Texas oil money, she went off to be big city... leaving Reed to pine for years and years. Which... he wouldn't. He's a home-n-hearth kinda guy, recall. Those type don't pine. But the author needed him to, so that he'd be there when April comes home to watch her daddy die.
This book is 80% grief/death/dying/misery, 10% "I still luvv you, BUT"... and 10% whodunnit (with no suspense - you know from moment one who the perp is). But it's the slog of dying, crying, failing, sadness, woe, regrets, pain, weakening... page after page that really makes this book less than enjoyable to the reader. If you're looking for a happy, sweet story? This *AIN'T* it. It never lightens up. It never manages to tug heartstrings and make us sigh with the sweetness of it.
If you've ever watched 'Sabrina' (Harrison Ford, Juliette Binoche), you'll understand that this is a sort of reversal of that, complete with pining youth up a tree, watching the parties, girl going away to the big city to be fashionista... even the short curly dark hair and aging father who's all is the daughter he has left, as a widower. I had a hard time not seeing the characters from the movie... and that's NOT an enjoyable movie.
It's not a BAD book. But it's not something I'm keeping on my shelves.
Reed is definitely a cowboy name, though. And he was the good ol' boy next door (also football quarterback to her cheerleader, which for me is instant dislike of BOTH of them). He wanted her to be his home-n-hearth honey, and she couldn't do it - her mom had died and her dad fell apart and started drinking, and there was so much grief, she had to escape, so since she was rich with daddy's Texas oil money, she went off to be big city... leaving Reed to pine for years and years. Which... he wouldn't. He's a home-n-hearth kinda guy, recall. Those type don't pine. But the author needed him to, so that he'd be there when April comes home to watch her daddy die.
This book is 80% grief/death/dying/misery, 10% "I still luvv you, BUT"... and 10% whodunnit (with no suspense - you know from moment one who the perp is). But it's the slog of dying, crying, failing, sadness, woe, regrets, pain, weakening... page after page that really makes this book less than enjoyable to the reader. If you're looking for a happy, sweet story? This *AIN'T* it. It never lightens up. It never manages to tug heartstrings and make us sigh with the sweetness of it.
If you've ever watched 'Sabrina' (Harrison Ford, Juliette Binoche), you'll understand that this is a sort of reversal of that, complete with pining youth up a tree, watching the parties, girl going away to the big city to be fashionista... even the short curly dark hair and aging father who's all is the daughter he has left, as a widower. I had a hard time not seeing the characters from the movie... and that's NOT an enjoyable movie.
It's not a BAD book. But it's not something I'm keeping on my shelves.
April 3, 2018
Wonderful storyline with a range of emotions, but a HEA ending. First of three books in this series. Can’t wait to start the second one!
January 21, 2019
A Certain Hope by Lenora Worth is a Christian Romance. It’s the classic love story where the rich girl falls for the ranch hand. This is a story about having faith; faith in relationships, faith in love, and faith in God.
Our dual protagonists, April Maxwell, the heir to a prosperous ranch and oil holdings in Texas, and Reed Garrison, the faithful ranch hand/manager of the ranch, each would like just one more chance. This is universal. At times, wouldn’t we all like to have just one more chance at love or having a meaningful relationship with our parents?
April’s father Stuart Maxwell is dying. Letting go at the end of life for parent and child is difficult, and Worth handles the premise well. Because April sees how deeply her parents loved each other and how deeply her father feels the loss of her mother, April’s afraid to trust loving Reed. Because Reed wants her so badly, he tries to shelter her much more than her father did.
As in every good story, Worth shows the inner struggle in both characters. She gives the details, shows the growth and understanding so the reader can watch it unfold. A Certain Hope by Lenora Worth is a good read.
Our dual protagonists, April Maxwell, the heir to a prosperous ranch and oil holdings in Texas, and Reed Garrison, the faithful ranch hand/manager of the ranch, each would like just one more chance. This is universal. At times, wouldn’t we all like to have just one more chance at love or having a meaningful relationship with our parents?
April’s father Stuart Maxwell is dying. Letting go at the end of life for parent and child is difficult, and Worth handles the premise well. Because April sees how deeply her parents loved each other and how deeply her father feels the loss of her mother, April’s afraid to trust loving Reed. Because Reed wants her so badly, he tries to shelter her much more than her father did.
As in every good story, Worth shows the inner struggle in both characters. She gives the details, shows the growth and understanding so the reader can watch it unfold. A Certain Hope by Lenora Worth is a good read.
September 23, 2021
#1 of a 3 book series. Awesome.
November 10, 2011
This is a cute, clean, positive romantic story about a city girl who comes home to tend to her sick father, and the country boy that is there waiting for her. I want to say it isn't as clever as one of her other novels, "Lacy's Retreat," but I was also a lot younger when I read that one and don't know if I'd like it as much now. If you enjoy the Love-Inspired series, you'll probably enjoy this book. Not terribly deep or challenging, but something to pass the time with.
September 11, 2014
LI--sweet love story but nothing spectacular.
July 11, 2018
This is about a young lady named April Maxwell who goes to New York with her two cousins to live
her own life. But then her father gets really sick----and she has to go back home to Texas to care for him. And then there's her old flame Reece Garrison----whom she has to deal with, as well. But other things begin to happen after April arrives back at the ranch...
her own life. But then her father gets really sick----and she has to go back home to Texas to care for him. And then there's her old flame Reece Garrison----whom she has to deal with, as well. But other things begin to happen after April arrives back at the ranch...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews