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Endless Love #2
Return to Love
Sweet Romance... Fresh off their whirlwind nuptials and unexpected, but joyous pregnancy, April and Hale Abercrombie are gleeful about their life together. But, while Hale is serving his country in Vietnam, he receives news of the loss of their newborn daughter. Back home on leave, Hale can barely wait to hold his wife. Their reunion is passionate and their physical connection, strong and soothing. His embrace, his touch, and his love are just as perfect as April remembered. But nothing, not even Hale, can ease April's heartache. Hale stumbles through his attempts at convincing her that their future will be rich and full of wonder despite their loss. His good-hearted, but take-charge approach causes her to retreat. Even in grief, April recognizes Hale's earnestness, yet she can't help but distance herself from him. With only a short time before Hale must return to war, the couple begins to understand that hope starts with them-that the bliss they once knew will return only if they are willing to trust again. Set on the beaches of the Outer Banks, Return to Love is the second book in the Endless Love series. Book one, Home Again, was named a finalist in the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
- GenresFiction
262 pages, Paperback
Published May 29, 2014
6 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Shoop
50 books1,128 followersBestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 15, 2014
Return to Love by Kathleen Shoop is a 2014 is a 2014 Create Space publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book picks up a little while after “ Home Again” the novella which is the lead in to this novel. Hale is home on leave from his tour of duty in Vietnam and trying to reunite with and help his grieving wife, April.
Hale and April married quickly once they had worked through a very thorny issue between them. But, it wasn't as if they were strangers to each other. They had been friends for many years before their romance blossomed. But, while Hale was away, April discovered she was pregnant. Sadly, all the excitement and joy was doused when she lost the child. She was alone and had to deal with things without Hale. Now, the two of them will have a long road to travel “ Back to Love”.
The grieving process for April is difficult reading. Your heart will break as we go through the process with her. She goes through guilt, blaming herself, and anger. The advice of doctors in the time period will have you wanting to hit something. So, once Hale returns, April tries not to burden him with her pain.
However, Hale had every intention of helping April cope. Hale goes to his mother for some understanding on what has happened and she gives his some sound and sage advice. But, Hale will discover that the situation is much more complicated than he realizes.
This is an emotional story from start to finish and you will find yourself reaching for a box of tissues more than once. A wonderful and kind nurse will give Hale the much needed help he needs to understand what his wife suffered through and how he can help her get her life back on track.
The time period is very significant to this story. In the late 1960's and early 70's issues such as this were often swept under a rug and dismissed. April was expected to simply pick up her life as though nothing had ever happened and console herself with the knowledge that she will have many more children and all will be well. The closure a woman would need in order to go through the normal grieving process was stripped away from April and she was left with intense guilt and anger. Men were also left out of the loop in these situations, often unsure of what to do in order to help their wives deal with the loss. Hale was very tenacious and got involved in order to discover what had happened with the birth. If he had not done so, the agony April was dealing with may not have ever gone away entirely. Hale of course is dealing with his own brand of horror by having to be in Vietnam and is not immune to the effects of the war. However, he has limited time to deal with that because he must get April well before he has to return. But, Hale's discovery of what happened with the baby will give him the jolt he needs to deal with his own grief in the loss of his child. Up until then I don't know if it had really hit him yet, since his focus had been more on April.
Today, we would have doctors who are much more understanding and husbands are so much more involved in the pregnancy and childbirth experience than they were back then. Thank goodness! April would have gotten help and would have been counseled and the proper steps would have been taken concerning the child's death.
I must admit that I found myself feeling some of April's anger and understanding her trauma. It would be natural to feel the same grief one would when a loved one passes away, even though the child was stillborn. That she blamed herself was another issue. Anyone who has gone through such an experience will tell you that no matter what , the question is in the back of your mind, even if you know logically it wasn't your fault.
This is still a shining example of true love and it's healing power. So, even though the story is very raw and emotional, it is also a story that will melt your heart. Hale was determined to keep his marriage strong and he loved his wife enough to get involved. This is a great couple and I am thrilled we will hear about them again someday as well as a little more about the special nurse that took the time to help them in this story. This one is a 5 star rating.
This book picks up a little while after “ Home Again” the novella which is the lead in to this novel. Hale is home on leave from his tour of duty in Vietnam and trying to reunite with and help his grieving wife, April.
Hale and April married quickly once they had worked through a very thorny issue between them. But, it wasn't as if they were strangers to each other. They had been friends for many years before their romance blossomed. But, while Hale was away, April discovered she was pregnant. Sadly, all the excitement and joy was doused when she lost the child. She was alone and had to deal with things without Hale. Now, the two of them will have a long road to travel “ Back to Love”.
The grieving process for April is difficult reading. Your heart will break as we go through the process with her. She goes through guilt, blaming herself, and anger. The advice of doctors in the time period will have you wanting to hit something. So, once Hale returns, April tries not to burden him with her pain.
However, Hale had every intention of helping April cope. Hale goes to his mother for some understanding on what has happened and she gives his some sound and sage advice. But, Hale will discover that the situation is much more complicated than he realizes.
This is an emotional story from start to finish and you will find yourself reaching for a box of tissues more than once. A wonderful and kind nurse will give Hale the much needed help he needs to understand what his wife suffered through and how he can help her get her life back on track.
The time period is very significant to this story. In the late 1960's and early 70's issues such as this were often swept under a rug and dismissed. April was expected to simply pick up her life as though nothing had ever happened and console herself with the knowledge that she will have many more children and all will be well. The closure a woman would need in order to go through the normal grieving process was stripped away from April and she was left with intense guilt and anger. Men were also left out of the loop in these situations, often unsure of what to do in order to help their wives deal with the loss. Hale was very tenacious and got involved in order to discover what had happened with the birth. If he had not done so, the agony April was dealing with may not have ever gone away entirely. Hale of course is dealing with his own brand of horror by having to be in Vietnam and is not immune to the effects of the war. However, he has limited time to deal with that because he must get April well before he has to return. But, Hale's discovery of what happened with the baby will give him the jolt he needs to deal with his own grief in the loss of his child. Up until then I don't know if it had really hit him yet, since his focus had been more on April.
Today, we would have doctors who are much more understanding and husbands are so much more involved in the pregnancy and childbirth experience than they were back then. Thank goodness! April would have gotten help and would have been counseled and the proper steps would have been taken concerning the child's death.
I must admit that I found myself feeling some of April's anger and understanding her trauma. It would be natural to feel the same grief one would when a loved one passes away, even though the child was stillborn. That she blamed herself was another issue. Anyone who has gone through such an experience will tell you that no matter what , the question is in the back of your mind, even if you know logically it wasn't your fault.
This is still a shining example of true love and it's healing power. So, even though the story is very raw and emotional, it is also a story that will melt your heart. Hale was determined to keep his marriage strong and he loved his wife enough to get involved. This is a great couple and I am thrilled we will hear about them again someday as well as a little more about the special nurse that took the time to help them in this story. This one is a 5 star rating.
July 24, 2023
Grief & How to Heal
It's sad, it's happy, it's poignant. Losing a loved one is hard, but to lose a child is the hardest. Love in all forms, friendship, spousal, familial, may not cure the hurt but it definitely doesn't hurt either.
It's sad, it's happy, it's poignant. Losing a loved one is hard, but to lose a child is the hardest. Love in all forms, friendship, spousal, familial, may not cure the hurt but it definitely doesn't hurt either.
June 15, 2023
Only read it because I bought it before reading the first. A different story line but still not a favorite.
September 3, 2014
“The Road to Serenity and Happiness is Sometimes a Rocky One”
When we last left April Harrington and Hale Abercrombie, (“Home Again-An Endless Love Novella”) they had re-kindled a love that had been within them for what seemed like forever. After a whirlwind courtship that should have happened ages ago, they marry, knowing that Hale must go back into combat in Vietnam. They kept an optimistic outlook , even though they knew in their hearts what could happen that would separate them permanently. Imagine the joy they shared when, while on a call from the Philippines, April gives Hale the glorious news that they are going to be parents!
Hale worried about April going through the pregnancy by herself—but, he also knew she was one strong lady. When complications arise and form a dark, sad cloud over the much-anticipated arrival, April’s world crumbles. Her withdrawal from the life she loved prompted Hale’s Mother to contact his commanding officer with a plea to send her son home, April’s grip on reality was slipping—and fast, with anger and sadness filling her entire being. She had lost her beloved Brother, Andrew in the war— her noteworthy career in photography placed on a shelf, and now their baby—would she lose Hale as well? Hale was granted a four week leave. Would April be okay when he arrived? With her decision to stay at a fishing cottage at Kill Devil Hills, Hale got a subtle hint that things were not well—especially when, according to his Mother, April flatly refused to stay in her special sanctuary, “Bliss” on Albemarle Sound. There are so many unanswered questions—so much fear and sadness compounded by secrecy, with no closure in sight. What will bring her back to the April everyone knew? A grief midwife? If she can’t communicate with family, how would she unburden herself to a stranger? Even one who is qualified in such matters? Perhaps the kindness of friends would begin to tunnel into the darkness that plagues her. Kindly Roy Laird, owner of Laird’s Market and Hardware keeps a wary eye out for her safety, but it is Martha Shelby’s down home wisdom that helps to work some much-needed magic. Her figuring that “The way to heal a heart is to keep the hands busy” gets April going in the right direction. What could be on that mysterious list? Will it be enough to penetrate the granite wall of grief? A frustrated Hale tries to reach her inner turmoil with tenderness and the passion he had longed for while in Vietnam, but to no avail. The demons of depression, guilt, and the overwhelming fear of losing Hale had sunk their gnarled teeth into April’s soul—and it seemed that a miracle was the only answer. Perhaps that miracle would appear in white orthopedic shoes? Or maybe in the body of an 11 yr. old named Clementine? The Author has invited the reader to join April and Hale on a heart-wrenching and often heart-breaking journey that will keep you on a roller-coaster ride and touch you to your core. If you can read the excerpt, “This Little Piggy” without crying, you’re a lot tougher than me. Ms. Shoop has graciously included luscious recipes which are mentioned in the story, including Mother Abercrombie’s Banana Oat Muffins, Clementine’s Chocolate Pecan Pie and Martha’s Broiled Oysters with Sun-dried Tomatoes. I’m looking forward to Book three in the “Endless Love” series and the continuing story of April and Hale, as well as a Novella featuring Nurse Peters, and I bet you will be also. Make room on your bookshelf for this “Growing Family” you shouldn’t miss and won’t forget.
Nancy Narma
When we last left April Harrington and Hale Abercrombie, (“Home Again-An Endless Love Novella”) they had re-kindled a love that had been within them for what seemed like forever. After a whirlwind courtship that should have happened ages ago, they marry, knowing that Hale must go back into combat in Vietnam. They kept an optimistic outlook , even though they knew in their hearts what could happen that would separate them permanently. Imagine the joy they shared when, while on a call from the Philippines, April gives Hale the glorious news that they are going to be parents!
Hale worried about April going through the pregnancy by herself—but, he also knew she was one strong lady. When complications arise and form a dark, sad cloud over the much-anticipated arrival, April’s world crumbles. Her withdrawal from the life she loved prompted Hale’s Mother to contact his commanding officer with a plea to send her son home, April’s grip on reality was slipping—and fast, with anger and sadness filling her entire being. She had lost her beloved Brother, Andrew in the war— her noteworthy career in photography placed on a shelf, and now their baby—would she lose Hale as well? Hale was granted a four week leave. Would April be okay when he arrived? With her decision to stay at a fishing cottage at Kill Devil Hills, Hale got a subtle hint that things were not well—especially when, according to his Mother, April flatly refused to stay in her special sanctuary, “Bliss” on Albemarle Sound. There are so many unanswered questions—so much fear and sadness compounded by secrecy, with no closure in sight. What will bring her back to the April everyone knew? A grief midwife? If she can’t communicate with family, how would she unburden herself to a stranger? Even one who is qualified in such matters? Perhaps the kindness of friends would begin to tunnel into the darkness that plagues her. Kindly Roy Laird, owner of Laird’s Market and Hardware keeps a wary eye out for her safety, but it is Martha Shelby’s down home wisdom that helps to work some much-needed magic. Her figuring that “The way to heal a heart is to keep the hands busy” gets April going in the right direction. What could be on that mysterious list? Will it be enough to penetrate the granite wall of grief? A frustrated Hale tries to reach her inner turmoil with tenderness and the passion he had longed for while in Vietnam, but to no avail. The demons of depression, guilt, and the overwhelming fear of losing Hale had sunk their gnarled teeth into April’s soul—and it seemed that a miracle was the only answer. Perhaps that miracle would appear in white orthopedic shoes? Or maybe in the body of an 11 yr. old named Clementine? The Author has invited the reader to join April and Hale on a heart-wrenching and often heart-breaking journey that will keep you on a roller-coaster ride and touch you to your core. If you can read the excerpt, “This Little Piggy” without crying, you’re a lot tougher than me. Ms. Shoop has graciously included luscious recipes which are mentioned in the story, including Mother Abercrombie’s Banana Oat Muffins, Clementine’s Chocolate Pecan Pie and Martha’s Broiled Oysters with Sun-dried Tomatoes. I’m looking forward to Book three in the “Endless Love” series and the continuing story of April and Hale, as well as a Novella featuring Nurse Peters, and I bet you will be also. Make room on your bookshelf for this “Growing Family” you shouldn’t miss and won’t forget.
Nancy Narma
July 27, 2014
Return to Love is the second book in the Endless Love series. It follows the (very) short novella Home Again, but could stand alone if needed, since pretty much everything you need to know from book one is mentioned at least in passing here.
That said, Home Again is only seven chapters and eighty-five pages long--I read it during a trip and a half to the beach. It will definitely give you a deeper understanding of April and Hale's relationship, so I do recommend reading it--even reading it after this one if you need to would be fine.
Return to Love (and Home Again, for that matter) have so much more depth than the cover would lead you to believe. Looking at the happy-couple-on-the-beach fronts, you might be tempted to dismiss them as just another fluffy summer beach read. They're definitely more, though.
Home Again tells the story of how April and Hale, friends since childhood who now share a more recent tragedy, find each other again as adults and help each other to heal from recent events.
Return to Love takes place a bit more than a year later. The two, married for the space of time between the books, are once again facing a devastating loss--that of their baby daughter, a stillborn birth. Hale was on active duty in Vietnam when the tragedy happened, but now he's on leave to try and help April come to terms with what has happened. His mother has told him that things aren't going well for his wife, but he's sure that four weeks together will help his already strong wife to recover.
Or will it?
This novel was heartbreaking--some of it in good ways, other parts not so good. The picture it paints of how stillborn births--and the mothers who were left to pick up the pieces of their lives after suffering through one--were treated by the medical profession is absolutely horrifying. I am so glad that things have changed and that people now realize that any death is still a death and must be grieved. Everyone had their own path to healing, sure, but to not even acknowledge that a woman who has lost her child at birth needs to grieve that loss? Unreal. I wanted to throttle April's doctors and nurses. (Well, most of them. I won't say more than that.) My heart bled for her and for Hale--both of them wanting to help themselves and each other but neither of them knowing exactly what to do or how to do it.
Watching April pick up the pieces of her life, forming new relationships and strengthening old ones, is what made this such a powerful read. I spent the last five chapters or so either sniffling, tearing up, or out-and-out crying--but it was the good kind of crying. Kathleen Shoop did an amazing job of showing how one couple, at least, can help each other through a loss and come out stronger on the other side, as well as how important our relationships (all relationships, not just romantic) with other people can be in times of stress.
So book two leaves us in a much better place than it began in--except that Hale still has at least one more year of active duty ahead of him in Vietnam. What new hardships will the two face when (if) he comes back? We'll have to wait for book three to find out. I'll be first in line!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
That said, Home Again is only seven chapters and eighty-five pages long--I read it during a trip and a half to the beach. It will definitely give you a deeper understanding of April and Hale's relationship, so I do recommend reading it--even reading it after this one if you need to would be fine.
Return to Love (and Home Again, for that matter) have so much more depth than the cover would lead you to believe. Looking at the happy-couple-on-the-beach fronts, you might be tempted to dismiss them as just another fluffy summer beach read. They're definitely more, though.
Home Again tells the story of how April and Hale, friends since childhood who now share a more recent tragedy, find each other again as adults and help each other to heal from recent events.
Return to Love takes place a bit more than a year later. The two, married for the space of time between the books, are once again facing a devastating loss--that of their baby daughter, a stillborn birth. Hale was on active duty in Vietnam when the tragedy happened, but now he's on leave to try and help April come to terms with what has happened. His mother has told him that things aren't going well for his wife, but he's sure that four weeks together will help his already strong wife to recover.
Or will it?
This novel was heartbreaking--some of it in good ways, other parts not so good. The picture it paints of how stillborn births--and the mothers who were left to pick up the pieces of their lives after suffering through one--were treated by the medical profession is absolutely horrifying. I am so glad that things have changed and that people now realize that any death is still a death and must be grieved. Everyone had their own path to healing, sure, but to not even acknowledge that a woman who has lost her child at birth needs to grieve that loss? Unreal. I wanted to throttle April's doctors and nurses. (Well, most of them. I won't say more than that.) My heart bled for her and for Hale--both of them wanting to help themselves and each other but neither of them knowing exactly what to do or how to do it.
Watching April pick up the pieces of her life, forming new relationships and strengthening old ones, is what made this such a powerful read. I spent the last five chapters or so either sniffling, tearing up, or out-and-out crying--but it was the good kind of crying. Kathleen Shoop did an amazing job of showing how one couple, at least, can help each other through a loss and come out stronger on the other side, as well as how important our relationships (all relationships, not just romantic) with other people can be in times of stress.
So book two leaves us in a much better place than it began in--except that Hale still has at least one more year of active duty ahead of him in Vietnam. What new hardships will the two face when (if) he comes back? We'll have to wait for book three to find out. I'll be first in line!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2014
In the first book of The Endless Love Series, Home Again, author Kathleen Shoop introduced the readers to April and Hale Abercrombie's journey towards true love. Their journey continues a year later in the second book in the series, Return To Love, where they have gotten married and are expecting their first child. But a heartbreaking tragedy occurs while Hale is serving in Vietnam, April had delivered a stillborn daughter. Hale comes home on a temporary leave, and as the couple grieves the loss of their newborn daughter, April struggles with the loss in an unbearable way that has her both needing Hale and pushing him away. Return To Love is an emotional and poignant story of how a couple struggles to face the hardship of a traumatic loss, and have the strength to find a way back to each other in order to heal, love, and move forward.
Set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina during the Vietnam War period of the early 1970s, author Kathleen Shoop weaves a hauntingly beautiful tale of love and loss that follows the journey of a young couple who struggle with life's daunting hardships: a husband serving overseas in Vietnam, a pregnancy that ends in a stillborn birth, their struggle to deal with the grief from their traumatic loss, and their attempt to save their fragile marriage and move forward without losing each other.
Return To Love is an amazing love story that will pull at the heartstrings and stir the soul. The reader can't help but feel compassion and empathy for the young couple as they deal with the loss of their newborn child, and their struggle to help each other heal in order to save their fragile marriage. The author delves into the subject of loss, war, and marital relationships in a thoughtful and respectful style that makes the reader want to lend support and wrap their arms around April and Hale. It is a raw and tender story that will have the reader experiencing the full gamut of emotions, from heartbreak to the heartwarming belief that the strength and power of love really can overcome anything.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina during the Vietnam War period of the early 1970s, author Kathleen Shoop weaves a hauntingly beautiful tale of love and loss that follows the journey of a young couple who struggle with life's daunting hardships: a husband serving overseas in Vietnam, a pregnancy that ends in a stillborn birth, their struggle to deal with the grief from their traumatic loss, and their attempt to save their fragile marriage and move forward without losing each other.
Return To Love is an amazing love story that will pull at the heartstrings and stir the soul. The reader can't help but feel compassion and empathy for the young couple as they deal with the loss of their newborn child, and their struggle to help each other heal in order to save their fragile marriage. The author delves into the subject of loss, war, and marital relationships in a thoughtful and respectful style that makes the reader want to lend support and wrap their arms around April and Hale. It is a raw and tender story that will have the reader experiencing the full gamut of emotions, from heartbreak to the heartwarming belief that the strength and power of love really can overcome anything.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
August 7, 2014
Return to Love by Kathleen Shoop is a powerful novel. Return to Love is the second book in a trilogy titled Endless Love. I felt fine starting with the second novel. It can stand alone. Immediately April, Hale,
Clementine and Martha became three dimensional characters. I felt as though they were neighbors in my community. The novel is about a couple who have a first child. However, that child is stillborn. Outside of the womb, the heart and lungs never reacted to stimuli. On arrival, the baby is dead. The novel is about April and Hale's pathway through grief. Sadly, April gives birth without Hale. He is on the battlefront in Vietnam. So he wasn't beside her during the birth of the baby.
It is interesting the way Kathleen Shoop has chosen to tell this couple's story. Facts about the birth of the baby and what happened to April are told little by little. Then, there are more unknowns uncovered by Hale when he visits the doctor and nurse who helped deliver the baby. This much wanted baby even though it didn't survive makes a gigantic change in the way two people deal with their future. For this reason, I know the baby didn't die in vain.
I felt happy that April and Hale didn't follow some of the advice they heard from people working in the medical world or friends in the armed forces. For example, sweep it under the rug, go on with your life, think of the kids you will have in the future. Mourning, grieving is a personal milestone. There isn't a thirty day or ninety day plan titled This Is How Long to Grieve and This Is What You Should Do While Grieving. Return To Love is written wonderfully as a novel. It is a practical guide for emotional pain. In this instance, it's about the loss of a baby. However, I could have brought any of my painful situations to the novel and discovered help. It is a thought provoking novel about grief, friendship, marriage and mental stability. I am grateful to Kathleen Shoop for writing such an earthy and significant novel.
Clementine and Martha became three dimensional characters. I felt as though they were neighbors in my community. The novel is about a couple who have a first child. However, that child is stillborn. Outside of the womb, the heart and lungs never reacted to stimuli. On arrival, the baby is dead. The novel is about April and Hale's pathway through grief. Sadly, April gives birth without Hale. He is on the battlefront in Vietnam. So he wasn't beside her during the birth of the baby.
It is interesting the way Kathleen Shoop has chosen to tell this couple's story. Facts about the birth of the baby and what happened to April are told little by little. Then, there are more unknowns uncovered by Hale when he visits the doctor and nurse who helped deliver the baby. This much wanted baby even though it didn't survive makes a gigantic change in the way two people deal with their future. For this reason, I know the baby didn't die in vain.
I felt happy that April and Hale didn't follow some of the advice they heard from people working in the medical world or friends in the armed forces. For example, sweep it under the rug, go on with your life, think of the kids you will have in the future. Mourning, grieving is a personal milestone. There isn't a thirty day or ninety day plan titled This Is How Long to Grieve and This Is What You Should Do While Grieving. Return To Love is written wonderfully as a novel. It is a practical guide for emotional pain. In this instance, it's about the loss of a baby. However, I could have brought any of my painful situations to the novel and discovered help. It is a thought provoking novel about grief, friendship, marriage and mental stability. I am grateful to Kathleen Shoop for writing such an earthy and significant novel.
September 3, 2014
Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time!
Disclosure: I receved a complimentary copy of Return To Love by Kathleen Shoop as a member of Beck Valley Book Tours. All opinions are strictly my own.
Return To Love (Book 2- The Endless Love Series) by Kathleen Shoop is such a sweet romance novel. I loved the first short novella, Home Again and book 2 doesn't disappoint either. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time!
In this book, April and Hale deal with the loss of their unborn baby. While I have not experienced stillbirth, I have experienced miscarriage 6 times. So I was really drawn in to April's side of the story and seeing how she tried to cope with the loss of her baby. It really hit home with me and brought back a LOT of emotions. It is gut wrenching to read about the loss of a baby and to see the parents go through the awful grief associated with it.
I think that Kathleen Shoop did a wonderful job of writing what both April and Hale would be going through with, not only, the loss of their baby but his feelings post Vietnam. Both events are difficult to bear and both characters would deal with things differently. I love how it shows April wanting to release her burden and cling to Hale but being unable to due to grief.
We get to see how a military man might be expected to deal with the loss of an unborn child during the 50's, 60's and 70's. Medical intervention and recommendations were MUCH different during those decades and we get a little glimpse into that. I'm SO GLAD things are different now! I'm also glad that April and Hale aren't your "traditional" couple during that time period.
While the novella, Home Again, sets the stage for April and Hale's romance, I do think that you could read Return To Love as a stand alone book. Be warned, this story WILL tear at your heartstrings!
Disclosure: I receved a complimentary copy of Return To Love by Kathleen Shoop as a member of Beck Valley Book Tours. All opinions are strictly my own.
Return To Love (Book 2- The Endless Love Series) by Kathleen Shoop is such a sweet romance novel. I loved the first short novella, Home Again and book 2 doesn't disappoint either. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time!
In this book, April and Hale deal with the loss of their unborn baby. While I have not experienced stillbirth, I have experienced miscarriage 6 times. So I was really drawn in to April's side of the story and seeing how she tried to cope with the loss of her baby. It really hit home with me and brought back a LOT of emotions. It is gut wrenching to read about the loss of a baby and to see the parents go through the awful grief associated with it.
I think that Kathleen Shoop did a wonderful job of writing what both April and Hale would be going through with, not only, the loss of their baby but his feelings post Vietnam. Both events are difficult to bear and both characters would deal with things differently. I love how it shows April wanting to release her burden and cling to Hale but being unable to due to grief.
We get to see how a military man might be expected to deal with the loss of an unborn child during the 50's, 60's and 70's. Medical intervention and recommendations were MUCH different during those decades and we get a little glimpse into that. I'm SO GLAD things are different now! I'm also glad that April and Hale aren't your "traditional" couple during that time period.
While the novella, Home Again, sets the stage for April and Hale's romance, I do think that you could read Return To Love as a stand alone book. Be warned, this story WILL tear at your heartstrings!
August 6, 2014
I had previously read and reviewed the novella Home Again ( read my review here ) that introduced this series. This is a continuation of that story and is every bit as good as the first. It can be read as a stand alone with no problem. Actually if you haven't read a Kathleen Shoop Novel yet I really suggest you do--she is definitely one of the better writers around.
Book 2 in this series deals with an issue that is usually not spoken about. It deals with the issues, both mental and physical, that mother's of stillborn infants go through. Thankfully the medical profession no longer deals with it the way they did back then. There are sections which will make you laugh, parts that will make you want to cry and for those of us old enough to remember gratefulness that this is no longer the way this is handled.
This is a note from the author at the end of the book
"Mothers heal from birth traumas at different rates and in different ways. This is especially evident when faced with giving birth to a baby who is stillborn. In more recent years, women have been encouraged to engage in rituals that mark the baby’s short life, to fully experience the grief associated with the loss. But this was not always the case. April’s story is very different from what women experience today, but was common for women at the time. Progress is good!"
Now I have to patiently(?) wait until book 3 in this series is released. I can't wait to find out what happens next! 5 Star for sure!
Return to Love
Book 2 in this series deals with an issue that is usually not spoken about. It deals with the issues, both mental and physical, that mother's of stillborn infants go through. Thankfully the medical profession no longer deals with it the way they did back then. There are sections which will make you laugh, parts that will make you want to cry and for those of us old enough to remember gratefulness that this is no longer the way this is handled.
This is a note from the author at the end of the book
"Mothers heal from birth traumas at different rates and in different ways. This is especially evident when faced with giving birth to a baby who is stillborn. In more recent years, women have been encouraged to engage in rituals that mark the baby’s short life, to fully experience the grief associated with the loss. But this was not always the case. April’s story is very different from what women experience today, but was common for women at the time. Progress is good!"
Now I have to patiently(?) wait until book 3 in this series is released. I can't wait to find out what happens next! 5 Star for sure!
Return to Love
August 18, 2014
Return to Love was such an emotional story to read. It centers around the loss of a child at birth and the emotional and psychological toll it can take on the mother and those who love her. It is especially hard when your spouse is away serving his country in the midst of the Vietnam War.
At a time in history when women where just told to deal with it and move on, I found myself getting really angry at the insensitivity of the medical community and how they dealt with still-born children and the mothers. It was downright appalling and made me ill just to read about it. Thankfully in this story, an 'angel', named Nurse Peters, realizes there is a major flaw in the system and provided much needed sympathy, understanding and a caring attitude towards her patients, even risking her job to do so. Another 'angel' in this story is Martha. Her way of keeping April busy to try and get her back to a somewhat normal existence was absolutely awesome.
This book tackled a very tough issue and Ms. Shoop managed to write about it in a graceful and beautiful manner. With her vivid descriptions of the scenery and characters who are well developed, it was so easy to get drawn into this heartbreaking story. I fell in love with Hale and April in Home Again and this story made me love them even more. Their marriage was tested in this story and they made it through despite the odds. I can not wait to read the next installment of this beautiful series.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
At a time in history when women where just told to deal with it and move on, I found myself getting really angry at the insensitivity of the medical community and how they dealt with still-born children and the mothers. It was downright appalling and made me ill just to read about it. Thankfully in this story, an 'angel', named Nurse Peters, realizes there is a major flaw in the system and provided much needed sympathy, understanding and a caring attitude towards her patients, even risking her job to do so. Another 'angel' in this story is Martha. Her way of keeping April busy to try and get her back to a somewhat normal existence was absolutely awesome.
This book tackled a very tough issue and Ms. Shoop managed to write about it in a graceful and beautiful manner. With her vivid descriptions of the scenery and characters who are well developed, it was so easy to get drawn into this heartbreaking story. I fell in love with Hale and April in Home Again and this story made me love them even more. Their marriage was tested in this story and they made it through despite the odds. I can not wait to read the next installment of this beautiful series.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2014
While April’s newlywed husband Hale is in Vietnam, her baby is birthed stillborn. Hale is unaware of how badly April is taking it, until he gets word from his mother telling him to come home. He takes leave and comes home to find April has indeed changed, and no matter what he says, she just withdraws further away from him. With April becoming more and more irrational, Hale begins to wonder if their marriage is in trouble, and more important, if he save April from herself?
I really liked the book, but I hate to say that I thought it went on a bit too much on April and the way she reacted to Hale’s help. I've never lost a child, so I can’t speculate how April felt. I can only empathize with her. I kept thinking that if it was a full term baby, why did it not get a proper burial? I guess this shows how much things have changed in this short period of time. I got so aggravated with Hale as he kept saying the wrong things. I wanted him to just shut up and listen to her. And when they started talking about naming the baby, I just knew they would choose Sarah. Boy was I surprised.
Kathleen Shoop never fails with her research and accuracy of times past. I've learned so much from her books and I look forward to many more.
I really liked the book, but I hate to say that I thought it went on a bit too much on April and the way she reacted to Hale’s help. I've never lost a child, so I can’t speculate how April felt. I can only empathize with her. I kept thinking that if it was a full term baby, why did it not get a proper burial? I guess this shows how much things have changed in this short period of time. I got so aggravated with Hale as he kept saying the wrong things. I wanted him to just shut up and listen to her. And when they started talking about naming the baby, I just knew they would choose Sarah. Boy was I surprised.
Kathleen Shoop never fails with her research and accuracy of times past. I've learned so much from her books and I look forward to many more.
July 10, 2014
I was lucky enough to read the first book in this series right before I got Return to Love, the love I felt for April and Hale made me know that I had to keep reading this series. Kathleen Shoop wrote a book that shows how strong their marriage is, even while fighting the loss of a child and the fact that Hale is back in Vietnam.
The loss of a child is an extremely tough subject to touch on. Return to Love handles this subject with care and respect. It shows how each mother or father handle the loss their own way. I was amazed at how the doctor and nurses handled April after her daughter was born. Thank God for Nurse Peters and her understanding during this tough time. While this is a tough subject to read about, going through it with April was even tougher. She could not deal with it alone, it was heart warming to see the town rally around her and make sure she was okay while Hale was gone. Having Hale’s mother support her and keep her safe also warmed my heart.
After reading both books , so far, in this series I absolutely recommend them both. Kathleen Shoop wrote a book that will pull at your heart and make you appreciate your own babies a little more.
The loss of a child is an extremely tough subject to touch on. Return to Love handles this subject with care and respect. It shows how each mother or father handle the loss their own way. I was amazed at how the doctor and nurses handled April after her daughter was born. Thank God for Nurse Peters and her understanding during this tough time. While this is a tough subject to read about, going through it with April was even tougher. She could not deal with it alone, it was heart warming to see the town rally around her and make sure she was okay while Hale was gone. Having Hale’s mother support her and keep her safe also warmed my heart.
After reading both books , so far, in this series I absolutely recommend them both. Kathleen Shoop wrote a book that will pull at your heart and make you appreciate your own babies a little more.
September 8, 2014
This is one of several books I've read by author Kathleen Shoop and this one does not disappoint. I did read book 1 of the series prior to reading Return to Love, but you could start with this book and understand the story line. It was interesting to learn the view of the medical community during the time period that this novel takes place. I am so glad those views are not in practice today. I feel that April is a strong woman, and seemed to understand herself & her mental abilites very well; especially after a still-born birth and her husband away at war. It was very heart warming as you read how each, April & Hale, were suffering and also trying to overcome in much the same way, but were afraid to talk to each other about it and eventually were able to lean on & learn from each other. Also it truly teaches to trust those you love & those who love you to be there in the difficult times. Highly recommend reading. I can't wait for the 3rd in this series as I know Kathleen will not disappoint! And the thought of the novella featuring Nurse Peters is very intriguing.
August 3, 2014
I had to refresh my memory a little bit as this does stem off the novella Home Again, but I do not think it is required to have read the novella before reading Return to Love.
While the book surrounds April having to cope with the stillbirth of her and Hale’s daughter; the emotions are real and you can feel the depth of her grief and depression.
Fortunately, the time frame of the book is set back to Vietnam war so the medical aspects of the book are no longer (thank goodness for that).
More than the stillbirth of their daughter, there are lessons here and there as friends and loved ones help get April back to her life and through the recovery of her loss.
I really did find this to be a great book and it only took me two nights to finish – I could not put it down! I really wanted to be there for April and help her through the depression that she experiences after such a traumatic loss.
You could feel all the emotions that are part of this book – the highs and the lows.
This is definitely a book that I enjoyed.
While the book surrounds April having to cope with the stillbirth of her and Hale’s daughter; the emotions are real and you can feel the depth of her grief and depression.
Fortunately, the time frame of the book is set back to Vietnam war so the medical aspects of the book are no longer (thank goodness for that).
More than the stillbirth of their daughter, there are lessons here and there as friends and loved ones help get April back to her life and through the recovery of her loss.
I really did find this to be a great book and it only took me two nights to finish – I could not put it down! I really wanted to be there for April and help her through the depression that she experiences after such a traumatic loss.
You could feel all the emotions that are part of this book – the highs and the lows.
This is definitely a book that I enjoyed.
August 12, 2014
This book was difficult for me to read at times. While I never had to personally experience a still birth, or the loss of a newborn… I have friends that have, and I did experience a miscarriage. While the way of medically dealing with these losses today are SO different from the way they were in the late 60s (when this book is set)… reading as Hale and April worked threw their loss showed that the emotions families go through are the same through the ages. I think if you’ve never suffered a loss like Hale and April’s, this book could truly give you some insight into the tragedy. I think the author did an amazing job of approaching this subject, and really sharing the truth of what some couples feel and think.
Reading about how the (some/most) doctors, nurses, and hospitals all dealt with still birth in the past… it was just heartbreaking. I found myself in tears quite a number of times during the book. Thank God the medical and mental health fields continue to progress… especially where patient emotional care is considered.
Reading about how the (some/most) doctors, nurses, and hospitals all dealt with still birth in the past… it was just heartbreaking. I found myself in tears quite a number of times during the book. Thank God the medical and mental health fields continue to progress… especially where patient emotional care is considered.
August 18, 2014
Being the second book in a series I wished that I had experienced the first and ran out to see how the story began. For a story so full of hope and love Shoop did well at giving readers a lot to think about in this heart-breaking novel, including faith, devotion and lasting bonds in a relationship. Hale and April are characters that you can’t help but grieve with, but also feel compassion on levels that you didn’t know possible due to Shoop expertly creating depth to a love story that is so much more.
For those who have experienced this unimaginable and tragic event this book will authenticate feelings at a whole new level while providing a sense of peace when one just wants to let go. Friendship is a cherished and valuable sentiment and shown at perfect levels in this one of a kind book that only Shoop could masterfully capture as completely as she did. I appreciate the amount of sentiment from each character and moving passion which seemed to radiate throughout the whole book. Highly recommended!
~The Book Stalker Reviewed
For those who have experienced this unimaginable and tragic event this book will authenticate feelings at a whole new level while providing a sense of peace when one just wants to let go. Friendship is a cherished and valuable sentiment and shown at perfect levels in this one of a kind book that only Shoop could masterfully capture as completely as she did. I appreciate the amount of sentiment from each character and moving passion which seemed to radiate throughout the whole book. Highly recommended!
~The Book Stalker Reviewed
July 31, 2014
This is the second book in the Endless Love Series. The first book is titled Home Again.
This book is based in the 70s in the height of the Vietnam war. I’m not sure if this is really how they handled the death of a newborn back then. I really hope not. This book had so many different emotions run through me all at once.
I had compassion, sympathy, anger, love, empathy. There is so much more to say about this book but I don’t want to give any of the story away. April needs Hale’s love and support the most right now. No matter how much she needs it though, she tries to push him away. She is stuck in her own grief.
April and Hale have what I call and undying love. They love each other with every being in their bodies. Nothing can or will keep them apart.
Kathleen Shoop is not only a talented author, she is also a friend of mine. I’m love everything she has written so far. I highly suggest you look into her other books.
This book is based in the 70s in the height of the Vietnam war. I’m not sure if this is really how they handled the death of a newborn back then. I really hope not. This book had so many different emotions run through me all at once.
I had compassion, sympathy, anger, love, empathy. There is so much more to say about this book but I don’t want to give any of the story away. April needs Hale’s love and support the most right now. No matter how much she needs it though, she tries to push him away. She is stuck in her own grief.
April and Hale have what I call and undying love. They love each other with every being in their bodies. Nothing can or will keep them apart.
Kathleen Shoop is not only a talented author, she is also a friend of mine. I’m love everything she has written so far. I highly suggest you look into her other books.
July 26, 2014
Return to Love by Kathleen Shoop is so believable while being emotional. The story tells us that April reacted in a very bad way after the loss of her child. This is not the first novel I read from Kathleen Shoop and, so far, she has not let me down.
I found that April was weak at first possibly the fact of handling everything on her own while her husband is serving in Vietnam. It was nice to read about all the medical interventions, great staff and sometimes leaving me admiring them.
Reading this book made me cry a little, I have to admit. I am very sensitive to certain facts of life and Kathleen Shoop touched many points that her readers can relate to.
I really like the cover design and fell in love with whole story for all it stood ~ I do recommend it.
Adriana LG
I found that April was weak at first possibly the fact of handling everything on her own while her husband is serving in Vietnam. It was nice to read about all the medical interventions, great staff and sometimes leaving me admiring them.
Reading this book made me cry a little, I have to admit. I am very sensitive to certain facts of life and Kathleen Shoop touched many points that her readers can relate to.
I really like the cover design and fell in love with whole story for all it stood ~ I do recommend it.
Adriana LG
August 7, 2014
Before reading Return to Love I did read the previous book, but honestly either one could be read on their own. Though I do like them as a pair. Kathleen Shoop has written a book that shows a strong and admirable love and bond.
The loss of a child is a very emotional event, and it's hard to capture that emotion but this book felt so real. You could see how everyone handled the loss, each of the characters had distinct ideas, and shows these especially a mother and father's view. How the family was supported in their loss but some was a gorgeous thing to read, and made me love the book even more.
I can say that I couldn't recommend this book more. It isn't as light of a read as I normally go for, but it's perfect if you're looking for an emotion filled book.
The loss of a child is a very emotional event, and it's hard to capture that emotion but this book felt so real. You could see how everyone handled the loss, each of the characters had distinct ideas, and shows these especially a mother and father's view. How the family was supported in their loss but some was a gorgeous thing to read, and made me love the book even more.
I can say that I couldn't recommend this book more. It isn't as light of a read as I normally go for, but it's perfect if you're looking for an emotion filled book.
August 28, 2014
This book really affected me as a woman. I can only imagine the loss of a newborn, and I felt for this couple. The author made the characters very much normal, and relatable. The characters also have big hearts and they are broken, however they need to realize that the unbroken part is still there. Will they realize it before Hale goes back to war? Or are they destined with a future of loss and depression? I thought that it was important that the author showed April reacting like normal people would, and not to be ashamed of depression issues or even post partum depression. I can not wait to read more about these characters. I am giving this book a 5/5. I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
September 23, 2014
Having read Home Again, book one of the Endless Love Series I was looking forward to reading Return to Love. I couldn't wait to learn more about April and Hale, and how their lives had progressed. I didn't have to wait long, as we find out that they have both been through a shatteringly traumatic time, and that they are struggling to come to terms with what's happened in their lives.
I loved this book, the characters were so well written and Kathleen Shoop has the ability to describe locations perfectly, so that you feel like you are really there. I couldn't put Return to Love down, it drew me in and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The story was very powerful, and is beautifully written. If you enjoyed Home Again then you should definitely read Return to love.
I loved this book, the characters were so well written and Kathleen Shoop has the ability to describe locations perfectly, so that you feel like you are really there. I couldn't put Return to Love down, it drew me in and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The story was very powerful, and is beautifully written. If you enjoyed Home Again then you should definitely read Return to love.
August 7, 2014
Since finishing Home Again at the end of last year, I have wondered what happened with Hale & April! I am so happy that I had the chance to review Return to Love. I can kind of relate to what April is dealing with in this book, however I wasn't nearly as far along as she was. YET - it still hurt me & I had a difficult time coping with it. I really enjoyed the fact that this book was set back in the 70's! Some might say that April was weak, for how she handled everything when it happened, but I certainly don't think so! Her husband was fighting over in Vietnam and she was on her own! This book had me in tears through out parts of it!
August 18, 2014
This book was so sad, Return To Love is book 2 of a trilogy but can be read as a standalone novel too. April had all the joy of being pregnant for 9 months only to have her world turned upside down when her baby is born asleep. I think most people that have read this had either sobbed or at least had a tear in their eye when reading it and how April and her husband Hale cope and heal with their loss and try to save their marriage.
It was a little hard, raw and emotional to read but it was a great story.
It was a little hard, raw and emotional to read but it was a great story.
August 10, 2014
I really, really liked the characters in this book. Author Kathleen Shoop made April and Hale feel like people I'd know from church. The situations they encountered were very realistic and normal. Although this is the second book in the Endless Love series, it definitely can serve as a standalone novel.Kathleen Shoop did a great job of keeping the story's flow going. Just when I thought I was getting a tad bored with the plot, it would pick right up. I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.
September 2, 2014
This book will make one realize that the world is a better place to live if you have someone beside you… to fight the battle with you, to face the future with you and to give you hope. This is a must-read book. Return to Love is the second book in Kathleen Shoop's The Endless Love Series. Everything in it will make you cry - both sad and happy tears. It will make you believe in the power of love! This is such an amazing piece of Kathleen Shoop!
May 7, 2015
I have read all of Kathleen Shoop's novels, and this story is one of my favorite. Having close friends who have been through the loss of an infant, this is an accurate and honest portrayal of how a woman feels who is going through it. It is good to see how far we have come in infant loss awareness and support since the 1970s. I highly recommend this story!
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