Hope

by Lisa Worrall, Emanuela Graziani (Translator)

Ash Watts ha esattamente la vita che vuole: una fiorente carriera, uno splendido ragazzo e un appartamento con una vista favolosa su Los Angeles. Ma il suo mondo perfetto crolla quando apprende della morte prematura della sua unica sorella. Quando atterra a Freedom, in Alabama, non trova solo una piccola città ad attenderlo, ma anche segreti che potrebbero cambiargli per sempre la vita.

Kaleb Gibson, cowboy nato e cresciuto a Freedom, aveva trovato la sua migliore amica in Annie Watts dal momento in cui era arrivata in città. La sua morte ha lasciato un buco nel suo cuore e, nonostante il fratello di Annie abbia i suoi stessi capelli scuri e i suoi stessi occhi verdi, Kaleb non riesce a perdonarlo per aver trascurato la sorella quando lei aveva bisogno di lui più.

Alcune rivelazioni contenute nel testamento di Annie uniranno Kaleb e Ash in modi che non avrebbero mai immaginato.
Sarà in grado Kaleb di rispettare le ultime volontà di Annie senza uccidere il suo amato fratello e senza rivelare un segreto del proprio passato che potrebbe distruggere tutto?
E Ash resterà abbastanza a lungo da capire che Freedom potrebbe regalargli una vita ancora più perfetta?

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Family, Westerns, Contemporary Romance

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2012

About the author

I live in Leigh on Sea, a small seaside town just outside London on the coast of Essex, about ten minutes from Southend, which boasts the longest pier in the world. I live with my husband and two ever-growing children, who I let think are the boss of me; along with two dogs who actually are.

As the wonderful Beatrix Potter said, “There is something delicious about writing the first words of a new story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.” I know exactly what she means.

Reviews

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3 - 3.5 Stars***

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has a classic "Harlequin" vibe -- from disliking one another to loving one another also the circumstance that throws the two men into living under the same roof to take care a baby.

I enjoy the premise -- but I admit that in the middle, I feel like it's dragged on a bit too long. Not to mention that the secret about Kaleb (that he had a son, who died when he was having sex with another man) is coming a bit out of the blue. For me, it's just an okay story.

PS: Why is the capital "W" in will, as in Lisa's will. It's not a name of a person. It's a will!!!

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Kaleb and Ash were perfect together and I enjoyed their snarkiness with each other. This story is set is a very small town in the South and I think was the perfect setting for this book. The secondary characters were great, I could picture them so well and fit so well with this being set in a small town . The middle was a little slow, but with the little twists and turns in this story it held my attention and I wanted to have a satisfying ending, which I got. This is not the first book I have read by this author and it will definitely not be the last.

[DaisyGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Ash Watts is an up and coming reporter working in L.A. When he learns that his beloved sister (Annie) has been killed in a car accident, he is forced to go to Freedom, Alabama for Annie's funeral. Kaleb Gibson, honest-to-God cowboy and native of Freedom was Annie's best friend. Her death has left a gaping hole in his heart. Kaleb is conflicted about Ash: he's incredibly attracted to Annie's brother - what with the same dark hair and green eyes - but he can’t forgive the man for neglecting his sister when she needed him most. Revelations from Annie's will throw Kaleb and Ash together in ways they never imagined. As Kaleb struggles to carry out Annie’s last wishes without killing her beloved brother, he is guilt-ridden with secrets of his own. Always Hope is Kaleb and Ash's story of loss, love, and secrets in a small town.

I liked this book. I am a HUGE Lisa Worrall fan. I love her writing and the characters she creates. I wanted to like Ash and Kaleb ... and I did ... but I didn't love them. I had a hard time connecting with either character. I enjoy friends to lovers stories, which this was but there wasn't strong chemistry between Kaleb and Ash for me. The extended cast of characters were entertaining and I thought their different personalities made for a more well rounded story. The courtroom scene at the end was alright. I didn't like how things ended with Dr. Burke; he got off too light but I enjoyed Kaleb and Ash's HEA.

Bottom line: an entertaining M/M romance in small town, USA.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ash Watts is a career driven man. He knows what he wants until his sister dies unexpectedly and leaves him to raise her beautiful baby, but there's a catch he has unexpected and unwanted help in the form of cowboy Kaleb Gibson. These two men have to figure out how to create a family and get along for Hope's sake as well as their own. This story is a sweet, feel good story that leaves the reader smiling and glad they stopped by Freedom, Alabama for awhile.

[Janna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked this story, but it has quite a few improbabilities that kept me from loving it. Stronger than with the other stories I've read by this author, I felt her plot manipulations were too obvious. Especially the whole 'thing' involving Neal, with Mason coming to the rescue was a bit too much for my taste. However, I liked Ash and Kaleb's chemistry and overall it was an enjoyable, sweet read that kept me captured until the end.

[Love Is All Around · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECENSIONE A CURA DI SLANIF
Venite a leggerla sul nostro blog!

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I want to give the author kudos for not turning this into a typical redneck, southern book. I am a big fan of the author but I will admit that I put this book off for a bit because of the setting. I live in Mobile (born and raised) and I try really hard to run the other way when I see a book set not only close to my hometown but in my state. It is so rare for an author to get it right when it comes to dialogue and stereotypes... unless they actually live here anyway. The last time I read a book set here I ended up angering the author (I was nice!) when I made a comment in my review in regards to the dialogue. Thankfully Lisa Worrall has nothing to worry about in regards to my review. This was a very good book. No redneck "southern speak" or anything like that. It was written very well. Granted, there are a couple of things that I personally can't see happening any time soon in my state that were mentioned but it is fiction and it actually made the story much better as a result.

I won't describe the book in detail as that has already been done and done well. I will say that I really, really enjoyed this story. Ash is a big time reporter in L.A. and is forced to fly to Freedom, Alabama when he gets word of his sister, Annie's, death. His boyfriend is Mason, a high powered attorney. From the introduction of Mason, I was hoping to see something not quite redeeming about him (he was described almost as perfect). Thankfully that happened not long into it. Then there is Kaleb, Annie's best friend in Alabama. Kaleb comes across instantly as a jerk but it is understandable as the story unfolds. Annie had secrets. Kaleb has secrets. Ash is just thrown into it without warning. The love story between Ash and Kaleb isn't "insta love" and for that I am grateful. You are able to watch as they each deal with their own issues before they move into that direction. There is a jerk doctor who is just bad enough to make the story more interesting. The secondary characters are all charming. I got a big kick out of Kaleb's grandparents and best friend. There is only one instance of homophobia and it is resolved quickly. I was expecting a lot of it considering it is set in Small Town, America. I am glad that is not the case. The resolution of the drama is done perfectly. The ending is perfect. Kaleb and Ash are perfect.

Overall, another great book by this author.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Ash was happy living in California, with good job and handsome lawyer, Mason, as a boyfriend. That is, until a news about his sister Annie was delivered. Annie died in a car accident. She had been his rock, single-handedly raised him since their parents died when they were young. Ash dropped everything and went straight to Alabama. There, he met his dead sister best friend, Caleb. Caleb harbored negative feelings toward Ash because the man was not available at all when Annie needed him. Calls were not returned, leaving the sister alone with her problems.

When the lawyer read Annie's will, Ash had no choice but stayed in Alabama. As you may have suspected, unknown to Ash, Annie actually gave birth to a baby girl named Hope, and she wanted the baby to be raised by both Ash and Caleb. She also left her house to Ash. Unfortunately, his Californian boyfriend didn't want to live in Alabama. Ash was not sure what to do. Caleb seemed to like him, but was holding back from him. So, when Neal, the charming handsome town doctor, courted him, Ash had another option...

I liked reading this book. The characters are likable although I'd prefer Ash to get the fact before he went on a date. Some parts feel dragging a bit, particularly around the time of Caleb's injury. I'm just not sure if the choice of Alabama as the setting of the book is the good one. Think Iowa would have been better since it recognize gay marriage. I wish the author refrined herself from making the judge a lesbian. It's just sad if we believe that only gay/lesbian judges would decide the case for them. I believe many judges make decisions following the written law and common sense, even if they personally sympathetic to certain cause. They find their hands tied by the law and facts presented before them.

.

It's a sweet but not overtly sweet one. Ms. Worrall seems to like writing about 'messages from the grave' as her other recent work has similar basic premise although totally different story lines.

[Elisa Rolle]

The incipit is maybe a little stretched but the following story is very romantic, all good feelings and small-town comfort. Ash is a hot-stuff LA reporter with an even more hot-stuff boyfriend, a divorce lawyer working with the Hollywood crème de la crème. Coming from a foster family with only his sister as support, I found a bit difficult to believe they remained almost an year without talking to each other, distance notwithstanding.

Coming back from a weekend with his boyfriend, Ash receives the bad news his sister died in a car accident; he has to go to Freedom, Alabama, to attend the funeral and the reading of Annie’s will. The first part of the story, with Ash and Mason, was good, and I liked that the author didn’t belittle their relationship: it was not perfect, but it was good, and I think that, if nothing happened, they would have been good together. But Ash is launched in a complete different world, Freedom, Alabama, is a less than 2000 people province town, and everyone seems to know what is happening inside your house (and also bedroom). There Ash meets Kaleb, Annie’s best friend; at first Kaleb is not really welcoming of Ash, he thinks he neglected his duty as Annie’s brother, and he appointed himself substitute brother. But Ash and Kaleb have probably more in common than Kaleb and Annie, and it’s easy for them to reach truce.

The turn from City Boy to Family Man is almost immediate, thanks also to the whole town; aside from one episode, Ash will not find any obstacle and no homophobic feeling, on the contrary, all Freedom, Alabama, seems to being pushing Ash towards Kaleb and a life as committed couple, husband and husband and all it implies.

Always Hope is a comfortable and sweet story, with just a touch of drama, but mostly about good feelings and family values and the good side of living in a small town.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007AWQZ6O/?...

[Mrs. Badass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personally, I loved this book. There was so much heart and gut-clenching moments of pain that I cried more than once. I've read quite a few Lisa Worrall books, and I have to say this is my favorite and the best she's written... in my opinion, of course.

Kaleb and Ash were perfect together. There were a myriad of twists and turns. I stayed up late reading, and had to force myself to turn off my kindle so I wouldn't be a giant slub today. (Well, more than usual)

Always Hope has a cast of quirky characters, (Think of the Golden Girls, people) It had everything I enjoy in a book. Characters I care about, heart-felt and real romance, and a battle to get there. Not to mention a satisfying ending. Although... I think that the asshole, douchebag, sanctimonious prick got off too easy, and if you read the book, you'll know who I am referring to!

Anyway, I loved Always Hope.

[Blue Bayou . · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got silly. For someone mourning a loved one, Cowboy was awfully snappy and sarcastic and just seemed like a dick. I didn't like either character or whatever secret was in the will, enough to finish reading.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so here's the deal with Always Hope...I liked it, but I wanted more. It was like Ash went from the uppity LA life to the podunk town of Freedom Alabama in no time flat. It was like he needed no adjustment time to get over his "previous" life. I would have thought it would have taken time to get over there's only 1 handyman in town. Only 1 doctor. Only 1 grocery store that probably closes early. There's a lot of things that are different from city life to country life, I wish Worrall would have touched on that more.

Then there's Mason, what was with that? I didn't understand. What happened with Ash's apartment? His belongings? What was the purpose of Mason keeping Ash away? It made no sense.

Now onto Kaleb. Did he ever really mourn Annie's death? I didn't see it. He was too busy being mean to Ash.

Overall, I thought everything was too perfect. Perfect town, perfect family, perfect friends, etc. I mean, this is taking place in Alabama. Isn't homophobia (I loathe that word!) pretty prominent down south? Wouldn't there be more of an upheaval about 2 male's living together and raising a daughter?.

[1000storie1000vite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantico e dolcissimo, questo romanzo ha una trama articolata che, in più punti, mi ha sorpreso. L'autrice é stata brava a farmi sentire l'aria e l'aroma di questa piccola città del sud degli Stati Uniti. Ha delineato i tanti personaggi secondari con dettaglio e mi ha fatto sentire parte di quella comunità chiacchierona ma vera, che ha abbracciato il nuovo arrivato, Ash, come se fosse un suo figlio. I due protagonsiti mi hanno fatto sorridere con i loro battibechi, con il loro arruffati le penne, con il loro bagaglio di dolore e con la loro capacità di aprirsi vicendevolmente.
Kaleb e Ash sono stati in grado di unire le loro sofferenze e guarire inseme in nome della piccola Hope. Li ho trovati incredibilmente teneri con lei.
La storia forse pecca un po di ingenuità nelle macchinazioni, però é stata in grado di comunicarmi pienamente il soffocante senso di colpa di Kaleb, nonché quello pieno di rimpianti di Ash.
Scorrevole e appasionate é un libro che si legge in un attimo e mi ha lascito con uno caldo senso di contentezza.
Hugs&kisses

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet m/m that covers a few different tropes. There were a few coincidences such as the fact that for the last year the boyfriend has been intercepting all the calls from his sister. I could understand a few (they didn't live together) but ALL of them? Really? And before the brother shows up at the dead girl's house they completely de-baby it? Could you do that? The odd stray toy, a high chair, etc. Your good friend just died and your thought is is "go through the house and remove everything that says she had a baby". At least they did say they did that, otherwise I would have thought the guy had to be an idiot not o notice.

Still if you like sweet stories with baby daddies, it's a fun read.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little hesitant with this one because of some of the reviews. But, 10 days of mid-winter vacation leaves for a lot of time to explore my tbr list. :) and, I have tons of faith in Lisa Worrall. And, she didn't disappoint with this one! So it wasn't Laurel Heights, but Always Hope was tender & sweet and had just the right amount of angst. I've said in previous reviews that I don't read fiction to find reality and I did not mind the bits of surrealism, like the big city reporter feeling ok with making a life in small town USA. All in all, the story was sweet, two guys coming together after a tragedy and raising this great little girl, the jilted lover, a secret from the past, and in the end, acceptance and love. I thought it was a great escape to snuggle with on this snow day. :)

[Morgana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautifully written book from Lisa Worrall.

I loved Ash and Kaleb. They constantly clashed and bickered AND lusted after each other... and then bickered some more, but even the blind could see these guys were absolutely perfect for each other. I loved how their relationship slowly progressed from mutual dislike to all-encompassing love.

All in all, that was a highly enjoyable read. So yep, nothing has changed. Lisa Worrall is still one of my favourite authors.

Recommended.

4.5 - 4.75 stars

[Nichole (DirrtyH) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was cute, and for the most part not corny/cheesy, but the plot was really more than I could be expected to handle without rolling my eyes. I liked the setting of the small southern town, it was very Steel Magnolias. The main characters were okay - they didn't annoy me but they didn't make me fall in love with them, either. The baby was pretty unassuming. It was mostly just the plot that ruined this one.

[Marcia]

Ugh! I only got about a quarter of the way through before giving up on this one. I read and enjoyed Ms. Worrall's Unshakeable Faith earlier this year. This one, however, I just couldn't get into. The leads weren't inspiring and the premise wasn't original, but my major problem was with the grammar. There were comma splices everywhere. The book really could have benefited from some good copy editing.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, feel-good tale.

I really liked both characters, especially Ash, and the support cast was endearing. A few (to coin the author's term) "blinked owlishly" moments that didn't seem plausible to me, and a few too many editing mistakes, brought the score down, but I will definitely be checking out more by this author because there is certainly something to her writing that appealed and hit my buttons.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!
I must admit I'm a sucker for these stories that have children and babies in them.
I loved the bickering, kinda reminded me of school children, I was expecting pinching and hair pulling next.
I adored all the characters, even Mason who I wanted to punch in the face, came through not so ugly eventually.
I also cried some, with one of the issues being very close to home for me which I don't think has ever happened in a book I've read before.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story. Both Ash and Kal were very endearing MCs. I will admit that some parts of the story made me teary-eyed which I was not expecting. I was not surprised with the unexpected situation that Ash came across with after arriving in Freedom but I did like the way it was introduced. Looking forward to more works from Ms. Worrall.

[Shaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a lovely, sweet and yet sexy story. It is one of those books that grabs you by the throat and drags you in. I was a little worried that it would be an insta-love story, but it isn't. The relationship is given time to build and is quite romantic.

This is definitely a feel good story and one I will re-read when I need a pick-me-up!

[melek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ash was happy living in the city with his boyfriend mason who becomes his ex. But when Ash sister past away, who he hasn't spoken to her for a while. He goes to her funeral he meets kaleb who was his sisters best friend. It a hate love relationship all the way.
But these 2 are thrown together with a little surprise as well. Will heartache turns to happiness will this last.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way the relationship developed, well paced. The inclusion of 'the golden girls' worked well to lighten the mood which could have been depressing given the mourning element of the story. A good quick read.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story! Of course I'm a HUGE sucker for a book about gay men and kids, LOVE THEM! This book was great and Ash and Kaleb were so perfect together. I loved the way they hate/loved each other back and forth throughout the book, too funny.

[Marcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Very sweet story. I scored a little lower because of some of the unrealistic moments/choices nearing the end. Everything was a little too neatly packaged up. Great feel good ending though and a good read if you want some sweetness and light...

[Gaa-chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[ReviewerLarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet, romantic read. It made me go awwwwww a few times. And that coming from someone who doesn't like stories with babies in it ;-)

I really like this author's work!

[Cerulean · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars