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Point Hope
After his Navy career came to an end, Trey became an EMT in his hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon. He struggles with PTSD, which affects his ability to do his job and connect with his family. His wife seems to be living life without him.
Rosette can’t figure out what happened to her marriage, or to Trey—the man she once loved so desperately. It feels like she’ll lose everything along with him. Meanwhile, he’s enclosed in his own world without her.
Their marriage is on its last legs when their family is faced with two deaths and an orphan. They’re already raising two young children and Trey’s teenage brother, Alex. Trey and Rosette make a shaky agreement to play “family” for now so they can take care of Trey’s recently orphaned niece. But can faking it ever be enough?
It’s make-it or break-it time. If they split apart, who will raise Hope?
Rosette can’t figure out what happened to her marriage, or to Trey—the man she once loved so desperately. It feels like she’ll lose everything along with him. Meanwhile, he’s enclosed in his own world without her.
Their marriage is on its last legs when their family is faced with two deaths and an orphan. They’re already raising two young children and Trey’s teenage brother, Alex. Trey and Rosette make a shaky agreement to play “family” for now so they can take care of Trey’s recently orphaned niece. But can faking it ever be enough?
It’s make-it or break-it time. If they split apart, who will raise Hope?
Audio CD
First published June 13, 2013
69 people are currently reading
785 people want to read
About the author
Kristen James
90 books161 followersThe Billionaire That Bought Me is out on all the retailers! The second book will release later this year, as well as Sarah's Song.
Kristen James lives in the Pacific Northwest (USA) and enjoys many outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking, berry picking and canoeing. Her writing features the mountains and coastline in her home state of Oregon, along with lots of conflict and emotion! She loves creating unique story lines and strong, complicated characters that stay with readers. Kristen is the author of over twenty books, and her work has ranked in the top 100 Kindle books in the US, UK, and Canada.
Kristen James lives in the Pacific Northwest (USA) and enjoys many outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking, berry picking and canoeing. Her writing features the mountains and coastline in her home state of Oregon, along with lots of conflict and emotion! She loves creating unique story lines and strong, complicated characters that stay with readers. Kristen is the author of over twenty books, and her work has ranked in the top 100 Kindle books in the US, UK, and Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 20, 2013
"Point Hope" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a poignant story about the renewal of love and begins in Coos Bay, Oregon. As the story unfolds Trey, suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) after an EMT derailed his navy career not only has difficulty dealing with his job as a medic but has grown distant from his wife and family. As he and his wife Rosette struggle to decide whether or not divorce is an option, Trey receives devastating news that his brother Ricky has been killed in action. If that is not enough to shatter a family already in turmoil, a further tragedy will rock their foundation; one which leads to a temporary truce and a new addition to their family. Yet, in the midst of loss, the tears and the pain miracles can happen that bring hope, and this is the basis of this heart-warming story.
This emotionally-charged tale of a married couple's struggle to resurrect a love thought lost, of finding forgiveness as well as the strength of family ties is touching, and extremely tense in the couple's relentless struggle to topple the barriers and distrust that divide them. The plot is well written and the characters natural as they interact with each other. Rosette is a nurturer with unrealized dreams who struggles with her intolerance and distrust for the man she's been married to for over ten years. Although he has talked to a counselor about his condition Trey struggles to hold his emotions in check at work and at home, resulting in his disinterest and emotional isolation from those he loves. It's this reserve that makes him a target for the sexy, promiscuous neighbour Leena. Alex, Trey's brother is a mature and wise sixteen year old even after losing his parents and Ricky. He's the antithesis of Summer, Amanda Sinclair's sister who uses drinking as a crutch to overcome the misfortune and tragedies in her life. With the support of family and a new friend she will eventually gain a new perspective as well as discovering love and forgiveness.
Although Ricky was his best friend I was surprised that Trey didn't have another close male friend he could have talked to or that he didn't go back to talk to his counselor, and that all the events happened within such a short time span. However the novel leaves an indelible mark with its emotional twists and turns. I liked this book and would recommend it to all those who need a miracle when their dreams are shattered or who would enjoy an entertaining and unique story.
This emotionally-charged tale of a married couple's struggle to resurrect a love thought lost, of finding forgiveness as well as the strength of family ties is touching, and extremely tense in the couple's relentless struggle to topple the barriers and distrust that divide them. The plot is well written and the characters natural as they interact with each other. Rosette is a nurturer with unrealized dreams who struggles with her intolerance and distrust for the man she's been married to for over ten years. Although he has talked to a counselor about his condition Trey struggles to hold his emotions in check at work and at home, resulting in his disinterest and emotional isolation from those he loves. It's this reserve that makes him a target for the sexy, promiscuous neighbour Leena. Alex, Trey's brother is a mature and wise sixteen year old even after losing his parents and Ricky. He's the antithesis of Summer, Amanda Sinclair's sister who uses drinking as a crutch to overcome the misfortune and tragedies in her life. With the support of family and a new friend she will eventually gain a new perspective as well as discovering love and forgiveness.
Although Ricky was his best friend I was surprised that Trey didn't have another close male friend he could have talked to or that he didn't go back to talk to his counselor, and that all the events happened within such a short time span. However the novel leaves an indelible mark with its emotional twists and turns. I liked this book and would recommend it to all those who need a miracle when their dreams are shattered or who would enjoy an entertaining and unique story.
July 31, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very emotional read. I could certainly relate to some of the situations with having a very dynamic family setting.
I did agree with another reviewer that the whole PTSD thing with Trey was a bit confusing when it came to Trey only having issues with Rosette. It seems that if someone had PTSD, i.e. being a soldier in the war, that episodes were usually caused from flashbacks or something triggering what had happened in the war or whatever the situation is/was, but I did not read any behavioral things that Rosette did that would have triggered an episode for Trey? Maybe the whole PTSD thing was more about Trey seeing the loss of life and the issues that he and Rosette had, he was worried about losing her and/or his family...
It was enjoyable to read a book that really showed good morals from the family perspective. They had a close knit family and Trey and Rosette took in family members (Trey's younger brother, Amanda's sister and Amanda's new baby) after not one, but two tragedies. Despite the problems between Trey and Rosette, they did their best to keep it at bay, away from the other kids living in their home.
I do agree that Leena was a piece of work with some issues of her own and wanting to cause some drama there, but towards the end, Trey put a stop to it. Rosette was a very passive person and Trey was a more withdrawn person. But it ended up working well. Again, the message seemed more about morals, but it would have been pretty funny if Rosette would have given Leena a piece or her mind or stood up for her family!
The girl that caused the accident, I was surprised that nothing happened, however I think this book was based more on morals than anything else. The girl expressed regret and remorse...
Overall, this was a really good clean book to read. Loved the descriptions of the family all playing on the beach and sitting down for meals and just doing family things together.
I did agree with another reviewer that the whole PTSD thing with Trey was a bit confusing when it came to Trey only having issues with Rosette. It seems that if someone had PTSD, i.e. being a soldier in the war, that episodes were usually caused from flashbacks or something triggering what had happened in the war or whatever the situation is/was, but I did not read any behavioral things that Rosette did that would have triggered an episode for Trey? Maybe the whole PTSD thing was more about Trey seeing the loss of life and the issues that he and Rosette had, he was worried about losing her and/or his family...
It was enjoyable to read a book that really showed good morals from the family perspective. They had a close knit family and Trey and Rosette took in family members (Trey's younger brother, Amanda's sister and Amanda's new baby) after not one, but two tragedies. Despite the problems between Trey and Rosette, they did their best to keep it at bay, away from the other kids living in their home.
I do agree that Leena was a piece of work with some issues of her own and wanting to cause some drama there, but towards the end, Trey put a stop to it. Rosette was a very passive person and Trey was a more withdrawn person. But it ended up working well. Again, the message seemed more about morals, but it would have been pretty funny if Rosette would have given Leena a piece or her mind or stood up for her family!
The girl that caused the accident, I was surprised that nothing happened, however I think this book was based more on morals than anything else. The girl expressed regret and remorse...
Overall, this was a really good clean book to read. Loved the descriptions of the family all playing on the beach and sitting down for meals and just doing family things together.
August 9, 2013
I really wanted to give this book a 4 but there were issues that held me back. First I liked the characters and most of the storyline. I loved the setting, which is important to me in a book. The PTSD was a little confusing, to me it was not fully developed. The only areas I could identify as problems caused by this disorder was his job as a paramedic, which I could understand, but the problems with his wife were unexplained, even at the end of the story to me. They both were constantly wanting to work things out, then wouldn't share their feelings or were offended by a remark or look from the other person. This caused me to only give this book a 3 star rating. Their relationship and constant looking for double meanings wore me out. At one point I thought about not finishing the book. I have never liked stories where the main characters love each other but spend the whole book misunderstanding or misreading every word and gesture. There was a strong story of family love but it got overshadowed by Rosette and Treys constant angst. Alex was the calming voice in the family and I think depended on a little too much. The ending had some strong moments. Many things I liked about the book, the characters, the questions involving Amanda's accident, the family relationship and the setting. The downside was the constant questioning Rosette and Trey conveyed of every word one or the other spoke.
August 12, 2013
You can feel the tension between Trey and Rosette oozing off the page. You learn about their early years as kids in high school and how they met. You also learn about how they finally wound up together with 2 children of their own and also raising Trey's baby brother, Alex. Things really become strained when Ricky, Trey's brother, is killed while deployed. Ricky's widow Amanda is pregnant and due soon with their first child but just days after Ricky's funeral she has an accident that costs her her life and results in the delivery of their daughter. Trey's family decides to call the baby Hope and bring her home from the hospital to begin raising her.
You see how selfless Trey and Rosette are when they decide to put their own issues aside for the time being to take care of the children. For the next few weeks the stress seems to ease between them but they refuse to talk with one another about their problems and how to solve them especially when a misunderstanding almost makes Rosette's decision for her about whether or not to stay in their marriage. With each page you read you want to scream at them to just sit down and talk it out.
This book will provide lessons on ways to be a good parent, a selfless sibling, and how to forgive when you think the person who wronged you should be punished perhaps more severely than they deserve.
You see how selfless Trey and Rosette are when they decide to put their own issues aside for the time being to take care of the children. For the next few weeks the stress seems to ease between them but they refuse to talk with one another about their problems and how to solve them especially when a misunderstanding almost makes Rosette's decision for her about whether or not to stay in their marriage. With each page you read you want to scream at them to just sit down and talk it out.
This book will provide lessons on ways to be a good parent, a selfless sibling, and how to forgive when you think the person who wronged you should be punished perhaps more severely than they deserve.
September 4, 2015
Point Hope is first a love story with a deep basis in family history and the traditions of a loving family. Point Hope is also a tragedy when two members of this family die. First one brother dies in the service to our country and then on the night of his funeral his eight month pregnant wife dies in an auto accident, leaving an orphan daughter. The deep feelings of grief, bewilderment as to why this happened and the confusion and survivor guilt are presented for Trey, the oldest brother, his wife Rosette and the younger brother Alex as well as the sister-in-law Summer to include an emotional touch to a wonderful family love story. In addition to all this Trey has PTSD and the death of his brother gives him a wake up to help bring him out of his fog.
Point Hope is set in the Coos Bay area of the Oregon Coast and the story about the blowing up of the whale is true and the State Highway Department paid for all the property damages after the blast that sent blubber flying. I lived on the Oregon Coast for many years and remember when it happened.
Point Hope is set in the Coos Bay area of the Oregon Coast and the story about the blowing up of the whale is true and the State Highway Department paid for all the property damages after the blast that sent blubber flying. I lived on the Oregon Coast for many years and remember when it happened.
May 27, 2014
In Point Hope Trey and Rosette are going through a difficult time in their marriage. They've been talking about splitting up when Trey's brother suddenly passes away. He leaves his pregnant wife behind. Then something else goes terribly wrong and Trey and Rosette have a baby to take care of. Their already extended family grows a little bit more. Will they be able to keep up appearances when everything between them is falling apart?
Point Hope is a love story. Two people who have always been there for each other have somehow grown apart. Will they find a way to get back together or will their marriage be truly over? I really liked this story about family life, strong connections and love. There were a few mistakes in my kindle version of the book, but I easily forgot about them as I was so moved by the story. Point Hope is a wonderful read.
Point Hope is a love story. Two people who have always been there for each other have somehow grown apart. Will they find a way to get back together or will their marriage be truly over? I really liked this story about family life, strong connections and love. There were a few mistakes in my kindle version of the book, but I easily forgot about them as I was so moved by the story. Point Hope is a wonderful read.
February 3, 2014
This was one of the most unbelieveably good, no, make that great books I've read in quite a while. The depth of the charaters, the amazing plot and the emotional ending will have you using a box of tissues as you read well into the night. The description of Coos Bay OR. and the ocean so vivid and acurate I was smelling the salt air. If you're looking for an escape, this book provides it all. Simply WONDERFUL!
October 15, 2014
This was a fantastic story. I don't know how I even found time to sleep seeing as I was reading into the wee hours of the night or morning as it ended up. I just didn't want to stop reading, this is totally a page turner for sure. You get a mystery, definitely some tears and sadness, guilty feelings, cute quirky kids, and a little bit of Hope to bring them back together. Really enjoyed reading this. Loved it!! I would most definitely recommend this book. :)
June 23, 2013
I've read most of Kristen's books now and I found this one very descriptive in the settings and scenes. I really wanted to walk on the sand and dip my feet in the ocean at times. This novel has a morel that shows how stressful family life can pull you apart and tragedy can either break you or make you. Maybe potential for Alex's story?
July 31, 2013
Really a 4 1/2 star.... The entire book spanned only a two week time frame so you were given a lot if information and emotions very quickly. That is my only negative, it moved quick which made it seem like a lot happened in one moment (which it does, but doesn't). Other than that, great book, great plot, great writing!
October 24, 2013
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars but did not feel that it had enough meat in it for that rating. It dealt with PTSD of a man trying to cope with the deaths of loved ones, the death of his marriage and the struggle to keep everything together for his family. I think it would make an excellent movie.
August 9, 2013
I received Point Hope as a Goodreads first read book. It's a good book for a quiet weekend. It's a very easy read and very emotional. The characters were all very realistic. Kristen James had me truly caring about Trey and Rosette, and hoping everything worked out in the end.
July 28, 2013
What a heartbreaking but real book. There was so many heart wrenching moments in this book that at times I had to put it down and walk away, but had to rush back to see what happened next. Storyline was spot on and did all the characters justice!!!
September 22, 2013
This book was great. It depicted the ups and downs of life. So many challenges were faced by this family. Loss of loved ones and loss of themselves. It had me hooked and rooting for them to somehow put everything back together again.
May 16, 2014
Hope!!!
This is a wonderful novel about family and what gratitude means for a family who really cares. also about how adoption can make a family more loving. This book is how we would all like to be as a useful human being.
This is a wonderful novel about family and what gratitude means for a family who really cares. also about how adoption can make a family more loving. This book is how we would all like to be as a useful human being.
July 6, 2013
I have loved every book I've read by Kristen James, but I would have to say this is the best and most heart touching one yet.
July 30, 2013
I really liked this book. It was a good, clean drama! I could really relate to some of the problems in this story and ironically, the resolution gave me "hope"!
July 30, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It's a nice light, yet heartwarming read. It helped to remind me that even in our roughest days, there is a silver lining.
August 3, 2013
great characters, good pace, about the trials and triumphs of family, marriage and life. romance novel but far from sappy. thoroughly enjoyed, will be on the lookout for more by K. James.
August 22, 2013
I really liked this book!! The characters seemed so real and the story line very relatable!! Well written. I recommend this fast read!!
May 1, 2020
Love and Family
As I was reading this novel I wondered how I would have handled all the sadness that was experienced by this unique family. Just thinking about what they were going through would be a challenge but they manage to face the challenge and came out with family being important and of course the love they had for each other. Good story and I'm glad I was able to read this novel.
As I was reading this novel I wondered how I would have handled all the sadness that was experienced by this unique family. Just thinking about what they were going through would be a challenge but they manage to face the challenge and came out with family being important and of course the love they had for each other. Good story and I'm glad I was able to read this novel.
May 18, 2017
This is the first book I have read/listen (audio) to from Kristen James. I totally enjoyed it. There were a lot of family issues and heartache. I could feel their pain. Strong characters and a great storyline. I received this audio book from a contest on Facebook from Kristen James. I recommend everyone read it.
September 5, 2018
My main complaint: there was a gauzy veil between the writer and the reader. I never felt like I knew the characters or their issues. The behaviors were described rather than felt. The plot was overdone and consequently moved at a snail’s pace.
January 20, 2021
Easy read, hard subject
What a sweet story for life’s hard questions! I could see the pain in the adults and the innocence of the children, all facing the hard truths of life
What a sweet story for life’s hard questions! I could see the pain in the adults and the innocence of the children, all facing the hard truths of life
June 7, 2022
What a great story. Amazing how people not blood related can be can be family
January 26, 2024
This was a feel good story. IT was raw and deep. Couldn't put it down. It made me want to cry at times.
September 3, 2013
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
And although the premise was good, "Point Hope", just tried to be too much. A story of a marriage in trouble because of a husband suffering from PTSD, and then the sudden death of two family members and the addition of two new family members, and a mystery as to how (or why) one of those deaths occurred makes the book unfocused and anti-climatic.
I liked the characters. And I appreciated the struggles they were having, but I never had a good sense of Trey's (the husband) manifestation of PTSD. The author mentions that he was having trouble feeling things, but it seemed he felt a great deal just wasn't quite sure how to express it. This created conflict in the marriage, but nothing that some decent counseling wouldn't help.
The mystery part of the story felt like it was thrown in as an afterthought. The character - Sarah - just suddenly appears and, to me, doesn't add anything to the main conflict of the story or the growth of the characters.
The book also needed another pass with an eye-for-detail editor. There were numerous errors. Some were added words, like this one at the end of the book. "I don't know what where the law would place the blame here . . " Some were missing words, or words out of order. The mistakes were jarring and disrupted the reading of the story. It's a common problem in self-publishing, one I've learned about the hard way.
This is a book that could have been so much more.
But thanks to Goodreads and Kristen James for the free copy.
And although the premise was good, "Point Hope", just tried to be too much. A story of a marriage in trouble because of a husband suffering from PTSD, and then the sudden death of two family members and the addition of two new family members, and a mystery as to how (or why) one of those deaths occurred makes the book unfocused and anti-climatic.
I liked the characters. And I appreciated the struggles they were having, but I never had a good sense of Trey's (the husband) manifestation of PTSD. The author mentions that he was having trouble feeling things, but it seemed he felt a great deal just wasn't quite sure how to express it. This created conflict in the marriage, but nothing that some decent counseling wouldn't help.
The mystery part of the story felt like it was thrown in as an afterthought. The character - Sarah - just suddenly appears and, to me, doesn't add anything to the main conflict of the story or the growth of the characters.
The book also needed another pass with an eye-for-detail editor. There were numerous errors. Some were added words, like this one at the end of the book. "I don't know what where the law would place the blame here . . " Some were missing words, or words out of order. The mistakes were jarring and disrupted the reading of the story. It's a common problem in self-publishing, one I've learned about the hard way.
This is a book that could have been so much more.
But thanks to Goodreads and Kristen James for the free copy.
July 30, 2013
I tried to like this one..
Trey was messed up from his time in the military (I guess, although the only person he has issues with is his wife,so not sure how that works)
Rosette, is a sweet wife and mother, who has had her fill of her husband not caring, and being in a marriage where they can't even be in the same room together, or look each other in the eye..
They are on their way to divorce, when tragedy hits their little family twice..
leaving them to raise Trey's brothers new baby.
The drama that was suppose to be in this book confused me, we have someone who caused an accident and got away with it? (They let her off scott free unless I missed her being arressted) and the trashy woman next door. I would have loved to see Rosette but that chick leena in her place, but she doesn't..
In fact she doesn't really fight back until one section of the book where she tells Trey, that he wasn't there when she needed him most. She stays quiet and passive about the whole thing, because she loves him and wants him, and he loves her and thinks he wants her, when he isn't thinking that it's best for everyone for them to split up..
The whole thing could have been really good.. Screwed up couple take in new baby and a bit more angst could have made it great, but it was almost Harlequin predictable from page one...
Freebies..
Trey was messed up from his time in the military (I guess, although the only person he has issues with is his wife,so not sure how that works)
Rosette, is a sweet wife and mother, who has had her fill of her husband not caring, and being in a marriage where they can't even be in the same room together, or look each other in the eye..
They are on their way to divorce, when tragedy hits their little family twice..
leaving them to raise Trey's brothers new baby.
The drama that was suppose to be in this book confused me, we have someone who caused an accident and got away with it? (They let her off scott free unless I missed her being arressted) and the trashy woman next door. I would have loved to see Rosette but that chick leena in her place, but she doesn't..
In fact she doesn't really fight back until one section of the book where she tells Trey, that he wasn't there when she needed him most. She stays quiet and passive about the whole thing, because she loves him and wants him, and he loves her and thinks he wants her, when he isn't thinking that it's best for everyone for them to split up..
The whole thing could have been really good.. Screwed up couple take in new baby and a bit more angst could have made it great, but it was almost Harlequin predictable from page one...
Freebies..
August 12, 2013
Hope is the name given to the baby girl. Her mother Amanda dies in a tragic car accident ... the end explains the cause, but not why was she out on that road At All and so late at night. The night after they had just buried her husband, Hope's father, Ricky, killed in action just as he was about to return from duty.
.
Trey and Rosette are having relationship problems, trust and communication issues, aggravated by his PTSD, and a flirty neighbor. They have two young kids of their own. They also have been raising Trey and Ricky's. younger brother, Alex, now age 16, since their parents died 12 years ago. After Amanda's car accident, they bring baby home and name her HOPE. They also add Summer, Amanda's 21 yr old sister, with addiction, prison history and other issues to their family.
.
Even though both funerals are held at a local church, what is missing from this tale is FAITH. Only once, as Trey sits on the side of his bed, he thinks a short prayer. He deals with most of his problems by walking along the Oregon beaches by their inherited millon-dollar home. Rosette deals with the problems by talking to her friend. Both of them put the problems on the shelf - to deal with later - rather than talk honestly with each other.
I cannot imagine dealing with all the life issues in this story without a foundation of Faith.
.
Trey and Rosette are having relationship problems, trust and communication issues, aggravated by his PTSD, and a flirty neighbor. They have two young kids of their own. They also have been raising Trey and Ricky's. younger brother, Alex, now age 16, since their parents died 12 years ago. After Amanda's car accident, they bring baby home and name her HOPE. They also add Summer, Amanda's 21 yr old sister, with addiction, prison history and other issues to their family.
.
Even though both funerals are held at a local church, what is missing from this tale is FAITH. Only once, as Trey sits on the side of his bed, he thinks a short prayer. He deals with most of his problems by walking along the Oregon beaches by their inherited millon-dollar home. Rosette deals with the problems by talking to her friend. Both of them put the problems on the shelf - to deal with later - rather than talk honestly with each other.
I cannot imagine dealing with all the life issues in this story without a foundation of Faith.
April 8, 2015
This is "dark" romance where the H has to fight PTSD that has grown a deep division with his wife who is also struggling with a miscarriage. They have a houseful of extended family that need them. They include his baby brother (15) their own two children. Then they get his middle brother's infant and her aunt (21) to add to the home life. There is the next door neighbor who wants in. He fights his demons daily. With all that was happening she asks for a divorce. This was a story that I could not put down. I needed to finish it to the end. I recommend it to you to read. I have read other books by this author and have not been disappointed by her. I will be reading more for that same reason.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews