Hope Begins

by Rebecca Griffiths

Bridges, once burned, can only be rebuilt with courage, forgiveness… and hope. And doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?

Hope Appleby has spent her life surviving. In and out of care, shaped by loss and unanswered questions, she's learned not to expect too much from people — or from love. When another relationship falls apart, Hope returns to the hometown she once fled, searching for the truth about her mother's death and a chance to begin again.
A job at a local care home gives Hope purpose and structure, caring for residents who remind her that kindness still matters. Then she reconnects with Alec, a familiar face from her past, whose own life is defined by responsibility and sacrifice. Drawn together by compassion as much as chemistry, their connection feels real… and frighteningly hopeful.

As their romance intensifies, dark forces and buried secrets threaten to tear them apart. If they are to have a chance of a life together, these secrets must finally be faced.

Genres: Fiction

ebook

First published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope tries to start a new life back in the town where it all went wrong but can she overcome the memories and results of others actions. A great story, well written with interesting characters.

[Anca Andreea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book with pretty high expectations, the synopsis promised a family story filled with drama and secrets.

And I want to say that I was not disappointed.
It’s a lovely story that makes you believe kindness still exists, restores your faith in people, but also makes you wonder how far some individuals are willing to go to achieve their goals.

The characters are carefully developed, they felt real to me. They are ordinary people with immense emotions. There were also two characters I absolutely could not stand, and if you read the book, you’ll find out why and you’ll probably hate them too.

We follow the story of Hope Appleby, who returns to the village where she grew up for a fresh start. On the very same day, she finds both a job at a home care house and a place to rent.

She reconnects with a former schoolmate, Alec who is that perfect small-town boyfriend, the man loved by everyone.

Everyone is hiding secrets, and you have to follow their journey to discover what they are and what impact they will have.

I really enjoyed the story. It's a small-town romance with interesting twists.

What I liked less, and what made me lower my rating a bit, is that there are a few important moments in the story that the author skips over as if they weren’t that relevant, while I personally needed more from those scenes but the ending was exactly what I hoped for.

Charming and emotional.

[Cait's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope Begins is a story of second chances.

Hope Appleby has been in and out of care systems for much of her life. Following a break-up, she returns home in a quest to seek understanding and truth about her past, including what happened to her mother.

In returning home, she finds purpose, connection, community, belonging, and love. She sees Alec again after many years. This time, seeing him again is something different. Feelings of hope, love, and lasting connection.

Throughout the novel, we see both characters navigate challenging emotions and traumas. There are twists and turns and secrets uncovered. Both Hope and Alec know that this reunion was meant to be. One that is worth holding on to and fighting for. They are both resilient.

The novel shows the power of love, feeling seen, and belonging. It also shows the power of hope. It creates perseverance and commitment to creating the future they both want. A future together.

Thank you to Rebecca, Bloodhound Books and Love Books Tours for the gifted ebook copy! I was provided a copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.

[theweebookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book had a gorgeous cover, I liked the synopsis and certainly wasn't disappointed.

Hope and Alec were aware of each other at school from afar. As a child, Hope suddenly leaves the area and has an upsetting time thereafter. Alec, meanwhile had his own issues growing up.

When Hope come back she meets Alec again and slowly the begin to trust one another, however, there are multiple times when the world seems to conspire against them.

I was totally invested in both main characters who had, and still were, dealing with trauma. I really was rooting for them despite everything that was thrown at them.

The author has a great range of other characters, a couple whom I disliked immensely and I felt they were all good additions to the book.

I think I went through a whole range of emotions whilst reading this book and loved all the twists and turns.

There are a few difficult topics covered like MS and death of a parent but I felt the author dealt with these in a sensitive manner.

A lovely read that will stay with me for a while.

[Helen Ratheram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly loved this beautifully written, immersive story that balances emotional depth with a gripping plot that leaves you desperate to know where it will all lead.

The heart of this novel lies entirely with its main characters. They are deeply layered, authentic, and easy to invest in. I couldn’t help but root for them as they navigate their journey. The story hooks you early on, building a sense of anticipation which made it almost impossible to put down. Just when I thought I had the trajectory figured out, the plot serves up well-timed twists that keep the momentum fresh and shocked me. Crucially, the book sticks the landing. The conclusion felt so satisfying, tying the emotional threads together in a way that stays with you long after the final page.

Rebecca Griffiths' writing style is smooth, and incredibly engaging. She knows how to build tension while maintaining a deep empathy for her characters. If you are looking for a story with heart, mystery, and brilliant pacing, Hope Begins is an absolute must-read.

[Jacqueline Moxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope has not had an easy life. Brought up by a single mother, she was left with no one to care for her when her mother was killed in a tragic hit and run accident. As her grandparents wanted little to do with her, she ended up in the care system. The unwelcoming children’s home was followed by an even more unwelcoming foster home, where she was made to feel guilty for simply existing. She herself, however, is kind and caring, and is very popular in the care home where she works. One patient, in particular, responds to her sensitive treatment. Meanwhile, Alec is struggling to care for his father, an MS patient who is deteriorating rapidly. The two form a growing relationship, though both are fighting with issues of trust and abandonment. However secrets come between them and circumstances drive them apart. Love, though, endures despite separation and there is still hope that they will have another opportunity to find happiness.

[Courtney Kniffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary | Women’s Fiction | Romance
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Rating: 4.5 stars

If you follow my reviews, you know by now that I am a hopeless romantic. I believe all stories deserve their happy ends, especially ones with troubled pasts like Hope and Alec. This story felt real and humbling. I don't feel like this is one of those stories that you read and think "That doesn't happen in real life". After failed attempts at love and life, Hope and Alec learn to lean on each other and see what the cards have in store for them. The storyline flowed beautifully page after page. The chemistry between the two main characters is vibrant and can be felt throughout the readings. This story makes me believe in love defying all odds stacked against you. It is raw, vulnerable, and touching. My 4 year old absolutely loves picking dandelions so the cover art put a giant smile on my face as an added bonus. Brilliant novel. 🩵

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

📆 single timeline.
👀 dual POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced

What started as a sweet little romance story, soon became something deeper, something more real. Something where love is messy and complicated, and even the most loved up people have misunderstandings. Alec and Fran's was very real and believable. So often romance novels portray love as easy, and in fact it's not. I think Griffiths has portrayed that really well.

That said, I did find Alec a bit annoying at the beginning. He claimed Fran
decided to have a baby without asking him, abdicating all responsibility for contraception. Mind you, that also makes his character believable!

I also think it was a good representation of the pain and difficulty of caring for an elderly or unwell parent. The experiences of working in care largely matched my own, although there were a few things that didn't ring true. I did find the "buried secrets" to be rather obvious, but they still added a layer of complexity to the plot.

[Jillian Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely outstanding love story from Rebecca Griffiths.
This novel was full of the twists and turns of Hope & Alec’s relationship.
Both had suffered trauma & loss from their early childhood and this story proved how a person’s past should never hold them back in making their dreams a reality.
At so many points Hope & Alec nearly lost each other due to circumstances beyond their control but this book proved that as long as you are prepared to keep trying, true love will finally win the day.
Thank you to Rebecca for such a marvellous book and thank you to Lexi & the team at Bloodhound for giving me an early copy of one of the best books I have read so far this year.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my heart! I think I cried for the last 80 or so pages of the book. It was sooo good! One of the things I liked about this book is that it was more than just a romance novel. There were a couple of unsolved mysteries, second chances, new beginnings, and found families. Of course, there were several things that made me mad, sad, frustrated, or any combination of those. And everything I named from the very first word of this review made this a book I absolutely flew through. 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!

[Daranee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has treated Hope a bit harshly which has left her struggling and leery of love. She has survived life, so far, on her own but with many unanswered questions. She moves back home to hopefully start anew and figure things out. There are twists, dark secrets, love, heartache, mistreatment, and so many questions that finally get answered. A contemporary, feel good love story. A nice light, enjoyable read.

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book . It’s about Hope who is brought up by a single parent mother. But when her mother dies in an accident she is taken into care and just about survives . This is Hopes story about how she returns to the place in later years where everything went wrong for her and how Hope comes through it all.
This book has great characters and storyline and is full of twists . Would recommend a read.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars