My Hope Next Door

The Fairfield #1

by Tammy L. Gray

RITA Award winner, Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements.

Former bad girl Katie Stone can feel the weight of her reputation settle over her as she drives home for the first time in years. Feeling deeply guilty about her past mistakes, Katie wants to do the right thing for once. But the small town where she grew up is not nearly as forgiving as she’d hoped. Despite it all, she’s determined to help her parents cope with her mother’s recent illness, and Katie finds a surprise ally in the man next door.

Asher Powell never minded being the son of a small-town pastor until a recent breakup leaves him wounded by lifelong members of his church. He remembers his new neighbor as a mean-spirited high school troublemaker, but he senses that her newfound faith and desire for forgiveness are sincere.

Through an unexpected friendship, two people from different worlds find peace, hope, and a second chance they never dreamed was possible.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Christian Romance, Fiction, Clean Romance

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2016

About the author

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include 2017 RITA award winning, My Hope Next Door, and show her unending quest to write high quality, culturally relevant stories with relatable and flawed characters.

When not taxiing her three kids to various school and sporting events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry all while sharing the messy, yet remarkable journey that is a faith-filled life.

Tammy L. Gray has lots of projects going on. For all the latest info, visit her website at http://tammylgray.com

I'd love to hear from all of you! Come join me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tlgraybooks or twitter @tlgraybooks

Reviews

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check it out on ku! An all time fave.
There’s just something about a redemptive love story that is my perfect combination. This book is masterfully written and I’m so thankful to have the sequel to dive into next!

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book TOOK ME THROUGH IT Ya’ll! Such a beautiful redemptive story all about forgiveness and new beginnings. This was such realistic story that grabbed me from the very first page and deals with issues Christians face in their everyday life. 5 BIG STARS.

We follow Katie and Asher as they overcome their past challenges, find forgiveness and each other.

Katie's past is all surrounding drugs and a bad reputation. After running from her hometown many years ago, Katie is back home because of an illness her mother is facing. She's turned her life around and wants to do the right thing, but every where she turns her past is staring her in the face and she doesn't know how to overcome it. Then she meets Asher - the boy next door and the son of a small-town pastor. His life has been turned upside down when his breakup left him wounded by members of his church. He meets Katie and even though they come from 2 different worlds, they need each other more than they know.

I absolutley LOVED the ending to this story. I will admit, it was a tough read for me personally as I could relate to the parental fights and hoarding battles Katie was going through with her parents. Ifound myself saying, we'll I've said that to my parents before - lol. Parts were very emotionally draining for me personally just because of some of those things but overall I loved how this ended and it's now one of my favorite books of the year. I loved the aspect of forgiveness, the romance was AMAZING, Asher is the BEST, he was so patient with Katie and I loved that he never gave up on her. The faith was wonderful....What else can I say? I couldn't stand the scenes with Cooper, which I guess was the point for readers LOL but I am excited to read the next book to see how the other characters play out.

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This came out of nowhere. It sounded good, but I did not expect the depth of life and faith and love that this story contained.
Katie and Asher's story is not one I will forget soon. It was intense, raw, beautiful, and exactly what I needed right now. Highly recommend!

[Christine Indorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Reread 5 star!!

I love Tammy L Gray and her writings. Katie past is a mess. Drugs, sex and stealing she runs from her home town. Four years later she returns home to help her parents. The thing is she has accepted Christ as her Savior, but will the town believe her change? Asher is the pastor son who made a mistake and wants to start church again. Living next door to Katie both form a friendship. Asher believes in her redemption but with an ex who wants her back will Asher have a chance? Will Katie finally believe in herself and let Christ forgive her for her tainted past. Wonderful book. Not everyone accepts Christ as a child and Katie is an excellent example of a past that isn't Christ Centered. Forgiving yourself for your past can be one of the hardest things you can do but if you allow yourself it can be the most rewarding thing you can ever do. I highly recommend you pick this fabulous book up and give it a try!! So worth it!!!

[Nicole]

My absolute favorite of Tammy L. Gray's novels. I've read this one a couple of times (both as a critique partner and as a reader) and I'm truly in awe of this tale of grace and redemption. YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK! My Hope Next Door contains all the vital elements of great storytelling--conflict, tension, romance, and a fabulous resolve. Make sure you add this one to the top of your list.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intricate look at a new believer's path to overcoming her fears by confronting her past. Her MO to coping with her dysfunctional childhood and choices as a youth has been a mixture of fight or flight, but when devastation results from her actions, it's easier to run to escape the pain. Her journey of redemption is not an easy one and I felt the author portrayed all the aspects of the situation in a realistic way, not shying away from the grittiness but also maintaining an overall feeling of hope. I loved that Asher sees the real Katie, and is able to support her in her trials even as she unknowingly pulls him out of a fog of bitterness and despair. Even though they are both flawed, they are wonderful examples of how God can transform us when we turn to Him and make courageous decisions to bring about change in our lives.

(Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

[Baylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I love this story so much. I relate to it even more now than the first time I read it. Real, raw, and hopeful!!! Beautiful story of redemption and Gods love.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit: Just as good the second time through! I really love Katie. Also, I still want to hug her! :)

~~~
Oh friends, where do I start with this one? It's gut-wrenching, yet hopeful, with one of the most authentic romances between two hurting people that I've read in a while. Katie and Asher's journeys are hard, they've both made real mistakes in their pasts and they struggle to move beyond those choices. So when you bring these two together? It's a beautiful story of redemption for both.

Let's start with Katie. I don't believe I've ever really read a story from the perspective of a "mean girl" who's done a one-eighty and now regrets all the terrible things she used to do. Because the Katie from high school is so vastly different from the Katie from now! The downside to this change though, is the fact that hardly anyone from her hometown now believes her. Not even her own parents! It requires patience and persistence for her to convince people of her genuine change of heart, something which she sorely struggles with. Katie has a huge mountain to overcome, but it's her heart so full of regret yet still so hopeful that I connected to. And that's where Asher comes in. Because he reminds her again and again, in her lowest moments, that hope is still possible. That her heart is worth knowing and her ability to stay the course will eventually bring the rewards she desires. Her battles may be hard, but the results will come! And it's that tiny light of hope I could see clinging to Katie, even in her more unlikable moments, that truly won me over. :)

I also related to the main reason she came home again. Her mother's disease and subsequent need for help drew her back, even as the pain of her parents inability to understand her made her wary. Moving back home, after years of being away, is never easy. Add in the fact that there's this disease that affects the entire family not just the patient, plus a difficult parent-child relationship, and everything becomes infinitely more hard. Still, Katie's determination to try and make things right between them showed me her beautiful heart and I knew I wanted to know more about her.

As for Asher? His journey isn't quite so tall a mountain, but the guilt he deals with is still a miserable road some days. His willingness to look beyond the pain Katie had caused him in the past, and see the bits of her heart she unknowingly shares initially, is a wonderful example of what a truly nice guy he is. His past isn't quite as harsh as Katie's, yet he still has trouble holding on to hope himself. Which is where Katie returns the favor and reminds him, sometimes just by simple, everyday conversation. Their slow build from friendship to something more is fraught with hard, doubts, fears, happiness, joy, tears, smiles, namely just about everything. It's not an easy road for either, but they gradually come to realize that they make each other better and that hope is so much easier to cling to when they have someone to lean on! I loved watching them encourage each other, sometimes with hard, honest truth and other times with gentleness and hugs. Their relationship felt realistic to me, because while they had fun bouts of adorableness and cute, they also frustrated each other and struggled to understand some of the choices the other would make. But it's that very longing to understand which kept me yearning for their happy ending!

This story is a beautiful example of two people who come together to choose to see the good, especially in each other, no matter how difficult it may get. They struggle, they laugh, they cry, they hope, and you are left with smiles and happy as you reach the final pages. Read this one, friends! It's a good one. :)

**I received a complimentary copy from the author via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.

It sure does feel good to read a new book I actually truly like. I decided to give this a shot after seeing Oceana from Youtube speak very highly about it, and I am so glad I did! I was absolutely not expecting to love this as much as I did. Pretty much since the start of summer I've read a lot of books that were good, but I sort of had to push myself to finish. This one I definitely did not have to force myself in any way to read, and finished 80% of the book in 2~ hours. I can't remember the last time I did that.

I really loved Katie and Asher and their chemistry, especially since they developed a solid friendship before they started their relationship. They had really fun banter and made witty comments back and forth, but I could also feel their connection when they spoke about their past hurts.

The world around the two of them was built up really well, especially Katies. It wasn't overwhelming and gave you enough detail to allow you fill in the blanks with her past. I struggle when authors write every single detail in their character/world building, so I really appreciate Gray spending more time on allowing her audience to get to know the characters in present tense. I also don't usually like when authors hold onto a secret they reveal in the last 25% of the story, but there was just enough revealed throughout the book that you felt like you weren't being strung along. All the little details were revealed at the appropriate times within the story.

While this book is one of the more clean books when it comes to sexual content, there are parts in the book about adult topics such as drugs, drinking, and sex so if those topics make you uncomfortable I would be cautious, but they are handled carefully and not in a vulgar way.

Oceana's channel here! :)
https://www.youtube.com/c/OceanaGotta...

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You saw a person I hadn't become yet."

This book literally pursued me. It kept popping up on social media feeds and multiple times on random Christian Fiction podcasts where it made multiple top reads hit lists, all in a matter of a couple of weeks which is kinda funny since it was published five years ago. So, I took the hint, checked out audible and it was on sale! Clearly, The Hope Next Door was my reading destiny. :-)

What a powerful novel! it's realistic and gritty, even harsh in places as Gray deals with multiple social issues -- some uniquely connected to the church. My heart still feels stomped on and stretched out of shape from all the pummeling it endured. So, definitely not a light read. More the kind that has the power to grow a reader's faith...and her conscience. And though it's a tough read, it's as hopeful as the title promises.

And there's toe-curling romance! The kind that grows from awkward friendship and sizzles into something charged and complicated. Something that can't fully blossom until all the secrets are laid to rest. And, oh my, are there ever a lot of secrets! The layers in this story are precariously balanced on even more layers and delving into the past is the only way for Katie and Asher to secure their future. But that takes courage. And grace. So much grace.

A stirring redemptive story wrapped up in faith and the hope of second chances.

"Faith is a journey. It doesn't have a start and stop date."

[Rissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Every emotion is heightened thanks to these characters and their troubled pasts. There’s highs and lows as they reconcile with their mess of a past (especially for Katie) and amid it all, you’ll smile through the tears.”

Katie Stone is walking trouble. Or so the people who once knew her expect her to be. Now, years later, Katie has done a lot of growing up and with it, her life and outlook has shifted.

Circumstances have changed her since she walked out on her small town five years ago. But in the wake of her return, ghosts rise up again to haunt her. Her past is as close as next door with PK, Asher Powell. Though Katie and Asher weren’t friends in high school, seeing a classmate again stirs up old memories. But the difference is, Asher is no longer the same person either. Gone is his former “good kid” reputation and in its place, a jaded heart that just may be in need of renovation.

When this novel was pitched for review, I was told not to let the cute scene dripping with summer love, as depicted on the cover art, fool me. There was a whole lot more hidden underneath the beautiful “face” of "My Hope Next Door." How right that assessment is. This novel, though it gives in to the sweeter side of life when needed, is a genuine and messy story. My use of “messy” being only in the best sense considering the picture it paints is heartbreaking, a needed situation to reach the heartwarming.

"I was wrong to say I've never fallen in love. Because I've fallen more than once. ...I've fallen in love with you over and over again.” - Tammy L. Gray

Stepping inside this story immediately proves first impressions wrong. We meet Katie as she returns to her small town, and though we know the return haunts her, we don’t’ know why. The dynamics of Katie’s family are page-turning good as is the “first meeting” between Asher and Katie. Theirs is a slower “burn” relationship, but it’s not without sparks (I dare you to cite a more spark-laden – though I’ll give you as good, first kiss scene) and crackling chemistry. It’s not one that gets life from a friendship so much as it’s driven by mutual “need” and understanding of what the other has gone through. Sometimes this kind of magnetic friction can be a dangerous place, but the author manages the themes with grace, class and romanticism of the highest caliber.

Cacophony aside, Katie and Asher’s story will still appeal to those anticipating a HEA, and anyone seeking a story to inspire smiles. The hostile environment seems contrary to this, but in my opinion, it only makes the story that much stronger. Every emotion is heightened thanks to these characters and their troubled pasts. There’s highs and lows as they reconcile with their mess of a past (especially for Katie) and amid it all, you’ll smile through the tears.

Those wanting a contemporary with deeper meaning and purpose but with the promise of light at the end should look no further than "My Hope Next Door." It’s an unforgettable journey with two characters seeking forgiveness, redemption and a hope to last a lifetime.

Sincere thanks to the publisher, author and Rel for providing a complimentary e-copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tammy L Gray is a favorite contemporary romance author. She does a wonderful job of taking flawed characters and moving them down a path toward Christ.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever tried to run away from your past? Do you believe that it is possible for you to turn over new leaves? For Katie Stone, growing up she was a rebellious child and had a nasty mean streak. She was the type of girl that you never wanted to mess with and was the Queen B. After an incident which spiralled out of control and caused a huge backlash in her friendships. She realised that if she was ever going to move on with her life and become anyone, she had to do it far away from her hometown and start new where nobody knew her and her past. During this time, it was a bumpy ride for Katie, but she changed her appearance to going along to church. She felt fresh and believed that God had forgiven her for her past transgressions. Katie returns home, and it seems that her hometown hasn't changed much and her relationship with her mother is just as worst as she and Katie never saw eye to eye. During this time, Katie that she has changed? What will happen though when her old crowd discover she is back in town and wants to meet up for old times sake? Can Katie be strong and not give into temptation or will be in this small town lure her back to her old ways? My Hope Next Door was a good bmeets her neighbour Asher. The two of them went to the school together but ran in different circles. For the past few months, he too has been struggling with backlash from church members after a relationship fallout. Is he the encouragement that Katie needs to stay strong and prove ook, and though it touches a little bit on religion, it was a family saga type novel and shows readers the answer to the age-old question of whether people can change over time or are people just pretending to be someone else and hiding their true colours? One thing that is for certain is that you can never run away from your past, but to grow and prove you have changed you will have to confront it, and your actions will speak for your character and the person you are today.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this. Such a good story of forgiveness and the romance is so good. Asher is totally swoon-worthy and the faith elements were really good. I don’t even have much else to say; a classic Christian contemporary romance which drama, funny banter, and a story of redemption

Content: talk of drug addiction, kissing scenes mention the desire to be intimate, but the importance of waiting for marriage.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this was 'grittier' than many of the Christian fiction books I've read, I actually really liked it.
From the opening scene, I could feel Katie's desire to truly be a better person than she'd been . . . to leave the past behind her. Of course, in order to do that, she needed to confront it head on, and watching her trying to avoid doing that, and seeing that she didn't truly understand that Christ's grace was for *her* too . . . well, that was difficult.
I loved that Asher, while not perfect, saw that Katie's heart had been changed, and that he was able to encourage her to do the things that would enable her to move forward, and that in that process, he also was able to heal from his past hurts.
(note that there were some very vivid descriptions of past trauma, including drug use and abuse . . . but that while they were vivid to me, they were treated with seriousness and grace)
4.5 stars

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this angsty redemption story! I listened to the audiobook and also enjoyed the dual narrators.

Katie had so much going against her that it was hard for her to see what she actually had going for her. Even though she had accepted Christ, she was a very new believer and had trouble forgiving herself. Add to that the fact that her family and friends from the past were not believers and living lives in destructive patterns. These people did not want to let her forget all of her past wrongs.

But Asher was a breath of fresh air. He had his own past mistakes and things that he needed to forgive himself and others for. He and Katie really needed each other and I loved the way they connected as friends and then grew into more. They were each other's hopes next door. This was a captivating story!

(4.5 stars)

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Hope Next Door by Tammy L. Gray was a page turner from the get go. I am a huge fan of the author and she gets better and better with each book. This book, as with her others, deal in real life issues that unfortunately, in this fallen world are way too abundant. She writes as to make the reader feel the emotions and feelings of the characters. I honestly, couldn't put the book down because I was so invested in my fictional friends lives. As a result, I have a new book boyfriend in Asher. He was so selfless and service oriented with showing the hands and feet of Christ to his neighbors. I also felt the heroine, Katie was also very service oriented in dealing with her parents. I really enjoyed seeing her growth in the Lord as a new Christian and Asher encouraging her in her faith. All this to say, I highly recommend this book!!
*I was given this book by the publisher for my honest review, which I have given.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Love

This was a beautiful story that shows no matter how far you have wandered from God, how much you have messed up...you can be forgiven and loved for who you really are. Katie (h) was real and I could actually feel her pain. Asher was a true hero, man of God and hottie ;) This is the first book I have read by this author and look forward to reading her other books. Highly recommend!!

[ERICA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book! I saw so much of myself in Katie! Tammy Gray just knows how to captivate people’s attention right from the very first page.
I loved how the story line just shows how God can show up in the lives of the broken. There’s so much peace and hope when we just surrender it all.

[Lauren Meissner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooooo good!! So much hope,faith, and grit. Tammy is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!!

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tammy L Gray has become a pretty consistent 1-Click Author for me, mostly because her stories are filled both with real-life and hope.

What I Loved: So many words out of this novel are nearly the same things that come out of my Pastor’s mouth on a regular basis, a message of being real and genuine as a Christian, and through our daily walk with those who aren’t. She mentions so many hot buttons, such as how Christians are hypocrites (true), gossips (true), sinners (well duh), but she also brings light to the fact that despite these things, there are Christ-followers who are real and genuine. People who struggle on a daily basis to just get it right. How if we are truly “Christ-Followers” we would do as He did, sit at tables with sinners, show them love and compassion and not judgment and rejection. It was also touched upon how Christians have their own “language” using words that are unfamiliar to those who did not grow up in Church. Using these words don’t make us holy, and if they make people uncomfortable or becomes a stumbling block, we need to be aware of it, and just be real. I very much love these mini-messages of being relevant and real.

This story was a sort of an opposites attract type story, but both Asher and Katie had issues. I loved the struggles portrayed from both the lifer-church-attendee, and from someone completely…opposite. It was nice to see the story bring together both stories and the love and truth and healing that came through in different ways.

Of course, I love to see real romance, love and passion coming out in a Christian novel that feel much the same as my own relationship with my husband. I love that Tammy L. Gray does not shy away from passion, but embraces it.

Not So Much: While both Asher and Katie both have their own healing, I felt like this was more Katie’s story. I’m pretty sure this was the intention actually, but I was also interested in seeing more of Asher’s process as well. There was a reconciliation and forgiveness, but I felt like at the beginning of the book he was dealing with many internal struggles that seemed to clear up with a simple lecture from his Dad. I would have loved to have seen it flushed out just a bit more.

At times I did feel like the book was a little long. At some point I kind of felt that Katie’s devastation was abundantly clear and was ready to proceed forward with the story. All these things did happen, it just took a bit longer than I felt was necessary.

The Verdict: I know that there are many of my readers who won’t consider this book because I’ve openly reveal how it’s Christian in nature. That is fine. I do think that this was a very beautiful piece of written art and is perfect for any Christ-Follower who prefer books based on Christians rather than not. I also think anyone who likes clean-reads would love this book as well, regardless of their beliefs. I highly recommend this author because she writes great books of struggle and reconciliation, and of hope.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real characters dealing with real life, some really great chemistry and some really hot kisses – right up my alley!

Katie and Asher have both made mistakes they regret, but they come from very different backgrounds and have very different reputations to overcome. The classic “bad girl” image follows Katie around town, even at home, no matter how deeply she knows she is a new person. For Asher, it’s just the opposite. He has to fight the “pastor’s son” reputation – of being held to a higher standard by the church and by the community. Both are afraid for people to really see the depth of their failures, and both are weary of the facade each has been maintaining. One of the most beautiful and touching things to me about My Hope Next Door is watching their friendship develop and deepen – long before they fall in love – into one that allows them to be flawed safely with each other.

If you were a bit of a wild child before you met Jesus and you’ve got a past you regret, you (and Katie) will find much grace in this book. If you, like me, were the “good girl” but you have a moment you regret, you (and Asher… though he is not a girl lol) will find much grace in this book. If you find it difficult to move beyond your reputation, you will find much grace in this book. And if you’ve ever been bullied or belittled by people who should have been your biggest champions, you will find much grace in this book.

You will also find some fantastically fan-requiring kisses in My Hope Next Door! And a swoonworthy hero (once he sets his mind to pursue Katie… watch out!!) and a heroine you’ll want to hug. And an antagonist you’ll want to purse whomp – on a day when you’ve returned from the library with an extra large haul – at least until you find a whole lot of grace in his story too. You’ll also find one of my favorite depictions of a pastor and pastor’s wife ever – I adore Asher’s parents!!! Wise and compassionate and fun and full of … you guessed it …GRACE.

In fact, Tammy L. Gray wraps every page of My Hope Next Door in grace. Gray doesn’t shy away from the raw reality of brokenness but it’s written tastefully and with great care, and the spiritual elements are equally met head-on without being “in your face” or preachy. The main characters have an electric chemistry, but their romance is more of a slow burn – and the friendship that forms first is one of my favorite things about the book. But… never fear! Once the slow burn gets some heat behind it, you’ll need to break out your trusty fan for the kisses that follow! If you like Julie Lessman’s Isle of Hope series or Kristen Heitzmann’s novels, make sure you check out My Hope Next Door and Tammy L. Gray as well.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

See my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Paula Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough, mean kids used to make my school life very hard, so I wasn't sure I'd be able to sympathise with Katie, based on what I read about her in the blurb. When I went to High School reunions, I was always wary of former bullies from my past who now seem to behave as nice as pie. Can people really change their stripes to that extent? That question prompted me to read this novel after all. In a way, I challenged Gray to convince me that it's possible for someone to have a personality transplant. She didn't do a bad job.

After fleeing in disgrace several years earlier, Katie returns to her judgmental home town to help her father care for her ailing mother. The first person she runs into is her controlling, aggressive former boyfriend Cooper, who clearly holds something over her which may be used as blackmail, but we don't find out what it is yet. Her parents are definitely not the most supportive and kind, and it's not hard to feel sorry for her.

Asher is easy to understand too. He's someone who feels he gave his all to his church community, but was deeply wronged by several others. Resentment is a strong force, especially when you're trying to muster friendly feelings toward people you think should never have believed the worst of you in the first place. The feelings he's dealt with as a pastor's kid make an interesting study too. Asher is sick and tired of being regarded as a stereotype.

The plot cleverly gets us wondering about each of their back stories. Katie and Asher are the only two characters whose points of view we get to see, and they're both deeply hurt by events which happened in their pasts. Yet it takes a while for us to get to the bottom of exactly what happened in each case. That's good writing, when we sympathise for characters without being entirely sure what we're sympathising for. Not to mention it keeps us wondering what the big reveals will turn out to be.

I'm sure anyone who picks up this book because they love romances won't be disappointed. Stripped down, it's the same 'exemplary citizen falls in love with former wild child' theme we've surely all come across before, yet it moves steadily and the dialogue is excellent and fun, so I was willing to roll with it.

Finally, if I lived there, I'd attend Asher's father's church based on his character. Brian Powell comes across as an outstanding pastor. He has some good advice for his son about not setting people on pedastals, and also delivers lines like, 'Either be with her and accept the bad with the good, or get out of her life.' I'm not always a great fan of books which drag us into the characters' church culture, with Sunday morning services, home groups, after church lunches and all, but it works okay with this one. Maybe that's because all this just helps to emphasise the huge differences between Katie's and Asher's backgrounds.

I don't know whether their marriage will be completely smooth sailing, but if they can weather what happens in this book, we would hope they'll make it.

Thanks to Waterfall Press and NetGalley for my review copy.

Find more reviews on my blog, http://vincereview.blogspot.com.au/

[Megan Besing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan’s thoughts:
I’m sure everyone has those authors that no matter what they write, you’re going to read it.
For me, Tammy L. Gray is one of those authors.

Having devoured everything Ms. Gray published, I trusted her newest release would be equally enjoyable. I’m not even sure I looked at the back cover of My Hope Next Door before I decided I had to read it. And I’m happy to say, this book is everything it needed to be.

Like her other stories, Katie and Asher are characters who struggle with problems. Real ones. There’s sin, despair, grudges. a wanting to have a better life…. The journey the heroine and hero take may only be fiction, but the hope shared inside their imaginary lives can bring the real world encouragement.

On top of being a new Christian, Katie still hasn’t forgiven herself from her past, especially now that she’s returned home with her unchangeable mistakes following her everywhere. Her family life was never perfect, and she’s knee deep back in it. From Katie’s hording mother to her worn father, the supporting characters are just as authentic as the heroine. I love this about Ms. Gray’s writing. She puts effort into the smallest of details.

Asher struggles with his own form of forgiveness. He was hurt by those in his church, and I liked that the story didn’t dwell only on how hypocritical churches can be, but that healing can happen if we open our heart to the idea.

My Hope Next Door is more than another second chance theme, it’s a page turner filled with faith, healing, and love.

Fans of Varina Denman’s Mended Heart Series, Julie Lessman’s Isle of Hope, and Kristen Heitzmann’s Told You Series will love this story. And if my review hasn’t swayed you to check out Ms. Gray’s writings, the 1st book in her Winsor Series, Shattered Rose is currently free on kindle.

[Astar Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited about this story, the plot sounded very interesting however I felt personally convicted against the things focused on in the book.
1.) Both of the characters healing is not through growing in their relationship with God but each other this bothers me because it may give readers a false sense of fulfillment, true fulfillment comes from God alone not man
2.) Both characters describe in detail the attractiveness of each other (ex. his muscles were glistening)
3.) Lastly, this is a spoiler but specific scene where Even told what happened with his ex-girlfriend, he talks about why if he wasn't a pastors kid his premarital sex would be praised, this specific scene made me dnf the book because just because sin is celebrated in the secular world doesn't make it okay

Overall I dnf it because, as a Christian fiction I wanted more Christian themes

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Hope Next Door is a sweet and heartfelt story of second chances, regrets, guilt, mistakes, finding peace and starting again.

Katie never thought she would come home. She left town four years ago after making some of the biggest mistakes of her life. But a new-found faith and her mother's declining health give her a chance to face her mistakes and maybe find some peace to start over. But she never expected how her next-door neighbour, the paster's son now all grown up, could make her want to look more deeply at her life, fall in love and maybe even stay.

Katie is a flawed and realistic character. Headstrong, fiery, beautiful, stubborn and deeply troubled by her past. I loved how realistic this book is, especially on the topic of mistakes and the guild one feels. Katie has a big reputation in town, and certainly not a good one, so returning home is hard. I felt her guilt, anger, fear and sorrow pour through the pages. I also thought the way that her pathway to peace and understanding forgiveness was realistic and never rushed.

Asher, the boy next door, is also a wonderful realistic and relatable character. He has lived a very different childhood from Katie. He grew up in a loving, Christian home, but in the last year has felt the sting of disappointment in himself and those he loved. He too wrestles with guilt and anger, and is the perfect sounding board for Katie.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Katie and Asher, loved how they value honesty and never brush over their passion. But most of all, I loved their friendship. Their journey starts off tentatively, as they start to confide and lean on one another. It makes for a beautiful relationship and perfectly compliments this story of second chances, forgiveness and love.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews on my blog Madison's Library.

[Jaime Jo Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book by a new to me author. I enjoyed the grittier elements of the book that were more real to life versus the typical Christian fiction. Definitely worth a read.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching up on this author's backlist is such a treat.
This book has heart, depth and a beautiful message of faith, healing, forgiveness and second chances.
I loved how the author has characters that are flawed, real feeling, and at times raw. You get to see that struggle with learning how to live out a relatively new faith, and how it may feel after caving to sin while a believer.
Both characters had their struggles, they had things to work through, in both their faith walk and their relationships.
Not everything in life is tied up with a perfect bow. And I value how the author brings that to life in this story.
Both characters had things in their past that could overshadow their future, and I thought it was really refreshing how the author had them grow through their story.
A great read fore someone looking for a heartfelt, romantic contemporary, with a bit of faith filled grit.

[Kristi Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful story by talented author Tammy L Gray. I never get bored in her stories and will for sure keep reading her titles. I found this one a bit edgier for a Christian title. Would I read it again? Yes, because all felt authentic to the characters, but I mention it in case some folks want a squeaky clean read.
Great description and believable characters set in a realistic world. Yet fiction. Happy reading!

[Diane Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent inspirational romance. The Christian message was strong, but not overwhelming. I loved that it dealt with difficult personal issues -- drugs, theft, abusive relationship. The answers did not come easy for the characters, but nothing worthwhile ever does. The story touched me emotionally and spiritually. I would like to see more inspirational books like this.