{Review} A New Hope by Robyn Carr

Item: A New Hope
Rating: 3.5
Author: Kassiah

July 23, 2015 Reviews Leave a comment

A New Hope by Robyn Carr
Series: Thunder Point #8
Published by Mira on June 30, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 288
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Starting over is never easy, but in Thunder Point, where newcomers are welcome and friends become family, it's possible to find yourself again. In this brand-new story, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes us on a moving and rewarding journey as a young woman finds new hope.

After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding.

In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment.

But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.

Kassiah: I didn’t expect to like A New Hope as much as I did, considering the heroine is dealing with the loss of her child. That’s just a subject that I try to stay away from–I can’t even begin to imagine that grief, and frankly, I don’t want to. Robyn Carr did a great job of conveying the depth of emotions that Ginger Dysart felt as well as the heartfelt remorse that Matt Lacoumette feels when he humiliates Ginger shortly after meeting her.

This story is about finding yourself after hitting rock bottom and losing what you considered most important in your life. It’s about picking up the fractured pieces and realizing that there is hope and love is still possible. Matt’s heartbroken over the loss of his marriage and is surprised when he asks Ginger out. I liked the way these characters evolved and enjoyed experiencing their relationship as it grew into true love. They were realistic and had a rocky road to their HEA. I was surprised that they even fell for each other considering the way they met, but after getting over that, I found A New Hope to be an enjoyable story.

Fans of the other books in the Thunder Point series are going to love seeing some of their favorite couples here, especially Scott and Peyton (from The Promise) since their wedding is featured here. I haven’t read all of the other books in this series, but I plan to for sure. Even without having read them, I could definitely feel the love that Matt’s family had for him and that is one of my favorite thing about companion romance series. You get a standalone book but get to check in with everyone.

You know you’re getting a good romance with Robyn Carr and A New Hope is no different. If you haven’t read anything by her before, the Thunder Point series is a great way to start!