At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book because it starts with the separation of a marriage, and I wasn't sure if I could read a heartwrenching book at the time, but as I continued reading, I was drawn into the story. While at first, it seems a story of loss and despair, it becomes a story of hope and beginnings.

A note before I begin this review: The storyline of this book includes the accidental death of a child; adultery; impending divorce; depression; and attempted suicide. All of these topics are written about in an appropriate way and with appropriate language, but I wanted you to be aware of this before you begin the book. Because of the seriousness of these subjects, I’d classified this book for adult readers.

It’s hard to write a review about this book because it’s so emotional but so very well-written.

This novel, although it deals with the serious subjects I listed above, is one that has a light of hope and forgiveness all throughout the storyline. Parts of it are heartbreaking. Following this family through the consequences of selfish actions and disobeying God is a roller coaster ride of emotions. The characters are quite true-to-life. There’s nothing sugarcoated here. But it also illustrates so accurately the way that God constantly and patiently works through our lives to bring us back to Him. Through all the brokenness, it’s a beautiful story. When you get to the ending, have tissues ready because it will make you cry. (And since I don’t cry easily, that’s quite a statement.)

There’s a quote that I love from towards the end of the story: “You’re seeing everything we don’t deserve, but somehow get. It’s the miracle of faith. Grace. And hope. Isn’t it glorious?” Doesn’t that describe all of our lives as we follow Christ? I was reminded to extend His grace towards others, especially those who are struggling.

At the end of the book, all I could say was “wow”. And cry some more.

Just read it. You’ll see what I mean.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion about this book.

Catherine West tackles some very serious issues in this book that will send readers on an emotional roller coaster. This is a story of a family dealing with the fallout after tragedy sends the family spiraling into a series of bad decisions and brokenness. But it is also a story of love, grace, forgiveness and hope. Mostly the hope that new beginnings can bring. While the story occasionally switched to other characters, it was told mostly from Savannah's point of view. As she dealt with grief, anger and betrayal I found myself pulled into her story. But it was when she was able to lay aside blame, learning to forgive and trust that I found the tears flowing. Don't let the threat of tears deter you from reading this book. There are so many insights into the many relationships we share in life as a lover, spouse, parent and child that the reader will ponder long after the last page was read.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I don't recall reading any books by Catherine West, but I must say Where Hope Begins is hard to put down. There is one caveat: there is so much angst in this book that the reader needs to keep blood pressure medication nearby. The tension is enough to ring the bell on the sphygmomanometer.

Savannah Barrington is in the position of being the wife, while her husband has been having an affair with a coworker. In order to clear her mind, she goes to her parents' home in the Berkshires in upstate New York. Next door to that home, lives Clarice, her nephew Brock Chandler, and his daughter Maysie. The first time Savannah sees Maysie she's reminded of the daughter she lost years ago.

Svannah and Brock really hit it off almost to the point of starting an affair, but they both realized it would not be appropriate and stopped. They both have secrets and they find in each other someone to confide in and someone to receive comfort from.

This is not the kind of book you can jump ahead to the end and find out what's going to happen, because it just won't make sense. The tension among all of the characters builds to the very last page and all of the book has to be read in order to come to any sensical conclusion.

This IS the kind of book that the reader will need a box of tissues or a very large hankie at hand. It is somewhat traumatizing, but the characters are empathetic and sensitive. There are many spiritual applications that are demonstrated in the book, including grace and forgiveness.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a puppy named Hope.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book.

It has taken me awhile to write this review. It was not because I didn’t know what to think. It was because there were so many feelings when I finished this book. I am not someone that cries. If I tear up in a book, it means that it deeply touched me. This book was one that deeply touched my soul.

I know many people that avoid books that might make them feel or deal with pain. Please don’t avoid this book. The well written prose from this amazing author, will not only cause you to dig deep, but I would also hope you would find yourself changed by it. She is one of my favorites and I never miss a book written by her.

Grief. It is a tough topic. It is not one we ever want to talk about, and may not want to read about. Sometimes people might avoid a book that talks about it, because they are afraid they will relate to it. Again, please don’t do that with this book. This book is filled with hope, healing and just a passion for discovering life after loss that I believe it will be a read that most people will not only enjoy, but benefit from. I loved the greenhouse in the book and the quirky secondary characters just warmed my heart.



I can’t wait for her next book and this one is not even quite released yet. I obtained this book from NetGalley and the opinions contained herein are my own. I am purchasing a copy of my own.

You can preorder this book from Amazon or get from your local book seller and I would highly encourage you to.

How do you cope with something that tears apart your marriage and destroys your dreams for the future, leaving your self-esteem in tatters? How do you hold on to hope through all that? Catherine West delivers a powerful novel that is at once both utterly heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful. As the title suggests, Where Hope Begins is about starting over and finding that glimmer of hope in the harshness of broken dreams.

Savannah’s husband is leaving her. After twenty-one years of marriage, three children, and facing devastating challenges, he is leaving her for another woman. Unsure what her next move should be, Savannah heads to the safety of her parents’ holiday home. There she connects with her charming neighbours, writer and single dad, Brock and his sweet daughter Maysie, and Brock’s charming and quaint aunt, Clarice. They open their hearts, home, and greenhouse to Savannah and show her that she is worthy of love and grace. But when her husband asks to reconcile, Savannah’s world is sent into a spin once again as she must decide what she wants.

There is something a little magical about this book. From the descriptions of the frozen beauty of Savannah’s hideaway at the lake, to the all-knowing neighbour Clarice and her glasshouse like something out of Burnett’s Secret Garden. Where Hope Begins charmed and seduced me, and entangled me within its web of emotions, heartbreak, and story of second chances. The devastation Savannah feels is clear from the very first few sentences. And then, a few more paragraphs in, it is revealed that Savannah has already faced far, far worse. West so aptly conveys the tumultuous emotions Savannah experiences.

I underestimated the effect this book would have on me. It covers a range of sad and emotive topics, from adultery and relationship breakdown, to suicide, grief, and the gut wrenching loss of a child. Yet the emotions in Where Hope Begins hit me like a punch to the gut. I had to stop reading the last section and pick it up again when I had some time alone, so that I could fall apart completely without any witnesses to my reaction to this story. Tears of sadness, tear of joy, tears of amazement - Where Hope Begins should not be read without an accompanying box of tissues.

The whole book I was is suspense: would Savannah return to her husband? At first I really wanted it to work out one way and then I wasn’t sure. The best thing, I felt, was that there was no judgment. I felt that it would be okay no matter what Savannah chose and that understanding was present throughout the book. In fact, the only time a character delivers some sort of judgment or “you should do this” it is shut down pretty quickly. Yet this is just Savannah’s story. Because it worked out the way it did for her doesn’t mean that it would or should work for everyone, and West clarifies that message in her author’s note, reinforcing what she conveys in every word of this magnificent novel.

Where Hope Begins is written in first-person from Savannah’s perspective. It also includes third-person narration from the view-point of Brock and Zoe, Savannah’s daughter. These extra perspectives allow for the full impact of the story to be conveyed. Frequent flashbacks to times throughout Savannah’s twenty years of marriage serve to fill in the gaps of the events of the last twenty years and also reinforce the strong bond Savannah and her husband once shared.

If I had to choose only one word to describe Where Hope Begins it would be powerful. Powerful in its ability to convey such an incredibly sad story, incredibly sad events, in such a hopeful and grace-filled way. Powerful in its writing style and how it so quickly captures the emotions of the characters, drawing the reader into the story. Powerful in all the little things that tie together. A powerful ending (and that is a huge understatement). And powerful in its message of forgiveness, grace, and second chances.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Beautifully written...emotional...full of love/loss/hope. Experience this novel. Savor it.

"I am so tired of crying. So tired of this hatred, this anger. I want it all to end."

There are times when you read a book in which your emotions are so invested, it is truly hard to sit down and write a review worthy of the book. This is one of those times. Catherine West has written a book that is surely destined to be on the keeper shelf and be read over and over again.

Savannah Barrington's husband of over 20 years has left her, having been caught in an affair with another woman. Savannah and Kevin have had tremendous heartache and tragedy in their time together and now, with this latest situation, Savannah feels buried underneath the rubble that is her life. She escapes to the Berkshires, her parents' lake house there . They are in Florida and it's hers alone. She hopes to find solace there for her shaken world and seemingly unending emotional pain. She meets the neighbors, an old woman, a little girl and a handsome man who shakes her world more than a little.

But Savannah must make a choice for she is facing a sure challenge: forgive the unforgivable, show mercy where none was shown and reconciliation with the grief that has stolen her heart for the last ten years. But God is pursuing Savannah and He does have a plan for her life. By His wounds she will be healed. If she allows it.

This book had me completely drawn in by page 5. West shows her readers what true emotional pain feels like, bringing them right into Savannah's heart. And not only hers, but her husband's, her children's, and the neighbors' pain as well. We learn that everyone is dealing with something that burdens their hearts and lives. It's how we handle it that counts.

I found myself smiling, laughing and crying. Many times. I had to put the book down once and just bawl. There is hope here, healing, hope, grace, redemption and mercy. The poignancy of this tale is tremendous! Expertly written, this book will captivate readers with its sincerity, emotion and hope. Truly, this one is NOT to be missed! This will be on my list of best books of 2018, no, best books ever I've read. Highly recommended.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.

Wonderful. Wonderful book!! I was totally captivated from the start! It’s the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’m going to recommend her to my book club.

This book dealt with heavy issues—loss of a child, infedility and suicide, and did so with a realism I appreciated but that didn’t drag me down. Ultimate redemption was the goal here, and I think Ms. West did an admirable job and brought it all to a satisfying ending. Bravo!

I received this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Where Hope Begins by Catherine West is a powerful contemporary Christian novel that will take the reader on a roller coaster emotional ride.
Catherine West always writes stories that tug at your heart and this is no exception. Where Hope Begins is a gritty realistic read. It is painful. It is beautiful. It is a tale that refuses to leave the reader untouched.
This novel is about raw grief. Grief associated with loss - loss of life, of hope, of dreams, of a future. Life ended ten years earlier. The subsequent years have been existing but not living. Loss affects everyone. We all cope differently. Some are "trapped by my [their] own grief."
In our grief we may lose sight of God. We pull away from Him. "Too many questions God hasn't answered. Too many prayers He's simply ignored." God has not gone silent on us, we have simply stopped hearing. He does answer prayer but we do not always like His answers or His timing.
When life is hard, we may withdraw. Family members lock themselves away in their grief. The family fractures. "Now I'm just broken." Who can mend us? Only God can. "God doesn't give up... People do." He waits for us. God sends people to help us. He never leaves us. "Hope begins in the dark."
The novel deals with faith. When we have little faith, what do we do? "And when our faith seems to fail?... You pray for more." This reminds the reader of the Biblical words, "I do believe. Help my unbelief."
The Christian walk is not always easy. The novel has the disturbing topics of divorce, suicide attempts, loss of a child and cancer, but it is not a gloomy read. "Sometimes we are allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness." Catherine West has presented the reader with a study of a life that hurts, that is confusing, that is emotional. "So tired of crying. So tired of this hatred. Tired of this anger." What can we do? Where can we go? Only God can heal this pain.
The characters are wonderfully drawn. There are some humorous verbal volleys amid the pain. Written in both the third and first person, the reader 'experiences' life from different points of view.
I just could not put Where Hope Begins down. My emotions rose and fell. I laughed and I cried. I gasped out loud at some truly beautiful moments. In the midst of death, there is life. In the midst of pain, there is beauty. In the midst of despair there is hope. The one sure constant in life is God. Cling on to Him.
A powerful, heart wrenching, beautiful read.
I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson on Net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

I wis I could give this book 10 stars. I was captivated from the first page. The author weaves a superbly written page turner that engaged my mind as well as my heart. I cared about each character and the journey they endured to come to this heart wrenching but powerfully inspiring conclusion. There are many layers to this story, told mainly from Savannah’s point of view but because of the author’s brilliant writing I was able to gain insight into the mind and motivation of each character. I loved that! I highly recommend this book, it opened my eyes to why communicating honestly and openly in relationships and seeking help when you endure great hurt, trials, loss etc. leads one to a place of healing and forgiveness. When we give our pain to God, His power can do immeasurably more than we can imagine. He mends the broken.
Favorite quotes: “God doesn’t give up. People do”
“People let you down. Even the ones who aren’t suppose to.” “And what do you do with that?” Zoe whispered. “You love them anyway. And you pray that at some point you find the grace to forgive.”
“We are made for relationships. You know that? Marriages and families are what hold us together, give life real meaning.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One of the best stories I have read lately. A variety of emotions was felt while reading this one. Sadness, heartbreak, fear and then, hope, faith and love. The characters and the story line are so well written that I felt as if I was right there experiencing everything. I wanted to reach out and hug the main characters. A wonderful read. I received a copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. No review was required. This is my honest personal opinion of the story.

This book has emitted every emotion, heartache, grief, sadness, anger, laughter, and hope. This is a gritty real life novel that dealt with death, adultery, suicide, and thankfully... second chances. But, I don't want to leave the impression that this is a sad and morose book. It's not. This book, although deals with hard real life subjects, it offers hope, and new beginnings. It didn't end sad, it had a precious and sweet ending. So no fears there. This is my new favorite book by this very talented author.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

This is a tale of hurt that so many today can identify with; betrayal, loss, and moving on with life. The book is well written and the characters are beautifully crafted and detailed. I felt I knew each of them. All the same, I wouldn't choose to read this one again. As a young mother, the hurt was almost too real and raw for me. The healing and moving on was all well and good, but I winced through the majority of the story just knowing how true it all is to today. Though, that what makes it a great story, right? Giving it 4 stars for the quality, but taking the one because it honestly hurt to read.

This is my fourth Catherine West novel and it's my new favorite.

On the surface Where Hope Begins is a novel about heartbreaking things...adultery, death, suicide and terminal illness. The beauty comes in the perseverance and humility shown by the characters. One can choose to give up or carry forward.

All of the characters were well portrayed. I'm not sure that I have a favorite among them. As a southerner, I adored the reaction of Savanah's father to the presence of her cheating husband at a family gathering. Such a realistic scene. The entire novel was full of incredibly realistic scenes and characters.

I loved the author's note at the end in which she shares how this story came to pass and a prayer for those going through similar hurts that may have a different ending than Savanah.

Oh my goodness! This one really touched a lot of sensitive issues in my life. As the victim of a husband who committed adultery, this one really resonated with me. I could identify with so many of the feelings the wife and children were experiencing. And the loss this family endured was also something I have seen close up with my best friend being killed by a drunk driver.

I had no idea when I opened this book and started on the journey with Savannah, Maysie, Brock, Kevin...that it would be an emotional investment. But it was worth every tear I shed and tissue I used! Catherine West does a wonderful job of addressing the many serious issues that are dealt with in the pages of this novel. She handles them with grace and caring and does not minimize the tragedies they each cause in the characters' lives.

While my marriage didn't resolve in the same way as Savannah's, I know that God's love and grace are wrapped around me just as those in this book experienced. Catherine West manages to touch your heart and soul with the redemptive love God shares with each of us. She takes life experiences and brings them to light in a moving and touching manner. I appreciate her ability to give these situations the depth of seriousness they deserve while allowing the reader to see how God can work through the good, the bad, and the ugly. His love is where hope begins.

I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

WHERE HOPE BEGINS by CATHERINE WEST is a sensitively written novel with a strong message of the love that never gives up.
Savannah and Kevin Barrington's marriage has been badly affected by the loss of their eldest daughter, Shelby. This tragedy hit their children, Zoe and Adam very hard too - in fact the family is in a bad way. When Kevin has an affair and moves out, the already shattered family really falls apart.
In getting to know Brock Chandler, his Aunt Clarice and daughter Maysie, at her parents' holiday home, Savannah starts to take a good look at herself and to take responsibility for her own behaviour.
The issues dealt with in the story are heavy, but through it all we feel there is a message of hope and second chances. It makes for an interesting and thought provoking read.
I was given a copy of the book by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read a number of Catherine West's novels, so I knew West really digs down deep into the emotions of her characters and allows me, as the reader, to empathize with them. With her newest release Where Hope Begins, I felt the same way. I couldn't imagine the hurt Savannah has to endure as she struggles with her husband's cheating and the loss of a child. I have never lost a child, but I have lost a Daddy, so I understand how deep the hurt goes.
I really empathized with Savannah as the hurt kept being shoved in her face. I really enjoyed how realistic West made the children's hurt too. Kids of divorce, at any age, still feel betrayed and cheated. I know firsthand because my parents divorced after I left for college and no kids were left at home. This is becoming more and more common with the baby boomers. Divorce during the empty nest syndrome. The parents finally see each other because there is no kids to distract them, and they don't like what they have left to deal with. So this story is timely and important.
I wish there was more to Kevin's side of the story. I would really like to see, not just hear from his mouth, why he cheated. What drew him to the other women? West is good at diving into the character's emotions, so I think she could do a great job at discovering this.
The plot was wrapped differently than most stories where the cheating spouse isn't trying to justify his reasons. I really enjoyed seeing the story from Savannah's perspective and watching her keep busy to better herself and move on. I finished the story in a day and a half, so I really enjoyed it
Overall, Where Hope Begins by Catherine West is a timely, yet important story of a failed marriage and dealing with the loss of someone. Filled with an interesting cast of characters, I felt like I was enduring my sister's struggle and watching her cope. I can't wait to see what West comes up with next.
I received a complimentary copy of Where Hope Begins by Catherine West from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.