Where Hope Begins

Let me just start by saying.....prepare yourself. If you have not already read Where HopeBegins, you will need some things before you start:

1.Two boxes of Kleenex (not joking)...and if you are menopausal, then three should do it.

2. Lots of chocolate to console yourself and commiserate with the main character. Also lots of chocolate to celebrate the other things I can't talk about because #spoilers.

3. Plenty of fluids because the crying and shedding happy tears too, while laughing may make you slightly dehydrated.

4. Clear the room or find a safe spot to read the book (because no one wants to watch you ugly cry and get all snotty and red-nosed.)


Ya know you've read a good book when you keep forgetting the characters aren't actually real and your crush on one of the characters, say.....Brock, has you wondering for way too long just what swoony handsome actor would play him in a movie adaptation.

This book is about hope when it seems there is none, life after the unthinkable, joy after the tears. Thank you Catherine West for another winner.

I love Catherine's books, and this one exceeded all expectations. Her writing is captivating and will draw you in from the first page. An important story of forgiveness that leads to healing and hope.

From the first line: “My husband is leaving me.” This book grabbed and did not let me go.
I’ve read one other book by this author, and I loved that one! But I found this one to be even better!
Savannah is in so much pain, and such a very hard place. She’s trying to come to grips with the end of her marriage. Moving on. All of that.
This book displays such real emotion. For anyone who is or has been married, you will be able to feel this right with Savannah. A good marriage is hard, and takes work. We’ve all faced hard times.
I was warned before I started reading about the need to have tissues handy. I found myself needing them quite frequently. This book just brought out my tears.
I could feel the hurts right with them.
Savannah. And then there’s Kevin. He knows what he did was wrong. But what about grace. And forgiveness?!
And where is God in the midst of all these hard times?
So many life lessons are shown here. Marriage problems. An affair. Seemingly inevitable divorce. Death of a child. Going on with life. Grieving. Faithfulness. Forgiveness.
This book is written with a gut-wrenching realness that will leave your emotions all twisted and tangled in knots.
It will stay with me for a long time.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Where Hope Begins

Catherine West


Wow, all I can say is, keep the tissues handy! WHERE HOPE BEGINS by Catherine West will have your emotions all over the place. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! I have only read one other book by Catherine West but I know this won't be the last! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Savannah after so much heartache! Wow! What an awesome story. WHERE HOPE BEGINS hooked me from the very first page and never let me go until the very last. Catherine West has written a contemporary story that takes place on Nantucket and is filled with strong, caring characters that everyone will be able to relate to and care about. Soon, you will feel as if you are on the island with the Barringtons, struggling to figure out where their lives are going.


WHERE HOPE BEGINS is all about family and the past and the secrets that come out are heartbreaking. It deals with terminal illness, adultery, death, suicide and had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to Savannah and Brock and all the secondary characters. I hope there is going to be another book and that this becomes a series or at least a trilogy. I want and need more contact with this family. The characters are all well written and totally believable.


WHERE HOPE BEGINS is without a doubt one of the best books I've read in 2018 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters and especially with Brock's daughter, Maysie and I need more of her story. My heart broke for Savannah and Kevin and for all they were dealing with but Brock shredded me. Catherine West really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author. Well done Ms. West, you have a new fan.

Where Hope Begins is a deeply emotional story about how one family deals with issues that can tear them apart-death of a loved one and the death of a marriage. Catherine West does an amazing job of conveying the emotions a family goes through when vows are broken, especially the spouse who is broadsided by the act-shock, hurt, anger, rejection and feelings of fear and not being enough. When things are so bad, the pain is too hard to deal with and we can't take another step, God is always there if we reach out to Him. Only He can use our situations to bring something good out of bad-no matter the outcome.
When we close ourselves off in pain, we can't always see what our loved ones are going through. The Barringtons have a lot of unresolved issues that go back to the loss of a child. The whole family has a lot of pain to work through. This is a layered story of faith, forgiveness, trust and maybe even second chances. This is a beautiful story that too many people can relate to but it is a story where God's love and healing shine through and there is always hope.
As I was reading, I wondered how I could review this story and convey the emotions that it evoked in me and do it justice. I realized that I can't.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read every one of Catherine West’s novels. Bridge to Haven was my first introduction to her writing and gripped me with its poignant tale. I wondered if I was a fluke so read Yesterday’s Tomorrow, which utterly wrecked me. But as I close the pages of Where Hope Begins, I realized that Ms. West has out done herself.

Hands down. Her best book. EVER.

Y’all, from the opening line my heart ached and my body tensed, prepared for the onslaught I was sure to come. But nothing went like I expected. And even when I could tell the direction Ms. West was going, I still wasn’t prepared.

I’ve heard that early readers were crying. I admit I thought I would remain untouched by that. But yeah almost down to the last page and the tears started. She got me. J Now I admit, there are parts here and there which are utterly heartbreaking and could spark some tears. But the Epilogue tore me to pieces.

But I’m glad I cried. I’m glad I took a chance on a book that has a rough subject matter. Because that beautiful saving grace that God’s in the business of making made the ending all so sweeter.

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

Wow. Just wow. Now THIS is good storytelling right here. If only more and more Christian fiction writers was this bold. This is wonderful story about a family that's been broken by circumstances and the people they meet will change their lives forever.. Ms. West really knows how to pull at your heartstring. All of the characters including the secondary characters were developed well. The themes ranged from adultery, death, suicide, forgiveness, second chances, love and many more. The faith aspect of this book was well done. It wasn't explicit but faith played a role in the character's lives. The ending was super satisfying Warning: You will cry. Beautiful story that I recommend to everyone!

This book deals with so much. The death of a child. Adultery. Divorce. Separation. Cancer. Death. Friendship. Family. Attempted suicide. Depression. Relationships. It’s got it all. Basically it’s life. We’ve all dealt with some of this somewhere in our own lives at one time or another firsthand or with friends. I recommend tissues as you read being on hand nearby. It’s so well done and I just kept pausing to reflect and process. Then I’d have to go back and keep reading. It just drew me in and captured me. So be prepared to be blown away as you read. And don’t forget those tissues. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher. All opinions here are my own.

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.

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