Today’s book review features
Where Hope Begins by Heidi Chiavaroli.
Book Blurb
All Maggie Acker ever wanted was to have a family of her own. Now, with a handsome, hardworking husband, Josh, and two adorable twin boys from his previous marriage, she is determined to be the wife and mother that Josh’s ex-wife failed to be.
But when one of the twins has a near fatal health scare and is later diagnosed with diabetes, Maggie blames herself for not seeing the signs sooner. As the rest of the family slowly learns to live with the diagnosis, Maggie fights to gain control of her son’s health. Coupled with a major career change for Josh, their marriage teeters on the brink of destruction.
When Maggie’s family sends the couple away for a much-needed vacation, a life-rocking argument is followed by terrifying news regarding their son. Will Maggie’s childhood dreams of love and family disappear before she realizes what was right in front of her?
A contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women, readers will fall in love with the Martin family—Maggie, Josie, Lizzie, Bronson, Amie, and their mother Hannah—each trying to find their own way in the world and each discovering that love, home, and hope are closer than they appear.
From Goodreads
Author Information
Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli…sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I’d Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn’t until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since!
Heidi writes women’s fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write split time stories. Her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her husband. Her latest dual timeline novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott’s life. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
From Author Website
Danielle’s Review
Where Hope Begins is the second book in Heidi Chiavarolli’s The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, a modern retelling based on Louisa May Allcott’s Little Women. This is Maggie’s story.
Maggie and Josh married before the first book in this series, so this is an already-married story. It is not usually my favorite trope, however, I love how the author touches on the major events that led them to this point in their relationship and how much their current situation has to do with the past. Aspects like how the twins are from Josh’s first marriage, which ended with his wife’s untimely death.
If you are a wife and mother, this story has the potential to pull on all your heartstrings, especially since one of their sons has a major health crisis. Whether their child’s health or the ramifications of the past will succeed in derailing Maggie and Josh’s marriage is what the story will show.
This series is off to a great start and I can’t wait for Beth’s story in Book Three!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
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