The questions that this book poses, through the lens of the characters, translates into deep questions for the reader to evaluate as well.
I found myself very emotionally connected to each and every character. The author does such a good job with describing them, so much so that you truly begin to understand them, down to knowing what they will choose to wear that day. I was rooting for Kathleen and Matt the whole way and I found myself liking Ian and Lisa a whole lot as well and can't wait to learn more about them (hopefully they will make an appearance in Book #3!)
The book got difficult as it touched on darker themes, but I knew as I turned the pages (as fast as I could because I HAD to know what happened next) that there was HOPE on the other side.
I loved it and I cannot wait for June's next book!
Amazon won't let me give this six stars, so five will have to do for today. 🙂

Decide to Hope by June A. Converse is a compelling work of women's fiction that you will savor and remember for a long time to come. It's also the first in a trilogy called The Hope Trilogy. We begin with a traumatized woman, Kathleen Conners, who is trying to hold herself together in the only way she knows how--behind sunglasses and scarf--because of The Event, which consumes her. She would be content to let the world pass by her and forget life with anyone else, but destiny may have other plans. His name is Matt Nelson. He finds himself on a hideaway beach in North Carolina, thanks to a box of letters from his mother, who has passed away. As he tries to sort out issues concerning his mother, his path crosses with Kathleen. Matt is enchanted by her, but is he someone she can lean on and begin a future with, or will she give up, reject him, and let him slip through her fingers?

Converse gives us an emotionally involving drama that you may want to read more than once. She carefully and skillfully constructs her characters in ways that show them as real people with real problems. They seem realistic and relatable. I also like the suspense she builds by ending a lot of the chapters on mini cliffhangers that are emotional and keep the pages turning. Even the letters play into the suspense. This is a longer work compared to some, but worth every hour of reading. You'll get caught up in the drama quickly, and will get to know and like these characters and this story. It turns out that Matt is my favorite. You may not, however, be able to predict what will happen, and that's what I like the most. The situations will have you yearning for a good resolution, but you will have to read till the end to find out how it's all resolved. This writer handles trauma with sensitivity and grace, but with surprising blunt force as well. For a character-driven, plot-driven drama about relationships and recovery that's hard to put down, indulge in Decide to Hope by June A. Converse.

I don't normally read a lot of romance, but from the first paragraph to the last, I was hooked and didn't want to put the book down. The characters are real and likable, and their struggles are relevant and engaging. This book talks about important themes not often dealt with directly, and it does so with great sensitivity and skill. I didn't want this book to end.