TITLE: Hoping for LoveAUTHOR: Marie Force
RATING: 4 STARS
PUBLISHED: March 2012 - Marie Force
SERIES: Yes; Companion Series Still in Progress:
- Maid for Love (April 2011)
- Fool for Love (May 2011)
- Ready for Love (July 2011)
- Falling for Love (January 2012)
- Hoping for Love (March 2012)
"All her life, Grace Ryan was the “fat girl.” Taunted and teased and ignored by her peers, she tried every diet ever invented to no avail. Desperate to change her life as her twenties slipped away, she decided it was time for drastic measures and had lap-band surgery. More than a year later, she's lost 130 pounds and is venturing into the dating world for the first time. During a boat trip to Gansett Island with the new guy in her life, Grace refuses to have sex with him and finds herself abandoned without a dollar to her name at McCarthy's Gansett Island Marina.
At home for the summer awaiting the launch of his debut CD, music star-in-the-making Evan McCarthy is performing at the Tiki Bar when he notices Grace looking lost in a sea of happy people. Evan comes to her aid and quickly finds himself smitten. But the last thing Grace needs after all she’s been through is a guy who “doesn't do relationships.” Will Evan change his ways to win Grace's heart?"
MY REVIEW:
I absolutely loved the first book in The McCarthys of Gansett Island series by Marie Force, Maid for Love. However, in my opinion, the last few books in the series haven't been as good as the first, and honestly, I was on the fence about continuing this series UNTIL I read Hoping for Love. The latest installment in The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Hoping for Love, was my favorite book in this series since Maid for Love. I loved it! It reminded me of why I fell in love with this series in the first place.
I was extremely overwhelmed by Fool for Love, Ready for Love, and Falling for Love because there were so many different storylines going on at once. There were new characters and new storylines introduced, as well as, updates from old characters and old storylines. Each novel is told by multiple character's perspectives, and the perspectives and storylines kept changing around so much that I was overwhelmed. Also, I didn't connect with the main characters like I did in Maid for Love because I didn't have as much time with them because their time was shared with so many other characters. However, it all worked really well in Hoping for Love. There were still a lot of storylines going on at once, but I felt like I got to know Grace and Ryan better than other characters, and I was a lot more interested and invested in the developing storylines. I think because Ms. Force focused more on the new stories developing and less on the older stories that already came together. We got updates from past couples through other characters, but the older characters weren't the focus.
I love that this companion series focuses of friends, family and love. It's not just a romance novel, it's a series about love, family, friendship and overcoming life's obstacles.
I was extremely overwhelmed by Fool for Love, Ready for Love, and Falling for Love because there were so many different storylines going on at once. There were new characters and new storylines introduced, as well as, updates from old characters and old storylines. Each novel is told by multiple character's perspectives, and the perspectives and storylines kept changing around so much that I was overwhelmed. Also, I didn't connect with the main characters like I did in Maid for Love because I didn't have as much time with them because their time was shared with so many other characters. However, it all worked really well in Hoping for Love. There were still a lot of storylines going on at once, but I felt like I got to know Grace and Ryan better than other characters, and I was a lot more interested and invested in the developing storylines. I think because Ms. Force focused more on the new stories developing and less on the older stories that already came together. We got updates from past couples through other characters, but the older characters weren't the focus.
I love that this companion series focuses of friends, family and love. It's not just a romance novel, it's a series about love, family, friendship and overcoming life's obstacles.
I gave Hoping for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island #5) by Marie Force 4 STARS!
