Review by Stacsads -- High Hopes by Sue Lilley
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Stacsads
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Review by Stacsads -- High Hopes by Sue Lilley
[Following is a volunteer review of "High Hopes" by Sue Lilley.]
Relationships are often complicated and doubly so when you add sex to the mix. In Sue Lilley’s contemporary romance novel, High Hopes, she takes us on a relationship roller-coaster. Grace, Sam and Dixie are adolescent best friends who grow into adulthood together. When Grace and Sam’s regrettable one-night stand produces a baby, Grace thinks the best course of action is to hide the pregnancy, place the baby for adoption and never tell anyone who the father is. This begins a labyrinth of secrets, insecurities and consequences for the three friends.
Twenty years later, the daughter reaches out to Grace, seeking a relationship and asking about her birth father. Grace knows the girl has the right to this information but also knows that telling Sam will be life-changing for all of them. And how does she explaining it all to Dixie, who is now Sam’s wife, without losing their friendship?
Grace is basically a hot mess. She is in-between jobs and struggling with her current love life. She misses Alexander, her ex-husband-with-benefits. Then she arrives at Sam and Dixie’s house and encounters Danny, the twenty-something, dark haired, rebel gardener who turns her on but also makes her feel a bit foolish.
While the author throws in a few titillating scenes between Grace and the handsome young gardener, the book is more drama than romance. It is about love, friendship, and how one navigates mistakes, betrayals and ultimately, forgiveness.
I thought the writer’s use of dialogue to move the story forward was effective. I didn’t necessarily think she needed the swear words one fellow used, but the language was congruent with the character. I also liked how the author wove subplots into the saga. We knew from the beginning that Grace had to tell Sam about their daughter, but the author took her time getting us to that point in the story. I didn’t mind the journey. The author kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
The one part of the story I didn’t like was how often the author had her female characters cry. I understood some of the reasoning but it seemed a little excessive. I wondered if the author could have given us the emotion without all of the tears.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book is well written with witty and realistic dialogue. It is soundly edited with a few minor errors. The plot flowed and the characters were credible. The reader doesn’t have to like all of the characters or like all of their actions to enjoy the story as a whole. I felt the truth in the narrative. Is it realistic to think that good friends keep secrets from one another? Absolutely. Is it forgivable if the motivation is to protect? It’s definitely something to ponder. Anyone who relishes a good romance or woman’s fiction would likely appreciate this book.
******
High Hopes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Relationships are often complicated and doubly so when you add sex to the mix. In Sue Lilley’s contemporary romance novel, High Hopes, she takes us on a relationship roller-coaster. Grace, Sam and Dixie are adolescent best friends who grow into adulthood together. When Grace and Sam’s regrettable one-night stand produces a baby, Grace thinks the best course of action is to hide the pregnancy, place the baby for adoption and never tell anyone who the father is. This begins a labyrinth of secrets, insecurities and consequences for the three friends.
Twenty years later, the daughter reaches out to Grace, seeking a relationship and asking about her birth father. Grace knows the girl has the right to this information but also knows that telling Sam will be life-changing for all of them. And how does she explaining it all to Dixie, who is now Sam’s wife, without losing their friendship?
Grace is basically a hot mess. She is in-between jobs and struggling with her current love life. She misses Alexander, her ex-husband-with-benefits. Then she arrives at Sam and Dixie’s house and encounters Danny, the twenty-something, dark haired, rebel gardener who turns her on but also makes her feel a bit foolish.
While the author throws in a few titillating scenes between Grace and the handsome young gardener, the book is more drama than romance. It is about love, friendship, and how one navigates mistakes, betrayals and ultimately, forgiveness.
I thought the writer’s use of dialogue to move the story forward was effective. I didn’t necessarily think she needed the swear words one fellow used, but the language was congruent with the character. I also liked how the author wove subplots into the saga. We knew from the beginning that Grace had to tell Sam about their daughter, but the author took her time getting us to that point in the story. I didn’t mind the journey. The author kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
The one part of the story I didn’t like was how often the author had her female characters cry. I understood some of the reasoning but it seemed a little excessive. I wondered if the author could have given us the emotion without all of the tears.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book is well written with witty and realistic dialogue. It is soundly edited with a few minor errors. The plot flowed and the characters were credible. The reader doesn’t have to like all of the characters or like all of their actions to enjoy the story as a whole. I felt the truth in the narrative. Is it realistic to think that good friends keep secrets from one another? Absolutely. Is it forgivable if the motivation is to protect? It’s definitely something to ponder. Anyone who relishes a good romance or woman’s fiction would likely appreciate this book.
******
High Hopes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
