Book Review: Finding Hope by Pamela Gossiaux

SYNOPSIS:

An introverted horse-whisperer, a famous equine artist, and the mare who brings them together.

Tori Reynolds has never liked the term “breaking” horses to ride. Instead, she earns their trust, and can climb aboard a wild mustang the same day she meets it. Her farm, an historic bed and breakfast, sits along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan in the small town of St. Ives, and her life as a B&B owner and sought-after horse whisperer is pretty much perfect. Until a visit to New York City changes everything.

Matt Cheval is a handsome, nationally-known artist. When Tori steps into his Manhattan art show, she unexpectedly finds herself and her horse in his paintings. Angry and frightened, she is now faced with the memory of a day she has spent years trying to forget.

Tori flees back to the security of her farm and the comfort of her horse, but Matt follows to apologize for a wrong he isn’t sure he knows how to fix. Torn between anger and her growing feelings for Matt, she wonders if she has wrongly judged this sensitive artist. Maybe some wounds can be healed.

But when tragedy strikes, will their hope in the future, and their faith in God hold their relationship together? Or will they lose each other forever?

AUTHOR BIO:

 Pamela Gossiaux is the international bestselling author of the Russo Romantic Mystery series, the romantic comedy Good Enough, the YA novel Ordinary Girl, and the inspirational books, Why Is There a Lemon in My Fruit Salad? How to Stay Sweet When Life Turns Sour, and A Kid at Heart. She is also a keynote speaker, freelance writer, and teaches writing workshops. She lives and writes in Michigan near a wonderful university town with her husband, two sons, and three cats. Visit her website at PamelaGossiaux.com.

Visit her website at pamelagossiaux.com

MY REVIEW:

Finding Hope by Pamela Gossiaux
Starts with a listing of the author's other works.
This story starts out with Emma and she is meeting up with Victoria (Tori) in the city but first they stop at an art exhibit, then onto the bar to meet up with a blind date for Tori.
At the museum Tori realizes who is in the paintings and they get to meet with the artist-Matt. She remembers him also from an artist retreat he and others had at her B&B at her horse ranch.
The doesn't go so well but does bring her and Matt together where he visits the B&B and they get to talk to one another again.
Story goes back in time to when she was married to her first husband but realizes years later that he was emotionally abusing her.  She is an author mostly about her horses, the bloody shouldered Arabians.
She brings up the horse paintings again and they hope to come to a compromise about the use of them.
He knows it will end his career on the road showing them around the US and he hopes to get permission from her...
Misunderstandings occur and one posing as one he is not comes to her ranch and the next day her horse is gone. She fears for the horses life as they are blind. She is an excellent trainer and knows her way around her horse, Hope.
She and others follow many leads til they track the horse down. Medical emergencies occur and physical harm and the world they knew can never be again.
Love how she tries to stick up for Matt and get him through the bad times and her research and all she's able to do. Love how brave he is during the pain.
Lots of emotions and I was able to find SO many treasures: lavender plants, widow walks (I live on the East coast so am very familiar with these), being blind myself, St. Ives statue (similar to one at Gloucester fishing port in MA)  grass bracelet,  religious quotes throughout the book relating to the situation, building a sandcastle and teaching others how to paint, holding their hand in his.
Like hearing of the history of the area. Like how the author gets your familiar with the area when Tori shows Matt around town. Very descriptive in details.
Didn't see the ending happening as it did, WOW!  Book ends with an excerpt from another in the series, another one that sounds super!
Ends with a listing of the authors other works and about the author
 A KEEPER!
Received this review copy via the author from the publicist and this is my honest opinion.