Hoping For Love Review

Title:  Hoping For Love
Series:  Gansett Island
Author:  Marie Force
Publisher:  HTJB Inc. (Marie Force Author)
Release Date:  March 6, 2012

My Rating:  3.5 Feel Good Romance ♥'s

Synopsis:

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?  

Review:

Another feel good, low-angst romance in this series. So nice to slip one of these books between two dark ones to lighten the mood. Grace spent most of her life obese...aka "The Whale". Finally, having enough, she turned to lap band surgery and lost 130 pounds in the year that followed. Visiting Gansett Island for the first time with a guy she planned to finally go "all the way" with, she gets a rude awakening after intercepting a text message from one of his friends asking if he'd "nailed the whale" yet. Seems there was a $500 bet on the line. Humiliated yet again, Grace finds herself abandoned with nothing but the clothes on her back on GI. Who comes riding to her rescue but the devastatingly gorgeous rising music star Evan McCarthy...a man soooo out of her league - and one that made it loud & clear that he doesn't "do relationships". Can a woman with zero experience with a man build a relationship with a sexy "ladies man"? And not get hurt in the process? Hmmm.

Watching Grace and Evan's relationship develop was fun! Grace is funny and truly beautiful inside and out as Evan soon learns. I laughed out loud at Evan a few times as he struggles to "NOT fall in love". Like some of the other McCarthy men, he fights it every step of the way causing a few bumps and bruises along the way.

An added plus are the side stories playing out between Owen & Laura and Blaine & Tiffany. Looks like a bumpy ride for all involved. Also loved spending a little time with past couples - especially Linda & Big Mac. Seems there's trouble in Paradise since Big Mac hit his head in the boating accident...something's definitely not right. All in all, another good read in the series. A Must Read!  

My Rating - 3.5 Feel Good Romance ♥'s . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra