Hope Barlowe is a vow away from a lakeside wedding to her high school sweetheart. Next, check off her follow-up dreams: two kids, a dog, a home, and a happy ever after. But suddenly, ever after seems like a very long time. Instead of saying I do, Hope thinks I can’t and bolts for the woods—right into the unpredictable life of a handsome tattooed hiker.
Days into a three-week getaway, struggling musician Ben Taylor is in search of inspiration. He never thought he’d find a bride stumbling through the bramble. Right away her sweet baby blues, confounding dilemma, and spirited independence strike a chord. Ben has found his muse, and he’s falling fast. Hope is finding something just as important—herself.
Soon enough Hope and Ben have all of Maple Creek talking—and divided. Where do they go from here? If Hope has learned anything, it’s that happiness is more than a checklist, and dreams can change in a heartbeat.
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My Review
After bolting from her wedding mid-vow, Hope finds herself swept away by a stranger named Ben. What begins as an impulsive escape becomes a journey of self-discovery, and along the way, Hope not only unearths a fresh sense of identity but also discovers the potential for an unexpected love. Ben is a supportive and understanding presence, offering her both a new perspective and the space to question a life she had always assumed was set in stone. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and the humorous exchanges add a charming lightness to the initial chapters. Their budding relationship is compelling, with alternating POVs giving insight into both Hope’s internal struggle to find herself and Ben’s unwavering support as she embarks on this uncertain path.
However, despite the promising start, the story lost some of its appeal for me as it went on. While the meet-cute and emotional connection between Hope and Ben were engaging at first, the narrative began to feel repetitive around the midpoint. Hope’s character became frustratingly self-centered, as her search for clarity seemed to spiral into needless drama. The third-act breakup, in particular, felt formulaic, involving an overused trope where a misunderstanding leads Hope to shut down any chance of communication. This lack of maturity in handling conflict dampened my investment in her journey by the end.
Despite these issues, I’m still curious about where the series will go, especially since Hope’s sister, Joy, showed promise as an interesting character. Her presence hints at a storyline with a different energy, and I’ll be interested to see how her story unfolds in the next book.
My Rating
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