International best-selling author Pamela Gossiaux brings you a sweet love story about hope, horses, and second chances.
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 … 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 canbe 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?
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I’m always a sucker for a good romance novel. To top it off, it has horses. Ok, dogs are better in my book but horses are so majestic and to top it off, Hope, the horse in this book, is blind. But that does not stop Hope from trusting Tori and that is something we can all learn from – trust.
The novel will appeal to anyone that enjoys a good romance, loves horses, and has a strong personal faith. I enjoyed all (or almost all) of the characters and felt like each contributed to the story. Tori and Matt are strong characters but have their weaknesses. Tori’s is her relationship with her deceased husband. I appreciated the steps she had to go through to resolve her issues and accept that there was nothing she really could have done to change the outcome. Matt’s weakness doesn’t really make an appearance until near the end and his defeatist attitude towards events that occurred. I am purposely being vague so as to not spoil any part of the story.
While this story may be romantic and happy, there are some tense moments and even a time where I disliked Tori for her words and her actions. Thankfully, she redeems herself and I realize the situation she was in when all of this happened was the driving force, but it was callous of her to say what she said to Matt.
I think that my favorite character is Phyllis. She has seen a lot in her life and is able to guide Tori when she feels like all hope is lost. Emma is my other favorite character because she embodies what a friend should look like.
I wanted to share this one passage because I felt like it brings all of the pieces of the story together and a happy ending for all.
“Separately, those blades of grass are weak, and if I tied one around my wrist, it might break. But when they are braided together, they become stronger. We are like that. You and me and God. Alone, you and I are weaker, and can only accomplish some things. But together, with God as the third strand strengthening us, we become stronger. We can hold up against much more.”
This is an enjoyable story and if you like romance, horses, and inspirational stories then you will enjoy this one.
We give this 4 paws up.
Finding Hope is a romance novel. The main character, Victoria Jones (Tori), is a professional horse trainer and a respected author. Her home, Hopeful Farm, is a popular bed and breakfast that stands on the shores of Lake Michigan. Her late husband, Tim, gave her this horse farm. He also bequeathed Tori with a rare white purebred Arabian with a red mark on its body. He named the horse Victoria’s Hope (Hope). It’s been four years since his untimely death. Tori’s busy schedule doesn’t allow her to be constantly at Hopeful Farm. Therefore, Phyllis, her housekeeper and cook, manages the bed and breakfast.
Tori flies to New York to promote her new book. Emma, her best friend, picks her up. She’s made plans to have fun. First, they’re going to an art exhibit. She doesn’t know the name of the artist. All she knows is he paints horses. This is something to pass time until they go to dinner. Emma and her husband are introducing Tori to a blind date. His name is Colton and he’s in the banking business. Tori’s not pleased, but, since Emma is more like a sister, she agrees.
When they arrive at the art exhibit, they admire several paintings. As they stroll into another part of it, they see a series called “The Woman and the Horse.” Then things take a turn for the worst. In this series, the artist has painted Tori and Hope. Even onlookers identify Tori as the woman in the paintings. Emma and Tori demand to meet him. His name is Matt. He doesn’t want any trouble. He admits “The Woman and the Horse” series is about Tori and Hope. As emotions escalate, Matt’s hiding behind shades, and when he removes them, Tori sees a familiar face.
She’ll be in New York for two more days. She and Emma must run off to dinner, and then she will finish her book tour. Matt shows up at her show to redeem himself. They’ll handle this matter peacefully. She’ll contact him later. She returns home to think.
She must face her past to go forward. She confides in Phyllis. This story is replete with interesting twists and turns.
Finding Hope is about love, pain, loyalty, and, of course, never losing hope. It has 240 pages.
Vivian Dixon Sober
Finding Hope is for horse-loving, artsy romantics everywhere. Set primarily in Michigan’s windy upper west coast, an artist and a B&B hostess never forgot their perfect day. Except she was married horse trainer and farmer, and he was getting his art career underway.
Four years later, things have changed drastically. Tori, farm B&B owner, now widowed an author of several books on horse training, and Matt, the painter, have hit new highs. Tori is stunned to find herself and her beloved farm the as-yet-unidentified subject of Matt’s most famous traveling art show when she runs across him in New York where she’s come to demonstrate horse training and sign books. The mystery woman and her horse become a hot topic in the five-minute limelight world of the insatiably curious public, and when Tori’s worst nightmares come true, both Tori and Matt’s worlds fall apart.
Told in alternating points of view, Finding Hope is a story of healing, both from the past and from present wounds, and learning to forge new paths with the ones we can trust. Lovingly framed by Tori’s beloved horse, Hope, the characters learn to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, especially through the lens of their Christian faith.
Horse lovers and painters, and those who enjoy Michigan’s historic west coast will enjoy this sweet romance with a slight twist in the happily-ever-after.
I was mesmerized by Finding Hope. I could not put it down until I finished about 5:30 am! Tori and Matt are my new favorite couple. There characters are so thoroughly portrayed, I felt like I knew them. This romance has it all – great characters, horses, Lake Michigan’s shoreline, fields of lavender, faith, courage and more. I think this book would make a great Hallmark movie. Do not miss this captivating book.
I received an ARC of this book. It was definitely the perfect, cozy, hilarious, romantic read that I needed to take my mind off bad news while in quarantine.
Tori is a professional horse trainer who runs a peaceful B&B on the shores of Lake Michigan. She has spent years running from the demons of her past, and she feels like her life is perfect.
That all changes one night in New York City when she has a chance encounter with a sexy artist who has painted pictures of HER horse, Hope. But how does he know who Hope is? And WHY is he painting her? The answer forces Tori to come face to face with her biggest mistake . . . and learn how to trust in hope for the future.
Tori and Matt’s story was exciting, sweet, and filled with fantastic depictions of horse training and riding. Gossiaux clearly knows her way around a horse, which makes this book perfect for both horse lovers and those who know nothing about horses, like myself. I learned a lot about what goes into horse training. Plus, the vision of a horse galloping along the shores of Lake Michigan is very romantic. 🙂
A beautiful story of a woman and her horse and a chance meeting with an artist that changes both of their lives forever. Very moving, realistic characters and situations. Pamela Gossiaux writes with vivid and colorful phrasing that takes these people into your heart. Most importantly, this story is full of hope even when our plans are not the same as God’s. I couldn’t put this book down, it kept me hooked all of the way to the en
What happens when you come face to face with your biggest mistake? Can it possibly be turned into a blessing?
Tori faces this question when she runs into Matt, a man who touched her heart, and through one small act years ago caused her to live with regret and shame for the feelings she allowed herself to have for a stranger.
The shock of their meeting causes her to want to run. But can you really run away from feelings you’ve lived with for a long time?
Matt never thought he would see the woman he so quickly fell in love with again. He poured all his emotions into his paintings, remembering her with every brushstroke.
Now he faces the dilemma, does he pursue her this time, or let her disappear forever?
Full of real emotions and believable life situations I was pulled into Tori and Matt’s relationship from the beginning. It touches on the issues of emotional abuse, faith, love and regret without burdening the story. Add in a lovable housekeeper, a spunky friend and a horse you won’t easily forget and this is a book that you won’t want to put down.
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.