Friday, February 27, 2015

Review: The Road to Hope by Rachael Johns

Title: The Road to Hope
Author: Rachael Johns
Genre: Contemporary Rural Romance
Publication Date: 1st March 2015
Pages: 352
Book Source: Harlequin Mira AU & NetGalley

Synopsis: Rachael Johns takes you back to Hope Junction and the characters from Jilted.

Nurse Lauren Simpson is known in Hope Junction for the wrong reasons – and she’s over it. Watching the man she’s always loved marry someone else is the last straw – she decides to get out of Hope. But her resolve is tested when the hot new locum doctor arrives in town.

Doctor Tom Lewis also has skeletons in his closet – including a painful breakup and devastating family news. He’s hit the road with his vintage ute and surfboard, to travel the outback and live in the moment.

When Tom and Lauren meet the attraction is instant, but for Lauren Tom threatens to be just another fling and Tom has his own reasons for hesitating. Everyone else – their friends and patients – can see how perfect they are together, but just what will it take for them to admit this to themselves?

A brand new Hope Junction story of fresh starts and second chances.

My Thoughts:
Readers were first introduced to Lauren Simpson in Jilted, not in a particularly favourable light I must say, I don't have time for spoilt bitches but figured that somewhere underneath all the makeup was a decent person. She's a nurse, not that that's a given for decency but she's a deeply caring and highly skilled nurse so that's got to say something. Rachael Johns does a fabulous job of showing some of Lauren's more endearing qualities. 

You probably don't have to read Jilted first but I really liked seeing the growth in Lauren's character, growth that was handled realistically, in a way that elicited empathy rather than eye-rolls ... not that I'd expect anything less from Rachael Johns. Besides I loved Jilted (Ellie and Flynn's story) so why miss out on a good thing. 

The chemistry between Lauren and locum Dr Tom Lewis is evident from the start but like any new relationship they have their challenges ... emotion-charged issues and the highs and lows of living in a small community where everyone knows your business or thinks they do. 

The sweetest part of this story and my favourite was Lauren and Tom's interactions with the elderly in the residential wing of the hospital ... now that was heart-melting good. And funny, Barbara and May cracked me up with their irreverent humour.   

With trademark humour, passion and emotion I've come to expect from Rachael Johns, The Road to Hope is a lovely way to spend a few hours.

Connect with Rachael Johns
The Road to Hope












11 comments:

  1. Gotta say Rachael Johns is a whizz kid writer of romance. She sure nails whatever she writes. This one grew on me as I read and like you I loved Lauren and Tom's interaction with the oldies.

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    1. that was such a nice touch in this one wasn't it Kathryn. My favourite of Rachael's is still Outback Ghost. I wonder if we'll be visiting Hope Junction again?

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    1. Yay ... this one and her Bunyip Bay series! lol

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  3. This is the kind of book I like to have in my arsenal when I need a fun, flirty, easy to read book.

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    1. Rachael's books definitely fit the bill ... her humour reminds me of Kristan Higgins :)

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  4. I could see myself reading this one :)

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  5. I love when an author can take a character and allow them to grow and show their more favorable side.

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    1. for sure ... especially when they do it in a believable way. None of this bitch to angel miracle transformation lol

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