Cover Image: The Hope Chest

The Hope Chest

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

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I’m always up for a wholesome story and this one didn’t disappoint at all. With lovable characters, heartwarming romance story and interesting small twists, this book has a whole vibe of sense and pace to it.
Enjoyable and beautiful story.

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This book was an absolute delight to read! I practically read it in one sitting. I would highly recommended this author and book to fans of romance books.

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Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read this book yet I highly recommend her and her books. Happy reading and enjoy

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Three cousins on the road to reinventing and mending their broken hearts and finding their lost souls, thereby finding themselves. Their brokenness had led them on a disastrous path that made them ashamed of what they had become. Their Search took them on a journey of explosive and revealing secrets, one that would either break them further or help them reinvent themselves.
This book was as beautiful as they said it was, an admirable and heartfelt tale that encompasses the past and present. It was one of the most beautiful, sweetest, and touching I have read for the year.

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When I think of literary fiction, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and can satisfies just about every reader's heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

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~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

I adore Carolyn Brown's books. The Hope Chest was not my favorite of her books but I still enjoyed it. I especially like the quilting element, as I love quilts! This is a book about 3 cousins reuniting after the death of their grandmother. Each shares their vastly different experiences with their grandmother as they work together to finish a quilt she left behind. This is a family drama with themes of family secrets, forgiveness, healing... with a little romance mixed in (of course!). This is a good book to snuggle up with on a cool fall afternoon.

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THE HOPE CHEST is a slow burn contemporary story that I was pulled in to from the very first page. To be honest, I fell in love with the cover the minute I saw it. Don’t you just want to know what is inside that chest? I knew I would read it anyway, because I love Carolyn Brown, but the cover really pulled me in. I loved everything about this beautiful story and I’m excited to recommend it to my reading friends. Carolyn Brown always has a way of grabbing her readers and she never lets us go. When their grandmother dies and leaves them her house and a quilt top to be completed, they each learn the story of the others and realize their lives were all harsh in many ways. Every family has its secrets.

Three cousins gather to fulfill their grandmothers last wishes. THE HOPE CHEST really takes a turn that will have you unable to put this beautiful story down. Neither Nessa or Jackson are looking for a relationship, but they can’t seem to ignore the feelings they have when they are together. So here we have these two crossing paths and each time, there is a pull to see more of each other. It was cute watching these two dance around their feelings for each other. I just didn’t want to see Nessa get hurt again like she did in the past. She’s had a very rough life and I couldn’t help but cheer her on through out this heart warming story! Carolyn Brown knows how to tell a story that will keep you turning the pages. If you’re a fan of Carolyn Brown, then you’re going to love this one too.

THE HOPE CHEST is filled with twists and turns and had me staying up way too late one night to finish! I had to know where Carolyn Brown was taking us and what would happen to these three cousins. I really loved how the whole community came to their aid and only wanted them to feel loved and realize that they were home. There is so much heart in Carolyn’s writing that I’m always left with a huge smile on my face and my heart very happy. I could totally see THE HOPE CHEST becoming a Hallmark movie and I would love to see it. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I would love to hang out with Nessa, Flynn, and April. I’m sure they could teach me a thing or two and I know they would keep my laughing all day long! I love how Carolyn does that to me each and every time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

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I am a big fan of Carolyn Brown and I pick up her titles without even reading the summary. The Hope Chest didn't disappoint me. Three cousins inherit a cottage, a little money and a lock hope chest. The condition that they finish stitching a quilt and live together is a major part of the story. The three all have issues in their personal life but start talking and planning over the quilting frame. I almost wish this was the first in a trilogy so each cousin could have their own book. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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This is the best book by Carolyn Brown that I have enjoyed. The story is about three cousins that inherit their grandmother's home with the stipulation that is can not be sold and they mush finish a quilt that she has started. While quilting together each of the cousins learn how to deal with their past issues and they learn about several secrets about their grandmother. Enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest and personal review.

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Three cousins finish a quilt left to them by their grandmother.
Doing so they discover a family of their own making.
This is a lovely read. Just curl up with it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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this book was so precious! i highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good escape story! it was just so delightful to read and i enjoyed every single second! thank you again, netgalley!!!

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I enjoy stories about estranged families who are forced together by older of deceased relatives wills. In The Hope Chest, Nessa, Flynn, and April are cousins who spend many summers together at their grandmother Lucy's home. Over the years, they have all gone their own ways and lost that wonderful friendship they had as children. When Lucy passes, the cousins find out that they have inherited the house and land, but their are a few catches. The house can't be sold, and the cousins have to stay at the house and finish a quilt that she had started. Lucy's hope was that they will unpack the baggage they all have and become a caring family together.

I loved this story. Each of the cousins had secrets. They had not shared everything they had gone through in their lives that brought them to where they were on that day they stood in the lawyer's office. They also didn't totally trust each other, so it took awhile to open up to each other as well as those in town. Blossom, Texas has memories for each of them, but they are not all good memories. As they begin to figure out what they are looking for, begin to stand on their own two feet, become family again and complete the quilt, they each make decisions that will finally have them finding peace and whatever else they have been looking for. I love Carolyn Brown's books. They are warm and comfortable They are full of wonderful characters and healing. This one has a huge secret or mystery involving Nana Lucy which is discovered through diaries and is also very sad. The story deals with mental health issues such as narcissism and bi-polar disorder, but it is woven into the story wonderfully. If you are looking at a story with some great family themes, then pick up The Hope Chest.

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A heartwarming story of three cousins coming together because of their grandmother's legacy just when they needed a new start in life. Good characters and the family saga made this an enjoyable read

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Such a broken family that is brought back together after grandmother death! I enjoyed the different paths each of the three took. A heartwarming story just lovedcit!

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I really enjoyed this book. All the characters brought something different to the story and I was fully immersed in their journey. I was honestly addicted to the story.

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A simple book full of family and religion. I'm sure many will enjoy it. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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A grandmother’s death brings her three broken grandchildren together to fulfill her final wishes while at the same time, providing them a second chance, restoring what has been broken in each of them all their lives. Bittersweet, touching, and thoughtful family story full of country charm and a smidge of romance for this latest release from Carolyn Brown.

When Granny Lucy passes away, her three grandchildren return to Blossom, Texas. Each had a past that tore them up and defined them, but all three are ready to make drastic changes and get off the destructive paths they have been on. Granny Lucy’s final wishes might help with that. The three cousins, Nessa, Flynn, and April inherit the old family property and some start up cash, but they also inherit the darker secrets from their family past to be revealed and a mysterious old Hope Chest that they are only allowed to open once the three of them finish the work on Lucy’s last, unfinished quilting project out in her quilting shed.

Carolyn Brown has always done great at writing an engaging story and characters, but I thought her inclusion of untreated bi-polarism in a family and how the choices of older generations can pan out in succeeding generations can influence lives created a poignant depth to the story. Each of the cousins had to deal with this in their own way and fight their own demons. I enjoyed that it didn’t get dreary, but the tone stayed hopeful and, at times, fun. The mystery behind Granny Lucy’s past and what was in the hope chest had my curiosity on high alert.

There is romance, particularly for Nessa, with that amazingly engaging next-door neighbor, Jackson, but it is not the focal point of the story. Still, Jackson was a handsome, hardworking guy, and made a scene with him sparkle. I also found April’s time at the animal shelter taking care of the critters and meeting her own dashing man was lovely, too. The story takes its time getting there and meanders along until this family has found their way back to each other and to happiness or at least, in Flynn’s case, a happy for now. It makes a great lazy summer day read and recommended for women’s fiction fans who like a country setting.

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I was not captivated by this one, as I had hoped. There were uninteresting part that I found myself skipping...just meh for me...

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I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley for giving me this advanced readers’ copy in exchange for an honest and frank review.

This was a lovely family story based around 3 sisters attempting to honour their grandmother’s last wishes. It is a story of reconnecting, or trying to, letting go of past ghosts to move forward and being able to forgive one another. I loved the grandmother’s house as it was cosy and traditional. It is definitely a lovely journey of family, what it should be versus what it is.

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