A nice, second-chances romance novel that has some of the grit found in real life. I had not read the previous novel and didn't feel like I was missing too much information to enjoy this one.

One thing I love about Tammy L. Gray is that she doesn't shy away from the stories few inspy authors are brave enough to tackle. Bulimia? (Shattered Rose) Gasp!! Alcoholism? Divorce? Addiction? In a Christian fiction book?! What?!?!

Real life in fiction.
Those are the kinds of stories Gray tells.
And she tells them well.

I had a hard time connecting with Laila for the longest time and I remember thinking "what is it about her that makes her feel so closed off?" And then I read it... right there in the pages of the book. She felt closed off because she WAS. Laila had taken so many hits throughout her childhood and early adulthood that she forged walls no one could cross as a means of protecting herself. And the brilliance in Tammy's writing, whether intentional or not, is that it wasn't just Ben or Chad and the other supporting characters in the book that repeatedly hit that wall--it was me, the reader, as well.

As Laila's walls came down, brick by brick, she came alive and I felt that connection I aspire to feel in the books I read. I want to know that somehow, in some way, I can relate to the characters I'm reading about. I don't have any history with drug addiction in my family or with anyone I am close to, nor do I share any of Laila's past experiences, but I do understand walls... and I can definitely relate to Laila's having built hers.

Because I myself was on the outside of the wall Laila had constructed, I got to see/feel some of what it was like for her when those walls came down and others began to creep into her life again. The freedom and the HOPE and the forgiveness that came from breaking those personal barriers down. And that was definitely an #allthefeels moment.

The only thing I have to say about My Unexpected Hope (MUH) is that while it is billed as a standalone novel, there is quite a bit of backstory taken from My Hope Next Door (MHND). I have read that one as well, but wish I had read it again before reading MUH as there were times I got incredibly distracted by the backstory and was too busy trying to remember how everything unfolded in MHND that I couldn't focus on MUH. Would I have suffered the same curiosities if I hadn't read MHND and knew just enough of the backstory to make me determined to remember every piece of it--I don't know. But I will say I definitely recommend reading MHND first.

Phew! That's a lot of acronyms!

All that said... if my recommendations are at all taken into consideration by the "powers that be"... I recommend a third story of HOPE--for poor Cooper. ;-)

‘“How did you find your way back?’ His words were weak, a whisper. ‘I woke up one day and had lost everything. My life had no value. I had no value. And then this wonderful man showed me that I was priceless, a child of the King, and loved. So, when I feel lost or afraid—which I still do, sometimes—I cling to my new identity now. I refuse to believe the lie.” Chad stared into the sky, his shirt damp, rain clinging to his cheeks. ‘I feel worthless. All the time.”’

We all have those times that we feel like a failure. This is so much worse. Chad Richardson has not only destroyed his life by choosing substances over everything but, he has trampled upon everyone, most of all his wife Laila.

After a string nasty relapses, Chad leaves town leaving chaos in his wake. He has a secret that makes running seem like the only option. He finds the willpower to get clean and wants to have a triumphant return after he receives his one year sobriety chip but, a call in the middle of the night leaves him questioning his plan. What he wants more than anything is to win back the heart and trust of his now ex-wife (due to a non-contested divorce) but, he may already be too late.

Laila Richardson wants desperately to just move on. Move on from the wreckage that was her marriage to her high school sweetheart Chad, move out of the town she was born and raised in, and finally move on with a new man. Why can’t she have the fairytale ending? She has the man and the plan, even the cute little cottage. She thinks she is right on track when, a bombshell shows back up on her front porch after years without so much as a word.

I won’t spoil the book for you but, man this is an awesome book! Picking up a few months after “My Hope Next Door” left off, you see Laila in the best place she has been in a long time. She is on the road to mending a broken relationship with her childhood best friend, Katie (the main character from My Hope Next Door). Through this relationship she is seeing that she can’t change Chad. Chad must make the decision to change himself. This takes a huge weight off her shoulders. However, it still doesn’t fill the hole in her heart.

Chad’s life has drastically changed in the last nine months. He has gotten sober, got a job, kept the job, and started building a life outside of the drug world. Chad is a living testament to all the struggles of those faced with a life of addiction. However, his struggles are only just beginning when he stands face-to-face with Laila on what was once “their” front porch.

“My Unexpected Hope” is so much more than a love story. Tammy L. Gray weaves a life-like epic that will have you riding a full range roller-coaster of emotions throughout. In my opinion, she is a master of writing characters who could be your neighbor or someone else you know. Trust is so easy to lose but, so hard to win back. We all can relate to a situation where trust has either been won or lost. Can Chad regain the trust of Laila and ultimately rebuild the marriage he let fall apart? Can Laila see past years of hurt and broken promises from the one who vowed to cherish her above all else? Read “My Unexpected Hope” by Tammy L. Gray to find out.

**Note: I did receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I will tell you right now that this is not an easy read but oh it’s so worth it.

Laila and Chad’s story is powerful, raw, and gripping. I cried (more than once) for each of them individually and for their relationship. There is such a gutwrenching mix of emotion on these pages – agony, confusion, desperation, grief, anger, betrayal, elation, hope, love, and yes plenty of sparks a’flying chemistry.

These emotions run so high and so passionately throughout the story that the romantic tension is also fully charged. In one scene, in the middle of a rather heated discussion, Chad states “Well, then I guess I have nothing to lose”, backs Laila against the wall and kisses her quite soundly. (I may have read that scene more than once. Ahem.) They love each other so deeply – and have for years – that despite the way they’ve hurt each other they also can’t quite walk away. And swoonlicious ‘we-used-to-be-married’ kisses come with a turn-the-heat-up ‘I-know-your-lips-well’ disclaimer, so reading them requires fans, fainting couches, and freezers.

Romance and intense emotions notwithstanding, there is a thread of redemption that shines even brighter as two lost souls find their home. In each other. In life. And in grace.

Bottom Line: My Unexpected Hope is beautiful, emotional, poignant, heart-wrenching, and realistically hope-full. For anyone who has loved someone that struggles with addiction, this book is also healing. Gray gets soul-deep with her characters and their inner battles and the end result is a book that is impossible to put down.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

*I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

This is a "great" story about how far addiction can/will take you. This quote from the book is so perfect: You can try and fight, and maybe even sometimes succeed, but without faith, you cannot call it freedom. It's simply bondage on hold.
The story hit so close to home (my past) that my chest literally hurt while reading. Now THAT'S a sign of good storytelling. Tammy L. Gray is so good at writing raw emotion, and making you feel what the character is going through.
Do yourself a favor and read this story! You will find yourself challenged too root for the "screw-up," while also identifying with the emotions of he "victim." SO GOOD!

Tammy L Gray writes fiction about broken characters who’ve done stupid things, who are now trying to pull themselves out of the hell they have created. My Unexpected Hope is no exception.

It’s the story of Laila and Chad, united by their common family histories of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, and separated by those same addictions. Laila eventually kicked Chad out, unwilling and unable to be with someone who showed every sign of turning into his father, or her mother. Now he’s back. But can she trust him?

I didn’t enjoy An Unexpected Hope as much as I enjoyed My Hope Next Door. However, that might be like saying I didn’t enjoy Hitchcock’s Vertigo as much as I enjoyed Rear Window, given that My Hope Next Door won the 2017 RITA award from Romance Writers of America for Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements.

My main issue was Chad. I liked him, and wanted him to succeed in his quest for sobriety. But his characterisation wasn’t even, and while he was convinced he was Laila’s soul mate, I wasn’t. There was no reason for them to be together beyond their extensive shared history. My other reason could be that I’m not a fan of the Other Woman or Other Man trope, because it always means a perfectly nice character ends up hurt (as happened in this case).

My Unexpected Hope isn’t a comfortable read.It’s full of conflict and angst as two messed-up people try and sort their lives out. But it’s an excellent story of redemption, and well worth reading. It can be read as a standalone novel, although those who have read My Hope Next Door will enjoy seeing Katie and Cooper again. Well, perhaps not Cooper.

Thanks to Waterfall Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I love that Gray writes books that push the boundaries of Christian Fiction. I love that this book deals with really difficult problems like alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse, and divorce because it keeps readers like myself from only reading easy, happily ever after books that only leave a smile on my face. I really liked that there were times in this book that I wasn't smiling because that is truly realistic. Life isn't always sunshine and roses.

I also loved how unpredictable this book was! Gray surprised me a couple of times with turns of events that I didn't expect. I get tired of books that are too easy to figure out so that was a lovely change of pace.

I really liked how we got to watch both Laila and Chad grow in this book. And I loved that it wasn't always easy growth either. I especially liked Chad's dedication and how well Gray portrayed the difficulties he faced as a result of both his childhood and his addictions. I also liked how Laila found healing through volunteering.

I think my favorite part of this book was the honesty. So many books gloss over the hard stuff or leave it out completely and Gray doesn't do that. She writes about the gritty hard stuff and even pushes deeper as she helps her characters find hope.

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

This is such a gut wrenching, realistic portrayal of the life of an addict and with an addict. Despite the fact that what they have is a disease, it affects those they love as well. Their recovery from that hurtful time is a real, and I think often un thought about aspect. I enjoyed seeing Laila work her way from the darkness and grow strong within in herself.
Seeing Chad truly work for forgiveness, own his mistakes, and the pain he caused was refreshing. It’s not too often I get to read that process. It wasn’t easy by any means, but it was real, raw, and I think so needed at a time with drug abuse is rampant and ravaging some cities.

I often use the phrase “beauty from ashes” to describe stories that illustrate God’s restorative grace in action yet “beauty from flaming ruins” seems more appropriate here. The depth of pain and destruction from living in a culture of addiction and abuse are difficult for those of us who have not experienced it to comprehend.

This story is filled with authentically flawed characters, complex situations, and tangled emotions. If you like your books fluffy, neat, and tidy this one might not be for you but if you’re like me and crave stories that will challenge your thinking and raise your level of compassion, don’t miss My Unexpected Hope.

I requested the opportunity to read this book through the author. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is a great follow up novel to My Hope Next Door. I highly recommend reading that book first. In both books there is a powerful theme of redemption and forgiveness. There is a trio of friends who have promised loyalty to each other since childhood, and they grow into adulthood together with neglectful or dysfunctional families as the result of addiction and substance abuse. Katie and Chad have been best friends and understand the darkness in each other, and Laila is Chad's girlfriend and love of his life. Katie and Chad fall into the cycle of substance abuse, and the first book shows Katie's path out of addiction and into a new life with God as the center. This book continues where that one left off, and tells Chad's story of recovery and his struggle to win Laila back when she starts to make a new life for herself. While there are dark and heavy issues explored, there is a current of hope that emerges as Laila and Chad begin to finally communicate and share long-held secrets. It takes time to build trust again, and I was rooting for them even when they were too discouraged in themselves. Plenty of angst and drama, but also romantic moments and sweet fun interactions as the two soul mates find their way back to each other and themselves despite overwhelming obstacles.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Tammy L. Gray’s novel My Unexpected Hope is a powerfully-written story of past mistakes, overcoming addiction, forgiveness, and most of all true love! This story is gut wrenching, soul searching, and heart probing, causing readers to reflect on their own lives. It brings to life the horrifying reality of how addiction can ruin relationships, but somewhere, someway, there is always love and hope. Gray’s story beautiful, deep, and rich and is not one that readers will soon forget.

Genre: contemporary, romance, new adult, Christian
Publisher: Waterfall Press
Publication date: June 27, 2017
Number of pages: 332

Other books in the series:
1-My Hope Next Door

MY UNEXPECTED HOPE is a beautifully written novel penned by Ms Gray. I loved this story....this message....and this authors storytelling magic. I have recommended this novel to all of my reading circles...and local libraries.

Wow. Just wow. I’m going to sum up this novel with three Rs: Raw, Real, and Redemptive. "My Hope Next Door" blew me out of the water, and if you’ve read that you’ll already know a little of Chad and Laila’s story, but "My Unexpected Hope" just proves once again that few writers handle raw characters and difficult subjects like Tammy L. Gray.

Chad and Laila have a lifetime of history behind them. Best friends and soul-mates since kindergarten, married at the tender age of eighteen and together for seven hard-fought years of marriage, but driven apart by Chad’s addiction to alcohol and drugs. Well, on the surface, anyway. The truth is that there are issues that go much deeper than addiction or sobriety for both Chad and Laila, and right to the heart of what makes a relationship strong enough to weather the rough times.

I’m not sure I’ve ever cheered two characters on as heartily as I did Laila and Chad. On the one hand, Chad has been sober for nine months and he’s holding a steady job. What he’s achieved is monumental. But Laila’s reluctance to trust him again is also completely understandable. Temptation is always going to be there, and old habits will be crouched, waiting for a weak moment—especially when Slim, the local dealer, has Chad in his sights. Laila has also finally gotten a taste of what a non-dysfunctional relationship is like in her new relationship with Ben. As much as she loves Chad, she can’t go back to what they had. The question is, can they work through their pain and learn to love each other in a whole new, healthier way?

I really can’t overstate how compelling this story was. The consequences of drug and alcohol addiction were portrayed realistically but tastefully, not only in the issues that Chad and Laila need to work through, but through secondary characters such as Chad’s father, Laila’s mother, and a beautiful little girl named Sierra. Yet, amidst the disappointment and heartache, Chad and Laila also demonstrate the beauty that can be forged through all that ugliness and pain.

Having been previously married, there are some references to the physical desire Chad and Laila have for one another, but one of the most beautiful aspects of this story was that they made a deliberate choice to cultivate the emotional intimacy that had been missing from their marriage previously, without the added complication of physical intimacy. It means learning to be honest with each other about their struggles, their failings, and their needs, but also learning how to be the person that the other needs in those moments. As a result, there is a depth to this romance that is not often found in the genre.

My heart was totally and utterly engaged in this story, and I can’t wait to see what’s next from Tammy L. Gray.

This is the first Tammy Gray book I have picked up. It seems from this, and other covers I have looked at, that she chooses to write about some really tough life scenarios. The dark side of life, can be one many a soul can in reality in today's society get completely lost in. Lost, with no hope for anything other than the new norm.

While I didn't particularly enjoy this book, the topic is not one you relish in or feel any joy reading about. I also found a good chunk of this plot very one dimensional, but maybe that's just the way a drug user & alcoholic life looks. So, I won't fault the author for writing that way. This story tackles many agonizing trials for the main two characters - Laila & Chad, but touches on the real struggle of close friends, who are not immune to their own private battles. There's a lot that's depressing here, hence the lack of joy within the book, that I'm usually looking for when I read.

I was surprised at some of the text too, it's not entirely clear of intimate language, and there lacked enough focus on God, for to me genuinely feel there was a path to redemption being taken as implied at the end.

The very minor sub plot of Sierra, a little girl who has suffered much similarities to Laila, was a nice way to open the door for healing. I think we could have had more of that developed within the book, I found that to bring more hope that the sole focus being on Chad's changes. It was a little one sided for me.

I received this eARC from Netgalley & Waterfall Press. This is my honest review.

This is a good book about forgiveness, overcoming drug addictions, redemption and a second chance at love & marriage. Chad and Laila was a lovely couple who matured in love, trust and security. I have other books by this author that I enjoy reading. My grade is A plus of this book.
I would like to see other characters in the story have their story told in a book(s), for one, having Cooper finding love after Katie's marriage and lastly Ben finding love and a christian marriage after divorce.

My Unexpected Hope is a realistic and enjoyable Christian contemporary novel. Strong characters and tough life situations combine in this story of love, broken marriages, second chances, addiction and recovery, and faith.

Laila is trying to put her life together and move on from her past. She is planing to move and has a new and wonderful boyfriend - embracing anything that puts her far from the small town of Fairfield where she has lived all her life and the hurt of her broken marriage. Chad Richardson knew that this was his last chance to get sober and stay sober. When he learns that Laila is starting to move on he knows it is time to return home and try to save his marriage. But his return home does not go as smoothly as he plans and he will have to give everything he has to start over and convince Laila he is a new man.

My Unexpected Hope is the companion novel to My Hope Next Door. They have crossover storylines but can both be read as standalone novels. I really enjoyed My Hope Next Door, and My Unexpected Hope brings the same mix of relateable, realistic, and flawed characters who are desperate to overcome their mistakes and create a new life for themselves.

I found Laila to be a wonderful character. She is so strong. She has always supported the people she loves, gave Chad so many chances but knew that he needed an ultimatum if he was ever going to get serious about getting sober. Now she is trying to create a new life away from the hurtful memories of the destruction of her marriage and the neglect of her childhood. She also has a new-found faith that is helping her to navigate her new choices and her desire to be stronger about looking after herself as well as those she loves. At times I didn't like Chad all that much. There is no denying his connection with Laila, a bond, history, and chemistry that runs deep, but he tends to be manipulative, even as he struggles to change, to be a new man. But isn't that so realistic of life and human nature? No one is perfect. Laila doesn't want perfection from Chad, she just wants honesty.

This book doesn't pull its punches about the very real nature of addiction and recovery. It addresses the issues of faith and forgiveness in the midst of very real, very hard challenges. It also celebrates new chances, starting over, and the intimacy of marriage.

I enjoyed reading My Unexpected Hope and recommend it for readers who enjoy contemporary novels about romance, marriage, deep personal challenges, and faith.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

This is not an easy story to read, but oh so worth it! Because Laila and Chad's journey's are fraught with pain and hurt. And lots of it. Much like their best friend Katie's story (My Hope Next Door, which I loved!), they've both made a few (or several) wrong choices and the consequences are gut-wrenching for them. But these two characters could not be in more capable hands than Ms. Gray's because she excels in filling characters' difficult trajectories with bits of hope. So don't let the fear of hard scare you away!

I admit to not quite being sure I liked Laila in book one, but I was intrigued by her. She's one tough cookie, this lady! :) Watching as she struggles to figure out how lovable she truly is and to be able to forgive herself, as well as Chad, is a beautiful redemption. It's a hard road to get there, but once she arrives...ah my heart! It broke so many times during this story, but by the final pages it was mended whole again. And Chad. So many times I wanted to shake him! But as he grew stronger in his faith walk, so, too, did my appreciation for him. Neither he nor Laila have it easy, but they refused to give in completely and became wonderful examples of hope!

The title of the book truly describes what happens during the story. For all the hard and yucky things these characters have to endure, their friends, and ultimately their Father above, refuse to let them surrender! And hope is reborn again and again, much like our real lives. That's what I love most about Ms. Gray's stories, I think. The rawness of the emotions felt, the very real heartbreak that exists and is so easily related to. The layers upon layers in the characters, who never seem to fit into just one box of personality, precisely how we human beings are. We're complicated! And her characters show it. She writes about serious things, things we've either experienced or possibly know someone who has. She takes her readers to difficult places, yet never lets us forget that love never gives up. That grace and mercy and forgiveness are actually possible, no matter how impossible they may seem!

And she ends it all with hope of the good yet to come in the characters lives long after the final pages are closed. The reader only has to trust where she intends the journey to go. And it's worth it, friends. Believe me. :)

**I received a complimentary copy from the author via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Since I’ve read most of Tammy L. Gray’s previous books, I was expecting an emotional, riveting book tackling hard and sensitive subjects. I definitely was not disappointed. I love how this author can create flawed, realistic, layered characters and immerse them deeply in a compelling tale of love, redemption, and forgiveness. Laila and Chad’s story is very moving and hit me right in the heart. There is a previous book, My Hope Next Door, which involves some of the same characters, but My Unexpected Hope is a stand-alone book. It is not necessary to read the first one to fully love this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Romance, Clean, Christian faith elements, series, but stand alone.
This was a very moving, touching read. The dilemma that Laila faces as she tries to start a new life after a divorce from the love of her life who struggled with addictions, is complicated as Chad returns to their hometown.
Myriad events, and circumstances, including Laila's new love interest seem to make Chad's hopes of reconciliation and rekindling of their deep love possible. Chad is approached by those who pulled him down in the past, and struggles to keep his commitment to sobriety. Laila is hesitant to trust him again after their stormy past that was complicated by his multiple substance abuse.
This was such a heartfelt, emotional read. Laila's choice, and Chad's hopes, along with his conviction and determination to beat his substance abuse, his struggles to stay sober and clean, the complexities, and of course, their history, and still strong attraction, made for a compelling read. Their is definite discussion of substance abuse, and the effects. Strong side characters also strengthened the story line. A surprise at the end, and some twists, made for a great ending!
I will be excited to read the other characters the author intends to write about. Always grateful to have found a new author to read!

I read My Unexpected Hope because the description sounded intriguing. A year after getting divorced, Laila finally sees a chance to begin again. Her ex-husband Chad, a recovering alcoholic who hears she’s dating, returns to win her back.
The story proved a lot grittier than I expected. Laila works as a bartender, an occupation foreign to my lifestyle. Chad is driven by demons I have no concept of. His former drug dealer is ruthless and seemingly untouchable. This isn’t a relaxing novel.
Their friend Katie, who led Chad down the road of drugs and alcohol, has now turned her life around and married a pastor’s son. Turns out, this is a sequel to Katie’s story, and it might be better to read My Hope Next Door first.
A satisfying ending made me glad I persevered when I preferred to read happier books. Author Tammy Gray writes true-to-life characters and culturally relevant plotlines. Here she portrays a lifestyle too many people are trapped in, and it promotes empathy in those not bearing the cross of drug and/or alcohol abuse.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.