Wow! I felt for these characters so much, much more than I expected to. There were quite a few difficult situations addressed throughout - the constant fight of trying to overcome an addiction, friends and family who are addicted, and the heartache these things bring. Laila thinks she is ready to move on from her past and start over, but is she really? I felt so much for Laila (and cried with Chad at one point). I did not want to like Chad but I just couldn’t help myself, after getting to know him more I was cheering for him to be happy. I was pleased that he appeared to be getting on the right track and when he struggled I cried with him or yelled at him to be strong. His struggles were dealt with honest and openly and felt real. Nothing was sugar-coated. I could feel how much he loved Laila and his struggle between wanting her and wanting the best for her. The secondary characters helped (and forced) Laila and Chad to deal with their emotions, actions, thoughts and faith. Cooper might have had his own issues but he was a true friend to Chad and his support might just end up costing him everything. God can and will use us in ways that we cannot picture, this was shown in many different aspects throughout, such as the way he used Laila in a little girl’s life, the way he used Katie helping Chad, and the way he used Ben in Laila’s life. I especially enjoyed the flashbacks to the teenage years. I do wish there had been more focus given to the times that the characters turned to God for help. Chad and Laila’s story is wonderful example of Christ’s love and His healing power. I was very pleased with the ending.

Wow! I could not put this book down. It gave me all the feels. Even though Chad had been a jerk for many years, I found myself rooting for him still. I felt like this book portrayed an addict accurately and did not hold anything back. I LOVED the chemistry. It is wonderful when a book can make you feel the spark between the characters without it getting physical. That is my favorite kind of book and Tammy Gray did a beautiful job from beginning to end.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thoughts:

In MY UNEXPECTED HOPE by Tammy L. Gray, we trip over brokenness, addiction, codependency, and love to drop feet first into the aftermath of broken families, drugs, alcohol, and heartbreak while praying for redemption, transformation, and healing!

Laila Richards practiced hard love until it hurt more than she could bear, and then she made the choice to greet the end and move on. The problem is that Laila still resides in the same place and talks about the same issues. Hoping for change, she takes the leap and makes a deposit on a cottage in another town to break the last of the connection to heartache.

Is it possible to leave her whole life behind her?

Meanwhile, Chad Richardson left Fairfield, Georgia after a drug bust with alcohol flowing in his veins needing to keep clear of the danger that hunts him.

His sobriety is just a few months under a year old when time seems to stop.

Chad did not want to return home until he is a year sober, but his ex-wife is moving on with another and time is of the essence. He hurt her badly and virtually abandoned her and his old life. Not only does he need to make amends; he must prove himself. Is it even possible? Will he fall back into the old habits through his former life? Can he escape the danger that waits for his return?

We run back into troubled relationships, anger, fear, and pain all the while we are learning and understanding how difficult coming back really can become. As we pass the triggers and the problems, we’ll dare to hope for redemption, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Will all of the progress end or can beauty come from these ashes?

***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

MY UNEXPECTED HOPE by Tammy L. Gray raises the stakes for Laila Richardson in her attempts to move on.

Laila resides in a small town. It’s where everyone not only knows everyone; they hold a person in place. She let Fairfield, Georgia do this to her, along with her own dream which did not come to fruition. However, she begins to realize that some people know more than she does about the past, and she keeps her impending move a secret until Ben shows up at her job. To explain a boyfriend to people believing she pines for her ex is not easy, but she did it. This visit actually frees her, but the past is about to come home again to engage a host of issues inside her present!

Chad Richardson is nine months sober when a phone call shakes him. He is not ready to face his past, but his future depends on it. Mistakes brought him to this point, and he needs to set things right or lose all he fights for. The woman he hurt is the only face he sees through this sobriety journey, but the danger that lurks in her town can bring him down.

Can addiction lead to transformation? Will the past lead to their future?

Chad, Laila et al are about as messed-up a bunch of friends as you'll find, all raised (barely) in highly-dysfunctional homes. Having previously read My Hope Next Door, I questioned at the outset whether Tammy Gray could make me care about any of them. (Particularly Cooper, who's come a long, long way in this book.)

Thanks be to God, I don't have any first or secondhand knowledge of addictions like the ones portrayed in the book, but I do know something about the difficulty in overcoming habitual sins and creating new starts, which is the heart of My Unexpected Hope.

This is by no means a lighthearted romance though there are a few lighter moments and just enough tender memories between Chad and Laila to keep the story from becoming too dark.

By the last quarter of the book, I was highly invested in Chad's battle for sobriety and his reunion with Laila, just as the author introduced enough twists to leave me frustrated when I had to step away from my Kindle and tend to my duties.

Well-written and compelling!

Wow! Sometimes a book can really settle into your soul and bring out all kinds of emotions. This one did that for me. This book deals with the hero, Chad who has an addiction to alcohol. He has been an addict almost since his first drink. His wife, Laila who has been a loving and supportive wife until his almost overdose, had enough. She filed for divorce. This book is about recovery, forgiveness, and reconciliation. There is also a bit of suspense too. This author is a favorite of mine. She does an excellent job of pulling me into the pages right there with the characters. I feel their pain. I feel their loss. I feel their longing for more. I feel their love. I'm always a huge fan for the under dog. I love to cheer them on. There is victory, or can be. It's never too late to reclaim the years the locusts have eaten. This book was an inspiration to me and I loved every single page. I highly recommend this book and I do pray there is more to come in this series.
*I was given a copy of this book via netgalley by the publisher and was under no obligation to leave a review.

I've never read this author before when someone recommended her to me. I love discovering new authors, so I thought I'd give it a chance. I won't list the synopsis here. You can read it for yourself.

This book is not an easy book to read. It is not a little feel good inspirational story to warm your heart. Although it will warm your heart, it will also break your heart. There is pain aplenty here, pain that comes from just being treated badly and then pain that comes from the choices people make. But it's also a story of redemption. A story of grace. And a story of mercy. God is good. Even in the bad times, times when a person thinks there's no way out, that no one cares. God is always there. Always.

* I was given a preview copy of this book by the publisher via Net Galley. My opinion is entirely my own

Somehow, this is my first Tammy L. Gray book and I have definitely found a new favorite author! I was captivated the this story from page one and didn't want it to end.

I received this book "My Unexpected Hope" from Netgalley for my honest review.

I have read all the previous books and loved all of them. The words just flow so easily and you get lost in the book. I have stayed up into the night to read her books. This is the story of Chad and Laila. You just feel part of the story, like these are your friends and it hurts you to see what they are going through. Chad is trying to overcome his addictions and Laila has had enough. Can Laila ever trust Chad again? Is what he just said a lie? Can she believe him? This is one of those books that you can't put down but when you are getting close to the end you want to slow down because you don't want it to end. I hope the next book is about Cooper - I've come to like him.

I'm just blown away. I have been anxiously awaiting Chad and Laila's story ever since reading My Hope Next Door. My Unexpected Hope certainly did not disappoint. The reality of it shook me and carried me through such a range of emotions. At church this morning I heard of a 28 year old girl who had come to last Wednesday night's service and gone forward, then was found dead the next day from an overdose. This resonated with me. One of my own granddaughters lived through much of the same reality. Her life is now filled with light and she and her husband have two beautiful children and a living relationship with the Lord. Reading this book was so realistic and even painful -- seeing the terrible pain and torment that addiction causes, not only for the individual but for all those who dare to love them. And, ultimately, the freedom that is only found in HIM. This was an excruciating and beautiful love story.

Also as much as Cooper was a thorn in my side in Katie's story, I'm hoping that we may yet be reading his own story of love and redemption.

Thank you, Tammy L. Gray. You never disappoint.

I received an advance copy of this book for an honest review (and can't wait till the actual book and audiobook is released so I can share it with my daughters and granddaughters).

I applaud Tammy L. Gray for tackling a heartbreaking and sensible topic with such graciousness and understanding!
In "My Unexpected Hope" we follow the story of Laila and Chad. Both are former best-friends of Katie Stone from the first book in the series "My Hope Next Door". I believe to better understand the dilemmas involving these characters it is best to read from the first book in the series. However this book will give you enough insight to give the reader an idea of these characters’ stories.
Laila and Chad are childhood best friends and love birds. They have both suffered immense trauma growing up and have clenched desperately to their intense relationship, as one ended up being the lifeline of the other. However, bad choices have made their marriage end in heartbreak and divorce. My heart really broke for both of them. Laila, for her personal story of abandonment during childhood and into adulthood, and, Chad, for losing his way into an addiction. This subject was dealt honestly, with enough content to make me understand how difficult the situation was for both characters. Chad's personal struggle was delt with care and sincerity, without judging or appraising his attitude, but also by genuinely pointing out how many of their bad choices were made as a way of self-condemnation. However, the details weren't in a way that gave this book a dark and somber feeling.
I thought it was very smart how the author chose to give a glimpse of their past history with bittersweet memories for us to understand their story – what brought them together and what tore them apart.
Back in town to face his demons and try to win back his wife, Chad will have to be brave and open to find the source that can keep him strong and help him through temptations and challenges ahead. Laila, on the other hand, is ready to say goodbye to the past and start over. At least she thinks she is… was she doesn’t realize is that she is running and hiding.
With the help of a fantastic set of secondary characters, Laila and Chad came out of this journey stronger, wiser, more in love and with a faith that is able to move mountains.

This novel reminded me of the hard journey we all face with addiction of some sort. It helped me to remember that I can't blame my parents or frIends but I need to trust God to bring me through. I need to know he is the only one who will help me voice the things in my heart & learning to trust is a lifelong experience. God is a God of second chances.

What a fabulous read, from beginning to end the author has you visualising the characters and being part of the story line. The twists will make you not only gasp but make you realise what takes place could actually happen to anyone. A great read and highly recommended.

My Rating – 4

To begin with, I could not put the book down once I picked it up and thus ended up starting and finishing it up in 4 hours straight!


The book starts with describing the life of Laila which is monotonous, working in the bar, meeting the same people because she lives in the town of Fairfield where everyone seems to have their nose stuck up in other people’s businesses.
However, unknown to the people of Fairfield she has a boyfriend named Ben. Until Ben one day turns up at her workplace and the whole town finds out!

Chad had been a jerk for many years but is currently stable and sober! When he learns his wife (too be precise – ex-wife) has moved on and found a new life he returns back to his home town to win back his wife and return to a life he abandoned.

I am not one for second chances especially once involving addicts!
That said I still could not help rooting for Chad!
I immediately took liking to the characters (even Chad – I still can’t believe it).
You can actually feel the emotions the characters go through and it’s heart wrenching.
Chad’s guilt! Laila’s exhaustion! Ben’s insecurities! everything was portrayed beutifully and more importantly in a very lucid language.

What did I love ?

The relationships not just between the main characters but also the other smaller one’s.
SIERRA – I just loved that girl and everything related to her was heartfelt.
Laila and Joe’s conversations – Amazing writing style – credits to the author
This book doesn’t hold back! Mind you! It describes the life and problems of an addict with so much accuracy you might just have to close your eyes and take a deep breathe even while reading!
Chad’s insecurities and the way they’re described was just so amazing and that’s what led to me rooting for Chad! through the book.
COOPER – Ah! you can’t ever forget him! Amazing character and definitely well – written.
The Twist – The plot twists! Well, though you’re kind of expecting them but they do get you!
The new Laila – the assertive one where she voices her mind and what she feels!
Her confrontation with Sierra’s mom – so emotional! so amazing!
Lastly Chad and Laila’s past – Those small excerpts were so wonderfully written that they held me through the book and I was pinning for more of those “good times”.
Why not 5 stars ?

There were times when I wanted to keep the book aside because the parts got a little too obvious or I felt like the story turning towards that happy ever after.
Mainly I think it was due Laila being a bit too easily forgiving her mother as well as Chad in the beginning however later after Laila character development that just abruptly changes. (I liked the new Laila)
(SPOILER ALERT – SKIP THE NEXT PARAGRAPH IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE BOOK YET)

SIERRA – How could the author do this!! There was no ending there! I loved the conversations between Laila and Sierra so much and I just thought there would be something! There must be something more (maybe even an epilogue involving Sierra please please please I need it!)
Throughout the book the plot had been nicely woven secrets and truths revealed at perfect timings made the book gripping !

P.S Would definitely read another book by the author!

excellent well developed read.

Such a beautiful story of redemption and second chance romance! This book tackles a tough subject, the aftermath of drug addiction, with such courage and grace. Chad and Laila's story will leave you cheering, sighing, and clamoring for Tammy's next book.