Nurturing Hope by Kara Ripley is a contemporary romance of surprise love with some up front views on politics, family and parenthood and learning to live with hope in your life.
Desiree Adler is a real estate photographer and foster parent to a moody teenager, she has no time or desire for romance. Been there, done that, threw away the tee shirt. Now she lives for others and considers herself a work in progress as a real ally to people who live without the privilege she has simply by having been born Caucasian.
Fighting with the navigation system in her car while trying to find a house to shoot, Desi’s already tough morning gets worse when she’s pulled over by a cop. She’s very much not a fan of cops, and she doesn’t make the officer’s time easy. But is her truculence due to the uniform, or how gorgeous the cop is? Things only get worse when her blind date that same evening is the beautiful cop who gave her a ticket that morning.
Soledad Reyes became a police officer despite her family’s misgiving, considering the horrors they experienced before fleeing Pinochet’s Chile. Working with the adolescents who often come to harm or find trouble on the streets is her specialty. After a disastrous date with the adorable Desi, their lives collide again when Desi’s foster daughter Hope has a run in with the law.
Desi and Sole know they want to be together, but how can they with so many obstacles in the way? Desi must discover how to nurture hope for her own future and her foster child, Hope.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Desi tries constantly to be better, to do better, and her introspection and conversations with Sole are often slanted toward politics. Her inner dialogue very often concerns the state of the world, how to deal with the privilege she was born with and debating how much energy she should expend on her own happiness. Being a rather political person myself I enjoyed this, but if you aren’t politically minded it may be too much.
Sole is amazingly patient with Desi and a great example of what an urban police officer should be. Both of them are funny and thoughtful and people I would like to know in real life. They also both have a great family that is supportive, interesting, and fun.
As the title suggests, a good deal of the book is about Desi’s relationship with Hope, and dealing with a foster child that has been injured by the system before she moved in. There is a real sense of danger for the child’s future, despite Desi’s strong desire to be a good parent.
The first person narrative is often funny with an intimate, breezy style. Interactions between characters feel realistic and the author doesn’t shy away from bad situations that get scary or wretched. The two women obviously and sweetly care for each other, and it’s fun watching Desi make up her mind to have it all.
Cons And Heads Up
Because Hope is a foster child and a teenager, beware scary and dangerous situations. Sole is a police officer whose family escaped to the United States, so trigger warnings for depictions of harrowing topics.
The Conclusion
The writing and story are great. Desi’s constant political talk with herself and Sole made sense for a character who wholeheartedly believes the world can and should be a better place. Her desire to nurture Hope and keep her from further harm is heartwarming. The reader can feel the tug of danger from the world for the child, and also root for Desi to give herself hope with Sole.
There are nearly as many words spent on Desi trying to be a good parent to Hope as there are on Desi and Sole’s romance. This is a story about a woman with deep convictions who is always willing to learn and improve.
Excerpt from Nurturing Hope by Kara Ripley
I’d been so enamored by the interior of the restaurant that I hadn’t noticed the person sitting at the table I’d been led to. When I finally looked at the woman smiling up at me, I blurted out, “Holy shit.”
The police officer. It was her. She was my blind date. What the actual heck, universe?
“Desiree Adler.” She said my name as though she were trying to taste it, swishing it around in her mouth like a previously untested wine.
I slumped down in the chair opposite, gaping at her like some sort of maniac. My mouth was open so wide it was a miracle I didn’t catch flies.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” A waiter, a blond young man with rather long ears, held his hands behind his back, smiling at me expectantly.
“I…ahh…yes.” I scrambled to look at the drinks list, but my eyes wouldn’t focus. I could sense the officer’s amused, lingering stare washing over me, and I couldn’t think.
“Wine?” my date said.
“Huh? Sorry, I mean, pardon?” I looked up at her.
“How about I order a bottle of wine?” She smiled cordially, and a few fine lines appeared around the outer edges of her eyes. “White or red?”
“I…yes. Wine, I do like wine.”
“Okay.” The police officer elongated the word like elastic. She offered her hand, and I passed over the menu so she could choose for us. “Let’s have some sangria and hope for the best, then.” In contrast to the cool professionalism she’d manifested this morning, her voice was smooth and delicious, like warmed honey. I, on the other hand, seemed to be speaking with all of the allure of a rusty gate.
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Series
Nurturing Hope
Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781648905322
Publisher: Nine Star Press
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