Finding Hope [Paperback]

Andrew Barriger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2004

Another two years have passed and life in the town of Pine Creek has continued on its merry way. Tom and Taylor have settled into their roles as parents and role models for their adoptive children, enjoying a calm respite from the turbulence of recent years. Though the waters have been smooth for the guys, their neighbor and friend, Gen, has taken over as mayor and, for the first time in recent memory, faces a challenge from a vicious rival. College has been anything but smooth for Wayne and Eric, and a new player comes on the scene, determined to shake things up. When peace becomes elusive, hope remains... Return again to visit small town America, where life is as ordinary as baseball and apple pie...with a twist.

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (November 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594576785
• ISBN-13: 978-1594576782
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #813,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Showtime should make a series of this, to replace QAF!, December 21, 2004

By 

Bob Lind "camelwest" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Finding Hope (Paperback)

It's beyond commendable when an author can present and develop realistic and emotionally-complete characters one can identify with so completely, to the point where a sequel feels like a visit with old friends. After reading the first two wonderful books in this series, that's exactly the feeling I got from "Finding Hope," the latest in the series.

We find that life has gone on for Taylor (senior partner of a successful law firm on the outskirts of his adopted home town, Pine Creek) and his life-partner Tom (now close to his PhD, while teaching at the local college and helping out at the bakery he co-owns with Taylor), as well as their small adoptive children and members of their "extended family", including Gen (now mayor of the town) and Pete (Taylor's business partner and a good friend). It is also a "coming of age" time for their young ward Wayne (just finished his junior year at the university, and manager of their bakery), his boyfriend Eric and their best friends Dan and Emmy. We learn that the relationship between Eric and Wayne took a detour while Eric finished his degree at Ohio State, with Dan becoming Wayne's roommate to help him through that difficult time.

When it becomes known that an aggressive real estate developer is looking to buy the store next to the bakery, Tom and Taylor decide to bid against him, primarily to protect the quaint historical shopping district from becoming the target of bigger chain stores. At the suggestion of Wayne and his friends, they decide to open a coffee shop in the adjacent space, connected directly to the bakery. The new store provides an employment opportunity for Jason, who lives above the store, and quickly becomes popular with the local townspeople. Meanwhile, Gen hears that the real estate developer plans to run against her in the next mayoral election, and enlists Taylor's help in fighting him off. Eric returns to town, on a temporary hiatus before starting employment in the city with a big corporation, and he starts courting Wayne again, although Wayne holds him at arms length, afraid of being hurt again. An unexpected accident puts Eric, Taylor and Pete's unborn child at risk. Taylor plans a hotly-anticipated debate between Gen and the developer, and increasing time demands with their businesses, on top of their own careers and family, make Taylor and Tom wonder if they spread themselves too thin, and are unfairly depending on Wayne to do too much.

"Finding Hope" is a delightful, positively mesmerizing tale about a place you will wish you lived, with people you feel you already know, but would like to know better. As I said after the second book, I can definitely see success if the author ever tried to adapt this into a television series, perhaps on Showtime to replace QAF, or on one of the new gay cable networks offering original programming. It would be on my "must see" list, for sure!

Last but not least, the author parodies DVDs by including some "extras" at the end of the book, included deleted scenes, a map of the town and a floorplan of Taylor's law office. Original and clever, and adds to the overall enjoyment of the book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wait till you read what Taylor and Tom are up to now..., December 9, 2004

By 

E. Conley "Betty's Books" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finding Hope (Paperback)

"Finding Hope," by Andrew Barriger, is the third and perhaps finest book in the Taylor and Tom series. Tom is a professor at the local university, and Taylor's law practice is booming. Between caring for their adopted children--with the help of friends and family--work, and running Downey McEwan's Baked Goods, the guys barely have time to themselves. When the opportunity for a relaxing summer presents itself, the guys go for it.

Tom's parents have taken the younger children on a road trip to Florida, leaving the vacationing Taylor and Tom with some well earned time to themselves. College age Wayne runs the bakery; and best friend Gen has taken over as Pine Creek's mayor, relieving Taylor of those duties. Life is peaceful, except for Wayne's problems with his boyfriend, Eric.

Eric and Wayne have been separated for two years because Eric was away at Ohio State finishing up his engineering degree so he could return to Pine Creek, and Wayne. But, does Wayne understand the reason for Eric's lack of communication? As college ends, adult life begins. They are about to make very important decisions for their future.

When the property next door to Downey McEwan's Baked Goods goes up for sale, Taylor and Tom, with Wayne's enthusiastic support, decide to add a coffee shop next to the bakery. The owner of the property gladly sells to them, rather than the wheeler-dealer real estate developer, Stuart DiNardo. Facing reelection as mayor, Gen now has opposition-DiNardo--who hopes to "revitalize" the historic downtown area of Pine Creek with national chain stores.

Andrew Barriger's characters are well developed. Most of our favorite people are back as well as some new friends we are pleased to meet, with the exception of villain DiNardo. All characters, old and new, seamlessly glide in and out of the everyday lives of our favorite couple. Barriger's talent shines brightest in passages containing dialog. A very humorous conversation takes place on page sixteen, in which the author shows us, rather than tells us, how Taylor and Tom have grown together, in thoughts and feelings, in the five years they have shared their lives.

Barriger has added a unique touch we happily discover at the book's end...deleted scenes, and a map of Pine Creek. As readers, what we get out of what we read is highly subjective. I feel that "Finding Hope" is the best Taylor and Tom book to date. Barriger's third published novel has action, suspense, romance and of course, humor. I highly recommend "Finding Hope."

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small Town America as it should be, November 14, 2006

By 

Eric Arvin "Author of The Rest is Illusion" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finding Hope (Paperback)

I have read reviews of Andrew Barriger's novels describing them as unbelievable. The reviewers go on to state how unrealistic is the depiction of an accepting, tolerant small town in America. What these reviewers seem to have missed was the section of the bookstore (or website) from whence they chose his book: It clearly reads "fiction."

Barriger's novels are the apple pie America myself and many others wish existed. Where family has no blue print, and masculinity is not measured by how many women you can bed. Everyone who has ever been gay in a small town knows you make up your family as you go, adopting brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, even fathers and mothers. We search for those whose love comes without condition or threat of penalty.

I commend Mr Barriger. His books are hopeful in a world teetering on the fanatical whim of a few to the detriment of the many. If you're starting to lose hope in being accepted, pick this book up. There's light here.