Here, Home, Hope [Kindle Edition]

Kaira Rouda (Author)

Book Description

WINNER! USA Book Awards Chick Lit/Women's Lit
WINNER! Indie Excellence Award Women's Fiction
HONORABLE Mention! Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards Mainstream Fiction

Kelly Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors' seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly's own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan.

From page one, Kelly's witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan--she places Post-it notes all over her house and car--will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career.

Award-winning Here, Home, Hope will surely appeal to readers of chick lit and other women's fiction titles who are ready to transition into something new in their own life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... told with honest insight and humor, Rouda's novel is the story of a woman who takes charge of her life while never forgetting the people who helped make that change."
--Booklist

"Inspirational and engaging, Rouda will touch readers who can relate to the frustration of being sidelined on the field of life, never allowed to play ... until finally experiencing the joy of full participation." --ForeWord

"This fiction debut often feels like a how-to book on starting a small business - not surprising as the author is an entrepreneur and real estate expert, who here highlights women's entrepreneurial spirit." --Library Journal

"Reading Kaira Rouda is like getting together with one of your best friends - fun, fast, and full of great advice! Here, Home, Hope sparkles with humor and heart." --Claire Cook, bestselling author of Must Love Dogs and Best Staged Plans

"I loved Kaira Rouda's book. I love its irony and its courage and humor . . . . It's the real thing." --Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of Still Summer and The Deep End of the Ocean

About the Author

While HERE, HOME, HOPE is her debut novel, Kaira Rouda has been writing professionally for more than 25 years. In addition to her first novel, she is the author of the short story A MOTHER'S DAY and the business and marketing book for women entrepreneurs REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs. Kaira and her husband have four children and live in Southern California. For more, please visit KairaRouda.com.

Product Details

• File Size: 548 KB
• Print Length: 331 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 160832091X
• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press (April 28, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004YKTEHC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,573 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars We all need a little Change June 5, 2011

By KC

Format:Paperback

Kelly the main character in "Here, Home, Hope" is a 39 year old mother to two teenage sons, happily married, and has two best friends. She is your typical suburbia mom and who seems to have the perfect life in her upper class community. Kelly goes through a cancer scare and starts to wonder what she needs to do with her life. She's searching for something and I believe its a phase all women go through. We get to that point where we wonder if everything we do is enough or is there a greater purpose?

Change can be difficult but we all see as does Kelly that change can be a good thing. Kelly shows us a fun way to initiate change, she uses post it notes on a variety of things, for example her home and her car who she named "Doug".

If your looking for a story full of empowerment and inspiration then "Here, Home, Hope" is for you! I believe every woman can relate to Kelly and the things she is going through. This story has even inspired me to make changes in my life, for the better! Whether big changes or small we all need a little change to make our lives healthier and happier for not only ourselves but also for those around us.

*Thanks to the One 2 One Network I was able to review this wonderful book*

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Story of Challenges, Changes, and Inspiration for Women June 3, 2011

By A. Fleming

Format:Paperback

This book couldn't have arrived at a better time for me. I have really been feeling kind of overwhelmed lately as a working mom--sort of feeling lost and in a rut. This book was a breath of fresh air and a great kick off to summer reading for me. As a member of the One2OneNetwork I was fortunate to receive a complimentary review copy of Here, Home, Hope - by Kaira Rouda.

The main character, Kelly Johnson, is a 39 year old stay-at-home-mom and former PR professional who finds herself restless and in a rut. Married to a successful lawyer, mom to 2 teen boys and living in "Uppityville" as she calls it, she starts to feel like there might be more to life...something more she should be, or should be doing. She realizes she envies the seemingly successful perfect lives of her two friends, and makes a decision that she needs to stop feeling sorry for herself and make some major changes in her life. She begins with her "Things To Change" (T2C) List , using Post-it notes to record the changes she feels she needs to make to reach her goals.

Kelly's summer takes her through situations such as reaching out to the troubled anorexic teen daughter of her friend Kathryn, reconnecting with old friends and realizing they aren't so perfect as she copes with their infidelities, and her friends' loss through divorce, job loss and death. All the while she is also on a journey to self discovery and ultimately embarking upon a new career and owning her own business. Sounds like a lot to go through in just one summer, huh?

I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed Kelly's character, and how she uses humor to cope and navigate through life. The book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster with Kelly and the people in her life. It is a story of self discovery, women in crisis, friendship, family, and how a couple can remain strong and connected even when the marriages of their friends are falling apart all around them.

I also loved Kelly's list of "T2C" (Things to Change). A list of all of the T2C are in the back of the book for reference. I found a snippet from Kaira Rouda's Blog where she talks about Here, Home, Hope and the T2C List - She says 5 common components of reinventing yourself are:

1. Resilience. Stick to it. Go for it. Overcome the hurdles.
2. Flexibility. Go with the flow. Open up to change. Do one thing everyday that scares you.
3. Creativity. Find your passions. Ignite them. Creativity is intelligence having fun.
4. Put the Real You in your life. Be self focused for a change. If you aren't happy, no one you love is happy.
5. Purpose. Have a higher calling. Give back. Lift someone else up and you lift yourself.

There were a few familiar references in the book from Ohio that I recognized. It seems Kaira Rouda spent most of her married life in Columbus Ohio. I grew up in Cincinnati Ohio...This made a connection for me, that added to my enjoyment of this book. I read that Kaira and family recently relocated to live on the beach in California. Now that's one T2C (Thing to Change) that I'd love to make! That has always been my dream, but with a snow-loving Canadian husband, doubt will ever become a reality. (Bummer!) Oh well, there's always vacation!

My overall rating: Fabulous. Loved it. Great summer reading. Couldn't put it down. Would love to see this become a movie...Can't wait for more novels from Kaira Rouda!

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars To be happy or live in the moment; that is the question May 11, 2011

By Readers Paradise VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Book Cover: the color was crisp and peaceful, it depicts the perfect neighborhood

One of my favorite quotes in the book can be found on page 113, it reads: "It wasn't Beth's fault we stopped talking; it was mine. Our whole group ostracized her. We didn't understand what she was going through, and it was easier to talk about her than to help her." This quote is inductive of the folks in Grandville and Wisteria Lane (smile).

This book reminds me of the earlier seasons of Desperate Housewives Wisteria Lane, drama, gossip and jealousy. The close knit community, the manicured lawns and the place where everybody knows your business. We hear the cliché all the time about thinking the grass is greener in someone else's backyard. Well Rouda does an excellent job of showing us that some of that green grass is built on septic tanks.

Kelly Mills Johnson begins to wonder how can she live in the moment & live to be happy. As a woman in her forties I can understand how Kelly got comfortable in her life. Sacrificing her own for her two sons and her attorney husband she now looks back and realizes that she has let go of her own passions; and envies the life of her two best friends.

After receiving the results from her mammogram she decides what she wants to change about her life. At the age of 39, she has memory challenges and places post it notes as simple reminders of things to change. Like Kelly I live with post it's at work and in my office at home. This will be the first year while her children are away at camp that Kelly will not gain weight but make a career change; her plan is a midlife makeover.

As we journey with Kelly through this humorous read I was at one time an emotional wreck. Laughing, crying and trying not to get worked up over decisions made. While much of the book is a humorous ride Rouda also tackles some serious emotional issues such as addiction, and eating disorders.

Here, Home, Hope will touch those readers with a vision for a makeover, as it will also entertain those who are content with where they are now.

Missy

Readers Paradise

5 Bookmarks.

Book Cover: the color was crisp and peaceful, it depicts the perfect neighborhood

More About the Author

Kaira Rouda is an award-winning entrepreneur and author. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four children and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, @KairaRouda, and on Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books. For more about Kaira and her books, please visit wwww.KairaRouda.com.