Hoping for Love, The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 5 [Kindle Edition]

Marie Force (Author)

Book Description

All her life, Grace Ryan was the “fat girl.” Taunted and teased and ignored by her peers, she tried every diet ever invented to no avail. Desperate to change her life as her twenties slipped away, she decided it was time for drastic measures and had lap-band surgery. More than a year later, she's lost 130 pounds and is venturing into the dating world for the first time. During a boat trip to Gansett Island with the new guy in her life, Grace refuses to have sex with him and finds herself abandoned without a dollar to her name at McCarthy's Gansett Island Marina.

At home for the summer awaiting the launch of his debut CD, music star-in-the-making Evan McCarthy is performing at the Tiki Bar when he notices Grace looking lost in a sea of happy people. Evan comes to her aid and quickly finds himself smitten. But the last thing Grace needs after all she’s been through is a guy who “doesn't do relationships.” Will Evan change his ways to win Grace's heart?

"Another solid entry into the McCarthy’s of Gansett Island series. Marie Force continues to create characters that readers can identify with and make you want to visit fictional Gansett Island and its residents." —Night Owl Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Review

Marie Force weaves a magical story with Hoping for Love! I'm totally enamored with Grace and Evan! When I got to the last page I said, "noooooooo I don't want it to be over!" I just love everything about Ms. Force's McCarthys of Gansett Island series! These people have become like family. They make me laugh and cry and dream of love. Grace and Evan's beautiful relationship blooms stunningly in Hoping for Love. Both characters have a lot of questions about their feelings and I love how Ms. Force leads these two down the path of love.
--Joyfully Reviewed

From the Author

Welcome back to Gansett Island! So far in the McCarthy series, we've seen Mac, Janey and Grant McCarthy as well as their friend Luke Harris lose their hearts to love. And now it's Evan McCarthy's turn. Oh, Evan. . . How fun you were to write in all your confused befuddlement. You've managed to slide through life with nary a thought to love or commitment or anything that smacked of forever--that is until Grace Ryan shows up on Gansett and turns everything upside down. I hope you'll enjoy reading Evan and Grace's story while catching up with some of our favorite Gansett Island residents.
You know what they say about best-laid plans... Well, I'd intended to write Tiffany's book after this one, but as you'll see in HOPING FOR LOVE, Owen and Laura demanded a story of their own, which is included along with some holiday magic--and a wedding--in the next book, SEASON FOR LOVE. The story will then jump forward to the following summer with Tiffany's book, LONGING FOR LOVE. After that, we've got some new characters to explore and Adam McCarthy is still looking for love. So, much more to come from Gansett!
Writing about this family and their life on an island so much like my beloved Block Island has been the most fun I've ever had as a writer. Thank you for embracing my fictional family and for all the lovely reviews you've posted. I appreciate your e-mails and Facebook posts more than you'll ever know. I always love to hear from readers. You can reach me at [e-mail]. If you're not yet on my mailing list and wish to be added for occasional updates on future books, let me know with an e-mail. Also, join us on Facebook at Marie Force Book Talk where we chat about my books, other books we love and lots of stuff that has nothing to do with books! You can also join the fun at the McCarthys of Gansett Island Reader Group where we cover important topics such as which of the Gansett Island men we wouldn't kick out of bed and what actors would play the McCarthy brothers in our fictional movie. When each new book is released, we form a separate group to dish about the new story. You can find the Hoping for Love Reader Group. Come join the fun!
While HOPING FOR LOVE is intended to be a stand-alone story, you will enjoy it more if you read MAID FOR LOVE, FOOL FOR LOVE, READY FOR LOVE and FALLING FOR LOVE first.
Thanks to my brilliant behind-the-scenes team: Linda Ingmanson edits for me and Kristina Brinton does my beautiful covers. Thank you as always to my beta readers extraordinaire, Ronlyn Howe and Kara Conrad, as well as my writing buddy, Jessica Smith, who did a proofread. A special note of thanks to my lovely reader friend, Kat Bonner, who shared her personal journey with lap-band surgery and provided details that greatly enhanced Grace's story. Thank you, Kat, for your generosity and enthusiasm.
Finally, a huge thank you to my wonderful readers who've made it possible for me to live my dream of being a full-time writer. I love you all!
xoxo
Marie

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 463 KB
• Print Length: 296 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1475028458
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: HTJB, Inc. (March 4, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007HD4RFM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,038 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful heroine and a HOT MCCarthy! March 6, 2012

By MyLadyKat

Format:Kindle Edition

I don't normally write reviews for books unless I adore the story or I desperately loath it. In Marie Force's newest story, Hoping For Love, she has written a sweet, vulnerable, and beautiful heroine with self esteem issues who strives to overcome them. A HOT McCarthy hero named Evan, and the down to earth residents of Gansett Island.

**********POSSIBLE SPOILERS*************

We get to the story of Evan and Grace pretty quickly.

Grace used to be the "fat girl" before lap band surgery changed that and had a dramatic weight loss in a year. Is this true for lap band patients? Yes, I know from personal experience and I so appreciate Ms. Force's use of tact and sensitivity with the subject. Grace's journey thru self discovery and awareness of self was very moving and emotional to me. Grace had some very real life moments: Knowing that the weight loss occurred but always seeing the 'fat girl' in the mirror, asking yourself 'why is he interested in me?, coming to terms with yourself regarding the physical side of a relationship and letting go and accepting that weight issues will always be a part of your life but it can be controlled. Grace was very real to me.

Evan is a sweet guy - I did NOT like him the 'day after' but I understood him. He is sensitive and sweet to Grace when he realizes he loves her. His reaction when she finally tells him about her surgery was a tear jerker and a 5 Hankie rating.

I GOT Grace. I know why this was a secret she wanted to keep. It's a difficult choice and a polarizing topic of discussion. I was proud of Grace for making this decision...it was a tough one and she is comfortable with it but is was HER choice. The surgery doesn't happen in the book, by the time the story starts and a humiliating first sexual attempt happens(with biggest asshst on the planet!) the weight is lost but not the deep issues.

The story explains what she will need to do for the rest of her life (adjusting the band, portion control, exercise, watch the alcohol!) in Grace's talk with Evan. Straightforward and accepting!

As you can tell, I love Grace.

We also revisit our old friends : The McCarthy Family. There are other books before "Hoping For Love" and trust me, you will not regret reading them. In order:

Maid For Love: Mac McMarthy and Maddie
Fool For Love: Joe and Janey McCarthy
Ready For Love: Luke and Sydney
Falling For Love: Grant McCarthy and Stephanie
Hoping For Love: Evan McCarthy and Grace

I thinks it's wonderful to read about each couple after their book to see how they're doing. Life is still happening, issues occur, marital troubles, love, babies, health issues. The McCarthys are just real and they jump off the pages. Other stories are in this book but they all have a common link...the McCarthys.

Read this book! You will not be disappointed with Evan and Grace's awesome journey to Happily Ever After.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the others March 18, 2012

By avid reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

While I enjoyed revisiting the other couples on Gansett Island, I have to say I was disappointed in the primary romance of Grace and Evan since there wasn't enough time spent on them. Just one night makes Evan reevaluate his entire life and change his demeanor? It was just felt unbelievable and rushed. Hope the next book spends more time on the couple and less on the secondary characters.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars In Love with Hoping! March 7, 2012

By Karen Lawson

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The continuing saga of the McCarthy Series just keeps getting better and better. Marie Force is showing her humorous side with this book, the fifth in the series. If you are already a fan of the McCarthy family, you will not be disappointed with this one. If you haven't read any of this series, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning with Maid for Love. Those of us that watch the calendars for the next installment realize that there will be familiar faces and some new ones in each story and look forward to it.

This is Evan and Grace's turn for their happily ever after. Grace has recently had lap band surgery and has lost over a hundred pounds. She is dumped on the island by an old high school crush who had made a bet with his friends to bed "the whale", her rude high school nickname. Evan, being a noble McCarthy man, sees her in distress and comes to her rescue. As the story progresses, Evan tells Grace, "Aw, Grace. I think it's going to turn out that you're the one who rescued me."

Not only do you get to read their story, you also get to reacquaint yourself with Mac and Maddie and kids, Big Mac and Linda, Grant and Stephanie, and even a glimpse of Ned and Francine. You will get to know a little more about Laura and Owen (their book is next!) and Tiffany and Blaine (I personally can't wait to read that one - it should be hilarious!). For Marie's many fans, this is like a family reunion that we've all been invited to attend. Not only do we get to talk to everyone, but we then get to go to her Facebook page and discuss the book. I have never seen an author so connected to all her fans like Marie is.

So, sit back, relax, get in the island frame of mind and thoroughly enjoy the latest edition of the McCarthy's of Gansett Island. Don't forget to order your favorite drink from the Tiki Bar!