REVIEW: Hope Burns by Jaci Burton

In Hope Burns (Hope #3) by Jaci Burton, Molly ran from Hope 12 years ago, taking her secrets with her. She’s never returned, living a nomadic life style, never settling down for long in one place, but never returning to the place she used to call home. Until now. With her sister getting married, Molly has no excuse to not return for the wedding.

The one person she doesn’t want to run into is one of the first people she runs into when she arrives back in Hope. Carter was her high school boyfriend, the love of her teenage life. When tragedy struck, each having different reactions, Molly could not see past her self, her hurt, and she ran.

Now she can no longer avoid him. Not only is Carter in the wedding, but when Molly ends up staying in Hope much longer than she planned after her mother is injured, Molly and Carter are suddenly spending a lot more time together. Working on a project that her mother and Carter are both involved in, they can’t avoid each other. Both of them still have feelings for each other…and Molly decides she can have a no strings relationship with Carter. But Carter wants more…and sometimes love is worth fighting for. But will Molly fight for them or will she fight against them at the same time she feels the need to run again? Is there any hope of a second chance for them?

I was really looking forward to Molly’s story because the mystery of her and Carter’s relationship has been hinted at in previous Hope books, and it really intrigued me. Carter, the hero, is endearing. Molly not so much and she is a very young 30 year old. I found Molly very hard to relate to or connect to. She was a difficult character to get a good feel for. I was never sure if she was actually happy with her life style after she left Hope. Her character was a bit of a contradiction. In her professional life she seemed to be very successful, but I’m not really sure if she had much of a personal life. I found it incredibly irritating that she was carrying a 12 year old teenage grudge around like it happened yesterday. I understand that what happened was awful, but she never really seemed to think about how it affected Carter also. As Carter pointed out to Molly, she doesn’t remember any of the good times they had, instead she focuses on the loss and the bad. I really liked Carter. He’s content with his life even if he doesn’t have a woman to share it with. He’s successful, and involved in his community. I got a much better sense of Carter and how he moved on and grew up – and he’s grown up great! Their is a lot of conflict in Molly and Carter’s relationship, and at times I enjoyed seeing them work their way back together, hoping they could make a go of it this time if only Molly would grow up!

I really enjoy the small town feel Jaci gives in all the Hope books and Hope Burns is no exception with it’s host of supporting characters. Molly’s relationship with her family and the fact that she’d never been back to see them in 12 years was surprising. I liked seeing characters from other books and following up on them, but if I hadn’t read the previous books I don’t think it would have taken away from Hope Burns.

Jaci writes Hope Burns with a well flowing plot that kept me interested and wanting to know the secrets, how things would work out. I would recommend Hope Burns to contemporary romance readers.

Book Info:

Published September 30th 2014 by Jove | (Hope #3)

A novel of small-town hearts and big dreams…

Molly Burnett dreads returning to her hometown of Hope for her sister’s wedding, especially knowing she’ll have to endure a weekend with the one man she never wants to see again. It’s only a couple of days, so Molly will try to forget her painful past with high school sweetheart Carter Richards. Because despite the bitter memories, she still can’t forget what they once meant to each other.

But when Molly is forced to extend her stay, Carter sees this as his second chance to do things right, to start over again with the only woman he’s ever loved. This time, he isn’t going to let Molly run. Together they’re going to confront the past and put it behind them, and hope for a future as bright as the flame that still burns hot between them.