Review: CP Smith has done it again!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2014
Set in New Orleans, Nic and Hope's story is an amazing read.  Nic and hope are both broken and exhausted.  Troubles from their past are still playing on their minds, in their every waking thought.Who would have thought that two such emotionally broken people could be so right for each other - but they are.I couldn't help but love Nic. I mean, who wouldn't.  From the minute he sees Hope, he goes into protective mode for her.  Not all alpha, beating the chest, MINE kind of protective (which I do love - well in my books, might be a bit much to take in real life)And while I did not connect as much with Hope as I would have liked, I think it is because she is so cautious and at times withdrawn.  She is such a strong woman, going through hell but mostly with a smile on her face - even if she is constantly looking over her shoulder.You just know from the first minute these two are in a room together that things are going to be pretty spectacular with them, that things are never going to be easy but they are going to be explosive.If you are not on the sidelines cheering for this pair to get together, I don't know what is wrong with you.There are some great secondary characters in Restoring Hope.  Nic's son Nicky is your typical teenage boy in some respects, but so much more mature in others.  At times my heart was ripped out, taped back together and shoved back in my chest, just ready to be ripped out again.New Orleans is such a big part of this story.  The sights, the smells, the traditions.  But most of all, the beignets (I swear I put on 2 stone just reading about all the beignet eating.... damn, now I want some!!)  You can almost hear the music and noise of Bourbon Street, feel the hustle and bustle of tourists.BUT the scene stealer in the story is definitely Maman Rose.  She is bold, brassy cajun, who is as spicy as the food she serves up!  Her and Big Daddy are fantastic, and as much as they are in your face, you know they'd have your back, and they prove over and over again what they do for their friends.So, will Nic and Hope get their happy ending?Nope, for that you are going to have to read for yourself.Just be aware there is a fair bit of French/Cajun talk, and at the beginning it is i bit overwhelming.  But Ms Smith has put a handy glossary at the beginning of the book, and after a few chapters, I didn't even need to go back to check it.Ms Smith writes with the maturity of someone with more than 2 books behind her.  The stories flow, the characters are well developed, I get drawn into them as soon as I pick them up.Now, can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.