"Hope springs eternal" was the first thought that popped into my mind. What if you think your life has been hopeless? After escaping from physical abuse, then remaining separate from emotional abuse. Finally left by yourself except for a family that, fortunately, included you in with theirs. Their family not yours. And that’s what you feel is lacking - a family to truly call your own, and eople that you love and that love you right back. How sad. Truly.

In THE HERO OF HOPE SPRINGS, we become enmeshed in Sammy’s life which, on many levels, is bereft of love. The only emotional ties are with Ryder and his family of siblings, cousins, and friends. Ryder is the reigning adult father figure in his band of family. No parents, just kids that under the watchful eye of Ryder have grown into a unique family group. For years this was the family Sammy watched and yearned for.

Now, as a sort of independent adult, Sammy begins seeking out what is missing from her life - love and family. Her plans, if you want to call them plans, are to leave town and have a baby. Leave town to avoid being stuck in the same spot for her entire life, like her mother and a baby, someone who will love her and she can give all her love to.

Ryder is trying to convince her that her reasoning is faulty.

Ryder is not trying to be a hero. In fact he isn’t sure what part he wants in Sammy’s life other than the uber supportive best friend. And that’s when the fun begins.

One encompasses his life in complete control if there even is such a thing. The other can’t fathom the concept of control. Life actually look control out of each of their hands. Ryder had no choice but to cut short his plans when his parents died. Sammy put her mind in blank mode to shut out the violence of her family life. Control something each looks at very differently.

Changing the dynamics of their relationship is tangibly scary to both Ryder and Sammy. Something that needs to be done carefully, calmly and controlled. Love does not fit those qualities. At the end of the day these two would have to throw caution to the wind. Neither knows how to do that and candidly neither wants to.

So in THE HERO OF HOPE SPRINGS we find a man who doesn’t acknowledge the fact that to many he is viewed as a hero. And his counterpart is a woman who is viewed as rather flighty. Neither Ryder nor Sammy see themselves in this way. But as THE HERO OF HOPE SPRINGS continues both characters begin to emerge from their own safety cocoon. Taking chances is scary but without doing so life may never end with a happy ever after for either Sammy or Ryder.

Maisey Yates created some of her best scenes of passion and love when she penned THE HERO OF HOPE SPRINGS. Most important though are the characters that grew out of every word on every page. There have been over a dozen book in the Gold Valley series by Maisey Yates and each one captures your heart in the story of some remarkable characters. THE HERO OF HOPE SPRINGS is Ryder’s story and opens the door for more in this series.