4.5 stars.

Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick is a captivating novel of family, friendship and new beginnings.

Hope Carpenter's life changes drastically following her husband Rick's unexpected forced retirement. They manage to keep their heads above water but when cuts in school funding eliminate her teaching position, their financial situation is becoming increasingly precarious. Despite a few misgivings, Rick and Hope sell their home in Portland and move to Olympia to be closer to their daughter, McKenzie. After settling into their new life, Hope is hired by the local women's prison as an arts and crafts instructor. Despite her trepidation and rather bumpy first month on the job, she is pleasantly surprised by how much her students and her new career mean to her. On the home front, she and Rick are experiencing an unsettled period in their marriage as he struggles to find a job. Will Hope and Rick regain their once close relationship?

Hope is an incredibly upbeat woman who faces the upheaval in her life with a positive attitude. She does not allow her disappointment over the move or lack of support from Rick stop her from accepting the job at the prison. Instead, she throws herself wholeheartedly into her new career. Hope does have to work hard to overcome the prison superintendent's stringent rules to achieve her goal of helping the women learn valuable life lessons through quilting. As she settles into her new career, Hope cannot help but become invested in one of the inmates as she prepares for life after her release from prison.

Once a valuable and sought after employee, Rick is taken aback by how deeply affected he is by the loss of his job. He is also dealing with a heartbreaking loss in addition to losing his career and their relocation. Disheartened by his dismal job search, Rick eases his frustration by immersing himself in baking and watching cooking shows. He does finally begin to find his way out of his depression, but is it too late for Rick to get his marriage back on track?

Well written with a socially relevant storyline, Hope on the Inside is an uplifting novel of self-discovery. Hope is a gregarious woman who refuses to allow the problems in her life keep her down. Rick's situation is an all too common occurrence in today's business environment. With a cast of appealing characters and realistic story arcs, this newest release by Marie Bostwick is a thought-provoking story that is realistic, heartfelt and inspirational. Old and new fans do not want to miss this incredible novel of hope, courage and compassion. ( )

Hope on the Inside by Marie Bostwick

Rick and Hope have had a long successful love-filled marriage with give and take and honesty between them while raising four children to adulthood. Neither expected that they would be scrambling for jobs and living in a new place before they turned 60 and so close to the easy retirement they must have envisioned. Rick was definitely more troubled by the situation than Hope who immediately went out to find employment. Rick did try but was overqualified for anything he applied for. Hope does get a job working in a women’s prison teaching crafts and that gives her purpose as Rick tries to find himself and who he will be after his work as an engineer ends. The book includes the children and a bit about their lives and a big focus on one of the women in prison in Hope’s class. There are side stories aplenty. All in all a pleasant read but one that seemed rather predictable and perhaps not my favorite written by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars ( )