Here, Home, Hope

Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda

About The Book:

Kelly Mills Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors' seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly's own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan. From page one, Kelly's witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan - she places Post-it notes all over her house and car - will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career. Here, Home, Hope will surely appeal to readers of chick lit and other women's fiction titles who are ready to transition into something new in their own life. 

My Thoughts:

From the get-go you are hooked on this book and want to take the journey along with Kelly. Although I found some of the conversation and the way people talk in the book unrealistic, I still enjoyed the plot of the story and the journey from beginning to end. As a full-time stay-at-home-mama I get the feeling of "cabin fever" myself, and wonder what things out in the "real" world am I missing out on. Sometimes you just gotta make a change, and the transformation Kelly goes through is amazing.

About The Author:

Kaira Rouda is the author of the novel - Here, Home, Hope and the short story, A Mother's Day. As creator of the Real Living Real Estate brand, Kaira is passionate about entrepreneurialism, marketing and the power of women in the workforce and beyond. Her first book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, is an Amazon bestseller and has received numerous awards since its publication. A published author, award-winning marketing executive and business owner, she built her career by working in marketing for national brands, large regional advertising agencies and writing for national and regional publications. Kaira's first national byline was for Brides magazine, a short piece based on her wedding and honeymoon. For 10 years, she was Central Ohio's Connections society columnist. While maintaining her own writing business, she became the vice president of marketing for an Inc. 100 national franchisor. In 2002, she launched the nationally award-winning Real Living brand. Kaira was recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Led Companies and received the distinguished Stevie Award for Entrepreneurs. Throughout her marketing career, she received numerous awards and honors, and was a WebAward Judge for the Web Marketing Association. Active in her community, she founded Central Ohio's first homeless shelter for families, served two terms on the board of the Mid-Ohio FoodBank, on the board of the YWCA and as an underwriter of The Women's Fund. She has received numerous awards for her civic service including the Ohio Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, Kiwanis Humanitarian Award, Northwest Rotary Woman of the Year and Columbus Board of Realtors Citizen of the Year. Kaira is a magna cum laude English major graduate of Vanderbilt University and the mother of four. Having lived in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, for most of her adult life, recently Kaira, her husband, kids and dog, Oreo, packed up and moved west to the beach where they've all easily adjusted to year-round sun, the bark of sea lions and amazing sunsets. For more about Kaira and her books, please visit www.KairaRouda.com.

BUY this book on Amazon HERE.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from One2One Network. All thoughts and opinions are my own.