Hope(less) by Melissa Haag
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review...as those are the only type of reviews I give.

3.5 / 4 Stars

Honestly, I did not know what to expect when I read the synopsis...because lets face it, its rather vague.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Our world is being judged and we remain unaware.

In a world filled with people, Gabby is uniquely alone. The tiny sparks she sees in her mind represent the people around her, but she doesn't know why she sees them.

A chance encounter leads her closer to answers she's struggled to find, and into a hidden society where fur is optional.


Judgment? Teenage superpowers? Hidden society? Fur...optional?  Well, we all know there is no shortage of werewolf stories available ...and most are not my thing...but I was open to giving this one a go.

I am glad I did.  This book was a great read!  Not only was it unlike any other paranormal/werewolf story I have read, it was a sweet romance.  The main character is Gabby, a girl who has been in foster care and moved around quite a bit due to a strange ability to attract the male population (quite inappropriate to have your foster father/uncle/brother following you around!).  So Gabby has started to avoid people most of the time and her trust in men is close to nil.  Gabby also has another ability - which is to see dots of light in her mind, which she has deducted represent people around her.  One day she discovers a dot of light in her vision that is a different color, and when she investigates, she meets a grandfatherly werewolf.  He introduces her into his world and acts as both friend and caretaker.  On one of the trips to the werewolf compound, she meets a special wolf who is not willing to let her go.

Ultimately this is the love story between Gabby and Clay.  This is not your typical romance...so do not expect any Insti-Love here.  In fact, our leading man doesn't even speak until 2/3 of the way into the book (gives the Strong-Silent type a whole new meaning).  He isn't your typical "hottie"...and is described as quite the opposite - dirty clothes, no shoes, long hair in his eyes, long beard covering his mouth...definitely not your average male lead.  HOWEVER...you will love Clay despite his described appearance and lack of verbalization.  Why?  Because actions speak volumes louder than words.  Clay's actions speak his love and affection for Gabby louder than any words ever could. Trust me, he puts up with a lot of crap to win this tough chic over!  I absolutely loved the build up to this romance...it was sweet, it was slow and it was real.  Clay was definitely my favorite person in this book.


What I liked best:
The relationship between Clay and Gabby that built slowly.
The fact that Clay did not speak for most of the book, but showed his feelings and desires through his actions.
The werewolves in this story were "normal" - not needing to be chained in the basement on a full moon, or out of control rage monsters.
The character development and pace of the book are both really good.

What I didn't love:
Sam. He seemed to care for Gabby, but ultimately seems like he used her for intents unknown.
The book ended without a clear answer about Gabby's abilities, this "other" type/aura color of werewolf, and what was meant by "Our world is being judged" in the synopsis - so I gather they must come into play in future books?
The end of the book seemed a little awkward/rushed.

Verdict:
Unique, great romance, interesting characters.  Even if you don't normally like werewolf stories, give this one a chance - Clay is worth it.




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