SWEET HOPE – SWEET HOME BOOK #3/ CARILLO BOYS BOOK #2 by TILLIE COLE

***PLEASE NOTE***
***YOU SHOULD READ SWEET FALL BEFORE READING SWEET HOPE***

‘Lei era speranza…She was hope. La mia luce…my light.’

Sweet Hope is one of those stories where if we could give it an infinite number of stars we would. This book is perfection and on an emotional level we don’t read and experience often. The writing is once again of the flawless and evocative calibre that is the signature of Tillie Cole. She grabbed our hearts once more with her words right from the onset and still hasn’t let go. We will never forget this story Sweet Hope has left an incredible impression on our hearts. No words we say can possible do Tillie Cole any justice here.

“You’re not the villain in this story, you’re the beautifully flawed hero. You’re the dark hero who has been sacrificing himself all along.”

Now; we are very aware that this story can be very easy to spoil for future readers. Tillie Cole herself has asked for non-spoiler reviews and we wholeheartedly agree. What a shame it would be for readers not to go into this one ‘blind’. So; we will not talk about the story in any detail, instead we will tell you how we felt. After all we read to feel and be shocked, surprised and overcome with emotion. That is the very essence of why we read and so it should be.

“The most beautiful art is often born from the most desperate of circumstances.”

We had so many phone conversations whilst reading Sweet Hope; it’s the kind of raw almost poetic story that swallows you up and spits you out emotionally exhausted at the end. We both sat reading with constant tears in our eyes and cried on the phone to each other. Many coffees were consumed and yeah both of us got stress headaches from the crying. Did it ease up? No, the emotion overwhelmed us right till the end building steadily to a crescendo that had us on our knees unable to breathe. And you know what? We’d read it again just to feel the power of Tillie Cole’s words.

‘He was living, breathing poetry. Not love poetry, but the poetry which tears out your heart, rips it to shreds, pushes it back into your chest, and makes you question what the hell just obliterated your soul.’

Her characters have such depth and intensity we’ve taken them into our hearts in an everlasting embrace. What a way to finish a series with an epilogue that had us smiling, laughing and crying in equal measure. Heartbreakingly beautiful in every way possible. Surprising and astounding as every single character from this series had us riveted and remembering moments whilst experiencing thoughts and feelings all over again. THIS is why we read – pure book magic.

“…with you…I feel…I feel…everything, every-fucking-thing…right here…”

Ally is without question one of our favourite heroines in fiction. Her understanding, compassion, intelligence, maturity and capacity for love is immense. She’s a fighter and displays such strength emotionally it was an awe inspiring experience. Her loyalty and passion is unwavering and her beliefs cemented and fought for.

‘She was fucking perfection. She was light. A blazing golden light. When you’re locked in perpetual darkness, you’ll do anything to fucking chase that light.’

When Ally gives her heart it is not done half-heartedly. Ally finds the love she’s been waiting for in the most unlikely of places – she falls for the passion and soul of another. She sees him before being faced with the man himself and it was incredibly powerful.

‘I wanted to forget who I was for a while…at least for tonight. Forget it all. The last few weeks, the last few years…everything…just for a fucking while.’

Elpidio the dangerous and intense mystery, the artist – the broken man who speaks from his soul through his hands. A man with a past so tragic and violent. Our hearts bled for him. His place in the world is one he no longer understands, his past a constant darkness surrounding him. A darkness he doesn’t take lightly and accepts as his fate. His karma. This man stands in the face of adversity – a storm in which he is the eye, knowingly feeling the weight of his actions and their consequences. But this man carries within him a heart-breaking acceptance, a loyalty so fierce brought on by a devoted love and protection. Elpidio brings his entire heart to the table as well as his penance.

“His work….it’s my soul. It’s life, death, love, tragedy, and everything in between, every human condition….everything.”

This love did not come quietly. This love came like a ferocious storm which picked up all the pieces and changed fates forever. A love that spread its wings and enveloped more than just Ally and Elpidio. It was an incredible experience that will stay with us forever. THIS…..this is how you bring your readers to their knees and reminds them why they love to read! A standing ovation by us to Tillie Cole.

“He’s my more, my bolt of lightning, the one I’ve been waiting for all my life.”