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Home for Hope #3

Reclaiming Hope

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Sequel to Resurrecting Hope

Four years ago, Kollin Haverty’s best friend, Riley Meadows, dropped off the face of the earth. When he shows up out of the blue, armed with a flimsy excuse for disappearing and having nearly completed his transition from female to male, Kollin wants to pick up where they left off. But Riley’s unwillingness to be honest with Kollin prevents him from fully trusting Riley again. Despite Riley’s insecurities and Kollin’s abandonment issues, they quickly discover there’s something more than friendship between them.

When a ghost from Riley’s past unexpectedly appears with haunting memories in tow, Kollin’s anger about being lied to outweighs his desire to be the understanding boyfriend Riley needs. As Riley’s web of strategically withheld secrets begins to unravel, he must find the courage to pursue his own peace before he can move forward with Kollin, and Kollin must decide what’s more important—supporting his best friend or protecting himself.

210 pages, ebook

First published October 14, 2016

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Shell Taylor

3 books46 followers

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Tamika♥RBF MOOD♥.
1,224 reviews144 followers
Read
November 7, 2016
DNF @ 45%



Man oh man, did I really want to enjoy this. I really liked the first two books in the series, and I requested this off the strength of the author's writing. I can't believe I read this far into the book. I was exhausted by 10% in. It was literally like pulling teeth. Extremely tiresome being in Riley's head. Largely, I feel like this book was forcing Kollin and Riley to be together. Even in the two previous books, they were good friends. I honestly feel like we were forced to read about the them for the sanity of a third book in the series. I would have really liked them with someone help and would have been okay if they were both in this book, but was building a relationship with other people.

Another reason for me not liking the book was Kollin was initially not interested in Riley. I've read a few Transgender books now, and their is someone who will love Riley. Kollin's first mindset was they were friends, and I just didn't believe the attraction at all. I really think he started something with Riley just because of their past history. I don't think it's fair to Riley and not fair to himself. I really would have liked Riley to get himself together before starting a relationship. I just felt at times he wasn't ready for anyone and wasn't to happy with himself. He had so many internal issues to work out that a relationship just seems redundant to get into right now.

I really wish, I would have liked this, because I truly did enjoy book 1 & 2, but I found myself tired, and angry by the point of which I decided to stop reading. I do look forward to more from this author though. Really enjoy her realistic feelings, settings and her writing flawed characters. We're all flawed at the end of the day!



Profile Image for Tracy~Bayou Book Junkie.
1,519 reviews45 followers
November 3, 2016
5 + Stars

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." When things with Riley's home life fell apart that's exactly what he did. He ran away. He ran away not only from his problems, but from the people who loved and cared about him as well. He ran away from Kollin, his best friend. When Riley returns to town 4 years later he is a changed man, literally. Riley is almost finished transitioning. He only has his bottom surgery left to complete the process. When Riley and Kollin cross paths can they pick up where they left off or is it too late to save their friendship?

I loved this book. I couldn't wait to read Kollin and Riley's story, but I was a bit scared, too. At the time I hadn't read a book with a trans MC before, but I messaged Shell and she was kind enough to take the time to ease my fears. I'm so glad she did. This was an excellently written book. I've only read one other book with a trans MC, but I found I walked away from that one with more questions than answers. Shell did an amazing job at answering some of the questions that I had. This book was informative and seemed well researched. Do I still have questions? Yes, but this can be a confusing subject matter. It can also be a very delicate topic, but Shell handles the story with grace and dignity.

I adored Riley and Kollin. They were a perfect fit. They were both sweet and lovable characters. They shared a wonderful chemistry and connection. I loved that Kollin was so accepting of Riley, yet he had realistic fears when it came to having sex with Riley, who down below still has female parts. I also loved that Adam and Eli were such a huge part of the story.

The story is well-written and paced well. It held me captivated from the first word and I didn't want to put it down. I can't wait to see what Shell has in store for us next!! Extremely recommendable!!
Profile Image for Carra.
1,718 reviews31 followers
November 3, 2016
This is the second story I've read where one of the main characters is trans, and these types of stories pack one heck of an emotional punch. I found myself loving the main characters, but at the same time getting irritated by each of them. There's plenty of angst, something I expected in a story like this of self discovery, and this story also stirred up feelings of protectiveness for both Riley and Kollin.

While those protective feelings were particularly strong for Riley, given he is the one in transition, I was also not happy with him for staying gone for so many years without contact. But then again, it's not as easy for me to understand what he's going through like it would be for a non-trans character. Riley was definitely my favorite in this story, mainly because he is so strong to have been able to go through all of this mostly on his own...it was gratifying to see all the support he had from his boss, and later from Kollin, Adam and Eli as well as some other important characters later on.

Kollin has every right to be upset with Riley for leaving like he did, so it's good to see him come to terms with it. He is wonderfully supportive of Riley, and Kollin has his own journey to go through as he works through being with someone who is trans. To me, the relationship between them at first feels a little awkward and like Kollin is trying too hard to make it work, but the further into the story I got, the more comfortable their matchup felt. Kollin's character goes through a lot of growth, and it's good to see his emotional maturity grow along with his and Riley's relationship.

The author does a very good job at helping the reader understand what Riley has to go through in his quest to transition without making it seem like a tutorial. I was able to feel what both Riley and Kollin were going through, making this story a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but one I was happy to be riding in the end. I loved Adam and Eli's roles in the story, they are the kind of parents every child should have with their tolerance and understanding.

Reclaiming Hope was a 4-star read for me, and while it is part of a series it can definitely be read as a standalone-I have not read the other two books in the series, but now I do want to go back and read them to get Adam and Eli's story as well. I recommend this book to pretty much everyone 18+ (for adult language and sexual content), just be aware that the sexual content does involve a trans character who has not fully completed the transition to male, so those scenes may not be what you expect. Kudos to the author for handling sensitive topics so well, it really contributed to my enjoyment of this story.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,457 reviews30 followers
October 7, 2016
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

This is an incredibly moving new adult romance. This story of childhood friends reunited in their early twenties is a thoughtful, considered and very touching romance.

Kollin has nearly finished college, but he has never forgotten his best friend who disappeared four years earlier. After a difficult childhood, Kollin has been adopted by two wonderful men who provide him with friendship, guidance and care.

Riley is the more interesting of these two characters. He reappears in Kollin’s life as he is nearing the end of his transition from female to male. He now appears male to everyone who knows him and Kollin doesn’t initially recognise his former best friend.

The romance between these two is difficult. Riley is plagued with insecurities about his appearance and his incomplete transition. Kollin is very aware that he has always fancied men - and Riley may never have some of the parts he is attracted to. Considering the difficulties these two face, this book is surprisingly low-angst. These two young men communicate and the advice they get from Kollin’s parents and Riley’s boss keeps them steady. I enjoyed the friendship between Kollin and Riley and I loved their romance. Riley’s vulnerability slows the romance down, but after some initial awkwardness, the sex between these two is very hot.

There were times where this book slid across the line from fiction to non-fiction, offering detailed information about the process of transitioning from female to male and advice for dating someone who is trans. Personally, I found the information interesting and I don’t think it detracted from the story in any way. I really loved Kollin and Riley’s story.
Profile Image for meep.
684 reviews16 followers
October 16, 2016
read this in 2.9 hours. i sat and read it in one sitting. it was really good and i know this is probably finished but I WANT ANOTHER BOOK!
Profile Image for Cheryl.
553 reviews12 followers
January 5, 2017
Review Copy received from publisher in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed for Alpha Book Club by Cheryl.

This is the first book I have read by this author and although this is the third instalment in this series, I don’t feel that it would have been necessary to have read the other two books first.

Kollin and Riley were best friends, that is until Riley one day vanishes, only to reappear four years later and thrust himself back into Kollins life. The fact that Riley was transgender, was no secret between the boys but it is clear that Riley has taken further steps in his transition and has managed to carve out a life for himself during his time away. Kollin has so many questions that he wants to ask about his friend’s absence but it is clear from the answers combined with evasiveness, that there is a lot Riley isn’t telling him. The boys embark on a tentative romance, taking things slowly. Kollin wants to do his best by Riley but having no experience with the body parts that Riley has, he is scared that he will manage to offend his best friend and say or do the wrong thing. As my first forray into the subject of transgender issues, I found this incredibly interesting. There was a lot I hadn’t considered that people go through, not only from the perspective of the person transitioning but also their friends, family and lovers. It’s an absolute minefield!

I liked both MC’s but was unconvinced by them as a couple. It felt like Kollin was doing Riley a favour and trying to prove the point that Riley was attractive regardless of what body parts he had and also, how did he not recognise him when he returned after his absence?! They’d been best friends, not casual acquaintances. There was so much emotional baggage between them that they gradually managed to overcome at a nice steady pace, neither trying to rush the other into anything.

This book certainly gave me a lot to think about and was a sweet, easy read but sadly, didn’t set my heart aflutter.
Profile Image for Jayme.
57 reviews3 followers
October 14, 2016
First of all, I am terrible at reviews. In fact it can be said that I suck tremendously at reviews, but I couldn't let this book go by without a few words.

To the readers: Read this book. It's a beautiful story with complex main characters, Riley and Kollin. whose journey is one of love, help, and hope.

To Shell Taylor: Thank you for writing this book. You're helping to shed light on the transitioning process by giving us a look into the mind of a young person who is going through it. It's a very important but sometimes difficult subject and you gave the character the grace and dignity he deserves.
Profile Image for Chris.
905 reviews
November 2, 2016
4 out of 5 stars

Description ~

Four years ago, Kollin Haverty’s best friend, Riley Meadows, dropped off the face of the earth. When he shows up out of the blue, armed with a flimsy excuse for disappearing and having nearly completed his transition from female to male, Kollin wants to pick up where they left off. But Riley’s unwillingness to be honest with Kollin prevents him from fully trusting Riley again. Despite Riley’s insecurities and Kollin’s abandonment issues, they quickly discover there’s something more than friendship between them.

When a ghost from Riley’s past unexpectedly appears with haunting memories in tow, Kollin’s anger about being lied to outweighs his desire to be the understanding boyfriend Riley needs. As Riley’s web of strategically withheld secrets begins to unravel, he must find the courage to pursue his own peace before he can move forward with Kollin, and Kollin must decide what’s more important—supporting his best friend or protecting himself.


My Review ~

Reclaiming Hope is the third book in the Home for Hope series. It is best to read this series in order because the backstory for both Kollin and Riley are in the previous two books.

Reclaiming Hope picks up four years after the previous book, Resurrecting Hope. Kollin has long ago been adopted by Elijah and Adam and now has a little sister who's twelve. Kollin's in a good place in his life finally, he's in college, volunteers with his Dads at Home For Home, and has plans for his future. While he still has some abandonment issues, life is really good for Kollin. One day while he's out studying, he's approached by an attractive young man, thinking he's flirting with him he flirts back but nothing comes out of it. A few days later, Adam is speaking with the young man again but this time at H4H, he introduces him to Kollin and tosses his world upside down. The young man is Riley, who disappeared out of Kollin's life four years ago.

Kollin and Riley were best friends both dealing with being queer, and in Riley's case, being transgender and just starting the transitioning process. While Riley's home life wasn't bad, his parents didn't accept his wanting to transition. Kollin was living with an abusive family and used Home for Hope's center as a getaway after school so he didn't have to go home. Riley was also harboring deeper feelings for Kollin but had so many issues in his life that he didn't want to ruin their friendship in case Kollin didn't feel the same.

Kollin and Riley start getting to know each other again but Kollin knows Riley is hiding something or at least holding information back from him. This causes Kollin to not trust Riley completely, which also makes him feel like Riley could disappear from his life again.

I'll admit I was a little hesitant of where Kollin and Riley's story might go. I loved both characters in the previous books but hated that Riley disappeared out of Kollin's life. I almost expected that if the author wrote Kollin's book eventually that we'd find out something tragic had happened to Riley. So I'm thrilled that wasn't the case and that Riley and Kollin got a start at a HEA. And yes this is a start because both of these young men are just that, young. Kollin isn't even 21 yet and Riley is just past 21, I believe. They still have a lot of things to work through by the end of the book but the romance between them is solid and their sex scenes were very hot. The author did not hold back on the scenes between them, even though Riley hasn't had bottom surgery just yet. Riley has completed his transition by the end of the book though, which is one of the things he struggles with through out the book.

I enjoyed the developing story between these two, watching them move from friends into the start of a solid relationship. I liked that the author made these characters assess their feelings causing them to take a hard look at themselves as much as what they wanted from the other person. I only wish that there had been a little more toward a solid HEA vs just the HFN. I hope the author revisits these two in the future either in another book of their own or as part of another couple's story, just to complete their circle.

I definitely recommend this one for anyone that's read the other books in the series and for those that haven't, pick up the series and enjoy it from the start.
Profile Image for Sandra.
4,101 reviews13 followers
December 9, 2016
There are so many phenomenal 5 star reviews for this book. While I liked it well enough, it just didn't hit me in the feelz the way I thought it would. It was pretty slow to start, with a lot of back and forth. While I appreciate Kollin being a forgiving person, Riley might be right in that by Kollin forgiving him so easily, it made Riley's abandonment seem like less of a big deal than it was.

I haven't read the other books in the series, so I didn't witness Kollin's heartbreak firsthand. While I think it was a shitty thing for Riley to do, this book doesn't punch you in the gut with how devastated Kollin was and what turmoil Riley was in. Even all of the horrible stuff that Riley went through while in Boone was alluded to forever, then finally revealed in one big convo... and then sorta over. It was a little too 'tell' for me, I guess.

The crux of my 3 star rating, unfortunately, is that I wasn't feeling the chemistry. I wanted to. I felt their friendship and the platonic love. I even felt Riley's massive unrequited feelings. But I found the transition from friends to boyfriends really awkward and not at all organic I just wasn't buying it.

This might be a series that is better read in chronological order. While I certainly wasn't lost, and this can be read as a standalone, I think the emotional journey of the first two books are an integral part of Kollin and Riley's story. That being said, some of dialogue also felt a bit forced to me. In particular that saccharine 23rd chapter (which should have been an epilogue due to the odd and sudden time jump)

Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
Profile Image for Kaye Hallows.
Author 4 books65 followers
October 15, 2016
Shell Taylor’s Reclaiming Hope is the perfect finale to her three-part Home for Hope series.

What I love about Shell’s characters is that they are human, and they are flawed as hell. They make assumptions, they put up walls, and they keep things inside that are better off said. We can see ourselves and our own mistakes in their footsteps, so when they finally figure it out, we cheer all the harder. No secret, Kollin has always been my favorite character of the series. Kollin won my heart in book one, broke my heart in book two, and now, he fills my heart to bursting in Reclaiming Hope with his very own love story. Kollin has a way of cutting to the chase of any topic, and he’s not afraid to embarrass either of his adoptive dads when something’s on his mind. My favorite scenes in book three are the conversations between Kollin and Eli (his bi dad) about the mechanics of sex with a mid-transition transgender male. “There’s all kinds of … folds and… holes… and things. And it’s all shiny sometimes. What the hell is that about? Dick, balls, ass. How simple is that?” Poor fella. And poor Eli, whose best quality IMHO is that he never pretends to know the answer when he doesn’t. Adam has his own special brand of parenting, and the combination of styles is always heart-warming to read.

In this end note to the Hope series, we meet Riley again, and we don’t like him very much at first. But in typical Kollin fashion, he gives Riley a second chance (“Well, now that my life isn’t in the shitter, and yours seems to be going well, think you can handle being friends again?”) and so do we. But it’s complicated. Riley is working through some major emotional and physical struggles with his transition to transgender male, a topic I admit I have read very little about in fiction. Shell handles the topic with brutal honesty, through the eyes of two young adults who have no idea what they’re doing but they’re determined to get through it together. At times, you want to cringe because it’s so very real. And on top of the transgender issues, they have all the other relationship challenges of two gay men. But of course, they have Adam and Eli, the two best dads anyone could ever hope for.

The topic is weighty at times, but the story is told so beautifully, there’s humor to balance out the angst, and these characters feel like family. Each has his own way of approaching a situation, and Shell stays true to the beautiful characters she has created for us. The end of this story is an incredibly satisfying capstone to the three-book series. I recommend starting at book one and reading them straight through—more than once.
Profile Image for Morningstar.
Author 10 books169 followers
October 25, 2016
Book & Author: Reclaiming Hope by Shell Taylor
Rating: 5 stars

Going into this book I wasn't sure what to expect. I had never read a book with a transitioning person, adult or young adult, and as my first it’s hard to grasp what you are getting yourself into or where the story will take you. I am in awe of the emotional story that Shell Taylor wrote. This story was so moving and real that it’s hard to delve into while reading it or right after. It was emotionally educational as well as eye opening and made my heart go from hurting to full of love throughout the story.


Kollin is a college student still living home with his two dads when his best friend, that abandoned him 4 years earlier, walks back into his life. Kollin isn’t sure what to think of the why’s Riley left but he’s a pretty forgiving guy, more than most people I know, and tries to wipe the slate clean for them to go back to being best friends again. A lot has changed for Riley, emotionally and physically, since they last saw each other. Riley isn’t the same guy that left years earlier’ he is mid transition, he has had some rough times since he left, and emotionally all over the place.


Their developing relationship was anything but easy. Kollin being a pretty easy going guy tries not to push but with so many emotional landmines around Riley he feels he needs to know more in order to be a goof friend and to move forward with the romantic relationship. Riley doesn’t want Kollin, perfect gorgeous Kollin, to know about his tainted past or see his body because he doesn’t think Kollin can want him, not the true him, not the way he is now.


Adam and Eli really try to help the way good parents do and with how open and honest the communication is between them and Kollin it really does help in some ways. Kollin’s insecurities with the physical side of their relationship coupled with Riley’s ever changing body dysmorphia makes for an emotional ride but one that I would still call low angst.


I loved how the author handled the details of Riley’s struggles in his transition with the physical aspect of still not having the parts he felt he was missing, to the parts that were complete but still carried scars, and so many psychological issues. They never bogged the story down, to me they made the story that much better. This is one friends to lovers book I wish everyone would read.

*I received a copy of this book through http://diversereader.blogspot.com/ *
Profile Image for Caroline Brand.
1,746 reviews70 followers
October 14, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

I loved the first two books in the Home for Hope series and whilst this third book didn’t drag me in as the first two did it was still a well told story and it was great to get a bit more time with Adam and Elijah.

Kollin and Riley were best friends and spent a lot of time together until Riley disappeared without a word and cut out all contact with everyone from his life. Kollin has moved on as part of Adam and Elijah’s family, finally able to trust that their home is where he belongs, but he has never forgotten his old friend – the pain has become a dull ache over time.

Riley was a mess four years ago when he walked away from everything and everyone he knew. Coming back isn’t easy for him and a lot has changed and happened to him since he left and old fears are quick to reappear – he worries about whether he will be welcomed back or shunned. He worries about seeing Kollin and having to explain why he ran from their friendship. He worries about how he will react around Kollin after all the years he harboured a secret crush. Riley has nearly completed his transition but it has been a long and difficult road and he still struggles with body dysmorphia – past relationships have added to the poor way he thinks of himself and how he feels about his body. There isn’t a quick fix for the way Riley feels about himself and I was pleased the author didn’t give him one or had Kollin magically fix everything overnight.

I liked Riley and Kollin as characters but I have to admit, for me, for a lot of the story the relationship between them felt forced – as though because they were friends and had a story to tell that they should be together. I felt they made exceptional friends, they had each other’s backs, they forgave each other’s mistakes but when they got together romantically it felt a bit off – to me at least.

There is a lot of information in this book with regards to everything Riley had and was still going through and as a character he was exceptionally well developed. Kollin’s story is no less important and he has to get over his feeling of being abandoned, something that has plagued him for years, and although he is quick to forgive Riley the words come more easily than the action. By the end I was more convinced of their relationship – it was just a bumpy ride to get there for me personally.
Profile Image for Molly Lolly.
834 reviews3 followers
December 23, 2016
Original review on Molly Lolly
Four and a half stars!
I absolutely adored this story. From the beginning I wanted Kollin to have his own story. Now that I have it I want more! He’s so sweet and Riley is perfect for him. Together they work to overcome their obstacles and support each other through the hard times. I enjoyed seeing how they both handled things and their relationship developed.
Kollin has a heart of gold. He tries so hard to help others make sure everyone around him is happy. The way he handles his feelings for Riley are so wonderful to read. Even when he blows up at Riley you can tell he doesn’t want to hurt Riley. It’s great getting to see Kollin grow up to be an empathetic adult that finds love in the sweetest of ways.
My heart hurt for Riley. He had such a troubled past. He came a long way in the four years he was gone. But there were times I wanted to smack him too since some of the troubles were self inflicted. However we are our own worst enemy and critic so his struggles were expected. I liked the man Riley grew to be. He still had some issues to overcome but he had support through the rest of them Riley’s struggles in the story had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was afraid something would happen that keeps Riley and Kollin from being together. The way he loves Kollin wholly and completely is beautiful to see on page.
The journey these two take to read their happy ending is wonderful. They work together. They have their ups and downs, fights and love. They work out how sex will go between them and they talk. They act like the adults they are and they work to make their relationship happen. It’s such a wonderful happily ever after for them too. You can tell they’re going to both make it long term; individually and as a couple. I hope it’s not the last book for all of these characters. However if it is, you can be assured everyone is happy and with the person they’re going to spend the rest of their life with.
Profile Image for Curtis.
983 reviews18 followers
January 1, 2017
Kollin Haverty's best friend, Riley Meadows, disappeared four years ago without so much as a word or phone call since. So when he shows up in town unexpectedly, Kollin isn't sure if he should be angry or happy. Riley's explanation for his absence doesn't quite ring true for Kollin, but he decides to do his best to be supportive. And as Riley seems to have nearly completed his female-to-male transition while he was away, Kollin hopes that the time was good and helpful for him. The two reconnect and get closer, and they soon find that their feelings might go a bit beyond friendship. But that will only work if they can be honest with each other and it's clear Riley is still keeping secrets. As they navigate the realities of pursuing a relationship Riley needs to figure out if he can tell Kollin the truth and Kollin needs to determine if he can be supportive of Riley no matter what--even if it means he might get hurt in the process.

This is the third book in a series, but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone story. I've not yet read either of the previous books, and I felt like I had no problem at all following and understanding the story. And it happens to be a very well-written and thought-provoking story at that. While I haven't personally been in the position, I imagine that transitioning from a friendship to a romantic relationship would bring with it some unique challenges. Even though you already clearly care about the person as a friend, there is a subtle difference when you decide to open up that romantic part of yourself. There are risks involved. And there are new expectations. What might seem like it should be easy actually is anything but, which services to only complicate things even more. And that's what we see play out here between Kollin and Riley.

I also have to take a moment to reference the inclusion of a trans character in this story. I'll admit that I haven't read many trans love stories--though I've no specific aversion to doing so. I feel like the author does a fine job of representing the character, telling his story, and being honest about the realities of what he faces in life and in the relationship.
Profile Image for Christina Wade - BFD Book Blog.
1,423 reviews31 followers
November 4, 2016
Just like the last 2 books, this book is full of heavy and hard to deal with emotions. It’s not as heavy as book 2 but does work though some heavy issues.

I’ve never read a romance story between a gay man and a trans man and I am fascinated by what I learned. It also brought to light some things I never even thought about. I was so frustrated with Riley for being so bitter and ugly to Kollin when Kollin had been nothing but loving and understanding. I wanted to shake Riley and tell him to knock it off. But he uttered one sentence and it shut me right up…

“…Doesn’t change the fact that you only like c*ck.”

It’s staggeringly simple yet as far from simple as possible. He didn’t have the male anatomy that Kollin loved on men and neither of them knew how to deal with that. And that was after he dropped this bomb…

‘Coming out as gay is terrifying. Coming out as trans is a mixture of terrifying and humiliating. The thought of coming out as both is nearly debilitating.’

Riley obviously has some major issues to work through and he partially made them worse when he disappeared from Kollin, Adam and Elijah’s lives. He’s grown quite a bit but still has some healing to do when he enters their lives again. He totally broke my heart a couple of times but I love how much he grows and matures in this story.

Kollin is every bit as great in this book as he’s ever been. He’s grown into a pretty dang perfect young man. He’s just as scared as Riley to deal with some of their issues but he never shies away from facing those fears. He treated Riley perfectly through his transformation and deserves every bit of love he can get from Riley.

Adam and Elijah are great as always in this one. We actually meet a couple of new characters as well. I’m not sure if there will be more to this series but I wouldn’t say no to getting more.

This book probably could be read as a standalone but I think you’d get more out of the story if you knew the entire history of everyone involved. Needless to say based on my rating, this is a wonderful series that I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Morgan  Skye.
2,784 reviews27 followers
October 16, 2016
I am blown away.

I was a little bit leery of this. Kollin is so young. I was worried about the “bigness” of the topics and the age of the MCs.

I shouldn’t have worried.

First, Shell Taylor is a really gifted writer. She manages to break down these tough topics and educate us ignorant folks without sounding preachy. Second, Kollin is an old soul and didn’t feel too young. Third, the unique nature of Riley and Kollin’s relationship was absolutely fascinating! I love, love, loved how honest each of them was with the other. They spent so much time talking about their issues (after they recognized that talking needed to happen!) that it felt really natural and flowed really easily to watch their relationship unfold.

Of course it was great to see Adam and Eli again, but they were definitely not the stars of this show. Kollin, who has always been great, really shows up here as a superstar. Previously I hadn’t known that Riley was cis female, so that was new to me. But this book really showed the entire transition in such a respectful and insightful light, that I felt like I was walking along right with the guys as they navigated their concerns and love story.

I was glad that Riley’s parents were portrayed the way they were. I won’t say more about it, other than I really felt like that was an honest portrayal.

If you haven’t read the series to this point, have no fear, this can be read as a standalone, BUT the series is excellent and I’d highly recommend reading it in order anyway.

Highly recommended.

6 of 5 stars
Profile Image for Heather.
1,511 reviews53 followers
November 19, 2016
What a beautiful conclusion to Shell Taylor's Home for Hope trilogy! I'll admit that I may not have been as invested in Kollin and Riley's relationship as I was with Adam and Eli's but that's not saying I wasn't completed engulfed in their journey. In Reclaiming Hope we get to see how Kollin is doing a few years after Resurrecting Hope and when Riley re-enters the picture, their lives really begin. I can honestly say I have never read a book where one of the main characters is trans let alone in mid transition, which means I don't have anything to really compare Reclaiming to but I can't imagine the author's portrayal being any better. Shell Taylor, in my opinion, does justice to both sides of the relationship, obviously we get to see just what Riley is dealing with as he works towards the final steps to his bottom surgery but we also get to see how his friend and partner deals with the fine line between staying true to his own heart and not pushing his friend and partner where he isn't ready to go. I can't recommend this series enough, trust me, whether you like M/M stories or not, if you enjoy a well written romantic journey you don't want to miss out on Home for Hope.
Profile Image for Nikki Hastings.
72 reviews3 followers
October 16, 2016
I must say, this book really did round up and conclude this series quite well. Set four year after the last book, this story is centered around the adoptive son of Adam and Elijah, featured in books 1&2. It also focused on telling the story of a young transman, something that almost never happens in the M/M Romance genre.

I would like to comment on the fact that all characters (trans* and cis) seem to accept that "bottom surgery" in some form was going to happen. Many trans* individuals choose not to have surgery, and this is a really personal decision. I would like to commend the author though, for taking the time to actually research the effects of testosterone on the genitals of transmen. You would be surprise how many people don't bother, and it actually made the sex scenes very realistic for me!
Profile Image for Pates.
384 reviews
December 19, 2016
Let us start off with this cover. It is gorgeous! And once you read this story, I think you will love it even more.
I am so happy that Shell wrote Kollin and Riley's story. I've adored Kollin since the very beginning. I have so much love for him!

This story is of heartache, HOPE, and most of all a friendship that never went away. It may have been lost for awhile, but like true friendships can do, it came back.
But it also showed both of them how much they truly meant to each other and it was so much more.

One of the things you will see in this story is the research, thoughts, and care Shell put into this book regarding Riley and his transition. Not only in the physical side, but the emotional aspect too.

This is the final book of the series and like the others. it is fantastic!

ps. I am a beta for this book, but I have been waiting for Kollin forever and loved the outcome!
Profile Image for Xan.
619 reviews272 followers
Shelved as 'do-not-read'
March 31, 2017
Based on the blurb, we have a cis character who is angry at a trans character for not disclosing that he was trans (and, it's implied, maybe also not disclosing that he experienced trauma?). This is not the trans representation I need. Nope.
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