The Son and his Hope by Pepper Winters **ARC Review**

 A Sweeping Standalone from New York Times Bestseller, Pepper Winters.

“Things you should know about me from the very beginning:

I was born to true love, witnessed the destruction it causes, and vowed never to let such agony happen to me. I am not a story-teller like my father. I am not a writer like my mother. I am just a son—their son.

I am happy being alone.

And that is all I ever want to be.”

 

JACOB

The day he was born, Jacob learned his hardest and longest lesson.

It wasn’t a lesson a boy should learn so young, but from his earliest memories he knew where happiness lives, so does tragedy. Where love exists, so does heartbreak. And where hope resides, so does sorrow.

That lesson carved him from the kid to the teen to the man.

And nothing and no one could change his mind.

 

HOPE

I first met him when he was fourteen at a movie premiere of all places. A movie based on his parent’s life.

He was stoic, strong, suspicious, and secretive.

I was only ten, but I felt something for him. A strange kind of sorrow that made me want to hug and heal him.

I was the daughter of the actor hired to play his father.

We shared similarities.

I recognized parts of him because they were parts of me.

But no matter how many times we met. No matter how many times I tried.

He stayed true to his vow to never fall.

4 STARS 

The Ribbon Duet was one of my favorite book series I've read last year. I've loved it and I cried for it. I couldn't help but read the third part of this series and I don't regret a thing. This was definitely a closure to this beautiful series. 

The story follows Jacob, the son of Della and Ren when his mother's book is turned into a movie. He hates everything and everyone and that includes the actor's daughter, Hope. Years come and go and he still can't open himself to get close to people, because he doesn't want to get hurt again. Death is like a noose around his neck and he doesn't let himself enjoy life because eventually someone will die and someone will get hurt. Hope is trying to break his barriers, but this challenge seems harder and almost impossible. 

This book was such an emotional punch to me. Some things I expected them to happen, so I wasn't surprised, but still the scenes were so strong and powerful. I have to admit that there are things that annoyed me, like Hope having to be a doormat at moments and tolerating more than enough, although she was also the only one who didn't accept his attitude as well. His attitude made sense at moments, but then again he also didn't. 

Pepper once again gave me exactly what I needed with that extended epilogue and I finished this book with a happy heart and tears in my eyes. My angsty friends will definitely love this tale. 

ARC was kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.