finding-hope

Finding Hope – Melanie D. Snitker – Love’s Compass #2 – Published 1 July 2015

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Synopsis

Cancer.

That one word has rocked Lexi Chandler’s life to the core. Her focus has always been to help others. She loves being a nurse and enjoys spending time with her family. Things had been going according to plan. Now she’s struggling to pick up the pieces and make sense of the changes in her life.

Lance Davenport has cared for Lexi since they were kids. Between their age difference and bad timing, he’s turned burying his feelings into an art. Now, watching Lexi battle with cancer has made him realize just how much he’s missed. He doesn’t know what their future holds, but he’s determined to not waste another minute.

The people closest to Lexi pull together as she tries to navigate her way down a path none of them ever dreamed she’d have to travel.

My thoughts

I was pleased to find this book had the same tone as many of my favourite Christian contemporary novels. Think Melissa Tagg, Irene Hannon, Kimberly Rae Jordan. Romance, strong family connections, trials, faith – great stories that leave you feeling uplifted. This is the first book I’ve read written by Melanie D. Snitker but it certainly won’t be the last.

Finding Hope is the second book in the Love’s Compass series. It gave away a few major plot points from the first book and set in place events for the third but otherwise was fine to read out of series order.

Lexi Chandler has just been diagnosed with cancer. It wasn’t what she was expecting, especially after recently losing her father suddenly to the same horrible disease. She doesn’t want to rely too much on her mother, so when her brother’s best friend and long-term family friend Lance Davenport offers to drive her to her appointments she gratefully accepts. She doesn’t expect to develop feelings for Lance, nor to discover that he has been hiding his own feelings for many years.


Finding Hope is a very sweet and touching story, light despite the heavy topic of cancer. The romance was especially satisfying. I enjoyed the dynamic between Lance and Lexi. Lexi is a strong character, used to relying on her own strength, so it’s a strange feeling for her to want to lean on Lance, even if it’s just a little bit. For his own part Lance desperately wants to be there for Lexi, show her he cares, but he doesn’t want to push or give her more to worry about. They gradually build their relationship on a strong friendship, facing together some tough trials – the best way to start a love story I think. Add in family dynamics, strong personalities from all characters and a touch of faith and I found Finding Hope to be a well-balanced and enjoyable novel.

More information

Category: Fiction

Genre: Christian contemporary.

Themes:  Family, cancer, relationships, dating, romance, nurses, hospitals, family friends, childbearing.

Published:  1 July 2015.

Format: Paperback,  ebook. 234 pages.

ISBN: 9781514309032

Find it on Goodreads