This book was so sad, Return To Love is book 2 of a trilogy but can be read as a standalone novel too. April had all the joy of being pregnant for 9 months only to have her world turned upside down when her baby is born asleep. I think most people that have read this had either sobbed or at least had a tear in their eye when reading it and how April and her husband Hale cope and heal with their loss and try to save their marriage.

It was a little hard, raw and emotional to read but it was a great story. ( )

Return to Love by Kathleen Shoop is a 2014 is a 2014 Create Space publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book picks up a little while after “ Home Again” the novella which is the lead in to this novel. Hale is home on leave from his tour of duty in Vietnam and trying to reunite with and help his grieving wife, April.
Hale and April married quickly once they had worked through a very thorny issue between them. But, it wasn't as if they were strangers to each other. They had been friends for many years before their romance blossomed. But, while Hale was away, April discovered she was pregnant. Sadly, all the excitement and joy was doused when she lost the child. She was alone and had to deal with things without Hale. Now, the two of them will have a long road to travel “ Back to Love”.

The grieving process for April is difficult reading. Your heart will break as we go through the process with her. She goes through guilt, blaming herself, and anger. The advice of doctors in the time period will have you wanting to hit something. So, once Hale returns, April tries not to burden him with her pain.
However, Hale had every intention of helping April cope. Hale goes to his mother for some understanding on what has happened and she gives his some sound and sage advice. But, Hale will discover that the situation is much more complicated than he realizes.

This is an emotional story from start to finish and you will find yourself reaching for a box of tissues more than once. A wonderful and kind nurse will give Hale the much needed help he needs to understand what his wife suffered through and how he can help her get her life back on track.
The time period is very significant to this story. In the late 1960's and early 70's issues such as this were often swept under a rug and dismissed. April was expected to simply pick up her life as though nothing had ever happened and console herself with the knowledge that she will have many more children and all will be well. The closure a woman would need in order to go through the normal grieving process was stripped away from April and she was left with intense guilt and anger. Men were also left out of the loop in these situations, often unsure of what to do in order to help their wives deal with the loss. Hale was very tenacious and got involved in order to discover what had happened with the birth. If he had not done so, the agony April was dealing with may not have ever gone away entirely. Hale of course is dealing with his own brand of horror by having to be in Vietnam and is not immune to the effects of the war. However, he has limited time to deal with that because he must get April well before he has to return. But, Hale's discovery of what happened with the baby will give him the jolt he needs to deal with his own grief in the loss of his child. Up until then I don't know if it had really hit him yet, since his focus had been more on April.
Today, we would have doctors who are much more understanding and husbands are so much more involved in the pregnancy and childbirth experience than they were back then. Thank goodness! April would have gotten help and would have been counseled and the proper steps would have been taken concerning the child's death.
I must admit that I found myself feeling some of April's anger and understanding her trauma. It would be natural to feel the same grief one would when a loved one passes away, even though the child was stillborn. That she blamed herself was another issue. Anyone who has gone through such an experience will tell you that no matter what , the question is in the back of your mind, even if you know logically it wasn't your fault.

This is still a shining example of true love and it's healing power. So, even though the story is very raw and emotional, it is also a story that will melt your heart. Hale was determined to keep his marriage strong and he loved his wife enough to get involved. This is a great couple and I am thrilled we will hear about them again someday as well as a little more about the special nurse that took the time to help them in this story. This one is a 5 star rating. ( )

Before reading Return to Love I did read the previous book, but honestly either one could be read on their own. Though I do like them as a pair. Kathleen Shoop has written a book that shows a strong and admirable love and bond.

The loss of a child is a very emotional event, and it's hard to capture that emotion but this book felt so real. You could see how everyone handled the loss, each of the characters had distinct ideas, and shows these especially a mother and father's view. How the family was supported in their loss but some was a gorgeous thing to read, and made me love the book even more.

I can say that I couldn't recommend this book more. It isn't as light of a read as I normally go for, but it's perfect if you're looking for an emotion filled book. ( )

In the first book of The Endless Love Series, Home Again, author Kathleen Shoop introduced the readers to April and Hale Abercrombie's journey towards true love. Their journey continues a year later in the second book in the series, Return To Love, where they have gotten married and are expecting their first child. But a heartbreaking tragedy occurs while Hale is serving in Vietnam, April had delivered a stillborn daughter. Hale comes home on a temporary leave, and as the couple grieves the loss of their newborn daughter, April struggles with the loss in an unbearable way that has her both needing Hale and pushing him away. Return To Love is an emotional and poignant story of how a couple struggles to face the hardship of a traumatic loss, and have the strength to find a way back to each other in order to heal, love, and move forward.

Set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina during the Vietnam War period of the early 1970s, author Kathleen Shoop weaves a hauntingly beautiful tale of love and loss that follows the journey of a young couple who struggle with life's daunting hardships: a husband serving overseas in Vietnam, a pregnancy that ends in a stillborn birth, their struggle to deal with the grief from their traumatic loss, and their attempt to save their fragile marriage and move forward without losing each other.

Return To Love is an amazing love story that will pull at the heartstrings and stir the soul. The reader can't help but feel compassion and empathy for the young couple as they deal with the loss of their newborn child, and their struggle to help each other heal in order to save their fragile marriage. The author delves into the subject of loss, war, and marital relationships in a thoughtful and respectful style that makes the reader want to lend support and wrap their arms around April and Hale. It is a raw and tender story that will have the reader experiencing the full gamut of emotions, from heartbreak to the heartwarming belief that the strength and power of love really can overcome anything.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book Tours.

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