New Book Alert: Light of Hope by S.T. Collins; Inspirational, But At Times Questionable Book About Survival After Domestic Abuse

New Book Alert: Light of Hope by S.T. Collins; Inspirational, But At Times Questionable Book About Survival After Domestic Abuse

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews


Spoilers: S.T. Collins's novel, Light of Hope is about people going through a difficult time as survivors of domestic abuse. It also covers the organizations and people that help them get back on their feet and look for new careers, homes, and lives beyond the abuse. Collins succeeds, sometimes.

This book is hopeful and inspirational because it proves that abuse isn't the end of the story. That there are many brave kind people helping survivors get ahead in life, many of whom had been abused themselves. This book captures the brave and kind characters that work in such an institution.

However, the characters make some questionable decisions and do impulsive things that put themselves and others in danger. While their goals and the work they do is admirable, sometimes they behave very foolishly and recklessly. They could use some therapy themselves before they even think about helping others.


The protagonist is Vikki Nelson, a divorcee who suffered from two unhappy previous marriages. Her first marriage ended because her husband had an affair with a friend. Her second marriage, after a long time of psychological and emotional abuse. She is currently staying with her sister, Lily a nurse and single mother who ended a physically abusive marriage. The two sisters depend on each other for strength and support.


Vikki intends to better her life. After receiving a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and working as a waitress, she is interviewed by Robert Cuccio, Director of Light of Hope, a shelter that helps economically disadvantaged women receive public assistance and new jobs. Many of these women heve been abused by husbands and boyfriends. They are afraid and suffer from low self-esteem, so they need someone to help walk them through the process of economic and personal independence. Vikki passes her interview and receives the job as caseworker at Light of Hope.


Vikki does very well at the job. She befriends her colleagues, particularly Rhonda, a saucy case manager who also has relationship troubles. She takes charge of many important projects such as a job fair and bonds with many of her clients like Nikoleta Janovic, a Bosnian immigrant with two children and a stalker ex-boyfriend.


In her personal life, Vikki is able to use what she learned from Light of Hope to help and encourage Lily. We also get peeks into hers and Lily's unhappy marriages and why they led them to the choices they made and the lives that they now lead.

Vikki emerges as a strong character, because of her genuine concern and willingness to help others. As someone who had been in that situation, she wants to be a guide for other women.

The work that the characters at Light of Hope do is beyond admirable. They help these woman move themselves forward from their pain and see possibilities. They are good characters, but unfortunately they make many bad decisions that produce quite a few plot holes and would be questionable in real life situations.


Vikki comes to care about Nikoleta and wants to protect her from her absuive stalker ex so she invites her to stay at Lily's house! First, it wasn't her place to make that decision (though Lily does agree to it.) Second, because of Nikoleta's ex being a stalker, she is putting Nikoleta, her family, Lily, Lily's son, and Vikki herself in danger. Third, why not check her into a battered women's shelter? The option isn't even addressed. They purposely don't reveal their addresses so people can't find them and they have better protection in case they do! Fourth, it doesn't work out anyway because Lily's son and Nikoleta's oldest daughter are two hormonal teenagers and are caught making out by Lily. (That was a factor that should have gone into consideration.) While it shows Vikki's concern, sometimes her thoughtless impulsiveness comes through much clearer. This is one of those times.


Another irritating plot point is Robert and Vikki's romantic relationship. At first, Robert seems like a nice guy, dedicated to helping others, willing to offer advice, and cares about his employees and clients. But then the farther the book goes, the more that there seems like something is..off about him. He has a tendency to be everywhere that Vikki goes. While,Vikki does a good job he promotes her really quickly as if to ensure that they have plenty of alone time. It's not a surprise when he and Vikki have a sexual relationship.

I don't really blame Vikki for this relationship. He is good looking, but there's more than that. Vikki has been through two unhappy marriages. Her emotions are off-kilter. It is easy to look for love and romance with the first man who has ever been nice to her, especially when he recognizes her talent.

The one who is questionable in their behavior is Robert. He is a director of a shelter that helps troubled women. He should be able to recognize the signs of a woman going through a troubled personal life. Also, he is in a position of power and should put the brakes on a workplace relationship.

Besides that even after they get together, he behaves in a way that throws some red flags. When they eat out at restaurants, he orders for both of them (an early sign of controlling behavior.). He makes eyes at a pretty waitress but becomes jealous when Vikki speaks to an old friend. When Vikki want to cool off the relationship,Robert openly promotes one of the other female co-workers to accompany him on a trip instead of Vikki. It's not good when the director of a shelter helping troubled women exhibits abusive controlling behavior himself.

I look at these issues with the plot and I wonder if they were intended to move the plot along. They were there for the sake of a novel rather than making any actual sense. I can't help but wonder if Light of Hope might have fared better as a nonfiction book exploring these type of shelters and what they do to help women. Maybe also offering cases of people who had survived abusive situations. Of course confidentiality is an issue with these stories, but Collins could use pseudonyms.

Light of Hope is an encouraging book that tells the Readers that life after abuse is possible. But, as a novel it dims really quickly.