Search Host Controller Service in "Starting" state

Problem: On my SharePoint 2013 farm via CA I see my "Search Host Controller Service is stuck in the "Starting" state.

Initial Hypothesis: Check if any services are stuck in a provisioning state using the PS below:
Get-SPServiceInstance | sort TypeName | select TypeName, Status, Server | ? {$_.Status -eq "Provisioning"}  

Resolution:  After identify the Search Host Controller instance/instances that are stuck in the Provisioning state get them to the Online state.  This is quickly achieved using PowerShell.   Tip: I was forced to run my PS on the server that is running the offending service instance.

$inst = Get-SPServiceInstance | ? {$_.TypeName -eq "Search Host Controller Service" } | ? { $_.PrimaryHostController -eq $true }
$sh = Get-SPServiceInstance | ? {$_.SearchServiceInstanceId -eq $inst.SearchServiceInstanceId.ToString()}
$sh.Status
$sh.Unprovision()
$sh.Status
$sh.Provision()
$sh.Status

I also use this script to get a general understanding of the health of my Search Serve Applications.

More Info:
http://mmman.itgroove.net/2012/12/search-host-controller-service-in-starting-state-sharepoint-2013-8/