I felt that the story was somewhat cookie cutterish. The h spends the night with the H when they first meet only to have a woman introduce herself as I felt that the story was somewhat cookie cutterish. The h spends the night with the H when they first meet only to have a woman introduce herself as his wife. She apologizes to the woman and runs off. Five years later the h's brother, an officer in an MC, contacts the H, the Prez of the local MC and asks him to check on his sister amidst rising tension on the streets. The H explains to the h that while he was married at one time, he had filed for divorce months before hooking up with the h. The h reconnects with him when he tells her he didn't know she hadn't left town???? How hard did he try to find her? There is a computer expert and tracker in his club so it stands to reason that it wouldn't have been too difficult to find her. The h and H save a teenage boy from an abusive foster home. There is an ongoing larger story about human trafficking and conflict with the "Russians" that seems likely to continue in the next book....more
I wanted to experience more of this author's writing but this book felt very different than my first book not in style but in editing. It felt like a I wanted to experience more of this author's writing but this book felt very different than my first book not in style but in editing. It felt like a lot was sacrificed in the interest of keeping the story short (40 pages). It felt confusing and left me with many questions. On the day of her wedding, the h finds a message on her fiance's phone from her best friend and maid of honour asking him for "one last time before you become hers." She goes ahead with the wedding planning revenge but with no mention of dissolving the marriage. At the end of chapter 5, she has reconnected with her ex on her wedding night in his hotel room. In the next chapter "Her back slammed gently against the hotel suite door . . . in a kiss that burned with two years of tension but in chapter 5 "their clothes came off" so how could it have been two years of tension? Somehow the h gathers "copies of texts, screenshots, timelines" to confront her new husband with only 24 hours after finding the text on his phone. When did she do this since she participated in a wedding ceremony, reception and tryst with her ex? I've gone back to reread a few times to try and make it make sense....more
When the book opened with the funeral of the wife I didn't want to read it. I certainly didn't want to like a book without an HEA. I didn't want to caWhen the book opened with the funeral of the wife I didn't want to read it. I certainly didn't want to like a book without an HEA. I didn't want to call a wife who kept silent about her husband's mistress for ten years, an h. I was angry that she allowed the affair to continue. I didn't want to call the husband who was so weak and blind to his wife's illness, an H. But the story played with my emotions and forced me to reexamine perspectives on silence. I'm glad I experienced the twist at the end that brought a different lens to the story and the characters. The husband's remorse, guilt and apologies don't bring him redemption and it feels right. A very powerful, sad, emotional book....more
3 1/2 stars. The H is a marketing whiz kid. The h is a sweet, kind fifth grade teacher. The H develops a work personna that focuses on charm and sophi3 1/2 stars. The H is a marketing whiz kid. The h is a sweet, kind fifth grade teacher. The H develops a work personna that focuses on charm and sophistication to fit in with his colleagues. The price he pays to fit in is to act jaded and judgemental. He develops an online presence that mocks his wife's gentleness and joy. The h is not aware of his social media posts and is confused by the condescending attitude of his friends. She is heartbroken to discover the mocking posts that have been happening for over two years of their marriage. Feeling belittled and disrespected, she leaves him and files for a divorce. The H's first reaction is anger at the h for being overly sensitive and dramatic. Most of the book is his dawning realization of his failure as a husband and his efforts to change. I really struggled with the author's repeating the same ideas with slight changes in the words e.g., that the h felt like the punchline in a joke. There also didn't seem to be any conflict to build tension so it felt like there was a prolonged plateau in the story arc. just my opinion...more
Yes the H is TSTL when he fails to appreciate the h and clings to honoring a teenage vow to the OW somehow overlooking the fact that she has been marrYes the H is TSTL when he fails to appreciate the h and clings to honoring a teenage vow to the OW somehow overlooking the fact that she has been married and widowed four times. When they first meet, the h(9 years old) rescues the H(17 years old) when she finds him wounded and hiding after being falsely accused of murder. The H rescues the twenty year old h who has been kidnapped by a scorned suitor. They escape and flee to the king's court where the H plans to reunite with the OW. The h uses the journey as an opportunity to act on her romanticized dreams of the H as well as to save him from the clutches of the OW by prodding him to face the truth about her - manipulative husband murderer. The h feels rejected by the H and a second choice to the OW. The H grovels. This book really worked for me but I can see why others would not agree. The OW drama resulted in high level angst....more
3 1/2 stars The h stole $300 from her ex whose emotional and physical abuse landed her in the ER. She used the money to buy a bus ticket to escape him3 1/2 stars The h stole $300 from her ex whose emotional and physical abuse landed her in the ER. She used the money to buy a bus ticket to escape him. There is a stop in a small town. On a whim she applies for a server job in a diner with a help wanted sign. The h and the owner of the diner, the H, connect through the library books that she reads. The H's sister and her best friend/OW provide serious drama. The h is arrested, jailed, kicked out of her apartment, fired and spends a night on the streets before she is helped by a former colleague from the diner. She manages to get a job as a cleaner in a strip joint which fans the small town rumours about her poor character. The H, his sister, the OW and the h's ex don't seem to be fully developed characters. Most of the supporting players seem to be all good or all bad. I wish the town's people put their apologies into an action like creating a shelter in addition to cinnamon buns and tools. It's challenging to develop depth in a short story....more
**spoiler alert** I'm still not convinced that the H deserved absolution. The H's choice to be unfaithful has disastrous consequences. The first lapse**spoiler alert** I'm still not convinced that the H deserved absolution. The H's choice to be unfaithful has disastrous consequences. The first lapse is while his wife delivers their four (yes 4) babies eight weeks early. The h repeatedly tries to reach the H before finally calling 911. The H's view of his parents' marriage and of the actions of both his mother and father seem to be a key factor when applied to his own marriage. When he learns more about what actually happened with his parents, he sees his choices in a different way. The h gets first hand experience with his infidelity when she makes a surprise visit to his hotel room. Post partum depression is one of a few possible triggers in this book....more
I haven't read many shifter stories so I don't have a lot to compare this one to but it worked in maintaining my interest throughout the book. The h wI haven't read many shifter stories so I don't have a lot to compare this one to but it worked in maintaining my interest throughout the book. The h was left at an orphanage and has been physically and emotionally abused by the beta and his daughter. She feels unloved and unwanted by her pack. She also feels like an outsider because she has no wolf spirit. She meets the H by chance and doesn't know that he is the prince. The h and her friend, a healer, are invited to the week-long mating event and the H arranges for them to stay in the family wing. The bond between the H and h has been building and during the week they spend a night together. At the mating ceremony, the H shocks the h by rejecting her as his mate and choosing the beta's daughter, the OW, instead. The h is accused of being a dark witch and is tortured by white witches. She receives help in getting medical care and in escaping to live in the human world. Seven years later the H meets the h who is now a lawyer and the mother of his child at a business meeting. This author keeps a complicated story of witches and bloodlines moving without detracting from the romance between the H and h....more
**spoiler alert** There are some things that worked for me in this story; - I like an H who lashes out at an h unjustly - an H who believes himself to **spoiler alert** There are some things that worked for me in this story; - I like an H who lashes out at an h unjustly - an H who believes himself to be in love with someone else even if she is no longer alive There are things that really didn't work for me: - calling feelings that are expressed cruel rather than honest e.g., I don't want you here - an h who allows herself to be hurt repeatedly rather than communicating with an H - psychic " dream like" communications - many grammar/spelling errors e.g., I nob instead of I nod - unrealistic descriptions e.g., being able to see weight loss after four days of staying by a hospital bedside - traumatic, violent previous events experienced by characters in previous books in the series...more
The H returns to England after a four year absence with the goal of getting revenge on the h for the death of his cousin. The H believes that the h isThe H returns to England after a four year absence with the goal of getting revenge on the h for the death of his cousin. The H believes that the h is a heartless flirt who cruelly rejected his cousin so that he took his own life. The h has a circle of admirers. She feels guilty about the cousin despite knowing that he hid a darker side. The H sets out to ruin the h and battles with conflicting feelings about her. The h is feisty and they spar verbally. He cruelly offers to make her one of his mistresses when he attempts a seduction. He marries her after saving her from a kidnapping. The h tries to guard her heart to prevent the H from breaking her heart again. All's well that ends well....more
3 1/2 stars. The book is well written. The characters are interesting. There is banter between the H and h. What was missing for me was a more sustain3 1/2 stars. The book is well written. The characters are interesting. There is banter between the H and h. What was missing for me was a more sustained level of emotional connection. I'm fairly certain this is a measure of personal preference. Late in the book there is some angst and those pages flew by. Up until then, the book seemed to drag on. I'm a reader who constantly looks to see how the author's choices are (or are not) moving the story forward. Too many chapters seemed to repeat previously established ideas, the H is an impulsive goof ball, the h is a likeable high school teacher. The H comes into the relationship with a reputation as a play boy hockey star. The h feels very insecure about the authenticity of his attention. The majority of the book is about the H accepting the change in his beliefs about love and the h's letting go of her fear that he will be insincere....more
4 1/2 stars The only thing missing to elevate this book for me was more OW drama. The h whose husband abandoned her seven years ago is now a widow. He4 1/2 stars The only thing missing to elevate this book for me was more OW drama. The h whose husband abandoned her seven years ago is now a widow. Her late husband has not provided for her and she now has to worry about providing for her dependents, her aunt, her senile father and some servants rescued from a difficult life. Enter the late husband's half brother aka the H. The H has risen from the slums that were his childhood after his wealthy father threw his mother and him into the street. The aunt persuades the h to fake a pregnancy so that they continue to live on the country estate. Her lie unravels when the H is visited by his late brother's partner, the reason he didn't/couldn't consummate the marriage or live with the h. The h was not aware of this as her late husband was forced into the marriage and he was angry and cold. The H is already angry about inheriting his brother's title as the aristocracy is the antithesis of his life as an owner of establishments such as The Lucky Lady. He decides to rid himself of the lying h by marrying her off as quickly as possible. After many encounters which fuel their growing attraction, the H frightened by the possibility of experiencing the feelings that lead to his mother's downfall abandons the h. But that's not the end of the story. The H tries to push the h away throughout most of the book which keeps the angst going almost until the last chapter....more
4 1/2 stars. I have to be honest. I hesitated to start reading this book (for 3 days) because I loved her previous two books, The Wrong Ride Home and 4 1/2 stars. I have to be honest. I hesitated to start reading this book (for 3 days) because I loved her previous two books, The Wrong Ride Home and Careless Whisper and I was worried that this book would be a let down. I was not disappointed. What happened was I savoured this book rather than devouring it so I got to appreciate elements of this writer's craft. I noticed the intense emotional connection that I had with the H, an expert in seeing beyond the superficial neglect in restoring historical homes in New Orleans and the h, the owner of a lingerie shop. They are together for months until the h tells the H she loves him after he made it clear he didn't do relationships. Although they had both been exclusive until that point, two days later the H intentionally brings another woman into a bar knowing that the h would see him kissing her. Lots of feelings. I noticed how much research the author does on the setting so that it becomes another character in the story, in this case New Orleans. I noticed thought provoking ideas. " You still think that if you don't name something, it can't be taken from you." " If you want to truly love someone, you have to be brave enough to let them see where it hurts." " my heart ached for a man who treated love like a virus he didn't want to catch." I could say so much more....more
A very quiet, thoughtful story that is likely to disappoint some. The h's husband proposes that they change their marriage to an open marriage with reA very quiet, thoughtful story that is likely to disappoint some. The h's husband proposes that they change their marriage to an open marriage with reasons such as to explore opportunities for growth. The h agrees. The rest of the story is mostly reflections made by the h, many of them simple but thought provoking statements. "I had walked away not from a man - but from a version of myself I'd long outgrown."
Reinvention is quiet. "It's consistent. It's choosing not to build bridges when no one else ever shows up to cross." The h meets a new H. The old H appreciates what he lost....more
Although there were things I liked about the book, I stopped and started it as I read other stories. This interrupted the flow of the story. The H had Although there were things I liked about the book, I stopped and started it as I read other stories. This interrupted the flow of the story. The H had a drunken ONS with the h who was the best friend of his late wife. Horrified to discover that the h was a virgin, he says terrible things to her and throws her and her clothes out of his hotel room and into the hall. The next day he has limited memory of what happened and leaves for deployment. The h leaves town. Six years later she returns as the new ER doctor. The h is used to being in the background and is unrecognized for the most part until, the H is brought to the ER after a motorcycle accident. He doesn't understand the h's fear of him until the manager/hotel owner tells him what she saw and heard. Then the H experiences flashbacks and the author retells the event this time including the H's thinking behind the words and actions. This lends a different perspective but I think the h was too quick to leave the past behind them. The H has a security and protection business and the other members of the team have their own books in sequels....more
3 1/2 stars. Started out strong but then petered out leaving some issues only superficially addressed. The H is an alpha and has been friends with the3 1/2 stars. Started out strong but then petered out leaving some issues only superficially addressed. The H is an alpha and has been friends with the h who is an Omega as young teens. He is rich and she is in foster care. He takes care of her by paying for food and tuition and driving her back and forth to school. When he begins dating, he only dates betas. His senior year girlfriend/OW is a beta. He promises that he will come to the annual mating event in which alphas and omegas find their mates. The h identifies the H's scent on a shirt on the table as her mate and goes into heat. She tries to contact him and tell him that she needs him but he doesn't respond. The pack offers a substitute for the h to ease her intense physical response to being in heat since her mate is not present. She loses herself in the woods and the H's father finds her 4 days later in serious condition. At the hospital the h meets a doctor who specializes in treating abandoned mates with suppressants. The prescribed dose is not strong enough and the h takes on extra part time jobs to buy black market medication. She manages her heats for three years while the H is away at college and she attends the local college. Then the H transfers back. Then the story devolved for me. Lots of sex, his jealousy and sharing of feelings from long ago but I felt the H needed to also feel deep remorse about the extreme suffering the h experienced after his rejection. That core piece was missing for me....more
Not your typical cookie cutter story. Just before going down the aisle on her wedding day, her fiance's best man delivers a note to the h that says thNot your typical cookie cutter story. Just before going down the aisle on her wedding day, her fiance's best man delivers a note to the h that says that he is attracted to another woman and he needs to see if the attraction is mutual. The h's best friend, steps up and says not to worry and just walk down the aisle. He'll take care of it. When she walks down the aisle, her best friend/H is waiting for her. They go ahead with the wedding. Meanwhile her fiance meets the woman he's interested in and she is appalled by his behaviour and treatment of the h. He goes back to the church expecting to go ahead with the wedding to find out he's too late. He is furious. It really makes you wonder why the h didn't have a more accurate picture of the kind of selfish, self centered man he was. Since the groom's name on the license was changed, the h and H have to wait until the office opens on Monday to make the change and validate the wedding. When they get there, they find out that the ex fiance and an imposter have filed the original marriage license. The clerk believed their story that the "bride" forgot her ID at the hotel. Acknowledging that fraud was committed, the h and H are told that they have to wait 30 days to have the marriage annulled. The ex-fiance and imposter who is a former hook up of the H use that waiting period to wreck havoc with the h and H....more
2 1/2 stars. I read this book on Wattpad rather than on my Kindle so maybe changes were made in the Kindle version. There are inconsistencies/hiccups 2 1/2 stars. I read this book on Wattpad rather than on my Kindle so maybe changes were made in the Kindle version. There are inconsistencies/hiccups in the story that make you pause and reread to make sure you didn't get something wrong. For example, one chapter begins with "Monday afternoon. . . . and describes an event and then continues with ,"The next morning - Saturday" . . . The book is a mirror image of Maya Alden's book A Kiss From A Rose. In both books, the h and H have been married for 20 years, got married young because of a surprise pregnancy and the h put her life on hold to raise her son and daughter. In both books the H ignores and dismisses the h and allows others to belittle her to the point that the children treat the h in the way that he has modeled. Others are not surprised when the h has had enough. In this book it felt like the h was a doormat for a prolonged period of time. In this book the h leaves to care for her friend's two foster children after she died in a car accident. In Maya's book, the h left to support her terminally ill friend in running her b&b. In both books the H moves to be closer to the h....more
**spoiler alert** It felt to me that the author had a checklist of elements to put in a story and mechanically went through the list, on page cheating**spoiler alert** It felt to me that the author had a checklist of elements to put in a story and mechanically went through the list, on page cheating - check, manipulative OW - check, physically abusive villain/boyfriend - check, H in MC- check, school teacher h - check, kidnapping - check. The first part of the book was very sad. Although the h finds the H in bed with the OW, there is not a lot of angst. The H has no memory of the night. He was easing the pain of losing his infant son by getting blind drunk. He suspects that he was drugged. The h divorces him when the OW announces her pregnancy that is a result of that night. Five years later, the h turns to the MC for help when she is hospitalized after a beating from her boyfriend. The H is furious and protective. He is now a single father raising his son alone after the OW left the baby when he was two months old and signed over her parental rights. The H and h were very young when they married and were not able to handle the death of their child. I didn't see much depth in the main characters. He takes offense when the h suggests getting tested for STD and blocks the h after she apologizes. Really? it seems hypocritical and an over the top reaction after what he did to the h. The h is somewhat doormatish and takes the H back too easily. There are small, not gaping holes in the story, such as how did the OW and boyfriend get together? Why does the OW need money now after being away for five years. Motivation is weak....more
4 1/2 stars The h is a twin and her sister is the OW. Spoiled and preferred by their father, the sister competes with the h for any suitor who pays at4 1/2 stars The h is a twin and her sister is the OW. Spoiled and preferred by their father, the sister competes with the h for any suitor who pays attention to the h and when she wins them, she destroys them with her mean, caustic words. The sisters are sent from their home on the east coast to live with their aunt in Texas after their father dies in an accident. The h's strategy to protect potential suitors is to discourage them by disguising herself with a severe hair style, thick, fake eyeglasses that distort the size of her eyes, and drab unfashionable clothing. The H has been helping the aunt run her ranch after the death of her husband. He is initially attracted to the sister but is soon turned off by her spoiled behavior. He kisses the h and is surprised by her passion. The sister acts like an OW when she lies about sleeping with the H who is still learning to tell the sisters apart. side stories about inheritances, relationships between the H and his father, and the H and his childhood friend contribute to the romance rather than detract from it....more