maustin18's review
4.0
ARC review:
I loved the writing style Jayne gives, but I struggled with reading this. I adored the first in the one so much, I was hoping the sequel would continue with the original characters. In many ways this one is fantastic on it's own, but it's even better when you read it as the sequel.
I loved the writing style Jayne gives, but I struggled with reading this. I adored the first in the one so much, I was hoping the sequel would continue with the original characters. In many ways this one is fantastic on it's own, but it's even better when you read it as the sequel.
emilyhei's review
4.0
With their wedding date set, Taryn Liever and Jeff McConnell are headed down the aisle. They are equally excited about planning and the actual event. They only have one thing they are just as anxious about, Jeff's beautiful daughter Olivia. Olivia's mother had ran out on her when she was two and has not been seen since, Taryn and Jeff want to proceed with Taryn adopting Olivia but first they need her mother to be found to sign off on it.
Enter Shannon Nelson back into Jeff's life. Shannon is a loose cannon and doesn't want to give up her rights to Olivia. With a scheming husband and trying to fight herself from self destructing, Shannon is trying to clean up her act. Taryn doesn't trust Shannon and Jeff sees he needs to give Shannon a chance to become the mother she should be. Tension builds and then the unthinkable happens, will it destroy everything?
Taryn is a firecracker and Jeff is the perfect man to light her up. I thought Jeff was romantic and pure fun. Olivia is adorable and you can totally relate to dynamics this new family is trying to navigate through. I think the bright spot in these stories is that you may know someone who reminds you of some of the characters. Another great read.
Enter Shannon Nelson back into Jeff's life. Shannon is a loose cannon and doesn't want to give up her rights to Olivia. With a scheming husband and trying to fight herself from self destructing, Shannon is trying to clean up her act. Taryn doesn't trust Shannon and Jeff sees he needs to give Shannon a chance to become the mother she should be. Tension builds and then the unthinkable happens, will it destroy everything?
Taryn is a firecracker and Jeff is the perfect man to light her up. I thought Jeff was romantic and pure fun. Olivia is adorable and you can totally relate to dynamics this new family is trying to navigate through. I think the bright spot in these stories is that you may know someone who reminds you of some of the characters. Another great read.
sonny's review
5.0
**Actually a 4.5-rating**
This book was close to being a solid 5-star read for me but I couldn’t help but get this "spidey-sense" that the storytelling was going to take a cheap "out" and force a Dramatic/Angsty twist.
I was fully prepared for something to go wrong.
We saw the two MCs, an engaged couple -- Jeff & Taryn... all over Book 1 since the female MC of that story is in their wedding party and a BFF of the Bride-to-Be.
Anyway, the Jeff's Ex makes a terrible return after being gone for 5-yrs; the Ex also becomes a secondary proportional character to this couple as the an OW and the "mother to Olivia", the poor daughter Jeff has been rearing as she struggles to learn who this stranger [her Bio-Mom] is who loved drugs and theft more than being her mother.
Taryn, our female MC is prepared to sign adoption papers to become Olivia's Mom as she has known her for 2yrs and about to marry her father, Jeff, in a month or so.
Thing is as Jeff sends a PI to investigate and find/locate his Ex he stirs up her interest and as she's been sobering for 6-months on probation, she returns to show a sudden interest. As in...not just wanting to be Mom to Olivia, but also a wife to Jeff.
Taryn, with her good instincts and conscience feels the dreaded Ex has returned for only terrible reasons...and man was she more than right.
Jeff, of course had to play favorites and well, he kept getting upset with Taryn over his EX and giving his Ex way-too many 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances.
I was really perturbed how the wedding was still going strong and no one called it off, even for a brief time...and then...
... AND THEN!!!!! the Ex's lies and secrets caught up to her... to Jeff, to Olivia and to Taryn specifically putting her Life in peril.
THIS is why it loses a half-star from being perfect...I mean I saw it from a mile away and yeah, it irked me but what irked me more was how listless and passive Taryn was about her very LIFE being in danger and how she could've died and never gotten married...and a simple, "sorry, you were right, you did tell me this would happen" from Jeff appeased Taryn and they still got married.
Oh, and The Ex is getting her own book which is the next one up -- Book 2...I dunno if I want to read it.
I think she was written in certain ways for me to be sympathetic, or empathetic, as a possible redeemable character who has major flaws, but man she went too-too-too far in way-too many ways.
This book was close to being a solid 5-star read for me but I couldn’t help but get this "spidey-sense" that the storytelling was going to take a cheap "out" and force a Dramatic/Angsty twist.
I was fully prepared for something to go wrong.
We saw the two MCs, an engaged couple -- Jeff & Taryn... all over Book 1 since the female MC of that story is in their wedding party and a BFF of the Bride-to-Be.
Anyway, the Jeff's Ex makes a terrible return after being gone for 5-yrs; the Ex also becomes a secondary proportional character to this couple as the an OW and the "mother to Olivia", the poor daughter Jeff has been rearing as she struggles to learn who this stranger [her Bio-Mom] is who loved drugs and theft more than being her mother.
Taryn, our female MC is prepared to sign adoption papers to become Olivia's Mom as she has known her for 2yrs and about to marry her father, Jeff, in a month or so.
Thing is as Jeff sends a PI to investigate and find/locate his Ex he stirs up her interest and as she's been sobering for 6-months on probation, she returns to show a sudden interest. As in...not just wanting to be Mom to Olivia, but also a wife to Jeff.
Taryn, with her good instincts and conscience feels the dreaded Ex has returned for only terrible reasons...and man was she more than right.
Jeff, of course had to play favorites and well, he kept getting upset with Taryn over his EX and giving his Ex way-too many 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances.
I was really perturbed how the wedding was still going strong and no one called it off, even for a brief time...and then...
... AND THEN!!!!! the Ex's lies and secrets caught up to her... to Jeff, to Olivia and to Taryn specifically putting her Life in peril.
THIS is why it loses a half-star from being perfect...I mean I saw it from a mile away and yeah, it irked me but what irked me more was how listless and passive Taryn was about her very LIFE being in danger and how she could've died and never gotten married...and a simple, "sorry, you were right, you did tell me this would happen" from Jeff appeased Taryn and they still got married.
Oh, and The Ex is getting her own book which is the next one up -- Book 2...I dunno if I want to read it.
I think she was written in certain ways for me to be sympathetic, or empathetic, as a possible redeemable character who has major flaws, but man she went too-too-too far in way-too many ways.
More...