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Return to Eden
Mia had never stopped loving David, but their young marriage hadn't stood a chance. He hadn't really cared for her. He had only proposed on the rebound.
Years later, a slimmer, more confident Mia met David again, and this time he clearly wanted her. But could she let herself want him? She couldn't forget the past, the loneliness she'd suffered. Those memories left her wary of a future with David -- even while her heart left her dreaming of one
Years later, a slimmer, more confident Mia met David again, and this time he clearly wanted her. But could she let herself want him? She couldn't forget the past, the loneliness she'd suffered. Those memories left her wary of a future with David -- even while her heart left her dreaming of one
Paperback
First published March 1, 1987
3 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Stephens
54 books9 followersA pseudonym used by Jean Hager. AKA Leah Crane and Marlaine Kyle.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 3, 2018
So much to dislike, including the idea that the h went from chubby frump to slender swan by losing...wait for it...15 pounds. Gotta love the 80s.
August 26, 2022
This is a second chance romance. About 6,5 years ago the H and h were happily married for a few days. She filed for divorce after those few days.
They haven’t seen each other since the divorce. She now comes back to the town where he lives because her aunt - who had taken care of her growing up and whom she hadn’t seen in years - has died. Her aunt has left the h her house and her antique car.
It’s an okay read. The book revolves around the H trying to win the h over again. They are honest to each other. No angst, no hysteria, no physical or verbal abuse. It’s nice for a change that this H isn’t a billionaire.
What I didn’t like: this writer equates being chubby with being unattractive. So the h has slimmed down.
And what I also didn’t like, was that she reads the diary of her aunt and that she tells the H and another man what her aunt had written in her diary. The H says that you can’t invade a dead person’s privacy, but I don’t agree with that.
They haven’t seen each other since the divorce. She now comes back to the town where he lives because her aunt - who had taken care of her growing up and whom she hadn’t seen in years - has died. Her aunt has left the h her house and her antique car.
It’s an okay read. The book revolves around the H trying to win the h over again. They are honest to each other. No angst, no hysteria, no physical or verbal abuse. It’s nice for a change that this H isn’t a billionaire.
What I didn’t like: this writer equates being chubby with being unattractive. So the h has slimmed down.
And what I also didn’t like, was that she reads the diary of her aunt and that she tells the H and another man what her aunt had written in her diary. The H says that you can’t invade a dead person’s privacy, but I don’t agree with that.
January 10, 2026
Too much wasted time. The H was young and self-centered, and the h was young and insecure when they impulsively got married (she said yes to a drunk guy and what does that tell you?), she's been crushing on him since she was a kid while he was still hung up on his ex, who dumped him and married another guy. What better way to get back at her then a revenge marriage to the girl who adored him?
Recipe for disaster! The marriage lasted two days!
I was expecting one of those secret baby stories, but the h was never pregnant, just left to start a new life and returned when the aunt who raised he died. And it wasn't another "disappeared without a trace" one, either. The H knew where she was, called her and wrote, but she refused to talk or answer his letters.
(BTW: the aunt's secret diary about the man she had loved and lost was more interesting than the H and h's story by a longshot.)
The rest of the book (which should have been at least 5o pages less) was about her still resenting him, him realizing he wanted her back, she's still bitter, he still has regrets, she's jealous of the OW (the ex, whose emotionally unstable and whose marriage is falling apart), he's jealous of the OM (a friend from when she lived there, who's trying to find himself careerwise), and TOO MUCH TIME is wasted rehashing the same old stuff!! They were only 21 when they got married, too young and immature, and to me it was silly for the h to still resent him because of his age at the time. How many 21-year-old guys are ready for marriage, let alone do the right thing and don't mess up? Very few, I'd say and the same goes for the girls. Her attitude was just too rigid, and having been the lonely, overweight bookworm in high school doesn't excuse her using her past insecurities to deal with the present.
Anyway, those feelings didn't stop her from hitting the sheets with him. At least she shared responsibility, didn't try to blame it on the H "taking advantage of her" like so many h's do.
He could be annoying, too. He acts all jealous of the OM, as well as a guy she works with back home that she got a letter from (also just a friend), starts demanding to know if he was her lover, gets all possessive and angry, then he starts spending time with the OW (who's made it clear she's interested in rekindling the flame), makes excuses about her fragile state, how she needs someone to talk to, how he's made it clear he just wants to be friends, etc., and expects the H to understand. If he wants to win the h back, spending all that time with the OW is not the way to go about it!
Too much time was wasted, especially with them arguing and not getting anywhere except naked. I never got a love vibe from them, more of a leftover attraction from the past. I didn't honestly see a HEA for them, and to tell the truth, I really didn't care.
Skip this one without a problem.
Recipe for disaster! The marriage lasted two days!
I was expecting one of those secret baby stories, but the h was never pregnant, just left to start a new life and returned when the aunt who raised he died. And it wasn't another "disappeared without a trace" one, either. The H knew where she was, called her and wrote, but she refused to talk or answer his letters.
(BTW: the aunt's secret diary about the man she had loved and lost was more interesting than the H and h's story by a longshot.)
The rest of the book (which should have been at least 5o pages less) was about her still resenting him, him realizing he wanted her back, she's still bitter, he still has regrets, she's jealous of the OW (the ex, whose emotionally unstable and whose marriage is falling apart), he's jealous of the OM (a friend from when she lived there, who's trying to find himself careerwise), and TOO MUCH TIME is wasted rehashing the same old stuff!! They were only 21 when they got married, too young and immature, and to me it was silly for the h to still resent him because of his age at the time. How many 21-year-old guys are ready for marriage, let alone do the right thing and don't mess up? Very few, I'd say and the same goes for the girls. Her attitude was just too rigid, and having been the lonely, overweight bookworm in high school doesn't excuse her using her past insecurities to deal with the present.
Anyway, those feelings didn't stop her from hitting the sheets with him. At least she shared responsibility, didn't try to blame it on the H "taking advantage of her" like so many h's do.
He could be annoying, too. He acts all jealous of the OM, as well as a guy she works with back home that she got a letter from (also just a friend), starts demanding to know if he was her lover, gets all possessive and angry, then he starts spending time with the OW (who's made it clear she's interested in rekindling the flame), makes excuses about her fragile state, how she needs someone to talk to, how he's made it clear he just wants to be friends, etc., and expects the H to understand. If he wants to win the h back, spending all that time with the OW is not the way to go about it!
Too much time was wasted, especially with them arguing and not getting anywhere except naked. I never got a love vibe from them, more of a leftover attraction from the past. I didn't honestly see a HEA for them, and to tell the truth, I really didn't care.
Skip this one without a problem.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews