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The Worth #2
Worth the Drive
All Katie ever wanted was a baby.
Be careful what you wish for.
Katie Lipton is the town beauty, but that never got her what she wanted most—a baby. And, oh yeah, a faithful husband would have been nice, too.
Reeling from her husband’s cheating and desertion, Katie embarks on a one-night fling with professional golfer Darío Luna. Never could she have imagined that one night with Darío would give her something fifteen years of marriage couldn’t—morning sickness.
Darío was raised without a father, and he has no intention of the same fate befalling his child. He’s still not sure about Katie, though. Did she trick him? Lie to him? But his feelings for her, and this crazy attraction he feels, soon has him putting his doubts aside to spend more time with her. He tells himself it’s for the sake of the baby. Yeah. Right.
Agreeing to try to work out some sort of relationship before the baby is due, Katie travels with Darío to his golf tournaments, walking the course with him by day...and giving in to their attraction by night.
Be careful what you wish for.
Katie Lipton is the town beauty, but that never got her what she wanted most—a baby. And, oh yeah, a faithful husband would have been nice, too.
Reeling from her husband’s cheating and desertion, Katie embarks on a one-night fling with professional golfer Darío Luna. Never could she have imagined that one night with Darío would give her something fifteen years of marriage couldn’t—morning sickness.
Darío was raised without a father, and he has no intention of the same fate befalling his child. He’s still not sure about Katie, though. Did she trick him? Lie to him? But his feelings for her, and this crazy attraction he feels, soon has him putting his doubts aside to spend more time with her. He tells himself it’s for the sake of the baby. Yeah. Right.
Agreeing to try to work out some sort of relationship before the baby is due, Katie travels with Darío to his golf tournaments, walking the course with him by day...and giving in to their attraction by night.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2012
99 people are currently reading
846 people want to read
About the author
Mara Jacobs
29 books372 followersMara Jacobs is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Worth series.
After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in advertising, Mara spent several years working at daily newspapers in advertising sales and production. This certainly prepared her for the world of deadlines!
She writes mysteries with romance, thrillers with romance, and romances with…well, you get it.
Forever a Yooper (someone who hails from Michigan's glorious Upper Peninsula), Mara now splits her time between the U.P. and Las Vegas.
You can find out more about Mara’s books at
www.marajacobs.com
Mara loves to hear from readers. Contact her at mara@marajacobs.com
After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in advertising, Mara spent several years working at daily newspapers in advertising sales and production. This certainly prepared her for the world of deadlines!
She writes mysteries with romance, thrillers with romance, and romances with…well, you get it.
Forever a Yooper (someone who hails from Michigan's glorious Upper Peninsula), Mara now splits her time between the U.P. and Las Vegas.
You can find out more about Mara’s books at
www.marajacobs.com
Mara loves to hear from readers. Contact her at mara@marajacobs.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
March 17, 2013
Katie's husband (Ron) leaves her for another woman. A young 20 and previous student of his. Katie and Ron haven't been able conceive and there sexual relationship has become clincial-just for procreation. All intimacy and communication is gone! Katie is devestated, but handles herself very well infront of Ron. Especailly, since Ron got this other chic he is leaving Katie for, PREGNANT! WHAT?! At least, so he thought. haha!!
In swoops bestie Lizzie and takes Katie with her to Texas. Lizzie is going for work purposes...recruiting a up and coming Golf prof. for her PR firm. Katie is going in another capacity all together. She is going for R&R and to meet her fave's and greats in the Golf circuit. Cue Diego Luna! Famous and sultry Spanish Golfer. Down to earth, none snobbish, conceided, nor womanizing sexy forearm God! Well, Katie is an all klutzy, clumbsy, fired up, mess of hormones. She is trying to be fun, free spirited, and carefree. As beautiful as she is, she is clueless as to the power that she has over Diego. In the spirit of carefreeness, Diego and Katie have a one night stand and believe they will never see each other again. Although, they hope anyway...fastforward...dum, dururuuuuuum....Katie is preggerz! Yes you heard me, she is preggerz and by Diego. Well,you can only imagine the girl is ecstatic and is already making plans, but after talking to her besties Lizzie and Alison, she decides to tell Diego, but has other plans and beliefs set in motion; or at least Katie believes. Not realizing how wrong she is and how what she never could have imagined would happen for her.
I loved this story and how all things worked out for Katie in the end. Diego Luna was exasperating a lot of the time. I get that he was trying to be a gentleman and considerate, but dude needed to get a clue. Katie had become...(ever heard of a negotiater) she became the initiater to it all. Well, atleast Diego had a cover up if things went south, because a lot came from Katie first. But he wasn't that way; honest and considerate, patient, understanding, gentlemanly and let Katie be Katie and gave her her space without needing to be told to. Although, the girl wanted nothing to do with space from Diego! ;) I love how Mara Jacobs stories all have a message for her readers. Especially dealing with relationships and friendships. Reading Jacobs stories always makes me wish I could have lived that way, growing up with close friends. There for you through and through. Beautiful and Hot!!!!!! Really!
In swoops bestie Lizzie and takes Katie with her to Texas. Lizzie is going for work purposes...recruiting a up and coming Golf prof. for her PR firm. Katie is going in another capacity all together. She is going for R&R and to meet her fave's and greats in the Golf circuit. Cue Diego Luna! Famous and sultry Spanish Golfer. Down to earth, none snobbish, conceided, nor womanizing sexy forearm God! Well, Katie is an all klutzy, clumbsy, fired up, mess of hormones. She is trying to be fun, free spirited, and carefree. As beautiful as she is, she is clueless as to the power that she has over Diego. In the spirit of carefreeness, Diego and Katie have a one night stand and believe they will never see each other again. Although, they hope anyway...fastforward...dum, dururuuuuuum....Katie is preggerz! Yes you heard me, she is preggerz and by Diego. Well,you can only imagine the girl is ecstatic and is already making plans, but after talking to her besties Lizzie and Alison, she decides to tell Diego, but has other plans and beliefs set in motion; or at least Katie believes. Not realizing how wrong she is and how what she never could have imagined would happen for her.
I loved this story and how all things worked out for Katie in the end. Diego Luna was exasperating a lot of the time. I get that he was trying to be a gentleman and considerate, but dude needed to get a clue. Katie had become...(ever heard of a negotiater) she became the initiater to it all. Well, atleast Diego had a cover up if things went south, because a lot came from Katie first. But he wasn't that way; honest and considerate, patient, understanding, gentlemanly and let Katie be Katie and gave her her space without needing to be told to. Although, the girl wanted nothing to do with space from Diego! ;) I love how Mara Jacobs stories all have a message for her readers. Especially dealing with relationships and friendships. Reading Jacobs stories always makes me wish I could have lived that way, growing up with close friends. There for you through and through. Beautiful and Hot!!!!!! Really!
November 13, 2014
Katie thought her life was going okay. She didn't have the baby she always wanted but she had her husband.
Or she thought she did...until he tells her he's leaving he for the young woman he got pregnant.
Pretty harsh.
She decides she needs a break and a little bit of uncomplicated fun. That's exactly what she gets when she meets Dario Luna; the sexy smooth golfer who her soon to be ex husband is a huge fan of.
But that night of uncomplicated fun turns out to be a whole lot of complicated because as it turns out Katie isn't as infertile as she thought.
now she has to figure out how to get pass the hurt she feels from the man she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with, plan a new life that now has to include a man she thought was a one night stand, and the blessing of a pregnancy she never thought she'd have.
Okay so the not bad but not good. After the whole cheating thing, it was predictable for me.
The good: I don't really care because Dario!
confident, caring, protective, determined, HOT! What more do you need in a man? Definitely exactly what our heroine needs after all she went through. Cute, easy read!
Or she thought she did...until he tells her he's leaving he for the young woman he got pregnant.
Pretty harsh.
She decides she needs a break and a little bit of uncomplicated fun. That's exactly what she gets when she meets Dario Luna; the sexy smooth golfer who her soon to be ex husband is a huge fan of.
But that night of uncomplicated fun turns out to be a whole lot of complicated because as it turns out Katie isn't as infertile as she thought.
now she has to figure out how to get pass the hurt she feels from the man she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with, plan a new life that now has to include a man she thought was a one night stand, and the blessing of a pregnancy she never thought she'd have.
Okay so the not bad but not good. After the whole cheating thing, it was predictable for me.
The good: I don't really care because Dario!
confident, caring, protective, determined, HOT! What more do you need in a man? Definitely exactly what our heroine needs after all she went through. Cute, easy read!
July 21, 2019
This is a good story.
It's well written, first for my by this author and certain my made me want to check out other books by her.
The dynamic of the relationship is a bit frustrating. The Hero is so self sacrificing, if you are looking for an Alpha type Hero then this isn't going to work for you.
There are huge misunderstandings and misconceptions that lead to stop/starts in their relationship.
The heroine was too nice, dealing with the ex and the ex's new child girlfriend, I wished she'd had her say but then again it's played off as her keeping her dignity.
I would have liked an epilogue but I am assuming that the you see previous couple's in the next book so....
It's sport based, golf.
I liked that although sport based the Hero is not a manwhore type, although he and the heroine have a ONS.
HEA.
It's well written, first for my by this author and certain my made me want to check out other books by her.
The dynamic of the relationship is a bit frustrating. The Hero is so self sacrificing, if you are looking for an Alpha type Hero then this isn't going to work for you.
There are huge misunderstandings and misconceptions that lead to stop/starts in their relationship.
The heroine was too nice, dealing with the ex and the ex's new child girlfriend, I wished she'd had her say but then again it's played off as her keeping her dignity.
I would have liked an epilogue but I am assuming that the you see previous couple's in the next book so....
It's sport based, golf.
I liked that although sport based the Hero is not a manwhore type, although he and the heroine have a ONS.
HEA.
May 17, 2018
I loved this emotionally charged novel. The characters are amazing and the plot is unique. I can’t wait to read the next one in this series. Happy reading 📖!
January 13, 2020
Katie’s husband, Ron left her for another woman...after seventeen years together.
They tried for years to conceive and along comes this alluring woman-child and in a moment of weakness, is now expecting his baby. Years of trying became all-consuming with clinical, cold doctor’s visits and hormone injections. Sex during ovulation. Whenever Katie’s cycle began, she’d become morose and depressed.
When they’d first started trying, talk was of babies names, college funds and setting up a nursery. Then conversation centred around calendars, doctor’s appointments and best conception days.
Their problems in conceiving were possibly attributed to his low sperm count and her eggs being incompatible.
He justified his indiscretion as having slept with Amber once, his penis accidentally fell into her vagina.
“It was stupid and I hadn’t intended for it to happen. But it was only once. I wasn’t having an affair.” (What was it then, a moment of madness)?
He couldn’t make a baby with his wife after trying for years, yet he gets his student pregnant after a one-night stand. Amber was scared, afraid to go through a pregnancy alone and that she’d be disowned, threatening an abortion. (She’s not sufficiently scared to manipulate him).
There was a car accident involving Amber and little Crystal.”
The baby needed surgery and they needed blood for her and Amber was hysterical. The baby was fine and survived surgery, but they realised that Ron wasn’t a match…he’s not Crystal’s father.”
Dario sets her free at the expense of his happiness sacrificing his future thinking Ron and Katie will reconcile. Contrary to Ron’s willingness to try again, Katie finds clarity, signs the divorce papers and goes in search of her baby’s father.
No angst, jealousy or other people once the couple meet. Ron’s lack of judgement was a major factor in the destruction of their marriage...however, fundamentally the infertility played a role in the demise of their relationship.
They tried for years to conceive and along comes this alluring woman-child and in a moment of weakness, is now expecting his baby. Years of trying became all-consuming with clinical, cold doctor’s visits and hormone injections. Sex during ovulation. Whenever Katie’s cycle began, she’d become morose and depressed.
When they’d first started trying, talk was of babies names, college funds and setting up a nursery. Then conversation centred around calendars, doctor’s appointments and best conception days.
Their problems in conceiving were possibly attributed to his low sperm count and her eggs being incompatible.
He justified his indiscretion as having slept with Amber once, his penis accidentally fell into her vagina.
“It was stupid and I hadn’t intended for it to happen. But it was only once. I wasn’t having an affair.” (What was it then, a moment of madness)?
He couldn’t make a baby with his wife after trying for years, yet he gets his student pregnant after a one-night stand. Amber was scared, afraid to go through a pregnancy alone and that she’d be disowned, threatening an abortion. (She’s not sufficiently scared to manipulate him).
There was a car accident involving Amber and little Crystal.”
The baby needed surgery and they needed blood for her and Amber was hysterical. The baby was fine and survived surgery, but they realised that Ron wasn’t a match…he’s not Crystal’s father.”
Dario sets her free at the expense of his happiness sacrificing his future thinking Ron and Katie will reconcile. Contrary to Ron’s willingness to try again, Katie finds clarity, signs the divorce papers and goes in search of her baby’s father.
No angst, jealousy or other people once the couple meet. Ron’s lack of judgement was a major factor in the destruction of their marriage...however, fundamentally the infertility played a role in the demise of their relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 17, 2018The book got most of the golf details right but not much else. So many of the big moments took place off screen, which took a lot away from the story. I also wanted more action from the tournaments and interactions with other people on the Tour.
August 7, 2016
Katie is the breathtakingly beautiful one in the trio of friends she has shared a lifetime with. But being beautiful is not all it is imagined to be. After years of friendship and marriage to her longtime love, Ron, have come to an end, Katie finds herself devastated and needing to redefine her life. A simple pleasures type of woman, all she’s ever wanted was a committed marriage and a child of her own. The toll of infertility has stressed her marriage beyond the breaking point, sending her husband into the arms of another woman. As her dream of lifelong marriage and parenthood come to a screeching halt, Katie finds herself depressed, disillusioned and broken. Living in the small town where everyone knows, and discusses, everyone else’s business certainly doesn’t help matters.
A business opportunity comes up for her friend Lizzie. In an act of intervention meant to save Katie from herself, she travels with Lizzie to get away and soak up some rays in Texas. It is there that she meets Dario, a sports figure whose career she has followed for years. The attraction is instant, the connection real, but neither is looking for anything beyond the now and are startled by what they feel for each other.
Dario, the Spanish golfer, is a man of great talents, although not a man of many words. His gracious ways and lilting accent lure Katie right in. He seems to be just what she needs to get out of the rut she’s been in since parting with her husband. Will a chance encounter be enough for these two, or will they find themselves wanting much more than a one-time connection?
In book 2 of the Worth series, Mara Jacobs has written yet another tantalizing story that grabs a reader’s attention and holds it until the end. I love the depth of her characters and how she makes the reader embrace their humanity. They are flawed, broken, insecure, beautiful, foolish, complex and so very relatable. She writes in such a way that a reader has a multitude of emotions for the characters, at times eliciting great regard for them, while at other times wanting reach through the pages to shake them for their actions. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, definitely worth a 5-star rating.
A business opportunity comes up for her friend Lizzie. In an act of intervention meant to save Katie from herself, she travels with Lizzie to get away and soak up some rays in Texas. It is there that she meets Dario, a sports figure whose career she has followed for years. The attraction is instant, the connection real, but neither is looking for anything beyond the now and are startled by what they feel for each other.
Dario, the Spanish golfer, is a man of great talents, although not a man of many words. His gracious ways and lilting accent lure Katie right in. He seems to be just what she needs to get out of the rut she’s been in since parting with her husband. Will a chance encounter be enough for these two, or will they find themselves wanting much more than a one-time connection?
In book 2 of the Worth series, Mara Jacobs has written yet another tantalizing story that grabs a reader’s attention and holds it until the end. I love the depth of her characters and how she makes the reader embrace their humanity. They are flawed, broken, insecure, beautiful, foolish, complex and so very relatable. She writes in such a way that a reader has a multitude of emotions for the characters, at times eliciting great regard for them, while at other times wanting reach through the pages to shake them for their actions. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, definitely worth a 5-star rating.
May 2, 2013
This book didn't have the build that the first one did, but it was centered around Katie who I sensed in the first book has some tension with her husband.
Then I read the sneak peak. Boy was I right.
I've almost seen this story go through fruition in real life so it was "real" to me.
In the first book Katie and her husband Ron are having problems concieving a child. Being married so long they hoped to start a family and be happy. Until Ron decides one day to cheat on Katie, then finding out his fling is pregnant. Doing the "noble" thing in this case he leaves Katie to tend to the baby that is his that he's wanted for so long.
Katie gets out of the U.P. with Lizzie to meet with one of her potential clients (I was happy to read about Lizzie and Finn and their continued love story as well)Katie gets a little loose on this trip, finds a handsome man to spend a crazy night with- and has sex. Couple months later she's pregnant. One time. One man. Baby. Boom.
The book was a little fast paced for my liking and I found myself getting a little lost when there were breaks in time or there was a break from one character to the other. Something should have been used to show that we were making a transisiton or something. I just had to catch myself a lot when reading through certain chapters.
The story line was cute, I'm glad it ended the way it did, and I'm reading the third and final book now. The book was enough to keep my attention for as long as it did. I just wish there was more to the story, more to their relationship, what happened with Dario and his father, those kind of details. The book probably could have been a little better if it had.
Then I read the sneak peak. Boy was I right.
I've almost seen this story go through fruition in real life so it was "real" to me.
In the first book Katie and her husband Ron are having problems concieving a child. Being married so long they hoped to start a family and be happy. Until Ron decides one day to cheat on Katie, then finding out his fling is pregnant. Doing the "noble" thing in this case he leaves Katie to tend to the baby that is his that he's wanted for so long.
Katie gets out of the U.P. with Lizzie to meet with one of her potential clients (I was happy to read about Lizzie and Finn and their continued love story as well)Katie gets a little loose on this trip, finds a handsome man to spend a crazy night with- and has sex. Couple months later she's pregnant. One time. One man. Baby. Boom.
The book was a little fast paced for my liking and I found myself getting a little lost when there were breaks in time or there was a break from one character to the other. Something should have been used to show that we were making a transisiton or something. I just had to catch myself a lot when reading through certain chapters.
The story line was cute, I'm glad it ended the way it did, and I'm reading the third and final book now. The book was enough to keep my attention for as long as it did. I just wish there was more to the story, more to their relationship, what happened with Dario and his father, those kind of details. The book probably could have been a little better if it had.
August 22, 2014
Meh! It was ok.
Katie is devastated when her husband leaves her for his twenty year old former student who is having his baby. She accompanied Lizzie on a trip to a golf tournament and meets Dario Luna.
Sparks fly. There's some clumsiness, a bit of awkwardness and maybe a gained sense of self.
It was a good story. A bit long and not as engaging as Lizzie and Finn's story. I did like the Katie took the high road whenever she saw Ron with his new family. (So not me but I appreciate it in others :D) Since I'm two books into the series, I feel committed to finishing it so I hope that Alison's story is going to be better than Katie's.
Katie is devastated when her husband leaves her for his twenty year old former student who is having his baby. She accompanied Lizzie on a trip to a golf tournament and meets Dario Luna.
Sparks fly. There's some clumsiness, a bit of awkwardness and maybe a gained sense of self.
It was a good story. A bit long and not as engaging as Lizzie and Finn's story. I did like the Katie took the high road whenever she saw Ron with his new family. (So not me but I appreciate it in others :D) Since I'm two books into the series, I feel committed to finishing it so I hope that Alison's story is going to be better than Katie's.
November 1, 2013
I liked the storyline, but had a hard time keeping my attention. It felt like so many thing were forgotten. Just my opinion
April 30, 2014
Not as crazy about book 2 of the series. I just didn't buy Katie acting that way -- and I couldn't get behind Dario as a romantic lead for some reason.
May 9, 2015
loved this book so much more then the first but to read the first u understand the girls more so yeah read em both i say :)
February 7, 2018
I didn’t like it. It felt like a chore to read, and I really didn’t like the heroine from the moment she decided she didn’t want to tell Dario she was pregnant and her reasoning was she didn’t have to because it was ‘HER baby’.
I get she was VERY recent separated but the amount of times I had to hear her compare something Dario did to Rob, made this story SO unromantic especially once she decided on putting Dario on a trial run. She could have easily said a relationship was too soon, especially since she wasn’t even divorced yet, and they’d be friends and raise the kids as friends.
And her butt-hurt over him saying in Spanish ‘I want you’? What?! Of course he wants you! You’ve been holding onto your husband the whole time you’ve known the guy, and he KNOWS he doesn’t have you. Her saying to Rob ‘it was just a mistake I thought I signed them’ was complete bullshit. She went on and on about rob in her mind, there’s no way she’d ‘forget’ that a) she signed them and b) she put them in the damn mail. She was legit PLANNING to marry Dario, when she legally couldn’t. Left the country to do it and complained he all of a sudden didn’t want to marry her straight away. Wouldn’t that make you think about all that?
This whole thing was crazy and just not for me. Dario’s faults were small but mainly he was just not communicative and didn’t want to push her (which I thought was a good thing since her husband JUST left her for another woman who just had his kid something she’s been trying well over a decade to have!) but she didn’t like that because she had never had to pursue anyone before because she’s just so beautiful lol. And when she did? Nightmare, loses all her confidence and brain function since she’s constantly tripping and knocking into the guy.
It just really, really wasn’t for me and I won’t be continuing the series.
I get she was VERY recent separated but the amount of times I had to hear her compare something Dario did to Rob, made this story SO unromantic especially once she decided on putting Dario on a trial run. She could have easily said a relationship was too soon, especially since she wasn’t even divorced yet, and they’d be friends and raise the kids as friends.
And her butt-hurt over him saying in Spanish ‘I want you’? What?! Of course he wants you! You’ve been holding onto your husband the whole time you’ve known the guy, and he KNOWS he doesn’t have you. Her saying to Rob ‘it was just a mistake I thought I signed them’ was complete bullshit. She went on and on about rob in her mind, there’s no way she’d ‘forget’ that a) she signed them and b) she put them in the damn mail. She was legit PLANNING to marry Dario, when she legally couldn’t. Left the country to do it and complained he all of a sudden didn’t want to marry her straight away. Wouldn’t that make you think about all that?
This whole thing was crazy and just not for me. Dario’s faults were small but mainly he was just not communicative and didn’t want to push her (which I thought was a good thing since her husband JUST left her for another woman who just had his kid something she’s been trying well over a decade to have!) but she didn’t like that because she had never had to pursue anyone before because she’s just so beautiful lol. And when she did? Nightmare, loses all her confidence and brain function since she’s constantly tripping and knocking into the guy.
It just really, really wasn’t for me and I won’t be continuing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2018
Katie Lipton is devastated when her husband tells her wants a divorce, and oh, by the way, his new girlfriend is pregnant with his child, something Katie has been trying to do for almost 10 years. A few months later, to help get her out of her funk, Katie's friend, Lizzie, drags her along to a golf tournament where Lizzie hopes to sign an up and coming golfer to her PR firm. There, Katie meets golf pro Dario Luna. After a one night stand, Katie finds out that she's preggers!! Then, she's surprised to find that Dario isn't willing to sign away his rights and obligations, but wants to be a part of her child's life. It was interested to read a sports romance that featured something other than hockey or football! And I really liked Dario. Katie was cute with her klutziness and her shyness despite her good looks. Cute story.
November 19, 2013
Worth the Drive is book two in The Worth series by Mara Jacobs. I did enjoy this read very much, but do have to say that it didn't hold quite the thrall over me as book one.
Summary:
Katie Lipton was always "the pretty one" in her small group, a label she hated, but couldn't ever shake. It wasn't because she didn't know she was exceptionally pretty. She did, but she also knew she was so much more, had so much more to offer that people never realized or ignored. For example, her mothering nature was second to none, and she longed for a baby more than anything. Unfortunately, having a child with her husband, Ron, seemed to be the only thing she couldn't achieve. Thirteen years of marriage, countless doctor's appointments, and even more let-downs leads to a heartbreak Katie thinks she'll never get over. Ron has had an affair and fathered a child with a younger woman. Katie isn't sure if she's more upset about the cheating or that another woman is so easily pregnant when she can't be. Her heaviness of heart and depression only grow deeper as the months pass and she's made aware of the birth of her soon-to-be ex-husband's little girl. Luckily, her two best friends, Lizzie and Alison, scheme to get her out of the Yoop for a couple of days by accompanying Lizzie to meet a potential client at a golf tournament. Katie loves golf, and is eager to get away from a currently cold, barren Northern Michigan. Surprising even herself, she meets a favorite golfer of hers, Dario Luna. Dario is a Spaniard whose golf career she has followed from the beginning. He also seems to be a man who can send an intense tingle through her long forgotten body. Dario has never seen a woman so beautiful as Katie, and he endeavors to get to know her better, maybe even in the biblical sense. Both hesitant, but feeling an attraction too strong, they enjoy one night of passion before Katie goes home. A night that helps to wipe away the heartache of previous months, if even for a night, and serves to distract each of them from their troubled thoughts of the past, present, and future. Confident, if not a little disappointed, that they will never see each other again, they have an unforgettable night and then Katie returns home. What neither of them realized was that it was just the beginning, and Katie got more from one night with a stranger than she ever got from so many years with her husband. A baby. Stunned at first, thinking she was infertile, Katie couldn't be happier that her dream is finally coming true, but how will Dario feel? Thinking he will want nothing to do with a child with a stranger or jeopardize his career, Katie makes it clear she wants nothing. Dario knows not what to think or even if he should doubt Katie's claim, but certainly feels a lot. Having grown up without a father himself, Dario is adamant that no child of his will grow up without his name, support, and most importantly his love. The situation is far from ideal, but Katie and Dario are able to come up with a plan for Katie to travel with him so that they may get to know each other better and form some sort of relationship for their child's sake. Giving into their existing attraction is just a bonus. But as it is with intense feelings of passion, love can grow, especially with such an important element bonding them together. Decisions seem easy at this point, until doubts get in the way. When Katie's not-so-ex husband experiences his own heartbreak, becoming available again, his love for Katie will cause both Dario and Katie to question not only their feelings, but each other's, as well. Katie has a lifetime of love with Ron to sort through while coming to terms with how Dario fits in, and Dario has his growing feelings for Katie (a woman who may still love her husband) as well as his own goals of finding his father to cope with. With very little history between them and a child's precious existence to think about, Dario and Katie will both have to let go of some of their pasts and trust in love in order to have any type of future together.
I really loved Katie. I could feel her yearning for a child through the words on the page, and her joy and overwhelming gracefulness when her dream came true. I can't imagine the hell she went through time after time trying to conceive and ending it all with an unfaithful husband, but this showed her strength. She may have been down, but she kept going despite how shredded her heart. Dario was amazing. It can't be easy being told you are to be a father with someone you don't know, and especially when you have so many unresolved issues with your own parentage. I loved how he treated Katie from the first. Even when he was angry and lost his hold on control, he treated her adoringly. Supporting cast was awesome as well, even Ron. I hated him from book one, but in Worth the Drive we saw another side, a side filled with love, pain, and regret. No one can truly know what has gone on in a marriage and this was a prime example. It wasn't one person but a combination of circumstances and poor decision made by both partners. My only confusion on characters was with Franny. It felt almost as if the author was going somewhere with Katie's fascination with her, but I never got a conclusion to that part of the story. It just felt undone, I guess. We caught up with Finn and Lizzie, seeing how their relationship from book one is progressing, and got to see a bit more of Alison in anticipation of her own story. Overall, it was still a very good read, just without the emotional punch I expected or wanted to rate it higher. While it did contain very emotional subject matter, I didn't connect as strongly as I did with Lizzie and Finn's emotional struggles. Still. I'm looking forward to book three. <3
Summary:
Katie Lipton was always "the pretty one" in her small group, a label she hated, but couldn't ever shake. It wasn't because she didn't know she was exceptionally pretty. She did, but she also knew she was so much more, had so much more to offer that people never realized or ignored. For example, her mothering nature was second to none, and she longed for a baby more than anything. Unfortunately, having a child with her husband, Ron, seemed to be the only thing she couldn't achieve. Thirteen years of marriage, countless doctor's appointments, and even more let-downs leads to a heartbreak Katie thinks she'll never get over. Ron has had an affair and fathered a child with a younger woman. Katie isn't sure if she's more upset about the cheating or that another woman is so easily pregnant when she can't be. Her heaviness of heart and depression only grow deeper as the months pass and she's made aware of the birth of her soon-to-be ex-husband's little girl. Luckily, her two best friends, Lizzie and Alison, scheme to get her out of the Yoop for a couple of days by accompanying Lizzie to meet a potential client at a golf tournament. Katie loves golf, and is eager to get away from a currently cold, barren Northern Michigan. Surprising even herself, she meets a favorite golfer of hers, Dario Luna. Dario is a Spaniard whose golf career she has followed from the beginning. He also seems to be a man who can send an intense tingle through her long forgotten body. Dario has never seen a woman so beautiful as Katie, and he endeavors to get to know her better, maybe even in the biblical sense. Both hesitant, but feeling an attraction too strong, they enjoy one night of passion before Katie goes home. A night that helps to wipe away the heartache of previous months, if even for a night, and serves to distract each of them from their troubled thoughts of the past, present, and future. Confident, if not a little disappointed, that they will never see each other again, they have an unforgettable night and then Katie returns home. What neither of them realized was that it was just the beginning, and Katie got more from one night with a stranger than she ever got from so many years with her husband. A baby. Stunned at first, thinking she was infertile, Katie couldn't be happier that her dream is finally coming true, but how will Dario feel? Thinking he will want nothing to do with a child with a stranger or jeopardize his career, Katie makes it clear she wants nothing. Dario knows not what to think or even if he should doubt Katie's claim, but certainly feels a lot. Having grown up without a father himself, Dario is adamant that no child of his will grow up without his name, support, and most importantly his love. The situation is far from ideal, but Katie and Dario are able to come up with a plan for Katie to travel with him so that they may get to know each other better and form some sort of relationship for their child's sake. Giving into their existing attraction is just a bonus. But as it is with intense feelings of passion, love can grow, especially with such an important element bonding them together. Decisions seem easy at this point, until doubts get in the way. When Katie's not-so-ex husband experiences his own heartbreak, becoming available again, his love for Katie will cause both Dario and Katie to question not only their feelings, but each other's, as well. Katie has a lifetime of love with Ron to sort through while coming to terms with how Dario fits in, and Dario has his growing feelings for Katie (a woman who may still love her husband) as well as his own goals of finding his father to cope with. With very little history between them and a child's precious existence to think about, Dario and Katie will both have to let go of some of their pasts and trust in love in order to have any type of future together.
I really loved Katie. I could feel her yearning for a child through the words on the page, and her joy and overwhelming gracefulness when her dream came true. I can't imagine the hell she went through time after time trying to conceive and ending it all with an unfaithful husband, but this showed her strength. She may have been down, but she kept going despite how shredded her heart. Dario was amazing. It can't be easy being told you are to be a father with someone you don't know, and especially when you have so many unresolved issues with your own parentage. I loved how he treated Katie from the first. Even when he was angry and lost his hold on control, he treated her adoringly. Supporting cast was awesome as well, even Ron. I hated him from book one, but in Worth the Drive we saw another side, a side filled with love, pain, and regret. No one can truly know what has gone on in a marriage and this was a prime example. It wasn't one person but a combination of circumstances and poor decision made by both partners. My only confusion on characters was with Franny. It felt almost as if the author was going somewhere with Katie's fascination with her, but I never got a conclusion to that part of the story. It just felt undone, I guess. We caught up with Finn and Lizzie, seeing how their relationship from book one is progressing, and got to see a bit more of Alison in anticipation of her own story. Overall, it was still a very good read, just without the emotional punch I expected or wanted to rate it higher. While it did contain very emotional subject matter, I didn't connect as strongly as I did with Lizzie and Finn's emotional struggles. Still. I'm looking forward to book three. <3
January 17, 2018
Worth The Drive
This story was about a wide who's husband of over ten years cheated on and moved on to a younger woman. When in her darkest hour she ends up sleeping with a stranger and also pregnant. The situation was bad because the original couple had been trying for years to have a child. And a matter of months were having a child with someone else. Will Katie learn th a Ratio is a better person than her cheating ex? Will Dario find out that she loves him as much as he does her? Add a few games of golf and you get a glimpse at what happens next.
This story was about a wide who's husband of over ten years cheated on and moved on to a younger woman. When in her darkest hour she ends up sleeping with a stranger and also pregnant. The situation was bad because the original couple had been trying for years to have a child. And a matter of months were having a child with someone else. Will Katie learn th a Ratio is a better person than her cheating ex? Will Dario find out that she loves him as much as he does her? Add a few games of golf and you get a glimpse at what happens next.
October 26, 2017
Read it overnight
Couldn't put this one down I enjoyed this story so much! The storyline rolled along nicely and I enjoyed the way the author handled the building f the relationship slowly even though the relationship came about a little backward. Now I need to get Alison's story to see her HEA!
Couldn't put this one down I enjoyed this story so much! The storyline rolled along nicely and I enjoyed the way the author handled the building f the relationship slowly even though the relationship came about a little backward. Now I need to get Alison's story to see her HEA!
July 24, 2019
This was just a bit more bland than I was expecting. The story didn't really go many places (well it did physically but not emotionally). I guess it was a good read if you wanted to have the points repeated a lot of times. The style was ok but I felt it lacked a bit of zing and didn't really engage me as much as I was expecting
April 1, 2022
wow
This was such an emotional story of loves lost and found. My heart ached when they both had mixed signals and lost precious time. Ached for a father that lost so much time with his loves through a terrible lie. Was a great story. Lots of feelings. Even a giggle.
Narration was awesome too
This was such an emotional story of loves lost and found. My heart ached when they both had mixed signals and lost precious time. Ached for a father that lost so much time with his loves through a terrible lie. Was a great story. Lots of feelings. Even a giggle.
Narration was awesome too
March 10, 2018
This is the next book in the The Worth series by Mara Jacobs. I like all of the characters in the book and can't wait to read the next book and see which of the characters it will be about. They are fast and east contemporary romances.
April 6, 2019
Katie Lipton is the town beauty, but that never got her what she wanted most—a baby. She was heartbroken when her husbands' one nighter ended up with a pregnancy. Months later she has her own one nighter with professional golfer Darío Luna ending up pregnant.
November 12, 2022
What a tangled tale this was. Love, betrayal, heartbreak, misunderstandings, instant chemistry … the list could go on. Put them all together and you get a wonderful read about an unlikely couple who you can’t help rooting for. Very enjoyable.
January 13, 2018
Not real sure about this one. The plot is so boring I had a hard time staying focused and found myself flipping through it very quickly and did care about the end.
May 13, 2018
Loved It,,
Second book in the series that I have read! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!!
Second book in the series that I have read! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!!
June 7, 2018
Really enjoyed this one. Katie's husband leaves her and it was the best thing for her even though they both were depressed about it, but good things happen to both, Sort of.
August 21, 2020
3,5 stars
October 11, 2021
A beautiful story with compelling characters and a thoughtful as well as engaging premise.
August 7, 2016
Katie is the breathtakingly beautiful one in the trio of friends she has shared a lifetime with. But being beautiful is not all it is imagined to be. After years of friendship and marriage to her longtime love, Ron, have come to an end, Katie finds herself devastated and needing to redefine her life. A simple pleasures type of woman, all she’s ever wanted was a committed marriage and a child of her own. The toll of infertility has stressed her marriage beyond the breaking point, sending her husband into the arms of another woman. As her dream of lifelong marriage and parenthood come to a screeching halt, Katie finds herself depressed, disillusioned and broken. Living in the small town where everyone knows, and discusses, everyone else’s business certainly doesn’t help matters.
A business opportunity comes up for her friend Lizzie. In an act of intervention meant to save Katie from herself, she travels with Lizzie to get away and soak up some rays in Texas. It is there that she meets Dario, a sports figure whose career she has followed for years. The attraction is instant, the connection real, but neither is looking for anything beyond the now and are startled by what they feel for each other.
Dario, the Spanish golfer, is a man of great talents, although not a man of many words. His gracious ways and lilting accent lure Katie right in. He seems to be just what she needs to get out of the rut she’s been in since parting with her husband. Will a chance encounter be enough for these two, or will they find themselves wanting much more than a one-time connection?
In book 2 of the Worth series, Mara Jacobs has written yet another tantalizing story that grabs a reader’s attention and holds it until the end. I love the depth of her characters and how she makes the reader embrace their humanity. They are flawed, broken, insecure, beautiful, foolish, complex and so very relatable. She writes in such a way that a reader has a multitude of emotions for the characters, at times eliciting great regard for them, while at other times wanting reach through the pages to shake them for their actions. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, definitely worth a 5-star rating.
___
Reviewed by Tumika Patrice Cain
A business opportunity comes up for her friend Lizzie. In an act of intervention meant to save Katie from herself, she travels with Lizzie to get away and soak up some rays in Texas. It is there that she meets Dario, a sports figure whose career she has followed for years. The attraction is instant, the connection real, but neither is looking for anything beyond the now and are startled by what they feel for each other.
Dario, the Spanish golfer, is a man of great talents, although not a man of many words. His gracious ways and lilting accent lure Katie right in. He seems to be just what she needs to get out of the rut she’s been in since parting with her husband. Will a chance encounter be enough for these two, or will they find themselves wanting much more than a one-time connection?
In book 2 of the Worth series, Mara Jacobs has written yet another tantalizing story that grabs a reader’s attention and holds it until the end. I love the depth of her characters and how she makes the reader embrace their humanity. They are flawed, broken, insecure, beautiful, foolish, complex and so very relatable. She writes in such a way that a reader has a multitude of emotions for the characters, at times eliciting great regard for them, while at other times wanting reach through the pages to shake them for their actions. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, definitely worth a 5-star rating.
___
Reviewed by Tumika Patrice Cain
September 9, 2013
Before i read this book here's what i mew about Golf...boring and for stuck up peolpe!!!
And here's what i know about Golf...yes its full of snotty people, but some off them have a sense of humor...
Many books have quotes in the beginning of each chapter, mainly by famous writers but this book has something way better...black humor quotes! Love them!!!
"It was a friendly divorce.She left me the piano and the lawnmower.
I couldn't play either one"
I don't intend to be totally disrespectful so i must admit that i was impressed that Golfers have such strict code of rules and honor and how hard the players try to keep on top. I was also surprised by the divorce rate among Pro Golfers.
Living in Europe we have the groupies and paid sex scandals with soccer players and were aware that happens a lot in the US with Basket and American Football player, but besides Tigger Woods i had no idea.
Now for the love story.
I start by meeting this couple Ron and Katie in the day he's leaving her for a twenty something girl. And if it wasn't bad enough that she's being dumped for someone at least twen years ounger then her, this young girl is going to have the one thing that Katie wants desperatly...a baby!
Katie does what must be done. She mourns for the end of her marriage, but being a big girls she quickly realizes that her marriage was having serious problems for awhile!
And sometimes all you need is some time off and a little push from your girls... And this is how Katie ends up with a one stand with Latin Hottie Dario Luna and what she thought she could never have, her miracle, her baby!
She decides to do te right thing and tell Dario she's pregnat. His reaction isn't what she expected and between Katie's and Dario's issues they have a long, full of ups and downs ahead of them...
Fingers crossed for a little Peaches...going for the third book to find out ;)
And here's what i know about Golf...yes its full of snotty people, but some off them have a sense of humor...
Many books have quotes in the beginning of each chapter, mainly by famous writers but this book has something way better...black humor quotes! Love them!!!
"It was a friendly divorce.She left me the piano and the lawnmower.
I couldn't play either one"
I don't intend to be totally disrespectful so i must admit that i was impressed that Golfers have such strict code of rules and honor and how hard the players try to keep on top. I was also surprised by the divorce rate among Pro Golfers.
Living in Europe we have the groupies and paid sex scandals with soccer players and were aware that happens a lot in the US with Basket and American Football player, but besides Tigger Woods i had no idea.
Now for the love story.
I start by meeting this couple Ron and Katie in the day he's leaving her for a twenty something girl. And if it wasn't bad enough that she's being dumped for someone at least twen years ounger then her, this young girl is going to have the one thing that Katie wants desperatly...a baby!
Katie does what must be done. She mourns for the end of her marriage, but being a big girls she quickly realizes that her marriage was having serious problems for awhile!
And sometimes all you need is some time off and a little push from your girls... And this is how Katie ends up with a one stand with Latin Hottie Dario Luna and what she thought she could never have, her miracle, her baby!
She decides to do te right thing and tell Dario she's pregnat. His reaction isn't what she expected and between Katie's and Dario's issues they have a long, full of ups and downs ahead of them...
Fingers crossed for a little Peaches...going for the third book to find out ;)
January 25, 2014
I was, quite honestly, surprised I liked this book so much. I am bored to tears by golf and don't really understand it at all. Of course I knew the story wouldn't be all golf all the time, but still I was leery. The golf aspect was woven into the story very well, giving the reader information without get too in depth that to cause the reader to tune out.
I feel the author has gotten a bit more smooth with her writing, too. The choppiness that I found in the first book in the series has started to even out. I almost added another star, but there are still some issues with the flow.
This book has gotten me over my doubts on if it is worth (pun not intended) reading the whole series. I am not hooked.
As usual, there is the not talking to each other so not understanding each other's motives thing that most romance novels have. As I've said before and will continue to say, that's okay with me. I know what I'm getting into when reading a romance. The difference was there was no big fight. I really understood where Dario was coming from with his line of thinking and I respect most of the decisions he made. Katie was a bit of a ditz in not seeing what was happening, but I won't berate a pregnant woman...hormones and pregnancy brain and stuff.
I am already starting on the next book, which features Alison. Again I'm a bit nervous because she has not ever given me the warm fuzzies, but I'm starting to trust this author more. I'll let you know how it plays out!
I feel the author has gotten a bit more smooth with her writing, too. The choppiness that I found in the first book in the series has started to even out. I almost added another star, but there are still some issues with the flow.
This book has gotten me over my doubts on if it is worth (pun not intended) reading the whole series. I am not hooked.
As usual, there is the not talking to each other so not understanding each other's motives thing that most romance novels have. As I've said before and will continue to say, that's okay with me. I know what I'm getting into when reading a romance. The difference was there was no big fight. I really understood where Dario was coming from with his line of thinking and I respect most of the decisions he made. Katie was a bit of a ditz in not seeing what was happening, but I won't berate a pregnant woman...hormones and pregnancy brain and stuff.
I am already starting on the next book, which features Alison. Again I'm a bit nervous because she has not ever given me the warm fuzzies, but I'm starting to trust this author more. I'll let you know how it plays out!
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