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Retribution
JUSTINE CHARLES is still trying to put the pieces of her life together seven years after a disastrous extra-marital affair. She’s raising a troubled teenage daughter and six-year-old Emile, the result of her indiscretion.
A chance meeting drops the still-scorching Xavier McKellop back on her radar. Her former lover is hurt and furious that Justine has kept his son’s birth a secret. She has little choice when Xavier demands time with Emile.
Though the moments between Justine and Xavier are tense, it’s evident the flame of attraction between them still burns hot. And just as she begins to hope and dream about being with the only man who ever stirred her heart, body and soul, Justine’s life is thrown into chaos. Her daughter discovers Justine’s betrayal and Xavier’s soon-to-be ex-wife wants him back.
This time around, in her quest for love, Justine might not only lose her deepest desire, but everything she holds dear.
A chance meeting drops the still-scorching Xavier McKellop back on her radar. Her former lover is hurt and furious that Justine has kept his son’s birth a secret. She has little choice when Xavier demands time with Emile.
Though the moments between Justine and Xavier are tense, it’s evident the flame of attraction between them still burns hot. And just as she begins to hope and dream about being with the only man who ever stirred her heart, body and soul, Justine’s life is thrown into chaos. Her daughter discovers Justine’s betrayal and Xavier’s soon-to-be ex-wife wants him back.
This time around, in her quest for love, Justine might not only lose her deepest desire, but everything she holds dear.
- GenresContemporary Romance
ebook
First published January 30, 2013
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Campbell
110 books307 followersJ.L. Campbell is fascinated with Jamaican flora and has hundreds of photos in her collection. She writes contemporary and sweet romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, as well as new and young adult novels.
Campbell, who features Jamaican culture in her stories, has written over forty books. She is also a certified editor.
Feel free to join her mailing list for news and updates https://sendfox.com/lp/1rk5gx or connect with her on social media.
Campbell, who features Jamaican culture in her stories, has written over forty books. She is also a certified editor.
Feel free to join her mailing list for news and updates https://sendfox.com/lp/1rk5gx or connect with her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 21, 2013
Like most of the readers, I read the first chapter of Retribution back when I read Distraction. Since then, almost a year later, I've waited for this book. All I can say is Xavier is back! The story picks up where the Justine and Xavier's relationship left off some seven years later. Justine knew the day would come when she'd have to face Xavier and reveal the secret that could ruin everything they had, including the beautiful memories they created. They meet unexpectedly only now Justine is a widow, cursed with relentless guilt of her past wrong doings. Xavier steps back into Justine's life, forcing her to make the right choices for her and her son's future. Xavier was such a rock in the book and I will forever refer to him as the music man. Both characters made significant mistakes in their lives, but the beauty was their determination to see things through for the good of their family's future. With the years comes more challenges like raising teenagers and divorce. What I loved about Retribution, was Campbell didn't write a cookie-cut romance, she wrote a beautifully in-depth story about love, loss, friendship and how wonderful things can be when two people make amends.
On a side not, I can't get enough of the Proverbs Campbell put before each chapter, giving the reader a hint of what's to come. I loved this. Here's a sample:
Proverb: Bush have ears and wall have eyes.
Meaning: Be careful how you disclose sensitive information that can filter to those you don’t want to know your business.
If you're looking for a different take on romance and you're willing to take a journey with a couple that make their fair share of mistakes, then Retribution is just the book for you!
On a side not, I can't get enough of the Proverbs Campbell put before each chapter, giving the reader a hint of what's to come. I loved this. Here's a sample:
Proverb: Bush have ears and wall have eyes.
Meaning: Be careful how you disclose sensitive information that can filter to those you don’t want to know your business.
If you're looking for a different take on romance and you're willing to take a journey with a couple that make their fair share of mistakes, then Retribution is just the book for you!
October 20, 2014
I'm giving 4 stars based strictly on the contents of this book and the writing style. What on earth does that mean? I'm ignoring the fact that the first book was about the lives of three friends. This book only focuses on one friend. With that being said, the chemistry between the two adults was good. I also like the author's writing, and feel that I can visualize so much of the locations. I am a fan.
February 20, 2017
A great read.
Set in Jamaica this is the second story involving Xavier and Justine who embarked on an affair seven years ago, for various reasons Justine had to break off the affair. She kept the birth of her son secret from her lover.
They meet again, her son is now seven and Justine knows she has to face up to the music when he meets Xavier.
Add in to the mix two disgruntled teenage girls (one from each family) plus a vindictive ex-wife and you have a well written contemporary story giving love a second chance if they are brave enough to take it.
I was gifted the anthology Winter Solstice: Getting a Second Chance at Love of which this book is one of the stories.
Set in Jamaica this is the second story involving Xavier and Justine who embarked on an affair seven years ago, for various reasons Justine had to break off the affair. She kept the birth of her son secret from her lover.
They meet again, her son is now seven and Justine knows she has to face up to the music when he meets Xavier.
Add in to the mix two disgruntled teenage girls (one from each family) plus a vindictive ex-wife and you have a well written contemporary story giving love a second chance if they are brave enough to take it.
I was gifted the anthology Winter Solstice: Getting a Second Chance at Love of which this book is one of the stories.
July 8, 2020
This Series Just Keeps Getting Better And Better!! 🔥
Justine drove me crazy, but I loved her and Xavier together! Emile was the icing on the cake for this story! I was riveted from the beginning throughout the end! I can’t wait to get started on the last book in this series, “Absolution!” Kudos, J.L. Campbell!! 💜💜
Justine drove me crazy, but I loved her and Xavier together! Emile was the icing on the cake for this story! I was riveted from the beginning throughout the end! I can’t wait to get started on the last book in this series, “Absolution!” Kudos, J.L. Campbell!! 💜💜
June 1, 2020
Very good
I'm very glad that they finally got together and getting married I just hope that that lady don't do anything crazy.
I'm very glad that they finally got together and getting married I just hope that that lady don't do anything crazy.
April 29, 2013
One of the reasons that I like Ms. Campbell’s novels is they’re like taking a little trip to Jamaica, only one that fits my current budget.
Yolanda, Justine’s 14-year-old daughter, is playing guitar. Unknown to Justine, the music shop, Rapporté, where Yolanda prefers to shop and have her guitar worked on, belongs to Xavier. Xavier, the man with whom Justine broke off a passionate affair, seven years ago. The man who is 6 ½ year-old Emile’s father, but doesn’t know it.
Until the day a now-widowed Justine brings Yolanda’s guitar in for more work, and Emile follows his mother into the shop, while Xavier comes out to meet this super-fussy customer.
This novel continues the story of Justine and Xavier from Distraction, but works on its own as a stand-alone; you don’t have to read Distraction to enjoy this novel. However, unlike Distraction, only has one storyline, that of Justine and Xavier. While girlfriends Dionne and Kyra do make cameo appearances, they do not carry their own storylines.
While it takes Xavier only one glance to realize that Emile is his son, he does not know that Justine is widowed. She does not know that Xavier has been separated from his wife for two years, and has already filed for divorce. This novel is about how these two people, who are still so strongly drawn to one another, learn to admit the chemistry is still there, to forgive past wounds, and to work towards a relationship that is complicated by their children.
I felt like this started out a bit slow, and Justine was irritatingly wussy at first. In the middle, it really caught fire. The chapter headings that all begin with a Jamaican proverb are wonderful, and I liked getting to hear from Xavier’s point of view.
The teen girls are interesting in that Justine is overinvolved in Yolanda’s life, while Xavier’s soon-to-be-ex, Annette is seriously underinvolved with Kelleigh, yet despite different kinds of mothering, the girls share identical issues with mouthiness and rebellion. Can’t win for losing!
In the end, despite desperate attempts by Annette to get back at Justine using Emile, it seems like they are well on their way to becoming a happy, blended family.
Or are they?
Yolanda, Justine’s 14-year-old daughter, is playing guitar. Unknown to Justine, the music shop, Rapporté, where Yolanda prefers to shop and have her guitar worked on, belongs to Xavier. Xavier, the man with whom Justine broke off a passionate affair, seven years ago. The man who is 6 ½ year-old Emile’s father, but doesn’t know it.
Until the day a now-widowed Justine brings Yolanda’s guitar in for more work, and Emile follows his mother into the shop, while Xavier comes out to meet this super-fussy customer.
This novel continues the story of Justine and Xavier from Distraction, but works on its own as a stand-alone; you don’t have to read Distraction to enjoy this novel. However, unlike Distraction, only has one storyline, that of Justine and Xavier. While girlfriends Dionne and Kyra do make cameo appearances, they do not carry their own storylines.
While it takes Xavier only one glance to realize that Emile is his son, he does not know that Justine is widowed. She does not know that Xavier has been separated from his wife for two years, and has already filed for divorce. This novel is about how these two people, who are still so strongly drawn to one another, learn to admit the chemistry is still there, to forgive past wounds, and to work towards a relationship that is complicated by their children.
I felt like this started out a bit slow, and Justine was irritatingly wussy at first. In the middle, it really caught fire. The chapter headings that all begin with a Jamaican proverb are wonderful, and I liked getting to hear from Xavier’s point of view.
The teen girls are interesting in that Justine is overinvolved in Yolanda’s life, while Xavier’s soon-to-be-ex, Annette is seriously underinvolved with Kelleigh, yet despite different kinds of mothering, the girls share identical issues with mouthiness and rebellion. Can’t win for losing!
In the end, despite desperate attempts by Annette to get back at Justine using Emile, it seems like they are well on their way to becoming a happy, blended family.
Or are they?
June 15, 2013
Retribution is the continuation of Justine and Xavier’s story from Distraction (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...), which I thoroughly enjoyed. Being a lover of secret baby plots, I couldn’t wait to see how this played out after the teaser in Distraction.
The story opens when Justine is at the music store to get some work done on her daughter’s guitar (side note: Yolanda was a spoiled little brat in this story and I really needed Justine to check her). As luck would have it, it’s Xavier’s store, and he comes out to assist Justine. Emile, her son, comes into the store from the car, and it’s then that Justine is busted—because Emile is Xavier’s son he knows nothing about.
The chemistry between Justine and Xavier is still smoking hot. The author does an excellent job of getting the reader to understand the longing and desire these two forbidden lovers feel for each other. While Justine’s husband is now dead, Xavier’s wife is still alive, though they’re no longer living together. The writing is tight and I kept turning the pages to see how this would turn out.
I have to admit, though, that I was disappointed in Justine’s behavior. She constantly tried to keep Emile and Xavier apart, and her attitude toward them having a father/son relationship didn’t change much by the end of the book. That was hard for me to comprehend, because not only is Xavier the man she loves, he’s also a good father. This was evident by the relationship between him and his daughter, and the fact that he wanted the same kind of relationship with his son. Her guilt over their infidelity was not a good enough reason to want to keep Emile to herself.
Xavier’s estranged wife pulled out the crazy in this book, and because of her actions, there will now be a third installment to this story. It will be interesting to see if Xavier and Justine ever do end up together and manage to have a happy life with the three kids between them.
The story opens when Justine is at the music store to get some work done on her daughter’s guitar (side note: Yolanda was a spoiled little brat in this story and I really needed Justine to check her). As luck would have it, it’s Xavier’s store, and he comes out to assist Justine. Emile, her son, comes into the store from the car, and it’s then that Justine is busted—because Emile is Xavier’s son he knows nothing about.
The chemistry between Justine and Xavier is still smoking hot. The author does an excellent job of getting the reader to understand the longing and desire these two forbidden lovers feel for each other. While Justine’s husband is now dead, Xavier’s wife is still alive, though they’re no longer living together. The writing is tight and I kept turning the pages to see how this would turn out.
I have to admit, though, that I was disappointed in Justine’s behavior. She constantly tried to keep Emile and Xavier apart, and her attitude toward them having a father/son relationship didn’t change much by the end of the book. That was hard for me to comprehend, because not only is Xavier the man she loves, he’s also a good father. This was evident by the relationship between him and his daughter, and the fact that he wanted the same kind of relationship with his son. Her guilt over their infidelity was not a good enough reason to want to keep Emile to herself.
Xavier’s estranged wife pulled out the crazy in this book, and because of her actions, there will now be a third installment to this story. It will be interesting to see if Xavier and Justine ever do end up together and manage to have a happy life with the three kids between them.
February 5, 2015
Justine had an affair years ago. Even though it ended, she kept a big secret…a child. Her son, Emile, thinks his father is Justine’s husband, the one who passed away years ago. When Justine and Emile collide with Xavier, Emile’s real dad, things get interesting.
The resemblance between Emile and Xavier is undeniable. All kinds of questions pop up. Will Justine and Xavier get back together? They still have feelings for each other--even though they’re fighting about Emile, whether he should know the truth or not, and whether he should spend time with Xavier. They two of them also have rebellious teenage daughters who cause numerous problems. An even bigger problem is Annette, Xavier’s wife whom he’s divorcing. Annette isn’t taking this news well.
I love J.L.’s adult fiction. There’s always plenty of page-turning drama with realistic characters. I enjoyed being immersed in Justine and Xavier's world for a few hours. I look forward to the next book in this series, Absolution. I'm glad I can continue reading more about these characters.
The resemblance between Emile and Xavier is undeniable. All kinds of questions pop up. Will Justine and Xavier get back together? They still have feelings for each other--even though they’re fighting about Emile, whether he should know the truth or not, and whether he should spend time with Xavier. They two of them also have rebellious teenage daughters who cause numerous problems. An even bigger problem is Annette, Xavier’s wife whom he’s divorcing. Annette isn’t taking this news well.
I love J.L.’s adult fiction. There’s always plenty of page-turning drama with realistic characters. I enjoyed being immersed in Justine and Xavier's world for a few hours. I look forward to the next book in this series, Absolution. I'm glad I can continue reading more about these characters.
November 25, 2014
J.L. Campbell's "Retribution" was a hell of a read and picked up right where "13 Steps to Distraction" left off. I absolutely love the 3 best friends that are there for each other through thick and thin. I hate that I didn't read these two stories before I read "Absolution" because I would have had a much better appreciation for that story when reading it. I was more sympathetic toward Annette in "Absolution" even though I knew she had issues, but after reading the first two stories of this group, I am glad that Xavier handled jus business and that Justine got her man, lol. I can't wait to read the next story in this Intriguing a Series.
T
T
December 5, 2016
Craziness At It's Finest
For seven years Justine hid a truth, and now it is come back to bite here. Her one omission is wreaking havoc on not only her family but Xavier's family as well. Another page turner that you will not be able to put down. Each page will keep you guessing who will survive this craziness.
For seven years Justine hid a truth, and now it is come back to bite here. Her one omission is wreaking havoc on not only her family but Xavier's family as well. Another page turner that you will not be able to put down. Each page will keep you guessing who will survive this craziness.
June 24, 2014
As expected, J.L.Campbell did not fail to please! Exhilarating, heart thumping excitement. I became one with the characters, I felt their pain, their joy and their anxieties. Definitely a must read!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews