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Mending Hearts #1.5
Recovery
I have the perfect life.
I’ve finally found my happy ending.
I fought through the loss of one husband, lucky enough to be given a second chance at a lifetime of happiness. Settling into our new lives, however, may not be as easy as it seems.
What really happens after the fairytale ending? What happens after the prince rescues the princess? After he sweeps her off her feet and carries her off into the sunset? Do they truly live happily ever after?
Well…
This is our story.
I’ve finally found my happy ending.
I fought through the loss of one husband, lucky enough to be given a second chance at a lifetime of happiness. Settling into our new lives, however, may not be as easy as it seems.
What really happens after the fairytale ending? What happens after the prince rescues the princess? After he sweeps her off her feet and carries her off into the sunset? Do they truly live happily ever after?
Well…
This is our story.
142 pages, ebook
First published June 12, 2013
45 people are currently reading
2491 people want to read
About the author
L.B. Simmons
11 books1,476 followersAfter graduating from Texas A&M University, L.B. Simmons did what any biomedical science major could do. She entered the workforce as a full-time chemist. Years later, never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined herself a USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance author as well.
What began as a memoir for her children, ended up being her first self-published book, Running on Empty. Initially it was written to chronicle their actions, their phrases, and their silly arguments so that when they were older, they would always have those memories. The memoir soon began to take on a life of its own, morphing into the story of a single mother with three little girls finding love when she least expected it. Soon after, her girls were given reoccurring roles in the remainder of what became the Mending Hearts series.
That's how her journey as an author began, and she hopes to God it never ends.
L.B. Simmons doesn’t just write books. With each new work, she attempts to compose journeys of love and self-discovery so she may impart life lessons to readers. Several novels later, she’s tackled suicide, depression, bullying, eating disorders, as well as physical and sexual abuse, all the while weaving elements of humor into the storylines in effort to balance the difficult topics. Often described as roller coaster rides, her novels are known for eliciting a wide range of emotions in each story she tells.
What began as a memoir for her children, ended up being her first self-published book, Running on Empty. Initially it was written to chronicle their actions, their phrases, and their silly arguments so that when they were older, they would always have those memories. The memoir soon began to take on a life of its own, morphing into the story of a single mother with three little girls finding love when she least expected it. Soon after, her girls were given reoccurring roles in the remainder of what became the Mending Hearts series.
That's how her journey as an author began, and she hopes to God it never ends.
L.B. Simmons doesn’t just write books. With each new work, she attempts to compose journeys of love and self-discovery so she may impart life lessons to readers. Several novels later, she’s tackled suicide, depression, bullying, eating disorders, as well as physical and sexual abuse, all the while weaving elements of humor into the storylines in effort to balance the difficult topics. Often described as roller coaster rides, her novels are known for eliciting a wide range of emotions in each story she tells.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
June 10, 2013
You can read this and other reviews at Madison Says
It’s official. Blake Morgan is the sexiest man to never live. How can you resist a man who is willing to take on three children from a previous marriage in order to be with the woman he’s loved his entire life? Oh, and it’s not like he’s just tolerating them; he honestly loves each of Alex’s girls. Yeah, you can’t – it’s impossible!
Recovery picks up where Running on Empty leaves off. Alex and Blake are finally making it official! She’s given Blake her heart and now it’s time to start their life together. There is just one teeny tiny issue. Alex has spent the last three years fighting to live any semblance of a life that it’s tough to let go of the control she’s been clinging to. She doesn't want to ask for help or rely on anyone but herself. Unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for a brand new marriage in a brand new house with a few brand new surprises…
“Sadly, I have a gut feeling that like two pieces of flint rock, the tension filled shift between us tonight ignited a spark, lighting the fuse to our very own Morgan family firework show.
One capable of blowing us completely apart.”
I’m convinced that this woman lives to make me cry. The emotion that L.B Simmons can draw out of her readers is nothing short of amazing. She did not disappoint with this short read. In fact, that’s the only complaint I have. It was too short! I realize it’s a novella, but I’m greedy. I want more Blake and Alex! I want more of their crazy life with their ridiculously adorable children. As a mother myself, reading about Nycole, Kyndall and little Rylie’s antics brings a smile to my face. I can see my daughter in each and every one of them. I’m officially addicted! Lucky for me I’ll be able to get a fix once Running in Place comes out later this year. Yes, it’s the story of Tatum and Noah, but maybe, just maybe Blake and Alex will make an appearance or two.
“So, when things don’t make sense to you, try not to waste time being upset about it. Stuff works out the way it’s supposed to. Some things just take longer than others.”
If you don’t end up loving this book, you should probably see a cardiologist because I’m thinking you might be missing a heart. It’s a giant ball of wonderful – brilliantly written! You will laugh, you will cry – both happy and sad tears. This novella has it all. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy and enjoy the ride.
It’s official. Blake Morgan is the sexiest man to never live. How can you resist a man who is willing to take on three children from a previous marriage in order to be with the woman he’s loved his entire life? Oh, and it’s not like he’s just tolerating them; he honestly loves each of Alex’s girls. Yeah, you can’t – it’s impossible!
Recovery picks up where Running on Empty leaves off. Alex and Blake are finally making it official! She’s given Blake her heart and now it’s time to start their life together. There is just one teeny tiny issue. Alex has spent the last three years fighting to live any semblance of a life that it’s tough to let go of the control she’s been clinging to. She doesn't want to ask for help or rely on anyone but herself. Unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for a brand new marriage in a brand new house with a few brand new surprises…
“Sadly, I have a gut feeling that like two pieces of flint rock, the tension filled shift between us tonight ignited a spark, lighting the fuse to our very own Morgan family firework show.
One capable of blowing us completely apart.”
I’m convinced that this woman lives to make me cry. The emotion that L.B Simmons can draw out of her readers is nothing short of amazing. She did not disappoint with this short read. In fact, that’s the only complaint I have. It was too short! I realize it’s a novella, but I’m greedy. I want more Blake and Alex! I want more of their crazy life with their ridiculously adorable children. As a mother myself, reading about Nycole, Kyndall and little Rylie’s antics brings a smile to my face. I can see my daughter in each and every one of them. I’m officially addicted! Lucky for me I’ll be able to get a fix once Running in Place comes out later this year. Yes, it’s the story of Tatum and Noah, but maybe, just maybe Blake and Alex will make an appearance or two.
“So, when things don’t make sense to you, try not to waste time being upset about it. Stuff works out the way it’s supposed to. Some things just take longer than others.”
If you don’t end up loving this book, you should probably see a cardiologist because I’m thinking you might be missing a heart. It’s a giant ball of wonderful – brilliantly written! You will laugh, you will cry – both happy and sad tears. This novella has it all. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy and enjoy the ride.
July 25, 2013
<3 yay.
I CANNOT wait for this.
I CANNOT wait for this.
June 16, 2013
Oeeee I loved this short story! It was great to read about Alex and Blake and her 3 daughters. I love LB Simmons. Can't wait for the next book about Tatum ;)
June 25, 2013
Jointly reviewed for totallybookedblog.com
Jenny: Gitte, I have to say I was ecstatic when I heard L.B. Simmons was going to extend ROE and give us more of Blake and Alex’s story because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them and those adorable little munchkins of theirs just yet. I felt I needed some sort of conclusion to ROE, you know….. I needed know how they fared going forward and this Novella most certainly delivered. It is a perfect companion to Running On Empty and takes place about a month after ROE finishes and really does give us the closure we needed with Alex, Blake and the girls.
“Because as sure as my heart beats, you have given me life again…in more ways than one.”
The same heart-warming, funny, beautiful characters are back…I defy anyone not to fall head over heels in love with them all; every single one of them is like a ray of sunshine.
This time we are privy to Blake and Alex facing challenges in their marriage, challenges that married couples face every day and in this respect Recovery had such a feeling of reality about it. How does this family cope going forward and become a cohesive family unit?
“You NEVER ask me for help!”
You really could relate to Blake and Alex’s situation because their issues and struggles felt so real and raw. It was almost as if you were there and privy to their problems first hand. It’s all handled in such a sensitive, beautiful and moving way, presented to us in wonderful prose laced with the trademark LB Simmons, humor, heart, warmth and love. I really do adore this authors writing style.
“What happened to our life, Alex?”
LB Simmons really has created a little world in a book and the addition of Blake POV’s……well, I ask you Gitte, could we LOVE this man anymore? His voice was so moving, so real and he reduced me to tears and gave me goosebumps on more than one occasion. Just perfection!
Gitte: I love him so much. Blake is so amazing and I devoured this novella. I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is once again absolutely beautiful and emotionally stunning. It sure did give me the closure I needed Jenny because as you said we truly fell in love with every character. I was CRYING when I read Blake’s speech to Alex…This man truly, there are no words.
“…It’s always been you….Every single part of you has been and always will be my reason for living….You are mine. Without you I am nothing.”
Yes, I loved the honesty and realism that once again was threaded through this story. The struggle which Alex and Blake went through felt real and believable. Start as you mean to go on, yet how easy is it to stay in a role that plays out as if still in the same situation, acting out of habit. Does change come naturally and do we adapt immediately to it?
“Where exactly did Blake and I get off Loving Couple Road and turn on to Distant Marriage Avenue.”
I have to say I really felt for Blake in Recovery. Don’t get me wrong I understood where Alex was coming from, but….her voice did at times seem different to me as opposed to ‘Running on Empty’. Not sure why this was the case. She seemed to have changed slightly and I’m not sure my connection was as strong with her this time round unfortunately.
Overall though, I loved this novella; L.B Simmons sure knows how to write with passion and beauty. Once again she elicited every emotion from me as I was swept away with her words. I love this Author and there is no doubt she is a sure one-click for me!
Jenny: Me too Gitte. I’ll always 1click this Author’s books that’s for sure! Something I absolutely loved about ROE were the feelings elicited between Blake and Alex. It was all there. The love, the pain, the passion and the chemistry. You could feel it all. The chemistry and passion was off the charts and yet not a detailed sex scene in sight. It was all ”felt” completely despite it not being spelled out and was always handled in way which endeared me to that book.
Which brings to my one and only “blimp” with Recovery. Those same feelings are there in Recovery, but I have to say the detail and terminology used in one scene felt a little out of place. It didn’t seem in keeping with the way it was presented in Running On Empty which maintained a beautiful innocence yet still allowed the reader to absolutely feel the passion experienced between Alex and Blake. I personally didn’t need the details because the experience was more in what wasn’t said as opposed to what was said. However, this was a very minor blimp on what was a beautiful read which I devoured and loved.
This story and the characters completely captivated me and LB Simmons once AGAIN managed to reduce me to tears!
“I know you will. I love you, Blake. Thank you.”
This author has a way of presenting her characters with so much warmth, charm, love and real emotion that a reader can’t help but be sucked into the story and spending time in an LB Simmons book really does leave me feeling all warm inside with tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face. Recovery is a must read for fans of this series. All I can say is…sigh….just beautiful.
ARC provided by author for an honest review
Jenny: Gitte, I have to say I was ecstatic when I heard L.B. Simmons was going to extend ROE and give us more of Blake and Alex’s story because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them and those adorable little munchkins of theirs just yet. I felt I needed some sort of conclusion to ROE, you know….. I needed know how they fared going forward and this Novella most certainly delivered. It is a perfect companion to Running On Empty and takes place about a month after ROE finishes and really does give us the closure we needed with Alex, Blake and the girls.
“Because as sure as my heart beats, you have given me life again…in more ways than one.”
The same heart-warming, funny, beautiful characters are back…I defy anyone not to fall head over heels in love with them all; every single one of them is like a ray of sunshine.
This time we are privy to Blake and Alex facing challenges in their marriage, challenges that married couples face every day and in this respect Recovery had such a feeling of reality about it. How does this family cope going forward and become a cohesive family unit?
“You NEVER ask me for help!”
You really could relate to Blake and Alex’s situation because their issues and struggles felt so real and raw. It was almost as if you were there and privy to their problems first hand. It’s all handled in such a sensitive, beautiful and moving way, presented to us in wonderful prose laced with the trademark LB Simmons, humor, heart, warmth and love. I really do adore this authors writing style.
“What happened to our life, Alex?”
LB Simmons really has created a little world in a book and the addition of Blake POV’s……well, I ask you Gitte, could we LOVE this man anymore? His voice was so moving, so real and he reduced me to tears and gave me goosebumps on more than one occasion. Just perfection!
Gitte: I love him so much. Blake is so amazing and I devoured this novella. I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is once again absolutely beautiful and emotionally stunning. It sure did give me the closure I needed Jenny because as you said we truly fell in love with every character. I was CRYING when I read Blake’s speech to Alex…This man truly, there are no words.
“…It’s always been you….Every single part of you has been and always will be my reason for living….You are mine. Without you I am nothing.”
Yes, I loved the honesty and realism that once again was threaded through this story. The struggle which Alex and Blake went through felt real and believable. Start as you mean to go on, yet how easy is it to stay in a role that plays out as if still in the same situation, acting out of habit. Does change come naturally and do we adapt immediately to it?
“Where exactly did Blake and I get off Loving Couple Road and turn on to Distant Marriage Avenue.”
I have to say I really felt for Blake in Recovery. Don’t get me wrong I understood where Alex was coming from, but….her voice did at times seem different to me as opposed to ‘Running on Empty’. Not sure why this was the case. She seemed to have changed slightly and I’m not sure my connection was as strong with her this time round unfortunately.
Overall though, I loved this novella; L.B Simmons sure knows how to write with passion and beauty. Once again she elicited every emotion from me as I was swept away with her words. I love this Author and there is no doubt she is a sure one-click for me!
Jenny: Me too Gitte. I’ll always 1click this Author’s books that’s for sure! Something I absolutely loved about ROE were the feelings elicited between Blake and Alex. It was all there. The love, the pain, the passion and the chemistry. You could feel it all. The chemistry and passion was off the charts and yet not a detailed sex scene in sight. It was all ”felt” completely despite it not being spelled out and was always handled in way which endeared me to that book.
Which brings to my one and only “blimp” with Recovery. Those same feelings are there in Recovery, but I have to say the detail and terminology used in one scene felt a little out of place. It didn’t seem in keeping with the way it was presented in Running On Empty which maintained a beautiful innocence yet still allowed the reader to absolutely feel the passion experienced between Alex and Blake. I personally didn’t need the details because the experience was more in what wasn’t said as opposed to what was said. However, this was a very minor blimp on what was a beautiful read which I devoured and loved.
This story and the characters completely captivated me and LB Simmons once AGAIN managed to reduce me to tears!
“I know you will. I love you, Blake. Thank you.”
This author has a way of presenting her characters with so much warmth, charm, love and real emotion that a reader can’t help but be sucked into the story and spending time in an LB Simmons book really does leave me feeling all warm inside with tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face. Recovery is a must read for fans of this series. All I can say is…sigh….just beautiful.
ARC provided by author for an honest review
June 8, 2013
Brittany's Review: 5 Stars!
www.fictionandfashion.com
Novellas are really hard to write. I don't know why authors even set themselves up sometimes. I've only seen a few authors successfully deliver a novella that I walked away from and felt...fulfilled. And I'm VERY happy to say that Recovery did just that. I loved Running on Empty. I fell in love with Alex, Blake, the girls, Harlow, everyone. All the characters were well rounded, developed, the only thing I wanted was more of Blake and Alex's story. And as if L.B. Simmons could read my crazy little mind, she gave it to me in the perfect little novella. {grin}
"But it's time, Alex, for both of us. It will be different, but...better."
So many authors write follow up books lately just to continue to deliver on the hype of a story. Creating drama, plot, and randomness just to continue a story that doesn't need to be continued. Alex and Blake's story in Recovery was anything but that. We left them in Running on Empty at the very beginning of their relationship hoping they would be OK. In Recovery, we see the ups and downs to a new relationship and creating a blended family. Anyone who is married or has kids can definitely relate to the drama that unfolds. It's hilarious, heart warming, and had me smiling form the very beginning until the very last page.
"Love you too, hun. But, if you mess up my artistry on your face, I'm gonna have to downgrade that to a strong like."
I'm not going to get into details of the storyline, because it's only 150 pages of pure goodness, but the set up of the story, gives you just enough plot, drama, and angst you wanted while still leaving you feel fulfilled at the end. I also loved that you got to see a little into book #2 characters Tatum and Noah {Plus a cute sneak peak at the end of Recovery}. I'm very excited to see where Simmons' takes the Mending Hearts series in the next book and look forward to having a new set of characters while still getting glimpses of our favorites.
"Note to self: Send the girls to Blake with any future arguments and/or blood curdling screaming contests."
As always, Simmon's writing is flawless and the story literally flows off the page and before I knew it I was at the end and dying for book #2 in the Mending Hearts series.
"Our Family"
Make sure to push this up your TBR list because it's fantastic and a quick read. I successfully hid from yard work and my husband while reading and he didn't even know :P
Buy Recovery on June 13th and be sure to check out Blake Morgan's Book Boyfriend Page.
www.fictionandfashion.com
Novellas are really hard to write. I don't know why authors even set themselves up sometimes. I've only seen a few authors successfully deliver a novella that I walked away from and felt...fulfilled. And I'm VERY happy to say that Recovery did just that. I loved Running on Empty. I fell in love with Alex, Blake, the girls, Harlow, everyone. All the characters were well rounded, developed, the only thing I wanted was more of Blake and Alex's story. And as if L.B. Simmons could read my crazy little mind, she gave it to me in the perfect little novella. {grin}
"But it's time, Alex, for both of us. It will be different, but...better."
So many authors write follow up books lately just to continue to deliver on the hype of a story. Creating drama, plot, and randomness just to continue a story that doesn't need to be continued. Alex and Blake's story in Recovery was anything but that. We left them in Running on Empty at the very beginning of their relationship hoping they would be OK. In Recovery, we see the ups and downs to a new relationship and creating a blended family. Anyone who is married or has kids can definitely relate to the drama that unfolds. It's hilarious, heart warming, and had me smiling form the very beginning until the very last page.
"Love you too, hun. But, if you mess up my artistry on your face, I'm gonna have to downgrade that to a strong like."
I'm not going to get into details of the storyline, because it's only 150 pages of pure goodness, but the set up of the story, gives you just enough plot, drama, and angst you wanted while still leaving you feel fulfilled at the end. I also loved that you got to see a little into book #2 characters Tatum and Noah {Plus a cute sneak peak at the end of Recovery}. I'm very excited to see where Simmons' takes the Mending Hearts series in the next book and look forward to having a new set of characters while still getting glimpses of our favorites.
"Note to self: Send the girls to Blake with any future arguments and/or blood curdling screaming contests."
As always, Simmon's writing is flawless and the story literally flows off the page and before I knew it I was at the end and dying for book #2 in the Mending Hearts series.
"Our Family"
Make sure to push this up your TBR list because it's fantastic and a quick read. I successfully hid from yard work and my husband while reading and he didn't even know :P
Buy Recovery on June 13th and be sure to check out Blake Morgan's Book Boyfriend Page.
June 14, 2013
Wonderful novella!!! I loved this book, getting to find out what happens after second chances and happily ever after. Blake is a Amazing man, not only has he waited, loved and been there for Alex he gladly takes care of three girls that he loves as his own. He knows he will never take the place of their father but will be a father figure to them. He worships Alex and tells her so. Makes me....
This book shows the ups and downs of marriage and family. The miss communications and stubbornness seem to get Blake and Alex flustered and angry. I must admit I was getting a little nervous and upset at Alex. Yea I think it was more her fault because she is so stubborn and wasn't listening to what Blake was saying which made perfect sense. He broke my heart.
It was only 9 chapters but every single page was awesome. I'm so glad to see the after. Quite enjoyable.
To the author....
June 1, 2013
I received an ARC copy of this book. I instantly fell in love with Alex and Blake in Running on Empty! So I nearly shit myself when I received an ARC. I read the whole thing in an afternoon. I just had to find out what Alex & Blake went through...Guess what! It's normal everyday marriage obstacles!!! Every mom this IS A MUST READ....lots of laughter and tears...so down to EARTH! Every woman can relate to the events that happen in the book. The three adorable girls are still at it. I fell in love with each one and their amazing personalities! Thank You, LB Simmons for another brilliant book...Can't wait for Tatum's story now!!!!
June 26, 2013
So excited for this book!!! <3
April 28, 2018
This was a really good Novella to follow up "Running on Empty". It gives you a look into Akex and Blakes relationship, hard times, worries and hardships
June 3, 2013
www.shhmomsreading.com
For those who have read Running on Empty, this is book 1.5 in the series and continues with the love story of Alex and Blake…sighhhh…..
It’s their wedding day and I am so excited to see the next phase of their life together…Alex’s 3 beautiful and fun girls are ever present in this story as well as her best friend Harlow who is as funny as ever!
I do not want to reveal any parts of the story as this novella is not out yet so I will tell you what I like about this book –
I am still loving the fun and hysterical notes to self!
“The Office” had me laughing out loud…how genius!
I am still so in love with this sweet man Blake – his reassuring words to the girls about their father and how he will never replace him but hopes to follow in his footsteps…this man made my heart melt over and over again.
So as they say – the honeymoon doesn’t last forever and Alex and Blake will go through their ups and downs. Yes, their love is still as strong as ever but will Alex, who has gone through a period of time where she had to take care of everything on her own be able to relinquish control over everything and allow Blake to help and really become a part of her life and her children’s? Will she be able to depend on someone again and show Blake how much she needs him?
I will say that L.B. Simmons knows how to write emotions well…I connected with these characters on a whole different level in this book. I experienced everything – the genuine love, the hot sex and the tears. I am a spiritual person and appreciated the sense of God in the afterlife watching over us. I have always been afraid of death and this gave me hope that there is more for us after we die and that we do get to see our loved ones again.
This could be described as a beautiful epilogue – allowing us readers to see even more past the HEA in Running on Empty. I was content and had a smile on my face. So thank you Ms. Simmons for allowing us to see more into the lives of this family and I look forward to reading even more from you soon!
Favorite Quotes from the book:
Live your life without fear, and love with no regret. That’s the way it should be.
Everything works out eventually. You just have to have patience.
For those who have read Running on Empty, this is book 1.5 in the series and continues with the love story of Alex and Blake…sighhhh…..
It’s their wedding day and I am so excited to see the next phase of their life together…Alex’s 3 beautiful and fun girls are ever present in this story as well as her best friend Harlow who is as funny as ever!
I do not want to reveal any parts of the story as this novella is not out yet so I will tell you what I like about this book –
I am still loving the fun and hysterical notes to self!
“The Office” had me laughing out loud…how genius!
I am still so in love with this sweet man Blake – his reassuring words to the girls about their father and how he will never replace him but hopes to follow in his footsteps…this man made my heart melt over and over again.
So as they say – the honeymoon doesn’t last forever and Alex and Blake will go through their ups and downs. Yes, their love is still as strong as ever but will Alex, who has gone through a period of time where she had to take care of everything on her own be able to relinquish control over everything and allow Blake to help and really become a part of her life and her children’s? Will she be able to depend on someone again and show Blake how much she needs him?
I will say that L.B. Simmons knows how to write emotions well…I connected with these characters on a whole different level in this book. I experienced everything – the genuine love, the hot sex and the tears. I am a spiritual person and appreciated the sense of God in the afterlife watching over us. I have always been afraid of death and this gave me hope that there is more for us after we die and that we do get to see our loved ones again.
This could be described as a beautiful epilogue – allowing us readers to see even more past the HEA in Running on Empty. I was content and had a smile on my face. So thank you Ms. Simmons for allowing us to see more into the lives of this family and I look forward to reading even more from you soon!
Favorite Quotes from the book:
Live your life without fear, and love with no regret. That’s the way it should be.
Everything works out eventually. You just have to have patience.
May 28, 2013
I still have no flipping clue how I got so lucky as to getting an ARC of recovery into my chubby hands!! But I will say "thank you book gods!". Where do I begin? I have always loved Alex from page one! She is one of the most realistic characters I have ever read. LB Simmons has a way of making you a presence in the story. You feel your actually watching the story unfold. She has those creative minds that make you forget you even turned the page let alone finished the book. In recovery we receive the closure we so desperately needed from Blake and Alex. This novella takes place just one month after Running on Empty. It lets us see the relationship of Blake and the girls and the transition for all of them to becoming a family. We see the hardship they face while adapting to living with each other and we see the love. I loved getting Blake's pov, he's been a favorite of mine since book one, and the fact that I was in his mind sealed the deal for me. I was in tears in many parts of this novella and especially towards the end where I literally held my breath. The emotions run high in this wonderful ending to our beloved characters! And although we will be reading about them in future books, this one lets you know how they will turn out in the end. Definitely one for the permanent shelf. I give it ten fingers and ten toes!
August 27, 2018
A nice novella
June 13, 2013
“I’ve been waiting to call you mine my whole life.”
Have you ever wondered what happens after a happy ending, when everyday life kicks in and two people have to learn to live together? In this delightful conclusion to the beloved Running On Empty, we find our Alex and Blake taking their first steps as a couple. This is a book about the adjustments that people need to make in life in order to make room for their happily ever after.
Even though they have finally found a way to each other and committed to a future together, no time passes before Alex and Blake are faced with their first challenges as a couple. For so long, Alex has fought to be a good mum to her children and to make up for the absence of their dad in their lives. She has invested all her time and energy to make them feel loved, adjusted, cared for, and she has done this by putting her personal life aside and assuming a role of both mother and father to them. She is a woman whose heart was broken but she had to learn to suppress that pain for the sake of her daughters – knowing this as a reader, it is hard not to feel sympathy for her and her struggle to maintain control over that life. She’s had a best friend to help her on occasion and be her support system when her grief overwhelmed her, but she has done it all on her own. Until Blake. Learning to lean on someone and ask for help has always been hard for Alex, and even now, with a man who loves her and wants nothing more than to be her rock in life, she struggles to relinquish control over things that she’s always done a certain way.
“This is how things are in my house, the way they have been for a long time.”
Blake loves Alex wholeheartedly and has loved her for a very long time. Having her now as his wife is the realisation of everything he’s ever dreamed of. But he wants her to accept him as her husband not just in name but as an equal ‘partner in crime’ when it comes to all aspects of their new life together.
“We’re supposed to be partners in this, Alex, but instead, we’re two strangers, living two separate lives, inhabiting the same living space.”
He needs her to rely on him, not just as her husband but also as a new father to her children. He wants to create a new family with Alex and her daughters, while Alex only lets him participate in the raising of her children as long as it does not interfere with her way of parenting them. She remains adamant that she knows best how to be a good parent to them because she’s been doing it by herself for so long, failing to realise that she no longer needs to do everything on her own.
“Your girls! Your house! Your baby! What happened to our life, Alex?”
Alex’s inability to ask for help conflicts with Blake’s desperate need for her to feel that she is his, his to love, his to help, his to look after. This is a book about learning to communicate with each other and about learning to let go of the past when the future is shining brightly before you.
A truly heart-warming, profoundly emotional continuation of a beautiful story that allowed us to revisit characters we became deeply invested in in the past. It allowed us to take a peek into their life as a new husband and wife and see them finally become a family. This is a much more mature insight into their relationship – the focus is almost entirely on the bond between them and their marriage, giving us a candid snapshot of what it takes to truly share a life together.
If you’ve loved Running On Empty as much as I have, I have no doubt that you will not want to miss this one!
“… now that I have you, I’m never, ever going to let you go again. You are mine. Without you, I am nothing.”
[4.5 STARS]
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June 6, 2013
"Our life. This is our life, Blake."
I love how L.B. Simmons gives us a slice of real life in her books along with the love story. In Running on Empty we got the story of a single mother of 3 young girls dealing with the loss of her husband coupled with the second chance fairytale. In Recovery, we get the big happy ever after moment and then are hit with what comes next...the REAL stuff. The merging of two households, parenting differences, unexpected changes, and just learning to be a couple and family under one roof. It is not always easy to fight the daily dramas and real life is not perfect. It is messy and frustrating as much as it is joyous and sweet.
I adored Blake in the first book and that did not change...in fact I think I love him even more in this one. He is sweet, loving, invested, and tries to step into his new role of husband and father figure as best he can. He is so good with the girls that it just made my heart melt. But he also needs to feel needed and sometimes Alex is so used to being in control that it is hard to take a helping hand. Alex is stubborn, used to doing things her own way, and being independent. And communication with new couples and families can be hard. So they struggle a bit to find their way in their new life together. But this couple has been through so much and waited so long that you cannot help but hope that they find their forever happy ending.
The girls are adorable, hilarious, and full of mischief. And there is so much realism as to how life with kids really works. You never know when you are going to hear that yell for "Mommy" or have to break up a fight. Life is not always easy and you never know when something unexpected will happen that will shake things up and make you all pull together.
This was a perfectly engaging, beautiful novella. Even thought it was shorter, it felt like a complete story. It had me immersed from the first page. L.B. Simmons has this easy flowing writing style that draws you in and makes you feel like you are there in the story. This book made me laugh, frustrated, tense, tearful, and literally sigh with contentment. I love how she brought in a major element from the first book and how it played out in this one. This story shows us how important it is to share your feelings, be patient, Pick your battles, and appreciate your family. And has a recurring theme that everything happens for a reason and in it's own time. I adore these characters, this family, and their extended family of their friends Harlow, Trace, and new addition Tatum. I am looking forward to Running in Place that will focus on Tatum who is already proving to be an interesting character.
Thanks to LB Simmons for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Posted at Reviews by Tammy and Kim
I love how L.B. Simmons gives us a slice of real life in her books along with the love story. In Running on Empty we got the story of a single mother of 3 young girls dealing with the loss of her husband coupled with the second chance fairytale. In Recovery, we get the big happy ever after moment and then are hit with what comes next...the REAL stuff. The merging of two households, parenting differences, unexpected changes, and just learning to be a couple and family under one roof. It is not always easy to fight the daily dramas and real life is not perfect. It is messy and frustrating as much as it is joyous and sweet.
I adored Blake in the first book and that did not change...in fact I think I love him even more in this one. He is sweet, loving, invested, and tries to step into his new role of husband and father figure as best he can. He is so good with the girls that it just made my heart melt. But he also needs to feel needed and sometimes Alex is so used to being in control that it is hard to take a helping hand. Alex is stubborn, used to doing things her own way, and being independent. And communication with new couples and families can be hard. So they struggle a bit to find their way in their new life together. But this couple has been through so much and waited so long that you cannot help but hope that they find their forever happy ending.
The girls are adorable, hilarious, and full of mischief. And there is so much realism as to how life with kids really works. You never know when you are going to hear that yell for "Mommy" or have to break up a fight. Life is not always easy and you never know when something unexpected will happen that will shake things up and make you all pull together.
This was a perfectly engaging, beautiful novella. Even thought it was shorter, it felt like a complete story. It had me immersed from the first page. L.B. Simmons has this easy flowing writing style that draws you in and makes you feel like you are there in the story. This book made me laugh, frustrated, tense, tearful, and literally sigh with contentment. I love how she brought in a major element from the first book and how it played out in this one. This story shows us how important it is to share your feelings, be patient, Pick your battles, and appreciate your family. And has a recurring theme that everything happens for a reason and in it's own time. I adore these characters, this family, and their extended family of their friends Harlow, Trace, and new addition Tatum. I am looking forward to Running in Place that will focus on Tatum who is already proving to be an interesting character.
Thanks to LB Simmons for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Posted at Reviews by Tammy and Kim
June 6, 2013
"Let yourself live your life, because otherwise you're just wasting precious time."
This novella was amazing! After falling in love with Running On Empty I was really looking forward to seeing where Alex and Blake's relationship went to next! The author's writing again blew me away! I fell in love with it in Running On Empty and I fell in love with it again in Recovery! L.B. Simmons writing flows so beautifully! And it's super addictive! So much happened in this novella! It was like a time line showing some of Alex and Blake's life together and it showed the good moments and the bad moments as well! I also loved that some chapters of this novella were written from Blake's point of view as he is such an amazing character and I loved him so much in the first book! The plot of this novella was bittersweet! It started at a good point and then it showed the downfalls of a relationship and then it showed that love can conquer anything! This novella showed that every relationship has problems, but if you don't talk about your problems then they won't change and they will come between you as a couple! I loved the plot! It was quite short, but there was so much in it! It was the perfect addition to Running On Empty! The characters were again amazing in this novella! As this novella is told over probably a year Alex's attitude slightly changed! I still loved her and I could see why she had obviously changed slightly as well! She was still an amazing character! She was quite a stressed character in this novella, but she did have a lot going on! In this novella you really get to see Blake! He was the sort of broken character this time! He went through a lot and he had a lot of bottled feelings, but at a certain point in this novella everything started to work out beautifully! I wished that Blake would have spoken to Alex about his problems, but I could genuinely see that he didn't want to upset her! Blake and Alex as a couple still blew me away and they will definetely remain one of my favourite couples! I know that the next book in this series isn't about Alex and Blake, but I am still super exctied to read more of this series and also the authors writing! The cover for this book is stunning! It really suits the book and it also suits the cover for Running On Empty perfectly! I will say the exact same thing that I said about Running On Empty's title! It suits the book perfectly and it has a significance that you will discover as soon as you read the novella! Big thank you to L.B. Simmons for an ARC of Recovery!
This novella was amazing! After falling in love with Running On Empty I was really looking forward to seeing where Alex and Blake's relationship went to next! The author's writing again blew me away! I fell in love with it in Running On Empty and I fell in love with it again in Recovery! L.B. Simmons writing flows so beautifully! And it's super addictive! So much happened in this novella! It was like a time line showing some of Alex and Blake's life together and it showed the good moments and the bad moments as well! I also loved that some chapters of this novella were written from Blake's point of view as he is such an amazing character and I loved him so much in the first book! The plot of this novella was bittersweet! It started at a good point and then it showed the downfalls of a relationship and then it showed that love can conquer anything! This novella showed that every relationship has problems, but if you don't talk about your problems then they won't change and they will come between you as a couple! I loved the plot! It was quite short, but there was so much in it! It was the perfect addition to Running On Empty! The characters were again amazing in this novella! As this novella is told over probably a year Alex's attitude slightly changed! I still loved her and I could see why she had obviously changed slightly as well! She was still an amazing character! She was quite a stressed character in this novella, but she did have a lot going on! In this novella you really get to see Blake! He was the sort of broken character this time! He went through a lot and he had a lot of bottled feelings, but at a certain point in this novella everything started to work out beautifully! I wished that Blake would have spoken to Alex about his problems, but I could genuinely see that he didn't want to upset her! Blake and Alex as a couple still blew me away and they will definetely remain one of my favourite couples! I know that the next book in this series isn't about Alex and Blake, but I am still super exctied to read more of this series and also the authors writing! The cover for this book is stunning! It really suits the book and it also suits the cover for Running On Empty perfectly! I will say the exact same thing that I said about Running On Empty's title! It suits the book perfectly and it has a significance that you will discover as soon as you read the novella! Big thank you to L.B. Simmons for an ARC of Recovery!
June 15, 2013
This novella was much, much better than the previous book. With Running On Empty, I felt like Alex didn’t really learn how to be an adult, even with everything she’d been through. But with this story, she did.
Recovery starts pretty soon after ROE leaves off. Alex and Blake are adjusting to the married life. Like any couple, it has its ups and downs. Alex is especially having a hard time adjusting, since she’s so used to doing things independently. However, here she actually matures and learns. She needs to have some people tell her that it’s ok to not have to do everything and to be in control, but she finally gets it.
In the beginning she was pretty much the same as she was in ROE, but throughout the story she learned and matured and I really liked the person she became.
And thank you, Blake, for calling Alex out on her parenting. I saw it in ROE too, but I was more concerned with everything else that was going on to mention it. Blake tells her that it is not okay to let them do nothing around the house. +100 for Blake.
Blake also improved here. He learned to communicate and he learned how to adjust in the household. I really liked how Blake and Alex helped each other grow into the wonderful couple that they are at the end.
I really felt like this book was a huge improvement compared to ROE, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. Both Alex and Blake acted like adults here and I was able to connect with them and fully understand their actions.
The plot was also very good. I liked that marriage wasn’t portrayed as something that’s all flowers and rainbows, and that you have to work for it. I also loved the ending—it was really, really sweet. I also really enjoyed that though it is a novella—and therefore short—it didn’t feel like it was missing anything and the pace was just right.
I do recommend you read this one, because it’s sweet and portrays marriage realistically and yet still manages to end with a happily ever after. You don’t necessarily have to read ROE, but you’ll be confused in the beginning because most of the characters were already introduced in the previous book.
Recovery starts pretty soon after ROE leaves off. Alex and Blake are adjusting to the married life. Like any couple, it has its ups and downs. Alex is especially having a hard time adjusting, since she’s so used to doing things independently. However, here she actually matures and learns. She needs to have some people tell her that it’s ok to not have to do everything and to be in control, but she finally gets it.
In the beginning she was pretty much the same as she was in ROE, but throughout the story she learned and matured and I really liked the person she became.
And thank you, Blake, for calling Alex out on her parenting. I saw it in ROE too, but I was more concerned with everything else that was going on to mention it. Blake tells her that it is not okay to let them do nothing around the house. +100 for Blake.
Blake also improved here. He learned to communicate and he learned how to adjust in the household. I really liked how Blake and Alex helped each other grow into the wonderful couple that they are at the end.
I really felt like this book was a huge improvement compared to ROE, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. Both Alex and Blake acted like adults here and I was able to connect with them and fully understand their actions.
The plot was also very good. I liked that marriage wasn’t portrayed as something that’s all flowers and rainbows, and that you have to work for it. I also loved the ending—it was really, really sweet. I also really enjoyed that though it is a novella—and therefore short—it didn’t feel like it was missing anything and the pace was just right.
I do recommend you read this one, because it’s sweet and portrays marriage realistically and yet still manages to end with a happily ever after. You don’t necessarily have to read ROE, but you’ll be confused in the beginning because most of the characters were already introduced in the previous book.
June 10, 2013
This novella was an absolute treat!!! To me, it was like the epilogue I needed for Running on Empty and if I enjoyed that book…I absolutely adored Recovery.
Alex, her daughters and Blake are baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! I love them all because all these characters have the ability to make me feel good and make me believe in the power of happily ever after. Recovery starts with the next chapter of their life together, their wedding day plus some major news which is a bonus surprise and I love that!
With all relationships, new or old, they take work and communication is key and we get to witness firsthand what can happen when we aren’t open with our feelings. That hiccup in their relationship felt real and incredibly relatable. Alex had so much going on in this novella that it was no wonder that she was stressed out the entire time, hence the issue between her and Blake.
Just when I thought I knew exactly what was going on in this story, L.B. delivers an impactful amount of angst that I did not see coming and I almost did the happy dance while reading. It was perfect and there’s so much emotion in that scene that I felt myself getting choked up because it was beyond touching and heartbreaking.
There was something different about this book that I connected with and I’m not sure if it was all the life-lessons learned or the spirituality that was faintly in the backdrop of this story but there was something about it that moved me.
“As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I feel the air shift and a familiar sensation surrounds me. It’s indescribable, but I know that I’ve felt it before, and something about it eases my soul. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know I have experienced it and it’s telling me something.”
L.B. Simmons knows how to write a heartwarming story, one that will make you laugh, cry and simply make you feel good. If you haven’t read this series, treat yourself today! ;)
Alex, her daughters and Blake are baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! I love them all because all these characters have the ability to make me feel good and make me believe in the power of happily ever after. Recovery starts with the next chapter of their life together, their wedding day plus some major news which is a bonus surprise and I love that!
With all relationships, new or old, they take work and communication is key and we get to witness firsthand what can happen when we aren’t open with our feelings. That hiccup in their relationship felt real and incredibly relatable. Alex had so much going on in this novella that it was no wonder that she was stressed out the entire time, hence the issue between her and Blake.
Just when I thought I knew exactly what was going on in this story, L.B. delivers an impactful amount of angst that I did not see coming and I almost did the happy dance while reading. It was perfect and there’s so much emotion in that scene that I felt myself getting choked up because it was beyond touching and heartbreaking.
There was something different about this book that I connected with and I’m not sure if it was all the life-lessons learned or the spirituality that was faintly in the backdrop of this story but there was something about it that moved me.
“As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I feel the air shift and a familiar sensation surrounds me. It’s indescribable, but I know that I’ve felt it before, and something about it eases my soul. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know I have experienced it and it’s telling me something.”
L.B. Simmons knows how to write a heartwarming story, one that will make you laugh, cry and simply make you feel good. If you haven’t read this series, treat yourself today! ;)
June 10, 2013
"Let yourself live your life, because otherwise you're just wasting precious time."
This book is absolutely perfect! I was so flipping ecstatic when I was given an ARC copy of this novella. I immediately jumped in head first and I did not stop reading until I finished. L.B. never ceases to amaze me. She is so very talented and REAL. Yes, real. One thing I love about L.B. is that she writes from her heart and you feel her soul with every book she writes.
Alex and Blake are amazing, and I didn't realize how badly I missed them and the girls until I was given this book. Recovery allows us the opportunity to experience their journey of love, strife, happiness, insanity, misunderstanding and pain. Just like Running on Empty, there is never a dull moment in the Meyer/Morgan household.
Blake Morgan is the PERFECT man! He's manly, brilliant, kind and strong. He loves kids (and puppies), rides a sexy motorcycle and he's a hopeless romantic! I love the relationship he builds with girls and how deeply he loves their mom.
Real life is far from perfect and this story is no exception.
You'll fall in love all over again, meet new characters, share their happiness, smile until your face hurts, scream with frustration, cry pathetically, laugh out loud, and curse L.B. Simmons for making you a nut-case of emotions!
Please note that I am not the typical reviewer. I prefer to not give too many details with hopes that I don't ruin it for my readers. Some say I'm a tease and I am OK with that. :)
I will leave you with this....brace yourself for the unexpected.
June 5, 2013
Oh Lord L.B. Simmons is so dam BRILLIANT it hurts my heart! Dam In Running On Empty we got to meet Alex and Blake and watch their friendship blossom into love and in Recovery we get to see them get married! Holy Hades it was an up hill battle for Blake but he did it he got Alex to see that she can love again. But and yes there is a big but because every story has it's ups and down and yes by God so do Alex and Blake.
In Recovery we get to see Alex and Blake grow together and we get to see Alex struggle with letting Blake do things for her and the girls. It is rough to give up control when you have had to do everything by yourself with no help. But Alex and Blake will grow together and have to give up control and learn to do things together.
Blake is still my ideal man and more than ever after reading Recovery. What women would not want a GREAT guy like Blake. He is everything a REAL man should be. He is loving, caring, and sweet and just plain out the awesome sauce of men.
This is a must read series so if you have not read it yet what are you waiting for because this is a BRILLIANT series!
In Recovery we get to see Alex and Blake grow together and we get to see Alex struggle with letting Blake do things for her and the girls. It is rough to give up control when you have had to do everything by yourself with no help. But Alex and Blake will grow together and have to give up control and learn to do things together.
Blake is still my ideal man and more than ever after reading Recovery. What women would not want a GREAT guy like Blake. He is everything a REAL man should be. He is loving, caring, and sweet and just plain out the awesome sauce of men.
This is a must read series so if you have not read it yet what are you waiting for because this is a BRILLIANT series!
June 15, 2013
Love love loved this book. Blake Morgan is the best book husband EVER! This book had so many emotions and every character was special. This is the sweetest story and I never wanted it to end! L B Simmons is amazing and I look forward to reading more from her.
June 13, 2013
I'm a complete sucker for a fantastic epilogue. This is the Happy Ever Ater I have been dreaming for Blake and Alex. This novella was just so dog gone sweet it left me smiling from ear to ear.
June 13, 2013
Jointly reviewed on: http://totallybookedblog.com/2013/06/...
Jenny: Gitte, I have to say I was ecstatic when I heard L.B. Simmons was going to extend ROE and give us more of Blake and Alex’s story because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them and those adorable little munchkins of theirs just yet. I felt I needed some sort of conclusion to ROE, you know….. I needed know how they fared going forward and this Novella most certainly delivered. It is a perfect companion to Running On Empty and takes place about a month after ROE finishes and really does give us the closure we needed with Alex, Blake and the girls.
“Because as sure as my heart beats, you have given me life again…in more ways than one.”
The same heart-warming, funny, beautiful characters are back…I defy anyone not to fall head over heels in love with them all; every single one of them is like a ray of sunshine.
This time we are privy to Blake and Alex facing challenges in their marriage, challenges that married couples face every day and in this respect Recovery had such a feeling of reality about it. How does this family cope going forward and become a cohesive family unit?
“You NEVER ask me for help!”
You really could relate to Blake and Alex’s situation because their issues and struggles felt so real and raw. It was almost as if you were there and privy to their problems first hand. It’s all handled in such a sensitive, beautiful and moving way, presented to us in wonderful prose laced with the trademark LB Simmons, humor, heart, warmth and love. I really do adore this authors writing style.
“What happened to our life, Alex?”
LB Simmons really has created a little world in a book and the addition of Blake POV’s……well, I ask you Gitte, could we LOVE this man anymore? His voice was so moving, so real and he reduced me to tears and gave me goosebumps on more than one occasion. Just perfection!
Gitte: I love him so much. Blake is so amazing and I devoured this novella. I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is once again absolutely beautiful and emotionally stunning. It sure did give me the closure I needed Jenny because as you said we truly fell in love with every character. I was CRYING when I read Blake’s speech to Alex…This man truly, there are no words.
“…It’s always been you….Every single part of you has been and always will be my reason for living….You are mine. Without you I am nothing.”
Yes, I loved the honesty and realism that once again was threaded through this story. The struggle which Alex and Blake went through felt real and believable. Start as you mean to go on, yet how easy is it to stay in a role that plays out as if still in the same situation, acting out of habit. Does change come naturally and do we adapt immediately to it?
“Where exactly did Blake and I get off Loving Couple Road and turn on to Distant Marriage Avenue.”
I have to say I really felt for Blake in Recovery. Don’t get me wrong I understood where Alex was coming from, but….her voice did at times seem different to me as opposed to ‘Running on Empty’. Not sure why this was the case. She seemed to have changed slightly and I’m not sure my connection was as strong with her this time round unfortunately.
Overall though, I loved this novella; L.B Simmons sure knows how to write with passion and beauty. Once again she elicited every emotion from me as I was swept away with her words. I love this Author and there is no doubt she is a sure one-click for me!
Jenny: Me too Gitte. I’ll always 1click this Author’s books that’s for sure! Something I absolutely loved about ROE were the feelings elicited between Blake and Alex. It was all there. The love, the pain, the passion and the chemistry. You could feel it all. The chemistry and passion was off the charts and yet not a detailed sex scene in sight. It was all ”felt” completely despite it not being spelled out and was always handled in way which endeared me to that book.
Which brings to my one and only “blimp” with Recovery. Those same feelings are there in Recovery, but I have to say the detail and terminology used in one scene felt a little out of place. It didn’t seem in keeping with the way it was presented in Running On Empty which maintained a beautiful innocence yet still allowed the reader to absolutely feel the passion experienced between Alex and Blake. I personally didn’t need the details because the experience was more in what wasn’t said as opposed to what was said. However, this was a very minor blimp on what was a beautiful read which I devoured and loved.
This story and the characters completely captivated me and LB Simmons once AGAIN managed to reduce me to tears!
“I know you wil. I love you, Blake. Thank you.”
This author has a way of presenting her characters with so much warmth, charm, love and real emotion that a reader can’t help but be sucked into the story and spending time in an LB Simmons book really does leave me feeling all warm inside with tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face. Recovery is a must read for fans of this series. All I can say is…sigh….just beautiful.
Arc provided by author for an honest review
Jenny: Gitte, I have to say I was ecstatic when I heard L.B. Simmons was going to extend ROE and give us more of Blake and Alex’s story because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them and those adorable little munchkins of theirs just yet. I felt I needed some sort of conclusion to ROE, you know….. I needed know how they fared going forward and this Novella most certainly delivered. It is a perfect companion to Running On Empty and takes place about a month after ROE finishes and really does give us the closure we needed with Alex, Blake and the girls.
“Because as sure as my heart beats, you have given me life again…in more ways than one.”
The same heart-warming, funny, beautiful characters are back…I defy anyone not to fall head over heels in love with them all; every single one of them is like a ray of sunshine.
This time we are privy to Blake and Alex facing challenges in their marriage, challenges that married couples face every day and in this respect Recovery had such a feeling of reality about it. How does this family cope going forward and become a cohesive family unit?
“You NEVER ask me for help!”
You really could relate to Blake and Alex’s situation because their issues and struggles felt so real and raw. It was almost as if you were there and privy to their problems first hand. It’s all handled in such a sensitive, beautiful and moving way, presented to us in wonderful prose laced with the trademark LB Simmons, humor, heart, warmth and love. I really do adore this authors writing style.
“What happened to our life, Alex?”
LB Simmons really has created a little world in a book and the addition of Blake POV’s……well, I ask you Gitte, could we LOVE this man anymore? His voice was so moving, so real and he reduced me to tears and gave me goosebumps on more than one occasion. Just perfection!
Gitte: I love him so much. Blake is so amazing and I devoured this novella. I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is once again absolutely beautiful and emotionally stunning. It sure did give me the closure I needed Jenny because as you said we truly fell in love with every character. I was CRYING when I read Blake’s speech to Alex…This man truly, there are no words.
“…It’s always been you….Every single part of you has been and always will be my reason for living….You are mine. Without you I am nothing.”
Yes, I loved the honesty and realism that once again was threaded through this story. The struggle which Alex and Blake went through felt real and believable. Start as you mean to go on, yet how easy is it to stay in a role that plays out as if still in the same situation, acting out of habit. Does change come naturally and do we adapt immediately to it?
“Where exactly did Blake and I get off Loving Couple Road and turn on to Distant Marriage Avenue.”
I have to say I really felt for Blake in Recovery. Don’t get me wrong I understood where Alex was coming from, but….her voice did at times seem different to me as opposed to ‘Running on Empty’. Not sure why this was the case. She seemed to have changed slightly and I’m not sure my connection was as strong with her this time round unfortunately.
Overall though, I loved this novella; L.B Simmons sure knows how to write with passion and beauty. Once again she elicited every emotion from me as I was swept away with her words. I love this Author and there is no doubt she is a sure one-click for me!
Jenny: Me too Gitte. I’ll always 1click this Author’s books that’s for sure! Something I absolutely loved about ROE were the feelings elicited between Blake and Alex. It was all there. The love, the pain, the passion and the chemistry. You could feel it all. The chemistry and passion was off the charts and yet not a detailed sex scene in sight. It was all ”felt” completely despite it not being spelled out and was always handled in way which endeared me to that book.
Which brings to my one and only “blimp” with Recovery. Those same feelings are there in Recovery, but I have to say the detail and terminology used in one scene felt a little out of place. It didn’t seem in keeping with the way it was presented in Running On Empty which maintained a beautiful innocence yet still allowed the reader to absolutely feel the passion experienced between Alex and Blake. I personally didn’t need the details because the experience was more in what wasn’t said as opposed to what was said. However, this was a very minor blimp on what was a beautiful read which I devoured and loved.
This story and the characters completely captivated me and LB Simmons once AGAIN managed to reduce me to tears!
“I know you wil. I love you, Blake. Thank you.”
This author has a way of presenting her characters with so much warmth, charm, love and real emotion that a reader can’t help but be sucked into the story and spending time in an LB Simmons book really does leave me feeling all warm inside with tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face. Recovery is a must read for fans of this series. All I can say is…sigh….just beautiful.
Arc provided by author for an honest review
June 12, 2013
Recovery is the continuing story of Blake and Alex from Running on Empty, and is just as heart-warming a tale as the first book in the Mending Hearts Series. Recovery is the perfect novella to complete Blake and Alex’s story. Just as Running on Empty put a strain on my heart as it hit so close to home with me, Recovery has done a number on my heart as well. This book is so inspiring and touching, as life lessons of learning to be a family and accepting what’s important while letting everything else go are interwoven throughout this story.
When Blake and Alex finally walk that aisle to their future of marital bliss, all should be rainbows, kittens, and a fairy tale life of warm and fuzzy feelings. Yea, right. What it really is …. is life. Recovery is about a brand new life for our beloved characters; a life in which adjustments are a necessary evil, and change is crucial to survival as a family. Blended families don’t always mesh right away in reality, and L.B. Simmons translates that reality into fiction with a refreshing story line and plot. Recovery is art imitating life with a tenderness and authenticity that will leave you wondering if these characters really exist and if the events really did happen.
The story begins with Alex preparing for her wedding and marriage to Blake, and she only needs a couple of minutes to herself. She is harboring a secret that can change the lives of her brand new family forever. Harlow is back and as spunky as ever, refusing to give Alex her privacy and in turn, learning Alex’s secret. This secret is the setup of things to come and only one of the many changes that Blake and Alex will face in their new life as a married couple. I could identify so well with the events in the plot (yes, there is a plot in this novella) and the characters, absorbing me into the lives of these characters and enabling me to feel every up and down this new family experienced.
My emotions were given a workout as this short novella contained drama, angst, distress, and merriment that equated to my own tears, fears, and laughter. I had tears for Alex, who was experiencing yet another tragedy, drawing strength and wisdom from Derek. I experienced fear for Alex, Blake, and the girls. I’m sure you’ve heard people speak in the wake of tragic events, “I can’t imagine…” yada yada yada. In the flawless writing of L.B. Simmons, I was able to “imagine.” I was there. I was inside of L.B. Simmons’s head and surrounded by the peril that these characters were facing …. I just felt.
There are a number of messages to be taken from this book and many lessons to gather. Family is about coming together, learning to adjust to one another and a new dynamic. Communication is key and bottling up one’s emotions leads to distress in an already stressful situation. Letting go is sometimes the key to survival; don’t sweat the small stuff, and focus on what is really important – those whom you love. Children should learn responsibility and not be coddled to foster independence as they grow older. For all these things, Blake and Alex are wonderful teachers. However, tragedy is also a scholar in this novella. Tragedy teaches and reminds Alex and Blake what is important in life…family and love of family. With references to Derek and the butterfly from Running on Empty, my heart was warmed and fulfilled with reminders of the comfort that can be found in a beautiful moment when you know that a special guardian angel is watching over you.
It’s a wonderful feeling to pick up a book and immediately feel a connection with the characters and events that unfold before you. L.B. Simmons has written such a story in Running on Empty and has managed to continue that feeling of being connected in Recovery with a smooth progression from the first page until the last. We are introduced to two new characters in Recovery, Tatum (Trace’s sister) and Noah (Trace and Blake’s employee), in which the author successfully and briefly begins the setup of book #2 in the Mending Hearts Series, Running in Place, without overshadowing the plot and severing the connection felt in Recovery. I can easily recommend this novella to those who want to be satisfied and content with a story that can be read in a short amount of time. However, it is very important that these books be read in order to understand the references and appreciate the emotion behind the events and characters in the series.
When Blake and Alex finally walk that aisle to their future of marital bliss, all should be rainbows, kittens, and a fairy tale life of warm and fuzzy feelings. Yea, right. What it really is …. is life. Recovery is about a brand new life for our beloved characters; a life in which adjustments are a necessary evil, and change is crucial to survival as a family. Blended families don’t always mesh right away in reality, and L.B. Simmons translates that reality into fiction with a refreshing story line and plot. Recovery is art imitating life with a tenderness and authenticity that will leave you wondering if these characters really exist and if the events really did happen.
The story begins with Alex preparing for her wedding and marriage to Blake, and she only needs a couple of minutes to herself. She is harboring a secret that can change the lives of her brand new family forever. Harlow is back and as spunky as ever, refusing to give Alex her privacy and in turn, learning Alex’s secret. This secret is the setup of things to come and only one of the many changes that Blake and Alex will face in their new life as a married couple. I could identify so well with the events in the plot (yes, there is a plot in this novella) and the characters, absorbing me into the lives of these characters and enabling me to feel every up and down this new family experienced.
My emotions were given a workout as this short novella contained drama, angst, distress, and merriment that equated to my own tears, fears, and laughter. I had tears for Alex, who was experiencing yet another tragedy, drawing strength and wisdom from Derek. I experienced fear for Alex, Blake, and the girls. I’m sure you’ve heard people speak in the wake of tragic events, “I can’t imagine…” yada yada yada. In the flawless writing of L.B. Simmons, I was able to “imagine.” I was there. I was inside of L.B. Simmons’s head and surrounded by the peril that these characters were facing …. I just felt.
There are a number of messages to be taken from this book and many lessons to gather. Family is about coming together, learning to adjust to one another and a new dynamic. Communication is key and bottling up one’s emotions leads to distress in an already stressful situation. Letting go is sometimes the key to survival; don’t sweat the small stuff, and focus on what is really important – those whom you love. Children should learn responsibility and not be coddled to foster independence as they grow older. For all these things, Blake and Alex are wonderful teachers. However, tragedy is also a scholar in this novella. Tragedy teaches and reminds Alex and Blake what is important in life…family and love of family. With references to Derek and the butterfly from Running on Empty, my heart was warmed and fulfilled with reminders of the comfort that can be found in a beautiful moment when you know that a special guardian angel is watching over you.
It’s a wonderful feeling to pick up a book and immediately feel a connection with the characters and events that unfold before you. L.B. Simmons has written such a story in Running on Empty and has managed to continue that feeling of being connected in Recovery with a smooth progression from the first page until the last. We are introduced to two new characters in Recovery, Tatum (Trace’s sister) and Noah (Trace and Blake’s employee), in which the author successfully and briefly begins the setup of book #2 in the Mending Hearts Series, Running in Place, without overshadowing the plot and severing the connection felt in Recovery. I can easily recommend this novella to those who want to be satisfied and content with a story that can be read in a short amount of time. However, it is very important that these books be read in order to understand the references and appreciate the emotion behind the events and characters in the series.
June 13, 2013
I loved LB Simmons’ Running on Empty. Alex and Blake’s reunion after living many years apart was warm and sweet and refreshing. Who doesn’t love a story about second chances at love? But what happens when they live happily ever after and the last page is turned? That’s when real life happens in all its messy glory.
Blake and Alex are getting married.
“It seems hard to believe that it’s only been seven months since he kissed me on the cheek, right here. The same place he kissed me when we were twelve years old. It only seems fitting that we come together as husband and wife right where it all started.”
Blake has worked hard at his relationship with Alex’s three girls; Kyndall, Nycole and Rylie. He is careful to never try to replace the dad they lost, but those girls love him to pieces any way.
“Please, never, ever think that you shouldn’t have a picture of your daddy. Ever. He is, and always will be, your father. I want you to remember him always. You can wallpaper your room if you want to.” See what I mean-this guy is To Die For.
He welcomes the challenges that parenting brings, he is in it for the long haul. Alex has spent the years since her late husband’s Derek’s death, being both mom and dad. It is so engrained in her that it’s hard to give up the position of dual parenting. Her actions at overriding Blake hurt him and create an ever widening gap between the couple. Alex spoils her girls to the extent that they expect her to clean up after them, something which doesn’t sit well with Blake. Her neglect in making her children take responsibility for picking up after themselves will have serious consequences.
“We had been one of those annoying perfect couples that I love to make fun of up until a month ago. But these last few weeks, something’s changed… Blake seems only increasingly agitated at me. And he won’t talk to me about it. Welcome to my brand new life.”
Harlow Reed, Alex’s best friend, makes reappearance in this book. She is still going strong with her boyfriend, Trace, Blake’s best friend and is still as hilarious and endearing as ever.
“Jesus! Is it National Fuc#king Take Your Sweet Ass Time Day?’ Why the hell didn’t I get the memo? Assholes!”
Trace’s sister Tatum, is now in town, living with Trace. She is working at the bar that Blake and Trace now own-The Office. Simmons has come up with the one of the cleverest names for a bar I have ever seen. This way when inquisitive spouses call their mates to see where they are, they can answer without any guilt that they are “at the office”. Sheer genius. Harlow and Trace worry that between Tatum’s partying ways and her loser boyfriend things are spiraling out of control. Surprisingly, she has bonded with Alex’s kids and loves to spend time with them. When she’s at work, sparks fly between her and Noah the bartender. Knowing there is a sequel coming about these two is no hardship.
At every point, there is humor and internalizing on these characters parts. Alex especially, can see the humor at every point. Even if she’s angry or annoyed or scared she sees humor in every situation.
“This dog better be Harlow and Trace’s dry run at raising a child because I’m pretty sure we don’t have a puppy. Unless I’m stuck in that damn parallel universe.
Simmons has written another wonderful book! I love her characters with their warmth and imperfections and sheer humanness. They are not the Cleaver's or Cunningham’s or Huxtable's. Her kids screw up-big time and it gets complicated and Alex and Blake are flawed just like everyone else. That makes their story all the better.
February 9, 2019
✨ full review now on my blog!
June 5, 2013
Wow Recovery by L.B. Simmons was such a fantastic read. Running on Empty is one of my favorite books and Recovery picks up right where Running on Empty left off. Alex and Blake are such an amazing couple and their girls have stolen my heart. What I loved about Recovery is how realistic it was. It was not all wine and roses, it was real work, which is what marriage is. While Recovery is a novella, I did not feel short changed at all. Of course I did not want it to end, but I felt that is was perfect for this time in Alex and Blakes lives. I can not wait to read more in this series. L.B. Simmons has quickly become one of my favorite authors. From the first word to the last I am lost in her stories.
♥ Sophie
♦♦♦
Recovery was such an amazing book!! I loved that it started with the wedding of Blake and Alex. L.B. Simmons did a beautiful job of telling their story. I really like how real the book felt, the way Alex’s daughters behave and the way she and Blake interact is so realistic. The struggles they shared in the beginning in a marriage was so relatable that you cant help but hope they can work through it and have a strong marriage. I also LOVE that Derek was talked about in this book. I think it’s so great that even though Alex has found love and started to move forward with her lift, Derek is still a strong fixture for you.
L.B. Simmons is an amazing author who is able to captivate the reader from page one, and keep us so wrapped up in the book that a few hours have passed the book is complete and you are left wanting more. I am beyond excited to read Running in Place and any other books L.B. Simmons writes in the future!! I give Recovery 5 starts!! LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!!
~ Camryn
♦♦♦
L.B. Simmons, had me at Running on Empty (the first book in the series) and she did not let me down when it came to Recovery. I was sucked in and felt so much love for all of the characters in this book.
The book starts off at the wedding which L.B. wrote so well! Blake & Alex are so in love and you can feel it by reading their story!
“I love you so, so much. I hope you know that. I hope you believe me when I tell you this. Because as sure as my heart beats, you have given me life again… in more ways than one.” -Alex
Just like in every marriage you come to a point when you struggle trying to figure things out. Alex was so used to doing everything her way. She struggled to allow Blake be apart of her family after they got married. Of course she loved him and he loved her but she didn’t know how to make it “Our Life” and not just Alex’s life with her girls. I cheered them on and hoped they would find a solution and get their happy ending.
I got choked up, caused a knot to form in my throat, and even laughed out loud reading the rest of Blake & Alex’s story. It was perfect! Great job L.B.! I give this book 5 stars!
-Harper
♥ Sophie
♦♦♦
Recovery was such an amazing book!! I loved that it started with the wedding of Blake and Alex. L.B. Simmons did a beautiful job of telling their story. I really like how real the book felt, the way Alex’s daughters behave and the way she and Blake interact is so realistic. The struggles they shared in the beginning in a marriage was so relatable that you cant help but hope they can work through it and have a strong marriage. I also LOVE that Derek was talked about in this book. I think it’s so great that even though Alex has found love and started to move forward with her lift, Derek is still a strong fixture for you.
L.B. Simmons is an amazing author who is able to captivate the reader from page one, and keep us so wrapped up in the book that a few hours have passed the book is complete and you are left wanting more. I am beyond excited to read Running in Place and any other books L.B. Simmons writes in the future!! I give Recovery 5 starts!! LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!!
~ Camryn
♦♦♦
L.B. Simmons, had me at Running on Empty (the first book in the series) and she did not let me down when it came to Recovery. I was sucked in and felt so much love for all of the characters in this book.
The book starts off at the wedding which L.B. wrote so well! Blake & Alex are so in love and you can feel it by reading their story!
“I love you so, so much. I hope you know that. I hope you believe me when I tell you this. Because as sure as my heart beats, you have given me life again… in more ways than one.” -Alex
Just like in every marriage you come to a point when you struggle trying to figure things out. Alex was so used to doing everything her way. She struggled to allow Blake be apart of her family after they got married. Of course she loved him and he loved her but she didn’t know how to make it “Our Life” and not just Alex’s life with her girls. I cheered them on and hoped they would find a solution and get their happy ending.
I got choked up, caused a knot to form in my throat, and even laughed out loud reading the rest of Blake & Alex’s story. It was perfect! Great job L.B.! I give this book 5 stars!
-Harper
July 18, 2013
Even now, my heart is still in my throat. I would like to first say that this novella could have easily been turned into a full length novel. However, even with it being a long novella, it was filled with so much emotion. I couldn't believe how much story L.B. Simmons was able to pack into 142 pages.
“We’re supposed to be partners in this, Alex, but instead, we’re two strangers, living two separate lives, inhabiting the same living space.”
Recovery is a look at what happens after the happy ever after. Everything is not always rosy and perfect. I have to say I was a little nervous to start Recovery. I like my happy ever afters... I like turning that last page with a big goofy smile on my face. Why would I want to read about the troubles that come after? Well, I knew that even though there were difficulties as Alex and Blake learn how to merge their separate lives into one... that there would still be another big goofy grin on my face at the end. And I'm happy to say there very much was one.
“So, when things don’t make sense to you, try not to waste time being upset about it. Stuff works out the way it’s supposed to. Some things just take longer than others.”
We see a lot of character growth in Recovery. The only problem I had with Alex in Running on Empty is that she found it so hard to ask for help. This is carried into Recovery, and finally she understands that she needs to do more than let Blake into her heart. She has to open up her whole life to him and allow him to be there for her and the girls. Blake is as always perfect. The man is like a dream come true... love him to bits.
We also get our first peek at Noah and Tatum, they are the characters that Running in Place will be focused around. I think I am really going like these two. There is also an excerpt at the end which gives us a bit of a sneak peek, now we just have to wait for the release.
“… now that I have you, I’m never, ever going to let you go again. You are mine. Without you, I am nothing.”
Christine
Rainy Day Reads
“We’re supposed to be partners in this, Alex, but instead, we’re two strangers, living two separate lives, inhabiting the same living space.”
Recovery is a look at what happens after the happy ever after. Everything is not always rosy and perfect. I have to say I was a little nervous to start Recovery. I like my happy ever afters... I like turning that last page with a big goofy smile on my face. Why would I want to read about the troubles that come after? Well, I knew that even though there were difficulties as Alex and Blake learn how to merge their separate lives into one... that there would still be another big goofy grin on my face at the end. And I'm happy to say there very much was one.
“So, when things don’t make sense to you, try not to waste time being upset about it. Stuff works out the way it’s supposed to. Some things just take longer than others.”
We see a lot of character growth in Recovery. The only problem I had with Alex in Running on Empty is that she found it so hard to ask for help. This is carried into Recovery, and finally she understands that she needs to do more than let Blake into her heart. She has to open up her whole life to him and allow him to be there for her and the girls. Blake is as always perfect. The man is like a dream come true... love him to bits.
We also get our first peek at Noah and Tatum, they are the characters that Running in Place will be focused around. I think I am really going like these two. There is also an excerpt at the end which gives us a bit of a sneak peek, now we just have to wait for the release.
“… now that I have you, I’m never, ever going to let you go again. You are mine. Without you, I am nothing.”
Christine
Rainy Day Reads
June 7, 2013
Oh, wow!!!! Who loves LB Simmons and can’t wait to one day meet her?? That’s ME!!! I I LOVE her writing style. So far, this series has touched me in so many ways. I want to be friends with these characters…make that best friends!!! I want to laugh, cry, drink, and share stories with them. And that probably means I need to be friends with LB, since these characters came from her amazing mind…so lady, let’s do it ;)
Recovery picks up where Running on Empty leaves off and if you haven’t read Running on Empty yet, I DEMAND that you do it NOW!! Anyone who has kids and has been or is married can relate to almost everything the characters go through.
“Mommy, I can see your feet,“ she giggles. “How come you only have one foot?”
“Rylie skips into the kitchen with a handful of tiny plastic creatures in her hands.”
I swear I know exactly what she was talking about when she says tiny plastic creatures and I laughed as I read that she too does not know what they are for. But just as I laughed my ass off while reading this, I also felt heartbreak.
I am not a crier when it comes to reading but I did get teary eyed…for good and bad reasons. I think it’s because I can relate to some of the issues going on in this story. It doesn’t feel like a made up story…it’s like you are reading about a friend’s life. Blake’s interactions and conversations with Alex’s girls made my heart just about burst from the happiness. That’s where the happy tears came from. He was wonderful with them and that makes him even more amazing then I originally thought.
And the sad tears…I can’t talk about that one. You have to read it to find out. Since this is a novella, I don’t want to give away even the smallest of details. There is a lot packed into it and it will keep you hanging on until the very end, and even wanting more when it is over. I feel like I could read about these characters for years and never tire of them, so I hope LB has her typing fingers on and ready. I am impatiently waiting for more ;)
*ARC received from the author for an honest review*
Recovery picks up where Running on Empty leaves off and if you haven’t read Running on Empty yet, I DEMAND that you do it NOW!! Anyone who has kids and has been or is married can relate to almost everything the characters go through.
“Mommy, I can see your feet,“ she giggles. “How come you only have one foot?”
“Rylie skips into the kitchen with a handful of tiny plastic creatures in her hands.”
I swear I know exactly what she was talking about when she says tiny plastic creatures and I laughed as I read that she too does not know what they are for. But just as I laughed my ass off while reading this, I also felt heartbreak.
I am not a crier when it comes to reading but I did get teary eyed…for good and bad reasons. I think it’s because I can relate to some of the issues going on in this story. It doesn’t feel like a made up story…it’s like you are reading about a friend’s life. Blake’s interactions and conversations with Alex’s girls made my heart just about burst from the happiness. That’s where the happy tears came from. He was wonderful with them and that makes him even more amazing then I originally thought.
And the sad tears…I can’t talk about that one. You have to read it to find out. Since this is a novella, I don’t want to give away even the smallest of details. There is a lot packed into it and it will keep you hanging on until the very end, and even wanting more when it is over. I feel like I could read about these characters for years and never tire of them, so I hope LB has her typing fingers on and ready. I am impatiently waiting for more ;)
*ARC received from the author for an honest review*
May 31, 2013
"So, when things don't make sense to you, try not to waste time being upset about it. Stuff works out the way it's supposed to. Some things just take longer than others."-Recovery
I just LOVE LB Simmons...Like, really hard. <3 She is an amazing writer and has this way with telling a story that just makes it so real. You relate to the story, but are still able to escape into another world and live with her characters. Speaking of characters...Maybe I'm weird but I can totally see myself being friends with these "people!" :) You can't help but get mad, sad, happy, and laugh with them. She writes them THAT GOOD!
Recovery is a novella...a very short read, but it gave me everything I needed after finishing Running on Empty. This story took me through a roller coaster of emotions, in which I was yelling at my Kindle as well as laughing out loud, and yes, I even ugly cried! I am a sucker for a well written love story!
"Alex, I love you. It's always been you. Your eyes, your lips, your smile, your spirit, your humor, even your God awful temper...Every single part of you has been and always will be my reason for living."-Recovery
Alex and Blake go through all the ups and downs of turning "me and mine" into "us and ours." (hence the roller coaster) Harlow and Alex's girls, Rylie, Kyndall, and Nycole are all over this story and just as sweet and funny as ever!
"Ewww!...Blake and Mommy, sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g..."-Recovery
I am so Thankful to LB for sending Recovery to me and trusting me with an ARC of her story. It really and truly is such a beautiful book! <3
I just LOVE LB Simmons...Like, really hard. <3 She is an amazing writer and has this way with telling a story that just makes it so real. You relate to the story, but are still able to escape into another world and live with her characters. Speaking of characters...Maybe I'm weird but I can totally see myself being friends with these "people!" :) You can't help but get mad, sad, happy, and laugh with them. She writes them THAT GOOD!
Recovery is a novella...a very short read, but it gave me everything I needed after finishing Running on Empty. This story took me through a roller coaster of emotions, in which I was yelling at my Kindle as well as laughing out loud, and yes, I even ugly cried! I am a sucker for a well written love story!
"Alex, I love you. It's always been you. Your eyes, your lips, your smile, your spirit, your humor, even your God awful temper...Every single part of you has been and always will be my reason for living."-Recovery
Alex and Blake go through all the ups and downs of turning "me and mine" into "us and ours." (hence the roller coaster) Harlow and Alex's girls, Rylie, Kyndall, and Nycole are all over this story and just as sweet and funny as ever!
"Ewww!...Blake and Mommy, sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g..."-Recovery
I am so Thankful to LB for sending Recovery to me and trusting me with an ARC of her story. It really and truly is such a beautiful book! <3
June 9, 2013
Recovery gives us more of Blake and Alex and her girls (love them!) and a piece to Running in Place (which I can't wait for!). Let me just say how much I loved this novella. It gave the perfect ending and perfect HEA we could ask for. The intensity in this story showed a lot. It hit me hard each time. This showed the after in marriage and the after of the second chance. How sometimes when you love someone so much, how little things you unknowingly do that hurt them. How not to let a problem fester for long and that it is okay to ask for help. To give responsibility out and not do everything on your own. There are so many messages in Recovery, that resonate within you.
You can say that without this novella Blake's and Alex's story is incomplete, this completed their story. It started out wonderful, than bumps came in their relationship that undone us and slowly take the road to put our pieces together. Their is so many more lessons they need to learn for their story to end and that is the road to recovery!
I love L.B. Simmons writing, story, characters and her lessons she wanted to share with us all. I can't wait to read more from her.
Recovery is a beautiful, stunning, emotionally charged, heart breaking, intense and satisfying end to Blake and Alex's journey. Within Recovery we have a new journey to start with a new main characters and their story.
5 BEAUTIFUL, INTENSE, SATISFYING AND BLAKE STARS!!
You can say that without this novella Blake's and Alex's story is incomplete, this completed their story. It started out wonderful, than bumps came in their relationship that undone us and slowly take the road to put our pieces together. Their is so many more lessons they need to learn for their story to end and that is the road to recovery!
I love L.B. Simmons writing, story, characters and her lessons she wanted to share with us all. I can't wait to read more from her.
Recovery is a beautiful, stunning, emotionally charged, heart breaking, intense and satisfying end to Blake and Alex's journey. Within Recovery we have a new journey to start with a new main characters and their story.
5 BEAUTIFUL, INTENSE, SATISFYING AND BLAKE STARS!!
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