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Return to Me #1
The Return
Eve Carlisle had a singular purpose - sell the rustic house nestled in the Colorado ski resort town.
Tortured by her husband’s betrayal, the beautiful divorcee refused to give her heart to another man. But Jake had been a happy surprise, with his mesmerizing blue eyes, warm smile, strong but gentle nature – as well as being incredibly sexy.
She had convinced herself the relationship with Jake was nothing more than a fling. After all, she had a life in Newport, with society friends and a lucrative career as a family court judge. Still, Jake had a definitive hold over her, and she was finding it hard to think clearly where he was concerned.
The demons of prior failed marriages haunt them both, and threaten to end things just as they are beginning. When Jake tells Eve he is falling in love with her, Eve refuses to believe it can last. Returning to Newport, the hollowness of her existence exposed, she must confront her fears before she loses Jake forever.
Tortured by her husband’s betrayal, the beautiful divorcee refused to give her heart to another man. But Jake had been a happy surprise, with his mesmerizing blue eyes, warm smile, strong but gentle nature – as well as being incredibly sexy.
She had convinced herself the relationship with Jake was nothing more than a fling. After all, she had a life in Newport, with society friends and a lucrative career as a family court judge. Still, Jake had a definitive hold over her, and she was finding it hard to think clearly where he was concerned.
The demons of prior failed marriages haunt them both, and threaten to end things just as they are beginning. When Jake tells Eve he is falling in love with her, Eve refuses to believe it can last. Returning to Newport, the hollowness of her existence exposed, she must confront her fears before she loses Jake forever.
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First published November 27, 2013
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December 2, 2013
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There's a Eve and Jake. They divorced their partners.Eve's ex husband cheated on her with his secretary,Jake and his ex wife fighted all the time.Jake start a new life in Colorado about 2 years ago. He's now a fireman Chief.Eve is Judge in Rhode Island. Eve has a 2 daughter.Clarissa and Amber. Clarissa is 20 and she's studying in England.Amber is 14 and she's living with his father.Ex Husband's new wife is pregnant so Amber staying with them at Christmas.Jake's Only daughter Lauren is 13. She's living with her mother and her new husband.And New Husband is acting nice to her daughter.One day Lauren Called her father and she said that Mother is divorcing his current husband and she want to live in Texas. And if they move to Texas Jake never see his child.After daughters call new Husband's lawyer called him and let him know that she was cheated the new one.When Eve intervene,Jake saw her's new side.
Are they can be together? One of them can be give up distance life for other one?
This A.L Parks's Second novel. And Like first one,I fell in love this one too! She created perfection!The Book was spectacular!
This is the best Christmas book ever! Giving a Chance for love on Christmas? I was emotionally dazed! I loved every character she created.Of course exes not in there. Also I hated Amber.I know that she's young but can she thought her mother? She's just thinking being a big sister. She cut her mother when they talked! This is awful. Eve is the victim not her father! Also When Jake talk about her ex, I guessed that his ex not the woman who devoted her husband.I thought she's not wife person(?).I feel Eve,you know. She's always abandoned from the ones she loves.Her mother,father,husband and her children...And now She's so afraid to lose Jake.Because of the afraids she's having nightmares...
There's a Eve and Jake. They divorced their partners.Eve's ex husband cheated on her with his secretary,Jake and his ex wife fighted all the time.Jake start a new life in Colorado about 2 years ago. He's now a fireman Chief.Eve is Judge in Rhode Island. Eve has a 2 daughter.Clarissa and Amber. Clarissa is 20 and she's studying in England.Amber is 14 and she's living with his father.Ex Husband's new wife is pregnant so Amber staying with them at Christmas.Jake's Only daughter Lauren is 13. She's living with her mother and her new husband.And New Husband is acting nice to her daughter.One day Lauren Called her father and she said that Mother is divorcing his current husband and she want to live in Texas. And if they move to Texas Jake never see his child.After daughters call new Husband's lawyer called him and let him know that she was cheated the new one.When Eve intervene,Jake saw her's new side.
Are they can be together? One of them can be give up distance life for other one?
This A.L Parks's Second novel. And Like first one,I fell in love this one too! She created perfection!The Book was spectacular!
This is the best Christmas book ever! Giving a Chance for love on Christmas? I was emotionally dazed! I loved every character she created.Of course exes not in there. Also I hated Amber.I know that she's young but can she thought her mother? She's just thinking being a big sister. She cut her mother when they talked! This is awful. Eve is the victim not her father! Also When Jake talk about her ex, I guessed that his ex not the woman who devoted her husband.I thought she's not wife person(?).I feel Eve,you know. She's always abandoned from the ones she loves.Her mother,father,husband and her children...And now She's so afraid to lose Jake.Because of the afraids she's having nightmares...
December 2, 2013
I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical at reading another indie romance since I’ve been burned by quite a few lately (you’ll noticed I didn’t post for a while?) But The Return was a very pleasant surprise. Without giving anything away, we first meet Eve six years after being betrayed and having her heart and dreams crushed. She’s decided to return to the “scene of the crime” and clean up their family vacation home in preparation to sell it. After a likely series of events, she meets Jake and sparks fly.
One of the first things I noticed, and loved, about The Return is that the heroine is not a perky twenty-something. She’s a woman who has been around the block and has experienced a wide variety of life’s drama – children, divorce, job dissatisfaction – the entire gamut. Jake, as well, has seen enough life that it makes most, if not all, of their actions seem likely and true-to-character. To me, some of the most touching and romantic scenes are those that you wouldn’t expect to be romantic. For example, in one scene Jake is upset over something that happened at work and Eve helps him to see the silver lining, even in the tragedy he faced. Or another scene where he is upset they don’t get to have a romantic sleigh ride the way he’d planned. Their romance is sweet and touching.
There were a few issues I found with the story but they were more technical aspects of the writing, such as changing points of view in the middle of paragraphs and chapters being extensively long, but while it did make me stop a few times to look back and recall whose perspective I was reading, it wasn’t anything that detracted from the plot and the story.
I loved both of these characters. Even when we see a change in Eve, it’s understandable and the author has done a great job in showing why she would act this way. Jake is a sexy hero with a wonderful sense of humor. I found both of them to be refreshing with just enough humor to keep the story fun without making it a comedy. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
One of the first things I noticed, and loved, about The Return is that the heroine is not a perky twenty-something. She’s a woman who has been around the block and has experienced a wide variety of life’s drama – children, divorce, job dissatisfaction – the entire gamut. Jake, as well, has seen enough life that it makes most, if not all, of their actions seem likely and true-to-character. To me, some of the most touching and romantic scenes are those that you wouldn’t expect to be romantic. For example, in one scene Jake is upset over something that happened at work and Eve helps him to see the silver lining, even in the tragedy he faced. Or another scene where he is upset they don’t get to have a romantic sleigh ride the way he’d planned. Their romance is sweet and touching.
There were a few issues I found with the story but they were more technical aspects of the writing, such as changing points of view in the middle of paragraphs and chapters being extensively long, but while it did make me stop a few times to look back and recall whose perspective I was reading, it wasn’t anything that detracted from the plot and the story.
I loved both of these characters. Even when we see a change in Eve, it’s understandable and the author has done a great job in showing why she would act this way. Jake is a sexy hero with a wonderful sense of humor. I found both of them to be refreshing with just enough humor to keep the story fun without making it a comedy. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
November 30, 2013
The Return is the first book in the Return To Me series. Book two is expected to release in March/April 2014.
July 26, 2016
Loved this book. Very well written. :) And, isn't the cover gorgeous?! Eve and Jake are an amazing couple and proof that when you least expect it...you should expect it. Eve is smart, and tough, and has been through too much crap to want to start over. So it's hard for her to just pick up and go. She doesn't want to leave her home behind, and it takes going back home again to realize she really didn't have much to go home to. It would be hard to pick up and just move halfway across the country, but at least she had a home waiting for her, should she decide that's what she wanted to do. :) Bravo, AL! Can't wait to see what's up next for you!
November 30, 2013
This was a good book. I liked the way A.L parks wrote The Return, it really grabs the readers attention. I could barely put it down the book was screaming 'read me!' I don't ever remember reading a book that wasn't about teenagers so this was a nice change. Eve's life has been destroyed by all the people mostly the men in her life. She feels like the men she love will always leave her because her husband cheated. She eventually finds she can love and be loved equally. I felt like there could have been more in the end. The custody battle between Jake and his ex-wife wasn't solved and I would have liked to see how that played out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2015
This is a really great enjoyable read. I read this in an afternoon.
This is a really sweet story about second chances. Six years after divorcing her husband Eve still hasn't softened her heart to love. She's afraid to love anyone in case they hurt her.
Jake is the rather hot male character in this story. He has fallen in love with Eve. Will he be able to break the wall around her heart??
First book I've read by this author. Doesn't end in a cliffhanger thankfully but as the story is so sweet you really want to read the next book.
This is a really sweet story about second chances. Six years after divorcing her husband Eve still hasn't softened her heart to love. She's afraid to love anyone in case they hurt her.
Jake is the rather hot male character in this story. He has fallen in love with Eve. Will he be able to break the wall around her heart??
First book I've read by this author. Doesn't end in a cliffhanger thankfully but as the story is so sweet you really want to read the next book.
December 25, 2013
Loved this book. It was a sweet book of a second chance at love for 2 incredible people. I really fell in love with Jake, he was just so sweet to Eve. Both Eve and Jake have had bad luck in love and Eve really has issues with people leaving her. I enjoyed this book so much I didn't want it to end and to my surprise there is another book. So I am super excited. This book is wonderful and just a excellent read.
November 26, 2013
I got this book as an ARC thanks so much to the author I couldn't put this book down I really liked Jake and Eve....they were so cute and Jakes a fireman and he's also super sweet sometimes in my opinion more than Eve deserved but in the end when she got her head right he was definitely right an for her
December 6, 2013
Well this story is utterly amazing. I was gripped from the very first chapter. This story proves that a chance meeting can change your life for the better. I laughed and cried right along with the characters. I highly recommend this book as a MUST read.. <3 it so much can't wait for the second book!!
December 15, 2013
Such a great book!!! It caught me right from the beginning. You fall in love with Eve and Jack. Can't wait to see how the rest of their lives turn out.
December 29, 2013
I loved this story the romance between Eve and Jake is sweet and romantic. It was beautifully written and I am looking forward to book 2 and I will be reading more books from this author.
July 11, 2014
Title: The Return [A Second Chance to Find Love](Return To Me Book 1)
Author: A.L. Parks
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"The Return" by A.L. Parks...
What is this novel about....
"Eve Carlisle had a singular purpose - sell the rustic house nestled in the Colorado ski resort town.
Tortured by her husband’s betrayal, the beautiful divorcee refused to give her heart to another man. But Jake had been a happy surprise, with his mesmerizing blue eyes, warm smile, strong but gentle nature – as well as being incredibly sexy.
She had convinced herself the relationship with Jake was nothing more than a fling. After all, she had a life in Newport, with society friends and a lucrative career as a family court judge. Still, Jake had a definitive hold over her, and she was finding it hard to think clearly where he was concerned.
The demons of prior failed marriages haunt them both, and threaten to end things just as they are beginning. When Jake tells Eve he is falling in love with her, Eve refuses to believe it can last. Returning to Newport, the hollowness of her existence exposed, she must confront her fears before she loses Jake forever."
What I liked from this read...
I liked how this heroine (Eve)was able to pull herself together after having to go through a terrible time with her ex husband's affair and now after six years getting on with her life. I liked the introduction of Jake (local fire chief) to Eve as they will meet and their will be an almost instant attraction between the two. Will they be able to deny this? There will even be lifes experiences that will be similar for each of these two people who were older and both divorced. I liked how this author was able to bring in the climate..(snow) that was used to play such an important part in this novels setting. "The Return" was a well written beautiful love story that will keep your attention from the start to the finish. Be ready to get a romance novel that deals with issues such as cheating, divorce and children of split families that will be addressed as you are reading through the story and even some drama, humor along with some twist that will give a interesting ending. I found the characters very well developed with such emotions as the reader is taken on this enjoyable ride that will leave you wanting the next sequel to see what will happen next in ...'Return to Newport.' Would I recommend this read? YES!
December 17, 2013
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review.**
This is the second novel by A.L. Parks that I have read and loved! We meet Eve, who is a strong, yet emotionally damaged woman following an affair by her husband and their subsequent divorce six years ago. Her oldest daughter is living in England and her youngest daughter is spending this Christmas with her Dad and new wife. She is trying to put her past behind her by selling the Colorado vacation home the family had spent every Christmas in. So she arrives in Ridgemont shortly before Christmas, dreading spending the holiday by herself.
She meets Jake, a local firefighter chief, who rescues her from her stranded car during a snow storm and sparks fly! Jake is funny, sexy, caring and makes Eve start to feel alive again. She invites him to dinner to thank him.
“It’s sort of against the Knight-In-Shining-Armor Rule Book to take compensation for our good deeds….”
“There are rules? Can we get around them?”
They fall into an easy relationship, but Eve’s time in Colorado is limited and her three weeks pass. And I’m sure like most of us in her position would be, Eve is stubborn and afraid to take a chance with her heart again. She convinces herself that this is just a fling and won’t last. She insists on returning to her home and job in Newport, Rhode Island leaving Jake heartbroken and confused.
“If you go back there, you’ll never return, Eve. You will convince yourself that it was just a moment in time. You’ve already convinced yourself this will end. Once you leave here, and get settled back into your life there, you’ll fall back into your routines and pretend this was all just a great love affair.”
But Eve is too afraid.
“It’s easier to lose you if I don’t have to see you every day….”
This book shows you that when you least expect it, love can find you. And life is not always fair or easy. Can Eve work through her insecurities and open her heart fully to love and be loved again?
Parks made these characters real and believable and the story is put into a setting that you will love. It’s a wonderful Christmas romance!! It is very well written and I highly recommend it!
This is the second novel by A.L. Parks that I have read and loved! We meet Eve, who is a strong, yet emotionally damaged woman following an affair by her husband and their subsequent divorce six years ago. Her oldest daughter is living in England and her youngest daughter is spending this Christmas with her Dad and new wife. She is trying to put her past behind her by selling the Colorado vacation home the family had spent every Christmas in. So she arrives in Ridgemont shortly before Christmas, dreading spending the holiday by herself.
She meets Jake, a local firefighter chief, who rescues her from her stranded car during a snow storm and sparks fly! Jake is funny, sexy, caring and makes Eve start to feel alive again. She invites him to dinner to thank him.
“It’s sort of against the Knight-In-Shining-Armor Rule Book to take compensation for our good deeds….”
“There are rules? Can we get around them?”
They fall into an easy relationship, but Eve’s time in Colorado is limited and her three weeks pass. And I’m sure like most of us in her position would be, Eve is stubborn and afraid to take a chance with her heart again. She convinces herself that this is just a fling and won’t last. She insists on returning to her home and job in Newport, Rhode Island leaving Jake heartbroken and confused.
“If you go back there, you’ll never return, Eve. You will convince yourself that it was just a moment in time. You’ve already convinced yourself this will end. Once you leave here, and get settled back into your life there, you’ll fall back into your routines and pretend this was all just a great love affair.”
But Eve is too afraid.
“It’s easier to lose you if I don’t have to see you every day….”
This book shows you that when you least expect it, love can find you. And life is not always fair or easy. Can Eve work through her insecurities and open her heart fully to love and be loved again?
Parks made these characters real and believable and the story is put into a setting that you will love. It’s a wonderful Christmas romance!! It is very well written and I highly recommend it!
May 15, 2014
Okay, I'm gonna admit that it makes me ridiculously happy to read a book with characters that are my age! :)
The Return is a wonderful story of two people barely living following nasty divorces - two people who come to life after meeting and get a second chance at love and happiness.
Eve is spending her holidays at her cabin in Colorado. She needs to make some decisions about keeping it. On her way from the airport, she ends up in a snow drift and one very handsome fire chief comes to her rescue. Jake, the fire chief, is immediately taken with Eve. As they begin to get to know one another, the pull between them is undeniable.
Eve, a judge back in Newport, lacks confidence in her personal life. Her divorce sucked a lot out of her. Where she was once was so full of life - cooking and baking and making her children happy - she now eats microwavable dinners and barely speaks with her daughters. Jake is equally non-confident when it comes to having a personal life. He essentially avoids dating. He is involved with his daughter though. And I delighted in seeing that relationship. I felt the damage Eve has suffered as a result of her divorce was more focal. Her change in demeanor had even affected her relationship with her daughters. Jake's divorce mainly affected his ability to trust.
Eve and Jake are instantly smitten with one another. But they each have demons and insecurities that keep them from taking that leap. I truly enjoyed watching them get closer and how they brought out the joy and vivacity in one another, that had been missing since their divorces.
The Return tugged at my heartstrings and left me hopeful. It was a pleasant, feel-good read.
The Return is a wonderful story of two people barely living following nasty divorces - two people who come to life after meeting and get a second chance at love and happiness.
Eve is spending her holidays at her cabin in Colorado. She needs to make some decisions about keeping it. On her way from the airport, she ends up in a snow drift and one very handsome fire chief comes to her rescue. Jake, the fire chief, is immediately taken with Eve. As they begin to get to know one another, the pull between them is undeniable.
Eve, a judge back in Newport, lacks confidence in her personal life. Her divorce sucked a lot out of her. Where she was once was so full of life - cooking and baking and making her children happy - she now eats microwavable dinners and barely speaks with her daughters. Jake is equally non-confident when it comes to having a personal life. He essentially avoids dating. He is involved with his daughter though. And I delighted in seeing that relationship. I felt the damage Eve has suffered as a result of her divorce was more focal. Her change in demeanor had even affected her relationship with her daughters. Jake's divorce mainly affected his ability to trust.
Eve and Jake are instantly smitten with one another. But they each have demons and insecurities that keep them from taking that leap. I truly enjoyed watching them get closer and how they brought out the joy and vivacity in one another, that had been missing since their divorces.
The Return tugged at my heartstrings and left me hopeful. It was a pleasant, feel-good read.
December 31, 2013
A.L. Parks has done it again! I loved this book! Eve is left emotionally numb after the discovery of her husband's affair. While she goes forward with life after divorce, she is 'going through the motions' and not really living. On a trip to Colorado to sell the family vacation home, Eve is expecting nothing more than the reopening of old wounds. Instead, she meets Jake. The local fire chief (roar) who has had heartache of his own. Suddenly, Eve is laughing again and Jake is completely captivated. The chemistry between these two jumps off the pages. Will the scars from the past destroy their future? I can't wait to read Book Two in this Return to Me series!
November 27, 2013
I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Jake from the very beginning. The characters are very rich and believable. The story is deep and wonderfully told. I can't wait for more. Did I say I love Jake?
January 8, 2014
A fun, quick holiday read. Made we want to be in Colorado for Christmas! Thanks Stephanie for the link when it was available for free!
September 5, 2017
When facing a midlife divorce has stripped away all of her self-esteem and confidence. Good short story with good characters about moving on and accepting changes.
September 29, 2017
Romance
This book has warm likable characters. It is nice to see the romance develop. I prefer romantic suspense but this is a good romance.
This book has warm likable characters. It is nice to see the romance develop. I prefer romantic suspense but this is a good romance.
October 31, 2017
Good
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is basically your standard sweet romance, but it is still enjoyable to read.
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is basically your standard sweet romance, but it is still enjoyable to read.
May 6, 2014
This is the first book by A. L. Parks that I have purchased and really enjoyed the story. It brought some painful reminders from my marriage/divorce and I could empathize with both Eve and Jake. I liked that the main characters are older and closer to my age and I love second chance love stories.
As the book progresses, I felt the infatuation and excitement when Eve and Jake met, thinking of each other often, and anxiously awaiting their next time together, almost like teenagers. They are able to laugh and talk and everything was so sweet and sexy. Everything happens so quickly between them, which probably explains some of their issues as time passes. I felt the pain that Eve has suffered for many years. Eve grew up in a wealthy family but was put in boarding school at age 12 and very seldom saw her parents. Then when her husband betrays her, it is just one more example, in her mind, that no one cares for her for long. These feelings cause her to believe that she and Jake are in love, but just not for the long haul.
Jake had a difficult marriage, with his ex-wife constantly berating him for not making more money, not changing to a more influential profession, etc., and so these thoughts are on his mind, even though he falls madly in love with Eve. Due to her wealth and as an attorney/judge, he feels like he would never be enough for her since he is a Fire Chief. Jake also has to deal with only seeing his daughter once a month due to the distance from each other.
This book covers the three weeks when Eve leaves her home in Newport and goes to Colorado to get the vacation home ready to sell. There was a lot of up and down with the characters, causing my emotions to veer one direction to another, and thinking these people need some counseling!
Eve returns to Newport but is brokenhearted without Jake. She tries to decide if she should stay in Newport, where she hates being a judge, and the only friends are wealthy, back-stabbing snobs, or return to Colorado. Her ex-husband and his new wife are in the vicinity, so she has to deal with a lot, including not being able to see her two daughters often (the eldest is 20 and studying in England and the other is 14 and chose to go to a boarding school after the parents divorced. Unfortunately, a divorce not only affects the couple, but children and others.
This book was very well written and the author was able to make me feel all of the emotions of the characters. I was so interested in the story that I couldn’t wait to read the sequel and immediately started reading Return to Newport. I definitely recommend this book.
As the book progresses, I felt the infatuation and excitement when Eve and Jake met, thinking of each other often, and anxiously awaiting their next time together, almost like teenagers. They are able to laugh and talk and everything was so sweet and sexy. Everything happens so quickly between them, which probably explains some of their issues as time passes. I felt the pain that Eve has suffered for many years. Eve grew up in a wealthy family but was put in boarding school at age 12 and very seldom saw her parents. Then when her husband betrays her, it is just one more example, in her mind, that no one cares for her for long. These feelings cause her to believe that she and Jake are in love, but just not for the long haul.
Jake had a difficult marriage, with his ex-wife constantly berating him for not making more money, not changing to a more influential profession, etc., and so these thoughts are on his mind, even though he falls madly in love with Eve. Due to her wealth and as an attorney/judge, he feels like he would never be enough for her since he is a Fire Chief. Jake also has to deal with only seeing his daughter once a month due to the distance from each other.
This book covers the three weeks when Eve leaves her home in Newport and goes to Colorado to get the vacation home ready to sell. There was a lot of up and down with the characters, causing my emotions to veer one direction to another, and thinking these people need some counseling!
Eve returns to Newport but is brokenhearted without Jake. She tries to decide if she should stay in Newport, where she hates being a judge, and the only friends are wealthy, back-stabbing snobs, or return to Colorado. Her ex-husband and his new wife are in the vicinity, so she has to deal with a lot, including not being able to see her two daughters often (the eldest is 20 and studying in England and the other is 14 and chose to go to a boarding school after the parents divorced. Unfortunately, a divorce not only affects the couple, but children and others.
This book was very well written and the author was able to make me feel all of the emotions of the characters. I was so interested in the story that I couldn’t wait to read the sequel and immediately started reading Return to Newport. I definitely recommend this book.
May 28, 2014
Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review
When life has dealt you blow after blow, can you really find yourself in amongst the rubble? I cannot imagine Eve's pain and what it felt like to have what you thought was your life change in an instant. To learn that your husband and father of your children was with another and leaving you for them, then to return to the scene of his confession alone during Christmas! Eve really needed to move on but little did she know that she was about to be handed a whole new obstacle in the game of life.
I really thought this was such a sweet romance blooming between a very sexy and damaged Fire chief, Jake, and Eve. Jake also has demons from a past failed marriage. Together they are fire but their insecurities are quick to douse the flames that spark between the two. As I read I could totally see as an ongoing episode of a soap opera!
There is something there…hope.
Drama scene
Lust and realization
More drama
Us, the readers are but viewers here, screaming at the characters to see that he loves her and she loves him, “Oh no don't take it that way”,” You are being an ass” and then some tears and angst.
I loved how that this is not your fresh out of High school or college virginal woman meets domineering and rich man. Although Eve comes from money, Jake is your everyday hark working guy and they both are in their 30s with children. Temperamental, strong headed, and both had given up and fallen victims to life's mundane routines. Did I mention Jake is scruffy and a sexy fireman that wears jeans with boots and plaid? *wink*
The author also did a wonderful job addressing some common issues such as cheating, divorce, children of split families in a tasteful and realistic way. She didn’t shy from them but embraced them and made them an intricate part of the story. I just loved both Eve’s and Jake’s love for their children and vice versa.
You will find this a nice read that will make you want to curl onto the couch next to a cozy fire with a glass of wine. Just enough steam, drama, and twists that leads to a wrapped up ending with a hint of more to come!
4 *WINK* READ
Book Flirts by Jessi
www.facebook.com/bookflirts
@bookflirtsjessi
http://bookflirtsbyjessi.blogspot.com
When life has dealt you blow after blow, can you really find yourself in amongst the rubble? I cannot imagine Eve's pain and what it felt like to have what you thought was your life change in an instant. To learn that your husband and father of your children was with another and leaving you for them, then to return to the scene of his confession alone during Christmas! Eve really needed to move on but little did she know that she was about to be handed a whole new obstacle in the game of life.
I really thought this was such a sweet romance blooming between a very sexy and damaged Fire chief, Jake, and Eve. Jake also has demons from a past failed marriage. Together they are fire but their insecurities are quick to douse the flames that spark between the two. As I read I could totally see as an ongoing episode of a soap opera!
There is something there…hope.
Drama scene
Lust and realization
More drama
Us, the readers are but viewers here, screaming at the characters to see that he loves her and she loves him, “Oh no don't take it that way”,” You are being an ass” and then some tears and angst.
I loved how that this is not your fresh out of High school or college virginal woman meets domineering and rich man. Although Eve comes from money, Jake is your everyday hark working guy and they both are in their 30s with children. Temperamental, strong headed, and both had given up and fallen victims to life's mundane routines. Did I mention Jake is scruffy and a sexy fireman that wears jeans with boots and plaid? *wink*
The author also did a wonderful job addressing some common issues such as cheating, divorce, children of split families in a tasteful and realistic way. She didn’t shy from them but embraced them and made them an intricate part of the story. I just loved both Eve’s and Jake’s love for their children and vice versa.
You will find this a nice read that will make you want to curl onto the couch next to a cozy fire with a glass of wine. Just enough steam, drama, and twists that leads to a wrapped up ending with a hint of more to come!
4 *WINK* READ
Book Flirts by Jessi
www.facebook.com/bookflirts
@bookflirtsjessi
http://bookflirtsbyjessi.blogspot.com
March 1, 2014
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review.**
This is the second novel by A.L. Parks that I have read and loved! We meet Eve, who is a strong, yet emotionally damaged woman following an affair by her husband and their subsequent divorce six years ago. Her oldest daughter is living in England and her youngest daughter is spending this Christmas with her Dad and new wife. She is trying to put her past behind her by selling the Colorado home the family had spent every Christmas in. So she arrives in Ridgemont shortly before Christmas, dreading spending the holiday by herself.
She meets Jake, a local firefighter chief, who rescues her from her stranded car during a snow storm and sparks fly! Jake is funny, sexy, caring and makes Eve start to feel alive again. She invites him to dinner to thank him.
“It’s sort of against the Knight-In-Shining-Armor Rule Book to take compensation for our good deeds….”
“There are rules? Can we get around them?”
They fall into an easy relationship, but Eve’s time in Colorado is limited and her three weeks pass. And I’m sure like most of us in her position would be, Eve is stubborn and afraid to take a chance with her heart again. She convinces herself that this is just a fling and won’t last. She insists on returning to her home and job in Newport, Rhode Island leaving Jake heartbroken and confused.
“If you go back there, you’ll never return, Eve. You will convince yourself that it was just a moment in time. You’ve already convinced yourself this will end. Once you leave here, and get settled back into your life there, you’ll fall back into your routines and pretend this was all just a great love affair.”
But Eve is too afraid.
“It’s easier to lose you if I don’t have to see you every day….”
This book shows you that when you least expect it, love can find you. And life is not always fair or easy. Can Eve work through her insecurities and open her heart fully to love and be loved again?
Parks made these characters real and believable and the story is put into a setting that you will love. It’s a wonderful Christmas romance!! It is very well written and I highly recommend it!
This is the second novel by A.L. Parks that I have read and loved! We meet Eve, who is a strong, yet emotionally damaged woman following an affair by her husband and their subsequent divorce six years ago. Her oldest daughter is living in England and her youngest daughter is spending this Christmas with her Dad and new wife. She is trying to put her past behind her by selling the Colorado home the family had spent every Christmas in. So she arrives in Ridgemont shortly before Christmas, dreading spending the holiday by herself.
She meets Jake, a local firefighter chief, who rescues her from her stranded car during a snow storm and sparks fly! Jake is funny, sexy, caring and makes Eve start to feel alive again. She invites him to dinner to thank him.
“It’s sort of against the Knight-In-Shining-Armor Rule Book to take compensation for our good deeds….”
“There are rules? Can we get around them?”
They fall into an easy relationship, but Eve’s time in Colorado is limited and her three weeks pass. And I’m sure like most of us in her position would be, Eve is stubborn and afraid to take a chance with her heart again. She convinces herself that this is just a fling and won’t last. She insists on returning to her home and job in Newport, Rhode Island leaving Jake heartbroken and confused.
“If you go back there, you’ll never return, Eve. You will convince yourself that it was just a moment in time. You’ve already convinced yourself this will end. Once you leave here, and get settled back into your life there, you’ll fall back into your routines and pretend this was all just a great love affair.”
But Eve is too afraid.
“It’s easier to lose you if I don’t have to see you every day….”
This book shows you that when you least expect it, love can find you. And life is not always fair or easy. Can Eve work through her insecurities and open her heart fully to love and be loved again?
Parks made these characters real and believable and the story is put into a setting that you will love. It’s a wonderful Christmas romance!! It is very well written and I highly recommend it!
April 14, 2014
Another book, another reason to fall in love with Author A.L. Parks. There was a specific reason why I kept this book on reserve (kind of like you do with that special bottle of wine, waiting for the right moment to be enjoyed) for so long. I knew that book two of the series was going to be released at the end of this month and I am one of those readers that prefer to read books in a series close together.
This story takes us to the mountains of Colorado, where we meet Eve, a smart, beautiful and successful lawyer, who is divorced from her slimey husband which she shares two daughters. She decides instead of spending the holiday alone, she will go to Colorado to clean out and prepare the family vacation home to be sold. While travelling there fate seems to have other plans for her. As she sits stranded, we are introduced to Jake, a dreamy, damaged firefighter that comes to her rescue and that is when the real sparks start to fly.
As with any romance there are the highs and lows, The Return is no exception. We are taken on a ride that brings us from Colorado to my personal favorite seaport town – Newport, RI. Can Jake change the way he copes with things and bring back to life the passion between himself and Eve? I am not one for spoilers, so you won’t get one from me – read this book!!
This story was well executed. A.L. Parks definitely delivered on this one. I was completely drawn in and could not put this book down. I was grateful that I saved it for when I did because I won’t have to wait long to see where this journey takes me. I hope that Ms. Parks continues to share her fabulous talent with us, her engaging characters, witty banter and comebacks, makes me yearn for more! I wish I could score The Return with more than 5 stars, because I certainly would. I strongly recommend The Return and can’t wait for the second book!
This story takes us to the mountains of Colorado, where we meet Eve, a smart, beautiful and successful lawyer, who is divorced from her slimey husband which she shares two daughters. She decides instead of spending the holiday alone, she will go to Colorado to clean out and prepare the family vacation home to be sold. While travelling there fate seems to have other plans for her. As she sits stranded, we are introduced to Jake, a dreamy, damaged firefighter that comes to her rescue and that is when the real sparks start to fly.
As with any romance there are the highs and lows, The Return is no exception. We are taken on a ride that brings us from Colorado to my personal favorite seaport town – Newport, RI. Can Jake change the way he copes with things and bring back to life the passion between himself and Eve? I am not one for spoilers, so you won’t get one from me – read this book!!
This story was well executed. A.L. Parks definitely delivered on this one. I was completely drawn in and could not put this book down. I was grateful that I saved it for when I did because I won’t have to wait long to see where this journey takes me. I hope that Ms. Parks continues to share her fabulous talent with us, her engaging characters, witty banter and comebacks, makes me yearn for more! I wish I could score The Return with more than 5 stars, because I certainly would. I strongly recommend The Return and can’t wait for the second book!
October 22, 2014
The Return by A.L. Parks
This book starts out with a woman leaving Newport, RI where she is a judge and heading to the family home in Colorado.
Most everything goes wrong, the flight, delays, noisy kids and then the snow and an accident. Eve does get rescued, by Jake the fire chief.
They do share wine together and a few meals as they get to know one another. She's only there for the Christmas holidays for 3 weeks time then she'll head back to RI to resume her job.
He is totally taken with her and he's put life back into her, she's cooking again!
What really fascinated me about this book was seeing how they do their jobs, and learning how they do them. Love the sex, romance and rip roaring laughter. Easy read with twists and turns.
Very easy to keep track of the characters as they dome and go in the book. Can't wait to read the next several books in this series. Love they complement one another's actions.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
This book starts out with a woman leaving Newport, RI where she is a judge and heading to the family home in Colorado.
Most everything goes wrong, the flight, delays, noisy kids and then the snow and an accident. Eve does get rescued, by Jake the fire chief.
They do share wine together and a few meals as they get to know one another. She's only there for the Christmas holidays for 3 weeks time then she'll head back to RI to resume her job.
He is totally taken with her and he's put life back into her, she's cooking again!
What really fascinated me about this book was seeing how they do their jobs, and learning how they do them. Love the sex, romance and rip roaring laughter. Easy read with twists and turns.
Very easy to keep track of the characters as they dome and go in the book. Can't wait to read the next several books in this series. Love they complement one another's actions.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
May 2, 2025
It was better than I thought and had me laughing and tearing up at different moments throughout the book!
Eve ~ Love/hate relationship with her throughout the book. Well mainly love till the end then hate cause she is too stubborn for her own good! She held on to her past like she couldn't accept what had happened and move forward! Then on top of that she refused to leave the town where her ex-husband and having it constantly thrown in her face. It was like she enjoyed it in some way, but I don't know how!
Jake ~ He's a bit high-strung when it came to some things but overall he's your everyday type of guy. Unlike Eve he didn't let his control too much and he tried to move on. I did think he was justified when he reacted to certain things Eve said and did. But he was just an overall nice guy that was dealt a shity hand in the past and then suckered punched when Eve entered his life!
Till next time ~ Sweets Books
Eve ~ Love/hate relationship with her throughout the book. Well mainly love till the end then hate cause she is too stubborn for her own good! She held on to her past like she couldn't accept what had happened and move forward! Then on top of that she refused to leave the town where her ex-husband and having it constantly thrown in her face. It was like she enjoyed it in some way, but I don't know how!
Jake ~ He's a bit high-strung when it came to some things but overall he's your everyday type of guy. Unlike Eve he didn't let his control too much and he tried to move on. I did think he was justified when he reacted to certain things Eve said and did. But he was just an overall nice guy that was dealt a shity hand in the past and then suckered punched when Eve entered his life!
Till next time ~ Sweets Books
September 8, 2014
Eve is damaged, her husband made sure of that. He had an affair with his secretary and now they are divorced, Eve is off men totally, non stop, forget it!
She heads off to Colorado in a rustic house on a ski resort town to lick her wounds and reassess.
Enters Jake.
Jake has been having it pretty horrendous with his wife, nothing but arguments, so a setting now to bring Jake and Eve together.
But Eve doesn't want to fall in love, she doesn't want another relationship.......Jake has fallen in love.
The ending is not a cliff hanger of such, but you know its not over until its over.........
Can't wait for book 2.
I was given a complimentary book from the author to read and review, get my viewpoint on it.
I thought it was a lovely story, flowed well, really lovely to snuggle up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate and get lost in the book.
She heads off to Colorado in a rustic house on a ski resort town to lick her wounds and reassess.
Enters Jake.
Jake has been having it pretty horrendous with his wife, nothing but arguments, so a setting now to bring Jake and Eve together.
But Eve doesn't want to fall in love, she doesn't want another relationship.......Jake has fallen in love.
The ending is not a cliff hanger of such, but you know its not over until its over.........
Can't wait for book 2.
I was given a complimentary book from the author to read and review, get my viewpoint on it.
I thought it was a lovely story, flowed well, really lovely to snuggle up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate and get lost in the book.
August 30, 2015
First let me say that this book was a bit different than my normal books, this one was told completely in 3rd person POV. To me, it lessen the emotional connection to the characters and their feelings.
Still a somewhat emotional story, but I just didn't feel it as I would if it was told in the characters POV. Even so, I did enjoy this story.
This story, shows that a change of scenry can change your whole life, and you never know where or when you will find love. Although, I felt that Eve and Jake did move a little fast, but of course they are older and its a bit different than teens or young adults moving that fast in a relationship.
I do look forward to reading the next book and getting more of the story.
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Still a somewhat emotional story, but I just didn't feel it as I would if it was told in the characters POV. Even so, I did enjoy this story.
This story, shows that a change of scenry can change your whole life, and you never know where or when you will find love. Although, I felt that Eve and Jake did move a little fast, but of course they are older and its a bit different than teens or young adults moving that fast in a relationship.
I do look forward to reading the next book and getting more of the story.
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2014
Awesome love story! Jake and Eve meet when Eve gets stuck in a snowbank not far from her vacation home in Colorado. She has taken a few weeks off to decide if she is going to put it on the market, because her life is in Rhode Island. They are both divorced and have baggage from the failure of those marriages. They get to know each other and fall in love. Too soon, her vacation time is up and she has to decide what to do with the house, her relationship with Jake, as well as her life back in Rhode Island. This book is very real. You feel like you are there and get to know their friends and family. You will want to know...to which location does she return...
ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
January 5, 2015
I may or may not post spoilers in this review.
This story reminds me of the movie what a wonderful life. It is super sticky sweet, while she is in the winter vacation home but then when the lead lady goes home she ends up deeply depressed and uses wine as a way to deal with it all the while the writer has her as a super smart Judge.
Now, the hot scenes are not so hot and actually a disappointment. As, it skips over or should I say glosses over the parts you really want to read. Over all it is a interesting twist but I can only give it 3 stars at max as it was just too sweet.
It has a nice plot, and strong leads but just slightly off center is the whole story. Now, it does only have 2% ads at the end which is a bonus.
This story reminds me of the movie what a wonderful life. It is super sticky sweet, while she is in the winter vacation home but then when the lead lady goes home she ends up deeply depressed and uses wine as a way to deal with it all the while the writer has her as a super smart Judge.
Now, the hot scenes are not so hot and actually a disappointment. As, it skips over or should I say glosses over the parts you really want to read. Over all it is a interesting twist but I can only give it 3 stars at max as it was just too sweet.
It has a nice plot, and strong leads but just slightly off center is the whole story. Now, it does only have 2% ads at the end which is a bonus.
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