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Elvis #1
She's Not You
Contemporary Romance:
Sick and alone with her three-year-old daughter at Christmastime, Belle Foster needs help. When her neighbor’s brother gets involved, she welcomes the soft-spoken good-looker into her world. Rescuing her kidnapped daughter isn’t part of the deal, but any man willing to babysit his sister’s menagerie of pets and cares that much about a stranger’s baby is a guy she wants to get to know much better.
Jesse has only loved one woman in his life. Years ago, she left him with a broken heart, a crippling dependency and too many poignant memories. No one can replace her. No other woman has ever come close. So why does this loving mom continually sneak into his head? And why can’t he shake her loose? One needy girl in his life, a sister who expects him to live on a pedestal, is enough for any man.
Sick and alone with her three-year-old daughter at Christmastime, Belle Foster needs help. When her neighbor’s brother gets involved, she welcomes the soft-spoken good-looker into her world. Rescuing her kidnapped daughter isn’t part of the deal, but any man willing to babysit his sister’s menagerie of pets and cares that much about a stranger’s baby is a guy she wants to get to know much better.
Jesse has only loved one woman in his life. Years ago, she left him with a broken heart, a crippling dependency and too many poignant memories. No one can replace her. No other woman has ever come close. So why does this loving mom continually sneak into his head? And why can’t he shake her loose? One needy girl in his life, a sister who expects him to live on a pedestal, is enough for any man.
177 pages, ebook
First published November 15, 2013
50 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Mimi Barbour
217 books697 followersMimi is an incredibly busy NYT and USA Today award-winning, best-selling author who has nine series to her credit, as well as over 45 books and numerous multi-author box collections.
Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island with her pup, Charli, and writes her various romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye.
She’s been known to say: “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”
**1st place prize of the 2015 - Chanticleer Reviews - Clue Awards. Special Agent Francesca
**A TOUCH OF PASSION, has just become the 2016 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards.
Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island with her pup, Charli, and writes her various romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye.
She’s been known to say: “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”
**1st place prize of the 2015 - Chanticleer Reviews - Clue Awards. Special Agent Francesca
**A TOUCH OF PASSION, has just become the 2016 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 22, 2013
After spending years nursing a broken heart and in minutes having that same heart invaded by the most devastating three year old bundle of joy with a wreath of blonde pixie looking hair going wild in all directions, infectious shy smile, with heart wrenching tears, tearing through you're door screaming for your little sister to come and save her dead mommie.....what can a poor guy do? Finding mommie not dead but only having passed out from lack of food helped but now those two helpless blonde headed girls reached right in and stole that old broken heart. This story is very strong reaching for lots of emotions while Belle deals with a crippling unknown illness, a dead husband, grief, loneliness, dysfunctional childhood, a war racked brother-in-law with sever PTSD, who was also a twin to her husband, losing her beloved job working with children, being attacked, have your precious baby kidnapped plus having your father and step sister that you have had almost no contact with decide to come for a visit (rekindle the family ties) and this is just a few. Harry, Marilyn, Steve, Jack and even Jesse has some too, so as you can see this one of those great books that you have all these things going on and this unbelievable cast of characters has problems all circling around our hero and heroine making so many waves and ripples that need to be fixed just so Jesse and Belle can even think about a life together. Be prepared it is up and down, it's on and settled then it explodes yet again, just though normal everyday misconceptions and confusions. The cast will steal your heart as they deal with all the different things, with laughter, tears, anger, rage, pity, respect, grief, tender love and happiness. Highly recommended, excellent read.
October 31, 2021
I enjoyed most of this almost sweet romance. This is not for the Under 18 readers, because it is NOT a clean romance. I voluntarily chose to review this story and I've given it a 4.5* rating. There are certainly a lot of ups and downs with this romance, it had a lot of action in it. It has several issues that are addressed in this, so it goes in several directions quite often. This includes a young child, a puppy who is over active, and 2 cats, one of which is not friendly at all. Parts of this was fun, some very serious. An overall interesting story.
November 30, 2022
A wonderful story of two people who have lost a lot and are lucky to have found each other. But new relationships are never easy. Belle and Jesse keep wondering if they are making the right decision, but eventually after numerous setbacks, they realize that they are meant for each other. I found their indecisiveness difficult to understand, but that's the beauty of having an author who can make her characters come alive and seem so real. A happy ending of course. And Yaya made so many parts of the story simply adorable!!
May 22, 2023
(3.5-4 stars. I’m still on the fence.)
Pros: Celiac rep, well written except for a moment or two, had a small twist half way through the story that I enjoyed.
Cons: Why does almost everyone have green eyes? Even the cats do. This whole book takes place over 5 days and the things that happen in that time span make no sense. Very soap opera-ish and not always in a fun way.
Pros: Celiac rep, well written except for a moment or two, had a small twist half way through the story that I enjoyed.
Cons: Why does almost everyone have green eyes? Even the cats do. This whole book takes place over 5 days and the things that happen in that time span make no sense. Very soap opera-ish and not always in a fun way.
November 5, 2016
Adorable child alert!
A sweet but slightly steamy romance with an adorable child,a playful puppy and a handsome hero.This book also has a serious side touching on the effects on PTSD on as war veteran.A good read.
A sweet but slightly steamy romance with an adorable child,a playful puppy and a handsome hero.This book also has a serious side touching on the effects on PTSD on as war veteran.A good read.
August 11, 2017
This was a cute story that had a few things that are dear to my heart. A soldier killed in combat a soldier suffering from pts and celiac disease and to top it off second chances and Christmas. Good writing will be looking for more from this writer
November 17, 2019
She's Not You
Bella had been sick for awhile. When he daughter Layla sees her faint she runs to the neighbors house. While Kim is away her brother Jesse is taking care of her animals. Returning with Layla he helps Bella.
Sweet , romantic holiday story.
Bella had been sick for awhile. When he daughter Layla sees her faint she runs to the neighbors house. While Kim is away her brother Jesse is taking care of her animals. Returning with Layla he helps Bella.
Sweet , romantic holiday story.
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December 25, 2020Gotta love a little girl.
This book this at your heart strings from the first sentence.
Mother's everywhere will fall in love with Ya ya and her mom Belle.
Jesse is the prefect match for both of them.
Written in an easy to read style it's hard to put this book down.
This book this at your heart strings from the first sentence.
Mother's everywhere will fall in love with Ya ya and her mom Belle.
Jesse is the prefect match for both of them.
Written in an easy to read style it's hard to put this book down.
June 16, 2020
So much!
I don't know how it is possible to put so many different feels into one story. So many interesting happenings. Some funny, some sad.
I don't know how it is possible to put so many different feels into one story. So many interesting happenings. Some funny, some sad.
October 27, 2020
Sweet.
A very sweet read. Jesse is a real softie and pushover for young Layla’s manipulations. It was adorable. Nice that Belle got to have a family Christmas.
A very sweet read. Jesse is a real softie and pushover for young Layla’s manipulations. It was adorable. Nice that Belle got to have a family Christmas.
June 18, 2022
Okay read. Proceeds very fast.
December 19, 2013
Hmm..So the story for this is basically the same as All I Want For Christmas Is You. There are a few differences, but it is basically the kid wants a husband for the mom. While She's Not You wasn't as good, it was still an enjoyable read. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I not just read a similar story right before it.
The story starts off with Jesse getting pulled into Belle and her daughter's life when the daughter, Layla thinks her mom has died. Jesse of course rushes right over, finds that she had just passed out and then stays a bit (even though he doesn't want to. He is just a good guy). So I am not sure how or when he changed from not wanting to be here with them to I want to spend all my time with them. It was just like one minute he wants to get out of there and one minute he doesn't. Odd.
Luckily for Belle Jesse seems to know what is wrong with her and he helps her get it under control and feel better. They quickly start to hang out all the time, even though Belle does try to stay away (especially after the first kiss on the couch!). Jesse had been still hung up on his high school sweetheart who broke his heart, but Belle helps him move on finally. He really is a good guy and does everything he can for her and her daughter, though I didn't understand his hang up on his high school girlfriend for all these years. Jesse and Layla were incredibly cute together though. It was really nice.
The ending was a little lame, but oh well. Belle freaks out and is crushed, then suddenly thinks through everything again and realizes where she made a mistake and it was just a bit...not as good as the rest of the story. So the very beginning and end were a bit off for you, but the middle was very entertaining.
Also posted to Jen in Bookland
The story starts off with Jesse getting pulled into Belle and her daughter's life when the daughter, Layla thinks her mom has died. Jesse of course rushes right over, finds that she had just passed out and then stays a bit (even though he doesn't want to. He is just a good guy). So I am not sure how or when he changed from not wanting to be here with them to I want to spend all my time with them. It was just like one minute he wants to get out of there and one minute he doesn't. Odd.
Luckily for Belle Jesse seems to know what is wrong with her and he helps her get it under control and feel better. They quickly start to hang out all the time, even though Belle does try to stay away (especially after the first kiss on the couch!). Jesse had been still hung up on his high school sweetheart who broke his heart, but Belle helps him move on finally. He really is a good guy and does everything he can for her and her daughter, though I didn't understand his hang up on his high school girlfriend for all these years. Jesse and Layla were incredibly cute together though. It was really nice.
The ending was a little lame, but oh well. Belle freaks out and is crushed, then suddenly thinks through everything again and realizes where she made a mistake and it was just a bit...not as good as the rest of the story. So the very beginning and end were a bit off for you, but the middle was very entertaining.
Also posted to Jen in Bookland
October 21, 2014
* * * * * 5 Star Review
When Jesse agreed to look after his younger sister pets while he was housesitting, he did not know he would meet Layla aka Yaya and her sick mother. As the day kept going he kept seeing Yaya out in the hallway and he knew the poor child had been crying. He was intrigued by it and he asked his sister about it that is when he finds out that Belle yaya's mother is a young widower and very sick.
Belle had been sick for a while and she was very weak her worse fear was to find out she had a terminal illness and would leave Yaya alone. Christmas was approacing fast and Belle knew she had to try and make herself better for Yaya's sake.
One afternoon after Yaya runs into Jesse's temporary house, he meets Belle and right away he was taken by her and her adorable daughter. Yet Jesse knows he can never love again thanks to his high school sweetheart that broke his heart.
Belle and Jesse finally decide to give in to their feelings for one another after Yaya is taken by the one person Belle is affraid of. But life has never been easy for either one of them and Jesse finds himself face to face with the one person that destroyed him.
Will Belle and Jesse be able to have the happy ending that they deserved or will the past destroyed what they have?
There are no words to describe how much I love this story, for once Yaya is one of my favorite characters by far. I also loved how Belle and Jesse struggled with their demons in order to find their happiness.
Once you read this book you will love it too. I recommend it
October 29, 2014
I love Mimi Barbour's books but this one was a disappointment. I don't care to read books when the H appears weak and this man, Jesse, was weak in my eyes, very weak.
Jesse was at his sister's apartment to dog and cat sit. Everywhere he goes he takes an 8x10 photo of the great love of his life. It has been ten years now and he won't date a woman more than once let alone get serious. He prefers to live in the past, dreaming of his life when Mari was his. He is still mourning the lover that moved away with her mother and left him. Personally I find this ridiculous and unbelievable that a man would hang onto the memory of someone for that many years and not move forward, not have more than a single date with a person and we probably know why he even did that. Ten years or more and she still haunts him. She is the last thing he sees before going to bed (picture on his night stand) and the first face he sees in the morning. I find this a little creepy and this is one of the places that he appears weak to me. The thing is he hasn't wanted to move forward but rather wallow in what was.
It was extremely frustrating and there were chapters that I quickly skimmed. It is not a book I would read again.
Jesse was at his sister's apartment to dog and cat sit. Everywhere he goes he takes an 8x10 photo of the great love of his life. It has been ten years now and he won't date a woman more than once let alone get serious. He prefers to live in the past, dreaming of his life when Mari was his. He is still mourning the lover that moved away with her mother and left him. Personally I find this ridiculous and unbelievable that a man would hang onto the memory of someone for that many years and not move forward, not have more than a single date with a person and we probably know why he even did that. Ten years or more and she still haunts him. She is the last thing he sees before going to bed (picture on his night stand) and the first face he sees in the morning. I find this a little creepy and this is one of the places that he appears weak to me. The thing is he hasn't wanted to move forward but rather wallow in what was.
It was extremely frustrating and there were chapters that I quickly skimmed. It is not a book I would read again.
December 27, 2016
When Jesse is apartment-sitting for his sister, Kim, and caring for her cats and dog he notices a little girl several times in the hallway. He decides to call his sister about her when he sees her crying one day. While he is on the phone, the young girl, Layla, comes screaming for help because her mother is dead. Turns out she wasn't dead but had fainted and only looked dead to the 3 year old. The mother, Belle, had been ill for a long time and not eating right which caused her to faint. Jesse was drawn to these two but couldn't fall in love because he'd never gotten over his first love with his high school sweetheart. Belle and Jesse did finally get together and all was well. That is until Belle's family visited then their new relationship fell apart.
This is an exciting story with a kidnapping, a former soldier with PTSD, and an odd mix of family members that changes everybody's relationship overnight. I loved the characters, especially Layla (Yaya). She's the cutest 3 year old ever.
I highly recommend this wonderful story.
This is an exciting story with a kidnapping, a former soldier with PTSD, and an odd mix of family members that changes everybody's relationship overnight. I loved the characters, especially Layla (Yaya). She's the cutest 3 year old ever.
I highly recommend this wonderful story.
July 22, 2016
Jesse is conned by his sister Kim to pet sit her two cats and one dog while she's out of town at Christmas. A few days in a row he notices a sweet little girl in the hall, when he finds her in tears one day he has to call his sister to find out more about her family. While on the phone to Kim, the little girl, who he has found out her name is Layla, comes screaming in her Mummy's dead. Belle has been sick for months, but with Jesse's help she discovers what's wrong and she starts to fall for the handsome man who has touched her and Layla's heart, shame he's still in love with his high school sweetheart. When Belle's family comes to visit, her perfect world falls apart.
This was beautifully written. Yes how quick things happened was a tad unrealistic, but this is a romance story where we love to see these things happen. Another fantastic story by Mimi
This was beautifully written. Yes how quick things happened was a tad unrealistic, but this is a romance story where we love to see these things happen. Another fantastic story by Mimi
December 20, 2014
This story is about the impact of a little girl in a nice man. The girls mother is very sick and he help her without second thoughts. He's attached to a past love that hurt him, but he hasn't let go. He falls for her and her daughter, but has to deal with his past, which came to his house as her step-sister. She accept his father love, his past and the future love that both will have. The book also presents the PTSD in military people, their effects and struggles. Very good point.
September 22, 2015
A great, sweet, happy read
This is a really adorable read. It's that kind of book that makes you feel good after following the characters and their journey through the story and it ends in a happily ever after. That is a winner for me. I need to know that if only in fantasy, there is really a happily ever after
This is a really adorable read. It's that kind of book that makes you feel good after following the characters and their journey through the story and it ends in a happily ever after. That is a winner for me. I need to know that if only in fantasy, there is really a happily ever after
June 26, 2014
SHE'S NOT YOU
by Mimi Barbour
Read on my Kindle
Ms. Barbour is a new author for me. I was drawn to this book because it was written around an ELVIS song. A heart breaker as a little girl wants to find a husband for Mom. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
by Mimi Barbour
Read on my Kindle
Ms. Barbour is a new author for me. I was drawn to this book because it was written around an ELVIS song. A heart breaker as a little girl wants to find a husband for Mom. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
December 1, 2013
A heart-warming Christmas Story with an adorable, little angel and a tall, sexy hero. Mimi packs a lot into this short story but it all works out beautifully in the end. Sweet and satisfying!
December 11, 2013
He is animal sitting for his sister ... and never expected to find love down the hall
Beautiful story!!
Give yourself a treat this Christmas!!
Pick up this book... your smiles will last for days!!
Beautiful story!!
Give yourself a treat this Christmas!!
Pick up this book... your smiles will last for days!!
March 1, 2014
Cute little holiday read!
May 1, 2014
Quick one night read. Not angsty.. A Little predictable. sweet love story.
January 19, 2015
She's Not You review
She's Not You is the first book in the Elvis Series written by author Mimi Barbour. It is a really sweet romance.
She's Not You is the first book in the Elvis Series written by author Mimi Barbour. It is a really sweet romance.
February 5, 2015
This was a great book. It is the first book of Mimi's that I've read. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. This was the 10th and final book in Ten Christmas Brides.
February 16, 2016
Cute book! It was a sweet romance. They do have pre-marital relations, but it's not described in minute detail, like other books. I really fell in love with the baby.
October 23, 2014
Sweet story. I loved how possessive Layla was of Jesse. Sam and Layla really stole the show.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews