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Bayview Heights #3
Count on Me
On her fortieth birthday, Zoe Caufield is expecting a marriage proposal but instead gets the news that Kurt Lansing, the love of her life, is going back to his ex-wife. Months later, Kurt is back in Bayview Heights. The reconciliation didn't work, and he broke Zoe’s heart for nothing. However, when he starts a clinic in town and Zoe’s students will be working there for their community service requirement, she’s once again drawn to him. But lack of trust, protesting friends, and especially the students who love her, make their relationship impossible. Can anything bring these two people together? Emotional and heart-wrenching, the Bayview Heights trilogy ends with a winner.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2001
119 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Shay
172 books500 followersKathryn Shay is a lifelong writer. At fifteen, she penned her first 'romance,' a short story about a female newspaper reporter in New York City and her fight to make a name for herself in a world of male journalists - and with one hardheaded editor in particular. Looking back, Kathryn says she should have known then that writing was in her future. But as so often happens, fate sent her detouring down another path.
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 22, 2024
****Editing this many years later.
I get many terrible book recommendations on Facebook and for the last few months, this is the one.
There must have been a rerelease of the book. I don't have my accounts linked and it always makes me laugh that for some reason Facebook really thinks I'll like this one *** End edit
Prologue of the story is a happy heroine who's celebrating her 40th birthday with the man she loves. He's rented a hotel room for the weekend for them and tells her that her 40th is a great day for a big announcement. While they're supposed to meet at the hotel, she goes to meet him at his clinic.
He's at a meeting and she's sitting waiting for him when out walks his ex-wife from his office, who flings her arms around him and gives him a big huge kiss and tells him she'll be waiting for his answer, he's so into it he doesn't even notice his girlfriend sitting there until the other woman has already left and she stands up.
Then he's shocked and affronted and says "I thought you were meeting me at the hotel". But despite all this evidence of cheating, she tells him she trusts him. So he admits that he'd slept with his ex-wife a week previously in the same bed that he'd been sleeping with her in. Gross. Oh yes, and the ex-wife wants to reconcile and he hadn't told her no, but he plans on it.
So, he didn't bother at any time before that to contact the heroine, still planned on meeting her at the hotel..and probably falling into bed because he doesn't seem able to keep it in his pants, but he's planning on going back to his ex-wife.
This is the third book in the story and there were tons of characters. It was distracting and a little annoying. I thought it jumped around a lot for what was going on with the kids.
So a month after his marriage again, he knew he'd made a mistake, after three months it was living hell, and then after a year he divorced her again.
Hmm, so I'm sure he was sleeping with the wife after the heroine left him and before he married her again, and he didn't realize it was a mistake until one month into the marriage, so it took two months of great sex with the wife before he realized that maybe he'd made a mistake? Annoying, and it took another two months after that for it to be really bad for him.
So he doesn't want to hurt her but then he's trying to get back together with her and he wants her to trust him.
And the best part is when he asked her why she didn't fight for him last time? Well, let's see, on my birthday I caught you redhanded making out with your wife, and a week previous to that you'd cheated on me with her. So what? I'm supposed to have a jello match with your wife and kick the crap out of her because YOU decided to cheat with her? I don't think so. But no, because when the two times and ex wife comes back again, this time the heroine stands up and tells her to leave.
So what happens when the ex-wife sobers up and shapes up and wants him back? Something in me says he'll be right back with her. The only problem is, he'll be married to the heroine, so he's going to be a cheat all his life.
I get many terrible book recommendations on Facebook and for the last few months, this is the one.
There must have been a rerelease of the book. I don't have my accounts linked and it always makes me laugh that for some reason Facebook really thinks I'll like this one *** End edit
Prologue of the story is a happy heroine who's celebrating her 40th birthday with the man she loves. He's rented a hotel room for the weekend for them and tells her that her 40th is a great day for a big announcement. While they're supposed to meet at the hotel, she goes to meet him at his clinic.
He's at a meeting and she's sitting waiting for him when out walks his ex-wife from his office, who flings her arms around him and gives him a big huge kiss and tells him she'll be waiting for his answer, he's so into it he doesn't even notice his girlfriend sitting there until the other woman has already left and she stands up.
Then he's shocked and affronted and says "I thought you were meeting me at the hotel". But despite all this evidence of cheating, she tells him she trusts him. So he admits that he'd slept with his ex-wife a week previously in the same bed that he'd been sleeping with her in. Gross. Oh yes, and the ex-wife wants to reconcile and he hadn't told her no, but he plans on it.
So, he didn't bother at any time before that to contact the heroine, still planned on meeting her at the hotel..and probably falling into bed because he doesn't seem able to keep it in his pants, but he's planning on going back to his ex-wife.
This is the third book in the story and there were tons of characters. It was distracting and a little annoying. I thought it jumped around a lot for what was going on with the kids.
So a month after his marriage again, he knew he'd made a mistake, after three months it was living hell, and then after a year he divorced her again.
Hmm, so I'm sure he was sleeping with the wife after the heroine left him and before he married her again, and he didn't realize it was a mistake until one month into the marriage, so it took two months of great sex with the wife before he realized that maybe he'd made a mistake? Annoying, and it took another two months after that for it to be really bad for him.
So he doesn't want to hurt her but then he's trying to get back together with her and he wants her to trust him.
And the best part is when he asked her why she didn't fight for him last time? Well, let's see, on my birthday I caught you redhanded making out with your wife, and a week previous to that you'd cheated on me with her. So what? I'm supposed to have a jello match with your wife and kick the crap out of her because YOU decided to cheat with her? I don't think so. But no, because when the two times and ex wife comes back again, this time the heroine stands up and tells her to leave.
So what happens when the ex-wife sobers up and shapes up and wants him back? Something in me says he'll be right back with her. The only problem is, he'll be married to the heroine, so he's going to be a cheat all his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2017
Why didn't I listen. Why. The. Hell. Did. I. Not. Listen?
I was warned.
Worst title. She can't count on him.
I was warned.
Worst title. She can't count on him.
July 23, 2020
'Count On me'
The title's a joke!
Going into the book I knew the H had cheated on the h with his ex-wife in the prologue. So it was no big angst for me.
What really maddened me was when the book slowly reveals their (h/H) intimate moments. They had a real good sex life going on- hot, exciting, tender, fun-filled and then the scumbag had sex with his ex in the same bed. (It should be clarified that the h lived in another town so they get together maybe on weekends etc.)
The prologue scene – when he tells her he’s going back to his ex was on the h’s birthday after she arrives at his office early as he had invited her to dinner and more (in a hotel later) and had promised her a big happy surprise. So she arrives expecting a ILY and a proposal and gets hit with this whammy!
A year later he’s thin, worn down and repentant! And wants a second chance as neither the sex nor the ‘married’ life with the ex had suited him. And the h’s wary as her ex-husband too had cheated and dumped her. So, no thank you from her!
Still he keeps after her like a love sick puppy, sulking and whining intermittently while she tries (valiantly) to keep distance but… and so on.
Also for unwitting readers who don’t know about the 'Bayview Heights' series and it’s inhabitants. Let me tell you it includes all the previous assorted h/Hs (and their babies), future prospective ones, school staff, clinic staff and a whole posse of (troubled) girl students loyal to the h, their parents and local politicians too. And they all have personal and professional lives/routines /problems – that wants in on the book – 60-70% of it at least!
Oh and we all go camping too.
OMG, what am I reading??
Skim Skip Skim!
So what else...?
A few days after he came back, it’s her birthday again and the lowlife doesn’t wish her. It hits me then that he hadn’t said happy birthday the last time too (at least not in a good way!).
Also the whiny chump wanted to know..Why didn't you fight for me (last year)??
Huh?! What should she have done? Hung to your coat tails as you took your suitcases to your ex’s place? Mud wrestle with the buffalo?
Towards the very end, after a professional crisis, he wants to go away to heal himself. She begs him to stay and give 'them' a chance but he runs like a bat outa hell. So lets her down- again.
And 10 week later she crawls to him and 5 minutes later it’s finis/hea. That was not the ending that made it any better!
The title's a joke!
Going into the book I knew the H had cheated on the h with his ex-wife in the prologue. So it was no big angst for me.
What really maddened me was when the book slowly reveals their (h/H) intimate moments. They had a real good sex life going on- hot, exciting, tender, fun-filled and then the scumbag had sex with his ex in the same bed. (It should be clarified that the h lived in another town so they get together maybe on weekends etc.)
The prologue scene – when he tells her he’s going back to his ex was on the h’s birthday after she arrives at his office early as he had invited her to dinner and more (in a hotel later) and had promised her a big happy surprise. So she arrives expecting a ILY and a proposal and gets hit with this whammy!
A year later he’s thin, worn down and repentant! And wants a second chance as neither the sex nor the ‘married’ life with the ex had suited him. And the h’s wary as her ex-husband too had cheated and dumped her. So, no thank you from her!
Still he keeps after her like a love sick puppy, sulking and whining intermittently while she tries (valiantly) to keep distance but… and so on.
Also for unwitting readers who don’t know about the 'Bayview Heights' series and it’s inhabitants. Let me tell you it includes all the previous assorted h/Hs (and their babies), future prospective ones, school staff, clinic staff and a whole posse of (troubled) girl students loyal to the h, their parents and local politicians too. And they all have personal and professional lives/routines /problems – that wants in on the book – 60-70% of it at least!
Oh and we all go camping too.
OMG, what am I reading??
Skim Skip Skim!
So what else...?
A few days after he came back, it’s her birthday again and the lowlife doesn’t wish her. It hits me then that he hadn’t said happy birthday the last time too (at least not in a good way!).
Also the whiny chump wanted to know..Why didn't you fight for me (last year)??
Huh?! What should she have done? Hung to your coat tails as you took your suitcases to your ex’s place? Mud wrestle with the buffalo?
Towards the very end, after a professional crisis, he wants to go away to heal himself. She begs him to stay and give 'them' a chance but he runs like a bat outa hell. So lets her down- again.
And 10 week later she crawls to him and 5 minutes later it’s finis/hea. That was not the ending that made it any better!
June 28, 2016
The "hero" of this story is probably one of the most loathsome unheroic heroes ever. He is a selfish, arrogant idiot who deserves the wife he left the heroine to return too. The heroine was a awesome teacher, friend, and apparently their sex life was off the grid, so I am utterly confused by the begining of this story, the heroine shows up for a date with the hero, she sees him kissing his ex wife bye bye....he's disheveled and doesn't even notice her waiting...then he invites her in and tells her 1 he has just slept with the ex and 2 he is going back to a woman that cheated on him and is a hot nasty mess.... and believe it or not that was the best thing he ever did for the heroine....
She goes back home to face their friends and his family and try to pull herself together, she was expecting forever not a confession of faithlessness and being dumped.
The story takes up again about a year later, the nasty unhero is back in town where he has a project that requires him to be there, he has left his wife again and is arrogantly lying to everyone that he is not after the heroine again... he spies on her, is jealous and obnoxious while playing the woe is my card....
I prayed thru the whole book that she would let that faithless idiot go, that she would allow Rad Ransom the hottest man in the book to sweep her off her feet...he was hot and a hero adn crazy about her...her complaint of him was he was a few years younger....yeah I could see that... a hot faithful dreamboat who adored me or a faithless lout who cheated on me, dumped me and now stalks my relationships and gives his opinion on my love life... yeah you can see how this will work out.
The author did her best to redeem him, but minus him taking a bullet in the head for the heroine and dying I could not imagine redemption of him. The only HEA I wanted for him was back with the ex wife they deserved each other....
She goes back home to face their friends and his family and try to pull herself together, she was expecting forever not a confession of faithlessness and being dumped.
The story takes up again about a year later, the nasty unhero is back in town where he has a project that requires him to be there, he has left his wife again and is arrogantly lying to everyone that he is not after the heroine again... he spies on her, is jealous and obnoxious while playing the woe is my card....
I prayed thru the whole book that she would let that faithless idiot go, that she would allow Rad Ransom the hottest man in the book to sweep her off her feet...he was hot and a hero adn crazy about her...her complaint of him was he was a few years younger....yeah I could see that... a hot faithful dreamboat who adored me or a faithless lout who cheated on me, dumped me and now stalks my relationships and gives his opinion on my love life... yeah you can see how this will work out.
The author did her best to redeem him, but minus him taking a bullet in the head for the heroine and dying I could not imagine redemption of him. The only HEA I wanted for him was back with the ex wife they deserved each other....
August 14, 2015
This has got to be one of the most pathetic hero's I've ever read.
Heroine turns up at work on her birthday to surprise her boyfriend (Zero hero), catches him kissing his ex wife, he then tells her he slept with her and will be getting back with her.
One year later, he's back moaning and complaining that it didn't work after a month or so, whinging that the heroine should have fought for him, stopped him marrying again, what a cry baby douche, uggh. Anyway he slithers his way back into her life as they always do.
Heroine turns up at work on her birthday to surprise her boyfriend (Zero hero), catches him kissing his ex wife, he then tells her he slept with her and will be getting back with her.
One year later, he's back moaning and complaining that it didn't work after a month or so, whinging that the heroine should have fought for him, stopped him marrying again, what a cry baby douche, uggh. Anyway he slithers his way back into her life as they always do.
avoid-and-run-away
April 2, 2021DNF
==============
Boring... Tedious... I tried again, but i couldn't finish it. The worst part is, I bought it.
==============
Boring... Tedious... I tried again, but i couldn't finish it. The worst part is, I bought it.
She was on her way to celebrate her birthday with the man she loved, and she’d just come from doing a job she adored.
Her heart fluttered, remembering his next words. “I have some things to say to you, Zoe. Important things. Your fortieth birthday is the perfect time.”
“He loves me,” she said aloud in the car. She knew it, even though he hadn’t spoken the words.
After all, it was her birthday—the big four-0 no less.
His ex-wife, Elizabeth. Zoe’s mouth fell open as the woman reached up and encircled Kurt’s neck with her long, slender arms. Bringing his head down, she kissed him thoroughly on the mouth. Zoe’s stomach lurched.
“We were...” He glanced at the clock. “I thought we were meeting at the hotel.”
Releasing a heavy breath, she studied him. Damn it, she wasn’t giving in to insecurities and hurt pride. “I trust you, Kurt.”
“I slept with Elizabeth.”
“I asked when.” “Last Monday night.”
“Where, Kurt? Where did you sleep with her? In the bed where we’d made love the weekend before?” The color drained from his face. Finally he said, “Zoe, don’t.”
She stood abruptly. “Please, don’t say you’re sorry.” She lifted her face to take this on the chin. “Obviously you’re considering going back to her.” He stared at her. Swallowed hard. “Yes.”
“She just got back from Paris last night.” Ah, Paris. And Pierre.
“In any case, you gave up your right to be concerned about her when you went back to that shrew.”
Elizabeth treated you like dirt for years. Then she cheated on you.”
“She’s a siren. She’s always had some weird control over you. You’re going to get hurt big time—and lose Zoe in the process…”
“Zoe, I’ve left Elizabeth.” She looked at him blankly. “It didn’t work out.” Still she didn’t say anything. Then she lowered her head, wrapped an arm around her waist, and dug the thumb and forefinger of her other hand into her eyes. “So much wasted,” she murmured.
“All for nothing.”
“You aren’t thinking of...” Cassie frowned. “Zoe, you wouldn’t take him back, would you?” “No, of course not. I could never trust him again. I couldn’t live with that kind of uncertainty.”
“You stayed with her a year. Why didn’t you leave sooner?”
“Because of Lauren.”
“Hi, Kurt.” “Have we met?” he asked, tossing back the ball. The woman was pretty—long blond hair, long limbs and wide eyes. She resembled Elizabeth. “Yes, last year. I’m Barbara Sherman, school psychologist.”
May 3, 2011
The cheating leaps off the page in the freaking Prologue, and I just don't think the hero grovelled enough (in fact, he became indignant!) to make up for BEING CAUGHT and cheating on a woman (the heroine) who had been cheated on in her previous relationship. Heck, the woman he cheated with (his ex) cheated on him!
I did appreciate the WHOLE TOWN shunning his butt, although some went a little too far. Oops!
I did appreciate the WHOLE TOWN shunning his butt, although some went a little too far. Oops!
September 25, 2017
Something that kills me is when someone screws up royally and makes the choice as an adult to cheat and/or leave, and then they have the audacity to say, "Well, why didn't you fight for me?"
Unbelievable. I do think he groveled extensively but that killed it for me.
Unbelievable. I do think he groveled extensively but that killed it for me.
Read
September 27, 2020DNF
pass
October 1, 2023Pass
She crawls back to him (the cheater) at the end. I hate this kind of scenario when he’s the one that should be crawling on broken glass for her…until the end of time.
She crawls back to him (the cheater) at the end. I hate this kind of scenario when he’s the one that should be crawling on broken glass for her…until the end of time.
May 5, 2012
I read through it and I kind of enjoyed it but honestly, half of it was boring. I didn't have that emotional connection with the characters and I just felt swamped down by things in the book that didn't need to be there at all. I now know why Saly had it on her avoid list... haha.
August 7, 2023
2.5 stars, being generous and rounding up to 3.
Zoe and Kurt were in a relationship about a year ago. We find out in the prologue that Kurt not only decided to go back to his wife, but cheated on Zoe with said wife right before they were supposed to go away for her birthday.
Okay, says Violet (my inner angst whore), who loves a good grovel. Let's gooooooooo!
Nope. Sorry Violet, this was far too interested in literal high school drama to give you that grovel. But kudos to the book for giving me a 2020's update to this moment:
Well, not kudos. More like, *rolls eyes* but I still enjoyed the callback from a nostalgia standpoint.
Kurt spends most of the book after his return being a total lame-ass, who clearly loves Zoe and regrets everything, but doesn't, ya know, do anything. Which is fine, he was respecting boundaries she'd asked for. But then he gets wind that she still wants him and he's all, Yeah, I'm gonna fight for my woman! and Violet got her hopes up again...
Nope. Zoe still has to do all the heavy lifting here. I mean yeah, Kurt is put through the wringer. Even his brother is mad at him for dumping her. But Zoe doesn't even get mad at him until, like, halfway through the book. And then he's all, Why didn't you fight for me? and Violet was all, "Say whaaaaat?"
When you cheat, what's to fight for, shithead? I'm all for a second chance, but a grovel must ensue. I'm talking flowers, emotional apologies, eating your own heart out, whatever. I hate when authors put part of the blame for the relationship ending on the one who was cheated on because she didn't fight harder after finding out that he'd slept with someone else. (So does Violet.)
In the end, Kurt is a further weak chode, chooses not to work things out with Zoe even when she's literally begging him to talk to her, slinks off to open another hospital, and Zoe gets together in a reverse harem with the hot, younger vice principal who is clearly hot for her and her French ex-boyfriend, while Kurt watches from afar and wishes he weren't such a weak asshole.
Just kidding. All that was true except the last part. Silly. This is the kind of book where Zoe has to do all the heavy lifting at the end. Fuck Kurt. Meanwhile, I liked Zoe, except for her taste in men and the oversharing with her students. (Oh, and this small school in New York has more special programs for at-risk youth in a single month than my junior high AND high school did, combined.)
Zoe and Kurt were in a relationship about a year ago. We find out in the prologue that Kurt not only decided to go back to his wife, but cheated on Zoe with said wife right before they were supposed to go away for her birthday.
Okay, says Violet (my inner angst whore), who loves a good grovel. Let's gooooooooo!
Nope. Sorry Violet, this was far too interested in literal high school drama to give you that grovel. But kudos to the book for giving me a 2020's update to this moment:
Well, not kudos. More like, *rolls eyes* but I still enjoyed the callback from a nostalgia standpoint.
Kurt spends most of the book after his return being a total lame-ass, who clearly loves Zoe and regrets everything, but doesn't, ya know, do anything. Which is fine, he was respecting boundaries she'd asked for. But then he gets wind that she still wants him and he's all, Yeah, I'm gonna fight for my woman! and Violet got her hopes up again...
Nope. Zoe still has to do all the heavy lifting here. I mean yeah, Kurt is put through the wringer. Even his brother is mad at him for dumping her. But Zoe doesn't even get mad at him until, like, halfway through the book. And then he's all, Why didn't you fight for me? and Violet was all, "Say whaaaaat?"
When you cheat, what's to fight for, shithead? I'm all for a second chance, but a grovel must ensue. I'm talking flowers, emotional apologies, eating your own heart out, whatever. I hate when authors put part of the blame for the relationship ending on the one who was cheated on because she didn't fight harder after finding out that he'd slept with someone else. (So does Violet.)
In the end, Kurt is a further weak chode, chooses not to work things out with Zoe even when she's literally begging him to talk to her, slinks off to open another hospital, and Zoe gets together in a reverse harem with the hot, younger vice principal who is clearly hot for her and her French ex-boyfriend, while Kurt watches from afar and wishes he weren't such a weak asshole.
Just kidding. All that was true except the last part. Silly. This is the kind of book where Zoe has to do all the heavy lifting at the end. Fuck Kurt. Meanwhile, I liked Zoe, except for her taste in men and the oversharing with her students. (Oh, and this small school in New York has more special programs for at-risk youth in a single month than my junior high AND high school did, combined.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 14, 2019Okay, I'm officially losing my faith in humanity.
June 10, 2023
🏴☠️
Re-read rating reduced to 1 star:
I’ll blame it on my LBT, because older me isn’t as lenient as younger me
⏰SPOILERS⏰
🏴☠️
“He left me for his ex-wife; he slept with her while he and I were still together, and he broke my heart.”
🏴☠️
“He’d slept with another woman when he was involved with her. He’d left her for that same woman. No matter that he’d suffered that year, too. He knew it was his own actions that had caused all that pain.”
🏴☠️
Ow / ex wife: Elizabeth
Heroine: Zoe
Asshole Fuckhead: Kurt
🏴☠️
Hxh:
“Their yearlong relationship…”
“Though they’d (Hxh) made no commitments to each other, about four months ago he’d asked her not to see other men and had promised not to see other women.”
🏴☠️
The Cheating:
“I slept with Elizabeth.”
“Last Monday night.”
“Where, Kurt? Where did you sleep with her? In the bed where we’d made love the weekend before?”
🏴☠️
First time he leaves heroine:
“I’m reconciling with Elizabeth.”
“But you and Zoe are together.”
“…I’ve loved Elizabeth all my life. If there’s a chance I can make it work, I owe it to her and Lauren (H and ow‘s SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD daughter) to try. I hate that I failed at my marriage.”
“…I’d dated Elizabeth since I was sixteen—that’s a thirty-year relationship. Somewhere in my mixed-up brain, I thought I’d always love her…”
🏴☠️
Intimacy with ow:
“…when Elizabeth and I were reconciled and we slept together, I blanked my mind, and participated in the act with just my body. Notice I didn’t call it making love. It wasn’t pleasant, and very soon I couldn’t do it anymore…”
“It leveled me to know you were making love with her. I couldn’t bear it.”
“He didn’t tell her that making love was not the correct term at all. He and Elizabeth had sex. And it wasn’t even very good.”
🏴☠️
Of course, while back with the wife, Asshole Fuckbastard realised how much he really cared about the h. Not that he came back for her with a suitable grovel.
❤️
Heroine was doing so well:
“Though she missed him desperately, she’d learned she could indeed be happy without him.”
She didn’t move on despite enjoying a mild flirtation with an om who looks at her with stars in his gorgeous eyes
🏴☠️
Then, Asshole Fucktard:
“I MADE A MISTAKE.”
“…After three months, life had become a living hell. He’d waited until Lauren went to college to leave again.”
“I realized quickly I’d made a mistake.”
“She’s a cast-iron bitch. She treated him like dirt for years”
“You stayed with her a year. Why didn’t you leave sooner?”
“Because of Lauren.”
🏴☠️
The pushy interfering friends:
“I’m not sure you shouldn’t give him another chance.”
“He’s sorry for what he did. He’s changed.” She shrugged. “He made a mistake.”
🏴☠️
Then, Asshole Fuckface leaves h the SECOND TIME:
“I need to get away.”
“I was too caught up in what was happening in my personal life. I let it distract me from my work.”
“I’m not the man you think I am. You can’t count on me, Zoe. Like you’ve said so many times.”
“I was upset. I was figuring things out. I didn’t know what I wanted.”
“I know. But I’m figuring things out now. Let’s leave it at that.” He glanced at the clock behind her. “I’ve got to go.”
Tears clouded her eyes.
“Please, Kurt, don’t leave.”
❗️
No amount of grovel, remorse nor jealousy on his part makes him worthy:
❗️
He will always be Asshole Fucknut.
🛑LBT: low bullshit tolerance
🛑NTS: neaten review
Re-read rating reduced to 1 star:
I’ll blame it on my LBT, because older me isn’t as lenient as younger me
⏰SPOILERS⏰
🏴☠️
“He left me for his ex-wife; he slept with her while he and I were still together, and he broke my heart.”
🏴☠️
“He’d slept with another woman when he was involved with her. He’d left her for that same woman. No matter that he’d suffered that year, too. He knew it was his own actions that had caused all that pain.”
🏴☠️
Ow / ex wife: Elizabeth
Heroine: Zoe
Asshole Fuckhead: Kurt
🏴☠️
Hxh:
“Their yearlong relationship…”
“Though they’d (Hxh) made no commitments to each other, about four months ago he’d asked her not to see other men and had promised not to see other women.”
🏴☠️
The Cheating:
“I slept with Elizabeth.”
“Last Monday night.”
“Where, Kurt? Where did you sleep with her? In the bed where we’d made love the weekend before?”
🏴☠️
First time he leaves heroine:
“I’m reconciling with Elizabeth.”
“But you and Zoe are together.”
“…I’ve loved Elizabeth all my life. If there’s a chance I can make it work, I owe it to her and Lauren (H and ow‘s SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD daughter) to try. I hate that I failed at my marriage.”
“…I’d dated Elizabeth since I was sixteen—that’s a thirty-year relationship. Somewhere in my mixed-up brain, I thought I’d always love her…”
🏴☠️
Intimacy with ow:
“…when Elizabeth and I were reconciled and we slept together, I blanked my mind, and participated in the act with just my body. Notice I didn’t call it making love. It wasn’t pleasant, and very soon I couldn’t do it anymore…”
“It leveled me to know you were making love with her. I couldn’t bear it.”
“He didn’t tell her that making love was not the correct term at all. He and Elizabeth had sex. And it wasn’t even very good.”
🏴☠️
Of course, while back with the wife, Asshole Fuckbastard realised how much he really cared about the h. Not that he came back for her with a suitable grovel.
❤️
Heroine was doing so well:
“Though she missed him desperately, she’d learned she could indeed be happy without him.”
She didn’t move on despite enjoying a mild flirtation with an om who looks at her with stars in his gorgeous eyes
🏴☠️
Then, Asshole Fucktard:
“I MADE A MISTAKE.”
“…After three months, life had become a living hell. He’d waited until Lauren went to college to leave again.”
“I realized quickly I’d made a mistake.”
“She’s a cast-iron bitch. She treated him like dirt for years”
“You stayed with her a year. Why didn’t you leave sooner?”
“Because of Lauren.”
🏴☠️
The pushy interfering friends:
“I’m not sure you shouldn’t give him another chance.”
“He’s sorry for what he did. He’s changed.” She shrugged. “He made a mistake.”
🏴☠️
Then, Asshole Fuckface leaves h the SECOND TIME:
“I need to get away.”
“I was too caught up in what was happening in my personal life. I let it distract me from my work.”
“I’m not the man you think I am. You can’t count on me, Zoe. Like you’ve said so many times.”
“I was upset. I was figuring things out. I didn’t know what I wanted.”
“I know. But I’m figuring things out now. Let’s leave it at that.” He glanced at the clock behind her. “I’ve got to go.”
Tears clouded her eyes.
“Please, Kurt, don’t leave.”
❗️
No amount of grovel, remorse nor jealousy on his part makes him worthy:
❗️
He will always be Asshole Fucknut.
🛑LBT: low bullshit tolerance
🛑NTS: neaten review
June 17, 2018
Soooooooooooooooooo Boooooooooooooring
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DNF 50%
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DNF 50%
June 20, 2010
This would have been a keeper and rated higher except that this story was too busy (too many characters too follow).
June 15, 2023
He cheats on her with his ex wife. They break up. They get back together. They both want kids but he wasted her time and fertility. She takes him back.
She's stupid. He's not that great.
She's stupid. He's not that great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2011
This harlequin was a little atypical. H/h were in their 40s. Zoe is a school teacher and Kurt is a doctor. He was married to a wife who cheated on him and was kinda damaged when he began dating Zoe. But they were just starting to get serious when Kurt's ex-wife asked for a second chance. He went back to his wife devastating Zoe (and apparently the whole town who were way too involved in this relationship).
A year later, Kurt and is ex-wife are on the outs for good and he has realized what a colossal mistake he's made. Of course it doesn't hurt that everyone, their mother, their dogs and their kids hate his guts over how much he's hurt Zoe.
With that synopsis you'd think this was a story just about Kurt and Zoe. But you'd be wrong. There are a LOT of supporting characters all of whom have their own stories. This includes all their happily married friends (who have their own stories in connected books) as well as a group of angsty teens awash in all kinds of teen-aged trouble. In fact this book reads more like a soapy ensemble than a romance novel.
This book can be considered a 'cheating hero' book. But frankly I felt that all the drama and angst that everybody sent Kurt's way was just a little too much to fit his perceived crime. He was sorry so much, Zoe was a complete noble martyr and everyone was falling all over themselves to show her support that I just wanted people to get over it already. And really, a teacher who overshares with teen-aged her students really gets the side-eye from me.
But it was an ok read for all that. Quick and passed the afternoon pleasantly.
A year later, Kurt and is ex-wife are on the outs for good and he has realized what a colossal mistake he's made. Of course it doesn't hurt that everyone, their mother, their dogs and their kids hate his guts over how much he's hurt Zoe.
With that synopsis you'd think this was a story just about Kurt and Zoe. But you'd be wrong. There are a LOT of supporting characters all of whom have their own stories. This includes all their happily married friends (who have their own stories in connected books) as well as a group of angsty teens awash in all kinds of teen-aged trouble. In fact this book reads more like a soapy ensemble than a romance novel.
This book can be considered a 'cheating hero' book. But frankly I felt that all the drama and angst that everybody sent Kurt's way was just a little too much to fit his perceived crime. He was sorry so much, Zoe was a complete noble martyr and everyone was falling all over themselves to show her support that I just wanted people to get over it already. And really, a teacher who overshares with teen-aged her students really gets the side-eye from me.
But it was an ok read for all that. Quick and passed the afternoon pleasantly.
November 5, 2016
gostei da historia, pelo tema que aborda.... segundas oportunidades com um casal um pouco mais "velho" :)
não é com muita frequencia que se encontram historias em que os personagens são estao na faixa etária dos quarenta e picos, dai que a maturidade e a propria postura mediante as situações que se vão deparando sao diferentes.
nesta historia Kurt Lansing, comete o maior erro de decisão da sua vida, arrependendo-se amargamente.... Zoe Caufield sentiu tudo isso como a maior dor e perda possivel.
mas o futuro é feito de mudanças e perdão e o recuperar da confiança é algo que se reaprende.
uma bonita historia onde se sente a empatia dos personagens e o seu amor pelo proximo.
não é com muita frequencia que se encontram historias em que os personagens são estao na faixa etária dos quarenta e picos, dai que a maturidade e a propria postura mediante as situações que se vão deparando sao diferentes.
nesta historia Kurt Lansing, comete o maior erro de decisão da sua vida, arrependendo-se amargamente.... Zoe Caufield sentiu tudo isso como a maior dor e perda possivel.
mas o futuro é feito de mudanças e perdão e o recuperar da confiança é algo que se reaprende.
uma bonita historia onde se sente a empatia dos personagens e o seu amor pelo proximo.
March 20, 2024
I read the entire book, but the Prologue should have been my DNF ! When the MFC acts like the "bad ex-boyfriend" trope from a normal romance, read the story knowing that this will become a rage read. I don't care that he's a decent guy with a "give back to the community " clinic-- he showed his true colors in the Prologue. No, just no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
own-under-diff-title-or-anthology
April 16, 2017Bayview Heights Trilogy
November 25, 2015
I'm not fond of stories about romances that failed, and now they are getting back together. Mostly too painful.
October 3, 2018
One has to think that the title of this book is an exercise in irony, because this hero is the most useless, faithless weasel in the history of romance novels.
Read
May 25, 2023DNF
did-not-finish
July 10, 2024Very boring book. At the beginning she goes to see the guy she is dating. He is coming out of his office, another woman was there and gave him a big kiss. It was his ex-wife. Turns out he slept with her a couple of days before and he is getting back with her. Several months later he comes back to the town she lives in because he broke up again with his ex-wife. No drama between what happened. I did not see him being sorry for what he did. Even though he confesses he loves her and did then. They have to work together because he is a dr and she is a teacher and they opened up a center that her students volunteer at. That is as far as I got.
February 22, 2023
Can you recover from a betrayal?
I loved this book. Coming from a family of educators, so much hit home. The caring for the students, the closeness and caring and especially the struggle to help without violating parent-teen relationships. The love story was written with sensativity and anyone who has experienced nbetrayal can feel for both people and hope they can get past their history.
I loved this book. Coming from a family of educators, so much hit home. The caring for the students, the closeness and caring and especially the struggle to help without violating parent-teen relationships. The love story was written with sensativity and anyone who has experienced nbetrayal can feel for both people and hope they can get past their history.
July 10, 2023
This is a novel about betrayal, suffering, and working to rebuild a relationship. Kurt breaks up with Zoe in order to return to his marriage and hopefully, give his daughter the security he feels she needs. Soon, however, Kurt knows he has made a terrible error and realizes he still loves Zoe. There is another plot involved in this book too, one in which drugs are being abused. I enjoy Kathryn's Shay's books so was not surprised that this book was another good read for her.
December 27, 2017
3 Stars
This is the first book I have read in this series so that might be why I only gave this book a 3 star rating. Zoe and Kurt’s story was good but there were too many other stories going on it was hard to keep up.
This is the first book I have read in this series so that might be why I only gave this book a 3 star rating. Zoe and Kurt’s story was good but there were too many other stories going on it was hard to keep up.
October 17, 2023
Second chance
This is a second chance romance. It's quite refreshing to have characters that are older in age compared to the usual romantic heroes.
It's just that the heroine is very much a forgiving person. I wish she wasn't lol.
This is a second chance romance. It's quite refreshing to have characters that are older in age compared to the usual romantic heroes.
It's just that the heroine is very much a forgiving person. I wish she wasn't lol.
December 15, 2017
I really like the characters in this series. Ms. Shat makes them real and extremely likeable. Their problems are ones that my friends or neighbors might have which makes them believable.
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