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Home to Glory #1
Return to Glory
In Glory, Kansas, the best bakery in three counties may not only bring together ingredients for sweet treats, but be the place where—through the powerful mix of friendship, community and a well-stocked kitchen—a wounded hero can forge a forever kind of love.
Jack McConnell's back in the hometown he left behind five years ago, battle-scarred and feeling like half a man. But Betsy Lewis only sees the hero who saved her life and set her heart on fire. Now she's burning to save his life in return. She'll use every trick she's got up her sleeve, from her generous natural assets to her talent for baking, to coax Jack out from the bottom of his whiskey bottle.
At first, Jack responds to Betsy like any red-blooded man would. He's always denied his attraction to the innocent girl he used to know, but he's returned to find Betsy's grown into a full-on woman with strength enough for both of them. Until Jack realizes the only way to conquer his demons and be worthy of the hero's mantle she's pinned to his shoulders is to save Betsy one last time—from himself.
Jack McConnell's back in the hometown he left behind five years ago, battle-scarred and feeling like half a man. But Betsy Lewis only sees the hero who saved her life and set her heart on fire. Now she's burning to save his life in return. She'll use every trick she's got up her sleeve, from her generous natural assets to her talent for baking, to coax Jack out from the bottom of his whiskey bottle.
At first, Jack responds to Betsy like any red-blooded man would. He's always denied his attraction to the innocent girl he used to know, but he's returned to find Betsy's grown into a full-on woman with strength enough for both of them. Until Jack realizes the only way to conquer his demons and be worthy of the hero's mantle she's pinned to his shoulders is to save Betsy one last time—from himself.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
35 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
Sara Arden
11 books32 followers Sara Arden is the small town romance pen name of author Saranna DeWylde/Sara Wylde/Sara Lunsford.
She lives in a town much like Glory, all the way down to Haymarket Square and The Corner Pharmacy.
She lives in a town much like Glory, all the way down to Haymarket Square and The Corner Pharmacy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 19, 2014
3.5 stars
The start of a new small-town romance by Sara Arden was a pretty solid one. It also dealt quite heavy with PTSD issues, as the hero, Jack McConnell, returned to his hometown with battle scars, both physically and emotionally. The opening of the first chapter alone – Jack was contemplating to kill himself with his gun – was something I don’t usually find in romance. It felt different and serious but it also presented readers with some great moments.
I admired Betsy quite a deal here – she looked at Jack, refused to let him give up on life. I loved it when she confronted Jack when he was feeling down, basically told him to get up and she would be there to help him. I thought it was admirable – Betsy definitely didn’t just step back and think that love would immediately heal everything. She also thought that Jack would need help. And yes, I loved reading the part where Jack gets all the help he needed. It was heartbreaking too, thinking about all those things that the ex-soldiers were experiencing after they went home from war.
However, I must admit that about the last 25% or so, the story started to feel like it was losing its steam. I mean, it never occurred to me that Jack and Betsy didn’t love each other in their own way. So yes, Betsy did start loving Jack as some-kind of childhood hero – Jack saved Betsy’s life from drowning – and Jack might have issues with his PTSD, but I just never questioned about them making it. Jack clearly was looking for help, Betsy clearly was willing to wait. So the push/pull that happened afterwards, including that one final issue before the happily ever after ending, felt like it dragged the story down.
But overall, I think it was a pretty solid romance.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The start of a new small-town romance by Sara Arden was a pretty solid one. It also dealt quite heavy with PTSD issues, as the hero, Jack McConnell, returned to his hometown with battle scars, both physically and emotionally. The opening of the first chapter alone – Jack was contemplating to kill himself with his gun – was something I don’t usually find in romance. It felt different and serious but it also presented readers with some great moments.
I admired Betsy quite a deal here – she looked at Jack, refused to let him give up on life. I loved it when she confronted Jack when he was feeling down, basically told him to get up and she would be there to help him. I thought it was admirable – Betsy definitely didn’t just step back and think that love would immediately heal everything. She also thought that Jack would need help. And yes, I loved reading the part where Jack gets all the help he needed. It was heartbreaking too, thinking about all those things that the ex-soldiers were experiencing after they went home from war.
However, I must admit that about the last 25% or so, the story started to feel like it was losing its steam. I mean, it never occurred to me that Jack and Betsy didn’t love each other in their own way. So yes, Betsy did start loving Jack as some-kind of childhood hero – Jack saved Betsy’s life from drowning – and Jack might have issues with his PTSD, but I just never questioned about them making it. Jack clearly was looking for help, Betsy clearly was willing to wait. So the push/pull that happened afterwards, including that one final issue before the happily ever after ending, felt like it dragged the story down.
But overall, I think it was a pretty solid romance.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
December 3, 2014
I have to admit before I picked this book up, it wouldn't have been the type I normally go for as to me it screamed a romance novel, you know the sort that are really lovey-dovey and they have that Harlequin type feel to them. The main reason I did pick up this book was because the author Sara Arden (pen name) is an author whose other books that she used different pen names for are ones I enjoyed and I thought I am going to support this author. As I started reading it though, I was captivated and knew I was in for a treat as from page #1 the reader is captured with the main character playing russian roulette with a gun and we have to wonder why he is doing this. We soon learn that this book is about two main characters Jack and Betsy and I have to also say that I loved the name Betsy as for her character it fitted perfectly and gave her a sort of wholesome feel. Jack has returned home from the War to the smalltown of Glory , but he is far from the same guy he was when he left those many years ago. Betsy has always loved Jack ever since she was a little girl, he has always been her hero and after a failed attempt in Paris at culinary school, she returned home to Glory and opened up a bakery. With the return of Jack, Besty hopes to tell him hoe she feels and re-ignite their relationship. This is going to be one heck of a challenge though as Jack is reluctant to let anyone get through the walls he has put up for himself. During this book , it was a feel-good read and at one point I have to say I was like NOOOOOOOOOO as I had gotten to love the progress of Jack and Betsy and in walks Marcel - the guy from her past and Paris. Not to give anymore away, I shall finish with this - if you love Southern Charm and Smalltown Romances that have a Sweet but Edge underlining problem , then Sara Arden's Return to Glory is the book for you as when you read this, you too will fall in love with Jack and Betsy and their story.
January 12, 2025
PTSD is rampant in this, as well as alcohol, not as addiction, but as pain relief from the PTSD. Betsy has been in love with Jack since she was twelve and vows to marry him. He goes off to the war in Afghanistan and gets injured. All she asked if him was that he come home to her, and he does, but with a lot of extra stuff as well. I felt bad for what he went through and continues to go through. His agony mentally, emotionally as well as physically was tremendous and I felt that it was done wonderfully. You really feel his pain and what is going through with decisions that he has to make. Betsy has failed at being a chef, so she's opened up a bakery and everyone thinks she should go back to Paris and finish what she started. She doesn't want to go back where she feels she was humiliated and once Jack is back, she doesn't want to leave his side. I thought this was such a good book.
August 29, 2014
It's hard to put into words how feel after reading this book. Sara Arden has crafted an amazing masterpiece that will rip you to shreds and the put you back together piece by little tiny piece. There are so many things that stand out in this book that it's going to be hard to identify them. Let me start with the realism. This book, while not shoving your face in it, delivers a realistic view of what some of our returning soldiers endure on a daily basis. This is not the fairy tale of the returning hero even if the town wants it to be that way. Jack comes back damaged, emotionally, mentally and of course physically. We walk through a small part of the nightmare that he has to live with each day. We get a glimpse of what our soldiers come home with and how some of them deal with it. I loved that a session at the VA was included in this story and I hope we get to see more as the series progresses. It's so important to be reminded that just because they come home doesn't mean they leave the desert behind, some bring back more than they bargained for. I think it's also important that we get to see what the people around him see so we get a full circle view of Jack. He's good at hiding from most. The depiction of him not being able to taste....that's brilliant....that's truth and it was delivered to us in beautiful, heart-wrenching prose. If you are not affected by this then you just aren't human.
Now to the love....it's all there, every kind of love you can think of and experience is contained between the covers of this amazing tome. We are also assured that no matter the wounds love can maybe not "fix" it but it can give you the strength and courage to at least want to move forward. But...it also shows that accepting that love through all the pain isn't always the easiest thing to do but true love for each other can and does win, if we give it a chance.
Of course, the book would be nothing without Betsy. Sweet, wonderful, damaged Betsy. She suffers from what many of us do. We all believe that the fairy tale will make everything alright, will fix everything but she learns that the tapes that run on repeat in our heads can't be silenced by anyone else, that we have to silence them. She shows what I've always felt, it's so easy to be strong for someone else, it's easy to ignore our own pain and try to make everyone else's pain better, that way we don't have to look at ourselves. She was successful at that with all the people in her life but then we see her growth, her move to wanting to help herself.
There are so many ups and downs, 2 boxes of Kleenex worth for me but they were so worth it. I feel better and stronger for having met these characters and I can't wait to see what's next in Glory.
Now to the love....it's all there, every kind of love you can think of and experience is contained between the covers of this amazing tome. We are also assured that no matter the wounds love can maybe not "fix" it but it can give you the strength and courage to at least want to move forward. But...it also shows that accepting that love through all the pain isn't always the easiest thing to do but true love for each other can and does win, if we give it a chance.
Of course, the book would be nothing without Betsy. Sweet, wonderful, damaged Betsy. She suffers from what many of us do. We all believe that the fairy tale will make everything alright, will fix everything but she learns that the tapes that run on repeat in our heads can't be silenced by anyone else, that we have to silence them. She shows what I've always felt, it's so easy to be strong for someone else, it's easy to ignore our own pain and try to make everyone else's pain better, that way we don't have to look at ourselves. She was successful at that with all the people in her life but then we see her growth, her move to wanting to help herself.
There are so many ups and downs, 2 boxes of Kleenex worth for me but they were so worth it. I feel better and stronger for having met these characters and I can't wait to see what's next in Glory.
August 30, 2014
Sara Arden is a "new to me" author and she has me coming back for more with her next "Glory" series book. I am a fan. This story of best friends Betsy and Jack and the love, heartache and the second chance each of them has to conquer on their return to their hometown, their fears and demons that brings them into the path of a love that was always brings them home to each other and to Glory.
November 21, 2023
This series is so good and hope that Sara Arden writes more.
Betsy has loved Jack forever as he is her brother's best friend. Jack has come home from his military career wounded and with a heavy heart.
Jack does not think Betsy deserves to be saddled to him despite her feelings saying otherwise. They embark on a relationship together with ups and downs and finally they both realize what they have is worth fighting for
Betsy has loved Jack forever as he is her brother's best friend. Jack has come home from his military career wounded and with a heavy heart.
Jack does not think Betsy deserves to be saddled to him despite her feelings saying otherwise. They embark on a relationship together with ups and downs and finally they both realize what they have is worth fighting for
July 21, 2020
It was really good up until the last 80 pages. Then it just fell apart. It was like watching a bad high school romance. So much unnecessary drama...and so cliche. Really disappointing.
May 4, 2015
To read this review and others like it check out my site at www.homelovebooks.com
I love a good small town romance, nothing like everyone knowing everyone, and more than that everyone knowing everyone else’s business, makes for some interesting situations for sure. This book appealed to me not just because of the small town aspect but also because of the returning military member, I do love a good military romance.
So what I liked most about this book was Sara Arden’s portrayal of Jack. Jack is a returning military member, and like a lot of the military who returns from war, he did not come home in one piece. Jack has to overcome not just the physical effects of war but also the psychological. I think it can be really hard to have a character with PTSD, especially since unless you have been there yourself, it’s not really something that is easy to describe. I thought that Arden did a really good job with it though. Jack has some serious PTSD issues, and right off the jump in this book the reader is confronted with those issues, Jack contemplates committing suicide, which was both hard to read while at the same time making me really want the character of Jack to come out on the other side of this disorder intact and happy.
I really liked Betsy. It can be really hard on the loved ones of people who are suffering from things like PTSD, so it takes quite the person to voluntarily come into a situation where the relationship isn’t really established to begin with. I loved that she was just completely unwilling to let Jack give up, she made him confront his issues, and wanted to help him every step of the way. I liked that Betsy was realistic about the situation, not just assuming she could help him without getting any professional help, I loved that (I don’t like when characters assume their love can heal everything, it’s just not realistic).
Overall I thought this was a really good romance. It does tackle some heavy issues, but it was really sweet watching Jack’s evolution. I did think that towards the end of the book the story started to kind of slow down and not be as compelling, but it was still a good read, easily recommended.
I love a good small town romance, nothing like everyone knowing everyone, and more than that everyone knowing everyone else’s business, makes for some interesting situations for sure. This book appealed to me not just because of the small town aspect but also because of the returning military member, I do love a good military romance.
So what I liked most about this book was Sara Arden’s portrayal of Jack. Jack is a returning military member, and like a lot of the military who returns from war, he did not come home in one piece. Jack has to overcome not just the physical effects of war but also the psychological. I think it can be really hard to have a character with PTSD, especially since unless you have been there yourself, it’s not really something that is easy to describe. I thought that Arden did a really good job with it though. Jack has some serious PTSD issues, and right off the jump in this book the reader is confronted with those issues, Jack contemplates committing suicide, which was both hard to read while at the same time making me really want the character of Jack to come out on the other side of this disorder intact and happy.
I really liked Betsy. It can be really hard on the loved ones of people who are suffering from things like PTSD, so it takes quite the person to voluntarily come into a situation where the relationship isn’t really established to begin with. I loved that she was just completely unwilling to let Jack give up, she made him confront his issues, and wanted to help him every step of the way. I liked that Betsy was realistic about the situation, not just assuming she could help him without getting any professional help, I loved that (I don’t like when characters assume their love can heal everything, it’s just not realistic).
Overall I thought this was a really good romance. It does tackle some heavy issues, but it was really sweet watching Jack’s evolution. I did think that towards the end of the book the story started to kind of slow down and not be as compelling, but it was still a good read, easily recommended.
March 13, 2015
Return to Glory by Sara Arden (Home to Glory #1)
3 STARS
I liked the characters, the family relationships. The drama of PTSD and coming back home changed. Also dealing with dreams and facing fears. There was a lot sex scenes and talk that was suggestive.
Jack McConnell has returned to his home town. They want to welcome him home as a hero but he does not feel like a hero. Every Sat. he plays Russian roulette with his gone. He can't stand to look at himself or his new leg. Jack is a US Navy Seal and he does not know what the future will bring.
Betsy Lewis has her own bakery shop. She has loved Jack forever. She is excited for him to be home. Betsy has not been sitting at home just waiting for him to come back. She spent time in New York and Paris learning.
Caleb Lewis is Betsy' older brother. He is a cop. Caleb's two best friends from childhood are Jack and India. All three joined the service. Only Caleb came back the same. Caleb's family has welcomed both India and Jack into there family.
I like how Betsy went to the VA every Monday with her day old bakery items. She spent time there too not just dropping them off.
The setting for this book is Glory, Kanas
I do plan on reading more of this series.
I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give honest review of Return to Glory.
first appeared on readalot
3 STARS
I liked the characters, the family relationships. The drama of PTSD and coming back home changed. Also dealing with dreams and facing fears. There was a lot sex scenes and talk that was suggestive.
Jack McConnell has returned to his home town. They want to welcome him home as a hero but he does not feel like a hero. Every Sat. he plays Russian roulette with his gone. He can't stand to look at himself or his new leg. Jack is a US Navy Seal and he does not know what the future will bring.
Betsy Lewis has her own bakery shop. She has loved Jack forever. She is excited for him to be home. Betsy has not been sitting at home just waiting for him to come back. She spent time in New York and Paris learning.
Caleb Lewis is Betsy' older brother. He is a cop. Caleb's two best friends from childhood are Jack and India. All three joined the service. Only Caleb came back the same. Caleb's family has welcomed both India and Jack into there family.
I like how Betsy went to the VA every Monday with her day old bakery items. She spent time there too not just dropping them off.
The setting for this book is Glory, Kanas
I do plan on reading more of this series.
I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give honest review of Return to Glory.
first appeared on readalot
September 3, 2014
This was one of those books that had me hooked from the first page and had me staying up way past my bedtime to finish! I'm pretty stingy with my 5-star reviews and honestly debated between 4 and 5 stars for this one, but I decided on 5 stars because as much as there was a time or two that I got frustrated with the amount of "on-again-off-again" between Jack and Betsy, the powerful emotions evoked through this story overshadowed any minor frustrations I had. There was so much emotion in this book. You can feel the love between jack and Betsy and the problems each of them needed to overcome were real and well written. It broke my heart watching Jack suffer through his PTSD, because that sh*t's real. Our friends and neighbors are coming home and are dealing with this on a daily basis. We might want to sweep it under the rug, but it's there. Drinking, drugs, and even suicide are what families are working through each and every day. And then there are the loved ones like Betsy who can't truly understand the pain and suffering that is happening. They only want to do everything in their power to "fix" what's wrong. This was such an emotional read and a great start to a new series. I'm looking forward to the rest in the series!
September 30, 2014
Jack is a wounded veteran with issues. He has seen his share of violence and death. He suffers from PTSD and he feels like his life is not worth living. Betsy has always held a torch for Jack and when he returns to Glory, she is determined to save him from himself. She pushes him to his limit in hopes of getting him out of his darkness. Jack tries to fight it and his walls slowly crumble as he begins to confront his demons.
This is a 2nd chance love and I thought it was good. I liked how Jack and Betsy both had flaws and a past that was hard to face. I enjoyed reading their journey through finding each other again as well as overcoming their personal battles. The sexiness was fun and the reader can truly feel their connection coming off of the page.
I do feel like there wasn’t anything too different within this small town romance that I haven’t read about before. The story mainly takes place within a couple of houses, Betsy’s bakery and the VA support group. I would have liked to get to know the town more where we would actually meet more of the people in Glory. However, I do see potential in this contemporary romance series and the author has some secondary characters set up nicely for future books.
*ARC provided by Harlequin HQN via Netgalley
This is a 2nd chance love and I thought it was good. I liked how Jack and Betsy both had flaws and a past that was hard to face. I enjoyed reading their journey through finding each other again as well as overcoming their personal battles. The sexiness was fun and the reader can truly feel their connection coming off of the page.
I do feel like there wasn’t anything too different within this small town romance that I haven’t read about before. The story mainly takes place within a couple of houses, Betsy’s bakery and the VA support group. I would have liked to get to know the town more where we would actually meet more of the people in Glory. However, I do see potential in this contemporary romance series and the author has some secondary characters set up nicely for future books.
*ARC provided by Harlequin HQN via Netgalley
August 17, 2014
Wow, Ms. Arden writes with so much emotion that I laughed, cried, and felt my own heart breaking while reading Jack's and Betsy's story. Return to Glory is the first installment of the Home to Glory series and is a sweet, poignant story about hometown hero Jack McConnell coming back from. war with serious injuries and PTSD and sweetheart pastry chef Betsy Lewis trying to move forward after career disappointment.
Jack saved Betsy’s life when they were children so she is determined to save him from the darkness, but Jack doesn’t want her hero worship and pushes her away again and again. Both characters struggle with anger, sadness, and eventually happiness as they ride the rollercoaster of emotions to find their own happiness. This story is an excellent reminder of learning to love yourself before you can really love someone else.
Ms. Arden does an excellent job with her characters’ dialogue so that we can really feel their struggles and enjoy their triumphs. She has also created an outstanding cast of supporting characters that I hope we get to know better in future books. I am very curious about India and what happened in her past. Sara Arden is now on my list of favorite authors!
Jack saved Betsy’s life when they were children so she is determined to save him from the darkness, but Jack doesn’t want her hero worship and pushes her away again and again. Both characters struggle with anger, sadness, and eventually happiness as they ride the rollercoaster of emotions to find their own happiness. This story is an excellent reminder of learning to love yourself before you can really love someone else.
Ms. Arden does an excellent job with her characters’ dialogue so that we can really feel their struggles and enjoy their triumphs. She has also created an outstanding cast of supporting characters that I hope we get to know better in future books. I am very curious about India and what happened in her past. Sara Arden is now on my list of favorite authors!
September 10, 2014
Betsy has been in love with Jack, her brother’s best friend, since she was a young girl. When he comes home wounded from war she’s determined to make him well again using any means that will work. Jack is determined to make her see that he’s not the man for her.
Sara Arden’s descriptions of the wounded warrior, Jack, seemed completely believable. I also bought into the way Betsy felt about him both when she thought they had a future and when she didn’t. The heartache was palpable. Their story is an emotional one that is further charged by their feelings for each other. Be prepared for some very spicy scenes!
The town of Glory is intriguing. Arden hints at the occupations of a few former military that I can only imagine will figure into future books of the Home to Glory series. It’s a charming town where the citizens have each others’ back. I look forward to my next visit to Glory, Kansas. Recommended to fans of contemporary, small town Romance.
I received a review copy in exchange for my opinion
Sara Arden’s descriptions of the wounded warrior, Jack, seemed completely believable. I also bought into the way Betsy felt about him both when she thought they had a future and when she didn’t. The heartache was palpable. Their story is an emotional one that is further charged by their feelings for each other. Be prepared for some very spicy scenes!
The town of Glory is intriguing. Arden hints at the occupations of a few former military that I can only imagine will figure into future books of the Home to Glory series. It’s a charming town where the citizens have each others’ back. I look forward to my next visit to Glory, Kansas. Recommended to fans of contemporary, small town Romance.
I received a review copy in exchange for my opinion
September 5, 2014
The Sweetest Thing I've read in a while...no pun intended.
This was my first time reading Sara Arden. I have read books by her other alias, but not this one. This was an excellent book to introduce me to her style.
This book is sweet. Really sweet, without being full on tooth ache. But to cut through the sweet is a lot of great heat. Both of these characters are very likeable. Something I've noticed is hard to find in romance books these days. I often don't like the heroine, but Betsy is great. She's just the right combination of sweet, naive, and feisty and smart. Not to mention, she has a fashion sense I can really support.
And Jack. Oh, Jack. Beautifully broken and damaged Jack. He's the perfect mix of vulnerable and strong. Not often are those traits written so beautifully has they are here. Jack is truly a romance book hero.
This was definitely a 5 star read for me, and highly recommended if you love a sweet and steamy story with extremely well-written characters.
This was my first time reading Sara Arden. I have read books by her other alias, but not this one. This was an excellent book to introduce me to her style.
This book is sweet. Really sweet, without being full on tooth ache. But to cut through the sweet is a lot of great heat. Both of these characters are very likeable. Something I've noticed is hard to find in romance books these days. I often don't like the heroine, but Betsy is great. She's just the right combination of sweet, naive, and feisty and smart. Not to mention, she has a fashion sense I can really support.
And Jack. Oh, Jack. Beautifully broken and damaged Jack. He's the perfect mix of vulnerable and strong. Not often are those traits written so beautifully has they are here. Jack is truly a romance book hero.
This was definitely a 5 star read for me, and highly recommended if you love a sweet and steamy story with extremely well-written characters.
September 13, 2014
I received a free paperback copy of Return to Glory through the Goodreads First Reads program.
This is a Harlequin book so be prepared for lots of graphic sexual relations between the two main characters: Jack and Betsy. Jack is back from war and is a damaged shell of a man who plays Russian roulette with his gun every weekend thinking he should've died in the war zone. He blames Betsy who had made him promise to come home. Meanwhile Betsy is feeling like damaged goods of her own since she went off to culinary school in Paris and nearly killed people with poison mushrooms.
The relationship between Jack and Betsy is hot and cold back and forth so many times that I lost count. It reads as a true struggle of a couple trying to decide if they can make it together, but they started to annoy me a bit with their indecision of not being able to get it together at the same time. I also wish they would've included at least some of the recipes that Betsy bakes in the book which sounded so delicious.
This is a Harlequin book so be prepared for lots of graphic sexual relations between the two main characters: Jack and Betsy. Jack is back from war and is a damaged shell of a man who plays Russian roulette with his gun every weekend thinking he should've died in the war zone. He blames Betsy who had made him promise to come home. Meanwhile Betsy is feeling like damaged goods of her own since she went off to culinary school in Paris and nearly killed people with poison mushrooms.
The relationship between Jack and Betsy is hot and cold back and forth so many times that I lost count. It reads as a true struggle of a couple trying to decide if they can make it together, but they started to annoy me a bit with their indecision of not being able to get it together at the same time. I also wish they would've included at least some of the recipes that Betsy bakes in the book which sounded so delicious.
August 24, 2014
Man-baby-ha!
I like that the book starts out with them loving each other. You know those books where the main characters realize they love each other in the last 10 pages so that you're left wondering "Ok, WHY do you love each other?"? This is SO not that book. The author explores the WHY and the HOW here. The story is about how to nurture that love and keep it going in the face of adversity.
I wonder what happened to India during the war? Hopefully, she and Caleb get their own book.
The book reminded me of the movie Sabrina. If Greg Kinnear suddenly got Indiana Jones' body.
I like the idea of dating and falling in love with yourself.
They are so cute together.
Jack's survivor's guilt and PTSD is detailed nicely.
Her baking reminded me of the movie Simply Irresistible.
Betsey was officially my kind of girl on Halloween. Wish I could sew...
The end scene was so sweet.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I like that the book starts out with them loving each other. You know those books where the main characters realize they love each other in the last 10 pages so that you're left wondering "Ok, WHY do you love each other?"? This is SO not that book. The author explores the WHY and the HOW here. The story is about how to nurture that love and keep it going in the face of adversity.
I wonder what happened to India during the war? Hopefully, she and Caleb get their own book.
The book reminded me of the movie Sabrina. If Greg Kinnear suddenly got Indiana Jones' body.
I like the idea of dating and falling in love with yourself.
They are so cute together.
Jack's survivor's guilt and PTSD is detailed nicely.
Her baking reminded me of the movie Simply Irresistible.
Betsey was officially my kind of girl on Halloween. Wish I could sew...
The end scene was so sweet.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2014
Jack McConnell is close to committing suicide after coming home from the war. In fact, this book is probably the most realistic when it comes to showing how such men can feel (or try not to) when they have yet to come to terms with who they are now compared with who they were then. Betsy Lewis is the young woman who made him promise to come back to her, which he does, but is he the kind of man she really wants? That's his question, and sometimes hers, as well, particularly when she sees that he is too like his father, who tried to drown his problems in a whiskey bottle.
How Jack begins to come to terms with himself and what he wants out of life and what Betsy learns about herself and what and who she really wants forms the bulk of this story. I could have done without Marcel and the detour to Paris and back, but it forces Betsy to ask other questions of herself when she has to call Jack and he answers her question, but only partly.
How Jack begins to come to terms with himself and what he wants out of life and what Betsy learns about herself and what and who she really wants forms the bulk of this story. I could have done without Marcel and the detour to Paris and back, but it forces Betsy to ask other questions of herself when she has to call Jack and he answers her question, but only partly.
July 4, 2014
Ya’ll, Jack and Betsy just about broke my heart … and I loved every page. There are moments of great beauty and moments of extreme heartache, but there are so many wonderful, ordinary moments in between.
I adored the Jack and Betsy together. They each do so much for the other and even when Jack’s broken he’s still got so much heart (he just doesn’t realize it). I just ate up the way their relationship changed over time and it added so much more oomph to their love story to have them be such a large part of each other’s lives for so long. They are sweet and touching, and troubled, and the ending just brought a huge smile to my face. It’s the perfect way to wrap up their relationship.
Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress...
(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)
I adored the Jack and Betsy together. They each do so much for the other and even when Jack’s broken he’s still got so much heart (he just doesn’t realize it). I just ate up the way their relationship changed over time and it added so much more oomph to their love story to have them be such a large part of each other’s lives for so long. They are sweet and touching, and troubled, and the ending just brought a huge smile to my face. It’s the perfect way to wrap up their relationship.
Full review available at http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress...
(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review)
August 26, 2014
Betsy is a pinup girl brought to life, her style and attitude charming me from the first page of this luscious treat of a novel. When this baker of tasty treats reunites with her longtime crush and love of her life, military-worn Jack McConnell, sparks fly off the page as he tries to resist her. While he feels like less than a man, Betsy manages to tempts him by reminding him exactly how masculine he still is. Their sexual tension steams off the page and Arden manages to pack the story with secondary characters that I already look forward to seeing again. Fantastic read and one that I highly recommend. Congrats, Arden, on an unforgettable romance full of drama, lust, love and that small town vibe that I have a hard time resisting.
September 11, 2014
I received this book as a goodreads win. Thank you for picking me. The story of a Navy Seal who returns home from war scared in body and soul. He thinks he has nothing to live for and starts his days playing Russian Roulette with his service gun. His childhood and long time friend Betsy enters the picture and tries to help bring him back to reality when only he can do it for himself. They become intimate and she helps him to bring some of his feelings back.Her baking helps him to regain his taste (other than ashes). The only thing I didn't like was that there was too much explicit sex. I'm sure some of it was necessary to tell the readers how he was regaining his taste etc. I enjoyed the story line-the characters and it made my mouth water for some of Betsy's baking.
March 16, 2015
I'm a sucker for military romances and this one was right up there with some of the best! Jack and Besty had a believable, heartbreaking relationship both in their youth and now that he's returned. The one piece that annoyed me is I found it hard to understand the timeline. I didn't think it was clear how old either of them was in the present or how long he was gone all together, how long ago his parents had died, etc. It just made the book difficult to place in context. Otherwise, their chemistry was great as were the supporting characters. I cannot wait for India & Caleb's story although I'm worried it may not come for awhile in order to drag out the series. The baby situation was a tearjerker for sure, but I was glad for a happy ending!
March 15, 2015
The topic is a sad one; the man who went off to war comes home with a replacement leg. He's also shocked and mentally scarred and can't imagine that a woman would ever find him attractive.
Determined to knock the once-hero out of his whisky-fuelled numbness is the girl he left behind, who has qualified in catering, returned to the town of Glory and opened a bake shop.
This is certainly a worthy and topical issue to address so I commend the author for making such an attractive romance along with believable characters. Treated as a simple love story, it should steal the hearts of true romantics.
Determined to knock the once-hero out of his whisky-fuelled numbness is the girl he left behind, who has qualified in catering, returned to the town of Glory and opened a bake shop.
This is certainly a worthy and topical issue to address so I commend the author for making such an attractive romance along with believable characters. Treated as a simple love story, it should steal the hearts of true romantics.
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September 11, 2014I ended up skimming through the last 50% of this book. There was so much push and pull between Betsy and Jack that it was hard to accept them as a couple, especially when Jack rushes to Paris, the baby, the proposal etc. I also don't understand why the readers are asked to invest in India and Caleb's story but the next two books are about completely unrelated characters. I won't be continuing with this series because it wasn't what I look for in a contemporary romance but congrats to Arden on the series. There will be a lot of people who love this. Side note: It is well written and well edited, I just wasn't able to connect with the story or characters.
November 9, 2014
DNF around 40%.
This book was OK. It wasn't terrible. It seemed a little forced and I didn't particularly care for either main character. Betsy seemed fake. Jack was the same thing over and over. I'm usually a quick reader, but it took me two weeks to get to page 140. And I really had no desire to continue. There are other books I'm dying to read, so I decided to quit. This does fall into my typical genre of books, so the fact that I didn't care if I finished kind of says a lot.
I received a copy via the Goodreads First Reads program.
This book was OK. It wasn't terrible. It seemed a little forced and I didn't particularly care for either main character. Betsy seemed fake. Jack was the same thing over and over. I'm usually a quick reader, but it took me two weeks to get to page 140. And I really had no desire to continue. There are other books I'm dying to read, so I decided to quit. This does fall into my typical genre of books, so the fact that I didn't care if I finished kind of says a lot.
I received a copy via the Goodreads First Reads program.
September 13, 2014
My emotions ran wild on this book. Jack returns to Glory broken and scarred but Betsy is there to redeem Jack out of his whiskey bottle. They find their love is still in the hot zone and Jack is responsive to Sara but is afraid to bring his true feelings forward. You are in a emotional and wonderful read as Sara brings this book together. You will love this as I did and definitely will keep up with the series.
I won this book thru Goodreads and thank you very much.
I won this book thru Goodreads and thank you very much.
August 1, 2015
I found the book a little depressing. I find PTSD interesting and like to learn about the disease but I just had a hard time with the premise on this one. She has been with the same man since her early teen years. Now he's back, they're in a relationship, she's helping him face his past and working towards living a normal life but then gives it all up-made no sense. I might try the other books in the series as I enjoyed the small home town story and characters introduced.
August 12, 2014
Return to Glory, by Sara Arden was a great read! I enjoyed the story of a baker named Betsy and an Ex-Seal named Jack. I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotion from these individuals; their wants, struggles, pain, sadness,and happiness. I could not put this book down! Looking forward to reading another book from Sara Arden.
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January 12, 2016"Arden’s latest is tender with a slice of grit that speaks to the scars that come from war and the power of healing that love can bring. She weaves a beautiful story with her expert storytelling and genuine, heartfelt dialogue. Readers will love Betsy’s strength and Jack’s vulnerability along with their sweet, fiery connection" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars TOP PICK!).
December 3, 2014
It made me feel more appreciative to the men and women that risks their lives for this country. Honestly there was not a moment that did not make me tear up, simply beautiful. I like the whole idea of both characters supporting each other and keeping promises. I think what Arden tried to say that there must be lots of support, commitment, and love, as well as faith to keep a relationship strong.
December 3, 2014
Jack is returning to hometown Glory after leaving the military. Betsy runs the bakery in town and has loved Jack forever. As they start to reconnect and put their broken hearts behind them, a true test of their love threatens to separate for good. This is a love story where they put each other ahead if their own feelings and should talk to each other a little more.
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