Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Keeping away from Michael Devlin should be easy. He’s too old for her. Too jaded. And completely forbidden. The only problem is, he rocks her world… When Grace tries to steal Michael’s cab in the middle of a torrential downpour, their chemistry is instant. And after one unforgettable night in his hotel room, it looks like life is finally going her way. But in the morning a shocking revelation rips her world apart, and she has to leave him for good without saying goodbye.

A year later, Grace is living quietly in her small home town when she sees Michael storming toward her. He demands answers, so she tells him exactly why she left that morning.

Michael agrees they should avoid each other, but he’s staying in her small town for a few months and not bumping into each other is almost impossible.

He’s not supposed to touch her. Or kiss her until they’re both breathless and needy.

And he’s definitely not supposed to make her fall for him.

But forbidden fruit always tastes the sweetest. At least until you get found out…That One Regret is a standalone forbidden age gap romance set in the small town of Hartson's Creek.

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2023

1798 people are currently reading
2826 people want to read

About the author

Carrie Elks

70 books2,223 followers
Carrie Elks is an international bestselling author of traditionally-published and self-published novels. Her books are sweet yet sexy contemporary small town romance stories. You can find her in all these places:


Website:https://www.carrieelks.com
Amazon: http://author.to/CarrieElksAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieElksAu...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carri...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrie.elks/

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,289 (42%)
4 stars
975 (32%)
3 stars
595 (19%)
2 stars
141 (4%)
1 star
31 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
Profile Image for Jen ♥.
1,742 reviews961 followers
September 3, 2023
MCs:
- Michael, 42
- Grace, 26

Book info:
- No cheating
- OM/OW drama (see details in notes)
- Third act breakup
- Adorable grovelling
- Second chance romance
- Celibate MCs during separation (see details in notes)
- Age gap
- Forbidden romance
- Non-virgin MCs
- Small town romance
- Family dynamics
- HFN (engaged)
- Bonus epilogue (married)

Notes:
- OMD, this guy (who was her highschool prom date) got back in town too and tried to make a move on her. But when he pulled something stupid to hurt Grace's horse he had no choice but to leave town.
- OWD1, Michael's mom tried to matchmake him to her nurse. He was polite interacting with her, but he's not interested cuz at this point he and Grace have been in a secret relationship already.
- OWD2, when he went to London to sell his business, his ex-wife made a sudden appearance and talk to him. According to his ex-wife brother, she already moved on with someone else. But in their less than 10 minute conversation it was clear that she still harbors feelings for him. But he told her straight up that he's happy and he love Grace, more than anything or anyone else. For Michael, this conversation is the closure he needed for them.
- Michael was married for less than two years, but it wasn't because he was in love. He said they were two lonely people who decided to be lonely together. Not a strong foundation for a marriage, and in the end they got divorced.
- Forbidden romance, they were step-cousins. Grace's mom and Michael's step-father are siblings.
- They were both celibate after their ONS (1 year) and in their one week separation (3rd act break up)


The first time they met was a year ago in NY, they were hauling for the same cab but Michael gave it to Grace instead. Then that same night, call it fate or whatever, they ended up staying in the same hotel. They had dinner, fun, and spent the night together. Before they parted, they promised to call each other and to meet again after a few weeks.

But came morning, when Grace was about to have breakfast with her parents, she saw them talking to her guy, and it turns out he is her step-cousin that has been living in London for quite some time. She was way too young to remember him and he left their small town as soon as he turned 18. Because of this shocking information, Grace didn't call him back and changed her number. She basically ghosted him.

A year later, Michael returned to their town because his mom is undergoing treatment. To say he was surprised was an understatement. When he saw Grace and found out that not only she lied to him by using a fake name, they are also step-cousins and that could be scandalous in a small town. After his home welcoming and everyone left, he went to Grace's house to confront her. She said she was sorry for ghosting him and what happened between them cannot happen again and no one has to know. But readers all know that's a lie, because they will happen again and again, it's not a matter of if but when. 😉

The tension, build up, and chemistry between these two are freaking off the charts! They tried to avoid one another at the beginning but the pull is so strong until they can't resist it anymore. They are hot together, and them sneaking around and having secret relationship kind of makes it thrilling and exciting.

Michael's a bit jaded when it comes to love, but when it comes to Grace he knows she's it for him. Grace has been burned too by her ex, she actually sworn off men at the beginning of the book. But Michael came into the picture and had her buried her stance about finding love again.

Obviously, secrets can't be hidden forever and once their relationship is found out, it was a freaking disaster. Grace's father warned Michael to stay away and to not let Grace choose between them. He was resolute at first about keeping their relationship, but then his insecurities that he hurt women before emotionally (unintentional) clouded his judgment. He thought he's not good enough for Grace and so he broke up with her.

Tbh, in this scene Grace is the more mature between them. She was dead set on fighting for them, she even said she would choose him over her family. When Michael decided to end them, she didn't beg him to take back his words. She held her head high and told him he was a coward for breaking them.

They were separated for a week only, he tried to text/call her but she never responded to them, she didn't even read his messages. I'm actually proud of Grace for staying strong even though she's hurting.

What's another recipe in a small town romance? Family intervention. Michael's brother and step-father have a heart to heart talk with him and they made him see that breaking up with Grace was a huge mistake. Once he saw their point, he made his grovelling plans to get his girl back. It was supposed to be a two week grovelling, but Grace is not a grudge holder and she forgives quickly. So the grovelling period lasted for only a week.

This one week grovelling might not be enough for some readers, but I think his efforts were so sweet and adorable. The gifts, foods, letters, and him learning to ride a horse within a few days were so swoony *sighs*. I only think it was more than enough because the reason he broke up with her was because he thought he was doing her a favor, and that she deserves someone better. Stupid idea, but I know his heart was in the right place.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I love reading Michael and Grace's story. This is a great start for a new series. Apparently, this is a second generation series that's why there were a lot of characters involved here. I actually lost track of who's who, but at least it didn't take away the focus on the MCs and the side characters who are important to Michael and Grace.

Anywaaaay, this book is worth reading and recommending, imo. I had fun going through this story. ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Naianne Lara.
318 reviews9 followers
September 4, 2023
If you want to write a second generation series, I’m gonna need a family tree before anything else, folks. There’s no way I’m gonna remember the name of the one hundred children and how they are related. And the author knows it because in every chapter she has to write the original story, the name of the characters, how they met and how we end it up here. It’s boring as hell and it keeps the story from developing, specially in a third person narrative.

So, Grace and Michael are step cousins and he’s older than her. The author keeps saying he’s older but we only find out by how much at the end of the book which is annoying as hell. Besides, I have no idea why her father was so against it, it felt so bizarre how they were scared to tell people and then her dad being mad about it.

Maybe it’s a culture thing because in Brazil, if I date a guy twice my age, my dad - or any dad for that matter - wouldn’t care less. Here, when we are adults, we make decisions for ourselves and everyone else has to be on board with. At most, someone can say something mean, but not to the point to make us pause or anything. And from the books I’ve read, in North America, people are so concerned about what everyone else is thinking, specially family, it’s mind blowing to me. I can’t imagine a scenario where my dad would ask my boyfriend to leave me like Grace’s dad did. She’s 26 years old, for Christ sake!!! You raise your daughter to be a intelligent adult and then you call her stupid when you don’t like a decision she’d made, how’s that make any sense???

Overall, I think they had a meet cute and all but it was so childish and boring and honestly just plain dumb. Everything was so dumb.
Profile Image for Capt..
574 reviews75 followers
September 1, 2023
I hate third act conflicts like this. Where the older character (usually the MMC) takes away the agency of the younger character as if she’s not old enough to make her own decisions but good enough to fuck. Yuck 🤪. And all the “I don’t want to hurt you.” drama then bitch if that’s the case then just DON’T? 🖕

And the way it was resolved so easily. The FMC was such a pushover and weak and it was just disgusting to read how she can’t help her reaction to him when he half-assed his apology, how her body reacting to him being close eeughh 😑 like damn girl WHERE IS YOUR SELF-RESPECT?!
Profile Image for Heroesinbooks.
1,163 reviews346 followers
September 18, 2023
3.5 - 4 Grace and Michael Stars

This age gap , slightly forbidden romance was a good book by an author I have never read before. I will definitely be reading more of her work and I'm very interested to read the series that links to this one.

Michael (41) is American but has been living in London for a few years , running a successful
business. Grace (25) has been working in France for her parents company and has returned home to the US after a broken romance.

Despite the age gap , these two are perfect together.



Michael and Grace meet as strangers in New York and their one night together is intense and passionate. Grace makes a discovery about him the next day that sends her running for the hills. A year passes before they meet again - neither of them are with anyone else during that time.

I didn't think that the 'taboo' angle of this book was too much of a taboo.

The story goes along at a good pace. There are a couple of potentially angsty twists and the point of conflict is fairly late on in the book. I struggled a little with getting my head around all the secondary characters and I think that this would have been less muddling if you were familiar with the characters from the first series.

HEA? More HFN but you can sign up for the author's newsletter and get a bonus epilogue.
Cheating? No
Be aware

Profile Image for Maureen.
1,328 reviews50 followers
August 27, 2023
In ‘That One Regret’ we meet Michael and Grace. They meet one night in New York and have an instant connection. They spend one amazing night together and they soon realize they don’t want it to stay at one night. But then the next morning Grace does a shocking discovery and leaves Michael behind. One year later Michael ends up in the small town of Hartson’s Creek. The small town that also happens to be the town Grace calls home. And when Michael sees Grace he demands an explanation for leaving him behind all those months ago. Soon also Michael realizes that being in a relationship with Grace is not a good idea. But the harder they work at staying apart, the harder it seems to be.

From the moment Michael and Grace meet I knew I was going to love their story. And I definitely did. I ended up reading this book in a day, and honestly I could have read it in one sitting if it wasn’t for needing to sleep. From the moment Michael and Grace meet they have this amazing chemistry between them. And what I loved the most was how hard they both fell for each other. It seemed to be a one night thing at first, but the same night they both realize it is much more! Sigh.. I loved that!

The age gap between Michael and Grace was an issue between them, but I honestly didn’t notice all that much. Grace is in her twenties, lived abroad for 4 years all by herself, so it definitely didn’t feel like much of a dealbreaker. Especially since Michael was such a great guy who really wanted to take care of Grace. And Grace just adored everything about Michael. And honestly, who wouldn’t? Michael was a great guy and I loved how I read about him as a sixteen year old in one of Carrie Elks other books.

Carrie Elks always writes these sweet, sexy, heartwarming stories I can’t get enough from. And ‘That One Regret’ was definitely another great one. And how lovely to read this series about the next generation of the Heartbreak Brothers. I loved reading little bits about those characters, who are now the parents. I can’t wait for the next book.

If you’re looking for your next read.. I definitely recommend ‘That One Regret’. Even if I hadn’t read the other series I would have adored this book.
Profile Image for Becky.
1,251 reviews123 followers
August 21, 2023
What commences amidst the rain also culminates under its gentle drops, epitomizing the poetic symmetry of That One Regret by Carrie Elks. Within its pages, I discovered a romance that ranks among some of the finest I've encountered. The emotions conveyed through the prose were nothing short of exceptional. Carrie Elks ventures into the realm of the forbidden and the taboo with a deft touch, ensuring that while the narrative explores these themes, it never veers into dark or unsettling territory.

Carrie Elks holds a special place in my heart as one of the authors who consistently delivers the most heartwarming contemporary small-town romances. Her ability to infuse a story with genuine emotions and irresistible moments of swoon never fails to captivate me.

I am not always a fan of the Next Gen in a Series but the, the Heartbreak series and the endearing Hartson family have been personal favorites, so my excitement was palpable when I delved into the next generation's tale.

The magnetic pull between them remains undeniably potent, and despite their efforts to resist, the force of attraction prevails. From the very outset, I was unequivocally invested in their journey and fervently hoping for their happiness.

Full review at https://bookcaseandcoffee.com
20 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2023
I am so happy that I gave this book a chance. This book was perfectly written, and now I have to read the rest by Carrie Elks. This book will be at the top of my list for the year.
Profile Image for Soph.
629 reviews61 followers
October 23, 2024
★★★★. This book might have gotten me out of my slump? The groveling this man did was so cute. The step cousin thing wasn’t as forbidden as I usually read but still enough to keep me interested and read the whole thing!
Profile Image for Peggy M.
832 reviews8 followers
August 28, 2023
I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntarily, honest review of it.

‘The Heartbreak brothers’ series by Carrie Elks is one of my favorite series of hers, so when I found out that her new book was about the next generation, I was very excited. It was great to be back in the small town of ‘Hartson’s Creek’ and see so many familiar faces again. Michael Devlin, the main male character in this story, was Mia’s oldest son and Cam’s stepson (their story was ‘Somebody like you’).

Although the Hartson family was very welcoming, Michael never felt at home in the small town where his family now lives. Now 42 years old, Michael has built a new life in London. His work is his life and he may be lonely sometimes, after his divorce he also knows that he’s not good at relationships. Then one night in New York he meets a young woman. They spend the night together and then she disappears.
After living and working in France for four years, Grace returns home heartbroken. She never expects to have a one nightstand with an older man in New York. Everything is wonderful until she discovers his true identity the next morning. She leaves without saying goodbye to him.
Grace and Michael are very surprised when they meet again a year later in Hartson’s Creek. Grace lives there now and Michael has come back home to be with his sick mother. Michael is shocked to discover why Grace left him. They both agree to stay away from each other, but that’s hard to do in a small town and with both of them having a connection to the Hartson family. Soon they are sneaking around and everything is going well until that one moment when they are caught. Instead of fighting for their relationship, Michael lets Grace go, which hurts her a lot. When he realizes his mistake, Michael goes to great lengths to convince Grace to give him another chance. Can she forgive him?

I enjoyed this story. Michael and Grace were great characters. Especially Grace, although she’s 16 years younger than Michael and only 26 years old, she was very mature. She knew what she wanted and she loved Michael very much. She also loved her family, but she also knew that her heart belonged to Michael. Michael loved Grace too but he was much more insecure about it. He was concerned about their big age gape, their family’s reactions to their relationship and the fact that he didn’t have much experience with romantic relationships. But the moment he decided he couldn’t live without Grace, he went all out. At heart, he was also a romantic. I loved everything he did to win Grace back. Grace and Michael were a great couple and the ending was very romantic, I loved it!
You got both POV’s and there were a few steamy sex scenes in the story too. The little taboo in the story also added some spice to the story, something I also loved.

Although it was nice to see some many familiar faces again, the mix with the many new faces (of the new generation) sometimes made it confusing for me (personally). There were many new characters to remember but at the end of the story it became better to remember names and their connections to the family.

I also found it a bit sad that Michael never felt at home in Hartson’s Creek before Grace. The fact that he hadn’t recognized Grace in New York told me he didn’t come back often to visit his family. And that broke my heart for Mia and his siblings. So I was very happy that they talked it out in the end.

I enjoyed ‘That one regret’ and I look forward to the next book in this new series.
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews63 followers
August 29, 2023
Squee! The next generation of Hartson’s. In fact, it took me a bunch of chapters to figure that out, and then several more to try and follow the family tree. To be honest, I’m still not totally sure I have it straight in my head yet. I loved seeing what kind of man Michael has grown into. And though there’s a bit of fuss over their difference in ages, I think Grace was the perfect partner for him. She’s a bit of an old soul, but she’s also got a zest for life that time and hardships have stolen from Michael. I adored watching these two fall so deeply for one another that it was a physical ache when it looked like they might throw it all away. Now that we’ve started to get to know this new generation, I can’t wait to see what the author has up her sleeves for the rest of them.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author.
Profile Image for Colleen.
432 reviews2 followers
October 23, 2024
This was my first read by this author, are they all in 3rd person pov? I feel like this would have been so so much better in first person dual pov.

It was ok, I liked Grace. Michael was meh.

Felt like we were told about 400 other characters names and little backstories/connections from other books and series but it was soo much.

3rd person pov
Age gap 16 years
Step cousins
No real owd/omd- there was an om interested in her but she wasn’t at all and then the H’s mom tried to set him up with her nurse but he wasn’t interested.
Third act breakup
HFN
There’s a bonus epilogue but I didn’t bother
Profile Image for cakecoffeeandbooks.
504 reviews30 followers
September 2, 2023
I’m not always the biggest fan of next gen series- I think they have to be done really well to work, but I thoroughly enjoyed this return to Hartson’s creek.
Michael and Grace’s story is now joint with Cam and Mia’s as my favourite Carrie Elks book!
Loved it.
Profile Image for Teresa Lara.
3,468 reviews52 followers
August 14, 2023
Love this series
Love this family
Grace and Michael's intense emotional heartstopping broken forbidden insta love story
Gripping
All the feels
Ready for more
Whos next
1,030 reviews6 followers
August 23, 2023
I have loved every Carrie Elks book I’ve read to date, and ‘That One Regret’ was no exception. Having not yet read the Heartbreak Brothers series, all of the characters in this second generation story were new to me, and so so good. I absolutely adored Grace and Michael - their chemistry was pure magic and I loved their beautiful hearts. This was such a great read and I can’t wait for Presley and Cassie’s story next.

I received a free ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Relyn.
4,081 reviews71 followers
September 28, 2024
That was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.


I love rom-coms, romance novels, and love stories. So I read a lot of them. This is great fun for me, but it means that my personal "market" is oversaturated. It will take a truly great romance to get more than three stars. In case you are interested:

Relyn's personal rom-com & romance novel rating system
5 stars - This book is excellent. It stands out from the hundreds of other love stories I've read, and I loved it.
4 stars - Oh, I really, really liked this one.
3 stars - This was a good, entertaining book and I'm glad I read it.
2 stars - Meh - boring, or overdone, or in some other way just not a good fit for me
1 star - This one stunk.

91 reviews3 followers
August 12, 2023
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I'm relatively new to Carrie Elks' books, having only discovered them last year with the brilliant Winterville series. I then devoured her back catalogue immediately. I think it's the only way to describe it, and I binged them one after another - I can even remember reading 3 books in one Sunday!!

That One Regret is a spin-off from the amazing Heartbreak Brothers series. It's set quite far in the future, allowing time for all the children to have grown into adults in their 20s and above. Michael Devlin (Mia's son from Somebody Like You) was already a teen when his mom married Cam Hartson, so he's quite a bit older than his step-cousins who I'm sure are going to feature in future books.
I'm not going to give any spoilers away, but this is a sit-down, get comfy, ignore the world kind of book where you just immerse yourself into the brilliant writing of Carrie Elks. It's an absolute must-read and so hugely enjoyable. A definite 5-star read, and I suspect it's one I'll read again and again. I definitely recommend it 🩷
Profile Image for Frankie Stansfield-Evans.
9 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2024
I’m not going to lie this gave me the ick, I know they’re step cousins but the family is far to close for it to not give me the creeps
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Dawn Clements.
327 reviews26 followers
August 16, 2023
Carrie Elks is one of my favorite authors of contemporary, small town romance- I know I can count on her for a book that is full of all the feels, all the love & That one regret delivers all of that and more.
I love the Heartbreak series & the Hartson family so I was so excited to read the next generation.

Grace has returned from living overseas & meets Michael in New York, caught in the rain & soaking wet through. Michael, being a gentleman gives up his cab for her. Even though Michael is older than Grace there’s an instant spark & attraction between them.
Both thought they’d never see each other again but fate had other ideas when they see each other again while Grace is celebrating her friends birthday at the same hotel Michael is staying.
They end up spending a passionate night together, swapping numbers to meet up again.
The following morning Grace see’s Michael speaking to her parents; realisation & recognition hits as she realises that her & Michael are step-cousins.
Grace naturally freaks out, blocking his number & returning to Harrison’s Creek.
A year later Michael also returns to Hartson Creek, to help care for his sick Mum, he then realises at ‘chairs’ who Grace is. They agree to keep their night together between them & move on.
The chemistry between them is scorching. Even though they try to resist each other the pull is just to strong.
I was rooting for these two from the very beginning.

If you’re a fan of the following tropes ~ You’re going to adore That one regret.

💗 Age-gap
💗 Older Hero , younger Heroine
💗 Forbidden romance
💗 Next generation
💗 Heartbreak brothers series
💗 Emotional love story~all the feels
💗 Stand-alone read

I really loved this book, it was full of emotion, small town charm & wonderful characters. A definite page turner that kept me gripped from start to finish.
Profile Image for books.tea.happy.
574 reviews
August 13, 2023
ARC received from the Author and I happily give my honest opinion.

I am a big Carrie Elks fan, but I must honestly say going in, I wasn’t too sure if this book would be for me. Age gap isn’t my favourite trope, I’m not a huge fan of next generation books and don’t often choose forbidden romances to read. Fortunately the author drew me in with the characters and thankfully as it’s been a while since I read the Heartbreak Brothers series I could kind of forget they were the kids from those stories.

Michael hasn’t been home for a long time, but on a trip back to the US he spends an incredible night with the amazing Ella. When she disappears after their night together he can’t forget her. It turns out she realised the next day that they weren’t meant to be and hoped she could avoid him in the future. Unfortunately for Grace (her fake name was Ella) small towns and secrets have a way of colliding. When Michael turns up in town as his mum is sick their connection is revealed and they agree to stay away from each other. But they just can’t seem to resist and attraction and lust turn in to love. With that love comes a lot of sneaking around and complications. They do want to be together, but know it will ruffle a few feathers. Add in the fact that Michael lives in London! He decides he wants to move home to be with his family and Grace and things look like they are on the right track, but they are derailed by an unexpected visitor and old insecurities get in their way. A lot of groveling ensues and Michael proves to Grace that she is worth fighting for. Grace was smart, beautiful, strong and loving. Michael was hard working, caring, a little lonely and determined. I did actually enjoy seeing all the old characters again and enjoyed remembering the previous stories.
Profile Image for Sofie Sehested.
313 reviews9 followers
August 31, 2023
I love this book and romance so much.
I can’t believe that we are so lucky to be invited back to Hartson’s Creek to see how the Heartbreak brothers and their sister are doing in their relationships and that their children are now old enough to get their own romance stories. We are also again invited to Chairs where all the gossip is spilled and hidden romances are reviled and jealousy comes out in full force.

This book is full of heart-warm family reunions, fun banter, angst, romance, meddling parents, a hero returning to town after many years living in the UK and a heroine returning to town after four years in France, a hidden and a bit forbidden romance, an age gap romance and a lot of gossip.

I loved the meet cute between Grace and Michael in New York where they fight for a taxi in the rain and then actually find out later that they didn’t have to.
Their banter was great and their chemistry sparked through the pages.
When they both figure out why they can’t be together but can’t keep their hands off of each other I just held my breath and hoped that everything would turn out right because they belong together and don’t deserve all the trouble they have to go through to figure that out.

I also loved Michael’s internal strife feeling like he doesn’t belong in his family in Hartson’s Creek or in his fathers family and he kind of felt excluded after his parents divorce. But despite of this he returns to town to help take care of his mother when she gets sick and does everything he can to bridge the gap and not ruin everything.

I can definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait to continue the series.

I got this book from Carrie Elks and this is my honest opinion and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Laura.
85 reviews
September 5, 2023
4.5-5 stars!

I seriously think Carrie cant write a bad book. Her writing style is so easy and fun to read, this book has all the emotions you want while reading a good romance; happy, sad, mad, hurt, laughter.... This book is a second gen series of the Heartbreak brothers (which if you haven't read this series do it!! It is a great series) and focuses on Grace and Michael. This book starts out with Grace and Michael meeting and spending the night together in New York but Grace finds out something about Michael that has her running away from him in the morning. A year passes and they run into each other again and Michael puts the pieces together on why Grace blocked him without a word. We go on a journey of them deciding to keep seeing each other and overcoming the challenges it entails for being together. They are so cute and have so much chemistry!!

You should read this book if you love:
age-gap/hero (42) heroine (26)
second chance
forbidden romance
jealousy
small town
grovelling...

safety...
Profile Image for FANCHON.
804 reviews25 followers
September 5, 2023
Spicy, sweet, and swoony

I lost a bit of sleep over this one because I was committed to finishing it once I started. It kept me pulled in and I had to see how things played out. It’s a spicy, sweet, and swoony story. Not sweet in the “clean romance “ genre way, but sweet in the way that makes you say “awwwwww”.

Michael and Grace have a meet cute of sorts, when she steals a cab in the rain. They meet up again later and have s steamy hot night together. She gives him a fake name and he gives a nickname. He wants more, but she finds out in the morning who he really is, and changes her number so he can’t call her.

A year goes by before they meet again. At a family event. Turns out they are cousins. Sort of. His mom married into the large family when he was 15, and he was much older than Grace so they weren’t close. He also moved overseas as soon as he could, so he hasn’t been a part of family events. He’s actually sort of the forgotten cousin. So while there is some sense of taboo, it’s not really all that taboo.

I love this family. I love these two together. They keep things under wraps when they start sneaking around, knowing it will cause drama. But there was no doubt about what they wanted. I was a bit annoyed when the fallout happened, that Michael was made the bad guy when her dad is the one that said something along the lines of “if you don’t leave her, I will”. While it was a little poetic that Michael’s own childhood words were used against him, I felt like her dad basically got off with being a jerk without any consequence. He should have had to grovel like Michael did. And oh did he grovel. I love a good grovel, and he did not disappoint. Overall a very enjoyable read that commanded my attention from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Karen Komarinski.
1,117 reviews15 followers
August 17, 2023

Grace after 4 yrs is almost home; she’s trying to catch a cab & get out of the rain but instead she’s a drowned rat & wishes she was still back in Paris; the a handsome man gives her his cab & if she hadn’t sworn off men for ever she would of invited this hot mystery man back to her room. She finally gets he drowned self to the hotel & gets herself put together she goes to meet her girlfriends Ella & Lucy to celebrate Ella’s birthday before she continues her way home. Then He’s at the Bar & Grace’s friends dare her to talk to him for 5 mn, he gives her the name Irish & she tells him her name is Ella. Grace realizes her friends left her behind; then her and Irish got to Dinner & flirt then they have the most amazing night & both feel they left their hurt behind & maybe see a future they exchange numbers & make plans to call each other. Then it all falls apart when she steps out of the Elevator to meet her parents in the lobby for breakfast & then they were going back to
Hartson’s Creek, she was starting her new Job at her parents distillery & Friday nights meant Chairs. I don’t want to ruin why Grace left the hotel without her Parents & Irish seeing her but I can tell you what she is running away from will eventually follow her back to West Virginia. You want be able to put this story down, it’s nice to visit with old friends and see how the family’s have grown and some things never change in a small town. You will love all the surprises & find out if Grace changes her mind about love again & how Irish comes into play. Carrie Elks never disappoints her stories are relatable and as a reader you feel part of the story.
Profile Image for Korkoi.
6,990 reviews31 followers
August 27, 2023
Home Is Where The Heart Is -
Michael and Grace didn’t understand why they felt so much of a connection to each other, that is until after they had spent a night of unimaginable pleasures together, which led Grace to ghost Michael. However, fate brought them back into each other’s lives a while later and even though they tried to stay away from each other, their attraction for each other didn’t allow for it.

Michael and Grace could only conduct their relationship in secret, as they were apprehensive about not only where the relationship would go in the future, but also the potential repercussions if their families found out. Unfortunately, just as they managed to get comfortable in their relationship, their secret was accidentally discovered and chaos ensued, which caused Michael to walk away.

As luck would have it, Michael came to his senses after a discussion with his family, as they were both suffering whilst they spent time apart, which gave him the courage to fight for their chance to get a forever happiness, even if there was disapproval of their relationship. Even though Michael was able to convince Grace to give him another chance, he took it upon himself to pursue her like they were at the start of their relationship, which made her fall in love with him even more.

This is a well written captive romance, that will keep you entertained from the first page until the final word. I read this book on a Sunday afternoon and found myself totally engrossed and unable to take a break until I finished reading it. Grab a copy of this book now and enjoy yourself for a few enjoyable hours.

I received an advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Puyeipawa.
47 reviews
November 11, 2023
Diving into 'That One Regret' by Carrie Elks felt like embarking on a heartfelt journey through the intricate world of small-town romance. Set against the charming backdrop of The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation, this forbidden love story unfolds with a perfect blend of passion and emotional depth.

Carrie Elks' storytelling prowess is evident, skillfully crafting characters that are not only relatable but also deeply endearing. As the drama unfolds, the small-town setting adds a layer of enchantment, making the story come alive with vivid imagery.

The exploration of forbidden love is masterfully done, evoking emotions that linger well after the final page. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and the obstacles they face intensify the depth of their connection, making the narrative all the more engaging.

While the novel captivated me, I couldn't help but be a tad frustrated by the lack of translation for the French elements. It added an air of mystery, but there were moments when I wished for a bit more clarity. Additionally, the final confrontation left me torn; while it added a dramatic twist, it felt like a rollercoaster of emotions that I didn't anticipate.

Overall, 'That One Regret' is a testament to Carrie Elks' ability to create a romance that resonates deeply. Despite my minor quibbles, the story lingers in my mind, leaving behind a satisfying and memorable reading experience."
Profile Image for Stacy M.
325 reviews3 followers
August 31, 2023
J’adore basier toi 😈

💜Hot Forbidden Romance
✨Small Town Vibes
💜Age Gap
✨He falls harder

This hot new series starts off with a bang….literally. After a steamy one-night stand Grace and Michael decide they want to meet up again….until a big surprise stands in their way.

Grace is fresh off a breakup and a move across the Atlantic back to her small hometown. She makes a quick pit stop in NY with some friends and meet-cutes a handsome man in the rain. When fate brings them together again they decide why not and spend some time…and night together. Now Michael is a bit older and only in town for another night before he fly’s back to London so why not have a little fun. But when fun becomes a little more and then fate steps in again and ruins it, I wasn’t sure they’d find their way back. I don’t want to spoil the little twist, but boy it does get a bit complicated. And so starts their forbidden relationship.

I really liked this story and how Grace and Michael get over their obstacles. I wasn’t expecting Michael to fall so hard for Grace and do anything he could to be with her. The secrecy definitely heightened the steam and attraction and these two couldn’t get enough of each other. I can’t wait to dive into more books with the rest of Grace’s brothers…here’s looking at you Presley 👀
Profile Image for Jolanda Gelissen.
436 reviews12 followers
September 3, 2023
This is the first book in this series of the next generation of the Heartbreak Brothers series. So, we get to see the beloved characters from that series again, but now the focus is on their kids - all grown up, of course!

This first one tackles two of them at once, but don't worry, there is nothing icky about it!

Upon arriving back in the US after several years abroad, Grace meets a handsome stranger not once, but twice in the same day. They hit it off and spend an amazing night together, only for Grace to find out the next morning that pursuing anything more with this man has trouble written all over it. So, she does what any young woman who is shocked after a one night stand will do: she ghosts him.

Imagine her surprise - or not - when he shows up in her hometown some time later. Poor Michael is in for one hell of a surprise when he goes home to help his mother through a medical crisis.

Agreeing with Grace that they should keep their distance, they fight a losing battle against their mutual attraction. And as I said before, there is nothing icky about this, except that it's a bit awkward.

Well, in a small town such as Hartson's Creek, secrets don't stay that way for long, and gossip is ripe, so of course, shit hits the fan in a spectacular way. Grab your copy to find out how Michael and Grace deal with the fallout!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.