The One You Can't Forget

The Ones Who Got Away #2

by Roni Loren

Twelve years ago, tragedy struck a sleepy Texas town. Only a small number of those impacted survived―a group the media dubbed The Ones Who Got Away. This is their story. HER SECRET The world knows Rebecca Lindt as a survivor, but that impression would crumble if people discovered her secret…and realized she didn't deserve to be the one who got away. But nothing can change the past, so she's thrown herself into her work. She can't dwell if she never slows down. HIS UNCERTAIN Wes Garrett is trying to get back on his feet after losing his dream restaurant, his money, and half his damn mind in a vicious divorce. But when he intervenes in a mugging and saves Rebecca―the attorney who helped his ex ruin him―his simple life gets a hell of a lot more complicated. Their attraction is inconvenient and neither wants more than a fling. But when Rebecca's secret is put at risk, both discover they could lose everything, including the one thing they never realized they each other. By turns heart-wrenching and deeply romantic, this award-winning spicy contemporary romance will challenge the way you see life, love, and happily ever after.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Fiction, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. She holds a master’s degree in social work and spent years as a mental health counselor, but now she writes full time from her cozy office in North Texas where she puts her characters on the therapy couch instead. She is a two-time RITA Award winner and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Reviews

[Dri ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ 4 stars!!! ★

The One You Can’t Forget estava entre os lançamentos mais esperados por mim em junho. Eu amei o 1º livro dessa série e estava bem curiosa/ansiosa para saber mais sobre a história da Rebecca.

Eu gostei dos personagens, cada um com seus defeitos, enfrentando suas lutas diárias, medos e erros do passado.

Gostei também de como a autora desenvolveu o relacionamento dos dois e como os sentimentos foram ganhando forma e força no decorrer da história.

Apesar de ter curtido muito, de ser uma ótima e agradável leitura, não fez meu coração bater mais forte. Não me emocionou ou abalou tanto quanto o primeiro e isso é culpa minha por criar uma grande expectativa em torno desse livro. Ansiar pelos mesmos sentimentos que o anterior me proporcionou.

Senti que houve dramas paralelos aqui, que deveriam ser complementos pra história, mas que acabou tendo mais foco do que o drama do casal em si. Não que o tema em questão não deve ser abordado, mas acho que faltou um balanço nessa parte.

Enfim, a história é ótima, envolvente e emocionante. Os personagens principais são adoráveis.
A narrativa da autora é maravilhosa e mais uma vez me deixou apaixonada e encantada por sua escrita.
No geral, foi uma leitura fluida e muito prazerosa, a qual eu não consegui parar por muito tempo, me prendeu do início ao fim!

E pela espiada que dei no próximo livro, mal posso esperar para ler!

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Lindt is a successful divorce attorney and a survivor of the Long Acre school shooting which has left her with a lot of baggage. Right after the shooting Rebecca was determined to live her life to the fullest in honor of the ones that didn’t make it, but things haven’t turned out exactly as planned. Her life takes a turn when she’s rescued and cared for by Wes Garrett after a mugging-gone-wrong.

Wes Garrett’s dreams were derailed when his lying ex-wife swindled him out of his restaurant by misrepresenting him in court, and with the help of Rebecca skewering him in the divorce settlement. Even though Wes is a hero and comes to the rescue, once they figure out each other’s identities things aren’t all rainbows and sunshine…

Both Wes and Rebecca have emotional struggles, Wes has feelings of inadequacy after almost pissing his life away over a bad divorce. Rebecca grapples with being one of the “lucky” ones who survived, and harbors guilt over a secret from the shooting feeling like she doesn’t quite deserve to be happy. Their problems felt real and relatable. After the initial bumps Wes and Rebecca form a friendship and help each other see the big picture, recognize their worth to the world and each other. They grow closer attraction building and simmering along the way until they just about burn up the sheets as lovers! I love the slow hot sexual tension Roni Loren built between these two!

After not being blow away by The One Who Got Away I was pleasantly surprised by The One You Can’t Forget. Roni Loren’s talented writing brought Wes and Rebecca to life, made me care about them, and I desperately wanted a happy ending for these two together! Loved their romantic journey!

A copy was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Ones Who Got Away we learned about the vicious shooting that happened twelve years ago at a high school, that changed the life over everyone who was either a student or teacher and their loved ones. Rebecca Lindt is a survivor. You should think she has endured enough but when she walks home from her work as a divorce attorney one evening all her memories about that horrific day come rushing back when she is being mugged at gun point. A brave dog and a courageous man save her and this actually has the making of a great friendship. If it weren't for the fact that her savior's ex-wife was Rebecca's client and robbed him blind with her lies.

Wesley Garrett is a survivor of a different kind. He loves food and to cook and was close to fulfilling his dream of opening his own restaurant when everything was taken away from him after his divorce. It left him reeling and he fell into a hole that was filled with lots 'n lots of booze. Today he is sober, teaching culinary arts at an after-school program for teenagers who have gotten into trouble in the past. It's not what he dreamed of but it leaves him with pride to do something useful and helps those kids. When he walks home from a catering gig he is instantly attracted to the woman he saves from being robbed but...

Sorry. It’s just, I’m always busy and you’re… not my type.

Push the knife in deeper, why don't you?

But soon Bec offers Wes an irresistible opportunity, that will change the path he's on and maybe helps him finally fulfilling his dream.

I adored Rebecca in the first book of this series and I was very much looking forward to reading her story and I'm so happy to report that she didn't disappoint But not only she was a winner, so was Chef G! Ahhh these two, all the swoons!

Rebecca is a tough woman when it comes to work. Her work as a divorce lawyer shows her every day anew that love is a passing feeling and a working marriage a fluke. Yeah, she's quite the romantic. It's sexy, tattooed Wes who draws her out of that particular funk. He offers her friendship with the potential of more. And this was my most favorite thing about this story. Bec and Wes had such an easy connection, there was nothing forced or over the top. They just got along really well, had fun in each other's company and a sweet, sizzling chemistry. I loved their friendship so much and their banter was just cute. *sigh* They lifted each other's burden and just lived in the now.

I was a little scared in the beginning that Rebecca would be too stand-offish, simply because of her job and how disillusioned she was with love, which led her to be a little judgmental in the beginning but she had such a soft heart. She didn't consider herself special that she survived a tragedy and carried a lot of guilt about that day. Sharing her troubles with somebody is something she longs for but never allows herself because of that guilt. I ached a little for her - it wasn't just survivor guilt she felt, it was something she'd done before the shooting that we all have done at one point in our life. Rebecca was giving, generous, kind, simply sweet and not the tough lawyer chick I expected at all. She felt often overwhelmed with the load she'd taken on...she just felt real.

Wes was offering himself without caveats. Taking a risk he’d decided he wouldn’t take again. Telling her she was worth that risk.

Wes was perfect for her. A whole lot of mischievous, a little obsessed with her, a little troubled but all in the perfect amount. The focus with him wasn't so much on his addiction which I appreciated this time - while it was always clear that the guy struggled with it, it never distracted from the real story. We see his growth in hindsight - he'd come a long way to end up where he was now. Wes was wonderful, with the teenagers, his passion for cooking and food, the way he treated Rebecca, and with his playful attitude. He gave me the tingles with his sweetness and adoration for Rebecca.

“You are the best part of my day, Bec. I’m so glad you’re home.”

The One You Can't Forget was even better than the first in this series. We don't see as much of the other characters from the first book which is a little sad. Roni Loren's writing is beautiful, it's got a modern and descriptive tone I enjoy very much. I want more! Now I'm really curious who the next installment will be about!

[Debbie Oliphant · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, I feel like I'm late to the party with this author. I picked up this book because it was on sale and after reading this story, I would have paid full price.

This story is about survival and second chances and all of the emotions in between. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of The One You Can't Forget ever since I read The Ones Who Got Away. Roni Loren totally won me over with the first book in this series and I was desperate for more so once this baby hit my Kindle on release day, I grabbed a box of tissues and flipped to the first chapter.

The One You Can't Forget follows Rebecca Lindt, one of the Long Acre High School survivors who is still haunted by the tragic night that changed her life. Now a divorce lawyer, Rebecca has a no nonsense attitude and strives to win every case in the courtroom in hopes of getting her closer to making partner. One night while walking home, she is robbed at gun point and Wes Garrett comes to her aid. She soon realizes that Wes was the husband of one of her former clients and despite her better judgment, she finds herself attracted to him. But when Wes figures out that Rebecca was the woman who took everything away from him, will he stay or will he walk away?

I didn't read the blurb for The One You Can't Forget because I loved the first book so much so I just decided to go into the sequel completely blind. And it was totally worth it because I loved this sequel as well! While this sequel may not have been as emotional as the first book, it still has some emotional parts that made me tear up a bit. I think one of my favorite things about this book has to be the romance. This has got to be one of the most unique romances I read in a while. I mean, when was the last time you read a romance where the hero ends up falling for the lawyer who represented his ex-wife in the divorce case that left him broke??!! I honestly would've never paired these two together, but it worked so well in this book. This romance is ideal example of the "opposites attract" trope and I couldn't get enough. 

I went into this book a little bit on the hesitant side because truth be told, I was not a big fan of Rebecca's character in the first book. She was a little uppity and acting like her shit don't stink in the previous book, but after getting to know her character better, you realize that her cold demeanor is all an act and she's much more vulnerable than we think. Rebecca struggles with PTSD and throughout this story, we see her deal with flashbacks from the shooting and feelings of guilt. It's why she distances herself from people and why she is so afraid to let Wes in. But Wes isn't the type of guy to quit something without giving it his best shot and he does his best to show Rebecca that he can be what she needs and that even though their personalities are total opposite, they were meant to be together. Even though he too has his own personal struggles, Wes is such a good guy and I loved seeing him turn his life around. I also loved how he cared so much for his students and had their best interest at heart. I really can't believe Roni Loren found a way to make this romance work, but I loved it and I was so sad when it came to an end. *sobs*

The One You Can't Forget was an emotional and unique romance and I can't wait to continue this series. I am holding out hope that Kincaid's book will be next because I wanna see my fave find her happily ever after. I'm also hoping that her book is just as good as the first two or I will riot, lol. If you haven't picked up this series yet, then I highly recommend that you do. You won't regret it!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the first book in this series, I knew it was going to be a special series. I knew that in time the four girls (now women) who formed a bond during therapy after a high school tragedy all had their own demons to wrestle. I knew that for each one of them putting their past behind them was near impossible, but finding someone they trusted enough to share the load would hopefully lead them to a happier adulthood. I knew I would shed some tears and I also knew that I trusted author Roni Loren enough to know that while the journey these women take might be difficult where they end up would be spectacular and she hasn’t disappointed me yet. The One You Can’t Forget features Rebecca Lindt, the overachieving “brain” of the group, the one who excelled, the one who followed all the rules and the one who has been hiding a terrible secret that has dogged her for 10 years. This book has a powerful message that life isn’t always black and white and that everyone no matter their social class everyone makes mistakes, has regrets, and welcomes a second chance. I loved every emotional, sweet, heart pounding, life affirming, sexy moment of this book.

All her life Rebecca Lindt has done her best to make her father proud and now as she is getting closer to making partner at her father’s firm she feels it might actually happen, but walking home an incident changes her whole life in the blink of an eye.

As if a messy divorce, losing his business, and a stint in rehab weren’t bad enough now Wes Garrett feels he sunk even lower as he prepares to help out his friend as entertainment for a bachelorette party as a Shirtless Chef teaching tipsy women how to make Big, Meaty Balls and other interesting treats. On his way home he sees a mugging in process and hears a gun firing and knows that he has to do something, he just doesn’t realize that one thing is going to change his life.

This was such a multi faceted story and I love the way it all the sides fit together. On paper Rebecca and Wes are polar opposites, their backgrounds and upbringings couldn’t be more different yet there is an intensity between them, a connection that they are both quick to describe as lust but it is evident it goes much deeper. It was interesting watching them peel back each other’s layers and realize that they were way more than their outside appearance. I loved that Wes wanted Rebecca to find her passion something that made her happy and feel fulfilled like cooking did for him. I loved that Rebecca was big enough to admit there was more to Wes than what little she knew and she admired him for the work he was doing. I appreciated that Rebecca began to realize how important second chances are and how that changed her entire outlook on life. These were complicated people with so much baggage and yet this book was not filled with a lot of angst or problems contrived to make a plot work, this book was driven by these characters and the passion they had for one another and a project that meant something to both of them.

The pacing of this book was perfect and I loved everything from the way they met, to the problems they faced, and the lovely ending; The One You Can’t Forget was simply sublime.

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really hoping I'd feel the love for this series with THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET but once again we're just shy of it. So close but still not quite there. I can definitely say that in a lot of ways this second in The Ones Who Got Away series of connected stories is the stronger of the two as far as flow and plot. But what brought my rating down, and raised many a frustration, were the side characters working against our leads.

Rebecca Lindt has a secret. A hardworking divorce lawyer, with little time for a life, not to mention dating, Rebecca is a survivor of the Long Acre highschool shooting. She looks like she's come out the other side of tragedy as a success but she's holding onto knowledge from that horrible event that -- if made public -- might change everyone's perspective on her. She meets Wes Garrett, once a respected chef on the brink of opening his own restaurant (now a recovering alcoholic starting from the bottom after filing for bankruptcy after his ex-wife ruined him) as she's in the process of being mugged. He doesn't recognize that the woman so distraught over an injured dog, a dog that took a bullet for her, was the lawyer who played a role in destroying his dreams. But.. you know.. naturally it all comes out after a kiss, some flirting, and the thought that maybe there could be something between them.

"How would you fare in court if all anyone got to hear about you was your worst mistake? How would you look if you were distilled down to that one thing? What would your sentence be? Because I'm still paying for mine every damn day."

Caught between her ghosts and his failures, these two come complete with baggage. But the worst part of their drama wasn't so much their own seeming incompatibility; it was that everyone around them convinced them (grown up, thirty year old, adults) they weren't making the right choices, weren't focused, were making huge mistakes, etc etc. Wes' brother was preachy and judgmental and all about downplaying Wes' feelings. Rebecca's father was inconsiderate, harsh, and demanding. And both characters accepted these criticisms instead of telling their loved ones to go to hell and stop interfering (at least at first). Between that and my lack of connection to the telling vs showing aspect of Rebecca's trauma.. I just found myself losing connection.

"I can go to bed at night knowing I helped a little bit, too. That I didn't escape all those years ago for no reason."
"For no reason? You don't owe some debt to the world because you survived."

THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET is a good story, and I appreciated Loren's telling it from this perspective -- addressing all the what ifs and guilt for the role you played in someone else's ultimate choice -- but there's still something holding me back from the books in this series (so far). And yet I've read this author and loved her books before. I love this series concept. And yet..

I'm still going to read on. I'm looking forward to more from these survivors, Taryn and Kinkaid, and possibly seeing more of Rebecca and Liv.

3.5 "you're laying kid guilt at my feet? are you going to bring out sad-eyed puppies next?" stars


** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One You Can't Forget was a magnificent book featuring an amazing romance between an unlikely pairing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rebecca Lindt feels more and more like an impostor with each passing day feeling she didn't deserve to survive when so many others didn't during that fateful night twelve years ago. Known to the world as a Long Acre survivor, Rebecca prefers to keep her head down and focus on her work. While walking home late one evening after a long day at the office, Rebecca is mugged only to be saved by a man whose wife she represented in their divorce. Wes Garrett is still trying to get back on his feet after his disastrous divorce but getting to know Rebecca turns his life upside down in the most unexpected of ways.

Rebecca is a character I related to quite strongly and I found myself connecting with her immediately. Rebecca grew up with heavy expectations placed on her and she became a perfectionist as a result. She considers herself as someone who doesn't need to be around others and doesn't understand people's attachments to stuff or pets. She suffers from a lot of guilt over her survival of the Long Acre shooting and believes she's undeserving of love due to her actions prior to the shooting.

Wes has an addictive personality and a tendency to get attached to ideas or people very quickly as a result. Wes is still struggling after his divorce and the subsequent decline of his mental health. While previously considered a rising star in the cooking world, Wes now works at an after school program teaching troubled kids how to cook. Wes is devoted to the kids and truly wants to help them succeed.

I'll admit I wasn't sure how Rebecca and Wes's relationship would work considering Rebecca's involvement in his divorce. Surprisingly the two move past it quickly after talking out the situation which I was happy to see as I would have disliked it if it was an issue constantly floating in the background. Rebecca and Wes's relationship has light, teasing banter throughout which I absolutely loved. Their joking and easy flirtation was very sweet and made for more than a few funny moments. The physical attraction between these two is obvious from the get go and they have amazing chemistry. The sex scenes are very hot and so well done.

The One You Can't Forget was a delightful read and while it delved into heavy topics at times, it was never too dark that I didn't enjoy it. I highly recommend this series and I can't wait to read the next book, The One You Fight For, when it releases in January.

**I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Fafa's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mini review:

Trigger warning: Trauma over school shooting, being robbed, mention of depression and suicide, mention of toxic relationship, mention of substance abuse, physical abuse from a parent, gun violence, and a controlling parent.

GR Ultimate Summer Reading Challenge: Let's Get It On.

I was a bit hesitant to pick up this book. I didn't really enjoy the previous book and wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!

Rebecca and Wes were good characters. Their arcs were well done! I enjoyed them as a couple. Wes taught at a school for delinquent children. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his interactions with them and the food! It sounded so good. We finally find out about what happened when Trevor shot Rebecca. I really felt for her. I loved her character arc! I have always loved Rebecca and I loved her even more so.

I had a few problems. I felt that some of it wasn't realistic. Although I'm not a 100 percent positive though. I've noticed a particular trend with the first book and this one. The females meet their love interest through some traumatic event. Liv met Finn during the school shooting interview. Rebecca met Wes after being robbed at gun point. It feels really odd. I'm not sure what the author's intention with these scenes are. We'll see with the next book.

Overall I enjoyed this book! I recommend this series.

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Sorry, this book is not working for me. The plot, the flow, the writing iare just not for me. I lost my interest after 3rd hour of the audiobook.

It is disappointed since I was looking forward to read this book. A story about shooting survivor is something new for me. The focus of the story is too much on the inner dialog and too much on individual character development.

2 stars

[Sara the Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is with at least a slightly heavy heart that I abandon this series. But I can only take so much extreme soap operatic shenanigans before enough is enough. I had some hope that my issues with The Ones Who Got Away were mainly down to the most dramatic story in the series maybe not being the best one to launch it with but unfortunately having now read the second it looks like it's the MO of the whole shebang.

This book continues the romantic trials of the survivors of the Long Acre High prom night massacre with Rachel Lindt (Finn's date to the prom for those who read my review of the first book) who survived the shooting with scars both physical and psychological. Brilliant and driven she's become a divorce attorney who's on the fast track to making partner at her father's firm while also helping him with his campaign for office. One night on her way home from work she's mugged and coming to her rescue is Wes Garrett. Wes is a recovering alcoholic chef who lost everything, including his about to be launched into the stratosphere restaurant, in a divorce. And wouldn't you know who was representing his lying, evil ex wife?

Honestly it's a great way to have these two characters meet and a very original conflict to their coming together. Initially Rachel is the only one who recognizes Wes but once he realizes who she is he wants nothing to do with her. Still their connection is undeniable and after a heart to heart they realize the perceptions they formed of each other in the courtroom were more than a little biased. They start dating but Rachel is determined to keep it all casual because(insert sad clarinets and dramatic lighting)...she doesn't deserve the love of someone has great as Wes because...she holds herself personally responsible for the shooting and...no one can ever learn the truth of her involvement....

If, like me, you think this means something awesome and insane like she bought the guns for them or was supposed to be one of the shooters but chickened out you will be hugely disappointed to learn that what she thinks she did is so asinine for a brilliant, educated woman who specializes in dealing with hugely emotional, angry people with baggage on a daily basis to think that it's frankly insulting.

But that's not the only place this series loses all credibility with me. I just could not handle the absurd way these characters interact with each other. Honestly it really is all straight out of a silly soap opera complete with smoldering glances and gigantic pauses in the heated, melodramatic, cheesy dialogue that makes every single character come off as the worst kind of scenery chewing idiot.

Rachel can't just have a conversation with her dad about divorce law not really being what she wants they have to have a huge, ridiculous shouting match where they threaten to blackmail each other and the only resolution will have to involve one of them abandoning the other FOREVER!!!!

Wes can't have a normal conversation with his brother about whether its okay for him to pursue a relationship at this stage in his recovery (spoiler alert it's really not) he has to sit there seething with barely suppressed rage while he tries to keep himself from hauling off and punching a guy who's just trying to keep him from relapsing.

Which brings me to my other issue. These two are a hot mess and have no business being in a relationship with anyone except a therapist. Where with the first book I could really get behind Finn and Liv (who already had a long history) finding that emotional strength that they'd been missing in the other person with Wes and Rachel it's like two people who desperately want to seem normal grabbing on to the first thing they see that might protect them from having to deal with themselves and their demons. They're both desperate, barely hanging on to mental and emotional stability, and the absolute last thing they need is to get all codependent with another person who's just as fucked up.

I just don't like the message that sex and a partnership will "cure" you of your issues. There's a difference between finding something that's been missing from your life and using sex and romance as an excuse or a bandaid for things about yourself that you need to work on and come to terms with. It's certainly great when you can find acceptance and comfort with someone and taking strength from a relationship to confront difficult things is wonderful but it doesn't make the problems go away.

I just didn't get any sense that anything about Rachel and Wes had changed for the better or was even on the road to doing so as a result of their finding each other.

So between two lovebirds who are just as much of a mess at the end as they are at the beginning and dialogue that wouldn't have been out of place in "Passions" or "Days of Our Lives" even Roni Loren's pretty excellent writing couldn't save this one and I'm afraid my sojourn with "the ones who got away" is ended.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

[Ezrah (I Heart Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that I was intrigued by the premise of The One You Can’t Forget by Roni Loren. I mean, I wondered how a relationship between the hero’s ex-wife’s divorce attorney would pan out. I was not disappointed! This was an emotional read and had all the #feels. Also, there is food involved and scruffy black dog, so A++ on that!

The One You Can’t Forget is the second book in The Ones Who Got Away series. If you haven’t read the first book, The Ones Who Got Away, I recommend that you do. It is not necessary to read it, but it does give some perspective and backstory for Rebecca and what happened to her in high school.

The One You Can’t Forget is a story about to broken people who healed each other, and I couldn’t help but root for them. To be honest, I didn’t know how the plot would go but Roni Loren did a good job with it. Wes and Rebecca meet a few years after the divorce. The chemistry between Wes and Rebecca was off the charts and I really loved how their relationship developed between the two.

The best thing about The One You Can’t Forget is that the hero is one who wants commitment while the heroine is the one who only wants a hookup. It’s pretty rare to see this in romance and I was a bit surprised that I read two books in a week that featured this. Both Wes and Becca have ugly baggage in their past, but ultimately it took the hero quite a while to win his heroine.

Another thing about this book that I absolutely love is the food! Wes is a chef and was on the brink of opening his own high-end restaurant when the divorce happened. Ultimately, Wes lost everything during those dark years, but he has since bounced back and is now teaching at a high school. There is definitely food mentioned here and of course, food trucks!

I always love it when a book focuses on character development and I was not disappointed. I loved how a side story was weaved into this story to help Becca come to terms with her role in the high school shooting over 10 years ago. That scene was heartbreaking to read and I thought it was done really well. In fact, I am hoping that character gets his own HEA!

The One You Can’t Forget was an emotional read for me and ultimately was better than the first one! I can’t wait to read about Taryn’s book and I have a feeling that I would love that romance as well.
Read the review on I Heart Romance

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've come to expect great things from any book by Roni Loren. She always has a strong plot with great characters who have amazing chemistry!

I was interested in learning about Rebecca's story after meeting her in The Ones Who Got Away . She had a chance to become a nuisance to Liv and Finn but she didn't. Instead, she was there to support them.

In The One You Can't Forget, Rebecca is still working long hours and helping her father with his campaign. She's a divorce lawyer who has plenty of clients and who has a good track record of winning. A decade after she became one of the survivors during the Long Acre High school shooting, she's still dealing with guilt, PTSD, and flashbacks. Getting mugged is not the way to overcome any of it. Thankfully, she is rescued by a stray dog and by Wes.

Wes Garrett is remaking his life. He lost his dream of becoming the chef in his own restaurant and all his money in an ugly divorce. This leads him to drown his sorrows in the bottle which made everything much worse for him. Now sober, he has taken a teaching job for a group of at-risk teenagers. He feels like he can make a difference in their lives and provide them with a choice to become someone productive after graduation. Meeting Rebecca wakes up a desire for a relationship. Convincing her is another matter.

I liked Rebecca and Wess together. They both had suffered losses and they were trying to move on which was hard for them. Rebecca worked too much and had no personal life but Wes was able to show her that there was more to life than spending it on the job. On the other hand, she was able to support him in his new dream. Rebecca could be feisty when it was needed but she could also be vulnerable too. Wes had learned from his past mistakes and was trying to help himself and others less lucky than him.

The One You Can't Forget is an easy read with very little drama. I liked it but I didn't love it which is a first for this author. This won't deter me from reading the next two.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

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[Jultri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5. Really enjoyed this one, my first by the author. Witty dialogues help to lighten a very emotionally heavy book. Rebecca Lindt is a successful no-nonsense divorce lawyer with a truck load of baggage - more than any of her clients can ever lay claim on. She was one of the few survivors of a high school massacre and still carries the physical as well as psychological scars twelve years on. In addition, she has serious trust/abandonment issues after her mother walked out on her and her father when she was only seven.

Rebercca really doesn't need to add an armed robbery to her list of traumatic experiences, but that's what she got while walking home from yet another late night at work. She is saved by a stray dog with a taste for good quality food and a hunky man who has a talent for whipping up gastronomical delights in the kitchen. Turns out hunky guy is out of bounds, because she represented his ex-wife and helped her take him to the cleaners after he betrayed their marital vows. She'll have to settle for taking the dog home instead, but Wes Garrett is, if anything, more determined than the dog to capture her attention. And it's hard to avoid him, when his brother is the vet caring for her injured canine hero. And her human hero appears a completely different man to the one she had pegged in court, when she represented his ex.

Unsurprisingly, Wes changes his mind about pursuing an acquaintance with the pretty lawyer once he realises her role in his current financial woes and the loss of his dream restaurant. Although short of funds, he is definitely not short of baggage himself, having had a rough childhood and has just managed to right his life around after bottoming completely post-divorce.

They do eventually move on after the initial hiccups to form a tentative friendship, one not entirely without benefits. But there is much in the past to pull them backwards and many things and people in the present to impede their progress before they reach their HEA. Excellent writing. Mature characters. Yes, there's a lot of angst-filled material, but the characters and their actions make perfect sense in the context of their experiences, and thankfully, neither are prone to self-pity or prolonged self-imposed emotional deprivation. Good narration.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


I've been dying to get my hands on this book! I fell in love with the group of characters in this series with the first book and was compelled to read more.  Itching to get my hands on it actually.  This is the story of the high school girlfriend of the hero from the first book and yes one of the Long Acre survivors.  She's grown up to be a successful attorney and working for her father.  done everything he thinks best for her without much complain.  But she's left behind actually living.

I'm not sure if Rebecca was the most emotionally damaged from the group, but she was certainly carrying a lot of baggage aside from the survivors guilt.  It takes quite some time before the reader finds out what was weighing on her and it certainly broke my heart.   It brings up a whole different side from the aftermath of the school shooting that we didn't get to see in the first book.  Rebecca is also a very different character and there's both a strength and extreme vulnerability to her that I couldn't look away from.

Then there's Wes.  First of all.... sexy, tatted chef with a tortured past.  How can you not fall for him?  The fact that these two had history and their relationship can start with some animosity they have to overcome was nice.  But I couldn't have been rooting for them more.  Wes handles Rebecca in just the right way.  Pushing just when needed and knowing when not to.  There's a lot of healing that has to happen in this book and I for one think that Wes was the perfect partner to help Rebecca through it.

While THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET felt a little less intense than the first book, it was no less compelling and heartbreaking.  The romance is sexy, the story is consuming.  I didn't want to put it down.  Roni Loren once again swept me off my feet and I got wrapped up in the beauty of her words and the emotions her characters convey.  I experience this every time I crack open one of her books and I can't wait for my next fix.

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

This book is the second in the The Ones Who Got Away series, following on from book #1, which completely blew me away. This series of interconnected standalones tells the stories of four friends who survived a high school shooting on their prom night. Though not necessarily friends in high school, they are drawn together in adulthood as they battle to overcome the horror of their pasts and find their HEA.

This is the story of Rebecca Lindt (she was the one who spent her high school years drooling over Finn (hero of book #1)). She is now a successful divorce attorney who has spent her life focussing on her career and is now gunning to become partner. Her struggle with her past weighs especially heavy on her as she feels somewhat responsible for what her two classmates did that day, and she not only lives with the devastation and grief, but also the guilt that she could have prevented it.

Wes Garrett is a chef who dreamed of opening his own restaurant, but his dreams all fell apart when his ex-wife cleaned him out of everything during their divorce and, bankrupt and with a drinking problem, he hit rock bottom. His life is on the right track now, and he is teaching cooking to teens at an after-school program and loving it, though he is still struggling to get back to where he once was.

Wes and Rebecca meet when he comes to her aid during a mugging one night. He is kind, protective and caring, and there’s a spark of attraction there. But here’s the kicker – Rebecca was his ex-wife’s attorney during his divorce and is indirectly responsible for him losing everything. Rebecca recognises Wes, he initially doesn’t. And when he does… ouch!

It’s a fantastic setup, and with both characters dealing with emotional and life issues, it’s all kinds of intense. But the connection they shared cannot be ignored, and they become friends which slowly, naturally and beautifully becomes more.

“Did you just flirt with me in a room full of children?”
She crossed her arms and gave him her best haughty lawyer look. “Of course not. This is a request for a friendly meal.”
He laughed, a deep melodic sound. “I like it.” He moved his hand around indicating her general person. “I like this whole version of Rebecca who doesn't hate me.”

It’s sweet and fun with great flirting and banter, and the slow burn is awesome as they work up the courage to act on all of their chemistry! I loved the honesty between them, and loved both West and Rebecca (but mostly Wes) and it’s incredibly heartfelt as they open up to each other and help each other deal with everything they have going on.

“You are...a spectacular, loving, beautiful, human being. Hell, you made a guy who'd sworn off relationships forever fall head over heels for you. If that isn't working miracles, I don't know what is. You see, Bec, you've got it all wrong. You didn't pretend to be someone else around me. You gave me the best gift. You let yourself be who you really are with me. I got to meet that girl, and I'm so damn lucky for it.”

It’s a gorgeous read, and I loved seeing Rebecca and Wes find their way to their happy ending. There are a number of smaller, dramatic plotlines woven throughout which I really enjoyed. They work well with the main love story and creates a bit of intensity as Wes and Rebecca - both individually and together - figure out what is important and then find the strength to fight for it. It's all really well written and I felt all they were going through as it all played out.

I loved this one! Another great read from Ms Loren, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

4 stars.

[Dísir · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The One You Can’t Forget’ isn’t a title that lends itself to easy guessing—one could be forgiven for thinking this is a typical second-chance romance when it really isn’t quite—but the unique context in which school-massacre survivors rebuild their lives brick by brick has put Roni Loren on the book map for me.

For Rebecca Lindt, the woman who’d physically escaped the school shooting, but remains mentally fettered by it years later, ‘The One you Can’t Forget’ is pretty much her story. Despite the book being a romance between a disgraced chef and a staid lawyer who’d a painful teenage school dream and had it shattered underfoot, only to find love again much later, it’s also a story that I can get more or less behind, because it’s probably the most realistic type of narrative out there that states love (with a different person) can be found again, in a different time, in a different context entirely.

The kind of mediated response Rebecca had to the world as she got lost in her career, the so-called philosophical musings she had concerning love and life, the complexity of survivor guilt, the lingering effects of PTSD, and the slow steps back into getting into a relationship with a person who’d once come and gone in her life are what Loren expresses very well. I just wished she had more courage where Wes was concerned, though that was (incidentally) resolved through an untimely interruption that proved to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back for them.

It was impossible not to like Wes just as much though, considering he was a protagonist who was as well-crafted as Rebecca with his own motivations and his own demons, yet had gone through the tunnel with a clear vision of the mistakes he made and the precious insight he’s gained from them. That he talked about them, laid out his feelings for Rebecca and stepped bravely out of his own comfort zones? Absolutely brilliant. In fact, I loved seeing every step of his growth and the uptick of his fortunes the moment he and Rebecca crossed paths…which Loren almost writes as kismet.

If I wasn’t entirely sold on Loren’s first book, ‘The One You Can’t Forget’ definitely worked out better for me, with an epilogue that’s tooth-achingly happy and a wrap-up that made me think that Wes/Rebecca’s hard-earned HEA was nothing but well-deserved.

*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

I’ve been looking forward to the next book in the Long Acre crew and this was an enjoyable, if somewhat lighter offering from the interconnected characters in this series.

Rebecca is still guilt-ridden over Long Acre and she’s lived a quiet, yet ambitious life pursuing law. She remains intermittently traumatised by her experiences and meets Wes through a situation that is traumatic and triggering. Wes was from the opposite side of the tracks to Bec and her non-issue with this was a bonus to the read. I really enjoyed Wes’ background more than Bec’s. In fact, in general, he was a more interesting character. Bec fluctuated between a weak and strong personality, which could be understood under the circumstances.

The chemistry between these two was well written, with a tangible feel. Wes and Bec just worked, despite everything. The kids, the bus and Knight were lovely extras to the story and I could definitely handled more Knight in the book.

I felt there was a lot less involvement of the Long Acre friends in this book and to be honest, I missed that, having expected them to be more prominent. There was also a less intense feel to this story, but not every story is going to be the same in terms of the level of emotions.

I remain invested in this series and I’ll be anticipating the next when it comes.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ]

Can't wait for Rebecca' story!!!


More reviews and book talk at :

You can find me here too ☞

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this one just as much as the first book in the series. Once again, what stands out is the emotional maturity the characters exhibit and the way they communicate about mental health. The hero is a recovering alcoholic, and the way that was handled was amazing. There are a lot of content warnings with this one (and the series as a whole). Especially, I want to mention that a dog is shot right at the start, but the dog gets treated and gets a home too. I didn't expect to be emotionally drawn into Steven's story, but it was all so emotional and well done. I don't have the energy for a longer review right now, but seriously I loved it.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The One You Can't Forget is the second book in this latest series by Roni Loren and I didn't know what to expect, but from the ending of The One Who got Away, I just knew that I wanted Rebecca's story so badly. And I can't believe I am going to say this but The One You Can't Forget is SO much better than the first book. Not that I didn't get a fun time with The One Who Got Away, however this book was so much more engaging for me and the pace was way more steady. I read this all in one sitting, and I just didn't want to put it down. There was something about this story that resonated a bit more with me.

Making her laugh was like some weird sort of  drug in his starved system.

Our story begins with our heroine, Rebecca, who is a divorce lawyer who works for her father's firm. Ever since high school and that fateful day where her life was in shambles from the shooting, she lost a big part of herself, including her belief in love and marriage. Rebecca once wanted it all including the boy she loved, marriage, kids and the white picket fence...but the boy she loved was in love with someone else. But now Rebecca has become stronger and more confident. She became a lawyer, and in the beginning scene we see how badass she is when it comes to her career.

Our hero enters the story, Wes Garrett, who is a chef but then he lost his dream resturaunt when he went through a rough divorce and he pretty much lost everything he had. And now he is starting over, teaching kids how to cook and wanting to start again with a food truck business to start and the ocassional stripping session of cooking lessons for bachelorette parties.

On Rebecca's way home from work, she is mugged and she has flashbacks to the high school shooting and she freezes up, but then a dog comes out of nowhere and attacks her attackers who shoot the dog and Rebecca is heartbroken when the dog saved her life and then Wes arrives on the scene and helps her get some medical help for the dog that helped her and including medical attention she may need. When Wes volunteers to take her home to make sure its safe from those that robbed her, she is reluctant but agrees since she has no money on her for a cab or her house key. Even though there is apowerful chemistry between Wes and Rebecca, Rebecca wants to act on what she is feeling for this man but she recognizes him as one of the ex's of her past client and she is part of the reason he lost everyhing. And she knows that he will never forgive or forget what she did to him.

She also grabbed a large, steel pepper mill in her hand.

He smirked "Is this where you bash me to the head and drag me to the basement?"

Her smile was brief, but her eyes sparked with humor. "Yeah. You scared?"

"I could think of worse fates than being held captive by a pretty redhead. "

But when she learns what Wes is doing for his kids that he is teaching, teenagers that are struggling, she wants to help him out and these kids that need a helping hand. And at the same time she wants something more with Wes, and once the truth comes out between them, Wes may be angry at first, but he understands that Rebecca was just doing her job which she apparently is great at. And even though he doesn't want to do the casual fling with her, he also doesn't want to give up on what could be the start to a great relationship. He knows of Rebecca's past and that she needs it very slow, but soon Rebecca will have to face up to her past and also the love she is feeling for Wes and decide if she is willing to fight for him as he does for her....

I know...I just hate acting like some damsel in distress. I'm usually more together than this and--"

"Hey, stop, all right? You damsel however you damn well please. No one's grading you on How To React after Being Robbed. You have had a hell of a night. You didn't expect to be attacked. You didn't expect to be saving a dog. And I'm sure you didn't expect to have some strange dud traisping through your bedroom at midnight. "

The One You Can't Forget was such a fantastic installment and I am so glad that I was able to pick this one up. I honestly didn't know what to expect from this one, because we suspect that Rebecca is hiding a painful secret about the shooting, which we are teased about in the first book. And yeah once you learn what this secret it, you heart just breaks for Rebecca because you can see how much she has tormented herself over the years. But being with Wes, and falling in love with him, she begins to change in certain ways, especially in her belief that some relationships can make it. It is really rough at times in their relationship as Rebecca comes to this conclusion, but Wes is just wonderful, he never gives up on Rebecca and always has faith in her.

Use your life for something good. You can have another chance. Have this be a beginning instead of an ending.

We also have a twist with one of the kids and finding out who the muggers are and Rebecca really impressed me here when we find out the identity. She is so gracious and forgiving and you see her change here. Where she decides that even though she is great at being a divorce lawyer, she wants to do more to help kids out and seeing her come to this realization is pretty epic!! I just loved seeing her growth in this book and seeing her overcome the ghosts of her past and fight for what she wants in her present and her future.

You are...a spectacular, loving, beautiful, human being. Hell, you made a guy who'd sworn off relationships forever fall head over heels for you. If that isn't working miracles, I don't know what is. You see, Bec, you've got it all wrong. You didn't pretend to be someone else around me. You gave me the best gift. You let yourself be who you really are with me. I got to meet that girl, and I'm so damn lucky for it.

Their sexy times are pretty fantastic and Roni Loren is such a talented author when it comes to the sex scenes. I just loved into these moments I was able to become immersed in. They are very sexy and hot at times, but at the same time you easily get lost in these moments and man....the way that this hero is so focused on the heroine and her pleasure being first is my favorite thing to see and Wes is so devoted to Rebecca...especially in the bedroom.

There is such a strong focus on the development of the romance here and Roni Loren does a real great job of balancing all the great elements out just right. Seeing the depth of emotion that comes bursting out of this book is breathtaking at times and pulls the reader instantly in. I can guarantee you will fall in love with Wes and Rebecca as much as I did. These two are fantastic together and I am sad that the book is over....I will definitely be doing a re read in the future. :)







 



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[*The Angry Reader* · Rating 3 out of 5]

***ARC received for an honest review***

My biggest issue with contemporary romances is that the problems tend to arise in two arenas - either the family or all in the characters' heads. I'm not even being facetious as I ask this question - you're busy and lonely and in a dating slump. You meet a gorgeous man with whom you have amazing sex (it really is important in a relationship), whom you admire, with whom you love spending time, and you evolve this healthy respectful relationship. Good, right? But in a contemporary romance this isn't good. Some complete mindfuck of the heroine's comes along to throw a monkey-wrench in the works (between 72 and 75%) and you have to watch an otherwise sane person sabotage a relationship and then desperately repair it. And then you're expected to rejoice that this twatwaffle is happy. Ugh.

ANYHOW.

Rebecca (from the last book) is a miserable, uptight, lonely lawyer (I swear to god we are not all freakin like this). Wes is a recovering alcoholic who has blown up his own life. They meet. Their fears intrude. Their hideous families intrude (seriously, I loathed these people). And they stumble their way to happily ever after through a garden of landmines (that they'd planted themselves).

I keep saying I'm not going to read any more contemporaries, but then an amazing one comes along. (I'm looking at you Brooklynaire) So I never give up. Maybe I'm becoming as tedious as the heroines I've come to loathe...nahhhhhhhh.

[Lindsey Domokur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was better than the first. I loved Wes and Bec! Hearing the backstory of Rebecca made me feel so much more for her. Two people that are seemingly so different and yet needed each other so much. Bec's growth journey was so beautiful and I could feel her anxiety as my own. Wes was broken down but not out of the game. I love books with chefs in them too, I am drawn to them.
Their romance and chemistry felt so organic., I loved their story!

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read other Roni Loren books, but I must say, she has won my heart with this series. I am in love with this premise. The focus on these four survivors and how each were impacted by the shooting was enough to earn my attention, but then she gave them each a complicated, but beautiful romance, which just sweetened the pot.

Rebecca was a high-powered, driven divorce attorney. She poured herself into her work as a form of escape, from her past and the guilt she carried because of it. When a Good Samaritan came to her rescue, it brought her face-to-face with someone she had destroyed in divorce court. She tried to fight the attraction, but gave in after learning she didn't really have all the facts about this man and his tumultuous marriage.

I am a fan of enemies-to-lovers romances, but this was so much more complicated than that. Rebecca sort of got past what she thought was true about Wes quickly, but then she was left with her guilt of hiding her past. It was a wall, which kept her from moving forward. Her emotions and pain were written so well. I ached for her, but at the same time, I wanted her snap out of it! In my heart, I knew Wes was exactly who she needed in order to find some peace and move forward with her life. I will say, she made some BOLD choices at one point, which might have made me fist-pump or let out a "get it girl", and left me all sorts of happy.

Wes❤️! That man earned a spot on my favorite heroes list. He was far from perfect. In fact, there were some things from his past that made me wince. But you know what? He picked himself up, dusted himself off, and made plans to rebuild his life. He may not have been overjoyed about his circumstances, but he was making the best of them, and he wasn't going to let past failures keep him from achieving his dreams. I found him all sorts of wonderful, and his hope was contagious. He was also super sexy and swoony and sweet with a HUGE heart, which are all good things.

Loren wove in some interesting storylines as well, that were quite lovely. I adored visiting Wes' job and working with his kids. I thought Knight was topnotch, and I have a special place in my heart for shelter pets. So, all sort of heart tugging going on there. But, what I loved about the inclusion of these things was how they were about second chances. This whole book is chockfull of second chances, and I have an affinity for those stories, because they leave me hopeful. I like to think we can make mistakes, pay for our mistakes, and then be able to find our happy. This book had a lot of that going on, so I was miles of smiles.

The epilogue was good and steamy, as this couple had fantastic chemistry, but what cracked my face in half was a little reveal that slipped out. I loved it, and it was perfect for these two.

Overall: A fantastic addition to a series I am adoring. It was fun, emotional, sexy, sweet, and filled with heartwarming, heartbreaking, and heart-racing moments.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[_eat.read.love_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auch Band 2 konnte mich überzeugen und hatte wieder eine tolle, spannende und emotionale Geschichte! Der Schreibstil der Autorin war auch diesmal wieder sehr angenehm und flüssig zu lesen. Außerdem bleibt man dauerhaft dran und freut sich immer aufs Weiterlesen.
Wes ist unglaublich toll und einfach ein Typ zum Verlieben! Rebecca hätte für mich besonders zum Schluss noch mehr Tiefe und Entwicklung haben können. Da sie anfangs sehr unnahbar rüberkommt, hätte ich mir gewünscht mehr von ihrer Wendung mitzuerleben.
Wes Bruder und Rebeccas Vater kamen leider beide nicht sonderlich sympathisch rüber. Und ein klein bisschen schade finde ich, dass von der ,Mädels-Clique‘ diesmal nicht so viel drin war.
Ansonsten hat mir hier alles wirklich gut gefallen und ich hab mit Wes mal wieder einen neuen Bookboyfriend gefunden! 🤍

[Nirit · Rating 3 out of 5]

הספר השני בסידרה שמספרת על 4 ניצולות ירי המוני בבי"ס תיכון Long Acres. הספר מתמקד ברבקה, עו"ד לענייני משפחה שכל חייה הצטיינה בכל מה שעשתה. רבקה סוחבת איתה שדים מאותו לילה של ירי, אבל היא מצליחה להדחיק אותם, עד הרגע שבו מנסים לשדוד אותה, ו-ווס בה לעזרתה. בעבר רבקה ייצגה את אשתו של ווס במשפט גירושים וסייעה לה לקבל את כל הרכוש של ווס, מה שגם לו לקרוס כלכלית ונפשית. לא התחלה מוצלחת לקשר, אבל מסתבר שמאחורי רבקה ו-ווס יש הרבה יותר ממה שרואים מבחוץ.
כבר כתבתי בעבר (בביקורת על הספר הראשון בסידרה) שאירוע טבח בבי"ס תיכון זו נקודת התחלה מעניינת ולא שגרתית לרומן רומנטי. גם בספר הזה אירוע הירי הזה נותן עומק לעלילה קצת מעבר לרומן רומנטי שיגרתי. ועדיין הספר הראשון היה יותר מוצלח בעיני. הקרירה בספר הזה פחות זרמה לי. רק בגלל זה, נתתי לספר 3 כוכבים ולא 4.
מפלס הסקס גבוה אבל סביר ולא וירטואוזי (זה נאמר לזכות הסופרת ולא לחובתה).

[Sara (sarabara081) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find more of my reviews at Forever 17 Books.

I fell in love with this series after reading the first book, The Ones Who Got Away. The series follow a group of friends who were deeply affected by a tragic event that happened in high school when a classmate open fired during prom and how it has affected their lives ever since.

We first met Rebecca in the first book and I instantly loved her and was so excited to dig deeper into her character with her own story. She was very mature and selfless at a time she could have been the complete opposite which was so refreshing. I found she continued to have that kind of persona in The One You Can’t Forget. She is holding in a lot of emotions for the tragedy years ago and when she finds herself being mugged, all of those feelings of fear and guilt come back front and center. She has a lot to work through, especially with a demanding father/boss oblivious to her feelings. Enter Wes! Wes lost his dream restaurant after his messy divorce and now teaches kids to cook in a very underfunded program. Even though it wasn’t exactly what he hoped for himself, he was extremely committed to those kids and helping them in every way. I adored him right away too! These two had an immediate connection despite Rebecca having already seen the very worst of him from his past. But he has really turned himself around for the better and truly sees and understands her in ways others don’t. Wes added a little fun and adventure into her life and she helped show him he deserved something good in his. They both showed such remarkable character growth and bravery along the way and made for one hot couple!

If the romance wasn’t enough, there is also this adorable and protective dog named Knight I grew attached to. Who can resist a cute dog? The novel made me want to find the nearest food truck and grab something amazing to eat too! We get a little glimpse of who might be the stars of the next novel in the series as well and I am all for it! Definitely worth grabbing a copy of!

[Saly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
I was totally WOW'ed by the first book in the series with this weirdly not so much. Heroine is a type-A super successful lawyer who runs over backward to please her never pleased father while dealing with the tragedy that happened years ago. When she is mugged the hero comes to her rescue and she recognizes him as someone she was on the opposing side off and helped his ex get a good settlement from. She also thinks he is a cheater with anger issues but of course that misunderstanding is cleared up. The hero made good from a life spent with criminal parents however his tunnel vision to get his own successful restaurant led to an acrimonious divorce in which his horrid ex took his hopes & dreams & he took to the bottle. He is now a recovering alcoholic struggling to get enough capital to buy his own food truck. He likes the heroine and although he reacts badly for a moment when he finds out who she is, he is fine afterwards. In this book we had a hero more willing to put his heart on the line while the heroine was more closed off dealing with her past and teenage guilt. I honestly have to say that I hated her father and I didn't see why she didn't cut him off at the end. All in all not a bad read but not as good as the first.

[Monique V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a lot it was not not what I was expecting. I was expecting this book to be like the first one which dealt with a lot of emotional topics. This book had a lighter tone and the relationship was slower and more fun. I highly recommend this series but I do have to warn you guys: this deals with a school shooting and a case of abuse. If you are sentive to those topics you have been warned. I highly recommend it though😉😊