What do you think?
Rate this book
Redeeming Love/Small Town Scandals #1
Man With a Past
WILL THE TRUTH SET HIM FREE?
JOE BRODY: Out of prison but still serving time --- all because no one in his hometown believes he's innocent. He'd leave the place in his dust, but his father --- the only family he has left --- needs him.
ASHLEY CADE: Widowed with a toddler to take care of. She's moved here to make a fresh start --- but being accepted into the inner circles of a close-knit town isn't easy. Especially after she hires the town pariah as a handyman.
Joe and Ashley. The attraction between them is powerful. But is it enough to overcome the whispers that Ashley has begun to hear?
JOE BRODY: Out of prison but still serving time --- all because no one in his hometown believes he's innocent. He'd leave the place in his dust, but his father --- the only family he has left --- needs him.
ASHLEY CADE: Widowed with a toddler to take care of. She's moved here to make a fresh start --- but being accepted into the inner circles of a close-knit town isn't easy. Especially after she hires the town pariah as a handyman.
Joe and Ashley. The attraction between them is powerful. But is it enough to overcome the whispers that Ashley has begun to hear?
298 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 9, 2006
1932 people are currently reading
867 people want to read
About the author
Kay Stockham
32 books69 followersKay Lyons Stockham is an award-winning author of 25+ books published by Harlequin Enterprises, Berkley Publishing and Kindred Spirits Publishing. She has also been a Book Buyers Best, HOLT Medallion and RITA Award finalist with a million books in print.
For more information on Kay's work, please visit her website at http://www.kaystockham.com or find her at one of the following:
Kay Lyons Stockham, Author (FB)
@KayStockham (Twitter)
Kay Stockham (Authorgraph)
Kay Lyons Stockham (Pinterest)
For more information on Kay's work, please visit her website at http://www.kaystockham.com or find her at one of the following:
Kay Lyons Stockham, Author (FB)
@KayStockham (Twitter)
Kay Stockham (Authorgraph)
Kay Lyons Stockham (Pinterest)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
January 9, 2018
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I know when I pick up a Harlequin that it will be a quicker read. Most of the time they feel a little rushed or thin when it comes to the meat like, character and relationship development. This book didn't feel that way at all. I loved Joe and my heart hurt for him. I liked Ashley and I understand why she did the things she did. I just wish she would have believe Joe sooner than she did. I felt the relationship build up in this book was good. A great read!
I really enjoyed this book. I know when I pick up a Harlequin that it will be a quicker read. Most of the time they feel a little rushed or thin when it comes to the meat like, character and relationship development. This book didn't feel that way at all. I loved Joe and my heart hurt for him. I liked Ashley and I understand why she did the things she did. I just wish she would have believe Joe sooner than she did. I felt the relationship build up in this book was good. A great read!
January 12, 2012
This was a book about a man convicted for one of the cruelest crime, he knew he didn't commit, murder his baby but no-one believed him or stood by him except his father and now that he's been released after ten years he only wants to take care of his dad currently in a nursing home but the town's memory is short and no-one is willing to employ him.
The heroine Ashley is a widow with a young baby hoping to open a B&B but she needs serious work so when the former owner who stays with her tells her to employ Joe she does with some protest, since she doesn't know his references. Ashley grew up in a group home and loved her husband very much and now she wants her son to have a good future. She soon finds out that Joe had a daughter who died and he's an ex-con but she doesn't know what he was convicted for.
I really felt for Joe, he had suffered terribly, losing his child, freedom, everything. He starts falling for Ashley but thinks she deserves better and I liked how Ashley finally cleared his name.
The heroine Ashley is a widow with a young baby hoping to open a B&B but she needs serious work so when the former owner who stays with her tells her to employ Joe she does with some protest, since she doesn't know his references. Ashley grew up in a group home and loved her husband very much and now she wants her son to have a good future. She soon finds out that Joe had a daughter who died and he's an ex-con but she doesn't know what he was convicted for.
I really felt for Joe, he had suffered terribly, losing his child, freedom, everything. He starts falling for Ashley but thinks she deserves better and I liked how Ashley finally cleared his name.
April 15, 2019
I haven't read many small town romance books but this one caught my interest & I have absolutely no regrets. A heartfelt story about Brody, fresh out of prison for a crime he adamantly denies he ever committed. With no job prospects in his home town where people still whisper & condemn him, he is hired by Ashley to help fix up an old home she wants to refurbish to a B&B. Ashley is a war widow with an infant son, new to this small town & determined to fix the old home so she & her son can start a new life. As a newcomer & knowing no one, she has no clue about Brody's past.
My heart bled for Brody throughout most of the story. To understand the circumstances of the crime he was accused, his loss & inner turmoil were heart breaking. In spite of all the emotions I felt or maybe because of them, I loved this story. The characters were very well developed, the pace was good & yes there is a very well deserved HEA. This is a stand-alone.
My heart bled for Brody throughout most of the story. To understand the circumstances of the crime he was accused, his loss & inner turmoil were heart breaking. In spite of all the emotions I felt or maybe because of them, I loved this story. The characters were very well developed, the pace was good & yes there is a very well deserved HEA. This is a stand-alone.
March 3, 2012
******3 1/2 stars******
This was a quick read that was so jam packed with angst that I am left struggling to comprehend how it all fit into a book with only 298 pages!
Joe Brody was wrongfully imprisoned on a manslaughter charge. He was convicted of killing his 2 month old premature infant daughter who died of brain trauma that was attributed to Shaken Baby Syndrome. Joe had been with her, and therefore was the leading suspect and eventually convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Ashley Cade was an orphan who had never grown up with a sense of belonging or of love. She finally found love with a soldier who had gone off to war and was killed in the line of duty. She is now a widow raising her toddler son.
When Joe is released from prison, he goes home to be with his father who is in a nursing home/rehab facility. The town scorns him as they all see him as a "baby killer". He is unable to find work until Ashley hires him to help renovate the old house that she dreams of making into a bed and breakfast.
I really enjoyed this book until the very end. Joe and Ashley's relationship develops naturally and the chemistry they shared was completely believable. Their conflict centered around Joe's reluctance to tell Ashley about his past for fear that she wouldn't believe in his innocence.
Unfortunately, events happen that really soured my opinion of Ashley. The resolution was so quick and contrived that I struggled to believe that this incredible book was going to end in such a "sugary sweet with neat and tidy bow on top" way.
I recommend this book if you are a lover of ex-con books, don't mind some serious angst, and can tolerate a somewhat rushed and tidied ending.
Here are some other ex-con books that I have enjoyed:
Jackson Rule
Unlawful Contact
Why can I not think of more:(
This was a quick read that was so jam packed with angst that I am left struggling to comprehend how it all fit into a book with only 298 pages!
Joe Brody was wrongfully imprisoned on a manslaughter charge. He was convicted of killing his 2 month old premature infant daughter who died of brain trauma that was attributed to Shaken Baby Syndrome. Joe had been with her, and therefore was the leading suspect and eventually convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Ashley Cade was an orphan who had never grown up with a sense of belonging or of love. She finally found love with a soldier who had gone off to war and was killed in the line of duty. She is now a widow raising her toddler son.
When Joe is released from prison, he goes home to be with his father who is in a nursing home/rehab facility. The town scorns him as they all see him as a "baby killer". He is unable to find work until Ashley hires him to help renovate the old house that she dreams of making into a bed and breakfast.
I really enjoyed this book until the very end. Joe and Ashley's relationship develops naturally and the chemistry they shared was completely believable. Their conflict centered around Joe's reluctance to tell Ashley about his past for fear that she wouldn't believe in his innocence.
Unfortunately, events happen that really soured my opinion of Ashley. The resolution was so quick and contrived that I struggled to believe that this incredible book was going to end in such a "sugary sweet with neat and tidy bow on top" way.
I recommend this book if you are a lover of ex-con books, don't mind some serious angst, and can tolerate a somewhat rushed and tidied ending.
Here are some other ex-con books that I have enjoyed:
Jackson Rule
Unlawful Contact
Why can I not think of more:(
Want to read
March 2, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/27/2019)! 🎁
October 13, 2010
This book had the makings of a five-star Harlequin, but the effect was spoiled a bit by a too neat ending. I thought the HEA would have been more powerful if it were in spite of the rather large obstacles in their way. Quibble, quibble, quibble...
Joe Brody is returning to town after 10 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of his baby daughter when he was a mere 18 years old. He knows he didn't cause his daughter's death, but no one in town believes him other than his father. Gratitude and loyalty bring Joe back home to look after his elderly father, who is currently in a nursing home healing a broken hip. Just as he's getting disheartened by the local employers slamming their doors to the "baby killer," he happens upon Ashley Cade, who needs a handyman for her project to turn an old Victorian into a bed and breakfast. The pay was room and board and a pittance in cash, but it was the best he was going to get.
The widowed Ashley's a new arrival in the small town. She's moved here to make a fresh start after her husband died in Iraq, leaving her a young widowed mother. After growing up in a group foster home herself, she wants to give her young son stability in his childhood, and sees buying a home and running a business in a small town as the best way to put down solid roots. This desire to be a part of a community wars with her growing attraction to Joe as she's slowly finding out he's the town pariah, and with good reason.
The novel has a strong character focus, and the romance that follows is slow and emotional. Both are a mess of insecurities and grief and reluctant to indulge this attraction they feel. You could cut the tension between these two with a knife. Ashley is apprehensive about moving on from the first husband, who was also a childhood friend of hers, and about getting involved with a man while raising her son. Joe feels unworthy of Ashley, and is understandably afraid of how she'll react when she finds out about why he went to prison.
I liked how their problems were given the weight they were. Amazing sex didn't wipe their troubles magically away. There are false starts, awkward moments and a few tense, angsty scenes. I loved how both characters were tough as nails and extremely vulnerable at the same time. They were real people to me. The kind that aren't perfect and that make mistakes but are able to admit when they're wrong.
Unfortunately, the ending is way too neat. We find out how his daughter actually died, there's a big pow-wow hug fest with the baby's mom - now dying of cancer - her dad the angry police chief and Ashley where the kindly small town doctor reveals his irrefutable evidence, then every wish is granted in a saccharine epilogue. As the book's strength is the drama, angst and conflict, it seems an odd decision to make it all go away.
Taken as a whole, though, I have to say I loved the book. The characters and their dilemmas were made real to me, making their stories and eventual HEA a joy to read.
Joe Brody is returning to town after 10 years in prison for manslaughter in the death of his baby daughter when he was a mere 18 years old. He knows he didn't cause his daughter's death, but no one in town believes him other than his father. Gratitude and loyalty bring Joe back home to look after his elderly father, who is currently in a nursing home healing a broken hip. Just as he's getting disheartened by the local employers slamming their doors to the "baby killer," he happens upon Ashley Cade, who needs a handyman for her project to turn an old Victorian into a bed and breakfast. The pay was room and board and a pittance in cash, but it was the best he was going to get.
The widowed Ashley's a new arrival in the small town. She's moved here to make a fresh start after her husband died in Iraq, leaving her a young widowed mother. After growing up in a group foster home herself, she wants to give her young son stability in his childhood, and sees buying a home and running a business in a small town as the best way to put down solid roots. This desire to be a part of a community wars with her growing attraction to Joe as she's slowly finding out he's the town pariah, and with good reason.
The novel has a strong character focus, and the romance that follows is slow and emotional. Both are a mess of insecurities and grief and reluctant to indulge this attraction they feel. You could cut the tension between these two with a knife. Ashley is apprehensive about moving on from the first husband, who was also a childhood friend of hers, and about getting involved with a man while raising her son. Joe feels unworthy of Ashley, and is understandably afraid of how she'll react when she finds out about why he went to prison.
I liked how their problems were given the weight they were. Amazing sex didn't wipe their troubles magically away. There are false starts, awkward moments and a few tense, angsty scenes. I loved how both characters were tough as nails and extremely vulnerable at the same time. They were real people to me. The kind that aren't perfect and that make mistakes but are able to admit when they're wrong.
Unfortunately, the ending is way too neat. We find out how his daughter actually died, there's a big pow-wow hug fest with the baby's mom - now dying of cancer - her dad the angry police chief and Ashley where the kindly small town doctor reveals his irrefutable evidence, then every wish is granted in a saccharine epilogue. As the book's strength is the drama, angst and conflict, it seems an odd decision to make it all go away.
Taken as a whole, though, I have to say I loved the book. The characters and their dilemmas were made real to me, making their stories and eventual HEA a joy to read.
March 5, 2011
Kay Stockham is one of my favorite Hharlequin authors! She gets me every time with her emotional stories, and I think this one is my favorite of hers. It made me cry at the end and tear up several times throughout.
Joe Brody was wrongly convicted in the murder of his infant daughter ten years ago, and has just now gotten out of prison. The book takes you through how hard it was for him to come back to the small town where everyone despises you and nobody will give you a fair chance. He falls in love with Ashley, new to town and with an infant son of her own. Their romance was well-told, and although I wanted to strangle Ashley for not having more faith in Joe, I could certainly see where she was coming from.
The ending was bittersweet as the real reason for Joe's daughter's death came out, and the epilogue made me happy. In an odd turn of events, I actually read the sequel to this book first and am now left a little dissatisfied by e ending of THAT book. I needed a little more resolution between the brothers. I highly recommend this book and pretty much any other by is author...I particularly enjoyed her Tulanes of Tennessee series!
Joe Brody was wrongly convicted in the murder of his infant daughter ten years ago, and has just now gotten out of prison. The book takes you through how hard it was for him to come back to the small town where everyone despises you and nobody will give you a fair chance. He falls in love with Ashley, new to town and with an infant son of her own. Their romance was well-told, and although I wanted to strangle Ashley for not having more faith in Joe, I could certainly see where she was coming from.
The ending was bittersweet as the real reason for Joe's daughter's death came out, and the epilogue made me happy. In an odd turn of events, I actually read the sequel to this book first and am now left a little dissatisfied by e ending of THAT book. I needed a little more resolution between the brothers. I highly recommend this book and pretty much any other by is author...I particularly enjoyed her Tulanes of Tennessee series!
April 6, 2019
One of my favourite tropes is hero has been unjustly imprisoned so when I read the outline for this book, I was on it.
When Joe Brody was still young his girlfriend at the time had a baby. Joe loved his daughter so he was wrecked when their baby died. What was even worse was he was sent to prison for killing her.
The book opens some years later. Brody is out of prison and trying to find work in the small town he came from but no one will even give him the time of day. But his father is in ill health so Brody feels he has to stay. He ends up at the home of single mother Ashley Cade. She is new in town and plans on turning her older home into a B&B and ends up hiring Brody as her handyman. Since she is new to town, she isn’t aware of his past.
Brody is attracted to Ashley and she to Brody. She is very hesitant to start anything because she’s not completely over her husband who dies overseas in service. She is a super vigilant mother and Brody is her employee. Brody doesn’t want to start anything until he tells her he spent time in prison and why, even though he didn’t do it.
I liked this book, but I’ve read better. I’m more than willing to try other books by this author though I doubt I’ll reread this one. I hate giving lower than 4 stars for books and it’s hard to explain why a book doesn’t work as well as hoped. So I’m putting it down to it’s me, not the book.
When Joe Brody was still young his girlfriend at the time had a baby. Joe loved his daughter so he was wrecked when their baby died. What was even worse was he was sent to prison for killing her.
The book opens some years later. Brody is out of prison and trying to find work in the small town he came from but no one will even give him the time of day. But his father is in ill health so Brody feels he has to stay. He ends up at the home of single mother Ashley Cade. She is new in town and plans on turning her older home into a B&B and ends up hiring Brody as her handyman. Since she is new to town, she isn’t aware of his past.
Brody is attracted to Ashley and she to Brody. She is very hesitant to start anything because she’s not completely over her husband who dies overseas in service. She is a super vigilant mother and Brody is her employee. Brody doesn’t want to start anything until he tells her he spent time in prison and why, even though he didn’t do it.
I liked this book, but I’ve read better. I’m more than willing to try other books by this author though I doubt I’ll reread this one. I hate giving lower than 4 stars for books and it’s hard to explain why a book doesn’t work as well as hoped. So I’m putting it down to it’s me, not the book.
March 31, 2019
This book redeemed my faith in romance novels! FIVE PERFECT STARS!
Just when I was ready to give up on cookie-cutter romances with the same old tropes, this beautiful story found its way to my Kindle and straight into my heart. WOW! I finished this book several hours ago, and my emotions are still raw.
Brody's redemption has everything you could ever want in a romance novel. Joe Brody is a tormented, tough yet gentle guy needing compassion and love after serving ten years for a crime he didn't commit. (He's also gorgeous, in case you wondered.) Ashley Cade is a lovely young widow (with an adorable baby boy) who hires Joe to help her turn a rundown old house into a bed & breakfast in their small town, but they face many challenges in the process.
If this plot sounds familiar, don't worry--it's not. This unusual love story is a gripping combination of mystery and suspense, small town drama, an ingenious "big reveal" and a Happily Ever After ending that left me in tears. Happy tears.
No plot summary this time, because nothing should spoil this remarkable story of redeeming love. If you enjoy clean and wholesome romances with fresh plots, engaging characters and no cliffhangers, you will love this beautifully written book. I'm so glad I discovered this new series by Kay Lyons. Highly recommended.
Just when I was ready to give up on cookie-cutter romances with the same old tropes, this beautiful story found its way to my Kindle and straight into my heart. WOW! I finished this book several hours ago, and my emotions are still raw.
Brody's redemption has everything you could ever want in a romance novel. Joe Brody is a tormented, tough yet gentle guy needing compassion and love after serving ten years for a crime he didn't commit. (He's also gorgeous, in case you wondered.) Ashley Cade is a lovely young widow (with an adorable baby boy) who hires Joe to help her turn a rundown old house into a bed & breakfast in their small town, but they face many challenges in the process.
If this plot sounds familiar, don't worry--it's not. This unusual love story is a gripping combination of mystery and suspense, small town drama, an ingenious "big reveal" and a Happily Ever After ending that left me in tears. Happy tears.
No plot summary this time, because nothing should spoil this remarkable story of redeeming love. If you enjoy clean and wholesome romances with fresh plots, engaging characters and no cliffhangers, you will love this beautifully written book. I'm so glad I discovered this new series by Kay Lyons. Highly recommended.
June 8, 2023
First 5 star in weeks (and I am an avid reader). Strong story line, great writing and editing. The characters were mature and cared without being over bearing, a shrew or totally unlikable. The H had endured the unthinkable but used his experience to better himself for a future. He cared about his father and his friends. The h was a widow with a toddler who used her grief to create a future for herself and her son. These 2 brought out the best in each other.
I also liked that the town that had condemned the H to hades, accepted their mistake and earned his forgiveness (at the time of the incident, there was not enough science to question his guilt). His lack of bitterness was remarkable; the strength of the h was admirable and the secondary characters enhanced the story line.
Well done.
I also liked that the town that had condemned the H to hades, accepted their mistake and earned his forgiveness (at the time of the incident, there was not enough science to question his guilt). His lack of bitterness was remarkable; the strength of the h was admirable and the secondary characters enhanced the story line.
Well done.
March 28, 2020
I admit that I spent time wondering how the hero would be redeemed as it was a tough issue, however, Lyons pulled it off in a heart warming story that endeared the hero to me and the heroine almost immediately. I enjoyed the sweet romance and look forward to the future story line of the secondary characters (yes, I read the sneak peek for book 2) as I enjoyed both of them as people and think they will make for a great story. Worth staying up late to finish - as I did!
Want to read
April 4, 2019Free amazon 4th April 19
February 18, 2021
3.5/5 ✨
March 17, 2023
Joe and Ashley were great! They both dealing with loss. They were also starting over and helped each other. So glad that she gave him a chance and figured out on her own to trust him. The ending was so sweet. 💙
April 19, 2015
Man with a Past by Kay Stockham is one of those stories that I stumbled across in my quest to find something featuring a widowed hero or heroine. I was utterly convinced to give this a go based on the rave reviews her books seem to receive, noted in particular for her delivery of emotional reads.
Man with a Past deals with ex-convict Joe Brody who returns back to his hometown after spending 10 years in prison for murder. Joe knows that no one would welcome him with open arms but he needs to find a way to stay, at least for his father's sake.
Ashley Cade is swimming in waters out of her depth, having just moved to the neighborhood. Growing up in group homes has left its mark on her, and the one thing that drives her to strive to make it amidst feeling like the outsider who would never fit in is the dream that she and her husband had shared of bringing up their children in a homey neighborhood which would give them the experiences that they had both never had.
When Joe turns up at her home, Ashley, the one who follows every self-help guide that was ever written has a hard time letting go of her control issues and saying yes to the help that he would provide. The fact that no one else wants to work that hard for such a small pay is one of the reasons she says yes and within no time Joe proves to her that he is more than capable of delivering on his promises where work is concerned.
What troubles both Joe and Ashley from the onset is the attraction that slowly unfurls in both of them, each yearning for the other in a fashion that refuses to be denied. Joe believes deep in his heart that no one would want to be tainted by a man with a past as his and Ashley though she knows that its time for her to move on from the memory of her beloved, has a hard time trusting her instincts when it comes to going all in.
Kay Stockham writes a mean romance, delivering on characters that reach out to you, putting in the angst and emotional factor that makes the story that much more worth delving into. Joe is the character that clutches at your heart right from the very moment he steps into the story. The wealth of pain that he hides in his heart is one that swallows you a whole and you can't help but feel for him all the way through.
Joe is one of those heroes that all kinds of romance readers would fall in love with without fail. He is sweet, kind and yet a tortured soul that you'd want to soothe no matter what. The fact that he had made something out of himself during the time in prison when he could have let it rot his mind and soul shows strength in his character that is rarely found. That Joe could find it in his heart to be patient when everything and everyone practically worked towards running him out of town was one of the best selling points when it came to his character. And of course, his rough and tough physique that hides the sweet and generous man that he is serves to be the icing on the cake.
Ashley proved to be a strong heroine, who has a hard time coming out of her comfort zone, her mode of survival when she had been growing up. It takes a different kind of strength to shake free the emotional ties that bind and strive to be better, to push yourself out there because you want your child to have the kind of childhood that you'd never experienced. I loved Ashely from her sassy nature to the kind hearted soul that she tries hard to hide, which nevertheless makes itself known time and yet again.
Kay Stockham touches on a lot of sensitive and important issues in this short novel. Deaths of babies associated with vaccination is one of the reasons why some parents tend to forgo vaccinating their children altogether, owing to the fact that certain children can prove to be allergic to certain vaccinations, especially given the circumstances of their birth. I found it quite informative, the concept that Kay explored in this story, an area that I have never yet delved into even with all the reading that I do.
The issues associated with small towns is also one that touched the core issue of someone from outside trying to fit in. Not to mention the tough time that even a wrongly convicted person, having served his "time" has in trying to fit back into society. There's a lesson to be learnt from each of these issues that Kay has touched and I love an author who can make me think beyond the storyline and well into the issues that are highlighted in the story. All in all, I can honestly say that Kay Stockham is an author I would continue to seek and read because she has the sort of talent that draws the reader in.
Recommended for those that love sweetly emotional reads.
Rating = 3.75/5
For more reviews & quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Man with a Past deals with ex-convict Joe Brody who returns back to his hometown after spending 10 years in prison for murder. Joe knows that no one would welcome him with open arms but he needs to find a way to stay, at least for his father's sake.
Ashley Cade is swimming in waters out of her depth, having just moved to the neighborhood. Growing up in group homes has left its mark on her, and the one thing that drives her to strive to make it amidst feeling like the outsider who would never fit in is the dream that she and her husband had shared of bringing up their children in a homey neighborhood which would give them the experiences that they had both never had.
When Joe turns up at her home, Ashley, the one who follows every self-help guide that was ever written has a hard time letting go of her control issues and saying yes to the help that he would provide. The fact that no one else wants to work that hard for such a small pay is one of the reasons she says yes and within no time Joe proves to her that he is more than capable of delivering on his promises where work is concerned.
What troubles both Joe and Ashley from the onset is the attraction that slowly unfurls in both of them, each yearning for the other in a fashion that refuses to be denied. Joe believes deep in his heart that no one would want to be tainted by a man with a past as his and Ashley though she knows that its time for her to move on from the memory of her beloved, has a hard time trusting her instincts when it comes to going all in.
Kay Stockham writes a mean romance, delivering on characters that reach out to you, putting in the angst and emotional factor that makes the story that much more worth delving into. Joe is the character that clutches at your heart right from the very moment he steps into the story. The wealth of pain that he hides in his heart is one that swallows you a whole and you can't help but feel for him all the way through.
Joe is one of those heroes that all kinds of romance readers would fall in love with without fail. He is sweet, kind and yet a tortured soul that you'd want to soothe no matter what. The fact that he had made something out of himself during the time in prison when he could have let it rot his mind and soul shows strength in his character that is rarely found. That Joe could find it in his heart to be patient when everything and everyone practically worked towards running him out of town was one of the best selling points when it came to his character. And of course, his rough and tough physique that hides the sweet and generous man that he is serves to be the icing on the cake.
Ashley proved to be a strong heroine, who has a hard time coming out of her comfort zone, her mode of survival when she had been growing up. It takes a different kind of strength to shake free the emotional ties that bind and strive to be better, to push yourself out there because you want your child to have the kind of childhood that you'd never experienced. I loved Ashely from her sassy nature to the kind hearted soul that she tries hard to hide, which nevertheless makes itself known time and yet again.
Kay Stockham touches on a lot of sensitive and important issues in this short novel. Deaths of babies associated with vaccination is one of the reasons why some parents tend to forgo vaccinating their children altogether, owing to the fact that certain children can prove to be allergic to certain vaccinations, especially given the circumstances of their birth. I found it quite informative, the concept that Kay explored in this story, an area that I have never yet delved into even with all the reading that I do.
The issues associated with small towns is also one that touched the core issue of someone from outside trying to fit in. Not to mention the tough time that even a wrongly convicted person, having served his "time" has in trying to fit back into society. There's a lesson to be learnt from each of these issues that Kay has touched and I love an author who can make me think beyond the storyline and well into the issues that are highlighted in the story. All in all, I can honestly say that Kay Stockham is an author I would continue to seek and read because she has the sort of talent that draws the reader in.
Recommended for those that love sweetly emotional reads.
Rating = 3.75/5
For more reviews & quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Read
December 7, 2010I had the worst day yesterday (Dec, 6 2010) and when I got home all I wanted to do was sit around and maybe paint my toe nails Christmas colours. But instead, I started reading this book.
It was a great little story. He has his complex past and his issues, she has hers. I especially liked that he had to face a town that hated him (a similar theme is in SEP's Dream a Little Dream, which I loved!). I really like books that have that theme in them, maybe because I would never face a town like that, I'd just run away.
Joe severed time for a crime he didn't commit, but the town believes that he has. His father believes he is innocent and has convinced his friend Wilson. Wilson befriends Ashley who is new in town, widowed, down on her luck and a mother of a infant boy. Wilson hooks Joe up with Ahsley to do the handyman stuff at their grand manor. Ashley doesn't know about Joe's past, and Wilson and Joe hope to tell her once she gets to know him better and can better judge his character and believe his innocence.
Looking back by writing that all out, I realize that the plot sounds a little cheesy. But somehow it was written in a way that made me love the characters, crave more information on the small town and keep turning pages late into the night.
This book really could have been great, it looked like it was great ... until the ending. You see, Joe knows he's innocent of the crime he served time for but he can't explain who or what else is to blame and he still blames himself for not preventing it from happening. The story was ruined by the fact that Ashley figures out what happened and key towns people who hated and blamed Joe easily accept Ashley's solution and actually apologize and promise to make things right. If that all weren't bad enough, this discovery is preceeded by a very similar event to what got Joe in trouble to begin with ... but of course, he acts differently and proves that he would never do anything wrong or evil in similar situation.
For a book that focuses on the unfairness of life and has strong characters that deal with and try to live the life they were dealt, the ending seems so out of place, with everything working out so well and fairly in the end.
I'm not sure if Kay Stockham is going to write other books about characters from this town (there certainly is the potential for them) but if she does, I'd give them a chance. This was a great read regardless of its cheesy ending.
It was a great little story. He has his complex past and his issues, she has hers. I especially liked that he had to face a town that hated him (a similar theme is in SEP's Dream a Little Dream, which I loved!). I really like books that have that theme in them, maybe because I would never face a town like that, I'd just run away.
Joe severed time for a crime he didn't commit, but the town believes that he has. His father believes he is innocent and has convinced his friend Wilson. Wilson befriends Ashley who is new in town, widowed, down on her luck and a mother of a infant boy. Wilson hooks Joe up with Ahsley to do the handyman stuff at their grand manor. Ashley doesn't know about Joe's past, and Wilson and Joe hope to tell her once she gets to know him better and can better judge his character and believe his innocence.
Looking back by writing that all out, I realize that the plot sounds a little cheesy. But somehow it was written in a way that made me love the characters, crave more information on the small town and keep turning pages late into the night.
This book really could have been great, it looked like it was great ... until the ending. You see, Joe knows he's innocent of the crime he served time for but he can't explain who or what else is to blame and he still blames himself for not preventing it from happening. The story was ruined by the fact that Ashley figures out what happened and key towns people who hated and blamed Joe easily accept Ashley's solution and actually apologize and promise to make things right. If that all weren't bad enough, this discovery is preceeded by a very similar event to what got Joe in trouble to begin with ... but of course, he acts differently and proves that he would never do anything wrong or evil in similar situation.
For a book that focuses on the unfairness of life and has strong characters that deal with and try to live the life they were dealt, the ending seems so out of place, with everything working out so well and fairly in the end.
I'm not sure if Kay Stockham is going to write other books about characters from this town (there certainly is the potential for them) but if she does, I'd give them a chance. This was a great read regardless of its cheesy ending.
October 23, 2008
I remember when I read this the connection between the charcters was really heartfelt and emotional. I felt all gushy =P.
June 27, 2024
2.5 stars. It was okay. Kinda slow. I had to skim a lot. Not much happens. It was so focused around Brody’s circumstances that it felt sort of one note overall. I thought it would have worked better to leave out his pov and not have us know his situation exactly. Then the author could drop hints and pieces as the story goes along for us to figure out. It would have been more mysterious and interesting to have to figure everything out at the same time as Ashley. And there would have been more layers and other things to focus on. Instead of just the one plot point. Well two technically because the other main focus was her husband being dead. Obviously these two things are extremely important to the plot, but when they are both talked about constantly the entire book it gets repetitive.
Plus, Brody not telling Ashley about his past makes it become super predictable. Because we know Ashley is going to find out from someone else sometime and get super mad about it. And then, when she does find out I didn’t love how she handled it. Her reaction was predictable of course, but this could have been an opportunity to really test their relationship in different ways. Like, yes she should be upset, but if she actually loves him like she says she does, you’d think she would at least have a conversation about it with him. Build that extra layer of trust, or have faith in him, her faith in him could have been the thing that makes Brody really fall in love with her. Or just something. But we don’t get any of that depth. Instead it’s just, I hate you now do not talk to me anymore ever, do not explain anything at all, and leave my sight. It’s just…superficial.
Also, Ashley and Brody’s relationship developed out of nothing. We know they think the other is good looking, thanks to the dual pov, but that’s all the chemistry we’re given. Then, the author resorts to the old “trip and fall on top of eachother and then kiss” cliche as their first kiss. And it’s just so underwhelming. I will never understand why an author would make a first kiss so lame. With zero build up. Nobody want to rush to the climax. We want the foreplay. The flirting, the wondering, the back and forth, give and take, meaningful conversations, getting to know eachother, etc. Ashley and Brody barely talk before they are claiming to being in love. Their next THREE kisses after their first one is inexplicably interrupted by her crying baby. Inexplicably because why are you repeating the same scenario over and over? It’s boring.
I did really like the premise and set up though. It was unique and different. I just wish the romance could have been actually developed, and that there was more that happened rather than just the two of them working on her house and him visiting his dad in the nursing home.
Plus, Brody not telling Ashley about his past makes it become super predictable. Because we know Ashley is going to find out from someone else sometime and get super mad about it. And then, when she does find out I didn’t love how she handled it. Her reaction was predictable of course, but this could have been an opportunity to really test their relationship in different ways. Like, yes she should be upset, but if she actually loves him like she says she does, you’d think she would at least have a conversation about it with him. Build that extra layer of trust, or have faith in him, her faith in him could have been the thing that makes Brody really fall in love with her. Or just something. But we don’t get any of that depth. Instead it’s just, I hate you now do not talk to me anymore ever, do not explain anything at all, and leave my sight. It’s just…superficial.
Also, Ashley and Brody’s relationship developed out of nothing. We know they think the other is good looking, thanks to the dual pov, but that’s all the chemistry we’re given. Then, the author resorts to the old “trip and fall on top of eachother and then kiss” cliche as their first kiss. And it’s just so underwhelming. I will never understand why an author would make a first kiss so lame. With zero build up. Nobody want to rush to the climax. We want the foreplay. The flirting, the wondering, the back and forth, give and take, meaningful conversations, getting to know eachother, etc. Ashley and Brody barely talk before they are claiming to being in love. Their next THREE kisses after their first one is inexplicably interrupted by her crying baby. Inexplicably because why are you repeating the same scenario over and over? It’s boring.
I did really like the premise and set up though. It was unique and different. I just wish the romance could have been actually developed, and that there was more that happened rather than just the two of them working on her house and him visiting his dad in the nursing home.
September 10, 2025
Heartbreaking story
I think this story started out sad and kinda ended the same way, but things changed when the true comes out.
Another follow up book to this story would be nice because I feel we need to know what the court system is going to do about sending someone to prison over something they didn't do. Poor little Josie.
Here is an excerpt from the story:
"I don't know what to say, Joe. I'm sorry' isn't enough, and it never will be enough, but Lord knows I am" as Hal's voice broke and the larger-than-life chief battled to hold composure. "If I could go back in time-"
"We can't." "We'd all change the past if we could." At this time, Joe was in a senseless rage, the loss of his baby.
'Doing what ever it took to make things right, setting things right, trying to make up for.... everything.' isn't always that easy, but Joe accepted with a tense nod, knowing it would do no good to voice his response in his head. He was willing, desperate, for the past to be finally over. But Joe was also afraid he'd wake up and find it all just a bad dream.
Finally, Ashley's official opening of Willow Wood Bed & Breakfast finally came real. She was now a part of the community. Ashley had gotten over her fear of being rejected. A ribbon-cutting ceremony really boosted her confidence.
On to another Kay Lyons book. Enjoy reading everyone.
I think this story started out sad and kinda ended the same way, but things changed when the true comes out.
Another follow up book to this story would be nice because I feel we need to know what the court system is going to do about sending someone to prison over something they didn't do. Poor little Josie.
Here is an excerpt from the story:
"I don't know what to say, Joe. I'm sorry' isn't enough, and it never will be enough, but Lord knows I am" as Hal's voice broke and the larger-than-life chief battled to hold composure. "If I could go back in time-"
"We can't." "We'd all change the past if we could." At this time, Joe was in a senseless rage, the loss of his baby.
'Doing what ever it took to make things right, setting things right, trying to make up for.... everything.' isn't always that easy, but Joe accepted with a tense nod, knowing it would do no good to voice his response in his head. He was willing, desperate, for the past to be finally over. But Joe was also afraid he'd wake up and find it all just a bad dream.
Finally, Ashley's official opening of Willow Wood Bed & Breakfast finally came real. She was now a part of the community. Ashley had gotten over her fear of being rejected. A ribbon-cutting ceremony really boosted her confidence.
On to another Kay Lyons book. Enjoy reading everyone.
October 16, 2019
E-Reader. Mystery / Romance / Fiction
Ashley Cade has baby, Max who teething now. And is she a widow. They lived Talorville, Ohio.
She met Joe Brody at hardware store. Not much longer she asked Joe to be her handyman. To renovate a very old Victorian house. To make it into B & B. That house had Mr. Wilson Woodrow, an old man who a walker to get around.
Ashley didn't know Joe was released from prison. He was sentenced to 15 years, but because good inmate, he was released from prison @ 10 years.
Joe saved Asley's life, when when thunder struck the metal ladder. He grabbed her anlkle, she her arm around his neck. Half way down, Joe jumped off the ladder, & Ashley landed on top of him.
Ashley & Joe both started having romantic feelings. Joe took a hold of Ashley 's hand, to take walk after the storm was over.
There too characters to list in this very book to list.
But I hope you read this very book to the end. I think you'll be surprised by how this book ends.
I hope you enjoy this this book as as I did!
Ashley Cade has baby, Max who teething now. And is she a widow. They lived Talorville, Ohio.
She met Joe Brody at hardware store. Not much longer she asked Joe to be her handyman. To renovate a very old Victorian house. To make it into B & B. That house had Mr. Wilson Woodrow, an old man who a walker to get around.
Ashley didn't know Joe was released from prison. He was sentenced to 15 years, but because good inmate, he was released from prison @ 10 years.
Joe saved Asley's life, when when thunder struck the metal ladder. He grabbed her anlkle, she her arm around his neck. Half way down, Joe jumped off the ladder, & Ashley landed on top of him.
Ashley & Joe both started having romantic feelings. Joe took a hold of Ashley 's hand, to take walk after the storm was over.
There too characters to list in this very book to list.
But I hope you read this very book to the end. I think you'll be surprised by how this book ends.
I hope you enjoy this this book as as I did!
January 3, 2020
Very moving
Brody, just released from prison after a 10 year sentence for killing a baby, returns to his hometown to be near his father - about the only person who believes in his innocence. He meets with rejection and loathing on every side until chance crosses his path with Ashley, a young single mother who is being treated as an unwanted outsider and who has experienced more than her own share of rejection and tragedy. Ashley is more or less railroaded by her tenant, Wilson, into giving Brody a job - Wilson knowing all about Brody’s background, while Ashley, the newcomer, knows nothing about him.
The author develops her characters skilfully, building up sympathy and concern as they experience crisis after crisis, each one bringing them closer together, and making the inevitable moment when Ashley finds out about Brody’s past more unbearable. I confess tears were running down my face when I reached that part of the book, and for quite a few pages after.
Recommended.
Brody, just released from prison after a 10 year sentence for killing a baby, returns to his hometown to be near his father - about the only person who believes in his innocence. He meets with rejection and loathing on every side until chance crosses his path with Ashley, a young single mother who is being treated as an unwanted outsider and who has experienced more than her own share of rejection and tragedy. Ashley is more or less railroaded by her tenant, Wilson, into giving Brody a job - Wilson knowing all about Brody’s background, while Ashley, the newcomer, knows nothing about him.
The author develops her characters skilfully, building up sympathy and concern as they experience crisis after crisis, each one bringing them closer together, and making the inevitable moment when Ashley finds out about Brody’s past more unbearable. I confess tears were running down my face when I reached that part of the book, and for quite a few pages after.
Recommended.
August 10, 2020
Nice Story
This romance story was interesting. I liked the MCs and how they related to each other, as well as how they grew. I liked how they felt about kids and their strong desire to protect the ones they loved. The heavy overtones of lust and "accidental" immodesty weren't so much to my liking. I kept thinking graphic sex was definitely on the next page or in the next chapter, but it didn't happen. So glad for that, as it's not something I want to read about. And I know this book was about a small town, but I visit a doctor in a small town and there's absolutely no way anyone is busting through to the back to see the doc. That was so unbelievable, as were the interesting placements of prayers and thoughts about God. I guess it fit these characters pretty well, but I kinda groaned. But everything else flowed really well. Grammar and pacing seemed to be on par. Overall, I think it was a good story. If you like a spicy contemporary romance, you might enjoy this one.
This romance story was interesting. I liked the MCs and how they related to each other, as well as how they grew. I liked how they felt about kids and their strong desire to protect the ones they loved. The heavy overtones of lust and "accidental" immodesty weren't so much to my liking. I kept thinking graphic sex was definitely on the next page or in the next chapter, but it didn't happen. So glad for that, as it's not something I want to read about. And I know this book was about a small town, but I visit a doctor in a small town and there's absolutely no way anyone is busting through to the back to see the doc. That was so unbelievable, as were the interesting placements of prayers and thoughts about God. I guess it fit these characters pretty well, but I kinda groaned. But everything else flowed really well. Grammar and pacing seemed to be on par. Overall, I think it was a good story. If you like a spicy contemporary romance, you might enjoy this one.
March 8, 2021
This is a touching story where Joe was condemned for a crime he didn't commit. Ten years later and he is now back in his hometown where nobody is willing to give him a second chance. The treatment he receives is quite heartbreaking.
Ashley is new in town. She is a wartime widow with her adorable son, Max. Not knowing about Joe's past, she gives him work as a handy man. She finds that he is a hard worker who might just complete the work needed to realise her dream. They have a good relationship, even if she it's a little strained. Their relationship develops into something more, and just when they begin to have hope for the future, the past rears its ugly head, and just like that puts a strain on their budding relationship. Will they get to the bottom of the truth for his demise?
This is quite a refreshing story. Heartbreaking at times, but well portrayed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale, but in view of the conflicting reviews for the next book, I am not sure if I will continue with the series.
Ashley is new in town. She is a wartime widow with her adorable son, Max. Not knowing about Joe's past, she gives him work as a handy man. She finds that he is a hard worker who might just complete the work needed to realise her dream. They have a good relationship, even if she it's a little strained. Their relationship develops into something more, and just when they begin to have hope for the future, the past rears its ugly head, and just like that puts a strain on their budding relationship. Will they get to the bottom of the truth for his demise?
This is quite a refreshing story. Heartbreaking at times, but well portrayed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale, but in view of the conflicting reviews for the next book, I am not sure if I will continue with the series.
March 20, 2025
A contemporary romance between two outsiders. Ashley is a widower with an infant; the other is Joe, who has spent the last ten years in prison, ostensibly for manslaughter of his infant daughter.
Ashley grew up in a foster home, never feeling quite accepted, but she's in a new town with plans to start a bed-and-breakfast. She and the elderly man who owned the house have struck a deal, and it is Wilson, who convinces Ashley to hire Joe to help her renovate the house. Knowing Joe from the past, he neglects to mention Joe's prison sentence, and thus begins the story.
What will happen once Ashley discovers the truth about Joe? Despite the growing attraction between them? Will she throw him out, or will she listen to his explanation? How can their growing attraction last? Will they ever discover why his infant daughter died and possibly exonerate him?
A decent romance without graphic content with very few What-the-tuck trends (winks, smirks, to name a few). Even a bit of a tearjerker ending.
Ashley grew up in a foster home, never feeling quite accepted, but she's in a new town with plans to start a bed-and-breakfast. She and the elderly man who owned the house have struck a deal, and it is Wilson, who convinces Ashley to hire Joe to help her renovate the house. Knowing Joe from the past, he neglects to mention Joe's prison sentence, and thus begins the story.
What will happen once Ashley discovers the truth about Joe? Despite the growing attraction between them? Will she throw him out, or will she listen to his explanation? How can their growing attraction last? Will they ever discover why his infant daughter died and possibly exonerate him?
A decent romance without graphic content with very few What-the-tuck trends (winks, smirks, to name a few). Even a bit of a tearjerker ending.
April 7, 2019
This was a well-crafted romance with strong, well-developed characters. Ashley and Joe have both dealt with a lot of heartache in their lives, but instead of becoming bitter or full of self-pity, they forge ahead to claim new lives for themselves. I especially loved Joe, who's just spent 10 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and come back to his hometown to face a lot of hostility from the town. Still, he's come back because this is where his father is. Ashley feels like an outsider in this small, tight-knit town, but she's determined to create a home for herself and infant son. The reactions of the characters are realistic, making it easy to relate to them. This is a "clean" romance, where the only sex scenes involve kissing, but the attraction the two feel for each other isn't glossed over. I'd never read a book by this author before, but I'm looking forward to reading more by her. I highly recommend this book.
February 11, 2020
Ashely has a lot going on in her life. Her small son max is just starting to get his teeth. Her live in grandpa for his Wilson has had a hip replacement so he is moving around with a walking. On top of that she is trying to remodel the old Victorian house into a b&b.
Joe is just out of ten years in person for a crime he didn’t commit. The death of his baby they have put at his hands. This isn’t true and even after ten years he still says he didn’t shake his baby girl Josie. Ted Joe’s dad has been on his side the whole time. No doubts. The town and chief is another story.
Joe is just out of ten years in person for a crime he didn’t commit. The death of his baby they have put at his hands. This isn’t true and even after ten years he still says he didn’t shake his baby girl Josie. Ted Joe’s dad has been on his side the whole time. No doubts. The town and chief is another story.
March 31, 2023
Bad boy's redemption
Joe and Ashley have a slow and rocky start to their relationship. Both have painful pasts that a small town has a hard time to accept. Joe is such a strong character, from his work ethic to his care and concern for Ashley, her son. Wilson and his own father. Even when it looks like Ashley can't forgive him for not disclosing the entire truth about his past, he still continues working on her house renovations. I was glad to see their relationship heal and the small town accept Joe after all.
Joe and Ashley have a slow and rocky start to their relationship. Both have painful pasts that a small town has a hard time to accept. Joe is such a strong character, from his work ethic to his care and concern for Ashley, her son. Wilson and his own father. Even when it looks like Ashley can't forgive him for not disclosing the entire truth about his past, he still continues working on her house renovations. I was glad to see their relationship heal and the small town accept Joe after all.
April 26, 2024
This book is aptly titled and has all the elements of a small town romance.
This isn't the first time I've read something about an innocent hero/heroine who did time but I'm glad everything played out.
The authors put so much emotion it was heart rending especially when a baby is involved.
Both Joe and Ashley experienced a bit of tragedy but they came out stronger for it.
Both of them were strong in their own right and there aren't any steamy scenes I found it somewhat clean, but I there was a lot of sexual tension and hot kisses.
Guaranteed HEA.
This isn't the first time I've read something about an innocent hero/heroine who did time but I'm glad everything played out.
The authors put so much emotion it was heart rending especially when a baby is involved.
Both Joe and Ashley experienced a bit of tragedy but they came out stronger for it.
Both of them were strong in their own right and there aren't any steamy scenes I found it somewhat clean, but I there was a lot of sexual tension and hot kisses.
Guaranteed HEA.
June 2, 2024
I just love this story
I have just re-read this book and it is still as good as the first time. The series is phenomenal. I first read all three books a few years ago and it is a story that has always stayed with me and I felt a need to read it again. Excellent writing with characters you will fall in love with. I must say that when reading book 3, I really couldn't work out how it fit in with the first two. And then, WHAM, the penny and my mouth dropped! Perhaps I'm just a bit dense but I loved the twist. Please read this series, you will not be disappointed
I have just re-read this book and it is still as good as the first time. The series is phenomenal. I first read all three books a few years ago and it is a story that has always stayed with me and I felt a need to read it again. Excellent writing with characters you will fall in love with. I must say that when reading book 3, I really couldn't work out how it fit in with the first two. And then, WHAM, the penny and my mouth dropped! Perhaps I'm just a bit dense but I loved the twist. Please read this series, you will not be disappointed
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews