Reconsider

Unexpected Love #3

by M.J. Padgett

I may pretend to hate Paul Loughton, but the truth is that I’ve been in love with my best friend’s brother for a lot longer than I care to admit. The problem with admitting my feelings is that people I care about always leave or reject me, and I already have enough problems without worrying about losing my best friend and the guy I love.So, I probably shouldn’t have kissed him in the parking lot of a feed and seed store and then ghosted him without an explanation. I plan to ignore it until it goes away, but Paul is persistent. He’s not going to forget, and his tender touches and soft words make me think he might return my feelings.When Paul and I start spending more time together repairing my dilapidated property, more kisses ensue… but can I heal my jaded heart in time to grab ahold of what I’ve always wanted, or will I let it pass by… again?***Reconsider is best friend’s brother, it’s always been you, romantic comedy full of heartstring-tugging moments, raw emotions, and swoony sweet romance!***

Genres: Contemporary

226 pages, Paperback

Published December 11, 2023

Reviews

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was all I ever wanted & more! The enemies-to-lovers situation Paul & Gracie find themselves in is really just a long series of misunderstandings and hiding their true feelings. Watching Paul pursue Gracie was beautiful. She’s terrified of being abandoned and with good reason. I loved seeing John & May and Edwin & Calliope make appearances—you can’t help loving the Loughton family siblings! As for the epilogue, I was choking up as everything came full circle! 😭🫶🏻

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a story ever go wrong when it begins with a roomful of 2nd graders who have made a total mess of the library. There are 234 books tossed around, some with glued pages and others with streaks of jelly. And it only gets worse as the bathroom is flooded, paperbacks are stuffed into the toilet and the wall says "Mrs. Harmon is a doodie head!" Mrs. Harmon IS a doodie head as she sits out of sight of her students, texting on her phone. I had to laugh since I once was one of those teachers who brought her students to the library, but I can promise that I never brought my cell phone. Gracie is the school librarian and this is her life. Gracie Gallagher and Paul Loughton have history all the way back to middle and high school. They were antagonists and hated each other, even though it sometimes didn't feel right. At her 12th birthday party, Paul shoved her into the pool but not before she flashed her polka dot panties. This was the start of back and forth pranks leading up to a sizzling kiss in the parking lot of the feed and seed store, a kiss that changed everything. They were both confused about this change in their relationship because Gracie had a hard time separating the present from the past and Paul is going to do everything it takes to break through Gracie's walls. Paul is a bonafide good guy and he does his best to support her and to let her know that he'll be by her side. I'm so glad we had a chance to catch up with John & May and Edwin & Calliope as they prepare for the "wedding season!"

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! The longstanding antagonism between the main characters masking other feelings finally came to a head after a heated argument ended in a passionate parking lot kiss. Understandably, this left both Paul and Gracie confused. After years of being enemies with his sister’s best friend, Paul really pulled out all the stops to show care and thoughtfulness to Gracie. “She’s not going to make this easy, and I’m probably going to want to smash my head into a wall more than once, but I know she’s worth it.” Gracie, on the other hand, let her fears take the lead and threw out roadblocks. “He’s trying to bridge this gap between us, for whatever reason, and all I’m dong is cutting him off at every turn.” It wasn’t an easy battle, but it really was lovely to see the sweet patience and persistence in action. “‘Gracie, I know the wall is still there, and I’m trying to show you that I’m not here to bust it down but to help you take it apart brick by brick.’” There are also moments of fun and funny, in keeping with the rest of the series. There are elements in the book of anxiety and abandonment. This is the third book in a series about brothers. There is carryover from the previous books but this also reads well as a standalone. This is a sweet and clean story with no harsh language.

[Parkland Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ & 1/4 (4.25/5)
Read: February 2024
Format: Kindle e-Book
Challenge Prompt: CNL’s #19 of 50 — “by an indie author”

Book #16 of 2024: This was the third and final book in the Unexpected Love series. The entire series was both funny and sweet with people I’d want to be friends with in real life. I love their closeness and the emphasis on the importance of family and friends.

It was disappointing that the double wedding ceremony was not included. It skipped right to the reception. I felt invested in the main characters of the first two books and I was looking forward to the ceremony, especially with clutzy Calliope! I also didn’t care for the epilogue switching from this book’s main characters to Nina, the sister of the Loughton brothers.

I respect the patience that Paul had with Gracie. He was willing to put her needs first and give her whatever space and time she needed. She blossomed under that as well as her friends’ love.

Paul had a particularly amazing spiel on page 170 about love and commitment. Total class act.

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul and Gracie's story was great. The first chapter starts off with a 2nd grade class making a complete mess in the library where Gracie works and also includes a funny scene. Paul and Gracie have a history—a long agonistic one with pranks and mishaps. Adding to that is a heated argument that ended in a kiss, leaving them confused. As the story unfolds, we learn about Gracie's backstory and the reason why she had fears about being abandoned. Paul was patient as he showed Gracie he wasn't going to leave her. If you enjoy enemies to more, a clean read with Christian elements, and hilarious moments, this one is for you.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Conquers All

Gracie had a traumatic start to life in childhood, which still affected her as an adult. Paul has grown up with her as a family friend. The dynamics change, their relationship evolves, and Paul's family is as crazy and loving as it's always been. I love the fact Paul and Gracie work on being honest with each other as their relationship deepens. I love how the story ends decades into the future, with everyone still loving each other and the farm continuing on with the next generation. It's a heartwarming, sweet story in spite of childhood trauma.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood can leave scars or build lasting foundations. Gracie and Paul know that there are definitely 2 different views for each story. Gracie with her unrequited love and Paul with his he is always unintentional messing up and apologizing for. Their bond builds once each side is seen and giving Gracie the courage to overcome her past and make new connections. Such a sweet story! Can be read as a stand-alone, but is even better with all the cameos from the first 2 books.

[Victoria Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah. How? How is this book SO good? It’s got some heavier and harder personal struggles the heroine deals with, and while my life is very different from Gracie’s a lot of the feelings struggles are vastly relatable. I loved that she was both feisty and sassy as well as struggling to trust and be vulnerable. And the patience! The showing up and waiting her out and being there for her from Paul was perfect. This whole trilogy has my heart. 🥹🩵🩷💜

[Latisha Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just so beautiful. I loved Paul and Gracie. Their history was complicated, but once they started communicating, it was just so rich and deep. I loved seeing how sweet, caring, and understanding Paul was with Gracie, even when she was truly baffling him. He pursued her and always showed her how much he cared. Perfect ending to this sweet series!

*I received an ARC, all opinions are my own.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet Conclusion

Reconsider was a very sweet addition to the Unexpected Loves series. The subject matter was a little bit heavier than the previous two novels but it was a fitting conclusion to the series. I can’t wait to read more from M. J. Padgett!

[Lizzie Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul's and Gracie's love story was painfully beautiful and I loved every single minute of it 💖.

[Judith Cowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracie and Paul have been "enemies" since elementary, even though she is best friends with his sister. After an unexpected kiss in a parking lot, they start to talk and try to work through their misunderstandings, and figure out their true feelings. Sweet to see how Paul works to see what mistakes he has made in the past and make amends/help her understand his true intentions.