What do you think?
Rate this book
Summer Lake #1
Love like You've Never Been Hurt
Librarian's Note: This is an alternate cover for ASIN B00ES2AJ16
This book is intended for adult readers 18+
The Summer Lake contemporary romance series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other.
Love Like You've Never Been Hurt
Emma Douglas came to Summer Lake as an orphan twenty three years ago. After losing her parents so young and later suffering a disastrous marriage, she believes that love only ever leads to pain and loss.
When she meets Jack Benson, the business partner of her childhood friend Pete, she sees everything she used to long for in a man; tall, dark, and drop dead gorgeous! Despite their undeniable attraction, Emma is too scared to risk her heart, especially on a man so much like her ex - sexy, smart, funny, successful and no doubt the same kind of cheat!
When events lead them both to Summer Lake for the summer, will Jack be able to persuade her that he's nothing like her ex in all the ways that really matter? That the love she used to dream of isn't a little girl's fantasy, but a reality they can share if she can get past her fear and learn to trust?
This book is intended for adult readers 18+
The Summer Lake contemporary romance series follows a group of friends from a small lakeside town in the California hills. They have kept in touch over the years and now, in their early thirties, their lives are drawing them back to Summer Lake and to each other.
Love Like You've Never Been Hurt
Emma Douglas came to Summer Lake as an orphan twenty three years ago. After losing her parents so young and later suffering a disastrous marriage, she believes that love only ever leads to pain and loss.
When she meets Jack Benson, the business partner of her childhood friend Pete, she sees everything she used to long for in a man; tall, dark, and drop dead gorgeous! Despite their undeniable attraction, Emma is too scared to risk her heart, especially on a man so much like her ex - sexy, smart, funny, successful and no doubt the same kind of cheat!
When events lead them both to Summer Lake for the summer, will Jack be able to persuade her that he's nothing like her ex in all the ways that really matter? That the love she used to dream of isn't a little girl's fantasy, but a reality they can share if she can get past her fear and learn to trust?
343 pages, ebook
First published August 24, 2013
781 people are currently reading
2397 people want to read
About the author
S.J. McCoy
77 books1,056 followersHi, I'm SJ. A coffee addict, lover of chocolate and drinker of good red wines. I'm a lost soul and a hopeless romantic. Reading and writing are necessary parts of who I am. Though perhaps not as necessary as coffee! I can drink coffee without writing, but I can't write without coffee.
I grew up loving romance novels, my first boyfriends were book boyfriends, but life intervened, as it tends to do, and I wandered down the paths of non fiction for many years. My life changed completely a couple of years ago and I returned to Romance to find my escape.
I write 'Sweet N Steamy' stories because to me there is enough angst and darkness in real life. My favorite romances are happy escapes with a focus on fun, friendships and happily-ever-afters, just like the ones I write.
These days I live in beautiful Montana, the last best place. If I'm not reading or writing you'll find me just down the road in the park - Yellowstone. I have deer, eagles and the occasional bear for company, and I like it that way :0)
I grew up loving romance novels, my first boyfriends were book boyfriends, but life intervened, as it tends to do, and I wandered down the paths of non fiction for many years. My life changed completely a couple of years ago and I returned to Romance to find my escape.
I write 'Sweet N Steamy' stories because to me there is enough angst and darkness in real life. My favorite romances are happy escapes with a focus on fun, friendships and happily-ever-afters, just like the ones I write.
These days I live in beautiful Montana, the last best place. If I'm not reading or writing you'll find me just down the road in the park - Yellowstone. I have deer, eagles and the occasional bear for company, and I like it that way :0)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
June 21, 2014
I love Jack, I love Gramps and Pete as well as Dana and Missy...but I cannot stand the character Emma. She is an idiot, she jumps to conclusions without asking questions, she overreacts about things and makes them out to be more than what it is. She plays the victim card too much...oh poor her... I loved when Holly tells her to "grow up" I was cheering in my head. The only reason that I'm rating this as two stars is for the characters I mentioned I liked.
January 12, 2014
4.5 stars: I love those cute romantic stories that reminds me of those old romantic comedies that I love but with better sex involved!
Another great cute love story!
I just love those stories that reminds me of those old romantic comedies that I loved....
We don't get scary or over dramatic here. We simply get a great love story that when it ends you have a big fat sweet smile on your face!
I'm already loving this series and now going for book #2!
Another great cute love story!
I just love those stories that reminds me of those old romantic comedies that I loved....
We don't get scary or over dramatic here. We simply get a great love story that when it ends you have a big fat sweet smile on your face!
I'm already loving this series and now going for book #2!
June 23, 2015
Title: Love like You’ve Never Been Hurt
Author: S.J. McCoy
Series: Can be read as a standalone
Cliffhanger: No
Release Date: November 2014
Rating: 2
HEA:
The description of this book was really accurate. Recently I have come across a lot of descriptions that give little indication as to what the book is about and I have to search through the reviews to find enough information. I generally like to know what the book is about so that I don’t waste time and money on something I probably won’t enjoy or am just not in the mood for. This description was spot on and looked interesting. Combine that with getting it for free and voila it is the next book in line to read. And let me tell you I am happy that I got this book for free.
Love like You’ve Never Been Hurt was a cute read that was ok for a filler but not good enough to be worth buying it for me. The main reason for this was Emma. She is so afraid of being in a relationship that it dragged down the book. And she was not scared about the other things in her life. Sometimes she was even brave in her relationship with Jack then all of a sudden it was like, oops it got off the storyline where Emma is scared of anything to do with men.
One way that her fear shows up is her hatred of marriage because of her bad marriage. Emma married when she was young and naïve and her husband cheated on her. It seemed like the cheating was so heart breaking and like it was the first time she had ever even heard of that being a possibility in a relationship. Because of that relationship she hates marriage. She hates marriage that when another friend of hers gets engaged her first thought was sadness that that woman would be so stupid as to say yes. I understand that she might not want to get married again herself but to think that marriage for anybody is wrong is a bit extreme. Especially since it never mentioned her parents having a bad relationship before they died and her grandparents were married happily for 45 years. With her being exposed to happy married relationships it would have been better for Emma to be wary about getting married again and not even considering it until she found someone who made her as happy and the people in her life were.
YES you are creating a problem! No it is not real because you are being stupid for no reason with a back story that does not support you enough for how stupid you are about love!!!
Jack was really sweet and patient with Emma. He did fall madly in love a little too quickly since the book only covered a couple months max. But he was there for Emma and did not push her but tried to show her that he was worth the risk. Jack was almost too patient and accommodating. If I were him I would not be ok with Emma being so stupid. He couldn’t even talk to a girl without Emma freaking out. And when she saw him just talking to a girl she doesn’t know in a friendly way, the same way she talks to her best guy friends Pete and Ben, she freaks out and breaks up with him without even asking who she is. And Jack should not even have to explain why he was talking with a girl when he didn’t do anything wrong!
To say Emma frustrated me was an understatement. I don’t think I can handle the possibility of the rest of the books being like this. I will be saving the rest of this series for an emergency I don’t have anything to read series only. And even then I probably would just re-read something I like. This book might work for some and that’s great, but if annoying characters are not your thing then move on. Or at least skip to the second book because the other characters in the book were ok.
Author: S.J. McCoy
Series: Can be read as a standalone
Cliffhanger: No
Release Date: November 2014
Rating: 2
HEA:
The description of this book was really accurate. Recently I have come across a lot of descriptions that give little indication as to what the book is about and I have to search through the reviews to find enough information. I generally like to know what the book is about so that I don’t waste time and money on something I probably won’t enjoy or am just not in the mood for. This description was spot on and looked interesting. Combine that with getting it for free and voila it is the next book in line to read. And let me tell you I am happy that I got this book for free.
Love like You’ve Never Been Hurt was a cute read that was ok for a filler but not good enough to be worth buying it for me. The main reason for this was Emma. She is so afraid of being in a relationship that it dragged down the book. And she was not scared about the other things in her life. Sometimes she was even brave in her relationship with Jack then all of a sudden it was like, oops it got off the storyline where Emma is scared of anything to do with men.
One way that her fear shows up is her hatred of marriage because of her bad marriage. Emma married when she was young and naïve and her husband cheated on her. It seemed like the cheating was so heart breaking and like it was the first time she had ever even heard of that being a possibility in a relationship. Because of that relationship she hates marriage. She hates marriage that when another friend of hers gets engaged her first thought was sadness that that woman would be so stupid as to say yes. I understand that she might not want to get married again herself but to think that marriage for anybody is wrong is a bit extreme. Especially since it never mentioned her parents having a bad relationship before they died and her grandparents were married happily for 45 years. With her being exposed to happy married relationships it would have been better for Emma to be wary about getting married again and not even considering it until she found someone who made her as happy and the people in her life were.
"Were they all blind, or was she really creating a problem that only existed in her mind? Even if she was, did that make it any less real?"
YES you are creating a problem! No it is not real because you are being stupid for no reason with a back story that does not support you enough for how stupid you are about love!!!
Jack was really sweet and patient with Emma. He did fall madly in love a little too quickly since the book only covered a couple months max. But he was there for Emma and did not push her but tried to show her that he was worth the risk. Jack was almost too patient and accommodating. If I were him I would not be ok with Emma being so stupid. He couldn’t even talk to a girl without Emma freaking out. And when she saw him just talking to a girl she doesn’t know in a friendly way, the same way she talks to her best guy friends Pete and Ben, she freaks out and breaks up with him without even asking who she is. And Jack should not even have to explain why he was talking with a girl when he didn’t do anything wrong!
“Em, that’s not true. You so deserve happiness and you will find it. And think about it. If anyone saw the way we are together, or you and Pete or me and Missy, they might get the wrong idea if they didn’t know the whole story.” “But what could his story be, Ben? That he has a dear lifelong friend, who he never mentioned and who just happened to drop by the minute I was out of town?” “I know it doesn’t look good, but I simply cannot buy that he would do that, Em. I can’t. Why don’t you call him?” “Are you crazy? I don’t want to talk to him!”
To say Emma frustrated me was an understatement. I don’t think I can handle the possibility of the rest of the books being like this. I will be saving the rest of this series for an emergency I don’t have anything to read series only. And even then I probably would just re-read something I like. This book might work for some and that’s great, but if annoying characters are not your thing then move on. Or at least skip to the second book because the other characters in the book were ok.
July 31, 2019
This book has been on my reading pile for quite some time. I’m making a huge effort to pile through it.
To be honest I wasn’t too sure about this book at the start, there seemed to be a lot of info being given up and I was unable to process and attach it to a likeable character. I remember saying to myself, just give it 2 more chapters. This was a chapter 2, the next thing I know I’m on chapter 17 and loving it so much. After the character dynamics are introduced the story just flows and it’s so beautiful. I loved Jack and how he never gave up and loved Emma so unconditionally. I loved meeting all the characters and having them set up for their own stories, of which I can’t wait to read.
I got so invested in the story I didn’t want it to end. The issues Emma has to deal with personally due to her past relationship are very real and valid, thankfully she has a group of amazing friends to support her.
It was a beautifully sweet small town romance with some amazing toe curling bedroom scenes.
To be honest I wasn’t too sure about this book at the start, there seemed to be a lot of info being given up and I was unable to process and attach it to a likeable character. I remember saying to myself, just give it 2 more chapters. This was a chapter 2, the next thing I know I’m on chapter 17 and loving it so much. After the character dynamics are introduced the story just flows and it’s so beautiful. I loved Jack and how he never gave up and loved Emma so unconditionally. I loved meeting all the characters and having them set up for their own stories, of which I can’t wait to read.
I got so invested in the story I didn’t want it to end. The issues Emma has to deal with personally due to her past relationship are very real and valid, thankfully she has a group of amazing friends to support her.
It was a beautifully sweet small town romance with some amazing toe curling bedroom scenes.
May 13, 2020
Wonderful Big City to Small-town Romance
I love this story of Emma and Jack. Both live in a big city but are from Small-towns. And you know the old saying, "There's no place like home." Even though Emma has had a horrible experience with trusting & loving people, it Jack who tries his best to make her see the good in love. Will he succeed? SJ McCoy never disappoints. Her stories are stories we all can relate to & the characters will make you fall in love. Amazing book!
I love this story of Emma and Jack. Both live in a big city but are from Small-towns. And you know the old saying, "There's no place like home." Even though Emma has had a horrible experience with trusting & loving people, it Jack who tries his best to make her see the good in love. Will he succeed? SJ McCoy never disappoints. Her stories are stories we all can relate to & the characters will make you fall in love. Amazing book!
October 30, 2016
Downloaded a free copy from Smashwords.
Actual Rating: 3.5
This was a nice story. This is love story between Emma Douglas, a woman who guarded her heart from love after a bad marriage, and Jack Benson, her best friend's Pete's work partner. The story itself was really good. The only issue was that I found Emma to be a bit annoying.
Jack was a perfect gentleman. I thought he was going to be a player, but he truly fell in love. It was nice to read. I thought their chemistry was great. I really liked them together. I wonder how the rest of the series will turn out. Overall, a great read.
Actual Rating: 3.5
This was a nice story. This is love story between Emma Douglas, a woman who guarded her heart from love after a bad marriage, and Jack Benson, her best friend's Pete's work partner. The story itself was really good. The only issue was that I found Emma to be a bit annoying.
Jack was a perfect gentleman. I thought he was going to be a player, but he truly fell in love. It was nice to read. I thought their chemistry was great. I really liked them together. I wonder how the rest of the series will turn out. Overall, a great read.
October 14, 2013
It was a good romantic story. I have never known a man with the kind of patients Jack has.To be perfectly honest I don't know why he didn't drop her she really got on my last nerve with the I can't love someone because I might get hurt bull.I was really having a hard time empathizing with Emma. This is a story about Jack and Emma meeting and Jack falling for her and giving everything he has to win her heart.Emma has a lot of history to over come to be happy again in a relationship and jack proves to her that he is the man to put it all on the line for.
August 4, 2014
Sweet but repetitive. Almost to the point of annoyingly repetitive. There were a few pages I skimmed simply because the same 'bad experience' was being revisited again and again...and again, if you catch my drift??
July 6, 2017
Such a cute story about Emma and her friends! I loved that they are super close and there for one another. When Emma met Jack it was adorable. I love how he knew her from the very start and knew not to let her go. Can't wait to read Pete and Holly's book next!
November 29, 2017
Actual rating - 3.5
A decent read.
A decent read.
August 13, 2020
This is an excellent book. Two thumbs way up. I enjoyed every second of reading it. The characters had lots of depth. And it had a great story line.
December 10, 2014
☆☆
The whole falling on top of each other got me hooked but the story itself stopped improving when all the friends regrouped in their old hometown. It had a strong beginning but Emma's personal problem got in the way too much. Every time the H asked the h whether it was okay to you know *wink wink, i had to listen to her battle between the good and bad reasons before making a decision. The whole falling for you thing was too fast and too underdeveloped. He was a sexy, wealthy, and smart playboy but the author never touched upon how the h could possibly be the H's ItGirl. It was all about the kissing, banging, and food. Pretty much cliché-ness began to set in by the 30% mark of the book. By 70% it was ily. By 80%, "marriage biased"& they lived HEA. The end. One thing that annoyed me so much was the guy calling the h "Baby". 'Baby look at this" 'Baby what do you think' gee baby should only be used once in a while only. I was beginning to forget her name along with her nickname. Too many characters to keep up with.
Another odd thing is all the male characters had one syllable names: Pete, Ben, Joe, Dan, Scott, Chase, Jack, GRAMPS.
Female characters had 2 syllables: Emma, Holly, Missy, Martha, Laura, and Judy.
The whole falling on top of each other got me hooked but the story itself stopped improving when all the friends regrouped in their old hometown. It had a strong beginning but Emma's personal problem got in the way too much. Every time the H asked the h whether it was okay to you know *wink wink, i had to listen to her battle between the good and bad reasons before making a decision. The whole falling for you thing was too fast and too underdeveloped. He was a sexy, wealthy, and smart playboy but the author never touched upon how the h could possibly be the H's ItGirl. It was all about the kissing, banging, and food. Pretty much cliché-ness began to set in by the 30% mark of the book. By 70% it was ily. By 80%, "marriage biased"& they lived HEA. The end. One thing that annoyed me so much was the guy calling the h "Baby". 'Baby look at this" 'Baby what do you think' gee baby should only be used once in a while only. I was beginning to forget her name along with her nickname. Too many characters to keep up with.
Another odd thing is all the male characters had one syllable names: Pete, Ben, Joe, Dan, Scott, Chase, Jack, GRAMPS.
Female characters had 2 syllables: Emma, Holly, Missy, Martha, Laura, and Judy.
December 24, 2014
Emma Douglas has had her challenges in life; the death of her parents at an early age and a failed marriage, but she has also enjoyed the devoted love of grandparents, lifelong friendships, and a successful career as a writer - adapting novels into screenplays.
One of her lifelong friends, Pete, introduces her to his work partner, Jack Peterson. Handsome, kind, patient, Jack soon learns that Emma lives up to her nickname 'mouse.' Skittish, Emma has a tendency to runaway when trouble appears to be brewing.
Quick to change her mind, Emma darts in and out of significant life decisions. When she does, Jack is there to love and encourage Emma. Even when Emma doubts Jack and assumes there is another woman.
Fortunately, Jack and Emma have Pete, Ben, Missy, Holly, and Gramps to help her realize that all men are not her philandering ex-husband.
This is the first of Ms. McCoy's books that I have read. I would have rated the book four stars if the dialog and sexual context followed a more natural ebb and flow. Based upon the dialog, I think this would have been a great book for teen romance readers, but the sexual content is too explicit (as noted on Amazon). Otherwise, the characters were engaging and the visual imagery was well written.
One of her lifelong friends, Pete, introduces her to his work partner, Jack Peterson. Handsome, kind, patient, Jack soon learns that Emma lives up to her nickname 'mouse.' Skittish, Emma has a tendency to runaway when trouble appears to be brewing.
Quick to change her mind, Emma darts in and out of significant life decisions. When she does, Jack is there to love and encourage Emma. Even when Emma doubts Jack and assumes there is another woman.
Fortunately, Jack and Emma have Pete, Ben, Missy, Holly, and Gramps to help her realize that all men are not her philandering ex-husband.
This is the first of Ms. McCoy's books that I have read. I would have rated the book four stars if the dialog and sexual context followed a more natural ebb and flow. Based upon the dialog, I think this would have been a great book for teen romance readers, but the sexual content is too explicit (as noted on Amazon). Otherwise, the characters were engaging and the visual imagery was well written.
November 25, 2014
I was provided an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! Such a sweet and sexy love story, I found this one very refreshing!! Emma has had her heart broken and has some major walls up!
Then along comes Jack, he is a persistent man and is determined to break them down!!
Add in the backdrop of a quaint little lake side town and a great group of friends and you've got the makings of a new series!! I am excited for Pete and Molly's story but I am looking even more forward to Dan and Missy??!!
Thanks again to S.J. McCoy for the chance to reads this book :)
I really enjoyed this book! Such a sweet and sexy love story, I found this one very refreshing!! Emma has had her heart broken and has some major walls up!
Then along comes Jack, he is a persistent man and is determined to break them down!!
Add in the backdrop of a quaint little lake side town and a great group of friends and you've got the makings of a new series!! I am excited for Pete and Molly's story but I am looking even more forward to Dan and Missy??!!
Thanks again to S.J. McCoy for the chance to reads this book :)
September 20, 2013
I received an ARC copy from the author for an honest review. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read and review this book. I loved Emma and Jack's story and was hooked from the first moment they met and literally ran into each other! There were a few times while I was reading that I just wanted to scream at her though and say "I know you were hurt before, but that man is amazing." I love that Jack never gave up on Emma, and how he firmly knew that she was the one for him. I like books where the characters change, and when Jack met Emma he changed and over time as she learned to trust and believe in love again Emma changed. I really enjoyed the ending because I thought it was going to go one way, and then was pleasantly surprised. This is a story that I am sure I will reread. I am also adding Jack to my list of book boyfriends!
November 19, 2015
Overall, Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt is indeed a Sweet 'n' Steamy romance. Emma and Jack meet, and sparks fly. Jack is persistent in helping Emma overcome her hang-ups, but will she ever snap out of it?
I almost got frustrated with Emma near the end, when she seemed to be fighting so hard to hang onto her hurt, but the author did such a good job of developing the reasons for her fear that I was right there with her friends, wanting to shake her and make her see reason, but not wanting to toss the book aside just because she was just being too stupid about it. It was close to being too much, though. Enough that it cost a star.
Jack is a perfect man, not much in the way of flaws, but I think that is what makes this sweet. There's a lot to love about a man who will do anything to win his woman.
I almost got frustrated with Emma near the end, when she seemed to be fighting so hard to hang onto her hurt, but the author did such a good job of developing the reasons for her fear that I was right there with her friends, wanting to shake her and make her see reason, but not wanting to toss the book aside just because she was just being too stupid about it. It was close to being too much, though. Enough that it cost a star.
Jack is a perfect man, not much in the way of flaws, but I think that is what makes this sweet. There's a lot to love about a man who will do anything to win his woman.
August 31, 2013
I was given this ARC for a review, a very big thank you to the author. If you are looking for a well written love story with a hunk who is thoughtful, sexy, rich and romantic then look no further. Emma bumps into her best friends work partner and they both feel attraction. But Emma won't ever trust another man after her cheating husband,. Fate intervenes with alittle help from her friends and they both end up staying at Emma's home town for the summer, Jack has a huge battle ahead to convince Emma he is trustworthy and to give him a chance and Emma has got to learn to trust again. So can they make it work ? A great read, can't wait for the next book.
September 2, 2013
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
this book has made it in my top 10 favorite books. the chemistry between jack and emma is so powerful and true. they have lots of up and downs but it does have a HEA in the end and you get to meet emma's gramps who sounds awesome and the rest of the gang that she grew up with i so cant wait to read the others story. this is one book that once i finished it i wanted to reread it again and the small details in the book are awesome.
buy it now you know you wont regret it
this book has made it in my top 10 favorite books. the chemistry between jack and emma is so powerful and true. they have lots of up and downs but it does have a HEA in the end and you get to meet emma's gramps who sounds awesome and the rest of the gang that she grew up with i so cant wait to read the others story. this is one book that once i finished it i wanted to reread it again and the small details in the book are awesome.
buy it now you know you wont regret it
August 9, 2014
This was a great love story. I concur with most readers who say that Emma jumped to conclusions a little too often, but I felt like I could relate as I have a friend who does that. I love Jack's character and his attention to detail. I also love the fact that he was willing to fight for his girl, even if his girl was the one standing in his way. Overall, I love the book and look forward to spending more time at Summer Lake.
July 31, 2014
Loved this book! Emma obviously has a lot of issues, but is still relatable. And Jack is just dreamy!
I can't wait to check out the rest of this series and see what's going to happen with the rest of the group at the lake!
I can't wait to check out the rest of this series and see what's going to happen with the rest of the group at the lake!
October 28, 2016
Seriously? Emma's character was so immature. Her immaturity became like fingernails on a chalkboard. I had to force myself to finish this book. Poor Jack. The one thing I did like about this book was the closeness of the 4 childhood friends.
June 27, 2014
I am soooooo glad Holly's friend told her to "Grow Up" because I was so tired of her lack of maturity. I however LOVED Ben.
July 10, 2014
Had a slow start but picked up half way through and was well worth the read. Don't give up and continue on with the series. Steamy with a HEA.
March 8, 2015
Couldn't get past fourth chapter. Just very oh gosh darn light for me.
Read
June 26, 2015DNF at 24%
September 28, 2015
The main character was a real whiner, she kept harping on her past marriage. The character really annoyed me, I forced myself to finish the book.
Read
January 9, 2016DNF
September 5, 2016
I had to forward some pages, so boring and Emma got in my nerves
August 15, 2018
Maybe it's just me...
Maybe it's just me, but I found this story annoying. Emma is part of a group of friends that all grew up together in Summer Lake. Emma came to Summer Lake to live with her grandparents after her parents were killed in a car crash. She had always been afraid of things, particularly relationships. She took her parents' death hard and it started her feeling that love never went well. Her friends gave her the nickname of Mouse because she'd always run from her problems and hide, like a mouse runs to its hidey hole and peeks out. The name Mouse is a derogatory one. And all of her friends and her grandparents call her that, probably more than they call her Emma. Her car is her mouse-mobile, they live the mouse steaks (steaks) she cooks, etc. It drives me nuts to hear them keep calling her that.
Emma meets Jack, who is the business partner and friend of Emma's friend Pete. Jack is taken with Emma but Emma refuses to have a relationship because she previously had a bad marriage. Her ex was a serial cheater. So she had sworn off love and relationships. All men are untrustworthy because of what her ex did. Jack manages to work his way into Emma's heart but she continually mistrusts Jack when he had done nothing untrustworthy at all. It was rediculous. I kept thinking Jack should turn around and run the other direction.
I really wanted to like this book more but it drive me nuts.
Maybe it's just me, but I found this story annoying. Emma is part of a group of friends that all grew up together in Summer Lake. Emma came to Summer Lake to live with her grandparents after her parents were killed in a car crash. She had always been afraid of things, particularly relationships. She took her parents' death hard and it started her feeling that love never went well. Her friends gave her the nickname of Mouse because she'd always run from her problems and hide, like a mouse runs to its hidey hole and peeks out. The name Mouse is a derogatory one. And all of her friends and her grandparents call her that, probably more than they call her Emma. Her car is her mouse-mobile, they live the mouse steaks (steaks) she cooks, etc. It drives me nuts to hear them keep calling her that.
Emma meets Jack, who is the business partner and friend of Emma's friend Pete. Jack is taken with Emma but Emma refuses to have a relationship because she previously had a bad marriage. Her ex was a serial cheater. So she had sworn off love and relationships. All men are untrustworthy because of what her ex did. Jack manages to work his way into Emma's heart but she continually mistrusts Jack when he had done nothing untrustworthy at all. It was rediculous. I kept thinking Jack should turn around and run the other direction.
I really wanted to like this book more but it drive me nuts.
April 12, 2018
Google Books - Free. 3 stars, minus 1/2 star for annoying main character.
Emma aka Mouse - little blonde thing with trust issues.
Jack - business partner of Pete, construction company
Oh Emma! Sooo frustrating you are! You have a guy who likes you, sees a future with you, gets along with your friends and grandpa, is an amazing lover, is a business partner to one of your best friends, who is thoughtful and considerate and makes you feel safe in his arms, yet you let your insecurities get the best of you time and time again. Big sigh.
I LOVED Holly's tough love speech when Emma was acting like a coward. We all need a friend who tells it like it is!
But then I think, if Emma wasn't such a coward, then Jack wouldn't get to shine as much as he did. Some of the sweetest scenes were him reassuring Emma that he never met anyone with the sort of chemistry and connection that they had. Sweet, funny and tender. He always had the best intentions, but execution didn't always work out!
I will be reading book 2, because I want to see Holly get her happy ending!
Emma aka Mouse - little blonde thing with trust issues.
Jack - business partner of Pete, construction company
Oh Emma! Sooo frustrating you are! You have a guy who likes you, sees a future with you, gets along with your friends and grandpa, is an amazing lover, is a business partner to one of your best friends, who is thoughtful and considerate and makes you feel safe in his arms, yet you let your insecurities get the best of you time and time again. Big sigh.
I LOVED Holly's tough love speech when Emma was acting like a coward. We all need a friend who tells it like it is!
But then I think, if Emma wasn't such a coward, then Jack wouldn't get to shine as much as he did. Some of the sweetest scenes were him reassuring Emma that he never met anyone with the sort of chemistry and connection that they had. Sweet, funny and tender. He always had the best intentions, but execution didn't always work out!
I will be reading book 2, because I want to see Holly get her happy ending!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews