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No Ordinary Love
I broke her heart, but I will win her back.
Because mine is...No Ordinary Love.
Lucas Covington had Charleston's old money, a successful family business, and Amara—the strong, brilliant professor who turned his world upside down.
One careless conversation destroys it all.
When Amara overhears Lucas admitting he's still torn about his recently single ex and not sure if he loves her, she walks out, leaving behind the life they were building and the man too blind to see what he had.
As Lucas tumbles back into a toxic relationship with his high school sweetheart, he realizes just how badly he screwed up. Amara was the woman he needed, the one who made him feel alive. The one he loves.
Unable to heal her broken heart, Amara decides to leave Charleston. When Lucas finds out, he pulls every string he can, forcing her to stay in the city under the guise of a high-profile consultancy gig.
Now, with Amara back in his orbit but not in his arms, Lucas has to fight harder than ever to win her back. But with his ex-girlfriend digging her claws in and his own mother backing her, it's a battle he might not survive.
It's going to take a hell of a lot of groveling and facing his darkest truths to prove to Amara that his love is no ordinary thing.
No Ordinary Love is A Modern Vintage Romance. Get a dose of classic Mills & Boon and Harlequin romance novels with a contemporary dual POV and a sexy touch. Indulge in your favorite
✔️Second Chance
✔️Other Woman Drama
✔️Strong Heroine vs. Alpha Male
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Betrayal & Grovel
✔️Billionaire Romance
✔️Overheard
✔️Christmas/Thanksgiving
✔️No Cheating
✔️Complete Standalone
Because mine is...No Ordinary Love.
Lucas Covington had Charleston's old money, a successful family business, and Amara—the strong, brilliant professor who turned his world upside down.
One careless conversation destroys it all.
When Amara overhears Lucas admitting he's still torn about his recently single ex and not sure if he loves her, she walks out, leaving behind the life they were building and the man too blind to see what he had.
As Lucas tumbles back into a toxic relationship with his high school sweetheart, he realizes just how badly he screwed up. Amara was the woman he needed, the one who made him feel alive. The one he loves.
Unable to heal her broken heart, Amara decides to leave Charleston. When Lucas finds out, he pulls every string he can, forcing her to stay in the city under the guise of a high-profile consultancy gig.
Now, with Amara back in his orbit but not in his arms, Lucas has to fight harder than ever to win her back. But with his ex-girlfriend digging her claws in and his own mother backing her, it's a battle he might not survive.
It's going to take a hell of a lot of groveling and facing his darkest truths to prove to Amara that his love is no ordinary thing.
No Ordinary Love is A Modern Vintage Romance. Get a dose of classic Mills & Boon and Harlequin romance novels with a contemporary dual POV and a sexy touch. Indulge in your favorite
✔️Second Chance
✔️Other Woman Drama
✔️Strong Heroine vs. Alpha Male
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Betrayal & Grovel
✔️Billionaire Romance
✔️Overheard
✔️Christmas/Thanksgiving
✔️No Cheating
✔️Complete Standalone
258 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
1020 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
Maya Alden
52 books1,103 followersA top 20 Amazon Bestselling Author, Maya Alden pens angsty contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
November 18, 2024
Lucas has to be THE MOST spineless, cowardly, beta ass “hero” i’ve ever read.
i don’t care that he never had sex with the ow, or even went on one on one dates with her….he deadass went back to her two weeks after breaking Amara’s heart. he said that him and the ow were never dating but never made a correction to the rumors or whatever. HE WASN’T EVEN SURE HE LOVED AMARA LIKE 40% IN!!!! his pov was just a constant comparison between Amara and Kath and i don’t give a damn if Amara always came out on top….he had no balls. his grandma had to basically tell him his own feelings and then he was like OH okay i guess i’ve loved her all along and never really loved Kath 😒 puhhhhleasssssseeee. i wanted the angst but this wasn’t angsty. this was a man child trying to relive his younger years with a total bitch.
and Amara….. i am happy she left but that was all she really did. she should have ended up with Jax instead of letting Lucas stay at her dinner party 😑
i don’t care that he never had sex with the ow, or even went on one on one dates with her….he deadass went back to her two weeks after breaking Amara’s heart. he said that him and the ow were never dating but never made a correction to the rumors or whatever. HE WASN’T EVEN SURE HE LOVED AMARA LIKE 40% IN!!!! his pov was just a constant comparison between Amara and Kath and i don’t give a damn if Amara always came out on top….he had no balls. his grandma had to basically tell him his own feelings and then he was like OH okay i guess i’ve loved her all along and never really loved Kath 😒 puhhhhleasssssseeee. i wanted the angst but this wasn’t angsty. this was a man child trying to relive his younger years with a total bitch.
and Amara….. i am happy she left but that was all she really did. she should have ended up with Jax instead of letting Lucas stay at her dinner party 😑
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July 12, 2025Such a shame. This would've been tolerable if Amara's academic smarts translated into her romantic choices as well. 🤷♀️ I'll never understand why she chose to be with this wishy-washy and pathetic manchild. 🤦♀️
Oh well, a satisfying rage read is definitely the key to breaking out of a reading slump. I can't even count how many books I've started but haven't finished this week. Apparently and unfortunately, this one is clearly an exception. 🫠
===========
Self note:
When I'm in the mood to do some hate reading, I'll pick up this book. 🫠
Oh well, a satisfying rage read is definitely the key to breaking out of a reading slump. I can't even count how many books I've started but haven't finished this week. Apparently and unfortunately, this one is clearly an exception. 🫠
===========
Self note:
When I'm in the mood to do some hate reading, I'll pick up this book. 🫠
November 17, 2024
The plot is already known so there’s not much to spoil.
The hero and the heroine have been in a serious relationship for two years and they’ve been living together for some time, she overhears him telling his mother he will always love his ex but he doesn’t love her, and what he had with his ex was all consuming while with the heroine he’s confortable. The heroine decides to leave him so it’s her to make the move, while he’s still uncertain.
Basically his ex, who dumped him for another man five years before, is now free, and she would like to hook up with him again, since they’re both of the same circle, and he’s been pining for her for years, he decided to try with her, as soon as the heroine is out of the picture.
He’s being pressured by both his family and the ex family to marry her, since it would be good for business, but it’s apparent that he’s not that into it.
It’s my opinion that he wouldn’t have dumped the heroine, since after she left him he never even dated ow, he never had sex with her and never was turned on for her, so I suppose he would have understood it in a short time without breaking up with the heroine.
The break up was painful but the heroine had friends who loved her and even met a very charming man who was attracted to her.
She kisses him a couple of times but she doesn’t have sex with him, sadly. I wish she had sex with him because, you know, retribution.
After some months the hero realizes he loves the heroine and doesn’t love ow, and actually he didn’t even try with ow, then proceeds to grovel.
My opinion.
Three stars for the angst and because the hero was celibate after he and the heroine broke up, and because he was never even tempted by ow. That was very good. It makes the fact that he admits only loving the heroine much more believable.
The impression was that he was pressured by his family and he was glad that his ex who rejected him for another man now wanted him back. He was never into her, but I was annoyed that he admitted having feelings every time he saw her. That was not good and I love consistency, so if he did love the heroine why should he feel excited, not in sexual way but like a man in love, when he saw her? That was imo very inconsistent.
Whatever.
I also didn’t like him as a person. He’s weak, he’s a people pleaser, he was never by her side whenever his family, who, btw, were a bunch of awful people I would love not to meet in my life as in, ever, made disrespectful remarks about her not wing from his social circle.
I hated this.
And I hated that the heroine was so much more than him and than all of them but she let them treat her like dirt. I mean, she’s smart, a phd, a professor, she’s got an iq that is twice as much as the total sum of them all, yet she didn’t have any pride or self respect.
I met many smart, intelligent and cultured people and let me tell you, they are usually very self confident and they know their own value. I mean, the hero and his idiotic family had never fought for anything since all they had was family money, how could they ever compare to them? Yet she felt like she was not enough for the hero when she saw him with his ex, she thought she didn’t compare.
It should have been the opposite.
I also find that she gave in too soon, because of TBS, which I hate. I wish she had made him wait much longer because he was not worthy of her and he had to prove he was willing to wait forever for her. After all, he never tried to fight for her when she left him. He never thought to win her back, not until months later.
So, in the end, I liked the angst and the celibacy, but I didn’t like the hero at all. Sadly this author has always had some heroes that I define men you would like to avoid like the plague, since at the moment not one of them would be worthy of a second glance.
But the whole book was entertaining, I didn’t feel like I was annoyed or uncomfortable and it was very well built. I suppose many can claim it has emotional cheating since he said he didn’t love the heroine but never stopped loving ow, but imo he was only a weak, immature and unworthy people pleaser who didn’t even know he was lucky that the heroine ever looked in his direction. To me he was not in love with ow but anyway, his love for the heroine wasn’t worth mentioning.
And I also wished the heroine had more self confidence and pride not to let him and his rotten family step on her. Om was very cute and imo he was a better option than the hero, sadly not this time.
So, I appreciate that this author is writing a bit of different stories than the first ones. Her latest books have been pleasant, with dumb and immature and selfish heroes who were not overly cruel and what I appreciate most, they were celibate after breaking up with the heroine. I hate double standard and cheating and I hate when he hero is with other women after he met the heroine and this was not the case. I know it’s easier to write an angsty story if there’s cheating and if the hero is with ow, bit it’s also the least creative and original way, so when an author makes an effort and is able to write such an angsty story without these cheap devices I am always appreciative and so the three stars.
Safety as I said is good, the hero was never with another woman after meeting the heroine and so the heroine. Both kissed op after the breakup but the hero never enjoyed and wasn’t never attracted to anyone than the heroine, so to me it’s ok.
Good book, I recommend it.
The hero and the heroine have been in a serious relationship for two years and they’ve been living together for some time, she overhears him telling his mother he will always love his ex but he doesn’t love her, and what he had with his ex was all consuming while with the heroine he’s confortable. The heroine decides to leave him so it’s her to make the move, while he’s still uncertain.
Basically his ex, who dumped him for another man five years before, is now free, and she would like to hook up with him again, since they’re both of the same circle, and he’s been pining for her for years, he decided to try with her, as soon as the heroine is out of the picture.
He’s being pressured by both his family and the ex family to marry her, since it would be good for business, but it’s apparent that he’s not that into it.
It’s my opinion that he wouldn’t have dumped the heroine, since after she left him he never even dated ow, he never had sex with her and never was turned on for her, so I suppose he would have understood it in a short time without breaking up with the heroine.
The break up was painful but the heroine had friends who loved her and even met a very charming man who was attracted to her.
She kisses him a couple of times but she doesn’t have sex with him, sadly. I wish she had sex with him because, you know, retribution.
After some months the hero realizes he loves the heroine and doesn’t love ow, and actually he didn’t even try with ow, then proceeds to grovel.
My opinion.
Three stars for the angst and because the hero was celibate after he and the heroine broke up, and because he was never even tempted by ow. That was very good. It makes the fact that he admits only loving the heroine much more believable.
The impression was that he was pressured by his family and he was glad that his ex who rejected him for another man now wanted him back. He was never into her, but I was annoyed that he admitted having feelings every time he saw her. That was not good and I love consistency, so if he did love the heroine why should he feel excited, not in sexual way but like a man in love, when he saw her? That was imo very inconsistent.
Whatever.
I also didn’t like him as a person. He’s weak, he’s a people pleaser, he was never by her side whenever his family, who, btw, were a bunch of awful people I would love not to meet in my life as in, ever, made disrespectful remarks about her not wing from his social circle.
I hated this.
And I hated that the heroine was so much more than him and than all of them but she let them treat her like dirt. I mean, she’s smart, a phd, a professor, she’s got an iq that is twice as much as the total sum of them all, yet she didn’t have any pride or self respect.
I met many smart, intelligent and cultured people and let me tell you, they are usually very self confident and they know their own value. I mean, the hero and his idiotic family had never fought for anything since all they had was family money, how could they ever compare to them? Yet she felt like she was not enough for the hero when she saw him with his ex, she thought she didn’t compare.
It should have been the opposite.
I also find that she gave in too soon, because of TBS, which I hate. I wish she had made him wait much longer because he was not worthy of her and he had to prove he was willing to wait forever for her. After all, he never tried to fight for her when she left him. He never thought to win her back, not until months later.
So, in the end, I liked the angst and the celibacy, but I didn’t like the hero at all. Sadly this author has always had some heroes that I define men you would like to avoid like the plague, since at the moment not one of them would be worthy of a second glance.
But the whole book was entertaining, I didn’t feel like I was annoyed or uncomfortable and it was very well built. I suppose many can claim it has emotional cheating since he said he didn’t love the heroine but never stopped loving ow, but imo he was only a weak, immature and unworthy people pleaser who didn’t even know he was lucky that the heroine ever looked in his direction. To me he was not in love with ow but anyway, his love for the heroine wasn’t worth mentioning.
And I also wished the heroine had more self confidence and pride not to let him and his rotten family step on her. Om was very cute and imo he was a better option than the hero, sadly not this time.
So, I appreciate that this author is writing a bit of different stories than the first ones. Her latest books have been pleasant, with dumb and immature and selfish heroes who were not overly cruel and what I appreciate most, they were celibate after breaking up with the heroine. I hate double standard and cheating and I hate when he hero is with other women after he met the heroine and this was not the case. I know it’s easier to write an angsty story if there’s cheating and if the hero is with ow, bit it’s also the least creative and original way, so when an author makes an effort and is able to write such an angsty story without these cheap devices I am always appreciative and so the three stars.
Safety as I said is good, the hero was never with another woman after meeting the heroine and so the heroine. Both kissed op after the breakup but the hero never enjoyed and wasn’t never attracted to anyone than the heroine, so to me it’s ok.
Good book, I recommend it.
November 18, 2024
He's not mean like so many of Maya Alden's heroes, but he sure is stupid.
It's a shock to me that the evil OW didn't get him to the altar and pregnant before he knew what was happening.
It's a shock to me that the evil OW didn't get him to the altar and pregnant before he knew what was happening.
November 19, 2024
Was it bad that I was actively rooting for the hero to fail?
I always read these types of books for that angst they deliver but I found this one more frustrating than satisfying.
Amara and Lucas date for two years and moved in together. His family is rich and stuck up and he never defends her. Then she overhears his mother telling him his ex is single again, and Lucas admits he still loves her and doesn’t love Amara but is comfortable with her.
Raise your hand if you’re a Lucas hater! 🙋🏻♀️ It’s fine if you make mistakes when you’re younger, but his thoughts in the beginning made me not believe his change of heart later on - he thinks of the passion with his ex Kath, their fights and makeups, their sex, etc. He had a toxic relationship with her but loved her, was so mad she left him for his friend, says he still loves her and by the way still works with her and sees her every day?! He says their relationship was all consuming and Amara is just comfortable and he doesn’t want to hurt her by breaking up with her.
The way I would’ve NEVER talked to this man again!!! He even has the audacity to say this doesn’t mean I want to break up.
The one good thing Amara does is leave him, but more on her later.
Obviously the point of the book is him realizing how wrong he was but he’s so wishy washy and weak willed, it’s a turn off. When Amara overhears and leaves him, he basically lets his ex in again because he can’t stand up for himself or make a decision. It’s not really dating, but he goes to events with her, kisses her a few times, and everyone believes they’re a couple. The only good thing is he doesn’t sleep with her or have feelings for her in his pov.
Back to Amara. I’m glad she had friends and a good job she loved. But I feel like we’re supposed to believe she wasn’t a pushover and I found her to be one. Yes, she leaves him, but she also lets him back in after he sends her a bunch of flowers and comes to a dinner she hosts uninvited. (Umm kick him out?) There’s of course body betraying syndrome galore. As the story progresses and he finally figures out he loves her (she’s his soulmate apparently…I doubt it would take you so long to realize if she really was ) she dates him again and said he proved himself but I didn’t see where. I guess because they took it slow and didn’t sleep together for a while that was good enough for her, but I needed wayyyy more grovel and moments of him earning trust. Yes, he finally made a stand with his family but it didn’t do it for me.
Maybe it just didn’t work on me because I was president of the Lucas hater club. I gave stars because the writing isn’t bad and I read it quickly, but ultimately I didn’t enjoy their love story at all.
I always read these types of books for that angst they deliver but I found this one more frustrating than satisfying.
Amara and Lucas date for two years and moved in together. His family is rich and stuck up and he never defends her. Then she overhears his mother telling him his ex is single again, and Lucas admits he still loves her and doesn’t love Amara but is comfortable with her.
Raise your hand if you’re a Lucas hater! 🙋🏻♀️ It’s fine if you make mistakes when you’re younger, but his thoughts in the beginning made me not believe his change of heart later on - he thinks of the passion with his ex Kath, their fights and makeups, their sex, etc. He had a toxic relationship with her but loved her, was so mad she left him for his friend, says he still loves her and by the way still works with her and sees her every day?! He says their relationship was all consuming and Amara is just comfortable and he doesn’t want to hurt her by breaking up with her.
The way I would’ve NEVER talked to this man again!!! He even has the audacity to say this doesn’t mean I want to break up.
The one good thing Amara does is leave him, but more on her later.
Obviously the point of the book is him realizing how wrong he was but he’s so wishy washy and weak willed, it’s a turn off. When Amara overhears and leaves him, he basically lets his ex in again because he can’t stand up for himself or make a decision. It’s not really dating, but he goes to events with her, kisses her a few times, and everyone believes they’re a couple. The only good thing is he doesn’t sleep with her or have feelings for her in his pov.
Back to Amara. I’m glad she had friends and a good job she loved. But I feel like we’re supposed to believe she wasn’t a pushover and I found her to be one. Yes, she leaves him, but she also lets him back in after he sends her a bunch of flowers and comes to a dinner she hosts uninvited. (Umm kick him out?) There’s of course body betraying syndrome galore. As the story progresses and he finally figures out he loves her (she’s his soulmate apparently…I doubt it would take you so long to realize if she really was ) she dates him again and said he proved himself but I didn’t see where. I guess because they took it slow and didn’t sleep together for a while that was good enough for her, but I needed wayyyy more grovel and moments of him earning trust. Yes, he finally made a stand with his family but it didn’t do it for me.
Maybe it just didn’t work on me because I was president of the Lucas hater club. I gave stars because the writing isn’t bad and I read it quickly, but ultimately I didn’t enjoy their love story at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2024
Didn’t plan on doing a lengthy review but oh well… Spoilers ahead! And oh beware for profanities…
We have the loser H, Lucas who in a nutshell, let everyone decides and or makes decisions for him. He let his mother and sister belittle and verbally abuse the h, Amara and never stands up for her. If Jax can then why couldn’t he? Oh yeah because he doesn’t care enough to do that for Amara until it’s already too late. Even his grandmother has to intervene and make decisions for him to go after Amara and to grovel. Like I said, a loser and a beta guy who’s not man enough to protect his girlfriend. Can you imagine being Lucas, breaking up with a sweet girl because you’re too proud-ful and still too hung up on the woman who dumped you for your friend. Could never be me. Like I said, a loser with a capital L.
Then we have the h, Amara which I applaud her for standing up for herself even after two years too late for it. At least she’s not a total doormat. As much as I want to praise her for leaving Lucas’s loser ass but her inner thoughts about still pining for him really annoy me to no end. Like come on, he literally dumps you and is seen together with the other woman just mere days after you two breaks up. He doesn’t even come after her right after she confronts him about the conversation he has with his mother. If it isn’t because of his grandma pulling his head outta his ass, he’d still wasting time trying to decide pursuing Amara or not. If I was her, I’d have slept with Jax the OM in a heartbeat. It’s annoying how she says she has no chemistry with Jax like how would you know if you hadn’t fucked him yet? Mind you that they kissed and she notes that the kiss isn’t bad at all.
In the end I just hate that they all blame everything that happens with the way Lucas is pressured to be a prominent figure, that he comes from a wealthy family and he has a certain standard to uphold. If that’s too hard for him to uphold then just date the women from his own circle! You see, I’m not mad at Lucas for falling in love with someone different from how he was brought up but I’m mad at him for letting his mother and sister gang up on Amara and never see her struggles to match up to his “standard”. One idiotic opinion that was shared by Amara’s friend; Lucas not standing up against his mother because that way he could keep Amara around is absolutely batshit CRAZY AND DUMB. So you’re telling me he’s okay with her being verbally and mentally abused but it’s fine because he could still keep her. Fucking unbelievable. This friend of hers is really trying to gaslight her into thinking what Lucas did is out of love. Lmao fuck you very much. Who needs an enemy when you have friend like this…. And he’s not the only one trying to make excuses for Lucas by the way. There’s the grandma and then Jax. Seriously? All Lucas has to do is to man up- which he doesn’t even after vowing to make it right after he screws up the first time. Is it really that hard to put Kath in her place? When she corners him with the not so subtle announcement on the stage, he should have cleared up the nonsense right away! Not letting that bitch clinging to his arm and dragging her to the corner to clear things up! What a fucking moron.
Another thing that I loathe the most; the friends trying to butt in to “help” the H making it right for h. Honestly, if he fucks up so badly that the friends has to step in on his behalf; is it really worth giving him the second chance? I’m actually pretty content with how the story is going but then that bitch Kath had to pull that stunt and Lucas being the dumb ass he is, messed up again. He had the audacity to be mad at Amara for running away after that mess. BITCH YOU WERE THE ONE WHO FUCKED UP- AGAIN. If I were her I would never see his face ever again! What did they say; fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. But apparently Amara doesn’t share the same sentiment as I do. Oh well too bad for her.
I have a few things that I like from this book but I can’t even list them one by one because the bad outweighs the good.
Sure, he man up at the end and make things right but it’s already too late. I’m so sick of men like Lucas getting away with his dumb decisions and still gets a HEA in the end anyway.
I also hate the WHAT IF scenarios that could have happened in this books because it’s pointless to make assumptions; but let me just tell you, IF Lucas is actually in his 20’s, I would have no doubt that he would choose Kath over Amara. Because at certain point, I do understand his point in settling with Amara because he’s in his 30s and Amara brings calmness and feels comfortable to him while Kath is the opposite so there’s that.
One star for the angst and another for Jerome the butler.
We have the loser H, Lucas who in a nutshell, let everyone decides and or makes decisions for him. He let his mother and sister belittle and verbally abuse the h, Amara and never stands up for her. If Jax can then why couldn’t he? Oh yeah because he doesn’t care enough to do that for Amara until it’s already too late. Even his grandmother has to intervene and make decisions for him to go after Amara and to grovel. Like I said, a loser and a beta guy who’s not man enough to protect his girlfriend. Can you imagine being Lucas, breaking up with a sweet girl because you’re too proud-ful and still too hung up on the woman who dumped you for your friend. Could never be me. Like I said, a loser with a capital L.
Then we have the h, Amara which I applaud her for standing up for herself even after two years too late for it. At least she’s not a total doormat. As much as I want to praise her for leaving Lucas’s loser ass but her inner thoughts about still pining for him really annoy me to no end. Like come on, he literally dumps you and is seen together with the other woman just mere days after you two breaks up. He doesn’t even come after her right after she confronts him about the conversation he has with his mother. If it isn’t because of his grandma pulling his head outta his ass, he’d still wasting time trying to decide pursuing Amara or not. If I was her, I’d have slept with Jax the OM in a heartbeat. It’s annoying how she says she has no chemistry with Jax like how would you know if you hadn’t fucked him yet? Mind you that they kissed and she notes that the kiss isn’t bad at all.
In the end I just hate that they all blame everything that happens with the way Lucas is pressured to be a prominent figure, that he comes from a wealthy family and he has a certain standard to uphold. If that’s too hard for him to uphold then just date the women from his own circle! You see, I’m not mad at Lucas for falling in love with someone different from how he was brought up but I’m mad at him for letting his mother and sister gang up on Amara and never see her struggles to match up to his “standard”. One idiotic opinion that was shared by Amara’s friend; Lucas not standing up against his mother because that way he could keep Amara around is absolutely batshit CRAZY AND DUMB. So you’re telling me he’s okay with her being verbally and mentally abused but it’s fine because he could still keep her. Fucking unbelievable. This friend of hers is really trying to gaslight her into thinking what Lucas did is out of love. Lmao fuck you very much. Who needs an enemy when you have friend like this…. And he’s not the only one trying to make excuses for Lucas by the way. There’s the grandma and then Jax. Seriously? All Lucas has to do is to man up- which he doesn’t even after vowing to make it right after he screws up the first time. Is it really that hard to put Kath in her place? When she corners him with the not so subtle announcement on the stage, he should have cleared up the nonsense right away! Not letting that bitch clinging to his arm and dragging her to the corner to clear things up! What a fucking moron.
Another thing that I loathe the most; the friends trying to butt in to “help” the H making it right for h. Honestly, if he fucks up so badly that the friends has to step in on his behalf; is it really worth giving him the second chance? I’m actually pretty content with how the story is going but then that bitch Kath had to pull that stunt and Lucas being the dumb ass he is, messed up again. He had the audacity to be mad at Amara for running away after that mess. BITCH YOU WERE THE ONE WHO FUCKED UP- AGAIN. If I were her I would never see his face ever again! What did they say; fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. But apparently Amara doesn’t share the same sentiment as I do. Oh well too bad for her.
I have a few things that I like from this book but I can’t even list them one by one because the bad outweighs the good.
Sure, he man up at the end and make things right but it’s already too late. I’m so sick of men like Lucas getting away with his dumb decisions and still gets a HEA in the end anyway.
I also hate the WHAT IF scenarios that could have happened in this books because it’s pointless to make assumptions; but let me just tell you, IF Lucas is actually in his 20’s, I would have no doubt that he would choose Kath over Amara. Because at certain point, I do understand his point in settling with Amara because he’s in his 30s and Amara brings calmness and feels comfortable to him while Kath is the opposite so there’s that.
One star for the angst and another for Jerome the butler.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2024
2 Stars - it was okay
I DNFed at 81%. I normally don't rate books I DNF but in this case, I got pretty far. I just couldn't take it anymore. It started out with the angsty scene, the 'overheard trope.' What she heard was quite damning, no misunderstandings. I thought it was well done, dramatic and angsty. Basically, I was hooked. I was enjoying it until it became a drag. This guy was extremely wishy-washy, and a beta to boot. He was weak af, but so was she. He allowed his family to dictate his life and repeatedly disrespect the heroine, even after she gave him another chance. Speaking of, I lost count how many chances she gave him...was it three or more? It certainly felt like more. This back and forth could've been angsty but instead it was annoying. I lost all respect for her, with her moping around all the time ("like a spineless woman" as she described herself), lost without him, struggling with Body Betraying Syndrome at the mere sight of him. I thought maybe all this would pay-off with some good grovel, but she'd take him back without much effort. He always had her at 'hello.' Right before I DNFed, they were all cozy again. So easily! I could forgive the few cheesy lines in the dialogue but not this weak heroine.
I think it's me. It must be me. This is my third 2-Star read in a row. Why is it incredibly hard finding a book that actually delivers on the angst and grovel? Sincerely, a desperate reader.
Notes:
Emotional cheating
Separation - they were on and off but not officially together for 6 months or so.
Both MCs celibate during separation
Kindle Unlimited
I DNFed at 81%. I normally don't rate books I DNF but in this case, I got pretty far. I just couldn't take it anymore. It started out with the angsty scene, the 'overheard trope.' What she heard was quite damning, no misunderstandings. I thought it was well done, dramatic and angsty. Basically, I was hooked. I was enjoying it until it became a drag. This guy was extremely wishy-washy, and a beta to boot. He was weak af, but so was she. He allowed his family to dictate his life and repeatedly disrespect the heroine, even after she gave him another chance. Speaking of, I lost count how many chances she gave him...was it three or more? It certainly felt like more. This back and forth could've been angsty but instead it was annoying. I lost all respect for her, with her moping around all the time ("like a spineless woman" as she described herself), lost without him, struggling with Body Betraying Syndrome at the mere sight of him. I thought maybe all this would pay-off with some good grovel, but she'd take him back without much effort. He always had her at 'hello.' Right before I DNFed, they were all cozy again. So easily! I could forgive the few cheesy lines in the dialogue but not this weak heroine.
I think it's me. It must be me. This is my third 2-Star read in a row. Why is it incredibly hard finding a book that actually delivers on the angst and grovel? Sincerely, a desperate reader.
Notes:
Emotional cheating
Separation - they were on and off but not officially together for 6 months or so.
Both MCs celibate during separation
Kindle Unlimited
November 23, 2025
2 incoherent and neutered ⭐️
This book is like a toothless, clawless little kitty cat. It wants to be a second chance romance, but all the drama is neutered and it is completely scared of its audience.
If you write a second chance/ betrayal romance, you have to have the courage to take the reader on the same journey as the fmc. You want to feel and believe her pain. You can’t make the betrayal and cruelty seem real, if you with the other hand soothes the reader with information from the get go.
Instead of cruel, the H seemed weak and how do you redeem weakness?
Lucas and Amara were living together, a happy no drama relationship. She is from a blue collar background and he is southern royalty. Needless to say his mother and family does no approve of the relationship. She tells him she loves him and he never reciprocates verbally. His family dismisses her and talks poorly about her, to their faces and he never stands up for Amara. She is easygoing and doesn’t require much effort from him.
One day Amara overhears a conversation between Lucas and his mom, he tells her that his ex Cath is available again and he never stopped loving her.
He goes on to say he doesn’t really love Amara. See good bones, for an asshole story. He just doesn’t want to hurt her feelings 🤮
Cath and Lucas were childhood sweethearts and were together for 7 years before she jilted him for his best friend. But that didn’t seem to bother him at all🤦♀️ She is all he wants.
This is where I started getting seriously annoyed, I mean have some dignity dude!
Anyway Amara, leaves him on that day, yeah I was so happy. Girl have boundaries. He did nothing to stop her. And then it went downhill fast, 5 months went by and he is allegedly still dating Cath, while pining after Amara. BUT it turns out they don’t really date, at the same time there is talk in the family, about an upcoming marriage between them! It makes absolutely no sense.
This is where toothless comes in, why play OW drama up when there really is none! He just kind of sees her for dinners, but no kissing or sex while he is trying to woo Amara back. He doesn’t know who he wants, or loves and whines about it🤮 That is not exactly how we warm up to him?
He came across as seriously dumb and with an emotional intelligence of a baby ape!
Amara is at 50 % in, whining how she wants him back, and he blaming his mother for the situation. He is btw. 30 years old. He is still “dating” Cath. Or maybe not, it’s unclear.
Dnf 50%
Should you read it? It has serious inconsistencies, and it did not hit the spot for the trope for me. It was so petrified that it became boring.
The mmc is so mean, but no he is not, he is weak. 😂And how do you redeem weakness
This book is like a toothless, clawless little kitty cat. It wants to be a second chance romance, but all the drama is neutered and it is completely scared of its audience.
If you write a second chance/ betrayal romance, you have to have the courage to take the reader on the same journey as the fmc. You want to feel and believe her pain. You can’t make the betrayal and cruelty seem real, if you with the other hand soothes the reader with information from the get go.
Instead of cruel, the H seemed weak and how do you redeem weakness?
Lucas and Amara were living together, a happy no drama relationship. She is from a blue collar background and he is southern royalty. Needless to say his mother and family does no approve of the relationship. She tells him she loves him and he never reciprocates verbally. His family dismisses her and talks poorly about her, to their faces and he never stands up for Amara. She is easygoing and doesn’t require much effort from him.
One day Amara overhears a conversation between Lucas and his mom, he tells her that his ex Cath is available again and he never stopped loving her.
He goes on to say he doesn’t really love Amara. See good bones, for an asshole story. He just doesn’t want to hurt her feelings 🤮
Cath and Lucas were childhood sweethearts and were together for 7 years before she jilted him for his best friend. But that didn’t seem to bother him at all🤦♀️ She is all he wants.
This is where I started getting seriously annoyed, I mean have some dignity dude!
Anyway Amara, leaves him on that day, yeah I was so happy. Girl have boundaries. He did nothing to stop her. And then it went downhill fast, 5 months went by and he is allegedly still dating Cath, while pining after Amara. BUT it turns out they don’t really date, at the same time there is talk in the family, about an upcoming marriage between them! It makes absolutely no sense.
This is where toothless comes in, why play OW drama up when there really is none! He just kind of sees her for dinners, but no kissing or sex while he is trying to woo Amara back. He doesn’t know who he wants, or loves and whines about it🤮 That is not exactly how we warm up to him?
He came across as seriously dumb and with an emotional intelligence of a baby ape!
Amara is at 50 % in, whining how she wants him back, and he blaming his mother for the situation. He is btw. 30 years old. He is still “dating” Cath. Or maybe not, it’s unclear.
Dnf 50%
Should you read it? It has serious inconsistencies, and it did not hit the spot for the trope for me. It was so petrified that it became boring.
The mmc is so mean, but no he is not, he is weak. 😂And how do you redeem weakness
November 18, 2024
**Spoilers!
Maya has never disappointed me in the betrayal to grovel trope and this book is no different. Such a solid second chance romance.
Pushy stuck up meddling Mom, mean girl sister with an awful best friend who is the other woman. Overheard betrayal with an H who realizes what he’s lost and is willing to give everything up to get his woman back. An h who isn’t a doormat and sticks up for herself. I love that Amara didn’t sit around wallowing in sadness during the breakup. She was heartbroken but was out living her life.
I do feel like Lucas should have acknowledged that he told the OW he would try a relationship with her if they took it slow. It seemed like he glossed over that with Amara and only told her he was never with the OW. And while they never had s*x or went on solo dates he was still trying, even if he wasn’t happy and his heart wasn’t in it. But overall I was able to forgive him, I just wish he would have been a little more honest (even with himself).
Full disclosure I was given this book as an ARC reader, however that in no way influenced my rating. This book will definitely be in my reread pile.
Maya has never disappointed me in the betrayal to grovel trope and this book is no different. Such a solid second chance romance.
Pushy stuck up meddling Mom, mean girl sister with an awful best friend who is the other woman. Overheard betrayal with an H who realizes what he’s lost and is willing to give everything up to get his woman back. An h who isn’t a doormat and sticks up for herself. I love that Amara didn’t sit around wallowing in sadness during the breakup. She was heartbroken but was out living her life.
I do feel like Lucas should have acknowledged that he told the OW he would try a relationship with her if they took it slow. It seemed like he glossed over that with Amara and only told her he was never with the OW. And while they never had s*x or went on solo dates he was still trying, even if he wasn’t happy and his heart wasn’t in it. But overall I was able to forgive him, I just wish he would have been a little more honest (even with himself).
Full disclosure I was given this book as an ARC reader, however that in no way influenced my rating. This book will definitely be in my reread pile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2025
It could have been better. The hero was like a spoiled brat but at least he grew before the end. I would have liked a little bit more grovel before the heroine accepted him back
November 21, 2025
If spineless has a definition, then we can definitely put Lucas Covington in that place. I have never been this frustrated with a character as I was with Lucas Covington.
And Amara also needs to set some boundaries around herself, as to why she was letting Lucas's family treat her as a pushover.
I have never been this frustrated with side characters as I was with the Covington family and MC's ex. They got on my last nerves.
And the writing also didn't help either. It felt too choppy at times.
Pre-read ~ I'm ready for some toxic shit...let's see how much manchild this guy can be
And Amara also needs to set some boundaries around herself, as to why she was letting Lucas's family treat her as a pushover.
I have never been this frustrated with side characters as I was with the Covington family and MC's ex. They got on my last nerves.
And the writing also didn't help either. It felt too choppy at times.
Pre-read ~ I'm ready for some toxic shit...let's see how much manchild this guy can be
December 20, 2024
I’ve been trying to read this book for a week and it’s too boring to get my attention. I’m not even sure what all the fuss is about. The MMC has an ex that wants him back. For months he has thought about, waffled about on it, and in every way he has turned down the ex, to the point that now he is threatening to fire her on grounds of sexual harassment. I’m at the 65% mark and that’s all that has been going on since page one. A simp of a MMC who shuffles along not knowing his feelings about anything but he knows enough to turn down blow jobs from the desperate ex and to turn his face away on her attempts to kiss him, but not enough to know he doesn’t love her but does love the FMC.
He is thirty years old, but acts like he never had feelings of any kind before this book started. Besides that his mother and the ex’s dad are so ridiculous. They drive the conflict more than the skanky ex does. And yet again no one points out the fact that the ex needs her daddy to bully a man into taking her on. Why isn’t this the number one put down in any of these books?? This is the one thing that speaks volumes on the ex-OW’s character when her father has to force the MMC’s hand in trying to get his girl married. I also find it kind of icky that the OW always has to get daddy involved in her sex life. Like ewww.
As for the FMC, whatever her job is in this book makes no sense to me other than she is a professor. All the rest of the nonsense this writer has filled in around that is incomprehensible. First it was communications which sounded like marketing, then it turned into women’s health advocacy regarding marketing. Businesses do this, healthcare facilities do this, not colleges that have no medical component to them. It’s also written like universities would headhunt her for this niche field alone which I highly doubt very much. As the state this story is set in is a red state and it was red states that repealed roe v wade laws and are actively instituting egregious healthcare policies AGAINST women’s health along with LGBTQ anti healthcare legislation. So while I would give the benefit of the doubt that maybe the college is doing research studies to determine the impact these laws are having on women’s healthcare, I do not believe that this character is doing more marketing research for women’s healthcare in the state this book is set in as a part of her professoriate. If anything this character probably would have had her funding slashed as it wouldn’t serve this state legislatures agenda.
Lastly, I still dislike the world this author writes in. The old world of rich Charleston society. It sounds like and is racist, but this author keeps adding details to her characters that make them mixed race to somehow make it less racist for the reader. While I don’t feel the author is racist as anyone can clearly see in her stories she is trying to be inclusive, it just doesn’t take away the fact that these are racist stories. I really don’t want to read that. She says it in nearly every book I’ve read so far “rich old white man” in one way or another and the book ends with said rich old white man still in power, just shuffled off to the perimeter of the books main characters lives like that is a resolution to the individual books problem. It’s not. And it’s not enough of a comeuppance for my tastes either.
Either way, this book is too boring to be dragged out this way. It’s boring, unnecessarily confusing, and basically a repeat of nearly every other book this author has already written. Nothing new or shocking or titillating here to recommend reading this book so far. I’m not even that angry at the MMC. He was a simp at the start and he has been a simp all the way through. He threatens sexual harassment firings with a whisper and it comes off like he’ll cave again any minute if these people just keep at him a bit longer. He hasn’t gotten stronger, just tired and depressed. Not a good look for a MMC. Just saying.
FINAL UPDATE
The book ends at 88%. The rest is excerpts for other books. Also, the book has an abrupt ending and asks the reader to go to the author’s website for a bonus chapter. As this author isn’t consistent on uploading those chapters or they are too hard to find on her website without using the link, I won’t be doing that. I don’t like that she or any author does this. I read on an oasis device and I’m never on WiFi, it’s a hassle to go through all this trouble to finish a story that isn’t kept together. So no thanks on chasing down a bonus chapter for a book that was too boring, and I didn’t like anyway. Good luck.
He is thirty years old, but acts like he never had feelings of any kind before this book started. Besides that his mother and the ex’s dad are so ridiculous. They drive the conflict more than the skanky ex does. And yet again no one points out the fact that the ex needs her daddy to bully a man into taking her on. Why isn’t this the number one put down in any of these books?? This is the one thing that speaks volumes on the ex-OW’s character when her father has to force the MMC’s hand in trying to get his girl married. I also find it kind of icky that the OW always has to get daddy involved in her sex life. Like ewww.
As for the FMC, whatever her job is in this book makes no sense to me other than she is a professor. All the rest of the nonsense this writer has filled in around that is incomprehensible. First it was communications which sounded like marketing, then it turned into women’s health advocacy regarding marketing. Businesses do this, healthcare facilities do this, not colleges that have no medical component to them. It’s also written like universities would headhunt her for this niche field alone which I highly doubt very much. As the state this story is set in is a red state and it was red states that repealed roe v wade laws and are actively instituting egregious healthcare policies AGAINST women’s health along with LGBTQ anti healthcare legislation. So while I would give the benefit of the doubt that maybe the college is doing research studies to determine the impact these laws are having on women’s healthcare, I do not believe that this character is doing more marketing research for women’s healthcare in the state this book is set in as a part of her professoriate. If anything this character probably would have had her funding slashed as it wouldn’t serve this state legislatures agenda.
Lastly, I still dislike the world this author writes in. The old world of rich Charleston society. It sounds like and is racist, but this author keeps adding details to her characters that make them mixed race to somehow make it less racist for the reader. While I don’t feel the author is racist as anyone can clearly see in her stories she is trying to be inclusive, it just doesn’t take away the fact that these are racist stories. I really don’t want to read that. She says it in nearly every book I’ve read so far “rich old white man” in one way or another and the book ends with said rich old white man still in power, just shuffled off to the perimeter of the books main characters lives like that is a resolution to the individual books problem. It’s not. And it’s not enough of a comeuppance for my tastes either.
Either way, this book is too boring to be dragged out this way. It’s boring, unnecessarily confusing, and basically a repeat of nearly every other book this author has already written. Nothing new or shocking or titillating here to recommend reading this book so far. I’m not even that angry at the MMC. He was a simp at the start and he has been a simp all the way through. He threatens sexual harassment firings with a whisper and it comes off like he’ll cave again any minute if these people just keep at him a bit longer. He hasn’t gotten stronger, just tired and depressed. Not a good look for a MMC. Just saying.
FINAL UPDATE
The book ends at 88%. The rest is excerpts for other books. Also, the book has an abrupt ending and asks the reader to go to the author’s website for a bonus chapter. As this author isn’t consistent on uploading those chapters or they are too hard to find on her website without using the link, I won’t be doing that. I don’t like that she or any author does this. I read on an oasis device and I’m never on WiFi, it’s a hassle to go through all this trouble to finish a story that isn’t kept together. So no thanks on chasing down a bonus chapter for a book that was too boring, and I didn’t like anyway. Good luck.
January 3, 2026
Lucas is a CEO. Amara is a college professor. They met when she was doing some scholarly research into his family's company. They've been together for 2 years. He used to date Kath, who still works at the company. They had a volatile, on-off relationship. He still thinks about Kath every day.
Imagine that you're Amara. Your boyfriend doesn't love you, but he "cares for you" a lot, then he starts dating someone else (Kath) to see if the grass is greener. He discovers the OW isn't better than you, and now he wants you back only because the grass wasn't greener. Does this sound like someone you could even potentially take back? Doesn't sound like it to me. For forgiveness to work in romances, the person who needs to be forgiven must be someone with good qualities who is worth forgiving. Lucas ain't it. Weak Mama's boy beta.
This dude couldn't even admit what he did. He kept insisting the dates he went on with the OW "weren't dates." WTF was that about? Like, Amara saw you on dates. What is the point of denying it? Was that the grovel? Him just denying ever doing anything was his way of groveling? It made me rage.
And I just can't identify with Amara. All she felt was that she wanted him back, she just wasn't sure that he was really sorry. She didn't trust him when he said he wanted her back, but she WANTED it to be true.
Every time her "friends" arranged for them to be in proximity, she just went along with it because she wanted it to be true. And then she had the audacity to get mad and say to her friend, "You think I'm that weak?" Yes, I do. You literally just let him eat dinner at your house while fake complaining about not wanting him there, and pretending to be fake-mad the whole time. You are extremely weak and stupid. Don't get mad at your friend for calling you out, hon.
I couldn't identify with her because I have no interest in Lucas or boys like him. Why would she WANT to be stuck with someone like him for the rest of her life?
I also don't like 3rd party interference/pressure from her friends, for Amara to take him back. It just means there's less work for Lucas to do to win her back.
They also have forced proximity as Lucas manipulates her to work for his nonprofit that deals with women's health, the same thing she researches.
Tagged as cheating because he's been pining over his ex, who he's also been working with every day, the whole time he's been with Amara. No physical cheating during their relationship, though.
Imagine that you're Amara. Your boyfriend doesn't love you, but he "cares for you" a lot, then he starts dating someone else (Kath) to see if the grass is greener. He discovers the OW isn't better than you, and now he wants you back only because the grass wasn't greener. Does this sound like someone you could even potentially take back? Doesn't sound like it to me. For forgiveness to work in romances, the person who needs to be forgiven must be someone with good qualities who is worth forgiving. Lucas ain't it. Weak Mama's boy beta.
This dude couldn't even admit what he did. He kept insisting the dates he went on with the OW "weren't dates." WTF was that about? Like, Amara saw you on dates. What is the point of denying it? Was that the grovel? Him just denying ever doing anything was his way of groveling? It made me rage.
And I just can't identify with Amara. All she felt was that she wanted him back, she just wasn't sure that he was really sorry. She didn't trust him when he said he wanted her back, but she WANTED it to be true.
Every time her "friends" arranged for them to be in proximity, she just went along with it because she wanted it to be true. And then she had the audacity to get mad and say to her friend, "You think I'm that weak?" Yes, I do. You literally just let him eat dinner at your house while fake complaining about not wanting him there, and pretending to be fake-mad the whole time. You are extremely weak and stupid. Don't get mad at your friend for calling you out, hon.
I couldn't identify with her because I have no interest in Lucas or boys like him. Why would she WANT to be stuck with someone like him for the rest of her life?
I also don't like 3rd party interference/pressure from her friends, for Amara to take him back. It just means there's less work for Lucas to do to win her back.
They also have forced proximity as Lucas manipulates her to work for his nonprofit that deals with women's health, the same thing she researches.
Tagged as cheating because he's been pining over his ex, who he's also been working with every day, the whole time he's been with Amara. No physical cheating during their relationship, though.
November 17, 2024
I removed a star when H had not corrected OW immediately when she was declared that they were together personally at the charity ball. It was the dumbest thing after H had just gained the second chance from h.
November 18, 2024
3 - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
==========
Emotional cheating.
An ordinary and cliché story.
Our heroine has no backbone and suffers from BBS.
🤦🏻♀️
==========
Emotional cheating.
An ordinary and cliché story.
Our heroine has no backbone and suffers from BBS.
🤦🏻♀️
December 29, 2025
2 incoherent and neutered ⭐️⭐️
This book is like a toothless, clawless little kitty cat.
It wants to be a second chance romance, but all the drama is neutered and it is completely scared of its audience.
If you write a second chance/ betrayal romance, you have to have the courage to take the reader on the same journey as the fmc. You want to feel and believe her pain. You can't make the betrayal and cruelty seem real, it you with the other hand soothes the reader with information from the get go.
Instead of cruel, the H seemed weak and how do you redeem weakness?
Lucas and Amara were living together, a happy no drama relationship. She is from a blue collar background and he is southern royalty. Needless to say his mother and family does no approve of the relationship. She tells him she loves him and he never reciprocates verbally.
His family dismisses her and talks poorly about her, to their faces and he never stands up for Amara. She is easygoing and doesn't require much effort from him.
One day Amara overhears a conversation between Lucas and his mom, he tells her that his ex Cath is available again and he never stopped loving her.
He goes on to say he doesn't really love Amara. See good bones, for an asshole story. He just doesn't want to hurt her feelings
Cath and Lucas were childhood sweethearts and were together for 7 years before she jilted him for his best friend. But that didn't seem to bother him at all
She is all he wants.
This is where I started getting seriously annoyed, l mean have some dignity dude!
Anyway Amara, leaves him on that day, yeah I was so happy. Girl have boundaries. He did nothing to stop her. And then it went downhill fast, 5 months went by and he is allegedly still dating Cath, while pining after Amara. BUT it turns out they don't really date, at the same time there is talk in the family, about an upcoming marriage between them! It makes absolutely no sense.
This is where toothless comes in, why play OW drama up when there really is none! He just kind of sees her for dinners, but no kissing or sex while he is trying to woo Amara back. He doesn't know who he wants, or loves and whines about it 🤦♀️
That is not exactly how we warm up to him?
He came across as seriously dumb and with an emotional intelligence of a baby ape! Amara is at 50% in, whining how she wants him back, and he blaming his mother for the situation.
He is btw. 30 years old. He is still "dating" Cath. Or maybe not, it's unclear.
Dnf 50% Should you read it? It has serious inconsistencies, and it did not hit the spot for the trope for me. It was so petrified that it became boring.
“The mmc is very mean”, but no he is not, he is weak. And how do you redeem weakness
February 21, 2025
I don’t mind this scenario (a H that’s either hung up on his ex or the idea of what they had) it can deliver delicious angst. Sometimes she’s dead, sometimes she’s not. I personally like her alive because I love drama, but that can make the safety dicey which is a hard limit for some readers. Cheating isn’t a deal breaker for me, but for those worried this one is safe.
What I don’t love is a passive “beta” male that is easily manipulated by the OW or his family, and that is what we have here. The other issue was the book opens with Amara overhearing the conversation provided in the blurb, so it begins with the breakup before we’re emotionally invested in the couple. This took away from really experiencing Amara’s pain, and it set things up for the couple to be separated for most of the book.
Bottom Line- I liked it, but I disliked the method of prolonging the conflict. By having Lucas waffle so long IMHO it took the warm fuzzies out of their love match and made him rather spineless when dealing with his family and the OW. They just pushed him around and that wasn’t really enjoyable for me. I prefer confident assholes in PretendLand. Amara said it best.
He’d let Kath humiliate me or his mother or Shelby. He’d never have the balls to be the man I needed him to be.
However, I still might have rounded up had the ending not been so rushed, because after sitting through 86% of the book in turmoil, everything races towards the finish line without really addressing the parties that caused so much trouble for the couple in the first place, so how can we be sure it will stick? Since the couple spent most of the book split up, I felt the story needed an epilogue going further out securing the HEA and settling at the very least the mom and the sister since they both had ties to the OW and her terrible father. How do we know they weren’t still around causing problems? Or that Lucas didn’t lose his newly found balls?
What I don’t love is a passive “beta” male that is easily manipulated by the OW or his family, and that is what we have here. The other issue was the book opens with Amara overhearing the conversation provided in the blurb, so it begins with the breakup before we’re emotionally invested in the couple. This took away from really experiencing Amara’s pain, and it set things up for the couple to be separated for most of the book.
Bottom Line- I liked it, but I disliked the method of prolonging the conflict. By having Lucas waffle so long IMHO it took the warm fuzzies out of their love match and made him rather spineless when dealing with his family and the OW. They just pushed him around and that wasn’t really enjoyable for me. I prefer confident assholes in PretendLand. Amara said it best.
He’d let Kath humiliate me or his mother or Shelby. He’d never have the balls to be the man I needed him to be.
However, I still might have rounded up had the ending not been so rushed, because after sitting through 86% of the book in turmoil, everything races towards the finish line without really addressing the parties that caused so much trouble for the couple in the first place, so how can we be sure it will stick? Since the couple spent most of the book split up, I felt the story needed an epilogue going further out securing the HEA and settling at the very least the mom and the sister since they both had ties to the OW and her terrible father. How do we know they weren’t still around causing problems? Or that Lucas didn’t lose his newly found balls?
December 7, 2024
I can't seem to rate this author's books over 3 stars. I lied actually. The one before, I did rate it 4 stars, but again we have a weak beta male. I'm sure the author intentionally wrote him this way as the h was stronger and knew what she wanted. It's the overhead trope. He's pushed into saying he still has feelings for his ex when he actually didn't know how he felt. He also wasn't convinced he loved the h Amara either 🤷. So, she breaks up with him. He's wishy-washy. Caring more for his, and his family's image. Which is getting tiring to be honest. Basically the vibe of this story is he's a better and stronger man with the right woman. Overall it was just ok.
November 21, 2024
Another second chance romance from Maya Alden
I love the authors work; she keeps vintage vibes and mixes it up with modern dialogue and settings
Amara was such hard working and brave person
Lucas was simply misguided and overly conscious of his name but when he got his head straight he was very sweet
Side characters are wonderful especially Amaras group of friends
And the story just flowed so beautifully
Loved this book and looking forward to reading all Mayas other books as well
I received an ARC of this book and yep, waiting for release day to read the original again
I love the authors work; she keeps vintage vibes and mixes it up with modern dialogue and settings
Amara was such hard working and brave person
Lucas was simply misguided and overly conscious of his name but when he got his head straight he was very sweet
Side characters are wonderful especially Amaras group of friends
And the story just flowed so beautifully
Loved this book and looking forward to reading all Mayas other books as well
I received an ARC of this book and yep, waiting for release day to read the original again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2024
This book had some of my favorite tropes: unrequited, overheard, betrayal, grovel, OW drama. Alden is getting better and better in my opinion. I liked how emotionally mature Amara was.
November 18, 2024
I loved the premise….but
For me personally I felt the story was missing a solid grounding to really anchor me to the story.
I was very excited to start this book after seeing all the snippets and excerpts, but I just felt the basis to the story was missing. I liked Amara but felt like I knew nothing about her.
The beginning of the book hit the ground running….usually I like it when a story opens quickly and doesn’t waste time, but unfortunately this time I missed the build up. Everything was AFTER the betrayal…how can I root for a couple that has no ‘grounding’ in the story in the first place. They were together two years and although we got some of the history there were no real in-depth details about their day to day life. Like how did he come to those feelings about Kath all of a sudden…other than him finding out she was single. We got the back story to Lucas and Amara’s ‘comfortable’ relationship, but was he feeling like something was missing through the whole time they were together? He worked with Kath but yet we didn’t get any real details about any interactions.
Everything was so sudden and Amara never asked him any questions about the day to day before her overhearing the conversations. Was he having these feelings the whole time? How did he feel seeing Kath at work? Everything was about blanket feelings rather than the real nitty gritty details. If I as a reader wanted those answers then surely Amara would want those answers as well. Everything that came before the overheard conversation felt very glossed over and parts after as well.
I know it was written that everything was after the immediate betrayal (and some might say well duh that was point) but seeing as I felt no connection to the characters it made me feel a bit ambivalent towards them. Everything was surface level.
The rest of the story moved quite quickly with time jumps. The angst was written, but I never FELT it. My heart didn’t thump in my chest and I never once felt emotional (and I cry easily!). Also what happened with his Mum and sister? I felt there were threads that were left dangling.
Parts I enjoyed, but overall the story felt too objective.
For me personally I felt the story was missing a solid grounding to really anchor me to the story.
I was very excited to start this book after seeing all the snippets and excerpts, but I just felt the basis to the story was missing. I liked Amara but felt like I knew nothing about her.
The beginning of the book hit the ground running….usually I like it when a story opens quickly and doesn’t waste time, but unfortunately this time I missed the build up. Everything was AFTER the betrayal…how can I root for a couple that has no ‘grounding’ in the story in the first place. They were together two years and although we got some of the history there were no real in-depth details about their day to day life. Like how did he come to those feelings about Kath all of a sudden…other than him finding out she was single. We got the back story to Lucas and Amara’s ‘comfortable’ relationship, but was he feeling like something was missing through the whole time they were together? He worked with Kath but yet we didn’t get any real details about any interactions.
Everything was so sudden and Amara never asked him any questions about the day to day before her overhearing the conversations. Was he having these feelings the whole time? How did he feel seeing Kath at work? Everything was about blanket feelings rather than the real nitty gritty details. If I as a reader wanted those answers then surely Amara would want those answers as well. Everything that came before the overheard conversation felt very glossed over and parts after as well.
I know it was written that everything was after the immediate betrayal (and some might say well duh that was point) but seeing as I felt no connection to the characters it made me feel a bit ambivalent towards them. Everything was surface level.
The rest of the story moved quite quickly with time jumps. The angst was written, but I never FELT it. My heart didn’t thump in my chest and I never once felt emotional (and I cry easily!). Also what happened with his Mum and sister? I felt there were threads that were left dangling.
Parts I enjoyed, but overall the story felt too objective.
November 26, 2024
My rating: 4 stars
What I loved: I liked how the ow and her father were taken care of. I liked how Amara(h) wouldn’t tell Lucas(H) she loved him. I liked how Lucas finally told his mom and sister to stop. Loved the friendship Amara had with Jax and Basil, I hope they both get a book.
What I didn’t like: I wished we got to read about what Lucas’s mom thought about them getting rid of the ow and her father. Or what she and his sister thought about the engagement (It would have been great to see them all together and their reactions seeing the ring). We never got a scene with Amara with his mom after she overheard them talking about her.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: OW Drama, Overheard H saying he doesn’t love the h. H and h have been in a relationship for two years. They just moved in with each other a couple of months ago. When h shows up at his parent’s house, she overhears him talking to his mother. His mother tells him that his ex girlfriend left the guy she cheated on him with and wants to get back with the H. H confesses that he is still in love with his ex and that he doesn’t know if he loves the h. That he is comfortable with the h. h hearing enough leaves. She packs up and goes to stay with her best friend. H finds out that the h overheard him and asks the h to meet with him. h asks the H if he loves her and he says he doesn’t know. When she asks him if he loves the ex he says yes. h tells him she is done. H doesn’t want to lose the h but he knows that his ex would fit better in his life. His mother and his sister don’t like the h because she isn’t part of their “world”. The H’s grandmother likes the h and sets her up to meet a guy, who is a close friend. When the h sees that the H is with his ex she crushed. h becomes close friends with guy and he protects her from mean things the H’s sister and ex say. After a lot of soul searching and seeing things clearer, the H realizes he loves the h and goes about to get her back. Obviously the ex isn’t happy and neither is her dad. Her dad threatens the H but it doesn’t change his mind. H screws up again when the ex makes it seem that they are a couple in front of an audience and he doesn’t correct her. h decides to move back home. H not having that goes about to get her trust back. HEA with the H finally putting everyone in their place, ex and her dad taken care of, and H and h engaged.
Final thoughts: I’m really enjoying this author’s books and can’t wait to read what she writes next.
What I loved: I liked how the ow and her father were taken care of. I liked how Amara(h) wouldn’t tell Lucas(H) she loved him. I liked how Lucas finally told his mom and sister to stop. Loved the friendship Amara had with Jax and Basil, I hope they both get a book.
What I didn’t like: I wished we got to read about what Lucas’s mom thought about them getting rid of the ow and her father. Or what she and his sister thought about the engagement (It would have been great to see them all together and their reactions seeing the ring). We never got a scene with Amara with his mom after she overheard them talking about her.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: OW Drama, Overheard H saying he doesn’t love the h. H and h have been in a relationship for two years. They just moved in with each other a couple of months ago. When h shows up at his parent’s house, she overhears him talking to his mother. His mother tells him that his ex girlfriend left the guy she cheated on him with and wants to get back with the H. H confesses that he is still in love with his ex and that he doesn’t know if he loves the h. That he is comfortable with the h. h hearing enough leaves. She packs up and goes to stay with her best friend. H finds out that the h overheard him and asks the h to meet with him. h asks the H if he loves her and he says he doesn’t know. When she asks him if he loves the ex he says yes. h tells him she is done. H doesn’t want to lose the h but he knows that his ex would fit better in his life. His mother and his sister don’t like the h because she isn’t part of their “world”. The H’s grandmother likes the h and sets her up to meet a guy, who is a close friend. When the h sees that the H is with his ex she crushed. h becomes close friends with guy and he protects her from mean things the H’s sister and ex say. After a lot of soul searching and seeing things clearer, the H realizes he loves the h and goes about to get her back. Obviously the ex isn’t happy and neither is her dad. Her dad threatens the H but it doesn’t change his mind. H screws up again when the ex makes it seem that they are a couple in front of an audience and he doesn’t correct her. h decides to move back home. H not having that goes about to get her trust back. HEA with the H finally putting everyone in their place, ex and her dad taken care of, and H and h engaged.
Final thoughts: I’m really enjoying this author’s books and can’t wait to read what she writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2024
I’m starting to think that a doormat h should be in the trigger warnings. I’m so sick of spineless men and doormat women. I was hanging in there and giving it a chance until 64%! He never did stand up against Kath in public setting. He was the well-bred gentleman until the very end. I was totally on board when she was going to move to NY and that quickly fell by the wayside.
I find it ironic that she talks about how he lets money and family name rule his life when she didn’t go to NY because him and his family threw around their money and name to create a reason she had to stay and she did. She let them orchestrate her life the same way she hated him doing. She should have told them to shove their project and went to NY.
What do I absolutely detest in books? Body betrayal syndrome, and this book had plenty. I’ve never been led around by my vagina as much as half of the women in books are. It’s weak and disgusting. I realized when I came to write this that I had read another book by the author and it was just as bad. I think this author will go on my do not read shelf. There was hardly any grovel. It was pathetic!
I find it ironic that she talks about how he lets money and family name rule his life when she didn’t go to NY because him and his family threw around their money and name to create a reason she had to stay and she did. She let them orchestrate her life the same way she hated him doing. She should have told them to shove their project and went to NY.
What do I absolutely detest in books? Body betrayal syndrome, and this book had plenty. I’ve never been led around by my vagina as much as half of the women in books are. It’s weak and disgusting. I realized when I came to write this that I had read another book by the author and it was just as bad. I think this author will go on my do not read shelf. There was hardly any grovel. It was pathetic!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2024
Sometimes, I crave a quick, angsty read—something that makes my heart tighten a bit. That’s when I turn to this author’s books. They always deliver on the emotional drama, usually with a male lead who breaks the female protagonist’s heart in spectacular fashion. Honestly, I don’t love her books because the women often come across as doormats, and the men never seem to grow enough to truly deserve redemption. In real life, I’d never forgive someone like these male characters, but the over-the-top drama feels like watching a cheesy soap opera. It’s not great writing, and the relationships can be frustratingly toxic, but there’s something addictive about the chaos. I wouldn’t recommend her books highly, but as a guilty pleasure? They hit the spot.
November 18, 2024
“A low, feral sound escaped me as I backed her up against the wall”
.. what is he a fucking cat?
January 20, 2025
2.5* max
I love MA and her angst inducing tropes - cheating , betrayals and ow-drama.
But I think she is now churning too much of the same thing - so the impact and the sting has gone.
His hankering for an ex while being in a great relationship with the fmc is the crux of the matter. Even then, he's wishy washy in what he really wants.
The mmc comes across as weak, indecisive and unreliable, and then the fmc also says the same about him in a discussion with her bff -
"It sounds like what you're saying is that Lucas is weak." :p
'Rena was right, her grandson needed to grow the hell up.'
'He'd let Kath humiliate me or his mother or Shelby. He'd never have the balls to be the man I needed him to be.'
'Lucas came from a family where there was duty and obligation. All that did was confirm for me that we were too different for our relationship to work. And, honestly, I wasn't here to fix some man's childhood issues. I was not Lucas's mother or therapist.'
Not that her spine lasts for long.
Perhaps, he is only one beta mmc by Maya Alden.
With his diluted a-h moves.
And he does not shine there either.
I cannot imagine what he has to offer to her but for his wealth and social connections.
Which he gets because of his family's connections. Moreover, these things matter sh*t to her.
I love MA and her angst inducing tropes - cheating , betrayals and ow-drama.
But I think she is now churning too much of the same thing - so the impact and the sting has gone.
His hankering for an ex while being in a great relationship with the fmc is the crux of the matter. Even then, he's wishy washy in what he really wants.
The mmc comes across as weak, indecisive and unreliable, and then the fmc also says the same about him in a discussion with her bff -
"It sounds like what you're saying is that Lucas is weak." :p
'Rena was right, her grandson needed to grow the hell up.'
'He'd let Kath humiliate me or his mother or Shelby. He'd never have the balls to be the man I needed him to be.'
'Lucas came from a family where there was duty and obligation. All that did was confirm for me that we were too different for our relationship to work. And, honestly, I wasn't here to fix some man's childhood issues. I was not Lucas's mother or therapist.'
Not that her spine lasts for long.
Perhaps, he is only one beta mmc by Maya Alden.
With his diluted a-h moves.
And he does not shine there either.
I cannot imagine what he has to offer to her but for his wealth and social connections.
Which he gets because of his family's connections. Moreover, these things matter sh*t to her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
3.75⭐️
March 18, 2025
Maya Alden is an automatic read for me. I received an ARC for this novel and I read it in one sitting it was that good. The characters in this book are truly amazing you are going to fall in love with them. The struggle they go through and the character development is out of this world. You ate going to hate Lucas until you love him. Amara is wise beyond her years and her pain will spring off the page and hit you in the face. It is truly wonderful book, due for release on the 17th November so add it your calender now so you don't forget.
November 19, 2024
1. I hated the way this book tried to place part of the blame for Amara and Lucas’ breakup on Amara. It said that she was partly at fault because she didn’t communicate well enough with Lucas and tell him that it hurt her when his mother and sister constantly attacked her and insulted her. What total bull$hit! It was beyond obvious that she would have been upset with his mother and sister’s treatment of her. It was also beyond obvious that Lucas should have defended her. But he didn’t. Her friend, Basil, also told her that she was “not the most forgiving person in the world” and that when things became difficult, she ran away instead of talking things through. None of that had ANYTHING to do with the things that she heard Lucas say about her and the fact that she overheard him saying that he loved another woman.
2. If I were Amara, I would NEVER have forgiven Lucas and Basil for manipulating her and making it seem like she had been chosen for this big honor when it was all a trick to force her to stay in Charleston. Instead, Amara seemed to think it was mildly amusing.
3. This was the second book I’ve read by this author where the H refused to have $ex with the h until she forgave him and said that she loved him. 🤬🤬🤬
2. If I were Amara, I would NEVER have forgiven Lucas and Basil for manipulating her and making it seem like she had been chosen for this big honor when it was all a trick to force her to stay in Charleston. Instead, Amara seemed to think it was mildly amusing.
3. This was the second book I’ve read by this author where the H refused to have $ex with the h until she forgave him and said that she loved him. 🤬🤬🤬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2024
I did cry a little
I didn’t think anything of this when this was recommended to me and my cheating romances Facebook group. But I just decided to read it because it seemed from the spoilers like it would be a quick read.
It definitely was for me and emotionally. I felt for this book. I liked how both of them were kind of doormats to their situation and they finally grew a backbone themselves and kicked it in gear.
Yes, hero is definitely a coward throughout the most of this, but it’s slowly starts getting chipped away as things keep happening that he does not want. It was very nice to see that period.
The heroine or the other hand was so used to just running away from her problems and not talking it out and I’m so glad that we got to see her chip away at that and acknowledge that maybe running away from problems isn’t the best thing to do.
Like it more of her books are like this then I will definitely be reading them!
I didn’t think anything of this when this was recommended to me and my cheating romances Facebook group. But I just decided to read it because it seemed from the spoilers like it would be a quick read.
It definitely was for me and emotionally. I felt for this book. I liked how both of them were kind of doormats to their situation and they finally grew a backbone themselves and kicked it in gear.
Yes, hero is definitely a coward throughout the most of this, but it’s slowly starts getting chipped away as things keep happening that he does not want. It was very nice to see that period.
The heroine or the other hand was so used to just running away from her problems and not talking it out and I’m so glad that we got to see her chip away at that and acknowledge that maybe running away from problems isn’t the best thing to do.
Like it more of her books are like this then I will definitely be reading them!
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