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Be My Reason
HE TOOK HER INNOCENCE.
She gave it willingly...
Right along with her heart.
All the night before he vanished.
******
Brooklyn wanted two things.
Her own bakery.
And Nate Riley.
Opening her own business was the easy part.
Trying to forget about Nate when he disappeared was the hard part.
Now, years later, she's running her bakery while engaged to the ideal man.
Then the unimaginable happens.
She is left shattered once more and vows to never love again.
An unexpected meeting with Nate has him back in her life, wanting a second chance.
He'll do anything to win her back.
But Nate must confront his demons before he sends Brooklyn's life into another tailspin.
Can they reconnect and overcome their obstacles to be together?
If there is such a thing as destiny, does it win at all costs?
She gave it willingly...
Right along with her heart.
All the night before he vanished.
******
Brooklyn wanted two things.
Her own bakery.
And Nate Riley.
Opening her own business was the easy part.
Trying to forget about Nate when he disappeared was the hard part.
Now, years later, she's running her bakery while engaged to the ideal man.
Then the unimaginable happens.
She is left shattered once more and vows to never love again.
An unexpected meeting with Nate has him back in her life, wanting a second chance.
He'll do anything to win her back.
But Nate must confront his demons before he sends Brooklyn's life into another tailspin.
Can they reconnect and overcome their obstacles to be together?
If there is such a thing as destiny, does it win at all costs?
336 pages, ebook
First published May 15, 2014
3818 people are currently reading
1898 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Christy
44 books3,549 followersDespite the fact that she is a romance writer, Samantha Christy's favorite television show of all time is The Walking Dead.
And contrary to the fact that her heroines drink things like wine and Cosmos, she prefers Bud Light.
She also loves fan mail and answers all of it.
She went to college and all that, getting a degree in something she never uses. She's also got a gaggle of kids (4) and a pretty decent husband.
And contrary to the fact that her heroines drink things like wine and Cosmos, she prefers Bud Light.
She also loves fan mail and answers all of it.
She went to college and all that, getting a degree in something she never uses. She's also got a gaggle of kids (4) and a pretty decent husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
July 8, 2019
Weak people suck
How bloody old were these MC's, 12??
No, wait. That's an insult. My son showed far more maturity and impulse control at the age of 9 than these two idiots. The prologue and set-up for the second-chance bit was lame, the plot had SOME promise until one obstacle was cleared in a most contrived way, and then the whole thing devolved into a mess of overblown angst, push-and-pull and abundant, boring sex.
The H and h were childish, and the heroine in particular was just blah. The hero was just a manwhoring a*seclown with anger and trust issues. 'It's aIways been you," my butt. He was soooo in love with Lyn, yet never tried to find her in 10 freakin years and shagged most of the women in North Carolina by the looks of it.
What a bell end. I would have given him a reason, all right. A reason to get my foot extracted from his bum.
And the bff's of both needed a serious crash course on BOUNDARIES. I despise people who think they know what is best and do things to piss you off because they loooove you. I'd be like, "HATE me then! And oh yeah, GTF out!"
Loving someone means respecting them and knowing your place and not making choices for them. It is not your place.
People like Emma and Graham - mostly Emma - need a proper skelping.
First and last by this writer. This was a few hours I can't get back and my time is too important.
How bloody old were these MC's, 12??
No, wait. That's an insult. My son showed far more maturity and impulse control at the age of 9 than these two idiots. The prologue and set-up for the second-chance bit was lame, the plot had SOME promise until one obstacle was cleared in a most contrived way, and then the whole thing devolved into a mess of overblown angst, push-and-pull and abundant, boring sex.
The H and h were childish, and the heroine in particular was just blah. The hero was just a manwhoring a*seclown with anger and trust issues. 'It's aIways been you," my butt. He was soooo in love with Lyn, yet never tried to find her in 10 freakin years and shagged most of the women in North Carolina by the looks of it.
What a bell end. I would have given him a reason, all right. A reason to get my foot extracted from his bum.
And the bff's of both needed a serious crash course on BOUNDARIES. I despise people who think they know what is best and do things to piss you off because they loooove you. I'd be like, "HATE me then! And oh yeah, GTF out!"
Loving someone means respecting them and knowing your place and not making choices for them. It is not your place.
People like Emma and Graham - mostly Emma - need a proper skelping.
First and last by this writer. This was a few hours I can't get back and my time is too important.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2015
I can't really wrap my head around my thoughts enough to actually form any kind of opinion that makes sense at the moment. It was good...it was cute...it was sad...it was annoying as hell...the first half was good....I liked it, it seemed like it was heading in a good direction, then there was a period of time where it was pretty sad....and then it seemed to pick up again, but the last little bit....idk, I didn't care too much for it. It was too much drama and it seemed to drag on a bit, and I couldnt stand the male lead for a little while.
so, three stars...because overall, I did like it, I just liked the first half more than the last half.
so, three stars...because overall, I did like it, I just liked the first half more than the last half.
August 12, 2014
Yeesh! This book had so much potential! First off, let's get the premise outta the way - boy and girl who, as the author writes it, are pretty much meant to be, start off in high school. They both have always wanted each other from afar. They finally hook up at a party one night and the next day - bam! - The H has moved away with his family due to a crazy drama his mother created.
Fast forward about 8 years later (or so) and h has never gotten over it. She swears to her BFF that she never cared for him really, just hates what he did to her (the ol' yam, bam, thank ya ma'am - we'll be BF and GF " I really care for you" blah blah - dude, he was 17).
She is currently engaged to a man that she's in love with (this part is SUPER sad and angsty , because I feel like the h and H do cross a small, but very much there line), but she still thinks of the 17 year old H that got away.
She goes on a girls trip with her high school BFF to a convention. There, her BFF meets a guy. They all agree to go to dinner together and he'll bring his partner. But not as a date for the h, just a friend, because she is happily engaged.
The man ends up being none other than the bamer.
So, what did I think?
1 - The h is WAYYYYY TO FREAKING EMOTIONAL! So much that it's scratch your eyes out annoying. Yes, we get it, you finally got to sleep with your high school crush and he moved away and never contacted you. He was 17!!! JESUS WOMAN! It isn't like he left you on purpose! DUH - he kind of had to do what his dad made him do!
2 - The h just takes way to long to give the H a chance. No man can be this kind of saint. How long he pathetically waited for this woman (who obviously needed therapy to get over her issues) was crazy. Then, she's running from the relationship constantly.
3 - The h was always saying she was sorry - and this was good - but bad because she always needed to.
4 - She was so obsessed/in love with H, but then when the H found out the the h's business partner was doing some shady things behind her back - and he tried to warn her about it - she DIDN'T believe him. Why? Because she just thought he was jealous. I just wanted to SHAKE HER.
5 - It had hot sexy moments and the H was definitely OTT Possessive and very jealous
6 - The horribly pathetic way the h was written ruined this book for me. I found myself just reading to get done.
7 - There was this stupid Nickelback song that was constantly brought up as their song. Ick.
So, would I recommend this book? Yes, only because you could possibly love it! But did I like it - no (if you already couldn't tell), I didn't. The h was just too dramatic in all her feelings. She loved him, hated him, was jealous of him, was happy with him, was mad with him...just everything - and it was all OTT annoying IMO.
2 stars because it was a great idea and I loved the H.
Fast forward about 8 years later (or so) and h has never gotten over it. She swears to her BFF that she never cared for him really, just hates what he did to her (the ol' yam, bam, thank ya ma'am - we'll be BF and GF " I really care for you" blah blah - dude, he was 17).
She is currently engaged to a man that she's in love with (this part is SUPER sad and angsty , because I feel like the h and H do cross a small, but very much there line), but she still thinks of the 17 year old H that got away.
She goes on a girls trip with her high school BFF to a convention. There, her BFF meets a guy. They all agree to go to dinner together and he'll bring his partner. But not as a date for the h, just a friend, because she is happily engaged.
The man ends up being none other than the bamer.
So, what did I think?
1 - The h is WAYYYYY TO FREAKING EMOTIONAL! So much that it's scratch your eyes out annoying. Yes, we get it, you finally got to sleep with your high school crush and he moved away and never contacted you. He was 17!!! JESUS WOMAN! It isn't like he left you on purpose! DUH - he kind of had to do what his dad made him do!
2 - The h just takes way to long to give the H a chance. No man can be this kind of saint. How long he pathetically waited for this woman (who obviously needed therapy to get over her issues) was crazy. Then, she's running from the relationship constantly.
3 - The h was always saying she was sorry - and this was good - but bad because she always needed to.
4 - She was so obsessed/in love with H, but then when the H found out the the h's business partner was doing some shady things behind her back - and he tried to warn her about it - she DIDN'T believe him. Why? Because she just thought he was jealous. I just wanted to SHAKE HER.
5 - It had hot sexy moments and the H was definitely OTT Possessive and very jealous
6 - The horribly pathetic way the h was written ruined this book for me. I found myself just reading to get done.
7 - There was this stupid Nickelback song that was constantly brought up as their song. Ick.
So, would I recommend this book? Yes, only because you could possibly love it! But did I like it - no (if you already couldn't tell), I didn't. The h was just too dramatic in all her feelings. She loved him, hated him, was jealous of him, was happy with him, was mad with him...just everything - and it was all OTT annoying IMO.
2 stars because it was a great idea and I loved the H.
May 23, 2015
☆☆☆☆ 4.25 Trust in the Future Stars ☆☆☆☆
This story is of the journey of Brooklyn and Nathan that begins in high school. They meet up at a party and of course they have cute puppy dog eyes for each other. Leaving a party together to talk, their connection is strong and young hormones collide.
The declared love and happiness is short lived. As a secret unravels Nathan's life, his family abruptly leaves to avoid the negative backlash of Nathan's mother being arrested.
Brooklyn is left heartbroken...
"Trying to figure out if my heart is still beating. I know it's not, because it is no longer within me. He took it with him."
Eight years later.....
Brooklyn has moved on fulfilling her dream of owning her own bakery and engaged to her doctor to be fiance Michael. Life is good, really good for her. Michael is amazing and they are deeply in love.
As she departs on a girls trip with her BFF Emma, Brooklyn has no idea how her future is going to be impacted by one trip.
As Brooklyn waits for Emma after a conference, she people watches and notices a sexy man playing on several woman. Finally seeing the face of this sexy player, her past collides with her present and Nathan, HER first love and heartache, appears.
Fate throws the two together for a week. As feelings are resurfaced, Brooklyn fights them and Nathan. She has a future, Michael is what she wants and loves. .......she knows this.....MAYBE.
Tragedy strikes and everything Brooklyn believes is shattered. The author totally shocked me with this little twist. I was in tears instantly as this part was beautifully written.
Life brings Brooklyn and Nathan face to face
again. As she fights her feelings again, fate wins out. As the two finally fight out their feelings, their sexual tension explodes.
FINALLY.......
The Brooklyn and Nathan story finally gets its chance. Although filled with jealousy, secrets, inner demons and angst, they finally get to explore their future.
"To remember the past ~ To trust in the future"
This author definitely writes about a good, classic love that is filled wirh heartbreak and drama. I love it. When a book makes my heart giddy and happy at the end, I call that a WINNER!!!!
This story is of the journey of Brooklyn and Nathan that begins in high school. They meet up at a party and of course they have cute puppy dog eyes for each other. Leaving a party together to talk, their connection is strong and young hormones collide.
The declared love and happiness is short lived. As a secret unravels Nathan's life, his family abruptly leaves to avoid the negative backlash of Nathan's mother being arrested.
Brooklyn is left heartbroken...
"Trying to figure out if my heart is still beating. I know it's not, because it is no longer within me. He took it with him."
Eight years later.....
Brooklyn has moved on fulfilling her dream of owning her own bakery and engaged to her doctor to be fiance Michael. Life is good, really good for her. Michael is amazing and they are deeply in love.
As she departs on a girls trip with her BFF Emma, Brooklyn has no idea how her future is going to be impacted by one trip.
As Brooklyn waits for Emma after a conference, she people watches and notices a sexy man playing on several woman. Finally seeing the face of this sexy player, her past collides with her present and Nathan, HER first love and heartache, appears.
Fate throws the two together for a week. As feelings are resurfaced, Brooklyn fights them and Nathan. She has a future, Michael is what she wants and loves. .......she knows this.....MAYBE.
Tragedy strikes and everything Brooklyn believes is shattered. The author totally shocked me with this little twist. I was in tears instantly as this part was beautifully written.
Life brings Brooklyn and Nathan face to face
again. As she fights her feelings again, fate wins out. As the two finally fight out their feelings, their sexual tension explodes.
FINALLY.......
The Brooklyn and Nathan story finally gets its chance. Although filled with jealousy, secrets, inner demons and angst, they finally get to explore their future.
"To remember the past ~ To trust in the future"
This author definitely writes about a good, classic love that is filled wirh heartbreak and drama. I love it. When a book makes my heart giddy and happy at the end, I call that a WINNER!!!!
October 26, 2017
If I never read or hear "my inner goddess" again it will be to soon!
August 4, 2018
This was a beautiful second chance romance. I laughed, and cried. It was full of emotion! I really loved Brooklyn, and had a love/hate relationship with Nate!
October 4, 2018
**Warning*** I don’t typically do this but this review is going to be loaded with spoilers so you may want to avoid it.
About seventy-five percent of the way through Samantha Christy’s “Be My Reason I was ready to give it a solid 3-3.5 stars out of five. But then the book seemed to drag until we got to the final conflict the couple needed to overcome in order to find their H.E.A. It wasn’t like you couldn’t see it coming almost from the time our two lovers get together. I guess the author needed to demonstrate our heroines patience before our hero finally lays down the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. And I wasn’t too comfortable with the resolution to the conflict, but more on that later.
This story is told entirely from the female protagonist Brooklynn (Lynn) Vaughn’s P.O.V. And after a night to sleep on it I have to say there was a lot about Brooklynn’s personality that annoyed me. The book opens with Lynn a 17 year old high school junior and self-professed socially awkward geek sitting in her BFF (the super hot and wise beyond her year’s) Emma’s sports car getting ready to enter a party that Lynn’s secret high school crush senior baseball team captain Nate Riley suggested he’d be happy to see Lynn attend. Nate immediately begins focusing on Lynn, flirting or hitting on her. Turns out the hunky jock has had a secret crush on Lynn too. One thing leads to another and Lynn finds herself being seduced in the front seat of Nate’s truck at a local make-out spot. Nate may be seducing Lynn but she’s a very willing participant in the seduction and Nate to his credit doesn’t push her to do anything she’s unwilling to. So they both lose their virginity that night and Nate tells Lynn he’d like to be her steady guy and drive her to school and walk her to class and do all the other things high school couples do together besides getting busy. Lynn is in teenage heaven seeing her dream future with Nate unfolding before her eyes. Unfortunately, after dropping Lynn off at her house Nate arrives home to find his mother being arrested for running a prostitution ring out of her spa and his father rushes the family out of their Savannah Ga. home to Raleigh N.C. to avoid the public humiliation the arrest will bring. Lynn arrives at school the next day to find out what happened to Nate and his family and immediately collapses in a major meltdown in the girls bathroom. Fortunately her BFF Emma is there to nurse her through the weeks of heart break. But this is all about Brooklynn and how her dreams are shattered and how Nate used her and took her virginity and then left her. Does she ever consider how poor Nate’s world has been shattered and why he might not be able to talk to her? Nope.
Now the story picks up 8 years later. Brooklynn is still nursing a king sized grudge against Nate for never contacting her after that night because even at 25 she apparently isn’t mature enough to consider the impact the evening of watching his mother being arrested for prostitution and his father pulling him out of school in the middle of his senior year has had on him. She’s also living her dream of running her own bakery thanks a great deal to her BFF Emma buying the building the bakery is in and renting her the space at way below market rates while they share an apartment above the bakery. Its interesting that throughout this story Emma is Brooklynn’s emotional rock, and sounding board as well as giving her financial aide in the form of said reduced rent but other than one example we don’t really know what Brooklyn ever does for Emma other than not judging her for being a slut. And don’t call me out for slut shaming because if it were a guy doing the same thing, having multiple one night, one time sexual hookups and never being in a relationship I’d call him a man-whore just as quickly. I wish the author might have given us some clue into why the otherwise very together and sensible Emma prefers sex with no emotional entanglements over emotional relationships but she never does. Brooklynn is also now engaged to Michael a doctor in training to be a pediatric cardiologist and he is just a wonderful, thoughtful beyond words man. Although from the first time we meet Michael we learn that he’s an enthusiastic but not super lover. So skipping ahead Brooklynn agrees to keep Emma company while Emma attends a conference in Raleigh for interior designers and architects. Emma falls fast and hard with Graham whose BFF and partner happens to be, you guessed it, Nate Riley. When Lynn sees Nate at the conference for the first time her reaction is so visceral she actually throws up. Well Lynn seems to do a lot of throwing up in this story. Despite that, because this is Lynn’s chance to be a true friend to Emma she agrees to go out with besotted Emma and Graham and Nate because Emma won’t go out and leave her alone and she doesn’t want to be a third wheel. After a rancorous first evening Nate begins to worm his way back into Lynn’s good graces if not her heart. They almost kiss and Lynn to her horror realizes she still has feelings for Nate. She returns home and confesses to Michael that she has spent several evenings in Nate’s company while in Raleigh but doesn’t mention that she almost kissed him and would have if they hadn’t been interrupted. Rather than being honest with herself and Michael, Lynn buries her reignited feelings for Nate she discourages him from trying to keep in touch with her and moves forward with wedding plans with Michael. I’m not sure that’s really fair to Michael but I can see it as something that might happen in real life so I won’t criticize her for it.
Michael tragically dies in a car crash shortly there after and beyond her grief Lynn feels guilty because for just a moment when she’s about to kiss Nate she wonders what it would be like if she wasn’t already involved with Michael. Somehow in her mind she feels that caused Michael’s death. Two years go bye and now she’s the M.O.H. at Emma and Graham’s wedding and Nate is Graham’s B.M. Because of her guilt she’s forbidden Emma or Graham from ever telling Nate about Michael’s untimely death and at 27 is fully intent on living out the rest of her live celibate. Because she knows Nate will be at the wedding she talks her new business partner and friend Ryan into being her date even though she knows Ryan has a steady girlfriend. But she’s very understanding. Who does that and who has a girlfriend that is that understanding? Again it’s all about Lynn. So at the wedding it’s revealed to Nate that Michael has died and with the help of Emma and Graham he begins to pursue Brooklynn in earnest.
Eventually the chemistry between Brooklynn and Nate and Nate’s patient persistence wears Brooklynn down and she has sex with him. Then of course she has a meltdown because of her guilt and only thanks to Emma’s patient guidance and advice does she not totally blow the chance at a relationship with Nate who at this point is ready to give up on her despite how much he loves her. But it all works out as she pleads with Nate to forgive her and not leave her and they begin life as a couple going at each other like a couple of rabbits on Viagra. But Nate has trust issues due both to his mom’s deception and his ex-who used him and then cheated on him when his chance at becoming a pro baseball player ended (also, thanks to her). So what does Brooklynn do? Well now that her BFF Emma has moved to Raleigh to live with her new husband Graham, Brooklynn makes her business partner Ryan her new BFF. This continues to put a wedge between Brooklynn and Nate who is suspicious and jealous of Ryan’s friendship with his woman. Apparently Brooklynn has never read a “friends to lovers” story and sees no problem with having a man as her BFF and doing all sorts of non-business related things with him. You know because friendship between people of the opposite sex who really enjoy each other’s company has no chance of becoming something more. And Nate who will be leaving soon to return to Raleigh to try and maintain a long distance relationship with Brooklynn shouldn’t be worried about all their after work time together. IMHO Brooklynn out of consideration for Nate’s not totally baseless concerns and given his history should have been willing to keep a limit on her non-business interactions with Ryan. When you’re in a relationship with someone you always have to cautious not to let friendships with members of the opposite sex get too friendly and be sensitive to your significant others feelings about that relationship. Brooklynn just dismisses Nate’s worries as unreasonable while trying to reassure him he has nothing to fear. We know that after several minor arguments this is the issue that will be the hurdle Lynn and Nate must over come to achieve their H.E.A. But the author sure takes her sweet time getting there. Honestly if I were in Nate’s shoes and overheard what he overheard when she was skyping Ryan I would have lost it too. But I will give Brooklynn credit for not allowing Nate’s jealous nature to control her actions. I just think she could have tried harder to give him less to worry about.
So now let’s talk about the books ending. It’s been 5 weeks since Brooklynn and the love of her life have split up and haven’t communicated with one another. After only 5 weeks Brooklynn decides she needs to start dating again to get out of her funk. This from a woman whom it seems has only had two previous relationships in her 27 years, one with Michael and one with Nate. Five weeks just seems awfully soon for her to be ready to even suggest trying to date someone new. Before she can put this plan into action Nate appears, flowers in hand and begs her forgiveness. He’s also got plans he and Ryan and Emma have drawn up for a new bakery for her to run in Raleigh so she can be close to Nate and Emma. Despite repeatedly stating she has no interest in opening a second bakery does Brooklynn lose it when she discovers what her friends have been plotting? No, of course not. And when Nate goes down on one knee and proposes to her does she say, “I think we need a little time for me to see if you’ve really got a handle on your trust issues before I agree to be your wife?” Of course not because after all five weeks of therapy ought to be enough for him to put those issues behind him. So she says yes and tells him she’s carrying his baby and their friends all celebrate as she agrees to marry Nate and move to N.C. and open a second bakery. Yeah as H.E.A. go this one just sort of left me shaking my head.
About seventy-five percent of the way through Samantha Christy’s “Be My Reason I was ready to give it a solid 3-3.5 stars out of five. But then the book seemed to drag until we got to the final conflict the couple needed to overcome in order to find their H.E.A. It wasn’t like you couldn’t see it coming almost from the time our two lovers get together. I guess the author needed to demonstrate our heroines patience before our hero finally lays down the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. And I wasn’t too comfortable with the resolution to the conflict, but more on that later.
This story is told entirely from the female protagonist Brooklynn (Lynn) Vaughn’s P.O.V. And after a night to sleep on it I have to say there was a lot about Brooklynn’s personality that annoyed me. The book opens with Lynn a 17 year old high school junior and self-professed socially awkward geek sitting in her BFF (the super hot and wise beyond her year’s) Emma’s sports car getting ready to enter a party that Lynn’s secret high school crush senior baseball team captain Nate Riley suggested he’d be happy to see Lynn attend. Nate immediately begins focusing on Lynn, flirting or hitting on her. Turns out the hunky jock has had a secret crush on Lynn too. One thing leads to another and Lynn finds herself being seduced in the front seat of Nate’s truck at a local make-out spot. Nate may be seducing Lynn but she’s a very willing participant in the seduction and Nate to his credit doesn’t push her to do anything she’s unwilling to. So they both lose their virginity that night and Nate tells Lynn he’d like to be her steady guy and drive her to school and walk her to class and do all the other things high school couples do together besides getting busy. Lynn is in teenage heaven seeing her dream future with Nate unfolding before her eyes. Unfortunately, after dropping Lynn off at her house Nate arrives home to find his mother being arrested for running a prostitution ring out of her spa and his father rushes the family out of their Savannah Ga. home to Raleigh N.C. to avoid the public humiliation the arrest will bring. Lynn arrives at school the next day to find out what happened to Nate and his family and immediately collapses in a major meltdown in the girls bathroom. Fortunately her BFF Emma is there to nurse her through the weeks of heart break. But this is all about Brooklynn and how her dreams are shattered and how Nate used her and took her virginity and then left her. Does she ever consider how poor Nate’s world has been shattered and why he might not be able to talk to her? Nope.
Now the story picks up 8 years later. Brooklynn is still nursing a king sized grudge against Nate for never contacting her after that night because even at 25 she apparently isn’t mature enough to consider the impact the evening of watching his mother being arrested for prostitution and his father pulling him out of school in the middle of his senior year has had on him. She’s also living her dream of running her own bakery thanks a great deal to her BFF Emma buying the building the bakery is in and renting her the space at way below market rates while they share an apartment above the bakery. Its interesting that throughout this story Emma is Brooklynn’s emotional rock, and sounding board as well as giving her financial aide in the form of said reduced rent but other than one example we don’t really know what Brooklyn ever does for Emma other than not judging her for being a slut. And don’t call me out for slut shaming because if it were a guy doing the same thing, having multiple one night, one time sexual hookups and never being in a relationship I’d call him a man-whore just as quickly. I wish the author might have given us some clue into why the otherwise very together and sensible Emma prefers sex with no emotional entanglements over emotional relationships but she never does. Brooklynn is also now engaged to Michael a doctor in training to be a pediatric cardiologist and he is just a wonderful, thoughtful beyond words man. Although from the first time we meet Michael we learn that he’s an enthusiastic but not super lover. So skipping ahead Brooklynn agrees to keep Emma company while Emma attends a conference in Raleigh for interior designers and architects. Emma falls fast and hard with Graham whose BFF and partner happens to be, you guessed it, Nate Riley. When Lynn sees Nate at the conference for the first time her reaction is so visceral she actually throws up. Well Lynn seems to do a lot of throwing up in this story. Despite that, because this is Lynn’s chance to be a true friend to Emma she agrees to go out with besotted Emma and Graham and Nate because Emma won’t go out and leave her alone and she doesn’t want to be a third wheel. After a rancorous first evening Nate begins to worm his way back into Lynn’s good graces if not her heart. They almost kiss and Lynn to her horror realizes she still has feelings for Nate. She returns home and confesses to Michael that she has spent several evenings in Nate’s company while in Raleigh but doesn’t mention that she almost kissed him and would have if they hadn’t been interrupted. Rather than being honest with herself and Michael, Lynn buries her reignited feelings for Nate she discourages him from trying to keep in touch with her and moves forward with wedding plans with Michael. I’m not sure that’s really fair to Michael but I can see it as something that might happen in real life so I won’t criticize her for it.
Michael tragically dies in a car crash shortly there after and beyond her grief Lynn feels guilty because for just a moment when she’s about to kiss Nate she wonders what it would be like if she wasn’t already involved with Michael. Somehow in her mind she feels that caused Michael’s death. Two years go bye and now she’s the M.O.H. at Emma and Graham’s wedding and Nate is Graham’s B.M. Because of her guilt she’s forbidden Emma or Graham from ever telling Nate about Michael’s untimely death and at 27 is fully intent on living out the rest of her live celibate. Because she knows Nate will be at the wedding she talks her new business partner and friend Ryan into being her date even though she knows Ryan has a steady girlfriend. But she’s very understanding. Who does that and who has a girlfriend that is that understanding? Again it’s all about Lynn. So at the wedding it’s revealed to Nate that Michael has died and with the help of Emma and Graham he begins to pursue Brooklynn in earnest.
Eventually the chemistry between Brooklynn and Nate and Nate’s patient persistence wears Brooklynn down and she has sex with him. Then of course she has a meltdown because of her guilt and only thanks to Emma’s patient guidance and advice does she not totally blow the chance at a relationship with Nate who at this point is ready to give up on her despite how much he loves her. But it all works out as she pleads with Nate to forgive her and not leave her and they begin life as a couple going at each other like a couple of rabbits on Viagra. But Nate has trust issues due both to his mom’s deception and his ex-who used him and then cheated on him when his chance at becoming a pro baseball player ended (also, thanks to her). So what does Brooklynn do? Well now that her BFF Emma has moved to Raleigh to live with her new husband Graham, Brooklynn makes her business partner Ryan her new BFF. This continues to put a wedge between Brooklynn and Nate who is suspicious and jealous of Ryan’s friendship with his woman. Apparently Brooklynn has never read a “friends to lovers” story and sees no problem with having a man as her BFF and doing all sorts of non-business related things with him. You know because friendship between people of the opposite sex who really enjoy each other’s company has no chance of becoming something more. And Nate who will be leaving soon to return to Raleigh to try and maintain a long distance relationship with Brooklynn shouldn’t be worried about all their after work time together. IMHO Brooklynn out of consideration for Nate’s not totally baseless concerns and given his history should have been willing to keep a limit on her non-business interactions with Ryan. When you’re in a relationship with someone you always have to cautious not to let friendships with members of the opposite sex get too friendly and be sensitive to your significant others feelings about that relationship. Brooklynn just dismisses Nate’s worries as unreasonable while trying to reassure him he has nothing to fear. We know that after several minor arguments this is the issue that will be the hurdle Lynn and Nate must over come to achieve their H.E.A. But the author sure takes her sweet time getting there. Honestly if I were in Nate’s shoes and overheard what he overheard when she was skyping Ryan I would have lost it too. But I will give Brooklynn credit for not allowing Nate’s jealous nature to control her actions. I just think she could have tried harder to give him less to worry about.
So now let’s talk about the books ending. It’s been 5 weeks since Brooklynn and the love of her life have split up and haven’t communicated with one another. After only 5 weeks Brooklynn decides she needs to start dating again to get out of her funk. This from a woman whom it seems has only had two previous relationships in her 27 years, one with Michael and one with Nate. Five weeks just seems awfully soon for her to be ready to even suggest trying to date someone new. Before she can put this plan into action Nate appears, flowers in hand and begs her forgiveness. He’s also got plans he and Ryan and Emma have drawn up for a new bakery for her to run in Raleigh so she can be close to Nate and Emma. Despite repeatedly stating she has no interest in opening a second bakery does Brooklynn lose it when she discovers what her friends have been plotting? No, of course not. And when Nate goes down on one knee and proposes to her does she say, “I think we need a little time for me to see if you’ve really got a handle on your trust issues before I agree to be your wife?” Of course not because after all five weeks of therapy ought to be enough for him to put those issues behind him. So she says yes and tells him she’s carrying his baby and their friends all celebrate as she agrees to marry Nate and move to N.C. and open a second bakery. Yeah as H.E.A. go this one just sort of left me shaking my head.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
I'm making my way through Christy's backlog. This is another very good read. High school teenage romance on the verge of becoming more when a secret separates the two. Maybe a little too much angst without a solid reason for no try in reconnecting for so many years. I still liked the characters and the banter between them. Second chances to get something right when it's meant to be are among my favorite kind of stories. Everybody deserves a second chance for happiness.
May 17, 2019
A sweet story about second chances. Brooklyn and Nate fall in love in high school. The day after they lose their virginity to each other Nate disappears without a phone call or anything. Brooklyn always has the "What If" feelings BUT fast forward eight years later... Brooklyn is successful and engaged to a perfect man, plus he's a doctor. She runs into Nate. Their unresolved feelings are still there as is their chemistry.
I loved this book. It was lovely but also heartbreaking. Nate and Brooklyn's best friends were awesome. For those who have cheating as a hard NO - there was one kiss but nothing further. I definitely recommend this book!
I loved this book. It was lovely but also heartbreaking. Nate and Brooklyn's best friends were awesome. For those who have cheating as a hard NO - there was one kiss but nothing further. I definitely recommend this book!
August 6, 2018
Wahhhh you guys are letting me down here. You're rating this over 4 stars? Really!? *bangs head on table*
I had several issues that prevented me from getting behind this story. First, the premise is that the main H/h meet each other once, lose their virginities together, then he disappears and the heroine spends the next eight years moping about it. This could have worked if there was more buildup or if their relationship had been better developed, but with all of ONE chapter devoted to this backstory, I just wasn't buying it. I get he took your virginity, I get he broke your heart, but you were seventeen at the time and it's been eight years already and you only knew him for a few hours and now you're engaged to someone else and just get over it already.
So then they run into each other again years later. The H (Nate) is a total jerk, except that he's not really, so he's a sort-of jerk, which is confusing. As before, the heroine is bent out of shape about seeing him, and I'm just bored and definitely not believing any of this. Again, it's been eight years. Again, you knew him for like less than a day. Why do you care about seeing him? Why are you acting like a sullen child?
I think I gave up after Nate has a random jealous moment and makes fun of the h's fiance's name, which is Michael. Michael is a totally normal name. What is there to make fun of? The outburst didn't make any sense, and these kind of things make me lose trust in a story.
I had several issues that prevented me from getting behind this story. First, the premise is that the main H/h meet each other once, lose their virginities together, then he disappears and the heroine spends the next eight years moping about it. This could have worked if there was more buildup or if their relationship had been better developed, but with all of ONE chapter devoted to this backstory, I just wasn't buying it. I get he took your virginity, I get he broke your heart, but you were seventeen at the time and it's been eight years already and you only knew him for a few hours and now you're engaged to someone else and just get over it already.
So then they run into each other again years later. The H (Nate) is a total jerk, except that he's not really, so he's a sort-of jerk, which is confusing. As before, the heroine is bent out of shape about seeing him, and I'm just bored and definitely not believing any of this. Again, it's been eight years. Again, you knew him for like less than a day. Why do you care about seeing him? Why are you acting like a sullen child?
I think I gave up after Nate has a random jealous moment and makes fun of the h's fiance's name, which is Michael. Michael is a totally normal name. What is there to make fun of? The outburst didn't make any sense, and these kind of things make me lose trust in a story.
December 22, 2017
Brooklyn and Nate won’t have it easy with trying to rekindle their once short lived romance. It is going to take some work and at times you wonder if they will be able to work past their trust issues, insecurities and hurtful past. And other times you see how wonderful they are together with such amazing chemistry.
I came upon this book when I was getting another off Amazon KU. The cover was gorgeous and the blurb sounded great. So I got it and quickly read through it. This was another one of those second chance love stories which I am realizing I am loving more and more lately.
BE MY REASON was my first book by Christy but I will most definitely be looking into more of her work. I enjoyed her writing and how smoothly it flowed throughout the story. It was a quick, fabulous read full of sizzling romance, some heartbreak, and lots of emotion . I am really glad I came across this book.
5 Stars!
I came upon this book when I was getting another off Amazon KU. The cover was gorgeous and the blurb sounded great. So I got it and quickly read through it. This was another one of those second chance love stories which I am realizing I am loving more and more lately.
BE MY REASON was my first book by Christy but I will most definitely be looking into more of her work. I enjoyed her writing and how smoothly it flowed throughout the story. It was a quick, fabulous read full of sizzling romance, some heartbreak, and lots of emotion . I am really glad I came across this book.
5 Stars!
August 22, 2019
Truly awful
The characters, the plot.... all of it was nonsense. This book seemed liken it was written by someone with the emotional capacity of a twelve-year-old girl. Everyone was so unlikable and immature, and the plot devices were absurd.
The characters, the plot.... all of it was nonsense. This book seemed liken it was written by someone with the emotional capacity of a twelve-year-old girl. Everyone was so unlikable and immature, and the plot devices were absurd.
October 25, 2017
Not my genre and not my cup of tea.
January 14, 2019
The story starts when Brooklyn is in high school. She and her best friend Emma go to their first high school party, and Brooklyn, or Lyn as she likes to be called, is determined to have a good time. She has a mission to talk to her crush Nate Riley at the party. Her friend Emma insists that Nate has a thing for Brooklyn, but she brushes that off, because of course there is no way he could. Nate & Brooklyn end up spending most of the night together, things get heated, he tells her he wants to be her boyfriend, and then by the time school starts Monday his family has moved and she hears nothing more from him. Fast forward to many years later and she is living in Savannah with her own Bakery and a fiance and life seems to be going pretty well for her. You learn she is going with Emma to some big convention in Raleigh for the weekend, so of course you have to assume that is when Nate Riley will make his big re-appearance. After the trip something happens, the story gets really sad, and then Nate makes yet another re-appearance. (I don't want to give too much away, because if you actually do want to read this story, you probably won't want to know these details.)
I hated Brooklyn. She was so insecure. She was very childish. She has this man telling her EXACTLY how he feels about her, and she brushes it off, "Oh he doesn't mean it, or does he? Oh he couldn't" Seriously the back and forth was giving me whiplash. Some of the things she did out of spite were just really horrendous, and actually from like 50% on I really considered giving up on the book all together. I couldn't believe this was supposed to be a grown woman and she was acting the way she was. Some of the things she accused Nate of doing without even talking to him about it were crazy, and then when he accused her of the same things she acted offended. She made literally EVERYTHING about her. If her friends had problems, she somehow twisted it to be about her. It was exhausting, she was exhausting. I could not connect with her, because I could not stand her at all.
Nate was really not much better. Sure, he had some redeeming qualities, and he did get quite romantic several times, but he was seriously possessive. It was ridiculous. I would have kicked the dude to the curb after the first time he acted like a fool. I did feel sorry for him, because of some of the obstacles he had to overcome, and he really seemed to be trying to make himself a better person. He was easier to relate to, but he was not my ideal book boyfriend. Nothing is a bigger turnoff than an overly jealous and possessive dude.
When the two finally do get together, (I don't consider that a spoiler, because come on, it's a given) it was like the rest of the book turned into some soft core porn. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind some steamy scenes in books, when the story line has a good opportunity for one, I don't mind them at all. I don't even mind if there a few in a story, but this got to be a little much. It was like if the two weren't walking out on each other then they were just having sex, all the time, in great detail. It just wasn't for me.
Overall, I'm giving this book 2 STARS. I hate that, I hate giving such a low rating, but I just couldn't get into this story. I didn't connect with the characters, I didn't like the way the story went, and I wasn't a fan of it turning into more of a soft core porn story rather than a romance story. I have actually read one other book from this author and I really enjoyed it, so this will not detour me from reading books from her again, this one just wasn't for me!
Check out my review, and other reviews on my blog!
https://njpennybookreviews.blogspot.c...
I hated Brooklyn. She was so insecure. She was very childish. She has this man telling her EXACTLY how he feels about her, and she brushes it off, "Oh he doesn't mean it, or does he? Oh he couldn't" Seriously the back and forth was giving me whiplash. Some of the things she did out of spite were just really horrendous, and actually from like 50% on I really considered giving up on the book all together. I couldn't believe this was supposed to be a grown woman and she was acting the way she was. Some of the things she accused Nate of doing without even talking to him about it were crazy, and then when he accused her of the same things she acted offended. She made literally EVERYTHING about her. If her friends had problems, she somehow twisted it to be about her. It was exhausting, she was exhausting. I could not connect with her, because I could not stand her at all.
Nate was really not much better. Sure, he had some redeeming qualities, and he did get quite romantic several times, but he was seriously possessive. It was ridiculous. I would have kicked the dude to the curb after the first time he acted like a fool. I did feel sorry for him, because of some of the obstacles he had to overcome, and he really seemed to be trying to make himself a better person. He was easier to relate to, but he was not my ideal book boyfriend. Nothing is a bigger turnoff than an overly jealous and possessive dude.
When the two finally do get together, (I don't consider that a spoiler, because come on, it's a given) it was like the rest of the book turned into some soft core porn. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind some steamy scenes in books, when the story line has a good opportunity for one, I don't mind them at all. I don't even mind if there a few in a story, but this got to be a little much. It was like if the two weren't walking out on each other then they were just having sex, all the time, in great detail. It just wasn't for me.
Overall, I'm giving this book 2 STARS. I hate that, I hate giving such a low rating, but I just couldn't get into this story. I didn't connect with the characters, I didn't like the way the story went, and I wasn't a fan of it turning into more of a soft core porn story rather than a romance story. I have actually read one other book from this author and I really enjoyed it, so this will not detour me from reading books from her again, this one just wasn't for me!
Check out my review, and other reviews on my blog!
https://njpennybookreviews.blogspot.c...
October 2, 2019
Not great. I enjoyed the first half of the book and then it was just BLEH after that.
1-Every sex scene felt like it was in the book only because the author felt it HAD to be in there or her writing couldn’t be interesting without sex every 5 seconds. And she always had 3 orgasms... Every. Single. Time. 🙄
2- aren’t you supposed to like the characters? They were all great until the main characters finally end up in a relationship and then you realize that you don’t like either one of them. He’s an ass with serious anger issues and she’s an ass with serious disrespect issues. They both have no business being together and I was kind of hoping by the end of the book that they would just part ways and call it a day because I was over it.
3- of course she gets pregnant. Because you can’t write a book where people have a lot of sex and be responsible adults and NOT get knocked up! Nothing original here.
4 - there was honestly no real depth to the book. It was repetitive and honestly stressful. You have two people who finally end up together and you’ve been holding your breath for it. And then they just break up every other day, have terrible fights and make up in the most unbelievable, ridiculous ways. It was honestly just stressful. I get throwing in trials and tribulations... lord knows relationships are full of them but GEEZ!
It had great potential. And then halfway through it lost me.
1-Every sex scene felt like it was in the book only because the author felt it HAD to be in there or her writing couldn’t be interesting without sex every 5 seconds. And she always had 3 orgasms... Every. Single. Time. 🙄
2- aren’t you supposed to like the characters? They were all great until the main characters finally end up in a relationship and then you realize that you don’t like either one of them. He’s an ass with serious anger issues and she’s an ass with serious disrespect issues. They both have no business being together and I was kind of hoping by the end of the book that they would just part ways and call it a day because I was over it.
3- of course she gets pregnant. Because you can’t write a book where people have a lot of sex and be responsible adults and NOT get knocked up! Nothing original here.
4 - there was honestly no real depth to the book. It was repetitive and honestly stressful. You have two people who finally end up together and you’ve been holding your breath for it. And then they just break up every other day, have terrible fights and make up in the most unbelievable, ridiculous ways. It was honestly just stressful. I get throwing in trials and tribulations... lord knows relationships are full of them but GEEZ!
It had great potential. And then halfway through it lost me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2021
This was childish. The book starts out ok, but then everything is the action of a child. A person that has not grown up yet.
Nate is annoying with his trust issues, his story is only half told and only addressed when convenient. We only find out the reason be left halfway through the book and it was a weak and stupid reason. Apparently there was police involved, scandal and all, but Brooklyn never mentions, never suspects… she had NO idea of what could’ve happened so, maybe it wasn’t all that scandalous.
Brooklyn’s relationship with Michael was kind of lukewarm and to off him just so she can have some abandonment issues and then later to make Nate the only one with a problem… weak.
I repeat, this was childish. The storyline is actually good, the storytelling was bad, the characters development poor. And well, the characters were just plain boring… so, unfortunately this book did nothing for me.
Nate is annoying with his trust issues, his story is only half told and only addressed when convenient. We only find out the reason be left halfway through the book and it was a weak and stupid reason. Apparently there was police involved, scandal and all, but Brooklyn never mentions, never suspects… she had NO idea of what could’ve happened so, maybe it wasn’t all that scandalous.
Brooklyn’s relationship with Michael was kind of lukewarm and to off him just so she can have some abandonment issues and then later to make Nate the only one with a problem… weak.
I repeat, this was childish. The storyline is actually good, the storytelling was bad, the characters development poor. And well, the characters were just plain boring… so, unfortunately this book did nothing for me.
August 20, 2014
This book was really, really good. I got really caught up in it. My emotions went up and down with this book. It went from sweet to laughter to crying then back to happy again. It was truly a captivating story. I was really impressed reading it. Captivating from the very beginning.
The Storyline was brilliant. The blurb really made want to read it. I loved the way it was written. The way she told the highschool end of it. Then fast forward 8 years later and it was all about her life now. The whole second chance romance was so sweet and made it such a good read. The second chance romance always gets me and makes me happy reading it.
The author did an amazing job on this book. It was well written. Not too many grammatical errors. I got sucked into storyline fast. It was such an enjoyable and captivating story. I was so impressed by it.
The Storyline was brilliant. The blurb really made want to read it. I loved the way it was written. The way she told the highschool end of it. Then fast forward 8 years later and it was all about her life now. The whole second chance romance was so sweet and made it such a good read. The second chance romance always gets me and makes me happy reading it.
The author did an amazing job on this book. It was well written. Not too many grammatical errors. I got sucked into storyline fast. It was such an enjoyable and captivating story. I was so impressed by it.
September 2, 2019
Emotional abuse
Yikes. This book...I really can’t condone emotional abuse and that’s exactly what the hero does in this book. And then the author tries to sweep it all under the rug by having the hero talk to his therapist for a few weeks. And voila! He’s over the issues that caused him to be abusive. I find writing like this to be reckless.
Yikes. This book...I really can’t condone emotional abuse and that’s exactly what the hero does in this book. And then the author tries to sweep it all under the rug by having the hero talk to his therapist for a few weeks. And voila! He’s over the issues that caused him to be abusive. I find writing like this to be reckless.
August 10, 2014
****4 Sometimes Stars****
What a great story. I loved all the character's and their parts in the story. Nate was amazing yet broken and Brooklyn was indecisive yet strong. Their love story was captivating, real and breathtaking. Amazing read.
What a great story. I loved all the character's and their parts in the story. Nate was amazing yet broken and Brooklyn was indecisive yet strong. Their love story was captivating, real and breathtaking. Amazing read.
November 22, 2022
+ Shelves: separation-first8years-second2years, both-slept-with-om-ow-during-separation, heroine-other-relationship, cheating-emotional-heroine, boyfriend/om-drama, death-boyfriend/om, second-chance
October 13, 2014
Almost didn't finish
April 9, 2018
Meh, it was light and fluffy. Not the best romance I’ve read and. It the worst. Definitely annoying... Too many repeating thoughts and sentiments.
October 5, 2018
🌟🌟🌟.75 Emotionally Drained Stars
I really enjoyed this story, but i did feel slightly emotionally drained after it had finished!
Brooklyn and Nate have always had a thing, from High School where they hooked up that one time and gave each other their V card, to the time they met again 8 years later at a convention.
You see, even though Brooklyn is engaged to someone else, she had always remembered Nate, always wondered about him, always wondered "What If"
And suddenly, as if it was meant to be, here is is!
The thing is, he is now a slightly over jealous, anxiety ridden chap, don't get me wrong, they are super cute together, but his jealous rages and stalking tendencies seemed to me a little scary, and the relationship seemed to be slightly toxic, i would personally tell Brooklyn to stay clear, but maybe that is me seeing things that are not really there.
🎧🎧 Narration by the always amazing Erin Mallon made this book very enjoyable, it is a new author to me, and i will certainly be looking for others that she has written
**many thanks to the author for proving me with a digital copy
I really enjoyed this story, but i did feel slightly emotionally drained after it had finished!
Brooklyn and Nate have always had a thing, from High School where they hooked up that one time and gave each other their V card, to the time they met again 8 years later at a convention.
You see, even though Brooklyn is engaged to someone else, she had always remembered Nate, always wondered about him, always wondered "What If"
And suddenly, as if it was meant to be, here is is!
The thing is, he is now a slightly over jealous, anxiety ridden chap, don't get me wrong, they are super cute together, but his jealous rages and stalking tendencies seemed to me a little scary, and the relationship seemed to be slightly toxic, i would personally tell Brooklyn to stay clear, but maybe that is me seeing things that are not really there.
🎧🎧 Narration by the always amazing Erin Mallon made this book very enjoyable, it is a new author to me, and i will certainly be looking for others that she has written
**many thanks to the author for proving me with a digital copy
Read
December 1, 2018Um...
My first problem is the fact that we didn’t really get a build up of the main couple. They have sex and then he’s forced to move the next day. Fast forward 8 years and she’s still heartbroken over the hero taking her virginity and then leaving. Maybe i could have sympathized with her if they actually had more interaction than they did. I just felt like...something was missing.
And the fact that she spent all that time upset that he “left” her, is a bit ridiculous. In my opinion, it’s been years, I say get the f over it already. It’s not like he hit it and quit it. Or that he fucked her and then got a new girlfriend the next day. It just seemed way too immature and fell flat.
DNF
My first problem is the fact that we didn’t really get a build up of the main couple. They have sex and then he’s forced to move the next day. Fast forward 8 years and she’s still heartbroken over the hero taking her virginity and then leaving. Maybe i could have sympathized with her if they actually had more interaction than they did. I just felt like...something was missing.
And the fact that she spent all that time upset that he “left” her, is a bit ridiculous. In my opinion, it’s been years, I say get the f over it already. It’s not like he hit it and quit it. Or that he fucked her and then got a new girlfriend the next day. It just seemed way too immature and fell flat.
DNF
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2020
Oh my gosh, I loved, loved this book. Be my reason! Brooklyn has always loved Nate since they were teenagers. He suddenly leaves town and as adults they run into each other. He is divorced and she is engaged.....
In the end, Be My Reason was amazing, grab tissues it is a great book.
In the end, Be My Reason was amazing, grab tissues it is a great book.
May 28, 2021
I was surprised at how emotional this book was but I really enjoyed it. Erin Mallon does an incredible job narrating these characters and brings so much love and emotion into them that it’s so easy to get swept away by the story.
September 8, 2020
So unhealthy.
Those are the first words i think of for this book!
“I’m no longer a complete person without him.”
SHOOT ME NOW. It worries me this book has 4 stars! WHAT IS HAPPENING.
The quote continues -“When I get up from this bed, part of me will stay with him and I can’t reclaim that bit of me until we’re together again. I now understand what it means when people refer to their ‘other half.’ He is, in fact, a part of me and I am a part of him.“
Wake up, romance writers. THIS ISNT HEALTHY. This attitude is what contributes to the high divorce rate.
Love is stifled when we rely on the other for our 100% completion/fulfillment. We are very flawed as individuals. This is never gonna be sustainable. They’ve been together for like A DAY.
As part of that, 1 person can’t be your reason for existence- that is just not gonna work well for you. So I hated everything about the song as part of the basis for the story. It didn’t move me at all. Maybe if I could hear it.... but no the words just made me feel bad.
And you know what happens next?
I can’t do this!
I don’t trust you!
Yes
No
Yes
No.
GAH.
They’re both annoying and immature and not very likable. The happily ever after also didn’t make sense.
Spoiler -
If I got dumped and 5 weeks later (with no contact at all) and my husband (err.. boyfriend) came back and proposed? I would have said HELL NO.
They need to work on their shit and stop being 12.
Also, this content is only suitable for mature audiences, yet the speakers written like a teen. I hope that young people don’t read this.. it is incredibly raunchy- I skipped a lot. Also... don’t expect chapter 1/prologue? to happen in real life.
TO END WITH, poor Michael.
Those are the first words i think of for this book!
“I’m no longer a complete person without him.”
SHOOT ME NOW. It worries me this book has 4 stars! WHAT IS HAPPENING.
The quote continues -“When I get up from this bed, part of me will stay with him and I can’t reclaim that bit of me until we’re together again. I now understand what it means when people refer to their ‘other half.’ He is, in fact, a part of me and I am a part of him.“
Wake up, romance writers. THIS ISNT HEALTHY. This attitude is what contributes to the high divorce rate.
Love is stifled when we rely on the other for our 100% completion/fulfillment. We are very flawed as individuals. This is never gonna be sustainable. They’ve been together for like A DAY.
As part of that, 1 person can’t be your reason for existence- that is just not gonna work well for you. So I hated everything about the song as part of the basis for the story. It didn’t move me at all. Maybe if I could hear it.... but no the words just made me feel bad.
And you know what happens next?
I can’t do this!
I don’t trust you!
Yes
No
Yes
No.
GAH.
They’re both annoying and immature and not very likable. The happily ever after also didn’t make sense.
Spoiler -
If I got dumped and 5 weeks later (with no contact at all) and my husband (err.. boyfriend) came back and proposed? I would have said HELL NO.
They need to work on their shit and stop being 12.
Also, this content is only suitable for mature audiences, yet the speakers written like a teen. I hope that young people don’t read this.. it is incredibly raunchy- I skipped a lot. Also... don’t expect chapter 1/prologue? to happen in real life.
TO END WITH, poor Michael.
August 22, 2024
these characters are messyyyyy like yeah it’s bc of their unhealed trauma but damn y’all are crazy. you can for sure tell this book was written in 2010s bc the slut shaming is crazy bro like why the main girl gotta immediate start slut shaming a girl that’s flirting w the main guy like come on girl not their fault. also the main girl’s fiancé was very interesting w his obsession about wanting to her first and all that like little things like that gave me the ick but ignoring that the book was interesting in a it kept me entertained and all that but was it good… not really. i wasn’t expecting the book to go the way it did bc i thought it was gonna be the basic old her fiancé cheats she sees her first love and they fall in love again blah blah blah but no girl she meets her first love again WHILE she’s still w her fiancé and while she didn’t physically cheat she was for sure emotionally cheating i feel bc they almost kissed and she was hiding shit from her fiancé and yeah she revealed it eventually but still. no bc i was trying not to like the finance bc he’s gone ofc bc she ends up w the main guy and i was like he’s probably gonna screw up and while i didn’t like his little comments about her virginity he was sweet and did nice ass gestures for the main girl like he was very much a good and supportive partner which was why i wasn’t surprised she stayed w her fiancé after seeing her first love and everything. especially after this man literally took her virginity and left town the next day but i do give him grace bc his mother turned out to be a criminal and his father moved them away so what was he supposed to do when he was going through that and his dad told him how no one from that town is gonna wanna associate w him after. but also there’s a thing called a phone… but yeah they had their week reunion but she went back to get married but bitch i wasn’t expecting the twist of her fiancé DYING hello?? that was actually crazy to me and then we get a two year time skip which thank u author bc the main girl needs to grieve and the main guy would be very predatory if he got w her after her fiancé‘s death. anyways they meet again bc her bestie and main guy’s bestie gets married cute and bitch her bestie be playing wingwoman bc she got the main guy moving into her old room which is the same apartment as the main girl and the main girl slowly warms up to him again bc he’s always been in love w her bs and all that so they’re having their moment and it’s decently paced tbh i don’t remember it too well but they had some jealousy scenes which made me so annoyed bc the main guy i get he’s jealous but he’s so like man yk bc she was going on a date even tho she said shit about not wanting to date after her fiancé but he’s been there for her all this time waiting for so i get why he’s mad but he literally went to the same place as her date w his own date and kissed his date after kissing her like that’s foul idc that the main girl started it first but damn i hate men. but man’s gone through it bc he had a wife who cheated on him bc she just wanted to be a baseballer wife so he has real bad trust issues w women bc his mom and her but damn he’s foul sometimes. anyways that they ended up fucking at the apartment after all that tension but this fucking girl RUNS away like damn i can’t w her but at the same time grief isn’t linear she felt guilty and everything so yeah and the main guy was ready to leave and was on the way to leave but the main girl realized she fucked up and everything and came back to him and they’re together. but bitch i was like why is there 70 pages left when they got together like this shit gets messyy. they were going well fucking like rabbits but the main guy’s trust issues are insane bc of the shit w her business partner who’s also a friend but it’s very much platonic even familial bc that’s her brother basically but the main guy doesn’t see it bc of the shit he’s been through but come on you got a therapist use it… and then he saw his mom and he shuts the main girl out when she wanted to be there for him whether he wanted to talk about it or not so he shut her out and then shit w the main girl happened when he said how he saw her business partner tryna make her bakery into a franchise without her knowing and she didn’t wanna believe him over her business partner which i get her bc mans beeeen talking shit about that man and she needed space from him and he got mad as if he didn’t do the same shit i cant. but oo turns out he as right about her partner so she apologized and they made up but even more shit happens bc the main girl is friends w her partner so no shit they hang out and she sees him all the time bc this is literally her job bro. i do get why he’s jealous bc they’re doing long distance bc he has to go back to his city for work so they can only see each other so little and his jealousy issues got bad that he was throwing his at my girl and said it was either him or her BUSINESS PARTNER / FRIEND hello?? like you’re making her choose between you or her business her passion what was there for her when you weren’t. and she was like i love you blah blah blah but this man is real traumatized so she was like you made ur choice and left him as she should and she was all sad for a month and bitch tbh not enough groveling for me bc why was this wrapped up in 20 pages i need more than that. but she was depressed and also pregnant but then the main guy pops back all a sudden w flowers and an apology saying like i shouldn’t have done that i’ve been working on myself w my therapist and i actually became friends w the business partner so he doesn’t feel jealous anymore and he even wrote out a contract so that she can buy out her business and open a new location very sweet. he also got a tattoo for her like very sweet and nice gesture but i wanted more of him groveling over a larger time span of little things yk and just simple actions showing he is secure in his relationship bc also not gonna forget how he let this girl flirt and touch him in front of the main girl so she could feel what he feels like hello? she doesn’t let her business partner flirt and touch her this man is insane but yeah they make up and get married blah blah the end. idk like it was entertaining and the angst was alright but the characters ooo… but also they’re complex and not perfect which is the point of the book and everything i’m just wanting more bc i don’t mind the whole trauma shit that made the main guy like that i just wanted to see more of his actions to show his full growth as a character. also wish they talked about his mom more bc that was a big part of his trauma but whatever. i’ll give this book like a 7.5/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2014
I swear you gotta just love a good book. When you have a bad day, grab a book, when you are down, grab a book, when you are stressed, grab a book. When you don't know what to read next, grab this book.
It's so refreshing. The love that went away, got away or whatever way you want to view it. Life goes in but you still hold that special place for that one person. They never leave your heart or mind no matter what life brings into your path and to have to come face to face with it years later, well that's simply nerve racking and amazing.
Brooklyn isn't you normal hoochie, she hasn't been around the block,she doesn't sleep around as a matter a fact she lost her virginity at 17 to the one person she saw a long future with but things happen and those plans are shot. Now years later when everything seems right, they aren't so much perfect.
Honestly I thought at first oh no I'm gonna freaking have a coronary because I really like Michael and then there was Nate and I thought surely I was gonna be disappointed or heart broken. Well I want disappointed I was actually very proud of Brooklyn. She isn't a cheater, and she is honest. No drama and lies. But then there was that moment when my heart just desenegrated. But all thinks happen for a reason and I absolutely love it. It was perfect and I was worried for a bit but the needing couldn't be more perfect. It was beautiful and so freaking hot and sweet.
It's so refreshing. The love that went away, got away or whatever way you want to view it. Life goes in but you still hold that special place for that one person. They never leave your heart or mind no matter what life brings into your path and to have to come face to face with it years later, well that's simply nerve racking and amazing.
Brooklyn isn't you normal hoochie, she hasn't been around the block,she doesn't sleep around as a matter a fact she lost her virginity at 17 to the one person she saw a long future with but things happen and those plans are shot. Now years later when everything seems right, they aren't so much perfect.
Honestly I thought at first oh no I'm gonna freaking have a coronary because I really like Michael and then there was Nate and I thought surely I was gonna be disappointed or heart broken. Well I want disappointed I was actually very proud of Brooklyn. She isn't a cheater, and she is honest. No drama and lies. But then there was that moment when my heart just desenegrated. But all thinks happen for a reason and I absolutely love it. It was perfect and I was worried for a bit but the needing couldn't be more perfect. It was beautiful and so freaking hot and sweet.
March 2, 2020
This was a mess. I read this because it was a recommendation after reading Love and other words by Christina Lauren and nope, nothing like that. I mean this Brooklyn girl definitely likes to slut shame women (even her best friend at the beginning) at one point she said that one of her gay friends was strong and people liked him even when he was gay, like what? The writing was so immature and boring especially at the end, Brooklyn was so heartbroken when Nate left her the first time (oh but she kept on running away everytime they have a misunderstanding later on) even when it wasn't the guy's fault pretty much his life was the one being screwed up and she was like Oh my the boy that I only dated once left me, like cmon I get it when you were 17 but what about 8 years later, don't you think you should be a little more supportive? Guess not she still was calling him a jerk when he was just asking him how she was after not seeing her for years. What was she expecting, for him to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness again for something that was out of his control and pretty much painful for him? Wrong just wrong. But at least I know what books to avoid next: all of Samantha Christy's
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