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Second Hope #3
Twice in a Lifetime
When I moved away from Hope Valley at eighteen years old, I told myself it was for good. There were too many unpleasant memories, too much history, and too many reminders of the boy who had broken my heart.
Years passed and I built a life and a family with a man I loved. Then, in the blink of an eye, that life was ripped away from me, and the secrets he’d kept from me refused to follow him into his grave.
Now I’m back in my hometown, a shell of my former self, trying to pick up the pieces of my shattered life and fit them back together. My heart has been broken for the second time in my life, but I have to put on a brave face and fake it for the sake of my kids and the people I love.
I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding the pain, but there is one person I’ve never been able to fool. One person who was always able to see through the masks I tried to wear, and he is determined to chase my shadows away.
Rhodes Bradbury is all grown up now. The boy who had been my first love is now all man. And to make matters worse, my body still reacts to him the same way it did all those years ago. My heart still races in his presence, and a single look from those deep, dark eyes is enough to make my skin tingle. The voice in the back of my head is screaming at me to steer clear, but there’s just one problem.
The boy he was might have broken my heart, but the man he is now wants a second chance. He isn’t afraid of my baggage. In fact, he wants nothing more than to carry it for me.
I’m trying my hardest not to repeat the mistakes of the past. But he’s doing everything in his power to convince me that most people aren’t lucky enough to have what we had even once, let alone twice in a lifetime.
Years passed and I built a life and a family with a man I loved. Then, in the blink of an eye, that life was ripped away from me, and the secrets he’d kept from me refused to follow him into his grave.
Now I’m back in my hometown, a shell of my former self, trying to pick up the pieces of my shattered life and fit them back together. My heart has been broken for the second time in my life, but I have to put on a brave face and fake it for the sake of my kids and the people I love.
I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding the pain, but there is one person I’ve never been able to fool. One person who was always able to see through the masks I tried to wear, and he is determined to chase my shadows away.
Rhodes Bradbury is all grown up now. The boy who had been my first love is now all man. And to make matters worse, my body still reacts to him the same way it did all those years ago. My heart still races in his presence, and a single look from those deep, dark eyes is enough to make my skin tingle. The voice in the back of my head is screaming at me to steer clear, but there’s just one problem.
The boy he was might have broken my heart, but the man he is now wants a second chance. He isn’t afraid of my baggage. In fact, he wants nothing more than to carry it for me.
I’m trying my hardest not to repeat the mistakes of the past. But he’s doing everything in his power to convince me that most people aren’t lucky enough to have what we had even once, let alone twice in a lifetime.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2024
450 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Prince
117 books2,560 followersBorn and raised around Houston, Jessica is a self proclaimed caffeine addict, connoisseur of inexpensive wine, and the worst driver in the state of Texas. In addition to being all of these things, she’s first and foremost a wife and mom.
Growing up, she shared her mom and grandmother’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.
When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can usually find her with her kindle in hand.
To be in-the-know before anyone else, follow along on my website, or join my newsletter.
www.authorjessicaprince.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/_KJ0n
Connect with me everywhere else:
Facebook: authorjessicaprince
Instagram: @jessprince_writes
Twitter: @JessPrince2013
Growing up, she shared her mom and grandmother’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.
When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can usually find her with her kindle in hand.
To be in-the-know before anyone else, follow along on my website, or join my newsletter.
www.authorjessicaprince.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/_KJ0n
Connect with me everywhere else:
Facebook: authorjessicaprince
Instagram: @jessprince_writes
Twitter: @JessPrince2013
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
December 17, 2024
My only complaint with this story is that I wish it was longer!! I was not ready for it to end. It has been a while since Jessica has made me cry reading one of her books and she pulled on all my heart strings with this!! Blythe’s strength as she tried to stay strong for her children while she’s dealt so many blows in a short time is so inspiring. Then seeing the softer side of Rhodes and being able to feel the love he has for Blythe really rounded out this story.
March 23, 2025
This felt more like a novella and was incredibly rushed.
There were two storylines here: one, the second chance romance with the H, and secondly, the heroine finding out that her dead husband was a bigamist and had two other children. This was by far the more interesting story and it's just dropped. There were reference to her in-laws knowing, but once she finds out it segues to the her brand new jump off with the H. They were high school sweethearts until he dumped her. I was skimming so not sure why he did, but it was probably because he came from "white trash". His sister is Gypsy from Wrong Side of the Tracks. This book is populated with first and second generation Prince characters.
Bummed about her not fleshing the story out as it had great potential, but not addressing his parents who may or may not have been complicit, her children's half-siblings, etc was a mistake.
Makes me wonder if authors are simply churning stuff out. Jessica Prince, you are better than that.
There were two storylines here: one, the second chance romance with the H, and secondly, the heroine finding out that her dead husband was a bigamist and had two other children. This was by far the more interesting story and it's just dropped. There were reference to her in-laws knowing, but once she finds out it segues to the her brand new jump off with the H. They were high school sweethearts until he dumped her. I was skimming so not sure why he did, but it was probably because he came from "white trash". His sister is Gypsy from Wrong Side of the Tracks. This book is populated with first and second generation Prince characters.
Bummed about her not fleshing the story out as it had great potential, but not addressing his parents who may or may not have been complicit, her children's half-siblings, etc was a mistake.
Makes me wonder if authors are simply churning stuff out. Jessica Prince, you are better than that.
December 17, 2024
Good story
Safe, his ex is still interested but he isn’t
Very romantic
I love: that she went away and lived her life, she falls in love, get married, finished her degree and has three kids!!!
It seems like he is the one frozen and sad, for once it’s not about the heroine being pathetic,
I love the sex scenes, the kids and the second characters
I love that she doesn’t chase him at all until the very end
Hero is very in love with her, a lot
I don’t like: why the need to make all the heroes so experienced ? In a small town? Really? Not cool,
He is discreet but still…
Too much info about the sex life for next mcs books… I hope it’s a Tristan and Merritt,
They broke up when they were very young and that is not discussed very much, mentioned yes but not properly IMO, that is the reason she left town and never came back
Triggers
She is a widow, her husband had another family on the side🙄🙄🙄
The first books from Jessica Prince are awful but I do believe she listens to her readers and her heroes have become a lot better, this one is perfect
Safe, his ex is still interested but he isn’t
Very romantic
I love: that she went away and lived her life, she falls in love, get married, finished her degree and has three kids!!!
It seems like he is the one frozen and sad, for once it’s not about the heroine being pathetic,
I love the sex scenes, the kids and the second characters
I love that she doesn’t chase him at all until the very end
Hero is very in love with her, a lot
I don’t like: why the need to make all the heroes so experienced ? In a small town? Really? Not cool,
He is discreet but still…
Too much info about the sex life for next mcs books… I hope it’s a Tristan and Merritt,
They broke up when they were very young and that is not discussed very much, mentioned yes but not properly IMO, that is the reason she left town and never came back
Triggers
She is a widow, her husband had another family on the side🙄🙄🙄
The first books from Jessica Prince are awful but I do believe she listens to her readers and her heroes have become a lot better, this one is perfect
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2024
Jessica Prince never disappoints. The second hope series continues to be amazing. I enjoyed the previous books in this series, and this book was equally as good. The tropes in this book are among my favourites, and I enjoyed reading the development of Rhodes and Blythe's relationship.
This book definitely had some emotional moments, and I enjoyed the suspenseful element, which was perfectly written. The characters and their personalities were amazing.
Thank you for the ARC,
This book definitely had some emotional moments, and I enjoyed the suspenseful element, which was perfectly written. The characters and their personalities were amazing.
Thank you for the ARC,
December 24, 2024
This was a pretty decent book overall. It felt like a good in-between book when reading fantasy or other fuller length books that had a little more to them. I think this is good for what it was, being under 300 pages (257 according to kindle and it’s less than that if you take out sneak peeks, etc). I enjoyed it as a quick and fun romance book to read without having to think too hard or be as involved. It was so easy to get into and didn’t take much brain power. I will say for it being so short and having so many side characters briefly mentioned, it was a little confusing at times placing who they were. What I didn’t like about it was even though this was second chance, we never got to know what really pulled them apart in high school and once they reconnected in the present it felt insta lovey. They never got to relearn themselves for who they are now almost two decades later. All the drama going on in the background with a past live interest, the ex husbands secret affair, and the crappy guy at the bar who may or may not reappear, it was kind of a lot. I think if a book is going to be so short it should focus on a little less for it to flow a bit better.
MINOR SPOILER : for them to get together that quick and have it be so natural for the kids (even though for them their father just died and they still think of him as a good man) just felt off to me and unrealistic. And then for the two MC’s to get engaged so quickly? I don’t know, even if they did still have a love for each other and don’t want to waste time I just didn’t connect to that part of the story unfortunately
I received a digital copy from the author of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
MINOR SPOILER : for them to get together that quick and have it be so natural for the kids (even though for them their father just died and they still think of him as a good man) just felt off to me and unrealistic. And then for the two MC’s to get engaged so quickly? I don’t know, even if they did still have a love for each other and don’t want to waste time I just didn’t connect to that part of the story unfortunately
I received a digital copy from the author of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Emotional damage.
I normally don’t like second chance. But this was done so well. Rip my heart out.
Rhodes holy shit
Book boyfriend material
Ex military
Best friends brother
Blythe, newly widowed mom of three
I don’t want to spoil anything else. But 💔.
Fiercely protective.
Can throw a throat punch.
Her kids. Loved them.
Small town
Second chance, 20 years
Starting over
It’s always been you
Emotional damage.
I normally don’t like second chance. But this was done so well. Rip my heart out.
Rhodes holy shit
Book boyfriend material
Ex military
Best friends brother
Blythe, newly widowed mom of three
I don’t want to spoil anything else. But 💔.
Fiercely protective.
Can throw a throat punch.
Her kids. Loved them.
Small town
Second chance, 20 years
Starting over
It’s always been you
December 21, 2024
My Hope Valley loving heart is so happy right now. I loved Blythe & Rhodes SO MUCH!!!
My only issue is that I would’ve liked a little more resolution to Blythe’s situation with her husband, but it didn’t take away from how much I loved these characters.
I cannot wait for the next book!
My only issue is that I would’ve liked a little more resolution to Blythe’s situation with her husband, but it didn’t take away from how much I loved these characters.
I cannot wait for the next book!
December 23, 2024
OMG! HOW MUCH I LOOOOVE THIS SERIES!
Twice in a Lifetime by Jessica Prince is the third book of her new Second Hope Series, and I love this next generation thing! So damn good!
Blythe comes back to Hope Valley as a single mom of 3. Her husband died, but also had a few secrets... to confirm her suspicions, she turns to the guys from Alpha Omega.
Little did she expect to see him again. Rhodes Bradbury. Her very first love, who left her for the Army.
Now, years back... she needs his help and maybe gets more than this. 😊😁
OMG!
This book ripped my heart out!
Blythe is such a badass mother of 3 adorable kids. After the death of her husband, her whole world turned upside down. OMG. I cried so much because of the things she had to deal with! 😭
But at the same time I fell in love with her! She's there for her kids and won't let herself down. No way.
And then there's Rhodes... awwwww... be still my beating heart.
They meet again after such a long time. OMG. MY HEART! ❤️ GOOSEBUMPS EVERYWHERE!
Of course, it's kinda strange at first for them... but the circumstances lead them to deal more with each other... which lead to other things and... awwwww... THEY STOLE MY HEART! I absolutely loved their storyline and how everything turned out. How they treat each other and how they deal with their past. 😊🫶😊🫶😊🫶
But this book wouldn't be a perfect Jessica Prince without any drama and suspense!!!
Holy! I didn't see it coming! 😱😱😱
I absolutely looooove this next generation thing (I know I said it before, but I can't do it often enough!) and can't wait for more! ❤️
If you love second chance romance with a small town setting, lots of emotions, romance, sexy times, wounded heroine, touch her and ☠️ vibes, cute kids, and many, many more... read this book! 🙏🙏
Thank you so much to Jessica Prince for this ARC.
This is my honest review in my own words.
Twice in a Lifetime by Jessica Prince is the third book of her new Second Hope Series, and I love this next generation thing! So damn good!
Blythe comes back to Hope Valley as a single mom of 3. Her husband died, but also had a few secrets... to confirm her suspicions, she turns to the guys from Alpha Omega.
Little did she expect to see him again. Rhodes Bradbury. Her very first love, who left her for the Army.
Now, years back... she needs his help and maybe gets more than this. 😊😁
OMG!
This book ripped my heart out!
Blythe is such a badass mother of 3 adorable kids. After the death of her husband, her whole world turned upside down. OMG. I cried so much because of the things she had to deal with! 😭
But at the same time I fell in love with her! She's there for her kids and won't let herself down. No way.
And then there's Rhodes... awwwww... be still my beating heart.
They meet again after such a long time. OMG. MY HEART! ❤️ GOOSEBUMPS EVERYWHERE!
Of course, it's kinda strange at first for them... but the circumstances lead them to deal more with each other... which lead to other things and... awwwww... THEY STOLE MY HEART! I absolutely loved their storyline and how everything turned out. How they treat each other and how they deal with their past. 😊🫶😊🫶😊🫶
But this book wouldn't be a perfect Jessica Prince without any drama and suspense!!!
Holy! I didn't see it coming! 😱😱😱
I absolutely looooove this next generation thing (I know I said it before, but I can't do it often enough!) and can't wait for more! ❤️
If you love second chance romance with a small town setting, lots of emotions, romance, sexy times, wounded heroine, touch her and ☠️ vibes, cute kids, and many, many more... read this book! 🙏🙏
Thank you so much to Jessica Prince for this ARC.
This is my honest review in my own words.
December 18, 2024
ARC Review: 4.5 ⭐️
Twice in a Lifetime is book 3 in the Second Hope series featuring Rhodes Bradbury & Blythe Fanning.
Rhodes and Blythe were each others firsts - first boyfriend/girlfriend, first time and first broken hearts. But when Rhodes joined the army, he broke up with her and left town.
Now Blythe has recently moved back to town with her 3 children after the death of her husband. She believes her husband was unfaithful before his passing and enlists an old family friend of her father’s to help. When she shows up to the initial meeting she comes face to face with her first love - Rhodes.
Rhodes has never gotten into a serious relationship in all their years apart because he knew Blythe was his one and only. Will they get a second chance at love or will the scars of the past be to much to risk being hurt again?
I adored this story! Rhodes was so swoony and his love for Blythe and her kids was h matched. Blythe went through so much and came out swinging on the other side! This series is such a feel good one and I can’t wait to see what Jessica gives us next !
Thank you Jessica for the ARC, Twice in a Lifetime is available now !
Twice in a Lifetime is book 3 in the Second Hope series featuring Rhodes Bradbury & Blythe Fanning.
Rhodes and Blythe were each others firsts - first boyfriend/girlfriend, first time and first broken hearts. But when Rhodes joined the army, he broke up with her and left town.
Now Blythe has recently moved back to town with her 3 children after the death of her husband. She believes her husband was unfaithful before his passing and enlists an old family friend of her father’s to help. When she shows up to the initial meeting she comes face to face with her first love - Rhodes.
Rhodes has never gotten into a serious relationship in all their years apart because he knew Blythe was his one and only. Will they get a second chance at love or will the scars of the past be to much to risk being hurt again?
I adored this story! Rhodes was so swoony and his love for Blythe and her kids was h matched. Blythe went through so much and came out swinging on the other side! This series is such a feel good one and I can’t wait to see what Jessica gives us next !
Thank you Jessica for the ARC, Twice in a Lifetime is available now !
December 18, 2024
Blythe almost broke my heart. But she is nothing if not her mother’s daughter, so I knew I had to have some faith in her. Believe me, she proves her strength and character and capacity to love in abundance! Between finding the truth of what she thought was a good life, coming home to be faced with her past who wants to be her present and future if he can be, and a woman who clearly needs a friend, this woman is a sight to behold.
Rhodes is also quite the person. He’s loyal and knows just what he messed up years ago. Now that his heart is back, he’s doing everything he can to keep Blythe forever, if only she’ll let him. Sure, he’s a little confident in his ability to win her again, but that’s because he has no alternative. Blythe is and always was his One. He just needs to remind her that he was never really anybody else’s while she was gone.
Add in the chaos of kids, the snark of a woman finding her confidence again, and a guy who really dwarves every last takedown he gets, and I want more. So much more. This may have felt like the last Hope Valley AO guy, but I can assure you that it isn’t and that there is so much more to come!
Rhodes is also quite the person. He’s loyal and knows just what he messed up years ago. Now that his heart is back, he’s doing everything he can to keep Blythe forever, if only she’ll let him. Sure, he’s a little confident in his ability to win her again, but that’s because he has no alternative. Blythe is and always was his One. He just needs to remind her that he was never really anybody else’s while she was gone.
Add in the chaos of kids, the snark of a woman finding her confidence again, and a guy who really dwarves every last takedown he gets, and I want more. So much more. This may have felt like the last Hope Valley AO guy, but I can assure you that it isn’t and that there is so much more to come!
December 25, 2024
We are up to book three in the Second Hope Series. My favorite trope is small town, second chance, and I was not disappointed! Throw in plenty of emotion, suspense, and adorable kids, and the book was almost a one day read.
Blythe is so strong, the need to find the truth, and to face her past by coming home. To watch her reinvent herself, build her confidence, while being there for her kids.
I loved this book, the characters are done well, the story had me hooked, and I love coming back to Hope Valley!
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Blythe is so strong, the need to find the truth, and to face her past by coming home. To watch her reinvent herself, build her confidence, while being there for her kids.
I loved this book, the characters are done well, the story had me hooked, and I love coming back to Hope Valley!
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
December 17, 2024
I loved Blythe and Rhodes! Nona and Tricks book was my absolute favorite of the hope valley series, so seeing them again throughout this book was absolutely amazing!
Rhodes broke Blythe's heart years and years ago. It was amazing to watch them get their second chance.
The kids were super cute I loved them. The secret that Blythe has to uncover with Aloha Omegas help was truly heartbreaking.
It was fantastic to see Rhodes step up to be the person Blythe and her kids needed
Really excited to see if Mereitt gets a book. I really enjoyed her character.
5 stars
Rhodes broke Blythe's heart years and years ago. It was amazing to watch them get their second chance.
The kids were super cute I loved them. The secret that Blythe has to uncover with Aloha Omegas help was truly heartbreaking.
It was fantastic to see Rhodes step up to be the person Blythe and her kids needed
Really excited to see if Mereitt gets a book. I really enjoyed her character.
5 stars
December 28, 2024
4 ⭐
2nd generation Hope Valley love stories are really giving me exactly what I need.
2nd chance romance with a 20 year gap between the relationship. So though we're meeting Blythe after experiencing the worst hell she's pretty decisive and determined to build a solid future for herself and her kids. Rhodes has never stopped loving Blythe and just wants to protect her and her kids.
Trigger warning: death of a spouse, cheating and mention of DV.
2nd generation Hope Valley love stories are really giving me exactly what I need.
2nd chance romance with a 20 year gap between the relationship. So though we're meeting Blythe after experiencing the worst hell she's pretty decisive and determined to build a solid future for herself and her kids. Rhodes has never stopped loving Blythe and just wants to protect her and her kids.
Trigger warning: death of a spouse, cheating and mention of DV.
December 16, 2024
ARC REVIEW
Twice In A Lifetime
16 December 2024
@jessprince_writes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#secondchanceromance
#startingover
#woundedheroine
#singlemom
#smalltown
#bestfriendsbrother
Blythe & Rhodes is the emotional punch to the gut that you never knew you needed!
JP has given us yet ANOTHER dream man - that spicy kitchen scene...enough said right there!
Still reeling from all that is Rhodes Bradbury - so much so that a re- read is already in the cards.
Rhodes broke Blythe's heart when they were younger & no smart man makes the same mistake twice.
What follows is the perfect breaking down of Blythe's defenses, showing her that he is the man she and her children need.
Love the family connections throughout this second generation story and can not wait to see who is up next.
P.S. Rhodes now holds the number one spot of JP book boyfriends on my list 🔥
Twice In A Lifetime
16 December 2024
@jessprince_writes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#secondchanceromance
#startingover
#woundedheroine
#singlemom
#smalltown
#bestfriendsbrother
Blythe & Rhodes is the emotional punch to the gut that you never knew you needed!
JP has given us yet ANOTHER dream man - that spicy kitchen scene...enough said right there!
Still reeling from all that is Rhodes Bradbury - so much so that a re- read is already in the cards.
Rhodes broke Blythe's heart when they were younger & no smart man makes the same mistake twice.
What follows is the perfect breaking down of Blythe's defenses, showing her that he is the man she and her children need.
Love the family connections throughout this second generation story and can not wait to see who is up next.
P.S. Rhodes now holds the number one spot of JP book boyfriends on my list 🔥
December 23, 2024
4.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
-Second chance
-Single mom
-Small town
-Military hero
-Best friends brother
Blythe and Rhodes were perfect in this second chance romance. I loved the set up with Blythe and her kids moving home, needing help, and Rhodes being the one they needed. He was so sweet and protective from the moment he saw her again. The kids were hilarious and I loved how their relationship with Rhodes developed. The extra drama really had me guessing what was going to happen (and to who) next! I can't wait for the next book!
2/5 🌶️
-Second chance
-Single mom
-Small town
-Military hero
-Best friends brother
Blythe and Rhodes were perfect in this second chance romance. I loved the set up with Blythe and her kids moving home, needing help, and Rhodes being the one they needed. He was so sweet and protective from the moment he saw her again. The kids were hilarious and I loved how their relationship with Rhodes developed. The extra drama really had me guessing what was going to happen (and to who) next! I can't wait for the next book!
December 19, 2024
This was such a great read. I’m a sucker for a single mum romance and when the hero is her high school love it’s even better. Definitely recommend
January 20, 2025
When I say I love second chance romance, it’s not a joke! This trope will be my favorite one for the rest of life, for real! This book was a second chance romance associated with small town, I was in the heaven! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series when the fourth will come out!
January 5, 2025
The second chance trope is sometimes a hit or miss for me, but honestly anything by this author I know I will thoroughly enjoy. This book is part of the second generation to the Hope Valley series so to be able to revisit makes it so much more special. In this case, Blythe is the daughter and stepdaughter of Nona and Trick from Hope Valley #3, Best of Me, and Rhodes is one of Gypsy’s siblings from Wrong Side of the Tracks, Hope Valley #4. These two were childhood sweethearts, but Rhodes’ past traumas resulted in breaking Blythe’s heart. It is now two decades later, Blythe is back in Hope Valley with her three children after the death of her husband. Blythe’s heart is not only shattered by her husband’s death, but by also the secrets he had been keeping. Knowing there has to be more, she turns to an old family friend and his firm to help. Unfortunately, she was not prepared to be face to face with the first man who ever broke her heart.
Rhodes has regretted the pain he had caused Blythe all those years ago and to see everything she is going through now is excruciating to him. Blythe has been the one for him all these years, he has been given a second chance and this time it is for keeps.
I absolutely loved how the five them (plus Koda the dog) became a family so seamlessly. Rhodes immediately clicked with Blythe’s children and it was all so heart warming. This was a wonderful read and definitely looking forward to more!
Rhodes has regretted the pain he had caused Blythe all those years ago and to see everything she is going through now is excruciating to him. Blythe has been the one for him all these years, he has been given a second chance and this time it is for keeps.
I absolutely loved how the five them (plus Koda the dog) became a family so seamlessly. Rhodes immediately clicked with Blythe’s children and it was all so heart warming. This was a wonderful read and definitely looking forward to more!
December 27, 2024
Such a good story about losing your soulmate and getting a second chance with them. The road that leads you back to each other definitely has its ups and downs but when a man really loves a woman, that makes for the best HEA book!
December 24, 2024
Oh my heart
This family is going to rip your heart out and then put it back together. Rhodes and Blythe will keep you turning the pages. Don't even get me started on her kiddos. Blythe was a force to be reckoned with. She was strong and loyal and I may have a girl crush. Rhodes was amazing his love never faltered.
This family is going to rip your heart out and then put it back together. Rhodes and Blythe will keep you turning the pages. Don't even get me started on her kiddos. Blythe was a force to be reckoned with. She was strong and loyal and I may have a girl crush. Rhodes was amazing his love never faltered.
December 17, 2024
Melancholy second chance romance
**Spoilers below**
Blythe returns to her small town home after the death of her husband and after learning that he betrayed her. Gone for 20 years, she's surprised to encounter her first love, Rhodes. As a member of the Alpha Omega agency, he's charged with getting to the bottom of her late husband's deceptions. Having never forgotten the one that got away, he hopes for a second chance with Blythe.
The book explores Blythe's feelings of shame and inadequacy because her husband cheated and blows to her self confidence because she was unaware of his secrets. However, it bypasses other questions related to her late husband's other family. The fact that her children have half siblings is never mentioned. Instead, there's an unnecessary suspense plot to put Blythe at risk at the tail end of the book.
The book also has inconsistencies not identified in editing. A big point is made about the hero not drinking , but he has a whiskey in a later scene.
Gave it 3 stars because the main characters are likable and you're rooting for them.
**Spoilers below**
Blythe returns to her small town home after the death of her husband and after learning that he betrayed her. Gone for 20 years, she's surprised to encounter her first love, Rhodes. As a member of the Alpha Omega agency, he's charged with getting to the bottom of her late husband's deceptions. Having never forgotten the one that got away, he hopes for a second chance with Blythe.
The book explores Blythe's feelings of shame and inadequacy because her husband cheated and blows to her self confidence because she was unaware of his secrets. However, it bypasses other questions related to her late husband's other family. The fact that her children have half siblings is never mentioned. Instead, there's an unnecessary suspense plot to put Blythe at risk at the tail end of the book.
The book also has inconsistencies not identified in editing. A big point is made about the hero not drinking , but he has a whiskey in a later scene.
Gave it 3 stars because the main characters are likable and you're rooting for them.
December 16, 2024
Another next generation story lacking...
Again disappointed Jessica didn't put Trick in at all ..Nona very small....waited hoping she would have them in it....kids were great characters... But so once again disappointed... Won't be waiting for next one..which is sad..was always a big fan...
Again disappointed Jessica didn't put Trick in at all ..Nona very small....waited hoping she would have them in it....kids were great characters... But so once again disappointed... Won't be waiting for next one..which is sad..was always a big fan...
March 14, 2025
I did expect there to be more around the back story of her late husband, but it didn't rate much mention. She finds out he has another wife and kids. I feel like that deserved a bit more attention, if only her deciding whether to tell her kids they have half siblings.
I did like that Blythe totally kicks ass. She gets kidnapped and basically rescues herself.
I did like that Blythe totally kicks ass. She gets kidnapped and basically rescues herself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2025
3.5 for half this book the main characters barely interacted 🫠
January 7, 2025
Plot. Hero and heroine are high school sweethearts and together for two years. He dumps her because he feels he’s not good enough. He enrolls in the Army. She meets a nice guy and falls in love with him, gets married and has three kids with him. 15 years later she’s a widow and goes back to her hometown, where the hero lives. She found out her latest ONS hubby had a second family, complete with two kids. The hero now wants her back. He’s the pi who helps her discover the truth.
So, why the one star.
- the book is definitely rushed. There are loopholes, loose ends, inconsistencies.
- instead of taking care of those loose ends the author decided to focus on new and unnecessary drama: the heroine finds out her late hubby had another family with two kids, for the last ten years, but it stops there. Who is the ow, did she know he had another family? Do these people want to met her or their half sibling? Was there any mention of them in his will, and who had the inheritance. I mean, if you decide to write such a great twist, you cannot abandon it. Apparently the heroine was the only one not to know about his second family, all his friends and relative knew about it. The heroine doesn’t want to know anything else. So we don’t know anything more than the plain facts. Really? Instead, the author makes up a new drama with some ex high school guy that has become an alcoholic and kidnaps the heroine just because. Unnecessary and ott.
- loopholes. The heroine and the hero were a couple for two years, he dumps her and leaves her heartbroken. There’s no other mention of it. No flashback, no reconstruction of the scene, nothing, so we don’t know how it was, why he thought that, what he told her, how it really went.
- the reasons for the hero dumping the heroine were ridiculous. He didn’t think he was worthy of her. Apparently he thought he was worthy of plenty of ow though, since he , as a friend said, went through women as if they were handkerchiefs. His latest gf is still around and hoping he will take her back, when the heroine comes back.
- he never said he went away thinking to one day come back and marry the heroine. He let her go for good.
- the heroine had a marriage with three children, which I appreciate, and she loved her husband. I am very disappointed that the author couldn’t for once let the heroine, who was jilted by the hero, have a nice man who treated her well. She had to spoil it all and make him worse than a cheater. This is something that was not only unnecessary for the story but it made it all unbalanced. Since the heroine is the one wronged by the hero, she at least should have had some compensation in the form of a good husband. There’s no balance here, it’s all on the hero’s side. So no,I don’t accept it, stop this ugly double standard.
- the hero has had a very good life, as he well says, and here the author is the one to rain on her parade since all his friends and family kept telling the heroine that he only lived half a life, meaning he regretted what he did and never moved on. The hero himself tells the heroine that he was happy and had all he wanted, friends, relatives, job and he doesn’t say but we know, all the women he wanted. So it was even more wrong and unfair. He should at least have pined for the heroine but he didn’t, so it makes sense that he left the heroine because he didn’t want her, dot.
- the whole thing it’s me not you is never ever right and always leaves readers with a bittersweet taste. I don’t care if it was the hero who didn’t feel he was enough for the heroine, what matters is that he let her go.
- he never says he regretted losing her and wasting 20 years without her. Apparently he didn’t want to stay with her. This was also so very wrong. Do author really think that a reader can’t realize this kind of things? He never apologized for hurting her, never said, if I could go back I’d never do what I did, I realized very soon I made a mistake. No, nothing. So how are we supposed to believe he always loved her? Because he had a fuggin tattoo on his pecs? Really? Are we 12?
- so, basically, the hero enjoyed his life a lot, was happy, had a lot of women he enjoyed having sex with and spending date time with while the heroine now will have the honor of washing his dirty socks and cooking his meals, so how cannot we happy? Hurrah. Not. At least I have the meager satisfaction to know he doesn’t t have children with her and he will have to raise her three kids she had with another man one of whose is the copycat of his father. Little joys in life.
So, why the one star.
- the book is definitely rushed. There are loopholes, loose ends, inconsistencies.
- instead of taking care of those loose ends the author decided to focus on new and unnecessary drama: the heroine finds out her late hubby had another family with two kids, for the last ten years, but it stops there. Who is the ow, did she know he had another family? Do these people want to met her or their half sibling? Was there any mention of them in his will, and who had the inheritance. I mean, if you decide to write such a great twist, you cannot abandon it. Apparently the heroine was the only one not to know about his second family, all his friends and relative knew about it. The heroine doesn’t want to know anything else. So we don’t know anything more than the plain facts. Really? Instead, the author makes up a new drama with some ex high school guy that has become an alcoholic and kidnaps the heroine just because. Unnecessary and ott.
- loopholes. The heroine and the hero were a couple for two years, he dumps her and leaves her heartbroken. There’s no other mention of it. No flashback, no reconstruction of the scene, nothing, so we don’t know how it was, why he thought that, what he told her, how it really went.
- the reasons for the hero dumping the heroine were ridiculous. He didn’t think he was worthy of her. Apparently he thought he was worthy of plenty of ow though, since he , as a friend said, went through women as if they were handkerchiefs. His latest gf is still around and hoping he will take her back, when the heroine comes back.
- he never said he went away thinking to one day come back and marry the heroine. He let her go for good.
- the heroine had a marriage with three children, which I appreciate, and she loved her husband. I am very disappointed that the author couldn’t for once let the heroine, who was jilted by the hero, have a nice man who treated her well. She had to spoil it all and make him worse than a cheater. This is something that was not only unnecessary for the story but it made it all unbalanced. Since the heroine is the one wronged by the hero, she at least should have had some compensation in the form of a good husband. There’s no balance here, it’s all on the hero’s side. So no,I don’t accept it, stop this ugly double standard.
- the hero has had a very good life, as he well says, and here the author is the one to rain on her parade since all his friends and family kept telling the heroine that he only lived half a life, meaning he regretted what he did and never moved on. The hero himself tells the heroine that he was happy and had all he wanted, friends, relatives, job and he doesn’t say but we know, all the women he wanted. So it was even more wrong and unfair. He should at least have pined for the heroine but he didn’t, so it makes sense that he left the heroine because he didn’t want her, dot.
- the whole thing it’s me not you is never ever right and always leaves readers with a bittersweet taste. I don’t care if it was the hero who didn’t feel he was enough for the heroine, what matters is that he let her go.
- he never says he regretted losing her and wasting 20 years without her. Apparently he didn’t want to stay with her. This was also so very wrong. Do author really think that a reader can’t realize this kind of things? He never apologized for hurting her, never said, if I could go back I’d never do what I did, I realized very soon I made a mistake. No, nothing. So how are we supposed to believe he always loved her? Because he had a fuggin tattoo on his pecs? Really? Are we 12?
- so, basically, the hero enjoyed his life a lot, was happy, had a lot of women he enjoyed having sex with and spending date time with while the heroine now will have the honor of washing his dirty socks and cooking his meals, so how cannot we happy? Hurrah. Not. At least I have the meager satisfaction to know he doesn’t t have children with her and he will have to raise her three kids she had with another man one of whose is the copycat of his father. Little joys in life.
March 10, 2026
Main characters: Blythe & Rhodes
Minor characters: Tristan (her brother)
My thoughts: This is another one that moves fast and has no real drama. Things happen but everyone seems to move on so quickly and maturely.
Summary:
Rhodes and Blythe met when they were young and fell in love.
He was raised by his oldest sister (book 4 of the Hope Valley series). They were poor and he was teased about it all the time. His sister married a guy who became Rhodes’ role model. He decided he would join the military and work for the security firm just like him.
Rhodes realized he couldn’t give Blythe the life she deserved so he broke up with her. They were both devastated.
She moved away for college and ended up meeting someone else and getting married and having a family. 20 years later she has 3 kids. One day her husband is away for work and dies in a car accident.
At the funeral she finds out her husband was cheating on her. That the coworker who died in the car with him was really his mistress.
She moves back to Hope Valley to be close to her family. She hires the security firm (Alpha Omega which is featured heavily in the Hope Valley series. All the men who founded and work there were close friends of her mother and stepdad so they agree to help her immediately) to find out who the mistress was. Rhodes works at the firm and is being trained to take it over. He gets called in to her first visit and finds out her husband cheated on her. He feels awful because he wanted her to have a beautiful life.
Rhodes never moved on from her and decided he would just be alone for the rest of his life. When she comes back to town he realizes this is their second chance.
She’s still hurt so she tries to avoid him, but it’s a small town and they run into each other everywhere. They end up becoming friends, but he plans to win her back.
She was living with her brother but there was a pipe leak so she had to move her family into her mom’s 2 bedroom house. Rhodes offers to let them all move in to his huge house. She reluctantly agrees.
He’s honest about still being in love with her. He explains he didn’t think he was good enough. She realizes she never got over him either and they get back together.
One day a guy they knew in high school (who hated Rhodes and always liked her, and had been embarrassed by her in public when he hit on her and she turned him down after he insulted Rhodes) kidnaps her from work.
She’s able to give Rhodes her location through her phone and the security firm finds her.
Rhodes proposes and they get married.
Minor characters: Tristan (her brother)
My thoughts: This is another one that moves fast and has no real drama. Things happen but everyone seems to move on so quickly and maturely.
Summary:
Rhodes and Blythe met when they were young and fell in love.
He was raised by his oldest sister (book 4 of the Hope Valley series). They were poor and he was teased about it all the time. His sister married a guy who became Rhodes’ role model. He decided he would join the military and work for the security firm just like him.
Rhodes realized he couldn’t give Blythe the life she deserved so he broke up with her. They were both devastated.
She moved away for college and ended up meeting someone else and getting married and having a family. 20 years later she has 3 kids. One day her husband is away for work and dies in a car accident.
At the funeral she finds out her husband was cheating on her. That the coworker who died in the car with him was really his mistress.
She moves back to Hope Valley to be close to her family. She hires the security firm (Alpha Omega which is featured heavily in the Hope Valley series. All the men who founded and work there were close friends of her mother and stepdad so they agree to help her immediately) to find out who the mistress was. Rhodes works at the firm and is being trained to take it over. He gets called in to her first visit and finds out her husband cheated on her. He feels awful because he wanted her to have a beautiful life.
Rhodes never moved on from her and decided he would just be alone for the rest of his life. When she comes back to town he realizes this is their second chance.
She’s still hurt so she tries to avoid him, but it’s a small town and they run into each other everywhere. They end up becoming friends, but he plans to win her back.
She was living with her brother but there was a pipe leak so she had to move her family into her mom’s 2 bedroom house. Rhodes offers to let them all move in to his huge house. She reluctantly agrees.
He’s honest about still being in love with her. He explains he didn’t think he was good enough. She realizes she never got over him either and they get back together.
One day a guy they knew in high school (who hated Rhodes and always liked her, and had been embarrassed by her in public when he hit on her and she turned him down after he insulted Rhodes) kidnaps her from work.
She’s able to give Rhodes her location through her phone and the security firm finds her.
Rhodes proposes and they get married.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2024
So worth the wait!!!
Twice In A Lifetime is the third installment of the second generation of the Hope Valley series. For those that have not read the Hope Valley series, I 100% recommend reading it and the previous two books in the series before enjoying this book.
We meet Blythe in the previous book and learn a little of her story there. A Hope Valley native and the daughter of Nona and Trick (The Best Of Me: Hope Valley Book 3) Blythe has returned to her home town after the loss of her husband, with the help of her brother Tristian, Blythe and her three rug rats start to adjust to their new normal. When her husband dies, he left more questions than answers, and those questions are haunting her more and more everyday. Finally, Blythe turns to the one person she knows can help her. A long time family friend and the owner of Alpha Omega, the top Private Investigator firm in Hope Valley. With Linc’s help Blythe hopes to uncover the answers to the questions her late husband left to her. Just when Blythe thinks life can’t get more complicated, in walks the one man who has always owned her heart, but broke it in two all those years ago.
Rhodes.
Rhodes (Gypsy’s brother from Wrong Side of the Tracks; Hope Valley book 4) has life’s half a life since leaving his heart behind with Blythe. She has always been his only love, no other woman could ever take her place. Not that he ever tried, he found his Angel at 17, and then broke both their hearts when he left for the military. Now, twenty years later, Blythe is back in Hope Valley, nursing a broken heart and searching for answers. When she comes into his job at Alpha Omega, he can’t help but try for a second chance with her. Slowly, Rhodes, Blythe and her kids form a bond of trust and second chances. Secrets come to light, hearts are broken and truths are uncovered. -Blythe’s ex, didn’t see that coming for sure-
I can’t say enough how much I freaking love Hope Valley! Rhodes and Blythe were such a treat to read, I wanted more and more as the plot progressed. The heartbreak between these two felt so raw, their emotions so close to the surface. Blythe was the one for Rhodes and even though he knew he was the who broke them apart, he also knew he would never love another woman. That’s what romance books are! Rhode’s is a protective, sweet alpha who wants to love Blythe and her children, and Blythe, she has her own hangups, but once she learned to trust her own heart again, she knew Rhodes was it.
I can’t wait to see what else comes from the New Hope Valley series!!
5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
Tropes
💚 Second Chance
💙 Protective Alpha
💚 Single Mom
💙 Touch her and die
Twice In A Lifetime is the third installment of the second generation of the Hope Valley series. For those that have not read the Hope Valley series, I 100% recommend reading it and the previous two books in the series before enjoying this book.
We meet Blythe in the previous book and learn a little of her story there. A Hope Valley native and the daughter of Nona and Trick (The Best Of Me: Hope Valley Book 3) Blythe has returned to her home town after the loss of her husband, with the help of her brother Tristian, Blythe and her three rug rats start to adjust to their new normal. When her husband dies, he left more questions than answers, and those questions are haunting her more and more everyday. Finally, Blythe turns to the one person she knows can help her. A long time family friend and the owner of Alpha Omega, the top Private Investigator firm in Hope Valley. With Linc’s help Blythe hopes to uncover the answers to the questions her late husband left to her. Just when Blythe thinks life can’t get more complicated, in walks the one man who has always owned her heart, but broke it in two all those years ago.
Rhodes.
Rhodes (Gypsy’s brother from Wrong Side of the Tracks; Hope Valley book 4) has life’s half a life since leaving his heart behind with Blythe. She has always been his only love, no other woman could ever take her place. Not that he ever tried, he found his Angel at 17, and then broke both their hearts when he left for the military. Now, twenty years later, Blythe is back in Hope Valley, nursing a broken heart and searching for answers. When she comes into his job at Alpha Omega, he can’t help but try for a second chance with her. Slowly, Rhodes, Blythe and her kids form a bond of trust and second chances. Secrets come to light, hearts are broken and truths are uncovered. -Blythe’s ex, didn’t see that coming for sure-
I can’t say enough how much I freaking love Hope Valley! Rhodes and Blythe were such a treat to read, I wanted more and more as the plot progressed. The heartbreak between these two felt so raw, their emotions so close to the surface. Blythe was the one for Rhodes and even though he knew he was the who broke them apart, he also knew he would never love another woman. That’s what romance books are! Rhode’s is a protective, sweet alpha who wants to love Blythe and her children, and Blythe, she has her own hangups, but once she learned to trust her own heart again, she knew Rhodes was it.
I can’t wait to see what else comes from the New Hope Valley series!!
5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
Tropes
💚 Second Chance
💙 Protective Alpha
💚 Single Mom
💙 Touch her and die
January 12, 2026
hard to take seriously
This one had a good premise that I was excited about, but then it went nowhere. Blythe finds out her husband has an entire other family but then nothing? When he died in the crash, was the woman in the car the other wife? If so, what happened to the children, who are HER children’s half siblings? She finds out this went on for TEN years - did his friends and family really know and were ok with it???? They told her to “leave the past in the past” - seriously??? Was his entire family so cold that they were never interested in seeing her children again? She moved home to be with family but it’s never mentioned about his family contacting her to see them. The kids don’t ask about seeing them? So many unanswered questions. THEN a mere few months after the death of her husband, she’s warp speed moving on with her first love. She moves her 3 children, all under 10, into his house. Yes, at first it’s just a “roommate” situation but after only a few weeks, they declare their eternal love and the kids are all cool with it??? Just no. The kids had no idea about their dad’s other family, and by all accounts, was a good dad. There is no way on god’s green earth they would all be so nonchalant about this new development. This couple was separated for TWENTY years and there is no relationship development. They don’t talk much about why he broke up with her so long ago (that seems to have just been glossed over and forgotten by her suddenly), there’s no “dating” to get to know each other again, it’s just POOF, “I still love you, let’s be together forever.” Huh? Then there’s the two characters that seem to be thrown in just for some amount of conflict but no purpose: Grace, a former GF of Rhodes’ that can’t seem to get the hint. She keeps popping in but for no real reason. She doesn’t serve any purpose. Her final scene in the book, she says some crap that isn’t warranted and then you never hear or see her again. Then there’s Lonny, resident bully who never grew up and pulls a dumb act late in the book. This seems random and feels like it was thrown in haphazardly. This has several ideas kind of happening all at once but none of them really fleshed out fully.
This one had a good premise that I was excited about, but then it went nowhere. Blythe finds out her husband has an entire other family but then nothing? When he died in the crash, was the woman in the car the other wife? If so, what happened to the children, who are HER children’s half siblings? She finds out this went on for TEN years - did his friends and family really know and were ok with it???? They told her to “leave the past in the past” - seriously??? Was his entire family so cold that they were never interested in seeing her children again? She moved home to be with family but it’s never mentioned about his family contacting her to see them. The kids don’t ask about seeing them? So many unanswered questions. THEN a mere few months after the death of her husband, she’s warp speed moving on with her first love. She moves her 3 children, all under 10, into his house. Yes, at first it’s just a “roommate” situation but after only a few weeks, they declare their eternal love and the kids are all cool with it??? Just no. The kids had no idea about their dad’s other family, and by all accounts, was a good dad. There is no way on god’s green earth they would all be so nonchalant about this new development. This couple was separated for TWENTY years and there is no relationship development. They don’t talk much about why he broke up with her so long ago (that seems to have just been glossed over and forgotten by her suddenly), there’s no “dating” to get to know each other again, it’s just POOF, “I still love you, let’s be together forever.” Huh? Then there’s the two characters that seem to be thrown in just for some amount of conflict but no purpose: Grace, a former GF of Rhodes’ that can’t seem to get the hint. She keeps popping in but for no real reason. She doesn’t serve any purpose. Her final scene in the book, she says some crap that isn’t warranted and then you never hear or see her again. Then there’s Lonny, resident bully who never grew up and pulls a dumb act late in the book. This seems random and feels like it was thrown in haphazardly. This has several ideas kind of happening all at once but none of them really fleshed out fully.
December 21, 2024
***5 Stars***
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series/spinoff, but I gotta admit that this one is my fav ~ thus far. I loved getting to know grown up Rhodes and Blythe and just getting to catch up with quite a few of the old favs, while getting to add some new favs to the list.
My heart hurt for Blythe and all that she was going through, but I loved how she did her best to put her kids first and find a way to put the past behind her and move forward. Rhodes was all kinds of protective alpha male with a marshmallow heart. I will admit that the reason behind their breakup is one of my least favorite of all time…I do like how Rhodes and Blythe find their way back to each other. In many ways it was inevitable since Blythe moved home, but I like that it wasn’t insta, nor was it all kinds of angsty ~ it was that perfect middle ground for me and I was very happy with how everything worked out for them in the end.
As I said at the start, part of my enjoyment was getting to catch up with old favs like Lincoln, Nona and Trick and Gypsy and Marco along with Blythe and Rhodes siblings. But I loved Gretchen, Diana and Merritt and am crossing my toes that we’ll get more of them in future books. I will say that there is a situation in the book that I was hoping to fleshed out more ~ I get why it wasn’t, I do, but it’s like…that’s it? ~ so that’s my only downer of this on, though it is a “it’s not you, it’s me” thing. But, I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series ~ if it’s who I think it will be about ~ and even if it isn’t, I’m all in!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series/spinoff, but I gotta admit that this one is my fav ~ thus far. I loved getting to know grown up Rhodes and Blythe and just getting to catch up with quite a few of the old favs, while getting to add some new favs to the list.
My heart hurt for Blythe and all that she was going through, but I loved how she did her best to put her kids first and find a way to put the past behind her and move forward. Rhodes was all kinds of protective alpha male with a marshmallow heart. I will admit that the reason behind their breakup is one of my least favorite of all time…I do like how Rhodes and Blythe find their way back to each other. In many ways it was inevitable since Blythe moved home, but I like that it wasn’t insta, nor was it all kinds of angsty ~ it was that perfect middle ground for me and I was very happy with how everything worked out for them in the end.
As I said at the start, part of my enjoyment was getting to catch up with old favs like Lincoln, Nona and Trick and Gypsy and Marco along with Blythe and Rhodes siblings. But I loved Gretchen, Diana and Merritt and am crossing my toes that we’ll get more of them in future books. I will say that there is a situation in the book that I was hoping to fleshed out more ~ I get why it wasn’t, I do, but it’s like…that’s it? ~ so that’s my only downer of this on, though it is a “it’s not you, it’s me” thing. But, I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series ~ if it’s who I think it will be about ~ and even if it isn’t, I’m all in!
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
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