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A second-chance love 

Back in college, Garland Warner developed feelings for her older brother's best friend, Ryker Dugrandpre. But she soon learned the attraction wasn't mutual when he left school and married someone else. In time, Garland moved on and even had a baby of her own. She and little Amya now have a great life together, just the two of them. Yet that may be about to change when a guilt-ridden nurse reveals that Amya might have been switched at birth with another infant girl�Ryker's. 

His wife died the same day she delivered little Kai, so Kai is all Ryker has left. Both Garland and Ryker want what is best�both for their biological child and the daughter of their hearts. The solution is as obvious as it is crazy�move in with each other and raise the girls as sisters. Ryker still thinks of the sensational beauty as his friend's kid sister, but the passionate glances and smoldering kisses they now share heat up the distance between them. Will they be able to let go of the past in order to finally build a bright future and family together?

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2014

28 people are currently reading
82 people want to read

About the author

Jacquelin Thomas

122 books405 followers
Jacquelin Thomas is an award-winning, best selling author with 94 titles published. Her books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. Jacquelin was a 2005 honoree at the Houston Black Film Festival for the movie adaptation of her novel, Hidden Blessings. She was the first recipient to receive the Writers Achievement Award at the North Carolina Book Festival in Winston-Salem. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine.

Jacquelin has published in the romance, women's fiction, inspirational and young adult genres. Her second book in the YA series, Divine Confidential was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award.

Jacquelin is happily married to her best friend and is the proud mother of three children. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
634 reviews
June 17, 2019
Bk 1 - A second-chance love Back in college, Garland Warner developed feelings for her older brother's best friend, Ryker Dugrandpre. But she soon learned the attraction wasn't mutual when he never pursued her out of loyalty to her brother. Later he married someone else. In time, Garland moved on and even had a baby of her own through artificial insemination. She and little Amya now have a great life together, just the two of them. Yet that may be about to change when a guilt-ridden nurse reveals on her deathbed that Amya might have been switched at birth with another infant girl—Ryker's. His wife died the same day she delivered little Kai, so Kai is all Ryker has left. Both Garland and Ryker want what is best—both for their biological child and the daughter of their hearts that they’ve been raising for the past 2 years. The solution is as obvious as it is crazy—move in with each other and raise the girls as sisters. Ryker still thinks of the sensational beauty as his friend's kid sister, but the passionate glances and smoldering kisses they now share heat up the distance between them. Will they be able to let go of the past in order to finally build a bright future and family together?
Profile Image for Cherie l brown.
795 reviews
April 29, 2022
Forever My Baby

What a story! The Dugrandpre's are a family of wealth and clout. Despite all of that Garland Warner did not back down from the bully mom. Garland was a strong, independent, resourceful, educated, loving woman/daughter/ mom. Ryker was no chomp, and he too knew how to stand up to his mom. One of my favorite segment is when Aubrey reminds her mother that she was once a waitress when she met the senior Mr. Dugrandpre, and started a relationship with him. The mom had so acclimated to a life of luxury that she looked down her nose at others. Ryker and Garland as a couple was yet another interesting element in this very unusual mix-up.
Profile Image for Tina Jackson.
615 reviews11 followers
September 6, 2018
Good read

Very interesting read of old friends and old attractions reconnect I ng. The plot twist with the children switched at birth added a deeper layer of interest in the story especially with the difference in economic backgrounds.
387 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2022
Forever my baby

I have enjoyed this book. The love and the tragedy make for a good read. Many lovers never regain another love like the first. Children have the spark to rekindle that love.
21 reviews
May 8, 2024
Forever ours

Gave it 5 stars such a good book from beginning to end. I really liked th ending it ended booked I thought it would with a baby coming soon.!! It was defiantly a true love.
Profile Image for Whit.
3,660 reviews52 followers
June 25, 2019
Lots of twists and turns in this one! I loved how Garland stood up to Rochelle when she threatened to take both Amya and Kai. Rochelle was way too bossy for me. Ryker has a good heart and was willing to do whatever was necessary to keep his "family" together.
18 reviews
September 14, 2019
Kindred love found

Although they came back together because of unforeseen circumstances, I'm so glad they worked together to work it all out. It was a beautiful love story.
6 reviews
October 19, 2021
Great Read!!!

This author never disappoints. The store is easy to follow and not one page that’s boring. Can’t wait to read another from this author.
Profile Image for Joyce M. H..
1,398 reviews19 followers
January 30, 2017
Read many books by Jacquelin Thomas, love that her books are sequel.
Loved the title "Forever My Baby".
Garland and Ryker had chemistry from the day they met. Garland was Parker's younger sister who was best friends with Ryker. Parker and Ryker were both majoring in law. Parker came home for the weekend was killed by a drunken driver.
Ryker and his wife Angela and Garland both gave birth to baby girls born on the same day at the same hospital. A deathbed confession from a nurse at the hospital during the delivery mixed up the babies. Ryker's wife died during the delivery of their daughter Amya whom Garland was raising and Ryker was raising Garland's Kai.
Ryker's mom was a getting on my nervous she wanted to take Amya away from Garland have Ryker raise both girls leaving Garland with no child. Ryker was not going for that neither was Garland. While growing up Garland had a crush on Ryker and he also had feelings for Garland but kept his distance because Garland was his best friend's little sister.
Garland and Ryker decided to try living together and later decided to get married and raise the two girls together. Ryker's mother-in-law wanted him to take Amya from Garland and he did not want to do that.
Ryker's mom continued with her interference but in the end Ryker and Garland love for each other prevailed into a great love for each other.

Reading book two in "The Dugrandpres Of Charleston" Jordin and Ethan "Only For You".
Profile Image for Desiree Watson.
213 reviews4 followers
January 20, 2015
Ryker and Garland have been raising their babies as single parents since they were born. When a dying nurse confesses that she mixed up babies at the hospital before she dies, they just know it couldn't have happened to them, because neither one of them would be willing to give up their daughter. Ryker's busy body mother Rochelle, has already decided that if in fact their children have been switched at birth, she wants him to take both of the girls.
Life has a way of working itself out and Ryker and Garland find a way to make things work. Read: January 2015
Profile Image for Toniette.
158 reviews6 followers
October 15, 2016
OMG, this book has the most annoying busy body mothers that i have ever seen. Even after, the sister, son, nieces, and husband tell her to stay her butt out of the son's business she still do crap trying to break up a marriage she aint got no right to be involved in instead of staying in her own lane. Mommy dearest should have been put in her place a long time ago. It took a whole book for the son to tell off the mom and basically threaten to stop her from seeing her granddaughters in order to see the error in her ways.
Profile Image for Knook.
28 reviews11 followers
July 20, 2015
You have Ryker Dugrandpre who lost his wife while giving birth to their daugher and Garland Warner who also have a daugher. Ryker and Garland hasn't seen each other since her brother's death but a death bed confession brings them back together. What would you do with 2 years ago you give birth then you found out that the child that you are raising may not be yours. You have to read the book to see what Ryker and Garland will do for their girls.
9 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2015
Good read

I enjoyed this book the author did a great job I don't think Garland and Ryker could have handled their situation any better. While I liked the story line I am not sure I felt the true love in the union between Garland and Ryker. At times it seemed forced. Overall good read. Kudos to the author I can't wait to read about the other Dugrandpres.
Profile Image for Toni.
710 reviews
March 18, 2015
This is about a second chance at love, slso involves babies who are switched at birth. Ryker Dugrandpre and Garland Warner were friends in college who were attracted to each other. They haven't seen each other since the death of Garland's brother. Now their lives are about to become entwined.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
127 reviews3 followers
January 2, 2015
Loved this series...

Very good book. Can't wait to read more about the Degrandpres family! Hopefully, it will be Jordin's story next and her finding love.
Profile Image for CHANDRA  FIELDS.
369 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2015
Forever My Baby

This was another great book. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. I would recommend this book for all romance lovers.
334 reviews
January 26, 2015
I really liked this book. It is what it is and it did that very well.
Profile Image for Shone.
1,346 reviews28 followers
April 4, 2015
A touching story of long lost friends as they try to re-connect, unaware of their true connection.As Garland and Ryker are both want to do the right thing making the best choices for all concerned.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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