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The book you’ve been asking for! Matt Hawkins, the tortured man you first met in The Barker Triplets, is finally getting his story! And more than a match for him is Grace Simon

When love and pain collide, all bets are off…

Grace Simon is a fixer. But fixing the men in her life has led to more heartbreak than she cares to admit to. She should know by now that some men are damaged for life. Yet Matt Hawkins awakes in her such a need to connect that it can’t be denied. Risking her heart might be the only way to help him, but it could also be the one heartbreak she will never get over…

Matt Hawkins has never learned to deal with his painful past. He uses booze and women to forget and he sure as hell knows that ‘forever’ isn’t in his future. He’s no good for a rich girl like Grace Simon. Yet he can’t deny the powerful attraction between them and his desire to be with her. Does he push her away knowing he’ll only hurt her? Or does he take a chance and hope that she’s the key to slaying his demons…

Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2015

34 people are currently reading
472 people want to read

About the author

Juliana Stone

70 books1,293 followers
Juliana Stone is also known as J.A. Stone.

USA Today bestselling author and 2015 RITA® winner JULIANA STONE fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she splits her time between baseball, books, and music. When she’s not singing with her band, she’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance—books that have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly & Booklist—from somewhere in the wilds of Canada.

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5 stars
349 (39%)
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353 (39%)
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165 (18%)
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20 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Dar.
4,528 reviews92 followers
December 12, 2015
Is it just me or does it seem like I've been waiting forever for this book to come out! It finally did, and while I really liked Matt and Grace's story, I didn't love it because of a few flaws I felt in the story

Grace met Matt back when her brother Beau married Matt's best friend Betty. Grace is the youngest child with four older brothers, and they are a famous family. So she has poise but also a bit of a wild side. She is an adult now, and her encounter with Matt has left her dreaming about him since. A chance encounter has them jumping into bed together, and there they more or less stay

Matt has always been portrayed as deep and dark, someone who is useless and has no feelings. We get his background, but nothing to the extent that explains a lot. He was a bad boy at an early age, drinking and smoking when barely into his teens once his mom left. His dad is heavy fisted with him, and once he hooks up and marries again, Matt becomes angrier and stays on that bad boy path. There is a more, but it reveals way to much to review

Grace and Matt had sparks before, and they are electric now. He says he wants to stay away, everyone tells him to stay away, and her to stay away, but neither does. They end up together with lots of wild and wicked times between the sheets, and that was my catch. Grace complains again and again how they never talk to each other, and even goes to steps to avoid talking in certain instances. With all this non-talk, they both fall deeply in love with each other? They seem to be able to read each others minds and never express themselves to each other? It just seemed a flaw, even in fantasy world

Both of these characters do pack a pretty emotional punch, and the story from front to back had some genuine teary moments, especially those who follow the Barker triplets. With only one Stone relative left, I am going to miss this family when it is done....
Profile Image for Tori.
2,844 reviews474 followers
February 12, 2016
3.5 stars

Grace is a sexy, emotional romance that divulges into a dark subject matter. Grace feel in love with Matt after their first kiss but because of his issues (which were pretty bad) and the fact she was his best friends little sister, he didn't allow himself to start anything with her. When they see each other again, they fall into bed but again, he tells her they can't be together. From then on, Grace essentially pushes Matt into accepting that he deserves to be happy. While I liked that Grace found her HEA, there were times I wished it wasn't with Matt. Not because he wasn't worth it or a bad person but because I felt she did most of the work in the relationship. She changed who she was in order to be who he needed and all he did was take what she offered then push her away when his demons got the better of him. Even towards the end, after he once again pushed her away, she was going to make yet another bid for his love. He just wised up and went to her instead.
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,034 reviews59 followers
January 31, 2016
3.5 stars. This was a nice addition to the series. I've waited to get both Grace and Matt's story.

Matt was dealing with a lot of demons and leave it to Grace to bulldoze her way into his life.

While I enjoyed how their story unfolded, I did want more talk and maybe a bit less sexy moments. I get that was their way of dealing with the glaring problems but even one honest talk would have helped a bit to move things along.

As always the ending was perfect and Matt really redeemed himself after his bad behavior.

Great afternoon read for fans of this series.
Profile Image for Michele.
439 reviews
November 28, 2015
We finally got Matt's story and I'm so happy we did! Matt's a very broken man and one I couldn't help but love. So glad he finally got his HEA :)
447 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2018
So the Simon Saga continues......

Grace, the baby of the Simon Family, has met her match in Matt and what ensues is a rocky road to a HEA. Well written with all the fun, angst, sex and love one expects from this series and it does not disappoint. The family are front and center and we learn a little more of their ongoing lives. It bothers me that the editing is weak and I wonder if we would all be better off without spell check! Although each book stands alone in this series do yourself a favor and get to know the family from Book 1..........I am confident you will be pleased with it. 4.5 Stars here.
Profile Image for Tina.
960 reviews6 followers
May 6, 2018
Awwww Grace’s story is lovely, a true testament to love. Grace has not stopped thinking about Matt since they shared an amazing kiss but will he be able to let Grace in? Matt has always lived life on his own, not caring and not staying with women long enough to care but Grace is different and he knows it, but will he realise in time before he pushes her away?
Love the story, plot, and characters. This story again includes other family members which I love but centres on Grace. Some very sweet moments, some steamy sex scenes, lots of angst, and misunderstandings, some sad moments but a really good read. Would recommend
218 reviews1 follower
September 20, 2019
Um um good!

Loved it! I have read all five books in this series including the Baker triplets and enjoyed them but didn’t provide a review. This was actually a very good and enjoyable read. I really liked Matt and Grace story...it really tugs at the heart. Although the errors could at times distract it did not prevent you from receiving the message from the book. It was a true romantic story that wasn’t overly dramatic but not so simplistic of the pain that Matt was carrying. Grace’s strength should be applauded...I liked her and her willingness to go all in for the man she loves. Enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,486 reviews16 followers
December 21, 2018
When Matt Hawkins was introduced in the Baker triplets series, I needed him to have his happy ending. Something about him just broke my heart and I wanted him to end up with all of the good things that the other characters in these two series we're finding. And he found it, with Grace.

I thought Teague was going to go down as my favorite Simon but Grace has stolen that title. She's so amazing. I loved these two series even though they made me cry more than I thought I would.
61 reviews
January 19, 2018
A beautiful unexpected surprise!

I didn't see this coming but it was a beautiful unexpected surprise! Good job Juliana Stone, I still would like to see a story about Cooper and Rick's Mom... just saying
Profile Image for Christine Jalili.
2,187 reviews44 followers
April 8, 2023
I loved this book and couldn’t stop reading. Loved Grace’s heart and how giving she was. Matt felt so messed up and never had a real relationship. Can he open up? I cried so hard for what happened to him. Thankfully they finally get their happy ever after. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Radd Reader.
1,002 reviews602 followers
October 5, 2018
I thought the book dragged, and I wasn’t that impressed with the reality of Matt’s tortured background.
1,493 reviews4 followers
January 8, 2020
I enjoyed parts of this book, but for the most part it was just an average story. But..... it did have a good ending🙃
77 reviews
April 22, 2020
I’ve loved this series & getting to know these two characters was fabulous. I loved that Grace wasn’t prepared to back down & Matt was able to find his way.
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,239 reviews207 followers
December 10, 2015
4 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 25, 2015



Matt Hawkins, the tortured man you first met in The Barker Triplets, is finally getting his story! And more than a match for him is Grace Simon

When love and pain collide, all bets are off…

Grace Simon is a fixer. But fixing the men in her life has led to more heartbreak than she cares to admit to. She should know by now that some men are damaged for life. Yet Matt Hawkins awakes in her such a need to connect that it can’t be denied. Risking her heart might be the only way to help him, but it could also be the one heartbreak she will never get over…

Matt Hawkins has never learned to deal with his painful past. He uses booze and women to forget and he sure as hell knows that ‘forever’ isn’t in his future. He’s no good for a rich girl like Grace Simon. Yet he can’t deny the powerful attraction between them and his desire to be with her. Does he push her away knowing he’ll only hurt her? Or does he take a chance and hope that she’s the key to slaying his demons…


••••••


REVIEW: GRACE is the fifth installment in Juliana Stone’s contemporary, adult THE FAMILY SIMON romance series focusing on the Simon family. This is the Simon family’s only daughter Grace Simon, and car restorer Matt Hawkins storyline. We were first introduced to Matt in Juliana’s THE BARKER TRIPLETS series. GRACE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary. There is a cross over between the Barker Triplets series and The Family Simon.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Grace and Matt) GRACE focuses on second chances, and letting go of the past. Two years earlier, Grace and Matt shared a kiss at Betty-Jo Barker’s wedding-a kiss that Grace believes meant something more but Matt pulled away and our heroine hasn’t seen the man of her dreams in all that time. Fast forward to present day where Grace will all but be destroyed when Matt takes everything Grace has to offer, then pushes her away like yesterday’s garbage. What ensues is a rekindling of a friendship, a building love, and Matt’s need to let go and forgive himself for the sins of the past in order to move forward.

GRACE is an emotional and heartbreaking storyline where one man is consumed by self-hatred, and the memories of his younger self. Matt is a broken man; a damaged soul who has always struggled with his demons, his dysfunctional family, and his hatred for the man and woman who destroyed his life. No one knows the truth about what drives Matt or what caused the pain and haunting emptiness in his eyes but one look at his past and the truth is not very far behind.

The relationship between our couple is one of immediate attraction but Matt’s self loathing and the sins of his past keep friends on the periphery of really getting to know the man in question. Matt is a man-whore who uses women for one night stands; his heart and soul are darkened by hatred and a past that haunts his night and days. Meeting Grace reminds Matt that he is a dark and damaged man, and will never be good enough for the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are erotic, intense and seductive.

Most of the previous storyline couples and characters play a secondary or supporting role –some by way of mention or through phone calls and memories. We revisit with the Barker family including triplets Betty, Billie and Bobbi-Jo and their significant others. Betty Jo Barker is Matt’s best friend and the woman who pushes Grace to never give up on the man that she loves. Grace’s cousin Cooper Simon has a small cameo role-Cooper’s story is next.

Juliana Stone reveals the heartbreak and emotional backstory of one man whose heart and soul were destroyed by the very people who were supposed to love and protect. The premise is engaging and intense; the characters are haunting and memorable; the romance is a slow build to a happily ever after. There is plenty of push and pull throughout the story especially when Matt realizes that Grace is too close to the truth.

Congratulations Juliana on another great story.

Profile Image for Diane.
2,815 reviews22 followers
August 12, 2023
I have to admit I was a little disappointed in Matt and Grace’s story because the burly, mysterious, addicted loner we met in Betty Jo’s story, Conceal, isn’t the same man who showed up in this story. Yes, he’s got the temper, the same avoidance in revealing his thoughts and feelings, and his mysterious secrets but the story was more about Grace’s desire not to rock the boat and their sexual chemistry and I wanted so much more. I expected an explosive revelation and while Matt’s secrets are salacious and Grace’s commitment to Matt is commendable this one fell kind of flat for me.
Profile Image for Kim.
378 reviews10 followers
February 1, 2016
The anticipation was high for Matt and Grace’s story. Pairing these two was inspired. Grace has always been the fun-loving wild child with her outrageous antics, while Matt has been a tortured soul. Fans of the Barkers & Simons have wondered and waited a long time to discover the traumatic event that caused Matt Hawkins to be so tormented and broken. I’m relieved my guess was not correct.

Sometimes a book that you’ve wanted for what seems like forever doesn’t live up to the greatness you’ve built it up to in your head. That isn’t the case with GRACE. It’s as good as I had hoped and expected. I loved and devoured it in one sitting. It’s emotional, sweet, sad, funny, and sexy.

Grace matured into a strong, loving, and tenacious woman who wasn’t about to let love slip through her fingers. Matt, while afraid to open up and burden Grace with his secrets, was even more scared to not explore the chemistry and connection between them. But it’s not an easy journey. Thankfully Grace has the support of her family, especially Betty Jo, who’s also Matt’s best friend. Her large role and catching up with all of the other Barkers & Simons played a large part in why I loved this story so much. I can’t wait to see more of them in Cooper’s story.

This is a definite must read if you’ve already read the Barker Triplets and Simon books. If you haven’t read the other stories, do so now, but read them in order to get the most impact out of the series.

4.5 stars
Profile Image for Patti.
1,446 reviews10 followers
November 27, 2015
This book is a must read! This is a stand alone book but it is best to read it after the Barker Triplets so you can understand Matt Hawkins better. Matt is a damage soul who has never let any woman close except his best friend Betty Jo Barker. Matt meets Betty Jo's sister in law, Grace Simon, at her wedding to Beau Simon. Matt and Grace have this strong attraction to each other but Matt pushes her away.
When they meet again, years later, the attraction is stronger and Matt does not have the power to pull away and Grace starts knocking down his walls!!! When Matt's past comes back to haunt him he tries to push Grace away again. Grace and Matt have so much emotions to get through that Matt is not sure he is good enough for Grace. Can Grace convince him to give her a chance or will he break her heart!! This book is so great!! The sex is off the wall, the emotions and the passion in this book will keep you up till your done!! You won't be disappointed...except when you realize that it is over and now you have to wait for Cooper!!
Profile Image for Cristina.
866 reviews38 followers
August 29, 2016
2, 5 stelline.
Carino, ma dopo cinque installamenti nella serie, e dato che i personaggi passano dall'una all'altra delle altre serie dell'autrice, direi un poco ripetitivo. Matt è un personaggio tormentato, e va bene, ma era meglio se i patemi se li fosse fatti passare prima. Un buon analista avrebbe fatto miracoli, ma in questi libri nessuno ci va mai.
Bevono come non ci fosse un domani, scopano in giro come cinghiali poi incontrano l'amore della loro vita e bum, tutto risolto.
Come spesso in questa serie le protagoniste sono meglio della media, forti, intelligenti e non certo prone a subirle dal grosso idiota che l'autrice impone loro di amare oltre ogni ragionevole dubbio. Oh, beh, pare siano tutti dei demoni del materasso... magari vale la pena di sopportarli quando sono in posizione verticale, và!
257 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2021
Grace met and first noticed Matt at Betty Jo's wedding. Then nothing until a meeting in Nashville where she is older and know what she wants. Through work Grace finds herself in Matt home town. She lives in his house and gets to spend time with him in his home. A few twists and turns to make their relationship and what they have a little tense raise their heads. The dog with her puppies is special and so is the neighbour. Then of course comes the part (as in all the other books so far) where a situation takes place and Matt ups and leaves Grace in order to head off to deal with said situation, alone. This creates a divide between himself and Grace, the woman he has grown to love. Fortunately, he realises what he needs to do to win her back and he does just that. The grammar and spelling mistakes weren't that glaring in this novel.
Profile Image for Casey Leigh.
1,027 reviews7 followers
November 29, 2015
I totally absolutely LOVED Grace!!!
The Barker and Simon families are a blended and crazy bunch who love deeply, defend and protect each other especially in affairs of the heart.
Grace Simon and Matt Hawkins have a connection. It's hot, heavy and very confusing. They deal with life and all its challenges in almost opposite manners, can they learn to be the person the other needs to be together??
The witty repartee, varied emotions and deep feeling make for a fabulous read.
Profile Image for Christina Montminy.
2,153 reviews22 followers
May 25, 2016
Really enjoyed this emotion packed book. I've always liked Matt even though he was a bad boy, he always looked after Betty Jo. The connection between Matt & Grace is strong & it's inevitable that they will end up in each other's arms but Matt might not be strong enough to survive the Grace effect. I love how close the Simon family is even when they get in each other's way. Matt & Grace are a great couple together & deserve whatever happiness they can find. Can't wait for Cooper's book.
Profile Image for Sarah.
490 reviews2 followers
November 29, 2015
I loved this story, it was so good to finally see Matt Hawkins drama and ending, it was even better to see that it was with Grace and now his best friend is going to be part of his family! There were parts where I thought the book was going to go in one direction and it went in another, which was good. Thank goodness for Dora and Justin in the end!
5 reviews
December 7, 2015
Compared to the other books in the Simon series, this was disappointing. Grace didn't have the emotional impact and character development that other books (especially Teague and Tucker) had. That being said, I'm still a fan of the author, and can't wait for the next book, Cooper, to come out.
Profile Image for Sandrine.
104 reviews1 follower
December 25, 2015
omg i dont have word i loved it and can't wait to see cooper story
girl if you already start this serie go one it better every day and the first one way gorgeouse
if you never read one of mrs stone read it and also the wisky princess to
270 reviews2 followers
November 29, 2015
I LOVED Grace's story.

One kiss two years ago that was so hard to forget.
Mathew has had a hard life. Full of anger and no one understands him...Grace has made an impression that won't go away. Let the fireworks begin.
Loved this story.
Profile Image for Seeshel kettler.
1,376 reviews14 followers
December 6, 2015
This starts out steamy right away. Holy crap the things Matt says to Grace. He's fighting his childhood demons and she want to save him and show him he's love able. This series is so good. Each character has a great story and I'm looking forward to finding out finally about Cooper.
Profile Image for Suzie Weber.
1,004 reviews2 followers
January 23, 2016
If you have followed this series you are aware that the only sister amongst all the boys is going to not take no for an answer. And she wants Matt. Baggage and all. She hits some walls that I wish she would have punched harder through but Matt comes to his senses. Puppy and all.
122 reviews
May 9, 2016
A Family Simon book never disappoints. Always a solid read that you can really get into. Matt is definitely that sexy bad boy book boyfriend every girl needs, and Grace is just the girl to straighten his #@#$$@ out!
30 reviews
March 31, 2016
Better and better

I have no words to describe that each book gets better than one before. I would rate this the highest number whatever that is. I am looking forward to Cooper's story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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