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Love He Denied: A Left at the Altar, Second Chance Romance
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2026
About the author
M.L. Hall
12 books26 followersHello,
I'm Matt Hall, Fantasy and Adventure author. I've had a life of varied experiences that have included everything from designing electrical circuits to saving lives. And I hope to share many of my experiences with you through my fantasy adventure stories.
I first learned about fantasy adventure stories from my seventh grade teacher when she offered me a copy of J.R.R.Tolkien's The Hobbit. I devoured that book as well as The Lord of The Rings and countless other King Arthur stories. It wasn't until I encountered R.A.Salvatore's writing that I began to take a greater interest in story telling, or rather story entertainment.
And really that is my goal, to entertain you with stories that you enjoy. That's why I would like to direct you once again to the Connect With M.L.Hall tab on my website www.mlhallbooks.com. It's so important to me that we work on these books together. I'd like to hear your ideas and thoughts on where you would like to see my books go.
Perhaps we may even find we have other interests we can share. Like most writers, and for that matter, people surfing the web, I have varied interests. My wife and I enjoy gardening together, camping, and fishing.
One of my favorite past times is archery. I'm infatuated with primitive devices and have made countless longbows, some of which even shoot! There is something magical about watching the flight of an arrow.
Anyhow, check out my website, view the book samples, and send me an email, strike up a conversation.
Sincerely,
M.L.Hall
I'm Matt Hall, Fantasy and Adventure author. I've had a life of varied experiences that have included everything from designing electrical circuits to saving lives. And I hope to share many of my experiences with you through my fantasy adventure stories.
I first learned about fantasy adventure stories from my seventh grade teacher when she offered me a copy of J.R.R.Tolkien's The Hobbit. I devoured that book as well as The Lord of The Rings and countless other King Arthur stories. It wasn't until I encountered R.A.Salvatore's writing that I began to take a greater interest in story telling, or rather story entertainment.
And really that is my goal, to entertain you with stories that you enjoy. That's why I would like to direct you once again to the Connect With M.L.Hall tab on my website www.mlhallbooks.com. It's so important to me that we work on these books together. I'd like to hear your ideas and thoughts on where you would like to see my books go.
Perhaps we may even find we have other interests we can share. Like most writers, and for that matter, people surfing the web, I have varied interests. My wife and I enjoy gardening together, camping, and fishing.
One of my favorite past times is archery. I'm infatuated with primitive devices and have made countless longbows, some of which even shoot! There is something magical about watching the flight of an arrow.
Anyhow, check out my website, view the book samples, and send me an email, strike up a conversation.
Sincerely,
M.L.Hall
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 24, 2026
Bland. Predictable. Formulaic.
As is the case with the majority of books generated by some extent using AI, this book follows the predictable, formulaic plot that lacks substance, consistent continuity and emotional depth. The character development is nonexistent, the dialogue is dry and unremarkable, and the romance is barely tepid. The entire book follows a prefabricated, unemotional narrative that is as uncreative as it is forgettable.
As is the case with the majority of books generated by some extent using AI, this book follows the predictable, formulaic plot that lacks substance, consistent continuity and emotional depth. The character development is nonexistent, the dialogue is dry and unremarkable, and the romance is barely tepid. The entire book follows a prefabricated, unemotional narrative that is as uncreative as it is forgettable.
July 3, 2026
Boring! It’s about 70% self-reflection and growth.
(Possible spoilers ahead)
This poor old billionaire hero had a serious girlfriend a few years ago. His parents told him to end it with OW because she wasn’t proper. He did. (Not sure I understand why OW is not proper but the heroine was??)
He met the sweet heroine. School teacher. She was proper, so he put a ring on her finger.
He basically ignored the heroine during their whole “dating” period.
Within 6 months, they’re getting married.
The book starts on their wedding day. BOTH H/h are having doubts, but the hero’s doubts are strong. He keeps thinking about OW.
OW shows up at his wedding with her new husband. Hero was distraught and his POV was chaotic. The heroine walks down the aisle and she speaks some very sweet vows about how much she loves the hero. This “hero” couldn’t even write his own vows.
In a quick moment- instead of saying the heroine’s name, he accidentally calls her OW’s name. The heroine was devastated. Then we get quick snippets of a bunch of times that the hero gave off red flags. I was seriously sitting here going 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ because girrrrrl. You mean to tell me this hero has acted like this for months but you still decided to marry him?
Anywho, the heroine had a tiny backbone and she marched right out of there. She immediately blocked the hero on everything, and moved in with her BFF. She was DONE
The hero is so delusional in his POV. He does try to talk with heroine, but she shuts him down.
Then we get a time jump to 6 months later. The hero has found a way into the heroine’s life by some charity thing tied into her work. 🤪 He basically bombards himself right back into her life. He’s a cHaNgEd man. He loves her. 🤡
NOW the hero wants to know everything about her. What’s her favorite color? There is something dumb about gas station sandwiches. *hard groan* or the kids in her class.
We get endless POVs with both self-reflecting. It was so boring. I almost fell asleep.
There’s really no OW drama. He does see OW again later in the book and he realizes he never loved her and that’s why he gave her up so easily. 🥴 BUT the heroine is different. He loves her and is willing to change/fight for her. lol
Naturally, there is a tiny bit of OM drama. A sweet handsome OM (who was also a teacher) tried to hook up with the heroine. I laughed because I knew he had no chance.
The hero basically gives up everything to prove his love. The H/h had a bunch of dates. She finally forgives him
There were times I wondered if this book was AI assisted. I could feel emotions in the first few chapters, then everything after that sounded so robotic.
Blah
(Possible spoilers ahead)
This poor old billionaire hero had a serious girlfriend a few years ago. His parents told him to end it with OW because she wasn’t proper. He did. (Not sure I understand why OW is not proper but the heroine was??)
He met the sweet heroine. School teacher. She was proper, so he put a ring on her finger.
He basically ignored the heroine during their whole “dating” period.
Within 6 months, they’re getting married.
The book starts on their wedding day. BOTH H/h are having doubts, but the hero’s doubts are strong. He keeps thinking about OW.
OW shows up at his wedding with her new husband. Hero was distraught and his POV was chaotic. The heroine walks down the aisle and she speaks some very sweet vows about how much she loves the hero. This “hero” couldn’t even write his own vows.
In a quick moment- instead of saying the heroine’s name, he accidentally calls her OW’s name. The heroine was devastated. Then we get quick snippets of a bunch of times that the hero gave off red flags. I was seriously sitting here going 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ because girrrrrl. You mean to tell me this hero has acted like this for months but you still decided to marry him?
Anywho, the heroine had a tiny backbone and she marched right out of there. She immediately blocked the hero on everything, and moved in with her BFF. She was DONE
The hero is so delusional in his POV. He does try to talk with heroine, but she shuts him down.
Then we get a time jump to 6 months later. The hero has found a way into the heroine’s life by some charity thing tied into her work. 🤪 He basically bombards himself right back into her life. He’s a cHaNgEd man. He loves her. 🤡
NOW the hero wants to know everything about her. What’s her favorite color? There is something dumb about gas station sandwiches. *hard groan* or the kids in her class.
We get endless POVs with both self-reflecting. It was so boring. I almost fell asleep.
There’s really no OW drama. He does see OW again later in the book and he realizes he never loved her and that’s why he gave her up so easily. 🥴 BUT the heroine is different. He loves her and is willing to change/fight for her. lol
Naturally, there is a tiny bit of OM drama. A sweet handsome OM (who was also a teacher) tried to hook up with the heroine. I laughed because I knew he had no chance.
The hero basically gives up everything to prove his love. The H/h had a bunch of dates. She finally forgives him
There were times I wondered if this book was AI assisted. I could feel emotions in the first few chapters, then everything after that sounded so robotic.
Blah
May 31, 2026
Made me cry. 😭 There's no cheating here (unless you count clinging to the memory of an ex in the very beginning), which is the only reason why I accepted that there wasn't a lot of grovel. The MMC changes himself and the way he interacts with the world because he realizes he was an unfeeling asshole, and then tentatively presents himself to the FMC through a funding opportunity with her school, putting it all in her court to move forward or not.
It's very clear that he changed and realized what he wanted his priorities to be in life. It was very clear that he realized he lost the absolute love of his life by clinging to a memory of someone he thought he loved, but was ultimately willing to let go of. We see him analyze the distinction between the two, and we see early on that he knows the FMC should have been his endgame the whole time.
It was really good reading about him learning what he wanted to do in life and what he was actually passionate about. I loved reading about him learning more about her and loving every bit of it, even the new hardened parts. He was endlessly patient and never pushed her, and I respect that.
I just wish that we SAW more of these interactions instead of hearing about how they went. There's a lot of internal changes happening with the characters, and we hear their thoughts and views changing, but we don't see the interactions that prompt those changes. I mean, we see some of it, but not enough imo. This is the main reason my rating is lower than I wanted it to be.
There were also some continuity errors. Big enough that I had to flip back and forth a few times to make sure I wasn't remembering things incorrectly. These were errors that should have been found on a reread.
Other than that, this had me dropping tears and, later on clutching my heart in happiness. I'm glad they got their HEA. It was sweet and satisfying by the end. I also really appreciate that he apologized to her parents in person. It shows a huge change from the man He was at the beginning of the story. He also told his own parents how things were going to be. We see tiny changes in them too by the end. Those were cherries on top.
Regarding the ex: aside from the fiasco in the beginning where he says her name at the alter, he only speaks to her once, later in the book, and he's not tempted to be with her even though she's available.
The FMC goes on one date with another teacher, but it ends with them being friends bc she's not over the MMC.
No third act breakup. Very little spice, and most of it is ftb.
----
Quotes I saved bc I sometimes can't help myself:
"There's nothing to fix. You can't fix something that was never built."
He told himself again that she'd call, this was fixable, even though the look on her face — that devastating, disassembling calm — had said everything her words hadn't. She wasn't angry. She wasn't heartbroken. She was done.
He'd never seen her like that. He had never once seen Charlotte look at him without warmth. The warmth was gone. Dominic understood dimly, distantly, in a place he wasn't yet ready to access, that warmth like Charlotte's didn't come back once you'd killed it.
"That's what I was to him," Charlotte said. "A problem he solved. He wanted a wife, I was the solution, and now the solution is malfunctioning and he can't figure out why."
"I think parts of it were real," she said. "I think he almost loved me. And I think almost is worse than nothing."
One minute for the version of him she'd loved, or almost loved, or convinced herself she loved because the alternative was admitting that she'd given her heart to someone who'd held it like a business card.
He noticed now. Six months of distance had given him a catalog of moments like that. Dozens of them, maybe hundreds, each one he'd been too busy to feel at the time. Charlotte talking, Charlotte laughing, Charlotte trying, and Dominic elsewhere. Present in the room but absent from the conversation. Occupying space beside her without inhabiting it.
Some nights she lay in bed and tried to separate what had been genuine from what had been performance, and she couldn't find the seam. That was its own kind of grief, not knowing what to mourn.
He watched her do it and ached with the knowledge that she'd gotten good at this, at building walls, at shutting doors, at protecting herself from him. He'd taught her that. His carelessness had made her careful, and the irony was awful.
She looked forward to it. She hated that she looked forward to it, hated the way the week bent toward four o'clock on Thursday like a plant bends toward light, involuntary and embarrassing.
Charlotte was surfacing. That was what the last eight months had been. Coming up from a depth she hadn't known she was at, slowly enough that the bends didn't kill her. And she was almost there. Almost at the surface, almost breathing normal air, almost free of the pressure. Dominic was the depth she couldn't stop diving back to.
He was in love with Charlie. He was recognizing that he'd been in love with her, with the real her, the her he hadn't bothered to see. The recognition was arriving in pieces, like a photograph developing in reverse. Each Thursday added another detail.
He loved her, and the love wasn't a strategy or a scar. It was an ache that had nothing to do with loss and everything to do with recognition. He'd been sitting across from her for weeks, watching her, and somewhere in the middle of all those Thursdays, the thing he felt had changed from guilt into want and from want into need and from need into this. This unbearable, clear-eyed, fully conscious understanding that Charlotte Hoffman was the love of his life, and he'd had her, he'd lost her, and losing her was entirely his fault.
He wasn't going to push. He wasn't going to strategize or manipulate or find the angle. He was going to show up on Thursday at four with the revised timeline. He was going to sit in his plastic chair. He was going to talk about grants, budgets and student outcomes, and he was going to let her see him. The version of him that was learning to be different, that was choosing to be different, that was reading education journals at midnight, touring community art centers and laughing at stories about crayons in ears. He was going to let her decide.
"I love her. With everything I have. I didn't know it when I had her. I said your name at our wedding because I'd spent years convincing myself you were the one who got away, and seeing you in that hallway opened up every drawer I'd shoved the feeling into. But it wasn't you I was mourning. It was the idea that I was capable of that kind of love. I kept your memory as evidence. That's — that's unforgivable. And I'm sorry. But Charlotte is the one for me. Even if she never takes me back, I’ll spend the rest of my life loving her.”
"I know they might not forgive me. I know your dad might spend the whole evening looking at me like he wants to throw me through a wall. But I can't build something with you while the people who love you most are carrying what I did. They deserve to hear me say it. To my face. Where I can't hide behind a card or a voicemail."
"I can't undo what I did," Dominic said. "I can't give her back that day. I can't erase what you watched happen. But I can tell you that I know what I had, and I know what I did to it, and I've spent every day since trying to become the man she deserved in the first place."
"That girl turned your head around." "Her name is Charlie. She showed me what I look like from the outside, and I didn't like what I saw."
"You taught me that love isn't a feeling you have — it's an attention you pay. Every day. In the details. In the names you remember and the stories you listen to."
It's very clear that he changed and realized what he wanted his priorities to be in life. It was very clear that he realized he lost the absolute love of his life by clinging to a memory of someone he thought he loved, but was ultimately willing to let go of. We see him analyze the distinction between the two, and we see early on that he knows the FMC should have been his endgame the whole time.
It was really good reading about him learning what he wanted to do in life and what he was actually passionate about. I loved reading about him learning more about her and loving every bit of it, even the new hardened parts. He was endlessly patient and never pushed her, and I respect that.
I just wish that we SAW more of these interactions instead of hearing about how they went. There's a lot of internal changes happening with the characters, and we hear their thoughts and views changing, but we don't see the interactions that prompt those changes. I mean, we see some of it, but not enough imo. This is the main reason my rating is lower than I wanted it to be.
There were also some continuity errors. Big enough that I had to flip back and forth a few times to make sure I wasn't remembering things incorrectly. These were errors that should have been found on a reread.
Other than that, this had me dropping tears and, later on clutching my heart in happiness. I'm glad they got their HEA. It was sweet and satisfying by the end. I also really appreciate that he apologized to her parents in person. It shows a huge change from the man He was at the beginning of the story. He also told his own parents how things were going to be. We see tiny changes in them too by the end. Those were cherries on top.
Regarding the ex: aside from the fiasco in the beginning where he says her name at the alter, he only speaks to her once, later in the book, and he's not tempted to be with her even though she's available.
The FMC goes on one date with another teacher, but it ends with them being friends bc she's not over the MMC.
No third act breakup. Very little spice, and most of it is ftb.
----
Quotes I saved bc I sometimes can't help myself:
"There's nothing to fix. You can't fix something that was never built."
He told himself again that she'd call, this was fixable, even though the look on her face — that devastating, disassembling calm — had said everything her words hadn't. She wasn't angry. She wasn't heartbroken. She was done.
He'd never seen her like that. He had never once seen Charlotte look at him without warmth. The warmth was gone. Dominic understood dimly, distantly, in a place he wasn't yet ready to access, that warmth like Charlotte's didn't come back once you'd killed it.
"That's what I was to him," Charlotte said. "A problem he solved. He wanted a wife, I was the solution, and now the solution is malfunctioning and he can't figure out why."
"I think parts of it were real," she said. "I think he almost loved me. And I think almost is worse than nothing."
One minute for the version of him she'd loved, or almost loved, or convinced herself she loved because the alternative was admitting that she'd given her heart to someone who'd held it like a business card.
He noticed now. Six months of distance had given him a catalog of moments like that. Dozens of them, maybe hundreds, each one he'd been too busy to feel at the time. Charlotte talking, Charlotte laughing, Charlotte trying, and Dominic elsewhere. Present in the room but absent from the conversation. Occupying space beside her without inhabiting it.
Some nights she lay in bed and tried to separate what had been genuine from what had been performance, and she couldn't find the seam. That was its own kind of grief, not knowing what to mourn.
He watched her do it and ached with the knowledge that she'd gotten good at this, at building walls, at shutting doors, at protecting herself from him. He'd taught her that. His carelessness had made her careful, and the irony was awful.
She looked forward to it. She hated that she looked forward to it, hated the way the week bent toward four o'clock on Thursday like a plant bends toward light, involuntary and embarrassing.
Charlotte was surfacing. That was what the last eight months had been. Coming up from a depth she hadn't known she was at, slowly enough that the bends didn't kill her. And she was almost there. Almost at the surface, almost breathing normal air, almost free of the pressure. Dominic was the depth she couldn't stop diving back to.
He was in love with Charlie. He was recognizing that he'd been in love with her, with the real her, the her he hadn't bothered to see. The recognition was arriving in pieces, like a photograph developing in reverse. Each Thursday added another detail.
He loved her, and the love wasn't a strategy or a scar. It was an ache that had nothing to do with loss and everything to do with recognition. He'd been sitting across from her for weeks, watching her, and somewhere in the middle of all those Thursdays, the thing he felt had changed from guilt into want and from want into need and from need into this. This unbearable, clear-eyed, fully conscious understanding that Charlotte Hoffman was the love of his life, and he'd had her, he'd lost her, and losing her was entirely his fault.
He wasn't going to push. He wasn't going to strategize or manipulate or find the angle. He was going to show up on Thursday at four with the revised timeline. He was going to sit in his plastic chair. He was going to talk about grants, budgets and student outcomes, and he was going to let her see him. The version of him that was learning to be different, that was choosing to be different, that was reading education journals at midnight, touring community art centers and laughing at stories about crayons in ears. He was going to let her decide.
"I love her. With everything I have. I didn't know it when I had her. I said your name at our wedding because I'd spent years convincing myself you were the one who got away, and seeing you in that hallway opened up every drawer I'd shoved the feeling into. But it wasn't you I was mourning. It was the idea that I was capable of that kind of love. I kept your memory as evidence. That's — that's unforgivable. And I'm sorry. But Charlotte is the one for me. Even if she never takes me back, I’ll spend the rest of my life loving her.”
"I know they might not forgive me. I know your dad might spend the whole evening looking at me like he wants to throw me through a wall. But I can't build something with you while the people who love you most are carrying what I did. They deserve to hear me say it. To my face. Where I can't hide behind a card or a voicemail."
"I can't undo what I did," Dominic said. "I can't give her back that day. I can't erase what you watched happen. But I can tell you that I know what I had, and I know what I did to it, and I've spent every day since trying to become the man she deserved in the first place."
"That girl turned your head around." "Her name is Charlie. She showed me what I look like from the outside, and I didn't like what I saw."
"You taught me that love isn't a feeling you have — it's an attention you pay. Every day. In the details. In the names you remember and the stories you listen to."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2026
Everything (ow drama if you want to call it that) happens in the first chapter and it wasn’t gut punchy bc I didn’t care bc I didn’t know who these characters were. I’m tired of these books having the drama fan out 2% in.
Read
June 6, 2026They knew each other for two months before they got engaged. The wedding was four months later. They had known each other for a total of six months. Arguably, Dominic never knew Charlotte at all. He didn't know anything about her and she changed to fit into his world.
Six months goes by with no contact. He angsts over her for the entire time and about how much he never knew her. Are you kidding me? I didn't believe it. They were strangers who got engaged then walked away. The firs meeting they had after those six months they nearly kissed. WTAF? Huge eye roll.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline - who was poisonous per Dominic's mother - was suddenly redeemed via her marriage (again, according to his mother)? So Dominic could have been her redemption? They were together for two years. He genuinely loved her. But suddenly he doesn't. Meh.
How does Charlotte have the same classroom of kids for over 12 months?
In Chapter 3, Charlotte grew up in a two bedroom apartment. In Chapter 7, she stays in her parents three bedroom house where she grew up.
Six months goes by with no contact. He angsts over her for the entire time and about how much he never knew her. Are you kidding me? I didn't believe it. They were strangers who got engaged then walked away. The firs meeting they had after those six months they nearly kissed. WTAF? Huge eye roll.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline - who was poisonous per Dominic's mother - was suddenly redeemed via her marriage (again, according to his mother)? So Dominic could have been her redemption? They were together for two years. He genuinely loved her. But suddenly he doesn't. Meh.
How does Charlotte have the same classroom of kids for over 12 months?
In Chapter 3, Charlotte grew up in a two bedroom apartment. In Chapter 7, she stays in her parents three bedroom house where she grew up.
June 1, 2026
A performative grovel is not a grovel
And that’s exactly what Dominic did. Because he could have worked under the radar to become a man worthy of Charlotte, but no, he just had to make sure Charlotte was front row to all of his “charitable and good” deeds. The man was pathetic. Truly. From beginning to end all he cared about were optics. Charlotte was gullible enough to fall for it twice.
And that’s exactly what Dominic did. Because he could have worked under the radar to become a man worthy of Charlotte, but no, he just had to make sure Charlotte was front row to all of his “charitable and good” deeds. The man was pathetic. Truly. From beginning to end all he cared about were optics. Charlotte was gullible enough to fall for it twice.
May 30, 2026
Likable story
This story was a second chance romance about 2 characters with different values. Dominic was a business man who followed his family's plan to marry for optics. Charlie was in love with him and agreed to marry him after a few months of courtship. He sees his ex at the wedding and says her name instead of Charlie's.
Of course there is grovel and an HEA.
The negative was facts not meshing. The bride in her vows said she grew up in a 2 bedroom apartment where her mom grew tomatoes on the fire escape. Then it says the 3 bedroom house she grew up in.
On a date it said she drove, then the man walks her home. A simple reread would fix this.
This story was a second chance romance about 2 characters with different values. Dominic was a business man who followed his family's plan to marry for optics. Charlie was in love with him and agreed to marry him after a few months of courtship. He sees his ex at the wedding and says her name instead of Charlie's.
Of course there is grovel and an HEA.
The negative was facts not meshing. The bride in her vows said she grew up in a 2 bedroom apartment where her mom grew tomatoes on the fire escape. Then it says the 3 bedroom house she grew up in.
On a date it said she drove, then the man walks her home. A simple reread would fix this.
June 9, 2026
Oh this was so lovely…
Charlie is Charlotte, a fourth grade teacher who loves her students and loves her man, Dominic. But she leaves him at the altar when he screws up and says another woman’s name.
Charlie has been changing her life, making herself smaller, to fit into his life. His parents are high society types who are more image conscious than anything else. Her parents know how to love…
When he says that other name, she simply turns around and leaves. It will take him several years to recover from this awful mistake…
KU but I might need to purchase. I found this to be just lovely and for me, there was enough effort made to regain her trust and love.
Charlie is Charlotte, a fourth grade teacher who loves her students and loves her man, Dominic. But she leaves him at the altar when he screws up and says another woman’s name.
Charlie has been changing her life, making herself smaller, to fit into his life. His parents are high society types who are more image conscious than anything else. Her parents know how to love…
When he says that other name, she simply turns around and leaves. It will take him several years to recover from this awful mistake…
KU but I might need to purchase. I found this to be just lovely and for me, there was enough effort made to regain her trust and love.
June 4, 2026
Charlotte and Dominic
Charlotte was ready to walk down the isle a marry the man she loved, Dominic. The last thing she expected was for him to say another's woman name while tgey were saying their vows. Her worls shattered and she walked away.
We also see Dominic realising what he threw away.
Highly recommended
Charlotte was ready to walk down the isle a marry the man she loved, Dominic. The last thing she expected was for him to say another's woman name while tgey were saying their vows. Her worls shattered and she walked away.
We also see Dominic realising what he threw away.
Highly recommended
June 13, 2026
Love He Denied was about Charlotte "Charlie" Hoffman, a fourth-grade teacher, and 32-year-old Dominic "Dom" Weston, the heir-apparent of the Weston Group. (Charlie's age was never specified, but given that she had been a teacher for a while, it would be safe to say she was in her mid-to-late 20s.)
Charlie and Dom had known each other for six months and had been engaged for four of them. As they were at the altar preparing to say their wedding vows, Dom made one critical error. He said Jacqueline March, ...another woman's name instead of Charlie's. A name that belonged to an ex he'd spent two years with. that his family found "unsuitable" (although she was from "old money", her father had been indicted for insider trading, making her a poor choice for a wife). Charlie was chosen because she fit his parents' idea of the perfect match. Not because he loved her. Charlie learned that the hard way. After she walked away, leaving Dom at the altar to deal with the fallout, he still thought they could fix things...that it was just a mistake, it had been nerves that caused him to misspeak, and that she overreacted to. He believed she only needed to calm down, and things would be fine.
Six months passed from the day of the botched wedding before Dom found a way back into the hallowed circle of Charlie's life...a fundraiser for her school, funded by a grant from his company. It was a work in progress that took time, patience, and close attention.
The story was well written, full of angst, drama, and an emotional rollercoaster that had all the necessary twists and turns to keep it interesting. The push-pull between the two main characters was adequate, and the conflict was interesting enough to keep the story from being boring.
Both main characters were well-developed and mature, with plenty of room for growth. Thankfully, that growth was done where the reader got to witness it as it occurred.
I gave this book a three-star rating. It could easily have been four, but it needed a little work before it earned it.
Charlie and Dom had known each other for six months and had been engaged for four of them. As they were at the altar preparing to say their wedding vows, Dom made one critical error. He said Jacqueline March, ...another woman's name instead of Charlie's. A name that belonged to an ex he'd spent two years with. that his family found "unsuitable" (although she was from "old money", her father had been indicted for insider trading, making her a poor choice for a wife). Charlie was chosen because she fit his parents' idea of the perfect match. Not because he loved her. Charlie learned that the hard way. After she walked away, leaving Dom at the altar to deal with the fallout, he still thought they could fix things...that it was just a mistake, it had been nerves that caused him to misspeak, and that she overreacted to. He believed she only needed to calm down, and things would be fine.
Six months passed from the day of the botched wedding before Dom found a way back into the hallowed circle of Charlie's life...a fundraiser for her school, funded by a grant from his company. It was a work in progress that took time, patience, and close attention.
The story was well written, full of angst, drama, and an emotional rollercoaster that had all the necessary twists and turns to keep it interesting. The push-pull between the two main characters was adequate, and the conflict was interesting enough to keep the story from being boring.
Both main characters were well-developed and mature, with plenty of room for growth. Thankfully, that growth was done where the reader got to witness it as it occurred.
I gave this book a three-star rating. It could easily have been four, but it needed a little work before it earned it.
June 14, 2026
Wow, just wow
I almost don’t even know where to start. This was one of the worst MMC‘s. I’ve ever read about, and I’ve read some pretty awful cheating romances. At least those men had hearts. The author decided to take a lot of shortcuts. And the book needed editing, but I didn’t even remove a star for that because it was bad enough if it had perfect editing. First off you have an MMC who is so unattached to the FMC that you believe in their love, not at all. There is nothing there. But if that’s not enough, you have a man who publicly humiliated a woman. Then you have a woman who has had to change who she is at her core, who is a blind doormat and has been emotionally abused basically and humiliated who then decides to take him back when basically all he does is sign money over referred Grant to help local schools. Guess what that is nothing to this guy. That’s like saying the doctor that cheated on his wife should be forgiven because he performed a surgery on her father and saved him. You do not forgive people that portray you because they do their jobs. This Grant was gonna get signed no matter what. This guy was appalling and a terrible human being and she took him back. And let me tell you there was not an ounce of love in him for her. Not 1 ounce. He didn’t even know her favorite color but yet six months later he’s so sure he loves her? There’s nothing there to love at all. He doesn’t know her. And then you have all of the contradicting things. She writes her vowels at lunch at school then she’s writing them at recess. I mean, there’s no continuity. It’s clear this author tried to write this and just get it published. Seriously save your time and move onto something else. This book is not worth it.
I almost don’t even know where to start. This was one of the worst MMC‘s. I’ve ever read about, and I’ve read some pretty awful cheating romances. At least those men had hearts. The author decided to take a lot of shortcuts. And the book needed editing, but I didn’t even remove a star for that because it was bad enough if it had perfect editing. First off you have an MMC who is so unattached to the FMC that you believe in their love, not at all. There is nothing there. But if that’s not enough, you have a man who publicly humiliated a woman. Then you have a woman who has had to change who she is at her core, who is a blind doormat and has been emotionally abused basically and humiliated who then decides to take him back when basically all he does is sign money over referred Grant to help local schools. Guess what that is nothing to this guy. That’s like saying the doctor that cheated on his wife should be forgiven because he performed a surgery on her father and saved him. You do not forgive people that portray you because they do their jobs. This Grant was gonna get signed no matter what. This guy was appalling and a terrible human being and she took him back. And let me tell you there was not an ounce of love in him for her. Not 1 ounce. He didn’t even know her favorite color but yet six months later he’s so sure he loves her? There’s nothing there to love at all. He doesn’t know her. And then you have all of the contradicting things. She writes her vowels at lunch at school then she’s writing them at recess. I mean, there’s no continuity. It’s clear this author tried to write this and just get it published. Seriously save your time and move onto something else. This book is not worth it.
July 6, 2026
REALLY GOOD
I enjoyed this story. I’ve read other left at the altar stories, but this one was written with a different twist. I enjoyed that.
Watching Dominic grow into a man who deserves Charlie was very satisfying. It was nice to see that the love wasn’t completely killed. That Dominic was smart enough to realize what he had done and to do the hard work to win her back.
With the family background he came from it was easy to see how he didn’t even recognize that he’d been in love with Charlie all along. Unfortunately, with some - it takes losing what you have to realize what you had. Fortunately, Dominic realized pretty quickly that he had the love of his life in Charlotte and he alone was responsible for breaking her and destroying their relationship.
And Charlie, slowly, carefully and guardedly, let her walls down. That was smart. But she didn’t allow bitterness to completely shut out the possibility of reconciling with him. She wasn’t interested in revenge or punishing him. She was just protecting herself until she knew she could trust him again.
I loved that he went to her parents to apologize. It takes a big man to do that. But he knew he needed to do that to fully win Charlie back.
Great, HEA. I really recommend this book.
I enjoyed this story. I’ve read other left at the altar stories, but this one was written with a different twist. I enjoyed that.
Watching Dominic grow into a man who deserves Charlie was very satisfying. It was nice to see that the love wasn’t completely killed. That Dominic was smart enough to realize what he had done and to do the hard work to win her back.
With the family background he came from it was easy to see how he didn’t even recognize that he’d been in love with Charlie all along. Unfortunately, with some - it takes losing what you have to realize what you had. Fortunately, Dominic realized pretty quickly that he had the love of his life in Charlotte and he alone was responsible for breaking her and destroying their relationship.
And Charlie, slowly, carefully and guardedly, let her walls down. That was smart. But she didn’t allow bitterness to completely shut out the possibility of reconciling with him. She wasn’t interested in revenge or punishing him. She was just protecting herself until she knew she could trust him again.
I loved that he went to her parents to apologize. It takes a big man to do that. But he knew he needed to do that to fully win Charlie back.
Great, HEA. I really recommend this book.
June 18, 2026
3 1/2 stars. I was somewhat dubious about this book expecting it to be an AI type but it certainly didn't feel that way. The h and H have a whirlwind romance. She moves in with him after two months and the wedding date is after six months. The H previously broke off a two year relationship after his girlfriend's family was involved in a scandal. His family encouraged him to end it but he still considered her his love. The H is surprised and unprepared to see his ex as the h came down the aisle. Distracted he says his ex's name while repeating his vows. The h leaves. The h realizes that the H was holding himself back at the same time that he was expecting her to integrate into his world. The h goes back to being herself, a fourth grade teacher. The H's company has a charity that supports some schools in integrating the arts in the curriculum. He uses his involvement in the project to get to know the real h. He figures out what is important. Not enough angst for me.
June 17, 2026
ummm...unexpectedly wow?
That was a lot of emotion packed into a novella. The story is well written and the characters have enough depth to draw the reader into caring. One thing I loved about this story that was different was that no one condemned Charli for walking away when she did. They laid the blame where it belonged, with Dominic.
His parents tune changed months after the almost wedding but it not in regard to Charli herself. Their objections were to who their son was becoming. Because since that day, he'd been transforming, changing, and they weren't on board with that. However, the epilogue shows with too many words that they're coming around.
This was a solid story about knowing yourself, your worth, as well as finding yourself after digging out from under others' expectations.
That was a lot of emotion packed into a novella. The story is well written and the characters have enough depth to draw the reader into caring. One thing I loved about this story that was different was that no one condemned Charli for walking away when she did. They laid the blame where it belonged, with Dominic.
His parents tune changed months after the almost wedding but it not in regard to Charli herself. Their objections were to who their son was becoming. Because since that day, he'd been transforming, changing, and they weren't on board with that. However, the epilogue shows with too many words that they're coming around.
This was a solid story about knowing yourself, your worth, as well as finding yourself after digging out from under others' expectations.
June 20, 2026
Redeemable maybe ..forgivable maybe not
Charlotte pours her heart out in her wedding vows—completely vulnerable, emotional, and sincere—only for Dominic to respond by saying another woman’s name.
“The wedding scene had me furious. Charlotte’s vows were heartfelt and emotional, and when Dominic said another woman’s name, I wanted Katie to punch him and drag Charlotte out of there. From that moment, the book wasn’t about romance for me—it was about whether Dominic could ever redeem himself. While I still consider what he did during the vows nearly unforgivable, the author did enough to make me about 80% satisfied with the outcome. I never completely forgot the hurt he caused, but I appreciated that Charlotte didn’t simply brush it aside and that redemption had to be earned.”
An engaging read ..
Charlotte pours her heart out in her wedding vows—completely vulnerable, emotional, and sincere—only for Dominic to respond by saying another woman’s name.
“The wedding scene had me furious. Charlotte’s vows were heartfelt and emotional, and when Dominic said another woman’s name, I wanted Katie to punch him and drag Charlotte out of there. From that moment, the book wasn’t about romance for me—it was about whether Dominic could ever redeem himself. While I still consider what he did during the vows nearly unforgivable, the author did enough to make me about 80% satisfied with the outcome. I never completely forgot the hurt he caused, but I appreciated that Charlotte didn’t simply brush it aside and that redemption had to be earned.”
An engaging read ..
June 20, 2026
No idea why it has bad reviews but i think it was good
I found myself crying many times especially at the last page. Dominic was raised to be a certain way to the extent he wasnt even realizing it till it was almost too late but he took a look at himself and said he needs to change
Even if she never took him back he had to be better. He also need to find his passion which was charity because he enjoyed it. I like how they took their time instead of rushing into marriage. This book was very wholesome and i learnt alot from it. At this point ive read all your books and i can safely say you are now one of the authors i follow which is a very short list.
I loved all your books and i hope to see more
I found myself crying many times especially at the last page. Dominic was raised to be a certain way to the extent he wasnt even realizing it till it was almost too late but he took a look at himself and said he needs to change
Even if she never took him back he had to be better. He also need to find his passion which was charity because he enjoyed it. I like how they took their time instead of rushing into marriage. This book was very wholesome and i learnt alot from it. At this point ive read all your books and i can safely say you are now one of the authors i follow which is a very short list.
I loved all your books and i hope to see more
May 28, 2026
Great read!
You’re at your wedding, feeling things are a little off, but heading down the aisle anyway, when your future husband calls you the wrong name when she goes to say his vows. What’s a girl to do? Well, Charlotte quietly leaves the church and starts her life over. She’s strong and resilient and knows her own worth. Now her fiancee’, Dominic, he’s confused and unhappy with his life and thinks he can fix it. Sorry, bud, not going to happen, or at least at first. This story is really more about Dominic’s growth as a person than Charlotte’s. And it’s a nice change of the romance genre’.
You’re at your wedding, feeling things are a little off, but heading down the aisle anyway, when your future husband calls you the wrong name when she goes to say his vows. What’s a girl to do? Well, Charlotte quietly leaves the church and starts her life over. She’s strong and resilient and knows her own worth. Now her fiancee’, Dominic, he’s confused and unhappy with his life and thinks he can fix it. Sorry, bud, not going to happen, or at least at first. This story is really more about Dominic’s growth as a person than Charlotte’s. And it’s a nice change of the romance genre’.
June 29, 2026
TW:⚠️ This was "written" by a man. EUCKKKKK
Pretty sure this was partially written by generative AI. Too many plot errors and inconsistencies.
This author frustrated me to no end so RTC while I go out to a brewery to touch some grass lol.
⚠️ Safety details in the meantime⚠️
No Virgins/ No manwhore
OWD happens in the first 3 chapters (No emotional/physical cheating- the OW is happily married but the H had carried a torch for her for years after the breakup mostly because he truly is NOT a self realized/ self actualized person-no I don't believe this H is actually capable of love)
🚩One of the worst grovels I have ever read
Pretty sure this was partially written by generative AI. Too many plot errors and inconsistencies.
This author frustrated me to no end so RTC while I go out to a brewery to touch some grass lol.
⚠️ Safety details in the meantime⚠️
No Virgins/ No manwhore
OWD happens in the first 3 chapters (No emotional/physical cheating- the OW is happily married but the H had carried a torch for her for years after the breakup mostly because he truly is NOT a self realized/ self actualized person-no I don't believe this H is actually capable of love)
🚩One of the worst grovels I have ever read
June 2, 2026
That Wee Loving Break Up With Jacqueline Was Toxic As Fuck, Still Treating The Wrecker With Kid Gloves. Writers Like This Validate White Men Are Just Toxic For Me, And White Women Toxically Enable Them
She's such a pathetic doormat, lets him lovingly break up and have closure with Jaxquieline.
Wow would want the dirty basterd back after that loving and tender break up.scene?
Nah, thats an emotional affair.
Still having it, still telling Jacqueline stuff she has no rights to.
Wheres the love?
And the way he claims Charlotte is toxic.
She's such a pathetic doormat, lets him lovingly break up and have closure with Jaxquieline.
Wow would want the dirty basterd back after that loving and tender break up.scene?
Nah, thats an emotional affair.
Still having it, still telling Jacqueline stuff she has no rights to.
Wheres the love?
And the way he claims Charlotte is toxic.
June 17, 2026
Refreshingly beautiful
I love to read. Reading lets me escape into another world, when the story is written well. There are many books to choose from in this present day, but not all are worth the time spent reading them. THIS book though..THIS author, has been a delight! It has been a long time since I smiled, and even cried, as I followed the characters as they went through love's highs and lows. Thank you for a wonderful story and characters you can cheer for even as they learn from their mistakes. I will be following this author!
I love to read. Reading lets me escape into another world, when the story is written well. There are many books to choose from in this present day, but not all are worth the time spent reading them. THIS book though..THIS author, has been a delight! It has been a long time since I smiled, and even cried, as I followed the characters as they went through love's highs and lows. Thank you for a wonderful story and characters you can cheer for even as they learn from their mistakes. I will be following this author!
June 28, 2026
I couldn’t stop reading
Charlie and Dominic’s love journey was amazing from the beginning to the second wedding. M.L. Hall is an amazing writing that allows the reader to feel the emotions of every character throughout the entire book. The way Dominic transformed himself to be worthy of Charlie’s love and forgiveness was amazing. I also love how he truly found himself in the process. Taking the time to really get to know each other the second time was what really made this a book that I couldn’t stop reading because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Charlie and Dominic’s love journey was amazing from the beginning to the second wedding. M.L. Hall is an amazing writing that allows the reader to feel the emotions of every character throughout the entire book. The way Dominic transformed himself to be worthy of Charlie’s love and forgiveness was amazing. I also love how he truly found himself in the process. Taking the time to really get to know each other the second time was what really made this a book that I couldn’t stop reading because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
July 11, 2026
Cute, But Repetitive
This was a cute read, but it felt pretty repetitive. A lot of the emotional beats and even some of the lines were repeated instead of giving the story more variation.
I liked the characters, and the grief felt genuinely authentic, both for the main characters and in the way their friends and family responded. That emotional honesty is what pushed this to a four star instead of a three star for me.
The dialogue was a little too punchy for my taste, especially during the emotional scenes. Even so, I enjoyed it overall and had a good time reading.
This was a cute read, but it felt pretty repetitive. A lot of the emotional beats and even some of the lines were repeated instead of giving the story more variation.
I liked the characters, and the grief felt genuinely authentic, both for the main characters and in the way their friends and family responded. That emotional honesty is what pushed this to a four star instead of a three star for me.
The dialogue was a little too punchy for my taste, especially during the emotional scenes. Even so, I enjoyed it overall and had a good time reading.
July 15, 2026
bland story
I’m not sure how to explain this story other than it was boring. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen to make me stay interested but it literally was the same from beginning to end. Yeah Dominic learned to have/show some emotion but not enough to move the story forward.
If you’re looking for a quick read without any emotions from the ML and the FL then this story will probably be fine but if you’re looking for a story that has some depth, character development that keeps you interested then I would skip reading this story.
I’m not sure how to explain this story other than it was boring. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen to make me stay interested but it literally was the same from beginning to end. Yeah Dominic learned to have/show some emotion but not enough to move the story forward.
If you’re looking for a quick read without any emotions from the ML and the FL then this story will probably be fine but if you’re looking for a story that has some depth, character development that keeps you interested then I would skip reading this story.
July 15, 2026
Please!! Why are platforms charging money from their customers allowing AI generated contents to be published?? No respect for the readers time and money.
No hate for the author if he exists idk. Disappointed with Good reads and Amazon KU. The only way forward is to choose reading books published pre AI era.
Honestly the repetitive adjectives and the primary school like active to passive voice transformations are jarring and shouting AI!! Not to mention the non existent plot with no character arcs or POVs.
No hate for the author if he exists idk. Disappointed with Good reads and Amazon KU. The only way forward is to choose reading books published pre AI era.
Honestly the repetitive adjectives and the primary school like active to passive voice transformations are jarring and shouting AI!! Not to mention the non existent plot with no character arcs or POVs.
May 31, 2026
Just ok
It took me longer to get through this book when the thought life took over and I found myself putting it down more and more. The story wasn't bad. The characters weren't bad. I was very glad that the "other guy" didn't turn into something. Hate that. Not needed. Just wish there was more dialogue and a lot less thought life. I also thought that the author missed a moment by not showing her he kept her vows.
It took me longer to get through this book when the thought life took over and I found myself putting it down more and more. The story wasn't bad. The characters weren't bad. I was very glad that the "other guy" didn't turn into something. Hate that. Not needed. Just wish there was more dialogue and a lot less thought life. I also thought that the author missed a moment by not showing her he kept her vows.
June 14, 2026
LOVE HE DENIED
There were tears at points when I read this story. The characters were well written and were able to grow and develop as the story progressed. They saw where things had gone wrong and where they had been blind. They made growth by learning from what happened. Learning what love was putting in the effort to build something solid. I will definitely read this one again.
There were tears at points when I read this story. The characters were well written and were able to grow and develop as the story progressed. They saw where things had gone wrong and where they had been blind. They made growth by learning from what happened. Learning what love was putting in the effort to build something solid. I will definitely read this one again.
June 30, 2026
It's OK. There is too much narration, inner mental churning by both of them, predictable plot and a lot of angst. The weeks of planning the art grant project were boring. It was also just an excuse for him to spend time with her. They called it 'strictly professional.' I get it; it's part of the '2nd chance' formula.
I did like how he changed into a 'real' person and not a corporate machine for his parents' manipulations.
I did like how he changed into a 'real' person and not a corporate machine for his parents' manipulations.
May 28, 2026
Well done..
Enjoyable second chance romance. The storyline flowed and the h redemption was well deserved. Working on self to become a better person what made the h redemption believable. The h realizing his true feelings towards the ex was a nice touch. Writing was good and the relationship development was just right on this one. Definitely recommend this.
Enjoyable second chance romance. The storyline flowed and the h redemption was well deserved. Working on self to become a better person what made the h redemption believable. The h realizing his true feelings towards the ex was a nice touch. Writing was good and the relationship development was just right on this one. Definitely recommend this.
May 29, 2026
I didn't quite enjoy it in spite of it being written well.
The lead characters lacked chemistry and again it's one of those stories where money is the root of all evil and HEA is achieved for the couple after the H leaves everything.
Though i loved it that the OW was not shown evil and the scene between them was handled in a mature way.
The lead characters lacked chemistry and again it's one of those stories where money is the root of all evil and HEA is achieved for the couple after the H leaves everything.
Though i loved it that the OW was not shown evil and the scene between them was handled in a mature way.
May 31, 2026
Loved
I really enjoyed this story.
Today is Charlotte and Dominic's wedding day
At the alter, he doesn't say her name but his ex girlfriend's
Charlotte leaves him and doesn't look back.
Dominic thinks she just needs to cool down, foolish man.
Will he be able to prove to Charlie that he sees her?
I really enjoyed this story.
Today is Charlotte and Dominic's wedding day
At the alter, he doesn't say her name but his ex girlfriend's
Charlotte leaves him and doesn't look back.
Dominic thinks she just needs to cool down, foolish man.
Will he be able to prove to Charlie that he sees her?
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