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Letters to Love
When her sister Lila and brother-in-law Gray are killed in a tragic accident, Bella is named as guardian to her two young nephews. Then she discovers that she’s expected to co-parent with Gray’s best friend, and grief turns to shock. Noah has always driven her crazy, and Bella’s sure the arrogant, handsome Navy SEAL is the last person she wants to share a life with.
Just as it seems they’ll never see eye to eye, letters from Lila start to arrive—letters she wrote in case they ever ended up in this situation. And so the reluctant couple follows her instructions, spending ever more time together as part of their unexpected, unconventional family.
Forced into an impossible situation, will these letters from the past bring them together? Life as We Know It meets P.S. I Love You in this heartwarming story of loss, grief, family and love.
Just as it seems they’ll never see eye to eye, letters from Lila start to arrive—letters she wrote in case they ever ended up in this situation. And so the reluctant couple follows her instructions, spending ever more time together as part of their unexpected, unconventional family.
Forced into an impossible situation, will these letters from the past bring them together? Life as We Know It meets P.S. I Love You in this heartwarming story of loss, grief, family and love.
319 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2015
342 people are currently reading
1366 people want to read
About the author
Soraya M. Lane
124 books2,102 followersSoraya M. Lane is the Amazon Charts & Kindle #1 bestselling author of THE SECRET MIDWIFE and THE ITALIAN DAUGHTER.
Soraya is thrilled to be publishing four new novels in 2025. Soraya has two new historical WWII novels, THE PIANIST'S WIFE and THE SECRET LIBRARIAN, and they're both available now. Soraya has also published two more books in her Lost Daughters series. Book #6, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER, was published in March and book #7, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, was published in October.
As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance and women's fiction for many years to come.
Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.
Add Soraya's latest novel, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, to your Goodreads shelf today!
For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor. She would love to hear from you.
Soraya is thrilled to be publishing four new novels in 2025. Soraya has two new historical WWII novels, THE PIANIST'S WIFE and THE SECRET LIBRARIAN, and they're both available now. Soraya has also published two more books in her Lost Daughters series. Book #6, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER, was published in March and book #7, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, was published in October.
As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance and women's fiction for many years to come.
Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.
Add Soraya's latest novel, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, to your Goodreads shelf today!
For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor. She would love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
February 6, 2018
Letters To Love es mi primera lectura de Soraya Lane pero no sera la ultima, esta historia me gusto tanto que estoy convencida de que seguire leyendo mas sobre la autora.
En cuanto lei la sinopsis supe que seria mi tipo de historia, puede que no te parezca la mas novedosa o impredecible pero es tan emocional, sentimental y tierna que es casi imposible que te deje indiferente.
Este libro consiguio algo que hacia mucho tiempo que ninguna novela conseguia ... hacerme llorar, solo habia leido el primer capitulo y yo ya estaba con el pañuelo, algo que no me suele suceder a menudo ( si, eso va por ti, It Ends With Us ), ademas me encanta leer historias en las que haya niños y si encima me das un protagonista masculino que sea soldado o SEAL yo alcanzo mi paraiso personal xDD.
En conclusion, una novela emocional y profunda, si quieres leer un libro que te haga sentir, esta es una muy buena opcion.
3.75 Estrellas!
May 22, 2018
2,5-3. Tiene todos los ingredientes para ser una historia muy bonita y emocionante, pero al final es una mezcla rara entre Como la vida misma (ella al principio es tan insoportable como el personaje de Katherine Heigl) y PD te amo. Fácil de leer, pero también de olvidar.
December 9, 2019
Soldier Lila always told her sister Bella, that she should take care of her little Boys if something happened to her. And there she is, at the funeral of her sister and brother-in-law with her 6- and 4-year old nephews Will and Cooper.
And then Noah shows up, Grays foster brother, who makes the boys laugh and irritates Bella with his positive attitude. But Gray also told Noah to take care of his family and because he knows how it is to not have parents, he moves in with Bella and the boys. All his life, he worked hard for everything. Now he's determined to make this work somehow.
When the first letter "in case something happens" from Lila arrives, both of them realize that Lila planned their new life well...
I really liked this one, with all its beautiful and sad moments. Moments in general.
Like when little Cooper said how he didn't want to throw dirt on his parents. Heartbreaking. And how mean Bella was, when lighthearted Noah spilled his heart and grief. From that moment on I was totally #TeamNoah. And how true her "Blood is thicker than water" came back in the end, I first thought how unnecessary that drama was but actually it fit well and was also really well done. Not because of Noahs story with the boys but because of Grays.
Bella really gives him a hard time through this but we also get to know her better and learn why she's so insecure and careful, especially with handsome Navy Seal Noah, who doesn't do commitment and reminds her a lot of her ex. Then there's the insecurity of his job, how he could be deployed at any time and the risk of something happening to him. I get it. But I didn't feel for her, the way I felt for him. The foster child, who at times was lucky to have clothes and something to eat, who was homeless and lost his first love and now goes through all of this with such a positive attitude.
It's so relatable, how she's scared he could leave her and the boys while he's torn between the boys, who already lost too much, and his team, relying on him. Both scared of their feelings, which came slowly. Their falling for eachother really came as a natural process, both having concerns about risking it for the boys sake or staying away for the boys sake.
And Lilas last letter was also so beautiful, how she knew she'll only be a blurry memory for her sons, so sad but she tells this in such a special way. Also how she sent them on the same journey she had with Gray. I really loved her as a character, we get to know though this book is about her death.
This held some surprises but was an overall predictable story. This doesn't matter when a read is so full of emotion, grief, fear and love. I felt like that this actually isn't as much about the romance but about the journey. Both irritated with eachother while being thrown into co-parenting and working through own grief.
And then Noah shows up, Grays foster brother, who makes the boys laugh and irritates Bella with his positive attitude. But Gray also told Noah to take care of his family and because he knows how it is to not have parents, he moves in with Bella and the boys. All his life, he worked hard for everything. Now he's determined to make this work somehow.
When the first letter "in case something happens" from Lila arrives, both of them realize that Lila planned their new life well...
I really liked this one, with all its beautiful and sad moments. Moments in general.
Like when little Cooper said how he didn't want to throw dirt on his parents. Heartbreaking. And how mean Bella was, when lighthearted Noah spilled his heart and grief. From that moment on I was totally #TeamNoah. And how true her "Blood is thicker than water" came back in the end, I first thought how unnecessary that drama was but actually it fit well and was also really well done. Not because of Noahs story with the boys but because of Grays.
Bella really gives him a hard time through this but we also get to know her better and learn why she's so insecure and careful, especially with handsome Navy Seal Noah, who doesn't do commitment and reminds her a lot of her ex. Then there's the insecurity of his job, how he could be deployed at any time and the risk of something happening to him. I get it. But I didn't feel for her, the way I felt for him. The foster child, who at times was lucky to have clothes and something to eat, who was homeless and lost his first love and now goes through all of this with such a positive attitude.
It's so relatable, how she's scared he could leave her and the boys while he's torn between the boys, who already lost too much, and his team, relying on him. Both scared of their feelings, which came slowly. Their falling for eachother really came as a natural process, both having concerns about risking it for the boys sake or staying away for the boys sake.
And Lilas last letter was also so beautiful, how she knew she'll only be a blurry memory for her sons, so sad but she tells this in such a special way. Also how she sent them on the same journey she had with Gray. I really loved her as a character, we get to know though this book is about her death.
This held some surprises but was an overall predictable story. This doesn't matter when a read is so full of emotion, grief, fear and love. I felt like that this actually isn't as much about the romance but about the journey. Both irritated with eachother while being thrown into co-parenting and working through own grief.
October 28, 2015
When Bella's sister and her husband die in a car crash, they leave behind two little boys that are going to need someone to take care of them. Bella always promised her sister that she would take care of her nephews but Noah also promised his best friend that if anything happened to him or his wife, he would take care of their boys. This puts Noah and Bella in a position where they have to co-parent two little boys who just lost their parents. Noah and Bella haven't gotten along when they've been around each other in the past but when they start receiving letters, everything changes..
This was a super emotional story that was really well written. I liked both Bella and Noah but my favorite thing about this story was the letters. There were parts of this book that made me cry but there was also a lot of love in this story. I had a few tiny complaints but they are mostly just my own personal preferences. This was a really sweet, emotional romance and I can't wait to read more by this author.
April 13, 2017
Review to come
Después de la reseña puede que cambie la calificación estoy indecisa
Después de la reseña puede que cambie la calificación estoy indecisa
April 13, 2017
Maravillosa historia ♡♡♡
February 22, 2018
*2018 50 States Reading Challenge-California*
It took me a little bit to get into this, I do take a little of the blame since I’m in a slight reading slump. Nothing is really exciting me at the moment.
I have some issues with this. I can’t really mention them since it would ruin the story for everyone who hasn’t read this...
But one thing was that I don’t like when through basically the whole book it’s the two characters going back and forth (they kiss, immediately say we can’t do this, kiss, can’t do this, kiss, can’t, etc.) PICK ONE WAY ALREADY OR MAKE THE DECISION FOR THEM AND KICK THEM TO THE CURB!
I do admit that I cried. I can’t help it. Lila (Bella’s sister) wrote letters to her in case she died! If you don’t cry at that then I don’t know if I want to talk to you! 😂Lila was soldier so I think most mothers in that situation would want the godparents of their children to be prepared.
So if you read this, keep tissues close just in case.
It took me a little bit to get into this, I do take a little of the blame since I’m in a slight reading slump. Nothing is really exciting me at the moment.
I have some issues with this. I can’t really mention them since it would ruin the story for everyone who hasn’t read this...
But one thing was that I don’t like when through basically the whole book it’s the two characters going back and forth (they kiss, immediately say we can’t do this, kiss, can’t do this, kiss, can’t, etc.) PICK ONE WAY ALREADY OR MAKE THE DECISION FOR THEM AND KICK THEM TO THE CURB!
I do admit that I cried. I can’t help it. Lila (Bella’s sister) wrote letters to her in case she died! If you don’t cry at that then I don’t know if I want to talk to you! 😂Lila was soldier so I think most mothers in that situation would want the godparents of their children to be prepared.
So if you read this, keep tissues close just in case.
October 22, 2015
This is a wonderful story of life changing loss and the will and determination to get through it. Bella Anderson's entire life is turned upside down when her sister and brother-in-law are killed in an auto accident. It gets even worse when she finds out she will have to co-parent her two young nephews with her brother-in-laws best friend Noah. He drives her absolutely crazy. They agree on nothing! Suddenly, letters begin arriving that were written by Bella's sister. These are exactly the balm Bella's heart needs and they help her look at herself, the boys, and Noah in a different light.
This is a beautifully written story and the characters were great. While at the beginning of the book Bella wore on my nerves, by the end I found her quite endearing. This is one I recommend for everyone.
This is a beautifully written story and the characters were great. While at the beginning of the book Bella wore on my nerves, by the end I found her quite endearing. This is one I recommend for everyone.
November 6, 2015
Poignant, heartwarming romance with a relationship that develops at a realistic pace.
The perfect sweet read to curl up with on a chilly evening.
Love the tough SEAL hero with a vulnerable inner core. So damn sexy!
The perfect sweet read to curl up with on a chilly evening.
Love the tough SEAL hero with a vulnerable inner core. So damn sexy!
September 3, 2016
Review can also be found in Chill and read
When her sister Lila and brother-in-law, Gray, die in a car accident, Bella finds herself parenting her two nephews along with Gray’s best friend, Noah, who she actually hates for being a jerk, show off but pretty handsome US Navy SEAL. Both Lila and Gray were military, so the way they died was also a tragic irony. The boys love both their guardians and even if Bella really wants to get rid of Noah, she cannot. She would never add more pain to those two lovely faces.
The book is very emotional, with all the tragic events that come right from the start. The description of the emotions and how the heroes go through them is not a fraud. The author has done a very good job structuring the characters and the way they evolve throughout the book. The heroin is a planner, attentive to details independent woman, that has to sell her condo and pause her work for a while, in order to maintain the possible normality for the two boys. The hero is a tough, “damaged”, military elite guy, who is successful with women and honors Gray’s friendship to the maximum but never wanted children of his own. After all, he is not on a nine to five job, no danger included.
It is a nice, easy read, if you ignore the emotional part. It pays its respects to all the men and women fighting for their home and away from it.
There are some twists, that make the book more interesting as well as a secret that can explain a lot. Yet, there is a little mistake on which night was the sitter after the boys, that would change the scene, but it is not that big deal…
When her sister Lila and brother-in-law, Gray, die in a car accident, Bella finds herself parenting her two nephews along with Gray’s best friend, Noah, who she actually hates for being a jerk, show off but pretty handsome US Navy SEAL. Both Lila and Gray were military, so the way they died was also a tragic irony. The boys love both their guardians and even if Bella really wants to get rid of Noah, she cannot. She would never add more pain to those two lovely faces.
The book is very emotional, with all the tragic events that come right from the start. The description of the emotions and how the heroes go through them is not a fraud. The author has done a very good job structuring the characters and the way they evolve throughout the book. The heroin is a planner, attentive to details independent woman, that has to sell her condo and pause her work for a while, in order to maintain the possible normality for the two boys. The hero is a tough, “damaged”, military elite guy, who is successful with women and honors Gray’s friendship to the maximum but never wanted children of his own. After all, he is not on a nine to five job, no danger included.
It is a nice, easy read, if you ignore the emotional part. It pays its respects to all the men and women fighting for their home and away from it.
There are some twists, that make the book more interesting as well as a secret that can explain a lot. Yet, there is a little mistake on which night was the sitter after the boys, that would change the scene, but it is not that big deal…
November 8, 2018
Ahora que estoy menos emocional y sin lágrimas en mis ojos, puedo escribir un comentario decente sobre este libro tan hermoso.
Una de mis películas favoritas de toda la vida y que podría ver un millón de veces es "Life as We Know It" o "Bajo el mismo techo", y siempre me preguntaba si no existía un libro con la misma temática.
Y Letters to Love apareció.
Fue un libro tan lindo como lo imaginé, y aunque tenía miedo de que mis expectativas -sumado a mi amor por la película- fueran destrozadas, Soraya Lane no me decepcionó en lo absoluto.
Una mezcla tan bella entre Life as We Know It y P.S. I Love You, una novela romántica, divertida y sensible.
Una de mis películas favoritas de toda la vida y que podría ver un millón de veces es "Life as We Know It" o "Bajo el mismo techo", y siempre me preguntaba si no existía un libro con la misma temática.
Y Letters to Love apareció.
Fue un libro tan lindo como lo imaginé, y aunque tenía miedo de que mis expectativas -sumado a mi amor por la película- fueran destrozadas, Soraya Lane no me decepcionó en lo absoluto.
Una mezcla tan bella entre Life as We Know It y P.S. I Love You, una novela romántica, divertida y sensible.
September 13, 2015
a good fast read as i could not put this down.
it even had a few surprises that i did not see coming.
when Bella's Sister Lila and Brother in -law Gray are killed in a car accident Bella and Gray's Best friend Noah become co-parent to their 2 small boys.
Bella and Noah do not like each other very much and never have gotten along , after a month of living in the same house Bella and Noah begin to receive weekly letters from Lila sending them out on date nights, with the hope that they will learn to like each other.
If you like romance novels give this one a read.
it even had a few surprises that i did not see coming.
when Bella's Sister Lila and Brother in -law Gray are killed in a car accident Bella and Gray's Best friend Noah become co-parent to their 2 small boys.
Bella and Noah do not like each other very much and never have gotten along , after a month of living in the same house Bella and Noah begin to receive weekly letters from Lila sending them out on date nights, with the hope that they will learn to like each other.
If you like romance novels give this one a read.
August 21, 2016
Beautiful story of love that can blossom from such pain!
September 19, 2016
This book was okay. I did kind of get sick of the two main characters going on and on about how the other person would never be theirs or whatever. Pretty predictable but not a horrible read.
March 24, 2018
Fantastic book that had me laughing and crying all through it. The story opens as Bella's sister and brother-in-law are killed in a car accident, leaving Bella as guardian to her two nephews. A second shock follows as she learns that Gray's best friend Noah has been named as co-guardian. He is the last person that she wants to share a house and a life with.
Bella and Noah have rubbed each other the wrong way since the moment they met. Bella sees the handsome Navy SEAL as an arrogant, too charming for his own good playboy, and Noah thinks that Bella is rigid and uptight. Though I ended up loving both characters, at the beginning I didn't like either of them very much. Bella is downright bitchy to Noah, and he seems to delight in doing whatever he can to set her off. But as I got to know them my opinion changed.
Noah has a very tough exterior that he has built up over a long time and it only seems to soften around Will and Cooper. I loved the way that he stood up to Bella and insisted on being part of the boys' lives. He knows that his job will make it difficult, but he's determined to do the best he can. His past has caused him to lock his emotions up tight, and avoid commitments of any kind. The only exception is the depth of his friendship with Gray and Lila and his commitment to his brothers in arms.
Bella is independent, and a bit on the controlling side. She has dealt with her sister's death by devoting herself to her nephews - selling her own home, putting her business on hold, and trying to create a routine for the boys. A bad past relationship has caused Bella to have some issues that she will need to overcome.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Noah and Bella. The sparks fly from the start as Bella's insistence on routine runs up against Noah's more laid back methods. But beneath the surface arguments on parenting styles is an attraction that neither can deny and neither is happy about. They maintain their animosity until they start receiving letters written to both by Bella's sister Lila before her death. Because she and Gray were both military, she always knew there was a chance that something could happen. Well aware of Noah and Bella's attitudes toward each other, Lila used these letters to encourage them to get to know each other and gave them guidance on how to do it. I loved her creativity and how well she obviously knew them both.
Over the next few weeks, with Lila's beyond-the-grave guidance, Noah and Bella learned to look past the surface and see the people behind the masks. I loved how Bella began to see that Noah had a big heart and so much love to share, but that he didn't know how to show it. She saw the man whose commitment to his teammates and his country were a huge part of who he was. I loved how Noah saw that Bella's need to plan and keep to routine stemmed from times when she couldn't control her life. Their attraction continued to grow and became something that pulled them together but also pushed them apart. Bella could feel herself beginning to care for Noah, to depend on him and to need him, which scares her to death. She doesn't want to love a man who could be taken from her at any time. Noah is torn by his passion for his work and his desire to be the man that Bella and the boys need. He also has a bone-deep belief that he isn't good enough for a woman like Bella.
Things come to a head when Noah has to go back to work and Bella's fears come boiling back to the surface. I ached for her as she pushed Noah away, afraid to believe in what could be. I hurt for Noah, who was grappling with some hard decisions and wasn't able to share the load with anyone. I loved seeing each of them finally confront their fears and realize what was holding them back. I loved the ending and that it was realistic enough to show that there will still be challenges to overcome.
There were some terrific moments scattered throughout the book. I loved Noah's reaction to having the boys to himself all day, and the respect for Bella that came with it. I adored the realism of Bella's exhaustion from being a working mother, and that sometimes she just wanted to chuck it. There were outpourings of grief from the boys, Bella, and Noah as they all came to terms with their loss that had me in tears also. There were also good times when the grief faded and life was good. There was also an unexpected twist that explained so many actions and reactions. The epilogue was sweet and a wonderful wrapup to their story.
I also loved how important family was in this story. The closeness of Bella and Lila was heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time. I loved the letters that Lila wrote and the obvious love and respect she had for both Bella and Noah. I also loved how close Bella's family was and the support that was always there, not just for Bella but for Noah also. Learning more about Noah and how he came to be part of Gray's family was another one of those tearjerker episodes. Best of all was seeing Bella, Noah, Will, and Cooper become a brand new family without forgetting the old.
Bella and Noah have rubbed each other the wrong way since the moment they met. Bella sees the handsome Navy SEAL as an arrogant, too charming for his own good playboy, and Noah thinks that Bella is rigid and uptight. Though I ended up loving both characters, at the beginning I didn't like either of them very much. Bella is downright bitchy to Noah, and he seems to delight in doing whatever he can to set her off. But as I got to know them my opinion changed.
Noah has a very tough exterior that he has built up over a long time and it only seems to soften around Will and Cooper. I loved the way that he stood up to Bella and insisted on being part of the boys' lives. He knows that his job will make it difficult, but he's determined to do the best he can. His past has caused him to lock his emotions up tight, and avoid commitments of any kind. The only exception is the depth of his friendship with Gray and Lila and his commitment to his brothers in arms.
Bella is independent, and a bit on the controlling side. She has dealt with her sister's death by devoting herself to her nephews - selling her own home, putting her business on hold, and trying to create a routine for the boys. A bad past relationship has caused Bella to have some issues that she will need to overcome.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Noah and Bella. The sparks fly from the start as Bella's insistence on routine runs up against Noah's more laid back methods. But beneath the surface arguments on parenting styles is an attraction that neither can deny and neither is happy about. They maintain their animosity until they start receiving letters written to both by Bella's sister Lila before her death. Because she and Gray were both military, she always knew there was a chance that something could happen. Well aware of Noah and Bella's attitudes toward each other, Lila used these letters to encourage them to get to know each other and gave them guidance on how to do it. I loved her creativity and how well she obviously knew them both.
Over the next few weeks, with Lila's beyond-the-grave guidance, Noah and Bella learned to look past the surface and see the people behind the masks. I loved how Bella began to see that Noah had a big heart and so much love to share, but that he didn't know how to show it. She saw the man whose commitment to his teammates and his country were a huge part of who he was. I loved how Noah saw that Bella's need to plan and keep to routine stemmed from times when she couldn't control her life. Their attraction continued to grow and became something that pulled them together but also pushed them apart. Bella could feel herself beginning to care for Noah, to depend on him and to need him, which scares her to death. She doesn't want to love a man who could be taken from her at any time. Noah is torn by his passion for his work and his desire to be the man that Bella and the boys need. He also has a bone-deep belief that he isn't good enough for a woman like Bella.
Things come to a head when Noah has to go back to work and Bella's fears come boiling back to the surface. I ached for her as she pushed Noah away, afraid to believe in what could be. I hurt for Noah, who was grappling with some hard decisions and wasn't able to share the load with anyone. I loved seeing each of them finally confront their fears and realize what was holding them back. I loved the ending and that it was realistic enough to show that there will still be challenges to overcome.
There were some terrific moments scattered throughout the book. I loved Noah's reaction to having the boys to himself all day, and the respect for Bella that came with it. I adored the realism of Bella's exhaustion from being a working mother, and that sometimes she just wanted to chuck it. There were outpourings of grief from the boys, Bella, and Noah as they all came to terms with their loss that had me in tears also. There were also good times when the grief faded and life was good. There was also an unexpected twist that explained so many actions and reactions. The epilogue was sweet and a wonderful wrapup to their story.
I also loved how important family was in this story. The closeness of Bella and Lila was heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time. I loved the letters that Lila wrote and the obvious love and respect she had for both Bella and Noah. I also loved how close Bella's family was and the support that was always there, not just for Bella but for Noah also. Learning more about Noah and how he came to be part of Gray's family was another one of those tearjerker episodes. Best of all was seeing Bella, Noah, Will, and Cooper become a brand new family without forgetting the old.
May 19, 2017
I enjoyed this contemporary romance between Bella and Noah, adversaries who are placed in a co-parenting situation when her sister and his best friend are killed in a car accident. As they step in to take care of the couple's two young boys, they clash over what is best for them. Bella disapproves of Noah, and he thinks she is a stick in the mud. As they come to know and understand one another better, they develop feelings for one another. Noah doesn't feel worthy of Bella, so isn't open to the possibility of something long term with her. Bella is frightened by Noah's dangerous military career, and doesn't want to be involved with a man who is often deployed at a moment's notice.
Bella and Noah were great characters, and the two little boys were so cute! The storyline was interesting and kept my attention. This was a good one!
Bella and Noah were great characters, and the two little boys were so cute! The storyline was interesting and kept my attention. This was a good one!
June 12, 2017
Se volvio mi favorita, llore como no tienen idea; el final fue increible. Adore la pelicula Pd.Te amo; y creo que tambien deberia sacar una pelicula de este libro. Porque fue maravilloso; quisiera que todas las personas pudiese prepara a su seres queridos para que pueda soltar su alma y sigan la vida.
March 11, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the story idea, basically based in the present but sharing memories over the years between Bella and her sister through Lila's letters. I was drawn in right away because of the moving moments of loss, and the story moved forward quickly. Thinking about it, though, the concept of sending letters after her death initially sounded nice, but in reality I think it would have been almost a cruel thing for the sister to do--drawing things out so her loved ones would have to face her death over and over again. But the bigger problem with this book was that the main characters just didn't appeal to me. In trying to create a large contrast between Bella and Noah, Lane chose to build Bella as a bitchy and independent-to-a-fault woman, used to having things her own way. And Noah was drawn as a crazy, fun-loving party guy despite his career as a Navy SEAL, which would imply that he's dependable and strong. The characters just didn't ring true, not did their eventual attraction to each other. The romance didn't really work for me. However there were definitely warm and fuzzy moments. It was not a standout, but simply a nice romance.
I was intrigued by the story idea, basically based in the present but sharing memories over the years between Bella and her sister through Lila's letters. I was drawn in right away because of the moving moments of loss, and the story moved forward quickly. Thinking about it, though, the concept of sending letters after her death initially sounded nice, but in reality I think it would have been almost a cruel thing for the sister to do--drawing things out so her loved ones would have to face her death over and over again. But the bigger problem with this book was that the main characters just didn't appeal to me. In trying to create a large contrast between Bella and Noah, Lane chose to build Bella as a bitchy and independent-to-a-fault woman, used to having things her own way. And Noah was drawn as a crazy, fun-loving party guy despite his career as a Navy SEAL, which would imply that he's dependable and strong. The characters just didn't ring true, not did their eventual attraction to each other. The romance didn't really work for me. However there were definitely warm and fuzzy moments. It was not a standout, but simply a nice romance.
June 21, 2016
3.5 - 4 Stars
This is a hard to review book. This story is very emotional as it deals with the death of family members.
Letters to Love tells the story of Bella and Noah and their way to finding love and becoming guardians and parents to 4 and 6-year-old, Will and Cooper.
Bella’s sister Lila and Noah’s best friend Gray had been killed in a car accident and had named them co-guardians of their kids, entrusting them to their care. Bella, an interior designer, immediately gives everything up and moves in to take care of them. Noah, being a Navy SEAL and being in the middle of a deployment will have to square away some things before being able to get there but he’s 100% in it too. The catch? Bella and Noah can’t tolerate each other. He just rubs her the wrong way, and when she is being a bitch because of it, he can’t stand her. Unless you’re taking into account that one time kiss… which they aren’t.
There’s obviously great chemistry between them, they’re just too stubborn and closed off to admit it. Both of them have heavy issues with relationships which doesn’t really help their case. But cohabitation and two very sad little boys will push them together and make them confront their inner demons, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll get the reward of a lifetime…true love.
Now, see… This is when it gets tricky for me: at first, Bella is a complete effing bitch to Noah. I understand where she was coming from but seriously, it was too much. I wanted to scold her and firmly put her on her place repeatedly throughout the first few chapters. Noah had the I’m-not-worthy-of-them thing going on that really bugs me too, and he was so closed off emotionally that at times I wanted to pry him open with a crowbar… Fortunately, they ease up on the hating and the baiting each other, but when feelings start to get real, they start this back and forth that drove me crazy. Again.
All throughout the book, Bella and Noah get letters from Lila, that she had written on the off chance that both she and Gray were killed in action (both were in the military) forcing them to spend time together and getting to know the other. It was this more than anything that put things in motion romantically for them.
While this is not written in an angsty way it is very emotional. The first couple of chapters are extremely heartbreaking as you have to see all of them accepting their tragic loss. See two little boys struggle with understanding how everything has changed for them. And then we have to stand for Bella and Noah not only getting over that same loss but overcoming their personal issues. There are some very sweet family moments, some hot and steamy kisses but mostly the loving happens behind closed doors. We get to see them grow together as a family as secrets get out explaining their issues.
What I struggled with is that at first neither Bella nor Noah were very likable, they come off strongly as a bitchy control freak and a careless jerk… and while I eventually got into their relationship, I can’t honestly say they’ll ever be my favorite characters of all time.
Well written, Letters to Love is a story of unconditional love and learning to cope with incomprehensible loss. It has an easy flow and it left me satisfied with the way things worked out.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book*
This is a hard to review book. This story is very emotional as it deals with the death of family members.
Letters to Love tells the story of Bella and Noah and their way to finding love and becoming guardians and parents to 4 and 6-year-old, Will and Cooper.
Bella’s sister Lila and Noah’s best friend Gray had been killed in a car accident and had named them co-guardians of their kids, entrusting them to their care. Bella, an interior designer, immediately gives everything up and moves in to take care of them. Noah, being a Navy SEAL and being in the middle of a deployment will have to square away some things before being able to get there but he’s 100% in it too. The catch? Bella and Noah can’t tolerate each other. He just rubs her the wrong way, and when she is being a bitch because of it, he can’t stand her. Unless you’re taking into account that one time kiss… which they aren’t.
There’s obviously great chemistry between them, they’re just too stubborn and closed off to admit it. Both of them have heavy issues with relationships which doesn’t really help their case. But cohabitation and two very sad little boys will push them together and make them confront their inner demons, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll get the reward of a lifetime…true love.
Now, see… This is when it gets tricky for me: at first, Bella is a complete effing bitch to Noah. I understand where she was coming from but seriously, it was too much. I wanted to scold her and firmly put her on her place repeatedly throughout the first few chapters. Noah had the I’m-not-worthy-of-them thing going on that really bugs me too, and he was so closed off emotionally that at times I wanted to pry him open with a crowbar… Fortunately, they ease up on the hating and the baiting each other, but when feelings start to get real, they start this back and forth that drove me crazy. Again.
All throughout the book, Bella and Noah get letters from Lila, that she had written on the off chance that both she and Gray were killed in action (both were in the military) forcing them to spend time together and getting to know the other. It was this more than anything that put things in motion romantically for them.
While this is not written in an angsty way it is very emotional. The first couple of chapters are extremely heartbreaking as you have to see all of them accepting their tragic loss. See two little boys struggle with understanding how everything has changed for them. And then we have to stand for Bella and Noah not only getting over that same loss but overcoming their personal issues. There are some very sweet family moments, some hot and steamy kisses but mostly the loving happens behind closed doors. We get to see them grow together as a family as secrets get out explaining their issues.
What I struggled with is that at first neither Bella nor Noah were very likable, they come off strongly as a bitchy control freak and a careless jerk… and while I eventually got into their relationship, I can’t honestly say they’ll ever be my favorite characters of all time.
Well written, Letters to Love is a story of unconditional love and learning to cope with incomprehensible loss. It has an easy flow and it left me satisfied with the way things worked out.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book*
April 24, 2017
Sé que la mayoría ama y adora este libro, pero esta es mi opinión sobre ello, y obviamente no todos tenemos la misma opinión respecto a un tema.
Mi problema con este libro no fue la historia, es bastante trágica debido a que la hermana y el esposo de la protagonista esta dejando a dos niños pequeños sin padres,y cualquier tema que trata la muerte es bastante delicado, creo que este es un libro New Adult, así que ya tenía en mente que tratariamos de cosas más desarrolladas que un tipico libro de YA.
No tengo nada en contra a esta trama, sino a lo que sucede LUEGO. Mi problema principal fue que tuvieran que vivir juntos, puedo entender que sean los tutores de ambos niños, y que Bella (protagonista) los ame demasiado porque llegamos a comprender que la mayoría de veces se la pasaban con ella y prácticamente los cria porque ambos padres pertenecen al ejercito, lo que NO puedo entender es que inmediatamente el mejor amigo de Gray (esposo de la hermana de Bella) se vaya para su casa recien mueren.
NO ES REAL. Vamos, realmente te irías a vivir con el mejor amigo del esposo de tu hermana cuando ni siquiera lo conoces bien, y lo poco que lo conoces te cae PESIMO, básicamente todos los que te conocen saben que odias a este tipo, y aceptas encantada a vivir con él? POR FAVOR, BELLA ASÍ NO FUNCIONA LA VIDA REAL. DE UN DÍA PARA OTRO NO TE AGRADA ALGUIEN, Y LUEGO QUIERES ACOSTARTE CON EL?????
Por favor, entiendo que existan personas que no desarollan sentimientos intensos por otros y quieren entablar relaciones series de una vez, pero al menos si estas TAN obsesionada con acostarte con él y dices que es solo eso, hazlo. Me cae muy mal que toda esta situación se encuentre dentro del MAYOR problema que puedo tener, hay 2 niños que se quedaron sin padres, que tienen muy poca edad y probablemente no lo entienden, pero a futuro lo haran, y aquí estan los dos tutores legales decidiendo si se quieren acostar o no durante todo el libro.
Simplemente no me parece correcto, no puedo creer que no conozcamos nada de los padres de Lila (hermana de Bella), ¿no les dolió la muerte? son los abuelos de los niños por dios.
Lo siento, pero este libro es infantil, si somos personas de '20 años de edad podemos entender claramente que estos niños necesitaban unas figuras en quien apoyarse luego de este duelo, y aunque sean pequeños ellos pueden comprender lo que pasa, no me parece maduro pasar todos los días pensando en cómo este chico va a tener sexo o contigo, o lo BUENO que esta.
BELLA, ERES INMADURA, A PESAR DE CUIDAR DE LOS NIÑOS DE TU HERMANA, LO ERES, A PESAR DE DECIR QUE ERES MUY PERFECCIONISTA, TE FUISTE A ACOSTAR CON EL TIPO SOLO PORQUE ESTA BUENO, PREFERISTE QUE UN TIPO QUE ODIABAS VIVIERA CONTIGO, A QUE CRIAR A LOS NIÑOS TU SOLA. NO ENTIENDO, NO ENTIENDO COMO HABLAS DE FEMINISMO EN EL LIBRO.
Lo siento, pero tenía que decirlo.
Mi problema con este libro no fue la historia, es bastante trágica debido a que la hermana y el esposo de la protagonista esta dejando a dos niños pequeños sin padres,y cualquier tema que trata la muerte es bastante delicado, creo que este es un libro New Adult, así que ya tenía en mente que tratariamos de cosas más desarrolladas que un tipico libro de YA.
No tengo nada en contra a esta trama, sino a lo que sucede LUEGO. Mi problema principal fue que tuvieran que vivir juntos, puedo entender que sean los tutores de ambos niños, y que Bella (protagonista) los ame demasiado porque llegamos a comprender que la mayoría de veces se la pasaban con ella y prácticamente los cria porque ambos padres pertenecen al ejercito, lo que NO puedo entender es que inmediatamente el mejor amigo de Gray (esposo de la hermana de Bella) se vaya para su casa recien mueren.
NO ES REAL. Vamos, realmente te irías a vivir con el mejor amigo del esposo de tu hermana cuando ni siquiera lo conoces bien, y lo poco que lo conoces te cae PESIMO, básicamente todos los que te conocen saben que odias a este tipo, y aceptas encantada a vivir con él? POR FAVOR, BELLA ASÍ NO FUNCIONA LA VIDA REAL. DE UN DÍA PARA OTRO NO TE AGRADA ALGUIEN, Y LUEGO QUIERES ACOSTARTE CON EL?????
Por favor, entiendo que existan personas que no desarollan sentimientos intensos por otros y quieren entablar relaciones series de una vez, pero al menos si estas TAN obsesionada con acostarte con él y dices que es solo eso, hazlo. Me cae muy mal que toda esta situación se encuentre dentro del MAYOR problema que puedo tener, hay 2 niños que se quedaron sin padres, que tienen muy poca edad y probablemente no lo entienden, pero a futuro lo haran, y aquí estan los dos tutores legales decidiendo si se quieren acostar o no durante todo el libro.
Simplemente no me parece correcto, no puedo creer que no conozcamos nada de los padres de Lila (hermana de Bella), ¿no les dolió la muerte? son los abuelos de los niños por dios.
Lo siento, pero este libro es infantil, si somos personas de '20 años de edad podemos entender claramente que estos niños necesitaban unas figuras en quien apoyarse luego de este duelo, y aunque sean pequeños ellos pueden comprender lo que pasa, no me parece maduro pasar todos los días pensando en cómo este chico va a tener sexo o contigo, o lo BUENO que esta.
BELLA, ERES INMADURA, A PESAR DE CUIDAR DE LOS NIÑOS DE TU HERMANA, LO ERES, A PESAR DE DECIR QUE ERES MUY PERFECCIONISTA, TE FUISTE A ACOSTAR CON EL TIPO SOLO PORQUE ESTA BUENO, PREFERISTE QUE UN TIPO QUE ODIABAS VIVIERA CONTIGO, A QUE CRIAR A LOS NIÑOS TU SOLA. NO ENTIENDO, NO ENTIENDO COMO HABLAS DE FEMINISMO EN EL LIBRO.
Lo siento, pero tenía que decirlo.
September 29, 2016
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Favorite Quote:
Her big, tough-as-nails, amazing military dad; a man who never cried, never complained, never asked anyone for anything. And now he was sitting as still as a statue, body shuddering with emotion as she touched him.
4 stars
I got this book from my Kindle for Samsung app. You get a free book every month if you have it, so if you have a Samsung phone and like free books, I’d download this puppy.
This book was exactly what I expected it to be. A heartbreaking love story. I cried a few times throughout. The grief that Bella and Noah experience is genuine and the author was able to relate those intense -+–feelings quite flawlessly.
I loved how Noah stood up to Bella about the co-parenting request. He knows he won’t be around as much but he still demands to be as much a part of their lives as he is able. He has commitment issues and abandonment issues up the wazoo, but all those seem to take a back seat whenever he is around the kids. He shows a great capacity for love and at the same time seems to be terrified of it.
Bella is headstrong and a bit controlling. Contradicting Noah’s more laid back attitude. She adored her sister and her nephews and is still trying to navigate her life post death of her sister. She is a great guardian and has a wonderful support system. But, its hard for her to let go and just roll with it. Especially after her previous carefree life with no one depending on her. I think she has a hard time not having a committed partner and that’s what scares her. The two fears each MC exhibit contrast nicely in this book, giving the book a great conflict that is easy to follow.
I really enjoyed the military background this book covered. It added another layer to the story. Noah’s commitment to his brothers in arms was admirable, even though it took him away from his family.
Favorite Quote:
Her big, tough-as-nails, amazing military dad; a man who never cried, never complained, never asked anyone for anything. And now he was sitting as still as a statue, body shuddering with emotion as she touched him.
4 stars
I got this book from my Kindle for Samsung app. You get a free book every month if you have it, so if you have a Samsung phone and like free books, I’d download this puppy.
This book was exactly what I expected it to be. A heartbreaking love story. I cried a few times throughout. The grief that Bella and Noah experience is genuine and the author was able to relate those intense -+–feelings quite flawlessly.
I loved how Noah stood up to Bella about the co-parenting request. He knows he won’t be around as much but he still demands to be as much a part of their lives as he is able. He has commitment issues and abandonment issues up the wazoo, but all those seem to take a back seat whenever he is around the kids. He shows a great capacity for love and at the same time seems to be terrified of it.
Bella is headstrong and a bit controlling. Contradicting Noah’s more laid back attitude. She adored her sister and her nephews and is still trying to navigate her life post death of her sister. She is a great guardian and has a wonderful support system. But, its hard for her to let go and just roll with it. Especially after her previous carefree life with no one depending on her. I think she has a hard time not having a committed partner and that’s what scares her. The two fears each MC exhibit contrast nicely in this book, giving the book a great conflict that is easy to follow.
I really enjoyed the military background this book covered. It added another layer to the story. Noah’s commitment to his brothers in arms was admirable, even though it took him away from his family.
May 2, 2017
Cosas que no me gustaron de este libro:
1. Lila ¿quien en el mundo envía cartas después de su muerte? Es como una broma de mal gusto. En serio, que miedo!
2. Lo de los hijos, ufff que a mi eso de que Noah se sacrificará por ellos y los ayudara con su problemita me sacó de quicio. Lo terrible fue que lo hizo dos veces! 🤦🏻♀️
Y se supone que Lila seguía amando a Grey y el estaba re contento con la situación? HORROR.
3. Bella. Al principio fue una bitch, egoísta, egolatra, insoportable, infumable, insensible y todo lo que comience con IN... no me gustó su actitud ni la presión que ponía en Noah.
4. La narración, las cartas, el que no desarrollarán el tema con los niños, la abuela de acuerdo con lo de las cartas. Uffff mejor le paro.
5. Noah fue demasiado perfecto, era como que tenía ganas de decirle que parara de dejar que ella lo mangoneara.
6. Su secreto! AGGGGGGGG es que aún no puedo creerlo! O sea, lo peor es que sentí como que los niños le valían a pesar de todo porque se largó cuando se lo pidieron. Me vale que regresara.
Mmmmmmm, no sé, esperaba algo mejor de este libro, me recordó demasiado a PD: TE AMO y yo ese libro como que lo odié pero si a ti te gustó supongo que este es buena opción.
Estuvo entretenido pero si soy sincera, me aburrió mucho algunas veces!
Esperaba algo más emotivo y sentimental en lugar de algo que me hiciera rodar los ojos cada dos por tres 🙄🙄🙄
1. Lila ¿quien en el mundo envía cartas después de su muerte? Es como una broma de mal gusto. En serio, que miedo!
2. Lo de los hijos, ufff que a mi eso de que Noah se sacrificará por ellos y los ayudara con su problemita me sacó de quicio. Lo terrible fue que lo hizo dos veces! 🤦🏻♀️
Y se supone que Lila seguía amando a Grey y el estaba re contento con la situación? HORROR.
3. Bella. Al principio fue una bitch, egoísta, egolatra, insoportable, infumable, insensible y todo lo que comience con IN... no me gustó su actitud ni la presión que ponía en Noah.
4. La narración, las cartas, el que no desarrollarán el tema con los niños, la abuela de acuerdo con lo de las cartas. Uffff mejor le paro.
5. Noah fue demasiado perfecto, era como que tenía ganas de decirle que parara de dejar que ella lo mangoneara.
6. Su secreto! AGGGGGGGG es que aún no puedo creerlo! O sea, lo peor es que sentí como que los niños le valían a pesar de todo porque se largó cuando se lo pidieron. Me vale que regresara.
Mmmmmmm, no sé, esperaba algo mejor de este libro, me recordó demasiado a PD: TE AMO y yo ese libro como que lo odié pero si a ti te gustó supongo que este es buena opción.
Estuvo entretenido pero si soy sincera, me aburrió mucho algunas veces!
Esperaba algo más emotivo y sentimental en lugar de algo que me hiciera rodar los ojos cada dos por tres 🙄🙄🙄
October 16, 2015
Contemporary Romance Low Angst
This is a gentle, slow-moving story that had me in tears on more than one occasion. There are many things to like about this novel, including a loving, supportive family on both sides and two precious little boys. And it was nice having such an unusual plot, not one I've come across before.
But I think where Ms. Lane really excelled was in making this story seem so realistic. Bella's exhaustion at trying to work full time and care for two kids, Noah's struggle with serving his country vs. being there for Bella and the boys. I felt this book did a really good job of honoring the men and women who serve our country.
I believe this book will appeal to fans of Nicolas Sparks, it has the same feel to it as his books. And for my friends who prefer low-angst books, you will enjoy this one.
I did enjoy the story, but felt it needed a bit more tension, ergo my 3 star rating. The perspective flips back and forth between Bella and Noah, not my favorite point of view. I will always prefer the added mystery of not knowing all the hero's thoughts. But Ms. Lane did a good job of keeping the two perspectives unique and clearly defined.
The book is not clean, there are a few bad words and a couple of intimate scenes.
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a gentle, slow-moving story that had me in tears on more than one occasion. There are many things to like about this novel, including a loving, supportive family on both sides and two precious little boys. And it was nice having such an unusual plot, not one I've come across before.
But I think where Ms. Lane really excelled was in making this story seem so realistic. Bella's exhaustion at trying to work full time and care for two kids, Noah's struggle with serving his country vs. being there for Bella and the boys. I felt this book did a really good job of honoring the men and women who serve our country.
I believe this book will appeal to fans of Nicolas Sparks, it has the same feel to it as his books. And for my friends who prefer low-angst books, you will enjoy this one.
I did enjoy the story, but felt it needed a bit more tension, ergo my 3 star rating. The perspective flips back and forth between Bella and Noah, not my favorite point of view. I will always prefer the added mystery of not knowing all the hero's thoughts. But Ms. Lane did a good job of keeping the two perspectives unique and clearly defined.
The book is not clean, there are a few bad words and a couple of intimate scenes.
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2015
This was my first read by Soraya Lane and it was a book packed with emotion. The blurb grabbed me and immediately highlighted that love and loss is on the menu. Lila and Grey, a military couple are killed in a car accident. Their children are left to Bella, their aunt and Noah their parents most trusted friend. Noah and Bella have met over the years and not got on at all. Noah is a navy SEAL intermittently on deployment so suddenly having children to care for and being a dad doesn't really fit into the single, military life he has carved out for himself. The author was able to include Lila and Grey into the story very well and I felt a connection to those two as well. There were a few unanswered questions which was a little frustrating.
I spent much of the first part of this book irritated with Bella and Noah, mostly because they didn't really get on but this was realistic, they were plunged into co-parenting and working through early grief. I came to like both of these characters and the journey they traveled. There were some tear-jerkering moments.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
I spent much of the first part of this book irritated with Bella and Noah, mostly because they didn't really get on but this was realistic, they were plunged into co-parenting and working through early grief. I came to like both of these characters and the journey they traveled. There were some tear-jerkering moments.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
October 21, 2015
This is the first book of this Author I have read, and let me tell ya. I was hooked and crying the majority of the book. Now it's rare I get hooked on the first couple of pages. I loved loved this book. It such a heartfelt emotional read.
It will leave your emotions in a rollercoaster for then while duration of the book. You will laugh, cry, get aggravated at times but in overall will love this book. I recommend everyone to get it
It will leave your emotions in a rollercoaster for then while duration of the book. You will laugh, cry, get aggravated at times but in overall will love this book. I recommend everyone to get it
December 31, 2016
Wonderful must read story!
Wow! What an amazing, heartbreaking story. An absolute must read! This is a keeper! I cried, I laughed and cried some more. Thank you for writing and sharing this story.
Wow! What an amazing, heartbreaking story. An absolute must read! This is a keeper! I cried, I laughed and cried some more. Thank you for writing and sharing this story.
October 28, 2022
Terrific tale of Unexpected Love
Another beautifully written story about people who are stubborn to see what is in the front of them.
A delightful book with great prose to enjoy as you read.
I have been reading many books by Soraya Lane. Have enjoyed reading them
Another beautifully written story about people who are stubborn to see what is in the front of them.
A delightful book with great prose to enjoy as you read.
I have been reading many books by Soraya Lane. Have enjoyed reading them
November 10, 2015
3/5 Stars
October 30, 2019
Eu AMEI tanto ❤️
March 13, 2023
A life as we know it type story with a twist, I really enjoyed this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews