Amanda Connelly wants a family. She’s ready to trade her glamorous life in for bottles and diapers, with or without a man. Too bad her plans abruptly come to a stop when her high school ex comes flying back into her life. Now he’s talking about a future when she’s not even sure she can forgive him for the past.
Rhys Brooks wants his girl back. Amanda was supposed to be the one he spent the rest of his life with until he screwed it up by leaving. The only problem with his plan is that she’s all grown up and stubborn as hell. The chemistry between them is stronger than ever, but will Amanda be able to forgive him for leaving her in the first place?
Romance writer. Wife. Mother of two. Avid reader. Queen of multitasking.
Originally from the south, Alyson likes to incorporate what she knows into her books. She's lived not only on the east coast, but the west coast and a few places in between. Alyson loves sharing stories about her crazy family to anyone who will listen. Her guilty pleasures consist of coffee, country music, brunch, breaking the rules, and pedicures. And she will always be a daddy's girl.
When Alyson isn't chasing around her two kiddos, she's normally writing. Or reading. Her Kindle library is out of control. Alyson writes mainly contemporary novels and novellas with a bit of new adult mixed in.
I received this book for a fair and honest review. I have followed these characters thru Alysons other books in this series and was happy to finally get to read Amanda And Rhys story!!! I love the fast paced in your face way this story is told! I love Amanda and Rhys and I was so happy to be able to finally understand their journey
I found this book to be enjoyable. To get the total feel of all the characters and Amanda and Rhys story, this book definitely needs to be read in order with the series. Some humor and romance were well placed and made the a great read.
Amanda wants a family and is willing to give up Her career for this. All of a sudden her ex comes back into her life. Such complications. An interesting read as usual.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book of Alyson Reynolds' I've read, I believe it is the 3rd book in her series though.
Rhys and Amanda, or Mandi as close friends and family calls her, have been together since their younger years. They are high school sweethearts and always believed they will Grow old together, with a family of their own. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned due to several circumstances.
Rhys has a deep fear in him, fear he couldn't voice out to Amanda but fear that causes him to run away. This of course, upsets Amanda. She tries to move on and seems to be ok with it until 12 years later when they see each other as adults.
Past hurts and abandonment issues bring about current insecurities that threaten to tear these lovers apart.
Frankly, I thought Rhys is a mess. At the beginning, he stands firm by what he believed he needed to do at the time but, 12 years later, when they are given a second chance by fate, he still shows hints of indecisiveness.
I loved that Mandi knew what she wanted. Though hurt and angered by past events, she tries her hardest to move on, to try to accept what she knows she needs.
I was so mad at Rhys in certain parts. I think the way he was acting was immature, even 12 years later. I get that they were both insecure in each other, not knowing where each stands, but he's giving me whiplash at times, I could just imagine what he's giving Mandi.
Can these two find an HEA after all the hurt they have caused each other?
Alyson Reynolds has written a tasteful tale of second chance romance between two fated people who met at the wrong time, but who's lives are intertwined together by fate. Through the passing of time and conflicts, they manage to find each other and the love they've always shared.
A sweet read.
The reason for the 3 star being is that the pace of the story, at times, went fastI received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book of Alyson Reynolds' I've read, I believe it is the 3rd book in her series though.
Rhys and Amanda, or Mandi as close friends and family calls her, have been together since their younger years. They are high school sweethearts and always believed they will Grow old together, with a family of their own. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned due to several circumstances.
Rhys has a deep fear in him, fear he couldn't voice out to Amanda but fear that causes him to run away. This of course, upsets Amanda. She tries to move on and seems to be ok with it until 12 years later when they see each other as adults.
Past hurts and abandonment issues bring about current insecurities that threaten to tear these lovers apart.
Frankly, I thought Rhys is a mess. At the beginning, he stands firm by what he believed he needed to do at the time but, 12 years later, when they are given a second chance by fate, he still shows hints of indecisiveness.
I loved that Mandi knew what she wanted. Though hurt and angered by past events, she tries her hardest to move on, to try to accept what she knows she needs.
I was so mad at Rhys in certain parts. I think the way he was acting was immature, even 12 years later. I get that they were both insecure in each other, not knowing where each stands, but he's giving me whiplash at times, I could just imagine what he's giving Mandi.
Can these two find an HEA after all the hurt they have caused each other?
Alyson Reynolds has written a tasteful tale of second chance romance between two fated people who met at the wrong time, but who's lives are intertwined together by fate. Through the passing of time and conflicts, they manage to find each other and the love they've always shared.
A sweet read..
The reason for the 3 star being is that the pace of the story, at times, went fast as well as the fact that both characters were sometimes too lenient with their past and the events that lead them to where they are. The story, to me, lacked something.
I related to these characters from the get go. Rhys has some family issues he's sure he can't share with anyone else, especially Amanda. And as much as he loves her, he knows that he has to let her go. Amanda, hurt and feeling betrayed, moves on and becomes an actress, something she's good at, especially with the family background she's come from. Twelve years pass and through a friend, by coincidence, they enter each other's lives again. He wants to make amends, but she isn't so sure she'll come out of things with her heart unscathed...not again.
This book is full of all the angst and hopelessness of teenage love, trying to find yourself without losing everything around you. Then there's the pain and anger that comes with meeting the one who broke your heart while trying to keep a modicum of your own identity in the spotlight . It's difficult enough to survive young love without the rough backgrounds these kids had. When it all rushes back 12 years later, they not only wonder if they can survive but if they'll ever be able to forgive.
This was a story I was looking forward to so much and was thrilled when Ms Reynolds finally published it. I wanted to know what the relationship was between these two that was alluded to in the previous book. To finally have answers and watch their love unfold was heartrending and satisfying. I loved it just as I knew I would.
OMG Finally I could put my claws into this book that I was expecting with so much anxiety. Since the moment Alyson Reynolds told me that she was going to dedicate a book to these characters I was so happy and so eager to read that I couldn't wait. Selfless is the third book in the “Relentless series” from the fantastic Alyson Reynolds and like the other books in this series is breathtaking. Have you ever actually read any book of this author? If so you know that her writing is simple and fluid. Alyson can appeal to our sentimental and emotional part with a facility that sometimes scares me. The fact that she's like this can help us focus more on the best in the world, LOVE, because unfortunately we live in a world in constant conflict. If you haven't read any books start now because you will love it. Another advice that I give is that you might want to read the other two books in this series, because although they can be read separately this series characters interact in all books. Selfless is the story of Amanda and Rhys. Amanda is a renowned actress. She's a beautiful, cheerful, friendly and fun, but behind that facade lurks a woman sad and hurt with a hidden desire that she wants to achieve no matter what. Rhys is a charismatic man, full of secrets and with a past marked by sadness and tragedy. They were teenage sweethearts but something leads Rhys to leave Amanda. When they meet again 12 years later something happens and I can't say more. This book is full of feeling, sorrow, and sadness but also has a lot of love and comedy to the mix. As in the other books of the series, I want more. Want more books about new characters but also want to continue to monitor the lives of Violet, Jax, Taylor, Stephen, Amanda and Rhys so Alyson Reynolds, starts working faster, lol.
This amazing sweet novel tells the story about Amanda Connelly & Rhys Brooks. This novel is very well written and developed with no plot-holes. The character's are realistic with real emotions and flaws. The chemistry of the character's is undeniable. This novel is fast-paced and filled with secrets. This novel provides sweet romance, intrigue, & many twist and turns. I highly recommend reading this novel as you will not be disappointed. I was given a free copy in exchange for a honest review.
Selfless is the first book of Alyson Reynolds I have had the pleasure of reading.
Amanda is a strong character until her characters interactions start with Rhys. She still had moments of strength and yet there was an edge of vulnerability. I loved how she was developed and the sass was still glimpsed through the book. She gave as good as she got from Rhys and at other moments through the story too.
Rhys was not developed as a bad boy character, only in his interactions with Amanda, which were well placed and valid moments. I thought his past could have been explored more throughout the story. I especially would have loved more exploration of his relationship with his brother. I did find it hard to understand how, although he had a strong relationship with his brother, it wasn't really examined in the story, just as the occasional side note. It was also strange how such an important character to Rhys' story didn't appear in the book as a secondary character.
The story itself was strong, had great flow and was completely engaging. I finished devouring this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. There weren't any concerns that made you disengage from the story or stop its flow, if anything, I didn't want the story to end.
I'm sure the author meant well, and I was definitely interested by the book description but man....I wish I could have a refund back on my time.
The writing felt amateur, and for people who are now in their thirties they still acted like the melodramatic overly hormonal teenagers that were frequently referenced. The hero was a wimp who would change his name to "I'm Sorry" or "Idiot" since I lost count how many times he referred to himself as such. and the heroine...ha! She was all over the place. At least the hero followed the same mold he started out in with his apologetic self-deprecating blather but she went from "Oh my God! you hurt me my life was over! don't touch me!" to being "I want a baby! you need to give me a baby! you're never here you're never here when I break down like a selfish child who didn't get a gift at someone else's birthday party"
It was a joke. I already found the hero hard to digest with his whiny repetitive speech about leaving to save her or them, but she really took the cake by half way through the book.
This was my first book by this author. I will not be reading anymore of her works in the future.
I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All I can say right now is, you all NEED to buy and read this book. That's how good this book is. You'll love Rhys and Amanda's story.