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Love Comes Later #2
My New Year Fling
Love Comes Later: Book 2
A ‘holiday fling’ romance
Jess
I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, I’m sure I’m in the book of Guinness World Records, and unfortunately, this year has proved no exception. Telling my boss’s wife that we were having an affair was probably the biggest mistake, but the lying bastard broke my heart, so I don’t regret it. I do regret losing my job, though, especially now I’m broke. Frankly, I’m glad it’s nearly New Year, and I can put this annus horribilis behind me. If only I could do the same with the rest of my life, things might start to look up.
When I see a guy lying on the deck of the beach house next to mine, I make sure I look the other way. I want a quiet, uncomplicated New Year, and I’m not going to get involved with a complete stranger, especially one who’s obviously got issues of his own. But then his family invites me to Christmas dinner on the beach, and his dark eyes tempt me into saying yes. Well, it’s better to regret the things you’ve done than the things you haven’t. Right?
Rich
Life’s been tough for a few years, ever since my twin brother died. Christmas is always the hardest time, and as usual I escape to the beach where I plan to spend the rest of the festive season drinking myself into a stupor. Then I meet Jess. A hot fling is just what the doctor ordered, and both of us enjoy escaping the harsh reality of life for a week or two. But Jess has secrets, and one of them turns up on New Year’s Day to explode her life like a grenade.
I don’t want to get involved. I know Jess is short of cash, and if I tell her that I’m rich by nature as well as by name, I’ll never know whether it’s me she wants or my money. I need to tell her goodbye and let her sort her fucked-up life out herself. But she’s crawled under my skin and inside my brain and into my heart. I hunger for her. And I discover that I can’t let her go.
*
Loves Comes Later
Book 1: My Christmas Fiancé
Book 2: My New Year Fling
Book 3: My Valentine Seduction
Warning: This book is like a strong cup of coffee—rich, dark, and intense. You have been warned.
A ‘holiday fling’ romance
Jess
I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, I’m sure I’m in the book of Guinness World Records, and unfortunately, this year has proved no exception. Telling my boss’s wife that we were having an affair was probably the biggest mistake, but the lying bastard broke my heart, so I don’t regret it. I do regret losing my job, though, especially now I’m broke. Frankly, I’m glad it’s nearly New Year, and I can put this annus horribilis behind me. If only I could do the same with the rest of my life, things might start to look up.
When I see a guy lying on the deck of the beach house next to mine, I make sure I look the other way. I want a quiet, uncomplicated New Year, and I’m not going to get involved with a complete stranger, especially one who’s obviously got issues of his own. But then his family invites me to Christmas dinner on the beach, and his dark eyes tempt me into saying yes. Well, it’s better to regret the things you’ve done than the things you haven’t. Right?
Rich
Life’s been tough for a few years, ever since my twin brother died. Christmas is always the hardest time, and as usual I escape to the beach where I plan to spend the rest of the festive season drinking myself into a stupor. Then I meet Jess. A hot fling is just what the doctor ordered, and both of us enjoy escaping the harsh reality of life for a week or two. But Jess has secrets, and one of them turns up on New Year’s Day to explode her life like a grenade.
I don’t want to get involved. I know Jess is short of cash, and if I tell her that I’m rich by nature as well as by name, I’ll never know whether it’s me she wants or my money. I need to tell her goodbye and let her sort her fucked-up life out herself. But she’s crawled under my skin and inside my brain and into my heart. I hunger for her. And I discover that I can’t let her go.
*
Loves Comes Later
Book 1: My Christmas Fiancé
Book 2: My New Year Fling
Book 3: My Valentine Seduction
Warning: This book is like a strong cup of coffee—rich, dark, and intense. You have been warned.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2016
184 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Serenity Woods
172 books919 followersUSA Today bestselling author Serenity Woods writes small-town romances about strong, capable men who work harder and love harder. Most of her stories are set in Aotearoa New Zealand, where she lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 17, 2016
4.5 stars - Sexy, well written, contemporary romance with emotional and somewhat spiritual undertones
My New Year Fling is quite literally as the title suggests, a fling between two opposites who both have had tough pasts, recent and in the longer distant past. This book is a little heavier on the emotional undertone than expected for Rich’s story but does have several lighter moments mixed in to the heavy scenes that give it a good balance overall.
Rich and Jess, who alternate points of views, are two independent and fierce characters with painful pasts that result in them being the perfect, yet with real emotional flaws, complimentary balance to each others character now. Things do heat up fairly quickly, as you expect with a temporary holiday fling, but things pace out, a little, later on in the book as things move along.
My New Year Fling is well written with it’s fast pace, vivid descriptions and emotional and somewhat spiritual undertones. If you enjoy steamy romances, this has plenty of steamy steams mixed with two complex characters. There was a very surprising curveball twist to the plot with one of the characters that complete threw a for me in the plot as you don’t see it coming. For those who have read previous books, it was nice to re-visit the story with familiar faces but it can be read as a standalone with a HEA.
Overall, I would highly recommend this sexy, well written, contemporary romance.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
My New Year Fling is quite literally as the title suggests, a fling between two opposites who both have had tough pasts, recent and in the longer distant past. This book is a little heavier on the emotional undertone than expected for Rich’s story but does have several lighter moments mixed in to the heavy scenes that give it a good balance overall.
Rich and Jess, who alternate points of views, are two independent and fierce characters with painful pasts that result in them being the perfect, yet with real emotional flaws, complimentary balance to each others character now. Things do heat up fairly quickly, as you expect with a temporary holiday fling, but things pace out, a little, later on in the book as things move along.
My New Year Fling is well written with it’s fast pace, vivid descriptions and emotional and somewhat spiritual undertones. If you enjoy steamy romances, this has plenty of steamy steams mixed with two complex characters. There was a very surprising curveball twist to the plot with one of the characters that complete threw a for me in the plot as you don’t see it coming. For those who have read previous books, it was nice to re-visit the story with familiar faces but it can be read as a standalone with a HEA.
Overall, I would highly recommend this sexy, well written, contemporary romance.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
September 19, 2018
It’s hard enough to lose a sibling, but losing a twin is the worst, and on Boxing Day? Each Christmas, Richard Wright goes off somewhere on his own and gets head poundingly drunk. It doesn’t help that after four years, he still runs a company with Teddi, the woman his brother chose and that he’s been in love with since they were teens. He’s just… stuck. The company has been a huge success, but dating is empty and meaningless. Lately he’s seen how happy their other partner Stratton is with Meg, and that kind of makes it worse.
*winces*
This year, he’s staying at the family bach (a kind of Maori hut) on the beach and there’s a woman staying in the hut nextdoor.
They wave politely at each other.
Jess has plenty of sorrows to drown, herself. She’s nursing a broken heart. Months into a fling with her cafe owner boss, she discovered he was married… with kids. He asks her to wait, but six months later she gets he’s never leaving his wife. Feeling used and angry, she called his wife and told her the truth. Now, she’s lost her job and is feeling pretty ashamed of herself. Plus, she really couldn’t afford to lose that job. She’s already living in the hut in her brother’s backyard.
Somehow, they end up talking to each other, sharing a few drinks, some long walks along the beach and finally, they fall into bed together… no, it was a wall. Wall sex… in a storm. [yesss]
***
Rich, is a multi millionaire and he’s very doubtful about women dating him for his money. Here, he looks like a part maori local. He really has no clue how poor Jess is until they go to a local restaurant and she freaks at the prices.
Jess is a pagan artist who believes in hope and second chances, even if life hasn’t given her many.
They are precariously feeling their way to something deeper when an absolute hand grenade from Jess’s past lobs onto the cabin verandah and blows it all apart.
4 stars
Because when he died, a part of me hoped that I’d finally be the one standing in the light. The smart one, the funny one. The one who got the girl. But nothing’s changed, and now I can’t live with the guilt. His death ruined my life. I hate him for it. And here, on the beach on Christmas Eve, is the only time and place I will let myself admit that.
(Kindle Locations 5264-5267).
*winces*
This year, he’s staying at the family bach (a kind of Maori hut) on the beach and there’s a woman staying in the hut nextdoor.
They wave politely at each other.
Jess has plenty of sorrows to drown, herself. She’s nursing a broken heart. Months into a fling with her cafe owner boss, she discovered he was married… with kids. He asks her to wait, but six months later she gets he’s never leaving his wife. Feeling used and angry, she called his wife and told her the truth. Now, she’s lost her job and is feeling pretty ashamed of herself. Plus, she really couldn’t afford to lose that job. She’s already living in the hut in her brother’s backyard.
Somehow, they end up talking to each other, sharing a few drinks, some long walks along the beach and finally, they fall into bed together… no, it was a wall. Wall sex… in a storm. [yesss]
***
Rich, is a multi millionaire and he’s very doubtful about women dating him for his money. Here, he looks like a part maori local. He really has no clue how poor Jess is until they go to a local restaurant and she freaks at the prices.
Jess is a pagan artist who believes in hope and second chances, even if life hasn’t given her many.
They are precariously feeling their way to something deeper when an absolute hand grenade from Jess’s past lobs onto the cabin verandah and blows it all apart.
4 stars
March 7, 2018
I don't think I have ever Highlighted so many passages as I did in this book. So much of this story talked to me, to my soul. This is poignant love story of two lost souls that just happen to meet over the New Year's weekend. The title leads you two think Jess and Rich meet, have instant attraction to each other and immediately fall into bed for a New Year Fling, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, they are attracted to each other and finally give into their desires, but their relationship is so much deeper than a Fling, as they take themselves and the readers on an emotional ride.
Both Rich and Jess have internal struggles and are trying to just escape from reality, but fate steps in and brings these two together. Both characters are dealing with guilt and secrets. Jess is that girl that keeps making one bad decision after another and now finds herself alone, unemployed, and with a broken heart. Jess seems to deal with her shame, lies, and regrets by punishing herself over and over for her past mistakes. Rich deals with his conflicting emotions over his twin brother's death by drowning his sorrows in booze. The alcohol seems to temporarily numb his guilt for for lusting over his dead twin's girlfriend, Teddi, whom just happens to also be his business partner and his best friend's younger sister.
Over the days and nights these two share at the beach, they come to together to heal each other, yet not quite able to find the inner peace to accept themselves, as they are. At times this very intense love story is heartbreaking to read, and you find yourself invested in their emotional journey. Then just when you think these two may have a chance at love, an expected turn of events totally changes their course. It takes forgiveness, self-acceptances, and the bond of friendships to get Jess and Rich to finally believe in their selves and their love. Their love story is so touching and real.
On a personal level, I so related to Rich's grief over the death of his twin brother, as I recently lost a close relative. I found comfort in Jess' words on death and after-life. Over-all Rating 5 Stars!
Both Rich and Jess have internal struggles and are trying to just escape from reality, but fate steps in and brings these two together. Both characters are dealing with guilt and secrets. Jess is that girl that keeps making one bad decision after another and now finds herself alone, unemployed, and with a broken heart. Jess seems to deal with her shame, lies, and regrets by punishing herself over and over for her past mistakes. Rich deals with his conflicting emotions over his twin brother's death by drowning his sorrows in booze. The alcohol seems to temporarily numb his guilt for for lusting over his dead twin's girlfriend, Teddi, whom just happens to also be his business partner and his best friend's younger sister.
Over the days and nights these two share at the beach, they come to together to heal each other, yet not quite able to find the inner peace to accept themselves, as they are. At times this very intense love story is heartbreaking to read, and you find yourself invested in their emotional journey. Then just when you think these two may have a chance at love, an expected turn of events totally changes their course. It takes forgiveness, self-acceptances, and the bond of friendships to get Jess and Rich to finally believe in their selves and their love. Their love story is so touching and real.
On a personal level, I so related to Rich's grief over the death of his twin brother, as I recently lost a close relative. I found comfort in Jess' words on death and after-life. Over-all Rating 5 Stars!
January 1, 2017
I haven't read a Serenity Woods book that I haven't enjoyed, and My New Year Fling is no exception to that. Rich Wright has been a mess since his identical twin brother died unexpectedly on Boxing Day almost four years before the start of this story. Every year he hides himself away for the Christmas break, and drinks himself into oblivion. He stays in a beach house, with family members staying a couple of houses away, quietly keeping an eye on him. A woman, Jess, is staying in the beach house next door. She realises he is hurting, and quietly helps him, covering him with a blanket when he sleeps outside having drunk nearly a bottle of whisky, and leaving pain killers and a drink on the table beside him for when he wakes up with a hangover.
They gradually get to know and like each other, although each of them keep secrets from each other. Secrets do have a habit of revealing themselves at inopportune moments, which of course causes great embarrassment for Jess in particular. But all is well that ends well. There is a great deal of emotion in the book, and Serenity is extremely good at conveying emotion, you feel as though you are there, in the story as an observer. It is a story that feels very real, well thought out, and just the right length; no feeling that any part has been rushed or drawn out.
Well worth reading.
They gradually get to know and like each other, although each of them keep secrets from each other. Secrets do have a habit of revealing themselves at inopportune moments, which of course causes great embarrassment for Jess in particular. But all is well that ends well. There is a great deal of emotion in the book, and Serenity is extremely good at conveying emotion, you feel as though you are there, in the story as an observer. It is a story that feels very real, well thought out, and just the right length; no feeling that any part has been rushed or drawn out.
Well worth reading.
November 10, 2016
Emotional and Sexy Novel
Rich lost his identical twin brother on Boxing Day nearly 4 years ago. He still feels the pain keenly and during the festive period just wants to blot the days out with alcohol. The author conveys the emotional bond of twins very well, how when one of them dies they feel only half a person, but I did feel for his parents who must have felt they had lost two sons every Christmas. Rich's neighbour at his beachfront bolthole is Jess who has had a tough life and has reasons of her own for hating Christmas. Neither wants a relationship but they become friendly when Jess helps him with his morning after hangovers and Rich finds that here is a woman who doesn't feel the need to talk all the time and she brings calm and peacefulness to his life. Jess is into yoga, meditation and reiki principles taught to her by a woman who has helped her to turn her life around (well until her latest catastrophe). I loved Jess' faith and how she explained her beliefs on death and like Rich I was fascinated by her synesthesia/chromesthesia. This book is told from a dual POV and can be read as a standalone. It is emotional and sexy, with strong language from the outset.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author and voluntarily chose to review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review.
Rich lost his identical twin brother on Boxing Day nearly 4 years ago. He still feels the pain keenly and during the festive period just wants to blot the days out with alcohol. The author conveys the emotional bond of twins very well, how when one of them dies they feel only half a person, but I did feel for his parents who must have felt they had lost two sons every Christmas. Rich's neighbour at his beachfront bolthole is Jess who has had a tough life and has reasons of her own for hating Christmas. Neither wants a relationship but they become friendly when Jess helps him with his morning after hangovers and Rich finds that here is a woman who doesn't feel the need to talk all the time and she brings calm and peacefulness to his life. Jess is into yoga, meditation and reiki principles taught to her by a woman who has helped her to turn her life around (well until her latest catastrophe). I loved Jess' faith and how she explained her beliefs on death and like Rich I was fascinated by her synesthesia/chromesthesia. This book is told from a dual POV and can be read as a standalone. It is emotional and sexy, with strong language from the outset.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author and voluntarily chose to review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review.
April 20, 2025
Just when I thought no one could outdo Stratton, in wanders Rich taking over my world. The man is the epitome of perfection. His journey to love after life altering loss is beautiful, emotional and warming.
Meeting Jess when he was in his self imposed isolation over Christmas changed his life forever. This woman is free willed, sexy and beautiful. She sees his demeanour, and comes as support for him. Jess carries her own demons, and together they find a new path, Rich moving on from the death of his identical twin 4 years ago, and Jess’ life that yea rolled out of control.
1 week, 2 broken souls and a beautiful New Zealand landscape brings a new journey of love, adoration and hot chemistry to burn up the story line!
Serenity Woods has done an incredible job crating 2 beautifully broken characters and their path to forever! ♥️♥️♥️
Meeting Jess when he was in his self imposed isolation over Christmas changed his life forever. This woman is free willed, sexy and beautiful. She sees his demeanour, and comes as support for him. Jess carries her own demons, and together they find a new path, Rich moving on from the death of his identical twin 4 years ago, and Jess’ life that yea rolled out of control.
1 week, 2 broken souls and a beautiful New Zealand landscape brings a new journey of love, adoration and hot chemistry to burn up the story line!
Serenity Woods has done an incredible job crating 2 beautifully broken characters and their path to forever! ♥️♥️♥️
January 31, 2025
This books takes place during the course of Christmas and into the New Year. Jess and Rich are 2 damaged souls who find each other in the midst of their despair. It was a nice concept but I had some issues with the spiritual themes that were broached. Jess, the main female mc, has lived a tragic life with so many obstacles and addictions. She has overcome them slowly and wants to start a new life. Rich, the male mc, has face a great loss that sees him in a dark, destructive place. Together they are able to overcome and find love in a short space of time. The ending was very nice and I am hopeful for their future. This book was a fast read but I could not get into it and took me a month to complete. I would recommend.
April 30, 2017
Four years later, Rich was deeply mourning his twin brother. I knew there would be a woman and a romance, but the way the writer gently had Jess pull Rich out of his grief was just so well done. I didn't expect it.
Throughout the story there were unexpected twists and turns. There was some sadness and grief, but this was not a melancholy tale. Rich and Jess had a love story that blossomed. They were very in tune and supported each other through their difficult times.
It was gentle, endearing, sexy, and appealing. I really liked Rich and Jess. You also get to revisit Stratton and Met briefly.
Throughout the story there were unexpected twists and turns. There was some sadness and grief, but this was not a melancholy tale. Rich and Jess had a love story that blossomed. They were very in tune and supported each other through their difficult times.
It was gentle, endearing, sexy, and appealing. I really liked Rich and Jess. You also get to revisit Stratton and Met briefly.
January 4, 2019
Quite enjoyed this.
Minor spoilers.
One thing I’m liking about this series is no black moment near the end like the usual formula, and that’s okay.
Written in first person present tense, alternating between hero and heroine’s POV.
Also I think it should be important to note that while it says the heroine was having an affair with a married man, she did NOT know he was married at the time. He lied to her as well. As I know it would be a dealbreaker for a lot of readers if she had done so willingly, so rest assured, the heroine was a victim there too, not a willing participant.
Minor spoilers.
One thing I’m liking about this series is no black moment near the end like the usual formula, and that’s okay.
Written in first person present tense, alternating between hero and heroine’s POV.
Also I think it should be important to note that while it says the heroine was having an affair with a married man, she did NOT know he was married at the time. He lied to her as well. As I know it would be a dealbreaker for a lot of readers if she had done so willingly, so rest assured, the heroine was a victim there too, not a willing participant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2021
From trauma to romance
The trauma of losing a twin, led to finding the love of his life, Rich is such a great character because he has struggled with this for 4 years, he drinks himself into oblivion every year around Christmas, he is such a complex character, but then so is Jess, this book is full of drama, i feel some people might need a warning before reading this especially if you had to give up babies for adoption, it is an awesome book though, they both get what they need in the end, each other, very well written, looking forward to Teddi's story.
The trauma of losing a twin, led to finding the love of his life, Rich is such a great character because he has struggled with this for 4 years, he drinks himself into oblivion every year around Christmas, he is such a complex character, but then so is Jess, this book is full of drama, i feel some people might need a warning before reading this especially if you had to give up babies for adoption, it is an awesome book though, they both get what they need in the end, each other, very well written, looking forward to Teddi's story.
October 11, 2019
Serenity woods is a fabulous writer. Her characters are almost always tormented and/or needy, yet she takes us along with their journey in different and ultimately fulfilling ways. Reading her books leaves me feeling satisfied. The ends always satisfy and allow me to fantasize how the futures of the romance will progress. I always enjoy learning about New Zealand as well. Can’t wait for her next offering.
January 22, 2022
So Rich and lovely
I love Serenity Wood's writing. It is so rich with emotion and so complex with layers in the story. It starts off as holiday affair that brings Will out of mourning his brother's death. Jess's outlook on life makes Will slowly open his eyes and heart. Then more surprises that test their relationship. Is it possible that they have a deeper connection than just a holiday fling? It was wonderful reading to find out.
I love Serenity Wood's writing. It is so rich with emotion and so complex with layers in the story. It starts off as holiday affair that brings Will out of mourning his brother's death. Jess's outlook on life makes Will slowly open his eyes and heart. Then more surprises that test their relationship. Is it possible that they have a deeper connection than just a holiday fling? It was wonderful reading to find out.
February 24, 2025
Fun & in-depth read
Serenity words is a terrific writer. She’s able to go into character development with a touch of the New Zealand people in the language. Characters are well developed. Back stories are good and she ties it all up together in the novel. I look forward to her books. I know they will be enjoyable. Read a lot of flirting and sex just enough so it’s not overwhelming. Love story with spice. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Serenity words is a terrific writer. She’s able to go into character development with a touch of the New Zealand people in the language. Characters are well developed. Back stories are good and she ties it all up together in the novel. I look forward to her books. I know they will be enjoyable. Read a lot of flirting and sex just enough so it’s not overwhelming. Love story with spice. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
January 7, 2020
Thoroughly relatable
This book had me tied up in knots. This author has a real gift for making her characters seem so relatable, even when I can’t relate. This was Rich’s story and he broke my heart and then left me smiling. A beautiful story about two broken people who desperately needed each other to mend.
This book had me tied up in knots. This author has a real gift for making her characters seem so relatable, even when I can’t relate. This was Rich’s story and he broke my heart and then left me smiling. A beautiful story about two broken people who desperately needed each other to mend.
December 21, 2018
Such an enjoyable story. I loved watching Ruch and Jess meet, feel the sparks and start to fall. The way they bonded over pains of their pasts and how they accepted them long with their walk into their future. It was beautiful. The intensity and heat helped a bit too. ;) very hot!!
January 1, 2019
This is one of Serenity’s best books! The title leads you to think the relationship is shallow and steamy, but this book was a tear jerker! Rich and Jess came into each other’s lives to heal wounds, hold each other up and get on with living. Such a beautiful love story!!
October 11, 2019
Really good book. Another one that I found difficult to put down. I really liked the surprises in it. I love series but this one is just as good as a stand alone. I will be reading the next one though.
October 18, 2019
This author writes an exceptional story.
What a treat! Great story, loved how everything evolved. Beautiful way to explain how people feel and see things differently. Highly recommended.
What a treat! Great story, loved how everything evolved. Beautiful way to explain how people feel and see things differently. Highly recommended.
October 5, 2025
Exceptional book!
WOW! What an absolutely beautiful story! Miss Serenity has such a gift for crafting incredibly poignant stories about what appear to be real people with real lives and real stories to tell. I just cannot get enough of her stories.
WOW! What an absolutely beautiful story! Miss Serenity has such a gift for crafting incredibly poignant stories about what appear to be real people with real lives and real stories to tell. I just cannot get enough of her stories.
January 6, 2026
Jes and Rich meet on a beach in New Zealand. I found her character really relatable. It was nice to see her pull Rich out of his shell and love through his grief. This was a quick read, but i want to read more in the series.
October 18, 2018
New Year Fling
Omg! Amazing, heart felt, and you get all the feelings with this one. Laugh, cry, and believe in love again.
Omg! Amazing, heart felt, and you get all the feelings with this one. Laugh, cry, and believe in love again.
December 14, 2018
I liked this book but I didn't love it. There were some parts it got boring so I would just skip pass parts. Looking forward to Teddi's book so I kept going.
October 9, 2020
Enjoyed reading this one as well as the previous one in the series, now into book three and will review that one soon...TY Serenity
December 6, 2021
Redemption story
March 2, 2024
Sweet and easy to read story, but with enough emotional depth to make it a bit more than just a quick sexy read. Really enjoyed it.
November 29, 2016
Jess is broke, without a job and reeling from a bad breakup. Rich is rich, runs a successful business with friends and mourns the anniversary of his twins death. They both have come to the beach to get away, yet end up spending all their time together before going back to their separate lives after New Years. What starts out as A NEW YEARS FLING quickly turns into love. Ms. Woods books are intriguing, have lovable characters, plots that are real with intense emotions, secrets and are very hard to put down until the end. I highly, highly recommend!
October 31, 2017
I enjoy the way she puts a story together. This book and the last one I read were great. She gives the story from each of the characters perspective. It just makes the entire story gel together. If you enjoy a light romance (that gets a little steamy), her books are just what you're looking for.
November 12, 2016
This is the second book in Woods’ series, “Love Comes Later,” which revolves around the billionaire owners of New Zealand’s largest gaming company. They’re good friends, but have suffered the devastating loss of the twin brother of the company’s main programmer, Rich. To top it off, the deceased young man was engaged to the sister of the other owner. And Rich, the identical surviving twin has always been in love with his brother’s fiance. So on top of having a hard time overcoming the death of his twin, he has to fight the guiltt and anger he feels of having been jealous.
It is now Christmas and the fourth anniversary of his brother’s death and Rich has retired to a small beach house in northern New Zealand to get through the hard time by drinking himself into a stupor. But the young woman staying in the beach house next to him, Jess, is there for her own recovery from feelings of inadequacy and sadness. She is recovering from a disastrous love affair and having to face the fact that she’s in her mid 30s and doesn’t have a partner, family, or job.
The book is about these two sad, but decent people meeting and having a short fling over the holidays. She doesn’t know that Rich is a billionaire and he doesn’t know all of her sad secrets. But they find that they can help each other get beyond their pasts and embrace the present and future.
And hot sex between two good-looking people doesn’t hurt either.
There isn’t much plot in this book - it’s all about two unhappy people coming together and finding that they can help each other. And one thing that I really like is that Woods shows why they fall in love instead of just making it the result of irresistible lust as so many romance authors do. She gives us the conversations between them instead of just telling us that they get along. Few romance authors actually do that these days. We are told that they relate to each other, but the author can’t be bothered to come up with a conversation, much less several conversations, to demonstrate why they do.
This was a lovely book. The one complaint I would have had is that everything gets resolved pretty easily and painlessly. Jess worries that she’ll feel uncomfortable in his world of wealth and feel too dependent on him, but then decides not to and that seems enough. However, I couldn’t put the book down, not because I needed to know how it came out - being a romance, we know how it’s going to come out - but because I enjoyed riding along with these two good people finding each other.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book
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It is now Christmas and the fourth anniversary of his brother’s death and Rich has retired to a small beach house in northern New Zealand to get through the hard time by drinking himself into a stupor. But the young woman staying in the beach house next to him, Jess, is there for her own recovery from feelings of inadequacy and sadness. She is recovering from a disastrous love affair and having to face the fact that she’s in her mid 30s and doesn’t have a partner, family, or job.
The book is about these two sad, but decent people meeting and having a short fling over the holidays. She doesn’t know that Rich is a billionaire and he doesn’t know all of her sad secrets. But they find that they can help each other get beyond their pasts and embrace the present and future.
And hot sex between two good-looking people doesn’t hurt either.
There isn’t much plot in this book - it’s all about two unhappy people coming together and finding that they can help each other. And one thing that I really like is that Woods shows why they fall in love instead of just making it the result of irresistible lust as so many romance authors do. She gives us the conversations between them instead of just telling us that they get along. Few romance authors actually do that these days. We are told that they relate to each other, but the author can’t be bothered to come up with a conversation, much less several conversations, to demonstrate why they do.
This was a lovely book. The one complaint I would have had is that everything gets resolved pretty easily and painlessly. Jess worries that she’ll feel uncomfortable in his world of wealth and feel too dependent on him, but then decides not to and that seems enough. However, I couldn’t put the book down, not because I needed to know how it came out - being a romance, we know how it’s going to come out - but because I enjoyed riding along with these two good people finding each other.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book
http://allromanceallthetime.blogspot....
November 11, 2016
Book 2 My New Year Fling of this Love Comes Later Series is about Rich's journey as we end book 1 knowing that he will be going off the grid to disappear in a stupor of alcohol as he comes to terms with yet another birthday without his twin brother.
This time though he is interrupted by a simple, giving soul named Jess, who although has her own demons to conquer, some newer than others, she brings to Rich a glimpse of hope and tranquility. Jess is nursing a bruised heart but sees a person in distress and whether it is from her own past experiences, which led her down some dark narrow roads, she lifts Rich out of his melancholy and they come together in a clash of thunder.... Literally.
The entire mood of this book was one of a peaceful healing, mixed with some really nice people who you get to really like and want to be around. Jess lends this calming acceptance of life, this she learnt from Maria who became like a second mother to her, and Rich's honest persona is one of quiet giving as they literally become healing and balance for one another.
My fav quotes for this book are:
"We’re all the end product of a lifetime of events and experiences."
And
"Life’s not about being perfect or about not making mistakes. The important thing is what you do when you make them, and how you deal with the consequences.”
This is a feel good book as there is no angst and mischief but overcoming and healing and love. It leaves you feeling happy and full of promise. There are twists and turns also as we discover Jess is made to face her twin children some odd 20 years later, she was a teenage Mom with strict domineering parents so nuff said. We see Rich helping Jess overcome her lack of self confidence and embrace her future. While Jess grants Rich his freedom of living in the past and guilt for surviving his brother and showing us that money is not the means to a happy life, but people who love and accept you. They get their second chance at having a happy life and just desserts and you feel so happy that Jess gets to have a good man to look after her and support her as Rich has a woman who will be at his side and love him unconditionally.
Mind you there is spice and lots of it so you get to enjoy that too!
So let's see what Teddi is going to get up to in book 3 as I revel in the afterglow of just feeling happy after reading this one.
"I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Opinions and comments are solely my own."
January 8, 2017
Reviewed by Gemini
My New Year Fling is the second book in Serenity Woods’ Love Comes Later series. It picks right up after the events in the first book, My Christmas Fiancé. This time, the story focuses on another business partner of the very successful video game development company called Katoa in New Zealand. The partner’s name is Richard “Rich” Wright and he lives up to his name because he is actually a billionaire, just not a very happy one during the Christmas season which is where this book begins. Rich’s twin brother died four years ago during the holiday season so Rich truly hates this time of year. As soon as the office shuts down for the holidays, Rich goes up to the small family beach house and drinks himself into a drunken stupor. Generally, Rich has been able to do this without interruption but this year is different because he finds himself enamored by a beautiful and intriguing woman that is staying at the beach house next to him.
On the other side of this coin is Jessica “Jess” Phillips. She is staying at a friend’s beach house to get away from her sad life. Unknowingly, she was having an affair with a married man that she worked with. Once she found out and told his wife about it, she was fired. Consequently, she is unemployed. Add that to the other baggage from her past and she is feeling pretty sorry for herself as well. Early on, she notices that her neighbor Rich must be trying to bury his sorrows with alcohol so she quietly keeps an eye on him and eventually introduces herself. She has no idea that he is wealthy and he doesn’t bother to tell her. Rich doesn’t believe in love but he opens up to Jess and they call themselves having a fling while they are there for the holidays. Of course, they get to know each other and realize that they may have something special. Unfortunately, a blast from Jess’s past creates a rift in their budding relationship and they work to get back together. Though they are from different worlds, they are really good for each other.
I really enjoyed My New Year Fling. Clearly, some of it was predictable but overall there was some refreshing nuances that made this romance not seem so typical. In addition, Rich’s and Jess’s time between the sheets was atomic. I look forward to reading the next book, My Valentine Seduction and hope it brings the series to a neat ending.
**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed the book.**
My New Year Fling is the second book in Serenity Woods’ Love Comes Later series. It picks right up after the events in the first book, My Christmas Fiancé. This time, the story focuses on another business partner of the very successful video game development company called Katoa in New Zealand. The partner’s name is Richard “Rich” Wright and he lives up to his name because he is actually a billionaire, just not a very happy one during the Christmas season which is where this book begins. Rich’s twin brother died four years ago during the holiday season so Rich truly hates this time of year. As soon as the office shuts down for the holidays, Rich goes up to the small family beach house and drinks himself into a drunken stupor. Generally, Rich has been able to do this without interruption but this year is different because he finds himself enamored by a beautiful and intriguing woman that is staying at the beach house next to him.
On the other side of this coin is Jessica “Jess” Phillips. She is staying at a friend’s beach house to get away from her sad life. Unknowingly, she was having an affair with a married man that she worked with. Once she found out and told his wife about it, she was fired. Consequently, she is unemployed. Add that to the other baggage from her past and she is feeling pretty sorry for herself as well. Early on, she notices that her neighbor Rich must be trying to bury his sorrows with alcohol so she quietly keeps an eye on him and eventually introduces herself. She has no idea that he is wealthy and he doesn’t bother to tell her. Rich doesn’t believe in love but he opens up to Jess and they call themselves having a fling while they are there for the holidays. Of course, they get to know each other and realize that they may have something special. Unfortunately, a blast from Jess’s past creates a rift in their budding relationship and they work to get back together. Though they are from different worlds, they are really good for each other.
I really enjoyed My New Year Fling. Clearly, some of it was predictable but overall there was some refreshing nuances that made this romance not seem so typical. In addition, Rich’s and Jess’s time between the sheets was atomic. I look forward to reading the next book, My Valentine Seduction and hope it brings the series to a neat ending.
**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed the book.**
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