What do you think?
Rate this book
Barb and Janet #2
Healing Embrace
Barb and Janet were a couple…and then they weren’t. What now? They started a tentative relationship that led to sex a little too soon. Both shied away but their friends knew the two women belonged together. They conspired to put them together in a neutral place where they could talk it out and it worked. They talked. They started slow, with actually dating the second time around…but now what? They’ve both been shattered by love lost. They’re both wary of getting deeply involved again. It doesn’t help matters any when Barb’s focus gets drawn away from her own happiness to tend to the needs of others. Janet tries to be understanding of Barb’s need to be there for her family. She knows she loves the fiercely independent blonde but she’s not so sure they belong together in a committed, long term sort of way, especially when her attempts to lend a hand from time to time seem to bring out more ire than gratefulness. Barb’s dad and his health problems have her feeling years older than she already is. When she looks at the only slightly younger Janet, she sees the exuberance and inexperience of youth. She loves the curvy cop with her heart on her sleeve but she’s afraid the younger woman too often leaps before she considers all of the consequences. What will it take to convince the two women that their personalities compliment each other and that they’re a good match? Fans of the Morelville Mysteries mystery/romance series may recognize these two characters who played supporting roles in those books but this novel stands apart from those. It’s a sequel to the novel ‘Broken Women’. You don’t need to read that book to enjoy this one but, for all the back story that makes the two ladies who they are, the author highly recommends it. Please use the ‘Look Inside’ feature to view the book contents and remember you can download a sample of “Broken Women” to your Kindle for free.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2017
16 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hagan
91 books143 followersAnne Hagan is the author of more than twenty works of fiction in the mystery, romance, and thriller genres. She writes of family, friends, love, murder, and mayhem in no particular order and often all in the same story. She’s a half owner of the weekly discount eBook newsletter, MyQueerSapphFic, the managing director of the non-profit, iReadIndies, a wife, parent, foster parent, and an Army veteran. She draws from all of those experiences when she writes because truth is often stranger than fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 6, 2019
As I'm currently working for and at the Pink Apple gaylesbian+ filmfestival in Zurich, I haven't so much time to read and write reviews. For that, I keep my reviews short today.
Sometimes you need the help of your friends to see through your grief and pain and anxiety. This is the second part of Barb and Janet's journey to find the love they deserve. Will Barb's pull and push destroy the possibility for another love in her life or can she overcome her grief? And is Janet willing and able to wait till Barb is ready?
You know they are meant to for each other, anybody can see it except the two of them, but with a little help, everything is possible.
Very nice romance novella.
My rating 4.5 stars
Sometimes you need the help of your friends to see through your grief and pain and anxiety. This is the second part of Barb and Janet's journey to find the love they deserve. Will Barb's pull and push destroy the possibility for another love in her life or can she overcome her grief? And is Janet willing and able to wait till Barb is ready?
You know they are meant to for each other, anybody can see it except the two of them, but with a little help, everything is possible.
Very nice romance novella.
My rating 4.5 stars
April 19, 2017
Oh man
I have to laugh...if Janet and Barb were real I would have slapped them both. And said wake the check up. I am going to sound a broken record because I am read all of her series. There is not one character that I don't like. I definitely recommend this book.
I have to laugh...if Janet and Barb were real I would have slapped them both. And said wake the check up. I am going to sound a broken record because I am read all of her series. There is not one character that I don't like. I definitely recommend this book.
July 4, 2019
The last book ended with Barb and Janet in the middle of a meal, this book starts with them still in eating that meal.
The story was a series of ‘domestic dramas’, which would have been fine if there had been some day-to-day life to go with them. This is probably just my personal preference, as I like some ‘normality’ rather than just concentrating entirely on the relationship and its problems. For example, Janet is a detective, but you wouldn’t know it from this book.
Both Barb and Janet are emotionally ‘damaged’, but the author seems to make them over react to every perceived slight. After a while this becomes quite wearing and not that enjoyable to read.
Overall it’s not a bad story, but I’m afraid until the last chapter I found it quite a depressing read.
The story was a series of ‘domestic dramas’, which would have been fine if there had been some day-to-day life to go with them. This is probably just my personal preference, as I like some ‘normality’ rather than just concentrating entirely on the relationship and its problems. For example, Janet is a detective, but you wouldn’t know it from this book.
Both Barb and Janet are emotionally ‘damaged’, but the author seems to make them over react to every perceived slight. After a while this becomes quite wearing and not that enjoyable to read.
Overall it’s not a bad story, but I’m afraid until the last chapter I found it quite a depressing read.
October 29, 2019
A blind date between two lovers gives them an opportunity to take the harder road to love or to say a final goodbye.
Barb and Janet are still eating dinner when we meet them again in Healing Embrace (2017). Their blind date set up by friends gives them an opportunity to decide whether to go forward with their relationship or not. The road to happily ever after is never easy. Barb and Janet suffer continuous misunderstandings, miscommunications, and hardships. Every one of their friends and family is invested in the relationship though and does everything they can to help, but in the end it comes down to just Barb and Janet. Can they overcome the hurdles long enough to want to stay together?
Anne Hagan comes up with some interesting disasters in the second book of the “Barb and Janet” series. Holy sugar, each lady goes through some dramas. Janet has grown as a character as I have been with her since she first appeared. I really like her. Once again, I was drawn into their individual stories and even I was thinking, “Okay, that’s it.” This is why Hagan writes romances and I write horror (laugh).
I think there is at least one situation in this book that almost everyone could identify with as Hagan packs in a multitude of catastrophes on both an emotional scale and life affecting ones. (I am trying not to give away too much of the stories here (laugh).) This is what is appealing about Hagan’s books. She layers her stories so that her characters as individuals can stand on their own and not just as a couple or as a mother for example.
I do not think Healing Embrace could be read as a stand-alone, but who would want to? (laugh) After getting this far, do you not want to know how it ends? Hagan brings it home in her third book: Steamboat Reunion (2019).
Barb and Janet are still eating dinner when we meet them again in Healing Embrace (2017). Their blind date set up by friends gives them an opportunity to decide whether to go forward with their relationship or not. The road to happily ever after is never easy. Barb and Janet suffer continuous misunderstandings, miscommunications, and hardships. Every one of their friends and family is invested in the relationship though and does everything they can to help, but in the end it comes down to just Barb and Janet. Can they overcome the hurdles long enough to want to stay together?
Anne Hagan comes up with some interesting disasters in the second book of the “Barb and Janet” series. Holy sugar, each lady goes through some dramas. Janet has grown as a character as I have been with her since she first appeared. I really like her. Once again, I was drawn into their individual stories and even I was thinking, “Okay, that’s it.” This is why Hagan writes romances and I write horror (laugh).
I think there is at least one situation in this book that almost everyone could identify with as Hagan packs in a multitude of catastrophes on both an emotional scale and life affecting ones. (I am trying not to give away too much of the stories here (laugh).) This is what is appealing about Hagan’s books. She layers her stories so that her characters as individuals can stand on their own and not just as a couple or as a mother for example.
I do not think Healing Embrace could be read as a stand-alone, but who would want to? (laugh) After getting this far, do you not want to know how it ends? Hagan brings it home in her third book: Steamboat Reunion (2019).
June 27, 2017
I loved it!
After her mother died, Janet has no family left and Barb has lost the love of her life. After so much time, she is still taken her loss very hard but it's time for her to look forward to a new future. Barb is ready to love again only she can’t admit it to herself. When they decide to try again, everything seems to go well. Until a failing heart changed their relationship and from that moment on, everything started to go downhill. They grow further and further apart. Everyone around them can see that they have strong feelings for each other. That they are meant to be. Now a little matchmaking is in order. For an intervention, friends and family need all the help they can get. They have all gone to a lot of trouble to arrange everything. Now I’ll say no more. You have to read it yourself. It is a short story but wasn’t rushed in any way. On the contrary, it is a complete story and very satisfying. A story with witty wonderful characters.
After her mother died, Janet has no family left and Barb has lost the love of her life. After so much time, she is still taken her loss very hard but it's time for her to look forward to a new future. Barb is ready to love again only she can’t admit it to herself. When they decide to try again, everything seems to go well. Until a failing heart changed their relationship and from that moment on, everything started to go downhill. They grow further and further apart. Everyone around them can see that they have strong feelings for each other. That they are meant to be. Now a little matchmaking is in order. For an intervention, friends and family need all the help they can get. They have all gone to a lot of trouble to arrange everything. Now I’ll say no more. You have to read it yourself. It is a short story but wasn’t rushed in any way. On the contrary, it is a complete story and very satisfying. A story with witty wonderful characters.
June 15, 2017
Another wonderful story!
This sequel is the perfect runner up to Broken Women and I was captivated by this book just like I was completely hooked on the first book. I love the immense growth of both Barbara and Janet, they both learned to open their hearts and be vulnerable with a bit of help from their adoring friends who loved them. I couldn't help but fall in love with the Morelville community after enjoying this series.
This sequel is the perfect runner up to Broken Women and I was captivated by this book just like I was completely hooked on the first book. I love the immense growth of both Barbara and Janet, they both learned to open their hearts and be vulnerable with a bit of help from their adoring friends who loved them. I couldn't help but fall in love with the Morelville community after enjoying this series.
May 24, 2017
Does not disappoint!
I loved this book so much. You'd never know this was only the second romance book the author has written. It's got all the hallmarks of a great romance, the joy, the angst and the meddling of friends!
It was nice to see familiar faces from the Morelville Mysteries series in here too.
A delight to read!!
I loved this book so much. You'd never know this was only the second romance book the author has written. It's got all the hallmarks of a great romance, the joy, the angst and the meddling of friends!
It was nice to see familiar faces from the Morelville Mysteries series in here too.
A delight to read!!
December 24, 2017
Nice
This is an awesome love story. It held my interest from beginning to end. There were some typos but not too bad. There are nice love scenes and a happy ending. Please continue to write love stories.
This is an awesome love story. It held my interest from beginning to end. There were some typos but not too bad. There are nice love scenes and a happy ending. Please continue to write love stories.
August 10, 2019
Excellent story very good writer.
August 14, 2019
Loved it!
April 26, 2017
I have a love/hate relationship with meddlers,
and in this story the meddling is way, way,..., way overdone.
I quite like the two MCs, but one of them (Barb) isn't really doing anything for the relationship and is basically dragged along by the meddlers. How the hell is this relationship going to work out, if one MC can't put in any effort on her own even once?
I would really have liked it, if the big setup at the end would have totally blown up in the faces of the meddlers and the MCs make their relationship work afterwards on their own (without interference) .
God, so annoying ...
P.S.: Only other story I have read by this author was the direct prequel of this one. At least the meddling in there was still tolerable
and in this story the meddling is way, way,..., way overdone.
I quite like the two MCs, but one of them (Barb) isn't really doing anything for the relationship and is basically dragged along by the meddlers. How the hell is this relationship going to work out, if one MC can't put in any effort on her own even once?
I would really have liked it, if the big setup at the end would have totally blown up in the faces of the meddlers and the MCs make their relationship work afterwards on their own (without interference) .
God, so annoying ...
P.S.: Only other story I have read by this author was the direct prequel of this one. At least the meddling in there was still tolerable
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews