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Never Judge a Book
Jess
When I pictured my future, I never imagined I would be pregnant and on my own, but this is my reality. I had my baby to think about, and being with a lying, cheating man-child suddenly didn't hold as much appeal.
Turning back to the one thing that has always grounded me, I immersed myself in books; the local library, my playground. That's where I met him.
Nathan
I've spent my life trying to be the perfect child and stay out of trouble. People only see what they want to, though. The Frost Brothers are no good.
I've done my time, and now I'm trying to get on with my life. It wasn't my intention to fall for someone, let alone a girl who clearly belonged to someone else. She didn't look at me like everyone else did. But could she really fall for a guy like me?
When I pictured my future, I never imagined I would be pregnant and on my own, but this is my reality. I had my baby to think about, and being with a lying, cheating man-child suddenly didn't hold as much appeal.
Turning back to the one thing that has always grounded me, I immersed myself in books; the local library, my playground. That's where I met him.
Nathan
I've spent my life trying to be the perfect child and stay out of trouble. People only see what they want to, though. The Frost Brothers are no good.
I've done my time, and now I'm trying to get on with my life. It wasn't my intention to fall for someone, let alone a girl who clearly belonged to someone else. She didn't look at me like everyone else did. But could she really fall for a guy like me?
196 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2017
4 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Broadbent
63 books249 followersStacey Broadbent is a multi-genre author from New Zealand. She writes under three different names and a variety of genres, so there is something to suit most tastes. You can find her LGBTQIA reads under the name Cyan Tayse, and children’s books under the name Stacey Jayne.
An avid reader and lover of all things bookish, Stacey has made it her goal to share about her favourite authors and books she's read, while also building her own publishing story. She is a qualified proofreader and is embarking on a new journey of study - Library and Information Skills.
She is a member of the Unhinged Kiwi Booktalk discord group, and a great bunch of Canterbury based bookstagrammers. Her TBR is never-ending, and though she struggles to keep up with it, she continues to add more.
As well as reading, her hobbies include LEGO, cross-stitch, crochet, and diamond art, and you can often find her sharing about her latest project on TikTok.
An avid reader and lover of all things bookish, Stacey has made it her goal to share about her favourite authors and books she's read, while also building her own publishing story. She is a qualified proofreader and is embarking on a new journey of study - Library and Information Skills.
She is a member of the Unhinged Kiwi Booktalk discord group, and a great bunch of Canterbury based bookstagrammers. Her TBR is never-ending, and though she struggles to keep up with it, she continues to add more.
As well as reading, her hobbies include LEGO, cross-stitch, crochet, and diamond art, and you can often find her sharing about her latest project on TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 28, 2017
Jess finds herself on a position no young girl ever dreams of when she thinks about her future. She’s on her own after ending her abusive relationship and she's expecting. Her family is supportive, but how do ever work yourself out of hole that deep?
Nathan Frost has a criminal record. He's done time. He wants to make a fresh start, but people are judgmental and refuse to believe a person can make bad choices and learn from them. But one look at the sad-faced pregnant girl in the library and he's sunk. But how do you show a mother to be that there is more to you than meets the eye?
Stacey Broadbent captures the struggles of Jess and Nathan in a beautiful story of loss, love, and longevity. On the surface, there is nothing more pure than a mother to be and nothing more evil than a criminal. Broadbent examines the theme of never judge a book by its cover through Jess and Nathan and brings to light the need for less snap decision judgements and more heartfelt character examinations. Broadbent fills this budding romance with the best gift, the gift of hope, despite the many mistakes one may make. If you haven't read Never Judge a Book then there is no time like the present to get turning those pages.
Nathan Frost has a criminal record. He's done time. He wants to make a fresh start, but people are judgmental and refuse to believe a person can make bad choices and learn from them. But one look at the sad-faced pregnant girl in the library and he's sunk. But how do you show a mother to be that there is more to you than meets the eye?
Stacey Broadbent captures the struggles of Jess and Nathan in a beautiful story of loss, love, and longevity. On the surface, there is nothing more pure than a mother to be and nothing more evil than a criminal. Broadbent examines the theme of never judge a book by its cover through Jess and Nathan and brings to light the need for less snap decision judgements and more heartfelt character examinations. Broadbent fills this budding romance with the best gift, the gift of hope, despite the many mistakes one may make. If you haven't read Never Judge a Book then there is no time like the present to get turning those pages.
October 25, 2018
Stacey Broadbent is a new to me author and I was excited to read Never Judge a Book. This was a story of choices, struggles, strengths, and second chances. Jess and Nathan are both trying to start over and are struggling. Jess is out of a bad relationship and is now pregnant. Nathan is looking for a fresh start, but finding it hard to find his way.
Though Nathan has done time, he is looking to move forward and put the past behind him. But that is hard to do when no one else gives you a chance. But he is a good man with a bigger heart who just made some bad choices. Jess is done sticking to the wrong guy. She and her future child deserve better. Can Nathan and Jess find the strength to heal and love with so many obstacles in front of them?
Never Judge a Book by Stacey Broadbent was a bit emotional and a whole lot of sweet. Both Nathan and Jess were great characters and had a lot of growth in the story. I am excited to read more of this author.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Though Nathan has done time, he is looking to move forward and put the past behind him. But that is hard to do when no one else gives you a chance. But he is a good man with a bigger heart who just made some bad choices. Jess is done sticking to the wrong guy. She and her future child deserve better. Can Nathan and Jess find the strength to heal and love with so many obstacles in front of them?
Never Judge a Book by Stacey Broadbent was a bit emotional and a whole lot of sweet. Both Nathan and Jess were great characters and had a lot of growth in the story. I am excited to read more of this author.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
April 27, 2017
Never Judge a Book by Stacey Broadbent
4 Star review by Jodi Bird with Mixed Emotions Book Blog
I liked this book, a lot. I like that it was a quick read. There were a couple parts that moved slow, but I truly did enjoy the book.
Nathan has always been seen as the outsider. He’s always been labeled a bad boy. Truth is, he really isn’t. Yes, he went to jail, but… He’s a good guy, inside and out.
Jess is a sweet girl, who has allowed a man to walk all over her. Now pregnant and alone, Jess has to move back in with her parents and try to figure out her life for her and her baby. Jess ever imagined falling for the hot guy at the library.
The idea behind this story is a great one. I like the characters, although there are a few I’d like to kick in the nuts. This book was a quick read for me and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to read more from Stacey.
4 Star review by Jodi Bird with Mixed Emotions Book Blog
I liked this book, a lot. I like that it was a quick read. There were a couple parts that moved slow, but I truly did enjoy the book.
Nathan has always been seen as the outsider. He’s always been labeled a bad boy. Truth is, he really isn’t. Yes, he went to jail, but… He’s a good guy, inside and out.
Jess is a sweet girl, who has allowed a man to walk all over her. Now pregnant and alone, Jess has to move back in with her parents and try to figure out her life for her and her baby. Jess ever imagined falling for the hot guy at the library.
The idea behind this story is a great one. I like the characters, although there are a few I’d like to kick in the nuts. This book was a quick read for me and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to read more from Stacey.
April 26, 2017
Jess is a woman who stuck with the wrong man one too many times. Becoming pregnant by him gave her the strength to walk away after his latest infidelity. Late into her pregnancy and ready to burst, she meets Nathan who works at the library she frequents daily. Green eyes, flecked with gold, strong jaw, and full lips, this striking man has her tongue tied. But she isn't ready to jump into another relationship, she wants to focus on her impending baby.
Nathan is a man with a past. Having served time in jail, him and his brother are known about town as brothers that need to be avoided. But there is nothing about this man that indicates that he should have ever been in jail, in fact, Nathan is a bit of a wounded soul due to his relationship with his mother.
But Jess is drawn to Nathan, surely the man she bumps into every day has his reasons for being in jail? She wants to get to know him, even if it means taking it slow. Nathan is smitten with Jess and her baby, but his brother is a drug addict, and he has it out for Jess, his family drama just might prove too much. Can these two come together to heal and overcome their past?
Broadbent has given us a short and sweet tale in Never Judge a Book with the perfect amount of drama, healing, and romance. Well written with relatable characters and situations, it's a must have for fans of HEA's.
Nathan is a man with a past. Having served time in jail, him and his brother are known about town as brothers that need to be avoided. But there is nothing about this man that indicates that he should have ever been in jail, in fact, Nathan is a bit of a wounded soul due to his relationship with his mother.
But Jess is drawn to Nathan, surely the man she bumps into every day has his reasons for being in jail? She wants to get to know him, even if it means taking it slow. Nathan is smitten with Jess and her baby, but his brother is a drug addict, and he has it out for Jess, his family drama just might prove too much. Can these two come together to heal and overcome their past?
Broadbent has given us a short and sweet tale in Never Judge a Book with the perfect amount of drama, healing, and romance. Well written with relatable characters and situations, it's a must have for fans of HEA's.
April 24, 2017
What a fantastic young romance. The author has done a fabulous job of writing a story that is heartwarming and suspenseful at the same time. I couldn’t help falling in love with Nathan and Jess. Jess is a strong young lady that doesn’t realize just how wonderful and strong she truly is. Nathan is a good guy that carries the world on his shoulders and has a knack for shouldering the troubles for those he loves, which earns his the reputation of trouble and someone to stay away from. But after Nathan is there for her when no one else is, does Jess believe the stores she hears about Nathan? When trouble once again follows Nathan, does he have the strength to stand up and do the right thing? And if so will his finally standing his ground end up causing trouble for Jess?
This is such a heartfelt story that will touch your emotions and have you hoping these young people finally find happiness and their place in the world. 2 Thumbs up for a great book Ms. Broadbent, and this reader looks forward to reading many more from you in the days ahead.
This is such a heartfelt story that will touch your emotions and have you hoping these young people finally find happiness and their place in the world. 2 Thumbs up for a great book Ms. Broadbent, and this reader looks forward to reading many more from you in the days ahead.
June 12, 2018
Cute novella but I was put off immediately by both the hero, Nathan, AND his brother, Noah hitting on the very pregnant heroine, Jess, without even knowing she was single. I can understand being attracted to someone but I kept thinking it was weird for Nathan to be so into Jess before really getting to know her. Usually a woman a couple weeks away from giving birth would already be in a relationship so, to assume she wasn’t, didn’t seem right to me. She did tell him she wasn’t with the father but it was after the fact. Anyway, after that, the story was interesting and I really thought Nathan was a great character. I liked Jess and most of the other characters, too. I also want to mention that, whoever did the editing, did a terrific job. I don’t remember seeing any typos or misplaced words. This is so unusual now days, especially in Indie publishing, and very refreshing. All-in-all, I enjoyed the story. I honestly did not think it was worth the $3.99 I paid for it but I will definitely take a chance with this author again.
April 17, 2017
This was an absolutely perfect little book: the main characters Jess and Nathan were both strong in their own ways and supportive when they both needed it. Jess has supportive parents who also play key roles in this tender and heartwarming story. Excellent error free writing and this avid reader was unable to put the book down until it was done.
"This is what I imagine love feels like - a warm embrace with no hidden agendas."
"You see the good in me, but I don't think you see how amazing you are."
"In the space of a few months, I meet two women who see through all the bulls***."
"A lifetime spent thinking I wasn't good enough..."
I chose to read this book and the opinions stated in this review are my own and unbiased.
"This is what I imagine love feels like - a warm embrace with no hidden agendas."
"You see the good in me, but I don't think you see how amazing you are."
"In the space of a few months, I meet two women who see through all the bulls***."
"A lifetime spent thinking I wasn't good enough..."
I chose to read this book and the opinions stated in this review are my own and unbiased.
April 14, 2017
Can I please have a Nathan??? I absolutely fell in love with Nathan and Jess, so much I was hopping for a happy ending right from the start. Stacey wrote an amazing story with just the right amount of romance (you all know those butterflies you get in you stomach even when it's not you own romance), but also the right amount of sit on the edge of your seat, not wanting to put the book down until you have finished it action. I really hope there is a book two!! Not sure if I'm ready to let Nathan and Jess go, and we all want to see what happens with Noah.
May 2, 2017
Great read about Jess, a single, heavily pregnant bookworm, and believes there's good in most people. And Nathan, who has a bad rep, trying to keep his head down and stay out of inadvertent trouble. Never Judge a Book makes me want to hang out at the city library.
July 1, 2017
Received an arc for honest review.
Jesus and Nathan both had their issues, but they were meant to be together. They had some obstacles to conquer but love won. Really good book, would read more from this author.
Jesus and Nathan both had their issues, but they were meant to be together. They had some obstacles to conquer but love won. Really good book, would read more from this author.
May 30, 2019
What a great book! Why has this book sat on my TBR pile for so long? This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say it blew me away.
The plot seemed simple enough and straight forward and sweet enough at the start, Jess got out of a bad relationship and Nathan is going to fall for her, but then it became so much more. Twist after twist. Criminal record and a drug user brother who goes off the rails. This book had me on the edge of my seat, first to see if Jess and Nathan would get together and then to see if he was going to save her.
It was realistically written and beautiful and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
The plot seemed simple enough and straight forward and sweet enough at the start, Jess got out of a bad relationship and Nathan is going to fall for her, but then it became so much more. Twist after twist. Criminal record and a drug user brother who goes off the rails. This book had me on the edge of my seat, first to see if Jess and Nathan would get together and then to see if he was going to save her.
It was realistically written and beautiful and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Read
August 3, 2017I recieved this book for my honest opinion! Wow this book blew me away jess is pregnant but she meets Nathan but when she hears rumors will she believe them or will she take a chance on him? I loved reading this book and I will be reading more books from this author!!
October 20, 2019
Very sweet story
Ms Broadbent is a New-To-Me author, and I am quite pleased at this introduction. This was a very sweet love story with just the right amount of angst and peril.
Ms Broadbent is a New-To-Me author, and I am quite pleased at this introduction. This was a very sweet love story with just the right amount of angst and peril.
October 17, 2019
Brilliant book loved the story as a whole.
May 11, 2017
Wow, this book was so very good. I read it as a short story and was so glad Stacey Broadbent made it into a novella. It was a well written story with a lot of love and some suspense and drama thrown in. I couldn't help but love all of her characters but especially Nathan and Jess. Both have faced their own trials. Jess becoming a single mother of an infant and Nathan, well he's just my favorite. First he's been to jail, then his mother issues then his brothers addiction problem that he feels he has to tackle and solve. I can't help but like him. Stacey Broadbent took some pretty tough social problems in society today and wrote them into a great story. I highly recommend this book.
July 7, 2017
A fab book that kept me on the edge of my seat
June 23, 2019
I got a signed copy of this from the author at the NZ Book Fest in November 2017 and finally got around to reading it. This is my first book by the author (not counting her children's books which I have read) and it won't be my last.
Nathan has always been seen as the outsider. He’s always been labeled a bad boy. Truth is, he really isn’t. Yes, he went to jail, but… He’s a good guy, inside and out.
Jess is a sweet girl, who has allowed a man to walk all over her. Now pregnant and alone, she has to move back in with her parents and try to figure out her life for her and her baby. Jess ever imagined falling for the hot guy at the library.
Nathan has always been seen as the outsider. He’s always been labeled a bad boy. Truth is, he really isn’t. Yes, he went to jail, but… He’s a good guy, inside and out.
Jess is a sweet girl, who has allowed a man to walk all over her. Now pregnant and alone, she has to move back in with her parents and try to figure out her life for her and her baby. Jess ever imagined falling for the hot guy at the library.
July 9, 2019
This was my first read by Stacey and I'm glad I picked this one to read as it was such a fun short easy story.
Fab storyline.. great characters.. fast paced what else could you want?
Jess is going through a huge change in her life.. shes unsure if she can get through the next few months by herself when she bumps into Nathan when she least expects it... when everyone seems to be against Nathan and family it leaves Jess confused and feeling lost.
Few twists throughout that keep you hooked in and demolishing ever word!
*Read as part of KU *
Fab storyline.. great characters.. fast paced what else could you want?
Jess is going through a huge change in her life.. shes unsure if she can get through the next few months by herself when she bumps into Nathan when she least expects it... when everyone seems to be against Nathan and family it leaves Jess confused and feeling lost.
Few twists throughout that keep you hooked in and demolishing ever word!
*Read as part of KU *
March 10, 2019
Poignant storytelling. Both sides are hurting, but they need each other. Very real. Very good. Devoured this book. Cried some too. Everyone deserves someone like these people. Never ever judge "a book by its cover"... you will miss out on the most amazing people in life. And Nathan being a hunky librarian?! Icing on my cake!😱😍 ty so very much for letting me peek thru this "window". Will enjoy it more every time i read it.
November 23, 2019
Cute story
Jess leaves an abusive relationship, heavily pregnant and doesn't expect to find a guy interested in a to be mother. Nathan is a mess, he's had a hard life, taking a lot of blame from his family he's not sure he deserves such a kind woman. Bittersweet storyline, cute humor and a sweet ending makes this a good read.
Volunteer KU based review
Jess leaves an abusive relationship, heavily pregnant and doesn't expect to find a guy interested in a to be mother. Nathan is a mess, he's had a hard life, taking a lot of blame from his family he's not sure he deserves such a kind woman. Bittersweet storyline, cute humor and a sweet ending makes this a good read.
Volunteer KU based review
September 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. Lovely characters (well, except for a couple), definitely invested in them. As usual, I wished that this novella was longer, but it was also a good length and did what it needed to do for me.
In the last 20 odd pages I had to skip to the last few pages to make sure that everything/everybody would be ok in the end. I was really holding my breath at one particular point. But that just shows how invested I was.
In the last 20 odd pages I had to skip to the last few pages to make sure that everything/everybody would be ok in the end. I was really holding my breath at one particular point. But that just shows how invested I was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2021
3.5
1 Star = DNF.
2 Star = Finished. Didn’t really enjoy.
3 Star = Finished. Story was neither good nor bad.
3.5 Star = Finished. Story was good. Will maybe pick up next in series if there is one.
4 Star = Finished. Enjoyed story & will definitely pick up next in the series!
5 Star = Bloody Loved it! ♡
1 Star = DNF.
2 Star = Finished. Didn’t really enjoy.
3 Star = Finished. Story was neither good nor bad.
3.5 Star = Finished. Story was good. Will maybe pick up next in series if there is one.
4 Star = Finished. Enjoyed story & will definitely pick up next in the series!
5 Star = Bloody Loved it! ♡
January 30, 2024
A fast paced suspenseful romance.
Nathan and Jess both need a second chance in their own respects. Their relationship hits some serious boulders but love endures.
A quick palette cleanser clean love story.
Nathan and Jess both need a second chance in their own respects. Their relationship hits some serious boulders but love endures.
A quick palette cleanser clean love story.
January 19, 2022
Well, that was sweet
Just what I needed a sweet little romance novella with a bit of drama and a slightly nerdy not-so-bad boy. A fun little read.
Just what I needed a sweet little romance novella with a bit of drama and a slightly nerdy not-so-bad boy. A fun little read.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews