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Compass Cove #1
Then Came You
Mia DeAngelis knew it was time to make a change. Wanting to provide a better life for herself and her ten-year-old nephew, Ben, she took a chance and moved to the small town of Compass Cove. Now, the college librarian is adapting to a new job, a new town, and living with her feisty seventy-eight-year-old grandmother. Mia is determined to make it all work, hoping the coastal hamlet gives both her and Ben the sense of community, family and belonging they both want so much.
Adam Miller, a retired NFL quarterback, has come back to Compass Cove to start over after an injury puts an end to his high-octane life. Settling into the small town routine proves to be a challenge, but his job coaching at Jennings College gives him a sense of purpose, while keeping him connected to the game he loves.
There couldn't be two people more different, yet the minute they meet, friends and family have no doubt they belong together. Now if Mia and Adam can only get out or their own way and embrace a little home town magic, they can find the happy ever after they both crave...
Adam Miller, a retired NFL quarterback, has come back to Compass Cove to start over after an injury puts an end to his high-octane life. Settling into the small town routine proves to be a challenge, but his job coaching at Jennings College gives him a sense of purpose, while keeping him connected to the game he loves.
There couldn't be two people more different, yet the minute they meet, friends and family have no doubt they belong together. Now if Mia and Adam can only get out or their own way and embrace a little home town magic, they can find the happy ever after they both crave...
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2017
1316 people are currently reading
1415 people want to read
About the author
Jeannie Moon
22 books486 followersAward-winning, USA Today bestselling author Jeannie Moon has always loved stories. The author of nineteen contemporary romances, Jeannie is married to her high school sweetheart, has three grown kids and two grandchildren, and has lived on Long Island, NY, her whole life. A retired teacher and librarian, Jeannie is also an editor and author coach with a growing freelance practice.
If she's more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy.
If she's more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
September 24, 2017
Both Mia DeAngelis and Adam Miller have recently returned to Compass Cove on Long Island. Her grandparents lived there and she spent most summers with them growing up. Now that she's the sole guardian for her 13-year old nephew Ben, Mia wants the quality of life she experienced in this small town and accepts a position as a librarian for the local college. Adam was an NFL star quarterback until a car accident ended his career and had him reexamine his shallow-minded lifestyle. He's the coach for the college football team and is learning how to live a better life and have more meaningful relationships.
I found the premise for this story intriguing, drawn by the stereotypical contrasts between Mia and Adam (staid librarian and arrogant jock). Both lived up to those stereotypes at times but thankfully had deeper dimensions. I liked both of them though Adam had the steeper climb as he had become so accustomed to insensitivity he could be genuinely clueless in some instances. Mia was trying to be less risk averse, living a fuller life for herself and allowing Ben to just be a boy. There are some serious conflicts presented that threaten their relationship and, more importantly, Mia's self perceptions.
Adam and Mia's flaws made this such an enjoyable read. They were admirable people at heart but needed to grow. Their relationship was a slow build (thankfully), allowing both time to get to know each other, stumble and then recover like mature adults. I loved Ben who was a catalyst for change in the two, along with a host of supportive characters who will likely make for promising future stories. I like the town, the setting and strong sense of community that was well established here. I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
I found the premise for this story intriguing, drawn by the stereotypical contrasts between Mia and Adam (staid librarian and arrogant jock). Both lived up to those stereotypes at times but thankfully had deeper dimensions. I liked both of them though Adam had the steeper climb as he had become so accustomed to insensitivity he could be genuinely clueless in some instances. Mia was trying to be less risk averse, living a fuller life for herself and allowing Ben to just be a boy. There are some serious conflicts presented that threaten their relationship and, more importantly, Mia's self perceptions.
Adam and Mia's flaws made this such an enjoyable read. They were admirable people at heart but needed to grow. Their relationship was a slow build (thankfully), allowing both time to get to know each other, stumble and then recover like mature adults. I loved Ben who was a catalyst for change in the two, along with a host of supportive characters who will likely make for promising future stories. I like the town, the setting and strong sense of community that was well established here. I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
September 24, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
Their first game was three days away, and the offensive line had more holes than a cheap hooker’s panties.
Mia, you’re a knockout. Women spend thousands of dollars to have boobs like those… If I were twenty years younger, I’d go buy myself a pair.
By the end of the evening, he’d decided they’d go as Hamlet and Ophelia, which disturbed her more than a little since Ophelia’s story didn’t end so well.
Ellen was still going. She was like the Energizer Bunny of bitches.
My Review:
The ever-clever Jeannie Moon started this story with a soupcon of mystical and romantic folklore about a coastal small town and the oddly behaving compass for which it was named; all of which I found sweet, captivating, soul pleasing, creative, and totally charming. I enjoyed this delightful and engaging story start to finish and I adored the endearing characters of Adam and Mia so much that I wanted to befriend them; I would even eat cookies and do tea with their grandmothers. Laced with family drama, amusing observations, and a few bits of steamy sensuality; the storyline was entertaining and relatable with heart-squeezes, exposed secrets, and unexpected twists along the way. I am already eager for a return trip.
Their first game was three days away, and the offensive line had more holes than a cheap hooker’s panties.
Mia, you’re a knockout. Women spend thousands of dollars to have boobs like those… If I were twenty years younger, I’d go buy myself a pair.
By the end of the evening, he’d decided they’d go as Hamlet and Ophelia, which disturbed her more than a little since Ophelia’s story didn’t end so well.
Ellen was still going. She was like the Energizer Bunny of bitches.
My Review:
The ever-clever Jeannie Moon started this story with a soupcon of mystical and romantic folklore about a coastal small town and the oddly behaving compass for which it was named; all of which I found sweet, captivating, soul pleasing, creative, and totally charming. I enjoyed this delightful and engaging story start to finish and I adored the endearing characters of Adam and Mia so much that I wanted to befriend them; I would even eat cookies and do tea with their grandmothers. Laced with family drama, amusing observations, and a few bits of steamy sensuality; the storyline was entertaining and relatable with heart-squeezes, exposed secrets, and unexpected twists along the way. I am already eager for a return trip.
September 28, 2017
4 stars
Then Came You by Jeannie Moon is a very enjoyable, sweet romantic read and a great start to the Compass Cove series.
Review to follow.
Then Came You by Jeannie Moon is a very enjoyable, sweet romantic read and a great start to the Compass Cove series.
Review to follow.
September 28, 2017
This is a heartwarming contemporary romance featuring Mia DeAngelis who has given up her personal aspirations to care for her nephew, Ben. Now he is ten years old, Mia has moved them back to Compass Cove, where her grandmother lives and where Mia spent many enjoyable summers. She is working as the college librarian and is determined to make the most of the opportunities the supportive, friendly coastal community provides as well as to adopt Ben.
Adam Miller has also returned to Compass Cove after injuries he sustained in an accident forced him to retire from his role as a prominent NFL quarterback. He’s re-evaluating his life choices and working as a coach at Jennings College. After meeting Ben and Mia, Adam realises she is the one for him and he needs to ensure he’s worthy of her trust and love. The chemistry between Adam and Mia is explosive but Ben still has to come first for Mia. There will be dramatic discoveries, sporting mishaps and family confrontations before these two can achieve their HEA with Ben!
The secondary characters in this story also have key roles to play. Adam’s Mum and Mia’s Grandmother are both brilliant, supportive, feisty and great role models, whilst Mia’s mother is anything but! Her Mum is so negative about Mia, undermining Mia’s self-image, confidence and never appreciates anything she does. All the characters are superbly portrayed, their interactions so believable this is a great start to a new series and I really look forward to reading more about Compass Cove in future!
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
Adam Miller has also returned to Compass Cove after injuries he sustained in an accident forced him to retire from his role as a prominent NFL quarterback. He’s re-evaluating his life choices and working as a coach at Jennings College. After meeting Ben and Mia, Adam realises she is the one for him and he needs to ensure he’s worthy of her trust and love. The chemistry between Adam and Mia is explosive but Ben still has to come first for Mia. There will be dramatic discoveries, sporting mishaps and family confrontations before these two can achieve their HEA with Ben!
The secondary characters in this story also have key roles to play. Adam’s Mum and Mia’s Grandmother are both brilliant, supportive, feisty and great role models, whilst Mia’s mother is anything but! Her Mum is so negative about Mia, undermining Mia’s self-image, confidence and never appreciates anything she does. All the characters are superbly portrayed, their interactions so believable this is a great start to a new series and I really look forward to reading more about Compass Cove in future!
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
October 2, 2017
4.5 stars
Jeannie Moon’s new Compass Cove series is set in a small town on the north shore of Long Island with a rich history. Then Came You is a sweet and charming story filled with engaging characters, a picturesque backdrop, and most of all two people finding their true north despite the obstacles in their way.
All of her life Mia De Angelis has been trying to live up to other people’s expectations, but moving to Compass Cove to live with her grandmother has changed her outlook on life, given her more self confidence, put the distance between her and her mother to give her more perspective, and put her in a position to raise her nephew, Ben, the way she sees fit. She won’t deny the transition has been difficult for Ben and his disappearance while on the college campus where she is a librarian had her frantic, but meeting Coach Adam Miller who finds him changes all of their lives.
Raising her sister’s son after her suicide was never a question for Mia even if she gave up her dreams and her life for Ben. Becoming a mother at 21 wasn’t ideal, but Ben is her world and her life is richer because he is in it. All of her life Mia never measured up to her mother’s standard and her criticism only got worse following her sister’s suicide and her father’s death, now away from that negativity Mia is learning to love herself and her life even though those insecurities creep in all the time.
Adam has mostly lived a charm life, his family and wealth and influence in Compass Cove and his athletic ability got him into the NFL until a car accident ended his career early. Coming back to Compass Cove to heal was the right thing to do and now as head football coach at Jennings College, Adam is enjoying being out of the spotlight and focusing on getting his team in to shape and reconnecting with his family and the friends who had his back when his life went south.
I loved the contrast between Mia and Adam in that Mia has never had the opportunity to really experience life and Adam most likely experienced too much life. They are very different in that respect and while there is attraction between them from the start Adam is not the type of man Mia is interested in getting to know better especially since she knows she is nothing like the women in his past. Adam had to really work to be a part of Mia’s life and he screwed up more than once because honestly, he’d never really had to work for anything before in his life, but he wanted more with Mia and he intended to do everything he could to make it work. I admired Mia not only for taking on the responsibility of raising her nephew at age 21 and giving up her dreams, but also because she demanded that Adam treats her right. She liked Adam, she enjoyed his attention and the way he made her feel, but she refused to be treated with anything less than respect by anyone. This relationship took time, there were some missteps along the way, there were tears, there was happiness, there were deep discussions, but I think that’s what made this book work so well because it was very much like real life.
An engaging and completely satisfying romance, I loved Jeannie Moon’s Then Came You and am looking forward to what happens next in this series.
May 13, 2025
First time I’ve read this author and I liked this romance a lot so I’ll keep reading the series. Minor irritation—this book was published almost 8 years ago so it seems odd to me that there were still so many editing issues that hadn’t been corrected in the Kindle edition.
August 25, 2017
MY REVIEW OF "THEN CAME YOU" by Jeannie Moon
I enjoyed "Then Came You" by Jeannie Moon, and found it very entertaining. The Genres for this book are Fiction, Women's Fiction and Contemporary Romance.
I appreciate that Jeannie Moon discusses important subjects such as suicide, bullying, emotional abuse, dysfunctional family dynamics, and adoption. Jeannie Moon also discusses the importance of family, friends, love, support, acceptance, and self-acceptance, self-worth and hope.
The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Some of the characters have been brought up in dysfunctional households, and suffer the consequences. Some of the characters show growth and responsibility. Mia DeAngelis moves to Long Island to give her ten-year old nephew Ben, a better life. Mia is works as a college librarian, and also is Ben's guardian, and hopes to adopt him. Mia has had no time for romance, but longs for it. Ben has tremendous energy, and needs an outlet. Mia's mother(Ben's grandmother) doesn't want him to participate in any sports where Ben can be hurt. Ben meets Coach Adam Miller, on the college campus where Mia works. The Coach offers to let Ben be a "helper" around his team.
I really like Ben, who goes with the flow, and the challenges that arise. There are also some characters that made me feel very angry. I would recommend this novel as a delightful, thought-provoking, easy ready for those readers that appreciate Contemporary Romance, and Women's Fiction. I would like to thank Tule Publishing, NetGalley and Jeannie Moon for an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.
February 27, 2021
FREE today (February 27, 2021) on Amazon.
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
I really loved the beginning of this story: all the romantic allusions, the setting (Compass Cove), the main and secondary characters. I loved how the author wrote the initial stages of the romantic relationship.
I thought the story slowed down later, with both main characters going through some major inner changes (and the hero somehow loses some of his charming qualities) and introducing ‘villain’ characters that were too cliché - but I still enjoyed it.
The author’s sense of humor playing with the hero/ hunk/former man-whore assumptions and prejudices was lovely. Adam is overall a considerate, generous, kind and empathic man who learns to control his selfishness. It was really funny to see him so surprised and off balance with his growing attraction to Mia, the heroine, and dealing with his jealously and insecurities. It was also nice to have some supporting characters contradict his bad boy image, defending him and reminding Mia to not judge a book by its cover. I would have liked to have his injury explained.
The heroine, Mia, is insecure and has a low self-esteem, but grows stronger and more secure.
Ben is a great character, and I liked having his point of view too.
And now I’m just eager for the next stories, particularly Nick Rinaldi’s.
I'm grateful to the publisher, Tule Publishing, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
I really loved the beginning of this story: all the romantic allusions, the setting (Compass Cove), the main and secondary characters. I loved how the author wrote the initial stages of the romantic relationship.
I thought the story slowed down later, with both main characters going through some major inner changes (and the hero somehow loses some of his charming qualities) and introducing ‘villain’ characters that were too cliché - but I still enjoyed it.
The author’s sense of humor playing with the hero/ hunk/former man-whore assumptions and prejudices was lovely. Adam is overall a considerate, generous, kind and empathic man who learns to control his selfishness. It was really funny to see him so surprised and off balance with his growing attraction to Mia, the heroine, and dealing with his jealously and insecurities. It was also nice to have some supporting characters contradict his bad boy image, defending him and reminding Mia to not judge a book by its cover. I would have liked to have his injury explained.
The heroine, Mia, is insecure and has a low self-esteem, but grows stronger and more secure.
Ben is a great character, and I liked having his point of view too.
And now I’m just eager for the next stories, particularly Nick Rinaldi’s.
I'm grateful to the publisher, Tule Publishing, and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
September 26, 2017
I was looking forward to a sweet romance and I wasn't disappointed.
I thought this was a super cute story. Mia and Adam were so good together. Although Adam did majorly screw up at one point, I was rooting for them to work things out. I was also cheering Mia on as she stuck to her guns and made him prove he deserved her trust. More than their relationship, I was touched by the family dynamics in the story. Particularly between Mia and Ben. I could empathize with Mia on her struggle to want to see Ben safely in a bubble, yet also wanting him to spread his wings and find a sense of community in their new home.
This is the first book I have read by this author. I definitely recommend this one. It was really well written and a fun read. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I thought this was a super cute story. Mia and Adam were so good together. Although Adam did majorly screw up at one point, I was rooting for them to work things out. I was also cheering Mia on as she stuck to her guns and made him prove he deserved her trust. More than their relationship, I was touched by the family dynamics in the story. Particularly between Mia and Ben. I could empathize with Mia on her struggle to want to see Ben safely in a bubble, yet also wanting him to spread his wings and find a sense of community in their new home.
This is the first book I have read by this author. I definitely recommend this one. It was really well written and a fun read. I look forward to the next book in the series.
February 16, 2023
I participated in a reading challenge and new author to me was the subject. Who is this Jeannie Moon and where has she been all my life? Are you in the mood for small town romance, Then Came You is for you. Both Mia and Adam have been so focused on life they've never fallen in love before. Mia's nephew, Ben, is a catalyst who brings them together. It's a complicated love story that's built in a small town with a cast of characters I can't wait to get to know in future books.
April 17, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
April 15, 2018
Great book
Loved those book. Adam and Mia were destined to be together. With so much family drama in Mia's past and present, it's no wonder she truly hasn't found her ever after. Adam was the one to pave the way for her.
This book had so many emotional parts, that it just made you love the two of them that much more. Great read.
Loved those book. Adam and Mia were destined to be together. With so much family drama in Mia's past and present, it's no wonder she truly hasn't found her ever after. Adam was the one to pave the way for her.
This book had so many emotional parts, that it just made you love the two of them that much more. Great read.
October 6, 2017
Then Came You by Jeannie Moon
Compass Cove #1
Great beginning to a small town romance series! Can’t wait for book two!
Mia has been the only true parent to her nephew, Ben, for years. She changed her career goals, gave up her envisioned future and eventually moved to Compass Cover believing that the smaller community would provide the right atmosphere for Ben to thrive in. She works on the college campus as a librarian, lives in her grandmother’s home, has and makes friends and truly comes into her own as the story unfolds. She is no pushover, wants what is best for her nephew and hopes to find true love…what the magical compass of the community refers to as one’s “true north”.
Coach Miller, Adam, retired from professional football after a bad accident that sidelined him. His life in the NFL was one of hedonism and left him rather blasé and at times clueless when relating to others. His family has always been there for him – even when he sometimes wonders if he has deserved them to be. His personal growth is gradual and at times painful. He has some moments where family or friends have to shake him into awareness that his actions might not have been the right ones in dealing with Mia.
Ben, after a fight with his aunt, runs off from the campus library and ends up on the football field. Adam has him call Mia and, expecting a dowdy stereotypical librarian, waits to pass Ben off when she arrives in his office. Mia is not as he expected, there is immediate chemistry and dating soon ensues. Adam, of course, manages to screw up but his charm and smile are not enough to easily get back into Mia’s good graces and that is surprising for him.
This is a story of family, community, truths revealed, finding one’s true worth and purpose and also is a charming romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end and look forward to finding out which of the wonderful characters introduced in book one will star in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tule Publishing and Barclay Publicity for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Compass Cove #1
Great beginning to a small town romance series! Can’t wait for book two!
Mia has been the only true parent to her nephew, Ben, for years. She changed her career goals, gave up her envisioned future and eventually moved to Compass Cover believing that the smaller community would provide the right atmosphere for Ben to thrive in. She works on the college campus as a librarian, lives in her grandmother’s home, has and makes friends and truly comes into her own as the story unfolds. She is no pushover, wants what is best for her nephew and hopes to find true love…what the magical compass of the community refers to as one’s “true north”.
Coach Miller, Adam, retired from professional football after a bad accident that sidelined him. His life in the NFL was one of hedonism and left him rather blasé and at times clueless when relating to others. His family has always been there for him – even when he sometimes wonders if he has deserved them to be. His personal growth is gradual and at times painful. He has some moments where family or friends have to shake him into awareness that his actions might not have been the right ones in dealing with Mia.
Ben, after a fight with his aunt, runs off from the campus library and ends up on the football field. Adam has him call Mia and, expecting a dowdy stereotypical librarian, waits to pass Ben off when she arrives in his office. Mia is not as he expected, there is immediate chemistry and dating soon ensues. Adam, of course, manages to screw up but his charm and smile are not enough to easily get back into Mia’s good graces and that is surprising for him.
This is a story of family, community, truths revealed, finding one’s true worth and purpose and also is a charming romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end and look forward to finding out which of the wonderful characters introduced in book one will star in book two.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tule Publishing and Barclay Publicity for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
June 29, 2017
I love Jeannie Moon's books and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. From the cover to the prologue to the HEA, it's a beautiful read! I started it last night and stayed up to finish it. I fell in love with Adam-an ex NFL player turned coach-so hot! Though I gotta say 'Text? Really Adam??'
And I respected and admired Mia for everything she was doing for her nephew Ben.
The mother in the story was horrible (in a good villain sort of way) lol and Nana was awesome! I loved the setting of the story-Compass Cove would be a place I'd love to visit, with it's water and small town charm. Definitely need to know if this town exists somewhere lol.
The other secondary characters-Mia friends and Adam's brother stole several scenes for me, which is a testament to this author's skill as a writer:)
The pacing was great with no saggy middle and the storyline was believable but not predictable and I can't wait for more books in this series!
Perfect Jeannie Moon!
And I respected and admired Mia for everything she was doing for her nephew Ben.
The mother in the story was horrible (in a good villain sort of way) lol and Nana was awesome! I loved the setting of the story-Compass Cove would be a place I'd love to visit, with it's water and small town charm. Definitely need to know if this town exists somewhere lol.
The other secondary characters-Mia friends and Adam's brother stole several scenes for me, which is a testament to this author's skill as a writer:)
The pacing was great with no saggy middle and the storyline was believable but not predictable and I can't wait for more books in this series!
Perfect Jeannie Moon!
July 5, 2017
This gem of a story came out of nowhere and hit my heart with strong impact. The writing was perfectly executed to provide a wrenching emotional response. Adam and Mia's story was heartwarming and so real I felt as if I was there experiencing their joys, sorrows, laughter, and heart ache.
I was most impressed with
Adam's growth and the part that Mia and Ben played in its outcome. Mia's struggles broke my heart in how long she had to be strong for herself and Ben, without a safe harbor until Adam entered her life.
The cast of characters was priceless, each individual's unique personality evident from the first page, there wasn't a moment that I was not engaged and and invested in every one of them...except Mia's mother!!
I'm looking forward to the continuation of the series...wondering who's up next in finding their true North.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
I was most impressed with
Adam's growth and the part that Mia and Ben played in its outcome. Mia's struggles broke my heart in how long she had to be strong for herself and Ben, without a safe harbor until Adam entered her life.
The cast of characters was priceless, each individual's unique personality evident from the first page, there wasn't a moment that I was not engaged and and invested in every one of them...except Mia's mother!!
I'm looking forward to the continuation of the series...wondering who's up next in finding their true North.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
December 12, 2017
A heartwarming emotional read of finding love when you least expect it. A great start to a new series, that is set on Compass Cove in New York. Mia has returned to Compass Cove, where she had so many summer memories, as the new librarian at the local college. She is raising her nephew, Ben. Adam is a retired NFL quarterback from injuries, where he is now coaching football. Returning home was not in the card for Adam, along with falling in love with Mia.
The sense of small town community is felt through out this story. Loved Mia and Adam, neither expecting to find love but with the help of the local town people and the magic of the compass with help them with their HEA.
I highly recommend this book, it was a book that I could not put down. Jeannie Moon has out done herself.
The sense of small town community is felt through out this story. Loved Mia and Adam, neither expecting to find love but with the help of the local town people and the magic of the compass with help them with their HEA.
I highly recommend this book, it was a book that I could not put down. Jeannie Moon has out done herself.
September 22, 2017
Another emotion filled book from Jeannie Moon!! The story, the writing, and the secondary characters are all exceptional but what makes this one unforgettable are the core characters of Mia, Ben, and Adam. You can just feel the chemistry and depth of feeling they have for each other. Mia and Adam are both people looking for a fresh start after life served them up some pretty hard times. They never give up even though their journey to their HEA is bumpy.
This is truly an amazing read and one I will be recommending to everyone.
This is truly an amazing read and one I will be recommending to everyone.
August 23, 2017
Hi guys, how are you all doing today?
I've just finished Then Came You by Jeannie Moon, which is a really heartwarming contemporary story. It's told in 3rd person, which I'm not normally a big fan of, but I thought it worked well here. The story was so compelling to read that I didn't really care what perspective it was told in.
Then Came You will only be in ebook form. It releases on 26th September 2017 though, so you don't have long to wait. I requested it through NetGalley so thank you to them for giving me the chance to read and review it.
Then Came You does have sex scenes as well as a bullying parental figure so I'd say it was 17/18+ readers.
5 Stars...
Then Came You tells the story of Mia, a woman in her late 20's who has an unstable life at the beginning of the novel. She's been looking after her nephew, Ben for years after her sister, his mother committed suicide. She doesn't get along with her own mother and she lost her father too. She returns to Compass Cove where she grew up and meets an American football coach called Adam and that's where the story begins. From there Mia questions just about everything about her life, whether she's the right mother figure for Ben, whether she can get on with her life and the biggest question of all whether she deserves to be loved.
Spoilers Below...
The prolog of Then Came You tells of a couple who didn't know they were meant to fall in love. They'd never met before. A compass showed then the way to each other. That's why the place Then Came You is mainly set is called Compass Cove.
"They spent many wonderful years together, making a home and family, living into their eighties, and dying just a few days apart"
signifies that after the couple found each other they fell truly in love. This legend set the scene of the book for me. I knew that I'd absolutely love it from the very start.
"Many couples in Compass Cove keep a compass in they're home as a symbol of selfless love and as a reminder that hearts meant to love always find each other"
further demonstrates how this story is in my genre. We kind of know what will happen at the end of the story from this but not all of the ins and outs of it.
Mia DeAngelis, the female lead, has always had a hard life. She's always felt inferior to her sister Sara, as well as her mother. But Sara committed suicide leaving her son Ben to Mia because her mother didn't want to raise him.
"Do you think my mom knew I'd be a bad kid and that's why she went away?" Ben feels more comfortable saying that his mother "went away", rather than that she died or committed suicide. It's easier for him to deal with things that way.
Mia decided to move back to Compass Cove to raise him with help from her Nana. Mia grew up in Compass Cove. She's the new librarian at the college there. When she meets Adam Miller, the American football coach, she will learn that he's willing to do whatever he can to protect and care for her.
"I...I like him. We get on well and he's great with Ben, and—"
happens about a third of the way though the book when Mia is chatting to some of her friends. Some might class this as instalove and some may not. I'd say there is a certain level of instalove, but it's SOO good. I get bored reading when it takes a couple forever to get together, especially in contemporary stories. I liked how quickly Mia and Adam got on and how quickly their relationship seemed to develop. It is realistic for some couples to just fall in love, some even quicker than these two so it really doesn't bother me to read about it happening in romance novels, quickly. Neither Mia nor Adam say "I love you" straight away, anyway. They just realise how they feel at first. Confessing how they feel is left toward the end of Then Came You.
I also really liked how the author wrote the characters as having other cares and responsibilities as well, not just each other. In so many romance books both contemporary and fantasy (I read a LOT of them both) we get characters that as soon as they meet they only have eyes for each other. Everything else, family, friends, pets, jobs etc, gets pushed to the side. Adam has his team to coach as well as a pet dog and Mia never forgets that Ben is her first priority. Adam respects this too.
"Mom still thought she had a say in how Mia raised him, never really seeing her as his mother".
This is Mia's mother's attitude whenever something concerns Ben. Mia and her mom really don't get on. We see this in the last part of the story the most, when it's Mia's 30th birthday and her mum gets angry with her and starts arguments. We later learn just why her mom acts this way. I don't want spoil it but I didn't think her behaviour was forgivable. As I was reading certain parts I was thinking that her mom was the wicked witch of the story.
As I said above there are sex scenes in Then Came You as well as talk of having babies. Mia doesn't get pregnant in the book, but I think she potentially could in the future, even if her and Adam aren't the main couple of the future book(s).
"We'll have as many babies as you want" shows that Adam isn't put off by wanting children.
There is a kind of legal thread running through Then Came You. It's certainly not the main part of the story, but Mia wants to officially adopt Ben, as she's the only mother he's known. His real mother committed suicide when he was just a baby.
"She was Ben's mother. If not biologically, then in every other way. Every decision she made, every choice in her life was done with him in mind. She loved him more than anything or anyone in her life. Because of that, and because of the way people saw her, Mia saw no reason not to adopt Ben"
shows that Mia already feels like Ben's mom. She just wants it all in black and white. Does the adoption go ahead, though? Are there any problems that hinder Mia? You'll need to read to find out.
Adam Miller, our Male lead was a former pro football player but his life spiraled out of control and when he had a nearly fatal car accident. At that point he decided that it was time to change his life around. He got a job as a football coach. He realises the change was worth it. He offers to help look after Ben to help the team when Ben's sitter leaves suddenly.nHe offers his support cause he can see that Ben is a good kid at heart.
"He could come to football practice after school. That will buy you a couple of months to find someone you're comfortable with"
is what Adam says when he clearly sees that Mia is put out by having Ben come to the library each day. Ben is overjoyed at being able to be on the football field. Adam has much more of an idea what young boys like to do so Mia allows him to look after Ben at the football ground, while she works at the library. It's against Mia's wishes at first but she soon comes to accept that she can't control who Ben is going to become. No one can. It's his life and he'll lead it the way he wants to, even if he sometimes gets physically hurt. All she can do is guide it, with the help of those around her. Adam becomes one of those people.
Both Mia and Adam start off as merely acquaintances. Then they become friends, and then boyfriend and girlfriend. There are disputes, just like there is in reality with every couple but they work through them. They both have insecurities too but they work through them together. They don't just fall in love. As I said above, it depends how you view instalove to whether or not it happens.
What did I like about Then Came You?
* I loved the idea of the legend of Compass Cove, about how a Compass will lead you to your true love. I thought this was unique.
* I liked how Mia and Adam's relationship progressed. It wasn't too slow and it wasn't too quick, I didn't feel. It happened the way I wanted it to.
* I liked how the story focused on the relationship between the main 3 characters, Mia, Adam and Ben. There were subplots but they didn't overtake the main story, I didn't feel. I always knew this was a romance.
* I liked how there was a villainous character. Mia's mother only selfishly wants what's best for her. She doesn't care for Mia. She clearly loved Sara more than her. It was interesting to see this play out between the characters.
* I liked how Adam stuck up for Mia at every turn. For example, when her mother calls her fat, Adam lets her know that he thinks she's beautiful.
What didn't I like about Then Came You?
* I didn't like how the subplot about Ben's father ended. I thought the author could have written this differently.
I absolutely loved this book so no wonder I'm giving it 5 Stars! There were so many quotable lines throughout. I don't want this review to go on for ages though, so I haven't put too many in here. I cannot wait to read book 2, though!
Does Then Came You sound like you're type of read? Will you be reading it?
Check out my other reviews here: http://foreverbooks18.blogspot.co.uk/...
I've just finished Then Came You by Jeannie Moon, which is a really heartwarming contemporary story. It's told in 3rd person, which I'm not normally a big fan of, but I thought it worked well here. The story was so compelling to read that I didn't really care what perspective it was told in.
Then Came You will only be in ebook form. It releases on 26th September 2017 though, so you don't have long to wait. I requested it through NetGalley so thank you to them for giving me the chance to read and review it.
Then Came You does have sex scenes as well as a bullying parental figure so I'd say it was 17/18+ readers.
5 Stars...
Then Came You tells the story of Mia, a woman in her late 20's who has an unstable life at the beginning of the novel. She's been looking after her nephew, Ben for years after her sister, his mother committed suicide. She doesn't get along with her own mother and she lost her father too. She returns to Compass Cove where she grew up and meets an American football coach called Adam and that's where the story begins. From there Mia questions just about everything about her life, whether she's the right mother figure for Ben, whether she can get on with her life and the biggest question of all whether she deserves to be loved.
Spoilers Below...
The prolog of Then Came You tells of a couple who didn't know they were meant to fall in love. They'd never met before. A compass showed then the way to each other. That's why the place Then Came You is mainly set is called Compass Cove.
"They spent many wonderful years together, making a home and family, living into their eighties, and dying just a few days apart"
signifies that after the couple found each other they fell truly in love. This legend set the scene of the book for me. I knew that I'd absolutely love it from the very start.
"Many couples in Compass Cove keep a compass in they're home as a symbol of selfless love and as a reminder that hearts meant to love always find each other"
further demonstrates how this story is in my genre. We kind of know what will happen at the end of the story from this but not all of the ins and outs of it.
Mia DeAngelis, the female lead, has always had a hard life. She's always felt inferior to her sister Sara, as well as her mother. But Sara committed suicide leaving her son Ben to Mia because her mother didn't want to raise him.
"Do you think my mom knew I'd be a bad kid and that's why she went away?" Ben feels more comfortable saying that his mother "went away", rather than that she died or committed suicide. It's easier for him to deal with things that way.
Mia decided to move back to Compass Cove to raise him with help from her Nana. Mia grew up in Compass Cove. She's the new librarian at the college there. When she meets Adam Miller, the American football coach, she will learn that he's willing to do whatever he can to protect and care for her.
"I...I like him. We get on well and he's great with Ben, and—"
happens about a third of the way though the book when Mia is chatting to some of her friends. Some might class this as instalove and some may not. I'd say there is a certain level of instalove, but it's SOO good. I get bored reading when it takes a couple forever to get together, especially in contemporary stories. I liked how quickly Mia and Adam got on and how quickly their relationship seemed to develop. It is realistic for some couples to just fall in love, some even quicker than these two so it really doesn't bother me to read about it happening in romance novels, quickly. Neither Mia nor Adam say "I love you" straight away, anyway. They just realise how they feel at first. Confessing how they feel is left toward the end of Then Came You.
I also really liked how the author wrote the characters as having other cares and responsibilities as well, not just each other. In so many romance books both contemporary and fantasy (I read a LOT of them both) we get characters that as soon as they meet they only have eyes for each other. Everything else, family, friends, pets, jobs etc, gets pushed to the side. Adam has his team to coach as well as a pet dog and Mia never forgets that Ben is her first priority. Adam respects this too.
"Mom still thought she had a say in how Mia raised him, never really seeing her as his mother".
This is Mia's mother's attitude whenever something concerns Ben. Mia and her mom really don't get on. We see this in the last part of the story the most, when it's Mia's 30th birthday and her mum gets angry with her and starts arguments. We later learn just why her mom acts this way. I don't want spoil it but I didn't think her behaviour was forgivable. As I was reading certain parts I was thinking that her mom was the wicked witch of the story.
As I said above there are sex scenes in Then Came You as well as talk of having babies. Mia doesn't get pregnant in the book, but I think she potentially could in the future, even if her and Adam aren't the main couple of the future book(s).
"We'll have as many babies as you want" shows that Adam isn't put off by wanting children.
There is a kind of legal thread running through Then Came You. It's certainly not the main part of the story, but Mia wants to officially adopt Ben, as she's the only mother he's known. His real mother committed suicide when he was just a baby.
"She was Ben's mother. If not biologically, then in every other way. Every decision she made, every choice in her life was done with him in mind. She loved him more than anything or anyone in her life. Because of that, and because of the way people saw her, Mia saw no reason not to adopt Ben"
shows that Mia already feels like Ben's mom. She just wants it all in black and white. Does the adoption go ahead, though? Are there any problems that hinder Mia? You'll need to read to find out.
Adam Miller, our Male lead was a former pro football player but his life spiraled out of control and when he had a nearly fatal car accident. At that point he decided that it was time to change his life around. He got a job as a football coach. He realises the change was worth it. He offers to help look after Ben to help the team when Ben's sitter leaves suddenly.nHe offers his support cause he can see that Ben is a good kid at heart.
"He could come to football practice after school. That will buy you a couple of months to find someone you're comfortable with"
is what Adam says when he clearly sees that Mia is put out by having Ben come to the library each day. Ben is overjoyed at being able to be on the football field. Adam has much more of an idea what young boys like to do so Mia allows him to look after Ben at the football ground, while she works at the library. It's against Mia's wishes at first but she soon comes to accept that she can't control who Ben is going to become. No one can. It's his life and he'll lead it the way he wants to, even if he sometimes gets physically hurt. All she can do is guide it, with the help of those around her. Adam becomes one of those people.
Both Mia and Adam start off as merely acquaintances. Then they become friends, and then boyfriend and girlfriend. There are disputes, just like there is in reality with every couple but they work through them. They both have insecurities too but they work through them together. They don't just fall in love. As I said above, it depends how you view instalove to whether or not it happens.
What did I like about Then Came You?
* I loved the idea of the legend of Compass Cove, about how a Compass will lead you to your true love. I thought this was unique.
* I liked how Mia and Adam's relationship progressed. It wasn't too slow and it wasn't too quick, I didn't feel. It happened the way I wanted it to.
* I liked how the story focused on the relationship between the main 3 characters, Mia, Adam and Ben. There were subplots but they didn't overtake the main story, I didn't feel. I always knew this was a romance.
* I liked how there was a villainous character. Mia's mother only selfishly wants what's best for her. She doesn't care for Mia. She clearly loved Sara more than her. It was interesting to see this play out between the characters.
* I liked how Adam stuck up for Mia at every turn. For example, when her mother calls her fat, Adam lets her know that he thinks she's beautiful.
What didn't I like about Then Came You?
* I didn't like how the subplot about Ben's father ended. I thought the author could have written this differently.
I absolutely loved this book so no wonder I'm giving it 5 Stars! There were so many quotable lines throughout. I don't want this review to go on for ages though, so I haven't put too many in here. I cannot wait to read book 2, though!
Does Then Came You sound like you're type of read? Will you be reading it?
Check out my other reviews here: http://foreverbooks18.blogspot.co.uk/...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2025
3+ Almost 4 stars, but it had a few things that kept me from giving it full 4th star.
Mia (h) has moved back to her parents' hometown on Long Island with her nephew Ben. She's taken a position at the college library there to provide her nephew a stable, small-town community to grow up in. Adam (H) is a local boy, grown to a hard-partying NFL star, and now retired to coach at the same college where Mia works. Brought together by Ben's interest in football, they are attracted to each, but wary about being total opposites. At least in their own eyes - their friends and family see more!
Honestly, I wasn't happy with Mia through the first part. Got pretty fed up with her, actually. It took her half the book to get Noah out of the picture, and until then, it was fighting her attraction to Adam while trying to date Noah, the "safe" choice. I don't like love triangles, and while this wasn't the worst I've read, I still was reaching my limit. Same with her kissing Adam before she's ended things with Noah. While not long-term or callous cheating (and do we even know if she and Noah had had the "exclusive" talk?), I'm still a big proponent of "End one relationship before starting the next." Just clean up one mess before making a new one, alright!?
She had a few immature or ridiculously emotional moments, too. Like at the game - he shoos her out of the staff area quickly before the game, so what's her conclusion? He's not interested. Not that he's super busy because it's the coaches' meeting before one of the first games of the season, and he's the Head Coach! Not that he might have a million other things on his mind! No, he's not interested. *sighs and shakes head* At least her friend had some sense to point out that he was busy. Just felt more the reaction of a 13-year-old, not a 30-year-old. And the big fight at the end.
She did grow up, though. She gained some strength and confidence from being with Adam (and even breaking up with him the first time) that she grew and was less smothering to Ben and less of a doormat to those around her in general. It was great seeing her stand up to her mother at the end. Appearance and parental disappointment issues aside, how long can you stand someone critiquing your parenting (always negatively!) from the other end of the East Coast?! And to let someone dictate what activities a 10-year-old (of either gender!) can participate in, without knowing the kid! You want to get them active in whatever sport gets them tired by bedtime, right? A super athlete might be all about team sports, but hate individual sports (or vice versa!), so how can you dictate what they participate in so arbitrarily? I did get a kick out of Mia suggesting art lessons as an alternative to football. Not that kids might not want to do both, but they are completely different interests, not interchangeable.
It's slow-burn instalust, if that makes sense. They're both strongly attracted to each other (to the point of tongue-tied stupidity) from the very first moment they meet, but then move slowly from there, testing the waters slowly, figuring out the whole "committed relationship" thing. That slow movement could get bogged down in their feelings and internal monologues a lot of the time. Lots of thoughts about how wonderful they are, how attractive, and yet trying to talk themselves out of going for the relationship. It's kinda like a Hallmark movie, I think? Small town, meddlesome family (good and bad meddling), low-grade emotional angst/baggage, cute dog, cute kid, slower pacing.
I liked that in all this slow burn, it's him - the previous partier - who is more sure of the relationship, not the one who's juggling two partners. Kinda an interesting change.
Minor quibble with SC geography. Hilton Head and Charleston are 2 hours apart - two distinct areas of population. Most of the time Ellen (Mia's mother) was referred to as "in the Charleston area" but Hilton Head was mentioned too. This was either an editing error, or someone unfamiliar with the SC coast.
Some editing errors. Less with the homophones and more with missing words.
3rd person POV - mostly alternating between Adam and Mia, but with a few scenes with other characters' views. Minor cheating and love triangle nonsense from Mia. OW drama from Adam's ex - she's pretty toxic, but Mia handled it fairly maturely (yay!). Slow burn pacing off insta-love introduction, with both leads maturing well through the story. HEA, but no epilogue. No cliffhanger either, though lots of other characters introduced for future books.
Would I read more? Sure. There are a lot of characters introduced - other brothers, Mia's friends, other sports figures mentioned (it had a very "first in a new world" feeling, trying to introduce everyone).
Mia (h) has moved back to her parents' hometown on Long Island with her nephew Ben. She's taken a position at the college library there to provide her nephew a stable, small-town community to grow up in. Adam (H) is a local boy, grown to a hard-partying NFL star, and now retired to coach at the same college where Mia works. Brought together by Ben's interest in football, they are attracted to each, but wary about being total opposites. At least in their own eyes - their friends and family see more!
Honestly, I wasn't happy with Mia through the first part. Got pretty fed up with her, actually. It took her half the book to get Noah out of the picture, and until then, it was fighting her attraction to Adam while trying to date Noah, the "safe" choice. I don't like love triangles, and while this wasn't the worst I've read, I still was reaching my limit. Same with her kissing Adam before she's ended things with Noah. While not long-term or callous cheating (and do we even know if she and Noah had had the "exclusive" talk?), I'm still a big proponent of "End one relationship before starting the next." Just clean up one mess before making a new one, alright!?
She had a few immature or ridiculously emotional moments, too. Like at the game - he shoos her out of the staff area quickly before the game, so what's her conclusion? He's not interested. Not that he's super busy because it's the coaches' meeting before one of the first games of the season, and he's the Head Coach! Not that he might have a million other things on his mind! No, he's not interested. *sighs and shakes head* At least her friend had some sense to point out that he was busy. Just felt more the reaction of a 13-year-old, not a 30-year-old. And the big fight at the end.
She did grow up, though. She gained some strength and confidence from being with Adam (and even breaking up with him the first time) that she grew and was less smothering to Ben and less of a doormat to those around her in general. It was great seeing her stand up to her mother at the end. Appearance and parental disappointment issues aside, how long can you stand someone critiquing your parenting (always negatively!) from the other end of the East Coast?! And to let someone dictate what activities a 10-year-old (of either gender!) can participate in, without knowing the kid! You want to get them active in whatever sport gets them tired by bedtime, right? A super athlete might be all about team sports, but hate individual sports (or vice versa!), so how can you dictate what they participate in so arbitrarily? I did get a kick out of Mia suggesting art lessons as an alternative to football. Not that kids might not want to do both, but they are completely different interests, not interchangeable.
It's slow-burn instalust, if that makes sense. They're both strongly attracted to each other (to the point of tongue-tied stupidity) from the very first moment they meet, but then move slowly from there, testing the waters slowly, figuring out the whole "committed relationship" thing. That slow movement could get bogged down in their feelings and internal monologues a lot of the time. Lots of thoughts about how wonderful they are, how attractive, and yet trying to talk themselves out of going for the relationship. It's kinda like a Hallmark movie, I think? Small town, meddlesome family (good and bad meddling), low-grade emotional angst/baggage, cute dog, cute kid, slower pacing.
I liked that in all this slow burn, it's him - the previous partier - who is more sure of the relationship, not the one who's juggling two partners. Kinda an interesting change.
Minor quibble with SC geography. Hilton Head and Charleston are 2 hours apart - two distinct areas of population. Most of the time Ellen (Mia's mother) was referred to as "in the Charleston area" but Hilton Head was mentioned too. This was either an editing error, or someone unfamiliar with the SC coast.
Some editing errors. Less with the homophones and more with missing words.
3rd person POV - mostly alternating between Adam and Mia, but with a few scenes with other characters' views. Minor cheating and love triangle nonsense from Mia. OW drama from Adam's ex - she's pretty toxic, but Mia handled it fairly maturely (yay!). Slow burn pacing off insta-love introduction, with both leads maturing well through the story. HEA, but no epilogue. No cliffhanger either, though lots of other characters introduced for future books.
Would I read more? Sure. There are a lot of characters introduced - other brothers, Mia's friends, other sports figures mentioned (it had a very "first in a new world" feeling, trying to introduce everyone).
September 17, 2017
Jeannie Moon is a treasure. Far beyond the new beginnings and second chances lies not just a romance but a family. Mia, Ben and Adam are the key players, but it's the secondary characters that steal the show. Mia's mother is a piece of work. Self -centered, cold, cruel and needy. Her grandmother on the other hand sealed the deal for me. Fiesty, funny and unforgettable are just a few adjectives to describe the firecracker of an old lady. How can you not fall in love with such realistic people and such great writing? Then Came You is an enticing beginning to what I think will be an unforgettable series.
March 19, 2021
Cute read.
May 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️.5️⃣
September 21, 2021
I read this book in only a few days. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. Loved the setting on Long Island and the complex characters which were all easy to visualize. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
September 8, 2017
4.5 Stars!
Sometimes when you read a book synopsis you think, “that sounds like a great story - I know exactly how it’s going to go!” Then you read the book, and it’s not really anything at all like you expected.
What I was expecting: a fun and lighthearted story that takes place in a small town filled with quirky characters, and lots of meddling neighbors, relatives and old ladies.
Is that what I got? Uh, not even close. It was BETTER than that. Way better!
What you actually get in Then Came You is a much deeper and compelling story. Mia has given up the past 10 years of her life to take care of the nephew her sister left behind. She has full custody of Ben, but constantly has to answer to her mother for how she’s raising the boy. And after 10 years, she’s just now coming into her own as a mother, and as herself. Getting some geographical distance from her mother has helped immensely, but so has moving to Compass Cove. When Mia meets football coach Adam, he helps her with Ben, but also sparks some interest of the romantic kind.
As a hero, Adam is just about the best kind. Deep down he’s a good guy, but also flawed enough that he’s got some growing to do. Watching his mother and grandmother take him to task for being a buffoon were some of my favorite parts of this book. I also really liked how when Adam messed up, Mia called him on it and sent him on his way. Watching him earn Mia’s trust again was delightful.
Of course, the road to happily-ever-after is rarely smooth. Secrets from Mia’s past make things difficult and complicated in the present. It gave this book a much more serious tone than I thought it was going to have, and I loved it!
This was the first book by Jeannie Moon that I have read, and I really enjoyed her writing. She has excellent dialogue, and her portrayal of 10 year old Ben was very good - she made him just precocious enough for him to be fun, but he was still a realistic 10 year old boy. I loved the relationship Adam had with Ben. I loved how Mia and Adam’s relationship progressed. There were so MANY things I loved about this book!
If I have any “complaint" it’s that the story did start out a little slow, but it picked up at around 30 percent and was impossible to put down. Also, I would have liked to learn more about Adam’s past - there’s very little in the book about the injury that supposedly had a huge impact on him. If it completely altered the path of his life, why don’t we get to read anything about it? What happened? How did he end up back in Compass Cove? How does he feel about his life now? We got so much about Mia - I was able to understand her feelings and motivations, but not nearly enough about Adam and what makes him tick.
This book surprised me in the best way possible. I will definitely be reading more by Jeannie Moon, and I can’t wait for more books from this series!
* thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Sometimes when you read a book synopsis you think, “that sounds like a great story - I know exactly how it’s going to go!” Then you read the book, and it’s not really anything at all like you expected.
What I was expecting: a fun and lighthearted story that takes place in a small town filled with quirky characters, and lots of meddling neighbors, relatives and old ladies.
Is that what I got? Uh, not even close. It was BETTER than that. Way better!
What you actually get in Then Came You is a much deeper and compelling story. Mia has given up the past 10 years of her life to take care of the nephew her sister left behind. She has full custody of Ben, but constantly has to answer to her mother for how she’s raising the boy. And after 10 years, she’s just now coming into her own as a mother, and as herself. Getting some geographical distance from her mother has helped immensely, but so has moving to Compass Cove. When Mia meets football coach Adam, he helps her with Ben, but also sparks some interest of the romantic kind.
As a hero, Adam is just about the best kind. Deep down he’s a good guy, but also flawed enough that he’s got some growing to do. Watching his mother and grandmother take him to task for being a buffoon were some of my favorite parts of this book. I also really liked how when Adam messed up, Mia called him on it and sent him on his way. Watching him earn Mia’s trust again was delightful.
Of course, the road to happily-ever-after is rarely smooth. Secrets from Mia’s past make things difficult and complicated in the present. It gave this book a much more serious tone than I thought it was going to have, and I loved it!
This was the first book by Jeannie Moon that I have read, and I really enjoyed her writing. She has excellent dialogue, and her portrayal of 10 year old Ben was very good - she made him just precocious enough for him to be fun, but he was still a realistic 10 year old boy. I loved the relationship Adam had with Ben. I loved how Mia and Adam’s relationship progressed. There were so MANY things I loved about this book!
If I have any “complaint" it’s that the story did start out a little slow, but it picked up at around 30 percent and was impossible to put down. Also, I would have liked to learn more about Adam’s past - there’s very little in the book about the injury that supposedly had a huge impact on him. If it completely altered the path of his life, why don’t we get to read anything about it? What happened? How did he end up back in Compass Cove? How does he feel about his life now? We got so much about Mia - I was able to understand her feelings and motivations, but not nearly enough about Adam and what makes him tick.
This book surprised me in the best way possible. I will definitely be reading more by Jeannie Moon, and I can’t wait for more books from this series!
* thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2017
**I received a copy of the book from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**
Then Came you by Jeannie Moon is the first book of I hope will be a wonder series for the residents of Compass Cove. If the future books are as good as this one then Ms. Moon will have several readers waiting anxiously for each release of a new book.
Mia DeAngelis has always had to work hard for everything but had always felt inferior to her sister Sara. But she took her own life leaving her son Ben with Mia who has chosen to move back to Compass Cove to raise him with minor help from her Nana. She's the new librarian at the college and when she meets Adam Miller (new football coach) she will learn that he's willing to do whatever he can to convince her that he's here True North (Compass Cove's folklore)
Adam Miller was a former pro football player but his life spiraled out of control and when he had a near fatal car accident he decided that it was time to change things. He accepts a job as a coach, is close to his family and once he meets Mia and Ben, he knows that his change was worth it. He offers to take Ben under his wing to help the team when Mia's sitter leaves suddenly. But when they are confronted with Mia's mother he decides to stand up to her letting her know that Mia is a beautiful woman and he wants her forever.
I loved how the two grandmothers conspire to show both Mia and Adam that they've found the love that they both had experienced even when he need needed a nudge at the end to confess his love. The Thanksgiving celebration with little Rosie telling her uncle that he needed to rescue her grandma from the evil ex-girlfriend Pilar. Then Came You was my first book by Jeannie Moon and I will try to wait anxiously for the next book in the Compass Cove series. I'd give the book all five star and more if I could as I loved it.
Then Came you by Jeannie Moon is the first book of I hope will be a wonder series for the residents of Compass Cove. If the future books are as good as this one then Ms. Moon will have several readers waiting anxiously for each release of a new book.
Mia DeAngelis has always had to work hard for everything but had always felt inferior to her sister Sara. But she took her own life leaving her son Ben with Mia who has chosen to move back to Compass Cove to raise him with minor help from her Nana. She's the new librarian at the college and when she meets Adam Miller (new football coach) she will learn that he's willing to do whatever he can to convince her that he's here True North (Compass Cove's folklore)
Adam Miller was a former pro football player but his life spiraled out of control and when he had a near fatal car accident he decided that it was time to change things. He accepts a job as a coach, is close to his family and once he meets Mia and Ben, he knows that his change was worth it. He offers to take Ben under his wing to help the team when Mia's sitter leaves suddenly. But when they are confronted with Mia's mother he decides to stand up to her letting her know that Mia is a beautiful woman and he wants her forever.
I loved how the two grandmothers conspire to show both Mia and Adam that they've found the love that they both had experienced even when he need needed a nudge at the end to confess his love. The Thanksgiving celebration with little Rosie telling her uncle that he needed to rescue her grandma from the evil ex-girlfriend Pilar. Then Came You was my first book by Jeannie Moon and I will try to wait anxiously for the next book in the Compass Cove series. I'd give the book all five star and more if I could as I loved it.
September 24, 2017
A bittersweet love story about how Mia, a single woman who is guardian to her 10-year-old nephew Ben, overcomes the challenges of being a single parent while trying to build a life for herself and her ward. In all the time that she has cared for Ben, she neglects herself, her dreams, he needs. Moving to Compass Cove allows her to re-evaluate the direction in which her life is headed. Never having been appreciated for whatever she has done and being constantly berated by her mother, she lacks confidence. But she plans to take charge of her life, allow Ben to be who he wants to me and maybe live and love a little as she pleases.
Adam, on the other hand, has lived life in the fast lane and has crashed, burned and has now recovered. Leaving behind his life as an NFL player, he now coaches football. He has never loved anyone, but the attraction that he has felt for Mia from the first time he saw her, makes him realize that she is probably the only woman that he will ever need in his life from here on out. But the wary Mia can sense the danger of letting him get too close even though their chemistry is off the charts. And now that she's determined to adopt Ben, she needs to think about his well-being before herself. Adam may be great with Ben on the field but she'd not sure whether he'd be as great with her heart.
I received an Advanced Reviewers Copy from the Publisher via NetGalley for voluntary review consideration.
Adam, on the other hand, has lived life in the fast lane and has crashed, burned and has now recovered. Leaving behind his life as an NFL player, he now coaches football. He has never loved anyone, but the attraction that he has felt for Mia from the first time he saw her, makes him realize that she is probably the only woman that he will ever need in his life from here on out. But the wary Mia can sense the danger of letting him get too close even though their chemistry is off the charts. And now that she's determined to adopt Ben, she needs to think about his well-being before herself. Adam may be great with Ben on the field but she'd not sure whether he'd be as great with her heart.
I received an Advanced Reviewers Copy from the Publisher via NetGalley for voluntary review consideration.
May 10, 2018
Let's start with what I loved ... the idea of Compass Cove is wonderful and the small town atmosphere the author builds is perfect. This is a place you want to come back to over and over again. The people Mia and Ben meet are supportive and endearing. The writing is smooth and engaging as well. I can see how Mia and Adam compliment each other well and I was happy for them in the end.
What didn't work for me was (1) the story was slow, which was partly because the author threw in scenes from the POV of secondary characters that did nothing for story development and pulled me out of the story, (2) the conflict was weak - gosh, I really wish the author had dropped Greg's character and made the conflict be directly with Adam himself - Adam was just like Greg in his younger years and likely would've done exactly the same thing before the accident - I would've appreciated Adam's growth so much more and the conflict / fear would've been intensified tenfold at the black moment because Ben loved Adam by that time, (3) too much manufactured drama with the whole Pilar scene - not sure what the purpose of that was, and (4) rather than letting the drama play out, the author foreshadows almost everything before it happens - I don't ever 'worry' what's going to happen because I'm already in the head of the other character before the conflict scene so I know how it's going to play out.
What didn't work for me was (1) the story was slow, which was partly because the author threw in scenes from the POV of secondary characters that did nothing for story development and pulled me out of the story, (2) the conflict was weak - gosh, I really wish the author had dropped Greg's character and made the conflict be directly with Adam himself - Adam was just like Greg in his younger years and likely would've done exactly the same thing before the accident - I would've appreciated Adam's growth so much more and the conflict / fear would've been intensified tenfold at the black moment because Ben loved Adam by that time, (3) too much manufactured drama with the whole Pilar scene - not sure what the purpose of that was, and (4) rather than letting the drama play out, the author foreshadows almost everything before it happens - I don't ever 'worry' what's going to happen because I'm already in the head of the other character before the conflict scene so I know how it's going to play out.
December 18, 2019
Mia is a 29 year old woman, who decides to move to this little town in order to give a better environment to her 10 year old nephew. But he has trouble adjusting to their new life and, one day, runs away from her and ends up watching the college football team practice. Adam, the coach, notices the kid alone and goes to talk to him.
That's how Adam and Mia's paths cross. Love at first sight, or at least, lust at first sight. But that's also the beginning of a special kind of friendship between Adam and Ben.
Even though both of them really like each other from the start, their romance is very slow. They only have like 2 dates the first two weeks, even when they spend a lot of time thinking about the other. After that comes a tentative friendship, focused mainly in Ben, before they finally decide to start a relationship.
It was really predictable, and like I said, very slow at times. And yet, I liked it. It would have been better with an epilogue (in my opinion, every romance book should have one).
That's how Adam and Mia's paths cross. Love at first sight, or at least, lust at first sight. But that's also the beginning of a special kind of friendship between Adam and Ben.
Even though both of them really like each other from the start, their romance is very slow. They only have like 2 dates the first two weeks, even when they spend a lot of time thinking about the other. After that comes a tentative friendship, focused mainly in Ben, before they finally decide to start a relationship.
It was really predictable, and like I said, very slow at times. And yet, I liked it. It would have been better with an epilogue (in my opinion, every romance book should have one).
September 27, 2017
Then Came You is a very cute and sweet story about a single woman raising her nephew and a coworker, a former NFL star, unexpectedly makes his way into her heart.
Mia and Adam meet through her nephew. Mia, a librarian, and Adam, a former NFL star and current college football coach, don’t seem to have much in common, but that doesn’t stop Adam. From there, they have a fun friends to lovers romance. It’s slow burning, and it makes it so much fun. The push and pull is intriguing. I loved the characters, and can’t wait to see what happens next in Compass Cove!
Overall, I found this book very enjoyable. I was pulled in, and found the story to be very evenly paced and well written. It was satisfying the characters were realistic, relatable. I would recommend to someone looking for a sweet book with a single mom.
*Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads*
Mia and Adam meet through her nephew. Mia, a librarian, and Adam, a former NFL star and current college football coach, don’t seem to have much in common, but that doesn’t stop Adam. From there, they have a fun friends to lovers romance. It’s slow burning, and it makes it so much fun. The push and pull is intriguing. I loved the characters, and can’t wait to see what happens next in Compass Cove!
Overall, I found this book very enjoyable. I was pulled in, and found the story to be very evenly paced and well written. It was satisfying the characters were realistic, relatable. I would recommend to someone looking for a sweet book with a single mom.
*Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads*
June 26, 2018
Cute and sweet small town romance. My first impression of Mia wasn't great but I saw the growth in her and her gaining a backbone. She's devoted to her son Ben and everything she does is for him. Adam had an accident that changed him for the better and he's a great guy, solid and dependable He and Mia weren't perfect but they worked it out. The setting is great small coastal town. I enjoyed the writing very mellow but still engaging. First book by author will definitely look forward to the rest of the series.
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