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In This Life
IN THIS LIFE by Cora Brent
KATHLEEN
Loner. Volatile. Wickedly hot and unforgiving.
Probably not the kind of man anyone should trust with an infant.
Definitely not the kind of man any woman should trust with her heart.
When Nash Ryan returned to town for the sake of his baby brother I thought I already understood who he was.
I also thought I was done giving my heart away until he proved otherwise.
But we don’t stand a chance.
Everything is ready to unravel.
And the secrets I’ve kept will be our undoing.
NASH
This isn’t the first time I’ve known tragedy.
Maybe that’s why I’ve chosen to remain alone.
But my life of solitude ends now because a terrible twist of fate has made me the guardian of my four-month-old brother.
Suddenly I’ve got a kid to raise and a family business to save and there’s no time for anything else.
That’s why Kathleen Doyle and I made this arrangement.
Once a skinny nerd girl who used to follow me around everywhere, she’s now a single mom with flaming hair, a killer body and too many responsibilities.
We told each other it was just sex.
We told each other there were no strings attached, no expectations.
We lied.
And the consequences will cost us.
But I’m not surrendering this new family without a battle.
Because in this life we might only get one chance to have it all.
KATHLEEN
Loner. Volatile. Wickedly hot and unforgiving.
Probably not the kind of man anyone should trust with an infant.
Definitely not the kind of man any woman should trust with her heart.
When Nash Ryan returned to town for the sake of his baby brother I thought I already understood who he was.
I also thought I was done giving my heart away until he proved otherwise.
But we don’t stand a chance.
Everything is ready to unravel.
And the secrets I’ve kept will be our undoing.
NASH
This isn’t the first time I’ve known tragedy.
Maybe that’s why I’ve chosen to remain alone.
But my life of solitude ends now because a terrible twist of fate has made me the guardian of my four-month-old brother.
Suddenly I’ve got a kid to raise and a family business to save and there’s no time for anything else.
That’s why Kathleen Doyle and I made this arrangement.
Once a skinny nerd girl who used to follow me around everywhere, she’s now a single mom with flaming hair, a killer body and too many responsibilities.
We told each other it was just sex.
We told each other there were no strings attached, no expectations.
We lied.
And the consequences will cost us.
But I’m not surrendering this new family without a battle.
Because in this life we might only get one chance to have it all.
Unknown Binding
First published May 15, 2018
1475 people are currently reading
1264 people want to read
About the author
Cora Brent
67 books3,783 followersI'm a huge fan of insta-love , grunge era flannel, my vintage Kenmore sewing machine, embroidered dishcloths and absolutely everything that has to do with 1980s pop culture (i.e. leg warmers, scrunchies, big hair, early Madonna, boom boxes, wood paneled walls, stonewash jeans, etc).
If you believe in Happily Ever After and improbable love stories, chances are I'll love you too!!
Email: corabrentwrites@yahoo.com
If you believe in Happily Ever After and improbable love stories, chances are I'll love you too!!
Email: corabrentwrites@yahoo.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
December 13, 2018
3.5 stars
June 17, 2018
I enjoyed this reasonably low angst story with nice couple. 3.5* rounded up
This is not quite a four star read but there was a lot to appreciate. A few minor niggles and one possibly larger one that I can not make up my mind about.
Nash is 25 and living a fairly solitary life in Oregon. He has not been back to his hometown in Arizona to see his dad in several years. Then he gets a phone call to let him know his Dad and step-mum have passed leaving behind his infant brother. Nash goes back for the funeral and ends up staying for the baby, Colin. Colin's first cousin once removed is Kat. When she was younger she had a crush on Nash but that has passed. She also has moved back and is raising her 3 year old daughter by herself. She was close to her cousin, Nash's step-mum, and helps Nash get settled with Colin. Naturally the two of them get together and eventually fall in love. They have very minor relationship issues and I appreciated that. At one point Nash drives up and finds Kat in what could look like a compromising position and I was just waiting for the misunderstanding that thankfully never came. Both Kat and Nash have family issues and problems with exes. Both are caring, strong, imperfect people. No doormats or true assholes here.
Much of the story revolves around Nash remembering things about his tumultuous relationship with his Dad and step-mum. I liked how this was handled. Often authors try to withhold parts of the past and hint poorly at it, only filling in details long after one has guessed. I find that quite annoying. Ms. Brent took the route of giving the basic story early on and then filling it in as Nash grieves and remembers. He does come to a good place about it which is good and what one should do after a loved on dies. But Holy Hannah did his Dad need a slap. And the step-mum was not a lot better but Nash was not her kid so I blame the Dad for being dreadful at parenting. Nothing criminal but certainly damaging in many small ways. Of course this makes it believable that Nash had stayed away.
(things you should not do as a parent: )
What I found weird was that for Kat's backstory the author does exactly that thing of withholding and bad hints. And it made no sense at all. I could see no reason at all for her to have kept her secret all these years. The lie she told was considerably worse than the truth. I did like the resolution to that problem. It was also totally unbelievable that Kat's mother would have been able to change the birth certificate without Kat's permission. This entire part of the story felt like a rough draft without anyone reading it for logical consistency. I almost wonder if she fleshed out Nash's part and then found she was out of time to finish the book. Still even with disliking this part a fair amount I did like Kat.
My small niggles: It is never okay to leave a dog in a car on a hot day even with the windows rolled down. Lack of protection in most of the sex scenes. Pulling out is not a birth control method nor does it prevent disease transmission. Given Kat thinks that he is a womanizer at first this was not believable. There were several typos, dropped words, added words, and some words used incorrectly. These were not horrible or too numerous but they again pointed to a lack of editor.
My slightly larger niggle: One of the nice things about them was that they were pretty upfront with each other. Kat does keep the secret of her ex for quite some time but it does come out. She is aware of a relationship he had before he left town and unlike most of the town she is not dealing in gossip. Kat heard the woman's side of things years later. Nash does figure out that Kat knows but despite it being somewhat foundational to who he is they never really discuss it. What that woman did was abusive and it would have been important for them to discuss it.
This is not quite a four star read but there was a lot to appreciate. A few minor niggles and one possibly larger one that I can not make up my mind about.
Nash is 25 and living a fairly solitary life in Oregon. He has not been back to his hometown in Arizona to see his dad in several years. Then he gets a phone call to let him know his Dad and step-mum have passed leaving behind his infant brother. Nash goes back for the funeral and ends up staying for the baby, Colin. Colin's first cousin once removed is Kat. When she was younger she had a crush on Nash but that has passed. She also has moved back and is raising her 3 year old daughter by herself. She was close to her cousin, Nash's step-mum, and helps Nash get settled with Colin. Naturally the two of them get together and eventually fall in love. They have very minor relationship issues and I appreciated that. At one point Nash drives up and finds Kat in what could look like a compromising position and I was just waiting for the misunderstanding that thankfully never came. Both Kat and Nash have family issues and problems with exes. Both are caring, strong, imperfect people. No doormats or true assholes here.
Much of the story revolves around Nash remembering things about his tumultuous relationship with his Dad and step-mum. I liked how this was handled. Often authors try to withhold parts of the past and hint poorly at it, only filling in details long after one has guessed. I find that quite annoying. Ms. Brent took the route of giving the basic story early on and then filling it in as Nash grieves and remembers. He does come to a good place about it which is good and what one should do after a loved on dies. But Holy Hannah did his Dad need a slap. And the step-mum was not a lot better but Nash was not her kid so I blame the Dad for being dreadful at parenting. Nothing criminal but certainly damaging in many small ways. Of course this makes it believable that Nash had stayed away.
(things you should not do as a parent: )
What I found weird was that for Kat's backstory the author does exactly that thing of withholding and bad hints. And it made no sense at all. I could see no reason at all for her to have kept her secret all these years. The lie she told was considerably worse than the truth. I did like the resolution to that problem. It was also totally unbelievable that Kat's mother would have been able to change the birth certificate without Kat's permission. This entire part of the story felt like a rough draft without anyone reading it for logical consistency. I almost wonder if she fleshed out Nash's part and then found she was out of time to finish the book. Still even with disliking this part a fair amount I did like Kat.
My small niggles: It is never okay to leave a dog in a car on a hot day even with the windows rolled down. Lack of protection in most of the sex scenes. Pulling out is not a birth control method nor does it prevent disease transmission. Given Kat thinks that he is a womanizer at first this was not believable. There were several typos, dropped words, added words, and some words used incorrectly. These were not horrible or too numerous but they again pointed to a lack of editor.
My slightly larger niggle: One of the nice things about them was that they were pretty upfront with each other. Kat does keep the secret of her ex for quite some time but it does come out. She is aware of a relationship he had before he left town and unlike most of the town she is not dealing in gossip. Kat heard the woman's side of things years later. Nash does figure out that Kat knows but despite it being somewhat foundational to who he is they never really discuss it. What that woman did was abusive and it would have been important for them to discuss it.
May 28, 2018
I really liked this book! I was a bit hesitant once I found out about the H and his dad’s wife, but once more info came to light I was completely fine.
He once had a thing for her when he was in high school. They kissed but never had sex, a big reason the situation didn’t bother me at all. He was also not hung up on her at all by the time he meets the h. He was definitely not a manwhore either, although he was in high school which was over 7 years ago.
The only thing I wish for was more interaction with the h’s daughter. They had some cute moments but I love single parent books and would’ve like to see more interaction. And another thing is that the h is not hung up on her daughters Dad, who is dead. Their relationship is touched on and I don’t think they were ever in love.
Overall I thought this book was really good and tied up with a pretty decent epilogue!
He once had a thing for her when he was in high school. They kissed but never had sex, a big reason the situation didn’t bother me at all. He was also not hung up on her at all by the time he meets the h. He was definitely not a manwhore either, although he was in high school which was over 7 years ago.
The only thing I wish for was more interaction with the h’s daughter. They had some cute moments but I love single parent books and would’ve like to see more interaction. And another thing is that the h is not hung up on her daughters Dad, who is dead. Their relationship is touched on and I don’t think they were ever in love.
Overall I thought this book was really good and tied up with a pretty decent epilogue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2019
This book was unbelievably wonderful. It starts out with a bitter young man with a lot of sadness in his life. Pretty much a loner. Then his phone rang. It's the middle of the night. Who could be calling? Now his life is about to change.with a lot of unsettling feelings and a baby. Oh and a girl who was a mystery.
March 21, 2020
This was really good! I liked it a lot!!! Chase was amazing and I loved kat as well and the kids!!!
June 1, 2018
3,5*
"Families are beautiful. They are always intricate and unique. They are created in different ways by different events for different reasons. Yet all are cemented together with one precious and irreplaceable thing.
Love."
"Families are beautiful. They are always intricate and unique. They are created in different ways by different events for different reasons. Yet all are cemented together with one precious and irreplaceable thing.
Love."
February 28, 2019
Excellent message. Narration was great.
Romance lacking - too much pushing away and denial. Can’t say I really liked either of the MCs for most of the book.
Lots of opportunities for cute kid scenes, but they were lacking
Safety gang
Romance lacking - too much pushing away and denial. Can’t say I really liked either of the MCs for most of the book.
Lots of opportunities for cute kid scenes, but they were lacking
Safety gang
May 15, 2018
4 - 4.5 stars
I liked this one. It was actually a bit less angsty and the people were a bit less troubled than I was expecting. I don't always enjoy books with babies involved, but the storyline really worked here, with the infant brother bringing the older brother back to town to care for him. I liked the couple together a lot and it was overall a pretty nice, easy read. I have to say that I didn't love the heroine's storyline as much. Keeping it general and not giving away the plot, but going to spoiler tag just in case . Overall, I enjoyed the book and if you have liked Cora's work in the past, you will love this. If you haven't tried this author before, you definitely should give her a try and this standalone is a great place to start!
*I received an ARC of this book. I voluntary provided a review.
I liked this one. It was actually a bit less angsty and the people were a bit less troubled than I was expecting. I don't always enjoy books with babies involved, but the storyline really worked here, with the infant brother bringing the older brother back to town to care for him. I liked the couple together a lot and it was overall a pretty nice, easy read. I have to say that I didn't love the heroine's storyline as much. Keeping it general and not giving away the plot, but going to spoiler tag just in case . Overall, I enjoyed the book and if you have liked Cora's work in the past, you will love this. If you haven't tried this author before, you definitely should give her a try and this standalone is a great place to start!
*I received an ARC of this book. I voluntary provided a review.
August 10, 2020
4 Stars
Filled with many "highs and lows", this book was captivating and had my heart spring one minute and plummeting the next. Kat and Nash were such a wonderful couple. Nash was broody and Kat was full of bossiness and smiles.
Filled with many "highs and lows", this book was captivating and had my heart spring one minute and plummeting the next. Kat and Nash were such a wonderful couple. Nash was broody and Kat was full of bossiness and smiles.
July 8, 2018
3,5
Eu achei bem gostosinho!
Rápido e com uma escrita fluida, bom para ser lido entre livros mais densos, mas esse aqui seria bem denso se a autora dedicasse um pouquinho mais...
Muito triste o remorso e a situação inacabada de Nash com seu pai e a esposa dele...:(
Eu achei bem gostosinho!
Rápido e com uma escrita fluida, bom para ser lido entre livros mais densos, mas esse aqui seria bem denso se a autora dedicasse um pouquinho mais...
Muito triste o remorso e a situação inacabada de Nash com seu pai e a esposa dele...:(
July 23, 2018
Enjoyed this a lot 🤩
The writing style was awesome,
The characters simply amazing.
There wasn't much drama but they did talk about past mistakes, things they should have forgiven people for sooner,... Can't say I agree with them but then I am more of the 'f forgiveness' type.
What Nash's dad did to him (even though he freaking KNEW) was beyond doubt cruel and sooo hurtful I am sure a lot of people would have reacted like Nash did. And I know people tend to forgive others after something terrible happens but I don't think I would/could have seen it like Nash and forgive them so easily. It was still his own father who did that to him at a point in Nash's life when he needed his support and love not whatever the f# his dad gave him. Again, probably just me.
Kathleen was a beautiful person, inside and out, very caring, loved her with the kids.
Nash in a way really grew with his responsibilities which was nice to watch. Don't think it would be as easy as it was for him to manage his anger and to overcome the issues he had, though.
The plot was well developed (except for the anger issues topic) Liked that there wasn't too much drama in there.
The writing style was awesome,
The characters simply amazing.
There wasn't much drama but they did talk about past mistakes, things they should have forgiven people for sooner,... Can't say I agree with them but then I am more of the 'f forgiveness' type.
What Nash's dad did to him (even though he freaking KNEW) was beyond doubt cruel and sooo hurtful I am sure a lot of people would have reacted like Nash did. And I know people tend to forgive others after something terrible happens but I don't think I would/could have seen it like Nash and forgive them so easily. It was still his own father who did that to him at a point in Nash's life when he needed his support and love not whatever the f# his dad gave him. Again, probably just me.
Kathleen was a beautiful person, inside and out, very caring, loved her with the kids.
Nash in a way really grew with his responsibilities which was nice to watch. Don't think it would be as easy as it was for him to manage his anger and to overcome the issues he had, though.
The plot was well developed (except for the anger issues topic) Liked that there wasn't too much drama in there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2018
I liked this one a lot!
Big family messy drama
MCs were so good together, they cared about each other and their children a lot!
No OP scenes, no cheating
Big family messy drama
MCs were so good together, they cared about each other and their children a lot!
No OP scenes, no cheating
June 27, 2021
⎯» Rating: 3.5 Stars
⎯» Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
⎯» POV:Dual—First Person
❥
❥
This is the story of Kat—a 23-year-old single-mom of a three and a half year old daughter—and Nash—a 25-year-old loner, who returns home to take guardianship of his four-month-old brother. Their journey may have started with tragedy, but what follows is an emotional exploration of love, loss, and forgiveness on the path to their happily ever after.
❥
⎯»Extra Information
❥
⎯» Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
⎯» POV:Dual—First Person
❥
“But that was the random fucked up nature of things in this life. Things happen that we couldn’t possibly plan for. And fate can deal a cruel and unforeseen blow no matter what we intend, no matter what we want, no matter how much we wish for more time.”
❥
This is the story of Kat—a 23-year-old single-mom of a three and a half year old daughter—and Nash—a 25-year-old loner, who returns home to take guardianship of his four-month-old brother. Their journey may have started with tragedy, but what follows is an emotional exploration of love, loss, and forgiveness on the path to their happily ever after.
❥
⎯»Extra Information
•Series or Standalone:
Standalone
•HEA:
•Cliffhanger:No
•Relationship:M-F Romance
•Tropes:
•Return to Small-Town
•Single Mom Heroine
•Hero Guardian to Baby Brother
•Tragic Forest Fire
•Orphaned Hero
•Heroine Hiding Past
•Heroine Crushed on Hero as Teen
•Hero Ignored Heroine as Teen
•Hero was Troubled Teenager
•Strained Father-Son (hero) Relationship
•Triggers:
•Sexual Content:
Descriptive Sex
❥
June 20, 2018
"Families are beautiful. They are always intricate and unique. They are created in different ways by different events for different reasons. Yet all are cemented together with one precious and irreplaceable thing. Love. And there’s nothing more valuable."
Nash Ryan is called back to his home town because a tragedy happened. His father and his wife had died in a fire, leaving a four-month-old baby behind. Nash didn't have the best relationship with his dad. He was a loner, troubled young man, and suddenly he was the guardian of his brother. He's got a kid to raise and a family business to save. Besides that, he is still struggling to deal with his mom's death even though it was so many years ago.
Then, there's Kathleen Doyle. She was promised to be the one to have a golden future back in high school, but then there she was back in her hometown, with a 3 year old daughter and a huge secret.
Kat and Nash made an arrangement to be friends with benefits.
"We told each other it was just sex. We told each other there were no strings attached, no expectations. We lied. And the consequences will cost us. But I’m not surrendering this new family without a battle."
I really like this story! I love how their traumas and fears are conquered with each other's help.
Nash Ryan is called back to his home town because a tragedy happened. His father and his wife had died in a fire, leaving a four-month-old baby behind. Nash didn't have the best relationship with his dad. He was a loner, troubled young man, and suddenly he was the guardian of his brother. He's got a kid to raise and a family business to save. Besides that, he is still struggling to deal with his mom's death even though it was so many years ago.
Then, there's Kathleen Doyle. She was promised to be the one to have a golden future back in high school, but then there she was back in her hometown, with a 3 year old daughter and a huge secret.
Kat and Nash made an arrangement to be friends with benefits.
"We told each other it was just sex. We told each other there were no strings attached, no expectations. We lied. And the consequences will cost us. But I’m not surrendering this new family without a battle."
I really like this story! I love how their traumas and fears are conquered with each other's help.
May 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this one and read it in one night. It was an easy flow read and not too much unnecessary drama. I teared up a couple times when Nash thought back to his past with his dad. Its sad that it took such a tragedy to have him come back and see things could of been different. I did really enjoy Nash and Kat together though.
May 16, 2018
I was given an advanced readers copy of this book and have decided to leave a voluntary honest review. I just love Cora's books and writing style. In this life was very different from her other books, but I truly enjoyed getting to know Nash Ryan. I loved how he protected women he didn't even know, also how he would rise to any challenge. And he sure did. He's a great man. Kat is great mom her heart is so big she suites Nash to a T.
May 24, 2018
A new beginning!
A second chance to make amends. I loved that Nash was given this opportunity. I loved the bond he formed with his little brother Colin.
A second chance to make amends. I loved that Nash was given this opportunity. I loved the bond he formed with his little brother Colin.
May 14, 2018
4.85 Stars
I Voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book
Nash is a man who has a bit of a dark side. He has seen tragedy and that has made him the man he is. So when tragedy struck again, he knew he shouldn't have been surprised. But this time its not just himself he is now responsible for another person. A four month old little brother. And what does he know about looking after a baby. But the minute he sees little Colin he feels this sense of protection and responsibility for him. But is he up for this huge task?
Kathleen knew Nash when she was a young girl. She was infatuated with him and followed him around everywhere. Now she is a single mother to an adorable little girl, who has come into her own and with her own set of problems and responsibilities and secrets of her own. So does she need anything else added onto her life right now? Especially a proclaimed bad boy, will he able to change that image?
Secrets, heartache, forgiveness, romance so much more to this story. Emotional rollercoaster. This book takes you on a journey of two people brought together by heart break and sadness but is that what makes them stay together or will it become something more. And can I just say #Sigh to this cover!! Loved it!!! And my first ever Cora Brent Book, Awesome! Definitely a favorite for me
Reviewed on behalf of
I Voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book
Nash is a man who has a bit of a dark side. He has seen tragedy and that has made him the man he is. So when tragedy struck again, he knew he shouldn't have been surprised. But this time its not just himself he is now responsible for another person. A four month old little brother. And what does he know about looking after a baby. But the minute he sees little Colin he feels this sense of protection and responsibility for him. But is he up for this huge task?
Kathleen knew Nash when she was a young girl. She was infatuated with him and followed him around everywhere. Now she is a single mother to an adorable little girl, who has come into her own and with her own set of problems and responsibilities and secrets of her own. So does she need anything else added onto her life right now? Especially a proclaimed bad boy, will he able to change that image?
Secrets, heartache, forgiveness, romance so much more to this story. Emotional rollercoaster. This book takes you on a journey of two people brought together by heart break and sadness but is that what makes them stay together or will it become something more. And can I just say #Sigh to this cover!! Loved it!!! And my first ever Cora Brent Book, Awesome! Definitely a favorite for me
Reviewed on behalf of
January 10, 2026
Erano 7 anni che non leggevo un libro di Cora Brent ma devo ammettere che In questa vita mi ha dato più soddisfazioni; c’è da dire che non si tratta di un libro che inizia in maniera molto felice, però ho apprezzato i vari messaggi che ho trovato, perché questo romanzo parla di trovare una strada, prendersi le proprie responsabilità e in qualche modo darsi una seconda possibilità. Il tutto è condito da una perenne dolcezza, anche quando Nash e Kathleen si stuzzicano e cercano di capirsi. Inutile dire che l’attrazione prende presto piede, e non solo perché già si conoscevano, ma anche perché riescono a trovare un equilibrio di aiuto, affetto e amicizia che creano un bel connubio – in più quel bisogno crea un cerchio perfetto che nessuno dei due stava cercando. Sicuramente a condire per bene il tutto ci pensano la figlia di lei e il fratellino di lui, ma anche il cane ci mette del suo. Non è una storia complicata, è scorrevole, carina, molto dolce con comunque quel pizzico di tristezza che però ti fa immedesimare, che in qualche modo ti arriva e ti fa apprezzare di più i personaggi. Storia promossa, e non me lo davo così tanto per scontato.
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April 23, 2023
הספר הזה קצת איכזב אותי. התקציר שלו והכריכה היו מאוד מבטיחים, אבל הביצוע היה פחות מוצלח.
נאש הוא טיפוס מתבודד ורגזן, וטוב לו ככה, אבל טרגדיה מחזירה אותו לעיירת נעוריו, שם הוא מגלה שהוא האפוטרופוס היחיד לאחיו התינוק.
קתלין היא אם חד הורית שגרה בעיירה. היא עוזרת לנאש לטפל באחיו ולהתמודד עם האחריות שנפלה עליו בפתאומיות.
מערכת היחסים שמתפתחת בין נאש לשקתלין זזה מאפס מאה תוך בערך 2 עמודים. שום מתח מיני לא נבנה ביניהם, אלא רק היכרות ואולי סוג של חברות, ופתאום הם נמרחים אחד על השני ובלתי נפרדים. סיפור העלילה הבסיסי יכל להפיק כל כך הרבה פיקים רגשיים ודמעות, אבל משום מה זה לא קורה. הכל נשאר שטחי וקר. הקוראים לא מקבלים תיאור של המהפך הרגשי שעובר על הדמויות, לא ברור איך ומתי הרגשות מתפתחים, לא מרגישים את ההתהפכות הזו בבטן כשהגיבורה כמהה לגיבור ומבינה שהיא אוהבת אותו או כשהגיבור מבין שהוא לא יכול לחיות בלי הגיבורה. אין את הקתרזיס הנפלא כשהם סופסוף נכנסים למיטה, כי בכלל לא הרגשנו שנבנה ביניהם מתח מיני או שנבנתה ביניהם מערכת יחסים. הכל שטוח ומאכזב.
ספר של 2.5 כוכבים. עיגלתי כלפי מעלה כי נדרשו לי רק כמה שעות לקרוא את כל הספר, וקצת קשה להתאכזר בציון לספר ששאבתי אותו במהירות כזו גדולה.
מומלץ רק אם אתן מוצאות עותק חינמי או שואלות מהספרייה, וגם אז תנמיכו ציפיות.
נאש הוא טיפוס מתבודד ורגזן, וטוב לו ככה, אבל טרגדיה מחזירה אותו לעיירת נעוריו, שם הוא מגלה שהוא האפוטרופוס היחיד לאחיו התינוק.
קתלין היא אם חד הורית שגרה בעיירה. היא עוזרת לנאש לטפל באחיו ולהתמודד עם האחריות שנפלה עליו בפתאומיות.
מערכת היחסים שמתפתחת בין נאש לשקתלין זזה מאפס מאה תוך בערך 2 עמודים. שום מתח מיני לא נבנה ביניהם, אלא רק היכרות ואולי סוג של חברות, ופתאום הם נמרחים אחד על השני ובלתי נפרדים. סיפור העלילה הבסיסי יכל להפיק כל כך הרבה פיקים רגשיים ודמעות, אבל משום מה זה לא קורה. הכל נשאר שטחי וקר. הקוראים לא מקבלים תיאור של המהפך הרגשי שעובר על הדמויות, לא ברור איך ומתי הרגשות מתפתחים, לא מרגישים את ההתהפכות הזו בבטן כשהגיבורה כמהה לגיבור ומבינה שהיא אוהבת אותו או כשהגיבור מבין שהוא לא יכול לחיות בלי הגיבורה. אין את הקתרזיס הנפלא כשהם סופסוף נכנסים למיטה, כי בכלל לא הרגשנו שנבנה ביניהם מתח מיני או שנבנתה ביניהם מערכת יחסים. הכל שטוח ומאכזב.
ספר של 2.5 כוכבים. עיגלתי כלפי מעלה כי נדרשו לי רק כמה שעות לקרוא את כל הספר, וקצת קשה להתאכזר בציון לספר ששאבתי אותו במהירות כזו גדולה.
מומלץ רק אם אתן מוצאות עותק חינמי או שואלות מהספרייה, וגם אז תנמיכו ציפיות.
Read
May 17, 2018Heroine has baby with ex-bf’s brother. Not super relevant to the story but still icky.
Hero kissed stepmom before she was his stepmom again not super relevant but still icky.
Hero kissed stepmom before she was his stepmom again not super relevant but still icky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2019
Great read!
For a new to me author, this was a great read. Mature characters with a sweet mix of emotions, low angst, solid pace and a little mystery. I really enjoyed it.
For a new to me author, this was a great read. Mature characters with a sweet mix of emotions, low angst, solid pace and a little mystery. I really enjoyed it.
May 23, 2018
Wow, this book was totally not what I was expecting. From the summary, it sounds like a book about two people who just want no-strings attached fun, but this book is so much more.
Without going into too much detail and giving away spoilers, this book is much deeper than what you think it is. Nash has to come home to care for his baby brother (Nash is 25 and his baby brother is 4 months old – his dad was 45 so completely plausible). Colin, his baby brother, has been in the care of Kathleen Doyle, a girl Nash knew from his childhood but never really paid attention to because she was the smart nerdy girl. Kat is Colin’s cousin, and very close to Colin’s mother.
Nash has lead a pretty lonely life. He doesn’t form connections to people, and didn’t really get along well with his father (who was very young when Nash was born and only a small part of his life until he was 14). Tragedy struck Nash when he was 14 and turned him into an angry person – an anger he kept until adulthood, and alienated him from his family.
Kat also has some secrets, secrets that come back to her later in the book. Again, without spoiling, the way this was handled was very clever. I totally didn’t see it coming and was pleasantly surprised how it turned out. Kat is also a single mom to a 3-year old daughter named Emma, who was adorable by the way. Emma was in love with Nash’s German Shepard, Roxie, and it was just so cute.
Anyway, once Nash takes on the role of guardian to Colin, he starts to change. He softens some. He learns to open his heart. Nash’s transformation over the course of this story was pretty remarkable. He turned into a really great guy.
Kat was great from the beginning. She was strong and a take charge woman. She faced the consequences of her secret head on, and it made her even more likable. She didn’t hesitate when it came to helping out with Colin. She was the kind of person you would want as a friend.
This book started a little rough – with Nash being so hard and all – but ended great. This was a good read and I would recommend it.
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Without going into too much detail and giving away spoilers, this book is much deeper than what you think it is. Nash has to come home to care for his baby brother (Nash is 25 and his baby brother is 4 months old – his dad was 45 so completely plausible). Colin, his baby brother, has been in the care of Kathleen Doyle, a girl Nash knew from his childhood but never really paid attention to because she was the smart nerdy girl. Kat is Colin’s cousin, and very close to Colin’s mother.
Nash has lead a pretty lonely life. He doesn’t form connections to people, and didn’t really get along well with his father (who was very young when Nash was born and only a small part of his life until he was 14). Tragedy struck Nash when he was 14 and turned him into an angry person – an anger he kept until adulthood, and alienated him from his family.
Kat also has some secrets, secrets that come back to her later in the book. Again, without spoiling, the way this was handled was very clever. I totally didn’t see it coming and was pleasantly surprised how it turned out. Kat is also a single mom to a 3-year old daughter named Emma, who was adorable by the way. Emma was in love with Nash’s German Shepard, Roxie, and it was just so cute.
Anyway, once Nash takes on the role of guardian to Colin, he starts to change. He softens some. He learns to open his heart. Nash’s transformation over the course of this story was pretty remarkable. He turned into a really great guy.
Kat was great from the beginning. She was strong and a take charge woman. She faced the consequences of her secret head on, and it made her even more likable. She didn’t hesitate when it came to helping out with Colin. She was the kind of person you would want as a friend.
This book started a little rough – with Nash being so hard and all – but ended great. This was a good read and I would recommend it.
Blog --> https://tvaddictedbookworm.com
Twitter --> https://twitter.com/tvaddictbookwm
Instagram-->https://instagram.com/tvaddictedbookworm
May 24, 2018
My favorite thing about In This Life is the cover! This is the first book that I've read from this author. I stumbled upon it in the Kindle store and one-clicked just based on the cover. This book was slightly above mediocre for me. I wanted to like the book so much but it just didn't bring its A game.
In This Life is about 25 year old Nash and 23 year old Kathleen. Nash meets Kat when he returns to his hometown to care for his just orphaned 4 month old brother, Colin. Kat is no longer the goofy kid who used to follow Nash around when they were kids and is now a beautiful mother of a 3.5 year old daughter named Emma. The other important character in this story is Roxie. She is Nash's German Shepherd Dog. The story is set in a made up town called Hawk Valley in Arizona. I live in Arizona so when cities such as Phoenix (where I live), Scottsdale, Tucson, and Sedona were thrown around, I got excited. Sadly, there was no actual detail or real information provided about any of these places to make it seem like the author did any research to make the setting authentic sounding. The book is told in alternating POV for both of the main characters and is in first person.
I really liked the characters and the premise but I had some problems with the writing. I thought that it was underdeveloped and lacked depth in parts. There were also some inconsistencies and continuity issues. There were editing issues as well, especially where grammar and punctuation is concerned. Examples would be using then instead of than, many missing commas causing sentences to improperly run together, incorrect words like my instead of me, extra words repeated in a sentence, etc. I also had difficulty determining which character was actually speaking at times when Nash and Kat were talking. Another concern I had was around 45%. There is a time gap where the timeline is unclear and skipped a month or more but I had no idea until a sentence suddenly didn't make sense and it was noted that the summer had passed. I was like, "wait, what?" and had even read the chapter prior to it again, thinking I had missed it. In that missing span of time, between one chapter and the next, they went from friends with benefits to serious feelings of love without any story to support that development.
I am disappointed because I feel like this could have been a really good book but it just never reached a peak. I was invested in the characters though so that really helped. I think they were written well. Plus I really loved the dog.
As far as the epilogue, I thought it was underwhelming. I liked it but I wanted more. The whole happy for now thing is kind of a let down. I like these characters. I want to see what happens with them in the future. I need more.
One last thing to note, this Kindle book ends at 85% and then there is 'bonus material' so be prepared if you like to pay attention to how far you are and how much you have remaining.
Overall, I give In This Life 2.5 to 3 stars. Probably closed to 2.5 but I do love that cover. I would give this author another chance and try one of her other books. Even though this book didn't really wow me, I did like how well the characters were written so it is worth a try.
In This Life is about 25 year old Nash and 23 year old Kathleen. Nash meets Kat when he returns to his hometown to care for his just orphaned 4 month old brother, Colin. Kat is no longer the goofy kid who used to follow Nash around when they were kids and is now a beautiful mother of a 3.5 year old daughter named Emma. The other important character in this story is Roxie. She is Nash's German Shepherd Dog. The story is set in a made up town called Hawk Valley in Arizona. I live in Arizona so when cities such as Phoenix (where I live), Scottsdale, Tucson, and Sedona were thrown around, I got excited. Sadly, there was no actual detail or real information provided about any of these places to make it seem like the author did any research to make the setting authentic sounding. The book is told in alternating POV for both of the main characters and is in first person.
I really liked the characters and the premise but I had some problems with the writing. I thought that it was underdeveloped and lacked depth in parts. There were also some inconsistencies and continuity issues. There were editing issues as well, especially where grammar and punctuation is concerned. Examples would be using then instead of than, many missing commas causing sentences to improperly run together, incorrect words like my instead of me, extra words repeated in a sentence, etc. I also had difficulty determining which character was actually speaking at times when Nash and Kat were talking. Another concern I had was around 45%. There is a time gap where the timeline is unclear and skipped a month or more but I had no idea until a sentence suddenly didn't make sense and it was noted that the summer had passed. I was like, "wait, what?" and had even read the chapter prior to it again, thinking I had missed it. In that missing span of time, between one chapter and the next, they went from friends with benefits to serious feelings of love without any story to support that development.
I am disappointed because I feel like this could have been a really good book but it just never reached a peak. I was invested in the characters though so that really helped. I think they were written well. Plus I really loved the dog.
As far as the epilogue, I thought it was underwhelming. I liked it but I wanted more. The whole happy for now thing is kind of a let down. I like these characters. I want to see what happens with them in the future. I need more.
One last thing to note, this Kindle book ends at 85% and then there is 'bonus material' so be prepared if you like to pay attention to how far you are and how much you have remaining.
Overall, I give In This Life 2.5 to 3 stars. Probably closed to 2.5 but I do love that cover. I would give this author another chance and try one of her other books. Even though this book didn't really wow me, I did like how well the characters were written so it is worth a try.
May 16, 2018
Go on an emotional journey with Nash and Katherine. These characters have to deal with sad things, but they are able to become friends and how they went from friends to more than…was phenomenal. Nash is a 25 year old man that has just become the guardian to his infant brother while Kat is a 23 year single mother who gave up on her true love and has embraced being a mother as her true love in life now. Emma knew Nash in high school and had a huge crush on him. They end up crossing paths when she stepped in to look after this little baby until the guardian arrived and that guardian happened to be Nash. Nash has no friends in town and Kathleen is about the only person he can ask for help. Katherine could have left him struggling but she chose to do the right thing and she helps him out. Nash sees how beautiful she is and he wonders can there be some added benefits –like friends with benefits ? As the story progresses, you see Katherine and Nash really embracing the friendship angle while afraid to take things further because hearts could get involved. Tragedy is what brings these two together and yet their friendship is what is keeping them together and their slow burn romance is so beautiful. Their romance isn’t insta-love and instant, what the readers get is two people who haven’t had the greatest luck in love and are leary of opening their hearts again and now with children in the mix, putting them in the middle but yet they still slowly dip their toes back in the water and the sparks are fantastic. The love that slowly grows between them heals the broken cracks in their souls and hearts and lets love enter the picture and let love bloom in the most beautiful and heartwarming way. Ms. Brent has written a most outstanding love story with likeable and heartfelt characters. All I can say is hold on for the ride, its going to be on you will remember.
My Rating: 4.6 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."
My Rating: 4.6 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."
February 9, 2026
"Kat era buena con las palabras. Era buena en todo lo que importaba. Pero el mejor talento de Kathleen Doyle resultó ser despertar mi corazón de una manera que nadie más lo había hecho"
Nash me robó el corazón 🥺, me encanto este libro y como de a poco Nash se iba acostumbraba a vivir su nueva vida siendo tutor de su hermanito y el esfuerzo que hizo para ser el mejor padre del mundo porque a pesar de estar cargando con la perdida de su papá y la culpa de no haber tenido una relación mas estrecha con el dió lo mejor de si mismo porque vió la oportunidad de perdonarse asi mismo y súperar el pasado. ( Nunca lo juzgue por distanciarse de su papá porque las cosas entre ellos se complicaron mucho y lo que pasó con su mamá fue muy difícil de sobrellevar 💔)
Kathleen me encanto, ella fue muy atenta en todo momento con Nash y el amor que sentía por Colin era tan puro y genuino además ella tenía su propia vida e hija y aún así decidió regalarle su tiempo a Nash para ayudarlo y depósito su confianza porque ella al principio se dejo llevar por los malos comentarios y no quería que el niño esta con ella y con el tiempo el demostro ser una gran figura paterna y también un gran compañero para ella porque con los meses que pasaron juntos entre ellos surgió una linda relación, la familia que crearon es hermosa ♥️🫂
Nash me robó el corazón 🥺, me encanto este libro y como de a poco Nash se iba acostumbraba a vivir su nueva vida siendo tutor de su hermanito y el esfuerzo que hizo para ser el mejor padre del mundo porque a pesar de estar cargando con la perdida de su papá y la culpa de no haber tenido una relación mas estrecha con el dió lo mejor de si mismo porque vió la oportunidad de perdonarse asi mismo y súperar el pasado. ( Nunca lo juzgue por distanciarse de su papá porque las cosas entre ellos se complicaron mucho y lo que pasó con su mamá fue muy difícil de sobrellevar 💔)
Kathleen me encanto, ella fue muy atenta en todo momento con Nash y el amor que sentía por Colin era tan puro y genuino además ella tenía su propia vida e hija y aún así decidió regalarle su tiempo a Nash para ayudarlo y depósito su confianza porque ella al principio se dejo llevar por los malos comentarios y no quería que el niño esta con ella y con el tiempo el demostro ser una gran figura paterna y también un gran compañero para ella porque con los meses que pasaron juntos entre ellos surgió una linda relación, la familia que crearon es hermosa ♥️🫂
February 22, 2025
Recensione per il blog PECCATRICI LIBROSE
Mie adorate Peccatrici,
vi siete mai chieste se non fosse successa quella determinata cosa come sarebbe andata la vostra vita? Qui non parlo di scelte che ognuno di noi può fare, ma della vita che ti mette dinnanzi a un unico percorso da attraversare senza possibilità di scelta.
Quante cose accadono che ne cambiano poi il corso?
Ed è proprio quello che succede a Nash nel romanzo di Cora Brent: "IN QUESTA VITA".
Lui conduce un'esistenza solitaria, ha un lavoro, degli svaghi e poi all'improvviso succede l'irreparabile e si ritrova a cambiare completamente il suo mondo. La vita o il destino ti fa fare, a volte, dei giri improbabili per riportarti nel luogo di partenza, perché forse era proprio lì il tuo posto, quello dove avresti dovuto essere. E lo stesso succede a Kathleen che insegue un radioso futuro e poi un imprevisto non calcolato, la riporta nuovamente a Hawk Valley.
I loro destini verranno intrecciati dagli eventi, ognuno di loro porta dentro dei traumi mai risolti e sarà proprio la vita pacata ma piena di questa cittadina, a ridare a entrambi la giusta prospettiva sugli accadimenti e fargli fare pace con sé stessi e con ciò che li circonda.
Una lettura intensa e coinvolgente, due personaggi bellissimi nelle loro fragilità ben nascoste e temprate dalle sofferenze, i rimorsi degli "e se..." che li perseguitano, ma che alla fine decidono di lasciarsi alle spalle. Perché la vita è una, lunga o corta che sia, e va vissuta senza rimorsi, perché "in questa vita" potremmo non avere più il tempo di dire quello che avremmo voluto dire a persone che pensavamo di odiare e invece amavamo.
Alla fine di tutto, questo è uno dei messaggi che trasmette la storia, e che ti arriva dritto al cuore.
Vi lascio nel negozio di souvenir di questa pacifica cittadina ai piedi di queste imponenti montagne, mi raccomando scegliete bene il ricordo che volete portarvi a casa, non lasciate niente al caso che i ricordi più belli rimangono nel cuore e nell'anima di chi li ha vissuti.
Ho un pickup che mi aspetta per condurmi verso una nuova avventura a caccia di emozioni.
Alla prossima lettura 😘
Debby
Mie adorate Peccatrici,
vi siete mai chieste se non fosse successa quella determinata cosa come sarebbe andata la vostra vita? Qui non parlo di scelte che ognuno di noi può fare, ma della vita che ti mette dinnanzi a un unico percorso da attraversare senza possibilità di scelta.
Quante cose accadono che ne cambiano poi il corso?
Ed è proprio quello che succede a Nash nel romanzo di Cora Brent: "IN QUESTA VITA".
Lui conduce un'esistenza solitaria, ha un lavoro, degli svaghi e poi all'improvviso succede l'irreparabile e si ritrova a cambiare completamente il suo mondo. La vita o il destino ti fa fare, a volte, dei giri improbabili per riportarti nel luogo di partenza, perché forse era proprio lì il tuo posto, quello dove avresti dovuto essere. E lo stesso succede a Kathleen che insegue un radioso futuro e poi un imprevisto non calcolato, la riporta nuovamente a Hawk Valley.
I loro destini verranno intrecciati dagli eventi, ognuno di loro porta dentro dei traumi mai risolti e sarà proprio la vita pacata ma piena di questa cittadina, a ridare a entrambi la giusta prospettiva sugli accadimenti e fargli fare pace con sé stessi e con ciò che li circonda.
Una lettura intensa e coinvolgente, due personaggi bellissimi nelle loro fragilità ben nascoste e temprate dalle sofferenze, i rimorsi degli "e se..." che li perseguitano, ma che alla fine decidono di lasciarsi alle spalle. Perché la vita è una, lunga o corta che sia, e va vissuta senza rimorsi, perché "in questa vita" potremmo non avere più il tempo di dire quello che avremmo voluto dire a persone che pensavamo di odiare e invece amavamo.
Alla fine di tutto, questo è uno dei messaggi che trasmette la storia, e che ti arriva dritto al cuore.
Vi lascio nel negozio di souvenir di questa pacifica cittadina ai piedi di queste imponenti montagne, mi raccomando scegliete bene il ricordo che volete portarvi a casa, non lasciate niente al caso che i ricordi più belli rimangono nel cuore e nell'anima di chi li ha vissuti.
Ho un pickup che mi aspetta per condurmi verso una nuova avventura a caccia di emozioni.
Alla prossima lettura 😘
Debby
May 17, 2018
Title: In This Life
Author: Cora Brent
Genre: Contemporary Adult Romance/New Romance
Publication Date: 5/14/18
**RECEIVED ARC FOR HONEST REVIEW**
Cora Brent is a talented author who writes stories with characters who are flawed and human; This makes her characters relatable. Her storylines are usually realistic enough that the reader is able to get sucked in.
With all of that being said it saddens me that I have to say I am not a fan of this book. It is well written and has a few plot "cliffhangers" that try to keep the readers interest but for me it still fell flat.
Guy comes back to his hometown due to personal tragedy, decides to stay, reconnected with girl who crushed on him as kids, chica has 1 skeleton in her closet, boy and girl hook up, boy and girl learn life lesson to let go of the past and hold on to love.
The story was slow. Kinda like how you picture life in a small town like ijn the book, laid back and slow. I couldn't stand the female lead. Goodness she is bossy and annoying. She acts like a know-it-all. And the male lead, give me a break. He is supposedly this tough guy who hits men who abuse women (He does) but other than that the only time he shows a personality is when he is having sex. Most of the time he comes off numb and detached. Yes I know he just lost a loved one but give him a personality please.
So this book wasn't my cup of tea, you may love it. To each their own. I guess I can't love every book an author writes.
Author: Cora Brent
Genre: Contemporary Adult Romance/New Romance
Publication Date: 5/14/18
**RECEIVED ARC FOR HONEST REVIEW**
Cora Brent is a talented author who writes stories with characters who are flawed and human; This makes her characters relatable. Her storylines are usually realistic enough that the reader is able to get sucked in.
With all of that being said it saddens me that I have to say I am not a fan of this book. It is well written and has a few plot "cliffhangers" that try to keep the readers interest but for me it still fell flat.
Guy comes back to his hometown due to personal tragedy, decides to stay, reconnected with girl who crushed on him as kids, chica has 1 skeleton in her closet, boy and girl hook up, boy and girl learn life lesson to let go of the past and hold on to love.
The story was slow. Kinda like how you picture life in a small town like ijn the book, laid back and slow. I couldn't stand the female lead. Goodness she is bossy and annoying. She acts like a know-it-all. And the male lead, give me a break. He is supposedly this tough guy who hits men who abuse women (He does) but other than that the only time he shows a personality is when he is having sex. Most of the time he comes off numb and detached. Yes I know he just lost a loved one but give him a personality please.
So this book wasn't my cup of tea, you may love it. To each their own. I guess I can't love every book an author writes.
May 14, 2018
The over of this book is one of those that makes my ovaries explode. Who doesn’t love a got guy holding a baby. Inside these pages is a beautiful story that proves that time isn’t always granted. These characters have to deal with sad things, but they are able to become friends and seeing the more form was great. I loved the banter between Kat and Nash. They had this attraction, but it was so much more then that. They had this understanding from the start. The kids were too adorable and played a big part in the story which is something I loved. The drama was fairly light. Some parts were a little heart breaking but the overall feel of the story was upbeat. 4 stars #2OCCJD
May 15, 2018
Get ready for a powerful and emotional journey with Nash and Katherine . This is a tale filled with lust, love , loss , feelings of being unwanted , undeserving and strength . They come together in a time of such sorrow that nothing good seems possible . Nash is a 25 year old man that has just become the legal guardian of his infant brother . Kat is a 23 year single mom that has given up her one true passion and found true joy in being a mom and moving forward. When these two old acquaintances find an unlikely friendship in each other they soon realize that their is so much more In This Life than they could have ever dreamed possible .
I absolutely loved it !
~~Michele McMullen ~~
I absolutely loved it !
~~Michele McMullen ~~
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