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Mystic Point #0.5
Love Me Once More
*This steamy contemporary small-town romance is a prequel novella to the Mystic Point series. It can be read as a standalone. It has salty language, open door love scenes, and a happily-ever-after.*Second chances are for suckers. Or so Ethan Thomas believes. A year ago, he walked away from his wife—the woman he has loved since he was ten years old—after believing she betrayed him. Since then he’s settled in his hometown of Mystic Point, Connecticut among old friends, with a new job and a jaded outlook on life. As long as he can keep his estranged wife Lainie out of his mind, he has a chance to live contentedly, if not happily. Happiness is overrated, anyway.Lainie Thomas has spent the past year in a solitary confinement of her own making. She once had everything—a successful career, a home in a big city, and the man of her dreams. But she took it for granted and ended up losing it all. Now she’s been given one last shot at redemption, one last chance to show Ethan she never betrayed him, one last time to convince him their marriage is worth fighting for. But can she convince him to love her once more or is she too late to reclaim the happily-ever-after they both deserve?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2018
23 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 27, 2021
This ended up being a great book. Review to come.
May 15, 2019
Ethan and Lainie are childhood sweethearts who married but are now on the cusp of a divorce after a series of circumstances that happened a year ago. Lainie is coming to town to deliver the divorce papers personally, which they've been shipping back and forth but neither of them has signed. She's going to be in town for two weeks to help get her parent's house ready to rent again, and she asks Ethan for a second chance during that time. Ethan has a lot of resentment about what transpired in the past.
This book was so well done. I'm a sucker for a good second chance at romance story, and this is one of the good ones. The author seems to have an amazing sense of what two people in this circumstance would be going through mentally and emotionally through the various stages as they try to find their way back to each other. It isn't easy because they are different people from what they were before the events that changed everything, and they are at different places in their acceptance of responsibility and placing of blame. There are parts in this book that, if you get emotionally invested in the characters, will make you cry, just hoping that these two wounded souls can make their way back to each other. In particular, I thought the first near sex scene was brutally honest about where they would have been at that precise point in time.
As I have read the other two books in the series, I enjoyed seeing Calista and Will again before they found their HEAs. Over the course of this series, I have quite enjoyed getting to know this little town of Mystic Point, and I'm looking forward to Juliet’s story, which is up next.
If you enjoy a second chance contemporary romance, this is one of the better ones I've read, and you might find it a wonderful, but emotional, read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
This book was so well done. I'm a sucker for a good second chance at romance story, and this is one of the good ones. The author seems to have an amazing sense of what two people in this circumstance would be going through mentally and emotionally through the various stages as they try to find their way back to each other. It isn't easy because they are different people from what they were before the events that changed everything, and they are at different places in their acceptance of responsibility and placing of blame. There are parts in this book that, if you get emotionally invested in the characters, will make you cry, just hoping that these two wounded souls can make their way back to each other. In particular, I thought the first near sex scene was brutally honest about where they would have been at that precise point in time.
As I have read the other two books in the series, I enjoyed seeing Calista and Will again before they found their HEAs. Over the course of this series, I have quite enjoyed getting to know this little town of Mystic Point, and I'm looking forward to Juliet’s story, which is up next.
If you enjoy a second chance contemporary romance, this is one of the better ones I've read, and you might find it a wonderful, but emotional, read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
May 15, 2019
Lainie is a workaholic who had it all until she didn't, Ethan was her husband but he left her after feeling betrayed with first talking about it as he despises confrontations. The two were flawed but I just can't get over him leaving her so easily.
It's poignant and heartbreaking.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It's poignant and heartbreaking.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 5, 2026
Notes for me
Long review for a novella.
Ethan - reporter for ESPN now a freelance. He’s moved back to their small hometown.
Lainie - her mom was pregnant and married young. Always felt like she missed out on her dreams. This made Lainie feel like she had to move up the corporate ladder at all cost.
Next door neighbors since childhood. Loved each other most of that time.
Story opens with them separated. You know something happened to make Ethan leave and Lainie takes all of the blame.
Lainie received unsigned divorce papers. She quits her job and moves back. She wants to reunite.
Ethan loves her and wants to hate her. He wants to move on.
He knows she’s stubborn so agrees to give her the two weeks she’s using to fix her family home to see if they can work it out.
In reality he told both of his best friends (one male and one female) that he’s only going to pretend.
Ethan was stubborn and childlike in his thinking. His male best friend had to make him see this isn’t all Lainie’s fault.
Safety
Bella - coworker at ESPN. She’s made no secret that she’s interested in him. Visits him every weekend, cooks for him, helped decorate his house.
She’s actually the one who found and mailed the divorce papers. She also tells Lainie about Ethan just pretending with her. That’s the last straw for Lainie she realizes this can’t be saved.
When Ethan finds out he tells Bella he wasn’t pretending and he does still love L. Bella just leaves with tears in her eyes.
Paul - Lainie’s coworker who stalks her. He’s also the reason for the breakup.
Before Ethan left Lainie found out she was pregnant. At first she was unsure because she was in line for a great promotion. She also remembers how her mom made her feel. She confides in Paul.
Paul takes her to the Poconos lying about meeting a client. They are in a wreck and she loses the baby. Problem is she hadn’t told Ethan yet. He finds out at the hospital. He confronts her, refusing to believe she isn’t involved with Paul and even asks if the baby is his.
Long review for a novella.
Ethan - reporter for ESPN now a freelance. He’s moved back to their small hometown.
Lainie - her mom was pregnant and married young. Always felt like she missed out on her dreams. This made Lainie feel like she had to move up the corporate ladder at all cost.
Next door neighbors since childhood. Loved each other most of that time.
Story opens with them separated. You know something happened to make Ethan leave and Lainie takes all of the blame.
Lainie received unsigned divorce papers. She quits her job and moves back. She wants to reunite.
Ethan loves her and wants to hate her. He wants to move on.
He knows she’s stubborn so agrees to give her the two weeks she’s using to fix her family home to see if they can work it out.
In reality he told both of his best friends (one male and one female) that he’s only going to pretend.
Ethan was stubborn and childlike in his thinking. His male best friend had to make him see this isn’t all Lainie’s fault.
Safety
Bella - coworker at ESPN. She’s made no secret that she’s interested in him. Visits him every weekend, cooks for him, helped decorate his house.
She’s actually the one who found and mailed the divorce papers. She also tells Lainie about Ethan just pretending with her. That’s the last straw for Lainie she realizes this can’t be saved.
When Ethan finds out he tells Bella he wasn’t pretending and he does still love L. Bella just leaves with tears in her eyes.
Paul - Lainie’s coworker who stalks her. He’s also the reason for the breakup.
Before Ethan left Lainie found out she was pregnant. At first she was unsure because she was in line for a great promotion. She also remembers how her mom made her feel. She confides in Paul.
Paul takes her to the Poconos lying about meeting a client. They are in a wreck and she loses the baby. Problem is she hadn’t told Ethan yet. He finds out at the hospital. He confronts her, refusing to believe she isn’t involved with Paul and even asks if the baby is his.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2024
This novella is a second-chance romance story set in a small town called Mystic Point. It’s a story about a married couple whose marriage fell apart and their journey to reconciliation.
Lainie and Ethan were strong and relatable characters, but they were also flawed. Lainie was a career-driven woman who was successful in her field. However, she prioritized her job over Ethan and dismissed his concerns when he felt that her relationship with her co-worker was becoming inappropriate (no cheating happened, though). Ethan was a supportive and loving husband to Lainie; he even put his dreams of becoming a writer on hold so that Lainie could fulfill hers. However, when dealing with the issues in their marriage, Ethan doesn’t like facing them head-on. He would rather hold on to his grudge than listen to Lainie’s side of the story. Lainie took most of the responsibility for the breakdown of their marriage, but Ethan also played a part in it. Their conflict and issues were handled well in the story, but I wish Lainie and Ethan had a proper conversation about those issues before getting back together again. Both of them did improve individually later on with Lainie learning to forgive herself and Ethan realizing that he's not the martyr husband that he likes to think he is.
Overall, this novella was good and I enjoyed reading it. It was well written, and it served a lot of angst, as well as a couple of steamy love scenes. It was also a nice introduction to the Mystic Point series, and I enjoyed getting to know the side characters who later on would become the main characters in their respective books in the series. I also liked the portrayal of strong female friendships with Lainie, Calista, Haley, and Juliet. Family was also highlighted in the story, as well as the importance of trust, good communication, and compromise in a relationship.
Lainie and Ethan were strong and relatable characters, but they were also flawed. Lainie was a career-driven woman who was successful in her field. However, she prioritized her job over Ethan and dismissed his concerns when he felt that her relationship with her co-worker was becoming inappropriate (no cheating happened, though). Ethan was a supportive and loving husband to Lainie; he even put his dreams of becoming a writer on hold so that Lainie could fulfill hers. However, when dealing with the issues in their marriage, Ethan doesn’t like facing them head-on. He would rather hold on to his grudge than listen to Lainie’s side of the story. Lainie took most of the responsibility for the breakdown of their marriage, but Ethan also played a part in it. Their conflict and issues were handled well in the story, but I wish Lainie and Ethan had a proper conversation about those issues before getting back together again. Both of them did improve individually later on with Lainie learning to forgive herself and Ethan realizing that he's not the martyr husband that he likes to think he is.
Overall, this novella was good and I enjoyed reading it. It was well written, and it served a lot of angst, as well as a couple of steamy love scenes. It was also a nice introduction to the Mystic Point series, and I enjoyed getting to know the side characters who later on would become the main characters in their respective books in the series. I also liked the portrayal of strong female friendships with Lainie, Calista, Haley, and Juliet. Family was also highlighted in the story, as well as the importance of trust, good communication, and compromise in a relationship.
April 8, 2018
I received this novella from Cate. It is a great start to the whole series. This novella will elicit so many emotions that you will never know what is happening to you. I can’t believe a romance novella can also make me cry.
Lainie is a workaholic individual who loses everything because she prioritizes her work over her relationships. Ethan is a very insecure individual who hates confrontations and loves to walk out in difficult situations. Ethan felt betrayed by Lainie, and he leaves her behind during Lainie’s hard time. Lainie will try her best to regain the trust and love of Ethan. However, Ethan is having a hard time in forgiving Lainie and in giving his heart back to her.
The introduction reminds me of the movie Sweet Home Alabama. However, unlike in the movie; Lainie asked for reconciliation instead of total separation. I love how Cate develops and builds her characters in this story. In every chapter, I can see the improvement of the main characters’ personalities and behaviors. Even if it is in the third person point of view, I can easily place myself in the shoes of Lainie or Ethan. I love the tension between them; I can really feel the heat. The conflict seems to be common at first, but Cate adds a few spins on it which makes it very interesting and unique. I can’t find a single unnecessary part of the story because everything is connected perfectly. The epilogue of the story is very interesting because it has a sweet and lovely unexpected touch to it.
No need to take a second look. Love Me Once More is a great book. It is perfectly written. I’m sure you will be smitten.
Lainie is a workaholic individual who loses everything because she prioritizes her work over her relationships. Ethan is a very insecure individual who hates confrontations and loves to walk out in difficult situations. Ethan felt betrayed by Lainie, and he leaves her behind during Lainie’s hard time. Lainie will try her best to regain the trust and love of Ethan. However, Ethan is having a hard time in forgiving Lainie and in giving his heart back to her.
The introduction reminds me of the movie Sweet Home Alabama. However, unlike in the movie; Lainie asked for reconciliation instead of total separation. I love how Cate develops and builds her characters in this story. In every chapter, I can see the improvement of the main characters’ personalities and behaviors. Even if it is in the third person point of view, I can easily place myself in the shoes of Lainie or Ethan. I love the tension between them; I can really feel the heat. The conflict seems to be common at first, but Cate adds a few spins on it which makes it very interesting and unique. I can’t find a single unnecessary part of the story because everything is connected perfectly. The epilogue of the story is very interesting because it has a sweet and lovely unexpected touch to it.
No need to take a second look. Love Me Once More is a great book. It is perfectly written. I’m sure you will be smitten.
May 15, 2019
This is book three in the Mystic Point series and although it can be read as a standalone I recommend taking on the series, you will not be disappointed. I really loved this story of Ethan and Lainie even though I found it heartbreaking. They were such a happy couple with everything going for them then one day, Ethan believes that Lainie betrays him. Ethan leaves and returns to his hometown of Mystic Point in hopes to forget about Lainie and at least find some resemblance of happiness in life.It has been one year and Lainie feels like she is ready to fight to win back her old life and prove to Ethan that she never betrayed him. This was a heartbreaking road but it was a really good ride to see what happens and if a HEA is in their near future. I also love seeing the previous book characters make an appearance. On to book four.....
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 21, 2018
A Right Hook Straight to the Feels!
If you're a sucker for second chances, you need to read Love Me Once More. Ethan and Lainie's story is a tug of war between hope and heartbreak that will have you rooting for love to win and save the day. The story shines in Cate Tayler’s touching and witty writing style. The story is sexy and saucy in the same way of Love Me Now and Love Me Like You Do. It made me smile to see Calista, Will, and Haley. I was giddy knowing what happens to them in the future after witnessing their happily-ever-afters. I can’t wait for the next book! Please say it’s Juliet’s story...But seriously, don’t make me wait long!
If you're a sucker for second chances, you need to read Love Me Once More. Ethan and Lainie's story is a tug of war between hope and heartbreak that will have you rooting for love to win and save the day. The story shines in Cate Tayler’s touching and witty writing style. The story is sexy and saucy in the same way of Love Me Now and Love Me Like You Do. It made me smile to see Calista, Will, and Haley. I was giddy knowing what happens to them in the future after witnessing their happily-ever-afters. I can’t wait for the next book! Please say it’s Juliet’s story...But seriously, don’t make me wait long!
May 10, 2019
Lainie had everything she ever wanted in the big city until she lost it all and has spent the last year mourning the lost of her husband Ethan when he walked out on her. Ethan believed that Lainie had betrayed him and he hated conflict so he left the big city and went home to suffer the loss of the only woman he has ever loved. Lainie wants Ethan to know she wants a second chance and this time she want take anything for granted.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 16, 2019
The first book in the Mystic Point series it is book 0 this is Lainie and Ethan’s story and their second chance. They separated because of not talking to each other and Ethan thinking the worst of her. Lainie has come to Mystic Point and has given herself to see if they can get their marriage back together. They will have ups and down, and a woman who will try to keep them apart. I enjoyed reading this story of how these two find their happy ending. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 27, 2019
This is the 1st book I've read written by Cate Tayler; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
March 17, 2018
Love this series, hope there’s more to come!!!
His thumb brushed over her rings. “Why are you still wearing these?” he asked, his brow furrowing. She looked away and didn’t answer for a long moment. Finally, she said, so softly he almost missed her words, “Hope. I’ll take them off when I’m ready to accept it’s really over.”
His thumb brushed over her rings. “Why are you still wearing these?” he asked, his brow furrowing. She looked away and didn’t answer for a long moment. Finally, she said, so softly he almost missed her words, “Hope. I’ll take them off when I’m ready to accept it’s really over.”
April 17, 2020
The writing is very polished and well-edited. The storyline is engaging and sweeps you through the end. It's angsty and heartfelt. It introduces several interesting characters who you'd want to get to know and continue to explore the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 21, 2018
Great Re-start to the Series
I love this series! The author is always spot on with the drama, heartache, and reconciliation. I dare you to find a misspelled word. She is conscientious and very poignant for such a new author. I can't wait for the summer release.
I love this series! The author is always spot on with the drama, heartache, and reconciliation. I dare you to find a misspelled word. She is conscientious and very poignant for such a new author. I can't wait for the summer release.
May 12, 2019
Great storyline and the author did brilliant job with the characters .Great read. Specially for all the one who love second chance
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 13, 2019
The book is a good small town romance read. read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is a captivated second chance romance read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2019
Good read,well written, great storyline and wonderful characters. Forgiveness and Second chances. Keeps your interest and wanting to see the end. I received it from booksprout and voluntarily left my review.
April 12, 2018
Emotional!
Great storyline and the author did brilliantly in developing the characters rapidly. The emotions stimulated a visceral response. Great read.
Great storyline and the author did brilliantly in developing the characters rapidly. The emotions stimulated a visceral response. Great read.
May 31, 2018
I love the Mystic Point series! Fun reads. I look forward to seeing the set up of characters, their interactions and developments.
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October 15, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/15/2019)! 🎁
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December 26, 2025Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.
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March 22, 2024Purchase Amazon October 8, 2019
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews