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Small Town Billionaires #1
The Billionaire's High School Reunion
Friendship turns into young love, a nasty breakup, and maybe a second chance. Can this billionaire make his great life perfect?Blake Murphy wants redemption. More than that, he wants a second chance.He'd been avoiding his home town since the day he left for college. Trista Kennedy was still there and he had no idea how he'd face her after the way he'd treated her. But now he'd find out. His high school reunion was coming up.Trista had moved on from Blake. Until she saw him at their high school reunion.He was handsome, rich, and easy going. He'd only been boyishly good looking in high school. So much had happened in a decade.Getting to know him as an adult is easier than she expected. But she's not sure she can trust him.But she felt something. Yearning. What might have been. Regret. She thought he felt it, too.Is there a chance to mend broken relationships in the heat of a small Arizona town after a decade apart?
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2019
1123 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
April Murdock
148 books203 followersUSA Today Bestselling author April Murdock loves romance, especially sweet stories that make you sigh out loud. She loves to write stories inspired by people in her life - past and present. She doesn't live on a ranch, but some of her favorite memories are visiting her cousins at their horse farm. And they've been helpful sharing information that sometimes shows up in her stories.
April has lived her whole life in the Southern US. Traveling is a great love, but coming home to Georgia where her heart is makes her happy.
Join April's Readers Group and get a free book - Finding Her Cowboy - https://dl.bookfunnel.com/kaauknd86j
April has lived her whole life in the Southern US. Traveling is a great love, but coming home to Georgia where her heart is makes her happy.
Join April's Readers Group and get a free book - Finding Her Cowboy - https://dl.bookfunnel.com/kaauknd86j
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
April 24, 2021
I was looking forward to reading this book, however I found the writing juvenile and the story very weak.
May 7, 2021
A little slow for me. The writing was okay, the story just felt blah.
February 28, 2024
Just... flat? I dunno. Kinda meh. 2 stars - it's OK.
Blake (H) is coming home for the first time in 10 years, to attend his HS reunion. He's been successful, playing professional football, earning his MBA, starring in an ESPN show with his best friend, and earning his fortune (he's the titular Billionaire). But he's still reluctant to come home, afraid to face his HS ex-girlfriend, the one whose heart he broke and the one he's never forgotten. Trista (h) meanwhile is back in their hometown after earning her law degree, and is more than a little wary about the feelings Blake is stirring up after so long. Can Blake earn her forgiveness and a second chance?
A sweet story, with some good potential, but overall, though, this was just kinda empty for me. It isn't a sweet'n'clean thing (even though I've no preference one way or the other, more of what I read has some steam). This was just more of a writing style thing, I think. Quite honestly, the leads were boring! Travis had more personality than Blake did - and Blake is the lead we're supposed to be caring about!! Blake was just weak. I'm not asking for an alphahole or an over-possessive Neanderthal, but I'd like someone with a little bit more presence. He was so worried about how you can't escape the past, etc etc, that he wouldn't do anything - even stand up to the girl whose attention he really didn't want (or heck - even take Caryn's pictures down in his old room!). Travis had to push him to make any movement toward working things out with Trista. Trista we just never learn much about. She felt like an outline of a character, rather than a more developed person. And I never followed why Leslie was sooooo protective of Trista. I mean, yes, she saw what Blake did during their senior year, but it also mentioned that Leslie was overprotective about other guys that Trista had dated too. Just felt a little off. Caryn was straight-out a caricature of a Mean Girl. Trying to get back with the guy who dumped her 9 years ago for her cheating? So obliviously self-centered - "why wouldn't he want to be with me again, even after I cheated with a teammate? I'm hot!". Then locking Trista in the deserted hallway? And what was the whole thing with Bev?? She was so stereotypically the HS Queen Bee Who Never Moved On.
Could have used a little more editing. A few noticeable typos, but overall very readable.
Alternating 3rd person POV. OW drama with Caryn. Love triangle with Quentin (mild, though). No cheating, though a bit of spinelessness when dealing with Caryn. Could have been more entertaining, but felt rather empty - wasted potential? Got a lot more of Blake's worries than his actual flirting with Trista - the whole rebuilding and repairing of their relationship just felt underserved. Like the shopping scene - we're told that they have so much fun, so much laughter, but we don't actually see it. Clean romance - just kissing. Not bad, just empty. HEA and epilogue. No cliffhangers.
Would I read more by this author? In this series? By this author maybe, especially if it's another free Kindle find. But I'm not in a hurry either. There are other short reads that have a bit more personality. And for the next one in this series, The Aimless Billionaire? Based on the sample chapter, no thank you. Not characters I see myself caring about.
Blake (H) is coming home for the first time in 10 years, to attend his HS reunion. He's been successful, playing professional football, earning his MBA, starring in an ESPN show with his best friend, and earning his fortune (he's the titular Billionaire). But he's still reluctant to come home, afraid to face his HS ex-girlfriend, the one whose heart he broke and the one he's never forgotten. Trista (h) meanwhile is back in their hometown after earning her law degree, and is more than a little wary about the feelings Blake is stirring up after so long. Can Blake earn her forgiveness and a second chance?
A sweet story, with some good potential, but overall, though, this was just kinda empty for me. It isn't a sweet'n'clean thing (even though I've no preference one way or the other, more of what I read has some steam). This was just more of a writing style thing, I think. Quite honestly, the leads were boring! Travis had more personality than Blake did - and Blake is the lead we're supposed to be caring about!! Blake was just weak. I'm not asking for an alphahole or an over-possessive Neanderthal, but I'd like someone with a little bit more presence. He was so worried about how you can't escape the past, etc etc, that he wouldn't do anything - even stand up to the girl whose attention he really didn't want (or heck - even take Caryn's pictures down in his old room!). Travis had to push him to make any movement toward working things out with Trista. Trista we just never learn much about. She felt like an outline of a character, rather than a more developed person. And I never followed why Leslie was sooooo protective of Trista. I mean, yes, she saw what Blake did during their senior year, but it also mentioned that Leslie was overprotective about other guys that Trista had dated too. Just felt a little off. Caryn was straight-out a caricature of a Mean Girl. Trying to get back with the guy who dumped her 9 years ago for her cheating? So obliviously self-centered - "why wouldn't he want to be with me again, even after I cheated with a teammate? I'm hot!". Then locking Trista in the deserted hallway? And what was the whole thing with Bev?? She was so stereotypically the HS Queen Bee Who Never Moved On.
Could have used a little more editing. A few noticeable typos, but overall very readable.
Alternating 3rd person POV. OW drama with Caryn. Love triangle with Quentin (mild, though). No cheating, though a bit of spinelessness when dealing with Caryn. Could have been more entertaining, but felt rather empty - wasted potential? Got a lot more of Blake's worries than his actual flirting with Trista - the whole rebuilding and repairing of their relationship just felt underserved. Like the shopping scene - we're told that they have so much fun, so much laughter, but we don't actually see it. Clean romance - just kissing. Not bad, just empty. HEA and epilogue. No cliffhangers.
Would I read more by this author? In this series? By this author maybe, especially if it's another free Kindle find. But I'm not in a hurry either. There are other short reads that have a bit more personality. And for the next one in this series, The Aimless Billionaire? Based on the sample chapter, no thank you. Not characters I see myself caring about.
September 14, 2023
The ten-year high school reunion in an Arizona small town should have been easy peasy for a big name star like Blake Murphy, but he torched his high school romance back in the day and now he knows he’ll be facing the woman who still ties him to the past. This set up and the chance to try a new to me author had me eagerly clicking when I had the chance to try it out.
Most of the chapters are narrated by Blake with a few look ins on Trista’s side of things. Blake knows he screwed up with Trista back then. He’s a big success in the big wide world outside their small town, but I liked seeing him humble and unsure of himself with Trista. He makes the long overdue apology and she accepts it, but she doesn’t slip back into that easy friendship and understanding they had before because he hurt her and she’s still carrying a little anger especially after the woman he flaunted in front of her is, again, often at his side. Blake has no intentions of hitting that again, but he can’t seem to catch a break getting her off to himself to have a long overdue conversation.
This is a short, fast read. The romance builds up quickly over the course of the few days surrounding the HS reunion activities, but since it was a second chance and not loaded with other barriers beyond their teenage parting, I could see them patching things up- especially since they had a solid and candid conversation at last. Fun how that finally came about.
On a side note, I enjoyed Blake’s friendship with Travis and the way Travis teases and gives him the boot up the butt when needed. This added a good light note and established Blake’s goodness just for having such a friend to stand by him.
All in all, Billionaire’s High School Reunion didn’t try to be more than it was so I had a good time with this engaging, quick-read second chance romance.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Sept 13th.
Most of the chapters are narrated by Blake with a few look ins on Trista’s side of things. Blake knows he screwed up with Trista back then. He’s a big success in the big wide world outside their small town, but I liked seeing him humble and unsure of himself with Trista. He makes the long overdue apology and she accepts it, but she doesn’t slip back into that easy friendship and understanding they had before because he hurt her and she’s still carrying a little anger especially after the woman he flaunted in front of her is, again, often at his side. Blake has no intentions of hitting that again, but he can’t seem to catch a break getting her off to himself to have a long overdue conversation.
This is a short, fast read. The romance builds up quickly over the course of the few days surrounding the HS reunion activities, but since it was a second chance and not loaded with other barriers beyond their teenage parting, I could see them patching things up- especially since they had a solid and candid conversation at last. Fun how that finally came about.
On a side note, I enjoyed Blake’s friendship with Travis and the way Travis teases and gives him the boot up the butt when needed. This added a good light note and established Blake’s goodness just for having such a friend to stand by him.
All in all, Billionaire’s High School Reunion didn’t try to be more than it was so I had a good time with this engaging, quick-read second chance romance.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Sept 13th.
April 28, 2021
Maybe it was the story, maybe it was the age of the characters, maybe it was the writing (Or maybe I'm still not over the last book I read), but I just couldn't get into this book. The characters were flat, the relationship resolution was missing something and then all of a sudden there was a HEA. Standalone and HEA.
April 20, 2019
Great book
Good writing and fun characters. The editing could have been better. The storyline was perfect and the ending was great and fulfilling.
Good writing and fun characters. The editing could have been better. The storyline was perfect and the ending was great and fulfilling.
August 13, 2020
The story was okay but the work needs to be proofread and edited. There are grammatical mistakes and consistency errors that I found distracting. I won't read the next book since the blurb had errors that I kept stopping to fix in my head.
June 12, 2021
I must be really needing more coffee. This book never drew me in and it just seemed flat.
August 4, 2022
It was okay
There really wasn’t too much to this story. Blake broke Trista’s heart back in high school and he avoided coming home. Blake’s best friend Travis convinced him to come home for his high school reunion. Pretty much only five people from high school are mentioned during the set up and reunion evening and none of them have truly grown up. Mean girl is still mean and never gets the calling out she needs. The snooty guy that always thought his brain made him more superior is still arrogant. The jock, our MC, got his money having played football and now has a TV sports show. Our FMC went to law school and has a growing business but due to her hurt, closed heart hasn’t really evolved. Then I guess one of the average kids that saw everything go down is now the FMC’s best friend and glares ever time MC is around. It was so slow, I was skipping pages hoping for something original. Even the getting “accidentally locked” into a room so they have to talk was predictable. Kudos for the grand gesture but it just wasn’t enough to sell me on this book. Clean language and very G rated so it could be a Hallmark since they don’t even kiss until the last chapter before the epilogue.
There really wasn’t too much to this story. Blake broke Trista’s heart back in high school and he avoided coming home. Blake’s best friend Travis convinced him to come home for his high school reunion. Pretty much only five people from high school are mentioned during the set up and reunion evening and none of them have truly grown up. Mean girl is still mean and never gets the calling out she needs. The snooty guy that always thought his brain made him more superior is still arrogant. The jock, our MC, got his money having played football and now has a TV sports show. Our FMC went to law school and has a growing business but due to her hurt, closed heart hasn’t really evolved. Then I guess one of the average kids that saw everything go down is now the FMC’s best friend and glares ever time MC is around. It was so slow, I was skipping pages hoping for something original. Even the getting “accidentally locked” into a room so they have to talk was predictable. Kudos for the grand gesture but it just wasn’t enough to sell me on this book. Clean language and very G rated so it could be a Hallmark since they don’t even kiss until the last chapter before the epilogue.
June 10, 2022
High School Sweethearts
Trista and Blake were high school sweethearts who broke up over not going to the same college. Blake was immature about it at the time and regretted it after it happened. He was going back home with his friend Travis for his ten year class reunion.
This was a quick read and a very sweet read. Trista was now a lawyer in their hometown and Blake was a famous sports personality after his pro football career. What nobody knew was his true net worth or that he was more than just an ex football player and popular sports personality, he was a billionaire who had an MBA and a degree in Economics and business.. All of which he put to good use while he was playing in the pro's..
This was sweet because both he and Trista still had feelings for each other and they had to find a way to express their feelings to each other. It was funny just how that opportunity came about.
If you enjoy a nice clean sweet read, this story is the one for you.
Trista and Blake were high school sweethearts who broke up over not going to the same college. Blake was immature about it at the time and regretted it after it happened. He was going back home with his friend Travis for his ten year class reunion.
This was a quick read and a very sweet read. Trista was now a lawyer in their hometown and Blake was a famous sports personality after his pro football career. What nobody knew was his true net worth or that he was more than just an ex football player and popular sports personality, he was a billionaire who had an MBA and a degree in Economics and business.. All of which he put to good use while he was playing in the pro's..
This was sweet because both he and Trista still had feelings for each other and they had to find a way to express their feelings to each other. It was funny just how that opportunity came about.
If you enjoy a nice clean sweet read, this story is the one for you.
August 19, 2019
Enjoyable Read
Blake Murphy, billionaire,/celebrity is invited to his home town to attend a school reunion, he takes along his friend Travis (who I personally feel lifted this story, he was a lovely character who had more going for him than the main male character, Blake!) The love interest was Trista Kennedy whom Blake had treated pretty shabily in their final school year, and they parted on poor terms, unfortunately or fortunately whichever way they looked at it, they both still loved each other. The story was sweet with Blake seemingly unable to get his act together due to interference from Trista's friends, and an obnoxious previous girlfriend of Blake's but love prevailed, and the ending was a happy one.
The story is short, readable in a couple of hours and worthwhile. I would recommend it.
Blake Murphy, billionaire,/celebrity is invited to his home town to attend a school reunion, he takes along his friend Travis (who I personally feel lifted this story, he was a lovely character who had more going for him than the main male character, Blake!) The love interest was Trista Kennedy whom Blake had treated pretty shabily in their final school year, and they parted on poor terms, unfortunately or fortunately whichever way they looked at it, they both still loved each other. The story was sweet with Blake seemingly unable to get his act together due to interference from Trista's friends, and an obnoxious previous girlfriend of Blake's but love prevailed, and the ending was a happy one.
The story is short, readable in a couple of hours and worthwhile. I would recommend it.
February 10, 2019
The Billionaire's High School Reunion is a sweet, clean second chance romance. Blake abruptly dumped Trista two months before high school graduation when he learned she chose Stanford over where he was going to college.He never forgot her and knows he owes her a big apology. Talked into attending his high school reunion, Blake ends up working with Trista to make sure it is a big success. Caryn, Blake's rebound and cheating ex, is determined to land her man this time. With all the drama and angst we knew in high school, you will enjoy this book. Does Blake get the cheer leader or the valedictorian? I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 19, 2024
Not a fan of 2nd chance books as they usually just go on and on, back and forth with the emotions and hurt and it’s not entertaining for me. This goes pretty slow and pretty sure I started it but stopped. I ended up trying again, skipping through a bunch and didn’t really miss much. I also am also detail focused. If something is off it throws off the whole book. Spoiler: how in the world do you get locked inside a school hallway with no way out but people can still come in? Isn’t that against fire code? I appreciate the effort to stick them together but you lost me on how it was done. Characters were good but like others it wasn’t a favorite I’ll read again
March 1, 2019
Remaking
Remaking the past. That's what Blake thinks he can't do. He blew it with Trista. Now he'd give anything to have her back.
But there are all kinds of interruptions, ranging from people trying to protect her from more heartbreak to people who want one or the other of them back.
Murdock shows us a man who regrets his boyhood actions, a woman who still suffers from those actions, and a woman who doesn't care what anyone else wants or needs as long as she gets what she wants.
Recommended for all readers of clean billionaire romance.
Remaking the past. That's what Blake thinks he can't do. He blew it with Trista. Now he'd give anything to have her back.
But there are all kinds of interruptions, ranging from people trying to protect her from more heartbreak to people who want one or the other of them back.
Murdock shows us a man who regrets his boyhood actions, a woman who still suffers from those actions, and a woman who doesn't care what anyone else wants or needs as long as she gets what she wants.
Recommended for all readers of clean billionaire romance.
August 12, 2021
A fun, quick read! I love that the author didn’t find reasons to drag out the story and have some ridiculous series of events before cutting to the chase. You knew all along how the story will end, but the Trista and Blake are so cute together that you don’t care. I gave the book a three ONLY because I thought that the other characters were a bit too much to handle. Like, how can you still be so upset with someone’s actions from when they were in high school? People change over time. Give them a chance.
February 13, 2024
He had a football scholarship; she got accepted at Stanford. He acted like a spoilt brat that she wouldn’t follow him, so he left her behind 10yrs ago. He is back for their H.S. Reunion. The girl he dated those last months in H.S. is still a B*tch and trying to hang on him (even though she cheated on him) and his old girlfriend is still hurt. They work to prepare the reunion as he tries to repair the relationship. This is a quick read and I really liked his co-TV-show friend who helps him.
February 19, 2024
cute read
Trista and Blake were good friends then became boyfriend and girlfriend and then ex’s. Blake got mad that Trista wanted to go to Stanford college to get her degree and not Ohio State with Blake but Blake was so hurt and he just broke it off and they went their separate ways. As the years went by they never stopped thinking of each other. Then their 10 year high school reunion comes and a chance to make things right and maybe come out and state how they feel about each other but it doesn’t always work.
Trista and Blake were good friends then became boyfriend and girlfriend and then ex’s. Blake got mad that Trista wanted to go to Stanford college to get her degree and not Ohio State with Blake but Blake was so hurt and he just broke it off and they went their separate ways. As the years went by they never stopped thinking of each other. Then their 10 year high school reunion comes and a chance to make things right and maybe come out and state how they feel about each other but it doesn’t always work.
June 21, 2020
Second chance romance. High school sweethearts, Blake and Trista meet at their school reunion and it's clear they both still have lingering feelings for one other.
Blake comes across well, but feel we could know more about Trista's life. I liked Travis, he certainly missed his wife!
It's a little rushed but it's still an enjoyable read.
I actually listened to this book on audio and I liked the narrator, she carried the story well.
Blake comes across well, but feel we could know more about Trista's life. I liked Travis, he certainly missed his wife!
It's a little rushed but it's still an enjoyable read.
I actually listened to this book on audio and I liked the narrator, she carried the story well.
August 26, 2020
So sweet.
This novel had a lot of good moments, a lot of sweet moments; BUT it also had lot of just okay moments that really didn't bring the same warm smile to my face as the other moments had. However, even though there were times when it would lull and I would begin to ponder about choosing another novel, something would grab my attention again- just enough to reel me back in to stick by the side of this author. In the end, though, I'm glad I finished reading this novel.
This novel had a lot of good moments, a lot of sweet moments; BUT it also had lot of just okay moments that really didn't bring the same warm smile to my face as the other moments had. However, even though there were times when it would lull and I would begin to ponder about choosing another novel, something would grab my attention again- just enough to reel me back in to stick by the side of this author. In the end, though, I'm glad I finished reading this novel.
May 8, 2021
Sweet
So enjoyed this second chance romance...but I would have made him work harder.for it!!! Lol. After a bad breakup back in high school our couple meet again at their ten year reunion. Sweet, with those annoying classmates still as annoying, best friends trying to.protect and that realisation that they are.still in love. A nice HEA with a journey that.pulls you through...the first a great series!!
So enjoyed this second chance romance...but I would have made him work harder.for it!!! Lol. After a bad breakup back in high school our couple meet again at their ten year reunion. Sweet, with those annoying classmates still as annoying, best friends trying to.protect and that realisation that they are.still in love. A nice HEA with a journey that.pulls you through...the first a great series!!
February 15, 2019
If you enjoy second chance reads, then you’ll enjoy The Billionaire’s High School Reunion. Blake and Trista were high school sweethearts, until Blake broke up with her a few months before they graduated. Ten years have passed and it’s their school reunion. Grab your copy and see what takes place.
November 16, 2019
Great book for television series.
April Murdock did such a good job with the characters for this book. Blake and Trista were the best couple. Travis was Blake's best friend. Leslie was not such a good person and she was Trista's best friend. There was Caryn who was a vixen and an interesting person. Quentin was an interesting person. You will enjoy this story.
April Murdock did such a good job with the characters for this book. Blake and Trista were the best couple. Travis was Blake's best friend. Leslie was not such a good person and she was Trista's best friend. There was Caryn who was a vixen and an interesting person. Quentin was an interesting person. You will enjoy this story.
August 7, 2020
I loved this story! It’s a wonderfully sweet and clean love story with a plot that makes sense. Blake and Trista broke up in high school. Now they’re adults pursuing successful careers and haven’t seen each other for 10 years. Could they really still have romantic feelings for each other after all that time?
July 4, 2022
Great book !!!
This was a very beautiful second chance romance. You have two kids in high school who broke up and then reconnected at their high school reunion. He apologized for breaking up with her and then he shows her just how much he loves her at the last night of their reunion with a picture slideshow. Beautiful book!!
This was a very beautiful second chance romance. You have two kids in high school who broke up and then reconnected at their high school reunion. He apologized for breaking up with her and then he shows her just how much he loves her at the last night of their reunion with a picture slideshow. Beautiful book!!
February 13, 2024
Boy gets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl for good.
I was distracted throughout this novel because the author or her proofreader needs some grammar lessons. Continuing use of he or she instead of him or her was irritating the first occurrence, but continued up to the end. Author needs an editor who can correct bad grammar.
I was distracted throughout this novel because the author or her proofreader needs some grammar lessons. Continuing use of he or she instead of him or her was irritating the first occurrence, but continued up to the end. Author needs an editor who can correct bad grammar.
March 5, 2019
Nice read
The dreaded high school reunion. Fun, easy read. I would have given this book five stars and didn't. He goes to his ten year high school graduation and all he wants to do is tell people his net worth. Why flaunt it?
The dreaded high school reunion. Fun, easy read. I would have given this book five stars and didn't. He goes to his ten year high school graduation and all he wants to do is tell people his net worth. Why flaunt it?
August 8, 2020
Ebook
Football hero goes home for reunion. She’s in charge of the reunion, the one he dumped but hasn’t forgotten. His buddy pushes him into giving it another shot. Will she listen?
Football hero goes home for reunion. She’s in charge of the reunion, the one he dumped but hasn’t forgotten. His buddy pushes him into giving it another shot. Will she listen?
August 10, 2020
They had been friends since school. Their friendship was very honest. They helped one another. He helped with her running, she helped with her tutoring. But everything changed right before they graduated from high school
April 23, 2021
I enjoyed reading this story. I think it takes everyone back to their high school years. Young love mixed with adult love. Plus the typical girl who thinks the world revoked around only her. The ending is wonderful.
April 25, 2021
easy read
a great easy high school sweethearts story .
they come home for a reunion
will his fame and money scare her away from getting close to him again ?
this is a nice easy read snd you won’t be disappointed
a great easy high school sweethearts story .
they come home for a reunion
will his fame and money scare her away from getting close to him again ?
this is a nice easy read snd you won’t be disappointed
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews