This Time for Keeps

Wickham Falls Weddings #7

by Rochelle Alers

She’s in town for her family…

Could love find her in the most unexpected place?

Attorney Nicole Campos hasn’t spoken to local mechanic Fletcher Austen since their high school friendship went down in flames over a decade ago. But when her car breaks down during her return to Wickham Falls and Fletcher unexpectedly helps her out with a custody situation in court, they find themselves suddenly wondering if this time is for keeps…or if their past differences are just too much to overcome.

Genres: Romance

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2019

About the author

Rochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.

Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.

Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

Reviews

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to go in to this review with the disclaimer that I have not read the rest of the series and I think that does it a disservice. I thought this book was just okay but if I had a prior attachment to the characters I may have been more invested. This book is about a girl who comes back to her hometown when her sister in law dies and her brother needs to go to rehab for heroine addiction. She is taking care of her two young nephews for 6 months while he’s gone and while there she runs into a guy she dated in high school. From the synopsis I thought a lot of the conflict would be about whatever happened in high school but it’s more about if she’ll stay after the 6 months or not. She was a lawyer in Miami but she left her position to move so she doesn’t have anything forcing her to go back except her dislike for very small towns. Like I said earlier, this book was just okay. I don’t have any huge complaints but there was also nothing drawing me in.

SPOILER ALERT: She stays to be with fletcher.

[Merle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters are high school friends reunited after 17 years. Nicole is a successful lawyer in Miami who has left Wickham Falls behind for good. Fletcher has resided in the Falls his entire life, except for his military service. He's a blue collar guy and she's as white collar as they come. She seems to be lukewarm about him, while he sees her ad the love of his life. She plans to leave again as soon as her responsibility for her nephews is discharged, but they decide to have a fling, or temporary relationship while she is there. The relationship seems to be one-sided, too, with one person always giving. For that reason, this story is ultimately unsatisfying for this reader.

[Sandra Eggleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time for keeps

The story was well written but moved slowly. I liked the characters and their interaction with each other. I really liked Flecher, but I thought that Niki was hard-headed , short-sighted or had tunnel vision. I really didn't understand her stubborn attitude to leave Flecher even though they both admitted they loved each other and wanted to marry her. I didn't like how she left it that she would marry him because she got pregnant , not because she loved him. I was a bit miffed at the ending. It was as if the author got bored and needed to end it quickly. The ending needs work.

[Mary Calton Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasurable ✍🏾

Always enjoyable and entertaining stories from this author. I have not read books in this series in order, sometimes it pays to not be orderly. I read the author's works because, no disorder or messy complicated relationships. When I want tranquil and peaceful reading, I reach for this author's creations.

[KAREN MCCRAW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best laid plans

Decisions we make may not be the plan for our lives. Fletcher knew right away when he saw Nikki what he wanted and he just had to get her to see it was what she wanted too. It wasn't easy.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance

Miniseries
Wickham Falls Weddings (Book #6)

[Tigger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprise that this story was just ok.

[Darlynda Mcclinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wickham Falls

I have read the series and enjoyed all the Wickham Falls wedding. Looking forward to reading the next of installment soon.

[Ava Smith-forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Time For Keeps

Nikki has been running from Fletcher sense age 18 not willing to admit she was in love with him. Afraid she would loose herself.

[Letha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Rochelle Alers' books! I always see a different side for the main character and always like how they think through their dilemmas. Always a sweet romance. I recommend this book.

[Becky Tatar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicole Campos has returned to Wickham Falls to care for her two nephews while their dad is in rehab for prescription addiction. She hasn't spoke to Fletcher Austen since she left town for college. She became a lawyer, he left for the Army, and now is running his family's auto repair company, while having a side business on restoring old cars. They meet again when her car breaks down. They both have responsibilities and baggage to bring to the table.

I've read some of Alers' other series. For some reason, the dialogue in this series has always struck me as a little stilted, and off. Of course, that could be a totally cultural thing, as an older Caucasion woman reading something by an African American author. However, I read her Cavanaugh Island series and didn't get this feeling from it.

[Dj · Rating 4 out of 5]

#6 [She’s in town for her family…Her brother has an opioid addiction and is entering treatment. Nicki she steps in to take care of his 2 kids since they recently lost their mom in the accident that caused her brother’s problems. Could love find her in the most unexpected place? (Attorney) Nicole Campos hasn’t spoken to local mechanic J. Fletcher Austen (mechanic shop/classic car restoration) since their high school friendship went down in flames over a decade ago when she wouldn’t attend the prom with him. But when her car breaks down during her return to Wickham Falls and Fletcher unexpectedly helps her out with a car and a custody situation in court, they find themselves suddenly wondering if this time is for keeps…or if their past differences are just too much to overcome.]

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Sweet story, but wish the ending would have been more developed. It felt rushed.

[Eeeps :) · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's nothing inherently wrong with this book. I just did not connect to the main characters, and the predictable, slow-paced plot didn't help. Frankly, I was bored.