Blatantly Blythe

Ghost Falls #3

by Sarah Hegger

Return to Ghost Falls, where love comes to stay, for the long awaited third book in the series.

Eric Evans is about to discover that you don’t know you love someone until you lose them, when town “bad girl” Blythe Barrows ends their long-term, on-again, off-again, friends with benefits relationship.

Having finally gained independence from the disreputable Barrows family, Blythe wants more for herself. However commitment-phobic Eric never made any promises.

Unable to let her go, Eric must fight for what he’s lost. But can Blythe trust him with her heart enough to give their love a second chance?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2019

About the author

Born British and raised in South Africa, Sarah Hegger suffers from an incurable case of wanderlust. Her match? A hot Canadian engineer, whose marriage proposal she accepted six short weeks after they first met. Together they’ve made homes in seven different cities across three different continents (and back again once or twice). If only it made her multilingual, but the best she can manage is idiosyncratic English, fluent Afrikaans, conversant Russian, pigeon Portuguese, even worse Zulu and enough French to get herself into trouble.

Mimicking her globe trotting adventures, Sarah’s career path began as a gainfully employed actress, drifted into public relations, settled a moment in advertising, and eventually took root in the fertile soil of her first love, writing. She also moonlights as a wife and mother.

She currently lives in Draper, Utah, with her teenage daughters, two Golden Retrievers and aforementioned husband. Part footloose buccaneer, part quixotic observer of life, Sarah’s restless heart is most content when reading or writing books.

Reviews

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't usually do content warnings because I'm not organized and end up not doing them justice.

But this book is fully of abusive family members and those with addiction problems. And umm, I didn't particularly care what it did with class.

The odd thing is that I loved it-the rich secondary characters and the full town dynamic. I loved that the hero (Eric) was a super dickhead and that Blythe had ended her cyclical, unfulfilling relationship with him. I couldn't wait to see Eric pay his dues and deserve Blythe. And Blythe getting what she had earned and deserved in so many ways.

If it sounds like a complex set up, that's because it was. Eric and Blythe have a long history-and though Blythe has known her feelings run deeper where Eric is concerned, she's also done. The opening scenes are well done, the morning after a booty call and she wakes up and tells him briefly, again, that they are through. He's annoyed, doesn't believe her and goes about his day. He continues to act like such an entitled dick for probably more than 50% of the book. She means it this time, though, for her own good and the good of her younger siblings.

"Let me speak of my darling Eric instead. Commitment issues are so passe, don't you find?"

See, Eric could never, would never, publicly claim Blythe. And there's no reason for it other than her clothes in high school, she's thought of as a bitch, and she's from an infamously rough family. I mean, I guess Eric finds that to be a reason. And he continues not to claim her, and she refuses to take anything from him for fear of the gold-digging label. That first half of the book is really Eric coming to terms with the after of Blythe, and its culmination is GLORIOUS. The break up a month after the break up made me weepy.

But there's a catch. Because at 70% I began hating this book. The class divide wasn't just money, it was a divide of 'good and bad' and those who were the "have-nots" were the exception if they got out and stayed straight and successful. In this book, the working poor often looked like they were also terrible people, unable to maintain a moral compass in the face of economic pressures.

But there was more. Blythe's brother Brett was released from prison. As much as I want to believe in rehabilitation, I also believe in a victim's rights. Nah, I'm not talking about the legal angle. I'm talking about the man you love refraining from telling you you are wrong about someone who went to prison a couple years prior for breaking your arm.

"I really don't want to fight with you about this. I know how much he triggers you, but I think you're wrong about Brett." I can see what Hegger was going for here, but I would've rather it not come from a paternal and wrong-minded action on behalf of the hero. There was GOOD stuff surrounding the abuse and the abuser, but there's also this. And this undermined it. Not to mention, the heroine just kept being wrong. About everyone. And I'm exhausted for her.

In the end, I'm not sure I was convinced Eric had earned her. And I'm not convinced that some of the dynamics didn't suffer based on outsider value judgments. Boy, did this end up wrong for me.

[VoraciousReader · Rating 1 out of 5]

1. Blythe said that she couldn’t get angry at Eric because he hadn’t wronged her. I disagree. He may have been honest with her about not loving her but treating her like a dirty secret was insulting and hurtful. They could have been open about their relationship and still been “casual” but the truth was, he was embarrassed by her and “never wanted to be seen out with her”.
2. Eric wasn’t too terribly upset about losing Blythe. It took him about 2.5 seconds to start dating Miranda.
3. Eric admitted to himself that he’d “known all along” how Blythe felt about him and that “he’d taken advantage of it”. He said that he knew she loved him but it “had been more convenient to pretend he didn’t” so that he didn’t have to “end things” with her.
4. When Blythe had a makeover, he was scornful and rude and insulted her in front of all their mutual friends. He said she looked like a “dressed-up puppet”.
5. Despite the way that he had used her, insulted her and hurt her, when something good happened to her, he was the first person she had to share it with because they were “friends”.
6. When Blythe found out that Eric was in the hospital after his beating, she couldn’t get to him fast enough.
7. I’m at 67% and Eric still hasn’t made a single move to apologize to Blythe, to make things up to her or to get her back. As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing “romantic” about this book.

[Talltree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really likeable h, but the read was a bit angsty, which I felt was a bit manufactured. The h could have walked away anytime she felt the arrangement with the H wasn't healthy for her, not kept it going for all these years.

As for the H, i found it hard to believe the h couldn't find a better guy long back....in fact she seemed to be surrounded by great guys.

Great supporting characters. 3.25 stars

[Grisette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 stars

The short version:

》Grade 'A' for the plot idea
》Grade 'B-' for the plot conduct
》Grade 'C' for the abrupt ending (no epilogue)


The longer version:

This book started so well. I saw that rec on Reddit and it had delicious tropes that got me like magnets:

🥃 Longterm FWB turning into something more for the h
🥃 Commitment phobic H
🥃 Dirty secret
🥃 Wrong side of the tracks
🥃 h leaves H because she wants more
🥃 H realising what he lost, late

It was all there. Up for grabs. Aiming for epic angst. But that didn't come to pass 😢... because all the above ended up being diluted in the background. Instead, the book seemed to focus on the h's family woes. While it was admirable the way the h sought to remove herself and her younger siblings from their trashy home, the romance I yearned for should have taken center stage.

Despite my disappointment, I still want to thank this author to have reunited these tropes on paper because they are a rarity blend. Maybe this will inspire more similar stories that will seize the golden opportunity for epic angst?

[Deb Diem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blatantly Blythe is a contemporary romance by Sarah Hegger. Ms. Hegger has delivered a well-written book populated with a stellar cast of characters. Reading this book is like riding a rollercoaster of emotions, with sprinkles humor added. Blythe grew up poor with no decent parental guidance and hellions for brothers. Eric grew up with a needy woman for a mother and a father that told him all his woes. Train wreck waiting to happen, right? Believe me, this is a train wreck you don't want to miss. Blythe and Eric's story is loaded with drama, humor, sex and suspense. Thank you, Ms. Hegger, for having me on pins and needles during portions of this book. I loved every page of Blatantly Blythe and look forward to my next book by Sarah Hegger. Blatantly Blythe is book 3 of The Ghost Falls Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

[Fariha · Rating 1 out of 5]

blythe was the most pathetic heroine i've ever had the displeasure of reading about. what makes it worse is she was pining for a man for EIGHTEEN YEARS. and that man annoyed me for many reasons - a big one being that he became besties with the brother that was in prison for breaking her arm. but her brother apparantly changed and deserved a second chance so all is good and fuck what blythe feels about it right.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/15/2020)! 🎁

[Imee · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was less of a romance and more of a family drama. I kept forgetting this was supposed to be a romance novel since the two main characters hardly interacted.

and speaking of characters... there were so many?! and for what?! there were so many side characters and stories for whatever reason. Blythe is also so dull and Eric is annoying

the timelines are also really confusing... this woman is in her 30s? she has 9 siblings? 2 or three that are younger but with huge age gaps? a sister who is 5?!?!?! but she's in her 30s and her brother is 19 and she has older brothers ?? like how old was her mom when she was having kids if there is at least a 25 year age gap....????

she's also been in an on and off relationship for 18 years LMAOOO I do not want these people together

[Ashlee · Rating 1 out of 5]

-No groveling and this man needed to grovel

-Domestic abuse is dealt with appallingly

-Author sacrificed the safety and growth of this book’s leads to set up the character arcs of the next book’s leads. That choice made me hate this book and will never read the next.

-Everyone here needs therapy

[Maria Ines Alvarez · Rating 1 out of 5]

cliche after cliche kept happening to the FMC... yawn.

[Ariane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried by but dnf at 67%
I didnt like the writing. The start was good because I like the premise but after the 1st chapter it looked like the story turn another way. Every chapter Im reading everything about the interactions w/ side characters and just gives me 10% about the main couple. I skipped the scenes at the construction site and the gym because WHY do I need this too much info?? Is this an intro to other books or something?

[Lori Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Blatantly Blythe by Sarah Hegger. I was captivated from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this book.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been away from this series for too long, so I was very excited to dive back into the Ghost Falls world.
Blythe's family made my skin crawl and really added an interesting, and dark, element to this story.
Once I was reacclimated with all of the major players from Ghost Falls, I was absolutely hooked on the story. There were so many layers and I was super intrigued to see how it all played out. I was never completely sure of which of Blythe's siblings could be trusted, but I did enjoy watching her pull away from the bad bits and reinvent herself along the way.
As the end of the book neared and so much of the drama came to a head, I couldn't put this book down. I was just too riled up by everything happening. It was brilliantly done for sure. I loved Blythe and Eric, and I am already dying for the next book in the Ghost Falls series.

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small town girl from the wrong side of the tracks/guy from the local 'hot-guy romance hero' family romance. Blythe and Eric are long-time secret FWBs until she decides she wants more and ends things. Eric is a classic kinda douchy commitmentphobe who doesn't recognize that he's in love until it's almost too late. A bit overlong (it felt like an expanded category romance), but the romance is sweet. I love the moment when the clueless guy finally clues in and panics that it might be too late.

[Jen P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang it! I’m finished now will have to wait for the next in the series. Just love Ghost Falls and it’s characters.

[Kyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was bored. So many unnecessary side characters and side plots and very little attention to the actual relationship that everything felt rushed.

[Alicia P · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 57%

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, this is an amazingly written contemporary romance with some steamy hot scenes. The characters are absolutely wonderful and their backgrounds and motivations are clearly defined. You can not help but become invested in them. There is mystery, betrayal, friendships, romances and forgiveness all weaved together to produce a great storyline. The steamy scenes enhance the story rather than detract from it. The writer gave us an emotional rollercoaster that had me smiling, crying and laughing. I was drawn in by the amazing dialogue and descriptions and the characters. This is definitely a romance that is worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MaLoBe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic, emotional read

I was immersed by the story from the very beginning. I love to read about people who want to do something meaningful in their life and are ready to fight with all the adverse circumstances to be better and to do better, and who desn't think only about themselves but also look out for others. People who are strong, determined and loving. Blythe didn't disappoint.
I really liked all the characters in this book. So much so that I need to go back and read previous parts of the series as this is my first book of this author and I really like her writing style. How easily and gently she built the world and the story around not so easy subjects. Story line was very interesting and addition of a little bit of suspense and unknown made it even more interesting. I would really like to read more about the characters from the book, especially Brett's story.

[Terry Hammoutene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blythe is known as the towns bad girl. She was not lucky with the family she was given and her friends are nil to none except for Eric. In her mind she is not good enough for him so turning her back on him to make things better for her is the decision she is going to make. Little does she know life is not going to be so easy and she is going to meet many roadblocks. In the end though what is meant to be will be and maybe a few friends will be gained along the way.

This is an emotional book that I could not put down.

[romancelover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really pleasantly surprised me. I liked it! I liked Blythe and Eric’s story. Even though we get dropped into them being in a friends with benefits situation for years already, it was still good. I loved all the side characters too and felt very invested in them, which is unusual for me. I felt her pain wanting more from Eric. The first 60% felt like a total 5 star, but then it went downhill a bit in terms of their relationship taking more of a backseat to the plot and other characters too much for my liking. However I still enjoyed it and would still read more in this series!

[trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this, it hit the « secret relationship » angst spot, but I do feel like it dragged on a bit and I didn’t love the forgiveness plot lines where everyone who’d ever wronged blythe was eventually forgotten with little grovel, his sister in law, her brother etc. and he actively wanted her to forgive the brother who beat her up so badly that he broke his arm— not very protective which I didn’t like.

[Pria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I think she deserved better. Good that she stood for her self, better late than never. I did never warm upto the MMC.

[Mariana Ponce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le tenía unas expectativas altísimas al libro y se fueron para abajo. Para empezar, en otras reseñas leía que Eric, él protagonista se arrastraba por la protagonista y yo no lo sentí así. Si bien, apoyó a Blythe en cosas dónde lo necesitaba, no sentí que fueran la gran cosa, incluso cuando regresó Brett, el no respetó su decisión de no querer contacto con él y lo mantenía al tanto. Ojo: Yo sé que Brett cambió, pero hay que ser conscientes de que la última vez que Blythe lo vió el fue malo, la lastimó y es obvio que le provoca miedo, cosa que Eric no entendía, ni respetaba. Por más que sea diferente, debió respetar lo que Blythe decía, pero le valía.
Ya íbamos a la mitad, ella le dijo que lo amaba, él todavía no sabía ni que quería. Salió con otra mujer, decía que era su tipo, y hasta se imaginaba que ruidos hacía en la cama.🙄 Ya hasta que se acordó de Blythe, pensó en ella con otro y ahí si ya no le gustó. (No se acostó con ella, pero si me enojé). Eric para mí, fue un egoísta, pues ni la quería bien, no la dejaba encontrar a alguien que la valorara y tuviera sueños similares a los de ella, la buscaba, no respetaba las decisiones de Blythe, no sabía que quería, solo la lastimaba. Ya cuarentón o casi y el hombre no sabía que hacer. Para mí, Blythe perdió muchos años de su vida con él, pues si ella no le ponía un alto, hubiese seguido igual con sus cosas de cero compromiso, ni amor. Son personas ya grandes en edad, pero de madurez parecen niños. No sé, no me convenció Eric, los problemas de Blythe, me faltaron muchas respuestas y no se si las den en el siguiente libro, pero estoy dudando si leerlo, ya que este no fue lo que esperaba.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

I read this as a stand alone which it could be but I guess reading the books before it might have helped process all the other supporting characters because there were a lot.

The first part of the book was good -- we get Blythe standing her ground and Eric none the wiser, taking her for granted as he always did. We also see Blythe making great strides towards a better life for herself, Will and Kim.

I guess it got a little murky around the middle part when there where so many characters and plot points joining the fray and towards the end a lot of these conflicts were magically going to be solved. I guess I expected it to be more fleshed out and for secondary characters to not be plot devices. I guess you could get lost when there were just so many things to write -- which could have been avoided if the fiesta of characters were dwindled down. And the ending -- who does that? But I think this is also what happens when you read a series.

Still, technical writing-wise, the author is okay. Just that the plot was a bit messy and loopy for a bit and then it magically straightened out and then fin.

[keeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Hegger the woman you are!!!!!!

Thank you for this absolute breath of fresh air in an endless sea of romance books with smirking, smarmy, unbearable male leads!!!

The characters in this were absolutely charming. I was so invested in each of their stories and I found myself rooting for all of them (except Barron and Chase 😒)

Blythe is such a friggin badass I loved that she knew her worth and seeing just how much she loved Kim and Will and how hard she fought for them made me almost cry so many times.

Eric’s character was so so good 😭 he had his flaws and put his foot in his mouth a couple times but he never maliciously hurt Blythe, he respected her so much and even though it took him a bit to figure it out his love for her was so sweet and wholesome. The way he kept saying “my Blythe” girl I’m gonna CRYYY

Sooooooo good I would 100% re-read this argh

[Jennifer Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Well written. I like angsty grovel and smart heroines.
I thought Blythe was written nicely.
I did want Eric to grovel and regret more than he did. And I wanted Blythe to flourish a bit more than just her makeover before the traditional heading-back-to-the-hero.
I also wanted her to move out of the town and not just to a new space, but I get that she is poor.
I realized several male characters were thrown in her path but nothing happened due to the author's effort to write about trust and how sometimes you have it, earn it without even knowing. Very interesting.
Poor Blythe - her family is horrifying.

3.5 stars because it was well written, but Eric deserved to grovel a bit more or see her succeeding without him a bit more - and it needed an epilogue to see what happened with Blythe's career, Will, Kim and her going public with Eric.

[Suzaan Jansen van Rensburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blythe grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Eric is from a prominent family in town but one night they met and that is the start of a their secret affair. Afterbeing at his beck and call for years Blythe broke it off because she could not pretend any longer that she does not love him. What Eric first saw as a whim quickly made him realize that there is more to them than just casual hookups. Blythe learns that she has friendseven though she thought she only had herself to depend on. And she also learns that sometimes it is possible for someone to change for the better. This is a heartfelt and emotional story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[NotThatR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this one more, based on its premise. Unfortunately, the lack of TW might missguide the reader. Even if you overlook the editorial missteps (repetitive sentences and narrative structure), you are left with a story not so much of romance but abuse. The fact that the H has strung along the h for years is just the tip of the iceberg. What is concerning is the emotional manipulation of the h, not only by the H, but from the secondary characters as well who push her to connect with her abuser without listening to her or prioritizing her needs. It was trully frustrating to read, as the h is discribed as a woman with a backbone but in contrast what we are shown is a woman who goes back on her word without the H even trying to gain her trust and love.

[Nas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very cringy and I had to stop at 36%. Read this book as a standalone because I liked the premise but the execution sucks and I can just tell this is gonna be about redeeming abusive family members and nobody wants to see that. I was hoping for more detail about the past 18 years they were apparently on and off again for but I guess the book is just gonna keep reiterating this fact instead of telling us more. The first 17 chapters I read were just focused on her not pressing charges against her brothers and introducing what im assuming is characters from previous books….. Wish I knew a little background on why shes in love with him and their history. Also the banter between all the characters is just so unfunny and cringe.