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Safe for Now
A single dad.
A tortured artist with a tragic past.
It will test their friendship in ways they couldn’t have imagined.
Ellie traveled thousands of miles to escape her ex. She finds her safe place in a small town in the Midwest. Her only focus is to pick herself back up and find her strength to paint again.
What she doesn’t expect to find is the brooding single dad and his adorable toddler next door. Ellie’s new neighbor gives her a much-needed job at his construction company and lunch date conversations her broken soul yearns for.
Their friendship grows as she works on her fresh start and Reece battles a ghost that torments his nights. Everything seems perfect until Ellie’s past threatens to reappear. It could test the foundations she worked so hard to rebuild.
An emotional small town second chance at love stand-alone contemporary romance with a heartwarming happily ever after.
A tortured artist with a tragic past.
It will test their friendship in ways they couldn’t have imagined.
Ellie traveled thousands of miles to escape her ex. She finds her safe place in a small town in the Midwest. Her only focus is to pick herself back up and find her strength to paint again.
What she doesn’t expect to find is the brooding single dad and his adorable toddler next door. Ellie’s new neighbor gives her a much-needed job at his construction company and lunch date conversations her broken soul yearns for.
Their friendship grows as she works on her fresh start and Reece battles a ghost that torments his nights. Everything seems perfect until Ellie’s past threatens to reappear. It could test the foundations she worked so hard to rebuild.
An emotional small town second chance at love stand-alone contemporary romance with a heartwarming happily ever after.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2019
82 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Suze Robinson
6 books94 followersSuze Robinson is a contemporary romance author. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and daughter. Her passion is writing stories about strong women, hunky book boyfriends and happily ever afters.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 8, 2019
Ellie Brock has decided to finally leave her fiancé Seth after he cheated on her but is afraid that he is going to come after her and force her to go back to him. She has decided to pack as much as she can and go stay with her college best friend, Stella, whom Seth doesn’t know to start her new life. Stella finds her a job working for Collins Construction and Ellie finds herself ready to begin again.
Reece Collins is Ellie’s new boss but soon becomes a close friend who she finds she can open up to. But Reece has his own past and a present that may involve more than Ellie can handle given her own past.
Is Ellie willing to risk crossing the line with her boss and is she worried that her own past will catch up with her and put everything in her new life in jeopardy?
This was a really good book filled with healing, chances on love and of course some mystery/suspense to keep you wondering if something is going to happen.
I was so happy that Ellie knew she was in a bad position and had to leave Seth. I gave her cudos for knowing that she had to go somewhere that he couldn’t find her. I loved her friendship with Stella and how they both supported each other through the book and gave each other strength. I liked that Stella convinced Ellie to take classes that would help her regain her strength and power.
I thought Reece was an interesting character as it was obvious he was healing from his own past while trying to manage as much as he could on his own but was getting to a point of being burnt out.
There were so many similarities between Reece and Ellie and I was glad when they each opened up to one another as it brought them so much closer and they understood each other on a different level. Slowly the two were able to move beyond a friend level and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop more.
I liked when Ellie just had a feeling that things were going sideways and that something was wrong. Things definitely got more intense as I just waited for things to happen and I was definitely worried about who was going to be caught in the crossfire. When everything went down I was not disappointed at all but the end of the event left me freaking out a little!
The very end was uplifting and I was so happy that they all found each other!!
By Rebecca
Reece Collins is Ellie’s new boss but soon becomes a close friend who she finds she can open up to. But Reece has his own past and a present that may involve more than Ellie can handle given her own past.
Is Ellie willing to risk crossing the line with her boss and is she worried that her own past will catch up with her and put everything in her new life in jeopardy?
This was a really good book filled with healing, chances on love and of course some mystery/suspense to keep you wondering if something is going to happen.
I was so happy that Ellie knew she was in a bad position and had to leave Seth. I gave her cudos for knowing that she had to go somewhere that he couldn’t find her. I loved her friendship with Stella and how they both supported each other through the book and gave each other strength. I liked that Stella convinced Ellie to take classes that would help her regain her strength and power.
I thought Reece was an interesting character as it was obvious he was healing from his own past while trying to manage as much as he could on his own but was getting to a point of being burnt out.
There were so many similarities between Reece and Ellie and I was glad when they each opened up to one another as it brought them so much closer and they understood each other on a different level. Slowly the two were able to move beyond a friend level and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop more.
I liked when Ellie just had a feeling that things were going sideways and that something was wrong. Things definitely got more intense as I just waited for things to happen and I was definitely worried about who was going to be caught in the crossfire. When everything went down I was not disappointed at all but the end of the event left me freaking out a little!
The very end was uplifting and I was so happy that they all found each other!!
By Rebecca
November 17, 2019
5 cranky stars
A well written book bringing lots of different emotions and life changing situations into it.
Ellie is escaping a relationship gone sour she has to leave and go somewhere that he can't find her, she ends up calling a best friend she hasn't spoken to for a while. She is a broken woman but you don't know how until her story is told in pieces to her friends neighbour. Could she ever trust again? She realises that she is not the only one struggling with the past. With helping others she is also mending herself.
This is definitely a good read, a real page turner.
I wanted to finish it to put all the pieces together but I also didn't want it to end. Deals with difficult subjects in a professional way.
A well written book bringing lots of different emotions and life changing situations into it.
Ellie is escaping a relationship gone sour she has to leave and go somewhere that he can't find her, she ends up calling a best friend she hasn't spoken to for a while. She is a broken woman but you don't know how until her story is told in pieces to her friends neighbour. Could she ever trust again? She realises that she is not the only one struggling with the past. With helping others she is also mending herself.
This is definitely a good read, a real page turner.
I wanted to finish it to put all the pieces together but I also didn't want it to end. Deals with difficult subjects in a professional way.
November 8, 2019
If your looking for a heartwarming, emotional and slowburn romance then this is the story to read.
Reece and Ellie found a way to make a future together while remembering what was loved and lost. I loved Ellie’s strength and determination to make her life her own. She was sweet, smart and courageous. She came off as very relatable and I could understand why she would make the decisions that she did. Reece was an honorable man who was doing the best he could for his daughter while struggling to let go of his grief. The chemistry was there from the beginning and Mrs. Robinson let us wait a while for the sizzle. The epilogue was a wonderful touch and I liked how everything was not magically fixed when it came to the heroine’s struggles. It added a touch of realism that’s nice to read about once in while.
HEA ✅
H and h you can see making it last✅✅
Heat level
Reece and Ellie found a way to make a future together while remembering what was loved and lost. I loved Ellie’s strength and determination to make her life her own. She was sweet, smart and courageous. She came off as very relatable and I could understand why she would make the decisions that she did. Reece was an honorable man who was doing the best he could for his daughter while struggling to let go of his grief. The chemistry was there from the beginning and Mrs. Robinson let us wait a while for the sizzle. The epilogue was a wonderful touch and I liked how everything was not magically fixed when it came to the heroine’s struggles. It added a touch of realism that’s nice to read about once in while.
HEA ✅
H and h you can see making it last✅✅
Heat level
March 14, 2020
Great storyline. Ellie is one tough lady and I just love Isabella. Ellie and Reece was a little hard to “watch” in the beginning as they were both protecting themselves but they were good for each other.
November 20, 2019
Ellie Brock knows that she needs to get away from the bad relationship she's been in, so she takes a chance on calling her college best friend, and finally getting out of dodge. She's gun shy, which I don't blame her, as her ex is real tool, so she lives in some fear of him finding her again to force her to come back. Reece is her friend's neighbor, who has his share of relationship baggage, which leads them to becoming friends, not to mention, he ends up her boss. While they have a slow burn situation going, there are still sparks trying to pick up speed. Safe for Now is an emotionally charged story which hooked me from the get go, and I couldn't put it down until I had devoured every last page. I don't want to get into very many details, as it wouldn't be fair, and/or won't do it justice anyway, so why ruin it for others?! Ellie's strength is something to behold, as pieces of her past come out slowly, and her in it to win it determination was phenomenal in my opinion. That's not saying that she went for Reece, her boss, but starting over isn't easy is all I'm saying. So, if you want to know what happened, what's happening now, and finally, how it all pans out, then one click on Safe for Now, as it's totally worth it! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!
November 22, 2019
3.5 stars
Good debut book. It was missing something though. I wish we got the hero’s point of view. I didn’t feel a connection to him so it made it hard to feel his total love for heroine but on the other hand it kind of dulled out his heartbreak for his dead wife. I don’t like reading heroes with dead spouses just because I feel like their love for heroine is always overshadowed by their dead spouses.
I didn’t have an issue here. Heroine was okay; it was just annoying how she wanted to fix him up. She wanted to heal his broken....
It was an okay love story, but majority of these stars go to the women in the book. Hero’s little girl was so cute, heroine’s friend and roommate and nice, and Dylan-mentor/therapist was lovely as well. I just love how all these ladies interacted with the heroine. No malice among the women.
Good debut book. It was missing something though. I wish we got the hero’s point of view. I didn’t feel a connection to him so it made it hard to feel his total love for heroine but on the other hand it kind of dulled out his heartbreak for his dead wife. I don’t like reading heroes with dead spouses just because I feel like their love for heroine is always overshadowed by their dead spouses.
I didn’t have an issue here. Heroine was okay; it was just annoying how she wanted to fix him up. She wanted to heal his broken....
It was an okay love story, but majority of these stars go to the women in the book. Hero’s little girl was so cute, heroine’s friend and roommate and nice, and Dylan-mentor/therapist was lovely as well. I just love how all these ladies interacted with the heroine. No malice among the women.
December 3, 2019
This was a really good book filled with healing, chances on love and of course some mystery/suspense to keep you wondering if something is going to happen.
I was so happy that Ellie knew she was in a bad position and had to leave Seth. I gave her cudos for knowing that she had to go somewhere that he couldn’t find her. I loved her friendship with Stella and how they both supported each other through the book and gave each other strength. I liked that Stella convinced Ellie to take classes that would help her regain her strength and power.
I thought Reece was an interesting character as it was obvious he was healing from his own past while trying to manage as much as he could on his own but was getting to a point of being burnt out.
There were so many similarities between Reece and Ellie and I was glad when they each opened up to one another as it brought them so much closer and they understood each other on a different level. Slowly the two were able to move beyond a friend level and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop more.
I liked when Ellie just had a feeling that things were going sideways and that something was wrong. Things definitely got more intense as I just waited for things to happen and I was definitely worried about who was going to be caught in the crossfire. When everything went down I was not disappointed at all but the end of the event left me freaking out a little!
The very end was uplifting and I was so happy that they all found each other!!
I was so happy that Ellie knew she was in a bad position and had to leave Seth. I gave her cudos for knowing that she had to go somewhere that he couldn’t find her. I loved her friendship with Stella and how they both supported each other through the book and gave each other strength. I liked that Stella convinced Ellie to take classes that would help her regain her strength and power.
I thought Reece was an interesting character as it was obvious he was healing from his own past while trying to manage as much as he could on his own but was getting to a point of being burnt out.
There were so many similarities between Reece and Ellie and I was glad when they each opened up to one another as it brought them so much closer and they understood each other on a different level. Slowly the two were able to move beyond a friend level and I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop more.
I liked when Ellie just had a feeling that things were going sideways and that something was wrong. Things definitely got more intense as I just waited for things to happen and I was definitely worried about who was going to be caught in the crossfire. When everything went down I was not disappointed at all but the end of the event left me freaking out a little!
The very end was uplifting and I was so happy that they all found each other!!
November 15, 2019
I generally have a difficult time getting past the first few chapters. This book, however, was easy to want more of. My attitude started as, "You go, girl!" and she did. I really love that this is a realistic romance story. Not some cliché love at first sight thing. More of a happy accident. And I just love that.
December 19, 2019
This book is superb! Seeing how far she (Suze) has progressed from wattpad to here is unbelievable and I am in awe! Everything, the plot, the descriptions, the characters and their flaws. Everything is perfect! I love it so much!!
December 6, 2019
Beautiful!
This is a story of a woman who finds her strength as well as herself. The love story grows so sweetly and we learn all that they have been through. I fell in love with all the characters, especially Izzy. Keep some tissues nearby, you will need them. This is worth the read.
This is a story of a woman who finds her strength as well as herself. The love story grows so sweetly and we learn all that they have been through. I fell in love with all the characters, especially Izzy. Keep some tissues nearby, you will need them. This is worth the read.
November 29, 2020
“Safe for Now “
This was a really good book in a lot of ways.The story about an abused wife who finally decides to leave her husband,going to a friend’s house he knows nothing about.She finally gets a new life with new friends,but can she ever really feel free? Please read this good book to find out what happens!I think you’ll enjoy it.
This was a really good book in a lot of ways.The story about an abused wife who finally decides to leave her husband,going to a friend’s house he knows nothing about.She finally gets a new life with new friends,but can she ever really feel free? Please read this good book to find out what happens!I think you’ll enjoy it.
November 28, 2019
I loved this love story about Isabella and Reece. She was broken because of an overbearing, and physically abusive and cheating fiancé. Plus she lost her son in a still birth. He was broken due to losing his wife during childbirth. Can the two heal their wounds and have a future as they raise his daughter? Will her past come back to ruin her future? Great story
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.
November 25, 2019
This is the first book by this Author that I have read, it is well written. Ellie Brock, and single, widower, dad Reece Collins, and his daughter Isabella's story. Ellie's ex-fiance was something else. This story has suspense, drama, danger, is emotional and there is romance. A very good story that had me not wanting to put this book down until I finished reading it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 24, 2019
Safe For Now is an engaging read with wonderful characters that become friends but is there a chance that they could become more than friends? This story is well written and interesting, with a nasty ex-fiance, heartbreak, secrets revealed, emotions, and a chance for the love for a lifetime.
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.
November 20, 2019
Ellie Brock found the strength to leave her cheating ex-fiancé the catch is she need a brand new life as she doesn't believe he's gonna let her leave. Reece is going through the motions after losing his wife and trying to be there for his daughter.
Beautifully written emotional, heartwarming and slow-burn romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Beautifully written emotional, heartwarming and slow-burn romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 11, 2021
This book started out so great, but the conflict was a bit of a mess, so was the climax.
February 16, 2022
First point of disclosure - I've beta read two manuscripts of Suze's and have loved the depth of the stories and characters, and so was excited to see this released. It is one of those rare opportunities to have seen an unfinished manuscript and the finished article, which, when they turn out as good as this one, is a joy to have taken part in.
Safe for Now is a wonderful story; not a wholly original concept but also not necessary to be so. An abused woman, Ellie, has found the courage to leave her partner, and flees from the big city to a small town with the support of her old friend Stella. There she finds solace in new friendships and strength to overcome her own fears, while also becoming strong enough to support the people around her who are also hurting, not least her boss, Reece, who is inconveniently hot and looking for a new administrator. Hey, it is a romance.
I'm not a fan of light romance, and in general prefer my romance to be intertwined within other genres, so it makes Suze Robinson's darker work far more interesting and compelling, dealing with some deeply emotional issues on the part of the heroine and hero of the story, and also not forgetting the pains of the secondary characters, who I was also rooting for. With the story focusing on only one point of view it offers more tension than a common trope of having dual perspectives. It also allows the possibility for uncomfortable misunderstandings to have more power than finding out the opposite view in the next chapter or scene.
Where the characters have been taken since I read the beta version was just brilliant to see, and the arcs intertwined wonderfully. I loved seeing more of the historical depth of Ellie's abuse, and the more rounded character of her father - these make for a much richer story, and the twists and turns Ellie's escape takes her on comes to a satisfying conclusion.
So, why four stars? It is the bane of the romance genre, I'm afraid, when it comes to my interest in the story. I love the build-up, the tension, the temptation, but as soon as the inevitable sex happens it pretty much kills it. It's not unique to romance, I suppose. When two primary characters are set up opposite each other as the key storyline with that kind of tension and power, the moment they get together...that power deflates. It's not the fault of this author, or any other author writing characters in this way, but I'm all for delayed gratification - really really delayed, which is probably I like the Regency kind of romance in particular, or, as before, romances intertwined with other primary genres. Obviously, I kept reading and there is still a good finish to the book, which is sweet and satisfactory for all characters.
I really love what Suze Robinson has done with this story since I saw the draft, and I am ridiculously excited to read her next offering. Certainly a firm favourite, and an author I will be delighted to read into the future.
Safe for Now is a wonderful story; not a wholly original concept but also not necessary to be so. An abused woman, Ellie, has found the courage to leave her partner, and flees from the big city to a small town with the support of her old friend Stella. There she finds solace in new friendships and strength to overcome her own fears, while also becoming strong enough to support the people around her who are also hurting, not least her boss, Reece, who is inconveniently hot and looking for a new administrator. Hey, it is a romance.
I'm not a fan of light romance, and in general prefer my romance to be intertwined within other genres, so it makes Suze Robinson's darker work far more interesting and compelling, dealing with some deeply emotional issues on the part of the heroine and hero of the story, and also not forgetting the pains of the secondary characters, who I was also rooting for. With the story focusing on only one point of view it offers more tension than a common trope of having dual perspectives. It also allows the possibility for uncomfortable misunderstandings to have more power than finding out the opposite view in the next chapter or scene.
Where the characters have been taken since I read the beta version was just brilliant to see, and the arcs intertwined wonderfully. I loved seeing more of the historical depth of Ellie's abuse, and the more rounded character of her father - these make for a much richer story, and the twists and turns Ellie's escape takes her on comes to a satisfying conclusion.
So, why four stars? It is the bane of the romance genre, I'm afraid, when it comes to my interest in the story. I love the build-up, the tension, the temptation, but as soon as the inevitable sex happens it pretty much kills it. It's not unique to romance, I suppose. When two primary characters are set up opposite each other as the key storyline with that kind of tension and power, the moment they get together...that power deflates. It's not the fault of this author, or any other author writing characters in this way, but I'm all for delayed gratification - really really delayed, which is probably I like the Regency kind of romance in particular, or, as before, romances intertwined with other primary genres. Obviously, I kept reading and there is still a good finish to the book, which is sweet and satisfactory for all characters.
I really love what Suze Robinson has done with this story since I saw the draft, and I am ridiculously excited to read her next offering. Certainly a firm favourite, and an author I will be delighted to read into the future.
January 10, 2021
A great book!
I haven’t had time to read for many years. Life has been so chaotic and busy with having a baby that I just haven’t had time to read at all. This book was recommended by a friend of the author. I highly recommend reading! It was a great story and it pulled me in so fast. I would have been able to finish this book in a day if I didn’t have a toddler running around. I definitely plan on checking out other books by this author.
I haven’t had time to read for many years. Life has been so chaotic and busy with having a baby that I just haven’t had time to read at all. This book was recommended by a friend of the author. I highly recommend reading! It was a great story and it pulled me in so fast. I would have been able to finish this book in a day if I didn’t have a toddler running around. I definitely plan on checking out other books by this author.
January 4, 2020
Just NO
February 8, 2020
The emotional journey of these characters is so real and touched my heart. I love the dynamic between Ellie and Reece. A beautiful story of friendship, love, loss and second chances
March 10, 2020
Romance
Interesting storyline. I felt like I was lost a couple times, but I loved these characters. There was a love scene, but was able to easily skip the steam. A couple fbombs.
Interesting storyline. I felt like I was lost a couple times, but I loved these characters. There was a love scene, but was able to easily skip the steam. A couple fbombs.
September 6, 2020
This story was so awesome, loved everything about it. This was the first book by this author and definitely won’t be my last.
February 13, 2022
3.5 rounded down to 3 stars
Read
February 8, 20201.5 stars
Took a chance on this because it was 99 cents on Kindle. I should have downloaded a sample first because I really didn't like the writing style, which made it hard to get into the story. I thought the storyline had promise, but as written I felt no connection to any of the characters (honestly, I just finished the book this morning and I couldn't tell you the names of the two main characters) and the love story was unbelievable, in my opinion. I'm all for falling in love fast, but there has to be a reason for it and for me to root for the couple. I didn't have one here.
Took a chance on this because it was 99 cents on Kindle. I should have downloaded a sample first because I really didn't like the writing style, which made it hard to get into the story. I thought the storyline had promise, but as written I felt no connection to any of the characters (honestly, I just finished the book this morning and I couldn't tell you the names of the two main characters) and the love story was unbelievable, in my opinion. I'm all for falling in love fast, but there has to be a reason for it and for me to root for the couple. I didn't have one here.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews