A wounded Marine returns to Hawthorne Harbor years after the woman he was married to for exactly one week before she got an annulment...and then a baby nine months later. Can Hunter and Alice make a family out of past heartache? Love's second chance on the beach!
Hunter Magleby hasn't been back to Hawthorne Harbor in nine years. His parents have moved from the small beach town, but Hunter feels called to return to his roots after a career-ending injury overseas. He limps, literally, back into town, some unfinished business between him and the wife he left all those years ago.
Alice Kopp got an annulment only a week into the marriage, and she hasn't heard from Hunter since. She sees him almost every day though, when she looks into her son's eyes, so much like his father's. Yes, Westin is a spitting image of Hunter, and Alice dreads the day she'll have to introduce the two of them, because Hunter will be furious with her.
When Hunter goes to the hospital for his physical therapy appointment, he runs into Alice, who works as a nurse in the NICU. She's eating lunch with her son, and when her mother shows up to pick up the boy so Alice can go back to work, it becomes a jolly good family reunion.
Hunter just didn't realize he was part of the family.
And he is furious with Alice but also desperate to get to know the son he didn't know he had. As he battles his war injury, his depression, and his anger with Alice, only two things calms him: his therapy dog and his son. The more time he spends with Westin, the more he has to see Alice too, and the old flame that was there almost a decade ago is still burning brightly. Can Hunter and Alice find a way to forgive one another and build a family with their son? Or will the past be too big of an obstacle to overcome?
This is a full-length sweet/clean contemporary beach romance in the vein of your favorite Hallmark romance movie by USA Today bestselling author Elana Johnson.
Read all the Hawthorne Harbor Second Chance Romances: 1. The Paramedic's Second Chance 2. The Chief's Second Chance 3. The Firefighter's Second Chance 4. The Officer's Second Chance 5. The Soldier's Second Chance 6. The Captain's Second Chance
Read all the Clean Billionaire Beach Club Romances: 1. The Brainy Billionaire 2. The Brawny Billionaire 3. The Bashful Billionaire 4. The Brazen Billionaire 5. The Billionaire's Bodyguard 6. The Billionaire's Boyfriend 7. The Broke Billionaire 8. The Brilliant Billionaire 9. The Bad Boy Billionaire 10. The Blue-Eyed Billionaire 11. The Brave Billionaire 12. The Belated Billionaire 13. The Billionaire's Blue Christmas 14. The Benched Billionaire
Read all the Brides & Beaches Romances: 1. The Helicopter Pilot's Bride 2. The Billionaire's Bride 3. The Prince's Bride 4. The Doctor's Bride 5. The Carpenter's Bride 6. The Rockstar's Bride
3-time USA Today bestselling author Elana Johnson writes adult contemporary beach romance. She is the author of over 130 books across two names, and there's nothing better than sun, sand, and swoon-worthy kisses! Unless it's a sweet-and-sexy cowboy - read those under her pen name of Liz Isaacson. Or an emotional, heartfelt women's fiction novel - read those under her pen name of Jessie Newton.
I would have given this one a higher rating, but i didn't love Alice. It bugged me that she played the martyr when Hunter didn't defend her to his parents when her parents hated him all those years ago and she annulled her marriage partly to please them. She had everyone thinking he wasn't fighting for her when she wasn't returning his calls or answering his texts. And she said he didn't want her, but she was the one who pulled away. I also didn't get why their wedding was at the hospital. She worked there, but the hospital wasn't a pivotal location in the plot. It seemed strange to me. I really liked Hunter and admired his courage amidst his struggles. He was sweet with Westin and unbelievably forgiving.
This novel was okay, not the best that I have read but definitely not the worst. I enjoyed this book for the majority of the storyline but towards the end I felt it was too drawn out. I wish they could have wrapped it up a little sooner, I feel like it would have worked out better.
I think this is one of Ms. Johnson's best books. The story broke my heart a little bit. So much pain for Hunter both physically and emotionally. He has to learn how to live with a disability that leaves him in constant pain. What a shock to come home after so long only to run into your ex and discover that you have a son you never knew about. And a shock to Alice to suddenly have to fess up on what she'd kept secret all that time. She couldn't even give a good reason for it. She just did.
Westin is a pretty great kid who takes everything in stride. No warning at all. "Westin, this is your dad". Awesome! He loved everyone and everyone loved him.
I liked that as Hunter and Alice work to put together a relationship they all learn forgiveness. The extended family too. One set of grandparents who have to step aside to allow Westin's dad into his life and another set that never knew he existed all had to forgive as well. I was impressed with Alice's mom being so supportive and looking at the positives as much as she could. And Alice had to adapt as well since she now had to share Westin with another person. Team parenting can be tough.
The one thing that didn't make sense to me was Alice annulling the marriage and then spending nine years hoping that Hunter would come back to her. Why would she think he would do that? She is the one that called everything off. Not him. Human foible that we are often irrational. And that hope was indeed irrational. Yet not unbelievable since she had never stopped loving him. I'd ask why she annulled the marriage so quickly in the first place but at her young age she would have been easily swayed by parents who were against the marriage to begin with. And Hunter was deployed so he wasn't there to fight it.
My only thing with the story is wondering why they would wait so long to get married the second time. I get waiting until they are sure to get engaged but once the decision was made why wait six months? They were no longer 19 year olds who didn't know their minds. They already knew they wanted to be a family all under one roof. Just do it already. I know that is not typical in our society but I say get on with it. That's just me.
I had to smile at the ending when they ate at the Bluebird after the wedding. My parents also went to The Bluebird after their wedding. I'm sure there are Bluebird restaurants all over the country but the description in the book sounded like it could have been the same one.
Sex: No. Language: No. Violence: No.
I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review. I feel be for Hunter coming back to find out that he has a nine year old boy Alice never told him about. I can understand his anger and hurt and not sure that I would be able to forgive easily. I wanted to hate Alice for what she did but I can kind of understand. Not saying she was right because she was not right at all. Hunter and Alice were married when they were young and spent two days together before he left for the Marines. Alice filed for annulment, with pressure from her parents, a week later. A month later she found out she was pregnant. She left town for a couple years to have the baby and figure things out but never told Hunter about the baby, even though she told her mom she had. Now almost nine years later, Hunter comes home to find out he has a son that no one told him about, not even his aunt. Besides having to deal with his anger at being disabled from the war, now he has to deal with anger and hurt toward Alice for not telling him about his son. But the best part is that Westin is giving him a reason to live again. Will Hunter be able to forgive Alice and get past the hurt and anger he feels? Will Alice be able to get past the guilt she has felt for the past nine years for not telling Hunter? Will they be able to get on the same page and be able to co parent Westin and will they be truly be able to have a second chance at the love they had nine years ago>
Alice and Hunter were married but while he was away in the military, Alice had their marriage annulled with no further word. She just hoped Hunter would come back home for her even though she divorced him. Then she also kept a huge secret from him for six years.
He probably would have never found out if he didn’t get hurt and discharged from the military and while going for physical therapy he saw her and her mom let the cat out of the bag. The mom did not like Hunter and thought he knew but wanted no part in his son’s life.
To make things worst Alice has no clue why she kept this a secret for so long. Then she got sort of jealous of the new relationship between father and son. Poor Alice was so confused.
After this fated meeting things are pretty tense and it takes them most of the story to start working on their relationship. This is a second chance stories where both hero and heroine have to make some sacrifices and to forgive.
Let me start by saying that I’m not a fan of secret pregnancies or secret children as a plot theme. There are only a couple of circumstances where I can understand a father not being informed that he’s a father, and this story doesn’t contain any of them. I loved Hunter and Westin. For a young boy whose world has just been turned completely upside down, Westin is remarkably stable and emotionally mature. Hunter faces some of the obvious challenges at reintegrating from his time in the service, and for the most part he handles them with grace. Alice is where the book gets more murky for me. She spends a lot of time making herself out to be a martyr when she caused most of her own problems. The story very nicely explains all of her reasons and justifications so I can understand why she behaves and thinks as she does. I just don’t think she has a very defensible position. I received a complimentary copy of this book.
What a confusing mess we make of our lives...especially when we are young. When we try to pick up the pieces of our lives & make sense out of them, it feels most overwhelming. Which pieces do we decide to forgive and move on & which pieces need to be talked out before going on from there? Do we really value these relationships enough? There are a lot of issues that Hunter & Alice need to resolve in their lives but they have the love between them & their love for Westin as incentive to do the hard work of making their relationship work rather than sweep it under the rug & walk away. This was a wonderful & heart-warming read---Well done Elana! Now I want to go back & read all of the stories that came before this one. I feel privileged to have received an ARC of this story and given the chance to give you my reaction to this book.
Hunter returns to Hawthorne Harbour after his military career has been derailed. Hunter shows up at the hospital for his physical therapy. Who does he run into?, none other than Alice, his wife of one week. She had the marriage annulled as she couldn't handle his choice of the military.
Alice is not there alone. As the minutes tick by, Hunter meets Alice's son, Westin. This is when he learns he has a son! A son he has never been told exists. A son, whom everyone in town seems to know is his.
Hunter is furious over this lack of knowledge. As he and Alice work together so he can get to know his son, old feelings come racing back. Can they fall for each other again? ~
Romance, clean; series but stand alone read Lovely sweet romantic read with Alice who kept her son a secret from her ex husband Hunter. When Hunter returns to their hometown, injured Alice's secret comes out. Great characters, lovely chemistry and romance, and loved watching them as they figured out how to 'live' and more importantly, love together as they navigated forgiveness, life, and love again together. Hunter and Alice, with their son, family complications, and Hunter's physical disability, were a great couple, and loved seeing their story add to this series. Can't wait for the next book!
Hunter and Alice have a wonderful second chance story. Hunter returns to Hawthorne Harbor after suffering a career ending injury while serving in the Marines. Alice works at the hospital as a nurse and is just saying goodbye to her 8 year old son when Hunter steps off the elevator on his way to Physical Therapy. Hunter and Alice were married for one week, nine years ago. Once Hunter left for the Marines, Alice had their vows annulled and sent him an email. The big thing Alice forgot to tell Hunter was that they have a son together. When Hunter first sees Westin, he is livid! Great story about forgiveness and finding peace.
This is a second chance story between Hunter and Alice. They were young and in love, got married and he shipped off with the Marines. Alice got cold feet and got an annulment. 9 years later, Hunter has returned to Hawthorne Harbor, recovering from wounds received in attack and runs into Alice and surprise his 8 year old son. Can they work through the past issues in order to become a family? I liked how Hunter was able to bond with Weston immediately. Hunter and Alice kind of picked up where they left off - in love with each other but they have some trust issues. This is a good sweet read.
This is the day! It's the day for the release of this really nice book. I'm a fan of second chance romance as I like to think when things are meant to be, why not take that chance. Hunter and Alice had that second opportunity at family; Westin was the binding glue that brought the family together. Who could not love a young enthusiastic boy and a great dog like Clara? This is a wonderful story about a recovering wounded marine and the hometown girl he loved. I recommend this book for anyone. Thanks for a great story-line.
A story about the second time around. Hunter and Alice met and married when they were young. After he went in the marines she got scared and annulled the marriage. Years later after injured and discharged he returns and discover that they had a son that she didn't tell about. These characters realistic and the story is well written. this a story not only about second chances , but also healing, forgiveness, strength, love and family. Recieved a free copy of the book and this is my true and honest review.
Alice annulled her marriage to Hunter and refused to tell him about their son for nine years. She even lied to others that she had told him. When he returns, she finds every excuse to push him away and even tells him to leave her alone. Then she wonders why Hunter doesn't want her?! She is very unlikable and beyond confusing. Hunter is a Marine, not a Soldier. He was in the Marines, not the Army. He is not the one who needs a second chance, she should be begging him for a fourth chance...I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Young lovers get married just before the husband leaves for the service. The young, scared wife annuls the marriage. No contact between these two for many years. When the wounded soldier is released and comes home, he finds a lot more than he bargains for. I really enjoyed this story, even with all the anguish this couple goes through. I think you will enjoy it as well! (I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author. The opinions stated in this review are totally mine.)
I love a good military romance. This one features a wounded veteran and his second chance family. I enjoyed the characters and the history. The family tensions that had to be worked through along with the personal hurdles to be overcome. Another story in this lovely town that we’ll have to leave all too soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
When a recent injury on Marine, Hunter, brings him back to Hawthorne Harbor where he can live for free on the family's property, he didn't think his life would quickly become real in a family way! He had married Alice when they were young but Alice had it annulled days after he left for the Marines. She shortly found out she was pregnant and had left town thinking she would give the baby up for adoption. Of course, they didn't happen when she held the baby who looked just like Hunter! The baby was named for his grandfather and father! There was an immediate bond with father and son. Alice knew right off that she still loved Hunter, but could she let her heart catch up to her brain!
Hunter had several emotions to deal with coming home broken. He would have come home earlier if Alice's parents hadn't forced her to annul their marriage a week after he left for service. Alice still loves him but didn't know at the time of the annulment she was pregnant with his child. Alice also doesn't want to force him to come home because of that but only because he want to. It's a total mess for them both to figure out, and to love Westin at the same time. It really grabs your heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Hunter and Alice married two days before he left for the Marines. That did not go over well with Alice and a week later had the marriage annulled. Nine years later Hunter returned fresh out of the military and the hospital. War injuries and other details of his life made him bitter. Looking forward to book 6 in this series.
Another great book from Elana Johnson! I love the books in the Hawthorne Harbor series. After many years and mistakes Hunter and Alice find out that true love lasts. Hunter must learn to cope with his limitations caused by injuries suffered in the war and Alice must learn to forgive and share. Don’t miss this great story!
This book right here is one of the reasons I love any book by Elana. She has such a gift in bringing to light a soldier who has come home from the war and tries to make his way in the world as mend his relationship with his ex wife. There are some surprises and the reactions are real. Excellent book.
Oh! I love how Hunter and Alice worked through so many obstacles to get their second chance at love. The premise is very different from other second chance books I’ve read. I was so caught up in their story it was hard to put the book down. The ending was perfect.
Elana Johnson hit another one out of the park with The Day He Came Home! A wonderful story about lost and re-found love, family and forgiveness. I especially like the way the Hawthorne Harbor Romance books keep bringing family and friends in and out of each story without getting a full background recap throughout the book. I highly recommend this series.
Thank you for this heartwarming and heartwrenching story about Hunter, Alice and Westin. The storyline was fast-moving and terrific and the many characters were great. Loved all the different emotions it stirred up in me. I look forward to reading more of your work.
Love the story. Alice and Hunter were married long time ago and Alice annulled their marriage. He joined Marines. Now he is back. She has a secret that would destroy any chances for future together. Would they put past behind and think about future? Would love win? Great book.
The characters, even the side characters, were well done. The situations and reactions to them all seemed realistic. This is one of my favorite tropes, and Ms Johnson does it well.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Two young people make a mistake and separate and many years later meet again to find out they feel the same about each other. Can they work it out this time for a HEA? I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to any who love clean romance books!
A great story by one of my favorite authors. I loved Hunter and Alice's story. I was captivated by the story from the beginning. A great second chance read. I received this book for free but truly loved the book and voluntarily leave my review.
This one started off great. I was really loving it. And then it got too slow or something for me. I did finish it, just had some difficulty. I would rate it as 3.5 stars. Maybe it’s just me.
This book is AMAZING. To write about the struggles of our us veterans and end chances. You couldn't have written anything better. I love this story and look forever to reading more.