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Simple

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The Kepner brothers had been dealt a bad hand at life. Misfortune, debt, and death had them fighting an endless uphill battle, but through it all they remained united—when everything seemed hopeless, at least they had each other.

When Emalee Jennings blew into town for a summer stay, she was immediately drawn to the Kepner family and immersed herself in their lives, much to the dismay of the youngest brother Cole.

Despite his efforts to keep his distance, Cole couldn’t wall out Emalee, as he’d done with the rest of the world. Her beauty, sass, and big dreams swiftly broke down his defenses, and amidst the long sweltering days and fields of wheat, they fell in love—both fully aware when the summer ended, they would part ways.

When Emalee unexpectedly returns years later, facing her own hand of misfortune, Cole is suddenly faced with a second chance as he rushes to her side, ready to help her battle what life has thrown at her.

Desperate for a safe place to land, Emalee wants nothing more than to fall into the arms of the love of her life, but it’s not as simple as it may seem. When she left town at the end of that fateful summer, she took with her a secret.

A secret that could not only cause Cole to close the door on her forever, but one that could tear apart the very thread of his existence—his family.

Torn between taking comfort in his arms or revealing her secret, Emalee soon learns that love is never simple.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2019

31 people are currently reading
307 people want to read

About the author

B.N. Toler

16 books1,606 followers
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Email is bntoler@bntoler.com

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5 stars
79 (36%)
4 stars
76 (35%)
3 stars
48 (22%)
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12 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Betül.
1,067 reviews292 followers
July 23, 2019
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

description

"The end of Emalee and Cole. The end of an infamous summer love. The end of first love."

Simple is a contemporary second-chance romance that is told in two parts: the past and present. The first three chapters are in present time, but then we are taken back ten years in the past to see how the main characters Cole and Emalee met. So in the first half of the story we see how these two met and developed a relationship. Cole is dealing with a lot and doesn't have time or need for a girlfriend. He was very broody and did his best to push Emalee away. However, Emalee isn't that easy to shake off and she sees something special in him. I absolutely loved Emalee's personality, she was fun and very caring. She was really there for Cole when he needed her. I was glad that their split when the summer ended wasn't over the top dramatic. It wasn't the right time for them, it was sad but the right decision.

"It made me sad for a moment that I'd missed seeing her transition. She was like a book missing the middle of the story. I knew the gist of it, but I'd missed the magic in the pages that had brought her here."

I was happy that the past time was told in one huge part. However, I thought the present time was too short. The story was a bit too fast-paced, and I thought the author rushed through some scenes. I wanted more time to bond with the characters and more time for Cole and Emalee to grow stronger as a couple. Especially the end was rushed and the absence of an epilogue left me unsatisfied. However, I am hoping that Cole's brothers Joe and Bailor will get their own book and I will have the opportunity to see what Cole and Emalee are up to. Joe and Bailor were great side-characters and I am very intrigued by them, so fingers crossed they will get their own book. There were also a couple of very emotional scenes which had me shedding tears. Overall, Simple was a nice second-chance romance. It wasn't my favorite by this author but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Profile Image for Kim Holden.
Author 8 books4,511 followers
July 16, 2019
A creative, unique telling of parallel experiences past and present that links two hearts. I love Toler's storytelling. And her humor, she never fails to make me laugh. This book shines.
Profile Image for Amazeballs Book Addicts.
2,811 reviews243 followers
July 21, 2019
Simple is a great read. I was only going to read a few chapters before bed to get a fele for the story and then put it down until the morning but I wasn't able to do that with this one. It hooked me right in and time seemed not to matter to me. I read it in one sitting and lost a little sleep but it was well worth it. I loved the way this one was written. We get past and present in both Emalee and Cole's POVs.

The Kepner brothers, Cole, Joe, and Bailor have not had the best of luck in things. They have a family farm, that's not doing good and a sick mom when Emalee come to town for the summer. I loved to read the past, where Cole and Emalee meet. They have a great connection. Even though it's not a good time from either to start a relationship, they can't prevent the pull they have to each other. Their past is definitely a heart string puller.

Ten years later, Emalee is back in town and this time there's hard things for her to deal with. There are a few surprises. Cole and Emalee, haven't seen each other since the time she left but the connections is still their. I was surprised, Joe wasn't happy to see her back in town but there's a secret there. I really loved this one. It's definitely one you should one click. The title say A Kepner Brothers Novel so I'm hoping that Joe and Bailor get books too.
Profile Image for Jolene.
443 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2020
3.25***
3 chapters then up to 60% is past.
Found the ending too quick with no what’s going to happening with her career or anything for the future, not sure if the brothers are going to get their owns books and if these characters will then continue on.
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,103 reviews553 followers
August 8, 2019
Cole and Emalee met as teenagers and fell in love over a summer in the heat of Kansas. A promising career in music took her off to follow her dreams -- leaving behind her heart with the boy she loved. Ten years later, a death brings Emalee back to Kansas and into the arms of the boy who's now a grown man. But will secrets from that summer love long ago surface and ruin their second chance to regain what was lost so long ago.

B.N. Toler writes a sweet, heartbreaking and emotional story in two parts -- past and present -- that touches on the harshness of life. More so, she gives readers a moving tale of survival and a love to last a lifetime.

The title shows this one to be "A Kepner Brothers Novel" -- so it appears that Toler has plans for Bailor and Joe, Cole's older brothers. I sure hope so! I want to see if I'm right about a certain brother and a hippie smokin' girl driving a RV motor home.
Profile Image for Paige.
362 reviews10 followers
May 24, 2020
Love this author, this Could’ve been a 5 star read if only another chapter/epilogue. Still loved the storyline, the characters & the peace at the end but I do love more future glimpses
Profile Image for Diane Plourde TDC Book Reviews.
1,859 reviews31 followers
August 20, 2019


Wow!!!!! I devoured this amazing story about first love and second chances. Once I started it, I had a difficult time putting this amazing 5 star story down.

Cole and Emalee met one summer while she was staying in her grandmothers house. Grief stricken Cole needed her that summer. Circumstances torn them apart. Now 10 years later, she’s back in Cole’s hometown. It’s her time to lean on him. Secrets may tear them apart.

I really loved this amazing story. Beautifully written storyline that sucked me so deep and even made me shed a few tears of sorrow and happiness. The characters were perfectly developed to make me feel what they were feeling. Secondary characters complemented this already perfect story. The words latched themselves to heart, mind and soul. Be prepared for this highly entertaining and captivating story. A solid page turner. Bottomline is this is a must read.

Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story. I hope that Joe and Bailor get their story too.
Profile Image for Cathy.
946 reviews6 followers
August 1, 2019
This small town, first love, second chance romance had me smiling, laughing, swooning, swearing and crying. Emalee had a vibrancy in her youth that drew the Kepner family into the sun when they were in a dark place, and then when she returned they wanted to be there for her in the same way. This was a warm and mostly gentle story, although it did reach all the emotions. I felt the end came up very suddenly and left a lot of unresolved questions but maybe that makes way for follow up stories with the secondary characters (she says hopefully)

4.5 stars
Profile Image for Manoela.
1,177 reviews24 followers
August 16, 2019
2 frustrantes estrelas .

Eu gosto muito dos livros dessa autora, porem esse livro simplesmente não funcionou pra mim , tem um tempo que eu tenho tentando ler ele , mas honestamente a história não vai pra frente. Eu pessoalmente não considero esse livro de segundas chances , pelo menos não me traz os sentimentos que eu busco em um. Eu não consegui me conectar ou simpatizar com os personagens.
Profile Image for Tricia Daniels.
23 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2019
Toler writes some of my favorite female characters and this one wasn’t any different. I always think I’m prepared when I start her books but she always takes me for a wild ride I didn’t see coming. The Kepner boys were sweet and also a little bad a$$. Toler has me laughing, crying and then laughing again. One of my favorite things about this book was that she bade you fall in love with all the characters. I’m excited to get more from the Kepner boys.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
March 20, 2020
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/20/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for FunUndertheCovers.
1,826 reviews45 followers
July 30, 2019
BN Toler has blown me away with this story of young love/first love. Cole and his brothers Bailor and Joe have some very heavy issues they are facing - the loss of their Kepner family farm and the loss of their mother. Soon to be 18 year old Emalee is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, beginning her career in the music industry. Her mother decides to bring her family to her childhood home in Kansas before she leaves for stardom. It is here that Emalee finds her inspiration and oh so much more. The end of the summer marks the end of her childhood and the start of her life in the music industry. What she does not want to leave behind are the three Kepner brothers and the simple but beautiful life of Kansas. Fast forward ten years to the present and Emalee must return to Kansas for her mother again. With her return comes the flood of memories from that summer both good and bad. Now she is faced with the fact that she made some decisions that she regrets and left some of those who meant the most to her. How will she be able to leave all this again? I finished this story in the middle of the night, unable to put it down. When I woke in the morning, I had this ache in my chest because I would not be visiting the Kepners again until BN Toler writes more of these awesome brothers.
Profile Image for KC Leigh.
609 reviews45 followers
July 31, 2019
An emotional and heartfelt second chance romance with all the feels ❤️. Although, I did feel that part 2 of the book when Emalee and Cole reconnect 10 years later was a bit too rushed. I just didn’t feel that passion and chemistry between them like I did in the 1st part. Overall though, enjoyable read!
Profile Image for Ellie.
546 reviews164 followers
September 12, 2019
3.5 stars

I believe this is my first book by this writer. It's clear she's been doing this for a minute judging by the polished quality of her work. She has nice prose and her writing flows well, with natural dialogue and just the right amount of description. Very few typos and no major editing gaffes. She also does her research, which is another sign she knows what she's doing.

(However, I regret to inform Ms. Toler that her friend can't trademark 'hoe bath,' as the term likely predates her conception 😁.
I also regret that remembering how old I was when I first heard it reminds me how old I am NOW 😑.)

Anyway.
Overall, there was a lot to like here for me despite feeling at the end as though the book missed the mark just a little.
The tone of the story was just a little too somber for too long, perhaps? But what didn't quite work for me was that I wanted more emotion from Cole and Emalee and expected more angst than what was delivered. Part of it was that there were too many players here and I get that this was a set up for Bailor and Joe's stories, but it was still a lot of background noise.
And two sick parents was a bit much for me. But there is obviously a lot more to this little saga...and I know where Joe is. Or I should say, with whom.

The book was in two parts, perhaps 60% past and 40% present, ten years later. I would have liked it if the latter chapters had focused on the h and H, but again, set-ups for future stories.

Not a lot of steamy scenes but what existed was tastefully done. I always like it when the story takes precedence over a lot of inane filler I've read thousands of times over.

I liked this. It's the first thing I've read in ages that I didn't skim, and I'll definitely be watching for the other brothers' stories.
Profile Image for Bookdramamama.
2 reviews
August 22, 2019
B N Toler is seriously one of the most underrated authors. I cry and laugh with every single book. The Kepner brothers stole my heart and Emalee is one of the best heroines I've read. I can't wait to read Joe and Bailor's books!!!
Profile Image for N Swaffar.
859 reviews27 followers
July 30, 2019
**Copy provided by Author, in exchange for an honest review**

Simple is a great read. It is a simple love story of a summer fling turned love. Cole was a good guy, but him and his brothers was dealt a bad hand in life and they were making the most of it. Cole’s brother Bailor is the best, always playing a cupid between Cole and Emalee. Cole and Emalee’s attraction couldn’t be hidden, but in Cole’s mind it just can’t be. Instead of Cole being a sweetheart to Emalee, he always acted like a jerk to keep her away. But with most things in life, when it’s a match it’s a match. No matter what Cole did they always ended up together.

Their love story is a second chance romance. It was only supposed to be for the summer, but that connection lasted a lifetime no matter how much time they were apart. Once they were brought together again, the spark was there. Their love was sweet and I love second chance romance.







Profile Image for Stephanie.
247 reviews29 followers
January 13, 2020
Thought the beginning of the book was great. Cole has a lot on his plate; his mother is sick and his brothers and him are at risk of losing their farm. Meanwhile, wealthy Emalee is begrudgingly visiting her mother's hometown in Kansas before she embarks on the beginning of a high profile singing career. Poor farm boy from Kanas and a wealthy California girl? How unlikely a pair. While Cole neither wants nor has time for a girlfriend Emalee and him and drawn to each other. She offers him an escape from the pressures of home and He offers her some normalcy.

They have a great connection but it is not the time for them. Cole wouldn't ask her to stay on a farm that is barely holding on and they part on good terms.

10 years later Emalee is back in Kansas. This time it is her mother who is sick and she the one who is in the center of a crisis. And Emalee and Cole are again drawn together. But there are secrets that Emalee is keeping that threaten to tear their fragile relationship apart.

****
I really liked the build up between Cole and Emalee. It was sweet and you couldn't help but hope they find each other again.

And while I did enjoy their present romance there was just SOMETHING missing. There were a lot of scenes that I wished were developed further instead of glossed over. And some threads that were left unresolved. And that sudden fade to black ending? Not a fan.
Profile Image for Berna.
170 reviews
August 28, 2019
I was going to give 4 stars but last parts of the books were not good. I liked Emalee and Cole, their relationship. At least their relationship in the "past". The present times were so rush and basic.

But I liked the Kepner brothers and i'm hoping read about Joe and Bailor too. Maybe then i can read about Cole and Emalee more.

Profile Image for Carrie.
1 review
August 22, 2019
This is a new to me author. I started Where One Goes and it nearly killed me it was so so good. All of her work is on kindle unlimited so I've been binge reading. Simple was anything but Simple. Please tell me we get more of the Kepner brothers!!
2 reviews
August 22, 2019
Simply beautiful. I love everything this author writes.
Profile Image for Lisa.
536 reviews
September 9, 2019
Shy of 3*
I liked Emalee @18 more than older Emalee.
Profile Image for Traceys.
1,482 reviews71 followers
October 16, 2019
A second chance romance set in a small town.

The story is told in two parts the first meeting, young love mingled with loss.

The reunion is 10 years later and lots has changed but that attraction hasn't gone anywhere.

I was a little underwhelmed with the 'secret' I expected it to be something bigger.

I enjoyed this book, it was a sweet easy read.
Profile Image for Nicole Naranjo.
572 reviews8 followers
August 8, 2019
Such a sweet story. BN, never fails and always makes me feel such an array of emotions with every book. I was angry, I cried, I swooned and man did I laugh! I started in absolutely had to keep reading, it held my attention from beginning to end. I loved all the characters. It was so well told it made me feel like I was actually watching instead of just reading. Though I do need more of the story, not just Cole and Emalee but Bailor, Pepper, Joe and Bea. Please please say they’ll be more!
Profile Image for Kelly  - Kelly's Book Blog.
466 reviews22 followers
July 30, 2019
4.5 STARS on kellybookblog.com

I knew I wasn't fully prepared when I started this book. B.N. Toler knows how to pull on my heartstrings and I knew that this book was going to take me for an emotional ride. It did. I tried to read this book slowly. I forced myself to read it over a couple of days but I could have easily devoured it in hours. I wanted all the emotions to sink in.
This story follows Emalee and Cole. Life is never perfect and the hardships are needed to see the overall beauty. You get to experience the lives and development of Emalee and Cole.

Emalee is a beautiful, innocent and musically talented women who goes on to have a successful music career. Cole is a son of a farmer. He knows what hard work is and doesn't want a certain girl muddling up his life but Emalee is so hard to resist. They give each there a summer of love and that is is, they must go their own ways.

This is a story of young love, which is so cute and refreshing, as two individuals grow and learn about life. Without giving too much away, like I said above, this story will make you FEEL because the main characters are learning to navigate love, loss and tough family situations.
Profile Image for Sammie Lynn.
423 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2019
One good one after another! This is when I venture into 5 star territory.. when the other pulls out something original and gives me all the feels.
The love story in this book was pretty epic. The main characters went through so much heartache but there was always this light between them that made it so beautiful. BN Toler had me laugh, then she had me sobbing and then she had me smiling. It was a rollercoaster that I just couldn't get over.
And lastly, BN Toler made me fall in love with ALL the characters, big and small. I thought it was really seriously good. I cannot wait to read more from the Kepner family.
Profile Image for Alison Benton.
37 reviews10 followers
August 17, 2019
I absolutely devoured this book! Easily one of my favorites from Toler. The Kepner brothers will forever be in my heart and I cant wait to visit them again.
Profile Image for Kate Roehl .
4 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2019
Amazing.

This book was so good! You fall in love with the characters and find yourself wanting more. I hope there is more to come of the Kepner brothers!
Profile Image for Carol Seymour.
824 reviews4 followers
July 30, 2019
BN Toler has blown me away with this story of young love/first love. Cole and his brothers Bailor and Joe have some very heavy issues they are facing - the loss of their Kepner family farm and the loss of their mother. Soon to be 18 year old Emalee is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, beginning her career in the music industry. Her mother decides to bring her family to her childhood home in Kansas before she leaves for stardom. It is here that Emalee finds her inspiration and oh so much more. The end of the summer marks the end of her childhood and the start of her life in the music industry. What she does not want to leave behind are the three Kepner brothers and the simple but beautiful life of Kansas. Fast forward ten years to the present and Emalee must return to Kansas for her mother again. With her return comes the flood of memories from that summer both good and bad. Now she is faced with the fact that she made some decisions that she regrets and left some of those who meant the most to her. How will she be able to leave all this again? I finished this story in the middle of the night, unable to put it down. When I woke in the morning, I had this ache in my chest because I would not be visiting the Kepners again until BN Toler writes more of these awesome brothers.
Profile Image for Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers).
1,760 reviews52 followers
September 3, 2019
cropped-saucy.jpg

I come to expect anything but Simple when it comes to B.N. Toler books. She writes complex and emotional stories that leaves the readers hungover for days. Simple is an outstanding novel that any reader can relate to on some level.

Cole and Em are one of those couples whose timing has always been off. They found each other when both their lives were spiraling out of control. Years later they are once again reunited in a tragic way. This time they are adults and can change the outcome. They just have to choose each other.

B.N. Toler not only delivered an eye opener about the perils of modern day farming and dealing with incurable diseases, she also added so many other uncontrollable circumstances that can affect even the strongest people. The Keppler Brothers stole my heart. I fell hopelessly in love with all three of them. I admired Em's strength when she finally made solid choices.

I loved everything about this book and can't wait for more of the Kepler Brothers.
Profile Image for A.BookNerd.Bookseller&Bibliophile.Blog.
2,787 reviews107 followers
July 29, 2019
Another great second chance romance from BN Toler! The first book of hers I read was Desperately Seeking Epic. Simple and Epic are similiar in that they both deal with very difficult subjects, they are both second chance romances, and they are both beautifully written. In Simple, Cole and Emalee are an unlikely duo who meet and end up falling in love, only to be separated by circumstances for 10 years. When they see each other again the question is is that love still there? Can they forgive and forget what happened when they last saw each other? Ms. Toler’s writing sucks you in. The way she writes her characters makes you love them and, even though they do questionable things, you’re torn on choosing sides, knowing they did those things for a good reason. I loved all the Kepner Brothers and can’t wait to read more about Bailor and, especially, Joe. I hope we will see lots more of Cole and Emalee in the future books also! It’s hard to leave them behind!

Reviewed by: Alexis B.
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