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Hollywood Kiwis #1
Common Ground
What turned out to be a one night stand left Delaney Carruthers with a little girl who has the same eyes as the hottest commodity in Hollywood.In her small town retreat back in New Zealand, she’s pushed the painful memory of that night as far back as she could and built a successful life.Josh Carter is Hollywood’s golden boy. He’s never forgotten the girl who disappeared right before he landed his breakthrough role, but given up hope of finding her. That’s until he travels to New Zealand for what he thinks is the biggest role of his life—only to find something even bigger.He might have found Delaney, but can the two of them find any common ground?
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2020
1244 people are currently reading
1391 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Smith
24 books162 followersWendy Smith published as Ariadne Wayne for three years before deciding she didn’t want to be someone else all the time. She’s an Apple Books and Nook bestselling author, whose book In the End, written as Ariadne Wayne, was named one of Apple’s best books of 2017. All her stories come with a quirky sense of humour, and she cries over everything.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 3, 2020
Good story.
There are two ways I've seen this sort of second chance romance written. The past in the first half of the book and the present in the second half or flashback scenes.
This book opts for the flashback scenes which I have to say are not my favourite but they are brief and few and far between so it works.
They are together are the past is sorted by 50% so the rest is angst caused by jealous other woman, evil manager and the possibility of issues with his parents.
The initial breakup is caused by misunderstandings.
She does try to contact him about her pregnancy but he has moved and his career has taken off so it's not easy to get communication through.
During the separation, it mentions she dated and is alluded to he did by media attention but it is vague and there seems to be nothing serious.
He doesn't seem the man-whore type.
He didn't get over their breakup and she is cautious.
Secondary characters introduced for possible future books in series.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
There are two ways I've seen this sort of second chance romance written. The past in the first half of the book and the present in the second half or flashback scenes.
This book opts for the flashback scenes which I have to say are not my favourite but they are brief and few and far between so it works.
They are together are the past is sorted by 50% so the rest is angst caused by jealous other woman, evil manager and the possibility of issues with his parents.
The initial breakup is caused by misunderstandings.
She does try to contact him about her pregnancy but he has moved and his career has taken off so it's not easy to get communication through.
During the separation, it mentions she dated and is alluded to he did by media attention but it is vague and there seems to be nothing serious.
He doesn't seem the man-whore type.
He didn't get over their breakup and she is cautious.
Secondary characters introduced for possible future books in series.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2022
Looking for a lighter bit of reading yesterday on a cold, rainy and stormy day -- and a Kindle Unlimited backlog yelled. But I might have been better off not listening. Nothing that hasn't been done over and over before - a little too cheesy, repetitious and needed a good edit. The Hollywood star is just "too cute" and his lady love never stops using those two words to tell him. The characters were likable and Melly adorable. If you like Hollywood stars and messy romances, it'll probably work. From start to finish, it gets a meh from me!
November 21, 2022
A trope I love that turned out to be meh. By the time I got two-thirds of the way in I was skimming just to see how it ended.
Pros:
- I like that the heroine had a healthy amount of gumption and stuck to that.
- Nice inclusion of a bit of "what happens after HEA".
Cons:
- Villainising another woman over something small.
- Lack of anything really happening in the middle.
Gripe:
Pros:
- I like that the heroine had a healthy amount of gumption and stuck to that.
- Nice inclusion of a bit of "what happens after HEA".
Cons:
- Villainising another woman over something small.
- Lack of anything really happening in the middle.
Gripe:
December 16, 2025
“You were my world. I want that again.”
What turned out to be a one night stand left Delaney Carruthers with a little girl who has the same eyes as the hottest commodity in Hollywood.In her small town retreat back in New Zealand, she’s pushed the painful memory of that night as far back as she could and built a successful life.Josh Carter is Hollywood’s golden boy. He’s never forgotten the girl who disappeared right before he landed his breakthrough role, but given up hope of finding her. That’s until he travels to New Zealand for what he thinks is the biggest role of his life—only to find something even bigger.He might have found Delaney, but can the two of them find any common ground?
Delaney is an incredibly strong woman who devotes her life to ensuring the best for her daughter. The fact she runs a business whilst her daughter has the best life possible is incredibly admirable. More so is her willingness for her old flame to not only step back into her life but have no issues about him integrating into his daughter’s life. I think Delaney is a good character, I just wanted to know more about her. We see her emotions in the moment but she has this sadness about things that happened in the past and we never truly get to know how things happened and how badly they impacted her. I wanted to know more about her. And other than one mention of a career change, we know nothing about her life moving forward! Give me more fearless Delaney!
Josh is a top gentleman for sure. The fact he was so accepting of the circumstances and opened his heart was a great thing. Too often, men - both in stories and real life - harbour this anger and resentment when they find themselves in the situation Josh does. Ultimately, that is incredibly harmful to the child/children involved. I really liked that he was so open with his emotions, it felt rather refreshing. However, other than knowing he is an actor and loves Delaney, we know so little about him. I wanted to know so much more to have a chance of connecting with him!
This is a story that I wouldn’t normally gravitate to. But I stumbled across an ad on Facebook and found myself interested in the little snippet, delighted to see it was on Kindle Unlimited. The story itself is nice, but it didn’t wow me. I do enjoy a second chance romance but this one just felt… okay for me. There was nothing that stood out other than it being a refreshing betrayal of a man willing to be a father at the drop of a hat. The characters were okay, but there wasn’t this depth to them that I want and crave when I read a story. We’re constantly told of hardships in the past, but we never truly get to know what’s going on. We don’t get to know those who are supporting characters and incredibly close to the leads either. I don’t think it’s too greedy to want such things from a story. The romance was very much sweet and it was nice that they got their second chance. But I hoped to truly see this connection be so deep and feel so real. Instead I got this sweet romance - which I don’t mind - but I just expected a bit more. The spice felt a bit clinical as well which was a bit shame. It didn’t add this explosive essence to the romance that would be typical for a second chance romance. The ending was incredibly sweet but it felt a little drawn out. I kept thinking it was done and then there was suddenly more! I think a bit more cohesiveness would make it work better but it was a nice conclusion to the story.
Overall, Common Ground is a second chance romance that is certainly sweet but not explosive.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
What turned out to be a one night stand left Delaney Carruthers with a little girl who has the same eyes as the hottest commodity in Hollywood.In her small town retreat back in New Zealand, she’s pushed the painful memory of that night as far back as she could and built a successful life.Josh Carter is Hollywood’s golden boy. He’s never forgotten the girl who disappeared right before he landed his breakthrough role, but given up hope of finding her. That’s until he travels to New Zealand for what he thinks is the biggest role of his life—only to find something even bigger.He might have found Delaney, but can the two of them find any common ground?
Delaney is an incredibly strong woman who devotes her life to ensuring the best for her daughter. The fact she runs a business whilst her daughter has the best life possible is incredibly admirable. More so is her willingness for her old flame to not only step back into her life but have no issues about him integrating into his daughter’s life. I think Delaney is a good character, I just wanted to know more about her. We see her emotions in the moment but she has this sadness about things that happened in the past and we never truly get to know how things happened and how badly they impacted her. I wanted to know more about her. And other than one mention of a career change, we know nothing about her life moving forward! Give me more fearless Delaney!
Josh is a top gentleman for sure. The fact he was so accepting of the circumstances and opened his heart was a great thing. Too often, men - both in stories and real life - harbour this anger and resentment when they find themselves in the situation Josh does. Ultimately, that is incredibly harmful to the child/children involved. I really liked that he was so open with his emotions, it felt rather refreshing. However, other than knowing he is an actor and loves Delaney, we know so little about him. I wanted to know so much more to have a chance of connecting with him!
This is a story that I wouldn’t normally gravitate to. But I stumbled across an ad on Facebook and found myself interested in the little snippet, delighted to see it was on Kindle Unlimited. The story itself is nice, but it didn’t wow me. I do enjoy a second chance romance but this one just felt… okay for me. There was nothing that stood out other than it being a refreshing betrayal of a man willing to be a father at the drop of a hat. The characters were okay, but there wasn’t this depth to them that I want and crave when I read a story. We’re constantly told of hardships in the past, but we never truly get to know what’s going on. We don’t get to know those who are supporting characters and incredibly close to the leads either. I don’t think it’s too greedy to want such things from a story. The romance was very much sweet and it was nice that they got their second chance. But I hoped to truly see this connection be so deep and feel so real. Instead I got this sweet romance - which I don’t mind - but I just expected a bit more. The spice felt a bit clinical as well which was a bit shame. It didn’t add this explosive essence to the romance that would be typical for a second chance romance. The ending was incredibly sweet but it felt a little drawn out. I kept thinking it was done and then there was suddenly more! I think a bit more cohesiveness would make it work better but it was a nice conclusion to the story.
Overall, Common Ground is a second chance romance that is certainly sweet but not explosive.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
March 31, 2020
Common Ground is a great second chance romance where the main characters, Josh and Delaney, meet again after a whirlwind romance 6 years earlier. It’s not a surprise to the reader that Delaney’s little girl is Josh’s daughter, but it sure is a surprise to Josh! I enjoyed this book a lot. It was pretty light hearted about two people meeting again and getting used to life together. What makes it a bit more difficult is that Josh is a famous actor who lives in LA and Delaney is a diner owner who lives with her daughter in a small town in New Zealand. Amelia is their adorable 5 year old daughter. And of course can’t forget the amazing supporting characters like Pania, Reece, and Gabby. I highly recommend this sweet second chance romance. It’s a great way to spend the day lost in another world with some amazing characters!
~Alexis💜
~Alexis💜
March 15, 2020
This was a beautiful romance that takes you out of reality for a few hours and on a wonderful journey of second chance love and happily ever after. Josh Carter is a famous Hollywood actor. However six years ago he let the potential love of his life slip through his fingers. Now six years later, he is shooting a movie in NZ and as fate would happen, Delaney re-appears in his life with a surprise that will turn his whole world upside down.
Josh and Delaney try to rebuild a life together, however being a celebrity has its own set if challenges, from over zealous fans, to social media keyboard warriors, Delaney must decide if her love for Josh can overcome these challenges and they can finally be the family they want to become. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC and this is my honest review.
Josh and Delaney try to rebuild a life together, however being a celebrity has its own set if challenges, from over zealous fans, to social media keyboard warriors, Delaney must decide if her love for Josh can overcome these challenges and they can finally be the family they want to become. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC and this is my honest review.
January 1, 2021
It’s a sweet read with the couple back together before half of the book. I was waiting for the major misunderstanding to split them up and getting back together at the end of the book, but that didn’t happen. It was a bit boring to be honest. I expected more. Jealous OW drama, tabloid drama, whatever drama was in the book it was over in a poof. This sounds like a fairytale story, but I’m not buying it. The hero seems like a knight in shining armor, but in the end she had to give up her whole life and move to another country. What concessions did he make? He also could’ve spend more time with his daughter, it always had to come to his terms. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the book, they were cute as a couple and I adored Amelia. But something was missing. I hope Reece will get his own book, am curious what the author has in store for him.
March 21, 2022
Waited for a twist till the end but nothing happened. Too good to be true and a drag. Half a chapter was on mac and cheese and how the world came to a stop as it didn’t taste the same as mommy’s..really 😏 still the great mommy chef can’t think anything beyond pbj and cheese burgers for her precious daughter. It was like reading cocomelon
June 5, 2020
This book started of really great and although it was ok at the end, I was starting to get bored. It just feels stretched. Love the storyline and characters but it would have been a higher rating for me if it was shorter.
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March 13, 2024
3.5 stars
Josh and Delaney met in their late teens. Josh was an aspiring actor and Delaney worked in a coffee shop. They met and fell in love in a couple of weeks. Delaney then over hears Josh saying some not very nice things on the phone and she left and got on a plane back to New Zealand where she is from. Finding out a few months later that she was having a baby.
Fast forward some years. I don't think it ever said how long exactly but i think the daughter -Melly- was 6. Delaney runs her own diner in a small town in NZ and Josh made it big right after she left him.
Josh is filming in her small town so they are bound to run into each other but Delaney isn't sure weather she wants to or not. She knows she has to tell him about Melly but she wants to know what kind of man he turned into.
I found Delaney a little annoying at first. Back and forth, stay, leave, love me, leave me alone but she got better. Josh was great. He had tried to find her when she left him, never understanding what happened back then. He realises that Melly is his daughter. She looks like him and he does the maths. I really like that it didn't drag on for the whole book.
He finally asks her what happened back then and she tells him. He tells her what really happened and that he looked for her for a long time and they get together. There's a weird guy who comes into her diner-Damon- and he has a thing for her but Josh tells him he is staying so he should give it up.
When Josh has to leave he asks her to go with him. Just her not the kid and she agrees. I found this a little weird. He had to go to Hawaii for 2 weeks so she went with him. While there his agent tries to sabotage everything (its always the agent) What i liked about this bit is now they were committed she told him what the agent said and he got to the bottom of it.
When she gets back home it seems the secret is put and Josh's secret love child is exposed with pictures of Melly in the paper which pisses him off. You find out who tipped off the press which i thought was pretty obvious. She agrees to move to LA with him and her and Melly pack up.
I think it should have ended there but it went on for no reason. Her not feeling at home right away. Josh trying so hard to be home everyday he gave himself too much to do and was never home and how lonely she felt until they talked and found a way to work round it.
I felt Josh was committed 100% from the beginning but Delaney was always ready to run. There weren't many Josh chapters in the middle either and he was the better character so!
I enjoyed it though!
Josh and Delaney met in their late teens. Josh was an aspiring actor and Delaney worked in a coffee shop. They met and fell in love in a couple of weeks. Delaney then over hears Josh saying some not very nice things on the phone and she left and got on a plane back to New Zealand where she is from. Finding out a few months later that she was having a baby.
Fast forward some years. I don't think it ever said how long exactly but i think the daughter -Melly- was 6. Delaney runs her own diner in a small town in NZ and Josh made it big right after she left him.
Josh is filming in her small town so they are bound to run into each other but Delaney isn't sure weather she wants to or not. She knows she has to tell him about Melly but she wants to know what kind of man he turned into.
I found Delaney a little annoying at first. Back and forth, stay, leave, love me, leave me alone but she got better. Josh was great. He had tried to find her when she left him, never understanding what happened back then. He realises that Melly is his daughter. She looks like him and he does the maths. I really like that it didn't drag on for the whole book.
He finally asks her what happened back then and she tells him. He tells her what really happened and that he looked for her for a long time and they get together. There's a weird guy who comes into her diner-Damon- and he has a thing for her but Josh tells him he is staying so he should give it up.
When Josh has to leave he asks her to go with him. Just her not the kid and she agrees. I found this a little weird. He had to go to Hawaii for 2 weeks so she went with him. While there his agent tries to sabotage everything (its always the agent) What i liked about this bit is now they were committed she told him what the agent said and he got to the bottom of it.
When she gets back home it seems the secret is put and Josh's secret love child is exposed with pictures of Melly in the paper which pisses him off. You find out who tipped off the press which i thought was pretty obvious. She agrees to move to LA with him and her and Melly pack up.
I think it should have ended there but it went on for no reason. Her not feeling at home right away. Josh trying so hard to be home everyday he gave himself too much to do and was never home and how lonely she felt until they talked and found a way to work round it.
I felt Josh was committed 100% from the beginning but Delaney was always ready to run. There weren't many Josh chapters in the middle either and he was the better character so!
I enjoyed it though!
April 6, 2020
Common Ground, 5 Stars
Wendy Smith has written one of my favourite tropes, Second Chances, in my favourite dual POV, and in some areas, it is told in retrospect. Common Ground is everything that I love in a contemporary romance, but there’s nothing lightweight about the feel of it. I loved the full flavoured depth in everything from the story through to the characters.
Josh and Delaney were amazing. Individually, they had the human failings that caused the misunderstandings and hurt, but, they were both honest and strong. That, I am sure, is why I loved this story so much. Josh, oh holy hell, is a beautifully written man. I could wax lyrical about him for days, but then, I’d be wandering into spoiler territory. And Delaney on her part was a strong individual who had learned her painful lesson and moved on, building a successful business with Pania, her best friend. Everyone needs a best friend like her, someone who stood strong with her when the proverbial shit hit the fan. Was there when the dust settled from the fallout, and will celebrate or commiserate with Delaney when all is said and done.
Ms Smith wrote every moment in this book from sadness through to laughter, and I’m now going to choose my friends based on how they take their Cesar Salad!!!
A special thank you, Ms. Smith, and it is a small thing, but so special to us Kiwis, and that’s the version of our National anthem written in Maori. Each time I see those words, I hear my children singing them so proudly in their school assemblies. It brings me to tears every time.
I loved it, and I hit it in one sitting! I also highly recommend it to everyone who loves Contemporary Romances in general, and second chances especially. 5 stars, absolutely 💖
Wendy Smith has written one of my favourite tropes, Second Chances, in my favourite dual POV, and in some areas, it is told in retrospect. Common Ground is everything that I love in a contemporary romance, but there’s nothing lightweight about the feel of it. I loved the full flavoured depth in everything from the story through to the characters.
Josh and Delaney were amazing. Individually, they had the human failings that caused the misunderstandings and hurt, but, they were both honest and strong. That, I am sure, is why I loved this story so much. Josh, oh holy hell, is a beautifully written man. I could wax lyrical about him for days, but then, I’d be wandering into spoiler territory. And Delaney on her part was a strong individual who had learned her painful lesson and moved on, building a successful business with Pania, her best friend. Everyone needs a best friend like her, someone who stood strong with her when the proverbial shit hit the fan. Was there when the dust settled from the fallout, and will celebrate or commiserate with Delaney when all is said and done.
Ms Smith wrote every moment in this book from sadness through to laughter, and I’m now going to choose my friends based on how they take their Cesar Salad!!!
A special thank you, Ms. Smith, and it is a small thing, but so special to us Kiwis, and that’s the version of our National anthem written in Maori. Each time I see those words, I hear my children singing them so proudly in their school assemblies. It brings me to tears every time.
I loved it, and I hit it in one sitting! I also highly recommend it to everyone who loves Contemporary Romances in general, and second chances especially. 5 stars, absolutely 💖
October 20, 2021
This is a cute and sweet low drama book that I kind of skim read in some parts because my attention spam is all over the place today. I found the reason of the heroine leaving the hero a little ridiculous but I guess it's understandable considering they were teenagers. I thought the hero was a pretty decent guy who handled a difficult situation pretty well and I thought the heroine was great too and I liked that she didn't take any shit from the girl who wanted her man. The kid wasn't annoying and neither was the heroine's bff, so great bonus points there. I liked that the couple get together before the 50% mark and stay together until the end even if they did have a couple of snags that they managed to iron out. The author also did a pretty good job of how fans (especially female fans of male celebs) get when someone famous goes public with a relationship and how jealous they get because they somehow deluded themselves into thinking they might have had a chance. Also fans coming up with conspiracy theories about how certain celebs are in secret relationships and have hidden children are a very real thing. It's the dumbest thing I've ever seen.
September 4, 2020
What a beautiful second chance romance. Josh and Delaney had a whirlwind romance that ended abruptly. Six years later, now Hollywood superstar, Josh Carter, finds himself face to face with the woman who got away.
These two are so adorable together. Delaney keeps Josh on his toes, always calling him out on things and forever giving him shit.
Josh is the swoon worthy book boyfriend everyone wants. He’s attentive, charming, sweet, and oh so gorgeous.
They both have best friends who I’m secretly hoping will end up together in another book 😜 Pania is Delaney’s bestie and business partner. She’s been there through thick and thin, and she doesn’t take crap from anyone.
Reece is Josh’s best friend and confidant. He’s levelheaded but also knows how to have a good time.
Both these characters add to the humour threaded throughout the story, and you can really feel the love they have for their friends.
A great story of love and loss, and of taking a chance.
These two are so adorable together. Delaney keeps Josh on his toes, always calling him out on things and forever giving him shit.
Josh is the swoon worthy book boyfriend everyone wants. He’s attentive, charming, sweet, and oh so gorgeous.
They both have best friends who I’m secretly hoping will end up together in another book 😜 Pania is Delaney’s bestie and business partner. She’s been there through thick and thin, and she doesn’t take crap from anyone.
Reece is Josh’s best friend and confidant. He’s levelheaded but also knows how to have a good time.
Both these characters add to the humour threaded throughout the story, and you can really feel the love they have for their friends.
A great story of love and loss, and of taking a chance.
September 30, 2022
Well, that was fun! Cute, sweet with a few sides of steam, second-chance story. Josh and Dee met in Cali when they were both trying to get their first break in their careers. It took Josh a while to wear Dee down, but she finally decided to go on a date with him. Their budding relationship lasted a hot minute before a huge misunderstanding and Dee fled the scene.
Fast forward six years and not entirely by chance, they meet again. Dee, who is really Delaney, has some 'splainin' to do and Josh is all ears. He's a big-time Hollywood golden boy and Delaney is a small business owner. They almost pick up where they left off only with more responsibilities and maturity. Common Ground is a low-drama story that is sweet and predictable.
Fast forward six years and not entirely by chance, they meet again. Dee, who is really Delaney, has some 'splainin' to do and Josh is all ears. He's a big-time Hollywood golden boy and Delaney is a small business owner. They almost pick up where they left off only with more responsibilities and maturity. Common Ground is a low-drama story that is sweet and predictable.
September 19, 2020
This book is cute. I love the premise and the setting. The characters challenge each other well.
It seemed long but I think it's because it doesn't have a ton of conflict. The couple has reunited early in the book and after that there's small hiccups here and there but otherwise it's just the story of their relationship. Which has some fun and cute bits but I kept expecting there to be a bigger conflict, maybe with the actress or with the manager or anythingbut it just continues, each speed bump just a small hurdle with no story arc.
I really enjoyed the banter between character, usually it comes across forced in books like this but these ones are genuine and funny.
It seemed long but I think it's because it doesn't have a ton of conflict. The couple has reunited early in the book and after that there's small hiccups here and there but otherwise it's just the story of their relationship. Which has some fun and cute bits but I kept expecting there to be a bigger conflict, maybe with the actress or with the manager or anythingbut it just continues, each speed bump just a small hurdle with no story arc.
I really enjoyed the banter between character, usually it comes across forced in books like this but these ones are genuine and funny.
November 29, 2020
Wonderful second chance romance!
Actor Josh Carter was trying to make in Hollywood when he met barista Dee from New Zealand and the attraction was immediate, but she disappeared after spending one night together. Delaney Carruthers thought she would never see Josh in person again since she made a point to never watch his movies since he was now a Hollywood star. She could see Josh in her young daughter that he never knew about until she came face to face with him when he was filming his new movie where she was living.
Will they get over her not telling him he was a father? Could they find their common ground?
P.S. I already ordered Pania and Reece’s book!
Actor Josh Carter was trying to make in Hollywood when he met barista Dee from New Zealand and the attraction was immediate, but she disappeared after spending one night together. Delaney Carruthers thought she would never see Josh in person again since she made a point to never watch his movies since he was now a Hollywood star. She could see Josh in her young daughter that he never knew about until she came face to face with him when he was filming his new movie where she was living.
Will they get over her not telling him he was a father? Could they find their common ground?
P.S. I already ordered Pania and Reece’s book!
September 8, 2021
This is a good, easy , feel good read. This is about Delaney Carruthers, who has what turned out to be a one night stand with the hottest star in Hollywood. At the time she knew him though, he was just breaking into the hollywood scene and hadn't made it big yet. Josh Carter met Delaney at her job and they got along great and thought that they would be more together at the time. There is a lot of misunderstanding in this book but makes for a good read. They accidentally meet up again at Delaney's home in New Zealand. Lots of explaining and details to go through. Emotional too, as Josh finds out he has as daughter he knew nothing about. Recommend.
May 5, 2023
Hahahahahaha
I usually don't read the synopsis or the reviews because I've liked or loved books worth five stars to me, but three or barely four stars to others, and I don't want to get influenced by others opinions, or feel bad because it would make me wonder that something is wrong with my taste in books, if everyone else is trashing a book I liked a lot...
That being said (written?) I don't like PassionFlix, Hallmark movies, but the problem or plot twist that separated them was so weak that I was like... Email? Facebook? Instagram? Lawyers? I mean... Seriously... Mexican telenovelas have more Passionflix movie material than this...
I usually don't read the synopsis or the reviews because I've liked or loved books worth five stars to me, but three or barely four stars to others, and I don't want to get influenced by others opinions, or feel bad because it would make me wonder that something is wrong with my taste in books, if everyone else is trashing a book I liked a lot...
That being said (written?) I don't like PassionFlix, Hallmark movies, but the problem or plot twist that separated them was so weak that I was like... Email? Facebook? Instagram? Lawyers? I mean... Seriously... Mexican telenovelas have more Passionflix movie material than this...
September 13, 2021
Delaney lost her heart years ago and never expected to see Josh again. Josh had looked for Dee and could never find her until he was filming in New Zealand and couldn't believe what he just saw. Finding your heart after years of giving up and realizing you never gave up on them is hard, but finding a way to trust again is easy when you listen to your heart. Josh can't believe his eyes when they are sitting there talking to him and they are on the most beautiful little girl he's ever seen. Now he has to make Delaney believe he never has given up and will do anything to get his girls.
July 22, 2023
I wanted something light hearted to read and I knew this was gonna be a messy one.
The main characters are egotistical and have such a disgusting level of self importance. Especially Delaney. Tey deserve each other. Actually Melly deserved better and at so points so did Josh.
Delaney did the whole I'm never going to let him hurt me and Melly I'm probably going to hide her from him I'm never giving him a chance to hurt me again. And you know at that point shes going to welcome him back with open arms within 2 months.
The main characters are egotistical and have such a disgusting level of self importance. Especially Delaney. Tey deserve each other. Actually Melly deserved better and at so points so did Josh.
Delaney did the whole I'm never going to let him hurt me and Melly I'm probably going to hide her from him I'm never giving him a chance to hurt me again. And you know at that point shes going to welcome him back with open arms within 2 months.
March 29, 2020
CONTAINS SMALL SPOILERS!
A fun, heartfelt and at times sad story - an all rounder that's very well written and composed!
This my favourite book by Wendy Smith to date.
As mentioned, it's got a bit of everything as far as a romance goes and for me it hits close to home as my partner and I were in a similar position as Delaney & Josh (minus Amelia and him being a celebrity lol).
10 stars to Wendy 🌟
A fun, heartfelt and at times sad story - an all rounder that's very well written and composed!
This my favourite book by Wendy Smith to date.
As mentioned, it's got a bit of everything as far as a romance goes and for me it hits close to home as my partner and I were in a similar position as Delaney & Josh (minus Amelia and him being a celebrity lol).
10 stars to Wendy 🌟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2022
Awesome love story!
I really enjoyed this book. A couple finds amazing love, but a misunderstanding separates them for years, in that space of time Delaney tries to contact Josh but her letters are returned. He has become a famous actor and she gives up trying to contact him. He decides to do a movie in New Zealand, his mystery loves home, in hopes he may see her. They do meet again and sparks fly but can their love withstand Josh's stardom and the press.
I really enjoyed this book. A couple finds amazing love, but a misunderstanding separates them for years, in that space of time Delaney tries to contact Josh but her letters are returned. He has become a famous actor and she gives up trying to contact him. He decides to do a movie in New Zealand, his mystery loves home, in hopes he may see her. They do meet again and sparks fly but can their love withstand Josh's stardom and the press.
May 11, 2024
Such a shame.
This could have easily been a Novella, with how repetitive a lot of the chapters were, some of the dialogue too. Characters were hard to get into, too. If I didn’t know that Josh was Melly’s bio dad, I’d assume that he’s the stepdad who just wants to play house to get to the mom because that’s how it felt. Seemed like it was easy to forget about the daughter most times because he was so infatuated with the mom & not in a good way. It was almost cringe.
This could have easily been a Novella, with how repetitive a lot of the chapters were, some of the dialogue too. Characters were hard to get into, too. If I didn’t know that Josh was Melly’s bio dad, I’d assume that he’s the stepdad who just wants to play house to get to the mom because that’s how it felt. Seemed like it was easy to forget about the daughter most times because he was so infatuated with the mom & not in a good way. It was almost cringe.
March 10, 2025
The narrative is bogged down by repetitive elements and additions that feel unnecessary and out of place. Instead of a steady build-up to an impactful climax, the story delivers random bursts of drama that fail to coalesce into a meaningful or satisfying arc. The lack of a clear narrative progression makes it difficult to stay engaged, and the overall experience feels disjointed. While it may have potential, it struggles to achieve its intended emotional depth. A disappointing read.
August 6, 2025
good read…. at first
It’s was good at first until near the ending it was getting a little boring for me. I felt like once they got their happy ending chapters before the ending that was it but it kinda just kept going I enjoyed their life after they got together but like I said I kinda just lost interest. I Kinda wanted it to have a little more of OW drama it was like she was there for a little but then dealt with and she’s gone poof lol. Still a pretty good read.
It’s was good at first until near the ending it was getting a little boring for me. I felt like once they got their happy ending chapters before the ending that was it but it kinda just kept going I enjoyed their life after they got together but like I said I kinda just lost interest. I Kinda wanted it to have a little more of OW drama it was like she was there for a little but then dealt with and she’s gone poof lol. Still a pretty good read.
April 2, 2020
This is a beautiful second chance.
The two main characters Josh and Delaney, are funny, engaging and very real.
They have to navigate Josh finding out they have a daughter together and then living in separate countries. Is love enough??
I would absolutely recommend this book, it’s fun, emotional but totally enjoyable
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC and this is my honest review
The two main characters Josh and Delaney, are funny, engaging and very real.
They have to navigate Josh finding out they have a daughter together and then living in separate countries. Is love enough??
I would absolutely recommend this book, it’s fun, emotional but totally enjoyable
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC and this is my honest review
December 4, 2021
BEAUTIFUL STORY..
I love how well the characters were developed throughout the book. Second chance stories have been my favorite thus far. Wendy did a real good job on this book.
I love how the characters were well developed. The is a story of second chances. It had rooting for Josh & Delaney.
I love how well the characters were developed throughout the book. Second chance stories have been my favorite thus far. Wendy did a real good job on this book.
I love how the characters were well developed. The is a story of second chances. It had rooting for Josh & Delaney.
September 14, 2022
The surprise baby trope is a hit or muss for me and this one hit it out of the park. This was such a gem!!
Delaney and Josh have a whirlwind romance that ends abruptly due to a miscommunication. 5 years later, Josh is a famous Hollywood actor and Delaney is the owner of her diner.
This book is full of fluffy moments, minimal drama, and 🌶 times
Delaney and Josh have a whirlwind romance that ends abruptly due to a miscommunication. 5 years later, Josh is a famous Hollywood actor and Delaney is the owner of her diner.
This book is full of fluffy moments, minimal drama, and 🌶 times
October 24, 2022
So good
A book about a girl who falls for a guy and finally sleeps with him only to think he rejects her the day after. So she leaves. 5 years later she sees him again. A big actor and she niw owns a restaurant but he has no idea he has a daughter. And how he wants his family.
A book about a girl who falls for a guy and finally sleeps with him only to think he rejects her the day after. So she leaves. 5 years later she sees him again. A big actor and she niw owns a restaurant but he has no idea he has a daughter. And how he wants his family.
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