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About Us
Hayden Matthews isn’t looking for love—she’s trying to get as far from it as possible. She's already wasted eight years in a failed marriage and is ready for a good life. A peaceful life. One where she can raise her daughter to be strong, independent, and happy. But to make that happen, she must fix her own life first. Cam Vorelli has loved Hayden since he was in grade school. Always in the friend-zone, he stood on the sidelines, his heart breaking, as she said I do to the wrong man. A man he knew didn’t deserve her, who could never love her as he did. But what could he say? She was marrying into his family. Cam would never break a holy vow much less be disloyal to his kin. Until he sees the bruises on Hayden. Abuse is a game changer. Leaving a husband like Tag, who has a hot temper, a badge, and a gun is tricky. When Hayden calls Cam for help, she isn’t trying to lure him into any romantic webs. She needs someone she can trust and knowing her soon-to-be ex fears his former NFL cousin is a bonus. When Cam comes to her rescue, he isn’t doing it to win her love. He does it because it’s the right thing to do. But if she starts to feel the same for him…couldn’t it be fate?
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2020
210 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Seckman
16 books89 followersMulti-published author of romantic women's fiction. I am a former social worker, constant day dreamer, and mother of four fabulous boys.
I have a house in desperate need of cleaning. No set date on completion.
I have a house in desperate need of cleaning. No set date on completion.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 22, 2024
Not super impressed with this book honestly. Was mostly just annoyed with how stupid the main characters are in this book and will not be reading the spin offs because I do not want to waste my time.
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June 21, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (6/21/2020)! 🎁
September 20, 2020
I thought this romance novel, About Us, maybe just another story of a guy unable to love the woman he has loved all his life, but time and circumstances got in the way of making his desire known. Cameron loved Hayden but she married his cousin, Tag. But this was not a cookie-cutter story. The dysfunctional family and relationships within the family are so well dramatized with the talent of Ms. Seckman's rich storytelling. The reader will get wrapped up in the drama of this family, the secrets of the past and wonder at how this drama will be resolved. I would recommend this story if you like a lot of characters and twists in a story. I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily reviewing it.
February 10, 2024
UGH I stayed up late for this? That was not great. It was okay but it took SO LONG to get to where we were going and then the ending was like 10 pages long. Such a waste of time. The story made me mad and gave me anxiety. Not for me
September 17, 2020
WOW loved it
I loved this book kept me guessing just what was going to happen next. I stayed up way later than I should have. I had all emotions sad, mad, happy very good read.
I loved this book kept me guessing just what was going to happen next. I stayed up way later than I should have. I had all emotions sad, mad, happy very good read.
October 18, 2024
An okay story but overall not impressed with the book. Would have probably dnf’d it but I’m behind on my reading goal so had to power through…
March 9, 2020
Hayden Matthews is only trying to do what's right for her daughter and herself by getting out of an abusive marriage. It's no easy thing when her family is against it and her husband, Tag, is a cop with a temper. She calls on Cam Vorelli, a good friend, to drive her out of town. But Cam has his own secret. He's loved Hayden since grade school and has been heart-broken watching her married to his cheating cousin, Tag. Hayden didn't leave her husband for another man, but her heart soars when Cam admits his feelings for her. Yet will anyone else believe she left for a better life and not because she was unfaithful?
What a fantastic contemporary romance! It took me on an emotional roller coaster that whipped me through twists and turns I didn't expect. Hayden is a sweet and compassionate woman in an immensely difficult situation. Her abusive relationship with Tag is handled realistically even if it is heartbreaking in parts. Her family drove me bonkers, but thankfully she has a marvelous best friend in Mark. Cam was full of strength and heart too. I sympathized with him, the good man with such patience! It's a many layered story with wonderfully written characters. I couldn't put it down!
What a fantastic contemporary romance! It took me on an emotional roller coaster that whipped me through twists and turns I didn't expect. Hayden is a sweet and compassionate woman in an immensely difficult situation. Her abusive relationship with Tag is handled realistically even if it is heartbreaking in parts. Her family drove me bonkers, but thankfully she has a marvelous best friend in Mark. Cam was full of strength and heart too. I sympathized with him, the good man with such patience! It's a many layered story with wonderfully written characters. I couldn't put it down!
February 18, 2020
All Hayden Mathews wanted was peace. A life where she could raise her daughter without the fear of retribution, but when your husband has all the power, it’s just a fragile dream. Hayden finds this out the hard way, but even when she hits bottom when the divorce is final, and she’s given everything she could to her ex. Tag Mathews, wants one last thing – her chance for a future with the man she truly loves.
It’s a book that will rile your passions, but while Ms. Seckman takes you to the brink of devastation and loss, she’ll also find a way for the resolution that will have you smiling and cheering the result.
As always, About Us is expertly written and includes all the drama and heartstring-pulling allowed. About Us is a ‘second chance’ book that has it all and more and is highly recommended by this romance reader.
It’s a book that will rile your passions, but while Ms. Seckman takes you to the brink of devastation and loss, she’ll also find a way for the resolution that will have you smiling and cheering the result.
As always, About Us is expertly written and includes all the drama and heartstring-pulling allowed. About Us is a ‘second chance’ book that has it all and more and is highly recommended by this romance reader.
March 5, 2020
It's always a safe bet that a romance written by Ms. Seckman is going to be a feel-good story with memorable characters conquering some kind of challenge to get to their happy ending, so it came as no surprise that this book delivers on all of those points. However, it also deals very sensitively and compassionately with the hot-button topic of spousal abuse. Nothing too graphic, mind you, but the author deftly depicts the situation, so there's a more serious aspect to it than some of her more light-hearted books.
But this isn't a downer of a book. Nope. Our heroine has a swoon-worthy hero who stands by her, who has always loved her... and always will. There are lots of hurdles for them to jump, but in spite of all the difficulties, the problems get solved and they do get to that happy ending.
But this isn't a downer of a book. Nope. Our heroine has a swoon-worthy hero who stands by her, who has always loved her... and always will. There are lots of hurdles for them to jump, but in spite of all the difficulties, the problems get solved and they do get to that happy ending.
June 16, 2020
I picked up this book without having read any of Elizabeth Seckman's other books, and I was in the mood for a enticing romance story, and About Us didn't disappoint.
The premise is a familiar one. Hayden Matthews is trying to get out of her failed marriage and give her daughter the best life that she could. Cameron Vorelli has been in love with Hayden since they were kids, but that love story never had a chance to develop as Hayden married his cousin. When her marriage turns abusive, she turns to Cam as a friend to help her get to a safe place, and that is the beginning of the emotional roller coaster of this story.
I had a hard time putting down this book as I was reading. I loved Cam from the start of the story, and though it took me longer to warm up to Hayden as a character, I was eager to see how the story would play out. In spite of all the ups and downs and moments of frustration for the characters and their decisions, Seckman finds a way to wrap it all up in a comfortable, positive ending for the reader.
This book deals with spousal abuse, which may be a trigger warning for some. I found Seckman dealt with those topics in a realistic way, and that heartbreaking dynamic is hard to forget even after I've finished the book.
The premise is a familiar one. Hayden Matthews is trying to get out of her failed marriage and give her daughter the best life that she could. Cameron Vorelli has been in love with Hayden since they were kids, but that love story never had a chance to develop as Hayden married his cousin. When her marriage turns abusive, she turns to Cam as a friend to help her get to a safe place, and that is the beginning of the emotional roller coaster of this story.
I had a hard time putting down this book as I was reading. I loved Cam from the start of the story, and though it took me longer to warm up to Hayden as a character, I was eager to see how the story would play out. In spite of all the ups and downs and moments of frustration for the characters and their decisions, Seckman finds a way to wrap it all up in a comfortable, positive ending for the reader.
This book deals with spousal abuse, which may be a trigger warning for some. I found Seckman dealt with those topics in a realistic way, and that heartbreaking dynamic is hard to forget even after I've finished the book.
Read
March 29, 2020I thought this romance novel, About Us, may be just another story of a guy unable to love the woman he has loved all his life, but time and circumstances got in the way of making his desire known. Cameron loved Hayden but she married his cousin, Tag. But this was not a cookie-cutter story. The dysfunctional family and relationships within the family are so well dramatized with the talent of Ms. Seckman's rich storytelling. The reader will get wrapped up in the drama of this family, the past history revealed and wonder at how this will be resolved. I would recommend this story if you like a lot of characters and twists in a story. I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily reviewing it.
August 20, 2020
Unsure
When starting this book, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into, but I knew it would be a good read, as the author is a great one. This book keeps you guessing. I would expect one thing to happen, but instead something different happened. It kept me on my toes the whole time.
However, the ending—or the Prologue—wasn’t quite something I expected or enjoyed.
Other than the ending—this book was a great read. Full of drama, and exiting adventures, kind of hit too close to home, but a great read nonetheless.
When starting this book, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into, but I knew it would be a good read, as the author is a great one. This book keeps you guessing. I would expect one thing to happen, but instead something different happened. It kept me on my toes the whole time.
However, the ending—or the Prologue—wasn’t quite something I expected or enjoyed.
Other than the ending—this book was a great read. Full of drama, and exiting adventures, kind of hit too close to home, but a great read nonetheless.
May 24, 2020
Good book
I'm afraid that this book hit a little too close to home for me to really get into it. Hayden is in love with one man but married to his cousin. Tag, the husband, is cheating on Hayden with a woman named Brandy. Hayden divorces him so she can be with the guy she actually loves but when Tag finds out he becomes abusive. Naturally, it gets worse before it gets better, but Hayden gets her HEA with Cam.
I'm afraid that this book hit a little too close to home for me to really get into it. Hayden is in love with one man but married to his cousin. Tag, the husband, is cheating on Hayden with a woman named Brandy. Hayden divorces him so she can be with the guy she actually loves but when Tag finds out he becomes abusive. Naturally, it gets worse before it gets better, but Hayden gets her HEA with Cam.
January 3, 2025
Hayden is a very annoying character. She makes stupid decisions and acts like a spoiled brat. Her thinking is erratic and makes me want to scream at her LOL. I liked Cam though and I appreciate the character development that occurred throughout the book for multiple of the characters. The end of the book was okay, but the very last conversation has my skin crawling. Overall I liked it though!
November 30, 2021
The characters are alive and unique in Elizabeth Seckman’s romance About Us: A Second Chance Novel. The author has the reader in the palm of her hand, hoping things will turn out right for Hayden Matthews and Cameron Vorelli.
A Second Chance is about the meaning of family and what can happen when things turn ugly and dangerous. Physical and mental abuse can be crushing. Hayden is learning this firsthand as she desperately tries to end a failed marriage and begin a new life. Seckman knows how to build problems for her protagonists. Even though Hayden tries to do what’s right for her young daughter and herself, few people in town are on her side. She files for divorce from Tag, a police officer who can do no wrong in their hometown of Hazelton, West Virginia. Even though he does.
Hayden has two friends, Mark and Cam. She loves them both, but Cam has the key to her heart. Struggles abound in this romance. Abuse. Illness. Death. And trust issues. As in many romances, the two protagonists Hayden and Cam have difficulty trusting each other. Quite a few characters grow and change in this story. For the better. About Us: A Second Chance Novel is an interesting read. Please note, there is profanity in this novel.
A Second Chance is about the meaning of family and what can happen when things turn ugly and dangerous. Physical and mental abuse can be crushing. Hayden is learning this firsthand as she desperately tries to end a failed marriage and begin a new life. Seckman knows how to build problems for her protagonists. Even though Hayden tries to do what’s right for her young daughter and herself, few people in town are on her side. She files for divorce from Tag, a police officer who can do no wrong in their hometown of Hazelton, West Virginia. Even though he does.
Hayden has two friends, Mark and Cam. She loves them both, but Cam has the key to her heart. Struggles abound in this romance. Abuse. Illness. Death. And trust issues. As in many romances, the two protagonists Hayden and Cam have difficulty trusting each other. Quite a few characters grow and change in this story. For the better. About Us: A Second Chance Novel is an interesting read. Please note, there is profanity in this novel.
May 8, 2024
the beginning
Maybe it’s just me but I could have done without the bad guy turning good at the end. Their was just too much of the bad guy being selfish for me. Bad guys should I always get a beat down, especially when they abuse a woman! But that’s just me!
Maybe it’s just me but I could have done without the bad guy turning good at the end. Their was just too much of the bad guy being selfish for me. Bad guys should I always get a beat down, especially when they abuse a woman! But that’s just me!
October 16, 2020
This was a great read. I couldn't put it down. Loved it
September 20, 2024
Found it hard and long to get into but was a cute story once got into the storyline (also had some very upsetting parts in the book.)
August 20, 2025
I soooo love a swoon worthy hero in a story. And Cam is so swoon worthy
March 27, 2024
This story has some deep triggers. There are also typos and extra words/ missing words. The story however is marvelous!
August 9, 2020
This is a romance that will stick with you for a long time after reading it. The characters are complex and nuanced and the barrier to their relationship - the abusive marriage that the heroine is in - is not something that you can wave a magic wand over and easily resolve. I loved the incredibly realistic push and pull of this storyline. Although you know that you're going to get a "happily ever after" when you read a romance, A Second Chance is so well written with many twists and turns that I was on the edge of my seat eagerly wanting to see how they would overcome the obstacles and get together in the end. A fantastic read!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews