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Love Hurts #2
Single by Design
Sara's one hundred percent done with men.
Travis has never had any luck with the ladies.
Sometimes the best relationships are the ones you never see coming.
Between raising her rambunctious son, owning a business, and coming face-to-face with the ghosts of her childhood, Sara Collins has her hands full.
Investing in yet another man who's bound to let her down is the last thing she needs.
Travis Nichols is one of her brother's best friends and all-around good guy.
The only thing more painful than his injured ankle might be his difficulty talking to women. If only all of them were like Sara, he'd have it made.
As Sara wrestles with her past, will Travis help her embrace the future?
If you enjoy slow-burn romantic comedies, you'll flip for SINGLE BY DESIGN. Because love hurts. But it's kind of funny.
Travis has never had any luck with the ladies.
Sometimes the best relationships are the ones you never see coming.
Between raising her rambunctious son, owning a business, and coming face-to-face with the ghosts of her childhood, Sara Collins has her hands full.
Investing in yet another man who's bound to let her down is the last thing she needs.
Travis Nichols is one of her brother's best friends and all-around good guy.
The only thing more painful than his injured ankle might be his difficulty talking to women. If only all of them were like Sara, he'd have it made.
As Sara wrestles with her past, will Travis help her embrace the future?
If you enjoy slow-burn romantic comedies, you'll flip for SINGLE BY DESIGN. Because love hurts. But it's kind of funny.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2018
128 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Roseanne Beck
11 books68 followersRoseanne Beck is an award-winning author of Romantic Comedies whose writing style has been characterized as “witty and funny and a little bit sexy.”
She loves to make things awkward for her characters, and her stories tend to feature strong, flawed women, injured men, and a hint of the paranormal.
Physician by day, she uses a mixture of writing, laughter, and 80s music to help relieve stress.
*2019 National Indie Excellence Award winner for Romantic Comedy*
*A 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal winner for Chick Lit*
*5-star Readers’ Favorite Romantic Comedies*
Find her at
https://twitter.com/RBeckWrites
https://www.facebook.com/RoseanneBeck...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rosea...
She loves to make things awkward for her characters, and her stories tend to feature strong, flawed women, injured men, and a hint of the paranormal.
Physician by day, she uses a mixture of writing, laughter, and 80s music to help relieve stress.
*2019 National Indie Excellence Award winner for Romantic Comedy*
*A 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal winner for Chick Lit*
*5-star Readers’ Favorite Romantic Comedies*
Find her at
https://twitter.com/RBeckWrites
https://www.facebook.com/RoseanneBeck...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rosea...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
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March 21, 2020🎁 The complete Love Hurts Series (3 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (3/21/2020)! 🎁
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March 20, 2019A laugh out loud romp of a read, “Single by Design” is a humorous romance out to steal your heart.
Read full review in the 2019 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 6, 2020
FREE today (March 21, 2020) on Amazon.
November 11, 2018
I discovered this book through another author, and without knowing what to expect I agreed to read an advance copy. Oh, my goodness, I can’t recall the last time I laughed so much reading a book! Initially I agreed because the reluctant heroine who’s been burned before, plus a shy hero, are just my cup of tea; I hadn’t expected Jackie’s irreverent and hysterical sense of humor. Kyle, Sara’s 8-year-old, is an innocent but astute observer who helps drive the action and is entirely likable (without being saccharine), while Nick is everything a big brother should be. Nana is an interesting touch, too. The story is told entirely from Sara’s point of view, which is unusual, and in the present tense, which takes some getting used to. As a result, the reader only knows as much about Travis as Sara does, while at the same time knowing a lot more about Sara’s feelings than she does. Her attraction to Travis develops so gradually she takes a very long time to realize what’s happened, and indeed while much of it seems plausible, I did kind of want to give her a shake (or three) on that score. I also thought the sub-plot with her father was a little distracting, though I suppose one could argue that’s a distraction for Sara from her other issues. I enjoyed this book even more than I expected to, and will happily read more from Roseanne Beck. A good 4.5 star adventure!
November 20, 2018
Can Sara hold to her no man resolution now that her big brother lives next door?😕
November 17, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍Fun romance with single, professional mom Sara swearing off love and romance but finding that resolutions are often made to be broken. The whole story is told from Sara's point of view and her dry humor in thought and dialogue is one of the best parts of the story. Touching discussions with her son and a subplot related to her disconnect with her abusive father who now suffers from dementia bring some serious notes to an otherwise upbeat and entertaining romance.
Hero Travis and the supporting characters are likable, the writing good and the story moves quickly, never lagging, right up to its satisfying conclusion. The romance built gradually and was playful, not graphic or explicit, in a style I felt fit well with the tenor of the rest of the story and that I really liked. I read it in one afternoon and had a great time, chuckles included.😁
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 17, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍Fun romance with single, professional mom Sara swearing off love and romance but finding that resolutions are often made to be broken. The whole story is told from Sara's point of view and her dry humor in thought and dialogue is one of the best parts of the story. Touching discussions with her son and a subplot related to her disconnect with her abusive father who now suffers from dementia bring some serious notes to an otherwise upbeat and entertaining romance.
Hero Travis and the supporting characters are likable, the writing good and the story moves quickly, never lagging, right up to its satisfying conclusion. The romance built gradually and was playful, not graphic or explicit, in a style I felt fit well with the tenor of the rest of the story and that I really liked. I read it in one afternoon and had a great time, chuckles included.😁
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 8, 2018
This was my first novel by Roseanne Beck and I loved it. It had a great cast of characters and it was full of humour, love and a few tears too. The h, Sara is back in her hometown so that her son Kyle can have a positive male role model with her brother, and is afraid to get into a serious relationship. Her return home has been marked by tension given her childhood of abuse at her fathers hand and her guilt at not visiting him at the care home now that her father has dementia. The H, Travis is a shy man with some secrets. I loved how well the H&h interacted and you can see the relationship building. This was the second book in the series and is a standalone. Overall, a very enjoyable funny book.
November 18, 2018
I really loved this book. This was my first book by Roseanne and I fell in love with her writing.
It was wonderful how their relationship was slowly progressing from strangest to friends and finally to lovers. It was an amazing transition. I was expecting it and really loved how shy he was.
Travis is super sexy and super shy. He is not good with spoken word - well until he gets comfortable with people. I loved that about him.
Sara is goofy and talkative - a little too much, but it made the book that much more funny and exciting.
I also loved Kyle - he is Sara's eight year old. I can relate to them because I also have a seven year old at home. Kyle is amazing and I am always glad when the kids are included in a book. He is smart, funny and very perceptive.
It was wonderful how their relationship was slowly progressing from strangest to friends and finally to lovers. It was an amazing transition. I was expecting it and really loved how shy he was.
Travis is super sexy and super shy. He is not good with spoken word - well until he gets comfortable with people. I loved that about him.
Sara is goofy and talkative - a little too much, but it made the book that much more funny and exciting.
I also loved Kyle - he is Sara's eight year old. I can relate to them because I also have a seven year old at home. Kyle is amazing and I am always glad when the kids are included in a book. He is smart, funny and very perceptive.
September 5, 2020
I feel like my three star review is definitely the minority of the reviews here. It seem most people are rating this one higher. I think it’s one of those cases where it’s best to consider the fact that much of my review is based on my personal likes and dislikes, and, while there are some criticisms of the actual book, definitely take into account personal tastes.
This is the second book in the Love Hurts series. We met Sara and Travis in book one (thank you for that. I am a HUGE fan of already knowing both characters before we get to that interconnected, second book) Sara is Nick's sister, and Travis is one of Nick's best friends. Sara is a single mom to the very cute, very funny Kyle. I love all of the interactions between Kyle and the adults in this books. Writing kids in a book can be tricky. Kyle was a realistic eight year old.
I did feel this book was a bit too similar to the first in the fact that, in the first, Paige and Nick end up getting to know each other so well because Nick breaks his arm. In this book, it's Travis who severely springs his ankle. While Sara doesn't play nurse to him quite in the same way, she starts off their friendship by going and checking on him, and running some of his errands for him (Kyle's idea, because he is putting off doing homework, and has a bit of a hero worship thing for Travis)
Sara has had bad luck with men in her past (we really only hear about Kyle's dad a bit). Travis is shy, and doesn't know how to talk to women. But, because Sara is Nick's sister, and therefore not someone Travis sees as available, even though it's clear he is attracted to her, he has no trouble talking to her. Sara finds out about Travis' issues and decides to help him by going on a few "fake" dates with him.
I found this book to move even slower than the first, which was really slow. And, I don't really understand books that have profanity, talk a little about sex, use innuendo, but then have completely fade to black sex scenes. Like, um, no, all of that build up and then we get "the sex was great"? I just find it odd. The flow was weird.
We also had the part of the story with Sara trying to forgive her father, and include him in Kyle's life. We learned in the first book that Sara and Nick's dad has dementia, and is in a nursing home. Nick has been taking care of everything, because Sara has been unable to forgive her dad for the years of abuse she suffered at his hands. I guess the author is trying to teach forgiveness, but Sara was beaten by her dad for nothing more than reminding him of her mom (who Sara looks like) and we are supposed to root for her to just forgive him and be in his life? No. I think she could have forgiven him, but been like, he doesn't need to see me or my child for me to have that forgiveness. Forgiving and forgetting do not have to go together. It's also shown that their dad still has some bad days, so why subject a child to that?
I did like that Paige's Nana is still around causing trouble. I missed Nick, who is by far the best character thus far in this series. (Sara comes in a close second)
There's one book left in the series. While I haven't loved the series thus far, I have it on my Kindle already, so I probably will read it, but I doubt I blow through it. I think it will be one of those that I read a few pages at a time (thus eventually finishing the series) while I am also reading something that I'm actually enjoying much more.
This is the second book in the Love Hurts series. We met Sara and Travis in book one (thank you for that. I am a HUGE fan of already knowing both characters before we get to that interconnected, second book) Sara is Nick's sister, and Travis is one of Nick's best friends. Sara is a single mom to the very cute, very funny Kyle. I love all of the interactions between Kyle and the adults in this books. Writing kids in a book can be tricky. Kyle was a realistic eight year old.
I did feel this book was a bit too similar to the first in the fact that, in the first, Paige and Nick end up getting to know each other so well because Nick breaks his arm. In this book, it's Travis who severely springs his ankle. While Sara doesn't play nurse to him quite in the same way, she starts off their friendship by going and checking on him, and running some of his errands for him (Kyle's idea, because he is putting off doing homework, and has a bit of a hero worship thing for Travis)
Sara has had bad luck with men in her past (we really only hear about Kyle's dad a bit). Travis is shy, and doesn't know how to talk to women. But, because Sara is Nick's sister, and therefore not someone Travis sees as available, even though it's clear he is attracted to her, he has no trouble talking to her. Sara finds out about Travis' issues and decides to help him by going on a few "fake" dates with him.
I found this book to move even slower than the first, which was really slow. And, I don't really understand books that have profanity, talk a little about sex, use innuendo, but then have completely fade to black sex scenes. Like, um, no, all of that build up and then we get "the sex was great"? I just find it odd. The flow was weird.
We also had the part of the story with Sara trying to forgive her father, and include him in Kyle's life. We learned in the first book that Sara and Nick's dad has dementia, and is in a nursing home. Nick has been taking care of everything, because Sara has been unable to forgive her dad for the years of abuse she suffered at his hands. I guess the author is trying to teach forgiveness, but Sara was beaten by her dad for nothing more than reminding him of her mom (who Sara looks like) and we are supposed to root for her to just forgive him and be in his life? No. I think she could have forgiven him, but been like, he doesn't need to see me or my child for me to have that forgiveness. Forgiving and forgetting do not have to go together. It's also shown that their dad still has some bad days, so why subject a child to that?
I did like that Paige's Nana is still around causing trouble. I missed Nick, who is by far the best character thus far in this series. (Sara comes in a close second)
There's one book left in the series. While I haven't loved the series thus far, I have it on my Kindle already, so I probably will read it, but I doubt I blow through it. I think it will be one of those that I read a few pages at a time (thus eventually finishing the series) while I am also reading something that I'm actually enjoying much more.
November 26, 2018
Holy gyrating lightsaber !
Sara has just moved back to her hometown. She decides to help her brother's shy friend with women.... you can guess what happens.
I did not read the first book which is Nick and Paige's story.
I will say the gyrating lightsaber scene cracked me up, I laughed so hard I was crying. That would be something that would happen to me.
I look forward to Ellie's story. I hope that her and Clay somehow end up together. He's a womanizer from what little we know of him from this book.
I definitely would recommend this book and will go back to read the first one.
Sara has just moved back to her hometown. She decides to help her brother's shy friend with women.... you can guess what happens.
I did not read the first book which is Nick and Paige's story.
I will say the gyrating lightsaber scene cracked me up, I laughed so hard I was crying. That would be something that would happen to me.
I look forward to Ellie's story. I hope that her and Clay somehow end up together. He's a womanizer from what little we know of him from this book.
I definitely would recommend this book and will go back to read the first one.
March 4, 2020
Loving this series!
I started with Nick and Paige...and moved on to Travis and Sara. This author definitely deserves the “follow” click she just got! Love the laughs and dynamics. And was totally impressed by the medical accuracy - which began making sense after I read the bio. The book is well edited, and flows really well. My only complaint is that I want the extended epilogue - (how many sisters does Kyle end up with before he gets the preferred baby brother?! Is Ellie going to become a yoga teaching doula to get them through pregnancy? Is Ellie going to hook up with Clay?! Sooooo many questions!!!) I need an ending so I can stop dreaming up my own!
I started with Nick and Paige...and moved on to Travis and Sara. This author definitely deserves the “follow” click she just got! Love the laughs and dynamics. And was totally impressed by the medical accuracy - which began making sense after I read the bio. The book is well edited, and flows really well. My only complaint is that I want the extended epilogue - (how many sisters does Kyle end up with before he gets the preferred baby brother?! Is Ellie going to become a yoga teaching doula to get them through pregnancy? Is Ellie going to hook up with Clay?! Sooooo many questions!!!) I need an ending so I can stop dreaming up my own!
November 14, 2018
Hilarious and heart warming!
After Sara and her son move back to her hometown hoping that her brother can be the father figure he needs in her life. Her father had been abusive but now is suffering with dementia that has changed his personality considerably at times. She meets Travis, her brother's best friend, and they easily relate to each other. Laughs, tears, and generally sensitive. The characters, story, and writing make for a really good read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
After Sara and her son move back to her hometown hoping that her brother can be the father figure he needs in her life. Her father had been abusive but now is suffering with dementia that has changed his personality considerably at times. She meets Travis, her brother's best friend, and they easily relate to each other. Laughs, tears, and generally sensitive. The characters, story, and writing make for a really good read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
February 14, 2019
Sara a single mom, moves home to live next door to her brother, and when introduced to his friends, finds her self interested in one of them, and they become friends. He is the quiet shy guy who is a bit of the odd man out when it comes to dating, but he and Sara's son become fast friends and he has no trouble talking to Sara about normal things. Soon they find their friendship turning into more.
this book was a wonderful read, it had depth, and great characters who made you feel as if you were right there a part of their lives.
I received and arc of this story that i happily reviewed
this book was a wonderful read, it had depth, and great characters who made you feel as if you were right there a part of their lives.
I received and arc of this story that i happily reviewed
November 4, 2018
Hilarious, charming and heart-warming with a great cast of characters!
How can I not love a story that starts off with an Animaniac reference and just keeps getting better?
Sara and Travis make a great - and funny - couple, and I thoroughly enjoyed their laugh-snort-inducing shenanigans.
Though to be honest, I fell in love with every single one of the characters (well maybe not Clay, though I suspect that might change in the future) - and especially with 8 year old Kyle, who reminded me very much of one of my nephews. <3
This is the first book I've read by this author, but book #1 in the series is now very much on my TBR pile, and I suppose the next book in the series will eventually end up on my Kindle, too.
How can I not love a story that starts off with an Animaniac reference and just keeps getting better?
Sara and Travis make a great - and funny - couple, and I thoroughly enjoyed their laugh-snort-inducing shenanigans.
Though to be honest, I fell in love with every single one of the characters (well maybe not Clay, though I suspect that might change in the future) - and especially with 8 year old Kyle, who reminded me very much of one of my nephews. <3
This is the first book I've read by this author, but book #1 in the series is now very much on my TBR pile, and I suppose the next book in the series will eventually end up on my Kindle, too.
November 18, 2018
I enjoyed this sweet romance. Sara was not looking for love. Hurt by her past, all she wanted was to remain single and raise her son. Travis is her brother’s best friend. Spending time together will things change? I enjoyed as Sara worked through her issues. Reading her feelings and emotions really added to the book. Sara and Travis were great together. Add in time with her son and her brother and you have a story I really liked.
February 9, 2019
Loved this one better than the first one. I think it's because she tries so darn hard with her son, with her brother, tries to help the shy friend of her brothers who she feels she is responsible for him getting injured but she keeps messing up, according to her. She is more like a real person than a lot of characters in books. The ghost granny from both books is great . Whedon do we get the third one?????
July 17, 2019
Completely, Comically Captivating!
This book is even better than Turn the Paige, a real hoot, but also very real and touching. Sara, Nick, their father, Travis, Nana, Paige and especially the precocious Kyle, are all characters, and I mean that in the funniest sense. I won't recap events so as not to spoil for other new readers, but I highly recommend! Shari Broyer, Author of Ether Man.
This book is even better than Turn the Paige, a real hoot, but also very real and touching. Sara, Nick, their father, Travis, Nana, Paige and especially the precocious Kyle, are all characters, and I mean that in the funniest sense. I won't recap events so as not to spoil for other new readers, but I highly recommend! Shari Broyer, Author of Ether Man.
September 6, 2021
What do you get when you combine a woman with absolutely no filter and a tendency to blurt out whatever she’s thinking, a man who has no “woman skills” and is so shy he has trouble ordering coffee from the barista, and a dead nana that appears out of nowhere? A hilariously funny rom-com featuring wonderful characters, laugh out loud scenes, and never-ending smiles. Single by Design is a feel good story that is pure entertainment.
November 6, 2018
I really enjoyed Single By Design. The cast of characters is amazing - especially Kyle and Nana, Paige's dead grandmother. This is a laugh out loud, friends to lovers romance. A more serious portion of the story deals with the aftermath of childhood abuse and the need to forgive in order to heal completely. This book should be enjoyed by most readers.
November 23, 2018
Single by design is a humorous, romance with some great characters. There is a lot going on and I found I Could skim read and still know what was going on. If you want a gentle, funny, slow romance with a HEA then you will probably enjoy this book.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.
August 10, 2019
Really good series
Loved this author's use of emotional angst and how there's a continuation of the without being boring. The only thing I would point out is the similarities between characters mannerisms but that could be chalked up to being long time friends. Lovedthe use of music as character in the 1st book could have used more in this one
Loved this author's use of emotional angst and how there's a continuation of the without being boring. The only thing I would point out is the similarities between characters mannerisms but that could be chalked up to being long time friends. Lovedthe use of music as character in the 1st book could have used more in this one
July 23, 2020
Fun and easy to read romance
The data continues with two more characters within this right storyline. A good dose of humor is added when Nick's sister starts dating one of his best friends. A sweet, PG13 romance follows. Not one to purchase series lightly, I didn't even hesitate to download the 3rd one!
The data continues with two more characters within this right storyline. A good dose of humor is added when Nick's sister starts dating one of his best friends. A sweet, PG13 romance follows. Not one to purchase series lightly, I didn't even hesitate to download the 3rd one!
November 30, 2018
Great book
This is a great book! I read the first in the series and enjoyed it very much, so I got the next one. You will enjoy the character's, the story line, the humor and the great ending.
This is a great book! I read the first in the series and enjoyed it very much, so I got the next one. You will enjoy the character's, the story line, the humor and the great ending.
January 7, 2019
I really liked this book.
It has humor, unexpected twists and romance.
The characters are so quirky and the story is refreshing.
This is the first book by this author that I have read but hope to continue.
It has humor, unexpected twists and romance.
The characters are so quirky and the story is refreshing.
This is the first book by this author that I have read but hope to continue.
June 7, 2019
This was an enjoyable, but incredibly innapropriate book.
There was light banter and a fun brother-sister relationship, but there were sweat dropped on every page and in most sentences. There was also a focus on lust instead of love, which I disliked.
All in all I would not recommend it.
There was light banter and a fun brother-sister relationship, but there were sweat dropped on every page and in most sentences. There was also a focus on lust instead of love, which I disliked.
All in all I would not recommend it.
December 25, 2019
Love this book.
Finished this book in one day. Really into Nana. Wonder if more in depth Nana is in the works? Really understand the childhood/parental issues. Love how this author dealt with the two siblings.
Finished this book in one day. Really into Nana. Wonder if more in depth Nana is in the works? Really understand the childhood/parental issues. Love how this author dealt with the two siblings.
November 18, 2018
Happy! This book makes me happy. Sweet & sexy story of single mom with brothers best friend love story. Everyone has some extra baggage, but it all works out for a HEA.
November 23, 2018
I enjoyed Sara & Travis' story. Loved the characters & it was highly entertaining. What a fun book. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book.
December 29, 2018
I’m so glad that Amazon suggested this book. It was so funny! If I wasn’t laughing or chuckling, I was smiling. The dialog was quick and witty. Loved it!
February 11, 2019
I really loved this book and hope that there is another one. It was as good as the first one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews