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A Different Sort of Love Affair
Portia Fitzsimmons is a talented writer with crippling anxiety that serves as a constant reminder of her troubled past. She's accepted living a quiet existence with a small circle of friends - utterly invisible to the rest of the world.
Edgar Schmidt is a brilliant neuroscientist who's retreated into solitude after the accident that changed his life - leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
Their story begins as a fascinating conversation in a quiet library at a party neither of them wish to attend.
Portia and Edgar aren't prepared for the feelings that develop as they get to know each other but realize they can't allow what might be their only chance at happiness slip away.
Edgar Schmidt is a brilliant neuroscientist who's retreated into solitude after the accident that changed his life - leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
Their story begins as a fascinating conversation in a quiet library at a party neither of them wish to attend.
Portia and Edgar aren't prepared for the feelings that develop as they get to know each other but realize they can't allow what might be their only chance at happiness slip away.
- GenresRomance
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2021
27 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Shayne McClendon
82 books620 followersShayne McClendon is the author of more than fifty published books and over six hundred short stories (and counting).
She writes heart-pounding romantic fiction as Shayne McClendon, thrilling paranormal romance as Sabrina Rue, and LGBTQ+ action-packed erotica as Charlize Rojos. Recently, she started writing light novels as Honeycomb and is absolutely loving how fun it is!
Shayne spends most of her waking hours writing in one genre or another. Currently living in Tulsa, Oklahoma near her kids (who are all grown up now) and kept company by the best furry companions on the planet, this author takes the hermit lifestyle to a whole different level.
Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.
If you’re looking for your next great read...look no further than Shayne McClendon! Her dramatic and erotic romances will grab hold and not let you go until the very last page.
Stop by her website Always the Good Girl and read short stories for free!
She writes heart-pounding romantic fiction as Shayne McClendon, thrilling paranormal romance as Sabrina Rue, and LGBTQ+ action-packed erotica as Charlize Rojos. Recently, she started writing light novels as Honeycomb and is absolutely loving how fun it is!
Shayne spends most of her waking hours writing in one genre or another. Currently living in Tulsa, Oklahoma near her kids (who are all grown up now) and kept company by the best furry companions on the planet, this author takes the hermit lifestyle to a whole different level.
Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.
If you’re looking for your next great read...look no further than Shayne McClendon! Her dramatic and erotic romances will grab hold and not let you go until the very last page.
Stop by her website Always the Good Girl and read short stories for free!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 19, 2022
3 1/2 to 4 stars
July 4, 2021
Not really different
There’s a reason why I stopped reading McClendon’s stories: Her characters are all the same. They are perfect with no character flaws. Every single one. Their tragic pasts do not count as flaws. In fact, most of the time they have already done the therapy work and now they just “support” each other as they go through their “rough patches” and maybe one of the group takes work off and moves in with them to “get them through” and the rest of the group drops in from time to time to hold them like babies and constantly cheer “you’re awesome and beautiful and we love you so much!” and yeah it sounds sweet and lovely to see such love and support between a close knit group of friends but when nearly all of her books have this similar group of characters doing the same things, just names and occupations have changed, it becomes trite and boring. There was one thing that was different and that was she included a child as part of the group. Unfortunately, she created this “child” to speak like an adult, justifying this strangeness by making them a genius child prodigy. It was still off putting and I hate when authors make kids mini adults. And the pet name the child used for the main character?Pitty Pat. No. Just no. I cringed every time I read that. The reasons why I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 is because I finished it and because she can still write really hot scenes.
There’s a reason why I stopped reading McClendon’s stories: Her characters are all the same. They are perfect with no character flaws. Every single one. Their tragic pasts do not count as flaws. In fact, most of the time they have already done the therapy work and now they just “support” each other as they go through their “rough patches” and maybe one of the group takes work off and moves in with them to “get them through” and the rest of the group drops in from time to time to hold them like babies and constantly cheer “you’re awesome and beautiful and we love you so much!” and yeah it sounds sweet and lovely to see such love and support between a close knit group of friends but when nearly all of her books have this similar group of characters doing the same things, just names and occupations have changed, it becomes trite and boring. There was one thing that was different and that was she included a child as part of the group. Unfortunately, she created this “child” to speak like an adult, justifying this strangeness by making them a genius child prodigy. It was still off putting and I hate when authors make kids mini adults. And the pet name the child used for the main character?Pitty Pat. No. Just no. I cringed every time I read that. The reasons why I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 is because I finished it and because she can still write really hot scenes.
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August 12, 2021Not worth it. Too soapy in the wrong places and poorly detailed/researched.
August 5, 2021
When Two Broken People Meet
Portia is a 34-year-old author who has mental health issues. She suffers from social anxiety and PTSD. She’s never had a romantic relationship. Strange men terrify her. She has a very small and tight circle of friends who adore her and she adores them back. At a party in her honour, she escapes all the people and hides in the library where she meets a beautiful man in a wheelchair.
Edgar is 40 years old and is the cousin of one of Portia’s circle. She’s never even heard of him despite knowing nearly all of the family of her circle. They spend the next hour talking about books, their mutual passion. Excited beyond words at meeting someone whose intellect fascinates her, Portia finds herself being attracted to a man.
Edgar is a neuroscientist and was a bit of a prodigy in his day, but he ran away from it all, got married and had a child. Sadly, his daughter was killed in the accident that put him in a wheelchair. He has heard lots of stories about Portia from his family, especially his beloved nephew Jacob, who is also Portia’s godson.
Their relationship starts tentatively and hopefully as both try to navigate around their own personal demons without triggering the other person’s. It’s beautiful to see.
This book is wonderfully matter of fact in the way it deals with mental illness, PTSD and physical disabilities. It states the condition and its effects without pity or any overemotional response. We watch two damaged people learn to love each other and like themselves just a little bit more. I love the support they are given by their friends and their happiness as they watch Portia and Edgar grow.
I really love the way that Portia and Edgar start to explore their sexuality despite their individual hang-ups. They are both intelligent people who like research!
I will say that Shayne McClendon’s writing can sometimes be a little cerebral, and that is certainly the case with this book. A lot of the emotions feel a bit muted because of the way the author describes them. In some respects, that’s a good thing because a lot of the subject matter is difficult and disturbing. Facing these subjects through the veil of intellect makes it easier to read about without being too disturbed.
I haven’t checked yet, but I really hope that this isn’t a complete one-off and that there are other books written about these wonderful people because I really like all the characters that we meet in this book and want to know about their lives too. If not, I’ll just have to imagine their stories instead.
Portia is a 34-year-old author who has mental health issues. She suffers from social anxiety and PTSD. She’s never had a romantic relationship. Strange men terrify her. She has a very small and tight circle of friends who adore her and she adores them back. At a party in her honour, she escapes all the people and hides in the library where she meets a beautiful man in a wheelchair.
Edgar is 40 years old and is the cousin of one of Portia’s circle. She’s never even heard of him despite knowing nearly all of the family of her circle. They spend the next hour talking about books, their mutual passion. Excited beyond words at meeting someone whose intellect fascinates her, Portia finds herself being attracted to a man.
Edgar is a neuroscientist and was a bit of a prodigy in his day, but he ran away from it all, got married and had a child. Sadly, his daughter was killed in the accident that put him in a wheelchair. He has heard lots of stories about Portia from his family, especially his beloved nephew Jacob, who is also Portia’s godson.
Their relationship starts tentatively and hopefully as both try to navigate around their own personal demons without triggering the other person’s. It’s beautiful to see.
This book is wonderfully matter of fact in the way it deals with mental illness, PTSD and physical disabilities. It states the condition and its effects without pity or any overemotional response. We watch two damaged people learn to love each other and like themselves just a little bit more. I love the support they are given by their friends and their happiness as they watch Portia and Edgar grow.
I really love the way that Portia and Edgar start to explore their sexuality despite their individual hang-ups. They are both intelligent people who like research!
I will say that Shayne McClendon’s writing can sometimes be a little cerebral, and that is certainly the case with this book. A lot of the emotions feel a bit muted because of the way the author describes them. In some respects, that’s a good thing because a lot of the subject matter is difficult and disturbing. Facing these subjects through the veil of intellect makes it easier to read about without being too disturbed.
I haven’t checked yet, but I really hope that this isn’t a complete one-off and that there are other books written about these wonderful people because I really like all the characters that we meet in this book and want to know about their lives too. If not, I’ll just have to imagine their stories instead.
October 24, 2021
As the title indicates, this was certainly a different kind of love affair and divergence from the typical romance novel tropes. I thought Edgar and Portia had good banter and chemistry. The way that Portia's friend rallied around her was great, but it also seemed like they weren't characters individually and were only there to be the crutches for her. I also felt like I missed something- this was a standalone book, but I felt like these were characters with such little background that with how many there were, this should have been one in a series of interconnected plots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
Emotionally perfect
Portia and Edgar are the most complex and devastatingly most gorgeous couple. Reading their story left me in a range of emotions I can't explain. They take you on a path that is both beautiful and painful till the end. I've read many many of Shayne's stories but this one always leaves me hoping. Read the story and feel the emotions of pain loss anger sorrow and joy created within the words. It touches on a subject many would hide from and bury. It hits to home from a past trauma but I swear it was the purge I needed. Hope you love it as much as I did and many others as well. You won't be disappointed.
Portia and Edgar are the most complex and devastatingly most gorgeous couple. Reading their story left me in a range of emotions I can't explain. They take you on a path that is both beautiful and painful till the end. I've read many many of Shayne's stories but this one always leaves me hoping. Read the story and feel the emotions of pain loss anger sorrow and joy created within the words. It touches on a subject many would hide from and bury. It hits to home from a past trauma but I swear it was the purge I needed. Hope you love it as much as I did and many others as well. You won't be disappointed.
July 9, 2021
Very Good
From the very beginning of this book, even before Jane Eyre and the mentions of the Recency Era and the adopted nicknames of Lord and Lady, I was reading this in a voice more suited to narrating an English period drama. In my head, everyone had posh English accents. But what a wonderful group of friends and family, drawn together initially through a traumatic bond. But they make for an ultimately uplifting story.
From the very beginning of this book, even before Jane Eyre and the mentions of the Recency Era and the adopted nicknames of Lord and Lady, I was reading this in a voice more suited to narrating an English period drama. In my head, everyone had posh English accents. But what a wonderful group of friends and family, drawn together initially through a traumatic bond. But they make for an ultimately uplifting story.
June 30, 2021
Portia and Edgar
I wasn’t so sure at the beginning of the book. I feared this was going to be depressing and frankly, depressing was not what I needed. But I have great respect for this author, so I continued. Then I just became so wrapped in the story that I forgot about everything but reading what was next. It was not depressing. It left me with hope and a feeling of joy. So very glad I read this whole story. It’s a different but so very very good.
I wasn’t so sure at the beginning of the book. I feared this was going to be depressing and frankly, depressing was not what I needed. But I have great respect for this author, so I continued. Then I just became so wrapped in the story that I forgot about everything but reading what was next. It was not depressing. It left me with hope and a feeling of joy. So very glad I read this whole story. It’s a different but so very very good.
June 22, 2021
Just what I needed.
Given the last few years of life in turmoil, this story was just what I needed to escape from reality and read a story of hope. Portia and Edgar capture my interest and heart from the beginning. I didn't want this story to end. Well done, Ms Mcclendon, well done.
Given the last few years of life in turmoil, this story was just what I needed to escape from reality and read a story of hope. Portia and Edgar capture my interest and heart from the beginning. I didn't want this story to end. Well done, Ms Mcclendon, well done.
June 23, 2021
Shayne writes the most beautiful stories. This one is an old fashioned romance so be prepared to swoon at Edgar’s wheelchaired feet. He’s just the most romantic character I’ve read in a long time. Edgar and Portia live in isolated worlds. But when brought together, they must create a new one so old sorrows can be left behind. Grab this and enjoy a heartwarming and emotional story.
June 23, 2021
Emotionally gripping
I am not a writer so coming up with adequate words to describe this book is difficult but I will try. This story is raw. It is real. It breaks your heart the same time as it fills you with hope. This author never fails to bring me to my knees. Outstanding story!
I am not a writer so coming up with adequate words to describe this book is difficult but I will try. This story is raw. It is real. It breaks your heart the same time as it fills you with hope. This author never fails to bring me to my knees. Outstanding story!
September 7, 2021
Lovers come along when least expected.
A lovely and moving story about a support group of friends damaged by life, but learning to live and love with the help of each other and two people who find a deep and passionate love in spite of physical and emotional limitations. I,m a hopeless romantic who couldn't stop reading until the end. A book for all who have ever been in love.
A lovely and moving story about a support group of friends damaged by life, but learning to live and love with the help of each other and two people who find a deep and passionate love in spite of physical and emotional limitations. I,m a hopeless romantic who couldn't stop reading until the end. A book for all who have ever been in love.
April 20, 2023
Beautiful story!
Shayne McClendon writes the most beautiful stories! Edgar and Portia's story is not typical in romance which makes all the better. These two broken people are better together and it is so realistically written you feel you really know them 5 stars for this and all her stories! Loved it!
Shayne McClendon writes the most beautiful stories! Edgar and Portia's story is not typical in romance which makes all the better. These two broken people are better together and it is so realistically written you feel you really know them 5 stars for this and all her stories! Loved it!
June 24, 2021
Excellent Read!!
Shayne, you’ve done it again! This really spoke to me as a person who doesn’t always take traditional paths in life. These are awesome characters and I felt like I was in the story. Thank you.
Shayne, you’ve done it again! This really spoke to me as a person who doesn’t always take traditional paths in life. These are awesome characters and I felt like I was in the story. Thank you.
August 10, 2021
Great long book and hoping it starting a series
I love reading the longer story's. I think I need to go back and start again. That was awesome and look forward to a series with all the FRIENDS. The world of the Schmidt's. Please be as wonderful as Bri's
I love reading the longer story's. I think I need to go back and start again. That was awesome and look forward to a series with all the FRIENDS. The world of the Schmidt's. Please be as wonderful as Bri's
June 24, 2021
Love story with heart
Another wonderful story. This one will grab you and pull you in. Starting reading and couldn't stop till I finished
Another wonderful story. This one will grab you and pull you in. Starting reading and couldn't stop till I finished
March 9, 2023
a wonderful love story
I am in love with this book! The friend dynamics. Everything the love between all the characters was beautifully written
I am in love with this book! The friend dynamics. Everything the love between all the characters was beautifully written
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews