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Loving Jessie
Returning to his hometown to find solace and reconnect with his family, photojournalist Matt Latimer finds his life irrevocably changed when his childhood friend Jessie Sinclair decides that she wants a baby, forcing him to choose between friendship and the promise of newfound love. Original.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
4 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Dallas Schulze
89 books70 followersBorn and raised in Colorado, Dallas Schulze now lives in California. She sold her first book in October 1983. It was published under her pseudonym Dallas Hamlin in the Candlelight Ecstasy Romance line. She loves happy ending and wrote category romances, contemporaries and historicals for Harlequin, Silhouette, Dell and Mira. Her latest title was published in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 24, 2010
I wanted to read this book for no reason other than because I liked the title. Me shallow? Yeah, so what's new. At least I scored big time finding this gem!
Matt & Reilly have been the best of friends since childhood; and Jessie, ten years their junior is much like the kid sister neither one of them have. The story begins 20 years after Matt & Reilly have graduated from high school. Matt, a famous photographer, is coming home to heal from a bullet wound inflicted when he was caught in the crossfire of an outburst he was capturing on film in the Middle East. He immediately hooks up with Reilly who is now married and with Jessie who is no longer the scrawny kid sister but a beautiful 29-yr-old woman. As the story progresses, Matt begins to develop some serious feelings for Jessie; however he can see she is still "in love" with Reilly. That might be, but Jessie knows the situation is as hopeless as it was when she was 16. However, she is feeling like life is passing her by...she has never been interested enough in one guy to consider marriage but she is dying to be a mother. So...why not? She asks Matt to father her child.
At first, Matt is stunned, insulted and more than a little disgusted. But after thinking things over, he agrees to Jessie's idea on one condition - they do it right and get married.
What follows is a very realistic journey of two people who go from being friends to becoming lovers and ultimately falling in love. The characters are so fleshed-out that you feel as though you know them personally...you laugh with them, cry with them and feel the need to comfort them when they are hurting. You want to know how they are doing past the epilogue...and not just Matt & Jessie but Reilly and his wife Dana as well (whose secondary story is also very touching). Of course there are times when you want to bitch-slap Jessie, or turn her upside down and shake her until her brains fall back into place. Come to think of it, you might feel the urge to do the same to Dana. Her hubby slept with someone else but instead of dealing with it she just gets sloshed. If Reilly tried pleading his pathetic "it was just one time" excuse to me, I would punch his lights out and then get sloshed. But I digress...
this is definitely a story you will remember long after finishing the book!
One last honorable mention ~ Matt Latimer has to be one of the sexiest heroes in a contemporary romance. Jack Sheridan who? There's just something about a shirtless guy, tanned and muscular, in faded levis "riding low" (as the author continuously reminds us) on his hips.
(Knowing that he's a god in bed doesn't hurt the image either!)
I recommend Loving Jessie to all the good citizens of Romancelandia!
5*****
Matt & Reilly have been the best of friends since childhood; and Jessie, ten years their junior is much like the kid sister neither one of them have. The story begins 20 years after Matt & Reilly have graduated from high school. Matt, a famous photographer, is coming home to heal from a bullet wound inflicted when he was caught in the crossfire of an outburst he was capturing on film in the Middle East. He immediately hooks up with Reilly who is now married and with Jessie who is no longer the scrawny kid sister but a beautiful 29-yr-old woman. As the story progresses, Matt begins to develop some serious feelings for Jessie; however he can see she is still "in love" with Reilly. That might be, but Jessie knows the situation is as hopeless as it was when she was 16. However, she is feeling like life is passing her by...she has never been interested enough in one guy to consider marriage but she is dying to be a mother. So...why not? She asks Matt to father her child.
At first, Matt is stunned, insulted and more than a little disgusted. But after thinking things over, he agrees to Jessie's idea on one condition - they do it right and get married.
What follows is a very realistic journey of two people who go from being friends to becoming lovers and ultimately falling in love. The characters are so fleshed-out that you feel as though you know them personally...you laugh with them, cry with them and feel the need to comfort them when they are hurting. You want to know how they are doing past the epilogue...and not just Matt & Jessie but Reilly and his wife Dana as well (whose secondary story is also very touching). Of course there are times when you want to bitch-slap Jessie, or turn her upside down and shake her until her brains fall back into place. Come to think of it, you might feel the urge to do the same to Dana. Her hubby slept with someone else but instead of dealing with it she just gets sloshed. If Reilly tried pleading his pathetic "it was just one time" excuse to me, I would punch his lights out and then get sloshed. But I digress...
this is definitely a story you will remember long after finishing the book!
One last honorable mention ~ Matt Latimer has to be one of the sexiest heroes in a contemporary romance. Jack Sheridan who? There's just something about a shirtless guy, tanned and muscular, in faded levis "riding low" (as the author continuously reminds us) on his hips.
(Knowing that he's a god in bed doesn't hurt the image either!)
I recommend Loving Jessie to all the good citizens of Romancelandia!
5*****
June 30, 2016
This is one of my favorite books by this author.
It had everything that makes romance great.
The hero is just the most amazing hot guy ever and I totally wanted her to love him. How she did not have a major crush on him in high school I have no idea!? He is one of my book husband for sure.
The heroine I can totally relate to. She loves to bake and when she is stressed that her go to stress release. (My husband tells me he can tell what kind of day I have had when he gets home at night and I have baked more then one thing). She was funny and talks a mile a minute. Again totally relate. The only thing that got me mad was that he had that stupid crush on her married best friend!!! She thought it was love but it was not.
This is one book that should have had only the main characters points of views and no secondary. It was awesome how she had the nerve to ask her childhood friend to be the baby daddy!
I just loved it and have read it over 5 times. It never gets old.
Keeper and on my fav list.
It had everything that makes romance great.
The hero is just the most amazing hot guy ever and I totally wanted her to love him. How she did not have a major crush on him in high school I have no idea!? He is one of my book husband for sure.
The heroine I can totally relate to. She loves to bake and when she is stressed that her go to stress release. (My husband tells me he can tell what kind of day I have had when he gets home at night and I have baked more then one thing). She was funny and talks a mile a minute. Again totally relate. The only thing that got me mad was that he had that stupid crush on her married best friend!!! She thought it was love but it was not.
This is one book that should have had only the main characters points of views and no secondary. It was awesome how she had the nerve to ask her childhood friend to be the baby daddy!
I just loved it and have read it over 5 times. It never gets old.
Keeper and on my fav list.
December 10, 2023
Warm and fuzzy.
March 5, 2011
I have been looking for another Dallas Schultz book since I read Substitute Wife, which was a favorite book of mine. SW just hit the right chord for me, I have seen some mixed, average reviews for SW, but I loved it. Loving Jessie was very close. Loving Jessie was an easy, feel good book, with rich characters and no villains just a few bad choices. It starts out so light and fun, but becomes serious and much deeper.
Can you ever go home again? That is the question the hero, Matt Latimer, is going to find out after being shot in the shoulder on location of his war zoned photo shoot. He comes back to tiny Miller's Crossing looking for family connections knowing he has only a recluse, protective brother and bad memories of his abusive and alcoholic parents. As he returns home he first sees the tag along girl from his youth, Jessie Sinclair. Jessie, even though 9 years younger, adored Matt and his best friend Reilly and followed them everywhere and they reciprocated her feelings. Jessie although cared for both Matt and Reilly, fell madly in love with Reilly - although never letting him know and Reilly never noticed. Reilly is the local big shot of the town, UCLA football player (as was Matt), of a prominent family who married a beautiful beauty pageant queen and broke Jessie's heart. Reilly is clueless of this of course and therefore not a bad guy, but another engaging character.
First thing Matt notices on his return is Jessie is a beautiful woman, no longer the scrawny kid that he had to carry and save from their many adventures. Reilly was always Jessie's ideal heartthrob, but Matt was the one who took care of her, sacrificed for her and protected her. Jessie was a breath of fresh air, so likable and comfortable with everyone, as well as very grounded. I loved how she would ramble when she became nervous and Matt loved it too. Since she was raised by her loving grandfather and no longer has any living relatives she wants a baby. Family is so important to her and after a passionate kiss from Matt that came out of nowhere, she decides he will be the father. She makes him a proposition and he counters with marriage.
This changes everything and it was wonderful to see how Jessie and Matt accomplished going against the norm by marrying first courting second. Reilly is confused by his best friends' changes in relationship dynamics and begins to see Jessie differently. He also has problems of his own in trying to save his marriage.
The story did have some emotional elements, but I felt the conflict was resolved and forgiven too quickly and would have liked to see a little more resistance. Besides the quick resolution, there were times where I found myself caught in a too detailed description about something irrelevant especially as you were getting to the good parts- I skimmed those details to get to the meaty dialog. All this being said I felt it was a very satisfying read that had its choke up moments and would recommend it to anyone who liked Substitute Wife.
March 5, 2018
Loved this book! It was so angsty and good!!!
April 29, 2016
The book starts off in a love tangle!
With Jessie being in love with Reilly who's married to Dana whose marriage is in deep waters and then comes in the tortured Matt. Turns out all three best friends had problems.
And then Jessie and Matt end up married. AND KABOOM!
The book turns into a wonderfully sweet read- with Reilly and Dana trying to come in terms with their marital woes, and Matt and Jessie falling for each other. No character is perfect- all have flaws- everyone's life is tangled- but the story is oh so well written.
However, Matt and Jessie's sex and discovery filled journey warmed my heart. And the sex scenes were HOT!
Great read.
With Jessie being in love with Reilly who's married to Dana whose marriage is in deep waters and then comes in the tortured Matt. Turns out all three best friends had problems.
And then Jessie and Matt end up married. AND KABOOM!
The book turns into a wonderfully sweet read- with Reilly and Dana trying to come in terms with their marital woes, and Matt and Jessie falling for each other. No character is perfect- all have flaws- everyone's life is tangled- but the story is oh so well written.
However, Matt and Jessie's sex and discovery filled journey warmed my heart. And the sex scenes were HOT!
Great read.
February 15, 2009
Excellent character driven book. Written superbly -- you really connect with the characters.
May 17, 2014
It could have been a 5-star read, if the secondary romance hadn't annoyed the crap out of me.
June 10, 2024
Read this book 15 years ago. Loved it then. Love it still. 🥹
August 6, 2011
I typically like this author but this one just did not suck me in. The characters didn't seem to be really fleshed out. The story meandered and the romance between Matt and Jessie lacked something. We didn't really see her fall in love with him at all. In fact most of the book was from Matt's POV. We did get more insight into what he was feeling for Jessie and how his feelings were evolving. There was POV from both Matt's best friend Reilly and Reilly's wife Dana. That situation should have been angst filled but really just intruded into the main story. Not poorly written or anything but this book just missed the mark for me.
May 18, 2014
Not the best book I could have chosen for coming back from my romance-reading hiatus.
Both H/h didn't have much going on for them besides being in the weirdest love triangle.
The best character in the book was the betrayed wife of H/h's friend.
Both H/h didn't have much going on for them besides being in the weirdest love triangle.
The best character in the book was the betrayed wife of H/h's friend.
June 10, 2010
3.5* This is the second book I've read by this author and I can recommend them both. While this one isn't humorous like The Substitute Wife, it was an engrossing story with enough tension to raise it above average.
June 12, 2010
Like it.
May 18, 2012
First romance novel I ever read. Extremely sweet story with just enough of the "good stuff" to make it even better. Very memorable and will always hold a special place in my heart.
September 22, 2014
Molto carino e un vera boccata d'aria fresca dopo una lettura così laboriosa e controversa come Antony...
February 21, 2015
I've been reading a lot of just ok books and finally found a really good one. Easy to read, steamy and one that I could read again in the future.
August 23, 2015
Good book
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May 30, 2017I really like this author. The characters are not prefect, making them human. The story is good. All in all a good read.
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December 24, 2017Life has gone out of focus for photojournalist Matt Latimer. So he's heading back home to the tiny California town where he grew up, hoping to reconnect with his roots, his purpose and his art. But Matt's homecoming is an event that will propel him and those closest to him into the complex territories of friendship, loyalty and love.
Growing up, Matt was always around when Jessie Sinclair needed him most. Now she needs him for the most important decision of her life. She wants a baby. Suddenly the lives of Matt and Jessie and others in this small town collide in unexpected ways. Jessie must choose between what was and what might still be, between past heartbreak and the promise of new love, between what was lost and what is waiting to be found.
Growing up, Matt was always around when Jessie Sinclair needed him most. Now she needs him for the most important decision of her life. She wants a baby. Suddenly the lives of Matt and Jessie and others in this small town collide in unexpected ways. Jessie must choose between what was and what might still be, between past heartbreak and the promise of new love, between what was lost and what is waiting to be found.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews