My Better Life

Soul Mates in Romeo #6

by Sarah Ready

When East Coast elite and wealthy bachelor Gavin Williams wakes up in a rural West Virginia hospital, he doesn’t remember who he is or where he’s from.
He doesn’t remember his heiress fiancée, his luxury homes, his exotic travels, or his private plane.
And he especially doesn’t remember insulting local country-girl and fiery redhead Jamie Sutton, smashing her dreams, and leaving her in a pinch.
So when a redhead in overalls stands over his hospital bed and convincingly tells him he loves banjos, hound dogs, and rustling chickens, what’s he supposed to do?
Suddenly Gavin is scrambling to fit into a country life that doesn’t feel familiar and that can’t possibly be his. A wife? Kids? A chicken coop?
His life is full of holes and secrets, desires and dreams, and as Gavin learns more he begins to wonder—will he ever remember? And what happens when he does?

My Better Life is Book 6 in the Soul Mates in Romeo series by Sarah Ready.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy, Rom Com, Small Town Romance

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 19, 2022

About the author

Author Sarah Ready writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

Her books have been described as “euphoric”, “heartwarming” and “laugh out loud”. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She loves to write fast-paced, emotionally compelling romances about quirky, smart women and the men who love them.

Her works include Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around, French Holiday and romcoms in the Soul Mates in Romeo series. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She lives in the Caribbean with her family and water-loving pup.

Find more books and interesting tidbits at www.sarahready.com.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Better Life is book six in the Soul Mates in Romeo series by Sarah Ready. This is my very first book by Sarah. This can definitely be read as a stand alone as I haven’t read any of the previous books. BUT, this is Gavin’s book who is Will’s twin brother from Book three, Romance By The Book. The adorable cover is what first drew me to this book. How cute is that?! It is definitely a sort of remake of the Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell movie, Overboard, with a few added twists that I think you’ll really enjoy. I did think that this was going to be a total romantic comedy going in. I was definitely surprised at all the emotion this held.



Gavin Williams had a troubled childhood. Now as a very wealthy adult, he craves the exhilaration of extreme sports, to be constantly on the move, testing his body to it’s limits. He is engaged but after commissioning a beautiful glass sculpture for his wife to be, she ends their engagement. And when the sculpture is delivered, he wants nothing to do with it and is very rude in letting the artist know.



Jamie Sutton has been a widow for six years. She is raising her two boys and little girl by herself, working three jobs and barely staying afloat. The kids are constantly pulling pranks, and getting in trouble at school which makes things worse. Jamie’s true dream is her love of glass blowing. She is a talented artist but has never had time to do anything with all of her creations. But when a wealthy man offered her ten thousand dollars to make a piece for his fiance, it was going to be the turning point in her life. She could finally get the kids all the things they needed. Her life was finally going to turn around. Until he said he didn’t want it and wouldn’t pay her.



When a man turns up in the hospital with no memory of who he was or how he got there, and Jamie realizes who it is, she and her granny decide it’s the perfect way to get her payment for all her work. They will convince Gavin that he is really her husband and father to her kids and he can work off his debt to her. Only, she didn’t count on falling for him, or him falling for her.

“Touching her is like touching starlight. She lights up the dark.”

Even though Gavin has no memory at all of having a wife or kids, he quickly adapts to life with them and falls for both Jamie and her kids. He has no idea what his past was but where he is right now just feels like home. Jamie can’t help but to fall for Gavin either. But she knows that what is happening between them won’t last. Because as soon as he figures out that they lied to him, it will all be over.

This was a sweet story of love and finding home where you least expect it. Both Gavin and Jamie have endured a lot in their lives. What they discover between them is beautiful but it’s built on a lie. Will it have a chance to grow, or will it all be over when Gavin discovers the truth?

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's get the obvious out of the way. Yes, this story bears a resemblance to Goldie and Kurt's classic movie, Overboard. But surface similarities is where it diverges, because Ready infuses so much poignance, heart and sweet tenderness into this story that it left my romantic heart with a big ol' happy sigh.

Gavin Williams (remember him from Will and Jessie's book, Romance by the Books?) is engaged to be married and has commissioned a glass sculpture as a wedding present. He follows his beloved to the small town of Hollow Creek, WV, and a comedy of errors ensues. Long story short, Gavin wakes up after a bump on the head. Not only does he have amnesia and is no longer engaged, but he finds himself the father of three unruly children, and husband to country bumpkin, Jamie Sutton.

Jamie has barely been keeping her head above water in the six years since her husband died. She works at least three jobs while trying to dedicate time to her glass art, but her house is falling down around her and her kids can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Thank goodness for her strong Grandma Allwright and her supportive BFF Diedre. When they encourage Jamie to claim Gavin as her husband so he can work off the money he owes her, Jamie goes along with the charade, until the pseudo family starts to feel authentic and the fake becomes a little too real.

While this is part of the Soul Mates in Romeo series, the majority of the story takes place in West Virginia and our beloved Miss Erma appears in only one scene. But I always wondered about Gavin after his brother's HEA, so I loved seeing Gavin become the man we knew he could be and find his completely unexpected forever with Jamie and the kids. Charming and funny with all the feels, this fantastic story is guaranteed to give your heartstrings a workout and leave you with a smile on your face. You'll fall nose over toes for this cast of misfits and love every minute of your visit to Hollow Creek!

[Izzie d · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this.
It is very much like the film overboard except he's the rich, rude guy and she fools him.
Sweet story, quite funny.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Hero is with someone at the start, they have broken up and he's trying to persuade her they have a future together.

HEA.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (very descriptive/erotic sex scenes)
Trigger Warning: psychological abuse and panic attacks

Jamie Sutton has just completed an art commission that will allow her to provide for her three kids like never before. When she goes to deliver the glass sculpture and pick up the rest of her payment, she meets Gavin Williams. Gavin has just been dumped by his fiancee and takes out his pain on Jamie by insulting her art and refusing to pay for it. When he storms off, he gets lost on a mountain trail where a rock slide results in a head injury and amnesia. When Jamie learns that Gavin is in the hospital with no memory of his life, her Gran and best friend encourage her to pretend Gavin is her husband so that he can work off the debt he owes her. As Jamie and Gavin play house, they both begin to fall in love for real and realize that their life together feels so right. But what will happen if Gavin gets his memory back?

If you haven't read any of Sarah Ready's books, then what are you waiting for? I loved this one so much! Yes, you have to suspend disbelief a bit to go along with the amnesia trope and how long Jamie was able to keep Gavin in the dark. But I enjoyed every minute of it. Gavin. Was. Everything! Sure, he was not very kind to Jamie when they first met, but as soon as I learned his backstory I was done for. My heart just went out to him. Seeing how adoring, compassionate, and patient he was when falling for Jamie just filled my heart up to the brim. And watching him connect with the kids had me close to tears. I really liked Jamie too. Sure, the long con she was running with Gavin wasn't the best idea, but I liked the little ways that she tried to guard her heart and prepare for the eventual fallout. Of course, I knew what the conflict would be, and I felt like it all played out well. Things weren't just resolved with one conversation, and there was some reflection and intervention on both sides that I appreciated. I will be Sarah Ready's hype girl for all her books from now on!

Thank you to the author and Social Butterfly PR for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his less-than-ideal childhood Gavin believed that he had his future all planned out. He has the wealth to pursue any dream he wants and has ordered the perfect gift to present to his fiancé only to see it all come crashing down. The next thing he remembers is waking up with no memory of the past and the life and the people he returns to feel very unfamiliar.

After the death of her husband Jamie has been trying to support her three children the best she can. When she is hired by Gavin it seems like the answer to her prayers until he proves that he has no concern for anyone but himself. His amnesia seems like destiny as she plans to take the opportunity to recover what he owes her but sometimes the best of plans have outcomes you aren’t prepared for.

This is a heartwarming story about two people whose paths wouldn’t have crossed under normal circumstances. They find the love and happiness that was missing in their lives as they experience some turmoil and a whole lot of fun along the way.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was adorable in so many ways! It is kind of a revamp of the movie Overboard in which the rich heiress suffers from amnesia and a good old country boy claims her as his wife so that his kids will have a mother and he basically has a maid. In My Better Life, the tables are turned and the woman claims the man with amnesia as her husband and plans to have him work off a debt he owes her.

Jamie's little game of revenge that starts out pretty hilarious (wait till you read the story she's concocted about his parents) metamorphoses into a sweet story of him coming to see the joy and the rightness of the life that Jamie has with her three children. At first all he sees is a falling down house and the dirt that the children are always wearing. Jamie herself changes in his eyes from one of the least attractive women he's ever met to someone that has stolen his heart and made him ache with wanting. The children ache to have a father again and he fills that role beautifully, but Jamie's secret is hanging over them. What happens when it comes out?

A hilarious but beautiful story of redemption, changing, love and the joy that it brings!

Thanks to Social Butterfly for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Soulmates in Romeo series, especially Romance by the Book, so I was so happy to get the ARC for the new one which follows Gavin who we met in that other story! I was wondering what would happen to Gavin so I’m glad we got to explore him further. It can be read as a stand-alone, though I highly recommend reading At least Romance By The Book first so you have the whole background. In this one, Gavin loses his memory after an accident and Jamie, who he had hired previously, decides to pretend that he’s her husband so that she can still get paid. This was a really sweet story at its heart, funny at times, and I also felt bad for him knowing the truth about who he was when he wasn’t sure himself. Definitley a cute, fairly quick read I recommend!

[Alyssashelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

My better life is adorable! It’s a really fast read book. This is a just like Overboard but reverse. Gavin is the rich man and Jaimie is from the country. He gets amnesia and forgets everything but eventually everything feels a little too real. Thank you for this arc I enjoyed it !

[Edens Book Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a completely charming book! Jamie Sutton is a glassblower commissioned by Gavin Williams to create a piece of art for his fiancée.

Jamie, a widow and a single mom with three kids is just trying to stay afloat in her tiny mountain home. This commission is huge for her little family and she finally feels like things are looking up.

When she delivers the massive piece of art to Gavin’s cabin, she ends up in an awkward situation. Gavin is awful to her. Like seriously, he is a Grade A jerk. He won’t pay for the piece he commissioned and he even insults her. Jamie doesn’t know what to do. She demands he pays and he refuses at every turn. Eventually, they both leave and Jamie feels defeated.

Fast forward a few days, and a news report airs looking for anyone knowing an unknown man in the hospital. He has amnesia and can’t remember a thing. Jamie sees the tv and immediately recognizes it’s Gavin, the jerk who left her in the lurch, so she decides to inact a little revenge.

It’s funny, endearing, and addictive to read. The kids are adorable, and Jamie’s Gran is a hoot with spunk in spades. Definitely will give you 1987 Overboard vibes and lots of belly laughs!!
4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Better Life mixes a hard working single mother trying to make ends meet with a snobby, wealthy city slicker who just happens to get amnesia. Taking advantage of Gavin when he can’t remember anything - not even his own name - doesn’t sit well with Jamie but she’s persuaded to pretend to be his wife just as long as it takes for him to pay back the debt he owes her. Add in three rambunctious kids, some glass blowing and a mean one eyed rooster - you get plenty of drama and excitement.

If the plot sounds somewhat familiar that’s not surprising. This book reads like a gender swapped version of the classic Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell movie, Overboard, set in the Virginian mountains. And it’s fun. I enjoyed seeing Jamie and her family put Gavin through his paces. Jamie’s kids are adorable and definitely a standout. Her grandma is a character and a half complete with many mountain sayings I’ve never heard in my life. I liked the pace of the story as well as the overall outcome.

But I did feel it was lacking something. I wanted to know more about Jamie’s late husband. I know it’s hard to focus on a new love when you’re still mourning the old but I felt like this book was missing a huge part of Jamie’s story because I didn’t know how deeply she had loved before and what her life had been like when she had been legitimately married. I didn’t get a sense of what their relationship was like and the whole family dynamic. I think the same could be said for Deirdre’s side story. I wanted more! I’m definitely going to have to investigate if there’s a short story featuring her because what we did see had me wanting to dive further into her life!

That aside, I enjoyed My Better Life. There’s plenty of comedic moments and the relationships we did witness were lovely. The glassblowing elements were fantastic and I appreciated as an artist how Jamie could see a timeline of her life in her catalogue of work.

I can see myself really getting into this series and after reading this book. It’s a lighthearted romantic read with fun characters and a different setting which made me feel wonderfully nostalgic for a particular eighties rom-com.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[XxnightxowlxX74 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie is a widower, mother of three and barely making ends meet. She’s a glassblower and has been commissioned to do a piece for a very rich man(Gavin) to give to his hopefully future fiancée. This would help Jamie immensely because $10,000 to her could do so much for her kids and their home. When she delivers the glass art she gets caught in an awkward position and Gavin takes his anger out on her. He calls her work ugly and calls her names as well. He’s an obnoxious rich jerk. Somehow her art is destroyed but she is determined that he will pay her what she’s owed. He refuses. A few days later she discovers that Gavin is in the hospital with amnesia and her gran tells her to go get him. Make him work off his debt by pretending they are married. This gave me major Overboard vibes and I loved that movie. This was so funny in parts that I was laughing out loud. It also pulled at your heartstrings. Jamie has not had an easy life. She lost her husband and had to take on several jobs to even scrape by. Her struggles were real and gut wrenching. Gavin had his own struggles growing up but it still didn’t excuse his behavior towards Jamie in the beginning. He had major character growth during the time of his amnesia. He was a good guy and you really hoped he would stay that way but Jamie knows he won’t once he remembers it all. She tries to tell him the truth but he doesn’t believe her. His memories come back and your heart breaks a little bit when he leaves Jamie and the kids. But they do get their HEA after he realizes that he really does love Jamie, the kids and that damn one eyed rooster named Billy.

[Elle Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lovely.

My Better Life was the first book I've read by this author and I deeply enjoyed it.
Even though it's part of a series (Soul Mates In Romeo), it can easily be read as a standalone.

From the blurb and the cover, I thought this was a rom-com, so I was surprised to see it was quite emotional. Don't get me wrong, the book was light, sweet, and portrayed funny situations, but there was also poignance, longing, and depth within the story.

Jamie was fighting to keep her head above water for her and her kids. She was devoted and a hard worker, but life had drained her hopes and dreams.
Gavin was running from his past, even without realizing it. He couldn't stay in one place for long as his urge to run would consume him.
So the predicament they found themselves in (initiated by him and potentialized by her) forced them to not only get out of their comfort zones but also take a deeper and closer look at their lives.
What seemed absurd at first proved to be efficient to make them fully live again, giving Jamie the courage to dream and hope again and providing Gavin the strength to settle and love.

It was adorable to see them getting closer and supporting each other, just like it was delightful how Gavin and Jamie's kids connected. There was something so pure and endearing about their relationship. And soon enough, they've found in their crazy family their better lives.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author. It’s part of a series, yet I didn’t feel lost or unable to follow the story.

Jamie Sutton is a WV native, lived on the mountain all her life. She’s a widowed single mom raising three kids and working several jobs just to keep the roof over their heads and food on the table. Her passion is glassblowing. She longs to do more, yet something is holding her back. The day she delivers her very first custom made piece everything changes.

Gavin Williams is a free spirit, always on the hunt for his next adventure. When life gets too complicated or he feels trapped, he runs. He comes from a very wealthy family, has high standards, wants only the best. He’s commissioned a piece of art for his fiancé as a wedding gift. Unfortunately for him she has other plans. An accidental meeting with the artist leaves Gavin’s life shattered.

‘Crucible, a severe personal trial, hard times being the heat that forges something new.’

Both Jamie and Gavin are put to the test, have to face the own crucible. They learn to work together and grow stronger as individuals as a result.

People talk about romance books being all steam & smexy times. They might be surprised to learn some offer valuable insight or great advice on life lessons. This book is a RomCom with some definite laugh out loud moments. It also is jam packed with emotion. It’s a spin on the movie Overboard with a splash of Runaway Bride mixed in.
I really enjoyed it and will be reading more of her work.
My only disappointment is how things were left with Gavin & his father.

[Booklover Judy Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

#SingleMom #Amnesia #Billionaire

4.5 STARS

When rich guy, Gavin, ends up in a rural West Virginia hospital with no memory, he isn't sure what to think when a read-headed woman claiming to be his wife picks him up and takes him home to a life he does not remember. This story has a similar premise to the classic movie Overboard, but set in the mountains of West Virginia and is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.

Jamie is insulted when she first meets Gavin. She is struggling to hold her life and family together. Her three kids are full of energy and what my mom would call orneriness. When she brings Gavin home with her as payback for his insults and what she feels like he owes her, she never dreams that she and her kids will fall in love with him, or that he might possibly love her.

There were several laugh out loud moments and there are a few steamy scenes. The kids totally steal the show. I loved Jamie's spunk and I understood her vulnerability. It did not take long for me to feel sympathy for Gavin. After his initial disbelief, he throws himself into making the most of his life. I adore the relationships he forms with the kids. I especially love how he tries so hard to be a good husband and father. I really fell kind of hard for him. (Until he regained his memory. Then he had to work through tings and he did not act very nice. But I did forgive him for it.)

There was a lot to love about this one. I found it to be a very enjoyable read.

[Marie Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, this was an absolute pleasure to read!!!! I haven’t laughed this much I’m forever! Sarah Ready is a genius with her words!!! You so need to grab this book up!!! Highly recommended!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cali Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly entertaining, fun filled, emotional journey filled with witty banter, big secrets, unwilling alliances and so many fun and intriguing charters. An edge of your seat emotional roller-coaster ride from beginning to end that was so hard to put down.

[Jackie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another visit to Romeo, NY and another couple to fall in love with and this time it’s Gavin Williams and Jamie Sutton’s entertaining journey. We have met Gavin in a previous book but that’s doesn’t mean My Better Life can’t be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone and honestly I was excited to see where his story took us.
When Gavin wakes up in a West Virginia hospital it’s Jamie who decides she is owed some compensation and she claims the man with no memory as her husband. What starts out as a pretty hilarious concoction soon turns into so much more as Gavin’s memory starts to return so will his memory returning make or break this couple…one click to find out.
A beautifully written, entertaining journey that’s full of love, humour and redemption.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Ebook ARC

I will read anything Sarah Ready writes.

This is the latest installment of the Soul Mates in Romeo series.

This one was pretty good but I really liked Married By Sunday…so that’s still my fav from the series. I also enjoyed Once Upon An Island by this author. Those are my favs by her so far.

This one was cute but I just wasn’t as invested in this story as some of her other books. Just a personal preference thing. It wasn’t bad just wasn’t my fav. I’m excited to read the rest of the series too.

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overboard in the mountains
4 stars

I have read and enjoyed all of Sarah Ready’s Soul Mates in Romeo series of which this is the 6th book. With that said, it’s very loosely tied to the other books in the series, the town of Romeo or the soul mate predictions of Miss Erma. While that’s not a problem, this book is more connected through family connections (Gavin is Will from Romance By The Book’s twin brother). You still don’t need to have read any other book to enjoy this one and it comes with its own HEA.

While the previous book in the series (Married by Sunday), borrowed from French Kiss, this book is pretty much a straight retelling of the film Overboard (with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell) but with the gender roles reversed and transplanted into the mountains. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as I happen to love that movie, but there are definitely things that work in a film that don’t work so well when you have to hear about the thoughts, feelings and motivations of the characters on the pages of a book. I was also a teensy bit uncomfortable about the straight lifting of lines from the movie and the scenes that were near identical.

With that said, I liked the characters and storyline and, as always, Sarah Ready really hooks me in with her vibrant and engaging writing style. The book is written in first person, present tense and from the viewpoints of both Jamie and Gavin - which works well, even though for most of the book Gavin has amnesia.

Despite that, Gavin is a nice guy. He doesn’t appear that way at the beginning of the novel but you forgive him as soon as you see how upset he is over his own behaviour. And just in case you haven’t, as soon as he gets to Jamie’s house and his real personality comes out, you’ll fall in love with him. He’s a sweetheart and a good man. I didn’t like the way he thought about Jamie at the beginning - calling her drab and ugly. I know there’s a common storyline where the hero doesn’t find the heroine attractive until he falls in love - then he finds her the most beautiful woman in the world. While that’s nice, Gavin’s initial thoughts on Jamie made it hard for me to believe that he suddenly found her attractive or wanted her as much as he seemed to.

I liked Jamie, too, but her morals and values really took a beating from the whole situation. She definitely showed concern over her actions but she sure did throw those issues out the window when she was having a nice time. I just felt it a wee bit hard to identify with her and her lifestyle. In the film, the family of all boys just needs a woman’s touch in the home (yes, I know, traditional gender roles blah blah blah) but in this story, what Gavin brings to the household isn’t as clear-cut. Well, he fixed some cabinet handles. Come on now - even if I had 3 kids and 3 jobs, you can bet your bottom dollar I’d be fixing my cabinets my damn self. But I digress…

Even though I was slightly disbelieving about the attraction between our main couple, I did enjoy the sexy times. There’s no sex while Gavin has amnesia which I was glad about, despite it meaning the sex came really late on in the story. I’m not sure I could have forgiven Jamie had she properly slept with Gavin while he was Billy.

It’s not my favourite of Sarah Ready’s romances but I admit to finishing the book with a happy sigh. And anyone who knows and likes 80s romantic comedies enough to pay homage to one has to be alright in my book. Still a book I would recommend if you’re reading through the Soul Mates in Romeo series or just looking for a light and fun romance to read while the sun is high. 4 stars.

[Linda C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gavin comes to the backwards town in West Virginia to meet his fiancé. But she kicks him to the curb for noncommittal issues. He then meets her at his cabin he bought to be near her clinic. There he sees the commissioned art piece. He doesn’t want it. He can’t understand the country hick in his cabin. But he is not paying her nine thousand dollars for that ugly piece. He rudely leaves. Gavin falls and is hurt. He has amnesia.
Jamie lives in the mountains of West Virginia with her three children. Her grandmother tries to help out. She is trying to make it after the death of her husband. Her house needs repairs, her daughter acts like a cat, her one son is constantly making contractions and her other son can’t sit still. She has been commissioned by Gavin Williams to make a ten thousand dollar glass sculpture. She has spent three months blowing the glass to make this beautiful water feature. But now the dirtbag won’t pay the remaining balance of nine thousand. Then the sculpture is broken and she can’t sell it to someone else. She planned on that money to help her children. Her grandmother talks her into getting her revenge on him.
Everyone at the hospital is glad someone has step forward to claim the insufferable and rude patient. Jamie claims Billy(Gavin) is her husband and has proof thanks to her friend. Jamie tells Billy that he works emptying portable potties. He wears old clothes and sleeps on the couch with the stinky dog. The kids rig up a contraption to drop rotten eggs on him. Jamie goes out of her way to exaggerate her hillbilly accent. Billy now is a hillbilly that collects poo.
This is a great story about overcoming prejudices and two wrongs don’t make a right. It is the movie “Overboard” but set in the West Virginia mountains. It has moments that is hilarious, drama filled, tender, redeeming, aggravating, and sweet. Jamie got to see the inside goodness of Billy (Gavin). She let go of her anger. She realized that she had made a mistake going for revenge. Gavin learned to face his demons. Gavin comes to the backwards town in West Virginia to meet his fiancé. But she kicks him to the curb for noncommittal issues. He then meets her at his cabin he bought to be near her clinic. There he sees the commissioned art piece. He doesn’t want it. He can’t understand the country hick in his cabin. But he is not paying her nine thousand dollars for that ugly piece. He rudely leaves. Gavin falls and is hurt. He has amnesia.
Jamie lives in the mountains of West Virginia with her three children. Her grandmother tries to help out. She is trying to make it after the death of her husband. Her house needs repairs, her daughter acts like a cat, her one son is constantly making contractions and her other son can’t sit still. She has been commissioned by Gavin Williams to make a ten thousand dollar glass sculpture. She has spent three months blowing the glass to make this beautiful water feature. But now the dirtbag won’t pay the remaining balance of nine thousand. Then the sculpture is broken and she can’t sell it to someone else. She planned on that money to help her children. Her grandmother talks her into getting her revenge on him.
Everyone at the hospital is glad someone has step forward to claim the insufferable and rude patient. Jamie claims Billy(Gavin) is her husband and has proof thanks to her friend. Jamie tells Billy that he works emptying portable potties. He wears old clothes and sleeps on the couch with the stinky dog. The kids rig up a contraption to drop rotten eggs on him. Jamie goes out of her way to exaggerate her hillbilly accent. Billy now is a hillbilly that collects poo.
This is a great story about overcoming prejudices and two wrongs don’t make a right. It is the movie “Overboard” but set in the West Virginia mountains. It has moments that is hilarious, drama filled, tender, redeeming, aggravating, and sweet. Jamie got to see the inside goodness of Billy (Gavin). She let go of her anger. She realized that she had made a mistake going for revenge. Gavin learned to face his demons. Gavin goes from being the villain to a totally likable guy that has you rooting for him.
Has a HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ana en Noir · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Amnesia Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Single Parent, Small Town Romance

𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 4/5 (steamy)

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐔? Nope
My Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5



This story was pretty much perfect. It had a lot of depth, with trauma recovery and childhood trauma, but it was balanced by the humor of a small town and a very close family unit, the very sweet moments between the kids and Gavin, and also between Gavin and Jamie.

It was amazing to see the process of Gavin falling in love with Jamie, a woman he said, in the beginning, was unremarkable. It was amazing, to see him fall in love with a life that he deemed horrible when he first arrived. And it was an incredible growth process, to go from someone who despised that town, Jamie’s dirtiness, and their simple way of life, to be a guy who is just happy to be able to provide for his family. I love that his recovery was not caused by her. This is not a story of “man meets woman, woman fixes man”. He has his own process, he has his own journey, that is alongside her, but not because of her, and I love that.

It was also incredible to see the process of the whole family falling in love with Gavin, even the most resistant, like Grandma, but especially the kids. It was heartwarming to see these kids, who at such a young age, already had the trauma of losing their father, get someone to be there for them, to do all the things a father would do, and love them as such. And I am astounded by how well Sarah wrote these kids, they each had not only a unique personality but a unique trauma/reaction to their trauma. Each of them had a need, that Gavin arrived to fulfill.

I started this book hating Gavin, and I’m ending it with him as one of my new book boyfriends.

And I just loved the use of amnesia. I love this trope and think is not used enough, and this was the perfect balance between rom-com and heavy topics, with a lot of romance and sweetness, so it is just perfect. And as in all of Sarah Ready’s books, this almost made me cry several times, but it put me back together again.



Equality rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5



I love Gavin’s masculinity. He is an amazing example of non-toxic masculinity. He is a man, he is manly, he provides for his family and is proud to do that. He is a man, without the need to assert his dominance, who loves his children, who likes to help his wife take care of them, and the house. He is a man who can be without sex, to respect his wife’s wishes. He is a man who accepts that his partner has a dream and a gift and he will help her achieve them, even if his own job is shoveling poop every day. And he is a man who realizes, he made mistakes in the past, even if he doesn’t remember them, he wants to fix them.

The only reason this book did not get a 5-star Equality Rate is because of the lies. This is a fiction work, and a very enjoyable one, but this in real life would be absurd, even more, if we reversed the genders. If a man had gone to the hospital, to pick up a woman with amnesia and “force” her to work in his house, we would be horrified, so I feel the need to take down a point in this regard. But I still loved the book, it has entered my favorites of the year list.

Recommend this?: Absolutely

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Better Life is book six in Sarah Ready’s excellent Soul Mates In Romeo series. If you have read Romance By The Book, then you will have meet Gavin Williams and his twin brother William. This is a hilarious tale of revenge, with plenty of entertaining banter and fantastic characters.

Jamie Sutton is a widow and mother of three children, who lives up on a mountain with chickens and a dog. She is a fiery redhead who works many jobs to survive but her passion is making her glass sculptures. She has struggled to survive on her own for six years and is excited when a commission could really help improve the children’s lives and make things easier for her.

Gavin is a wealthy guy who spends most of his time travelling and being adventurous. He had an abusive childhood which still affects him because he can’t put the past behind him. He owns a cabin up on the mountain and has commissioned Jamie to design and make a sculpture for a wedding present for his fiancee Lacey. However, she has just broken up with him and refuses to take him back. He is in a foul mood and takes it out on Jamie when she delivers the sculpture. He is rude and cruel with his comments to her and after an eventful confrontation, he storms out.

He really hurt her feelings so when she hears there is the mystery man who has amnesia after an accident, she lets her Gran and best friend Deidre persuade her to teach Gavin a lesson. It is hilarious as she goes to the hospital pretending he is her husband and father to her children. His life is now full of gaps which he desperately wants the answers to but he finds it hard to accept that the life Jamie describes is really his as it sounds a nightmare.

They really don’t like each other to start with and Gavin is sure he isn’t meant to be there. I adored how he tried to fix things with Jamie even though he had no idea what he had done wrong!! Their chemistry is like a furnace and I was so happy when their slow burn romance ignites. Jamie knows it is a dangerous thing to do but once Gavin gets into the swing of country life she begins to question everything. He becomes a decent man and throws himself into family life which confuses her because it’s hard to hate him now. What will happen when Gavin regains his memory? Will he ever forgive her for lying to him?

A lovely tale of the importance of family and love. The kids are brilliant and cracked me up with their antics. It was lovely how he felt at home with Jamie and he was so sweet with the kids. His past is sad but it made him the man he was and consequently the family man he becomes. This is a real feel good story with a couple who both deserve their HEA and a better life! This author really knows how to create a wonderful ambience and characters you won’t forget so totally recommend this and all the books in this series.

Merged review:

My Better Life is book six in Sarah Ready’s excellent Soul Mates In Romeo series. If you have read Romance By The Book, then you will have meet Gavin Williams and his twin brother William.
This is a hilarious tale of revenge, with plenty of entertaining banter and fantastic characters.

Jamie Sutton is a widow and mother of three children, who lives up on a mountain with chickens and a dog. She is a fiery redhead who works many jobs to survive but her passion is making her glass sculptures. She has struggled to survive on her own for six years and is excited when a commission could really help improve the children’s lives and make things easier for her.

Gavin is a wealthy guy who spends most of his time travelling and being adventurous. He had an abusive childhood which still affects him because he can’t put the past behind him. He owns a cabin up on the mountain and has commissioned Jamie to design and make a sculpture for a wedding present for his fiancee Lacey. However, she has just broken up with him and refuses to take him back. He is in a foul mood and takes it out on Jamie when she delivers the sculpture. He is rude and cruel with his comments to her and after an eventful confrontation, he storms out. He really hurt her feelings so when she hears there is the mystery man who has amnesia after an accident, she lets her Gran and best friend Deidre persuade her to teach Gavin a lesson. It is hilarious as she goes to the hospital pretending he is her husband and father to her children. His life is now full of gaps which he desperately wants the answers to but he finds it hard to accept that the life Jamie describes is really his as it sounds a nightmare.

They really don’t like each other to start with and Gavin is sure he isn’t meant to be there. I adored how he tried to fix things with Jamie even though he had no idea what he had done wrong!! Their chemistry is like a furnace and I was so happy when their slow burn romance ignites. Jamie knows it is a dangerous thing to do but once Gavin gets into the swing of country life she begins to question everything. He becomes a decent man and throws himself into family life which confuses her because it’s hard to hate him now. What will happen when Gavin regains his memory? Will he ever forgive her for lying to him?

A lovely tale of the importance of family and love. The kids are brilliant and cracked me up with their antics. It was lovely how he felt at home with Jamie and he was so sweet with the kids. His past is sad but it made him the man he was and consequently the family man he becomes. This is a real feel good story with a couple who both deserve their HEA. This author really knows how to create a wonderful ambience and characters you won’t forget.

[Etta (Chonky Books Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thrilled that the Soul Mates in Romeo series continues with the sixth novel, My Better Life. As each novel in the series is unique, I love all these different takes on romance and finding your soul mate. While the main character in this story, Gavin Williams, is the twin brother of Will from the third novel, Romance by the Book, this novel can be read as a standalone. Since some of the couples and characters from the previous novels do tend to make appearances and I am a fan of all the stories, I would recommend reading all of them in order; however, you can enjoy this with little to no prior knowledge of the other novels.

This story draws inspiration from Overboard (while there was a remake, the one I always think of is the one featuring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell). When engaged Gavin commissions a glass sculpture by an artist in Hollow Creek, West Virginia, he does not expect to wake up in the hospital with amnesia. Enter Jamie Sutton, an artist, who has been trying to take care of her and her two sons and a daughter since the death of her husband six years ago. After Jamie completed Gavin’s sculpture, he has ended his engagement and refuses to pay her. When Jamie discovers that Gavin is in the hospital with amnesia, it is her Grandma Allwright and best friend, Dierdre, that help cement the idea that Gavin should become her husband to work off the debt.

Jamie and Gavin are an interesting opposites attract couple. As Jamie is running this con on Gavin, his journey of trying to adapt to the life he apparently does not remember is captivating. The two form a pseudo-family where Jamie does not know when it will all end as Gavin is bound to regain his memories at some point. Gavin is constantly conflicted in his mind as he has no memory of country life or of his” family” yet tries to make the best of it. Jamie is nothing like he imagined for his dream woman, yet he slowly starts to discover an attraction and connection to her. As the two are on an unknown timeline, the stakes are high as their developing romance seems real, yet Jamie knows it is only a matter of time before it is over. Overall, I loved reading both of their POVs as it gave a lot of depth to the story. Ready continues to write intriguing stories that make me never want to put the novel down and I end up reading them in a single sitting. I continue to love all the novels in the series, and they work well for me and my style. I hope this not the end of the series as I would love to read more!

**I give a special thank you to Book Sprout and the author for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would have been so easy for this book to go off the rails. First of all, an amnesia plot. So clichéd and soap opera-like, amirite? And Jamie's revenge plot? Even as I totally was with her on the sentiment behind it--Gavin was beyond d*ckish to her, and of course he owed her what he had promised to pay--it was clear from the start that it was a bad idea that was going to end badly. Even as I was reading--and enjoying the heck out of it all, mind you--it was obviously going to come crashing down around Jamie at some point, and it was going to be ugly. Really, really ugly.

And yet, I kept reading.

And not because it was like the metaphoric train wreck that one can't stop watching, but because OMG this book had me gripped.

Yes, Gavin was a complete douche canoe in the beginning (what had just happened to him was *not* an adequte excuse, IMO). Yes, he owed Jamie for her time, materials, and craftsmanship--at minimum what he had contracted to pay her. And OMG YES, the revenge plan she cooked up with her gran and BFF was a monumentally bad idea.

And yet...it somehow worked.

Gavin became the nice guy we knew he could be. Jamie started to allow herself to live again. And those three kids? OMG, they were freaking brilliant. (To be clear, they were all along...all they had to do was continue on being awesome, which they did with absolute style.) My biggest complaint is that it ended before we got to see what their HEA was going to look like for real--of course we can assume that it will be similar to what they had in the book, but better, but I would have liked to at least gotten a teeny tiny little glimpse. ;)

This is the 6th book in the Soul Mates in Romeo series, but even more than the others it could be read as a standalone. It barely even qualifies--it's only *in* Romeo for less than a hot minute, and though Gavin's Will's twin (from Romance By The Book ), he, Jessie, and even Erma have the smallest of roles here. But if you enjoy the style of Ms Ready's writing here, then you should absolutely go back and read #s 1-5...just to see how everyone else manages to find their "better life." :)

(Meanwhile, I guess I should finally go watch Overboard?)

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Just Love books · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5⭐️Rating~

When a rich out of towner requested that Jamie commissions him a glass blown wave she had hoped that this will the answer to all of her prayers to help ease the financial strain that she had been feeling with raising three kids on her own but when things go wrong and Gavin rejects her sculpture and refuses to pay Jamie finds herself losing hope… that is until fate gives Jamie and Gavin a second chance when Gavin loses his memory in a freak accident and Jamie is the only one that can identify him… what was only supposed to be a few short weeks teaching Gavin to be more humble and for Jamie to recover some of her money soon turns into the two of them playing house, with Gavin thinking that he is married to Jamie with three kids, living and working a though life but what happens when the lie begins to feel more and more real each day?

..

Loved! My Better Life was just the sweetest, I loved this cheeky cute romance with a touch of feel good emotion. I have been following this series for a while now and I will say there have been a few hit and miss books so far for me but I can safely say that this was the best of the series! I have to mention this amazing cover, I just loved how attractive and eye catching it was and that it depicted both Jamie, Gavin and all the farm animals down to a tee!

..

I really liked Jamie and getting to finally see her achieve her dream of having her own gallery and really making something of her glass art. Even with all that she has had to deal with I really liked that she was a genuinely sweet, kind and hard working person, even when lying to Gavin she felt guilty. As for our hero Gavin well this was definitely a redemption story for him, I loved getting to see him realise that all he needed was to feel apart of a family and really belong to find his peace.

..

I loved the connection between Gavin and Jamie, the attraction and chemistry was very evident and getting to see them dance around it only made thing all the more explosive. I loved that Gavin put so much effort into building relationships with the kids and proving to Jamie that he was worth of being her husband. Gosh the kids were just great I loved all their quirks and the pranks they pulled, as for Gran well she was just a boss old lady. Also can we take a moment to appreciate Billy the rude rooster!

..

My Better Life was the perfect combination of sweet second chance romance and silly comedy. This book is a total must read!

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have throughly enjoyed reading all of Sarah Ready's books, but her Soul Mates in Romeo series is particularly my favorite. It is my favorite series because I find all of them to be so funny and just full of shenanigans that I can't stop laughing at. I feel that until recently there haven't been too many books written with amnesia as the trope, and the other ones that I've read are pretty dramatic, so to read a romantic comedy with amnesia was delightful.
Single mom Jamie Sutton is holding on by the skin of her teeth, her kids are constantly in trouble at school, she's struggling to make ends meet and she needs this commission to go well. As a glass blower in rural West Virginia you don't make a lot of sales, so her commission for wealth bachelor Gavin William worth 10 grand has to go well. But unfortunately she meets him on neither of their best days... Gavin was just dumped by his fiancé that he commissioned the sculpture for, and she's a mess covered in chicken poop. So their meeting ends with him refusing to pay her for her work, the sculpture accidentally breaking and Jamie declaring she hates him with everything in her soul. The next time Jamie sees Gavin he's on the news because he was in an accident and doesn't remember who he is, and that is when Jamie comes up with her devious plan...
When Gavin woke up in the hospital he had zero memory about who he is, and then suddenly a woman, Jamie, shows up at the hospital with photos of them together and his ID claiming he's her husband, Billy. But as soon as Gavin meets Jamie he's not convinced that they're married, or that his name is Billy. And when they go to to their house and he sees the hovel they live, and their trouble maker twin boys and daughter that think she's a cat, in he really can't believe that this is his life. As time goes on Gavin/Billy starts to fall in love with his new life and his wife, and they start to love him back. But when lies and feels start to combine things get messy, and how do two people move on when their life is based off of hatred, lies and a little bit of revenge.

[Curly Bibliophagist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I was not disappointed.

This story is a spin on the classic movie Overboard. The story is presented with plenty of humor but goes deeper than that.

Gavin is a billionaire who is always looking for his next adrenaline fix. He has a fiance and wants to surprise her with a special gift. So he enlists a local artisan to create a glass sculpture that is reminiscent of a special place.

Jamie Lynn (like Jamie Lynn Spears, lol) is a local glass blower that is quite skilled. When she is hired, via email, to create a gift for a client's fiance, Jamie is over the moon. She is a widow, with 3 little children, who is scraping by while trying to give her kids what they need. The fee from Gavin's order will allow her to put a big dent in that list of things. She spends months working on the piece. She goes to Gavin's cabin to set it up for Gavin but he and his fiance arrive before she can leave and she hides. Gavin and his fiance are fighting and the fiance breaks things off and leaves. Gavin finds Jamie Lynn hiding and takes out his anger on her. He is rude, mean and insulting. At this point, I was sure he was unredeemable. The sculpture is broken. He refuses to pay for the sculpture and leaves. Jamie is devistated. All of the money and time and all of her hopes and dreams.

Days later, Jamie Lynn and her family find out that Gavin is in the hospital with amnesia and no one can identify him. Jamie's family hatch a plan to show Gavin how people really live and to make him work off what he owes Jamie.

This story is funny and cute. Jamie is sweet and has such a good heart. Her family and the supporting characters are great and bring a lot of depth to the story. This was a quick read and I really enjoyed it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So there is nothing regular about Sarah Ready's storylines - they are always unexpected and a little random which I love!

This book had me on the fence for a long time, just because ethically I couldn't get on board with Jamie's actions but there was part of me that understood her actions based on how he treated her.

Jamie is a single parent trying to raise her children alone following the death of husband. She is an artist and juggles other jobs to make ends meat. So when Gavin commissions a piece of her glass art for his fiancé, it is opportunity for a safety net for a while. Unfortunately, by the time she delivers the art, his fiancé has broken up with him. He takes out his disappointment and upset out on Jamie, making her feel small and inconsequential. A bump on the head then causes him to forget who he is and Jamie has a way of getting her revenge. Gavin is now Billy, her husband...

Gavin was obnoxious and believed his status put him above Jamie because of her upbringing and lack of money. Jamie may have money but she is richer in other ways, including those she surrounds herself with. And without his posh clothes, money, fast cars, he is on a level playing field as Jamie. Without knowing his true identify the things he found repulsive about Jamie are normal because he doesn't know any differently.

Jamie had Gavin doing some really over the wall things whilst he was Billy. These did cause me to laugh out loud frequently but there were also poignant moments and some introspection as they both took long, hard looks at themselves. It is for these reasons that I ended up deciding that I really enjoyed this book and its slightly unconventional romance.

***Reviewed for LBM Book Blog***

[Sheila Schoenauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, the amount of emotions that went through me while reading this book was crazy! I was happy, sad, angry, gutted, and overly thrilled. Gavin's childhood secret gutted me. I read Will's book so I knew how Gavin was before reading this one. But I never expected him to have dealt with that kind of trauma! It makes sense as to why he is the way he is. I felt so sad for both Gavin and Jamie at first because of the way he treated her but I also understood that he wasn't emotionally ready to deal with anyone at that particular moment. He lashed out, we all do at times unfortunately. I was unbelievably pissed at Jamie, Diedre, and gran for involving the kids in this revenge plot. They never once thought about how this would affect them... especially since Tanner had been saying he had a new dad. I was so happy that Gavin was helping change Jamie's life for the better. He helped her open up and step out of her closed up box. By the end I was overwhelmingly thrilled that they all finally got their happily-ever-after. They all deserved it.

I really enjoyed this story even with all the emotions that flitted through me while reading. It was definitely a unique was to start a love story (I've never actually watched Overboard). But I am curious about how everyone would react the first time they meet Will.. lol. Their facial expressions and life experiences are so different! The ladies looked Gavin up for pictures and yet they never knew he had a twin. Ohh and I loved Erma's thoughts when Gavin went to visit her... so true! Til we meet again Miss Erma!

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review*

[Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up my dads all time favorite movie was Overboard. As an adult now I know it’s because he’s always crushed on Goldie Hawn (the dog we had named Goldie never clued me in) So this book was like a flashback to my childhood and I absolutely loved it.

I think the duel POV was so necessary for this story, it really helps understanding where they each are throughout this journey. I loved these kids and their personalities. It was sweet and the emotions so real. The stress of knowing this bomb drop is coming was so good.

When Jamie is commissioned to create a sculpture for an engaged couple as a gift she is completely ecstatic and desperately needs the money. She’s struggling as a single mom and the price agreed upon will solve a lot of her problems. The rule he has is that she can not be there when he comes home. That rule she unfortunately breaks and ends up hiding in the house when he and his fiancée come home. While hiding she overhears them break up and just wants to escape this awkward moment and get her money. As she tries to sneak out she’s caught and he refuses the art. She’s understandably mad.

Gavin wakes up in a hospital with no memory of who he is. When a fiery red head comes barging in telling him he is her husband everything about it feels off. He’s hopeful things will click into place because he is absolutely miserable in his life and how can this be what he wanted? Slowly he begins to love it for what it is and it’s simplicity, he just wants to be a man worth of his family.