Love Like No Other

Alondra Valley #2

by Jenna Hartley

I’m secretly falling for Penny, but she has no idea who I really am.

She came to my small town to get married and to be closer to her idol—her fellow romance author, Meghan Hart.

But when Penny’s fiancé left her at the altar, she needed an escape. One I was more than willing to provide.

It was supposed to be for one night, but it turned into something more.

The problem?

I’m Meghan Hart.

Now I have to decide whether to trust Penny with my secret or let her go for good.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Rom Com, Emotional, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance

378 pages, ebook

Published August 24, 2022

About the author

Jenna Hartley is USA Today bestselling author who writes forbidden romance that feels good, much like her own real life love story. Her stories feature strong women and swoon-worthy men, as well as sexy, sweet, and laughable moments that reflect real love.

When she's not reading or writing romance, Jenna can be found tending to her growing indoor plant collection (pun intended), decluttering (just ask her husband about "The Great Purge of 2015" as he calls it), and hiking. She lives in Texas with her family and loves nothing more than a good book and good chocolate, except maybe a dance party with her husband and daughter.

Connect with Jenna and keep up with the latest news ➜ https://bit.ly/JennaHartleyNews

Reviews

[TMR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Triggers: jilted bride, dementia, IBS, pregnancy difficulties, death by cancer.

I loved this story! Penny and Liam were everything.

Though they both deal with difficult circumstances, they both fight for each other. A small miscommunication also follows, but also gets solved quickly.

I loved the fast pacing, the writing, the development of the characters, the fact that they’re both writers ugh I loved it, the romance the banter the emotional connection, the friendships, the family.

I loved it all!

And I can’t wait for the next one!

Until the next read,
TMR

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden identities, romance authors, a jilted bride, and a picturesque small town. Love Like No Other has it all and so much more.

Liam and Penny cross paths the first time by chance. That very first meeting there was a spark between them. It was just suppose to be one night, a rebound, and they would both move on with their lives. However, things don’t always work out how they are planned.

I LOVED Penny. I loved seeing her growth throughout the course of this story. Though there was a brief time where I wanted to knock some sense into her. She was a romantic at heart and really just wanted happiness, not what was expected of her from her family. Liam…how can you not love him? He is sweet, caring, hot, and supportive.

The chemistry between Penny and Liam is off the charts from the moment they meet and just continues to grow and grow as the story progresses. The love and support they have for each other is amazing and not just in their personal relationship, but also in their professional relationship.

I love the AV and I can’t wait to return back to this small charming town and these wonderful characters.

If you’re looking for a small town romance this is one to check out.

[Letícia | letsbooktalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

This was such a cute and unexpected book… I went into it pretty “blind” and I loved the plot! The jilted bride mixed with this hidden identity was everything!
I also loved how Penny stood her ground when she felt that things were progressing too fast for her, but at the same time could see how her own fears were getting in the way.
And Liam… Oh, Liam! This man was such an amazing book boyfriend, which is no surprise considering his profession, but still… The way he protected and cared for Penny made me melt!

This was exactly what I needed 🥹

[ReadaholicDeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is a sweet, spicy, feel-good small town romance. This is the 2nd book in the Alondra Valley Series of Standalones. All the favorite characters are back, bonus the identity of Meghan Hart is revealed.

After being left at the altar, Penny runs into Liam. The two spend the week together, but the connection and memories make a lasting impact. One that may bring down both of their careers, as these two have more in common than they thought.

Liam is the perfect book boyfriend, but he should be because it’s part of his secret identity. He is sweet, caring, and supportive. Penny is unique and doesn’t hide her emotions and doubts. I enjoyed seeing two characters with insecurities, struggles, and doubts that they must learn to overcome.

This is a book within a book about finding love outside of the pages. I felt like I was reading the actual life of a writer behind the scenes. I could feel the writing and book signing process. It felt like Jenna was telling her story on the pages.

Tropes: small-town, secret identity, insta-attraction, spicy, book in a book, character with IBS.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to say this but Penny annoyed me more often than not. I don’t know if it was the character or the narrator. I listened to this on audio and we all know narrators have a huge influence on books. I couldn’t connect with Penny. Liam was okay. I still don’t think I know why he is so anti-marriage, but I could have zoned out. Overall, this was just okay for me. It was like eating a Chips Ahoy when you really want a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie. It may curb your craving in the moment, but it leaves you unsatisfied in the end. Also, hot dogs maybe ruined for me now.

I did feel for Penny’s history with her dad. Suicide is a horrible experience to go through. I also liked that she did actively try working on herself.

I can see why others would love this. It just isn’t for me.

[Adanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jilted bride. A grieving writer in a rut. It was only supposed to be a fling. One week, that's all. But when these two romance writers return to their everyday lives on opposite sides of the country, they can't stop thinking about each other. Could this fling be something more?

I loved Penny and Liam. They are so relatable with real problems and challenges. Their relationship is filled with passion, authenticity, and support. Both had to grow significantly to be ready for a successful relationship. I couldn't help but cheer for these two to figure things out and be together.

One of my favorite things about this book is the friendships -- Penny & Brinkley (Pen & Ink!) and Liam and Tristan. Both Liam and Penny had great friends who had their backs but also gave them a push when they needed it. Plus, they have the support of Liam's family too.

I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes view of what it is like to be a romance writer.

This feel-good, small-town series has become a favorite! I can't wait to see who is up next. I'm hoping for Tristan!

I received a gifted copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this voluntary review are my own.

[Read By Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely blown away by this book. Jenna is such an exceptional story teller and the characters that she creates always manage to be some of my favorites.

I loved the whole premise of this book. I immediately was drawn to Liam from the first book but reading this made me fall in love with him even more. He is the definition of the perfect book boyfriend. Everything he did for Penny made me swoon. I also loved his big secret. It was different and made the book even more exciting, especially since for the most part the secret it still a secret to anyone who isn’t within the inner circle.

Then there is Penny and boy do I relate to her in so many ways. Just the way she deals with things and also her medical issue. It was nice to read about someone I related to so much. It made me love her even more and I couldn’t help but root for her.

Seriously, this was an exceptional book and I recommend it to everyone!

[Jenifer Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute romance!! There's so many layers to it, and I loved how they were both romance authors (even if Penny didn't realize it) and their connection was just so much fun!

After being left at the alter, Penny runs into Liam and they indulge in a dirty one night stand, only they run to each other again and start a FWB situation. Their chemistry and connection they shared was so much more than they were willing to admit, and they really learned what it meant to be in a healthy relationship, full of love and happiness.

There's always something special about this authors books, but this one really stood out for me. I'm purposely being vague because it was just so much fun and honestly, it was just what I was needing, and Liam was the perfect book boyfriend. Literally! Lol.

If you're wanting a quick and dirty read filled with alll the emotions, this is for you!

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions **

[Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this spicy, small town romance! Penny is a romance writer who was having her wedding in her dream setting. Unfortunately she gets left at the altar and later meets Liam. After a hot and steamy night they part ways, but have a chance meeting later which leads them to agreeing to a week long friends-with-benefits arrangement. Feelings develop and their relationship develops into something more.

I loved Penny’s character and her growth in the book. Both main characters were easy to love and relatable. I loved the way their relationship developed and these two are perfect for each other!

I can’t wait to read more by Hartley!

Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, just wow! I have no words. Liam and Penny’s story has exceeded my expectation and so much more. This is nothing like what I've read before. I've read most of Jenna's books, but nothing is like this one. The whole time, my heart was just fluttering, feeling all the feels. I loved the storyline, the characters, and everything about this book. It's just so amazing the way Jenna wrote their story. It completely suits them and it was a beautiful journey for the two of them.

[mimi_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew from the blurb alone that this was going to be a book I would enjoy, and it certainly did not disappoint! I absolutely love this Alondra Valley world and can’t wait to come back again with the next book for this series.

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took my two days too read and it was my first book by Jenna Hartley

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meghan Hart-for the past year Liam had taken on her persona full-time as his profession. You see no one, but, Tristan knows his identity, as a romance writer. That is because, Tristan’s wife, Tessa had been his beta reader. In lies the problem, she passed away out of the blue, devastating everyone beyond belief. Tessa was part of the core four, and not because she was married to, Tristan, nope. It's because back in the day she went on every adventure, with the boys. She was their ride-or-die girl.

That being said, Liam had to put out his next book, and his first book without, Tessa. Still dealing with her loss, leaving him grieving, and feeling vulnerable. Unfortunately, it showed in his writing. The readers were saying, his writing was lacking his spark, and the sex scenes were unoriginal. So, the volume doesn't matter, creativity does. Got it. He knew one book wouldn’t make or break his career. At least that’s what he keeps trying to tell himself anyway. He’s had twenty good books he has to be positive. He has nobody to talk to about his writing anymore, or kick hit but when he hits a slump.

He understands the air of mystery was part of the allure of his success and readers. However, he knows that’s not the reason he is still hiding his identity. The real reason is, that his grandfather the Mayor, and the man whom he had always looked up to, had told him that he was ashamed of him. That he wasn’t a real man because he, wrote p-rn for a living. Crushing Liam's heart but making him even more determined to succeed. At thirty-two he was feeling so alone. One friend passed, one friend grieving her madly, one married his sister, and the other is baking his heart out.

He and, Asher are going to have dinner in the bar at the winery where Asher, is working late. Everyone in town seems to be preparing, for the biggest wedding ever to happen in, Alondra Valley. No expenses were spared. What would you expect, from a billionaire and an author? That's right, one like him, a romance writer, Penelope Glass who is obsessed with him, Meghan Hart. As they're waiting for the check there is a flash of a woman in white with flowing material going past him.

Her scent of peppermint and eucalyptus hung in the air as her hair was bouncing and swaying. He was so mesmerized by her for a moment no one else existed. He can only say it was like the fire inside him that buns when he has a new idea for a book and he just has to sit and write down all the ideas that are bursting out. That is until the door to the kitchen, for staff hits him.

She asks him to hide her, and he does. They go into the tasting room and lock themselves in. They order food, drink wine, and as they say, wink, wink play piano. Both their lives actually begin when they, turn in their “E-ticket.” Before then they were looking at life through a peephole. Not as funny as book one, but still good.

[Haiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐
Cuando leí el libro anterior y conocí a Liam, no me cayó tan bien por como actuaba con las citas de Wren, su hermana. Pero ahora que he leído su libro me ha impresionado que me llego a gustar y me enamoré de él.

Comprendo que tenía miedo de que volvieran a herir a su hermana y por eso actuaba así, pero me sorprendió ver esta faceta de él y eso hizo que me enamorará de él.

Aquí tenemos la historia de Penny, una chica que estaba a punto de casarse y su novio la deja plantada en el altar, por lo que ella decide huir y llega justamente a un bar en donde se encontraba Liam, aquí ambos se conocen y tienen una aventura pero luego al día siguiente, ella se va.

Nunca se me pasó por la mente que Liam fuera la escritora más famosa del pueblo y debo admitir que me sorprendió bastante, pero también me puso triste que por seis años haya gustado ese secreto por miedo a ser juzgado y rechazado, tan solo por ser hombre y escritor. Así como le paso con su abuelo.

Me gusta mucho que ambos son escritores y se entienden muy bien, también como lector vamos leyendo como es que hacen la portada, las ediciones y el proceso de un libro desde ser escrito a ser publicado.

Por un momento pensé que la mamá de Penny le haría la vida imposible porque era muy insistente con el tema de que le diera otra oportunidad a Erik y me dio gusto ver que no fue así, si bien al principio lo hizo, al final terminó entendiendo que no era el hombre ideal para su hija.

También con la mamá de Liam, que mujer más amorosa!! Comprendió sin juzgar el secreto de su hijo, lo apoyo en cualquier decisión que el fuera a tomar, lo motivó a que se sintiera bien con lo que hace y lo ayudaba con consejos para que no dejará ir a Penny, sobre todo amé que lo apoyará al momento de que él reveló su secreto.

Amo ver los momentos en familia de Bennett, Wren y River💘

Me gustó mucho este libro, la historia de Penny y Liam es muy bonita porque vemos como dos escritores se enamoran y como juntos escriben un libro para luego dar paso a varios más, la conexión que hay entre ellos es muy hermosa y ya quiero leer más de ellos en el siguiente libro 💜

[Franci N (Franci's Fabulous Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 I Loved Everything About this Book Stars!!

This is my first book by Ms. Hartley and I loved it so much. It’s like the best of two worlds reading a steamy romance that’s set in the bookworld because the H/h are authors… it doesn’t get much better than that!

The chemistry between Liam and Penny is sky rocketing off the charts hot… they have a one night stand that was based on mistaken identity that shocked both of them with how strong their connection was. Imagine Penny’s dream of meeting the elusive Meghan Hart potentially coming true since she’s in The Alondra Valley which is where her favorite author resides. The thing is though, that no one knows what she looks like and I think this just adds so much to the book. I became fully invested in this story because I wanted to see how the romance between two people that shouldn’t have work together, absolutely do! This beautiful valley is one that will bring peace and happiness into Penny’s life which she really needs since she’s a jilted bride. Little does she know that everything about her world could potentially come crashing down around her.

Liam is a man of secrets and as he falls deeper and deeper in love with Penny, his life becomes a little complicated. I loved how Ms. Hartley wrote this story and built up the story to that crescendo of their love story. There are several moving parts and if not handled the right way, there could be repercussions no one was expecting. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this was all going to play out and Jenna delivered in the perfect way!

I can’t wait to be back in The Alondra Valley!

[Cindy thismomreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun being back in Alondra Valley. I loved Liam and Penny.

This story had so much, what started as a jilted bride, one night stand/vacation fling, turned into such a fantastic read about finding your own voice and being true to yourself while finding someone that loved you for you.

Penny had such a wonderful journey throughout the book. I loved watching her come into her own and be comfortable in her own skin, and stand up for herself and her feelings.
I can’t say enough good things about Liam. That man is so swoon worthy! Supportive, caring, hot and his secret is worth the read alone.
Both of these character had their insecurities and doubts, but the strength they found from each other and in themselves was so great.

The comfort and care these two have for each other is perfect. They bring out the best in each other and allow them to just be themselves-the real version. They both love big, but also have reservations.
The connection and chemistry between Liam and Penny was instant and you felt it, so raw and honest and I loved seeing how they develop not only a friendship, but such a respect for one another on so many levels.

I enjoyed how we got to see a bit of the process and all that goes into writing and promoting a book! It was a fun and unique addition to the love story happening on the page.

I love catching up with Wren and Bennet and seeing more of the whole AV crew. I look forward to what this author has for them next!

[MaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet romantic read! We met Liam in the first Alondra Valley tale. Now his story comes to light. We find Liam writing under a pen name, without his friends or family knowing. He's worried that they will not accept his choice and/or make fun of him writing romance. Will his secret hold when he realizes the woman he rescued and is starting to fall for...jilted bride Penny...is one of his mega fans? Being a romance author herself, Penny's professional response to his work gives him a firmer belief in his career path. But how does he give out his secret identity? Should he? Will keeping secrets effect their relationship or is it too soon to trust?
Penny and Liam are adorable together. I enjoyed their journeys of growth, "rebirth", independence, strength and love. Very entertaining!

(Oh...and loved Mom's response to the "news"!)

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liam gets his chance to redeem himself after how he acted in the first book and he delivers! When he runs into jilted bride and also romance author Penny, they have an instant connection. This leads to one hot night together, which at times seemed like more, but when Penny wakes up - she’s all alone. Deciding to stay in Alondra Valley for what would have been her honeymoon, she is bound to run into Liam again…

Penny and Liam have a whirlwind weeklong fling, but how will they act when it’s time to part ways, especially when Liam holds a secret he wants to desperately to share with Penny. I loved the behind the curtain look at the author side of things and some of my favorite books were mentioned which I thought was pretty cool. Jenna did not disappoint on the spice in this book and I LOVED when they were acting/mapping out the sex scenes together for their book.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful and spicy story about two romance authors, Liam and Penny. Their chemistry was unmistakable, both characters were well developed and Liam's character was particularly relatable. I liked the fact that Liam was so kind, so attentive but also so masculine and dependable. I found Penny to be a bit too needy and insecure but I suppose it is understandable with her background. Their story was interesting and kept me engaged throughout. The insight that this book gave about the inner workings of book writing, publishing and marketing was very informative and it's amazing how much work goes into producing a novel. I really enjoyed this book very much and rate it 4.5*.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of Love Like No Other is definitely unique, interesting and engaging! It is also the first book by Jenna Hartley that I have read and I can definitely say that I am now a fan!
Liam and Penny have an interesting meet up story and a lot in common. When Penny is left at the alter she finds Liam they hit it off, have a one night stand but find that they have so much more in common especially their love of romance stories. Penny is a successful writer but Liam is harboring a very big secret from everyone. Will that secret make or break the bond and relationship that they have been building? Read, enjoy and find out! I loved this story and I think you will too!

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Like No Other, Liam and Penny's story. This story touched on so many aspects that people can relate to. Small town dealing, bride to be left at the altar, and incite into an author's world, are some topics covered in this story.

Penny is such a lovely character. She showed so much growth from the start to the finish. She took control of her life and decided to make changes and decisions for her betterment.

Liam has been through quite a bit as well. He recently lost his best friend, Tessa. He has a secret identity only she knew, and he is torn on whether he should reveal himself to others.

When Penny and Liam meet, they are both attracted to each other, and this connection continues to flow and get better throughout the story.

I am immensely enjoying this AV series and cant wait to read about more characters.



Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed, Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Inspirational, Page-turner, Romantic, Wonderful characters

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny's a romance author who's real life romance just blew up spectacularly - she was actually 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 (that guy clearly didn't know what he had. SMH!) Liam is the sexy small town stranger who saves her from mortal humiliation, hides her away, then gives her one night of no strings fun.

But does it ever stay one night when it's the real thing???

This was a spicy one indeed! I mean, come on - two romance authors fall into bed together? WOO!

There was also growth on both ends, secrets to conceal and then share, an amazing connection and the banter and teasing was adorable. Plus, Alondra Valley always supplies a host of awesome side characters!

If you haven't taken a trip to Alondra Valley yet, I highly recommend you go. You don't 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 start with Feels Like Love (Liam's little sister Wren's story) but if you're a series junkie like me you'll want to! (I actually re-read it before reading LLNO just to remind myself of all that went down haha!)

Looking forward to the next Alondra Valley book! If it features who I think it will, it'll be a rough one!

Kudos to you Ms. Hartley on another amazing story. ❤

[Rita Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise.

I really love this book! Liam was such a different person is this book. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a true unselfish lovers, with great sex scenes. He was so caring to Penny, she was his everything. They took care of each other. Liam never judged her, listened when she told him about her life and her heath problems. He was supportive to her in every way she needed. I thought this book was a great love story. I would rate this 10 stars!!!!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven

This has three parts: fling, time apart, time together. The first and last parts frankly annoyed me, with sex scenes every three pages, insta love, and 180 turns. The middle part, on the other hand, was where they really got to know each other, and we get to know them as well. It was beautifully done. I also enjoyed the glimpse into the life of a romance writer :)

Standalone. 1st person dual pov. No violence. Steamy.

[Lisbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

La trama es muy intrigante y da una sensación de angustia. Liam y Penny evolucionaron y prosperaron a lo largo de esta historia. El viaje que hicieron como individuos y como pareja hizo que este libro fuera tan conmovedor. Su historia de amor es un torbellino, pero con su química y conexión, estoy convencida de que están verdaderamente enamorados. Me encantaron los paralelismos entre ellos y la forma creativa en que Jenna manejó algunos de los conflictos.

[Erin Molta · Rating 5 out of 5]

almost like an insider’s guide to love

Two romance authors, a jilted bride, forced proximity, trust issues…what more could one want? The chemistry between Liam and Penny is palpable and sexy as sin. Love the AV and all the fabulous characters. Can’t wait to get Asher and Tristan’s story.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I got into reading this book I felt like I wasn't sure I actually read the first book. In the first book Bennett and Wren got married and Bennett adopted River. In this book Bennett and Wren were not married until like the middle of the book. I almost felt like this book should have been book 1 and not book 2. However I did enjoy this book and Liam and Penny were good together.

[Avidreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was refreshing that while the h had emotional baggage, she was doing something about it by seeing a therapist. Plus she found her voice and what she would accept or not accept in her personal life.
The H wasn’t too shabby either although he had to work through his issues too.

[Here4thehea · Rating 4 out of 5]

spicy and sweet

I loved this story. I love the whole alondra valley gang and I am SO excited for book 3 coming out in a few weeks.

This story was sweet and fun and I loved the romance author inception story here. Romance stories in. Romance story.

[Kristeane Benavides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Jilted bride meets the guy she needed in the first place. Thank goodness her ex left her before getting to the alter because she was absolutely meant for someone else. I love this series so far and can’t wait for the next book.