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Visitation, North Carolina
Meant to Be
A sexy, witty, fun contemporary romance novella from USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster originally published in the anthology In Bloom.
Everyone deserves a second chance at new beginnings in New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster’s novella of family, homecoming, and love . . .
When Cory Creed was just a little girl, she knew she’d grow up to marry Austin Winston—and she made the mistake of telling him so. Tired of watching him avoid her ever since, Cory has decided it’s time to leave Visitation, North Carolina, and Austin, behind. But Austin has finally realized what Cory was once so sure of, and now it’s his turn to prove they belong together . . . with a little help from their mothers.
“Lori Foster should be on everyone's auto-buy list.” —Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Everyone deserves a second chance at new beginnings in New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster’s novella of family, homecoming, and love . . .
When Cory Creed was just a little girl, she knew she’d grow up to marry Austin Winston—and she made the mistake of telling him so. Tired of watching him avoid her ever since, Cory has decided it’s time to leave Visitation, North Carolina, and Austin, behind. But Austin has finally realized what Cory was once so sure of, and now it’s his turn to prove they belong together . . . with a little help from their mothers.
“Lori Foster should be on everyone's auto-buy list.” —Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times bestselling author
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2023
About the author
Lori Foster
446 books11.8k followersSince first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 30, 2023
MEANT TO BE by Lori Foster is a very quick read, at a little more than one hundred pages, but it really holds your attention and has quite a story to tell. The way Cory tries to fight her attraction is, at times, very funny, and of course Austin doesn’t help with that at all. Cory and her father have the ability to see the future. If you have read Say No to Joe you will recognize the whole family in MEANT TO BE. I know you will enjoy this novella as much as I did.
MEANT TO BE is really a romance about Cory and Austin with a little pushing from their mothers. Cory’s “special abilities” added some relationship complications. Cory knew from an early age that she was destined to marry Austin, and made the mistake of telling him this information before he was ready to hear it. Cory is ready to walk away from the possiblity of their relationship. MEANT TO BE is a little different from stories by Lori Foster that I have read previously, but I really liked it. It was great how Cory and Austin got together for their HEA. Again with a little nudge from their families.
Cory is ready to leave Visitation and head out into the world since the situation with Austin seems so hopeless at this point. Maybe that is exactly what he needs to be shaken up a bit, to realize that the girl that once was so certain about their future grew into a woman who will not wait around any longer for him to wake up and really see her as part of his future. MEANT TO BE has Austin knowing he now has to prove himself to Cory and try to convince her to stay. Lori has a way of pulling her readers right in and making them fall in love with all of her characters. I found myself cheering for Cory and Austin throughout most of the story.
MEANT TO BE is really a romance about Cory and Austin with a little pushing from their mothers. Cory’s “special abilities” added some relationship complications. Cory knew from an early age that she was destined to marry Austin, and made the mistake of telling him this information before he was ready to hear it. Cory is ready to walk away from the possiblity of their relationship. MEANT TO BE is a little different from stories by Lori Foster that I have read previously, but I really liked it. It was great how Cory and Austin got together for their HEA. Again with a little nudge from their families.
Cory is ready to leave Visitation and head out into the world since the situation with Austin seems so hopeless at this point. Maybe that is exactly what he needs to be shaken up a bit, to realize that the girl that once was so certain about their future grew into a woman who will not wait around any longer for him to wake up and really see her as part of his future. MEANT TO BE has Austin knowing he now has to prove himself to Cory and try to convince her to stay. Lori has a way of pulling her readers right in and making them fall in love with all of her characters. I found myself cheering for Cory and Austin throughout most of the story.
June 19, 2023
stress.
so basically after yrssss of pining after her future husband, cory decides to cut her losses and move on with her life because austin is clearly not interested.
except as soon as she decides to move on, a flip switches in him and he realises "actually ykw I like that she's been chasing me for over a decade and tbh I always believed we'd end up together, I just wanted to do my own shit for as long as I could. but if she's thinking of moving on, hell no am I letting that happen. I'll just say I've been falling in love with her the entire time (eventhough a few pages ago I said our interactions over the past decade were either polite conversation or me making a quick getaway, but that's not the point). the point is now she'll never experience anything in the world except from me, even if I don't deserve her. because technically I never chose her. she just forced my hand. oh well."
I hate men like this 💀
so basically after yrssss of pining after her future husband, cory decides to cut her losses and move on with her life because austin is clearly not interested.
except as soon as she decides to move on, a flip switches in him and he realises "actually ykw I like that she's been chasing me for over a decade and tbh I always believed we'd end up together, I just wanted to do my own shit for as long as I could. but if she's thinking of moving on, hell no am I letting that happen. I'll just say I've been falling in love with her the entire time (eventhough a few pages ago I said our interactions over the past decade were either polite conversation or me making a quick getaway, but that's not the point). the point is now she'll never experience anything in the world except from me, even if I don't deserve her. because technically I never chose her. she just forced my hand. oh well."
I hate men like this 💀
April 29, 2023
'Astuta, eso es lo que ella era, entrando para robarle el corazón y luego tratando de devolvérselo.
Era de ella; había sido suyo durante mucho tiempo.'
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.
Meant to Be de Lori Foster
Argumento:
Cuando Cory Creed era solo una niña, sabía que crecería para casarse con Austin Winston, y cometió el error de decírselo. Cansada de verlo evitarla desde entonces, Cory ha decidido que es hora de dejar atrás Visitation, Carolina del Norte y Austin. Pero Austin finalmente se dio cuenta de lo que Cory estaba tan seguro una vez, y ahora es su turno de demostrar que están juntos. . . con un poco de ayuda de sus madres.
Mi humilde opinión:
Me encantó esto! Pensé que era una historia sobre una pareja destinada tan linda para leer.
Austin se pasó años evitando a Cory desde que predijo que se casaría con él. Cory lo persiguió y esperó hasta que tuvo que finalmente aceptar el echo de que él nunca la aceptaría porque sus habilidades especiales lo asustaban. Pensé que Austin era un idiota al principio pero gracias a la intervención de las madres, Luna y Faith, y la noticia de que Cory se mudaría lejos, él reacciona y se da cuenta de que podría perder para siempre a la chica que ama y evitó por años.
Me encantó ver a Austin demostrarle a Cory su amor por ella y que eran perfectos juntos. Sobretodo reconocer que fue un idiota con ella y que la aceptaba con su don. Las chispas vuelvan y la atracción estalla por lo que hay momentos sexys y dulces.
La historia no era larga pero tenía de todo un poco para mantenerme enganchada a este romance con segunda oportunidad. Emotivo día de las madres, mucho amor de familia, angustia, predicciones, pasión, perdón, aceptación y un final feliz que me dejó una enorme sonrisa en el rostro.
May 24, 2023
May/North Carolina
This takes place over the week before Mother's Day. The story involves meddling mothers and a premonition. Cory and Austin spend the story deciding their futures while their mothers try to get them together. Cory and her father have the ability to see the future. They never make mistakes, except when telling other people what they have seen. Cory told Austin about their future together, and that's what sets the story in motion. I don't like the ending. I thought she should have learned from her past mistakes.
This takes place over the week before Mother's Day. The story involves meddling mothers and a premonition. Cory and Austin spend the story deciding their futures while their mothers try to get them together. Cory and her father have the ability to see the future. They never make mistakes, except when telling other people what they have seen. Cory told Austin about their future together, and that's what sets the story in motion. I don't like the ending. I thought she should have learned from her past mistakes.
May 25, 2023
So sweet and cute. Loved this one and the flashbacks to an old family I've missed. Jamie and Joe and their ladies are old favs for sure and now their families are forever tied.
July 2, 2023
I loved Austin and Cory. I wish their story had been longer. I would have loved to seen them get married and have kids. I like that Cory has a special ability just like her father. Luna and Faith were wonderful mothers to their kids. I look forward to reading more books by Lori Foster.
April 25, 2023
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
I loved seeing Austin so rattled, and hurt for Cory as she gave up on the love of her life. So glad to see one man open his eyes to what has always been right in front of him… the love of his life. Now it’s up to Austin to prove to Cory that he’s stopped hiding his feelings and that he can believe in their future. That he loves her just as much as she loves him… abilities and all.
We’ll only run into Jamie and Faith – Joe and Luna – from the Visitation, North Carolina series but as they are the respective parents of this couple, it’s fitting. Neither Faith nor Luna is the biological mother of either Cory or Austin; both women have taken in a child for various reasons, loved them with their whole being, and couldn’t be more of a mother to them if they had in fact given birth. I loved seeing Cory and Austin, as well as Clay and Willow once again as adults ready to set out on their own adventures but never leaving family far behind.
This novella was previously published (April 2022) as part of the "In Bloom" anthology.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
I loved seeing Austin so rattled, and hurt for Cory as she gave up on the love of her life. So glad to see one man open his eyes to what has always been right in front of him… the love of his life. Now it’s up to Austin to prove to Cory that he’s stopped hiding his feelings and that he can believe in their future. That he loves her just as much as she loves him… abilities and all.
We’ll only run into Jamie and Faith – Joe and Luna – from the Visitation, North Carolina series but as they are the respective parents of this couple, it’s fitting. Neither Faith nor Luna is the biological mother of either Cory or Austin; both women have taken in a child for various reasons, loved them with their whole being, and couldn’t be more of a mother to them if they had in fact given birth. I loved seeing Cory and Austin, as well as Clay and Willow once again as adults ready to set out on their own adventures but never leaving family far behind.
This novella was previously published (April 2022) as part of the "In Bloom" anthology.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
September 24, 2024
Meant to Be by Lori Foster is a sexy contemporary novella. A young girl with a special way of knowing things scared a boy. The one boy whom she has liked for ages. Now, she's in her twenties and thinks it's time to give up on him. That is when he starts to notice her retreating from him. He needs to figure things out fast or else risk losing what they could have had forever. I loved this charming, hilarious, yet sweet romance. Lori Foster knows how to entertain and keep her readers hooked. The story itself was a fast-paced read. I could not believe just how fast it ended. The beginning was just as good as the ending. If you love romance and heartfelt tales, this is a definite must have!
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
April 29, 2023
Meant to be
by Lori Foster
This Novela is in a copy of IN BLOOM along with a story by Fern Michaels and Carolyn Brown
All three are amazing authors!
Lori story is a novella that takes place in her town of Visitation North Carolina.
The main characters in this story are Cory Creed and Austin Winston.
They are the children of Jamie and Faith and Joe and Luna from Visitation.
Cory and Austin we were raised by faith and Luna but they were not their biological mothers. But there Luv was so strong he would never suspect that.
This was a very sweet love story, and I highly recommend this novella!
by Lori Foster
This Novela is in a copy of IN BLOOM along with a story by Fern Michaels and Carolyn Brown
All three are amazing authors!
Lori story is a novella that takes place in her town of Visitation North Carolina.
The main characters in this story are Cory Creed and Austin Winston.
They are the children of Jamie and Faith and Joe and Luna from Visitation.
Cory and Austin we were raised by faith and Luna but they were not their biological mothers. But there Luv was so strong he would never suspect that.
This was a very sweet love story, and I highly recommend this novella!
April 25, 2023
Meant To Be – I have read, and re-read, Ms. Foster’s Visitation series and was SO happy to read about grown-up Cory Creed and Austin Winston. Cory and her dad Jamie are favorite characters of mine so reading about an adult Cory was so much fun. And visiting with the families again, well, it made me smile. And Austin sure sounds like he grew up to be a “hottie”! Really loved this story.
May 25, 2023
Great read
This story was great! Bringing together, Cory, Jamie and Faith's daughter, who has the same special gifts as her dad, and Austin, the adopted son of Joe and Luna.
For anyone who hasn't read Jamie and Faith's story, read the book, I don't know the exact name but it has Jamie in the title. Joe and Luna's story is called "Say no to Joe", also a great read.
This story was great! Bringing together, Cory, Jamie and Faith's daughter, who has the same special gifts as her dad, and Austin, the adopted son of Joe and Luna.
For anyone who hasn't read Jamie and Faith's story, read the book, I don't know the exact name but it has Jamie in the title. Joe and Luna's story is called "Say no to Joe", also a great read.
May 27, 2026
Epilogue Please
I've never read this author's books but this one was very sweet and not the usual sex scenes and confusion of the 2 main characters feelings. There are places in story that make the MMC see that he's selfish with his attitude toward FMC but it all works. I gave it 4 stars cause I would've liked an epilogue.
I've never read this author's books but this one was very sweet and not the usual sex scenes and confusion of the 2 main characters feelings. There are places in story that make the MMC see that he's selfish with his attitude toward FMC but it all works. I gave it 4 stars cause I would've liked an epilogue.
April 29, 2023
Great read
What a wonderful addition to the Visitation series. Knowing Austin and Cory would marry and reading about it is an added bonus. I hope there will be more to come. I would recommend this story to any adult reader that enjoys special characters.
What a wonderful addition to the Visitation series. Knowing Austin and Cory would marry and reading about it is an added bonus. I hope there will be more to come. I would recommend this story to any adult reader that enjoys special characters.
September 11, 2023
fun read. through my local library leaning prgram. i gotta read ...i feel like reviews are tough. i would so recommend it ...check Lori out. fun times. so much to read so little time. what are you favorite? read on.
January 6, 2023
Very good story.
February 11, 2023
Absolutely loved this story!!
A must read!
A must read!
May 9, 2023
Short story. Nice story.
May 17, 2023
In this short novela it will grab you and never let's go. Thanks, Lori for writing this! It helped calm me when going through the loss of my mom who passed in February 2023.
May 19, 2023
second time
This was just as good as the first time I restitution. I love visiting this small town and the people there.
This was just as good as the first time I restitution. I love visiting this small town and the people there.
June 26, 2023
I thought this was a stand-alone, but it's the middle of a series, so the cast of characters were a bit alien to me. Still, Lori Foster always does a good romance.
August 26, 2023
Cory believes her and Austin are meant to be. He’s afraid and then he opens his heart. Such a beautiful story.
January 7, 2024
How I love the folks from Visitation!! Cory and Austin were destined to marry, but Austin was resisting, until now. Such a great return to these amazing characters!!
April 5, 2024
Eh. I was not impressed by this novella. Not much going for it and the abilities Cory has didn't add anything to the story. I still don't understand what the whole point of them was.
April 9, 2024
This was my first book by Lori Foster. And she did an amazing job! This is a great book on second chance love. I really enjoyed Carly and Austin's story.
June 28, 2024
Cute read!
September 16, 2024
way too short of a book. happy ending but no real plot imo. i want more! i want a plot twist!
anthology-story
December 21, 2024Wonderful story but could use a different narrator.
August 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this quick read! I don’t think I would have loved it as much if I hadn’t already read Say No to Joe? and Jamie. For me, this book felt like the perfect wrap-up to those stories.
October 5, 2025
3.5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 5, 2026
I loved it! I know I will reread it many times. It kept me turning pages until the end. It kept moving with the right amount spice & what ifs that I couldn't put it down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews