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The Donovans #3
Pretty It Up
Description
Sometimes love just isn’t enough, or is it?
Lana Gold, one of the Donovan triplets, found her one true love in college but lost him when the life he’d dreamed of became reality. Being an outsider looking in and so far away from her family and hometown took its toll on Lana and her marriage until she’d finally had enough and left it all behind.
Co-parenting with the man she’s still in love with has kept him in her world. Even though they live very different lives, they’ve still got their daughter in common. When a health scare threatens Clay’s life, Lana steps up and fulfills the vow she made when they married. In sickness and in health still applied after a divorce, didn't it?
Clay Gold spent his youth trying to reach his ultimate goal of playing professional football for his favorite team. With Lana by his side through college and then the draft, he was riding the high that came from reaching a goal he’d worked for his entire life. Unfortunately, that goal and his career overshadowed his relationship and cost him his marriage.
Having to be content with just being friends with the woman he was still head over heels in love with was agonizing, but Clay had to make peace with it since that was the only way to keep Lana around. With circumstances spinning out of his control, Clay found the loss of the dream career he’d worked so hard for wasn’t as heartbreaking as he’d imagined, especially when he realized it was going to give him back the family he’d hated losing.
Join Cee Bowerman in Marlboro, Texas, home of the Donovan family, and watch as two people who are fated to be together find their way, surrounded by the love and family relationships her books are known for.
Sometimes love just isn’t enough, or is it?
Lana Gold, one of the Donovan triplets, found her one true love in college but lost him when the life he’d dreamed of became reality. Being an outsider looking in and so far away from her family and hometown took its toll on Lana and her marriage until she’d finally had enough and left it all behind.
Co-parenting with the man she’s still in love with has kept him in her world. Even though they live very different lives, they’ve still got their daughter in common. When a health scare threatens Clay’s life, Lana steps up and fulfills the vow she made when they married. In sickness and in health still applied after a divorce, didn't it?
Clay Gold spent his youth trying to reach his ultimate goal of playing professional football for his favorite team. With Lana by his side through college and then the draft, he was riding the high that came from reaching a goal he’d worked for his entire life. Unfortunately, that goal and his career overshadowed his relationship and cost him his marriage.
Having to be content with just being friends with the woman he was still head over heels in love with was agonizing, but Clay had to make peace with it since that was the only way to keep Lana around. With circumstances spinning out of his control, Clay found the loss of the dream career he’d worked so hard for wasn’t as heartbreaking as he’d imagined, especially when he realized it was going to give him back the family he’d hated losing.
Join Cee Bowerman in Marlboro, Texas, home of the Donovan family, and watch as two people who are fated to be together find their way, surrounded by the love and family relationships her books are known for.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2022
286 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
September 21, 2022
I loved this one. It was amazing!
L1 and Clay so cute together and their daughter is just adorable. I love second chance romance and this one takes the cake. I can't wait to see what's next for the Donovan family.
L1 and Clay so cute together and their daughter is just adorable. I love second chance romance and this one takes the cake. I can't wait to see what's next for the Donovan family.
September 17, 2022
4.5 stars.
A second chance romance I can actually get behind.
I’ve been wondering about these two since we were introduced in the first book of this series.
And this did not disappoint.
I loved them.
They are both still so in love with each other, even after four years of being divorced.
Lana takes care of Clay so well.
And Clay…may ham it up a little. Just so he can stay and get a chance to make Lana see that they belong together.
I really enjoyed seeing them work through the things that they’ve been avoiding for forever.
The sex was hot, if a bit brief.
The plot was so sweet and charming.
The side characters were, of course, so funny and supportive. I absolutely LOVE the family vibes that all of Cee’s books have.
I can’t wait to see who’s next in the series.
And I especially can’t wait to read her next release. Stamp. I love the Time Served MC series, so much.
A second chance romance I can actually get behind.
I’ve been wondering about these two since we were introduced in the first book of this series.
And this did not disappoint.
I loved them.
They are both still so in love with each other, even after four years of being divorced.
Lana takes care of Clay so well.
And Clay…may ham it up a little. Just so he can stay and get a chance to make Lana see that they belong together.
I really enjoyed seeing them work through the things that they’ve been avoiding for forever.
The sex was hot, if a bit brief.
The plot was so sweet and charming.
The side characters were, of course, so funny and supportive. I absolutely LOVE the family vibes that all of Cee’s books have.
I can’t wait to see who’s next in the series.
And I especially can’t wait to read her next release. Stamp. I love the Time Served MC series, so much.
September 16, 2022
In the previous books we've seen a bit with Clay and Lana, they seemed good, despite being divorced. With this book we learn what happened. I felt bad for Lana, for what she sacrificed so that Clay could have his dream (or what she thought was his dream) and she could live with herself. I also thought it telling that both of them in the years apart, still thought they had a tie and stayed true to the one they loved. I was glad when Clay over heard all the things that went wrong in his past from Lana's mouth, it helped him see she was right, but it would have been better had she really talked to him.
I loved how this one ended, loved seeing the family grow and still active in football.
I loved how this one ended, loved seeing the family grow and still active in football.
October 9, 2022
❤️❤️.
This was a great read. I loved Clays sweet nature. From the beginning you knew these two’s hearts belonged to each other. Stresses of an NFL team and the drama that came with that put quite a speed bump in there way but their love stayed true. Great book.
This was a great read. I loved Clays sweet nature. From the beginning you knew these two’s hearts belonged to each other. Stresses of an NFL team and the drama that came with that put quite a speed bump in there way but their love stayed true. Great book.
September 17, 2022
Love the Golds
This couple had it all then lost their way only for an injury and messed up surgery for them to realize just what they could still have
This couple had it all then lost their way only for an injury and messed up surgery for them to realize just what they could still have
September 20, 2022
Lana and Clay first met at sixteen, Lana, Lake and Lara are triplets. Currently, they should be twenty-eight, whereas it states they’re thirty.
12 YEARS AGO…CLAY first sees Lana.
“Clay Gold,” I said as I stuck my hand out to shake hers.
“Lana Donovan. I’ll see you around, Clay.”
10 YEARS AGO (at eighteen)
“Who are you meeting at the library?” Lake asked.
“Some dumb jock who needs help making it through design class.”
“Lana Donovan.” My gaze landed on a broad chest covered in a Houston jersey and made its way up to the guy’s smiling face. It was that cute guy I’d met at a party a few years ago, and he was grinning at me.
“Clay! How are you?” I asked as I started to stand.
“No, don’t get up. I think I’m here to sit next to you anyway.”
“You’re here for CAD tutoring?”
“You want to be a designer?”
“I want to play football, but I think it’s always smart to have a Plan B.”
Exiting the library, “do I have to pretend I still need help to see you again?”
“Why would you do that?”
“Well, I want to ask you out to dinner tomorrow night.”
“Oh. Well then.”
“Will you go out with me, or do I need to sign up for more tutoring?”
“Dinner? That’s it?”
“I suppose it’s too early to propose marriage, so I’ll settle for dinner.”
“I’ll go to dinner with you, but I think I should keep my marriage options open for now.”
“For now. I’ll change your mind someday.”
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
SEVEN YEARS AGO
His NFL debut
They’ve transitioned into wedded bliss, with one reporter making wild accusations that Lana was riding Clay’s coattails for money, the coach forced him to print a retraction . . .
“Did you tell Clay about the baby yet?”
The last month since Clay had been drafted had been a whirlwind. Life was different now that he’d been drafted to the pros. In college, he’d had time off that he could spend at home, since they’d moved, she didn’t have her siblings, and hadn’t seen her parents in more than a month. That was a difficult adjustment in and of itself.
SIX YEARS AGO
“How soon will Clay be home?” She panted, looking at the laptop screen.
“Lana, they’re coming at regular intervals. You need to call your doctor.”
“I’m waiting for Clay to call me back. I’ve been trying him for two hours. I left messages for him. I’ve still got at least three weeks”.
“I can’t go with them, I don’t want to be alone. I can’t do this by myself. Please, Mama, no . . .”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, sweetheart, and we’ll keep trying to get in touch with Clay. You can do this. Go answer the door. Take your phone with you, and we’ll track your location so we know where to go.”
“Mrs. Gold?” the paramedic said before he put his hands on my arms to help hold me upright. He started barking orders at someone out in the hall as he looked at the growing puddle between my feet.
“I have to wait for my husband,”
“He’ll have to meet you at the hospital, Mrs. Gold. Is there anyone else you can call?” he asked as he and another man helped me onto the gurney in the hall.
“Tell the caller that we have the patient.”
“I can do this. I can do this,” chanting as someone fitted a mask over her face. Hands flitting over her arms and then her legs as they restrained her. Then they started moving down the hall very quickly as one man barked orders at another.
“I can’t do this by myself!”
“It looks like you don’t have any choice.”
◆◆◆
FOUR YEARS AGO
“What happened, honey?” James asked as he walked farther into the room.
“The women are constantly worried that the others are trying to steal their men, and the men are too busy chasing other women to realize how unhappy their wives are!”
“You’ve gotta talk to Clay, L1. He’d . . .”
“He’d come home with me and leave all of this behind.”
“You’re his wife! He’s got to know you’re unhappy here.”
“You’re giving up on him, Lana. You’re gonna lose him forever if you leave like this.”
“If I don’t leave, I’m going to lose me, James. I don’t have any other choice.”
“And you’re going to leave him without a word?”
“We said all there was to say the other night.”
“Everything’s happening just the way it’s supposed to, Wes.”
“But you love him, Lana.”
“Sometimes love just isn’t enough.”
“What’s so funny?” Wes asked when he stopped in my doorway.
“Your face.”
“You know I’m your most handsome brother. Don’t try to lie.”
“I call bullshit!” James yelled from his office across the hall.
“Admit it,” Wes whispered as he wiggled his eyebrows.
“I’ll admit, Quinn is my most handsome brother.”
“Mom bought you at Walmart,” Wes growled before he walked away.
“You’re Target all the way, Lana. Don’t let him tell you any different!” James yelled.
“We’re business professionals!” our mom yelled from her office. “Stop yelling!”
Their mum, Patrice, worked in the front office as a realtor. She was in business along with Lana, Lake, and her two brothers, James and Wesley. She discovered and purchased the properties whilst James did demolition and construction on the houses and Wesley focused on planning. Lake, worked on landscaping while Lana handled all the decorating and interior design. They flipped houses along with leasing and maintaining rental properties, but they each used their skills for other areas of their businesses.
“Oh, and by the way, I didn’t get you and your sisters at Target. I found a buy two, get one free deal at a pop-up shop by the freeway.”
“Burn!” James yelled.
“Son, I got you at a thrift store.
People who didn’t know them very well didn’t get their unique sense of humor or the insults they slung at each other about where their parents ‘bought’ them. In fact, her mum hadn’t found James anywhere - he was one of the three children she’d given birth to, the rest were adopted and loved to tease each other about it.
Clay might not have cheated, but the other players didn’t seem to see a problem, but he almost condoned their actions, which was a slippery slope, so she left. That way he wouldn’t be cheating if something did happen on the road.
“I was miserable, Clay. I just didn’t want you to know because you were living your dream”.
“You barely ever left the house, Sugar. If you’d have just gotten out more, hung out with the wives and gotten to know . . .”
“The ones that tried to convince me that it was okay to have your husband sleep around as long as his contract was big enough? Or that I needed to keep my figure so I could compete with all the women who’d be throwing themselves at you? Or that I shouldn’t have a baby until our marriage was on the rocks so I could trap you? Or that . . .”
“They said that sh*t?”
“That and more. Why do you think I distanced myself?” She grew up with women who were all about female empowerment and ended up in a new life with a group of women who tried to break her self-confidence while they smiled to her face.
“I was so alone, and you were busy all the time. I had no one to turn to.”
“Me! I was your husband! You turn to me!”
There’d never been any hint of him cheating. He took their vows seriously, catching unimaginable amounts of derision, because of his refusal to even look at the jersey chasers who followed the team as if it was their religion. The greatest discord amongst them were their lifestyles, not their field performance.
When he got home from an away game, the house remote, all of their things were gone. There was a note that said, “sometimes love isn’t enough.” He was served with divorce papers three days later.
He only cared about the woman of his dreams who’d decided she was done and the little girl who missed her daddy. His anger at Lana’s abrupt decision had abated over time, and she welcomed him to Marlboro anytime he was able to take time away. Not once had she ever gotten in the way of him seeing Marley. When he couldn’t be there in person, she set up video chats with his little girl. After a while, they’d rediscovered their friendship, but she hadn’t been interested in anything else and had made that abundantly clear. Overhearing a conversation between the sisters he learnt more in 10 minutes than he’d ever imagined, solidifying his determination to win over his wife and the life he dreamt of, and lost. The bond these sisters share is enviable.
He’d been tempted by other women since she left but never succumbed. Lana was his wife, and he was still as in love with her as he had been the day they got married. He’d thought that recovering at her house after his gallbladder surgery would give him the chance to win her back. His illness and recovery had put him in constant contact with Lana, and he was slowly wearing down her defences. Granted, the sleep deprivation was helping. He had no remorse and would use whatever tools at his disposal to get past the walls she’d erected.
She didn’t divorce Clay because she didn’t love him, she divorced him because she wanted him to have his dream, football. He didn’t realise how unhappy she was because he was busy with the team. She isolated herself from the other wives, she didn’t want him to have to choose.
“I need you to write a letter addressed to the coaching staff and then accidentally leak it somehow. If you’re not sure how to do that, I’ve got a brother-in-law that does stuff online. I’m sure he could help us.”
“You want me to leak it?”
“If I’m unable to play, L.A.’s not going to want me and neither is anyone else.”
(He got word from his agent that he’s officially being traded to L.A.).
With a new team, he’ll be dealing with all new doctors and he’s already been taxing himself.
He realises his knee is not going to get better. With the injuries he sustained over the years and the added complications from the reactive arthritis, he’s going to be in constant pain. They won’t pay sufficient attention to his levels and might endanger him.
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I think I need to remember where I came from, Doc, and you’re going to help me do that.”
“I’m used to working out twice a day. I’ve been walking the stairs to try and get the kinks out and . . .”
“The kinks are arthritis, Clay. You can’t work out arthritis once it’s there, you can only treat it.”
“But my hips get so stiff from sitting . . .”
“Also arthritis. A good exercise regimen will help that, but too much will just exacerbate the problem”.
“I trust you a lot more than I trust the team docs. You’ve got my well-being in mind instead of focusing on the impact my injury and recovery will have on the team.”
“You’re just now 30, so you might have a few more good years if there aren’t any more injuries, especially to your knee. With your hips the way they are, though, you could be facing a lifelong disability if you don’t take care of yourself.”
“I’ve hopefully got a long life ahead of me, and I don’t want to risk that”.
His teammates and the coaching staff deserted him during his recovery. He was royally angry that they hadn’t had the presence of mind to speak with him, prior to trading him.
He’s been doing stretches and some strength building exercises while Lana thought he was sleeping, and he could definitely shower on his own. He waited until she was asleep to get up and move around. He had a plan, and even though it was underhanded and devious, he was determined to stick with it until he got his way. Lana was so tired, she was a walking zombie. He’d woken her up over and over again this last week with one excuse or another. She’d been back and forth up the stairs so many times, there was probably a rut in the hardwood. But she was stubborn and absolutely refused to stay in her bedroom where she insisted he sleep, so he had no choice but to call her down over and over again until she gave up and moved into bed beside him.
Lana feels betrayed when she inadvertently discovers that he’s been hoping to entice her into his arms.
“Not running, really. At first, I walked the halls and then I started just going up and down the stairs to get the stiffness out of my legs. I did some weights and then started using the treadmill at James’s place a few weeks ago.”
“Was that before or after you were so weak you needed me to wash your d*ck?”
“Before.”
“What about the time you stumbled while I was walking beside you after we’d gone downstairs to get some sun?”
“I did stumble and I do have pain, Lana.”
“My hips and my left knee have really been bothering me.”
“Did you overexert yourself? It’s a good thing it’s not your surgical incisions! I’m such an idiot. Did you like seeing me worry about you? What’s the endgame here?”
“I liked being near you!” I yelled.
“You barely let me touch you anymore, but if I was weak and needed you, you were right there beside me!”
Disabling and sabotaging ALL her adult ‘toys’ and her emergency replacements was highly creative.
Very realistic conflict. He’d been so busy following his childhood dream of playing professional football that he hadn’t noticed how much of herself Lana had given away to support him. He’d sacrificed his life, his marriage, to the team, and he got traded to a third-rate team in return.
In direct opposition to his happiness, she’d been miserable, she could have stayed in that bleak place or gone home to raise her daughter in a world surrounded by people she loved and trusted. It had been a difficult decision, but she’d done what was best.
She could have spoken to Clay, placing her faith in him to find a solution that was best for their family, instead of sacrificing her own happiness for what she assumed was his.
12 YEARS AGO…CLAY first sees Lana.
“Clay Gold,” I said as I stuck my hand out to shake hers.
“Lana Donovan. I’ll see you around, Clay.”
10 YEARS AGO (at eighteen)
“Who are you meeting at the library?” Lake asked.
“Some dumb jock who needs help making it through design class.”
“Lana Donovan.” My gaze landed on a broad chest covered in a Houston jersey and made its way up to the guy’s smiling face. It was that cute guy I’d met at a party a few years ago, and he was grinning at me.
“Clay! How are you?” I asked as I started to stand.
“No, don’t get up. I think I’m here to sit next to you anyway.”
“You’re here for CAD tutoring?”
“You want to be a designer?”
“I want to play football, but I think it’s always smart to have a Plan B.”
Exiting the library, “do I have to pretend I still need help to see you again?”
“Why would you do that?”
“Well, I want to ask you out to dinner tomorrow night.”
“Oh. Well then.”
“Will you go out with me, or do I need to sign up for more tutoring?”
“Dinner? That’s it?”
“I suppose it’s too early to propose marriage, so I’ll settle for dinner.”
“I’ll go to dinner with you, but I think I should keep my marriage options open for now.”
“For now. I’ll change your mind someday.”
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
SEVEN YEARS AGO
His NFL debut
They’ve transitioned into wedded bliss, with one reporter making wild accusations that Lana was riding Clay’s coattails for money, the coach forced him to print a retraction . . .
“Did you tell Clay about the baby yet?”
The last month since Clay had been drafted had been a whirlwind. Life was different now that he’d been drafted to the pros. In college, he’d had time off that he could spend at home, since they’d moved, she didn’t have her siblings, and hadn’t seen her parents in more than a month. That was a difficult adjustment in and of itself.
SIX YEARS AGO
“How soon will Clay be home?” She panted, looking at the laptop screen.
“Lana, they’re coming at regular intervals. You need to call your doctor.”
“I’m waiting for Clay to call me back. I’ve been trying him for two hours. I left messages for him. I’ve still got at least three weeks”.
“I can’t go with them, I don’t want to be alone. I can’t do this by myself. Please, Mama, no . . .”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, sweetheart, and we’ll keep trying to get in touch with Clay. You can do this. Go answer the door. Take your phone with you, and we’ll track your location so we know where to go.”
“Mrs. Gold?” the paramedic said before he put his hands on my arms to help hold me upright. He started barking orders at someone out in the hall as he looked at the growing puddle between my feet.
“I have to wait for my husband,”
“He’ll have to meet you at the hospital, Mrs. Gold. Is there anyone else you can call?” he asked as he and another man helped me onto the gurney in the hall.
“Tell the caller that we have the patient.”
“I can do this. I can do this,” chanting as someone fitted a mask over her face. Hands flitting over her arms and then her legs as they restrained her. Then they started moving down the hall very quickly as one man barked orders at another.
“I can’t do this by myself!”
“It looks like you don’t have any choice.”
◆◆◆
FOUR YEARS AGO
“What happened, honey?” James asked as he walked farther into the room.
“The women are constantly worried that the others are trying to steal their men, and the men are too busy chasing other women to realize how unhappy their wives are!”
“You’ve gotta talk to Clay, L1. He’d . . .”
“He’d come home with me and leave all of this behind.”
“You’re his wife! He’s got to know you’re unhappy here.”
“You’re giving up on him, Lana. You’re gonna lose him forever if you leave like this.”
“If I don’t leave, I’m going to lose me, James. I don’t have any other choice.”
“And you’re going to leave him without a word?”
“We said all there was to say the other night.”
“Everything’s happening just the way it’s supposed to, Wes.”
“But you love him, Lana.”
“Sometimes love just isn’t enough.”
“What’s so funny?” Wes asked when he stopped in my doorway.
“Your face.”
“You know I’m your most handsome brother. Don’t try to lie.”
“I call bullshit!” James yelled from his office across the hall.
“Admit it,” Wes whispered as he wiggled his eyebrows.
“I’ll admit, Quinn is my most handsome brother.”
“Mom bought you at Walmart,” Wes growled before he walked away.
“You’re Target all the way, Lana. Don’t let him tell you any different!” James yelled.
“We’re business professionals!” our mom yelled from her office. “Stop yelling!”
Their mum, Patrice, worked in the front office as a realtor. She was in business along with Lana, Lake, and her two brothers, James and Wesley. She discovered and purchased the properties whilst James did demolition and construction on the houses and Wesley focused on planning. Lake, worked on landscaping while Lana handled all the decorating and interior design. They flipped houses along with leasing and maintaining rental properties, but they each used their skills for other areas of their businesses.
“Oh, and by the way, I didn’t get you and your sisters at Target. I found a buy two, get one free deal at a pop-up shop by the freeway.”
“Burn!” James yelled.
“Son, I got you at a thrift store.
People who didn’t know them very well didn’t get their unique sense of humor or the insults they slung at each other about where their parents ‘bought’ them. In fact, her mum hadn’t found James anywhere - he was one of the three children she’d given birth to, the rest were adopted and loved to tease each other about it.
Clay might not have cheated, but the other players didn’t seem to see a problem, but he almost condoned their actions, which was a slippery slope, so she left. That way he wouldn’t be cheating if something did happen on the road.
“I was miserable, Clay. I just didn’t want you to know because you were living your dream”.
“You barely ever left the house, Sugar. If you’d have just gotten out more, hung out with the wives and gotten to know . . .”
“The ones that tried to convince me that it was okay to have your husband sleep around as long as his contract was big enough? Or that I needed to keep my figure so I could compete with all the women who’d be throwing themselves at you? Or that I shouldn’t have a baby until our marriage was on the rocks so I could trap you? Or that . . .”
“They said that sh*t?”
“That and more. Why do you think I distanced myself?” She grew up with women who were all about female empowerment and ended up in a new life with a group of women who tried to break her self-confidence while they smiled to her face.
“I was so alone, and you were busy all the time. I had no one to turn to.”
“Me! I was your husband! You turn to me!”
There’d never been any hint of him cheating. He took their vows seriously, catching unimaginable amounts of derision, because of his refusal to even look at the jersey chasers who followed the team as if it was their religion. The greatest discord amongst them were their lifestyles, not their field performance.
When he got home from an away game, the house remote, all of their things were gone. There was a note that said, “sometimes love isn’t enough.” He was served with divorce papers three days later.
He only cared about the woman of his dreams who’d decided she was done and the little girl who missed her daddy. His anger at Lana’s abrupt decision had abated over time, and she welcomed him to Marlboro anytime he was able to take time away. Not once had she ever gotten in the way of him seeing Marley. When he couldn’t be there in person, she set up video chats with his little girl. After a while, they’d rediscovered their friendship, but she hadn’t been interested in anything else and had made that abundantly clear. Overhearing a conversation between the sisters he learnt more in 10 minutes than he’d ever imagined, solidifying his determination to win over his wife and the life he dreamt of, and lost. The bond these sisters share is enviable.
He’d been tempted by other women since she left but never succumbed. Lana was his wife, and he was still as in love with her as he had been the day they got married. He’d thought that recovering at her house after his gallbladder surgery would give him the chance to win her back. His illness and recovery had put him in constant contact with Lana, and he was slowly wearing down her defences. Granted, the sleep deprivation was helping. He had no remorse and would use whatever tools at his disposal to get past the walls she’d erected.
She didn’t divorce Clay because she didn’t love him, she divorced him because she wanted him to have his dream, football. He didn’t realise how unhappy she was because he was busy with the team. She isolated herself from the other wives, she didn’t want him to have to choose.
“I need you to write a letter addressed to the coaching staff and then accidentally leak it somehow. If you’re not sure how to do that, I’ve got a brother-in-law that does stuff online. I’m sure he could help us.”
“You want me to leak it?”
“If I’m unable to play, L.A.’s not going to want me and neither is anyone else.”
(He got word from his agent that he’s officially being traded to L.A.).
With a new team, he’ll be dealing with all new doctors and he’s already been taxing himself.
He realises his knee is not going to get better. With the injuries he sustained over the years and the added complications from the reactive arthritis, he’s going to be in constant pain. They won’t pay sufficient attention to his levels and might endanger him.
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I think I need to remember where I came from, Doc, and you’re going to help me do that.”
“I’m used to working out twice a day. I’ve been walking the stairs to try and get the kinks out and . . .”
“The kinks are arthritis, Clay. You can’t work out arthritis once it’s there, you can only treat it.”
“But my hips get so stiff from sitting . . .”
“Also arthritis. A good exercise regimen will help that, but too much will just exacerbate the problem”.
“I trust you a lot more than I trust the team docs. You’ve got my well-being in mind instead of focusing on the impact my injury and recovery will have on the team.”
“You’re just now 30, so you might have a few more good years if there aren’t any more injuries, especially to your knee. With your hips the way they are, though, you could be facing a lifelong disability if you don’t take care of yourself.”
“I’ve hopefully got a long life ahead of me, and I don’t want to risk that”.
His teammates and the coaching staff deserted him during his recovery. He was royally angry that they hadn’t had the presence of mind to speak with him, prior to trading him.
He’s been doing stretches and some strength building exercises while Lana thought he was sleeping, and he could definitely shower on his own. He waited until she was asleep to get up and move around. He had a plan, and even though it was underhanded and devious, he was determined to stick with it until he got his way. Lana was so tired, she was a walking zombie. He’d woken her up over and over again this last week with one excuse or another. She’d been back and forth up the stairs so many times, there was probably a rut in the hardwood. But she was stubborn and absolutely refused to stay in her bedroom where she insisted he sleep, so he had no choice but to call her down over and over again until she gave up and moved into bed beside him.
Lana feels betrayed when she inadvertently discovers that he’s been hoping to entice her into his arms.
“Not running, really. At first, I walked the halls and then I started just going up and down the stairs to get the stiffness out of my legs. I did some weights and then started using the treadmill at James’s place a few weeks ago.”
“Was that before or after you were so weak you needed me to wash your d*ck?”
“Before.”
“What about the time you stumbled while I was walking beside you after we’d gone downstairs to get some sun?”
“I did stumble and I do have pain, Lana.”
“My hips and my left knee have really been bothering me.”
“Did you overexert yourself? It’s a good thing it’s not your surgical incisions! I’m such an idiot. Did you like seeing me worry about you? What’s the endgame here?”
“I liked being near you!” I yelled.
“You barely let me touch you anymore, but if I was weak and needed you, you were right there beside me!”
Disabling and sabotaging ALL her adult ‘toys’ and her emergency replacements was highly creative.
Very realistic conflict. He’d been so busy following his childhood dream of playing professional football that he hadn’t noticed how much of herself Lana had given away to support him. He’d sacrificed his life, his marriage, to the team, and he got traded to a third-rate team in return.
In direct opposition to his happiness, she’d been miserable, she could have stayed in that bleak place or gone home to raise her daughter in a world surrounded by people she loved and trusted. It had been a difficult decision, but she’d done what was best.
She could have spoken to Clay, placing her faith in him to find a solution that was best for their family, instead of sacrificing her own happiness for what she assumed was his.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2022
Fantastic story🤗😊
This story was so exciting, entertaining, moving and funny at times!!!. Sometimes in life you have to set it free for it to come back to you😘🤗. Cee is a FANTASTIC storyteller and is a PHENOMENAL writer😊😀.
This story was so exciting, entertaining, moving and funny at times!!!. Sometimes in life you have to set it free for it to come back to you😘🤗. Cee is a FANTASTIC storyteller and is a PHENOMENAL writer😊😀.
September 21, 2022
Second Chance Romance
This is the third book in a continuing series of standalone novels revolving around one very large family. You do not need to have read the first two books to understand and enjoy this book but it will enhance your enjoyment if you do.
Lana met the love of her life, Clay when she was 16, but she didn’t see him again until she was at college. Loving each other desperately they were both happy when he got called to the NFL draft and started playing professional American Football. When they moved, Lana was not delighted to find out how shallow and vicious her new life was. After years of basically being a single parent she left Clay and returned home to her family to raise her daughter away from the toxic environment she found herself in.
Four years later and Clay gets sick enough to need surgery and Lana volunteers to help nurse him back to health in her home because he has no family near where he plays. Clay decides to take the opportunity to try and win his wife back so he can live a full and happy life again. Lana isn’t so sure that’s a good idea.
I’ve grown really fond of this quirky family made of both born and adopted siblings. They are big messy bundle of love and sarcasm. This book is not challenging in the slightest. There is no darkness, only misunderstandings and tunnel vision. Both main characters are really likeable and their daughter, Marley, is adorable.
This is a quick feel good read that will make you smile and help divert you from real life woes, for a while. I’m looking forward to seeing which sibling is going to be set up next!
This is the third book in a continuing series of standalone novels revolving around one very large family. You do not need to have read the first two books to understand and enjoy this book but it will enhance your enjoyment if you do.
Lana met the love of her life, Clay when she was 16, but she didn’t see him again until she was at college. Loving each other desperately they were both happy when he got called to the NFL draft and started playing professional American Football. When they moved, Lana was not delighted to find out how shallow and vicious her new life was. After years of basically being a single parent she left Clay and returned home to her family to raise her daughter away from the toxic environment she found herself in.
Four years later and Clay gets sick enough to need surgery and Lana volunteers to help nurse him back to health in her home because he has no family near where he plays. Clay decides to take the opportunity to try and win his wife back so he can live a full and happy life again. Lana isn’t so sure that’s a good idea.
I’ve grown really fond of this quirky family made of both born and adopted siblings. They are big messy bundle of love and sarcasm. This book is not challenging in the slightest. There is no darkness, only misunderstandings and tunnel vision. Both main characters are really likeable and their daughter, Marley, is adorable.
This is a quick feel good read that will make you smile and help divert you from real life woes, for a while. I’m looking forward to seeing which sibling is going to be set up next!
September 20, 2022
Outstanding new release!
Okay. I just finished Pretty It Up, the third book in the Donovan’s series. Now I know everyone wants to feel their work stands on its own and that they are one of a kind, I know certainly do. But forgive me, as I feel the need to make a couple of comparisons. First let me start with a praise for this story. From the fiesta page to the last I was all in. Not that that is not the case with your other books, but this one in particular had my interest from the start. Now to that comparison…as I was reading this story, I had to stop and make sure I was reading the right book and had not picked up the latest by Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Lori Foster, two of my long time favorite authors. Your character creation, storyline and plot building were on par with these romance giants. You had me routing for this family, for this couple, and for this story from beginning to end.
Thank you! Thank you for an enjoyable read and for picking up the gauntlet that lets us know we have many more years of great stories to look forward to and I for one can’t wait.
Okay. I just finished Pretty It Up, the third book in the Donovan’s series. Now I know everyone wants to feel their work stands on its own and that they are one of a kind, I know certainly do. But forgive me, as I feel the need to make a couple of comparisons. First let me start with a praise for this story. From the fiesta page to the last I was all in. Not that that is not the case with your other books, but this one in particular had my interest from the start. Now to that comparison…as I was reading this story, I had to stop and make sure I was reading the right book and had not picked up the latest by Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Lori Foster, two of my long time favorite authors. Your character creation, storyline and plot building were on par with these romance giants. You had me routing for this family, for this couple, and for this story from beginning to end.
Thank you! Thank you for an enjoyable read and for picking up the gauntlet that lets us know we have many more years of great stories to look forward to and I for one can’t wait.
September 17, 2022
This is the 3rd book in The Donovans series. Lana and Clay met in college, fell in love, got married and started to live Clay’s dream. After their daughter was born, Lana couldn’t deal with what Clay’s dream was doing to her. And because she loved him, she couldn’t ask him to give up his dream and divorced him. They stayed in contact to co-parent their daughter and when Clay has a life-threatening injury, Lana nurses him back to health. Clay finally figures what his real dream is and works to get Lana back. If you love rom coms, you’ll really love this book. This book has laughs (til you cry) because after all it’s a Cee Bowerman book. This a funny, truly romantic love story kind of book.
Cee writes stories of wonderfully strong women who meet and fall for strong, protective alpha males and this one is no exception.
Cee writes stories of wonderfully strong women who meet and fall for strong, protective alpha males and this one is no exception.
September 20, 2022
Communication is a must
Lana and Clay, married then divorced but still friends and parents. The bright lights and the dark behind the scenes, the life of a pro athlete's life. All make for some good money, good and bad memories.
Lana somewhat tried to communicate to Clay just how hard it was to be his wife, while he was playing ball. Clay did not hear or see just what she was saying. Instead of forcing something onto him, she chose to leave.
Clay has gallbladder surgery and ends up sicker. Throughout his recovery time from all the surgeries, Lana was there for him. As his focus changed, so did his goal.
The biggest thing to take from this story is. Communication is a need in any type.of relationship. Especially between a wife and husband.
Lana and Clay, married then divorced but still friends and parents. The bright lights and the dark behind the scenes, the life of a pro athlete's life. All make for some good money, good and bad memories.
Lana somewhat tried to communicate to Clay just how hard it was to be his wife, while he was playing ball. Clay did not hear or see just what she was saying. Instead of forcing something onto him, she chose to leave.
Clay has gallbladder surgery and ends up sicker. Throughout his recovery time from all the surgeries, Lana was there for him. As his focus changed, so did his goal.
The biggest thing to take from this story is. Communication is a need in any type.of relationship. Especially between a wife and husband.
February 20, 2023
wow just wow….this book hit home and was my favorite so far
This series has become one of my favorites. This book in particular hit home almost to the point of PTSD anxiety from Clay’s near death experience with his gall bladder. I too had not one but two near death experiences and four surgeries as a result of a ruptured gallbladder and then a leaking valve from my liver which cost me a portion of my liver. It was crazy to read a book with so much in common with me. I’m so glad they found their happily ever after. Loved their daughter played football and one sung the anthem. I too have two daughters and one is a singer and always sang the anthem at ball games throughout her school years.
This series has become one of my favorites. This book in particular hit home almost to the point of PTSD anxiety from Clay’s near death experience with his gall bladder. I too had not one but two near death experiences and four surgeries as a result of a ruptured gallbladder and then a leaking valve from my liver which cost me a portion of my liver. It was crazy to read a book with so much in common with me. I’m so glad they found their happily ever after. Loved their daughter played football and one sung the anthem. I too have two daughters and one is a singer and always sang the anthem at ball games throughout her school years.
March 14, 2023
Another excellent story in this series. I loved Clay when we first met him in Quinn & Kyla's story. Now after getting to know him on a whole other level I love him even more. I understood why Lana did what she did but not how she did it. As far as Clay goes after all his hard work and getting to the level he did it was really shitty how his team's staff treated him but it seems like they will get their just desserts. As far as the player's wives and girlfriends go I'm sure that's not far from the truth...what a bunch of cows!!!! The philandering I'm sure that happens as well but not every man is a cheating bastard and Clay's character showed us that. I'm getting more entrenched in this family and I only have one more book to read so I'm hoping that there's more coming soon.
September 18, 2022
I literally screamed when Lana and Clay's story arrived! I have wanted their book from the moment we met them in the first book. It was everything I hoped for and more. CB had me rolling with laughter, there is never a dull moment with the Donovans! I loved watching Lana find her way back to Clay, with a few omissions on his part and help from her family. From the start of the story, things felt off with them being friends and nothing more. As they got closer and closer, the more right everything felt. I can't really explain it better than that. This was such an incredible read, I cannot wait for more stories from this family!
September 25, 2022
Clay and Lana love eachother
Clay and Lana love eachother but ended up divorced. Lana couldn't stand the life as a football wife and didn't want to raise their daughter surrounded by that environment. Things change when Clay ends up having emergency surgery.
Clay still loves the woman he still considers his wife and when he hears her talking to her family and confesses she still loves him too, all bets are off. He's going to get his woman back and become a family again and he handled it rather nicely!
As always, Cee Bowerman writes a wonderful story featuring that great family vibe. I can't wait to see which Donovan is next!
Clay and Lana love eachother but ended up divorced. Lana couldn't stand the life as a football wife and didn't want to raise their daughter surrounded by that environment. Things change when Clay ends up having emergency surgery.
Clay still loves the woman he still considers his wife and when he hears her talking to her family and confesses she still loves him too, all bets are off. He's going to get his woman back and become a family again and he handled it rather nicely!
As always, Cee Bowerman writes a wonderful story featuring that great family vibe. I can't wait to see which Donovan is next!
September 15, 2022
WOW just WOW!!!!
I have loved this series from the start. Everything Cee writes is amazing. But to read and see Lana and Clay's story from the start is great. They always were meant to be together. 2 halfs of a whole. I binge read this book. Not putting it down once I started. Everytime I read one of Cee Bowerman's book I find myself laughing, crying and even wanting to throat punch. You get pulled into the story right along with the characters. Cant wait to see who the Donovan is to fall. Keep up the amazing work again Cee.
I have loved this series from the start. Everything Cee writes is amazing. But to read and see Lana and Clay's story from the start is great. They always were meant to be together. 2 halfs of a whole. I binge read this book. Not putting it down once I started. Everytime I read one of Cee Bowerman's book I find myself laughing, crying and even wanting to throat punch. You get pulled into the story right along with the characters. Cant wait to see who the Donovan is to fall. Keep up the amazing work again Cee.
September 20, 2022
Donovan family
Oh my gosh! I thought she (Cee Bowerman) couldn't possibly keep up her fast writing pace , and boy was I wrong( sorry Cee) She is absolutely AWESOME. The Texas Knights, then the Kings, Rojo, Tx, Thornes, Time served, now the Donovan's. Wow. EVERYTHING SHE WRITES IS GOLD! I love how her families of characters come alive on the page. I laugh, cry , get angry, then laugh again while reading her ART. Every book I read, I instantly want to become part of their family. She is and always will be my go to re read author.
Oh my gosh! I thought she (Cee Bowerman) couldn't possibly keep up her fast writing pace , and boy was I wrong( sorry Cee) She is absolutely AWESOME. The Texas Knights, then the Kings, Rojo, Tx, Thornes, Time served, now the Donovan's. Wow. EVERYTHING SHE WRITES IS GOLD! I love how her families of characters come alive on the page. I laugh, cry , get angry, then laugh again while reading her ART. Every book I read, I instantly want to become part of their family. She is and always will be my go to re read author.
September 25, 2022
Clay and Lana
Clay got his dream to play football in the big leagues, but lost Lana and his daughter, Marley because Lana couldn't handle what some of the team mates and the wives were doing. She came home to her family. Clay got deathly sick with his gallbladder and wound up with a bad infection and Lana took care of him. It took him a while to realize the team managers, agents and coaches never had his best interest at heart, and I love what he and Kyla did. Another fantastic story about these Donovan's. Happy reading.
Clay got his dream to play football in the big leagues, but lost Lana and his daughter, Marley because Lana couldn't handle what some of the team mates and the wives were doing. She came home to her family. Clay got deathly sick with his gallbladder and wound up with a bad infection and Lana took care of him. It took him a while to realize the team managers, agents and coaches never had his best interest at heart, and I love what he and Kyla did. Another fantastic story about these Donovan's. Happy reading.
October 7, 2022
Great!
I chose this rating because this was actually a pretty great book. I really enjoyed most all of the characters. This was the book of concern, protection, compassion, and getting back the one you love. I really enjoyed Clay and Lana story. The author did a great job putting these characters together. I loved the way this couple interacted with each other and they're a little girl. This whole family is pretty great so far. Great read! I recommend this book to all romance readers.
I chose this rating because this was actually a pretty great book. I really enjoyed most all of the characters. This was the book of concern, protection, compassion, and getting back the one you love. I really enjoyed Clay and Lana story. The author did a great job putting these characters together. I loved the way this couple interacted with each other and they're a little girl. This whole family is pretty great so far. Great read! I recommend this book to all romance readers.
June 28, 2023
Go Clay and Lana!
This is book three, and a tear jerker of a story for Clay Gold and Lana Donovan. Their love journey is so sweet because each of them were so loving to each other. They met and fell in love in college. However once Clay made it to the NFL, life changed. Lana wasn’t happy with the NFL lifestyle. She tried to make friends with the wives, but the amount of infidelity and jersey chasers stopped her from being around the other wives. Although Clay never strayed, Lana wanted him to have his dream career even if she had to walk away. Read On!
This is book three, and a tear jerker of a story for Clay Gold and Lana Donovan. Their love journey is so sweet because each of them were so loving to each other. They met and fell in love in college. However once Clay made it to the NFL, life changed. Lana wasn’t happy with the NFL lifestyle. She tried to make friends with the wives, but the amount of infidelity and jersey chasers stopped her from being around the other wives. Although Clay never strayed, Lana wanted him to have his dream career even if she had to walk away. Read On!
September 16, 2022
True Love!!
I have wanted Clay and Lana’s story since the first Donovan book and I wasn’t disappointed. This is a book about true love and how love can still withstand all the obstacles in life including divorce. The love these two still had for each other and the friendship they had is very inspiring for alot of couples. This book was truly amazing!! Once again another fantastic book from Cee!!!
I have wanted Clay and Lana’s story since the first Donovan book and I wasn’t disappointed. This is a book about true love and how love can still withstand all the obstacles in life including divorce. The love these two still had for each other and the friendship they had is very inspiring for alot of couples. This book was truly amazing!! Once again another fantastic book from Cee!!!
September 18, 2022
Excellent!
I loved Lana and Clay (and I'm crushing on Max). I'm not really sure what I was expecting of Clay, but he exceeded any expectations and took his place as one of my favorite book boyfriends! I loved Lana too, but I gotta say that a few times I wanted to shout 'don't do it!!!!'.
I'm also afraid I will laugh each time I see a vibrator in the future - and that's just mean Cee!
I loved Lana and Clay (and I'm crushing on Max). I'm not really sure what I was expecting of Clay, but he exceeded any expectations and took his place as one of my favorite book boyfriends! I loved Lana too, but I gotta say that a few times I wanted to shout 'don't do it!!!!'.
I'm also afraid I will laugh each time I see a vibrator in the future - and that's just mean Cee!
September 23, 2022
I was rooting for this couple since the beginning of this series.
Since Quinn's story in the first book of the Donovan's series I anticipate each family members HEA. This time it's Lana's story. I couldn't wait to see what would happen with Clay and Lana and why the divorced. I am not disappointed. I love the Donovan's and how they are there for one another, and they will call you out if they see fit. They do it with love, laughter and tears. A very good story in the series.
Since Quinn's story in the first book of the Donovan's series I anticipate each family members HEA. This time it's Lana's story. I couldn't wait to see what would happen with Clay and Lana and why the divorced. I am not disappointed. I love the Donovan's and how they are there for one another, and they will call you out if they see fit. They do it with love, laughter and tears. A very good story in the series.
September 24, 2022
Like the last one I didn't reread so I forgot people and things but I got the idea of what was going on. It was not a bad continuation to the series but I was mad at Clay. It is so hard being a caregiver. He knew he made it hard for her, did so on purpose, so he could get what he wanted. That is selfish, seems he was a bit selfish in the past as well. He ruined it for me and wish the way he went to get what he wanted was different.
October 12, 2022
Second chance
We all have dreams growing up, some of us get those dreams and others follow a different path. Clay got his dream, well he got to play professional football, but his real dream came from his wife and daughter. Lana found hers as well, she found it in Clay. Together they could do anything. This story also brings out the reality of how the NFL treats their players..💙💚
We all have dreams growing up, some of us get those dreams and others follow a different path. Clay got his dream, well he got to play professional football, but his real dream came from his wife and daughter. Lana found hers as well, she found it in Clay. Together they could do anything. This story also brings out the reality of how the NFL treats their players..💙💚
October 14, 2022
I liked this one, but the couple was already established and mostly emotionally healthy. It's considered a second-chance romance even though they were together for the entirety of the book, just divorced. There was very little drama and the expected conflict was light and quickly resolved. This has been my least favorite in the series so far, but I still adore all of the Donovans and am looking forward to reading more!
September 16, 2022
needs a 10 star rating
Reading this one felt like I was coming home. Adored these characters. It is a fun read with lots of interactions. The extended family, the stress of a professional career while rehab goes on after a botched surgery. It was absolutely a fantastic read. I do hope it won’t be too long before book 4 is published. HEA, no cheating, no cliffhanger.
Reading this one felt like I was coming home. Adored these characters. It is a fun read with lots of interactions. The extended family, the stress of a professional career while rehab goes on after a botched surgery. It was absolutely a fantastic read. I do hope it won’t be too long before book 4 is published. HEA, no cheating, no cliffhanger.
September 17, 2022
Loved it !
Loved this book three of the Donovans. The story of Lana and Clay. Clay is determined to reclaim Lanes love four years after their divorce. Laughter and tears, Cee Bowerman has again written a great book. If you haven't read the first two books in the series I highly recommend that you go back and read them. !
Loved this book three of the Donovans. The story of Lana and Clay. Clay is determined to reclaim Lanes love four years after their divorce. Laughter and tears, Cee Bowerman has again written a great book. If you haven't read the first two books in the series I highly recommend that you go back and read them. !
September 17, 2022
Another good read.
Another good read. Lana and Clay have a long history, married young the stress of being a pro footballers wife they get f
Divorced but stay friends. When Clay needs help after a operation goes wrong Lana steps up to care for him. Clay works hard to win her back.
Another good read. Lana and Clay have a long history, married young the stress of being a pro footballers wife they get f
Divorced but stay friends. When Clay needs help after a operation goes wrong Lana steps up to care for him. Clay works hard to win her back.
September 22, 2022
Clay
Once again a beautiful story of love and devotion of a wonderful couple and lovely Marley . I just can't imagine being in that position as a footballers wife I would have done the same thing Lana did and stayed away from those jackals can you imagine living like them ? Yuck . Thank you Cee. You've done it again.
Once again a beautiful story of love and devotion of a wonderful couple and lovely Marley . I just can't imagine being in that position as a footballers wife I would have done the same thing Lana did and stayed away from those jackals can you imagine living like them ? Yuck . Thank you Cee. You've done it again.
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