Meant To Be Us by Debbie Macomber (2024) originally published as Baby Blessed (1994)
That Special Woman! Series
198-page Kindle Ebook story pages 4-195
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Featuring: Blurb, Estranged Couple, Second Chance Trope, SIDS, Grief, Fictional African Country, Chicago, Illinois; Need Divorce Papers Signed Trope, Sex - Low Details, War Zone, Drama, Uncertainty
Rating as a movie: PG-13/PG-15 depending on the editing of sexual scenes
Books and Authors mentioned: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Memorable Quotes: Ian moved away from the window and glanced at the framed picture on his desk. Jordan knew it was a portrait of him and Molly taken shortly after Jeffrey’s birth. He remembered it well. He was standing behind Molly, who held Jeffrey in her arms; his hand was on Molly’s shoulder and the two of them were smiling down on their son. They had no way of knowing that their joy would soon turn into the deepest grief they could possibly experience. “I’d always hoped you two would patch things up,” Ian said, his voice tinged with sadness. Jordan pressed his lips together and thrust his hands inside his pockets. A reconciliation might have worked earlier, but it was too late now; the sooner Ian accepted that, the better. “I’ve met someone else.” Ian nodded. “I guessed as much. Well, you can’t blame an old man for hoping.” “Where’s Molly?” Jordan wasn’t enjoying this any more than Ian was. Time to cut to the chase. “The East African Republic,” Ian told him. Jordan’s head snapped up. “Africa?” Ian nodded. “She’s doing volunteer work with some church group. The country’s desperately in need of anyone with medical experience, and working there has seemed to help her.”
“I realize this is difficult for you,” Lesley said, “but you must know what an awkward position this puts me in. I can’t continue to date a married man.” “I do understand.” “Nor do I want to force you into a divorce if it’s something you don’t want.” Jordan frowned. This ground was all too familiar, and he wasn’t thrilled to be walking along the same worn path. “The marriage is dead.” If he’d said it once, he’d said it a hundred times. “You told me that in the beginning,” Lesley reminded him, “but we’ve been seeing each other for six months and in all that time you didn’t once mention divorcing Molly.” This sounded like an accusation. “I should’ve filed years ago.” “But you didn’t.” Jordan didn’t need Lesley to tell him that. “Do you know why?” she pressed. “I was too busy,” he said, a bit more heatedly than he intended. “Besides, I assumed Molly would see to it.” “She didn’t file for a divorce, either,” Lesley pointed out. “Have you stopped to consider that?”
My rating: ⭐️⭐️½👩🏼🍼💔🤰🏼
My thoughts: 🔖130 of 198 CHAPTER NINE - These people are on my nerves.
This story just did not hit well for me at all. Even in 1994, I couldn't get past a fictional war-torn country, I can't say it didn't age well because it was a slight at the time. Then there's the couple, everyone in this story got on my nerves and the sex was overkill. It was an interesting plot but the romance felt fabricated and I couldn't get on board. I am not sure if there is any difference between the 1994 version and the 2024 version but under any name this story was just not it for me.
Recommend to others: Not likely but anything is possible especially if they're looking for a Need Divorce Papers Signed Trope story.