Then There Was You

Review written by Marie for Ever After Book Reviews! I LOVED. THIS. STORY. So much. It is charming, sweet, fun and the sexual tension between our hero and heroine is so intense that it’s entertaining. The author begins this story with such detailed narrative that the entire town and all of it’s characters just come to life. It’s an introduction to Sara’s reluctant return to her hometown and Colton’s rightful avoidance of Sara. It breathes life in to the picture-perfect town of Angel Falls, and it sets the scene for what turns out to be a beautiful romance. Sara and Colton are perfect for one another, but neither one of them know it. As Sara struggles to find confidence in herself and her situation, and Colton tries his hardest to stay clear of her, fate has a different plan and continues to bring them together. And after they (FINALLY) share a steamy kiss, their romance takes off. It’s so much fun. It’s an endearing story that is engaging and realistic. It has its humorous moments and sparks of passion. It’s everything you want and expect from a contemporary romance novel such as this. The author also does a fantastic job of laying the groundwork for some of the secondary characters in her future books of the series (yes!). If you’re looking for an all around charming and fun romance, this is definitely the book for you. ***I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***

Back in town to care for her aging Grandmother, and taking a place in her father’s medical practice after Colombia, Sara never thought she’d ne back in the place that held so many difficult memories. Her engagement fell apart two days before the wedding when her fiancé slept with the “cake girl”, and she’s not been able to eat cake since. His best friend, Colton, the bane of her teenaged years, also is to blame in her mind – with the added resentment for his relentless teasing, so she’s determined to ignore him, or not run into him: whichever comes first. Colton is all grown up now, and is the Police chief in Angel Falls. His childhood was a difficult one, his parents died when he was young, and he and his younger sister had to move in with his grandmother. He’s realized that his treatment of Sara was wrong, and can’t blame her when her reaction to him is less than warm. Together the two are a big pile of unexpected: Sara still holds a boatload of insecurities and hurt, but she can’t help but see that Colton has matured and perhaps he’s not quite the despicable being she believed him to be. Colton, for his part, believes he just wants to be friends, friendly and nothing more, but he can’t quite seem to get Sara out of his mind. Despite the two being adults, the early stages of their romance is very sweet as they start to see one another as they are now. Of course, others in the story see the two of them as well-matched, and the lovely moments with secondary characters and family members add layers of understanding to the personalities here. Sara’s grandmother, newly diagnosed with dementia is particularly telling – the laughter and sadness that weigh on everyone, and the real enjoyment in company of family, friends and the little town that shines through. A lovely, sweet story that brings plenty of atmosphere and small town ‘everyone knows your history’ flair to readers. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

When you pick up a book by Ms. Liasson you are assured you will be reading a story that will touch your hearts, that’s real and will also be thought provoking. This one centers around Colton and Sarah, two souls that since HS, due to fate seemed to cross paths that were hindered by unexpected circumstances. It might have seemed like a love hate relationship , but to me , it was more a lack of confidence, self-image and insecurities in both their parts that kept them apart during their teenage years. Hiding behind arrogance and snippy answers , when in fact the feelings ran much deeper. This is a story about how our experiences as children will affect us as adults. Especially due to the death of a parent or due to abandonment. How sometimes children are forced to become adults, at least in their eyes. Sometimes acting out to hide their pain. It’s also a story about family. No family is perfect , but in this story, the bond between parents, siblings and grandparents , is shown to be one that is strong. Making them strong not only as individuals, but also as a unit. In addition, Ms Liasson’s treatment of Alzheimer was touching and very well described. The plot was engaging and the characters, Colton, Sara, as well as the secondary characters Nonna, Cookie, Gaby etc, were complex and interesting. Another winner by this very talented author. Can’t wait to read book 2 in this series. I was entrusted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.