I was hers, but she was never mine.
Alice Yates is the hired “homemaker” for the Morrisons, an affluent couple in Minneapolis. For Alice, it’s a dream job to dress up like a 1950s housewife and read romance novels to Mr. Morrison before his afternoon nap.
But when the Morrisons’ only daughter returns home for the summer with her fiancé, Alice comes face- to-face with her shattered past—the only threat to her perfect life.
Eight years earlier, vacation rental owner Murphy Paddon had an impeccable vinyl record collection and did the most irresistible thing before kissing Alice, earning him a five-star rating. Their fortnight love affair was life-altering and ended tragically.
Murphy doesn’t know if Alice remembers him or whether he should tell his fiancée that the hired-help living in the guesthouse is the woman who irreparably broke his heart. He needs closure, but will the lingering glances and silent yearning lead to the end or just the beginning?
REVIEW: 5 WONDERFUL, AMAZING...FATEFUL STARS
"She was spontaneous and fun. Flirty and coinfident. But mostly, she was an enigma."
I will be the first one to tell you I believe in fate. Absolute, hard-fast belief in fate and how it has impacted my life has proven my belief for me. So when I find out JEA is going to infuse her charm into the wonderful world of fate (again, because c'mon), I know I am in for a good read. She made sure that was the point in this book. Sure, a little help from flirting and banter, but a lot of help with FATE and the truth behind it. But - getting this out of the way now, knowing I have more books in this series, in this vein, makes me extremely excited!! I know I always say JEA's books and writing is my favorite, but she once again proves it with this first installment in her newest series: The Chain of Lakes Series
This journey was fanfreakintastic and one that held me captive from page one until I flipped the last page. I wanted more. I needed more. It was sooooo goooood - JEA has *always* had a way with her words. The story spins around you in real time and I got so caught up in her words that I couldn't believe it was over. I has the sads that it's done...
This was the first time I’ve read a book in one sitting in years - YEARS. I sat down in the morning and finished it by the evening and was just afloat in a love so enigmatic and so heavy that my heart was just so happy and truly placated. She’s a favorite for a reason...so this book will be on my shelf because it feels like a love story that you can go back to and just read passages and feel that emotional connection all over again. It truly is a hot coffee kind of read. It was perfection for me.
"Reality is an afterthought when one's heart speaks louder than the mind."
The way their love story unfolded kept me intrigued the entire way through because the way she spelled out the timeline was truly the best way to pour the emotion onto the pages - because it wasn't a straightforward way to tell it. It was a slow reveal that forced me to feel it, to absorb it, to soak it in. The discovery alone was ON POINT! I love the way JEA tells me a story because she always makes sure I am completely engrossed while giving me facts and background to piece together. It's not easy...it never is, and I think that's why I enjoy her books as much as I do. She makes sure I discover it slowly and meticulously - but in due time. Without rush. The gymnastics my heart played during this book was a fun jaunt.
Not even going to pretend that I wasn't giddy and excited, but my nail-biting was a bit on the exaggerated side throughout. I loved the dynamic between ALL the characters and how they each added their own energy and vibe to the storyline. I don't always pull in the side characters because they don't necessarily play an important part in the story, but these ones were worth mentioning because you too will fall in love with every single character you come into contact with. Life lessons, reality checks, and the heart knowing what it not only wants, but desperately needs - is high point in this book.
I also think JEA has given me yet another MC to hold on, well....a pedestal. Murphys' subtle whispers can sure make a girls' knees buckle...I mean, I know he sure would have made me weak in the knees. Everything about him made me swoon. I know that is such an outdated word now - probably not necessarily correct, but he made me just giggly smile like a shy gal would. I swear, thinking about him now while writing this is making me grin. I loved him and he was the perfect mixture of vulnerable and strong. Cocky and respectful. Yummy and naughty. I loved him HARD. So soooo hard. He truly was everything I needed in a man for Alice.
If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know I've slowed down on my reading and reviewing. Not because I wanted to, because I definitely didn't want to - but because the amount of honestly written, well thought out and planned books is hard to come by right now. I have started and stopped so many books lately - not much holding my interest or keeping me wanting to turn the pages. I was seriously concerned I was broken so I was desperately hoping for a win. Picking this one up, I needn't have worried!! My goodness, my expectations were blown far out of the water. I fell hard and fast and just knew the trip I was going to go on was easily going to be one that I could discuss in detail and with enthusiasm quite easily with any other reader - my favorite reason for having a blog. JEA has that ability and always seems to have my number....or book. Thank you.
BTW...I'll never hear "hi" the same again.
"She, by plan, gave me nothing disguised as everything."
~BEE
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Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.
With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.
After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.
When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.
~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~
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