Second Chance Romance Archives

Let me start by saying that I love Kate Meader, and am predisposed to liking anything that she writes. I loved the first book in the Laws of Attraction series, but somehow missed the second one (which I am going to remedy this weekend).

Then Came You is the third in the series, and it is the story of Grant and Aubrey. As per my usual standards, I’m not going to give away major details of how or why they were together before (that’s for blurbs and other reviews). I will say that I enjoyed the fact that I didn’t put together the history of the two right away. And even when I did, the author didn’t go in the usual direction of why the first time around didn’t stick for the two.

These are two strong characters, and it was the second book in a week where the mains shared a profession (the first was Better Than Me). In this case, Grant and Aubrey are both lawyers. I am finding that I like the “battle of the sexes” aspect of the two characters on a level playing field. It adds another dimension to the stories. Plus, it made for a hilarious scene at the beginning of the book!

The strength of the characters also allowed the author to explore their weaknesses. In other words, the plot wasn’t overly complicated with job issues or other distractions; the focus was solely the characters and the events that immediately impacted them within the story.

There isn’t much more that I can say without giving plot points away. I liked the style of the writing, I became invested in the characters…oh, and Aubrey has one of the most dysfunctional, messed up families I’ve ever seen! I love how Cat Damon expresses himself. And I want Libby to be my grandmother.

Side note: would love to see a story focusing on Libby’s younger days…that would be a blast to read!

Anyway, it was a great book, and I am grateful to the author, Loveswept, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. Highly recommended.

Then Came You by Kate Meader
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this second-chance romance, because it had a different feel to it than many others. I liked how the author didn’t allow the reader to know precisely what had happened the first time around right away; instead, it unfolded gradually. The slow roll-out of the facts made the actual revelation of what had caused Grant and Aubrey’s break up more of a gut punch. It also gave the reader more of an insight into each of their characters. I loved the juxtaposition of their childhoods (Aubrey’s family is sooo messed up) and thought that the characters remained true to themselves throughout the book. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a smart second-chance romance. Visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews for other reasons this book stands out from others in the genre. This review was written based on a pre-release digital ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group (Loveswept) via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

I have recently begun to enjoy second chance romances. Maybe it has something to do with spring finally arriving, and that whole re-birth/new hope attitude that comes along with it.

Stay With Me by K.L. Grayson is a well-written novel in this genre. The prologue introduces us to Allie and Jackson when they are teenagers, facing some big decisions. The rest of the story takes place eight years later (except for a couple of flashback memories) as the two try to find their way with each other again.

The plot is very straightforward without the usual back and forth/self-doubt of the characters. It also has depth, as the events that separated Allie and Jackson are realistic and heartwrenching. The doubts that do arise come from those events, and seem completely natural.

I think that’s what I appreciated the most about this book. The characters deal with real life events instead of exaggerated or far-fetched roadblocks that so often pop up in romance novels.

I don’t give away plot points, so I don’t want to say more about character introductions or interactions. I do hope that if you’re looking for a pleasant, HEA, second chance romance, that you will pick this one up. My Goodreads review is below.

Expected Release Date: April 23, 2019

Stay with Me by K.L. Grayson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a sweet second chance romance that had some unexpected depth to it. Allie and Jackson are teenagers in love, but life choices force them apart. Eight years later, they get the opportunity to try again. The characters were real, the plot was interesting, and there were more than a few unexpected occurrences. I liked how the author thought out the repercussions of the choices of some of the characters. There was no melodrama (as sometimes happens in romance novels); every incident had meaning and purpose. I also appreciated how the author avoided the usual “should we or shouldn’t we” and allowed the characters’ doubts to be natural. Nothing felt forced. Oh, and Mason is the cutest book kid I’ve “met” in a long time. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a quick HEA read. This review was written based on a pre-lease copy.

View all my reviews