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Meant to Be by Emily Giffin – a Review

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Meant to Be by Emily Giffin – a Review

 

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Description:
The Kingsley family is practically American royalty, beloved for their military heroics, political service, and unmatched elegance. When Joseph S. Kingsley III is born in 1960, he inherits the weight of that legacy. Growing up with all the Kingsley looks and charisma, Joe should have no problem taking up the mantle after his father’s untimely death. But he is also a little bit reckless, and can’t seem to figure out how to channel the expectations of an entire country.

No one ever expected anything of Cate, on the other hand. She, too, grew up in a single-parent household—just her and her mom scraping by in their small apartment. As a teenager, though, Cate is discovered for her looks. Modeling may be her only ticket out of the cycle of disappointment that her mother has always inhabited. Before too long, her face is everywhere, though she is always aware that she’d be a pariah in her social circles if anyone knew her true story.

When Joe and Cate’s paths cross, their connection is instant. What remains to be seen is whether their relationship will survive the glare of the spotlight that follows Joe everywhere. And just as they find themselves in the make-or-break moment, the tragedy that seems to run in Joe’s family right alongside all that privilege will repeat itself.

In a beautifully written novel that recaptures a gilded moment in American history, Emily Giffin tells a story of a love that may or may not have the power to transcend circumstances that seem arrayed against it . . . and the difficulty of finding your way to the place you belong.

 

 

Review:

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin is a wonderful standalone novel that is loosely based on the Kennedy family; especially John Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.  Meant to Be is centered on the Kingsley family, with young Joe Kingsley, who has grown up as part of American royalty (similar to the Kennedy family), always in the public eye.  His grandfather being a philanthropist, his grandmother a famous suffragist, and his famous father, who was an astronaut, but heading to politics, until his tragic death, when Joe was 3 years old.  Joe knows about the expectations of following his family legacy, being pressured by his mother and best friend, Berry (like an adopted sister). Much to his mother’s dismay, Joe enjoyed going out with his friends, and girlfriends; as he was a hunk and very popular; then he meets the girl of his dreams.

Cate Cooper, our heroine, also lost her father at the age of three, with her mother struggling to make ends meet, until she meets and marries a cop; who Cate hated, as he was abusive to her mother. In high school, Cate was discovered by a modeling agency for her beauty, with her step father taking most of the money.  Cate leaves her home and school to a successful modeling career; with her becoming extremely famous as her face was everywhere.    

One day during a photo shoot on a beach, Joe who is walking his dog, Thursday, sees the group taking pictures and immediately introduces himself to Cate.  He gives her his phone number, but time will pass until they accidently meet again, and they both feel the strong connection. When they become exclusive, will Cate be able to handle the paparazzi who constantly follows Joe; putting the glare of the spotlight on both of them, as they were always hounded.

What follows is a beautiful romance that continues to build, with both Joe and Cate having their own family issues; such as Joe’s mother and Berry not feeling Cate was right for him; and Cate’s stepfather being very abusive to her mother. I really did love Cate and Joe together and with a few obstacles, I rooted hard for them to get past them.  I also really did like so many of the secondary characters that we got to enjoy throughout the book.

Meant to Be was a heartwarming, captivating, romantic novel that had me unable to put the book down.  The last quarter of the book was amazing and intense at times, but I did love the epilogue.  Meant to Be was so very well written by Emily Giffin.  You need to read this wonderful story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Meant to Be (Twist of Fate 1) by Jennifer Probst-Review Tour

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Meant to Be (Twist of Fate 1) by Jennifer Probst-Review Tour

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Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3AkENXo

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 19, 2022.

It’s been two years since Chiara Kennedy lost her dearest friend, Rory. Chiara misses everything about her. Rory’s widowed husband is another story. Sebastian Ryder is a man Chiara had secretly wanted, let slip away, and hoped to never see again. Then fate throws them together for an unexpected one-night stand and a morning after of new challenges.

Sebastian had a soul mate in Rory. Shutting down after his tragic loss, he kept a cool distance from everyone—including Chiara, with whom he once shared a deep if fleeting affection. That was over and done with a long time ago. But when they meet again, old emotions resurface along with a heart-wounding past that haunts them both.

As Chiara and Sebastian grow closer, finally getting to know each other, Chiara struggles with feelings of guilt even as she cherishes her second chance with Sebastian. Will fate allow them to overcome the past, or are they destined to always wonder if they are truly meant to be?

••••

REVIEW:MEANT TO BE is the first instalment in Jennifer Probst’s contemporary, adult TWIST OF FATE romance series focusing on three friends (Chiara, Malia, Tessa) who own Quench, a women’s online magazine. This is Quench editor in chief Chiara Kennedy , and high school guidance counselor Sebastian Ryder.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Chiara and Sebastian) following three timelines MEANT TO BE focuses on the acrimonious relationship between Quench editor in chief Chiara Kennedy, and high school guidance counselor Sebastian Ryder. Five years earlier Chiara Kennedy and Sebastian Ryder met and spent one glorious night talking about life, love and everything it had to offer but Chiara believed it would never work between one another, and walked away without looking back until months later, her best friend and co-owner at Quench, Rory, introduced everyone to her new boyfriend Sebastian Ryder. Three years would pass, until the day Sebastian and Quench would lose Rory to a car accident, an accident that left Sebastian a shell of his former self. Fast forward to present day, Chiara and Sebastian, who haven’t spoken to one another in close to five years, would reconnect at a local bar, a bar where Sebastian and Chiara’s life would take a fateful turn. A one-night stand leaves Sebastian wondering about the what ifs and whys, and a guilt-ridden Chiara to worry about betraying her best friend and the memories they held. What ensues is the building but contemptuous relationship between Chiara and Sebastian, and the potential fall-out as Chiara is unable to let go of the guilt and grief leaving a heart broken Sebastian to wonder where everything went wrong.

Chiara Kennedy is a strong willed, independent, assertive and determined thirty something woman whose fast paced life style doesn’t leave room for romance or love. On the fast track to success, Chiara refuses to acknowledge her attraction to Sebastian Ryder, the man who once starred in her fantasies and dreams but the man to whom her best friend was once married. Keeping her distance from Sebastian wasn’t easy but as the years past, the anger grew towards the man with whom she would fall in love. Sebastian Ryder has never stopped thinking about the woman that got away but falling in love with Rory meant a chance at happiness, although a brief happiness until his world fell apart.

The relationship between Chiara and Sebastian is one of second chances, of a sorts, in the wake of what was and what will never be. Chiara broke Sebastian’s heart when she told him it would never work out but when Chiara refused to acknowledge their previous connection, Sebastian found himself on the outside looking in with the woman he loved. Struggling to convince Chiara to give him a second chance only pushed our couple further apart until fate intervened pulling our couple in another direction. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Chiara’s friends and partners at Quench: Malia Evergreen, and Tessa; Rory’s father and café owner Mike; high school English teachers Emma Primm, and Pete Kempsey; Sebastian’s friend and volunteer at the Dream On Youth Center Ford.

MEANT TO BE is a story of grief, betrayal and loneliness, guilt and acceptance, second chances and love. The premise is engaging; the characters are spirited ; the romance is fated but saying that the relationship between Chiara and Sebastian was challenging-Chiara was not a likeable heroine, and in this I struggled to like the overall story. Chiara Kennedy’s attraction to Sebastian was overridden by her guilt about her friendship with Rory, and the ongoing lie she perfected about meeting Sebastian years before. Throughout the story line Chiara is almost insensitive and cold towards our story line hero, spending most of her time distancing from Sebastian; pushing her attraction down, pulling away from the man with whom she would fall in love. There is plenty going on in and between their lives but Chiara refuses to admit or accept the attraction or what was always meant to be.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Jennifer ProbstJennifer Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of both sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her novel, The Marriage Bargain, was the #6 Bestselling Book on Amazon for 2012. Her first children’s book, Buffy and the Carrot, was co-written with her 12 year old niece, and her short story, “A Life Worth Living” chronicles the life of a shelter dog. She makes her home in New York with her sons, husband, two rescue dogs, and a house that never seems to be clean. She loves hearing from all readers! Stop by her website at http://www.jenniferprobst.com for all her upcoming releases, news and street team information.

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MEANT TO BE (The Callahans 4) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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MEANT TO BE (The Callahans #4) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt tour

MEANT TO BE
The Callahans #4 : Eli and Ava #2
by Monica Murphy
Release Date: October 22, 2020
Genre: young adult, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 22, 2020

Ava Callahan.

Love of my life.

Wrecker of my soul.

I would have sworn on anything that what we shared was real.

But she broke my trust. And then my heart. I don’t think I can piece it back together without her, but I’m sure gonna try.

I’m better off on my own, anyways, right? Who needs girls when you have football?

If only I believed that. Look, when you need someone in your life, you don’t want to let her go. And I can’t let go of Ava. I love her. She loves me. Nothing can convince me otherwise. It’s as simple as that. I know no matter what, this girl belongs to me. We may have issues, but we’re meant to be. So I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back.

Even if I have to fight dirty.

••••••••

REVIEW: MEANT TO BE is the fourth instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young adult THE CALLAHANS erotic, romance series focusing on the second generation of the Callahan family; and the second half of sixteen year old, Ava Callahan and seventeen year old, Eli Bennett’s story. MEANT TO BE should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of ADDICTED TO HIM (The Callahans #3).

NOTE: MEANT TO BE is a young adult story line ( characters under eighteen years of age) with adult sexual situations that may not be suitable for more younger readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ava and Eli) MEANT TO BE follows in the aftermath of what Eli Bennett believes is a betrayal by the young woman with whom he has fallen in love. Eli’s family life is a mess but he never expected the world to be witness to their embarrassing fall-out. Blaming Ava sends our heroine down a rabbit hole of disbelief pushing Ava to discover the who and how of what happened and why. As Ava and Eli’s relationship is threatened by outside sources, Eli’s acrimonious relationship with Ava’s brother Jake continues to fester and draw ire from family and friends. What ensues is the continuing and building romance and relationship between Eli and Ava, and the potential fall-out as issues of jealousy, family dynamics, and competition between opposing football teams both on and off the field, threaten Eli and Ava’s tenuous hold on their already struggling relationship.

Ava Callahan has it all but believes herself to be the black sheep in a family of successful athletes and stars. The requisite mean girls push our heroine over the edge, and Ava finds herself on the outside looking in when she has finally had enough. Her relationship with Eli is fodder between friends and enemies, and in this Ava’s brother Jake struggles with his sister’s love for a boy he doesn’t deem worthy but all is not well in the Bennett household, and the fall-out begins to affect the young man Ava loves.

The relationship between Ava and Eli is one of the forbidden. Ava’s parents are not thrilled with Eli’s reputation, a reputation fuelled by her brother’s hatred and distrust of a young man whose family life is spiralling out of control. Eli’s reputation both on and off the football field has followed our young hero into his relationship with Ava Callahan, and in this Eli tries to prove he is worthy of Ava’s love. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful energetic and charismatic secondary and supporting characters including Fable and Drew Callahan, Owen and Chelsea McGuire (One Week Girlfriend series): Jake and Hannah (Falling For Her #2), Autumn and Ash (Close to Me #1); Ava’s best friend Ellie; Jake’s ex-girlfriend Cami, and rival football players Diego, Wyatt, Jackson and Caleb. The requisite mean-girls continue to be all up in Ava’s face.

MEANT TO BE is a story of family, friendships, and relationships; a story of rivalry and competition, of heart break and love. MEANT TO BE is a young adult story line with all of the requisite YA plot points including mean girls, jealousy, sex, drugs, drinking and fights. The premise is captivating : the romance is tender and seductive; the characters are young and struggling to come into their own.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Close To Me
Falling for Her
Addicted to Him

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Can you die from a broken heart? Not asking for a friend.
The street is empty. Eli is long gone. I clutch my phone in my hand so tight, my fingers cramp up. He won’t respond to my texts or my calls. He’s ghosting me.
Pain radiates from my chest, a constant, throbbing reminder that Eli just destroyed me with a few choice words. He doesn’t believe me. Worse, he doesn’t trust me. I never told my brother about his parents. I don’t know who did. Eli may have hinted at things and flat out told me his mother drank too much, but he never talked about his dad cheating. And why would I tell Jake any of that?
There’s no way I ever would.
So who did?
I make my way to the backyard to find my entire family is gone. Glancing toward the kitchen windows, I see they’re inside. Waiting for me. My parents and Jake, who’s sitting on a barstool at the counter with a glower on his freshly abused face. It serves him right that Eli got a few punches in. I don’t even feel bad that it happened, though I suppose I should.
Mom catches my gaze and raises her brows, the look on her face plainly telling me, get in here.
If I could turn around and run away, I would. I’d run and run and run until I was out of breath and so, so far, no one could find me again.
But I don’t move. I definitely don’t go inside. Not yet. Dad says something to Mom, and I can tell they’re having a minor argument. About me? I wonder if she told Dad about our little secret. How she knew about Eli and I dating.
My gaze sweeps over the scene of the crime, AKA the spot where Jake and Eli fought. The moonlight catches on something on the ground, making it glint and I kneel down, reaching toward the shiny piece. My fingertips touch cool metal and I grasp it between my fingers.
A gold #1 pendant. Eli’s. I feel around for the chain, almost desperately, on my hands and knees, but I don’t see it. I wonder if he knows he lost it. I’m sure he’ll be upset. He loves this necklace and the fact that his father gave it to him.
But would he want to know I have it?
Maybe.
Maybe that’ll be my one way to reach out to him. I have something he wants.
Unfortunately, from the way everything just went down, it’s not me.
“Ava!” I lift my head to find my mother standing in the open doorway of the kitchen, her expression somber. “Come inside. Now.”
Rising to my feet, I clutch the pendant in my palm and march toward my punishment. I hang my head as I enter the kitchen, not wanting to look at any of them. Especially Jake. His anger radiates off of him, all of it aimed straight at me. Mom closes the door but, otherwise, says nothing. Neither does Jake. Or Dad.
It’s a very uncomfortable silence full of thick tension that seems to last ten minutes, but is probably more like thirty seconds before my dad can’t take it any longer.
“Ava.” His tone is firm, yet gentle. He’s mad, but he doesn’t want to show it. “Tell me what Eli Bennett was doing at our house at this time of night.”
Jake snorts. “What do you think—”
“Enough,” Dad says, silencing my big brother.
This gives me immense satisfaction. Lifting my head, I meet my father’s gaze head on. “We’re together. Well…we were.” 


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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