Romantic, made my heart ache for the travelers
350004
After the first book I could not stop until I had read them all.  What a wonderful concept for a book and this author knows how to stir the
Readers emotions for the difficult decisions made.  Wonderfully written.  You won't be able  to Stop with the first book....read and enjoy them all.
21207
Jake Jameson is doing very well as a surgeon in the city.  He's going home, Ocracoke Island, for his father's funeral and to deal with his father's medical practice. He has not been back since he left 12 years earlier. He also left behind Molly McIntyre, which devastated her.

She's gone on with her life. She now runs her family inn that she has taken over from her parents. Which has the feel of a bed and breakfast. She's very independent and has a bit of a hard headed streak when it comes to asking for help.  She's wants and thinks she has to do everything on her own.

This book had my emotions all over the place.  I felt the utter devastation with the explosions on the ferry. I could visualize the injured people and people panicking facing the reality that there was no escape.  I could feel Jake's torment with faced with his memories.  I could also feel Molly's struggle with opening herself back up to Jake with the possibility of him leaving her again.

It doesn't take long for them to realize that the time is just not right for them.  They go their separate ways to grown on their own.  I wasn't very happy with that part but it turned out they were better because of it.

I was very happy to read about the possibility of a happy ending for Dean in the future.

This the second chance, third chance at love book I have read.

Reviewed by Tina for Joandisalovebooks Blog
4884146
This comes as my first Lauren Layne story. I haven't read the books prior to this in the series as I understood this could be read as a stand alone. If you're in the mood for a sweet friends to lovers to frenemies and back type romance this is the book for you. Reece and Lucy's lives have been intertwined since they were kids. As young adults they gave into the feelings they couldn't keep hidden and then those feelings soured.

Told from the first person POV while toggling between past memories and a road trip adventure present, Reece and Lucy push and pull at each others heart strings while fighting every other mile of the trip. There was so much back and forth from these characters that the angst felt forced and contrived. And even more so was the inner monologues where they yearned to share their secrets with each other yet couldn't pull the trigger on doing so out loud. It came to a point where I expected more from them. Based on the connections they shared in their thoughts I wanted that trust and love to shine to each other. However, the banter and friendly animosity towards each other made me smile. And most of the memories were very sweet to read.

Overall, I just didn't feel moved by this book. The circumstances of the road trip were fun and the prospect exciting but the fruition of their relationship came abruptly and I never felt connected to either one of them. The places they went and the passionate scenes that filled some of the scenes worked for me. The tone of forever love does run throughout the story and I felt sated with the book just not overwhelmed. Love Story is a sweet, sassy, and angsty book about friends who can't live without one another. It's a lovely rainy day romance.
1779671
Take a trip to the Islands and enjoy a relaxing read! Lisa Carter did a great job capturing the Aloha spirit and Hawaiian customs and weaving them into this touching romance. Both the hero and heroine tugged at my heart and drew me into their lives. I felt like cheering for both of them and wanted them to find the love and healing they were seeking. I recommend this book to all who enjoy contemporary romances set in beautiful locations.
40200
William is in New York Onocologist flying to San Diego to attend his father's funeral. He ends up running into his brother's ex-wife Erica that he has had a crush on since high school. Will they take the awkward step and find love?
Jill is a flight attendant. She has a layover in San Diego. Much to her surprise her boyfriend shows up and they have a magical 48 hours together.
Annie is an emotional mess. Her and Evan have not been able to conceive a child therefore they are flying to San Diego to adopt a child. She is so scared that the mom birth mom will back out and leave.
All the characters seem to have some type of insecurities which is normal in life. Even with alternating between the stories I was still able to keep. Three beautiful love stories that were well written by AJ Harmon. I would recommend this book
4713078
What a beautiful, emotional and heartfelt journey this story has taken me on. It is my first read by these authors, and it was simply wonderful. The main characters pain was palpable and real; their struggles were gut wrenching, yet the strength of character shown by both Guy and Jules was so courageous and breathtaking. Though some heavy topics were called into play, the story had a lightness, and so much hope, that I had a peace about me that these characters that I so loved, were going to be okay. I am now looking forward to experiencing more from these authors.
4382500
I can't bring myself to rate this higher despite all the feelings the author invoked in me. I can't find fault in the writing or deny my emotional engagement with the story. But I also can't use the word 'enjoy' to describe my reading experience because I feel more depressed/sad/angry than happy.

The story was told in alternate chapters of THEN and NOW.

In THEN, we witnessed the blossoming love between the rich, Felicity Bainbridge and white trash, Knox Parker. They are the star-crossed lovers with their families hating each other. Witnessing their sweet young love should be an enjoyable experience. But due the the hint of something awful happened that torn them apart, the waiting for the inevitable is pure torture for me. I keep hoping we can get it over it and move on already.

"You're ... a Parker."
"Bainbridge."
And just like that, we were enemies.

In NOW, Knox had just came out of prison. He had no family, no friends and nowhere to go. However, a chance encounter led him to the Forbidden men and with the help from Pick, Knox had a place to stay and a new job. The last thing he expect was to have the love of his life, Felicity to be his new colleague and housemate.

I love a good tortured hero and Knox's story is hitting all the right buttons for me. The poor guy was just a boy in love and he got punished for it. Don't let me start with the cruelty he endured in prison. It was so awful. But what I'm not comfortable with is how is was described in detailed by a third party to Felicity. It just doesn't seems normal friends etiquette to tell your friends such graphic thing.

"No matter what either of us want, I'm never going to be that innocent boy you fell in love with."

"I think the worth of a person comes from who you are and less from what you are."

I find that the happiness towards the end is too short lived and not well balance with the emotional tortured I endured. I need more time spend on Knox's emotional recovery, seeing him heal with Felicity and basically see them having a functional relationship together. To me the ending wrapped up too fast with so much happening in the last quarter. I think for those to love basking in the angst and gut wrenching feelings will love it more than I did.
4149611
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was a bit sad when I came to the end.  It wasn't the best written book and I felt like it didn't always flow well.  Kyle and Ash would be at the beach and the next moment it would be evening and they were at dinner.  That being said, unlike another reviewer commented, it did inspire wanderlust in me!  I found myself google imaging many of the places they visited and now I am interested in visiting Croatia and Thailand.  Thanks for a great book Kyle James and I hope you continue to write.
3994316
Another book that touched my romantic heart with a sad ending which caused me to cry and say , "No , it's not supposed to end this way !"
2719616
Janie is on her way to New York for the trip of a lifetime.  She has been mentally planning this forever.  Before her husband of 23 years passed away from cancer, she had tried to convince him to take this trip, however, he always felt it was unnecessary.  A year after his death, her twin sons, now 20, tried to convince her to take the trip.  She decided to go all the way by buying a first class ticket.  Arriving at the first class lounge at the Portland airport, a handsome stranger spills ice cold water all over her shirt.  After she changes into her sweater, and boards her flight, Janie can't believe that the same handsome man is sitting next to her.  As she gets to know him a bit, he offers her a ride to her hotel with his chauffeured car.  Matt is drawn to this sexy, beautiful woman that he can't stop thinking about.  Matt has been married twice to women that only cared about his money, so the fact that he is single, speaks for itself.  Asking Janie to dinner on her first night in New York, was a brilliant idea on his part.  What starts out as an enjoyable time with a stranger, develops into so much more.
I absolutely loved this book.  The chemistry between the characters was off the wall.  I highly recommend this book.
Warning, this is something I didn't know when I started reading it, it is a cliff hanger, so you must buy the continuing book, First Class to Portland to find out what happens to Janie and Matt.
1143253
I love time travel stories and this was was wonderful.  Maryse Dawson sent me through a whole gambit of emotions in this story.  At first I was affronted by Sir Stephen's high handedness.  Then I was ecstatic when they fell in love and married.  I was in tears over his death and her sudden loss.  Jenny seems so lost without Sir Stephen when she wakes up unexpectedly back in the present time.  Will she ever find her love again?  The ending was a bit of a surprise and I hated that it ended so abruptly because I was very emotionally attached to these great characters.  I would love to see a sequel.
4154045
Janie Anderson has dreamed of seeing New York since she was sixteen and now she is finally doing. With the long illness and subsequent passing of her husband, Robert, a year ago, and her sons away at college Janie decides she really wants her childhood dream vacation. With her plan in place she intends to fly first class, another thing on her bucket list of things she wants to do. She knows she cant spend her life morning Robert and her hope is this trip will be the first step in her fresh start.

After an embarrassing run in with a tall handsome stranger in the airport lounge where she has to adjust her clothing, she finds herself sitting next to the same stranger on the plane. Could her trip get any more embarrassing?

Matt Lathem is on his way home from a business trip in Portland, and meeting the beautiful woman on her way to New York. He finds her captivating and offers her a ride to her hotel just so he can spend more time with. When he discovers she not only was married but had children to go along with the husband, he runs as fast as he can possibly run from the situation, leaving Janie clueless as to what she had done wrong.

I had read First Class To New York and its sequel a few years ago before I started writing reviews and after going to the Passion in Portland and learning there were more books in the series and that A.J. Harmon had them bundle together on Amazon. I just knew I had to read the other books in the series but being the crazy person that I am about how I read series I of course had to read First Class To New York again so upon returning home, from my grand adventure to the Passion in Portland with my awesome daughter and her friend, I logged on to Amazon and purchased the boxed set in e-book form. I am so glad I did because I just loved this story and the characters really made me feel or them even Matt when he found out about Janies kids, although at first I really wanted to kick his ass for being an insensitive turd monkey. Janie is a brave woman to move forward with her life after the death of her husband and I can empathize that rejoining the living after the death of a dear loved one is really rough. A.J. did an amazing job with her characters and even the circumstances are very different in nature I really connected with Janie and her courage is giving me hope that my husband, children and I will find the peace we need someday.

Happy Reading
From Laura Lu's Book Reviews
3181815
While my heart leans toward love stories in life, in literature I prefer history. I found myself resisting the budding romance that--while subtle--was ever in the foreground. From page one, I remained strongly in the 'like' column. Solid four stars. Then I weeped my way through the last fifteen pages and my heart would not let me get away with less than five stars. Admittedly, the love story that struck me the most was not the romantic one.

Pamela Ford captures history and the human heart with a tender touch and a healthy pinch of salt. This book was meant to be my traveling companion cross country. I swallowed it whole in 3 days and I miss it already.
2754945
Three are two words that immediately come to me as I think about this book: emotional poignancy. Yet even those words don't seem to do justice to the way you will feel as you read Christine Brae's lovely, heartbreaking, heart healing book.

Before she embarks on medical school, Anna heads to Thailand. She's also escaping the discovery of a family secret that nearly crushes her. Anna hopes both to escape and to help villagers still recovering from the tsunami. She encounters so much more.

Anna traveled with Dante, a man who has been her best friend for years. When Anna falls apart, Dante is always there to help her put herself back together. They love each other as best friends do. You get the sense that their relationship could progress into romance - you certainly get the sense that Dante believes this - but Anna likes (she needs) what they have now.

Especially when she meets Jude, a beautiful, spiritual man who takes her breath away. For a little over a week, they get to know each other, and their feelings deepen. Just as Anna receives some devastating news, she and Jude share one glorious night together.

Paradise isn't longterm, though, and Anna has to return to the States earlier than planned. She and Jude make promises to each other, but, five years later, Anna struggles to accept that Jude did not keep his.

She also discovers some secrets that Dante kept from her. Anna has to learn how to put herself back together without Dante or Jude. She has to find her own strength, and she has to understand how she can love two men in this one life.

This book has been commissioned for a film, and it reads like one. Brae writes in a way that lets you see what's happening almost as strongly as you feel it. Anna's adventures, both personal and professional, are visually compelling, enabling you to see the tranquil and the turbulent. Anna is a doctor, and, as such, she needs to see her patients to diagnose them. Brae applies this to the book as well. She wants you to really see Anna. You have to optically connect with her in order to emotionally empathize. The device works, especially considering the feelings Brae will unleash in you with this book. Have a box of tissues handy. Have two. For just when you think that Anna has it all sorted and that she will have her peace and contentment, Brae shows you just how capricious this life - any life - can be.

One particularly powerful thread running through the book is that of faith and commitment, whether corporal or spiritual. Sometimes the faith is in a friendship, sometimes it's in a parent, and sometimes it's in God. You have to commit to that faith, though. Faith cannot be equivocated, which is a lesson Anna, Dante, Jude, and other characters must discover.

For all of the vagaries life presents, though, one thing remains consistent: love, in all of its forms. Romantic love, filial love, paternal love, friendly love. Passionate love, the sort of love that you're lucky to ever feel. Grateful love. Comfortable love. And with all of these loves, your heart expands to keep adding them.

Can you love more than one person? Christine Brae believes they can, and you will, too. You'll believe anything she tells you because she does it with such lovely emotional poignancy.

_______________________________
Published on VoxLibris.net
@VoxLibris
4973248
Traveling to that legendary romantic spot on the globe, the author has woven a love story around the steamy,lush background of turquiose waters and sparkling beaches of French Polynesia. Here Angie touches the realities of her life revealed by feelings for the handsome solo sailor who crosses her path. These feelings, delicately and hauntingly brushed on the canvas of this manuscript portray to the reader a sensuous journey easy to identify with. A great read.
2061790
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this special part of Canada through this book, but I especially appreciated the journey it covers through the heart of a romance. The ups and downs, excitement and frustration, the struggle to preserve individuality while becoming a couple, the sense of contentment and of loss... all is laid out, taken on like the adventure of exploring an island, with wit and good humor and deep feeling, and good writing!
3564840
A heart-wrenching story about love, family and friendship. My heart ached and swooned at the same time while reading it. One story that would definitely linger in my memory for a long time. Got hooked up with the story between Katrina, Elliot and David. Their story felt so real to me that I was so immersed into it that I know I have to finish reading until the last page. What can I say? Well, the ending was unexpected but for me it felt so real and I was okay with it. Without giving away so much, I still wished though that this story ended up with Katrina & Elliot being together but knowing David's history with Katrina, I guess it was okay. Just that, a the very beginning I was rooting for Elliot. He is such an amazing guy, but I guess his priorities at that time were just confusing and with the pressures from his father he has taken a different route with his life. My heart ached for him, he just let his one true love walked away from him and when he realized that he couldn't live without her, it was too late.

Katrina is a very strong heroine. I admire her for her feisty attitude and positivity even after experiencing a very bad break up. Her relationship with David was so admirable. They were best friends ever since they were kids. When Katrina met Elliot, their attraction towards each other was palpable but they tried to ignore it because their company has this "no dating policy" and they have to adhere to it if they want to keep their jobs. Elliot being a junior solicitor in the firm, strictly followed this policy until he met Katrina.

It's a romantic story that has the perfect balance of romance and sexual tension. I found it very entertaining and the author has developed characters that I loved and their story is one that I'd definitely not forget. However, I'd still like to know what happens next to Elliot and I'm glad that there's a book for him and I can't wait to read it

A great read..