Library Loans

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The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel
Published by Gallery Books on December 30, 2014
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction

Goodreads

From the author of the international bestseller The Sweetness of Forgetting, named one of the Best Books of Summer 2012 by Marie Claire magazine, comes a captivating novel about the struggle to overcome the past when our memories refuse to be forgotten.

In this richly told story where Sliding Doors meets P.S. I Love You, Kristin Harmel weaves a heart-wrenching tale that asks: what does it take to move forward in life without forgetting the past?

After her husband's sudden death over ten years ago, Kate Waithman never expected to be lucky enough to find another love of her life. But now she's planning her second walk down the aisle to a perfectly nice man. So why isn't she more excited?

At first, Kate blames her lack of sleep on stress. But when she starts seeing Patrick, her late husband, in her dreams, she begins to wonder if she's really ready to move on. Is Patrick trying to tell her something? Attempting to navigate between dreams and reality, Kate must uncover her husband's hidden message. Her quest leads her to a sign language class and into the New York City foster system, where she finds rewards greater than she could have imagined.

It had been almost twelve years since Kate lost her husband. She was newly engaged and thriving in her new career when she began experiencing vivid dreams featuring her husband and daughter! Were they real? Were they showing her an her life in an alternate universe? Regardless of those answers, they were definitely a sign that Kate wasn't going to ignore.

I had a feeling me and this book would be a great match. I have a thing for grief and loss books that feature a healing journey, and I loved the way Kate was set on hers. It was sad what happened to her, that she lost someone she loved so dearly when she thought they had forever. It was easy understand how difficult it was for her to move forward, and she thought she had, until these dreams had her reevaluating her current situation.

The dreams set Kate on a new path. She expanded her universe and found new things that made her happy. I was proud of her, and those last two chapters of the book were EVERYTHING. I could hardly read through my happy tears! But it all filled my heart with so much happiness and joy. I really enjoyed this beautiful story about love and loss and moving forward without forgetting that was very touching and heartfelt.

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Not You Again by Ingrid Pierce
Published by Alcove Press on July 9, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Wedding gown designer Andie Dresser is hanging on by a thread. Gaining a following on TikTok for her one-of-a-kind fairytale gowns has earned her a spot at Atlanta’s Fashion Week, but the time and upfront costs to design a full bridal line have stretched her to her limit. When her best friend suggests she sign up for a reality show with a potential $100,000 prize, she realizes the money could allow her to hire some desperately needed help. All she needs to do is marry a stranger—sight unseen—and opt for divorce at the end of filming. No big deal, right?

Architect Kit Watson just returned to Atlanta to help his loving but stubborn mother through a health crisis. However, she’ll only accept his help if he agrees to settle down, insisting he sign up for the matchmaking reality show that’s filming in the area. Willing to do anything for his mom, he finds himself at the altar—on camera—staring at Andie, the woman he abruptly left without explanation seven years ago.

In the blink of an eye, Kit and Andie tie the knot on TV for the world to see. Now, they must live together for eight weeks with cameras following their every move. But as the newlyweds reconnect and sift through their past, old feelings females spark…and old grudges cast a shadow over their “marriage”. With decision day looming, Andie must decide if forgiving Kit for his mistakes—past and present—is worth more than her dreams of success.

Andie did it for the money while Kit did it to appease his sick mother. Neither expected to find the one-that-got-away when they met at the alter as contestants on First Look at Forever. Now they had eight weeks as husband and wife to work through their past and determine if they had a future together.

There is nothing I love more than a second chance romance, and this had such a great premise. Imagine the universe reuniting you with your first love, the one who set the bar for all others, and the one who still owned a piece of your heart. I love that! And it was done so well. No lie, I was invested in these two from the very beginning, and every misstep and setback caused me so much pain.

The stakes were high for Andie. She really needed the money to save her business, and though the stakes were low for Kit, he made it his mission to help Andie achieve her goals. Both came with plenty of baggage to unpack in addition to the circumstances surrounding their break up. I cheered for them as they faced these challenges and crossed my fingers that all obstacles could be overcome.

The game show was a fun way to put Kit and Andie in a bubble as they reconnected after a decade apart. I loved seeing them grow more comfortable with each other as their hearts became more involved. The isolation was good for them, and the show forced them to work as a team, put them in close proximity, and put a lot of things on fast forward. 

It was a pleasure accompanying Andie and Kit on this journey during which they healed their hearts and took a chance on love.

Would you get married at first sight?
Let us know in the comments!