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Review

4.5 stars

Love, love, love this one! A gorgeously emotional second-chance-romance between a hot and broody Scotsman, and a lost and emotionally damaged woman – first loves and the ones who got away, reunited after 20 years apart. With two adorable children and a very cleverly done supernatural element, this story is full of feels, but brings a happy ending to very deserving characters that I couldn’t help but love.

Bella was once a happy, idealistic girl in blissful, all-consuming love. But that love was torn away and now, 20 years later, she is a shadow of the girl she used to be. On the outside, socialite Isabella Austin Evangelista is a woman who has it all – class, wealth, confidence and a life that others only dream of. But the truth is very different. She’s a broken woman who lives a lonely life that is out of her control, and she struggles to get through day to day. And now she’s about to face up to the heartbreak from her past as she travels back to Scotland for her best friend’s wedding, where she will come face to face with the man who broke her heart, but the man who still completely owns it.

Prentice Cameron loved Bella fiercely. When she left Scotland, she left him shattered, but he was able to move on. He married and had two beautiful children, and he was happy. And then his wife, Fiona died, leaving him a broody widower and single father. And now, with his best friend marrying Bella’s best friend, he has to spend time with the woman who destroyed him all those years ago. Prentice has no time for Isabella, thinking her a stuck-up snob who toyed with him all those years ago, but their meddling friends are about to put them together, forcing a confrontation that has been a long time coming.

OMG, the feels! The angst! The heartache! There is SO much pain and misunderstanding between these two, and initially it’s a really hard read as Prentice lays into Bella and she just takes it, thinking she deserves no better. It’s really sad, but it sets up the rest of the story beautifully as these two damaged souls slowly begin to realise what they feel, what they’ve lost, and what they could potentially have again, and though it’s slow to come, the wait is definitely worth it when things finally begin to shift for them.

“I changed my mind,” he cut her off. “I don’t want to talk. I don’t want any explanations. I don’t give a fuck. I just want you.”

OMG, KA alphas made the most epic declarations, and when Prentice begins to truly see what is going on with Bella and what she still means to him, he goes all out to get this girl, and it is amazing!

“I told you, baby, when you came back to me, I’d make you work for it but I’d take you back. You may not want to be back but I don’t give a fuck. I’m keeping you this time.”

Hot, steamy, and all kinds of swoony, this is a beautiful and naturally developing love story as these two find the way back to each other. The depth of Bella’s pain was really well handled as she tried so hard to deal with her issues, and I loved seeing Prentice draw himself into that and work to bring back the girl that he once loved.

“You’re saying….I can be free?”
Prentice closed his eyes slowly but briefly.
Then he put both his hands on her jaw and tipped her face up to his, getting close, his body against hers. “Baby, with me, you can be whatever the fuck you want to be. But most especially, you can be free.”

And a big part of that is Prentice’s children Jason and Sally. They are fantastically developed characters, and as always, KA draws them into the story in a way that really grabs at your heartstrings and makes them a pivotal part of everything that goes on between the main characters as Bella is effortlessly pulled in to their family.

And in that same vein, Prentice’s wife, Fiona also had her part to play, and that’s where the ghosty part of the storylines comes in, as her ghostly form ‘haunts’ her family. KA always does a great job when involving deceased spouses in her story. They are respected and remembered well, and I love that she doesn’t undermine what Prentice and Fiona had. But she also makes it clear that what Prentice and Bella had was something very special, and she balanced that really well.

“I’ve had a good life, you know that,” he whispered. “Even so, you’re the best thing that’s been in it.”

And again with the feels as my heart ached for Fiona. She not only had to watch her husband and children deal with her death, but now she has to watch them move on without her, with the woman that came before her, and help them along the way! It’s heartbreaking! And even though she is a ghost, the strength she shows in accepting and encouraging her family to find love and happiness with a new woman was absolutely incredible. I can’t remember the last time a ghost made me cry, but she did it! 

There’s also a wonderful selection of side characters that bring a lot to the story, and I need to give a special shout out to Bella’s friends who are loving, supportive and absolutely hilarious . And it all combines to create a well-rounded story with a lot of depth.

Bella and Prentice have their ups and downs, with unique challenges that they need to face, but every moment of their journey is beautifully and emotionally written, making this a gorgeously heartfelt story that I couldn’t put down. It has angst, heartache and pain, but it’s such a beautiful second-chance-romance that is intense, passionate and sweet with characters that I love, and epic feels.

“I’ll no’ let you go,” he vowed, his voice so rough, it was hoarse … “Never. I’ll never let you go.”

I loved this book. I was easily swept up in Bella and Prentice’s story and loved the themes of love, loss, family, friendship, moving on, and the wonder of true love. It’s beautiful.

4.5 stars.

 

The Ghosts & Reincarnation series

 

For more KA awesomeness, check out our Kristen Ashley Author Spotlight