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For Lucy

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From USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jewel E. Ann comes a novel so heartfelt and real it redefines the meaning of love.

I’m the wrong guy in the right place the night I steal Tatum Bradshaw from another man. When she mistakes me for her blind date, I decide she deserves a man who shows up on time … like me. Emmett Riley, Mr. Punctual.

Once I confess my true identity and convince her I’m not a creep—just a thief—it’s only a matter of time before my sexy smile and quick wit claim her heart, her hand in marriage, and the perfect life.

Unfortunately, perfection is an illusion, like the promises of our wedding vows. No one can prepare for the unimaginable—the heartbreaking exception to all the rules in life.

When thirty seconds destroys everything, I have to find a new existence and keep my promise to always love our daughter, Lucy, the most.

For Lucy, I will keep a secret, and I will watch my wife drift into the arms of another man.

Given the chance … can I reclaim my wife and the pieces of our life?

306 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2021

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About the author

Jewel E. Ann

57 books9,294 followers
Jewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today best selling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she's not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.

Her newest release is I Thought of You, a contemporary romance/women's fiction.

Upcoming Projects: Sunday Morning, book 1 in the Sunday Morning Series coming in Sept. 2024.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!






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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,162 reviews
Profile Image for Drey.
167 reviews1,013 followers
June 3, 2021
3.5 Stars!

... A story of Emmett the thief.

I firmly believe that you cannot judge someone if you've never experience what they went through. You can always voice your opinion but it's not a fact. I am not a father. Nor I haven't love another with all my heart and soul. I've never stole a girl. I've never been married, neither been divorced. And I've never watched a loved one falling in love with someone. I couldn't judge Emmett and Tatum because I simply have no idea how marriage and divorce works. But I came to watch a show. I sat on a couch and expected a show that would bring a lot of tears, heartaches, and love. I laughed, angered, annoyed, and shed tears at times. But I never fully felt the love that was supposed to be so deep and so firm, mutually. The love that never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Note: This is a second chance romance.

"No matter how undeserving one might feel of forgiveness, no one is unworthy of it."


Jewel Ann created characters that were filled with flaws and imperfections. They felt real and human. They were characters that loves, fights, and separates. Absolutely normal. Emmett portrayed an extremely steadfast and loving husband and father. I found him as a man who could freely offer his happiness for the happiness of the people he loves. Tatum, on the other hand, was portrayed as a wife who loves her children, who loves her husband, but who had forgotten what it means to love in the face of tragedy.

“Everything I did ... was for Lucy.”


I have an older brother who is happily married for eight years now and has a five year old daughter. I asked him, "I had this story that I've just finished a while ago about a husband divorcing his wife because she couldn't look at him anymore without remembering their loss. What would you do if you're in his shoes?" He asked me why I questioned him that. I said just answer the question, that he was more experienced in life than me. After a while, my brother said, "the same thing." I uttered back, "you'd just let your eight-year marriage to go to waste? Don't you love her? Why let go?" He replied, "You've got to do what is right, it would hurt me to let her go, but it would hurt me more if I let her suffer because I couldn't let her go. Bro, that's love, you need to learn to choose what is always right." I hated my brother for saying that, because he loves his wife. I just couldn't fathom how. But I eventually understood my brother. His opinion was valid and matters to me the most.

"Would she ever know I chose her in the moment? Would she ever know that giving her an out was the greatest love I could give her? I never imagined losing Tatum would be my most selfless act of love."


This story was so important, and was so well-written, and utterly unsafe. I love Jewel Ann's writing. It's just too easy to follow and the pacing was extremely well-done. My biggest issue was that I expected a very emotional one. The blurb promised me an all the feelings book. But I wasn't that heartbroken with the story. I didn't care that they divorced. I didn't feel empathy and pity watching Emmett watching his wife kissed another man. I wasn't that brokenhearted simply by him suffering. I felt like he needed to move on and forget his wife who never deserved him. But he loved his wife very much. I couldn't compete with that and I admired him because of that.

Me, that who would never go through divorce felt like that divorce thing was so easy in the story. Divorce, in my opinion, is final. The end of both of your stories. But I felt like they decided to divorce straightaway for the sake of story. They didn't confide. They kept their feelings, especially the heroine. If you divorce, there is no going back, right? Then why withhold something? I understood that Tatum has her flaws. Grief can totally drown and blind you. But I couldn't feel her on a deeper level. I couldn't love her as she was; as a mother who suffered a very loss. I also didn't feel the depth of her love for Emmett. I found it ridiculous that she made him choose between her and their children. Love is immeasurable. Love is equal. Love is unconditional.

I also disliked that she didn't fight for their marriage. I felt that she just willingly accepted it and looked for another man to love to use to forget everything that happened and be happy. It's just a bit unbelievable to me how fast a person could find someone to love and settle down if she still love that person; and that person is alive. Jewel Ann skillfully yet tragically addressed a lot of focal points that is happening in our society.

"I don’t know what the timeframe is for unloving someone. It’s not five years. Not for me."


What I anticipated the most in the story was the part when Lucy would finally tell her mother about the secret. I expected a gut-wrenching, full of regret and guilt scene from Tatum. However, I felt deprived. After every cruel thing that she said to Emmett. That she wished. They only just talked it out and made out. She was so lucky her ex-husband was too forgiving. After Lucy told her the truth, I went from loving the story to disliking it. I didn't like Tatum's reasoning and for blaming Emmett their divorce and for blaming him letting her fall in love with someone. How could she not see the sacrifice that he did for their daughter and for her? Emmett indeed has his fault on his side, but the way she acted and the things she said, I could use a bit more groveling from her.

Also, I didn't like that she cheated and left her fiance who she loved for the other person that she loved the more. I understand that we all need happily ever after. But the way it was dealt was unfair. Can we write a reconciling story without cheating? Plus, can we not romanticize it in front of our children?

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was such a unique and captivating story that defines what it means to love and to learn to forgive. I salute Jewel Ann for having the courage to write this story. I liked her story in its entirety. I liked her characters. There's just something missing that hindered me to emotionally connect with it. I'm not judging. This isn't a fact. But if there's one thing I am absolutely sure of; this is a special show.

I recommend this to those who likes: Jewel E. Ann, second chance, romantic suspense, emotional read, and a happily ever after.

“She was never really mine.”


Profile Image for len ❀.
382 reviews4,241 followers
June 9, 2021
She had already fallen to pieces, and I was no longer the person who could put her back together.


My dad was the first love of my life.

I look exactly like him, from facial features to personality to attitude. Nobody who knows my dad can deny that I’m his daughter, as I am a replica of him.

My dad tells me to not idolize anyone, but he is my idol. From being an immigrant in the US to being a self-made business owner, I admire his strength, intelligence, and ability to defend himself even though he can’t write or read. He also can’t speak English and has to defend himself one way or another with the little words he knows. He’s judged for his accent and native Spanish language, but he keeps moving forward. I admire how far he’s come and how many times he’s gotten back up from falling. I admire how he’s never let anyone tell him no, how he’s always managed to prove people wrong, and how he’s managed to show people why you shouldn’t ever judge a book by its cover. I admire how dedicated, selfless, loving, supportive, and caring he is, even though sometimes we have discussions that lead to tears and anger.

He showed me what love is.

He shows me what love is.

My dad is from the 60s. He brings my mom roses from his own garden that he has around the house. He takes me with him to go shopping for perfumes and necklaces for my mom’s birthday or for Mother’s Day. He compliments her every day. He’ll go out regardless if he wants to or not because he knows it makes my mom happy. He’ll stare at her as if he’s falling in love with her for the first time, even though they’ve been married for more than 20 years.

“I want to be you when I grow up.”


The love my dad shows my mom is the type of love I want, but sometimes love doesn’t take you that way.

Sometimes love fails.

My dad has a friend.

That friend and his wife divorced because she cheated on him.

After the cheating was found out, my dad’s friend lashed out at his wife (not physically) and called her a puta (bitch).

That friend’s children (who were already grown) heard him and blamed him for everything.

The thing is, his children didn’t know the truth behind that word and why he said it. In their eyes, he was at fault. In their eyes, he was the one who ruined the marriage. And he took that blame. That friend’s daughter even got married, and she didn’t invite my dad’s friend to her wedding.

Years passed, and now, those kids finally know the truth. Now, they carry guilt and regret.

Sometimes, this is the type of love kids see in their parents, and it’s not one I wish on anyone. I wish happiness and health on everyone, but life isn’t fair, and sadly, we can’t do anything about it.

All of this reminded me of For Lucy, in which Emmett harbors the truth of his marriage’s divider as a secret to protect his daughter. When Emmett and Tatum met, he pretended to be the guy she was meeting up with. While his confession of his real identity angered her, it was only a matter of time till the two gave each other’s heart to each other, resulting in a marriage soon after. But not all marriages are perfect, and sometimes, till death do us apart is the only solution. Thirty seconds end up becoming years of heartbreak for the two, and to protect their daughter, Lucy, Emmett does not tell Tatum the truth of what happened. However, with second chances, he might be able to steal her again.

I'm adding trigger warnings that can be considered spoilers, but I’m adding them regardless because they can be sensitive for some readers. So, TW for: grief, loss of a child (by drowning), and miscarriage.

“Memories. Why would you want the memories of this house?”
“Because most of them are the best memories of my life.”


It was my first time reading Jewel E. Ann, and the writing of this was one of the most emotional writing I have ever read. This book isn’t fluffy and soft in any sense, regardless of how many beautiful moments there are inside. Each written piece carries emotion with it, and I found myself understanding almost every emotion the characters felt, especially Emmett. I loved how Jewel wrote this, as it allowed me to get a glimpse of the character’s minds even more, but in a more personal way. In a moment of happiness and bliss, as the reader, we may think there is hope arising for the characters, but Jewel pulls in a couple gut-wrenching and heartbreaking moments in between those, and I have to applaud her writing and character build up for making me feel emotional very quickly. It was only 2% when I had already started crying, but part of it had to do with how I had just gotten in a small fight with my family, so the family aspect of this book really hit me.

Adding on to that, I found myself rooting for Emmett in every possible way, but not in the way it ended. The word selfless is definitely the one to describe Emmett. He put his marriage at risk in order to save his daughter. While the word “save” may come across strongly, Emmett ended up promising Tatum that he would love his children more than her, and that is exactly what he did. The reason I understood why he did this is not only because Tatum asked him to promise it, but also because it is the same exact thing my dad has told me. I recall my dad telling me that if he and my mom ever divorced, I would always be his little girl, and nothing but death could separate us. I carry his blood in me (literally though, he donated his own blood to me when I was born), and there’d never be a way to get rid of that. While my mom may stop being his wife, I wouldn’t stop being his daughter, and that is why I loved Emmett in every single way. His “sacrifice” meant a lot to me, and I found myself sympathizing with his reasoning. He knew that walking away was the right choice because he knew there was nothing he could do to take the pain away from Tatum, even though he would if he could.

Yet, that sacrifice is what brought him anger and sadness all over again. In my opinion, you have to be a real fucking asshole to be like Tatum and give the man only one day every week to see his daughter. That day would be 10 hours, and sometimes he wouldn’t even see Lucy because she had her own life aside from spending it with her dad, and you can’t blame her. Regardless of whether it was Emmett’s fault about what happened or not, I don’t think there was any good reason for him to only see his daughter once a week. He couldn’t see her grow up the way Tatum would, and it’s heartbreaking to see how willing he was to continue making the sacrifice, as long as his daughter was free from blame, happy, and full of love.

Death held no accountability. We were slaves to its will. It was part of the deal in the game of life. We knew this when we decided to bring new life into this world.


The story is told entirely through Emmett’s pov, but Tatum’s pov is felt even if it doesn’t ever make an appearance. While I loved how their story started (Emmett “stealing” her from the guy she was supposed to meet, lying about his identity and going along with the flow, showing off his nerdy and academic side, flirting with her, making her laugh and feel good), you can tell how hung up she is on what happened between the two. My problem with Tatum isn’t how she took the news and how frustrated she got. I’m not a mother, and I can’t even begin to imagine what she was feeling. I don’t think we can judge someone even if we know the full story. I also don’t think we can judge someone even if we know what they’re going through. Yet, Tatum was dislikable because it felt as if she didn’t know that everyone grieves and mourns differently. Not every process is the same for everyone, and Tatum felt like she thought she was the only one feeling upset about everything. She would argue with Emmett as if he wasn’t a victim as well, one suffering from a loss that killed him in every step he took. She would think “moving on” would be easier now for Emmett, and she would make him feel like he had no regret for what happened, as if it didn’t shatter his entire world and break him to pieces.

An example of this is how Emmett wanted to keep their house, which Tatum wanted to sell because of how much sadness it brought her. This is really understandable, and I can even relate to a sense because I’ve also been in moments where I’ve left hobbies or things I like because they can trigger a memory or such. However, Emmett wanted to buy the house and keep it for the exact opposite Tatum wanted to sell it: because of the memories. This is also really understandable because sometimes, going back to those memories is the way one can grieve and process everything in peace. However, this is something Tatum seemed to have trouble accepting. She even told him, “I hope living here doesn’t haunt you. And if it does, I hope you can swallow your pride and just sell the place.” This is what I mean by her being insensitive and not understanding how he’s coping.

“What if she never forgives you for lying to her?”
“Then that’s sad for her, isn’t it? We forgive other people for our own sense of sanity and peace. I’ve never asked for her forgiveness, and I never will.”


Tatum felt super selfish to me, and I wanted nothing more than to slap her and tell her to wake up because she wasn’t realizing how badly she was messing up. Not only that, but I got more angry at how she was using Josh all while still being interested in Emmett. Perhaps it’s because I wasn’t really cheering on their relationship and marriage in general, but I felt bad for Josh because he was being played and led on. I wish Tatum would have at least told him early on about what was happening between her and Emmett instead of lying to him, even getting his hopes up of moving to Chicago with him. It was cheating, no lie there, and it was awful because Tatum would lie about it. Her true colors would show up constantly, and I’d even say she was two faced.

Never have I felt more anger towards a character than her. I hated how she would tell Emmett she wouldn’t be able to leave Lucy and have to travel to see her at least once a week, yet that is what she caused Emmett. The thing is, that would happen with Lucy already being 18 or older, and that happened with Lucy being young. She would say it isn’t fair and that it isn’t the same, which, in my opinion, showed her hypocrisy because it showed how it was only fair if it was happening to Emmett and not her.

She didn’t fight for their marriage, and she blamed Emmett for everything, regardless of the truth. While I understand why she felt the way she did and how she couldn’t look at Emmett anymore, I still found her to be the one who walked away easily. The way this was all handled in the ending is what threw me off even more because nothing would have changed if the truth wasn’t revealed. I feel like Lucy’s honesty and confession was only used as a plot device to fix the relationship. With that confession, Tatum’s entire view changed, and it felt rushed and underdeveloped because it felt as if there was no explanation to it other than the confession.

I also have to say that the story also doesn’t entirely focus on the romantic relationship between Emmett and Tatum. While I actually found myself liking the way this story was written (past and present), it wasn’t focused on it only because of how the stories center is what broke off their marriage. Throughout the story, we see as the two see each other again and try to piece each other back again (well, Emmett, because he’s the only one who actually tried), while Tatum continues releasing her anger out at him while having a back up plan (Josh). However, I do want to say that I loved the past relationship of the two. Since the book is short and not the main focus, there wasn’t a lot of focus on what the two did (besides the obvious), but I found many of their moments really sweet.

I loved Emmett’s flirtatious side with a mix of academic side and how he would throw in random facts at Tatum. I can see how and why Tatum fell for him, as not only did he would attractive, but he sounded adorable in every sense. I also thought of Tatum as strong, after everything she went through, and I wanted her to catch a break. I’m not a mother, and even if I was, I don’t think I can judge how Tatum feels. What happened to her and Emmett isn’t something I believe I can have an opinion on, but I do think she was too caught up in her own world that she forgot it’s still possible for others to share the same feeling.

“I don’t really believe there is a rhyme or reason for what happens in life. I think I believe in God, but I don’t believe He dictates our lives. I believe we have free will which means our actions are based on instinct and impulse. Events are random. And luck is unpredictable and unbiased. The same mistake on any given day can have drastically different consequences. What’s a close call one day can be utter devastation on another day.”


I'm definitely planning on reading more works from this author, but sadly, this one didn't work for me. I was rooting for Emmett himself and only him, not for the relationship between the two. Considering it’s a romance, I should have expected them to get back together, but I also think it would have made me feel more relaxed if they didn’t. Personal preference, I guess. All in all, I’m glad the story was told in Emmett’s pov and not dual pov or, let alone, Tatum’s pov. I’m not sure if the authors intention is to have the reader sympathize with her but, unfortunately, I couldn’t. I couldn’t accept her reasonings and herself as a character. It was emotional for me in parts, while it angered me in others. It also made me see even more how complicated marriage and kids are.
Profile Image for Mali Mor ❤️ The Romantic Blogger.
453 reviews571 followers
May 17, 2021
Pixaloop-17-05-2021-10-14-13-1600000
4.5 STARS!

Jewel is one of my favorite authors and when she releases a book, I don't even read the blurb, I trust her writing and her developed imagination - and dive right in. 💙

📚 “𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟. 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.” 📚

The book tells the story of of Emmett and Tatum and their great love. The plot jumps between their acquaintance in the past, where he stole it from her date - and the present, where they are no longer together, divorced - and between them is an ocean of pain, grief and guilt. 💔
Despite everything, Emmett never stopped loving Tatum - he loves with all his heart and soul and only wants her best, but he promised her to love Lucy more than her... more of them... 🙏
What happened to their great love? Who is Lucy and why did he sacrifice everything for her?

📚 "𝐈𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐓𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐓𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲.
𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞." 📚

I don't know if it is the hormones of my pregnancy, but I did not stop sobbing while reading. 😂
This story is so special and different... it's full of emotion and inspiration. It made me think a lot, among other things, about what kind of mother I want to be (really soon!) - and I want to be just like Emmett, the hero. 💙💙💙
The plot is told from Emmett's POV - and for a moment I did not feel I was missing anything, it was a perfect choice by Jewel. 👏
I enjoyed the book, but must admit that towards the end I was exhausted from those never-ending wars between Tatum and Emmett, which made the ending too fast for my taste - but that's also what made the book what it is - a mature, tragic, raw and full of emotion romance. 💔

Trigger Warning: Death of a Child - not recommended to read during pregnancy, like I did. 😂😂😂

ARC

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💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: https://books-romance.com/ 💕
Profile Image for Melanie (mells_view).
1,813 reviews377 followers
May 23, 2021
“Timing, accidental or not, is everything. Seconds matter.”

Jewel E Ann has a way of making every single story of hers that I read feel like exactly the story I needed to read in that moment. When I tell you that I felt all of the feels while reading For Lucy, that’s no lie. There were so many chapters where I laughed, smiled, cried, felt angry, and swooned in equal measure.

In For Lucy not only did Jewel E Ann weave an equally heartbreaking and heartwarming second chance romance, but also provided an impactful life story. We follow Emmett and Tatum from the first stolen date to the last “I love you.” We journey with them not only through the highs of life, but also the lows. I loved how we sort of get to explore how different people handle different situations. The varying intricacies of love, family, forgiveness and just life in general. How your love can feel so all encompassing, but how life and experiences can change that love in different ways. Also how it can feel easy to judge a situation from the outside, but once we are in certain situations it’s a completely different ballgame.

This story is so beautiful. I don’t want to spoil it, because I was able to read every page and discover every new detail without knowing more than the blurb and I think everyone should sort of experience this story that way. If you’re looking for a powerful and emotional story, that just so happens to be second chance romance, then I HIGHLY recommend this one.

All that said if you’re looking for a “safe” read, then this most likely isn’t it. Unless by safe you mean, safety in knowing that you’re going to be reading a phenomenal and unforgettable book. If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ve arrived, one click now.

*** CW: if you feel you need any sort of trigger or content warning please message me, I read an ARC and spoilers are not allowed in my review, but I do feel that there is some potentially triggering content. So if you don’t mind mild spoilers, and need a TW please feel free to message me.

AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,416 reviews9,972 followers
May 19, 2021
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'FOR LUCY' Is a full length emotional second chance romance novel, by Jewel E. Ann
Spoken in 'Emmett's POV' Jumps from 'Past' to 'Present' time.

This book was such a gut wrenching hit you in the feels, make those eyes leak kind of read, tissues on the ready, giggling, swooning, rage, sadness, every emotion known to human kind hit me as I read this. Such a unique, thought provoking journey, a beautiful story which will stay in my heart for a very long time.

(Past) This story focuses on a fairy tale kind of love between Emmett and Tatum, Emmetts the guy who stole Tatum from another guy that she was set up with on a blind date. Emmett the thief ❝𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐁𝐚𝐝. 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫.❞ They were recklessly in love, taking risks, travelling, to having kids and settling down with the whole white picket fence.

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(Present Time) 😢We slowly learn what went so wrong between these two, it will tragically gut you. Emmett not once stopped loving Tatum, she was his beginning and his end. It was a promise he made between the two which split them apart. But it was a promise he'd make again even knowing the outcome. It only took 30 seconds for their marriage to fall apart.

My heart was ripped to shreds for the family, for the one that walked away and for the two left behind. For the one that held a secret, for the other that needed time.

This book cut me to the bone, I hated, I raged, I understood, I empathised, I couldn't comprehend the pain, the hurtful non spoken accusations, I could see everything unfold as it happened.

* Teaser used is off the authors facebook page *

                  
Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,178 reviews13.4k followers
May 25, 2021
5 STARS
It’s never been my hands keeping her hostage. I’ve always loved her with open arms. My love has never been forced. It’s always been free. She’s the one who cannot walk away. And she knows she needs me to take the blame for that too. So I do. Because that’s how I love her.

This. Book.
It emotionally eviscerated me. I was sobbing into my pillow at 2 am, completely incapable of setting it down, and totally wrecked by the story.

This was a second chance romance unlike any I've every read. It was raw, devastating, heart wrenching, and so full of depth I felt like I was drowning in it. I think what struck me the most is that you can easily see yourself in the couple. In the devastation and what ifs that they go through, you feel it on a soul deep level that just stays with you and burrows so deep, it hurts even when you finish.
No matter how hard we try to be perfect, we are not. No matter how hard we try to do the right thing, the wrong thing manages to trip us up. No matter how undeserving one might feel of forgiveness, no one is unworthy of it.

While I'm not usually a fan of time jumps, it's done absolutely flawlessly here. Jewel effortlessly weaves the past into the story where it doesn't detract from the time line but adds a morsel of understanding with each new detail of their past that gets unveiled.

I'm not going to tell you what the story is about. Read the blurb and go in with just that. Trust me on this. This a book that you simply need to experience blind. What I will tell you, is that I already somewhat knew what I'd be getting into and avoided starting it for that reason. I wasn't sure I was ready for the type of feelings I knew it would invoke. However, the author handled the incredibly delicate subject matter so incredibly well, that I kicked myself for waiting to start. She gives details without going into too many details. I can't tell you more so as to not ruin it, but I'll say that the way it was written was sheer perfection. It was depth without being too much that I would be bawling my eyes out. All the while I still bawled my eyes out, but for other reasons.
Emmett?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being in my corner.”
Swallowing my pride, my pain, and a lifetime of emotions, I nod several times. “Always.”

When Emmett met Tatum, he knew she was the one. And no it wasn't the corny insta love sort of thing. It could have easily been that way. But instead it was endearing and emotional and oh so good. The book is told entirely in Emmett's POV which I really loved. Being in his head was unlike anything I've experienced. The man is flawed but also perfect. He loves selflessly. He gives everything. And he's impossible not to love wholeheartedly. The story spans years, the majority of it in the present, where Tatum and Emmett have been divorced for 5 years, still dealing with the fallout of their marriage.

I hated Tatum for a good portion of this book. While a deeper part of me understood her, I still couldn't help but hate her for the things she says and does. Emmett is just so flawed yet perfect, that it was impossible to hate her a little being in his head, even though he loves her selflessly through all of the pain.
You can’t love me,” she whispers.
“You can’t tell me who to love.”

The story is incredibly emotionally charged and raw. It's full of love and pain, mistakes and forgiveness.

If you're looking for a second chance romance that will own you, heart and soul, look no further. Dare I say this may have been my favorite Jewel E Ann book to date.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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Profile Image for Malene.
1,275 reviews723 followers
May 12, 2021
It’s been awhile since I’ve cried so much and so hard. I’ve come to rely on Jewel E Ann to deliver on that and with For Lucy she did. This story contains so much. Flawed human characters and emotions that will cut you open. It did for me. My heart was ripped out numerous times. I hurt so damn much while reading and I can only give credit to the author. Ann balances the story, the emotions and the characters journey to perfection. It’s so meticulously and flawlessly executed. I just couldn’t put this book down. I was wholeheartedly invested in Emmett’s story. As difficult as it was. I was all in and sobbing throughout most of the story. Again credit to the author. She doesn’t hold back. Goes for the jugular and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Emmett! It was so refreshing to get this story from a male’s POV. Emmett might have stolen Tatum but he won my heart immediately. For Lucy has some of my favorite tropes. Marriage in trouble and second chance. Ann just turned up for the angst and heartbreak but I’m not complaining. I’m celebrating cause damn she delivered. I inhaled this book and I cried. The tears and pain was so worth it. Emmett Riley come steal me away! Bravo.

5 I Stole You Stars


*I received an ARC*
Profile Image for Pam Godwin.
Author 42 books10.7k followers
May 13, 2021
Oh, this love hurts. This gorgeous, selfless, rough-hewn hero might possibly love too hard, too profoundly, too perfectly. But boy oh boy, you'll love him with equal intensity.
This sexy second-chance romance is a deep, tragic pool of FEELS. It will make you so angry and so worked up and fall so madly in love you won't be the same in the end. I highly recommend it to all romance readers.
Profile Image for Shabby  -BookBistroBlog.
1,683 reviews880 followers
June 28, 2021
When my utmostest Favoritest author writes a book, I sweep everything off my table and there's nothing...NOTHING AT ALL, that takes priority over her book. She makes my heart sing with her words, my soul brim full of all the sentiments and with every book the emotions runneth over from my eyes.
Her characters are ordinary people in extraordinary lives and they in turn enrich ours. What do you do when an irreversible damage shakes the foundations of your idyllic life? Do you blame it on human error or is it karmic intervention making you think you had no business interfering with fate by using the cover of a blindpot and merging lanes of his life? I'm a firm believer of the adage "everything happens for a reason".
Take Emmett Riley-the thief for example. He's Mr. punctual, is at the right place at the right time at a bar and spots Tatum. He shamelessly and charmingly steals the date, steals her heart, steals her life and laughter for himself and seals their Fate.

"I stole someone’s blind date.
Best. Bad. Decision. Ever."


description

I've yet to come across such devilishly handsome hero who can charm the bees off the trees so effortlessly. His grins, his sexy smirks, witty repartees ensure Tatum and I don't stand a chance and soon we're head over heels in love with him. His life seems perfect on the surface but just a blink of an eye destroys everything.
Nestled between Always & Never is the story of a marriage lost in a fog. The couple can't see each other, feel each other, rescue each other. 30 seconds of their lives hold them hostage forever.
Jewel has explored and displayed the relationship, the marriage, the fallout with in depth sensitivity, it splays open like a life album commemorating first date, first kiss, marriage, kids & life. And the ensuing disaster that strikes, takes them and the readers by shocking surprise..
I was left holding my heart in my hands...what just happened??!!

description

They let go of the vows that have bound them, to keep the promise that's left between them.
I felt stretched with anxious love for Emmett. Trapped in a lopsided life like a 3 legged table, forever unstable in tenuous relationship with his family. His heart refuses to acknowledge the cruel reality.
A story that tests the love, the loyalty and tenacity of its inhabitants.
I'm priviliged enough to read it early and must insist that you all read it when it releases.
6 stars for the asterisk at the end of a beautiful story
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Profile Image for Corina.
781 reviews2,486 followers
June 16, 2021
This second chance romance is highly emotional, deep, and even heavy at times. The love story between Emmett and Tatum is beautiful, but also tragic. Tragic in a very human way. One that will touch your hearts, make you think, and even shed a tear or two.

But even knowing all of this, I still would recommend the book, just with a warning that it might have some triggers.

Also the book is written entirely in Emmett’s POV, and I loved it, because Emmett is one incredible hero. His love for Tatum was epic, all consuming, and unshakable. He is the best kind of hero to fall in love with. And the way he loved was incredibly beautiful. Emmett loved without a doubt, and without limit. His love was pure. And he is the one who carried this book, who I fell in love with, who I rooted for.

I’m not a big fan of flashbacks, but they were needed to tell this story. Emmett and Tatum fell in love which passion, and head over heels. It was enchanting, charming and picture perfect, until it wasn’t anymore. The fallout broke my heart. And their journey back to each other was an emotional rollercoaster.

FOR LUCY is the perfect book for anyone looking for an emotional and heart wrenching love story. One that will make you believe in LOVE. But also gives you a healthy dose of reality.


___________________________________

You can find me on my blog and on Bookstagram


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Profile Image for Dilek VT.
1,545 reviews1,600 followers
Shelved as 'never-no-way'
May 13, 2021
I don't like divorced couple stories.

I hate family tragedies.

I even hate it more when people worsen the tragedy by making it a bigger tragedy than it already is. And they do it in the name of "sacrifice". Nope, I hate lies and stupid sacrifices that result in a bigger tragedy.

This is so "not my type of book" but I am sure many readers will appreciate the talented writing of Ms Jewel in this sad story.



* Told from male point of view only (there is only one chapter from their daughter Lucy's point of view but there are no chapters from the heroine Tatum's point of view)

* Long separation after their divorce until they get back together again

* During their time apart, he is celibate but she is not

* More like Women's fiction than Romance
Profile Image for swedishruler B.
328 reviews149 followers
May 23, 2021
I’m reading this is more women fiction and I’m not fan. Romance all the way for me. But then Jewel is comparing it to her book undeniably you which is my fave by her. What to do? I need spoilers.

I’m moving on from this one. Super ridiculous and just not for me.

So I decided to read for myself. Listen I knew almost everything that would happen cause I love spoilers. 😆 but I wanted to know why she compared it to one of her faves for me. This is told in Emmett POV and let me tell you he was annoying. Lmao like this guy was more girl. There is just no way.
First of all there needs to be trigger warnings and I know you won’t get them from these reviewers. I think I only read one that hinted to it. But there is more than one trigger in this.
This deals with a lost of a child to drowning and it also deals with a miscarriage cause you know why not more stuff. Car accident with the girl staying temporarily paralyzed. I mean what else could she hand them.
This didn’t have any swooning in it no romance really. It was just too much sadness cause even that epilogue was depressing.


Another thing I notice with her books she loves triangles and cheating it’s her MO and I know she’s known for coming up with different stories but she does have those 2 things in it so not really original per say. This one have both things in it. I think Emmett should have moved on too. He deserved to. Cause technically she was at fault too. She left her 12 year old to take care of her 3/4 year old. Sorry that irresponsible for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,238 reviews35.1k followers
September 6, 2022
4 stars
No matter how hard we try to be perfect, we are not. No matter how hard we try to do the right thing, the wrong thing manages to trip us up. No matter how undeserving one might feel of forgiveness, no one is unworthy of it.

For Lucy is a story that centers around tragedy, love, and forgiveness. It made me cry and a little ragey at times. Jewel E. Ann always writes out of the box romances and I love her writing style. I went into this blind, but I guessed the twist (if you want to call it that) at chapter 5. Emmett was perfect, and Tatum was really hard for me to like/forgive, but I tried to be sympathetic to the way she acted. I do know that some people make really poor choices when they’re grieving.

If you go into this second chance romance, do it blind. But be ready to cry. It can be devastating and I know it’s a book that will stay on my mind.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Connor Crais
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 7h 25m

Profile Image for Hulya Kara Yuksel.
1,023 reviews1,255 followers
May 10, 2021
This book is one of my favorites now... 🥰


“Emmett?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being in my corner.”
Swallowing my pride, my pain, and a lifetime of emotions, I nod several times.
“Always.”





Full review to come later!


*ARC provided by Valentine PR.
Profile Image for JAN.
1,198 reviews919 followers
May 25, 2021
*** 4 stars ***

Not my favourite from JEA, but a solid read.
I grasped what was going on very early in the story.

Emotional and touching, the story is told through Emmet's POV.
And don't I have a weakness for male POVs?🙄
Emmet was gorgeous! all heart and soul, so easy to relate to and so, so easy to love. 🥰
Tatum was more difficult to warm up to because the way she reacted to what happened to her was not pretty. And we don't like facing ugly things, do we?
But hey, none of us is perfect.🤷‍♀️
Besides, I'm not here to judge the character's behaviour, but the way the story was told.



My next words are not spoilers much, but the tone of it says a lot about this tale in case some else wants to go in blind as I did.

Profile Image for MELISSA *Mel Reader*.
1,415 reviews1,487 followers
June 1, 2021
5 “I’ve Always Been Yours” stars!
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)

-"Timing, accidental or not, is everything. Seconds matter."

CE0096B8-1177-435D-9C3B-A8BAF80C9A64

Emmett Riley meets Tatum Bradshaw and he's done for. He's intrigued and completely mesmerized. He falls hard and fast, and soon they are starting their life together in a small town in Missouri. They promised forever, but life had other plans. Tragedy touches their lives, and everything crumbles. As fate decides to destroy their entire world, Emmett suddenly finds himself divorced and struggling to navigate life and survive his new reality. His marriage is over, and he's supposed to move on, but he doesn't know how to not love her. Some things can never be repaired, but he still has his daughter Lucy to think of. She is his hope and reason for everything. When secrets from the past are revealed will he finally give up, or will he reclaim his life and fight for love?

3ADB2441-CEFB-42B5-B30A-D57A51A96320

-We fought with passion. We lived without regret. And we loved to the depths of our souls.

-It's her. It's always been her. It will always be her.

-There's no way I could love another woman the way I love her. My love for her is not contingent on her love for me. It's not even contingent on us being married.

-She's the air filling my suffocating lungs. I love this woman with every cell in my body.

8AB2F1C0-AE89-4A3A-9E4E-2C95FEFC7BDF

For Lucy by Jewel E. Ann is a standalone second chance romance told from then to now. It delves into the past and then the complicated present. It's an intense, original, deeply emotional love story with all the feels. It's messy, raw, and real. This couples journey is painful, but beautiful. It's full of angst, secrets, forgiveness, healing, and most of all love. The way this man loves is breathtaking! His love knows no bounds. This story felt like it put my heart through a shredder lol, but I couldn't look away or put it down. This author is just brilliant! Every book of hers I read just adds to my love of her words! Her stories are just everything! <333

708800B6-901E-4A2B-8B1A-C8DCD774F259_zpsqkbfrd0n

***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2T2RZ2r
Profile Image for Jennifer.
Author 5 books283 followers
Want to read
April 26, 2021
One of my favorites has a new book coming out, and it doesn't matter what it's about...I NEED IT NOW 😍

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Profile Image for  Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕.
1,000 reviews1,164 followers
May 25, 2021
1621918820860

Well this was one heck of a journey. I'm emotionally exhausted but I feel like this had to be done. You were put in that place to have the breath knocked out of you in a sense and with that came raw emotions. Frustration, anger, sadness, resentment, loss, triumph and happiness. All of these feelings, all of these emotions, were for a story that showed you the true meaning of what it means to sacrifice something for the most important thing in your life.

Going into this story, I knew that it was going to be a bit of a tough one based on the prologue. My first thought was wanting to know right away how did it get to this point? Then the hero took us back between the past and the present and quite honestly, I wished a few times that he would've stayed in the present because going back? That was when the pain started. We saw those critical life changing moments and we knew… we knew that this was going to hurt and yet we proceeded without caution anyway.

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I'm going to be honest and very vague with this review because for a story like this, it has to be done. I really loved the fact that this story was told in the hero's POV because at the end of the day, this was more of his journey. We saw exactly how he felt and the decisions he made in trying to navigate this thing called life and I loved that he did what was best for his family.

Now with that being said, some of those exact things left me frustrated as well and I just wanted to scream one word. One word and a lot could've been avoided including heartache but they don't call it angst for nothing.

If you're a fan of this author, then I think you're going to enjoy this emotional second chance romance read. But I have to warn you,have the tissues ready and the wine on chill!!


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Profile Image for Tanya.
97 reviews4 followers
October 28, 2021
Phew this was.. okay I've no words to describe it. The characters did what they felt like was the right thing and I'm not gonna judge cuz I can't even fathom the pain that they went through but I gotta admit the fact that Tatum got on my nerves. I fucking love Lucy and Emmett and I'm so envious of their father daughter relationship. The five stars is solely for them.
Profile Image for Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️.
820 reviews848 followers
June 20, 2021
What an incredibly moving second chance romance book!! It was well written and made you feel many emotions. I loved every minute of it, eventhough it was a tough read regarding a tragic situation. Written in past and present tense, the flow was perfect!!

The journey that this author took her readers on was not for the faint of heart. It was raw and heartbreaking. I felt for Emmett, Tatum and Lucy and their situation. But I will say that I adored Emmett. He was what a husband and father should always be. Tatum was not an easy person to like but I understood her, so I gave her some slack even though she did somethings that were hard to swallow. And as for their daughter Lucy, she was the best of both of them and it showed.

I really enjoyed every minute of this book. I cried, I felt, and I ached for all the characters. I also loved how this author healed me and her characters. A beautiful second chance book that I recommend all to read.

Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,652 reviews4,588 followers
August 29, 2021
3(ish) Stars

Overall Opinion: Dang. I’m in the minority yet again here. I even prepped myself for needing tissues and having all the feels before starting this! I never really liked the h. I think she ruined the whole book for me tbh. I know that I should respect that I haven’t experienced what she did and don’t know how I’d react, but I sincerely hope I wouldn’t be like her! I liked having the H’s POV, but I also think that the fact that we didn’t get the h’s POV might have contributed to my dislike of her. I honestly don’t know how to rate this one. I did get somewhat emotional because I did like and felt for the H, but I don’t think I really enjoyed it. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it because of the tragedy, because I’ve really liked angsty books before! I just didn’t really enjoy this one 🙈

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Emmett and Tatum’s story. I’m going to keep this brief and vague because I think it is best to go in blind. After a whirlwind romance that ends mysteriously and tragically, this story picks up with Emmett spending time with his daughter while still loving his ex wife while she is in a relationship with another man. There are some big truths revealed, some tragic scenes, and some sweet flashbacks…and they get a HEA ending.

Point Of View (POV): This was told in Emmett’s POV (one half chapter in Lucy’s)

Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well. This jumps between “then” and “now” and I think the author allowed for these transitions well.

Instalove: Kind of. In the flashbacks.

H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Emmett. I liked him, and I understood his reasoning, but I thought he had too much of a martyr complex at times.

h (heroine) rating: 1 star. Tatum. I really struggled with her. I never really liked her (even in the flashbacks) and I thought the H deserved way better!

Sadness level: Moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues

Push/Pull: Yes

Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Yes

Separation: Yes

Possible Triggers: Yes

Closure: This ends in a good place and what I would call a HEA ending

Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Profile Image for Wil Loves Books!.
1,345 reviews489 followers
May 10, 2021
“Emmett … I’ve always been yours.”

This was just great, I have no words. I held my breath from the moment I started until the moment it ended. This is the kind of story I love and crave. The epic love, the angst, the heartbreak and the hope for that moment when everything is put back together the way it should be. Jewel E Ann is such an amazing writer and as I was telling my friend the other day, she just makes you feel, good or bad, you feel the story to the core.

This is a second chance romance, which are my absolute favorites, and this is truly as second chance as it could get, considering they are divorced when the story starts. This is also a heavy heavy story, not going to lie, it deals with a broken marriage and a family trying to survive the unimaginable. I felt so much for all these three characters, Tatum and Emmett and Lucy. They were all dealing with so much and trying to put back together pieces of a broken puzzle. The story intertwines between the then and the now so you can get a better idea of what happened and how they got to this place. It’s told almost entirely from Emmett’s POV and the way he loves his wife and kids is just so endearing and amazing, he also has a great sense of humor. Without spoiling it further, I also liked how refreshing it was to read about the man being the one fighting and waiting rather than it being the woman like we’re used to. I would’ve loved a chapter or two in Tatum’s POV though.

It’s just hard to describe this book without reading it or spoiling it and I just won’t do that. Know that is not an easy read, especially if you’re married or a parent, but let me tell you, its such a great story, one that could rock you to the core and I hope you feel as much joy as I did when I finished reading it.

“Emmett?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being in my corner.”
Swallowing my pride, my pain, and a lifetime of emotions, I nod several times.
“Always.”
Profile Image for Dilek VT.
1,545 reviews1,600 followers
Shelved as 'never-no-way'
May 13, 2021
I don't like divorced couple stories.

I hate family tragedies.

I even hate it more when people worsen the tragedy by making it a bigger tragedy than it already is. And they do it in the name of "sacrifice". Nope, I hate stupid sacrifices that result in a bigger tragedy.

This is so "not my type of book" but I am sure many readers will appreciate the talented writing of Ms Jewel in this sad story.

Profile Image for ✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ .
2,245 reviews1,309 followers
May 23, 2021
description
description

Emmett and Tatum and Lucy.
Dad. Mom. Daughter.
We start in chapter one with Emmett telling us the story. He just picked up his 17 year old daughter Lucy for his weekly 10 hours. That's all he's allowed with her.
We don't know what happened and why Emmett and Tatum got divorced.
Something terrible must have happened five years ago.
And we'll find out. But I'm not telling you more about the story now. 😁

What happened to this family?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺

═════════════════

description
description

OY! What a story!


We get this kind of prologue-y first chapter - not from the past but from the present time - and we immediately start crying. Nothing happened, nobody really tells us anything about what happened, but we start crying!
WTF Jewel?! 😭🤣
And then we go back to how it all started with Emmett and Tatum and back to what happened to tear apart this perfect little family.
We switch back and forth between then and now with each new chapter - which I'm so not a fan of in books. 😞 But we need to find out how the story began and what happened!

Ugh, what a book!
It's all so heartbreaking and hopeless. And all we want is for this little family to be together again. Happy. But it's not really looking all that good for our second happily ever after.

I'm not telling you anything more ... you need to read this book!

I adored every second of this story!
I pretty much cried from the first page to the last!
I loved that it was the guy telling us the story. We fall in love with Emmett the second we meet him and we root for him all through the book! Poor guy! He's so in love with his family. He never gave/gives up.

I NEED to see this on Netflix!

FOR LUCY was such a beautiful and utterly heartbreaking love story! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Emmett - and don't forget to buy a ton of tissues too!!

There were three tiny little things that bothered me a bit. But that's just me and my weirdness. You don't have to read the following - and I almost didn't even write it... but I just had to. #Weirdo
First, due to the content of the story and the americanness of the author and characters, there was too much religion in here for my tastes. My tastes are zero when it comes to religion in romances. But I can kinda understand it here. But I just wished the few mentions hadn't happened.
Then in the epilogue ... two things bothered me. One, again, typical american. About the guns being locked away in the house. How about NO GUNS? Like in every other country in the world?! (Don't worry, the guns don't have anything to do with the story!)
And the tiny little anti-vax line. Nope! Not cool. GET VACCINATED! ASAP! BOTH SHOTS!
But don't worry, like I said ... just me and my crazy booksy likes and dislikes!


READ THIS BOOK! It's just the most beautiful love story!

description
💜 💜


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Profile Image for Izzie d.
4,207 reviews336 followers
May 22, 2021
Oh dear.
This had potential. Love the cover.
The whole book is written from the Hero's POV except for one chapter from the daughter.
I think this colours the readers perception of what happened as to be frank makes the heroine incredibly dislikeable.

It starts with them divorced.
He loves her and only her. There is no-one else. He doesn't move on, is celibate.
The heroine is with another man, has been for a year, she says she loves him, agrees to marry him.

Flashback scenes to how they met and events up to the divorce, alternative chapters.

The thief idea is soooo repetitive.


Spoilers...




They get married, have a child, Lucy. Then a son.
Lucy is watching him but goes off to facetime with her friends.
The son drowns in the pool.
The dad returns, takes the blame.
The reason?
The mother made him promise when the daughter was born that he'd love the daughter more than her (?!!)
So he protects the girl by taking the blame.
The wife feels he was irresponsible and can't live with him anymore.
The wife moves on in relationship with someone else, the husband doesn't.
The Hero and heroine reunite.

When they split he lets her have everything but fights at court over custody of the daughter.
He is granted a few hours one day a week, the heroine doesn't trust he is capable of keeping the daughter safe.
But as we don't have the heroine's POV, it comes across as very cruel, if it had been presented diffently the reader might have sympathised with the heroine, worrying if the daughter was safe.

The heroine kisses and shares intimacy with the Hero even though she is with the other man.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine though it is said heroine and other man kiss.

HEA.
Epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Elisa Glendenning.
522 reviews48 followers
September 2, 2021
4.5 Stars

Not an easy read but it sucked me in from the start. I laughed. I cried. I raged. Right through until the very end. He may have been way too self-sacrificing but I loved Emmett so bloody much. I was just as enraptured with this man as he was with his wife. As for Tatum, not gonna lie, I wasn’t a fan. I really hoped after the big reveal, that I would feel differently but no, I wasn’t entirely happy with what transpired. Nonetheless, absolutely stellar writing. I couldn’t put this down!
Profile Image for Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.•.
2,419 reviews236 followers
May 22, 2021
Emmett and Tatum met by chance in a bar one night when she was waiting for a blind date to arrive. Emmett pretended to be the guy she was waiting for and the connection they shared was just perfect. Until he confessed to not being the guy she was supposed to meet. Despite this rocky beginning, they eventually do fall in love and have a wonderful life together. Neither of them could ever imagine it would end one day.

‘Every day I felt like a thief on the run. I stole the girl - her heart, her babies, her hand in marriage.’

We go back and forth into the ‘then’ and ‘now’ as Jewel explains how they went from being so in love to divorced and unhappy. The story begins in the ‘now’ post divorce as Emmett struggles with the outcome of their separation and custody arrangement. You need to know that Emmett is still madly in love with his now ex-wife, he loves her so much that he was willing to walk away to give her the space she needed and now she has moved on with another man.

‘I could never imagine being anything but her husband. Here I am. Not being her husband. And five years later, it’s still unimaginable.’

This is a story about the impact of trauma. Something deeply traumatic happens to this family that will forever change their lives. Grief affects everyone disparately and both Tatum and Emmett go though very different journeys. All of those stages of grief hit us at different times and in different ways. There was time before and after and the before was completely forgotten as the after influenced every moment going forward. There is so much anger and blame which has dominated most of Tatum’s decisions, especially when it comes to their daughter Lucy.

‘It was like trying to hold water in your cupped hands, I fought to keep her, but the cracks were too big. Our love, our life we kept safe in a bubble… it broke.’

It’s not until Tatum goes through something life changing that I thought would be the turning point. I thought she would realise how some of her recent decisions with Emmett had been completely unreasonable. She couldn’t seem to see that when the shoe was on the other foot she had been very unfair to him. I found her to be selfish and a bit self centered. To be honest I didn’t particularly like Tatum. I absolutely loved Emmett and how much he unconditionally loved her but I was disappointed in her faith in her husband. Like I said though, we all handle trauma differently.

Emmett was completely selfless and had the biggest heart. I loved his relationship with Lucy and what an amazing father he is. He knew Tatum better than anyone and was steadfast in keeping a promise he made to her, one that she insisted on - for Lucy.

‘There is nothing absolute about our lives. Who we are lies in the space between always and never.’

Wow, this was an emotionally charged story that had me from the first chapter. You need to make sure you put aside time to read this uninterrupted because it’s so damn hard to put down once you start. I was so invested in this story and went through a gamut of emotions - which meant a lot of tears so have tissues on hand. Jewel completely knocked it out of the park once again and I loved every moment!
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