Member Reviews
What a beautiful story about second chances!
Follow the story of young lovers, Ophelia & Kyle, as they leave their life on the farm behind and head out to Hollywood to make it big. Young and in love they don't know what is ahead of them out there, but they promise to always be there for each other until one isn't. What happens when Kyle returns to town, will they pick up where they left off? Can they move on from their mistakes from the past?
Jennifer wrote an amazing story here! I absolutely could not put this down! 5+ stars for this one, grab it as soon as it comes out! I can't wait for the next one!
I really enjoyed "A Brand New Ending." This book really makes you think about forgiveness and how much it matters. I loved the characters Kyle and Ophelia and was so pleased with the direction the story took. Definitely worth checking out. .
Wow is the first word that comes to mind when I think about this book. I loved the first book in this series about Ethan and Mia it was a five start read but the second book, this book is just so much more. This book had me crying big tears so many times that my husband was just looking at me with that weird look he gets. This book was so much more then Kyle and Ophelia's second chance at love. It was Kyle and Ophelia's second chance at life. There was so much going on in this book that my heart was exploding and breaking all at the same time. This book was pure emotion from start to finish. Reading about what happened, what could have been and what is now was inspiring. I picked this up and I could not put it down. Jennifer Probst did and incredible job on this book. I would say that this book is a 5 ++++ book and it is going down as one of my top reads. I cannot wait to see what Jennifer Probst has in store for Harper. Thanks NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story about a second chance at love for two people who never stopped loving each other. Kyle and Ophelia grew up together and when friendship turned to love, they ran off at a very young age to Hollywood in order to follow their dreams. After they secretly eloped, Kyle was caught up in the maelstrom of screenwriting which became his whole focus. Ophelia had the talent as a singer to make a career; however, she was not willing to sell her soul to be successful. Hollywood chewed them up and spit out their marriage so Ophelia went back home after a few years to run the family B&B in rural upstate New York.
Now, Kyle has come back after being stymied with writer’s block to not only tell a new story, but win his wife back. Ophelia is extremely resistant to letting Kyle back in her life because she does not want her heart broken again. While Kyle works his way back into her life, he is writing a novel about their story so much of their relationship is told concurrently in retrospect. This aspect gives an interesting and somewhat Meta spin to the trope of a story within a story. The reader also gets a peak behind the curtain of a writer’s challenges and frustrations in bringing a story to life. Kyle sacrificed everything important for success and fame, but lately, that has become a very hollow victory.
Ophelia has her own regrets over the loss of a potential career, but realizes Gardiner, New York is exactly where she needs to be in order to live a happy life. She has never stopped loving Kyle so the challenge is whether they can come together in a place where both will find completeness. No one ever wants to feel undervalued or second rate in a relationship. As Kyle is writing his novel, he learns a lot about not only himself, but how Ophelia must have felt at his essentially abandonment of her and their marriage.
The very young age of Kyle and Ophelia heading out to Hollywood is a bit of a stretch, maybe not for a singer, but I don’t think there are many eighteen year old screenwriters. They were barely legal when they split up eight years before so though this story reads as if this couple is more mature, they are still in their twenties. We see much of Ophelia’s quotidian everyday work as an innkeeper as well as Kyle’s writer life. This book is the second in the Stay series. It can be read as a standalone; however, the first one sets up much of the background and is Ophelia’s brother, Ethan, and Mia’s story in THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD.
Another engaging story, from this wonderful author. A must read with characters you will love to see grow.
Where to start with another story by this author that took my breath away. I did enjoy Ethan and Mia’s story, but Kyle and Ophelia’s exceeded my expectations.
A Brand New Ending contains so many aspects to it, it is impossible to say which touched me the most...if I were to write about each one, this review would be pages long...not in any specific order:
*The human condition of not realizing what we have until it’s gone
*A second chance story with more depth and heart than other’s with the same subject...it says a lot to me that an author is able to craft a story that is so fresh and original, superseding others by such a large margin
*Forgiveness
*Heartbreak
*Healing
*Sexual heat and need...done so sensually
*Connection
*Hauntingly sad
*Joyful
*Humor
*Hospitality
*Family
I look forward to the next story in the series...I expect I’ll once again feel strongly about the characters and story this author creates.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
I received A Brand New Ending for free in exchange for an honest review. I have read several books by Jennifer Probst. Her books always have some romance, heat, and humor. Both the main characters-- Kyle and Ophelia were good people, but they were misunderstanding one another in their previous relationship, and now have a second chance at love.
I received an advanced reader copy to leave an honest review of this book. I have always enjoyed Jennifer Probst's books and am thoroughly enjoying this new series that follows the Bishop family. This is the second book in the series and both were great light-hearted romance reads.
This book follows Kyle, a famous Hollywood screenwriter and Ophelia's first love, and Ophelia, the innkeeper at her family's B&B. A little background for you first. Kyle and Ophelia were best friends along with Ophelia's brother Ethan but as they grew older their feelings changed and they feel in love. Kyle didn't have the best childhood growing up and always planned to go to Hollywood to pursue his writing career. Ophelia had a beautiful voice and could have made it as a singer but all she wanted was Kyle. So she followed him to Hollywood to so they could both make it big. Turns out they were young and a little deluded on how things would work out. Ophelia eventually couldn't handle the pressure and Kyle's inattention so she returned home to her family and now runs her family bed and breakfast.
Fast forward about 10 years later and Kyle has writers block and cannot seem to get his next screenplay down into words. He has been pigeonholed into writing action films when really he wants to do something more in depth; the next great love story if you will. What better place to write that then where he first fell in love and his love still is? He doesn't anticipate the reception he will get from Ophelia however; she will have nothing to do with him and in fact won't even let him stay at the B&B. The only way this changes is when Kyle has to help Ophelia out when she gets ill and can't handle the work at the B&B. This gives him the in he needs to try to win Ophelia back over. But eventually, he'll have to go back to Hollywood and what will happen to the couple then? Can Ophelia go back to that world? Will she be willing to give Kyle her heart again? And once Kyle is back in Hollywood, will he revert to old patterns? You'll have to read to find out how it ends!
I would definitely recommend. Jennifer has a great writing style and keeps you entertained. I love the family connection and the little twists to the plot she throws in.
Jennifer Probst is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and this book had me glued right from the start. A fresh story with interesting characters, family dynamics, and lots of chemistry.
Kyle wants his second chance with Ophelia. As love struck teenagers, they left their small-town life and families and followed their dreams to Hollywood. Kyle made it big as a screenwriter, but for Ophelia the glam of the business lost it's luster. When the young couple couldn't find a way to make their relationship work amidst the pressures of Kyle's burgeoning career, Ophelia returned home to run her family's B&B.
Years later, Kyle returns home with the hopes of overcoming his writer's block, drafting an epic screenplay, and winning back Ophelia. For Ophelia, all her old feelings for Kyle are there too. However, can she risk another broken heart?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I was intrigued with “Tink” from her brother’s book and I couldn’t wait for hers. The story with Kyle put a new twist on second chances and I loved the unique way he figured things out, a great story, and now I’m eagerly awaiting Harper’s story!
This is the story of Ophelia and Kyle who were young and in love, who left their small town to pursue their dreams in California. She wanted to sing and he wanted to write. As we know, young love is hard enough, but when pursuing dreams that can bring a whole other set of issues. Kyle, turned out to be an instant success, while Ophelia was left with feelings of loneliness and disappointment.
Fast forward ten years and what do you do when the love of your life, who you left behind in California, turns up at your front door? Kyle's made the life he dreamed of for himself in California. Ophelia's back in the same small town she left all of those years ago, running her mother's Inn.
Kyle returns to the Inn to work through some writers block issues and hoping to change the ending of their story. Does she let him come back into her life? Does he deal with issues he left behind when he went to California?
This is a story about love, second chances, family and healing. I really loved this book. It's got romance, it's got a good story. Even though I didn't read the first book before reading this one, I felt like I was easily able to understand what happened in the past between them. If you love romance, you will enjoy this book!
I fell in love with the Bishop family in Travis' story and was excited for Ophelia's romance. Ophelia had once lived in California with a singing career in sight but returned back to the B&B with no explanation. She's been back for 10 years and now Kyle decides to stay at the B&B to write a screenplay. See, Kyle was Ophelia's secret boyfriend when they left together all those years ago. He found great success and Ophelia felt changed into someone she didn't know- who didn't share her same hopes and dreams- so left. Now he's back to find inspiration to write and hopefully win her back.
Kyle's attempts at winning Ophelia are going over so well- the woman is stubborn. The chemistry and connection is still there and stronger than ever but Ophelia has been hurt and doesn't trust Kyle. Can she forgive and find a brand new beginning? Can Kyle deal with problems from his own past and truly forgive in one relationship to receive forgiveness in another?
This was a great addition to the series. This book made me laugh and cry. I loved reading about Ophelia and Kyle find their way back to each other. This story will really tug at your heartstrings.
So this is book two in the Stay series, you can read it as a stand alone but I loved the first book so I would recommend reading that one first. This is Ophelia's story and second chances. Both Ophelia and Kyle need second chances and each for different reasons. This is a great love story to bring soul mates back together and heal so old wounds. Kyle has a lot to prove to Ophelia and learn that not everything he remembers from the past is really how it was. I also liked the story in a story. I already want to read the next book but it's not out yet, guess I have to wait.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
This second chances story is the second book in Ms Probst’s series titled, STAY.
The story belongs to Ophelia Bishop, whom we met in book one, and Kyle Kimpton, her friend/sweetheart with whom she left town at the age of 18 but after a couple of years returned home alone and a different person.
Eight years have passed and Ophelia now successfully runs the family’s B & B. Sje has not heard from Kyle, who is now a successful LA screenwriter. He returns looking for a place to stay at the B & N with the hopes of writing a new story and maybe getting a second chance with Ophelia. But he is also returning with surprising news.
The relationship between these two was complex . Both were young when they ran away to LA looking to make it big. But reality caused them the breakup.
It’s also a story about family, forgiveness, being true to oneself, and deciding what really is important in life.
For me it wasn’t as good as book one, but still, it was a good story.
I was entrusted this copy by Montlake and Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
A Brand New Ending, Stay Book 2, Jennifer Probst
men's Fiction
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre:General fiction (adult), Romance
Stupidly I was drawn to the blurb, knew I'd enjoyed some of Jennifer's stories before and didn't check. This series isn't going to be for me, I didn't like the first book, and didn't enjoy this one. My bad, its a good story for many readers, just doesn't suit my taste.
I just didn't really understand why these two split, why Ophelia just left, why he didn't seek her out before, and what had changed. She still didn't want the life he led, he still didn't want hers. I know Love conquers all, but when two people have such wildly differing ambitions can they ever be happy. One of them is going to have to fold, and in the long term will that work? I wasn't convinced by the ending. Maybe if I'd liked either character a bit more, or even felt that they were truly suited, but if so why didn't they work at getting back together before, why wait? The timing now seemed a little too convenient, if I was Ophelia I'd be thinking, Now he's got time, why not before and equally if I was Kyle I'd be thinking Is she just going to spook and disappear again? There needed to be some serious love between them for it to work, and if there was how could they just stay away all those years. Maybe I'm too much the cynic.
Stars:Two and a half, I liked it a little more than book one, but wasn't convinced by the story. I'll still look for Jennifer's books but make a note that this particular series isn't for me.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers
A Brand New Ending, by Jennifer Probst is a contemporary romance focused on family and relationships, as well as second chances and rebuilding trust.
Ophelia Bishop and Kyle Kimpton fell in love as teenagers, and she followed him to Hollywood. However, Ophelia returned to their hometown with a broken heart, while Kyle stayed in California for his career and became a famous screenwriter.
Years later, Kyle returns to their hometown to work on a screenplay about his life, as well as reconnect with Ophelia and inform her of a secret. He wants to pursue a relationship with her, yet she's extremely hesitant. Both characters are dealing with trust issues and past struggles that affect their current relationship.
Even though it's the second book in the Stay series, it's easily read as a standalone.
A Brand New Ending is geared towards contemporary romance fans, especially those who enjoy second chance romances.
Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is a good second chance romance. I enjoyed reading Ophelia and Kyle’s story but it was just a story. The book was enjoyable enough but was somehow flat for me. I’m not sure if it was the predictability of the story or what but overall for me it was just an enjoyable read, not something I will remember in a few weeks. #ABrandNewEnding #NetGalley
I have a few mixed feelings about Ophelia and Kyle's story. Second chance romances are my absolute favourite stories to read. I love finding out what happened, I love the drama, the tension of the couple finding their way, and the inevitable moment where things can fall apart again, but don't. I didn't get of all this from this book. I initially felt like I was going to adore Ophelia and her resistance to Kyle, but in the end I found they connected again far too easily. I didn't like how Kyle helped those around him, who were closest to Ophelia, to allow him to manipulate the situation. I don't think we heard enough of Ophelia's opinion about their past, the odd fleeting thing in an argument, but the rest of it was Ophelia's feelings from Kyle's point of view. I didn't feel Ophelia's love for music as strongly as the story wanted me to believe it.
On the whole, it was a steady story with some characters I quite enjoyed reading, and the essence of the storyline was okay. I thought the interactions with Kyle's dad were really thoughtful. A brother's best friend, second chance romance is one I'll never be able to resist.
I absolutely loved all the characters and their journey to figuring out who they are. The story was wonderful and well paced. I cant wait to get this book for my shelves to keep with all my other read again novels! (Admittedly with a few others from this author)