NEVER EXPECTED YOU by JODY HOLFORD is a wonderful romance with great characters in a sweet small town. Zack and Stella are both Veterinarians. Both grew up in the same town with totally different experiences. Zack and Stella find their way together, but there are plenty of bumps along the way. Sweet story!

Sweet and slow romance. When Stella takes over her father's vet practice she is glad to let the work and the animals consume her life. She definitely doesn't have any room for men after being burned terribly by her ex who was only after her for her vet knowledge and not love. She never wants to get burned again. NEVER! Oh heck, who is that sexy man in her vet practice looking to become her partner.

Zach Mason is a former Army man- a vet in both aspects (you know veteran and veterinarian)! Zach is back in his small hometown and is different than that the timid boy who grew up with a drunk for a father. Always on the outskirts of town and society, Zach has made something of himself and wants to work with the man who inspired him. The problem is Stella's father passed away and she is in charge and in now ways allowing him anywhere near her practice, let alone opened to the idea of a partnership.

Stella is struggling- financially and overworked with more than she can handle. She doesn't want to let her dad down and is determined to handle this on her own-just like her dad did. Problem is Zach won't go away! He has his sights set on her practice and she thinks on her too. The other problem- she can't shake the attraction she has to Zach but he is a threat to her in many ways.

Overwhelmed Stella allows Zach a tad through her wall by letting him become her roommate. Now, can these two fight this attraction both professionally and personally. It looks good from both perspectives!

Stella never expected to meet and fall in love with someone like Zach after having been badly hurt by another man. Zach returned to his hometown, wanting to join the local veterinary practice owned by Stella’s late father, not knowing that he had passed away. Zach and Stella both had a lot of trust issues that needed to be dealt with, but they eventually learned to trust and love each other. Adam and Megan’s story was the first in this series, and while I enjoyed it, this book was even better. The characters were well developed and believable. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

This book has no on-page sex, but it has a lot of f-bombs. If copious use of the f-word bothers you, this is not the book for you because it is definitely overused in this one. Although this book is the second in a series, you do not have to have read the first to enjoy this one – it completely stands alone.

Stella and Zach's story was really great. I liked that both characters were a little bit broken but that they brought out the best in each other, even if they couldn't see that through their individual pain. Stella was independent to the point of being a little off-putting, and Zach was broken but well-intended, and when they were together, their chemistry was undeniable. Without spoiling anything, I loved the solutions to the drama, and the way that both characters grew and changed as the book went on. I really enjoy a book where both characters give a little rather than one person being the one to do all of the bending.

I liked this book. Stella had a vet practice she took over for her dad but it was in dire need of money to improve it and just flourish. Zach comes in and wants to become a partner, but she resists all the way. She's not the most trusting person. They tangle at every turn, but eventually, she starts to let him in. They even start to have feelings for one another until something blows that up in their faces. The writing was very good and I look forward to more of this authors books I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review

I loved this sweet romance story. The thing that stood out to me about this story is how much Zach and Stella truly needed each other both professionally and personally. I loved the scenes where they were learning to open up to one another and learning how to comfort one another. I felt such a real connection between these two. Once I started reading this it became obvious that this was part of a series but it worked as a standalone story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

stella lane is used to carrying the world on her shoulders. all her worries, all her problems, all her grief is something she's always handled alone. with her father's veterinary practice on the brink of bankruptcy and no obvious solution to her money woes, the serendipity of sargeant zach mason coming into town wanting to partner up as a fellow veterinarian (a vet who happens to be a vet) and share her troubles seems too good to be true.

in never expected you, stella starts off wary, but zach is persistent and determined. he can tell stella is wary for a reason, but he also has his reasons for wanting to be part of her life and for making it work. he tries to avoid the obvious thread of attraction between them, especially because he wants a long-term working partnership with her, not just a romantic one.

but it's too hard to stay away. and when zach makes the mistake of trusting the wrong person, everything he's worked to hard for, including stella might be pushed too far out of reach. but zach isn't the kind of guy who just leaves. he makes plans, retreats, and finds the right way to beg for forgiveness. he might be in the wrong, but he's also right in that he and stella are meant to be.

**never expected you will publish on september 24, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.

3.25 Stars

Meet vet Zach Mason and prepare to swoon over him in Jody Holford’s new story in “Love Unexpected” series. He was a former army and veterinarian (so, a double vet) who returned home to Brockton Point to stay and to join Stella Lane’s clinic. But more than a chance to go gaga over the hunky too good to be true vet, “Never Expected You” is a story of redemption and second chance. Both lead casts had to come to terms with their personal grief to move forward. It was an emotional, run-of-the-mill tale.

“Never Expected You” told the story of town’s single and newly-lost-her-father vet Stella Lane. Left with a rundown farm and busy but far from lucrative veterinary clinic, Stella had to find a way to stay afloat and kept her father’s legacy going. Enter Zach Mason, a Brockton Point born and bred who left town on the heels of a tragedy to become soldier and studied to become vet. Believing he had overcome his grief and anger over the past, he showed up in Stella’s clinic to join force and soon got entangled in her personal and professional life.

The story was dominated with gloomy tone, mostly from Stella’s POV. For an animal-loving person, she struck me as gloom-and-doom personified. Her friends called her formidable; me, I’m just gonna say Stella Lane was a self-righteous, judgmental human being. Not to dismiss her pain, but everybody lost someone they love, everyone you met is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Her wanting people to respect her wish yet disregarding others’ was not cool!! Stella’s attitude had me sided with Zach as for all the mistakes he made, his intention was good. He was practically being a saint in dealing with Stella, down to acknowledging his attraction to her but vow not to act on it (at first) as she needed friend and financial aid first and foremost. A matter of priority, he was more focus on her needs instead of his own. Though once they got involved (and did the bed tango), it seemed there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her! Zach was so sweet and Stella-oriented (in a non stalkerish way) that I wonder how she could ever doubt him.

Having witnessed Zach’s mostly good character, I was not particularly pleased with how he handled the almost-scandal that involved his old friend/former mentor. To me that incident drove the fact how Stella was rubbing on him and how stereotypical the book characterization was. It’s okay for either MCs to made mistake then fixed it, but woebegone to merely secondary character who (from what I saw) being set as the fallen guy from the start!

Nevertheless, the conclusion saved the story for me. I loved it when our lead casts made a huge step and “sacrificed” what they could to make amend, to show their sincerity and good will moving forward. If nothing, “Never Expected You” engulfed a beautiful journey of two wounded souls in an ordinary setting and emphasize the sentiment there is silver lining in every cloud.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars!

Never Expected You is based in a small town setting around Stella and Zach who grew up there, went away after school and both coming back home to settle down. Usually these small town settings are like the Hallmark channel where everyone is friendly and help each other out. While we did have that, I also like that the author threw a bit of reality into this one.

Zach was bullied as a kid and the effects it had on him as an adult coming home was part of his struggles in his character. He enlisted in the army right out of high school. He's grown up into a very capable man. He's bigger, stronger and not that helpless boy anymore despite the memories that haunt him.

Stella is the daughter of the town vet. She followed her fathers footsteps but not before getting her heart crushed by her ex-fiance who also happens to have been her mentor in her own veterinary studies. She's also dealing with her father's recent passing and the piling of debt from his veterinary practice. Both of our main characters are dealing with a lot of baggage.

I love the storyline. I love how they meet, start working together and needing to rely on each other. The attraction between these two was there from the start but both resisted. Stella because she refuses to get burned again and Zach because he doesn't want mess up the business opportunity. Due to this, this was a nice slow burn romance.

Zach's character is very charming and likable. Despite his baggage, he was more open and willing. Stella, not so much. She was closed up tighter than a vault. She was my only issue with the story. She was way too guarded, fighting even the small things. It was pretty frustrating as a reader and yet I still liked her. I just wish she fought a bit less.

Overall this was a feel good, small town romance. We got to see characters from a previous standalone book and I wonder if we will get Declan's story. He was an intriguing side character that would make a great hero. ARC provided by NetGalley.

I'm such a sucker when it comes to romance books. This story is one of those sweet romances you never knew you needed until you read it and fall in love with it. I love animals being present in books, I love these ranch-settings and coming across well developed main and minor characters. Combined with some stellar writing, this makes for a perfect romance read with amazing depth added to the story and characters. This story is full of lost, struggles and sometimes sadness present, but there's also hope, humor and laughter, friendships and love to be found as well.

Stella and Zach are two amazing characters and I loved following their story. Whether I was reading about their developing romance or everything else, like their work as veterinarians for example. I loved seeing how both of these characters could be so stubborn and closed-off to others - <i>mostly because of fear for things that happened to them in the past</i> - but slowly found solace with one another and became each other's ankers. These two characters bring out the best in each other and I loved their friendship and romance development. It was such a beautiful and enticing story.

I loved how they're both not flawlessly written and how realistic their behavior felt regarding how they processed everything that happened in their past and how they still struggled with their own 'demons' in the present and try to overcome it all - <i>and I loved reading about how this all affected their developing romance and how deep their (romantic) relationship was coming to be because of it</i>.

Stella is a really loveable character. I love how independent she is- <i>even though it may be her downfall and all at one point or another</i> - and for the fact that she has such a big heart. I can totally understand her closing herself off because of the things that happened to her and sometimes she can be a bit too hardheaded because of it I think, but thankfully there's Zach...

Zach is kind of perfect book boyfriend material to be honest. Well actually; there's no KIND OF; HE JUST IS haha. He's an ex-military (my fave) so that made me fall for him right away, lol. But seriously.. I especially loved how vulnerable he actually was underneath his confident demeanor, how he's willing to fight for Stella who keeps her heart close to herself, how he's so amazing at his job being a veterinarian and how he made something of himself despite his troubled past. Sure, he still needs to fight some demons of his own, but thankfully, there's Stella ;)

There wasn't a single thing I didn't love reading about so it's definitely deserving of a 5-star rating I think. I can't wait to read more books by this author. This was my first read by Jodi Halford and I fell in love hard with her writing in general and the fact that she's capable of making me feel so intensely connected to this story and these characters. I loved spending time on this ranch and in the clinic with these two amazing vets, I loved spending time with Stella's and Zach's friends and family and most of all, I just loved spending time with Stella and Zach. They are simply amazing!

I'm so glad I got to review this book by receiving an e-arc of it from the publisher. If you love a beautiful romance with amazing characters, great depth written into the story as well as the character development and the romance, this is one you definitely need to add to your wishlist! This is a beautiful and amazing romance read at its best!

I really enjoyed this summer romance read. Such a cute, quick read perfect for an afternoon. It didn't have any big surprises but it felt like you could totally live in the small town.

I hadn’t heard of this author before, I was drawn to this book by its cover and description, and I’m so glad I got a chance to review it

I loved the character of Stella, her fierceness, her passion for her job, her stubbornness...determined to do everything on her own

Enter Zach, and I’m afraid Stella has no choice but to allow this attractive man to help her. Their developing relationship was a joy to see and having them both deal with the past that ways so heavily on them. It was funny, emotional and loving.

Will definitely read more of her books

Great story and I loved Zach! Zach returns home as a Veterinarian hoping to get into the practice where he sought refuge when things got rough during his childhood. Doc Lane's practice. Stella Lane now runs her late fathers practice, she's burning the candle at both ends and finances are bleak, more like non-existent. She takes casseroles from patient's owners rather than money. Her father left her in a financial mess. The story starts straight off with Zach wanting to be a partner with Stella. He's got the business plan and the finances in order. Stella wants nothing to do with him, or his ideas. She's still stinging from a bad relationship with a mentor, an ex fiancé who... yeah well read it for yourself. She wanted to come home sooner and practice with her Dad. Her father dies before she can do that. She blows Zach off at every turn. Every single time. Her negative self talk and internal dialogue dragged the book down for me. Zach more than mad up for that. He's had he share of rough times as well and lost his best friend their senior year in high school. A death he still blames himself for, so he leaves town and joins the military. He became interested in animal medicine when he saw what war did to the animals. He met a man their who guided him into Vet School. He was so great with the animals and their owners. Had some great ideas for Stella to add some income to the farm when she finally opened the door a tiny little crack to let him in. For every frustrating moment with Stella, Zach made up for that. It's obvious that Zach is interested in Stella and same for her but again, her self talk. With Megan's wedding approaching she goes to the city to try on dresses with Meg and Taylor. A very nervous Stella leaving Zach in charge for the day. All is well. It was great that Zach knew Adam Meg's soon hubby to be and a few of the other characters in the book we met in book one, having said that this book can stand alone. When things really heat up between these two and baby it couldn't have happened soon enough... something happens that Zach had done (innocently) and Stella immediately looses her sh**. Totally. So inflexible, rigid and stick up her backside Stella is alone again. Miserable wench. She tosses Zach to the side and I had no pity for this woman. I felt bad for Zach. Zach made the book. Loved him.

arc from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review