I loved the first two books in this series but Declan and Sophia's story is on a whole other level!

Dec is so funny and charming. Watching him fall to his knees for Sophia was beautiful to watch. He went from being a bit of a player to being one of the swooniest heros I've read in a long time. Sophia is smart and fiercely independent. It was heartbreaking to watch her family turn away from her for just being herself but her strength was palpable.

I was immediately connected to these two and was rooting for them from the very beginning. I love this series so much and I can't wait to see what's up next.

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Story of Us is a well written romance. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I really enjoy this author’s books. I highly recommend this book.

Like the rest of the series this is a very warm story. Declan and Sophia build a relationship on a solid foundation looking to the future. They are both aware of the reasons why their relationship shouldn’t work but know that they are meant to be together and are determined to see it through in a mature way. Sophia is also dealing with family drama which makes her life extremely stressful. Declan makes a sexy and totally adorable boyfriend and is able to win over Sophia and her family.

If you can get past the insta-love that Declan has for his best friend’s little sister, Sophia, then you’ll really enjoy this romance. Declan is just the nicest guy and it’s easy to believe that a lot of the women in his small town have fallen for him at one time or another. Sophia fell for him when she was a teenager, but she hasn’t seen him since she was a kid.

She left town when she was 18 because she didn’t want to work in her parents’ Italian restaurant. Apparently, this was such an affront to her parents that they haven’t forgiven her for the sin of going off and paying for her own college and getting a good job. Unfortunately, she fell for a real jerk and now has come back home to be near her family. She goes to work in Declan’s bar. He knows he shouldn’t fall for her since she’s his employee and his friend’s sister, but he can’t help himself. He puts himself out there and is willing to help Sophia with all the junk she is having to deal with.

I didn’t buy that her entire family would be so cold to her as if she had committed some major sin rather than just choose to work in a different career than their restaurant. Even her siblings take a long time to get together with her. She needs help from her family and they just are too slow to help her out. But Declan is there for her every step of the way. He makes the whole book worthwhile.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

2.5 Stars

I was excited when Declan would finally get his story after witnessing (and mercilessly teasing) his friends in the previous two books of Holford’s “Love, Unexpected” series. Which is why it’s such a bummer that his book turned into a somewhat meh! read for me. It’s double whammy that I felt his love interest is the cause of that mehness. It really pained me to say that as I love strong heroine and Sophia was painted as an independent and hot headed one. Yet somehow, her family drama and the way it was all presented spoiled things for me. I’m a there-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin kind of reader, so for the plot seemingly shoving ALL the blame on her family just didn’t sit well with me.

For me the things work in this book are from Dec and his circle of close friends, discounting one who’s an older sibling to Sophia. The rest is not so much. Even his growing attraction to Sophia wasn’t so convincing; more having to do with his predisposition do a white knight to her damsel’s in distress.

The strange thing is: this is not the first time for me to read a scenario like this. It usually don’t grate on my nerve as much. I think it’s the matter of the pace and delivery, the twist and turn, that didn’t agree with me. It’s good to catch up with the previous protagonists of the series, though to do so at the expense of Dec’s story made it less of happy experience.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed Story of Us by Jody Holford. Sophia Strombi returns home to Brockton's Point after ten years away from her rigid Italian family. Declan James is lifelong friends with Sophia's brother and owner of a growing pub. Declan gives her a job and great things happen for the pub and them. I love a book that makes me smile, and this one definitely does.

Story of Us is the third book of Jody Holford's Love Unexpected series. This book definitely stands alone, but is a wonderful addition to the series. I haven't read the first book in the series yet, but I definitely will be.

Great plot. Return home to family and first crush. The emotional relationships were well written, drawing the reader in to pull for the HEA throughout the complex layers of conflict. The over usage of cussing was distracting, missing opportunities to demonstrate other words to convey thoughts or reactions in a world already too accepting of coarse language rather than share the plethora of vocabulary available. Otherwise, a great page-turner!

Sophie needs a fresh start, so she returns to her hometown after having been away for ten years. She left to escape from her controlling family, so she doesn’t want them to know that she has returned until she has secured employment and a place to live. She is afraid that her parents will pressure her to live in the family home and work at the family restaurant if those pieces are not in place first. Her first stop Is to see Declan, her brother’s friend who she knows has an open position for a manager for his pub. She had a crush on Dec as a teen, but doesn’t expect to still feel the attraction. However, the attraction is still there for her, and Declan feels it too.

Dec hires Sophie right away, fighting the forbidden attraction that he has for his employee and friend’s sister. Sophie has secrets that make her want to fight the attraction too, even as Dec decides that he wants a relationship with Sophie. The story line is heartwarming and also heartbreaking at times, as Dec and Sophie work through many obstacles to find their happily ever after. This story is definitely my favorite in the series so far!

The overall premise was… cute but there just wasn't enough excitement to draw me in. Furthermore, Sophia and Declan relationship was obviously rush and after three days moving into his place, they're suddenly in love and picture their happily ever after? I wasn't feeling that part plus how dull the storyline became half way through. There just wasn't enough progression to keep me holding on to the series. Unfortunately, I have decided to drop the book half way through.

I love this series and of course Jody Holford's writing. While the romance is the major focus of the book, the relationships of the friends and family are extremely important. Those relationships definitely shape our lives and make us the individuals we are.

Sophia being the youngest in an Italian family deeply rooted in tradition feels suffocated by her overbearing parents. It's not asked or alluded to that you would join the family business but downright expected. While Sophia has the utmost respect for her family she wants to be her own person, go to college. do other things in her career. She is strong and independent and so much like my own daughter- even the surprises are the same.

Realizing that home is where she wants to be despite her family drama, Sophia heads to On Dec to ask for a job from the renowned playboy Declan. Sophie was younger than Declan growing up, but remembers his bad boy image and didn't fail to bring it up numerous times. Poor Declan is ready for a change in his life an leaving behind his bad boy ways is harder than he thought. People still expect him to act that way, but he is ready for a change- a home and a family.

Declan is a great book boyfriend. He was sweet, sexy and attentive to Sophia. These two meet with no intentions of having anything but a working relationship but there chemistry is off the charts. Declan doesn't want to mess with his best friend's little sister or employee and Sophia doesn't want to mix business and pleasure again after a recent breakup. But Declan is just so dang sweet and can't help it!

The bombshell twist should have cooled the sparks between these two but it only builds to the foundation of their story. Navigating family issues, friendships and each other, Declan and Sophie have a great story.

An interesting story that deals with family and finding ones self. The characters have lots of dept and incite. You'll find them dealing with past and present issues. Finding their happy ever after.

Enjoyed it

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Dual POVs
Part of a series: Love Unexpected
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Huge mistake, Sophia refers to her ex as Gavin in ch 27. He introduces himself as Keith to Declan and Sophia calls him that too.

It’s a love story. I loved reading how both Declan and Sophia fall in love. It wasn’t perfect, Sophia has to deal with her independence and Declan needs to know when to include her. Her mom and dad shared their love story. For me, this is a classical love story, one that can continue through the ages!

Another winner from Jody Holford. I absolutely loved Declan...he has quickly become my favourite hero she has ever written. We met Declan in the last two books in the series and Sophia was a perfect match. Not only was the love story beautifully written but there was so much more to this story. Sophia’s relationship with her family was a big part of this book and I loved how Holford captured the frustration and hurt between them. This was an amazing read...congratulations