I love the entire series!

Lawyer Aubrey Gates has to travel to Boston to spend Thanksgiving with her family but she has several problems. Her family is going to celebrate her grandmother’s 90th birthday and she never told her grandmother that she’s divorced from her husband Grant Lincoln plus she can’t drive and hates to fly. Grant told his friends and family that they had divorced but not what caused the divorce because Aubrey and he both practiced family law specializing in divorces for different firms.

Grant told Aubrey he would drive her to Boston because he got along really well with her grandmother but not so much with Aubrey’s parents and the fallout of their long term marriage imploding because they both wanted Aubrey on their side.

Then Came You deals with Aubrey’s miscarriage showing the Aubrey and Grant mourned the baby in different ways and disconnected from each other ending in divorce but Kate Meader uses the topic to explain why without overdoing it.

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

Five Stars Isn’t Enough!

Whoa! Then Came You is Kate Meader on another level. All of the humor, snark, and family fun (read drama) that we’ve come to know and love from Meader is front and center but there’s also a layer of emotional depth that is so raw, moving, and healing that I literally couldn’t put the book down. I’m a slow reader, me being fast is finishing a book in 24 hours, but I finished this book in less than six! It was that damn good!

Grant and Aubrey have been intriguing me since Down with Love and I knew their book would be good...but watching them repair their love while simultaneously watching them build it through flashbacks was absolute perfection!

Libby, Shelley, and Cat Damon are some of my new favorite characters...and that epilogue! Talk about finishing a series with a love letter to the character and readers! *sigh*

Can you tell I loved this one! Between Lauren Layne’s Huge Deal and Then Came You, I now have an extremely high bar for series ending books!!!

I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read the previous book (Illegally Yours) in this series a few months ago and I enjoyed it enough to request this book as well. This was a second chance love story about Aubrey and Grant. They were married, something major happened, and now they are divorced. This book was a little slow for me but I enjoyed the story the best when Aubrey and Grant decided to open up and have an honest conversation about their past. So much heartache could be saved if people would just use their words and communicate with each other.

An emotional story about a second chances and emphasizes the need for communication in relationships. Grant and Aubrey are still in each other's lives after divorce because of mutual friends and both are divorce lawyers. When Aubrey hurts herself and can't drive Grant sees his opportunity to spend time with the woman he still loves. Their road trip from Chicago to Boston is full of detours in the plan and their relationship. I recommend you take this trip with them as it is full of heartbreak but also healing.
This is the third book in the series Laws of Attraction but can be read as a stand alone book. It is told in both Grant and Aubrey's voices. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. I highly recommend you pick this book up when it goes on sale in early May 2019!

After seven years, Aubrey and Grant called it quits, but the source of their divorce was one of the best kept secrets, and it seemed even the fact that they WERE divorced was a bit of a secret. In an attempt avoid upsetting her grandmother, Grant agreed to accompany Aubrey to her grandmother's birthday celebration, but little did Aubrey know, he had ulterior motives. He was going to win her back!

Meader took me on a road trip that was fun, sweet, sexy, and emotional, and I LOVED every second of it. From when I first met Grant and Aubrey, I was curious as to what happened to this once golden couple, and Meader did a great job showing us their history. It was beautiful watching these two from their first law school meeting to where they fell in love. BUT, it was painful having to see it all fall apart.

Not to worry, because in-between all the flashbacks was a lot of fabulous banter and road trip shenanigans. However, it wasn't just the verbal sparring that won my heart. I think I got tears in my eyes every time Grant put his heart out there. He was so determined to work though what broke them, and it all just tugged at my heartstrings. It was also wonderful seeing Aubrey come to terms with so many things from her past. I found myself often times very touched by what transpired in the book, and loved how Meader alternated that with more humorous moments.

Getting to know Grant and Aubrey better was quite a treat as well. Both had rather compelling backstories, which were laced with heartbreak, but also were what made them stronger, especially in Aubrey's case. We got to meet and spend time with their families, which was at time wonderful.

I can always depend on Meader to wrap up a series nicely, and the final chapter of this book was a thing of beauty. There were tears and sniffles, because I was SO HAPPY!

Then Came You is the third (and final?) book in a series, and it shows. Almost from the start, I felt a little lost, like I should have known things but just didn't. I just didn't realize it was the last book in a series when I requested it. I felt like a large portion of Aubrey and Grant's story was missing and had been in the earlier books. That's unfortunate because I think I would have liked them better if I had known them through the other books.

Instead, I got emotional Aubrey and cool but tense Grant circling each other and teasing about the problem. Honestly, I could have done without the teasing. The issue was huge and heartbreaking and could have formed a stronger backbone to the story if it had been out there instead of the endless teasing about it. Once it was revealed (and the depths of Aubrey's duplicity were shown) I was a lot less sympathetic.

Having to deal with intense emotional pain, regardless of the source, is a very isolating experience. No two people deal with it the same way and both Aubrey and Grant had to deal with it. That they handled it differently is no surprise. Given the source, that they divorced is also no surprise. Given the differences in the families, how Aubrey responds to pain is also no surprise. Had these things been included up front, I could have been much more sympathetic.

I did get attached to Aubrey and Grant though, and rooted for their return to a married state. Aubrey needed, and had, the stronger arc. But Grant too, had and needed an arc since his reactions didn't help. I was glad to see the ending and thrilled that some of Aubrey's issues were handled with her family.

All in all, a good book that will have me reading more Kate Meader.

This was a good book. I didn't know it was part of a series. I never felt lost about what was going. I really enjoyed the story line. I would read more of this author.

Aubrey Gates is a hot divorce lawyer in Chicago with a barb-tongued and quick comebacks when she is bantering in court against her ex-husband, Grant Lincoln. Their back and forth bantering in court leads to some hot and steamy sex in the bedroom during their marriage. But that hot chemistry is not enough to save their marriage.

A road trip to attend Aubrey's grandmother's birthday celebration will lead to some more of that hot bedroom chemistry but it will also bring to a head the reason their marriage ended. This will be a very emotional reckoning that will be an opportunity for Grant and Aubrey to reconcile and come to terms with some unresolved issues.

This book is amazing!! I need more than 5 stars to rate it!

I’ve enjoyed all the books in Kate Meader’s Laws of Attraction series but “Then Came You” Aubrey and Grant’s story is by far my favorite. I don’t want to give anything away in this second chance at love romance but I found it a very emotional read. While the story had the author’s signature humor and smart banter and definitely her sexy scenes it was so much more. Like all second chance romances there are past hurts that have to be healed and Kate Meader handled them with such exquisite care. I loved that the couples from the previous books appear in this book, it was great fun to see them all together and while this book reads well as a stand alone I encourage you to read the whole series, you’ll be happy you did.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

I was so excited to read this just from the blurb alone! I loved the beginning opening banter between the two. I will say this story was very predictable for me. I feel for this couple though. It was still a bit different from something I haven't read before. I'm glad it ended the way it did.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

All I can say is that if this is the last book in this series, then Kate Meader left the best for last. I loved the story of Grant & Aubrey, it was truly heartbreaking when we finally learn all that has gone on in their lives & how they ended up divorced. Their love for each other will never diminish or die because they’re meant to be together. The journey this book took us through was definitely sad but also uplifting with the prospect of not giving up. The chance that there just might be something left of them was beautiful & touching. The eventual honesty that brings them together is heartwarming & their reunion is off the charts hot. Definitely recommend this book.

Aubrey and Grant were the power couple that everyone envied and wanted to be, beautiful and handsome, perfect together, and happily married, until they weren’t. Then Came You is the third book in the Laws of Attraction Series written by Kate Meader. I have read the first book in this series and liked it very much, but somehow I missed the second book. However, as luck would have it, I have had the pleasure to read the third book. This book was a quick read, well written and kept me interested with some well-placed surprises. The characters are well developed, some I liked and others not so much.

Then Came You is a second chance romance with a lot of family drama, sexual tension, heartache, and love with a bit of comedy thrown in. Grant and Aubrey suffered a terrible loss during their marriage that they were unable to work through. Now, two years later, divorced, they are still fighting the attraction they have for each other.

Let us start with Grant, whom I love. Grant Roosevelt Lincoln or as Aubry called him, Georgia, grew up poor, raised by a teenage single mom who’s love and devotion turned him into a true southern gentleman. Grant is not just good-looking and smart, but he is kindhearted, reliable, strong and loving. Aubrey is a whole different story; she grew up in the upper crust of Boston society. She is closed off, distant, self-absorbed, and at the same time insecure. There were times I felt like taking Aubry by the shoulders and shaking her and saying wake the cluck up, open your eyes; you have a fantastic guy standing right in front of you. She not only has daddy issues, but mommy issues too, and ouch, they have messed her up. So, in a way I felt sorry for her, she didn't know how to love Grant. I would be amiss if I did not mention Aubrey’s grandmother Libby, she was somewhat of a quirky grand lady that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Reading Grant and Aubrey’s journey was a real romantic rollercoaster of a ride. So many beautiful parts and other parts just tore me apart. If you love second chance romances, this is a good one, and you won’t want to miss it. These books can be read independently of one another, but I can honestly say they are all worth reading and I do plan to go back and read the second book in this series. Happy Reading!

***I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion .***

I realized when I read this that I had missed the first two books in the series and but didn’t feel that I was missing anything relevant in this story.

At the beginning, we only know that Aubrey and Grant are divorced but neither have moved on. I could just tell how much they still cared for each other and yet both were hurting.

I loved both characters so much and for different reasons. Grant, a big burly man, who is a protector, grew up with his single mother but surrounded by love. He’s such a southern gentleman and I could almost hear his drawl. When he met Aubrey in law school, he adored her for her intelligence, beauty and personality.

Aubrey, who grew up with little care but in a wealthy family, felt she had to always be perfect and independent. I was happy to know that she had her grandmother, Libby, who was a free spirit and was the only person to pay attention to Aubrey and give her love.

I could feel the yearning between the Aubrey and Grant, the hurt, the love, and frustration. As details are revealed, I was almost in tears over several things. Many times I didn’t think they would be able to work things out – Grant wanted to fix Aubrey and she needed to figure out how to be strong on her own. It was somewhat frustrating that Aubrey could only think negatively about herself and yet that was based on how she was treated growing up.

It was sad that Aubrey didn’t want anyone to know about their troubles whereas Grant needed to talk and share his grief. I can understand wanting privacy but Aubrey’s preference really hurt him when he could have used someone to talk to. They didn’t share several important things which only caused both of them more pain.

The flashes of the past helped to know who Aubrey and Grant were prior to their struggles and then how they were coping in the present day. There were a few funny portions in the story but it was mostly heartbreaking.

I love epilogues and this one was definitely beyond sweet with happiness and unexpected surprises.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read this new work.

Then Came You is captivating. Aubrey and Grant's story is emotional, sweet, fun and overall just a fantastic and lovely story. The unique characters and plot had me hooked from the beginning and it just kept getting better from there. This was the first Kate Meader book I've read and it won't be the last!

Intense and emotional read, ride along with Aubrey and Lincoln as they make the trip of their lives.
Kate Meader really knocked me for an emotional loop with this incredible story. Aubrey (Bean) and Grant Lincoln, met in college, onto law school, married and now divorced for about a year. Both still practice and have mutual friends and often sit on opposite sides of the courtroom. They make an amazing couple, and couldn't be more different. Aubrey is from a snobby, upper crust, old money family from Boston and Lincoln raised in Georgia by his loving, single mother, the two of them on their own. Made him the better man I can say with all certainty and you'll see that throughout the book. His Mom remarries later in life and Lincoln now has a younger sister as well.

When a life changing event in their marriage causes Aubrey to withdraw from Grant and sink into the depths below the pit of despair, and after months of trying, Grant can no longer cope with things. He's trying to manage his own emotions and Aubrey continues to shut him out. So he leaves and their subsequent divorce. Bean feels he's better off. Neither have gotten over the other, but she continually denies her own grief and loss.

This story takes off when Aubrey who is afraid to fly is faced with going home for her Grandmother's big birthday and the Thanksgiving holidays. She has no ride and can't take their psycho cat on the train, Grant reminds her. His solution is to offer to drive her their and act as a much needed buffer between her and her mother in particular. Grandma is a peach and has always been good to both of them. Aubrey's mother is one cold blitch that no one really likes. Aubrey has always been a less than in that household which we learn as the story unfolds. She also spills to Grant that she hasn't told her family they are divorced yet, especially Grandma. Afraid to be seen as yet another failure. Grant has half a plan and if spending a few days in a car with Bean and the cat will help him, he's onboard. Let the charades begin!

Aubrey wins the best avoidance of the year award from me, and Grant her perfect match! I loved the banter between these two, Grant's firm, unapologetic approach with Bean and also with her family.
The two finally relax somewhere between Chicago and Boston, couple nights in a motel with the cat. Aubrey still at odds with telling her Grandma after her big birthday bash that she and Grant are no longer together. Aubrey is tense once they arrive, Grant has the best way to smooth Bean's ruffled feathers. Not the first time he's seen her treated like she doesn't belong and doesn't measure up and she's trying to keep up pretenses and it's getting harder. Grant continues to nudge Bean in the direction he desires for them both. Things come to a head one night and please pass the tissue.
Aubrey is faced with a choice. And did I ever hold my breath did see what she would do.

Kate has written two very real to life characters, in very real to life circumstances and the messy outcome of what happens when unresolved, unaddressed grief is tossed into the mix between two people who clearly love each other but can no longer co exist in that never-ending emotional shut down. I loved these two and they were perfect together, their easy banter and clearly they love and adore each other. I'd give this more than 5 stars if it were up to me. It's an absolute must read, it's one of those books that anyone can read regardless if they've been through the same or similar circumstances.

Grateful to Kate for writing this book that deals with tough issues that seem to go untouched by other writers. Thank you Kate, well done. So beautifully done.

arc from NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review

Second chance romance for lawyers Grant and Aubrey. Grant was so big-hearted and Aubrey so closed off due to her upbringing. What a family the Gates are! It would have been interesting to know how things had played out with her Mom. I enjoy an epilogue that picks up several years later - good read!

Aubrey and Grant were married for seven years, the last two were extremely difficult. Now they are divorced and both of them are regretting it. Both are divorce lawyers and often are in opposite sides in the courtroom. When Aubrey miscarried, she lost it and withdrew from Grant. Not knowing how to reach Aubrey, he also withdrew and agreed to the divorce. Two years later and she’s all he can think about. Now he has an opportunity, Drive her from Chicago to her family home in Boston for Thanksgiving. Oh did I mention that Aubrey is afraid to fly, so that’s where I come in to save the day and try to get her back.

Aubrey was brought up in a wealthy life style, and a dysfunctional family. A father that constantly cheated on her mother, and a mother that was cold and distant, raised her to be independent. Instead of working in the family business, she stayed in Chicago after graduating from Northwestern

Grant wants to be there for Aubrey when she visits her parents. They are currently going thru a divorce but neither one wants to move out, making this a category five visit. Knowing this, makes Grant extremely happy he will be there to support Aubrey. Hoping that on their drive they can talk and hopefully start to mend the hurt they went thru.

I love everything Kate Meader writes.. it was a pleasure meeting her at the Romance Writers Conventions in Las Vegas a few years ago.

3.5 stars

Heat Factor: Orgasm central!
Character Chemistry: Irreconcilable emotional differences plus banging sexual compatibility
Plot: Divorced divorce lawyers take a road trip and rehash the demise of their marriage
Overall: Less light-hearted than expected, but still a rewarding read


From the blurb, I expected this to be a zany Fake Relationship slash Seducing My Spouse comedy. There would be witty quips and some steamy seduction scenes, and our protagonists would once again find their sexual mojo through their shared deception as they navigate a road trip and a birthday party.

That is… not exactly how this book goes. Aubrey and Grant never lost their sexual mojo, and not a lot of seduction needs to happen before they’re back in the sack together. Instead, they need to fix the emotional core of their relationship, which means that there’s a lot of introspection and self-flagellation and rehashing of past hurts. In other words, instead of a zany comedy, this book is an angst-fest.

Now, an angst-fest it not necessarily a bad thing, especially if the characters’ anxiety is deserved and if they process it in a thoughtful manner. In this case, Aubrey and Grant hash out some emotionally fraught stuff; specifically, a miscarriage and their dramatically different ways of dealing with the associated grief. Directly after the miscarriage, Aubrey wanted Grant to treat her like things were normal, instead of like she was suddenly delicate, and Grant wanted to talk through things. As Aubrey reflects at one point: “He wanted vivisection, I wanted a burial.” Meader treats both of these ways of grieving with empathy - even if the characters cannot immediately be empathetic to one another. Things get messy, but the reflection and emotional growth that occurs never feels forced or cheap. The conflict feels real.

Grant plays the role of Aubrey’s emotional savior. This gender role reversal made for a refreshing change of pace from the standard trope of the love of a woman fixing her damaged partner. However, Meader keeps things messy (a good thing!) by making the dynamic of Aubrey needing to open up emotionally more complicated. Some of Aubrey’s coping mechanisms are legitimate ways to deal with grief, and having a partner who tries to fix you emotionally seems like the fucking worst; on a related note, Grant definitely has white knight syndrome, and explicitly acknowledges that he has his own shit to work on.

My main criticism of Then Came You is that it felt a bit repetitive. The relationship unfolds through a series of flashbacks. Shortly after a given flashback scene, the characters will rehash whatever issue the flashback portrayed - so we get to read the same fight in the past and in the present. While the dynamic between Aubrey and Grant has shifted over the years that have gone by between past and present, it still felt like too much. And… I never thought I’d say this, but maybe there were too many sex scenes? They were fun to read, but many of them didn’t do much to advance the plot or the readers’ understanding of the characters and their relationship.

While you should only go for this book if you are up for some emotional heavy lifting, please note that there are some extremely funny bits. Aubrey in particular is quite witty (but not in that overly snarky sitcom way), which means that the chapters written from her perspective include little gems of snark. Also, the grumpy old cat says “meow” like this: “M#%@!” Cat Damon for the win!


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This story packed one heck of a punch to the gut. These two characters held the most curiosity for me and I was excited to read their story. The attraction first of all is off the charts and it’s clear Grant and Aubrey were made for each other. Their story is beautifully written with their emotions becoming your own. A tough subject to write and the author captured it perfectly. Love this series and all of the characters.

Aubrey and Grant have slowly been in the same circles since the divorce but you can see the love they have for each other even if they won’t admit it. Aubrey grew up in money with a cheating father and a stepmother who adopted her when her mother died. Grant grew up in Georgia all gentleman and polite but never enough for Aubrey’s stuffy family except for Libby her 90 year old grandmother.
Aubrey and Grant just stopped caring and no one cheated or was mean they just drifted apart but Aubrey broke her arm and she needs a ride to Libby’s birthday party so Grant volunteers. Grant is hoping that he can get through to Aubrey and maybe get her to see that the good out weighs the bad, he must be crazy. Loved how this story was told and how you felt for all the parties involved not just one or the other.