3.5 stars

All I Ask is Corinne Michaels latest standalone novel and her first as a traditionally published author through Forever Romance. This story is an emotional best friends-to enemies-to lovers and second chance romance.

We're in Chincoteague Island, Virgina, a tiny coastal town with seasonal visitors and plenty of locals that get into everyones business. Teagan is a single mother to a thirteen-year-old girl and lives above her parents antique store that she also manages. Derek is a newly widowed father back in town to help his ailing father at his veterinary practice.

Teagan and Derek's relationship is volatile. They were high school best friends that always had feelings for each other but never let the other know about it. Teagan's relationship with her then boyfriend made Derek's decision to marry someone else the put the nail in their proverbial coffin.

"Tell me something real."

I enjoyed Derek's character very much. He's learning the ropes as a single father, and dealing with the death of his wife. While their relationship wasn't perfect, I felt that her character was villainized a bit too much. Teagan was very hit or miss for me. She was a woe-is-me type of character and that kind of grated on me. She plays the victim very well but they both made decisions that molded the thirteen years they were apart.

"I've waited a very long time for you, even when I didn't know what I was doing.

While this wasn't a supreme read for me, I did still enjoy it. Teagan and Derek's growth as characters separately, parents, and a couple was great to read. Corinne still remains a top auto-buy author for me but All I Ask didn't hit all the marks like her past stories.

4.5+ Stars

Teagan pushed pause on her dreams when she had her daughter 13 years ago, when the man she loved cut off contact with her, as did the father of her baby. Now, raising her daughter by herself, she is resigned to the life she built living in the small apartment above her parent’s antique shop. She has been more or less stuck where she’s at, barely making ends meet and putting her daughter at the center of her whole world. But now Derek has returned and she has to face the hurt for her past that she worked so hard to bury.

Derek is back in town with his own teenage daughter. His reasons for returning are complex and have him struggling to find his footing as he returns home with his daughter and a load of grief. He is also facing the woman he cut off contact with 13 years prior, the woman he didn’t realize he loved until it was too late.

Thirteen years is a long time to hold on to secrets, pain, and hope, but Teagan and Derek both have kernels of all three. Derek has his work cut out for him to build up trust with Teagan again, especially with all the ways she has been hurt over the years. These two have so much chemistry, that even when they are trying to build back the friendship they lost it is clear they are fighting more.

I loved the way this story was built. It was as much between Teagan and Derek as it was between their daughters. Derek and Teagan were a bit of a mismatched pair in high school, and their daughters fit the same molds, only in reverse. The struggles Teagan and Derek worked through in high school echoed the struggles their daughters faced when they met.

This story had all the feels and is a great second chance at a first chance kind of story. I loved the way their history played into how everyone around them saw their interactions in the present. I was pulled into this story and even when I had to put it down, found myself wondering what was going on in the book.

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All I Ask... is to matter.
All I Ask... is to be loved.
All I Ask... is to be something to someone.

All I Ask is for Corinne Michaels to give me more. This second chance, one that got away, friends to lovers story is terribly romantic down to the evil plotting. Teenagers, temperamental townfolk, and rumors are not enough to destroy them hut their hidden secrets are.

All I Ask is that you read it. I know you will love it. I know you will be Team Tea. I know that it's going to hurt but the best things in life do. Love is not always easy.

All I Ask...

All I Ask is a heart fulfilling story. I love Corrine Michael's books, and this story was no exception. I was enamored with Derek and Teagan. They rocked each others world. They were the missing link for each other. I had smiles for days after reading this story.

Derek and Teagan don't have it easy. Its not just the two of them anymore when it comes to the big relationship decisions. Their story flowed effortlessly. It was like it was meant to be told. I loved it all and felt everything the characters were feeling. There was a little angst when the past steps in. But I knew these two could prevail through it all. I highly recommend this read!

How many pages do you read before you can tell if a book is going to suck you in? I can usually tell within the first few pages whether I love the writing and the flow of the story. This second chance romance got me from the very first page and I loved it so much. I really believe that in life there’s a person for you and you will find your way to each other no matter what (I’m a hopeless romantic). It was heartwarming to see Teagan and Derek found their way to each other after 13 years. I highly recommend this one.

A friend of mine told me to check out All I Ask knowing that I love a good second chance romance, best friends to love, and a good flashback book. I was really excited to check it out since it had all of the pieces I love. And although I enjoyed it enough and it was a quick read sadly it wasn’t a favorite of mine. It ended up being a just so-so kind of book.

All I Ask is Teagan and Derek, two friends that stopped speaking 10 years ago. Teagan has always been in love with Derek but between her pregnancy and his marriage and impending fatherhood things never worked out. But 10 years later they find themselves once again living in the same town and being thrust upon each other. With nowhere to go the two of them must face what went wrong between them all those years ago and how they feel about each other now.

My struggle with All I Ask was the flashback scenes. I loved almost all of the current stuff. I loved seeing Derek and Teagan get back that ease they once had. I loved seeing how they each dealt with their daughters not getting along, how they dealt with their past. That was all really good and enjoyable. But the flashbacks to the past ended up taking me out of the book. It took away from the story in my opinion and didn’t add to it. I’m not sure why, but they just didn’t work for me personally.

This was a quick book that took no time to read, but it didn’t 100% work for me. There was something missing in the end. All I Ask was an okay read but that is just my personal opinion. You should definitely pick it up and make your own judgement. In the end you may be happy you did.

WHOA! What a beautiful heartfelt second chance love story. Teagan and Derek were best friends since high school. They have romantic feelings for each other but were too pigheaded to admit it. Teagan and Derek ultimately committed other people. Teagan thought Derek will always be her friend but one day he decided to cut all ties, which also happened to be the worst day of Teagan life. Over a decade passed, Teagan is single mom trying her best to provide a good childhood for her daughter. Derek also suddenly moved back to town with his own daughter. Teagan’s feelings for Derek have not changed and now she has to face the man who shattered her heart. I really enjoy romance where the hero/heroine has a child. In this case, the two teenagers (Tegan’s child and Derek’s child) got in a big pickle and the parents had to get involved … you guessed it! While the two girls try to get along, the parents are also working to rekindle their friendship possibly more if they can forgive each other for past wrong. This story was written in past and present – I got the gist of what happened in their youth and would’ve liked more of the adult version of these two. But I still enjoy the journey. There is no doubt there is attraction and love they have for each other. Teagan is skittish to let her guard down again, but Derek is all in. Derek was honest with his feelings for Teagan from the start and he will waste no time trying to win her heart again. I love these two as parents as well and the way they interact with the girls. Over all, this one has all the feels – emotional at first, flirting and super sexy and of course a HEA. Perfect ending! Beautifully written story about friendship, forgiveness, love and the joy of being parents :)

Not gonna lie, I found this to be incredibly frustrating to read. There is no denying that Corinne Michaels is a talented writer, infusing this with so much emotion and creating characters you can root for. There are some sweet and tender moments that will give you all the feels, and the depth of emotion between these two (shown both in present day and flashbacks to their younger years) is obvious from the start. However, this is plagued by NON-STOP OW/OM drama, with near-constant references to relationships from our couple's past. At least one of their exes was mentioned in pretty much every chapter, and that was extremely off-putting to me.

The story follows Teagan and Derek, former friends who are both single parents to teenage daughters. They both had feelings beyond friendship in high school/college, but neither one got up the nerve to express how they felt. Teagan had a long-term boyfriend that lead to a pregnancy, and Derek married the girlfriend he got pregnant. After that, their friendship came to an abrupt end, and over a decade has passed since they've seen each other. Now that Derek is back in town, they have a second chance to get things right.

If you're looking for a heavy, angsty read with splashes of lightness (there are some really touching scenes between these two), then this is that. The writing is solid, mixing flashbacks with present day to tell the full story of Teagan and Derek's relationship. While I enjoyed the friendship and sweetness, I personally just couldn't handle the number of references to their exes. Nothing takes you out of a romance faster than hearing about how the hero was thinking of another woman the entire time he was married, or how the heroine stayed with her boyfriend as a shield. There's no physical cheating, but.... I can't say the same about emotional. Without the emphasis on that, this easily would've been a 4 or 5 star read for me, but it's not something I could move past. If that's something you can handle, I'm sure you'll love the book. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review of this formers friends to lovers romance.

All I Ask took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I found myself not being able to put this book down. I was completely hooked on this story from the very first page.
Teagan and Derek were complete opposites who become the best of friends, that is until one day everything changed for the both of them. Now, thirteen years later they are back in the same town and not the same people they were when they last spoke, both of them single parents to teenage daughters. There were things left unsaid between them, pain and heartache. Will these two former best friends be able to mend their friendship and will the truth come out?
I loved Teagan. She is a strong woman and a great role model to her daughter. She hasn’t had it easy in her life. Her best friend left her, her baby daddy wanted nothing to do with her or their beautiful daughter, she works hard for minimum wage and protects her daughter from the horrible gossip of their small town. She does everything she can to make sure her daughter feels loved and feels like she has someone on her side no matter what. Derek’s life is completely different. He had a wife, a family, a great job. Everything he could have hoped in life minus his best friend. However, he moves back to his hometown to help his father and to have the support of his family.
There is so much chemistry between Teagan and Derek, even after all those years apart with zero contact. They still know so much about each other without a word being said. The only thing these two have in common anymore is their daughters, who just so happen to hate each other. However, they don’t let this deter them from moving forward with how they both feel. Everything about their relationship and their friendship felt real, nothing about this story felt fake or over romanticized for the sake of a good story.
All I Ask is a MUST READ and one of my TOP BOOKS of 2020. This is a story about a beautiful second chance with your first love.

Corinne Michaels writes some of the most beautiful stories in Romance. Her ability to make you want to throw your kindle/book while simultaneously crying is next level. Which is exactly what you get with All I Ask, told in dual POVs and flashbacks between two hight school/college friends whose connection burns out but is rekindled 13 years later when tragedy strikes.
My heart broke for Derek and Teagan, soulmates who didn't know how to communicate their true feelings and ended up losing the most precious thing they could, time. With their second chance at love they take their time getting to know each other again. Between insecurities, an overly critical mother, and two teenage girls who can't stop fighting Derek and Teagan are put to the test.
Anyone looking for a raw, real second chance romance this is the one to pick up.

"All I Ask" was such a satisfying emotional journey. There's plenty of angst, but it's rooted in situations that are easy to relate to. so it didn't feel over the top. I rooted for Reagan and Derek as well as their daughters. Great choice for readers looking for book packed with emotion and characters that grow.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Corinne Michaels always brings the feels. I loved this story about two estranged best friends. I loved their flashbacks to high school so we get to see how they formed their friendship. You feel for both of them and want them to find happiness.

Teagan and Derek find each other later in life. Both of them have teenage daughters and are handling the difficulties that come along with that. They know they don’t want to miss this second chance, but also, they’re not sure how it’ll work out.

I love how determined Derek is. Once he’s back around Teagan he never wavers. He knows they’re meant to be together and isn’t willing to give that up no matter what obstacles come along.

I love them and their love and they’re meddling teenagers!

Teagan and Derek’s story is an emotional journey of two teens who end up making decisions that separate them for thirteen years. Derek ends up back in their hometown and the feelings are still there. All I Ask is a story of friendship, sacrifice, loss and love. Corinne Michael is one of my favorite authors and this one did not disappoint.

This was an enjoyable book but there really wasn't anything I haven't read a thousand times before. I struggled with [ Derek's ex-wife. I'm not sure why she would have talked to their daughter about Teagan. That's sort of a bizarre conversation to have with your 13 year old daughter. Plus, Teagan had been out of their lives for 13 years. This made Everly's hatred towards Teagan a bit bizarre. She could have just hated her because her dad was moving on. (hide spoiler)]. I also assumed early on that [ Teagan's ex would make an appearance (hide spoiler)] because like I said earlier, I've read this sort of book a thousand times.

***Advanced copy obtained from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via Netgalley***

3.5 Stars
Teagan Berkeley is a single mom raising is raising a teenager and has given up on her dreams, after realizing this, Now Derek the man who left her with a child to raise on her own is reentering her life, which will drum up a lot of drama.
As Teagan and Derek begin feeling more comfortable with each other-and confess their secrets, their undeniable connection is present. But as they believe their happily ever after is approaching things go wrong.

Though I thought this story was beautiful and a second chance romance, I think I had a difficult time connecting with the characters. Maybe the age difference, I tend to like characters that are closer to my age. Still a really sweet book about famil and love.

Loved this book so much!! Anything Corinne Michaels writes instantly becomes my favorite. She gives me a "Book Hangover" every time!

My Thoughts:

All I Ask by Corinne Michaels, is the kind of book that you want to get cozy and snuggle with. It was such a romantic read, and packed an emotional punch that hit me straight in the heart. I adored this story, and didn't want to put it down. Written beautifully and seamlessly, this is a story I highly recommend; if you're a fan of the friends to lovers trope, and soul stirring prose.

We get the story of Teagan "Tea" Berkeley and Derek Hartz told from their dual perspectives in both the present, and flashbacks of the past. These two were best friends in high school and college, although they weren't huge fans of one another at first. Tea was the stereotypical popular cheerleader who hung out with the mean girls on campus. Derek kept to himself, had a huge passion for animals, and was a sensitive, selfless, and altruistic individual.

Tea and Derek were each other's "person." They shared everything together, connected on the deepest of levels and fell madly in love with one another. However, fear, insecurity, and unfortunate decision making lead to the demise of their friendship.

Now several years later, both are single parents to teenage daughters and living a lonely life without love. Derek, who is a veterinarian, has returned to town to help his father who is suffering from dementia, with his vet business. Tea and Derek share a lot of painful emotions in regards to one another, but never stopped loving each other. They are determined to avoid one another in town, but their daughters mutual altercations at school, will bring them back in to each others lives...

I can't sing this story enough praise! I swooned, I sighed, and my heart hurt for all that Tea and Derek had been through; as well as losing their soulmate, when they lost each other. All I Ask, also delivered hope, giddiness, and the excitement of that powerful and all consuming love that songs are and stories are created about! The passion and intimacy these two shared was a spark that turned in to an all consuming, blazing inferno; and as a reader, I was grateful and excited to be right smack dab in the middle of it all.

This book played out like a movie in my head, and I pictured Patrick Dempsey as Derek and ayoung Kim Bassinger as Tea. If you need an escape that will immediately reel you in, hook you, and never let go, please pick up, All I Ask.

4.5+ stars
This is a beautiful story of friendship, loss, reconnection, and second-chances. Teagan and Derek were unlikely friends to begin with. She was the cool girl in school, cheerleader with the football captain boyfriend and pack of mean girls around her. He was quiet and a bit nerdy. But when paired together for tutoring, they somehow clicked. They became the best of friends, confidantes, and each other's biggest support. But they also hid their true feelings for each other and their lives took converging paths. And when she really needed him, he was forced to make a difficult choice and let go.

Teagan is now a single mom to her sweet and smart teen, Chastity. Teagan found herself stuck in their hometown, working for her parents, and just surviving. She still feels anger, loss, and disappointment, and has trust and abandonment issues from losing her friendship with Derek. But she has never really had to face it...but that is about to change.

Derek is back with a teenage daughter of his own named Everly. He has suffered over the years in various ways after leaving and is guiltridden and full of regret. He has his hands full dealing with a surly, mean girl teen and helping his family, and is a bit overwhelmed.

Now Derek and Teagan are back in the same town and forced to reveal their secrets, issues, guilt, and deal with the ramifications of the past. And they are dealing with their girls who are opposites and are making each other's lives difficult.

Derek knows what he wants. She makes him feel alive for the first time in years. But Teagan is scared, untrusting, and dealing with self-worth issues. She needs a real and solid reason to believe that she can finally have something go right in her life.

They might have found what they have been missing for years, but is it their time to finally find their happy ending or will their lives get in the way again?

This is an intense and heartfelt story about choices, hope, risks, timing, and second chances. I really loved Derek and Teagan together. My heart broke for them so many times over their impossible choices and failure to communicate. I wanted to shake sense into their girls at times. Being a single parent is not for sissies and meshing the needs of the adult and child is sometimes challenging. This alone makes the storyline more realistic and current. The judgmental small town and some family dynamics added more depth. All of the characters had opportunities for growth and change. I loved this story and devoured it in one night.

This second chance romance has all the feels! Pretty emotional right from the start, these two former best friends have spent years apart. Teagan is a single mom who has been on the struggle bus for years, in lots of ways. And Derek hasn't been living a sunny, easy life either. Now that they're around each other again, and dealing with all these old feelings, you would think at least their kids would get along but nope. Nothing easy here.

But I was so invested in them. And I felt all the moments I read about. I loved the end, I loved the cover. This was a good read.

All I Ask by Corinne Michaels is a second-chance romance between two single parents, Teagan and Derek. Teagan and Derek were best friends in high school, but haven't spoken in nearly thirteen years after Derek abruptly cut Teagan out of his life when she needed him most. Now Derek is back in town, forcing Teagan to decide if she can trust Derek and what she wants out of her life.

This story instantly drew me in; I needed to find out what exactly had happened between Teagan and Derek in the past. As they worked through their shared hurt and love in the present I could feel all of the emotion on the page. I also loved the parent dynamic both MCs had and it added a whole new dimension to the story. I'd recommend this romance story to those looking for a more emotional story and who enjoy the second-chance/single-parent tropes. Where this one lost a half-star for me was just that it felt a bit rushed at the end as it came towards the resolution, especially after so much well-done anticipation and buildup.

4.5/5 stars