It was nice to start the reading year with a quiet book, with flawed, believable characters, and still get a satisfying HEA. That’s Noelle Adams’s The Return. In a way, it reminded me of another recent read, Lacy Williams’s Small-Town Girl. Adams and Williams manage to convey a certain grit to their heroes and heroines and yet still imbue them with vulnerability and kindness. It’s nice to read, refreshing. My reading world didn’t rock, but it had a nice gentle swing, leisurely and hopeful, for the few days I spent in The Return‘s company. It helped that The Return is a second-chance romance for two good people: florist Ria Phillips and the boy who loved her and left her just when they were new lovers at eighteen, Jacob Worth. The novel opens with more humour and light-heartedness than it ends, despite its HEA. At its opening, Ria is trying to convince her town that, after eight years, she’s NOT holding a torch aloft for Jacob Worth. Until he “returns” to Azalea, Virginia, as his grandfather lies dying (turns out grandfather had a lot to do with why Jacob abandoned Ria and none of it good on gramps’s part). It’s obvious from their first reunited meeting that these two love each other and belong together, but there’s plenty of hurt and years and change to integrate into a new relationship. No matter how difficult and valid Jacob’s reasons were for leaving, he still left without explanation and never again contacted Ria. He was young, proud, hurt, and stupid. But he’s an awfully nice guy and gets softer and more vulnerable as the novel progresses.

I like what Adams does with the genre: her combination of flawed, “broken” she calls them on her website, characters, their raw, blunt sexuality, their vulnerabilities and errors, their integrity about the way they feel, how they open to each other … it’s unique and compelling. On the other hand, I thought The Return‘s first half stronger than its second. Ria and Jacob’s tension, how they must navigate finding trust on Ria’s part and making amends on Jacob’s, is immersive. The second half? Well, Ria and Jacob faded, their personalities, so strong in the first half, become one-dimensional. Ria did too much giggling (this truly was peculiar, the number of times she giggles) and Jacob was sad all the time. I thought the grandfather’s death sequence inspired and unusually realistic and honest for a genre built on wish-fulfillment fantasy. To add critique to that weak second half, I think Adams is a better writer than her prolific output allows her to be. There were some great turns of phrase on rare occasions, but overall Adams sacrifices elegance to serviceable. Still, she’s unique in the genre and I quite enjoyed this category-length journey to an HEA. With Miss Austen, Noelle Adams’s The Return offers “real comfort,” Emma.

Noelle Adams’s The Return is self-published. It was released in May of 2020 and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-galley, from the author, via Netgalley.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this early. I have never read anything by this author so i was excited when I was granted access. What a romantic story. I loved every bit of it. I highly recommend you check it out :)

Good start to a new series. I enjoyed this one as I love Second Chance Romance and this story was the epitome of one. Jacob's story was a bit sad and it took me a minute to forgive him for the way he left Ria but age is a valid excuse I guess. He made up for it in the end and they got their sweet HEA. Looking forward to reading the other character's stories.

A great romantic story. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Not the book for me.
Barely got through it and the only reason I did is because I hate DNFing.
It didn't hold my attention and I couldn't connect with the characters at all.

DNF
I could not get into this one. At all.
I get he was kicked out, but he could say goodbye either in person or on the phone??? Really??? Nope, this was the first reason this book wasn’t for me.

A second chance romance for Ria and Jacob.

He is back in town, 8 years after he left her behind. He wants another chance and still loves her, but she doesn't trust him not to break her heart and leave her again. A great read, and I like how it is told from both of their points of view.

Looking forward to the next book in this series.

The Return is classic Noelle Adams: a little angsty, a little sweet, and totally satisfying. You always know what you are going to get with Adams and she always delivers exactly that. She's a comfort read for me for exactly that reason.

Ria and Jacob are perfect for each other, even if they are young. Then all their dreams come crashing down with a secret Jacob kept. But now, Jacob is back and he's hoping that somehow he can win Ria back. He's never loved anyone else. But, Ria isn't exactly happy or ready to see him.

In gentle fashion, they slowly work their way back to each other as Jacob's grandfather gets progressively worse. It's a journey through feelings for everyone as things move toward a conclusion. This is a slow burn kind of book and relationship with plenty of space for introspection. There is also plenty of relationship building outside of Ria and Jacob as friends and family play large roles.

I'm eager to see what the coming books in this series have in store since a couple of relationships were telegraphed in this book.

I’m a big fan of Noelle Adams and second chance romances, so reading The Return was a no brainer for me. It has all the Adams hallmarks — interesting characters, meaning sexy times and of course a heartwarming HEA. I enjoyed it!

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

The Return, A Second Chance Flower Shop Novel, Noelle Adams

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance,

For me this book was a well written story but just lacked any drama to make it what I enjoy reading. Most romances hit a spot about three quarters through where there's a hiccup, things go wrong etc and then get resolved. This book though didn't do that, there was a faint possibility that things might go wrong but it didn't.
Ria and Jacob were both pleasant characters, but though there were some sensual scenes TBH I just didn't feel that strong romance between them, certainly not a passion thats lasted all these years. I had a hard time believing Mia could just put all those years of hurt aside so easily, ignore how broken hearted she was just because Jacob is back now. Its as if he says “this is why....” and she's all “oh, OK then” kiss kiss. I just wanted more, more drama, more tension, and a bigger reason for him leaving in the first place. I just didn't see why he wouldn't have told Ria why he was going.

Stars: Two and a half, I didn't hate it, it just wasn't a book I could really engage with. I'm a drama fan, essential for me in a romance. Not everyone loves it though, many like this kind of sweet, easy read better. Horses for courses.

Arc via netgalley and publishers

It was an ok read for me. I found that some parts dragged a bit and I skipped some parts. I was not invested with the characters.

It’s been eight years since Jacob Worth set foot in the town of Azalea, VA. The last time Ria Phillips saw him was the night they made love for the first time and the next day he was gone. No goodbye, no note, nothing. Just gone. During that time the small town has always looked at her as they heartbroken Phillips girl, even though she has moved on and has a successful business. Now Jacob is back and of course they are destined to run into each other and of course the entire town has their eyes wide open and their ears to the ground.

The only reason Jacob Worth is back in town is because of his dying grandfather who only has weeks to live. He’s not intending on sticking around until he realizes that the young girl he left years ago is now a woman and he’s still just as attracted to her today as he was back then, but Ria won’t be easily swayed in letting him back into her life.

I love second-chance romance stories, and this was a pretty quick read, but it wasn’t the book for me. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and there was just something that didn’t click. While this particular book didn’t work for me, I am intrigued by quite a few of the supporting characters whom I’m hoping will have stories of their own; like her friends Madeline and Skye, the town Sheriff Ken who I think is a dad (aside from second chance, I love storylines with kids), but mostly I’m intrigued by Ria’s helper Fitz and her sister Belinda who seem to have a lot of tension between them.

Cute second chance romance, nothing too hard, light easy read and a touch predictable but nice enough. It makes you smile and is a fun distraction

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This was a well written novella in two POV which I found entertaining. Its a little bit sad and also romanticJacob and Ria were in love at 18 until he broke her heart and left town for the last 8 years. He comes back to town because his grandpa is dying and they start out as friends and getting to know each other.

This is not a happy reunion story. I found it kinda sad as we watch jacob face his past and his love for boyh Ria and his grandfather. We watche his grandparent die and for me it made the mood of the story very angysty. I did enjoy the story and I really loved the characters that make up Ria's town, family and friends.

The Return is an amazing second chance read. You will fall instantly for Ria and Jacob. There journey back together isn't easy but it is so worth the read. You are hit with a few emotional points in this book but that is what makes it beautiful. I love that even though years have passed Ria and Jacob's chemistry is ever present. You feel the pain of losing young love and fighting what is pulling them back together. I was sucked in from the start and couldn't get enough of this one. I look forward to more to come from the Second Chance Flower Shop series.

Even if it's well written I couldn't connect to the story and it fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Ria Philips has taken her parent's small floral shop and turned it into a very successful business. If she could have that same success in her personal life everything for her would be grand. But that is not the case. The person she loved and still loves, though she tells everyone she has moved on from Jacob Worth the truth is he still has a piece of her for the last eight years. Now she has found out from her best friend that he is coming home because his grandfather is dying, but she is telling everyone she is fine.
Jacob Worth was and still is in love with Ria. Graduating from high school and the two of them showing their love together that night, both thought their plans of going to the same college was sent. She helped him with all of the paperwork and they were looking forward to leaving their small town together. It changes though when his grandfather kicked him out and was not going to pay for anything, he was not able to explain it to Ria at the time for he was angry not at her but at everything and just being young. He has spent the last eight years in Alaska working on a fishing boat. Coming home to see his grandfather he is wanting to get into town and leave quickly.
When they finally see each other, each is surprised how the other one has changed now being an adult, but what is still there is the attraction that has always been. Slowly they find themselves back together and she finds out what happens from the grandfather. The kicker for him is when she tells him to go back to Alaska and see if he wants to come back. This is a very good book with good characters. I actually liked the story.

3 stars
I love a good second chance romance. Jacob is back home after nearly a decade. His grandfather is sick and after being on a fishing boat out at sea, he is back.
Jacob and Ria had a beautiful love story once upon a time, until Jacob upped and left without even a goodbye. Now he is back and Ria doesn't know what will happen. He was her great love and heartbreak. The whole town knows their story. Can she let him back in??

There is no subtlety in this plot. It’s a second-chance romance and the heroine, Ria, is running a florist shop with her best friends named Second Chance Flowers. And her second chance happens with her high school boyfriend, Jacob Worth, who had suddenly left her and their small town the day after their high school graduation.

The rest of the plot is rather predictable as what we know is going to happen proceeds to happen and Jacob and Ria get their second chance.

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.

CW:[illness/death of grandfather due to heart problems (hide spoiler)]

This is not a "this book is problematic/offensive" one-star. This is a "I didn't emotionally connect to the writing/characters/plot and didn't give a damn about the romance in the end" one-star.

The only reason I finished is because of insomnia and a desire to finish something. I should've DNFed. I've read Adams before and this is far from her best.

As usual, your mileage may vary and I encourage you to check out the sample and other reviews. Sometimes books just don't click, and this might be someone else's favorite read.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.