I adore second chance romances, and this one had potential but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me.
The pacing of the story was slow and I just did not like Mia at all.

I have heard amazing things about the authors other books so will Definitely give those a chance.

Thank you to Carina Press and @netgalley for a copy of this book. There was a lot of repressed feelings between Mia and Luke as they meet up 10 years later. I had a hard time with Mia with all her anger and demands of Luke rather then being an adult to talk things through. I wanted a Luke to be more mature as well with dealing with his issues as well.

This is my second book I’ve read by this author. The first was Misfits. I really enjoyed that book. So when I saw this book on Netgalley. I didn’t think twice… I requested to read it. This book I felt missed some marks for me. At times, I lost focus. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.

Things I thought should’ve been more detailed. The main one being Mia & Luke’s past relationship together. We get little bits here and there. But I think I needed a little more connection between them. It kinda felt like to me that I was jumping into their drama right from the start.
I would’ve Liked a little back story. More in their teenage years, how Mia’s life was without Luke after he left the way he did. Because I felt it would’ve helped me understand them more.

I had a hard time connecting to both characters. Especially Mia’s character. I really wasn’t feeling her. I get she was upset. But at times I felt it was too much. From what I understand, Luke and Mia had a on again/off again kind of relationship. Before Luke left… things started to get really deep between them. But they weren’t in a relationship. They hadn’t even said “I love you” to each other. But they both were in love with each other.

They both had regrets. I think if they could change some of the events from their past, it would’ve played out differently.

“Well, I’m telling you now. Leaving Rushmere was the worst thing I ever did, and I’ve been paying for it ever since.”

Luke, I felt he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was super serious. I know he felt like he had to step up for being the oldest. But I felt he went about it all the wrong way. He needed to communicate more. He held everything in. It was frustrating. But when he finally opened up. I felt like I was finally seeing him.

“The truth is I love you, always have, and I don’t know if I can live with how much I’ve hurt you.”

Mia was angry at Luke. She was also so mean to him too. How they got together didn’t really feel like a win win kinda thing. It was cold and impersonal. And it was like a flip of a switch how she stopped being mad at Luke.

The whole stalker thing in this book. Well, I have to be honest here. It felt weird. Especially who this person was. It was really random. And again. Maybe a little back story on this person. Because
I was left scratching my head going huh, what did I miss here. It didn’t flow at all. It kinda felt like it was just thrown out there.

Overall…. I just wish there was more character backstory. And maybe the drama was a little different and with different people.

I signed up for for book 2…. Blindly. I was all for Gus’s story. But I have to be honest here. Luke’s brother Billy wasn’t all that likeable. He had the same attitude Mia did in this book.
So, I’m hoping this attitude doesn’t last long in Unforgotten. I just started that book. So, fingers crossed.

*ARC Provided by HARLEQUIN - Carina Press via NetGalley*

This is the first book I’ve read from Garrett Leigh and I really enjoyed it. There is so much history between Luke and Mia, so much hurt and guilt, and ultimately so much love still hiding below the surface (this is a romance, that’s not a spoiler!).

Mia is angry… with Luke for leaving her without a word all those years ago, with herself for failing and coming back home… and for still having feelings for Luke. But, she is also a very caring person and even while she’s angry, she still hates to see Luke hurting.

Luke is guilty… for leaving Mia without a word, for leaving his family, for his brother going off the rails. But he also wants to make sure everyone is ok. He wants to make sure that Mia is safe, and his mom is happy and his brother is healthy and knows that he’s there for him now.

There is a lot of tension and all kinds of feelings and lot and lots of steamy scenes… because even while they’re fighting, they’re still great at sex.

And then there’s Gus, Mia’s brother, who is so supportive of his sister, and a great friend to Luke, staying out of their drama and supporting them both. But he also seems a bit sad.

And Luke’s brother Billy, who just pushes everyone away, but is ultimately there for Luke when he needs him the most.

This book had just the right amount of steamy sex scenes and heartfelt emotion for me, and I can’t wait to read more from this author… starting with the partner book in this duology, Unforgotten, that shares Gus & Billy’s story!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher {Carina Press, Harlequin} through Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mia returns back to England to open a florist shop, at the same time escaping her horrible ex. But starting your life anew is never easy, especially when she keeps running into Luke.

Luke felt like he had no choice, and left for the army. When he came back he took over his uncle's business.

The old sparks fly, but there seems to be too much baggage for anything else, then just a physical relationship. But more time they spend together, those lines start to blur.

It's a lovely second chance romance. However Mia was not my favorite, I didn't like her enough to care for her.


received from Netgalley

I have never read Garrett Leigh before but I definitely see reading more in my future! I loved this story and it kept me captivated from the beginning. I definitely recommend it.

I enjoy reading second chance romances. It’s wonderful seeing old hurts heal and love that never really died bloom into a new and better love. Well, Forgiven delivered … in a round about way with a few twists and turns. I wasn’t really sure how I felt about Mia. Maybe because she was demanding, had a weird attitude and had a strange way of showing forgiveness. But, I pushed through and started to understand where she was coming from. Luke, I felt sorry for right from the beginning. But, he was an enigma that took time to figure out. I finally cheered when the ultimatum was given and Mia either had to back away or look forward. It was time that she forgave and realized that Luke would be there and could be depended on.

So, there were some places that I had a hard time with the dialogue. It’s British. And, yes it’s a wee bit different from American. Sometimes it took a few re-reads of paragraphs for me to understand what was being said. But I finally got the hang of it and enjoyed the British sense of humor. I liked the way the characters were built. I may not have understood some of their attitudes but they played into the back-stories and characters themselves. They were all a little prickly and stubborn so they fit in together.

But, British euphemisms aside I truly enjoyed this story. It had a little mystery, a little humor, a lot of love. Characters that will make you smile and a story line that will keep you engaged.

2.5 stars

I love Garrett Leigh books but I just couldn't connect with this one. If in a romance book I'm not rooting for our main couple to be together then I'm not going to enjoy it and thats exactly my problem with this book; I wasnt rooting them.
The only character I enjoyed was Gus which now I know is starring the next book so I'm excited about that but this.. I didn't enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of angst, family drama and some unexpected suspense make this a compelling second chance romance by Garrett Leigh. The small town setting means its impossible for Mia Amour and Luke Daley not to cross paths when Mia returns (after a bad breakup with a possessive ex) to open a flower shop. Mia's teenaged heart had been broken when her boyfriend Luke left town to join the army after his father's death and she too had eventually left for a few years. Now that they are both back it's impossible for them to ignore each other, especially when they still have strong feelings for each other. Mia's brother Gus works for Luke too, so seeing him is unavoidable. It doesn't take long for them to reconnect, hash out what went wrong, and consider getting back together. Their new found relationship is complicated by someone who isn't happy with their reunion, resulting in a suspenseful second half of the story. All's well that ends well though and some intriguing bits of information about Luke's brother Billy and his connection to Mia's brother Gus lead the reader to definitely want to continue this duet!

I am going to preface this by saying I very rarely read MF books. It’s just not something I focus most, because I just in general prefer queer romances. HOWEVER, this was a book by one of my all time favourite authors and that was one of the reasons I picked this book up. Additional reason was the fact that the following book is MM and I love to read all the books in the series.

But as seen from my star rating, I have enjoyed the book! It is far less angsty than what I’m used to when it comes to Leigh’s writing, but it was still the kind of the book that I could not put down until I reached the last word.

Mia was somewhat complicated character. I don’t know how else to describe her but I liked it. Luke was slightly less complicated but no less interesting. His brother’s appearance in the book was shrouded in a bit of a mystery and I am super excited to get to Unforgotten and read more of his story.

When it comes to Mia and Luke, hate sex doesn’t really make for a good relationship (at first) but it sure makes the book interesting at that point 😀 However, it is not just hate-sex, they care for each other but also pretend not to be able to stand each other… or at least Mia does, even when she shows up with a pizza for Luke. I enjoyed their dynamic somewhat. And the scene where Gus barges into the room? Hilarious.

The stalking plot was ‘interesting’ (if stalking plots can be called that, I should probably find a better phrase), and in the end, went in a very different direction than I was expecting; as was the solution. I will not spoil that but I was pleasantly surprised.

All in all, Forgiven is a pretty easy book (at least for a book written by Garrett Leigh), with a lot of scorching hot content, banter, and caring. If you enjoy MF books, explicit scenes (and some hate-sex; if you like fade-to-black, this is not for you), I would recommend this book 🙂 I am super excited to read Unforgotten too! ❤

This isn’t my first Garrett Leigh read, but it is my first M/F read by her. Unlike some other readers, I love it when writers mix it up and branch out a little. My first reaction that I walked away with was that even though I loved the story, I had a hard time connecting with Mia. *sigh*

Luke didn’t handle the way he left Mia and everyone else when he was younger, but he was a kid who was trying to do what he thought was best. I understood Mia’s initial reaction and she had a right to be hurt, but I just wish she would have looked at what happened in the past with adult eyes. I think my main problem with her was the way she treated Luke.

I adored Luke from the beginning and to be fair, Mia eventually won me over. I also adored the supporting characters. There was a strong family feel to Forgiven, both blood and “found”, which always pulls me into a book. There was a touch of danger, plenty of heat and a bit of mystery. Plenty of reasons to keep the pages turning.

Next up in the Forgiven series is Unforgotten and it’s already on my TBR list. Given the description and knowing who the main characters are, I can’t wait to pick it up.

"Forgiven" by Garrett Leigh follows florist Mia Amour as she unwillingly returns to her hometown in England after living in Paris for a number of years. Left with no other options after her cheating ex destroys her business and cleans out their bank accounts, Mia moves in with her younger brother, Gus, and soon discovers that the man who broke her heart as a teenager, Luke Daley, is also back in town. As much as Mia tries to avoid Luke, it proves to be impossible when it turns out that her brother not only works for him, but is also his best friend. The chemistry between Mia and Luke burns as hot as ever, but how can Mia get past the pain Luke caused when he left her without even a goodbye?

I had mixed feelings about this story. On one hand, it was well-written and I liked that it was set in small-town England, featuring working class characters. It was certainly a nice change of pace from the many contemporaries I come across that focus on billionaires living in New York City! I also really liked Mia's brother, Gus (probably more than I liked either Mia or Luke, to be honest). Gus had some of the best lines in the book and added much-needed lightness and humor to what was in general a very angsty story.

On the other hand, I wasn't sold on Mia and Luke's rekindled relationship. It seemed very unhealthy to me, and I got the impression that it was the same way when they were together as teenagers. They seemed to be trapped in an endless cycle where Mia would be cold to Luke and he would be desperate for her attention, then things would reverse with Luke being cold to Mia while she begged for his attention. They were also terrible at communicating with each other; when they finally did talk about what happened between them in the past, it didn't seem as if anything was resolved, but somehow magically they were "in love" and back together again anyway.

Further, I was confused about several aspects of Mia and Gus's background. For example, they never mentioned their father. Was he ever in the picture? Also, how is it that they both spoke French? Was one (or both) of their parents from France? I know that Mia lived in Paris for a long time, but what about Gus?

Overall, while I didn't hate "Forgiven," it's tough for me to recommend it. Fans of angsty contemporary romance looking for a quick read may enjoy it, but otherwise I'd probably give it a pass. However, I do plan to check out the next book in the series, featuring Mia's brother Gus and Luke's brother Billy.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Garrett Leigh blends sex, angst and danger in her emotional new contemporary reunion romance, Forgiven.

When Mia Amour had returned to England for a fresh start, she had hoped to leave the past behind her once and for all. With plans to open a florist’s shop, Mia wants to forget about her lousy ex and focus all of her time, energies and efforts into her new business. Romance is certainly the last thing on her mind – and even if she were contemplating the remote thought of dating anybody, the last person she would date would be the guy who had broken her heart years ago, Luke Daley, who she just happens to bump into in town. With so much bad blood between them, Mia and Luke are hardly going to pick up where they left off…or are they? While the burden of the past might still weigh heavily upon their shoulders, resisting one another quickly proves far easier said than done…

Luke had been head over heels in love with Mia, but when he had found himself with his back against the wall, he had found himself with no other choice but to break things off with her. Luke has always regretted the way things had ended between the two of them, but with the passing of time, he thinks that he will never clap eyes on Mia ever again – until fate pushes the two of them together in the most surprising of ways. Although the attraction between the two of them still sizzles, there are a plethora of emotions they still have to battle through.

As old hurts heal and new bonds are forged, Mia and Luke begin to think that a future for the two of them might be possible until their connection is tested by a dangerous threat that could tear them apart…forever!

Garrett Leigh’s Forgiven is a gripping tale about laying old ghosts to rest, second chances and healing full of intensity, emotion and sizzle. Mia and Luke’s love story is tempestuous, fiery and brilliantly layered and although their path to happiness is fraught with difficulty, regret and pain, readers will enjoy going along for the ride and will fall in love with these two characters.

A gritty, sexy and sassy romance, Garrett Leigh’s Forgiven is a compelling read contemporary fans will want to check out.

DNF@32%
2021; Carina Press/Harlequin

I want to preface this review with, I probably could have finished this novel, but decided to DNF in order to not rate it. Forgiven was not written for someone like me in mind. I enjoy reading contemporary, historical and suspense romances but I am very finicky. I try to branch out and try new sub-genres, hence me reading Forgiven. When I read contemporary romances, and enjoy them, they are usually set in small town, have cowboys, witty rom-coms or family drama. Forgiven is set in contemporary Britain, and is about second chances with love, and reuniting with younger siblings. The pretty cover, and synopsis gave me a bit of a push to try something new. I have not read many novels in the Carina Press imprint as they are more steamy stories. I am more about the romance than the sex scenes. I am a big fan of Harlequin so I am always willing to try something new. Leigh is an engaging writer, and I think if you enjoy romances for steaminess this would be a great novel. I was more interested in the stories between Mia and Gus (her younger brother) and other family dynamics. As I did DNF at 30-ish% maybe the novel does address more of those issues. If this sounds like your kind of read, please read some other reviews by readers of this genre.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

Mia and Luke are both forces to be reckoned with. Whether in business or pleasure, they attack the situation with everything they've got...including their hearts, no matter HOW MUCH they'll try to deny it. When they are together, the force is multiplied by 100 and windows can be blown by the sheer force of their chemistry. Even with time having passed, and hurts lingering from their shared history, those feelings were grounded in something stronger, and despite the fact that neither wants an entanglement with the other, the heart wants what it wants.

Watching these two play cat and mouse with their hearts are humorous, frustrating, and ultimately satisfying...and I'm not being masochistic. Seeing them knock down each others walls, struggle through the awkward times, and try to find their footing was a treat. Grant it, I think both them and I could have done without the creepy stalker activity and death threats, but hey, that's part and party to getting them to where they need to be...so I say bring on the hard times; these two (if they ever really get it together!) can take on anything life throws their way!

In the end, the potential couple to be was a perfect fit, and I really liked the familial aspect with Gus and Billy. My only regret was that I wish the stalker aspect was fleshed out more instead of the instant reveal and final outcome all in one...but it did have closure, so there is there. Recommended for adult Contemporary Romance fans who like some smoke AND fire in their nightly reading...

Mia Amour returns to her home town about to sign divorce papers on a marriage no one knows about. She's trying to put her life back together after running to Paris to get over her heartache and family situation years ago. But she's back now and doesn't know at first that the young man who broke her heart years ago is back in town and that her brother Gus is working for him.

Luke Daley ran away too. He left for the Navy without even a good bye to the girl he loved. He's got a bit of a communication issue, being one of those silent types who doesn't have an easy time of connecting to his own feelings.

But as soon as Mia and Luke get in each other's orbit, the sparks start flying.

This second chance romance brings it on a number of levels that I really like in Garrett Leigh's work. She knows how to show those emotions -- the ones on the surface as well as the deeper feelings that people keep hidden, and Luke and Mia have buckets of both. It's clear they need to be together -- it just takes a while for Mia to truly forgive Luke for running all those years ago. And Luke needs time to understand just what Mia needs from him.

In between figuring out their own issues, petty vandalism strikes Mia's new flower shop and a car is seen stalking them all to some potentially disastrous results. There is also a very intriguing subplot regarding Luke's brother Billy and Mia's brother Gus. I really can't wait to dig into their story which is the second book in this series.

Mia and Luke's story is unique in that these two really want their second chance but it takes a while for them to get out of their own way. Their propensity to want to argue throws some roadblocks in their way and there was quite a few times that I just wanted to throw my ereader because they were so close to making progress on their second chance.

As a US reader, I love the language in this story and feel like I'm transported to another place when reading it. I absolutely adore this about Garrett Leigh's stories and the best part of anything I've read from her in the past. There's a certain charm to her writing that pulls me in and gets me invested in the story quickly. I know I'm in for an emotional ride when I read a Garrett Leigh book, and Forgiven did not disappoint.

Forgiven is an emotional second chance love story between two people with lots of baggage to unload before they can move on, even though they have plenty of sparks in the bedroom. I enjoyed this story of love re-ignited, especially because both of the characters needed each other. There's plenty of family drama, too to add spice to the story.

Oh boy, if you're looking for a second chances romance that is full of angst and very strong emotions, then this one will fit the bill. These characters and their feelings towards each other were deep rooted and intense, but not in a bad way. I really enjoyed Mia and Luke's journey even though some of Mia's reactions and emotions seemed perhaps a little too much, still it was believable with what she had been through as well as her personality overall.

It was an intense story, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style was easy to read and moved along at a good pace which made this a perfect read for a single sitting. I also really enjoyed some of the side characters and their interactions, which pointed towards the next book in the series.

Forgiven is my first array into the world of Garret Leigh's writing. Again, my deepest thanks to Carina Press for sending an ARC my way. I'm a sucker for angst and second chances so I knew this book would be right up my alley.

I had high expectations coming in, which made me a little sad that these expectations were not met. I was hoping for some drama and things that would make me cry. But what I got instead was characters that were a little had to appreciate, and things that would have been solved if only people decided to talk to each other.

Forgiven, the story between Mia and Luke, could have been solved if they talked to each other when they were young. In the setting of this book, where they met ten years after, I was hoping that they have matured a little, but apparently, that is an impossible thing for this hard-headed people.

The book did give a lot of steamy scenes and the author writes intimacy quite well. The author gave quite a lot of steamy scenes and if you're looking for that, then you are in for a treat!

The redeeming factor of this book is Gus, Mia's brother, who I think the second book would be about. That offers some M/M romance and I'm hoping that the next one won't have the issues I dealt with in this one. I'm rooting for Gus because he sounds so adorable so I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment!

All in all, this book had a lot of potential and it can be a great book for some readers. It was not the perfect pick for me, however, but I still think that I can give the author a thousand more chances and I would love to read the rest of their work.Forgiven is my first array into the world of Garret Leigh's writing. Again, my deepest thanks to Carina Press for sending an ARC my way. I'm a sucker for angst and second chances so I knew this book would be right up my alley.

I had high expectations coming in, which made me a little sad that these expectations were not met. I was hoping for some drama and things that would make me cry. But what I got instead was characters that were a little had to appreciate, and things that would have been solved if only people decided to talk to each other.

Forgiven, the story between Mia and Luke, could have been solved if they talked to each other when they were young. In the setting of this book, where they met ten years after, I was hoping that they have matured a little, but apparently, that is an impossible thing for this hard-headed people.

The book did give a lot of steamy scenes and the author writes intimacy quite well. The author gave quite a lot of steamy scenes and if you're looking for that, then you are in for a treat!

The redeeming factor of this book is Gus, Mia's brother, who I think the second book would be about. That offers some M/M romance and I'm hoping that the next one won't have the issues I dealt with in this one. I'm rooting for Gus because he sounds so adorable so I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment!

All in all, this book had a lot of potential and it can be a great book for some readers. It was not the perfect pick for me, however, but I still think that I can give the author a thousand more chances and I would love to read the rest of their work.

After being away for years, Mia is returning to England. She has moved in with her brother and is opening a florist shop and trying to put the memories of her ex behind her. It’s not easy to start over in a place she already knows and that knows her; it’s especially difficult when she learns her former high school boyfriend, Luke, the boy that broke her heart years ago, is back in town. Mia wants nothing to do with Luke — well, that’s what she tells him anyway.

After Luke’s father died, he joined the military to earn money for his family. He felt he had no choice and leaving town was the last thing he wanted to do since that also meant leaving Mia. The two ended on bad terms and with no discussion of what came next; Luke just left one day. Now, he’s running a roofing business and trying not to let his mind wander to the girl he left behind. When Luke sees Mia again, all of his feelings for her come rushing back as well, but Mia isn’t exactly welcoming. The chemistry between them is still as hot as ever though and they fall back into bed, while desperately trying not to become friends or admit they care about each other.

First love is hard to shake and the more time they spend together, the more time they want to spend together. But a dangerous threat could put an end to their future.

Forgiven starts a new series from Garrett Leigh that mixes MF and MM stories. This book features Luke and Mia, former high school sweethearts who never got over each other after Luke abruptly left town.

Mia is returning to England after a failed relationship and she is bitter and prickly. Her walls are up and when she sees Luke again for the first time, she doesn’t even try to disguise her disdain for him. Of course, she thinks Luke still looks good and deep down she wishes she could just fall into his arms, but Mia isn’t having any of it and refuses to even be in the same space as Luke. Luke knows he hurt Mia, but since he wasn’t around, he doesn’t realize how much, and he has mountains of his own issues to work through.

And that’s the thing. They each have many issues and many things that have hurt them and so much emotional turmoil, they fight themselves and each other every step of the way. They might not be the most likable characters, and maybe not every reader will understand them, but Leigh writes them in a way that shows how they feel. I did feel I got to know Mia better than Luke and some of his motivations and his relationships with his mother and brother are a part of his story and I didn’t feel like I had the full picture.

There is a stalker storyline tied in here as well and that area didn’t work for me. It was one more thing added to an already full storyline and the stalker is not detailed and all the words created for him could have been used elsewhere, as this added nothing to the storyline for me.

Leigh’s books are often some of my favorite to read, but I did feel the writing here didn’t provide the content I am used to from this author. The next book in the series features Gus and Billy, the brothers of both Mia and Luke, and I will be looking forward to learning more about them.

If you are in the mood for a second chance romance, I highly recommend giving Forgiven a try. The main couple in this book is Luke Daley and Mia Amour. Luke left town ten years ago. Mia got on with her life and moved to Paris. They both find themselves coming back to Rushmere, England at just about the same time. Mia opens up a florist shop and Luke takes over his uncle’s construction business. Now, they just have to pick up the pieces of what is left of their relationship.

I really love the name the author chose for the character Mia because it just really fits the story. I don’t always comment on the names, but this just stood out to me. I also love that the dialogue was not Americanized. It stayed true to the author's voice and the British setting. Both of the characters faced tragedy in their lives and led them to the decisions that drove them apart in the first place. There are a lot of emotions to unpack and deal with to set this second chance into motion. As you can guess, it helps to have some support when trying to deal with emotional pain. I was a little surprised by the element of suspense in the storyline and the reader is treated to some mystery and action as Mia, Luke and the police try to figure out who is stalking Mia. The sex is steamy, the scenes are intense the characters take turns being frustrating. I think you will find yourself cheering for Luke and Mia to work out their issues because they clearly belong together.