Meant to be is a steamy second chance romance. Rory and Chiara's story is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It has great main and side character development. I'm still not sure how I feel regarding Chiara and Rory's relationship, but I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of this series progresses

Author Jennifer Probst never fails to amaze me with her emotional and heartfelt reads. Meant to Be, the first book from her brand new series Twist of Fate, is a wonderful story. It is replete with loving characters, an adorable dog, and a plot that twists and turns in all the right places.

Chiara Kennedy and her three best friends are successful entrepreneurs and business partners. They are all happy and living their respective dreams. When Rory dies tragically, Chiara steps into the CEO position with great trepidation. Luckily, Chiara gets a ton of support as she finds her way into her new role. Rory's passing widows a wonderful husband and a doting father.

Sebastian Ryder distanced himself from Rory's family and friends when she died. He threw himself into his work as a high school guidance counselor and mentor. He and Chiara shared a moment years before he found love with Rory. Overtime, Sebastian and Chiara share a special bond which evolves into much more.

I truly enjoyed this love story. Chiara and Sebastian have amazing chemistry, and Ms. Probst does an excellent job of combining scorching sexy times with raw emotion. The book is well-written and engaging, with a feeling of hope and optimism running through it. The secondary characters add a lot to the current happenings. Don't pass on the opportunity to read this meaningful romance.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Meeting your soulmate to soon? Chiara meets Sebastian at a club and they find a connection from the very beginning. They talk all night but in the end she knows they do not want to same things in life. Having a career and travel is what she wants and he is ready to settle down and start a family. Without even a kiss they part. When Sebastian ends up dating and marrying her best friend, she decides to keep the knowledge that they met before. Sebastian truly loves his wife Rory. But life has a way of turning things upside down and what is meant to be is sometimes confusing to figure out. The emotional roller coaster of feelings this book created made for a great read. Great start to a new series

3.5 stars! An absolute emotional rollercoaster. There was a bit too much going on for me, but I did end up really enjoying this. Loved the chemistry between Chiara and Sebastian from the start, even the forbidden aspect of it. The whole “dream” scene was a little weird and hard to wrap my head around, but I thought the author made up for it with sweet moments and a good storyline. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book and the story, I didn't like the first 20% and dent it had an inappropriate thing happen.

3.75 stars-- MEANT TO BE is the first instalment in Jennifer Probst’s contemporary, adult TWIST OF FATE romance series focusing on three friends (Chiara, Malia, Tessa) who own Quench, a women’s online magazine. This is Quench editor in chief Chiara Kennedy , and high school guidance counselor Sebastian Ryder.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Chiara and Sebastian) following three timelines MEANT TO BE focuses on the acrimonious relationship between Quench editor in chief Chiara Kennedy, and high school guidance counselor Sebastian Ryder. Five years earlier Chiara Kennedy and Sebastian Ryder met and spent one glorious night talking about life, love and everything it had to offer but Chiara believed it would never work between one another, and walked away without looking back until months later, her best friend and co-owner at Quench, Rory, introduced everyone to her new boyfriend Sebastian Ryder. Three years would pass, until the day Sebastian and Quench would lose Rory to a car accident, an accident that left Sebastian a shell of his former self. Fast forward to present day, Chiara and Sebastian, who haven’t spoken to one another in close to five years, would reconnect at a local bar, a bar where Sebastian and Chiara’s life would take a fateful turn. A one-night stand leaves Sebastian wondering about the what ifs and whys, and a guilt-ridden Chiara to worry about betraying her best friend and the memories they held. What ensues is the building but contemptuous relationship between Chiara and Sebastian, and the potential fall-out as Chiara is unable to let go of the guilt and grief leaving a heart broken Sebastian to wonder where everything went wrong.

Chiara Kennedy is a strong willed, independent, assertive and determined thirty something woman whose fast paced life style doesn’t leave room for romance or love. On the fast track to success, Chiara refuses to acknowledge her attraction to Sebastian Ryder, the man who once starred in her fantasies and dreams but the man to whom her best friend was once married. Keeping her distance from Sebastian wasn’t easy but as the years past, the anger grew towards the man with whom she would fall in love. Sebastian Ryder has never stopped thinking about the woman that got away but falling in love with Rory meant a chance at happiness, although a brief happiness until his world fell apart.

The relationship between Chiara and Sebastian is one of second chances, of a sorts, in the wake of what was and what will never be. Chiara broke Sebastian’s heart when she told him it would never work out but when Chiara refused to acknowledge their previous connection, Sebastian found himself on the outside looking in with the woman he loved. Struggling to convince Chiara to give him a second chance only pushed our couple further apart until fate intervened pulling our couple in another direction. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Chiara’s friends and partners at Quench: Malia Evergreen, and Tessa; Rory’s father and café owner Mike; high school English teachers Emma Primm, and Pete Kempsey; Sebastian’s friend and volunteer at the Dream On Youth Center Ford.

MEANT TO BE is a story of grief, betrayal and loneliness, guilt and acceptance, second chances and love. The premise is engaging; the characters are spirited ; the romance is fated but saying that the relationship between Chiara and Sebastian was challenging-Chiara was not a likeable heroine, and in this I struggled to like the overall story. Chiara Kennedy’s attraction to Sebastian was overridden by her guilt about her friendship with Rory, and the ongoing lie she perfected about meeting Sebastian years before. Throughout the story line Chiara is almost insensitive and cold towards our story line hero, spending most of her time distancing from Sebastian; pushing her attraction down, pulling away from the man with whom she would fall in love. There is plenty going on in and between their lives but Chiara refuses to admit or accept the attraction or what was always meant to be.



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DNF. I couldn’t get past the date rape drug & the dream sex scene. I also don’t love a accidental pregnancy trope. I enjoyed the writing so I will try another Jennifer probst for sure.

Interesting take on romance between 2 characters who have all the odds stacked against them. This is a tough review for me to write because I struggled liking the main characters. Yet, while there were elements of the story that just frustrated me, I couldn’t stop reading to discover what ended up happening.

Kudos to the author for writing a well written story that evoked such emotions.

I’m not sure how I felt about Chiara and Sebastian complicated situation. The secondary characters shined as they offered her support but I felt someone needed to smack Chiara and tell her to snap out of it.
On the other hand, this story raised awareness about for me, of missed opportunities and what you would do if you could have a do over and have a second chance.
3.5 stars!

Meant to Be by Jennifer Probst is her new series that started with a bang! You see, Chiara Kennedy had met Sebastian Ryder one night in a bar, and they hit it off, but at the time, they wanted different things out of life and thought it best they go their separate ways. Years later, her best friend Rory couldn't wait to introduce Sebastian as her future husband. Chiara decided to make it look like it was their first time meeting, but she pined for him as he did her. Rory died in an auto accident. Can Chiara take over what should have been Rory's life? It would be best to read the book to find out what happens.

✅Second Chance
✅ Death
✅Forbidden
✅Small Town
✅Accidental Pregnancy
✅Drugs/Roofie

While Meant to Be is quite different than Jennifer's typical style, I thought it brought some important topics to the forefront, such as; the death of a best friend, being drugged in a bar, having unprotected sex, and drug addiction.

This was a heartwarming second chance romance with so many feelings I had a hard time keeping it together while reading. But I loved Chiara and Sebastian and the connection and chemistry they shared.

I am going to start my review by saying I believe there should be a content warning due to a subject matter that may trigger some readers, I couldn't find any on the authors website so if you would like to know more about it please feel free to reach out to me on any of my social media accounts or through my blog for more details.

We start off with Chiara meeting Sebastian in a bar one night and talking for hours and although they felt a deep connection they wanted different things in life so they parted ways only for him to reenter her life when one of her best friends started dating him, and they were perfect for one another. Now here we are several years later after her friend had passed away and they are once again in each others lives.

There's a lot going on in this story but if I get into it will give too much away so I will leave it at this was the time they were meant to be together and may be just may be they needed to go through all that they had to get to this place.

I really enjoyed this story and the chemistry between Sebastian and Chiara was explosive. I cannot wait until we get Chiara's besties' stories because those women are a hoot!

If you enjoy Steamy Contemporary Romances, Second Chance Romances, or the Surprise Pregnancy Trope I would recommend this book to you.

Happy Reading!!!

Oh this story is so twisty and I'm here for it. This was a great read
This story gave me all the feels

I’ve liked several of the Jennifer Probst books I’ve read (I mean...obviously...since I keep reading her books), so I was excited to get an ARC of Meant to Be. But mostly, this book was just frustrating.

And I don’t even feel like I can give a synopsis without going into spoiler territory. It’s very evident by the cover blurb the author wants the reader to be surprised at what happens between the hero and heroine. So all I’m going to say is this: both the hero and heroine made me cranky, but more so the heroine. Everyone in the couple’s life was telling them to be happy together, and the heroine just wouldn’t let it happen.

In fact, the one thing I DID like about this book is how all the side characters were supportive and encouraging. The author could have stirred up all this extra angst and drama, so it was refreshing things didn't go that way!

But the rest of the book? I spent a good deal of the time not believing this was written by Jennifer Probst. I almost DNFed at 20%, but then the not-to-be-mentioned “plot twist” happened and I let myself get sucked in. But the whole book was filled with whiny, repetitive thoughts (“I’m stealing my best friend’s life” or some iteration of that phrase was thought or said 15 times…and the friend had died in a car crash two years prior - honey, you can't steal from a dead person), and two main characters who vacillated so quickly between “I love you” and “we can’t/shouldn’t be together” they could probably use a good chiropractor to adjust their necks from all that whiplash.

I should have liked this book - it has one of my favorite tropes. But when characters spend too much time in their heads and get in their own way of happiness, it just ruins things. Better luck to me next time…

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a great beginning to a new series by the author! Chiara and Sebastian met years ago and shared one night getting to know each other. Their connection was deep, but neither one was looking for forever. Fast forward a few years when one of her best friends, Rory, introduces Sebastian as her new love. Chiara pretends not to know him so that Rory's world wouldn't get upended. Then Rory dies and everyone is thrown off their axes. Chiara and Sebastian's orbits collide once again. They each carry a lot of guilt; Sebastian's from the night Rory passed and Chiara from thinking she's taking over Rory's life. They both had a lot to work through. From dealing with the press to telling Rory's dad they were together to forging a relationship that was independent of their relationship with Rory.

This was more than a second chance romance for Chiara and Sebastian. It was about grief and acceptance, of taking risks and finding love. I can't wait to see where this series takes us.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Meant to Be is book one in the Twist of Fate series and they will be able to read as standalones. Sometimes two people meet and they instantly click, but knowing that they want different things in life they go their separate ways. That doesn't mean that they will never see each other again, it merely means maybe the time was not right at that moment to explore further. Hence the two characters Sebastain and Chiara actions. Will some agree with how Chiara handled that second time meeting him when her BF introduces him as her BF? That is a split decision will be my guess. You will see that while Rory was Meant to Be in both of their lives, it was not the right timing for them. You will laugh, cry, feel the emotions that these characters experience and will love the secondary characters. It will be interesting to see which Quench member will be next in line for their story. The ending felt rushed to me, but it left the Epilogue melting our hearts.

DNF @ 20%

Ok so a guy at a bar tried to roofie our MC Chiara, Ryder shows up, neither know the drink is drugged, he finishes it, gets drugged, Chiara realized he was drugged and she takes him home to monitor him and then THEY HAVE SEX when he comes in her room later, AFTER HE WAS ROOFIED and she wasn't very drunk, but somehow thought the sex WAS JUST A DREAM I mean what????? No need to read any further after that nonsense. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A nice sweet AND sexy story about love, grief and second chances. Chiara is a strong woman. She knows what she wants and what she doesn't want. This expectation leads her to make a decision for herself that will later come back to haunt her. She decides that her love for her friends is more important than any shot at happiness and love in her life (by her choice). The four friends who started Quench are all super interesting each in their own ways and I look forward to more stories in their world. Sebastian at one point describes himself as a "chick" when it came to falling in love and how he grieves the loss of it and perhaps he is right but he also is so hard on himself and he will soon find out that he needs others in his life who can help him express his pain. A hard won happily ever after indeed.

This is the first in a new series and when an outstanding beginning this story is! Chiara is feeling lost after losing her best friend 2-years previously, and Sebastian is Rory’s widowed husband who was left understandably devastated by losing his soulmate, and he has distanced himself from everyone including Chiara. Fate has destined these two to cross paths again, and as they become closer Chiara is struggling with her feeling of guilt. Will these two come to terms with the past and get the closer they need to move on together? This is a beautifully written emotional roller coaster, with turmoil, tension, challenges, guilt, healing, conflict, and love, which leads to a riveting page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

She Knew Him First

Chiara and Sebastian have a history, a platonic evening of talking, but a memorable one. Until Chiara’s best friend Rory later introduces Sebastian as her boyfriend.

Later Chiara and Sebastion lose Rory, an important person to them. Can these lost souls with broken hearts move on? Avoidance is not working, as they keep finding themselves in each other orbit. Then a night neither can take back.

This book is a heartbreaking, emotional journey. I am excited to see where this series takes us, we are off to a good start.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

Review Also submitted to Barnes & Noble

No matter when I read a book by Jennifer Probst, I am never disappointed. The passion in her words is what keeps me going and never wanting her books to end.
The one night Sebastian and Chiara spent together something clicked. Even though they left each other in the morning it was something special that they shared like never before. Even though nothing physical occurred, a connection was made.
Little did she know that he would meet her best friend and get married. Chiara and Sebastian never let it be known about their one night together. Now her best friend is gone and through certain events she and Sebastian are thrown together. Sebastian has always felt something for Chiara. When he married Rory, he loved her and only her. But now that Rory is gone, his feelings that were buried deep for Chiara have now started to surface. Chiara is filled with guilt, however. She feels people will think she is trying to step into Rory’s life. She also feels that she will not be good enough for Sebastian and she will not measure up to what Rory was. But can she ignore the feelings that are developing for Sebastian. Can she ignore things that are changing in her life, things she never knew she wanted? How can she get passed the guilt?
Meant to Be will have you holding on and never letting go. I could not put this one down. The characters are so real. The emotions they deal with, the decisions they made . You feel what they are going through. It is such an incredible read written by an incredible author. Jennifer Probst always gives her readers exactly what they are looking for and so much more.