Member Reviews
This is a good book. The two main characters are Blossom and Joe. They are engaged and getting married in two weeks they have a nice meal in a restaurant when they get an argument and break up. Two weeks later they both decide to use the honeymoon reservations. They are both staying in a nice home on the island of Hawaii. They have some issues to work but together they do and fall in love again.
Good second chance love story set on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. Blossom calls off her wedding to billionaire Joe two weeks before the event. Brokenhearted, she heads to Hawaii and the house where they would have had their honeymoon. She needs to clear her head and figure out her future, and she can't do it back in Vancouver, where memories surround her. She is only there for a couple of hours when she thinks she hears an intruder, only to discover that Joe had the same idea. How can they get over their breakup while living in the same house?
Honestly, I spent the first part of the book disliking Blossom. Her freak-out at their lunch together was uncalled for, and she never let poor Joe get a word in edgewise before storming out. Even her sister accused her of being a bridezilla. Even worse, she was a complete fraud. She did everything she could to become the person she thought suited Joe best rather than being herself. She went along with anything he wanted without expressing her opinions or desires and dressed like her more fashionable sister. That started with Bliss telling her she needed to dress better to be around him, but the rest was all Blossom.
I liked Joe. He had his faults, but at heart, he was a nice guy. He enjoyed showing Blossom a good time and didn't have to worry about its cost. Right before his lunch with Blossom, Joe learned some devastating news, so he was in no shape to deal with her theatrics. I ached for him and the confusion and heartache he felt.
The worst part was they were still in love with each other. Blossom had called things off solely because of her perceptions and insecurities but blamed it all on Joe. She realizes she was likely wrong but is too stubborn and certain that it is too late to do anything about it. Between Joe's heartbreak and his fears regarding his father, he isn't sure whether he should try to talk to Blossom.
Things began to look up when they ended up in their honeymoon location together. After a rough start, they began to spend time together. Now that the wedding is off, Blossom starts showing the real her in her interactions with Joe. There had been glimpses of that Blossom when they were together, and that was the woman Joe fell in love with. I liked the bargain they made about spending time together. It was fun to see billionaire Joe shopping in a discount store with Blossom and the eye-opening experience it was for him. I was happy to see them finally talking to each other and realizing the mistakes they made in the past. There were plenty of sweet scenes of them together around the island.
But there was one secret Joe kept from Blossom, and when it came out, it destroyed Blossom's hard-won trust. I understood Joe's reasons for doing it and Blossom's determination not to let him. It takes some soul-searching by both to realize the truth of what they want and need. I loved Joe's big moment, which was incredibly emotional and exactly what Blossom needed to hear. His gift to her was the icing on the cake and showed how well he's come to know her. The ending was terrific and provided a hint of what is to come in Bliss's story.
I loved the setting of the Big Island and the lush descriptions of the places Blossom and Joe visited. My favorite was the swim with the mantas and its effect on Joe and Blossom. The descriptions brought back memories of my visit there many years ago.
Once, twice, three times?
I really did enjoy this book, espeically as I read it a day before flying into Kona on the Big Isle. Very accurate locations and descriptions of Hawaii (as a local, I can vouch for it). Blossom totally suffers from imposter syndrome. Joe is keeping a big secret from her. Things blow up right before their wedding and they end up on the Big Isle separately, together. Where they work on communication (Blossom was a fraud during their whole time together) and they really got to know each other. Aside from a few chapers with excessive exclaimation marks, it was a very enjoyable read.
Recommend.
Convinced that fiancé Joe is having second thoughts, Blossom cancels their wedding. She goes on their honeymoon alone to regroup. Except, Joe has the same idea. Now, they're trapped together on an island (okay, it's the Big Island), and forced to confront the issues between them. Can they rebuild the trust in their relationship?
Joe and Blossom are super cute together when she allows herself to relax, instead of pretending to be the Barbie doll she thinks he wants. The book has the added benefit of taking the reader on a tour of one of the most spectacular places on Earth. So fun!
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
A very well written second chance romance. I throughly enjoyed the plot and well developed characters. I definitely recommend the book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.
Rediscovering their love in Hawaii.
After calling off her wedding to Joe, Blossom heads to the Hawaiian honeymoon destination on her own to clear her head. She is surprised to discover Joe is also there doing the same thing. Could it be fate that they found themselves together again?
I was so glad Blossom and Joe ended up together in Hawaii and were able to work through their issues. I admit, Hawaii was one of the main reasons I picked up this book. But once I started reading, I found myself really liking these characters and the journey they were on. I couldn’t wait to see how they found their way back to each other. I really enjoyed the activities Blossom and Joe did that lead to their reunion. The author wrote this story in a way that I was easily able to visualize in my head. The story was heartfelt and hopeful with a great happily ever after.