Embracing the Change is the sixth book in the River Rain series, but it can be read as a standalone.

There were a lot of characters in this book, so I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d read the previous books in the series. I was a little lost on who everyone was, and it took my attention away from the story.

Nora and Jamie had been friends for years. Both had been through a lot in their life — they’ve both been married, had kids, and are now single. And with the help of their meddling friends and family, they end up giving in to their feelings.

This was cute and full of emotional and dramatic moments. And there was so much love between not only the main characters, but their friends and family as well.

Though it is book 6, it can be read as a standalone!

This book definitely dropped me in a world I’m unfamiliar with. I could not tell you Gucci from Prada, unless I’m directly reading the label. The rich really do live in another world. However, there are some good among them, which is exhibited by the found family in this story. They are very wealthy and kind of just drop money at everything, but Nora and Jamie, and their children, have sweet and tender hearts and will do anything for those they love, and fiercely protect them too.
The first half felt almost like a different novel, but we had to get the relationship set up for the remainder of the plot so I understood. The tension was steamy, when Nora and Jamie were on the outs. They are both very in love with each other, but Jamie refuses to let himself have her after the death of his wife and also his other failed marriage. He just doesn’t want to give his heart anymore, not realizing it’s already too late.
Nora is very patient, and is there for him no matter what. Once Jamie is like “fxck it” and they embark on relationship and embrace the change, it’s like they’ve been together forever. Then the two tackle together obstacles facing their family and they form a strong united front, which I loved.

Thank you Get Red PR for the copy for review!!

I have not read the other books in the series, but this read great as a standalone. I loved the chemistry between Nora and Jamie. I liked that the couple were past the figuring out their life stage and were a more matured age (I’m drawing a blank on their actual ages). They have a complicated past, and I loved the when and how the reader learned their backstory. It was a great second chance romance with a lot of drama surrounding the two families that sucks you in. There was a little bit of spice, and I thought it was well timed and added to their connection well. I liked Jamie’s protectiveness and the emotion that he showed. I enjoyed it.

Thank you @getredprbbooks @kristenashleybooks @1001darknights_blueboxpress for the gifted copy.

This was my first read by this author Kristin Ashley. This is book 6 in the River Rain series and can be read as a stand alone, like I did. I am curious now about the earlier books in the series!! It was a cute friends to lovers with lots of drama and obstacle’s. My favorite part was the adult kids pulling a parent trap on their parents!

🤍Blurb:
Gorgeous New York socialite, Nora Ellington has been waiting a very long time for her happily ever after….But then, one night, Jamie loses control and kisses Nora.
He can’t go there.
She can’t go on without it.
They’ll never be the same.
Or will they?

Some of the best tropes:
♥️ Parent trap
🖤 Forced proximity
🤍 Friends to lovers
♥️ Billionaire
🖤 Second chance romance
🤍 Sworn off love

Quotes:
“Slowly, Jamie turned my way.
I looked up at him.
He stared down at me.
And then he spoke.
"It looks, sweetheart, like we've been parent trapped."
Oh. My.”

“And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like, "I love you”…”

Thank you to the author Kristen Ashley, Get Red PR and NetGalley for the advanced copies of the book.

Add another story to my long list of my favorite Kristen Ashley books.

The River Rain series is amazing and the story of Nora and Jamie is absolutely amazing! I love that both love each other but won’t admit it to one another.

Kristen Ashley has a way of write a romance that makes you just love these characters and become attached to them.

Embracing the Change can be read as a standalone but personally I recommend you read the whole series’s.

It was refreshing to read EMBRACING THE CHANGE, a mature romance by Kristen Ashley. Nora and Jamie have a long history of years of friendship with a lot of backstory between the families. They have so many friends in common often run in the same social circles. All of this adds excitement to the tale. Besides being a love story, this book is an expose on fashion. I loved reading about the characters’ attire. The author is a master at adding tension to the dialogue and the relationship.

All the feels of a soap opera. A romance that was a long time coming. Characters who are grown, with grown children. Big family dynamics and drama. Plenty of romantic tension and long time friendship and pining.

Nora Ellington and Jamie Oakley have a history. One kiss leads to hurt and disappointment but it just wasn’t their time…yet. Years later after divorces, death and each raising kids, their children now grown plan a sneak attack. They “force”them together on a yacht where they are left to sort their feelings out. It’s just the beginning of a love story that will melt your heart and take you on an adventure too. This character driven novel is full of wit, heat, and charm. The writing is like cozying up and having a chat with an old friend because Kristen Ashley’s books never disappoint. Nora and Jameson are like the contemporary and more likable versions of Scarlet O’Hara and Rhett Butler and you just can’t get enough! Loved every second of it:) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Embracing the Change was an amazing story! I was thrilled to immerse myself back into the River Rain world and for Nora and Jamie to get their happily ever after and I was not disappointed. I loved the drama, the emotion, and all the bonds and love with their family and friends. It was sweet and heartfelt I couldn't get enough. I love how Kristen Ashley always makes me feel like I'm a part of these characters' lives, right there with them, feeling it all.

I loved Jamie and Nora and really getting to know them. Nora is rich and owns it but she's also all class and has the biggest heart and is good to her core. I loved her! I adored Jamie, he's the perfect combination between old school and modern and I love how deeply he cared for others. I felt for him because of the losses he's suffered and the drama with his father, so I was incredibly happy that he finally had goodness coming his way. I loved learning about Nora and Jamie’s friendship and just how far back it went, and watching that bond and their attraction grow into so much more. I felt for Jamie as he fought his feelings and loved them coming out on the other side. These two together thrilled me to no end!

I have loved all the characters in this series as well as the new ones introduced in this book and the different connections. I loved the bonds and strength of their family and friends and how they’re all there for one another. I loved the relationship that Nora formed with Jamie's daughter Dru and I loved Jamie getting to know Nora's kids. I loved the updates on other couples, what's going on in their lives, and the hints of what might be brewing between a possible couple. I also liked getting small bits of Corey and Rhys since they are very much a part of this series.

There were great building details, development, and different levels of drama and it all kept me hooked. I loved all the dots connecting. There were also several fun moments and humor woven in just when I needed some levity. This was a fantastic story filled with an outpouring of love and emotion that made my heart feel full. I loved Jamie and Nora finding their way to one another and embracing their love. All the healing and acceptance was a beautiful thing. Another five-star read from my favorite author!

4 stars. One of my favorite thing about the River Rain series is that KA is giving us romances featuring mature characters. Don't get me wrong... I love a romance book that features characters in their 20s and 30s. But there is such a gap in the romance genre for middle aged (think 50s) characters. And dammit, middle age characters deserve love too! And this is something that we're getting more and more from KA, and I am here for it!

Embracing the Change is the sixth book in the River Rain series, and although it's a standalone, there are a lot of characters. Like, A LOT of characters. I've read all of the books and I still found myself needing to take a second each time a different character was mentioned. Because of this, while it is a standalone, I do think that readers will benefit from reading the earlier books. Or in the very least, Chloe and Judge's story. Embracing the Change features Jamie and Nora-- two middle aged characters who have been put through the ringer in their previous relationships. And although the chemistry is palpable... PALPABLE... and has been for years between these two, Jamie especially is reluctant to give another relationship a try, given how he'd been burned in the past. Of course, all of that changes after a scorching kiss and parent trap style trickery.

If you've read KA before, you'll know she likes to shop. A lot of her characters/ books mention designers and/or have shopping scenes in the book, but Embracing the Change takes this theme to even greater heights. Jamie and Nora are both rich. Rich like the 1%. And there is A LOT of fashion talk in this book (the chapters are even designer names)l. I could see that maybe being something that some readers may not enjoy. But for me, I actually loved that. And Nora reminds me a lot of Josephine's character in The Will.

Apart from the age of the main characters, I think the thing I love most about the River Rain books are the found family vibes. I mentioned before that there are a TON of characters, which can take a minute to reconcile who is who, but the large support system of family and friends is one of the gems of this series. These books aren't plot heavy. And they're also not character heavy, in the sense that you don't get a ton of growth or development. But what you do get is a LOT about relationships (romantic, family, and friendship). And I love that KA is giving us this type of story (truly, she can do it all).

For those that follow my reviews, you'll know I'm a huge KA fan. I'm part of her ARC team, and do often get to read her books early. I'm truly so grateful to KA and her team, Get Red PR, netgalley, and 1001 Dark Nights Blue Box Press for the ARC and finished copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading Kristen Ashley and it was a so much fun, I really enjoyed this one. This is the sixth book in the River Rain series; however, it is an interconnected series and can be read as a stand-alone. I think that I would have got even more out of the story if I’d read the entire series though.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. I felt the author did a nice job introducing them and really explaining who they were as people, they felt real to me. I always enjoy when characters feel more realistic because it really helps bring the story to life, and in this case, it was the billionaire romance. The romance between Nora and Jamie was fabulous. It was very complex and not insta love at all, just what I love in that they had shared history and knew each other before falling in love. It’s such an emotional journey and I loved every minute of it. This book was chalk full of wonderful heart felt moments. I feel that this author knows how to pull at your heart strings in the best possible way, and I am here for it!

I can’t tell you how much joy I have reading a mature romance from the incomparable Kristen Ashley. When writing about love, romance, fashion, and embracing the heart of a family Ashley is a stellar example of what a romance author should be. Nora and Jamie's lifelong experiences and interactions make this a beautiful yet combustible Romance. I’m so in love with this couple.
~Tanja

One of my favorite series and one of my favorite books in the series. It was wonderful wonderful wonderful!