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Ward Sisters #1

Back to December

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An alternate title/cover for this ASIN can be found here.

Life doesn't always turn out as planned.

Straight-laced, 28-year old copy editor, Emily Ward, has her five-year plan running on schedule. Then her youngest sister gets engaged, and things blow up in her face. To escape her mother's plotting—and keep her career on course—she finds herself on a plane to Minnesota at Christmas. When she crashes into movie star Deac Roberts in Minneapolis, she can't begin to imagine how her organized life will be upended.

Emily is as baffled as her family and friends when she's swept into a romance with Rob Deacon—Deac Roberts' real-life counterpart—but she's convinced that she's been on the wrong track for years. Can she live with a new five-year plan? Or will she keep wishing she went back to that day in December and did everything differently?

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2013

15 people are currently reading
92 people want to read

About the author

Lucy Gage

19 books25 followers

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Community Reviews

5 stars
20 (39%)
4 stars
18 (35%)
3 stars
6 (11%)
2 stars
4 (7%)
1 star
3 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Bungluna.
1,134 reviews
July 2, 2014
Nobody meets cute with super-star stud muffin and they fall in lurv in 5 seconds. Mayhem ensues...

This is the basic premise of the novel. It was well written for the most part, though the author tended to belabor certain points too much. The heroine was a bit MarySueish. She was right and everybody else was wrong, period. The requisite big-misunderstanding was just for show, imo. Overall, I finished it but almost put it down several times.
Profile Image for Mandy.
51 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2014
I found this to be a feel good read! In my opinion the characters are totally beleivable. I empathised with Emily the leading lady; Fell a little in love with Rob the yummy leading man. I wanted to b!#*h slap Rachel the ex and I I adore Christopher the camp celebrity dresser!
The story made me smile often and even made me cry! I have read I have read 4 books between reading Back to Deceber and the writeing of this review and the characters are still fresh in my mind.
The love scenes to my mind were well written,passionate without being sensationalist, kinky or tawdry.
I am about 1/3 into reading Only One, the second book in the series and have already noticed a growth in the author's confidense, especially in the way she handels her rather complex characters.
I look foreward to also reading the new kid on the block; Right Here waiting, as well as any upcoing books by this author!
Profile Image for Eileen Campos.
8 reviews39 followers
Read
December 29, 2014
Free book. It was an easy read the overall plot, I liked. Some dialogue seem like they'd be spoken unnaturally. And a lot of the scenes were unnecessary stretched out. The last conflict at the talent agency party totally made my eyes roll... And the drama that followed after almost made my eyes permanently stuck at the back of my head for so much eye rolling. It's like, come on... Who buys that. By the 2nd half, I just wanted to get the book over with.

It was a great start though. The unraveling of events was a good fish out of water set up and was totally relatable. Male and female leads totally were great although I could've used just a tad less "this should be overwhelming but it's not" dialogue.

I'll probably read the first part of it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Patti K.
Author 7 books65 followers
January 22, 2017
If you like Cinderella stories, or if you ever wondered what it might be like to date a movie star, you'll enjoy this book. After a lifetime of struggling against who she was, versus who her mother hoped she'd be, Emily Ward decides it's time to take back her life. The problem is, she's not quite sure which pieces are her. Falling for a guy whose life is constantly under a microscope doesn't help her figure out the answer. She's human and makes mistakes, but which decisions were the right ones? And which ones were wrong?
Profile Image for Mojo_Mama.
1,595 reviews838 followers
pass-not-my-thing
May 27, 2020
Didn’t read this. Read book 2 in series. That was enough to make me seriously doubt the HEA of this book (and of book 2).

I feel like the H in this book was still kinda in love with h of book 2 in her book. I’m not sure he let her go until AFTER he married his h...and I’m not sure he really ever will let go of her 100%. I felt like the h of this book would never be his HEA, they’ll get a Hollywood divorce in a few years and he’ll go back to loving the h of book 2 from afar.
Profile Image for Jennifer Farnsworth breton.
14 reviews
October 4, 2014
I have seven children and have not been able to get into a book for years. this book started out interesting from page one. I felt like I knew the charachters individually and was right there the entire journey.
Profile Image for Connie McElfresh.
270 reviews15 followers
May 27, 2014
What a book, it does start out with the Cinderella Fairytale that every girl wants but there is so much more here, lot's of emotion really a very good book. I recommend this book especially if you are ready to escape from life. I was gifted this book for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Amanda Roden.
1,052 reviews5 followers
January 23, 2017
This was my first book by Lucy Gage and it definitely will not be my last.Emily is the h and lives her life by a plan. She's an extremely type A personality. She literally runs into Rob (H) and they fall for each other. Rob is an actor and a big deal in Hollywood. He's not the usual guy I read about, you know the Alpha male that you love to hate or just hate. He's a nice guy, a sensitive guy and at first I wasn't sure I would like that,however it worked for him. This book was a great read, there was necessary drama and as all books in my life require they get their HEA. I cannot wait to read book 2!!
Profile Image for Ruby McDemon.
824 reviews8 followers
October 20, 2017
I loved reading Rob and Emily's story. I actually took my time reading this story because I knew there would be a heartbreaking moment and with life going on I had to drag out the happy as long as possible. Once I got past the sad I quickly finished the book and I want more. I loved the sweet realistic yet fanciful feel to this story. Like the book actually says the story does have a bit of a Cinderella feel to it, but its the modern grown up version. I loved how sweet and down to earth it all was and how there is so much emotion carried throughout these pages. I do kind of regret dragging out the story, but then again I really got to savor every bit of it.
Profile Image for Sue Ouellet-Cofsky.
2,580 reviews51 followers
July 18, 2019
I enjoyed the premise...to a point...this book was not bad...just longer than it really needed to be...I felt like I was reading the same story or conversation over and over again. However, I will put the others in this series on my list to read at some point because some of the secondary storylines did intrigue me...specifically Liam's and Annie's.
42 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2022
Clever Spicey Romance

A clever will they, won't they spicey romance, that moves along at a good pace. Entertaining with good dialogue and a couple of twists along the way.
Profile Image for Rebecca Austin.
3,157 reviews3 followers
January 18, 2015
When you have your life planned out what happens when in an instance you realize that it's not what you really wanted?

Emily Ward was in a 5 year relationship with Josh when her sister Charlie got engaged and Emily realized that Josh was not who she wanted to be with. In Minnesota for work, she literally bumps into a man named Rob Deacon and ends up having dinner with him. Later she discovers he's actually movie star Deac Roberts.

Emily and Rob have instant chemistry and start building a great relationship but most of her family is opposed to the idea of the two of them together. Will Emily be able to put her family's doubts aside and concentrate on what makes her happy? Can Emily put the fears of Rob using her to improve his image to the back of her mind or will whispers from his ex-girlfriends and her family cause her to lose her happiness?

I really enjoyed this book and loved that the characters were facing insecurities themselves. I really liked the character of Rob in that he really wanted his family to be involved in all aspects of his life. The problems that Emily faced with her family are again real issues that many people face.

Can't wait to read the next book!
Profile Image for Sassy Southern Book Blog.
5,472 reviews276 followers
August 1, 2014
I give this book 4 stars, it was a good read. Emily is just your average girl with her 5year plan all makes out. But her sister gets engaged and throws her for a loop. Is she really ready to marry her boyfriend or does she need a fresh start. Rob is not your ordinary guy but wants an ordinary life. When a chance encounter puts these two together can they make it work or will family, x's and the price of fame keep them apart. This is not your average fairy tale book. I could really connect with Emily feeling like you are just stuck trying to make every one happy except yourself. Then you have Christopher the crazy stylist who I loved omg he will have you laughing your butt off. Another thing I like about this book is the writer gives you the back story's and your not left wondering what had happened. I will definitely read the next one to see what else this crazy sweet family can come up with. You not only will laugh but be prepared to cry also. Would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Tara.
76 reviews
February 16, 2016
Enjoyable read. I really enjoyed these characters, especially Emily. I feel she was relatable because I think many of us have either been in a similar situation or know someone who was. I loved the connection between Rob and Emily and loved their chance meeting. I seriously wanted to drop-kick both Emily's sister and mother several times in the book. I was surprised how long it did take for the "shoe to drop" but I think that it helped to show the connection between the 2 characters.
Profile Image for Željka'S Review.
13 reviews
March 2, 2016
I must say I haven't expected this book to be this good. The story about Rob and Emily is very nice and the caracters are very real. This book is a great success for Lucy Gage. The story is vell designed and intriguing. I am giving it five stars because I loved itt and if anyone of you is reading my review I am recommending you to buy this book and read it. It will be a great part of your shelf and it is a good read.
Profile Image for Julie.
138 reviews14 followers
December 16, 2014
I would have to give this book 5 stars. All the characters in the book are wonderful. How Emily was a regular person with a five year plan, and all that changed when she met her Prince Charming.

Cant wait to read No. 2
4,374 reviews28 followers
March 18, 2015
Good

it's a love story that is full of ups and downs but keeps you reading because you can't believe that it's all going to work out.
Profile Image for Patricia Berry.
80 reviews
April 24, 2015
First book I read from this author. I enjoyed it and am planning on reading the 2nd book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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