House Divided

by Jennifer Peel

There is a law irrevocably decreed in the state of Alabama that you must choose a team. You're either an Auburn fan or an Alabama Fan. There is no fence sitting or waffling. It’s one or the other. However, it doesn't mean that you can’t fall in love with someone from the opposing side. They even have a name for it ... House Divided.

Ellie Eaton and Brady Jackson were just such a couple, but unfortunately they were separated by more than just their loyalty to a university. Against the odds and against the rules, Ellie and Brady dove right into the forbidden current of friendship and then love. Their sweet, innocent romance was one for the storybooks, but old rules and family prejudices ultimately tore them apart, just as they were each ready to depart to their beloved universities, Ellie to Auburn and Brady to Alabama. But years later, when near tragedy strikes, they're brought together again and given a second chance at love, this time with the help from some very unlikely sources.

House Divided is a sweet romance filled with southern charm, a dash of humor and, for good measure, a pinch of lies and intrigue.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Clean Romance, Chick Lit

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2015

About the author

Jennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-two years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, the happy streak with Peel's books is over with this one. I kind of hated it really, which makes it a little surprising I finished it so fast. Sure, it's a quick read, but not that quick.

The problem is that it thinks it's a second chance story. But it really isn't. I mean, both main characters are in love with each other from the beginning and neither really bothers to deny it much. Indeed, they're positively yearning for each other in an almost desperate, Shakespearean way and all that stands in their way is a little sense and a trip to the courthouse. Indeed, the entire novel is one long mantra of "everybody hates us being together, waaaaaa". Which, by the way, wasn't even a little bit true.

So the whole book depends on the untenable being supported by the indecisive in the name of the unlikely. Which may have worked if there had been any actual falling in love and working things out. Which there wasn't...

So yeah, it was "clean", but not really much of a romance.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rom com. Think Alabama College football version of Romeo and Juliet.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. I'm always drawn to second-chance stories. Ella and Brady came from rival families, but couldn't help the attraction they felt for each other. I liked how the book started, seeing them fall in love as teenagers and how they were broken up. The majority of the book takes place ten years later when Ella has to return to her small hometown to help take care of her sick aunt.

Ella has made a success of her life, but has never gotten over her love for Brady. When she returns home she tries to avoid him, but being such a small town they of course run in to each other. Brady sees this as a second chance and wants to win Ella back. Their breakup was heartbreaking and you can't help but feel sorry for Ella (and maybe Brady), it's no surprise she would have a hard time trusting him again. I liked their chemistry and how things unfolded.

Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable read. I wondered how everything would play out. I was hoping Luanne and Isaac could have actually spoken, I kept wanting to see those together and have them bury the hatchet. It would have been nice to see them make peace. Not really happy with what happens with him.

If you enjoyed this and are looking for something similar, give The Promise of Rayne a try.


Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: Mild
Read Again: Yeah

Source: Kindle, gift

[Beth (YA Books Central) · Rating 4 out of 5]

House Divided is a story about first loves, heartbreak, and second chances at first love. House Divided is set in Kaysville, Alabama where traditions and family beliefs run deep. The town is divided by football teams...Auburn or Alabama. This is even truer for two specific families in the town. The Eatons have been raised as devout fans of Auburn while the Jacksons are devout fans of Alabama. The two families do not associate and have a rivalry between them that has lasted over 40 years.

Ella Eaton and Brady Jackson have been raised their entire lives to stay far away from each other and to not have any type of contact.....well ....this of course is exactly what draws them to each other. From the first day they meet they become best friends which then turns into a secret, star-crossed romance.

During their Senior year in high school, on Christmas Day, Brady is forced to break up with Ella because of his family. The break up literally tears both of them apart and Ella moves away. Ten years pass and Ella is forced to come back home because her Aunt has become very sick and had a heart attack.

"I was speechless. I loved him. I had broken my aunt’s rules and heart for him. And he, he was the one who pursued me and who had to shout it to the world that we were together. How could he just end it like that? I didn’t understand. The tears began to flow. He tried to wipe them away, but I wouldn’t let him. I didn’t want him to touch me."

Brady has never stopped loving Ella and sees this opportunity as a second chance to win back her love. He is determined to show her how big of a mistake he made and how much he truly loves her.

House Divided is full of deep family issues, Southern beliefs and traditions, loss and hope, and forbidden love. Being from Alabama...this story really touched home for me. I have been an Auburn fan since the day I was born and have experienced first hand how Auburn/Alabama rivalry really can come between people.

I would recommend House Divided to anyone who is looking for a good, clean romance with plenty of humor and wit intertwined into the story.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie and Brady are from feuding families. Not only do their families cheer for opposing football teams, which is huge in this small Alabama town, but the town is divided into sides because of something that happened years ago. You're either on the Eaton side or the Jackson side and there's no middle ground. Forbidden to be friends, in the same school classes, or even to talk to each other, these two find themselves secretly falling in love during high school, until family duty tears them apart. Fast forward ten years. Brady and Ellie find themselves getting reacquainted and given a second chance, but things don't go as smoothly as they hope. I love it when there are obstacles to overcome and when things are hard. The best things in life don't come easy.

I completely fell head over heels in love with the South and with this couple. Brady is a swoon-worthy hero. He's so loyal, dedicated to everything in his life, and a good ol' Southern boy with manners, charm, and persistence to prove it. Ellie has been hurt and refuses to let her guard down...until she just can't fight it anymore. She's independent, yet not so much that she can't let a man take care of her.

The story is full of fun characters and situations that were written in a very visual way. Brady's niece, Caroline, and Ellie's aunt, Aunt Lu, stole the show. Both are so sweet and full of spunk.

I am completely hooked on Jennifer Peel's books! They are on my favorites shelf, are full of fantastic, clean romance, and the situations are realistic and not sugar-coated. The characters all feel as if they are good friends and I can't stop thinking about them after I close the book. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her!

Content: Clean romance (kissing, brief mention of unwed pregnancy, mild innuendo); no violence; mild language (2-3 mild words); mild religious elements (it's the South--church is a part of life, but nothing is preachy). Clean!

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the flashback story at the beginning of this book. It was so sweet to watch these two youngsters fall in love! The story however like a flower started to wilt for me. I felt like there were no consequences to Brady's actions. I love my husband more then breathing but for the last quarter of the book the dialogue was mainly "I love you's". The story started out so promising and then flat lined for me. There should of been more build up. More discussion. A little more resolution of feelings. I just couldn't 'buy it' and I'm a fairy tale sort of girl. So that's saying something.

First part of book: 4 stars
Last part: 2 stars

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!

Clean

[Jacqueline's Reads]

FREEBIE http://amzn.to/1NLHXU9

[yuvi • ia]

hmm.. why do i think that i have read this before?(but i can't remember anything)

[Kathy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The small town of Kaysville, AL has 2 sides... the Jackson side and the Eaton side. You had to chose one or the other... you could not be Switzerland.

Growing up Brady and Ellie were NOT allowed to talk to each other... it was forbidden. You see... he was a Jackson and she was an Eaton. And you know what they say... when you tell someone not to do something over and over and over again they are bound to break the rules and do it anyway. Brady and Ellie did just that!

I loved seeing how their relationship started out and watching it grow from friendship into love! Seriously so stinkin cute! It wasn't always easy but they tried their best to make it work. But when Brady's dad gets sick, Brady will do what ever he can to make life easier on his family... even if that means breaking up with Ellie and causing both of them to be miserable! :( After graduation they head their own separate ways but neither of them ever got over the other.

Years later a family emergency calls Ellie back to Kaysville. She hasn't been back since she left for college and she is definitely not looking forward to it! But she loves her aunt and will do anything for her.. including promising to stay through the holidays. Little does she know the plans that her Aunt Lu has in store for her... ;)

Ellie is bound and determined to stay far away from Brady! But that doesn't really work when you have a very determined man who is still head over heels in love with her and a very stubborn aunt who will stop at nothing to make sure she is happy... even if that means seeing her in the arms of a Jackson.

*dreamy sigh* I LOVE Brady! Seriously... I do! The man is absolutely amazing... even when Ellie is being extremely stubborn and needs to be Gibbs slapped! Holy hannah! That woman... I swear! I wanted to shake her and say what the heck is wrong with you?! Can you NOT see what's right in front of your face?! Sheesh! Lol. Thank goodness Brady could be just as stubborn! ;) Hehe.

And just real quick... Brady's mom... holy crow Batman! Woman be CRAZY! I seriously felt so bad for Brady, his brothers and his dad! And I was so sad for his dad and how that all ended... talk about breaking my heart! But at least they were finally able to get to the bottom of things and figure out why the Jackons and the Eatons hated each other.

All in all I absolutely love House Divided! I can't believe I waited so long to read it! And it's official... Jennifer Peel is definitely one of my favorite authors! She just has a way of sucking you into her stories and not letting you go until you get to the end! It's amazing and I love it! Can't wait to read more by her!

Side note... I have learned that I can NOT start one of her books during the week! It's torture when I have to put it down and go to work! Seriously... I get so mad when that dreaded work gets in the way of my reading time! Lol.

Here is my Ellie and Brady... :)

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a little like the Hatfield and McCoy feuds! Only the family names are different and this time around it’s The Eatons vs. The Jacksons. I’ll admit that the Alabama/Auburn football rivalry drew my attention and dragged me in. It seemed a good time to pay homage to the Alabama Tide that is getting ready to play in the bid for a National Championship this week. There really wasn't much of the actual sport of football weaved into the story and that was a little disappointing. I’m also a sucker for that southern charm - and this one had it in spades. I really enjoyed the “clean” read and the sweet and tenderness that went along for the ride. That is, until it all went off the rails.

I have no idea what happened. The ending was nowhere near the superb writing that lead up to it and it changed the whole shebang for me. The ending was so unexpectedly drawn and it hit me in the face so fast. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this much disappointment in an ending as much as this one. Up until then, this story had been so fully developed and enjoyable to read. I loved both Ellie and Brady, the main characters, along with Aunt Lu and many of the other secondary characters. There was so much left unsaid and many questions left unanswered. The extra special touches were nowhere to be found. Although there was somewhat of a happy-ever-after, it wasn’t near the caliber that it could have or should have been – especially considering how well the rest of the story was written. I’m really not a happy camper and felt the whole specialness of this story just went down the tubes in an instant. And this is the very reason that my rating isn’t at least 4-stars - maybe 5 if the ending had been equal to the rest of the book quality.

I sure hope that the Alabama Tide gets a better ending on the 11th of January. Roll Tide!

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for second chance at first love books. I can't help it. This is one of those kind of books. Ellie and Brady are drawn to each other early on. They hide their relationship because Eatons and Jacksons do not mix and they definitely do not date. But Ellie and Brady stand against the dumb rules and decided to pursue a relationship. Until Brady breaks things off and Ellie is left heartbroken.

Enter years of misunderstanding and two not so happy people.

Then circumstance bring them back to the same place at the same time. Second chances.

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy reading and kept me in my happy place. Ellie and Brady are both great characters. I love how hard Brady tries to show Ellie how much he loves her. He is a southern gentleman and a determined pursuer. So romantic. I love how things come together in the end where secrets are revealed and there is more happy than sad.

This is a clean romance. There is some kissing.

My thanks to Jennifer Peel, author, for allowing me to read and review her books. She is a newer author to me and this is the second book I've read by her. I'm looking forward to reading more by her in the near future. I love adding new authors to my clean romance favorites list. :)

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Contemporary Romance

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, southern, contemporary romance. House Divided was a story full of feuding families, long lost love, laughter, and forgiveness.
Because of past "hurts" and "choices", the town of Kaysville is split between two families. The Jacksons and the Eatens. Unfortunately for Brady and Ellie, they are among the two, and were supposed to be sworn enemies from birth. The story immediately sweeps you off your feet into their sweet forbidden teenage romance...and heartbreak.
I absolutely loved this spunky southern town and our Hero and heroine. I'm a sucker for a long lost love story and Brady and Miss Ellie's relationship is adorable. I also loved Ellie's Aunt Lu, and Brady's sweet niece Caroline. This story wove its way into my heart and I can't wait to read more from Jennifer Peel.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5--Loved this one!! It was so hard to put down! Hence why I'm up finishing it. ;)
It drew me in from the very beginning!
Ellie and Brady are from feuding families...and when I say feuding I mean like serious feuding. They despise each other. One of their family rules is that no Eaton can ever date a Jackson. And vice versa. So, of course that sets up our two main characters for a perfect forbidden love story. :) I loved the prologue and reading how their story began in high school...so sweet!! It also made their breakup all the more heart-wrenching, and that really helped set up the rest of the book.
I loved watching their reunited love story unfold. Brady was beyond romantic and sweet...and rightfully distraught over ending things when they were younger. You could tell he never stopped loving her and I loved how obvious it was that he couldn't (and wouldn't) live without her. I felt bad for Ellie because I can't imagine being stacked up against all that hatred from his mother. Speaking of which, Elizabeth was just plain horrid. After her explanation at the end, I understood why she felt the way she did about the situation, but to treat your son and the girl he loves like that...as a mom, I just can't imagine doing that. She was a well written character, because it was easy to dislike her. ;)
Besides, sweet little Caroline made up for all of Elizabeth's awfulness. ;) Loved her...and Brady's and her uncle/niece relationship. Adorable!
All in all this was an incredibly sweet, fun, romantic read. The only reason I gave it a 4.5 instead of a five was because it SO needed an epilogue! I needed to see them with kids in the house by the lake. ;) And I also would have liked a different outcome for his dad.
Would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys sweet romances!
Side note: I was totally picturing Brady as Gabriel Macht from Suits. ;)

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Eaton and Brady Jackson live in a divided town due to something that happened years ago. They each have rules to live by and one of the biggest was that Eaton's and Jackson's were never to date each other. Ellie and Brady broke that rule in high school and things were going well until Brady broke Ellie's heart and she left town shortly after that. She came back ten years later and that's when most of the story takes place. Ellie works hard to avoid Brady but he's everywhere and is determined to make up for what he did all those years ago.

I loved both Ellie and Brady! They had great chemistry. Ellie was so conflicted and it made me laugh at times. Her head would say one thing while her heart would contradict it at the end. She was angry and hurt and not ready to simply fall into Brady's arms. Brady was charming and swoon-worthy. It was hard to be mad at him even when he gave in to his family's wishes. He easily won me over and I was cheering for him to find a way back into Ellie's heart.

I loved how the story unfolded. There were funny, tender and heartbreaking moments. There was also the big secret to how the feud started which was slowly revealed. There were some other great characters I came to love, too, like Aunt Lu and Caroline.

I love a great story about second chances and this one delivered!! I was glad I started reading it on a day when I wasn't too busy because I couldn't put it down. This is definitely a book I will read again and I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author!

I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.

Mel's Shelves

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A House Divided was one of those books that made me want to ignore my children, my to-do list, my need for food, and pretty much anything else that would keep me from reading. Jennifer Peel has a real gift for depicting first love, heartbreak, and hope.

Ella Eaton and Brady Jackson have grown up in Kaysville, Alabama where the town is divided between Eatons and Jacksons, Auburn fans and Alabama fans. After years of separate classes, and sticking to the rules, Ella and Brady both become curious about each other. A secret friendship blooms into romance, but is later crushed by the opposition of their families. Now ten years later, Ellie's aunt is in the hospital, and Ellie has finally returned to Kaysville. Brady is determined to not let her out of his life again.

This story pulled at my heart strings, like the classic novel Persuasion, our hero and heroine have been separated for many years, yet have continued to love each other. I ached for Ellie and cried with her over their break-up and her resulting misery. Despite his colossal mistake in letting her go the first time, I loved Brady and how hard he worked to regain her trust. For Ellie's sake, I only wish he'd gone after her years sooner!

The interactions between Ellie and Brady were sweet, and often humorous. The characters felt so real that I felt like I knew them, and wanted to live among them. I don't know if I would root for Auburn or Alabama, but I was definitely rooting for Ellie and Brady. I'm sad to be done with their story, and can't wait to see what Jennifer Peel writes next.

Content: Clean
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eatons like Auburn and sit on the right side of the church. Jacksons like Alabama and sit on the left side of the church. And Eatons and Jacksons do not like each other. Ever. Until Ella Eaton and Brady Jackson fell in love when they were in high school. On Christmas day of their Senior year, Brady did the unthinkable and broke up with Ella because his dad was really sick and his family was being torn apart.

Ten years later… Aunt Lu, who raised Ella and was the only family she had, had a heart attack and so Ella comes back to Kaysville, Alabama to take care of her. It’s inevitable that she will meet up with Brady, but she doesn’t expect it to be so soon. And she doesn’t expect him to turn on the country boy southern charm full throttle while using his adorable 5-year-old niece to win her back. He’s definitely not playing fair, but Ella has no plans to fall for that again. While a lot has happened in the past 10 years, there is a lot that hasn’t changed.

I love when everything doesn’t resolve really fast and easily. Brady knows he made a huge mistake 10 years ago and that he has to work to regain Ella’s trust. Ella knows she’s going to have to try to cross bridges with his family… even though it will be very uncomfortable. Together they know that there is 40 years’ worth of hate trying to keep them apart.

Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)

[[michele]]

DNF @ 28%. Bor-ing. And one of those 1st person books where every other sentence starts with I. I I I I I aye yi yi. And also, I am starting to despise books where the h keeps thinking "I should stay away from him" and then repeatedly agrees to whatever the H asks, instantaneously. Pet peeve big time.

[Carola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many things unresolved

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Really, really enjoyed this one. I had a hard time putting it down to get anything done. Fun chemistry, love the long lost love stories. Brady's mother of course was a witch of the hightest degree! Wanted her to get lost in a dark forest.
Moral Note: A few hecks and dangs, of which I am sad to admit to anyone that I laughed at a few of them...now I will go and repent.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is a law irrevocably decreed in the state of Alabama that you must choose a team. You're either an Auburn fan or an Alabama Fan. There is no fence sitting or waffling. It’s one or the other. However, it doesn't mean that you can’t fall in love with someone from the opposing side. They even have a name for it ... House Divided.

Ellie Eaton and Brady Jackson were just such a couple, but unfortunately they were separated by more than just their loyalty to a university. Against the odds and against the rules, Ellie and Brady dove right into the forbidden current of friendship and then love. Their sweet, innocent romance was one for the storybooks, but old rules and family prejudices ultimately tore them apart, just as they were each ready to depart to their beloved universities, Ellie to Auburn and Brady to Alabama. But years later, when near tragedy strikes, they're brought together again and given a second chance at love, this time with the help from some very unlikely sources.

House Divided is a sweet romance filled with southern charm, a dash of humor and, for good measure, a pinch of lies and intrigue."

This was a new author for me and from the first chapter I fell head over heals for this book. It was funny, sad, aggravating and just happy in general. Every time I had to stop reading I count stop thinking about the book, it was as if it was calling me back to read it. It was absolutely amazing. The characters and their situations were real. My favorite character was probably Brady because he was always forgiving and so optimistic. The characters were what really made this book what it was, obviously the story line was just as great.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I really loved this book! I loved both the young Ellie Eaton and the grown up one. Her romance with Brady Jackson, the forbidden young man, was both sweet and fairy-tale like. Even though both her aunt who had raised her as her own child and his parents were not happy about the young couple, but they didn't care. Until his father gets sick and Jackson bows to the will of his family. I loved that they were given a second chance years later when they had both graduated from their respective colleges. Life had changed things for both of them, Ellie, now Elle, is a successful author who refuses to set foot in their little town even to visit her aunt. Brady, whose NFL aspirations were killed with one wild hit in his final game for Alabama, now is working in his family's bank.

I loved the characters in this book, Ellie or Elle is just trying to do her best and not get sucked back into Brady's life only to be kicked out again. Brady is doing his best to show her that there is no way that that will ever happen, but she just can't trust that. I loved the plot, I loved that there were secrets in this book that I didn't find out until the very end. It certainly kept me guessing. The ending was cute and sweet and left me wishing that it didn't have to end. Jennifer Peel is a master at writing clean romance, I'm definitely going to have to be looking for more books by Jennifer Peel to read really soon!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stayed up soooo late reading this book just to see how it ended.

We first meet Ella when she's describing the rules that rule her life and her town. You have to be an Auburn fan or an Alabama fan, you don't ever wear a crown, and you don't associate with the Jackson family. Ella breaks the biggest of those rules when she falls in love with Brady Jackson.

They are cruelly torn apart as teens and then the book fast forwards to ten years later. Ella has come home to take care of a family situation and Brady seems to be everywhere she is. Ella is trying to reconcile her buried feelings and hurt and betrayal from their breakup years ago, as well as unravel the mystery as to why the rules were there in the first place. That is what kept me up late. While I loved the romance between Ella and Brady, I just had to know why those rules came to be. And it was worth the wait. So tender.

I enjoyed the southern touches the author uses, they felt genuine, I liked the small town setting, and the characters were endearing, especially Brady. I love second chance romance stories and this one did not disappoint. A great afternoon/evening/half the night read!

Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the first part, when they were young. But Brady was so weak and a total tool to her.

He broke up with her due to his dad having cancer and family pressure, the next day he is parading around school, holding hands with the girl he said she wasn't to worry about. She left for college and never got over him, remaining a virgin, of course.

TEN WHOLE YEARS later, her aunt is in hospital, and the only reason the H&h see each other again is because she needed to go to the bank which his family owns.

He apparently loved her so much, but he never contacted her in the ten years, or tried to get in touch after his father was better he never fought for her, he stayed with the girl he left her for, for a good few years, was even engaged at one point, even though he apparently didn't love her. UGGHH!!!

He was pathetic, happy to dump her and get on with his life, and she of course was still pining over him ten years later, It bugs me that he just dumped her, and that was it, no trying to talk to her later, when they were in college or even when they were adults, he was happy to just leave it at that. He NEVER went after her, she had to come back to their small minded town, where half the town hates because of her name, JHC.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun book that I spent all Sunday reading. Set in Alabama, this story delves into the rivalry between Auburn and Alabama universities. Life for Ella has several set rules she must never break. When she falls for Brady Jackson in high school, she breaks the number one rule…because the town has been divided not only between Auburn/Alabama lines, but Eaton/Jackson lines as well, and their ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story is bound to fail with that much force against it. This romance takes star-crossed love to a new level as the hero and heroine try to break down all the barriers to their families accepting them as a couple when they get a second chance at love ten years later. Awesome book that was clean and fun, and full of southern charm and wit. I absolutely loved the characters and how the author kept me waiting with baited breath as I turned each page. I dropped this in my favorites collection when I finished. It’s the kind of story I could definitely reread when I need a pick-me-up. **I received this book for free from the author in return for an honest review...and loved it so much I picked up another book by the author to read. Love her writing style.

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book probably two years ago and I just realized I never wrote a review. I apologize Jennifer Peel! I don't know how I didn't. Because this book was laugh out loud funny! She captured with great humor the essence of the south and it's love of college football. I for one come from a house divided and I totally get it! She threw in a beauty queen grandmother and family feud between the heroine and the hero. I loved this book and I highly recommend it. It is a southern style Romeo and Juliet!! Get this book and enjoy this funny rom/com.

[Victoria Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet clean romance. I really loved the characters Elle and Brady. Brady was so sweet, and really determined to win Elle back. There were some phrases that sounded charming at first, but was repeated too much they irritated me. That said, I could hear their dialogue in my head and it reminded me of the movie "Sweet Home Alabama." Elle's Aunt Lu was a great secondary character and I was really sad with what happened to her which eventually divided the town.

[Barbara S. Lukat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely romance with a mystery

Love the mystery and romance to the end. I loved the main character being a author o f2f children's books.

[Santhiya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story didn't have anything. Second chance romance( after 10 years )works only if there is real conflict and some angst to build upon which this story lacks.

There is no story building with interesting conversation or funny events. There is no big betrayal to overcome or obstacle to fight through. There really isn't much to go on after prologue. So generous 2 stars for the attempt.

[Anissa Vest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay super fast easy read and a cute love story. However I felt like things were missing, like consequences to some of the characters actions and the ending was so abrupt. Loved the cute story but was missing some other things for me!