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Return to Redemption #6

Don't Break My Heart: Book Six of the Return to Redemption Series

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Join the town of Redemption celebrating!


Architect Justin Riverá doesn’t know a thing about raising a fifteen-year-old girl. Nor does he have the slightest clue how to cheer up his orphaned goddaughter, Haley, who’s facing her first Christmas without her parents.


When his brother’s family (which includes Haley’s best friend), are invited to a Christmas Eve destination wedding—which involves a three-day vacation at a mountain ski resort—his brother insists they should join them for the holiday. For Haley’s sake, Justin agrees, never suspecting one of the other guests is his first and only love, who, for some mysterious reason, disappeared sixteen years ago, deserting her family and all of her friends—including him.


When high school counselor Trisha Mason sees her unforgettable college boyfriend at a wedding, she’s tempted to run the other way. Much to her dismay, he’s hunkier than ever, and his goddaughter is a determined matchmaker. Consequently, when Justin attempts to resume their relationship by seducing Trisha, she can’t resist falling into bed and in love with him all over again.


Trisha has always had a soft spot for troubled teens, and would love to be Justin’s wife and Haley’s stand-in mom. But despite being eager to spend more time with her in and out of bed, Justin still seems as anti-marriage as he was in college. Regrettably, Trisha has no choice but to end their fling after their vacation. Otherwise, she’ll be forced to confess her secret.

204 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2014

505 people are currently reading
1012 people want to read

About the author

Laurie Kellogg

18 books197 followers

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5 stars
288 (32%)
4 stars
291 (32%)
3 stars
235 (26%)
2 stars
64 (7%)
1 star
16 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for RedRedtheycallmeRed.
1,972 reviews49 followers
November 7, 2014
Even though I've read all the Redemption books, I still have a hard time trying to keep all the characters straight. There were so many that were mentioned in the first part of the book at the wedding! So if you're trying to read this as a stand-alone, you might be a bit confused.

This book was pretty short, without a huge amount of drama. Justin and Trisha hashed out what happened in the past pretty quickly. Both were unsure about trying a second time. Hayley, Justin's goddaughter, tugged at my heartstrings. Losing both of her parents makes her want a family with Justin and Trisha. Naive, but understandable.

What I didn't like about the book was the HUGE COINCIDENCE involving the pregnancy. No eye roll is big enough for that.

My favorite books of this series are the first two: The Memory of You and A Little Bit of Deja Vu. Still, I enjoy taking trips to Redemption and will continue to do so.
107 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2015
started out good.

*****SPOILER****** Then after agreeing to a fake hook up with the host, the host decides to send Justin, an old love interest that she hasn't gotten over in his place.

In the first place, what colossal nerve on his part to send someone else, anyone else. Second of all, she doesn't send him away. I can't stand female leads that have no pride.

Needless to say I did not finish the book.
Profile Image for SandyL.
3,732 reviews
November 13, 2018
Trisha Mason and Justin Rivera were a couple in college, but she abruptly left and he never heard from her again. Years later, he is guardian for the daughter of a couple who had been friends of theirs. Haley is almost 16 and is still struggling with losing her dad. When the two go to the fancy schmancy wedding of Luke and Samantha, funded by Ben, he runs into Trisha. He never got over her and never married. Trisha is now working as a school counselor in Redemption and figured she'd run into Justin sooner or later, but is shocked to see him at the wedding. She also never got over him, and although she's still attracted to him, isn't in a position to start a relationship. But the two decide to have three days of adult fun while staying at the resort.

I should have read this series in order, because I was a bit lost with all the different characters (and there are a lot of them to keep track of.) But that wasn't my problem with this book - it more about how the relationship between Justin and Trisha progressed. After a day she was asking him if he wanted to get married. But she didn't want to get married because of something else she had going on. So I'm not sure why she asked him. And she did it more than once when he would allude to some type of future. I did like some of the other characters and plan to go back and read the books in order.
Profile Image for Carole Mckee.
335 reviews7 followers
September 28, 2020
Beautiful.

Justin is guardian to his best friend's daughter, Haley. As her Godfather, he accepted the responsibility as his friend lay dying with cancer. Bailey's mother had died a few years earlier due to a car accident. Justin is all she has. When they attend an elaborate Christmas Eve wedding, Justin connects with his ex-wife girlfriend, whom he hasn't seen in years. She has a reason why she cannot rekindle their relationship and he may not like it. In some places in this story, you may want to have a tissue ready. I believe that the main point this story brings out is that a family is made of love, not blood. Well done.
Profile Image for Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams.
2,705 reviews5 followers
March 31, 2023
Don't Break My Heart (Return to Redemption, Book 6)

The love story of Justin and Trisha. Since Justin best friend and partner die, he has been take of his daughter, Haley and running their business. They are going to Sabrina and Luke's wedding where he is set next to Trisha. Trisha is pregnant. Will they find happiness and love? Ok story.
868 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2021
Loved

I really love how this series continues to bring in the previous books characters. This story of two college lovers reunited at a wedding makes you believe that you sometimes find your soul mate and lose them for a period of time, to only reunite later on in life
34 reviews
February 21, 2022
Fast read


Good book. It was predictable for me. I knew how it would end very early on in the story. Still an overall good book.
Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews68 followers
June 15, 2014
Don’t Break my Heart is book six in the Redemption series by Laurie Kellogg.
Justin Rivera is raising Haley, his fifteen year old god daughter after the tragix death of her mother when she was thirteen and her father just recently from cancer. He knows he is just feeling his way through the trials of raising a daughter but he loves Haley and intends to do a good job. He knows Christmas will be hard on her this year so when his brother Nick insists he join them in celebrating Luke and Sabrina’s wedding, he agrees to go. It helps that most of the town is going and all expenses are paid for by Luke and Sabrina’s friend Ben. Haley is all right with going as she gets to ski and party with her best friend, Dani, Nick’s daughter.
The three day extravaganza is made all the more interesting as Justin’s old girlfriend, Trish is also there as a guest. Her friend Frankie and her husband had broken up and Frankie needed someone to go with her. Ben ask Trisha to spend the night in his room so Luke and Sabrina will think they have something going and won’t be sad for Ben. He plans to sleep somewhere else. He trades places with Justin after seeing the sparks fly between Trisha and Justin giving them a chance to be together again.
Will Trisha and Justin end up together? Will Ben be happy?
This is a great series and I can hardly wait for the next book.
173 reviews
November 14, 2014
Unexpected Friendships

Justin inhaled once again as being a guardian of a teenager, Haley, after the death of his long time friend from cancer, was tougher than he thought. So he was on his way to a wealthy friend's wedding back home and he had to finally lay down his foot to Haley that she was coming too.

The expensive wedding package given by his friends to all guests attending was a week of fun in the snow at an exclusive hotel, free.

This week proved to be a good not only for Justin, but Haley as well, who made good friends. Old friendships, too, rekindled, while romance bloomed, and excitement as to what would happen when the vacation stopped, left the reader in suspense and Justin worried that his romance would en



Profile Image for Martha.
231 reviews
November 21, 2014
This book picked up where the previous left off flawlessly with everyone attending a very extravagant wedding. It's just the right blend of lost love, sex, and friends who want to help the couple realize they were meant to be together. Throw in a teenage girl who needs the stability of a family that includes a mom and a dad and you have a story that will make you feel good in the end.

I've enjoyed all of the books in this series and hope that maybe there's just one more book that might need to be written that would bring an end, or a beginning, to the lives of the families of Redemption, PA.
64 reviews
August 5, 2018
Laurie writes with a such a smooth compelling voice, you can see in your mind's eye where the characters are, feel they are feeling, and you completely forget where you are IRL (in real life).
The plot first seems straightforward, but the deeper Laurie guides you, the more complexities rise from the depths of anguished loss, need of acceptance, and fear to communicate.
There is NO cliffhanger here, but a wonderful book #6 of the town of Redemption series. It's the first one I've read and I didn't feel left out not knowing the other characters. Now I'm looking forward to reading the previous books and the upcoming releases. Thanks, Laurie!
Profile Image for Janeiowa.
1,247 reviews
November 12, 2014
I enjoyed the story, and I would buy other titles by this author.

If I could make a suggestion to the author, it would be to edit it a bit more. There were parts that seemed to drag and there were also a lot of characters to try and keep track of. That may be because I did not read this series from #1 as I usually do. I also thought the author relied pretty heavily on "coincidence" to explain a lot of the plot twists.
Profile Image for gwendolyn Robin.
476 reviews2 followers
November 14, 2015
Tear Jerker

This book is about love. In order to find true love you have to set it free. He let her leave 16 years before. She had a secret when she left him when they were in college. Now 16 years later at a friend's wedding they reunite. She's still the girl for him. He still makes her melt. Will this be their chance at true love. Take a wild ride that will have you laughing and crying
Profile Image for Sue Parker.
1,258 reviews14 followers
July 25, 2016
Justin and Haley were in love when they were in college. But she disappeared and left without telling him why. Now she is back in Redemption and he wants to pick up where they left off. But Justin is now raising his best friends teenage daughter who is also his Goddaughter. It's cute how the teenage daughter winds up playing match maker. I loved this book and can't say enough good about this whole series!
Profile Image for Stacey Timmons .
640 reviews4 followers
September 25, 2018
Ok. This book was super cheesy and really predictable. The first couple of chapters were confusing as hell. Naming all previous characters and not really knowing who is who. And the conversations that were carried on.

There was no conflict to speak of really. Even their old hurts were discussed in one conversation while dancing. She's secretly pregnant with a doner's baby. He donated sperm. Get where I'm going?! Yeah, terrible cheesy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
800 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2014
The series that keeps on going

Laurie has an excellent series going and with each subsequent story, it just keeps getting better. The cast of characters is an awesome blend that with each book, meshes well and makes me want to visit the town of Redemption, PA., to get to know them even better. Thank you.
488 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2014
You root for these characters and want to read about them!

Heartbreak and loss surround these people and they manage to find comfort and make a life with each other after going through so much. Great characters and they feel like people you know who have been through some of the same things!
Profile Image for Black Butterfly.
2,630 reviews39 followers
May 16, 2015
A STAND ALONE SERIES (I love that) IT FOLLOWS SETS OF CHARACTER’S ROMANCES.POOR BJ ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID NEVER A BRIDE (since he’s a guy groomsman/groom) HE IS SUCH A GREAT GUY TOO. BJ IS GOOD LOOKING AND A BILLIONAIRE TO BOOT I GUESS FOR NOW HE’LL HAVE TO USE HIS BILLIONS TO KEEP HIM HAPPY. THIS IS A FEEL GOOD-STEAMY-HEARTWARMING –FUN READ. ;D
Profile Image for Jennifer.
218 reviews2 followers
January 11, 2015
I know this is a series, but I read this book without reading the others in the series. It took me a little while to get all the characters straight ( there is a town full), but once I got past that, the book was great! Definitely stands on its own merit!
Profile Image for Gretchen Fatouros.
Author 3 books3 followers
March 27, 2015
The begging of this book was very confusing, with too many people. Maybe if I had read the other books in the series, I would have enjoyed the beginning more. It just wasn't flowing well for me.

Overall, it picked up and was an okay read.
Profile Image for Susan.
533 reviews5 followers
September 14, 2015
Justin Rivera is raising his best friends daughter after the death of both her father and mother in a short time. He is single as he never got over losing the love of his life years ago. When they meet can they rekindle the love that they once had, or is it too late??
Profile Image for Melinus.
103 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2016
3.5*
Fun read with minor surprises. The story itself was lovely, only the end a bit too sweet. BUT all the side characters from all the other former books of this series woven in this story were just to much to keep up with and made it kind of complicated.
Profile Image for Sharon Rudolph.
2,137 reviews
February 1, 2016
Good book

This book was good, I enjoyed two of the others in this series more than this one, but it was still good. I enjoy the fact that characters from the previous books are in this book and we can get caught up on their lives.
Profile Image for Katie Chapman.
549 reviews2 followers
February 3, 2016
Serendipitous

Not her typical laugh out loud book, but definitely a nice, light read. Kellogg's warning in the beginning, that lots of her other characters appear, is true and a bit confusing if it's been awhile since you've read the previous books. Still a very nice read.
Profile Image for Ellen Anderson.
1,251 reviews
November 12, 2017
Entertaining

I did enjoy this book, even though it appears to be about the sixth book in a series, so lots of characters to try to figure out. The only bad part about not starting with book one. It was a good book though and it did have a HEA, so I can't complain.
Profile Image for Melody.
105 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2018
always a pleasure

The Return to Redemption series is a pleasure to read. I love all the characters and how they all pop up throughout the series. This book was no exception, very easy, fun read that I got through in one day.
Profile Image for Leigh Parrish.
1,058 reviews35 followers
July 10, 2018
I liked the concept, but it ended up being rushed and not as easy to connect to the couple like previous books in this series. Just my personal opinion but I’d rather had more “story” and less bedroom scenes.
Profile Image for Veronica.
1,013 reviews5 followers
January 5, 2019
Say what you mean...

...and mean what you say! Miscommunication is at its worst when people don’t clearly articulate their thoughts, but assume the other person knows what they mean. Justin and Trish discover this, and what a mess!

Another sweet and spicy romance with depth.
Profile Image for Jana Hinson.
202 reviews
February 28, 2014
I'm really looking forward to Ben's story. I loved this book and how you brought everyone we love from redemption into it.
Profile Image for Melissa Morr.
189 reviews15 followers
March 22, 2014
I love the Return to Redemption series I can't wait to read Ben's story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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