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When I Saw You
After suffering a devastating betrayal at the hands of her husband, Lia Merrick is done with men. She's determined to throw herself into the career she never wanted and be a good mother to her five-year-old daughter. When she's watching television one evening and sees an interview with Washingtonian Magazine's Most Eligible Bachelor, Joseph Craig, her body's reaction to the handsome attorney shocks her. A chance encounter with him a couple of months later will test the strength of the carefully erected walls around her heart. Laura Branchflower is a compelling new voice in contemporary women's fiction with believable characters dealing with real life struggles. When I Saw You is her debut novel.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2017
60 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 6, 2019
★ 3.8 STARS ★
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July 28, 2024
3, maybe 3.5 stars. A light romance with a little bit of a mystery and some legal shenanigans. A quick and easy read. The hero's obsessive quest for money started to make him a bit unlikeable, even though it was clear what was driving him. It was a relief when he came to his senses, although this was quite late in the book.
January 2, 2019
I almost gave up on this story around 30%, I'm glad I stuck with it because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here are the the things I liked, and what didn't quite work for me -
1. Hero - Joseph came off very sleazy at the beginning. His actions at work and how he treats a girlfriend almost ruined the story for me. He's a flawed hero with some serious issues.
2. Chemistry - The connection between Joseph and Lia is great. I'd consider this a slow burn, the romance takes a while to develop.
3. Heroine -I liked Lia, she was a little clueless but thankfully wasn't a doormat. She's a sympathetic character, doing her best to rebuild her life after a devastating divorce.
4. Ex-husband - Lia's ex is a character you love to hate, this was a highlight of the story for me. I love when a villain (cheater) gets their comeuppance!
5. Plot - The story is well developed, this isn't a by the book romance. I thought there were a few loose ends, but overall I was pleased with how the story wrapped up. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, I'd recommend this one.
Triggers -
1. Hero - Joseph came off very sleazy at the beginning. His actions at work and how he treats a girlfriend almost ruined the story for me. He's a flawed hero with some serious issues.
2. Chemistry - The connection between Joseph and Lia is great. I'd consider this a slow burn, the romance takes a while to develop.
3. Heroine -I liked Lia, she was a little clueless but thankfully wasn't a doormat. She's a sympathetic character, doing her best to rebuild her life after a devastating divorce.
4. Ex-husband - Lia's ex is a character you love to hate, this was a highlight of the story for me. I love when a villain (cheater) gets their comeuppance!
5. Plot - The story is well developed, this isn't a by the book romance. I thought there were a few loose ends, but overall I was pleased with how the story wrapped up. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, I'd recommend this one.
Triggers -
January 27, 2019
I don't necessarily love the characters but the author writes them well. I love the intensity of the story. Joseph was very alpha but stunted by a revelation when he was 14. There was such a contrast between that and his accumulation of wealth. Lia sure was sweet and naive. I was so concerned about her behavior when her ex-husband surprised her. It was over the top!
December 2, 2018
What a pleasant surprise that this book turned out to be. I really liked the protagonists and liked their back stories. In all honesty, I wish they the epilogue was longer and some in my opinion loose ends were tied up aka "the fathers" because the lack of relationships with their fathers played a big part in who they became as people.
I hope that this author does a novella to follow up with this couple.
I hope that this author does a novella to follow up with this couple.
January 22, 2019
Photo Story Inside!
Full photo story: https://pin.it/wfcwpio7qntmrm
Full photo story: https://pin.it/wfcwpio7qntmrm
April 13, 2020
Okayyy I initially didn’t want to review but I just can’t help but wonder what went wrong. I mean, after the stellar opinion I had of the author after I read ‘a sense of belonging,’ I seriously wanted to stop at 30% but carried on giving it the benefit of the doubt. Both the lead characters seem to be flawed, which is completely okay, but their actions are utterly non-sensical at times and I’m disappointed that the author thought the reader should accept flimsy, unfounded reasons for them and that’s that. It felt like a chore reading it unfortunately. And So. Much. Repetition. What’s up that?
What’s the point in my rant you ask? None at all except being an outlet for my own frustrations having wasted time.
August 13, 2017
When I Saw You is an excellent read. The author cleverly crafts the novel with witty characters and real-life problems. The continually evolving plot is filled with so many exciting twists and turns that I couldn't put it down. The characters themselves are complicated and authentic, and I quickly fell in love with Joseph. When I Saw You has the chemistry and steaminess of a classic romance and the substance and writing style of a great novel. This is the kind of book I wish I could unread just so I would have the pleasure of reading it for the first time again.
January 1, 2018
Loved it! Would have been 5 stars but the author didn't finish some situations.
July 3, 2019
Love this author
I am totally enamored with this author! The first book I read was A White Picket Fence followed by Swimming Naked. I’m obsessed with Lina, Phil, and Kim. I highly recommend this author to anyone.
I am totally enamored with this author! The first book I read was A White Picket Fence followed by Swimming Naked. I’m obsessed with Lina, Phil, and Kim. I highly recommend this author to anyone.
January 31, 2019
Just Okay
When I saw you was an okay read. I the chemistry was just generic. The sex between Joseph and Kathy was more explosive , at least to me it was. What was missing in this read was the writer's inability to make the reader feel the passion Joseph had for Lia. When the couple first meet apparently he falls hard, but the reader is told this later in the book. I wanted to feel (read) what he feels when he first sees her, I mean this is THE ONE. He was about to ask Kathy to marry him and upon seeing Lia he changes his mind. I wanted to experience Joseph being brought to his knees and unfortunately I was told how he felt. There was more passion in Kathy's and Joseph's breakup than with Lia's and Joseph's entire courtship.
When I saw you was an okay read. I the chemistry was just generic. The sex between Joseph and Kathy was more explosive , at least to me it was. What was missing in this read was the writer's inability to make the reader feel the passion Joseph had for Lia. When the couple first meet apparently he falls hard, but the reader is told this later in the book. I wanted to feel (read) what he feels when he first sees her, I mean this is THE ONE. He was about to ask Kathy to marry him and upon seeing Lia he changes his mind. I wanted to experience Joseph being brought to his knees and unfortunately I was told how he felt. There was more passion in Kathy's and Joseph's breakup than with Lia's and Joseph's entire courtship.
June 22, 2018
This is a good story.
I am not keen on the Hero or heroine being intimate with anyone other than the Hero or heroine and although the scenes are before the Hero and heroine meet they are both intimate with other people and it is described.
The subject matter for Lia is not very pleasant but it's a clever plot.
Once the Hero expresses his interest in the heroine there is no-one else for either of them.
Ex-drama on both sides, more for her than him, not trying to get her back but treating her badly through their daughter.
I would have liked a more rounded ending I felt it came late towards the end and the HEA was more of less summarised as certain events having happened.
This couple do appear in another book so we see how their HEA works out.
I am not keen on the Hero or heroine being intimate with anyone other than the Hero or heroine and although the scenes are before the Hero and heroine meet they are both intimate with other people and it is described.
The subject matter for Lia is not very pleasant but it's a clever plot.
Once the Hero expresses his interest in the heroine there is no-one else for either of them.
Ex-drama on both sides, more for her than him, not trying to get her back but treating her badly through their daughter.
I would have liked a more rounded ending I felt it came late towards the end and the HEA was more of less summarised as certain events having happened.
This couple do appear in another book so we see how their HEA works out.
September 17, 2021
I love the way this author writes, she can pack a punch in a few words and get the point across where the reader still feels it in the gut. Lia Merrick is struggling to make ends meet and take care of her daughter ever since her ex-husband divorced her. I really empathized with Lia, she had a trusting heart and it got stomped on viciously and after letting herself be vulnerable again only to crash and burn, she swears no more men or relationships. While she may have felt that she was naive and blindsided, she matured into knowing her worth and would no longer tolerate less later on, in part thanks to Joseph Craig. I didn't know what to make of him at first. He seemed a bit of a hot mess, this successful and sharp attorney whose eligible bachelor status would not be relinquished easily. While I understood where he came from due to his back story, I was a little put off by how callously he handled his girlfriend who loved him. He refuses to build an emotional connection and prefers to keep his personal space private. However, Lia became an immediate game changer upon their first meeting and from there, I grew to like and admire Joseph, how he stepped into the captain's seat and took over in taking care of her. I saw a different side of him, but he has always been ferociously determined and driven and this also resulted in blind spots that cost him. There's some great plot points and bittersweet lessons in this one, as well as karmic justice being served.
August 19, 2017
I LOVED this book! The author sent me this book to read and review and I'm very grateful for the opportunity. It's totally the kind of book I like! It has a great love story with some intrigue. It's not like a thriller, but like a low humming intrigue related to a white collar crime. In this book, the male character (Joseph Craig) is the complicated one, with many layers of f-up issues. The heroine (Lia Merrick) is a regular girl, very beautiful, who married her college sweetheart. When her husband started Law school, she dropped out to work full-time, and two years after he graduated, he cheated on her and left her for another woman. And the other woman is the daughter of one of the partners in the law firm that ex-hubby works at. Your typical jerk douche. Moreover, he screwed her over in the divorce, leaving her with a five-year old daughter and in a dingy little apartment. And yet he had the gall to complain that he didn't like his daughter living in such a place.
Lia's mother paid for Lia to finish college and she had just graduated. Luckily, her search for a job was successful and she was employed in Zurtech, a leading computer technology company. About Lia: she was sweet, responsible, intelligent, and in a sad place because the man she loved left her for another woman. Her self-image is a little tarnished, but as we see through the book, she has an inner core of strength and she's no push-over. She's defensive because she doesn't want to get hurt, but she's also needing a man's attention.
Now to Joseph, who is the complicated, multilayered guy. He was born a bastard, yet he knew who his father was. His grandmother Elizabeth worked for a rich family, the Williamses of Massachusetts. She lived in a small cottage in the property with her daughter Helen. When this daughter started her freshman year in college, she met Richard Jefferson Eastwood III. They dated and when she found herself pregnant, he discarded her with instructions to get an abortion. He was about to marry a women in his same social class and had no time for casual alliances. So Helen did not seek Eastwood again, dropped out of college, had her baby and started working for the Williamses too. Joseph was raised within sight of the huge mansion, but lived in a little cottage.
"Joseph spent his life with the affluent, not as a servant or as an equal, but as an outsider striving to be like them because they were all he knew."
"He shared their world but not their status."
Mr. Williams took a lot of interest in Joseph. He attended the best schools and universities, graduated always top of the class, excelled in sports and inherited his biological father and grandfather's business acumen. He got his degree in law and is a partner in a prominent law firm in DC. Meanwhile, he amassed an incredible wealth, working on investments and bonds. He's a multimillionaire, who works just because he likes it. His only challenge is surpassing his biological father's wealth and rub it in his face.
In the beginning of the book Joseph is dating a model called Cathy. He was also a little bit of a douche. I was not very impressed with him, except for his intelligence, good looks and professional competence.
As Lia works in her company, she starts to detect some irregularities and strange workings. Then she meets and dates one of the clients, and sees how her boss encourages her to pursue the relation, until one scandalous night. When she's convinced that there's some dirty going-ons, she goes to Joseph for a consult. And this is the moment I liked most in the story. When he sees her, he's struck. He can't take his eyes off of her. She had to attend with her little daughter, no babysitter available, and he was also struck with the beautiful little girl. He sees no merit in Lia's case, because his firm doesn't handle that type of case, yet he goes above and beyond in the interview and invites her and her daughter to lunch. On the way out, they meet Joseph's girlfriend, who arrived by surprise to invite him to lunch. Lia escaped and I saw that Joseph was not very happy with events, yay.
Next comes a web of intrigues, hidden agendas, investigations, sleuthing, work partners strife. It sounds like a mess but it's not, it's very fascinating. I found that Joseph's obsession with his father and being able to show him up as his equal, tends to obscure his dealings and that also happens in his personal relations. It's like his moral compass is a little compromised with his personal issues. The author did a great job sorting through all this mess and gives us a book with many layers of financial negotiations, a complicated love story and a great heroine. Lia takes Joseph on, after he broke up with Cathy, and leads him on a route to discovery of his failings and move beyond that. I loved both characters, Lia for being the sweet and strong heroine, Joseph for being complicated, deep and interesting. The story was complicated because there were different plots and layers, all interconnected, all related and working at different levels until it all came together. I loved it!
Lia's mother paid for Lia to finish college and she had just graduated. Luckily, her search for a job was successful and she was employed in Zurtech, a leading computer technology company. About Lia: she was sweet, responsible, intelligent, and in a sad place because the man she loved left her for another woman. Her self-image is a little tarnished, but as we see through the book, she has an inner core of strength and she's no push-over. She's defensive because she doesn't want to get hurt, but she's also needing a man's attention.
Now to Joseph, who is the complicated, multilayered guy. He was born a bastard, yet he knew who his father was. His grandmother Elizabeth worked for a rich family, the Williamses of Massachusetts. She lived in a small cottage in the property with her daughter Helen. When this daughter started her freshman year in college, she met Richard Jefferson Eastwood III. They dated and when she found herself pregnant, he discarded her with instructions to get an abortion. He was about to marry a women in his same social class and had no time for casual alliances. So Helen did not seek Eastwood again, dropped out of college, had her baby and started working for the Williamses too. Joseph was raised within sight of the huge mansion, but lived in a little cottage.
"Joseph spent his life with the affluent, not as a servant or as an equal, but as an outsider striving to be like them because they were all he knew."
"He shared their world but not their status."
Mr. Williams took a lot of interest in Joseph. He attended the best schools and universities, graduated always top of the class, excelled in sports and inherited his biological father and grandfather's business acumen. He got his degree in law and is a partner in a prominent law firm in DC. Meanwhile, he amassed an incredible wealth, working on investments and bonds. He's a multimillionaire, who works just because he likes it. His only challenge is surpassing his biological father's wealth and rub it in his face.
In the beginning of the book Joseph is dating a model called Cathy. He was also a little bit of a douche. I was not very impressed with him, except for his intelligence, good looks and professional competence.
As Lia works in her company, she starts to detect some irregularities and strange workings. Then she meets and dates one of the clients, and sees how her boss encourages her to pursue the relation, until one scandalous night. When she's convinced that there's some dirty going-ons, she goes to Joseph for a consult. And this is the moment I liked most in the story. When he sees her, he's struck. He can't take his eyes off of her. She had to attend with her little daughter, no babysitter available, and he was also struck with the beautiful little girl. He sees no merit in Lia's case, because his firm doesn't handle that type of case, yet he goes above and beyond in the interview and invites her and her daughter to lunch. On the way out, they meet Joseph's girlfriend, who arrived by surprise to invite him to lunch. Lia escaped and I saw that Joseph was not very happy with events, yay.
Next comes a web of intrigues, hidden agendas, investigations, sleuthing, work partners strife. It sounds like a mess but it's not, it's very fascinating. I found that Joseph's obsession with his father and being able to show him up as his equal, tends to obscure his dealings and that also happens in his personal relations. It's like his moral compass is a little compromised with his personal issues. The author did a great job sorting through all this mess and gives us a book with many layers of financial negotiations, a complicated love story and a great heroine. Lia takes Joseph on, after he broke up with Cathy, and leads him on a route to discovery of his failings and move beyond that. I loved both characters, Lia for being the sweet and strong heroine, Joseph for being complicated, deep and interesting. The story was complicated because there were different plots and layers, all interconnected, all related and working at different levels until it all came together. I loved it!
May 4, 2019
Not as good as the other one :/
October 27, 2021
This was an interesting read. Plenty of subplots going on in addition to a sweet love story. I really liked the characters and their growth. Definitely recommend
January 2, 2018
WHEN I SAW YOU by Laura Branchflower
5 stars--
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 6, 2017
Abandoned by her father at twelve and her husband thirteen years later, Lia Merrick is damaged but resolved not to be a victim. A single mother forced to return to the workplace, she is confident her luck has changed when she obtains an account executive position at Zurtech. When she discovers she is a pawn in a sordid scheme she seeks the counsel of one of the top attorneys in Washington, D.C.
Washingtonian Magazine's most eligible bachelor, thirty-four year old attorney Joseph Craig, is the illegitimate son of one of the wealthiest men in the country. Raised in the servant's quarters on a palatial estate in Massachusetts and educated among the elite of New England, Joseph harbors a deep insecurity, which fuels his desire to continually succeed.
As Lia and Joseph's stories merge the injustices of their pasts will test their ability to move forward together. And as Joseph plots to expose an illegal high-stakes game at the highest levels of corporate America, he will have to decide whether reaching his lifetime goal is worth compromising his principles and betraying the woman he loves.
Laura Branchflower is a compelling new voice in contemporary women's fiction with believable characters dealing with real life struggles.
•••••••••••••••
REVIEW: WHEN I SAW YOU by Laura Branchflower is the first instalment in the debut author’s erotic, romance series. This is thirty-four year old billionaire attorney Joseph Craig, and divorced, single mother Lia Merrick’s story line.
Told from several third person perspectives including Lia and Joseph WHEN I SAW YOU follows the building relationship between attorney Joseph Craig, and Lia Merrick. Desperate for a job our heroine find’s herself embroiled in a potential lawsuit when the company she worked for misrepresented the position she was hired to perform. Enter Joseph Craig, powerful attorney and the man with whom Lia would fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and love between Lia and Joseph, and the potential fall out when Joseph’s true motives are revealed.
WHEN I SAW YOU is an infinitely detailed and cleverly written story line that follows several paths including the legal battle between our heroine and her ex-husband, and Joseph’s questionable rise to financial success. Our hero battles a lifetime of demons in his pursuit of the almighty dollar but his biggest loss may come at the hands of the woman he loves.
We are introduced to Joseph’s law firm partners: Tony Prossi and Kevin Stuart, as well as Joseph’s ex-girlfriend / model Kathy Paige, and Joseph’s secretary Martha Godfrey; Lia’s five year old daughter Taylor; Lia’s ex-husband Ned Merrick, and his wife Candice; as well as a number of businessmen and clients of Zurtech Enterprises. Tony Prossi’s story line is next in A Sense of Belonging (August 2017)
Laura Branchflower’s debut release is a striking, seductive and intriguing story line that straddles the line between romance and suspense. The premise is flawless in its presentation; the characters are colorful, charismatic and damaged; the romance is passionate, intense and dramatic. WHEN I SAW YOU is a fantastic read with exceptional characters, and a truly original premise but I can’t help but make similar comparisons to a real-life Joseph, and his mother’s secret affair with a well-known politician.
www.thereadingcafe.com
5 stars--
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 6, 2017
Abandoned by her father at twelve and her husband thirteen years later, Lia Merrick is damaged but resolved not to be a victim. A single mother forced to return to the workplace, she is confident her luck has changed when she obtains an account executive position at Zurtech. When she discovers she is a pawn in a sordid scheme she seeks the counsel of one of the top attorneys in Washington, D.C.
Washingtonian Magazine's most eligible bachelor, thirty-four year old attorney Joseph Craig, is the illegitimate son of one of the wealthiest men in the country. Raised in the servant's quarters on a palatial estate in Massachusetts and educated among the elite of New England, Joseph harbors a deep insecurity, which fuels his desire to continually succeed.
As Lia and Joseph's stories merge the injustices of their pasts will test their ability to move forward together. And as Joseph plots to expose an illegal high-stakes game at the highest levels of corporate America, he will have to decide whether reaching his lifetime goal is worth compromising his principles and betraying the woman he loves.
Laura Branchflower is a compelling new voice in contemporary women's fiction with believable characters dealing with real life struggles.
•••••••••••••••
REVIEW: WHEN I SAW YOU by Laura Branchflower is the first instalment in the debut author’s erotic, romance series. This is thirty-four year old billionaire attorney Joseph Craig, and divorced, single mother Lia Merrick’s story line.
Told from several third person perspectives including Lia and Joseph WHEN I SAW YOU follows the building relationship between attorney Joseph Craig, and Lia Merrick. Desperate for a job our heroine find’s herself embroiled in a potential lawsuit when the company she worked for misrepresented the position she was hired to perform. Enter Joseph Craig, powerful attorney and the man with whom Lia would fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and love between Lia and Joseph, and the potential fall out when Joseph’s true motives are revealed.
WHEN I SAW YOU is an infinitely detailed and cleverly written story line that follows several paths including the legal battle between our heroine and her ex-husband, and Joseph’s questionable rise to financial success. Our hero battles a lifetime of demons in his pursuit of the almighty dollar but his biggest loss may come at the hands of the woman he loves.
We are introduced to Joseph’s law firm partners: Tony Prossi and Kevin Stuart, as well as Joseph’s ex-girlfriend / model Kathy Paige, and Joseph’s secretary Martha Godfrey; Lia’s five year old daughter Taylor; Lia’s ex-husband Ned Merrick, and his wife Candice; as well as a number of businessmen and clients of Zurtech Enterprises. Tony Prossi’s story line is next in A Sense of Belonging (August 2017)
Laura Branchflower’s debut release is a striking, seductive and intriguing story line that straddles the line between romance and suspense. The premise is flawless in its presentation; the characters are colorful, charismatic and damaged; the romance is passionate, intense and dramatic. WHEN I SAW YOU is a fantastic read with exceptional characters, and a truly original premise but I can’t help but make similar comparisons to a real-life Joseph, and his mother’s secret affair with a well-known politician.
www.thereadingcafe.com
December 2, 2017
4.75 stars
This was so good!
And apparently I read the books backwards.
When I met Joseph and Lia in A Sense of Belonging, I didn’t realize they had their own book, and that it comes before Tony’s story in the timeline.
This was part love story and part investigation of a white collar crime. Both stories were woven together seamlessly.
And to be honest, now that I’ve read When I Saw You, I appreciate A Sense of Belonging so much more!
I’m excited to what Laura Branchflower writes next!
This was so good!
And apparently I read the books backwards.
When I met Joseph and Lia in A Sense of Belonging, I didn’t realize they had their own book, and that it comes before Tony’s story in the timeline.
This was part love story and part investigation of a white collar crime. Both stories were woven together seamlessly.
And to be honest, now that I’ve read When I Saw You, I appreciate A Sense of Belonging so much more!
I’m excited to what Laura Branchflower writes next!
August 14, 2017
A Must Read!!! I found I wanted to continue reading as the plot and characters drew me in. On the other hand, I wanted to keep the characters alive by reading slowly. There are very few books in which I can remember the characters and the plot years later. I will definitely remember this book! The author does an excellent job of character development. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. We all could use a Joseph in our life!! I am looking forward to reading the authors other books!
February 28, 2022
This was okay. I was looking for a marital-drama read and this gave some of that satisfactorily, though I started to lose interest at the 40% point. I didn't really buy the romance between the hero and heroine. The hero was a cheater and player before he met the heroine, and he and the heroine pretty much had insta-love...so we kinda don't know what makes the heroine so special that the hero wouldn't eventually cheat on her.
August 19, 2020
I didn’t love this one as much as I loved “A sense of belonging”. There wasn’t enough chemistry between the couple for me. However the writing is excellent and there’s a good plot.
April 18, 2021
Every time I read a Laura Branchflower novel, I wonder why she doesn't do duets and trilogies.
I love this woman. I have yet to read a book from her that I didn't enjoy. This time, at the cost of sleep, which I imagine I will pay for later today.
As per usual, it's never an unending drama, just big enough conflicts to get the story rolling and more everyday life responses.
My mind feels like a jumbled mess because down to the last page, my blood was pumping and I was thoroughly satisfied with what I read.
I loved the characters. I always liked Tony's aloofness and I got to see a side of Joseph that we did not see in A Sense of Belonging.
He always felt untouchable, even as a reader. But he was always open with readers. I understood his drive and he even had me understanding stocks! Something that goes over my head every time. I just couldn't get enough of the man.
As for Lia, what a woman! I appreciated her vulnerability because it was believable. Even if I feel as though I would have figured out this Ponzi scheme immediately. It was way too obvious.
I missed the B2B girls when, what I called, the second half of this novel started.
The main conflict was beautifully interwoven into the story. It took the length of the book and I much prefer how it was done, as to the obvious.
However, I will admit that it was also at the expense of the romance. I don't do love at first sight so Joseph's reaction to Lia caught me off guard but they were good together, so I didn't mind.
What I would have liked though is a little more couple time. When Joseph turned his attention to Lia, we all felt it but he was also extremely deep into his lifelong plan and as the author tried to twist it into his everyday life, Eric, with the penchant for prostitutes, put in more work to date Lia.
The sex wasn't frequent, after all, he had a master plan and it wasn't that hot either. They felt domesticated pretty quickly. No hurdles or bumps in their copulation. It was a very smooth ride, except for his deception in the end.
Now, this is where I wanted the drama. It was resolved but I wanted more. What he did was no small thing and while I can understand covering for a friend or forgiving a lover, I need to see him work through over two decades of resentment and planning. His love for Lia was not sufficient. I also don't think his punishment, in the end, fit the crime.
I love this woman. I have yet to read a book from her that I didn't enjoy. This time, at the cost of sleep, which I imagine I will pay for later today.
As per usual, it's never an unending drama, just big enough conflicts to get the story rolling and more everyday life responses.
My mind feels like a jumbled mess because down to the last page, my blood was pumping and I was thoroughly satisfied with what I read.
I loved the characters. I always liked Tony's aloofness and I got to see a side of Joseph that we did not see in A Sense of Belonging.
He always felt untouchable, even as a reader. But he was always open with readers. I understood his drive and he even had me understanding stocks! Something that goes over my head every time. I just couldn't get enough of the man.
As for Lia, what a woman! I appreciated her vulnerability because it was believable. Even if I feel as though I would have figured out this Ponzi scheme immediately. It was way too obvious.
I missed the B2B girls when, what I called, the second half of this novel started.
The main conflict was beautifully interwoven into the story. It took the length of the book and I much prefer how it was done, as to the obvious.
However, I will admit that it was also at the expense of the romance. I don't do love at first sight so Joseph's reaction to Lia caught me off guard but they were good together, so I didn't mind.
What I would have liked though is a little more couple time. When Joseph turned his attention to Lia, we all felt it but he was also extremely deep into his lifelong plan and as the author tried to twist it into his everyday life, Eric, with the penchant for prostitutes, put in more work to date Lia.
The sex wasn't frequent, after all, he had a master plan and it wasn't that hot either. They felt domesticated pretty quickly. No hurdles or bumps in their copulation. It was a very smooth ride, except for his deception in the end.
Now, this is where I wanted the drama. It was resolved but I wanted more. What he did was no small thing and while I can understand covering for a friend or forgiving a lover, I need to see him work through over two decades of resentment and planning. His love for Lia was not sufficient. I also don't think his punishment, in the end, fit the crime.
February 28, 2021
4 stars. I read A Sense of Belonging a few years ago and really enjoyed it (actually staying up till 5AM to finish it) so after being in a book funk I decided to read this one. I ended up enjoying When I Saw You, but not as much as ASOB. Weirdly, I didn’t enjoy the beginning of the book, or the end, but I loved the middle. In my opinion, it took a little too long for Joseph and Lia to meet, though I understand it was necessary to set up their backstories/ reason for meeting. The ending also felt a little abrupt to me. Joseph is a brilliant lawyer with a huge chip on his shoulder, courtesy of growing up the bastard son of one of America’s greatest financiers. Lia is a single mother, recovering from a recent divorce and her cheating ex husband. When she finally enters the workforce, she finds out she accidentally became a prostitute. Lia approaches Joseph hoping to take legal action against her boss (or for lack of a better term, pimp). Like I said, I really enjoyed the middle of this book. Joseph’s betrayal at the end of the book was a little predictable, and I’m not sure he ever really realized that what he did truly was wrong, but he was willing to atone for it. All in all I’m glad I read this one, and I seem to be a fan of Ms Branchflower’s work.
October 20, 2018
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING STORY ABOUT A SINGLE MOM TRYING TO GET HER LIFE TOGETHER AFTER HER HUSBAND LEAVES HER FOR ANOTHER WOMAN. WHEN SHE FINNALLY FINDS A WELL PAYING JOB, SHE DISCOVERS THAT THE MARKETING JOB CONSISTS OF HER GIVING SEXUAL FAVORS TO MALE CLIENTS OF THE FIRM SHE WORKS AT. SHE SEE'S A LAWYER, OUR HERO, TO SEE IF SHE HAS ANY RECOURSE AFTER SHE QUITS. THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER. OUR HERO IS A PLAYER, WHO CARES ONLY FOR MONEY AND POWER. SENSUAL LEVEL IS A VERY STRONG 8.
I PURCHASED THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF IT BEING HIGHLY RECOMENDED ON A FACEBOOK READING GROUP I BELONG TO. LAURA BRANCHFLOWER IS A NEW AUTHOR FOR ME AND THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST ROMANCE I READ BY THIS AUTHOR. I HIGHLY RECOMEND WHEN I SAW YOU.
I PURCHASED THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF IT BEING HIGHLY RECOMENDED ON A FACEBOOK READING GROUP I BELONG TO. LAURA BRANCHFLOWER IS A NEW AUTHOR FOR ME AND THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST ROMANCE I READ BY THIS AUTHOR. I HIGHLY RECOMEND WHEN I SAW YOU.
January 19, 2018
I did enjoy reading the book with the story development and the flawed characters. The main character, Joseph was flawed. He was good-looking, rich and successful in the traditional “book boyfriend” sense but he was obsessed with amassing wealth that diminished any good judgment that he might have. Lia was a single mom and she was unfortunate in being caught up in an unscrupulous scheme and custody fight with a self-centered ex-husband. Though she had Joseph to save her, she was a tough woman and was determined to support herself and her daughter. Though the story was pretty interesting, I did not really feel the romance between Joseph and Lia.
February 9, 2019
4.8 stars.
Just spent my entire Saturday reading this book and I loved it. It’s the second book I read of this author and what I enjoy mostly about her books so far is that she really takes her time developing the story. It’s not fast, instant... it has contest and you really learn each character. I loved this book however after a lot of build up the ending could have been stretched a little further. For a moment at 96% I thought I was heading to a ciffhanger because it did not seem possible the books would finish properly with only a few pages left, but no, they got their HEA...I just wanted a little more.
Just spent my entire Saturday reading this book and I loved it. It’s the second book I read of this author and what I enjoy mostly about her books so far is that she really takes her time developing the story. It’s not fast, instant... it has contest and you really learn each character. I loved this book however after a lot of build up the ending could have been stretched a little further. For a moment at 96% I thought I was heading to a ciffhanger because it did not seem possible the books would finish properly with only a few pages left, but no, they got their HEA...I just wanted a little more.
March 7, 2018
I love this book so much...
This was a really good read! Like really good! I read it in about 6 hours. It was engaging with great characters and situations. But, and it’s a small but, I didn’t love the ending. I liked it, but it bothered me. I don’t think what Joseph did was such a big deal. I still don’t understand why everyone made such a big deal about it.
This was a really good read! Like really good! I read it in about 6 hours. It was engaging with great characters and situations. But, and it’s a small but, I didn’t love the ending. I liked it, but it bothered me. I don’t think what Joseph did was such a big deal. I still don’t understand why everyone made such a big deal about it.
April 10, 2021
Love this author
Yet another exceptional book. This is the second book I’ve read and “A White Picket Fence” is an equal must read.
Unique story’s with so many twists but with so much realism each character is well thought out with personalities that draw the reader in.
1 click now you will not be disappointed
Yet another exceptional book. This is the second book I’ve read and “A White Picket Fence” is an equal must read.
Unique story’s with so many twists but with so much realism each character is well thought out with personalities that draw the reader in.
1 click now you will not be disappointed
November 17, 2023
This book had such a unique plot line, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it at the start. I really loved the hero’s character. He was very interesting. I couldn’t really see what made him for in love with their heroine so quickly but oh well. They had great chemistry. It makes me want to reread the second book!
February 7, 2025
Honestly i loved the writing so much.
Nothing makes me more happy then finding the combination of good writing and well written j/p alpha heroes with decent h.
This book had it all abd more.
Sigh! Talented authors always have few books out with too long breaks. I will miss her. Hope she releases more great books like this soon.
Nothing makes me more happy then finding the combination of good writing and well written j/p alpha heroes with decent h.
This book had it all abd more.
Sigh! Talented authors always have few books out with too long breaks. I will miss her. Hope she releases more great books like this soon.
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