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Twice in a Lifetime
When widow Talia Wasserman applies for a job with the local police department, she’s shocked to discover she’ll be working for Lieutenant Eve Poe, an officer she’d met—and been attracted to—during a long-ago citizen’s police academy workshop. Fifteen years later, the spark is still there, and no one’s currently in Talia’s life or in her bed. But there’s just one teeny, tiny problem. Eve is her boss, so she’s completely off-limits.
Eve feels a sizzling connection with Talia from the very first, but Talia works for her, and that’s just a bad idea. Besides, Eve needs to focus on the person sending disturbing emails to her office, and not on the woman who quickly makes herself invaluable to the department. It’s too bad her heart doesn’t agree with her.
Then Eve is badly injured in the line of duty, and Talia’s worst fears are realized. She may lose her chance at happiness with the woman she’s come to love, and she can’t survive that kind of loss twice in a lifetime.
Eve feels a sizzling connection with Talia from the very first, but Talia works for her, and that’s just a bad idea. Besides, Eve needs to focus on the person sending disturbing emails to her office, and not on the woman who quickly makes herself invaluable to the department. It’s too bad her heart doesn’t agree with her.
Then Eve is badly injured in the line of duty, and Talia’s worst fears are realized. She may lose her chance at happiness with the woman she’s come to love, and she can’t survive that kind of loss twice in a lifetime.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2018
21 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 11, 2017
This was a decent romance hovering somewhere around 3 to 3 1/2 stars for me. It was a quick read and pretty pleasant, not much angst at all.
Lieutenant Eve Poe and Talia are in their early 50’s. We don’t get many books with older women, so it was an interesting change. There was a few times I thought the women acted more in their 20’s, but most of the time it felt right. For the most part I found both character to be pretty likeable. Also, Eve was a POC which I’m always happy to see.
With both women working for the police (though Tal has a civilian job) I was hoping for a bit more excitement. The most exciting scenes ended up happening off camera and we are never even told why Eve did what she did. The question is asked but never answered and it felt almost like the author just forgot.
There were also a few times I thought the book was almost too sweet. Almost in the sickening sweet stage, especially when it came to the kids. For instance, Eve’s son calling Tal “Mom” when Eve and Tal hadn’t even been together for all that long. Things just seemed to get a little mushy a little quickly.
Overall it was a decent romance. If you are looking for a sweeter romance without much angst, this book might be the one you are looking for.
An ARC was given to me by Riptide, for a honest review.
Lieutenant Eve Poe and Talia are in their early 50’s. We don’t get many books with older women, so it was an interesting change. There was a few times I thought the women acted more in their 20’s, but most of the time it felt right. For the most part I found both character to be pretty likeable. Also, Eve was a POC which I’m always happy to see.
With both women working for the police (though Tal has a civilian job) I was hoping for a bit more excitement. The most exciting scenes ended up happening off camera and we are never even told why Eve did what she did. The question is asked but never answered and it felt almost like the author just forgot.
There were also a few times I thought the book was almost too sweet. Almost in the sickening sweet stage, especially when it came to the kids. For instance, Eve’s son calling Tal “Mom” when Eve and Tal hadn’t even been together for all that long. Things just seemed to get a little mushy a little quickly.
Overall it was a decent romance. If you are looking for a sweeter romance without much angst, this book might be the one you are looking for.
An ARC was given to me by Riptide, for a honest review.
March 22, 2019
Talia Wasserman is a widow with grown-up daughters who just got a job as a civilian assistant to Lieutenant Eve Pope, chief of Police Community Relations. Their chemistry is hard to ignore but boss-subordinate relationships are frown upon. To make matters worse, there is a criminal on the lose endangering female police officers. Can Talia find love twice in a lifetime and not lose her partner again?
'Twice in a lifetime' is an interracial romance with a small side of mystery. Kudos to the author to feature two women in their early fifties, both with grown-up children and a bisexual protagonist who is in a lesbian relationship for the first time. This provides a realistic view of a bisexual character who didn't have to deal with homophobia before because she was married to a man.
The story is written in first person from the point of view of Talia which, in my opinion, restricts the development of the plot. As a result, the mystery part is very much on the side, because Talia isn't involved in the criminal investigation. Most of the action, which is lead by Eve, is told by the author and not shown by the characters' actions. Unfortunately, this takes the thrill off the story a bit. The second half of the book, however, is better paced and more enjoyable.
The dialogues are well written as the author builds the mains' chemistry through their banter and witty remarks. The book could have done with more of these conversations. It's refreshing to see that the mains talk about their disagreements in a mature way and the sources of conflict aren't forced into the plot. Both characters present their feelings with clarity and maturity that comes from their life experience and is coherent with their ages.
The relationship between Talia and her two daughters is very credible and enjoyable to read. In my opinion, the author got the tone right for these relationships and the description of Jewish traditions and family life enriches the plot tremendously.
Overall, a good interracial romance with older characters, well-rounded secondary characters and a bit of action on the side. 3.5 stars.
ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
'Twice in a lifetime' is an interracial romance with a small side of mystery. Kudos to the author to feature two women in their early fifties, both with grown-up children and a bisexual protagonist who is in a lesbian relationship for the first time. This provides a realistic view of a bisexual character who didn't have to deal with homophobia before because she was married to a man.
The story is written in first person from the point of view of Talia which, in my opinion, restricts the development of the plot. As a result, the mystery part is very much on the side, because Talia isn't involved in the criminal investigation. Most of the action, which is lead by Eve, is told by the author and not shown by the characters' actions. Unfortunately, this takes the thrill off the story a bit. The second half of the book, however, is better paced and more enjoyable.
The dialogues are well written as the author builds the mains' chemistry through their banter and witty remarks. The book could have done with more of these conversations. It's refreshing to see that the mains talk about their disagreements in a mature way and the sources of conflict aren't forced into the plot. Both characters present their feelings with clarity and maturity that comes from their life experience and is coherent with their ages.
The relationship between Talia and her two daughters is very credible and enjoyable to read. In my opinion, the author got the tone right for these relationships and the description of Jewish traditions and family life enriches the plot tremendously.
Overall, a good interracial romance with older characters, well-rounded secondary characters and a bit of action on the side. 3.5 stars.
ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
December 14, 2017
An enjoyable romance with two interesting characters. Talia Wasserman is determined to be the best worker she can as she enters the workforce. She also finds herself attracted to her new boss. Eve Poe is a dedicated police officer and she finds herself attracted to her new employee. Trouble is brewing. Slow pull toward each other with some expected and unexpected situations encountered. Enjoyable but not as engaging as I hoped it would be. Too predictable??
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley with thanks.
ARC provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley with thanks.
July 22, 2018
Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram
2.5/5
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Twice in a Lifetime is true to its name. The book followers a widow, named Talia, who is in her 50's, and start to work as the assistant to a police station's lieutenant, Eve. This eventually leads to a romance between the two. This is the first time Talia has been with a woman after knowing she's bisexual for quite some time.
I think this book might've just not been for me. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was kind of boring and there were some issues I had. Since Eve is Talia's boss the power imbalance wasn't really acknowledged to the degree it should have. I didn't find the characters or the plot that engaging. I liked that Talia had a close relationship with her daughters though. I wish we got to see more of them.
I think it was good to show you can find another love of your life and that's an overall good premise but I think the book just wasn't really for me.
2.5/5
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Twice in a Lifetime is true to its name. The book followers a widow, named Talia, who is in her 50's, and start to work as the assistant to a police station's lieutenant, Eve. This eventually leads to a romance between the two. This is the first time Talia has been with a woman after knowing she's bisexual for quite some time.
I think this book might've just not been for me. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was kind of boring and there were some issues I had. Since Eve is Talia's boss the power imbalance wasn't really acknowledged to the degree it should have. I didn't find the characters or the plot that engaging. I liked that Talia had a close relationship with her daughters though. I wish we got to see more of them.
I think it was good to show you can find another love of your life and that's an overall good premise but I think the book just wasn't really for me.
January 30, 2018
I totally picked up this book because I follow the author on Twitter. I read her tweets about the book as she wrote it and later edited. She caught my attention with talk of older characters (they're in their 50s), diverse characters, sexy times, and sweet romance. Even so, I held off on requesting it because 99% of what I read are male and female pairings or 1 woman with 2 males. I don't do much reading in other pairings but Ms Griffin made this book sound so appealing that I stepped out of my comfort zone and requested the book. I'm glad I did as I enjoyed it and it made me smile.
Talia is a bisexual Jewish woman who was married to a man and has grown children. She never explored her bisexuality before but has always been attracted to both men and woman. Eve was also married to a man but has spent many years involved with women. She has a grown son. Sparks fly between Talia and Eve immediately but Talia, new to the world of loving women, and rusty at flirting with anyone, is unsure if she's reading Eve's cues correctly, and there's the issue that Eve is her boss. Eve is a black gay woman, and conscious of the fact that she's Talia's boss. Despite the fact that they talk a lot about that problem, they don't ever really sit down and consider their options, and neither seems aware of the power imbalance between them.
The romance is sweet and fun. They are good together, have fun together, and are patient with each other. Eve is patient with Talia as she explores her first relationship and romance with a woman. Both of them showed a lot of respect for each and didn't play games. If one of them messed up, it wasn't drawn out. They talked with each other and they apologized to each other. It was, mostly, a relationship between equals. I say mostly because Eve was Talia's boss which can't help but create a power imbalance which was ignored. To Eve's credit, she treated Talia like another employee at work and both of them worked hard at keeping their behavior purely professional when at work.
I had mixed feelings about how well Talia's kids handled finding out she was bi. On the one hand, it was refreshing to have a lack of angst and fuss but at the same time, her daughters were casual in their acceptance. I suspect that says more about me than it does about the characters.
I think my favorite thing about the story were the relationships. Eve and Talia, Eve and her son, Talia and her daughters, Talia and Eve's son, etc. They were vibrant, strong, and sweet and drove the story. The story is low on angst and high on texture and depth and made me feel good.
Talia is a bisexual Jewish woman who was married to a man and has grown children. She never explored her bisexuality before but has always been attracted to both men and woman. Eve was also married to a man but has spent many years involved with women. She has a grown son. Sparks fly between Talia and Eve immediately but Talia, new to the world of loving women, and rusty at flirting with anyone, is unsure if she's reading Eve's cues correctly, and there's the issue that Eve is her boss. Eve is a black gay woman, and conscious of the fact that she's Talia's boss. Despite the fact that they talk a lot about that problem, they don't ever really sit down and consider their options, and neither seems aware of the power imbalance between them.
The romance is sweet and fun. They are good together, have fun together, and are patient with each other. Eve is patient with Talia as she explores her first relationship and romance with a woman. Both of them showed a lot of respect for each and didn't play games. If one of them messed up, it wasn't drawn out. They talked with each other and they apologized to each other. It was, mostly, a relationship between equals. I say mostly because Eve was Talia's boss which can't help but create a power imbalance which was ignored. To Eve's credit, she treated Talia like another employee at work and both of them worked hard at keeping their behavior purely professional when at work.
I had mixed feelings about how well Talia's kids handled finding out she was bi. On the one hand, it was refreshing to have a lack of angst and fuss but at the same time, her daughters were casual in their acceptance. I suspect that says more about me than it does about the characters.
I think my favorite thing about the story were the relationships. Eve and Talia, Eve and her son, Talia and her daughters, Talia and Eve's son, etc. They were vibrant, strong, and sweet and drove the story. The story is low on angst and high on texture and depth and made me feel good.
January 22, 2018
This is a lovely , sometimes bittersweet, second chance romance for two women in their early fifties who were married , had children and were widowed. One, Eve, knows she's gay, the other, Talia, has suspected she's bisexual but never acted on it. Plus there's a hitch- they work together. Eve is Talia's new boss for her civilian job as community liaison at the police department and while they can explore their friendship and growing feelings for each other outside of work, they have a dilemma for what to do at work. Plus Eve's a working police officer which means she could be hurt in the line of duty. Having both lost someone dear, is it worth it to go all in on a new relationship?
I enjoyed this story. Both Talia and Eve know what loss is like and have to make conscious decisions about whether to let their hearts be involved again. Their attraction to each other isn't easy to put aside, and they share some sexy scenes together as they sort through their feelings. The relationships they have with their children are very realistic and there are timely conversations about the every day realities women face, from Eve's job as a gay black woman in her high position in the police department to Talia's daughter who recently caught her boyfriend cheating on her. There's a small element of suspense with a threat to female officers weaved through the story that culminates in some drama and intensity in the second half. Fortunately Eve and Talia find a way to get through it all and there is a lovely happy ending for the new couple.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
I enjoyed this story. Both Talia and Eve know what loss is like and have to make conscious decisions about whether to let their hearts be involved again. Their attraction to each other isn't easy to put aside, and they share some sexy scenes together as they sort through their feelings. The relationships they have with their children are very realistic and there are timely conversations about the every day realities women face, from Eve's job as a gay black woman in her high position in the police department to Talia's daughter who recently caught her boyfriend cheating on her. There's a small element of suspense with a threat to female officers weaved through the story that culminates in some drama and intensity in the second half. Fortunately Eve and Talia find a way to get through it all and there is a lovely happy ending for the new couple.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
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August 21, 2018Sadly, I was underwhelmed by this despite being probably the target audience - bi woman, raising a kid, in my mid-40s, wants to read more good F/F romance, diverse books fan.
But I was pretty shocked by how irresponsibly the MCs handled their relationship vis-a-vis their jobs. They seemed to feel like they could start dating and sleeping together clandestinely until they knew whether the relationship would work out in the long term. That's totally not the intent of workplace fraternization policies. As if there couldn't be a problem with favoritism or harassment until then? And given that the two MCs both clearly knew their reporting structure could be changed to avoid a conflict of interest, and still chose to hide the relationship, while complaining it was "unfair" they couldn't be open... yeah, no sympathy from me on that one. And I felt like other people at the precinct were fairly cavalier about dating in the workplace. Not a good look for public servants, or anyone really.
Beyond that issue, I think my lack of enthusiasm boils down to:
(1) Too much of the story was told instead of being shown. (Especially with the B-plot of threats against female officers. Not saying I wanted this to be a suspense book, but couldn't we at least have SEEN the main characters hearing about the escalation and reacting to it, instead of effectively hearing about it in passing?) As a result I didn't have a great feeling for Eve's personality, I didn't understand why Talia's kids were so attached to Eve in what seemed like so little time, etc.
(2) Fairly shallow "villain" encounters, such as the "friend" of Talia's late husband who makes cartoonishly stereotypically misogynist comments to Talia, and the nurse who refuses to let Talia into the ER for about a second.
(3) Actions that sometimes make no sense, such as Eve telling Talia she has to hang from their phone call to break up a fight, and Talia still trying to continue the conversation. Or the man married to the sexual violence survivor who still apparently doesn't know better than to grab unsuspecting women from behind, which felt like it was just put in so the characters could comment about how women don't feel safe.
Overall, it feels like an excellent second draft that needed a strong developmental editor to refine it. :(
But I was pretty shocked by how irresponsibly the MCs handled their relationship vis-a-vis their jobs. They seemed to feel like they could start dating and sleeping together clandestinely until they knew whether the relationship would work out in the long term. That's totally not the intent of workplace fraternization policies. As if there couldn't be a problem with favoritism or harassment until then? And given that the two MCs both clearly knew their reporting structure could be changed to avoid a conflict of interest, and still chose to hide the relationship, while complaining it was "unfair" they couldn't be open... yeah, no sympathy from me on that one. And I felt like other people at the precinct were fairly cavalier about dating in the workplace. Not a good look for public servants, or anyone really.
Beyond that issue, I think my lack of enthusiasm boils down to:
(1) Too much of the story was told instead of being shown. (Especially with the B-plot of threats against female officers. Not saying I wanted this to be a suspense book, but couldn't we at least have SEEN the main characters hearing about the escalation and reacting to it, instead of effectively hearing about it in passing?) As a result I didn't have a great feeling for Eve's personality, I didn't understand why Talia's kids were so attached to Eve in what seemed like so little time, etc.
(2) Fairly shallow "villain" encounters, such as the "friend" of Talia's late husband who makes cartoonishly stereotypically misogynist comments to Talia, and the nurse who refuses to let Talia into the ER for about a second.
(3) Actions that sometimes make no sense, such as Eve telling Talia she has to hang from their phone call to break up a fight, and Talia still trying to continue the conversation. Or the man married to the sexual violence survivor who still apparently doesn't know better than to grab unsuspecting women from behind, which felt like it was just put in so the characters could comment about how women don't feel safe.
Overall, it feels like an excellent second draft that needed a strong developmental editor to refine it. :(
January 10, 2018
I really liked this book. It's refreshing to read about women with grown kids finding happiness in their fifties. It made me feel so much and I enjoyed seeing how the relationship developed.
Some things seemed a little unrealistic (so much sex at that age? Just thinking about it makes me exhausted!), but their love and their contact with their children were ideal. Also although both women had been married to men before, the men were conveniently dead, so there was no angst caused by exes. It was a really pleasant read, very much to my taste.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review.
Some things seemed a little unrealistic (so much sex at that age? Just thinking about it makes me exhausted!), but their love and their contact with their children were ideal. Also although both women had been married to men before, the men were conveniently dead, so there was no angst caused by exes. It was a really pleasant read, very much to my taste.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review.
January 20, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a warm and life-affirming story about a second chance romance between two women in midlife. Boss and employee, Christian and Jewish, black and white, there is much that separates Lieutenant Eve Poe and her new hire, Talia Wasserman. But the easy friendship and the frisson of attraction between these two make the mothers of adult children try for a second chance at love.
I wanted to believe in the connection between Talia and Eve more than I actually did. Told from Talia’s perspective, there are possibly too many times where she tells us about her attraction to Eve. Sexual chemistry is something readers should feel without having to be constantly told about it. I’m also not sure these two are always true to character. Both are pillars of their community but there are moments when they come across as giggly, sex starved sorority sisters.
This is quite a slow story. The only police action is recounted after it happens. Despite their jobs in a police department, this is mostly a gentle domestic drama. In midlife, both Eve and Talia’s lives are complicated and their relationships with their families are paramount. I enjoyed the warmth and truth in the interactions between the women and their children. I enjoyed watching Talia find herself in her new workplace.
The book may not be as exciting as I expected from the blurb, but I enjoyed the characters and their quiet dramas. I love reading about interesting women in their fifties and I think these two are probably more interesting than the usual twentysomethings in romance novels.
This is a warm and life-affirming story about a second chance romance between two women in midlife. Boss and employee, Christian and Jewish, black and white, there is much that separates Lieutenant Eve Poe and her new hire, Talia Wasserman. But the easy friendship and the frisson of attraction between these two make the mothers of adult children try for a second chance at love.
I wanted to believe in the connection between Talia and Eve more than I actually did. Told from Talia’s perspective, there are possibly too many times where she tells us about her attraction to Eve. Sexual chemistry is something readers should feel without having to be constantly told about it. I’m also not sure these two are always true to character. Both are pillars of their community but there are moments when they come across as giggly, sex starved sorority sisters.
This is quite a slow story. The only police action is recounted after it happens. Despite their jobs in a police department, this is mostly a gentle domestic drama. In midlife, both Eve and Talia’s lives are complicated and their relationships with their families are paramount. I enjoyed the warmth and truth in the interactions between the women and their children. I enjoyed watching Talia find herself in her new workplace.
The book may not be as exciting as I expected from the blurb, but I enjoyed the characters and their quiet dramas. I love reading about interesting women in their fifties and I think these two are probably more interesting than the usual twentysomethings in romance novels.
December 15, 2017
Twice in a Lifetime is a sweet, well written romance story. Talia is starting over after the death of her husband and begins a new job at the local police department. She immediately recognizes her new boss from a past encounter and quickly realizes she is attracted to her. Eve is a high ranking officer who is in charge of Community Relations and is very dedicated to her role. Her new assistant challenges that dedication in a way she was not expecting.
The plot was a bit predictable but overall it was a well written romance story.
The plot was a bit predictable but overall it was a well written romance story.
February 5, 2018
Liked this one a lot. Older characters (and one who's a WOC!) who know what they want, the attraction jumps off the page and the storyline is well though out and executed. Also enjoyed the fact that nobody really cared that Talia is bi. Her internal conflict and Eve's hesitance about entering into a relationship with someone who has never had a same-sex pairing seems very real.
I stopped reading f/f romances years ago since there seemed to be very few options for quality writing. Glad to see that there are more options and greater availability of stories out there...
I stopped reading f/f romances years ago since there seemed to be very few options for quality writing. Glad to see that there are more options and greater availability of stories out there...
February 19, 2018
TWICE IN A LIFETIME
Once in a lifetime is very special to find a perfect soulmate but I think twice is nothing short of a miracle. This novel shares a story of a possibility of this happening. The story is very well written with people you might like to know and have in your life. Read it I think you will enjoy. It shows the hope of love after 50.
Once in a lifetime is very special to find a perfect soulmate but I think twice is nothing short of a miracle. This novel shares a story of a possibility of this happening. The story is very well written with people you might like to know and have in your life. Read it I think you will enjoy. It shows the hope of love after 50.
March 4, 2018
This is just good?
At first I was kind of put off by the age of the protagonists because I'm kind of young myself so it's hard for me to relate BUT they were also really good together and when they first confessed their feelings I just kind of died.
Also interracial relationships! AND WE CAN SAY THE WORD BISEXUAL!
At first I was kind of put off by the age of the protagonists because I'm kind of young myself so it's hard for me to relate BUT they were also really good together and when they first confessed their feelings I just kind of died.
Also interracial relationships! AND WE CAN SAY THE WORD BISEXUAL!
January 1, 2020
This was a nice solid book. The interaction between the two main characters was good. There was learning how their relationship would work, how to communicate, etc. The pacing was pretty good in terms of how the story flowed. I would have liked the ending to be fleshed out more as it felt a bit rushed to me, but that is a minor quibble.
January 24, 2018
My review is 3.65 stars.
The book is good, contains sweet & healthy romance. On few occasions, it felt unrealistic but on and all this is a good romantic story. A story of a widow is captured in this book. How she's going to find love again?
Story - Good
Romance - Good
I liked reading it.
The book is good, contains sweet & healthy romance. On few occasions, it felt unrealistic but on and all this is a good romantic story. A story of a widow is captured in this book. How she's going to find love again?
Story - Good
Romance - Good
I liked reading it.
March 29, 2018
Random find... very pleased.
I thought this was great. Women in their 50s, one a lesbian the other bisexual, both with grown kids. I was smiling throughout, terrified through part, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I thought this was great. Women in their 50s, one a lesbian the other bisexual, both with grown kids. I was smiling throughout, terrified through part, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 27, 2018
Twice in a Lifetime by Jodie Griffin (eARC, out 1/22). F/F with BI MCs in their early 50s. Sexy, emotional, a little angsty. I typically back away from office romance but I loved Talia and Eve’s story. Great characterization/tension. #bookthread #rombklove (fire: gunfire)
November 14, 2017
Sweet story of middle aged women getting a second chance at love. Solid writing. Sweet 3.5 stars.
did-not-finish
December 30, 2023DNF 35%
Was feeling a bit bored and then I just lost interest
Was feeling a bit bored and then I just lost interest
June 2, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, the dynamic between eve and talia were fun and sweet. I do wish we got the answer to why eve didn’t wear her vest though.
April 5, 2022
A cute little book about finding love for a second time, later in life. It was refreshing to see older women depicted as loving and lovable, and sexual to boot. As much as the romance genre is much removed from the male gaze, the Sapphic part even more so, there’s still a tendency to have characters who are in their 20s or 30s. Older women are rarely depicted. The story itself was light and fun, more fluff than anything else. The end did feel a bit disjointed and jarring and quick, but it wasn’t too bad.
The characters were all fun and felt very realistic. It didn’t feel as though the conflict was forced or contrived given what we knew of the characters. A nice light read overall.
The characters were all fun and felt very realistic. It didn’t feel as though the conflict was forced or contrived given what we knew of the characters. A nice light read overall.
December 26, 2017
I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley/Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
This is an easily read romance about second chances with leads Eve and Talia, both in their 50's. Good to read a story with older characters.
A solid 3 stars.
This is an easily read romance about second chances with leads Eve and Talia, both in their 50's. Good to read a story with older characters.
A solid 3 stars.
December 1, 2017
This one fell flat for me. Maybe it was because it was older characters. I like YA and NA more....
December 30, 2017
The book was a easily and quickly read romance without many surprises. It was kind of predictable- I even would say a bit too much predictable, which didn’t make as engaged in the story as other romances do. The writing style is something to get used too and I didn’t like that the POV was only from Talia. There were many parts where I was wondering what Eve is thinking since she reacted kind of strange and it didn’t make sense without her print off view.
All in all it was an enjoyable romance nobvel.
All in all it was an enjoyable romance nobvel.
February 7, 2018
Check out our
Twice in a Lifetime
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a warm and life-affirming story about a second chance romance between two women in midlife. Boss and employee, Christian and Jewish, black and white, there is much that separates Lieutenant Eve Poe and her new hire, Talia Wasserman. But the easy friendship and the frisson of attraction between these two make the mothers of adult children try for a second chance at love.
I wanted to believe in the connection between Talia and Eve more than I actually did. Told from Talia’s perspective, there are possibly too many times where she tells us about her attraction to Eve. Sexual chemistry is something readers should feel without having to be constantly told about it. I’m also not sure these two are always true to character. Both are pillars of their community, but there are moments when they come across as giggly, sex-starved sorority sisters.
This is quite a slow story. The only police action is recounted after it happens. Despite their jobs in a police department, this is mostly a gentle domestic drama. In midlife, both Eve and Talia’s lives are complicated and their relationships with their families are paramount. I enjoyed the warmth and truth in the interactions between the women and their children. I enjoyed watching Talia find herself in her new workplace.
The book may not be as exciting as I expected from the blurb, but I enjoyed the characters and their quiet dramas. I love reading about interesting women in their fifties and I think these two are probably more interesting than the usual twentysomethings in romance novels.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a warm and life-affirming story about a second chance romance between two women in midlife. Boss and employee, Christian and Jewish, black and white, there is much that separates Lieutenant Eve Poe and her new hire, Talia Wasserman. But the easy friendship and the frisson of attraction between these two make the mothers of adult children try for a second chance at love.
I wanted to believe in the connection between Talia and Eve more than I actually did. Told from Talia’s perspective, there are possibly too many times where she tells us about her attraction to Eve. Sexual chemistry is something readers should feel without having to be constantly told about it. I’m also not sure these two are always true to character. Both are pillars of their community, but there are moments when they come across as giggly, sex-starved sorority sisters.
This is quite a slow story. The only police action is recounted after it happens. Despite their jobs in a police department, this is mostly a gentle domestic drama. In midlife, both Eve and Talia’s lives are complicated and their relationships with their families are paramount. I enjoyed the warmth and truth in the interactions between the women and their children. I enjoyed watching Talia find herself in her new workplace.
The book may not be as exciting as I expected from the blurb, but I enjoyed the characters and their quiet dramas. I love reading about interesting women in their fifties and I think these two are probably more interesting than the usual twentysomethings in romance novels.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
March 7, 2018
Reviewed by PizzyGirl
I would characterize this book as a slow and steady relationship centric story. There was little character development or plot outside of these two women learning about each other and growing into love.
I first want to start by saying I loved the diversity. There was so much representation of POCs and various religious backgrounds that was just treated as normal and that was fantastic. It was a truer representation of the mix of Americans than we normally see in LGBT romance and I really loved that it felt so natural.
I also liked that both women were mature and had a bit of depth to them that is often not seen with younger MC who have not had as many life experiences. Though sometimes they did feel a bit immature but I think that is also natural.
I enjoyed the relationship development and that it was an older woman having her first time with another woman. Gives hope to those of us still not ready to take that step because of external influences. This relationship moved very fast but as the MCs themselves said, they were old enough to know what they wanted and go for it without all the games that usually come with young relationships. These women meshed well and moved forward easily together. They had ups and downs that gave the relationship a more realistic feel.
The writing was easy to read but felt immature. Like the author writes as she speaks rather than as a writer with many novels under her belt. It wasn’t bad, it just felt awkward sometimes. The structure was very tell not show with lots of conversations that felt forced to give the perfect information at the perfect time. Maybe that’s my issue more than the way it was written. This felt too “set up” to be exactly what the author needed. And often I felt like I missed key things that would have allowed me to understand the huge emotional jumps. Sometimes I just didn’t understand why the characters felt so much for one another and that can be attributed to the forced feel and the off page development that happened.
Finally, while this story was a good, steady read about a developing relationship, I never felt a burning desire to keep reading. I had no issue reading a chapter here and there until I was done. From the blurb, I expected more focus on police work and the disturbing emails, but that was almost an afterthought and I was a bit let down. But overall, I felt this was enjoyable but was never truly engaging for me.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
I would characterize this book as a slow and steady relationship centric story. There was little character development or plot outside of these two women learning about each other and growing into love.
I first want to start by saying I loved the diversity. There was so much representation of POCs and various religious backgrounds that was just treated as normal and that was fantastic. It was a truer representation of the mix of Americans than we normally see in LGBT romance and I really loved that it felt so natural.
I also liked that both women were mature and had a bit of depth to them that is often not seen with younger MC who have not had as many life experiences. Though sometimes they did feel a bit immature but I think that is also natural.
I enjoyed the relationship development and that it was an older woman having her first time with another woman. Gives hope to those of us still not ready to take that step because of external influences. This relationship moved very fast but as the MCs themselves said, they were old enough to know what they wanted and go for it without all the games that usually come with young relationships. These women meshed well and moved forward easily together. They had ups and downs that gave the relationship a more realistic feel.
The writing was easy to read but felt immature. Like the author writes as she speaks rather than as a writer with many novels under her belt. It wasn’t bad, it just felt awkward sometimes. The structure was very tell not show with lots of conversations that felt forced to give the perfect information at the perfect time. Maybe that’s my issue more than the way it was written. This felt too “set up” to be exactly what the author needed. And often I felt like I missed key things that would have allowed me to understand the huge emotional jumps. Sometimes I just didn’t understand why the characters felt so much for one another and that can be attributed to the forced feel and the off page development that happened.
Finally, while this story was a good, steady read about a developing relationship, I never felt a burning desire to keep reading. I had no issue reading a chapter here and there until I was done. From the blurb, I expected more focus on police work and the disturbing emails, but that was almost an afterthought and I was a bit let down. But overall, I felt this was enjoyable but was never truly engaging for me.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Read
March 7, 2018It was an enjoyable book to read from start to finish. I really enjoyed it.
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