Meant for You

by Ranee S. Clark

A hometown hero that’s suffering a personal crisis. A single-mom who’s finally back on her feet. And the what-ifs they finally have a chance of seeing come true.

A year after her divorce, Chelsea Lewis spends most of her days working part-time at her cousin’s bakery and hiding veggies in her picky son’s lunches. Then she reconnects with an old friend who helps Chelsea in all the ways she’s forgotten she needs—including romantic ones.

Former football player, DJ Kaiser, is back in his hometown, working as a fireman to serve his community, but after nearly burning down his own house with a barbeque and wrecking the Chief’s truck, his mistakes are stacked against him—until he sets out to ease the stress of Chelsea’s load. Serving her has him feeling like a hero again.

When Chelsea’s ex shows up and begs Chelsea to move closer so his young son doesn’t grow up without his father, Chelsea and DJ have to consider what’s best for Chelsea’s little family, even if that means sacrificing the relationship that has saved them both.

Genres: Sports, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

During her early years of reading, Ranee` S. Clark devoured fantasy books, which continued into her adulthood—since she often believes that a well-written romance novel is a delightful fantasy. Though raising three boys can sometimes hamper both romance with her own Mr. Charming and her writing, she tries to get a little of both in every day. And most of the time she succeeds.

Reviews

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know DJ and Chelsea and all their flaws, quirks, and strengths. They felt very realistic. Chelsea has been living at her parents home recovering from a divorce, and struggling with her two year old's resulting behavior. It was interesting that in a situation that she feels helpless, she chooses to exert control in what she feeds her son and allows him to consume. There is definitely some mom guilt there. I liked her attitude towards her relationship with her ex-husband Brady. They are friends and do their best to be considerate of each other. The fact that DJ is Brady's close friend and hers from high school make them both feel conflicted when they reconnect and begin a romance. It was nice that they fell right back into their friendship so they had that foundation when they began to consider more, and they went in with their eyes open as to what that could mean for Brady. Some drama and angst ensues of course, and they each are tested with their vulnerabilities and levels of self-confidence and confidence in each other. DJ is struggling with his job and future career path, which made him more susceptible to doubt even though he is generally a confident person. I appreciated that the author included a spiritual aspect with Chelsea turning to the Lord in prayer, especially since the characters are portrayed as active members of the Church. I think it would have felt shallow without showing that Chelsea, DJ, and the other characters live their beliefs. Overall, this is a sweet romance that explores the unexpected transitions we go through in life and the importance of friends and family to support and encourage us.

(The characters are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and there are some references that are specific to that faith, but this story can be enjoyed by any fan of clean contemporary romance).

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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

Being a mom is hard work, but it's especially hard for newly single mom, Chelsea. Her two year old, Austin, has reverted back to not eating or sleeping with his dad gone. As a mother myself, I loved reading about Chelsea's attempts to parent and to feel adequate enough to fill both shoes.

Since the divorce, Chelsea is back in her small Wyoming hometown and I adore small town settings! Chelsea works for her cousin, who is trying to get a treat business off the ground, and the results made me hungry. I also had to admire the desires to create something new, but similar, to offer the town of Clay.

Chelsea and her ex-husband had a good friend, DJ, and his role in the story is absolutely heartwarming. I love that he tries so hard to make life better than before he came into the picture, yet he isn't perfect. He's one sweet, genuine, and lovable man!

This story is a great feel-good romp through the summer fields of second chances and I loved it!

Content: implied teen intimacy; divorce; mild romance; mild+ religious elements

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book had an interesting dynamic going on. Chelsea, divorced single mom, is back home where she runs into former best friend, DJ, who is the best friend of her ex husband. So when DJ and Chelsea start acting on those feelings of attraction things become a bit dicey. How exactly does the best friend start dating the ex wife? Yikes, right? Somehow Ranee Clark pulls it off but it is tricky there for awhile.

I always love a good friends turned lovers kind of story. This one had a bit of a twist with that whole dynamic (and just wait until you see where it all goes!) but all is well that ends well. DJ was such a good guy that I was rooting for him from the very beginning. I liked Chelsea okay, but it was DJ who stole the show for me. The struggles for both characters definitely felt real.

This was a cute story and I enjoyed the journey!

Content: teen intimacy resulting in pregnancy is talked about with no details. Mild romance with kissing, mild religious content (talk of going to church, specific to the LDS religion)

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ranee S. Clark’s Meant for You, she brings to life a delightful and inspiring story through the power of friendship, family, and love. Clark’s story shows the struggle of being a divorced and single mom, as well as the difference of finding and having a good man that will be there for the good times as well as the hard. From page one, readers will delight in the realistic qualities of the characters as they come to life through their flaws and weaknesses, but also their strengths and triumphs. These are the types of characters that readers will be wishing could would jump from the pages and be their own friends. And of course the sweet romance is one that will cause readers to sigh in contentment as they turn every page of the book. Readers will not want to miss this charming contemporary romance novel.

Series: Playing for Keeps
Genre: contemporary, romance, clean, LDS
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: January 1, 2019
Number of pages: 238

Other books in the series:
1-Playing for Keeps
2-Double Play
3-Love, Jane

A review copy of this book was provided by the author. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ranee Clark's Playing for Keeps books and characters. I was thrilled that it was DJ's turn for his own book. I loved how DJ's life in Cody wasn't picture perfect. He had some struggles. And sometimes the hits kept on coming. Chelsea had her own trials as well. She was trying to pick up the pieces of her life after her divorce and care for her young son, her way. I loved how she was able to take her healthy meal ideas and turn it into something creative and lucrative. I also appreciated, after some time, Brady took the needed responsibility for his son. The author does a great job with pacing Chelsea and DJ's relationship. It didn't feel rushed or forced. I loved their chemistry.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romance. Several thoughts. First, the religious references seem so much more holistic in this book than in the Christian regency books I recently read. So I appreciated that. Next, I found Chelsea's obsession with feeding her toddler only healthy food SO annoying. But then I could see that her interest in healthy foods became part of the plot, so I stopped being quite so irritated. I thought the plot had some interesting variations and really enjoyed it.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

DJ and Chelsea are two characters who have had their share of struggles. I thought the author did a good job of portraying the lead characters who are trying to keep moving forward when they've had moments in life that haven't been the easiest.

Chelsea is a divorced mom with a little toddler. She's struggling to make ends meet, take care of her son and not feel like a burden to her parents, all while trying to keep a good relationship happening for her son and his father. I thought the divorce aspect of this book was handled well and enjoyed seeing how these characters were trying (especially the ex-husband, he wasn't portrayed as somebody who was horrible).

DJ was a character who seemed to be bumbling along and trying his best at whatever he was doing. All is not quite as it seems but I won't explain why...you'll have to read it to understand. But I liked his character. He struggled. He wasn't perfect. He made mistakes and owned up to them (not anything big and crazy but just little things that could happen to anyone). I liked watching him finally decide what he wants and trying to achieve it.

Chelsea and DJ had just a sweet relationship. They were friends in high school and reconnected when they both moved back to their home town. They had some things to work through but I loved the friendship and relationship that developed between them, especially in regards to her son and ex-husband.

If you want a sweet and clean romance this one definitely fits that description. It is #4 in a series. I haven't read all of the books in this series and wasn't confused by any references to previous characters. So it does read as a stand alone if you haven't read the other books and want to just dive in with this one.

Content: Clean. Divorce is discussed but well done. Some kissing but nothing further. There are some Christian religion aspects but nothing preachy.

I received a copy through ebooksforreview. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

MEANT FOR YOU is an LDS contemporary romance that is full of heart, genuine characters, and a sweet story. Readers of the genre will enjoy this one, and fans of the series will be pleased to read DJ's story.

It's been some time since I read the books from this series, but I remembered David and Anthony (PLAYING FOR KEEPS is still a story I remember fondly and I would reread). DJ was one of the guys in this group of football teammates/friends and it's now his turn to find his happily-ever-after. However, his HEA is hard coming. Nothing seems to be going well or right. Then there's Chelsea... she also hasn't gotten the happy ending she thought she would and has learned some tough things, and is still learning them. Let me just stop here and insert that I really loved these characters! They used to be really good friends and then some things happened that pushed them apart. Now they're both back in their hometown, and they run into each other. That leads to them rekindling their friendship and then they start to see each other as more than friends, even though they're scared to do anything about it. I really loved how the romance built upon their prior friendship and how comfortable they are in some ways while other things are completely new. There's a lot more going on besides romance in their lives though. Things that get in the way and make it a difficult road for them. I appreciated that these characters had real struggles and concerns. They're perfectly flawed characters who are trying to survive and find happiness regardless of what life throws at them, which makes this story so easy to relate to. The inspirational aspect is mentioned, but is just softly weaved through the story and doesn't play a large role. My only qualm is a little bit of awkwardness with the situation in the end, but I still enjoyed this one and its sweet ending.

In the end, was it what I wished for? With two main characters who tug on the heart, a sweet child in the mix, and a heartfelt romance, this story made for a delightful read. I enjoyed the small-town dynamics as well as the group of family and friends who support the main characters. Definitely recommended.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always happy to read a book by Ranee S Clark! I’ve read so many of hers and loved them. These Playing for Keeps books are some of my favorites. Make sure to read the other books first, they’re all great! Playing for Keeps , Double Play , and Love, Jane.

I love the way Chelsea seemed like a real person. She had hopes and dreams, but like all of us, she had things she saw as failings. I have to say that at the end of the book, I was a little sad that I couldn’t actually have her for a friend. She’s just the kind of person I’d like to be friends with!

And DJ…I’m so glad to finally be able to read his story. I’ve loved him in all the other books. But it was so fun to see things through his perspective in this one. I loved the way he goes out of his way for Chelsea and for Austin, her little boy. He really is an amazing character. It was fun to see him help Austin grow and change throughout this book. And I had to laugh a little bit at the crazy things that kept happening to him throughout the book. I didn’t know any one person could have as many bad things happen as DJ did!

I wasn’t sure this book was going to end up with a happy ending for everyone as I read it. I’m not going to spoil that for anyone. But I did love the ending. It was perfect!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sucked me right in, and is just the kind of easy reading contemporary romance I go for. I wanted to eat it up as fast as I could - there's a lot of empathy for the position Chelsea has found herself in. Even though I didn't agree with her low self image as a divorced member of the Church, I'm sure it's a realistic assessment, sadly. We have these ideals that have become a cultural norm and that can be hard for those who are outside of that 'structure'.

DJ is such a sweetheart and you will root for him at every turn. Things just never seem to go his way despite being the good guy, with a kind heart and a willingness to serve everyone he knows. He is such a thoughtful friend to Chelsea and it irritated me as time went on circumstances changed that she never seems to really value that like she should. In fact this really changed my perception of the story for me, and it fell flat. Even the quick turn around at the end wasn't enough to pull back. I was hoping for a little more 'fighting' for what obviously was a good thing would be how it would resolve. A rather deflated resolution.

Still a great read though and a fab cover. I've enjoyed this series.

I received a complimentary copy. This is my honest review.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is just past midnight and I just finished Meant for You. I started it this morning so we have had a fun day together. I feel like I have really gotten to know these characters. Chelsea and DJ were fun together, I was so happy to see them work everything out. As a mother I really sympathized with Chelsea and the struggles she had with her son. Overall this was a really sweet romance that hit the spot. Loved it!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since reading Playing for Keeps (the first book in this series), I've been waiting to read DJ's story, and Meant For You did not disappoint! Clark once again created a cast of relatable characters who made me swoon. While the dynamics of DJ and Chelsea's relationship are complicated, but their genuine love for each other is undeniable. This was a tender love story, and I can't wait for Raneé S. Clark's next installment.

[Chesney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the authors novel, Love, Jane. It was completely unexpected from LDS novels. This one did not live up to that one. It definitely was not for me. I did not connect with the characters which is a huge deal for me. Clean content.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked Playing For Keeps. The other three books in the series not so much. If I hadn’t bought this book I would have quit reading at 37%. It did get better during the second half of the book so I gave it a higher rating than I was originally going to give it.

[Jackie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real life right here!

This book was so good , I loved how true to life it was now days, with so many single parents trying to do the right thing for their children, especially if only one is making most of the effort. Them we have Chelsea, DJ, and Brady, best friends all during high school until something happens to change their friendship, fast forward 10 years, Chelsea is back home in small town Clay Wyoming, trying her best to raise her 2year old son Austin and runs into DJ , they start reconnecting again and then Brady starts making his presence known more and more, you know I really wanted to hate Brady but in the end I couldn't! He did make me mad a few times though 😠 Chelsea knows what's best for her son, but will it cost her what's best for her, and DJ, and what her heart has secretly wanted for years ??? Ms. Savage has written a clean but romantic book, so fun loved her and DJ's romance it was delicious 😋. I'd recommend it for any and everyone!!!

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance, clean; Series, but stand alone read.
Fun addition to this series, but this is a stand alone read. The earlier books in this series were college or immediately after. This was a more adult addition to this series. Chelsea and DJ were a cute couple. Chelsea's complications with her ex husband and toddler, and DJ's career issues made for a cute back story and conflict. Their genuine friendship, kindness, and their growing affection and devotion were sweet to read and watch, particularly as they supported each other through their choices and problems.
I received an ARC, but this in no way influenced my opinions. My thoughts and comments are my own.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I really enjoyed how the tension built through the book. No one was a cliche charicture, no one was too good to be true. The interior and exterior conflicts were realistic, and the character’s reactions were honest. The way the tension was resolved at the end was perfect.

Clean, some kissing but even that wasn’t extremely described.

It is a Christian novel, and the realistic way the main character lived her religion, and used it to help guide her life, was enjoyable. Not sappy sweet, but enabling and sustaining and guiding.

[Donna May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. Sometimes what you want and what is best for your family are two different things. This novel shows how people can and will compromise when it is the best thing for their children. Divorce is a hard thing for everyone around, but especially for the children. I loved how this author made the children the priority.

What would have made it better would have been to include some of the recipes . Good, clean romance novel.

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote: “I’ve watched my friends do really successful things—personally and otherwise,” he said. “I’ve watched and tried to figure out what great thing I’m meant to do. I know one thing that I’m good at—one thing I could be happy doing the rest of my life. One thing, that if I do right, will make me more accomplished than I ever imagined I would be, and that is loving you.”

[Christina Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want all the recipes

This was poignant and funny and hard and sweet. It's a different kind of coming-of-age story, one for those of us who weren't the Chosen One and didnt figure our lives out until well into adulthood. I loved it. And I want all the recipes.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. I struggled with the ending of this book. I felt like Brady’s turn around was too drastic and too complete to be realistic…especially when he manipulated Chelsea into moving away from the friends and work and calling she was enjoying and excelling in.

[Randy Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance Novella

Fairly predictable plot, sweet story, unusual but okay conclusion. Willing to try one more novel by this author, hopefully, a "historical" novel. Thank you.

[Caleen Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good wrap up to the series.
Upgraded cover. Still a good read. :) Liked the characters. Glad DJ got his own book. Would love a bonus epilogue to see what he ends up doing - I felt bad he never quite found a career that clicked for him. Wouldn’t mind trying some of the healthy recipes Chelsea made. :)
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this story. It dealt with difficult things as family dynamics are hard to navigate after a divorce. I liked that Brady and Chelsea made an effort to be friends for their son and could rationally talk about issues. They might not like every choice the other makes but they still tried to work together. Far too often that doesn't happen and the children suffer for it. And then add the awkward situation of Chelsea being interested in her ex's best friend. I suspect that some readers don't think that it would be realistic to have that friendship remain in any form but it can happen. My grandparents were divorced and remained friends. My grandfather remarried and grandmother was in a long term relationship as well and the group went on vacations together. They got along fine. So I think that while it might be awkward to navigate initially I believe it could happen.

I found Chelsea to be a little uptight in her parenting as she was trying to compensate for an absentee dad. I think she could have relaxed a little and accepted help. There was so much she could not control so she held fast to what she could control. Her insisting that her son only eat her homemade healthy foods was an attempt to have some control. Unfortunately it resulted in a power struggle with her son. She wanted every bite to "count" but I kept thinking he would probably eat more bites if she'd stop trying to control it so much. The reality is that her son was also trying to have control over something in his life.

That being said, she is the mom. She gets to make those decision especially when dad isn't around. Just because I would make different choices, it doesn't necessarily mean she is wrong. And the aunt or grandparents or whoever need to follow mom's wishes.

I liked DJ and thought he was a kind and caring person. I felt bad that he struggled so much to find his place off the football field. My one big question was what did he end up doing as a career? He moved and we were never told what he did after that.

This book could be a Hallmark movie if you were to remove the specific denominational references. It is specific to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but can be enjoyed by anyone if you don't mind a little prayer and church terminology, etc

Sex: no. References to getting married due to teen pregnancy but that was long before the book begins.
Language: no
Violence: no

[Grace Tolman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this book but all of my comments are my own.
In ths book we meet Chelsea who was recently divorced. One of the things that she did after the break up of her marriage is to seek solace in her hometown, Clay, Wyoming. It's a small town so she is always feeling insecure thinking that everyone sees her as a failure. She then gets reacquainted with the best friend of her ex husband. DJ thought his future was all set. But when he couldn't get into the NFL, he goes back to his hometown of Clay and becomes a firefighter. He reunited with Chelsea and a romance blossoms.

I liked the references to food. Chelsea works at her cousin's bakery and all of the mention of treats made me want to have a brownie then and there. I also found the references to "healthy alternatives" to be interesting. I've had black bean brownies before so I know that they have the potential to be both good for you and not taste that bad either.

However, I couldn't really give this anymore than 3 stars because I didn't feel invested with their story until about 60% into it. That's why it took me forever to finish it. I just didn't feel the urge to read on. I'm not sure if it's because this is the 4th in the series and I was not familiar with the characters, or maybe I just didn't care what happened to Chelsea and DJ. I'm not quite sure about it.

I also didn't like Chelsea as a protagonist. I just felt like she carried her "divorced/single mother" badge all day long and used it as a crutch to be insecure. She has so much to offer and yet she is always so unsure of herself. I also didn't like her reasonings for going to far as to drive her kid around town in order for him to sleep. I've had many sleepless nights with my kiddos before but I would never do that. I think that's going too far into allowing the kid to control your life. And her reasoning that she feels guilty is such BS. And not allowing her parents or other people to help her is also, to me, a sign of pride. Yeah, I just didn't agree on her decisions and that made me dislike her and not want to know more.

DJ also has some flaws. It seemed like the trend for both main characters are weakness in self and courage. I am all about characters that are vulnerable, but I also like my fictional "friends" to have some spunk and fight to them.

Over all, this book was ok, but not the best that I've read.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed the first three books in the Playing for Keeps Series, although it has been almost two years since I read the last book. The details and supporting characters (which would be one of the main characters in this one) are somewhat fuzzy. I didn’t like Meant for You as much as the other Playing for Keeps novels, and I wonder if I had read them more recently if that would have helped. I didn’t even remember DJ and Brady. 😬 But, it does make me want to re-read those to remind me.

I didn’t feel much of an attachment to the characters, but I did feel bad for Chelsea. A young, divorced, single mom and her struggles to raise her son amidst the lack of fatherly involvement and judgment from people about how she was raising her son.

I do remember the feeling of leaving everything behind when I got married (friends etc.) and how initially that didn’t bother me. Eventually I realized I needed my own friends and connections. It’s not healthy to give yourself up completely. Change is good and you do have a new life in many ways, but you need to keep yourself healthy emotionally and socially too.

DJ was a nice guy, and had a great connection with Chelsea, but I did wonder about him being able to support the family with his poor employment track record.

Meant for You has a happy ending and is a clean read. I liked the cover and the love the main characters had for their town.

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Amanda Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was just fine. The plot just lacked depth and originality and at parts it seemed to drag on.

[Alysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book from Ranee S. Clark. Chelsea and DJ are both very likable characters, but sometimes I wanted to bang their heads together, which to me is a mark of a great writer. This was a pretty quick read, but very enjoyable, I sped through the last few chapters because I had to know what happened, I was nervous it wouldn't end like I wanted. I liked that this book deals with some really hard situations that I believe Ranee handled very well. I was sad to find out that this was the last book out in the series.

Both Chelsea and DJ are trying to navigate a new normal for them, Chelsea after her divorce and DJ after quitting football. It makes it even a little bit more awkward because DJ is Chelsea's ex's best friend, especially when their feelings for each other start to re-emerge. Chelsea is struggling with being a single mom, and working part time, especially because her son is having a difficult time adjusting to the divorce and doesn't eat or sleep well. DJ is back in his hometown after not making football his career, and is currently struggling with being a fireman as well. When misunderstandings come between Chelsea and DJ will they let love, or the misunderstandings win?

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two guys and one girl--which guy was meant for her? In Ranee S. Clark's book, Meant for you, Chelsea Lewis is a young divorced single mother who moved back to Clay, Wyoming to stay with her parents and get back on her feet. Chelsea and her high school boyfriend, Brady, had gotten married because they were expecting a baby. Unfortunately, they lost the baby before having a son years later, but they were never really happily married. Now that she is back, Chelsea can't help running into Brady's friend, DJ Kaiser, in their small home town. She figured that since DJ had come with Brady in their relationship, Brady got him in their divorce. DJ is now a fireman in the Clay Fire Department. As Chelsea and DJ start to spend time together, they become comfortable being around each other again and decide to date. Then out of the blue, Brady asks Chelsea to move back to Salt Lake, about eight hours away, so he can spend more time with their son. This book has characters who are easy to relate to, interesting things happen to them, and I enjoyed reading it in one sitting.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This book is the fourth in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read any of the others, even though it felt like I should probably know some of the characters from previous books, it wasn’t confusing or distracting from the story. It is an LDS based book so my library doesn’t carry them. I for this ebook for free.
Chelsea moves back to her hometown after her divorce with her 2 year old son. She lives with her parents and works at her cousins bakery. It also is the same town that her ex-husband grew up in and they were high school sweethearts. As she is navigating this new world over the past year, she bumps into an old friend, DJ. DJ, she, and her ex (Brady) were like the three amigos in high school. She starts to have feeling for him... but feels guilty since they were like brothers. Real life situations happen, it’s not all fluff, and it’s interesting. It’s told from Chelsea and DJ’s POV. It’s not that they each take turns with chapters though, it all just flawlessly blends together.
It is a sweet and clean Romance.