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Stolen Hearts #2
Choosing Lillian
"Starting over had petrified her. Then she met him."
One year ago, my husband left, just when I was at my lowest. Heartbroken and grieving, the prospect of starting again seemed too daunting to consider.
Then I met Blake - a tall, muscular detective with beautiful hazel eyes.
His gaze set me burning with a desire I'd never felt before. I could see how much he wanted me. Hell, I wanted him too. But is it wrong to start a relationship when you know it can never work?
When faced with telling Blake the truth about why we can't be together, I chose to start a lie, claiming I want nothing more from him than sex, thinking it will save us both from another inevitable heartbreak.
But some truths should never be kept.
Sometimes, the lies we tell to protect ourselves are the ones that come back to hurt us the most.
One year ago, my husband left, just when I was at my lowest. Heartbroken and grieving, the prospect of starting again seemed too daunting to consider.
Then I met Blake - a tall, muscular detective with beautiful hazel eyes.
His gaze set me burning with a desire I'd never felt before. I could see how much he wanted me. Hell, I wanted him too. But is it wrong to start a relationship when you know it can never work?
When faced with telling Blake the truth about why we can't be together, I chose to start a lie, claiming I want nothing more from him than sex, thinking it will save us both from another inevitable heartbreak.
But some truths should never be kept.
Sometimes, the lies we tell to protect ourselves are the ones that come back to hurt us the most.
202 pages, ebook
First published March 11, 2020
10 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Rania Battany
13 books34 followersRania Battany writes raw, real and relatable romance that packs an emotional punch. Her characters are charismatic and sometimes flawed; the romances are passionate and sensual; and the stories tug at the heartstrings, always coming together in a powerful and beautiful Happily Ever After.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 10, 2020
MS Battany writes stories that are emotional, she never fails to pull me in, to get my feelings going as she writes about real people with real problems and brings everything together in a powerful and beautiful HEA between people who have become friends. This is the third installment in this series and we get to see Lillian find the joy, love and happiness that she deserves with Blake.
Lillian’s life has been shattered, she is one of the best social workers there are and when she loses a client and then her husband walks out on her she shows her strength and keeps going, nearly one year later she meets Blake a detective working on her new case and her emotions are ramping up, is it time to start a new relationship?
Blake noticed Lillian the first time he met her, there was a pull he could not deny, so he makes an excuse to meet up with her and things ramp up this woman is all he wants but she is struggling with things she will not open up about and confusion about their relationship, things don’t run smoothly, but putting her behind him is not easy.
Secrets and omissions don’t help a relationship as Lillian finds out, but forgetting Blake is something that she cannot do and finally with a little push from her brother Billy she opens up about herself fully and the joy and happiness explodes, wow this is one sensual, moving and fabulous story, MS Battany packs so much emotion into her stories they are hard to put down and they are stories that I highly recommend, thank you I loved this one.
Lillian’s life has been shattered, she is one of the best social workers there are and when she loses a client and then her husband walks out on her she shows her strength and keeps going, nearly one year later she meets Blake a detective working on her new case and her emotions are ramping up, is it time to start a new relationship?
Blake noticed Lillian the first time he met her, there was a pull he could not deny, so he makes an excuse to meet up with her and things ramp up this woman is all he wants but she is struggling with things she will not open up about and confusion about their relationship, things don’t run smoothly, but putting her behind him is not easy.
Secrets and omissions don’t help a relationship as Lillian finds out, but forgetting Blake is something that she cannot do and finally with a little push from her brother Billy she opens up about herself fully and the joy and happiness explodes, wow this is one sensual, moving and fabulous story, MS Battany packs so much emotion into her stories they are hard to put down and they are stories that I highly recommend, thank you I loved this one.
March 22, 2020
I Loved Call Me Lucy by Rania Battany and Choosing Lillian is the second in the Stolen Hearts series which follows on a little while after and this time social worker Lillian, who helped Lucy in the first novel, gets her own HEA.
For those who have read Call me Lucy, you will know that the chemistry between Lillian and the police officer Blake, was palpable, so it was no surprise that these two characters find ways to reconnect after Lucy's case is finished.
Blake was definitely the instigator in this relationship, making excuses to catch up with her, and though shy, knew what he wanted when it came to Lillian. I really liked Blake and I was barracking for him through the whole novel, such a lovely guy, and very protective when it came to Lillian and it turns out, he has every reason to worry about her. Lillian isn't too sure of what she wants due to the breakdown of her marriage a year before, and because of this, she sends lots of mixed signals to poor Blake, and to herself. I thought her friends and family weren't very supportive of Lillian starting a new relationship, except of course Lucy, who was right behind her. Lillian is also still suffering the loss of a young client and still coming to terms with her inability to help when it was needed. Lillian has lots to deal with including her ex-husband who causes a few extra issues she definitely doesn't need.
I really enjoyed the relationship that built between Lillian and Blake, I loved how the chemistry they had led to so much more, they both just had to trust and make the jump.
We meet many of the same characters in Choosing Lillian, but I changed my mind about a few of them in this story. I found Lillian's mother to be very unsupportive of Lillian in this novel, and I didn't like her much at all, she was constantly trying to get Lillian back with her ex, who was an asshole, and I couldn't understand her thinking or lack of empathy. I found Gabby to be quite judgy and very naive, but I'm looking forward to reading her story and seeing where she ends up. I still am not a big fan of Leila, but she is starting to soften a bit more, I guess her relationship with Jacob from the prequel novella Letters to Leila, is softening those sharp edges of hers.
Thanks to the author for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
#AWW2020 20/50
For those who have read Call me Lucy, you will know that the chemistry between Lillian and the police officer Blake, was palpable, so it was no surprise that these two characters find ways to reconnect after Lucy's case is finished.
Blake was definitely the instigator in this relationship, making excuses to catch up with her, and though shy, knew what he wanted when it came to Lillian. I really liked Blake and I was barracking for him through the whole novel, such a lovely guy, and very protective when it came to Lillian and it turns out, he has every reason to worry about her. Lillian isn't too sure of what she wants due to the breakdown of her marriage a year before, and because of this, she sends lots of mixed signals to poor Blake, and to herself. I thought her friends and family weren't very supportive of Lillian starting a new relationship, except of course Lucy, who was right behind her. Lillian is also still suffering the loss of a young client and still coming to terms with her inability to help when it was needed. Lillian has lots to deal with including her ex-husband who causes a few extra issues she definitely doesn't need.
I really enjoyed the relationship that built between Lillian and Blake, I loved how the chemistry they had led to so much more, they both just had to trust and make the jump.
We meet many of the same characters in Choosing Lillian, but I changed my mind about a few of them in this story. I found Lillian's mother to be very unsupportive of Lillian in this novel, and I didn't like her much at all, she was constantly trying to get Lillian back with her ex, who was an asshole, and I couldn't understand her thinking or lack of empathy. I found Gabby to be quite judgy and very naive, but I'm looking forward to reading her story and seeing where she ends up. I still am not a big fan of Leila, but she is starting to soften a bit more, I guess her relationship with Jacob from the prequel novella Letters to Leila, is softening those sharp edges of hers.
Thanks to the author for a digital copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
#AWW2020 20/50
June 24, 2020
❤❤
I knew this book was gonna be even more emotional than the first one. After reading my name is Lucy aka Meg I couldn't wait to read Lilian's book and God it was worth the wait . Her story is a very emotional one something that I'm sure a lot of women suffer from . After being married for long to her high school sweetheart he ups and leaves her at her lowest when she was struggling to deal with the loss of one of her social cases girl.
She was consumed with guilt cause she's one of those people that care with all their being. While working on Lucy's case she meets detective Blake who was attracted to her immediately. After summing up some courage he asks her out under the guise of talking about Megs case . She finds him easy to talk to and open up a bit to him. They start to meet up more he knows he likes her she knows she's attracted to him but she has a secret that stands between her and finding her happiness. Blake is so swoon worthy I loved his character and how caring and protective of her he was . As they started seeing each other more their feelings towards each other grew more but would her secret brake them apart or would they be able to move past it. I loved reading this book I cried a look alot some were happy tears and some were broken hearted tears . I love when an author can make you live through her characters emotions and Miss Battany does just that. It's like your living their heartache and their happiness.
I knew this book was gonna be even more emotional than the first one. After reading my name is Lucy aka Meg I couldn't wait to read Lilian's book and God it was worth the wait . Her story is a very emotional one something that I'm sure a lot of women suffer from . After being married for long to her high school sweetheart he ups and leaves her at her lowest when she was struggling to deal with the loss of one of her social cases girl.
She was consumed with guilt cause she's one of those people that care with all their being. While working on Lucy's case she meets detective Blake who was attracted to her immediately. After summing up some courage he asks her out under the guise of talking about Megs case . She finds him easy to talk to and open up a bit to him. They start to meet up more he knows he likes her she knows she's attracted to him but she has a secret that stands between her and finding her happiness. Blake is so swoon worthy I loved his character and how caring and protective of her he was . As they started seeing each other more their feelings towards each other grew more but would her secret brake them apart or would they be able to move past it. I loved reading this book I cried a look alot some were happy tears and some were broken hearted tears . I love when an author can make you live through her characters emotions and Miss Battany does just that. It's like your living their heartache and their happiness.
March 23, 2020
Loved it.
The first book was good and this one was also good. Loved Blake. He was so in love with Lillian that she did not even notice it. I can't believe she was thinking about giving her soon to be ex another chance. She was enough for Blake and that was all that mattered. Loved the friendships and family gatherings. So happy that Lilian and Blake got the big surprise of their life. I just wish we could have gotten more of that part of in their life. Now, who is Gabby going to date? I hope it is not somebody that will break her heart because she is so nice and caring for her friends and others.
The first book was good and this one was also good. Loved Blake. He was so in love with Lillian that she did not even notice it. I can't believe she was thinking about giving her soon to be ex another chance. She was enough for Blake and that was all that mattered. Loved the friendships and family gatherings. So happy that Lilian and Blake got the big surprise of their life. I just wish we could have gotten more of that part of in their life. Now, who is Gabby going to date? I hope it is not somebody that will break her heart because she is so nice and caring for her friends and others.
March 12, 2020
"...the rules we set for ourselves were the hardest ones to break."
Choosing Lillian is a brilliantly written novel filled with heartache, loss and redemption. Lillian is first introduced to us in Call me Lucy, Stolen Hearts book one. She was an important, albeit secondary, character in that book and I was thrilled to see that she was getting her own story. We get to learn more about her, the reason her marriage didn't work out and see her learn to live and love again. It was great to see a love story centered around something so similar to the real world, pursuing a new relationship after divorce. The story is told from "her" and "his" perspectives which was great. Blake was such an enigma that getting his POV did a great job to clear up some of the mystery behind the super tall and broody detective. While this is book two you can definitely read it as a stand alone, however I strongly recommend you read them in order as Call me Lucy was an incredible 5 star read as well!
March 13, 2020
A heartbreaking, heart-warming story!
I was looking forward to this story after Lillian and Blake's interactions in "Call Me Lucy", and Ms Battany did not disappoint! It was filled with all the emotion I expect from Rania's writing, with plenty of drama, angst, laughter and swoony moments to keep my eyes glued to my Kindle app.
I loved how awkward Blake and Lillian were, their misunderstandings and unspoken words contradicting what they said to each other. I think I'm like Lillian in that I tend to keep things unsaid to keep the peace and look after others, so I completely understood how things went along a road none of them really wanted (not saying anything else - no spoilers here! 😉)
I've already pre-ordered Gabby's book... GAH!!! So excited! 😁
I was looking forward to this story after Lillian and Blake's interactions in "Call Me Lucy", and Ms Battany did not disappoint! It was filled with all the emotion I expect from Rania's writing, with plenty of drama, angst, laughter and swoony moments to keep my eyes glued to my Kindle app.
I loved how awkward Blake and Lillian were, their misunderstandings and unspoken words contradicting what they said to each other. I think I'm like Lillian in that I tend to keep things unsaid to keep the peace and look after others, so I completely understood how things went along a road none of them really wanted (not saying anything else - no spoilers here! 😉)
I've already pre-ordered Gabby's book... GAH!!! So excited! 😁
January 27, 2020
I received an advanced copy. This book follows Call me Lucy as a stand alone book. We meet Lillian and Blake in Call me Lucy and I just knew they were going to have a hot relationship. Lillian is such a beautiful person, and so is Blake. Throughout the whole book I was hoping Blake would get his happy ever after with Lillian. But Lillian carries a secret she's afraid to reveal. Still burnt from her husband leaving, she doesn't open up. Another great addition to the Stolen Hearts series.
February 27, 2020
I received an advanced copy of the book. I couldn't wait to see what happened with Lillian and Blake after I read Call me Lucy and I just loved their happily ever after. This is a start again romance with two people who have been through heart break before. But Lillian is scared of being rejected and Blake is scared of being hurt. It takes the truth to come out for them to find their happily ever after. This is a steamy book with a huge serving of sweet! Looking forward to Gabby's story next.
February 22, 2020
Great Book !! The author manages to really capture the awkwardness of the start of a new relationship, were neither party wishes to expose too much in fear of getting hurt!! Can’t wait to read the next book in the series .
March 14, 2020
Loved this book, and this whole series. Rania creates characters that we all know and invites us into their lives, making sure we never want to leave. Now, just need to find my own 6ft4 man.....
February 17, 2021
Enjoyed it
January 19, 2020
I received an advanced copy and I’m happy I did! I couldn’t wait for Lillian and Blake’s story after reading Call me Lucy. The chemistry between Lillian and Blake was intense and left me hoping that they’d find their happy ever after. Like Call me Lucy, there was an element of mystery and passion that I loved. Great addition to the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews