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Hard to Say Yes

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I’ve been burned one too many times.

Fresh off a breakup with a man I was supposed to way and I have no interest in trying that again. While other people my age are graduating from college and starting their careers, I’ve been working since I was a teen and raising my son. Even with the most engaged co-parent, things have never been easy.

When Tegan Schwartz moves to town and shows his interest in me, I immediately push him away. There’s no space in my life for another man who wants me but doesn’t really love me. I’ve dealt with that since I was fourteen. No thanks. But Tegan is relentless, insisting he isn’t like the others. I’ve fallen for that before, too.

Still, he doesn’t give up and begins to weasel his way into my life. Even with the small progress, I keep him far away from my son. Until it’s clear our feelings are growing and I have to decide if I can merge my two lives.

Can I risk my heart one last time or will I lose Tegan forever?

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About the author

Heather Young-Nichols

79 books1,720 followers
Heather Young-Nichols is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romances. She writes swoony heroes and snarly heroines with a heap of romance.

When she's not writing, she's binging a show with her kids, watching baseball, or snuggling with her cuddly animals.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
322 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2022
A Fitting Conclusion to an Extraordinary Series!

Last Chance Love, the third and final novel in the Fallout series by Heather Young-Nichols, ties up all storylines from the first two books and tells the story of Zac and Maddie from her perspective. It's a winner!

Those who have read Last Good Thing (book 1 in the series) will recall that Laney, who left East Branch, Michigan, before her senior year of high school to live with her newly divorced mother in Chicago, returned four years later to clear out her father's house after his sudden death. Zac, her best friend and secret crush, still lived next door--and had a nearly four-year-old son with their other best friend, Maddie. Being dropped by her best friends now made sense; they knew about the pregnancy before she left and didn't want her to know. She felt betrayed but easily forgave Zac; her friendship with Maddie, however, remained strained for a while.

Last First Kiss (book 2), which chronicled the romance between Laney's college best friend Rhian and Zac's best guy friend Porter, added some depth to boisterous Rhian and good-time guy Porter, but its biggest contribution to the series was to introduce Rhian's older brother, Tegan, to the East Branch gang.

Last Chance Love, narrated by Maddie, tells the Zac baby-mama story from her point of view. They truly never saw each other as anything beyond best friends. Heartbroken at Laney's imminent departure and very drunk, they conceived Dylan in a one-night stand and continued being best friends--with a co-parenting arrangement added to the mix. Maddie still doesn't consider Zac any more than the father of Dylan and her best friend. In fact, she barely remembers the encounter that conceived their son and shudders at the thought of kissing her best friend, much less sleeping with him! Laney had nothing to worry about with regard to Zac, and the women repaired their friendship almost to the level it was before Laney moved away.

At the start of Last Chance Love, Tegan has moved in with his sister at her insistence, placing him next door to Zac and Laney, who are living together in his place. Being part of the gang that includes Zac, Laney, Rhian, and Porter, Tegan meets Maddie at a group gathering and asks her out. Gun-shy after dumping an ex who wanted her to surrender custody of Dylan to Zac full-time, she refuses. Laney and Rhian conspire to get her to say yes, but Rhian can't resist telling Maddie a bunch of nonsense about her brother's quirks and almost ruins it for them! Many awkwardly funny moments in the rest of the book are part of an ongoing game of sibling retribution.

Date after date, night after night, Maddie and Tegan grow closer and seem destined for a happy ending. Then Tegan unwittingly makes a near-fatal mistake.

As a joke, Tegan says that Maddie would make a great trophy wife. It's a trigger for her because her crummy ex used to criticize her and say the only thing she could do well was be a trophy wife. As she puts it, her head is warning her to leave before he turns into a man like her ex was, but her heart wants to stay, and she's not sure how long it will take for one to catch up to the other. She's not sure if she's really seeing a red flag or if she's just paranoid from the scars left by her critical ex.

She thinks she's taking time to figure it out. He thinks she's avoiding him on purpose. When Dylan gets sick and needs to go to the hospital, Tegan's the PA who treats him, and he dismisses Maddie as coldly as he thinks she dismissed him.

But a romance novel won't allow these two--a devoted mom and a PA who loves her child as much as her ex hated him--to remain estranged. At the next group gathering, Zac announces his engagement to Laney, and she reveals that he got Dylan to ask her. The series concludes with a reflection by Maddie about the wonderful way her life has turned out--friends who love her and Zac's son, restoration of her friendship with Laney despite being with Zac before Laney even left, and finding a prince in Tegan after so many frogs. The editor in me loves such a poetic, fulfilling conclusion.

Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Char (1RadReader59).
3,267 reviews19 followers
May 22, 2024
Relationships are hard and scary. Then you add to the fact Maddie Preston had a baby out of wedlock with one of her two male best friends. Boy, that makes it way more difficult to find true love. However, she knows love is out there because her baby daddy, Zac found it. With their best friend, Laney, the one they commiserated over with drinks when her parents divorced, and her mom moved away taking Laney with her. That’s the reason they ended up parents at seventeen.

But, when Laney came back home she brought back Rhian Schwartz. Taking the number one spot as Laney’s best girlfriend. Rhian has been a bit of an antagonist since she started in these books, and she doesn't disappoint in this book either. She can’t seem to understand how Laney could forgive Maddie and Zac for the one night that produced, Dylan. Laney said because she talked to them both. She knew that it was something that happened over one night missing her.

Not to mention that she never told the three of them she was in love or even had a crush on Zac. Zac didn't like that she kept throwing it in Maddie’s face. As if, it were her business. Or as if, she had lived here at the time and had free rein on everyone’s emotions. Now, Maddie has been dating a guy named Ian who is a douchebag. He keeps beating at her self-esteem. So badly that she doesn’t recognize it, It’s done cunningly it takes her a hot minute to put up her antennas.

So, when they go for a bonfire in Laney’s backyard, Ian takes it upon himself to ask Zac a favor. If he can take Dylan next weekend, also. Without consulting her. By the time they left on their weekend, she was ready to eat bear. Then, at the hotel, he says he made reservations at a nice restaurant did she want to go do something with her hair? She already had since she’s a hairdresser. It looked perfect. At dinner, he ordered her to get a glass of wine.

She said, no. She just wanted water. He said it again, this time so loud, that half the restaurant turned around. But, she held her ground. Repeated NO! Much harsher. It's what, Ian dares to do next that he oversteps.

It's too far over, the line that they are beyond blurred. They make him look even less appealing. But, it's what he does at dinner that night that pushes this single mom over the edge and takes action. To find out what he does you will have to read the last book in the series.

I enjoy this author’s style of writing. I can get caught up in the characters' lives easily, but it always feels like there are still things hanging, unfinished. I liked the series as a whole but it needs an epilogue. Out of all the characters only one engagement.
Tegan Schwartz for being a surgical physician assistant, sure acted immature because he didn't get his way.

She owed him a text but she was doing her best. He and Rhian were the first ones who pushed Maddie into a relationship before she was ready. Yet, expected her to have no kickback from it. When he was the first one she told all the down-and-dirty details. Especially, when she told him all the things Ian made her insecure and questioned herself about.
Profile Image for Shermaine Dowling.
244 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2020
This story concerns Maddie, who had a child (Dylan) about 6 years ago, as a result of a one-time sexual encounter with her favorite guy friend, Zac, while still in high school. She lives for her son, and her latest boyfriend turns out to be a total douche who wanted her give up custody of Dylan to Zac. Reeling from that breakup, she explains the whole sordid ordeal to her friends, one of which is Tegan, brother of one of tight-knit little group. A little later Tegan asks Maddie to go out with him and she responds in a rather rude manner, for which she apologizes the next day. Tegan and Maddie become a couple, but Maddie is ultra careful of guys being around her in front of Dylan, so she and Tegan need to take it slow and be careful. After a few weeks of dating, while with the group, Tegan makes a comment that has Maddie in a tizzy. She refuses his texts and phone calls, and even refuses to speak with him when he visits her home. A couple of weeks go by, and finally she tells Tegan why she was so upset and "ghosted him, as he put it. They overcome the miscommunication, admit their love for each other, and she lets Dylan know that Tegan is her boyfriend, which doesn't surprise him after all. This is a lovely little story of insta-attraction, but one party taking a bit longer to let that instant feeling sink in. I think this series, with stories revolving around this lively group of friends, will be a true winner!!! I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily provide my review thereof.
Profile Image for Juliana Ignácio.
1,132 reviews4 followers
May 31, 2020
We were introduced to Maddie and Tegan in the previous books, as she was Laney's best friend and has a son with Zac, little Dylan. And Tegan is Rhian's brother, who came to live with her.
Despite becoming pregnant as a teenager, Zac gave all the support to Maddie and the two co-parenting their son.
When Maddie's relationship with Ian ends due to his selfish actions, she decides to take a break from relationships and focus only on her son.
Tegan had already noticed Maddie, but since she was in a relationship, he never approached her. But when she becomes single, he decides to take a risk and asks her out, but she's not ready for it yet.
When the two decide to give a chance to the feelings that are arising between them, the chemistry between them is explosive and they make a beautiful couple, but Maddie is never totally relaxed because she always thinks that something bad can happen.
And when something really happens, all her friends support her and stay with her, but they also make her think and decide what is best for her life.
I loved the story and the characters. It was a beautiful ending to this series. I highly recommend the reading.
1,315 reviews4 followers
May 14, 2020
I had read the first two books in the series and enjoyed the characters (even though I am much older than them) as they worked there were through challenging times. Laney and Zac - reconnecting after terrible loss and betrayal. Rhiann and Porter - dealing with difficult parents and misperceptions. In this book you have Maddie and Tegan (Rhiann's brother). Maddie is trying to make a connection with the type of man she thinks she should be with, but when she discovers her couldn't be farther from what she needs, she has to face some realities about what she really wants and needs. The question is, will she give Tegan a chance to be that man for her? She's got more to think about than just her... she's got her and Zac's son to think about. The stories in the Fallout Series are quick and easy reads with drama, emotion, chemistry and enough to keep my interest from start to finish. Looking forward to seeing what comes next for this crew.
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews64 followers
May 10, 2020
There’s a lot of tension roiling beneath the surface of this pair. Both the good kind, the chemistry that drew them together, and the bad kind, the emotional baggage that ends up tripping Maddie and Tegan up. But I don’t dare go into any of that because it will land me firmly in spoiler territory. Maddie may have needed to be the responsible adult for a long time now, but she’s got some emotional maturing that needs to happen before she and Tegan can get their happy ever after. There was a point where I despaired of ever seeing them find it. Now that I’ve reached the end of this book, I find that I’m not ready to say “goodbye” to these characters yet. Especially with how this closes.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,181 reviews7 followers
May 11, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed "Hard to Say Yes" by Heather Young-Nichols. I am a fan of this author and have been for quite some time. This author writes in a way that speaks to each reader - it's realistic and contain story lines that can and are happening all around us. The characters are fun to read and all of the series I've read by her grab hold of you right away and keep you hooked until that last book. I'm sad to see this series come to an end - but I'm happy with the stories and how they were told along the way.
This is a great and entertaining series to add to your collection and if you like it as much as I did - go back and add the other books from this author as well.
Happy Reading...enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,713 reviews20 followers
May 12, 2020
This is the third book in The Fallout series by Heather Young-Nichols. It featured Maddie who had a son at seventeen. I loved the relationship Maddie had with Zac, the father of her child, Dylan. I liked how they co-parented Dylan and worked together putting Dylan first. It was interesting to see how a bad relationship with a boyfriend had such power over a new relationship. I really liked how Maddie had a close group of friends and she was also close to her parents and sisters too. It was fun to watch her date Tegan and how this sometimes caused problems with her group of friends because one of the friends was Tegan's sister. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
141 reviews
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May 19, 2020
Life can make it Hard to Say Yes to love.
This plot lays out the problems of finding — and trusting — love for the single mom. I divorced when my child was a toddler, and I identified with all the fears and phobias of dating and weighing your kiddo’s happiness and security first. Not to mention the monumental process of finding some seemingly nice guy who’s pretending to be normal but will go psycho after a couple of dates! The author has woven these factors into an interesting story with a sweet romance with the possibility of an HEA just waiting for a young mom to find her courage and accept that it might just NOT be too good to be true!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.9k reviews367 followers
May 12, 2020
Becoming a parent at the age of 17, Maddie has had to be the responsible one, working and caring for her child, Dylan. She has dated enough to know she can’t trust or rely on anyone else, so she lives only for her son.

When Tegan Schwartz seems interested in her, Maddie stubbornly pushes him away, not believing he offers anything more than the others who have lied to her. But he is persistent and sincere, and the solid walls she built to protect her heart just may crumble. She does need to learn to trust, but she has a great support system of friends along the way.

Grab your copy of this emotion-filled story and see if Maddie and Tegan find their HEA.
4,987 reviews31 followers
May 12, 2020
Maddie gets pregnant in high school by a friend Zac at a bad time for both of them and have stayed friends while raising their son. She does not date much so when the one guy she has dated for a while decides he does not want to help her raise her son she knows its time to let him go. When she gets together with Zac and the other friends from school she meets Tegan who ask her out but she wants to take a break from men and tells him no. As they continue to hang out together she finally gives in and all goes well until they hit a bump in the road. Will Maddie and Tegan fix the problem they have or go their separate ways?
Profile Image for Mindy Lopez.
2,367 reviews14 followers
May 11, 2020
This is Book 3 in the Fallout Series by this author, and can be read as a standalone. It is a sweet romance between single mom Maddie and Tegan. It is a slow burn love story filled with drama, passion, twists and turns, plus engaging secondary characters to keep the reader interested. The emotions are frustrating and bittersweet. The story flows smoothly and the chemistry between the main characters is hot. An engaging page turner with a happy for now ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Antoinette Bull.
22 reviews
May 13, 2020
Maddie is fresh from a break up with her boyfriend who turns out to be a selfish person. The final straw was when he takes her away for the weekend and produces documents that he asks her to sign giving sons father custody of him. She walks out and returns home. One of her friends has her brother living at her home and Maddie seems to tell him stuff she would not tell her friends, but she is reluctant to go on a date with him. This story tell of their ups and downs in building trust and looking to the future. Great story with an HEA
631 reviews3 followers
May 23, 2020
Book 3 of The Fallout Series brings Maddie’s story to the front. This gives Maddie’s POV and wow does it bring the emotions! Maddie and Tegan get together but the mental abuse She suffered from Ian causes her to snap when Tegan makes a comment in jest that is reminiscent of Ian’s attitude. A lot of baggage is dealt with in this story and of course the whole gang (Zac, Laney, Porter, Rhian, and of course Dylan) are a part of the story so you see how each couple has progressed. This is a great series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nancie Blume.
762 reviews14 followers
March 12, 2026
Tegan and Maddie

Maddie and Tegan's story is a beautiful, heartwarming tale of real-life love. We've met Maddie before - she's Laney's bestie and mom to Zac's adorable son, Dylan. Tegan, Rhian's bro, has been secretly crushing on Maddie, but she was off-limits. After her breakup with the toxic Ian, Maddie focuses on her son and herself. Tegan takes a chance and asks her out, but she's not ready. When they finally give in to their feelings, it's pure magic. This story is all about genuine emotions. I love Heather Young Nichols and her books! Definitely 5 stars.
Profile Image for Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog).
7,751 reviews170 followers
May 11, 2020
This story is about growth. Maddie has had to be the responsible one for so long and has been disappointed too many times that the only person she lives for is her son. Tegan begins to crumble those walls she's built and I loved reading how they traveled these feelings and Maddie learning to mature some more and trust. It's beautiful, steamy, sweet.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,106 reviews4 followers
May 12, 2020
I absolutely love this series! This is Maddie and Tegan's story and could not have been written any better. Maddie has been hurt before and it almost ruins her HEA with Tegan. Tegan is such a great guy but he makes a stupid joke that almost cost him Maddie. Their connection is unmistakable with plenty of steam, some drama, humor and love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
10.9k reviews127 followers
May 15, 2020
I've read several books written by Heather Young-Nichols; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the chemistry between the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michelle.
10.8k reviews28 followers
May 16, 2020
Hard To Say Yes is a heartbreakingly beautiful ending to Maddie's journey of love. Maddie has been hurt so she's pulls away from Tegan. Tegan doesn't let her get away that easily. These two go through so much on their journey to get their HEA and I was cheering them on the whole way. This is a great ending to The Fallout Series and I look forward to reading the next book this amazing author writes. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Profile Image for Deb.
7,614 reviews37 followers
May 29, 2020
An emotional and enjoyable story that was realistic and believable. The connection between the cast of characters had a familial feel to it. The closeness of this relationship was interesting to behold. The author easily conveyed the love each one felt for the other in their own way. I loved that she and her friend put their son first. I also loved the forgiveness of the other affected characters. Then a new connection is forged between the two main characters and the story took off. Loved it.
Profile Image for Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon).
16.4k reviews218 followers
May 10, 2020
Just the absolute best story. It had me captivated from the beginning with the hot steamy scenes. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it! Everything I like to read about and more. Such a great story I will read again and again. A keeper!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,586 reviews19 followers
May 11, 2020
This author never disappoints... until now. Sadly this one is not going to be a five stars from me. It was a lot -too much - of telling instead of showing, for my taste. A good story, but I've read better from her. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for J. Ockenhouse.
1,743 reviews18 followers
May 11, 2020
Heather wrote a very character strong story. The growth and maturity that needs to happen for happiness to shine its bright light through the fog. I was hooked like a worm to the words.

I felt every struggle, trip, get up and that extended hand that grabbed my heart. I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.
97 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked Tegan and Maddie together. I didn’t agree with how Maddie handled some things, but was happy with the end result. I also liked the other couples and the whole family dynamic their group has.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ashleigh.
3,411 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
This book is captivating!

It grabs you right from the start keeping you engrossed and turning page after page throughout the whole book!

I loved everything about it - the characters, the plot, the emotion, and the writing!

I received a copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
2,106 reviews15 followers
May 23, 2020
I liked Maddie and how she and Zac coparented their son together. I felt for Maddie because of her bad run of relationships. I liked reading about Tegan and Maddie and the ups and downs before they get to their happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.3k reviews8 followers
May 12, 2020
Book three in The Fallout Series a well written story a story with a lot of tension between Tegan Schwartz and Maddie. She has to let go of her past to move on. I enjoyed reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
267 reviews
May 14, 2020
This book was an amazing read. I absolutely loved this book. The storylines were fabulous and the chemistry between the characters was amazing. I definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Cali Jewel.
5,250 reviews40 followers
May 17, 2020
Really enjoyed this heartwarming and emotional journey filled with exciting and engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and exciting turns. A great read from beginning to end and so hard to put down.
7,813 reviews65 followers
May 18, 2020
Wow I enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and engaging with undeniable chemistry between the couple which made for a great storyline that kept me turning the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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