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The Man Before You: A Second Chance Standalone Romance
Time may not actually heal all wounds, but love just might.
Eloise’s husband was dead and she wished she were too. She quit going to work, refused to answer her phone or her front door, and shut out the people who cared about her. She felt imprisoned by her tainted memories, but couldn’t escape her own home or recliner, because she had to focus on breathing.
Six days after she buried her husband, Jack pounded on Eloise’s door. Jack, a man she hadn’t seen or spoken to in over a decade. Jack, the only man including her husband, who Eloise felt truly knew her.
Jack’s life hadn’t been without its fair share of loss. Breaking contact after Eloise’s marriage had seemed the best thing for them, but regret tortured Jack when Eloise swung open her door and he saw the shell of the woman he once loved.
Eloise pushed Jack away ten years ago and never expected him to come back into her life. She hated herself for wanting Jack to stay, but she couldn’t help but remember the love they once shared and the life that they could’ve had—or the life they could have now.
The longer Jack stayed, the more he realized Eloise blamed herself for not being there when her husband died. Jack wanted a second chance, but Eloise didn’t think she deserved one. Eloise wanted to find herself, but wasn’t sure she could while dealing with grief, Jack’s deployments, PTSD, and a universe that seemed determined to keep them apart.
Eloise’s husband was dead and she wished she were too. She quit going to work, refused to answer her phone or her front door, and shut out the people who cared about her. She felt imprisoned by her tainted memories, but couldn’t escape her own home or recliner, because she had to focus on breathing.
Six days after she buried her husband, Jack pounded on Eloise’s door. Jack, a man she hadn’t seen or spoken to in over a decade. Jack, the only man including her husband, who Eloise felt truly knew her.
Jack’s life hadn’t been without its fair share of loss. Breaking contact after Eloise’s marriage had seemed the best thing for them, but regret tortured Jack when Eloise swung open her door and he saw the shell of the woman he once loved.
Eloise pushed Jack away ten years ago and never expected him to come back into her life. She hated herself for wanting Jack to stay, but she couldn’t help but remember the love they once shared and the life that they could’ve had—or the life they could have now.
The longer Jack stayed, the more he realized Eloise blamed herself for not being there when her husband died. Jack wanted a second chance, but Eloise didn’t think she deserved one. Eloise wanted to find herself, but wasn’t sure she could while dealing with grief, Jack’s deployments, PTSD, and a universe that seemed determined to keep them apart.
Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 4, 2021
This book is about grief, love, guilt, and second chances. My heart ached for both Eloise and Jack as they slowly find their way back to being best friends, to lovers, and finally soulmates.
Eloise is lost after her husband, Reagan’s sudden death until Jack shows up on her doorstep unexpected and unwanted. Jack, the man she has loved since college. Her best friend with benefits could never say no to her. The man she ghosted when she married Reagan. Jack wasn’t part of her life plan back then. She couldn’t control her feelings for him in college, so she moved on. And now at her worst, Jack’s back to take care of her again, but her guilt over betraying Reagan’s memory keeps Jack at arm’s distance. Until she can’t ignore her attraction and love for him anymore.
Jack would do anything for the woman he has loved since the first time he saw her in college. Even hide his true feelings for her. He only planned to visit her for a few days in Houston during his leave from the military as a combat medic, but he stayed the entire time despite his better judgment. I guess the heart wants what the heart wants. Eloise’s loss is something he understands after losing his brother and then his mother, as well as his brothers in the military. He doesn’t want to burden her with his pain. So he saves her from herself and encourages her to “stay in the light” while he keeps thinking he doesn’t deserve her. Until she finally decides to let him in. But for how long? This time if she leaves, it will destroy him.
The whole Jack-waiting-for-Eloise thing is frustrating at best. Jack is a keeper and a man any woman would want and Eloise just needs to “stop getting in her own way”. I understand she needs to grieve, but it angered me to see how she kept pushing and pulling on Jack when he works so hard to prove how much he adores her. Jack has a big heart and a lot of patience to wait for a woman that clearly doesn’t have her shit together. But a number of tragic events happen that will ultimately either make or break their relationship culminating in a heartbreaking and fulfilling ending. After all, “sometimes we have to change to survive”.
If you enjoy beautiful soul-searching love stories with realistic characters covering serious subject matter such as grief, PTSD, and suicide give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Battles for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Eloise is lost after her husband, Reagan’s sudden death until Jack shows up on her doorstep unexpected and unwanted. Jack, the man she has loved since college. Her best friend with benefits could never say no to her. The man she ghosted when she married Reagan. Jack wasn’t part of her life plan back then. She couldn’t control her feelings for him in college, so she moved on. And now at her worst, Jack’s back to take care of her again, but her guilt over betraying Reagan’s memory keeps Jack at arm’s distance. Until she can’t ignore her attraction and love for him anymore.
Jack would do anything for the woman he has loved since the first time he saw her in college. Even hide his true feelings for her. He only planned to visit her for a few days in Houston during his leave from the military as a combat medic, but he stayed the entire time despite his better judgment. I guess the heart wants what the heart wants. Eloise’s loss is something he understands after losing his brother and then his mother, as well as his brothers in the military. He doesn’t want to burden her with his pain. So he saves her from herself and encourages her to “stay in the light” while he keeps thinking he doesn’t deserve her. Until she finally decides to let him in. But for how long? This time if she leaves, it will destroy him.
The whole Jack-waiting-for-Eloise thing is frustrating at best. Jack is a keeper and a man any woman would want and Eloise just needs to “stop getting in her own way”. I understand she needs to grieve, but it angered me to see how she kept pushing and pulling on Jack when he works so hard to prove how much he adores her. Jack has a big heart and a lot of patience to wait for a woman that clearly doesn’t have her shit together. But a number of tragic events happen that will ultimately either make or break their relationship culminating in a heartbreaking and fulfilling ending. After all, “sometimes we have to change to survive”.
If you enjoy beautiful soul-searching love stories with realistic characters covering serious subject matter such as grief, PTSD, and suicide give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Battles for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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February 28, 2021First chapter really got my back up. Why does it sounds like she really loved Jack, but for whatever crazy reason decided they couldn't be together then found another dude. Married him, excluded the fact that she had Jack as a friend (never telling her husband of 10 years..major red flags right there), no husband died jack came to visit and her fist though is " I don't want him Regan, I choose you" like major guilt there yes.
Icing on top, calling her best female friend whose first words were along the lines of she called him because she figured he could help her and that doesn't mean banging him, but if she did great.
Like what type of relationship did she have with her husband that 6 days after his funeral, her best friend thinks it's great if she banged the man (friend) she hasn't spoken to in 10 years because that'll be the best thing for her.
Crikey.
Icing on top, calling her best female friend whose first words were along the lines of she called him because she figured he could help her and that doesn't mean banging him, but if she did great.
Like what type of relationship did she have with her husband that 6 days after his funeral, her best friend thinks it's great if she banged the man (friend) she hasn't spoken to in 10 years because that'll be the best thing for her.
Crikey.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews