Fall in love with my teenage crush – tickPropose to him on a leap year – tickReceive a sad look and a whispered ‘we can’t’ – tick, tick, tick.Austin Hart was my first everything-crush, love, and heartbreak.Seven years ago, he broke me to pieces and when my world imploded two years later, I stupidly fell back into his bed, seeking comfort only he could give. Accepting that we would never be … give. Accepting that we would never be together, I left Monroe and let him become a distant memory.
Five years later an opportunity I can’t refuse forces me to make the long trip back to Monroe.
And Monroe means seeing Austin again.
I’d be lying if I said the years haven’t been good to him. He’s undeniably sexy, smoldering, and he still makes my heart flutter regardless of how much I want to dislike him. My body may still react, but my mind will never forget.
Though I promised myself I’d never fall under his spell again, he has other plans– and the universe has even bigger ones.
more
4* Whiskey Stars
This second chance at love for Austin and Marnie was sincere and heartfelt. After a bad breakup both went their own way in life and the world only to meet up again years later when Marnie returns to her hometown. What had not changed in all the years apart was the chemistry and feeling they both still had towards each other. This slow burn romance will have you routing for them to be together once again where they belong.
I enjoyed getting to know all the wonderful fun loving friends of Austin and Marnie’s that live in the quaint town of Monroe.
This is my first book I have read by Rachel Brookes and I enjoy every page read.
My Only Reason is the second book in the Men of Monroe series by Rachel Brookes. It’s a second chance romance which features Austin Hart, a sexy police officer and Ben Hunt’s colleague and best friend, and Marnie Lavender, a quirky flower shop owner who is the only woman he ever loved and whose heart he broke into million tiny pieces 7 years ago. I’m a huge sucker for this genre and stories where two people have history together and share an epic and once in a lifetime kind of love. I always root for them to find their way back to each other again and to overcome all the trials and tribulations that fate throws their way. My Only Reason was a very touching and inspiring story about second chances and forgiveness, about making mistakes and learning from them. Rachel did a fantastic job with this story – from the well paced, engaging storyline to the well developed, intriguing characters. I’ve devoured and thoroughly enjoyed every single page of it.
Marnie had all her firsts with her teenage crush Austin – kiss, sex, relationship, love but sadly also heartbreak. Seven years ago she gathered all her courage and proposed to him but he said “no, we can’t” – which was the reason why they broke up and Marnie left Monroe. Now she is back in her hometown in order to pursue one of her biggest dreams – opening her very own flower shop called Lucious Lavender. Marnie is happy to be back and to spend more time with her mom and sister and to reunite with her former best friend and neighbour Ben Hunt. If there was only a way to ignore her uber gorgeous ex-boyfriend whose mere presence still makes her heart flutter like the wings of a butterfly. But staying away from Austin won’t be an easy task because he is hell bent on making things right between them and showing Marnie that she was and always will be his only reason for existing…
I loved the flirty banter and sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine. There was so much pent up sexual tension between them. I thought that my poor Kindle will go up in flames. It was very important to me that the characters first solved their issues before they got physical. I could understand Austin’s reasoning and truly felt his remorse. He is such a swoon-worthy and picture perfect Alpha man – the ultimate book boyfriend material. Marnie was a kind-hearted, caring and loveable heroine who makes you want to befriend her and have Wine Wednesdays with.
It was great to come back to Monroe and to revisit some of my beloved characters and even ones from Rachel Brookes’ previous books like Josh and Ashlyn (Austin’s sister) from Be My Temptation. Now I’m looking forward to Missy’s book and can’t wait to see what Rachel has in tow for her. I loved the hint she left about her love interest in the epilogue of My Only Reason. This book was a true delight and goes straight to my favorites of 2019 shelf. I’m therefore strongly encouraging you to give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it.
{I received this in exchange for an Honest Review}
Austin and Marnie’s story was so wonderful. This was such a good second chance romance. I had so much fun reading this story. It never ceased to make me swoon. All Austin wants is to win his girl back finally. He broke both of their heart’s for a reason and now that Marnie has returned to Monroe nothing will stop him from winning her heart once again. Marnie is guarded, Austin Hart broke her heart and she doesn’t know if she can trust him again. She is finally back home for good and she knows that means that Austin will be in her life in some ways. They share a bestfriend and a deep history. I loved seeing Austin fight for his girl and I Loved seeing Marnie taking the time to really see if being with Austin again is what she really wants. They are angsty as hell. I love the back and forth and the fight between them. This is definitely a slow burn and it is worth every second. Austin and Marnie are Fire!!! Their connection is so amazing!! This book is incredible!! I loved every second of it! I can’t help but to smile whenever I think about these two!!! If you are looking for a sexy, slow burning ,second chance romance with lots of heart and family then read this book!! I am in love with this whole series and I can’t wait for more to come!
I’m so glad to have another book by Rachel Brookes. Her books are packed with emotion! This book sets a swoon-worthy hottie against his sassy, strong love interred and their banter is off the charts witty and hot.
I have been literally DYING to get this book in my possession since All That I Am released in 2017. I adored Sasha and Ben and was so ready for Austin and Marnie! But I swear, sometimes second chance romances drive me bonkers. All I want to do is just shove them together and tell them to just continue their relationship. I am so impatient especially when they already know each other very well.
“Austin Hart had been my first everything; my first love, heartbreak, I-love-you, I-hate-you, I-need-you, I-never-want-to-see-you-again.
Monroe was Austin.
Austin was Monroe.”
Austin just made me swoon y’all. I can’t with southern men! I become putty for them. All that sweet, gentleman gets to me…
Marnie is ready to come back to Monroe and start her own flower shop. But she’s not ready to be back in the town of someone she was ready to give her whole life to. It has been 5 years since they last saw each other.
As much as I wanted Marnie and Austin to be a couple already, I love that Rachel really took the time to really break down everything that has happened and how they can build a lasting relationship. That’s one of the reasons why I love Rachel’s books. It’s not just about finding someone and marrying them down the road… She really develops the characters and you really feel like you are in their shoes.
“So now I had to decide, was it too late for us, or was this our chance of starting our new version of forever?”
I’ve missed Rachel Brookes words so bad and couldn’t wait for My Only Reason to be published. As soon as it was live I one-clicked it and started reading. And let me tell you that it was worth the wait. This heartwarming, unputdownable and sweet story exceeded all of my expectations! I will even go that far and say that it’s my most favorite book from Rachel Brookes alongside with Be My Temptation. And I don’t say this lightly! Who ever had the pleasure to read her work knows that Rachel is a very gifted writer and has the ability to make you fall in love with her characters so hard, that letting them go after you reached the end seems impossible.
Austin Hart was Marnie Lavender’s first everything. All she ever wanted was a future with the boy she loved. But sadly things didn’t go as planned seven years ago when she proposed to him and received a “we can’t” that broke her heart into million pieces.
When Marnie’s father gets shot and killed at work two years later, she willingly falls back into Austin’s bed, seeking the kind of comfort only he could give her. But deep down she knows that they would never be back together again, so she leaves Monroe for good.
Five years later she gets an offer to open her own flower shop in Monroe, something she’s always dreamed about. Unable to turn this incredible opportunity down, Marnie decides to return back home. But being back in Monroe also means facing Austin again who’s still as undeniably sexy and all alpha. Marnie still feels attracted to him but her body and mind are at constant war. While her body craves him, her heart warns her to stay away!
What Marnie Lavender never took into consideration was that once she was back, Austin Hart would do everything within his power to win back the heart of the only woman he has ever loved.
There are not enough words to describe how much I loved Austin and Marnie. They were made for each other. He was the hot, protective and possesive alpha cop with a heart of gold. The way he took care of Marnie’s family without her knowing about it made my heart melt. He had his reasons for saying no to her all these years ago which will be explained during the book. But what was most important for me was that he never stopped loving her!
Marnie was such a sweet and compassionate person. She always saw the good in people and protected the ones she loved fiercely! I loved that she fought for what she wanted and didn’t let people walk all over her. There was truly no better match for Austin than her.
I encourage everyone to buy and read this amazing book. I promise you a lot of laughter, great side characters and several swoon-worthy moments. Let Austin and Marnie take you on a ride through Monroe. Once you meet the whole crew, all you will wish for will be to be a part of them. Well done Rachel Brookes! I can’t wait for more books in this highly addictive series. I’m giving this beauty 5 well deserved stars and putting it straight on my top favorites shelf!
Rachel Brookes IS BACK! My Only Reason, Austin and Marnie’s story, was full of laughs and tears, sexy and swoon-worthy moments. This second chance romance had everything I ever wanted out of a couple. Austin and Marnie’s story, along with the rest of the gang in Monroe, consumed me and I could NOT put it down! I’m so very happy to be back in Monroe and to have Ms. Brookes back in the writing game!
Can we please address the amount of swooning that is going on in this book?!?! I think I’m dizzy from all the swirling LOL Austin freaking Hart is one of the dreamiest men I’ve ever read! Let’s not forget about the SLOW delicious burn between Austin and Marnie that we’ve got going on as well. Sexual tension level is at 100 and it’s smokin’
This book was hot and sexy, sweet and swoony, sad and sour all in one! The shenanigans that occur once Marnie gets back to town are hilarious! I seriously want to be a part of this clique and this town! They are the perfect friend/family dynamic. The way they take care of each other is so endearing. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the friends of the man who takes care of everyone! I can not wait for February 29th 😉
Loved the many emotions this book has and the story that developed. I didn’t want any of it to end.
A second chance romance with lots of giggles and Gigi is back. I just love the character.
Marnie and Austin were happy and in love before he shattered her heart sending her running from her home town. When she comes home he makes his play and when these Monroe men go in they go ALL in. Marnie is very hesitant to let him back into her life, she makes him work hard to prove he’s committed. Loved his single minded tenacity. So happy to catch up with all the guys and looking forward to the next book.