Simon McCoy can’t forget Margot Banks and the summer they became friends and, almost… embarrassment.
But Simon isn’t a gentleman. Especially where she’s concerned. He makes her a deal. He’ll be her lawyer, if she’ll be his date to his sister’s wedding.
Margot is the one that got away, and this time Simon is going to catch her. A few weeks will get her out of his system. If what his exes say is true, he doesn’t have a heart to lose.
The problem with his plan? He realizes that maybe his heart was Margot’s years ago and he’s looking for more than a fling. As much as he knows about seducing women, that’s how little he knows about having a real relationship.
She needs a lawyer…
After a disastrous marriage, Margot’s done with fairy tales. She just wants to make a decent life for her son. But when her philandering ex-husband decides he wants custody of their son, she needs a knight in shining armor (with a law degree).
And Simon McCoy steps up.
There’s a problem with this simple and mutually beneficial arrangement. When Simon kisses her, he reawakens more than just her passion. He makes her want a life that’s better than just decent. But trusting anything, even her own heart, feels impossible.
If they want a chance for a fairy-tale ending together then they’ll have to battle the demons in their pasts and fight for their happily-ever-after.
Can this fake relationship lead to a real-life fairy-tale ending?
This book is the seventh book in the MAGNOLIA VALLEY series. It can be read as a standalone or as part of a larger story line.
- Dreaming of You (Josie & Calvin)
- Destined for You (Ethan & Astrid)
- Fascinated by You (Nora & Alek)
- He was Playing for Keeps (Caine & Quinn)
- Catching Her Wild Heart (Wyatt & Penny)
- Risking it all for Love (Augustus & Freya)
- It was Always You (Margot & Simon)
- They Started with a Kiss (Sebastian & Amelia)
more
I loved this book! Simon was a hard character to love at first but he did redeem himself in the end. Margot was an amazing character and you can’t help but fall in love with her and with Teddy.
This book will get you addicted right from the start. Margot has a lot up against her and she will have to fight tooth and nail. Good thing she has Simon on her side.
This book was incredible, engaging, and addictive and I can’t wait for Sebastian’s story next! I think it’s gonna be a doozy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a well written and very entertaining story.
I loved how these characters come together, slowly building the sexual tension, the patience and gentleness with which Simon has with Margot, getting to know one another again after many years.
I just love second chance romances and overall, this one is absolutely wonderful with a fantastically sweet and extra joyful HEA.
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.
Second chance for the love of a lifetime
It Was Always You (Magnolia Valley Book 7) by Cora Reed is a very well written book that was really fun to read. Margot, while not confident when it comes to Simon, is actually a very strong woman who endured a great deal of disrespect from men in her life she should have been able to trust. This character is so endearing to me. She cracked me up at the beginning and I loved how she continues to grow stronger throughout. Simon is wonderful in his own ways. As the town lawyer, in a very small community, he is compassionate and generous with his time for everyone else by himself.
The plot of this book, as well as it’s subplots, I found very interesting and hooked me on the characters. I loved how these characters come together, slowly building the sexual tension, the patience and gentleness with which Simon has with Margot, getting to know one another again after many years.
I just love second chance romances and overall, this one is absolutely wonderful with a fantastically sweet and extra joyful HEA.
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.
When I first started reading this story, it seemed like Simon was being portrayed as somewhat cold, gruff, and standoffish. I never felt like that about him. I thought his vulnerability was obvious from his first conversations with Margot. As the book continued, more of Simon’s true personality was apparent, along with his pain about his brother Connor.
I thought Margot was a saint. She managed to be civil to both her ex and her father. BOTH being truly unpleasant, selfish, hateful people. The unpleasant underbelly of Magnolia Valley. Teddy was a sweet kid. I don’t think I would have trusted either of them around my child.
Simon and Margot had great chemistry. Even when angst entered their relationship, the anger, pain, and sadness was very obvious.
I guess I would say that this was a second chance, small town romance. This book was full of emotion. It was sweet, steamy, full of love, family and friendship. You get a HEA, and a glimpse into their future.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book received from Hidden Gems.
Simon and Margot almost became a couple when they were in high school but at the last minute, she stood him up and went back to her boyfriend. Now she is a grown woman who is divorced with a son not to mention that her cheating ex husband is taking her to court to get their son. She doesn’t believe in love or fairytales anymore but she does need a lawyer, someone that can help her fight to keep her son. Simon is not lucky when it comes to women but he needs a date for his sister’s wedding. When he overhears a conversation staring him, he takes advantage of it especially since involves the woman that got away when they were in high school. They secure an agreement that is beneficial to both of them but will it come at too high of a price for Simon’s heart? I voluntarily agreed to receive an ARC of this book for an honest review.
I knew this would be good from how it started in the last book! I’m mean yelling at your ex that this sexy man is your boyfriend and lawyer is going to work! Loved the levels with her dad and mom and also getting Simon and Ethan together- really liking this series!
Lawyer Simon McCoy has never been able to forget the beautiful Margot Banks, the one who got away. Margot agrees to fake date Simon in exchange for his services but when things start getting too real, Simon tries to convince himself and his friends that it’s all fake. What happens when Margot’s sister overhears Simon’s conversation with his friends?
It was Always You is a drama-filled, sweet and steamy second chance love story that will have you rooting for the hero and heroine
These two had so much chemistry but we’re so afarid of a past they would never speak about. When their feelings show they’re afraid and make some poor choices but they were always meant to come back to each other. They were the love they’d been running for all those years.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Book seven of the Magnolia Valley series a well written book with a very good storyline. This series just gets better with each new book. Simon McCoy and Margot Banks get a second chance in this story. This is a series I will be reading again. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Can she trust her guy
Margot told her evil ex that she’s dating her divorce attorney, Simon. Her ex Ralph cheated on her a lot. Her father wants her back with him.
Simon is really sweet, a good guy, he measures his relationships against the time he hung out with her one summer, years ago.
Can she trust her gut this time around?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another excellent episode to the Magnolia Valley Saga. Ms Reed never fails to deliver an entertaining read that is hard to put down until the last page!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love Magnolia Valley and all her quirky, crazy denizens. Ever since Ethan and Astrid’s book, I’ve been curious about this pair. Especially Simon – the brother who still lives on in Conner’s absence. And like in that previous book, Conner’s ghost is almost another character for the impact he has on the people he left behind. Simon has lived his life feeling the loss in everything he does and hasn’t been able to forgive anyone for it. Not even himself. Margot’s father is a judgemental jerk. That’s the politest way I can put it. She’s lived her life striving for the approval of the cold, critical man. A rash comment to her ex brings the pair back into direct contact. The chemistry between Simon and Margot is crazy-hot and it just might give these two a shot at the chance they missed all those years ago. There are still so many other Magnolia Valley residents I want to know more about, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
4.5 Stars
This is a good continuation to the series with some really emotional moments in it as both Simon and Margot have obstacles from their past to overcome.
Can Simon and Margot ha have second chance at love? They agree to pretend to be dating for Margot’s ex-husband stoping fighting for their son’s custody and for Simon to have a date for her sister’s wedding. But their relationship go way back when they were young and almost dated but Margot got pregnant and was forced to marry her cheating husband. They will need to be honest to themselves to find happiness and love again.
I forgot the lead-in to this book from the previous one, so as soon as I realized, I was excited to dive in. There was a whole lot going on for Margot and Simon in each of their personal lives, along with their past. I was really rooting for both of these two. They were both so easy to get behind. It was a wonderful payoff to see how it all played out.