Nine years ago, Emery Saunders moved to Hartwell to start her life over as a bookstore owner. Her inability to trust people made it hard for her to find a place in the small community until Jessica Lawson moved to town and befriended the shy beauty.
But there was one person in Hartwell who tried to befriend Emery long before Jessica arrived… is that he fell hard for Emery the moment she appeared in Hartwell. Another is that his father blackmailed him into covering up a dark family tragedy. It forced Jack to sever his relationships to protect the people he cared about. Yet, staying away from Emery has not been easy throughout the years and he hasn’t always succeeded. When Jack’s mixed signals hurt Emery once again, she puts him out of her heart for good.
Until the Devlin family secret is finally revealed, freeing Jack from his father’s machinations. What Jack wants more than anything is to repair his relationships, starting with Emery.
However, Emery isn’t ready to forgive and Jack’s not ready to give up.
And when the town’s latest scandal ties Jack and Emery together, Jack is not above using their new reality to prove to Emery once and for all that their love is worthy of the legend of Hart’s Boardwalk.
more
For nine years Jack has put his feelings for Emery aside I fear that somehow his family would go after her to hurt her. He thought he was protecting her. Emery only saw it as rejection. She did not know why he did it and assumed it was because of the man everyone said he was. After all actions sometimes speak louder than words. Now nine years later they find themselves in a situation that throws them together. But one thing she is certain of is she cannot trust him. So many years and still she cannot trust him. Little does she know that Jack is in love with her and has been since the first time he met her. He now realizes that he must win her trust back, which is no easy thing. She is his forever and he will wait, as long as it takes, until she realizes they belong together.
This story is so full of emotions and will have you glued to every word. How will Jack get Emery to trust him? Will she admit that she has feelings for him? How can she let go of the feelings that everyone in her life took advantage of her love and she was always left broken-hearted? Will she see that Jack is different and, in spite of how he treated her the last nine years that he truly does love her and will be her forever?
What do we know about Jack Devlin? He is the son of Ian Devlin, probably the most disliked businessman in town. He used to be best friend’s with Cooper until he totally broke bro code in the worst way imaginable. He is known to be a player, never short of female attention. We have seen glimpses of the real Jack, the good things he has done that people don’t see. Above all of that, is the way he reacts to and looks at Emery, the shy bookstore owner.
Emery moved to town nine years ago, opening a bookstore that also serves coffee. Since moving to Hartwell, she has slowly found a wonderful circle of friendship with Jess, Bailey, Dahlia & Ivy and she could not have asked for a better ‘family.’ However, she is terribly shy and any interaction with men has her blushing like a lobster. Moreso with men she finds attractive. Men like Jack Devlin.
‘Every time he threw that sexy, wickedly boyish smile my way, I melted.’
I am happy to tell you that we finally get all the gritty details around what happened all those years ago that ended Jack and Cooper’s friendship. The version of Jack that Cooper knew is not the one people know now. In fact he is the complete opposite, living a life so far removed from what he even anticipated. However, there is a dark secret behind that which just shows the strength of Jack’s true character.
Jack has made so many sacrifices for the people who are dear to him, at the expense of his own happiness. There have been moments of light for him though, brought to him by ‘sunrise’ – his nickname for Emery. What people haven’t noticed is the connection between Jack and Emery. She is the woman he truly wants but can’t have. He knows this but every now and again he shares hidden moments with her. She probably knows more about him than anyone..
‘Someone saw through it all to the truth. And not just anyone. Emery. It was a relief that Jack didn’t want to feel.’
This story, for me, felt like it had two parts. The first half fills in the past 9 years and a major part of the plot with secondary characters is the main focus. In the second half is where Emery and Jack’s love story has the opportunity to develop. Emery knows that Jack is a good man, she sees him so differently to anyone else. She may be quite introverted but she has quite the backbone and her self worth is the reason she knows she cannot be with Jack.
Emery wants that epic love, with a man who puts her first and makes her feel like a priority. If Jack thinks he is that guy, he is sorely mistaken. Actions speak louder than words and his have not told a great story the last few years. She is happy to offer him friendship but there is nothing more than that for them. Jack is not on board with this and he wants to prove to Emery that he is a man she can count on to be her truest thing.
‘You are so fucking adorable,’ Jack said softly. Our eyes met and his turned smoky, and hot. ‘And beautiful. And kind. And naive. And wise. You’re every contradiction under the sun… and I can’t stop thinking about you.’
I have been anticipating this story since I read the second book in this series and it gave me everything I wanted and more. Honestly, so much happens it felt like this was a 1,000 pages long but it was over before I was ready to let it go. Emery and Jack’s story was so worth the wait!
‘I feel like I’ve been left here to wait for you for nine years.’
ARC received for an honest review
As with every trip back to Hartwell, I knew I was going to be happy, and said, and angry and frustrated.
Samantha Young did not disappoint there.
One thing Samantha Young goes, and does well, is give us a tale that is not rushed and insta. Her stories are told over a number of years, and leave the reader yearning for the characters to find their HEA.
Jack and Emery’s decade long tale left me, most of the time, wanting to throw my reader across the room. When I wasn’t frustrated and p’d off at Jack, I was wanting to give Emery a clip around the ears for how she treated Jack. Neither of them are faultless in this story, and as annoying as it was at times, it made me love the story more.
I loved the people of Hartwell, and was wonderful to find out more of the couples from the previous books (not going to lie, I still need to read one of the earlier books).
My big thing with this story (and my big bug bear in any tale) is communication. Talk to each other people! I know it was the plot device for The Truest Thing, but gah! It gives me the irrits, no matter who or what the reason – rant over.
I adore Sam Young and would read the Chinese takeaway menu if she wrote it and put it in front of me. I can’t wait to see what she brings us next.
There’s nothing like a Samantha Young book, especially when it comes to another anticipated Hart’s Boardwalk book! Emery and Jack’s book has been hugely anticipated by the true Samantha Young fans, and it did not disappoint. I will say, this couple was truly irritating when it came to realizing what it was they both wanted out of life, and I thought Bailey and Vaughn was frustrating! Did not expect the turn it took with Emery, was rather shocked, but by the end of the story I was in love with this couple. Jess and Cooper were awesome, and the girl clan were all up front and present. Although it kind of felt like this might be the end of the series, I think there might still be a couple left for us all to enjoy. Full of heartbreak, humor, frustration and lots of steamy scenes that will have the hot flashes front and center. I loved every bit of it.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book
Warning – this book will have you up reading all night!
I’ve been DESPERATE to get Emery and Jack’s story since reading the first book in the Hart’s Boardwalk series as their backstories intrigued me and The Truest Thing didn’t disappoint!
Samantha Young puts the reader through an exhilarating emotional wringer as we learn about heartbreaking milestones from Jack and Emery’s pasts that shape their lives and their relationships with others. Despite the odds being stacked against them, they’re still drawn to each other. The Truest Thing tells their story from both points of view over nine years through a series of flashbacks and present day narrative.
Both Jack and Emery are incredibly likeable and their chemistry is off the charts. I loved how Emery’s character developed throughout the book and she matured from shy and emotionally awkward to feisty, sexy and assertive when she needed to be.
Jack had me swinging between wanting to hug and strangle him as he tried to first deny his attraction to Emery, then navigate a relationship with her against the odds. His mix of handsome, kind, sexy, funny, supportive, loyal and conflicted made him the perfect hero and he’s one of my all time favourites.
Jack and Emery’s story was woven amongst side stories which gave great updates on all of our favourite characters from the previous novels as well as cleverly tying up a few loose ends.
I desperately wanted to take my time reading this book to really savour it, but I found myself devouring it in a couple of sittings. I’m now off to read it slowly as I’m not ready to let the characters go just yet. It’s definitely one of my favourite reads from 2020 and I’d recommend it to anyone.
I have been DYING to get my hands on this book since Samantha Young announced we were finally getting Emery and Jack’s story. I can honestly say she does not disappoint with this one because I devoured it. I could not put it down. The twists and turns and the passion. It was absolutely everything for me. I have been intrigued by these two and their under currents since book one of this series. What we get with their book is such raw emotions between them and finally knowing why Jack did a lot of things the way he did. It was so heartbreaking. Especially for Emery. We get the build up leading to the now so you fully see why things happened and why these two have such a connection even though they would both deny it in a heartbeat till things implode with Jack’s family. It is raw, passionate, angsty, and so much more.
Honestly, this book is everything. The questions you have been wanting answers for are exposed. The push and pull between Jack and Emery is so intense that it is mind blowing. I have to say the one thing I love is the fact that Young can write in first and third person in a book and it flows seamlessly. I was blown away by it because I would have never thought to do something like that but Young pulls it off brilliantly! If you are a fan of the Hart’s Boardwalk series, you need this book in your life. You get tidbits of everyone in the previous books as well as everything you wanted and more for Jack and Emery. Hands down one of my top reads of 2020!
Oh how I’ve missed Hart’s Boardwalk, it’s been way too long since I’ve visited Hartwell, I blooming love Hartwell, and all the people associated with it. Book 4 sees the possibility of a happy ever after for the resident bookworm, uber shy Emery Saunders, and the black sheep of the Devlin family, Jack. We’ve known from previous books that Jack is not the bad boy everybody seems to think he is. We’ve seen him do a couple of good deeds unbeknownst to the residents of Hartwell, we just had no idea why. Well keep reading folks (the book, not my review), because all will be revealed. The story goes back in time 9 years to when Emery moves to Hartwell, having inherited a property coveted by the notoriously power hungry Ian Devlin, (that man has no morals), the story then moves through the years to the present day. What a truly wonderful love story. I loved Jack throughout, even when I didn’t agree with his thought process, the poor man couldn’t do right for doing wrong. Emery too could be stubborn, but I loved watching her come out of her shell and truly shine. What a truly wonderful group of friends. I laughed, I cried, I lived the story, I could picture myself in Hartwell, a part of this wonderful family. Definitely one of my favourite reads this year. Perfect writing, perfect story, perfect ending. Although this story can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the previous books in the series to get a real feel for this wonderful town and it’s residents. I received an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.
This was so well worth the wait. It was beautiful and so heartfelt. I loved these two characters from the very beginning when they were introduced in this series and was so happy to have had the opportunity to finally read about them. It was well-written and simply wonderful.
I definitely recommend this book, this series, and this author.