I should have never turned her away.So many years have passed, and she’s back in my life.But our parents dating for a while left me refusing her.And she left for the romantic city of Paris.My pretty girl becoming a ballerina. Forever gone.But life has a way of taking things full circle.Due to an injury, she’s back in our small town.My second chance to make things right stares me in the face.She’s … town.
My second chance to make things right stares me in the face.
She’s all grown up, and still stealing my every thought.
But I can’t compete with her dreams. Letting her go is what’s required of me, and I do it, but not without cost.
Never in a million years did I expect her to take a gift with her.
A secret.
My baby.
This is book 1 in a 3 book series. You will need to read books 2 and 3 to complete the story.
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This is a good second chance story. It’s well written and well developed. The characters are wonderful as well. Jesse and Audrey were attracted to each other when they were younger but never did anything about it because of their parents. Now years later they see each other again. The attraction and chemistry has intensified. Overall I enjoy this story I did think it could have been chopped a little and made better and not as redundant in parts.
Another must read for this author. Great plot and characters. I volunteered to read an advance copy for an honest review.
This was an interesting story, coming on to the end it was a bit repetitive but still a good read. It is based on a small town romance between two people were crushing on each other since high school.
The main characters are quite complex with layers, that make you love one more while wanting to knock some sense into the other. However, this made it quite an enjoyable read.
A small town romance with wonderful characters and a great storyline. Jesse owns Miller Hardware shop and his best friend Joe is the assistant manager. He returned to Aberdeen, NC after his father died. Audrey is a ballerina dancer for Global Traveling Dance Academy of Performing Arts in Paris. She injured her ankle and returns after being away for several years. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was a stunningly emotional book…The story of Jesse Miller and Audrey Buchanan will leave you feeling deeply for one and wanting to smack the other. This book is really good.
Jesse and Audrey grew up knowing one another and being the best of friends. He was a few years older than her but they hung out together as she always felt safe and comfortable with him as well as having a secret crush on him. Jesse, meanwhile, had loved Audrey for as long as he could remember but he always knew that she would leave their small hometown as she had dreams of being a dancer and there was simply no pace for one there. But then, in their teens, his Dad and her Mum started going out with each other and that really stopped any romance between them – not even a peck on the cheek. So she grew up and left – first to Philadelphia and then onto Paris where she became a professional ballerina and she loved her life. Well when she thought about it, all she seemed to do was ballet, have a boring diet and sometimes have time to go out with her dance colleagues but nothing else. But then she injures her ankle but doesn’t tell anyone till it’s too late and she is ordered to go home for six months and find some hobbies! So despite only seeing her Mum a few times over the years and hasn’t seen her younger sister, Annabelle, all those years so there is lots to make up for. She only lets Annabelle know why she’s back and for how long. During this wonderful story we see her reunite with her crush Jesse and how he has changed over the years and what he’s been up to. How he’s now running his Dad’s old business with his best friend Joe [he’s a great character and surely deserves his own story??] and a new recruit who is somewhat ‘trying’! But Audrey still maintains that she is going back to Paris to dance and is desperately trying to keep her fitness up to it’s peak level – despite the bacon that is described in the story and made me just have to make myself a bacon buttie [didn’t expect that reaction to one of Ali’s stories lol]. But when she books her tickets to return to Paris but doesn’t let on to Jesse till it’s too late he feels betrayed and heartbroken. Can Jesse forgive her? Can they have a chance of a relationship between them as they do love each other even though they haven’t declared it. But then there is a ‘surprise’ that brings her back home but is it for good this time? Will secrets keep them apart? Such a great storyline with exceptional characters. Jesse is everything in a man that she wants, needs and loves but secrets and distance could keep them apart. Annabelle is a lovely young woman who cares for those she loves and cares about – I did wonder if she and Joe might have found romance between them? I think Audrey was a very caring, determined and , yet, confused young woman she knew what she wanted but because she withheld info she didn’t let others, namely Jesse, help her out to help her achieve her goals. I loved the ending and hope we hear more about these ‘people’. I received a reader’s copy of this book and voluntarily leave my honest opinion of it here. Most definitely recommended. Grab this for yourself a copy of this book.
I’m between 3.5 and 4 stars for this one.
I liked that the storyline was centered around a small town with relatable characters. It was a refreshing read with enjoyable storyline. A bit predictable and at times repetitive, but it still held my attention all the way through.
I fell in love with Jesse right from the start. He was a perfect book boyfriend!
On the other hand, I had a bit of a hard time liking Audrey. She seemed selfish and self absorbed. She got better later on, but I still felt like she didn’t care and love Jesse as much as he loved her. I felt like she should have fight more for their relationship, but instead it was always Jesse apologizing and making effort.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
This was a fantastic heartrending story about self-discovery and what is truly important in the midst of many life altering decisions. Audrey is part of a ballet company in Paris and is forced home to a small North Carolina town following an injury where she reconnects with her best friend Jesse. After a friends to lovers romance, Audrey begins to question what she really wants and what would be best for her and Jesse. Filled with heartache, secrets, anger, forgiveness, understanding, passion, and love. All Grown Up is a great heartwarming story readers will get lost in for hours. I loved this new novel.
“I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this novel.”
This is a fantastic book. Characters were so good together. Was sad when they separated. Storyline was interesting and kept my interest from the first page to the last. Just enough drama and suspense. A definite must read book.
A great story with complex characters that pull you in and don’t let you go! If you want a unique, intriguing love story full of drama, this one is for you! Although I received this as an advanced copy for my honest opinion.
Audrey is a professional ballet dancer who returns home from Paris after she injures her ankle. She is told she needs to rest for six months and can then return. She is devastated as ballet is her life. When she runs into Jesse, her childhood crush and friend from school, the sparks are still there. Both of them have hidden their true feelings from each other, but decide to enjoy being reunited and start a “relationship”. Jesse realizes that Audrey has to return to her passion, but wants a life with her. Audrey is torn, but ultimately chooses dance after Jesse and leaves again for Paris. When she realizes she is pregnant, she returns home. Can these two get over the hurt and lack of communication to find their HEA? Grab this wonderfully written story today! I received an advanced readers copy of this book and highly recommend it.
GREAT READ!
An incredibly sweet hot bundle of irritation that I found to be extremely enjoyable. Edgy frustrated with compelling twists with gripping emotions kept the pages flowing at a steady pace throughout this amazing read. A read I would definitely recommend that ends well but kept me some what ticked the heck off but relieved the high blood pressure frustration in the end with a full face smile happy ending.
All Grown Up did not disappoint me
Audrey, a professional ballet dancer, is forced to return home to recover from an injury where she runs into Jesse, her childhood crush and owner of the hardware store, at the bar her sister works at. As the story progresses their relationship deepens, hard decisions are made, and mistakes could ruin everything. Ali Parker has a way with romance and I’m so grateful that I can read her books. Her characters are always well-rounded, and the stories are realistic and believable. I wouldn’t mind if she gave Annabelle and Joe their own stories.
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
I guess it’s a sign of just what a fantastic job an author has done when, even though the book is over, the reader is still left feeling aggravated by a character. Jesse is such a sweet, stand up guy. I adored him pretty much from the moment we met him. Audrey made me want to rip my hair out from the roots in frustration. From my perspective, most of her thoughts, choices, and actions are motivated by an overpowering self-interest that kind of seemed to blind her from being able to empathise with anyone else. That made it difficult for me to like her. It wasn’t until nearly the end, when she’s finally able to explain her emotions and actions that I was able to start moving past my intense dislike of her. The way the story ends left me feeling very happy, but my irritation level through the other 98% of the book stressed me out. I am curious, though, if we might see stories in the future about the rest of their friends and family.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
Jesse and Audrey has known each other since kids. He has always had a soft spot for her but when their parents started dating, Audrey put him in the friends category. When she left town to travel and become a dance, Jesse never thought that he would see the only woman he loved again. Now she is back in town and those feeling that were stored away are back in full effect. Will they have a second chance to get their love connection on the right track? I voluntarily agreed to receive an ARC of this book for an honest review.