Lately, Jessa Myers has been batting a thousand in the dating game. No exaggeration, it’s brutal out there. But, she’s not giving up. Doesn’t matter how much she loves Elvis Pawsley and Marilyn Purroe, Jessa’s determined not to become the spinster town cat lady.Only one problem: No guy has yet to live up to her childhood crush/teenage infatuation/adult obsession, Ethan Steele. The big, bad, … Steele. The big, bad, brooding U.S. Marshal is yes, ridiculously hot, but also way too overprotective. It’s that way with everyone who knew her before her long-awaited heart transplant. They all get the same hyper-worried look when she so much as sneezes still. Sure, intense hulk-growl concern is swoony and all, but she wants a man to see her as more than that girl she once was.
So, if that means she needs to settle for someone not nearly as knee-wobbling as Ethan, then that’s just what she needs to do…
Lately, Ethan’s been at his wits’ end. No exaggeration, loving Jessa for as long as he can remember hasn’t been easy. But, she’s worth it. Doesn’t matter how much she insists that his mere existence in her past means zero possibility of a future for them, he’s not giving up.
Only one problem: Jessa’s been dating loser after loser to try and find her Mr. Perfect to one day marry, probably have more cats with, and a long happy future. She just refuses to believe Kade doesn’t see her as the girl he once worried over. No, the only thing worrying him now is the stubborn beauty he’s crazy in love with continuing to let her head overrule her heart and slipping out of his life for good.
So yes, asking Jessa to be his temporary fake girlfriend to avoid the very real incessant matchmaking they both endure isn’t the most brilliant plan ever, but if it means they’ll get their chance at forever, then that’s just what he needs to do…
Stand-alone Whisper Lake romance, complete with HEA–and plenty of heat and heart along the way!
Author’s Note: Always Been You was previously published as Whisper of Surrender
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Loved the story.
Lately, Jessa Myers has been batting a thousand in the dating game. She is not giving up. She is determined not to become spinster-town-cat lady, no matter how much she loves her cats, Elvis Pawsley and Marilyn Purroe. No guy has yet to live up to her childhood crush-teenage infatuation-adult obsession, Ethan Steele. The big, bad, brooding U S Marshal is hot but too overprotective. Everyone who knew her before her long-awaited heart transplant is that way. They all get a hyper-worried look when she so much as sneezes She wants a man to see her as more than that girl she once was. If that means settling for someone not nearly as knee-wobbling as Ethan, that is what she needs to do. Ethan has loved Jessa for as long as he can remember. He is not giving up. Asking Jessa to be his fake girlfriend to avoid the incessant matchmaking they both endure is not the most brilliant plan. It does mean they will get a chance a t forever, and that is what he needs. – Ethan woos Jess in a loving, romantic way. He is obviously crazy about her. She is sweet, caring and funny. They are wonderful together. There is, of course, some hard-headedness involved. This is a very good book.
Beautiful captivating story of fierce love!
This is a sweet HEA with some angst and lots of laughs. Jess was kind of abrasive and I wasn’t sure I’d warm up to her, but I did. She has a unique perspective on life with her background. That includes reflexive coping mechanisms and a tendency to react before thinking, but her issues seem like they’d be realistic for someone who spent their childhood on the verge of death.
Ethan was sweet and caring so I really liked this couple. They had an odd history that gave this a touch of enemies to lovers and second chance, which was fun. I expected Jess’ hang-ups to be what got in the way of their relationship but it was something completely different that turned their world upside-down so I was pleasantly surprised. This was a quick read and a lovely story so I highly recommend it.
A sweet romance with compelling characters and an engaging premise set in a picturesque community.
I enjoyed this book and zipped through it. Interesting characters and friends.
3.5 Healed Heart Stars. This is the second book in the Whisper Lake series and it is filled with sweet moments, confessions, and come-to-Jesus moments. It is entertaining and engaging. It is sort of a second chance romance if you consider an encounter at ages nine and twelve (?) to be the first chance. That encounter left a definite impression on both Jess and Ethan. Neither of them had an easy childhood. Their experiences have definitely shaped the adults they have become. Will they let past fears determine their future? Or will they realize those fears may be out of proportion? This is a quick, fun, and entertaining story that will have you experiencing many different emotions.
The story problem kept repeating like Groundhog Day. The illogical reactions kept going back and forth from heroine to hero with no solution far beyond reason ad nauseum.
Fun summer read!
My bro-in-law was a heart transplant recipient, so that part is close to my heart. He and my sister had many years living at death’s door before the transplant. I could relate to this young woman and her family and friends. I appreciated the line about her cocktail of pills.
The author’s do a great job showing the various sides of fear of death and its impact on yourself and those you love. It is a very good story. It does have some steamy sex that is well written. Those who want clean romance can skip those pages, the story is worth it.
One incident between two teens affects their lives in small town Whisper Lake. Jessa can not understand why Ethan keeps an eye on her daily. Ethan refuses to make a move on Jessa even though he’s in love with her. It takes a fake relationship and dance lessons to wake up their feelings for each other. The sister duo authors have a good method of holding a reader’s interest with multiple surprise roadblocks in “Whisper of Surrender.”
It’s always a happy day when I get to read a new book by Melanie Shawn. This is book 2 of Whisper Lake, but you can read this as a standalone. But, why would you? This is contemporary writing at it’s best. There is a quaint little town with “needling” old women. There are friendships all abound. Hot guys. Strong women who don’t take crap from those guys. There are witty moments. There are sexy moments. This book has a bit of angst from Ethan and Jessa, but it is not anything that they can’t overcome. You get dual point of view. You get a HEA. You get friendship and a feeling of just being right there as they live their life.
I found this to be a sweet story. Jessa and Ethan are awesome characters. When I read stories like this I wonder if they base them on people they know. This is another story by Melanie Shawn that had me laugh, cry, laugh and cry again. If I could give it more stars I would.
This book is the second in the Whisper Lake series. I did not yet read book 1, but there was enough information given, that I agree, this really is a stand alone. This book is an emotional read, while you’ll also laugh and smile, as well as empathize and want to jump in to straighten out the stubborn H and h. I love the Needlepoint Mafia! They are special women!
This friend to lovers/HEA story is beautifully written, drawing the reader into their lives from the first chapter.
Whisper of Surrender is book #2in Melanie Shawn Whisper Lake series. A stand alone. This is my favorite so far. I loved and adored the entire storyline and premise. I love Whisper Lake and it’s residents. The needlepoint mafia had me in stitches. I could realate A lot to Jess. With the heart issues. And Dirty Dancing as favorite movie. I loved Jess’s parents. And Ethan’s father, even though he was already gone in the story. Of course, I loved Jess’s cat’s. Their names cracked me up. Elvis Pawsley and Marilyn Purroe. I couldn’t put this book down.
This is such a sweet story! Jess and Ethan give you all the feels. This is one of those stories where you start hoping for them to fall in love quickly at the beginning of the book so you can just watch their romance the whole time. And Melanie Shawn doesn’t disappoint! Their weekend in Chicago is the type of date every woman dreams of…even if she won’t admit it. It’s perfect and it’s sweet and it’s sexy. Just like this story. Enjoy!
Whisper of Surrender is book 2 in the Whisper Lake series and what a great story it is. We get the story of Jess and Ethan. Both have gone through so much in their lives. Both have had feelings towards each other but never acting on them. This book will suck you in and will not let go. The author has a way of writing that makes you feel as if you are in the story and i absolutely love that. You get emotionally invested in the characters and story. Definitely a 5 star rating. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
I feel like I say this every single time I read a new book by Melanie Shawn, but Whisper of Surrender is my new favorite! Gosh I fell so hard for Ethan!!! He was the perfect alpha man who wasn’t too overbearing. And Jess! Oh my gosh I want her as a bestie. She’s hysterical, strong, sassy, feisty and fierce! I absolutely adored her! Their chemistry was insanely hot and their story was so great. Watching them both get their happily ever after was a joy to read! Definitely recommend!
Happy reading!
An entertaining, delightfully sexy, sweet, and sensuous story that captivated my heart and mind. The story is filled with all the warm and fuzzy, tender and gentle, loving feels and deep, deep emotions, the kind that makes you smile, gives you the good vibes, makes you want to hug your loved ones and be thankful for all your blessings. Just what I needed right now, a perfect escapism that makes you believe in the goodness in people, that love still wins, and that there are happily-ever-afters in this world.
Jessa Meyers is a heart transplant recipient, living the life she never thought she would have as a kid with a serious heart disease. Jessa is a smart, funny, and kind-hearted person, she is a true survivor, with strength and determination to make the most of her life, the second chance she was given.
Ethan Steele has loved Jessa from the afar for a long time, and now is the time to finally make the move, to convince her that there could be a future for them together if she was just willing to open up her heart to him and the possibilities in front of them.
I loved how Ethan started his campaign to win Jessa over by teasing her with the images of him running, all sweaty, sexy, muscle, and hotness in abundance. I loved his patience, his tenderness, him taking care of her, looking after her, always being there for her. I loved how he could turn all that gentle loving into an alpha man in charge in a blink of an eye.
I loved how close Jessa was with her best friend. I loved her relationship with her parents, and how the small town grapevine didn’t scare her too much. I loved her stubbornness, her willingness to take a chance, and knowing what she wanted from her future. I loved that she was willing and able to forgive, to see the error of her assumptions, and to be able to move on and embrace the life at full speed.
With the funny references to the eighties pop culture, the always entertaining small town living, the tragedies both Ethan and Jessa have faced during their young lives, and how those hardships shaped them to be the people they are today, and the journey they have to travel to find their happiness, the peace of heart and mind, it altogether makes a heartfelt, intense, poignant story that brought up all the feels, from tears to laughing out loud.
A deliciously dreamy story from the first kiss to the HEA that kept my mind captivated and won my heart over again and again. Just a perfectly done and well-written romance story
~ Five Spoons!
This book has just become my favorite Melanie Shawn read!!! It’s a bit deeper than any of their other books, and will tug at your heartstrings as Jess and Ethan pave the path to their HEA. I loved Jess. She’s strong, independent, and feisty as all get out. Ethan is sexy with a side of broody added to it. The two of them heat up the pages of this newest read, and will have you wanting more from these fantastic authors!!! This is definitely a must read!!!