Been There Done That

Been There Done That is the first standalone in the Leffersbee series by Hope Ellis. This book takes place in the Green Valley World of the Penny Reid Universe. If you have yet to read a book within this universe (and there are quite a few from smartypants romance) then you are missing out! Each one if unique, fun, and completely entertaining. In this one, Hope Ellis writes a second chance romance between two characters who have grown in complete opposite directions. Using the emotional breakup as a backdrop to the story, Hope Ellis not only makes this book relatable, but she also shows that people DO change especially for the better as they grow.

This is a wonderful romance and I truly enjoyed reading it. I’m so excited because Hope Ellis is a new to be author and her writing style is something I love. It’s not hard to become invested in the story because she successfully made the book feel whole with not only the main characters but the secondary ones as well. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

What a fantastic debut novel! Loved it!

“The years had fallen away in a moment and I was, once again, that lovesick teenager.”

Twelve years ago, Nick Rossi made the hardest decision of his life. A decision that broke the heart of Zora Leffersbee, the love of his life. It was a decision that he had no choice but to make. Now he’s back in Green Valley for business reasons….and also of the unfinished kind.

“I wanted her to look at me that same way again, open and unguarded. I wanted her friendship. I wanted her love, I wanted her trust.”

Zora is completely caught on the back foot when she comes face-to-face with a ghost from the past. Completely flustered and embarrassed, she’s unwilling to work with Nick – the man who made her so many promises, but then suddenly disappeared out of her life. However, when she’s backed into a corner, she has no choice but to concede, although she has no plans on making it easy for him.

“I came back because I couldn’t breathe without you anymore, and I was tired of trying.”

This was such a fantastic read! Hard to believe that this novel is a debut for the authorm as it was well-written and the plot was well-executed. A gorgeous balance of comedy, sexiness, and seriousness. I just adored Zora and Nick – such a strong couple. Zora is a feminist and fiercely independent through and through, and almost stubborn to a fault. I felt Nick had his work cut out for him but, as his truths slowly come to light, I enjoyed Zora’s softening and understanding towards him. Nick was fully committed to her. I adored that he was all in and wanted to make her life as easy and carefree as possible. Loved this story so much and can’t wait to read more from this author.

What a fantastic debut novel from Hope Ellis, and a great addition to the Smartypants Romance world!

This is the first in a new Smartypants series, Leffersbee. It’s the story of the second chance that Zora Leffersbee and Nick Rossi have to make their love stick.

Twelve years ago, Nick Rossi secretly proposed to his high school sweetheart, but life got in the way, and he left without saying goodbye – just a note. Now, Nick needs her help for work, but he’s also hoping to reconnect, earn her trust, and reclaim the shot at love that they lost all those years ago.

Zora, rightfully, is not sure she wants hand Nick a second chance, but she takes the time to get to know the new man, who seems so different from the boy that she loved and lost.

Hope Ellis is a new author, and I have to say that I really looking forward to reading more from her. She not only gets the reader fully invested by writing great dialog and a well-developed plot, but she also takes the time to really build an immersive world where you get to know their friends and family/side characters that make you feel like you’re there with them. She shows different relationships, dynamics and interactions to give you a fuller picture of each character.

Plus, you know, there’s also Jackson James, and any Winston Brothers fan will appreciate getting to know Jackson James a little bit better.

Finding the love of a lifetime in your youth seems like an impossibility in this ever-changing world. Zora’s life was intertwined with Nick’s in so many ways. From their family to their education, this duo was ready to take on the world. Then the unexpected happened. Nick walked away from all those hopes and dreams without an explanation. This soul crushing blow left Zora with unexpected roadblocks to navigate as life carried on.

Years have passed and the future that Zora wished for is nowhere in sight. Zora is hoping to receive tenure from her University, but funding for research projects that would help her achieve her goal are waning by the day. With a fake fiancée upending life with his constant womanizing, Jackson James is proving to be more of a pain that Zora could have predicted. Chaos is running rampant in Zora’s life.

Imagine feeling like everything is turning upside down and then your past comes walking through the door. Zora can’t explain the turmoil she feels when Nick walks through the doors of the hospital. Years have gone by but the remnants of a broken heart resurface when Zora lays eyes on the boy who broke her heard without an explanation. Why has Nick returned? What are the odds that Nick’s return revolves around Zora’s research? Sometimes life throws you for a loop, but you have to try to make the most of the situation. Zora hopes that Nick’s return doesn’t leave her heart shattered in the wake.

Been There Done That is the first book in the Leffersbee series in the Smartypants Romance umbrella. Nick and Zora’s story started off with the feelings of anticipation of what was to come. Somewhere in the middle the story lost the pacing. There was a lot of world building mixed with a lot of fluff. The pace of the plot seemed to head on a trajectory that wasn’t really pulling my attention. The lack of connection was to the point I would leave the story and come back to it later. I took way too much time to finish a story that didn’t keep pace with the spectacular start of the book. Due to that fact – I am rating the book in a ‘middle of the road’ type of rating.

his was a cute second chance romance. I liked Nick and Zora’s story. Zora is a strong, smart woman who is always looking out for everyone else. Because she is always taking care of her staff, her family, and everyone else, she often doesn’t take the time to take care of herself. Working at the local university and hospital to fix communication issues between doctors and patients, you would think she would be a perfect fit, but she’s lost her passion for her job being stuck filling out grant applications and sorting through mountains of data. Nick has turned his life around from the lost boy of Green Valley to a successful business man who wants to partner with Zora’s team for his company’s latest healthcare app. Nick and Zora had the perfect romance, but she never knew why he left her with little explanation and never came back for her. They are both striving for some imaginary bar that they just can’t seem to reach so they will be worth of one another so they can be together. After 12 years apart, they finally face why they were separated and the truth of why Nick left her comes out. Zora is understandably hurt, but neither of them can deny that they never stopped loving each other and there will never be anyone else.

I really enjoyed the character development of this story. All of the characters seemed real and relatable. When they were doing something destructive someone call them on it. When they were making bad decisions, someone said something and told them there would be consequences. This had great side characters. I hope to see some of them in future books. The pacing of the story was a bit slow for me, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story.

4 Forever Stars!

As soon as I read the synopsis I couldn’t wait to have this first Leffersbee book in my life! From the beginning I wanted to know more and I was pulled into this story. I had to finish it in one sitting! This was such an enjoyable read for me!

From their determination to their connection that got me right in the heart, Zora and Nick’s journey was such a great one! I loved getting to know these two and how they brought out my emotions.

I really liked what the other characters brought to the story as well! I already want more of them!

With Been There Done That, Ms.Ellis created such an awesome debut filled with so much heart! I am so excited to read more of her words in the future!

*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Smartypants Romance / the author*

3.5 Stars. I love a good second chance romance and bonus points for a guy who comes back and stops at nothing to get the girl he knows owns his heart. That is what happens here. Nick is back after SO MANY years and will stop at nothing to win Zora back. He left her without an explanation when they were 18 and she was shattered. Now he is back and wants to atone for his sins and prove to her that they really are meant to be.
This was a great debut novel and I loved Nick and how his love for Zora never wavered. Zora was understandably standoffish and taken aback when he barged back into her life wanting everything to just pick up where it left off. He had a lot of groveling to do, and he did it. He also needed to realize that he couldn’t buy Zora back, he needed to just give her love and show her he was in for the long haul. Sometimes what you think someone wants and what they really need are two different things entirely.

Nick and Zora Forever! I absolutely loved this book by Hope Ellis and wonder where she’s been hiding all my life? The Lefferbees series is already a favorite of mine and I only hope Ellis is writing the next one as I need it stat!
There is so much to love about this book….where to start?

The Writing
If this is Hope Ellis’ first novel then I am SO, SO very impressed with this woman because she can write. This did not read like someone’s first foray into putting pen to paper. The writing flowed beautifully taking you along with what could have been a simple story, but instead you really sink into it and let it unfold.

Not only do you fall under the spell of a beautiful love connection between two people who had once lost that connection, but Ellis also gave them some really great concerns to work through.

This was a second chance love story between Nick and Zora who had grown up together and had planned to marry at age 18. But one night, Nick up and left, only leaving a note, until he returned 12 years later. Is it enough that someone had good intentions behind their actions even if those actions hurt or were meant for good? I think that’s a really good question that Zora has to struggle through.

Their Reunion
“…after twelve years of empty, aching absence, of wondering and worrying, of resignation and sadness…he was here.”

OMG the first time Zora and Nick saw each other after 12 years was down right hilarious. Of course you’d want to be looking your best when you run into the love of your life who broke your heart but, oh poor Zora. I was laughing so hard at their awkward reunion.

How do you even start to reconnect after 12 years? Ellis doesn’t hold back in showing just how awkward this reunion can be. That scene at the diner, priceless:
“So, Nick said, gaze on his menu, “how have you been?” “God,” I laughed. “This is really awful. It’s like the world’s worst date. Only in reverse. Here, let me raise the stakes, let’s see how much more uncomfortable I can make this. How many sexual partners have you had?”

The Characters
I really loved Zora. She was so real and smart and self-assured and just plain awesome. I could relate to her so maybe that’s why I liked her so much. She’s come to realize that her life has been about doing for others even at the expense of her own needs and wants. How do you come to grips with that? How do you just switch gears, move forward and be true to yourself? I loved how she struggled with these issues.

Nick was equally lovable. He came back a billionaire and is quite the genius but Ellis also shows that he’s human. He’s ultimately thrived despite what he had to endure in his childhood but he’s not unscathed. Even though he’s Mr. Got It All Going On, I loved how he really had no clue how to go about reuniting with Zora and I loved his honesty about that to her.

If you’ve followed my reviews, you know that I am a huge fan of books that make me fall for not only the main characters but the secondary characters as well. They aren’t just side dressing to the main story but they are genuine, authentic people that really ADD to the story and who capture my attention even with limited appearances.

This book was FILLED with characters that I adore and want more of in this series.
Let’s start with one of the best: Jackson James. Oh Jackson. I wasn’t sure what to make of you when we first met in Penny Reid’s Winston brothers series but I LOVED getting to know you in this story. Jackson was not only a best friend to Zora but also her pretend boyfriend. He was “pretend” because they really didn’t have a relationship beyond friend (even though he was open to it) but pretended to so they could keep their respective families off their backs.

Jackson it turns out is kind of a goof ball who has no problems making the rounds with the ladies.

“I’m always upfront with the ladies. Although, I prefer it from the back…”

He had me laughing throughout this book but he had some really great heart to heart moments with Zora that showed that there is a lot more depth to this man than he may let on. Give me more of Jackson Ms. Reid and Ms. Ellis!

Leigh was also the best of friends to Zora in her no nonsense, tell it like it is approach. There is so much more to this girl you can tell and I can’t wait for her story. I loved her reference to the millionaire boyfriend romance trope. She totally nailed it and it’s just another example of the gems Ellis provides throughout the book.

I even got attached to Eddie, Nick’s friend, who we only see a bit but you can tell he’s a man with great insight and is the best friend to Nick.

The family members were a hoot too. Mrs. Leffersbee was awesome as was Nick’s Aunt Nan. Those ladies have got it going on and aren’t afraid to dish out some great advice when needed. There’s definitely stories with Zora’s siblings as well so bring on Walter and Tavia’s stories. Such great characters all around in this book that were given space to showcase who there are and pull us in without just being window dressing.

Been There Done That was such a good second chance romance. It had a wonderful story, fantastic writing, lovable characters and left you wanting more to this series. I highly recommend reading this gem by Hope Ellis.

Check out this review and all my romance book reviews and romance book lists on my book blog, She Reads Romance Books: http://www.shereadsromancebooks.com

Overall Grade:

As I jumped into Hope Ellis’s Been There Done That, a SmartyPants Romance, I went in curious. I mean, in looking at her GoodReads profile, this is the only book attached to her page. Without any background, you hope for the best obviously. Given the other authors in the SmartyPants Romance universe, I expected insightful, nuanced storytelling, grounded by the Green Valley community surrounding the beloved Winston Family. After reading Ellis’s book, I realized very quickly that you get this and so much more. Nothing makes me more joyful than reading a first-time author (to me and maybe others) and getting my “socks knocked off” because that is INDEED what Ellis has done with this first book in the Leffersbee series.

Ellis coins this romance a second-chance romance. And it is that. As I was reading this story, my brain ran over this idea of second-chance romance. What makes a story that uses this trope successful? What allows us to surrender ourselves as readers to the idea that two people separated in their youth could and would find each other again, igniting a latent love? I realized that, for me, for this trope’s believability, I need this type of story to be a slow burn. I become inflamed when a heroine (or hero) jumps quickly back into a relationship with a past love especially when their counterpart broke their spirit. This type of story requires a careful plodding that quietly and insistently builds the chemistry to a point where it must be satisfied or the story will lose its power. Acting upon this too early removes the needed development of their reunion, and waiting too long loses readers. In my opinion, there is a fine line in developing this trope, and Hope Ellis writes this brilliantly. Zora, the heroine of Been There Done That, is an empowered woman. She’s independent, intelligent, and insightful. When Nick, her childhood love, returns and seeks her out after breaking her heart and soul twelve years prior, if she had run straight to him, the story would have muddled its message of control and balance. As Ellis draws these two nearer to exposing their truths, in a way, Ellis replicates her message. Nick breaks their coupling twelve years earlier for reasons related to control. Ellis crafts their journey towards reconciliation and redemption slowly so that her characters can evolve and accept their truths. It’s a lesson for her readers. As Nick and Zora find their way towards each other, they find more of themselves and an equity in their relationship that might not have been there previously. Ellis’s conjuring of this second chance trope is perfectly balanced that the reader feels satiated with Zora and Nick’s eventual coupling.

As well, Hope Ellis’s biography notes that she is “a behavioral outcomes researcher by day.” Her profession clearly influences the tertiary plot of Been There Done That. Beyond the developing romance of this book is a motif about healthcare. As an academician, Zora’s story includes us in discussions about the current healthcare system in the US. Her work and her conversations with Nick allow us access to its problems. Even more, Ellis’s dextrous characterization of Zora to take on this system’s ills does two things: it acknowledges Ellis’s insertion of herself into her storytelling which allows us insight into her own occupational challenges and it lends a gravity to Nick and Zora’s romance, making Been There Done That more intentional in its creation. This book is more than a Penny Reid-inspired romance; it’s an admonishment to “fix the system” of its problems. While Nick Armstrong/Rossi has the means and power to effect some change, Ellis also shows us a “lay person’s” effect too. There is clear craftsmanship in this discussion throughout the story. Even more, it’s timely given how our world is currently handling the COVID-19 crisis. At the very least, Ellis’s story is a magnifying glass for a national and global problem.

Beyond Ellis’s careful handling of this story’s second chance trope and the reconciliation of her characters, along with a secondary message about the fragmented and complex healthcare system, we find Ellis the wordsmith. I’m a fiend for good prose. When authors have the capacity to engage a reader with the way in which they string words together into sentences, paragraphs, and pages, I fall. I love a storyteller who finds words that infuse emotion without needing to describe the emotion. There were so many moments in this book when I appreciated Ellis as a writer. From her play on the movie ideal of Nick and Nora as Nick and Zora to sentences that emoted the challenges of this couple, there is an intentionality in Hope Ellis’s writing that manifested a romance that felt intentional. I think that’s the difference between someone who quickly writes a book for the masses and someone who recognizes a story as a purveyor of thought and truth. If Been There Done That is Hope Ellis’s first book, then she hit a triple that turned into a home run on her first at-bat.

This is what I know after reading Ellis’s book. She MUST write more. Specifically, I NEED more books in the Leffersbee series. There are more stories to tell about Walker, Leigh, and Tavia. She has piqued my curiosity and earned herself a new fan. I haven’t even touched on the diversity of this story, it’s brilliant connection to Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers, and it’s insistent that independence is found in both the power of the individual and the completion of the self in a great love. Those are all AMAZINGLY worthy topics to consider for this book and more of what you will LOVE about it. If you are a Penny Reid fan, Jackson James is here in all of his glory (dear LORD, I need this man’s story), and we earn more of the Leffersbee family. However, if you are a Hope Ellis fan (or a new reader), then you are in for the best treat of second chances and sultry homecomings.

First time reader for this author!! This book was so good, you laugh and cry throughout this whole book!!
Nick comes back after twelve years to get Zora the love of his life and soulmate back but he has a lot of making up to do!!
Will Nick and Zora get their happily ever after or will Nick’s controlling ways put an end to them before they even get started?