A one night stand segues to a weekend of passion, leading to a lifetime of romance in Bittersweets – Terry and Alex. A Philadelphia lawyer, tired of making the same relationship mistakes, falls in love at last, and with the advice of her aging father, Harry, traverses the mysteries of romance and heartache. Bittersweets: Terry and Alex is the first stand alone in the saga, introducing you to … introducing you to Arvin and Tina, Brenda and Larry, Rick and Jason, Mrs. Dell, and the rest of the cast.
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I have to agree with many of the previous reviews. I did enjoy Alex & Terry as characters. But I did find the story disjointed, at times flat & confusing.
Meet Terry Kovac- lead attorney for 5 years at a firm where she has worked very hard to become a partner at a typical men’s club law firm. Terry has quite a few men that are just plan jerks.
Her boss, Vince is a male chauvinist double standard, typical boys club kind of guy. He insists that his female employees must dress in skirts, no slacks. Cannot date employees. But the men can have affairs. What a pig.
then Arvin the so called boyfriend, ER doctor Arvin, who she was introduced by a co-worker Brenda several years ago. Arvin is an arrogant, self absorbed, pathetic typical booty call guy. He uses the excuses of being a womanizer due to his culture of being Muslim. I myself find this character quite insulting & not needed in the story let his own novel.
Vince has now given Terry a new law clerk. Meet Alex Hawthorne who seems to be the perfect gentlemen; can walk off the cover of a GQ magazine, former Army. They seem to have great working chemistry together but don’t do any real flirting since they know the rules about dating employees.
Then the story snaps to the two colleagues are waking up from a night of passion after a dunkin haze from a night with their colleagues over a celebration from winning a case. Neither party ready to go home they continued to drink until they decided to have sex.
Alex Hawthorne- technically a very recent divorcee from Jennifer w woman who couldn’t handle being a military wife. While Alex’s is deployed his wife cheated on him & mails him a Dear John letter. Though when coming back from deployment she wanted to try to work things out. Something doesn’t seem right with the Ex. She is out to take advantage of Alex.
Alex & Terry definitely have chemistry together but to move in together after a weekend of bliss. For two intelligent people it doesn’t seem right. Terry introduces Alex to her father Harry who has been a widow for almost two years. Harry is concerned about his daughter’s sudden changes within her career. When Vince finds out about their involvement together he give Terry an ultimatum stop seeing Alex & become a partner or be fired. Well, Terry picks love over career. Harry is worried for her but notices that she is quite happy. While Alex, gets to stay at the firm. The double standards again.
Alex is very unhappy with the circumstances & is determined to find a way to sue for Terry to get her position back. Though that is very short lived. One night when attempting to pick up the rest of his belongings from his apartment. He finds his Ex wife Jennifer naked & staying she wants to get back together. Why because she is pregnant.
He now informs Terry he has to move out. This is quite dumb for a book dated in the present day. Well, once that happens Terry gets her position back & doesn’t have to be around Alex. Since she is now with the executives.
During this time, Terry is miserable, meets new people within her community, Jason, Rick & back neighbor who happens to see her thru his place. He ends up being like a big brother to her. While Jason wants to date her. (So he thinks) She enjoys having her apartment family, dad & even these two new guys care about her.
Then her stupid Booty call, Arvin attempts to weasel his way back into her life. This time Terry is smarter, now that she has felt true love & heartbreak. She is not willing to go back to that temporary, satisfaction she called life.
Only three weeks go by in the story & its close to Christmas & Terry has had all theses changes happen. She now comes to the realization she could be pregnant. With the help of Rick she takes a test. She know realizes that she will be a single mom, partner working with the father of her child. She needs to let Alex know. Funny while alone on Christmas & work is cancelled due to a storm. Alex realizes he cannot play this farce of a family with Jennifer. He loves Terry. He will do anything to get back with Terry. Get another job for her to keep her partnership, & still be responsible for the child he created with his Ex Wife. Terry gets the call that Alex wants to come over. She falls in his arms & tells him about the baby. He is thrilled & tells her they must get married.
It seems like things fall into place for the two love birds. And as suspected Jennifer lied to Alex about him being the father of the child. Which makes their circumstances so much lighter.
There are additional story plots of the other characters, that seem to pop up all of a sudden. I don’t enjoy that. Plus I believe they should have written a flashback of Alex’s PTSD. This way the audience & Terry see Alex’s issues. But the book is titled Terry loves Alex.
As stated in the beginning, I agree with other readers, reviews. But there are some good moments between this couple. It’s worth reading but do I want to pay to read the other characters. Not if it’s written in this format.
A red-hot romance between two lawyers is the tag-line you might see, were this wonderful story made into a best-selling movie or tv miniseries, but Bittersweets – Terry and Alex is far more than just a run-of-the-mill romance, as it explores past and present relationships, love and lust, indecision and a feeling of failure, contrasted with instinct and knowing how to make a sensible, long-lasting love work are all sensitively explored by the Queen of Romantic Suspense, Suzanne Jenkins.
Terry is female Philadelphia lawyer Terry Kovac, established at a well-known law firm, when Iraqi veteran Alex Hamilton comes to join them. At first, despite the spark between them, Terry is hesitant to get involved. As well as remembering the saying that it’s a bad idea to mix business with pleasure, she’s had a number of relationships that have crashed and burned, leaving her vulnerable and uncertain whether to act on her instincts or take a more cautious stance before making a move.
Alex is sensitive to her doubts and is determined not to pressure Terry into making a decision, but when she seems ready to sacrifice her career to be with him, (supported and advised by her loving father), hesitancy on his part is no longer an option. Can Terry let herself love and be loved at last?
A superb beginning to a wonderfully heart-warming series, Terry and Alex is a must for your romance bookshelf, (along with all the others to follow/already available). Don’t delay, get it today!