They want a ‘happily ever after’ but a haunting secret from the past conspires against them.Voted Favorite Celebrity Couple-Audible“Hilarious, smart, and sexy all in one.” R. Brown“This deserves so many more stars.” Carolyn“It’s cathartic to travel through Jake’s healing process throughout this book.” -Michael C. Audible Editor You thought their story was over… but a love like theirs has no end. … their story was over… but a love like theirs has no end.
Fate doesn’t own Jake McKallister. At least, that’s what he tells himself. Life is better than ever. He’s at the top of his game, performing to sold-out crowds the world over.
He has his health and a solid, fun-loving family to keep him grounded.
And he got the girl – the beautiful, quirky girl he’s just made his wife.
Yes, life is good. If only fate would stop screaming in his ear.
Lucky is the best word for Casey McKallister. She has an awesome support system, a nerd’s dream job at a prestigious accounting firm, and best of all, she’s married to the hottest rock star to ever roam the earth.
Yes, life is perfect… until it all comes crashing down around her.
They say love conquers all. That’s what Jake and Casey are counting on.
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Such a sweet journey. Fans of Jake and Casey’s story will love experiencing this deeply satisfying next chapter in the lives of their favorite dynamic couple. Loved watching them grow individually and together!
I was so excited to get another Jake & Casey story. Yes they are featured in the other books in the series but a book focused on them was what I needed. They are the couple that started it all. And I have been worried about them. In book 3, Fiercely Emma there are some issues. Now those issues make sense. This book grasped my heart fully. There was so much emotion. I found myself totally pulled in. But like J Bengtsson does, she grips my heart, makes me feel every word and then gives my heart what it craves. Jake has a secret he is keeping. A huge secret. A secret that only Casey’s love can help him reveal. Casey’s world seems perfect. She married the man of her dreams. Then her world experiences tragedy and that man that she loves is who she clings to. Jake & Casey both have emotions to deal with. They both need each other deeply. I love their romance. It’s so beautiful. But it’s far from perfect. It’s real. This book will pull readers in fully. Get ready to be consumed.
The Newlyweds is actually the sequel to Cake. You technically don’t have to read The Theory of Second Best or Fiercely Emma before jumping into this installment, but you definitely need to read the first book.
One reoccurring question that keeps popping into my brain when trying to review this book is: Was this book really necessary? In my honest opinion, it really wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong – it was awesome to see Jake and Casey tie the knot, visit with the McKallister gang, and catch all of J. Bengtsson’s geeky references but I felt like this book was an explosion of unnecessary stuff. On the other hand, we did get to see Jake finish his healing process. Of course Bengtsson did it in a way that left me haunted and satisfied. That alone was enough to make this book worth reading.
As much as I would love to dive into more details, I can’t because of spoilers. Just know that I am in no way trying to discourage anyone from picking this up, because Bengtsson’s writing is wonderful, but know that you will definitely be shocked at all the happenings.
4 STARS!
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I loved this (although I absolutely loved Cake more). It is so wonderful to catch up with the whole McAllister family, and to see Casey and Jake have their wedding and start their life together. As others have noted, this is not really a standalone. You really need to read Cake first, and well, reading the other two books wouldn’t be time misspent. Well edited.
This one begins with Casey in the midst of great grief. Jake is trying his best to help her. We are then taken back to the time leading up to and including their wedding. We find that despite the healing true love has brought, Jake is still dealing with the scars of his past. As the story progresses, Jake realizes that he is not the only one to have to deal with grief. In addition, he realizes that the members of his family were profoundly impacted by his kidnapping and its aftermath. And, while the pain that others deal with is quite different from what he has endured, it is no less real and painful. It is really beautiful to see Jake come to that realization and begin to look outward to the pain and trials others are enduring. In and of itself, it is yet another step in Jake’s own healing process. When Jake and Casey get pregnant, he is terrified of how his kidnapping will impact his ability to be a father. He finally decides that in order to be a good father, he must face some of the things he has been running from and put them to rest.
As always, we see glimpses and pieces of Jake’s kidnapping and how they have affected his life. Yet again, Casey patiently loves him through the ups and downs. And, Jake learns to love someone else going through the ups and downs of grief. Really loved the humor that broke up some of the seriousness. Especially Casey pranking Jake at the beginning of the wedding recessional. Such a great story of love and family helping to heal and live after tragedy and loss. Looking forward to seeing more of Jake’s siblings triumph over the impact of his kidnapping. Enjoy!
Love seeing More of Jake and Casey’s story. Their trials and celebrations of this couple and their families keep coming. Hoping to hear more of the siblings stories in the books to come.
Absolutely loved listening to this! Casey and Jake and other family members were wonderful to revisit through their ups and downs. A wonderful addition to the series with excellent writing and narrators that do a fabulous job of portraying the characters.
This has been added to my list of books to read if I need a pick me up. If I am feeling hopeless, if I am sad this book has some great stuff to give me hope. If I need to laugh there is one chapter that I will be devouring. I will never think of Chuck E Cheese in the same way.
This was a great addition to the series. There was tragedy with in the story. There was a great loss that they had to deal with, but the succeeded. Even more importantly, Jake found away to survive.
The double epilogue was a great way to end the story. Two perspectives. Two stories. One fantastic story.
Jake and Casey’s story continues and what an incredible read it is! So much fun! I truly laughed out loud many times throughout this book! I honestly laughed so hard I practically cried, Otherwise I was giggling or at least smiling through the majority of the story! Jake and Casey’s banter is engaging and oh so swoony!
The story takes you through their wedding and months afterwards. Oh to be Casey!!
Jake (along withCasey) is challenged with a month of parental practice with Casey’s niece and nephew due to tragic events. While under unhappy circumstances, some of the experiences still made me laugh! Talk about mixed emotions!
Jake’s tragedy is also revealed which is awful, yet it freed him allowing him to be the man Casey always assured him he was.
Great story! Five stars!
Loved this book and the other in the series. From tear-jerker to heart warming to downright funny, this one ran the gamut. Would recommend anything this wonderful author writes!
I absolutely love this series. This book was a perfect addition. We get more Jake and Casey, and I believe I fell even more in love with them. They definitely own a piece of my heart.
More fantastic writing with all the feels. I had tears, I laughed, and I swooned so many times.
I love everyone in this series. Every. Single. One. I can never get enough of the McKallister Family! I want them to be MY family. I want more… need more.
This is one of those books that I didn’t want to end. From the beginning to the very last page, I was pulled in and held captive in the Cake world. And I loved every minute of it.
Even though it’s been years since I first read Cake, it still stands as one of my all time favorites. That means getting more Jake and Casey was like someone handing me chocolate, tequila (so wine lovers, I prefer tequila), and the library from beauty and the beast all at once. I was just a little excited. Obviously. I love these two so hard. Still full of that sarcasm and wit that keeps me cracking up and the irresistible romance between Casey and Jake, there’s a deeper more emotional story that kicked me right in the feels.
I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this couple. Even with one being a rockstar, Casey and Jake are one of the most real and relatable couples I’ve ever read. With their twisted sense of humor they don’t have a perfect romance, but they do have a real one that is so heart warming you can’t help but fall in love too. Even with all the emotions I felt while reading this I loved every second of it.