Claire and Jude Sinclair have been living the perfect life for the last ten years. Blissfully in love, professionally successful, happily married… They have everything they want—except a baby to make their family complete. On the eve of the birth of the baby they’re planning to adopt, Jude gets traded to another hockey team in another state, and their thoughtfully planned-out road to parenthood … road to parenthood hits a speed bump.
But they didn’t survive all the turmoil of their pasts to get knocked out now. This is their game seven, and they won’t accept anything less than a win for the family they’re destined to have.
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From anyone looking in Claire and Jude Sinclair have the perfect life, a happy marriage, beautiful home, and successful careers… but from their perspective things aren’t quite that perfect. There is one piece of he puzzle that is missing, and they are desperate to complete the picture and have a family.
For as long as she can remember Claire has wanted to be a mother, but her body isn’t so willing to cooperate, and it’s lead to many upsetting unsuccessful invitro treatments, and a lot of physical and mental pain. Jude is desperate to see his wife happy and give her the chance to be a mother, but it isn’t that simple for them.
Little do they know an “angel” is about to make all of their dreams come true… but not without a few more life altering hurtles of course.
Changing Lines is a beautifully crafted tale about a couple who have craved to have a family for a long time, but have struggled to create one the conventional way. This tale follows them along their heart-squeezing journey, which is filled with many disappointing lows and joy filled highs. Be prepared to have your heart wrecked with this one, it’s a tearjerker! I loved this every minute of this one, it had me in tears one moment, and beaming the next, what a wonderful penned story! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
What a great emotional catch up story for one of my favorite couples Claire & Jude! 5 hot hockey pucks for this story!
Follow along as they are set to adopt a baby, and of course nothing in the world of hockey ever goes smoothly! Read along as they struggle with adopting this child, yet still yearning for one of their own! This story will pull at all your emotions, Toni did an amazing job writing this one! Grab it now!
Changing Lines is everything I have come to expect in the Bellevue Bullies, it’s a sweet novella that packs a mighty punch when it comes to the storyline, it’s full of love and at times heartbreak and once again shows the importance of family. Changing Lines takes us back into the life of Jude and Claire as they try every avenue to create the family they desperately want. This couple have so much to give but nothing seems to be working until they meet someone who will change their life’s ……
This book proves no matter how hard life is no matter what life throws at you if you have a partner who loves and supports you, you can overcome it all. A beautifully written love story that captivated me as once again this author shows she is not afraid to tackle subjects some would steer clear off.
Perfect addition to a great series.
Anything from Toni Aleo is an auto-buy for me. Especially anything Toni writes in connection with Assassins and Bellevue Bullies series, I am looking forward to read. I love reading bits and pieces of the old characters and it feels like I have been waiting for Claire and Jude’s novella forever. Claire and Jude’s story started in ‘Boarded by Love’. They have been married for 10 years and been through a lot; good news is they are still madly in love with each other. The only thing they are missing in their life is a baby. After trying for a longtime and not being successful, they decide to adopt. Now they are waiting their son to arrive and finally bought a house and settled. Everything is perfect till Jude gets traded to a team in Florida. Their lives becomes a bit hectic and all the plans they had had to change but with their love for each other and the amazing family they have, they can get go through anything, life throws to them.
I loved ‘Changing Lines’ and when it hit my kindle, I was soooooo happy. Unfortunately, my happiness was short lived 🙁 It only took me 1 hour 30 minutes to finish it. But of course I re-read it after two days LOL! It was also amazing to read a little bit about August, River, Philip, Reese, Lucy, Benji, Jayden, Baylor, Jace, Avery and all the kids 🙂 Thank you soooo much Toni Aleo for new addition to my re-read list 🙂 ‘Changing Lines’ is sweet, inspiring and emotional story that will make you wish for a love and support like Claire and Jude have.
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Of course I already did it 🙂
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
Changing lines is a novella that follows Jude and Claire’s journey. It’s the fifth book in the Bellevue Bullies series. Jude and Claire have always been on the top of my favorite character list from Toni. If there’s any couple who deserves a happy ending is these two. As typical Toni fashion, she tackles on the tough issues, infertility, abandonment, addiction but she does so in such a way that you feel connected to these characters. As a couple, they’ve gone through a lot but a happy ending is just around the corner. Thank you, Toni, for revisiting one my favorite couples and for writing this novella the way that you did!
5 Star read!!!
Changing Lines is a sweet novella full of both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments but most importantly beauty, love and family.
We get another glimpse in the lives of Jude and Claire and the struggles they are now facing as they try to create a family. They have so much love to give and want a family so desperately but have to now look to other options for that to be a reality. Sometimes people are put in your lives for a reason and when Tristan, young and pregnant, happens to come into theirs, it was truly meant to be and they will finally have the family that they always wanted.
I lovelovelove this beautiful and emotional glimpse into Jude and Claire’s future. Their romance is one of my absolute favourite stories and this new chapter of their lives does not disappoint. I cried, laughed, cried some more. I adore this couple and this novella was a perfect surprise.
Ahhhhhh, what can I say about Changing Lines? It’s a beautiful and heartwarming story about two beloved Toni Aleo characters! This slice of life aka novella is everything I wanted for them and oh so much more.
Ms. Aleo has created the most beautiful world centered around hockey but within that world are these amazing, soulful and loveable characters. Characters that so many readers connect with.
Changing Lines is a gift to Ms. Aleo’s readers. It gives us the opportunity to check in with those we love, with those we have connected with, with those who feel like our friends and family.
Changing Lines was like curling up in a bug cozy blanket on a cold winter’s day. Thank you, Ms. Aleo for allowing us a glimpse in the lives of Jude, Claire and all the Sinclairs.
A fantastic Bellevue Bullies novella that will leave you wanting more. I’m a huge fan of this author’s writing and this story did not disappoint. Claire and Jude are two characters I adore and to see them finally get all they deserve makes me so happy. She writes her characters so realistically that you can’t help but feel every emotion. A must read story for those who love sports romances, true love and happy endings. Can’t wait to see what she writes next.
For a quick read I sure cried a lot of tears over this book! They were both happy and sad tears, as I loved catching up with Jude and Claire, but also what they went through with infertility is truly devastating. I know there are many women who are going through the same thing and they will be able to relate to Claire’s feelings because the emotions she goes through are so real. This is the first story I’ve read that has dealt with both infertility and adoption. I appreciate that Toni always rights about the hard stuff in the write way.
Claire never gives up and gets her own happy ending, but how could she not with such a loving, supporting husband and family at her side? I don’t say this often, but this novella was so sweet and meaningful, I didn’t even realize there weren’t the normal steamy scenes I’m used to! I don’t think you will miss it either. As an added bonus you get a peak in on the Sinclair and Anderson family, and any fans of the Assassins series will love to see what they are all up to now.
Whether you’ve been with Jude and Claire since the beginning or not, you need to read this book, because feeling the love these two had for each other left me with a smile in the end!
Thank you Toni! Thank you for taking us back to see some more of Jude and Claire. What a wonderful glimpse into their lives at this pint in time. While it’s not perfect, it’s a wonderful portrayal of what life and love is like after years of ups and downs in a marriage.
Lovers of the Belvue Bulloes series will enjoy catching up with some old friends as well.
From the outside looking in life can look perfect, even when it is not. Jude and Claire have been together since college and have been trying for a baby for the past few years. Claire has felt her heart break each month she still is not pregnant. Loved seeing this great couple together again and visiting the Sinclair family in all its craziness.
Aleo take the reader on a journey of deeply into the mind of a woman who feels she is incomplete, and the husband who thinks she is the world and then some just how she is.
I loved Jude and Claire in Boarded By Love!! Their relationship is 100% solid, Yes they have their ups and downs and need to keep working at their relationship but that’s life!! All Claire ever wants is to give Jude a baby. Man oh man does my heart break for them in this novella – it has everything you want in a novella -the emotions were running pretty high and you were kept intrigued by the journey Jude and Claire took to achieve their end goal. Twists turns ups and downs this is one heartbreaking read but so so so worth it!! Thank you Toni Aleo for giving us more of Jude and Claire!!
Oh my heart! I don’t even think I can properly express all the feels I have for Claire and Jude’s story! I love this so hard!
I first fell in love with Claire in Breaking Away. Then add Jude Justice into the mix in Boarded by Love I was so invested in this couple and that I loved this one was not a surprise to me.
To see the way Claire and Jude’s infertility issues were tackled with all the sensitivity and accuracy it brought ALL the feels!
It’s a no-brainer for me having thrown in revisits from other favorite couples, the family dynamics have carried over beautifully. And no worries about this as a stand alone it works perfectly.
4.5 stars
Changing Lines was a cute, short story set in the Bellevue Bullies series. If you’re a fan of Claire and Jude, you’re going to love this one. Although it was a novella, it was packed with so much emotion. I laughed and I cried. I love the Sinclair brothers, and I definitely missed them. There was so much struggle with Claire trying to get pregnant, you could feel her emotions as if they were your own. This is a definite must read.
Claire and Jude are happily in love. The only thing that could make their lives happier is to start a family. But it’s apparent that neither of their bodies is capable of this. Thank God for Tristan. She’ll be the one to give them all the happiness they desire, they deserve!
Changing Lines is the perfect way to cap off this couple’s story. It’s a realistic look at a couple struggling with something that, unfortunately, many people struggle with. It’s more than a little emotional, but it’s not too angsty, and Claire and Jude are amazing together, as usual!
Oh My Goodness!!! I love all of Toni Aleo’s hockey players, but Jude and Claire have a special place in my heart I feel like I watched them grow up. I loved catching up on their lives, the love they share was just jumping off the pages. This amazing book is so well written with so much emotion and feelings. The storyline is so filled with not just their story but so many of the Assassins, Bullies, and members of the Sinclair family that make an appearance. Lots of drama unfolds with the desire to be parents and to take care of the people they care about. So much Love.
I love that Toni decided to give us a little continuation of Jude and Claire! The other books in the series after theirs did give us a little insight into what they had going on after their book finished (which I love about her books and series!) but to get it from their perspective and get more details makes this book and series so much better. I also really love the premise of this book; infertility is something that is actually more common than most people realize, and it takes a toll on both people as individuals as well as collectively as a couple. This book gave us insight on a way to work things out and maintain a healthy relationship even when this happens. I can’t wait to see who’s next in this series and see in the background how Jude and Claire are doing and adjusting to their new normal!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Read: 6/24/19
Changing Lines was the fifth book in the Bellevue Bullies series by Toni Aleo. It was a sweet novella as a follow up for Jude and Claire Sinclair, book one.
Aleo took us on a quick journey for the next phase of Jude and Claire’s lives, parenting. They had been trying for awhile but ran into a few road blocks. Aleo demonstrated the emotions, thought processes and options while navigating through a team trade (NHL) for Jude.
In the end, it was short, sweet, emotional and a great ten year follow up to a beloved couple.
Changing Lines is the fifth book in the Bellevue Bullies series by Toni Aleo. And this book kind of wrecked me and then put me back together again. We get to visit with Claire and Jude Sinclair and watch as they rediscover what building a family means. There are so many emotions in this short novella and I was crying big fat ugly tears – some heartbreaking and some happy. You definitely need a box of tissues on hand when diving into these pages. I loved it and recommend it… it is a perfect addition to the Bellevue Bullies team.