I expect my best buddy’s wedding to be a bust until the beautiful bartender asks me if I could use something stiff. Trust me, “getting something stiff” is the least of my worries.One touch of Jade’s silky-soft hand, and there’s a zing, just like in the movies. Somehow, I find the magic words that make her mine for the night.This one-night stand has second date written all over it.And, just like … it.
And, just like that, I have the whole world in the palms of my hands. Figures that right when I meet the girl of my dreams, karma drops the other shoe.
A fantasy-come-true infatuation like ours can’t last. Can it?
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I absolutely love love love this book! I was hooked from the very first page. Jade & Hudson have an incredibly beautiful & romantic story. Their relationship is filled with angst and sometimes they frustrated me. The relationship occurs over several years and as the plot and characters develop, it’s an emotional rollcoaster. However, in the end everything comes together as it should in this perfectly imperfect relationship.
An absolute stunning romance by Claudia Burgoa! Finding My Reason had my emotions so wrapped up in its pages, at times it felt as if I was a part of it.
Jade was days away from following her dream and amongst those plans finding herself; so when a handsome man approached her and asked her to dance, she had no problem saying yes to him.
It was lust at first sight for Hudson, when he spied a stunningly beautiful girl behind the bar at his best friends wedding.
Never would he have thought saprks would fly the way they did when she was around.
Will a one night stand be enough for him, or will he succumb to his feelings to get the girl?
With want comes need and therefore comes extremely delicate emotions. Hudson and Jade were such an amazing duo to read, and I couldn’t help but love them fiercely.
Such a magnificent experience.
I highly recommend this read.
This book brought out all of my emotions while reading… I’m still working through the hangover it left me with and processing all of my thoughts and feelings, but am going to try to write a review anyway…
Hudson and Jade made me laugh, and caused me considerable amounts of frustration throughout the story – but I could NOT put it down (who needs sleep anyway??) It has two flawed characters, who have an instant attraction that leads to a one night stand, which turns into a friendship and deep love of each other… however, that deep love does not automatically turn into a relationship. The relationship between Hudson and Jade develops over the course of 13 years, and some of the decisions they made caused me to want to punch something – but they finally work things out in the end for a HEA. The growth of the characters seems to happen very slowly, but the evolution of the characters and their relationship kept me invested in finding out what they would do next, and how it would work out for them.
I recommend this book – just be prepared for a lengthy, emotion-churning read!!
This is a beautiful story about two people who both had difficult pasts falling in love with one another. They each have to learn to trust, grow, and most importantly move beyond their pasts to achieve happiness in their future. This book was a little slow for me at the beginning. However, once it hooked me it was amazing. I wanted to give it 5 stars, but with the slow beginning I didn’t feel that I could.
Claudia Y. Burgoa has quickly become a must-read author for me. Her stories are touching and heartfelt and full of the feels. In Finding My Reason Claudia takes her readers on an unexpected and heartwarming journey.
Hudson and Jade are not looking for anything permanent. They share one night together after his friend’s wedding where she was working. But their connection was undeniable, even as she plans on leaving to study abroad. So, begins a friendship and love story that was original and long-reaching.
I loved Hudson and Jade, even as they frustrated me as well. Their journey was emotional and angst-filled. Their friendship grew over time and their attraction always there. But it was not an easy one and had a lot of obstacles to overcome. Another must-read from Claudia Y. Burgoa.
Happy reading!
This is a great read of not really second chance love but love at the wrong time, Hudson and Jade hook up at a wedding and their night together changes something in them and even though Jade leaves to travel the world neither can fully let the other go and move on. Hudson tries and good lord he has hopeless taste in women after Jade and Jade keeps trying to find who she really is as a person while always trying to please others. There is plenty of frustration, agony, shaking of heads as well as wanting to scream at them both as they are hopeless at really telling the other how they feel or acting on those feelings. Things come to ahead and both are then forced to make decisions on what they really want and can or will they be together in the end or was their relationship built on wishes and fantasy.
Different to anything I’ve read so far. “Inexplicably wonderful.”
This is beautiful story about love at first sight that could conquer distance, time, jealousy, hatred and insecurities. But is it enough when we settle in our lives for happily for now? What happens when we simply want more, when we want forever and our partner is so afraid to lose “the now” that shatters any chance for ever after?
“It was both of us not communicating what we needed from one another. We let our fears led our hearts.”
Will Jade and Hudson find their way back to each other and finally realize that life is not perfect, that people doesn’t have to be perfect to be perfect for each other? That what they have is “Amazingly and fantastically enough.”
Great heart-warming story and it is must read!
This was a beautiful story. It took a while to get into, but I’m glad I kept going. It ended up being a story that is still stuck in my head, even a few days after reading it. And those are always the best kinds of stories!
This was another great story by Claudia Burgoa!
This was such a sweet and realistic story.
I loved these characters! Jade is adventurous and doesn’t want to stay in one place. She has her reasons but she makes it her career and she’s good at it. She gets to travel, learn, and write. While Hudson loves what he does. He’s successful and caring. They are both shaped from there past. You never know what the future will hold, and there is always twists and turns but it will all work out how it’s meant to.
Finding My Reason by Claudia Burgoa is a contemporary romance told in dual POV which takes place over a thirteen-year time span. The story begins at a wedding where Jade, the bride’s cousin, and Hudson, the best man, meet and engage in a one night stand. After an incredible night together, Hudson can’t stop thinking about Jade and he wants more. But the timing is all wrong as Jade has gone abroad to travel the world. They develop a long distance friendship and keep in touch over the many miles and years while facing challenges that arise with hidden growing feelings and distance.
I really enjoyed this story and had a difficult time choosing my rating. It would have been easier if I had disliked it but that wasn’t the case. So, I have settled on a very generous three stars. My problem? There were just so many overwhelmingly distracting errors. There were grammatical errors, misspellings, homophone errors, omitted words, transposed words, and completely misused words. In all my reading, I have never encountered so many errors in my life.
Whenever I read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) I disregard the errors because ARCs are often provided in unedited form. Although I received a free copy for review, it technically was not an ARC, because it was published in 2016. Therefore, I’m unable to look beyond all the errors. The book was published two years ago, so there’s no excuse. Even a reviewers copy should be edited by now. Overall, it was a good story, unfortunately with poor execution.
*** I voluntarily read and reviewed a free copy. ***
I enjoyed this read by Claudia Burgoa. The thing I like most about Claudia’s books is that the stories are all so unique and different. I love the individuality of her takes on the basic romance tropes. In Finding My Reason we have Jade and Hudson. Their connection is palpable. They both have issues from their past that make commitment challenging. So emotional! I also loved Claire and Brody. I am a fan of well developed secondary characters. Finding My Reason is an enjoyable read.
Hudson and Jade meet at a wedding, he is the best man, she is related to the bride. They have a one night stand and soon she leaves to go to college in Australia. But they connect and start a long-term friendship through phone calls, texting, and Jade’s occasional visits him. Their friendship/mutual attraction spans eight years as she travels around the world. Then she returns home and they take their friendship to the next level.
Hudson’s mother walked out on the family when he was five. Jade is adopted, but before that, she passed through a number of foster homes. Hudson and Jade are both are afraid of having their hearts broken by a loved one leaving. I liked how Hudson was so protective and loving he was to Jade. I loved Jade’s storytelling and free spirit. I struggled with their inability to fully communicate with each other but was very happy with the ending.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
This is not my first Claudia Burgoa book so I know what to expect from her. A book that when you start it you can’t put it down. The angst that rips your heart out of your chest over and over again. The tears that blur your eyes and make it hard to read the words. The characters you love like they are your friends, no, like you are them. Feeling all their emotions, their joys and their hurt, their highs and their lows, their happiness and their heartbreak.
Jade and Hudson meet and have a one night stand. They connect like true soulmates but then Jade leaves and they don’t see each other again for 8 years. Yes, they correspond, text, call, email. Become best friends. Jade falls in love with Hudson but he gets a girlfriend. When Jade returns, feelings are stirred up but both have deep seeded trust issues and they try to make a long distance relationship work. Eventually Jade settles down and they have to work on commitment and long term issues. They both need each other like the air they breathe but neither want to compromise. Jade has compromised her whole life, terrified of being rejected. Watching these two, knowing their love for each other and the ones that are trying to tear them apart will tear at your heartstrings. Claudia knows how to write these books! As long as she keeps on doing so I will be happy. This is a standalone and has a HEA.
The blurb doesn’t do this story justice. These characters are full of emotions, and angst, and trust issues. It’s very well written. The story just took a little longer to get to “happy” than I wanted. I would definitely read this author again.
Finding My Reason is a wonderful heartfelt love story. It will pull at your heart strings. Watching Hudson and Jade(Princess) fall in love was exciting. Their relationship wasn’t all hearts and flowers they had to overcome some issues from their childhood. One thing they did have was love for eachother. Claudia’s writing puts you right in the thick of it, feeling every emotion that Hudson and Jade did. It’s a fabulous read. Drago+Princess=Dragon
This is a poignant and epic love story between two broken souls. Hudson Drago was abandoned by his mother when he was small, leaving him to help raise his younger sister because his father could never recover from that heartbreaking loss. Hudson never wanted to marry and set himself up for so much pain and suffering when they would eventually leave him. Jade Vance was abandoned at birth and rejected from one foster home after another until she was finally adopted by a very loving and supportive family. She still has anxiety over not being good enough and is always trying to please those around her, ignoring her own needs and desires. Jade and Hudson meet at Hudson’s best friends wedding. What starts as a one night stand grows into so much more. Jade is off the next day to attend graduate school in Australia, then travel the world as a photojournalist. Hudson stays behind to prepare to start his own company. They can’t stop thinking of each other and soon start calling to stay connected. They become best friends and slowly fall in love. Jade is carefree, passionate, and creative while Hudson is practical, strong, and kind. He comforts Jade and makes her laugh when she needs it. But can time and distance keep you warm on lonely nights? When they are in the same place, can a heart survive the ache it feels when they are forced to separate time after time? Jade finally finds a reason to stay and Hudson is eager to finally begin the life together he has patiently waited years for. But they both looked at a piece of paper very differently. To one it is a prison and to the other it is security. When meddling family, past lovers and a piece of paper comes between them, will they be able to find their reason to fight for their HEA? I fell in love with Jade and Hudson, even though they frustrated me at times. They were so good for each other, helping each other heal. I love that Ms. Burgoa takes her time developing Hudson, Jade and their complex relationship, making their growth, and epic love feel solid, authentic and unbreakable. She expertly weaves a multilayered tale that will make you feel every emotion and capture your heart. This unique and refreshing love story is a must read!
Favorite Quotes:
Will she forgive you? I don’t know, but one wrong word or move, and I’ll feed your remains to the bears.
Son, no one wants a relationship based on ‘good enough.’ Good enough is for children’s art projects and quitters.
The only tip my best friend gave me was: She’s always right. Any wrong move and she’ll try to claw your eyes out.
Today my life sounds like a shitty soap opera where I’m the next character to get killed…
My Review:
Not being a big fan of either angst or constant drama, I was more than a bit miserable while reading Finding My Reason, however, I couldn’t stop reading… The writing was frequently amusing, engaging, sensual, and well-paced, yet it was also generally angsty and emotive with a storyline that made my heart hurt – but I couldn’t stop reading… I felt on edge and tense through the majority of the book and frequently cursed Ms. Burgoa’s skill for poignancy and emotional depth. The protagonists shared an instant attraction, sizzling sensual chemistry, and an epic love for one another – although, they were both also deeply flawed by their experiences, stubborn, insecure, anxious, and rather immature creatures who grew to want and need different things from their relationship. I was near despair and wanting to bludgeon Hudson with my kindle before he finally experienced his epiphany and stopped being an asshat. It took a bit longer for Jade to cease being short-sighted and delusional until they finally achieved that much-desired HEA – but Ms. Burgoa certainly made them work for it. I believe my next read needs to be light and fluffy to allow my poor coronary muscle to unclench.