In a split-second, a car crash killed almost everything between them. Ten years later, can one accidental ride fix tattered spirits, uncertain futures, and broken hearts?Lily Grantham has always done what she’s been told. The daughter of a senator, she grew up as the good girl of Fawn Hill, and carried that torch right on through to adulthood. Her only wild streak? Bowen Nash. She loved that boy … loved that boy since the day they laid eyes on each other, and it nearly ended them both. A decade later, and Lily still can’t move on. Even if Bowen has made it clear he doesn’t love her anymore.
Bowen Nash never wanted the life he’s trapped in. Destined for baseball fame and the love of his high-school sweetheart, that existence vanished in the flip of an old pickup. Now, he’s stuck in the town that produced his worst nightmare. Pretending to hate Lily Grantham guts him day in and day out. But to protect her from the ultimate secret, it’s necessary to break his own heart each time they pass on the street.
They’ve been fighting fate for as long as it’s been chasing them. And now, time is up.
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*sigh* I have such a love for second chance romances. Watching two people who are absolutely meant for each other finding one another again. It is the best thing ever!! And that is exactly Bowen and Lily.
After having their relationship ripped from them, Bowen and Lily finally get to make their way back to each other in Forgiven. All the feelings in this novel! Can’t wait for the next Nash bro story!!
Favorite Quotes:
“How do you feel about pink?” Penelope asks our bride. “The same way you feel about spring break with all three of your kids at home.” Presley chuckles, taking a sip of her champagne. Our resident mother warrior shudders. “Don’t even joke about that. It’s like surviving a nuclear fallout. There is cereal and poop and Legos everywhere.”
He couldn’t locate that thing with a flashlight and a search and rescue team at his disposal… I don’t understand what’s so difficult about it. We have a button, right at the top, full of nerves. It literally sticks out just for them to find. Some men, I swear!
Books never stopped calling, they didn’t act like a jerk, and they certainly were there in all times of need. Yeah, I’d rather spend time with my favorite characters than people any day of the week.
I didn’t even really care about politics. It was all a bunch of stuffy old men in suits arguing about where money should go.
She’s gotta be whip-smart. And she looks like she could either hand me my balls or take real good care of them.
My Review:
I had greatly enjoyed the vivacious feel and levity to Fleeting, the first book in this series, but my enthusiasm did not hold up with this sequel. However, it could well be my issue as unfortunately, the author decided to utilize several of my least favorite tropes, which had me sighing and rolling my eyes; why do authors recycle these tiresome angsty themes, why?
Nor were the main characters all that appealing to me, Lily was essentially missing a backbone and sold herself out with a smile for her corrupt political family, I am rather amazed the poor girl could walk and sit up straight being without a spine and all. Bowen had been surly for a decade while being blackmailed with a supposed dark secret – a secret that seemed hardly worth the effort and inadequate for the purpose. But worse than that, his behavior toward Lily was vile and deplorable; I would have given him free neutering service had he talked to me that way.
My respite from complete and total exasperation was provided by the continuing storylines and amusing banter with and between the secondary characters. I enjoyed the story once the secret was outed and the heavy curtain of angst was lifted. I’m hoping book three brings back the joy with a more authentic and entertaining premise.
I love everything Carrie Aarons writes, and this latest book does not disappoint. It is a story that spans over 10 years, and digs deep into the act of forgiveness and moving on. For anyone who has loved and lost and loved again, this is a book for you. It will make you cry, but in the end, it will make you smile. “You were my person. And in an instant, you doubted and let other people influence what happened to us. And still, I love you more than any of those other emotions. I love you even when I hate you. I love you even when you betray me so fatally it feels like you’ve opened a vein and drained it”. Lily in Forgiven by Carrie Aarons.
5 STARS
Forgiven is the second instalment in the Nash Brothers Series by Carrie Aarons. This book absolutely gave me all the feels! I was so drawn to the emotional battle between Lily and Bowen, as well as within themselves. How the love they had was still there despite their avoidance of the other and the unknown.
“We couldn’t end because Bowen had left, leaving us in this heartbreaking middle ground between sorrow and a glimmer of hope.”
This is such a beautiful story of how young love was lost and how they manage the circumstances and secrets of what kept them apart in the first place.
“We are tarnished, our love is stained with the blood of my betrayal, of my lie. And there is no wiping us clean.”
I cannot wait for more Nash Brothers! I highly recommend reading Forgiven. I suggest reading Fleeting as it is the first book in this series, but is not required since both books can be read as standalones. I’d like to thank the author and InkSlinger PR for generously providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Forgiven by Carrie Aarons will join the ranks of BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
I LOVE the name Lily. It’s one of my favorite flowers also. So I was glad to see that was the main characters name. Plus I think Lily is also a perfect “proper young lady” name which is what Lily is in this story. And Bowen. He is so dreamy.
I think this story might be my favorite out of the 2 so far. But who knows, I seem to love them more as we go along.
Anywho, Bowen. I don’t know if I have enough words to describe him. He’s so layered and full of feelings and so hurt. Although Lily is hurt as well and it’s all due to the people in Bowen and Lily’s lives who are trying to keep them apart.
I can’t wait to see the next Nash brothers story!!
I love the Nash Brothers! I couldn’t wait for more of them after reading Fleeting.
I couldn’t wait to find out what Bowen and Lily’s story was and why they were so broken. Their story is both heartbreaking and then uplifting. I’m glad they got their HEA, they deserved it.
Can’t wait for more of the Nash Brothers!
In one second a car crash ended not only Bowen Nash’s baseball career, but it also ended his relationship with his soulmate. After ten years, Lily still has no answers as to why Bowen walked out of her life. When the two are brought together the sparks are still there but once again Bowen will not open up. Faced with an ultimatum the deception and lies from the past turn into the answers that Bowen tried to save Lily from. Will the answers finally break her apart? Or will the baggage from the past finally be set free? I fell in love with these characters from the opening pages and with each chapter the need for a HEA got stronger and stronger. With wonderful characters and a heart wrenching storyline this is an awesome book. I cannot wait for more in this series!!
Forgiven is the second book in the ‘Nash Brothers’ series featuring Keaton, Bowen, Forrest and Fletcher. Fleet was book 1 and was Keaton and Presley’s story, they are in this wonderful follow on which is Bowen and Lily book.
Bowen has known Lily since she started high school. He was a sophomore and fell head over heels for her. Lily felt the same and they thought they would spend their life. Fate unfortunately had others plans, at least for the period of time. A horrible accident caused a rift so wide that ten years later, even though both still live in the same small town of Fawn Hill, neither can move on.
Bowen carries a guilty secret and has been forced to push Lily away, he’s never stopped loving her and never will. But he knows things can’t ever go back to the way they were. His life imploded ten years ago, and losing Lily was only a small part of it.
Now, he’s the town barber and a volunteer fire-fighter. But he wants more.
With Keaton and Presley getting married, he and Lily will have to spend time in each others presence as they are best man and maid of honor. He’s only been able to hide his feelings by avoiding Lily, so being forced into close quarters with her will be torture.
Lily has never stopped loving the only man she wanted to be with forever. But, she needs closure if she is to move on, Bowen acts like he hates her and won’t tell her why.
Working on the wedding has her seeing more and more of her former lover, and as time goes by, the old Bowen shows up to tempt and tease her. Can she break down this brooding, tortured man’s walls. Will her unrequited love finally be given the resting place it deserves. In Bowen’s heart!
I loved this story, Carrie Aarons knows how to write friends and family stories, and to bring turmoil and angst to life with the pages of her books. The Nash Brothers series is a great new addition to her well written library. I really enjoyed hearing how the brothers were getting on and I can’t wait for the next book.
Well, of the first two books in the Nash Brothers series, Carrie Aarons has hit it out of the park both times, first with Keaton and Presley, but even more so with Bowen and Lily. As much as I enjoyed the first book, this particular story really brought so much more simply because of the history between Bowen and Lily; a lot of happiness from years earlier, and heartache and misery in the decade since that fateful night. And things only got worse because they both still live in Fawn Hill (or very close), so they see each other plenty.
It’s obvious they still are both in love and love each other, but with the negativity flowing between them, I had to wonder if they would truly get a second chance. We get to see a sweet romance, but Ms. Aarons definitely brought the angst with this story. Luckily it wasn’t the overdone, overdramatic angst, it was enough to have me wonder if they’d get back together. I liked that Lily was the one to make the first moves, but with all that Bowen was going through and feeling, I was worried he wouldn’t allow himself to feel happy again.
I will admit that once I learned what it was that kept them apart, I rolled my eyes because that’s what dictated the last decade for them, but at the same time if that’s what they were feeling back then, of course their feelings wouldn’t have matured about that particular situation since they experienced it while still teenagers. But still, it was written well and helped to make everything clear for these two.
I swear, I’m not crying…..
Y’all Forgiven is a wonderful second chance book. These Nash brothers have my heart skipping beats. It’s set in a small town, which I love and every character you come in contact with you will love.
Bowen and Lily are high school sweethearts, after a accident they fall apart. Fast forward ten years and they still have that same love for each other. Lily wants answers and won’t stop until she gets them.
I loved this! It’s sweet, charming and yes, it will pull those heart strings. This is the second book in the series and the first was just as good. I can’t wait to see where we go next.
I swear, I’m not crying…..
Y’all Forgiven is a wonderful second chance book. These Nash brothers have my heart skipping beats. It’s set in a small town, which I love and every character you come in contact with you will love.
Bowen and Lily are high school sweethearts, after a accident they fall apart. Fast forward ten years and they still have that same love for each other. Lily wants answers and won’t stop until she gets them.
I loved this! It’s sweet, charming and yes, it will pull those heart strings. This is the second book in the series and the first was just as good. I can’t wait to see where we go next.
*Review by Michelle
My favorite book out of the series for sure! so raw, open and tragic, but at the same time so hopeful and romantic. it was a beautiful story.
Forgiven is an emotional book about young love, love lost, betrayal, lies, heartbreak but ultimately second chances and forgiveness.
If you read Fleeting you got to see little pieces of Bowen and Lily but there is so much to their story. I loved Lily’s eternal hope in love. I hated to see how hurt she and Bowen were by the acts of others. Lily’s dedication to her friendship with Presley just showed what a wonderful person she is. Even though she was hurting so much on the inside, she refused to ruin her friend’s happiness and helps her prepare for her wedding.
Bowen has struggled with a secret e has held since he was in high school. It has festered and ruined much of his life since then but there wasn’t anything he could do about it in his mind. He doesn’t have a bad life but not the one he had always wanted and not with the one person he has always loved.
Bowen and Lily have more than their fair share of struggles but their love is greater than anything.
Lily is a Senator’s daughter and the town librarian who has always done what was expected of her. Ten years ago, she was in love with Nash, her high school sweetheart, until an accident changed everything. Nash ended their relationship with no explanation and although they have avoided each other ever since it doesn’t mean she stopped loving him.
It’s been ten years since Nash’s life was turned upside down when all his dreams were crushed both personally and professionally. He has created a new life for himself, but he has never stopped loving the woman whose heart he broke.
Now that his brother is with her best friend avoiding each other is no longer an option. Will this finally be their chance to work through the secrets between them and have a second chance or is the pain of the past too much to overcome?
I loved these two together. Nash has only ever wanted to protect Lily despite the cost to himself while Lily is so much stronger than even she thought once she decides that she isn’t about to live with the questions of the past any longer. Sweet and sexy I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
4.5 Stars
This is the second book in the series. I fell in love even more with this series. Those Nash brothers just capture your heart. This is about forgiveness and second chances. Bowen and Lily just break your heart because you know they deserve their HEA. Take a ride on their journey as they try to reach their HEA. These characters had the tears flowing several times. Such emotion they drew out of me. I LOVED the epilogue so hard. It made everything they have gone through worth it. I highly recommend this book!
The second book in the series and full of the sweet small town romance and angst. The background between these two characters is full and their growth through the story is everything. Carrie Aarons has definitely convinced me to love small town romances with all the gossip and all the boundary enmeshment of the town folk. Bowen and Lily truly are a remarkable couple and I felt like I wanted to be their best friends while reading this. This book has little hidden punches built in that leave you as a reader wondering when the next shoe will drop
Truly an enjoyable read <3
4 1/2 stars!
In the previous book Fleeting, we were given just enough information about Bowen and Lily to make me really want their story. And when I say “just enough information” I mean hardly anything. BUT I knew there was a good story there and I was ready for it!
Ten years ago Bowen and Lily were madly in love and looking toward the future. Then a car accident took everything away from them. They still live in the same town and somehow manage to stay away from each other, but that is becoming a much harder task. Multiple times they find themselves in the same place at the same time and it finally reaches the point where the can’t deny their feelings anymore.
Bowen and Lily were both extremely likable characters and once I got their whole story, all I wanted was for them to get everything they ever wanted. It is very obvious that they both still very much in love with each other, but there is a lot that they need to work through before they can get that happily ever after. This book is an angsty, sometimes sexy, emotional ride that was everything I wanted in a second chance romance story.
Forgiven will make you believe you can have your own second chance at love!
Bowen and Lilly love story will break your heart and have you rooting for them from even book 1, Fleeting in this series!
Their chemistry is palpable. Their love is there for everyone to see no matter how much they think they are hiding it. You want to yell at Bowen to pull his life together and claim Lilly! This book has all the feels!
This book made me appreciate that sometimes when a situation seems so dire and you think there is no solution in sight that if you just step back for a minute you might get some clarity.
An excellent read to escape into!
Forgiven Book 2 Nash Brothers Series by Carrie Aarons
Wow! I loved this so hard! What an AMAZING roller coaster of emotions! What a beautiful friends to lovers story! Very well written. Captivated my interest throughout. Total perfection!
Loved this series! Highly recommend.
Forgiven by Carrie Aarons is the second book in The Nash Brothers series and can be read in as standalone. This book was a second chance romance full of angst. An accident ten years ago has led Lily Grantham and Bowen Nash down very different paths then they had ever imagined. Their journey was emotional and heartbreaking at times and it captivated me from starat to finish.
There is so much hurt between Bowen and Lily. They have both tried to move forward, but a love like theirs is not easily forgotten. Bowen could be cold and harsh towards Lily, but he had his reasons. Lily was brokenhearted and wanted answers, but was also strong and caring. It took a wedding to put them face-to-face again to deal with the past. Could they learn to forgive and move forward or was it too late?
I am loving The Nash Brothers series by Carrie Aarons so much. Forgiven was an emotional ride with great characters. It was a second chance romance about two people who were always destined to be together but separated by circumstances. I am excited to read the next book in the series!
4.5-stars. Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!