From USA Today Bestselling Author KL Donn comes the second book in the Timeless Love Series.Ashley Powers was punished.After spending two years in prison for assault of the woman her brother married, Ashley is full of remorse and pain. She’s looking to redeem herself, build a better life, and show her family she wasn’t a mistake. Encompassed in a downward spiral, Ashley isn’t sure how to move on … Encompassed in a downward spiral, Ashley isn’t sure how to move on from her past mistakes until she meets a man to show her she is worthy.
Declan Hart was hired.
Chasing convicts was nothing new to Declan. Making sure they served their time and justice was served, he wasn’t surprised an old friend asked him for a favor. Investigate the girl and find out what she’s hiding. Ashley Powers was young, spoiled, and full of life…Or so Declan was told. The girl he finds is broken and filled with self-hatred.
Attraction leads to romance, and theirs, promised love. If only Declan can convince Ashley that she too deserves her own Happily Ever After.
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I’m going to be honest, when I first read about Ashley in her older brother, Landon and his girl, Cecilia’s story, she was definitely a character I didn’t like yet there were some moments where I questioned why she was the way she was and in this story we get the full story and I’m happy that Ashley got her redemption at making amends with Cecilia and find her happy ending.
Ashley Powers has everything but what she wants the most… unconditional love and that made her feel like she needed to do things to make people want her, act the way she did because of jealousy and that caused her to go to prison when her actions took a turn for the worse, physical abuse towards her victim, Cecilia. She learned her lesson but at the same time, it caused a new problem because she felt that after everything she said and did, she deserved every bad thing to happen to her. This story also discusses about self-harm and the way that the author, K.L. Donn wrote it, was amazing, supportive and it simply gives advice to those who have been bullied and/or are bullied and the steps to take to ask for help. It was amazing and I liked that she gave Ashley the chance to find inner strength in herself, believe she’s worth being loved and that’s exactly what Declan gave her.
He was a determined man and he knew Ashley was the one for him, no matter the how much she resisted, she was his and I really liked how protective he was of her, despite knowing how she acted and the things she did. That right there, is a man who believes his woman learned the hard lesson (going to jail), supporting her when she needed it but didn’t want to ask for help, protected her from emotional pain caused not intentionally by her parents and gave her what she wanted the most; unconditional love with no expectations and a happily ever after <3 <3
As always, the ending was incredible and I loved reading how Cecilia and Ashley put everything behind them and became best friends and how everyone truly became what Ashley always wanted, a loving, supportive and a true family 🙂
First off let me start by telling you , in my personal opinion reading Once Upon A Time is a must before reading Happy Ever After. This book gives us Ashley’s journey from the time OUAT ends. I started this book thinking that there was no way I would like Ashley after what she did to Cecelia but this book … this book broke my heart and then put it back together again beautifully !! Declan is a friend of Ashley’s probation officer and is asked to follower her and make sure she is wha she seems so to speak, the broken woman that Dec finds isn’t even close to the spoiled brat that he was expecting. The way Ashley broke and nobody saw the hell she was in was heartbreaking and raw . This was an emotional rollercoaster and I was at times a blurbering mess and others I was smiling and laughing so hard my husband thought I was losing my mind !! I’m essence if your looking for one of those books that cleanses your heart and soul then I think Ashley and Declan is what your looking for !!
Happily Ever After
This book Is hard to read, but at the same time it’s needed. There are a lot of hurt in all the characters, normally when it’s happening like this the person is usually hurting, crying out for help. Declan is that person for Ashley, yes she’s strong but with him loving her shows Ashley she’s not or will ever be alone, great job author K.L Donn, you did Ashley’s story justice
Awesome selection!
REDEMPTION! That is what this story is all about.
Ashley has made mistakes in her past and she has learned and paid for them, but she finds it very hard to forgive herself and move forward.
Declan shows Ashley that she has paid enough for her past sins and she deserves to live a happy life.
Of course there are always obstacles, but the couple comes out stronger in the end.
I really enjoy how the author brings in real life issues that people struggle with everyday into her stories. It makes the characters feel that more real.
Great read!!!
You met Ashley is Bullies/Once Upon a Time.. And I bet you hated her. Well KL Donn has given us Ashley’s story. There are many triggers and so be caution if reading.
I was hesitant to read Ashley story, I really didn’t care for her character in Once Upon a Time. Now Declan, man he is alpha all the way… and the way he know what Ashley need all the time was hot. He took no carp from her when she pushed him away. I’m glad Ashley found her happy every after and have the love she so deserve. I highly recommend all KL Donn’s books.
After spending time in prison for assaulting her brother’s fiancée, Ashley is full of remorse and pain. She wants to redeem herself, but she finds herself in a downward spiral and isn’t sure how to move on from her past mistakes.
Declan Hart was hired to find out what Ashley was hiding. He finds a girl who was contradictory to what he has learned about her, and instead he found her broken, and filled with self-hatred. He then made it his mission to break her from her self-imposed prison.
Coming into the first few pages of Ashley’s story, I had a sinking suspicion that the author was not just writing fiction–she was reaching out, and giving us a glimpse into her life.
And then came this line…”Zach has a right to be worried. There is something wrong with me. So wrong, I don’t think I’ll ever be right again…”
Reading “Happily Ever After” was a bit hard for me. I was once bullied. I hated myself for being weak, for running away from the problem, which, unfortunately, was a pastor who thought he could use his “God-given” right to raise a hand at me. Finding that I had no support system then, I left. I got into the wrong crowd, made some bad decisions that to this day I still regret. But I survived it, I am now in a better place, in a better frame of mind to help others who, like me, were, or are being bullied.
KL Donn’s Happily Ever After came at a time when the Internet was abuzz with a game tricking kids into harming themselves. Social media has evolved into a monster, allowing, in the guise of freedom of expression, the bullies to tear into everyone’s psyche, making us doubt our own preconceived notions of what we should be.
It is up to us then, the adults, those who know better, those who long for a peaceful co-existence with one another, to teach the younger generation, to guide them, to discern right from wrong. That to live means not to fight one another, but to work together for a brighter future.
KL Donn said that you, the reader, would either love or hate Ashley and Declan’s story. I beg you to read it well, read between the lines, and find the gems that she has imparted in this well-written book. Read it to the end and know that bullies, and of course victims, can still have a happily ever after.
owerfull!!! What a story and to think you wrote this because the bulling hit close to your home just makes this story that much more of everything.
The writing in this story is spot on. It just flows and sucks you right in till the end. The pace of the story lines leaves you with everything. You don’t feel like you are jipped out of something.
Situations in this book may not be for anyone. or may cause triggers.
The overall message/feels that you will take away form this story is powerful. You must read book 1 to fully understand and comprehend the situations in book 2.
Ashley was the queen bee with an suprior attitude. But when she takes it a step or stair too far, the queen must fall to the bottom before she can pick her self up.
Declan is hired to help Ashley probation officer to find out what she is hiding. He wasn’t excepted to to find a shattered soul. Someone with so much self hate and remose. Making his mission to bring Ashley back to life. But no road is smooth sailing.
Reading Ashely’s story and how she hits the bottom and finds teh strength to bring her self back and to find happiness was a blessing to read. The struggles and asking for help to finding strength and acceptance makes this story that much more powerful.
Five happily ever after stars!
Wow! What a book. Redemption never tasted so bittersweet after reading this book. K. L. Donn never stops to amazed me. Her writing is so versatile and addictive that always leave me breathless. A book of her is a guarantee of a fantastic romance and after writing dark romance books, she has improved her dark and sensitive side. It is impressive and wonderful. No one packs as much passion and romance on each and every single page the way K. L. Donn does. It is a deliciousness that you must enjoy slowly because you don’t want to miss all the feels.
Happily Ever After is not a conventional fairy tale. It is something MORE. From being the bully to being the bullied. It is about forgiveness and finding acceptance. It is a symphony of pain, release, recovery and love. The plot is unique and we’ll developed. The characters are complex and dangerously intense.
There is not damsel in danger. There is not charming prince. But love always finds its way to heal damaged and broken souls because it consumes and defies everything. For a broken princess there is a dark knight to control her fears and desires. Ash and Declan’s journey is intense with a lot of twists and turns. Despite all the wrong Ash did, she deserves her HEA and Declan is exactly what she needs to heal her broken soul. Love is kindness and everyone deserves it.
Together they were imperfectly perfect. They were destined to be each others Happily Ever After. They matched like pieces of puzzle.
I did really love this book even though I wanted to dislike Ashley. She redeemed herself and I feel like she had learned her lesson. Bulling effects more then just the victim. KL Donn writes fabulous stories that we can relate in some way
Another great book by the amazing KL Donn. This is book 2 in the timeless love series. This book will put you you on a emotional journey. I am glad we got Ashley’s story
There is always two sides to every story. Sometimes things are more than they appear.
When reading Once Upon a Time, I hated Ashley! She was the worst! I couldn’t believe how selfish she was and cruel. But reading Happily Ever After, my opinion has shifted.
This story hit hard emotionally and mentally for me as I shared part of Ashley’s story. It was a tough pill to swallow and seeing Ashley get her HEA and redemption… it was everything!
Declan is the best in terms of doing what is needed and treating Ashley with care but allowing her room to heal in the ways she needs to. He gets her and having someone support you 100% in your time of need… it means more than words can say.
I love that this story addresses such hard topics. Is it pretty? No. Is it real? ABSOLUTELY! K. L. Donn nailed everything with this story and made us love someone we should rightly hate.
What an emotional roller coaster. We learned to hate Ashley previously and now we learn to love her and even understand her. This story is not for the faint of heart; and I am not talking about whips and chains. I am talking about having to look at ourselves and what we have done to others and what has been done to us. And finally where the balance lies. Very well written and highly emotional for a novella. Still steamy hot alpha as k.l does but this story is so much more
I’m so torn about this book because there were definitely things I liked and definitely things I didn’t like. I would say that this is definitely one of her darker books even though it ends on a happy note. Ashley is a very broken heroine and Declan is most definitely a very dark and alpha “hero”. I have to say it feels more like Declan is an anti hero.
While some things make you feel uncomfortable I feel like that’s part of the point. Bullying is a serious and uncomfortable subject and a lot of the time people don’t want to look deeper into why a person does the things they do and this book really explores the bully side of the bully/victim dynamic. Worth the read but just be warned might not be for everyone.
As a fan of KL Donn and her books an knowing who the heroine was before diving in, I can admit I was pretty skeptical to believe that there was a way for me to even root for her. Once again this author has a way of flipping the script and making me a believer that sometimes what you think or assume to know, you have no idea. Ashley is her own worst enemy and at times my heart was breaking for her even though the stunts she pulled on a fellow classmate were heartless and cruel. She has her own demons to contend with and she never fully face them until the delicious Declan enters her life. He’s sees the turmoil in her eyes but even better he sees his future and will stop at nothing to have her. This book was incredible and l enjoyed it tremendously!!!
I will start of by saying if you haven’t read Once Upon A Time yet please read that before you start this book. KL Donn did not disappoint with this one. I could not put it down, I had to know how she would heal. It was intense, so many emotions that you couldn’t help but to feel her pain. And then to see it through Declan’s eyes. I’m so happy that he knew exactly what to give Ash, to gain her trust, and to stand behind and bedside her to help her find herself. I definitely LOVED the way this one turned out and am so happy that we got to hear Ashley’s story. This is definitely a must read and reread story for me!
I loved being able to see what happened with Cecilia after Once Upon a Time. I think it’s so easy to overlook that someone that bullies others has something hurting them, making them act the way they do. It was hard to read of the struggle Cecilia was dealing with, but in the end she was strong, able to overcome it and go on to hopefully help others, so they don’t get to the place she was at. Overall a truly touching read!
This book was beautiful and dark and heartbreaking and just had all the feels. Ashley really makes you see a different side of things. I loved Declan and Ashely together. I can’t wait for more from KL Donn!
I was really nervous about reading this one, especially when I realized it was about Ashley. K. L. Dunn did such a great job in the first book, Once Upon a Time, making me grow to despise Ashley, I thought I would have a hard time overcoming that hurdle. But surprise!! Once again, K. L. Dunn took me on an emotional rollercoaster with these characters, enthralling me with their flaws and humanity which were previously hidden to me. Congratulations on another 5 start rating!
Another truly phenomenal book from KL Donn! Ashley Powers and Declan Hart where out of this world to read. Ashley is at rock bottom when she meets Declan, having been arrested, charged and sentenced for being a bully to the woman who caputres his brother’s heart. Declan is asked to check Ashley out because things dont add up, but talk about explosive connection when they meet. Off the charts smoking hot when these two get together, but her past will be a hurdle they will.learn to overcome together.