Gabriel Luca Maldonado, III and Francesca Leandra Solomon were meant to be. They were so in love that everybody prayed for what they had.Everything was glorious. They would get married, have children and live a perfect life. She would be a doctor in the emergency room once she finished her doctorate, and he would be a badass Navy SEAL and save people for a living. But then Luca is deployed across … is deployed across the world, and per military regulations, Frankie isn’t allowed to follow.
They’ve overcome a lot in their short relationship, and they can overcome this, too. Two years was a piece of cake. She’d finish her schooling and wait for him. And when he finally returned home, they would marry.
But two months into Luca’s deployment, the unthinkable happens, and Frankie is left alone and heartbroken, knowing that she’ll have to face the rest of life without Luca at her side.
***
Fast forward two years, and Frankie is exactly where her fiancé’s father left her, in a pit of despair that she has no hope of ever finding her way out of.
She lives life one second at a time, depressed and alone, hoping tomorrow won’t hurt like today.
She finds a job, moves, and hopes that the nightmares won’t swallow her whole.
But just as she thinks that she’s getting better, one of her nightmares walks through the doors of her ER, and that nightmare has a name.
Gabriel Luca Maldonado, III. In the flesh.
Also healthy and whole, and definitely no longer missing.
Sadly, it only takes her a half a second to realize that the man that left her isn’t the same man that returned.
The old one wanted her. The new one? Well, he’s definitely not interested anymore.
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“I was a living, breathing dead person.”
Every time I read a new Lani Lynn Vale book it becomes my favorite…until the next one is released. All of them make me smile, even when they’re focused on a very serious subject, those chapter headings are still hilarious. She always manages to bring awareness to tough topics that I hadn’t known about previously. She touches my funny bone and my heart, every time.
Frankie is so smart she whizzed through med school in the shortest time possible. She looks so young, but the pain makes her feel old. Losing the love of your life the way she did is not the best way to grow up fast. But, at least she has her career to keep her busy. Too much alone time just makes her sad and sleeping brings nightmares.
She had resigned herself to just surviving, rather than really living, when her world was rocked a second time. Her painful past pushed its way into her present and things got confusing, but not boring. He looks different, though that skin-tight KDP Motorcycle Patrol uniform reveals muscles that weren’t there before his deployment. He’s bigger, in all the best ways. There are a lot of other differences too.
Prepare to have your heartstrings pulled as tight as his uniform pants. You’ll be tempted to throw your Kindle, but don’t, you won’t want to miss a single word of this amazing story. I’ve become so attached to the author’s colorful cast of characters from multiple series that it’s like a reunion every time I read a new story. I can’t get enough, always ready for more. The line forms here…
I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time. The need for it grew when I read Sinners Are Winners and got a glimpse of Malachi Stokes. I wanted more about this man and with If You Say So, Lani Lynn Vale delivered me one heck of a story. I knew she wouldn’t let me down!!
The blurb is a little misleading and gave away the kicker right from the start. First we meet Malachi, just returned to Kilgore after being a POW for a year. He’s scarred, inside and out, and has no memories before waking up in a German hospital. His scars tell a story that he can’t connect to. He’s surrounded by people he should know, but doesn’t recognize. And he’s drawn to a woman who is supposed to be off-limits. Did he always have a crush on his best friend’s girl?
The last lines of the blurb, “The old one wanted her. The new one? Well, he’s definitely not interested anymore.” couldn’t be more wrong. He wanted her alright. Whether he knew who he was or she was didn’t matter. A love that goes soul deep always recognizes itself and what Luca and Frankie shared was a love of a lifetime. No amount of time or distance or forgotten memories were going to stand in their way. They were destined for each other and I’m so happy with the way the author detailed their journey. It wasn’t easy and some parts were outright painful to read, but it was beautiful, it was real, and it was most definitely worth it!
A new Lani Lynn Vale book for me is like a trip to my favorite fictional town to catch up with some old friends. I’ve been reading Vale’s books and her characters’ stories on a monthly basis since she released the first one, and now, years later, I’m completely invested in them and this world. The KPD Motorcycle Patrol series is what Lani has dubbed a next generation series because the stories are about the children of the lead couples from some of her early series, like Freebirds, The Heroes of the Dixie Wardens MC and Code 11-KPD SWAT.
Vale gives readers her own take on the second-chance romance in If You Say So, the sixth book in the series. A hero returns from war after suffering gravely in captivity. He comes back battered, horrifically scarred and with no memories of his time in enemy hands or his life prior to it. All is not what it seems in this soldier’s story, though. He feels like an imposter in his own life, nothing really fits, but it’s the guilt he feels over the way he is drawn to his deceased best friend’s fiancée that he struggles with the most.
Deeply immersed in her grief, Frankie Solomon is doing her best to get through each day, hoping and praying that the military is wrong, and that Luca, the love of her life, will come back to her. When his best friend shows up unrecognizably scarred and with no memory of his captivity, what happened to her fiancé or his life before that, it’s not surprising that she can’t help but reach out to her fiancé’s friend—but the way that her heart calls out to him is a surprise.
Vale crafted a heart-tugging, emotional story in If You Say So with surprises at every turn. An underlying secondary suspense plot, along with the mystery of this soldier’s captivity and a beautiful slow-burn romance, Vale packed in all the feels here as this couple tries to make sense of the unthinkable. I devoured this story in a day—I simply couldn’t put it down. Five smooches from me for If You Say So by Lani Lynn Vale!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
Wow this book was amazingly great. It may be my new favorite from this author. The story of Frankie and Luca is so good it gets under your skin and gives you all the feels. This book is funny, sad and has your gripping the edge of your seat till the very end. It is one that you can definitely not put down until you have read the whole book. I won’t say more out of fear of spoiling it. So go read this book and series you won’t be disappointed.
Oh my heart! This is an emotional journey to go on with Frankie and Luca. I absolutely loved, adored, and enjoyed every single moment of this book.
A great way to end the KPD Motorcycle Patrol series.
*****SLIGHTLY SPOILER-ISH*****
Luca & Frankie’s relationship felt absolutely organic. Even though it wasn’t really ‘them’ during the first part of the story & it seemed like it took FOREVER for the truth to unravel completely, everything between them felt right. I was over-the-moon excited at the fact that their first time together didn’t happen until after Luca returned from captivity. Getting the chance to remember some of their firsts was just so sweet & warm-fuzzy inducing! I was a little baffled that no one administered a DNA test when Luca first returned but hey… it’s fiction. *shrugs*
Overall, I’m so, so happy with Luca & Frankie’s happily ever after. Admittedly, it took me a while to pick their story up because I am not a fan of amnesia storylines but I am very glad I did. Not only did I get to see them meet & fall in love but I got some key deets on Hayes & Malachi that I had missed out on!
Cannot wait to get my hands on Malachi’s book in November!
Loved this story, as always with LLVs characters I want more.
For some reason, If You Say So managed to slip off of my radar and I’ve been so on top of this series until this one. Finally, I had the chance to read this one and it was a great conclusion to this series. I’ve actually always wanted to read a story that was almost exactly like this and here it was, for me to devour.
If you’ve read the blurb, you’ll probably have a couple of questions going in, but should be able to figure it out fairly quickly. Once I got the answers, I just couldn’t stop reading because I was just begging to learn more. I liked how LLV kept dropping hints here and there, it really pulls you into the story even more.
The one thing that I was truly hoping for more of was just them two connecting. The present for them is very different than the past and I just wanted more on that. There’s no doubt that the love was deep for the both of them, but I wanted to see more of their new life together. But don’t worry, I still definitely enjoyed this one.
I can’t wait to see these two pop up in the other series set in Kilgore.
Luca and Frankie are meant to be but when he goes off to war and comes back a different person how will she react, will Frankie let go of Luca and the loved they shared in the past? Wow! This book blew me away, it wasn’t like any book I have ever read before. I loved the twists in the story and I feel like there is more there. Lani Lynn Vale is a master of keeping her readers on the edge, this book is no different. She gave me characters that were new and old that I fell in love with all over again. You have two main characters that broke my heart, melted my kindle with their chemistry and a story that I won’t forget for a long time to come. I highly recommend this book, series and author!!!
This is my favorite KPD book yet!
Ugh, my heart breaks for Luca and all he’s been through. And believe me, he’s been through a lot. He struggles to be the man he is now compared to the one he used to be. And though his physical appearance may be different, one thing has never changed – Luca has the best heart.
Frankie is fierce. She’s been through the emotional ringer and has no time for rude people and misguided opinions, regardless of who they come from. She’s loyal and loving, and when she loves, she loves hard. She’s protective over those she cares for and isn’t afraid to show it.
So many feels! This one is packed from beginning to end with them. But don’t worry. Despite it being heavy on the feels, you still get plenty of heat and some humor to lighten the mood, not to mention a few surprises along the way. For fans following this interconnected series, this is an installment you don’t want to miss.
I have to say this every time I read one of LLV’s book: I love her books! I love the warmhearted feelings she projects into her characters, the goodness in her people, the fact that there’s angst, but there’s also kindness, sexy times, funny parts, family support, lots of good things between friends, lovers, and family. So every time I read one of LLV’s books, I end up feeling uplifted, not just by a good story but by the feelings expressed.
I had a knot in my throat during the first part of this book. Frankie and Luca were so very much in love, and he left on a Navy Seal mission, and didn’t come back. Frankie was so devastated, that two years later she’s still hasn’t moved on. She’s on her second year of medical residence, and she’s living an empty life. She dreams of Luca every night.
Malachi was Luca’s best friend, so he was also Frankie’s good friend. Malachi was rescued from the mission he was on with Luca, but he was severely wounded and is scarred all over. He lives in constant pain, he also lost his memory and it’s pretty certain it won’t come back. He’s existing in this vacuum and got a job in the KDP motorcycle division, thanks to Luca’s father. One day when he visits the hospital’s ER, he encounters Frankie for the first time since his return. He feels something strange, a pull towards Frankie, a need to protect her. He also finds peace when he’s with her. Likewise, as they keep on running into each other, Frankie hurts because he reminds her of who she lost, but finds some comfort in Malachi’s presence. She also feels the responsibility to help him adapt to his new circumstances, something Luca would want her to do. This first part was so beautifully poignant and woeful; two souls who lost something important and are comforting each other and doing the best they can under their circumstances.
When I read Sinners Are Winners and saw Malachi at the end of the story, I knew he was a compelling character and I was so glad this is his story. The attraction he and Frankie find for each other but suppress out of loyalty to a missing Luca is admirable and loyal, but I started to suspect this story would take another turn and was not disappointed.
There was a side plot about Frankie’s boss, Dr. Cromwell and his brother and some shootings around town that add some mystery and suspense to the story. There are always baddies in LLV’s stories, and in this case I didn’t fully understand the story but didn’t care because it just adds another layer to the story.
I can’t say anymore to prevent spoilers but let’s just say that there are several plot twist to the story that made me squeal in happiness and surprise. It’s such a beautiful love story, chock full of love and friendship and family. I totally loved both characters; Malachi for the way he dealt with his scars, not hiding them, not complaining when others found them offensive. He was stoic and unflappable. Frankie was emotional and depressed, and as the story progresses, is still emotional but starts to uplift her mood. I loved their connection, their mutual support, the way Frankie saw him and not his scars and she never treated him like a dirty secret. She was always happy to be seen with him. This was a truly magical story!
This is a hard book to review without giving away spoilers. As the blurb states Luca and Frankie are in love when he gets deployed and doesn’t come back. From that moment the story was such an emotional reading experience. The reader goes through the many stages of grief with Frankie. The author wrote her struggles and triumphs with such truth you can’t help putting yourself in her place.
A beautifully written second chance love story full of emotion that touched my heart.
I haven’t read enough military romance, but I for sure can say this is a good one!
Frankie and Luca had dreamed of getting married and having their happily ever after. But first Luca wanted to save people and he got deployed for two years. Frankie was not expecting for her fiance to go missing for 2 years and she’s still waiting.
Someone came back from being saved, but it wasn’t her fiance, as she had hoped. But the more time they spend together, the more familiar Riel is to her. She wasn’t supposed to feel like that for her fiance’s best friend though
I loved how this book turns out, at first when I read it, it didn’t matched with the blurb. But then it made sense along the way. I love how Riel accepts himself and he wasn’t closed off despite what happened to him. And Frankie is the strongest woman ever.
I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS STORY! It was like while I saw things coming, I still wasn’t prepared for it and the level of epic this story provided. Much like Lani Lynn Vale’s other books and storylines, this storyline pulls us in with the blurb but continue reading because the plot is just that good. In the beginning of the story, we meet Malachi who has returned home after being a POW and being rescued, and is trying to establish back into life while unable to remember who he is and what happened. There he meets his best friend’s girlfriend Frankie, who is trying to move on with life after losing her fiancé but is struggling, especially after she has to continually see his best friend. The twist in this storyline throws you through a loop, although you do see it coming, and it makes the book that much better. Without spoiling too much, I couldn’t get enough of this storyline and felt that we really got two books in one with the relationship between Frankie and Malachi but also a secondary one within Frankie’s workplace. I can’t wait for the next book from this author and fall in love with another series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Dear Lani . . . just gut me while I read why don’t you?! LOL Honestly, If You Say So was the most intense and emotional Lani Lynn Vale book for me to date.
This story is simply gut-wrenching and every military couples worst nightmare. Luca and Frankie are so in love and have a plan for being apart and making it through Luca’s deployment. And, when he returns, they’ll get their happy ever after. But, what happens when Luca doesn’t return and Frankie is left heart-broken and alone.
After two long years, and a story so unbelievable you’ll have to read it, Luca and Frankie have an extremely unexpected second chance. But, Luca isn’t the man he once was. Will they be able to overcome all they’ve been put through or will they be too different now to have the life they once dreamed of?
I loved how true and hopeful Frankie stayed even in the face of utter despair. And, I loved how she and Luca danced around one another before they realized his true identity. They felt an instant connection they both tried to fight since his memory was missing and he believed himself to be his best friend, Malachai.
Honestly, I don’t know what to say about this book without giving too much away other than it had so many emotional highs and lows and was simply stunning. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I didn’t know how it would be revealed . . . and, even though I knew it was coming the reveal was still crazy emotional. This book is a roller coaster, but so worth every tear and tissue as it really is a love story like no other. Lani, you truly outdid yourself with this one. 5 stars!
Lani Lynn Vale is one of my one click authors. In this book and this series she hasn’t disappointed me.
No matter how painful the lives of the characters seem to be, I could not put it down. Even though what I wanted to happen from the beginning, did actually happen, so much more did to and nothing was spoilt. There just seems to be so much more to look forward to with more characters introduced. Lani Lynn Vale should have the number 1 spot on every book sale site.
There are times when we all remember that first love. The one that fluttered the heart and made all the wishes form in our minds. How do we not remember the passion and excitement of that person. But what happens when we lose that love by no means of either persons will. If You Say So, a story by Lani Lynn Vale, is such a story with some major twist to it.
This is Book 6 of the KPD Motorcycle Patrol Series. I have loved every one of these stories but this one touched on subject much more power to the mind and spirit. It touched on the soul of people, the innate power that we all have to remember even when the best we can say is “If You Say So”
Luca is that boy next door that grew up to become the man of the town. Loved by all, he is the one to step out and follow his dreams even if they lead him to far away places. How he made it home is so unusual and shocking yet to me the writing was on the wall.
Frankie is that hard working daughter, loved by not only her family but friends as well. She is strong and independent. Yet she has been fighting a battle within for far too long. Her heart and spirit encounter turmoil daily but she is not prepared for what is about to hit her senses. Knowledge is one thing, but subconscious feelings can be more powerful.
Lani Lynn reached far and deep to bring his story to the forefront and in doing so, she brought a new light to subjects that many will shield. The story is powerful and the plot will take your breath away. There is no way you will not feel the strength in both of our characters, and you will be cheering them on just as I was. This is just an amazing story Lani Lynn Vale! Five stars are not enough!
The tight shorts are back and the story is just as fantastic!
Humour. Heat. Heart. Family. These are hallmarks of this author’s stories and Frankie and Luca’s journey includes all that and more….
Sorrow. Grief. They haunted Frankie as she lived her life without the one she couldn’t survive losing. Even surrounded by family and friends, all-consuming work, she struggled through the days, never giving up hope…
“You taste like everything I should’ve never forgotten.”
*melts*
Delivered with so much emotion, I fell into this story heart first. To love this fiercely, devotedly, is definitely what fairy tales are made of. The strength of Frankie and Luca was amazing. Throw in laughter and a few curve-balls, this story quickly became one my favourites by this author – and that is an ever growing list!
*Reviewed for Nerdy Dirty & Flirty
Luca and Frankie were engaged when he left for his term as a Navy SEAL. Two years later Luca is MIA and when his best friend and look alike, Malachi comes home with no memory Frankie is torn. Frankie knows Luca would want her to help Malachi but her feelings are doing a number on her where he is concerned. What she doesn’t know though is Malachi has his own questions about what is going on with himself that he needs to resolve as well.
I don’t want to divulge to much because the story needs to tell itself. I absolutely loved this. It is a roller coaster ride from beginning to end. Bravo.
There’s so much I want to say about this book but I can’t say any of it!!! I’m going to keep this review spoiler free so you’ll have to read about my feelings.
I have absolutely loved this entire series and If You Say So closes out in a spectacular fashion. Lani kept me on my toes through out. So just dig in and enjoy all the feels. By Laura