He’s the bad boy quarterback, one scandal away from being traded.She’s the squeaky-clean pop star with a morality clause hanging around her neck.And they can’t keep their hands off each other.Cassian Ellis fell in love with Gigi Cavanaugh when he was fourteen. But he couldn’t have her. His mentor — her dad — promised to take him out of detention and all the way to the pros. The price: stay away … to the pros. The price: stay away from his daughter.
But Gigi was embedded in his soul — there was no distancing himself from her. And, senior year in high school, in a moment of desperation when he couldn’t take all the want and love and lust, he ended things in the worst way possible.
Now, nine years later, he’s forced to do charity work to clean up his party boy image.
And guess who’s working right alongside him?
Gigi can’t believe her bad luck. She’s on the same Dreams Come True tour as Cassian Ellis. And, with the press recording their every move, she has to pretend to like the man who tore out her heart and stomped all over it.
But Cassian couldn’t be happier since he never stopped loving her. And he’s determined to win her back. Only, someone’s leaking photographs, and headlines about the bad boy quarterback corrupting the squeaky-clean pop star could sink both their dreams.
Can their love overcome all the world has put between them?
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Erika SLAYED. This book took me through the ringer and it was perfection. I waned an emotional read to get lost while reading and Erika delivered.
I definitely had tears while reading this. I mean I am SUPER hormonal but at the end of the day my heart survived guys and it was beautiful.
The characters were emotional and raw. I not only wanted to kick their behinds but I wanted to hug them half the time. It had just enough laughs to lighten it up where necessary and the characters were top notch. They actually learned from their actions. I know. Shocking.
The book had a great climb and the perfect ending. JUST enough drama for me. This was a two day read guys and it was completely worth it.
The worst feeling ever is feeling like you missed your chance….
You never get over your first and only love. Cassian Ellis may have only been a boy when he fell in love with Gigi Cavanaugh, but years later he is a grown man and very much still in love with her. When he was a teen he made the worst decision of his life. He chose a career move over the love of his life.
Gigi was devastated when Cassian chose to reject the special bonds they had for each other to secure his future in football. Gigi was not aware at the time that her father gave him an impossible ultimatum. He would mentor him but he had to stay away from his daughter. Cassian was between a rock and a hard place. He saw Gigi’s dad as the father he never had and he owed him everything. So he chose football over Gigi.
Fast forward 9 years and Cassian and Gigi find themselves reunited. They each are required to do charity work that will hopefully clean up their reputations and public images. Cassian takes this as a sign to not let Gigi slip through his fingers again. He does everything in his power to earn her trust back. But it is an impossible battle as Gigi has erected impenetrable brick walls around her heart. She has lost all her trust in Cassian. They both have an uphill struggle to let the past go in order to have a future together.
I really enjoyed this story. It was emotional and funny, and hot and steamy in all the right places. But most importantly this story is a about character growth.
The love story between Cassian and Gigi is a rekindling romance; a second chance for two people pulled apart by good intentions leading to heartbreak on both sides. I enjoyed the writing style though, as ever from Erika Kelly and the ending was very sweet.
It Was Always You is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is heartbreaking and emotional; the characters are colorful, energetic, and animated. All in all a great read.
Loved Gigi and Cassian! They fell in love in their treehouse at fourteen. Cassian followed his dream to be a football player, and Gigi went on to be a Lollipop, with her singing. Both thought the other had moved on, but they were missing their other half. This is a second chance story about two people finding their way back to each other. Set in Calamity Falls, it feels like coming home. Great read!
When Cassian and Gigi are reunited after being torn apart years ago by her father and his mentor, there’s so much hurt and mistrust between them that Cassian’s fervent wish for a second chance seems about as likely to happen as snow in the middle of summer.
Although both have gone on to successful careers, neither is where they want to be. Both are lonely and unfulfilled. Perhaps the love that neither died inside either of them is the key to their mutual happiness?
I liked this second chance romance. Both characters are likable and substantial, especially Cassian. I felt for him, as the choice he was forced to make when he was just a kid, had to have been unbearable for him. Although at times Gigi was a bit much for me, I could understand where she was coming from most of the time and I was rooting for her to find happiness with her true love.
This is the story of Cassian, and Gigi, each others first love in high school, Cassian had to make a choice between Gigi, and his future, breaking her heart. When their paths cross many years later, Gigi wants nothing to do with him, but Cassian not going to let her go so easy this time. This was a great read, emotional, raw, intense, and steamy,
This book had me at hello! Yes I actually said that! I enjoyed Cassian and Gigi’s story. It has heartache, guilt, paths that were not meant to be, and loyalty. It Was Always You was not easy on the characters. Erika Kelly made them work for every darn minute for the happiness they deserved.
I was excited and nervous by time I was reaching the end. There was so many faults Cassian had caused, I could barely imagine him getting his redemption. Gigi was a strong heroine and I admired her ambitions and self awareness. It Was Always You was a great read that has a lot of angst and a punch of heat! I could not get away from these pages.
This is my first Erika Kelly novel but it won’t be the last! It Was Always You is an absolutely fantastic second chance or friends to lovers novel that shouldn’t be missed.
Cassian Ellis and Gigi Cavanaugh are best friends but could seriously be more!
That is, until Gigi’s Dad warns Cassian away… Gigi has dreams that are at risk if their friendship develops into a relationship.
Years later they are once again in the same tour and can’t avoid each other. Cassian is absolutely determined to make amends for past transgressions but Gigi takes some convincing!
You need to experience Cassian’s devotion to making things between him and Gigi right. With the beauty of Erika Kelly’s words, you will feel that you have indeed experienced the highs and lows alongside this amazing couple.
This needs to be read to be fully appreciated and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The big question is… will Gigi’s sisters have their stories written in the near future? Let’s hope so!
I fell in love with Erika Kelly’s books after reading “The Reluctant Boyfriend” and jumped at the chance to read an ARC of this book. As far as tropes go, this book covers some of my favorite and it’s no surprise that I enjoyed the book because of it.
We have:
A Sports Romance featuring a hotshot, bad boy quarterback.
A Rockstar Romance with an incredibly sexy female pop singer
A meddling father/coaching figure that keeps them apart
And an often times heart wrenching Second Chance Romance.
Once again Erika writes incredibly complex characters and situations that will have you engaged from page 1 and emotionally invested in the outcome of this book. Her main characters are well written and relatable and you just want Cassian and Gigi to get their sh*t together and get their happily ever after. If you love any or all of the above mentioned tropes, TBR this great book and enjoy
Book five in the Calamity Falls series, It Was Always You, is a sweet-sometimes heart wrenching-second chance romance. Erika Kelly once again creates characters you can’t help falling in love with; with backdrops from LA to Boston and time in the fictional Calamity Falls, It Was Always You is a welcome addition to the series.
Torn apart by Gigi’s father when they were 17, both Cassian and Gigi have lived just half a life, never living up to their potential, despite their successful careers. Cassian, mentored by football legend Tyler Cavanaugh since the age of 14, was forced to decide between a man he would do anything for and Tyler’s daughter and his soulmate, Gigi. When Tyler convinces him that Gigi will follow him where ever he goes and throw away her own dreams of being a successful musician, Cassian knows he only has one choice-to destroy their friendship and walk away from the love of his life.
The irony of Tyler’s ultimatum isn’t lost on me and drives the plot from the beginning. Cassian has won 2 Super Bowls and is captain of his team. Gigi’s the front woman for a popular girl group who has performed all over the world to packed arenas. Despite all of their success, they’re not happy. Cassian is successful on and off the field, but his inability to set boundaries between his professional and personal life has left him with an undeserved bad boy reputation. While Gigi is making tons of money with a new album on the horizon, she’s not writing or performing her own music. It’s clear that living life without each other has had the opposite effect on them that was hoped for by the Cavanaughs.
I really enjoyed watching both these characters come to the realization that they needed to change some things about themselves, while also admitting that they needed each other to be complete. So often we’re told that we shouldn’t let another person be responsible for our happiness; yet while both Cassian and Gigi work to find their footing professionally, its clear that life without each other would be meaningless.
As always, I loved the time spent in Calamity Falls, the number one fictional town I want to move to. There are a few glimpses of the Bowie brothers and their wives, which wasn’t enough for me, but I’ll take it. There’s a small “who done it” when pictures of Cassian, in what appears to be compromising positions, go viral. It’s clear the photos were taken by an insider and this subplot provides some excitement while adding to the hurdles that Cassian and Gigi have to get over for their happily ever after.
While there were some frustrating moments where both Cassian and Gigi earned a pinch or two due to stubbornness (mostly Gigi) I enjoyed this couple’s road to happiness.
3.5 stars for It Was Always You. Heat level: 3
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for honest feedback.
Complicated, steamy, angsty second chance…
I couldn’t dive into this story fast enough! I heard rumours of Bowie brother sightings and that was more than enough to have me start a series so many stories in. I didn’t realize the Bad Boyfriends series (which I LOVED) was renamed and here was a new story! It’s like a birthday present… in February!
Gigi and Cassian brought everything to the emotional table… They were friends years ago and it could have been so much more if not for family who thought they knew best. Not that either of them wallowed. They had successful careers so it was ironic that a stumble brought them together again. This author writes compelling characters and this couple was no exception. Their feelings were never far from the surface and I wallowed in all the angst. Did I want to shake them occasionally? Absolutely, but that meant I was invested in how things played out and wanted to ensure how their second chance would play out…
Broken hearts and a love that didn’t die meant a story that has me reaching for the first in the series. Oh, and I mentioned the Bowie brothers? Yeah, they’re here too… *swoon* This is an addition to the renamed Bad Boyfriends series and I can only say it is time for a reread!
*Reviewed for Nerdy Dirty & Flirty
I was really starting to wonder whether Cassian and Gigi would get their happily ever after because… geez… there was so much drama!
Every time they started making progress something popped up or pushed them back to square one.
I really enjoyed their love story. It was full of surprises, highs, anger and lows but at the centre of it was their undying connection to each other; their undeniable love.
I devoured this second chance love story. Cassian and Gigi were childhood best friends but they were also each other’s first loves too but the loyalty Cassian has to the man who he feels he owes everything to, Gigi’s dad, he breaks her heart and breaks his own at the same time. Fast forward several years later and they both achieved there dreams professionally but personally both still feel the ache of there first true heartbreak and now that they are in close quarters again it’s hard to deny the feelings never died but the past is still very much in her mind. I thought the pace of this book was perfect and I really enjoyed both Cassian and Gigi
This was a sweet, emotional second chance love story! From an outsider’s point of view, Cassian has been living the life. While he’s famous, he’s also had an infamous lifestyle. But in reality, things aren’t as good as they seem. Gigi of all people, should understand this. Being a Lollipop isn’t as grand as it seems. All things come back to the two of them and they find themselves having to face the past. I loved the emotions and feels in this book! I enjoyed how this couple had to face things and learn to move forward. Life wasn’t easy and they had to work at it and work to be a couple. I was lost in this book and didn’t want to leave Cassian and Gigi! Don’t let this book pass you by!
It Was Always You by Erika Kelly was a second chance romance full of angst, emotional and undeniable chemistry. Cassian Ellis and Gigi Cavanaugh were best friends in high school and were inseparable. But they each wanted more, however, they kept their feelings hidden. Until Gigi couldn’t stand it anymore and put it all out there, only to have her heart broken in the worst way possible. Now nine years later they are face-to-face again and must play nice.
My heart just broke for Cassian and Gigi. Gigi meant everything to Cassian, but her father did so much for him and the only thing he asked for in return was for him to stay away from his daughter. But for nine years they both floundered and struggled. Now they both have everything on the line and neither can lose. But as the spend time together and reconnect, old feelings can’t be hidden. But is it too late for them?
I found myself devouring It Was Always You by Erika Kelly. I loved the story so much, even as it was frustrating at times. Their journey was definitely not an easy one, but you could feel their love underneath everything else that stood in their way. Can love overcome what stands in their way?
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Erika gives her readers a second chance romance that made me laugh cry and scream with confusion and frustration. Cassian and Gigi’s story was full of emotion as well as being a fun read. Cassian was written with a mix of stength arrogance and vunerabilitythat made me adore him. Gigi is strong willed which sometimes lead her to making questionable decisi0ns. I loved the long standing history and shared memories between the main characters. Some of the drama was a little repetative but it showcased perfectly how Gigi felt even if it was irrational sometimes. I enjoyed the growth that both characters went through and how they had no problem airing their feelings to each other.
This book brings you everything, romance, laughter, tension and tears.
I love Cassian and Gigi, their story just took me in and it was very hard to put the book away.
The entire book consists of ups and downs, the scandals keep piling up and they keep searching for the person who spreads them. I love them and their happy ending and would love if the author wrote a sequel.
I honestly don’t read a lot of sports romance, but this one was a fun read. It was an emotional second-chance romance. I loved how Cassian felt about GiGi all that time apart! GiGi is strong willed and knows what she wants! I was rooting for her the whole time!
Boy these two went thru so much to finally get together. Gigi always had a crush on Cassian; they were best friends in high school and he was the star quarterback. Cassian also had a crush on her but she never knew and also her dad was his mentor and was warned to stay away. He broke Gigi’s heart because he didn’t want her giving up anything for him and then disappeared. Fast forward 9 years and he’s the best NFL quarterback in the country with a reputation of being a bad boy playboy. Gigi is a famous pop singer but still holding onto resentment towards Cassian. When they unexpectedly reunite it’s still very bitter between them and Cassian had a lot of soul searching to do. After lots of issues they got together but it wasn’t easy. They still had drama between them and it took Gigi standing her ground for Cassian to finally realize what needed to be changed in his life. Great story.
I simply loved this story. It was emotional, funny, hot and steamy in all the right places. But most importantly this story is a about growth. It was about learning from your mistakes and boy did Cassian needed to learn from his (repeating) mistakes. I was glued to my seat reading every word and just rooting so hard for them to finally find the way back into each other’s arms.
Everything about their relationship was on point in this story. From the way they “broke up” the the way they made up. I needed a great read and this one was definitely it.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads blog***