“I wish that I had Jesse’s Girl”Successful Texas lawyer, Reade Walker, curses that damn song every time it plays, all too aware of the irony of its lyrics. After all, he has been secretly and painfully enamored with Jesse’s girl, Gwen, for nearly a decade. It was love at first sight for him, but sadly she’s not his girl. She belongs to the one man who betrayed him and knows Reade’s hidden family … hidden family secret. Yet Reade can’t seem to love anyone except the one woman he can’t have. Or can he make her mine?
When Gwen Clark’s senator husband runs off with his intern and all their money, the ensuing scandal turns her life upside down. Deserted, penniless and desperate to provide for her six-year-old daughter, Gwen has no one to turn to but Reade Walker. The one man her heart desperately wants, but her pride dreads having to ask for help. Despite welcoming them into his home, it seems like Reade can barely stand being in the same room with her anymore, let alone under the same roof—in the same bedroom. But Gwen is determined to get her life back on track. It is past time to rediscover her own dreams…if only she can keep her aching heart from breaking all over again.
Song lyrics by Rick Springfield Jessie’s Girl, 1981
ABOUT:
-HEA (Happily Ever After) ENDING
-STANDALONE (not part of a series, no cliffhanger, fully wrapped-up novella)
-“FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS” CONTEMPORARY ADULT ROMANCE
-INSTA-LOVE with a MEET CUTE
-CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE based on the pop song of the same title.
-HEAT LEVEL: HOT
AWARD WINNING NOVELLA:
-2018 Orange Rose First Place Winner for Best Romance Novella by OCCRWA.org
-2018 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest 1st Place Winner for Contemporary Short
-The Catherine 2018 2nd Place Winner from Toronto Romance Writers
-2018 Unpublished Maggie Awards Finalist
-2018 Golden Rose Contest Finalist – 2nd Place
-2018 Unpublished Maggie Awards Finalist
-Maine Romance Writers 2017 Strut Your Stuff Finalist
-Pages from the Heart 2017 Finalist – Third Place
more
I really enjoyed this story. Reade and Gwen were meant to be from the minute they met, but it’s taken seven years to reach their romance. Follow them as they navigate their path through loyalty and betrayal, miscommunications and unspoken truths, and the ups and downs of everyday life. Jesse’s Girl is a sweet and fun tale with a couple surprises that will keep the reader rooting for a happily ever after.
Why o why did she pick Jesse when she could have had Reade…So Gwen is married to dirt bag Jesse for years and Reade had been in love with her since but out of loyalty to his friend Jesse who he has known forever steps back when Gwen chooses him. Jesse being the dirtbag that he is betrays her and leaves her for someone else and she has to feel the sting more so since it plays out in the news only the wrong way..Reade is there for her and finally finally will get his chance..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Title: Jesse’s Girl
Author: Tara September
Format: Audio
Narrator: Verla Bond
Genre: contemporary romance, unrequited love, friends to lovers
Standalone: yes
Part of a Series: no
POV: Gwen and Reade
Steam: slow burn to steamy
3/5
Jesse’s Girl is the second book I’ve read by Tars September. While a good story I wanted more. It kind of felt incomplete without an epilogue showing Gwen’s divorce being finalized, her custody or where her and Reade ended up moving, if they went anywhere. This also feels like it could become a series with different main characters. Tats September does a great job conveying emotion but Jesse’s Girl fell a little flat. Overall the premise is fun and it could be better with an epilogue. I didn’t really connect with the characters.
I received this audiobook for free by my request from StoryOrigin. This is my honest and voluntary review.
fun, light, quick
Overall 3 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 3 out of 5 stars
Jesse was a character an then some. Being a politician and all. He had more strikes against him than the things he did to his wife. But that neither here nor there. If he would not have been such a self-centered, ego maniac of a man obsessed then we would not have had the fortune to meet Gwen and Reade. This was their second chance to make their first time love connection.
Narrator Verla brought to life this short romance and gave the characters distinction.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Tara September. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.