Running into an ex you haven’t seen in nearly a decade is never a good time. Running into your ex while he’s arresting you is humiliating. LaurenRunning into an ex you haven’t seen in nearly a decade is never a good time. Running into your ex while he’s arresting you is humiliating. The handcuffs close around my fists at the same time he promises to hate me until he takes his last breath.I can’t … he takes his last breath.
I can’t blame him. He pleaded for me not to walk away.
He doesn’t know leaving him broke my heart as much as it did his.
It wasn’t for me. Rather, it was for someone else.
Gage
I skipped town after Hurricane Lauren obliterated my heart.
Coming home was a hard choice to make. Arresting her isn’t.
She has no idea of the demons I carry with me now. No idea that I’m a new man.
Two women ruined me.
One I gave my heart to.
The other punished me for it.
more
If you think, by the title or by reading the blurb that this book is a typical second chance romance (couple fall in love, break up, one moves away, returns later in life, couple hate each other, then fall in love again) then think again. Just Exes by Charity Ferrell has all this and so so so much more. One of the first things I should suggest is that you have tissues at hand when you read this book as there are parts that will rip your heart out.
This is the first time that I had read any of this author’s work, so wasn’t sure what to expect. Well, if this book is anything to go by, then I’ll definitely be reading more.
When sexy police officer Gage Perry returns to his hometown he knows that he will bump into his ex-girlfriend Lauren at some point. I’m sure he never expected it to be when he was arresting her! Having been high school sweethearts, Gage was gutted when Lauren broke up with him before moving away to college. So it’s safe to say that Lauren was no longer his favourite person. The anger and hate is evident but the attraction and love are still there too.
Can Gage get Lauren to admit why she broke up with him? Would he forgive her if he found out? Will Lauren and Gage get their happily ever after? When reading Just Exes, I fell in love with the characters of Gage and Lauren and was willing them to sort all their issues in order to get the HEA. If two people are ever meant to be together then it’s Gage and Lauren. You really, really need to read this book. Remember the tissues!!
Just Exes by Charity Ferrell
Five Stars
A well written story about second chances. Life may never give you what you desire but it has a funny way to give you what you need. Gage needed a fresh start and he thought that was in Chicago. How he ended up back in his home town is a travesty. Their separation could’ve been avoided but I also understand her reasoning. 18 is a young age to pledge the rest of your life to someone. Maybe if they hadn’t of split they wouldn’t make it now. It sucks that they suffered so much. But it’s a lesson learned. The author did a really great job with showing Gage’s emotions throughout the book. I think it’s sad that men don’t show their emotions. If a guy can cry or tell me honestly how he feels I might fall for that alone. A really good read that will definitely touch you on a deeper level.
Just Exes was a very well-done second chance romance. It definitely gave me the feels. I experienced their heartbreak with them, felt the push and pull, the hesitation and love. Added to it are a couple of secrets that made me cry a bit. Even though I had started to figure some things out, it was still surprising and sad when everything was revealed. I really got into Lauren and Gage’s story. They deserved their happy ever after. In fact, it made me more interested to read Lauren’s brothers’ stories.
“Maybe that’s when you know your love for someone is real. You’d gladly take every ounce of their pain and lift it onto your shoulders. You’d rather be the one to suffer, the one taking each stab to the heart, than watch them hurt. Loving someone means their pain is your pain, and you’re there to carry them when they’re down.”
Charity Ferrell surprises me every time I read one of her books. She has written a story with twists that you just don’t see coming. A story that wraps you up and keeps you turning the pages.
Lauren is the female main character who is funny, strong and seems a little down on her luck, at least in the beginning. She is tough and loves hard. She thinks of others and wears her feelings on her sleeve. Gage is the male main character who is also funny, tough and loves hard. And he’s holding a grudge. Lauren broke Gage’s heart just after they graduated high school and the way Ferrell writes, we feel every ache.
I love this second chance story. I love the secrets they have been kept but the consequences from those secrets ripped me open. This story had some major heartache! Luckily Ferrell likes happily ever afters as much as I do!
This story wasn’t all doom and gloom, there were time when I actually laughed out loud. The situation with the Sierra is hilarious:
“I’ve never wanted to tackle someone so hard in my life.”
Another highly recommended story.
Just Exes is not my first time reading Charity Ferrell’s work. She never fails to draw me into her novels and make me think about them long after I finish them. This one was no different, but I would have to say it made me a bit more frustrated than her others. I think I just had a more difficult time relating to the characters. It did not affect the book though, it was still fantastic and I would still recommend it along with her others.
In this one we get the story of Lauren and Gage. These two have a bit of a second chance romance thing going on. It is NOT an easy road to this second chance though, and I promise you that you will not see the type of heartbreak that will come for these two. I was shouting so many times at my kindle. These two just couldn’t communicate to save their souls. But anyways, it made for a great novel in the end ultimately and I was fascinated that they ended up where they did. I look forward to seeing where Charity takes us next.
Just Exes
By Charity Ferrell
This is what happens when you mix friendship with romance. This book is all about second chances.
Lauren works as a nurse at the local hospital. She is trying to get on her feet and better herself. Her apartment is burned down and she has been blamed. Her landlord wants her charged for the fire. Because she was wanting out of the lease. Problem with this is she was not even home the time of the fire. She also is struggling with dating, as it is not for her. She had her chance and she let him go.
Gage transfers to the police department, in his hometown. So he can be near his father. When called out to arrest someone for starting the fire, he discovers it Lauren. The woman that broke his heart all those years ago. He still is angry at her, but he also still loves her.
Charity Ferrell has written a fun and funny story of second chances. I love the characters in her story. This story caught my interest of page one and I could not put it down. It has so many feels, love, hate, romance, suspense and tears. Just the right amount of angst to keep you reading. Way to go Charity Ferrell
Just Exes BY Charity Ferrell. This book was so emotional. I read it in one sitting and was left breathless. Its the story of Lauren & Gage who were lovers for years until she broke it off and broke his heart. He moved to Chicago and went thru the darkest period in his life with another woman. Moving back to his hometown and becoming a local cop he has been trying to avoid running into Lauren until he gets a call for a fire and arrives to find the fire is Lauren’s apartment. She ends up renting a loft from Gage and they become involved again. Gage is different this time, he’s been hurt badly by Lauren & what happened in Chicago has changed him forever. Can they make it work a second time. This was an emotionally charged book and I loved it. I can’t wait to read more by Charity Ferrell.
Just Exes by Charity Ferrell. I have read quite a few books by this author, and I enjoyed the others, so when I saw this book I just knew that I had to read this one also. This book had me laughing while falling in love with Lauren and Gage. They were so in love but she decimated his heart and he left town, never knowing the reasoning behind their break up. Now that he is back, he has done everything to avoid running into Lauren. That is until he has to arrest her. No one knows the reason she broke both of their hearts, and she will keep it a secret as long as she has to even if she has to sacrifice her heart again.
I loved how we got Lauren and Gage’s story but we also got to see glimpses of Dallas and Hudson’s lives also. I could not put this book down from the beginning. I can not wait to read more from this author!!!!
Just Exes by Charity Ferrell
5 Stars
My 3rd read by this author…and the 3rd of this ongoing story…I don’t know where to begin with this review. If there’s a feeling to be felt, I felt it while reading this story. I loved them all but this one? Oh My Goodness…no doubt my favorite and that’s saying a lot because the other two were AMAZING!
This author has a way of grabbing you and not letting go, I read this entire book in one sitting, this storyline completely shattered me. Now that was only part of it, it also had me laughing out loud many times, it also had me wanting to take my kindle outside and run over it a few times with a truck…Like I said if there’s a feeling, I felt it. I loved the characters from the first 2 books returning and being a pretty big part of this story, I loved the interactions between all of the characters but the dialogue between Lauren and Gage was spot on perfection.
I’m not even going to try to sum up what happened in this book, it wouldn’t be fair to those that haven’t read it yet…You do not have to read any of these in order but I highly suggest that you do because although you won’t be lost, you will really want the stories that came before. You will also want something very close to punch or throw, you will also want a couple boxes of tissues very close, and you will want a bit of time because you will not want to put this down.
I can’t even tell you how much Im looking forward to more books by this author..She is awesome and her talent for writing a story puts her in a class of her own. Read this, read all of them I promise you will not be sorry!!!
Just Exes is a second chance romance by Charity Ferrell, this is a new to me author but I love this genre so I was excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. Lauren and Gage were high school sweethearts, until Lauren broke it off with no explanation. Now years later Gage arrests Lauren on arson charges but Gage is not the boy she left behind all those years ago. Can these two get put their hurt and anger long enough to rekindle the lost flame? This story was jam packed with emotion and was written in a way that made you feel everything along with the characters. There were some more serious issues in the book but were offset with some great humor and banter between the characters that had me laughing out loud. Although I enjoyed the main characters, Gage’s friend Kyle stole the show and I really hope he has his own book. If you are a fan of second chance romances you should definitely check out this book.
Just Exes is a standalone contemporary romance novel full of angst, drama and passion. Having read this author before, I knew this was going to be a good read, but little did I know just how much I was going to love it. This book completely took over my Sunday and before I knew it, I had spent the day curled up on the sofa, with a cup of tea, completely devouring every page!
Disclaimer: this book is seriously hot. Any read involving exes who clearly still have a thing for each other is going to be steamy, but this surpassed anything I was expecting. The chemistry between Lauren and Gage is obvious from out first encounter with them. For the whole book I was just on a countdown to when they would, finally, get it on, as I knew it was going to be seriously hot to read. Their chemistry and complex relationship is what really keeps you reading this book, along with the secrecy surrounding why they split up in the first place and why Gage has returned to their hometown. I love a good mystery and this book had me guessing over and over as to what had happened to throw these two back together. There are some huge shocks in store, so be prepared for plenty of ‘oh my god’ moments!
Aside from Lauren and Gage, the author has created a fantastic cast of supporting characters. I loved learning about Lauren’s family and friends, especially all of the crazy relationships between her brothers and their partners. There is so much going on in this book and we learn so much about their past lives that I felt a little spoilt; it was great! I loved knowing every little thing about the characters’ lives, so this was a real treat for me. If this sounds like your ideal read, I cannot recommend Just Exes enough!
Just exes written by Charity Ferrell is a great story. There are two previous books: Just One Night and Just Her Bodyguard both are great stories and while you don’t have to read them to understand Just exes you will love them also. This is Lauren’s story about her past and future with Gage. This story will make you cry, feel anger and sadness because of what Gage has gone through. As the story progresses all you keep thinking is let it work out, let it be not true, anything other then the truth as Gage knows it. And then another bomb gets dropped you start to wonder about it and make assumptions but you aren’t quite sure until it all come crashing down. Charity Farrell has done it again with another story that makes you feel so much more then other books. The storyline, the characters, it’s all unique and well written. The characters have a depth that is more then just a quick though up person. I can’t wait to read what’s next by Charity Farrell.
Just Exes by Charity Ferrell
Rated 5 stars!!
WOW! These characters…this story! I have No Words! I was thrilled, elated, full or sorrow, anger, and joy. These all came and went throughout the reading of this amazing book! I love reading Ms Ferrell’s stories because I become so involved in the lives of the characters. I worry and wonder how they will resolve this…or that. If they will be forgiven or apologize. Can they recover from certain situations…. This is a wonderful story that I loved reading.
Gage comes across a strong man and he is mentally as well as physically. But there is some vulnerability about him that i can’t get past. He brings out my “that poor guy” emotion. Is it the uniform…the expression…or his thoughts? He has a troubled past from the time Lauren left him til now. He has changed…became darker. He tells her one time “You don’t want me. I am destructive, dark and unhappy. You are smiles and sunshine. We don’t match anymore.” See??? There goes my heart out to him. When we find how deep his character goes…..I am blown away.
Lauren is a person who wants to make people feel better. If they are broken…fix them. That works perfectly for her job as a nurse in a busy ER. But on Gage? He doesn’t want to share his deepest darkest secrets with anyone but especially Lauren. They fall into a push and pull relationship and those never seem to end well. Will she be strong enough and fight for Gage? Or will her own demons pull her down?
Lauren’s parents specifically her Dad are great! They add humor and levity to the sometimes out of control life of Lauren. I love how they are so accepting of things. Her brothers (Dallas and Hudson) and girlfriends (Willow and Stella) are typical family. The boys tease and interrogate and the girls whisper and advise. But it’s all done with love.
Gage’s friends Kyle and Luke…there are no words!!! Damn that man has the two best friends! They are “Team Gage” all the way. Very impressive! They have some humor towards Lauren but it’s all back-handed so it’s not funny or is it? She does get warned about hurting him more than once. Gage is their numero uno priority. Just like best friends should be.
It was nice to see Hudson/Stella and Dallas/Willow again. They added so much to this story. They gave Lauren and even sometimes Gage their quiet strength and advice when needed.
This is the third story of the siblings. Each one has been different and a complete “knock that ball outta the park”. This one is no exception. It’s a great second chance at romance! It can definitely be read as a stand alone. My recommendation would be to read all three so you can understand where each one is coming from when giving advice and such.