A one-night stand with a single, widowed dad can change everything.“What the f*ck have I done?” aren’t the first words you want to hear after a one-night stand. Yet that’s what he gave me. Dallas Barnes is tall, dark, and handsome.He’s also scarred, rough, and broken down by burdens. A single dad. A widower. A lost soul.We found each other in the back of a dark pub.He brought the whiskey.I … the back of a dark pub.
He brought the whiskey.
I brought the bad decisions.
He called it a mistake.
I vowed never to speak to him again.
That vow is broken with one test.
Two pink lines have turned my life upside down.
One night can change everything.
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Willow and Dallas’s story pulled at my heartstrings. They had a rough go of things but only because they had their own demons within themselves to vanquish. It was heart breaking, passionate, heart-wrenching, sexy, and loving. I cried. I felt every emotion and then I laughed and I smiled with them towards the end.
This is the book I’ve enjoyed the most in this series and I blame it on the characters. They were real! Wounded and jaded by life, but still determined to rise above it and be the best people they could be. The author played with my emotions in this story. Especially the letter left by the dead wife!
The author also gave us plenty of steam and wit to offset the emotional angst. I highly recommend this book. An enjoyable read!
Dallas is the brother of Hudson from the previous book in this series. He is a widower and single father. He meets fiery, redhead Willow in the back of a pub and things get sexy with a one night stand. Neither of them thought they would see each other again until Willow ends up pregnant from their one night. Cue all the crazy times coming for them. This was a good read and the surprise pregnancy made things even more interesting for this story.
I love Single Dad stories and Charity Farrell did an amazing job with Just One Night! There were many times I was angry throughout this book, but I did enjoy it. Hudson (who I loved in Just Her Bodyguard) really upset me with some of his actions, but I also understand where he was coming from. Overall I did enjoy reading Willow and Dallas’s story.
What have I done?
Not exactly what every woman wants to hear the morning after. Especially when the man is pacing and saying those words on repeat like he’s possessed and having serious regret. Yeah…that makes a girl feel really special.
Fast forward and find out you have accidently conceived a child with the man who didn’t exactly want to find you in his bed the next morning. Yeah…throw a party…well perhaps a pity party because you know he wasn’t thrilled at sleeping with you so what are the chances that having a child with you are going to bring about emese joy?
This is where Willow’s head is during the story. She is hurt from numerous angles and add on top of it, she’s already been hurt by a very douchey ex.
Now, Dallas is a grieving widower who had only lost his wife about six months prior. He is still deep in mourning when a lot of whiskey and attraction makes that late night booty call. He has never been with anyone except his wife. He grew up with her and she was his first and only, so yes he freaked and felt remorse because he was grieving, so he didn’t exactly handle the morning after the best. He did try to apologize, but Willow ignored him.
Three months later and it’s at this time where they are forced to see one another and it’s only then that Dallas learns that Willow is carrying his child. She was never going to tell him, she’s that hurt and has never answered his calls. Dallas, already having a six year old daughter, is hurt that she didn’t tell him, he’s not a deadbeat dad, and he’s not a bad guy. He’s constantly trying to figure out why she won’t let him in. He’s not exactly asking for marriage, or even a relationship, but he wants to be a part of his child’s life and Willow makes things difficult.
Willow hates feeling like she’s always second best, Lucy (Dallas’ dead wife) is always forefront and center. Blue Beech is a small town and everyone knows everybody and on top of that Dallas still has reminders of her scattered through his home. Willow understands on some account, because of Maven, his daughter, but Willow is overwhelmed by the onslaught of Lucy that she feels she and her unborn child will never be first in his life if they stay there. For Willow her only priority is the baby growing in her stomach and she’s not sure if she’s willing to share space with a dead memory.
It really isn’t until these two get to know each other more that they realize how much they have in common. They are fiercely loyal and love their families. They both have Maven’s best interest at heart and it is actually through Maven’s eyes that they see what family really means. She is super sweet. Dallas and Willow both have a hard time coping with just how perfect they are for each other and realizing that they need each other to grow and heal.
I suppose the hardest part to witness over and over is Dallas struggling with the loss of his wife. unfortunately that is something one doesn’t get over easily, especially when they grew up together and their love grew like it did. Willow struggles with how he could possibly love her when he still loves Lucy and he actually phrased it quite beautifully…
“The way I love you is different than the way I loved her. I’ve fallen in love with you in different ways, for different reasons, than I did with Lucy….I’ll never stop loving the memory of her, but I can love you right along with it….This is something new to me. A different love but still love. You don’t love the same every time.”
He had realized that he never actually FELL in love with Lucy, he just WAS in love with her. They grew up together and he just knew he was in love one day. So actually falling in love with Willow was totally different. He enjoyed the experience and learning everything there was to know about her. They were two different women and he had space in his heart for both of them. Like his daughter and soon to be unborn child, he had enough space in his heart for them too. He could love them all. This is what I loved about this story and the deep, tenderness about Dallas.
Just One Night is a story of growth that involves tears and wonderful joy.
Another great story from this series. This is Dallas and Willow’s story. Dallas was Stella’s former bodyguard but now is a Single Dad mourning his wife. Willow is Stella’s best friend and assistant who is getting over a break up from her high school sweetheart. One drunken night these two hook up and wake up with regret and a surprise. This was a heartbreaking story with love and loss, crazy exes and family. In this story we read as Dallas tries to move on from his dead wife and how Willow struggles to not run when things get intense. Charity once again has me laughing and crying. I love these characters and the storyline.
My Favorite Yet!! Just one night is book two in the Blue Beech series and it’s something you don’t want to miss! If there is one thing I love most it’s a secret baby!!! This book was Everything and so much more than I ever expected!! Dallas, there are just no words to describe my feelings for Dallas. He is hands down the King of my heart! Dallas is battling with the worst pain imaginable, He lost his wife, the love of his life too soon to cancer. And he can’t fully feel his loss, he’s trying so hard to remain strong for his daughter and his family. One night, one connection he never anticipated was all it took to change his life! Willow, poor, sweet willow is trying to survive herself. Battling a bad breakup, trying to drink her sorrows away in a bar, she never expected to relate to Dallas Barnes. The morning after was an absolute nightmare!!! like, slam your head on a table bad!! Now Willow is back and her secret is out, their goal is to keep it on the down low while living in the same tow, and planning to try co-parenting. Throw in the Barnes meddling family, small town sluts, Dallas horrible ability to screw up everything that comes out of his mouth, and painful loss. And we have a witty, heartbreakingly Beautiful story that will steal your heart! Once again Ferrel has managed to bring me to my knees with gut-wrenching tears and leave my heart so full at the same time! This is the book you read that you didn’t know you needed! Just One Night was an incredible story! It is filled with so much angst and love that I had both tears of Sadness and Joy rolling down my face from what felt like the beginning to the end. I know this story will stay with me for years to come! Thank you Charity for wreaking me in the best possible way! I more than loved this book! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
* A review copy was provided by the author for the Blog Tour *
Just One Night was an enjoyable read and I loved the storyline and most of the characters. I will say that I had trouble with the heroine. Her insecurities started grating on my nerves by the end of the book.
I have read almost all of Charity’s books and have loved all of them. I will say this wasn’t my favorite and that was because my connection with the heroine struggled. I thought the flow and pace of the story worked well. As with most of Charity’s books this book will draw on most of your emotions while reading. She writes stories with serious subject matter and I would say are pretty emotional reads. Now don’t get me wrong even though this is an emotional story it isn’t a complete downer….she did add some laughable moments and an adorable 6 year old girl who totally melted my heart.
Just One Night is a standalone novel told in Dual POV. I will say that when I started the book I kept feeling like I was missing something in the storyline and that’s when I realized this is a companion novel to her other book Make Me Yours. I am not saying that you have to read Make Me Yours first, because I didn’t and still enjoyed this book, but I do think it will help with some of the back story and connection between all the characters.
In this book we follow the story of Dallas and Willow. These characters are first introduced in Make Me Yours. Dallas is the older brother of Hudson (Book 1 Hero) and is a grieving widower, who is also a single father. Willow is the personal assistant to Stella (Book 1 heroine) and has come out of a long relationship that ended really bad. That was a very toxic relationship. Dallas and Willow are drowning their sorrows one night in a local bar in Blue Beech, Iowa, when one too many shots of Whiskey turn into a one night stand. What Willow wasn’t expecting was Dallas reaction the next morning. What happens when that one night stand turns into something completely life changing?? Can Willow and Dallas get past all their insecurities and hurt to find love again?? Read this story to find out.
I would recommend this book. I also look forward to what Charity gives us next.
What could be worse than having a one night stand with someone in your circle… hearing the regret in his voice the morning after. When Willow hears the words she definitely didn’t want, she just does what she does best, runs away. Three months later she has to show her face at her bestie’s birthday party knowing that Dallas would be there and Willow’s plan is to avoid him at all costs, but Willow’s best friend, Stella, corners Willow to find out just what Willow is hiding. Willow is trying to keep her secret just that, her secret, no one needs to know that she got pregnant from a one night stand with a guy that is still in love with his dead wife. When Dallas finds out, he stops at nothing to prove that he is in this one hundred percent, but will Willow be willing to let him in?
So this was my first read by Charity Ferrell and this was a really good read. With some moments that just made you want to curl up and sob, moments that had you cracking up, and others that just made you want to smack a character. I give this 4 stars.
This is the first book I have read by Charity Ferrell and I absolutely loved it.
Dallas and Willow are both trying to forget those they lost and end up having a one night stand, but surprise that one night stand leaves Willow pregnant.
This story took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, I yelled, and I cried. Watching Dallas and Willow come together and heal each other from past wounds and even present wounds was beautiful. Though, I didn’t enjoy how Willow was planning on keeping her pregnancy away from Dallas.
Maven, Dallas’ daughter, was absolutely adorable and she stole a lot of the story for me. I wish there was more of her!
I enjoyed this story. Its a sweet romance between a two people who need each other to heal.
Initial Reaction: It’s 3:40 am and I literally just finished this book after starting it at 10 pm. I read non-stop. I NEVER do that!
Full review to come after some sleep
FULL REVIEW (after sleep):
So I have to admit to being sucked in by any book involving pregnancy. Because of that I fell in love with this book before I even read it. I quickly fell in love with Willow’s humorous take on life. Then I saw how loving Dallas was with his daughter and fell in love with his swoonworthiness (if that’s not a word, it is now). Charity Ferrell did a good job of writing in the small things that make you swoon over a man (leaning in and whispering in the woman’s ear, for instance).
Willow and Dallas were supported by a slew of side characters that I liked as well. Willow’s best friend and Dallas’s sister were two of my favorites. I can’t wait to continue the series to read more about them.
Willow grew up without a father present in her life and therefore doesn’t trust men to provide and support her. Dallas is is trying to live life day by day after the loss of his wife. Because of each of their pasts, Willow and Dallas have difficulty committing to each other. There are plenty of funny, sexy, and sad moments in this book. Ms. Ferrell took me by surprise a time or two. I found the turning point of the book very sweet and it brought me to tears.
I whole-heartedly recommend this book!
Willow drove me up a wall with her immature behavior. Not sure how else to describe her behavior. Love Dallas and Maven.
The blurb had me intrigued, the very first page had be hooked, and every page after that pulled me in deeper! A completely new author to me Charity Ferrell is now going to be an auto buy for me after reading this. There was so much I loved about Just One Night! Emotional, some serious swoon, and moments that had me giggling with the right amount of drama to keep me needing more this book has it all.
Dallas had me feeling every which way. One second I’d adore him, the next I’d want to smack him upside the head but all of it was completely understandable from his side. Suffering unimaginable loss, he’s more than confused by his feelings. That doesn’t stop him from being not just a genuinely good man, but an amazing father. Slowly falling hard for the stubborn Willow, he made my heart melt so much! Willow is definitely stubborn, but after being burned before it’s easy to understand her stubbornness is her way of protecting herself. Together they make a sweet new family that I absolutely adored!
I was a little nervous starting this book, books where one character is a widower are sometimes hard to connect with especially when there hasn’t been much time. While I do wish more time had passed since Dallas lost his wife, I also think that Charity did an excellent job taking us on the emotional rollercoaster of loving after a loss.
Dallas loved one woman his entire life, Lucy, but when she died he felt lost. He was only existing for his daughter, not for himself. He had shut down emotionally and was definitely turned off on the idea of finding love again. After a drunken hook up with Willow, a woman he used to work with, he is mad at himself and embarrassed that he could have slept with anyone but his wife.
Willow is Stella’s best friend and assistant. She finds herself pregnant after one crazy night with Dallas. The morning after did not go as planned, he freaked out and made Willow feel horrible. Willow is strong and independent and determined to do this without help.
This book took us on quite an adventure. Willow has to learn to forgive Dallas and trust in his feelings for her. Dallas had to learn to let his wife stay in the past and open his heart for love in the present and future. Their journey together was hard fought, beautiful and sexy, emotional and so much angst. A well written story really makes you feel and understand the pain even if you have not experienced it yourself and Charity did just that.
There are shocking surprises that I don’t even want to hint at. This book blew me away with all the feels. Be prepared for an emotional ride.
I really loved this book! Charity’s writing was beautiful and immersed you in Blue Beach. I was glad to see Dallas and Willow’s relationship unfold after the teaser in book 1. I kind of knew where it would be headed but I was happily surprised with many twists and turns. Willow was a real character, she had flaws and wasn’t perfect but she was genuine. I’d love to see more of Dallas’ family in the rest of the series, especially in Lauren’s book which is next. I liked that Dallas and Willow’s relationship wasn’t rushed and they both had obstacles to overcome on their own. It was incredibly realistic and I loved Maven’s parts as well.
I was super into the story from the get go with how the previous book ended and all the twists and drama early on. That interest kept me fully in the story all the way to the finish line mostly due to the amazing development and the same level of drama throughout the book. That along with the original plot and heavier subject matters made the book .. and gave really fleshed out characters. I loved Willow, her quirky personality and even her flaws and insecurities, and I did like Dallas when he complemented those flaws and when he was there for her 100%. The rest of the time though, I hated him.
I one hundred precent sympathized with Dallas when it came to the loss of his wife and his conflicting feelings and guilt towards Willow … in the beginning at least. It was understandable that he would feel that way then and even though I was disheartened of how that showed in his treatment towards Willow I couldn’t blame the poor guy either. The further into the story we got however the less excusable his behavior became when it came to her. He push her away or made her feel less than because of his wife, then apologized to her but then did it all over again. This happened three times. Two times too many for his apologies to mean anything anymore, yet Willow kept forgiving him and then go back to feeling second to the wife again. I never felt that Dallas actually ever did anything to prove that wasn’t the case or did anything to earn her forgiveness which made me so annoyed. Annoyed and angry at him for obvious reasons, but also annoyed at Willow for not standing up for herself or drawing any lines and keep going back to him.
I had the same issues with anger towards Hudson in the previous book and he even managed to piss me if in this one, going around and telling other peoples secrets that he has no business in. I get the whole pregnancy thing a bit considering family, but at the same time he didn’t even give her the chance to tell him herself. And then him telling Dallas about Brett, that he had no excuse for. That Willow wasn’t angry at him for this or that it wasn’t even acknowledged how effed up it actually was grinds my gears even more.
I don’t know if it’s a sign of a good book or a bad one when you get angry while reading. In a way I really liked it because I was angry on Willow’s behalf which speaks of a great relatable character. At the same time though it certainly did not make Dallas come of that great and neither Hudson. To Dallas’s credit at least, I did like him in the end since he then somewhat showed that she wasn’t less to him than his wife. Them becoming a family with Maven and the babe ended the story on such a high not that I couldn’t help but love it.
This is the 1st book I read by Charity Ferrell. I wanted to like story . I think Willow & Dallas acted very childish. I also felt this story had too much profanity .
4 “Broken Together” Stars
I was so intrigued about Willow and Dallas’story after reading Just A Fling and Just One Night didn’t disappoint me.
Those two have a one-night stand that leads to a surprise pregnancy. Willow is reticent to give a chance to Dallas as he’s recently a widower and she’s been hurt by her previous relationship. She sees he’s a great man and father to his daughter Maven, but she’s also afraid to be second best to his late wife. She keeps pushing him away, but it only makes him fight more to prove he’s all in. I loved how Dallas is just so charming, sweet and caring. He’s conflicted about his attraction to Willow and his growing feelings, but he’s ready to take his responsibilities and be a father again. He needs to learn to heal and trust in love again. It’s quite an emotional and lovely process to watch. This couple shares an intense chemistry that can turn to burning hot in a second.
The supporting characters bring a lighter tone with their humor and always present support. We get to see Stella and Hudson (Just A Fling), Lauren and little Maven. That girl is the sweetest! This single dad, surprise pregnancy romance was so pleasant! The Blue Beech Series is truly addictive! Now I’m ready for Lauren’s book!
Willow didn’t have a whole lot of confidence. Dallas was hurting from the death of his wife. Two people, both with a lot of emotional baggage, have a lot to overcome to learn to trust and love each other…to see the goodness. It’s a lot to get over the loss of a spouse…then to only lose one of the twins Willow is carrying. At time, I wanted to cry, at times I wanted to shout WAKE UP. Not fully a tear-jerker but sad at parts. The writing made it seem like I was a part of their story and wanted to urge them to figure it out. Maven, his daughter added a unique perspective. Also the letter written by his deceased wife that she left in safe keeping with her sister, until Dallas found the right woman…really turned Willow around. WOW
A disastrous one night stand that leaves behind the kind of surprise that sticks around for 18 years. Single father and widower, Dallas has known Willow for years but one night of great sex that ended in some serious hurt feelings for Willow, leaves the pair dealing with an unexpected surprise. I really felt for Willow and my heart broke for her in the beginning of the book but Dallas is an awesome guy and he makes it up to her. The two go through some serious ups and downs but there is quite the HEA at the end of the road. Great characters main and supporting. I really am enjoying this series.