As a teen, I had my life figured out: graduate and make my dream of being a bull riding champion a reality. That is right up until the goth girl transferred to my school. Georgia laid the snark on as thick as her eyeliner, but I saw through the toughened façade and fell for her. Hard. She was willing to give up her own dream to follow me as I pursued my passion, but I couldn’t let her do that. … do that. So, I made the hardest decision of my life…and walked away.
It’s been twelve years since I left home without her and the all-grown-up Georgia is just as feisty and fiery as she was back then. It’s clear she has no intention of making redemption easy for me. Thankfully, I’m a patient man who knows what he wants. I’ve never stopped loving her, and I know she feels the same.
Back then I was a rhinestone cowboy, and she was a dark angel, complete opposites, yet we fell in love anyway. We weren’t meant to be like every other cookie cutter couple, we were meant to be different.
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Meant to Be Different is what I would call a steamy-lite but still sexy, second chance romance. We also get a healthy dose of opposites attract with Wyatt and Georgia, which is always fun. This is the second book in Foster’s Meant To Be series, and it’s done similarly to the first book with the story moving back and forth in the timeline. I’ve seen that done a lot to get important backstory across without info dumps, and depending on how it’s done, the story can either sink or swim – this one swims with style. Amelia Foster may be new to this writing gig, but she knows her stuff because it all just works. We not only get Wyatt and Georgia’s story from the beginning, we also get it in dual points of view. The transitions are smooth and both parts of the story are equally interesting.
As far as our romantic couple, Wyatt and Georgia have a chemistry that is off the charts. It’s impossible not to love Wyatt whether he’s being sweet or silly, and Georgia’s sass is the perfect compliment to his determination to win her back. The story is sexy without being explicit, and I particularly like the way the emotional bond between Wyatt and Georgia shines through without all the steam. I would’ve liked a little more of the family dynamic between Wyatt and his brothers. We did get a fair amount of Wyatt in the first book, but there have only been small bits of the other two brothers. We get a good look at Georgia’s family and what’s going on there, but I really wanted more of Wyatt’s family, which is the only real drawback for me with this one. Nevertheless, I surely do love this couple, and I enjoyed their story.
All in all, this second book from Amelia Foster is sweet, sexy, witty, and angsty. It certainly has its share of heartbreak, but it’s wonderfully tempered with hope. The Meant To Be series is a must read and I can’t wait to see what this shining star does next.
This is the second book in this series, and can be read as a standalone. Georgia and Wyatt were high school sweethearts, until he left to follow his dream, leaving Gigi heartbroken behind. Now 12 years later Wyatt has retired from his rodeo life, and returns home, hoping to redeem himself to Gigi. My heart broke for Gigi and all that she endured through her life. This is a well written story which is told in dual POV, and is a raw, gritty, heartbreaking, and humorous second chance romance. I look forward to reading more from this talented author, whose work I recommend.
Back in January I read and reviewed Amelia Foster’s debut novel, Meant to Be Kept, and just in case you have forgotten, I loved it! So, of course, I am crazy excited to bring you my review of the next installment in her Meant to Be series, Meant to Be Different. You don’t need to have read Meant to Be Kept in order to enjoy this one, but if you did, you will remember that Tanner’s major screw-up occurred while on the road with his rodeo/cowboy brother, Wyatt. This is Wyatt’s story. Told in dual POV’s between Wyatt and his high school love, Georgia, this is a beautiful story about an unexpected couple, an unexpected love story, and love that stands the tests of time.
After a life of fame as a rodeo star, Wyatt decides to retire and the only thing on his mind is to return home to Asheville (after 12 years) to start a rodeo training program and to see Georgia again, of course. Georgia and Wyatt met in high school when she moved to Asheville from Tampa and she was the unusual goth girl, whereas, Wyatt was the epitome of southern charm, cowboy, and gentlemen wrapped all up in a pretty package. But alas, he broke her heart. When Georgia first sees Wyatt again after the way he left, she is reluctant to trust him, but it doesn’t take long to realize that all of those old feelings never really went away.
Ladies, prepare yourselves for Wyatt Carlisle because, my goodness, this man is a charmer! He’s sweet, sexy, mannerly, and so on, but the thing that truly gripped my heart was that he was just that way naturally. There was no added flair, acting, etc. This character hat Amelia Foster created was just honestly that good of a person.
Georgia (Gigi) was also an amazing character and believe when I say that this women had been through hell and back in the span of 12 or so years. Constantly battling whether to take care of her family or take care of herself, this woman still managed to maintain a fantastic sense of humor and I adored her for it.
Much like Foster’s debut novel, this one has a lot to do with forgiveness. Although the subject matter in Meant to Be Different is nothing like its predecessor, Meant to Be Kept, there is still the ongoing theme regarding forgiveness. Moreover, Foster clearly celebrates those unlikely or somewhat mismatched couples, which I loved! While growing up, Wyatt didn’t care about her dark eyeliner, fishnets, and Doc Martens and how they strongly contrasted with his cowboy boots and hat. This story is about finding your person, regardless of the package they may come in, loving them with every fiber of your soul, and learning to forgive and move on when one or the other screws up.
As I reflect on this novel, I can’t say that I truly adored it as much as Amelia Foster’s debut, however, this one was wonderful nonetheless. I realize that I shouldn’t compare the two because it’s not as if it were a sequel, so just as it is, it’s a highly recommended read. Especially for those who love second-chance romances, you will eat this one up.
*A special thanks to Amelia Foster for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!