Emma Harris is learning that life is just a series of lessons.
Lesson #1: Nothing goes the way you plan.
Lesson #2: You can’t trust men. Especially not the pretty ones.
Lesson #3: Turns out, appearances are almost always deceiving.
Emma thinks she has life all figured out, and what she knows isn’t good. For years, she’s put her big sister, who was born with Down syndrome, first. Now Emma’s … syndrome, first. Now Emma’s ready to start her own life, but fate has other plans. To do the right thing for the sister she loves, Emma’s dreams will just have to wait.
She doesn’t plan on meeting Landon — a rich, flirtatious jock, who never has to wait for anything. Not for attention, not for money, and certainly not for girls. Meeting Emma marks the first time in his life that he’s had to fight for something. And Landon doesn’t know how to lose.
Emma has no interest in wasting her summer with a superficial guy like Landon. But very soon she realizes she is wrong about him. The question is, can she trust him? Or will he let her down like every other guy in her life? But most importantly, can Emma trust herself enough to live the life she’s always dreamed of?
Life has a way of sneaking in the most important lessons when you aren’t looking. And once the heart gets involved, that’s when the real learning begins.
*** This book is intended for mature audiences. 18 and over!
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This was a great story, I loved the instant dislike Emma had with Landon. Which made him want to get to know her even more. I like the back and front between Emma and Landon in this book as she tries to keep her walls up so she won’t get close to him for she feels she knows who he is and doesn’t want any part of what he has to offer. Taking this summer job for Emma will be a new experience since she thought she knew how the members would act but things in life have a way to change when you think you know how it will go. This story was well written and funny and really just a great book to read.
Young love, with a whole lot of preaching….. predictable, without the sex scenes, YA. Too much angst, too much preaching, just too much. Not my cup of tea.
Laura Ward was a new author to me when I read this book. I’m glad I decided to read it! I will say, it did start off a little slow but eventually it picked up. This is such a sweet story with some emotional parts to it. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
This book threw me…but in a good way. There’s more to both Emma and Landon than is first seen with the pair. I think they bonded with a mutual chip on each of their shoulders and a love for helping others that are having a hard time. I was very surprised at the curve in the road of this story, but it made it all that much more interesting to read.
Not Yet is the first book that I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed Emma and Landon’s story. This book had a mix of emotions between feeling happy, sad, disappointed & even angry. Landon learned alot from Emma and turned into an amazing young man with a beautiful heart. Emma realized that not all men were like her father. That things got tough they bolted. That a man could make mistakes, were able to admit there wrong, have patience, caring and loving. I liked how at the end of each chapter there was a Life Lesson. These little quotes were down to earth and truthful. The author knowledgeable and studied Intellectual Disabilities there were 4 different characters with Down Syndrome & Autism Spectrum Disorders. The author spot on about all the difficulties these disorders entail over time with age. The students who had ID had endured bullying some sort of bullying from students and ignorance. This book may of had a slow start but kept my attn. Soon enough it took off and I wasn’t able to sit it down.
“At the end of the day, people with disabilities are just people. Treat them with respect, just like you treat anyone else. Talk to them normally— just like anyone else. And, this is the hard part, hold them to the same expectations you hold everyone else. You may have to use a different approach, and you sure as heck will need a lot of patience. But if you can do that, you’ll see something magical.” ~ Emma talking with Landon
I loved this book! A little unbelievable at times just given the whole 21 years old and teaching high school kids and him being a student, but maybe things like that could actually happen. As far as the relationship between Emma and Landon, I was literally in love with them. They made this book worth reading! After I got past all my “thinking to literal” I couldn’t put it down!
Not yet is a book that you can’t help but fall in love with. The characters you absolutely love and you rally behind when things happen good or bad. Such s great story I highly recommend it
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really did enjoy Landon and Emma’s story the way they both changed and grew up throughout the book was believable. The supporting characters were great and added so much to this story it was a real pleasure to read.
Emma Harris is 21 years old and is the new pool manager at Country Club of Avon after finishing her degree faster so she could help out with her older sister Evie who has down syndrome. She is hoping to use her degree to teach middle school in the fall and get a stable job so she can stay with Evie while her single mom works.
Landon Washington is 19 years old and the head lifeguard and the Country Club. He is a well-known ladies man and is attending college while he plays football. The moment he sees Emma he knows he wants her but convincing her will be a little more tricky.
As Emma and Landon become closer through the summer she begins to see a change in him but what will the fall bring when he is off in University leaving her behind?
Wow – I absolutely loved this book and kept thinking about it after I finished.
Emma was such a great character who sacrificed so much in order to help her mom. That being said she didn’t really view it as a sacrifice as she hoped it would be temporary until Evie was able to be in a place on her own. I loved that because of Evie, Emma had so much patience for children with disablilities and was able to help them in the pool and at school. I loved her huge heart and how it in turn affected other people, like Landon.
Landon was such a smooth talker at the beginning of the book but you could see the gradual change in him due to being around Emma. He started off so cocky but then the way he was with Evie and then Trevor and Garrett was so heart warming. I loved how he truly cared so much about Emma and wanted to do his best for her.
When a certain point in the book hit my jaw just dropped and I was like OMFG – no! My heart absolutely shattered and I was completely freaking out about what was going to happen. The book at that point gets so emotional as my heart was trying to go on but the love between them was still so strong and I knew things were so close to the edge of the cliff and all they needed was one little push!
Ford was such a jerk and I was happy when Dean stood up to him in order for him to leave Emma alone.
My heart also broke with Evie and what happened when she was at her new place. I was glad that Landon was there for Emma and everything he did for her and Evie but part of me knew that would be the moment someone pushed and everything fell.
I crossed my fingers for the ending I wanted and I was not disappointed but my poor heart!! I can’t wait for more from this author!
This book had a surprise twist that definitely caught me by… surprise, which doesn’t happen often. Emma doesn’t trust easily, and even less so when she allows Landon to get closer than anyone ever has before only to be lied to. I have to bite my tongue now to avoid giving anything else away. If you haven’t read Not Yet yet then you need to!
Love this series!!! All these stories are intertwinned. Laura Ward has done a beautiful job in writing these stories. The characters are flawed, but redeemable and their journeys are not easy. So glad that I read these fantastic stories!! Emma and Landon’s story is tumultous and worthwhile!!
This book is book 1 in yhe Not yet series. This is about Emma and Landon. Emma is the new pool manager at the club and Landon is one of her life guards. He comes off as cocky and think hes gods gift to woman. Emma wanted nothing to do with Mr. Pretty boy. But Landon slowly broke down her defenses. Then Emma hot a bombshell thrown at her. I really enjoyed this book. I laughed all the way through it. Can’t wait to read book 2 in the series.
What happens when you fall for someone you thought you knew? Only to be completely stunned. Young, forbidden love. Love their story and what they had to fight to be together. Love the authors insight on the special needs world and how her characters stood up to people who bullied them. This book was awesome from the very first page!
Now this story has a twist which I think will shock most of you. Love the story line and I could feel the heart ache and the love that this couple had. It also touched on special needs young adults and the struggle and there worry that goes with taking care of them. They are just like us in many ways and to find out how life just makes it tough for them is an understatement. I really enjoyed this book and I really think you will too
This book wasn’t what I thought it would be. It was so much better. Landon is an young man who sees Emma at the summer job. She is so closed off and piss off and guarded. She had a lot on her shoulders and there is no room for error. Landon sees Emma and has to get to know her. During their summer jobs they learn more about each other and Emma learned to trust and open up and believe in others. She got an amazing job at a school to help with paying for food and keeping the bills up to date for her mom and her sister, but Landon is at football camp and can’t be reached. The first day he can be reached he text he needs to talk to her but when the senior class comes in she is shock and shaken completely. Her world is knock down and she needs to protect herself. She had to bring her walls up and all the joy she felt is gone. What will happen to Emma? Will she ever smile and be truly happy?
What a fun summer read! Emma and Landon work at a pool lifeguarding together. Their summer romance starts out a little rough and gets even more rocky as the summer ends. Emma’s sister Evie has Down Syndrome. This character found a special place in my heart, as I am a special education teacher. I love that Landon learns to advocate for kids around him with special needs. I was rooting for Emma and Landon’s relationship to have a happy ending the whole book! I can’t wait to read more of Laura Ward’s work!
This is book 1 in a new series by Laura Ward.
This is a must read! Oh My Gosh! I could feel their love while I was reading. This book has everything, love, angst, laughter, sadness, lies and heartbreak. It also has a HEA.
The main couple Emma and Landon each have their own issues, but through the story they each grow and change in their own ways. The changes in both of them are significant and it is wonderful to see what an impact one person has on others.
That is a huge point in this book, just a small act of kindness can change someones day or life. In this case it not only changes one life but many throughout the book.
There are other important people in this book and they gradually change bit by bit through the book as well. I have a feeling some of those people will have their own book as this series continues.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. I love when an author writes a book, then continues the series with a person from the previous book. I hope we get to see a little of this original couple in the future books.
Wow such a emotional story but you meet Emma & Landon at a lifeguard guard camp Emma thinks Landon is 19 and she is 21 but what happens when she gets her new job in the fall? Was their summer romance all a lie?
Laura Ward takes a highly controversial topic and makes you fall in love with their story. Emma and Landon have powerful chemistry. They fall in love due to deception but when the truth comes out Emma must make a career altering decision. Also, what will it takes for them to stay together.
Loved this book.
4.5 Sweet Stars!
There is something about this book that just kept me reading. The love Emma has for her sister, the care she took with others with disabilities was simply touching. The growth and changes in Landon were just amazing. These were characters I just wanted to wrap in my arms, tell them it would be OK, they are amazing human beings and I am proud of them. Well done Laura! I am glad I took the chance on this one (thanks Kylie for recommending)….
I am eager to read more in this series.