Kelly Collins invites you back to Aspen Cove, the charming mountain town where dreams never die and love lives on forever…Poppy Dawson has spent her entire life wanting what she can’t have—namely Mark Bancroft, Aspen Cove’s deputy sheriff. Growing up the daughter of a cattle rancher, she’d had no time for silly things such as love. But after watching her terminally ill mother wither, Poppy … Poppy realizes that life is not only unpredictable, it’s short. She has to decide if she’ll settle for the life laid out for her or the life she desires.
Abandoned by his no-good father at the age of eight, Mark Bancroft has spent over twenty years trying to redeem his family name. He’s been a good man. An honest man who’s been in love with Poppy Dawson ever since he can remember. But when his father stole everything from the Dawsons and left town, he took Mark and Poppy’s future with him. Done carrying the burden of his father’s crimes, Mark sets out to win her heart, but first, he must win her father’s respect.
Can a decades-old family feud be ended for love? Find out in One Hundred Lifetimes.
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This is a very emotional story that requires lots of tissues. Poppy and Mark are destined to be together but, the past, pride and resentment stand in their way. It takes strength, determination and an unwavering love to get their happy ending.
Aspen Cove has an amazing group of residents that are always ready to lend a hand to help, a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen. There’s ever a dull moment in this small town.
This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed knowing the back stories of some of the characters having read some of the other books. Given that, I don’t believe a reader will lose anything or have a difficult time keeping up if this is a first time Aspen Cove read.
It was a good story about love, loss, regrets, family healing, and support of friends. Mark and Poppy loved each other for so long. I think that the support from Poppy’s mother helped them to move ahead with their relationship.
I loved the conversation Mark had with Poppy’s dad. It proved that he could be and was a better and stronger man. Poppy and Mark finally get their HEA.
I love this story, it’s full of (tearjerker moments) emotions. Their love for one another is obvious. Being so aggressively challenged in that makes for an even more powerful connection & determination. Great characters and great community support. I received a free Audible version without obligation and am voluntarily posting a review. Narrator is fantastic.
Poppy told Mark she was going to marry him when she was eight years old. But when Mark’s father left town after stealing from Poppy’s father twenty years ago, Mark was banished from Poppy’s life. But they belong to each other. Can they fight for their love and find happiness? Really good audiobook
We are back in Aspen Cove in another touching story. This one belongs to Poppy Dawson and Mark Bancroft.
Poppy, oldest in her family, has taken care of her ill mother. She has been in love with Mark since she was a child, but her father, Lloyd, wants nothing to do with Mark. His father stole from Lloyd and he has never forgiven the man nor his son.
Mark, a sheriff deputy, has been in love with Poppy but because of the sins of his father he can’t overcome them.
This story is at times heartbreaking but also heartwarming. It’s also a story about family, forgiveness, hope, new beginnings and love.
Another sweet story in this series.
The narrator did a good rendition of th various voices.
If you have been reading the Aspen Cove series you know all about Poppy and Mark’s unrequited love for each other. Poppy has been in love with Mark for most of her life. Poppy’s father has disliked Mark for most of his life. Now they are adults and Poppy has finally decided that enough is enough and life is passing them both by. Poppy is tired of life moving by both of them and is determined to finally get Mark to stand up to her father and have the relationship that they both want and deserve. Mark is the sweetest deputy in town…possibly too sweet and that is why Poppy is giving him the push he needs. This was a very sweet love story told from dual POV and another great addition to the Aspen Cove series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
I cried reading this book until my sinuses hurt. My emotions were so all over the map on this one. Ms. Collins did a fantastic job here. I absolutely adored Poppy and Mark. They knew at a very young age that they were destined for each other. Unfortunately a turn of events (namely his father stealing from her father) made their HEA a LONG time in coming. These two characters were so meant for each other and the entire town knew it.
I loved having the dual POV format here. Seeing into the characters’ thought process and frame of mind really helped to humanize them and make them feel like long lost friends. I was really able to identify with them.
I highly recommend this story to anyone over the age of 18.
I think One Hundred Lifetimes is the best book in the Aspen Cove series!! That’s saying a lot because I love the entire series. Lifetimes has all the feels. It also has a couple of good messages: 1) You are not responsible for your father’s actions. Mark let his father’s actions keep him from Poppy for too many years. 2) Don’t let someone ruin your life–pick up the pieces and move on. Lloyd let Mick’s actions rule his life and turned him into a bitter man. 3) If you will allow love and forgiveness into your heart, your life will be so much more rewarding. Lloyd finally figured that out and, even though he lost a lot, he gained even more in the end.
If you are looking for a well-written romance that grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go, this is the book for you. Each book in the series is a standalone but I recommend reading the entire series.
Loved the story
Mark and Poppy have loved each other from afar after Marks farther betrayed them all when Mark was 8 years old. This is a fantastic second chance-ish book where Mark and Poppy have the opportunity to be together finally if they just stop letting Mark and Poppy’s dads actions rule over them. They are both the sweetest of people but in many respects so out of their comfort zone in regards to a relationship, yet Mark wants to court her the right way while Poppy jumps to conclusions at times due to never really having date as she is so focused on the family ranch and her mum. There is love, tension, sadness, revelations and tissues required for this one and it has me wanting to read more in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have been waiting for Poppy and Mark’s story as the attraction between them has been sizzling throughout this series. I have not been disappointed! As the oldest daughter in a family floundering from one disaster after another, Poppy has had to be the glue that held the household together. She discovers that the more she does to keep everyone happy, the more they expect from her, even to the detriment of her own future. Mark, on the other hand, is paying for the sins of his father and has to walk a fine line between his feelings for Poppy and the distrust of her father. Poppy finally realises that if she is to ever have her dreams realised, she has to stand up for herself and take control of the future. This does not go down well, but when Mark finds a way to make himself useful to her family, she knows that she is no longer alone in her quest for happiness. This story is beautifully written with a strong but warm-hearted woman and a man who has the strength of character to overcome the obstacles in their way. I experienced a whole range of emotions as I read this novel, and found it difficult to put down once I started. This book is part of a series and although characters from previous novels appear in this one too, it is nevertheless a standalone and comes to a good conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Favorite Quotes:
Some girls were always a bridesmaid and never a bride. Poppy had never been either.
She was sadly inexperienced when it came to all things men. Her knowledge about relationships came from the Hallmark Channel or the books she managed to pick up on her occasional trips to Copper Creek.
“I think it would look great. That and flower boxes and flower beds. A picket fence out front to keep your litter of children under control,” she teased. He jingled the cuffs he’d placed back on his belt. “I’ve got cuffs. Or we could buy lots of duct tape and rope.”
I’m mortified. Even the damn chickens get more action than me, and there’s only one rooster.
… she liked to chat with Mark, who was too kind to shut her up and leave. It didn’t hurt that he was easy on the eyes. Mrs. Brown was old, she wasn’t dead.
At some point, you make your own family. If people didn’t move on from their parents, no one would have populated the world. Or everyone would be inbred with three eyes and two noses.
My Review:
This was a fun read that was equal parts humor, romance, and family drama. Kelly Collins expertly captured the small town feel and tendencies of eccentric characters, the wildfire speed of gossip, long memories, and narrow thinking; as well as the positive aspects of community cohesiveness and support such as delivering food and assistance in times of loss. Poppy and Mark were endearing and lovable characters but her father was an odious piece of work, he was a selfish and bitter jackass on a good day and totally vile or repugnant when riled. He was an unpleasant reminder of what I so merrily moved away from when I last glimpsed the small town of my youth in the dust from my rear view mirror. I always get a kick out of Ms. Collins’ personal style of pithy humor, which she so deftly tucks into her sweet and steamy tales. Her books are pleasantly entertaining and easy to follow. While the appealing stories easily interconnect and provide tasty updates on the earlier featured characters, each book stands strong on their own while keeping your appetite teased and a bit hungry for more.
This is a wellwritten and fast paced pageturner. The storyline is great and the characters lovely. I love the chemistry between Poppy and Mark. They are so good together. I will definitely check out the other books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Be prepared for a lot of tears, snickers, and sighs. What a wonderful story of true support and love from a family that you make of those you love. Love the names of all the siblings. The characters are amazing, the story gives you glimpse of family turmoil when loss is known but just waiting it out. The emotion in the book is so real, and I loved this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One Hundred Lifetimes #7 – Even though this is part of a series and I’ve only read one other book, this didn’t take away from Lifetimes being a good story. There was a little too much bantering about sex, but I understood the reason and skipped those pages and the sex scenes; I was bored by them.
The storylines are interesting. The characters were likable and decent people, and it was fun to see the characters from Excuses show up along with the other regulars. The journey that Poppy and Mark take is comical, intense, sad and worth reading. Life is too short to dally and wonder, go make it happen. I contacted the author to review her books and received this through Booksprout. 4*
One Hundred Excuses – This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed it immensely. Well written with good storylines and characters that are likable and decent people. I didn’t realize this is part of series because other people and previous history were mentioned in passing as if introduced in another book. BUT this did not diminish my enjoyment of this delightful, heartwarming story. I had fun with Mrs. Beasley (from Family Affair), I remember when she hit the store shelves in the late 60s. Now I want to read the rest of the stories. I did skip the sex scenes, for me the sexual tension is interesting and written sex is boring. I found this book on Booksprout.co. 5*
The dynamics of the three Mafia families are actually funny with the blending of the Irish, the Italian and the Russian mobs. There are no clear boundaries and this is the third set of mob kids given a chance at a love that’s existed for years. An interesting romance with a substantial mystery and intelligent characters. I contacted the author to review her books and received this book through Booksprout. 5*
Betting On Him #1 – What a trip! I had so much fun reading this story filled with great characters and good storylines. The chemistry between he and she was great; there was explicit sex but I skipped that boring trash. Both had personalities that were bold and honest; plus some of the support characters were great in their roles, too. The story is fast paced, intriguing and had suspense, plenty of everything to the reader immersed in the pages. The violence isn’t graphic. The romance and finding solutions is the focus. It’s been decades since I’ve enjoyed a Mafia story along these lines, but I can recommend this entertaining yarn. 5*
Betting On Her #2 – Lucky for me I could chain read both books. BOHim left me riding a high, so it was only natural to continue the ride with BOHer. This book is just as entertaining as the first and there’s actually a third book in the series, three Wilde brothers, but of course. There are the same great characters with a few new ones added to the mix. Good chemistry again, with explicit sex, which I skipped since I find written sex boring. This story is also fast paced, intriguing and humorous. The storylines are well thought out and there’s a twist and kink here and there that will surprise some of the other characters, but makes the reader belly laugh. Again, hard to put down and don’t expect an explicit violence, just romance and problem solving. 5*
Betting on Us #3 – Every book of this series has been interesting and intriguing. Don’t expect a lot of Mafia activity graphic described, like with Puzo, but the human side and emotions. A romance between two people who grew up together but weren’t allowed to take their childhood friendship further since they were from two different Mafia families. There’s good suspense with a veterinarian being setup for drug crimes and the other being her lawyer. The intrigue, the emotions and sexual tensions are strong, but don’t expect that stupid formula of constantly thinking of sex, either other’s body parts and how everyone is hot and beautiful and acting stupid instead of professional.
The dynamics of the three Mafia families are actually funny with the blending of the Irish, the Italian and the Russian mobs. There are no clear boundaries and this is the third set of mob kids given a chance at a love that’s existed for years. An interesting romance with a substantial mystery and intelligent characters. I contacted the author to review her books and received this book through Booksprout. 5*
This was my first story in this series and I enjoyed it. I did not feel like I missed anything by not having read the rest of the series but it may have added a richness to some of the secondary characters if I had.
I liked Mark and Poppy and was happy to see them finally fight for what they wanted.