The Casella Cousins Novella 6: RonanRonan Casella left home at eighteen. He could never tolerate his mother, and he was sorry to abandon his beloved sister and brother. But he couldn’t stay there any longer after his father died and after Ronan’s girlfriend was involved in a fatal car crash. He heads to Hollywood where he becomes a television and movie star. After ten years, he disappears from … disappears from that job, too.
The mystery as to what’s happened to Ronan in the intervening decade is revealed in The Casella Cousins Book 6.
Don’t miss all The Casella Cousins Books: Hayley, Seth, Finn, Alessia, Gideon and Ronan from the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author Kathryn Shay.
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Wonderful! I’ve volunteered to review this book for United Indie Book Blog. This is the sixth and final book in the Casella Cousins series. This is Ronan and Eliza’s story. Eliza on the other hand is a former prima ballerina. After high school Ronan left Hidden Grove. He is now a successful actor and then director. While Eliza does choreography for Ronan’s off-Broadway plays. They’ve been friends for awhile now, but something is shifting in their friendship so the sparks are flying. This book can be read as a standalone but I suggest that you read from the beginning of the series. That way it gives you a better idea to who they are. This book has it all from highs, lows, laughs, frustrations as well as heartbreak and finally Happiness! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Keep up the amazing good work. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
Ronan is book 6 in the Casella Cousins Book Series. I have been waiting for Ronan’s book. We’ve gotten bits and pieces of him in the other books in the series and now we get his story. It was well worth the weight. I think this book is my favorite in the series. I think it’s because Ronan has previously come across as so mysterious.
We finally learn why Ronan has be elusive. The intrigue just about did me in. Ronan has definitely been dealt some blows in his lifetime. Some at the hands of those who should protect us the most.
I was very happy to see him reconnecting with his siblings. Just like Ronan I’m not a big fan of his mother. I give him big kudos for even going to see her. I don’t know that I could of.
I also was extremely happy that he brought Eliza to Hidden Cove. Only with her was he finally able to peel back his layers and let someone in. He, more, than anyone else deserves HEA.
This has been a wonderful series and I’m sad that this is the last book. I loved them all.
Ronan started out with a rough, but privileged background. He left home early, in order to save his brother and sister heartache over a parent’s deed. Years later, after starting to lose the bad boy image, he finally returns to the place he calls home, haunted by dreams. Of course his family accepts him, as is, but can he accept himself? Can he allow love, and other emotions rise to the surface? Or, does he remain destroyed by his own history and default emotions?
Another interesting story in the Casella family. Ronan and Eliza were friends, then lovers, and more. I enjoyed the positive side of Eliza, even though she gave up a lot for her family, as well as her strength to move forward. Ronan was very generous and secretive until he explained his past to Eliza and his family. I enjoyed the story as well as the series.
I received a copy of this book through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
When a long friendship turns into love, it heals the emotionally tortured Ronan and the wounded Eliza. There is also enough intrigue to make it interesting. A very enjoyable story.
4.5 Stars
Ronan Casella left his family and his hometown years earlier and basically disappeared. Very few people knew why he left; he was just gone. Turns out he had a good reason that the reader discovers while reading this book. While he was gone, he became a famous actor and starred in a long-running show, but the parties and the temptations became too much, and he disappeared from that life as well. He decided to direct plays off- Broadway. One of his best friends and his choreographer during his time off-Broadway has been Eliza Ellington. Eliza had been married to a man who cheated, and who left her for another woman. So she and her daughter, Taylor, got closer and learned to depend on each other, and have a close relationship. They also depend on Ronan, who they know as Ronny Case. They have both been attracted to each other, but never wanted to risk their friendship or their working partnership by taking it to the next level. Ronan has been appearing intermittently at events hosted by his family over the recent past, and while they are glad to see him again, they still have many questions for him.
Both of these protagonists have interesting backstories. Bear in mind that this is a novella, so the backstories aren’t totally fleshed out, but the reader gets enough to know the basics plus a bit more than that. The pace is steady and on-point, as there are certain things that have to be explained, and other things that the reader experiences as they occur. Ronan’s reason for leaving is heartbreaking, but when it is finally revealed, he receives love and acceptance from those that he hurt by leaving so abruptly. The conflicts and motivations are clear and believable. Ronan’s family plays a strong part in this novella, and the support and unconditional love that they provide, goes a long way toward the healing and growth that happens within this story. There is a lot to digest in this story, and Ms. Shay doesn’t shy away from tackling tough issues. Once again, she nails it with heart and compassion and truth.
This whole series is a delight, and this one in particular, was worth the wait!
I reviewed this book as an ARC.
After reading the other Casella family books, and having received hints about Ronan I was anxious to read his story……and I wasn’t disappointed! Ronan had left home many years previously after a very unfortunate and horrifying accident He has now returned to his family and hometown. With his longtime friend and choreographer they connect both with each other and Ronan’s family to find happiness and straighten out decades of misunderstandings.
Ronan (The Casella Cousins Book 6) ” by Kathryn Shay. This book is about Ronan who we’ve met in the other cousins story and now we finally get to hear his story. Ronan left home at young age and was working as a very successful actor and then director. He always kept tabs on the going on of his siblings Harley & Finn as wells as his cousins and would show up when he felt he needed too. He brought the family lake house after his mother put it on the market without her knowing. Now years later it’s time for Ronan to let his family know what happened all the those years ago and why he felt he had to leave. He finishes directing an off broadway play with his long time friend and choreography Eliza, and is heading to Hidden Cove to direct a new play. He asks Eliza to come along with him to be the choreography of the play. They start a friends with benefit and of course one thing leads to another. With Ronan trust issues can they overcome his past and move toward a future of happy ever after. I received an advance copy of this for my honest review.
After Ronan slowly started re-entering his families life over the last few books so I was so excited to finally know why he had distanced himself so long ago. You can feel the struggle he goes through coming home and having to face the past and work on his future and when he finally opens up …well get those tissues handy and be ready for some tears and twists. Eliza and Ronan are great together but Ronan has plenty to work through before they can really have a chance and we go through many highs, lows, laughs, frustrations as well as heartbreak and finally Happiness before we say goodbye to all the Casella’s and this great series.
Ronan by Kathryn Shay is the 6th book in the Casella Cousins series. It is a standalone novella but is easier to understand and follow if you have read the first 5 books. There are a lot of cousins and brothers and sisters and it is easy to mix people up. The story is a friend to lovers romance with some unique conflicts that I was surprised by. The story is a little choppy at times with the characters being very formal one minute and then next minute they are speaking in slang, but the underlying plot is a great idea. This is the last book in the series, and I suggest you read all six of them for the full entertainment factor. 4-stars for Ronan by Kathryn Shay
Finally Ronan’s story and I wasn’t disappointed.
Ronan is a man who was hurt deeply by those he loved and trusted the most. How to deal with that betrayal?
Eliza is a prime ballerina who gave it all up for her daughter and husband. Husband is gone and her daughter is soon to leave for college.
These two have wonderful chemistry. Can they and will they risk their friendship of five years for the attraction they feel? Can the do casual?
This story is wonderful. We get in-depth development of the characters. We catch up with all the other Casellas and even some of our favorite fire fighters.
A great conclusion to this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could. This is one of my favorite authors. She does a fantastic job of creating stories that just take me away into another world. I have been waiting to read Ronan’s story for some time now. The biggest disappointment for me, it series has ended. I feel crushed. These characters have appeared throughout the entire series and I am just crushed that it is over. It is almost like losing close friends!
Ronan left home after high school and disappeared from his family. He spent time in Hollywood acting in some pretty major motions pictures before hitting rock bottom and completely disappearing. He has made a few appearances in a couple of the other cousins’ stories and the mystery surrounding him and why he disappeared was finally revealed here. All I’m going to say on that score is WOW!!!! It just totally blew me away. I was so heartbroken for young Ronan.
Eliza on the other hand is a former prima ballerina. She does choreography for Ronan’s off-Broadway plays. These two have been close friends for 5 years. Ronan rents a theater in Hidden Cove for a year. He asks Eliza to come to Hidden Cove to help him with his next play. How these two transition from just friends to having a HEA is such a gripping emotional story.
There are some very emotional baggage that Ronan has to face here. Having the story written in a dual POV format really helps to see the turmoil that his history brings to this relationship and how it affects the both of them. While this is the end of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. BUT to really get the Casella characters and the complex dynamics of the family, I would highly recommend the entire series in order. I would recommend this to anyone over the age of 18 though. There are some HIGHLY glossed over sexy scenes. They were basically just hinted at or faded to behind closed doors. I would hate to offend any parent of someone under the age of 18.
Finally Ronan!!! This book was the perfect ending to the Casella Cousins series. Ms Shay never fails to amaze me with the way she can put so much story in a short book. Not only did we find out why Ronan felt he had to leave home and cut off contact with his family at an early age but we were also treated to lots of interaction with the cousins and updates on their current lives. This book grabbed me from page one and I hated to see it end. Ronan and Eliza’s story was beautiful and their journey to find love and overcome the Ronan’s past was very well written. The epilogue gave a satisfying end to this series.
Ronan’s story did NOT disappoint. It was the perfect ending to the Casella cousins saga. The long awaited reveal of Ronan’s past was written beautifully and emotionally by Kathryn Shay. This book was not without some angst for the main characters but they did have their HEA. Definitely a five star read.
Ronan left Hidden Cove and his family years ago and we’ve always wondered why. In this last book in this series we find out why he left and now has a hard time trusting and loving. He decides to “reenter” his life and the lives of his siblings while also coming back into society as he works directing a new play. He explains to his family what made him decide to leave long ago with the help of a long time friend who he’s talked into helping him with the play. While he faces his past and tries to overcome it, he grows closer to Eliza, actually admits he’s had feelings for her. Facing the past isn’t without challenges in the here and now. You’ll need to read for yourself how he finally moves past his insecurities and finally gets to his HEA. Great story with a wonderful family of characters that are always there to support each other, sad to see these stories come to an end! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.
“I’m so in love with Ronan. Seriously this book was life. I think it has become my favorite of all the Casella Cousins series I’ve read so far. The Ronan we ‘met’ in the past books isn’t at all like this new him. The mysterious dark vibe of this man was tempting me and finally we have his story! Those little pieces of him are now complete and it melted my heart. Nothing is easy as it seems and Eliza wasn’t prepared for the new Ronan and neither do I. He was seriously the most perfect character not only his story was well written with the ‘dark’ side but his personality and how it developed. Perfection!”
ARC for honest review with no compensation
Ronan is book 6, the final one in the Casella Cousins series and a standalone novella but reading the prior books gives you a better understanding of this family dynamics. We have been waiting for this dark mysterious man..and now here he is!!
Ronan has been gone for over 20 years but has been appearing in some of the prior books and now we get to find out…why he left, where he’s been and what the future holds…
What an amazing, well written, family oriented series by Kathryn Shay. If you haven’t read this series it. Is definitely a MUST READ!!
This was a wonderful conclusion to the Casella Cousins series. The author did a good job of tying everything together across the series and giving the reader (obviously in my opinion) a satisfying read that wasn’t all tied up in ribbons and bows; but, was realistic. I have enjoyed numerous stories by Ms Shay and I have never been disappointed in any of them. I first read the Hidden Cove Firefighter series.
There are always strong female characters in her books and Eliza Ellington was a superb heroine in this story about Ronan; the eldest of the Casella cousins. Ronan had disappeared when he was 18 after a tragic accident and other devastating information he had come upon. All the cousins had their own demons to slay; before finding their HEA and Ronan’s was a huge one that took 2 decades to come to terms with. I praise the author for allowing her characters to be flawed and to seek counseling; realizing that they needed help in order to cope with their issues.
This was a cool story; in that it has a play as a main part of it. Ronan’ and Eliza have worked together for the past 5 years doing off Broadway plays and now he’s bringing his direction and producing to a community theater.
I really like the connection Ronan has with his siblings and his cousins. He tried to keep tabs on all of them over the years; so you know he really cares about all of them; even if they thought he had abandoned them.
Ronan has been estranged from his brother and sister for many years. Together the three of them try to rebuild the bridge to bring their family back together. While working through issues from Ronan’s past, he and Eliza move their friendship to the next level. Will Ronan be able to work past his trust issues so that he and Eliza can have their happily ever after? Forgiveness is at the heart of this story. Join all the Casella cousins and some of the other Hidden Cove residents in this wonderful story that pulls at your heart strings. I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
I have been looking forward to Ronan’s story since I started this series about the Casella family. With each book there was a lot of mystery surrounding Ronan and how he fit into this family with hints of sadness and pain in his life. This newest novella by Kathryn Shay does not disappoint. The plot was so well written and I was hooked from the beginning. A childhood with very unloving and uncaring parents would be hard for any child but the icing on the cake that make Ronan leave his family for 20 years was heart breaking. However, in this author’s wonderful way of story telling she brings in an amazing woman to help Ronan heal and start to live again. I’m sorry this series is at an end but Ronan’s story was a lovely way to wrap everything up so nicely.