A kiss to last a lifetimeAiden Gallagher was only five years old when he appeared in a photograph on the Kissing Bridge. The town of Darling, Vermont, has used Aiden s image on the famed bridge local legend has it that a kiss there results in everlasting love as part of its tourism campaign. Now, twenty years later, Aiden is asked to recreate the moment with the woman he once kissed: Laurel Stone. once kissed: Laurel Stone.
Recently divorced, there s nothing Laurel wants less than to pretend happily-ever-after with Aiden. As teenagers, their romance was no fairy tale and Laurel has never quite forgiven Aiden for breaking her heart. But now that she is back in her hometown, and keeps bumping into police officer Aiden, Laurel can t deny that there s still a strong flicker between her and her old flame. Could it be that the Kissing Bridge is working its magic on Laurel and Aiden and that all true love ever needed was a second chance?
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Favorite Quotes:
I’m probably the last person on earth you want to start anything with. But Laurel? What just happened was just about perfect. You’re just about perfect. And I’m gonna go now before I have the chance to mess anything up.
Tell that to the teenaged girls who came in last night. They thought it was very cool to have all-natural, vegan, free trade, ecologically responsible food. So cool that they posted all sorts of pictures of it on their phones while wearing clothes that were probably produced in some Bangladesh sweatshop.
I love you, so much I probably always have, and you scare me to death, but I’m man enough now to tell you and be at your mercy.
She wasn’t sure how a heart could break and heal all at the same time, but those words seemed to accomplish it.
My Review:
Somebody Like You was my first Donna Alward reading experience, although I plan to repeat this pleasant task again and again. Written from my favorite dual POV, I was entertained and engaged throughout with a storyline that was easy to follow, relevant, observantly detailed, and emotive. The primary and secondary characters were flawed yet likable, as well as intriguing and complex. Given the end result of humiliating and emotionally devastating betrayals from the two times she had given her heart, Laurel was disillusioned with relationships and understandably, was more than bit angry and plagued with trust issues. She was prickly, feisty, and fiercely independent – she pretty much had to be as she was starting over as a small business owner. The vast majority of women worldwide could relate to her issues at least once in their lifetime… The plot had several thoughtful and intriguing threads that were unique and interesting in how they connected to the overall premise. The story is a first in a series stand-alone and has me looking forward to many return trips to Darling, Vermont.
Donna Alward’s Somebody Like You is a fabulous second chance romance set in the small town of Darling, Vermont. After an emotionally draining, awkward divorce, Laurel Stone has returned home to Darling to heal. She has purchased a garden center, joined the Chamber of Commerce and has reconnected with several old friends. Although, Laurel has been avoiding one person in particular–Aiden Gallagher, the boy that broke her heart in high school. However, she meets Aiden, now a member of the Darling police force, when her business is vandalized. Aiden and Laurel slowly begin to bond after her business is vandalized a second time. He returns the garden center after work and he helps her paint over graffiti.
Donna Alward is a new-to-me author. I love her descriptive voice and how she carefully balanced Lauren’s fear of being hurt with Aiden’s need to be forgiven in the novel. The pacing of their story was perfect, the dialogue was both honest and witty and the author did a fabulous job weaving in the secondary character of George, a homeless veteran, into both Lauren and Aiden’s lives.
The secondary characters of George, Willow and Rory played important roles in the plot. Through George, the author provides an honest look at the emotional difficulties that veterans encounter when they return home. The friendship between Laurel and Willow and the back and forth banter between Aiden and his brother Rory added humor, balance and authenticity to the plot. I enjoyed the superbly written scenes when calm, serene Willow offers Laurel unconditional support and challenges Laurel to make peace with the past. The powerful connection between the main characters captivated me from the first chapter of the book and kept me reading past my bedtime!
After going through a humiliating divorce Laurel Stone is looking forward to moving back to Darling and having fresh new start, now if she could just figure out a way to survive the gossip that is sure to come with her return. Everyone knows the details of her failed marriage, so having to face all of them and the whispering behind her back is going to be rough, but it’s a challenge she is ready to face head on. She is hoping opening her new business will keep her busy and be a good distraction from the swirling gossip, but someone decides to throw a wrench into her plans and starts vandalizing her business. At first she tries to handle it on her own, but word of the break in travels quickly and she soon finds one of Darlings boys in blue on her doorstep… the minute she realizes it’s none other than Aiden Gallagher coming to her rescue her walls come up and she is ready to send him packing. They have history and she isn’t about to let it repeat itself…she can’t fall for him again… or can she?
Nothing could have prepared Aiden Gallagher for the moment of seeing Laurel again, when he comes face to face with her, she stills the breath from his lungs, and inspires some sexy little thoughts from the past. But before he gets the chance to make his move, she shuts him down, she is wounded from a failed divorce, and she hasn’t forgive him for the past. He however, isn’t so willing to let her away a second time, and is determined to win her heart, so he waits patiently for the right time to work himself back into her good graces and when he finally does the sparks start to fly…
Nothing makes your heart happy quite like a charming small town romance story with endearing characters that pull you in, make you feel right at home, and an engaging story line that you can’t help but get wrapped up in… and I am happy to say this book had all of that and then some! Barely a chapter into it I found myself quickly becoming an honorary Darling resident, and instantly knew there was no way I was leaving town until they found their happily ever after… which ultimately lead to me having a little late night reading marathon, and I must say it was it worth the lost hours of sleep!!! This is my read first from this author, and I am quite certain it will not be my last, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Darling, and cannot wait to make a return visit in the very near future!! Highly recommend this one it is sure to warm your heart and leave you with a smile!