He was the bad boy no one trustedWhen Joe Trainer’s childhood friend, Bailey Jones, returns to Ryker Falls his life suddenly shifts from settled to off-center. Once they’d been closer than anyone ever guessed. Now, they’re chilly strangers. But Joe’s not letting his stubborn, sexy-as-hell ex-best friend stay closed off. He lost her once through his own stupidity, this time he’s never letting her … stupidity, this time he’s never letting her go. Joe knows he doesn’t deserve a second chance, but he’s never played by the rules before so he’s not starting now. Game on.
She was the good girl who never broke the rules
Bailey’s burned out and not sure what leads her back to Ryker Falls, but has a feeling it’s got something to do with closure. Bad boy Joe Trainer was once her soulmate, but she isn’t sure she has a soul anymore. Finding he’s made something of his life is a shock, as he’d been on a one-way trip to hell when she left. This new Joe is sexy and enticing, but she knows all too well there’s a devil underneath the urbane exterior.
BOOKS IN THE SERIES
Somebody To Love
From This Moment
Love Me Tender
Only Just Begun
Hold Me Close
more
What a great little gem this turned out to be. And talk about drawing me in quickly. Within the first couple of chapters I so wanted to know more of Bailey’s story. She’s been away 15 years but it also looks like a lot of those years had been tough on her. Bailey may have been basically all on her own except for her controlling grandfather.
Of course Joe’s life hasn’t all been a walk in the park either. Joe had some family behind him and that included his brothers, his Aunt Jess and cousin Piper. Not to be forgotten is Joe’s best friend Fin.
Not everyone in the community liked him though and Mrs. Howard was one nasty voice. But he has built a good life for himself.
I also really enjoyed how the brothers did the teased each other with guy good natured ribbing. One of my favorites has to be when Jack told Joe, ” I may love you like a brother, because you are but you have the emotional maturity of a Twinkie.” This is only one of the other things that made me smile in the book. Buzz is another one. Buzz is Joe’s dog who he often jokingly claims the community likes his dog more than they like him.
What a great additional character Mr. Goldhirsh turned out to be. He was a man of Jewish descent who started out life in a Nazi concentration camp in Germany. Joe observed that he was the most position person that he knew. And as you read on, you see that he has quite a bit of wisdom that he’s not shy to share.
Twists and surprises were woven in a really great way making it a superb book. It kept me involved every step of the way. There is an incredible twist toward the end that in no way did I see coming. Ah, Good!
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
This was a glorious book that once you started it you didn’t want to put it down My first book by this author it definitely won’t be my last
Bailey Jones and Joe Trainer where once best friends she was the good girl that always did the right thing he was the bad boy that was on his way to ruin. Then they went their separate ways She became a famous pianist whose grand father totally controlled her life all in the interest of her career Now she is totally burnt out and has returned to Ryker Falls to try to get her life back in order What she didn’t expect was to find Joe there and that he had made something of his life. The connection is still strong between them but there is a heat that was never there before Can they reconnect and will they get a HEA You will have to read to see
I loved them, I wanted to throttle them, I wanted to hug them: to say that this book is an emotional roller-coaster is a bit of an understatement. I’m a sucker for second-chance romances, so this book reuniting friends that didn’t get the chance to work out the first time around makes my heart gooey. I loved watching Joe and Bailey together. She’s so strong but she doesn’t see it. And Joe’s my favorite kind of alpha: the bad boy turned good, who’s always looking out for ‘his people’. This pair was perfect together as teenagers and they’re an even better match now. I loved seeing their story come full circle, but these two go through so many growing pains to get there. The mystery that threads through the story brings an element of intrigue and added drama.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book.
My familiarity with Ms. Vella’s historical works made me a bit apprehensive about her contemporary works. In my mind I thought separating regency from modern day would prove difficult, but Somebody to Love was a pleasant surprise. In fact I think I love her contemporary work more. When the teenage bad boy matures into the man with a plan, the once stable footing of young love becomes topsy turvy. Can the girl that lost her way, find home in the arms of her first love? Bailey and Joe are true to live examples of sentiment and second chance. A poem composed with the heart as it’s captive audience.
I thought it was wonderful. Love everything she writes and always looking forward to the next book.
Somebody to Love by Wendy Vella is book number one in her new series, Ryker’s Falls. He was a bad teen. She was the perfect child. Somehow they forged a friendship that broke them both when she had to leave town. Now, years later she is back, having escaped controlling relationship with her grandfather, who loved her and wanted the best for her but had no idea how to go about it. She was a famous concert pianist, running back to the only place that had ever felt like home: Ryker’s Falls.
Joe Trainer and his brothers had overcome their terrible childhood, one full of abuse, fear, and misery. His aunt and his cousin, Piper, had come to stay and it had made all the difference. Now they owned properties and businesses. He had his bar, his alone. Bailey wasn’t sure what she wanted beyond freedom and independence. In the course of the story, she determined she wanted Joe. These were a couple of terrific characters, different as night and day, and yet, both stubborn and caring. Bailey was shy, until it came to defending Joe. Joe was a loner, until Bailey. Theirs was the perfect love story. They had to work to be in love. It wasn’t easy, but it turned out to be worth it. Reading it as they moved forward was fulfilling and entertaining. A terrific read; a compelling story. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of Somebody to Love from Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #somebodytolove