A bookstore owner… her former high school sweetheart… And a box of old love letters that could change everything. Jamie always adored True Love Bookstore and Café, and now she’s the owner. But businesses are struggling in her small town, and her beloved store is threatened by a new retail development scheme. Sawyer, Jamie’s former high school sweetheart, startles her when he comes to … scheme.
Sawyer, Jamie’s former high school sweetheart, startles her when he comes to town for the first time in fifteen years. She soon learns he’s the architect of the proposed development and he’s there to sell local business owners on his plan.
Sawyer had no idea that Jamie had bought the bookstore and poured everything she had into it. If he takes it over, he’ll break her heart a second time.
Jamie’s discovery of a box of old love letters and valentines might hold the key to saving her shop. And after all this time, could love be in the cards for Jamie and Sawyer, too?
This heartwarming romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto.
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A perfect read for Valentine’s Day. This story has love, angst, and hope all tied up with a pretty silk ribbon. We all know how Hallmark stories end but you will still find yourself playing the guessing game of will they or won’t they end up together. Jamie and Sawyer’s love story is classic but still beautiful.
Settle in your favorite chair with a cozy blanket and warm beverage for a night of clean romance. Whether you are happily ensconced in a relationship or happily single you will not want to miss this romance. You will be dreaming of books, roses and good food as you turn the last page.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Hallmark Publishing, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Jamie finds herself at odds with her high school sweetheart when he returns after fifteen years. She owns True Love Bookstore and Cafe, a place near and dear to her heart, and his business proposal to the town threatens its very existence.
She should hate him, but the old feelings emerge, and she’s torn.. Sawyer’s experiencing the same pull, but what can be done, the town needs revitalization to stay competitive. His business finesse is convincing many other shop owners, too.
With a Valentine’s Day deadline just around the corner, and the discovery of love letters from the original owners, will the season of love be enough to find a compromise and reunite Jamie and Sawyer? Time is ticking to the heartbeat of a second chance love, and the parallels with Jane Austen’s *Persuasion* are not lost on the reader..
A novelization of the Hallmark movie with the same name, this story stays true, but it goes deeper into the characters and plot. The perfect Valentine’s romance!
**received an ARC from Netgalley**
Jamie Vaughn loves her charming little town of Waterford, Oregon and is working hard to make her romance bookstore a success. She knows that businesses are struggling but is hopeful that things will eventually turn around. When her former high school sweetheart, Sawyer, arrives in Waterford, working for a property development company that wants to buy all the small businesses and turn it into a bigger and more modern retail space, Jamie becomes determined to save all the stores, including her beloved bookstore from being torn down. But the more time she spends with Sawyer to remind him of their wonderful hometown and hopefully, convince him to stop the redevelopment project, the more she finds herself falling in love with him all over again.
The Story of Us by Teri Wilson is a sweet and lighthearted Valentine’s Day themed love story that Hallmark fans are sure to enjoy. I loved the romance-themed bookstore setting, and the old love letters were a sweet touch and just added to the romantic Valentine’s Day atmosphere of the story. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes in the romance genre. There’s just something special about a couple finding their way back to each other after a long separation and overcoming the past to give love a second chance. Jamie and Sawyer’s romantic history and wonderful chemistry together made it very easy to root for them as a couple. I also enjoyed the romance between Lucy and Rick and found myself laughing out loud during some of their interactions.
I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen to Jamie’s bookstore and was very satisfied with the ending. I definitely recommend this book. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day read.
I received an ARC from Hallmark Publishing through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Terrific second chance love story with slight enemies-to-lovers undertones. This is the book version of the Hallmark movie of the same name. I have not seen the movie. The book takes place in a small Oregon town where a bookstore owner finds herself going head-to-head with a development company’s plans spearheaded by her old boyfriend.
Jamie grew up in Waterford, where the True Love Bookstore and Café was her favorite place as a child. She worked there as a teenager, and later when the owner decided to retire, Jamie bought the store. Jamie loves the historic atmosphere of the business district and the personal feeling of the shops there. But even she has to admit that the businesses are struggling, though she believes that everything will come around. That is until she receives a flyer from the town council advertising a meeting with a development company that wants to “revitalize” the area. She immediately thinks of a nearby town where the same thing happened, and what it did to the shops and owners there.
Sawyer is a freelance architect who grew up in Waterford. He hasn’t been back since he left for college fifteen years earlier. He’s tired of his nomadic life and wants a chance to set down roots. If he pulls off this redevelopment plan, the Ridley firm will hire him, and he will finally get that chance to stay in one place. He envisions a modern, multi-use development that will bring new business and more people to the town. The people he’s talked to so far are onboard with the idea and he anticipates a quick approval.
Jamie and Sawyer have a history together. They were high school sweethearts until Sawyer left for college across the country. He broke up with Jamie, telling her they were too young for a permanent commitment. She hasn’t seen him since then, so she is shocked when Sawyer suddenly appears in her bookstore. He is equally surprised to see her, as he didn’t know that she owns the store. It’s easy to see that the sparks are still there though neither wants to admit it. Jamie is on a “hiatus” from romance since the end of her last relationship, and Sawyer is focused on his project. Those sparks take on a different tone when Jamie discovers that Sawyer is the architect of what she calls “that hideous spaceship.”
I loved the development of their relationship. Jamie is determined to keep Sawyer’s proposed development from happening, and he is equally committed to getting it approved. I loved Jamie’s creativity as she devised several plans to remind the people of Waterford of how special their town is, while Sawyer steps up his efforts to convince them of the benefits of his plan. It’s a small town and Jamie and Sawyer find themselves in each other’s company often. She is dismayed to see her old feelings for Sawyer resurfacing and afraid of getting her heart broken again. Sawyer discovers that being back in Waterford revives his memories of the good times, most of which involved Jamie, and his feelings for her reawaken. There were some delightful scenes between them as Jamie reintroduced Sawyer to Waterford. But the development plans still loom between them.
The box of old Valentines and love letters that Jamie found hidden away at the bookstore was an incredible discovery. The Valentines were written to the store from people who met their true loves there. It was sweet to see the history of the bookstore as revealed by those cards and their stories. However, it was the letters from the original owners of the bookstore that provided the most intense feelings. Jamie also couldn’t help seeing the parallels between Mary and Harrison and herself and Sawyer. I ached for both of them as it looked like there was no way for one to win without the other losing. But one should never give up on true love, and Sawyer found inspiration in an unexpected source. I loved his big moment at the end and the creativity that won the day. I also adored Jamie’s reaction. The epilogue was a great follow-up.
There was also a fun secondary romance going on. Restaurant owner Rick has it bad for Jamie’s friend and coworker Lucy, but when they first met, he was dating someone else. Since he broke up with that woman, he hasn’t been able to get up the courage to ask Lucy out. Meanwhile, Lucy seems oblivious to Rick’s feelings and determined to find her “wow” moment. The interactions between Rick and Lucy were occasionally painful but always entertaining. It was easy to root for the two of them and cheer when it finally happened.
This is THE perfect book to read for Valentine’s Day—or any—day when you want to read something sweet and inspirational to lift your spirits.
I absolutely adored the character of Jamie. She’s just my kind of heroine. She loves books and owns the “True Love” bookstore, an iconic shop in the town of Waterford. She’s smart, compassionate, and loves her fellow townspeople. She’s also determined to protect her hometown from the redevelopment that threatens her store and all the best parts of her town. The fact that the development is being led by her first love, Sawyer, does not daunt her efforts to overturn his efforts to change their town.
This book switches back and forth from the viewpoints of Jamie and Sawyer. There’s plenty of humor as they each try to sway the town’s opinion of the view of the redevelopment. And as in every great Hallmark story, there’s always a sweet romance that keeps you waiting for that first kiss. This is a sweet and clean story that’s guaranteed to make you smile.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The Story of Us is heartwarming, captivating, and a touching second chance romance. This is a wonderful written and a good storyline. The characters are wonderful and enjoyable It to read about. Jamie and Sawyer are delightful. Its a page turner. This story kept my interest throughout the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for letting me know read this story.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
A sweet love story that is based on the Hallmark movie of the same name. The story builds up the characters in a smooth way and sets the scene for the story very well. A well written book with the perfect amount of feels and the happy ending you come to expect from Hallmark movies and books.
Si vous avez envie de passer un bon moment de lecture en vous détendant avec une bonne comédie romantique digne des romances Hallmark, alors le roman VO de Teri Wilson, The story of us , est la lecture qu’il vous faut. J’ai dévoré cette romance qui m’a fait rêver au fil des pages et du déroulé de l’intrigue
Jamie Vaughnest est une jeune femme qui a passé la majeure partie de sa vie à Waterford. Elle y a connu son premier amour et elle travaille désormais à la librairie True Love Library and café . Son amour des livres est tout simplement génial et on ne peut que s’identifier à elle Ses références littéraires sont celles qui me touchent le plus car nous avons les mêmes goûts. Sa librairie est son havre de bonheur et elle s’épanouie pleinement dans son travail , ce qui n’est pas une épreuve pour elle , loin de là. Elle respire la joie de vivre et elle travaille en équipe avec Lucy Baxter. Cette dernière est une bonne amie et elle veut trouver l’homme qui changera sa vie et qui fera battre son coeur . D’ailleurs l’intrigue la concernant m’a bien fait rire car elle cherche à trouver un homme digne de ce nom alors qu’elle en a eu un qui lui fait ardemment la cour sans qu’elle le voit. Jamie est une jeune femme qui a envie de voir son amie heureuse mais elle ne le trouve pas. Il semblerait que son coeur soit resté ancré dans le passé et qu’il ne parvient plus à battre la chamade avec ses nouveaux petits amis. Matt lui a pourtant proposé de la suivre ailleurs pour son métier mais il est impensable qu’elle abandonne cette librairie si particulière.
Imaginez donc sa colère quand elle découvre le projet de Ridley Property Development qui va consister à moderniser le centre historique de cette ville et donc par la même occasion fermer les commerces qui sont sur le déclin pour proposer une vue plus moderne de cette ville. Sa colère sera d’autant plus importante qu’elle sera liée à la déception d’apprendre que Sawyer O’Dell , son premier amour, est l’architecte derrière cette entreprise. Elle ne va pas se laisser abattre et on va apprécier le combat qu’elle va mener et surtout les petits piques qu’ils vont échanger pour montrer à la population qu’elle ne se laissera pas avoir sans remonter les manches et tenter le tout pour le tout. La découverte des fameuses lettres de Mary et Harris vont relancer l’attention et l’affluence dans sa boutique mais espérons que cela lui permettra de survivre sur le long terme. De plus, on voit bien que Jamie passe de bons moments aux côtés de Sawyer et que l’alchimie est toujours présente donc ce serait dommage de gâcher de si beaux moments .
Sawyer O’Dell est un architecte free lance de 35 ans qui a dédié sa vie à son travail pour décrocher le Saint Graal et donc un poste fixe chez Ridley. Il doit des comptes à Dana qui le lui rendra bien s’il réussit à convaincre le conseil d’adopter leur projet et de lancer donc les travaux. On le sent passionné par son travail et ce retour dans sa ville natale ne sera pas sans conséquence. Il a quitté adolescent celle qu’il a profondément aimé car il pensait lui donner ainsi la liberté de voler de ses propres ailes mais en retournant à Waterford, il était à mille lieux d’imaginer la retrouver et ressentir encore de profonds sentiments. Il va donc être tiraillé entre son travail et son coeur mais le choix semble malheureusement déjà avoir été fait. J’ai aimé son amitié avec Rick car elle est sincère et il veut vraiment aider son maladroit ami. Rick va nous faire rire à ses dépends et c’est vraiment dommage qu’il ne parvienne pas à exprimer ce qu’il ressent véritablement.
Bref, j’ai passé un super moment de lecture avec ce roman et j’ai hâte de regarder le film pour retrouver toutes les sensations que j’ai eues en lisant le roman. Teri Wilson nous offre une superbe comédie romantique qui nous collera un sourire aux lèvres.
Jamie and Sawyer were high school sweethearts. 15 years ago, Sawyer broke off their relationship before he left for college. To say Jamie was heartbroken would be an understatement. She held onto the hope that he would return home after college, but it never happened.
Now here they are, face to face, after all these years. They both had longed for and dreaded this moment. Everything was going fine until Jamie discovers that Sawyer works for the very company who’s trying to buy out all the shop owners in the business district so they can tear everything down and replace it with a monstrosity of a building.
But Jamie refuses to go down without a fight. She will do everything in her power to not only help the shop owners to see that Waterford is rich in history that shouldn’t be destroyed, but help Sawyer to see that this new building is not what their small town needs. Help him to remember all the things he loved about their small town and to see where he’s belonged all along.
When I woke up this morning and looked outside, I thought spending the day reading would be absolutely perfect. So, I curled up in my comfy chair, grabbed my kindle, and was transported to the small town of Waterford, OR.
I instantly fell in love with the small, quaint town and it’s characters. The descriptions of everything and everyone had me feeling like I was right there, living and breathing in the story. I got a front row seat to the magic of love.
I absolutely adored Jamie and Sawyer! I’m a sucker for second chance romance, so I was rooting for them from the very beginning. This book was just what I needed today.
Confession. I have not watched The Story of Us. In all honesty, I have not even seen the advertisements for it. I’m one of those people who enjoy the book more than the movie. Why? Because I have the opportunity to be inside the characters’ heads. To know their thoughts, their ideas, their struggles, their fears, their feelings. It’s not something a movie can easily portray. Having said that, I know that after reading this book, I’m going to be able to enjoy the movie so much more.
My first book by Ms. Wilson was a hit. I’m looking forward to checking out more of her books.
This adorable, seasonal gem is a happy Valentine for readers who adore clean, fun and witty adventures. Literary followers will appreciate classical references from bookstore owner, Jamie. Whether her ex/first love, Sawyer, is on the nice or naughty list remains to be seen when he returns to the lovely town of Waterford for a rehabilitation project for the heart of the town. That heart is of supreme importance to Jamie, who fights for truth, justice and the way of preservation.
In search of a way to save her True Love Bookstore and its history, Jamie stumbles upon a treasure box of old letters and valentines. In the process, she reminds Sawyer of all he left behind in pursuit of big dreams and journeys elsewhere.
Enjoy this delight from Teri Wilson. I will certainly look for more offerings from this author.
I received a copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.
Sweet and entertaining, this book is written from the Hallmark movie of the same name. It was nice to read the story as you get far more of the emotion, feelings and thought process of the characters. With this book you’ll get a second chance romance and enemies to lover Valentine theme all in one sweet, clean romance!
Jamie Vaughn loves literature and feels blessed to now own True Love Books where she worked as a teenager. When rumors that a company is coming in to buy up land in the business district her worst fears are confirmed and her little shop is in the direct path of that destruction. She is only more mortified that her high school boyfriend and first love is the one about to destroy her dreams.
Sawyer O’Dell just wants to set down roots, buy a home, and stop traveling so much. When his latest project to rejuvenate the business district of his home town is chosen he is assigned to visit the town and convince the business owners to sell their property, with the promise of a permanent job if he succeeds. Reuniting with his high school sweetheart isn’t on the agenda, yet it seems he is destined to destroy her dreams to get his own. Now, all he can think about is how things ended with Jamie and how hurt she will be to lose her book store if he does his job.
Will a town be able to come together in time to save their history and their businesses or will a conglomerate turn another historical home town into cold, modern buildings? And how will Jamie and Sawyer save a relationship when one of them is destined to lose everything they’ve worked for?
My only complaint was it seemed to have a slow start so I had a hard time sticking with it, but by the 3rd or 4th chapter things were well established and the story was moving along.
I received an ARC and voluntarily offer this review.
This is a sweet, clean romance that takes place in a small town where everyone knows everyone else.
Fifteen years ago, Jamie Vaughn and Sawyer O’Dell were sweethearts, until the day he left town, and broke her heart.
Nowadays, Jamie owns True Love Books & Cafe, the bookstore she loved as a child. While Sawyer is now a talented architect.
He is back in town to help his client in the revitalization of the town. Not realizing at first, that Jamie is the owner of the town’s bookstore, and that his proposal will greatly affect her store and livelihood.
As the story progresses, we see that the sparks are still there, even though they are on opposite sides of “court”.
Can they find a happy solution for the town and have a second chance at love? Or will miss this chance?
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Hallmark Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
This is such a good book!
I truly enjoyed reading it!
It’s a heartwarming & moving story.
Everything you want in a true romance.
Jamie, owns True Love Books & Cafe.
She has loved the place since she
was young. Now proud to call it her own.
She recently found a flyer about
a retail development project, that would tear down the area where her store is.
Sawyer, an architect, designer of the new project, is in Waterford to speak with the business owners & get the design approved. Spending time in his hometown & seeing Jamie again, has brought back the feelings
he felt before.
It has the small town charm
& the comfort of friends & family.
A romantic story that pulls on your
heartstrings from start to finish!!
The Story of Us by Teri Wilson is an excellent Valentines-themed sweet romance. This is the second book that I have read by Ms Wilson, and I loved it just as much as Love at the Shore.
I enjoyed the traditional plot of two people separated by distance and time finding each other again and overcoming the odds to find themselves and one another. However, the author’s ability to create interesting details, like able characters, beautiful imagery, smooth and intriguing prose, and a realistic and satisfying plot make this book a true winner.
I loved Sawyer and Jamie. I loved their history, interactions, and chemistry. I was very satisfied with their ending. I also loved Lucy and Rick (and yes Eliot) and I loved their chemistry as well.
I loved the location in small-town Oregon and felt as if I was actually there amongst the pink and red glittery hearts. I also really, really liked the author’s inclusion of Harrison and Mary’s letters. So romantic!!!!
5/5 stars. Perfect in every way.
A beautiful, sweet romance that made me forget the corona virus pandemic for a while.
The Story of Us by Teri Wilson is your Hallmark second chance HEA romance. This is not my normal genre but I did enjoy the storyline and the characters. Jaime loves her hometown and wants nothing more than for it to stay the same and thrive. Like life things change no matter how much we hold onto the past. A company comes in ready to give life to this dying town. The person being sent in is Sawyer (Jamie’s first love High school sweetheart). They start off on the opposite side of the new versus old, so you have the divide, the past love starts to resurface but is it strong enough to overcome the divide. Will they get on the same page that will make them both happy and save the town? If you love second chance romances, Hallmark love stories this is the book for you.
Thank you to Hallmark publishing, BookFunnel and the Author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a book lover, How can you not love this book? It’s plot surrounds a Bookstore built and run on the premise of it’s name The “True Love Bookstore and cafe”
A wonderfully charming story of Loves lost and Loves found with all loveable and sweet characters.
A perfect Valentines day read/movie.
My second read by this Author and will continue to follow and read her works.
Jamie is an incurable romantic, dreamy and in love with her small bookstore.
Sawyer is a freelance architect who wants to have a permanent job and doesn’t have to cross the country to work. He hasn’t set foot in his hometown in years and thanks to an audacious project he will have to face everything he left behind.
The reunion between them having Jane Austen as cupid was lovely and I am super suspicious because I love Persuasion.
I love Hallmark Channel films so much and having the chance to read them makes me even more passionate. The writer of The Story of Us managed to get me to see the movie along the lines of the books and live this cute love story even more.
I loved the cover too much and also follow the story of Lucy and Rick.
This is a story that I could have sworn I’ve read in the past. Very similar and I can’t remember at the moment if it was in the Christian fiction realm or this one. But the story I read was based on the same premise, saving a small town, an out of town developer coming in and having to convince the people to go with saving their town.
In this story, we have Jamie who owns a bookstore and she’s trying to save her corner store from the big, bad wolf, known as Sawyer, a former boyfriend. She finds a box of old love letters and sets to getting them published, to bring business into the town.
The story is a push-pull between opposing forces, and it’s up to use to read to the end of the story to see which force won.
Again, sweet, innocent story by Hallmark Publishing.
Ms. Wilson’s phrasing and storytelling of a couple’s second chance at romance was heartwarming and sweet. Her turn of phrase was unique and very descriptive. I loved reading this book and I loved that there was more than one romance in the book. I found myself smiling through most of it. I’ll be looking for other books written by Teri Wilson.
I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book received from Hallmark Publishing for an honest review.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Repost of my original review at Amazon.com.