From New York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes a heartbreakingly beautiful standalone story about letting love in.
I’m losing myself trying to save everyone else…
As a doctor, I walk a dangerously delicate balance of being compassionate but not overly invested. The same is true in my personal life–love is a luxury I can’t afford.
It isn’t until Dr. Westin Grant breaks … until Dr. Westin Grant breaks down all my walls and offers me a future, I find myself wondering if I’m brave enough to risk my heart.
When who I was and who I’ve tried to become collide during my clinical trial, the fate of one patient changes everything.
In a single moment, everything I’ve worked for is jeopardized. My integrity, my career, and even my relationship with Westin.
He loved me once, I just hope he can love me always …
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Reviewed for A Wanton Book Lover Blog
You Loved Me Once….was amazing. Serenity, an oncologist OB/GYN lost her mom to Ovarian cancer while she was in college. Serenity made it her goal in life to that as few as people as possible would ever have to suffer the way her family did when her mother was diagnosed and died a short time later. This was what has drive her to become the doctor she is today as well as developing a new clinical trial for women Ovarian cancer to not only save their lives but also their fertility. Serenity works long hours and has little time for anything else than her job and her “boyfriend” of convivence, fellow doctor Westin. When someone from Serenity’s past life shows-up unexpected, Serenity must decide whether or not to possibly jeopardize her career (and even possible Westin’s), to give a gift to someone that once hurt her greatly, or to try and help someone ridden with cancer to become cancer-free and live a long, healthy life. She is dealing with all this inner turmoil as well as her dad, who her irresponsible brother is supposed to be taking care or, and Westin suddenly wanted more in their relationship.
The book was a tear-jerker and somewhat emotionally draining (but in a good way). I have read all Corinne’s work and they are emotional but I think You Once Love Me is the end all ugly-crying book of hers. Any author that can pull those types of emotions with their words, I bow down to and Corinne, she did that 100%. If you read anything this summer, make sure it’s this book.
Corinne Michaels
This story is absolutely beautiful from start to finish.
Life is all about choices from our personal life to our professional life and to what may be the ethical option. Serenity has built a wall around her heart and focused on her job as a doctor and helping her patients, but when her past and her present collide will she make the right choices for everyone involved, including herself?
This book is emotional, I was in tears so many times while I was reading. I don’t read blurbs so I truly went into this book not knowing what to expect and it took me on an emotional journey. Serenity and Westin’s relationship is truly beautiful and Westin’s love for Serenity is beautiful. He knew she had walls built around her heart, yet he never once gave up trying to win her over and break down those walls.
You Loved Me Once is a story that will have you feeling every emotion. It’s a unique story that you’ll never be able to forget.
If you’re looking for an emotional story full of love and how choices you make can affect your life this is one to check out.
Corinne Michaels never ceases to amaze me; she’s a master at her craft and will have you feeling all the feels, crying all the tears and even laughing some of the laughs. Serenity’s story of rediscovery, her struggles, and her growth are beautiful. Her story will stick with me for a long time to come and may very well be Corinne Michaels’ finest work to date.
Oh I’m so glad Corinne decided to publish this story. Absolutely fantastic and so typically “Corinne” in every way.
She got my tears, as expected, on a number of occasions…. So much so I was a sobbing mess!
The characters of this story were simply amazing. I could feel the emotion pouring from the pages, their passion, their beliefs, trust, and pure determination…
The secondary characters were also simply fantastic, but again, the emotions that ran alongside this had me going.
At one point and as the story progressed I did wonder which route the events and storyline may follow. But I’m so pleased with the way everything turned out.
This was an amazing romantic love story, but with grit. It was a complete page turner and I devoured it!
Que d’émotions avec ce roman qui va traiter en plus de la romance de sujets graves et poignants. J’ai complétement adhéré à l’histoire de Serenity qui aura tout sauf une vie sereine. C’est un magnifique roman qui va nous tenir en haleine du début à la fin.
Serenity Adams est une oncologiste de renom et elle veut passer au stade supérieur en proposant un protocole de soin du cancer de l’utérus qui pourrait permettre aux femmes d’avoir un traitement leur permettant la réduction de la tumeur et donc la non ablation de leur appareil de reproduction , leur permettant donc d’enfanter. Si ce sujet lui tient tellement à coeur c’est parce qu’elle a la vocation bien évidemment mais l’histoire de sa mère entre forcément en jeu. Elle l’a perdue très jeune et a dû porter des responsabilités énormes. Son frère Everton ne semble pas se rendre compte de tous ses sacrifices et lui même est sur une pente glissante. Quant à son père , il souffre aussi médicalement parlant , la forçant donc à faire quelques allers retours pour s’assurer qu’il va bien. Depuis cette perte, elle s’est jurée de ne plus jamais tomber amoureuse car la souffrance a été double. Son amour de jeunesse n’a pas su être à la hauteur et de ce fait elle est fermée aux émotions humaines. En tout cas quand il s’agit d’amour , elle se ferme car avec ses patientes, elle s’investit plus que de raison et cela fait d’elle un médecin extraordinaire mais qui risque de souffrir encore.
On comprend dès lors qu’elle ne veut pas s’investir avec Westin Grant car pour elle , leur histoire n’a rien de sérieux. Il est uniquement celui qui l’aide à relâcher la pression . Pourtant quand nous allons découvrir ce héros , nous ne pourrons qu’être en admiration devant lui car il sait qu’elle ne lui laissera pas de la place dans son coeur et on voit qu’il l’aime éperdument. Ce docteur est neurologue donc il sait aussi ce que signifie la perte d’un patient mais il n’a pas le même passif que notre héroïne. Pourtant il sera d’un patience absolue et il sera aussi à son écoute. Il prendra le temps de découvrir les miettes de sa vie qu’elle accepte de lui donner et il n’hésitera pas à lui venir en aide quand elle en aura besoin. Aura t-il la force de lui faire de nouveau croire en amour? Sera t-il suffisant pour lui donner envie de prendre un risque en lui ouvrant son coeur? En tout cas, je suis team Wes car ce héros ne semble avoir aucun défaut et ses gestes nous le prouveront bien.
Bryce Peyton est ce fameux premier amour qui a forgé celle qu’elle est devenue . Il pourrait pu rester dans son passé mais le destin semble prendre un malin plaisir à lui rappeler les moments passés ensembles et la souffrance qu’ils ont tous els deux vécus. Malgré tout, je l’ai trouvé très égoïste et égocentrique. Il saura appuyer sur les bons boutons pour engendrer de la culpabilité et donc obtenir ce qu’il désire. Le père de Serenity avait bien cerné le personnage mais notre héroïne ne peut pas balayer ce passé commun d’un revers de la main. Elle a le coeur sur la main et il pourrait bien de nouveau le broyer. On ne doute pas qu’il l’a aimé mais j’ai eu du mal à trouver des circonstances atténuantes à cet homme qui n’a pas fini de bouleversé notre héroïne et de secouer les bases fragiles d’une relation naissante.
Bref, si vous lisez en VO, je ne peux que vous recommander de découvrir cette belle histoire qui ne laisse pas indifférente. Corinne Michaels ne tombe pas dans le pathos mais sait au contraire susciter des émotions aux moments opportuns. You loved me once est un sublime roman sur l’acceptation , la rédemption, le parcours , les erreurs mais aussi le bonheur accessible après les tempêtes.
This book was so much and I absolutely loved it! It had angst, heartbreak, and left you emotionally raw!! It’s not just about love and loss, but second chances and healing!!
You Loved Me Once took me on an emotional rollercoaster from the first page and consumed my mind and heart til the last one. Corinne this story was as heartbreaking as it was beautiful and I am so grateful that you wrote and released this book. I feel like everyone can relate to this story in one way or another. We all have that first love, that lost love, that last love and that once in a lifetime love that changes us forever. We also have that person, whether it be our soul mate, family member or friend that we can’t, but have to live without. I shed a few tears and I felt like I cleansed my soul a little bit. You Loved Me Once is filled will hope, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness and so much strength and perseverance that I believe it will change every person that reads it! It’s absolutely breathtaking and a story I will never forget.
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends Book Blog
A book with potential.
I’m crazy about Corinne’s books (check my previous reviews, I love her books). But this one didn’t quite do it for me.
I really wanted to like it more, but something was missing for me.
As I said, the book had potential, a lot of potential. It brought some sensitive and deep issues, it was important to bring that subject to light (it’s something I carry close to my heart).
But I think the plot dragged a little too much.
Also, I couldn’t make myself like Serenity. For a renowed doctor who prided herself in being detached from feelings and guarded her heart with iron armor, she was all over the place and completely out of control.
For the majority of the book she just led Westin on, made some seriously questionable decisions (and not just because of her career) and didn’t act with the coolness she claimed to have.
Honestly, Westin deserved a whole of a lot better than her.
That being said, I stress again that I love her books and how deep her stories are.
And I really, really liked Westin. He was loyal, honest and patient. He was reliable and caring and he made it easy for me to like him.
I am so torn reviewing this book it is different from Corinne’s other books as I didn’t feel the big romance that I am used to. The storyline centres around succesful doctor Serenity who has one focus finding a cure for cancer to the detriment of everything else. Love and family have taken a back seat in her life and at first I thought she was just another emotionally stunted character but we get to see a vulnerable conflicted Serenity that I began to understand more. I liked Wes he really did have the patience of a saint, his love for her was written really well. Maybe if we had seen more of their time together I would have been more of a believer in their romance.
As I said I don’t categorize this a classic romance although there is a romantic relationship in the story. For me this was about choices morals and how we live with the decisions we make the good and the bad. This was a well written thought provoking story.
I went into this book blind knowing nothing about what I was getting myself into. This book made me a mess. I’m not an emotional reader but man I needed the tissues. Good job Corinne Michaels…you got me! This is why she is one of my must read anything she writes authors. She makes you feel! This book will stick with me for a long time. You will feel all the feels in this one. It’s like you are right there in the story with the characters. You will feel the pain and the love. You will feel broken and then whole again. I loved watching the evolution of Serenity. I think part of the reason that I’m having a hard time with this review is because the story hits close to home. The story and the feelings that these characters feel are spot on and not over dramatic. I’m left with wanting more! I want more of Serenity and Wes!! I want to see where life takes them! I loved the epilogue but very selfishly I want more! I would definitely recommend this book.
Received a arc for a honest review.
This book had me at the title, but man was it so much more. What a beautiful story with gut wrenching heartbreak and enough angst to keep you up late just to see what happens next
The story is of Serenity, a very passionate doctor, fighting for her patients with everything that she has. Weston, the revered brain surgeon, that just wants her to love him as much as he loves her.
In a week moment she has a lapse in judgement that may ruin her career and also cause her to lose a little of herself. Will Weston still love her after all is said and done? As with all of Corinne Michaels the writing is outstanding, but she have just outdone herself with You Loved Me Once.
I swear Corinne Michaels is trying to do me in. I am speechless and it has taken me days to even attempt writing this review. This book put my emotions through the gamut with You Loved Me Once. Everything Serenity was going through I felt in my gut. At times, I was super frustrated with Serenity and wanted to scream, “WHY are you doing this?” But in the next moment, I understood her and I cried for her. Then there is Westin. My goodness could he be any more perfect? The patience and love he has for Serenity was breathtaking. I am seriously about in tears thinking about it.
You Loved Me Once should be on everybody’s tbr list!
I did something with this book that I have NEVER done with any other book. 30% into the book I went and read the ending. Why? Because until I did that I was almost, almost going to DNF this book. Serenity was so ridiculously annoying that I wasn’t sure that I wanted her to have an HEA. After assuring myself that all would turn out well, I finished the book. For me it was just not that satisfying.
I’ve read the two newest series by Corinne Michaels and loved them, so I was definitely interested in this book. I read that she wasn’t going to publish it and, after reading it, I am so glad that she did. It is wonderful! I would classify it as women’s fiction/romance.
Serenity Adams is a doctor in Chicago where she is leading a cancer trial. Her mother passed away from cancer so she has made it her goal in life to do everything to stop it. She is “dating” Dr. Westin Grant. She hesitates to put a label on it or even call it dating. She has been in a very serious relationship before and was hurt from it and never wants to feel that again. It is obvious that Wes would like more after two years of being together.
When one of her patients in the cancer trial has a connection to her old life, Serenity’s life is in turmoil. She must deal with her past and her present and make the right choices for everyone involved.
When I saw the narration was on Audible and included for free, I quickly downloaded it! Then, to find out it was narrated by the amazing Julia Whelan…just wonderful. It just reminded me why she is such a popular narrator. She brought the angst and emotion from these characters to life. So good.
This one will take you on an emotional roller coaster. Serenity Adam’s had her heart broken in the past. Through everything she has gone through Westin has given her time to open her heart back up to love. When things go downhill in Serenity’s current job it forces her true feelings out but will Serenity and Westin make it through the turmoil.
Corinne produces 5 star books every single time. This book was unique but full of angst and emotion, it was sexy and strong. It was nothing like I expected and it was beautifully done.
Serenity has been through a lot in her life. One particular day changed her whole life when her mother died and her boyfriend broke up with her. Since then, she has dedicated her life to finding an effective treatment for ovarian cancer. She has also given up love, only seeing the bad in it and instead involves herself in a casual relationship. Serenity’s world is rocked when one of her clinical trial patient’s husband turns out to be the man who still owns her heart. There are so many emotions in this story and the beautiful writing makes you feel as if it was all happening to you. This book was solely from Serenity’s POV and focused on her and the growth that she made. She made some selfless decisions and some not so good ones but it was all about making things right and learning to make the right choice. I love Serenity’s HEA, she deserved it!
You Loved Me Once is an emotional journey through love, loss and finding oneself. It is heartbreaking as much as it is heartwarming.
I really connected with Ren as a character – she was likable and has struggles in life just like anyone else. The angst between her and Bryce was palpable!! And what a circumstance to find themselves face-to-face in again!!
But the character that made this book for me was Wes. His strength, unwaivering devotion to his job, patients and to Ren and his utmost loyalty and patience with everything makes his the ultimate book boyfriend. By goodness, I was rooting for them HARD!
I am so pleased that Corinne decided to go ahead and publish this story – it is a definite favourite as you just simply get lost in the words and the world Corinne has written for you as is so easy to do with her books.
I really don’t know where to begin or even if I can do this emotional read justice.
You know you are reading a very special book very early in a read because you know the story you are reading is going to stay with you long after the final words have been read, well You Loved Me Once is definitely one of those special reads. This is Serenity and Westin’s journey.
Serenity is a doctor doing her best, she is determined her clinical trial will be successful but medical trials can sometimes go wrong. The friends with benefits relationship she has with a fellow doctor Dr Weston Grant adds additional pressure to her already stressed life so when one of her patients husbands turns out to be her ex she falls a little bit apart. Since her breakup her life has been her work and she has built walls around herself but Westin wants more and that means he needs her to trust him at work and in their personal relationship.
This book tore me apart and then put me back together, I cried and I mean real ugly tears, I swooned and I smiled, I loved Serenity and Westin and I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat while negotiating twists and turns I didn’t see coming. This is a very emotional read, it’s a love story, it’s about forgiveness but most importantly it’s about looking deep inside and trusting what you see. Serenity and Westin will certainly stay with me and I’m sure I will re read their emotional journey further down the track because this is one of my favourite reads of 2021.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.
I started reading Corinne Michaels about 7 months ago and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. As with all of her stories, this one will grip you, pull at your heartstrings, have you crying, and in the end smiling. She has a way with words that no other author, that I have found, can put together to make the amazingly perfect stories that she makes.
Serenity is a doctor that wants to save all of her patients. While in medical school she tried to save her mother but couldn’t so she has vowed to help those she could with the same disease her mother died with. When a part of her past shows up for the clinical trial she is conducting, she wonders if she can keep her past from colliding with her present. When she makes a decision after a patient dies, it could impact her career and her future with Dr. Weston Grant.
Weston is the man who loves her now, they are perfect together. When he finds out what she has done, will he report her? Can he overlook what was done to save a patient? Will he believe her when she says nothing is going on with any other man? Can they get back to working on the happily ever after?
I didn’t even read the blurb on this one, I knew I wanted to read it. Any of her books that come through the review group is an automatic yes for me. It’s funny to me when I found this author and I have loved everything I have read or listened to so far. So pick this one up and fall in love with Ren and Wes, I hope you love it too. And if you have not read author Corinne Michaels before, I hope you love her too.
**Wicked Reads Review Team**
You Loved Me Once is truly brilliant and this is Corinne Michaels at her best. I was spellbound by this heartbreaking, beautiful, deep and thought provoking book and I can’t let it go. It’s realistic on so many levels, it’s soul crushing yet hopeful, the heartfelt moments really touches home and the intensity of it all nearly did me in. My emotional level was at an all time high and I lost count on the amount of tears that I shed. They’re times when this book can be complex, unbearable and frustrating but it’s worth it and so much more than what I thought it was going to be.
And while I certainly appreciate the storyline, I don’t care for the heroine, Serenity Adams. However, this in no way hinders or takes anything away from the story. She just isn’t my cup of tea. To date, this my favorite Corinne Michaels book and it’s one of my favorite books of 2021. I strongly recommend having tissues, a few alcoholic beverages and a do not disturb sign when reading it. Again it’s definitely worth it.