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jenc5309's review
4.0
This was one of the romances that "blooded" me. I can't remember when I first read this, but it was early. It is totally old school: the heroine has a different face and the hero doesn't recognize her as his ex-wife! It is as good as I remember.
showmethemonet's review
2.0
Another hour wasted in the name of my search for all of the near death angst books for my GR List of the same name.... Christ on a bicycle this was bad.
The writing style wasn't so terrible, but the premise was just ridiculous. To think that just changing a face would make someone unrecognizeable to a former spouse is ludicrous.... it's also insane to think that there was such a terrible car accident that killed everyone else that the only damage that Jacqui/Brooke suffered was to her face? Seriously? She should have scars. Maybe some chronic pain to one injured part of her body? But really? Nothing but a new pretty face?
And apparently Rafe loved her the whole time he treated her like shit and was really devastated when she died (even though the first time we see him he literally badmouths 'Jacqui') - and keeps his suspicions to himself once he starts to suspect that Brooke is Jacqui... and then she decides to stay Brooke? Way to fuck up your little boy, people! The whole thing is just over the top melodramatic and there's definitely no real angst because Jacqui 'dies' before the book starts. HQ can be fun sometimes, this definitely wasn't one of those times!
The writing style wasn't so terrible, but the premise was just ridiculous. To think that just changing a face would make someone unrecognizeable to a former spouse is ludicrous.... it's also insane to think that there was such a terrible car accident that killed everyone else that the only damage that Jacqui/Brooke suffered was to her face? Seriously? She should have scars. Maybe some chronic pain to one injured part of her body? But really? Nothing but a new pretty face?
una_macchia's review
5.0
4.5 stars...I don't love the prose style but I do have a lot of feelings.
This is a second chance romance with a whackadoodle premise that actually works. I loved the heroine -- she's determined, confident, and has a real backbone. The hero has to work hard to win her back, and he has to put himself in the more vulnerable position. We don't see his perspective directly but it's clear he's spent a lot of time reflecting on what went wrong in their marriage and he knows that his domineering alpha male act is not gonna cut it this time around. They've both grown since the separation, they communicate and listen to each other now, so the HEA is very believable.
This is a second chance romance with a whackadoodle premise that actually works. I loved the heroine -- she's determined, confident, and has a real backbone. The hero has to work hard to win her back, and he has to put himself in the more vulnerable position. We don't see his perspective directly but it's clear he's spent a lot of time reflecting on what went wrong in their marriage and he knows that his domineering alpha male act is not gonna cut it this time around. They've both grown since the separation, they communicate and listen to each other now, so the HEA is very believable.
kecad's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gamz's review
4.0
"A Love Lost" is a book about second chances and a mother's love.
Jacqi was 19 when she married successful businessman Rafe Charlwood. She married for love and thought her husband did too. Sadly she soon learned that wasn't the case. Before she knew it, she was accused of infidelity and locked out of her home and separated from her baby. Falling apart, she travelled with her friends and former dance troupe to America where a horrible car crash killed her and three other dancers.
Three years later, Brooke Adamson had been introduced as a friend to the elderly Josefine Charlwood, aunt to Rafe. Aunt Josephine is ill and upon her passing bequeathed her cottage on the Charlwood estate to Brooke.
Rafe resents Brooke's closeness to his aunt and that she has been left the cottage. As they interact with each other Brooke learns more about Rafe's relationship with his wife, Jacqi. It's a eye opening experience for her. Soon she and Rafe become closer than she expected and her secrets are revealed.
I loved the Jacqui/Brooke character. Her strength to endure all she did and fight her way back to her son - anyway she could- was beautiful.
A lot of reviewers didn't like Rafe. I found myself feeling compassion for him as I read. He was a man who was in such deep pain. He hid it well, but even before the climax of the story I saw his vulnerability. His love for Jacqui became obvious when he could/wouldn't talk about her.
If you read one book this year, you should seriously consider this as a contender. It is so worth the read.
Jacqi was 19 when she married successful businessman Rafe Charlwood. She married for love and thought her husband did too. Sadly she soon learned that wasn't the case. Before she knew it, she was accused of infidelity and locked out of her home and separated from her baby. Falling apart, she travelled with her friends and former dance troupe to America where a horrible car crash killed her and three other dancers.
Three years later, Brooke Adamson had been introduced as a friend to the elderly Josefine Charlwood, aunt to Rafe. Aunt Josephine is ill and upon her passing bequeathed her cottage on the Charlwood estate to Brooke.
Rafe resents Brooke's closeness to his aunt and that she has been left the cottage. As they interact with each other Brooke learns more about Rafe's relationship with his wife, Jacqi. It's a eye opening experience for her. Soon she and Rafe become closer than she expected and her secrets are revealed.
I loved the Jacqui/Brooke character. Her strength to endure all she did and fight her way back to her son - anyway she could- was beautiful.
A lot of reviewers didn't like Rafe. I found myself feeling compassion for him as I read. He was a man who was in such deep pain. He hid it well, but even before the climax of the story I saw his vulnerability. His love for Jacqui became obvious when he could/wouldn't talk about her.
If you read one book this year, you should seriously consider this as a contender. It is so worth the read.
novelbloglover's review
5.0
Book Review
Title: A Lost Love
Author: Hiromi Kobayashi (Illustrator) & Carole Mortimer
Genre: Manga
Rating: *****
Review: In A Lost Love we are introduced to Jacqui who has undergone major reconstructive surgery after a car accident, but this isn’t just for vanity’s sake, she wants to create a whole new identity as Brooke and the reasons for this are explained later on. Brooke is best friend with an older woman named Jocelyn who is part of the prestigious Charlswood family.
We learn that Jacqui was married to Rafe Charlswood and their marriage who horrible. Rafe was more than 10 years old that Jacqui when they married but she loved him and gave him a son; Robert. However, shortly after Robert’s birth Rafe became very possessive and stopped her working and seeing her friends. He also won’t let her raise her own son who was always in the care of nannies when he didn’t need feeding. After while Jacqui is despondent and decides to start dancing again behind Rafe’s back but this backfire when he thinks she is having an affair. He cruelly kicks her out, files for divorce and wins custody of their son who she isn’t allowed to see at all.
Brooke eventually comes clean to Jocelyn who had been her only friend during her marriage to Rafe and keeps her secret, but Brooke often visits Jocelyn’s cottage where she can see her son in secret. However, after Jocelyn dies from a terminal illness, she is left the cottage, so she can be close to Robert. Rafe is smitten with Brooke and asks to date her several times but she turns him down because she is his ex-wife although he doesn’t know this.
Living in the cottage allows Brooke to develop a proper relationship with her son but this means dealing with Rafe as well. However, the pair being close together allow them to talk about their respective pasts without giving away Brooke’s secret. Brooke soon finds herself falling in love with her ex-husband all over again, taking a leap of faith she sleeps with Rafe.
She learns that Rafe was heartless or cold, it was just the way his father raised him and that he did care for her deeply he just didn’t know how to show her the way he felt. After their night together Brooke comes clean and Rafe accepts her back with an open heart as he believed her to be dead and is happy to have her back in his arms once more. In the end, Rafe and Brooke have their happy ending with Robert and can live the life they were always meant to.
Title: A Lost Love
Author: Hiromi Kobayashi (Illustrator) & Carole Mortimer
Genre: Manga
Rating: *****
Review: In A Lost Love we are introduced to Jacqui who has undergone major reconstructive surgery after a car accident, but this isn’t just for vanity’s sake, she wants to create a whole new identity as Brooke and the reasons for this are explained later on. Brooke is best friend with an older woman named Jocelyn who is part of the prestigious Charlswood family.
We learn that Jacqui was married to Rafe Charlswood and their marriage who horrible. Rafe was more than 10 years old that Jacqui when they married but she loved him and gave him a son; Robert. However, shortly after Robert’s birth Rafe became very possessive and stopped her working and seeing her friends. He also won’t let her raise her own son who was always in the care of nannies when he didn’t need feeding. After while Jacqui is despondent and decides to start dancing again behind Rafe’s back but this backfire when he thinks she is having an affair. He cruelly kicks her out, files for divorce and wins custody of their son who she isn’t allowed to see at all.
Brooke eventually comes clean to Jocelyn who had been her only friend during her marriage to Rafe and keeps her secret, but Brooke often visits Jocelyn’s cottage where she can see her son in secret. However, after Jocelyn dies from a terminal illness, she is left the cottage, so she can be close to Robert. Rafe is smitten with Brooke and asks to date her several times but she turns him down because she is his ex-wife although he doesn’t know this.
Living in the cottage allows Brooke to develop a proper relationship with her son but this means dealing with Rafe as well. However, the pair being close together allow them to talk about their respective pasts without giving away Brooke’s secret. Brooke soon finds herself falling in love with her ex-husband all over again, taking a leap of faith she sleeps with Rafe.
She learns that Rafe was heartless or cold, it was just the way his father raised him and that he did care for her deeply he just didn’t know how to show her the way he felt. After their night together Brooke comes clean and Rafe accepts her back with an open heart as he believed her to be dead and is happy to have her back in his arms once more. In the end, Rafe and Brooke have their happy ending with Robert and can live the life they were always meant to.
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