You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Terrific second chance love story. Jaye and Velvet knew each other very well back in Phoenix. They were in a three-year relationship there, where Jaye was upfront about his unwillingness to commit to anything more than a physical relationship. Despite his frequent reminders of that position, Velvet fell in love with him anyway, hoping he would change. When she finally realized it wasn't going to happen, she left him and left Phoenix without telling him where she was going.
I cheered for Velvet, happy to see her stand up for her needs and dreams. She moved to Catalina Cove at the invitation of a family friend and became a ninth-grade algebra teacher. She has good friends and is content with her life now that she's gotten over her love for Jaye. The last thing she expected was to have him show up in the Cove as the bank's new owner.
It didn't take long after Velvet left him for Jaye to realize that he'd made a huge mistake. He had allowed his past to color his beliefs, but it was too late. However, Jaye is a stubborn and resourceful man, and though it took two years and the help of a private investigator, he finally found her. Now he must prove his love and win back her heart and trust.
I loved watching the rekindling of the relationship between Jaye and Velvet. Jaye has his plans all set. He's bought the bank, which will keep him in town for at least six months. He's arranged to rent the other part of the duplex she lives in, and he is determined to convince her of his love. One thing in his favor is the attraction that is still as strong as ever, but he wants more than that. Meanwhile, Velvet decides that since she doesn't love him any longer, that leaves the door open to resume their sex-only relationship. It was undoubtedly karma-like for Jaye to be on the other side of that coin and see him realize that he didn't like it.
Most of the attention is on Jaye's attempts to show Velvet that he's changed. In their previous relationship, he kept her at a distance, separating their relationship from his personal and professional lives. They rarely did anything together outside of the bedroom. Now, he waits for her to initiate any intimacy, asks her to jog with him in the mornings (previously his "alone" time), talks about his day at work and asks about hers, and involves her in his life in a myriad of ways. I especially liked the rocking chairs on the back deck and their quiet time together. His favorite thing to tell her was, “Whatever you want, Velvet, I will give it to you. No matter what it is.”
Velvet fights hard against the realization that she still loves Jaye. Her constant reminders to herself that she doesn't love him any longer feel like a case of protesting too much. Her friends Ruthie and Sierra try to convince her, but Velvet has a strong streak of stubbornness. When Jaye finally comes clean about his feelings, Velvet refuses to believe him. She accuses him of everything from lying to manipulation and pushes him away. I liked that Jaye gave her the space to come to terms with what he said, but I could also feel his frustration.
Velvet has a lot to think about, and I was happy to see that she calmed down enough to look at his actions and see them for what they were. Matters became complicated when a surprise he planned for her came to the attention of a scorned wannabe boyfriend, who attempted to use it against her. Being called before the school board is no small matter, especially when someone has it out for you. What made it particularly tricky/amusing was that this guy has no idea of Velvet's background. I loved Velvet's coolness under fire, her calm responses to the accusations, and the support shown by her friends. Jaye's arrival was the icing on the cake, as was town patriarch Reid Lacroix and his lambasting of those responsible. I was a little disappointed that he revealed Velvet's secret, as I didn't think it was his place, but it all worked out in the end. I loved the ending and seeing Velvet and Jaye moving forward into the future they wanted together.
There were a couple of subplots that ran throughout the book. One was Webb Crawford and his "I'm God's gift to women" pursuit of Velvet. He's a slimy, entitled creep, and he's fortunate that neither Velvet nor Jaye decked him when he pulled some of his tricks. The other was Velvet's issue with one of her students and his father. I felt terrible for young Lenny, whose dad pushed him to follow in his baseball footsteps. Lenny used failing his math class to fight back. In the meantime, his dad pressures Velvet to "go easy" on Lenny because "he won't need algebra to play pro ball." I loved that Velvet didn't cave in, but she did offer to help Lenny. I also loved the support she gave him to stand up for his dreams. There was an interesting twist involving the dad, and I liked how Velvet handled it.
I cheered for Velvet, happy to see her stand up for her needs and dreams. She moved to Catalina Cove at the invitation of a family friend and became a ninth-grade algebra teacher. She has good friends and is content with her life now that she's gotten over her love for Jaye. The last thing she expected was to have him show up in the Cove as the bank's new owner.
It didn't take long after Velvet left him for Jaye to realize that he'd made a huge mistake. He had allowed his past to color his beliefs, but it was too late. However, Jaye is a stubborn and resourceful man, and though it took two years and the help of a private investigator, he finally found her. Now he must prove his love and win back her heart and trust.
I loved watching the rekindling of the relationship between Jaye and Velvet. Jaye has his plans all set. He's bought the bank, which will keep him in town for at least six months. He's arranged to rent the other part of the duplex she lives in, and he is determined to convince her of his love. One thing in his favor is the attraction that is still as strong as ever, but he wants more than that. Meanwhile, Velvet decides that since she doesn't love him any longer, that leaves the door open to resume their sex-only relationship. It was undoubtedly karma-like for Jaye to be on the other side of that coin and see him realize that he didn't like it.
Most of the attention is on Jaye's attempts to show Velvet that he's changed. In their previous relationship, he kept her at a distance, separating their relationship from his personal and professional lives. They rarely did anything together outside of the bedroom. Now, he waits for her to initiate any intimacy, asks her to jog with him in the mornings (previously his "alone" time), talks about his day at work and asks about hers, and involves her in his life in a myriad of ways. I especially liked the rocking chairs on the back deck and their quiet time together. His favorite thing to tell her was, “Whatever you want, Velvet, I will give it to you. No matter what it is.”
Velvet fights hard against the realization that she still loves Jaye. Her constant reminders to herself that she doesn't love him any longer feel like a case of protesting too much. Her friends Ruthie and Sierra try to convince her, but Velvet has a strong streak of stubbornness. When Jaye finally comes clean about his feelings, Velvet refuses to believe him. She accuses him of everything from lying to manipulation and pushes him away. I liked that Jaye gave her the space to come to terms with what he said, but I could also feel his frustration.
Velvet has a lot to think about, and I was happy to see that she calmed down enough to look at his actions and see them for what they were. Matters became complicated when a surprise he planned for her came to the attention of a scorned wannabe boyfriend, who attempted to use it against her. Being called before the school board is no small matter, especially when someone has it out for you. What made it particularly tricky/amusing was that this guy has no idea of Velvet's background. I loved Velvet's coolness under fire, her calm responses to the accusations, and the support shown by her friends. Jaye's arrival was the icing on the cake, as was town patriarch Reid Lacroix and his lambasting of those responsible. I was a little disappointed that he revealed Velvet's secret, as I didn't think it was his place, but it all worked out in the end. I loved the ending and seeing Velvet and Jaye moving forward into the future they wanted together.
There were a couple of subplots that ran throughout the book. One was Webb Crawford and his "I'm God's gift to women" pursuit of Velvet. He's a slimy, entitled creep, and he's fortunate that neither Velvet nor Jaye decked him when he pulled some of his tricks. The other was Velvet's issue with one of her students and his father. I felt terrible for young Lenny, whose dad pushed him to follow in his baseball footsteps. Lenny used failing his math class to fight back. In the meantime, his dad pressures Velvet to "go easy" on Lenny because "he won't need algebra to play pro ball." I loved that Velvet didn't cave in, but she did offer to help Lenny. I also loved the support she gave him to stand up for his dreams. There was an interesting twist involving the dad, and I liked how Velvet handled it.
He had a dose of his own medicine
Jaye Colfax found out that what is good for the goose is good for the gander the hard way and almost too late. His no relationship with sex only almost cost him the only woman he loved. He let what happened to his parents control how he felt about women.
After being in a going nowhere fast relationship with Jaye, Velvet wanted more and deserved more, so she did the only thing she could do to preserve her heart, she disappeared. Jaye realized he messed up royally and was determined to win her heart back. But first, he had to find her and develop a plan. At first, Velvet thought he was manipulating her but when she found out what ALL he'd done, she quickly realized he had really changed.
The town's folk of the Cove, sure were a bunch of nosey busybodies, tending to everybody's business. That Webb Crawford and his sister are a bunch of snotty entitled privileged a-holes. Velvet had a good reason to keep her relationship with Jaye on-the-undercover. But in the end, Jaye was making the effort to do what it took to get her heart and love again.
Favorite Quote: “Whatever you want, Velvet, I will give it to you. No matter what it is.”
Jackson, Brenda. The House on Blueberry Lane (Catalina Cove) (p. 223). HQN Books. Kindle Edition.
NOTE: The book was read with the addition to sync listening to it by using Audible.com. The narrator, Ron Butler has a beautiful voice that made the story come to life. He was excellent with a feminine voice without overdoing it as well as that wonderful baritone he used for the main character. I could listen to him talk all day.
Jaye Colfax found out that what is good for the goose is good for the gander the hard way and almost too late. His no relationship with sex only almost cost him the only woman he loved. He let what happened to his parents control how he felt about women.
After being in a going nowhere fast relationship with Jaye, Velvet wanted more and deserved more, so she did the only thing she could do to preserve her heart, she disappeared. Jaye realized he messed up royally and was determined to win her heart back. But first, he had to find her and develop a plan. At first, Velvet thought he was manipulating her but when she found out what ALL he'd done, she quickly realized he had really changed.
The town's folk of the Cove, sure were a bunch of nosey busybodies, tending to everybody's business. That Webb Crawford and his sister are a bunch of snotty entitled privileged a-holes. Velvet had a good reason to keep her relationship with Jaye on-the-undercover. But in the end, Jaye was making the effort to do what it took to get her heart and love again.
Favorite Quote: “Whatever you want, Velvet, I will give it to you. No matter what it is.”
Jackson, Brenda. The House on Blueberry Lane (Catalina Cove) (p. 223). HQN Books. Kindle Edition.
NOTE: The book was read with the addition to sync listening to it by using Audible.com. The narrator, Ron Butler has a beautiful voice that made the story come to life. He was excellent with a feminine voice without overdoing it as well as that wonderful baritone he used for the main character. I could listen to him talk all day.
It was a fun read, but the character dialogue was stiff and weird, and the characters themselves were very flat. I had to brush past some things so I wouldn't think about how improbable they were!
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
emotional
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Loved this matured version of grovelling and as always MS. Jackson surprises us with an interesting third-act conflict.
medium-paced
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.7 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
For two years she had tried building another life for herself without him in Catalina Cove, and had done a fairly good job.
And now he was here.
If you read One Christmas Wish, the previous novel in the Catalina Cove series, you'll remember Velvet being stunned at seeing Jaye at a town council meeting. It was a small glimpse of the two but the charged atmosphere between them had me anticipating their novel. It wouldn't be necessary to read all the previous books in the series but this book is number six, there are a lot of previous characters making appearances and two past couples having their wedding, so you could be a little lost in regards to friendships and relationships. I did think the chemistry and big focus on Velvet and Jaye, mostly, covers any new to the series-ness, though.
He'd decided at that moment to prove how wrong she was, and that it was in his makeup to care that much.
The story starts off with Velvet coming home from that council meeting and Jaye coming to talk to her. We learn that while they dated for three years in Phoenix, Jaye was immediately upfront with just wanting a sexual relationship that would never lead to marriage but over time, Velvet grew to love him and thought he felt the same for her. When Velvet discovers Jaye doesn't, or won't admit, he does in fact love her, Velvet leaves without telling him and escapes to Catalina Cove to mend her broken heart. The reader gets Jaye's pov and we learn in the two years since Velvet left him, he's discovered that he did love Velvet and hired a private investigator to find her. When he learns she's in Catalina Cove, he uses his business to buy a bank there and rents the upstairs of the Victorian house Velvet is staying in. Oh yes, our man Jaye is pulling out the stops to win Velvet back.
He wanted love. He needed to prove to her that he loved her above all else. And he did love her, with every beat of his heart and with every breath he took.
For her part, Velvet thinks it's all a coincidence that Jaye has business in the town she lives in, it's been two years since she's heard from him. So, we get that sparking beginning, readers knowing Jaye is ready to do some working, and Velvet trying to deny her feelings for Jaye, thinking she doesn't love him anymore. After that first meeting, we get two flashback chapters of Velvet and Jaye's first meeting in Phoenix and how their relationship started. I loved this, often this is just done in inner dialogue remembering by characters but getting to actually “see” and experience it with the characters gave me a more solid emotional foundation with the characters relationship.
In essence, Velvet was giving him a taste of his own medicine. She was willing to engage in affairs that went nowhere, too. He was getting just what he deserved.
However, it was not what he would accept.
After those two chapters, the story goes back to present time and Velvet is struggling with still being physically attracted to Jaye. At around 30%, Jaye gets a little taste of his own medicine when Velvet comes to him with an idea to reinstate their just sexual relationship. Velvet thinks Jaye is hesitant because he thinks she loves him, she's lying to herself that she doesn't at this point, but he's really hesitant because he realized he loved her and now he wants more. It's a little comedy of errors as Velvet is lying to herself and Jaye is hiding his true feelings because he doesn't think Velvet will believe he truly loves her yet, they both ultimately want the same thing but they're bungling around. The slight exasperation I had as a reader was tampered with the sexual heat the two have. Jaye doesn't want Velvet to think he's just there for the sex, so he lets her initiate all the sexual moments, something Velvet doesn't catch onto until later.
“I only wanted you.”
The story was mostly focused on Jaye trying to show Velvet that he loved her and was ready for a commitment. He opens up to her about his mother, the reason he was wary of trusting love, asks her to jog with him in the mornings when in Phoenix he always said that was his alone time, and just generally tries to be there for her in all the little ways a partner would be outside of the bedroom. There were two little side plots involving one of Velvet's highschool students and his father trying to pressure her to pass his son and towards the end it weaved into the other little plot of a man in town trying to get Velvet to date him. They worked to build and give an ending scene, that while had twinge of sappy to it, was still sweet.
Drawing in a deep breath, he just stared at her, willing her to read in his gaze what she would not accept in his words.
Since this is sixth in the series, there were a lot of characters that sometimes got a little overwhelming but I actually could have read more scenes with Velvet and her bestfriend Ruthie and other friends like Sierra. All those secondary characters were around but they didn't emotionally interact with Velvet as much as I would have liked. Around 65% Velvet finally admits to herself that she still loves Jaye and we get more movement on their relationship. While I liked Jaye's plan, it did cause some of the middle to drag a little bit as he calmly and quietly, but at times too passive, showed up for Velvet outside of the bedroom, the non-movement went on for about 15% too long. The biggest surprise and best was me glancing and thinking the book cover was pretty generic, I'm here to tell you it's one of the sweetest parts of the book. These two were sweet and definitely sexy. There was a moment that I think gave us a little clue to who is next up to fall in love in Catalina Cove and if so, I'm looking forward to reading about Jaye's younger brother Franklin falling next.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
For two years she had tried building another life for herself without him in Catalina Cove, and had done a fairly good job.
And now he was here.
If you read One Christmas Wish, the previous novel in the Catalina Cove series, you'll remember Velvet being stunned at seeing Jaye at a town council meeting. It was a small glimpse of the two but the charged atmosphere between them had me anticipating their novel. It wouldn't be necessary to read all the previous books in the series but this book is number six, there are a lot of previous characters making appearances and two past couples having their wedding, so you could be a little lost in regards to friendships and relationships. I did think the chemistry and big focus on Velvet and Jaye, mostly, covers any new to the series-ness, though.
He'd decided at that moment to prove how wrong she was, and that it was in his makeup to care that much.
The story starts off with Velvet coming home from that council meeting and Jaye coming to talk to her. We learn that while they dated for three years in Phoenix, Jaye was immediately upfront with just wanting a sexual relationship that would never lead to marriage but over time, Velvet grew to love him and thought he felt the same for her. When Velvet discovers Jaye doesn't, or won't admit, he does in fact love her, Velvet leaves without telling him and escapes to Catalina Cove to mend her broken heart. The reader gets Jaye's pov and we learn in the two years since Velvet left him, he's discovered that he did love Velvet and hired a private investigator to find her. When he learns she's in Catalina Cove, he uses his business to buy a bank there and rents the upstairs of the Victorian house Velvet is staying in. Oh yes, our man Jaye is pulling out the stops to win Velvet back.
He wanted love. He needed to prove to her that he loved her above all else. And he did love her, with every beat of his heart and with every breath he took.
For her part, Velvet thinks it's all a coincidence that Jaye has business in the town she lives in, it's been two years since she's heard from him. So, we get that sparking beginning, readers knowing Jaye is ready to do some working, and Velvet trying to deny her feelings for Jaye, thinking she doesn't love him anymore. After that first meeting, we get two flashback chapters of Velvet and Jaye's first meeting in Phoenix and how their relationship started. I loved this, often this is just done in inner dialogue remembering by characters but getting to actually “see” and experience it with the characters gave me a more solid emotional foundation with the characters relationship.
In essence, Velvet was giving him a taste of his own medicine. She was willing to engage in affairs that went nowhere, too. He was getting just what he deserved.
However, it was not what he would accept.
After those two chapters, the story goes back to present time and Velvet is struggling with still being physically attracted to Jaye. At around 30%, Jaye gets a little taste of his own medicine when Velvet comes to him with an idea to reinstate their just sexual relationship. Velvet thinks Jaye is hesitant because he thinks she loves him, she's lying to herself that she doesn't at this point, but he's really hesitant because he realized he loved her and now he wants more. It's a little comedy of errors as Velvet is lying to herself and Jaye is hiding his true feelings because he doesn't think Velvet will believe he truly loves her yet, they both ultimately want the same thing but they're bungling around. The slight exasperation I had as a reader was tampered with the sexual heat the two have. Jaye doesn't want Velvet to think he's just there for the sex, so he lets her initiate all the sexual moments, something Velvet doesn't catch onto until later.
“I only wanted you.”
The story was mostly focused on Jaye trying to show Velvet that he loved her and was ready for a commitment. He opens up to her about his mother, the reason he was wary of trusting love, asks her to jog with him in the mornings when in Phoenix he always said that was his alone time, and just generally tries to be there for her in all the little ways a partner would be outside of the bedroom. There were two little side plots involving one of Velvet's highschool students and his father trying to pressure her to pass his son and towards the end it weaved into the other little plot of a man in town trying to get Velvet to date him. They worked to build and give an ending scene, that while had twinge of sappy to it, was still sweet.
Drawing in a deep breath, he just stared at her, willing her to read in his gaze what she would not accept in his words.
Since this is sixth in the series, there were a lot of characters that sometimes got a little overwhelming but I actually could have read more scenes with Velvet and her bestfriend Ruthie and other friends like Sierra. All those secondary characters were around but they didn't emotionally interact with Velvet as much as I would have liked. Around 65% Velvet finally admits to herself that she still loves Jaye and we get more movement on their relationship. While I liked Jaye's plan, it did cause some of the middle to drag a little bit as he calmly and quietly, but at times too passive, showed up for Velvet outside of the bedroom, the non-movement went on for about 15% too long. The biggest surprise and best was me glancing and thinking the book cover was pretty generic, I'm here to tell you it's one of the sweetest parts of the book. These two were sweet and definitely sexy. There was a moment that I think gave us a little clue to who is next up to fall in love in Catalina Cove and if so, I'm looking forward to reading about Jaye's younger brother Franklin falling next.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced