Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good friends to lovers story. Cory and Jordan knew each other when Jordan was on the same football team as Cory's boyfriend, Kade. Kade was a jerk, interested mostly in what she did for him. All Cory wanted was to be loved; she didn't care about his fame or fortune. During Kade's parties, she often found herself finding a quiet spot to hide out. She frequently encountered Jordan doing the same thing, and they struck up a friendship. When Kade broke up with her, she had nowhere to go, so she went to Jordan. Neither expected the passion that flared between them.
Jordan was recovering from a career-ending injury at the time. When Cory left without a word the next day, he was hurt because he had started to have feelings for her. Jordan moved across the country to Starlight, where he bought a bar and made a new life for himself. He never expected to see her again, much less with a baby she says is his.
I liked both Cory and Jordan. Both have some serious baggage resulting from crummy childhoods. Cory was raised by a single mother who resented her and blamed all of her problems on Cory. Her mom was always on the lookout for her next rich boyfriend. She was thrilled when Cory landed Kade as a boyfriend and furious when Cory broke things off. Cory's only support came from her grandmother, who made Cory promise to find Jordan and tell him about Ben before her death. When she arrives in Starlight, she's all but broke and unsure of her reception.
Jordan is a nice guy. Growing up, he was continually pushed, bullied, and berated by his father, who lived vicariously through Jordan's athleticism. Jordan enjoyed the game but hated all of the stuff that went with it. At team parties, Jordan frequently went off someplace by himself, so he could be present without putting up with the BS. He often found himself hanging out with Cory, whom he liked, but she was his teammate's girlfriend. Their night together gave him hope, which was dashed when she left.
I loved the reunion between Cory and Jordan. She was so nervous about telling Jordan about Ben, but after one look at the baby, he knows she's telling the truth. I loved watching him step right up to being a father, despite his nervousness. A family emergency causes Jordan to ask Cory to pretend to be his fiancée for the weekend, a deception that they must continue when his mom comes to Starlight for a visit. Thrown together "playing house," it isn't long before both Jordan and Cory start wishing that their relationship was real.
Unfortunately, both Cory and Jordan have issues that make it difficult to believe that the other would want anything permanent. Cory's years of being dependent on others left her with a desperate need to stand on her own two feet. She works hard at keeping Jordan at an emotional distance, afraid of being seen as "needy." Cory hides many of her fears behind a sunny disposition but always thinks she won't measure up to others' expectations. I loved seeing her make friends and begin to develop confidence in herself.
Because of his relationships with his family, Jordan doesn't think he can make anyone happy. He is also terrified that he won't be a good father, thanks to his experiences with his father. There were some sweet scenes with Jordan and little Ben, and I loved seeing him start to believe in himself. The scene where he took Ben to the meeting with him was fantastic.
I ached for both Jordan and Cory as their feelings grew, and so did their fear of rejection. Cory had the added issue of needing to believe in her ability to stand on her own. Both of them were so mixed up emotionally when Cory moved out that neither could see its effect on the other. They were so miserable apart, and everyone around them could see why. It was sweet to see how Cory's friends supported her and helped her see past her fears. I loved Jordan's conversation with his mother and its effect on him. His big moment at the end was sweet and perfect for them.
The secondary characters were terrific. Jordan's mom was fantastic in the way she rebuilt her life after his father's death. I liked her efforts to repair her relationship with Jordan and how she took to Cory. I adored Cory's new friends - Madison, Ella, and Tessa. It was fun to see Cory push past Madison's prickly exterior and find a good friend. All three of them appear to have interesting backstories, and I hope they all get stories of their own.
#netgalley
Jordan was recovering from a career-ending injury at the time. When Cory left without a word the next day, he was hurt because he had started to have feelings for her. Jordan moved across the country to Starlight, where he bought a bar and made a new life for himself. He never expected to see her again, much less with a baby she says is his.
I liked both Cory and Jordan. Both have some serious baggage resulting from crummy childhoods. Cory was raised by a single mother who resented her and blamed all of her problems on Cory. Her mom was always on the lookout for her next rich boyfriend. She was thrilled when Cory landed Kade as a boyfriend and furious when Cory broke things off. Cory's only support came from her grandmother, who made Cory promise to find Jordan and tell him about Ben before her death. When she arrives in Starlight, she's all but broke and unsure of her reception.
Jordan is a nice guy. Growing up, he was continually pushed, bullied, and berated by his father, who lived vicariously through Jordan's athleticism. Jordan enjoyed the game but hated all of the stuff that went with it. At team parties, Jordan frequently went off someplace by himself, so he could be present without putting up with the BS. He often found himself hanging out with Cory, whom he liked, but she was his teammate's girlfriend. Their night together gave him hope, which was dashed when she left.
I loved the reunion between Cory and Jordan. She was so nervous about telling Jordan about Ben, but after one look at the baby, he knows she's telling the truth. I loved watching him step right up to being a father, despite his nervousness. A family emergency causes Jordan to ask Cory to pretend to be his fiancée for the weekend, a deception that they must continue when his mom comes to Starlight for a visit. Thrown together "playing house," it isn't long before both Jordan and Cory start wishing that their relationship was real.
Unfortunately, both Cory and Jordan have issues that make it difficult to believe that the other would want anything permanent. Cory's years of being dependent on others left her with a desperate need to stand on her own two feet. She works hard at keeping Jordan at an emotional distance, afraid of being seen as "needy." Cory hides many of her fears behind a sunny disposition but always thinks she won't measure up to others' expectations. I loved seeing her make friends and begin to develop confidence in herself.
Because of his relationships with his family, Jordan doesn't think he can make anyone happy. He is also terrified that he won't be a good father, thanks to his experiences with his father. There were some sweet scenes with Jordan and little Ben, and I loved seeing him start to believe in himself. The scene where he took Ben to the meeting with him was fantastic.
I ached for both Jordan and Cory as their feelings grew, and so did their fear of rejection. Cory had the added issue of needing to believe in her ability to stand on her own. Both of them were so mixed up emotionally when Cory moved out that neither could see its effect on the other. They were so miserable apart, and everyone around them could see why. It was sweet to see how Cory's friends supported her and helped her see past her fears. I loved Jordan's conversation with his mother and its effect on him. His big moment at the end was sweet and perfect for them.
The secondary characters were terrific. Jordan's mom was fantastic in the way she rebuilt her life after his father's death. I liked her efforts to repair her relationship with Jordan and how she took to Cory. I adored Cory's new friends - Madison, Ella, and Tessa. It was fun to see Cory push past Madison's prickly exterior and find a good friend. All three of them appear to have interesting backstories, and I hope they all get stories of their own.
#netgalley
