Title: Ready For You
Series: Ready #3
Author: J.L. Berg
Release Date: May 26, 2014
Eight years ago, Garrett Finnegan’s world shattered the day Mia vanished from his life. He’s been struggling to pick up the pieces ever since. Haunted by memories and ghosts of the past, he chooses a solitary existence rather than risk his heart again.
When a chance encounter brings these former lovers together, passion reignites in a way neither is prepared for. Can Garrett move beyond his anger and find a way to forgive? Will Mia’s insecurities and fears cause her to once again flee the life she’s destined to live?
Garrett and Mia will soon discover that they must journey into the past to find their way home.
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Garrett and Mia's story is so far my favorite in this series because they have a strong connection at such a young age, being high school sweethearts. We get a glimpse of how much love they have for each other, despite being young and how the decision one makes will have consequences that affect BOTH of them. I love that it's told in both Garrett and Mia's POV and we get the full plate of emotions with no holding back. When Garrett and Mia see each other for the first time after 8 years you can feel the love they had for each other then, still present along with many unanswered questions.
Garrett has been through hell and back replaying that "graduation day" in his mind asking himself what if he had done this differently or should he have asked certain questions. We get to see why he "drowns" himself in his job and what he does to numb the pain that he's had for 8 agonizing years. We get to see Garrett's emotional side when he faces a heartbreaking loss and he leans on Mia to help him cope and get through it. There is plenty of sexual tension that had me screaming just give in and stop torturing each other. But above all, I love how Garrett learns how to forgive and move on, as well as helping Mia forgive herself and move forward with him.
Mia, what can I say but my heart went out to her because she really thought she was making the best decision. We learn what she went through, what she has been doing with her life and why she is back in Virginia. She has only loved one man, Garrett, and even after seeing him she keeps denying to herself that she deserves him. The more I read the story in her POV I realized how she keeps blaming herself for some things that were beyond her control and what a tortured soul she is. She had me in ugly tears while she tried to deal with her negative feelings but also happy tears when was triumphant. Loved the Epilogue!
A beautiful story about true love, learning to forgive, forgiving yourself and moving forward. I give this book 5 stars. It had just the right amount of emotion, love, angst and passion! Thank you for an amazing book J.L.Berg. I can't wait for what else you have in store for us!
~ Review by Kara
4.5 Alway Meant For You Stars!
Ahhh! I love second-chance romances, I really do. Especially when there’s years in between their love story. Garrett and Mia’s journey to their happily ever after is one of those you’ll feel like you are watching it on screen, vivid and raw.
High school sweethearts and with clear plans for the future, Garrett and Mia thought their love for each other would surpass every bump and insecurity they would face. Well, it does… but only years after. Then, what they felt was unbreakable, shattered overnight. Mia’s decisions ruined their well thought out plan for college and their future life together. Garrett was left hurt, confused, angry, and yet still holding out hope that Mia will come to her senses and go back to him.
It didn’t happen.
Until 8 years later.
And she didn’t even exactly come back in town for him.
A chance meeting at the market, Garrett saw the love of his life, his “the one that got away”, again. Awkwardness, hesitation, and the love they buried deep for each other started resurfacing… slowly but surely. They tried to be friends, went back to hurting each other emotionally, fought their love and affection for each other, but we do know love always wins right? What is beautiful about Ready For You is the journey to that happily ever after that these two characters deserve.
One character who is tough on the outside but miserable on the inside and one who is crushed and doubtful on the outside but spirited on the inside, they complement each other perfectly.
I absolutely love that this book has dual POVs (this is my first book from the series, yes, I know I’m weird) because it made understanding both characters easier, it made me feel for both of them at the same and with the issues that Garrett and Mia faced, and are still facing, having both characters talk about what they are thinking and feeling at a particular scene makes it effortless to sympathize with them.
Ready For You kept me thinking and guessing, what the heck Mia was thinking doing what she did. J.L. Berg built the secret and had it carry on throughout the book. When I realized one of my guesses could be the answer, I already felt devastated. I was almost sure that that was it. No more redeeming Mia for me. But then when I got to the full story… wow. I’m glad I was wrong but then I also felt sad about it especially for Garrett. Yet, for every hurt that they’ve experienced, apart and together, they have been blessed a thousand fold more with their families and friends’ support.
Reading the others’ own family lives and glimpses of their personalities in Garrett and Mia’s story now makes me want to know about them too from the first books in this series. Very well done, J.L. Berg!
Stars: 4.5 stars!
Recommended to: Second-chance romance lovers who want to feel what it’s like to forgive the past and move on to the future.
POV: First person. Dual POV.
Series: Yes. But stand-alone.
Cliffhanger: No.
~ Review by Mara
With our bags loaded, we started to make our way back to the car, weaving through the crowd and enjoying the sounds of people talking and soft music playing. I smiled when I heard a child laughing. I turned to see a child being thrown over his father’s shoulder.
“Garrett! Stop it! I’m too old to be carried!” The child laughed.
“You’re never too old to be tackled, Connor! We’ve got to get you ready for football!”
That voice—even after eight years, I would recognize it anywhere. My stomach fell to the concrete, and my feet cemented to the ground. I was frozen, completely frozen. Everything slowed. The street noise melted away, and each and every shopper disappeared until I saw him. He had the boy slung over his shoulder. They were both laughing and breathless from their horseplay. He looked older, but it was still him. He still had the same jet-black hair, emerald eyes, and dazzling smile. A beautiful blonde woman was smiling at the two of them as they joked around.
My heart finally caught up to my brain, and it felt like a jackhammer was beating hard and fast in my chest. My hands shook, and my knees suddenly felt weak and wobbly. I had no idea how much time had passed since I saw him.
Minutes? Hours?
I didn’t know, but it couldn’t have been long since Liv was just now noticing my crazy behavior.
“Amelia, are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost,” she said.
When I didn’t respond, she must have glanced up because I heard her gasp. She’d seen him, too.
“I-I need to get out of here—now,” I gritted through my teeth.
“Are you sure?”
I just nodded and started to turn. I couldn’t face him. He probably hated me.
He had a kid. That hurt. My hand went to my chest, trying to rub out the pain settling there. He had a child. That meant the blonde standing next to him was probably his wife. Garrett was married. It had been eight years. Of course he would be married. I didn’t know why I was surprised, but he wasn’t supposed to be here. He had moved away. He was supposed to stay away. I couldn’t be here if he was still here. I couldn’t breathe if he was still here.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get to the car,” Liv said gently, grabbing my arm and guiding me toward the car.
I just gave a brief nod as I let her lead me.
We hadn’t made it three steps before I heard the words that made my heart come to a screeching halt.
“Mia? Mia, is that you?”
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.
Every book in the Ready series is so beautiful and full of emotion and great characters! I can't wait for J.L.Bergs next book!! Thanks for the amazing giveaway!!!
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