Customer Reviews

Still the One

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

STILL THE ONE by Robin Wells is a story full of heartache, pain, and love. Like so many other wives before her, Katie suffers the shock of finding that her husband has been killed during his second tour of duty in Iraq. That right there should be enough to hook many readers and tug on a few heartstrings. Ms. Wells takes the story of the war widow and brings it to life within the pages of this book. Readers are left to ponder the question of what they would do if their spouse, their love, was gone, leaving behind only a few material possessions and no biological legacy.

That's certainly what ripped my heart open anyway.

It's not enough that Katie's husband is dead, he has to leave her with no children as well. What could make this situation any worse than it already is? Katie has actually already had a child and gave that baby girl up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago. Still raw with the pain of losing her husband and therefore the opportunity to have children and family of her own, Katie is in for a nasty surprise when an ex-lover shows up along with her sixteen-year-old daughter.

What made STILL THE ONE such a great ready was Ms. Wells ability to create a realistic and believable story while manipulating our emotions in every way imaginable. One would think, okay, so Gracie and Zack show up. So what? It's not like the sudden appearance of her daughter would be enough to suddenly put joy into Katie's heart. The daughter might be angry and could just walk out and leave, then where would Katie be? And Zack? What reason would he have to stay? He's the father to Gracie and only just recently discovered as much. He has every reason in the world to be mad at Katie for not telling him about their child.

Ms. Wells solves this dilemma by introducing a reason why the three need to stay together - Gracie is pregnant. Gracie needs her parents in this confusing time and both Katie and Zack have to find a way to forgive each other in order to help her. Who knows, perhaps forgiveness will remind the two of the connection their hearts once shared.

I found the mix of pain and love in STILL THE ONE to be the main factor in keeping the pages flipping as fast as my eyes would allow. Simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful, Ms. Wells writes a story that sticks in the mind and permeates dreams. Her characters are relatable and it's impossible not to feel a certain amount of involvement with them. This is one of those books where, once the last page has turned and the characters are left behind, you sit staring at the back cover trying to figure out what you feel such a sense of loss and loneliness.

I recommend STILL THE ONE to any fans of romance fiction. I couldn't ask for a more touching story, one that truly gives you hope in the world and the people in it. As a sidetone, if you've read Between the Sheets by Robin Wells, you will probably recognize some characters and references in STILL THE ONE.

Author Robin Wells is an accomplished romance author, having written over a dozen titles for Harlequin and won the National Readers' Choice Award for her title, Baby, Oh Baby. She has also won the prestigious National Golden Heart Award from the Romance Writers of America, and her novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Before writing romance she was an advertising and public relations executive. Other titles include: Wild About You, Between the Sheets, Ooh La La, Babe Magnet, Plain Jane Gets Her Man, The Wedding Kiss, The Executive's Baby, and Nine to Five Bride. She resides just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana with her husband and two daughters.

Two years ago Katie Charmaine's husband was killed in his second tour of duty in Iraq, leaving her only with a closet full of clothes, some pictures, and fond memories. Despite her friends meddling in her life, she doesn't want a romantic entanglement, knowing the love she lost was her true soul mate. Then Zack Ferguson shows up in town with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption seventeen years ago. Zack was Katie's first love, and apparently she hasn't gotten over the chemistry that once flared between them. But Zack was and still is a commitment phobe, so what was the point in going down that road again? Except now there was Gracie to consider. Their daughter is seventeen, pregnant, and needs both her parents to help her through this ordeal after losing her adoptive parents. Can these three forgive the sins and hurt from the past to become a real family?

I had the pleasure of reading one of Robin's other books for review, HOW TO SCORE, which was a hilarious read, but this book was more of a heart-breaker tugging at the emotions. And that's in no way a complaint. Every once and awhile you read a book that stays with you. This is one of them.

I love a good southern drama. The setting in Louisiana was ideal. This is also the perfect example of a hero and heroine who warrant a happily ever after. You can't help but feel their pain, loss, and struggle as you root for them to be happy. Same goes for the secondary characters. From Gracie to Annette to Dave, they jump off the page and propel the plot. A perfect book to curl up with on the beach or by the fire. Not to be missed!

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer

I absolutely loved this story. Katie's inability to let go of her husband was so sad to me. I've lost family members before, but I think loosing someone who you've decided to spend your life with must be devastating. However, I think that at some point you do have to move on with your life. Zack and Gracie were just what Katie needed to move on. I got the sense that she was really ready to move on, but her heart was standing in the way. Which is all understandable.

I didn't really "relate" to any of the characters, as I've never been in any of their situations. But they were still great characters. Zack was so head strong and thought he would be able to come in "fix" what was wrong and go back to his normal life. But Gracie and Katie, unintentionally, set his life on a different path. And Gracie, wow, what a work of art she was. But again, with every thing going on in her life, how could she not be a mess emotionally.

As with most all romance stories I knew how it would end, but with this one having pegged the entire end of the story was not at all a disappointment. It was such a great ending. There weren't many loose ends with this one, but I would love to read a book that focuses on Gracie and the struggles that come with being a young mother. I think that would be a great addition to the story.

I don't give out 5-star ratings that often, and I'm not 100% sure what it was about this one that compelled me to dole one out this time: I think it was a mixture of great writing, a touching story, believable characters, and situations that most anyone could picture themselves in. Plus this book just left me feeling so warm and happy.

A review copy of this book was provided by the author. This is not a paid review and is a truthful and honest review.

This was a nice light, romantic read. The story was very current and I fell in love with the characters who all seemed to be hurting and needing to find a way to move on with their lives. I loved the setting of Chartreuse, Louisiana. It was small community which is my kind of place. If you like a nice contemporary romance novel, this one fits the bill. It's a nice story of forgiveness and second chances.

In case you missed it, this book was just named a 2011 RITA Finalists for Contemporary Single Title Romance. I read it when it first came out and it was great. well worth a read now that it is nominated.

most of the people in the book was good. the hero was bad. he blamed gracie's real mother for her atitude toward them. she loved his daughter. he should be thankful.

I was in need of a good romance. I'm in the middle of quite a few non-fiction books and it was just time to take a break from the seriousness and read a good love story.

If this tells you anything about how good the book is, I started it this afternoon and finished it just a few minutes ago, all 412 pages of it.

From the start you get pulled in to Zack and Katie's relationship, the shock of finding out about Gracie, the turmoil between Katie's mother and father in law. And you're rooting for all of them the whole way through the book. Gracie, and her losses adding on to the a pregnancy at such a young age. It's no wonder the girl was in pain. The turmoil that Katie feels about her feelings towards Zack after losing her husband (in such a valiant way), Robin portrays that so well through her words. The side story of Katie's mother in law trying to come to grips with her ex-husband's infidelity and his alcoholism. I could feel their pain, their hurt, their turmoil. I loved the book!

My only complaint? I wanted more. That's usually my only complaint with a good romance novel. You want to read more about how the family turns out after the conclusion to their immediate dilemmas. But alas, every good book must come to an end.

I would love to see another book, following up with Gracie some years down the road. Dealing with how her baby was conceived and finding the perfect man for her.

I received this book for review, but that does not affect my opinions. I either like a book or I don't. :)

Although the plot of this book is rather predictable, it has some very nice qualities which make it a worthwhile read. Robin Wells does a good job of depicting the struggle of conflicting emotions as a person seeks to overcome feelings of rejection and reach forgiveness and reconciliation. She also describes well some of the challenges of teenage pregnancy, especially the losses involved in no longer being a "normal" teen and the feelings of alienation at being "different." The book has many touching moments, spiced up with a dash of lust! I was pleased to have received this book free from [...] to preview.

This sweet romance will bring a few tears to your eyes, but in a good way. I keep forgetting how much I love romance novels and then one like this comes along to remind me. I appreciate that you can buy a great read for under $7 and this one is just perfect for summer. There is a lot to like about this story: a reunion of mother and daughter and the father who didn't know that she existed. The characters and situations are wonderfully drawn and believable.

You can win a copy of this on my blog ends 6.10.10 [...]

STILL THE ONE by Robin Wells is a Inspirational Contemporary Romance set in modern day Chartreuse,Louisiana. It is well written with depth and detail. This is a heartwarming story of first love and the consequences of that love. It is about forgiveness, romance, betrayal, family drama, reuniting with first love, second chances at love and happiness. The characters both the hero and heroine and the secondary characters will pull at your heart strings.When the hero founds out he has a daughter seventeen, he did not even know about, but she finds him after the death of her adopted parents. She is also pregnant. One of the options her adopted aunt sets is he and the birth mother must share joint custody of the young teenager.The heroine always hoped to one day meet the daughter she had to give up as a teenager, who wanted to give her child the best life possible. What inspires is a wonderful, heartwarming story of love and second chances.I would recommend this story if you enjoy love, romance and second chances. This book was received for review and details can be found at Grand Central Publishing and My Book Addiction and More.