You Only by Melanie Jayne
Date of Publication: January 12, 2016
Blurb
Fifteen years ago the hometown princess ran away...
Her prince, Finn Webber, has moved on but he never forgot his heartbreak.Now, Hale Cameron, his lost love, is back and he is curious.This new Hale is smart, sassy and sexy.
Hale is back home and all grown up. She's smarter and sassier. But there are still things she needs to resolve, one of which is Finn Webber, the guy whose heart she broke. She hopes he can forgive her for her past mistakes. What she doesn't expect is his reaction to her.
Time may have passed, but old feelings are still alive. Find out what happens when the hometown princess comes home and discovers
Available From
Amazon (Kindle)
You Only is an amazing tale of second chance romance. Hale and Finn did not end things on good terms fifteen years ago, in fact they didn't really end on any speaking terms at all, as Hale fled their hometown leaving behind a ring and a note. Now that she's home to take care of her dying father, and taking the reigns of the family business, Hale has some explaining to do.
Finn could never understand why Hale left and was deeply hurt by it. He's not gotten over it in the years since and still finds himself hurt and upset but also he has a need to find out some answers. But what Finn doesn't expect is that there was a lot more to Hale's leaving than he could have thought and perhaps she doesn't/didn't deserve his dislike.
Hale has struggled for fifteen years with leaving her family, friends, and Finn. But she had her reasons, good ones, to her at least. She had things to work through, both emotionally and otherwise. Hale finds that not much in town has changed, other than people's reactions to her. But Hale's changed, she's grown and knows how to better handle herself in certain situations. And Hale's not going to take any muck that she doesn't have too.
As we discover more pieces of Hale's past, both with Finn and earlier than that, its not hard to see how much she's changed and what she's overcome. As the two of them fight a combustible chemistry that is still forefront after all this time, after all the pain and the truths of the past, it is easy to see that Love can overcome anything.
Melanie Jayne has given us a truly beautiful love story, and more importantly it has a very realistic feeling to it, because it wasn't easy or smooth. Finn and Hale's love was hard won and worth every bit of the journey to get them to this time. Their relationship started at a time where they were not well suited, yes there was love and joy then, but there were other pieces that didn't line up properly. I loved how we got to see how Hale put herself together and figured out who she really was and the person she could show others.
This story was very emotional at times, but also had sweet swoony moments. The townspeople could really set you off on a rant, but they could also make you want to move right in next door. I loved the small town feel of this book, and felt that the setting added an extra layer to the story.
About Melanie Jayne
I live on a grain farm southeast of Indianapolis, Indiana with my very patient husband of twenty-five years and our two English Mastiffs, Buster Brown and Ginger. I graduated from Indiana University when it was the #1 party school in the country and I took great pride in helping the school achieve that ranking.
I haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I change careers every decade. I have worked in retail, a federal courtroom, travelled across the state closing loans, and behind the scenes in a casino.
I've always had an active imagination so when a good friend suggested that I try writing a book, I thought why not, it should be fun. It has, but I have had to work very hard to learn how to do it. I am so lucky for the outpouring of advice and education from so many in the industry, plus the hand-holding and cheerleading from My Gurls. I also have an incredible Ad-man-istrative Assistant, who tries to keep me under control. He rolls his eyes so much that I worry about a permanent condition.
When I ‘m not working or writing type stuff, I sleep, watch courtroom TV shows, and sports. I was a competitive pro-am ballroom dancer for ten years and I read as many books as I can.
I love to attend Author-Reader Conventions and look forward to meeting you.
Find Melanie Jayne Online
Teaser
Fifteen Years Ago
Hale Cameron looked around the small apartment slowly, trying to memorize every nook and cranny. It was Finn's apartment, but after their engagement, she'd been there almost every night. She'd moved more of her things into the space that Finn had willingly shared. Then, as the preparations for the Glass trial took more and more of Finn's time, she'd stayed over less and less.
"Honey, the clock's ticking. What's left to do?" her dad asked quietly.
"Everything's packed and loaded. I think we're done here," Hale replied as she circled the living room, touching a book on one of the shelves, straightening the antique hourglass that she had given Finn during their first Christmas together.
"I thought there would be more of your stuff here." Hale focused on Jasmine Wayne Benton, her best friend since infancy. Jasmine looked like she wanted to make a run for the door.
"You can go. Thanks for all of your help. I know this puts you in a tough position." Jasmine's fiancé was Finn's best friend. She'd have to explain to him, and therefore Finn, why Hale was leaving. How could she explain what she didn't understand?
Jasmine took a deep breath as she approached Hale. "I just want you to be happy. You could stay, maybe you and Finn could work things out. I don't want you to leave."
Hale hugged her friend. "I have to go, Jazz. I need to get away from this town. I need to figure out who I am and I can't do it here."
"I would help you."
"I know you would, but I need to do this on my own."
"I wish you would wait and talk to Finn. What time is he supposed to get back?"
"The interview with Channel 8 News is being taped at three and after that he has to meet with a reporter from the Indianapolis Star. He'll be tied up for hours. He might not even miss me until tomorrow."
"He should never have taken on the job of representing Doug Glass."
"That was just a part of our many problems. The Glass case will make his career. He's a media star for winning the case. You know how important that is to him."
Jasmine pulled Hale's left hand into hers and gently rubbed the now unadorned ring finger. "He loves you. This is going to kill him."
"I tried and tried to tell him that I was unhappy. He was either too busy to talk, or told me that I should be happy that he treated me like a princess." Bitterness crept into her tone. "I don't want to be that kind of woman."
"You mean like me?" Jasmine turned defensive.
"No, not like you. You're doing what you want, right? You love Izzy. You're going to graduate and teach kids. Have the career you chose. Someday you'll have some kids of your own, run the PTA, and be a great mom. Finn's plan for me is to enjoy our engagement, be pretty, smile, and attend dinners, and then after we marry, stay at home and join charity committees. I would be his accessory. That's not me. I want to be a partner, and I want my voice to be heard. I need to find out who I am so I can have a voice."
"Can't the two of you work this out?"
"Finn wants to give that life to his wife. I don't want it. These past months have been miserable. I can't live like this."
Jasmine started to speak but Hale cut her off. "I'm going to miss you, but I have to go somewhere that my family's name means nothing. Somewhere I'm not judged by my mama's actions or my daddy's money. I've done nothing to earn my place, everything I have comes from family money. I need to figure out who I am and I can't do that here. Plus, there's a part of me that's broken and the only person that can fix me is me."
Hale kissed Jasmine's cheek and gave her one last hug. She watched her best friend walk to the door and leave.
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