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Even Now

Gina Ardito

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After the love of her life left her when she needed him most, Leah Stewart has rebuilt herself, piece by piece. Owner of the Fur-Ever Friends Animal Shelter, she splits all her love and attention between her abandoned pets and her widower father, a man obsessed with his wife’s death. Now, Wyatt is back in town, a rich and famous musician, ready to start over with Leah. But Leah, not quite so forgiving, concocts a fake fiancé to keep Wyatt away from her life and her heart.

Seven years after he fled Osprey Cove with nothing but his guitar and the clothes on his back, Wyatt Blackthorne has come home to the woman he never deserved and never forgot. While Leah has every right to be angry with him for abandoning her, he’s hopeful he can explain his reasons for leaving and regain her trust. Finding out she’s engaged was never in his plans.

Two people, bound by love, yet torn apart by secrets, will have to shred the web of lies they both created to find a happily ever after on the other side.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2018

About the author

Gina Ardito

47 books442 followers

Gina Ardito is the award-winning author of more than twenty romances in contemporary, historical, and paranormal sub-genres. In 2012, she launched her freelance editing business, Excellence in Editing, and now has a stable of award-winning clients, as well.

She’s hosted workshops around the world for writing conferences, author organization chapter meetings, and library events. To her everlasting shame, despite all her accomplishments, she’ll never be more famous than her dog, who starred in commercials for 2015’s Puppy Bowl.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GinaArditoAu...

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

zen_s

1,979 reviews17 followers

October 6, 2023

hmm.... i think the ending just felt kind of rush, kind of like the author doesn't know how to continue anymore therefore just simplify everything like for example what one of the reader mentioned about how the heroine went ways and means to force the hero to backoff, but the ending where they were talking about their past and whatnot thereafter, then the heroine just easily forgive him with the "i love you". i mean...... could have save the readers more time when she listen to him earlier on...

2-read 3-assorted

Katie

28 reviews

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August 18, 2023

MC's were childhood sweethearts but 7 yrs prior H leaves h pregnant & without a word and no communication. He steals a song she wrote and goes public with it and makes it big in a rock band. He does give her credit for writing the song and gives her royalties BUT since the song was written for just the two of them to be played at their wedding, she never gave approval for him to publish it and make it his own. So that pissed me of at the start because I skimmed this thing and didn't see any regret from his part - not even in the end when she confronts him about it and he just shoves it away as his excuse that he paid her!

So seven years go by after he leaves (because he got into a fight with his Father that could have landed him in jail) and he never once calls and comes back to see her. No calls, no texts or emails and this from a guy who kept saying that she was the love of his life and he never stopped loving her!. LOL.

Heroine in the meantime was pregnant when he left and she suffered a miscarriage which required them to do a hysterectomy that left her childless. So not only was she dealing with his betrayal for leaving her & stealing her song without her permission, she also had to deal with losing her kid and her rights to become a Mother one day and on top of that, to lose her mother to cancer as well while asshole was living his carefree life.

Then in the present, her Father contacts him and tells him to come home which BTW, he would never have come home on his own. So he comes home to "win" heroine back BUT he also said that it was perfect timing because he needs new songs as his career is in limbo so that is suspect behavior IMO and he just expects her to forgive me and take him back with just an "I'm Sorry".

Heroine lies she has a fiancee so he could leave her alone and hires a gay actor to convince him. It's not until about 95/97% into the story that the truth comes out as her BFF ratted her out and that pissed me off too because she easily forgave her where I would have bashed her head in for sprouting out her mouth where she had no business to do so!

Then a few pages later we have an ambush and yet another I'm sorry with a lame explanation where he says again that he was wrong and she forgives him. The End.
Where she couldn't forgive him throughout 95% because she freaking was in the right, suddenly she is okay with everything he did because he is sorry?! Yeah, NO!

Since I skimmed this nonsense, I am pretty sure he was not celibate during separation because he said "Too many years of different romantic trysts in different towns with different women had made them all lazy". Heroine on the other hand, of course was celibate.

Give me a break.

Marie Bourgery

3,190 reviews10 followers

August 31, 2018

Leah Stewart was hurt when Wyatt Blackthorne left without saying goodbye 7 years ago and on top of that he used a song she wrote for him to launch his music career. Wyatt came back to Osprey Cove to make amends with Leah, but there are lots of hurt and misunderstandings to overcome. Wyatt never knew that Leah was pregnant, almost died losing the baby, and can’t have kids anymore because of him. Leah never knew that her parents asked Wyatt to stay away from her so she could focus on vet school. But if the past events hadn’t have happened Leah would have never quit school and taken over Fur-Ever Friends Rescue and found her true love saving animals and finding them forever homes and Wyatt may not have been the successful singer he is today. I loved hearing about the animals and all the wonderful work Leah does with them. Her assistant manager Jenny and Wyatt’s bass player Chaz are a riot and I hope they have their own romance story soon.

Tracey

1,299 reviews12 followers

September 2, 2018

This is one amazingly emotional romance! 💞😍😭💞

This is one really good second chance romance with tons of angst for both Leah and Wyatt. I'm not going to give any of the plotline away because it will spoil this truly lovely romance and I would hate to do that. I'll leave it at decisions and choices were made that affected everyone concerned but now they have the chance to be together again. This story will make you laugh and cry and be angry... sometimes all at once. But it is so good! I absolutely loved this book!💕💓💕

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Brandy

755 reviews7 followers

September 4, 2018

I Recommend for OVER 18 DUE TO CONTENT. Leah was deserted by Wyatt because he wanted to become a musician. Leah owns an animal shelter that is in danger after a storm came through and knocked out power so she decides to take the animals to her home where she has her garage setup to house animals in case of an emergency. She is stressed because she is already low on funds to get everything back on and missed out on having a fund raiser to raise money due to the storm. Now her ex Wyatt is coming back to town to do a concert.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Tanya

15.2k reviews97 followers

September 2, 2018

She was heartbroken when he ups and left her behind so she slowly rebuilds her life. She now run a animal shelter and looks after her father. He comes back after making his dreams come true. Now he wants her back but she tells him she is engaged. She lies about that. What will he do now? Will he right for her? See what will happen

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Barbara

18.2k reviews8 followers

September 1, 2018

A second chance book and is the first book in the Osprey Cove Pets series it is Leah and Wyatt's story and is an emotional story. I recommend this book. This is the first book by this Author that I have read but I would like to read more in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Carol

749 reviews4 followers

September 2, 2018

This is Leah and Wyatt's second chance. This was a great storyline. Love the animals and the storyline. The side characters made a good addition to the story. Secrets and lies, meteling family, see if the love that Leah and Wyatt have can overcome their past and have a happy future. I received it from booksprout and voluntarily left my review.

Deb

7,100 reviews28 followers

December 1, 2018

The storyline was wonderfully written with a great cast of characters. I thought the parents tried to do the right thing but it led to so many things going wrong. I cried for her and I was a bit mad at him. A wonderful story.

Smo

491 reviews

August 18, 2023

Errr no. Heroine spends 7 years living a life of a nun. What a load of crap.

Eliana Stellet

2,804 reviews23 followers

November 26, 2023

4.5

Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review

2,138 reviews29 followers

January 4, 2022

-‘“Forget it. I’ve got a life here, and it doesn’t include you anymore.”
“So, that’s it?” Wyatt demanded. “You’re not even gonna consider giving us another chance to make this work?”
“No.” Before he could see the hurt in her eyes, she dropped her gaze to the mountain of paperwork on her cluttered desk. “I guess that makes us even now, huh?”-

It’s been so long since Gina Ardito published a new, clean romance. At least, it feels that way to me. Now I know why. She needed the time to perfect this great story. I loved it! The conversation between characters just flowed so smoothly, I felt I was right there in the room, living it all alongside them, rather than just observing as an outsider. It was captivating. The characters seemed so real. Chaz had me laughing out loud. Loved the banter between him and Jenny.

-‘I really don’t need you, you know. Oddly enough, I never have.” He winced and sucked in a breath. “I get it. I hurt you all those years ago. Now, it’s your turn to hurt me. Are we even now?”’-

Oof. Harsh. These two sure have the power to hurt each other. They both have meaningful secrets they are keeping from each other. Bitter, she won’t forgive, holding onto grudges and hurt, she won’t let go of the past. Wyatt wants her forgiveness. He wants her back. He’s got a big secret of his own too. Will Leah forgive him and take him back? Or will she convince him to leave town and never come back?

I highly recommend this book. Some mild swearing. No descriptive sex. Some heavy issues and may not be appropriate for sensitive or younger readers.

Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews