I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Embracing the Change: A River Rain Novel by Kristen Ashley Published by Blue Box Press on September 10, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Pages: 412
Format: ARC, eBook, Paperback
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From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley comes the new book in her River Rain Series, Embracing the Change.
That Kiss…
Gorgeous New York socialite, Nora Ellington has been waiting a very long time for her happily ever after.
So long, she’s given up on it and has decided, even though she’s the plus-one friend without benefits to a man she’s head over heels in love with, an HEA will forever be out of her reach.
Handsome billionaire Jamie Oakley thought he’d had two happily ever afters in his life. However, neither lasted long, and both ended in tragedy. He’s not about to try it again or put his children through the trauma Jamie has learned from experience undoubtedly will come their way.
And he’s made this decision even if the woman who’s become his constant companion is a woman he loves straight to his soul….and wants with everything that is him.
But then, one night, Jamie loses control and kisses Nora.
He can’t go there.
She can’t go on without it.
They’ll never be the same.
Or will they?
He decided never again, and then he met her.
Embracing the Change, an all-new emotional River Rain novel from New
York Times bestselling Kristen Ashley & Blue Box Press is now live!
I love the way this series continues to evolve, new characters come in, other characters settle, and life keeps swirling around this found family that keeps growing by leaps and bounds. ~ Sharon – Simply Love Books
As I’ve said in the past, I am not a lover of billionaire romance, people who are in the media 24/7 just because of their money and fame, luxury items, and all that goes with that lifestyle, but I was around in 2020 for the writing of After the Climb and I just cannot stay away from this group of people who embrace all that comes with a lavish lifestyle while also working to make the world a better place. I will also admit, I have been waiting for the story of Jamie Huxley and Nora Ellington because I knew there was more to them than the “only friends” they claimed and I was delighted by the connection they’d had for years and the way their relationship moved forward in this book as they both deal with people in their past trying to make their lives difficult.
It’s easy to believe that people who have wealth beyond what most of us can comprehend have it all, but both Nora and Jamie have dealt with tragedy, loss, and humiliation during their lives. Jamie married his high school sweetheart who gave him his son Judge, but she was a junkie and she and Jamie’s father did their best to not only keep Judge from him, but to demolish their relationship. Then he loses his second wife to cancer but gains Dru, his daughter of the heart from that relationship. Nora spent years with a philandering husband who ignored her, but she poured everything she had in her into raising her three children and when she divorced him she held her head high and refused to show the world how that relationship broke her. Through friends and family, they end up in the same circle and Nora realizing that Jamie is relying on his daughter as his plus one for society functions, not allowing either one of them to move on from his wife’s death, she volunteers to be his plus one giving his daughter a chance to live her own life. While they enjoy their time together they truly are just friends despite Nora wanting more but refusing to put it out there and despite Jamie wanting more but refusing to do anything about it because he feels he’s already put is family through so much, until one kiss changes it all and not for the better.
I truly had to laugh, I’ve not liked Chloe since book one so when she plans a very elaborate scheme to get Nora and Jamie in the same place to figure it out and then an emergency involving Chloe disrupts it putting her as the center of attention, I was like seriously Chloe! I can’t say Chloe still doesn’t get on my every last nerve, but I can be thankful she helped these two see the light.
This was a busy story with a lot going on and I mean a lot. Jamie’s father and his father’s latest girlfriend rear their ugly heads; Nora’s ex-husband rears his, and most of all Dru’s biological father rears his ugly head. Through it all we see Nora help Jamie keep a level head and Jamie stand beside Nora to show a united front. This book was loaded with emotion, a few surprises, a hint of suspense, some serious heat, and most of all love in all shapes and forms.
I love the way this series continues to evolve, new characters come in, other characters settle, and life keeps swirling around this found family that keeps growing by leaps and bounds. I realize the River Rain series might not be for everyone and I honestly didn’t think it would appeal to me, but I love it and while I have my suspicions on the next pairing in this series, I’ll be happy no matter who Ms. Ashley decides to pair off.
Start reading today!
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Keep reading for a look inside Embracing the Change!
His fork clattered on his plate, the sudden sound surprising me so much, I gave a slight jump as Jamie turned fully to me.
“Right, we’re here.”
Oh dear.
I wasn’t sure what “here” meant.
But I was sure I didn’t want to be there.
He carried on. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, and I’ll give you more time, but I do want to talk about it. However, for now I’ll just say, I can have you as I’ll allow myself to have you.”
As he’ll allow himself to have me?
What on earth did that mean?
“And in so doing, I have you,” Jamie continued. “You mean something to me. You’re mine. You’re a part of my life. You’re a member of my family. And I think you know I take care of those I love, Nora. That being the man I am, I cannot countenance this jackass annoying you or taking your time or infiltrating your life in any way that does not involve the children you share. Am I being clear?”
You’re mine.
I take care of those I love.
You’re…
Mine.
Those…
I…
Love.
“Nora,” he called. “Am I being clear?”
About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over seventy romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Heroes, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil, Mathilda SuperWitch, Dream Team, Wild West MC and Honey series along with several standalone novels.
She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over four million books.
Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana, was a fourth generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She now writes full-time.
Although romance is her genre, the prevailing themes running through all of Kristen’s novels are friendship, family and a strong sisterhood. To this end, and as a way to thank her readers for their support, Kristen has created the Rock Chick Nation, a series of programs that are designed to give back to her readers and promote a strong female community.