Once Forbidden, Twice Shy by Carrie Aarons is live!
Running from your problems only brings you hurtling face first into even worse baggage.
After experiencing a brutal trauma in New York that I'd rather bury than address, escaping to a new job in London seems like the perfect solution. That was before I was introduced to my new boss, who is none other than my brother's best friend. You know, the one I've been head-over-heels in love with forever.
Jack Merrick had been my crush since I knew what one was. For years we fought the feelings; I didn't want to humiliate myself and his excuse was not betraying my brother or parents, who had accepted him as their own. Then, the night of my college graduation party, he undressed me in my childhood bedroom and confirmed that there was no one else on this earth for him but me.
When I woke the next morning he was gone, off to take a job as a coder halfway around the world. Four years and a mangled heart later, Jack is the last person I expect to see in London, and something close to fate is tricking me into thinking this is more than a coincidence. Our shared love of programming has always connected us, but now it's the thing we're weaponizing to get back at each other.
Until one night, when the emotional scars from my attack resurface and he's the only one to witness a massive breakdown. He coaxes out my secrets and swears to love and protect me like he couldn't before. But with everything stacked against us, I'm not sure we can ever have what we've always dreamed of.
Except just as we're beginning to tackle those obstacles, I learn the truth of why he left all those years ago. And suddenly there may be no future for us at all.
Caroline's Review
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was an enjoyable, tropetastic read! It was enemies-to-lovers, best-friend's sister, office romance, and second chance romance.
"This is the boy who had been my childhood crush, my teenage dream, and my adult fantasy. One that had actually come true until he shattered me into a million pieces."
When Taylor Arnold starts her first day at her new job in London, the last person she expects to see is Jack Merrick - the guy who broke her heart four years ago. She escaped New York to have a fresh start, but looks like her past has followed her.
"Imagine never being able to tell a single soul about the girl you've been in love with for half you life."
Jack can't believe that the one girl who's always owned his heart is right back in his orbit. He disappeared on her after one unforgettable night. He had his reasons but, now that they're seeing each other every day, he feels like it might be his second chance. However, she feels just as forbidden now as she did before.
"The only thing I see is you. In a room full of hundreds of people, I can't look anywhere else. You're my sun. You're gravity. There's nothing else in my orbit."
This was a really enjoyable read. Taylor and Jack were clearly so in love with each other and had been since forever. However, Jack had gone about things completely wrong and, as a consequence, he had to work hard to earn Taylor's trust back. I felt sorry for the guy though when the reasons for his disappearance were revealed. They had amazing chemistry and I loved that once Jack broke down Taylor's walls, he was willing to do anything for her. His desire and love for her were palpable. Did I think she was prone to overreaction? Yeah, but I guess she had her reasons, and I appreciated that someone close to her gave her some tough love. I was Team Jack all the way!
