ABOUT THE BOOK

Dougie
Rich girl, poor boy. It was the oldest story. Yet it was ours. I knew Penelope was different the moment I laid eyes on her. But all she wanted was to be friends-with-benefits. My best friend told me not to f*ck the new girl. He didn’t say anything about marrying her. Or what might happen if we broke our vows.

Penelope
I was the rebellious trust fund baby. The one who threw the finger to her parents. I designed a life I loved.
No rules, no expectations. Something easy. Dougie didn’t want easy, he wanted commitment. Babies, marriage, the postcard perfect house in the ‘burbs. The life. It was all ours. Until it wasn’t. All we had now were lies and betrayal. Lies that might just cost us everything.

MY REVIEW

I was intrigued by Dougie and Penelope’s poor boy/rich girl dynamic when I was reading Maria and Jordan’s story in Veritas. No doubt this story is a multiple-tissue read when two people who love each other so much can’t get past a careless indiscretion threatening to tear them apart forever. 

Nothing hurts more than a marriage that is imploding. Dougie and Penelope are opposites who love deeply and completely, but when their best-laid plans develop unexpected surprises, their fears and insecurities result in lies and secrets.

A.L. Woods’ writing is superb. The male POV in her books is so stark and gritty. She allows Dougie to be vulnerable and weak without taking away his strength and decency. I adore Dougie’s confidence and kindness while trying to do what’s right. His devotion to Penelope is extraordinary. Penelope is feisty and blunt and only wants to be loved for herself after being raised by two wealthy, snobbish, robots who cared only about appearances. She doesn’t care what her selfish parents think, Dougie is her world now and she is elated to create a future with such a good man and their beautiful son Christopher.  But life becomes overwhelming starting with an obnoxious wedding they didn’t want and an unspeakable incident where Penelope starts to change and pushes Dougie away.  Hurting and feeling unloved, Dougie proceeds to make a bad decision and they are plunged into living a lie.

Their anguish expands to their loving friends and family as Dougie and Penelope isolate themselves in their misery and despair leaving them feeling unworthy of each other and their life. Reaching her breaking point, Penelope decides to open up to her friends and family who give her the advice and courage she needs to confess her heartbreaking secret to Dougie.

When they give each other time to love themselves first before finding their way back to each other, it is the most heartwarming feel-good romantic ending I’ve read in a very long time.  The growth in these characters is so inspiring as they overcome their guilt and unworthiness and fall in love all over again.

As for supporting characters, watching Dougie and his grumpy best friend Sean make up after not speaking for months is both funny with their alpha male stances and rewarding with their masculine love. Penelope’s best friend Raquel is also a truly wonderful and protective friend who loves Penelope unconditionally and gives Dougie her tough love.

I can’t tell you how much I loved this book as I laughed, cried, and tumbled head over heels for these amazing and resilient characters and their beautiful and heartbreaking long road to a well-deserved and well-earned HEA. Grab a box of tissues and pick up this fantastic book. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Ms. Woods for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A.L. Woods is an author of rollercoaster romances, caffeine aficionado, and collector of Sailor Moon paraphernalia.

She lives 40 minutes west of Toronto, Ontario with her partner, Michael, and their 8lb larger-than-life miniature dachshund, Maia-whom they lovingly refer to as their ‘doghter.’

Woods can be found holed away in her office writing her next novel with a bowl of Nibs within arm’s reach. When she’s not writing, she’s likely belting out an ad-libbed song, emotionally investing in a fictional bad boy with a strong jawline and fluency in sarcasm or inventing fresh ways to procrastinate.

She believes that burritos should be in their own food group, loves the fall, winged liner,
and listening to metalcore at an offensive level.

Follow Ms. Woods on her website, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Bookbub, and her newsletter.

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