Review: Still the One by Robin Wells

Title: Still the One
Author: Robin Wells
Available: Now
Number of Pages: 400
Reading Level: Adult




3.5 out of 5 Stars










Description from Goodreads:


After Katie Charmaine's husband is killed in Iraq, all she has left is a closet full of his clothes, a few pictures, and fond memories. She not only lost her love, but her last chance to have the children she's always wanted. Until Zack Ferguson shows up in town . . . with the daughter Katie gave up for adoption nearly seventeen years ago.

Zack Ferguson has never forgotten Katie, or the one magical night they spent together. Seeing her again brings up a tidal wave of emotions: regret over the way he left her, anger at the secret she kept, and desire he hasn't felt in years. But he's in town for Gracie. Their daughter is sixteen, angry at the world, and-worst of all-pregnant. She needs the love of her two parents now more than ever. Can these three forgive the hurts of the past and open their hearts to each other?


My thoughts:


Katie Charmaine is still grieving over the death of her husband who was killed in Iraq two years earlier. Then she receives an unexpected surprise. Zack, the guy Katie fell for during the summer she was 17, has shown up in her small town, and he isn’t alone. He brought with him the daughter Katie gave up for adoption 16 years earlier. 16 year old Gracie is pregnant, and dealing with the death of her adoptive parents. Zack hopes to share joint custody with Katie, and give Gracie the guidance she needs. Factor in the feelings he still has for Katie, and things are bound to get messy.


Katie’s attempts to bond with the daughter she gave up were heartwarming. It wasn’t easy, and Gracie didn’t hesitate to make Katie work for it. As for Zack I have mixed feelings about him. I didn’t feel he was sympathetic enough about what Katie was going through. He seemed to expect her to just forget about her husband, and move on without a shred of guilt with a man who is a self-proclaimed commitment phob. He did get better as the book progressed, and the chemistry between him and Katie can’t be denied. He just never really won me over. I loved the rest of the characters though. Katie and Gracie were fabulous. I also enjoyed the supporting cast of quirky Chartreuse, Louisiana residents.


The book switches points of view many times. We not only “see" life in Chartreuse through Zack and Katie’s eyes, but also Gracie and Katie’s in-laws. That took a little getting used to, but I understand why the author went that route. It made it easier to understand how everyone was feeling about the possibility of Katie moving on. I’d still recommend this book even though I found Zack frustrating. The relationship between Katie and Gracie is reason enough to read.

Robin Wells on the web:

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*Received from the publisher in exchange for my review.