Meant to Be by Jennifer Probst

Two broken hearts discover an unpredictable path to healing in an emotional romance about fate and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

It’s been two years since Chiara Kennedy lost her dearest friend, Rory. Chiara misses everything about her. Rory’s widowed husband is another story. Sebastian Ryder is a man Chiara had secretly wanted, let slip away, and hoped to never see again. Then fate throws them together for an unexpected one-night stand and a morning after of new challenges.

Sebastian had a soul mate in Rory. Shutting down after his tragic loss, he kept a cool distance from everyone—including Chiara, with whom he once shared a deep if fleeting affection. That was over and done with a long time ago. But when they meet again, old emotions resurface along with a heart-wounding past that haunts them both.

As Chiara and Sebastian grow closer, finally getting to know each other, Chiara struggles with feelings of guilt even as she cherishes her second chance with Sebastian. Will fate allow them to overcome the past, or are they destined to always wonder if they are truly meant to be?

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
I honestly don't know which genre or trope I would slide this into. Jennifer Probst is an excellent author; however, the story seems to be a bit overplayed at times.

Chiara happens to meet Sebastian at a club, they have a great night of talking and getting to know each other and go their separate ways at the end of the night. No kissing, no sex, and no exchange of numbers. Truly a great night of talking about dreams, love and loves lost, and where the universe would take them next.

Still, Chiara uses this "perfect night" as a standard as to what she wants in a longtime partner, and even on occasion thinks, "What if?" As crazy as it sounds, when Chiara runs into him again, it's because one of her besties, Rory, has introduced him as her fiancé. Rather than telling everyone, including her bestie, that she had met Sebastian before, she pretends not to know him and spends the next several years being rude, if not hostile, towards him.

I don't understand why Rory, or their two close friends, didn't confront Chiara about her blatant dislike of Sebastian, nor do I understand why Chiara felt the need to conceal the fact that she knew Sebastian from before. Then Rory dies and Chiara is quick to place blame on Sebastian. Again, not sure why or why her friends let her get away with it.

Sebastian is another story. He allows himself to be the villain in Chiara's story. For whatever reason, he doesn't tell Rory that he spent an innocent night talking to Chiara, yet instead takes the rudeness and hostility from Chiara. And as for Rory's death, he gladly takes on that guilt as well.

The reader is well into the book before Chiara is able to see outside herself to consider Sebastian's feelings regarding his wife and her death. While it doesn't change much, it does allow for a bit of growth in character.

I'm not sure why Sebastian decides he wants to have a relationship with a woman who has treated him badly for so many years, but as they said back in the day "love makes you do the whacky."

I'm not sure I'll read the next book in the series as this one just didn't hold my interest.

 

 

JENNIFER PROBST wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She holds a masters in English Literature and lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Her family keeps her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. Her passions include horse racing, Scrabble, rescue dogs, Italian food, and wine—not necessarily in that order.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the New York Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a “romance phenom” by Kirkus Reviews. She is also a proud three-time RITA finalist.

Connect with Jennifer Probst

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Probst Posse Street Team

 

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Meant to Be (Twist of Fate #1) by Jennifer Probst to read and review.