Review: All I Need by Jennifer Van Wyk
Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR.
All I Need is my first read from Jennifer Van Wyk, and it proved to be quite a revelation, especially in terms of just how good Van Wyk's writing is. The beginning of this story of hers sounded very familiar--bride ready to walk down the aisle discovers her groom cheating on her with--gasp!--her maid of honor and decides to walk out on the whole sordid affair. That's soon followed up with her meeting a man who will end up changing her world in more ways than one. So yeah, I worried that this was going to be a run-of-the-mill runaway bride romance, but I stayed the course and kept reading, and I'm glad I did because the author put me in my place by giving me a love story that was both heartrending and heartwarming while also making sure that she added her own creative touch to it.
It would be bad enough if you find out your husband-to-be cheating has cheated on you once, but twice? Well, let's just say that thirty-four-year-old Ellie Cummings has had that streak of bad luck touch her two times too many. What she needs is a place to just be because she certainly doesn't need to lay her heart down on the line yet again just to strike out. Having Walker McKinstry happen upon her just as she's about to beat the crap out of her ex's prized car proves to be a blessing. The thirty-five-year-old veterinarian recognizes her need for some peace and solace and takes her to their town of Liberty. From Miss Polly who provides her shelter to the rest of the townsfolk, Liberty is beginning to feel like home, and Walker is starting to feel like someone that Ellie never knew she needed.
There's something about small town romances that gives me this satisfied feeling when done really well, and Jennifer Van Wyk? She did it exceptionally well. Ellie and Walker's story wasn't your usual romance, and I liked that the slow burn touch here allowed a reader like me to truly get to know both of them better so that it felt as if I was growing in the relationship alongside them. There were quite a few memorable people from Liberty, a number of whom happened to be couples. I know that this is supposed to be a standalone, but there were moments wherein it felt as if I was missing a bit of something. A quick search on Goodreads showed me that the author's previous books were, indeed, tied together--and now they're on my to-be-read list. Other than that, I absolutely fell in love with this story and its characters and look forward to reading even more from Van Wyk. All I Need garners 4.5 stars. ♥
It would be bad enough if you find out your husband-to-be cheating has cheated on you once, but twice? Well, let's just say that thirty-four-year-old Ellie Cummings has had that streak of bad luck touch her two times too many. What she needs is a place to just be because she certainly doesn't need to lay her heart down on the line yet again just to strike out. Having Walker McKinstry happen upon her just as she's about to beat the crap out of her ex's prized car proves to be a blessing. The thirty-five-year-old veterinarian recognizes her need for some peace and solace and takes her to their town of Liberty. From Miss Polly who provides her shelter to the rest of the townsfolk, Liberty is beginning to feel like home, and Walker is starting to feel like someone that Ellie never knew she needed.
There's something about small town romances that gives me this satisfied feeling when done really well, and Jennifer Van Wyk? She did it exceptionally well. Ellie and Walker's story wasn't your usual romance, and I liked that the slow burn touch here allowed a reader like me to truly get to know both of them better so that it felt as if I was growing in the relationship alongside them. There were quite a few memorable people from Liberty, a number of whom happened to be couples. I know that this is supposed to be a standalone, but there were moments wherein it felt as if I was missing a bit of something. A quick search on Goodreads showed me that the author's previous books were, indeed, tied together--and now they're on my to-be-read list. Other than that, I absolutely fell in love with this story and its characters and look forward to reading even more from Van Wyk. All I Need garners 4.5 stars. ♥
Date Read: 29 October 2018
Learn more about Jennifer Van Wyk.
Purchase All I Need on Amazon.
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