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Second Half (Coach’s Shadow Trilogy, #1) by Monica DeSimone – Review by Jenni Bishop

Second Half (Coach's Shadow Trilogy, #1)Second Half by Monica DeSimone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zoey McEvoy has not been whole since the love of her life walked away shattering her, taking her to some deep dark places. They were meant to be a team, the two of them against the world. She has spent the last eight years trying to make herself whole again but has been barely hanging on. Zoey has tried to put herself back together, trying to rebuild herself one step at a time, one piece at a time. Now she is faced with the man who walked away from her and piece by piece she is losing herself again. But the truths she learns tears her heart and show she really didn’t know the people who were meant to love her the most. How can she ever let this man back into her life after what he has done to her? She is supposed to be a strong independant woman but this man can bring hr to her knees. When he learns the truth of what happened all those years ago will he still want her?

Derrick Henderickson chose his career over the woman he supposedly loved. Now he is back and determined to get her back. But when he finds out the secret she has been hiding it breaks his heart. He realises that he did not just hurt her but he completely and utterly broke her to a depth he finds hard to comprehend. How can he win back the one woman he decimated? How can he get her to trust him again? Now he finds himself in a fight for her but will she ever let him back in? How can he prove to her that he will never walk away from her again? How can he prove to her that she has only ever been the one he has ever loved?

Will Zoey and Derrick finally find common ground? Will they be able to find their way back to each other? Can he repair the damage he has done to this beautiful soul?

This is the first book of the series and it is a good read. There is lots of heartbreak and learning to trust again in this beautiful bad sad story. The female characters in this story have so much strength and compassion that you can’t help but want to stay with them every step of the way. Monica weaves a story that you feel to your soul?

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Encroachment (Coach’s Shadow Trilogy, #2) by Monica DeSimone – Review by Jenni Bishop

Encroachment (Coach's Shadow Trilogy, #2)Encroachment by Monica DeSimone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Claire McEvoy’s is continuing to live her life under the fear and hurt and agonizing pain from being assaulted as a teenager. Claire has built a life time of walls, boxes, pu chains on and locked her heart up tight to everyone. Only one good thing came of that violent night and that one thing is her life. She lost so much that night, her innocence, her family and her best friend. Claire has learnt only one way to cope and that is to spend all her time and energy on taking care of everyone else. To make sure her girls have everything and want for nothing. She is never meant to find happiness and is ok with her lot in life. Claire has never let a man into her life since that night and never will. That is until she is rail roaded by the one person that may break down her barriers. But can she let him in?

Jackson Alexander lost it all twenty three years ago. Not only did he lose his best friend but he lost his dreams keeping the terrible ugly secret of that night from the past. He did it for her because he loved her, still loves her, he has loved Claire since she was fifteen years old. Even though she pushed him away, he has decided he is back and he will not let her push him away again. He thought friendship with her would sustain him but no more. Her time for running is over. She just doesn’t know it yet. Claire will certainly push and run but he will push harder. He loves his girls and his mission is to make them his. When he realised the past is in town and threatens all that he loves he vows and declares that he will do everything he has to make them feel safe, loved and wanted. To make sure they have everything they were denied.

Can Claire finally overcome the past? Can she learn to let a man in? Will she finally learn what it means to be loved? Will Claire finally be free of the past or will said past be to much to bear? Is Jackson the one to make Claire whole?

This story is sweet and romantic and had me laughing a few times even though it is based around a violent sensitive tragedy. I enjoyed the family of the characters. This book pulled at my emotions indicating that the author has done a good job at writing.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Encroachment (Coach’s Shadow Trilogy, #2) by Monica DeSimone – Review by Jana Teppih

Encroachment (Coach's Shadow Trilogy, #2)Encroachment by Monica DeSimone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Encroachment is the second book in Monica DeSimone’s Coach’s Shadow Trilogy. I guess you could read it as a standalone but reading the first book would give you some background information on the other characters that appear in the story. The series is a sport romance and by now, I can say I am a fan of sports romance! I loved how Monica showed us what happened to the characters from the first book and that is why I stand with the statement that you absolutely should read the first book before starting on this one!
This story takes you through a gamut of emotions, I cried and I laughed and I raged and I was so proud of the heroine that I could barely contain it! The writer has created another story that pulls you from the first page! She has created characters that bring along a journey and make us feel what they are feeling and I am telling you, they feel deep so you feel deep …
This story is about Claire McEvoy and Jackson ‘Jack’ Alexander. Jack has loved Claire since she was 15 years old and he was 22 when they were the best friends. He knows the secret Claire has been hiding for the past 23 years, he knows the violence she lived through and admires her for how she has picked up the pieces and what kind of a woman she has become. Jack has never forgotten about Claire and has always kept his eyes on her and now, when he is back in her life, he will NOT allow her to push him away.
Throughout the story, we are kept on tenterhooks, will Jack succeed and pull down the walls Claire has had to build to cope with the violence she experienced when she was 15. Will he get her to trust him …? Will he win her …? Will Claire give Jack a chance to make her happy …?
I cannot wait for the third book in the series, I hope she does not keep us waiting too long … We need to find out what happens next!!!

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