This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book is a small town second chance romance. One of my favorite tropes! Katie goes back to her hometown and comes face to face with the boy she left broken hearted ten years prior. Their lives have changed and went opposite directions but can they rekindle their love? This story is a quick, easy read and will make you smile.
Reviewed by @darianamee21
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I absoluetly enjoyed reading this very sweet, wholesome book from a new to me author! I am excited to not only find more by this author but hope this story has more to come one day! The characters are perfectly developed and the hook to bring readers in was perfect from start to finish!
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is not my first novel by this terrific author, but it is by far my favorite. This is one of my new favorite authors and I automatically snap up every thing she releases. Her characters in this one are terrific, well developed, and so easy to relate to that you can’t help but feel all of their emotions. The word building was great, the story line was amazing, and by the end of story I was in tears. But that won’t stop me from picking up the next novel.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A heartwarmingly sweet romance which had me happily turning the pages. Katie returns to her hometown to attend a friend’s wedding but does not have a date, and so the bride sets her up with her cousin. Katie is surprised when she comes face to face with her date, to discover it’s her ex boyfriend, Chase. Chase only agreed to the date for his cousin, the last thing he wanted was to see the girl who had broken his heart ten years earlier when she left for the big city. Things have certainly changed for Chase over the years, having also left his hometown, he’s now returned and living there whilst bringing up his orphaned nephew.
Meanwhile, Katie is happy to be home and to spend time with family but she can’t help but think how her life, and her job, which had so much potential hasn’t really turned out how she had imagined. Katie and Chase can not deny that their chemistry is still there, but even if they can get over the past, Katie has to return to her job in the city and Chase’s life is in their hometown with his nephew, Timmy. I loved Katie and Chase, they were both likeable and relatable characters who I felt instantly engaged with. The small town setting really came alive through the descriptive narrative, and I felt immersed in small town living. I was cheering the couple on, hoping they would both get their HEA. This was an enjoyable read which I would recommend.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Katie made a choice when she was 18 that would change her life forever. She was madly in love with Chase and he her. However, Katie desired the city life, the big career, and all that comes with it. She made her choice but for the past ten years has wondered what might have been. When an invitation to attend a wedding in her hometown arrives, Katie isn’t sure she’ll go to the wedding, but she’ll go home to visit her mom and sister. Afterall, she wasn’t there for her dad and she regrets that too! Now that her mom is becoming more frail, it’s a great excuse to get away for the weekend.
Katie’s boss is a real piece of work! She is extremely demanding of Katie’s time and this is the first chance she’s had to get away. After a day with her sister preparing for the wedding that she’s now suckered into attending, she realizes just how much she’s missed life. Can she be the plus one to Chase at this wedding though? It’s been ten long, arduous years.
I was able to read this entire story in about two hours time. I couldn’t put it down! This is a new-to-me author but one that I will be looking for more of her work! I loved the characters and could identify with Katie on the level of being a workaholic. It’s a good thing when you can finally walk away from that life!
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I blinked, and I was done this book! I wish it was longer, so I could spend more time with Katie, Mary, Chase, and Timmy. The characters were so relatable and wholesome, and the story was short and sweet. I could feel Katie’s emotions as she came back to her hometown… The regret and sorrow. Thinking she might have prioritized her work over her family and happiness.
Watching her figure out her life in order to find a second chance at love was so fulfilling. Maybe it took going away for ten years to truly appreciate what she had.
Jane Suen writes in such a descriptive and easy-flowing way. This is my second book of hers, and I just want more!
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This Time Around by Jane Suen. This is a great second time around romance. Its the story of Katie who breaks up with her high school sweetheart Chase so that he can pursue his college dreams and she can pursue hers. Thinking she did the best thing for everyone she soon realizes what she really gave up. When she lands her dream job she thinks she may be ok but her demanding boss soon causes her love of her job to dissolve. When she gets invited to her old hometown for a friends wedding she decides to take a break from the non stop work and go. Chase has been broken hearted ever since Katie broke up with him and he can’t seem to find anyone to compare. When his brother and sister in law are killed in a tragic car accident he is given custody of his nephew. That is all he is focusing on right now. When his cousin invites him to their wedding and tells him they are adding him to a plus one he’s fine with it until he realizes that plus one is Katie. They quickly realize their feelings never went away. Will they be able to figure out a way to make their relationship work?
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kate finds second-chance love with her high-school sweetheart, Chase. This book is so romantic. I am a fan of this author as romance stories have an amazing human emotion to them. You can truly feel the love, the pain, everything the couples go through as they are working through the relationship. Truly, the struggle is real. This story is so relatable. Even more so due to Chase raising his nephew. Decisions must be made, secrets must be brought out. Family members are just helping them. This is a well-written and developed story that will touch your heart and leave you feeling touched when you are done. Another winner for the romance category for 2022. Love!
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have enjoyed this author in the past, and I am certainly enjoying this author now! They created such a good story, with wonderful characters and a story of intrigue and its own level of passion.
This book had everything. I connected with Katie so much. She gave up what she had to chase her own dreams. In the end what she had was lost, and she never really got over it. Chase was such a sweetheart; his emotions were real and vivid a well. I loved how they never stopped caring for one another but weren’t sure how to really go back all and all. I loved the character development especially with Katie. She changed from the last time she saw Chase. The chemistry and love were undeniable. The hurt and feelings that were felt was real. The passion was very much real as well. I fell in love over and over as I read. Such a beautiful and wonderful read. I am so happy I got to enjoy this! Loved it!
This author always knows how to suck in the reader and hold them there and make them feel a lot of things. I highly recommend this author if you have not read their work already, and I most certainly recommend this must-read book. Its one not to be passed up for any reason! Loved it!
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ten years ago, Katie thought she was doing the right thing by breaking off her relationship with her high school boyfriend, Chase. She thought she was going after her dreams and that he shouldn’t give up his dreams and his scholarship to a different college just for her. After college, Katie got the job she thought she’d always wanted, and while it started out great, a new boss has made her hate the job and question being in the position. When Katie returns home for a wedding, the bride forces the old sweethearts back together as she doesn’t want any singles at her wedding. This causes the couple to rekindle the romance they had shared. When Katie’s mom gets hurt, it makes Katie reevaluate her life choices and what is really important.
This Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This Time Around may just be my favourite story by this author to date. It is an emotional journey where my emotions were all over the place. This short story is a sweet second chance romance story and I read it in one sitting. The characters are likeable and well developed. Jane’s writing hooks her readers with her narrative that keeps you engaged all the way through. It is a short story, which makes for a quick and easy read. I wish it were longer.
Katie has returned to her hometown for a wedding only come face to face with her old boyfriend the one she left behind.
Chase has mixed emotions seeing his ex but he doesn’t have time in his life for romance. He has a much higher priority.
I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by @jennadb
‿)づ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE (づ‿)づ
Katie finds her hometown friend’s wedding invitation buried under a stack of mail and makes the last-minute decision to escape her demanding job long enough to attend. She’s given little thought to being “minus a plus one” until the bride suggests she attends with another single. Anticipating polite conversation with a stranger over the plated entrée, Katie agrees… and finds herself face-to-face with her high school boyfriend, who she hasn’t seen since she dumped him after graduation.
Once a shy, gawky teenager, Chase has grown into a strong, handsome man. Yet he never escaped the heartache of Katie’s sharp rejection. For years, he’s distracted himself with work. Now, his time is filled with raising his nephew after his brother and sister-in-law died in a car accident. The last thing he needs is a painful reminder of the past. Yet, thanks to his cousin the bride, the two meet and realize the spark of attraction between them is still burning bright.
But Katie needs to return to her job, and Chase can’t uproot his orphaned nephew. Can the pair reconcile and build a future together?
Jane Suen is an award-winning author who writes mysteries, sci-fi thrillers, short stories, sweet
romance, and crime fiction.
Murder Creek is a story of a journalism student working on a story of a disappearance that took place 20 years ago at Murder Creek. Lacey disappeared leaving only a bloody scarf behind. Eve is drawn to the case and believes there are dark secrets to be uncovered and not everything is as it seems in this town. The more she investigates, the more danger she is in, as not everyone wants secrets revealed and they will do everything they can to prevent her from digging them up.
I have to say I really enjoyed this story. It has a great plot, full of mystery and danger. I would definitely recommend you buy the book, BUT NOT THE AUDIO VERSION. I really struggled listening to this reader. It was like she was trying too hard to act throughout the whole reading, to the point of distracting from the story. She would be reading a suspenseful or scary part but would talk super soft like you would talk to a small child. Her tone did not fit what was happening in the story at all and for me, it made it hard to listen to and to keep my attention on what would normally be a book that I couldn’t put down. I would have preferred a robot voice. Justice was not done to this great story, in the audio version, but I would definitely recommend you read it yourself or use the text-to-speech option.
I absoluetly loved every second of listening to this book! The story was well written with the details pulling the listener in and needing to know what was going to happen next! The narrator made it fun to listen to and kept you listening with small voice ques! Definitely recommend this for a listen!
Eve Sawyer is a journalism college student. She had her report done already, but felt there was another mystery to solve in Murder Creek with a disappearance long ago. In this town, she meets many people, pulls out clues from interesting sources, and you wouldn’t believe the result! Absolutely a great read!
An intriguing murder mystery with a few twists along the way. Being in the head of a journalist on a mission was interesting and made you feel like you were doing the investigating. I would have liked the mystery to be a bit higher stakes and make it more exciting to follow, but it was interesting none the less. The ending was so heartfelt and concluded the mystery in a great way. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Murder Creek (Audio Book) by Jane Suen
5 stars
A fantastic audio book! This author never fails to entertain me with her writing and I love that I never really know what I’m going to get when I decide on one of her books. I thought the main characters took a little bit of time for me to warm to but once I did I thought she was great! She was definitely determined to find out what happened to Lacey! The narrator really brought the story to life and I certainly felt like I was right there with eve collecting clues and trying to find out what. Happened.
Overall a great audio book and one that I would highly recommend.
This was my first audio book in many, many years… and I was amazed at just how fast I was pulled into the story! I could not stop listening. Jane Suen created a story and characters that were seamless and relatable. Eve was the perfect heroine – a determined college student who wanted to find the truth about a cold case in a small town. Her relentless drive kept me engaged and I finished Murder Creek in one sitting! Very compelling and intriguing.
Five stars.
This is a go to author for me, one I always enjoy reading. And I was thrilled to find my first audiobook release from Ms. Suen. This was a story I had previously read and I thoroughly enjoyed having the story unfold for me in a new way by hearing the narrator bring life to the author’s words. Truly a great story from start to finish only enhanced by the talented narrator. If you are looking a for a well developed story with twists and turns, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this selection.
Reviewed by @hnlovelace78
5 Stars
Murder Creek (Audio Book) by Jane Suen
Murder Creek (Audio) is a Mystery that is packed with action, murder, mystery and suspense. I truly enjoyed listening to this fast paced story as much as I did reading it. The narrator did an amazing job of bringing the story and characters alive. Her different tones pulled me in and I found myself lost (caught up) in the story and nothing else got done. I’m a huge fan of this author and I’m definitely going to check out more audio from her. Get ready to be taken on a journey of mystery and suspense in Murder Creek as Evie tries to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Lacey Walker. Evie doesn’t stop until she has the answers and some are where she never expected them to be. Will she uncover the truth of what really happened? Will she uncover why Lacey Walker disappeared? I highly recommend listening to this fast paced story to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to listen to more books by this author.
This is an author that I have loved reading and I was excited to pick up one of her audio books, it didn’t let me down. I enjoyed how the narrator is able to pull me into the story. The different tones that were used made the story engaging to listen to. I enjoyed how the characters brought the story to life. This story is a journey of suspense, mystery that takes place in a town named for past murders. A story where it could mean life or death. A story full of action and suspense. You don’t want to miss this audiobook. It is one of my favorites by this author yet. I highly recommend this audiobook.
Murder Creek by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I listened to this via audiobook. Around three hours of listening time, this is a great audiobook. The length is perfect for a day of listening while puttering around the house on summer break. The narrator does amazing character voices! A twenty-year-old crime set against a backdrop of historical tragedy, listeners are drawn into a mystery. I was not expecting the book to wrap up the way it did, so I was pleasantly surprised with the ending.
This was my first book ever by Jane Suen, and I am now a complete fan. The main character Eve Sawyer is outstanding. So well written. The narration by Marni Penning was wonderful. I listened to the book in one day. full of wonderful mystery and twists, you definitely don’t want to miss out on this book
This was my first book ever by Jane Suen, and I am now a complete fan. The main character Eve Sawyer is outstanding. So well written. The narration by Marni Penning was wonderful. I listened to the book in one day. full of wonderful mystery and twists, you definitely don’t want to miss out on this book
Here’s what I thought of Murder Creek by Jane Suen:
I gave it 4/5 stars.
Riveting
Murder Creek (Eve Sawyer Mystery Book 1)
This book went by way too fast though I didn’t realize it at the time. I have listened to a lot of audiobooks, especially over the last 2 1/2 years working from home, there have been a few that have drawn me in like this but not many. I was caught up in the story immediately and had a hard time pausing it when I got calls for work.
Marni Penning’s voice was just perfect and only helped draw me in further. I will definitely look for more books narrated by her.
Eve’s curiosity about Murder Creek and in turn what happened to Lacey all those years ago. She doesn’t give up until she has answers and some of these answers are where she least expected them to be.
I’m looking forward to the the next book and what gets into next.
College student Eve Sawyer is needing to finish a paper for her journalism class, but her heart is not in it. Eve stumbles upon Murder Creek, a place with a haunting history and a more recent incident. The disappearance of Lacey Walken twenty years ago. Eve makes a pitch to her instructor to change her paper and he agrees sending Eve to Murder Creek to see if she can provide any insight as to what happened. Will she uncover who was involved or why Lacey disappeared?
I listened to the audiobook version and was pulled in right away. You get to know the towns people and what happened leading up to Lacey’s disappearance. The pacing of the story is good and I would definitely check out the next book in the series.
It has been quite a while since I read this book so when I saw the audio version I thought it would be a great way to go through a re-read. I thought the narrator did a great job. I was completely pulled into the story and, although I knew what was going to happen, I still felt the mystery and the intrigue. I was lost in the story from the moment I started listening. I think it works well as a short book, I could fit this story in easily to a hectic schedule.
This is an author that I really enjoy and I think the books translate well to audio. I really enjoyed getting into this book and I will definitely be listening to more.
This was a fun quick mystery. Eve who felt a strong connection to Murder Creek immediately knows that she needs to look into an unsolved murder for her journalism class. I loved that this was an easy listen but was able to get touch on important little details. The ending was sad but perfect. Definitely worth listening to.