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Second Chances #2
Bringing Bella Back
They had the perfect marriage…until he lost his way. Then he lost Bella.
The blueblood and the bohemian married despite all the odds against them. They raised two children in a home that blossomed like the gardens Bella nurtured.
But somewhere along the way, they lost who they'd been. At a crisis point, Bella sought time and space to think. Devastated by his role in her heartbreak, James had no choice but to let her leave.
Only she never came home. Never answered even calls from their children.
A frantic search. A woman with amnesia. A doctor half in love with his patient.
When James finally locates the woman who owns his heart, learning that she remembers nothing of their life together is both a curse and a blessing.
Can James remind her of all the joy they shared and make her fall in love with him again?
Before her memory of his mistakes returns…and Bella stays away forever?
The blueblood and the bohemian married despite all the odds against them. They raised two children in a home that blossomed like the gardens Bella nurtured.
But somewhere along the way, they lost who they'd been. At a crisis point, Bella sought time and space to think. Devastated by his role in her heartbreak, James had no choice but to let her leave.
Only she never came home. Never answered even calls from their children.
A frantic search. A woman with amnesia. A doctor half in love with his patient.
When James finally locates the woman who owns his heart, learning that she remembers nothing of their life together is both a curse and a blessing.
Can James remind her of all the joy they shared and make her fall in love with him again?
Before her memory of his mistakes returns…and Bella stays away forever?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2007
69 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Jean Brashear
147 books239 followersA letter to Rod Stewart resulting in a Cinderella birthday for her daughter sowed the seeds of New York Times and USAToday bestselling author Jean Brashear's writing career. A lifelong avid reader, at the age of forty-five with no experience and no training, she decided to see if she could write a book. It was a wild leap that turned her whole life upside down, but she would tell you that though she's never been more terrified, she's never felt more exhilarated or more alive. She's an ardent proponent of not putting off your dreams until that elusive 'someday'—take that leap now.
Over fifty published novels later, the five-time RITA finalist and RTBookReviews Career Achievement Award winner has accumulated a whole passel of war stories to swap and loves nothing better than talking writing and books with readers and fellow writers.
And she'd still take that leap, war wounds and all.
Over fifty published novels later, the five-time RITA finalist and RTBookReviews Career Achievement Award winner has accumulated a whole passel of war stories to swap and loves nothing better than talking writing and books with readers and fellow writers.
And she'd still take that leap, war wounds and all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 25, 2024
Sad and depressing.
The hero and the heroine are in their 40s and he cheats on her. She has an accident, has amnesia and forgets about her family, hero, children. The hero finds her and has to make her fall in love again until in the end she regains her memory. There’s no explanation for his cheating. Imo he’s a shallow and sad middle aged man with middle age crisis, what else. She forgives him and takes him back. I would have pretended not to remember him and I would have sent him his way. Shoo shoo.
The hero and the heroine are in their 40s and he cheats on her. She has an accident, has amnesia and forgets about her family, hero, children. The hero finds her and has to make her fall in love again until in the end she regains her memory. There’s no explanation for his cheating. Imo he’s a shallow and sad middle aged man with middle age crisis, what else. She forgives him and takes him back. I would have pretended not to remember him and I would have sent him his way. Shoo shoo.
December 28, 2019
I just saw this book with a new title and almost bought it again which would have been horrible since I hated this book the first time I read it. I have no idea how I have it two stars. He was a cheater. No matter why, which is barely explained, "it started with a neck rub" is all it said and then he had sex with his assistant. It was only once was his comforting phrase but I hated him. A lot. I hate cheaters. I didn't see a lot of grovel either whatever she takes part of the blame because he cheated and it made my stomach hurt. I can't believe I read it a second time. I really don't like this author. All of her heroes cheat. Dumb move on my part.
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March 14, 2021DNF.
Just not up for cheating, groveling or possible redemption.
Maybe later.
Just not up for cheating, groveling or possible redemption.
Maybe later.
February 9, 2021
Reread 2/8/2021
This is fairly well done.
The husband’s guilt and the fear of losing his wife is palpable. I want this in a cheating husband book. I want him eaten up with it. But the flashback to the scene where she’s leaving has him both apologizing and yet he still points out that their relationship was strained, 😑 it’s in that moment you want to punch him. It gets better, he eventually owns up to it being on him and spends the entire book trying to reconnect with his wife, while she tries to recover her memory and once it’s back, he’s desperate for her forgiveness. This works.
This is fairly well done.
The husband’s guilt and the fear of losing his wife is palpable. I want this in a cheating husband book. I want him eaten up with it. But the flashback to the scene where she’s leaving has him both apologizing and yet he still points out that their relationship was strained, 😑 it’s in that moment you want to punch him. It gets better, he eventually owns up to it being on him and spends the entire book trying to reconnect with his wife, while she tries to recover her memory and once it’s back, he’s desperate for her forgiveness. This works.
October 2, 2016
Skimmed this one - a little boring.
May 23, 2012
This was a good emotional read,James-Bella both have been married for 36 years and were happy but somewhere down the time they lost the spark,James took Bella for granted and strayed.Bella is devastated and leaved but then she is mugged and she loses her memory.This is like a second chance and James does everything to win his Bella back.Liked the way James finally realizes his mistakes,regrets it.Even Bella realizes her mistakes how they both lost each other,it makes her so angry at what he did and as she says "I cannot forget but i can forgive",James starts making plans to make amends and they have their HEA.
Recommend it.
Recommend it.
May 29, 2020
This was a re-read, it had left an impression on me from many years ago and I'm happy to report it lived up to expectation. I took a star off becuase at times the navel gazing got a little much and I felt it was stagnating. Really well written, this does demonstrate the H's regret clearly and so as a reader we're inclined to be forgiving. It helps that the really angsty stuff has gone down before the story starts.
December 30, 2019
This book was well written. I would like to know more. Did the assistant leave? Was it hard to remember? How did Bella find out? Too many questions left unanswered
December 26, 2024
I really wanted to like this one more.
The author created some interesting characters and you could definitely feel Jame's' remorse for his cheating. But the author ends the story after only barely addressing it a handful of pages from the end.
The writing is solid and even though I hate flashbacks, I somehow didn't mind them here.
Bella and James are in their mid fifties, but honestly they come across more like mid fourties. She left him after he cheated on her with his office assistant. It's never said if he was the one to tell her, but I think that's what happened. She leaves and after being away a week or so she gets carjacked and left for dead on the side of the road a couple States away. But it's a couple weeks before her kids start to worry and go to ask their dad. It hadn't even occured to him that she might be hurt and in trouble.
Classic case of the H working too much, pushing his wife away and turning to another, then regretting.
The kids are 19 and 23, and interesting characters themselves.
But in a cheating story, I need to know about the cheating. We only get a vague outline and none of the fallout.
He woos her for a handful of days after finding her and that's it?
I feel like I only got half the story.
So the story isn't safe obviously,
So over all I did enjoy the first half and don't regret reading it, but was disappointed by the shorn ending.
The author created some interesting characters and you could definitely feel Jame's' remorse for his cheating. But the author ends the story after only barely addressing it a handful of pages from the end.
The writing is solid and even though I hate flashbacks, I somehow didn't mind them here.
Bella and James are in their mid fifties, but honestly they come across more like mid fourties. She left him after he cheated on her with his office assistant. It's never said if he was the one to tell her, but I think that's what happened. She leaves and after being away a week or so she gets carjacked and left for dead on the side of the road a couple States away. But it's a couple weeks before her kids start to worry and go to ask their dad. It hadn't even occured to him that she might be hurt and in trouble.
Classic case of the H working too much, pushing his wife away and turning to another, then regretting.
The kids are 19 and 23, and interesting characters themselves.
But in a cheating story, I need to know about the cheating. We only get a vague outline and none of the fallout.
He woos her for a handful of days after finding her and that's it?
I feel like I only got half the story.
So the story isn't safe obviously,
So over all I did enjoy the first half and don't regret reading it, but was disappointed by the shorn ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2025
This one has been reissued as
It was pretty disappointing. No follow through, no info about the cheating, no info about the OW
Basically the author doesn't answer any of the readers questions.
And the wife was a bit of a doormat.
It was pretty disappointing. No follow through, no info about the cheating, no info about the OW
Basically the author doesn't answer any of the readers questions.
And the wife was a bit of a doormat.
June 25, 2019
3.5 stars. There was a lot I liked about this book. Some romance tropes can feel so overdone, but this one felt unique and interesting. The story is raw and emotional, and I really connected with it. It also had a maturity to it that I really appreciated. Bella lost her memory after an accident, and her husband and kids try to help her remember her life. I really appreciated how patient devoted James was to making his wife fall in love with him again.
I was really enjoying the story until the secret was revealed. Perhaps I should have seen it coming earlier, but I wasn't predicting that exactly. I will admit that it tarnished things a bit for me. I still don't really understand why, but perhaps that is part of it. That turn was not my cup of tea, but I will admit that it was realistic. An enjoyable story overall, and I do look forward to more from this author.
*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
I was really enjoying the story until the secret was revealed. Perhaps I should have seen it coming earlier, but I wasn't predicting that exactly. I will admit that it tarnished things a bit for me. I still don't really understand why, but perhaps that is part of it. That turn was not my cup of tea, but I will admit that it was realistic. An enjoyable story overall, and I do look forward to more from this author.
*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
May 14, 2019
ARC for honest review with no compensation
Brining Back Bella is book 2 in the Second Chance Romance series by Jean Brashear and OMG I never saw that coming!!
James and Bella have been married for 36 years, two children, beautiful home and love abound. Until James loses his way and Bella needs to leave and find her way...when she doesn’t return the family becomes frantic...this starts a series of events that keeps you turning the pages to figure out what happens next...In the end will this family still be a family??
Amnesia, forgiveness, faith, honesty, responsibilities, how each person responds to the events, and love are rolled into this story of life...
Brining Back Bella is book 2 in the Second Chance Romance series by Jean Brashear and OMG I never saw that coming!!
James and Bella have been married for 36 years, two children, beautiful home and love abound. Until James loses his way and Bella needs to leave and find her way...when she doesn’t return the family becomes frantic...this starts a series of events that keeps you turning the pages to figure out what happens next...In the end will this family still be a family??
Amnesia, forgiveness, faith, honesty, responsibilities, how each person responds to the events, and love are rolled into this story of life...
May 20, 2019
This is an exceptional story that is packed with emotion, family drama, and a love that has survived decades but has now hit a hard spot. It's clear it will take time, faith, determination, and trust to heal. It was nice to read a story featuring a mature couple who are flawed but honest, caring, and determined to get back what they once had. This is the second book in the Second Chances series but each book can be read standalone and in no particular order. I think everyone will enjoy Bella and James' journey back to happiness. I definitely recommend it.
October 17, 2021
The H not just betrays the h with another woman but when he finds her he conceals the truth and doesn't truly give her a chance to make her own decisions and the whole book was always all about him and what he wants and its only after he loses his wife that he wants her back and even when after that he blames her. The whole ending would have been a lot better and healthier if the h had divorced him and started a life for herself rather than accepting the blame for him cheating.
August 24, 2017
One thing that annoys me about book covers is that when they dont match up with the characters in the book. The people on the front cover do not look like a couple in their late 40's early 50's at all. Over all the was ok. I am just disappointed the the h took the H back so quickly. I feel he should of groveled a lot more.
not-interested
May 21, 2019Unappealing blurb
January 11, 2024
First off WHO are these people on the cover? The couple is 55+. Who are these children?
Not bad. I’m not a fan of amnesia stories. This was kinda bland. The other guy was kinda pointless. A lot of back and forth that got boring. I say skip.
Not bad. I’m not a fan of amnesia stories. This was kinda bland. The other guy was kinda pointless. A lot of back and forth that got boring. I say skip.
August 29, 2018
It was ok. Kinda boring though
February 24, 2020
Why did this story not earn more stars you ask? The doctor, Sam. I liked everything else about this story line. The timing was smooth and the editing great. The characters were well developed and were someone you cared about. All but Sam.
Sam was a physician who was caring for his patient and who crossed a significant line when he attempted to establish a personal relationship with Bella while remaining her physician. NOPE. Conflict of interest, abuse of the doctor-patient relationship. He used his superior position to her subordinate one in an attempt to determine outcomes for Bella. He fell in love with her-not a good enough reason to keep her from her family. He could have lost his license to practice medicine had his behavior been reported to the state medical board. His housekeeper had more common sense and moral integrity than he did.
There was a HEA, that was well earned.
Sam was a physician who was caring for his patient and who crossed a significant line when he attempted to establish a personal relationship with Bella while remaining her physician. NOPE. Conflict of interest, abuse of the doctor-patient relationship. He used his superior position to her subordinate one in an attempt to determine outcomes for Bella. He fell in love with her-not a good enough reason to keep her from her family. He could have lost his license to practice medicine had his behavior been reported to the state medical board. His housekeeper had more common sense and moral integrity than he did.
There was a HEA, that was well earned.
March 30, 2018
Didnt like the style of writing. Didnt like the way it went on and on. Didnt like that it took forever to get to the point. Meh. Just didnt really like.
December 12, 2022
just no.
So tired of these stories that have the doormat heroines taking back cheaters. Ughh too many books have these pathetic women.
So tired of these stories that have the doormat heroines taking back cheaters. Ughh too many books have these pathetic women.
June 13, 2020
Hmmm....
Well, I had debated about reading this for a while. I am glad I did, so I don’t have to debate about it again. Overall, this wasn’t for me. It’s not a bad story. The mystery of what exactly happened before the h lost her memory isn’t really a mystery, but you do wonder if once she remembers what will happen. My biggest complaint is she had no memories for about 85% of the book. She remembers and then everything is resolved in the last 15%. So hence....the H didn’t grovel to the h. He just grovels in his mind, then bam her memories are back and it’s forgive...and forget. No real resolution.
Well, I had debated about reading this for a while. I am glad I did, so I don’t have to debate about it again. Overall, this wasn’t for me. It’s not a bad story. The mystery of what exactly happened before the h lost her memory isn’t really a mystery, but you do wonder if once she remembers what will happen. My biggest complaint is she had no memories for about 85% of the book. She remembers and then everything is resolved in the last 15%. So hence....the H didn’t grovel to the h. He just grovels in his mind, then bam her memories are back and it’s forgive...and forget. No real resolution.
July 21, 2022
A good read
I loved the characters in this book of love, betrayed and reclaimed. Beautiful settings, incredibly insightful, how can this author write so well about amnesia? I wonder if she experienced it, too?
I loved the characters in this book of love, betrayed and reclaimed. Beautiful settings, incredibly insightful, how can this author write so well about amnesia? I wonder if she experienced it, too?
January 26, 2023
Thirty-six years of marriage gone due to James’ betrayal but will a case of amnesia give him the chance to strengthen their bond before Bella’s memories return, in the hope that they can give their love a second chance?
Read in KU
Read in KU
December 31, 2019
There was a great amount of groveling.
August 12, 2020
Sadly not enough groveling for me, and I really wanted to hear more about the affair but it was only briefly mentioned. It was still well-written though.
Read
November 24, 2023Read years ago
May 13, 2024
Angsty for an M&B. Glad that doc got what was coming to him. What a creeper. Sweet family. Luisa should move to Alabama.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews