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Return to Me: a Small Town Southern Romance (Romance in New Orleans Series Origin Story) by [Katherine L. Evans]

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Katherine L. Evans

Return to Me: a Small Town Southern Romance (Romance in New Orleans Series Origin Story) Kindle Edition

by Katherine L. Evans (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

39 ratings

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She has a failing business, a meddling grandmother, and no time for love. Does a handsome local reporter from her past have what it takes to change her mind?

Ophelia McCarthy and Scott Latimer were perfect strangers when they barely survived a deadly Texas tornado. Seven years later, a chance meeting in New Orleans reunites them, but with her late grandfather’s antique shop struggling to stay afloat, romance is the last thing on her mind.

Scott is a new reporter for the New Orleans paper and needs a great story to start out with a bang. And an ongoing feature following Ophelia’s efforts to save her shop seems like a great way to prove himself to both the paper and to her. He gets to show off his skills to his new boss, she gets free publicity, and they get to spend a lot of time together. Score.

Unfortunately for Scott, he and Ophelia’s shared traumatic past keeps her completely closed off to anything more than friendship with him. He knows it won't be easy to convince the woman he believes is his soulmate to let him out of the friendzone, but that doesn't mean he isn’t going to try.

RETURN TO ME is a second chance romance, small town southern romance, and a friends to lovers romance all rolled into one unforgettable getaway to the Big Easy. This is the prequel to the ROMANCE IN NEW ORLEANS series and is a gripping introduction to the main cast of characters in this epic saga about friends who become family by choice.

The books in the Romance in New Orleans series are interconnected standalone romance novels, but should be read in numerical order to avoid spoilers from previous books.

MY FAVORITE MISTAKE: Connor and Liza's story
LUCK OF THE DRAW: Brennan and Skye's story
BACK TO YOU: Luke and Chloe's story
IF THIS IS LOVE: Gabe and Ruth's story
BREAKING THE RULES: Carson and Sabrina's story
PROMISE ME FOREVER: Series finale centered around Connor, Liza, Brennan, and Skye
MR. NOT NICE GUY (RNOLA BONUS BOOK): August and Scarlett's story

Print length

372 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

November 18, 2018
File size

3148 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07GNW5BV3
Publisher ‏ : ‎ KLE Publishing; 2nd edition (November 18, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 18, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3148 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 372 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,105,388 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #31,219 in New Adult & College Romance (Books)
- #54,946 in Romance (Kindle Store)
- #94,130 in Contemporary Romance (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
39 ratings

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Katherine L. Evans

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Katherine L. Evans is a USA Today Bestselling author of high-angst contemporary romance intended to engage all your emotions and guaranteed to bring all the feels. Known as simply KLE by people who know all her dirty secrets, her 20+ books are notorious for making readers reach for the tissues while simultaneously fanning their face and randomly laughing out loud.

KLE Books are a fully emotional experience, epic length, packed with gritty, raw, real issues and well-timed humor, and are intense in every way a book can be. All KLE Books have a happy ending, but you have to work for it. But like she always says, there's no HEA better than the one you have to fight for, and that's pretty much her life philosophy.

When she’s not magically transforming coffee into angsty books, KLE can be found at the dance studio that's basically her second home, or hanging out with her favorite boys: her husband, son, and yellow lab, Dave.

KLE lives in Houston, TX.

Find KLE in the wild by copying and pasting the following links in your browser:

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/KLENewsletter

All links: https://linktr.ee/klewords

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

39 global ratings

5 star		52%
4 star		27%
3 star		10%
2 star		8%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Robin Sweeney

Tissues needed but don't let that stop you from reading this beauty!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 30, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book broke me, but in all the best ways. Ophelia and Scott have a chance encounter in their early twenties that effects both of their lives in ways unimaginable. Seven years later and they are brought back together by chance. But things aren't easy, and they go through some horrific things together and with their community but makes their love stronger than imaginable!

Helpful

Callie Sutcliffe

Heartfelt and beautifully written!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

For someone whose never been to New Orleans, Katherine made the city alive and real to me as a reader. There's so much heart, life, and passion in the residents of the Big Easy.

Katherine takes her reader's through the unspeakable and beyond devastating natural disaster of Katrina. A couple who met through another life-altering event eight years before, are reunited before the catastrophic hurricane hits their city.

You will be taken through the reality of what the residents actually endured, why some refused to leave and how their livelihoods depended on them being there, and find yourself in the midst of the storm with these characters.

Love, music, art, and the sense of community are felt on every page. It is a must read in the world of historical fiction and romance. Be prepared to cry and have a box of tissues nearby. But, I can assure readers, they will be left with an unforgettable and true representation of Katrina and the residents of New Orleans!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Kendra

Wow

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

So much emotion!; there is a huge story plot and it is all work so well! So much angst and love! Tragedy, heartbreak, love, a perfect blend of all of it! Amazing job Katherine!!

Helpful

Lenna WB

Clean and very touching story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 18, 2019

Here’s a small spoiler, remember Hurricane Katrina, it plays a big part towards the end.

They briefly met in Austin, TX in a grocery store but they were caught in the story when they experience a tornado, Scott was relatively unharmed but Ophelia ‘Leah’ wasn’t as lucky, “Her flesh was splayed open at one side of her forehead and opposite cheek, exposing bone and gore, and it almost didn’t look real. The gaping cut sliced diagonally over the bridge of her nose and extended across her face, but missed both of her eyes.” This will be the change in her life and in her memory. That would be the last time Scott would see Ophelia.
7 years later Scott is in New Oleans for a reporter job when his path crosses with the girl he last saw bloody, with a noticeable scar she hides from people. Leah as she now goes by is insecure about her face and will not look at people in the eyes she’s always looking down, even when she hears a name she hasn’t heard out loud but written on a not he left for her all those years ago is standing in front of her she has flashbacks of death. Leah will try to keep Scott away from her but his is putting himself out there for her and she dont know what to do. These two will have tests and trials thrown their way even from her grandmother and her grandfathers business and a legacy he left for her to run after his death the same year as her accident, but these two are so stubborn it will take Mother Nature to get them to see their true love for each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Helpful

Wonderful Story & Audible Listen🎧 Captivating & Heartfelt!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 26, 2020

Return to Me
Romance in New Orleans, Book 1
By: Katherine L. Evans
Narrated by: Jeff Marcus

I loved everything about this book, from Katherine L. Evans’ wonderful writing style to the beautiful story and characters she created. The storylines are original and realistic, they grabbed both my attention and my heart and held it captive the entire book. The characters are complex and well developed, they are likable and easy to relate to. I adored and admired both lead characters, Ophelia for her inner strength, a strength she always had but never knew it until she reached for it and for her drive and determination to make her grandfathers business a success. Scott Latimer for his patience and good heartedness and for also following his dreams, determined to become a successful reporter & writer. The two met under tragic circumstances, it was a brief but meaningful meeting. It was during a time both wanted to forget but they never forgot each other. Years later they meet again, he is doing a news piece and she is trying to run the antique show her Grandfather left her a long side her Grandmother, who was a hoot. Scott is attracted to Ophelia but he has to go slow because she has self esteem issues but he does gain her trust and friendship. I loved these two together, they were perfect for each other. Also loved the descriptive details especially that of life in New Orleans, the big easy is not so easy. Great job capturing the struggles and times of Katrina and giving a glimpse of what it was like for some. This book is lengthy but do not let that scare you, it plotted out nicely and is so engrossing that you forget time and it seems to fly by. There is never a dull moment with plenty of drama, a bit of angst, some heartbreaking moment, heartfelt ones and a slow burn romance. Katherine L. Evans, thank you for this wonderful story and the emotional rollercoaster ride. I am looking forward to what comes next in this series, I hope it comes to Audible soon.

I listened to the Audible edition, Jeff Marcus is a terrific narrator and voice artist. He did a great job portraying the characters, bringing them to life and giving each their own voice, personality and attitude. You could hear how much heart he puts into his work as he projects the character’s passion & emotions into his performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank for you this great listen🎧

Helpful

Babs

Joie de Vivre an emotional story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 28, 2019

The first book in the Romance in New Orleans series is a well written story that held my interest throughout. Scott Latimer and Ophelia McCarthy's story kept me turning pages I had to know what was going to happen. I will be looking for the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Helpful

Vinessa Donatelli Wooten

Sad

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 3, 2019

Grab your tissue box.
Read about the real life of the residence of New Orleans. Their music, art, homes, streets, restaurants, the history.
Read how the city pulled together after a devastating disaster flooding, food shortages how the world pulled together to help them rebuild.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Helpful

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tskmh1990

Gefühlvolle Liebesgeschichte

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on November 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

"Joie de Vivre" erzählt die Geschichte von Ophelia, einer jungen Frau, die einen Tornado überlebt, aber Narben davongetragen hat, und Scott, der bei ihr war, als es passiert ist. Schon zu dem damaligen Zeitpunkt bestand durchaus die Möglichkeit, dass sie sich hätten näher kommen können, doch sie lernen sich erst sieben Jahre später richtig kennen, als sie sich zufällig (oder vielleicht durch das Schicksal, was ein wichtiges Thema der Geschichte ist) erneut begegnen. Obwohl es offensichtlich ist, dass sie sich gut verstehen und es eine besondere Verbindung zwischen ihnen gibt, werden sie nach wie vor von den traumatischen Ereignissen ihrer Vergangenheit belastet, was bedeutet, dass eine eventuelle romantische Beziehung von dieser Erfahrung überschattet werden könnte.

Die Protagonisten waren mir sympathisch und mir hat gut gefallen, dass die Geschichte aus beiden Perspektiven erzählt wurde. Sie haben unterschiedliche Einstellungen und in ihrem Inneren geht sehr viel vor sich, was ihrem Partner natürlich verborgen bleibt, dem Leser allerdings hilft, das Handeln der Charaktere zu verstehen und sich in sie hineinzuversetzen. So war es offensichtlich, wie viel sie einander bedeuteten, man konnte die Gründe hinter ihren manchmal fragwürdigen Entscheidungen nachvollziehen und auch sehen, dass sie ihre Fehler wieder gut machen wollten, was definitiv dazu beigetragen hat, dass ich mit ihnen fühlen konnte. Die allmähliche Entwicklung ihrer Beziehung wurde ebenfalls überzeugend dargestellt; die Handlung selbst schreitet teilweise nur langsam voran, doch es gab einige wirklich emotionale, berührende Szenen und die Balance zwischen schönen, romantischen und intimen Momenten sowie den Problemen, mit denen sie konfrontiert wurden, ist der Autorin gelungen. Die tragischen Ereignisse aus ihrer Vergangenheit spielen dabei eine große Rolle, was ich mochte - es war realistisch, dass sie nicht einfach so tun konnten, als sei nichts passiert und dass dies ihre Interaktionen beeinflusste.

"Joie de Vivre" fokussiert sich neben der Romanze auch darauf, mit traumatischen Erlebnissen umzugehen, sie zu verarbeiten und auf eine Zukunft hinzuarbeiten. Zudem sind familiäre Bindungen von enormer Bedeutung und gerade Ophelias Großmutter ist eine wichtige Figur. Diese Beziehung wurde alles in allem schön geschildert und es ist offensichtlich, wie viel sie einander bedeuten und dass sie nur das Beste füreinander wollen; dennoch gab es einige Szenen, in denen mich das Verhalten der Großmutter gestört hat. Sie hat einen starken Willen, ist autoritär und glaubt zu wissen, was ihre Enkeltochter braucht, auch wenn das nicht immer der Fall ist. Ich konnte verstehen, was ihr Handeln angetrieben hat und es ist offensichtlich, dass sie es gut meint, aber sie hat ein paar Dinge gesagt, die es mir schwer gemacht haben, sie hundertprozentig sympathisch zu finden. Allerdings war der Kontrast zwischen den beiden Frauen interessant und die Erzählung wurde durch den Konflikt bereichert und vorangetrieben.

Ein weiterer Pluspunkt ist die realistische Darstellung der Folgen von Naturkatastrophen, beispielsweise durch den Mangel an Ressourcen, den Verlust von Eigentum oder sogar des eigenen Zuhauses und die psychische Belastung durch die Situation. Es war schrecklich zu sehen, wie viel Schaden angerichtet wurde, aber ich fand gut, dass die Lage nicht romantisiert oder nur im Hintergrund thematisiert wurde. Es gab Konsequenzen und das hat mir sehr gefallen; da ich auch die Liebesgeschichte mochte und die Charaktere sympathisch fand, hat das Buch von mir 4 Sterne bekommen.

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