Tag: linda Poitevin

Review: Gwynneth Ever After by Linda Poitevin

Posted April 5, 2014 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Gwynneth Ever After
Rowena’s review of Gwynneth Ever After by Linda Poitevin.

Gwyn Jacobs doesn’t believe in fairy tales. Ever since her ex-husband walked out, leaving her alone with three small children, Gwyn has been mother, father, and bread-winner all rolled into one. Her own scarred heart aside, she refuses to open up her children’s lives to the possibility of another heartbreak, and so she has an unbending policy of no dating and no unattached men in their lives.

Until her very own fairy tale falls into her lap…and the hero won’t take no for an answer.

Holly brought this book to my attention, thinking that it would be something I’d enjoy so I picked it up to read. The story follows Gwynneth Jacobs as she is pursued by actor Garreth Connor. Garreth meets Gwyn when they sit next to each other at a theater production and Gwyn makes a lasting impression on him. They’re not young kids who can have a fling and be done with it. Gwyn is a single mother of three kids and Garreth is going through his own stuff with his own kid. Finding the time and inclination isn’t there for Gwyn and she’s got commitment issues that stem from her husband leaving her and their kids behind. She doesn’t want to put her kids through that again so she keeps herself at arm’s length of any man who comes sniffing her way with a possible relationship they want to try out.

This book was a sweet read. Kind of cheesy throughout most of the book but still, sweet.

I liked that Gwynneth (with 2 n’s) was an older heroine and didn’t immediately fall into bed with Garreth. I liked that she kept her children’s welfare at the forefront of her mind throughout the entire book and heck, I even liked her kids. I thought Garreth was a great hero, even if he did have a ponytail that I don’t think I would have dug in real life. I thought he was a good match, not just for Gwyn but for her kids too. The relationships and bonds that he forges with the three kids had me sighing all over the place, even when the cheese was spread on pretty thick. Some cheese is good.

There were times when Gwyn frustrated me. The hot and cold way she was with Garreth made me roll my eyes more than once and her reasons for not wanting to be with Garreth, even when it was obvious that she had big time feelings for him made me want to smack some sense into her but when all was said and done, I thought this book was cute. So while it wasn’t perfect, the sweetness of the romance and the way that Garreth refused to give up on Gwyn made me glad that I read this book. It was a good one.

Grade: 3 out of 5

This book is available from Michem Publishing. You can purchase it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


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Review: A Fairy Tale for Gwyn by Linda Poitevin

Posted July 26, 2010 by Holly in Reviews | 1 Comment

Holly‘s review of A Fairy Tale for Gwyn by Linda Poitevin.

Gwyn Jacobs doesn’t believe in fairy tales. Ever since her ex-husband walked out four years ago, abandoning her with their three-year-old daughter and four-month-old twins, Gwyn has had to be mother, father, and bread-winner all rolled into one.

Her own scarred heart and failed marriage aside, she refuses to open up her children’s lives to the possibility of another heartbreak, so she has an unbending policy of no dating and no unattached men in her home…Until her very own fairy tale falls into her lap – and the hero won’t take no for an answer.

This was a very sweet, adorable contemporary romance. I loved the premise and found myself wrapped up in it right from the beginning. Gwyn and Gareth were both wonderful characters. I loved that the underlying theme was the fairy tale romance; single mother of three attracts the attention of a movie star, even though she doesn’t believe in happily ever afters.

Though I found much of it to be wonderful, it was flawed. I didn’t understand why the heroine all of a sudden become mute hal…more This was a very sweet, adorable contemporary romance. I loved the premise and found myself wrapped up in it right from the beginning. Gwyn and Gareth were both wonderful characters. I loved that the underlying theme was the fairy tale romance; single mother of three attracts the attention of a movie star, even though she doesn’t believe in happily ever afters.

Gwyn is a single mother of 3. Her husband walked out on her too many years ago and since then she’s done her best to raise her kids alone. While doing some sketches at a play for her best friend’s birthday present, Gwyn meets Gareth Connor. Gareth is currently one of Hollywood’s hottest star, and one of the sexiest men she’s ever met. But he’s a Hollywood star, and she’s got three kids to worry about. A romantic fling is the last thing on her mind.

Gareth is in town for one reason and one reason only..and it isn’t Gwyn Jacobs. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to keep her out of his head. He finds himself spending more and more time with her, and craving more than just a casual fling or friendship. But Gwyn has been hurt before, an he has his own problems to deal with. Now if only his heart will be as practical as his head…

I really loved Gwyn in the beginning. She was down-to-earth and levelheaded. With three kids to care for and no one to help, she’s constantly on the go. But she doesn’t feel sorry for herself or wallow in the past. She just does what she needs to do and moves on.

I absolutely adored Gareth. Right from the beginning he jumped in and helped Gwyn with the kids. He didn’t try to keep his distance from them or focus solely on Gwyn. He knew her kids were part of the package and he wanted them to be part of his life just as much as he wanted Gwyn to. I really adored how he just stepped in and did what needed to be done, especially when he knew Gwyn was overwhelmed. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when he has to clean oatmeal out of the tub, because one of the twins dumped an entire carton in the bath.

Though I found much of it to be wonderful, it was flawed. I didn’t understand why Gwyn all of a sudden become mute halfway through the book. She stuttered and stumbled and and blushed, but didn’t speak. Where’s the strong woman I was beginning to love from the first half of the book? And why didn’t Gareth just tell her his secret? In the beginning his reasons were understandable, but I have no idea why he kept them so long.

While I appreciate her wanting to protect her kids, Gwyn’s logic is very flawed. Breaking off a relationship to save her kids from possible heartache in the future is beyond sketchy. I’d have had more respect for her if she’d had a real reason, instead of a contrived one. Not to mention, the kids were already attached by the time she realized she should be protecting them. By then it was like putting the cart before the horse.

Luckily she realized her mistaken thinking and set about making it right. In the end I can’t help but feel this book is a hidden gem. Even though it had flaws, I stayed up late and finished it in one sitting.

4 out of 5

This book is available from The Wild Rose Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format.


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