The One That I Want Review Tour

The One That I Want by Marilyn Brant 

(Mirabelle Harbor, #2)
Publication date: July 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The summer after her beloved husband died in a car accident, Julia Meriwether Crane is still picking up the pieces of her life in Mirabelle Harbor and trying to help her ten-year-old daughter adjust to this difficult new reality.
After her best friend Sharlene—one of the well-known Michaelsen siblings—talks her into finally going out on the town again, Julia finds herself stunned to be the object of interest of several different men: The boy who’d broken her heart back in high school. The college ex she’d left behind. And most surprising of all, the movie actor she’d always fantasized about but had never met in person until now. Can one woman have more than one “great love” in the same lifetime? And, if so, how can she be sure which man that’ll be?
Sometimes the person you think will be best for you…isn’t the one you really want. THE ONE THAT I WANT, a Mirabelle Harbor story.

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TAKE A CHANCE ON ME (Book 1)

Book 1 in the Mirabelle Harbor series, a standalone romantic novella called TAKE A CHANCE ON ME, is also out now and it's for sale *everywhere* for just 99-cents in celebration of the release of THE ONE THAT I WANT.

Here are the buy links for that sale-priced novella and some info on the story:

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Dedicated personal trainer Chance Michaelsen falls hard for Nia Pappayiannis—his complete opposite and a member of the family that owns the Greek bakery just down the street from his gym. He considers their pastries to be the enemy of good health, but his attraction to Nia can’t be denied. In matters of the heart, would you risk it all? TAKE A CHANCE ON ME, a Mirabelle Harbor story.

The One That I Want  was a quick and easy read despite the heavy subjects that the main character deals with. If you're looking for something fast and a little sexy this is perfect! The pacing was perfect and the story flowed seamlessly.

The story deals with loss, acceptance and moving on and I really enjoyed following Julia on her journey where it seems like memory lane has now jumped in to her future as three of her great loves barrel in to her life.

I really liked Julia's character. She was strong given the circumstances and set such an amazing example for her ten-year-old daughter. She knew it would be hypocritical to tell her daughter that she should move on and start being happy again when she herself was wallowing in her husband's death. Understandably hard to do but Julia did it and became more and more empowered and strong throughout the book. I was so happy with her development as it really helped her daughter's development too.

The men in this story were less likable. Kristopher was ever so slightly creepy from the moment he was introduced and I don't know where that feeling came from. He got weirder as the story progressed... But I wont spoil anything. Ben, I felt, was a strange addition to Julia's story and could easily have been removed with none of the story being lost.

Dane however was pretty great. His character was flawed and deeply interesting with his secrets and past life from the wrong side of the tracks. I think you'll all like him as much as I do!

I'm definitely going to be one-clicking the first book in this series and I'm patiently waiting for Vicky's story! I love series where, although the books don't necessarily have to be read in order, the stories connect and as one character finds happiness another then gets their chance. By the end you're left with a lot of happy endings and you feel so connected to the characters. I'll definitely be following this series with high hopes.

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Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary women’s fiction, romantic comedy & mystery. She was named the Author of the Year (2013) by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She loves all things Jane Austen, has a passion for Sherlock Holmes, is a travel addict and a music junkie, and lives on chocolate and gelato. Look for all of the contemporary romances in her new Mirabelle Harbor series, beginning July 2015! Visit her website: www.marilynbrant.com
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