The House That Love Built: A Second Chance Romance

· Jean Brashear Literary Trust
5.0
4 reviews
Ebook
248
Pages

About this ebook

 Once they had it all: a home with a man who adored her, three children they cherished, a life filled with passion and promise.

 

Until one troubled child cost them everything.

 

After a childhood of constant upheaval, all Cleo Formby wanted was to put down roots, to fill a house with family and love. When Malcolm Channing swept into her life, she gained it all: the home, the children, the love of a good man who adored her—

 

Until their firstborn daughter tore their family apart, and even the love between Cleo and Malcolm wasn't strong enough to survive the devastation.

 

Five years later, that daughter returns, destitute—with a child in tow. Cleo and Malcolm are thrown together again…and realize that their love has never died.

 

But both have ties to others now, and their daughter is no less troubled than before. Being in constant proximity yet unable to be together is a constant heartache, but the welfare of this little grandson has to take first place. 

 

When Malcolm's new life is shattered by treachery, can he and Cleo overcome the wounds of the past and find their way back to the magic that once filled the house that love built?

 

(A companion story to The Road Back Home, a different perspective of the story seen through Ria's eyes and going beyond)

 

"Jean Brashear's distinctive storytelling voice instantly draws in the reader. She writes with warmth and emotional truth.” ~ #1 NY Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

Ratings and reviews

5.0
4 reviews
Peggy Jueden
July 30, 2019
The characters in “The House That Love Built” burrowed deep into my heart. I felt such strong empathy for them and their situations. Malcolm and Cleo were deeply blessed with their love for each other their children and their lives. One difficult child destroyed it all, made it all crumble under their feet. A death in the family, a child runs away a marriage in ruins. Years later the runaway child returns with a child of her own in tow. Malcolm and Cleo are thrust back together to act as the parents they are. It’s obvious to everyone how deeply they still care for each other but now Malcolm has a girlfriend and a new baby on the way. Can they work their way out of this quagmire, help their child to ease back into the family while welcoming her child while finding their way back to each other? Will there be a HEA for the Channing family this time? I devoured this book and can’t wait for the next one about Sander and Victoria “The Road Back Home". There has not been a Jean Brashear book yet that I didn’t absolutely love and this one is no exception I was gifted a copy of this book. My honest review is voluntarily provided.
Jacky I
July 30, 2019
This book was exhausting, but worth 4.5 stars. Cover to cover angst. Normally the type of thing I avoid reading. I only planned to read a chapter or two in order to get a feel for it, but then I couldn't put it down. Ria's son Benjy was the one bright light in the book. Everyone else was so full of sadness, pain, regret, anger, hostility, fear, blame, etc. The book was truly intense. Almost everyone including Ria, blamed Ria for the way their lives imploded. I felt sorry for Ria. They talked about all the damage she had done, but I never read anything about anyone mentioning getting professional help for her. All of them needed professional help. I had to wonder how the hell did they make such a mess of their lives. As I continued to read, the explanation was slowly revealed. Believe it or not the book ends on somewhat of a high note. I will say a HFN, but with more to come. It will pull several emotions out of you. At one point, I was near tears. I absolutely felt some of this family's pain. My understanding is the following book will focus more on the situation from Ria's point of view. I don't want to miss that. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book received from the author.
Jennie Fortna
July 31, 2019
ARC for honest review with no compensation House That Love Built is book 4 in the Second Chances series by Jean Brashear and oh what an emotional journey!! Cleo and Malcolm Channing had it all..love, children, family and a happy home...until tragedy struck and the family was torn apart by divorce and heart break. Now 5 years later more upheaval, deceit, return of their first born, heartache and a grandchild that somehow needs them all... Can this family find their way back to each other, possibly mend a broken marriage and find their way back to the House That Love Built?? This book has it all...tears, tragedy, pain, heartbreak and so much more...

About the author

 A letter to Rod Stewart resulting in a Cinderella 16th birthday for her daughter might have been the first step on Texas romance author Jean Brashear’s path to being a New York Times and USAToday bestselling author of more than 50 novels in romance and women’s fiction. 


Jean’s stories are hailed as “feel-good romance at its finest” and her quirky small towns are called “a special place for hearts that need healing.” All are evidence of Jean’s heartfelt belief that love is the most powerful force in the universe, and her stories reflect that bone-deep commitment to spreading her faith in the goodness that exists inside us all.


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