Review ♥ One to Take by Tia Louise

A Review by Wendy

4 After The Happily Ever After Stars   
* * * * 

How many times have you wondered what many of your favorite characters' lives were like after the last page ..even with a wonderful Epilogue to fill in some of the possibilities we thought of while reading their book...

Yes, we know they are all fictional characters and do not actually live in our Real Worlds.... but... if an author has done their job in creating fully formed people causing us to buy in, then it isn't unusual for them to live on past the last page.

A revisit can be tricky; if the next part of the story doesn't have weight or conflicts happen with these characters just to cause angst and seem silly, then the whole idea of doing extended visits is defeated.

Luckily, Tia Louise seems to have a knack with these types of books. She has extended our time with central characters Derek and Melissa in her One to Hold series and this time she has worked her skills with Stuart and Mariska.

The last we knew of them, they were solid in their relationship. They were engaged and getting ready to move forward in their lives. Their past story is in One to Leave https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... If you haven't read this entry, there is a "Primer" called Taken to give you a taste of all the important parts to catch up https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Lots of delicious naughty bits as well as relationship development.

We go on a journey with these special people. Special because they were really made for each other; Mariska has this keen insight to her man, Stuart. He can be a stubborn over protective Alpha wanting to only be there for her... looking to provide everything for her to feel secure. She, though, provides for him just as much. She is an open heart and willing to try ranching; learning to train wild horses. Her artistic side is fed by the beauty of the ranch and she is thinking she would be open to living on the ranch full time. She sees this is something Stuart has been leaning to for a while. His concern is the harsh reality of ranching in the dead of winter. This type of life was very hard on his mother and he doesn't wish to do that to his woman.

Life presents many ups and downs for these two. It tests their ability to communicate, share their deepest feelings and grow as a couple. Both must learn to handle the ways of their partner and to realize what expectations are fair and what may be too much to expect.

I went down this road with Stuart and Mariska impressed how nothing was perfect, all hearts and flowers. It had a serious realism to it and it also wasn't cookie cutter either. Things took time to come together and in the end, I was left with reassurances things were how they should be.

A gifted copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

About Tia Louise

Tia Louise is a former journalist, world-traveler, and collector of beautiful men (who inspire ALL of her stories... *wink*)---turned wife, mommy, and novelist.

It's possible she has a slight truffle addiction. And she will never look at a family restroom the same way again.