To Have
To Have #1
M.L. Pennock
Genre: Romance
Release Date: June 2, 2015

Stella
My life was good.
But, like most things that are just “good,” it fell apart. I fell apart.
I had lived to work before, but when my husband left my job became my entire life.
Then I went for coffee and my life changed. Days before finalizing my divorce, my past sat down across from me and it was like life had been breathed back into me. It was only the beginning of a crazy, not at all planned out adventure with him … much like our escapades when we were kids.

Brian
Twenty years ago my parents moved our family to Tennessee. My heart stayed behind in Western New York.
On a well-planned whim, my best friend and I packed up and headed north to begin realizing our dream of owning a business — a coffeehouse — in the small college town I spent my childhood exploring.
It took me years before I had the courage to go home, set up shop, and find her, though. I needed to be certain I could give her everything.
That day finally came.
When she walked in, she stole the air from my lungs.

This is our story.

 

This debut novel is a hidden gem. I have been hesitant lately about trying new authors since I have had several busts, but I do love a good second chance romance and this one sounded like it could be a winner. When I dove into To Have, I wondered why I had not read it sooner. This story has so many of the elements that I love from this genre. There is a love story that is solid. It is about more than a physical and chemical reaction. It is filled with emotional connection and a friendship that grows into more. This story is the purest type of second chance romance. It started as an innocent and loving friendship between two children, two kids that thought they would be best friends forever who were devastated at an early separation, and became more when they meet again as adults finding their footing in life. It is a story of what could be despite the time and distance apart.

Pennock does a great job of displaying a story that is dramatic but not over the top. There are so many different elements that come to play within the first few chapters that I was wondering how those themes would weigh down the story. But instead they enhanced the characters and their experiences. Stella is a beautiful soul and when her world comes crashing down she is never alone. She is surrounded by friends and family who hold her accountable to life and walk with her through hardships. I loved her family and friends that enriched her life and this story. Brian is such a fabulous book boyfriend. He is sweet, kind, honorable, and genuine. I loved how the little boy grew into a fabulous man, one that sought out a soulmate in life and when he found her, refused to let go.

The ups and downs of this story add a certain flair that has drama and romance but everything is in balance. The drama that happens is intricate to the story and helps to develop both the relationships and characters. I loved watching Stella and Brian fall in love. It was sweet and passionate. Their story captivated me and I loved every minute.

The writing in this story is so good. Pennock does a great job with the plot and pace of the book. The romance could have been rushed due to their past but instead it flows from one step to another until they become a cohesive unit. The side stories and drama added depth and emotion to this tale. It allows the reader to better understand where Stella and Brian are coming from and expands the story to include their spheres of life, not just the relationship. I appreciated that idea.

I will definitely be looking for more from Pennock and I am hoping to see more of the secondary characters that were introduced in this story. With a debut novel like this, Pennock is going places. If you love a well written second chance story that is real and beautiful, check out To Have and prepare to fall in love with Stella and Brian’s happily ever after!