Ophelia Bishop was a love struck teenage girl when she and Kyle Kimpton chased their dreams to Hollywood. Kyle’s dreams came true. Ophelia’s did not. When Kyle chose his career over their relationship, Ophelia returned home to rural New York to run the family’s B & B—wiser, and more guarded against foolish fantasies. Now Kyle has come crashing back into her life, and all her defenses are down.
Kyle can’t think of a better place to write his latest screenplay than his hometown. After all, that was where he met the heart of his inspiration—his first love. He knows the damage he’s caused Ophelia, and he wants a chance to mend their relationship. If anyone can prove to Ophelia that happy ever afters aren’t only for the movies, it should be him.
As much as Ophelia’s changed, she still has feelings for Kyle. But her heart has been broken before, and she knows that Kyle could run back to Hollywood at any time. She gave up her dreams once, but maybe she can dare to change her own love story…one last time.
Titles in the Stay series include: The Start of Something Good – A Brand New Ending –
Title: A Brand New Ending
Series: Stay #2
Author: Jennifer Probst
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 23, 2018
Publisher: Montlake Romance
My Rating: 4.5 stars
A Brand New Ending had me hooked from the very beginning. I expect that from any Jennifer Probst story, but this one grabbed my emotions and attention very quickly. Add to that a second chance at rediscovering love, a family that I’m already invested in and some pretty cute animals to love and I was one happy reader with this second story in the Stay series.
I believe there are details about Ophelia and Kyle’s relationship, what tore them apart and why that you really need to discover firsthand. For to mention those things now would change how you go into this story. So, my focus is on my reactions to what they’re going through in order to finally move forward… one way or the other, with their lives now.
While both Kyle and Ophelia had dreams that drove them to Hollywood, only Kyle remained. Ophelia returned home to run the family Bed & Breakfast Inn and start another chapter of her life… without Kyle in it. The last thing she expected or wanted was for Kyle to show up wanting a room at the inn, and another chance to repair the damage done in the past. I was actually thrilled to see Ophelia’s reaction, to see her stand her ground was exactly what my first instinct would have been. (Well, after a lot of really bad words would have run through my mind.) I “got” that Kyle was searching for his muse, that he acknowledged the wrongs done, as well as his determination to win back the love of his life… but man, did I ever want to see him grovel and beg. Yeah, I sure did. There were moments, quite bluntly, that I had a difficult time really liking Kyle for my impression of him was based on Ophelia’s reaction to his crashing back into her life. Yet, using Kyle’s writings as a bit of a flashback to what happened between them (the amazing and the heartbreaking) really brought Kyle from that barely tolerating him because he’s her choice to a man that I would want in my life… as he is today.
I loved catching up with Ethan and Mia again through the glimpses we get in A Brand New Ending. Baby sister Harper’s story is one that I’m looking forward to as I really want to discover what makes her tick. I truly enjoyed my time back in this world. Ophelia and Kyle’s romance is full of pain and hope – and really, isn’t that what all relationships come down to in the end. We hurt each other, sometimes without knowing we’re doing so, the love shows when we can go past what hurt to the promise of tomorrow, together. I loved the secondary characters, well, with one notable exception but I believe I’m supposed to feel that way so I deal with them. Totally fell in love with every animal I’ve met in this series, and hope to meet some more in the next story as well.
In all, I’d not hesitate to recommend this story or the series to any Romance reader who loves a good romance, believes in second chances and longs for that happy ending. You’ll find all that and more in A Brand New Ending.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
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