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Learning #3.5
Learning to Move Forward
Grace Hart was a force to be reckoned with. She’d fought hard in her life to overcome hurt, rejection, and humiliation and won. Her only fear was opening her heart to love. She put up a persona of dominance and kept people at a distance, in order to avoid emotion. But, secretly she craved someone to take control and move her forward in a life she seemed to be stuck in.
Jonathan Waters never believed in love at first site, even scoffed at his brother Garrett, having fallen in love with his wife Laurel at first glance. But, when Grace entered his restaurant, he knew he had to make her his, no matter what it took.
Fate would force them together, but could they overcome issues in the past to secure a future together? They say love can conquer anything, but can it help them Learn to Move Forward?
**Mature Audiences, age 17+, due to strong language and sexual content**
Jonathan Waters never believed in love at first site, even scoffed at his brother Garrett, having fallen in love with his wife Laurel at first glance. But, when Grace entered his restaurant, he knew he had to make her his, no matter what it took.
Fate would force them together, but could they overcome issues in the past to secure a future together? They say love can conquer anything, but can it help them Learn to Move Forward?
**Mature Audiences, age 17+, due to strong language and sexual content**
- GenresNew Adult
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2015
7 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia P. O'Neill
28 books240 followersI grew up in a small town in South Florida and moved to Central Florida to attend college. I married my friend, love, and soul mate and still reside in the area with our amazing son, and a feisty, four-legged little doggie boy.
In my books, I draw on my background in healthcare, business, and science, along with my husband’s engineering and wireless technology knowledge.
I love to cook and create in the kitchen and on the bbq grill. I sometimes lose myself in a song at the piano. I enjoy crafting, amusement parks, and the beach!
Let's connect and get to know each other. Find me at: www.cynthiaponeill.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 29, 2015
DNF @ 50%.
The h was hard to like. She was a real ball buster. There wasn't much of a story here, just the h remembering things that happened in her life. She was overly focused on her looks. I thought it was pretty ridiculous how her friends in high school would immediately dump her when they see her laying in a hospital bed with one hand. When she was a college student, she decides to get revenge on her boyfriend but her actions are so stupid. She has only one hand. What did she expect to do, overpower him?!?! The guy easily incapacitates her, rapes her, and ties her to the car door so he could beat her. FACE PALM!! The H wasn't any better. The author tried to make him dominant but he was too sweet. His attempts to act ALPHA felt like he was roleplaying. Plus, the OTT events that enfolded in Garret's story was beyond any silly soap opera.
The h was hard to like. She was a real ball buster. There wasn't much of a story here, just the h remembering things that happened in her life. She was overly focused on her looks. I thought it was pretty ridiculous how her friends in high school would immediately dump her when they see her laying in a hospital bed with one hand. When she was a college student, she decides to get revenge on her boyfriend but her actions are so stupid. She has only one hand. What did she expect to do, overpower him?!?! The guy easily incapacitates her, rapes her, and ties her to the car door so he could beat her. FACE PALM!! The H wasn't any better. The author tried to make him dominant but he was too sweet. His attempts to act ALPHA felt like he was roleplaying. Plus, the OTT events that enfolded in Garret's story was beyond any silly soap opera.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2015
I'm the author, so I'm biased about the book. I was surprised how the characters came together. If you remember from the past Learning books, Grace was a bit hard to handle and Jonathan seemed a bit reserved, but behind closed doors, you'll find that Jonathan is more of a Dom than Garrett was. It definitely has heat, some issues to overcome, and hopefully I did good in expressing their love for one another. I was happy to have the elaborate on their story in this spin-off. I'm hoping everyone enjoys it.
August 23, 2021
Brilliant.
After reading about Grace and Jonathan in the previous books with Laurel and Garrett I was looking forward to their story, I wasn't disappointed it's lovely to read about someone's journey to heal and learning to move forward.
Really enjoyed it
After reading about Grace and Jonathan in the previous books with Laurel and Garrett I was looking forward to their story, I wasn't disappointed it's lovely to read about someone's journey to heal and learning to move forward.
Really enjoyed it
April 22, 2015
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars
Before I go any further with this review I will say that I had a problem with this book that is personal to me and no fault of the author whatsoever. The heroine had a limb amputated as a teenager, and this is something that really touches a nerve with me at the moment, and once I read the chapter where Grace recalls the amputation I struggled to get it out of my mind. I want to be totally honest and say that as much as I tried not to let it, this undoubtedly affected by enjoyment of the book and therefore my review. Totally not the author's fault, just an unfortunate coincidence.
Learning to Move Forward is book #3.5 in the A Learning series, and is the last book of the series. It centres around Grace and Jonathan, who I believe were supporting characters in the first three books. This book can be read as a standalone, but I think I may have enjoyed the book more and found it easier to connect to the characters if I had read the previous books first. The events in the other books sound really exciting and action packed, so I may go back and read these books at some stage.
Grace and Jonathan are engaged but in order to move ahead with their relationship they need to overcome issues from their pasts. Recent events threw them together, but they still need to come to terms with everything that happened to their family. Grace also has a very traumatic past that is still affecting her life today. A lot of this book revolves around the couple working through those problems with the help of a therapist and journal entries. This book is full of emotion and the author conveys this well, especially through the journal entries which are really touching.
There are also some really hot moments in this book, with some really nicely written sex scenes. The love and chemistry between Grace and Jonathan is obvious, and the reader finds themselves really hoping they can overcome their problems and have a happy life together. I enjoyed the author's writing style, it seemed really natural and the story flowed well. I give this book three and a half stars out of five, but I suspect it would have been more if I had read the other books first.
Before I go any further with this review I will say that I had a problem with this book that is personal to me and no fault of the author whatsoever. The heroine had a limb amputated as a teenager, and this is something that really touches a nerve with me at the moment, and once I read the chapter where Grace recalls the amputation I struggled to get it out of my mind. I want to be totally honest and say that as much as I tried not to let it, this undoubtedly affected by enjoyment of the book and therefore my review. Totally not the author's fault, just an unfortunate coincidence.
Learning to Move Forward is book #3.5 in the A Learning series, and is the last book of the series. It centres around Grace and Jonathan, who I believe were supporting characters in the first three books. This book can be read as a standalone, but I think I may have enjoyed the book more and found it easier to connect to the characters if I had read the previous books first. The events in the other books sound really exciting and action packed, so I may go back and read these books at some stage.
Grace and Jonathan are engaged but in order to move ahead with their relationship they need to overcome issues from their pasts. Recent events threw them together, but they still need to come to terms with everything that happened to their family. Grace also has a very traumatic past that is still affecting her life today. A lot of this book revolves around the couple working through those problems with the help of a therapist and journal entries. This book is full of emotion and the author conveys this well, especially through the journal entries which are really touching.
There are also some really hot moments in this book, with some really nicely written sex scenes. The love and chemistry between Grace and Jonathan is obvious, and the reader finds themselves really hoping they can overcome their problems and have a happy life together. I enjoyed the author's writing style, it seemed really natural and the story flowed well. I give this book three and a half stars out of five, but I suspect it would have been more if I had read the other books first.
April 23, 2015
~ 3.5 – 4 stars ~
Learning to Move Forward is installment 3.5 in A Learning Series and focuses on Jonathan and Grace, secondary characters in the first 3 books. While this can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend you read books 1-3 first (Laurel and Garett’s story) since ALL stories are wrapped up in this one.
“Why the need to be completely perfect in a flawed world?”
Grace was far from perfect and that was a battle she had been fighting all her life. Her parents and childhood friends expected nothing but perfection from her. After a tragic car accident, Grace’s life changed forever. Physically scarring her body for life proved to be a bigger challenge than she ever imagined. It caused all her insecurities and doubts to re-surface, and ignoring them did her no good. They caused her to have issues with Jonathan, but being the amazing man that he was, he stood by her side and along with Laurel and Garett, convinced her to get help…to seek therapy.
Therapy wasn’t easy for Grace seeing as she had to re-live those dark moments in her life. With the love and support from Jonathan, she faced and overcame her inner demons. Jonathan proved his love for her time and time again and I loved how much he loved her. Her fears of not being good enough were all put to rest, slowly but surely. Jonathan and Grace’s love was one that would last a lifetime. If you are in the mood for a quick-ish romance with a few steamy scenes, then pick this one up! A great addition to A Learning Series!
Learning to Move Forward is installment 3.5 in A Learning Series and focuses on Jonathan and Grace, secondary characters in the first 3 books. While this can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend you read books 1-3 first (Laurel and Garett’s story) since ALL stories are wrapped up in this one.
“Why the need to be completely perfect in a flawed world?”
Grace was far from perfect and that was a battle she had been fighting all her life. Her parents and childhood friends expected nothing but perfection from her. After a tragic car accident, Grace’s life changed forever. Physically scarring her body for life proved to be a bigger challenge than she ever imagined. It caused all her insecurities and doubts to re-surface, and ignoring them did her no good. They caused her to have issues with Jonathan, but being the amazing man that he was, he stood by her side and along with Laurel and Garett, convinced her to get help…to seek therapy.
Therapy wasn’t easy for Grace seeing as she had to re-live those dark moments in her life. With the love and support from Jonathan, she faced and overcame her inner demons. Jonathan proved his love for her time and time again and I loved how much he loved her. Her fears of not being good enough were all put to rest, slowly but surely. Jonathan and Grace’s love was one that would last a lifetime. If you are in the mood for a quick-ish romance with a few steamy scenes, then pick this one up! A great addition to A Learning Series!
May 1, 2015
Support, love and family…
This is the last book in the Learning series and it wraps up the storylines while providing one last emotional tug on the heart. Not to worry if this is the first story in the series you’ve read, this title can be read as a stand-alone, too. Chances are though, you will probably be like me and want to go back and read (or reread) the previous installments. Events in previous stories are mentioned and provide a tantalizing glimpse to the other character’s stories.
Grace Hart is many things. She is a cousin, a daughter and a fiancé. She enjoys her job, is basking in “auntie-hood” and is eagerly planning to walk down the aisle with a man she adores. What could be the problem? On the surface, nothing, but as Grace shares her past and the often painful memories she has, it is easy to see the serene façade is hiding a lot of pain. Jonathan Waters, her fiancé, is loving, supportive and ready to provide the understanding ear or pillar of strength that is needed to help Grace through the painful journey of discovery she is on. He is sexy, dominant and a perfect partner to his strong, yet vulnerable, fiancé. The writing style is natural and flows easily. A few awkwardly worded sentences were surprising but did not detract from a strong story and characters I really enjoyed. I finished the book in one sitting and am looking forward to catching up on earlier books and rereading this story with all the background knowledge this time!
June 24, 2015
Support, love and family…
This is the last book in the Learning series and it wraps up the storylines while providing one last emotional tug on the heart. Not to worry if this is the first story in the series you’ve read, this title can be read as a stand-alone, too. Chances are though, you will probably be like me and want to go back and read (or reread) the previous installments. Events in previous stories are mentioned and provide a tantalizing glimpse to the other character’s stories.
Grace Hart is many things. She is a cousin, a daughter and a fiancé. She enjoys her job, is basking in “auntie-hood” and is eagerly planning to walk down the aisle with a man she adores. What could be the problem? On the surface, nothing, but as Grace shares her past and the often painful memories she has, it is easy to see the serene façade is hiding a lot of pain. Jonathan Waters, her fiancé, is loving, supportive and ready to provide the understanding ear or pillar of strength that is needed to help Grace through the painful journey of discovery she is on. He is sexy, dominant and a perfect partner to his strong, yet vulnerable, fiancé. The writing style is natural and flows easily. A few awkwardly worded sentences were surprising but did not detract from a strong story and characters I really enjoyed. I finished the book in one sitting and am looking forward to catching up on earlier books and rereading this story with all the background knowledge this time!
~Diane
This is the last book in the Learning series and it wraps up the storylines while providing one last emotional tug on the heart. Not to worry if this is the first story in the series you’ve read, this title can be read as a stand-alone, too. Chances are though, you will probably be like me and want to go back and read (or reread) the previous installments. Events in previous stories are mentioned and provide a tantalizing glimpse to the other character’s stories.
Grace Hart is many things. She is a cousin, a daughter and a fiancé. She enjoys her job, is basking in “auntie-hood” and is eagerly planning to walk down the aisle with a man she adores. What could be the problem? On the surface, nothing, but as Grace shares her past and the often painful memories she has, it is easy to see the serene façade is hiding a lot of pain. Jonathan Waters, her fiancé, is loving, supportive and ready to provide the understanding ear or pillar of strength that is needed to help Grace through the painful journey of discovery she is on. He is sexy, dominant and a perfect partner to his strong, yet vulnerable, fiancé. The writing style is natural and flows easily. A few awkwardly worded sentences were surprising but did not detract from a strong story and characters I really enjoyed. I finished the book in one sitting and am looking forward to catching up on earlier books and rereading this story with all the background knowledge this time!
~Diane
October 9, 2015
Having read the Learn Series with Garrett and Lauren I was pleased to know there was a story devoted to Jonathan and Grace. It is a great story by itself. When you first meet Grace and Jonathan their relationship is a whirlwind and I wondered how it all comes to be. In the stories devoted to Garrett and Lauren you see both Grace and Jonathan full of confidence and strength. They are the rocks for the other characters and especially Grace being a champion for Lauren throughout their lives. What touched me reading this story is how shattered Grace is on the inside but continues with an outward strength. She is able to love Jonathan completely but her issues make her distant at times. Her character is real. She could be me or any other person in the world. I enjoyed how Grace’s life unfolded throughout the story. And all the while you also get the background to Jonathan's life and come to find he is just as wrecked in his own way. It showed another aspect of a broken person living life to the fullest despite their past. I thoroughly enjoyed the details to their courtship and the deep love they have for each other. This was an enjoyable read and a great full circle to the Learn Series for these two characters
April 7, 2015
OMG...just when I thought A Learning Series was over, here comes a spin-off and OMG it's freaking hot!
I thought no one could even come close to matching Garrett Waters as a hottie, but his brother Jonathan leaves me breathless and wanting more.
I love how the author brings Garrett and Laurel back in supporting roles, but allows us to fill-in the gaps the author created with Jonathan and Grace's story. We get the full deal of how they got together, what their hang-ups and passions are...it's amazing, sorry for a lack of a better word, but I loved it!
Reading this book helped put some closure on the series and makes me want to go back and re-read everything again.
I loved how the author brought up Grace's issues with her past. Some are a bit petty, but when I think back on high school...not so far fetched as one would believe. Hell, I've seen people turn on others and drop them as friends for no real reason whatsoever. So loving the sense of realism here.
Excellent read...highly recommended. Just when I thought the author couldn't raise the bar any more, she does. Can't wait to see what else she writes!
I thought no one could even come close to matching Garrett Waters as a hottie, but his brother Jonathan leaves me breathless and wanting more.
I love how the author brings Garrett and Laurel back in supporting roles, but allows us to fill-in the gaps the author created with Jonathan and Grace's story. We get the full deal of how they got together, what their hang-ups and passions are...it's amazing, sorry for a lack of a better word, but I loved it!
Reading this book helped put some closure on the series and makes me want to go back and re-read everything again.
I loved how the author brought up Grace's issues with her past. Some are a bit petty, but when I think back on high school...not so far fetched as one would believe. Hell, I've seen people turn on others and drop them as friends for no real reason whatsoever. So loving the sense of realism here.
Excellent read...highly recommended. Just when I thought the author couldn't raise the bar any more, she does. Can't wait to see what else she writes!
April 23, 2015
At first I wasn't sure what the heck was going on with Grace because I always thought of her as a strong, independent, in your face type and I loved that about her but then in this she was almost a completely different person. She was more pouty and angry. BUT as always it came together great and it totally worked and explained why she was the way she is. She was still the same Grace but you just saw the part she tried to hide which made her very easy to relate to. I was crying my little eyes out when she was talking to her parents. I was glad to see that she hadn’t changed from the Grace I loved in the earlier books. Then there is Jonathan. Oh how I loved Jonathan in this series. Yes I feel in love with him back in book one and kept hoping we would get more of him. He was the perfect balance of sweet romantic and alpha male. He loves Grace and you can tell he would do anything for her. The story is basically Grace and how she has to figure out some things to move forward with her life with Jonathan and he feels it is important for her to work through her issues and want to help her do it. It shows that even with imperfections you can still be perfect in someone else’s eyes.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews