I don’t think I advertised this enough, but All or Nothing at All by Jennifer Probst was actually one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. At one point, I thought it was my #1 most anticipated, although after devouring all 705 pages of A Court of Wings and Ruin the same day it came out, I realized maybe not. Either way, I was ecstatic when I got the chance to read this, and unsurprisingly, it was just as amazing as all of the other books in the series.

All or Nothing at All is the third book in Jennifer Probst’s Billionaire Builders series, sort of inspired by the Property Brothers. This book features Tristan Pierce and Sydney Greene. They were childhood friends turned lovers, until Tristan took off to New York and Sydney stayed in her hometown. Three years later, he’s back and shocked/betrayed when he finds that Sydney has a kid. He gives her the cold shoulder, unaware that the kid is actually his. So basically, the perfect, most potentially swoony contemporary romance plot ever – it’s why I thought this book would be my favorite in the series. Now having read the book, it’s a hard call. I’m stuck between the second book Any Time, Any Place and this one. The former was perfect in every way, and while I did love this one as well, there was one thing this book didn’t quite hit.

Let’s go through the checklist:
The selfless heroine. CHECK.
The adorable, lovable kid. CHECK.
The relationship between father & daughter and mother & daughter. CHECK.
The drama and pain after the big reveal. CHECK.
The perfect, angsty relationship between Sydney and Tristan. Umm, not so much.

While I loved so much about this book and had a great time reading it – minus the tears at the painful bits – one thing that really got under my skin while I was reading was Sydney and Tristan’s relationship. Too much of their relationship was founded on sex. It was clear that they both loved each other’s personalities and who they were to one another, but for most of the novel, this rarely came through in the way they interacted with each other. It was brought up at the end of the novel, but the apology wasn’t big enough, and my cold heart apparently isn’t as easy to please as the characters in the novel.

There’s also this thing that happens about three-quarters of the way into the novel. I won’t spoil it, but one character is taken advantage of and literally no one stands up for this character. They let all of what’s happening happen to the character, and all the males and females we’ve come to know and love from the last two books stick up for the other character without even bothering to know more about the situation. Sure, they have the sad character’s back later in the novel, but they weren’t there for the character when the character so could have used them. Again, the character forgave them, but I still hold a grudge. And I’m not even done yet.

The happily ever after bit usually occurs after one of the characters realizes that he/she is in the wrong, and makes a grand apology (re: two paragraphs above where I complain about the apology not being grand enough). I’m not sure if this is even a big deal, but the fact that one character absolutely refused to believe the other character until there was absolute proof right in front of that character’s face that the other character wasn’t lying really bothered me. And that both characters were totally okay with this turn of events and that one of them didn’t demand a bigger apology (yes, I’m back to that) just made me feel confused things. I don’t even know.

BUT

Despite all of that, I really enjoyed reading this book. This series is absolutely perfect, and honestly, the fact that this book made me feel so many things means that it’s that good. Obviously these characters are very different from me and have less cold hearts – except maybe Tristan – but the plot was stunningly written, even despite my complaints. I suppose I wanted Sydney to stand up for herself more and Tristan to come to conclusions a bit faster and both to not make stupid mistakes, but hey, c’est la vie.

If you still don’t believe how much I enjoyed the book, I gave it five stars (★★★★★). If I hadn’t read the other two books in the series, maybe it would have been four stars, but the interactions between all these characters that now feel like family makes everything okay. Everyone’s story was different, and I applaud Probst on being able to write unique romances year after year. This is why she’s my go-to Contemporary Romance author, folks.

While I have read several books by Jennifer Probst, I have to say this one is my favorite so far. While this is a second chance romance with a secret child thrown into the mix, the romance between Tristan and Sydney is so much more than that. Sydney has always loved Tristan since she was a little girl but Tristan has for most of his life taken Sydney for granted. So when Tristan left Sydney to make a life for his own in New York, Sydney did what she needed to do both for herself and for their daughter. Years later, Tristan is forced to work with Sydney at the same company and realizes she is definitely not the girl he left behind. What I particularly liked was how strong of a character Sydney became after Tristan left. Even after Tristan returned, she held her own at the family business and had earned everyone's respect, even Tristan's. Strong without being too strong if that makes sense. This is the third book in the series but it can easily be read on its own. I did, but now I want to go back and read the first two just because I want more of the Billionaire Builders.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

I loved this second chance read with Tristan and Sydney. This was a hot love affair. I definitely enjoyed and will be reading the first two book in the Billionaire Builders series.

Tristan and Sydney.

This book is the third, and final, book in the Billionaire Builders series. Jennifer Probst always creates a cast of characters that are so well developed. She always builds worlds I want to live in. I love second chance romances and the added twist that was thrown into this book...loved it more. The characters had to work for it; love and HEA didn't come easily for two stubborn characters that have loved each other since they were kids. Betrayal and lies make finding their way back to each other that much sweeter in the end. Well done!

All or Nothing at All, Jennifer Probst

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance, 

I've enjoyed a few of Jennifer's stories now but this one didn't really work for me. 
I understood the background issues, the need Tristan felt to get away, as well as the reasons why Sydney wouldn't leave with him.
He acted like a spoiled child growing up, a thwarted teen when he left for the city, and now he's back eight years later he's still acting like a kid, holding old grudges, never once looking at his own decisions or questioning them. 

The romance side is pretty generic, secrets revealed, heartbreak just when the characters had finally got together...but as usual for a book by Jennifer its well written, and plays out nicely.

What I had major issues with was the way Sydney managed to get away with no one, not one person, questioning who's Becca's father.
Its a small town, and as we see in the book, like most its one where everyone knows, or think they know or suspect, every little thing that happens, so how she managed to keep this a secret isn't believable. 
Then Tristan returns home and never once suspects? Nor do his family, who Sydney works for, who are very close to her? Even when they're organising Becca's 7th birthday party is still way over Tristan's head.....
That was a huge issue for me to get past.
When finally he finds out his reaction at first is understandable, but they way he acts after didn't make me like him.

He'd been a pretty cold jerk to Sydney for the past year and he reverted to, went past even, that same icy behaviour. I just wanted to say "grow up man! Look at who you were and think honestly how you would have reacted, if things could have worked out!!"
Sorry, a well written read that many will love, just not me.

Stars: Two, a good read for some, but which didn't work for me.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Great read

a very nice light romance read, to make you feel all gooey inside

Ms Probst had brought to life an intense passion with Tristan and Sydney...it is celebrated and all consuming. As with all her stories, this author leaves you wanting more. There is a certain sadness in the end of this series, yet a true joy in the brothers each reaching for and achieving their HEA.

The heat created between Tristan and Syd was explosive, leaping off the page and grabbing your heart in the finest way possible. Add Becca to the mixture and your heartstrings run wild. This story is riddled with warmth, heartbreak, and humor...each appearing in a carefully orchestrated gift to the reader. Ms Probst is a genius in creating memorable characters that live in your heart long after the last page is read.

I look forward to what is ahead in the future from this author, knowing full well it will be well received.

This ARC book was provided as a complimentary copy by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This book is so special. Second chance books are one of my favorites, especially when they're done right. This one made me swoon, cry, laugh, want to slap someone, and just simply fall in love with it. A great book in a great series!

Sydney has loved cold Tristan Pierce her whole life, pining after him as a young girl and secretly dating him after he finally realized she was no longer a child. After Tristan's mother died in a horrific car accident, Tristan made the decision to leave their small California town and head to NYC. He asked Sydney to go with him, but without love on the table and a secret baby in her belly, Sydney refused.
Now Tristan is back working alongside Sydney at Pierce Brothers and their past attraction is as hot as ever. He's met Sydney's daughter but has no idea he is the father. Will the secret ruin everything or create the family Syndey always wanted?

I'd read another book in this series, so I jumped at the chance to read one more. I liked it just as much as the first one! A sweet, sexy romp, with a heck of a curveball. I found myself metaphorically shaking my fist at Tristan, and shaking my head at Sydney. You'll find yourself hanging on every word to find out what happens.

Reviewing for publication see my review in RT Magazine August editon