I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

I have been a reader of Ms Anders since she first published in 2012. I absolutely love her writing and can only recommend new readers to take the plunge and start reading her books. Always manages to capture so well the essence of her heroines' emotions.

Sadly, "Nothing But This" was not for me. I did not care for Greyson and I kept thinking Libby could do SO much better. Who the hell wants a "man" that acts like that. I thought Greyson was ridiculous. So many reviewers I follow liked it. I just couldn't stop rolling my eyes while reading this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was an amazing book of love, life, forgiveness and connection. Wonderful read. This was the first book I read from this author, and I will definitely be reading more of hers. Great job!

Natasha Anders may be the undisputed queen of angsty romances, and this is a high point. I genuinely waffled over whether the hero could come back from his douschery in this book, but if you want a true tearjerker, this is for you.

3.5 stars for me - Oh Greyson!! He's so hard to love at times, but it's impossible not to forgive him. He's an amazing father to little Clara. The path that Libby and Greyson take back to each other is rough and fraught with speedbumps. I found Libby to be a bit of a hard-ass and unrelenting in her stubborness at times. She certainly made it hard for Greyson to make things right.

I think there could have been more of the backstory and the connection between these two, but I really enjoyed their story.

ARC generously provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for impartial review.

It’s always been complicated between Libby Lawson and Greyson Chapman—and married life isn’t any simpler. But when Libby gets pregnant, she at last sees a bright future ahead. There’s just one problem: Greyson says he’s sterile.

Furious, Greyson abandons the young family. Equally furious and deeply hurt, Libby cuts all ties with him. After all these years, it seems their relationship has finally expired. But love is resilient and endures even when you don’t want it to. Greyson still longs for Libby, and though Libby’s heartbroken by Greyson’s lack of trust, she holds out hope for a complete, happy family.

And so they embark on the journey back to each other, wary of all the obstacles between them. It’s been a long road already—one strewed with fear, doubt, and misunderstandings. Will they keep looking to the past, or will they look to each other and walk hand in hand toward a broad new horizon?

If you love angst and conflict you will love how this one starts out. Lead male who you want to hate, sweet female who has been done wrong. It grips you from the very beginning. I really enjoyed this book and the characters. I will say in the middle it dragged a bit for me and I did get to the point where Libby started to drive me nuts with her tight grip on her anger (which was a fair) but what I loved is how each character figured out they they were both to blame and how they were able to really look at themselves as well as the other party.

I’m not sure why, but it always amazes me how subjective reading is. How some readers can think a book was great - that the angst was good, the groveling was amazing, the hero redeemed himself, etc - yet I can’t remember when I loathed a book so much. Nothing But This made me nothing but cranky, and it’s gonna come out it this review.

Also, consider this your warning: I need to purge all this frustration that accumulated reading this book, so there’s gonna be spoilers galore. Don’t wanna know why I’m ticked off? Don’t keep reading. I’m not usually one to have such a negative opinion about a book, and I usually temper my negative opinions if I do. Not gonna happen this time.

#sorrynotsorry

Greyson and Libby knew each other growing up. He was four years older and her parents worked for his family, so instead of trying to just keep things friendly when he started becoming attracted to her, he was rude. Ten (or so) years later, Greyson runs into Libby at a party, talks her into going back to his hotel room, and after spending the night together, proposes marriage. She puts him off for two months, then finally gives in. Shortly after the wedding Libby excitedly announces that she’s pregnant. But because Greyson believes he’s sterile he automatically thinks she cheated on him. He spends the whole pregnancy treating her like crap, and then accuses her to her face while she’s still in the hospital with the newborn baby in her arms. Also, he purposely went on a business trip so he would miss the birth.

This is not angst. This is an adult behaving like a 12 year old.

Because Libby has at least a modicum of self-respect (but apparently not a whole lot because if someone is treating you like crap for seven months, why the hell are you putting up with it???), she leaves town and builds a life for herself and her daughter.

Four months later - that’s right, FOUR MONTHS it takes him - Greyson finally shows up on Libby’s doorstep wanting her back.

This book brought out the GRRRR in me. I was really looking forward to it, too, because I love second chance love stories and it's unusual for this genre to deal with couples who are already married. Also, so many reviewers I follow liked it. But for me, I couldn’t get past my enmity for the hero and the odd things the heroine does.

From the get go, I couldn’t understand why Greyson and Libby got married, and the “reason” didn’t seem plausible when it was given. I think I needed more time with them at the beginning of their marriage to feel torn up about the demise of their relationship.

Then I couldn’t fathom what would be a reasonable excuse for the way Greyson treated Libby after the birth of their child. Because he’s an “introvert” and not as outgoing as his brother isn’t an excuse or a reason. You are not a good person if you immediately think the worst of the people you supposedly love. If you can’t give me a plausible reason why the hero would make such baseless accusations, you won’t ever be able to win me over. Never. No matter how much the hero “grovels” or apologizes. Repairing faucets, installing door locks, and fixing things around the house is good and all, but that’s a pittance compared to accusing your wife of cheating and not contacting her for months. I was actually wishing there had been an evil ex-girlfriend responsible for the "miscommunication" instead of what actually went down.

After that, Libby does things like tell Greyson she doesn’t want him in her daughter’s life but then in the next breath asks if he wants to hold the baby he hasn’t seen since he walked out of the hospital room after Libby gave birth. She asks him to sign divorce papers, then never follows through.

I liked how Libby let the full force of her anger flow freely in Greyson‘s direction. But that was the ONLY good thing about this book.

Yes, Greyson was remorseful. Yes, Greyson tried to make amends. But there was no redeeming his asshole behavior. You can be an introvert and not be an asshole. You can be reserved and not be an asshole. You can be jealous of your twin brother and the relationship he has with your wife and not be such a colossal asshole.

So yeah. I shoulda quit this book instead of wasting my whole week trying to get through it. But I was lured by the false promise of redemption (it's that damn romantic in me wanting everything to work out). Lessons learned: do a more thorough job vetting the books I request ARCs of (because I’m fairly certain just the reviews from the first book in this series would have put me off it), and QUIT A BOOK IF IT’S MAKING ME ANGRY!!!

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

A very down to earth and real life story! I really enjoyed this and definitely recommend it! Thankyou for the arc.

This was a great second chance romance,funny and charming.It has angst and I was frustrated a lot but I loved it! I really like Grayson as I character and I could understand him!I think this book could have done with a few more flashbacks to see how their relationship was in the past. I really wanted to know more.

'I’ve been trying to find the right words. The proper combination of sounds that would make you forgive me, that would make up for what I said and did. But those words don’t exist.”

Another beautiful angst filled (in a good way) book by Anders. I love her stories and especially when a guy has to beg for forgiveness. Just perfect!!

Natasha Anders did it again. She pulled at my heart strings. Never fails. I loved Greyson and Libby's story. Second chance romance. Made me feel all the emotions. This woman is brilliant when it comes to writing romance. You can't help but to fall in love with Grayson. Must read from Natasha Anders ❤

Based on its blurb, ”Nothing But This“ could’ve been a great book. It hat so much potential. Unfortunately, it was fairly disappointing for me.
One problem for me was that I didn’t enjoy the writing style much.
But my biggest issue however was the characters. Or more specifically, Greyson. He wasn’t just unlikable, he was horrible. His treatment of Libby just couldn’t be excused. She deserved so much better than him.
In short, I didn’t want for Libby and Greyson to end up together.
And I think if a book can’t make me cheer for a couple to get their hea, it kind of fails as a romance.

I really loved this, even more than the first book in the series More Than Anything. . Suitably angsty, with a properly tortured uptight hero in Grayson, who is closed up and reserved and finds it difficult to express his feelings, and Libby, who has always loved him, Greyson finally succumbs to the attraction he feels for Libby when they are both grown up, They marry, and Libby becomes pregnant, but Greyson thinks he is sterile. He rejects her and the baby, and Libby finally leaves to make a new life in a new town with Tina from book 1.

How will Greyson realise that he has misjudged and vilified Libby unfairly, when he does, he follows Libby and the baby to their new home and tries to build bridges and make amends.

The book has lots of delicious grovelling from Greyson, and he also has to repair his relationship with Harris, his twin brother, who is working on his relationship with Tina at the same time. The thing I really enjoyed about this book is that the protagonists were not perfect. Libby has found making friends and getting on with her life quite easy, and she is guilty of focusing on her own issues rather than realising what her friends are going through. Greyson has been closed off and cold with almost everyone, and he needs to learn to express emotion, and to trust and not be jealous. They both had to confront their failings and do better.

Because of this it was a really satisfying read, the emotional arc of the characters made sense and showed how they had to grow up in order to be together.

Recommended

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads.

I was given early access to this novel in exchange for a honest review *
I started and put this novel down a few times before getting through the first chapter. When I did though it was worth it. I loved the complexity of the characters. They were realistic and heartwarming. I also enjoyed the banter between the two love interests.

I am a huge fan of Natasha Anders and have happily devoured all 9f her work. After reading the first book in the series i was really excited for the chance to read this book. However, the first half of this book dragged for me. I don't know if its because it almost seemed like a repeat and i knew what was going to happen so i was bored. Overall i loved the ending i just didn't like the progression leading up to it. I do plan on reading more by Natasha just this book probably won't make it to my must read again pile.

This story will tug at your heartstrings, can people turn back time and fix misunderstanding and and mistakes that they thought be true of their spouse. Can the damage done be undone? Can you learn to love and trust your spouse after they broke your heart and trust in people? This book shows you how deep love can go, even it you don't always show it to those you love dearly. You will most likley cry when reading it, I know I did. Communication is the key to marriage, friendships, and family, without it you get hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and lots of time lost with those you love the most.

Greyson is a an uptight person, has been that way since he was a young child. He hid his emotions behind the mask of his face. He twin Harrison was the complete opposite, Harrison is the fun loving, go to friend to Libby. Can you change who you are for those you love the most?

Libby has been in lust with Greyson since they were childhood friends, she found him to be a mystery a mystery she wanted to solve, crack his tough exterior and get behind the walls he held up to keep other out. Libby was the daughter of Greyson's family help, driver and cook to be exact. She was best friends with Harrison, but Greyson always stay away just on the outside of their friendship.

Greyson left home and went to college in US. He returned to run the family business with his brother. He always kept tabs on Libby, when her parents retired he sought her out, making her his. He seduced her and then married her in a whirlwind two month in London. Returning home married changed everything for them.. They were married but really never got to know each other than physically and that caused a major issue in their marriage, when Libby announced her pregnancy 2 months after they were married.

This is better than book 1, mainly because the heroine in this book is far more likeable and sensible above all. In fact, the multiple mentions of book 1's heroine in this book (best friend of this heroine) made me seeth with fury still, but I have already done my rant on her, so let's keep the focus on on Libby and Greyson.

Libby grew up in the Chapman household, her parents serving as housekeeper and chauffeur for Greyson's family. She became close friend of Greyson's twin brother, while Greyson himself always hovered nearby, but never close enough to join in their lighthearted games and interactions. Nevertheless, Libby was infatuated with this serious and aloof boy from a young age until he callously told her to stop shadowing him.

Fast forward ten years and she is no longer the help's daughter but a beautiful and talented chef. Greyson recognises her instantly at a party, and this time he is the one on the prowl and she is his willing prey. A short courtship is followed by marriage, but the honeymoon period never transpires. Instead, after the initial lustful haze clears somewhat, jealousy and hurt soon infiltrates their still tentative relationship. When Libby announces her pregnancy, instead of mending their marriage it tears them further apart as Greyson withdraws emotionally and physically, culminating in him walking out on her on the night of their daughter's birth. Libby, still exhausted and weak from the labour, has to be confronted with the shocking accusation that she has cuckolded her husband. As soon as she is able to, the new mum hightails out of town with her bub, determined to forge an independent life away from the man who rejected them both. It doesn't take Greyson long to come to his senses, especially with his irate twin brother breathing down his neck and giving him some bruising reality checking. It does take him several more months to go chasing after his wife and daughter after taking some extended self-flagellation time-out. By then, Libby is busily forging a new life for herself and baby Clara - new town, new restaurant, and most of all new toughened exterior. And we're in for some wonderfully, unadulterated grovelling of the most humble and patient kind from Greyson - not just token gestures but a complete, 180 turnaround make-over. What was even sweeter for me was the way Clara enraptured him from the first photo, the first contact, the first smile. The other great thing was that the author and all the characters, including Greyson himself, called out Greyson's unjustified behaviour as utterly moronic. <spoiler> He thought he was infertile, but never got himself tested and instead accused Libby of betraying him with his twin, even though she was a virgin when they first slept together only 2 months prior to her conceiving. </spoiler> There was no softening that fact or excusing it. It was the unconditional, sincere grovelling and the determined self-improvement that enabled Libby and the reader to forgive him.

Libby herself was fabulous, fierce lioness protective of her cub and her own heart. No self-pitying moments for her, for she is a mother, and so she picks herself up and dusts herself, and off she goes to do what she must do to survive. Solid writing.

I shed a few tears during my journey with Greyson and Libby. Oh, this duology made me cry, they are emotional-heavy. I love both books, the first one broke my heart and this second book shattered it completely.

Both stories are about second chances, singles and married. You see how, in each relationship, the characters coped with their different life challenges. There are unique personalities and you experience how each one reacts to their individual expectations and disappointments.

Every reader will definitely find a character or a situation they could relate with. In my perspective, the series is about having hope and keeping the faith. They are educational and inspirational, you’d sure pick-up life lessons.

3 stars

Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite from Natasha. I felt disconnected from the characters.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2780648627