Just Finished: The Better Man

I read another of Ceri Hebert's short stories earlier this month (it was Yesterday's Tomorrow and the review can be found here if you missed it) and while The Better Man didn't capture me quite as much, I still really enjoyed the story.

Here's the synopsis:

A Dear Jane letter. A jilted bride. With the help of the Best Man, Lorelei Warren discovers that being left at the altar might be the best thing that's ever happened.
Lorelei Warren is facing every bride’s nightmare; she’s been left at the altar with nothing but a Dear Jane letter from the cheating groom and a church full of friends and family. Will Draper, her best friend and the best man is there to pick up the pieces. He’s been in love with Lorelei for years and he can’t resist her. Now Lori has to decide what direction her life will head, especially when it comes to Will. Can she risk losing his friendship or is what she feels for Will worth pursuing?

The story starts in an incredibly emotional moment - Lori has just been dumped...with a letter...on her wedding day. This blows the Post It Note break-up right out of the water. I was immediately in Lori's corner and was ready to trash the ex-groom right along with her bridesmaids. This helped me connect with Lori right away and I loved that. I was invested in her life right from the start and cared about what was going to happen to her.

I knew what would happen between Will and Lori but I was interested to see how it would happen. I was pleasantly surprised when Hebert threw a bit of a twist in the story and sent Lori on her road trip honeymoon - without Will. What was going to happen!? Again, I was invested and curious to find out if Lori would eventually get her happily ever after.

I'm really glad I got the chance to read The Better Man by Ceri Hebert. It was a sweet story with a great romance and I think a lot of others would like reading it as well (you can purchase it on Still Moments Publishing's website here). Since I've now enjoyed two of Hebert's stories I will definitely be on the lookout for what she writes next!

Happy reading :)

Just Finished: Yesterday's Tomorrow

I'm a big fan of second chances stories so I was happy to review the short story Yesterday's Tomorrow by Ceri Hebert.

Here's the synopsis:

What would you do if life gave you another chance to go back and get it right? 

No one needs a mental health day more than forty-four year old Lila Weidner, but when the overworked HR director wakes up in her twenty-three year old body, she's left wondering what is going on. Where is her life as a successful business woman? Where is her equally successful husband? And how is she going to maneuver through the day in order to stay on the same path she followed over twenty years earlier? Lila soon rediscovers old dreams and old friendships that she left behind and wonders if this is her chance for another shot at a truly fulfilling life. Does she dare to step off her original path and allow yesterday to become her new tomorrow?

We all wonder "what if?" at some point in our lives. It could be something simple like, "What if I hadn't gone to that concert and stayed home instead?" or something complex such as, "What if I had married my high school sweetheart?" I like when stories really examine these questions, whether the character gets a literal do-over or just the chance to do something they've always wanted to try. In the case of Yesterday's Tomorrow, it was the former. Lila goes to bed as a 44 year old and wakes up in her 23 year old body. Realizing she has the chance to create the happy ending she fears she's lacking, she dives into this second chance and makes the most out of it.

I loved seeing what Lila did with her second chance. She had to make a tough decision - stick with what's familiar or use this opportunity to really go after her heart's desire? I wasn't sure at first how it was going to turn out but I'm very happy with the conclusion.

I really liked this short story (emphasis on short - it was only about 40 pages long) and think many others would as well. Romance plays a part in Yesterday's Tomorrow but it's more about Lila's journey and what she realizes when she gets her do-over. It was a great read for sitting in the sun in the backyard on a Saturday afternoon! :)

Thank you to Still Moments Publishing for the copy to review!