If We Never Met (Small Town Feel-Good Romance)

Barbara Freethy

Jun 2021 · Whisper Lake Book 5 · Fog City Publishing, LLC

About this ebook

One moment can change a lifetime...

Keira Blake agrees to the blind date simply because she has a wedding coming up and no plus one. Tired of being the last single girl standing in her group of friends, she shows up at the bar with low expectations, but her ruggedly handsome date is far more attractive and interesting than she'd imagined. In fact, he seems too good to be true…

Dante DeAngelis, the star pitcher for the Miami Mavericks, is in Whisper Lake for a month to rehab a shoulder injury away from the spotlight of his baseball career and his famous girlfriend. When the beautiful brunette assumes he's her date, he momentarily plays along, enjoying the rare instance of not being seen as a celebrity but as himself... 

When their true identities are revealed, Keira and Dante try to stay away from one another. Keira has family commitments that will keep her in Whisper Lake, and Dante is just passing through. He also has a girlfriend and a job miles away. But sometimes love gets in the way of the best laid plans… 

Compelling, heartwarming, and feel-good romance awaits in IF WE NEVER MET, the next book in the bestselling Whisper Lake Contemporary Romance Series!

NOTE: The Whisper Lake Series is a heartwarming and humorous small-town romance series. Each book can be read as a standalone. There are no cliffhangers! Popular storylines in the series include grumpy sunshine, runaway bride, second chance at love, enemies to lovers, family secrets, blind date, and opposites attract.

Also Available:

Always With Me #1

My Wildest Dream #2

Can't Fight The Moonlight #3

Just One Kiss #4

If We Never Met #5

Tangled Up In You #6

Next Time I Fall #7

WHAT THE READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT IF WE NEVER MET:

"The latest Whisper Lake novel by Barbara Freethy is refreshing, well-written and just plain fun to read! As with Barbara Freethy books, there is intrigue & mystery within this romance. I highly recommend this 5 star romance! Looking forward to returning to Whisper Lake soon." Geri – Goodreads

"Barbara Freethy’s latest novel on Whisper Lake series is an absolutely superb novel! I just read it in one go, from the moment Dante and keira meet to the last page it’s simply wonderful. Ms. Freethy has written a well- developed story with likeable characters. This book is highly recommended if you’re looking for a weekend or a beach read." Lishani - BookBub

"This is such a good book! It's a charming, fun, intriguing and moving story. Captivated me from the first page to the last. 5 STARS!" Doni - Goodreads

"Loved it. From the meet cute to the wedding (not theirs) at the end it is an enjoyable and entertaining tale. Some nail-biting moments. Many personal growth issues. Family ties and losses. A delight to be back in Whisper Lake once again." Barbara – Goodreads on If We Never Met 

"This series just keeps getting better. A fantastic suspenseful romance." Debbie - Goodreads

"My heart was fluttering with the feelings these two shared I felt like I was right there with them." Bridget - Goodreads

Ratings and reviews

Dante questioning if his shoulder with 3 weeks of intense rehab would work and return to his career as a professional ball player, a year till his contract was up. Whisper Lake had a new rehab center along with the peace and quiet he could use also. The privacy at the Inn and a good meal for now. When a young woman approached his table, they clicked, until the waitress mentioned her date was waiting for her, the mixup of names sounding alike Keira has been wrapped up in her work, without time to date. A dream to have her own design business, and love seemed far away for now. A heartwarming story of following her dreams of love and a career. As you meet these two characters and love them, so real and down to earth. Another winner in this series. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Barbara Freethy has done it again! I absolutely loved If We Never Met, it is an incredible love at first sight love story. It is the fifth book in the Whisper Lake series. Each book in the series gets better and better, but I think that If We Never Met is my favorite story in the series so far. Barbara Freethy has once again shown that she is an amazing storyteller. I could not put it down. I loved every page. I really enjoy how the book is told from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. If We Never Met is a second chance at first love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud. My favorite moments are the ones that pull at my heartstrings that cause me to sigh, as I read the heartbreaking moments. If We Never Met is filled with such moments, and with so much emotion. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Barbara Freethy love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. If We Never Met is the story of Dante DeAngelis, a major league baseball pitcher and Keira Blake, part-time realtor, boutique owner and clothing designer. Dante is in Whisper Lake rehabbing an injured shoulder that Grayson Cole surgically repaired. Keira and Dante meet when Keira sits down at Dante’s table at Micky’s Bar and Grill assuming that he is her blind date. Only when the waitress tells her that her date “Danny” is waiting for her at another table, does Keira realize her mistake. Keira needs a plus one for her best friend, Hannah’s wedding, which is the reason behind the blind date. Keira’s friends reveal Dante’s identity and the fact that he has a girlfriend. Keira and Dante continue to run into each other, but Keira does not want to get involved with him because Dante has a girlfriend and is only going to be in Whisper Lake until his arm is better. Conversation between Keira and Dante flows so easily, I love that both Keira and Dante share secrets with one another that they have not shared with anyone before, especially the secrets that Dante shares about his family. I love that they were both so vulnerable and that Keira changed because of Dante’s encouragement. As Keira and Dante spend time together, things change between them despite all the negative publicity that has plagued them. I love all the changes that Keira was willing to make in her life, because she wanted a future with Dante. I love the actions that Dante took to save Keira’s life, even knowing he might risk injuring himself again. I loved the multiple plot twists in the story, and how they are all so wonderfully resolved in this incredible story. I loved that If We Never Met is a more than just a romance, there are dilemmas that both Keira and Dante are facing that need to be resolved. I love that there were multiple storylines: Keira’s relationship with her mother, Ruth, and how she feels like she is the only one who can take care of her, Dante’s rehabilitation and the impact on his career, the mystery behind Mark Langley and the mysterious red-haired woman, but most importantly Keira and Dante’s love story. I love how all the storylines get so beautifully resolved. I love all the descriptions of the Whisper Lake setting that Barbara Freethy detailed, it makes me want to visit. If We Never Met is filled with the poignant and bittersweet moments in the story as well as the plot twists, that I have come to love and expect in Barbara Freethy's stories. I love the cast of characters in If We Never Met and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Who doesn’t love family and friends that always have each other’s backs? Reading If We Never Met felt like a family reunion, because the reader was able to catch up with the other characters in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed If We Never Met, who doesn’t love a love at first sight love story? Highly recommend this incredible love story.

To say that Keira Blake is stretched thin is putting it mildly. She's a real estate agent, a boutique owner, a caregiver to her mom, and a designer who is currently making the bridal gown and bridesmaids dresses for one of her best friends. She'd like to have a plus one for the wedding so she decides to give online dating a try. Keira arranges a blind date at the local pub with a guy she'd been talking to online but never met. So what happens when you arrive for a blind date but sit with the wrong guy? In Keira's case...EVERYTHING!!! Dante DeAngelis is in Whisper Lake for one month to do rehab on his shoulder. He is a professional baseball player from Miami. Dante’s doctor suggested he do his rehab in Whisper Lake at a new state of the art facility. When a beautiful woman slides into the booth across from him one night while out for dinner, he finds himself instantly drawn to her. Dante quickly realizes that she’s mistaken him for someone else. He should stop her a let her know she’s talking to the wrong guy, but surprisingly, he doesn’t want to! I absolutely loved this story between Keira and Dante. There were some twists and turns that you didn’t see coming, which kept the story interesting! This book is the 5th installment in the Whisper Lake series, and it was great catching up with some of the people we met in earlier books. This book can be read as a standalone. If you’ve never read anything by Barbara Freethy, don’t wait! You will not be disappointed!!!

About the author

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of 71 novels ranging from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Over 13 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Twenty-five of her titles have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists, including one title, SUMMER SECRETS, which hit #1 on the NYT and DON'T SAY A WORD, which spent 12 weeks on the NYT. 

Known for her emotional and compelling stories of love, family, romance and suspense, Barbara is a six-time finalist and two-time winner in the Romance Writers of America acclaimed RITA contest for her novels DANIEL'S GIFT and THE WAY BACK HOME. For more information, visit her website at http://www.barbarafreethy.com