Could Have Been Us: A Brother's Best Friend, Second Chance Willow Creek Valley Romance

Corinne Michaels

Apr 2021 · BAAE Publishing

About this ebook

New York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels returns to the Willow Creek Valley Series in this stunning small town, brother’s best friend romance. 

Fifteen years ago, I fell for Jack O’Donnell.

I was just a girl, but I knew my brother’s best friend was the only man I’d ever love. 

On my eighteenth birthday, when I asked him to kiss me, I never imagined it would change my life so completely. 

I gave Jack everything that night. 

In order to move on, we had to go our separate ways and pretend like nothing happened... as though it wasn’t the greatest moment of my life.

But even that wasn’t as heartbreaking as the secret we were forced to keep. 

I’ve tried not to think about how much I still love him. How I long to be back in his strong arms or the way his hazel eyes make my heart race. 

Until he kisses me again. And this time there’s no turning back. This time I know what it means. 

We belong together and there’s no use denying it any longer. 

But our feelings aren’t the only thing that won’t stay buried, our past resurfaces and threatens to destroy our second chance at happiness. 

When our love is tested once again, will we be strong enough to stand together?

~~

Read what others are saying about New York Times bestselling author, Corinne Michaels:

"Corinne Michaels shredded me and put me back together in the best possible way with Say You'll Stay. Incredible read and a passionate start to what promises to be one of my new favorite series.” - Meredith Wild - #1 NYT Bestselling Author

"Every book just gets better from Corinne Michaels. She shreds my heart into a million tiny pieces and then magically manages to put it all back together." - Vi Keeland - #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"With every new book, Corinne keeps reclaiming her throne as the queen of hope, heartbreak, and epic ever afters." -- Violet Duke, NYT bestselling author

"5 brilliant stars for Trent and Grace's story. No one does sexy, swoony romance like Corinne Michaels." - Sawyer Bennett - NYT Bestselling Author

“I dare you not to fall in love with the world Corinne Michaels has created.” – Meghan March, NYT Bestselling Author

"Corinne Michaels is a master storyteller and this book held my heart hostage!” - Penny Reid, NYT Bestselling Author

"This book doesn't just tug at your heartstrings -- it pulls your soul all the way in." -- Julia Kent, NYT Bestselling Author

"A gorgeous blend of heartbreak and hope. Michaels' writes unputdownable romance." - Helena Hunting, NYT Bestselling Author

“Michaels draws her readers in on an emotional level with the finesse and skill of a more seasoned author. Beloved is a debut not to be missed.”– Laurelin Paige, NYT Bestselling Author

“Corinne does a masterful job of immersing her readers in this world of trust, friendship, honor, loyalty, and love.” ~ Aleatha Romig – NYT Bestselling Author

“Sexy. Heartwarming. Addictive. Michaels is at the top of her game.”~K. Bromberg, NYT Bestselling Author

Topics: contemporary romance, small town, second chance, friends to lovers, series, romantic series, women’s fiction, romance saga, romantic small town, series starter, first in series, romance series, romance saga, romantic family saga, new york times bestseller romance, NYT romance, new york times romance, sexy, heartwarming, heart-warming, family, love, love books, kissing books, emotional journey, captivating romance, emotional, healing, hot, hot romance, forbidden love, sparks, loyalty, swoon, Corinne Michaels romance, funny romance, modern romance, new release, office romance, forbidden romance, boy band, older in life, childhood crush, friends to lovers, one night stand, second chance romance, hidden romance, strong alpha, alpha hero, family business, strong female lead, strong heroine, family secrets, top romance reads, best seller, 

Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Nicholas Sparks, Maya Banks, Penelope Sky, Kendall Ryan, Kennedy Fox, Lexi Blake, Carrie Ann Ryan, Lani Lynn Vale, Chelle Bliss, Sarina Bowen, Penelope Ward, Nora Roberts, Marie Force, Melissa Foster, Kristen Proby, Devney Perry, Susan Stoker, Tessa Bailey, Jana Aston, Sally Thorne, Christina Lauren, Kristan Higgins, Elle Kennedy, Anna Todd, Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Julia Kent, Sylvia Day, K.A. Linde, Catherine Cowles, Jill Shalvis, J. Daniels, Jessica Hawkins, Rachel VanDyken, Jodi Ellen Malpas, L.J. Shen, Natasha Madison, Emily Henry, Kylie Scott, Kennedy Ryan

Ratings and reviews

A heartwarming story of the lengths you'll go to for the ones you love. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading COULD HAVE BEEN US. I just knew I was ready to learn about their story. This is a brother's best friend romance and oooooweee there are some secrets and tension. I found this story to be different from any I've read in this trope before. Jack and Stella have been denying their feelings for so long, that when tragedy strikes and they're ultimately forced to face their past they can no longer deny what's been building for the last decade or so. Their love has been a long time coming but the build up in the book is a slow burn... volcano? I don't know but they're about ready to combust! I loved watching their love story unfold. But more than that, I loved learning more about these characters and digging deeper into the "long game" of the Willow Creek Valley series. I cannot wait to see what Corinne has in store for the other Parkerson brothers! I seriously can't get enough of her books.

Prepare yourself for a heart-wrenching and heart-warming story. Corinne Michaels punches you right in the gut at the very beginning. I think it might be a record for me, tears within the first 5% of the book. LOL!!! This book deals with something tragic but also beautiful and it’s written so wonderfully. It’s real and raw and will pull all your emotions out. Jack and Stella. Stella and Jack. What they went through and what they continued to put themselves though. These two are meant to be. I loved them and I loved catching up with the other characters and getting some glimpses of what’s to come in this world. This is one of Corinne’s best books! Go read it right now, after you grab some tissues.

4 1/2 stars! Going into this, I was so curious about Jack and Stella's relationship. It was clear from the previous book that they had a past, but that was all we knew. Well, this book starts off by kicking you right in the heart and everything started to make sense. I know that Corinne loves to torture her readers so I wasn't surprised, but I definitely wasn't expecting the book to go the way it did. I really enjoyed this book, but I definitely yelled at my kindle a bit. "JUST GET TOGETHER ALREADY!" was definitely said a few times, but thankfully we didn't have to wait too long for that to happen. Then the book just took off and I was so engrossed in how everything was going to play out. This is an emotional read that will take you on quite a journey, but most of Corinne's book are like that so just make sure you have some tissues handy. TW: adoption, cancer, depression

About the author

Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.

Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed—reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.