Review: Recovery by L.B. Simmons

Synopsis

I have the perfect life.

I’ve finally found my happy ending.

I fought through the loss of one husband, lucky enough to be given a second chance at a lifetime of happiness. Settling into our new lives, however, may not be as easy as it seems.

What really happens after the fairytale ending? What happens after the prince rescues the princess? After he sweeps her off her feet and carries her off into the sunset? Do they truly live happily ever after?

Well…

This is our story

4 star review

 
I loved LB Simmons’ Running on Empty. Alex and Blake’s reunion after living many years apart was warm and sweet and refreshing. Who doesn’t love a story about second chances at love? But what happens when they live happily ever after and the last page is turned? That’s when real life happens in all its messy glory.
Blake and Alex are getting married.
 

“It seems hard to believe that it’s only been seven months since he kissed me on the cheek, right here. The same place he kissed me when we were twelve years old. It only seems fitting that we come together as husband and wife right where it all started.”
 

Blake has worked hard at his relationship with Alex’s three girls; Kyndall, Nycole and Rylie.  He is careful to never try to replace the dad they lost, but those girls love him to pieces any way.
 

“Please, never, ever think that you shouldn’t have a picture of your daddy. Ever. He is, and always will be, your father. I want you to remember him always. You can wallpaper your room if you want to.” See what I mean-this guy is To Die For. 
 

He welcomes the challenges that parenting brings, he is in it for the long haul. Alex has spent the years since her late husband’s Derek’s death, being both mom and dad. It is so engrained in her that it’s hard to give up the position of dual parenting. Her actions at overriding Blake hurt him and create an ever widening gap between the couple. Alex spoils her girls to the extent that they expect her to clean up after them, something which doesn’t sit well with Blake. Her neglect in making her children take responsibility for picking up after themselves will have serious consequences.
 

“We had been one of those annoying perfect couples that I love to make fun of up until a month ago. But these last few weeks, something’s changed… Blake seems only increasingly agitated at me. And he won’t talk to me about it. Welcome to my brand new life.”
 

Harlow Reed, Alex’s best friend, makes reappearance in this book. She is still going strong with her boyfriend, Trace, Blake’s best friend and is still as hilarious and endearing as ever.
 

“Jesus! Is it National Fuc#king Take Your Sweet Ass Time Day?’ Why the hell didn’t I get the memo? Assholes!”
 

Trace’s sister Tatum, is now in town, living with Trace. She is working at the bar that Blake and Trace now own-The Office.  Simmons has come up with the one of the cleverest names for a bar I have ever seen. This way when inquisitive spouses call their mates to see where they are, they can answer without any guilt that they are “at the office”. Sheer genius. Harlow and Trace worry that between Tatum’s partying ways and her loser boyfriend things are spiraling out of control.  Surprisingly, she has bonded with Alex’s kids and loves to spend time with them. When she’s at work, sparks fly between her and Noah the bartender. Knowing there is a sequel coming about these two is no hardship.
 

At every point, there is humor and internalizing on these characters parts. Alex especially, can see the humor at every point. Even if she’s angry or annoyed or scared she sees humor in every situation.
 

“This dog better be Harlow and Trace’s dry run at raising a child because I’m pretty sure we don’t have a puppy. Unless I’m stuck in that damn parallel universe.
 

Simmons has written another wonderful book! I love her characters with their warmth and imperfections and sheer humanness. They are not the Cleaver's or Cunningham’s or Huxtable's. Her kids screw up-big time and it gets complicated and Alex and Blake are flawed just like everyone else. That makes their story all the better.