Then There Was You

By: Claire Contreras

Narrated by: Eric Yves Garcia, Virginia Rose

Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Claire Contreras is back with a new contemporary second-chance romance....

Love and the right timing were two things I didn't believe in.

Love is about walking to the edge of the cliff and taking the leap together.
Timing was never on our side.
My first mistake was hooking up with my best friend.
My second came years later, when we met again, and I fell for her.
My third was letting her go, because I had to. Because a love like this wasn't built to withstand the winds coming in our direction.

Love and timing. I didn't believe in either. Then there was you....

©2018 Claire Contreras (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Emotional

Speechless... this was more than a second chance w. It was an intensely emotional roller coaster ride. Wow!
Narration was great.

Out of my mind!!

This book had me on edge since the beginning...oh my Lord how this two had made me suffer! But I need more of this passion more of this suffering more of this love!!!!

So much angst

Narrators Eric Yves Garcia and Virginia Rose made this book even more compelling, making it easy to follow and to be in the story. It took me a couple of chapters to get into this story (it goes back and forth between the present and the past), but once it grabbed my attention, I simply couldn't stop listening. And don't get me started on that ending, which obviously propelled me to start the next book because I need to know how this story unfolds.

Then There Was You is filled with angst and slow burn. A second chance story starts when Tessa goes back home to sell the family house. She has two weeks to settle everything before having to decide where she will be doing her apprenticeship. And while she knew she was going to eventually come face to face with Rowan, she wasn't expecting to get fall for him.

Rowan has always been attracted to Tessa but refuses to clip her wings. He did so when breaking up with her before going to college, and he is ready to do so again when they act on their feelings during her two-week visit. He is tied to his family business, while she is ready to start her career. Their second chance (or maybe third?) love story unveils slowly. And it's impossible not to root for them. Their journey is filled with family secrets and forced choices. This a great audiobook!

A good story

This book took me awhile to get into but I’m happy I stuck with it. I enjoy the friends to lovers troupe and that’s kind of the theme of this one. Although at times it’s closer to enemies to lovers;)

They don’t believe in love or marriage

In Then There Was You we are introduced to Tessa and Rowan. Both characters work in the textile industry. Both were raised by parents with strong work ethics. Tessa’s family owned Monte Industries while Rowan’s family owned Hawthorne Industries. After high school Tessa had plans to attend Yale while Rowan planned on attending Columbia.
They dated briefly during their last year in school before going their separate ways. Love wasn’t on his radar so when it was time to leave for college Rowan broke it off with Tessa. Before Tessa left for Yale her parents sold the company to Hawthorne Industries. Any plans of Tessa returning home changed after the business was absorbed by Hawthorne Industries.
She returned after six years to pack up her family home and make a decision between moving to Paris or New York. Before she made her decision she had a few loose ends to tie up with Rowan.
Rowan being the first born was groomed to take over Hawthorne Industries. It was the only thing he knew and the only thing he was expected to do with his life.
This was labeled as a second chance romance yet it had more of a push n’ pull with them playing games with each other’s hearts. What we have is two characters opposed to love and marriage because both sets of parents set a horrible example. Rowan was conditioned as a kid to not believe in love and focus on the business. They doomed themselves to the idea of love and marriage claiming it was not in the cards for them. It was a lame excuse.

There once was a time when I adored reading books by Claire Contreras. It’s been a few years since the last book I read of hers so I thought it was time to revisit her work. Unfortunately, over the years my taste for romances have grown. The writing style has become an important factor when choosing a romance book. Claire’s writing voice no longer speaks my language. I’m glad I invested in the audiobook as these narrators saved me from the chore of reading this one myself, Claire’s writing style has changed over the years and it appears my interest in her work has changed as well. Her words no longer have the desired effect on me.

Narrators:
Eric Yves Garcia is the male voice-over actor who performed Rowan’s scenes. This was my first listen by Eric. I’m on the fence with Eric’s voice. I need warming up to his tone. His sound and tone just didn’t work for Rowan’s character. I never did grow to like his voice over acting skills for Rowan’s character. I’m certain Eric is a wonderful performer in other works but rating him on this one didn’t fare well for me.
Virginia Rose is the female voice-over actor who performed Tessa’s scenes. This was my first audiobook experience of Virginia’s. She portrayed Tessa’s voice perfectly. Virginia is a romance audiobook narrator. Her skills are revcognized in the quality of her work.
This was an unabridged audiobook. I followed along with my ebook. I listened at 2X the speed. This audiobook is listed as 7 hours 21 minutes.
Book 1 includes 40 chapters with the conclusion in book 2.

SUCCESS & LOVE?

O.M.G. 4 1/2 stars out of 5!!! This was an rollercoaster ride with Tessa and Rowan. So intense & Angsty kind of romance!!!!! Such a push and pull with them...You just want them to be together, you want them to take the plunge to love! I love how both are career driven..well, 1 of them is more than the other but in any case, they both want to be successful but doing it together is a challenge. I love that!!!!! The audio narrators are amazing! Claire Contreras has a way for me to “wanting more” or has a way to suck me in, to get so invested in the story!!! She’s good!!!!!

vary disappointed

The Strother is boring and the performance is too. The characters act like immature teenagers and have no draw. I have been trying unsuccessfully for weeks to listen to the story a I can't it puts me to sleep every time. A waste of your credits just don't.

Horrible cliffhanger. Do not waste your time.

I struggled to finish. Can't believe I wasted my time with such a moronic story.

Not my favorite

I stuck with it and am going to listen to the next one, but it has been frustrating. I don’t “feel” their connection like I wish I could. I know there is a pull, but it doesn’t feel like the love a good story is based around.

"A light in this dark ugly world"

3.5 stars!
Tess and Rowan have a long history between them. The story portrays it well in an angsty manner. They have known each other since childhood so imagine the history and the back and forth between them. Rowan grew up in dysfunctional family and he does not feel worthy of love so he make sure to push the chance of a relationship out of the way. I thought this story was a great start to the duet. Read for book two.