| Title | : | One Hundred Lifetimes (Aspen Cove, #7) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 198 |
| Publication | : | First published January 28, 2019 |
One Hundred Lifetimes (Aspen Cove, #7) Reviews
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Favorite Quotes:
Some girls were always a bridesmaid and never a bride. Poppy had never been either.
She was sadly inexperienced when it came to all things men. Her knowledge about relationships came from the Hallmark Channel or the books she managed to pick up on her occasional trips to Copper Creek.
“I think it would look great. That and flower boxes and flower beds. A picket fence out front to keep your litter of children under control,” she teased. He jingled the cuffs he’d placed back on his belt. “I’ve got cuffs. Or we could buy lots of duct tape and rope.”
I’m mortified. Even the damn chickens get more action than me, and there’s only one rooster.
… she liked to chat with Mark, who was too kind to shut her up and leave. It didn’t hurt that he was easy on the eyes. Mrs. Brown was old, she wasn’t dead.
At some point, you make your own family. If people didn’t move on from their parents, no one would have populated the world. Or everyone would be inbred with three eyes and two noses.
My Review:
This was a fun read that was equal parts humor, romance, and family drama. Kelly Collins expertly captured the small town feel and tendencies of eccentric characters, the wildfire speed of gossip, long memories, and narrow thinking; as well as the positive aspects of community cohesiveness and support such as delivering food and assistance in times of loss. Poppy and Mark were endearing and lovable characters but her father was an odious piece of work, he was a selfish and bitter jackass on a good day and totally vile or repugnant when riled. He was an unpleasant reminder of what I so merrily moved away from when I last glimpsed the small town of my youth in the dust from my rear view mirror. I always get a kick out of Ms. Collins’ personal style of pithy humor, which she so deftly tucks into her sweet and steamy tales. Her books are pleasantly entertaining and easy to follow. While the appealing stories easily interconnect and provide tasty updates on the earlier featured characters, each book stands strong on their own while keeping your appetite teased and a bit hungry for more. -
I read an ARC copy of this.
This was a good read. Poppy and Mark have liked each other for a long time. Her father can be a difficult man. He refused to look past something that Mark's father did to him. Thankfully in the end he finally came to his senses allowed Poppy to be happy. It also helped that Mark just wasn't going to give up. -
This book made me laugh and cry. It was funny how much Poppy was like her mother, but her father’s past stopped him from seeing it. She knew since she was a child she wanted to marry Mark when she grew up. I felt bad that Poppy and Mark had stayed away from each other because her dad hated Mark for what Mark’s father did to him. I was glad to see Poppy finally step up and not let her father rule what she did. You can’t help but love Mark as he helps everyone in town and would do anything for Poppy. I encourage you to read the book. I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.
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An interesting well written standalone romance that is within a series. This intriguing storyline has mystery, humor and is a fast paced journey of Mark and Poppy. It is at times intense, sad and includes awesome hilarious banter. The characters aee interesting, well develope and have amazing chemistry with cameos from previous characters along with some new ones.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. -
The first third of this book was average and repetitive. Mark was coming across wimpy and defeated. I didn’t like Poppy playing games with Mark.
Then things change once Mark and Poppy expressed their true feeling. The storyline became more emotional.
The author has done something right when a reader (me) has been brought to tears. Violet’s words at the family meeting were so touching, I couldn’t help but get sentimental. -
Back to Aspen Cove to a couple, I have just been so eager to read about Poppy and Mark. I got that warm happy feeling on the very first page where I was LOL. What do you do when you have loved someone all your life but you can’t have them? And the reason has nothing to do with you but your family. Poppy Dawson has been pretending that her hating Mark was easier than knowing she loved him. Could Poppy take control of her own life and heart or keep letting her father influence her to the life he wanted for her?
“Everything seemed like a pie-in-the-sky dream, but a girl could dream.”
Mark Bancroft couldn’t remember a time he didn’t love her but he would never be the man her father wanted him to her for his daughter. Aspen cove was becoming a regular lover’s paradise as all of Mark's friends had found their soul mates, but Mark had no one just a memory of one too short of a kiss from the one he wanted. Was he man enough to do what he needs to win the woman of his dreams or would he believe he was not enough for her? If you want to laugh, cry, yell, get frustrated but most of all fall in love while you read a good story this is the book and series for you.
The main message from this book is LOVE! New love, old love, family love, friendship love, forbidden love but most of all romantic love.
I received an ARC copy of this wonderful book to which I have written my honest and voluntary review of it.
“Violet raised her hand like she was in school. “Yes, you did, you gave her an entire bouquet with a little piece added in. Every day of her life she had Poppies, Roses, Lilies, Daisies and Violets with a spring of fabulous Basil. We were a living breathing bouquet.”
“Some girls were always a bridesmaid and never a bride. Poppy had never been either.”
“I’m mortified. Even the damn chickens get more action than me, and there’s only one rooster.” -
I had the chance to read the whole collection.
I didn’t expect to be something too deep or profound, just fun read for the summer.
And most of the books were enjoyable to read. Some were a disappointment.
But overall, I spent some really good time reading them.
My score as it follows:
1. One Hundred Reasons Sage/Cannon 1,5 *
2. One Hundred Heartbeats Katie/Bowie 2*
3. One Hundred Wishes Samantha/Dalton 2,5*
4. One Hundred Promises Lydia/Wes 2,5*
5. One Hundred Excuses Marina/Aiden 3,5*
6. One Hundred Christmas Kisses Charlotte/Trig 1*
7. One Hundred Lifetimes Poppy/Mark 1,5*
8. One Hundred Ways Riley/Luke 3*
9. One Hundred Goodbye Eden/ Thomas 4*
10. One Hundred Secrets Goldie/ Tilden 2*
11. One Hundred Regrets Abby/Cade 2*
12. One Hundred Choices Trinity/Wyatt 1*
13. One Hundred Decisions Natalie/Jake 2*
14. One Hundred Glances Sosie/Baxter 2* -
What would you do if the love of your life was the one you can’t have? Someone else’s wrongs are being held against you? In this book we have Poppy and Mark. They have loved each other for over a decade but can’t be together. Will they finally say hell with it and be together or will the past still be in the way.
This book in the series had me not wanting to stop reading. Kelly always seems to reel you in and keep you wanting more. I haven’t read a book yet from Kelly that I was disappointed in. I hope you will feel the same. Kelly is one heck of an author. -
I really enjoy this series but did not get on with this instalment at all!
We were told from the very start Poppy and Mark have had a thing for each other for years, but there was no build up and no depth. It was all told and not shown so felt no connection to the couple at all.
The build up to them getting together felt forced and totally overshadowed the storyline with Poppy's mum which is a shame as that could have been a strong point. -
I just loved reading about Poppy and Mark. We got a look at them and a feel for their attraction for each other in the previous books. I was so happy that Poppy finally took the bull by the horns and made it clear that she was going to go after what she wanted and no one was going to stop her.
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One Hundred Lifetimes #7 - Even though this is part of a series and I've only read one other book, this didn't take away from Lifetimes being a good story. There was a little too much bantering about sex, but I understood the reason and skipped those pages and the sex scenes; I was bored by them.
The storylines are interesting. The characters were likable and decent people, and it was fun to see the characters from Excuses show up along with the other regulars. The journey that Poppy and Mark take is comical, intense, sad and worth reading. Life is too short to dally and wonder, go make it happen. I contacted the author to review her books and received this through Booksprout. 4*
One Hundred Excuses - This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed it immensely. Well written with good storylines and characters that are likable and decent people. I didn't realize this is part of series because other people and previous history were mentioned in passing as if introduced in another book. BUT this did not diminish my enjoyment of this delightful, heartwarming story. I had fun with Mrs. Beasley (from Family Affair), I remember when she hit the store shelves in the late 60s. Now I want to read the rest of the stories. I did skip the sex scenes, for me the sexual tension is interesting and written sex is boring. I found this book on Booksprout.co. 5*
The dynamics of the three Mafia families are actually funny with the blending of the Irish, the Italian and the Russian mobs. There are no clear boundaries and this is the third set of mob kids given a chance at a love that's existed for years. An interesting romance with a substantial mystery and intelligent characters. I contacted the author to review her books and received this book through Booksprout. 5*
Betting On Him #1 - What a trip! I had so much fun reading this story filled with great characters and good storylines. The chemistry between he and she was great; there was explicit sex but I skipped that boring trash. Both had personalities that were bold and honest; plus some of the support characters were great in their roles, too. The story is fast paced, intriguing and had suspense, plenty of everything to the reader immersed in the pages. The violence isn't graphic. The romance and finding solutions is the focus. It's been decades since I've enjoyed a Mafia story along these lines, but I can recommend this entertaining yarn. 5*
Betting On Her #2 - Lucky for me I could chain read both books. BOHim left me riding a high, so it was only natural to continue the ride with BOHer. This book is just as entertaining as the first and there's actually a third book in the series, three Wilde brothers, but of course. There are the same great characters with a few new ones added to the mix. Good chemistry again, with explicit sex, which I skipped since I find written sex boring. This story is also fast paced, intriguing and humorous. The storylines are well thought out and there's a twist and kink here and there that will surprise some of the other characters, but makes the reader belly laugh. Again, hard to put down and don't expect an explicit violence, just romance and problem solving. 5*
Betting on Us #3 - Every book of this series has been interesting and intriguing. Don't expect a lot of Mafia activity graphic described, like with Puzo, but the human side and emotions. A romance between two people who grew up together but weren't allowed to take their childhood friendship further since they were from two different Mafia families. There's good suspense with a veterinarian being setup for drug crimes and the other being her lawyer. The intrigue, the emotions and sexual tensions are strong, but don't expect that stupid formula of constantly thinking of sex, either other's body parts and how everyone is hot and beautiful and acting stupid instead of professional.
The dynamics of the three Mafia families are actually funny with the blending of the Irish, the Italian and the Russian mobs. There are no clear boundaries and this is the third set of mob kids given a chance at a love that's existed for years. An interesting romance with a substantial mystery and intelligent characters. I contacted the author to review her books and received this book through Booksprout. 5* -
Kelly Collins is one of my favorite authors, and the Aspen Cove Series is just amazing.
I love all the books in this series, but definitely that was the best story of Aspen Cove I read. I had to stop reading at times because I was crying too much. Chapter nine broke my heart.
Poppy Dawson and Mark Bancroft have known each other since childhood, but when Mark's father stole everything from the Dawson family, the burden of his father's crimes fell on Mark.
Poppy had to give up much of her dreams to take care of her mother, Carol, who has a terminal illness. But when she decides to take a stand on her feelings for Mark, she has to face her father's fury.
When Poppy and Mark decide to give their love to each other a chance, the interactions between them are great and fun, despite Poppy's little experience. Despite Poppy's father's resistance to the relationship, they have full support from Carol, and over time we realize that Poppy's father remains a good man, who just doesn't know how to cope with the deterioration of his wife's state of health and their near loss.
I loved this story and to be able to see again the characters from the other books in this series, as well as their action in this story, as the residents of Aspen Cove take care of everyone as if they were a big family.
I would love to read about Violet and Luke one day, who knows, these two, despite the age difference, also can have a happy ending?
I highly recommend the reading. -
Oh my, such a wonderful and lovely love-story. I deeply loved the “Romeo and Juliet” story of Poppy and Mark – true love shining through the all the words written by Kelly Collins. She has dipped her pen in love as she wrote this gut-wrenching love-story about those two people, about the town of Aspen Cove and about Poppy’s family.
This is what the story’s about: Poppy Dawson has spent her entire life wanting what she can’t have—namely Mark Bancroft, Aspen Cove’s deputy sheriff. Growing up the daughter of a cattle rancher, she’d had no time for silly things such as love. But after watching her terminally ill mother wither, Poppy realizes that life is not only unpredictable, it’s short. She has to decide if she’ll settle for the life laid out for her or the life she desires.
Abandoned by his no-good father at the age of eight, Mark Bancroft has spent over twenty years trying to redeem his family name. He’s been a good man. An honest man who’s been in love with Poppy Dawson ever since he can remember. But when his father stole everything from the Dawsons and left town, he took Mark and Poppy’s future with him. Done carrying the burden of his father’s crimes, Mark sets out to win her heart, but first, he must win her father’s respect.
Can a decades-old family feud be ended for love? Find out in One Hundred Lifetimes. -
I have been waiting for Poppy and Mark's story as the attraction between them has been sizzling throughout this series. I have not been disappointed! As the oldest daughter in a family floundering from one disaster after another, Poppy has had to be the glue that held the household together. She discovers that the more she does to keep everyone happy, the more they expect from her, even to the detriment of her own future. Mark, on the other hand, is paying for the sins of his father and has to walk a fine line between his feelings for Poppy and the distrust of her father. Poppy finally realises that if she is to ever have her dreams realised, she has to stand up for herself and take control of the future. This does not go down well, but when Mark finds a way to make himself useful to her family, she knows that she is no longer alone in her quest for happiness. This story is beautifully written with a strong but warm-hearted woman and a man who has the strength of character to overcome the obstacles in their way. I experienced a whole range of emotions as I read this novel, and found it difficult to put down once I started. This book is part of a series and although characters from previous novels appear in this one too, it is nevertheless a standalone and comes to a good conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
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Quick Info
Standalone/Cliffhanger?: Standalone
Part of a Series?: Yes
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Meeting the Characters
Poppy Dawson
Mark Bancroft
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What happens?
Poppy and Mark have had a crush on each other from afar since they were kids. Marks father stole from Poppy's father and so they were never allowed to be.
With Poppy's mother dying, shes working as much as she can to get some more money to help pay for medical bills. Mark is the police deputy for Aspen Cove and has to be around the woman he loves without being able to be with her on a daily basis. When Poppy gives in and tells him her feelings Mark decides enough is enough they should be together despite her dad's disapproval.
Final thoughts
This was nice. It started off rocky, but it picks up and it ends rather good actually.
4 stars because I'm really enjoying this series and I like the couple.
Would I read again?: Yeah!
Would I read this author again?: Yes
Would I continue on with the series?: Yes -
You’re going to need the tissues. It’s just that simple. I haven’t cried this hard over a book in a very long time. And while the story is sweet and wonderful and made me giggle at some of the most inopportune moments, I still feel a little hollow after all the emotions that have been wrung from me. This is another of those books where I don’t know how to say just how amazing Mark and Poppy’s story is without giving away the best parts of the book… Or maybe they’re the “worst” parts because they’re certainly the ones that caused the most pain and had the biggest emotional impact. I know my own personal history affected me in how easily I could identify with Poppy and how deeply I could feel her hurts. All I know for certain is that no matter that I won’t be able to see through my tear-swollen eyes tomorrow, I can’t wait until it’s time to come back to Aspen Cove again.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author. -
I think One Hundred Lifetimes is the best book in the Aspen Cove series!! That's saying a lot because I love the entire series. Lifetime has all the feels. It also has a couple of good messages: 1) You are not responsible for your father's actions. Mark let his father's actions keep him from Poppy for too many years. 2) Don't let someone ruin your life--pick up the pieces and move on. Lloyd let Mick's actions rule his life and turned him into a bitter man. 3) If you will allow love and forgiveness into your heart, your life will be so much more rewarding. Lloyd finally figured that out and, even though he lost a lot, he gained even more in the end.
If you are looking for a well-written romance that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go, this is the book for you. Each book in the series is a standalone but I recommend reading the entire series. -
I love the town of Aspen Cove and all of the people who live there, this is the 7th book in the series and we get to learn a little bit more about characters that now seem like family and love them even more.
This book is about Poppy the 28 year old virgin who has always loved Mark, the biggest problem for Poppy is that Mark's dad stole from Poppy's dad and all but ruined their family, this is a small fact that her dad won't let go and doesn't want Mark anywhere near his daughter.
What can Mark do to change his mind, I can only suggest you read this book to find out. You don't need to read all the books in the series but why wouldn't you want to.
Kelly Collins you have done it again, you wont be disappointed at all
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. -
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
I cried reading this book until my sinuses hurt. My emotions were so all over the map on this one. Ms. Collins did a fantastic job here. I absolutely adored Poppy and Mark. They knew at a very young age that they were destined for each other. Unfortunately a turn of events (namely his father stealing from her father) made their HEA a LONG time in coming. These two characters were so meant for each other and the entire town knew it.
I loved having the dual POV format here. Seeing into the characters' thought process and frame of mind really helped to humanize them and make them feel like long lost friends. I was really able to identify with them.
I highly recommend this story to anyone over the age of 18. -
Mark and Poppy have loved each other from afar after Marks farther betrayed them all when Mark was 8 years old. This is a fantastic second chance-ish book where Mark and Poppy have the opportunity to be together finally if they just stop letting Mark and Poppy's dads actions rule over them. They are both the sweetest of people but in many respects so out of their comfort zone in regards to a relationship, yet Mark wants to court her the right way while Poppy jumps to conclusions at times due to never really having date as she is so focused on the family ranch and her mum. There is love, tension, sadness, revelations and tissues required for this one and it has me wanting to read more in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. -
A Review of One Hundred Lifetimes by Kelly Collins
Poppy and Mark - 5+++ Stars
I completely ADORED this book. I think a lot of us know or have known someone that puts everyone else above themselves. We also get to see that what we think we know isn't always the case. Sometimes parents hide the pain they are suffering from their kids and we don't know about it until something gives. I loved seeing other characters from this series as well. I really enjoy getting to meet multiple people from one town, covered under multiple books. You get to see those characters you loved so much from one book carried over to other books and you can follow them on their continued journey. Just waiting to see who comes up next.
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**Honest review voluntarily provided from a Complimentary Copy** -
If you have been reading the Aspen Cove series you know all about Poppy and Mark's unrequited love for each other. Poppy has been in love with Mark for most of her life. Poppy's father has disliked Mark for most of his life. Now they are adults and Poppy has finally decided that enough is enough and life is passing them both by. Poppy is tired of life moving by both of them and is determined to finally get Mark to stand up to her father and have the relationship that they both want and deserve. Mark is the sweetest deputy in town...possibly too sweet and that is why Poppy is giving him the push he needs. This was a very sweet love story told from dual POV and another great addition to the Aspen Cove series.
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Poppy has waited a lifetime for Mark to be her boyfriend. They were friends as children and always knew the other was special. But happenstance, and a thieving father, caused Poppy's father to hate the son just as much as his father who stole so much from them. It was a story of devotion between Poppy and Mark, but it was also a story of a different kind of devotion. Love doesn't always look the same from couple to couple, and the love between Poppy's parents was rarely visible, but it certainly proved to be there. A bittersweet ending provides a wonderful future for everyone.
Logan McAllister is a tremendous narrator with a dynamic, well-modulated voice that brings each of the characters to life.
