Sun Valley, 3
Noah Hunter spends his days teaching teenagers about physical fitness and his nights pursuing the women of Sun Valley. As he gets older, however, the less appealing one-night stands are and the more he longs for something real, but the last time the opportunity for love came his way, he blew it. Lucky for him, fate has a second chance at the ready.
Caitlin Walsh spent her high school days falling in love with the football quarterback, but after a misunderstanding over a love letter, she isn’t sure she can trust her own judgement. A new job forces her to come face-to-face with the man that caused her problem, but this time around, it seems Noah is determined to fix the issues from their past to create a bright future for both of them.
Will these two be able to work through the issues of the past? Or will their love story not be worth the effort?
Excerpt:
As I stare in the mirror in the library bathroom, I analyze my appearance, looking for anything amiss. I’m wearing berry-colored capris, a flutter-sleeved, white floral blouse, and white kitten heels. My curls are looser today, so they hit about halfway down my torso. I don’t normally wear much makeup, but I added some eyeshadow and mascara to my staple face powder and lip gloss routine. Since I will be introduced at the first professional development meeting of the school year, I put a little more effort into my look today. There are still a couple of days left before students arrive, but the teachers and staff are here early to set up. I’ve been here for a few weeks and met a couple of people already, and they all seem very friendly, but I’m still nervous. It’s been a long time since I had to talk in front of a group of people who weren’t all librarians and my chest flutters with a touch of anxiety.
Pushing my nerves aside for the moment, my finger runs through the wine-colored lip stain, and I reapply it gingerly before touching up the smoky eye shadow I put on earlier this morning. I had to watch a YouTube tutorial three times before I could get it right since I’ve never been good at makeup, but thank God for the Internet, even if watching the video over and over almost caused me to be late. Speaking of which, I should make my way over to the meeting. Fortunately, it’s in the classroom at the back of the library, so it takes less than thirty seconds to get there. Quietly as possible, I slip in the side and see that the room is already mostly full. I grab a seat near the front and take out my notebook and a pen, ready to jot down any important information that may come my way.
After a few minutes, Principal Langley comes in the room and heads straight to the front. The older woman, along with two others, interviewed me for the job and she was very friendly and welcoming. When I look around, I spot the other two administrators I met at the interview. Mark Wilson was affable and seemed like a nice guy, and Gabriel Hernandez was nice as well, though more serious and focused than his two counterparts. He seems in good spirits today as he places his hand around the back of the chair occupied by a beautiful blonde woman. They look at each other lovingly and there’s no doubt they’re a couple. It’s hard not to smile at their obvious love, and it answers the question of whether fraternizing with colleagues is allowed, not that I intend on getting involved with anyone romantically anytime soon.
Principal Langley clears her throat loudly, garnering the attention of everyone in the room. “Okay, people, let’s get started. Welcome to another year at Central High School.” She pauses and everyone claps. There are even a few yelps of joy thrown in for good measure. I belatedly join in, bringing my hands together, and I’m happy that everyone at least seems enthusiastic about the school year. It bodes well for how my own year will go if the staff are this excited. “Before we get into reviewing the latest policy changes, I’d like the new members of the staff to introduce themselves.”
Okay, I guess it’s good to get this over with at the beginning. I don’t think I can hold my nerves for the entire meeting, but I’m still hoping that one of the other new staff members goes first so I don’t have to think of what to say and can just copy them.
“Because we have such an amazing school and such little turnover, we only have one new staff member this year. You probably recall that Derek Lombardo retired last year so we have a new school librarian and media center coordinator, Caitlin Walsh. Caitlin, why don’t you go ahead and say a little bit about yourself?”
Sharon Langley gestures for me to stand and I do so reluctantly. My legs tremble and I teeter slightly on my heels. I didn’t know I would be the only person doing this and I can feel the sweat forming on my brow and upper lip at the thought of being singled out. I guess I better do this quickly before I melt off all my makeup. Exhaling a shaky breath, I turn around to face the room, swallow my nerves, and plaster a smile on my face.
“Um, hello, everyone.” I start to wave, then quickly put my hand down because that seems silly and childish. “I’m Caitlin and I’m new to Sun Valley. I’m coming from the San Francisco Public Library, but I’m very familiar with high school libraries since I spent most of my time there when I was a teen.” I hear a few chuckles and that eases some tension in my shoulders. “I’m very excited to get to know you all and am available to help with anything you might need for your students or your own lesson plans.”
When I scan the room and see lots of smiling, friendly faces, I’m actually excited at the prospect of socializing with the staff. I start to turn back around when my eyes catch on a figure sitting in the back of the room. My mouth falls open as my eyes widen in disbelief. He’s older now, his hair is shorter and a shade darker, and he has a good amount of stubble lining his jaw, but there is no mistaking that the man I am staring at is Noah Hunter. Noah, the boy I loved, the boy who broke my heart. He’s staring directly back at me, and my mouth closes and pulls into a frown. What is he doing here? I didn’t try to look him up at all after that day in high school. I was tempted to, so very tempted, but I didn’t want to see how happy he was and how much losing my friendship didn’t affect him in the slightest when it all but crushed me. We stare at each other a moment longer before I hear Sharon talking to me. “Was there more you wanted to say, Caitlin?”
I pull my gaze away from Noah and look at her, confused, before I realize I’m still standing in front of the room. “N-no, I’m good,” I stammer out before I stumble back into my chair. I face the front, trying to slow my heartbeat and squelch the panic that is rising in my chest. Maybe I was seeing things. Maybe I got so nervous and being back in a high school made me imagine Noah. I have been thinking about him a lot lately. God, I should have torn up that stupid picture the other day. None of that would explain the change in his appearance, though, and I hazard a glance back to where he was sitting. When I peek over my shoulder, I see he’s still staring at me with a look of disbelief on his handsome face. It’s not fair that he still looks so beautiful after everything that happened. Couldn’t he at least be bald or something? Where is karma when you need her? I’m still staring at him when a smile pulls across his face. How dare he smile at me? I furrow my brow and turn back toward the front of the room.
I tell myself I won’t look back at Noah again, but I do at least half a dozen times and each time I do, he’s smiling at me like everything is completely normal, fantastic even, like the entire universe didn’t just flip over. The rest of the meeting goes by in a blur and I only half pay attention, thoughts spiraling about what to do and whether I can survive without the job I just started. It doesn’t take more than a thought of my current bank account balance to realize that I can’t. I need money to fix up the house and besides, I’m not going to let a little thing like seeing Noah Hunter stop me from doing what needs to be done. I’m not the same person I was in high school. I’ve grown, matured, and I can handle being in his presence, no problem. But as the meeting ends and the staff is dismissed, I sprint from my chair, not daring to stick around long enough to find out whether that’s actually true.
Noah and Caitlin dated in high school but he hurt her so they went their separate ways. Years later he moves from one night stand to one night stand and is over it. Caitlin moves back to her hometown to take a job as a librarian at the same school where Noah is the PE coach. Noah wants a second chance with Caitlin but can she forgive the past and give love a second chance with him?
THis is Noah and Caitlin's story. Noah is a player and teaches P.E.. Caitlin is forced to see Noah again. Can she ever forgive him? Can Noah show he is changed and fix the problems from their past? Laugh and cry as you read their story.
I love a good romance story. Noah really hurt Caitlin as kids. She never got over it. Noah has regretted it since it happened. He wished he could take it all back or get a redo. It's a soft romance story. Caitlin still suffers from social anxiety when she ends up working in the same school as Noah. She wants to steer clear of him but Noah refuses to waste this 2nd chance at love with her. It is a very heartwarming story. The beginning can be a trigger for people with social anxiety. I couldn't put it down. It has such a refreshing ending. I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
loved it !! love Caitlin and Hunter ? this is their second chance... a fast paced drama about betrayal and righting a wrong... it happened in High School... he was the jock and she hid in the library... she tutored him and fell hard... the letter and the betrayal... he did nothing and broke her heart... now, working in the same school, he wants a second chance to make it right and to win her heart... so good !!
This is the third book I've read written by Sydney Scott; I can’t wait to read more of her books. This is the third book in the Sun Valley Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Caitlin & Noah; after years apart they have another chance.
The third story in the Sun Valley series. Noah Hunter and Caitlin Walsh were high school sweethearts but a misunderstanding over a love letter sent them different ways.Now she is back. I enjoyed seeing them get their second chance at a happy ending. This is a new Author to me. I received a copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This novel was so good! This was a new author for me and I loved discovering this author and novel. So good! This novel had so many things I really enjoy in a novel, it was a great slow burn second chance romance. It was such a fun novel to read. From the first couple chapters I was hooked. I loved Noah and Caitlin. I loved how Noah was determined to win Caitlin over after a misunderstanding when they were teenagers. I loved watching them fall in love. Their chemistry was so good! It was such a sweet fun novel to read. It was so good! I can't wait to see what is next from this author.
Worth the Effort was a heartbreaking and heartwarming book all in one. While reading this book I was all up in my feels. This is the first book I’ve read by Sydney Scott and I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the drama, angst, spice and the grovel. This book is a contemporary second chance romance. I loved the flashbacks that were sprinkled along with the present. It gave a look into them main characters pasts. I laughed and might have sniffled a few times throughout this book. I loved the private of this story and the complexity of the characters. They had an undeniable chemistry that only blossomed with each interaction the main characters had. I can’t wait to dive into other books this author has written.
This book will break your heart and warm it as well. The way the book unravels it hooked me and didn't want to put it down until I finished it. I truly am a sucker for a good grovel book and this delivered it along with a genuinely great storyline. The way the chemistry grew thru the book made this a book that was fantastic.
This book warmed my heart. It's about Noah's journey into adulthood by reexamine his past. And Caitlin's leaving past hurts behind to discover who she is as woman. Caitlin has social anxiety issues. In high school she spent most of her time in the library surrounded by books and not friends. That is until Noah needs tutoring so he can improve his grades and stay on the football team. Noah's family moved a lot, and this is the first place Noah feels excepted. He is an excellent football player and has led the team to victory. Suffice it to say, Noah is one of the cool kids but not being true to himself. As the two get closer, Noah relaxes and stops posturing. He and Caitlin have a lot in common and come to be good friends. At least in the library. Caitlin gathers the courage to write Noah about her feelings. High school being high school, others read the letter and mock Caitlin about it. Noah does nothing: neither stopping the bulling nor joining in. He simply stood there in shame as he knew that Caitlin was being destroyed the taunts and mockery. Greater still was Noah's betrayal. Noah goes to college and Caitlin doesn't hear from him until he becomes the Athletic director of his old school. Caitlin in turn begins a successful career in the library sciences. Ultimately, she ends up coming back home and getting a job at the high school as well. Neither is expecting the other. Noah is thrilled he can right a wrong. Caitlin is less impressed and doesn't want to hear it. I loved Caitlin for having left town, getting her degree and working in San Francisco. A big change from her small town. She shows fortitude and gains in confidence through the book. Noah is truly a good man. He just fell into the trap of thinking his football friends liked him as a person and not his facade. Something i imagine we call can relate to. The journey of these sweet characters is done so well. We are immediately engaged. We feel Caitlin's pain at Noah's betrayal. We know Noah is desperate to not only regain their friendship but as time goes on, he wants for more. The plot is also done well. Caitlin's gradual willingness to takes risks and challenge her anxiety is authentic. And Noah's shame and search for forgiveness rings authentic. This is a first for me with author. Worth the Effort is the 3rd in a series. I will be adding the first 2 books in my TBR.
Worth the Effort by Sydney Scott is a good, and enjoyable small town love story romance read. The story has a good entertaining world building story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. This story is a very entertaining cute romance read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy. Caitlin starts a new job in her home town as the high school librarian (love her job, I wanted to pursue a career but life has a different path for me), when she runs into an old high school love Noah. They parted ways over a love letter and now years later they are face to face working at the same school as Noah is the physical ed teacher. Noah has been a ladies man but as of late has grown tired of the endless stream of women. Noah sees Caitlin return as a chance to re-connect with an old love. Caitlin is very leery of Noah so she makes him earn back her trust. Caitlin and Noah have great chemistry, you can see why they are a perfect fit for each other.
I've been waiting for Noah's story and this didn't disappoint. Noah has been feeling more and more at a loose end since his best friends found their loves. He had something special in high school but high school guys aren't that clever and he ended up breaking Caitlins heart. Fast forward 10 years and he has a second chance to have overhead ever wanted. He just has to convince her. I really enjoyed this book and I would love to have a man as thoughtful and attentive and hot as Noah.
