Plain Jayne (Friends First Book 1)

Jayne Morgan didn’t have the love of a family while growing up. She was raised by her Grandmother whom forever let her know that she was the bastard child of a drug addict and that she could never count on anyone for anything including the grandmother that raised her. When she left town shortly after graduation, she never looked back knowing that her grandmother didn’t want her. Her grandmother was wrong in one aspect though, she did have someone that she could always count on and that was Nick. From the first time that she met him in kindergarten, he was there for her, he was her rock, her best friend in the whole world and the person that she had secretly been in love with for years. While Nick was always there for her, she never had his heart. His heart always belonged to someone else and even though that person was taken from him. Jayne knows that his heart still remains with her so she will do what she’s always done which is sit back and enjoy every minute that she can with him and try not to get in the way of his happiness even when being around him and watching him often feels as though her heart is being ripped from her chest. Nick Scott couldn’t help but to put his life on hold when Jayne came back in town to take of her grandmothers book store. She had been his best friend forever and he didn’t care that people thought that it was crazy or weird. They had lost touch for a while but as soon as he saw her again they were able to pick up right where they left off. The ease of being around each other the desire to make sure that she had everything that she needed to succeed in her new endeavor was still there. He was the only person that she had ever been able to count on and he wasn’t going to start letting her down now. Even when that meant having her move in with him, canceling plans with his girlfriend and even putting off work. Jayne needed him so he was there, even when she tried to tell him no. That’s what friends did, right? This was the first book in the Friends First series and it was amazing. I received books 2-4 through Netgalley but I’ve just now got around to reading this one even though I had purchased it months ago, it just kind of got lost in my to be read file and I had forgotten about it. This book also gives the insight of what really happened to Maya that is featured in book 4. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but the series is honestly great. I love the writing style and the fact that even though it’s a series, you aren’t inundated with rehashing how each couple meets and got together. Jayne and Nick’s story is a great start and you can see how a few people become friends and through the course of a couple of years, they grow into such a close nit group that they become more like a family. I highly recommend this series!

All in all this is a very nice, well written romance, with a well rounded plot and characters I really liked. After all the waiting for them to finally be together, I honestly thought we'd at least get to see them together, but a couple of kisses is all ya get. The blurb for the story didn't say anything about sex or hot scenes, and so I guess that was spot on since there is none. If you're into only subtle hints of sex in a clean, very sweet romance novel, this one is definitely for you. (It just didn't happen to do it for me.)

This novel was a total pleasure to read. By the third chapter I was laughing out loud, and several chapters later I needed tissues for my tears. It was an emotional merry-go-round, but I always loved merry-go-rounds. Jayne Morgan is heading back to the town she left when she was eighteen. She was raised by her Gran who resented her existence from birth. When her Mom died of a drug overdose, Gran had no choice but to feed, clothe and educate her. But she never gave an ounce of love. Her best friend from grade school to graduation was Nick Scott. The fact that he still lives there is the only thing that she's looking forward to. That, and the bookstore her grandmother left her in her will. She was astounded when she heard from the attorney, never expecting a thing from the estate. She has quit her job as a copy editor, packed up her life and is determined to get the bookstore open. It was the one comforting place she remembers from her childhood. Nick Smith is an accomplished contractor, widower, and very determined to convince Jayne to forgive him for a mistake he made four years ago. When his wife died in a car accident, Jayne immediately flew to town for Abby's funeral to support Nick. She was greeted with nothing but contempt from Abby's family and Nick's mom. He had to ask her to leave, and it broke both their hearts. But their getting a new start, and just as she did when she was a child and the kids called her Plain Jayne, she turns to Nick. The total disaster of the bookstore and the apartment above where she was expected to live just about brought her to her knees. Nick had all the solutions, she would stay with him, and he and his crew would help her clean out and rebuild. One small problem, Nick had a girlfriend Linda/Lisa. Jayne could never remember her name. Nick assured her it was not an issue. Jayne knew better. This novel was rich with wonderful characters and the love of two unlikely best friends turning into so much more, was beautifully told. They fought it all the way, but this was a couple meant to be together. I hope Ms Drewry has plans for more stories about these characters, and the Dandelion Bookstore. I received this novel from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review. Pat Fordyce

PLAIN JAYNE is a standalone read with a HEA. Any age could read and enjoy this story. There are no sex scenes as it takes this boy the whole story to come to realize what is right in front of him. I loved this story. It was my kind of romance. There are two people obviously meant for each other but they can't seem to get together. There was no violence, no bad guys, no drugs, no fights and anger. There is a bit of hidden feelings, misunderstandings, forgiveness, and fun. It was just perfect. They were best friends in kindergarten. He comes to her rescue when she is feeling alone and scared and that was all it took for them to be best friends forever. That was part of the problem, he thought they were best friends and that was all they would ever be. After high school when she realizes that he will never really see her, she was too plain, too boring, just sad. So after high school she got on a bus and she left, never planning to return. But she did when she attended the funeral of his wife. But that did not go well. As she sees him, hugs him to offer comfort, his mother interprets it the wrong way and insist that Jayne be tossed from the funeral. She was. Again, it seems she was to blame for everything that goes wrong. The next time she comes home she is there to clean up her grandmother's estate. The woman never liked her, kicked her out of the house when she graduated and never kept in touch with her after that so what could she have possibly left to a grandchild that she had always hated and tried to get her daughter to abort. Now this is not a sad story, far from it, it is just what was at the time. The lawyers notified her she would need to come home for the reading of the will. What she finds out changes the course of her life. However, it was not what she expected but as always Nick was there to help her like best friends do. He also introduces her to his new girlfriend. Jayne is in for some life changing moments. This was the best story I have read in a long time. I usually average about 5 books a week so I do a lot of reading. This story was modern day, it was a good love story, no one could complain about the sex scenes. There is a little colorful language but I would dare to guarantee it is nothing you have not said yourself or heard before and besides, when said, it fits the moment. I would definitely recommend the book. I thought it was great. I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 6/19/19.

About two thirds through, and this could turn out to be a 5 star for me. I like the writing, and the plot is more fleshed out and Interesting than most books I'm stuck with. I like the h, and the H is very loving and sweet. I love that he's more of a normal hot guy and not a pig. He has a life and a job and a nice girlfriend, but is strongly drawn to her...while trying to keep doing the right thing. The author has lots of cute believable banter. So far, so good.

I read the third book in this series (about Ellie and Brett) first, and I liked that one better. I really liked Jayne, but it was really hard to like Nick. I mean, the point of a romance is to root for the couple to get together, right? I wasn't sure I wanted Nick for Jayne, I thought she deserved better. Nick was a TERRIBLE boyfriend. He had a girlfriend, Lisa/Linda (ok, that was pretty funny) for 3/4 of the book, and she took a back seat to Jayne 99% of the time. Jayne was always concerned with Lisa's feelings, why wasn't Nick? And it wasn't like Lisa was a horrible person, she was quite sweet. She wasn't the right person for Nick, but why did it take so long for him to figure that out? He was such a tool! The ENTIRE TOWN could see it, Stevie Wonder could see it! Jayne had been through a lot, her grandmother was the worst, and she had no other family. I liked how she formed friendships with Regan, Maya and Ellie, so she wasn't just pining after Nick the entire time. Nick's dad was great, as was his cousin and sister, but his mom was kind of awful (she annoyed me much like Ellie's mom annoyed me in the third book).

This is one of the best romance books I've read in quite some time. I always love stories that focus on best friends falling in love; Drewry knocks this cliche storyline out of the park! Nick is the classic, all around great guy and Jayne is the typical off-beat and cute girl. (I realize they are 30 in the story...I'm from Texas and girl is pretty generic term for a female.) The supporting characters are written just as well. The believable everyday happenings made this story feel very genuine as opposed to the billionaire whisking a girl away that typically appears in a romance. I'm not sure if this would've taken away from the story if it wasn't present (it certainly added to the story) but the inclusion of quotes from the classic John Hughes movies was really fun. It certainly was nostalgic and I have this urge to watch Some Kind of Wonderful and Pretty in Pink like you wouldn't believe! One thing I especially appreciated was how tame this story is without sacrificing a building awareness between Nick and Jayne. There are toe-curling kisses and implied intimacy yet it was refreshing to not have the aspect written out over a handful of pages. SPOILER - possibly.....Nick does have a girlfriend at the beginning of the story. Unlike typical romances, she was very likable and Nick handled the ending of that relationship with great integrity. The only drawback for me was the large amount of curse words used; this isn't enough for me to deduct stars as the story was wonderful but it does bear mentioning and would be a caveat that I would have to add when recommending. This book is definitely going to be one of my favorites that I will read again. I enjoyed it so much, that I just went and bought a personal copy!

I loved this story! I'm a sucker for best friends turned lovers stories and although you knew from the very start that was where Jayne and Nick were headed, their journey was delightful. The writing and dialogue was effortless and it was a truly leisurely read. Perfect for a summer day by the pool! Jayne was witty and sarcastic and Nick was sweet and oh, so caring of his dear friend. Loved it and will be looking forward to reading the next in the series, though grateful for the nature of the stand alone read with a HEA.

A clean friends to lovers contemporary romance. Follow the life of Jayne and her return to her small town. Typical small-Towness occur. The transformation from friends to lovers happens fast and towards the very end.

É uma história bem bonita. Um romance sobre uma amizade antiga que se torna algo a mais, só que para um esse algo a mais sempre existiu e o outro demorou a perceber. Bem bonitinha a história e é entrelaçada com outros 3 livros, também bem fofos.

Ich muss gestehen, ich liebe diese Lovestories à la "wir sind schon ewig ineinander verliebt, haben uns aber nie getraut, den ersten Schritt zu wagen". Genau in diese Kategorie fällt auch Plain Jayne. Nick und Jayne sind beste Freunde, seit sie 5 Jahre alt waren, die Freundschaft hat jedoch einen kleinen Knacks erlitten, als Nick sie von der Beerdigung seiner Frau schmeißen musste. Jetzt ist sie zurück in der Stadt, da sie die Bücherei ihrer emotional kalten Großmutter geerbt hat. Die beiden kommen sich wieder näher, allerdings nicht ohne Probleme, denn Nick hat eine neue Freundin. Ohne jetzt zu viel verraten zu wollen: Ja, es gibt ein Happyend, für wen bzw. mit wem - wer weiß?! Ich fand das Buch toll, es war fesselnd geschrieben und ich hab es in einem Rutsch durchgelesen. Daher von mir eine absolute Leseempfehlung!

Lovely reading

I think I’ve been suffering from PTSD brought about by the recent onslaught of so called romance novels that are actually erotica or porn in disguise. This author has restored my hope in romance, (where has she been?) beautifully written, believable. Funny, great depth. Loved it! Will keep an eye on her books from now on. Here’s to hoping she doesn’t succumb to the new craze that is now trashy romance