~ Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Promise ~

In Ms. Laudat’s latest release, a high school reunion brings together a popular cheerleader with a nerdy classmate who had a serious crush on her. With a jealous brother who happens to be the old boyfriend of the cheerleader, this relationship was doomed from the beginning.  However, love does prevail.

Jared Wilkes, a very successful bonds trader, did not plan to attend his 10-year class reunion. Then one night he saw Daria Mitchell, the object of his high school affection, in a TV commercial.  This spurred Jared to attend, hoping to see Daria again.  Not only did he see her, but all those old feelings resurfaced.  Also this time, Daria was more than interested.

Daria Mitchell, an aspiring actress waiting for that big break that would make her career, goes home to attend her class reunion.  She meets Jared and remembers the sweet caring person that he was, but is very attracted to the man he is now.  Having a past with Jared’s brother, Chapper, Daria wasn’t sure how Jared would react to her.

Drawn to each other, Jared and Daria spend part of the evening reminiscing and the rest of it in Jared’s hotel room getting to know each other.  After a few steamy kisses and a BBQ the next day at her parent’s home, a promising relationship blossoms.  Jared finally has the woman of his dreams and life is perfect, or is it?

With his basketball career ending before it began, Chapper is jobless and living with his mom.  Jealous of his brother’s success and the relationship he now has with Daria, "his" old girlfriend, Chapper is hell bent on destroying Jared’s happiness.

I was drawn to this story from the snippet on the first page of the book.  I love a good romance that’s filled with drama and what could be more dramatic than an envious brother determined to hurt his sibling? An ex-girlfriend who won’t go away?  How about both?

This is a simple story of trust and self-worth.  Jared never got over Daria choosing his brother over him all those years ago.  So when Daria was caught in a trap of Chapper’s maneuvering, it was easy for Jared to believe the worst about her.  Even though he proclaimed to love Daria, when that love was tested, his trust in her was nonexistent.

Jared also harbored a lot of insecurities where his brother was concerned.  Growing up Chapper got all the attention and the girls, being the athlete that he was.  While sweet nerdy Jared was forever in his shadow.

It was refreshing to see an author allow her characters to divulge their past relationships upfront.  There was none of that “I don’t want to hurt her/him, so I won’t say anything,” which always seems to be the crux of the dilemma once those secrets are revealed.