Disclaimer: I have received an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This review and the opinions shared are my own.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 out of 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Heart Level: 💘💘💘💘💘 out of 💘💘💘💘💘

Wow! Where do I begin? This book will stay for me for a long time, if not forever. By the time I finished reading it, I had tears in my eyes and it was four am. Now and then comes a book that knocks you on your ass and this was one of those for me. Ophelia and Kyle's chemistry and passion are undeniable. But it goes beyond that. These two had known the heartbreak of knowing sometimes love is not enough. And while they learned that lesson, they also knew their story was not finished: there was more growing to do, there needed to be forgiveness.

Which brings me to the reason for my tears. The main theme of this book is forgiveness, not only between Kyle and Ophelia but also between Kyle and his father, recovering alcoholic Patrick. Forgiving an abusive parent is one of the hardest things anyone can do. Tackling such a difficult subject must not have been easy, but Ms. Probst did so brilliantly. When an author tackles such a universal theme as forgiveness, they run the risk of either sounding preachy or falling into clichés. However, we don't have to worry about this in this book. Ms. Probst took such care with all these characters that we can't help but be ecstatic they got the happy ending they deserve.
I can't recommend this book enough! Five out of Fives. May we all get the brand new ending we need.💘

I love a great second chance romance - I love it, even more, when its written by one of my favorite authors. So in the case of A Brand New Ending, I get the best of both!

Ophelia Bishop is happy - she is doing what she loves in running her families B&B. She doesnt often think about what might have been or how much she misses Kyle and singing, but when she ran off to LA with Kyle as kids she knew that wasnt the life she wanted so coming back home wasnt a hardship other than leaving Kyle. Now Kyle is on her front doorstep after 10 and wants to write his new screenplay at her B&B. Ophelia knows this is not a good idea in so many ways but mostly she knows she cant risk her heart on Kyle again.

Kyle Kimpton has been gone for 10 years living the life he has always dreamed about, but he is beginning to realize the glitzy LA life is not all that's cracked up to be and he has made way to many compromises with his work and ultimately with his heart. He has never stopped loving Ophelia and has come home to write but more importantly to win her back. Kyle also has a secret that could cause Ophelia to run away from him again - but he hopes to show her why they belong together first.

I love Jennifer Probst style of writing. She writes in the 3rd person which I find refreshing in this day in agent - so the reader feels like they are watching the story unfold while getting in the minds of her characters. In this case, both Ophelia and Kyle are so well developed that I felt for both of them - especially Ophelia. We also get to see Mia and Ethan again which I loved and there is also a great cameo from another one of Ms Probst books that I dont want to give away. That being said this is a standalone so I promise if you are new to the Stay series you wont feel lost at all.

4.6 Stars from Renee!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, pain, secrets, second chances, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first:
The Start of Something Good (Stay #1)

This is Ophelia and Kyle story. Ophelia and Kyle were in love but when Kyle chose his career over there love Ophelia went home with a shattered heart. Years later that heart is still not fully recovered. Kyle comes back into town to write and win his first love back. But who knew it would be so hard. There is still a lot of pain between them. She is not ready to forgive. Can he convince her that he is what she always needed, and he is sorry for all the pain he caused her? Can these two have a future or will she not want to risk another hit to her heart. The last time was bad another hit could be even worse.

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.


I highly recommend this book.

“I dreamed you would come after me.”
“And I dreamed you would come back.”

Gah, this beautiful, beautiful book (and I don’t just mean that cover). Jennifer Probst is a favorite author of mine, and her latest, A Brand New Ending, has once again cemented her place on my go-to list.

ABNE

What a truly delightful second chance romance. It’s a genre I adore—because of the history that comes with it—and Ms. Probst gives that history such depth and emotion. Kyle + Ophelia are childhood friends turned lovers turned . . . nothing, and yet there’s always the sense that they should be everything.

I ached—for Ophelia in particular—as these two fought against and for one another. Ophelia was sweetness and steel combined and argh, I just wanted to see her both take a chance on love and let loose on the sexy-but-sometimes-obtuse Kyle. Ms. Probst knew what she was doing, though, giving me page after page of romance and feels, and the final result was will they/won’t they tension and an ending that made me more than a little weepy.

Guys, there’s so much feeling in this book—as there is in all of Ms. Probst’s books—and it left me with a happy heart, a smile, and a fabulous reminder that I anticipate this author’s book for a very good reason: they’re beautiful.

“The end of a story was always an important event. As you once told me, beginnings are necessary and cherished, but it’s the endings that will make a person remember you forever.”

I absolutely adored this book. A story of young love and how it can be tainted by the harsh realities of life, the drive for success and other outside influences. But it's also a story of homecoming and how true, soul-deep love can withstand all of those struggles and grow and thrive.

Ophelia and Kyle, whoa what a story! I wasn’t expecting a second chance romance like this that screamed STAY!!! This story is utterly charming, heart warming, romantic and swoon worthy. From one of my favorite authors, I would expect nothing less, and Jennifer Probst never disappoints.

Ophelia reminded me of a soft, beautiful flower. Always blooming and spreading joy, like rays of sunshine. There's an air about her that evokes a feeling of comfort, of coming home, and I couldn't help but smile when we met her in Mia and Ethan's story, The Start of Something Good. Getting to know Ophelia, her struggles, her sense of family and her endearing heart, added to her already brilliant character. She has an unmatched strength that allowed her to put herself first when her relationship with Kyle didn't go as planned when they were young.

Kyle...oh to get caught up in the glamorous world of Hollywood. Constantly looking for the approval
he never received when he was younger from his father, it lead him down a path that caused him to lose his one true love, Ophelia. Now he's back, back in her life, in her small town, asking for forgiveness. But as they reconnect, and he explores his new story, he realized there's more to their failed relationship than he thought. Her POV is revealed and explored in his novel, Kyle softens as he realizes their life was not as he thought 10 years ago. From these realizations, he's able to focus on proving himself to Ophelia that he is the man she always needed and loved.

Jennifer Probst writes novels that consistently pull at my heart strings and stick with me long after the last page. I'm truly loving the Stay series. Every book has a unique and special heart beat that runs through it. I loved every page of A Brand New Ending, my heart so full of love, and tears that finally escaped in the perfect epilogue.

ARC for honest review with no compensation, received from NetGalley

A Brand New Ending is book 2 in the Stay series by Jennifer Probst and what an amazing book this is!,

Ophelia Bishop and Kyle Kimpton where high school friends and sweethearts who after graduation left their hometown and set their sites on Hollywood. Ophelia wanted to sing and Kyle wanted to write screenplays..little did they know that Hollywood can sometimes chew you up and spit you out or make you successful. Kyle succeeded and Ophelia went back home. Years later Kyle returns home to work on his latest screenplay and want another chance to make things right with Ophelia is one true love.

Both have changed over the years but can they find their way back to each other and a HEA or will Kyle always but his Hollywood life before Ophelia and destroy everything??

This book has it all...heartbreak, chemistry,angst, second chances, laughter and forgiveness!

i would say i liked this one roughly the same as the first one. when i finished the first one, i wasn't going to continue the series but i was a teeny bit curious about ophelia and kyle and i was too curious to pass it up when it showed up on netgalley. and this one did start out stronger for me, i was enjoying it. then it kind of fizzled out. second chances aren't my favourite anyway, but sometimes they can be really well done. kyle really frustrated me in this one, it's like he just wouldn't listen or learn. i wanted to shake him. overall it was fine, cute but didn't wow me. i am slightly curious about harper, but you get zero indication of who her love interest will be and really don't see a lot of her in this one to make you want to read her book, not like ophelia in the last one.

Book Hangover Guaranteed
A Brand New Ending is an absolute must read. It grips you from the beginning and you won’t want to put it down until you are finished. The characters are deep and well developed and you feel their emotions and fears drip from the page as you read. Ophelia and Kyle’s character transformational arcs are gripping and completely satisfying as they carve out their “brand new ending.” The plot is a masterpiece with every single detail meaningful and pushing the characters to the ending. You will laugh, you will cry and you will LOVE this novel. Possibly one of Jennifer Probst best books yet.

My heart soars while reading this small-town love. Once again, the she does not disappoint, the writing is topnotch. The story line, was excellent. We are back again in the small town where everyone knows each other and gossips is a hot commodity.

Ophelia, Ethan’s sister who now runs the B & B was once a wild child. Running away to Hollywood at the tender age of eighteen with the love of her life, only to return heartbroken and alone later on. While it appears she’s happy, things aren’t always what they seem to be. Lucky for her, Kyle’s back in town. Kyle who is now a hotshot Hollywood screen writer, escapes the life of glam to come back home in the small town to start a new project. Little did he know just stepping foot into the B&B would be a challenge.

“That’s the girl I remember. The one who looked at you straight and told you the truth whether you liked it or not. The one whose temper simmered beneath the surface and kept me off guard. God knows I’m starting to lose my instinct on what’s real or fake anymore.”

Watching them fall back in love made my heart all gooey. I am such a sucker for second chance romances. One of my favorite parts, is that Kyle steps back into the past and sees (sure it was too late, but still…) that he messed up so badly. No one is perfect, but the fact that he was breaking his back to fix things, just proves how strong love is. Together these two just made sense. Not only did they get a second chance, but this book also incorporated family dynamic which I adore in novels. There were definitely some tears shed.

“I didn’t like it because you belong to me.” He devoured her with his gaze, pushing for more. “Truth or dare, Ophelia?” Her entire body throbbed with delicious, agonizing tension. She dragged her tongue over her bottom lip. “Dare.” His head bent down. His warm breath rushed against her mouth. “Come and take what you want,” he growled. “Take what’s yours.”

I love this book. I was happy to see Ethan and Mia make a cameo. Let’s just say Ethan doesn’t hold back when he finds out some important information that was withheld from him. I am excited to see what to come next. Specifically, Harper’s book. Definitely recommend.

QueenZany 5 Star Review
A BRAND NEW ENDING
Jennifer Probst


A BRAND NEW ENDING is yet another spellbindingly perfect contemporary love stories, that everyone needs in their lives! So wonderfully crafted, the pacing is just so on point, the push-pull and the oh so delicious chemistry was off the charts yummy! But the words I have to say are the star of the show and just compel you to dive head first and not look back!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2571185589?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/REKIZ0W84DKDE?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

If this book had come into my life any other time I would have liked it more. This is the 20th second chance book I read in a month and I got tired of the genre. I didn't like the 8-ish year-long separation and Kyle was a so-so character for me. He redeemed himself somewhat and I couldn't exactly fault him for his behavior in the past because he was young and immature. As many of you wanna know, I will have to add that neither was celibate during their separation and I was happy that Ophelia wasn't pinning for him. Kyle could have been better since I felt like he didn't really want Ophelia back and he only returned because he found out that their divorce wasn't valid and his lack of inspiration. Ophelia was much better and more likable. I could relate on some level with her.

The first ending Kyle gave to his story was so bad and it said a lot about his character. He expected everything to be easy and effortless. I was glad that no one liked it in the book and it wasn't just me. When Kyle wrote his book we got the chance to see him and Ophelia as they were ten years ago and it was a creative way to give us a flashback, so the author got points for that.

I liked Patrick a lot. He was a bad father, but he realized his mistakes eventually and he tried to become a better person. I loved the bond he had with Charlie and in one point I even teared up and I was on a full bus people! Who doesn't love a good redeeming story? Harper's book is next and I can't wait for it! I liked her a lot in this book and she seemed more interesting than Ophelia. I have high hopes for her book.

This book gave me mixed feelings and that's why it gets a 3.5 star rating. I liked some parts a lot and others not so much. The pace was good and the characters had some development. With a little hesitation, I would recommend the book.

A Brand New Ending returns to a setting introduced in The Start of Something New. Ophelia and Kyle fell in love during high school and after graduation ran off to seek fame and fortune in California. Ophelia returned home several years later and threw herself into running the B & B, convincing herself she was over Kyle...until, that is, he shows up on her doorstep needing a place to stay while writing and trying to get his career back on track. He has a secret and a lot of guilt, and he feels his muse has deserted him. Ophelia is dealing with her own feelings, and her own secret, and keeping Kyle at arms length is the only way she knows to survive. Can shared memories and continuing attraction bring these two back together? Will Kyle’s muse return? Ms. Probst has written a charming second chance at life and love story for several characters that keeps the reader engaged while not drowning one in pages of angst. The plot has depth that goes way beyond the average romance. Her descriptive prose easily draws the reader into the story so it becomes personal. It becomes an important lesson in honesty, forgiveness and growth. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Highly recommend.

Kyle, Ethan, and Ophelia did everything together as kids. When Ophelia started to mature, Kyle's thoughts were never far from her. But Kyle and Ethan were best friends, with Ophelia being Ethan's younger sister. Knowing they risked their tight friendship, Ophelia and Kyle decided to keep their relationship a secret. After suffering years of abuse from his alcoholic father, Kyle convinced Ophelia to run off to Hollywood with him to pursue their dreams. Only, he didn't ask Ophelia what her dreams really were.

Upon arriving in Hollywood, they marry. Kyle has success becoming a screenwriter, while Ophelia's singing career fails. Their youth, combined with Kyle's strive to become a success, puts a strain on their new marriage. Ophelia decides Hollywood isn't for her and tries to tell Kyle, but he won't listen. So she leaves him and runs home to run the Inn with her mom.

Ten years later, Kyle suffers from writer's block. He thinks if he moves back home away from the stress and demands of Hollywood, he'll be back to writing in no time. What Kyle doesn't expect, is the bitterness and hate Ophelia feels towards him. Kyle never truly understood why Ophelia left him, but as he gets to know her again he realizes he was all wrong. Ophelia was meant to help others and make their lives better. While she loved singing, she didn't like everything else that went with the lifestyle of a professional singer. As he writes their story and painstakingly confronts his past, he realizes he needs a new ending...

This novel is the second story in the series. While I enjoyed Ophelia and Kyle's story, it was more on the emotional side dealing with death, alcoholism, and abuse. The first story in the series is more rom com. I really missed Hei Hei's crazy antics in this novel. I did like the crossover to Jennifer Probst's other series with the mention of LWW! Enjoyable second chance romance novel. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

Once again, I jumped at the chance to be an early reader of a Jennifer Probst title, as she has quickly become one of my favourite authors. By now, I've come to expect certain things from Probst's books, including enjoyable and unique characters, realistic struggles, a fast-paced plot, and tons of steam and swoon. I think, for the most part, "A Brand New Ending" delivered what I was expecting.

Starting with the characters, they were great, as anticipated. Kyle is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, which means he's pretty clear with Ophelia - he wants a second chance with her, and he's not giving up without giving it all he's got. Ophelia, understandably, is petrified that she is going to have her heart shattered again if she gives Kyle a second chance, but eventually he convinces her to give their relationship another shot. Hopefully, they won't mess things up again!

I also always enjoy how Probst is able to weave secondary storylines or characters into her novels. In this case, my heart was gradually won over by a geriatric rescue dog, and to a lesser extent, Kyle's dad. I even shed a few tears at the culmination of this book, to my surprise!

As for the pacing, I feel that this is one area that could have been improved. It's possible that because there are several flashbacks from the present to the past, things felt sluggish. Usually, I love dual timelines in romance novels because they seem to add an element of suspense - what on earth happened to make these two so estranged, when they are so obviously meant for each other? - but in this case, I found myself constantly losing focus. I wanted things to move along more quickly, especially in the present.

Of course, just because "A Brand New Ending" wasn't my favourite Probst title, doesn't mean it's not good. I'm still glad I read it, and I'm sure most contemporary romance fans will agree.

A Brand New Ending revisits the family owned bed and breakfast in Hudson Valley where Ethan and Mia went from enemies to lovers in The Start of Something Good. Ethan's sister, Ophelia, now has to face her first love when he returns home to write the story that could finally ease his writer's block.

What I've enjoyed about this series so far is the depth that takes us beyond romance to challenges faced by everyday people. Both Ophelia and Kyle struggle with trust and forgiveness with each other and the past. Desperate to reconnect to the place he once called home, Kyle throws himself into repairing his relationship with Ophelia. However, the secrets they keep from one another threaten to sabotage any progress made. If you're a fan of second-chance romances then this will be right up your alley! It reminds me a little of Second Chance at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer.

A Brand New Ending has a quite a few emotional ups and downs that will keep readers intrigued. The sense of not having the full story when it begins pushed me along and kept me turning the pages. Don't skip this next amazing entry in Jennifer Probst's Stay series!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

Ophelia Bishop keeps herself busy running the family B&B and trying not to remember the past, which is difficult when her childhood sweetheart, Kyle, suddenly turns up on her doorstep trying to rekindle their relationship. She tries to maintain a cold façade but its gets harder the longer he stays. They both find reliving the past painful but that’s the only way of working out what went wrong. Good but perhaps a bit predictable. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ophelia and Kyle were two teenagers full of hopes for a future together, one supporting the other. When Ophelia realizes that Kyle focuses on his career and does not see how frustrated she is with hers , she decides to drop everything and return home. Ten years later, Kyle reappears with blocking writing and is willing to regain his great love, but Ophelia is not at all interested in suffering again.

I confess that as soon as I started to read I was reluctant because I am not a fan of long passages of time, I always imagine the reason why a great love could stand so far away without fighting for each other, but as their story is revealed I could perceive that I did not need to worry.

The writer was fantastic in how she slowly put the reason for the estrangement from the couple, and she went on to show how each one reacted in the past and how the attitudes of the present were justified. I found it beautiful how Kyle was using a strategy to make Ophélia realize how she could trust him again.
It was exciting to follow their reconciliation and the new end they built for themselves. Perfect !

I enjoyed Ophelia & Kyle's second chance love story. The story within a story aspect that Kyle's writing added to A Brand New Ending was perfectly done. I loved the emotion that was brought out through his screenplay.

Ophelia's interaction with Kyle's dad and the rescue dog was one of my favorite parts. It was also fun catching up with Mia & Ethan, and I'm so happy that their chicken Hei Hei was featured! I love this series, and I can't wait to read Harper's story!