5 stars for It Had to be You by @mikeowens42 #fantasyromance #paranormalromance #bookreview
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  • N. N. Light
    • May 30, 2022
    • 3 min read

5 stars for It Had to be You by @mikeowens42 #fantasyromance #paranormalromance #bookreview



Title: It Had to be You

Author: Mike Owens

Genre: Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance


Book Blurb:


PHIL CLAUSSEN couldn’t very well leave her out there in the middle of nowhere, shoeless and barely dressed, so he offered her a ride. When he asks why she’s hitchhiking on a deserted road, she says, “Waiting for you. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”


“Impossible,” he says. “I’ve never set foot in Oklahoma before.” He asks more questions, but gets very few answers. It’s two days before he learns her name, DANI.


He soon discovers that he’s driven into a realm where events seem to be all set and waiting for his arrival, a place where his own treasured free will means very little. Falling in love with DANI becomes his favorite part of the process. But if it was all arranged so carefully, how does he wind up in jail charged with two murders and DANI as the chief witness for the prosecution?


My Review:


Phil hits the open road in an RV and experiences his destiny and a beautiful woman named Dani. Phil’s mundane life goes off the rails and you’d never guess it was over something as simple as a lawnmower. Phil trades in his old life for a new one and hits the road, ready to travel and see where life takes him. When he comes across a barefoot woman hitchhiking, he feels compelled to give her a lift. Her answers are cryptic and lead to more questions. Her name is Dani and after three days of traveling and talking, she disappears. What happens next is something of a mystery. Phil stumbles upon a place where everyone is waiting for him to arrive. Is it destiny or something more sinister? He reunites and falls in love with Dani. Before he knows what’s happened, he’s thrown in jail for two murders. Can Phil get himself out of this mess and be with Dani or is it all a dream?


It Had to be You is an intriguing story about the choices you make and the road less traveled. I must warn you, there is a big plot twist at the end you won’t see coming. Getting to the end may be challenging and fraught with twists but it’s worth it. Phil is your normal suburban husband who’s trying his best to keep up with his neighbors. I connected with him and his plight. It Had to be You is told from Phil’s POV exclusively and you really get inside his head. I liked the mystery surrounding Dani. It was fun trying to unravel the clues and solve the mystery. There’s a prevalent theme in It Had to be You which has universal appeal. The plot moves at a steady pace with a tight cast of characters. The writing is smooth with a suspenseful yet humorous vibe throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed It Had to be You, especially ferreting out what was going on. Mike Owens is a gifted writer and his precision with words is on display here. If you enjoy road trip books, pick up It Had to be You. A terrific example of satire, fantasy, and humor, It Had to be You is a must-read. Highly recommend!


My Rating: 5 stars


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Author Biography:


A native Tar Heel, Mike Owens obtained his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, and later, an MFA in creative writing from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, where he now resides. His topics in fiction vary widely, ranging from science themes to end-of-life issues to erotica…go figure! His new release, IT HAD TO BE YOU follows a man whose self-destructive behavior leads him into a romantic adventure with a young woman who appears to have been waiting for him all along.


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Reviewed by: Mrs. N

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