Nina Carlson is finally reclaiming her life! With a divorce from her abusive husband and buying her grandparents’ bakery; she hopes to make a new start for herself and her two children. There is only one problem, the ex-convict, Dillon Ward, living in the apartment above her bakery. Nina knows she shouldn’t be attracted to Dillon but he is much more than meets the eye; he is a man she can count on.

Staying in Serenity Springs is a mistake but Dillon has agreed to attend his sister’s wedding. However, there is now another reason, Nina Carlson. Dillon has protected his sister with his life from their abusive step-father and he knows the signs he sees in Nina and her children. He doesn’t just want to protect them; he wants them in his life to stay.

Award winning author Beth Andrews continues Kelsey Regan’s and Dillon Ward’s brother and sister story in Serenity Springs by giving Kelsey her happily-ever-after wedding and telling Dillon’s happily-ever-after beginning. Characters Dillon and Nina are yen and yang. Dillon is strong, stubborn and honorable while Nina starts out pliable and wishy washy but learns that she does have a backbone and can stand up for what she wants. Ms. Andrews’ compassionate story of a single mom coping with her mistakes and an ex-con learning to forgive himself is compelling. Readers can always count on Beth Andrews to spin an empathetic tale with a loving HEA. - Donna Zapf, CataRomance

A Not-So-Perfect Past is the sequel to Beth Andrews’ first book, Not Without Her Family. I read that one when it came out and was impressed with it, and this book proves that Beth Andrews is no one hit wonder. This is the kind of series romance I like.

Dillon Ward is an ex-con. He’s a social pariah in Serenity Springs where he rents an apartment over the bakery owned by Nina Carlson. Dillon is working construction remodeling a bar owned by Allie Martin, the only person in town who is friendly with him. Nina’s over protecting family and her overbearing ex-husband have been pressuring her to evict Dillon, so Nina, who has a spine of purest jello, gives him his walking papers.

That night before Dillon leaves, Kyle Fowler, a foster kid living with the Roberts family steals their SUV and plows it right into Nina’s bakery causing some serious damage right at the Christmas season when she expects a lot of business. The only contractor in town can’t get to her for over a month, so Nina asks Dillon to do the work. He agrees, on the condition that Kyle works under his supervision to make restitution for his little joy ride. When her family finds out that Nina has hired Dillon they object, but for the first time in a long time, Nina stands her ground.

Normally, Nina is a pushover and she runs from conflict. Having married her first husband over the objections of her family, she feels obligated to do what they want her to do and tamps down her feelings in order to keep the peace. Her children manipulate her by fighting and whining while her former husband, Trey is a verbal abuser. During their marriage, he hit her, a fact Nina has kept from everyone. The children are now beginning to balk at spending time with him. Nina can’t say no and can’t stand up for herself and as a consequence she is overworked and under severe stress - and her children are too.

Dillon can’t help but notice the dynamics of Nina’s situation. He grew up in an abusive house himself, and he is by nature a protector. His drive to help and protect was the reason he served time in prison, (see Not Without Her Family for the details) and now he tries to keep distance between himself and others. But Dillon can’t deny his nature. He becomes a mentor of sorts to Kyle (tough love is his specialty) and a protector to Nina, and as things turn out, she needs all the help she can get.

Nina and Dillon’s path to love is about as rocky as it can be. They are both fundamentally kind and loving, but their past experiences cause them to put up high barriers against intimacy. They go two steps forward and one step back again and again since they want each other, but are afraid of being vulnerable. At the end of the book, they have come to a realization of their problems and have a firm resolve to work on them. As individuals, they have their weaknesses, but as a couple they are strong.

With this book, Beth Andrews goes on my list of auto-buy series romance authors. I liked the story, I liked the characters and hours after I had closed the book, they were still on my mind. That’s a good read in my opinion. - Ellen Micheletti, All About Romance

Serenity Springs own sweet Nina is sick and tired of doing what everyone expects of her. She’s tired of being afraid of letting anyone down, she’s tired of being afraid of her ex-husband, and well, she’s just plain tired.

Dillon Ward, bad boy, ex-convict, went to jail for killing his stepfather for almost rapping and beating his sister. But now he’s got the whole town of Serenity Springs believing his is as bad and evil as they all portray him to be.

When Kyle, a young rebellious, foster child wrecks into Nina’s bakery the only person who can do the job is Dillon. But he only agrees if Kyle will work with him, take responsibility in what he has caused. Not only does Dillon fall for Kyle, but also he falls for Nina and her kids. But he’s an ex-convict, Nina could do better and deserved much better.

Beth Andrews took a storyline and made it into a work of art. The chemistry between Dillon and Nina is strong from the get-go and they both try to fight it at first. But what happens when Dillon falls in love with Marcus and Haley, Nina’s kids? Can Nina get over her fears and stand up to her ex-husband, her family, and the town of Serenity Springs? These are just a few of the questions you will get within the first few chapters and they will be answered in ways you wouldn’t imagine. Andrews has taken what could be an average read and added conflict between the characters. I love the way she’s woven in minor characters as well, the story was mainly focused on Dillon and Nina, but it also showed that they interacted with the townsfolk and family members who made them seem that much more real. Fantastic read. - Tonya Callihan, Fresh Fiction

Nina Carlson is tired of being who everyone else thinks she should be. She always managed to do and say all that was expected of her. She has tried hard to do everything alone since her divorce to prove that she can manage on her own. So when she rented Dillon Ward a place to live against the wishes of the community, it was just the beginning of her finding herself. After her bakery was damaged and she chose Dillon to repair it, she had managed to not only test the patience of her friends and family but also the boundaries of her heart. Would she finally prove to herself and others that she wasn’t just a people pleasing chef or would she fail to accomplish all her greatest dreams?

Dillion Ward was an ex con with nothing to prove to anyone. He did the crime and has done the time. He has learned to not show emotion at any cost in order to protect his heart. After having faced so many challenges in prison, he never imagined a pretty girl could touch him in countless ways. Should he dare hope that things could be different for a man like him? After all, he’s certainly not a match for the good girl type. Or is that a bit of bad girl wanting to come out from behind those beautiful eyes of hers?

This was an excellent book. I enjoyed finding out if Nina would overcome her community given identity as a people pleaser. There was also such magnetism felt toward Dillion from the very beginning of the book. It left you longing to discover what he could have possibly done to end up in prison. I couldn’t wait to find out if he was as tough as he lead everyone to believe. The story was well written and the characters very lovable. Beth Andrews is an amazing writer and story teller. I can’t wait to find another of her books to delve into. - Dyan Grant, Noveltalk