The Plan: A Standalone Off-Limits Romance

This was a cute story. 

Marley found out that her fiance has had a vasectomy. At the same time, she is making the move to be closer to her mom who is sick. Its not turning out to be the way Marley expected life to be. The icing on the cake is that her neighbor is her first husband, Gabriel.

The chemistry between these two sizzles. But that was never their downfall to begin with. Then Marley decides to make a plan. Get pregnant together, Gabe can be involved, or not.

But as these two embark down this road they start to learn more about each other and to get over their past.

Will this become more than just a plan? Def one click this one!

3.5 Stars

Marley and Gabe were married 12 years ago, the divorce left unresolved feelings on both sides, and seeing one another again opens those up...initially in the form of anger and hostility. This anger comes a little out of the blue, at least it did for me, as there is no reason to expect that particular welcome when she arrives in her hometown, and immediately I was intrigued as to where the relationship and the story was going to go, and how it was going to get there.

In this instance, as the story goes on, you find out the why of their relationship end, and you start to see it from both sides and from the view of each of the characters. Twelve years have passed and Marley and Gabe were in their 20s when they were together last time, and the lack of maturity and life experience that contributed to the break up come through in the story.

The sex is hot, and the relationship between Marley and Gabe is interesting, the way it moves from anger to a friendship to something deeper and finally to love, it works and you can follow it.

Unfortunately, I was not able to really connect with Marley or Gabe when they were not together. For some reason, they never felt like individuals to me. I was able to relate to them as people in a relationship, and to the people they were in the relationship...but individually I didn't feel that there was a lot there for me to feel like I knew who they each were in the absence of the relationship. I think this kept me from being able to fully engage with the story.

I did enjoy it overall, and I do recommend this title.

Gabe and Marley had a really rough marriage years ago but who says the second time around it can’t be better? It seems that these two people were going to try it for themselves. But the path was quite rocky when they first came upon each other. Gabe was taking care of the house that Marley was renting the second floor on, from an old friend. And here it was her ex husband who was living below her. This didn’t make it easy on either one of them. They fought like cats and dogs would until Marley decided she wanted a child and came up with the idea on Gabe becoming the father of this child. That’s when the story heats up , but the whole book is awesome.

I loved this story and the chemistry between Marley and Gabe. Watching them realize the mistakes they made with each other in the past they could fix and the amount of growth they both managed in the years apart. Marley and Gabe pulled at my heartstrings and I was routing for them to find their way back to each other.
The secondary characters were fun and added a supportive element to the story. All in all I loved this story. I'd like to see more from Gabe and Marley and see how they are doing in the years to follow the story.... maybe Ella can give us an extended epilogue to give us an update!

Broody Marley moves back home to be closer to her sick mum. Her ex husband Gabriel isn't even on her radar...until he is. They didn't part on the best terms, he's holding onto a lot of resentment and anger and the sparks between them aren't helping him deal with it all.

I really enjoyed this book. I love second chance romances. I love when there's a little bit of hate between the main characters. I love when you pick a book up expecting one thing and end up getting so much more. The Plan exceeded my expectations and I definitely would recommend you give it a go.

Started off interesting but I just didn’t feel it as the story progressed. Both characters were all over the place emotionally. Both were supposed to be professionals but acted very immature for most of the book. I just didn’t feel a connection really developing between them. They were apart during her roughest moments then he was suddenly back and all was forgiven. He was off with his ex, no he was not ( not like that anyway). No one seemed to have a backbone here.

Emotional and a bit tragic.

I love these characters, Marley and Gabe just seem so very human. They have flaws and strengths. The book is written so well that you really feel all of their emotions...the hurt, the hope, the despair, and the happiness.

Looks like Fate has brought these two souls together again. They definitely have a past. But, time and room for growth has changed them both.

Surprising.
Intense.
Steamy.

This book was hot and cold and everything in between...with a really good ending.

3.5 “Unplanned” Stars

The Plan is an unexpected second chance romance between Marley and Gabe. It’s been years since they last saw each other or the divorce papers they signed. But when they both unexpectedly end up back in their home town sharing a house, they come face to face with the heartbreak they left behind. Not only that but the intervening years haven’t been easy either and both are reeling from recent tragedy. When hate turns to friendship and friendship turns to the kind with benefits, both Gabe and Marley have to open up and figure out what they really want.

This was an at times giggle inducing story with lots of emotinal baggage thrown in. The story did seem a bit rushed at times and I didn’t quite find myself as emotinally invested as I expected but once I started I didn’t want to stop and the ending left me more than satifsfied.

The Plan was an amazing second chance romance in the Off Limits series. Honestly my favorite one yet. Gabe and Marley are simply dynamic. The heartache, troubled pasts and chemistry between the two pulls you in from the very start. Both Gabe and Marley are equally fabulous characters. Gabe is oh so sexy, and I mean S.E.X.Y- like I want him for myself- sexy. Marley is a mixture of everything that makes the heroine great- independent, hot, quirky, and someone who goes after what she wants. Together Gabe and Marley are just electric, off the charts HOT. What starts off as a Plan in this charming little southern town detours into something so unbelievably beautiful and perfect. The Plan is a must read. It's heart warming, beautifull, engaging and steamy- what more could you possibly want. Oh and I so want pie now ;)

OMG!!! I couldn't put this amazing book down!! The Plan is the 4th book in Ella's OFF LIMITS series. It can be read as a stand alone. Incredible series so far and The Plan does no disappoint!!! Gabe and Marley are one HOT couple. I am head over heals in love with Gabe!! GAWD!!!! The sex is off the charts and the chemistry between them is sizzling! This book has all the feels, drama, angst and all the emotions we long for! I highly recommend this beautiful second chance story to all!!

After a devastating loss and her mom getting sick Marley returns back to her hometown. Upon renting part of a house she discovers her ex-husband and first love Gabe living there as well. Hiding away from his own pain Gabe does what he can to make Marley leave the house they share. Can these two get past not only their own past and present pain and help each with The Plan. I loved reading Gabe and Marley's story, it is a wonderful story of a second chance at first love.

This is my favorite book in the Off-Limits series so far! I loved Gabriel and Marley! I thought this was a sweet story and I thought it had fun moments as well as emotional ones. It had the perfect balance that kept me glued to this story.

I was completely involved and did not want to put it down at all. I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say this is another amazing story from Ella and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.

Loved this one Ella James!!! I love second chance romances...The Plan was funny, sexy, loved the Fate Alabama backdrop!
Marley & Gabe, they're awesome book leads!
Not seeing each other in a decade, their banter Omg I loved it!
Gabe and his moody growling ???
Marley and her "plan"!
Loved it, it's hard to put down FYI so don't start reading late at night lol
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend this and anything Ella James writes!

Gah! After reading the blurb, I expected this book to be a quick, light and easy read. While it flowed wonderfully for me, the blurb didn’t simply do it justice. The emotions and sensitivity in this book was fantastic. I felt this book on a personal level, wanting to have a baby and not being able to. Fate intervenes in Fate though. I really enjoyed this book, one of my favorites by this author so far.

I overall enjoyed the story, but it eventually stared to look as if the author didn’t bother to really check for editing anymore. It was kind of sad because it took away from the Story element in itself. I did enjoy the character Gabe, but felt she didn’t give us enough of him. Only an overload of Marley, not enough of Gabe for us to really connect with him. I didn’t find Marley as a likable character, as I did Gabe. The ending was great and I did enjoy the way the book ended, an overall enjoyed the story, but the typos were distracting. As I said, I did enjoy the character Gabe but I felt she didn’t give us ENOUGH time with him. The ending was sweet and I did enjoy the way that the book ended. But as a woman who grew up in a household with four brothers, and have tons of male cousins, also lots of guy friends when in school, and still have male friends to this day....I have never known anyone to drop that many F bombs in a sentence she made Gabriel sound a bit immature and ignorant. also she might want to actually do some research on Hollywood and how films are made, Where filmmakers actually live. Also how authors are factored into that because she kind a got that wrong too. Gabe is an author and “Screen” writer. NOT a film maker. Sorry. That’s a whole different category. 3 stars as I said. Editing was sloppy halfway through and there were WAY TOO many F bombs. Covers nice though.

Good premise. Starting out interestingly enough. Strange as this might seem Gabe's character did not portray a stable, trustworthy, faithful husband-to-be. Marley was too needy. His whole sordid past caught up with him in New York. Him not waking up Marley informing her what was going on only to take off with his ex.?

Finally, an amazing book! Marley and Gabe’s past collide and they are brought back together by fate by ending up living in the same house. This story is about second chances and forgiveness that turn into the most beautiful story of getting something you want! Ella James definitely doesn’t disappoint in The Plan! 5 ?

I really enjoyed this surprisingly endearing, funny, crazy, memorable story because the characters really did not stick with “the plan”. I am glad to have immersed myself in this world for even just a little while because it brought me all sort of joy for having read it. This is a keeper of a story. Truth!

Gabe and Marley didn't have the best marriage, it was short and drama filled but now over a decade later, Gabe and Marley are back in Fate, Alabama and sharing the same house! Marley is on a mission to be a mother but IVF is expensive and she's already spent her savings so why not see if she can find a free sperm donor! Gabe is a recovering alcoholic, which is one of the things that helped wreck his marriage to Marley and he's a successful author but life is throwing him curve balls left and right! Marley is back in town and living upstairs, his personal life is a wreck and he has writers block! He never got over his feelings for Marley and now he has to face that fact and decide where he goes from here, Marley is still is lust with Gabe and his perfect anatomy so why not see if he'll be a willing participant in her plan. They have to let go of the past hurts between them and learn to be friends again but it isn't as easy as it sounds. This story is so so good, angsty and emotional and wow do Gabe and Marley burn up the pages!! This is my new favorite Ella James book!

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review!

The Plan is a funny, heartbreaking and endearing tale of second chances. Old hurts and insecurities interfering with deeper emotions. Really enjoyed the authors writing style and ability to convey deep emotions while incorporating laughter and situations that brought a smile to my face.

From the moment Ella revealed the blurb i was really excited to read this book and of course Ella didn't dissapoint me... This book is really good!! is kind of second chance romance, hate-love relationship.

We meet Gabe and Marley who both have a past in common and some struggles, that makes them not so perfect, when they found again in the present they dont know what to do but Marley has a goal in her life and she will do whatever it takes to accomplish it.. so that's why one night she thinks the perfect person to help her with that is Gabe, so they start together a "plan" so this goal can be complete. But as soon as they start the plan things changed... feelings appears and things get complicated for both of them.. so they will need to decide if they will follow their plan ot maybe see what happens if they can start something new... If you want to know about wha happened between Gabe and Marley, you need to read this book.

Congratulations Ella!!! The Plan is a really great book!! Can't wait to read your next project!

The humor, the sex, the angst, the sex, the love, and...yes the erotic, descriptive, words that allowed Gabe and Marley's love to come alive as I read was amazing! I didn't want their story to end! I am definitely now an Ella James fan!

What a fun, sexy, and heartfelt story. Marley and Gabriel have history, some of it good, some of it painful. They've been separated for years, never expecting to see each other again. Now they are both returning home to heal. To their not so happy surprise, they are living in the same building. They soon find that they might not hate each other as much as they thought. They might even still be wildly attracted to each other. Marley and Gabriel have fiery chemistry that leads to explosive sex. When they make a plan to make a baby, no strings attached, what could go wrong when old feelings begin to surface? Marley and Gabriel are both flawed but very likable characters. They each have a past that stands in the way of their happiness. This book has everything I crave in my stories. It has interesting characters with witty banter and an honest story line that made me laugh, cry, and swoon. It has the perfect blend of humor, charm, emotion and steam. I definitely recommend this forbidden/second chance romance!

I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded awesome. I loved the second chance trope and even the obstacles both characters had. But I couldn't get behind the characters. Events and feelings were glossed over and moved too fast and there was too much filler. No way could I believe that a pregnant fiance would be ok with her man going off with his ex in the middle of the night for hours (long enough for her to buy a plane ticket and actually board a plane) and its glossed over like automatically forgiven. Um....NOPE! NO! HELL NO! there was so much potential for character growth in a couple of places but nothing. I felt the characters didn't grow at all, either individually or together. Well, maybe Gabe a little bit. But not in a way where I would believe these two would last. And I still have no idea what Gabe's deepest fear is, why he acted the way he did even all those years ago (bc he alludes to the fact there was something). Cover is GREAT!!!

I really struggled from the beginning to get into this book. It was just that boring to me. So many details about nothing. I wasnt even sure I was going to finish. I could never get behind any of the characters, especially Gabe. The idea for this book had so much promise but it just didn't come to life for me. However, the author sure can pick a nice book cover, so I gave it an extra star for that lol.

The characters are a little wacky. The plotline is a little unbelievable. Also, note to author: a healthy woman doesn't need to go through the expense of IVF to be inseminated. She could have several far less expensive, less invasive, less involved IUIs to achieve the same goal. Apart from that, light, fun read.

Fantastic book! I really loved the characters Gabe and Marley. This second chance romance was beautiful and I really enjoyed how Marley persisted with Gabe even though he made it hard for her at times. I received an ARC of this for an honest opinion.

I was expecting a fun, light hearted, sexy read. And yes, most of it was that. But my heart got tugged on a lot too. I think all emotions were covered here. The baby making? If this had been a paperback the pages would have been smoldering!

A really sweet, and at times comical, second chance romance. The author really makes the story flow and let's you get invested in the characters, and their hopefully happy ending. A definite must read for second chance romance lovers

It was definitely a great book about finding 2nd chances in love. It was about a girl Marley and guy Gabe who rekindle a love after 12 years and a failed 1st marriage when they both wind up moving back home after tragic events. HEA!

... and read this book. This second chance romance has all the feels. It’s written with such heartfelt emotion I wonder if it’s a true story. Marley and Gabe’s roller coaster lives crash together in the most unexpected way and what happens after is .... well you’ll just have to read it to find out :)

This is a good story but written disjointedly. It did not flow. Gabe was an anal sphincter consistently, but only attractive thing about him was his looks. Marley was his doormat. A good story but poorly written.

I love a second chance at love romance-a rekindling of those dormant feelings that made you feel so alive the first time around. That is up until it crashed and burned.

Marley has returned to her old hometown. She wants to keep an eye on her mom, who has some major issues. It’s been a long time since she’s been home and she’s not exactly thrilled about it. She’s made arrangements to rent the upper level of an apartment and hopes she will settle back in. So when she comes face to face with her ex-husband- Gabe McKellan, she thinks things can’t get any worse. Their ending wasn’t amicable and he wastes no time telling her to get lost.

Marley is feeling pretty low right now. She had a bad break up with her boyfriend and she still is yearning for a child. Her medical career could use a good jumpstart but the most important thing in her life is her desire to have a child. What a twist of fate has brought her to her roots and her ex.

From the blurb, I thought this would be a fun, flirty read. But somewhere along the way, it lost my attention. Gabe is dark and moody and Marley makes so many poor choices. Not to mention that when Marley is at her lowest, I thought Gabe acted like a total jerk. And his past is so messy with unnecessary drama from his ex.

Ella James’ books are usually some of my favs so I won’t let this one deter me from picking up any future releases.

This is a book that has everything; chemistry, romance, comedy, and chance. I love the interaction that was written in this book between Marley and Gabriel. That had tried to be together before but things just did not work out. Now fate has thrown them together again, will second chances help them discover love again. This book had me going through so many different emotions, and that made the book an amazing read. Thank you for allowing me to read this and write about it honestly.

And what a wonderful Plan it was!! Ella James simply cannot write a bad book, and The Plan is another winner. Marley and Gabe had married and divorced before they were twenty. Marley became a pediatrician while Gabe was a successful author. They both returned to the small town in Alabama where they grew up. The story is about how they overcame obstacles to fall in love again. I don't want to give anything away, but happily for me, there is a HEA. Loved The Plan, and you will, too.

Dysfunctional - hero needed a lot of help (eg. therapy) and wouldn't reach for it. Heroine wanted to "help" him. It wasn't an equal relationship and he didn't treat her right. So little is explained about why he does things. I originally wanted to finish it b/c I was interested in the ending but then I became too irritated with the characters.

*spoiler:
I stopped just after the proposal (that mostly seemed to come out of nowhere) , after she woke up and saw him with his ex and Geneva outside the room, and then she ends up leaving the hotel b/c he didn't respond to her messages. The turn of events during this part seemed so contrived.

Fantastic book! I really loved the characters Gabe and Marley. This second chance romance was beautiful and I really enjoyed how Marley persisted with Gabe even though he made it hard for her at times. I received an ARC of this for an honest opinion.

This book was great. It was depressing, but hopeful. I couldn't put it down. I had started three other books that I couldn't get into. So happy to open this one! Worth your time.

*I read this through Kindle Unlimited.

I was expecting a fun, light hearted, sexy read. And yes, most of it was that. But my heart got tugged on a lot too. I think all emotions were covered here. The baby making? If this had been a paperback the pages would have been smoldering!

A really sweet, and at times comical, second chance romance. The author really makes the story flow and let's you get invested in the characters, and their hopefully happy ending. A definite must read for second chance romance lovers

It was definitely a great book about finding 2nd chances in love. It was about a girl Marley and guy Gabe who rekindle a love after 12 years and a failed 1st marriage when they both wind up moving back home after tragic events. HEA!

... and read this book. This second chance romance has all the feels. It’s written with such heartfelt emotion I wonder if it’s a true story. Marley and Gabe’s roller coaster lives crash together in the most unexpected way and what happens after is .... well you’ll just have to read it to find out :)

This is a good story but written disjointedly. It did not flow. Gabe was an anal sphincter consistently, but only attractive thing about him was his looks. Marley was his doormat. A good story but poorly written.

Really liked this one. It has all the feels. Kind of a rollercoaster ride of emotion. Marley is great, funny and strong. Gabe is broken. But Marley being back fixes most of that. A great second chance at love.

I love a second chance at love romance-a rekindling of those dormant feelings that made you feel so alive the first time around. That is up until it crashed and burned.

Marley has returned to her old hometown. She wants to keep an eye on her mom, who has some major issues. It’s been a long time since she’s been home and she’s not exactly thrilled about it. She’s made arrangements to rent the upper level of an apartment and hopes she will settle back in. So when she comes face to face with her ex-husband- Gabe McKellan, she thinks things can’t get any worse. Their ending wasn’t amicable and he wastes no time telling her to get lost.

Marley is feeling pretty low right now. She had a bad break up with her boyfriend and she still is yearning for a child. Her medical career could use a good jumpstart but the most important thing in her life is her desire to have a child. What a twist of fate has brought her to her roots and her ex.

From the blurb, I thought this would be a fun, flirty read. But somewhere along the way, it lost my attention. Gabe is dark and moody and Marley makes so many poor choices. Not to mention that when Marley is at her lowest, I thought Gabe acted like a total jerk. And his past is so messy with unnecessary drama from his ex.

Ella James’ books are usually some of my favs so I won’t let this one deter me from picking up any future releases.

Wow! This was a beautifully written story, it took a minute for me to get into it but when I did I as all in. The story between Gabe and Marley was heartwarming and and funnt. I really y enjoyed this book.

This is a book that has everything; chemistry, romance, comedy, and chance. I love the interaction that was written in this book between Marley and Gabriel. That had tried to be together before but things just did not work out. Now fate has thrown them together again, will second chances help them discover love again. This book had me going through so many different emotions, and that made the book an amazing read. Thank you for allowing me to read this and write about it honestly.