Unexpected Arrivals

This was my first time reading anything by Stephie Walls. It took me a while to get into it but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The books plot twists kept me guessing and I loved that. I don't want to be reading something and knowing exactly what happens next. You certainly don't with this book :)
James and Cora's story had pretty much everything you want in a book. Second chance love, secret baby, estranged family etc.... I could go on but I think you should just 1-click it and see for yourself :)

4 “Surprise” Stars

Unexpected Arrivals was an (unexpected) emotional romance that spanned years. The story took what I thought I knew from the blurb and gave me something more. It’s about finding the one person you love more than anyone and yet watching helplessly as life gets in the way. It’s about unexpected freindships and even more unexpected consequences. This story wasn’t quite as angsty as I was expecting but it held my attention in different ways and I really enjoyed the story that unfolded.

4.5 Stars
From the blurb, you would be mistaken in thinking you had any idea where this story was going because the author certainly keeps the best bits under wraps and as I wound my way through the story I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to come next. This was a meticulous creation that cleverly built the anticipation of events and harnessed my engagement with the characters and resulted in the fact that I effectively felt as if I was reading it while precariously perched on the very edge of my seat.
From the beginning, there was an affinity with the characters, whether that was because of the blurb and the fact that I thought I had the gist of what was to come or whether it was down to the fact that this was not a hit and run sort of story, I am not too sure. This story does nothing fast, it is a real grower, it takes years to show its true colours and rightly so. The author piled the depth of the story on layer by layer, taking her time to lay the groundwork and giving just enough initial detail of their back story that when it all came into play the pieces quickly fell into place.
This is James and Cora story and it is one that doesn’t just dwell on the fact that they are a couple that have a strength that is tested in a way that many would never wish to face, nope, this lifts the corners of their life and peeks under the surface to get at the reality of what it is like to be them, to face the obstacles that they have before them and to examine what part their past actions have played in them being where they are now, accountability in its many guises come into play and it isn’t all one sided!.
Is the love they share enough…well that is the question and I had my fingers crossed that they were strong enough to survive the ride but that didn’t mean that it was going to easy, far from it I just hoped that they had what it took to stick together.
There wasn’t as much angst in the story as I had anticipated but there were plenty of secrets to be divulged, no matter how much some may have preferred them to have remained hidden.
There were some fabulous secondary characters, who much like in real life were able to support them, but the reality of their situation was primarily a solo venture, as two souls fought to keep their status quo, to hold on to their relationship and to acknowledge a love that they hope would be unbreakable.
This was a great read, with a strong emotional pull but that rings the bell for love, life and friendship.

This book completely drew me in and held me there right until the very end.
Cora and James were perfect for each other and I was cheering them in all the way throughout although I felt Cora deserved a slap round the head a few times.
Love is never easy and simple and this was the perfect example of losing your first love, finding your way back and second chances.
It was a very well written story with a great storyline and very relatable characters.
I loved it!!

How to describe....it’s unbelievably a fully developed intricate story that unfolds slowly in unexpected ways. This book is so very very good. It takes you on a relationship journey you will enjoy. It left me in tears (happy). It centered around two but it encompasses friends and family and it pulls them all along together. I highly recommend this book. It not a lightweight boy meets girl, bang bang, happy ending. This book has depth and a happy ending.

3.5 Stars

I picked up Unexpected Arrivals by Stephie Walls solely because I just read Third Base and wanted to get to know the authors better. Stephie Walls and Leddy Harper writing together are known as Stella, and Third Base is their debut book together. I enjoyed it so I immediately grabbed copies of each of their new books to try them out individually.

Unexpected Arrivals is an unusual book in that it is told from a male POV for the majority of the book.  I liked this change from the usual, unfortunately, I didn't start to really enjoy the book until we got to Chelsea's point of view. Chelsea was a doll and I actually enjoyed her point of view so much that I wished she was the *actual* heroine of the story. Cora annoyed me for the majority of the book. It's not often that I dislike the heroine, and I wish it wasn't the case in this one. I eventually warmed up to her, but it wasn't until my feelings about her had already tainted the first 2/3 of the book. I did enjoy the multiple POVs and the storyline was also something interesting that I hadn't heard before. My favorite part of the book was when I realized that Cora & Legend made a cameo appearance in Leddy Harper's The Roommate 'dis'Agreement. Those parts that I did enjoy were enough to make me want to keep trying Stephie Walls. I bet her next book will be a better fit for me.

I received an advance reader copy of this book that I have chosen to review.

When I read the synopsis, then the prologue for Unexpected Arrivals I was intrigued. I very much wanted to read this book. The premise of the book seemed different. I expected it to be very antsy, sadly it wasn't. It's a quick read. I did enjoy the story and twist towards the end, but I was a bit disappointed. I expected it to be so much more. This was my first book by Stephie Walls and I look forward to read more of her work.
I won an ARC in a giveaway I entered.

After reading the blurb, I think I was expecting a different kind of book. But, I was not disappointed with the book I did read. Stephie Walls wrote a strong story that took me on an emotional ride from start to finish. I enjoyed how she wrote the characters and how they interacted with one another, it seemed like even the secondary characters served a purpose in each scene other than just an extra. There was a depth there that I really thought added to the story.

Received ARC in exchange for honest review

I’m new to Stephie walls this is only my second book I’ve read of hers. But so far this has to be my favorite book it has from the first page till the last... this book I’m sure a lot of people can relate to (sadly enough). Couple since high school they have their up and downs just like any other couple...but when a bombshell happens can they survive? Well you’ll have to read to find out

This was a great read. I loved how Cora and James relationship was so real. They had ups and down and many obstacle to overcome. Can true love win. Neither of them were perfect and made for such a realistic read. When the bomb is dropped about James having a child I wondered how well that would go. It was such a tragic and wonderful experience when James, Legend and Cora met. I love the twist that Ms. Walls threw in there.

This is the first book by Stephie Wallls I have read and I absolutely loved it! The twists and turns, ups and downs had me hooked. I fell in love with Cora and James who met when they were in high school. This book follows them while they grow up. The choices that they made that would effect their lives. This book had me laughing at one point, then crying at another. I couldn't put it down. I just needed to know what happens next.

Unexpected Arrivals is probably favorite my favorite book of 2017! I loved everything about it! The story line was amazing, the characters were wonderful and very well written. I am usually not a fan of books that go back in the past, but I loved reading about how James and Cora met and how everything happened. This is definitely a book you should not miss! Stephie Walls has become an automatic one click for me.

Unexpected arrivals. Unexpected story line. This was my first book by Stephie Walls and I loved it. I did not see the story playing out the way it did. And I was not ready for the gut wrenching heartbreak I felt--you'll know it when you get there. I was intrigued by the characters from the beginning to the end, they were all well developed and felt so real. It truly is a wonderful love story and I highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this story about James and Cora. This story spans several years and I really liked the growth I saw in Cora's character. I honestly didn't care much for her through part of the story because to me she seemed very selfish. She grew so much as she got older. James is a sweetheart and he knew from the beginning that Cora was the one for him. It has a good storyline with twists that kept my attention!

I definitely didn't expect the curveball towards the end. I loved James, a man with that much love for his girl, minus the "certain things that happened" but hey, it was what the story was meant to be. I'm sure many will love this read, but I really didn't like Cora for some reason... maybe it was the decision she made that broke James. I wanted things to turn out differently, but it was good nonetheless.

Stephie Walls is a new to me author and I was not disappointed with this book!! I didn't expect this book to make me cry and it did, many times over. This book literally had my heart in its hand. Certain people hold secrets and when they are exposed, It looks like they could make or break people's lives. I would love to read more by Stephie Walls! She has a way of grabbing your attention from start to finish!

Unexpected Arrival is the first Stephie Walls book I have read. It won't be the last! This was such a great story. I laughed, cheered, fussed and even cried. Cora and James are put through the test, and when it came down to it they fought for the things that mattered. I wasn't sure about Cora at first, but I quickly became her biggest fan! The book was very well written and once I started I couldn't stop!

With a blurb like that, how would you not be intrigued? This is the first book I've read from this author and I'm glad I took a chance on it.
There were a few twists and turns but overall, it was a very great book. It was quite emotional and had all the feels (heartache, happiness, forgiveness)
Very well written second chad story. Highly recommend to those who love a captivating romantic read.

On of the best novels I've read in a very long time. I LOVED IT!! It's more than a love story. It's a life story that fills your very soul from beginning to end. I laughed, cried, smiled, and read until two o'clock in the morning. Every page is filled with an incredible story friends and family intertwining with a bit of mystery, deep love, and loads of understanding. Don't miss this one!!

Wow! I loved everything about James and Cora’s story...even the gritty and painful pieces. I can’t say enough things about how great the story progressed and how much I liked all of the characters. They were multi dimensional just like a real person and it made it impossible not to be come invested in their story. Could have done with out all of the intimate scenes but otherwise a great book.

Wow, this was a great story, very unexpected. Oh, I guess that might be why its part of the title. This takes place over several years. I loved watching the characters grow and mature. About 1/2 way through I was wondering how this was all going to work out and tie together. Loved this! I will be checking out more of this authors other work. Very well written.

Crazy how you try running from your mistakes to show up in your future even when it’s gone. Sometimes it better for the truth to come out instead of hiding it because especially if it involve ps another child you made. Sucks Cora didn’t meet her half sister but crazy how her half sister left a wonderful gift to them without really knowing.

It's a heartwarming story of the Breakfast Club James Carpenter ,the love of his life -Cora Chase and their best friend Neil and their journey from Geneva Key to Chapel hill to New York
James meets Cora in high school cafeteria and it's love at first sight , and HE KNOWS IT TOO ! That's the finality I loved. James knows he's staring at his Happily Ever After , right there. No conflict, no doubt. And he treats her as such, never more than an arm's distance and a kiss away. Cora has been through an upheaval and finds solace in his enveloping arms and solid wide chest, listening to his heartbeat, her own heart finds peace. James is a perfect man, taking care of his girl , being the loyal friend to Neil, he's just perfect **sigh**?

"With Cora in my arms and the ocean lapping at our feet, my heart fell, our souls collided, and I’d found the love of my life. At seventeen and a junior in high school, fate—no serendipity—had delivered the missing piece of my rib in the form of Cora Chase."

That the thing about young love, it's tensile and adaptive in its naivetè . Life throws punches at them, temptations, and career goals threatening their relationships, yet they work through it somehow. 
The what ifs creep up between them and they are seperated .

It seemed no matter which way we turned another obstacle moved in front of us, but I couldn’t dodge them all, and she’d quit trying.
I’d lost her. I hadn’t fought when it mattered, and now I was too late. She’d seized the opportunity in front of her.
I vowed to start living tomorrow as though Cora Chase had never existed. She’d chosen her path, and now I’d blaze mine.

Separate yet still in each other's hearts. They find their way back BUT.....its a big BUT , there's evidence of indiscretions, staring right in their faces. 
The story is peppered with Big questions and big decisions , big problems and big dilemmas, lots of bitterness and big hearted forgiveness. 
I loved the story, it's natural smooth flow and it's grasping power. I couldn't put it down and was constantly thinking about the characters. Cora was all forgiving, big hearted , golden girl. James was the do-goode perfect alpha and they had perfect supportive friends -Neil & Hannah. Th surprise towards the end was like W.T.H was that and though Cora is third wheel,she's NOT, she's more attached than we had realised.
A very feel good book. It's an Amazing read

Amazing read!!!
What an emotionally tangled mess. Absolutely loved this book.
The story of James & Cora will make you believe in love.
I went in thinking it was going to be one thing and was pleasantly surprised that it was so different.
Stephie Walls does an awesome job telling this "unexpected" story.
Definitely recommend!!!

Unexpected arrivals was a well written story. I truly loved every second of reading this book it had a great story line of a couple who met in high school that transcended all the way into college and afterwards. where things don't go quite as planned but they stick through it all and come out better than ever even through unexpected bumps in the road

I loved this book! It was amazing! It was a beautiful story about first love, second chances, heartache, forgiveness and of course unexpected blessings! I really loved James and Cora, they were perfect together. I also really loved Cora and Legend and how quickly their relationship grew. Legend was so cute! This might be my favorite book by Stephie!

What a well written true to life story. I really enjoyed seeing life through the eyes of the primary and secondary characters. I loved the entire journey. I was able feel joy, sadness, triumphant, angry, and just about everything the characters were living through. This is a great story with a few unexpected twist thrown. I highly recommend it!!! I plan to read more by this author.
Pam in Dallas

Wow! So much more that expected. My first book by the author. The blurb grabbed me, but wasn’t anything I thought I’d get. It was a lot more. What a ride, I didn’t want to put the book down. Woke up early to finish. The writing was very good. The characters were perfect. It was such a touching book, glad I took the chance to read it.

This was my first read by this author and it was amazing. Definitely not what I expected. Was a little slow going because I wasn’t understanding why they revealed what they did in the beginning, but the journey to get to the present, totally made sense. 5 stars. Loved the characters and the story

Unexpected Arrivals was such a great read. I was captivated by the characters and this story from the very beginning and stayed that way until the very end. Young love always seems unbreakable and if the couple is fortunate enough stay in love and together throughout their adulthood that's an amazing achievement. However, its not always easy and sometimes adult choices have to be made and every one has to travel down their own road knowing it might not always end at the same point. Hearts will get broken.
This is the story of James and Cora. The girl who not only took his seat, but his heart. Will their love be strong enough to withstand the obstacles in the roads they have to travel in this thing called life? Secrets will be revealed and words will be withheld, but the truth will always come out? Will it do more damage than good? This is a fantastic story of friendship, love, loss and second chances. I loved the side characters as much as I did the main characters but it did take a while for me to warm up to Neil. However, I loved him and Hannah and I hope they get their own story. This story ended perfectly, and I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future. I highly recommend this book to readers looking for an enjoyable read that will pull on their heart strings.

Unexpected Arrivals spans from James and Cora's high school years through college and into their adulthood. This beautifully written book had my emotions all over the place with the plot twists. Unexpected Arrivals is an unconventional love story about friendship, forgiveness, and second chances. Definitely a must read!

Oh my life. This book was amazing. It really tugged on my heart string. All the emotions that you feel with this book is out of this world. All the secrets that knock you on your ass, all the elation and revelations keep you turning the pages at a fast pace. I really didnt want to put this book down. Absolutely amazing!

This book is all about life, love and heartbreak. There are moments when u just want to cry followed by wonderful feelings of happiness.
A tragic event allows two people to meet and fall in love but life gets in the way. After following different paths the characters come full circle. This is a truly great book

A "legendary" love story between James and Cora. I have to admit that for a while I was team James and had a really hard time liking and then forgiving Cora. Without giving spoilers, the twists the plot took brought me back to team Cora. A love story that tears at your heartstrings for the good and bad.

This book was not at all what I expected nor what I needed. I thought it was a second chance love story about a man reuniting with a woman who had his baby and that his wife was the "the bad guy". I was sorely disappointed. Not at all the book that the back description made it out to be.

Okay, I totally probably skim thru most of this book, this book was kinda boring. I liked the story line. That James was totally in with Cora and it didn't change. There was a lot of the story can just didn't seem to matter. Cora did kinda seem like she needed to grow up in the end and change a bit. To be honest they all seem selfish in this book besides Chelsea. It was an okay book. It didn't really keep my attention i think i put the book down a lot.

Stephie Walls' stories are always emotional and heartfelt, bringing you on a rollercoaster of love, heartache and happiness. Unexpected Arrivals is probably her best work yet. The synopsis alone almost brought me to my knees and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Add in a child and I'm sold. This one is it!

An emotional page turner!! It hooked me almost immediately and was so hard to put down. A beautiful story of friendship and love. I absolutely loved Cora and James all of the way through.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this review voluntarily

This was a great book. I had a lot of emotions with it. I was angry with some of the characters at times. But people make mistakes and the way it was handled was good. This was written very well. I loved seeing how Cora, James and Neil grew as they got older. This was such a great read.

This is my first read by Stephie and what an impression it made.

I loved this story and the way everything connects, well lets just say I didn't see it. We start out in the present, get to see the past and a wonderful epilogue into the future.

Highly recommend!

This is the first time I have read a story by this author. And I actually loved this book. The storyline was amazing. I am actually looking into reading more from this author. I would recommend anyone who hasn't read any of her books to start with this one.

From beginning to end, I don't think there was anything I'd change about this book. The writing was just so good, and the storyline thorough. I'm an avid reader and it's really great when I find books like this that make me thankful I love to read.

I really liked this book. Writing is solid and characters endearing. Twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I would like to have felt more for our hero because I loved the heroine so much and I can't put my finger on why I didn't. Legend was adorable.

A wonderful second chance romance! I enjoyed the multiple points of view. Then ending was unexpected and at once heartbreaking. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

I received an arc and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Brilliant beyond compare. I couldn't wait to dive in and read this. It made me give off so many emotions I don't even know where some of these emotions came from. If I could give this story more than five stars I would, it so deserves it.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Unexpected Arrivals. Stephie Wells is one of my favorite authors & this one didn't disappoint. This was a really great book That took me on a beautiful journey of love. I was really wondering what would happen the entire time I was reading it. It absolutely pulled at my heart strings in all the right ways. My only wish is that there was a little more story in the here and now and we learned more of their life once they became a family!

This book made me smile and want to cry at the same time. It wasn't what I expected but something much more. This book had me emotionally involved and I just loved it the author did an amazing job with this story and it was brilliant. ❤️?❤️?

I agree with one of the earlier reviews mentioning that 2/3 of the book are consistent with the synopsis. I thought the first 1/3 was a bit too smutty for my taste but thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book.

This story has so much love packed into every page. It tells of a high school loves that overcomes the hurdles of life. It tells of a mother's love. And when all those things come together you get something beautiful.

Well, there's nothing like having your heart ripped out from your chest, multiple times, in one book. The love Carp and Cora have is unbeatable.

I laughed, I cried, and I cursed the author. 5 star book!!!

I loved this story. It was sweet and enduring and I loved both main characters. This wasn't your typical boy meets girl story. It has a legendary and unexpected twist but delivers an happily ever after!

This story was beautiful! Not only about first love, getting lost, finding your way back, forgiving, and also understanding the tangled mess families can leave us. This story is so full of heart and healing!

I had to abandon this at about 44% in due to absolute boredom. I truly could care less about any of the characters. It felt like the most tedious part of their lives being told page after page. He loved her, she seemed shallow. You knew at some point he would be burned. I started flipping forward and finally gave up because I just didn’t care. I didn’t understand why the author spent so much time on these years with them in their teens and early twenties. What’s the point? If the premise is her being pregnant and him being the father, get in with it!

This book was amazing and heart wrenching at the same time. I did not expect it to go the way it did, but it was beautifully written and just everything I want in a book. You will not be disappointed reading this!

I wasn't a huge fan of the way the author started the story in the middle, then told about 20 years of history, only to work back to where it started, but it made sense after reading most of the book. Ultimately it was touching and sweet.

Loved this book, the story, the characters and the end. I am sad it is over. I have some some understanding of Huntington's disease and this story resonated with me. I wish every book pulled heartstrings like this book!

Good book. Sweet love story. A bit too long. I felt like it kind of dragged on. I got about 80% into book and stopped reading for about a month. I just couldn't seem to finish, but finally completed the book. I would recommend the author to others and try another book, though.

I didn't really know what to expect from this book. Once I started reading I couldn't stop. It was well written and very detailed with a lot of twist and turns I did not expect but loved nonetheless. It was so heartwarming and I absolutely loved the "Legend" chapter

LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! This book takes you on an emotional roller coaster of the real world.This author definitely knows how to make one fall in love with the characters. I love how well executed the different points of view were.

Seemed interesting at first especially with the male POV , but didn’t like Cora and wasn’t rooting for her and her and James and was actually rooting for James and Chelsea and they’d maybe turn that into something. Parts were hard to get through and boring. By 60/70% I was checked out

Ended up finishing the book just to see how it would end and was sorely disappointed that I did. Cora was an awful character and an awful storyline. The only redeeming character was Chelsea. The premise makes it sound like a great story, but it is not worth it.