Everything He Couldn't

Newberry Springs, Book 2

By: Harlow James

Narrated by: Angelina Rocca, Dane Anderson

One of my favorite songs growing up was Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield.

Ironically enough, I never realized I’d be living out those lyrics in my own life when I fell for my best friend’s girl—and then my best friend, John Schmitt, died.

Add on the fact that she was pregnant with his child and that I’d been harboring feelings for Evelyn months before all of this happened, and well, now?

Now the lyrics to that song don’t sound so bad anymore.

The worst part is, I’m the one to blame for his death which made facing her an even harder pill to swallow, so what did I do? Pretend like she didn’t exist anymore, even though it was virtually impossible because she was everywhere in our small town of Newberry Springs.

Flashforward six months and suddenly Evelyn finds herself in a legal battle she never saw coming, and I can’t just stand by any longer and pretend like my heart isn’t in shambles.

So I suggest the unthinkable.

I offer to marry her, help her prove that she’s a fit mother and her daughter is being raised well despite John not being in the picture.

But Evelyn doesn’t know that being near her gets my blood pumping, even more so after avoiding her for months.

She doesn’t understand that doing this favor for her is a way for me to gain retribution for John’s death and take a chance to find out if she can reciprocate my feelings.

And she doesn’t get that by being there for her and loving her and her daughter that I’m doing everything that my best friend couldn’t.

©2023 Harlow James Publishing LLC (P)2024 Harlow James Publishing LLC

My favorite of the series

Story 9/10
Spice: 3/5
Spice Hierarchy: Spicy
Narration: 5/5, dual

Evelyn has been casually seeing John but needs him to step up when she finds out she is pregnant. Walker is John’s best friend and tries his best to get John to see everything he will miss out on if he doesn’t step up. One tragic night changes everything. Six months later Evelyn is a single mom and Walker is processing his survivor’s guilt. To make it worse, Evelyn’s parenting is called into question. Walker suggests they get married to show solidarity as a family unit. Little does Evelyn know, Walker has loved her for awhile now. Walker is ready to claim his chance at happiness.

Evelyn’s family really is awful and the past she got away from makes her so apprehensive to commit to anyone. I loved how much Walker loved Evelyn and Kaydence right from the very beginning. Both Walker and Evelyn have to come to terms with what it means for them to be together now and watching them both learn to understand each other better through this process was amazing for their characters.

Walker Gibson is mine. And I will fight anyone that tries to claim him. This book had my favorite tropes and they were done perfectly: small town, single mom, marriage of convenience plus firefighters and found family.

Narration Review: Dane should always read as any matriarchal figure. His voice as Momma G was priceless. And when that man growls as the MMC 🥵 Angelina brought so much passion and depth to her part that I loved her voice for everyone.

Emotional Journey

After finishing the first book in the Newberry Springs series I knew this was going to take me on an emotional journey. I was right, I was sucked right back into the turmoil I knew was coming. I love the emotional twists Harlow James brings to the story. The connections are so palpable from the page I feel like I am right there with the characters.
Getting to see the journey of a character fighting to find their way in life and coming out on the other side, even when the picture of what the other side would look like seems so fuzzy to begin with is just a beautiful thing. I knew Walker was going to be quite the caretaker from the way he was in book 1 and I am so not disappointed in all the ways he stepped up.

Love the slow burn!

"I think I'd let you dance with me forever."

The story begins bringing on all the feels and launches into an incredible slow burn between Walker and Evelyn. The way they came together may be far from the norm but when it's right, it's right. These two just worked and the angst between the forced proximity and his love for her just made the story all the better. I loved Walker and how he showed up in all the best ways - total swoon! I also never would have guessed what past Evelyn holds in secret and how it all plays out. Amazing addition to the Newberry Springs series and that ending including what is coming up for Forrest?! I am already begging for his story!

Also don't miss out on that bonus epilogue - so good!

If you haven't started yet go back and read Everything To Lose (Wyatt & Kelsea) and see why I love this town so much!

Small-town friends find love after loss

Everything He Couldn't is the second book in The Newberry Springs series & follows the story of Walker & Evelyn. They are friends who are both grieving the mutual loss of Schmitty, Walker's best friend & Evelyn's baby daddy. Walker is riddled with guilt over the loss of his friend & in an attempt to make things right, proposes marriage to his best friends baby mama, Evelyn, to protect her & her daughter from a legal battle. Sound complicated?🤔 Yep, it is, but that's small town life for ya' in Newberry, TX.

Evelyn is completely taken by surprise when Schmitty's parents file for custody of her little girl Kaydence. Being the good & genuine guy that he is, Walker sweeps in to save the day. He begins to raise & love Kaydence just like she was his own. There's tension & attraction between these two, but Walker has never acted on it out of respect for Schmitty. Now that they are married & living together, they can't deny the physical attraction they have for one another. And soon....that attraction turns into something more but Evelyn fights it tooth & nail along the way. Finally, giving into Walker, she realizes she wants to dance with Walker in life & be his partner💃🕺🎶.

🎧Let's talk narration: Angelina Rocca & Dane Anderson once again bring these very likeable, small town characters to life. Evelyn is a strong, independent woman & motherhood brings her so much joy. Rocca conveys her strength, sensitivity & the uncertainty of falling for Walker perfectly! Anderson voices these Walker boys like a fiddle at a country dance. Playing each twin brother with his own distinctive voice & sound. The Walker boys love their women good & hard & they won't let anything get in the way of their happiness & Dane delivers on this!

This is an emotional & heartbreaking story at times but it's also a story about overcoming guilt & trauma in the search for one's happily ever after.💕 I'm really looking forward to Forest's story in the 3rd & final book. The grumpy ones always get me.😉

Amazing heartfelt story with fantastic narration

Harlow James brings us another beautiful love story with amazing characters, emotion and small town love.

I went through so many emotions reading this book - joy, sadness, hope and want for John and Evelyn.

Harlow gives us these characters that are a bit broken, full of love and who need a big hug!

Evelyn is trying to put one foot in front of the other as a single mom. She’s doing her best but is struggling with emotions, what could have been and some regret.

John is a sweet sweet man who has a big heart.
He is carrying some burdens and some hidden desires.

Evelyn and John are such an amazing couple who help one another find forgiveness, hope and love.


Angelina Rocca and Dane Anderson deliver a fantastic performance! Angela gives perfect voice, personality and emotion to the characters. She comes across as strong, yet vulnerable and also very caring. Dane has a delightful growly, deep and strong voice. The also gave the characters perfect voice, emotion and personality.

I love how narrators take authors words and give the reader/listener a whole new experience to enjoying the story.