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Jennifer Van Wyk
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From the Ground Up: A Married Couple Romance Kindle Edition

by Jennifer Van Wyk (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 252 ratings
I fell in love with Tess when I was a teenager.
Being in love has never been the problem.

Time together, on the other hand, is.
Life has caught up with us and we've lost focus on each other.

Date night is a laughable concept. And sex?
Well, it's been months.
Months.

It's time to take matters into my own hands and kidnap my wife for a week alone.
The only problem? How do I convince Tess to fall back in love with me when she never fell out of love in the first place?

How do we rebuild, from the ground up?
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  1. Print length
    276 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 27, 2019
  4. File size
    3.9 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jennifer Van Wyk brings this beautiful story to life with heart, wit and love. The characters are enchanting, relatable and genuine. This gorgeously crafted debut novel had me glued to the pages. I can't wait to read more from this talented author! ~ Christian Grey Fan Page
"The way Barrett woos his wife back... swoon. Every woman is going to glare at her husband and ask why isn't he like Barrett." ~ Stephanie Rose, Contemporary Romance Author of Always You

"First time author Jennifer Van Wyk did a fantastic job bringing this story to life... Bravo to Van Wyk who delivers the perfect mix of realism, romance and sexy time. I'm excited to read what's next from this author." ~ Amazon and International Bestselling Author, Alison G. Bailey

"Jennifer Van Wyk is a breath of fresh air! From the Ground Up is a sweet, emotional read about the endurance of love." ~ Elizabeth Lee, Author of Wild Riders series"Van Wyk did an incredible job bringing these characters and their feelings to life. From the Ground Up isn't just a story, but a journey that will stay with me. I smiled, felt torn apart, and smiled some more." ~Yessi Smith, Author of Pieces of Camden

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B081S7VRYH
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 27, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 252 ratings

About the author

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Jennifer Van Wyk

Jennifer Van Wyk

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From the Ground Up was Jennifer’s first published novel and now that she was bitten by the writing bug, has no intention of ever stopping. Jennifer makes her home in small town Iowa with her high school sweetheart, three beautiful, hilarious and amazing kids, one crazy Jack Russell terrier. This is where her love for all things reading, baking, and cooking happen. Jennifer’s family enjoys camping, boating, and spending time outside as much as possible. You'll be her best friend if you can make her laugh and follow up with asking her what to read next. When she’s not writing, you can find her cheering the loudest at her kids’ sporting events (read as: embarrassing them), sipping coffee or iced tea out of a mason jar with her Kindle in her lap or binging on Netflix.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
252 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a wonderful story of lasting love that captures their hearts, with characters that feel true to life. Moreover, the writing is good, and customers describe the book as beautiful and refreshing. They appreciate the pacing, with one customer noting how the characters take time for each other, and another mentioning how quickly they were drawn into the story.

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25 customers mention "Story quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story heartwarming and sweet, describing it as a wonderful tale of lasting love that can be relevant to anyone.

"...Being married for twelve years now, this story was deeply personal. Like Tess and Barret, my husband and I have never stopped loving each other...." Read more

"I love the fact the author wrote a book about a married couple in their early 40's with children and the love they have for one another...." Read more

"...I would recommend this book to anyone, it brought tears and laughter throughout! It was wonderful! Happy reading!" Read more

"...This book is just a great story about Tess and Barrett falling in love in high school, going thru life amazingly well but then starting to drift..." Read more

8 customers mention "Refreshment value"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book refreshing, with one mentioning they enjoyed reading the flashbacks.

"...I enjoyed reading the flashbacks of how Barrett and Tess fell in love...." Read more

"Refreshing. That is the best word I can come up with to describe this book by Jennifer Van Wyk. It was so refreshing to read a book that was real...." Read more

"This book was so refreshing. In a world of crazy love stories that are so full of drama just to have drama this one was so unbelievably refreshing...." Read more

"...So refreshing...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are true to life.

"...Van Wyk did an incredible job bringing these characters and their feelings to life...." Read more

"...The fact that I was instantly connected to this story and identified with these characters shows just how good the writing is, right down to the..." Read more

"...I highly recommend! The writing, story, and characters were beautiful and real. Refreshing!" Read more

"...I'll just say that I loved the characters in this book. I love the story that was told. I think it was an important story to be told...." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, finding it very real and relatable.

"...Or our friends, neighbors, siblings or parents. They’re real, they’re raw, they’re beautiful...." Read more

"...The writing, story, and characters were beautiful and real. Refreshing!" Read more

"...This was as real as it gets. I could relate to Tess and Barrett. The marriage, the kids, work and losing..." Read more

"...Van Wyk writes characters that are so relateable and who you root for with all your heart...." Read more

4 customers mention "Beauty"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful.

"...They’re real, they’re raw, they’re beautiful. Barrett and Tess have been together since they were teenagers...." Read more

"...Never taking their relatiinship for granted !So beautiful and moving! It is a must read ! This author did an incredible job, beautifully written!!!" Read more

"...I️ pulse recommend this book to anyone looking for a sexy, emotion driven great read." Read more

"Beautiful, inspiring love story!..." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one describing it as a beautifully written story, and another noting it's from a first-time author.

"...The storyline is great, the writing is great and I would highly recommend this book...." Read more

"...this story and identified with these characters shows just how good the writing is, right down to the dialogue...." Read more

"...Forgetting to appreciate the little things. A refreshing, beautiful read- Loved it" Read more

"...It is a must read ! This author did an incredible job, beautifully written!!!" Read more

3 customers mention "Pace"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pace of the book, with one mentioning it's a nice change of pace and another noting it's easy to read quickly.

"...a married couple need to find the balance between family and taking time for each other...." Read more

"...The fact that I was instantly connected to this story and identified with these characters shows just how good the writing is, right down to the..." Read more

"Loved it and read it very quickly! I hope there is a sequel." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, refreshing, unique story about growing old with your true other half
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Jennifer Van Wyk delivers a unique and refreshing story about a couple who could very well be any of us. Or our friends, neighbors, siblings or parents. They’re real, they’re raw, they’re beautiful.

    Barrett and Tess have been together since they were teenagers. With four children and the craziness of daily life, they somehow lose each other. It’s something that happens to all (or most) married couples at some point in their relationship. We become so absorbed in the different roles we play that we forget the connection that drew us together. The never-ending demands of children, work, and home life take priority, to the point we forget that at some point we wanted all this. We wanted the high paying job, the kids, the big house with the big yard. And the person we promised to devote ourselves to become strangers, sometimes even the enemy. We’re no longer man and woman, partners in life, but slaves to the lives we dreamed about.

    Being married for twelve years now, this story was deeply personal. Like Tess and Barret, my husband and I have never stopped loving each other. But there was a point in our marriage that we stopped having fun. When the stress of everything was overwhelming. Finding each other again has been one of the greatest adventures, and Van Wyk captured those emotions in this story.

    Van Wyk did an incredible job bringing these characters and their feelings to life. From the Ground Up isn’t just a story, but a journey that will stay with me for a lifetime. I lived Tess and Barret’s life right along them. I smiled, felt torn apart, and smiled some more.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • June49
    4.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful story of lasting love
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I love the fact the author wrote a book about a married couple in their early 40's with children and the love they have for one another. This isn't a topic that is covered very often in a romance novel and this author did a great job with the story. Tess and Barrett are high school sweethearts who have been married for 22 years and have 4 children. In the past several months they have been going through a time with so much going on in the family and their jobs that they have forgotten to take time for each other. What happens is a disconnect that they feel has hurt them and now they are going away to find those feelings they had for each other and not let them go again. It is a great story of how a married couple need to find the balance between family and taking time for each other. To not let go of those feelings of love that brought you together as a couple. To take that time to be together for not just your good but also for the family. The storyline is great, the writing is great and I would highly recommend this book. I did not give it 5 stars as for me I felt towards the end a lot of repetition. I had also read book 2 in the series, A Better Place, first and that might have also swayed my decision. Better to read them in order.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sarah Templeton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, inspiring love story!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book. I was drawn in by the title because it shared the same title as my first dance song at my wedding! As I read the reviews I knew I needed to read this book and I wasn't disappointed. Barrett and Tess' story was beautiful and what I think a lot of relationship go through today. Life is hectic and schedules are busy especially when you add kids and other family members to the mix. Just like in the book, a lot of couples forget they are significant others first, husband and wife first. It is easy to forget and put those responsibilities aside and be a mother or in my case a grand-daughter taking care of her grandpa. I enjoyed reading the flashbacks of how Barrett and Tess fell in love. They both realized individually that they missed each other and clearly they had been neglecting their marriage. Luckily, they wanted to fix it and knew they could. It was worth it. They weren't too prideful or stubborn to admit they were wrong and sorry. This was such a beautiful story of two people re-igniting their love that was only dimmed. I loved the relationships they had within the book (kids, friends, family). I felt connected where I would like to be friends with that family. This book hit home for me because it allowed me to re-evaluate my own marriage and realize we haven't been married that long but we are already putting others needs before our own. We allow electronics to get in the way of spending quality time together. Thanks Jennifer for writing something that helped me to realize what I needed to do! I would recommend this book to anyone, it brought tears and laughter throughout! It was wonderful! Happy reading!
    One person found this helpful
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  • pebbles004
    3.0 out of 5 stars So over the top, I’m nauseous
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoy a good romance as much as the next gal but only a few chapters in and I’m rolling my eyes and gritting my teeth at how this couple and family are so not like a typical family. May be a good story there but I can’t continue to read if it’s going to be so over the top with affection and just too much!
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  • MG
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, feel good story!!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Tess and Barrett...I swear if they had different names and one less kid, this book would be about MY life! I think this is what kept me so connected to the story the entire time I was reading it. I also have to say I am amazed that this is a first time author?! I read a lot of books and am pretty picky. The fact that I was instantly connected to this story and identified with these characters shows just how good the writing is, right down to the dialogue. There is nothing worse than awkward dialogue and JVW nailed it in this one! I found myself really rooting for Tess and Barrett to find their way back to each other and thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written story. It was a nice change of pace from all the stepbrother, billionaire, S&M, high school drama books that I usually find myself reading. Not that I don't love those too, but sometimes it's nice to have some variety and FTGU was the perfect feel good book! I can't recommend it enough and hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Patty G
    5.0 out of 5 stars Married Couple Recapture Their Love
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I loved reading From The Ground Up. It capturerd your heart and throughout the book, you are hoping that the two main characters stay together. These two people are still very much in love with each other.

    Tess and Barrett have been married for 22 years and have four children, but find it hard to spend time together without their kids. When a few misunderstanding cause extreme conflict between both parties, they know they need to do something to save their relationship.

    With advice from close friends, they decide to take matters into their own hands and go away to recapture what it is, they have misplaced.

    With lots of tears, laughter, and love, you get to watch Tess and Garrett reconnect. Watch out for their wacky friends and adorable children.
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