Book Review: The Changed Man

Reviewed by Tomi Alo

Love, passion, and self-transformation converge in this slow-burn romance.

The Changed Man is the fourth installment in the Olympic Peninsula series. The novel continues with the O’Connell family and focuses particularly on Jake O’Connell.

The story kicks off with Jake’s unanticipated appearance at his brother David’s wedding. Jake has just stepped down as the CEO of his family business—Big Paul’s Outfitters—and started on a new path to becoming a successful thriller author. However, this sudden career and life change has raised the eyebrows of almost everyone in his family, especially his mother.

Jake doesn’t care though. After years of watching his siblings chase their passions and make use of their gifts, he is ready to do the same. He rents a former B&B Victorian mansion in Port Townsend, intending to find his new self and inspiration for his second book. It becomes more than that, however, when he meets the beautiful Chiara.

Chiara Conti Jeffreys is an Italian-born woman who moved to the US as an exchange student. She worked as a social worker and therapist before meeting and marrying her husband. But her marriage is far from blissful and idyllic.

When she meets Jake for the first time, she is mesmerized. The attraction is instant, mutual, and too tempting to ignore. But there’s a problem: Chiara’s marriage. What will happen when Chiara’s husband comes looking for her? Will Jake and Chiara’s affair ever evolve to something more?

The Changed Man explores themes such as finding one’s passion, healing, love, insecurities, grief, and identity.

Jake O’Connell reminds readers that it’s never too late to turn things around or pursue their dreams. Though the son of one of the wealthiest families, Jake never had the opportunity his siblings had to build on his passion for writing. He was saddled with the responsibility of taking care of the family’s business and fitting into the image his mother and father created for him. This made him resentful, bitter, and jealous. But after he witnessed the death of his best friend, he decided to forgo the cold businessman lifestyle and forge a new path. “He’d wasted years gnashing his teeth over his brother’s betrayals. Now he saw the folly of that. The only person he’d hurt was himself.”

Jake’s transformation unfolds as a healing journey, where newfound joy replaces the bitterness that had long consumed him. His insecurities, vulnerability, and grief are well woven into the storyline and make him a compelling and evolving character. 

Author Cat Treadgold’s ability in storytelling shines. The prose, while beautifully lyrical, doesn’t overshadow the central focus on the plot and romantic entanglements. The pacing is well-executed, and the book seamlessly transitioning between several characters.

In addition to developing Jake and Chiara’s chemistry and romance, The Changed Man intricately navigates the nuanced challenges within the marriages of the three couples from the previous books in the series: Joe’s vocal issues and the potential return to touring, coupled with Ali’s fear of another traumatic pregnancy; Teresa and Liam’s marriage navigating uncertain waters and confronting the cracks that threaten its foundation; and David’s reservation with Maddie’s future acting career. This exploration adds more depth and complexity to the novel, even if it does slow down Jake and Chiara’s story. 

Although the book is designed to be a standalone, and author Treadgold skillfully addresses any gaps or questions relating to the previous books, I would recommend starting with the first book in the series. This will give readers a whole lot more context to the O’Connell family dynamics and the other characters’ backgrounds.

The Changed Man is a captivating exploration of love, passion, healing, and self-discovery, enriched by a diverse cast and a sprinkle of paranormal intrigue.

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