Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Atria Paperback | ISBN: 9781501133381 | On sale: June 27, 2017 | 368 pages | $16.00
Atria eBook | ISBN: 9781501133398 | On sale: June 27, 2017 | 368 pages | $7.99
And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed date, Catherine saves a man's life. It isn't until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has rescued: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.
But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. There's an immediate connection, and it's more electric than the bond of two people who endured a traumatic event. It's something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn't sure she can handle; something she is afraid to trust.
Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine... before the spark fades?
Spoiler alert: I loved this book! It's been two weeks since I read Until It Fades and wrote the review below. And in those two weeks I still haven't stopped thinking about these characters and their story. I completely fell in love with Cath, with Brett, with their journey - and, even though I rarely re-read anything, I'm already wanting to pick this one up, flip to the beginning and experience it all again. I hope you'll pick up Until It Fades and love it just as much as I did. Now on with the review...
Catherine has spent the last several years keeping her head down, working hard to support her young daughter on her own, and trying to live down the scandal of an affair with her teacher while she was a seventeen year old high school student. The small town's vitriol was firmly aimed her way once the affair became public (the teacher being the beloved son of a prominent family). Now twenty-four, Catherine has a small circle of friends and leads a quiet life.
All that changes when she saves the life of a man after a horrific car accident. And not just any man - Brett Madden is one of the top hockey stars in the country and the son of Hollywood royalty. As the media descends on the small town, Catherine at first refuses to come forward, having no desire to once again be the center of attention, or have her past dredged up for public consumption. But then Brett Madden shows up and she begins to question if it's time to take a chance and really live, and love, again.
I connected with Catherine quickly and it was easy to feel for this young woman who had weathered so much on her own. The high school affair and ensuing scandal fractured her already tenuous relationship with her family so her support systems consisted of her boss at the diner where she worked, a fellow waitress, and a childhood friend turned local cop. Tucker created such a fully developed character in Catherine that I felt like I knew her inside and out, knew how she would react in any given situation. And when Brett entered the picture, it was easy to understand her hesitation - not just for the spotlight to be on her once again, but also to explore their undeniable connection and attraction.
I was so invested in the budding relationship between Catherine and Brett and, despite the obvious spark between them, Catherine's skittishness meant the romance was definitely of the slow burn variety. I found myself looking forward to their every interaction and ate up every flirty text message, every phone call, every meeting. Brett was completely genuine and had an ease about him even as he was dealing with the aftermath of the accident and the sudden uncertainly of his ability to return to the career he loved. It was impossible not to fall for his sweetness, his humor and his thoughtfulness.
Until It Fades also included an amazing cast of secondary characters. From Lou and her husband Leroy, the diner owners, to Catherine's best friend Keith and her brother Jack, to Brett's parents (I adored Brett's father), each one added so much and made for a richer story.
As a longtime fan of Tucker's, I tend to read everything she writes. This contemporary romance is lighter than her usual work and I absolutely loved it. It was sweet, it was heartfelt, it was emotional and it instantly became a new favorite. Do yourself a favor and experience this feel-good story for yourself. You can thank me later.
4.5 STARS
Note: This title was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Spoiler alert: I loved this book! It's been two weeks since I read Until It Fades and wrote the review below. And in those two weeks I still haven't stopped thinking about these characters and their story. I completely fell in love with Cath, with Brett, with their journey - and, even though I rarely re-read anything, I'm already wanting to pick this one up, flip to the beginning and experience it all again. I hope you'll pick up Until It Fades and love it just as much as I did. Now on with the review...
Catherine has spent the last several years keeping her head down, working hard to support her young daughter on her own, and trying to live down the scandal of an affair with her teacher while she was a seventeen year old high school student. The small town's vitriol was firmly aimed her way once the affair became public (the teacher being the beloved son of a prominent family). Now twenty-four, Catherine has a small circle of friends and leads a quiet life.
All that changes when she saves the life of a man after a horrific car accident. And not just any man - Brett Madden is one of the top hockey stars in the country and the son of Hollywood royalty. As the media descends on the small town, Catherine at first refuses to come forward, having no desire to once again be the center of attention, or have her past dredged up for public consumption. But then Brett Madden shows up and she begins to question if it's time to take a chance and really live, and love, again.
I connected with Catherine quickly and it was easy to feel for this young woman who had weathered so much on her own. The high school affair and ensuing scandal fractured her already tenuous relationship with her family so her support systems consisted of her boss at the diner where she worked, a fellow waitress, and a childhood friend turned local cop. Tucker created such a fully developed character in Catherine that I felt like I knew her inside and out, knew how she would react in any given situation. And when Brett entered the picture, it was easy to understand her hesitation - not just for the spotlight to be on her once again, but also to explore their undeniable connection and attraction.
I was so invested in the budding relationship between Catherine and Brett and, despite the obvious spark between them, Catherine's skittishness meant the romance was definitely of the slow burn variety. I found myself looking forward to their every interaction and ate up every flirty text message, every phone call, every meeting. Brett was completely genuine and had an ease about him even as he was dealing with the aftermath of the accident and the sudden uncertainly of his ability to return to the career he loved. It was impossible not to fall for his sweetness, his humor and his thoughtfulness.
Until It Fades also included an amazing cast of secondary characters. From Lou and her husband Leroy, the diner owners, to Catherine's best friend Keith and her brother Jack, to Brett's parents (I adored Brett's father), each one added so much and made for a richer story.
As a longtime fan of Tucker's, I tend to read everything she writes. This contemporary romance is lighter than her usual work and I absolutely loved it. It was sweet, it was heartfelt, it was emotional and it instantly became a new favorite. Do yourself a favor and experience this feel-good story for yourself. You can thank me later.
4.5 STARS
Note: This title was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
GIVEAWAY
K.A. Tucker is the author of He Will Be My Ruin and the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series. She currently resides outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and a Chug.
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