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Treading Water #2
Marking Time
Marking Time continues the story begun in Treading Water as Clare Harrington begins a new life.
She’s considered a miracle, but everything that’s happened since she recovered from a three-year coma has been something less than miraculous. Now left to grapple with the aftermath of a selfless decision, she is home from the hospital and trying to figure out what the next chapter in her miraculous recovery has in store for her.
Meanwhile, her eighteen-year-old daughter Kate, a talented singer and songwriter, sets out to pursue her musical dreams in Nashville. Her parents have agreed to allow Kate to spend a year there, but they couldn't have anticipated Kate falling in love with a much older man. Her newly divorced parents are forced back together to confront their wayward daughter.
Spanning from Newport, Rhode Island, to Nashville, Tennessee, to Stowe, Vermont, Marking Time is the story of new beginnings and new loves.
She’s considered a miracle, but everything that’s happened since she recovered from a three-year coma has been something less than miraculous. Now left to grapple with the aftermath of a selfless decision, she is home from the hospital and trying to figure out what the next chapter in her miraculous recovery has in store for her.
Meanwhile, her eighteen-year-old daughter Kate, a talented singer and songwriter, sets out to pursue her musical dreams in Nashville. Her parents have agreed to allow Kate to spend a year there, but they couldn't have anticipated Kate falling in love with a much older man. Her newly divorced parents are forced back together to confront their wayward daughter.
Spanning from Newport, Rhode Island, to Nashville, Tennessee, to Stowe, Vermont, Marking Time is the story of new beginnings and new loves.
393 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2011
2239 people are currently reading
1462 people want to read
About the author
Marie Force
209 books8,428 followersMarie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont and Quantum.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
Her books have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie’s mailing list on her website at marieforce.com for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MarieForceAuthor and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/marieforceauthor/. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
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October 3, 2021Hypocrites and stupid people everywhere.
The hypocrites:
The stupid ones
My sympathies lie with poor besotted older man Reid who really was in love with the twit.
The hypocrites:
The stupid ones
My sympathies lie with poor besotted older man Reid who really was in love with the twit.
November 8, 2019
I made a very unwise decision with this book - I picked a 4oo+ page book to me my literary adventure for waiting rooms. That was not very bright of me since this book is rather complex, starts out super heartbreaking (I almost cried in a doctor's office...) and it's one long read.
This story really pulled at my heart strings! Clare was in a coma and her husband left her for another woman and had children with said woman. For me, that was the worst betrayal and totally made me hurt for Clare. There is a bit of a happy ending for Clare since she goes on to find another love, but man it still haunted me throughout this whole book. Clare did a better job at coping than I did! For me, that totally made this book feel so much worse than it was. Even though this book is well written and Marie Force has done an excellent job with crafting this story, the whole time all I could think of was "Screw Jack!" with an army of angry people with pitchforks.
And before you say it, yes - that's clearly unreasonable.
Alongside Clare's new love story, we follow her daughter Kate. What's so special about her story? Oh man, she's an eighteen year old virgin going after a 45 year old man. That was even stranger for me. I was pulled in and had my heart ripped to shreds due to Kate's father, and now this girl is going after a much older man? It seemed so weird... This book was full of two very strong tropes that can definitely be triggering for people. This story is not finished in this book, FYI.
Clare and Aiden have a rather lovely story. It's a redemption story for sure and I'm glad Clare isn't just the victim in this story.
My negatives:
1. The first half of this book DESTROYED me. I felt so bad for Clare! I hadn't read the first book in this series so I didn't fully know what I was getting into. I needed a book to read and it was free - I liked the description and figured it'd fall into my wheelhouse. I was so depressed from this book that I literally had to put it away for a month before I could go back to it. It just made me feel so bad and I do not like books making me feel bad - books are my escape from the cruelties of the world. That being said, it's still a good book but NOT FOR ME. Definitely not for me. Yes, there's a happily ever after and some lovely scenes in the second half of this book, but the first half made me not like this book at all.
2. Love develops FAST in these books. It's not a con for me, but some readers absolutely hate it. Be warned fellow readers... Be warned...
3. Andi. That's all I can say. I really dislike Andi for really dumb reasons. She's all upp-ity up, but in my mind she stole someone's husband, got pregnant and is now living the dream. Clare was in a coma, not dead, and you swoop in and make her life miserable? Sure, she's not supposed to be the villain but she didn't feel like the hero to me either. It's a weird dynamic that probably played out weird for me because I haven't read her book (the first novel).
4. I didn't totally know what was going on with the story because I didn't read the first book. This book gives you some good hints but I probably would have liked this story more and understood it if I read the first book.
My positives:
1. Marie Force is a beautiful writer. I love her style and prose! I would love to read more by her, but I need positive books. I'll have to do some further research before I jump into her other novels for that reason. I would definitely recommend her though if you aren't as faint as heart as I am!
2. This is a wonderful "redemption" novel. Clare "gets what she deserves" after having some really awful times. Marie does a very good job making this story end on a high note.
With all of my positives and negatives, I have to say that this book is good but not for me as a reader. So, I hate to say it... but I have to give it a low star rating. This book put me in an awful mood and made me feel ridiculously sad.
That should not pull you away from this book though. As a reader, I didn't enjoy it but you probably will! This book has some wonderful romance, it gives Clare a second chance at love and and pull at your heart strings pretty darn good! I'd highly recommend this book if you love those types of plot lines, but I... alas... do not.
One out of five stars.
I found this book for free on Bookbub.
This story really pulled at my heart strings! Clare was in a coma and her husband left her for another woman and had children with said woman. For me, that was the worst betrayal and totally made me hurt for Clare. There is a bit of a happy ending for Clare since she goes on to find another love, but man it still haunted me throughout this whole book. Clare did a better job at coping than I did! For me, that totally made this book feel so much worse than it was. Even though this book is well written and Marie Force has done an excellent job with crafting this story, the whole time all I could think of was "Screw Jack!" with an army of angry people with pitchforks.
And before you say it, yes - that's clearly unreasonable.
Alongside Clare's new love story, we follow her daughter Kate. What's so special about her story? Oh man, she's an eighteen year old virgin going after a 45 year old man. That was even stranger for me. I was pulled in and had my heart ripped to shreds due to Kate's father, and now this girl is going after a much older man? It seemed so weird... This book was full of two very strong tropes that can definitely be triggering for people. This story is not finished in this book, FYI.
Clare and Aiden have a rather lovely story. It's a redemption story for sure and I'm glad Clare isn't just the victim in this story.
My negatives:
1. The first half of this book DESTROYED me. I felt so bad for Clare! I hadn't read the first book in this series so I didn't fully know what I was getting into. I needed a book to read and it was free - I liked the description and figured it'd fall into my wheelhouse. I was so depressed from this book that I literally had to put it away for a month before I could go back to it. It just made me feel so bad and I do not like books making me feel bad - books are my escape from the cruelties of the world. That being said, it's still a good book but NOT FOR ME. Definitely not for me. Yes, there's a happily ever after and some lovely scenes in the second half of this book, but the first half made me not like this book at all.
2. Love develops FAST in these books. It's not a con for me, but some readers absolutely hate it. Be warned fellow readers... Be warned...
3. Andi. That's all I can say. I really dislike Andi for really dumb reasons. She's all upp-ity up, but in my mind she stole someone's husband, got pregnant and is now living the dream. Clare was in a coma, not dead, and you swoop in and make her life miserable? Sure, she's not supposed to be the villain but she didn't feel like the hero to me either. It's a weird dynamic that probably played out weird for me because I haven't read her book (the first novel).
4. I didn't totally know what was going on with the story because I didn't read the first book. This book gives you some good hints but I probably would have liked this story more and understood it if I read the first book.
My positives:
1. Marie Force is a beautiful writer. I love her style and prose! I would love to read more by her, but I need positive books. I'll have to do some further research before I jump into her other novels for that reason. I would definitely recommend her though if you aren't as faint as heart as I am!
2. This is a wonderful "redemption" novel. Clare "gets what she deserves" after having some really awful times. Marie does a very good job making this story end on a high note.
With all of my positives and negatives, I have to say that this book is good but not for me as a reader. So, I hate to say it... but I have to give it a low star rating. This book put me in an awful mood and made me feel ridiculously sad.
That should not pull you away from this book though. As a reader, I didn't enjoy it but you probably will! This book has some wonderful romance, it gives Clare a second chance at love and and pull at your heart strings pretty darn good! I'd highly recommend this book if you love those types of plot lines, but I... alas... do not.
One out of five stars.
I found this book for free on Bookbub.
April 14, 2015
Overall rating: 4 "Old Lady" stars!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
HEA:
My review:
If anyone read book 1 of this series like me, I was dying to go on to Clare's story and see her get her HEA. Aiden was sweet, romantic, adorable and NOT a manwhore. I liked that she was able to move on finally - because the beginning was very depressing.
In regards to Kate's scandalous relationship, I do not believe that Jack overreacted at all. I think if Kate was a little bit older, he may not have reacted that badly, but I think this quote says it all ... "Two months ago, I could have had you thrown in jail for this!" meaning two months ago, Kate was 17 years old and not 18. I know that love cannot have an age, but there really is no other way to see this situation then an older man taking advantage of a younger girl. I am not saying that I didn't like this part of the story - I did, but I am saying as an outsider or as a parent, I can totally understand where Jack was coming from with his anger. I am glad that by the end he was able to let go and hopefully when I get to their book, I will see even more growth on Jack's part with making becoming friends with Reid again.
So now that I've been introduced to Aiden's brothers, you can tell where my reading is taking me next! I am freaking addicted I tell you!
THANKS ALOT MANDY!! LOL!!!
And for my safety gang: This book contains a lot of triggers for some people - deceased spouse and/or love lost, way older man/younger woman - so I am not sure if I can label this safe or not.
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
HEA:
My review:
If anyone read book 1 of this series like me, I was dying to go on to Clare's story and see her get her HEA. Aiden was sweet, romantic, adorable and NOT a manwhore. I liked that she was able to move on finally - because the beginning was very depressing.
In regards to Kate's scandalous relationship, I do not believe that Jack overreacted at all. I think if Kate was a little bit older, he may not have reacted that badly, but I think this quote says it all ... "Two months ago, I could have had you thrown in jail for this!" meaning two months ago, Kate was 17 years old and not 18. I know that love cannot have an age, but there really is no other way to see this situation then an older man taking advantage of a younger girl. I am not saying that I didn't like this part of the story - I did, but I am saying as an outsider or as a parent, I can totally understand where Jack was coming from with his anger. I am glad that by the end he was able to let go and hopefully when I get to their book, I will see even more growth on Jack's part with making becoming friends with Reid again.
So now that I've been introduced to Aiden's brothers, you can tell where my reading is taking me next! I am freaking addicted I tell you!
THANKS ALOT MANDY!! LOL!!!
And for my safety gang: This book contains a lot of triggers for some people - deceased spouse and/or love lost, way older man/younger woman - so I am not sure if I can label this safe or not.
August 10, 2016
3.5 stars
Although I kinda felt sorry for Clare in the last book, Treading Water I wasn't convinced that I needed to read about her new romance. But of the two romance storylines that take place in this book, hers felt the realest.
One of the things I notice in Marie Force's books is that a lot of times her characters fall in love really fast. I mean, right away the ILY's are dropping fast and furious. As a reader I am not always convinced that these couples are in love. I didn't feel as if I went on their romantic journey with them. In this case though, I felt Clare and Aidan's romance more keenly than I have some of the other characters in this authors' books.
So yeah, I found myself surprisingly really enjoying Clare and Aidan. I loved his family.
The b-plot romance was more thorny. It featured eighteen year old Kate, Clare's daughter, and Kate's much older romantic interest, the 45-year old Reid. I am not personally a fan of May-December romances. I like it when my H&Hs are closer to each other in age. Even back in the day of earlier Harlequin's I'd get seriously squicked out at those young 18 y.o secretaries getting their world rocked by 38 y.o billionaires. SO yeah, I was uncomfortable with Kate's romance.
I was also on board with some of the characters being uncomfortable or even disapproving of it. Yeah, I can see Ashton, Reid's son being angry and upset because Kate & Reid lied to his face and he had a thing for Kate himself. I can also see Jack (Kate's father) being upset. He sent his daughter to Nashville to follow her dream and asked his friend to look after her (not to sexxxx her up). So yeah, I can see that.
But the housekeeper? Leaving the house in disgust? Really? And while I can get Jack being upset did he have to be so ginormously disgusted that he had to cut her off from the family, as if having sex with an older man gave her contagious atomic cooties or something?
And then there is Andi (Jack's wife). Oh, no, honey. You don't get to get up on your high horse. After shacking up with and getting knocked up by a married man, you kinda forfeit the higher ground here. If Kate hadn't been such a cry-baby she could've smacked Andi down. But as it was all Kate did was sob. A lot.
The funny thing is, I actually got more comfortable with the romance as the story progressed and as more and more people lost their shit over it. ha!. .
I probably sound like I didn't like this book, but that isn't the case. I am enjoying the trilogy. One thing is for sure, the two books I've read so far are creating a passionate response in me and makes me want to get the next one.
Although I kinda felt sorry for Clare in the last book, Treading Water I wasn't convinced that I needed to read about her new romance. But of the two romance storylines that take place in this book, hers felt the realest.
One of the things I notice in Marie Force's books is that a lot of times her characters fall in love really fast. I mean, right away the ILY's are dropping fast and furious. As a reader I am not always convinced that these couples are in love. I didn't feel as if I went on their romantic journey with them. In this case though, I felt Clare and Aidan's romance more keenly than I have some of the other characters in this authors' books.
So yeah, I found myself surprisingly really enjoying Clare and Aidan. I loved his family.
The b-plot romance was more thorny. It featured eighteen year old Kate, Clare's daughter, and Kate's much older romantic interest, the 45-year old Reid. I am not personally a fan of May-December romances. I like it when my H&Hs are closer to each other in age. Even back in the day of earlier Harlequin's I'd get seriously squicked out at those young 18 y.o secretaries getting their world rocked by 38 y.o billionaires. SO yeah, I was uncomfortable with Kate's romance.
I was also on board with some of the characters being uncomfortable or even disapproving of it. Yeah, I can see Ashton, Reid's son being angry and upset because Kate & Reid lied to his face and he had a thing for Kate himself. I can also see Jack (Kate's father) being upset. He sent his daughter to Nashville to follow her dream and asked his friend to look after her (not to sexxxx her up). So yeah, I can see that.
But the housekeeper? Leaving the house in disgust? Really? And while I can get Jack being upset did he have to be so ginormously disgusted that he had to cut her off from the family, as if having sex with an older man gave her contagious atomic cooties or something?
And then there is Andi (Jack's wife). Oh, no, honey. You don't get to get up on your high horse. After shacking up with and getting knocked up by a married man, you kinda forfeit the higher ground here. If Kate hadn't been such a cry-baby she could've smacked Andi down. But as it was all Kate did was sob. A lot.
The funny thing is, I actually got more comfortable with the romance as the story progressed and as more and more people lost their shit over it. ha!. .
I probably sound like I didn't like this book, but that isn't the case. I am enjoying the trilogy. One thing is for sure, the two books I've read so far are creating a passionate response in me and makes me want to get the next one.
November 30, 2011
Warning- Contains SPOILERS for the first book in the Treading Water trilogy!
Wonderful read. I read this in one day and hated every time life got in the way and I had to put Marking Time down. I loved seeing Clare (Jack's comatose wife in the previous book, Treading Water) get her happy ending- oddly in Treading Water I was mad that Clare woke up from her three year coma and almost ruined Jack's relationship with Andi. In Marking Time I was pissed at Jack and Andi for making Clare's life difficult- they weren't cruel to her but it's not easy waking up from a coma and seeing your beloved husband getting married to a beautiful, kind, and pregnant other woman.
The second story line revolved around Jack and Clare's middle daughter, Kate moving to Nashville to become a country music star and falling in love with Reid, a man her father went to college with. This story line had me going back in forth between rooting for Kate and her much, much, much older boyfriend and feeling uncomfortable about the relationship because as Jack said "...two months ago I could've had him thrown in jail for this." While I'm not sure how I stood on this relationship, I love that Marie Force writes about topics that are not typically allowed by the major publishing companies and topics that push into the grey areas.
Wonderful read. I read this in one day and hated every time life got in the way and I had to put Marking Time down. I loved seeing Clare (Jack's comatose wife in the previous book, Treading Water) get her happy ending- oddly in Treading Water I was mad that Clare woke up from her three year coma and almost ruined Jack's relationship with Andi. In Marking Time I was pissed at Jack and Andi for making Clare's life difficult- they weren't cruel to her but it's not easy waking up from a coma and seeing your beloved husband getting married to a beautiful, kind, and pregnant other woman.
The second story line revolved around Jack and Clare's middle daughter, Kate moving to Nashville to become a country music star and falling in love with Reid, a man her father went to college with. This story line had me going back in forth between rooting for Kate and her much, much, much older boyfriend and feeling uncomfortable about the relationship because as Jack said "...two months ago I could've had him thrown in jail for this." While I'm not sure how I stood on this relationship, I love that Marie Force writes about topics that are not typically allowed by the major publishing companies and topics that push into the grey areas.
December 25, 2011
WOW! Marie does it again! I loved this book. I saved this trilogy until they were all out and I am devouring them one after another.
I loved seeing Clare regain her strength and to get a little angry. Her actions seemed a little too good to be true in Treading Water, not that I didn't understand her motive I just doubt I would be that big a person :)
I loved Aidan, so much depth hidden by a sexy, grumpy exterior. I thought he was perfect for Clare, she has been through so much she needed a man who could relate to tough times and struggling to get past them.
I have to say I am DYING to find out what happens with Kate and Reid! I wasn't sure about the relationship to start with, but now I'm rooting for them. We shall see...I hope Marie doesn't leave me hanging in Starting Over.
Off to begin Starting Over...I hope my hubby isn't expecting dinner soon :)
I loved seeing Clare regain her strength and to get a little angry. Her actions seemed a little too good to be true in Treading Water, not that I didn't understand her motive I just doubt I would be that big a person :)
I loved Aidan, so much depth hidden by a sexy, grumpy exterior. I thought he was perfect for Clare, she has been through so much she needed a man who could relate to tough times and struggling to get past them.
I have to say I am DYING to find out what happens with Kate and Reid! I wasn't sure about the relationship to start with, but now I'm rooting for them. We shall see...I hope Marie doesn't leave me hanging in Starting Over.
Off to begin Starting Over...I hope my hubby isn't expecting dinner soon :)
April 14, 2013
WOW!!! What a book.. Marie you have done it again. LOVED IT!!!!!
Where do I begin... it was heartbreaking, emotional roller coaster and touching and loving... all wrapped up in one book..
Claire.... sacrificing the one thing she treasured and loved the most she deserved to get away for some "me time". Lets see she was raped, scared for her children's lives, hit by a car, left in a coma for three years and when she woke up life was not as she had left it... her girls were grown and her husband was in love with another woman and she was expecting his twins.. that is a lot to take on. Knowing he would stay with her out of love and devotion and the vows he took... she was the brave one and divorced him Right or wrong she sacrificed her happiness and life for his. That is a lot to take on just coming out of a comma. Going away to find herself and for some "me" time is just what she needs. She does not expect to find love... but that is what she finds in Aidan. Loved it from beginning to end... the whole romance.. the girls Aidan.. The Claire was with his family... how she was by his side when his dad had his heart attack and the way he came to her protection after Brandon attacked her. he is a knight in shinning armor.
Aidan... what is not to love about this mysterious gorgeous man. Who like Claire has secrets he rather not tell. My heart broke for Aidan when he talked about his Sara and Colin. It was heart breaking... as a woman I am not sure what I would do... I can see the anger Aidan carries with his as a husband and as a doctor... but I can see Sara's side of it as well. It was just heart breaking reading that story. He seemed to be a different person after confiding in Claire... like a weight had been lifted. Aidan was amazing with the girls and the way he got them to tell him and kept it secret until she was ready to tell him was keeping me on the edge of my seat. When he asked her to marry him I though wow... she had come full circle. Then it didn't. I felt so bad for the both of them.. so glad it worked out and he realized he was already a dad to her girls.... what is a few more... it worked out in the end and I was happy.
Kate.. wow that was a shocker but I was happy for her. It seemed as they really did love each other. I mean she picked Reid over her Daddy and that says a lot. I think despite that fact that there was a huge age difference and the fact that everyone was against them it would have worked out... had he not lied.... that lie is what did him in. He had every opportunity to fess up and he did not. He screwed up and Kate had every right to leave him. You need trust and the trust was lost.
Jack, Jill, Kate and Maggie... what is not to love about these guys. Maggie is all upset as she feels left out as she is young. Loved how Aidan was with her... he was so good as if her was already her dad. Loved the irony of Maggie packing away her Barbies so she would be treated like a grown up and then ending up falling and hitting her head and basically being in a coma for a short period of time.. felt bad for Jack/Jill and Kate who had to relive this part of live all over again... first with their mom/wife and now with their sister/daughter.
Of course it is a story and it all works out in the end... but what roller coaster of a story. It was fabulous... I loved every bit of it. Really looking forward to more of Aidan's family, Kate and Reid and off course the whole gang....
Where do I begin... it was heartbreaking, emotional roller coaster and touching and loving... all wrapped up in one book..
Claire.... sacrificing the one thing she treasured and loved the most she deserved to get away for some "me time". Lets see she was raped, scared for her children's lives, hit by a car, left in a coma for three years and when she woke up life was not as she had left it... her girls were grown and her husband was in love with another woman and she was expecting his twins.. that is a lot to take on. Knowing he would stay with her out of love and devotion and the vows he took... she was the brave one and divorced him Right or wrong she sacrificed her happiness and life for his. That is a lot to take on just coming out of a comma. Going away to find herself and for some "me" time is just what she needs. She does not expect to find love... but that is what she finds in Aidan. Loved it from beginning to end... the whole romance.. the girls Aidan.. The Claire was with his family... how she was by his side when his dad had his heart attack and the way he came to her protection after Brandon attacked her. he is a knight in shinning armor.
Aidan... what is not to love about this mysterious gorgeous man. Who like Claire has secrets he rather not tell. My heart broke for Aidan when he talked about his Sara and Colin. It was heart breaking... as a woman I am not sure what I would do... I can see the anger Aidan carries with his as a husband and as a doctor... but I can see Sara's side of it as well. It was just heart breaking reading that story. He seemed to be a different person after confiding in Claire... like a weight had been lifted. Aidan was amazing with the girls and the way he got them to tell him and kept it secret until she was ready to tell him was keeping me on the edge of my seat. When he asked her to marry him I though wow... she had come full circle. Then it didn't. I felt so bad for the both of them.. so glad it worked out and he realized he was already a dad to her girls.... what is a few more... it worked out in the end and I was happy.
Kate.. wow that was a shocker but I was happy for her. It seemed as they really did love each other. I mean she picked Reid over her Daddy and that says a lot. I think despite that fact that there was a huge age difference and the fact that everyone was against them it would have worked out... had he not lied.... that lie is what did him in. He had every opportunity to fess up and he did not. He screwed up and Kate had every right to leave him. You need trust and the trust was lost.
Jack, Jill, Kate and Maggie... what is not to love about these guys. Maggie is all upset as she feels left out as she is young. Loved how Aidan was with her... he was so good as if her was already her dad. Loved the irony of Maggie packing away her Barbies so she would be treated like a grown up and then ending up falling and hitting her head and basically being in a coma for a short period of time.. felt bad for Jack/Jill and Kate who had to relive this part of live all over again... first with their mom/wife and now with their sister/daughter.
Of course it is a story and it all works out in the end... but what roller coaster of a story. It was fabulous... I loved every bit of it. Really looking forward to more of Aidan's family, Kate and Reid and off course the whole gang....
December 31, 2011
**SPOILERS for Treading Water, book 1** Beware don't read further if you don't want to know
Another heartbreaker by Marie Force. This is the 2nd book in the series and you must read the first, Treading Water , which has an incredible, heartwrenching premise (especially since Clare, the h in this story, is made out to be the bad guy in book 1). Marking Time has two love stories and follows the timeline directly after Treading Water. I had so many choke up moments in the first half of the book that it drained me, the second half wasn't nearly as bad emotionally or quite as gripping in story. The two love stories have so many hardships throughout. Clare is trying to put her life back together after a rape, being in a coma for 3 years, waking up and realizing her husband- the love of her life- is in love with another woman and about to have twins. Her 3 young girls have grown up and she doesn't feel needed. It was killing me to feel what she was feeling. She decides to move away for 3 months to Vermont and help her brother fix up his cabin. She feels relief immediately and meets brooding, stud muffin Aidan. They both fight it, but they need each other and were very hot together. The other love story through me off a little. Kate, 18 yrs old and Clare & Jack's daughter, is an amazing country singer and she decides to try her luck for 1 year in Nashville. She is am instant success and falls for a man 30 years older than her. I wasn't sure how I felt about this but, I went for it, bought into it even though a little creeped out. I didn't fell good about the ending- not sure what I would have been happy with though.
This was a very emotional, moving read, but I was really all over the place with my emotions and there were some real plot twists that I didn't like. When I say I was all over the place I mean I changed my mind- characters that I loved like Jack and Andi, I didn't like some of the things they did in this book. Also I was happy how Treading Water, the first book in the series ended even though it was a hard situation/predicament to find a happy ending to. This book made me change my mind at times and it was very unsettling to me. I became very sympathetic to Clare and I am glad she found a new life since in book 1 her life was destroyed and no fault to her. Still unsure what should have happened with Kate's love story, it was messy and I didn't feel good about it in the end.
In saying all this I am so glad I read it. It wasn't easy or light, but a very deep family love. Sooo good!
May 28, 2021
Marie Force Bücher sind einfach imm wundervoll. Entspannend und wundervoll für zwischendurch. Doch hier hat es mich ein bisschen gestört, dass sich die Protagonisten gefühlte 10 Minuten und schon sind sie verliebt und sagen ich liebe dich. Das fand ich schon ein bisschen unrealistisch. Sicher gibt es die Liebe auf den ersten Blick, daran zweifel ich nicht. Mit der Liebe von Kate tat ich mir schon ein bisschen schwer, aber zumindest weiß ich das dies möglich ist, wobei sie schon echt jung war. Trotzdem mag ich den perspektivenwechsel in diesen Büchern, so bekommt man einfach viel mehr mit und kann alles besser zusammenfügen.
4 Sterne
4 Sterne
September 25, 2016
I'm really enjoying this series. I'm so glad Claire got her happy ending. This one explains why she let Jack go so easily. It wasn't easy, just what she believed would be best for everyone. Loved Aiden and glad he got his HEA as well. Both of them deserved it. Happy reading!
December 11, 2011
In this Continuation of Treading Water, we follow Clare Harrington while she tries to find her place in the world after missing the last three years of her life. She heads to Stowe, Vermont in hopes that some time away from "her home", will help her with her recovery, mind, body and soul. What she doesn't expect is to meet Aiden O'Malley, the handsome man she hired to restore her bothers vacation home. While Clare and Aiden learn more about each other, her middle daughter Kate heads to Nashville, Tennessee to try and "Make it Big" in the music industry. While living in Nashville, Kate falls hard for Reid Matthews, who was supposed to be looking out for her, instead of trying to keep his eyes off of her. But when their secret relationship is ripped wide open, will Kate be strong enough to stick up for what she believes is true, or will other Oppourtunities arise that will tear them further apart.
WOW...is all I have to say. Marking Time is a Kick Butt sequel to Treading Water. Just like with Treading Water, Marie creates a story that not only takes on through a sea of emotions but on an adventure from Stowe, Vermont to Nashville, Tennessee, back to Rhode Island.
I really enjoyed getting to know Clare as a person, and not just the girls mother. She needed to find herself again, not as Jack's wife, not as a mother, but as Clare, the woman. And boy...did Aiden help!! hehe! I liked their flirty banter, I liked to see Clare making a life for just "herself", where before, she was more involved in everyone elses life. She was able to heal and with the healing, find LOVE again, with a great man, who was lonely for way too long.
The book travels back and forth between Clare and Kate. Kate is starting her own adventure in Nashville, where she wants to be discovered. I really liked Kate, even from Treading Water. I loved the relationship she formed with Andi towards the end, always thinking she was very loyal. I have to say, the relationship between Kate and Reid was sweet, and you could tell that he really was in love with her. I don't want to give anything away, but I have to be honest and say that I think things between them happened for a reason, and you were able to tell the difference in maturity level between the two. Once you read the book, you might agree!!
Marking Time was a beautifly written book that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. I was sad, happy, laughing than Angry....I have to say I was angry A LOT, haha!! I say angry, but on more of an Empathetic level.....I was angry for the characters and angry at certain characters. But all in all....Marking Time hits the Mark, and will touch your heart.
Marie Force has created a world with these characters that we will all be asking for more of. The third book, Starting Over, will be released late December, and I have a feeling that it might just be my favorite, yet!!
WOW...is all I have to say. Marking Time is a Kick Butt sequel to Treading Water. Just like with Treading Water, Marie creates a story that not only takes on through a sea of emotions but on an adventure from Stowe, Vermont to Nashville, Tennessee, back to Rhode Island.
I really enjoyed getting to know Clare as a person, and not just the girls mother. She needed to find herself again, not as Jack's wife, not as a mother, but as Clare, the woman. And boy...did Aiden help!! hehe! I liked their flirty banter, I liked to see Clare making a life for just "herself", where before, she was more involved in everyone elses life. She was able to heal and with the healing, find LOVE again, with a great man, who was lonely for way too long.
The book travels back and forth between Clare and Kate. Kate is starting her own adventure in Nashville, where she wants to be discovered. I really liked Kate, even from Treading Water. I loved the relationship she formed with Andi towards the end, always thinking she was very loyal. I have to say, the relationship between Kate and Reid was sweet, and you could tell that he really was in love with her. I don't want to give anything away, but I have to be honest and say that I think things between them happened for a reason, and you were able to tell the difference in maturity level between the two. Once you read the book, you might agree!!
Marking Time was a beautifly written book that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. I was sad, happy, laughing than Angry....I have to say I was angry A LOT, haha!! I say angry, but on more of an Empathetic level.....I was angry for the characters and angry at certain characters. But all in all....Marking Time hits the Mark, and will touch your heart.
Marie Force has created a world with these characters that we will all be asking for more of. The third book, Starting Over, will be released late December, and I have a feeling that it might just be my favorite, yet!!
December 10, 2011
"Marking Time" follows up where the first book in this beautifully written series left off. Clare is now faced with moving on and starting anew after awakening from a coma and making some decisions that she may regret. Her eighteen year old daughter is likewise starting on a new adventure of her own in Nashville. New characters are introduced that will tug at your heartstrings and elicit emotions that make you yearn to know more and more about their lives. With the third book, "Starting Over" to be released on December 27th, I won't have to wait long to learn more and to get another glimpse at those we've already met. That makes me a very happy reader.
As always, Marie Force writes with depth, precision, quality and her ever present ability to draw her readers into her stories and hook them completely. You may encounter a rocky road to romance, hot topics, debatable issues, and questionable decisions, but you'll always find a wonderful Happily Ever After. All these emotions are what completes the perfection of a "Force" book!
As always, Marie Force writes with depth, precision, quality and her ever present ability to draw her readers into her stories and hook them completely. You may encounter a rocky road to romance, hot topics, debatable issues, and questionable decisions, but you'll always find a wonderful Happily Ever After. All these emotions are what completes the perfection of a "Force" book!
September 2, 2019
Leider konnte dieser zweiten Band nicht an seinen Vorgänger anknüpfen. Es gab entgegen aller Erwartungen einige kleinere Schwachstellen, die sich jedoch irgendwann summiert haben. So gefielen mir zum Beispiel, gerade am Anfang, die Dialoge nicht. Sie wirkten oftmals gestellt, fast erzwungen und nur wenig lebensecht. Auch die zu lange Einleitung und die überstürzte Handlung stieß mir ein bisschen sauer auf - es ging einfach alles zu schnell. Ich hätte mir einfach gewünscht, dass die beiden Handlungsstränge hier jeweils eigene Bücher bekommen hätten, sodass beide Geschichten mehr Raum gehabt hätten, sich zu entfalten. Was mich sonst noch störte, hab ich euch » hier « zusammengefasst. Falls ihr neugierig seid, schaut gerne mal vorbei. Viel Spaß ♥
August 11, 2012
Really just flat out depressing that Jack had to go and marry Andie. I just can't get over the fact that this family went through so much and he comes out with an instant new family. I did love the talk they have before she leaves for Vermont. I Will Always Love You, really 3 years went by and you didn't. Grrrrr......
So the saving grace for me was Kate and Reid. I super loved him, oops I mean them lol!!! The age thing never bothered me but I can see how it would effect their families. This secondary h/h made the book for me.
Loved the acceptance speech for her song of the year so sad!!!!!! I like my HEA and in my mind they received one.
Love Marie Force
3.5
So the saving grace for me was Kate and Reid. I super loved him, oops I mean them lol!!! The age thing never bothered me but I can see how it would effect their families. This secondary h/h made the book for me.
Loved the acceptance speech for her song of the year so sad!!!!!! I like my HEA and in my mind they received one.
Love Marie Force
3.5
April 26, 2012
This second book of the series is focused on Claire, Jack's ex-wife and her try to get back in control of her life. Her daughters are flying out of the nest and she's alone. His ex-husband has a new wonderful family and she feels she has nothing left. So she leaves the home of her marriage and goes searching a new meaning in her life.
She meets a great Irish man with a wonderful family and he meets Clare's daughters and maybe a new family for himself.
Great family story!
She meets a great Irish man with a wonderful family and he meets Clare's daughters and maybe a new family for himself.
Great family story!
December 29, 2020
Horrible
Don’t read my review if you don’t want spoilers.
I thought the author would make the H from book 1 more likable. She did not. It took forever for the h to find her HEA. What the H from the first book, the father said to his daughter was hypocritical. I realize this is fiction but the whole thing is so unbelievable. The writing is ok but the story is horrible.
Don’t read my review if you don’t want spoilers.
I thought the author would make the H from book 1 more likable. She did not. It took forever for the h to find her HEA. What the H from the first book, the father said to his daughter was hypocritical. I realize this is fiction but the whole thing is so unbelievable. The writing is ok but the story is horrible.
December 27, 2011
I loved this book. I was glad that Clare came to terms with everything. I loved Kate's story and being someone that lives in Nashville, loved reading about this area. I didn't love the ending for Kate and Reid. I wanted more. It left me sad.
November 9, 2019
Pov: all adult characters
Main characters: Clare and Aiden, Kate and Reid
Minor characters: Jack (Kate's dad, Clare's ex husband), Jill and Maggie (Jack and Clare's daughters); Ashton (Reid's son)
My thoughts:
This book felt extremely rushed just like the last one. It was all destination but no journey.
It did make me like Clare more. I had a much better understanding of her this time and it was heartbreaking. I didn't care for the Kate and Reid storyline. It felt too rushed, especially since the age gap is so huge and he went to school with her dad.
It seems like everyone in these stories goes from meeting to love in about a page, which doesn't make me care about them all that much.
It had the potential to be such a great book but it just didn't reach the mark for me. I also didn't like the way Jack came off once he found out about Kate and Reid. I get that he's furious but it seemed out of character for him to cut Kate out of everyone's life so quickly.
Also, the next book is about Brandon, Aiden's brother, and we barely met him. Had the pacing been different I think I'd care about him and his recovery more.
Synopsis:
The book starts with Clare's pov on Jacks wedding day. Clare is depressed because she lost Jack. Frannie comes to visit and tells her Andi had the babies. Clare gets released from the hospital and goes back to the house she shared with Jack. She's lonely there and can't get over Jack. She knows she'll just start to hate him so her doctor suggests she get away for awhile. She tells Jack and he asks her to stay. She tells him it's too hard being in that house without him. He understands and let's her go.
She goes to Vermont to oversee the repairs to her brothers house. She meets a diner owner who recommends Aiden to do the repairs. She calls him and is immediately attracted to him, but he comes off as rude and busy. She hires him anyway.
Aiden was married young and studying to be a doctor. His wife got pregnant and then they discovered she had cancer. She refused to end the pregnancy in order to start chemo. At eight months she started bleeding so she was admitted to the hospital. She ended up having a c section and the baby was born stillborn. She never woke up from the procedure and dies two days later. Aiden was devastated and gave up his medical career. He moved away from their hometown and used the money her grandmother gave him to build a house and start a new life in Vermont as a contractor. The women in the town are all smitten with him but he's uninterested until he meets Clare.
He starts working on her house and they become friends. They are both attracted to each other but neither one makes a move. She knows something tragic happened to him and he notices she has a limp but she doesn't answer when he asks about it. On Christmas Eve he lingers because he doesn't want to leave her alone, her daughters aren't coming until the day after. He ends up kissing her before leaving for his families house. When he gets back he meets Jill and Maggie and instantly likes them.
They go skiing and he asks if their mom knows how. They mention she did before the accident. He assumes she had a fall and the girls tell him it was the rape and coma. He's shocked because Clare never told him. He's also shocked their dad left her the way he did.
When the girls leave Clare gets sick. It quickly escalates to pneumonia, due to her coma and inactivity. He takes her to his house and takes care of her for a few days.
They fall in love and they're both worried about how the rape will affect her when they finally sleep together. But they don't know the other knows. He tells her his whole history but she doesn't tell him hers.
They talk about her kids and she asks if he wants more because she's older than him and can't have any. She wants him to be sure. He tells her he doesn't want more, that he just wants her.
His dad has a heart attack and Aidan rushes to be with his family. Clare goes with him and meets everyone. His dad pulls through and his mom loves Clare instantly. They stay on his childhood home and his alcoholic brother Brandon makes a move on Clare. He pins her in a corner and she has flashes of the attack. Aidan finds them and knocks his brother out. The next day he finds Brandon at his brother Colin's house and Brandon can't remember what happened. Aiden tells him if he doesn't go to rehab immediately then Aiden and Clare will press charges. He tells Brandon Clare was raped once before and Brandon feels terrible and agrees to go.
They stop in Rhode Island so Clare can visit Maggie. They finally sleep together. When Clare calls Maggie Maggie tells her something is going on with Kate and it's making all the adults angry. Clare talks to Andi and tells her to have Jack come by. Jack drops by and tells Clare about Kate's affair with Reid. They don't know what to do since Kate is legally an adult and is about to sign a recording contract so she won't need their money.
They go back home and she agrees to go on a date with him. One night she has a nightmare about the attack. Aiden knows that's what it was but she won't tell him. The date goes wonderfully and she decides to tell him about the attack and coma. He stops her and tells her he already knows. She tells him she feels lost since her kids don't need her anymore.
Kate comes to visit and Clare tells her she doesn't approve of the relationship with Reid but she still supports her. Aiden arranges for Jill and Maggie to surprise Kate and Clare by showing up. They all spend the day together. Maggie knows something big is going on with Kate but no one will tell her. She bonds with Aiden over it.
For his 40th birthday she takes him to a hotel and sunrises him by getting his whole family there. When they get back home he proposes to her. She wants to accept but she tells him she wants to adopt another baby. He tells her he doesn't want that and he won't make her choose between him or a baby. They end up breaking up.
She moves back to Rhode Island and starts the adoption process on her own. She gets denied because she has no one to take in the child if she gets hurt again.
Three months after they broke up Maggie has an accident. She fell off a ladder and broke both arms and knocked herself unconscious. Everyone shows up at the hospital and they're uncertain if Maggie will be alright. Jill calls Aiden and he rushes to see Maggie. He reconciles with Clare and tells her he already feels like a father to the girls and he wants to be with her.
In the epilogue they are already married and they've adopted a little boy named Max. They're discussing adopting another.
Kate was given a year from when she turns 18 to try and get a recording deal in Nashville. Jack calls his college friend Reid for help since Reid already lives in Nashville. Reid owns properties and gives them a deal on an apartment for Kate. Jack drops her off and asks Reid and his son Ashton to keep an eye on her and to notify him if anything happens. Kate gets a job at a local bar and becomes the lead singer for a local band and falls in love with Reid. She comes on to him but he resists her. She cries over it and Ashton consoles her. He talks to his dad and asks if Reid knows who Kate was dating but Reid lies and says he doesn't know.
Reid is a widower, his wife died when Ashton was young. He is 46 and tries to resist Kate but he can't. They start a secret relationship because he knows no one will approve. Kate tells Jill and Jill warns her to be careful.
She starts to realize Ashton might have feelings for her but she's very careful not to reciprocate them. She gets approached by a record label and goes to see the guy but he's in a rundown building and tries to scare her into signing. She tells Ashton and he decides to be her lawyer.
She goes home for Christmas and plays with a locket Reid gave her. Andi catches her and she lies and says it was a gift from the band.
Reid mentions her to his friend Buddy, who is a singer and record label owner. He doesn't tell Kate and Buddy shows up to hear her sing. buddy offers her a deal. She tells Ashton and he is immediately suspicious because he knows Reid is close to Buddy.
Buddy's mom is Reid's housekeeper and she figures out what's going on between him and Kate.
She doesn't approve and quits over it. Kate feels terrible.
Ashton shows up to the house unexpectedly and catches Reid with Kate. He's furious at them both, but especially his father because he lied. He ends up calling Jack.
Jack shows up and catches Kate and Reid making out in front of her apartment and he tells her she's coming home. She tells him he can't make her because she's 18. He tells her he doesn't want her around the other kids. She's devastated but she tells him she's in love. He tells her it's wrong because Reid is his age.
Kate goes to Buddy's house to accept the offer but Buddy's wife lets it slip that Reid suggested Buddy hear Kate sing. She's devastated because she asked Reid to let her do it on her own. She goes to Reid's house to pack and he tries to stop her. She breaks up with him because she feels he didn't believe in her and he lied about it. They're both crushed.
Buddy ends up telling her she signed a contract and he's not going to let her throw away her career. Months pass and she releases a single, which is a song she wrote for Reid on his birthday.
She gets a call about Maggie being hurt and can't get a flight home. She calls Reid because he has a small plane so he flies her there. When they get to the hospital her uncle Jamie sees Reid and threatens him (he's Jack's best friend and also went to college with Reid). Kate thanks him for taking her and walks away to be with her family. Her and Jack apologize to each other.
In the epilogue she wins multiple awards at the country music awards.
Main characters: Clare and Aiden, Kate and Reid
Minor characters: Jack (Kate's dad, Clare's ex husband), Jill and Maggie (Jack and Clare's daughters); Ashton (Reid's son)
My thoughts:
This book felt extremely rushed just like the last one. It was all destination but no journey.
It did make me like Clare more. I had a much better understanding of her this time and it was heartbreaking. I didn't care for the Kate and Reid storyline. It felt too rushed, especially since the age gap is so huge and he went to school with her dad.
It seems like everyone in these stories goes from meeting to love in about a page, which doesn't make me care about them all that much.
It had the potential to be such a great book but it just didn't reach the mark for me. I also didn't like the way Jack came off once he found out about Kate and Reid. I get that he's furious but it seemed out of character for him to cut Kate out of everyone's life so quickly.
Also, the next book is about Brandon, Aiden's brother, and we barely met him. Had the pacing been different I think I'd care about him and his recovery more.
Synopsis:
The book starts with Clare's pov on Jacks wedding day. Clare is depressed because she lost Jack. Frannie comes to visit and tells her Andi had the babies. Clare gets released from the hospital and goes back to the house she shared with Jack. She's lonely there and can't get over Jack. She knows she'll just start to hate him so her doctor suggests she get away for awhile. She tells Jack and he asks her to stay. She tells him it's too hard being in that house without him. He understands and let's her go.
She goes to Vermont to oversee the repairs to her brothers house. She meets a diner owner who recommends Aiden to do the repairs. She calls him and is immediately attracted to him, but he comes off as rude and busy. She hires him anyway.
Aiden was married young and studying to be a doctor. His wife got pregnant and then they discovered she had cancer. She refused to end the pregnancy in order to start chemo. At eight months she started bleeding so she was admitted to the hospital. She ended up having a c section and the baby was born stillborn. She never woke up from the procedure and dies two days later. Aiden was devastated and gave up his medical career. He moved away from their hometown and used the money her grandmother gave him to build a house and start a new life in Vermont as a contractor. The women in the town are all smitten with him but he's uninterested until he meets Clare.
He starts working on her house and they become friends. They are both attracted to each other but neither one makes a move. She knows something tragic happened to him and he notices she has a limp but she doesn't answer when he asks about it. On Christmas Eve he lingers because he doesn't want to leave her alone, her daughters aren't coming until the day after. He ends up kissing her before leaving for his families house. When he gets back he meets Jill and Maggie and instantly likes them.
They go skiing and he asks if their mom knows how. They mention she did before the accident. He assumes she had a fall and the girls tell him it was the rape and coma. He's shocked because Clare never told him. He's also shocked their dad left her the way he did.
When the girls leave Clare gets sick. It quickly escalates to pneumonia, due to her coma and inactivity. He takes her to his house and takes care of her for a few days.
They fall in love and they're both worried about how the rape will affect her when they finally sleep together. But they don't know the other knows. He tells her his whole history but she doesn't tell him hers.
They talk about her kids and she asks if he wants more because she's older than him and can't have any. She wants him to be sure. He tells her he doesn't want more, that he just wants her.
His dad has a heart attack and Aidan rushes to be with his family. Clare goes with him and meets everyone. His dad pulls through and his mom loves Clare instantly. They stay on his childhood home and his alcoholic brother Brandon makes a move on Clare. He pins her in a corner and she has flashes of the attack. Aidan finds them and knocks his brother out. The next day he finds Brandon at his brother Colin's house and Brandon can't remember what happened. Aiden tells him if he doesn't go to rehab immediately then Aiden and Clare will press charges. He tells Brandon Clare was raped once before and Brandon feels terrible and agrees to go.
They stop in Rhode Island so Clare can visit Maggie. They finally sleep together. When Clare calls Maggie Maggie tells her something is going on with Kate and it's making all the adults angry. Clare talks to Andi and tells her to have Jack come by. Jack drops by and tells Clare about Kate's affair with Reid. They don't know what to do since Kate is legally an adult and is about to sign a recording contract so she won't need their money.
They go back home and she agrees to go on a date with him. One night she has a nightmare about the attack. Aiden knows that's what it was but she won't tell him. The date goes wonderfully and she decides to tell him about the attack and coma. He stops her and tells her he already knows. She tells him she feels lost since her kids don't need her anymore.
Kate comes to visit and Clare tells her she doesn't approve of the relationship with Reid but she still supports her. Aiden arranges for Jill and Maggie to surprise Kate and Clare by showing up. They all spend the day together. Maggie knows something big is going on with Kate but no one will tell her. She bonds with Aiden over it.
For his 40th birthday she takes him to a hotel and sunrises him by getting his whole family there. When they get back home he proposes to her. She wants to accept but she tells him she wants to adopt another baby. He tells her he doesn't want that and he won't make her choose between him or a baby. They end up breaking up.
She moves back to Rhode Island and starts the adoption process on her own. She gets denied because she has no one to take in the child if she gets hurt again.
Three months after they broke up Maggie has an accident. She fell off a ladder and broke both arms and knocked herself unconscious. Everyone shows up at the hospital and they're uncertain if Maggie will be alright. Jill calls Aiden and he rushes to see Maggie. He reconciles with Clare and tells her he already feels like a father to the girls and he wants to be with her.
In the epilogue they are already married and they've adopted a little boy named Max. They're discussing adopting another.
Kate was given a year from when she turns 18 to try and get a recording deal in Nashville. Jack calls his college friend Reid for help since Reid already lives in Nashville. Reid owns properties and gives them a deal on an apartment for Kate. Jack drops her off and asks Reid and his son Ashton to keep an eye on her and to notify him if anything happens. Kate gets a job at a local bar and becomes the lead singer for a local band and falls in love with Reid. She comes on to him but he resists her. She cries over it and Ashton consoles her. He talks to his dad and asks if Reid knows who Kate was dating but Reid lies and says he doesn't know.
Reid is a widower, his wife died when Ashton was young. He is 46 and tries to resist Kate but he can't. They start a secret relationship because he knows no one will approve. Kate tells Jill and Jill warns her to be careful.
She starts to realize Ashton might have feelings for her but she's very careful not to reciprocate them. She gets approached by a record label and goes to see the guy but he's in a rundown building and tries to scare her into signing. She tells Ashton and he decides to be her lawyer.
She goes home for Christmas and plays with a locket Reid gave her. Andi catches her and she lies and says it was a gift from the band.
Reid mentions her to his friend Buddy, who is a singer and record label owner. He doesn't tell Kate and Buddy shows up to hear her sing. buddy offers her a deal. She tells Ashton and he is immediately suspicious because he knows Reid is close to Buddy.
Buddy's mom is Reid's housekeeper and she figures out what's going on between him and Kate.
She doesn't approve and quits over it. Kate feels terrible.
Ashton shows up to the house unexpectedly and catches Reid with Kate. He's furious at them both, but especially his father because he lied. He ends up calling Jack.
Jack shows up and catches Kate and Reid making out in front of her apartment and he tells her she's coming home. She tells him he can't make her because she's 18. He tells her he doesn't want her around the other kids. She's devastated but she tells him she's in love. He tells her it's wrong because Reid is his age.
Kate goes to Buddy's house to accept the offer but Buddy's wife lets it slip that Reid suggested Buddy hear Kate sing. She's devastated because she asked Reid to let her do it on her own. She goes to Reid's house to pack and he tries to stop her. She breaks up with him because she feels he didn't believe in her and he lied about it. They're both crushed.
Buddy ends up telling her she signed a contract and he's not going to let her throw away her career. Months pass and she releases a single, which is a song she wrote for Reid on his birthday.
She gets a call about Maggie being hurt and can't get a flight home. She calls Reid because he has a small plane so he flies her there. When they get to the hospital her uncle Jamie sees Reid and threatens him (he's Jack's best friend and also went to college with Reid). Kate thanks him for taking her and walks away to be with her family. Her and Jack apologize to each other.
In the epilogue she wins multiple awards at the country music awards.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
This is Clare's story after divorcing Jack and trying to move on with her life after being in a coma for 3 years.
Not being able to go back to her dream house that Jack built for her as a gift one year, Clare decides to get out of Newport and help her brother restore his vacation home in Stowe, Vermont.
There she meets the contractor/restoration expert Aidan O'Malley who has a few demons of his own in from his past. Clare and Aidan slowly become more than client/contractor. But will both of them be able to share their pasts with each after falling in love?
Meanwhile, Kate moves to Nashville to hit the music industry. There a college friend of both Jack and Jamie has agreed to keep an eye on Kate. His son, Ashton, is enamored with Kate, but she's in love with his 46 year old dad, Reid.
When the family finds out about their relationship, no one is happy with all of Kate's lying and deceit. Jack makes her choose, and he's not who she picks.
But when Reid calls a friend to listen to Kate sing, even though she begged him not to, she can't get past his deceit.
Will Kate find success without happiness fulfilling?
A must read!
Not being able to go back to her dream house that Jack built for her as a gift one year, Clare decides to get out of Newport and help her brother restore his vacation home in Stowe, Vermont.
There she meets the contractor/restoration expert Aidan O'Malley who has a few demons of his own in from his past. Clare and Aidan slowly become more than client/contractor. But will both of them be able to share their pasts with each after falling in love?
Meanwhile, Kate moves to Nashville to hit the music industry. There a college friend of both Jack and Jamie has agreed to keep an eye on Kate. His son, Ashton, is enamored with Kate, but she's in love with his 46 year old dad, Reid.
When the family finds out about their relationship, no one is happy with all of Kate's lying and deceit. Jack makes her choose, and he's not who she picks.
But when Reid calls a friend to listen to Kate sing, even though she begged him not to, she can't get past his deceit.
Will Kate find success without happiness fulfilling?
A must read!
March 13, 2018
Maybe it’s because I didn’t read the first book (featuring the ex husband of this book’s h) but I was absolutely GUTTED with the first few chapters of this book!
How can you even function when you wake up from a 3 year coma to find that the love of your life, your husband of 20 years, has fallen in love and gotten another woman pregnant?!?! A woman that moved in with your family and took over your role?
While I’m sympathetic to Jack and his situation of dealing with his wife being in a coma and possibly never waking up, the fact that the timeline of him falling for Andi being super close to Clare’s accident was an instant rager for me. Yes he grieved for Clare for a “full year” but when he met Andi only a few months after he decided to start living again he immediately fell in love with her? What the actual fuck? How strong was your love really that 20 years were forgotten? If he had waited three years, Clare would have woken up. THREE DAMN YEARS! He met, fell in love, moved her in, and impregnated a woman in the three years his wife was in a coma. If that isn’t bullshit, then I don’t know what is.
As much as I loved Aiden, I still couldn’t get past the devastation that Clare felt at having her entire life ripped from her and having to be the one to make sacrifices for her husband’s happiness with another woman. And I hated the fact that Jack and Andi were painted as these perfect people.
If Clare’s coma had been closer to ten years, I would have understood, but three years is such a short time compared to 20 blissful years (authors description of Jack and Clare’s marriage).
Not only did Clare have to deal with that bullshit when she woke up, but also remembering that she was raped before the accident and that she let a car hit her to protect her family so her rapist wouldn’t murder her kids.
To me, Jack and Andi are assholes. No way would I have been that blasé about their relationship. Oh, I would have divorced him, but I definitely wouldn’t have a cordial relationship and I would have demolished the house.
I can’t even get into the side story with Kate and the fact that the girls barely had a relationship with their mother after her coma because Andi was everything they needed.... *gag*
How can you even function when you wake up from a 3 year coma to find that the love of your life, your husband of 20 years, has fallen in love and gotten another woman pregnant?!?! A woman that moved in with your family and took over your role?
While I’m sympathetic to Jack and his situation of dealing with his wife being in a coma and possibly never waking up, the fact that the timeline of him falling for Andi being super close to Clare’s accident was an instant rager for me. Yes he grieved for Clare for a “full year” but when he met Andi only a few months after he decided to start living again he immediately fell in love with her? What the actual fuck? How strong was your love really that 20 years were forgotten? If he had waited three years, Clare would have woken up. THREE DAMN YEARS! He met, fell in love, moved her in, and impregnated a woman in the three years his wife was in a coma. If that isn’t bullshit, then I don’t know what is.
As much as I loved Aiden, I still couldn’t get past the devastation that Clare felt at having her entire life ripped from her and having to be the one to make sacrifices for her husband’s happiness with another woman. And I hated the fact that Jack and Andi were painted as these perfect people.
If Clare’s coma had been closer to ten years, I would have understood, but three years is such a short time compared to 20 blissful years (authors description of Jack and Clare’s marriage).
Not only did Clare have to deal with that bullshit when she woke up, but also remembering that she was raped before the accident and that she let a car hit her to protect her family so her rapist wouldn’t murder her kids.
To me, Jack and Andi are assholes. No way would I have been that blasé about their relationship. Oh, I would have divorced him, but I definitely wouldn’t have a cordial relationship and I would have demolished the house.
I can’t even get into the side story with Kate and the fact that the girls barely had a relationship with their mother after her coma because Andi was everything they needed.... *gag*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2019
Clare ist nach drei Jahren Koma wieder erwacht und muss sich nun in ihrem neuen Leben zurecht finden. Ihren Mann hat sie freigegeben für seine neue Frau, doch was bleibt für sie?
Zurück in ihrem Haus stellt sie fest, dass sie hier nicht bleiben kann, zu sehr quälen sie die Erinnerungen an die Zeiten mit Jack und ihrer Familie hier. So beschließt sie, ihrem Bruder zu helfen und die Renovierung dessen Ferienhauses in Vermont zu übernehmen.
Dort angekommen findet sie schnell Anschluss in der Dorfgemeinschaft und einen Handwerker, der nicht nur das Haus renoviert, sondern auch ihr Herz höherschlagen lässt.
Gleichzeitig bricht Kate nach Nashville auf, um dort ihre Karriere voran zu treiben. Ihr Vater stellt sie einem seiner Freunde vor, der ein Auge auf sie haben soll. Doch daraus wird schnell mehr, auch wenn der Altersunterschied beträchtlich ist.
Mir hat das Buch wieder ausgesprochen gut gefallen, fast besser als der erste Band der Reihe. Wieder sind die Themen, um die es sich dreht nicht einfach, gerade Kates Geschichte war für mich schwierig. Dahingegen waren die Teile in Vermont einfach pure Wohlfühlmomente. Die Autorin schafft es mit ihrem Schreibstil die Orte vor dem inneren Auge erscheinen zu lassen, als wäre man selbst dort.
Ich werde die Reihe, deren nächste Teile demnächst erscheinen werden, auf jeden Fall weiterverfolgen. Auch dieses Buch war wieder sehr lesenswert und hat eine Leseempfehlung verdient.
Zurück in ihrem Haus stellt sie fest, dass sie hier nicht bleiben kann, zu sehr quälen sie die Erinnerungen an die Zeiten mit Jack und ihrer Familie hier. So beschließt sie, ihrem Bruder zu helfen und die Renovierung dessen Ferienhauses in Vermont zu übernehmen.
Dort angekommen findet sie schnell Anschluss in der Dorfgemeinschaft und einen Handwerker, der nicht nur das Haus renoviert, sondern auch ihr Herz höherschlagen lässt.
Gleichzeitig bricht Kate nach Nashville auf, um dort ihre Karriere voran zu treiben. Ihr Vater stellt sie einem seiner Freunde vor, der ein Auge auf sie haben soll. Doch daraus wird schnell mehr, auch wenn der Altersunterschied beträchtlich ist.
Mir hat das Buch wieder ausgesprochen gut gefallen, fast besser als der erste Band der Reihe. Wieder sind die Themen, um die es sich dreht nicht einfach, gerade Kates Geschichte war für mich schwierig. Dahingegen waren die Teile in Vermont einfach pure Wohlfühlmomente. Die Autorin schafft es mit ihrem Schreibstil die Orte vor dem inneren Auge erscheinen zu lassen, als wäre man selbst dort.
Ich werde die Reihe, deren nächste Teile demnächst erscheinen werden, auf jeden Fall weiterverfolgen. Auch dieses Buch war wieder sehr lesenswert und hat eine Leseempfehlung verdient.
May 29, 2013
Marking Time is the second book in Marie Force's Treading Water series.
After waking from a three-year coma and discovering Jack, her husband, has a lover and they are expecting twins, Clare Harrington makes a selfless decision to let him go. But what's she going to do with her life? Not caring to stay in the home Jack built for her and left to her, Clare decides to spend time in Stowe, Vermont, helping her brother renovate his house. She hires carpenter Aidan O'Malley to do the work.
Aidan has secrets he'd rather not discuss, but he's attracted to Clare who is several years older.
In the meantime, Clare's middle daughter Kate has set her heart on making a name for herself in the music world and persuades her parents to let her spend a year in Nashville. While there, Kate falls in love with a much older man. Clare and Jack must come together to resolve the problem.
I thoroughly enjoyed Marking Time and was happy to see Clare find her true love. As in Treading Water, the family dynamics are great—one of Ms. Force's strong suits. Good pacing, great characters, a lot of testosterone and an emotional story combine to make this a page turner. Can't wait to read the next one.
After waking from a three-year coma and discovering Jack, her husband, has a lover and they are expecting twins, Clare Harrington makes a selfless decision to let him go. But what's she going to do with her life? Not caring to stay in the home Jack built for her and left to her, Clare decides to spend time in Stowe, Vermont, helping her brother renovate his house. She hires carpenter Aidan O'Malley to do the work.
Aidan has secrets he'd rather not discuss, but he's attracted to Clare who is several years older.
In the meantime, Clare's middle daughter Kate has set her heart on making a name for herself in the music world and persuades her parents to let her spend a year in Nashville. While there, Kate falls in love with a much older man. Clare and Jack must come together to resolve the problem.
I thoroughly enjoyed Marking Time and was happy to see Clare find her true love. As in Treading Water, the family dynamics are great—one of Ms. Force's strong suits. Good pacing, great characters, a lot of testosterone and an emotional story combine to make this a page turner. Can't wait to read the next one.
March 12, 2018
I didn't read the first book in this story. After I started reading about Clare, I really just wasn't sure that I could get into a book where the love of her life and the father of her children cheated on her and got another woman pregnant. Logically I know that Jack was just moving on from a tragedy and that he believed that Clare would never recover. However, seeing Clare struggle to overcome her anger and the betrayal that she felt, well let's just say that I am totally team Clare.
Having said that - I do have a couple of issues with the author's writing style. I actually really loved the dual storylines. Seeing the juxtaposition of Clare's relationship with Aiden and Kate's relationship with Reid was interesting. It feels like love comes awfully easy for the characters in her books, if not what happens next. Within a very short time someone who had been living a hermits life opens up and falls in love again.
I also wasn't sure how I felt about Reid and Kate. It did seem a little skeezy.
Other than that - I enjoyed the story and really loved Clare and her drive to get her life back.
Having said that - I do have a couple of issues with the author's writing style. I actually really loved the dual storylines. Seeing the juxtaposition of Clare's relationship with Aiden and Kate's relationship with Reid was interesting. It feels like love comes awfully easy for the characters in her books, if not what happens next. Within a very short time someone who had been living a hermits life opens up and falls in love again.
I also wasn't sure how I felt about Reid and Kate. It did seem a little skeezy.
Other than that - I enjoyed the story and really loved Clare and her drive to get her life back.
March 9, 2014
Two very unique and different love stories of mother and daughter.
Clare a very kind-hearted and selfless divorced mother of three in her mid forties, finds love once again in seven years younger man Aidan who lost two people he loved the most in a spam of two days over 10 years ago and so far hasn't been able to move on.
Kate, Clare's daughter, who just turned 18 is off to Nashville to chase her dream of becoming a country music star. What she finds there is not only a road to fame and fortune in the music industry, but also two men who want to pursue her romantically - a 25 year old music industry lawyer and his 47 years old father…
Both stories are intriguing and captivating. The characters from the first novel are brought in sporadically and Aidan's family is introduced in this book.
I loved snuggling with this book by the fireplace with a hot chocolate in my hand. I love that there is no immature drama and no exaggerated conflicts. It's a perfect balance of real life conflicts and complications with the feel-good moments filled with love, kindness and happiness.
Clare a very kind-hearted and selfless divorced mother of three in her mid forties, finds love once again in seven years younger man Aidan who lost two people he loved the most in a spam of two days over 10 years ago and so far hasn't been able to move on.
Kate, Clare's daughter, who just turned 18 is off to Nashville to chase her dream of becoming a country music star. What she finds there is not only a road to fame and fortune in the music industry, but also two men who want to pursue her romantically - a 25 year old music industry lawyer and his 47 years old father…
Both stories are intriguing and captivating. The characters from the first novel are brought in sporadically and Aidan's family is introduced in this book.
I loved snuggling with this book by the fireplace with a hot chocolate in my hand. I love that there is no immature drama and no exaggerated conflicts. It's a perfect balance of real life conflicts and complications with the feel-good moments filled with love, kindness and happiness.
November 30, 2011
Wow! I really loved this story. My heart broke for Clare, so much at times I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish. Then there was Kate in Nashville. Since it's where I live, I loved all the landmark, town, and interstate mentions. And I LOVED Reid! I was really rooting for their relationship, although I'm not sure why, considering their age difference. I'm hoping she will touch on that in the next book. Aidan seemed wonderful and I really enjoyed the ending with his relationship with Clare. Well done, Ms Force!
May 4, 2013
I was still very much in love w/ Jack when I started this book, so I could REALLY relate to what Clare was feeling and oh my heart hurt. I did not think it was possible for Marie Force to give Claire and me a man to help us get over Jack... Ha! When will I ever learn! Oh yes, in no time, Aidan had my heart!
Loving this series sooo much!
I stayed up til 4am reading this book! Couldn't put it down and kept forcing my eyes to stay open.
Loving this series sooo much!
I stayed up til 4am reading this book! Couldn't put it down and kept forcing my eyes to stay open.
March 2, 2019
Starting Again
Two of the Harrington women need to find themselves. Kate is on her way to Nashville to start her music career but has a little hiccup. Claire needs to find her happiness after the divorce. She goes to oversee the makeover of her brother's house in Vermont and meets Aiden. He's the contractor doing the work.
Two of the Harrington women need to find themselves. Kate is on her way to Nashville to start her music career but has a little hiccup. Claire needs to find her happiness after the divorce. She goes to oversee the makeover of her brother's house in Vermont and meets Aiden. He's the contractor doing the work.
December 8, 2011
First of all...who cares about Clair?
Secondly...how could she brake up Kate and Reid? *dashes of to cry in her pillow*
Secondly...how could she brake up Kate and Reid? *dashes of to cry in her pillow*
December 1, 2011
Another emotional, amazing hit from Marie Force!
November 29, 2011
What a great book! I stayed up most of the night reading this one, could NOT put it down. This was another emotional story filled with a wonderful cast of characters. Marie did it again! LOVE IT!
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