Square 1

by Katie Z. Hartman

An Oklahoma Realtor, Evie is still recovering from the sudden death of her fiancé five years earlier when a push from her mother encourages her to step out of hiding and take a trip to New York City. Before she even arrives, Evie's adventures begin when a boy on her flight chokes on his food. Evie is called to act, connecting with more passengers than just the boy's family.

266 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

I'm a big day dreamer. I'll often be staring off into space dreaming up scenes and dialogue for potential books. After being conflicted with this "affliction" for years I finally decided to do something about it. And two years later - I'm a published author!

I had the basic idea/plot for Square 1 back in high school. (Because, come on, who knows more about star-crossed lovers and unrequited love than a teenager?!) When it got to the point a couple of years ago that I had to write down all the ideas and dialogue in my head down or go crazy - I wrote. This is my first novel, and I used little bits and pieces of my life in the book, but it isn't autobiographical.

I love anything creative. When I was young, you'd be hardpressed not to find somthing in my room that wasn't Mod-Podged by me. That creativity ran from popscicle stick crafts to writing poetry. In what free time I have, I continue to craft and write. Although now I've moved from writing teenage angst-filled poetry to romantic comedy fiction.

I grew up in a large family in a small town in southwestern Oklahoma - Cordell. I graduated from Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!) in 2006 with an English degree. I'm married and have a seven year old son. We currently live in Yukon, OK.

Reviews

[Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS WITHIN REVIEW***

So, this was my first National Readers Choice Awards read for the contemporary romance category now being judged. It was really a great novel! I seemed to speed through the entire thing in just one day. Couldn’t get enough of the fascinating characters and storyline that was just so engrossing!

Evie Castner was just a normal everyday young woman. Living with her mom and step-dad in Oklahoma. She’s a victim of a lost love. Not a love that got away because of his cheating ways or because he just didn’t love her enough to stick around, but her lost love died, and it just sucked how she couldn’t just get on with her life and just somehow, someway deal with the loss. Well, Evie meets movie star, Bradley Matthews, on an airplane when she decides to take a much needed vacation to New York City after finally accepting the devastating death of her fiance’, Josh. What starts out as a new beginning in her life, is met with a one-week sightseeing tour with her own private tour guide, Bradley. Their relationship is based on friendship to start, but will it lead to something else for the good-natured couple? Evie, trying to just move on after losing her one true love, and Bradley, just wanting some normalcy to his hectic celebrity-enhanced lifestyle, find that they enjoy each other’s company. Will Evie bring about that common balance that Bradley so desires? And will Bradley fill that void in Evie’s heart without just being a replacement for Josh?

Bradley was just not your regular conceited obnoxious movie star. He was caring and understanding. He caught onto everything. He was not judgemental or unreasonable. When Evie finally explains to him the guarded past that has done nothing but comsume her very existance, he listens intently, giving her his full attention while being compassionate and understanding.

“Who won then?” Bradley wants to understand what has happened to Evie in her past every sense of the word.
“Saton, He’s the only winner in that situation. Because God and my family understood the pain I was in and they forgave me for my horrible behavior, even before I asked them to, before I even deserved it. But the devil, well, he’s like a lion. He’s always prowling around us, waiting. Waiting for a moment when we’re weak. And just like in the wild, a predator will watch and try to find the weakest of the herd. The sick or lame. And when we’re at our weakest, he pounces and sinks his claws in, pulling us further into the darkness.” (pg. 111) - And, this is how Evie responses to Bradley about who really won when she was grieving over the loss of Josh. She could be honest and truthful with him, which gave her the confidence that “yes” she could love again. And, that was how she was so thankful to Bradley – just knowing that she could move forward living after the loss of Josh was a gift in itself.

As their relationship intensifies, Evie knows that she’s falling for Bradley, but she has no idea how he feels about her. Why would a movie star that is way out of her league, want someone like her? They could never adapt in each other’s worlds! Finally, as the novel climaxes, Bradley reveals his true feelings towards Evie, and it has her high-tailing it right back to big old OKLAHOMA quicker than one could say AIRPLANE!

I love how the author uses R&B singer Beyonce’s song to express the exact moment that the couple are in love with each other in the novel! Her lyrics in the 2008 released Halo, “falling without even realizing it”, were magical as they danced at a charity benefit in Los Angeles leading to their first-time kiss. That was when she was so aware of her true feelings towards Bradley and his towards her. She has no idea how to respond to this, but to run away. And, what if she gave him her heart and it was then shattered – how would she ever be able to survive that horror once again? Bradley is devastated by her reaction, and will he have it in him to someday forgive her?

Evie definitely complemented his outlook on keeping his personal life private. He knew he could trust her, but could she trust him never to leave her, especially knowing that she had no control over fate and what was in store for their future? Evie was just so afraid of the unknown. She was apprehensive of taking a chance while knowing that she could possibly get hurt yet again.

The author creates a climax that is beyond tears – one that was never in my unsuspecting imagination. How will Evie survive this frank realization that what she so desperately seeks is real if she just would only trust who she has become and realize that the love she now wants is just within her reach? Fight, Evie, fight! Fight for the love...fight for the man...fight for the life...to be whole again! The only complaint that I have is that the story is over too soon and it should have been a little longer. I would have liked to have seen more of Bradley’s life before he had meet Evie. The reader knows that he likes his privacy, but why? Did something happen in his past to drive him to that decision? The author also did not disappoint with the humor. Evie was an Oklahoma yokel that showed her comical assertiveness through her ability to create playfulness with her local cheerful chatter. When Bradley meets her family, they welcome him with open arms into their normal everyday but slightly wacky circle. Bradley was a reserved celebrity that oftentimes chauffered a svelte model-type starlet to various events. But, that wasn’t the type of person he wanted to fill his desire as a lifetime partner. He wanted that everafter effect that came from a once-in-a-lifetime love. I was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Hartman’s debut as a contemporary romance author, and I look forward to her next release. I would absolutely read this book again, and I hugely recommend it to anyone who loves that “happily ever after”! One not to be missed!

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing more romantic, to me, than a love story intertwined with nature especially rain! The author showed a lot of heart and seemingly personal details that allows the reader to jump right into Oklahoma. The characters were personable and brilliantly consistent from cover to cover. I took my time with it, but really could have read it in a weekend! The PG flavor was rather interesting, but worked very well. I really think the conservative nature of the writing flowed with the story line and only adds to the imagination of the reader.

[Susan J. Reiher]

Love this book!

This is my third time reading it can't get enough!! I would love a sequel to see how their lives mesh. Awesome!