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What If..
“Katie, are you listening to me?” Chris demanded with a stomp of his feet, like a child. “Chris, I don’t believe you, I know what I saw. Don’t treat me like a fool I’m… ” Just then a mixed color of lights were projected onto the house and Katie turned to see a sheriff car pulling into the driveway, headlights on with red and white lights flashing but no sound. When the deputy got out of the car, her knees gave out and she just about hit the deck. He was here for her, she could feel it down the pit of her stomach. Chris had been right behind her and caught Katie before she fell to the ground. Katie was screaming stop, go away, and in her head but nothing was coming out of her mouth. She closed her eyes, willing the scene to be different when she opened them again. She felt like a small child hiding from the boogieman, if she couldn’t see the deputy then he couldn’t see her, right? She would open her eyes to find him gone in five, four, three, two… “Katie, are you ok?” Chris was yelling at her, for how long she couldn’t be sure. She opened her eyes and there was the deputy, almost right in front of her now. Her mouth wasn’t working; her throat felt dry and closed up, swollen like a bad sore throat but with no pain. Numb. Sometimes in life we know things. Instantly. A sound, a smell, or just a feeling in the pit of our stomachs alert us to changes in life’s vibrations that we cannot understand on an intellectual they are intuitions. For Katie, this means she knows exactly what’s happened to her father before the deputy tells her, knows he’s been in an accident, and knows it’s not okay. In fact, she knows it’s far from okay. After her visit to his bedside at the hospital that night, she will never see him alive again—the first man she ever loved. And after her father’s funeral she is determined to never again see Chris Staller either—the first boy she ever loved. Fast-forward ten years and Katie is now a beautiful, successful, and driven woman in her late-twenties. But her father’s death and Chris’ betrayal have clouded every relationship she has had since that night. From potential romantic partners to her closest friends, she has kept everyone around her from getting too close. Working through these intimacy issues while maintaining a stellar career reputation, however, has been a challenge—but challenges are Katie’s lifeblood. She rises to every occasion and always comes out on top. When Katie pays a visit to her old high school, however, she runs into Chris, now a dedicated PE teacher who pines for the one he let get her. An upstanding member of the community and a much better man than he was a boy, Chris is determined to win Katie back at all cost. But Katie is less than receptive to the idea, and when he lays down a challenge, she is determined to come out on top again. A fun, funny, and poignant journey from first love through finding life’s path, Kelly Rae’s debut is a sweet love story that serves as a reminder to the healing power of forgiveness. Learning to follow the heart is a lesson everyone must learn, and her unadorned prose underscores the emotional terrain of that passage with powerful simplicity. Full of extraordinary grace and warmth, What If…will fill your life with hope and an inner knowing of life’s positive force.
230 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
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238 people want to read
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June 16, 2012
What If by Kelly Rae
Kelly Rae writing is really good, I loved this book of course I read it all in one sitting as I always have to know how it’s going to end. Sometime a good romance novel is all I need to have a relaxing day and this book did not disappoint. This is Kelly’s debut novel, I enjoyed her writing style and loved the characters and the descriptions were well written. I would say excellent writing Kelly and thank you for letting me read and review your book.
So What If....what if you walk into a room and see the boy you love kissing a girl....and then you call home crying asking your dad to come pick you up. What If he never makes it to you? Oh god poor Katie heart at the moment is broken by the two men she loved the most in this world. This had me and I had to read it.
So ten years you move back to your home town, and low and behold so has the love of your life. What If you still have feelings for him? And to be honest not all feelings are good. Laying blame on the one who destroyed your life or so you think. Can Katie and Chris find each other again, can Katie forgot and forgive. Does Chris even know what happened? OMG you have to read this book...What If.....
Ok so I loved this story...go purchase it now! Excellent debut novel by Kelly Rae.
Kelly Rae writing is really good, I loved this book of course I read it all in one sitting as I always have to know how it’s going to end. Sometime a good romance novel is all I need to have a relaxing day and this book did not disappoint. This is Kelly’s debut novel, I enjoyed her writing style and loved the characters and the descriptions were well written. I would say excellent writing Kelly and thank you for letting me read and review your book.
So What If....what if you walk into a room and see the boy you love kissing a girl....and then you call home crying asking your dad to come pick you up. What If he never makes it to you? Oh god poor Katie heart at the moment is broken by the two men she loved the most in this world. This had me and I had to read it.
So ten years you move back to your home town, and low and behold so has the love of your life. What If you still have feelings for him? And to be honest not all feelings are good. Laying blame on the one who destroyed your life or so you think. Can Katie and Chris find each other again, can Katie forgot and forgive. Does Chris even know what happened? OMG you have to read this book...What If.....
Ok so I loved this story...go purchase it now! Excellent debut novel by Kelly Rae.
July 9, 2017
Really a 2.5, but if the writing is good I never totally dis an author just because I disagree with her. (Big of me, I know.😇) But without spoiling too much, Katie needed to have gone to therapy to realize that she nor Chris were to blame for the accident, the drunk driver was and to be able to at least work past it, especially after 10 years. But part of that blame goes to her mom though, too, for not getting her help while still a minor. As far as the sitch with Chris goes, he was in high school and barely a junior at that, immaturity is rampant around that age. I wouldn't be so forgiving of that type of behavior if you're talking about adults in college but you're not, you're talking about children learning how to behave and treat one another. SO....... I felt like this book would have had a lot more potential if perhaps the MC's were older when this situation happened. Then some REAL GOOD DIRTY BLAMING could gave happened, lol. Anyhoo, it's really well written and if the above doesn't bother you, it's well worth the $2.99 on Ammie.
August 11, 2012
The prologue to this book is vivid and heartbreaking. It was perfect in its simplicity, and right away I felt connected to the main character, Katie. A loser of a boyfriend and a wonderful father who didn’t make it. This really set the stage for how Katie thinks, you can easily tell this was the major event in her life that shaped her.
Chapter one brings us to ten years later. Katie has moved back to her hometown to be Assistant District Attorney – her dream job. She realizes she will run into some people she knows, she did grow up there afterall. But there is definitely one person she doesn’t want to see – the jerk of an ex-boyfriend, Chris Staller.
“Why is it that in one moment years can disappear, and any sense of who you are slips away when you recognize a face or the sound of a voice? Even a song played on the radio can transport you back in time.”
Katie reunites with Sarah, her friend from highschool. Initially I don’t like Sarah. She seemed secretive and a bit manipulative. But I really must say that as the story went on, and I got to know Sarah a little bit more, she really grew on me. My opinion of her changes greatly, and by the end I think she is a wonderful best friend.
“You are a damn fool, Katie Wright, if you don’t chase that man down and make whatever it is better.”
Don’t we all need to hear the blunt truth sometimes? The man? Chris Staller, of course. Suddenly he’s popping up everywhere; the grocery store, a dinner at her bosses, at her best friend’s house. Chris doesn’t know why Katie is so hard on him. And frankly, I was totally on Katie’s side. I didn’t like Chris, I didn’t want him in her life and I didn’t want him disrupting her life again.
But then something changed. Chris grew on me. Before I knew it I was rooting for him. Katie’s stubbornness to even talk to him was making me mad. Couldn’t she see the man he turned into? Her attitude was a shared heartache with Chris and I.
This was definitely a terrific story. You really get to see Katie grow. Being around Sarah and her family really made her think… to be around people who have that wonderful, obnoxious, frustrating, perfect family chaos… well, it can get inside a person. It makes them realize what they’ve been missing is exactly what they want. What they need.
There is also a pleasant, albeit short, surprise of a person named Amanda. That is one classy lady, one we could all hope to know – or be. I am secretly hoping that Kelly Rae will write a sequel and feature Amanda, because there is definitely someone there worth exploring a bit more.
My final thoughts on this book … I really enjoyed it, and I had a hard time putting it down. There were a few times that were a little “explainey” when one person or another was trying to relay a history, but it wasn’t overdone. Chris definitely stole the spotlight and I fell in love with his character. Sometimes its nice when a good guy is just a good guy. Katie is intelligent and strong, and sometimes its more of a disadvantage than not, but I love a woman in charge who is not always perfect. She makes mistakes, she flies off the handle, but she is good people through and through. If you like romance that is a little hard to get, and you wonder if the pair will get their happily ever after, you will definitely enjoy this read!
Chapter one brings us to ten years later. Katie has moved back to her hometown to be Assistant District Attorney – her dream job. She realizes she will run into some people she knows, she did grow up there afterall. But there is definitely one person she doesn’t want to see – the jerk of an ex-boyfriend, Chris Staller.
“Why is it that in one moment years can disappear, and any sense of who you are slips away when you recognize a face or the sound of a voice? Even a song played on the radio can transport you back in time.”
Katie reunites with Sarah, her friend from highschool. Initially I don’t like Sarah. She seemed secretive and a bit manipulative. But I really must say that as the story went on, and I got to know Sarah a little bit more, she really grew on me. My opinion of her changes greatly, and by the end I think she is a wonderful best friend.
“You are a damn fool, Katie Wright, if you don’t chase that man down and make whatever it is better.”
Don’t we all need to hear the blunt truth sometimes? The man? Chris Staller, of course. Suddenly he’s popping up everywhere; the grocery store, a dinner at her bosses, at her best friend’s house. Chris doesn’t know why Katie is so hard on him. And frankly, I was totally on Katie’s side. I didn’t like Chris, I didn’t want him in her life and I didn’t want him disrupting her life again.
But then something changed. Chris grew on me. Before I knew it I was rooting for him. Katie’s stubbornness to even talk to him was making me mad. Couldn’t she see the man he turned into? Her attitude was a shared heartache with Chris and I.
This was definitely a terrific story. You really get to see Katie grow. Being around Sarah and her family really made her think… to be around people who have that wonderful, obnoxious, frustrating, perfect family chaos… well, it can get inside a person. It makes them realize what they’ve been missing is exactly what they want. What they need.
There is also a pleasant, albeit short, surprise of a person named Amanda. That is one classy lady, one we could all hope to know – or be. I am secretly hoping that Kelly Rae will write a sequel and feature Amanda, because there is definitely someone there worth exploring a bit more.
My final thoughts on this book … I really enjoyed it, and I had a hard time putting it down. There were a few times that were a little “explainey” when one person or another was trying to relay a history, but it wasn’t overdone. Chris definitely stole the spotlight and I fell in love with his character. Sometimes its nice when a good guy is just a good guy. Katie is intelligent and strong, and sometimes its more of a disadvantage than not, but I love a woman in charge who is not always perfect. She makes mistakes, she flies off the handle, but she is good people through and through. If you like romance that is a little hard to get, and you wonder if the pair will get their happily ever after, you will definitely enjoy this read!
June 21, 2012
Occasionally a book will come along that completely surprises me. I mean, obviously I had interest in reading this book, but I was surprised by how much I connected to the story. I think I read this book in one day. It was a touching story from start to finish.
The story begins with Katie in high school on a night she and her boyfriend Chris are breaking up. As you see from the synopsis, her dad died that same night on his way to get her. Katie held a lot of guilt about the accident and also held Chris somewhat responsible for it. That opening, really was emotional. I can not imagine what that must be like. Chris was her first love, but Katie left and never looked back. Now years later she returns and is surprised to run into Chris. Her old emotions surface and she's forced to deal with it. What she didn't expect was to have to fight her attraction to Chris.
Katie is an easy character to relate to. There were a few times she drove me nuts, but I could really understand where she was coming from. My stomach was in knots when hers was. I felt like I was walking through the story with her. I kept imagining what I would feel like in that situation and I have to say that I think I would have felt the same way. When she was finally able to look at Chris without anger and pain, I felt that she was really ready to move forward.
Of course I didn't think too highly of Chris in the beginning of the book, because of his immature high school behavior. However, Chris realized the error of his ways after she left and never really got over Katie. I loved his determination to get her back and it made me fall in love with his character. He just simply wouldn't take no for an answer. They had some serious chemistry and there were some steamy moments, but Chris wouldn't move forward until he felt like she could truly forgive him. That's very honorable in my opinion. How could I not fall for this guy?
This book is a great love story. It's a real story. Love is complicated at times. I also felt like it was a story about healing, forgiveness, and moving on. Go check this book out, it's beautifully done.
The story begins with Katie in high school on a night she and her boyfriend Chris are breaking up. As you see from the synopsis, her dad died that same night on his way to get her. Katie held a lot of guilt about the accident and also held Chris somewhat responsible for it. That opening, really was emotional. I can not imagine what that must be like. Chris was her first love, but Katie left and never looked back. Now years later she returns and is surprised to run into Chris. Her old emotions surface and she's forced to deal with it. What she didn't expect was to have to fight her attraction to Chris.
Katie is an easy character to relate to. There were a few times she drove me nuts, but I could really understand where she was coming from. My stomach was in knots when hers was. I felt like I was walking through the story with her. I kept imagining what I would feel like in that situation and I have to say that I think I would have felt the same way. When she was finally able to look at Chris without anger and pain, I felt that she was really ready to move forward.
Of course I didn't think too highly of Chris in the beginning of the book, because of his immature high school behavior. However, Chris realized the error of his ways after she left and never really got over Katie. I loved his determination to get her back and it made me fall in love with his character. He just simply wouldn't take no for an answer. They had some serious chemistry and there were some steamy moments, but Chris wouldn't move forward until he felt like she could truly forgive him. That's very honorable in my opinion. How could I not fall for this guy?
This book is a great love story. It's a real story. Love is complicated at times. I also felt like it was a story about healing, forgiveness, and moving on. Go check this book out, it's beautifully done.
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November 11, 2012I'm torn. Part of me feel like Chris doesn't deserve another chance for everything he did. He obviously loves Katie but he cheated on her so many times in the past that I completely understand why she's so reluctant to get back with him. I think I just want to see him suffer more since he obviously didn't. He has too many women around to "comfort" him during his heartbreak. He also didn't even know it was his fault Katie left cause for some messed up reason he thought it was okay to be with other girls as long as he loves Katie the most. This reminds me of cheating husbands that think it's okay as long as he comes home for dinner each night. I do like Katie since she's obviously heartbroken from all the times he hurt her. She tried so hard not to fall for him again but in the end had to give in and hopes for the best. I'm so conflicted that I'm having a hard time rating this book. Part of me really likes the storyline and Katie but another part is overwhelmed with my dislike for Chris so I have no idea how rate it. I want to see him beg and suffer and understand what he put her through. The ending left me so unsatisfied.
June 15, 2012
So have you ever wondered “what if…?” Like what if you had the courage to tell that boy you liked that you liked him, or what if you hadn’t broken up with that great girl? Songs are written about this, pithy sayings also, “you never forget your first love…” ect. Well in “What if” the leading man and leading lady find out what happens when they meet again years in the future.
Yes, it’s a ‘typical’ romance, with a twist. In this instance Katie’s dad died the night she saw Chris, her high school love, kissing another girl because of a dare. This and her father’s death remain locked together in her mind and never get dealt with, so of course you know they have to meet again later.
Chris has gotten hotter and Katie more beautiful, and more distant. Can the hunky Chris melt her icy heart? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I give this book 3.5 clouds out of 5 and a chili pepper rating of 6, not for children but not too graphic… like I said romance novel.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
Yes, it’s a ‘typical’ romance, with a twist. In this instance Katie’s dad died the night she saw Chris, her high school love, kissing another girl because of a dare. This and her father’s death remain locked together in her mind and never get dealt with, so of course you know they have to meet again later.
Chris has gotten hotter and Katie more beautiful, and more distant. Can the hunky Chris melt her icy heart? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
I give this book 3.5 clouds out of 5 and a chili pepper rating of 6, not for children but not too graphic… like I said romance novel.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
November 30, 2014
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of What If.. and am thrilled to share what I think is a great weekend, sunny day on the patio, read!
A fun, funny, and poignant journey from first love through finding life’s path, Kelly Rae’s debut is a sweet love story that serves as a reminder to the healing power of forgiveness. Learning to follow the heart is a lesson everyone must learn, and her unadorned prose underscores the emotional terrain of that passage with powerful simplicity. Full of extraordinary grace and warmth, What If…will fill your life with hope and an inner knowing of life’s positive force.
A fun, funny, and poignant journey from first love through finding life’s path, Kelly Rae’s debut is a sweet love story that serves as a reminder to the healing power of forgiveness. Learning to follow the heart is a lesson everyone must learn, and her unadorned prose underscores the emotional terrain of that passage with powerful simplicity. Full of extraordinary grace and warmth, What If…will fill your life with hope and an inner knowing of life’s positive force.
June 17, 2018
4 Stars
Great book about second chances. I wish this book had an epilogue or another book where we could catch up with the couple but still a 4 star read.
Great book about second chances. I wish this book had an epilogue or another book where we could catch up with the couple but still a 4 star read.
July 2, 2012
I am always a sucker for a good romance story, I can't help it, it is the hopeless romantic in me. I love happily ever afters and I love when the hero gets the girl.
I knew from the moment I first read the synopsis on this book that I would want to read it. It just appealed to me.
I loved the prologue, it pretty much hooked me in and the first few chapters were great and then things started to change, just a little once I got to know the main character Katie a little better.
Let me explain a little by what I mean that things changed.
Katie was kind of...almost whinny. She had a woe is me attitude and at times I think she felt like the victim when really what happened in her family was awful, but she wasn't a victim. If anythign she should have been a survivor. Losing someone you love, is never easy, especially when you are on the cusp of adulthood.
I had a really hard time liking her and relating to her, which I think is why this story sort of dragged for me at times.
There were moments when I wanted to shake her and tell her to grow up and act like an adult and see that times and people change and things aren't always so black and white. That she needed to learn to forgive. Forgive herself and to forgive others around her.
That kids will be kids and they will make some bad choices but just because they made them as teenagers, doesn't mean they will make them as adults too.
Then we have Chris. I wasn't too sure if he really was a good guy there for awhile. He did make some bad choices as a teenager, which actually didn't bother me so much. It was the bad choices he made as an adult (okay just one bad choice really) that bothered me.
I mean after all, didn't I just get done saying that most adults learn from their mistakes as kids? Geesh! Chris!
But I started to warm towards him there in the end. When he was honest and kind and patient with a girl that really didn't always deserve it. And that speech at the end when he finally got to have his say?
Yep, that did it. My heart melted a little with that speech he gave Katie. How could she possible resist him after that?
And scenes at the end? Well, lets just say they were a little heated. More than I was expecting after so long a wait.
All in all, this story was a cute one, even though it was a little frustrating at times and the characters could be infuriating, this really was a nice story about learning to forgive and letting go of past wrongs and to give second chances. Because, we all deserve a second chance once in a while.
Overall I give this one 3.5 Stars!
I knew from the moment I first read the synopsis on this book that I would want to read it. It just appealed to me.
I loved the prologue, it pretty much hooked me in and the first few chapters were great and then things started to change, just a little once I got to know the main character Katie a little better.
Let me explain a little by what I mean that things changed.
Katie was kind of...almost whinny. She had a woe is me attitude and at times I think she felt like the victim when really what happened in her family was awful, but she wasn't a victim. If anythign she should have been a survivor. Losing someone you love, is never easy, especially when you are on the cusp of adulthood.
I had a really hard time liking her and relating to her, which I think is why this story sort of dragged for me at times.
There were moments when I wanted to shake her and tell her to grow up and act like an adult and see that times and people change and things aren't always so black and white. That she needed to learn to forgive. Forgive herself and to forgive others around her.
That kids will be kids and they will make some bad choices but just because they made them as teenagers, doesn't mean they will make them as adults too.
Then we have Chris. I wasn't too sure if he really was a good guy there for awhile. He did make some bad choices as a teenager, which actually didn't bother me so much. It was the bad choices he made as an adult (okay just one bad choice really) that bothered me.
I mean after all, didn't I just get done saying that most adults learn from their mistakes as kids? Geesh! Chris!
But I started to warm towards him there in the end. When he was honest and kind and patient with a girl that really didn't always deserve it. And that speech at the end when he finally got to have his say?
Yep, that did it. My heart melted a little with that speech he gave Katie. How could she possible resist him after that?
And scenes at the end? Well, lets just say they were a little heated. More than I was expecting after so long a wait.
All in all, this story was a cute one, even though it was a little frustrating at times and the characters could be infuriating, this really was a nice story about learning to forgive and letting go of past wrongs and to give second chances. Because, we all deserve a second chance once in a while.
Overall I give this one 3.5 Stars!
July 5, 2012
My Review:
From the moment I read the final line in the prologue and started crying, I knew that I was going to love this book! Her senior year in high school, Katie's father died in a car accident on his way to rescue her after she caught her boyfriend Chris in a compromising position. The heartache of their loss was too much for both Katie and her mother so they left town. In the ten years since, Katie has not been able to forgive herself or her boyfriend, whom she never saw again, for his death. The fact was he wouldn't have been on the road that night if Chris hadn't broken her heart...and her father wouldn't have died.
It's ten years later and now Katie is a successful lawyer and has moved back to that small town to be the Asst. DA. She's moved past those awful events and put Chris firmly in her past, even though she does think about him occasionally. What she doesn't expect is for him to still be living in this small town. He too has come back and is now the high school basketball coach.
They both thought they'd moved past their feelings, but they were both wrong. Chris immediately knows that she's the one that got away and he wants her back. Over the years, he's forgotten what caused the issues that night to begin with. But for Katie, her feelings for Chris are so much more complex. She sees him and she's immediately overcome with grief, anger, and deep gut-wrenching longing. She never dealt with what happened that night...between them or what happened to her dad because of it. It makes for an incredible, emotional read, although I will admit that I hit a point where I simply wanted her to get past it, but that's because I was falling in love with Chris' character too.
The book is written almost entirely from Katie's POV, but the few glimpses you get inside Chris' head are so sweet and honest. He's a guy and he's human. He screws up especially when it comes to women, but his feelings for Katie are so true. You can't help but fall in love with him. On the other hand there's Katie. She trusted him with her whole heart once, but he abused that love. Yes, he was a teenager, but there are definite signs that he could be guilty of the same thing again. You can't blame her for being leery even when her heart is bursting out of her chest in love with him.
Like I said, this was just a great read. There was enough angst to really appeal to my reading loves. I will definitely be watching for more from Kelly Rae.
From the moment I read the final line in the prologue and started crying, I knew that I was going to love this book! Her senior year in high school, Katie's father died in a car accident on his way to rescue her after she caught her boyfriend Chris in a compromising position. The heartache of their loss was too much for both Katie and her mother so they left town. In the ten years since, Katie has not been able to forgive herself or her boyfriend, whom she never saw again, for his death. The fact was he wouldn't have been on the road that night if Chris hadn't broken her heart...and her father wouldn't have died.
It's ten years later and now Katie is a successful lawyer and has moved back to that small town to be the Asst. DA. She's moved past those awful events and put Chris firmly in her past, even though she does think about him occasionally. What she doesn't expect is for him to still be living in this small town. He too has come back and is now the high school basketball coach.
They both thought they'd moved past their feelings, but they were both wrong. Chris immediately knows that she's the one that got away and he wants her back. Over the years, he's forgotten what caused the issues that night to begin with. But for Katie, her feelings for Chris are so much more complex. She sees him and she's immediately overcome with grief, anger, and deep gut-wrenching longing. She never dealt with what happened that night...between them or what happened to her dad because of it. It makes for an incredible, emotional read, although I will admit that I hit a point where I simply wanted her to get past it, but that's because I was falling in love with Chris' character too.
The book is written almost entirely from Katie's POV, but the few glimpses you get inside Chris' head are so sweet and honest. He's a guy and he's human. He screws up especially when it comes to women, but his feelings for Katie are so true. You can't help but fall in love with him. On the other hand there's Katie. She trusted him with her whole heart once, but he abused that love. Yes, he was a teenager, but there are definite signs that he could be guilty of the same thing again. You can't blame her for being leery even when her heart is bursting out of her chest in love with him.
Like I said, this was just a great read. There was enough angst to really appeal to my reading loves. I will definitely be watching for more from Kelly Rae.
June 26, 2012
From the prologue, I was intrigued, and immediately, I was interested to see what happened to Katie, and her then boyfriend Chris. The Prologue basically gives us the incident on how and why Katie broke off things with Chris. Then the first chapter goes to about ten years later, and Katie, now in her late twenties, moves back to her hometown, the town she left ten years prior, but this is a career move. Who does she end up seeing though, her ex, Chris, who is a P.E. teacher/Coach at their old high school. Seeing each other brings memories, for Katie they are bittersweet, as for ten years she had avoided seeing Chris again. There was definitely conflict between Chris and Katie, as they have a lot of unresolved issues to work through, but Katie just seems not to be able forgive Chris. This story really gives a look on forgiveness, and if we could forgive those that have done wrong to us. It could be so hard, but what does it take to finally to forgive? This was a very good story all in all, really; there were raw scenes here, raw emotions that felt relatable, and I liked reading that, what can be relatable to the reader.
The characters were really well developed. There was a lot of background information, especially focusing on Katie and Chris. They were each other's first love in high school. He was actually pretty shy, but then comes confident and smart Katie and she brought him out of his shell, and encouraged him to be a better person, to excel in school and sports, and he did that with Katie by his side. I really liked knowing how they were in high school, and how Katie was having doubts on their relationship even before the incident that broke them up. Having this written in third person was very good; I liked reading what both were sorta thinking, especially Chris, as I well did not really like him in the beginning, but as the story goes on, we see what his thoughts are, and ok I had a more understanding side for him, and was then rooting for them to get together, but do they? Hmm well you're just going to have to read and find out. This was a well written story, and I can't wait to read more from Kelly Rae. I Recommend this Novel! :)
The characters were really well developed. There was a lot of background information, especially focusing on Katie and Chris. They were each other's first love in high school. He was actually pretty shy, but then comes confident and smart Katie and she brought him out of his shell, and encouraged him to be a better person, to excel in school and sports, and he did that with Katie by his side. I really liked knowing how they were in high school, and how Katie was having doubts on their relationship even before the incident that broke them up. Having this written in third person was very good; I liked reading what both were sorta thinking, especially Chris, as I well did not really like him in the beginning, but as the story goes on, we see what his thoughts are, and ok I had a more understanding side for him, and was then rooting for them to get together, but do they? Hmm well you're just going to have to read and find out. This was a well written story, and I can't wait to read more from Kelly Rae. I Recommend this Novel! :)
September 3, 2013
After the death of her father Katie and her mother moved away from town. Now ten years later, she is back. And the last person she is expecting to see is there too. What if you had to face your past when you haven’t find peace yet and forgiveness is nowhere near?
What if… is a romance which deals with feelings like forgiveness, grieve and love. A fast reading but with a lot of things I didn’t like.
This book is supposed to be about two people who were together as teenagers but then, for different circumstances, they ended up apart. Once they are reunited as adults they will have to overcome their differences to be together.
Katie’s personality is part of why I didn’t enjoy the book. Her pain and suffering is understandable but most of the time she acts like a seventeen-year-old girl and for me was not believable. I can see why she can’t let go the past or why is not easy to forgive Chris but she messed with his head and I think she knows what she wants but she just like to be all dramatic about it.
Chris is another story; he is supposed to be this amazing man with perfect body and a dream personality. Let me tell you that for moments he is all that but when he is with Katie, he is a horney teenager. I mean, she makes awful accusations against him and the only thing on his mind is kissing her. What???
I read it in only a few hours but just because it’s a short book and it’s written on a smoothly style with easy language. I also have to point that it has some scenes that are great with good sexual tension and great dialogues.
Overall, it’s a fast reading that some romance fans would enjoy. For me the problems were the characters’ personalities.
What if… is a romance which deals with feelings like forgiveness, grieve and love. A fast reading but with a lot of things I didn’t like.
This book is supposed to be about two people who were together as teenagers but then, for different circumstances, they ended up apart. Once they are reunited as adults they will have to overcome their differences to be together.
Katie’s personality is part of why I didn’t enjoy the book. Her pain and suffering is understandable but most of the time she acts like a seventeen-year-old girl and for me was not believable. I can see why she can’t let go the past or why is not easy to forgive Chris but she messed with his head and I think she knows what she wants but she just like to be all dramatic about it.
Chris is another story; he is supposed to be this amazing man with perfect body and a dream personality. Let me tell you that for moments he is all that but when he is with Katie, he is a horney teenager. I mean, she makes awful accusations against him and the only thing on his mind is kissing her. What???
I read it in only a few hours but just because it’s a short book and it’s written on a smoothly style with easy language. I also have to point that it has some scenes that are great with good sexual tension and great dialogues.
Overall, it’s a fast reading that some romance fans would enjoy. For me the problems were the characters’ personalities.
June 14, 2012
Katie and Chris were high school sweethearts. She asked him out by mistake, but it ended up being the best mistake she ever made. But when his popularity started to rise at school, he started pushing Katie to the back burner for other girls. Their love story came to an abrupt end when Katie catches Chris kissing another girl at a party and calls her father to pick her up. Only her father never makes it to get her, as he's in an accident with a drunk driver.
Fast forward ten years and we find Katie Wright making her way back to her hometown as the new Assistant DA. She's not sure why she needed to take this job, but she has and it's given her a chance to reconnect with her best friend after leaving everything behind after her father died.
What If is about letting go of the past, forgiving yourself and trying to make a future with the one person that makes you happy. Chris and Katie definitely do not have an easy road with their relationship. They have their past relationship to work through, which would be enough, but they also have Katie's grief and the way it's tainted her world to deal with. But Chris is a man who is absolutely determined to win back the heart of the only woman he's over loved, so he's willing to take a lot from Katie (almost a little too much in my opinion). But eventually, Katie is able to open her eyes and ask that question "what if" and make the choice that will make her happiest.
Fast forward ten years and we find Katie Wright making her way back to her hometown as the new Assistant DA. She's not sure why she needed to take this job, but she has and it's given her a chance to reconnect with her best friend after leaving everything behind after her father died.
What If is about letting go of the past, forgiving yourself and trying to make a future with the one person that makes you happy. Chris and Katie definitely do not have an easy road with their relationship. They have their past relationship to work through, which would be enough, but they also have Katie's grief and the way it's tainted her world to deal with. But Chris is a man who is absolutely determined to win back the heart of the only woman he's over loved, so he's willing to take a lot from Katie (almost a little too much in my opinion). But eventually, Katie is able to open her eyes and ask that question "what if" and make the choice that will make her happiest.
October 7, 2012
WHAT IF… is Kelly Rae’s debut novel. For her first novel I was really impressed. The title caught my attention right off the hop and as soon as I started reading it, I was hooked. It was a story about second chances, one I am sure we all have wanted at some point in our lives. The plot and characters were very believable and the storyline was sweet. It was definitely a quick read and I would recommend it to readers who love romance.
Rating: 4
Reviewed by: KellyR
Received from the publisher for an honest review by MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE
Rating: 4
Reviewed by: KellyR
Received from the publisher for an honest review by MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE
February 6, 2015
What If is a lovely story about young love, broken trust and true heartbreak. It's a story everyone who's ever loved and lost can relate to. I was heartbroken for Katie the night of the party and completely understood how her mind combined the actions of the night into blame for her fathers death. I found myself desperately hoping Chris would be able to win her trust and reclaim her heart. Worth the read!
January 3, 2015
The book started out catching my attention and was interesting, but I found the dialog to be stiff and unnatural. However, about a quarter of the way into the book the main character was interviewing a witness for a child abuse case, which started to bother me. I put the book down for good a minute later when it started to go into details.
May 28, 2012
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July 19, 2012
I thought this was a really good book...although at times it did seem to drag alittle...it kept me interested throughout the whole book. This is a great love story. Also a great story about forgiveness.
August 16, 2012
Love this book! I was very drawn into the characters right from the beginning to the end! It is a great read!!
August 1, 2012
one great book
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