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Leave Yesterday Behind
Callie Chennault vaulted to fame on the nighttime soap Sumner Falls, but after a decade of playing the same role, she is ready for a new acting challenge. When Callie is attacked by a stalker on the streets of New York, she takes a leave of absence from the show and returns to her roots in Aurora, Louisiana, to heal both physically and emotionally and determine her next career move.
Former professional baseball pitcher Nick La Chappelle has also come to Aurora to lick his own wounds after a messy divorce. A Cy Young winner and one-time ESPN broadcaster, Nick longs for the quiet of a small town in order to write murder mysteries under a pen name.
Sparks fly when Callie believes Nick is taking advantage of her great-aunt’s hospitality, but they resolve their differences—and surprise themselves by falling in love. Their bond is tested when both Nick and Callie become the focus of a serial killer nicknamed Lipstick Larry. Can they outwit a murderer bent on seeing them dead and survive to build a lasting relationship?
Former professional baseball pitcher Nick La Chappelle has also come to Aurora to lick his own wounds after a messy divorce. A Cy Young winner and one-time ESPN broadcaster, Nick longs for the quiet of a small town in order to write murder mysteries under a pen name.
Sparks fly when Callie believes Nick is taking advantage of her great-aunt’s hospitality, but they resolve their differences—and surprise themselves by falling in love. Their bond is tested when both Nick and Callie become the focus of a serial killer nicknamed Lipstick Larry. Can they outwit a murderer bent on seeing them dead and survive to build a lasting relationship?
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2015
15 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Linwood
12 books53 followersPen name for author Alexa Aston
As a child, Lauren Linwood gathered her neighborhood friends together and made up stories for them to act out, her first venture into creating memorable characters. Following her passion for history and love of learning, she became a teacher who began writing on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones.
Lauren’s historical novels focus on two of her favorite eras—medieval times and the American Old West. History is the backdrop that places her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grows into the treasured gift of love. She also writes romantic suspense, where modern heroes and heroines unite to defeat a strong antagonist and discover a deep, abiding love during their journey.
Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for House Hunters addicts—as soon as she finishes her next piece of dark chocolate.
As a child, Lauren Linwood gathered her neighborhood friends together and made up stories for them to act out, her first venture into creating memorable characters. Following her passion for history and love of learning, she became a teacher who began writing on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones.
Lauren’s historical novels focus on two of her favorite eras—medieval times and the American Old West. History is the backdrop that places her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grows into the treasured gift of love. She also writes romantic suspense, where modern heroes and heroines unite to defeat a strong antagonist and discover a deep, abiding love during their journey.
Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for House Hunters addicts—as soon as she finishes her next piece of dark chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 17, 2015
Vikki’s Musings
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This is definitely an exciting read, filled with plenty of suspense from the first page to the last. I’ve read Ms. Linwood’s medieval romances and also one of her western stories. I enjoy her writing style and her stories are unique. Leave Yesterday Behind is her first foray into contemporary romantic suspense, and it is fantastic!
Callie Chennault, a soap opera star, is questioning her recent lack of enthusiasm for her job. She wonders if something else would bring her more fulfillment. While walking to her subway stop after Yoga class, she’s attacked and left for dead. Her injuries are so severe she takes a leave of absence to recover. She heads to Aurora, Louisiana, where her amazing great-aunt lives.
While recuperating, she meets Nick La Chappelle, a man she met briefly when she was a teenager. The attraction she feels for him is stronger than anything she has ever felt before, and he returns her feelings. When she finds out he is also one of her favorite authors of murder mysteries, that only makes him more attractive.
When Callie starts receiving notes from a stalker, she realizes that the man caught in New York was not the same stalker who killed all those women, resembling her. Now he is not only after her, but Nick as well.
In a race for time, will she and Nick evade the serial killer, while discovering a love that will stand the test of time, or will they find themselves victims of the killer?
Wow! Ms. Linwood has penned a compelling and thrilling story that had me flipping pages as quickly as possible on my Kindle. Not only are the main characters unforgettable, she also has amazing cast of secondary characters who enhance the tale of murder and mystery greatly.
I’m amazed by her ability to switch so dramatically from historical romance to contemporary romantic suspense and doing it so successfully. That is not easy to do. Romantic suspense is not my first choice of a read, but Leave Yesterday Behind may very well change my mind.
If you’re looking for a story with plenty of twists and turns and a great romance as well, then you will not be disappointed. This story is unique and is full of surprises along the way. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I have. Happy reading!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This is definitely an exciting read, filled with plenty of suspense from the first page to the last. I’ve read Ms. Linwood’s medieval romances and also one of her western stories. I enjoy her writing style and her stories are unique. Leave Yesterday Behind is her first foray into contemporary romantic suspense, and it is fantastic!
Callie Chennault, a soap opera star, is questioning her recent lack of enthusiasm for her job. She wonders if something else would bring her more fulfillment. While walking to her subway stop after Yoga class, she’s attacked and left for dead. Her injuries are so severe she takes a leave of absence to recover. She heads to Aurora, Louisiana, where her amazing great-aunt lives.
While recuperating, she meets Nick La Chappelle, a man she met briefly when she was a teenager. The attraction she feels for him is stronger than anything she has ever felt before, and he returns her feelings. When she finds out he is also one of her favorite authors of murder mysteries, that only makes him more attractive.
When Callie starts receiving notes from a stalker, she realizes that the man caught in New York was not the same stalker who killed all those women, resembling her. Now he is not only after her, but Nick as well.
In a race for time, will she and Nick evade the serial killer, while discovering a love that will stand the test of time, or will they find themselves victims of the killer?
Wow! Ms. Linwood has penned a compelling and thrilling story that had me flipping pages as quickly as possible on my Kindle. Not only are the main characters unforgettable, she also has amazing cast of secondary characters who enhance the tale of murder and mystery greatly.
I’m amazed by her ability to switch so dramatically from historical romance to contemporary romantic suspense and doing it so successfully. That is not easy to do. Romantic suspense is not my first choice of a read, but Leave Yesterday Behind may very well change my mind.
If you’re looking for a story with plenty of twists and turns and a great romance as well, then you will not be disappointed. This story is unique and is full of surprises along the way. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I have. Happy reading!
March 21, 2022
This fast-paced crime drama kept me up all hours of the night to finish it. Callie Chennault is a down-to-earth, practical small-town girl, not at all like the part she has played in a popular TV series. When she is attacked by a stalker on the way home, leaving her with severe injuries, Callie follows the yearning of her heart to return home to the place where she can safely recuperate out of the public eye. Arriving at the only real home she has ever known, she is surprised to find that her aunt has another houseguest, who is also keeping a low profile. Together, Nick and Callie reconnect after many years, but not without some distrust and hurdles to overcome before they can admit the attraction between them. Nick is a former baseball star, turned author who finds peace in the small town where he can be himself without any fanfare. Nick and Callie's emerging attraction for one another is taxed when danger appears on their doorstep, putting lives at risk and a killer to be drawn into the open. Although horrific in parts, this novel does come to a very good conclusion, with justice being served in a spectacular way. I received a copy of this well-written and suspenseful novel as a gift through BookSprout and this is my honest and voluntary review.
July 19, 2015
A well written and entertaining thriller. I found this enjoyable from start to finish.
Minor spoilers ahead...
The main characters, Callie and Nick, were relatable and sympathetic in spite of their high profile careers and ridiculous good looks. The supporting characters were also great and helped to flesh out the mains and their relationship.
There were one or two niggles that stopped this from being a five star read though unfortunately. Some of the transitions were really abrupt. For example, when Callie and Nick meet they're really antagonistic towards one another, however in a rather abrupt move they're suddenly in love and planning a future. I bought it, I was on board with their relationship, I just thought it was abrupt rather than instalove and that threw me a little. The other thing that I thought could have been better was the villain. His reveal was pretty anticlimactic, as was the ending.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the story (and thought it was particularly impressive as it was Linwood's contemporary romance debut) but thought it had the potential to be even better.
Minor spoilers ahead...
The main characters, Callie and Nick, were relatable and sympathetic in spite of their high profile careers and ridiculous good looks. The supporting characters were also great and helped to flesh out the mains and their relationship.
There were one or two niggles that stopped this from being a five star read though unfortunately. Some of the transitions were really abrupt. For example, when Callie and Nick meet they're really antagonistic towards one another, however in a rather abrupt move they're suddenly in love and planning a future. I bought it, I was on board with their relationship, I just thought it was abrupt rather than instalove and that threw me a little. The other thing that I thought could have been better was the villain. His reveal was pretty anticlimactic, as was the ending.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the story (and thought it was particularly impressive as it was Linwood's contemporary romance debut) but thought it had the potential to be even better.
May 23, 2016
Another great romantic suspense by Lauren Linwood! Another one of her books that kept my attention through the entire book. It’s filled with suspense. What happens when a lunatic has a hankering to kill a soap star?...lots of bad things. I couldn’t guess who the killer was, or why he wanted Jessica (Callie) dead. The hero, Nick, is totally awesome! He is one patient hunk of man. The romance between him and Callie is a good story all by itself. As I was reading this, the story just flowed. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it, especially if you like romantic suspense.
June 24, 2022
Actress Callie Chennault is better known to the TV watching public as Jessica, the beautiful much married star of a long running soap. The character is so easy for her after so many years in the role it doesn't interest her anymore.
Nick la Chappelle left behind a career as a baseball star and an vicious ex-wife, and stared a whole new life in a town that feels like a forever home.
Unfortunately there is a serial killer on the loose who has Jessica firmly in his sights.
This is a very exciting romantic suspense with lots of danger. Our villain is particularly twisted.
All the characters are so much fun and very easy to get involved with. I was completly drawn in from the first page until the last. I actually made the mistake of starting this when I went to bed. It kept me up reading until four in the morning.
I loved every page.
Nick la Chappelle left behind a career as a baseball star and an vicious ex-wife, and stared a whole new life in a town that feels like a forever home.
Unfortunately there is a serial killer on the loose who has Jessica firmly in his sights.
This is a very exciting romantic suspense with lots of danger. Our villain is particularly twisted.
All the characters are so much fun and very easy to get involved with. I was completly drawn in from the first page until the last. I actually made the mistake of starting this when I went to bed. It kept me up reading until four in the morning.
I loved every page.
June 3, 2015
Characters that are believable.
A book you can just sit back and enjoy reading. The character’s emotions and actions are understandable, believable, and most importantly Nick LaChappelle and Callie Chennault truly care for each other. While both have been hurt in the past they are able to talk about their past problems and work together to solve their differences instead of non-communication being the conflict of the story.
Oh, yes, this is a romantic suspense with a cloud hanging over Nick and Callie. The twist and turns with a killer chasing them provide the added dimension that makes a good story great. Lauren Linwood has successfully moved from Historical Romance to present day thriller with love included.
I was provided an advanced copy for an honest review.
A book you can just sit back and enjoy reading. The character’s emotions and actions are understandable, believable, and most importantly Nick LaChappelle and Callie Chennault truly care for each other. While both have been hurt in the past they are able to talk about their past problems and work together to solve their differences instead of non-communication being the conflict of the story.
Oh, yes, this is a romantic suspense with a cloud hanging over Nick and Callie. The twist and turns with a killer chasing them provide the added dimension that makes a good story great. Lauren Linwood has successfully moved from Historical Romance to present day thriller with love included.
I was provided an advanced copy for an honest review.
July 22, 2015
4.5/5.0
An intense and intriguing tale of mystery and suspense, "Leave Yesterday Behind" lacks only one thing - a bit more exploration of Raymond Morris’s deranged behaviors.
Read full review in the 2015 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
An intense and intriguing tale of mystery and suspense, "Leave Yesterday Behind" lacks only one thing - a bit more exploration of Raymond Morris’s deranged behaviors.
Read full review in the 2015 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 23, 2015
A very exciting read, filled with suspense from beginning to end. The main characters are well-written, and the secondary characters are perfect for enhancing the story.
I was drawn into the story from the first page, and kept turning pages anxious to find out what was going to happen next.
Perfect read for those who enjoy action, suspense, romance and comedy in the same tale.
I was drawn into the story from the first page, and kept turning pages anxious to find out what was going to happen next.
Perfect read for those who enjoy action, suspense, romance and comedy in the same tale.
March 30, 2022
A page turning romantic suspense. Callie is a famous Hollywood actress with a stalker problem. Nick is a retired baseball player turned writer who has the same enemy. The author does a marvelous job with the characters and the plot. She manages to keep the killers identity hidden until almost the very end. Callie and Nick in true souther style find love in the midst of their storm.
March 29, 2022
Actress Callie Chennault and former professional baseball pitcher Nick La Chappelle's story kept me turning pages, I was not putting this book down until I was finished. It has suspense, drama, danger, a villain and romance. The story is well written with a very good storyline. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2015
Review to come ...
April 17, 2022
Edge of my seat!
Callie and Nick's story had me on the edge of my seat! A love story, murder, and southern charm will keep you reading!
Callie and Nick's story had me on the edge of my seat! A love story, murder, and southern charm will keep you reading!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews