What do you think?
Rate this book
Between Octobers
***Updated and expanded! Includes sneak peek at September Rain, Book 2 of Savor The Days series***
"Lovers of both thriller and romance will enjoy Between Octobers. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and will happily be reading the next book in the series"
"I went into this book thinking it was going to be a run-of-the-mill thriller. I was pleasantly surprised when the book began seamlessly alternating between suspense and love story. I honestly don't know that I've ever read another book like it. Just when I was getting the warm fuzzies from the developing relationship, Rivera switches back to Grace's current danger and I found myself instantly on edge again. This book also comes fully equipped with an ending that I did not see coming, which is my favorite kind of ending."-- 4/4 STAR REVIEW, onlinebookclub.org
"I have found yet another author to read.... I really enjoyed this book. There were some parts that got particularly angsty but I love that. I found myself really immersed in this one...I absolutely loved Rhys and Grace... I love that we got to see the whole story of the relationship. Usually in the books I read, marriage in endgame. It's white noise beyond it. You are left to assume there is no trouble, no bickering and all is happy sunshine times.... Some of this book was gutpunchingly angsty but it was so well done."--5/5 STARS, Books Like Breathing
Happy endings have often eluded Grace Zuniga. Now, as she finds herself facing down deadly trouble, she is hoping and praying the pattern will change.
When Grace wakes up in a dark, confined space with no memory of how she got there, the fear is nearly crippling. There are two thoughts keeping her from losing her head. First, her children: she is all they have left after losing their father. They need her to survive. Though Grace is not sure she can, she’s determined to try. Second, figuring out who took her and how she ended up, trapped, alone, and at the mercy of a person who will do anything to keep her from escaping.
Stumbling through these bleak circumstances, Graces’ mind wanders over her last life-changing year, from one October to the next. She relives the most precious and heart-rending moments that led up to her sudden kidnapping.
The previous October, when Grace stepped inside an elevator and into the life of sexy, enigmatic actor Rhys Matthews, it all began. But Grace must ask herself, “How will it end?”
**NOTE: This novel was previously released through Take Two Publishing. It's been updated and enhanced with a new cover and approx. 2k more words added to the overall novel before being re-posted by the author.**
"Lovers of both thriller and romance will enjoy Between Octobers. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and will happily be reading the next book in the series"
"I went into this book thinking it was going to be a run-of-the-mill thriller. I was pleasantly surprised when the book began seamlessly alternating between suspense and love story. I honestly don't know that I've ever read another book like it. Just when I was getting the warm fuzzies from the developing relationship, Rivera switches back to Grace's current danger and I found myself instantly on edge again. This book also comes fully equipped with an ending that I did not see coming, which is my favorite kind of ending."-- 4/4 STAR REVIEW, onlinebookclub.org
"I have found yet another author to read.... I really enjoyed this book. There were some parts that got particularly angsty but I love that. I found myself really immersed in this one...I absolutely loved Rhys and Grace... I love that we got to see the whole story of the relationship. Usually in the books I read, marriage in endgame. It's white noise beyond it. You are left to assume there is no trouble, no bickering and all is happy sunshine times.... Some of this book was gutpunchingly angsty but it was so well done."--5/5 STARS, Books Like Breathing
Happy endings have often eluded Grace Zuniga. Now, as she finds herself facing down deadly trouble, she is hoping and praying the pattern will change.
When Grace wakes up in a dark, confined space with no memory of how she got there, the fear is nearly crippling. There are two thoughts keeping her from losing her head. First, her children: she is all they have left after losing their father. They need her to survive. Though Grace is not sure she can, she’s determined to try. Second, figuring out who took her and how she ended up, trapped, alone, and at the mercy of a person who will do anything to keep her from escaping.
Stumbling through these bleak circumstances, Graces’ mind wanders over her last life-changing year, from one October to the next. She relives the most precious and heart-rending moments that led up to her sudden kidnapping.
The previous October, when Grace stepped inside an elevator and into the life of sexy, enigmatic actor Rhys Matthews, it all began. But Grace must ask herself, “How will it end?”
**NOTE: This novel was previously released through Take Two Publishing. It's been updated and enhanced with a new cover and approx. 2k more words added to the overall novel before being re-posted by the author.**
526 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2014
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 16, 2014
The opening chapter of the book is just brilliant. It's absolutely intriguing!.
I love the character of Gracie. I like her interaction with other characters. The first few chapters were very engaging and the suspense held my interest. The only problem was that there were lengthy interior monologues that served little to no plot function. The beauty of the set up was lost. BUT I was already so heavily invested in the character that it was difficult to disengage.
There's plenty of things to like about this book. It has suspense, action, romance, and the funny bits are quite hilarious.
Overall, this is a strong debut novel that's truly an enjoyable read.
I love the character of Gracie. I like her interaction with other characters. The first few chapters were very engaging and the suspense held my interest. The only problem was that there were lengthy interior monologues that served little to no plot function. The beauty of the set up was lost. BUT I was already so heavily invested in the character that it was difficult to disengage.
There's plenty of things to like about this book. It has suspense, action, romance, and the funny bits are quite hilarious.
Overall, this is a strong debut novel that's truly an enjoyable read.
April 6, 2014
Between Octobers by A. R. Rivera is an excellent book. I simply had to read to the end, I could not put it down.
Grace is having to put her life back together after the death of her husband. It has been a very hard year with trying to raise her two sons and now be both mother and father to them. The first anniversary of his death is coming up. She decides to go out with Lily and try to make her life “normal” again. She is holding chairs at the bar for two friends when she backs up to sit down. Instead of sitting in a chair, she sits in the lap of stranger. In her haste to straighten up, she spills wine on his shoes. Her time away from home is not getting her anywhere.
The next day she has to take keys to Lily at work. She leaves the boys in the car in the parking garage and runs up to Lily’s office. On the way back, she is in the elevator with a very handsome man who she thinks she knows but can’t remember him. The elevator gets stuck and they are in there together for an hour. Little does Grace know that Evan, the man in the elevator, was also the man at the bar and is Rhys Matthews, actor.
Grace and Rhys start seeing each other and end up married to each other. Rhys then goes back to filming a movie leaving Grace at home. Things get worse between them. Neither one likes to talk things out. Finally, they separate and divorce is mentioned.
Can Grace and Rhys make their marriage work? Will they ever set aside their pride and talk? What about the hostility she gets from those at the film, can she get past that? Despite their practicing safe sex, Grace becomes pregnant. What will Rhys think about that? He has said he never wanted to be a father, will he change his mind?
All in all, the book is excellent. The characters become real in the story and you begin to root for some of them and against others. It is an excellent read.
Grace is having to put her life back together after the death of her husband. It has been a very hard year with trying to raise her two sons and now be both mother and father to them. The first anniversary of his death is coming up. She decides to go out with Lily and try to make her life “normal” again. She is holding chairs at the bar for two friends when she backs up to sit down. Instead of sitting in a chair, she sits in the lap of stranger. In her haste to straighten up, she spills wine on his shoes. Her time away from home is not getting her anywhere.
The next day she has to take keys to Lily at work. She leaves the boys in the car in the parking garage and runs up to Lily’s office. On the way back, she is in the elevator with a very handsome man who she thinks she knows but can’t remember him. The elevator gets stuck and they are in there together for an hour. Little does Grace know that Evan, the man in the elevator, was also the man at the bar and is Rhys Matthews, actor.
Grace and Rhys start seeing each other and end up married to each other. Rhys then goes back to filming a movie leaving Grace at home. Things get worse between them. Neither one likes to talk things out. Finally, they separate and divorce is mentioned.
Can Grace and Rhys make their marriage work? Will they ever set aside their pride and talk? What about the hostility she gets from those at the film, can she get past that? Despite their practicing safe sex, Grace becomes pregnant. What will Rhys think about that? He has said he never wanted to be a father, will he change his mind?
All in all, the book is excellent. The characters become real in the story and you begin to root for some of them and against others. It is an excellent read.
July 7, 2014
The previous review outlines the plot clearly and with excellent details.
I enjoyed the book and found myself drawn to Grace and her boys. The way the author wrapped the story around the loss of Grace's husband, without dwelling on their past, was refreshing.
I felt connected to the characters and more than once laughed loud enough to disturb those around me.
The storyline flows nicely and keeps you engaged.
The emotion and anguish in the decisions Grace makes puts you right in her head. My heart raced, broke, and wanted more when I finished the last page.
I enjoyed the book and found myself drawn to Grace and her boys. The way the author wrapped the story around the loss of Grace's husband, without dwelling on their past, was refreshing.
I felt connected to the characters and more than once laughed loud enough to disturb those around me.
The storyline flows nicely and keeps you engaged.
The emotion and anguish in the decisions Grace makes puts you right in her head. My heart raced, broke, and wanted more when I finished the last page.
August 1, 2017
Between Octobers by A. R. Rivera is a modern romance thriller packed with everything you expect to see from both genres, and a little more you might not. It tells the story of an ordinary woman, Grace, who meets and falls in love with an extraordinary man, famous actor Rhys Matthews. The book details their intense love, the passion which unfolds and how it consumes them and all around them. Their relationship is not without its struggles, and they eventually take its toll. Interwoven with this tale, Grace struggles with a more real and intense danger, and as her love story unfolds, and she struggles to find a way to save herself, the bittersweet facets of love are revealed.
Rivera has done a superb job with blending a thriller with some small touches of action and mystery. The story moves along a just the right pace, giving the reader enough background on the characters, and letting them grow, without crawling along at a snail’s pace or cutting back in other areas. The novel grips you from start to finish, with a kind of mature drama, one that I think anyone who has been in a long-term relationship can understand, and those who have enjoyed passionate flings. It is so very real, portraying love in such a raw manner that at first it takes you aback with its authenticity, then just when you think this is talking about every relationship you have ever had Rivera cuts to the fantastical bits that season the story.
A romance novel is still a romance novel though, and this book does sometimes delve into the pitfalls of romance books. The language Rivera uses when Grace speaks sounds like every airport bookstore love story you might pick up. It always struck me as very nineties, the way a character would describe their outfit, or how they would narrate their actions; all so formulaic and aged. What struck me most especially was the way Grace spoke. I did the math, and based on the clues Rivera gives Grace is at most 31 years old for most of the novel, but she sounds like she is 45. It’s not that it detracted from the book, but is more so a source of distaste, as most romance novels read this way. There was a smattering of Christianity throughout, mainly on the part of the main character, but not enough that someone non-religious would be turned off, and just enough to potentially please those who aren’t.
I have to say, as far as romance goes, this book actually impressed me. I liked the pace of it, the length, and so often I found so many parallels between Grace and Rhys’ relationship to my own that I really got hooked. But the biggest bonus for me was the ending. As I try desperately not to reveal much, I do need to gush a bit about the bold choice in ending Rivera went with, definitely not your typical take on a romance novel, and quite refreshing. If you want the romance without too much longing looks, pouting lips and furtive glances, then this is for you. If you want something of a mystery, a touch of authenticity with a few embellishments, then this is the book for you.
Rivera has done a superb job with blending a thriller with some small touches of action and mystery. The story moves along a just the right pace, giving the reader enough background on the characters, and letting them grow, without crawling along at a snail’s pace or cutting back in other areas. The novel grips you from start to finish, with a kind of mature drama, one that I think anyone who has been in a long-term relationship can understand, and those who have enjoyed passionate flings. It is so very real, portraying love in such a raw manner that at first it takes you aback with its authenticity, then just when you think this is talking about every relationship you have ever had Rivera cuts to the fantastical bits that season the story.
A romance novel is still a romance novel though, and this book does sometimes delve into the pitfalls of romance books. The language Rivera uses when Grace speaks sounds like every airport bookstore love story you might pick up. It always struck me as very nineties, the way a character would describe their outfit, or how they would narrate their actions; all so formulaic and aged. What struck me most especially was the way Grace spoke. I did the math, and based on the clues Rivera gives Grace is at most 31 years old for most of the novel, but she sounds like she is 45. It’s not that it detracted from the book, but is more so a source of distaste, as most romance novels read this way. There was a smattering of Christianity throughout, mainly on the part of the main character, but not enough that someone non-religious would be turned off, and just enough to potentially please those who aren’t.
I have to say, as far as romance goes, this book actually impressed me. I liked the pace of it, the length, and so often I found so many parallels between Grace and Rhys’ relationship to my own that I really got hooked. But the biggest bonus for me was the ending. As I try desperately not to reveal much, I do need to gush a bit about the bold choice in ending Rivera went with, definitely not your typical take on a romance novel, and quite refreshing. If you want the romance without too much longing looks, pouting lips and furtive glances, then this is for you. If you want something of a mystery, a touch of authenticity with a few embellishments, then this is the book for you.
July 21, 2014
To see this and many other reviews check out Sharon's Book Nook!
*Copy of book provided by the author in return for an honest review*
Between Octobers is set over a period of one year and is filled with plenty of drama, love and tumultuous emotions.
This story is nicely written, moves at a steady pace, projecting very strong emotions that pull the readers emotions in opposite directions and has very likeable characters in Grace and Evan along with villains to loathe. The story is told in the first person via Grace's point of view and towards the end switches to Evan's. I enjoyed this part and found that it gave the reader a good view of the story from both sides of the coin.
Our main character Grace is a widow after losing her husband in a car accident a year earlier. She is a mother of two boys and is a very kind hearted caring person who is trying to piece her life back together for her family. Then we have Evan, he's a famous actor and is having issues of his own, that are not fully disclosed until over half way through the book. Along with this he is having to deal with his lack of privacy and annoying paparazzi. Aside from this he's a very sweet guy and cares very deeply for Grace.
The secondary characters also provide the reader with a good mix of personalities. From the innocence of children, to the nasty mother-in-law, the protective sister-in-law/best friend and a loyal best mate.
The romance side of this book is sweet, and there are no graphic love scenes. The relationship between Grace and Evan does develop fast, but it still feels quite realistic and not the instant-love you can come to expect with some books in this genre.
As for the ending of this book, I did not find it predictable and I liked that especially. Even though, it's not a particularly joyous end we are given an earth shattering climax.
If you enjoy stories that pull at your heartstrings and keep you guessing then, you may enjoy this book.
4 stars!
*Copy of book provided by the author in return for an honest review*
Between Octobers is set over a period of one year and is filled with plenty of drama, love and tumultuous emotions.
This story is nicely written, moves at a steady pace, projecting very strong emotions that pull the readers emotions in opposite directions and has very likeable characters in Grace and Evan along with villains to loathe. The story is told in the first person via Grace's point of view and towards the end switches to Evan's. I enjoyed this part and found that it gave the reader a good view of the story from both sides of the coin.
Our main character Grace is a widow after losing her husband in a car accident a year earlier. She is a mother of two boys and is a very kind hearted caring person who is trying to piece her life back together for her family. Then we have Evan, he's a famous actor and is having issues of his own, that are not fully disclosed until over half way through the book. Along with this he is having to deal with his lack of privacy and annoying paparazzi. Aside from this he's a very sweet guy and cares very deeply for Grace.
The secondary characters also provide the reader with a good mix of personalities. From the innocence of children, to the nasty mother-in-law, the protective sister-in-law/best friend and a loyal best mate.
The romance side of this book is sweet, and there are no graphic love scenes. The relationship between Grace and Evan does develop fast, but it still feels quite realistic and not the instant-love you can come to expect with some books in this genre.
As for the ending of this book, I did not find it predictable and I liked that especially. Even though, it's not a particularly joyous end we are given an earth shattering climax.
If you enjoy stories that pull at your heartstrings and keep you guessing then, you may enjoy this book.
4 stars!
December 3, 2015
Over the course of the book, which takes place within the period of one year, the main character Grace experiences situations that take her from heartbreak to renewal and back to heartbreak. There are ups and downs, with some of the situations being ones that seem so real that my heart was torn too as a reader! I found some scenes a bit long, which is why I don't give it 5 stars, but I find the writing to be very compelling.
September 10, 2017
I didnt know much about this book when I started reading. So my first surprise was the thrilling part of the story. I have expected an usual romance, and it is in parts. very charming due to the irresistible Evan. But there is so much more. and I didnt see this end coming... I really enjoyed reading it, and I think it will stay with me for a while.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews