I am a southern woman, born and bred. I love the beach, cooking, gardening, sweet tea, cats, good books, music, and warm, sunny weather. Growing up as a child of blind parents gave me a unique perspective of life. Watching my parents struggle to overcome adversity in order to provide a normal life for me and my brother, I learned the meaning of tenacity, self-reliance, independence, grace, and the true importance of family. I am a glass-half-full-girl to my very core. As a young girl, I kept a diary, which led to the habit of keeping a journal and writing short stories. I’ve spent my life writing in my head. I’ve always had an open book nearby, soaking up the adventures that transport me from my daily life to exotic, exciting locations around the world. Someday, if someone remembers me as a kind, compassionate, and strong person, I will have lived the life I always wanted.
At That Moment is a first time read for me by Scarlett Hartgrove. I wasn't sure what to expect in this story as I jumped into reading it with no knowledge of what it would be about.Scarlett Hartgrove did an amazing job not only writing this story, but also in developing each character. At That Moment is a book New Adult Romance Novel. I loved how this story was told with so much passion. Scarlett Hartgrove brought real life issues to this story and that just made it more, more than just a love story. This story was told in first person points of view of Cara and Dlyan. Cara has been dealing with bad divorce, she is get her life back in order after everything she has been through with a successful business, good friends, and her charity work. Just when she has herself convinced that she has it all, her world is rocked when the actor that helped her get through a good deal of this just by being on the big screen and the star of her fantasies, appears in the flesh in her small town. When they meet neither one can deny the attraction, but Cara has a hard time believing it is anything more than just a passing fancy. The more time these two spend together, the more they realize that it could grow into more, but with both of their futures a bit unknown, they have to be willing to take the leap into a future with each other.
I really enjoyed Cara and Dlyan story. I rated this book 5 stars and would definitely recommend to readers who love the same kind of books I do. If you are into Movie Star books this is the book for you. ♥
WOW! I absolutely LOVED this story! In fact, the way I was left hanging, Scarlett Hartgrove just bought herself a one way ticket to the list of authors trying to KILL ME, and is hash tagged #EVILWHORE forevermore. Cara Mears has a simple, satisfying, and safe life that she's content with. She believes the decent relationship she has with Richard is good enough. The night she meets Dylan Madigan, her yummy Irish movie star crush, is the night all of that safety goes out the window. She embarks on a sexy, romantic journey that takes her out of her comfort zone. The powerful connection they have scares her, but she can't stay away. Will she let him in fully, or run for the hills when the chaos hits?
At That Moment is such a great story, that I was shocked to see it's a debut book. The character development is great, with an amazing cast of secondaries. An addicting, original, and well written storyline flows smoothly. Simmering chemistry FINALLY EXPLODES into SMOKIN' sexy scene goodness, and the well placed humor had me rolling. Scarlett Hartgrove's talented writing style captivated me instantly, and kept me on the edge of my seat cover to cover. A couple big OMG moments came out of left field to sucker punch me, and the cliff hanger ending may or may not have had me cussing the author out. Since the next book isn't already on my kindle, it can't come soon enough, so I'll just end with I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
My disclaimer up front, Scarlett and I are friends and I have had the great pleasure of helping her through her writing process of this series. I have loved watching her get excited and sad about the story, laugh when I got mad over the direction of the storyline and just enjoy the process of writing. I can appreciate what an author goes through much more now since I have been a small part of it.
With all that being said, this is an honest review of her work. I did receive an ARC, but I also purchased my own paper copy of the book.
Scarlett writes a book that brings hope to the romantic. It encourages us to never give up on our dreams. One day, they might come true. You never know what fate has in store for you, Cara certainly didn’t.
Cara is a beautiful woman who works hard and just keeps going with the punches in her life. She has earned everything she has, never taken handouts. She is proud of her job as an event planner and proud of the name she has built for herself. But she doesn't see herself as anything special, just an ordinary person doing what she does and enjoying life when she isn't organizing an event in town. Her brother Allen plays an important role in her life. Thank goodness for her friends, Suzanne and Melanie. Suzanne knows about working hard but also knows when it's time to relax and enjoy the moment. A little balance is what Suzanne gives Cara, that voice in her head making sure she leaves work at the office and takes the time to smell the roses, so to speak, but in this case, it's Dylan Madigan on the big screen. Ahhh...to sit and watch your fantasy boyfriend on the big screen and dream of a life with him, or even just meeting him would be nice. For Cara, it's a chance of a lifetime and a dream come true. Then her friend Melanie sets the stage for the dreams to come true. The rest is in the hands of fate and then Cara and Dylan.
Scarlett writes a believable story, it’s realistic. It’s you and me meeting our hot, hunky Mc. Dylan guy who we watch on television every week. Cara is real, we can relate to her and her troubles. She worries about her job, exercise and her co-workers. Her story is not made of fantasy. What Cara and Dylan have is real and must be negotiated between their two crazy schedules. Cara comes with her own past, one that she hasn’t quite put to rest and Dylan has his own baggage that he brings to the relationship. I loved how quickly Dylan protected Cara, and not always when she wanted his protection. Cara has some walls to break down and with Dylan’s patience I think she can. These two are a work in progress as long as they play nice and remember their manners, this might work. Dylan respects Cara’s job and her business and what she has built on her own. Cara remains strong throughout the story which I love to see a strong female character. Don’t worry, there are bumps in their story, but doesn’t every relationship have those? It’s whether the couple can move past the bumps that matters.
Scarlett did a beautiful job finally getting her story on paper. It was fun to read about Cara and Dylan and see that dreams can come true for real people too! I am looking forward to the next book and to see what happens to Dylan and Cara next.
My disclaimer up front, Scarlett and I are friends and I have had the great pleasure of helping her through her writing process of this series. I have loved watching her get excited and sad about the story, laugh when I got mad over the direction of the storyline and just enjoy the process of writing. I can appreciate what an author goes through much more now since I have been a small part of it.
With all that being said, this is an honest review of her work. I did receive an ARC, but I also purchased my own paper copy of the book.
Scarlett writes a book that brings hope to the romantic. It encourages us to never give up on our dreams. One day, they might come true. You never know what fate has in store for you, Cara certainly didn’t.
Cara is a beautiful woman who works hard and just keeps going with the punches in her life. She has earned everything she has, never taken handouts. She is proud of her job as an event planner and proud of the name she has built for herself. But she doesn't see herself as anything special, just an ordinary person doing what she does and enjoying life when she isn't organizing an event in town. Her brother Allen plays an important role in her life. Thank goodness for her friends, Suzanne and Melanie. Suzanne knows about working hard but also knows when it's time to relax and enjoy the moment. A little balance is what Suzanne gives Cara, that voice in her head making sure she leaves work at the office and takes the time to smell the roses, so to speak, but in this case, it's Dylan Madigan on the big screen. Ahhh...to sit and watch your fantasy boyfriend on the big screen and dream of a life with him, or even just meeting him would be nice. For Cara, it's a chance of a lifetime and a dream come true. Then her friend Melanie sets the stage for the dreams to come true. The rest is in the hands of fate and then Cara and Dylan.
Scarlett writes a believable story, it’s realistic. It’s you and me meeting our hot, hunky Mc. Dylan guy who we watch on television every week. Cara is real, we can relate to her and her troubles. She worries about her job, exercise and her co-workers. Her story is not made of fantasy. What Cara and Dylan have is real and must be negotiated between their two crazy schedules. Cara comes with her own past, one that she hasn’t quite put to rest and Dylan has his own baggage that he brings to the relationship. I loved how quickly Dylan protected Cara, and not always when she wanted his protection. Cara has some walls to break down and with Dylan’s patience I think she can. These two are a work in progress as long as they play nice and remember their manners, this might work. Dylan respects Cara’s job and her business and what she has built on her own. Cara remains strong throughout the story which I love to see a strong female character. Don’t worry, there are bumps in their story, but doesn’t every relationship have those? It’s whether the couple can move past the bumps that matters.
Scarlett did a beautiful job finally getting her story on paper. It was fun to read about Cara and Dylan and see that dreams can come true for real people too! I am looking forward to the next book and to see what happens to Dylan and Cara next.
I will say from the very beginning that this author wove magic with this book, she really did a fabulous job. The character didn’t just grow they evolved, she brought their whole lives to life right before me and it was superb. This was a good look at life, through the eyes of characters that it was impossible not to care about, it showed issues that are faced by many in their true light and that element of realism was to the book and the authors credit because by including those topics which other shy away from showed a confidence to raise the bar. This was so much more than just a love story it was a life journey. Cara and Dylan were brilliant characters and their story was so passionate that at times it was painful. Life after divorce is traumatic for anyone but it really pulled no punches with Cara and finally she has worked her way back to some semblance of normality, she has a group of fabulous friends, she has established a new career and not content with that she is full of everything that is her charity also. But just when she might have thought it safe to take her foot off the gas, she is face to face with the man that saw her sanity safe thought her toughest times, the man that her fantasies are built around and the man that she never thought she would see in the flesh…and what delicious flesh it is. Dylan the actor is everything she could and did dream of and more but what about Dylan the man? She is everything he never knew he wanted but despite the attraction, making something meaningful is going to take a lot more than fancy words, it is going to take time, patience and understanding and do weather of them have the aptitude for that? Cara finds his attention difficult to understand and she isn’t exactly willing to put herself out there on a whim, after all she has the battle scars from her last relationship playing devil’s advocate in her mind, but the more time they spend together it gets harder and harder for the two of them to deny the feelings they have. Can they bite the bullet and commit to making it work, or will fear and uncertainty pull them apart? Nobody knows what the future holds but for this pair I had every digit crossed.
What happens when you finally meet the hunky movie star you have obsessively watch his movies and fawned over for years? At that moment your life changes. Cara Mears is a single, successful small business over. She runs her party planning business, has loyal friends, and is currently dating an attorney that she has a fine time with. But Cara’s friend Suzanne points out that Cara is just existing….she needs to take a chance and put herself out there romantically. Suzanne can tell that Cara is not head-over-heels in love with the attorney; heck she hardly acts like she likes him. Cara is suddenly in the exact position when Irish movie actor Dylan Madigan shows up to one of her biggest fundraising parties of the year. Dylan immediately has eyes for Cara but he just needs to convince her to take a chance with him on love.
At That Moment by Scarlett Hartgrove was a well written story about giving love another chance. Cara has been through a terrible divorce, harassed by her ex-husband, and now threaten by her ex-boyfriend. Give this girl a break! Which is just was Scarlett did through her storytelling. Cara was scared to put her heart out there but she took a chance and that lucky man just happened to be a big-time movie star. Woven throughout Cara’s story we meet a wondering supporting cast of Cara’s friends and remaining family member, her brother. At that moment was a sweet romance that I am looking forward to reading the remainder of Cara and Dylan’s story. This book does not end in a big cliffhanger; it just ends with promise of the continuation of the story. I would definitely recommend At This Moment for anyone looking for a good contemporary romance novel.
I’m a sucker for a well written romance. A talented author is one who can make their story come alive in my mind. At That Moment, Scarlett Hartgrove’s debut has all of the elements I admire in a romance and her brilliant story came to life just like a motion picture.
At That Moment is filled with brilliantly written “moments” that entice, enthrall and enchant the reader. Scarlett created characters that I loved from the very first “moment” I met them. Cara is my favorite and the most relatable for me since I found we shared so many common interests. Dylan, Wow! I know I immediately fell for him just like Cara. There is much to love about him. After all, it’s not every day that you get to meet your movie crush, much less develop a friendship with him. The cast of supporting characters was perfect. They added and aided in keeping the dynamic flow of this story alive. They kept the light parts light, offered humor, love and support when the main characters needed them the most. They were extremely important in keeping Cara focused as well.
As a reader, I pictured every moment in this exquisitely written book. The details and descriptions were brilliant. At That Moment, takes the cake with flawless characters, exquisite and vivid locations and an exceptional plot.
This story is one I highly recommend. It is a romance that will hook you, make you smile, swoon, I know I did, feel some angst, make you mad, and truly feel the love.
What an original idea for a story! What women hasn't at one point in their lives had a crush on a movie star? What would you do if you finally met him in the flesh and sparks flew! Cara has lived through a horrible marriage and divorce, finally able to stand on her own two feet with a successful business, good friends, and her charity work. Just when she has herself convinced that she has it all, her world is rocked when the actor that helped her get through a good deal of this just by being on the big screen and the star of her fantasies, appears in the flesh in her small town. When they meet neither one can deny the attraction, but Cara has a hard time believing it is anything more than just a passing fancy. This story really is beautiful and takes us inside the journey and struggles that both Cara and Dylan have. The characters are strong, yet each has a softer side for what is important to them. This was one of those reads that leave a smile on your face both while you are reading it and well after you are finished.
I absolutely loved this book! To be the authors first book I have to say she's done a fantastic job. We meet Cara Mears, successful business woman with a close network of friends. Cara has built her business after a messy divorce. She's built an imaginary wall round her emotions until she meets her heartthrob, the actor Dylan Madigan. The story takes you through the emotional journey of Cara and Dylan's feelings for each other and how they deal with them. As I said this is a fantastic read that I didn't want to end. The author promises that book 2 will be out in July. I can't wait!
First, I want to congratulate Scarlett Hartgrove on her debut novel At That Moment!
Now, the good stuff…
I’m pretty sure most people have ‘that’ crush; you know the one, it’s on your favorite Hollywood heartthrob or rock singer… some people have a few, a list even. Just for a moment, imagine if that unthinkable moment, that fantasy moment, would happen and you’d come face-to-face with your fantasy right smack in the middle of your reality. AT THAT MOMENT, what would you do? If you're Cara Mears, you’d stumble inside, just for the briefest of moments, then you'd turn on your grace and composure and never break eye contact.
At That Moment is a beautifully written story where Hollywood heartthrob, Dylan (Mad Handsome) Madigan stumbles into the middle of a black-tie event planned by event planner, Cara Mears. Dylan isn’t just the star of Hollywood’s hottest movies, he’s the star of every one of Cara’s hottest and romantic fantasies.
The story is almost cinematic in its detail. Scarlett Hartgrove writes with such vivid description the reader can watch the story play out. The sights, the sounds, the smells… it’s all there on vivid display on every single wonderful page of this story. I couldn’t call it predictable. And it isn’t littered with childish drama. It’s a story of good versus evil, friendship, family and finding love… the kind that seems ‘meant to be.’ As much as people are different, it’s the differences that fit them together seamlessly. Hartgrove makes it happen with ease. The story is drizzled with life’s ups, downs and even throws Cara some punches. It’s the best friend who sees things just the way you do, except when you can’t see things for yourself. It’s the sibling who you adore because you’ve brought them up. It’s the career you love because at one point it was everything you needed to become who you are. It’s the drunken nights when reality is just too tough to deal with. It’s the shoulders you lean on when what you’ve gone through yesterday, causes you to stumble today. Through it all, Cara’s Mad Handsome is there learning everything he can about her as he goes. He leaves no stone unturned, he does however, leave a collection of leather overnight bags. :)
The story leaves you on the edge, but it’s not over. There is more to come and I will be ready to take on Mad Handsome and lovely Cara just as soon as it’s available.