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The Comeback

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ISBN: 9781927940631
Maddy Cassidy has hit her stride at Montgomery University. She has great friends, stellar grades, and sees no bumps on the road to a drama-free junior year. Classes haven't even started when sparks fly between her and Elijah Hart, a moody Navy SEAL who's landed in academia after a devastating battlefield experience. He's not planning on falling for anyone until Maddy's looks and brains start to get under his skin. Will someone as beautiful as she is be able to look past his life-changing injury? And will Elijah's passion for Maddy be able to protect her from an unexpected danger?
**Contains plot-driven descriptive consensual sex**

317 pages, ebook

Published July 29, 2016

47 people want to read

About the author

Kathryn Renard

4 books3 followers
Kathryn Renard Kathryn Renard is an award-winning journalist who has always enjoyed romance novels. She felt there was a need for romances that were more like real-life college years. With this in mind, she started writing. Her modern heroines and swoon-worthy heroes have flaws, but they also have a lot of passion. They may kiss the wrong guy, or sleep with the wrong girl, but her couples are worth rooting for.

Kathryn enjoys books with great plots and great characters, but also great sex scenes. She includes these elements in her books. Her characters do not tend to close the bedroom door on the reader.

In her real life, Kathryn works for a well known national news organization, and lives in Washington, DC with her husband, twin daughters, and two dogs.

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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Samantha.
571 reviews45 followers
July 1, 2016
4 this was so much better than I expected stars. Maddy and Elijah were interesting. I had to laugh at the connection between the two outside of their mutual attraction and awareness. There was more to the story than I expected which was good because it wasn't a boring read.

Maddy's smart, attractive, selective and endlessly genuine. I found I liked her because she was so quick witted and bold. She didn't take crap from anyone while still being a good person. She didn't judge Elijah for his wound and instead understood him. It helped that she grew up with a father in the Navy.

Elijah ticked me the heck off at first because he was clearly into Maddy but couldn't stop being a douche. I felt like I was back in grade school and wanted to throw a rock at his face. Having said that, he eventually got his act together and fixed it. He hunted Maddy like a mountain lion stalks its prey. He was relentless and that was a good thing because she really needed to be chased.

Overall, I wasn't bored at all. I was thoroughly entertained and found myself bonding the characters which is important for me. This is the first thing I've read by Kathryn Reynard but I might go back and read the other books in this series.
Profile Image for Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers).
1,761 reviews51 followers
August 18, 2016
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5StarPlaid
Maddy Cassidy could care less about football. She is there for the academics, a degree in physics. Her social life doesn’t revolve around the football team like her roommate Josie Savage. She’s really not interested in dating. She just wants to complete her junior year with stellar grades.

Junior year is starting out quite differently than expected. One of her former roommates has moved on to become an exchange student in London. Their new roommate Nella, an exchange student from London, is annoying. To top it off, her first encounter with one of the other students at the swimming pool has left her seething. Not a good start.

Elijah Hart is at Montgomery University, as a guest professor, after he was severely injured. His career as a Navy Seal has ended quite differently than he thought it would. He’s grateful he’s alive after losing his leg. Fate has stepped in and landed him at the same university as Josie Savage. Their torrid vacation affair turned into a close friendship.

He was shocked when the sexy coed he insulted at the pool is none other than one of Josie’s roommate. He finds Maddy intriguing. He wants to get to know her better. He didn’t count on the complications that come from Maddy and Josie’s history. He’s willing to do anything to get Maddy in his bed and in his life.

Life at Montgomery University is anything but boring. Maddy has become this season’s poster girl for the football team. One the players is head over heels in love with her. She’s not attracted to him, she’s attracted to the new sexy, egotistical professor.

As Elijah and Maddy’s relationship heats up, so does her notoriety. She is trying to dissuade a volatile football player attentions, repair her friendship with Josie, learn to tolerate Nella, and keep her grades up. She’s under pressure.

The pressure escalates as her relationship with Elijah becomes more solid. What neither of them anticipated was a very dangerous stalker determined to have Maddy for himself.

It’s a life or death situation. Elijah may be a former Navy Seal but it may not be enough to save Maddy.

I could not put this book down. This book turned into a pure romantic suspense novel that had me on the edge of my seat with my heart racing a mile a minute. Kathryn Renard found her niche writing this book. It was fantastic. I am looking forward to more from this dynamic author. Her writing talent is blossoming.

Profile Image for Char (1RadReader59).
3,245 reviews19 followers
April 21, 2017


Absolutely loved this book. It was the first out of the series that I have read. Not realizing I have two others and that I have read it out of order. This is number four. I hope the other two measure up.
This book is centered around Maddy Cassidy. She is a Navy brat who has been all over the world. She is the only in a family with two older brothers and one younger. To say she was a tomboy would be an understatement. She loved dressing up and she was boy crazy. She was always model beautiful yet never felt it, a swimmer good enough that she earned herself a scholarship to her college, and she was beyond smart. Being a Physics major did not win her a lot of dates. But her mother always told her there would be the right man out there that would love her for both her mind and her body so never compromise.
Now, however, it was her junior year and she was feeling more reassured about who she is as a person. She was doing well in school. Had great friends. Most of all no drama in her life. But also, no boyfriend either which was leaving her lonely while all her other friends had their boyfriend to cozy up to. She was back five days early to campus and at the pool when she meets a tall, sexy, strong swimmer like herself. Turns out he is a Navy SEAL and a professor at the college new to the school. When he joins her and some acquaintances at the jacuzzi he is on crutches and it turns out he is an amputee.
Explaining why his almost perfect form in the pool was off just slightly. She couldn’t figure it out but she hadn’t been looking not that it makes a difference to her. Everyone else gets out and it’s just the two of them. They start talking all is good until he starts snipping at her and becoming rude. So, she fires back and tells him off. At which point she gets out of the pool.
She was just glad that her dad had made all of his children tough because she was not going to let any man think he could be rude and disrespectful to her and get away with it. Not happening on her watch. As she walked away Elijah Hart couldn’t help admiring and wanting that sexy little vixen even more then when she walked into the center to swim. Most of all he liked that she did not treat him with kid gloves and just like any other man. Not an amputee as everyone else sees him now or at least most people see him now.
Days went by each avoiding the time slot to swim there for fear of running into each other. She was a physics major and he was a professor on the other side of the campus so they would never meet that way. Until one day there is a knock at her door while she is talking to her roommate. She opens it and it’s him. They are both shocked.
Each wondering what the other is doing there when she figures it out first when her BFF behind her gasps. You see her BFF had kept saying her year ago Hawaii fling was on campus and she was afraid he would just show up. Making her boyfriend upset. So, much for now for her future day and night for that matter, fantasies about this guy she thought. She already knew what he was like in bed she had gotten a blow by blow from her friend. Whatever. Right? Wring!
He’s only there as a friend he is there for them to be friends. Oh yeah, to be rude to her too. For some reason, he can’t seem he can’t seem to not like to piss her off. He can’t help himself when he’s around her. It’s like foreplay. She jumps on it too. With Josie seeing the sparks she formulates her own plan…
This was a fun, action-packed, twist and turn of a story. The characters were exotic and exciting. I loved how Maddy was a strong and vocal young woman yet she had a soft sensual side too. I give this: 5++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.
Profile Image for Traci.
244 reviews8 followers
February 8, 2017

description


http://bookplusheart.com/2016/05/30/t...

Received a copy from author for an honest review.

Can he be Maddy’s knight in shining armor? Or can Maddy show him that he can be her superhero and she can still be a strong independent women?

description

If you have a soft spot for military men, smart sassy women, and someone that forms an attraction which evolves into an obsession then you should totally go for it!

The first time I read The Backup, which is book 1 in this series, I wasn’t impressed. I didn’t like the main character that much, but I will not bore you with those details, because you can just read that in my review. I will say that this book was 100% better. Both characters have their flaws, but OMG it was so difficult to put down. Now this is book 4 in the series and I did not read 2 & 3. Each book can be read as a standalone within the series.

First we are reintroduced to Elijah. He is a former navy seal who was injured in battle. Part of his injury is his lower amputated left leg. He was asked to come to Montgomery University as a part-time instructor. He meets sassy and intelligent Maddy, who is not looking for any fling, especially with some hot shot that thinks ever girl that talks to him is hitting on him.

She grew up the daughter of a Navy Seal. Maddy knows how the lifestyle goes and is familiar with the ins-and-outs of the military. Injuries don’t faze her, so Elijah’s lack of a limb doesn’t bother her; she is more in awe of the man and the rest of his body.

These two have strong chemistry and even though there is history between Elijah and Josie, you can feel the strong attraction between Maddy and him. The only problem is Maddy tries to deny it and allows herself to go on a date with someone else. Jealousy, dominance, passion, and obsession are all in the story. Which made it so hard to put down. How about up all night kind of read. That is what happened to me.

Some issues that unfold within the store: There is a stalker after Maddy; and, she struggles with Elijah and Josie’s pass relationship. Elijiah has an ex-fling trying to stake her claim; as well, he has his own emotional and psychological struggles to overcome.
Profile Image for Maria.
2,518 reviews49 followers
October 1, 2016
+++ Arc provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, for an honest review +++
Well… what a good surprise! I wasn’t expecting to like this book so much, but it was really a very pleasurable book to read. I’m not a fan of YA fiction, but this one is really well done, the author knows how to create a realistic plot with believable characters (and I didn’t feel connected to them, but that’s fine, I liked them as characters and respected them as individuals).
I enjoyed the romantic plot, the friendship and even the suspense/stalking dimensions, they are all very realistic. The writing is good. Could it be that Kathryn Renard’s experience as a journalist had a positive influence in her fiction?
I liked the hero, his handsomness (of course, a big muscled guy with gray eyes…), his woundedness (he’s a wounded warrior), his tidiness. I also liked the heroine, an intelligent woman who is oblivious of her beauty. The secondary characters are also handled well.
When I read the prequel to this Montgomery University series I didn’t like the insta-attraction and insta-sex; I admit now that it had a fictional justification. I still don’t like very much that the hero calls the heroine “darlin’”, it sounds a bit paternalistic, but it’s just a detail. And there are so many other details that I’ve liked, for example, the fact that the hero cooks well and that the heroine likes eating; or the hero’s comrades appearance (will we have their stories in the future?).
I'm grateful to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
Profile Image for Loes M..
186 reviews24 followers
August 3, 2016
The Comeback by Kathryn Renard was published May 19th in 2016 and I got a free copy for review from NetGalley. I wanted to read (and review) this book because I like the genre, the cover seemed intriguing and I liked the blurb.

Maddy Cassidy is the female lead character. She is 21, super smart and beautiful and she knows it – but she is not stuck up about it. She accepts it about herself and is all in all, a confident young woman. She is in her third year of university and shares a small apartment with best friend Josie and Nella, a new English transfer student. While she is working out in the pool, she strikes up conversation with a muscled, handsome guy with a navy tattoo on his chest. This is Elijah, a navy SEAL and war hero who lost his lower, left leg in Afghanistan. When Maddy first meets him, she doesn’t notice his injury since they are both mostly underwater.

There is a lot of back and forth, but it was very believable in my opinion. Maddy was always very honest: she said she was attracted to him but she also explained why she was hesitant. Elijah was obviously crazy about her, but was dealing with his issues about his injury and this gets in between them sometimes. However, they keep on getting closer and closer throughout the story and I think their relationship was sweet, hot, real and adult. I loved the two of them together, teasing and laughing one minute, not being able to keep their hands off each other the next. They had their discussions and arguments, which is logical when a couple is getting to know each other, and they were both dealing with some baggage.

I really liked this book. There were none of the typical, annoying clichés that you often find in romance novels. They had a really mature relationship, that needed a little extra time to grow because they both went into the relationship with a few reservations. But they handled some things separately and some thing together, like adults. The communication between them was mostly OK and they didn’t act all childish around each other. When they realised they loved each other, they both went for it fully and completely. I also liked the way that Elijah’s injury was handled. He was self-conscious about it, but adjusting really well. He didn’t like it when people stared and had a little trouble asking for help, but that is to be expected, I think. He felt good in his skin, he had accepted his injury and as soon as he realised that it wasn’t a problem for Maddy, he was over it.

This book is the fourth part of “The Montgomery University” series and the other stories are about Maddy’s friends and their relationships. I am going to see if I can find them too, because I was really into this book. I want to read the other books in the series as well!
Profile Image for Natshane.
536 reviews52 followers
November 21, 2016
Actual stars: 3.5

I voluntarily read and reviewed a free copy of this book, thank you Netgalley and the Publisher!

I am a sucker for college romance, therefore I jumped at the chance of reading this book right after I read the blurb - it was good, unfortunately, it wasn't great either.



1. Maddy's straightforwardness - Honestly, I find it extremely refreshing! I like that she was honest with her feelings and none of the beating around the bushes bullsh*t. I also love that she does not lead on guys that she clearly has no interest of, which makes her sassy but genuine.

2. Action - and not just the sexy kind *winks*. I did not expect the book to be packed with adrenaline especially towards the ending, and I really appreciated a climatic plot.

3. Friendship - All I can say, I wish that I have friends like Josie and Elle.



1.

2. One thing that bothered me was, although Maddy repeatedly mentioned that she was not at all offended by Elijah's missing leg, however that seemed to always crossed her mind and I guess it wasn't as believable.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and Maddy and Elijah makes a great combination!

Posted by,
Natasha
Profile Image for Jae Mod.
1,719 reviews219 followers
August 26, 2016
***ARC Provided by the Author for an Honest Review***

I believe as a reviewer sometimes it becomes a bit of a chore to constantly read, especially if the books you have been given are from Authors you have never heard of before. You always find the good and the bad when reviewing, but every now and again you are graced with a gem.
That is what I found when I was given The Comeback by Kathryn Renard to review on.

This particular story had a bit of everything, and I found that to be what kept me hanging on to every word until I finished it. I normally take a few days to read a book, but this one had me finishing it in about twenty-four hours.

In The Comeback, Kathryn introduces us to Maddy Cassidy, a bright girl who would love to have the kind of relationship / love that her best friend does with her boyfriend. Upon the recommencement of the new Uni semester she meets Elijah Hart, a Navy Seal who has lost a limb in battle.

The path set before these two is bumpy to say the least, with trust being one hurdle that they both need to cross. The attraction they feel for each other is obvious from the start, and you will love reading how they work through the bumps along the way.
Do they make it?
Well you will just have to read it for yourself.

Throw in some danger from an unexpected source, and you are in for a thrilling ride.

I am looking forward to one clicking more of Kathryn’s work and believe that once you have read this novel you will feel the same.
This is a five star read for me.

Reviewed by Stacey J
Profile Image for Pratna Imrith.
188 reviews
October 12, 2016
(This review is based on the ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley)

Firstly I have to say that I loved this book because it had everything a reader could want. It had love, friendship, jealousy, chemistry and an edge of danger. This was the first book that I have read in the series as well as my first book by Kathryn Renard and I have found that I love her writing style which is both flawless and brilliant. I loved the way Kathryn never made the reader feel pity for Elijiah despite his injury and she depicted him as a physically and mentally strong veteran. Maddie's character was also very well written as she was a strong and independent girl who stuck to her beliefs and values and I really enjoyed her jealousy towards Elijiah and Josies relationship. The biggest plus point of the book was the inclusion of the sense of danger as this is what kept the book interesting. I do have a soft spot for Navy SEAL's and the chemistry between Elijiah and Maddie was sizzling hot. This was a great read and I am looking forward to reading the previous books in the Montgomery University series.
4,833 reviews16 followers
December 22, 2016
Maddy didn’t care about football players or football. She was in college to get a degree. Maddy was in her junior year in college. Elijah Hart was a guest professor at the university. Elijah had been a Navy Seal and been severely injured and lost part of his leg. Josie was Maddie’s roommate and had a brief hot affair with her on vacation in Hawaii but are now close friends. Elijah had insulted Maddie at the pool but does find her interesting and he’d like to get to know her better. Elijah is working on accepting his lost leg but he doesn’t like people to stare at him. Maddie gets jealous of Josie and Elijah’s relationship. A football player is in love with Maddie but she doesn’t care for him. Then Maddie ends up with a stalker. I like how Elijah changed how he treated Maddie after he got to know to know and care about her. This was written in a very realistic way and it could happen. I didn’t really like the excessive bad language you can get your point across without as much bad language. I liked the characters and loved the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.
Profile Image for Despina.
535 reviews3 followers
August 12, 2016
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.

I give this story 3 1/2 stars

Maddie is in her junior year at Montgomery University where she ends up meeting Elijah, and let's just say although he's hot they did not hit it off right way. She then finds out that her friend/roommate had a brief affair with him in Hawaii, which just confuses her because even though she find him attractive, she also doesn't think it's a good idea for them to get together. Elijah pursues her and she finally gives in. I have to say this well written and the author kept me engaged but never fell in love with either Maddie or Elijah, and I wish the author had a bit more POV from Elijah. There's quite a bit of drama in little scenes that I myself find tiring but others may enjoy. Overall a good book, just not to my taste. I also want to mention although this is the 4th in the series it didn't really affect my ability to follow the story.
Profile Image for Whitney .
991 reviews31 followers
August 9, 2016
I received this book for an honest review and I really enjoyed it. This book had drama, romance, suspense, and friendship what more could you ask for in a great book. This book is not the first book in this series but it can be read as a standalone. The main characters just tugged at my heartstrings and the situations they were put in are something that could actually take place in real life so it added the element that this actually can happen. It was a really easy read that just put you in their world so that you knew exactly what they were filling. The only thing I didn’t care for was some of the language that took place. I’m of the mind that you don’t need all of that to make the story work or great. This is just my opinion it always takes something away from the story for me when it has an excess of bad language.
Profile Image for Heather andrews.
9,520 reviews162 followers
June 13, 2016
The reactions these two get off each other, and the sexual tension is off the charts, "I can't imagine anyone thinking you're delicate." Maddy couldn't help herself, her eyes swept across his body, lingering on his back and shoulders. Maddy saw him catch her checking him out. He looked pleased, which made her happy." Elijah is always willing to go with what his girl wants, "your call, baby," he said. He reached toward her and grabbed her by the arm "If you'd rather eff than make love, I'm happy to oblige." The men in Maddy's life sure are blood thirsty especially her dad, "if he's laid a hand on you, I will drive up there and kill him. And your brothers will come with me." I really enjoyed this book, I loved Elijah.
Profile Image for Shaddow Wolf.
68 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2016
This book is about one of Josie Savage's friends from the first book that did not appear much in the second book much. Maddy is one of Josie's suit mate's at collage she did have a bit of a thing with one of Montana's twin brothers but must not have went any where. I like the spark vibes from Maddy and Elijah throughout this book its a will they won't they type of thing. This book does not disappoint after the first two I hope there there is still more to come from this series characters CT, Chuntell, Angus, Turk, Baylee, Elle, cooper, Ellis Rachael and other people. I would highly recommend this series which I also enjoyed reading in three days one after the other. I hope Kathryn Renard continues to write as well as this if not better in her future books.
Profile Image for Jessi.
391 reviews8 followers
June 16, 2016
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Usually I love a good hero Navy SEAL story but while this book was good it just didn't stand out and leave me reeling. This book has both its ups an downs but it just didn't do what I thought it would.

I just found the main character Maddy to be to much of a pushover for me to like. Especially when faced with Elijah's ex. I really didn't think that that scene should of been handled that way. It really made me not like Maddy or Elijah after that.

This book was a good read just not one that I can see sticking with me long after.
Profile Image for Kari.
318 reviews
August 16, 2016
I usually skip romances with college as a backdrop. I tend to gravitate towards more mature characters and storylines. Boy am I glad I did not pass this book over. Elijah is a military vet trying to come to terms with how he and others see him after becoming an amputee while serving his country. Maddy is a young college student who Elijah finds himself drawn to. Their relationship is bumpy and I thought it was handled well. The obstacles, big and small, keep you engaged and rooting for them. I thought that the threat to Maddy was well conceived and believable. Overall, this book was a pleasant surprise and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
Profile Image for Taz.
1,575 reviews55 followers
October 12, 2016
Kathryn Renard takes us back to Montgomery University where we meet up with Maddy Cassidy from previous books in the series. Maddy is a beautiful women who wants to be taken seriously for her brain. Elijah Hart is a former Navy Seal who was sidelined due to injury, who has signed on to be guest lecture professor at MU. Maddy and Elijah clash a lot at first which gives us great build up to them coming together. Good plot with nice twists and sensitivity towards wounded veterans.
Profile Image for twahl.
13 reviews42 followers
August 21, 2016
So so good! Great characters, especially strong women characters - physics major main character. And realistic portrayal of the life of college romance. A complete page turner. You will feel compelled to read this one fast so you can find out what happens next.
Profile Image for Crystal's Book World ~ Crystal Cordova.
1,782 reviews27 followers
September 22, 2016
Wow! Book 4 was amaaaazzzzing!!! So much emotions went through me. You have passion, drama, and lots of jealousy. The characters Isaiah and Maddy are so passionate that it either makes their relationship rocky or makes it stronger! 5 stars for this series. It was an amazing read!
2,352 reviews31 followers
August 9, 2016
via netgalley

really liked this one.
Profile Image for Megan =^..^=.
636 reviews7 followers
August 18, 2016
Loved Maddy and Elijah! Highly recommend to any fan of romance!
59 reviews
September 12, 2016
This book has a lot of laugh out loud moments...it keep me entertained throughout. Loved the story line and the chemistry is great between the characters. An overall very good 4 star read!
Profile Image for poppy.
4,590 reviews28 followers
October 2, 2016
I really enjoyed this series a fun read well written and worth a read
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