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Until It Fades
A sexy new romance about a small-town woman who saves the life of a mysterious man, and finds herself unexpectedly thrown into a whirlwind love affair, featuring bestselling author K. A. Tucker’s signature “well-constructed, pulse-pounding suspense” (USA TODAY).
Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population two thousand outside of tourist season.
And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.
Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works.
For a time.
But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust.
Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades?
Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population two thousand outside of tourist season.
And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.
Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works.
For a time.
But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust.
Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine…before the spark fades?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
949 people are currently reading
31995 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Tucker
66 books25k followersK.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.
She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.
K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto. When she's not writing books, you can find her reading recipes she'll never make or chasing rabbits away from her hostas.
Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14685...
Signup for her newsletter >> https://www.katuckerbooks.com/newslet...
She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.
K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto. When she's not writing books, you can find her reading recipes she'll never make or chasing rabbits away from her hostas.
Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14685...
Signup for her newsletter >> https://www.katuckerbooks.com/newslet...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,849 reviews
May 26, 2017
Served up “for the fairy-tale lover in all of us”, Until It Fades is a different side of K.A. Tucker; one we haven’t seen before. In the acknowledgements, she owns her veer off course, going so far to say, “I needed to write this story. It’s very different from the ones I’ve written recently.” She’s right, so don’t mince her words, this is nothing like her previous books. In fact, if someone had handed this to me with the author’s name omitted, K.A. Tucker would have been my last guess. This book is everything her two contemporary romance series’ were not—boring, repetitive and the ever dreaded . . . predictable. Where was the crazy intense chemistry that has in many ways become synonymous with K.A. Tucker and her utterly addicting reads?
Cath is a 24-year-old truck-stop diner waitress and single mother to a 5-year-old. She’s been slut-shamed and made the villain by the small-town she lives in after the relationship she had with her art teacher in high school was made public knowledge. Getting pregnant a few mere months later, after a one-night stand, didn’t help the situation any either. She prides herself on not asking for monetary help and just wants to fade into the background and raise her daughter . . . alone.
That all changes when she witnesses a horrific car crash, late one night, on a remote road and she manages to pull a man twice her size from a burning vehicle. Turns out, he’s a mega hockey star, headed to the playoffs. Or he was.
I’m sure you can guess what happens from here. Cath and Brett’s relationship is a bit of a cliché—rich guy swoops in and saves the struggling poor girl—but that’s not what bothered me. It was the bland and drawn out execution that left much to be desired. Get comfortable because this is an extremely slow build; the author really takes her time setting up the story and it gets a little tedious. It isn’t until well past the 50% mark that anything remotely exciting happens between the waitress and the hockey star. The snail’s pace, along with the regurgitation of the same information over-and-over, had me contemplating whether I should just throw in the towel. For some reason, the thought of being labeled a quitter kept me going.
It didn’t matter how many times Brett claimed it wasn’t gratitude for Cath saving his life that was driving his feelings for her, I didn’t buy it. How could he be crazy about her when he didn’t even know her or let those insta-love-ish feelings fall out of his mouth? Brett’s character, at least for me, resembled a cardboard cutout of perfection, rather than any actual man. Where were his flaws and why were Cath’s made so prominent? I guess you could chalk Brett’s character traits up to the whole fairy-tale theme, if you’re like me, looking for some type of excuse or rational explanation.
This past year has definitely taught me a valuable and hard-learned lesson—just because I’ve loved one or even several of an author’s books in the past, does not guarantee I’m going to adore them all. While I won’t go so far to say this book is horrible, I much prefer the suspense riddled, fast-paced, exciting K.A. Tucker to the lighter, softer side.
I struggled between a 2.5 (rounded down to a 2, because I rarely round up) and a 3 star rating; in the end, I decided to be a little generous.
*Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cath is a 24-year-old truck-stop diner waitress and single mother to a 5-year-old. She’s been slut-shamed and made the villain by the small-town she lives in after the relationship she had with her art teacher in high school was made public knowledge. Getting pregnant a few mere months later, after a one-night stand, didn’t help the situation any either. She prides herself on not asking for monetary help and just wants to fade into the background and raise her daughter . . . alone.
That all changes when she witnesses a horrific car crash, late one night, on a remote road and she manages to pull a man twice her size from a burning vehicle. Turns out, he’s a mega hockey star, headed to the playoffs. Or he was.
I’m sure you can guess what happens from here. Cath and Brett’s relationship is a bit of a cliché—rich guy swoops in and saves the struggling poor girl—but that’s not what bothered me. It was the bland and drawn out execution that left much to be desired. Get comfortable because this is an extremely slow build; the author really takes her time setting up the story and it gets a little tedious. It isn’t until well past the 50% mark that anything remotely exciting happens between the waitress and the hockey star. The snail’s pace, along with the regurgitation of the same information over-and-over, had me contemplating whether I should just throw in the towel. For some reason, the thought of being labeled a quitter kept me going.
It didn’t matter how many times Brett claimed it wasn’t gratitude for Cath saving his life that was driving his feelings for her, I didn’t buy it. How could he be crazy about her when he didn’t even know her or let those insta-love-ish feelings fall out of his mouth? Brett’s character, at least for me, resembled a cardboard cutout of perfection, rather than any actual man. Where were his flaws and why were Cath’s made so prominent? I guess you could chalk Brett’s character traits up to the whole fairy-tale theme, if you’re like me, looking for some type of excuse or rational explanation.
This past year has definitely taught me a valuable and hard-learned lesson—just because I’ve loved one or even several of an author’s books in the past, does not guarantee I’m going to adore them all. While I won’t go so far to say this book is horrible, I much prefer the suspense riddled, fast-paced, exciting K.A. Tucker to the lighter, softer side.
I struggled between a 2.5 (rounded down to a 2, because I rarely round up) and a 3 star rating; in the end, I decided to be a little generous.
*Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2017
4 stars!!
When I read a KA Tucker book, I expect one of two things. Angst or suspense. This book was different for her. It was a sweet, slow burn romance with a lot of heart. The pace was a bit slower than I would have liked, but overall I enjoyed the story a lot!
Catherine Wright is a 24 year old single mother with a past. Because of that past, she keeps to herself. She has her five year old daughter, a waitressing job that keeps them fed, and that’s enough for her. One night, she witnesses a car accident and stops to help. She doesn’t know it at the time, but she saves a famous man’s life. Catherine does not want the attention or the accolades this brings. She lives in a small town and she’s had her fair share of ‘attention’ in the past. Thanks, but no thanks. So she asks her friend on the police force not to share her name with the public. And that works. For a while.
Brett Madden is a big time hockey player. After the accident that took his friends life, he’s trying to heal and part of that is meeting and thanking the person who saved his life. When he meets Catherine, he is blown away by her beauty and strength. He admires her. Someone with a child and so much to lose risked her life for him. He feels a connection with her he can’t explain.
The relationship between Catherine and Brett was pretty non-existent for a lot of the book. It started as a friendship and very slowly grew into much more. That’s okay with me, though. I don't mind when romance sometimes takes a bit of a back seat to the story. I feel like it worked with this book. With Catherine’s past, it made sense. I liked seeing into her past, why she was the way she was, and seeing her growth.
Until it Fades is a swoony, sweet, slow building Cindrealla-type romance. I loved both Catherine and Brett, the supporting characters, and all the interactions with Catherine’s adorable daughter. If you’re looking for a charming, small town romance, this is one I would recommend!
“Young, single mom saves life of hockey star and celebrity son and then wins his heart? It sounds like a fairy tale.”
When I read a KA Tucker book, I expect one of two things. Angst or suspense. This book was different for her. It was a sweet, slow burn romance with a lot of heart. The pace was a bit slower than I would have liked, but overall I enjoyed the story a lot!
Catherine Wright is a 24 year old single mother with a past. Because of that past, she keeps to herself. She has her five year old daughter, a waitressing job that keeps them fed, and that’s enough for her. One night, she witnesses a car accident and stops to help. She doesn’t know it at the time, but she saves a famous man’s life. Catherine does not want the attention or the accolades this brings. She lives in a small town and she’s had her fair share of ‘attention’ in the past. Thanks, but no thanks. So she asks her friend on the police force not to share her name with the public. And that works. For a while.
Brett Madden is a big time hockey player. After the accident that took his friends life, he’s trying to heal and part of that is meeting and thanking the person who saved his life. When he meets Catherine, he is blown away by her beauty and strength. He admires her. Someone with a child and so much to lose risked her life for him. He feels a connection with her he can’t explain.
The relationship between Catherine and Brett was pretty non-existent for a lot of the book. It started as a friendship and very slowly grew into much more. That’s okay with me, though. I don't mind when romance sometimes takes a bit of a back seat to the story. I feel like it worked with this book. With Catherine’s past, it made sense. I liked seeing into her past, why she was the way she was, and seeing her growth.
Until it Fades is a swoony, sweet, slow building Cindrealla-type romance. I loved both Catherine and Brett, the supporting characters, and all the interactions with Catherine’s adorable daughter. If you’re looking for a charming, small town romance, this is one I would recommend!
September 29, 2019
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I was really interested after reading the description for this book. "Until it Fades" is my first K.A. Tucker read. I have heard great things about her books. I also read that this book is nothing like her other books. So I wasn't sure what to expect.
After being the "talk of the town" once in small town Balsam, Pennsylvania, twenty-four-year-old Catherine Wright isn't eager for that to happen again. She just wants to blend into the background and live in peace with her five-year old daughter.
Unfortunately, if you save the life of a hockey star that everyone...especially the media loves? It's not so easy keeping a low profile.
Catherine is heading home after a terrible first date. It's a foggy night so she's taking it slow, not like the red sports car that zips past her. But a few miles down the road she's horrified to see that the car that just sped by her has crashed. She jumps out of her car to help and ends up saving the life of Philadelphia Flyers star hockey player, Brett Madden.
Suddenly everyone wants to talk to the small town heroine. But Catherine wants to remain anonymous. She wants no part of the media circus that surrounds her act of heroism.
Catherine hasn't always made the best choices and has had some pretty crappy experiences which combined would understandably give anyone trust issues. And living in a small town where no one lets you forget your past is definitely not easy. Now that she has a child however, she is trying to move on with her life. However being alone can be very....lonely. And although she wants to be independent, somewhere in the back of her mind she hopes for a happily ever after.
We learn a lot about Catherine. Her history and present life. This takes up quite a bit of the book. Not that it's not interesting because it is, but the rest of the story really took it's time getting going. Sometimes I love a good slow burning read, but this one was quite a bit slower than normal. However, there was a lot about this book that I enjoyed. I really liked Catherine's relationship with her daughter, Brenna and how focused she was on being a good mother. Brenna was such a sweet character. They way she spoke and her mannerisms made me smile and laugh aloud at times.
The book is well written and the story was easy to follow. I don't read a lot of romance books, but I found Catherine and Brett interesting and enjoyed how they interacted with each other and other characters. So while it did take some time to get going and it was a bit predictable, it really was a sweet story with some surprises that made me glad I stuck with it.
I think that many people will love this book. Sometimes it's nice escaping reality into a sweet and sexy romance novel.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
I was really interested after reading the description for this book. "Until it Fades" is my first K.A. Tucker read. I have heard great things about her books. I also read that this book is nothing like her other books. So I wasn't sure what to expect.
After being the "talk of the town" once in small town Balsam, Pennsylvania, twenty-four-year-old Catherine Wright isn't eager for that to happen again. She just wants to blend into the background and live in peace with her five-year old daughter.
Unfortunately, if you save the life of a hockey star that everyone...especially the media loves? It's not so easy keeping a low profile.
Catherine is heading home after a terrible first date. It's a foggy night so she's taking it slow, not like the red sports car that zips past her. But a few miles down the road she's horrified to see that the car that just sped by her has crashed. She jumps out of her car to help and ends up saving the life of Philadelphia Flyers star hockey player, Brett Madden.
Suddenly everyone wants to talk to the small town heroine. But Catherine wants to remain anonymous. She wants no part of the media circus that surrounds her act of heroism.
Catherine hasn't always made the best choices and has had some pretty crappy experiences which combined would understandably give anyone trust issues. And living in a small town where no one lets you forget your past is definitely not easy. Now that she has a child however, she is trying to move on with her life. However being alone can be very....lonely. And although she wants to be independent, somewhere in the back of her mind she hopes for a happily ever after.
We learn a lot about Catherine. Her history and present life. This takes up quite a bit of the book. Not that it's not interesting because it is, but the rest of the story really took it's time getting going. Sometimes I love a good slow burning read, but this one was quite a bit slower than normal. However, there was a lot about this book that I enjoyed. I really liked Catherine's relationship with her daughter, Brenna and how focused she was on being a good mother. Brenna was such a sweet character. They way she spoke and her mannerisms made me smile and laugh aloud at times.
The book is well written and the story was easy to follow. I don't read a lot of romance books, but I found Catherine and Brett interesting and enjoyed how they interacted with each other and other characters. So while it did take some time to get going and it was a bit predictable, it really was a sweet story with some surprises that made me glad I stuck with it.
I think that many people will love this book. Sometimes it's nice escaping reality into a sweet and sexy romance novel.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
June 2, 2017
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED :::
*SWOOOOOON* This was such a sweet love story that showcased a new and wonderful side of K.A. Tucker's writing. This story is full of love, family, and swoon! It was a well-written, slow-burning romance that genuinely made me happy to read it! If you're a fan of heart-melting Alpha heroes and single mom heroines, you should definitely read this book!
So this story is about a Catherine Wright, a young single mother working as a truck stop waitress in a small town. She had a past that she was desperate to keep hidden from the media and her young daughter, but her world was turned upside down when she rescued a mysterious man from a burning car wreck on the side of a lonely country road one foggy night... What she didn't know until later is that her mystery man was none other than Brett Madden, a famous hockey star and media darling and his rescue had become the talk of every news reporter in the country. Even though she tried hard to keep her identity hidden, Brett was determined to find out who the woman who saved his life was and when they finally met, neither of them could ignore their attraction...
One of the many things I loved about this story was that, especially since the whole thing was told from Catherine's POV, the story took the time to show us her past in the very beginning in a way that made you really understand what she was going through and why she tried so hard to keep her identity away from the media at first. The story was never rushed allowing you to experience her emotions and worries along with her. But despite her attempts to keep away from the media, Brett did eventually find out who she was and showed up in person to thank her.
Oh my gosh, Brett was such a gorgeous hero! Not only was he a sexy swoony hockey player, he was also just a genuinely GOOD guy through and through. He was completely unaffected by his wealth and fame, and was a grounded, caring, generous, and kind man who treated everyone as his equal. And given his humble nature, he was deeply drawn to Catherine who didn't want to accept anything from him in return for saving his life. Her sincere attitude was a welcome relief in his world and he couldn't help wanting to spend more time around her...
Theirs was a truly slow-burning love story -- there's no insta-love here -- but the slower pacing made complete and total sense for these characters and everything they'd been through both together and separately. I actually really appreciated that nothing was rushed and that the story took the time to become quite believable.
And I think my favorite part of the whole story was how sweet Brett was with Catherine's young daughter. I loved the way he always included her every time he asked Catherine to go anywhere with him. Even if he was just inviting her over to watch a game, he openly invited her daughter along and always included her. Plus, kids that age pretty much have no filter and reading about her and Brett chatting away together was utterly heart-melting!
Even though on the surface, much of their story feels a little like a modern fairy-tale, it's also a beautiful story about a woman who has been let down by life and love and nearly everyone in her life (including herself) learning to trust again, learning to be fearless and daring to follow her heart both for the sake of her own happiness and to set a strong example for her daughter.
I read this book in one afternoon and loved it! As the story got closer to the end though, I'm not gonna lie, I flipped those pages pretty fast with that omg-how-is-everything-going-to-be-resolved-before-the-last-page feeling but luckily everything was in a beautiful, swoon-filled happily ever after befitting of this modern fairy tale.
K.A. Tucker has been one of my favorite authors for many years now. I love her writing style and her stories always draw me in. This one was much lighter in feeling than many of her previous books and I really enjoyed it! It was a truly well-written and delightful read that I'd highly recommend to all romance readers!
Rating: 4-4.5 stars! Standalone Contemporary Romance.
Buy UNTIL IT FADES (Kindle)
Buy UNTIL IT FADES (Paperback)
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“I wake up every morning thinking about you.” My head thumps softly against the wall as I close my eyes, reveling in the feel of his mouth against my ear. “I go to bed at night thinking about you.” Blood rushes through my veins with the adrenaline his words create. “Please tell me it’s not just me.”
*SWOOOOOON* This was such a sweet love story that showcased a new and wonderful side of K.A. Tucker's writing. This story is full of love, family, and swoon! It was a well-written, slow-burning romance that genuinely made me happy to read it! If you're a fan of heart-melting Alpha heroes and single mom heroines, you should definitely read this book!
So this story is about a Catherine Wright, a young single mother working as a truck stop waitress in a small town. She had a past that she was desperate to keep hidden from the media and her young daughter, but her world was turned upside down when she rescued a mysterious man from a burning car wreck on the side of a lonely country road one foggy night... What she didn't know until later is that her mystery man was none other than Brett Madden, a famous hockey star and media darling and his rescue had become the talk of every news reporter in the country. Even though she tried hard to keep her identity hidden, Brett was determined to find out who the woman who saved his life was and when they finally met, neither of them could ignore their attraction...
One of the many things I loved about this story was that, especially since the whole thing was told from Catherine's POV, the story took the time to show us her past in the very beginning in a way that made you really understand what she was going through and why she tried so hard to keep her identity away from the media at first. The story was never rushed allowing you to experience her emotions and worries along with her. But despite her attempts to keep away from the media, Brett did eventually find out who she was and showed up in person to thank her.
“I’ve been lying in a hospital bed for the past week, thinking of what I’d say when I finally met you, and here I am now and even though I’m talking, I feel completely speechless… And in awe.”
“You’re in awe?” I snort, and then my cheeks burn bright with embarrassment and I avert my gaze to the floor, because I just snorted in front of Brett Madden.
“I would be dead if it weren’t for you.”
“Anyone would have done the same.”
“No. That’s not true. A lot of people would not have done the same. A lot of people would have taken one look at the car and not bothered. Or they would have seen the first flame and ran.” His large hand gently and completely wraps around my biceps, his touch both soothing and inducing heart palpitations. “You’re half my size, you have a child, and you did the impossible, and because you did that, I’m standing here right now.”
Oh my gosh, Brett was such a gorgeous hero! Not only was he a sexy swoony hockey player, he was also just a genuinely GOOD guy through and through. He was completely unaffected by his wealth and fame, and was a grounded, caring, generous, and kind man who treated everyone as his equal. And given his humble nature, he was deeply drawn to Catherine who didn't want to accept anything from him in return for saving his life. Her sincere attitude was a welcome relief in his world and he couldn't help wanting to spend more time around her...
“Do you know how many people want you two to get together? You should see all the stuff online.”
“No, thanks.” I fumble with the apron ties around my waist. “Why do people even care? They don’t know us. What happens between us has no impact on them.”
“Because it’s like a fairy tale!”
A fairy tale.
The poor, lonely waitress with a past, the jaded single mother with scars, who scrubs ketchup off tables and serves fries to truck drivers ensnares the rich, gorgeous, kind prince. I guess it’s kind of like Cinderella. Though Cinderella got herself beautiful glass slippers on her night of magic. Mine involved shabby black heels, which were left for dead in a ditch.
Theirs was a truly slow-burning love story -- there's no insta-love here -- but the slower pacing made complete and total sense for these characters and everything they'd been through both together and separately. I actually really appreciated that nothing was rushed and that the story took the time to become quite believable.
He grins sheepishly. “When I went home that night, I told my parents that I was madly in love with this brave and beautiful woman who saved my life.”
Oh my God. My heart’s beating in my throat.
“Of course they convinced me that I was completely overwhelmed and that I needed to get some rest.”
“I’m sure they were right,” I mumble.
“I thought so too, honestly.” He swallows hard. “But then you had to go and be not just brave and beautiful but also humble, and funny, and honest. And I couldn’t stop thinking about what it’d be like to be with you… So I need you to tell me what I need to do for you to give me that chance.” His jaw tenses as he locks eyes with me. “Please.”
And I think my favorite part of the whole story was how sweet Brett was with Catherine's young daughter. I loved the way he always included her every time he asked Catherine to go anywhere with him. Even if he was just inviting her over to watch a game, he openly invited her daughter along and always included her. Plus, kids that age pretty much have no filter and reading about her and Brett chatting away together was utterly heart-melting!
Even though on the surface, much of their story feels a little like a modern fairy-tale, it's also a beautiful story about a woman who has been let down by life and love and nearly everyone in her life (including herself) learning to trust again, learning to be fearless and daring to follow her heart both for the sake of her own happiness and to set a strong example for her daughter.
I read this book in one afternoon and loved it! As the story got closer to the end though, I'm not gonna lie, I flipped those pages pretty fast with that omg-how-is-everything-going-to-be-resolved-before-the-last-page feeling but luckily everything was in a beautiful, swoon-filled happily ever after befitting of this modern fairy tale.
K.A. Tucker has been one of my favorite authors for many years now. I love her writing style and her stories always draw me in. This one was much lighter in feeling than many of her previous books and I really enjoyed it! It was a truly well-written and delightful read that I'd highly recommend to all romance readers!
Rating: 4-4.5 stars! Standalone Contemporary Romance.
Buy UNTIL IT FADES (Kindle)
Buy UNTIL IT FADES (Paperback)
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May 23, 2020
*1.5 stars*
I'm a big K.A. Tucker fan. Huge. I associate her with some of my best, most angsty YA reads, and I think she really knows her stuff. That is why I was absolutely shocked that she wrote Until It Fades, which was surprisingly boring, utterly predictable, and full of cliches.
First of all, you have to know that this book is sweet. Sugary sweet, that utterly improbable kind of sweet that makes you roll your eyes. While the female MC might have had a somewhat checkered past, she is the quintessential "angel" female MC. She is pretty but doesn't even realize it!, she won't accept any money from people (even though she could really use it and people are practically tossing it her way), and she hasn't been with a man in years (re-virgin, alert!). Honestly, this type of perfect female character has never sat well with me. I like an MC with more flaws, less fake bashfulness, and more... oomph.
Despite the fact that I never connected with the female MC and that she and the male MC have zero chemistry, this book's worse crime is that it is boooooring. The plot moves at a snail's pace with little of anything to draw the reader in. It is tiresomely repetitive, with the same few points brought up over and over again. It is just... bland. Not offensive, but totally, utterly bland.
I also didn't love the male BFF being in love with the female MC. It felt almost love-triangle-ish, and it made me feel sorry for him and more grumpy with her.
That princess ending, that personality-less male MC, the lack of substance to the story... it all was a miss for me. I expected more from this author.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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I'm a big K.A. Tucker fan. Huge. I associate her with some of my best, most angsty YA reads, and I think she really knows her stuff. That is why I was absolutely shocked that she wrote Until It Fades, which was surprisingly boring, utterly predictable, and full of cliches.
First of all, you have to know that this book is sweet. Sugary sweet, that utterly improbable kind of sweet that makes you roll your eyes. While the female MC might have had a somewhat checkered past, she is the quintessential "angel" female MC. She is pretty but doesn't even realize it!, she won't accept any money from people (even though she could really use it and people are practically tossing it her way), and she hasn't been with a man in years (re-virgin, alert!). Honestly, this type of perfect female character has never sat well with me. I like an MC with more flaws, less fake bashfulness, and more... oomph.
Despite the fact that I never connected with the female MC and that she and the male MC have zero chemistry, this book's worse crime is that it is boooooring. The plot moves at a snail's pace with little of anything to draw the reader in. It is tiresomely repetitive, with the same few points brought up over and over again. It is just... bland. Not offensive, but totally, utterly bland.
I also didn't love the male BFF being in love with the female MC. It felt almost love-triangle-ish, and it made me feel sorry for him and more grumpy with her.
That princess ending, that personality-less male MC, the lack of substance to the story... it all was a miss for me. I expected more from this author.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
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July 3, 2017
*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I can’t even think straight when I’m near him, when he’s touching me. All I can do is feel. And all I want to feel is him. With Brett…I wouldn’t fall in love, I’d plummet.
It has been four years since I’ve read anything by K.A. Tucker and I’m wishing that I didn’t wait so long to pick up another book by this author. I absolutely LOVED TEN TINY BREATHS! It’s one of my all-time faves! I was really excited to get the opportunity to read and review UNTIL IT FADES and I was not in the least disappointed with this one! It gave me all the tingly butterflies and feels that I get when I’m reading a fairytale romance that literally sweeps me off my feet. And the cherry on top of this fabulous story was that our Hero is one seriously dreamy Pro-Hockey player!!
Catherine Wright is a young single mother of a precocious five-year-old girl. She made some poor choices as a teenager, like having an affair with her high school art teacher that ultimately estranged her from her family and tarnished her reputation in the small town that she resides in. Months after the drama with her teacher, she ends up sleeping with a guy she meets at a party, who turns out to be a local drug dealer. When she learns that she’s pregnant, Catherine doesn’t run back home to her parents for support—no, she gets a waitressing job at a local diner and saves up enough money to rent a tiny two-bedroom cottage. Life hasn’t been kind to her and the cruelty she experiences from others in town has really chipped away at her feelings of self-worth, but the one true happiness in her life is her little girl. She also has a boss who treats Catherine as if she were her own daughter and some really good friends who are always there to support her.
Catherine’s love life has been pretty dismal for several years and at the urging of her boss, she goes on a blind date with her boss’s nephew. The date is a total failure which convinces her even more that she’s meant to be alone. But then as she’s driving home she comes upon a sports car that took a hard turn on a sharp corner and ended up crashing into a tree. She clearly sees that the driver didn’t survive but then she notices that there’s a man in the passenger seat and he’s still breathing but unconscious and badly injured. The man is ten times her size and she has the struggle of her life trying to get him out of the car. As the car starts to catch on fire, she almost gives up but then the man seems to come to for a second and by some miracle, she is able to free him from the burning car before it explodes. Catherine winds up with a sprained wrist but she successfully saved that man’s life. Turns out, he’s someone pretty famous. She saved the life of Brett Madden, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Catherine tries to hide from Brett and the media for as long as she can because she’s terrified that her past will be brought back up front and center and that she’ll become fodder for town gossip again. But this time it will be worse because now it could possibly touch her innocent child and she will protect her daughter from the scandals of her past at all cost. Ultimately, her identity is revealed and Catherine’s life is turned upside down when the paparazzi and media camp outside her home in hopes of getting an interview with her. Brett Madden showing up on her doorstep only sparks media interest even more.
When these two meet, there is an immediate spark between them. It’s been years since any man has made her heart race the way that Brett does. But Catherine can’t even fathom that Brett, a gorgeous and famous hockey player would ever have eyes for her. The moment Brett met Catherine face-to-face he was completely enamored of her. Whenever he sees her his affection for her is pretty obvious to everyone but Catherine.
It takes quite a while before they both get a clue and then the romance heats up! The slow burn and anticipation nearly killed me! Once Brett and Catherine admit their feelings and their passion ignites, I swear I felt all the tingly warm and fuzzies!!
Things seem to be heading towards the fairy tale happily ever after until a lie is revealed and once again Catherine might just lose the love of her life.
UNTIL IT FADES is currently available!! I devoured this book!! It’s a definite must read!
AMZN: http://amzn.to/2ufbqo6
B&N: http://bit.ly/2swtk8n
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2tztziT
Google: http://bit.ly/2uz7rSx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tBcSDg
Booksamillion: http://bit.ly/2tfL05i
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/2sgxNbd
Walmart: http://bit.ly/2tFInNr
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
I can’t even think straight when I’m near him, when he’s touching me. All I can do is feel. And all I want to feel is him. With Brett…I wouldn’t fall in love, I’d plummet.
It has been four years since I’ve read anything by K.A. Tucker and I’m wishing that I didn’t wait so long to pick up another book by this author. I absolutely LOVED TEN TINY BREATHS! It’s one of my all-time faves! I was really excited to get the opportunity to read and review UNTIL IT FADES and I was not in the least disappointed with this one! It gave me all the tingly butterflies and feels that I get when I’m reading a fairytale romance that literally sweeps me off my feet. And the cherry on top of this fabulous story was that our Hero is one seriously dreamy Pro-Hockey player!!
Catherine Wright is a young single mother of a precocious five-year-old girl. She made some poor choices as a teenager, like having an affair with her high school art teacher that ultimately estranged her from her family and tarnished her reputation in the small town that she resides in. Months after the drama with her teacher, she ends up sleeping with a guy she meets at a party, who turns out to be a local drug dealer. When she learns that she’s pregnant, Catherine doesn’t run back home to her parents for support—no, she gets a waitressing job at a local diner and saves up enough money to rent a tiny two-bedroom cottage. Life hasn’t been kind to her and the cruelty she experiences from others in town has really chipped away at her feelings of self-worth, but the one true happiness in her life is her little girl. She also has a boss who treats Catherine as if she were her own daughter and some really good friends who are always there to support her.
Catherine’s love life has been pretty dismal for several years and at the urging of her boss, she goes on a blind date with her boss’s nephew. The date is a total failure which convinces her even more that she’s meant to be alone. But then as she’s driving home she comes upon a sports car that took a hard turn on a sharp corner and ended up crashing into a tree. She clearly sees that the driver didn’t survive but then she notices that there’s a man in the passenger seat and he’s still breathing but unconscious and badly injured. The man is ten times her size and she has the struggle of her life trying to get him out of the car. As the car starts to catch on fire, she almost gives up but then the man seems to come to for a second and by some miracle, she is able to free him from the burning car before it explodes. Catherine winds up with a sprained wrist but she successfully saved that man’s life. Turns out, he’s someone pretty famous. She saved the life of Brett Madden, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Catherine tries to hide from Brett and the media for as long as she can because she’s terrified that her past will be brought back up front and center and that she’ll become fodder for town gossip again. But this time it will be worse because now it could possibly touch her innocent child and she will protect her daughter from the scandals of her past at all cost. Ultimately, her identity is revealed and Catherine’s life is turned upside down when the paparazzi and media camp outside her home in hopes of getting an interview with her. Brett Madden showing up on her doorstep only sparks media interest even more.
When these two meet, there is an immediate spark between them. It’s been years since any man has made her heart race the way that Brett does. But Catherine can’t even fathom that Brett, a gorgeous and famous hockey player would ever have eyes for her. The moment Brett met Catherine face-to-face he was completely enamored of her. Whenever he sees her his affection for her is pretty obvious to everyone but Catherine.
It takes quite a while before they both get a clue and then the romance heats up! The slow burn and anticipation nearly killed me! Once Brett and Catherine admit their feelings and their passion ignites, I swear I felt all the tingly warm and fuzzies!!
Things seem to be heading towards the fairy tale happily ever after until a lie is revealed and once again Catherine might just lose the love of her life.
UNTIL IT FADES is currently available!! I devoured this book!! It’s a definite must read!
AMZN: http://amzn.to/2ufbqo6
B&N: http://bit.ly/2swtk8n
iBOOKS: http://apple.co/2tztziT
Google: http://bit.ly/2uz7rSx
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tBcSDg
Booksamillion: http://bit.ly/2tfL05i
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/2sgxNbd
Walmart: http://bit.ly/2tFInNr
June 28, 2017
“It does feel magical. It does feel like a fairy tale. That a man like Brett – so charming, so talented, so breathtakingly handsome, so seemingly perfect in every way – would become infatuated with an ordinary woman like me.”
I have highly anticipted this story for a while now, ever since I read the synopsis. I couldn’t wait to see what K. A. Tucker had in store for us, and I was not disappointed in the least. It was the sweet, slow-burning love story I was hoping for. It’s in those slower sections that you get to know the characters more intimately and it makes you want to travel on their journey right along-side of them.
Until it Fades centres around Catherine Wright; a young truck stop waitress and single mother with a chequered past. Catherine has had a somewhat troubled youth and as a result, is desperate to keep herself hidden from world; especially her small hometown of Balsam. Catherine is no stranger to idle gossip and indiscretions.
One fateful night, after the blind date from hell, Catherine is driving home when she comes across a horrendous car wreck on the side of the road. In an act of complete selflessness and bravery, she dives into the wreckage to save the passenger of car before it is set alight (and in the process injures herself). The person she saves from the accident was none other than Brett Madden, Philadelphia’s star hockey player. Not that Catherine knows who he is.
With her past still haunting her, Catherine is passionate about the protection of her young daughter and family. If the past is ever dredged up, it will cause more shame and humiliation to her and the ones she loves. Catherine is determined to keep her identity hidden and remain out of the spotlight. Brett, however, is determined to find the woman who saved his life.
Once they meet, their attraction for each other is undeniable and neither of them could ignore the feelings that were starting to develop. I have to say though Brett was such a lovable hero. He’s lived in the spotlight for so long, not only as a professional athlete, but also being the offspring of Hollywood royalty, which has in turn led him to being the media’s golden boy. Much to my surprise, he never comes across as a typically arrogant or egotistical famous douche. Instead he’s thoughtful, caring and oh so sweet.
Until it Fades is a really slow-burning romance which I didn’t mind in the least, because I felt it added to the anticipation of a love story developing from friendship; a special bond and connection that was unbreakable. Catherine and Brett truly were kindred spirits.
“I would be dead if it weren’t for you.”
“Anyone would have done the same.”
“No. That’s not true. A lot of people would not have done the same. A lot of people would have taken one look at the car and not bothered. Or they would have seen the first flame and ran… You’re half my size, you have a child, and you did the impossible, and because you did that, I’m standing here right now.”
Once they meet, their relationship turns to a beautiful friendship and Brett was literally in awe of Catherine’s bravery, selflessness and courage. He couldn’t for the life of him understand why a single mom would risk her life to save his.
Until it Fades was such a beautifully well written love story that made me feel all warm and fuzzy. If you love your romance stories to be almost fairy tale like, then definitely check this out, you are sure to fall head over heels for Catherine and Brett.
June 27, 2017
NOW LIVE!
*Amazon*Paperback*B&N
Living in a small town means everyone knows all there is to know about the other residents, and no one forgets anything. For Catherine Wright that means she's unable to live a peaceful life with her daughter, and move on from the past wildness of her teenage years. Everyone in her small town loves to remind her of her mistakes so she does her best to hide. Which becomes very difficult when she saves the life of Brett Madden, one of hockey's biggest stars, and every news station wants her story. And when the man himself shows up to thank her, there is definitely no hiding from him. Or the passion he ignites in her.
Until It Fades is a slow moving romance but there is so much going on in this story that it will definitely keep you intrigued. It's told completely by Cath's POV and also goes back in time for some parts to explain her past. I'm not a big fan of a story going back and forth but for this book I actually enjoyed it. I felt like getting her story of how she came to be where she was in life was a really big part of her character so it fit well with the book.
I do wish we had more of Brett in the book and more of him and Cath together, but I liked his character from just what we got to see of him. He wasn't some playboy hotshot athlete, he was very sweet and understanding. I loved that he let Cath control the speed of their relationship and was willing to just be friends with her for as long as she needed. He seemed out of his element at times, especially when it came to being only friends with an attractive woman, but it was endearing to see him find his way with Cath and I loved seeing that.
There were a few twists involved in the story too that kept me on my toes and had me invested in this story from the beginning. And every single time I thought I knew everything there was to know, K.A Tucker would shock me again. It was a never ending roller coaster ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. Bottom line, you need to pick this book up and read it as soon as it's available. It has the romance, the mysteries, the sexiness, and even some funny moments, so what else do you need from a book? Seriously, read it!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
*Amazon*Paperback*B&N
Living in a small town means everyone knows all there is to know about the other residents, and no one forgets anything. For Catherine Wright that means she's unable to live a peaceful life with her daughter, and move on from the past wildness of her teenage years. Everyone in her small town loves to remind her of her mistakes so she does her best to hide. Which becomes very difficult when she saves the life of Brett Madden, one of hockey's biggest stars, and every news station wants her story. And when the man himself shows up to thank her, there is definitely no hiding from him. Or the passion he ignites in her.
Until It Fades is a slow moving romance but there is so much going on in this story that it will definitely keep you intrigued. It's told completely by Cath's POV and also goes back in time for some parts to explain her past. I'm not a big fan of a story going back and forth but for this book I actually enjoyed it. I felt like getting her story of how she came to be where she was in life was a really big part of her character so it fit well with the book.
I do wish we had more of Brett in the book and more of him and Cath together, but I liked his character from just what we got to see of him. He wasn't some playboy hotshot athlete, he was very sweet and understanding. I loved that he let Cath control the speed of their relationship and was willing to just be friends with her for as long as she needed. He seemed out of his element at times, especially when it came to being only friends with an attractive woman, but it was endearing to see him find his way with Cath and I loved seeing that.
There were a few twists involved in the story too that kept me on my toes and had me invested in this story from the beginning. And every single time I thought I knew everything there was to know, K.A Tucker would shock me again. It was a never ending roller coaster ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. Bottom line, you need to pick this book up and read it as soon as it's available. It has the romance, the mysteries, the sexiness, and even some funny moments, so what else do you need from a book? Seriously, read it!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2017
4.5-5 unique stars <33
I have to admit that I didn't expect to love it so much, but it happened!Until It Fades is a beautiful,sweet and romantic story.The story is well written and the characters lovable.I was captured and intrigued from the beginning.
What I like most in this story is the slow build up between Catherine and Brett.I loved them and you could feel their attraction for each other.Brett and Catherine had some really sweet and intense moments. The secondary characters are also very good and important to this story.
K.A. Tucker delivers an unforgettable,unique and beautiful story.
Until It Fades is a story I would love to read again and again.
I have to admit that I didn't expect to love it so much, but it happened!Until It Fades is a beautiful,sweet and romantic story.The story is well written and the characters lovable.I was captured and intrigued from the beginning.
What I like most in this story is the slow build up between Catherine and Brett.I loved them and you could feel their attraction for each other.Brett and Catherine had some really sweet and intense moments. The secondary characters are also very good and important to this story.
K.A. Tucker delivers an unforgettable,unique and beautiful story.
Until It Fades is a story I would love to read again and again.
August 21, 2017
2.5 Stars
My curiosity got the best of me and I requested my first book by K.A. Tucker from NetGalley and this just was not for me.
First off romances are not my favorite genre to read and I should probably stay away from them, however, that’s not my main reason this one didn’t work for me. I don’t read many romances and as a non-romantic, I do try to avoid them so I am not really sure what to expect from them.
Until It Fades was a predictable, unrealistic read for me that felt a bit overdone. The characters were just a bit too perfect to be realistic and I felt no spark between Catherine and way too perfect Brett.
I wish I had like this one better, however, I have already forgotten about this one to write anymore about it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Atria Books and K.A. Tucker for a copy to read and review.
My curiosity got the best of me and I requested my first book by K.A. Tucker from NetGalley and this just was not for me.
First off romances are not my favorite genre to read and I should probably stay away from them, however, that’s not my main reason this one didn’t work for me. I don’t read many romances and as a non-romantic, I do try to avoid them so I am not really sure what to expect from them.
Until It Fades was a predictable, unrealistic read for me that felt a bit overdone. The characters were just a bit too perfect to be realistic and I felt no spark between Catherine and way too perfect Brett.
I wish I had like this one better, however, I have already forgotten about this one to write anymore about it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Atria Books and K.A. Tucker for a copy to read and review.
January 9, 2019
Absolutely loved this single mom who has been dealt a bad hand in life meets a star hockey player romance. This hero, he was just a great guy. If you like heroes who aren't assholes but genuinely good guys, then this one might be for you. I, personally, like to read about all ind of heroes but I was very surprised about the fact how much I loved this one in particular. :)
September 17, 2017
Catherine Wright is a 24-year old single mother of a five-year old daughter working as a waitress in a truck stop diner, struggling to make ends meet. When she comes upon a horrific car accident one night and stops to rescue one of the passengers, life as she once knew is over. Turns out the man she saved was hockey star Brett Madden and despite her efforts to keep her name secret, she's eventually outed.
There are so many layers to this story, particularly as it involves Catherine who was the town pariah following an unfortunate situation when she was 16 years old. That and the fractured relationship with her family sourced her fierce independence. I loved how every move she made was measured against the impact on her child and she never jumped onto the easy path and she approached her developing relationship with Brett proceeded with equal caution. Public opinion can be so fickle and that was brilliantly illustrated throughout the story, along with the power of wealth and means. Even Brett experiences some mean backlash for getting injured.
I loved this story that certainly has some fairy tale moments but equally some not so neatly packaged resolutions, leaving some issues to be pondered by the reader. It seems to be a standard for this author, which is why I'm drawn to her books. The narrator did a wonderful job in her characterization of Catherine whose point of view is the narrative. While I wasn't always thrilled with her male voices, she perfectly captured the main character. I couldn't stop listening. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
There are so many layers to this story, particularly as it involves Catherine who was the town pariah following an unfortunate situation when she was 16 years old. That and the fractured relationship with her family sourced her fierce independence. I loved how every move she made was measured against the impact on her child and she never jumped onto the easy path and she approached her developing relationship with Brett proceeded with equal caution. Public opinion can be so fickle and that was brilliantly illustrated throughout the story, along with the power of wealth and means. Even Brett experiences some mean backlash for getting injured.
I loved this story that certainly has some fairy tale moments but equally some not so neatly packaged resolutions, leaving some issues to be pondered by the reader. It seems to be a standard for this author, which is why I'm drawn to her books. The narrator did a wonderful job in her characterization of Catherine whose point of view is the narrative. While I wasn't always thrilled with her male voices, she perfectly captured the main character. I couldn't stop listening. 4.5 stars
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
June 29, 2017
3 stars
“Something good will come from the bad. It always does. That’s how life balances itself out. That’s how people keep going.”
Single mother Catherine is driving home from a disastrous blind date when she comes upon a car crash, and she saves the life of the passenger inside. It turns out the man she saved is a hockey star and a celebrity. Having already been through a scandalous affair with her teacher when she was a teen, she doesn’t want any of the media attention that comes with the accident and tries to remain anonymous. But her identity is blown, and that’s when she meets Brett Madden and the connection between them is immediate.
“I promised myself I’d be smarter.”
K. A. Tucker is a great writer, she has the ability to suck you into a story effortlessly. I thought this was an interesting story, a girl who made mistakes in her past and does everything she can to overcome them. Catherine was a great, strong female protagonist and she was someone the reader could admire. Brett seemed like a really sweet guy and exactly what she needed.
The pacing of this book was very slow, we didn’t even see that much interaction between the main couple until about 60% in. Cinderella story tropes aren’t my favorite, on top of that this book was very sweet so it just didn’t match with my personal tastes. I think a lot of readers will really love this book and this story, so I encourage you to pick it up and decide for yourself.
“No wonder people want the happily ever after between us. I want the happily ever after.”
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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“Something good will come from the bad. It always does. That’s how life balances itself out. That’s how people keep going.”
Single mother Catherine is driving home from a disastrous blind date when she comes upon a car crash, and she saves the life of the passenger inside. It turns out the man she saved is a hockey star and a celebrity. Having already been through a scandalous affair with her teacher when she was a teen, she doesn’t want any of the media attention that comes with the accident and tries to remain anonymous. But her identity is blown, and that’s when she meets Brett Madden and the connection between them is immediate.
“I promised myself I’d be smarter.”
K. A. Tucker is a great writer, she has the ability to suck you into a story effortlessly. I thought this was an interesting story, a girl who made mistakes in her past and does everything she can to overcome them. Catherine was a great, strong female protagonist and she was someone the reader could admire. Brett seemed like a really sweet guy and exactly what she needed.
The pacing of this book was very slow, we didn’t even see that much interaction between the main couple until about 60% in. Cinderella story tropes aren’t my favorite, on top of that this book was very sweet so it just didn’t match with my personal tastes. I think a lot of readers will really love this book and this story, so I encourage you to pick it up and decide for yourself.
“No wonder people want the happily ever after between us. I want the happily ever after.”
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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May 3, 2017
Title: Until It Fades
Series: Standalone
Author: K.A. Tucker
Release date: June 27, 2017
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
I want the happily ever after. Even if I’m having a hard time allowing myself to believe it can exist.
Until It Fades is a pretty classic fairytale story that's sure to set a lot of romantic hearts aflutter. Though the subject matter is, let's face it, pretty far-fetched, it's escapism at its best. The star professional hockey player gets saved by the single mother waitress, suddenly bringing her back out of the shadows she’s been hiding in since high school. I'm sure many readers will be able to empathize, or even identify with the heroine. She's a very relatable character, flawed but doing the right thing for herself and her child and trying to move past the mistakes she has made in her teen years.
The book introduces you to Catherine at the culmination of her string of bad choices and mistakes. As a rebellious young woman, her life took a disastrous turn that led her to a minimum wage job at a truck stop diner, and a child to take care of all on her own. I think getting her backstory through the flashback in the introduction immediately helps you to empathize and understand the path that she's traveled down to become the strong woman she is. She’s had to depend on herself for a long time, but she's just fine with that. She just wishes the loneliness weren't quite so consuming.
After an appallingly bad blind date, her late night drive home leads her to a man she'd probably never meet in normal circumstances. Son of a Hollywood star, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team, Brett Madden has led a very privileged life. He's well liked by everyone for his good heart and generosity towards those less fortunate than him. And right now, on this empty stretch of road, he is the one in dire need of help. Catherine is the one person who happened upon him, and risked her own life in order to get him to safety. This was such a great twist on your typical rescue scenario, where we'd normally see the hero charging in on his white horse. It was really refreshing to see the dichotomy in that theme.
I genuinely liked both main characters. Brett was a wonderful man, very giving, sweet, and concerned for Catherine’s well being during the media storm that developed because of his rescue. He wasn’t the type that let fame or fortune get to his head, in fact, he was someone whom you knew you could depend upon. Someone you’d gladly trust to have your best interests at heart. He was very patient with the heroine’s fears, and gentle with her heart. Catherine was strong, resilient, and a wonderful mother to her young child. Even after so much adversity in her life, she worked herself to the bone in order to provide for herself and her little girl.
An important thing to note about this story is that it’s a slow build romance. Don’t expect the relationship to unfold at a breakneck speed. The first half of the book heavily focuses on the heroine’s past, her present situation, and the stress of trying to come to terms with being the focus of public scrutiny again. The lack of real interaction between the two protagonists didn’t particularly bother me up until around 65%, and then I was starting to feel a bit impatient for a real build between them. I think the flashbacks seemed a bit excessive after a while, but in hindsight, there was a purpose and a direction to them.
This story was about mending family, and believing in love again after being knocked down hard searching for it in the wrong places. If you’re looking for a light romance with a fairytale feel, this could be the perfect book for you.
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October 29, 2019
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Last week I was poking around on my Currently Reading list to shame myself a bit regarding the amount of reviews I am perpetually behind when I noticed this selection that I marked back in May . . . and then never actually read . . . . .
^It me. I am the stupid of which Barry speaks.
Since it was a Friday (a day I tend to read fluffier selections in order to kickstart the weekend), I figured there was no time better to rectify the situation and cued it up on the ol’ Kindle. I remembered absolutely zero about what this was supposed to be about, but I seriously LOVED everything about The Simple Wild and just assumed I would have an okay time. That’s 100% what happened too, because this was a boy-meets-girl story right up my alley.
You see, Catherine was just a small town girl – living in a lonely world. Wait, while accurate, plagiarism probably isn’t the way to go here. The leading lady this time around was a young single mother who used to be the talk of the town due to a history with her high school art teacher. Thanks to kindness of a bighearted stranger, Catherine has been able to put her past on the backburner for the past few years while working at the local diner . . . .
A fateful encounter turns our local waitress into a hero when she pulls a man out of a fiery car wreck. Not just any man either, but sure-to-bring-home-the-Stanley-Cup Philly fave Brett Madden . . . .
And just like in Speed relationships that start under intense circumstances leads to . . . .
Obviously this isn’t a real lifechanger of a book. But sometimes?????
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Last week I was poking around on my Currently Reading list to shame myself a bit regarding the amount of reviews I am perpetually behind when I noticed this selection that I marked back in May . . . and then never actually read . . . . .
^It me. I am the stupid of which Barry speaks.
Since it was a Friday (a day I tend to read fluffier selections in order to kickstart the weekend), I figured there was no time better to rectify the situation and cued it up on the ol’ Kindle. I remembered absolutely zero about what this was supposed to be about, but I seriously LOVED everything about The Simple Wild and just assumed I would have an okay time. That’s 100% what happened too, because this was a boy-meets-girl story right up my alley.
You see, Catherine was just a small town girl – living in a lonely world. Wait, while accurate, plagiarism probably isn’t the way to go here. The leading lady this time around was a young single mother who used to be the talk of the town due to a history with her high school art teacher. Thanks to kindness of a bighearted stranger, Catherine has been able to put her past on the backburner for the past few years while working at the local diner . . . .
A fateful encounter turns our local waitress into a hero when she pulls a man out of a fiery car wreck. Not just any man either, but sure-to-bring-home-the-Stanley-Cup Philly fave Brett Madden . . . .
And just like in Speed relationships that start under intense circumstances leads to . . . .
Obviously this isn’t a real lifechanger of a book. But sometimes?????
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
March 30, 2020
3 ⭐️
I’m not very sure how to rate this. It had everything it needed to be pretty great, but it didn’t live up to its full potential.
Why? Because I cared about everything in the story except the main couple and their love.
I didn’t feel as though I got to understand how their love came about and we were also left in the dark when it came to Brett (the hero). We didn’t have much to go on, in order to form an opinion about the guy. He was like a background character in the “Story of Catherine”.
I’d say this book should not be considered strictly a romance because while there is a romantic element, it’s not the main genre.
I don’t mind reading about life changing stories, underdogs, communities righting the wrongs they perpetrated, etc... BUT I picked this up to read about a love story, not a family drama. If I want anything but romance I pick up literary fiction, because in truth, it does it better!>
I’m not very sure how to rate this. It had everything it needed to be pretty great, but it didn’t live up to its full potential.
Why? Because I cared about everything in the story except the main couple and their love.
I didn’t feel as though I got to understand how their love came about and we were also left in the dark when it came to Brett (the hero). We didn’t have much to go on, in order to form an opinion about the guy. He was like a background character in the “Story of Catherine”.
I’d say this book should not be considered strictly a romance because while there is a romantic element, it’s not the main genre.
I don’t mind reading about life changing stories, underdogs, communities righting the wrongs they perpetrated, etc... BUT I picked this up to read about a love story, not a family drama. If I want anything but romance I pick up literary fiction, because in truth, it does it better!>
March 17, 2024
4.5 🌟 "TUCKER DOES NOT DISAPPOINT WITH THIS MODERN-DAY CINDERELLA TALE"
Yes, from all 5 books by K.A. Tucker I've read so far (still have two more on my TBR) this one is the light hearted sugar-coated one, but I love the way this woman writes romance stories. And she never fails to deliver some more serious issues even in a fairy-tale context.
Brett Madden is the sweetest male athlete lead I read so far. Fist spot was occupied by Ivan Lukov up to yesterday but he's been removed by Brett. Tucker writes beautiful male leads, beautiful men on the outside and on the inside.
Catherine, like usually happens in Tucker's books, comes out a little annoying at first, but you grow into liking her. Cath's daughter was the only character I found a little annoying from time to time. Is this book super cheesy? Yes, it is. Brett's famous mom is an actress called Meryl Price who happens to have won 3 Oscars! Does the story line fall into very common seen scenarios? Yes, it does. The difference between Tucker and other contemporary romance writers that go for the same tropes, is the writing style, she just does it better. I don't want to sound hypocrite since I have trashed other romance writers that approach similar stories- most recently "The Bromance Book Club"- I just feel that when writing a light romance story Tucker does it in a more stylish way. Tucker demonstrates that there is no need to make characters speak in a raunchy way or come up way to stereotyped and get good results at the end. I do prefer her more hard hitting stories, the more I cry the better, and this one was not that at all, but I read it in two days. People who know me, they know I decide my rating based on enjoyment, and then quality.
Yes, from all 5 books by K.A. Tucker I've read so far (still have two more on my TBR) this one is the light hearted sugar-coated one, but I love the way this woman writes romance stories. And she never fails to deliver some more serious issues even in a fairy-tale context.
Brett Madden is the sweetest male athlete lead I read so far. Fist spot was occupied by Ivan Lukov up to yesterday but he's been removed by Brett. Tucker writes beautiful male leads, beautiful men on the outside and on the inside.
Catherine, like usually happens in Tucker's books, comes out a little annoying at first, but you grow into liking her. Cath's daughter was the only character I found a little annoying from time to time. Is this book super cheesy? Yes, it is. Brett's famous mom is an actress called Meryl Price who happens to have won 3 Oscars! Does the story line fall into very common seen scenarios? Yes, it does. The difference between Tucker and other contemporary romance writers that go for the same tropes, is the writing style, she just does it better. I don't want to sound hypocrite since I have trashed other romance writers that approach similar stories- most recently "The Bromance Book Club"- I just feel that when writing a light romance story Tucker does it in a more stylish way. Tucker demonstrates that there is no need to make characters speak in a raunchy way or come up way to stereotyped and get good results at the end. I do prefer her more hard hitting stories, the more I cry the better, and this one was not that at all, but I read it in two days. People who know me, they know I decide my rating based on enjoyment, and then quality.
January 2, 2025
Until It Fades isn’t quite on the same level as The Simple Wild in terms of emotional depth or heartbreak, but it shines in its own way as a heartwarming, easy read that left me eager to dive into more from this author.
A single mom falling for a hockey player? That alone ticks two of my all-time favorite boxes. Add a charming cast and an enchanting second half, and it’s hard not to love this story.
Both main characters were incredibly likable. Catherine’s teenage mistakes might have raised some eyebrows, but her portrayal as an adult completely redeemed her. Hardworking, devoted to her daughter, and determined to move forward from her past, her life takes a sharp turn when she rescues Brett on a foggy night—and nothing is ever the same again.
As for Brett? Total dreamboat! Flawless in almost every way, he’s the kind of guy Catherine needed—a fairy-tale-worthy partner. His adorable, head-over-heels approach to love was perfectly in sync with his personality and made him even more endearing.
This novel is a quintessential feel-good read that leaves you smiling. While the slower start kept it from reaching absolute AWESOMENESS, it’s still a wonderful romance, especially for fans of the single-parent or sports romance tropes.
I wouldn’t call it a groundbreaking story, but its warmth and charm make it easy to recommend. Until It Fades is a light, touching love story—perfect for a pick-me-up between darker or more emotional reads.
A single mom falling for a hockey player? That alone ticks two of my all-time favorite boxes. Add a charming cast and an enchanting second half, and it’s hard not to love this story.
Both main characters were incredibly likable. Catherine’s teenage mistakes might have raised some eyebrows, but her portrayal as an adult completely redeemed her. Hardworking, devoted to her daughter, and determined to move forward from her past, her life takes a sharp turn when she rescues Brett on a foggy night—and nothing is ever the same again.
As for Brett? Total dreamboat! Flawless in almost every way, he’s the kind of guy Catherine needed—a fairy-tale-worthy partner. His adorable, head-over-heels approach to love was perfectly in sync with his personality and made him even more endearing.
This novel is a quintessential feel-good read that leaves you smiling. While the slower start kept it from reaching absolute AWESOMENESS, it’s still a wonderful romance, especially for fans of the single-parent or sports romance tropes.
I wouldn’t call it a groundbreaking story, but its warmth and charm make it easy to recommend. Until It Fades is a light, touching love story—perfect for a pick-me-up between darker or more emotional reads.
April 14, 2017
You can request on Netgalley HERE
5 Fantastic Stars
GAH!!!! I needed this book. I had ZERO expectations going into Until It Fades. I read the first sentence of the prologue and realized it was a single mama book, well I had to read it.
I’ll be honest. It’s been awhile since I read a KA Tucker book. I’ve been a fan of her for years and I don’t know why I took a break. I’m so glad I took a chance on this one because it was wonderful. This is different from her previous books, it’s slightly lighter and slightly sugary sweet, BUT a good kind where you just want more and more until your teeth ache.
Catherine is a single mom with a lot of issues. She is kind of an outsider to her small hometown and because of that she keeps to herself. Until one night she saves someone. Someone who is famous and from there, EVERYTHING in Catherine’s life changes.
The thing that really worked for me in this book was the writing style. This book has a lot of meat and a lot of character of development. I didn’t feel like I was reading about characters, I felt like I was part of the characters. I felt whatever Catherine felt and I just wanted to give the girl a hug.
Brett is a hockey player and after being saved from an accident all he wants to do is thank the person who saved his life, but the person wants to be anonymous. I completely loved and swooned after Brett. He’s sweet, caring and charismatic. He is 100% Mr. Book Boyfriend material.
I love the relationship between Brett and Catherine and you throw in a spunky five year old, it just makes the book even BETTER.
From start to finish this book was amazing. I could have read it again or a hundred more pages.
An ARC was provided
AMAZON
5 Fantastic Stars
GAH!!!! I needed this book. I had ZERO expectations going into Until It Fades. I read the first sentence of the prologue and realized it was a single mama book, well I had to read it.
I’ll be honest. It’s been awhile since I read a KA Tucker book. I’ve been a fan of her for years and I don’t know why I took a break. I’m so glad I took a chance on this one because it was wonderful. This is different from her previous books, it’s slightly lighter and slightly sugary sweet, BUT a good kind where you just want more and more until your teeth ache.
Catherine is a single mom with a lot of issues. She is kind of an outsider to her small hometown and because of that she keeps to herself. Until one night she saves someone. Someone who is famous and from there, EVERYTHING in Catherine’s life changes.
The thing that really worked for me in this book was the writing style. This book has a lot of meat and a lot of character of development. I didn’t feel like I was reading about characters, I felt like I was part of the characters. I felt whatever Catherine felt and I just wanted to give the girl a hug.
Brett is a hockey player and after being saved from an accident all he wants to do is thank the person who saved his life, but the person wants to be anonymous. I completely loved and swooned after Brett. He’s sweet, caring and charismatic. He is 100% Mr. Book Boyfriend material.
I love the relationship between Brett and Catherine and you throw in a spunky five year old, it just makes the book even BETTER.
From start to finish this book was amazing. I could have read it again or a hundred more pages.
An ARC was provided
AMAZON
July 8, 2017
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
Cath's poor life choices when she was a teenager left her pregnant and desperate. Thanks to the kindness of the owner of a truck stop diner she has been able to survive. More than six years later she still works there, barely making ends meet for her and her daughter.
On the way home from a terrible date she saves a man's life who is stuck in a crashed car. And with that her quiet life comes to an end. The man she saved is no one else than star hockey player and son of a Hollywood star Brett Madden.
After her high school drama she tried to stay low-key. Saving the life of celebrity isn't conducive to flying under the radar but she does everything she can to keep her name out of the press. Until she is outed from an entirely unexpected direction.
Brett is devastated after the accident. His best friend didn't survive and the backlash of the crash makes his life even harder. Not only the injuries he suffered - will he ever be able to play hockey again? - but also critical voices because his team buddy was speeding are things he has to tackle each day. And on top of it, the person who saved his life doesn't want to be found and he wants nothing more than to thank her. When they are finally face to face he is entranced - by Cath's beauty, her resilience, the way she cares about her little family. And most of all he loves that she doesn't take advantage of him being a celebrity, although this time, his fame might be an obstacle.
I loved that Cath was strong. That she realized the mistakes she made. That her poor choices made her cautious of making the same ones again but I think she was a little too hard on herself. She is an amazing mother, her choices reflect on her child (who was more perceptive than she thought), and she is very aware of that. She doesn't permit herself more than friendship with Brett, who is so so obviously falling for her. Cath has to consider the consequences that come with dating a famous person and maybe losing him in the end.
Add to that her general aversion of attention and she is more than on the fence about it. I found this a tiny bit exasperating because it was obvious that Brett cared for Cath and would protect her and her child with everything he had.
Brett *cue dreamy sigh* He is a wonderful man, generous, kind, with a boyish and playful streak who never let his and his mother's fame change him. He is as down-to-earth as the guy next door. Brett shields Cath and helps her handle the press - he is a pro after all. He is so patient with her, so careful to give her space and time to come to terms with it all, I don't think you will find a more considerate man.
The relationship development leans towards a super-slow burn. About 65% of the book you don't get much interaction between hero and heroine, it all focuses on Cath. I would have loved to see a bit more of them together. The story touches on a serious subject - men preying on teenagers and using them to get their rocks off - and I appreciate that the author approached it with sensitivity.
The side cast adds to the multidimensional story and I loved Lou, the owner of the truck diner and her husband Leroy in particular. Cath's relationship with her brother was a thing of beauty.
I would have loved a proper epilogue - we got a HFN but I was told I'm tougher on epilogues so this one might be perfectly OK for you! There was a little last minute drama that I found could have been handled a little earlier in the story.
The writing was excellent and the story draws you in from the first page. It is poignant with very well fleshed out characters. I enjoyed Until It Fades a lot and I am looking forward to reading other books by this author!
✮✮✮ 4 STARS ✮✮✮
Cath's poor life choices when she was a teenager left her pregnant and desperate. Thanks to the kindness of the owner of a truck stop diner she has been able to survive. More than six years later she still works there, barely making ends meet for her and her daughter.
On the way home from a terrible date she saves a man's life who is stuck in a crashed car. And with that her quiet life comes to an end. The man she saved is no one else than star hockey player and son of a Hollywood star Brett Madden.
After her high school drama she tried to stay low-key. Saving the life of celebrity isn't conducive to flying under the radar but she does everything she can to keep her name out of the press. Until she is outed from an entirely unexpected direction.
Brett is devastated after the accident. His best friend didn't survive and the backlash of the crash makes his life even harder. Not only the injuries he suffered - will he ever be able to play hockey again? - but also critical voices because his team buddy was speeding are things he has to tackle each day. And on top of it, the person who saved his life doesn't want to be found and he wants nothing more than to thank her. When they are finally face to face he is entranced - by Cath's beauty, her resilience, the way she cares about her little family. And most of all he loves that she doesn't take advantage of him being a celebrity, although this time, his fame might be an obstacle.
“I’ve never had trouble making friends or finding girlfriends. But it’s always been harder figuring out exactly why they’re there. They say they don’t care who my mom is, or who I am. But everyone’s secretly angling for attention or money, or both. You, though . . . you really aren’t looking for either. Who I am seems to be working against me with you.”
I loved that Cath was strong. That she realized the mistakes she made. That her poor choices made her cautious of making the same ones again but I think she was a little too hard on herself. She is an amazing mother, her choices reflect on her child (who was more perceptive than she thought), and she is very aware of that. She doesn't permit herself more than friendship with Brett, who is so so obviously falling for her. Cath has to consider the consequences that come with dating a famous person and maybe losing him in the end.
Wondering what kind of example I’m offering my daughter. A mother who has perpetually sad eyes. A mother who hides behind her fear. A mother who has forgotten how to let herself love. A mother who everyone keeps touting as brave but who isn’t, really. Not at all.
Add to that her general aversion of attention and she is more than on the fence about it. I found this a tiny bit exasperating because it was obvious that Brett cared for Cath and would protect her and her child with everything he had.
Brett *cue dreamy sigh* He is a wonderful man, generous, kind, with a boyish and playful streak who never let his and his mother's fame change him. He is as down-to-earth as the guy next door. Brett shields Cath and helps her handle the press - he is a pro after all. He is so patient with her, so careful to give her space and time to come to terms with it all, I don't think you will find a more considerate man.
“It’s not just the media, Brett.” I wish it were.
“Then what else? You have to tell me.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
He chuckles. “Because I’m crazy about you and you won’t even answer my calls. I need to know how to fix that so you’ll give me a chance. Please.
The relationship development leans towards a super-slow burn. About 65% of the book you don't get much interaction between hero and heroine, it all focuses on Cath. I would have loved to see a bit more of them together. The story touches on a serious subject - men preying on teenagers and using them to get their rocks off - and I appreciate that the author approached it with sensitivity.
The side cast adds to the multidimensional story and I loved Lou, the owner of the truck diner and her husband Leroy in particular. Cath's relationship with her brother was a thing of beauty.
I would have loved a proper epilogue - we got a HFN but I was told I'm tougher on epilogues so this one might be perfectly OK for you! There was a little last minute drama that I found could have been handled a little earlier in the story.
The writing was excellent and the story draws you in from the first page. It is poignant with very well fleshed out characters. I enjoyed Until It Fades a lot and I am looking forward to reading other books by this author!
July 3, 2017
Call me a softy, but Until it Fades really tugged at my heartstrings. Having read a lot of romantic comedies and erotic books lately, it was refreshing to read a story that has a little more depth to it but still retains the romantic elements that I enjoy.
Catherine is a young single mom who endured a crushing scandal in her small hometown. I appreciate a strong female character, and this independent and determined survivor, who never felt sorry for herself, won me over from the beginning. Her four-year-old daughter Brenna is absolutely adorable and a bit too observant. At times it creates frustration for Catherine and humor for the reader.
When Catherine saves Brett’s life, she has no idea he is a famous athlete and is unprepared for the media frenzy that follows. She prefers to remain an anonymous good Samaritan rather than have her painful past dredged up by greedy reporters. She wants no accolades or monetary support. I can never understand why heroines reject gifts from rich people who can easily afford to give them. Only in books. In real life, if I was driving a beaten up sedan held together with duct tape, I would gladly accept a shiny new car, but maybe that’s just me. In Catherine’s case, her pride gets in the way.
So Brett. Insert huge dreamy sigh here. Let me think of one major flaw. Nope. I’ve got nothing. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Given all the pressures, pain, and uncertainty, post-accident Brett was fascinating to me. I was anxious to see how he would measure up.
There’s a diverse group of characters that bring even more dimension to this heartwarming story. I enjoyed every single one of them, but my favorite supporting character is Lou. She’s the owner of the diner where Catherine works, and is a wise, no-nonsense, caring surrogate mom to her.
This story is engaging, touching, and sweet. It’s swoony without being too steamy. Some may find it too “fade to black,” but I was satisfied. It reminds me of the romance stories that made me fall in love with the genre, and for that alone it’s a winner in my book.
Recommended for fans of:
Single moms
Diners
Sweet romance
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Catherine is a young single mom who endured a crushing scandal in her small hometown. I appreciate a strong female character, and this independent and determined survivor, who never felt sorry for herself, won me over from the beginning. Her four-year-old daughter Brenna is absolutely adorable and a bit too observant. At times it creates frustration for Catherine and humor for the reader.
When Catherine saves Brett’s life, she has no idea he is a famous athlete and is unprepared for the media frenzy that follows. She prefers to remain an anonymous good Samaritan rather than have her painful past dredged up by greedy reporters. She wants no accolades or monetary support. I can never understand why heroines reject gifts from rich people who can easily afford to give them. Only in books. In real life, if I was driving a beaten up sedan held together with duct tape, I would gladly accept a shiny new car, but maybe that’s just me. In Catherine’s case, her pride gets in the way.
So Brett. Insert huge dreamy sigh here. Let me think of one major flaw. Nope. I’ve got nothing. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Given all the pressures, pain, and uncertainty, post-accident Brett was fascinating to me. I was anxious to see how he would measure up.
There’s a diverse group of characters that bring even more dimension to this heartwarming story. I enjoyed every single one of them, but my favorite supporting character is Lou. She’s the owner of the diner where Catherine works, and is a wise, no-nonsense, caring surrogate mom to her.
This story is engaging, touching, and sweet. It’s swoony without being too steamy. Some may find it too “fade to black,” but I was satisfied. It reminds me of the romance stories that made me fall in love with the genre, and for that alone it’s a winner in my book.
Recommended for fans of:
Single moms
Diners
Sweet romance
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
July 27, 2018
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
4.5 stars
"With Brett... I wouldn't fall in love, I'd plummet."
Until it Fades had been on my radar ever since I read the blurb. It is one of my most anticipated reads of 2017, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. KA Tucker hooked me from the start, the prologue was very unconventional and it intrigued me to find out more. Catherine Wright is a twenty-four-year-old single mother and truck stop waitress. Every decision she makes, she makes with her five-year-old daughter in mind. It was very obvious that she is a great mother to her cute little daughter Brenna. I loved how Cath saved Brett's life, it was very original and it had me curious to see how their relationship would develop. I was happy that Brett wasn't your typical athlete, and most of that was a result of his great upbringing.
"It's good to have dreams. Without dreams, we wouldn't have goals. And without goals...what's the point of living?"
Cath is very reluctant to be in the limelight and to start something with Brett. I loved both of their personalities, and I was glad the author took her time to develop the bond between them. I also loved the side characters, Keith (Cath's best friend) and Jack (Cath's brother) in particular. I wouldn't mind them getting their own story. There were so many amazing characters in this book that I couldn't get enough of. I especially loved the scenes with Brenna, she was such a cute, happy and curious little girl. I do wish there were a couple of extra chapters to really cement the relationship between Brett and Catherine, it really felt like that the last chapters were a bit rushed. Overall Until it Fades was a great contemporary romance and it kept me interested from start to finish. I really wish this was a series, and that the other characters would get their own book.
4.5 stars
"With Brett... I wouldn't fall in love, I'd plummet."
Until it Fades had been on my radar ever since I read the blurb. It is one of my most anticipated reads of 2017, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. KA Tucker hooked me from the start, the prologue was very unconventional and it intrigued me to find out more. Catherine Wright is a twenty-four-year-old single mother and truck stop waitress. Every decision she makes, she makes with her five-year-old daughter in mind. It was very obvious that she is a great mother to her cute little daughter Brenna. I loved how Cath saved Brett's life, it was very original and it had me curious to see how their relationship would develop. I was happy that Brett wasn't your typical athlete, and most of that was a result of his great upbringing.
"It's good to have dreams. Without dreams, we wouldn't have goals. And without goals...what's the point of living?"
Cath is very reluctant to be in the limelight and to start something with Brett. I loved both of their personalities, and I was glad the author took her time to develop the bond between them. I also loved the side characters, Keith (Cath's best friend) and Jack (Cath's brother) in particular. I wouldn't mind them getting their own story. There were so many amazing characters in this book that I couldn't get enough of. I especially loved the scenes with Brenna, she was such a cute, happy and curious little girl. I do wish there were a couple of extra chapters to really cement the relationship between Brett and Catherine, it really felt like that the last chapters were a bit rushed. Overall Until it Fades was a great contemporary romance and it kept me interested from start to finish. I really wish this was a series, and that the other characters would get their own book.
June 14, 2017
Thank you to the publishers for sending me an e-ARC on netgalley.
I love K.A. Tucker's He Will be My Ruin and I was so excited when I got approved for a netgalley ARC! I love romances that involve hockey players, it's a guilty pleasure of mine. Unfortunately, this book was boring as shit. It follows Catherine, a single mother of a five year old daughter, who is a waitress in a very poor town. One night after a terrible blind date, she stumbles upon a car accident and somehow manages to pull this guy (who is twice her size) from the wreckage before the car goes up in flames. Later on, she discovers that she saved an extremely popular well-known hockey player, Brett Madden, who is also the son of Hollywood actress Meryl Price (I know, the name makes me cringe too, it's too similar to Meryl Streep lol.)
I enjoyed the beginning of this book a lot, and I liked the prologue, seeing how Catherine originally got pregnant, and the drama of her sleeping with a teacher. I thought it was so interesting and entertaining. I thought the small town she lived in was described very well, and I definitely felt the desperation for her to get a job and make money.
I guess the main problem I had with this book is that it's advertised as a romance, but there is zero romance in this book until past the halfway point, and even after that, the romance wasn't written very well in my opinion. This book gets extremely repetitive about Catherine dealing with the drama of wanting to stay out of the news after saving this hockey player, and the press harassing her for interviews and photos, etc. I was skimming through conversations about Catherine wanting to be left out of the magazines and not on the news, and she doesn't want her daughter to be forced into the spotlight, and for her old past to be brought up again. They have these conversations over and over and over again. Like WE GET IT, you want nothing to do with it, and you don't want your name in the news.
This book just follows a really boring repetitive cycle after the accident happens. Catherine spends every minute talking about it, thinking about it, trying to remain anonymous, and it's so repetitive. She just goes to work, plays with her daughter, and talks with her family about her situation. Then once Brett finally makes an appearance in the story, the romance is so cheesy and cringe-y and they start texting each other a lot and I just wasn't really feeling the romance.
I don't know what happened with this one, I wanted to love it but I just couldn't. I'm still willing to give more of K.A. Tucker's future books a chance though, because I think she's a talented writer, this book just wasn't for me.
I love K.A. Tucker's He Will be My Ruin and I was so excited when I got approved for a netgalley ARC! I love romances that involve hockey players, it's a guilty pleasure of mine. Unfortunately, this book was boring as shit. It follows Catherine, a single mother of a five year old daughter, who is a waitress in a very poor town. One night after a terrible blind date, she stumbles upon a car accident and somehow manages to pull this guy (who is twice her size) from the wreckage before the car goes up in flames. Later on, she discovers that she saved an extremely popular well-known hockey player, Brett Madden, who is also the son of Hollywood actress Meryl Price (I know, the name makes me cringe too, it's too similar to Meryl Streep lol.)
I enjoyed the beginning of this book a lot, and I liked the prologue, seeing how Catherine originally got pregnant, and the drama of her sleeping with a teacher. I thought it was so interesting and entertaining. I thought the small town she lived in was described very well, and I definitely felt the desperation for her to get a job and make money.
I guess the main problem I had with this book is that it's advertised as a romance, but there is zero romance in this book until past the halfway point, and even after that, the romance wasn't written very well in my opinion. This book gets extremely repetitive about Catherine dealing with the drama of wanting to stay out of the news after saving this hockey player, and the press harassing her for interviews and photos, etc. I was skimming through conversations about Catherine wanting to be left out of the magazines and not on the news, and she doesn't want her daughter to be forced into the spotlight, and for her old past to be brought up again. They have these conversations over and over and over again. Like WE GET IT, you want nothing to do with it, and you don't want your name in the news.
This book just follows a really boring repetitive cycle after the accident happens. Catherine spends every minute talking about it, thinking about it, trying to remain anonymous, and it's so repetitive. She just goes to work, plays with her daughter, and talks with her family about her situation. Then once Brett finally makes an appearance in the story, the romance is so cheesy and cringe-y and they start texting each other a lot and I just wasn't really feeling the romance.
I don't know what happened with this one, I wanted to love it but I just couldn't. I'm still willing to give more of K.A. Tucker's future books a chance though, because I think she's a talented writer, this book just wasn't for me.
July 7, 2017
4.5 All the Feelsstars
Until it Fades by K.A. Tucker is a sweet little story about a young woman who has not exactly had an easy life, especially the teen age years that were full of angst and heartache. Now she is a single mother, Catherine Wright is determined to make a good life with her adorable daughter, Brenna. When she meets hot shot hockey player, Brett Madden, life becomes a little complicated.
I honestly really loved this story. There was no TSTL heroine, no insta-romance or anything else that can drive me crazy. It is just a really sweet romance between a down to earth woman and a hot hockey player.
The only minor complaint I have is that we don’t get to read Brett’s POV. I wanted to read about how he was falling for Cath and all the other emotions he was going through. Other than that, this book is definitely on my favorite list for 2017.
Until it Fades by K.A. Tucker is a sweet little story about a young woman who has not exactly had an easy life, especially the teen age years that were full of angst and heartache. Now she is a single mother, Catherine Wright is determined to make a good life with her adorable daughter, Brenna. When she meets hot shot hockey player, Brett Madden, life becomes a little complicated.
I honestly really loved this story. There was no TSTL heroine, no insta-romance or anything else that can drive me crazy. It is just a really sweet romance between a down to earth woman and a hot hockey player.
The only minor complaint I have is that we don’t get to read Brett’s POV. I wanted to read about how he was falling for Cath and all the other emotions he was going through. Other than that, this book is definitely on my favorite list for 2017.
November 8, 2023
I loved this book so so much. Ugh they were so cute and adorable together. I wish there had been an extended epilogue though
June 27, 2017
4.5/5 stars
KA Tucker is one of my favorite authors. So Until It Fades was one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. And it did not disappoint me!
Until It Fades is a contemporary romance. I would categorize it as somewhere in between New Adult and Adult, but it also could be considered Woman's Fiction. It is a standalone. The narrator is 24 year old waitress Catherine/Cath. The book is set in the tourist town of Balsam Pennsylvania, which has a population of three thousand people.
The book takes place in the present (2017). But there are some flashbacks to 2010.
I was completely hooked right from the first chapter. I am not usually a big fan of going back and forth in time. But in this case I was so interested in 2010 that I did not mind at all. Also most of the 2010 stuff is in the first couple of chapters.
The premise: Something happened in Cath's life when she was 17. It was a turning point in her life and it greatly affected her relationship with her family. But there was also a backlash from the community and the town turned against her. Now she's an adult trying to live her life.
Now in the present, Catherine is on her way home from a date when she sees something that ends up being key to the story.
The pace of this book is very different from most books in the contemporary romance genre. It's definitely a much slower pace in regards to the romance. But I actually enjoyed the slower pace.
I really could not put this book down.
I do like contemporary romance. But I don't like predictability. There were actually a lot of enjoyable things in this story, including some twists that I did not see coming.
The things I liked:
Hockey plays an important part of the story. I loved how the author made hockey such a key element in this story. Two of the characters in the book play hockey. And a few others are big time hockey fans. It really worked for the story.
The characters were so unique and well-developed. I was so impressed with the characters in this story. I adored Lou, the lady who owns the diner. I loved actress Meryl Price. I enjoyed Cath's friends Misty and Keith, and her brother Jack. I even enjoyed Cath's parents. Brett was such a lovable guy. And little Brenna was fantastic.
I was really fascinated by Catherine's relationship with her family. I liked seeing what it was like in 2010 and what it was like in the present. Not all families get along all of the time. And sometimes people make choices that their family does not agree with. I really love that the author spent so much time on Cath's family dynamics.
I thought that the small town/tourist town setting was very interesting. I really enjoyed that Cath was from a small town. And found that it worked very well with this story.
The slow pace of the romantic aspect of the story was so unusual. There are no romantic scenes at the beginning of this story. The book takes a completely different approach. There is a lot of character development and plot development that takes over the first half of the book. But there is romance. The author just takes her time to get to it.
I found it interesting that we only get Cath's POV. There are so many books these days that give us dual points of view. But I loved that we only get to see what Cath is thinking and feeling. This is her story and it totally works for this book, IMO.
Overall, this book is a different kind of book for this author. The pace of the romance is very slow. There were a couple predictable events. But I could not put this book down. It was sweet and charming and it made me feel good while I was reading it. There were definitely enough interesting plot points to keep me completely invested in the story. I would highly recommend this book!
*I only read the full book blurb after finishing the book. I hate spoilers and find that so many book blurbs give away too much of the story. I was shocked at how much this blurb gave away. Do yourself a favor and don't read the entire book blurb. I really do not think that I would have enjoyed this book as much if I had read the blurb beforehand.
Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thanks to Atria and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
KA Tucker is one of my favorite authors. So Until It Fades was one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. And it did not disappoint me!
Until It Fades is a contemporary romance. I would categorize it as somewhere in between New Adult and Adult, but it also could be considered Woman's Fiction. It is a standalone. The narrator is 24 year old waitress Catherine/Cath. The book is set in the tourist town of Balsam Pennsylvania, which has a population of three thousand people.
The book takes place in the present (2017). But there are some flashbacks to 2010.
I was completely hooked right from the first chapter. I am not usually a big fan of going back and forth in time. But in this case I was so interested in 2010 that I did not mind at all. Also most of the 2010 stuff is in the first couple of chapters.
The premise: Something happened in Cath's life when she was 17. It was a turning point in her life and it greatly affected her relationship with her family. But there was also a backlash from the community and the town turned against her. Now she's an adult trying to live her life.
Now in the present, Catherine is on her way home from a date when she sees something that ends up being key to the story.
The pace of this book is very different from most books in the contemporary romance genre. It's definitely a much slower pace in regards to the romance. But I actually enjoyed the slower pace.
I really could not put this book down.
I do like contemporary romance. But I don't like predictability. There were actually a lot of enjoyable things in this story, including some twists that I did not see coming.
The things I liked:
Hockey plays an important part of the story. I loved how the author made hockey such a key element in this story. Two of the characters in the book play hockey. And a few others are big time hockey fans. It really worked for the story.
The characters were so unique and well-developed. I was so impressed with the characters in this story. I adored Lou, the lady who owns the diner. I loved actress Meryl Price. I enjoyed Cath's friends Misty and Keith, and her brother Jack. I even enjoyed Cath's parents. Brett was such a lovable guy. And little Brenna was fantastic.
I was really fascinated by Catherine's relationship with her family. I liked seeing what it was like in 2010 and what it was like in the present. Not all families get along all of the time. And sometimes people make choices that their family does not agree with. I really love that the author spent so much time on Cath's family dynamics.
I thought that the small town/tourist town setting was very interesting. I really enjoyed that Cath was from a small town. And found that it worked very well with this story.
The slow pace of the romantic aspect of the story was so unusual. There are no romantic scenes at the beginning of this story. The book takes a completely different approach. There is a lot of character development and plot development that takes over the first half of the book. But there is romance. The author just takes her time to get to it.
I found it interesting that we only get Cath's POV. There are so many books these days that give us dual points of view. But I loved that we only get to see what Cath is thinking and feeling. This is her story and it totally works for this book, IMO.
Overall, this book is a different kind of book for this author. The pace of the romance is very slow. There were a couple predictable events. But I could not put this book down. It was sweet and charming and it made me feel good while I was reading it. There were definitely enough interesting plot points to keep me completely invested in the story. I would highly recommend this book!
*I only read the full book blurb after finishing the book. I hate spoilers and find that so many book blurbs give away too much of the story. I was shocked at how much this blurb gave away. Do yourself a favor and don't read the entire book blurb. I really do not think that I would have enjoyed this book as much if I had read the blurb beforehand.
Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thanks to Atria and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
December 7, 2017
A slow simmer romance that took me by surprise. I will be reading more from this author.
March 24, 2017
*imitates the most interesting man in the world* I don't often read romances, but when I do I read KA.Tucker. This was once again another great offering from the queen of New Adult. Young mother and waitress Catherine, is thrust into the limelight following her heroic actions which saved a famous hockey players life. They soon find themselves falling for eachother, but Catherine's dark past threatens to undo everything.
The book is split between the past and the present, and I definitely preferred the present sections. The past was a bit of a downer. I loved the romance between Catherine and Brett, even if at times their issues were purely a result of Catherine's stubbornness, which was a bit frustrating. While I have yet to find a romance novel that isn't at least a little predictable, I did have a lot of fun reading this and felt that it was a well done, relatively light read. 3.5/5
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Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2017
DNF @ 40% it was alright but jst couldnt hold my interest...
June 27, 2017
I'm still fairly new to the KA Tucker train. I read He Will Be My Ruin last year and fell in love with her writing. She immediately became one of those authors who I knew I would read anything and everything she wrote. Until it Fades is only the second of her novels I've read, and while it's a completely different genre than the previous, I loved it just as much.
Brett and Catherine come from different worlds and only come together in the wake of tragedy. Catherine Wright is no stranger to the spotlight and bad press after a scandal during her teen years that rocked her small town. But getting involved with the famous hockey star, Brett Madden, brings a whole lot of publicity that she's not sure she can handle. Not to mention the old scars and possible secrets that could be dug up. But she can't deny the sparks between them for long, especially when Brett is so determined to be a part of her life.
Until it Fades is a sweet modern day cinderella story with a whole lot of heart. It's a story that will give you all the warm fuzzies and leave you just feeling really good inside and believing in fairy tales again. This is a perfect read for the summer and definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a light, heart warming read.
*Thank you so much to BeaulitfulBuzz, KA Tucker, and Atria Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Brett and Catherine come from different worlds and only come together in the wake of tragedy. Catherine Wright is no stranger to the spotlight and bad press after a scandal during her teen years that rocked her small town. But getting involved with the famous hockey star, Brett Madden, brings a whole lot of publicity that she's not sure she can handle. Not to mention the old scars and possible secrets that could be dug up. But she can't deny the sparks between them for long, especially when Brett is so determined to be a part of her life.
Until it Fades is a sweet modern day cinderella story with a whole lot of heart. It's a story that will give you all the warm fuzzies and leave you just feeling really good inside and believing in fairy tales again. This is a perfect read for the summer and definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a light, heart warming read.
*Thank you so much to BeaulitfulBuzz, KA Tucker, and Atria Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
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