Objects in Motion

Conch Garden #2

by Kristen Mae

“Multilayered, evocative, and utterly absorbing, Objects in Motion is a heartrending dive into the depths of the human spirit.” – Meghan O’Flynn, bestselling author of the Ash Park series FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BEYOND THE BREAK A new friendship. A simple gift. A love that defies convention. It’s been three years since Claire Pyles lost her baby to stillbirth, three years since her picture-perfect husband committed an act Claire can’t seem to forget, much less forgive. Three years she’s spent struggling to reclaim peace. Still, she has every reason to be happy—a dream job as principal cellist in the symphony, a beautiful home, meaningful volunteer work at the cancer center. Claire may have suffered tragedy, but it’s true what her mother always Someone always has it worse. Right now, that someone is Hazel Duval, a violinist who recently stumbled into Claire’s life. Shy and prone to panic attacks, Hazel offers a welcome distraction from Claire’s own problems—something Claire can actually fix. But when the two women travel to Italy for a music festival, Hazel’s panic intensifies, and Claire’s attempts to help seem only to worsen her friend’s mental state. Then one morning, Hazel does something Claire never would have she kisses her. Claire views this kiss, and what follows, as the purest form of giving—a restorative she can offer her friend that no one else can. But what Claire is about to learn is that Hazel is not the only one who is broken, and Claire is not the only one with the power to heal. Provocative, revelatory, and tragically realistic, Objects in Motion tells the other side of the story from Beyond the Break, where readers saw Claire only through Hazel’s eyes. Whatever readers of Beyond the Break thought they knew about Claire…they were wrong.

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2018

About the author

Kristen Mae lives on the Atlantic coast of Florida with her two children and a fuzzy, giant-eared little dog named Gizmo. In addition to being a novelist, she is a classically trained violist and an artist.

For more from Kristen Mae, sign up for her reader group at abandoningpretense.com, and follow her on social media at facebook.com/AbandoningPretense and at Instagram @kristenmae_author.

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually do not write reviews that much anymore because frankly I'm just not very good at it and it takes me so long to write one that doesn't look and read like shite. But when I read a really great book that I want to IMPLORE people to read, that's when my inability to put a good review on paper annoys me the most. In a nutshell, this book is about two women, married to men, who fall in love with each other. In regards to how the story unfolds, all the other reviewers put it much more eloquently then I would be able to do but essentially the two MC's do not navigate the relationship well because they do not communicate. I know, I know, you've read that trope before. But believe me, the way this author unfurls the story, it's just gripping and unique and yes, heart wrenching. I could not put the book down.

Jeez, this author, she is truly gifted. Meaning, she should win book awards & shit and own multiple mansions because millions of people love & buy her awesome-ass books. Somebody fucking call Oprah to get this author on her recommended list. That's how good she is. And i'm sorry to say this, but I believe we(lesbians)are in short supply of really good writers in this genre. If the book was even remotely decent, i'm usually giving it 4 stars because much of the time they are so bad that if i got through it i'm like "Well i guess i'll give it 4 stars because I was actually able to finish this w/o walking in front of a fucking bus to put me out of my misery." Oh but not this author, she is the real fucking deal.

Please read this book and the first. And her new erotic short Soft.

Trigger: Although there is much much much lesbian sex(mmmmmm) there is also straight sex as the MC's are married to men.

Stars: infinite: "greater than any assignable quantity or countable number"

[F/F Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author deserves 10 stars but the lack of F/F HEA gets 2 stars. Ignore the rest of the review if you want a feel good story with HEA. This one doesn't have one but it is one of the few books that belong in my 6+ stars shelf.

This is a deeply intense and poignant story about two beautiful but very broken women (a cellist and a violinist) who found each other and loved each other during a time when they needed each other, but in the end, didn't remain together. It's not my preferred escape but for an exceptional writer and phenomenal storytelling, I'm willing to step into the inner psyche of relatable people dealing with the traumas of sexual assault, miscarriage, loss, anxiety, depression, darkness, tragedy, and so much more.

This book took forever to read because the content and emotions were too intense and raw that I could only digest a few pages at a time. What I appreciate about book 1 and 2 is that they are the same story covering the same period, but from two POVs. You think you know the characters well until you truly step inside their head. There are always two sides to every story which most people don't have purview to. Mae did a remarkable job giving readers a glimpse into the inner sanctum of two women who represent people you see everyday but know absolutely nothing about other than what they choose to reveal. This is a beautiful story that must not be read or rated as a feel good romance but rather, a poignant story of pain, loss, love and redemption.

Note: I read book 2 before book 1. They can be read out of order or standalone. Book 2 is remarkably better than the first but after reading it, you might be curious to know what really went on inside the other woman's head and read the first!

[Dee]

Had I not read book 1, this book would've got all the stars in the world. Kristan Mae is an amazing author. The raw emotion she elicits in me is second to none, for that alone, this story deserves 5+ stars.

However, the minute I picked this book up, I felt like I'd read it before. I was practically reciting lines along with the main character. Wondering if I was going out of my mind, I went back and read book 1 Beyond the Break. Dumb move.

There's not much new here. This is a rewrite of book 1 but from a different point-0f-view. Predictability equals boring and that's how I found myself for a great part of the book - skimming pages. And because it PAINS me to such as much, I'm not going to rate this book.

Verdict - Both of these books are phenomenal, you can't go wrong by picking up one or the other.

[Jessica Masden · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the line goes, "two sides of the same coin". Each side of the coin on its own has its own identity, but together, they form something tangible that is worth more than own its own. Objects in Motion (OIM) is the perfect standalone book in its own right, but, coupled with it's counterpart, Beyond the Break (BTB), it is absolutely unparalleled. OIM is seductive in it's own unique way. Having read BTB and thinking you see the whole story, OIM opens up new doors that you didn't even know existed. The main character, Claire, has a story that is both relatable to the common person as well as an escape from reality. OIM talks about topics in its writing that typically are shied away from in society. Not only because of this reason did the story make me fall in love with it. Claire and her situation are so complex and have depth that cannot be fabricated. Reading OIM, you can mentally experience the position Claire is in, and the options available to her. You can feel that experience and tangibly hold onto those emotions long after you set the book down. If you are looking for a racey adult novel, with no human connection, this is not your book. If you are looking to bond with the characters, grieve as they grieve, rejoice as they rejoice, as well as intimacy, this is your book. It is not feat to write one break out best seller. To repeat the process, as I expect OIM to follow in it's counterpart's footsteps, could only be a stroke of genius. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you not read this book. It is a page turner that sucks you in and you do not want to let it go.

[Jennifer S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book took me to places within myself that I didn’t think anyone or anything outside of myself had the power to do. From grief to joy, sometimes both at once...from love to pain, sometimes both at once...from possession to loss, both at once. For me, “Objects in Motion” was more than a love story. It was the personification of some of the rawest feelings that I live with in my own life. Aside from her ability to convey joy, pleasure, and all the REALLLLLY goooood feels, Kristen Mae is able to put into words the deepest feelings of grief and loss...feelings that I could never organize well enough in my mind to articulate myself. As a woman, a mother, a sister and a wife, I found such comfort in walking through the lives of Claire and Hazel, and was able to recognize parts of myself in both of them. It was a particularly beautiful thing to read the thoughts of Claire this time around, and be in her head while already knowing (from reading “Beyond The Break”) what was going through Hazel’s mind. I was able to relate to many of Claire’s experiences, both in childhood and as an adult, and finally gain a more complete understanding of my own thoughts and experiences in a way that I wasn’t able to do before. Through her writings and through her characters, Kristen Mae offers amazing authentic insight into the human experience as a woman. I will miss Hazel and Claire!

[Heather Holter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think you know Claire? Think Again!!

Even if you read Beyond the Break and think you know things, trust me, you don’t know much. There is more to Claire than meets the eye. While she is struggling with her own issues, she thinks she needs to rescue Hazel from her demons, but perhaps she is the one who needs rescuing. So much is revealed in this book. It is sad and heart-wrenching, but at the same time sweet, charming and moving. The sex isn’t all there is to this book. There is so much depth and emotion in the story that you will experience many highs and lows while reading this book. Everyone will be able to relate to this story in some way. It is about hurt, loss, heartbreak healing and love. The author will immerse you in the lives of Hazel and Claire so well, that you will think you know them. The story sucks you in. A must read!

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mae's writing is so real and raw, you can't help but escape in its beauty. Whatever shoes we're in in this life, we all have battles we must fight, and the deeper humanity she grasps in her books is a universal catharsis. Read and feel, friends.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Hazel & Claire. I will never be able to get enough of them! Kristen Mae is a phenomenal writer. I will read everything she writes!

[Meghan O'Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging, erotic, heart-rending...in a word: amazing. Steeped in gorgeous prose with believable and complex characters and enough tension to leave you considering all aspects of platonic and romantic relationships, Objects in Motion will stick with you far after you finish.

[Gabriela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is okay, but i really get disapointed in the end. Like, their love is no worth enough to fight for? That sucks.

[T Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. Very very similar to the first book, just outs a slightly different twist on things. I really felt like I just read the same book twice though. I hope the third one explores more of their relationship together.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sped through Beyond the Break and maybe the issue was that I read Objects in Motion too long after that it didn't blow me away. I really enjoyed BtB, so it was a surprise for me when I kept feeling like I was trucking through mud with OiM and that it was excessively drawn out.

[Alison Hine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing

This is an incredible book. The writing is magnificent: fresh, original, vivid, detailed, lyrical. The portrayal of the narrator's internal conflicts is flawless, compelling, ringing with authenticity. This amazing story gripped me from beginning to end.

Paired with the first book in the series, Beyond the Break, which tells the same story from the point of view of the woman who this narrator falls in love with, this book comprises something unique in my experience. In Objects, I am immersed in Claire's experience, privy to her most intimate thoughts, emotions, passions, sensations. I see Hazel from Claire's point of view, with stark clarity and stunning dimension.

In Break, I am immersed in Hazel's experience, privy to all of the same kinds of things, and seeing Claire with the same level of clarity and dimension. The wrenching anguish and unbridled joy that each of them experience in the course of their romance is portrayed so powerfully that I am right there with Claire, right there with Hazel, experiencing all these feelings, thinking all these thoughts, consumed by all these passions as I move through the pages of these astonishing books.

I should note that both books deal vividly with the consequences of sexual assault by men against women, both the short-term trauma and the long-term fallout. There is unimaginable violence, ghastly and pervasive consequences - and, in the end, a breath of hope for healing.

I have read many F/F romances over the years, but I've never read anything like these books. And technically I'm not sure they even qualify as F/F romances. But these two books are, in my opinion, without peer in the world of lesbian romantic fiction. With these two books, Kristen Mae has created a tour de force.

[Chrissy Woj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. This book follows the same timeline and characters as the first book, Beyond the Break, but it tells a completely separate story following Claire's point of view. I'm so impressed with the writing and the way these stories bookend each other: they're weaved together so seamlessly that I found myself compelled to re-read Beyond the Break. Kristen Mae's writing dances on the pages like the music that she incorporates into her stories.

Objects in Motion is so much more than a love story, it's a passionate love letter to women. The characters are real, flawed, and full of emotion, and it's okay to be all of those things. I felt their joy as well as their pain. I finished the book a week ago, and I'm still thinking about it and how Claire is faring. Everything I thought about Claire was barely scratching the surface of who she is, and it's a beautiful reminder that we all carry our stories and our secrets in different ways. I cannot wait to see what happens next in their story because there simply must be more!

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real feelings and characters

This book feels like a real story with real women and feelings. The author captures how we as women don't fully voice our insecurities, even with those we want to love us the most. This book also touches on how we find love, a sense of belonging, and what we need most in unexpected places.

[Beth Teliho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and dirty, and by that I mean it's a fast read with PUNCH, and TENSION, and deep emotional connection, and oh, let me not forget the HEAT, like feet in the fire heat. Gorgeous prose, nothing flowery or over the top, just perfect. Relatable, real life story that depicts desire, attraction, sadness, resentment, forgiveness, renewal - and how all those twine together to make this complex, complicated thing we call the human experience, and how quickly all life's "rules" can get shoved out the door when you least expect it. We have so much less control over our desires and emotions than we think.

LOVED seeing Claire's point of view (Beyond the Break is from Hazel's pov, and if you haven't read that one - Do It, it's amazing, too). Goes to show you don't know the whole story of a relationship until you do. Bravo to the author for pinning me to my couch for an evening, devouring her words. Will read anything Ms. Mae writes.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Objects in Motion was a great read. I found Claire, the main character, to be very relatable & someone I really wanted to root for. The sex scenes are enjoyable and plentiful, but this book is so much more than erotica. It touches on love, loss, lies, relationships, and how we cope and heal. Or, perhaps, how we don't. Readers of Beyond the Break will appreciate hearing the other side of that story, as well as more of what came after Italy. There are twists you don't expect! Brace yourself for feeling sad, happy, angry, and turned on!
I received and read proof and ARC copies of this book in exchange for leaving an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read, and loved, Beyond the Break. And then I read Objects in Motion and was blown away that I didn’t “know” Claire before.

She is every woman I know and respect - broken and hurting but hiding it deep down and trying to “fix” someone else. She puts away her own grief and carries on in the world without letting anyone really know her. Until she does...

Their love story is real and painful and beautiful. And I won’t lie - the sex is hot - but the depth of their friendship and love is what stands out to me.

I’m blown away by Kristen Mae’s ability to write deep, real characters that draw you in and add in the erotic parts seamlessly. Such a great read!

[Karen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting. I thought I knew what was coming next, and was surprised at the turns the story took in a few chapters. It touches upon many layers of the human spirit -- grief, longing, loneliness, jealousy, forgiveness. You find yourself on a journey with the main character, aching for her, fearing for her, wanting to shake the life back into her at times. She's an Everywoman -- at least many of the women I've known (including myself) -- and her realness, coupled with the passion and longing for love and human connection, make this an excellent read.

[Wendy Wisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how Kristen Mae does it. She writes books that engross you, are hot as anything, but are so authentic and human you feel like the characters are sitting with you, just telling their stories. Oh, and they're funny as hell too. Objects in Motion tells the Beyond The Break story from Claire's perspective, and it's amazing how much is unlocked and revealed--and how looking at the same story from another perspective sheds a totally different light on the other characters and the relationship. SO good, so urgent, so real.

[maddie b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerizing read

I loved the first book in this series, Beyond The Break and found myself relating to Hazel due to our shared sexual abuse history. I was enthralled from the beginning of their relationship and Objects In Motion completed this compelling story for me. I love how Kristen truly draws you into the characters to allow you to fully understand how each of them ticks. While, BTB left me more in favor of Hazel and slightly skeptical of Claire, OIM allowed me to see the whole story and who Claire really was. Read these books, you won't regret it.

[Shelley L Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for writing this book. Beyond the break was the 1st book I read by Kristen Mae and though it was extremely well written I was so sad and in fact thought about Hazel and Claire a lot. Objects in Motion was so....damn good and answered so many questions I needed answered. I fell in love with both Hazel and Claire at times my heart soared and then physically ached for them. I went into great detail with friends about this love story. I won't spoil Objects for the next reader but these 2 books together are a masterpiece. I need a 3rd but H+C is a must ;)

[SSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I loved this expect the extremely frustrating end. I am a huge fan of sad and angsty books but really dislike miscommunication, which was basically the last 15% of the book. I just wanted Claire to speak about her feelings and let Hazel decide what she wanted to do about her own marriage. Especially near the end when Hazel clearly loved her and nearly killed herself after they broke up. It was really annoying that Claire was lying about her life and experiences to Hazel.

[Melissa Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully, sensually written, OBJECTS IN MOTION is a first person perspective into one woman's life, through a strained marriage, loss, falling in love with her best friend... until it all comes crashing down, causing her to crumble with it. Lyrical descriptions interspersed with scenes hot enough to melt your Kindle, OBJECTS IN MOTION insists that you finish it, rightthisverynow, regardless of what other plans (eating, sleeping, being with the family) you might have had.

[Renee Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Objects in Motion gives fans of Beyond the Break a complete picture of the relationship between Hazel and Claire - I liked both characters better having seen them both thru each other’s eyes. The two books together convey the story of more than just a sexual adventure. Mae lets us see the enduring connection between two broken humans. The two narratives enhance each other the way the characters do. Mae continues to grow
as a writer. Can’t wait to see what comes next.

[Melissa Balaity Schwab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristen Mae never fails to deliver a story that leaves you breathless. The romantically erotic intricacies left me wanting to know more about Clair. I would highly encourage you to read Beyond the Break, where we meet Hazel. Beautifully written and heart wrenching!

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I read Beyond the Break as soon as it came out. I just finished reading Objects in Motion for the second time and I have no words. Kristen Mae is amazing at capturing the painful emotions people keep inside and peeling back the layers to expose them. I need more!

[Sarah Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my daily life, I struggle with perspective... meaning I am constantly questioning if my perspective is even close to whoever else is involved in any given situation. If they're different, then which one is the right one? So it was really awesome to read both sides of the story. The way Kristen Mae writes, speaks to something inside of me. Her ability to analyze and explain emotion that makes you feel it as you're reading is one of the qualities that I look for in an author, that keeps me coming back for more... and I will absolutely be coming back for more.

*I received an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. (I would have bought it regardless)

[Charese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless!

I was so sad that it ended. Truly loved the story. Refreshing and so not the obvious love story ending.

[Michele Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

It was so Awesome to hear this from Claire’s POV...was totally different than Hazels. I wish it would’ve ended differently though. Very emotional.