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Unstable Ground
Till Death Do Us Part…
Kendall Morgan thought she’d buried her past when she left Northern California—and Justin Harper—behind for a dream job across the country. Four years later, a work trip brings her home…and face-to-face with the man whose proposal she once turned down.
Justin hasn’t forgotten the woman who broke his heart. He never stopped loving her—but he’s not sure he can forgive her. When an earthquake traps them inside an abandoned building, there’s nowhere to hide from old emotions. They must work together to stay alive. But will their rekindled love thrive this time or be left to die under the rubble.
This is a 25K word romance novella that was part of the Beautiful Disaster anthology.
Kendall Morgan thought she’d buried her past when she left Northern California—and Justin Harper—behind for a dream job across the country. Four years later, a work trip brings her home…and face-to-face with the man whose proposal she once turned down.
Justin hasn’t forgotten the woman who broke his heart. He never stopped loving her—but he’s not sure he can forgive her. When an earthquake traps them inside an abandoned building, there’s nowhere to hide from old emotions. They must work together to stay alive. But will their rekindled love thrive this time or be left to die under the rubble.
This is a 25K word romance novella that was part of the Beautiful Disaster anthology.
109 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 30, 2021
Unstable Ground by Kari Lemor
Contemporary romance novella. Alternating POV. Third person narrative.
Trapped in an abandoned building after an earthquake Kendall and Justin talk about their lives since she moved to New York and how much they still care about each other.
Danger brings frank discussion and passion.
Fast moving and easy to read, this novella moves from anger to regrets to love as they wait and hope to be rescued.
Not so much a spoiler? Romance so yes, HEA.
Makes me think about what I carry around in my purse or backpack everyday and what may be useful in an emergency. The thought makes that bottle of water just a little bit lighter.
Contemporary romance novella. Alternating POV. Third person narrative.
Trapped in an abandoned building after an earthquake Kendall and Justin talk about their lives since she moved to New York and how much they still care about each other.
Danger brings frank discussion and passion.
Fast moving and easy to read, this novella moves from anger to regrets to love as they wait and hope to be rescued.
Not so much a spoiler? Romance so yes, HEA.
Makes me think about what I carry around in my purse or backpack everyday and what may be useful in an emergency. The thought makes that bottle of water just a little bit lighter.
August 1, 2021
This new to me author packed so much in this quick read. I felts a lot of emotions. I definitely got involved with the main characters. Just remember as long as there is blood running through your veins it is never to late to pursue your dreams or to offer an apology for your mistakes. I am still feeling emotional about this book.
November 14, 2021
Quick, cute read of the girl who walked away and left the boy behind. When Kendall comes back to CA, an earthquake traps her with Justin for 5 days. Justin proposes again while trapped and this time its a YES!. I got a little bit worried when debris fell on Justin but thankfully, a great HEA happened.
September 30, 2021
This book was a quick read. An earthquake traps two former lovers together and faces them to confront their feelings for one another. Kendall and Justin get a second chance at love if they can survive the earthquake and it’s aftermath.
I look forward to reading more by this author!
I look forward to reading more by this author!
September 30, 2025
"Unstable Ground" by Kari Lemor was such a fun read. I enjoyed Kendall and Justin's characters and learning about what they went through. Kendall moved away for a job, and Justin never stopped loving her. When she came back to town, they ended up trapped in a building that collapsed during an earthquake. Trying to survive, they become close again and tell each other things. There were a few scenes that I really enjoyed. I don't want to give anything away, but I feel this is a book worth reading. Kari did such a great job and kept my attention the whole time. I also read this in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down.
January 28, 2023
second chance romance
This is the closest that I want to get to experiencing an earthquake. Kendall left Justin but her job brings her back into town and his life. While the two are trapped, it gives them a chance to work out the issues that drove them apart.
This is the closest that I want to get to experiencing an earthquake. Kendall left Justin but her job brings her back into town and his life. While the two are trapped, it gives them a chance to work out the issues that drove them apart.
January 9, 2023
I really loved this story. It’s not terribly long but it really packed a punch for me. Second chance stories are just about my favorite romance trope and this one is really great. Kendall left home to move across the country for a good job. She’d been poor growing up and she just couldn’t pass up this opportunity to make a career for herself. She regretted leaving Justin but felt like she had to do it; she’s never forgotten him.
Justin was heartbroken when Kendall left him but it made him that much more determined to become successful. Now here she is, needing the services of his company and the pain of her leaving is fresh again.
Wow, these two get trapped in an old building when an earthquake hits. They are pretty resourceful and I appreciated the way that the author didn’t shy away from subjects that often get glossed over (like what to do without necessary facilities).
Being trapped together forces Kendall and Justin to face what happened between them 4 years and they realize how much they still love each other. Both of them are injured in the earthquake and circumstances seem pretty dire. I liked how everything didn’t just magically work out right away; the story felt more realistic to me than other disaster type stories I’ve read. This was a very satisfying story and I loved how it ended.
Justin was heartbroken when Kendall left him but it made him that much more determined to become successful. Now here she is, needing the services of his company and the pain of her leaving is fresh again.
Wow, these two get trapped in an old building when an earthquake hits. They are pretty resourceful and I appreciated the way that the author didn’t shy away from subjects that often get glossed over (like what to do without necessary facilities).
Being trapped together forces Kendall and Justin to face what happened between them 4 years and they realize how much they still love each other. Both of them are injured in the earthquake and circumstances seem pretty dire. I liked how everything didn’t just magically work out right away; the story felt more realistic to me than other disaster type stories I’ve read. This was a very satisfying story and I loved how it ended.
September 23, 2026
Kendall left the man she loved four years ago to take a well-paying job in NYC. Now she’s back in her hometown to scope out a possible site for her company to purchase. The last person she expected to meet at the abandoned hospital is her ex—the structural engineer who’s supposed to help her verify the property’s stability.
Justin has never stopped loving Kendall, but his resentment for her leaving him runs deep. When an earthquake hits and crumbles the building, trapping them beneath the rubble, the only option they have is work together to survive. And maybe rekindle the flames of love that once burned hot between them.
Kendall and Justin were fun, flawed, three-dimensional characters. They had great chemistry and fit well together. There were a few minor editing issues, but I enjoyed this novella a lot and would like to read more from Ms. Lemor.
4 Stars
Justin has never stopped loving Kendall, but his resentment for her leaving him runs deep. When an earthquake hits and crumbles the building, trapping them beneath the rubble, the only option they have is work together to survive. And maybe rekindle the flames of love that once burned hot between them.
Kendall and Justin were fun, flawed, three-dimensional characters. They had great chemistry and fit well together. There were a few minor editing issues, but I enjoyed this novella a lot and would like to read more from Ms. Lemor.
4 Stars
January 3, 2020
Kari Lemor brings heartbreak and angst to life in Unstable Ground.
Kendall is determined to make this Rehab project a success, and move herself up the ladder of her Real Estate company.
But going back to her home town and finding out her Ex is the Engineer throws Kendall for a roller coaster ride of emotions.
Justin is just as shaken and confused.
The fact that the ground actually shakes and brings the world down around them has got to be fate's way of laughing at their circumstances.
Fate might have put them in each other's path, but it takes earth breaking revelations to keep them that way.
Kendall is determined to make this Rehab project a success, and move herself up the ladder of her Real Estate company.
But going back to her home town and finding out her Ex is the Engineer throws Kendall for a roller coaster ride of emotions.
Justin is just as shaken and confused.
The fact that the ground actually shakes and brings the world down around them has got to be fate's way of laughing at their circumstances.
Fate might have put them in each other's path, but it takes earth breaking revelations to keep them that way.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews