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Little Sky Romance #3

It Was Always You

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When scientist Avery’s life is endangered, her cop ex is assigned to protect her from a killer.

Dr. Avery Brown is developing a tool that could help put criminals behind bars, but someone is determined to stop her. When her laboratory is trashed and her house is burned to the ground, the police assign Gareth Wayland—her ex—to protect her.

Avery has kept her distance from the gorgeous sergeant for years, but now that they’re forced together, unwanted feelings resurface. She’s never loved anyone the way she did Gareth, but she’s never had her heart broken so badly either.

With reawakened attraction simmering between them and a killer drawing closer, will Avery be able to keep herself—and her heart—safe?

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

131 people are currently reading
693 people want to read

About the author

Alexa Rivers

56 books612 followers
Alexa Rivers writes about genuine characters living messy, imperfect lives and earning hard-won happily ever afters. Most of her books are set in small towns, and she lives in one of these herself. She shares a house with a neurotic dog and a husband who thinks he’s hilarious.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling, baking, eating too much chocolate, cuddling fluffy animals, drinking excessive amounts of tea, and absorbing herself in fictional worlds.

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5 stars
131 (42%)
4 stars
84 (27%)
3 stars
66 (21%)
2 stars
15 (4%)
1 star
9 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
112 reviews
October 24, 2019
When opposites attracted, no matter time and seeming differences!

Avery and Gareth had been sweethearts during youth, but they separate themselves by “mutual” agreement to become their own dreams true. Now, Avery as a brilliant scientist was determined to bring her project as useful as it could be for the enforcement law, and this could place her in extreme danger. Thus, her former ex, Gareth as a police officer, was involved with her again as her bodyguard. He also realized they were meant to be together, and this opportunity could be a chance of coming back. ¿Could it be possible to earn her trust again and to open her heart again, and at the same time, to fulfill his orders without broken rules and orders?

In this book, Alexa Rivers gave us two main strong characters, with marked differences in mind and dreams but united in love and life’s viewpoints. They are so stubborn in hidden their feelings in front of each other, as well as in their commitment to placing their jobs first. Only through the sheer power of friendship, they could realize both former misunderstandings and misguidances, that let them gain true love and happiness. Wonderful reading, full of conflicted emotions, present danger, and human fears.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Shebb.
776 reviews
February 16, 2020
Another awesome Little Sky Romance!

I really enjoyed Avery and Gareth's story. Second-chance stories (which end happily) have a warm place in my heart and I love seeing the characters overcome the mess between them.

I love Alexa's way with words and her ability to paint a picture with words, and express emotions clearly. I'm looking forward to Clarissa's story!
Profile Image for Abby G. Amos.
1,254 reviews3 followers
December 16, 2021
Nice Read!

I enjoyed reading this book! Avery and Gareth were a pair that should have never made a deal as teenagers! There was so much chemistry between these two! I'm glad they finally listened to each other and found true happiness! I think others will enjoy reading this book. I definitely recommend it!
Profile Image for Emelie.
217 reviews
March 3, 2024
Hmm I liked the premise of this book, I also liked the MMC but I could not stand the FMC. For being a "genius" she was hella stupid! She was told not to use her phone as the man who literally trashed her lab and burned down her house, would be able to track her down, and what does she do? She uses her phone cause she "really needed to talk to her friend".. stupidddd
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Patty.
681 reviews2 followers
April 15, 2022
The book was fine. The first half was good…moved along nicely with a decent plot. It felt as if the second half was less plot and lots of personal stuff…ongoing angst from high school, for heaven sake, and sex.
Profile Image for DJ.
465 reviews
September 21, 2023
The series seems to follow the same layout and have the third act fight, most of the couples aren't actually dating, so I would call it a fight. It starts off annoying when you realize it's the same as the last book but it always ends up being a good read and I can see the difference in the books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
82 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2024
2.5⭐️
It was an okay read? Kind of slow paced, but at the same time, it went from 0 to 100 in terms of the relationship. I didn't like how the conflicts (the perp and their coming together) were so easily resolved and brushed aside.
Profile Image for Carley DuBois.
125 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2024
Probably loved this most out of the 3 I’ve read in the series. The cabin scenes were so raw and real. This book did a great job of showing history between G and Avery but also who they are as adults. Great writing, predictable ending, but loving the journeys there.
Profile Image for Bernadine Morris.
8 reviews1 follower
August 24, 2021
.mixed messages

The protagonists in this novel are sending each other mixed messages both have loved each other for ten years believing they were not good enough for each other
79 reviews
September 15, 2021
A forever kind of love!

Misunderstandings and hurt feelings kept them apart for years but dangerous times and deep feelings brought them back together with adventure.
Profile Image for Susa.
557 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2021
The plot, I’d say, has high potential. However, for a ‘steamy’ story, it’s sort of written in a rather harmless style.
Profile Image for Gigi Foster.
1,114 reviews4 followers
July 20, 2022
Read on Radish. Avery and Gareth have some deep digging to do to get to the bottom of their issues. The end result is nothing less than perfect.
Profile Image for kiki.
22 reviews
November 26, 2023
couldn’t force myself to dnf cause I paid for it
Profile Image for Fiona.
2,766 reviews32 followers
October 22, 2019
Avery and Gareth were high school sweethearts, but Gareth let Avery go so she could fulfill her dreams. But he always hoped that she would come back to him.

Now Avery is in danger after her lab and home have been destroyed, she was on her way to discovering where a body had been buried after taking soil samples all over New Zealand. If the soil samples matched up, they could put away the killer for a long time.

Gareth is now a Police officer and he has been put in charge of her protective custody. He will stop at nothing to ensure that she is safe at all times. Avery doesn’t believe she is in danger. Believing that she is safe, Avery steps outside of the motel room for fresh air and is nearly killed by a car aimed for her. Gareth pulls her to safety just in time.

Avery’s soil samples lead her to where the dead body is and the murderer is finally put away for a long time. Now Gareth can work on proving that he loves Avery and the mistakes he make by breaking up with her before she left for university. They finally work through their differences and enjoy their happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sugan.
128 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2019
I enjoy just about everything Alexa Rivers writes so I was excited to read Winter Heat. I always like her small town quirkiness and characters that live there. Her writing is well thought out and the story-line is usually great. I kept wanting more with this one. Don't get me wrong; this story is good by itself, I just kept hoping for great.
Avery and Gareth were together years ago but through a misunderstanding of feelings, went their separate ways. Now, through chance, and a threat to Avery's life, they are thrown together and given a second chance at love. Throughout the story, I felt the suspense building and kept thinking that there would be more "thriller" type moments - more opportunities for Gareth to "protect" Avery from her would be attacker. But, in the end, it was more second chance love story than it was thriller romance. With that being said, I would definitely recommend this story for any Alexa Rivers fans or for those who want to read a good second chance love story.
799 reviews4 followers
October 7, 2019
This is a typical Alexa Rivers book – the characters are really well written and so is the story. It’s a no-brainer one-click really. The elements here are balanced – there is heat from Gareth and Avery’s past and present (more than either feels comfortable with for a while), there is personal drama, and there is suspense and danger – and all three elements work together to keep the reader turning the pages. The scientific ideas in the book are also interesting – this is a book that engages your thinking brain as well as your reading brain. It’s such a pleasure to have an intellectual female character that is respected for that by the other characters too. The suspense and drama ramp up from the start of the book – you won’t be able to put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Rosemary Ascencio.
7 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2019
Dr. Avery Brown is at the verge of a break thru that can help law enforcement officers solve cases. Sergeant Gareth Wayland has been assigned to protect her after her house was burned down and Lab vandalized. Together they have to work of completing Dr. Avery's work while keeping her safe, difficult as it may be add being high school sweet-hearts, lingering feelings and misunderstandings makes for a sizzling story.
I got this book as a arc, I found it to be a great and entertaining story to read. There are 3 book in (The little sky series) Was introduced to Avery and Gareth in the first book the way their were described stayed as a constant thru out the series. Alexa Rivers love your writing style very real not overly dramatic keeps for a great story with out it being sappy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,445 reviews5 followers
October 25, 2019
My initial take on Avery was not favorable until I continued reading and realized that she was hiding a great deal of hurt behind an aloof, indifferent and even cold attitude and she used that attitude as a shield. Fact and logic were her way of dealing with the world of emotions.
Gareth was more of an open book. He was much more willing to communicate but felt shut out by Avery and did not understand why. Her life being put in danger gave them the opportunity to reconnect and see that second chances really do exist for some. This is the second book I have read by Ms. Rivers and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,006 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2019
She would rather play in a lab than date she tried love once but he broke her heart. When her lab is destroyed all Avery wants to do is find the vial which was the only hope of finding where a young girl was murdered. Sergeant Garreth was her boyfriend he thought that she would welcome him back with open arms but she fooled him the only lady in his life is his dog. When his Avery is in trouble he runs to help her and when not her her lab but home are destroyed he knows he must protect her at any costs. This is a lovely second chance romance and the lead couple may have had a little misunderstanding in the past that lead them to years of hurt.
I voluntarily received an arc copy through Booksprout for my honest review.
3,654 reviews17 followers
October 26, 2019
Sargent Garett Wayland is assigned protective duty over his ex high school girlfriend Dr. Avery Brown after her lab is trashed and home burned. He whisks her away to remote cabin and she fights his protective actions to not contact anyone from her personal phone and stay inside. I was surprised the bad guys didn’t get to Avery sooner with how reckless she was with her safety. Their attraction to each other is still there, but he won’t act on it until after her case is solved and she’s afraid he’ll break her heart again. I loved his rescue dog Snookie. She must be pretty great if Avery, who doesn’t care for dogs comes to like her. Avery’s friend Dr. Jesse Stone was a great secondary character and deserves his own story. Maybe with her outspoken best friend Clarissa?
Profile Image for Raecharmed.
9,301 reviews70 followers
November 1, 2019
Avery and Gareth are childhood sweethearts but they had personal career pursuits they wanted to accomplish before settling down so they break up to do so. Avery is a scientist and her current work has put her in danger. Gareth becomes her bodyguard while she continues the project. However now that he is back in her life he has no intention of letting her go a second time. Can he keep her safe? Will they get their second chance?

This is an amazing story that will draw you in from the first page to the last one. The chemistry between them is blazing hot. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
1,644 reviews15 followers
October 8, 2019
This was a good story. Avery was working secretly for the police department trying to analyze dirt samples to find the body of a missing girl. The lab where she works is vandalized and then her house burns down. The police chief assigns her old boyfriend to protect her until they find the cuplrit of these crimes. The story moved along quickly. The chemistry between these two was very hot and they fought it tooth and nail. It was fun to read about their thoughts and finally understand what happened to their relationship.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Deanna.
1,083 reviews19 followers
October 26, 2019
A really enjoyable, fast paced steamy second chance romance.

When Avery, his high school sweet hearts life is in danger, Gareth will stop at nothing to protect the woman he loves even though they broke up nearly 10 years ago.

Gareth and Avery broke up nearly 10 years ago, he thought it was amicable. He didn’t want to hold her back from reaching her dreams, and he thought he would only hold her back. She thought he was just letting her down easy and it broke her heart and held a grudge.

Will these two ever get a chance to clear the air or will their misunderstandings always stand in their way.

I received a complimentary copy and I am giving my honest review voluntarily
Profile Image for Fleur.
3,737 reviews31 followers
October 28, 2019
I liked how we meet Avery like people see her as a closed off and snappy Doctor and it is no until time goes on we really get to see that she is just like you and me but has a shell to protect herself while Gareth decides to be as open as he can with her so she knows how he feels however there is still some major communication issues with both of them that leads to neither still knowing what each other wants. This is a good second chance read where the past is addressed and misunderstandings cleared up and a future of happiness being within reach if they really want it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
249 reviews4 followers
October 24, 2019
Avery has first her lab and then her home is destroyed. She has discovered a way to tell where dirt has come from within a few miles. A man accused of murder is trying to stop her from locating the body of a girl he killed.Gareth is the police officer told to protect her and he will do what ever it take to keep her safe. Avery and Gareth have a history and the feelings are renewed the longer they spend time together. This is a great story and look forward to more from this writer.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,353 reviews19 followers
October 30, 2019
He's been assigned protection duty over his ex girlfriend. Taking her away to a remote cabin seems the logical thing to do but she won't make protecting her easy. Garrett and Avery still have the attraction they had in high school but he's willing to wait until her case is solved before acting on his attraction. Avery is cautious as she fears he'll break her heart, again. Well written story line and great characters who have chemistry that is evident.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Profile Image for Holly.
2,894 reviews
November 3, 2019
They have been high school sweethearts but they separated for different reasons.
Now Garett Wayland is assigned to protect Dr. Avery Brown Her house was burned and her lab is trashed .
He move her to remote cabin and have strict rules, no outside contact. Avery is a little reckless with her safety and this is annoying.
Their attraction to each other is still there, but are they ready to admit to past mistakes and have second chance? or he’ll break her heart again ?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Korkoi.
7,099 reviews31 followers
October 25, 2019
Working Hard To Make Her His Again:
By Korkoi -

It is an exciting story, that will have you spinning on an emotional rollercoaster, with the crazy twists, suspense, sizzling sexy encounters and entertaining supporting characters. All I can say is find the nearest seat and settle down, as this thrilling storyline is sure to take you on a one heck of a ride. I suggest you get this enjoyable book.

I received a copy of this ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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