This book is a complete standalone. That moment your life changes.That moment that changes your life.That moment you love someone more than you love yourself.That was the moment we gave our son up for adoption and the moment I was left bare. A wide-open space that would forever be empty.There are moments that define you as a person, moments that prove just how strong you are, moments you push … you are, moments you push yourself to keep going forward when all you really want to do is give up. It was in one of those moments when I reached out and found him waiting for me.
When Shelby Calder left home fifteen years ago, she never planned on returning to the Alaskan town she left behind. But after the death of her grandfather and a bitter divorce, she hopes going home will be a fresh start for her and her ten-year-old son.
Zach Watters has made a lot of mistakes in his life. But when he sees Shelby Calder, looking more beautiful than ever, standing outside her childhood home, he promises himself that letting her go won’t be a mistake he ever makes again.
Some things never change and love is one of them.
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I don’t know how you make a story with this plot low angst, but she did. I don’t know if that’s bad good though. I would have preferred a bit more drama. Seriously, her Until books have more drama than this.
I have read the author’s books before and she always amazes me that she can capture something so real and you just can’t help but fall in love with the characters. This one was no different. A beautiful love story. What would you do when it feels like you have given up something so dear to you?……
After being away from her hometown, Shelby returns after being away for years. Things have changed but one thing has remained. Her love for Zach. Will they find a way back together? Or will things keep them apart?
I loved reading this story and you can’t help but wanting that happy ending for Shelby and Zach. I couldn’t put this one down. Definitely worth 5 stars to me!
“We were meant to be here, right now in this moment. We were meant to find each other again.”
When I read the blurb of this book it sounded like the perfect contemporary romance I am used to from Aurora. She is pretty much a go-to author for me when I am in a book funk, because even though her reads are light and fun it does have a small emotional punch to it. Nothing to make me ugly-cry for days but she definitely had me tearing up and even crying a couple of times.
“I’ve carried around an empty place in my soul for the last fifteen years, and the moment I saw you standing outside in the rain, that empty place filled up.”
Wide Open Spaces was a great read for me. It was really fast-paced and had the right amount of emotional parts that took the book to another level. Especially the prologue was really difficult to read, because it was really heartbreaking and had me crying right away. I understood why Shelby decided to leave town and start a new life somewhere else. I also thought she did the right thing by coming back after 15 years. Zach and Shel’s reunion was uncomfortable and emotional and that is understandable. Shelby was hesitant being around Zach because there will still open wounds. I was glad that it didn’t take them long to talk it out. I don’t like it when certain things are dragged out in books, so I was happy that wasn’t the case in Wide Open Spaces.
I loved Zach and Shelby a lot. It was obvious that they were still in love but the past made it difficult to move on together. I believe if Shelby stayed in town they would’ve eventually ended up hating each other and break up. The pain of what happened was too fresh. Her leaving was the best thing she did, because it made it possible for both of them to grow up.
“Sometimes, the road to happiness is full of trials and tribulations. You just have to figure out how to make it past the hard parts so you can find your piece of happiness.”
Overall this was a great read for me, I can always depend on Aurora to deliver a beautiful and emotional read. The only thing that bothered me a little bit was the length of this book. It was over too quickly, and I have had the same feeling for Aurora’s other books. Like I mentioned before it was very fast-paced and I was just missing a bit more character development, especially for Zach and Shelby as a couple. I was reading the last chapter and before I knew it it was over. I do want to mention that Aurora rocked the epilogue because we get a great look into the future which always brings a smile to my face. I loved all the secondary characters and I am happy that one of them is getting their own story.
“There’s been a wide open space inside me since…I left you behind. A space I didn’t think would ever be full but from the moment I came back, it’s slowly been filling up.”