From USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez comes a sizzling standalone contemporary romance.“Sometimes love happens when you least expect it.” That was what my husband’s mistress told me the day I found out about their affair. I didn’t believe it until five minutes later when mouth-watering celebrity chef Tanner Reese walked up, tossed his arm around my shoulders, and told my cheating husband … shoulders, and told my cheating husband to take a hike.
Tanner and I couldn’t have been more different. He spent his weekends at clubs, rubbing elbows with fellow A-listers. I spent mine in yoga pants with cheese boards and a glass of wine—or six.
Our relationship shouldn’t have worked, but it did. That is until Tanner proved to me that even though love happens when you least expect it…
So does heartbreak.
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Ahhhh where to start?!?
First of all- I am not an ab cover lover.. at all. But this cover. I’m in love with it! That back cover is absolutely everything and if I didn’t normally pick everything up that this author writes- I would have now because it.
There is something about Aly Martinez’s writing that just pulls me in and makes me want to never put down her books once I start.
I loved the way she laid this book out. She wrote it as if it was taking place during the timeline of the Darkest Sunrise Duet. You got to see the two stories intertwine and I really enjoyed that glimpse back while seeing a whole new side.
Now, Let me tell you about Tanner and Rita. They are absolutely perfect for each other. I loved their banter and their chemistry and wanted nothing more than to see them overcome themselves and their obstacles.
But at the very end- I felt like I was cut off too soon and didn’t get enough of them- not so much that I want another book.. Just …. a little more. I loved them and just wanted to see them happy for a tad bit more reading time. I love this world and was not ready for it to be over just quite yet.
Last year I read my first books by Aly Martinez, The Darkest Sunrise & The Brightest Sunset, and I couldn’t believe how incredible they were. And now she’s followed them up with Across the Horizon, and completely blown me away again.
Rita and Tanner may have met at the worst point in time, but they were absolutely perfect for each other. Both trying to get over past relationships, and find where they fit in the world. He’s the sweet, funny guy who wants to mend her broken heart. She treats him like a regular person, seeing past his celebrity and right into his heart.
Their story is beautiful, perfectly paced, and had all the feels. I fell for them both instantly, and couldn’t put this book down. Every moment, from the first meeting to the last sentence, sucked me in, and I never wanted it to end. I loved that this book was taking place at the same time as the Darkest Sunrise Duet, so while we got glimpses of Charlotte & Porter this was truly Rita & Tanner’s story. While the duet was one of my favorites last year, there was no need to read it beforehand, and no spoilers were there to overshadow this story.
There aren’t enough words to explain how much I loved this book, so please read it and experience this amazing story for yourself.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE Aly Martinez. She has become a favorite author of mine over the last year. I know when I’m reading her words I’ll be left completely blown away, and deeply satisfied! Across the Horizon had everything I have come to love in an Aly Martinez story, hilarious banter, sexy hot scenes, explosive chemistry, and fantastic characters.
I will not give away spoilers, for I feel this book needs to be savored by the reader. But i will say i LOVED Tanner and Rita. I have been waiting for Tanner’s story since last year when I read Porter and Charlotte’s story in the Darkest Sunrise duet. Tanner and Rita truly compliment one another. And I could not get enough of this story. I highly recommend this book!!! It’s PERFECT!
I was hooked from the very first sentence. I did not want to put this book down. I love Tanner and Rita. They have perfect chemistry. This book was not too heavy on the drama, but it definitely pulled at my heart.
Perfection Aly!!!
If what you seek is an entertaining, funny read with witty, sarcastic characters then you need Rita and Tanner in your life and on your shelf.
This story was everything I wanted it to be and more. Aly made me laugh and snicker and totally entertained me.
Tanner and Rita are priceless together. They are priceless apart. However, the priceless together is the best part.
Rita is so funny, her one liners are perfection. The banter between them is some of the best I have read.
I completely fell in love with Tanner in The Dark Duet COULD NOT wait for his book, and it was just what I needed.
Love that Tanners story could be read as a standalone. It seriously gives nothing away from The Dark Duet.
These two characters embark on a life journey in their own separate ways, and the conclusion of what Rita learns is a great life lesson. It’s a lesson we should all learn and practice in our own lives
Both of these characters learn valuable lessons and I love that Aly shows us these lessons in such a subtle way. I love to learn read stories where the story seems real with real life situations and real life outcomes.
So job well done Aly. Kudos to you and your writing.
I look forward to your next work of art.
Every time I read an Aly Martinez book I fall in love and Across the Horizon had me doing just that. There’s just something about her writing style that flows easily that allows me to move continuously and smooth through the entire story.
From the beginning, Tanner stole my heart. Yes, we’ve met him before in a duet and I was dying for his story. He has such a great personality. He’s got quick banter, great since of humor and one of the biggest hearts around. Add that to his beautiful mind and body and you’ve got anything you could ever ask for.
I think my favorite thing from this is strictly the relationship between Tanner and Rita. Their back and forth banter and their overall interaction with each other is hilarious and heart warming.
Across the Horizon has everything I want in a book. Humor, angst and honest hearts. I don’t really feel like I need to say much more. This book is perfect for everyone.
Aly Martinez absolutely knows how to leave a girl breathless and wanting, bringing her down to her knees. I was complete and utterly consumed by Tanner and Rita’s story! No, this book won’t wreck you—not the way Porter Reese’s story in The Darkest Sunrise duet did—but it was still raw, and just as gripping and brimming with so much emotion that you’ll feel every page, every chapter deep in the marrow of your bones.
There were so many moments in this book where my heart just squeezed, thudded, and pounded triple time like it was an overly charged and caffeinated bunny. I swooned hard. I felt deeply. And I developed an addiction in everything that is Tanner Reese. But here’s the kicker—I also found myself laughing and giggling at the way these two fooled around, bantered back and forth, and teased each other endlessly. Their humor was one of the first things that bonded them together, and I was definitely all for it.
“Life was all about the little things. And, in just one night, it made me realize that Rita was one of life’s big things.”
Tanner Reese swept me off my goddamned feet. He might’ve been a celebrity chef every girl was drooling over, but he was also the sweetest, most ridiculous, yet romantic guy ever. His charm was so irresistible, he had me obsessed and under his spell in the snap of a finger. He just checked off all the boxes in everything I’d want in a perfect man. Hell, if you looked up the word dreamy in the dictionary, you’d find Tanner’s mug under it. With this guy’s heart full of love and passion, trust me, you’ll be nothing but enamored with him too.
“I kissed Rita Hartley like a woman I not only could fall in love with, but one I absolutely would fall in love with.”
Rita Hartley struck me right in the feels. Right from the get go, she made me feel everything she’s going through. She’s the kind of heroine you just won’t be able to help but empathize with and relate to. I loved that she was simple, yet she didn’t deny herself of the things she wanted either. Like the occasional shoe shopping or her wine and cheese nights—the little things that helped relieve her of her worries. And beyond that, I loved that she was a smartass—one who gave Tanner shit, and gave just as good as she got. Rita might’ve been broken and beaten down by her previous marriage, but her spirit is something that will inspire and stick with you for a long time.
“Our problem was that neither one of us had any business falling in love with another person when we couldn’t even love what we saw in the mirror.”
These two fell in love in the worst of times, right when both of them were in the thick of dealing with their own life-altering situations. Their timing might’ve been far from perfect, but they were undeniably for each other. They fought. They struggled. But they also found solace and comfort and happiness in one another.
“She was my brain’s favorite subject, my subconscious’s favorite obsession, and my heart’s greatest torture.”
Across the Horizon took my breath away. It had the perfect balance of heartbreak and humor and just pure, exhilarating romance. Tanner and Rita’s banter will make you chuckle like there’s no tomorrow. It was epic and so uniquely theirs. The conflict—what these two have gone through, together and individually—will make your gut clench and your core ache. But ultimately, the journey to the end was well beyond worth it.
“Sometimes, love happens when you least expect it.”
I’m already a huge fan of Aly Martinez, and I honestly expected nothing less from her when I dove into this book. But the depth of the story, the amount of emotion, and the way Tanner and Rita’s tale affected me still knocked me completely on my ass. A beautifully woven and flawlessly written story that will make your heart melt and soar, your chest ache and spasm, but one that will undoubtedly stay with you for days on end, Across the Horizon is yet another emotionally explosive must read from Aly Martinez.
4.5 Stars
If you have read the Darkest Sunrise Duet then you would have met Porter Reese’s brother Tanner. The sexy celebrity TV chef. His story is lighter then Porters. Its fun, flirty and melts your heart.
Rita was married to her high school sweetheart until she caught him in bed with her friend. When she is trying to move on and get her head around everything. When she meets Tanner he burst into her life and tips what’s left upside down but in a delicious way.
The chemistry between Rita and Tanner is so hot and lovely to watch develop.
Aly has written a beautiful story filled with everything that makes this a brilliant page turner. Its a story of heartbreak, of learning who you are again, and about moving on.
Another phenomenal read from Aly Martinez!!!!
I was excited when I saw this one was releasing because it’s a spinoff of The Darkest Sunrise Duet which was one heck of a read, by the way. Never fear….it can be read as a complete standalone, ruining nothing for you if you haven’t read the duet.
Tanner has the hottest cooking show on The Food Channel. He had adoring fans, mostly women, as he usually tears his shirt of in the middle of his show, and he was also name People Magazine’s sexiest chef. However, he has had to swear women off that is…until Rita.
Rita was one of those women I just love! She was devastated by her husband’s affair, yet she dug deep and came up swinging. I love a woman like that! She, like Tanner, has sworn off relationships, but when she roped Tanner into making her husband jealous, she had no idea what she had done. Tanner was going to change her life whether she wanted him to or not!
Not only was this a book about finding love again…a lasting love with someone who respects you, but it was about a woman finding a way back to herself and loving herself again. She did everything to please her ex, yet he didn’t appreciate her. With Tanner, he loved her for who she was…Rita. Tanner has a story to tell as well. He is used to being a celebrity, but he comes to finally find a woman who loves him for who he is as a man, not a celebrity chef. As you can imagine, there is baggage the two will have to overcome, but I promise you that you will love watching this couple fall for each other. There are some really funny parts to the book, but Martinez never shortchanges her readers when it comes to emotions!!!! This one is packed full of emotional moments!
Martinez often creates secondary characters that really add something extra to the story, and this one is no different. I have to say that I am in LOVE with Tanner’s mother. Everyone needs a mother and needs to be a mother like her. I adored the relationship she had with Tanner and his brother!!!! She added some real comedy to the book! As I got to know Tanner better, I could see he got his sense of humor from her!!!!!
Oftentimes, my favorite part of a book is the epilogue because they are somewhat of a closure for me. I get to see how the characters I’ve come to love are doing before I finish the very last words. I just adored this one! Not only did I get to see how Tanner and Rita were, but Martinez filled it full of emotions that made me love them even more!!! So, now I will have to wait patiently until Martinez brings us her next book!!!!
Across The Horizon by Aly Martinez is another great read by this author. This is Tanner and Rita’s story and in true Aly Martinez fashion will grip your heart and take you on a wild emotional roller coaster ride. This is a beautifully written love story this is just pure perfection. I loved this book so much and highly recommend it.
4.5 Stars
My first impressions were that this was your typical ‘Famous guy falls for girl. Girl plays hard to get, which attracts famous guy’ kind of book and whilst this may be the basis to the storyline. I found this book to have some pretty unique qualities too. Namely one hot, cheeky chef named Tanner.
Rita had what she thought was the perfect life. That is until she discovered her husband had been having an affair. All was pretty grim for Rita, that is until she meets celebrity naked chef, Tanner Reese.
It was during Rita and Tanner’s first encounter that I realised that this book is a spin off of Aly’s, Darkest Sunrise duet.
All in all this was a really witty, hot little read. Rita and Tanner’s banter was hilarious, which was quite a surprise considering I was expecting a more angsty vibe like we got from The Darkest Sunrise Duet.
Having now read the book I now know that this book can be read as a complete stand alone. I loved that Aly kept Porter and Charlottes relationship spoiler free so for anyone who hasn’t read the Darkest Sunrise, you can safely read Across The Horizon.
I absolutely freaking floved this book hard!!!! I have to take a minute to profess my undying love for all things Tanner Reese. He is my kind of man….funny as all get out, sweet, caring, corny….everything that I love in a book boyfriend ((sigh)) I have to admit I have a girl crush on Rita too….she was quick witted, hilarious, and caring. Rita and I could totally be besties. I have to admire Rita’s gumption to pick up the pieces of what she thought was the perfect life after her pathetic ex husband crushed her heart. Both Tanner and Rita are going though some things that no one should have to ever go through. However they can’t deny the connection they have with each other….can they weather the storm or will it come crashing down on them? This was such an emotional read for me….I was all over the place. Their story made me laugh, cry, swoon, threaten bodily harm at times (lol). The things that Tanner and Rita go through together and alone absolutely touched my heart and made me ache for them. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Easily a top read for me this year….well done!!!!
How is Aly Martinez able to keep blowing my mind? She starts this book out with a huge BOOM and things just keep sparking from there!! Aly Martinez’s newest and hottest standalone ‘Across the Horizon’ is starring 2 of the side characters from her hit 2017 duet The Darkest Sunrise duet- Porter’s brother , Tanner and Charlotte’s best friend , Rita.
Rita’s life has just been gobsmacked with horrible news. The beautiful life that she thought she had with her husband has totally been ruined when she found out he cheated on her and has been for months. She’s devastated and she has to move on fast because her soon to be ex husband already has. Rita starts going through a divorce and ends up meeting super sexy Tanner. He is sweet, intriguing, sexy and just about perfect but with all the craziness going on in Rita’s life the very last thing she needs now in her life is a man. Tanner is a famous chef who just wants a woman to see him for HIM, not for his fame and money. Here are 2 souls going through a lot in their lives and they end up meeting but will the feels, passions,and connections between them be worth all the highs or will it all come tumbling down? This is sn emotional read that is so sweet and full of heat, angst, twists and romance. Rita and Tanner are amazing characters that touch your heart. Tanner is swoony!! He should definitely be real and I would eat anything that he makes!!
My Rating: 4.7 stars *****
When I heard Across the Horizon was lighter than Aly Martinez’ usual work, I was unsure, part of what I love about her books is how heavy they are. I had no reason to fear, Ms. Martinez did a fabulous job of keeping the mood of the book up while still incorporating some more profound moments.
I loved Tanner when we first met him in The Darkest Sunrise duet and was so happy to watch him find his happily ever after. He and Rita were a mismatch on the surface, but once we got to know them more deeply both alone and as a couple, it was quite evident they were a match made in heaven. Tanner’s patience and charm were a great counterpoint to Rita’s apprehension and sass. They were so well-developed it made it easy to believe in them and want to see them whole and happy.
Across the Horizon was riveting. I couldn’t put it down once I opened it, I was obsessed with Rita and Tanner’s romance. Aly Martinez did a superb job of balancing the humor and banter between her characters with the heartache and healing they had to go through because of their pasts. I loved each moment I spend in these pages and all the heart and soul that made the ride so fascinating and emotionally rewarding.
Across The Horizon is cute, sweet, funny and ridiculously over the top well the banter between the main characters, Rita and Tanner is. I simply adored them, the way they were with each other and their journey. I definitely recommend this story to those looking for a great lighthearted read.
Copy provided by author
I swear I smiled through almost this entire book! Rita and Tanner have amazing chemistry and the way they banter and get along is fantastic! I love the way this author can inject humor so effortlessly and make it seem so real. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book by this author that wasn’t a smooth, easy read or had any “filler” in it and the feels? Every time!! This one has a lighter, fun feel to it thanks to Rita and Tanner’s personalities and it was an absolutely phenomenal read.
This book was everything I need to get out of my book funk!!! It was wildly funny crazy cute and definitely book boyfriend sexy!! I love Tanner Reese!! He can cook for me anytime!!! So glad Aly Martinez gave him a book!! You won’t be disappointed with this one!!
When two smartasses meet it can go two ways: they hate each other or they are in complete harmony and their verbal sparring is the spice in their relationship. Rita and Tanner are the latter – there is no doubt that they belong together from the first moment they meet. They just work. The problem? Neither of them has business being in a relationship, both of them have an identity crisis and a lot of baggage to work through. Rita personally – her soon-to-be-ex-husband’s betrayal cut deep and rattled her to the core, Tanner professionally and personally – he is a famous tv chef, an eligible bachelor because of his looks, fortune and charm but filming a good portion of his time has taken the joy out of cooking. There is also the issue with his ex who threatens to tell lies in a tell-all book that could cost him his job. A dilemma he needs to solve.
Rita used to be a trophy wife. She gave up seven years of her life to an undeserving douchebag and lost herself along the way and she wishes nothing more than to find the girl she used to be, the one with dreams and hopes and a plan. There were so many signs that Rita had only buried them, signs that showed me that she was still her own person, even though her husband had done everything to make her his little wifey. The strength and spine to come back from the blow she was dealt is immense and the trust issues that come along with it are understandable. Did I like how she worked ultimately through them ? No, but only because Tanner was so freaking endearing and charming.
She didn’t just laugh— she laughed. Rich and melodic, filled with honest-to-God amusement that couldn’t be faked. And in a world where everything was faked for my benefit, it was the most intoxicating sound I’d ever heard.
Tanner. Le sigh. What a man. He was everything a woman should look for in a man. Full of humor and mischief, smart, good to the core and so incredibly gone for Rita from the get-go. He wanted to make her happy and his determination to make it happen made him selfless. He would have walked through hell and back if it meant that Rita got what she needed. What’s not to love? And when they were together? Perfection. I fell head over heels in love along with them. Their relationship may be really insta but, I’ve said it before, if it’s well done I can totally get on board with it an boy, was it well done.
***It was then that I realized she was more beautiful than any other woman I had ever met, and not because of the way she looked— which at the moment was rather ridiculous. It was just… That was the exact second I realized I’d found her.***
Tanner’s relationship with his brother, the ribbing and good-natured competition they had going was also pretty awesome. Rita’s ex-husband, however, was a piece of work I loved to hate.
I have yet to read some of Aly Martinez’s books but I love that I still have catching up to do since I savor her stories. ACROSS THE HORIZON is so typical Martinez style and so not. It’s got some of the angst I’m used to but mostly it’s got a lot of laugh-out-loud moments that make this story a lot of fun to read. I got such a kick out of it and smiled pretty much most of the book.
***While God had not given me the wherewithal to chase a good woman, he had sent me a good woman who thought this inability was funny. I could work with that.***
THE FALL UP started my love affair with Aly Martinez’s books and we have been going steady for years. ACROSS THE HORIZON is just another reason to carry on with it.
***She glared. I fell in love again.***
4.5 Stars
To say that I loved Tanner and Rita would be an understatement. Meeting these two in the Darkest Sunrise duet, I knew both of them were going to be a hoot to read about.
Having read the Darkest Sunrise duet first, I knew some of Rita’s background already, and what she was going through. I knew Tanner was a world renowned chef with his own show and was partnered up with his brother Porter on two very successful restaurants, but none of his “behind the scenes” life. We saw the beginning of Rita and Tanner spending time together through Charlotte and Porter’s point of view, and from the witty banter they briefly exchanged in that duet, I knew their story would probably lean more towards the funny side than the darker, serious side that we experienced with Porter and Charlotte.
Tanner and Rita together is easy. From the very first time they meet, they fall into a very comfortable connection, almost like they’ve known each other for years. The attraction is immediate, but not immediately acted upon, since Rita is going through a divorce from Douchebag Greg. Tanner’s words, not mine, although what I would have called him was pretty dang close to that. But they love spending time together, and when they are together, it’s like the world just stops. “Tanner’s different. He… Makes the world stop?” Touching my lips, I croaked, “Oh my God, that’s the corniest and most accurate thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
Both Tanner and Rita have a lot of baggage they’re dragging behind them into their blossoming relationship. I loved seeing them move forward and act on the feelings they had for each other, but at the same time, I was scared that things were going to implode if they didn’t address the issues they had yet to resolve. And as I followed them on their path, I saw that implosion coming.
Aly is such a masterful writer that it doesn’t matter if she is crafting a funny and flirty story or one that is serious and life altering, she draws you in until you are living and breathing the story right along with the characters. You feel their every emotion. You laugh and cry right along with them. You feel their hope as much as you feel their despair. And what I loved about this story was that Tanner was just as emotional as Rita. Oftentimes the Hero doesn’t come across as having a depth of emotion, but Tanner has a huge well of emotion. Maybe that’s because he’s a Mama’s boy. Whatever the reason, I truly felt his emotions just as much as Rita’s.
If you’ve already read Porter and Charlotte’s story, you will definitely love reading Tanner and Rita. And if you haven’t yet, the little bits and pieces of their story that Aly weaves into Across the Horizon will have you so curious about what’s going on with them that you’ll want to run straight to Amazon to one-click their books.
I can never get enough of Aly’s stories. She could continue writing about all of these characters for years to come and I would read them. And then she brings us all new characters and does the same thing all over again, and I want to continue to read about them. There needs to be way more hours in the day to accomplish this. What a delicious dilemma to have!
What an amazing read!
As I started reading this one I became highly invested in Rita and Tanner’s story, which, let me tell you, was a really emotional journey.
And even though the book is about them exploring their relationship, it’s also about them finding themselves and accepting who they are, what they want and who they want to be. This journey began, for the both of them, before they even met. In the first few pages, my heart broke for Rita as she hurt for someone who wasn’t worthy, and then I hurt for Tanner, who is not content with the life he has at the moment.
The chemistry between these two is there since moment one, their banter had me swooning, giggling and laughing out loud, and their deep talks? Those made me swoon as well, but also fall completely in love with them. Their relationship may not be easy, considering the complications they both have in their lives, but them falling in love does happen easily. Each and every of their interactions make the pages of the story bleed with life altering love.With them, I experienced every possible emotion, and I was okay with it, in fact, all I wanted to do was keep absorbing their relationship because it’s was so pure and beautiful that took my breath away.
A brilliant journey of self discovery and love, so much love.