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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I read everything Aly Martinez writes and she never disappoints me. This book is everything! The characters are amazing and the story grabs you and sucks you in from the very first page
Across the Horizon tells the story of Tanner and Rita. We met them both previously in Aly Martinez’s The Darkest Sunrise Duet. Tanner is the hot chef with a heart of gold. Rita is heartbroken and a little lost. Their first meeting is amazing and sets the tone for their relationship. Tanner had me swooning and laughing throughout the entire book. My heart broke for Rita and I was rooting for her as she slowly put herself back together again. Tanner is definitely one of my favorite male characters that Aly has written. I loved this book so much! Five stars!!!
Across the Horizon was a great read. It took me a minute to figure out why Tanner sounded so familiar, and that was because of his brother Porter’s story, The Darkest Sunrise Duet. I thought the story was sweet, fun, emotional and entertaining. Celebrity chef Tanner was cocky, but also caring too. Rita was a iron-willed character, and I like her. Tanner and Rita were so fun, and their banter had me laughing. They also had chemistry and emotion. I enjoyed reading their story.
So many feels. Tanner is THE MAN. Him and Rita are wonderfully snarky together and absolutely get each other.
Great companion novel to the Sunset Duet
What a perfect book to read during a stressful, chaotic holiday season. To be able to sit down with this book at night and let these characters take over was absolute perfection! The slow build romance was totally up my alley! Tanner and Rita have the the best sense of humor. The staring contests totally cracked me up! Even in her most angst filled books Aly is always so spot on with her sense of humor. The banter between Tanner and well….. pretty much everyone in the book was priceless.
My fascination with Tanner started while reading The Darkest Sunrise duet. As the Porter’s quick witted, sarcastic button pusher of a brother I was instantly captivated and intrigued. I could not wait to get my hands on his story and let me just tell you it did not disappoint. Honestly, I laughed through a majority of the book. Even in the more serious moments he always managed a line that had me cracking up all over again. Underneath his charming personality and good looks he needed to be loved for who he truly was and not who people perceive him to be. After all it is hard to find someone truly into you for you when you are a famous world renowned chef.
As I state in every review, I need my lead female character to have a backbone and not be a doormat for anyone and Rita is neither. Omg do I love Rita! I couldn’t help but cheering her on the entire book! She is fierce, smart, quickwitted and funny as heck! I was so proud of the way she handled every situation thrown her way. Situations were handled with maturity and there were no silly misunderstandings. You get what you see with Rita and I absolutely adore that! Put her and Tanner together and watch the sparks fly.
If you are looking for a fun read that will have you in stitches while still bringing heartbreak, betrayal, finding ones self and sexual tension that flies off the pages this is the book for you! As always Aly’s writing is impeccable. She is and will always remain one of my top favorite authors!
Across the Horizon is another fantastic book by Aly Martinez! It is a sweet steamy romance, well written, with characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Enjoy Tanner and Rita’s journey of getting to know each other as they face a few obstacles together all while they laugh, cry and get brutally honest with one another.
Love doesn’t always have perfect timing as they both discover, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t pursue something that feels so right.
Across the Horizon starts with some serious heartbreak. Those opening pages get your heart racing and with like any other Aly Martinez novel, its keeps a frenetic pace the deeper you get and lasts until the very end.
Rita Hartley has faced the unimaginable and even though I’ve never personally experienced her pain, frustration, disappointment and self-doubt, I could feel her sorrow and every other emotion written on the pages. Rita may be heartbroken but she is resilient and strong. Her sass was fantastic.
Tanner Reese may be the sexiest chef and a smarta*s when it comes to his brother, but he’s got a kind heart and is a mama’s boy hands-down. His relentless pursuit of what he wants is a complete turn-on. His dry sense of humor is appealing.
Aly Martinez’s characters are real and yet far from perfect. It’s what makes them relatable and easy to connect with even if what they are experiencing is something you’ve never been through yourself. I become invested in their world. They are funny and smart, kind and loving. It doesn’t hurt that she makes them sexy and desirable too.
Her storytelling is so easy, and I mean that in the very best of ways, that you just fall into it – turning the pages, smiling, laughing, hurting when they hurt and getting lost in the romance of it all. Her writing is so versatile and so compelling. I’m captivated by every story she has written and will not hesitate to keep coming back for more. As a matter of fact, I can’t wait for her next release.
“Sometimes fate brings you to a place in life for a reason. It’s not up to you to figure out what that reason is. It’s only up to you to decide what you’re going to make of it.”
I LOVE Tanner Reese! I just felt like that had to be said straight away. He is all sorts of amazingness, fun with a never ending sense of humor, sweet and caring, with a hidden vulnerability that comes with being a celebrity. I completely fell head over heels for him. And Rita is an amazingly strong woman, who stood strong after her dog of a husband broke her heart. She’s got a wicked sense of humor, and has that sweet and caring going on too. They were a perfect match from the get go. And boy do they make you laugh! I lost count how many times I lol’d! Not gonna lie, there were tears at times, but I totally and completely loved this book!! Aly Martinez never ceases to amaze me with her words!!
When I started reading this book. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen with Rita. This book was a nice break from the dark books I tend to read, or so I thought. I was captured by the way Rita was. She was strong and fierce. She wasn’t just some damsel in distress. Then when Tanner came into the picture I loved her even more.. But as the end came near Rita just downright pissed me off. She was going against everything she was. She turned into someone who was insecure and unsure of herself. As the book went on I felt like it was dragging. I feel as if the book didn’t have enough content to keep going. I felt as if the words were just fillers to make the book longer. It was nice to see what happened between Tanner, Greg, Rita and Tammy. I felt as if the author was teasing us and not in a good way. I got frustrated as the book went on. – BY Vanessa
When Rita is thrown a curveball she is rescued by Tanner, who unbeknown to her is a celebrity chef. The chemistry between these two is amazing, and they are total opposites yet together they complement each other. This is a beautifully written flawless story, which is filled with angst, emotion, heartbreak, witty banter, humor and an abundance of love. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and cannot wait to read more from this talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy for an honest review.
5 stars
Is it possible to both devour and savor something? I vote yes because that’s exactly what I did with Across the Horizon.
Sweet mother of all things good and holy, Aly Martinez wrecks me every time I pick up a book of hers. I loved the previous duet, wherein we meet Porter (brother of our hero) and Charlotte (best friend of our heroine) but I LOVED this book!!
This second chance romance about a chef trapped in a life he didn’t choose and a woman desperately trying to rewrite a life where she has choices, is so fantastic. Both Rita and Tanner are deeply flawed but so utterly perfect; heartbroken but moving on, disillusioned but still trying, hilariously witty, and so darn sweet. Good God, those Reese brothers are ridiculously amazing. As I neared the 85% mark, I was terrified she was going to make me wait for my happy ending. Alas, she did not and this book ends in a happily ever after so sweet it’ll make your teeth ache. I ALMOST wish it were a duet because I hate to put it down but Lord above, I loved this book. I’m betting you will too!
100% un-putting-down-able!
AnnMarie – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
4
This emotional roller coaster left me on the edge of suspense. I laughed (hard), I cried (sobbing mess), and I got angry. I wanted to throw my kindle, but at the same time I couldn’t put this book down. It captivated me, and I lost hope for Rita and Tanner at times, but I trudged on to their HEA and am so glad I stuck it out.
Rita and Tanner May have met in unconventional circumstances and think it’s at the wrong time in life, but these two are made for each other.
It’s the little things in life and relationships.
I would recommend this book!
Across the Horizon is a super sweet story that melted my heart. It is witty and wonderful. It has the perfect amount of fun romance and understanding. Rita and Tanner’s story is proof that things come along in our lives for a reason. Tanner and Rita might have started off with instant attraction but their romance was SEMI- slow burn. Both of them had a lot of emotional faults that hindered their relationship. These two had me laughing out loud so many times with their banter and sarcasm, but it’s the way they opened up to each other that had me glued to the pages.
Tanner is really just the nicest guy ever!!! He’s rich, sweet, funny, loves his mama and he’s a chef. The perfect guy. Rita is one lucky lady.
I definitely enjoyed this story!
Filled with humor, page-turning chemistry and romance with so much heart, Across the Horizon reminds us that it’s the little things that mean the most at the end of the day. Whether it’s snuggling together on the couch to watch your favorite TV show or having someone cook you dinner after a hard day at work. No matter how you piece together the small things they all add up in a big way when that person means everything.
“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.”
Is there really a “right” time to meet your special someone? Destiny typically steps in whether you are ready or not and I suppose we should thank Destiny once in awhile for pushing us or we might never meet that perfect person.
Across the Horizon is full of these amazing small moments that fill in a bigger story between Tanner Reese and Rita Hartley/Laughlin. That is basically life in a nutshell – our daily life is small moments that make our big story – and I adore how Aly Martinez brings that back over and over again as the story progresses.
Tanner Reese is a professional chef with a show, Simmer, on Food Channel. A two-named, recognizable star, with abs for days, whose life isn’t exactly perfect. Just because he’s famous, good looking and has money to spare doesn’t mean he has all his ducks in a row. He has problems just like everyone else, but what he’s never had is a good relationship, until he meets Rita. Unfortunately she isn’t exactly available.
Rita is in the beginnings of a divorce from her cheating husband who won’t exactly take no for an answer about her leaving him. One-named Rita gave up everything for her soon-to-be-ex and what does she have to show for it? Nothing. Her problems are just beginning and the last thing she needs is a new relationship with a good looking chef, unfortunately her heart keeps leading her on a different path than her logical mind.
Destiny doesn’t exactly wait for the perfect time to meet your soulmate, or does it?
“Sometimes fate brings you to a place in life for a reason. It’s not up to you to figure out what that reason is. It’s only up to you to decide what you’re going to make of it.”
Across the Horizon is funny, touching, a genuine love story that you will not be able to put down.
I wish I was better at writing reviews, my words can’t do this book any justice. It’s a little different than Aly’s regular stuff, but in a great way. It’s the story of Tanner and Rita, two people who meet at the worse possible times in their lives. I love both of them, and want only the best for them. This is how they go about being together.
Rita’s life is throwing all kinds of curveballs at her. Finding out her husband has been cheating is just the first blow she’s going to have to deal with. Working with her soon to be ex husband adds another complication she could really do without especially because he can’t seem to leave her alone. When life deals her a second blow at the company fundraiser, her rescuer comes in the form of a hot and sexy stranger. The chemistry between these two is evident from the first meeting and Rita is clueless that her sexy stranger is celebrity chef Tanner Reese which only impresses and intrigues him more.
The chemistry between Rita and Tanner is brilliant from the start. The banter, the heat between them, the deeper connection they share was exactly how I like it and I couldn’t help but love Tanner. He will seduce you, he’ll make you swoon and fall in love with him as he tries to get Rita to see there’s something special between them, and if he doesn’t you need to seek help because there’s something wrong with you if you don’t end up completely team Tanner. Another great book from Ms Martinez
I have been a huge fan of Aly Martinez for a while now. One of the things that I love most about her books is that they tend to be a little different than most other books in the contemporary romance genre. Across the Horizon is a little different than most of her books, because I think it hits the tick marks of a typical contemporary romance. Now, please know that I absolutely loved Across the Horizon, and absolutely couldn’t get enough of Tanner and Rita! They both captured me in the Darkest Sunrise Duet, and I was super excited to have them get their own book!
As is typical, Aly Martinez’s writing was superb! She has a way of spinning words that really makes you think. She can capture an idea and weave it so deeply into her books, and it just leaves me in awe! Her characters are well-developed, and I genuinely care about them.
I think if there was one thing that I wished, it is that I had seen a little more of the parallel between the Darkest Sunrise duet and Across the Horizon. The two take place at the same time, but seemed a little disconnected. Although, this does allow Across the Horizon to stand more as a standalone.
I definitely recommend Across the Horizon, and highly recommend Aly Martinez’s books!
***5 ‘Bad At Slow’ Stars***
This book gave me all the feels. More laugh out loud ones than anything else, but the teary eyed ones happened and I was more than happy that I was home with no witnesses other than #thebubba to witness that debacle, because let’s be real ~ it ain’t pretty. But this book grabbed hold of me from the first page and I loved every moment until the very end.
Tanner made my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. He did. The man is sweet and all kinds of charming and that combined with a down low kind of alpha thing going on makes him lethal – and that’s doesn’t even take into account that he can and loves to cook.
Rita. My heart hurt for her, it did and the situation she found herself in, but damn if I didn’t love and admire her strength and fire. She may have had her entire life turned upside down, but she didn’t shrivel up and die because of it. She was sassy, snarky and real as she dealt with it all and worked to gain solid ground for herself once more.
Their journey to the HEA was all kinds of sweet, swoony and laugh out loud goodness. Oh there were moments. Let me tell you there were those heart wrenching moments in there, no doubt about that. But Tanner and Rita had chemistry from their first collision and I loved watching them become more as the story progressed. And as for that huge sinkhole that happened in their journey…well, I kinda hated it because I loved them together, but I understood why the events that followed it had to happen and I loved how they finally got back on track with themselves and each other because of it.
Now if you haven’t read The Darkest Sunrise Duet, let me tell you right now that you don’t have to. I haven’t (yet) and was in no way lost, but will now be working to find a way to bump it up higher on the never ending TBR list because I NEED to know all about Porter and Charlotte.
With that said. This was a fun read. For me it falls into the dramedy category because it isn’t a true romcom but it also isn’t an angsty mess, it’s a perfect balance between the two, hence dramedy. The writing and pacing of the story were well done and I loved the dual first person POV’s. And as for the secondary cast of characters, obviously I’m all in for getting to know Porter and Charlotte better, but Lynn – Tanner and Porter’s Mom – was kind of everything and I want to be her when I grow up!
~ Copy provided by InkSlinger PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
Nothing can prepare you when you learn of a spouse’s infidelity. For Rita – the crushing blow of her husband’s infidelity hits an all time low when his mistress delivers a crippling blow. Greg was a first love that betrayed Rita in the worst way, but is now groveling to the point of obnoxiousness. Determined to move on towards a brighter future, Rita finds a way to turn her back on the pain that her former husband has caused.
Being a celebrity has its advantages and disadvantages. For Tanner – the spotlight that comes with his career as a celebrity chef makes it hard to find someone that wants to know him for what is inside and not the wealth that comes with the job. With a torturous relationship in his past, Tanner is determined to find a way to find the life that he dreams about. Helping Porter open a new restaurant is just one of the ways that Tanner is using to overcome his demons, but it wasn’t the way he expected to meet the woman that would turn his life upside down.
A meeting that was anything but ordinary is how Tanner and Rita meet. The beginning of a friendship that would fuel both to look beyond the present and seek a future that they only dreamed about. A quest for finding the ‘true self’ that lies beneath the pain and heartache.
Across the Horizon is nothing like you would expect. First – we are introduced to Tanner who is Porter’s celebrity chef brother (Porter from The Darkest Sunrise Duet). Tanner is living with the pain of ‘settling’ for a romance that is haunting him long after its demise. Rita is on the rebound from a broken heart and is determined to find herself after becoming someone she no longer recognizes in the mirror. The two meet in an unusual way, and it sets the tone for how their story unfolds. A non-traditional quest for finding love even after your heart can no longer take the turmoil.
This story was full of heartache, secrets, and a seriously hot romance. Tanner is definitely the ‘real deal’ when it comes to trying to steal Rita’s heart. The only issue I had with the book was the fact that I could have read about these two for about 20 more chapters. The ending happened too quickly for my tastes, but was definitely a nice wrap up that elaborates on where these characters end up in life. Fans of Martinez will love the action packed romance that is contained between the covers. All I can say without giving too much away is that I simply couldn’t get enough of Tanner!
Oh my, what a fun and unexpected romance. I laughed out loud so many times as Rita and Tanner forged a bond through all their snarky banter. These two have both hit bottom, having people let them down in a grievous way. A chance moment when Rita needed a white knight and Tanner comes to her rescue sets off a world wind connection and romance. Rita feels it’s too soon, having just left her husband and being in the process of getting a divorce but life doesn’t work that way. Will these two take the chance and embrace this exciting connection that they share? I loved the best friends and brother, the support and honesty they give Rita and Tanner is spot on as they navigate these crazy waters. Truly, I had so much fun taking this journey with this couple. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.