Gage Scott let go of love a long time ago. After his parents divorced, he learned love only ends up hurting people. He vowed to himself he would never be hurt again because he would never love. He leaves everything and everyone he ever knew behind him and begins a new life built on rules against love. But when fate brings him back to the place and people he left thirteen years ago, he learns … there are some things he can’t escape.
He spent many years running from love only to find it was with him all along. When he accepts the truth he denied for so long, he realizes he can’t ignore love. He discovers there is more pain in denying it. Once he embraces the true feelings he has for Laken Bennett, everything changes for Gage. Love finds him, and he is holding on forever.
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Now I am reading the debut read and I can tell the difference immediately and it’s a good difference. In what could easily be a 5 star read the author is getting her feet wet giving us a really good story about 2 folks, old friends from childhood, running from love and life for 13 years, finally reconnect. It’s a sweet story especially if you enjoy a lot of inner dialogue, sometimes too much. The thing is it’s a group of really great characters and the author brings it all to life in living color and makes it an enjoyable read. I have read the next book in the series and the characters become family. It is a standalone but with carryover characters you get to know them well. I am glad I got the opportunity to read this author from the start of her journey. Not only does she know how to set up a story and develop characters, but I can only see her getting better and I really do enjoy her style. Wonderful debut.
Coming home to Pennsylvania, settling down, and working in the family business is something that has never crossed Gage Scott’s mind. The minute he graduated high school, he packed his belongings, and left for Los Angeles, and never looked back. He has found success, and is living the life he always planned for himself, a life without love. Watching his parents marriage disintegrate and seeing the hurt in their eyes is something he could never quite get over, and from the moment he decided he never wanted to put himself in that position, to give someone that kind of power over him. So, he keeps his entanglements with women strictly on a no strings attached basis and the minute feelings start to appear he says his goodbyes and heads for the door. There has only one woman who he has ever given a second thought to, and he left her behind when he left home, and he’s quite certain she never thought of him as more than just a friend anyway. But fate wants to prove him wrong, when home beckons he packs a bag and heads back to face all those he left behind, and is pleasantly surprised to see what is waiting for him…
Laken Bennett has worked hard to shake her nerdy appearance, and become a woman men desire, especially one man in particular. Long ago Gage Scott captured a part of Laken’s heart, and she has long since carried a torch for him and constantly hoped he’d return home one day to stay. She has dated but no one has ever quite measured up, or had the effect on her that Gage once had. When he left for L.A. he took a part of her with him, and she has tried her damnedest to find someone to fill the void, but so far she has been unsuccessful in her quest. When fate brings Gage back home she knows this is her one and only shot to make her move, and hopefully give him a reason to stay… now she just has to hope that he feels the same way..
Watching these two find their second chance at love was a truly beautiful experience, the minute I started this story I knew it would be one of those stories that would render me completely useless until the last page was turned. This compelling read grabbed my attention, instantly pulled me right into the thick of things, and left me breathless with an insatiable urge to know more!! Laken and Gage’s story is packed with scorching intensity, smoldering passion, and some truly spectacular toe curling romance!! This is by far one of the best first reads I have came across in a while, and I HIGHLY recommend you get your hands on this hot little read, and meet Gage, he’s sure to put a permanent smile on your face, and score a special place in your heart!!