Will he take the leap with me?Cole Danforth was a troubled kid with a bad reputation. When I was nine years old, he rescued me from bullies trying to steal my Halloween candy. Thus began my decade-long crush on him.Now, the summer after my freshman year in college, I discover the boy has turned into a gorgeous man who makes me melt. Every part of me wants him — my heart, my mind, my body. But … mind, my body. But Cole, struggling with the burden of his past, refuses to accept how good we are together.
I believe in us hard enough to take the chance. But will Cole take the leap of faith with me?
This novella prequel takes place ten years before If We Fall, Book One in Nina Lane’s What If duet.
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4 “I wish I could have you forever” stars
IF WE LEAP was an excellent introduction to the story of Josie and Cole. In my first contact with a story from this author, I fell in love with her writing and how she made it easy and quick to make me fall in love with these characters. With diferent POV, we see glimpses of their past and their relationship in the present. It’s very short, less than 100 pages, and with an ending that will leave you wanting the rest of the story right away. I’m very curious. I highly recommend it.
This was my first read by Nina, and wow, talk about captivated by this short little novella, I was hooked by her beautiful storytelling and captivated by her fantastic writing skills, and this is just a prequel!!! I can’t wait to start reading the What If duet!!
Cole is a damaged soul, studying and holding down 2 jobs trying to make ends meet on his own. He’s always kept to himself and keeps others away from him, letting no one through his brick walls.
Josie has known Cole for over 10 yrs, and has always liked him and found him intriguing, especially when he stood up for her when she was being bullied when they were little. She hasn’t seen him for a while and literally bumps into him at the carnival, and can’t believe how gorgeous he is and how attracted she is to him. She decides her best bet is just to go for it and see what he thinks!!
I really loved this!! Full of romance, chemistry and full on swooniness, its a great short little read and if this is anything to go off the duet is going to blow your socks off. Highly recommended.
What a tease…I can’t wait to get my hands on If We Fall.
“A thousand little lights flared inside me, illuminating all the secret wishes in my heart.”
This prequel packed a lot in a short story. It draws you in, gets you acquainted with the friends, enemies, hopes, dreams, struggles and regrets.
“At some purely primal level, I knew this was it, that whatever my future held in the way of romantic kisses, I would always compare them to this one.”
This story takes you back ten years and gets you caught up on how everyone met, their backstories, fears, passion…then it throws a twist at you and you wonder what the future will hold.
…Josie Bird
This is a quick prequel novella to Nina Lanes What If Duet. It sets the scene for book one in the duet and we get to know Cole and Josie and their background going from past to present. If this prequel is anything to go by then I believe we may be in for a roller coaster ride of emotions with a beautiful but maybe somewhat harrowing story with these characters.
Nina Lane has done a fantastic job writing this prequel in such a short novella. Not only does it give the reader so much base but it also evokes emotion along the way. You will get to know the characters traits and personalities and the chemistry they create together which again builds a solid foundation to go on in book 1. I for one can’t wait to get my hands on If We Fall.
4.5 stars–IF WE LEAP is the prequel novella in Nina Lane’s contemporary, adult WHAT IF Duet focusing on Cole Danforth, and Josie Mays.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Josie and Cole) IF WE LEAP takes place ten years (and more) prior to the events of book one IF WE FALL. The reader is up close and personal as seven-year old Josie Mays meets her would-be rescuer, ten-year old Cole Danforth, a trouble young boy who grows into a broken young man. From first love to heart breaking sorrow IF WE LEAP follows the building relationship and romance of two college age sweethearts whose lives are about to spiral out of control.
IF WE LEAP tells some of the backstory and history between our leading couple, and Cole’s dysfunctional family fall-out as a troubled reputation follows wherever he goes. The premise is revealing and inviting; the romance is passionate and tender; the characters are spirited, edgy and tragic
I loved this quick prequel to the ‘What If’ duet by Nina Lane. We are introduced to Josie at a young age when she meets an older boy in the woods. They strike up and unlikely friendship which continues until Josie starts college. Then when she sees Cole on hot summer night she realizes her feelings for him are more intense than just friendship.
Soon they embark in a whirlwind of love and lust that they think will last forever, but will it? Josie was cute and funny, Cole sweet and protective even though the townspeople thought he was a bad boy, Josie knew better.
There is a ton of feels packed into this short story and it will leave you desperate for more.