Some people change your life Others change your heart Newly widowed dad Sebastian Dorner was unraveling at the edges–until his son’s teacher, Via DeRosa, threw him a lifeline. Now, two years later, they reconnect at Matty’s new school, and an inconvenient but unmistakable jolt of attraction crackles between them. But why does the first person to spark with Sebastian in years have to be a … have to be a millennial? Is twentysomething Via really too young for him or does fortysomething Sebastian just feel too damn old?
A former foster kid, Via’s finally forged the stable life she’s always dreamed of–new job, steady income, no drama. The last thing she needs are rumors about her and a single dad at school. But why does she keep being drawn into his capable, worn-flannel orbit? And why does being around Sebastian, Matty and even their dog, Crabby, seem to spark so much want?
They’re trying to ignore the tension threatening their friendship. But sometimes what’ll heal you is just a touch–and a heartbeat–away…
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As a general rule I love single parent romances, there is something about juggling life, kids and finding the person that can help with all that baggage that works for me. But as another rule I severely dislike a slow burn romance. So why did I love Just A Heartbeat Away to the point that I would recommend it and would read it again??? The characters, the emotion and
In the first book in Cara Bastone’s Forever Yours series, we meet Sebastian, a 42-year-old widow trying to raise his son in New York City. Via is a 27- year- old school teacher that met Seb at his worst, right when his wife died and she was teaching his son, Matty. Now two years later, Seb has gotten his act together and they meet again at a farmers market. They end up working at the same school, playing on the same softball team and trying to fight their attraction to one another!
Why did this book – even with a slow burn – suck me in? The characters. These characters were just wonderfully done, multi dimensional with their emotions and the situations, experiences they had. The compassion that Via had for Seb when she first met him, was so heartfelt. I loved that it tackled real issues- grief, loss, the meaning of family, friendships, the foster system. The characters were all looking for family, stability and really who isn’t.
It didn’t hurt that Seb is just HOT. There is nothing hotter than a dad that is actively involved with their child but add a mountain man six pack bod and I am sold. Yes, there was a slow burn but when they did get it on it was burning up my ear holes. The dirty talking dad was in full effect with Sebastian!!
After reading this book, I pretty much became Cara’s biggest fan!
I was a bit hesitant to read this book because I really don’t like when the main characters have a significant other at the beginning of the story because, well, I hate drama. I am very glad I took a chance after reading rave reviews from multiple bookgrammers (is this a word?) that I follow.
Just a Heartbeat Away was a drama free, slow burn romance that I seriously enjoyed. Sebastian is a 42 year old widower with an adorable son named Matty and a dog called Crabby and he has a serious crush on his son’s 28 year old teacher, Via.
Sebastian and Via have both suffered a great loss and still deal with grief. They start off strictly as friends before finally getting over their hangups and taking a chance on each other.
I loved everything about this story and I cannot wait to read Fin’s story next.
A sweet slow burn.
Read this!
This one had so much heart! The way Seb and Via first meet really pulled at my heart strings. I adored Via as a character and the path she was on as a result of her childhood experiences. These two both know grief and it has shaped how they take on the world in different ways. I enjoyed their interactions and seeing how Seb’s son Maddy played into some of it. It definitely takes most of the book for these two to figure it all out, but once they did, I was all smiles. Looking forward to the rest of this series.
What a sweet, fun, and entertaining second chance romance. It’s not a second chance in the classic way. Nope. This one is a second chance for two very lonely people that at first glance really don’t have much in common. The book opens with a strung-out Sebastian so overwhelmed with grief he can’t see what is right in front of his face. It takes a young, perky PreK teacher, his son’s PreK teacher, to point out that he’s neglecting his only child. He is horrified.
Fast forward two years and the two meet again. This time, Seb is the model, picture-perfect Dad of the Year. Via is the new counselor at PS128 in Brooklyn. Matty is just starting second grade. They are all at the same school. That’s when things start to get very interesting. This is a winter-summer romance. Well, that is if you really think 42 is winter and 28 is summer. It’s entertaining to watch Seb and Via dance around one another trying to ignore the pull. Everyone but they see it. Everyone but they are happy about it. This is a story that slowly and gently unwinds exposing emotions and hurts too deep for either one of them to handle alone. It is definitely worth picking up!
I listened to the audiobook. I liked Seb. I liked the way he turned things around and enjoyed his relationship with his son. I liked Via and felt for her because she felt so alone.
Via and Seb together was fine. I enjoy the single dad trope. I don’t mind the age gap trope, but don’t seek it out. I have a better understanding of why. I got so tired of hearing Seb bemoaning his age. How much older he was than Via, his gray hair, etc. Seb wasn’t 70 and Via was 20. He acted like he was ancient.
The book was ok, but the whining about his age went on way too long. When they finally got together, I was glad they did and that it was over.
Once I finished Just a Heartbeat Away, with tears still in my eyes, I moved this book to my “Comfort Reads” Folder. Because that’s exactly what it is. A comfort read. A hug for my heart. Seb and Via are just… everything. This was a beautiful story of Seb, a widower dad, and how he starts to fall for someone from the worst time in his life, his son’s former teacher. Via helped him dig out of the grief from his wife’s death and put Seb on the path to being a better dad for his son, Matty. When they met again, Via is the new school counselor at Matty’s school and Seb is the lunch dad. This puts them into close contact as they circle around each other, both falling but having their own reasons for waiting to take the final leap. This book is a slow burn but in the best way possible. When they do finally get together, you as the reader are just so invested and in love with the characters that you absolutely believe in their relationship.
I mean, this quote from Seb just warms my heart!
I don’t expect you to be issue-free. And I definitely don’t expect our love for each other to just magically dissolve our respective hang-ups. All I want is to keep growing. To keep growing alongside someone I can lean on and who leans on me. And to argue and hold each other accountable and celebrate the good stuff with and make love to and come home to.
Just a Heartbeat Away by Cara Bastone, Chapter 23
And the flirting! I didn’t realize how little flirting I see in romances lately until this book. It was so well crafted and lovely as they just circled closer and closer to each other. Neither Via and Seb have had a pain free past. They are both scarred by their past and they both learn to work through those scars. I honestly loved everything in this book, from Via and Seb to adorable Matty and a funny dog and lovely friends and even Seb’s supportive yet stern in-laws. This book is honestly like a hug for my soul.
There was a lot I liked about this book and a few I didn’t. To start, I enjoyed the story. I thought that it was very realistic and that the relationship/feelings came across as genuine. I felt for Sebastian. His grief, confusion, frustration and emotional turmoil made him easy to relate to. Via was also easy to connect with because she has her own baggage she carries. I really lliked them as a couple and I loved Matty! This is an age gap romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. It is also a slow burn romance and when I say slow burn I mean SLOOOW BUUURN, which I found a bit off putting because it took so long to get where it was going, too long in my opinion. This is my candid, volitional review.