A #1 Bestseller in Inspirational Romance and an Amazon Top 30 Bestseller! They say it happens when you least expect it.It did for me. It started the moment I saw the simple message pop up on my computer screen: Cameron’s Mac: Hi. And when I met the eyes of the gorgeous man messaging me from across the coffee shop, I never thought my reply would lead to the most intense, sexual, and passionate … would lead to the most intense, sexual, and passionate relationship of my life.
We both agreed to check our bags at the door and put our future hopes and aspirations on the table.
It worked.
I fell in love with his no holds barred attitude, sexy smirk, and undeniably good heart . . . and for a while we forgot about our baggage. We happily tripped over it to get to the other, neither of us willing to show the contents of our pasts in the off chance it could ruin us.
We built our love on a foundation of gray.
It was life in black and white that threatened to tear us apart.
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NEW 5++++ STAR FAVORITE!
Wow. Can I please repeat that a little louder? WOW. I have been sitting on this review for like 10 days because I honestly don’t feel like my words can convey the epicness of this journey. The blend of humor, emotion, angst, romance, and my favorite, message flirting, in The Real by Kate Stewart made this one of my favorite reads of the year, just like Ms. Stewart’s Drive was last year, despite them being very different reads. I didn’t think she could beat Drive for me, but she may have here with this adult romance featuring amazing characters in their thirties.
The Real started off sweet and funny and flirty. I was smiling and laughing and totally swooning as the slightly strange Abbie was sitting in a quirky coffee shop with fun mugs and had an airdrop message from “Cameron’s Mac”. Abbie’s past had her very skittish around men, but she messaged the cute guy across the room back, and so began an adorable messaging flirtation. There was one rule to this flirtation:
Abbie’s Mac: We leave our relationship baggage at the door.
Cameron’s Mac: Nothing but who we are now, at this moment, and where we’re going, or where we want to go.
Oh what a slow burn this was! I love how they really got to know each other by message only and the sexual tension was still there.
“A kiss can be an introduction, statement, and a promise. I plan to make all three when you let me.”
Sigh…Cameron was so awesome.
“Abbie’s Mac: You would kiss me for the first time in a coffee shop?
Cameron’s Mac: In front of God and everyone. At this point, I’d kiss you anywhere you let me. Are you ready for that, Abbie? Because once I get access to those lips, I’m going to suck them dry.”
When they finally got together, it was everything!
“F**k, I’ll never forget the way you look right now,” he whispered.
I felt beautiful and worshiped, the new normal that only he could make me feel.
“I don’t want anyone else.”
“I’ll keep it that way,” he assured as he tore off his undershirt.
They were so perfect together, but they had the one pesky rule: no pasts, no baggage. Each of them was holding a part of themselves back, but it didn’t matter, it was so clear they were meant for each other..
“But just so you know, you and me, we are absolute.”
Then came the angst…
“Look at me. This is me at my worst. Please don’t do this to us.”
“I didn’t do this.”
“You’re right. I did. Love me anyway.”
But it was perfect. I did not expect it, I knew a twist was coming, but that wasn’t what I thought! HOLY MOLY. This book will knock you out.
“Love by its definition is a lie, its true definition is work and a f**k lot of it. It also means so much more than that one syllable. It’s a one-word representation of everything that can make or break a person. Love is only meant for the brave.”
Likes:
•The cover is as unique as the story. (No abs! But I will say, my husband thought the title was Wicker Park)
•Messaging is my absolute favorite way for a couple to get to know each other in a book and I loved the way Kate Stewart did it here.
•I loved the side characters.
•Flirtatious banter.
•So much sexual tension!
•Slow burn.
•Totally blindsided by the story.
•It was such a real story. The characters were real and flawed.
•The quirky coffee shop.
•Did I say how much I LOVED Cameron?
•I highlighted so many quotes it was amazing.
•A great playlist.
•Completely unique and memorable.
•Older characters.
•It had a traditional romance feel in a contemporary story. He really had to woo her, and he wooed me too!
•It’s a complete standalone.
Dislikes:
•Not one thing.
The Down & Dirty:
Unique, real, raw, compelling, romantic, heartbreaking, and honest, The Real by Kate Stewart hit every single button in one book. Humor, romance, mystery, banter, text chats, angst, emotion, surprise twists and and OMG the wooing!!! This slow burn romance with quirky, flawed characters will absolutely be near or at the top of my favorite books for 2018, and completely earns a rare 5++++ star review. I can’t wait for it to come out on audio so I can experience it all again.
Rating: 5++++ Stars, 4 Heat
The Real is an symphony of emotions and feels. The crescendo and decrescendo make this beautiful arrangement very “real”.
Abbie was simply living life, just going thru the motions because of a bad experience. What starts out as a normal “slob day” Saturday turned out to be one that would change her life forever…she met HIM. Cameron was easy on the eyes (and as she found out quickly) easy to talk, or make that chat with.
But there are rules for a reason. Rules that make these encounters very easy. Until these rules become more of a hindrance than a safety net.
When feelings become more than they should be with some of the rules still set firmly in place, Abbie finds her world crumbling around her. Will Cameron still be the same man she thought she knew so well? Does Abbie have the strength to go on simply going thru the motions like she did before?
In true Kate Stewart form, you are hooked from the first chapter and held hostage until the very end, until the last drop of coffee is drank. There is only one word to describe this story…BEAUTIFUL!
An old trope but with a bit of a twist. I really enjoyed Addie and Cameron’s journey and could understand her trepidation on getting involved with someone after her previous experience. In the end, Cameron was as fantastic as he appeared and they both got their HEA.
This one is a great read. Cameron and Abbie meet at a coffee shop. Cameron is very flirty. Abbie is a little jaded on relationship and letting people in then she meets Cameron. These two have some great fun banter and funny coffee mugs. They take the time to get to know each other slowly. I thought everything was going good then bam it happens and I totally didn’t see it coming. It’s an emotional read that sort of just creeps but on you. I hadn’t real realized how emotionally involved in Cameron and Abbie until I finished reading.
Kate Stewart wrote a refreshing story when she wrote The Real featuring our main characters Cameron and Abbie. The love story that unfolded I found to be a beautiful one between two individuals who left their pasts at the door and took one another for who each person was at that moment in time.
From the moment Cameron met Abbie they both connected on a level that was far greater and profound than either of them had ever experienced with anyone else in their lives.
As we lay witness to this beautiful story of love and connection we see these relatable characters surrender in a way that was spot-on and like real life it was inspired.
This story takes a turn that I did not see coming, something atypical one could say. This change in momentum was not only huge for our characters but it was a great opening for a dialogue for the readers of The Real to have with one another.
The title given to this book encapsulates the story with one simple word. This story was REAL! It was real to life while still having some of the out of this world romantic moments you might expect from a novel in this genre, and yet it was so much more.
I highly recommend you take some time from your busy schedule to get to The Real.
Kate Stewart is rapidly becoming one of my fave, auto sign up authors! I swear the last few books I’ve read by her have seriously induced book hangovers upon completion. And even while reading the story!! I get SO wrapped up in the story and the characters that the real world falls away and all that exists is this world that Kate has created with her amazing words and storylines!!
While I briefly thought there was a part of the story I wouldn’t be a fan of (and possibly DNF), I held on knowing that a Kate Stewart book won’t steer me wrong. And I was right! While your first reaction might be to pull back, just know that it gets SO much better!! Ride through the storm and know that there are others who read it and thought the same things you do but got through it and are so glad they stuck with it! I won’t tell you what the story line is (I’m not a spoiler!), just read it and you will know exactly what I’m talking about!
I actually met Kate when I first started this blogging thing with another blog in 2015(?) and I only wish I had read her writing before I had met her so I could have totally fan girled over her and her sweet self!!
Kate Stewart is an automatic 1-Click for me for good reason. Her writing is always phenomenal.
I read The Real blind. I hadn’t seen a single review and only the blurb. Super glad I did, as I was able to savor every word. The Real isn’t one I wanted to speed read, but I still read it in a single weekend as I was absolutely captivated.
The Real is funny, heart warming, painful, crushing, shocking, and encouraging. There were times I wanted to smack and hug at the same time. And then I cringed as that was my first response.
Kate Stewart writes characters that are flawed, and grow from their experiences, broken and learn to do life better. There is extraordinary depth even in the supporting characters.
This book is the best book I’ve read so far this year. I read some amazing books by amazing authors but, this one just took a piece of my heart when I was done reading. Kate’s writing is so amazing. She goes in deep and puts all the pieces of one soul together in this story. There is every kind of emotion in this story. I highly recommended this book! Five stars does not do this book justice it deserves more. Bravo Kate!
Love is beautiful, hard and scary sometimes and this story encapsulates it all with grace and finesse. It delves into things not everyone wants to discuss, but it’s handled delicately and with care. Abbie has been hurt and you can feel it in her reactions from the very start. She’s cautious yet wants to take that leap. Cameron is swoon-worthy. His physical description alone is hot, but his way with words is even hotter. Both with flaws, hopes and dreams, they are human and that makes them even more compelling. Their character growth and revelations are captivating. I love their connection and how they get to know one another. It’s unique. It’s hopeful and bewitching. But along with that there are so many other emotions experienced while reading. It’s the blissfully romantic build to the relationship and the devastating fall into heartache, open conversation and closed off secrets, loss and longing, supportive friends, understanding parents. The pace, the slow burn and the inevitable heartache you feel coming, keeps the pages turning. The writing just pulls you in and takes you right along with Abbie and Cameron on their journey. The writing is more than just descriptive, it’s poetic prose. There are so many details that make the story deeper and intimate. I got everything I wanted with The Real. It’s romantic storytelling at its best.
Abbie the witchy woman and Cameron the king of woo. These two had me spellbound immediately after reading the first chapter. I was intrigued as they were when they caught each other’s gaze in that Sunny Side Cafe drinking coffee. Their looks said it all as did their hilarious coffee mugs but it was Abbie’s quirky, cautious and sarcastic personality that screwed it all up. Luckily fate strikes again and that second interaction in The Violet Hour is filled with chemistry and of course Abbie’s BFF , the hilarious and fabulous Bree who makes sure that Abbie has a second chance with Cameron at the Sunny Side Cafe.
From that moment on Abbie and Cameron story is a delicious slow burn to get to know one another through words. Yes, they communicate through Airdrop while they sit in the cafe. It’s different and gives their interaction and relationship a more intimate feel. There’s a reason why they choose this way of getting to know one another and I won’t spoil it here. I enjoyed every aspect of this story and when they took it one step forward to actually dating and being intimate I was already head over heels in love with both Cameron and Abbie. He wooed me and Abbie made me laugh. Their chemistry was undeniable and sizzling hot. This was romance and I devoured it.
Then the other shoe dropped. Yup, I didn’t see that coming and believe me I was thinking about some sort of twist or conflict along their blossoming romance but Kate Stewart had me totally mesmerized by her words that it hit me when I least expected it. My heart was shattered but Kate Stewart puts it back together effortlessly and with so much love and attention to her characters and their story. The topics are serious, taboo and very important. Kate Stewart puts her touch on the story, on a topic that needs more awareness and discussion. The reader becomes emotionally invested in Abbie and Cameron. The pace is spot on from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages. The epilogue left me on a high and with a smirk on my face. The title says it all. This story and its topics feels real and so does Abbie and Cameron’s love. Another smash from Kate Stewart.
5 BadAssDirtyWichyAndWooStars
The Real a very beautiful Love story … A story that will bring back all those beautiful feelings that we have forgotten..
I started to read this book without knowing anything about the story, I didn’t know what to expect and wow it was really mind blowing. I really identify so much with the story and the characters.. specially how Abbie feels about love.. (when you believe in love so strongly and everything around you is trying to prove you wrong)
“This digital age has ruined romance.”
“I was around when the fake yawn, arm stretch around the shoulder move still existed, and now it’s not even a thing anymore”
Cameron, a handsome coach who happens to be in the right place and the right moment..
when all stars where aligned.. his life was not easy, he was living a “lie” something that was not working anymore for him.. he wanted to start a new life but circumstances made it harder for him to move on.. He didn’t know his life was about to change, he didn’t know the answers to all his prayers was seating just a few chairs from him and there was no way, anything or anyone could stop this to happen..
Cameron is romantic, a gentleman someone who can make you fall in love so fast with his courtship manners..
Abbie, had a very awful past experience that somehow left her paralyzed to move on with her love life.. she keeps hiding from the world or better say from “men” feeding her fears watching tv shows and reading things that will bring back those awful memories … but it seems like even if she wants to move on, her past keeps holding her up… she has a hard time trusting and letting go, she doesn’t believe there’s still gentlemen out there.. but nothing has prepare her for this handsome stranger, who is invading her thoughts days and nights.. nothing could prepare her for the feelings and emotions this stranger will evoke.. and this time not even her fears will keep her from him..
Abbie is a beautiful strong heroine with a funny side, smart and a firm believer in love and romance..
“What elicited a storm in my soul and calm in my heart were his ocean-green eyes.”
I really felt in love with Abbie and Cameron, the way you get to experience their love, the way they took their time to fall in love and experience each other slowly..
You’re going to laugh with them..
“Long story short, we’ve been seeing each other for a while now. He’s amazing, and i’ll tell you all about him soon, but i need some cooking advice” … “Okay, step back and walk away” lol
You’re going to cry with them..
“I wanted him to be the last man i kissed, the last man i gave my heart and body to.”
But what really made me love Abbie and Cameron was not about the sex, not about the flirting.. it was more about taking their time, about meeting each other.. about really knowing one an other deeply..
Abbie and Cameron story is magical because they walk you through their love, slowly and carefully… and in the mean time while you’re getting to see their love unfold, Kates words will make you feel all these emotions like if you were one of her characters seating at the Sunny Side Cafe.
The Real definitely a book that i’ll keep forever in my heart..
I’m a huge fan of Kate’s Writing and I have to say The Real is not the exception.. she always challenge my emotions and what i love about that is, she always makes me see things and feel things in a very different way..
Another amazing story From Kate!!
Kate Stewart sure can write a slow burn romance book! This one checked off all the marks. An emotional journey we embark on while reading about Witchy Woman and King of Woo.
Cameron and Abbie are experiencing dating in today’s standard. Air dropping messages to each other while drinking coffee in the local coffee shop. Taking things very slowly…learning about each other. Old school style.
Abbie is a tough cookie to crack. She’s been trying to get her life back in order after a relationship that turned out pretty toxic. Not willing to open up and accept that there are good men out there looking for love.
Cameron is the most loving, giving, good looking man. He is mysterious in revealing his background. But he feels so alive when he is with Abbie. Like it’s the life he has been searching for.
When the coffee shop ‘dating’ turns into actual conversations, there are rules in place before the first real date happens. Both agreeing to the rules, let the happiness begin for these two.
Just like in real life, there are bumps in the road and there are pot holes in the road…then there are actual craters in the road. When the going is going too good…expect the crater to open up and suck you in.
This book was a page turner from the get go. At a couple places, I was like this is too good to be true…poop is going to hit the fan, I can feel it! Commence the tears and sure enough…I could feel the crack starting to spread wide open.
Awesome story of love and what a person(s) is willing to do to make the love a permanent 1 4 3 in their life.
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