Jul
Today I’m excited to participate in the Blog Tour of ‘Pause’ by Kylie Scott. This is an all new emotional friends-to-lovers romance and it’s out NOW!
After reading ‘Fake’ by Kylie Scott a few weeks ago, I knew I wanted to read more books by her. So when I saw the sign up for the Blog Tour of ‘Pause’, I signed up immediately. I knew that this book was the second book in a standalone series, so if I’d end up liking it I would be forced to read even more books.. but that didn’t stop me at all. I mean.. isn’t that the story of my life? Adding books to my huge TBR with no hope of ever reading every book I want. LOL!! When the ARC of ‘Pause’ arrived on my kindle, I started reading as soon as possible.
In ‘Pause’ we meet Anna. Anna wakes up in a hospital with no memory of what happened to her. Soon she learns that she has been in a coma for months, and that the two people she counted on the most have moved on without her. Now Anna is trying hard to get her life back on track, since everything has changed. She has no place to life, no husband to count on and no best friend to talk too.
Luckily for Anna she meets Leif, the guy that saved her life during the car crash. Leif couldn’t be more different than her. But from the moment they meet, there is a connection between the two of them they can’t deny. Anna and Leif soon start hanging out, and when Anna needs a place to life Leif offers her to move in with him. Soon Anna learns that she isn’t the only one hurt by the car crash, and together with Leif she slowly starts getting back her life.
Boy.. I really felt for Anna from the moment I started reading her story. Working on a traumatology ward in a hospital myself, I know how accidents can change people’s life. And Anna’s story just really touched me right from the start. And I loved her and I absolutely adored Leif. Their chemistry was definitely flying of the pages and I couldn’t stop reading this book.
The only down part for me in this book was that there were a few moments near the end that felt kind of rushed. The moment Anna meets the person that caused the accident for example. That moment just felt a little off to me and I would have enjoyed it more if it was a little more developed.
But other than that I loved this book and I really want to read more by Kylie Scott.
Available at (* affiliate):
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What to do?
The rational response would be to give up and go home. Because hiding out in my childhood bedroom has worked out great so far (and this would be sarcasm). It’s been months since I left the house for anything other than a medical appointment. Weeks since I’ve heard from any friends. Right on cue, my cell buzzes inside my tan Coach purse. I don’t bother to look.
Mom requests proof of life every hour on the hour. Not even dinner at the country club can distract her, apparently. Her parental concern for me is well past claustrophobic.
My hand clenches the iron railing against a gust of unseasonably warm evening wind. It’s been a while since I stopped using a mobility aid, but things can still feel tricky. The whole damn world does, if I’m being honest. So many things I took for granted have now been turned upside down.
This is the problem with living the supposed dream. With having an airtight plan for your life.
Meet Prince Charming and marry him. Find the perfect job. Only problem is, if something goes wrong, when reality smacks you upside the head and sends you reeling, then there’s no system for putting the pieces back together. There’s no Plan B because it never occurred to you that you’d need one. A lack of imagination on my part, perhaps.
A motorcycle pulls up to the curb and it’s like everything happens in slow motion. Something about this long, lean man just makes time want to stand still. A denim-clad leg is swung over the back of the iron beast. A helmet is removed and shoulder-length hair tumbles free. High cheekbones and perfect lips are framed by stubble and all I can do is stare.
I don’t know if I’m intimidated or turned on or what.
“Can I help y . . .” he begins. There’s the faintest spark of recognition in his eyes.
I continue to stand there frozen.
“Fuck me,” he mutters, stalking closer. His gaze slides over me from top to toe, lingering on the small scars on my left cheek from the glass. There’s no attempt made to hide his curiosity.
“It’s really you.”
Nichelle the nurse described him as being a nice young man. Nothing more. Certainly nothing that would prepare me for this. And I dispute “nice.” Ripped denim, battered leather, and a Harley-Davidson motorbike are not nice.
“Never seen you conscious before,” he says, getting even closer.
I just blink.
From beneath the collar and cuffs of his leather jacket emerge colorful tattoos. Lots of them.
Blue waves and black letters. Red flames and white flowers. The man is a walking, talking piece of art. My parents would be horrified. Ryan too, for that matter. Not that any of their opinions matter. I need to forge my own path. Go my own way.
“How did you find me?” he asks with a faint frown.
“Oh. Ah.” I smooth down the front of my pale blue midi-length linen summer dress. My dark hair is slicked back in a low ponytail and my makeup is simple but perfect. It’s nice having some things I can control. “One of the nurses from the ICU told me about you and I wanted to come say thank you. But maybe an apology would be more in order?”
For a moment he pauses, then he asks, “Do you want to come in?”
Good question. The fact is, I don’t know. Nor do I know how to do this. Something made obvious when my mouth opens, but nothing comes out. So much nothing for such a length of time that it’s beyond embarrassing. Dammit. Whatever it is I came here looking for, it wasn’t this. Him. Whatever.
“We’ve never properly met, have we?” He holds out his big hand. “Hi, I’m Leif.”
“Anna.”
While I’m tentative, he shows no such reserve. Strong, warm fingers enfold my own stiff and cold ones. There’s no attempt at a dominating handshake or groping. He gives my hand a squeeze, just the one gentle squeeze, before setting me free.
“I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but that would be weird.” He grins conspiratorially and oh my God. Everything low in my stomach wakes up and takes notice. Shame on my lady parts, but the chemical pull of the man is ridiculous. It takes me a minute to remember that I’m a married woman. Mostly. Well, somewhat anyway. I certainly have no business smiling at him like I am. My life is messed up enough without adding a crush. Perhaps it’s in reaction to me, I don’t know, but the mirth disappears and his gaze becomes serious. A little bleak even. “I still have nightmares about that day, you know?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have come.”
“Don’t, Anna. Don’t look like that. I didn’t tell you to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. I was just . . . sharing.” His expression changes again, a more subdued smile taking the place of the brief hint of trauma. Then he suddenly winks at me all flirty like. I don’t know how to react. I can barely keep up. The man is a whirlwind. “Want to come in and have a beer with me?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I just . . . I don’t want to remind you of things you’d rather—”
“I want you to come inside. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
A drink with a pretty wild man that I have a strange sort of history with or a swift return to safety and boredom? I don’t overthink it. I don’t even hesitate. “Then yes, Leif. I’d love to.”
Check out my previous reads by Kylie Scott:
This Blog Tour was organized by Social Butterfly PR.
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Pause sounds exactly like a book I would enjoy. I’m a sucker for books where the MC wakes up after being in a coma and everything’s changed or crappy. I’ll have to read this one very soon 🙂 Great review!
This was definitely a great read. I hope you’ll get to read it too 😉
I’ve been hesitant to pick this one up because the premise sounds so incredibly similar to the previous book, Repeat. In that book, the girl was attacked and lost her memory. In this one the MC wakes up from a coma and has no memory. And I think the main guys are brothers so it all just seemed too coincidental. LOL But I really do like Kylie Scott so I admit I’m tempted to give it a try! 🙂
I just got the first book too and can’t wait to read it too. In this book the MC doesn’t lose her memory though.. she just wakes up months later 😉