Name: dija's review of Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker
Item: Until It Fades
Rating: 2
Author: dija

K.A. Tucker

"A sexy new romance about a small-town woman who saves the life of a mysterious man, and finds herself unexpectedly thrown into a whirlwind love affair, featuring bestselling author K. A. Tucker's signature "well-constructed, pulse-pounding suspense" (USA TODAY). Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania: population two thousand outside of tourist season. And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed attempt at a relationship, Catherine saves a man's life. It isn't until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has saved: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling. Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works. For a time. But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. What begins as an immediate friendship quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn't sure she can handle; something that Catherine is afraid to trust. Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine...before the spark fades?"--

A Novel

Until It Fades

Lacey

dija

Well well, this was disappointing. 

I liked the title and the blurb sounded quite promising as to this whole "Modern day Cinderella" but I'm like,,,, bitch where??? Don't get me wrong, the characters are okay some of them are good even, but the plot felt flat and IT WAS SO SLOW like SO SLOW -and as unbelievable this sounds- SLOWER THAN MY INTERNET CONNECTION 

Why are romances disappointing me these days????? I WANT A GOOD ROMANCE THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE REAL PEOPLE IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK

Play Famous by Surfaces & Kid Indigo - Oh I don't want to be famous, I just want to be noticed by you (totally Brett's song)

Sven Test

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
 

This story is totally different from what K.A. Tucker usually writes. Where her other books are filled with feels and suspense, this one was more light, feel-good, and a total beach read!

Until It Fades features a small town where everybody is in each other's business and knows anything and everything about what goes on in the town. Catherine's name has been in everyone's mouth ever since she got involved in something she shouldn't have and the town judged her so harshly. She's kind of moving past it when she comes face to face to a car crash. Not knowing who's in the car, she risks her life to pull out the survivor, who turns out to be Brett, a famous hockey player. Catherine doesn't want her name to be revealed to the media or Brett's family, but her family and close friend urge her to do so and she relents. What unravels are a series of events she wasn't expecting.

Honestly, I loved this book. It had me so giddy! My fave character has to be Brenna, Catherine's daughter. She was the sweetest and cutest one of the bunch. The relationship that Catherine and Brenna have is to admire. It's actually a very different relationship that Catherine had with her own mother. Their relationship was very strained over the years, especially when one specific event happened. But because of Catherine's heroic action, her mom starts to see her daughter differently and starts to think that maybe she judged her in the past when she shouldn't have.

I loved how this book showed Catherine's past in flashbacks. It was easy to understand what went down and it made me feel more for Catherine. Everyone blamed her while the person who should have been blamed got away with no blame at all. It was sad and heartbreaking. Because of this, she really didn't want anyone to find out what she had done to save Brett. But he wanted everyone to know who she was. Someone who had no idea who he was—she didn't even know he was famous—yet risked her life to save him. Brett was so freaking swoony! He had this gentle and calm presence about him that I immediately loved. And how he was with Catherine and Brenna melted my heart! I actually thought that Brett wanted to spend more time with Catherine because she saved his life and he felt like he owed her, but that was not the case. He sincerely liked everything about who Catherine was, especially the fact that she was so genuine and could care less about his famous world.
The poor, lonely waitress with a past, the jaded single mother with scars, who scrubs ketchup off tables and serves fries to truck drivers ensnares the rich, gorgeous, kind prince. I guess it’s kind of like Cinderella. Though Cinderella got herself beautiful glass slippers on her night of magic. Mine involved shabby black heels, which were left for dead in a ditch.
The romance between Brett and Catherine was so slow burn and took it's time to develop. At times, I did wanted to smack Catherine on the head because she kept being so guarded towards Brett. But overall, their relationship was so sweet and loving, despite the few hardships. Everything felt believable. What made me fall harder for Brett was that he always loved to have Brenna around. Even Catherine thought it was too much at times, but he genuinely loved to spend time with Brenna. She was so adorable! Reading about Brett's and Brenna's friendship was the sweetest thing ever.

Despite this story having all the positive feels and being so cute and romance-y, it also focuses on learning to forgive yourself, like Catherine had to learn to do. She had gone through a lot in her life and she had forgotten what it was like to have people support you and care for you unconditionally. Having found that, she got the push she needed to be stronger, fearless, and to forgive herself.

Overall, Until It Fades, is a beautifully written story about forgiveness, the importance of family, and ultimately, to learn to trust again. What makes this so wonderful is that it has a happily ever after feel to it that really fit the story and I ended up loving so much!



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Katy 

Totally Addicted to Reading

This is my first K. A Tucker novel and it will not be my last. I heard about her before, but never considered reading her work before, but when Until It Fades came on my radar, and I read the blurb I was intrigued.What the story is about.Until It Fades tells the story of Catherine Wright, a 24-year-old single mom to a spunky 5-year-old girl. She works as a waitress at truck stop in a small town. Her past was not pretty, and she wished for it to remain hidden. However, her selfless decision to rescue a stranger from a burning car, would lead to the events from her past becoming a fodder for the media. The man she saved was none other than Brett Madden, famous hockey player and son of a movie star. So it was no surprise that the accident became the talk of every media house. Her attempts to keep her identity hidden proved futile, which became worse when Brett Madden turned upon her doorstep. What followed was an intense and immediate attraction, a friendship and a slow burn romance.The StoryWhat I enjoyed about this story is glimpses I got into Catherine’s past, which allowed me to understand what happened to her and why she felt she had to keep it all hidden. This aspect of the story was detailed making it easy for me to relate to her struggles. The story moved at a pace, which I believed was fitting for the events that were taking place. The shifts between the past and the present were flawless.I enjoyed the romance, which I considered a slow burning one. Their instant, which I do not consider abnormal, given the circumstances. She saved his life so he will feel something for her, but is it love or just a sense of gratitude? I loved how the author explored this aspect of their relationship. I was glad to see they did not immediately act on their attraction for each other. They took getting to know each other to ensure that their feelings were genuine. In Brett’s case, he needed to ensure that his feelings were not borne out of sheer gratitude and for Catherine she needed assurance that her feelings did not stem from the fact that he was famous.He grins sheepishly. “When I went home that night, I told my parents that I was madly in love with this brave and beautiful woman who saved my life.”Oh my God. My heart’s beating in my throat.“Of course they convinced me that I was completely overwhelmed and that I needed to get some rest.”“I’m sure they were right,” I mumble. “I thought so too, honestly.” He swallows hard. “But then you had to go and be not just brave and beautiful but also humble, and funny, and honest. And I couldn’t stop thinking about what it’d be like to be with you… So I need you to tell me what I need to do for you to give me that chance.” His jaw tenses as he locks eyes with me. “Please.”The emotions were heartfelt and intense.The story was not unique by far, but it was still an enjoyable one. It was not hard figuring how it would end, but what intrigued me was watching it all unfold.The CharactersI thought the character development was well done. They were believable and relatable. There was some that had me scratching my head, and then those who placed a smile on my face. I enjoyed Brett’s interaction with both Catherine and her daughter. He always includes her whenever he invited Catherine to go anywhere. He knew they were a package deal and he was willing to accept it all.Catherine struggled with being in the spotlight. She prefers to be in the background, to which I can totally relate. She is different from the women that move in Brett’s circles. She is independent and not looking for handouts. When he looked at her, he saw her for who she was, a woman of strength, a caring mother and a woman who conquered her past.Conclusion/Recommendation My biggest issue with the story was my inability to connect with Brett the way I did with Catherine. It would have helped if I got the story through his eyes as well. Until it Fades is a beautifully written story, which touches on thought provoking issues. It demonstrated how quickly persons are to judge another for their mistakes and how victims are harshly treated.Overall, this was a wonderful, swoon worthy romance. I am not going to lie, there were moments I pictured myself in Catherine’s shoes minus the humiliating past of course. If you enjoy romances that have a Cinderella feel then you will enjoy this story.

S. M. 

This book was too cute! I love the celebrity meets normal girl and falls in love trope and this book was perfect. Very very adorable!

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


I've been missing K.A. Tucker's writing so very much. I was thrilled to find out she was releasing a new romance novel and I was even happier when I got an early copy of it. Of course, I got it so long ago that I didn't even dive right in immediately because I wanted to wait until closer to release before I read it. I managed to hold off until April before my willpower ran out. Haha.

Y'all know I love the famous person and regular person trope. (When done well.) When mashed up with the single parent trope, one that's becoming a new favorite, it worked perfectly for me. I really liked Catherine. I admired her strength and determination. Life isn't easy for her for a number of reasons, but she did what she could to give her daughter the life she deserves. When she saves a man from a burning car, she was fearful of her past being dragged back in the spotlight and, if there's one thing she doesn't want, it's *another* fifteen minutes of fame. Hockey player/son of a movie star, Brett, wasn't going to let the person who saved him go so easily though. Brett? SUPER swoony, sweet and down to earth. I adored him. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to cheer on Catherine, even when her own doubts got to be too much for her, and swoon over Brett. Things might've been complicated between them — and there seemed to be obstacles at every turn — but I loved them together. Even when Catherine feared that Brett was mistaking gratitude for attraction, I knew better. What was building between them was real and I couldn't wait to see Catherine drop her walls and let him in. 

Until It Fades was a fun book with a wonderful story and great characters. It was lighter and less-angsty than her other books and I enjoyed the switch up. (Not that I don't love her angsty books, too.) I still got my feels though. :) It was sweet and romantic and sexy. It's definitely going on my "reread in the future" book list.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FAVORITE QUOTES

"I don't think you're shallow. I just think you're caught up and the feelings you have for me won't last. And I'll be the one hurt when you finally figure that out."

With Brett... I wouldn't fall in love, I'd plummet. 

"Its' good to have dreams. Without dreams, we wouldn't have goals. And without goals... what's the point of living?"

"I have never wanted anyone as much as I want you. Not even a fraction."

Kaele Perkins 

** spoiler alert **
           When are other authors going to learn that a conflict doesn't have to tear everyone apart to be effective or shocking? I know books have to have a climax and conflict but I honestly hate them. I need happily ever afters. This was a sweet story. Lighthearted (compared to what I've read lately) and such a wonderful story. Mistakes were made in the past, but she works so hard to make up for them. Brenna melted my heart. And while were on that topic, Brett melted me into a puddle. Swoon. I'm a sucker for a good guy. I love a good jock or sports player. He was so sweet, and he cared about Brenna, and he didn't give up when she was scared. The Madden family is amazing. For being famous, they are so down-to-earth. Add Lou and Leroy and I cant think of a better family. The supporting characters were amazing. I was afraid of a love triangle, but I'm glad that didn't happen. Keith, Misty, and Jack cracked me up. I would like to meet Lou in person. Tough love, but she would do anything for Cath. Ahhh, the Gingerbread Inn, and stella the puppy, and Brett just being perfectly amazing/adorable for the entire book. I love K.A. Tucker's books. I'm definitely going to binge read the rest of them.

Kathy

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

So if you guys know me and Becca at all, you know our diehard love for all things K.A. Tucker. We’ve devoured every book she’s written. KAT is one of those authors that never disappoints us. When we read the synopsis for Until it Fades very early on and found out that it was going to be more of a light-hearted and easy contempt, we were excited to see where she’d take this type of story. The Ten Tiny Breaths series and Burying Water series are intense, drama-filled and all kinds of amazing. He Will Be My Ruin was a total turnaround being a suspense with little to no romance. That was one of my favorite reads of that year. Now we have Until it Fades, which was a totally adorable contemporary summertime romance book. Another fantastic book by our fave!

Catherine is the type of character I really relate to, especially at this time in my life. She hasn’t had the easiest past few years. After a scandal with her art teacher while she was in high school, she was left the joke of their small town. Everyone had their opinions, and none of them were favorable. It took Catherine a long time to get over that humiliation and move on with her life. She was also became pregnant during the scandal time, so that simply added to the town’s gossip. Since that time she’s raised her daughter solely on her own, working her butt off as a waitress at a local diner. With little to no time for herself, her entire life has revolved around her daughter.

When Catherine finds herself at the right place at the right time (or wrong place at the right time, however you may see it.) she’s able to save someone from a terrible car accident in which they easily could have died without her involvement. After the fact, she finds out that the person she saved was a very famous hockey player. She’s finds herself in the limelight once again and it terrifies her. Catherine is struggling with her trust issues and learning to be the center of attention again, and she’s hating it all. She just wants her life to go back to “normal”. But is that really possible? And is that really what she wants?

I really enjoyed the sweetness of this story and how well these characters were fleshed out. Both Catherine and Brett were such extraordinary characters. I loved how their insecurities and issues actually made them stronger, and they didn’t use them as a crutch to do things wrongly. I loved the connection they had together, which was completely swoony and impossible not to smile while witnesses. And it doesn’t stop there. The secondary characters were just as incredible! From their friends to their family members, each and every one played such an important part in this story and in these characters’ lives.

I can’t say enough good things about K.A. Tucker’s writing. If you’re a romance fan of any type, definitely try her books. Whether it’s for more of an intense emotional roller-coaster right (like Ten Tiny Breaths) or a romance filled with some mystery and drama (like Burying Water), these books are so incredible and have so much going for them. There’s a reason I shove them in everyone’s hands that I can. They’re really THAT good! I have a feeling that Becca and I will FOREVER be K.A. Tucker fangirls. ♥

(Thanks to Atria Books for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
 

This story is totally different from what K.A. Tucker usually writes. Where her other books are filled with feels and suspense, this one was more light, feel-good, and a total beach read!

Until It Fades features a small town where everybody is in each other's business and knows anything and everything about what goes on in the town. Catherine's name has been in everyone's mouth ever since she got involved in something she shouldn't have and the town judged her so harshly. She's kind of moving past it when she comes face to face to a car crash. Not knowing who's in the car, she risks her life to pull out the survivor, who turns out to be Brett, a famous hockey player. Catherine doesn't want her name to be revealed to the media or Brett's family, but her family and close friend urge her to do so and she relents. What unravels are a series of events she wasn't expecting.

Honestly, I loved this book. It had me so giddy! My fave character has to be Brenna, Catherine's daughter. She was the sweetest and cutest one of the bunch. The relationship that Catherine and Brenna have is to admire. It's actually a very different relationship that Catherine had with her own mother. Their relationship was very strained over the years, especially when one specific event happened. But because of Catherine's heroic action, her mom starts to see her daughter differently and starts to think that maybe she judged her in the past when she shouldn't have.

I loved how this book showed Catherine's past in flashbacks. It was easy to understand what went down and it made me feel more for Catherine. Everyone blamed her while the person who should have been blamed got away with no blame at all. It was sad and heartbreaking. Because of this, she really didn't want anyone to find out what she had done to save Brett. But he wanted everyone to know who she was. Someone who had no idea who he was—she didn't even know he was famous—yet risked her life to save him. Brett was so freaking swoony! He had this gentle and calm presence about him that I immediately loved. And how he was with Catherine and Brenna melted my heart! I actually thought that Brett wanted to spend more time with Catherine because she saved his life and he felt like he owed her, but that was not the case. He sincerely liked everything about who Catherine was, especially the fact that she was so genuine and could care less about his famous world.
 The poor, lonely waitress with a past, the jaded single mother with scars, who scrubs ketchup off tables and serves fries to truck drivers ensnares the rich, gorgeous, kind prince. I guess it’s kind of like Cinderella. Though Cinderella got herself beautiful glass slippers on her night of magic. Mine involved shabby black heels, which were left for dead in a ditch. 
The romance between Brett and Catherine was so slow burn and took it's time to develop. At times, I did wanted to smack Catherine on the head because she kept being so guarded towards Brett. But overall, their relationship was so sweet and loving, despite the few hardships. Everything felt believable. What made me fall harder for Brett was that he always loved to have Brenna around. Even Catherine thought it was too much at times, but he genuinely loved to spend time with Brenna. She was so adorable! Reading about Brett's and Brenna's friendship was the sweetest thing ever.

Despite this story having all the positive feels and being so cute and romance-y, it also focuses on learning to forgive yourself, like Catherine had to learn to do. She had gone through a lot in her life and she had forgotten what it was like to have people support you and care for you unconditionally. Having found that, she got the push she needed to be stronger, fearless, and to forgive herself.

Overall, Until It Fades, is a beautifully written story about forgiveness, the importance of family, and ultimately, to learn to trust again. What makes this so wonderful is that it has a happily ever after feel to it that really fit the story and I ended up loving so much!



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  This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

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