“Zach Watters has made a lot of mistakes in his life. But when he sees Shelby Calder looking more beautiful than ever standing outside her childhood home, he promises himself that letting her go won’t be a mistake he ever makes again.”
Wide Open Spaces by Aurora Rose Reynolds is LIVE!
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo
Blurb
That moment your life changes.
That moment that changes your life.
That moment you love someone more than you love yourself.
That was the moment we gave our son up for adoption and the moment I was left bare. A wide-open space that would forever be empty.
There are moments that define you as a person, moments that prove just how strong you are, moments you push yourself to keep going forward when all you really want to do is give up. It was in one of those moments when I reached out and found him waiting for me.
When Shelby Calder left home fifteen years ago, she never planned on returning to the Alaskan town she left behind. But after the death of her grandfather and a bitter divorce, she hopes going home will be a fresh start for her and her ten-year-old son.
Zach Watters has made a lot of mistakes in his life. But when he sees Shelby Calder, looking more beautiful than ever, standing outside her childhood home, he promises himself that letting her go won’t be a mistake he ever makes again.
Some things never change and love is one of them.
Find Wide Open Spaces on Goodreads
Review
4 sweet and steamy stars
Once again, Aurora Rose Reynolds delivers a gorgeous second-chance-romance with lots of heart, beautiful family themes, a passionately steamy romance and a whole lot of swoon. This book is technically the second in the Shooting Stars series with a similar feels to the first book, and there is a loose tie in to the first book with Austin and Lea (from Fighting to Breathe) having a sweet cameo, but this one can definitely be read as a standalone, and it’s a beautiful story.
“Some things never change and love is one of them.”
It’s been 15 years since teenage lovers Zach and Shelby were left broken hearted when they gave up their newborn son for adoption. Unable to move on from the pain and grief of the loss, Shelby left town and tried her best to move on. Now, 15 years later, she is returning to the small Alaskan town where she grew up, newly divorced and with her ten year old son, keen to make a new life for them both.
Moving into the home left to her by her recently deceased grandfather, she comes face to face with her past when she discovers Zach living next door with his own children. Zach is now the town sheriff and is a total alpha, and from the moment he sees Shelby, he knows this is his second chance to claim back the woman he’s always loved.
“I never moved on. I’m still stuck in the past, trying to figure out how to get back the girl I let get away.”
Their reconnection is full of all of the emotion, longing and chemistry that I love about second-chance-romances. The connection between Zach and Shelby is beautifully captured, and though there is some initial tentativeness on Shelby’s part and pain in their past that they need to work through, neither of them hold back their feelings for too long.
“We were meant to be here, right now in this moment. We were meant to find each other again.”
Shelby and Zach are great characters and I loved them both. Their coming together is drama-free for the most part, with both of them working to build a future together. They have both made mistakes and they don’t hide that fact, but they have both grown so much and are committed to moving forward. There is drama with their exes but nothing too over the top, and I loved that they were so functional, so committed, and so very much in love and not afraid to show it.
“I’ve been in love with you for almost eighteen years. I carried your missing pieces around inside me for that long.”
Sweet, fun, romantic and seriously swoony, this book is also steamy as all hell. The sexy time is hot and frequent with a great mix of dirty talk and deep emotion. It reflects how in tune they are with each other as they work through their issues and fight for their HEA.
“I love you, Shel. Fuck, but I didn’t think it was possible to love you more than I did years ago, but I was wrong…so fucking wrong.”
Like the previous book, I felt that this story moved quickly, with not a lot of build up to the reunion. It meant that there was lots of time spent with them together re-establishing themselves as a couple and creating a new family, and I LOVED that! But I was hoping for more intensity and I think if there was more time spent building up the reunion before it happened, the story could have been epic.
But this was a beautiful, beautiful story. I loved watching Zach and Shelby come back together and I love the way their children were such a big part of their reunion. Watching them come together to form a family was beautifully written and their moments together made me smile.
There’s a gorgeous epilogue which finishes the story of beautifully, and also leads into the next book of the series which will feature Zach’s daughter Aubrey – it sounds amazing, and I’m really looking forward to that one!
Aurora Rose Reynolds is a go-to author for sweet, swoony and sexy, and that’s exactly what she’s delivered here. This book is a gorgeous read, and I loved it.
4 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Shooting Stars series
Fighting to Breathe (#1)
Review
Buy: Amazon | Paperback
Excerpt
“Then why did you marry her?” I ask, wondering if I’m really ready to go there with him, but it’s too late to change my mind. The question is out, and as much as I don’t want to know the answer, I need to know the answer.
“I wanted my kids to have what I didn’t. I believed that, with time, we could find a way to be happy.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this,” I say, changing my mind as nausea and jealousy turn my stomach.
“You loved your ex, baby. I know you did. I didn’t have that. I wanted it but never had it with her or anyone else since you.”
“Please stop.” Feeling tears burn the back of my eyes for him, I close them tight. Max and I were happy and in love in the beginning, and I hate knowing Zach never had that… the kids didn’t see or feel that.
“I wish my past didn’t hurt you so much. I’m sorry for hurting you the way I have. If I could take your pain away, I would.” He gathers me against him and tucks my head under his chin.
“As sad as it makes me, I wish you would have had that with her or someone else,” I say, and his arms tighten so much that my lungs compress.
“I don’t,” he growls.
“What?” I wheeze, and he loosens his grip just enough for me to take a breath.
“I don’t want to think about what would have happened if I had been with her or someone else when you came back. I don’t want to face that demon inside of me that knows what I would have done.”
“Zach—”
“I’ve been in love with you for almost eighteen years. I carried your missing pieces around inside me for that long, Shelby. I know it would have made me an asshole, but there is only one you. You’re the only place I’ve ever called home.” His voice is thick with emotion, and that wound inside of me fills up a little bit more. I hate his words, but a part of me is relieved he feels that way, that he feels so deeply for me.
“There’s been a wide open space inside me since we placed Samuel and I left you behind. But, from the moment I came back, it’s slowly been filling up.”
He goes quiet at my words. Several moments pass before he speaks again. “One day, that space will be full. I swear, with everything I have in me, I will make sure it’s overflowing and that you never feel empty again.”
GIVEAWAY
The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
ENTER HERE TO WIN
The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway
About the Author
Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who’s husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She’s married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it’s beauty.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | PINTEREST