ABOUT THE BOOK
Decades ago, tennis superstar Tom Pierce and “It Girl” Mika Stowe met at a party.
Mika fell in love. Tom was already in love with his wife. As badly as Tom wanted Mika as a friend, Mika knew it would hurt too much to be attracted to this amazing man and never be able to have him.
They parted ways for what they thought would be forever, only to reconnect just once, when unspeakable tragedy darkens Mika’s life.
Years later, the impossible happens.
A time comes when they’re both unattached.
But now Tom has made a terrible mistake. A mistake so damaging to the ones he loves, he feels he’ll never be redeemed.
Mika has never forgotten how far and how fast she fell when she met him, but Tom’s transgression is holding her distant from reaching out.
There are matchmakers in their midst, however.
And when the plot has been unleashed to make that match, Tom and Mika are thrown into an international intrigue that pits them against a Goliath of the sports industry.
Now they face a massive battle at the same time they’re navigating friendship, attraction, love, family, grief, redemption, two very different lives lived on two opposite sides of a continent and a box full of kittens.
MY REVIEW
There’s something so beautifully refreshing about mature love stories, and Kristen Ashley nails it. The depth and maturity that the main characters bring to the table are exactly what I’ve been craving. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and read this series in order! I left too much time between books, and I had to skim back through the earlier ones to reconnect with all those delightful characters I had previously fallen for.
Mika really captured my heart with her moral fortitude and unfailing compassion. As an artist and poet, her passion spills over not just onto the canvas but into her relationship with her daughter and her fiercely guarded privacy. She’s imaginative and brutally honest, which is a perfect counterbalance to Tom. I love the shit out of this wonderful man. Tom’s not just a retired tennis pro but also the kind of man any woman would dream of. He’s kind, a natural protector dedicated to his family, and he owns his mistakes.
I am so captivated by Tom and Mika’s connection. It feels so genuine and uplifting. These two truly deserve to be happy together, to build a beautiful blended family, and to embrace their future. Sure, they face hiccups and makeups along the way (because hey, that’s life), but it just adds to their charm. I feel like I’ve learned so much from them about patience, understanding, and, above all, love.
Kristen Ashley’s writing is unapologetic and addicting as hell. Truer words have never been written about divorce, grief, empty nesters, family dynamics, and falling in love for the last time.
The supporting characters are intriguing in their own right. Nora, Mika’s friend and confidante, is entertaining with her mom vibes, and Tom’s daughter, Chloe, a matchmaking wizard, brings so much warmth to the story. Cadence, Mika’s daughter, is free and mature beyond her years. And, the unlikely relationship between Hale and Tom is heartwarming, as Hale is accepted into the family fold without hesitation despite the rift between Tom and Hale’s father.
If you love romances featuring age-appropriate, seasoned characters with families and friends who would go to the ends of the earth for them, please pick up this book. You won’t regret it!
River Rain Series
1. After the Climb (2021)
2. Chasing Serenity (2021) – My review
3. Taking the Leap (2021) – My review
4. Making the Match (2022)
5. Fighting the Pull (2023)
5.5. Sharing the Miracle (2023)
6. Embracing the Change (2024)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over eighty romance novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold millions of books.
Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana and was a fourth generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She now writes full-time.
Although romance is her genre, the prevailing themes running through all of Kristen’s novels are friendship, family and a strong sisterhood. To this end, and as a way to thank her readers for their support, Kristen has created the Rock Chick Nation, a series of programs that are designed to give back to her readers and promote a strong female community.
Follow Kristen on her website, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, and Bookbub.
