3.5 Stars for a sweet but predictable romance

Until It Fades is KA Tucker 'light'. This author often tends to a bit darker or suspenseful romance and while I enjoy them, I was very excited to see how Until It Fades would feel. I definitely felt the author's writing style here, just a fluffier version with sweet characters and a more traditional heart fluttering romance.

I enjoyed all the main characters, even loved them. The side characters added some drama, some laughs and even some shudders (can you say 'used car salesman'?). The premise of the story is also very sweet. A down on her luck girl saves the life of a hockey star and they fall in love... makes you want to swoon, right?

My fault with the book lies in what I felt were some character inconsistencies and feeling like I just wanted more from some pieces of the storyline that fell a little flat or felt undeveloped. I won't go into detail as I don't want to spoil anything. Bottom line is that I think you'll enjoy the story if you want a sweet romance and can ignore some of the little things you might find fault with. At it's heart, this book has great characters and I was rooting for them from page one.

In the authors own words "(This story) is very different from the ones I've written recently. It's light (for me)...." I have to agree. If fell short of my expectations. That being said K.A. Tucker is still one of my favorite authors and I will never pass up one of her books in the future.

The reason it fell short for me was due to a couple of things (some very small spoilers follow).

1) There was no build up of a relationship between Catherine and Brett. She pulled him out of a burning car. He meets her a week later and goes home and tells his parents that he is in love with her. They both were nice people but even at the end of the book besides being physically attracted to each other I couldn't say why they were in love.
2) The issue of an adult teacher taking advantage of an underage student is a big part of the book. When this was happening Catherine thought that she was in love with the teacher. Her mother made her give a statement to the police but when she found out she could recant her testimony and the teacher would not be charged she did it without hesitation. The problem was that he went on to take advantage of other young girls. I kept expecting Catherine to feel remorse that she had allowed him to get away with taking advantage of her and because of her, he went on to do the same to others. I expected her to take an active role in getting him put away even though that time in her life was very painful. She seemed okay with letting him get away with it.

I will say that the 5 year old daughter is why I am giving this book 3 stars. Made me laugh out loud a few times!

Cath is working hard at the local diner to support herself and her 5 year old daughter. A few years ago Cath was the talk of the town after accusing a teacher of an inappropriate relationship. She has recanted and just want everyone to forget and move one. Just when she decides to take a chance on a blind date (that goes terrible) she is thrust into the limelight after rescuing a NHL hockey player from a burning car. Brett wants to show how thankful he is for her saving his life. Cath is surprised when he keeps in contact and struggles with her attraction. Could this be real or will it fade? I enjoyed this Cinderella style story. Cath's struggle was understandable, and I liked her cautious approach to Brett. Another great read from a favorite author.

When I first picked this up I honestly thought this book was going to be like the author's last book, He Will Be My Ruin, but it's more like her other books. I did love the book and already recommended it to a co-worker. I love Catherine. Despite being young and having a child when she was a teenager, she's a very strong and independent woman. It's amazing that she works hard to support her daughter and puts her before anyone, including herself. It's sad how the entire town has treated her since the scandal that took place when she was in high school. And when she meets Brett, even though she wants him more than anything, she still puts her daughters needs first. But thankfully Brett care enough about the both of them that they can make it work.

This will be a harder review for me to write because I adore Tucker's style from her angst to her suspense but this was a light, heart-warming, and dare I say nearly fluffy. I love quick mental escapes from reality so that's a plus but the pace was slow, albeit a steady journey to get to know not only characters but a town. I found myself smiling at scenes unconsciously and enjoying the characters Tucker created which is why I'm leaning toward the four star instead of a three star review. I appreciated Tucker's acknowledgement section where she professed this is not a typical book for her to author but her soul needed the warmth of this sleepy little town and HEA.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Until it Fades is a very light and sweet romantic story that you can easily enjoy. We have Catherine Wright who is a single twenty-four year old waitress who happened to save the life of a man. But not just any man, it turns out to be she saved a famouse hockey player and she never imagined that night was about to change everything for her.
I really like the book, I enjoyed a lot reading it but I also felt it was a bit too long and sometimes slow. I think there was no need to be extense, since it is a pretty simple story, maybe if it had a bigger plot-twist or something....I enjoyed it anyway. I really liked Brett, and Brenna, Cath I liked too but not always, since she was a little stubborn.
In general it was a good book, a good story to read over the weekend.

Until It Fades was more a women's fiction novel than a true romance in my opinion. It's most definitely the female main character's story of moving on and letting go more so than anything else in this book. Told from her first person point of view, the story starts off with an interesting prologue and nice set up for the story to come. As a young, naive women she becomes the victim to a predator before she's wise enough to understand.

Fast forward to five years later and her relationship with her parents is rocky. A male cop best friend and a boss who would do anything for her are mainstays in her and her daughter, Brenna's, life. Brenna was a shining star in this novel. Cute, quirky, and full of questions this five year old totally stole the show and really humanized her mother so much more. As Catherine wallows in self-pity a good bit of the time unwilling to let the opinions of the past settle for herself we as readers go through the motions of every day life with her even after she's become a local and national hero because of daring efforts that revolve one hockey superstar.

When Brett Madden enters the book we see some really good tension inducing scenes between he and Catherine. But unfortunately for me, nothing really comes to fruition romance-wise until around 70% into the book. And even then, it wasn't a searing connection. I never felt a strong connection to the romance or the coupling. I felt bad for a friend that had obvious feelings for Catherine and who had taken care of her and Brenna for so long. At times, I was getting a little confused as to the hero actually was.

If this is Catherine's story of survival and then letting go then you'll get that full force. But overall I found that with an interesting back story and a great plot to kick off the book most the of the rest the story until the resolution was just underwhelming. With some humorous sections, intriguing sexual tension, and good foundation of plot I found Until It Fades to be an okay read.

KA Tucker is easily one of my favorite contemporary authors. Everything she writes is GOLDEN.

I'm a sucker for clichés. Or, I should say things that everyone else deems a cliché. And tropes. And predictability. However, when the story is written well enough, NONE OF THAT MATTERS. Such is the case with Until it Fades.

From the start, I found myself drawn into the book. I felt all of Cath's pain. I understood her better than I've understood most characters I've ever read about. And I can't even say it's because I am in her situation—or ever have been. I'm convinced it's the writing. The beauty and perfection of it allowed me to BECOME Cath.

And then there's the hockey player angle. Lately, I've been obsessed with stories featuring athletes—especially hockey players. Which is strange considering I don't really watch the sport. But, Tucker makes me want to watch. And want to fall for a hockey player.

Are there any surprises in the story? Not really. But there's a lot of emotion. There are more relationships being focused on than just the romantic one. I have to mention that Tucker captured all of them beautifully. And, honestly.

There are countless things to love about this book. From adorable Brenna to the loveable Brett, I think I adored almost every character. (With a few exceptions of course.)

If I had to critique it at all, I would say that I was slightly disappointed that the teacher hadn't paid his debt quite yet. Also, I was bummed that the couple hadn't exchanged the l-word yet, despite the living situation. Or heck, even been married by the end. It just ended a little too abruptly for all that had gone on. I don't always need a closed ending, but I think it would've added that final star to my rating had it been there.

I read this in just a couple of days because I just couldn’t stop. I loved every single thing about it.

Now, if you haven’t read this, let me tell you a bit about it. Catherine Wright is a quiet kind of girl. She wasn’t always like this, but life and bad decisions made her take some actions so things wouldn’t go south yet again, less of all for everyone there to see. She couldn’t allow it. Catherine is a girl who’s had a pretty normal life until she came across this prohibited romance. It was all she ever wanted (or so she thought) and all she ever she needed (again, or so she thought). But you know life, you know assholes, they tend to get in the way, mess everything up and move on to the next. So now Catherine must face her new, completely altered life, and just face the consequences of her actions. Out of the public eyes, puh-lease. Well, like I said, life is always getting in the way, sometimes making sure you face all your fears, and it’s just waiting to se how you’ll react, what you’ll do. That’s what happened when she came across a car wreck and had a decision to make: “should I do something? Try to save a guy’s life and take the chance of burning myself, quite literally?”.

K.A. Tucker has always gotten my attention. Her books have this way about them that always appeal to me and I just can’t seem to get away (not that I want to). Her characters are so unique and wonderful. You see them make mistakes, you see them learn and grow. It’s just such a wonderful thing to be a part of. And UNTIL IT FADES was just a reminder of this.

This book got my attention the second I read the blurb. I was curious to see what happened in the story, what happened to the characters and the second I started it, I was completely in. I couldn’t get out, even less when Brett came in. O M G. I completely adored him. To.Death. I really liked the way the characters evolved into something else, grew out of their shells and enjoyed being themselves.

This is such a sweet and wonderful story about doing what’s right, facing your fears head on and definitely not caring what people say, since they’ll always have their damn opinion. I’m not going to lie, the book was a bit obvious, and the “issue” might have been resolved way too easily or maybe it was lacking a bit of depth. But overall, if you’re looking for something light, something to make you smile and sigh out of happiness, this might be what you’re looking for.

Completely recommend it.

This is unlike KA Tucker's other books and I still managed to love every second of it. It was still a heartbreaking and emotional story, and the love story was there too. It just didn't seem like the other KA Tucker books. I forgot for a while who I was reading because this is so different from her other reads. I am amazed at ho much she makes me love all of her books!

Love this book!
Such a cute love story, for those of you that loved her Ten Teny Breaths series I'm sure you'll love this one too
Can't wait for her next book!

Until It Fades is contemporary romance at its finest. It captured my full attention at the very beginning and kept me completely engrossed until the final page. With characters that I immediately cared about, a story that is rich with emotion, and a romance that will make even the most hardened hearts believe in love, Until It Fades is a perfect, well-rounded romance that just hit all the marks.

Living in a small community, you can expect that everyone is going to know your business – your triumphs, downfalls, and your misfortunes. Unfortunately, once you’ve made a reputation for yourself in a small town, it’s nearly impossible to shake it. Catherine has experienced her share of difficult times in her twenty-four years. She made some poor choices in her teenage years. She did things that, looking back now, she regrets. Despite her attempts to move forward with her life, she still feels the judgment, hears the whispers, and sees the sneers from the locals.

The book is told from Catherine Wright’s perspective. It is told from the present day, but it does have flashbacks to 2010. In my opinion, the flashbacks were an important aspect to understanding what was transpiring in Catherine’s life at such a pivotal time. While her past was complicated, messy, and raw, it did help to shape her into the strong, determined, resilient woman that she was today. It didn’t matter how many times her situation got her down, she persisted and persevered for her daughter’s sake. She did the best she could with what little she had. Catherine wasn’t a perfect character, she had flaws, but that’s what makes her so real and normal. She had grown and matured from her experiences, and while those experiences did leave her hesitant to love, trust, and risk her feelings again, she couldn’t help but want to open her heart to a man with whom she felt an undeniable connection to.

Let me just take one moment to mentally appreciate the fictional character that is Brett Madden. I adored him. You know when an author has created wonderful characters when her readers can feel their intensity and charisma jump off the pages. She created the perfect love interest for Catherine. I wanted them to find peace and happiness, I wanted them to lean on each other, to heal, and to fall hopelessly in love with each other.

K.A. Tucker has excelled at writing a slow burning romance. I always appreciate when an author takes her time to develop the relationships between the characters. This slow building chemistry added to the anticipation. She allowed her readers the time to become acquainted with the characters, to become invested in them, to feel the emotions right along with them. She didn’t rush any part of the story. It flowed effortlessly and superbly. I was captivated and savored every word as I witnessed Catherine and Brett’s story unfold.

Until It Fades is an impeccably written romance. It is filled with realistic emotions, fantastic characters, swoon-worthy romance, humor, and so much heart. Oh, and K.A. Tucker still succeeded at throwing in a twist that I can honestly say I didn’t see coming (shakes head in shame).

As I was nearing the end of the book, I was dreading getting to the final page. I didn’t want it to end. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters and their story. I could have easily read another three hundred pages or more. When a reader can say that, you know that the book is a winner!

*5 Stars

<B>LOVED!</B>

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<I>....there was a poor, young, single mom, struggling to support her young daughter. When suddenly she finds herself the heroine...saving the life of a prince (or famous hockey player). Does she hide in her tiny little cottage, like Cinderella hid, leaving her glass slipper behind? Or does she let her prince save her like she saved him?</I>


<B>KA Tucker </b>has proven time and again she can write just about anything and I'll really enjoy it. <B>Until It Fades </b>is a bit lighter a romance plot than some of her past novels, but no less enjoyable. I read it in a day! It felt like a Cinderella love story and who doesn't love a fairy tale?


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<B>Until It Fades </b>is a story centered around strength and perseverance when life throws some huge lessons. A story of a young single mom who picks up the pieces of her shattered reputation and with blood, sweat and tears, building a happy, stable home for her daughter, Brenna. A struggling waitress with a GED, she finds herself on a foggy rural road one night, stumbling upon a serious accident. Without a second thought,<B> Catherine </b>jumps into action to save the life of the passenger. A man twice her size, smoke filling the car, she jumps into action- her own safety a second thought. She just had no idea <I>who </I>she was saving....

<B>Brett </b>is a professional hockey player for the Philadelphia Phillies when he's miraculously spared his life at the hands of... who? The Good Samaritan is refusing to come forward, no matter how much the media hype surrounds his accident. Who is he/she? And why hide?

<B>Until It Fades </b>is quite the slow burn.<b> KA Tucker </b>really spent a great deal of the book acclimating the reader to the depth of Catherine's character. Her relationships with friends, family and her darling daughter Brenna. Brenna was so cute, bright, and spunky, she practically stole the show for me.


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I really loved Catherine's selfless devotion to her little Brenna and protecting her from all things within the media frenzy. She just wanted normalcy and the events surrounding the famous hockey player's accident would bring her quiet life into the spotlight. Then there's Brett. The humble yet famous hunk of guy that just wants to <I>thank</I> the person who saved his life. But Catherine wants no part of it. But where there's a will, there's a way. Catherine didn't stand a chance with him. He was noble, humble, HOT...perfection.

A story of both conflict and love between family, friends, of second chances and an unconventional fairy tale love. <B>Until It Fades </b>will tug at the heart strings and leave you with a warm smile on your face!


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<I>Advanced copy received by Atria publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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I can't say enough wonderful things about this book and how much I enjoyed reading this beautiful and emotional story. K.A. Tucker knows how to write a story that immediately transports me into another world and I never want to leave. I enjoyed all the characters, but I loved the two main characters, Brett and Catherine. They have great dynamics flowing between them and they are portrayed realistically.

It is unlikely Catherine Wright and Brett Madden would have ever crossed paths because they live in two separate worlds. However, one night Catherine saves Brett from a burning car and their lives are forever connected. Brett is a famous professional hockey player and he has a perfect, privileged life and Catherine lives in a small town, has little money and has made some mistakes she continually pays for.

Brett is a nice, humble, down to earth guy and he wants to help Catherine and make her life better. He finds Catherine breathtaking and he is spellbound from the moment he meets her. Most people only care about Brett’s fame and fortune but for the first time, he meets someone who doesn't want anything from him. He is frustrated by Catherine's refusal for any help but he also admires her independence. Brett doesn't believe all the rumors swirling around Catherine, he only sees a strong, lovely, kind person.

For years, Catherine has been on her own and she doesn't expect anything from anyone. When she meets Brett, she continually fights him. She fights how feels about him and she won't let him help her in any way. Life has been heartbreakingly unfair for Catherine. Catherine lives a simple life and she has learned she can't trust anyone but herself because few people have been nice to her. I was rooting for Catherine I wanted her to finally have a chance for something good in her life.

This enchanting story slowly unfolds. On the one hand, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next, but I also wanted to savor every minute of this compelling story. This is well written with strong characters and a good plot line and I felt like I was right there. This sad and gut wrenching story also has laughter and lightness to even it out. Perfect.

I am a huge fan of K.A Tucker and have read all her books. This one did not disappoint at all even through its a bit different style then what she normally writes. I fell in love with the main character Catherine and could totally relate to her story. There were still aspects of this story I found thrilling and very compelling. I read this book in one night as I couldn't put it down and had to find out what was going to happen

“Young, single mom saves life of hockey star and celebrity son and then wins his heart? It sounds like a fairy tale.”

Until It Fades IS a fairy tale of sorts, the kind of story that makes you believe anything is possible, a Cinderella story about a young waitress who essentially goes from social outcast to paparazzi princess after meeting her own Prince Charming in the form of a famous hockey player. But this story is far from your cliche happily ever after. KA Tucker packs this book with intense emotion and a complex plot that, at times, felt anything but magical. Catherine and Brett's unconventional love story is born from tragedy and it's checkered with uncertainty and impossibility. But this story, from beginning to end, is the embodiment of why I read romance. It's a beautiful, hopeful, slow burning love story that's as light and sexy as it is heartfelt and downright captivating. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Until It Fades is up there as an all-time KA Tucker favorite.

I was completely engrossed within moments of starting chapter one. I don't know if it was the messy, emotional backstory of how life came crumbling down around Catherine Wright, or if it was simply the mesmerizing quality of KA Tucker's lush writing style, but I was gone. There are books I want to devour just to see how they end and there are books I want to savor, hoping they never end at all. I knew this book was one to be savored early on, well before I'd even been introduced to Brett Madden. The build and pacing of this storyline had me riveted, the masterful way Tucker allows this story to unfold was perfection.

The love story between Catherine and Brett is brilliantly layered with passion and devastation, a romance that'll stay with you for so many reasons. But the intense attraction between these characters aside, Catherine's heartbreaking journey from town pariah to national heroine, from family black sheep to the strong, resilient woman she proves herself to be, is magnificent all on its own. Catherine may be my most favorite heroine in all the books I've read from KA Tucker. She's so flawed, so strong, so afraid, so humble, so real. I adored her and her journey wholeheartedly. The icing on an already delicious cake was Brett. I already loved everything about this book before Brett Madden came along but upon meeting him, I plummeted. Brett and Catherine, together with every single character within these pages, layer this story with drama, humor, romance, and emotion, culminating into one of my absolute favorite reads of the year. Simply put, Until It Fades is PHENOMENAL and I won't stop thinking about it anytime soon.

An amazing story, a book that captured my attention, spoke to my heart and one I will definitely read again and again countless times.

I read this book while visiting with my son. I laid in bed well after he went to bed and read until my eyes closed. I can't say enough about it. It was sad, happy, angry and so much more. You must read it when it releases.

What I love the most about K. A. Tucker is the fact that she can give us totally different books with every new release. On one hand she can give a romantic suspense story that will leave you on the edge of your seat and then the next book is a sweet love story between two people from different worlds.

Her stories are always thought provoking and poignant. She has the ability to take her readers into the story itself and make you feel everything the characters feel. Until It Fades was no different!!!

Until It Fades is a standalone novel told solely from Catherine’s POV. This book was on the lighter side of K.A. Tucker. This is a great beach read or if you aren’t in the mood for heavy drama, this is the book to read. It does cover a taboo topic from Catherine’s past but that isn’t the main focus of the story.

This story is about Catherine a 24 year old single mother making a new life for herself after a very heartbreaking and public embarrassment left her alone to raise her daughter. This book is primarily told in the present tense but we do get some flashbacks to what happened to Catherine 7 years ago and what has lead her to where she is now. All Catherine wants to do is live her life and raise her daughter the best she can under the radar. Well that all changes the night she saves a man from a burning car. What she didn’t know was who she was saving…..Brett Madden….Famous Pro Hockey player. And by saving his life, it turns hers upside down. Catherine is determined to keep her identity a secret but when Brett finally finds out who she is and shows up at her place, the sparks fly!! It’s not an insta-love connection but the attraction is there. I loved the pace that K.A. took these two on. Will they be able to get past all the Cameras and hoopla?? Can these two find their HEA?? Read this book to find out.

So if you are a fan of K.A. Tucker’s writing and books, then you don’t want to miss this one. If a sweet and swoony love story is your type of book then this is a book to read!!

This is the first book I have read by this author. It was a sweet, funny, and heartwarming. Cath has been living her mistakes in a small town for too many years and doesn't see a way out of it. One fateful night Cath stops to help with an accident and everything changes after that. It wasn't any man that she pulled from that vehicle.

Brett and Cath are were meant to be together, Brett just had to convince her of that. Cath wanted her like to stay just how it was, easy, simple, and poor. Brett was about to change all of that.