Series: Love Along the Way

On the Ferry to Skye (Love Along the Way #3)
by J.A. Forde
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Eight summers. Two broken hearts.
One shocking truth.

It took eight summers for Avonlea Stewart to give her heart to her best friend but only moments for him to shatter it. In the wake of her heartbreak, she found herself facing a life-altering decision—one that drove her away from the Isle of Skye and the memories of her first love.

More than a decade later, the opportunity of a lifetime pulls her back to the place forever stitched into her soul. But returning means confronting the past—especially when the man she’s hidden it from is the first person she sees: her childhood best friend, her first love… the father of her child.

Jamie Murray loved Avonlea Stewart, but he realized it too late—after he’d already broken her heart. That mistake cost him more than their friendship; it cost him Scotland—the home he left behind, believing she’d moved on with someone else.

Years later, a devastating family situation calls him back, but the past he’s fought to forget is still there, waiting for him, because Avonlea’s back too. And facing her, and the life she built without him, is more than he can bear.

Stuck together under the same roof, Avonlea and Jamie are forced to face everything they lost—and the truth they once promised each other.

On the Ferry to Skye is book three in the Love Along the Way series. It showcases the resilience of young love, the strength of old love, and how true love always finds a way—so long as you’re willing to work for it.

Review:

On the Ferry To Skye was the most beautiful second chance, childhood friends romance.  Set in a small town in Ireland, this story whisked me away.  The characters felt so real, I cried all the tears, and the found family was beyond heartwarming.  If you love forced proximity, and epilogues that will leave you smiling, then this is your book!

The memories bombard me in a torrent: this ferry, that island, the inn, my home, her.

The Isle of Skye held Avonlea’s dream job.  And a new beginning for her and her son.  Yet Jamie and their past from 10 years ago were there too.  The animosity and hurt between them felt miles wild.  Their emotions were so strong, it was impossible not to feel what they felt.  But as each step was taken to fix their friendship, I loved how well they clicked.  It felt so effortless for their friendship to reform.  And the tension between them was electric.  Except, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Avi’s son was Jamie’s.  And he had no clue.  And I couldn’t control the dread swirling in my stomach.

I have subconsciously compared the laugh of every woman I’ve been with to hers, and they never measure up. Never.

This story not only alternated between Jamie and Avi, but there were also sprinkles of their past too.  They traveled to Skye to spend their summers with their grandparents, who lived next to each other.  And from the moment they met when they were 10, they were the bestest of friends.  With muddy tire swing adventures, to sitting on the roof and baring their souls, to the flour incident, they formed such a beautiful bond.  As time went by and they grew older, their friendship started to change.  And watching the beginnings of first love was breathtaking.  But I desperately wanted to know where it all went wrong.

She saunters into the kitchen, her lithe hips swaying as she goes.
I squeeze my eyes shut and then open them only to see my grandparents watching me with knowing, conspiratorial smiles on their lips. Well, shit.

The past and present wove together so beautifully.  It was impossible not to fall in love with them.  And hurt with them too along the way.  Jamie was so sweet and thoughtful, and Avi was so kindhearted and considerate.  I adored both of them, but I’m going to be completely upfront….I didn’t know if I could forgive Avi.  I cried so many sad and mad tears for Jamie.  But here’s the thing, I fell in love with the past and present of Avi.  I saw into her heart and soul.  And sometimes people make mistakes, or the decisions they make at the time is the best they can do in that given moment.  Nobody is perfect.  This story portrays that perfectly.  And how this was handled, especially with her son, completely won me over.  I was cheering and rooting for all of their HEA’s.  Each and every one of them deserved it so much.

“Don’t you miss this?” she asks, looking past me to Skye in the distance.
“Aye. Parts of it.” I’m only looking at her.

On the Ferry to Skye made me cry so much.  From hope to anger to my heart shattering to happiness, this story made me feel it all.  And I have to say I absolutely loved Nox, Avi’s son!  And Jamie’s grandparents too.  The three of them gave this story so much heart!  So with kisses, meddling grandparents, adorable kids, an author who wears glasses, and a single mom with a secret child, this story was all the stars.  AND we got to see our favorites from the previous books and what they were up to!  I want to talk about that, but just know you’ll be so happy!!!  With flawless execution, this series easily became a top favorite!  I can’t wait to see what Forde writes next!

 

Other Favorite Quotes:

Hugging her… kissing her… everything we ever did felt like home, and I can’t deny that even this small moment when she’s letting me hold her feels that way.

Maybe we can be friends. And maybe it won’t be as tragic as it sounds, because no matter how much water is under the bridge with us… I’d happily let the current that is Avi take me wherever it wants to go.

I reach out and brush her knuckles with my fingers before I pull back, remembering I can’t just touch her because I want to.
She’s not mine to touch.

He chuckles, glancing down my body. I ignore the way it makes me feel… The heat, the butterflies— I can’t feel those things. I can’t.

It hurts so damn much.

But love is never perfect. It’s always messy. It’s always hard. It’s always work.
Even ours.

“It’s been a bit of an adventure, hasn’t it?” I ask, taking everyone in. “But what an incredible gift that we all found love along the way.”

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

On the Slopes of Tahoe () by J.A. Forde (Love Along the Way #2)
by J.A. Forde
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Wanting each other is easy…
It’s everything else that’s hard.

Breck Kylie’s perfect life unravels in a squall of betrayal, leaving him and his seven-year-old daughter reeling. Choosing to retreat from the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia, they embark on an extended vacation to Lake Tahoe in hopes they’ll find a new ‘normal’ on the snowy slopes.

Rory Anderson had big dreams once, but years of living in a blizzard of impossible expectations has beaten her down. Stuck in a cycle of fear and self-doubt, she’s living a life she’s unsure she truly wants. So, when her brother asks her to help his best friend get settled in Tahoe, she agrees with a renewed sense of purpose.

When Breck’s personal hurricane meets Rory’s frozen fears, they find themselves in the eye of the storm—a quiet place where connection and clarity finally break through. For Rory, it’s a chance to focus on her own dreams. For Breck, it’s a glimpse of the future he thought was shattered.

Finding solace in each other is supposed to be a short-lived thing, but what happens when they find themselves feeling more than they bargained for?

Will they walk away, or will they fight to hold onto the peace they’ve only ever found in each other?

Review:

From that first page, I fell in love with On the Slopes of Tahoe.  With a beautiful location, characters that were so easy to love, and an ending that had me smiling long after I closed the book, I loved this story!  If you’re a fan of romance, older brother’s best friend, single dad, forced proximity, or found family, definitely pick this one up!

Unfortunately, sometimes life gives you something incredible, but it’s only meant for a season. Meant for a space in time.

Rory was someone you’ll instantly like and was so easy to click with.  She was a Tahoe local, who worked at one of the ski resorts and had a passion for photography.  When her brother asked her to help his best friend and daughter get situated for their extended vacation, I loved how she jumped right in.  She fit in so effortlessly with Breck and his daughter Willow.  But Breck had a lot of healing to do.

I jog upstairs to pull on a T- shirt. Rocking black joggers without a shirt doesn’t feel appropriate around my best friend’s little sister.
I keep calling her that in my head, as if it will somehow keep me from recognizing just how beautiful she is.

Breck stole my heart.  With his fierce love for his daughter and a past that haunted him, it was so easy to fall in love with this single dad.  He had a heart of gold, but he was definitely jaded when it came to anything more than friends with a woman.  It didn’t matter that he was attracted to Rory.  She was his best friend’s little sister, there was 8 years between them, and he needed to figure out where to go from here.  Yet, he couldn’t stay away from her.

He lifts me off the counter and I slide against him until my feet find the ground. Too close. We’re too close.

By not even 100 pages in, I already had tears in my eyes.   And oh my heart I cried so many more times reading this story!  Breck and Rory’s journey was an emotional one.  While they both tried to find their footing, I loved how they could talk out their problems.  They could be open and honest with each other.  It was refreshing and warmed my heart!  And while this story was a fade to black, there were so many scenes that had me fanning my face. That tequila shot?!  So hot!  And their kisses were so steamy!  

“Life never leaves us unscathed; it changes and molds us. But, I promise, you will get through this,” she says and presses a light kiss to my lips.

In this story was the most adorable little girl, Willow.  I loved how she warmed up to Rory so quickly. From snowboarding, to making pizza, to everything in between, I loved their time together.  Their bond formed so effortlessly.  And surrounding them was the most beautiful found family.  From Rory’s bestie, Jamie, who needs his own book please!  To Rory’s brother and his significant other.  I loved them all so much!  So while this can easily be read as a standalone, you do get to see and spend time with the couple from the previous book.  Their life updates made me sooooo happy!

Tonight, I don’t want to be Wes’s little sister. Or Jamie’s best friend or my parents’ biggest disappointment. I want to be a woman with a man looking at her like he doesn’t want to look anywhere else.

On the Slopes of Tahoe will make you laugh out loud and fall in love.  This is easily one of my top favorites and I can’t wait to reread it!  Plus since it takes place where I live, I couldn’t stop smiling.  From the magic carpet ride we taught our kids to snowboard on, to the dock we bike to every summer, to even my commute to take my youngest to soccer every week lol, this story takes you to so many stunning places in and surrounding Tahoe!  With blizzards, friendship, snowboarding, love, and sledding, this winter wonderland of a book will whisk you away and capture your heart!

I can’t move my eyes from Breck’s. They’re filled with that same look from this morning. It’s tender. It feels like more.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

On a Flight to Sydney (Love Along the Way #1)
by J.A. Forde
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

What if the very last thing you’re looking for turns out to be exactly what you need?

Joss Morgan is perfectly happy with her life in Sydney, thank-you-very-much. She may be single, have only one true friend, and live alone… but she doesn’t need a man… or more friends… or anything at all.

Wes Anderson boards a flight to Sydney intent on escaping the cinders of his life—the dreams that have all gone up in smoke. One year. One year of freedom to be anyone he wants; that is, anyone but the man he always thought he'd be.

When Joss and Wes’s worlds collide, he steals her breath—in more ways than one—and she seems to steal all the space in his already full head. Now, life is determined to throw them together and what starts as an awkward dance of unlikely friendship—each trying to contain their own emotional landmines—turns into something they never saw coming.

But can two people with enough baggage to bring down a plane help each other heal? With their pasts lurking around every corner like airport security, Joss and Wes must decide:

Is it safer to fly solo or would a life together be worth all the risk?

On a Flight to Sydney is the first book in the Love Along the Way series. It’s a swoony, laugh out loud, tug on your heartstrings, romance filled with friendship, surfing, and two people doing their best to navigate this thing called life.

Review:

On a Flight to Sydney was smile and swoon worthy, and so effortless to love.  With a slow-burn romance that was electric, emotionally beautiful moments that were touching, and a storyline that refused to be put down, this book was an instant favorite!  If you love adult romance that feels like a movie playing out in your head and will have you thinking about the characters long after you put down your book, you definitely need this one in your life!

“It just feels like fate or something.”
I laugh again, lower this time. Fate? Do I even believe in fate? I must be more tired than I thought.

Joss and Wes’ meet cute was beyond memorable and so much fun!  So from the moment Wes gave Joss a brush of his thumb, I was melting.  Even while she came across as calm, collected, and not interested.  And I felt an instant connection to Joss with her good-heartedness and playful nature.  Yet while she kept the majority of those around her at arm’s length, her thoughts seeped into my heart.  I desperately wanted her to find happiness in her life, and I thought Wes could be the one to do that.

Tangled up in him doesn’t even begin to cover the way I’m feeling right now.

I instantly fell in love with Wes, he was someone you’ll want to steal from the pages.  He was a fighter pilot for 12 years in the Navy and was moving to Sydney for the next year to get a fresh start.  While Wes seemed sure of himself outwardly to Joss, I loved that we got to hear his thoughts too.  He was thoughtful, charming, and had this sexiness to him that was swoon worthy.  Yet the past haunted him too.  So as fate continued to push them together, I was cheering them on every step of the way!

Being around Joss though, talking to her… It’s as effortless as breathing. There’s a familiarity as if we’ve been friends for years, not weeks. 

Every single moment Wes and Joss were together was laced with emotions.  Whether they simmered with peace and hope.  Or they were making me laugh, smile, and cry.  It was impossible to stop the swell of emotions.  Especially the excitement or scenes that felt like fireworks were going off.  This slow burn romance had the most fabulous tension, that was beautifully done!

“Did you see something you liked, sweetheart?”
She goes entirely still as her breath catches.

With surf sessions, coffee, work, and friends swirling around, I loved watching them turn a meeting into more.  A friendship.  And watching that proceed was so natural.  Yet both of them had their struggles.  And those past traumas cut deep.  It was impossible not to cry with both of them.  Yet there was a lightness to this story too, where their moments together were so much fun.   The after-shower scene was one of my favorites.  

That look is pure fire, and a part of me wants to burn with him. Damn the consequences.

You know those types of books that just keep you smiling from that first page to the last, while also tugging at your heart?  That was this book.  The characters and storyline were so well thought out.  I loved how Joss flustered Wes and kept him on his toes.  I loved how Wes pushed Joss to open herself up.  And while their moments together were a fade to black, I didn’t need more with this story.  The intensity of their emotions, and the sexiness of their kisses, was done so perfectly.  This debut novel is a must read.  J.A. Forde has made a fan for life, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

PS I loved how he called her Grey!

PPS I loved her outfits and desperately wanted to buy some of them!

Some other favorite quotes….

He doesn’t do relationships, and I don’t do casual. I don’t really do anything these days, honestly.

 

She deserves so much more than the broken shell of a man that I’ve become.

 

She’s flustered by my touch, and as much as I love it, I know I need to tread carefully. I take a step back, putting some distance between us before I do something stupid like kiss her.

 

My only real thought was “mine.”

 

“Thank you,” I whisper into his ear. I let his scent wrap around me like a blanket. “For being you and for being here.”
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be, Grey.”
I sink further into the embrace and let myself believe him.

 

Maybe it’s time for fresh cards, or a new game entirely.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*