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A review by katemc7
Until Then by Micalea Smeltzer
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's funny that I didn't put together that this was in the same world as 11:11 until I dove into this. Granted I haven't read 11:11 BUT it is on my TBR Kindle list at the moment. All that to say, I really liked this one!! The taboo with the age gap and the turmoil that these two felt about having feelings but thinking they were wrong or dirty- it was PERFECT. I liked the setting and how much it played a part in Izzy realizing what she was missing in her life and her world. I really really liked Derrick. He was so supportive and just a solid rock for Izzy. He was so motivated to see Izzy smile and to help her get back on her feet. I liked how well Micalea addressed the passing of Derrick's wife. That is such a heavy topic to be touched with soft hands and she did it well in my opinion. Izzy was kind of like our sunshine but I don't think Derrick was necessarily a grump. He was just set in his ways of being alone and liking his job. The instant chemistry between these two was electric and then when everything went down and they way it did- HOTT!! I also LOVED how Derrick then wanted to take her out on a date and how he did that with them living together- so so so sweet.
Izzy has been cancelled. She followed "orders" from her job and now her followers and the world seem to hate her. So she tucks tail and goes across the country to stay with her sister. She has no plan other than to stay off social for a while. With that comes the challenge of where she can stay. She thought she could stay with her sister, but now that Via has a serious BF that is off the table. So somehow she has now found herself living with her sister's boyfriend's dad, Derrick. The same Derrick that she has had a crush on from afar for a while. And now she is living with him where she gets to smell him and see him shirtless and cook for him. And her crush is quickly developing into something more especially when he can't seem to say no when she asks him to do things with her. She is starting to see how good of a man he really is. She is starting to see a future where she is here and not in LA. But after a while of this simmering tension and nothing happening she starts to wonder if that's a good idea. But then THINGS HAPPEN!! HOT THINGS! And they both know that now that the line has been crossed, it won't be a one time thing. In fact it will be a dating thing. So she is enjoying their time together and thinking about the future when out of nowhere tragedy strikes. And it seems to trigger Derrick's grief from his wife's passing. Will their love be enough to get him through? Will Izzy be able to convince him that he is what she really wants?
Derrick is living life just fine. Yes he lives alone, and yes he doesn't really go out much. But that doesn't really bother him. He has his kids and granddaughter close by which is enough. Well all of that seems false when Izzy moves in with him. His daughter's boss AND son's girlfriend's sister. Talk about complicated. You know what else is complicated? These thoughts that he is starting to have about Izzy. He can't make them stop. She is just so bubbly and perfect and beautiful. He finds himself doing everything he can to make her smile. He wants to help her get through whatever it is she is going through. He finds himself bonding with her and talking to her about things he never has. The one thing he won't do though is cross the line. He can't. But when she half crosses it for him, he is all in. He is only human after all. And now they are doing this. They are together and he is planning a future with her. But then something happens to someone he cares about, and his perspective gets shifted. Grief is a heavy, tricky thing. Derrick starts to question things- is he enough for Izzy? Is she going to get tired of him? Are they really forever? Hopefully he can't find the answers before he is too late.
Again really liked this one. I like when authors throw in and are able to navigate heavier topics that people deal with every day. These were two characters that had gone through some things but were at different stages in their lives. And they were able to navigate through together and come out on the other side making them stronger. I am wondering if there will be a book about Layla- maybe there already is?? Looking forward to going back and reading about Reid and Via.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Micalea for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Izzy has been cancelled. She followed "orders" from her job and now her followers and the world seem to hate her. So she tucks tail and goes across the country to stay with her sister. She has no plan other than to stay off social for a while. With that comes the challenge of where she can stay. She thought she could stay with her sister, but now that Via has a serious BF that is off the table. So somehow she has now found herself living with her sister's boyfriend's dad, Derrick. The same Derrick that she has had a crush on from afar for a while. And now she is living with him where she gets to smell him and see him shirtless and cook for him. And her crush is quickly developing into something more especially when he can't seem to say no when she asks him to do things with her. She is starting to see how good of a man he really is. She is starting to see a future where she is here and not in LA. But after a while of this simmering tension and nothing happening she starts to wonder if that's a good idea. But then THINGS HAPPEN!! HOT THINGS! And they both know that now that the line has been crossed, it won't be a one time thing. In fact it will be a dating thing. So she is enjoying their time together and thinking about the future when out of nowhere tragedy strikes. And it seems to trigger Derrick's grief from his wife's passing. Will their love be enough to get him through? Will Izzy be able to convince him that he is what she really wants?
Derrick is living life just fine. Yes he lives alone, and yes he doesn't really go out much. But that doesn't really bother him. He has his kids and granddaughter close by which is enough. Well all of that seems false when Izzy moves in with him. His daughter's boss AND son's girlfriend's sister. Talk about complicated. You know what else is complicated? These thoughts that he is starting to have about Izzy. He can't make them stop. She is just so bubbly and perfect and beautiful. He finds himself doing everything he can to make her smile. He wants to help her get through whatever it is she is going through. He finds himself bonding with her and talking to her about things he never has. The one thing he won't do though is cross the line. He can't. But when she half crosses it for him, he is all in. He is only human after all. And now they are doing this. They are together and he is planning a future with her. But then something happens to someone he cares about, and his perspective gets shifted. Grief is a heavy, tricky thing. Derrick starts to question things- is he enough for Izzy? Is she going to get tired of him? Are they really forever? Hopefully he can't find the answers before he is too late.
Again really liked this one. I like when authors throw in and are able to navigate heavier topics that people deal with every day. These were two characters that had gone through some things but were at different stages in their lives. And they were able to navigate through together and come out on the other side making them stronger. I am wondering if there will be a book about Layla- maybe there already is?? Looking forward to going back and reading about Reid and Via.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Micalea for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!