Until It Fades: A Novel

by K.A. Tucker

“Touching and complex…Tucker unerringly hits all the high notes of romance—the spark, the emotional depth, the mental and physical struggles—while creating a couple who seem perfectly attuned even when they are in conflict.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania (population three thousand outside of tourist season).

And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed date, Catherine saves a man’s life. It isn’t until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has rescued: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.

Catherine has already had her fifteen minutes of fame and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works. For a time.

But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. There’s an immediate connection, and it’s more electric than the bond of two people who endured a traumatic event. It’s something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn’t sure she can handle; something she is afraid to trust.

Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine...before the spark fades?

• ISBN10: 150113339X
• ISBN13: 9781501133398
• Publish Date: 27 June 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Atria Books
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kelly]

3.5 Stars
Catherine Wright is accustomed to fabrication within the small tourist community of Balsam Pennsylvania. Enticed and manipulated into a forbidden relationship as an adolescent, twenty four year old Catherine appreciates her unassuming existence providing for her daughter. A single mother with a notorious reputation, characterised as an infatuated young woman who seduced a member of the teaching facility. Ostracised by her community, Catherine abandoned her education and severed her parental relationship. Isolated and pregnant, Catherine is offered a position waiting tables at roadside diner which provided the opportunity for her to live independently.

Brett Madden is a professional athlete, a devastatingly handsome humanitarian, bachelor and his mother is an award winning actress in the prime of her career. Brett is a passenger in a vehicle destined for a function when a devastating accident occurs, unconscious and awaiting rescue on the backwater road when a heroic Catherine comes to his aide. Catherine is remarkable and is able to manoeuvre Brett from the burning vehicle, wanting to remain anonymous.

Individually, Catherine and Brett are wonderful characters. Catherine is a ferocious and determined young woman with a wonderful network of supportive friends. She's overcome rumour and innuendo to raise a charismatic and confident young daughter. Brett is a compassionate and tender man despite his wealth and distinguished career. The gradual and tentative friendship was charismatic and delicate. Brett was appreciate of Catherine's sacrifice but refrains from being an imposition. The attraction between Brett and Catherine is undeniable but Catherine remains impervious, placing the welfare of her daughter foremost.

Until It Fades is a delicate and wonderfully tender romance. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Brianna]

4.5 This was so sweet! I loved the plot and the characters, but I just didn't feel any kind of connection to them. It was still so good, though!!

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

This is my first K. A Tucker novel and it will not be my last. I heard about her before, but never considered reading her work before, but when Until It Fades came on my radar, and I read the blurb I was intrigued.What the story is about.Until It Fades tells the story of Catherine Wright, a 24-year-old single mom to a spunky 5-year-old girl. She works as a waitress at truck stop in a small town. Her past was not pretty, and she wished for it to remain hidden. However, her selfless decision to rescue a stranger from a burning car, would lead to the events from her past becoming a fodder for the media. The man she saved was none other than Brett Madden, famous hockey player and son of a movie star. So it was no surprise that the accident became the talk of every media house. Her attempts to keep her identity hidden proved futile, which became worse when Brett Madden turned upon her doorstep. What followed was an intense and immediate attraction, a friendship and a slow burn romance.The StoryWhat I enjoyed about this story is glimpses I got into Catherine’s past, which allowed me to understand what happened to her and why she felt she had to keep it all hidden. This aspect of the story was detailed making it easy for me to relate to her struggles. The story moved at a pace, which I believed was fitting for the events that were taking place. The shifts between the past and the present were flawless.I enjoyed the romance, which I considered a slow burning one. Their instant, which I do not consider abnormal, given the circumstances. She saved his life so he will feel something for her, but is it love or just a sense of gratitude? I loved how the author explored this aspect of their relationship. I was glad to see they did not immediately act on their attraction for each other. They took getting to know each other to ensure that their feelings were genuine. In Brett’s case, he needed to ensure that his feelings were not borne out of sheer gratitude and for Catherine she needed assurance that her feelings did not stem from the fact that he was famous.He grins sheepishly. “When I went home that night, I told my parents that I was madly in love with this brave and beautiful woman who saved my life.”Oh my God. My heart’s beating in my throat.“Of course they convinced me that I was completely overwhelmed and that I needed to get some rest.”“I’m sure they were right,” I mumble. “I thought so too, honestly.” He swallows hard. “But then you had to go and be not just brave and beautiful but also humble, and funny, and honest. And I couldn’t stop thinking about what it’d be like to be with you… So I need you to tell me what I need to do for you to give me that chance.” His jaw tenses as he locks eyes with me. “Please.”The emotions were heartfelt and intense.The story was not unique by far, but it was still an enjoyable one. It was not hard figuring how it would end, but what intrigued me was watching it all unfold.The CharactersI thought the character development was well done. They were believable and relatable. There was some that had me scratching my head, and then those who placed a smile on my face. I enjoyed Brett’s interaction with both Catherine and her daughter. He always includes her whenever he invited Catherine to go anywhere. He knew they were a package deal and he was willing to accept it all.Catherine struggled with being in the spotlight. She prefers to be in the background, to which I can totally relate. She is different from the women that move in Brett’s circles. She is independent and not looking for handouts. When he looked at her, he saw her for who she was, a woman of strength, a caring mother and a woman who conquered her past.Conclusion/Recommendation My biggest issue with the story was my inability to connect with Brett the way I did with Catherine. It would have helped if I got the story through his eyes as well. Until it Fades is a beautifully written story, which touches on thought provoking issues. It demonstrated how quickly persons are to judge another for their mistakes and how victims are harshly treated.Overall, this was a wonderful, swoon worthy romance. I am not going to lie, there were moments I pictured myself in Catherine’s shoes minus the humiliating past of course. If you enjoy romances that have a Cinderella feel then you will enjoy this story.

[Ashley]

I love this from the acknowledgements:

"I needed to write this story. It's very different from the ones I've written recently. It's light (for me), it could be called trope-y (by others), it's full of love and family and laughter, and it has left me with a broad smile and a sigh of content."

Me too, me too. I literally turned the last page with a broad smile and a sigh of content. Actually for me it was an excited giggle rather than a sigh but whatevs.

I really love how there wasn't a huge, stupid fight or an annoying miscommunication. The two characters were so not petty and not annoying -- that's a glorgious thing.

[Cocktails and Books]

I liked the Cinderella story. Certainly different from her other books, there were still some angsty moments when a Kleenex was needed.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Catherine lives in Balsam, Pennsylvania, a rural town that attracts tourist and everyone knows your business. She works as a waitress at the local truck stop. After an uneventful date, she begins to heads home to her five-year-old daughter when there is a car crash. Without thinking, she pulls the passenger to safety. Unbeknownst to her, she has saved Brett Madden, the FLYERS' captain. Not wanting to make headlines she asked her friend and local police officer to withhold her name.

Of course, nothing stays secret in a small town, and it isn't long before the news is out.  Before you know it,  Brett friggin Madden is on her doorstep wanting to thank her. I adored their first meeting, and while Catherine might have a colored past, she hasn't had much experience in dating and the opposite sex. I loved how protective she was of her daughter, and Tucker allowed me to connect and understand the things that have shaped Catherine.

UNTIL IT FADES touches on a dark subject matter Teacher-student relationship (high school)shedding light on the victim's side, the strain on the family and societies reactions. Catherine is tenacious and has overcome a lot. She is finally in a good place with her parents, and folks have stopped talking in whispers around her, so the idea of making headlines freaks her out..but Brett is wonderful, sweet and smitten.

Tucker filled the story with gooey moments, laughter and adorkableness that made me grin. All of this balanced out Cathrine's past troubles. We learned what happened through flashbacks and these were honest and raw from the perspective of a seventeen-year-old girl who thought she knew everything. Her voice was genuine, as were her parent's struggles and the responses of the community. The story was relevant and one that frequents headlines. Catherine was an excellent voice both as a victim and a survivor. It was beautiful watching her hope, bloom and begin to heal.

The storyline was predictable, but that did not hinder my enjoyment, in fact, I loved the feeling of knowing what was going to happen and then seeing it come true. It had some Hallmark moments, and I devoured them. I enjoyed the character growth and seeing Catherine understand and forgive even herself.

Secondary characters from friends to Catherine's parents and siblings all added to the story. I loved her families' banter over hockey, Catherine's daughter had some great, realistic one-liners and Brett's family was sweet and down to earth. I know this is standalone, but I would love to get Catherine's BFF's story as well as that of a local officer.

Copy provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[whisperingchapters]

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

 

This story is totally different from what K.A. Tucker usually writes. Where her other books are filled with feels and suspense, this one was more light, feel-good, and a total beach read!

Until It Fades features a small town where everybody is in each other's business and knows anything and everything about what goes on in the town. Catherine's name has been in everyone's mouth ever since she got involved in something she shouldn't have and the town judged her so harshly. She's kind of moving past it when she comes face to face to a car crash. Not knowing who's in the car, she risks her life to pull out the survivor, who turns out to be Brett, a famous hockey player. Catherine doesn't want her name to be revealed to the media or Brett's family, but her family and close friend urge her to do so and she relents. What unravels are a series of events she wasn't expecting.

Honestly, I loved this book. It had me so giddy! My fave character has to be Brenna, Catherine's daughter. She was the sweetest and cutest one of the bunch. The relationship that Catherine and Brenna have is to admire. It's actually a very different relationship that Catherine had with her own mother. Their relationship was very strained over the years, especially when one specific event happened. But because of Catherine's heroic action, her mom starts to see her daughter differently and starts to think that maybe she judged her in the past when she shouldn't have.

I loved how this book showed Catherine's past in flashbacks. It was easy to understand what went down and it made me feel more for Catherine. Everyone blamed her while the person who should have been blamed got away with no blame at all. It was sad and heartbreaking. Because of this, she really didn't want anyone to find out what she had done to save Brett. But he wanted everyone to know who she was. Someone who had no idea who he was—she didn't even know he was famous—yet risked her life to save him. Brett was so freaking swoony! He had this gentle and calm presence about him that I immediately loved. And how he was with Catherine and Brenna melted my heart! I actually thought that Brett wanted to spend more time with Catherine because she saved his life and he felt like he owed her, but that was not the case. He sincerely liked everything about who Catherine was, especially the fact that she was so genuine and could care less about his famous world.

The poor, lonely waitress with a past, the jaded single mother with scars, who scrubs ketchup off tables and serves fries to truck drivers ensnares the rich, gorgeous, kind prince. I guess it’s kind of like Cinderella. Though Cinderella got herself beautiful glass slippers on her night of magic. Mine involved shabby black heels, which were left for dead in a ditch.

The romance between Brett and Catherine was so slow burn and took it's time to develop. At times, I did wanted to smack Catherine on the head because she kept being so guarded towards Brett. But overall, their relationship was so sweet and loving, despite the few hardships. Everything felt believable. What made me fall harder for Brett was that he always loved to have Brenna around. Even Catherine thought it was too much at times, but he genuinely loved to spend time with Brenna. She was so adorable! Reading about Brett's and Brenna's friendship was the sweetest thing ever.

Despite this story having all the positive feels and being so cute and romance-y, it also focuses on learning to forgive yourself, like Catherine had to learn to do. She had gone through a lot in her life and she had forgotten what it was like to have people support you and care for you unconditionally. Having found that, she got the push she needed to be stronger, fearless, and to forgive herself.

Overall, Until It Fades, is a beautifully written story about forgiveness, the importance of family, and ultimately, to learn to trust again. What makes this so wonderful is that it has a happily ever after feel to it that really fit the story and I ended up loving so much!



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[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Until it Fades features an extremely hot hockey player, a single-mom waitress and a strong connection that one of them wants to keep private.



Catherine and Brett didn't exactly meet, but at the beginning of Until it Fades, Catherine saved Brett's life seconds after the car his friend was driving hit a tree and was on fire. She managed to leave the scene without any journalists bothering her, but when she realized that the man she saved was a famous hockey player, she felt the need to hide from the public eye. When she was still in high school, the public had judged her harshly, and she had no wish to end up with busybodies talking about her again. Ever.

Until it Fades was a beautiful story, where the past truly cast a shadow over Catherine's present, and possibly her future as well. The most important person in her life was her daughter, Brenna, who completely seduced me - just as much as Catherine and Brett did! Catherine had a strained relationship both with her parents and most of the people in her town. She never really recovered from her high school slip-up, where she was blamed for everything, while the man in the equation got away scot free.

I found the theme of Until it Fades to be well presented, it had both to do with judging women harsher than men, and with forgiveness. I think the person who had to forgive Catherine the most was herself. Only when she realised that Brett wanted to get to know her not only because she saved his life, but because of her, she finally got more confident, and even managed to reconstruct a semblance of a relationship with her parents once more.

Until it Fades is beautifully written, even as it touches on some tough subjects, and I enjoyed how tentative Catherine was - who wouldn't be in her situation, after all? Written in first person perspective, from Catherine's point of view, Until it Fades made me get under Catherine's skin, and it was really a pleasure to get to know her so well. Tucker managed to tug on my heartstrings more than once, both when it came to Catherine, her with Brenna, her with her parents, and, of course, her with Brett. Some of the story is set in the past, and that really showed what Catherine had been through in the past, and how it affected her present in every way. *sighs*



I may have wanted to escape, but then again, all these people are desperate to leave their big city lives to escape here. Maybe I'm the lucky one. Maybe there's a way I can still make a great life for Brenna and me, here.

This man... I stare at him and think he cannot be the same man hunched in the passenger seat of that crumpled car, unconscious and bleeding profusely from his forehead. He cannot be the same man I begged and pleaded and screamed at, to please get out of the car.