Book 3, The Time in Between: The Magdalene Series

The time in between releases of Kristen Ashley’s romantic tales is pure torture for this avid KA fan. Especially when a new series gets in the way of the book I really want and travels down a path I prefer not to venture. Yeah, I’m talking about the Honey series. That concept of stripping alpha males down to complacent, submissive sex objects just wasn’t my cup of tea, no matter how you try to sweeten it. For me it was particularly frustrating because I’ve been waiting patiently for years to finally get Woody and Maggie’s story (the next sequel of the Colorado Man series), which we were promised eons ago but was pushed aside for the Honey series and now this new book stars an obscure character that obviously didn’t register high enough on my alpha male radar when he popped up in other books for me to remember who he even was. But, hey, I’m partial to deputy sheriff romances, so I was still more than happy to take a chance on this one.

In my opinion, Cady, the heroine, came across as plum crazy, naive, and irresponsible in the “early years” flashbacks. Slamming her parents for setting their standards too high for her (when they wanted to help her go to college) at the same time we were supposed to be impressed she labored long hours at a convenience store and had big plans of making something of herself one day via that route. Well, that was just crazy. Step #1 of her life plan should have been listening to her parents and going to college, IMHO. Her poor choice of “let’s party all the time” druggy friends, pretty much confirms that opinion, as well.

In the “present day” she seems to have grown up, was loyal, deserved to be happy for the sacrifices she made for the people who took her in 18 years ago after Coert cut her to shreds with his lies and deception. But she continued to make poor choices in regards to him. I guess you could say she proved a point. Though she was now very wealthy, all the money in the world doesn’t buy you good judgement.

Coert couldn’t see the forest for the trees, folks. He supposedly cared about Cady but used her/put her in harm’s way/walked away, then came back to find she had grabbed onto a lifeline someone else threw her almost immediately afterwards. Granted it was a very strange one, and I had issues with it. From then on, Coert constantly spewed hate and pointed the finger and blame at her for pretty much everything. It wasn’t until around 40% a switch was flipped, and he started feeling remorseful. Well, I never completely forgave him, folks. He’s going down as one of my least favorite KA leading men.

Cady continues to not use the best judgement when she still decides to take a chance on Coert and tell him she still cares for him, even after he makes her feel she isn’t worthy to breath the same air as him. In fact, he previously yelled/humiliated her in public and even went to her home to further rant/rave about what an awful person she was.

How does he respond to her “let’s give us another chance?” Once again he makes it out like he’s the victim, and he’ll get back to her when he is good and ready. Then after a scene where he said he definitely would reach out after it was handled, he deliberately ignores her calls and texts, even lies to avoid her. Tells her maybe in a couple of months he’ll be ready to talk to her. But he makes time for his baby mama and starts spending time with her, in an effort to be a better daddy.

Cady often seems to be apologizing for Coert’s hurtful actions. I guess you could say the name fits here. The time in between Cady running with the wrong crowd and getting caught up in the aftermath of those losers and Coert’s deception. Then Coert being a jerk...then becoming an even bigger one...until he suddenly realizes he is a jerk...and we are just supposed to forgive and forget how he’s treated her.

Even with all my Coert issues, I am astounded how the writing itself didn’t hold up to my expectations. I’m used to hanging on every word of a KA read, but I fast-forwarded through a large portion, especially once they became a couple. Lots of numerous VERY graphically smexy scenes hijacked the story then basically nothing else major happened. Cady’s brother drama just felt thrown in to tie up a loose end. Cady’s large posse of adopted family members were great, but I found their lusty comments about Coert and Cady lewd and inappropriate at times.

At the end of the day, I’d summarize this up by saying it felt like a hodge podge of Soaring (coming back to make things right)...The Will (using an inheritance to restore a town icon)...Wild Man (similar to Brock, the hero), which altogether made it feel less original.

(These comments are based on a purchased copy. This is not an advanced reader copy review.)

Kristen Ashley writes awesome stories, I recommend her books to everyone, they are that good. I gave 4 stars because it's a great story, but I kept thinking of High while reading it. You can't go wrong reading Kristen Ashley.

Kristen Ashley never fails to please, this is a really nice story without being saccharine. If you know KA's work you will love it, if you are new to it this is a great story. KA's craft is getting better as well, which is nice, and her characters more complex, which makes for even more enjoyment.

I sorely missed the small, quaint town of Magdalene and I could not wait to revisit despite knowing The Time in Between would mark the end of this beloved series. With great anticipation, I entered into Coert and Cady's world.

And it was exquisite.

Once again Kristen Ashley proved she is not only the Queen of all Alpha romances but the sovereign of second chance love stories. No one can break hearts and mend shattered souls like KA.

No one.

And while experiencing this couple's sublime yet bittersweet journey, KA reigned over my emotions; flooding me with sorrow during times of despair then slowly, magically, healing me through the beauty of their reunion.

With the story transitioning from the past to present day, we see Coert and Cady's instant and fiery connection, the unfortunate events which tore them apart, and the obstacles they faced after years of separation. Unavoidable deceptions and misunderstandings tainted their beginnings, but the love they shared was sincere and life-altering. It hurt seeing the devastating aftermath; how in the time in between both struggled with soul-crushing grief while mourning all that they had lost. It was agonizing at times, often bringing me to tears. However, as they found their strength to forgive, deciding to leave the gut-wrenching past behind and start anew, I was overcome with joy. It was a slow burning, deliciously sexy, and all consuming romance.

Cady Mooreland was a remarkable heroine. I adored both the misunderstood, naive and overly impulsive girl head over heels in love, as well as the soft spoken yet brave woman she became. A compassionate soul, Cady loved and cared deeply for those fortunate enough to be in her life. But, there was an aura of melancholy surrounding her character that tugged heavily at my heartstrings, and with good reason. Virtually everyone in Cady's life betrayed her.

My heart ached for young Cady as her family, friends, and lover delivered blow after devastating blow, leaving her a broken mess. Feeling defeated she made one rash decision, breaking a promise made, and lost the love of her life. During the sorrowful years in between, Cady shouldered the blame for ruining their relationship. Still, she managed to find contentment and safety within a new and loving family, who encouraged her to finally seek forgiveness from her one true love ~ Coert Yeager.

To say that Coert's character was intense is an understatement. I loved him to pieces, even though I wanted to strangle him at times. A former undercover DP detective turned small-town sheriff, and single dad to the cutest little girl, this sexy quick-tempered law man kicked the broody-hot Alpha male persona to a whole new level. Extremely pissed-off when learning Cady moved to Magdalene, Coert did not hold any of his bitterness back. Seeing her again after all this time reopened old wounds of guilt and regret.

There were times when his callousness towards Cady had me weepy, yet part of me could not fault Coert for his reactions. Falling in love while on assignment complicated their relationship, but his heart was unfailingly sincere, regardless of his circumstances. Through the years, his love for Cady never died; just buried beneath his insurmountable pain.

As tension between the two escalated, then finally exploding in one of the hottest scenes ever, Coert's character transformed. Gone was the angry, resentful man and in his place, a romantic hero who was determined to let go of the past and move forward with his woman. Tender-hearted yet never losing his Alpha male edginess, Coert's devotion to Cady made my heart sigh.

Another fantastic, emotional read from The Queen!! Coert and Cady's journey to their happily ever-after and forgiveness was slow building, fraying my nerves to no end, but I enjoyed every moment. A compelling story of infinite love, the importance of family and friends, of hope, of healing and second chances ~ there's just so much goodness to savor with every turn of the page. Brilliantly written, filled with passion and unforgettable characters, The Time in Between has become a new favorite of mine and a MUST READ.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this publication.

Kristen Ashley my literary hero!
I loved it. Ms. Kristen Ashley can do no literary wrong in my eyes!
She never lets you hit on the culprit she truly makes you work for it (read)!
I try to read other books by other authors, but honestly I would wait a million years for just one of he books to hit kindle for new release and buy it!

Cady Moreland learned early on that you can only really rely on yourself. She was abandoned by her family and left to take refuge in a dangerous friendship and a love for a man that wasn’t what he claimed to be.

Eighteen years later, she has a promise to keep and a life to rebuild and her road to redemption starts with the purchase of Magdalene’s beloved lighthouse.

Restoring the property to its former glory is far easier than facing the one man who ever really owned her heart. So when Coert makes it clear that she’s to stay away – how will her soul ever survive?

Coert Yeager came to Magdalene to outrun the memory of a girl. A girl that he has measured every female against ever since they were tragically torn apart all those years ago. Now he has a job that he likes and a young daughter that he adores to try to fill the void that she left behind.

He thought he was over her for good. He thought he was immune. He was so very wrong.

The Cady of his dreams is standing before him asking for his forgiveness.  She has no idea that it’s him who is in need of absolution and only she can give it to him.

The Time in Between is classic Kristen Ashley! The story itself is long and lush and it envelops you completely into its unforgettable landscape.

It has something for Kristen fans both new and longstanding with her trademark complex characters that shatter your heart and then renew your spirit. It’s a tiny microcosm of life just the way that it should be. Perfect in its chaos and beautiful in its tenderness…

There's a good reason Kristen Ashley is my favourite author. Another book with strong female characters and strong caring men, not afraid to show their feelings for the right woman. Sad it's the end of the series.

The first half was excellent. I loved Cady's angst and Coert's hostility...but then it all sort of petered out a bit. I think the problem was Cady's sweetness. If she just demanded a little more respect, a well deserved apology, an explanation or two, then there would have been more substance to their reunion. Plus, the opportunity for more conflict was lost with how both the villians, and even Caylan were handled. I confess, I did skim read a little with the last half. That all being said, this is still KA. The setting up of the romance, the nerves, the heroes anger, the heroines pluckiness.... All perfect. All worth the read for that alone. It's just the last half that's a little repeatative.

Excellent read! Perfect end to a fantastic series. Beautiful characters that you fall in love with, as usual! However, you hate to see it end because you have to wait for the new one to start ... Can't ever have enough Kristen Ashley!!

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS - Coert is in the wrong, Cady is in the wrong, but it takes them until Cady is 41 years old & her husband passes away before they are forced to see each other again & admit their chemistry can never be duplicated or replaced. I couldn't even take sides, I simply wanted them to communicate! It takes her "brother" Patrick stepping in when Cady is broken down, explaining to Coert that his father was like a father to Cady, not a husband, there was nothing romantic about it. But what his father did by marrying Cady is to give her an entire family, his family. Of course they all think she's a young tart golddigger at first, and Coert is under that assumption as well. "Stick with me. Believe in me, Cady. Even if you don't know what I'm asking. I'm still gonna ask it. Don't give up no matter what." Yet she feels so betrayed that she breaks her promise. Cady follows Patrick's dying wish for her to go to Magdalene, to seek out her brother & Coert & make amends - a difficult task for sure! There is a heartbreaking scene when Cady accidentally runs into Coert & his little girl Janie with his hazel eyes - poor Cady breaks into tears but how could she not? When you see your future & envision your children with the man of your dreams but that future has substantially changed? Fantastic love story, loved Cady's new family & how sweet Cady is, and how they'll spend every day appreciating the little things they now have together. "This morning, with her, having coffee." Johnny Cash said it best, that is his version of paradise & Coert & Cady would agree!

Well huh. Long book, long separation. Tough read to actually get to everything that happened & went wrong & all the things in between. So the title doesn't lie. We go back & forth in time, I was confused until about 40% then it started to all come together. Because of that I'm going spoiler free because something becomes known about 1/4 in about Coert & it would ruin the suspense & why things fell apart if I wrote it. It's a mystery book too, imo.

I liked both characters, a lot. I love when my characters own their massive mistakes & we get that. In fact one of the biggest reasons I'm a KA fan is because of Breathe. After reading the first few books of the Colorado series I didn't hold a chance in hell for Chase. Boy, that book! Not only did she prove me wrong, she gave him an epic heroine. Still my favorite book. I really wish she'd bust out some books for all her kids from all her series actually. I love when she twines all books together. I've missed it madly. I've missed this author. I haven't read her new bdsm series, still undecided.

This isn't an easy read imo. 18 years to come back to each other is enormous. I was flipping sides in every chapter, but if you're in the mood for an epic second chance romance this is a good one. With a very rewarding epilogue. Recommend.

What happened in the second half? I felt like the story was told by 50% and then it just ran in circles. First half got 5 stars, I loved it! I love the way she writes, always a good story. Not a disappointing read, you get a good story, just the last half didn't have that must turn the page, must read on, no matter how my eyes want to close feeling.

Disappointed in the last book of this series. Loved the first two books. Best books Kristen has rotten. could not bring myself to like the main characters. I thought that Cadys life changing decision in the the past was rediculous and so was the man's she married. Too unbelievable.

I mean really? For the price, look at the length of KA's books and the substance and don't you just jump up and down when they download and say "Finally, my new Kristen Ashley book has arrived!" Every single series she writes is not only worth re-reading but the characters are so well written you can't help but remember them and their stories and it's no different with Cady and Coert (even though when reading my mind kept saying Cort) in this book. They were the perfect follow up to the first and second Magdalene dramas that preceded them and their "families" were adorable. I rooted for them throughout and so will you. Of course with every book, I found tears flowing down my cheeks when reading the epilogue - how does she do that every single time? I've read and continue to read many books by many authors but the bargain I get for the price I pay and the amount of goodness I receive in all of the written words (and there are a lot of them) in comparison with what I get from anyone else, these books from KA are a STEAL in my opinion!

Kristen Ashley has written a beautiful finale to the 'Magdalene Series'. Since I find all of her books addicting, I know I'm about to embark on a journey where all other activities are put on hold until the book is completed. The series is lovely. Each heroine is interesting and, because they are a bit older than the women in most romance novels, their stories have depth. Same goes with their men. The Time in Between was perhaps the best of the 3 novels....although, since there has been a time lapse since I read the other 2, I may change mind when I re-read the entire series non-stop. As a big, big fan of Kristen Ashley's books, I love when characters from some of her other series blow, like a breeze through a story...They arrive as a very small surprise, never distracting from the current book (only avid fans recognize who they are)...This book, like the others in the series can be read as a stand alone novel, no cliffhangers. I binge 'listened' to this book! For romance fans, this book hits all the notes.