After We Break: a love story

Absolutely loved the passion in this book! I don't write many reviews but I read a lot of books. This book earned it"s review! I loved the writing style. I realized I have read many of the brother series but did not realize when reading this book it was the same author. TRULY a fan!

“You amaze me,” she whispered, kissing him again.
“No. It’s the other way around,” he whispered back. “You amaze me. Everything that’s good in me is because of you.”
“It was all there the day I found you, Z,” she said, reaching up between them to touch her spot under his eye. “I saw it from the start.”

There are certain books that you read for pleasure. Books which fill you with warm satisfaction, and then when you finish, they eventually fade from your memory, paving the way for the next “pleasing” romance. PLAYING FOR LOVE AT DEEP HAVEN is not such a book. It is the kind of love story that grabs ahold of you from the very first page, relentlessly sucking you into its beautiful, heartbreaking depths, and sticks with you. For a long, long time. I knew after reading my first book from Katy Regnery, THE VIXEN AND THE VET, that she was an author who possessed that extra “something special” that you don’t normally get in your “run of the mill” romance. And, in all honesty, I was so enraptured with that first installment of her A Modern Fairytale series, the premise and characters so near and dear to my heart, I didn’t imagine that Regnery could spin quite the same magic on me again. But I was wrong. Zach and his “Violet-like-the-flower” captivated me, heart, body and soul, from the moment they first locked eyes on each other again after a nine year estrangement. The emotions ran so deep in this book, and they struck such a visceral chord in me, that even now, days later, I still haven’t been able to completely let them go.

I’ve always been a sucker for second chance at love stories, and PLAYING FOR LOVE IN DEEP HAVEN is no exception. Talented musical prodigy Zach Aubrey found a kindred spirit in pretty Bohemian poet Violet Smith when they were promising young students at Yale, and they forged a soul-deep connection. Over time, their respect and admiration for one another blossomed into tender-hearted romance. But Zach, a byproduct of a seriously dysfunctional family, was scared spitless at the notion of love because he’d never experienced it in his own life before. So when Violet bravely professed her feelings after one unforgettable night together, he foolishly pushed her away…right into the arms of another man. Over the past decade, he’s been filled with bitter recriminations over allowing his beloved Vi to slip through his fingers, and even as his musical career skyrocketed, a piece of his tattered soul has always been missing. But when Fate and happenstance brings them face to face again, for two torturous weeks at a picturesque coastal Maine cottage, they finally get ONE more shot at a do-over.

Passion still burns bright between Z&V as they share cozy quarters and take another stab at writing beautiful songs together, but it’s clear they have changed. And perhaps not for the better. Zach, a classically trained musician, is now a heavily-tattooed “badass” rocker, while the once free-spirited “Vile” has reinvented herself as an uppity suburban chick lit author. They just aren’t the same naive college kids they once were, and find themselves having to reconcile who they were before to who they are now in the real adult world. Can they ever truly fuse their hearts and lives back together after so many sad, lonely years apart?

I loved so much about this book it’s hard to articulate it into words. But I will try! And fair warning--if it sounds like I’m gushing, it’s because I am. This book is THAT GOOD.

I loved the constant push-pull…. the emotional highs and lows. The painful, heartwarming, oftentimes bittersweet journey of self-discovery. All the witty repartee. The passion bubbling beneath the surface. Each soul-searing kiss. Every longing look and slowly cascading tear that flows between them. I freaking loved it all! There are so many different emotional layers to this story, and I truly appreciate how Regnery delves into the recesses of the characters’ psyches, exposing their deepest hopes and secret fears, and crafts each scene with exquisite care and tenderness. This is a book to be slowly savored, not rushed through, so you can marvel at each eloquent word, experience each gorgeous nuance. Regnery has a lovely, lyrical quality to her writing and it’s like a balm to your soul. And let me tell you…this book ALSO has sizzle! The love scenes are so intimate and sweetly sensual, the pillow talk so achingly real and gently revealing, that my own heart throbbed with palpable emotion.

Now…let me count the ways I love Zach. He has a quiet confidence, an electric magnetism that is tantalizing. Yet he doesn’t fit the conventional GQ hero mold because he exudes a cool rocker vibe (with tattoos and body piercings to boot!) In my opinion, he is the perfect “book boyfriend with a badass edge” -- an alluring blend of hot-blooded alpha male and swoon worthy sensitivity. As for Violet, I just adore everything about her. Her soft heart and gentle nature. Her sheer resilience and sass. Her beautiful, poetic soul. And even when her lingering doubts prevent her from running headfirst back into Zach’s big, strong arms, we know he is the other half of her soul. In the end, we rejoice in the fact that their love is “familiar like a forgotten song from long ago that takes you back to a moment the second you hear it.” But this time the melody is richer, more hauntingly beautiful, striking a chord in readers’ hearts forever

If I did have to point one small technical “flaw” in PLAYING FOR LOVE AT DEEP HAVEN, it’s that perhaps the pacing of the first third of the book was a tad lethargic because we were in the characters’ heads a lot as the author gave us a play by play of their romantic history and current mindset. But it didn’t bother me enough to give it any less than a resplendent 5 stars. Because, in the end, this book moved me. Deeply and profoundly. Oftentimes to tears. Ultimately, PLAYING FOR LOVE AT DEEP HAVEN reminded me, yet again, why Katy Regnery is a true revelation!

4.5 stars for this second chance love story.

Violet has a severe case of writers block. Her first book she wrote while suffering from broken heart but now despite so many changes in her life, she can't make herself write it. Thinking getting away from it all will help, Violet heads to Deep Haven. What she doesn't expect is to come face to face with the man she has never stopped loving, the man who broke her heart into a million pieces 9 years ago.

Zach can't believe his luck. Trying to escape from it all he heads to Deep Haven to finally write the music he wants to write. But after arriving there, fate has other plans for him. Seeing Violet again brings all of the feelings of regret back and Zach realizes he can't let her walk away again.

“It wasn’t luck. It was fate. We were always meant to be together. We just messed it up the first time.” Zach

I really liked this one. The author does a great job of developing these characters and turning them into real people. I loved how Violet doesn't give in to Zach easily and makes him work really hard to earn her trust again. Zach was a great character, dedicated to making up for his mistakes and proving to Violet that she is the one for him.

“You’re being a coward. Being with me makes you feel more than you’ve felt in years, and it’s scaring you and it’s complicated, so you’re running away. What we have? It’s beautiful and it’s real and it’s truth, and yes, it’s f-*#ing terrifying, Vile, but we can make it work. I want to make it work because two months with you was worth the nine years of emptiness that came after." Zach </i>

My thoughts:

POV: switches between Violet and Zach
Quick hook or slow starter? 4 (took a couple of chapters to hook me)
Character development: 4.5
Level of Romance between characters: 4.5
Passion/Heat level: 5 (chemistry between these two is amazing and when they come together it is electric)
Angst/Heartbreak: 4 (there is a lot of history with these two that has to be overcome)
Cliffhanger?: Nope, there is a great epilogue at the end that ties up a lot of stuff and leaves this couple in a great place.

Overall, I really liked it and look forward to more from this author.

What a beautiful story of second chances! This was an unexpected find amongst many books that I have waiting for me to be read. I was looking for a rock star romance so when I saw that Zach was a rock star, and he had someone that got away (Violet), I dove right in.

Katy Regnery uses a poetic style of writing that is enchanting and full of emotion. It’s really quite exquisite and I found the inclusion of poetry and song lyrics to add a richness to the story. Playing for Love in Deep Haven is written in third person, but for those of you who find this a challenge, I would not worry - I found myself completely caught up in it which is a gift as an author!

Let’s talk about Zach and Violet…Z is quite the sexy, hot, funny, determined rock star and songwriter. He’s experienced little love in his life and has reached a point where he wants something more. Violet is equally creative and talented, and grew up wearing her heart on her sleeve. She’s at a crossroads in her life, just like Zach. Fate throws them together but after an experience in college nine years before and all that transpired as a result, is it possible for them to find their way back to each other? You’ll need to read to know!

What I loved about Playing for Love is that it is essentially told over the span of 2 weeks but it felt like so much more. There were many emotional moments with real, painful admissions and moments of deep passion. Playing for Love is about whether Zach and Violet can find themselves through the heartache and misunderstandings, learn to trust and whether love is worth it.

Katy Regnery writes with humor, heart, and passion. I’m still caught up in the emotions I went through in Playing for Love and I will absolutely be picking up book 2!

Katy Regnery is masterful at exploring the depths of human emotion, and it was that talent that kept me turning pages. Her main characters, Zachary and Violet, were so meant to be together, and I just ached for them until they figured it all out. Great read, I'll definitely be checking her other books out!

Man, this story was fantastic. Now that my thoughts are going back to my first and true love, not sure how those fences would mend. I loved this story, it truly tuggs on you're heart. Loved the characters . Highly recommend this book to any true romantic. Oh, and the love scenes are really sexy. ;) happy reading.

What a messy, dirty, sad beginning to Zach and Violet's story... It is amazing just how much three simple little words can mean in the grand scheme of things!! Beautiful music, beautiful poetry, beautiful story!

I really liked this book. "Love conquers all", is easy to say, but kind of hard to apply in real life. No one ever forgets their first love, and not many will get a second chance at it. This is the only new book I've read in a very long time, worthy of 5 stars.

In general I always say I hate second chance love stories but man, I do seem to read a lot of them. This one was a bit different in some ways and although my heart was ripped to shreds and I cried a lot, this is a very good story. There are loads of summaries so I'll just say what I liked and disliked in the spoilers below:

+++Spoilers+++
The H was immature when he and the h were first together. He couldn't deal with her feelings and outpourings of love so he ran away. By the time he was ready to deal, the h had moved on with another guy. What starcrossed lovers. I must say that for once I really was happy that the h had been in a long term relationship and her partner really seemed to love her. The H as a musician was a bit of a man wh**e but had only loved her. There are loads of questions and not all are always answered to our satisfaction. At times I feel the h caved too easily when she saw the H again and at others I was really glad that she waited to say the 3 most important words.

I loved some of the musical references and even downloaded 2 of the songs mentioned. I think the music element of the story, where they wrote songs together and spoke about music, really added something special to this book.

Whatever you like to read, this is a good book with an emotional journey towards the hea. I recommend it.

***A Small Spoiler is mentioned in this review***

Playing for Love at Deep Haven is the first book in Katy Regnery's new series Enchanted Places. Not only is this a new series but this is also Katy's first adult romance series that includes steamier love scenes. Katy has increased the sexual chemistry between the characters but at the same time still focuses on their emotions. Zach and Violet were college friends. They were best friends. They truly understood each other and accepted each other. But when their friendship moves from flirting to sex Violet is left with a broken heart. Flash forward 9 years and fate brings them back together. Is this a second chance for love? Can Violet forgive and trust Zach?

I loved this story! This story has heartache, laughter, romance and face blushing scenes that makes you want to grin! Time has passed and Violet and Zach have changed (physically and emotionally). So when fate brings these two back together at first there was no recognition - my heart was pounding!! Katy set up the scene so brilliantly that I was holding my breath!! The banter between Zach and Violet before they realized who each other was had me at the edge of my seat (and had me screaming it's him, it's her to my Nook). I couldn't stop reading until the moment was revealed and then I kept wanting to read more.

I really liked that this story alternates between the point of view of Zach and Violet. This was a nice way to make a connection with both characters. You get to know the thoughts and feelings for both characters, so the story wasn't one sided. With the flashbacks to their college days and the breakup it was nice to read from both point of views. It is clear they both could have handled things better (and that Zach wasn't the big jerk I thought he was going to be). And as their grown-up versions reconnect I couldn't help myself from wishing they would have a happy ever after ending. But they do have some unresolved issues to overcome, so this was a realistic story and not a quick "let's kiss and make up" story. Zach is a songwriter and Violet a poet, so there are scenes that were so romantic that made me just sigh (and wish my husband would express himself in that way!!).

I loved Playing for Love at Deep Haven ! This is the third book I have read from Katy and I get more impressed with her writing with each book I read. Katy does a great job of writing the sex scenes and had just the right amount of them. The steamy scenes are not a distraction to the real story : Zach and Violet are given a second chance for love and have to learn to not make the same mistakes from their past. All romance fans should definitely read this!

Playing for Love at Deep Haven is a romantic, touching and fun read. While a bit repetitive in character dialect. It was a warm memorable story the many fans of the genre will enjoy.
A 3.5 rounded to a solid 4 rating.

This is a second chance romance. It entertained and so liked the story. Character development was good. Though At times I found myself drifting or skipping ahead during the characters thoughts. But was a ok read.

There are so many moments, so many real moments to mention. It captures two people who loved young and couldn't get it right, only to find each other again and see what happens. This was my first book by Katy Regnery, but it won't be my last.

If you enjoy angst-filled, unrequited-love, love-put-on-hold love stories then you'll like this one. I liked the characters and am always a sucker for stories about musicians/rock stars/etc. and I enjoyed reading this one very much.

How many people have loved and then lost? Wished they said what they wanted to say? Expressed what was really in their heart?

Zach has moved on from his once sheltered and quiet college life to a tattooed, guitar playing, rock star. Women are easy to come but never has one touched his heart like the one that got away. The one full of life and carefree; Violet. Tired of writing songs that aren't from the heart that he enjoyed, Zach decided to take some much needed time off.

Violet has also moved on and had tried making her life a successful one as an author, leaving her poetic and carefree days behind. But the recent loss of her boyfriend and pressure to write a sequel leads Violet to a much needed getaway.

Both were heading for time off from life, to reflect, to get back to what they once loved in their lives. Little did they know that not only were they going to revisit their past ambitions, but also their emotions and feelings towards each other.

Is it too late to spark the love they once had? Or are the cuts too deep to heal?

Katy Regnery has written another beautiful book that is simply amazing.

4 *WINK* READ
Book Flirts by Jessi

This story is entertaining and is a good escape to the Maine coast. The way the characters reconnect is unbelievable but once you get past that you will become a fan of Zach and Violet. I would definitely recommend this story and will read the next one about Zach's sister Cora!

I fell in love with the characters. Watching them become aware of who they were as a couple and heal the chasm of difference to be together was great. The story was fantastic and I couldn't wait to turn the page. Thanks.

Katy Regnery brings us a lovely second chance, friends to lovers romance in After We Break.
Two best friends find each other in a position that is beyond anything they've ventured together. But when one of them destroys what they had before it ever really flourished, can it be fixed? After nine years apart, Violet and Zach find themselves on the same space again. Can they be around each other? Can their new selves go together as well as their old selves did? Can they let go of all the other things to find the beauty the could have once had?
I love friends to lovers romance and I love second chance romances, and After We Break gives us both all on once great story! A story that shows us heartbreak happens in our lives and we decided how we handle it. We also decide whether we can ever open our hearts again. The way the story flowed with two people who have changed so much, but still were the same was beautiful. Something that we tend to look over in life.
I also loved the way Regnery did the dual point of view. We almost always knew what each character was thinking throughout the story, without having to wait for a new chapter or book.
This is a great story that shows us how pain can make the beauty more promising and beautiful!

Real characters, warts and all, with will hangups and setbacks and a romance that doesn't move in a straight line, but suffers all the twists and turns of real life.

Characters who say and do stupid things, making mistakes, misunderstanding words, gestures, actions and leading with their heart, battered and damaged as it may be, just for a chance to take back what they think they lost. There's nothing fabricated or cliche, nothing that rings untrue about the painful, sweet, awkward way in which Zach and Violet find their way through the mine-field of their lives. The dialogue, the romance and the passion are visceral, realistic and flawlessly crafted.

I was pleasantly surprised by both the heat of the romance and the depth of the emotions, both reaching levels far beyond Katy's other books (By Proxy and Christmas Wish). This is, in no way shape or form, a negative comparison. Rather, it's a nod to the skill of an author who can craft both a complex and compelling tale as this, as well as a light, truly bright and sweet (though not saccharine) tale of first love.

Kudo's to Katy, and I look forward to your next work!

After we Break by Katy Regnery
A friendship that started at Yale and turned into a love affair. Zach and Violet did everything together and when they took the next step from friendship to lovers it ruined everything. Both have lived with regrets. 9 years later their paths cross again and all the hurt resurfaces. Both have changed, but the emotions and chemistry are still as vivid as in the past. This story intrigued me. At times I did feel it moved a bit slow but overall it was a really good story. I enjoyed the characters and felt their emotions. I enjoyed that both characters had matured, especially Zach. He seemed to have grown into himself and became comfortable with who he was. Violet seemed to have lost her way and morphed into somebody else until she re-connected with Zach. The writing flowed and there was enough build up to the climax to keep you engrossed. Overall this was great, if you are looking for a second chance at love, this one is for you.
Reviewed for Hot Books and Sassy Girls Book Blog

Wow, If only fate would really give us second chances. This is a story of love lost, and love regained. It is about knowing you choose the wrong road and living with the regrets of that choice. Until you find yourself face to face that choice again, what do you do? That is what happens with Zach and Violet. Strong emotions are tied to this story. I found it very emotional and very refreshing at the same time. I highly recommend it.

I loved Violet and Zach! I found their college romance history believable with another chance encounter a beautiful way to bridge the past and present! The tension was palpable. I really fell in love with these characters and their struggles. Would highly recommend!