Until It Fades: A Novel

Catherine Wright is a 24-year old single mother of a five-year old daughter working as a waitress in a truck stop diner, struggling to make ends meet. When she comes upon a horrific car accident one night and stops to rescue one of the passengers, life as she once knew is over. Turns out the man she saved was hockey star Brett Madden and despite her efforts to keep her name secret, she's eventually outed.

There are so many layers to this story, particularly as it involves Catherine who was the town pariah following an unfortunate situation when she was 16 years old. That and the fractured relationship with her family sourced her fierce independence. I loved how every move she made was measured against the impact on her child and she never jumped onto the easy path and she approached her developing relationship with Brett proceeded with equal caution. Public opinion can be so fickle and that was brilliantly illustrated throughout the story, along with the power of wealth and means. Even Brett experiences some mean backlash for getting injured.

I loved this story that certainly has some fairy tale moments but equally some not so neatly packaged resolutions, leaving some issues to be pondered by the reader. It seems to be a standard for this author, which is why I'm drawn to her books. The narrator did a wonderful job in her characterization of Catherine whose point of view is the narrative. While I wasn't always thrilled with her male voices, she perfectly captured the main character. I couldn't stop listening. 4.5 stars

(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

Until it Fades by KA Tucker definitely hit the spot for me. I’ve come off a month-long book funk, not enjoying much and questioning my taste in books, and this book was the one to remind me why I love reading as much as I do. This book, for me, is perfection.
It’s definitely not your typical KA Tucker book, it’s sweet, thought-provoking, and hitting you right in the heart. There is a twist, one I did not see coming, but it’s not a dark, angst-y suspense we’ve come to expect—which is probably why I loved this book so much, it’s different.

Until it Fades is a brilliantly written story about letting go and seizing the day, going after what you want. This story will pull at your heartstrings with it’s simple, yet profound love story. While KA Tucker is a genius when it comes to suspenseful and gritty books, I do believe this is one of her best books yet, if not the best, simply because she made me feel so much with the words, not the plot. This story did not need one major plot twist to leave me devastated, each word, phrase, and sentence contained in these pages did this to me. The deep and painful, yet also beautiful and uplifting, emotions behind this story is what made this book one I will not soon forget.

Catherine has not had the easiest life. Growing up with a strict mother and an absent father, she did the one thing most teenagers do, she acted out. Yet, for her, those rebellious actions had consequences which derailed her life completely, sent her down a dark path before she was able to drag herself out of the hole she dug for herself. However, those actions orchestrated her from her family and most of her friends, the community she grew up in. Nevertheless, she persevered—made a life for herself, despite her circumstances. She is content with her quiet life, until one fateful night changes everything.
Brett, oh man. I am not sure I’ll be able to do this character justice. He’s perfect in every way that counts. He’s considerate, thoughtful, generous, loving, and most of all, he makes Catherine brave again. Yes, he’s a famous athlete, and you can tell, yet he is also humble and down-to-earth. All he wants is someone to share his life with. And he is convinced that Cath is this person, yet, trying to win her over might just be the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.

The characters, all of them, are so exceptionally well-written they feel real and made me wish I know them in real life. Their stories, their past, their dreams and goals is what made these characters real to me. Their struggles and hardships touched my soul and made me feel everything they went through as well—the joy, the pain, the despair, the love.
This book is the perfect combination of outstanding and vivid writing, engaging and lovable characters, and a storyline which will keep you enthralled and plays on all your emotions.

Until it Fades is the perfect example of sometimes “less is more.” It shows all of us a beautiful story does not need to be filled with other-the-top drama—all it needs is amazing writing which will pull you into the story and fill you up with all the emotions. This exquisite love story shows us all we need is perseverance, love, and courage—with words which will be burned into your soul in the best way possible.

Ultimately, I doubt I can convey the brilliance of this book in a review, I do not possess KA Tucker’s talent, but please read this book. You will NOT regret it. It the type of book which will grab you by your emotions and stay with you for a long time.

Until it Fades is a Cinderella story set in modern times. Catherine has not lead an easy life and is sort of looked down upon by the residents of her small town. When she was a teen she was involved in a scandal and that stirred up a lot of controversy and caused her to drop out of school. Fast forward not even a year later, and she finds herself pregnant and homeless. Thankfully a friend took her in and she got a waitressing job at the local truck-stop diner. Fast forward again a handful of years and she’s still waitressing and busting her butt to pay the bills, she’s still looked down upon by her neighbors, and she’s just as shy and meek as ever. However, her life is flipped upside down when one foggy night she witnesses a horrific car crash and is there to pull out and save one of the passengers in the vehicle. As it turns out, the guy she saved is none other than a major NFL player. Once her identity is revealed to the public, she has reporters banging on her door, people looking at her in a new light, and a very famous, very handsome hockey player who insists on helping her our and being in her life.

I have got to say that there hasn’t been a book that I’ve read by KA Tucker so far that I haven’t immensely enjoyed. Even though this is a Cinderella story and not something that is likely to happen in real life, I still found myself completely immersed in the story. I was totally rooting for Catherine and Brett the whole time. This is a bit on the more fluffier side than I’ve read from this author. Usually her characters have a mental illness or some sort of suspenseful undercurrent to it. However, this was just a sweet story about a single mother who falls in love with a major NFL player after she saves his life. There really was no conflict at all. I mean, the characters talked to each other instead of assuming or jumping to conclusions. There was no crazy ex-girlfriends/boyfriends that popped up and tried to steal the other away. There wasn’t even your typical “publicists thinks it’s better if he doesn’t slum it with the middle-class folk” conflict that you see so often in celebrity romances. Instead it was pretty straight forward and just a really enjoyable read.

One thing I love about this author’s work is that you can’t help but fall in love with all of the characters. I loved that they all seemed so real. I found myself chuckling a few times at some of the things in this book. Primarily it had to revolve around Catherine’s daughter. She was a cute little thing and while I don’t usually like kids in my romances, she fit into the story perfectly. I think it had to do with the fact that this is a very slow-building romance. The majority of the book is of Catherine and Brett talking via phone or having short visits for interviews and what not. They don’t actually start a relationship until later in the book. I loved that the author took this approach because you really got to see these two come together and build a relationship off of the fundamentals instead of lust.

Not only is this is a sweet romantic story, but I also loved the family aspect of it as well. Due to Catherine’s younger years, she has sort of a strained relationship with her family. She’s kept her distance from them over the years and you can really tell that everyone is still trying to come together and make it work. Not only do we get a feel for how things are now, but the storyline does go back in time to Catherine’s teen years and it definitely shows the dynamics of her family when everything was going down. I liked getting this flashbacks because it really helped you understand Catherine more and it added more depth to her character. You sort of understand what makes her tick and why she reacts to things the way she does.

All in all, Until it Fades is another amazing book by KA Tucker. While it’s definitely on the lighter and sweeter side than what I’m used to reading from her, I loved that she took a chance and wrote this story. I’m a fan of celebrity romances but they don’t always work for me. Between the slow-build romance, the lack of over-the-top drama, and the fact that the author makes you feel like this could actually happen, I was roped in from the beginning. KA Tucker is starting to become a 1-click author for me. Like I said, I haven’t read a book of hers that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy and Until it Fades was no exception.

A sweet and romantic slow burner with no angst, and a couple that you can't help but root for. I loved every moment of it!

Catherine Wright hasn’t had an easy life. She has been made mistakes and she has paid the price, she has been the victim of manipulation, scandal and scorn, and she has persevered. And now, aged 24, she is the single mother to an adorable 5-year-old, working at a diner in her small town and trying hard to keep a low profile and make a good life for her and her daughter. That proves impossible when she comes across a fatal car crash one night, and saves the life of a man who turns out to be Brett Madden, the NHL’s golden boy.

From the moment her identity as Brett’s rescuer is leaked she finds herself the target of journalists and the paparazzi who not only stalk her, but also dig up past secrets that she has tried so hard to move on from. The press’s attention also allows the man in question to find her, and when Brett shows up on Cath’s doorstep to thank her, the spark of attraction is instant.

Catherine and Brett share an immediate bond that even from the beginning feels deeper than friendship. But with Catherine sure that the only thing Brett feels towards her is gratitude, and the press watching their every move, Brett has a battle on his hands.

I loved this book! The story is told entirely from Catherine’s perspective, which I loved, because there is this element of mystery about Brett - about what he is feeling and how strongly he is feeling it - and it adds a wonderful sense of anticipation to the slow pacing as we wait for the inevitable to all unfold. And I felt everything!

Cath’s backstory is pretty much revealed upfront, but flashbacks provide a lot of depth, allowing us to experience all that she went through just as she did as a naïve 17 year old. I thought that it allowed us to really get to know her, and I certainly empathised with her and could understand the impact it had on her life and why it made her so frightened of throwing herself all in with Brett.

And Brett… OMG, I love him! He’s an absolute sweetheart, and I adored his sweet, gentle nature. He’s not a manwhoring alpha, but he is a man who knows what he wants, and his pursuit of Catherine was perfect – he was slow, considerate and gentle, but didn’t hold back on his feelings, and I was easily swept up in their developing romance.

It’s a deliciously sweet, heartfelt love story, and it had me so captivated that I struggled to put the book down. Like Tucker’s other books, there is more to it than just the romance, and I thought that the love story blended really well with the personal and family storylines that made up the book.

There’s a phenomenal bunch of side characters – both Catherine and Brett’s family and friends fit into the story so well, and I’m hoping that this book becomes a series because I would love to read more about them. There are stories there just begging to be told.

I loved this book. It’s sweet and romantic with a nice amount of depth without becoming overly dramatic or angsty, and it left me with a huge grin on my face. A truly charming, heartwarming read.

Catherine has spent the last several years keeping her head down, working hard to support her young daughter on her own, and trying to live down the scandal of an affair with her teacher while she was a seventeen year old high school student. The small town's vitriol was firmly aimed her way once the affair became public (the teacher being the beloved son of a prominent family). Now twenty-four, Catherine has a small circle of friends and leads a quiet life.

All that changes when she saves the life of a man after a horrific car accident. And not just any man - Brett Madden is one of the top hockey stars in the country and the son of Hollywood royalty. As the media descends on the small town, Catherine at first refuses to come forward, having no desire to once again be the center of attention, or have her past dredged up for public consumption. But then Brett Madden shows up and she begins to question if it's times to take a chance and really live, and love, again.

I connected with Catherine quickly and it was easy to feel for this young woman who had weathered so much on her own. The high school affair and ensuing scandal fractured her already tenuous relationship with her family so her support systems consisted of her boss at the diner where she worked, a fellow waitress, and a childhood friend turned local cop. Tucker created such a fully developed character in Catherine that I felt like I knew her inside and out, knew how she would react in any given situation. And when Brett entered the picture, it was easy to understand her hesitation - not just for the spotlight to be on her once again, but also to explore their undeniable connection and attraction.

I was so invested in the budding relationship between Catherine and Brett and, despite the obvious spark between them, Catherine's skittishness meant the romance was definitely of the slow burn variety. I found myself looking forward to their every interaction and ate up every flirty text message, every phone call, every meeting. Brett was completely genuine and had an ease about him even as he was dealing with the aftermath of the accident and the sudden uncertainly of his ability to return to the career he loved. It was impossible not to fall for his sweetness, his humor and his thoughtfulness.

Until It Fades also included an amazing cast of secondary characters. From Lou and her husband Leroy, the diner owners, to Catherine's best friend Keith and her brother Jack, to Brett's parents (I adored Brett's father), each one added so much and made for a richer story.

As a longtime fan of Tucker's, I tend to read everything she writes. This contemporary romance is lighter than her usual work and I absolutely loved it. It was sweet, it was heartfelt, it was emotional and it instantly became a new favorite. Do yourself a favor and experience this feel-good story for yourself. You can thank me later.

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 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!

***4 ‘Things That Make Me Happy’ Stars***

Until It Fades is my first foray into the mind of K.A. Tucker (though I have a few of her books sitting in my TBR list) and didn’t know what to expect going in. I was prepared for drama, the description sets the tone perfectly, but I didn’t expect the roller coaster reactions ~ both good and bad ~ not only to the drama, but the very eclectic cast of characters that brought this story to life. It was sweet, smexy, funny and frustrasting (sometimes all at once) and I got caught up in Cath and Brett’s journey as they find that single moment can change the course of your life forever.

Cath’s past has never stopped haunting her and though she lives with the consequences of the choices she made when she was young and dumb, she is determined to ensure that her daughter’s present and future are bright and filled with love. I really liked Cath, even when I wanted to reach out and shake some sense into her. She’s a fighter and would do anything for her daughter, but when her stubborn pride kicks in, it tends to get in the way and has her making certain decisions that end up backfiring on her. Thankfully, with much prodding and manipulation, she does end up seeing that her may not be the best way and will own up to it without out too much fuss.

Brett is the golden boy of hockey and the you want to hate because on paper he has it all -Looks, talent and fame - And yet you can’t because at his core he is a good, hard working man doing what he loves. It really was hard to not fall in love with Brett, because he is the epitome of a good man with his feet firmly planted on the ground, or on ice with ice skates, and appreciates all that he’s been given. He does have a bit of an alpha streak and is quite determined, and even a little sneaky at times, but it just makes you want more of him.

The journey that Brett and Cath took to get to their HEA was bumpy, but given Cath’s past and Brett’s current situation, it wasn’t surprising the hurdles that they both had to get over to start to see the silver lining to the horrific situation that brought them into each others orbits. There was insta-attraction, once they meet physically, but I enjoyed the slow but steady, and a little frustrating, was their relationship evolved, with a little help from outside sources. It was all kinds of sweet, smexy and yet quite realistic which made their journey relatable and relevant in this day and age.

As I said in the beginning this is my first book by K.A. Tucker and I really enjoyed it. I loved how, even in the crazy that was going on, she kept things simple. The issues that are brought up throughout the book are handled realistically and make you question what your reaction would be if faced with them. I’m a huge fan of well written secondary characters and there are a plethora of them in this book and my, at times extreme. reactions to them prove that the author craft some quite unique characters to give the story more depth, Brenna was adorably precocious, I loved Lou and I have a little crush and Richard, but all of the characters will keep you on your toes. This book will bring out quite a few, and varied emotional reactions, but the journey is definitely worth it.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

Until It Fades had a jumping timeline throughout the book referencing back to the past. I didn't quite understand the relevance of this format until later. Catherine was primarily the main character and narrator of her own love story. She lived in a small town where gossip mongers destroyed her image from one teenage mistake.

Catherine was an impressionable teenager who was easily manipulated by her art teacher. Her involvement with her teacher caused Catherine to become ostracized.
Catherine always dreamed about leaving the small town, but found she had limited options when she became pregnant. Catherine moved out at eighteen having brought shame to her family for her scandalous affair with her teacher. “she was victimized not only by a teacher but also by the school principal and her community”.

Then one foggy night Catherine played hero to a hockey player who had the capability to redeem her reputation.

Brenna's character was an adorable five year old, but I had a hard time believing most of what came out of her mouth. I know children are very observant but they also have short attention spans so when Brenna made observations in regards to sad eyes I thought that was too much for a five year old to notice. Most of what Brenna remembered in conversations was questionable for her young mind.

Brett's character was caring and thoughtful. The connection was a hard sell for me with Catherine's questionable doubts and fears. I didn't feel the attraction in an angst driven way. Too many obstacles were part of the reason for the disconnect. He himself was a wonderful character and welcome addition to the story.

Catherine's character was stubborn and independent. It was admirable her drive to provide a life for her daughter with limited resources. Her stubbornness was annoying and stupid at times. Her relationship with her mother was a huge factor in her choices, but she was so determined to prove her independence that she isolated herself.

Ms. Tucker delivered a lighthearted contemporary romance. She proved she can write story's from various genres without it infringing upon her writing ability. However, at times I felt the storyline moved too slowly. Certain scenes seemed to drone on and on as if rehashing the same scene from one character to another. Some of the information regarding Brenna was not typical knowledge of a five year old. I did love all the minor characters who were supporters of Catherine's. They added to Catherine's growth and development.

Catherine Wright has lived a not-so-charmed life in her twenty four years. A scandal when she was a teenager ruined her reputation and not long after she became a single mother with no support system. But she is a strong, determined woman and with a little help she has managed to survive and somewhat thrive as a single mom working at a diner. She tries to avoid complications, attention, and guards her privacy. She has lost the confidence she had as a youth, and is stuck in a rut.

One night changes everything. She acts as a good samaritan and saves a man's life. She tries to avoid any media attention over the incident. But saving a famous hockey players makes for good press. The mystery and speculation is nerve wracking and people won't rest til the savior is outed. And that brings her right into the path of hockey star Brett Madden and in the spotlight that she just wants to avoid.

Brett is appreciative, concerned, and caring. But he is also suffering pain, loss, and fear of losing his career. But he knows he is lucky and got a second chance to live. He is drawn to Cath and wants to help her, but she is stubborn and resistant. But there is an underlying chemistry there that both are scared to admit.

This is a slow build of two people tied together by tragedy but then forging a friendship and developing feelings. It is the handsome, charming, talented, famous, wealthy "Prince" and the poor, struggling, small town, young mom. The girl who just wants to avoid attention finds herself in the center of a media frenzy, while he was born famous and grew up to gain his own public attention. She is guarded, untrusting, scared, and trying to be smart and not make more poor choices. He is a man with good intentions just fighting for a chance.

But this all shakes up her life in ways she never expected...some good and some bad. It disrupts her normal, controlled life. It pushes her out of her comfort zone. It forces her to face her past. It brings some closure and understanding. Brett is a man who is now struggling, but also wants to make her life better and feels drawn to her. It makes them both realize that life it too short not to go after what they want. But their lives have some challenges. Their futures are uncertain. She can continue to resist. Or she can take what she can get as long as it lasts, but it runs the risk of more heartbreak.

The characters were really likable. I adored Brett, and even though Cath could be bit strong-willed, she had her reasons for her current decisions. Her past was not easy and it really damaged her, so it was understandable. But she also showed growth and acceptance. The side characters really added depth to the story. Her daughter, Brenna was darling. Her friends Keith, Lou, Leroy, and Misty made the town feel real. Her family had some dynamics that added to the drama, and his family was interesting.

This was sweet, flirty, and funny. It was a really slow build, and it was a longer book and with all the details it sometimes it felt slow paced. But it did really show Catherine's struggles and life in depth' and it made sense due to her issues. It was not a steamy or sexy book, but it had some swoon and a couple of surprises. It had some good messages about being brave, taking risks, and living a full life. And also about judgment, tolerance, acceptance, and generosity. It was really Catherine's life journey as she was a woman used to being let down, and then she gets an unexpected chance for love and a life change. But only if she is strong enough and brave enough to take it. Will she get the fairytale or will it fade?

Until It Fades is contemporary romance at its finest. It captured my full attention at the very beginning and kept me completely engrossed until the final page. With characters that I immediately cared about, a story that is rich with emotion, and a romance that will make even the most hardened hearts believe in love, Until It Fades is a perfect, well-rounded romance that just hit all the marks.

Living in a small community, you can expect that everyone is going to know your business – your triumphs, downfalls, and your misfortunes. Unfortunately, once you’ve made a reputation for yourself in a small town, it’s nearly impossible to shake it. Catherine has experienced her share of difficult times in her twenty-four years. She made some poor choices in her teenage years. She did things that, looking back now, she regrets. Despite her attempts to move forward with her life, she still feels the judgment, hears the whispers, and sees the sneers from the locals.

The book is told from Catherine Wright’s perspective. It is told from the present day, but it does have flashbacks to 2010. In my opinion, the flashbacks were an important aspect to understanding what was transpiring in Catherine’s life at such a pivotal time. While her past was complicated, messy, and raw, it did help to shape her into the strong, determined, resilient woman that she was today. It didn’t matter how many times her situation got her down, she persisted and persevered for her daughter’s sake. She did the best she could with what little she had. Catherine wasn’t a perfect character, she had flaws, but that’s what makes her so real and normal. She had grown and matured from her experiences, and while those experiences did leave her hesitant to love, trust, and risk her feelings again, she couldn’t help but want to open her heart to a man with whom she felt an undeniable connection to.

Let me just take one moment to mentally appreciate the fictional character that is Brett Madden. I adored him. You know when an author has created wonderful characters when her readers can feel their intensity and charisma jump off the pages. She created the perfect love interest for Catherine. I wanted them to find peace and happiness, I wanted them to lean on each other, to heal, and to fall hopelessly in love with each other.

K.A. Tucker has excelled at writing a slow burning romance. I always appreciate when an author takes her time to develop the relationships between the characters. This slow building chemistry added to the anticipation. She allowed her readers the time to become acquainted with the characters, to become invested in them, to feel the emotions right along with them. She didn’t rush any part of the story. It flowed effortlessly and superbly. I was captivated and savored every word as I witnessed Catherine and Brett’s story unfold.

Until It Fades is an impeccably written romance. It is filled with realistic emotions, fantastic characters, swoon-worthy romance, humor, and so much heart. Oh, and K.A. Tucker still succeeded at throwing in a twist that I can honestly say I didn’t see coming (shakes head in shame).

As I was nearing the end of the book, I was dreading getting to the final page. I didn’t want it to end. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters and their story. I could have easily read another three hundred pages or more. When a reader can say that, you know that the book is a winner!

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

“Young, single mom saves life of hockey star and celebrity son and then wins his heart? It sounds like a fairy tale.”

Until It Fades IS a fairy tale of sorts, the kind of story that makes you believe anything is possible, a Cinderella story about a young waitress who essentially goes from social outcast to paparazzi princess after meeting her own Prince Charming in the form of a famous hockey player. But this story is far from your cliche happily ever after. KA Tucker packs this book with intense emotion and a complex plot that, at times, felt anything but magical. Catherine and Brett's unconventional love story is born from tragedy and it's checkered with uncertainty and impossibility. But this story, from beginning to end, is the embodiment of why I read romance. It's a beautiful, hopeful, slow burning love story that's as light and sexy as it is heartfelt and downright captivating. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Until It Fades is up there as an all-time KA Tucker favorite.

I was completely engrossed within moments of starting chapter one. I don't know if it was the messy, emotional backstory of how life came crumbling down around Catherine Wright, or if it was simply the mesmerizing quality of KA Tucker's lush writing style, but I was gone. There are books I want to devour just to see how they end and there are books I want to savor, hoping they never end at all. I knew this book was one to be savored early on, well before I'd even been introduced to Brett Madden. The build and pacing of this storyline had me riveted, the masterful way Tucker allows this story to unfold was perfection.

The love story between Catherine and Brett is brilliantly layered with passion and devastation, a romance that'll stay with you for so many reasons. But the intense attraction between these characters aside, Catherine's heartbreaking journey from town pariah to national heroine, from family black sheep to the strong, resilient woman she proves herself to be, is magnificent all on its own. Catherine may be my most favorite heroine in all the books I've read from KA Tucker. She's so flawed, so strong, so afraid, so humble, so real. I adored her and her journey wholeheartedly. The icing on an already delicious cake was Brett. I already loved everything about this book before Brett Madden came along but upon meeting him, I plummeted. Brett and Catherine, together with every single character within these pages, layer this story with drama, humor, romance, and emotion, culminating into one of my absolute favorite reads of the year. Simply put, Until It Fades is PHENOMENAL and I won't stop thinking about it anytime soon.

Teenage love brings with it ups and down. For Catherine Wright - the crush she possessed in high school would stay with her for years. The kind of romance that one wants desperately to forget. Living in a small town means everyone ‘knows your name’ and your past is just as relevant as the present. Something Catherine knows all too well.

Trying to make ends meat as a waitress in a town where everyone views you as a ‘villain’ is hard. Add to that the struggles of being a single mother, and you have a picture of Catherine’s life at 24. With relations strained between Catherine and her family, and the long hours that Catherine puts in at the diner, there is little time for Catherine to find romance. Being ‘alone’ doesn’t bother Catherine one bit. After all, motherhood is the only thing that Catherine cares on focusing on.

One night after a HORRIBLE blind date, Catherine finds herself stumbling upon the scene of a horrific accident. Stopping to help was second nature, but the destruction was more than Catherine could process. With one last tug, Catherine was able to pull a survivor from the wreckage before the car blew up. Engulfing her car in flames from the wreckage. Catherine didn’t know it at the time, but the person she saved was about to turn her world upside down.

Brent Madden was a pro NFL hockey player, and the only survivor of that wreck. His teammate never made it out of the crash. Something that haunted Brent and his team. Determined to thank the person that saved his life, Brent and his family reached out to authorities to discover who was responsible. What he soon discovered is Catherine’s request to authorities to keep her name out of the spotlight. Something that Brent was reluctant to turn his back on.

After Catherine finally comes forward as his rescuer, Brent and his family decide to offer their thanks in person. Secrets of Catherine’s past come blazing into the present when Brent’s fame brings the camera crews to town. Something that reminds Catherine of a time that she just wants to forget. However - Brent can’t seem to forget the woman that risked everything to give him another chance at life. A single mother that clearly has a past, but one that Brent simply can’t get out of his mind.

Until It Fades is not the type of book you would typically expect from author K.A. Tucker. While this departure from her ‘normal’ writing style may come as a surprise, it certainly was a hit as far as I am concerned. This romance held the pain of scandal while teasing you with the anticipation of finding redemption. A unique look at young love and the scars that it leaves when things turn ‘ugly’.

As a HUGE hockey fan, I have to say that this book clearly made me giddy. I’m telling you….imagining a character like Brett *fans myself*. The highlights from the playoffs, the season tickets, and they way Cath’s family was crazy about hockey just added to the storyline!! I loved every single moment!!

What a wonderful slow-building romance! Until it Fades was such a sweet treat for me. The story slowly unfurls starting with the backstory of Catherine Wright. Then it moves on to the crash that nearly cost Brett his life and dealing with the aftermath that would come with saving a hockey hero. For lovers of romance there are some swoony times which culminates with the sweetest happily ever after. A perfect romance story for anyone looking to enjoy two people falling in love without any unnecessary and complicated drama.

The story is set in a small town in Pennsylvania and the main character Cath has been on the receiving end of small town ostracizing due to her relationship with a well-connected scumbag….oh wait sorry, I meant older gentleman ?. Trying to scrape her life together after reality slaps her upside her head, Catherine has had a tough go of things but has managed this far. She has kept her head down with her only focus being her beautiful daughter.

Until everything goes up into the air after Catherine manages to miraculously save Brett Madden, a pro-hockey player. Although she tried to stay out of the limelight she was not able to remain anonymous for long. Caught up in a media storm Cath had to accept that she would have to publicly acknowledge that she did indeed save his life. This was not what she wanted at all after having lived through one scandal she did not want this new sensation to dig up her old dirt.

Gratitude doesn’t begin to explain how Brett and his family feel but after meeting Cath, Brett is feeling more than just gratitude. He is enamored with this slight of a woman who saved his life. What follows is the push pull of attraction versus fear. Catherine has to choose to overcome her fears in order to allow herself to experience all that Brett has to offer. If she is going to have the fairytale ending then she needs to be all in.

This was a darling little romance that isn’t completely predictable. There were some potential problems and obstacles thrown in to the story that made me wonder if things were going to turn for the worst. I did keep waiting for the inevitable conflict that would arise between the two characters that would threaten to tear them apart in an overly dramatic fashion. Luckily, there was none of that. This was a romance of boy meets girl and they fall in love. Yes, there is doubt and conflict over trust but it was just such a cute romance. I loved it!

If I could change anything it would have been that the story included Brett’s point of view. I would have given almost anything to have been in this character’s head. His feelings were well described but I would have loved to read how he felt, what he thought, and to experience his emotional reactions both said and unsaid. There is only so much that can be described from another’s point of view.

The characters in this story are very realistic and I really appreciated the attention the author paid to not only the main characters but the supporting characters as well. The cast as a whole really made this story utterly charming and it is a book I would read again! This is a happily ever after romance and a perfect read for all romance readers. Just a lovely delight of a read.

This review is based on a complimentary book I received from NetGalley. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.

4.5 “Accidental Love” Stars!
I love how KA Tucker can switch romance sub-genres and prove that she’s a great writer no matter what she writes! Please note that Until it Fades has a very different feel from some of Ms. Tucker’s prior works. This is a sweet romance, not romantic suspense. Unlike many of Ms. Tucker’s prior romances which have a strong suspense element and a darker, more angst-filled feeling to them overall, this book is a gem to be treasured when you’re in the mood for a light, sweet, hope-filled and inspiring romance. In the right mood, this book is sure to leave you with a warm, contented feeling.
There are some experiences that are so fundamental that they can completely shape your life in either a positive or negative way. Unfortunately for Catherine Wright, the first such experience happened when she was but a teenager and too young to perhaps know any better but blamed nonetheless. Having experienced her 15 minutes of infamy, she approaches her life content to wallow in anonymity, even if it does mean that with a few exceptions, including her young daughter, she leads a fairly solitary life (eschewing any attempts at a romantic connection).
All that changes, however, when a chance meeting on a winding road places her face to face with an accident scene. Rather than flee at the first sign of danger, however, she does a rather selfless act, and saves a man. What she couldn’t have known at the time was that the man she saved was none other than Brett Madden, a hockey legend and the son of a famous movie star. As you can imagine, being the good samaritan who saves someone like Brett, sparks the potential for a whole new, even bigger 15 minutes of fame. Moreover, this time a positive one. Although she would be viewed as a hero this time, however, she nonetheless was so traumatized by her prior experience that she prefers to grasp on to her anonymity, even to the point of refusing to allow her friend and police officer who is handling the case to disclose her name to Brett.
But Brett is a powerful man, who comes from an even more powerful family, and he is reluctant to take no for an answer. So when he inevitably finds her and seems drawn to her, Catherine is forced to make a very difficult decision of determining whether she’s ready to break her own rules and allow someone to get close to her again.
Until it Fades drew me in and warmed my heart. Moreover, I really enjoyed a number of the secondary characters which added depth to the plot. In the end, I was left with a hopeful feeling that even those in the most unfortunate of situations are equally capable of reversing their fortunes provided they are willing to trust and open up their hearts.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.

Catherine until she was sixteen was a passionate and inconsequential teenager who ended up making a mistake that transformed her whole life and her family too. Now seven years later, she just wants to give her daughter a decent life and be invisible to the prejudiced people in the city where she lives. The night she saves a guy involved in a serious car accident, she has her life radically transformed again for good this time . But she does not want to be featured again.

The boy Catherine saves is nothing more than a famous hockey player, Brett, who was going to a party with a colleague and friend who was not as fortunate as him to survive this tragedy. He does not content himself with not being able to thank personally for his life to whom saved him and does everything to find out who his heroine is.

Their reunion is both exciting and the sparkling of passion is almost instantaneous which creates a confusion of feelings in both of them, making them refuse to admit what they feel for each other. Meanwhile the media are crazy speculating who this heroine is and what she does and begins to investigate her life leaving Catherine worried about what can happen to her and her daughter.

The book is very well written with every situation set in the right moment to culminate in a surprising and beautiful ending. It is a typical modern fairy tale with all the elements that characterize this genre, from the enchanted prince, villains, heroin, fairy godmother, the special magic of love , everything is solving the problem with a beautiful lesson and discreet criticism of the initial situation and Suffering of the protagonist in the past.

Speaking in the past, what in the course of reading I have confirmed is that the book is about overcoming and growing Catherine having the romance as background to show everything that happened to her in the past as in the present. It is narrated in the first person only by the girl which gives more strength to my thinking even more when you look at this bright and illuminated cover that shows well that the main focus is girl.

Highlight for me was mainly:
- Catherine's friend, Keith, another passionate prince who I hope to have a book for him too;
- the couple who take good care of Catherine, Lou and Leroy;
- and her daughter Brenna who is such a curious and entertaining figure that puts her mother in embarrassing situations at various points in the book.

Highly recommended
5/5 stars
Kisses, Myl

I Voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book

I love books about single parents, and this one I loved loved loved. I haven't read a K.A Tucker book in so long, and when I read this book, I was reminded on why I loved her books

Catherine Wright is a truck stop waitress and a single mother of a little girl. She is also not any ordinary waitress. Cath has a reputation in the town of Balsam. And everyone knows who she is. One wrong decision when she was younger and now its like she can't move forward with her life and it seems that she is doomed to forever be the girl that supposedly 'ruined' someone else's life. But no one knows the real story and no one will ever. Out on a Blind date on the way home she comes upon a crash and does what any other person would do, she stops and helps the man out of the car before it goes up in flames. What she doesn't know is that the man she saves is Hockey star Brett Maden

Brett is in the time of his life, on the way to greatness. But on the way home from a game he and his friend has a car accident and that is how he meets Catherine Wright. Brett has never met anyone like Catherine, someone doing something just because they are being nice and not wanting anything in return.

All Catherine wants is for her life to go back to normal before she saves Brett, all the media and hype she is not use to and she is scared of her past coming back and reminding people of the person she use to be.
But all Brett wants is her, he is fascinated with her from the moment they met, but will he be able to make Catherine see that it's not just her saving his life that makes him want her. It's the caring, sweet and sexy women that she is

“I wake up every morning thinking about you.” My head thumps softly against the wall as I close my eyes, reveling in the feel of his mouth against my ear. “I go to bed at night thinking about you.” Blood rushes through my veins with the adrenaline his words create. “Please tell me it’s not just me.”

I loved this story, its about a girl who believed in love and then her heart was crushed and now years later she has a chance of getting back the life that she wanted. But will she be able to let go of her trust issues in men and let go of the past hurt to move forward and get her fairytale. You will fall in love with Brett and Catherine as well as Brenna and the rest of the characters. An easy 5 stars for me

I just loved everything about this book! I knew I would like it because K.A. Tucker wrote it but I was not expecting this book to pull me from the first page. This was truly a magical book that had me laughing, crying, and cheering for Catherine and Brett.

What I love most was this was just a good old fashion adult romance and exactly what I needed in my life. Catherine and Brett are just two adults trying to live their lives, find their place and following their dreams. There is nothing over the top or angsty in this book, just real life and real love.

Catherine was an amazing heroine. She has made mistakes in her life and has suffered consequences for her mistakes but also for the horrendous actions of others, but she is a women he owns what she did and makes a life for herself regardless of her past. She doesn't let the past define her and she also doesn't let her past hurts keep her locked up. She has learned the art of forgiveness and moving on and I find that very refreshing.

Brett was just totally swoon worthy. I love how he was just a nice guy living his dreams. Not expecting to fall in love with a single mother from a small town. I love nice guys that have their ish together and Brett is that guy. You can tell that Catherine impacted him like no other women has but he does not feel the need to force himself into her life and instead lets her come to him.

Catherine and Brett and two people who never should meet. There was no reason for their lives to cross path with each other, but through an almost act of divine intervention their worlds collided. Their meeting not only changed their lives but it will impact the lives of readers. K.A. Tucker has written a beautiful and real love story. A story that is magical and raw at the same time. A story that shows you can not always prevent the bad from happening to you, but you have the choice on how to respond to such adversity. You either let the adversity destroy you or you become a better person and you move forward.

I received a review copy from the publisher

[insert big dreamy sigh] I have one word...DREAMY!  I'm floating on a cloud of everlasting love for this newest story by K.A. Tucker.  A departure from her usual sexy thrillers, Until if Fades taps into our innate desires for love at first sight and happily ever afters and it does it beautifully.

I was smiling from ear to ear by the end of this book.  My heart full of mushy gushy feels.  From page one I was hooked on Catherine Wrights story.  She's desperate to escape her past and provide for her daughter, she's working her tail off to be independent.  She may not have a lot but what she does have she's proud of and she should be.  Her life isn't easy.  She's made some mistakes and unfortunately she's had to pay a heavy price.

When Brett Madden enters her life unexpectedly, she's once again in the spotlight.  Catherine doesn't like the spotlight.  Been there, done that, and doesn't want to repeat.  Plus she doesn't just have herself to think of.  Brett is a star.  He's a famous hockey player with a famous mother.  Brett brings the spotlight everything he goes.  He's used to it.  He also wasn't expecting to meet this tiny woman who pulled him from a burning car.

There are so many sweet moments in this story.  The sexual tension between Brett and Catherine are off the charts.  Her daughter literally steals the pages away from the story at hand sometimes.  It was delightful while also serious.  It was just enough angst to leave you worried for our hero and heroine while pulling you along with the hope of happiness on the horizon.  You want these two to make it.  You want them beat the odds.  You'll be rooting for them both immediately.

I'm a fan of K.A. Tuckers for life.  I have yet to read a book of hers I didn't like.  Until it Fades was the cherry on top.  It was unexpected and refreshing.  I have such a crush on this story!

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book *

Ahhhhh!!!! I loved this book so much!! This book captured me from the first page and I was so hooked that as I was reading I actually had to stop...It was the hardest thing ever to do. I mean, you are so invested and you want to continue so badly but....but....LIFE!! *sighs heavily*
Well as soon as my next free moment happened, I was diving back in immersing myself in the amazingness of this tale. And boy did it blow me away!!

Until it Fades brings life to characters that will forever be a part of you. Catherine and Brett seized my heart and I was entranced in finding out just how their story was going to go. I mean, once you meet Catherine, you discover her strength, her heart of gold, and determination to bring a good happy life for her daughter.
Then so much changes with one decision. One night brings more than Catherine had bargained for.
And this is where Brett comes in. Star athlete and overall fabulous guy enters her life and truly begins to shake it up.
These two together, it was so fun to read. It was light and friendly all the while feeling the chemistry sparking all around them of the desire to be more. I LOVED IT!!!
But there was definitely more to this story than meets the eye and as we are reading, we get a look at Catherine's past to learn about why things are the way they are for her in the present.
This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and even surprised at some of the twists that K.A. Tucker revealed to us as we are buried in Catherine's tale.
As you can see now as to why I hated having to put it down. *sad face*
Anyway, I digress...LOL...
Until it Fades is such a sweet love story that dances inside your heart.. making it flutter and bubble with joy...You will love every moment that you can spend with Catherine and Brett..
Make sure you add this one to TBR...
It is one of my all time favorite reads!!

Catherine has had a rough go at life. Rebelled against her strict mother led to a relationship with a teacher that led her to be shunned by the town. She meets Brett in under distress and begins a whirlwind of a relationship with him but will his status be too much for her to take?

My favorite thing about KA Tucker's books is the characters that she writes. She writes them in a way that makes them feel like you know them personal and the emotions that writes for them are so vivid and real that it makes you feel the same emotions as the characters. We attach ourselves to Catherine's story and understand how and why she did the things that she did. It's an everyday struggle for her to provide for her daughter and we see the sacrifices she makes for her.

Brett we don't dive too much into. Yes there are stories and moments when we see the man he is, but for the most part he is the embodiment of a perfect man. And for me that was just too much. I like my flawed men that change for the love of a good woman. But not him he is pretty perfect already.

With that said, it brings me to the only part of the story that I had a time accepting. I have read every one of her books and I always loved the realistic nature (i.e. Timeframe used) for each of the relationships she wrote about. In this book, though, that time frame didn't seem to exist. Brett and Catherine went from strangers to being in love after only one meeting. Yes how they met certainly can accelerate feelings, but for me, I would have thought each side would have wanted to know each other more, especially Catherine considering she had a daughter.

I am not sure how I feel about the end. There wasn't really a conflict and in turn resolution. A part of me likes that because it gives a final HEA for the characters but at the same time, it felt unfinished.

Until It Fades was a bit different from KA Tucker's last couple of books. It wasn't as dark or mysterious, instead Until It Fades was more hopeful and happy. It doesn't exactly start out that way though. The book begins with Catherine in high school. Without giving too much away, Catherine experiences something that makes her the talk of the town. She basically leaves her parents' home as soon as she turns eighteen, but that isn't the last of her being the talk of the town. She finds out that she's pregnant, and yet again she becomes the talk of the town. Catherine is the first to admit that her teen years were a bit troubled and now that six years have passed, she knows that she's changed a lot.

Beyond all the local gossip about Catherine, she really hasn't had it easy. Her relationship with her parents is strained at best. She's not without blame there also. She's working every day that she can for as long as she can to make ends me and provide a home for her daughter. And she's single momming it because Brenna's dad isn't around. But she has a few solid people in her corner, and her little girl makes life worth living. But there hasn't been a man in her life in a long time.

Brett was easy to like. He feels immense gratitude toward Catherine for saving his life, and that's kind of what starts their relationship off. Having this shared traumatic experience bonds them. They get to know each other and the relationship builds. Brett's a bit more game for things from the beginning, but Catherine's past makes it hard for her to trust Brett or his intentions. It takes a lot for her to open up and trust him, to trust that he likes her for her--ordinary as she may be--and trust that if she gives her heart to him that he's not going to rip it up and hand it back to her.

Until It Fades ended up being a feel good story for me. I enjoyed the process of Catherine and Brett developing their feelings for each other. I loved Catherine's relationship with her daughter, Brenna. I really liked her brother Jack so much that I wouldn't mind knowing more about him. Even though Brenna's relationship with her parents was rocky, I enjoyed that too. Brett's family was pretty awesome too considering their outstanding circumstances. I appreciated KA Tucker's positive use of God. Don't get confused, this isn't a religious story, but she mentioned God three times in a positive way and in today's culture and literature this was extremely refreshing for me. The physical scenes were scarce (but present), and the language was present also but not overwhelming. Until It Fades gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read Until It Fades? What did you think? Let me know!

Until it Fades brought back the feelings I had when reading my first KA Tucker book, 10 tiny breaths. The emotions are so deep and intense you can't help but be sucked in. If you like your romances to give you the feels, you will enjoy Until it Fades with it sweet storyline!

Catherine's story is one that most of us have 'heard'. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who has had a scandal at their school involving a student/teacher relationship. Catherine's parents force her to tell the police about her affair with the teacher and her reputation is ruined. She drops out of school, moves out, then finds out she is pregnant. Being a single mom who dropped out of high school wasn't what she expected for her life, but she makes the best of it. Catherine puts a human face on the post drama life for a person involved in a scandal like this. Its so easy for us to judge from the outside when we hear of a story like this, but Catherine makes you reevaluate your ideas and perception.

The hero, Brett, was wonderful! He is a professional hockey player and very swoony! Catherine, obviously, wants nothing to do with a professional athlete because that would bring attention to her and she wants none of that. Brett is determined though. I adored him as a hero because he was nothing like a stereotypical pro athlete.

Until it Fades is a slow burn romance with dynamic characters and real life issues that will create a discord with your preconceived ideas while you fall in love with Catherine and Brett! My biggest struggle was the pace of the story felt a bit slow to me; I find this is my biggest struggle with 'slow burn' romances though! While predictable, the plot was still satisfying because I so desperately wanted the HEA for these two!

UNTIL IT FADES touches on a dark subject matter 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 smittenTucker 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.

I absolutely love everything that K.A. Tucker writes. Until it Fades is a much lighter read than we normally get from K.A.. It is a standalone told from the female POV.

Catherine has been through so much in her life. A relationship she though was forever turned into a huge mistake and she was shunned from her family over it. She moves away and tries to start her life over. One night on her way home from a blind date gone wrong she comes upon a horrible accident. She saves one of the men and then hurries from the scene as she doesn't want any media attention due to her past. She is quite surprised when the man she saved comes to her door and it's professional hockey player Brett Madden. She is attracted to him but believes that someone like him would never want someone like her. She is also afraid that he will find out about her past and be sickened by it.

Brett Madden is so thankful to be alive and wants to find his savior. With a little bit of help he finds the woman who pulled him from the wreckage. He feels like he owes her everything. He doesn't expect to find a wonderful woman like Catherine. The more time they spend together the more he feels like she is the one for him. He loves Catherine and her daughter and wants to give them a better life. Will these two people from two different worlds be able to be to make a relationship work and be happy together?

I loved the connection between Catherine and Brett. The secondary characters added lots of depth to the storyline. This is a definite must read book! I can't wait to see what K.A. is working on next.

'Until It Fades' is an incredibly sweet love story about a single mom, Catherine, who has not had it easy. Not in the least. Some of her challenges were the result of youthful foolishness and its repercussions; many challenges were from the deceptions, hurts, and judgments of others. But Catherine is a fighter. Instead of wallowing in misery, she gets back on her feet, with a couple of strong hands in her corner, and takes charge of her life, challenges and all.

But despite all of Cathrine's challenges, they don't stop her from being a caring, gentle soul, who not only learned from her past, but has become a better person for it. Which leads her to risking her life to save a complete stranger. But her quiet life of staying under the radar is quickly interrupted when that stranger turns out to be hockey icon, Brett Madden.

What I really enjoyed about this story was the slow burn. You can feel the connection between Catherine and Brett right away, but there are a number of obstacles to overcome. So instead of insta-love, we get the beautiful building of a relationship, friendship, and more. I loved getting to know Catherine and Brett, and Catherine's daughter. All the things Cathrine had to consider were thoughtfully examined. And the chemistry between these two was palpable. I only wished there was a bit more focus on Brett and his time with Cathrine, as Cathrine's life and struggles tended to take center stage. But overall a sweet, touching story of overcoming the past, and finding someone who truly appreciates and loves all of who you are.

ARC provided by Atria via Netgally, but does not influence my review in any way.

Until if Fades is a heavy on the sweet, and light on the drama. It's a wonderful story about overcoming your past, really learning who your family is, making the best out of what you have, and love.

Catherine our heroine doesn't understand her over bearing mother, because of an issue that happened when Cat was a teen, their family is not well liked in their sleepy little east coast town. The beginning of the book we flip back and forth via past and present. I really enjoyed the back story, and I was able to feel what Cat was feeling when it came to her parents. When we get to the present chapters we learn Cat is a single mother that is making it the best she can. She is on her own and working as hard as she can to take care of her and her daughter Brenna.

After a horrendous blind date Catherine is witness to a horrible accident. This is where we meet Brett our hero. He is a hockey player with a heart of gold. Handsome, sweet and accepting. Catherine saves our hero from his certain death. They are then thrust together in the spotlight, but does Catherine really want all this attention?

I loved Catherine and Breena's relationship. Breena was precocious and charming. I loved that the romance between Brett and Catherine was slow. They got to fall in love gradually, and the payoff was wonderful. It was refreshing to read about a single mother, struggling to make ends meet. It's a departure from most heroines in romance novels.

What a wonderfully sweet story this book is! I fell in love with Catherine from the very first page to the end. As a teenager, she made a few mistakes and she's a really sweet girl. First, there's an inappropriate relationship with her teacher. Honestly, he was the adult, he was the one at fault. She was a young impressionable girl who thought she was in love.

Next comes a relationship that isn't healthy at all but ends with her being pregnant, alone and with a daughter. She overcomes gossip she hears about herself in her small town with small minded people. She's working to support her daughter as a truck stop waitress. All is as well as it can be until one night she rescues Brett Madden from a auto accident.

Brett isn't just some man she rescues, no, he's a hockey star and media magnet. Wherever he goes, the media is sure to follow, they love him and he loves being in a positive spotlight. The last thing Catherine wants is to be talk of the town again and with Brett, it wouldn't just be her town talking about it would be a national media frenzy.

Brett just wants to find the woman who saved him and thank her but Catherine is trying to maintain a quiet, positive life for her daughter. The chemistry she feels for him though, can't be denied but can Catherine learn to live in the public eye? Can Brett live the quiet life that Catherine craves and needs for her daughter?

Wonderfully written book and I plan on reading more of the author's work.

Where do I even begin with this book?
Simply. Perfect.
Is the best way to describe this book. Tucker never disappoints when it comes to her stories and neither did this one. Such a beautiful story that she has written that leaves you with all the feels and begging for more.

Tucker has such a beautiful, yet simple way of writing that makes the story just seem effortless. Makes the characters leap off the page and makes you feel as though you are walking along side the characters as they are making their journey.

Until it Fades follows the story of single mother Catherine and her daughter Brenna. Cath has had anything but an easy life. She's happy in Balsam with her little girl and though it may not be the most extravagant life...she has all that she needs.

But one night as she is driving home from a horrible blind date, she sees a car that has run off the road in a horrible accident. She quickly pulls over and runs over to help these people out of the car. But little does she know who she is rescuing from this accident. Brett Madden...NHL legend.

Things are about to get a whole lot crazy in Catherine's life, even if she isn't prepared for it. The media is calling her name after rescuing Brett and it's the last thing that she wants.

These two are in for a whirlwind of drama, romance, and passion. Catherine and Brett are exactly what they needed and the last thing they wanted.

Cinderella retold…..

…and very well retold! I was a little surprised at how much I liked this book. Well…ahh…because troubled young girls, wild as reindeer young girls, pregnant young girls on welfare are mostly just pitiful and not all that romantic. K. A. Tucker changed my mind about that quickly. Catherine Wright is anything but pitiful. She’s great! Strong, independent, stubborn and determined, she has carved out a pretty nice life for herself and her daughter, Brenna.

The book blurb talks about the harrowing event that first brought Catherine into contact with hockey superstar, Brett Madden. Only by reading the book can you find out just how bad it was. Believe me, it was bad. Catherine put her on life in danger to save a helpless stranger.

Brett Madden is a hockey superstar, but he’s much more. His mother is a superstar actress, known internationally. His family is very rich. You would think that Brett would be an entitled prick. You would be wrong. He is an extremely nice man who is grateful to the woman who saved him from a fiery death.

How do a rich superstar and a waitress on welfare have a chance at romance? Yeah, it felt improbable, but the author developed such a believable storyline with such beautifully developed characters that I fell right into the fairytale and enjoyed every page. You should pick up a copy and…

Enjoy!

2shay (Review from the book blog, ChezShay.online)

copy received thorough Netgalley
This is not the usual type of romance that you expect from this author. It is still as good as you would expect. The romance between Catherine and Rhett is described as a fairy tale. So it is not unique but Catherine and Rhett along with little Brenna make you fall in love with the story and with them. Catherine had a rough life. She went through a rebellious period and had a few self esteem issues. Someone that she trusted and someone that should have helped her, took advantage of that. She was ostracized by her classmates and her town. Pregnant at 18, she finds herself alone and scared. Fast forward 6 years later and we find that she has managed to eke out a quiet, modest living for her and her daughter, Brenna. After her heroic rescue of superstar Rhett, her life changes dramatically. Her privacy is invaded and secrets are exposed. On top of that, Rhett is hot! Is his attraction real or is because she saved her life? Catherine struggles with this question and takes some convincing to face her fears and move on with her life. I loved the story and the characters. They all were well developed and easy to love. Brenna added smiles and laughter with her questions and comments . Gotta love kids. Each side character added definition to the main character and helped define who they were. Great story!

Reading over the acknowledgements written at the end of this story I have to agree with a few sentences that K.A. Tucker has written there:

"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."

Wow - what else needs to be said? I concur on all of these points. I loved the "lighter" side of Ms. Tucker's writing. (although I will love any-and-all things written by her). I wouldn't necessarily call it "trope-y" all-around; there were a few twists and turns, a few places where I audibly gasped, and a few more times where I sighed happily with tears in my eyes. Brett and Catherine's friends and family are the perfect mix in this story. I loved that the relationships seemed honest and true. The term "fairy tale" was tossed a few times within the dialogue and I agree with it. And that's not a bad thing. With all the bad in this world, it's nice to pick up a book and escape into a world where even when bad things happen, you have that little flash of hope that the characters will find their fairy tale ending.

**Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review**

Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

A story of love and second chances is the main theme of K.A. Tucker's new novel "Until it Fades". Families clash and presecution follows as a woman tries to move on from her past and also care for he little daughter.

Cath wants nothing more than to be in the limelight, especially after saving Brett, a hockey player, from a car accident. But his insistence and the sparks that fly between them makes it hard to ignore. This book focused mostlyin the emotional spectrum of the characters, rather than falling in lust with each other. For once, I wanted to read about the reality of a single mother and how hard she struggles to provide for her girl.

There is some kind of fairy tale-ish in the story with its hardships and struggles but K.A. Tucker knows how to satisfy even the most demanding reader. There's nothing I would read from her and not enjoy it. :)
The romance is sweet, the guy's fasmily for ONCE in New Adult don't shun the heroine and there is of course some humorous moments too. "Until it Fades" is one enjoyable read for any lover of the NA genre.

Where do I even begin with this book?
Simply. Perfect.
Is the best way to describe this book. Tucker never disappoints when it comes to her stories and neither did this one. Such a beautiful story that she has written that leaves you with all the feels and begging for more.

Tucker has such a beautiful, yet simple way of writing that makes the story just seem effortless. Makes the characters leap off the page and makes you feel as though you are walking along side the characters as they are making their journey.

Until it Fades follows the story of single mother Catherine and her daughter Brenna. Cath has had anything but an easy life. She's happy in Balsam with her little girl and though it may not be the most extravagant life...she has all that she needs.

But one night as she is driving home from a horrible blind date, she sees a car that has run off the road in a horrible accident. She quickly pulls over and runs over to help these people out of the car. But little does she know who she is rescuing from this accident. Brett Madden...NHL legend.

Things are about to get a whole lot crazy in Catherine's life, even if she isn't prepared for it. The media is calling her name after rescuing Brett and it's the last thing that she wants.

These two are in for a whirlwind of drama, romance, and passion. Catherine and Brett are exactly what they needed and the last thing they wanted.

Cinderella retold…..

…and very well retold! I was a little surprised at how much I liked this book. Well…ahh…because troubled young girls, wild as reindeer young girls, pregnant young girls on welfare are mostly just pitiful and not all that romantic. K. A. Tucker changed my mind about that quickly. Catherine Wright is anything but pitiful. She’s great! Strong, independent, stubborn and determined, she has carved out a pretty nice life for herself and her daughter, Brenna.

The book blurb talks about the harrowing event that first brought Catherine into contact with hockey superstar, Brett Madden. Only by reading the book can you find out just how bad it was. Believe me, it was bad. Catherine put her on life in danger to save a helpless stranger.

Brett Madden is a hockey superstar, but he’s much more. His mother is a superstar actress, known internationally. His family is very rich. You would think that Brett would be an entitled prick. You would be wrong. He is an extremely nice man who is grateful to the woman who saved him from a fiery death.

How do a rich superstar and a waitress on welfare have a chance at romance? Yeah, it felt improbable, but the author developed such a believable storyline with such beautifully developed characters that I fell right into the fairytale and enjoyed every page. You should pick up a copy and…

Enjoy!

2shay (Review from the book blog, ChezShay.online)

copy received thorough Netgalley
This is not the usual type of romance that you expect from this author. It is still as good as you would expect. The romance between Catherine and Rhett is described as a fairy tale. So it is not unique but Catherine and Rhett along with little Brenna make you fall in love with the story and with them. Catherine had a rough life. She went through a rebellious period and had a few self esteem issues. Someone that she trusted and someone that should have helped her, took advantage of that. She was ostracized by her classmates and her town. Pregnant at 18, she finds herself alone and scared. Fast forward 6 years later and we find that she has managed to eke out a quiet, modest living for her and her daughter, Brenna. After her heroic rescue of superstar Rhett, her life changes dramatically. Her privacy is invaded and secrets are exposed. On top of that, Rhett is hot! Is his attraction real or is because she saved her life? Catherine struggles with this question and takes some convincing to face her fears and move on with her life. I loved the story and the characters. They all were well developed and easy to love. Brenna added smiles and laughter with her questions and comments . Gotta love kids. Each side character added definition to the main character and helped define who they were. Great story!

Reading over the acknowledgements written at the end of this story I have to agree with a few sentences that K.A. Tucker has written there:

"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."

Wow - what else needs to be said? I concur on all of these points. I loved the "lighter" side of Ms. Tucker's writing. (although I will love any-and-all things written by her). I wouldn't necessarily call it "trope-y" all-around; there were a few twists and turns, a few places where I audibly gasped, and a few more times where I sighed happily with tears in my eyes. Brett and Catherine's friends and family are the perfect mix in this story. I loved that the relationships seemed honest and true. The term "fairy tale" was tossed a few times within the dialogue and I agree with it. And that's not a bad thing. With all the bad in this world, it's nice to pick up a book and escape into a world where even when bad things happen, you have that little flash of hope that the characters will find their fairy tale ending.

**Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review**

Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

A story of love and second chances is the main theme of K.A. Tucker's new novel "Until it Fades". Families clash and presecution follows as a woman tries to move on from her past and also care for he little daughter.

Cath wants nothing more than to be in the limelight, especially after saving Brett, a hockey player, from a car accident. But his insistence and the sparks that fly between them makes it hard to ignore. This book focused mostlyin the emotional spectrum of the characters, rather than falling in lust with each other. For once, I wanted to read about the reality of a single mother and how hard she struggles to provide for her girl.

There is some kind of fairy tale-ish in the story with its hardships and struggles but K.A. Tucker knows how to satisfy even the most demanding reader. There's nothing I would read from her and not enjoy it. :)
The romance is sweet, the guy's fasmily for ONCE in New Adult don't shun the heroine and there is of course some humorous moments too. "Until it Fades" is one enjoyable read for any lover of the NA genre.

When she saves a stranger from a car crash, Catherine doesn’t expect the man to turn out to be a famous hockey star. After being involved in a scandalous relationship with her teacher years ago, she doesn’t want to attract the media’s attention. So she asks for the police to not release her name. However, the guy she saved is looking for her to thank her for what she did. She might get way more involved than she planned for.

This was a beautiful story. The heroine went through a lot to get to where she is now. She was a rebellious teenager whose life turned for the worst after making a single mistake. She’s since had to depend entirely on herself to raise her child, and it made her that much stronger.

The romance was a slow build. It basically started as a friendship and slowly grew into more. But I think that it worked very well in this book. If you’re looking for a well-written small town romance, this would be the perfect read for you!

Catherine Wright is a young, single mother working in a dead-end job as a truck stop waitress. It's hard raising a daughter in a town where people continue to judge her for things that happened when she was a teenager. She just wants to be left alone but that will be difficult when she is thrust into the spotlight once more after saving the life of professional hockey sensation, Brett Madden. Catherine isn't sure if the sparks that seem to fly when the two of them are together are real or just her imagination. Is it even possible that she is someone worth loving?

Reading this book was such a treat! Catherine had such a complicated past that really brought a depth to this story that I wasn't expecting when I first picked up the book. She is such a believable and sympathetic character that you can't help rooting for her and hoping she will get a happy ending.

I received a free copy of this book from Atria Books and that is my honest review.

I really, really, really enjoyed this book!

Honestly, my first K.A. Tucker book, and from what I've read in reviews, this one isn't her "typical" story. Doesn't matter, I FLOVED IT! I am a HUGE fan of the slow burn, and this my friends....THIS is DEFINITELY a SLOOOWWWW BUUUURRRNNN!

Catherine Wright is just a small town girl, notorious, so to speak, for her poor life choices. In her short 24 years she's already had far too drama. She just wants to live quietly and happily with her sweet precious 5 year old, Brenna (who is simply precious).

Enter Brett Madden, "hockey icon and media darling." Their meeting is so different from any I've read, and once you really get to know Brett, you can just tell how wonderful he is. Seriously, he is 99.9% perfection.

The connection is undeniable. The honesty. The complete adoration you get on every page.
They get 5 stars from me!