Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala
Publisher & Release: Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 28, 2018
Time and setting: Present Day, Blessings, GA
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Length: 320 Pages
Heat Level: 1 Flame
Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
After a crime pitted their families against each other, high school sweethearts Phoebe Ritter and Aidan Payne were forced to say a tearful goodbye. Phoebe stayed behind in Blessings, Georgia, while Aidan and his father left town for good.
Twenty years later, after the death of his grandfather, Aidan comes home to Blessings—only to discover he has a nineteen-year-old son. Aidan is hurt but thrilled to meet Lee. And as Aidan and Phoebe spend more time together, they realize their old feelings are as strong as ever. But with a complicated past riddled with drama and betrayal, can they truly forgive and forget?
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Excerpt:
Seeing the porch light on as she pulled up to the house was just like old times. He'd done that since he'd been old enough to stay home alone, and she'd missed it. She grabbed her things, ran up the steps, and let herself into the house.
"I'm home," she yelled.
"Me, too," he yelled back.
She laughed. Just like old times. She left her purse on a table as she hurried into the kitchen, and found Lee at the stove, heating up food.
He gave her a big hug.
"I waited for you," he said. "Go change and get comfy. I'll set the table while you're gone."
"Wonderful!" Phoebe said, and hurried down the hall to her room.
She changed out of work clothes into a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt, and changed work shoes for sandals, washed up and hurried back to the kitchen.
"You cooked," she said, eyeing the table and the inviting food.
"I just added some baked beans and fries to the ribs and slaw. Sit, Mom. Let me wait on you tonight."
"I won't argue," Phoebe said, and smiled at him when he brought glasses of sweet iced tea to the table, followed by the food.
After filling their plates, they began to talk as they ate.
"My grade point for the year is 4.0 and I was accepted into an accelerated Physics program next semester," Lee said.
Phoebe beamed. "Oh, Lee, congratulations. I'm so proud of you. I know you didn't get that from me."
Lee took a deep breath. "Did I get it from my father?"
Phoebe's smile slipped a little. The sorrow she lived with was once again, evident on her face.
"Yes. He was very smart."
Lee ate a few more bites, then took his phone from his pocket, pulled up the picture, and pushed it toward her.
Phoebe smiled. "A new girlfriend?"
He shook his head, then waited as she looked down.
Her fork clattered onto the table. She pressed a hand over her mouth, but it didn't muffle the moan.
He grabbed her arm. "Mom. Are you okay?"
"Where did you...oh my God. That's the store parking lot."
She looked up. "You took this today."
He nodded. "I saw him by accident. Wasn't for sure, so I took a picture, then came home and compared it to yours. He's older, but it's him, isn't it, Mom? That's my father."
She nodded, then started to cry.
Across town, Aidan was already asleep, more at ease in this old house in Blessings, than he was in his New Orleans home, sleeping with the best security system money could buy. But there was no way to control where sleep took him, or enough locks on a door to keep Phoebe out of his dreams.
****
He saw Phoebe running toward him. He'd been waiting for days and days for her to come but she had not. She'd been part of the people who'd shunned them, and seeing her now, the pain in his heart hurt so much it was hard to draw breath.
"I'm sorry," she said.
He hardened his heart and turned away.
"Don't leave," she cried. "I'm sorry, so sorry."
He remembered how soft her lips were against his mouth, and how her body curled into his when they embraced, and kept walking.
"Aidan, please," she begged.
He wanted to bury his face against her hair and cry, but he didn't, and then the dream hit fast-forward and they were driving away and she was running behind them, but this time she didn't stop. She was behind their car as they drove out of town. She was running right behind their car all the way to the interstate, and then all of a sudden she was gone. He turned around in the seat, searching for sight of her, but she had disappeared.
He was screaming at his Dad, "turn around, turn around. We can't leave Phoebe behind."
Vikki’s Musings
Sharon Sala is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me. I truly enjoy the Blessings series so was pleased when I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.
Come Back to Me is a heart-warming second chance romance, one of my favorite troupes. As always, Ms. Sala weaves the many engaging characters throughout the story. While at times, I had to slow down my reading when she goes from one character’s POV to another, I am becoming used to her writing style.
Phoebe’s character is endearing, and she is a nurture which is my favorite archetype. Her willingness to put her life on hold for her son is a selfless act few women would make. If that was her only reason she has not allowed a man in her life, I might have a harder time believing it. Her love for Aidan just would not die. Since I’m a romantic at heart, this melted me into a puddle of goo.
Aidan is a mix of the warrior and best friend archetype and a refreshing change from the typical male hero in most romances. I loved him from the start. His sincerity and willingness to take responsibility for his part in what happened between him and Phoebe stole my heart.
The romance between Phoebe and Aidan is a deeply emotional one that tugged at my soul. Yet there is a playful side to it as well. I truly wanted them to find their happy ending.
If you enjoy small town romances with an array of delightful and funny characters with a beautiful love story added in, then you will love
Come Back to Me as much as I did. I look forward to more novels set in the quaint and friendly town of Blessings. Happy reading!
Author Bio:
Sharon Sala is a long-time member of RWA, as well as a member of OKRWA. She has 115 books and novellas in print, published in six different genres – Romance, Young Adult, Western, Fiction, and Women’s Fiction and Non-Fiction. First published in 1991, she’s an eight-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, five-time Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine, five time winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award, and five time winner of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence, winner of the Heart of Excellence Award, as well as winner of the Booksellers Best Award. In 2011 she was named RWA’s recipient of the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2017 Romance Writers of America presented her with the Centennial Award for recognition of her 100th published novel.
Her books are New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-sellers. Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate.
