GOING LONG (Boys of Fall ) by Cari Quinn-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 19, 2015

This time, he’ll need to hit all the right notes to win the woman he’s always loved…

Wade Bennett is used to coming in second to his seemingly perfect older brother. In high school, Colt was a star linebacker while Wade was the punter, an important job without all of the glory. When Charlene Martinez—the only girl Wade ever truly wanted—fell for Colt, Wade decided to take his chances with music and went on the road. Leaving behind his family, his best friend, Rafe, and Charlene, who had feelings for Wade she never allowed herself to feel.

Years in Nashville quickly hardened the dreamy guy who just wanted to sing and hang out with his dog. His success has given him more than enough money, even if he knows he’ll never be able to compete with his hometown hero big brother. But after Coach Carr’s heart attack, Wade comes home to help the man who helped him make the decision to chase his dreams all those years ago.

Now Wade wants to chase a new dream in his old hometown, especially since Charlene is single again after divorcing Colt. And Wade is no longer a boy unwilling to fight for what—and who—he needs.

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REVIEW: GOING LONG is an adult, contemporary romance storyline by Cari Quinn. The Boys of Fall is a three book series (released concurrently) written by Cari Quinn, Erin Nicholas and Mari Carr focusing on three former high school football stars from Quinn, Texas who are called home when their former coach suffers a stroke. This is country music star Wade Bennett and Charlene Martinez’s storyline-a friends to lover/ second chance storyline for two people who have never stopped loving one another.

The focus of the story is the rekindling of a relationship between Charlene and Wade. Years earlier Wade had fallen in love with his best friend Charlene but stepped aside when his older brother Colt-the hometown star linebacker-made a play for the girl that he loved. Wade, with his heart set on a music career, headed to Nashville where his star was on the rise. But things were about to change and Wade needed to take a breather. A call from a former friend found Wade back home and making a play for the woman he has always loved. The problem-Charlene is now his brother’s ex-wife.

The prior relationship between Wade and Charlene has already been established but quickly jumps into lovers when Wade and Charlene admit their attraction and long fought love for one another. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate, and a little bit dirty. Nowhere is off limits for our couple that find themselves in a few compromising situations around town.

The secondary characters include several of the former high school football players including Jackson Brady (Out of Bounds by Erin Nicholas) and Tucker Riley (Free Agent by Mari Carr). All three storylines run parallel and simultaneously with one another but each one can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. We are introduced to Wade’s brother Colt and their sister Hollie as well as Charlene’s brother Rafe and mama Rose-each has a different opinion about our couple’s future happiness.

There is also a slight cross over with Cari’s LOST IN OBLIVION series with the inclusion of Gray Duffy and Jazz Edwards (Twisted LIO #2). Gray and Jazz are members of the rock group Oblivion and have been partnered with Wade in an attempt to change Wade’s style of music. I am not sure if Cari will include any of Wade and Charlene’s future storyline with her Lost in Oblivion series, but it was great to see Jazz and Gray looking towards their future.

GOING LONG is a fast paced, fun, and romantic storyline with a little bit of heartbreak, romance and letting go. Cari Quinn’s hometown spin on former football stars is a reminder that one’s future does not always go as planned; there is always history; an unknown secret; and a love that has never burned out. And of course, living on past glory, gives small town storylines a case of hero worship for something that once was.

Copy Supplied by Author’s Pal

Reviewed by Sandy