The One That Got Away

A.J. Pine

Apr 2016 · Kingston Ale House Book 1 · Sold by Entangled: Select Contemporary

About this ebook

"I loved this fun road-trip romance with two friends you immediately know should be a whole lot more!" — Cindi Madsen, author of Anatomy of a Player

Jaime and I have been best friends—forever. Like, awkward teenager with braces forever. We barely crossed the line once, a million years ago, with a kiss, but we didn’t let it ruin what we have. He’s charming, hardworking, and no one makes me laugh till it hurts like him. Now we’re on a road trip to California, and he’s surprising me at every turn—helping me overcome my fear of heights, belting out my favorite songs, and looking way sexier with his shirt off than a best friend is supposed to.

I’ve been in love with Brynn for as long as I can remember. She’s sweet, sexy and brilliant and bottom line, there’s no one else I’d rather be stuck in a car with for the next five days. Except, she keeps talking about this other guy she’s got her sights set on. I made the mistake of letting her go once before. Now, I’m going to have to prove that the only guy she needs is right in front of her.

Each book in the Kingston Ale House series is STANDALONE:
* The One That Got Away
* Six Month Rule
* Three Simple Words
* Worth the Wait

Ratings and reviews

This is the first book in what should be a fantastic series. I really enjoyed this one and thought Jamie and Brynn were great together. There is a lot of flashbacks so the past to present and alternate POV's are a bit distracting at first but once you work through all that the overall story is fantastic. I'm not sure the author could have made us understand the characters without the flashbacks so good call on her part. The fact that Jamie wasn't willing to give up and walk away was proof of how strongly he cared for Brynn. Knowing this will be his last opportunity for him to get to see them as more than friends, Jamie convinces Brynn to go on a road trip to their high school reunion. As the miles and time goes by and past hurts and pains are realized, feelings are made clear, and the only thing left for these two is to decide if they want to take the chance that is waiting for them. An awesome read and I can't wait for the next one! I highly recommend this book.

Cross-country game of Romance Chicken Jamie and Brynn belong together. Everyone can see it, they each believe it, but the catch (and the whole crux of the story) is that neither believes that the other believes it, and neither wants to be the one that risks the friendship by declaring themselves only to face rejection. So yes, the plot and the resulting HEA are a bit predictable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Our faith in the story's trajectory is only surpassed by Brynn and Jamie's faith in their friendship, despite the underlying tension. I really enjoyed the minor ups and downs as the road trip from Chicago to LA forces them to confront their feelings, their doubts, their insecurities, as well as all the things that have sustained them over the many years of their friendship. Even when they're certain the romance can't work out, the friendship is always solid, and I appreciated the stability of that foundation. The writing is superior, the humor is only slightly outpaced by the love and physical expression of it, and the HEA is joyously triumphant. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Love, friendship and forever. All are risky ventures on their own but when the heart is involved these feelings become even scarier because someone else is allowed to see the most vulnerable parts of you. The One That Got Away is beautifully penned look at the ups and downs of an ever changing relationship. Brynn and Jamie know that with the connection shared more is the next step but are fearful of pulling the trigger. As each individuals feelings are explored all of the deep seated anxieties that drive them start to surface. In the end each has to decide if having something more is worth taking a chance on. AJ Pine has written a humorous yet deeply moving romance that is empathetic and enjoyable storytelling. Lots of charm as well as heart.

About the author

AJ writes stories to break readers' hearts, but don't worry--she'll mend those hearts with a happily ever after...maybe. The first book she wrote was YA, but now she's two-timing her first love with NA. She's always in the middle of reading two to three books, adores online shopping (everything from groceries to shoes), and she still loves vampires, whether it's Eric Northman or the Salvatore brothers. When she's not writing, AJ is sneaking off to her day job as a high school English teacher or hanging with her husband and kids in the Chicago burbs.