Never Tear Us Apart

Monica Murphy

Jan 2016 · Never Book 1 · Sold by Bantam

About this eBook

The first novel in this darkly sexy contemporary series from bestselling author Monica Murphy kicks off an emotionally powerful two-part tale of forbidden love.

Crazy how eight years can disappear in an instant. One look at Katie Watts, and I’m a fifteen-year-old again—the one who risked everything to save a terrified girl from her twisted kidnapper. She’s grown-up now—beautiful, quiet, composed—and telling her story to the world. A story that involves me in more ways than you can imagine. She used to call me her guardian angel. Sure, I risked my life, but she was worth dying for.

I need to make contact with her. Just to ensure that she’s safe.

Somehow we reconnect. We become friends . . . but I want more. I want to make her mine. And she wants me too. Does she know who I am? Has she figured me out? Not yet. But she will. In the meantime, I need to make sure that whatever hold that animal had on her is gone.

So, yeah, I’m stealing these moments with her. Savoring them. Knowing, dreading, that she’ll soon find out who I really am. And everything will fall apart. All because of that twisted, perverted monster sitting on death row. Her kidnapper. A convicted serial killer.

My father.

Praise for Never Tear Us Apart

“All the best parts of romance and betrayal . . . I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.”—New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover

“A powerful story that left me raw yet hopeful.”—USA Today bestselling author K. A. Tucker

“A powerful story of friendship, trauma, coping and betrayal. The characters jump off the page into real life and will have readers gasping and feeling every emotion that they go through. Another amazing book to add to Murphy’s already stellar library!”—RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars)

“Murphy has written a compelling and emotional love story of two severely broken people, each of whom can be healed only by the other.”—Booklist

“Murphy imbues these characters with genuineness and plausibility. . . . [Readers] will look forward to the promised sequel.”—Publishers Weekly

“It’s poetic, addresses difficult themes, and captures the essence of our fragility as humans and the strength love provides.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers

“Beautiful, poignant, and perfectly written . . . It’s a book that burrows into your very heart and grabs hold. A book that’s different yet unforgettable.”—Dirty Girl Romance

Ratings and reviews

My rating 3.75 of 5 stars After reading Never Tear Us Apart by Monica Murphy it's hard to put my feelings into words. This book overwhelmed me. The subject matter is as haunting as it is heartbreaking. No one deserves what Ethan and Katie had to endure. What stuck out most in my mind are the first person narratives. It made the story come alive and the experiences more real. The fear, the brokenness and the slowly developing connection built from the unbelievable sorrow and pain. I don't gravitate to these type of stories but when they happen to find me I don't shy away either.

***ARC received in exchange for an honest review - Sanne / Scandalous Book Blog*** A bittersweet story about agony and pain and the road to finding yourself again. Katie my sweet sweet girl. Who thought a trip to the fair could go so terribly wrong? Ethan the son of a ruthless man. Will he conquer his demons and get his happy ending? What do these two have in common? One is the captive, the other the savior. It is with a heavy heart that I’m writing this review. This story has really touched me to point I simply can’t find the words. What I do know is that I’m already highly anticipating the sequel! Note: *This story is told in multiple p.o.v.’s and switches between the past and present.

Reading this book has been such an emotional roller coaster for me. We find out what happened to Katie and how she's dealing with all of it. We meet Will and Ethan and see the roles they play in Katie's life. I didn't really feel the "love story" in this book. It may have gotten lost in the serious drama of Katie's story. It's difficult to explain the connection between Katie and Will. He was her hero and he rescued her. Eight years later, after some lies and deceptions, they reconnect and their bond snaps back into place. Only now, they're adults and the attraction between them is there. I felt that the lies and deceptions when on way too long. So long, that Will's obsession with Katie started to feel wrong. And then everything comes crashing to a halt. CLIFFHANGER!!!! Yes, it's a cliffhanger but the story is compelling enough that I MUST come back for book 2. I love the writing style of this author and can't wait to see what happens to Katie!

About the author

Monica Murphy is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of One Week Girlfriend, Second Chance Boyfriend, Three Broken Promises, Four Years Later, Owning Violet, Stealing Rose, Taming Lily, and the eBook novella Drew + Fable Forever. A native Californian, she lives in the foothills of Yosemite with her husband and three children.