Recent college graduate, Kayla Reynolds was ready to leave the university,
sorority life behind. Leaving her boyfriend of over three years, she packed her
bags and moved four hours south to the big city…New York City. Bright
lights, streets that never sleep, and a business lifestyle that she yearned to
have were all at her fingertips.
Kayla Reynolds was chasing her dream.
Determined and eager to make it in the corporate world, Kayla
changed everything- her image, lifestyle, and outlook on life, putting her
career first and her personal life second. That was until her first day, the
first time she got a glimpse of Miles Blackwell. Corporate CEO and part owner
of ETV, and not to mention, incredibly handsome, Miles Blackwell took Kayla by
surprise, stealing her heart as he did.
But nothing had ever come that easy for Kayla. Life had always
seemed to have a personal vendetta against her, stepping in when everything
seemed too good to be true, reminding herself of whom she really was. It wasn’t
until she met Merrick Drake that she realized when to stop; when running was no
longer an option. For the first time in her life she had someone she could
relate to; someone who wouldn’t judge- who saw the person she was inside. She
and Merrick connected…on more levels than one.
When life was too much to handle, they ran.
But there was only one person that could make Kayla stop for good.
Only one man that made her want to stay.
Would Kayla finally stop running or would it all be too much to
handle?
The thing that I love most about Ashley's writing is that she really makes you feel as if you are there with the characters living their lives. You really get to know her character without getting facts spewed at you. It a natural process, as if you have known these people all your life and you fall easily into the going ons in their lives. With Running from Forever, the same thing can be said.
All of the characters, including the supporting characters, are well written and enduring. I loved Kayla and her ease with Merrick and her passion with Miles. Once you start one of Ashley's books, its hard to put it down. Before you know it, you are taken on a journey that will most likely have you laughing at times or drying an escaped tear. I love Ashley's work and can't wait for another great book to settle down with soon!
She let out an
exasperated breath. “No. No, I gotta figure this out.” She turned to face me,
legs crossed, intertwined. “I don’t know what to do, Merrick.”
I felt it in my chest. She was lost, pleading for help. I
didn’t know if I was the best person to help her. I’d lived just as fucked up a
life myself. From the age I could run, I did, staying at friend’s houses almost
every day of the week, stopping home quick after school just to make sure my
mom hadn’t overdosed and was dead on the floor. I did this almost my whole
life…up until I ran here.
“I can’t really help you, babe, if I don’t know what
happened,” I told her as sympathetically as I could, looking into her sad eyes.
Even if I wasn’t the most qualified person to give advice, I wanted to help,
but I also needed to know what happened first.
Kayla rubbed her face with her hands, keeping them over
her eyes for a minute longer. She was thinking; questioning if she was ready to
spill. I didn’t want to force her to do it, so I sat there quietly. I wish I
could just sweep her up and run far, far away; take her away from all the bad
in her life permanently, but that would mean I had to run again, and I was done
running. I couldn’t do it anymore.
“I loved him.” Her voice was a whisper. She removed her
hands from her face but only to look down to her crisscrossed feet. She
couldn’t look at me while she told me, and I was okay with that. “I let my
guard down when I knew I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help it.”
What inspired you to write your first book? My high school
years. I was in a YA reading spree, reading everything YA, and it got me
reminiscing about how my young adult years were. Only problem was, my life
wasn’t YA….
How did you come up with the title? Planning on Forever actually was a few
different titles before being published. It’s first one was Closure. The second
one was Letting Go, but neither of them sat well with me. Then one day Planning
on Forever popped into my head and I loved it. There really wasn’t anything
significant about it- it just fit.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about
their work? I actually don’t have one specific favorite author. Some of my favorites are Colleen Hoover, Rebecca Donovan, Karina Halle, Abbi
Glines, Jamie McGuire…they’re all incredibly talented, and authors I aspire to
be.
Who is is current/favorite book boyfriend? Travis Maddox. EVERY
TIME I read an excerpt or quote of any kind with him my heart does crazy
things.
Which character in Running From Forever do you connect
with the most? Why? Hmm. Good question. Probably Merrick, and that’s why
it didn’t really surprise me when everyone that has read it demanded his own
book. He’s just a likable guy- normal- well, kind of. But I found the words
flowing effortlessly when I was writing in his point of view, and I’m noticing
the same thing as I write his story right now.
If you could take one book with you on vacation, what would it be and
why? Waiting on Forever. I don’t know why, but I have a strong emotional
attachment to that book. I love it. I cry and get all swarmed with butterflies
every time I read it. And by the way, it’s the only book by me that I have EVER
read again after publishing.
What can we expect to see from you in the future?
Right now, I’m working on Merrick’s book, Permanent Lines. It’s a standalone-
will not be considered part of The Forever Series. I have a book that has been
lingering in my head that I really would like to write- Kate’s List. It’s
NOTHING like any of my other books. The characters are actually much older-
middle aged. Then I promised a follow up book to Summer Rush that I plan on
getting out in 2014.
Tell us one unique fact about yourself.
I’m incredibly quiet and shy in new environments and/or around people I
don’t know. Meeting new people is not one of my strongest points. I can talk to
people online just fine, but in person, over the phone…it takes a lot of
willpower to work through it. So if you ever meet me in person and I seem
stand-off-ish at first, it’s not you, it’s me!
Some may consider me a jack of all trades, but I consider myself
well rounded.
I've waitressed, styled hair, answered phones and, most recently,
worked full time as mom to my two beautiful little boys.
Then there was this
book… Everyone and their brother started talking about this book series titled
Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James. I didn't really pay attention to the craze at
first, since I wasn't a big reader- okay, I didn't read at all. But curiosity
got the best of me, so I downloaded it to my kindle.
I was immediately hooked.
I read the whole series in three days. Yes, three books in three days.
I kept
finding all these great books that I HAD to read (just ask my credit
card!).
Then I started hearing voices. Voices that turned into stories; stories
that were begging to get out of my head.
I started writing them down on scraps of
paper. Then I transferred them to my computer. Before I knew it, Planning on
Forever was born.
The voices in my head are still talking, so I’m still
writing.
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