When Katherine “Kate” leaves for her freshmen
year at college, a grounded and stable piece of her is missing. She
pushes away the ghosts of her past, determined to start her college life
single, carefree and distracted.
Throughout high school Kate was reserved and shy,
with little experience. Now, on her own, with little holding her back,
Kate is ready to branch out. She bonds with a tight knit group of friends
and even starts casually dating. What starts out as innocent flirting on
the tennis courts slowly turns into a friendship and eventually something more
complex. Reed comes into her life giving her the distraction she craves
more than anything; but is she ready to give her heart away so easily?
Things get complicated when Kate’s ex-boyfriend
and first love continues to pursue her. Kyle deeply regrets breaking her
heart when he left for college the year before and is now on a mission to
reclaim her. Kyle’s persistence and relentlessness is nothing short of
obsessive. He will stop at nothing to win her back and prove his love.
Kate finds herself torn between her past and the
unknown of the future. Her determination to stay distracted may just be
her downfall or the beginning of something new and wonderful.
I don’t even care that there are now
three different girls talking to Reed. I
sneak up behind him and tap him on the shoulder. He turns around and the look of shock and
surprise on his face causes me to start giggling. He turns completely around with his back to
the other three girls and gives me a smile that touches his blue eyes. His squared jaw highlights his smile
perfectly. In this instant of a moment I
decide I want to kiss Reed even if it’s just for fun and to forget.
“You’re kidding me. Wow! I
can’t believe you came here.”
“I told you we would. You didn’t think I would do it, did you?”
“Honestly, no, but I was hoping. I never see you out on the weekends anymore,
so this is a great surprise.”
We stand there for a minute and then he
orders me a beer. I take it, but nurse
it. I’ve had a bit much already and
don’t want the spins. He asks me and
Quinn to play a game of pool with him and Matt.
Matt wants to play girls against guys, but Reed says no way that he
wants me on his team. I warn him that I
am not that good, but alcohol may help my case.
We play the game and I actually do
pretty well. Reed touches me every
chance he gets and is very flirty. It’s
my turn and I have to bend over to make a shot, but to be honest I forget that
I have a dress on.
“Shit, Katherine,” he lets out in a bit
of gruff tone and walks up behind me to cover me.
I laugh at him. “Oops, I forgot about my dress.”
“You look good enough as it is and now
with a dress on. Jesus, I don’t need to
get in a fight.” He is still pressed
behind me as I continue to make my shot.
I miss completely because to be honest I’m completely distracted.
“I doubt anyone noticed, but thanks for
protecting me.” He steps back and I turn
around. I decide to be bold and kiss his
cheek.
“Trust me, you were noticed.” He moves a piece of hair from my face and the
touch sends a chill through me. “God,
you are so beautiful.”
Kate is ready to start college. She is ready for a new life, ready for the distraction of something new and to escape the pain that she feels when she is home. With a mother that has disappeared and an ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, no all of a sudden wanting back in.
College life is a new start and before she knows it, not only is her ex, Kyle, vying for her attention but also a new friends Derek and Marco plus the campus hottie, Reed. Even though Kyle has been anything but the perfect boyfriend, a small part of her heart is still longing for Kyle. Derek just doesn't give her the butterflies she was looking for, Marco is great but a Senior and Reed is just too far out of her league. Kate decides to just take things slow and remain friends with Derek, Marco and Reed. Kyle pursues her to no end and finally convinces Kate to give them a second chance. Even though she has her doubts, she gets back together with him.
Kate settles into life on campus and her new friends. Kyle is not too excited about being at a different college than her and his jealously moves into overdrive. Then one day, Kyle breaks her heart all over again. She's done running back to him. And her friendship with Reed turns a new leaf too.
I really loved the flow of the book. It was a smooth, quick read with great story telling. There is a cliffhanger in this book with left me shouting at my kindle. But I can't wait to see where the story goes next. Kyle is annoying, Derek and Marco are cute and Reed is OMG!!! plus her friends are fun and witty. Looking forward to more great books from Melissa.
4 stars.
Melissa Rolka grew up in the Chicagoland area all
of her childhood and has always had a love of writing. She started by keeping a
journal at a young age and then in high school she started writing poetry. A
couple poems were published anonymously. Then in college she majored in
Philosophy, which required lots and lots of writing. After graduating from
Marquette University she traveled west to Los Angeles. There she worked for the
Writers Guild of America and found herself submerged in the writers world. She
worked on small writings, but never pursued them. On the side she became
involved with a small theater group. Eventually she made her way back to the
Midwest, where her heart belongs, and worked in business for several years. She
found love, got married and has two beautiful children. Being at home has
allowed her to keep following her love of reading and writing.The Perfect
Distraction is her first full length novel. A second continuation of this story
is in the works with hopes for a third. When Melissa is not writing she is
caring for, playing with and loving her two kids. In between taking care of her
family and writing she almost always has her nose buried in her Kindle.
Book Trailer
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