Pushing You Away

What can I say besides how much I loved Katie and Noah!!! 10 years of jail didn't change how Noah felt about Katie. However, Katie has changed in those 10 years. Can she forgive Noah for what happened? This story has a little of everything from heartache, to happy moments, and all that comes between. I can't wait for the next book in this duet because that ending, um.....wow!

Gabe and Katie were best friends growing up. Everyone but them seemed to know that they each had a crush on the other, one they never acted on. When Gabe confronts Katie’s cheating husband, and accidentally kills him, he goes to prison for a decade. The book picks up when Gabe is out of prison, after denying Katie the chance to write or visit him. He knows he has to make it right. Slowly, they build back up to a friendship and then more. But not everyone in their small southern town is happy Gabe is back and this first book in the duet ends in a cliffhanger. I thought both characters were relatable - they are hardworking people who are dedicated to their friends and family. I am looking forward to the conclusion! I have not read the first duet in this series - the subjects of that duet, Gemma (Gabe’s sister) and her husband Tyler, are featured in this book too. I do not feel like I missed anything but it would give you more background if you read those first. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy for an honest review.

Oh-Em-Gee!!! This is only my second time reading a Kennedy Fox book and wow this book was so good! It pulled me in from the start! Noah and Katie were wonderful and I fell in love with their story. This book is part of the Ex-Con duet series and it focuses on Noah and Katie. If you’ve read the previous duet in this series, you know Noah is Gemma’s older brother and Katie is Gemma’s best friend. This sweet and sexy, bit of a suspense, slow burn friends to lovers romance will leave you wanting more, and unfortunately that is true because now we have to wait for part 2 to find out what happens after that cliffhanger!! Kennedy Fox are the queens of cliffhangers, reel you in only to drop a bomb at the end!! Gah!! Anyway, I loved that finally Katie and Noah confess their love for one another, it didn’t drag on until the end and gave you a glimmer of HEA. This story was addicting. It flowed nicely, the characters were likeable and the chemistry between Noah and Katie was intense. I’m excited to read book 2 in this Duet and the rest of this Ex-Con Series.

FINALLY getting not only this story but the backstory! After hearing about what happened between Noah and Katie and why Noah was sent to prison in the previous books in the series, I was so extremely excited to get their story to find out what exactly happened that got them to where they were. I was NOT prepared for this though! Noah and Katie have both been in love with each other for years, but they’ve always remained in the friend zone because of the fear of rejection from the other and losing the friendship. Noah’s cousin stepped in and took Katie from him and they end up getting married and having a child, but he’s a horrible husband. And when Katie is home pregnant and sick and Noah’s cousin is at the bar with another girl, he goes to confront him, and it changes everyone’s lives forever. Flash forward to Noah’s release, and the town isn’t happy about it, including Katie because Noah has pushed her away during his sentence. But when someone tries to hurt Noah, Katie takes him in and helps to hide him, and it’s there that they not only rekindle their friendship, but finally moves into something more. The cliffhanger on this book is expected from these authors and it’s so EPIC that I truly cannot wait to find out what happens and who’s behind hurting Noah! I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Finally! Noah & Katie... This book has me all in my feels. I love Noah’s sincerity. I love Katie’s drive! Second chance, best friends to lovers romance with some serious baggage! I cannot wait for the conclusion, soooo goood!

I was very eager to start reading “Pushing You Away” because I had always wondered about Katie’s relationship with Noah and why she was so mad at him. So many questions popped into my mind while I was reading. Can Noah apologize for the sins of his past so his future will look brighter? Is it possible for him to ignore the sideways glances and rude comments as he attempts to adjust to small town living? Can Noah win back Katie after all these years? Will being honest with her about his past be enough for her to trust him again? Will the small town gossip end up being too much for either of them to handle? What bothers Noah the most is that Katie wants nothing to do with him, and I feel sorry for him because everyone deserves a second chance. Katie should be more receptive to hearing what Noah has to say, even though she is still mad that he refused to talk to her when he was in prison. She needs to put that behind her and allow Noah to become the friend to her that he once was. Noah needs her friendship now more than ever and I hope that Katie can remember the good times they had and use that to be someone that Noah can trust. He desperately wants Katie to believe that he has changed because he will do anything to be with her again. Can love conquer all or will forces beyond their control interfere with their happiness?

Noah and Katie. Katie and Noah. Best friends growing up, hiding their true feelings from one another. Until one day Gabe shows interest in Katie leaving Noah with regrets. An accident happens when Katie is pregnant leaving Gabe dead and Noah in prison. He’s so filled with guilt he pushes Katie away. Fast forward 10 years and Noah is released from prison. The first thing he wants to do is see Katie but she wants nothing to do with him because of all the hurt he inflicted on her when he ignored her. Noah is going to have a lot to make up for if he can ever get her to talk to him. This story has some angst, mystery and a lot of feelings. Good read that has me waiting on the edge of my seat for the second book.