Book review: Between Now and Heartbeak ~ Dylan Allen

Title: Between Now and Heartbreak
Author: Dylan Allen
Series: Forever #2
Release date: November 4, 2019
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 306
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
I received this book from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

He’s searching for the truth.
I’m living a lie.
And as much as we want to,
we can’t stay away from each other.

Falling for Carter nearly cost me everything.
To save myself I made a deal with the devil.
Now, I’ve got a second chance and more to lose than ever.
So when he makes it clear he wants me back,
I vow not to make the same mistake twice.

Carter has learned his lesson, too.
He’s done making promises.
This time, he’s staking his claim.
He already owns a piece of my heart,
But he won’t settle for less than all of me.
And by the time his seduction is done, I’ll want to give it to him.

But I made promises I have to keep.
And the devil I owe has come to collect his due.

After that ending of the previous book, I needed Between Now and Heartbreak so badly. I had so many questions and thoughts about what could happen next. Beth and Carter are both trying to move on, but both are hurting. I love this second part of their story, but I really need Beth and Carter to be happy, and together.

To the outside world Beth seems to be a happy woman; rich, good-looking and with a set future. But inside she’s oh so broken. She misses Carter and how he makes her feel, and she can’t make her own choices anymore. Well, she can, but making a different choice has consequences she can’t face. Carter isn’t the happiest either. He thinks a lot about Beth, and he’s trying to find out the truth about his own past. In each other, Beth and Carter find the peace and love they so much need, but sadly it’s not the time for their Happily Ever After yet.

My heart breaks for Carter and Beth. The love between them is so real, but circumstances keep getting between them. And I’m not talking about easily solved issues. Beth and Carter have a lot of personal matters to deal with; hidden pasts, untold truths and evil relatives. Every time you think it can’t get worse; another horrible curve ball is thrown at them. Dylan Allen is so kind to remind us about the Prologue of Between Now and Forever in her Afterword of this book, so you know all will be okay. But still, Beth and Carter have to face a lot before they can be truly together.

I love Between Now and Heartbreak, with all its angst and hurt. I give it 5 stars.

 

Excerpt

“I’m going to kiss you, now,” Carter says it like he’s giving a dire warning.

“My goodness, you’re presumptuous,” I sigh, but don’t pull away. I couldn’t. His mouth is so close. That song was so beautiful and catchy. God, talk about talent.

“Fortune is on my side tonight. So, I’m going for broke. Let me kiss you,” his voice is rumble.

I’m giddy with whatever is happening, but… “Carter you said we’d just be friends.”  I lick my lower lip and his eyes dart to it and he moves closer to me. His big hands move so that he’s cupping head.

“No, you said. I told you it was a terrible idea.” His voice is all  seduction and mischief. A  million humming birds flutter in my chest at the perfectly wicked smile he’s wearing as he brings his face toward mine.

His eyes glitter green hued promises that make heat curl in my belly, and alarm bells ring in my head.

“What are—”

His lips press softly to mine and cut off my words. My breath catches in my throat and my eyes flutter shut at the touch. His lips are soft, warm and his kiss is as light as gossamer. He starts to pull away and before I can think, I’ve slid a hand into his thick soft hair and I’m pulling his mouth back to mine. He chuckles before he covers my lips with his, shoves a hand into my hair and slides his tongue into my mouth.

And holy God, does it feel good. His hands are everywhere, running down my back, cupping my ass, pushing into the hot space between my legs through the fabric. His fingers find the heat and wet that is building and spilling from me. Through the cotton gusset of my panties, his fingers are blunt and hard and demanding and so good.

I want him. I want him. I want him.

I want everything so much I can’t breathe.

I’m desperate to feel him where I need him.

There’s an ache that started blooming the night I met that only he has been able to soothe.

I groan and grind into his fingers until I feel just a taste of what I know is to come.

“Please,” I whimper and press down.

Suddenly he breaks our kiss, and pulls his hand away from me  with a curse.  and presses his forehead to mine. I keep my eyes closed while I try to catch my breath and still my thundering heart.

“I’m leaving, Beth. It’s time for me to go back home.”