Karina Halle is one of those authors that I love to read! I've read a range of her books and I can't think of one that I haven't enjoyed.
Title: The One That Got Away
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Sports Romance
Published: September 20th 2020
Buy Now - Amazon US | Amazon Aus
*A standalone second-chance romance*
Ruby Turner was never meant to be mine.
When I first met her, she was a fresh, young, American sports journalist trying to find her footing in a new life abroad. She was the one interviewing me for an article, yet I wanted to know more about her. She captivated me.
But she went home with Marco that night.
My agent.
My brother.
And I did what I could to pretend I was fine with it.
After all, I’m Luciano Ribeiro. As the captain of Real Madrid, and Portugal’s National Team, it’s my job to be cool, calm, and collected, not easily rattled.
Only what I felt for Ruby over time, shook me to my very core.
It made me do things I never imagined I would do.
It started with a stolen kiss in the middle of the night.
It led to a passionate tryst.
It created a burden of guilt that I had to carry, as Ruby came in and out of my life until she left for good, leaving her mark on me.
Now, seven years later, she’s back.
She was the one that got away.
I don’t think I’ll let her go this time.
But I might not have a choice.
Because my heart still belongs to her.
And her heart might belong to my brother.
Ruby Turner was never meant to be mine.
When I first met her, she was a fresh, young, American sports journalist trying to find her footing in a new life abroad. She was the one interviewing me for an article, yet I wanted to know more about her. She captivated me.
But she went home with Marco that night.
My agent.
My brother.
And I did what I could to pretend I was fine with it.
After all, I’m Luciano Ribeiro. As the captain of Real Madrid, and Portugal’s National Team, it’s my job to be cool, calm, and collected, not easily rattled.
Only what I felt for Ruby over time, shook me to my very core.
It made me do things I never imagined I would do.
It started with a stolen kiss in the middle of the night.
It led to a passionate tryst.
It created a burden of guilt that I had to carry, as Ruby came in and out of my life until she left for good, leaving her mark on me.
Now, seven years later, she’s back.
She was the one that got away.
I don’t think I’ll let her go this time.
But I might not have a choice.
Because my heart still belongs to her.
And her heart might belong to my brother.
The One That Got Away was a sweet and intense romance as I watched two characters that had an attraction, find it difficult to be with one another. Throughout most of the story you can see that they have chemistry, but it was never the right moment or there were circumstances that kept them apart.
I really felt for Ruby, right from the opening chapter and seeing her lose so much of herself in one moment. She was determined to find herself once again, trying to be involved in a sport that she loved so much. I could see the initial connection between her and Luciano, however they both found it hard to trust people and their paths went in different directions. Ruby was quite the carefree kind of character and wasn't willing to be tied down.
Luciano had parental issues and that's why he found it hard to trust people, especially as he was becoming so successful. Ruby could relate to him in that regard and I think it was one of the ways they bonded. Luciano had dreams of success, not only in his home team, but to also further his career in the big leagues.
Luciano and Ruby's story wasn't easy, especially as it took place over a number of years. I could definitely see the connection and the passion between them as they fell for one another. Family issues kept arising, making it difficult for them. I did like that this read had a small crossover from another Halle book, and those characters had an influence on Luciano and Ruby's relationship.
I really felt for Ruby, right from the opening chapter and seeing her lose so much of herself in one moment. She was determined to find herself once again, trying to be involved in a sport that she loved so much. I could see the initial connection between her and Luciano, however they both found it hard to trust people and their paths went in different directions. Ruby was quite the carefree kind of character and wasn't willing to be tied down.
Luciano had parental issues and that's why he found it hard to trust people, especially as he was becoming so successful. Ruby could relate to him in that regard and I think it was one of the ways they bonded. Luciano had dreams of success, not only in his home team, but to also further his career in the big leagues.
Luciano and Ruby's story wasn't easy, especially as it took place over a number of years. I could definitely see the connection and the passion between them as they fell for one another. Family issues kept arising, making it difficult for them. I did like that this read had a small crossover from another Halle book, and those characters had an influence on Luciano and Ruby's relationship.
I love moments where the truth is revealed and it changes everything for the characters!
“You could have contacted me first.”
“Well I knew you hated me!”
“How can I not?” he yells, arms going out. “You broke my fucking heart, Ruby! I fell in love with you. I was in love with you and you tore it all to pieces!”
My hands go to my chest, as if to keep in my own heart.
I didn’t know.
How could I have known?
“Luciano,” I whisper, my words broken and bare. I try to reach for him, but he shrugs out of my grasp.
“This was a mistake,” he says, hands going into his hair. “Meeting with you was a mistake. I knew it. I knew I was setting myself up for a big dose of mindfuckery, or however you say it.”
Kindle Page 304
“You’re a fucking angel,” he says to me, meeting my eyes with a carnal gaze. The raw lust in his voice makes me so wet that I’m clenching. “But I’m going to fuck you like the devil.”
Kindle Page 150
Karina Halle is a former travel writer & music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of The Swedish Prince, The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Bad at Love & over 45 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her adopted pup Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.
The Forbidden Man
Royal Romance series
The Wild Heir #1
The Swedish Prince #2
A Nordic King #3
The Royal Rogue #4
The Dumonts
Discretion #1
My Life in Shambles
Before I Ever Met You
Nothing Personal
Smut
Royal Romance series
The Wild Heir #1
The Swedish Prince #2
A Nordic King #3
The Royal Rogue #4
The Dumonts
Discretion #1
My Life in Shambles
Before I Ever Met You
Nothing Personal
Smut