Chasing Cars and the Lessons We Learned
Series: Paper Planes #3
By: Michele G Miller and Mindy Hayes
Genre: Sweet, New Adult, Contemporary Romance
(Stand Alone)
Rated: PG-13
On June 18, 1992, Flight 397 crashed off the coast of Long Island.
After Amber Pratt lost her parents, her life turned into a downward spiral. So, she did what any twenty-one-year-old would do; she quit her life to backpack across Europe.
Olle Holström was supposed to be a fling in the wilds of Finland. A detour. That is all it should have been.
It was so much more.
Olle pulls my chair out. Always a gentleman. “Thank you.”
“Ole hyvä,” he says close to my ear, his hand brushing my bare shoulder as he takes the seat next to mine. Not across, the way he did during our meal at the fortress Monday.
Everything about this night feels different. Important. Shaking the meaning of our date away, I look at the menu the hostess left. English. Well, that’s a relief. I scoot forward in my seat and peruse the offerings. My leg bouncing on the toe of my fancy shoes with nerves.
“I imagine this might not be politically correct here, but I have to tell you I’ll be mildly irritated if you order the reindeer.”
He chuckles. “You do not eat deer in the States?”
“Deer, yes. Rudolph, no.”
His shoulders shake with suppressed laughter. “It is not much different, but for you, okei.”
“I need you to be a jerk so saying goodbye won’t be so difficult.” I lean into his palm, seeking his touch.
“I am sorry. I can only be who I am.”
**
Bear with me, this may take me a minute because this whole book had me on a ride that tossed me every which way with the emotions. But it was one of those rides you don't mind being on or tossed about while on. At one point I was ready to up and move to Finland just so I could experience half the things Amber did. It all felt so real and the book felt so alive.
I didn't think I would really care for Amber’s story. I didn't care much for her in the other 2 stories and to be honest, had it taken place in the US instead of abroad I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it quite as much. But being in Finland, with a hot Finnish man, I quickly altered my precious way of thinking and began to open my mind up to her and her way of thinking. I realized I didn't know her very well and should have gave her the benefit of the doubt. It didn't take long into the story for a likeness to grow and I found myself soon after loving this girl and her character. She wasn't a bad person; just someone that made bad choices when she was younger. Haven't we all? I know I have, and really, this girl and myself were very, eerily similar in our teenage years. Yeah, I can admit that. And I turned out ok.
Then enters Olle.
Saving Amber.
Always saving Amber.
He is a fantastic man. A true blue, one of a kind guy. The kind that you better hang on to with all of your strength, because they don't make them like that anymore. And for someone that is living in the solitude wilds of Finland, he sure knows how to romance a lady. And a reader. He is still on my mind the morning after finishing this wonderful book. Swoon. Sigh. Swoon.
The last third of the book I stayed in a perpetual state of tears it seems. My heart is still recovering. My mind is still reeling. My feels are still churning. All from a gut wrenching twist these lovely ladies decided to throw in. One I never saw coming. Sure, it may have flitted through my head at one tiny blip in time, but I thought surely no. They wouldn't do that...would they? Mercy, this book shook me up!
In the end, I am still sitting here in awe of the beauty of this story and the brilliance of these authors. They told a tale that I would gladly hear over and over again. And gave me a romance that stirred my soul. I am shelving this one as one of this year’s most amazing reads and my favorite of the series. 5 Stars!!
Michele writes novels with fairytale love for everyday life. Romance is always central to her plots where the genres range from Coming of Age Fantasy and Drama to New Adult Romantic Suspense.
Having grown up in both the cold, quiet town of Topsham, Maine and the steamy, southern hospitality of Mobile, Alabama, Michele is something of an enigma. She is an avid Yankees fan, loves New England, being outdoors and misses snow. However she thinks southern boys are hotter, Alabama football is the only REAL football out there and sweet tea is the best thing this side of heaven and her children's laughter!
Mindy is the youngest of six children and grew up in San Diego, California. After attending Brigham Young University-Idaho, Mindy discovered her passion for reading and writing. Mindy and her husband have been married for eight years and live in Summerville, South Carolina.
She is the author of the YA fantasy series, The Faylinn Novels; the adult contemporary romance series, The Willowhaven Series; as well as the coming of age standalone, The Day That Saved Us.
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Ack! I'm starting Cole and Sam's book now! Gosh, I just love the OG covers. They're so artistic and fun! Can't wait for Amber's book!
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