A sweet debut book with a different look at a second chance romance. I enjoy the writing style of the author and hope to read more from her in the future.

An awesome second chance romance when life throws obstacles you can't get past and then get another chance, obstacles still exist, but are they as important as before?

Rekindled lesbian romance set during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The characters are complex and intriguing. This is the author’s first book and I will be keeping an eye for future work from her because this book kept me going from start to finish.

Well written story with a history based on the damaging Don’t Ask Don’t Tell era of the military. Enjoyable love story.

Something Between Us is a solid debut from Krystina Rivers. Overall, I enjoyed the story. Both the main characters, Quinn and Kirby, were relatable and had good chemistry between them. This second chance romance has a good mix of angst, humor, and romance/heat. There were some instances where the plot drivers felt contrived or like there were multiple introduced for the sake of intrigue. But it did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. I thought the flashbacks near the beginning of the book were well handled. They provided the background they were meant to without taking away from the story in the present. I look forward to seeing future works from Rivers. And will probably visit Quinn and Kirby again at some point.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC ebook from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for this review.

I absolutely love a second chance romance, I'm a believer that one moment in time does not define a person and that's exactly the message Krystina Rivers wants readers to take away from this perfect lesbian romance. It took me two days to read this, I couldn't put it down! I love the mystery of why Quinn and Kirby were apart, the condo miss happenings, and why Kelly wasn't a Quinn's biggest fan. Those were my main questions and they were wrapped up and answered beautifully. I would definitely recommend this book as a 5/5!

A great debut book with a different approach at second chance romance. I enjoy the writing style of the author and hope to read more from her

🇺🇲 Review: Something Between Us

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Romance, LGBTQIA

🇺🇲 Synopsis: A decade after her heart was broken under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Kirby runs into her first love and has to decide if whats still between them is enough to heal her broken heart.

🇺🇲 This is my first time ever reading a romance story between a same sex couple, and I really dig it. Love is love and it comes in many forms, Kirby and Quinn's love is no exception. From how they fell in love, to how Quinn broke her heart, and then how years later they found their way back to each other. I found myself cheering for their love to prevail. It's a lovely story with likeable characters, a little bit of spiciness, and not to mention how it touches on the struggles of coming out to ones family. It was a bit slow at times but other than that it was a great novel.

#bookstagram #bookworm #lgbtqia #romance #lesbianlove #krystinarivers #netgalley #boldstrokesbooks #pridemonth #loveislove #somethingbetweenus

With plenty of chemistry, a great storyline, and a setting you can picture, this is a great story! Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I will definitely read more by Krystina Rivers

I loved getting to know both Quinn and Kirby, who felt like such realistic characters. It was as if I knew them both intrinsically and it made me completely invested in their romance. The chemistry between both characters was fantastic and I can't thought the novel from this point.

Although I really enjoyed this novel, I think the first half drove my engagement with it. The second half of the novel slowed in pace, which was a shame as I think this overall this was a really strong debut.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really enjoyable second chance romance for a new author. I love second chance romances so I was excited to dive into this one.

Something Between Us follows Kirby Davis and Quinn Prescott who secretly dated for years while in the military under DADT. When circumstances forced them apart, both were broken up about it. Fast forward 10 years and now both are discharged and living in the same part of Chicago and keep running in together, and they can't help but remember the feelings they used to have- but remember the heartbreak too.

I liked this! As a second chance romance fan this hits all the buttons you want it too. The yearning mixed with hesitation is all there. Also the reasons the two keep running in together felt very organic to me and well thought out.

I loved both Quinn and Kirby, but I felt particularly close to Kirby. Both characters were fleshed out well and didn't feel shallow but I definitely loved Kirby most.

There were definitely some pacing issues, but I think I'm going to chalk those up to Rivers being a new author.

This was an enjoyable book even if some pacing issues, and I'm definitely looking forward to future releases by Rivers. 4.25/5

Thank you to BSB and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book, it's a well written romance that also explores and shows the impact of don't ask, don't tell on individuals and their relationships, which I found quite moving and insightful. The author makes good use of her experience and also of the opportunities to represent Chicago in a way that is very appealing. The characters are well rounded, as are the relationships between family and friends and also the sweet dog. Good escapism, with some substance.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I believe this is the debut book from Ms. Rivers and it was a very sweet read. Being a second chance love story, the kind I do so enjoy, we are introduced to Kirby and Quinn years after they have broken up-or I should say Quinn broke up with Kirby due to Don't Ask Don't Tell rumors about Quinn. The story does a wonderful job of slowly giving us the full picture, through well thought out flashbacks, of what happen and why Kirby is the way she is towards Quinn when they start to bump into each other over the weeks.

I really enjoyed that this book is set in the midwest (Chicago), I find we don't get many stories based around this area (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana) and I loved how the author really gave us a great environment that I could really feel Lake Michigan breeze!

The MC were very well written and relatable, even though as we learn of the history, Quinn is a bit unlikable but the circumstances and upbringing of Quinn does make one a bit sympathetic. I actually started to get perturbed with Kirby with the push and pull going on with her, but again all understandable and well written that you can't help but cheer for them both.

Though this is primarily a love story, there is a bit of mystery the author pulls into the storyline. I kind of wished there was more around that, it gave the story a bit of a twist but since it seemed more of an afterthought kind of storyline (they didn't even look at the papers for weeks) I wondered why it was even in the arch-I know it was a reason to bring the MC together but I just feel is was just a bit to thin to believe.

All in all a very good debut book, I look forward to more stories from this author.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Second Chance romance with Midwestern flair

Very solid debut novel by Krystina Rivers. A second chance romance with very relatable MC's who make mistakes. I enjoyed the back an forth between present day and the past as it gave me an insight in the dynamic between them then and also how both of them have changed in the past decade.

There is no denying that Quinn and Kirby are soulmates and I love how they are around each other. Despite their rough past, the universe keeps throwing them together and I liked how different they both handled that.

If you like second chance romancces, this is definitely one to pick up.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed ‘something between us’ it is a cute, wholehearted read about second chances. Even tho the story has been ‘done’ before I always find myself content where second chances are involved, and become more involved with the storyline.
The main characters both had sparks from the onset, at the beginning of the story I was feeling sorry for Kirby, but if I'm honest, she started to get on my nerves with her whining by the end of the book and it seemed to be dragged.
All in all ‘ something between us’ is a heartwarming story, that includes finding heartbreak, finding love, and family.

I'll be watching out for further realise’s by this new author.

I've given ‘something between us’ a 3.8/5

I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Life can be defined in moments. Sometimes you make all the right choices until that one moment in which you make one wrong choice and your life is never the same again. Quinn and Kirby know that better than anyone. The lives of these two ex-military women were changed by one moment in time, one bad decision. That is, until now. Fate keeps throwing these strong and caring women into each other's paths, giving them the opportunity to heal and find their happy endings. Will they be able to forgive and trust again?
A book that makes you keep turning the page, with characters you can connect with and root for, "Something Between Us" is a book that will make you fall in love with the characters and cherish second chances.

Well done. This is a second chance romance story. Quinn chose the Navy over her girlfriend Kirby 10 years ago during the Don't Ask Don't Tell Era. They accidentally bumped into each other at gay Pride and then on a few other occasions. They gradually started forming a friendship, but it was clear that they both still loved each other. I thought it was a great read and I enjoyed the journey that unfolded between both of the Main Characters.
4.5 stars

Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

3.5⭐️ – Nine years after Quinn chose the Navy over their relationship, Kirby literally stumbles onto her ex and all the feelings she thought she had dealt with come rushing back. It doesn’t help that she keeps meeting Quinn in all her favourite places, nor that Quinn is as beautiful as she ever was. After what she now knows was the biggest mistake of her life, Quinn has resigned herself to a solitary life but what if all these chance meetings was fate pushing them back together?

As with many debuts, the writing in Something Between Us has room to grow and it could have benefited from tighter editing. The characters, however, are solid. Not always likeable but relatable. The reason for the 80% breakup is so flimsy, I was glad to see the character’s friend call her out on it. It’s not flimsy because the author lacks imagination, it’s flimsy because the character is hurting and scared. It gave both women the opportunity to empathize with each other and strengthen their relationship.

The fact that said relationship started while they were both in the military, had to hide because of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and reconnect after the policy has been repealed and they’re both civilians gives this second-chance romance a special flavour, all the more so as the characters’ motivations to join the military in the first place are very different.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I’ll check out the author’s next book. And bonus point for the characters drinking my favourite wine, Brunello di Montalcino.

<i>I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.</i>

It’s been ten years since Quinn Prescott chose the Navy over her girlfriend Kirby Davis. Ten long years but for Quinn she has never stopped loving Kirby. When ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ was still being enforced throughout the US military, in fact it was only a few months later the whole ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ was repealed but by that time Quinn knew it was the biggest mistake she’d ever make.
Kirby Davis was lost when Quinn told her she was breaking up with her. Broken hearted was the only description to use because it left Kirby alone with only her memories. Memories she would work hard to forget and perhaps move on with her life. And to a certain extent she’s done just that but the idea of ever falling in love and giving her heart a chance to feel that kind of pain again was further that she was prepared to go. Hook-ups for her were all she needed. She worked hard to get where she was now, a vice president with the company and she had a few friends but….
Quinn Prescott gave her all to her career but after twenty years she’d had enough. Time to join the real world where she hoped to make a life for herself. It wasn’t until Chicago's Pride Parade that she even knew that Kirby lived in the same city. With both being in Chicago she hoped she could get Kirby to at least be friends again.
But the hurt goes deep and a simple ‘sorry’ isn’t going to change that. No matter where they went they kept running into each other and found out old feelings might be buried but Quinn still had to try. Kirby was the only woman she’d ever loved. Kirby doesn’t make it easy but can they never have what they once had?
This is the first novel by Ms Rivers and if she keeps writing great stories it won’t be her last. Great characters and a nicely paced read. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

Quinn and Kirby run into each other after nearly decade apart, in Chicago, where they are both living. They spent time together while both were in the military during the era of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The story is told from both the present and early on through flashbacks.

Overall, this was a solid debut with an interesting concept, and I look forward to seeing more from the author.

The flashbacks were presented like memories and felt very timely and natural. Sometimes flashbacks can take away from the present, but here they set tone and provided context for the present.

At times the dialogue felt a bit forced and the character reactions, especially Kirby’s were repetitive. I would have liked to see a bit more depth and variety in the story.