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Challenging Andie

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Is loving Ryan a challenge too far?

Jaded war correspondent Ryan Armstrong reports terrible events without letting them pierce the armor covering his heart. When his colleague Emily Harte is murdered, he feels responsible for her death, and travels to England to return Emily’s effects to her daughter.
Bereaved, primary school teacher, Andie Harte has set herself a list of challenges to prove she can be as brave as her recently murdered mother, but when she’s hounded by the press the need to escape means she must accept help from Ryan. During their time in seclusion, attraction blossoms into an affair. Their relationship was only supposed to be a fling. When the time comes for Ryan to return to Bekostan, can she risk loving a thrillseeker, or is that a challenge too far?
Ryan avoids love, knowing the pain losing it can bring. A life without Andie is sensible, but is it possible?

189 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2012

14 people are currently reading
249 people want to read

About the author

Sally Clements

31 books235 followers
I write romance from sweet to steamy, and I'm a hybrid author: both traditionally published and indie.

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5 stars
17 (17%)
4 stars
32 (32%)
3 stars
31 (31%)
2 stars
12 (12%)
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7 (7%)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for cheryl doerr.
270 reviews3 followers
November 10, 2017
Awesome

I really enjoyed how love how love override the war. And the love for her mom after going to the country her mother had loved and accepted the metal
Profile Image for Romancing the Book.
4,420 reviews221 followers
January 23, 2013
Reviewed by: Maria
Book provided by: Author
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

A thought provoking, multi-faceted romance. Having grown up in the shadow of her famous mother, a fearless war correspondent who reported from the trouble spots of the planet, the daughter hardly anyone knew about must find her own identity. So fiercely protected by her grandmother that she wasn’t even allowed to watch her mother on television, Andie never got an inside track on her mother’s world. Her mother’s violent death opens up a can of worms. Having recently lost the grandmother who was her anchor, she now mourns the mother she never really knew. She also has to come to terms with the Bekostan conflict in which her mother died, watching endless reams of DVD footage.

Andie resolves to face her fears after her mother’s death. This quiet junior school teacher braves various fearsome and thrilling/frightening experiences in order to overcome the terrors which have held her captive throughout the years. As she grows in courage, she comes to appreciate the reason why her mother lived – and died – as she did. An ironic situation, this learning to appreciate someone in death which one couldn’t do in life.

War correspondent Ryan Armstrong’s arrival in her life adds complications. Andie is, perhaps attracted by the fact that she’s unattached and he’s a virile male. She has to now deal with the very present fear of getting involved. Could this possibly mean going back into the days when she lived for the infrequent visits of her mother, having her significant other constantly absent, living in a war zone?

Ryan has his issues too. He came to give condolences to his late colleague’s daughter and deliver her personal effects. His getting involved with Andie was not in the plan. Having distanced himself from his nearest and dearest in his bid to keep himself emotionally free for his demanding job, he isn’t sure if a steady relationship with a home loving, quiet girl is the right thing for him. Surely she must need someone with a more stable lifestyle. So can this pair ever get it together? Well, stranger things have happened.

Personally, I enjoyed this romance. I love reading about how two people overcome the obstacles and get together in spite of their differences. Watching how the couple grow and change, both separately and together, kept me reading. How love changes the way we view things is beautifully depicted. Had I been in Andie’s shoes, though, I think I’d have been furious with Grandma for keeping me from my mother. Andie’s father never figured at all really, which I found a little unusual.

Andie is endearingly charming in her bid to find her courage to live and to love and Ryan is the perfect hero, gallant and tender. For romance addicts, you’ll find your fix right here. Sally Clements is pretty hard to resist.
Profile Image for iamjenai.
259 reviews1 follower
September 22, 2012
It's been a while since the last time I've read a pure romance book. For the past months, it's always been paranormal-ish romance books and reading this makes me want to buy more "normal romance" books. Challenging Andie is a story of two people, Andie and Ryan, who don't believe in love.

Andie grew up with her grandmother. She never had the chance to bond with Emily, her mother, as she is always away working as a war correspondent in Bekostan. As for Andie's father, he left them even before she was born and her mother never told her his identity. With no parents to care for her, she swore not to fall in love. Especially not with Ryan, who, like her mom, works as a war correspondent in Bekostan.

Ryan also doesn't believe in love. When his father left them for another woman, he saw how it crushed his mother's world. Depression claimed his mother's life. Because of this, he avoids getting into a serious relationship until he meets Andie. He wants Andie but he can't do it since he doesn't want to go through the pain of losing someone close to him - ever again.

I think the author wove a very realistic love story of two people who don't believe in love. I can relate with the main character's dilemma. Falling in love isn't easy when you've been hurt before. I can feel their pain, though if I have to choose who gets hurt the most, it'd be Andie. You know that feeling when someone tells you straight in the face that what you have is just a "fling"? Ouch!

It was such a heart breaking story, one that I can't easily forget. I only have one comment on this book. The story is told in third person POV. Knowing what they both feel somehow spoiled the story for me. It would have been better if this was written in first person, preferably Ryan's POV as he has so much issues going on. . .

I loved the story. I'll look forward to reading more from the author, Sally Clements.
Profile Image for Valerie Mcqueen.
204 reviews7 followers
May 10, 2013
Challenging Andie by Sally Clements

Rating 4****

This book was provided from the author in exchange for honest literary review.

Andie has lived all of her life in the shadow of her free spirit war correspondent mother. Now with her mother presumed dead, it is time for Andie to begin to break out and experience life and begin to really live. Andie had always been safe and predictable; never one to take any sort of chances. That all changed the minute Ryan walked into her life.
Ryan walked into Andie's life with his own agenda. He served as a news correspondent alongside her mother. He knows all tobwell the draw of a life of excitement and never has been one to put down roots anywhere. Ryan's life consists of always chasing the next big story, that is until he met Andie.
Life sometimes has plans for people that they just don't see coming. For these two, their future rests solely on the ability of them to let go of all the pain that each of their pasts hold.

I really enjoyed reading this one. Andie is a very likeable heroine. She's strong, but still very unsure of herself. To me, this book is as much a journey of her finding herself as it is a love story. The plot is very engaging and keeps the reader drawn in throughout the novel. It is a quick read and I finished this one in just one sitting.
At times, I did find the story a little predictable, but even so it remained enjoyable for me and held my interest. This is what I would call a new adult contemporary romance appropriate for ages 18+due. Great escape read!
Michelle McQueen
A Little Bit of R&R
Profile Image for Becca.
418 reviews
September 16, 2012
I won this in a first reads giveaway! Thank you to goodreads and Sally Clements.

Challenging Andie follows the lives of Ryan Armatrong, war correspondent, and Andie Harre, daughter of Ryan's colleague.

I enjoyed the backstory of this book and enjoyed the characters. I found the lack of relationship between Andie and her mother to be heartbreaking. Although Andie's feelings towards her mother reach some closure, it was still heartbreaking.

I had a hard time accepting Andie and Ryan's relationship mostly because I felt like it didn't have a strong foundation. I didn't feel like I got to know Ryan as well.

This book was a quick read and will interest those who want a HEA.
34 reviews1 follower
September 16, 2012
I thought this book was well written and I immediately was hooked by the opening of the first chapter. Unfortunately, halfway through, I lost interest. The romance seemed dreary and depressing-the characters so involved with their pain that I had to force myself to finish the book.I guess, realistically, I enjoy escapism with a more upbeat theme. This book was NOT compelling! I admire the author's style and ability to create BUT I found myself exasperated with the hero and heroine!
Profile Image for Gils.
507 reviews
January 27, 2013
I think 1 star is a little harsh. But I had to flounce this book. It certainly kept my interest in the beginning. It was a good story. About 1/2 way through, I got bored. It was repetitive. The same "I want you but I shouldn't" thing kept coming up. Over and over again the same thing. I found myself falling asleep and not wanting to go on. So after about 77% through, I give up. It's sad because I really enjoyed one of Sally Clements' other books. This just didn't do it for me.
Profile Image for Talli Roland.
Author 19 books302 followers
September 6, 2012
Challenging Andie is the second novel by Sally Celements I've read, and I think she just keeps getting better! The chemistry between heroine Andie and war correspondent Ryan is believable, while not being too over-the-top - just the right balance between physical and emotional attraction, in my opinion. I look forward to more from Clements!
Profile Image for Eryn.
67 reviews25 followers
November 12, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. Mostly well written, likeable characters and an interesting story for a pure romance. I kept expecting something dramatic to happen, but the love story was enough if you like that kind of thing :)
Profile Image for Lindsay.
2,236 reviews512 followers
kindle-i-own-to-read
October 26, 2012
Amazon Freebie 10/25/2012
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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