Amber and Blue

by K.R. Rowe

Alex was just an adventurous kid when he saved a young girl's life. Years later, sudden bouts of recurring nightmares drove him to find her, only to have her ripped from his life by a lunatic. The one time he needed help, he was forced to call on a criminal. Stolen from the banks of the Tennessee River, she was swept to the war torn streets of Old Montréal. Was his love strong enough to protect her once more? Not from the grip of the madman who took her, but from the arms of the criminal who saved her.

Genres: Romance, Suspense, Romantic Suspense

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2012

About the author

K. R. Rowe spent her childhood in Chattanooga, TN and still resides there today. Her father was born and raised near Tellico Plains, in the heart of Tennessee’s tract of the Appalachian Mountains. With her mother’s South Carolina heritage, her southern roots run deep. From a very young age, her overpowering love of the mountains continues to draw her to them. When not tied to her desk, her free time with her family is often spent enjoying any activity that can take her far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and into the peace of the mountains.

She started writing Amber and Blue in February 2012 and published the sixty one thousand word novel on October 3rd at Smashwords.com. On October 4th, she self published to Amazon as well. Currently she is working on Amber and Blue II-Victory, set to be complete in 2013.

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com

OKAY BEFORE I START THE ACTUAL REVIEW I HAVE TO SAY I AM SO THRILLED I FOUND THIS BOOK WHEN I WAS DOING MY WEEKLY CHALLENGE - FIND A BOOK IN YOUR HOMETOWN, AND THOUGH I WASN'T BORN IN CHATTANOOGA, I WAS BORN NOT FAR AWAY.

The author lists so many places in Chattanooga that I was so thrilled to read, and the author lives here too :) She mentioned Lookout Mtn, Missionary Ridge, Ooltewah (where my library is) Signal Mtn, Knoxville (where some of my family live, I was born not far from there), Etowah (where my best friend lives) and Chickamauga Battlefield, GA (20 mins from my house where I went hiking with my dog).

So here are a couple of pictures of Chattanooga that I found.



and



Chickamauga Battlefield



ME & DAKOTA, WELL I'M ON THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH:)



Okay now that I have all of that out of my system, on with the book review:)



This book started with Grace being a young child playing out in a field. She hears a noise and sees a boar coming at her..she falls..but is not attacked.. she looks up and sees a handsome boy with beautiful blue eyes with a bow and arrow. He saved Grace's life and she never found out who he was until years later when she was a teenager.

Alex is a guard for Atticus who happens to be Grace's father. Alex has been in love with Grace since she was little. Unfortunately, Grace she is to be wed to the horrific Sebastian. Grace's father set it up between Sebastian's father. They are to merge companies, but come to find out, Sebastian's father is broke and lying and Sebastian is not what he seems.

Meanwhile... in Canada.. there are some things going on.. Quebec has been breaking away and there is what's called Canadian Lawlessness. There are bad people from Canada that come down to steal things and ransom people and they decided to hit the South this time.

Back in Chattanooga, Grace has been left at the dance by the stupid Sebastian and is sitting outside on the curb in the dark when Alex comes to her rescue. He comforts her and calls her a cab. Grace starts to put two and two together and remembers Alex from her childhood, she has been looking for him ever since.

Grace and her friend Lydia end up getting kidnapped by the Canadians. One is a guy named Lucien that is nice to her and the other is a freak and I forgot his name but he doesn't matter, it starts with an A and that could stand for something else :)

Alex and his friend Matt, who is always a guard, manage to get the girls back. But.....the old psycho guy wants to get his revenge and ends up kidnapping Grace again on her wedding day to Alex.. yeah.. the "to marry Sebastian thing" didn't go over to0 well :) Anyhoo, that jerk beats her so bad that she has amnesia! Lucien, the nice one from Canada saves her and contacts Alex and her family to let them know he will get her there as soon as it's safe. Then of course he falls in love with her and she feel like she loves him because she can't remember anything else..blah

It's hard to watch Alex go through all of these emotions trying to win Grace back but in the end it all works out. Not so much for other people, they get killed or kill themselves. Oh did I mention someone in the book is a serial killer? There is a lot of things going on that I didn't tell you all about so you can read the book and see.

So it ended on a happy note, but who knows what's in store in the next book! More killings I can image!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a future that has become wild, divided severely by the haves and have-nots, young love between the classes must remain hidden, but when a wealthy young woman is kidnapped by a handsome, smooth-talking man and his monster of a partner, one horrific moment will alter their relationship and her kidnapper will become her world and her protector.

Alex wasn’t more than a child himself when he became her hero. As a wild boar caught young Grace in his sights and death was all she could imagine, as she looks up to meet the raging beast, Grace finds the eyes of an angel, her hero and her savior. Alex sees his future and has sworn to always keep Grace safe even if Grace can never be his. When Grace is kidnapped for ransom, Alex is forced to ask for the help of the one man he is loath to owe anything to.

Lucien doesn’t play on the right side of the law, but Grace becomes his chance for redemption as he hides her away in one of the world’s most dangerous cities, and finds himself falling for her innocence and beauty. Will Grace all for the man who hides her or will her love for her young savior bring her home to his arms or to the cold arms of the man she is betrothed to?

They say the eyes are windows to the soul and K.R. Rowe’s Amber and Blue is the tale of the one young woman who has lost her past and found a powerful attraction to the man who holds her captive while dreaming of the eyes of another she cannot recognize. Tense, engaging and fraught with turmoil, each page pulled me deeper into the intrigues of the heart and the mysteries of attractions as two men and one woman struggle to find inner peace, each in their own way. Ms. Rowe’s tale contains a touch of sweetness, innocence, cruelty and personal loss, as well as a chance at redemption through love.

K.R. Rowe has created a magnetic read that will tug at your heart while keeping the next twist just around the corner. Scenes that feel alive, characters that are very human and a plot that is simply amazing! This is a keeper for sure!


Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: K. R. Rowe
ISBN-10: 1502710889
ISBN-13: 978-1502710888
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 252 pages
Available from: Barnes & Noble | Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Karl Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know what? I really enjoyed this book.

There is so much diversity in here, with the combination of a powerful love triangle, amnesia, danger, betrayal, violent lunacy, a psychopathic bad guy and a fascinatingly original storyline that I don’t want to say anything about the story for fear of throwing in a spoiler.

Recently I’ve been making every effort to read a diverse selection of books and a number of the more romantic ones cast the male ‘hero’ as having eyes like deep blue pools, a body to die for, perfect skin, and a six-pack to make Zac Ephron jealous. (Actually I’ve no idea who Zac Ephron is, but he’s the first name who came up when I googled celebrity six-packs). It gets so boring.

Amber and Blue, however, avoids this stereotyping altogether, doesn’t dwell or even mention Alex’s six-pack, but focuses more on his torment and the fact that he’s a thoroughly decent bloke. You can’t help but like Alex and Grace, or their friends Matt and Lydia, and this makes for a much better read.

K.R. Rowe is also a very good writer, who has no doubt learned and practiced her trade. You can actually feel Alex’s anguish.

The only person I’d like to know more about is the villain turned romantic, Lucien. We’re offered hints into his past, little tit-bits if you like, but that’s about all. He’s a villain who’s been a spy, yet has a decent side to him …. kind of. I’d like to read Lucien’s story.

All in all, this is a bloody good read and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

[John Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hair-raising escapes, romance and deranged, lethal males ...

K.R. Rowe’s ‘Amber and Blue’ is set in a not-too-distant future where the Canadian state has fractured and the French segment has disintegrated into lawlessness. This chaos has spilled over into the US, where the kidnapping of young women has become a profitable activity. Set against this background, Ms Rowe spins a romantic adventure story where most of the action takes place in Tennessee with the odd dangerous jaunt north of the border.

The story’s heroine, Grace, finds herself plunged into a number of perilous situations, from which she is usually saved by the eponymous hero, Alex – the first rescue taking place while she is still a child. Deranged, lethal males pepper Ms Rowe’s novel, preying on the weaker sex (although Grace’s friend Lydia – my favourite female in the book – is made of feistier stuff, and eventually converts her more naïve chum to the joys of owning a gun).

While the threats to Grace come along thick and fast, the story is essentially a romance; and one which develops by degrees into a love triangle.

Ms Rowe leaves enough ambiguity at the end of the novel for a sequel, which I am sure her readers will be anxious to see released. If you like hair-raising escapes, a romantic central storyline and the bad guys getting their just desserts then ‘Amber and Blue’ is for you. So you better go pick up a copy.

[S.L. Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a romance

A powerful story, woven in delicate detail, Grace and Alex don't disappoint. From the moment he saved her life as a child, this tale draws them together. Very good story. Well done.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the not too distant future, in a country battered by war, two men fight for the love of a woman they cannot live without. One love grown by an encounter in childhood, another by a chance meeting, not even amnesia or kidnapping can shatter the adoration Lucien and Alex carry for Grace. Already betrothed to one of them, Grace has to learn to trust once more before making her decision on who she loves more, and whose love she will accept.

This is the premise of what is, on the whole, a romance story by K. R. Rowe, but it is so much more than that once you get deep into its pages. The book has its heroes and heroines, its share of vital bad guys, and a few good action scenes and hair-raising encounters that should cater for every reader. The prose is crisp and clear, not overly-complicated, and does its job of pulling you along at a pace that is neither too fast nor too slow but feels just right. Some lines are quite special, while some of the descriptive prose easily puts you in the middle of the scene.

The novel has its necessary conclusion, but one that leaves the reader hanging on the cusp of more drama to come, which will unfold in a forthcoming sequel.

The opening, unfortunately, did lend to a bit of confusion, as it jumped back and forth between periods of time and locations, but once the story settled into its groove the novel became a very satisfying read.

Amber and Blue. Read it and find out which side you’ll choose.

[Peggy Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I really liked this book, I mean I really really liked it. So much I actually checked to see if and when the sequel will come out as soon as I finished it, haha. I guess that probably tells you how much I enjoyed reading it. The story is set in the near future, yet it also doesn't bombard you with a lot of futuristic changes you have to get used to. The first few chapters went kinda slow for me, then I found myself so engrossed in the story I was literally reading as fast as i could. I liked that this wasn't a one conflict book. So often the whole story centers on one drawn out conflict. This one had a few going on at one time. My heart actually hurt when the love triangle started because I loved Alex, yet after we got into Lucien's involvement I was sure I wanted Grace with Alex but I didn't want Lucien left out either. I felt Grace's dilemma. Also I like that it ended on a good note but let the cliffhanger (for want of a better term) entice you into the next one. I say read this you will not be disappointed

[Richard Sommery-Gade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sucks you in and never lets you go. A wonderful enchanting read that ill captivate you, have you on the edge of your seat, and wondering until the last minute if this woman will ever have peace and he will finally win her heart and hand. So many twists and turns it will keep you guessing, action packed and a can't put down until the last sentence is finished. 4.9 on my scale out of 5 and this is definitely a must buy.

[Sandy Appleyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

K. R. Rowe does an amazing job weaving two stories together in this romantic mystery. Amber and Blue begins with some back story, setting the stage for the mystery portion of the novel. Afterward, we are knee deep in an enthralling romance.



The second story is what throws the reader for a loop, but it’s a good loop. Without any spoilers, I’ll simply tell you that the main character, Grace, finds herself falling in love with another, Lucien….having ‘forgotten’ her first love, Alex.



When Alex and Lucien began competing for Grace’s love, I found myself rooting for Alex, and desperately wondered if other readers felt the same. K. R. Rowe pulled the storylines together very well and left the ending without a subtle cliff hanger, which I really felt was clever. I personally think there is much more impact when a series draws the reader to the next novel with a strong story alone, and the author does this very successfully in Amber and Blue.



The author has very poetic prose, which added a certain flair to the novel. I found myself re-reading certain passages, thinking they would make beautiful poems.



Here are some excerpts from Amber and Blue that I particularly enjoyed:





The reluctant bartender frowned as she splashed him another shot of tequila. He threw back his head, tossed it down in one gulp, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.



“That’s a nice shirt,” he said with a crude gesture. “Can I talk you out of it?”





The clouds angrily gathered in the west, turning the sky from clear blue to gloomy swirling shades of gray. The wild spring wind picked up, and twisted the leaves over and around their heads signalling that a rainstorm was on its way. The gruelling walk took them over a rise and dropped away to a flat area at the bottom of a hill.



“This risk wasn’t in my employment contract,” he said as he put his lips to the hollow of her throat.



“What risk is that?”



“Being seduced by the boss’s daughter.”



“Check the benefits section,” she said.





He wanted to keep her forever, but if her memory returned, he would be no better than a common kidnapper.



The sanitarium sat isolated and silent. Its sleek modern design stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding lush green farmlands. Like a gleaming Rolex on the arm of an Amish, it defied one’s normal perception.





At the end of the path, they came to a halt and stared up at the majestic falls above them. Like a lion, it roared while it warned of its power, and spilled like a tattered wall of curtains, into the clear plunge-pool below. The mist hung thick and heavy in a cloud of droplets, saturating all that it touched. Like a multi-colored gift from the falls, the sun danced gently in tune with the water. Coming together as one, a perfect rainbow was born.





“A rose cannot bloom without the sunshine and a man cannot exist without love.”





“You have nothing to be sorry for, little one,” he said softly in her ear. “This has always been beyond your power. You can contain the passion of your heart no more than I can control the breath that I take,”





Just beautiful K. R. Rowe. Simply beautiful writing. Well done! I'm looking forward to the sequel!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really started this book 4 days ago, but for a teacher, that's fast (because of everything we have to squeeze into a day). That means, yes, it WAS a good novel. I loved the story line -- with the genre being a little bit dystopian but much more adventure and romance. The beginning, I have to admit, was a little confusing to me. It seemed to skip around a bit and was disjointed. For young adults who are reading this book, they may not persevere as I did through that section. However, as the story came together, it moved smoothly along the rest of the way. The author, K.R. Rowe, uses lots of descriptive and figurative language in the writing. As a whole, all that adds to the delight of the story and keeps a reader actually reading because he or she can "watch" the story move forward. Similes are definitely Rowe's favorite method of doing this; however, a number of the similes seem forced. I don't believe that these will detract too much from the story, though.

The story begins with Grace, the main character, as a young child who is on vacation with her parents. She is playing in a forested area and is saved by a youth named Alex who keeps the unsuspecting child from being attacked by a wild animal. He never forgets her, though, and later goes to work for her father so he can be near her. He realizes that he's in love with her, and now as a guard hired by her father, he can watch over the guileless young lady, too.

Then she is kidnapped by some Quebecois men. Now begins Grace's roller coaster ride while she is a victim. Alex is actually out of the picture for a bit while we learn about what befalls Grace. You'll want to keep reading! Like the beginning of the novel, this will meld back together with the rest of the story for an adventurous and romantic ride "on that roller coaster." Thank you, First Reads, for giving me a chance to review this novel. I expect to see more from K.R. Rowe, and I look forward to reading the sequel to this novel.

[Celia Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber and Blue is a tangled mixture of romance and futuristic thriller.

Through gross negligence, well-to-do young Grace's life is in peril. Alex, a teen raised in the mountains, stumbles upon the life or death situation and saves Grace. Though she is haunted by Alex's blue eyes, she is young enough that any other physical traits of his are lost to her with the passage of time. Alex, though, keeps a careful eye on her from the distance, hoping to keep this young girl safe from harm.

Their worlds are impossibly different. Set in the future, severe control of population growth has been the key to the sustaining the Earths resources. It is also a tool used by the wealthy to manipulate the classes and ensure their descendants' success. They come from divergently different classes.

Set in Tennessee, the northern portion of the US reverts to the wild. Quebec is a lawless land, populated by those prepared to wreak havoc on the American gentry. Here we meet Andre and Lucien. Mercenaries looking for a wealthy victim to ransom.

Lucien, with his dark brooding looks, plays a significant role in Grace's life. Their roles slowly changing from kidnapper and victim to potential lovers.

Though many aspects of this book were compelling, I found the layer of Sebastien, Grace's mentally and emotionally twisted fiancé to be unnecessary. For me the book would have been stronger had this portion been minimized. Though it serves to bring Alex back into the forefront of Grace's memories, I believe the other plot lines were strong enough. Also, the beginning of the book introduces us to future Earth, I would have enjoyed reading more details about it.

[Jason Ayres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this author on the recommendation of a friend and I am very glad I did. There are so many books on the Kindle market these days that finding the real gems amongst them is becoming increasingly difficult - this is one of them.

I'm not a huge fan of overly descriptive novels - I tire easily when reading books that spend two pages describing what somebody's garden looks like. This author has found the perfect balance though - her descriptions are vivid and accurate without ever resorting to flowery language - I found it very easy to read but with a clear image in my head of the various scenes throughout.

Another important point for me is characterisation - this can make or break a book, TV programme or any form of entertainment for me. The characters here are well rounded, three dimensional and most importantly have realistic dialogue. There's some gentle humour here and there too amongst the romance and the action which always goes down well with me.

I shall not go into details of the plot, I'm not a fan of spoilers, suffice to say that it's set in the near future which allows for a little poetic licence - all I can say is, take a look for yourself.

[Erik Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"That's a nice shirt. Can I talk you out of it?" No, this story isn't a comedy although like many books and movies, it does have it's funny moments but that line is my favorite line from the book. "Amber & Blue", written by K.R Rowe is a romantic tale where it begins with Alex as a kid who rescues a girl named Grace from death. Then the story skips years later where we meet Alex again as a man although now he is a distraught man. He is distraught by visions he has had over the years about Grace who is now being stalked and eventually taken by another man. After going through many obstacles both physical and emotional, Grace must choose who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. It may seem like an easy choice but is it really?

[Kevin McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not my usual read and certainly not my usual genre. I love to give new books a try and I am glad I did with Amber and Blue. A classic love story told in an imaginative and unique way. Some very well thought out twists and turn a long the way keep you turning the pages.
The characters are believable and you feel yourself being drawn into their world wanting to know them better.
The writing style is excellent, helping to keep you gripped. The use of imagery really helps tell the story and bring the locations and characters to life.

I recommend this book to fans of the genre, but also to people who are looking to try something new.

[Brandi Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are thinking about reading this book, read it. The first couple of chapters are really confusing because it bounced around a lot. But about the 4th chapter it all starts coming together. And then I really loved it from there. The love story of Grace and Alex went straight to my heart. Then Lucien enters the picture. I don't know whether to love him or hate him (but I think that was the point). But the ending was a good one. Grace went with her heart even before her memory came back. I really enjoyed this one.

[Jerry Beller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good read. Has some interesting characters. The story is of the future when the world becomes over-populated and the structure we know breaks down, with unrest in Canada spilling over into the United States. There is complicated romance, with competing interest in the lead female character. I enjoyed some of the stories about real places around Chattanooga, as I have spent enough time there over the years to know most of the terrain covered in this story.

The ending sets up the sequel, which I understand is in the works. I intend to read it too.

[Glenn Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. "Amber and Blue" is a great read. Vivid descriptions made this story feel realistic and believable. I can’t wait for the next book. K. R. Rowe is a fantastic author. “Amber and Blue” is a must read, it is full of unexpected excitement, romance, and on the edge of your seat action. I highly recommend this book and found myself pulled into the story. I will say “Amber and Blue” could be one of the best sellers this year

[Gabe Schillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! A very captivating read and well written! Admittedly, there were several books being read at one time and AMBER and BLUE was not getting the attention it deserved- That changed quickly as all other books were set aside as I was dragged into the very unique and original story line and fell in love with the characters! Very excite to read the second!

[Rochelle Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first want to say I don't just hand out 5 stars. I give them to authors that have caught my attention. This book 'Amber and Blue' was hands down great. From the start to the finish, this book had me caught up. I also want to thank K.R. Rowe for the chance on winning this wonderful book. Plus I'm looking forward to the second one...

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.R.Rowe when I come back I wanna be a character in one of yours books! I hear glass breaking, the universal sign for 'go check your kids' so I wont have time to write right now. But you K.R., oh sneaky diva: You Are Awesome!

[Hotncold82 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a 2 1/2 for me. Honestly, I didn't even finish it. It was just way too confusing with the way it was written. It seemed like it had a nice plot, but I absolutely hated the writing. I genuinely read through half the book, but couldn't handle it past that.

[Pauline Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional take on rhe age old love triangle.

[P.J. Bayliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eclectic book that drags the reader into the story like quicksand. Before you know it, you are deeply threaded into the pages of a suspense romance

[Shyanne Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good quick read... Wish it had been a little more detailed in the beginning... Left me a little confused.

[Barry Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it

[James Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!! Very descriptive and refreshing. Exciting, nail biting, tense and yet soft and tender when it needs to be. Looking forward to getting stuck into book 2!!

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****I received this book free through the Goodreads First Reads Program.*****

I thought this was between a 3.5 and a 4, so I’ll round up. The book had a great plot, likable characters, and several suspenseful moments, but for some reason, the emotion just didn’t come through like I thought it should.

Plot:
When they were children, Alex saved Grace from a wild boar. They had brief encounters over the years, but when Grace is kidnapped, Alex saves her again, and they fall in love. When they are about to be married, Grace is taken again, and Alex is forced to call Lucien, one of the men who kidnapped her the first time, for help. Alex’s plan backfires when Lucien falls in love with Grace himself. Together, the men compete for Grace’s love while trying to protect her from the psychopath who is seeking revenge against all of them.

Characters:
The two male leads, Alex and Lucien, were both very likable (Alex a little more than Lucien). Alex was understandably very overprotective and he went into broody alpha male mode every time something happened to endanger Grace. Lucien, although slightly dishonest and criminal, was even likeable despite the fact that he posed a threat to Alex and Grace’s relationship.

The supporting characters and the psychopath were very well developed. Sadly, the only character I really didn’t like was Grace because she was so hard to relate to. She was indecisive and, for most of the book, very dependent on others. Those two things, along with the fact that she was one of those heroines that all of the male characters immediately fall in love with, constantly put her in peril and jeopardized the lives of all the other characters in the process.

Writing:
The book was very well-edited, and it was full of action starting from the very first chapter. If I had to rate the book, I’d probably give it a PG-13. There is a lot of violence, characters curse, and there are a couple of sexual situations, but Rowe doesn’t give graphic details, and any consummation is simply implied.

The Bottom Line:
Amber and Blue had a great plot, and I wanted to find out what happened to the characters, but I wouldn’t necessarily say that I couldn’t put the book down. While the suspense was there, I never felt the intensity of the characters’ emotions. I can’t put my finger on why, but it was kind of like the difference between saying you love someone and showing you love someone. If you do like the book and decide you want to see how the story continues, Amber and Blue II Victory is already available.

[Jo Notary]

194p Alex was just an adventurous kid when he saved a young girl's life. Years later, sudden bouts of recurring nightmares drove him to find her, only to have her ripped from his life by a lunatic. The one time he needed help, he was forced to call on a criminal. Stolen from the banks of the Tennessee River, she was swept to the war torn streets of Old Montreal. Was his love strong enough to protect her once more? Not from the grip of the madman who took her, but from the arms of the criminal who saved her.