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The Moment of Letting Go

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You can follow the rules or you can follow your heart…

THE MOMENT OF LETTING GO


Sienna Murphy never does anything without a plan. And so far her plans have been working. Right after college, she got a prestigious job and gained the stability she’d always craved—until work takes her to the sun-drenched shores of Oahu and places her in the path of sexy surfer Luke Everett. For the first time, she lets her heart take control. Drawn to his carefree charm, she makes a spontaneous and very un-Sienna-like decision to drop everything and stay in Hawaii for two more weeks.

Luke lives fast and wild. When he meets Sienna, he’s convinced that some no-strings-attached fun is just what she needs. As their nights quickly turn from playful to passionate, Luke can’t deny the deep connection he feels. But there’s a reason Luke doesn’t do long-term. He can’t promise Sienna forever, when the enormity of his past has shown him just how fragile the future can be.

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2015

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8098 people want to read

About the author

J.A. Redmerski

30 books13.2k followers
J.A. (Jessica) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon best-selling author. She is also an international bestseller and award winner. Jessica is a hybrid author who began self-publishing in 2012 and later signed several titles with a traditional publisher. Her works have been translated into over twenty languages and have been optioned for film and television.


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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
Profile Image for Aj the Ravenous Reader.
1,155 reviews1,176 followers
December 15, 2015

3.5 stars

I liked this, I really did. I think I should make that clear because a little later, you will read of several negative things and might mistake this for a negative one but really, this is not. In fact, let me present the things I really liked about this story-number one Hawaii being the setting . I love that. I haven’t read any NA novel set in Hawaii and I think this is really a smart choice by the author. She made me want to read the story if only for the setting alone. I also like very much that Sienna, the female MC is a strong, independent career woman whose actions and decisions are always considered and planned out. She is smart, responsible and is a wonderful daughter. She hates drama too and that makes me like her five times more. Her only flaw it seems, is that, she couldn’t overcome her fear. I also really love her adorable friendship with her best friend, Paige. I appreciate Luke, the male MC, because of the changes he brought to Sienna and for helping her overcome her fears and appreciate life even more. I love how he pep talks Sienna into doing something she has never done her entire life.

“Fear is an illusion, a hallucination…Just tell the fear to piss off…you need to overcome it instead of accepting it as part of your life.”

It’s impressive that the insta-love between the MC’s isn’t the annoying kind. I also like Kendra and Landon, both just minor but colorful characters who contributed greatly to the progress of the plot and the meaning of the story and best of all, I love the main intention of the story that is to remind that life is too short to spend in fear or in things that don’t really matter. For instance,

“If you are not happy with you job, you have two choices. Find a way to be happy or find one that makes you happy.”

See, there are a lot of things to like in the story including the ending but this doesn’t mean the book is perfect because honestly, several things annoyed me and here they go.

*Ahem. Mic test. Mic test. Are you ready for this?*

Okay. Let’s begin with the writing. I do appreciate the author’s style. It’s lovely and easy to read but (my oh my) did it wear me down with exhausting description, redundancies and intensive focus on characters’ physical attributes. I hoped so much that I wouldn’t read of descriptions like “gorgeous sculpted face” or ”deep hazel eyes” or ” tanned upper muscled body” but they’re all here in those exact words and not just once mentioned.



Another thing I’m most afraid of in reading NAs. The eyes. I get it. These characters have gorgeous eyes but Luke’s eyes should be an entirely separate set of characters in the story since they’re doing a lot of action- sincere talking eyes, eyes that convey so much meaning…seriously, there should be a limit to the mention of a person’s eyes in any book. When he did the puppy dog eyes- that was it for me! It doesn’t matter anymore that he is gorgeous, confident and intelligent because puppy dog eyes?! Ugh! Also, reading this made me hungry because of the excessive mention of a delicious mouth here, a delicious body over there. Sienna and Luke could be really good teachers because they like checking each other out a lot- sometimes subtle, sometimes not. (You know, teachers and checking- I’m sure you got that, right? Lol.)

Prepare yourself for mush overload - man’s heart becoming mush, brains turning into mush, people becoming mush which reminds me of this word that sounds like it and is also working overtime in the story- blush, lots and lots of blushing even after that thing that couples in NAs do (despite the overly detailed intimate things they did several times that left little room for imagination) there’s still blushing. Argh!

Last and the least (lol), extremely cheesy hero blurting out lines that make me shiver in a very unpleasant way. Lines like “Who needs the sun with a smile like that?” or “How are you even real?” or ”Because I found something more worth dying for.” Luke gets the award for cheesiest male heroine in a New Adult Novel.



Switches off microphone

Whew! That was so much fun. You should read the novel too. I bet you’ll have as much fun as I had too. Lol. Check out Tanya’s and Feifei’s review for more coherent and decent reviews that persuaded me to read this novel.

Profile Image for Lady Vigilante (Feifei).
632 reviews2,971 followers
August 21, 2015
4.5 stars!!

description

There is so much about this book that I loved; from the simplicity of the story to the genuine, relatable characters The Moment of Letting Go is NA romance at its finest. There’s really no drama, huge conflict, or even any major angst, but the story hit me with feels to the gut like no other, and part of the reason why was that I could identify with these characters so strongly – it’s like I was reading a story about myself. It made me realize just how fantastic a writer J.A. Redmerski is, how truly phenomenal her words are. I’m in awe of her ability to accurately capture all the complex emotions of those in my age group and then weave a heartfelt tale I believe everyone will have no difficulty in relating to.

The story plot is fairly simple – the heroine Sienna is a successful event coordinator whose current assignment leads her to beachy Hawaii, where she meets the hero Luke, a local surfer whose charisma, intelligence, and boldness literally stuns her (and me too!) speechless. There is an instant attraction between the two, but at the same time there’s just something more simmering there as well. I really don’t know how to explain it, but to them their attraction felt right and that’s exactly how I felt about it too.

“I feel so drawn to him, so fascinated by him. His way of looking at the world, how everything he says intrigues me and just makes me want to know more about him. He seems so free-spirited, so positive, so alive…”

Both Sienna and Luke take a huge leap of faith, with her overturning all her set plans and staying in Hawaii an extra two weeks and Luke letting another person into his unpredictable life of extreme sports. In the course of these two weeks, Sienna and Luke make the effort to learn more about each other while having the time of their lives.

description

There’s much about this book that is reminiscent of The Edge of Never which is still my favorite from this author, but this book’s got its fair share of magic too. I love how motivating and inspiring the takeaway message is, and for me personally it hits an emotional chord. Not too long ago I was just like Sienna, someone who never strays from set plans, never takes risks, and always sticks with what was most practical. And just like how she met a special someone who helped her overcome her fears and struggles and let go and live life, the same happened with me. Her entire self-discovery process was something I connected with and it’s just like Sienna said...it’s so liberating. Everything she and Luke were feeling I completely got so to me, those parts couldn’t have felt more authentic.

“...she just looks at me, I look at her, and I never imagined that so much could be said between two people without a single word.”

Towards the very end of the book there were some unrealistic moments that were hard for me to overlook so I dropped my rating a little, but it doesn’t subtract from how great the story is overall. Once again, J.A. Redmerski has delivered another winner and shown readers just how versatile a writer she is. I highly recommend this one!

Paperback ARC provided by Forever Romance in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy | Foxy Blogs.
1,816 reviews1,043 followers
August 12, 2015
The Moment of Letting Go is a beachy type read. The story takes place on the Hawaiian shores. While reading this one I could totally envision myself on the beach with this book in hand.

”Then miss your plane.”
Sienna landed a well paying job right out of college where she travels and coordinates weddings. Her current assignment has her in Hawaii for a wedding. While on the beach she meets a cute surfer instructor named Luke. Luke challenges her to take a risk and miss her plane so she can stay and experience what Hawaii has to offer.

”...I’m too much of a risk-taker.”
Here’s a case of opposites attract. In some ways I could relate to Sienna’s fear of heights and being nervous to step out of her comfort zone. Luke was her opposite in every way when it came to living life by the seat of your pants. One could say his motto is - the more we let go of...the more we gain.

”Have you ever had that feeling...like if you don’t do it, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life?”
The attraction between these two compelled Sienna to not get back on that plane but instead spend the next two weeks getting to know Luke. It wasn’t too hard to convince her since she’s not doing what she loves in the work force. Luke’s invitation to spend time doing what she loves, photography, and living the Hawaiian lifestyle for 2 weeks had its appeal. I have to admit even I wanted to stay with Luke for those two weeks.

Above is the backbone of the story but there’s more to it. Luke has a dangerous hobby that Sienna doesn’t learn about for the first half of the book. It’s not only Luke that indulges in this passion but his friends too. The story ask the question of both characters - ‘are you ready to let go of your fears and past guilts?’

TMOLG is a mixture of both young adult and new adult genres. Grab your beach towel and hit the sand with this book.

STANDALONE

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
**Won a paperback copy in a Facebook contest**

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Profile Image for Eliza.
661 reviews845 followers
August 12, 2015



Title: The Moment of Letting Go
Series: Standalone
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Release date: 11th August, 2015
Cliffhanger: No
HEA:





J.A. Redmerski is an author who, in my eyes can do no wrong. She introduced me to Romantic Suspense with the In the Company of Killers series and The Edge of Never has a place among my favourite Contemporary Romance reads. The option to read another novel from her was more of a forgone conclusion then ever a consideration and I'm so glad to say, The Moment of Letting Go is another string to her versatile bow.

The story centres on twenty two year Sienna Murphy, an events coordinator from San Diego. Her current event sees her working in the highly desirable location of Hawaii with a less than desirable client. After a particular moment of stress she finds herself in the company of local surfer and all round laid back guy, Luke Everett.

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More than an instant attraction, there is a genuine interest in one another and the brief time the spend together is not nearly enough for both of them. After a little persuasion from Luke, Sienna does the unthinkable and acts completely out of character by spontaneously deciding to stay another two weeks on the Island to learn a few life lessons from Luke's book. Little does he know, there are some lessons for him along the way too.

“I know I don’t know you,” she says, stopping two feet in front of me, “and this is the craziest thing I’ve ever done, but I want to know you.”

I found The Moment of Letting Go was a wonderful feel good read. I loved the take home message of not being afraid to take risks and no matter how hard and stressful life may be at times, it's important to take a moment, take a deep breath and let go.

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Profile Image for Jasmine.
269 reviews689 followers
August 15, 2015
4 STARS! ★★★★



"Have you ever had that feeling...when you know deep down that you should do something? Like if you don’t do it, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life?”

It's no secret that J.A. Redmerski is one of my favorite authors after putting out books like her Killers series and The Edge of Never. This time around she brings her readers on yet another journey of self-discovery and a story that wants to make you put your life into perspective.



Sienna Murphy, a 22-year old who's an event coordinator and despite her fear of heights (and flying), she recently landed a wedding gig in Hawaii. Goal-oriented and striving on stability, Sienna is not one who take risks. But when her path crosses with one Luke Everett, a surfer with a carefree personality, she begins to question her current life along with the choices she've made.

"Luke Everett is dangerous. He’s more dangerous than flying in a plane or jumping from a cliff into water or from a bridge attached by a giant rubber band or getting lost in the forest. Everything about him screams change and the unknown and if you let him in, your meticulously planned life will never be the same again."

The one thing I love about this author's work is that there's always something I could take away after finishing it. There was a lot in this read that resonated with me especially Sienna and in a way, I saw a lot of myself in her. There are days where you just want to throw all caution to the wind and leave your worries behind. Even when she started to learn about how much more she is capable of, there were parts of her that still stayed true to herself. I connected to her character easily and it was easy for me to understand the choices she made.

Both Luke and Sienna had a slow building relationship, no insta-love and their time spent together exploring Hawaii was one that captivated me throughout the entire read. And good gosh, Luke was such a gentleman of all sorts! Also did I mention he paints beautifully? Seriously. But what made me swooned the most is how Luke genuinely cares for Sienna and how he helped her to overcome her fears.

“Fear is just the part of you that wants you to fail. It’s all of your regrets and your pain and your failures wrapped up into one emotion. It’s a weakness, nothing more.”

The story wasn't laced with any sorts of heavy drama or angst but it was definitely geared more towards the emotional end. The main and side characters alike all had depth to them that allowed you to understand their fears and insecurities, to be able to connect to them and experience their journey. It's not just about letting go but it deals with the acceptance of loss and moving past it.

Once again, JA Redmerski writes a story that I believe everyone can easily relate to and brings you to places that you'd wish you could experience it yourself. It wasn't any grand or exotic story but to me, it was one that was honest and heartfelt. Luke and Sienna's story is more than just about learning to live and let go but to learn to heal and love again. Sometimes all we need is a simple story to remind us about the little things in life that makes us happy and this book did just that.



The Moment of Letting Go is a New Adult contemporary standalone.

ARC kindly provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.



Profile Image for Pavlina Read more sleep less blog  .
2,434 reviews5,099 followers
August 26, 2016
4 STARS

I was so excited to read this book because I love this author!It's true that so far I haven't read a book of her that I didn't like!She is a talented author that every time I read a book of her, it makes me want to read more!This story is sweet,emotional and funny.This book made me wonder about the things I should let go off, about my choices and my actions...If you read it you will wonder the same..And this is what I loved most in this book!

description

Sienna is from San Diego but she is in Hawaii to organize a wedding.There she will meet Luke who gives surfing lessons in the resort were Sienna stayed. When they will meet and start talking you can see how obvious their attraction for each other is.But they have a difference..He is adventurous and she is afraid of many things..Can he manage to help her?

I loved the characters and I felt connected with them!!It was nice seeing how Luke helped Sienna to handle her fears!Sienna is a really interesting character!She is sweet and so lovable.I also loved the mystery around Luke's past!I loved Luke a lot,he had something that made me want him from the moment I meet him!I loved that the story is in dual POV because it makes the story more real, you can see how they feel for each other.It was nice how their relationship developed!Moreover the secondary characters are really lovable!

description


This is a beautiful story that made me smile,laugh and cry!J.A. Redmerski did an amazing work!I highly recommend it!

ARC PROVIDED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

Profile Image for Beverly.
1,005 reviews789 followers
August 13, 2015
The Moment of Letting Go is more than a love story, it’s a story about finding peace and letting go. I know that sounds cliché due to the title, but it also accurately describes this story.

Sienna is in Hawaii for work, she is an event planner. She is only supposed to stay for a few days when she meets Luke. They have this immediate connection and he evokes a change in her. She decides to take a two week vacation and stay in Hawaii. At first their connection is flirtatious, but he is also showing her a different way of life and thinking.

Luke has had success and money, but he is very aware of what chasing money can lead to. Sienna grew up poor and the thought of going back is not even fathomable to her. She isn’t looking to get rich, but enjoys the security she has with her job. When she meets Luke she realizes she isn’t even really living life anymore.



I loved Luke and Sienna, I loved seeing them find this missing piece in each other. My only complaint is I wanted to connect to them more. I am not sure why, but I never really fell in love with them together or their story. However, I truly loved the message of this book.

This story definitely focuses on extremes and I am not one for extremes, I am a control freak and planner. But, Redmerski has a way of telling a story that makes you think you need to make big changes. I remember reading The Edge of Never and being ready to quit my job and travel from place to place. Again, I felt this need to make big changes in my life and really live. I love a story that can truly move you and this one did.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.



Profile Image for Pearl Angeli.
681 reviews974 followers
June 5, 2016
4 Stars!

As a fan of J.A. Redmerski, this book for sure was another win for me!

The Moment of Letting Go is a typical summer romance book that started off when Sienna Murphy went to Hawaii for a job-related visit and met the sexy surfer Luke Everett. The two of them weren't exactly alike when it comes to their lifestyle and their approach towards life. Luke is one carefree man who isn't afraid of living life to the fullest while Sienna is someone who lives in certain fears despite her independence.

At first I thought this book was just a light read but as I went through the pages I realized that it was a little more than that. There were family issues that were hidden by Luke which he did not immediately reveal to Sienna. Those issues later on became a conflict to their growing relationship.

The storyline gripped me in an emotional level and I did not expect to be affected that way. I loved the tone J.A. Redmerski used when writing this book. Her way of writing was so moving and heartwarming that it simply gave me the feels! There was also a slow-burn pacing which was good, although I wish there weren't unnecessary lines that were constantly popping up.

What also drew me into the story was the setting. Based on the descriptions in this book, Hawaii is such a beautiful paradise! Reading it made me feel like going there someday. A girl can dream!

The romance, on the other hand, was amazing despite the cheesiness. I loved that the main characters slowly built trust towards each other while eventually bringing out their best by simply being together.

"We're all stronger than our weaknesses," he says. "Sometimes we just need someone to help us find that strength."


Overall, this book was an enjoyable and emotional summer romance NA read and once again I was captivated by J.A. Redmerski's work. How could I not?

Pearl's Book Journey (1)



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Profile Image for Jacqueline's Reads.
3,043 reviews1,526 followers
August 14, 2015

4 Living your Life Stars

I’m a mega J.A. Redmerski fan. You can even call me obsessed. I’ll be honest and say I like her darker, In The Company of Killer series more, but she does have a flare in writing for the dramatic pieces. The ones that will grip you and make you question everything.

Sienna is an events coordinator. Her job is to manage a wedding in Hawaii. During her trip she runs into Luke. Luke is a free spirited surfer. Luke isn’t your typical laid-back hero. He doesn’t care about money and he strives to live a life where you do things that make yourself happy.

Something we all Americans want, but just like Sienna we don’t do.
Luke convinces Sienna to extend her trip and stay with him for two weeks. Sienna eventually agrees.

“Before these two weeks are over, I can guarantee you three things … One – you’ll never want to go back to San Diego… Two – that photography love of yours will start to take the place of everything else in your life… Three – you’ll kiss me at least once before you go home.”

The beginning is a bit slow and it takes a bit before you get into the heart of the story, but once Luke and Sienna meet, it just takes off. I liked the two week time limit. I felt like everything Luke and Sienna did mattered. Like Luke giving Sienna surf lessons and Luke pushing Sienna to take photographs, because it made her happy.

It was no secret that it was Luke’s job to make Sienna happy and to push her boundaries. I really enjoyed the positive aspects of the story. I liked Luke helping Sienna overcoming fears and kind of convert her to his life style. Luke also likes extreme sports and although he doesn’t push Sienna to do the things he does, he definitely introduces her to that life style.

“Fear is just the part of you that wants you to fail. It’s all of your regrets and your pain and your failures wrapped up into one emotion. It’s a weakness, nothing more.”


But it wouldn’t be a Redmerski read if there wasn’t angst right? Yes, there’s mild tension and I’ll tell you this. There’s something about Luke that prevents him from fully opening to Sienna. We as the reader know what it is and that’s great because it prevented me from pulling my hair out, but it was really frustrating when he wouldn’t tell Sienna. I honestly didn’t think it was that big of the deal, but I understand Luke’s reasons.

It’s a beautiful story and although there are some parts I couldn’t relate to (like dating an extreme sports loving guy) I like the overall “message” in the book. It makes you question life and want to live life to the fullest.

“I drank the sky and brought an angel down with me.”



An arc was provided

The Moment of Letting Go by J.A. Redmerski AMAZON
Profile Image for Natasha is a Book Junkie.
691 reviews4,752 followers
August 19, 2015
FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED:
“We’re all stronger than our weaknesses. Sometimes we just need someone else to help us find that strength.”

Not all great stories make your heart skip beats, or leave your mind in a twist—some stories seep slowly from the pages, like a mist gently descending down a mountainside, and percolate your skin, your bones, your heart with the mere magnitude of the message they carry. This was one of those life-altering stories for me. I cannot tell you how much this book truly touched me, challenged me, confronted me, its timing almost uncanny given how much I’ve been personally pondering on these ideas of late. This is a love story, first and foremost, and yet at the very core of it lies a thought-provoking reflection on our purpose in life, on why we do what we do, on how much of us gets lost in the endless pursuit of money, success, security, and on the true meaning of happiness and freedom. I will admit that it took some time for this book to captivate me fully, its deliberate slow pace being difficult to acclimatise to at first, but once I became invested in the story, I could not think of anything else. Perfectly timed, flawlessly written, deeply relevant as all this author’s stories tend to be when it comes to exploring the human condition in all its multi-faceted beauty—I loved this book with all my heart and was once again reminded of Ms Redmerski’s extraordinary gift for extracting us from our own lives and letting us escape to another reality, all the while pondering on the life we left behind.

“Have you ever had that feeling when you know deep down that you should do something? Like if you don’t do it, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life?”

A twenty-two-year-old event coordinator for a high-profile event planning company from California, we find our heroine, Sienna Murphy, on an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii, in the final stages of organising a lavish wedding. But as good as she is at her job, it becomes clear from the very start that Sienna’s heart is no longer in it, the never-ending race to prove her worth to her boss and to her clients, as well as the large commissions that are constantly dangled in front of her, finally starting to lose their appeal and thus making her question her priorities in life. Overcome by stress caused by her latest project, Sienna finds herself in the midst of a mini-breakdown, and it is at this moment that she meets a man destined to change her life forever.

“Luke Everett is dangerous. He’s more dangerous than flying in a plane or jumping from a cliff into water or from a bridge attached by a giant rubber band or getting lost in the forest. Everything about him screams change and the unknown and if you let him in, your meticulously planned life will never be the same again.”

Luke Everett is a free spirit, a man determined to live an uncomplicated life, far away from the fast-paced daily grind of city living. He spends his days teaching surfing and working at a small local business, but as a lover of extreme sports and a firm believer of living life without fears, he is also hooked on the thrill and the sense of freedom he gets from leaping out of airplanes, climbing rocks, or jumping from cliffs with only a few seconds to deploy a parachute. And while he normally stays away from women he knows would never understand his lifestyle but rather run in the opposite direction the moment they find out about his daredevil pastimes, in Sienna he recognises the person he used to be, the person he left behind before he realised what his own fears had cost him. He is inexplicably drawn to her and he asks her to stay.

“I know this sounds crazy…it even sounds crazy to me, but I want you to stay.”

As a three-day business trip turns into a two-week vacation, we watch Sienna and Luke grow closer each day, discovering one another and all they could be together. With patience and understanding, Luke helps Sienna free herself from her biggest fears, thus inspiring her to find herself and her true potential, but while tackling Sienna’s obstacles, his own demons slowly come to the surface, exposing a guilt-ridden young man who resents every day he gets to live.

“I drank the sky and brought an angel down with me.”

This is a story about the fears that prevent us from being who we were truly meant to be, about the reasons and excuses we find to keep living unfulfilling, uneventful lives, while our hearts ache for more. It’s a story exploring the age-old argument of whether we are put on this earth to live to work, or work to live. It shows us what a person can find in life once they start living fearlessly, freely, embracing our true passions and divesting ourselves of our greatest fears. What begins as a tale of two opposites attracting, Sienna and Luke’s story quickly becomes a lesson in perspective, a lesson in priorities, a lesson in loving, a lesson in living life in the moment, fear-free, and unafraid of change. It’s a story that fed the hopeless romantic in me, while also leaving me pondering on my own life. And I loved every moment of it.

“Most people never let their feet leave the ground. Whether they’re afraid of heights, or afraid of hospitals, or they stay in the same place all their life because they’re afraid of change—so many people go through life on the ground and die without ever knowing that they can fly.”



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August 28, 2015
4 - 4.5 ★'s

The Moment of Letting Go is a story about finding your true self and what makes you happy and letting all the bullsh*t go. A little cliché but nonetheless true.

And Sienna has definitely been caught up in that rat race. She grew up without much money, her parents working constantly to make sure she had all the basics but she wants more out of life than just that. She just has to make the money first.

That's where she runs into Luke. She's an event planner working a wedding in Hawaii and in her off time, she's a photographer. She's taking pictures and he catches her eye...and it certainly helps that she catches his eye as well.

They end up meeting and he offers to teach her to surf. Unfortunately, he's late and she has to catch her plane back home. He convinces her to take a later flight and what turned out being a three hour delay, turned into her taking a two week vacation!

Being a little reminiscent of The Edge of Never, Luke has some issues and they are complicated and sad. He doesn't want to burden Sienna with it and instead focuses all his attention on her and her fears.

description

This is the part where the story gets a little s-l-o-w but also where the relationship builds between Luke and Sienna as a couple. Luke does a good job of working on Sienna's issues but it's hard to do with his friends around all the time. Things have a way of getting out.

And I liked how Sienna handled everything. She's drawn to Luke but still does what works for her...she's no push over. But it's like Luke opened up something inside her and she can't resist his pull...or his influence.

Things get really steamy between the two of them and they start talking about how to make their relationship work with him living in Hawaii and her living in San Diego. This is when the drama *cough* real life steps in and the secrets come out. I loved every single second of it!

I would have loved more page time during this period and I was frustrated to not get Luke's POV and instead just a recap...I needed to feel the pain! lol

Of course, the ending is pretty phenomenal and dramatic and satisfied my addiction quite well. I would LOVE another book but sadly, so far this is a standalone.

description

Favorite quote:

♥ “Do you miss home yet?” Luke asks.

I shake my head. “I am home.”
Profile Image for ~♡AB♡~.
986 reviews684 followers
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August 19, 2015
DNF @48%


Bored to tears, unfortunately. This book may appeal to those who love a light read but I need more depth to my stories and I am sorry to say that I didn't find that here.
Profile Image for Alex is The Romance Fox.
1,461 reviews1,233 followers
August 18, 2015
Being such an ardent fan of J A Redmerski after reading her incredible series….The Edge of Never & In the Company of Killers…I suppose I was expecting something ---wow----in The Moment of Letting Go. But sadly…I didn’t feel the magic, the enchantment, the edginess in this book.

Yes, it’s a love story of two young people who meet in the glorious Hawaii setting, are attracted to each other, have a few angsty things in their past…a bit of drama….secrets…..it’s a sweet love story and nothing much else.

I story moved really slow for me….i skimmed over a few pages or more…..

And whilst I liked the two mc’s…..Sienna & Luke…I didn’t feel that deep connection between them. Perhaps it had something to do with them being so young…she’s 22 and he’s 24!!! But no, I have enjoyed NA books before….so why not this one???

Let me say that it was a sweet and cute story but a bit unforgettable for me. Though I did love the settings….that was the magical part of the story for me!!
Profile Image for FMABookReviews.
637 reviews401 followers
December 21, 2015
3.5 Letting Go stars!

This is a sweet, New Adult romance about forgiveness and letting go of your fears. Twenty-Two-year-old, Sienna Murphy, is an event coordinator, who is in Hawaii planning a wedding, when a chance encounter with the local daredevil, 24 year-old Luke Everett, turns into a two week, life-changing vacation.

When she meets Luke she instantly feels a connection. Going against her usual “type A” personality, she throws caution to the wind, and agrees to stay in Hawaii after her work is done and spend time with Luke. He pushes her to face her fears of flying, of letting loose, and of living life. He makes her question if life is worth living, if you aren’t living it?

“Fear is just the part of you that wants you to fail. It’s all of your regrets and your pain and your failures wrapped up into one emotion. It’s a weakness, nothing more.” “We’re all stronger than our weaknesses,” “Sometimes we just need someone else to help us find that strength.”


And for Luke, Sienna was the angel that saved him from the guilt of his past and helps him to move on with his future.

New Adult lovers will most likely enjoy this read, as it deals with with insecurities and issues of that age.

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356 reviews137 followers
August 26, 2015
~Arc provided by the Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for honest review~

"Most of people never let their feet leave the ground, whether they're afraid of heights, or afraid of hospitals, or they stay in the same place all their life because they're afraid of change. So many people go through life on the ground and die without ever knowing that they can fly."



You know that one perfect read from the author you like you keep comparing his/her every next book? Well, that type of read is In the Company of Killers series by Redmerski for me. Therefore, while I did like this book, at the same time it didn't manage to dethrone ItCoK.

Having said that The Moment of Letting Go is a well-written, slow-building and emotional contemporary romance about two people helping each other conquer their biggest fears while at the same time falling in love. The main characters are a 22 year old event coordinator Sienna Murphy and 24 year old surf instructor Luke Everett who accidentaly meet in one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world- Hawaii. The whole plot is focused on them slowly getting to know each other, learning from each other and starting a romance with a few "bumps" in the way of their happiness. It's a fairly light read without bigger drama which is probably one of my main reasons for 3 stars rating, because I prefer more complex and thrilling stories. The charcaters were likable and relatable enough, but overall, I don't know, I guess I failed to connect to them on some deeper level.

Life is too short and uncertain to live it in a cage paralized by fear. We all need more moments of letting go of our fears and worries in life, taking risks and just enjoying life to its fullest, otherwise we'll die with all those "what ifs" haunting us in the afterlife. That's the thought-provoking and inspirational message of the story which I think anyone of us can relate to, but the book as a whole was a 3 stars read for me. I would recommend it to romance junkies who are fans of light, sweet and emotional love stories or if you are more of a romance suspense/ dark thriller fan like me- I higly recommend Redmerski's ItCoK series.

This review is posted on Way Too Hot Books.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,871 reviews6,703 followers
July 17, 2017
The Moment of Letting Go is a new-adult romance novel written by the fabulous J.A. Redmerski. I would recommend Ms. Redmerski to readers until my voice gives out, but The Moment of Letting Go was a bit underwhelming in my opinion. Unfortunately, I struggled through some very slow pacing in the beginning and then with characters I had a hard time connecting with. Personally, I can't really identify with the emotional bonding that occurs between adrenaline junkies, so some of those relationship dynamics were lost on me. However, I could appreciate the characters' struggles and I have to admit some of the more emotional parts had palpable emotions I easily responded to.

I ended up liking The Moment of Letting Go overall (3 stars) and can acknowledge the beautiful message it sends: Don't let fear prevent you from living and don't allow your past to continue to control your future. Breaching one's comfort zone is scary, but nothing is as scary as the thought of looking back and seeing unlived years that don't offer a do-over. This made it worth the read.

My favorite quote:
"Fear is like a vampire and I'm tired of letting the bastard suck the life out of me."
Profile Image for ❃**✿【Yasmine】✿**❃.
810 reviews654 followers
August 17, 2015
3.5 Stars

Hard to review, i felt a little here nor there with my like for this book.

It's theme is similar to The Edge of Never, but it's without it's magical qualities.

There's nothing 'wrong' with the book, it's perfectly likeable. The characters, banter and romance was sweet.. fluffy. It had the past angst, nice bit of drama in the second half. But there was a whole bunch of scenes that i felt was tedious, slow and uneventful. I didn't fall for the characters or their story and both wholly unrelatable.

It was a nice read, but not something i'd write home about.
Profile Image for Mallory.
1,699 reviews134 followers
August 27, 2015
3 stars

This was a really cute book. There wasn't much angst and it seemed to just flow sweetly. I have to say I was a little bored at times, and that's the reason for the rating. Maybe I was just in the mood for an angrier read with more action? Whatever it was I'd recommend this book for sure, especially if you're in the mood for a read that's definitely in the safe zone.
Profile Image for Aestas Book Blog.
1,059 reviews75.1k followers
Want to read
April 17, 2014
NEW BOOK from J.A. REDMERSKI!!!

NYT bestselling author JA Redmerski's THE MOMENT OF LETTING GO which follows a young aspiring photographer to Hawaii where she meets a seemingly carefree surfer with a secret she's determined to uncover.
Profile Image for Maria Lavrador.
504 reviews33 followers
February 7, 2017
Uma história de amor muito soft, puramente para teenagers. Tudo doce de mais, romântico demais para o meu gosto. De qualquer forma, lê-se bem, sem grandes emoções, sem nenhuma surpresa. Sim, que para mim até as histórias de amor podem ser surpreendentes
Profile Image for Angie.
85 reviews7 followers
August 1, 2017
I loved this so much!!Goes to my favorites list definitely. It surpassed my expectations. I always thought a lot of J.A. Redmerski since I loved The Edge Of Never which is one of my most favorite books ever.

I loved the main characters. Sienna was amazing. I loved her more and more as the book was progressing. I could really connect with her. She was just so identifiable. Luke was intriguing as a character. I couldn't relate to him but I understood his pain, the guilt, the regret. I loved how he helped Sienna in discovering herself and in the end how it was Sienna who helped him heal. They both helped each other so much. It was beautiful. Their chemistry was perfect .I loved it since their first meeting which was magical. I loved how their relationship progressed. It felt so natural!

The supporting characters were also awesome. Paige(ha girl is hilarious and badass), Landon Braedon and especially Seth and Kendra!! It would be so cool to get a book with her and Seth. I want!

This wasn't just a beautiful love story, it was so much more than that. It was an experience. You just have to read it to know what I am talking about. It made me smile, made me cry, made me think hard about life choices and question myself, made me feel free, liberated, motivated and inspired in life! But I just need a Luke Everett in my life now please? :D
Profile Image for Maria Espadinha.
1,146 reviews494 followers
January 16, 2020
CLIK E UAAAUUU


Na Vida, estamos constantemente a ser confrontados com os nossos medos.

O medo corta-nos as Asas e empobrece a Vida.
Impede-nos de abrir novas portas e explorar novos caminhos.

Felizmente, o Universo parece estar atento, ao enviar-nos aqueles Anjos que nos levam a voar com eles.

Sempre que algum aterra na nossa Vida há CLIK!...
Então se o Anjo Enviado fôr um daqueles garbosos Vikings que cavalgam airosamente as ondas montados em coloridas pranchas, há fortes probabilidades dum longo UAAAUUU imediatamente antes do CLIK 😉
Profile Image for Nina .
325 reviews110 followers
August 13, 2015
description

"Have you ever had that feeling," she goes on, "when you know deep down that you should do something? Like if you don't do it, you'll regret it for the rest of your life?"


22-year-old Sienna Murphy is an event coordinator who travels to Hawaii to organize a wedding. She makes a spontaneous decision to stay an extra two weeks after meeting a carefree, thrill seeking surfer; Luke Everett. He pushes her her to face her fears and let go, to live life to the fullest instead of just getting by. To realize that there is more to life than just work and money.

Sienna is a very relatable character, especially for those who are career orientated or those in college that think that after they graduate the only thing that matters is a job and financial stability. There is so much more to life and I really loved the message of this book. This is a story of friendship and love, of taking risks and letting go.

Inspiring, realistic, and thought-provoking, J.A. Redmerski's The Moment of Letting Go is the perfect New Adult summer read. Grab a cold drink, bask in the sun, and get lost in this beautiful story.

description

Visit my bookstagram: https://instagram.com/tender.curiosity/

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for honest review.
Profile Image for Debra Presley.
Author 7 books906 followers
January 1, 2016
The Moment of Letting Go by J.A. Redmerski is a solid four stars for me. I love JA's writing and this book no different. I immediately fell in love with Luke. He's definitely in the running for best book boyfriend for sure. He's so caring and does some super sweet and swoonworthy things throughout this book.

Sienna comes to Hawaii for work when she meets Luke. She feel this pull towards him and throws her very predictable life for a loop when she decides to take her vacation time and stays for two weeks. Those two weeks are full of some great things. I love that although you'd think this was an "insta-love" book it totally isn't. Both Sienna and Luke know deep down this is something more than a fling and they respect that and get to know each other.

Luke helps Sienna realize there are more important things in live besides work and making money. He helps her overcome some of her fears but Luke has his own secrets and ghosts but he's not all that willing to let Sienna in.

The ride to "the end" of this book is amazing. I really enjoyed it and wanted so badly to learn about Luke's past--which you do. I was in tears by the end and didn't want to reach the last page of this one. It's a great read and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Bookish Temptations.
298 reviews330 followers
August 11, 2015
I was so excited when I received an ARC of, The Moment of Letting Go by J.A. Redmerski, because I’m such a fan of the way she writes, the stories she writes, and the unforgettable characters she writes. My favorite books are those that I’m able to just lose myself in, that I want to just keep reading, because I’m so caught up in the story and the characters that I don’t want to put the book down. The Moment of Letting Go is that kind of book.

Read the rest of my review here: http://bookishtemptations.com/2015/08...
Profile Image for Tanya (Girl Plus Books).
1,161 reviews74 followers
August 10, 2015
4.5 STARS

The Moment of Letting Go is one of those rare books that makes me struggle in writing my review because I so want to do it justice.

Sienna is an event planner who works hard in order to ensure financial success and stability. It is while overseeing a wedding in Hawaii that Sienna meets Luke, a local surf instructor. Luke is attractive, laid-back, and charms Sienna into delaying her flight in order to spend an afternoon with him. And before she knows it, Sienna has put her life on hold in order to spend two weeks with Luke – living in a way she never has before: carefree, unencumbered, and living every moment as it comes. As Sienna and Luke grow closer they both struggle with the possibility of a future together. Can Sienna just walk away from her successful career in California? Can Luke overcome the ghosts in his past? Love isn’t always enough and happily ever after isn’t always possible.

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In Sienna and Luke Redmerski created incredibly well-developed characters that were perfectly flawed and beautifully realistic. I loved watching as they slowly came to know one another. The pace of their relationship felt so unhurried and natural. Sienna questioned the nature of her relationship with Luke as it progressed and made choices that felt completely true to life. It gave the story such an authentic feel and made Sienna a protagonist that was easy to believe in and empathize with. Luke had so much going on under the surface and his background was revealed slowly. He was determined to help Sienna overcome her fears but at the same time his own feelings of grief and guilt kept him from moving forward. Luke and Sienna's journey was both heartwarming and heartbreaking and I loved it from start to finish.

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The Moment of Letting Go touches on themes of grief and healing, overcoming fears and limitations, and living an authentic life. But at its heart is the breathtaking story of two people who love fully and are willing to sacrifice for the other. Redmerski has crafted a story that is rich, detailed, inspiring and emotional and it will easily be one of my favorites of 2015. Highly recommended!

*Note: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Dion Ribeiro.
286 reviews10 followers
August 16, 2016
Uma leitura agradável, gostei muito da história da Sienna e do Luke e fiquei com vontade de me mudar para o Havai!! :D
Não deixa de nos fazer refletir sobre as prioridades da vida: nada é mais importante do que as pessoas que amamos...
Profile Image for The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog.
737 reviews206 followers
August 15, 2015
Review: Surj

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If you loved J A Redmerski's "The Edge of Never," then I guarantee that you will love this author's latest release "The Moment of Letting Go." This was such a beautiful, poignant story about misplaced guilt, forgiveness, overcoming fears, taking chances and embracing life and all that it has to offer. Luke and Sienna's journey to finding their Happily ever was sweet, romantic and (at times) sexy as hell but equally, there was undercurrent of mystery and suspense that left a nervous feeling in my gut, my instincts telling me that all was not as it seemed and this perfect little bubble the characters found themselves in had the potential to burst at any moment. To be honest, as I read this book, there were times a familiar feeling came over me... a sense of deja-vous... like I'd been there before with different character. And then it hit me. Was this going follow a similar path to "The Edge of Never?" Don't get me wrong, Sienna and Luke's story was definitely unique in it's own right but feeling and sense of foreboding just wouldn't leave me. Well fear not peeps because I got it wrong.. completely wrong. In fact, "The Moment of Letting Go" took quite the unexpected turn towards the end but luckily, it was one that felt realistic and true to the characters I'd grown to know and love.
Luke Everett is dangerous. He's more dangerous than flying in a plane or jumping from a cliff into water or from a bridge attached by a giant rubber band or getting lost in the forest. Everything about him screams change and the unknown and if you let him in, your meticulously planned life will never be the same again.

Talking of characters, how could I not love Luke and Sienna. Here were two people who didn't realise how lost they were until the found each other. On the face of it, Sienna and Luke couldn't have been more different. I mean ambitious event co-ordinator for the rich and famous meets adrenaline junkie surfer dude.. yup world's apart. But from the moment they met, there was a connection. Neither could describe it or explain it but what they felt ran far deeper than physical attraction. This wasn't just a holiday fling and it definitely wasn't your average romance. This was so much more than that. This was a journey of self discovery for both Luke and Sienna. It was about realising your hopes and dreams and making them a reality. It was about overcoming the fears that stop you from fully appreciating the opportunities that are out there for the taking. This was about letting go of the past and embracing the future and sometimes, just sometimes, the people that help you along on this journey are those that you least expect.
“Fear is just the part of you that wants you to fail. It’s all of your regrets and your pain and your failures wrapped up into one emotion. It’s a weakness, nothing more. We’re all stronger than our weaknesses. Sometimes we just need someone else to help us find that strength.”

I loved the slow building connection that developed between Sienna and Luke. From friends to so much more... what they shared was unconditional and beautiful. And even when things did progress, it was emotional and meaningful and just wow. These two really did belong together but in my heart of hearts I knew that each of them had their own hurdles to jump before they got to that HEA point.

Everything about "The Moment of Letting go" meant I stuck with Sienna and Luke's story. From the multitude of emotions I experienced to the style of writing. From the picturesque setting of Hawaii to the character and story development, this really was a beautiful, captivating, thought provoking read and one I would whole heartedly recommend. I'm really hoping that this is just the first book in a series because I'd love to see some of the other characters get their own books too.
My heart is breaking into a thousand unrecognisable pieces; tears burn the back of my eyes as I force them down; my chest feels heavy like a stack of bricks sits on top of it; my throat is beginning to swell and I can't fucking swallow.

I rated "The Moment of Letting Go" ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Quinn's Quippy Quotes.
1,413 reviews140 followers
July 13, 2017
Wow. This book took me completely by surprise. To be honest, I never even knew that this book existed until I was checking out the clearance table at Barnes and Noble. Knowing the author and seeing that it was set in Hawaii, I had to add it to upcoming vacation TBR.

This book was so much more than your typical beach read. It has adventure, throwing caution to the wind, branching outside your comfort zone, over coming fears, learning that money isn't everything, and learning to let go. Ugh, heart-squeeze!!!

It was fantastic. Heartbreaking. Uplifting. And Beautiful.
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