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The Other Lane
The Other Lane: A Modern Fairy Tale
Lane Benjamin never believed in fairy tales. Once upon a time, she had big dreams, but they never seemed to come true.
Divorced, disappointed, and still a barista at twenty-seven, she feels like she's had an anti-Fairy Godmother.
Then one day, the devastatingly handsome and much too old for her Abe Fujikawa confesses his feelings for her. Simultaneously, the chance to become a full-time artist drops in her lap.
Has her luck changed? Is there a Fairy Godmother after all?
If she can only keep an old flame and her own fear from derailing her, maybe, just maybe, Lane has a shot at a creating her own happily ever after.
The Other Lane is a medium spicy romance set in modern day Midwest where the heroine saves herself and still gets her happily ever after.
Divorced, disappointed, and still a barista at twenty-seven, she feels like she's had an anti-Fairy Godmother.
Then one day, the devastatingly handsome and much too old for her Abe Fujikawa confesses his feelings for her. Simultaneously, the chance to become a full-time artist drops in her lap.
Has her luck changed? Is there a Fairy Godmother after all?
If she can only keep an old flame and her own fear from derailing her, maybe, just maybe, Lane has a shot at a creating her own happily ever after.
The Other Lane is a medium spicy romance set in modern day Midwest where the heroine saves herself and still gets her happily ever after.
398 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2018
About the author
Marla Holt
28 books175 followersMarla Holt believes in second chances, romance, and the radical notion that everyone deserves a happily every after. She's living her own fairy tale, writing contemporary romance novels in her Kansas farmhouse with her husband, three boys, three cats, and flock of imaginary sheep. Follow her at marlaholt.com or on Instagram as @marlaholtauthor
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2019
The Other Lane is a fantastic read, well-written and brimming with conflict that will have you wanting to keep turning pages.
Marla Holt is a talented writer - her characters are complex, well-rounded and deeply genuine. The heroine, Lane Benjamin, is a protagonist worth rooting for, she's a strong, witty lead with a flirtatious side, and her growth over the course of the book makes for a great read.
Abe is a suave hero, and his dialogue and wit are swoon-worthy. The romance between Lane and Abe is a slow burn wrought with trials and tribulations, but the pay off at the end is well and truly worth it.
I highly recommend The Other Lane as a beautiful novel and look forward to reading more of Marla Holt's work.
Marla Holt is a talented writer - her characters are complex, well-rounded and deeply genuine. The heroine, Lane Benjamin, is a protagonist worth rooting for, she's a strong, witty lead with a flirtatious side, and her growth over the course of the book makes for a great read.
Abe is a suave hero, and his dialogue and wit are swoon-worthy. The romance between Lane and Abe is a slow burn wrought with trials and tribulations, but the pay off at the end is well and truly worth it.
I highly recommend The Other Lane as a beautiful novel and look forward to reading more of Marla Holt's work.
February 6, 2019
The Other Lane started out a little bit slow for me, but once it picked up I couldn’t put the book down. Lane is a strong and talented woman with a tragic past. Her past and the pasts of her love interests keep the angst levels high. You’ll wonder if these characters will ever work it out and find their happy endings. At one point while reading, I’m pretty sure I literally felt my heart breaking.
Great story from Ms. Marla Holt. Add this one to your must-read-list.
Great story from Ms. Marla Holt. Add this one to your must-read-list.
December 23, 2018
Lane, young, divorced and a financially struggling barista, is not looking for love. She is actually actively staying as far away as she possibly can, that is, until Abe’s persistence begins breaking down her walls. Pain still fresh on her mind from her past relationship. Trust is not easy for either of them due to the pain inflicted on them by past “loves”.
I really enjoyed the first 1/2 of the book. The writing style and pacing was great. The break up was painful and Lane’s actions were realistic. We watched her spiral down.
It was at this point when the pacing slowed drastically. I moved through the last half of the book much slower because I wasn’t as invested in the story anymore. The second half of the story lacked tension. There were parts that could have been condensed. I don’t want to elaborate too much on this because I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
It was a good love story with great writing. For me, this was a 🌟🌟🌟 1/2 star.
I really enjoyed the first 1/2 of the book. The writing style and pacing was great. The break up was painful and Lane’s actions were realistic. We watched her spiral down.
It was at this point when the pacing slowed drastically. I moved through the last half of the book much slower because I wasn’t as invested in the story anymore. The second half of the story lacked tension. There were parts that could have been condensed. I don’t want to elaborate too much on this because I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
It was a good love story with great writing. For me, this was a 🌟🌟🌟 1/2 star.
April 22, 2019
This sweet love story ticks all the boxes, a main character you want to root for, a BFF who knows exactly when to push her friend and when to let her find her own way, humor, heartache and difficult choices.
Lane is smart and talented and haunted by a tragic loss that keeps her closed off from love, afraid to risk another broken heart. Enter Abe, handsome, flawed, from a different world but completely taken with Lane. The push and pull of their evolving relationship kept me engaged throughout.
Though editing issues tripped me at times, the story is well-written and well-paced. One of my favorite romance reads of the year and an author to watch! 4.5 ⭐️
Lane is smart and talented and haunted by a tragic loss that keeps her closed off from love, afraid to risk another broken heart. Enter Abe, handsome, flawed, from a different world but completely taken with Lane. The push and pull of their evolving relationship kept me engaged throughout.
Though editing issues tripped me at times, the story is well-written and well-paced. One of my favorite romance reads of the year and an author to watch! 4.5 ⭐️
October 3, 2018
This book opens with an honest heart-wrenching look at the daily life of a woman struggling to find her way back to happiness after the loss of a child and subsequent inevitable divorce. She's on the road to recovery, she has a best friend, her home just the way she likes it, her cat, and even someone to come on over when she says she needs him. Best of all she has the potential for a new career doing what she loves. She doesn't need a man permanently in her life, he may not be the right one either but she just can't resist.
Of course the path to true love has bumps along the way with deceit and doubt causing a breakup. And even when there's a reconciliation and marriage is on the horizon it's plagued with doubt.
I'm impressed with the writing. It's solid, meaningful, tender and real. I truly loved this book. The difference between a 4, maybe 4 1/2 star and a 5 star for me is the missing tension to the characters high's and lows. But hey, it's one of the best indie books I've read in a while and a solid 4+ star.
Of course the path to true love has bumps along the way with deceit and doubt causing a breakup. And even when there's a reconciliation and marriage is on the horizon it's plagued with doubt.
I'm impressed with the writing. It's solid, meaningful, tender and real. I truly loved this book. The difference between a 4, maybe 4 1/2 star and a 5 star for me is the missing tension to the characters high's and lows. But hey, it's one of the best indie books I've read in a while and a solid 4+ star.
March 7, 2020
Lane and Abe meet at the coffee shop where she is a barista. He likes her looks. She wishes he would get the hell away from her and stop with the flirting.
She is divorced and damaged. He is divorced and disappointed. There is an age difference...what else do they have against them?
At about the 2/3 mark I was so ready for the book to wrap it up. I did not really care if they patched up their differences and got together or never saw each other again, I just wanted it to be over. In the final bit there was a resolution that I could live with, it was just painful that it took SO DAMN LONG to get there.
I knocked off a star for being too long. Then I added it back because I liked Lane a lot and liked the overall story.
She is divorced and damaged. He is divorced and disappointed. There is an age difference...what else do they have against them?
At about the 2/3 mark I was so ready for the book to wrap it up. I did not really care if they patched up their differences and got together or never saw each other again, I just wanted it to be over. In the final bit there was a resolution that I could live with, it was just painful that it took SO DAMN LONG to get there.
I knocked off a star for being too long. Then I added it back because I liked Lane a lot and liked the overall story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2018
Life is messy and complicated for Lane Benjamin, a beautiful artist and barista. After suffering through emotional and romantic heartaches, she struggles to let down her guard and not allow her past to interfere with her future. This book takes you through the many challenges she faces as she comes to terms with who she is and who she wants to be. Abe is a lovely man who loves her dearly, but is also struggling to overcome his past. This is a very relatable tale for anyone who has ever had to let go of their past, deal with the imperfections and messy ness of life in order to open yourself up to amazing possibilities.
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October 18, 2018
Lane Benjamin is only twenty-seven years old, but she’s survived more than some twice her age. And while she’s managed to finish college, she is now drowning in debt and barely able to make ends meet with her job as a barista, much less pursue her talents with textiles and ceramics.
Her job comes with its own struggles as well - long hours on her feet, unwanted attention from male patrons, and the small-town gossips that make an affair mountain out of a flirting mole hill. Lane manages to stay afloat on the small time she gets with her art, the help of her best friend Celia, and a friends with benefits situation that both scratches “that” itch while still allowing her to eschew dating.
That is, until one of the regulars at her job she doesn’t mind getting attention from, Abe Fujikawa, starts to break down her walls, at the same time she’s presented with the opportunity to give up her meager income to truly pursue whether her passions can become a full-blown career. Both are fraught with risk. Abe and Lane couldn’t be more different. Their ages, interests, and political stances miles apart. Giving up her job would require Lane to rely on someone else and to believe in herself. Neither are her strong suit.
The journey Lane embarks upon is relatable and filled with flawed, realistic characters whose involvement in her life affects her in both good and bad ways. The love stories are true to life and include the same baggage, mistakes, and issues with communication we’ve all experienced. With moments of heart-wrenching pain, on-cloud-nine adorableness, and soul-deep discovery, this is a tale of not just finding the right person for you, but finding the timing amongst the life struggles that shape you into who you are.
This book was so well-written and so involving that I consumed it in less than twenty-four hours, fitting it in amongst my day because I just needed to keep reading, to see what happened next, and to experience the payoff for all of Lane’s pain and struggles. And I wasn’t disappointed.
Her job comes with its own struggles as well - long hours on her feet, unwanted attention from male patrons, and the small-town gossips that make an affair mountain out of a flirting mole hill. Lane manages to stay afloat on the small time she gets with her art, the help of her best friend Celia, and a friends with benefits situation that both scratches “that” itch while still allowing her to eschew dating.
That is, until one of the regulars at her job she doesn’t mind getting attention from, Abe Fujikawa, starts to break down her walls, at the same time she’s presented with the opportunity to give up her meager income to truly pursue whether her passions can become a full-blown career. Both are fraught with risk. Abe and Lane couldn’t be more different. Their ages, interests, and political stances miles apart. Giving up her job would require Lane to rely on someone else and to believe in herself. Neither are her strong suit.
The journey Lane embarks upon is relatable and filled with flawed, realistic characters whose involvement in her life affects her in both good and bad ways. The love stories are true to life and include the same baggage, mistakes, and issues with communication we’ve all experienced. With moments of heart-wrenching pain, on-cloud-nine adorableness, and soul-deep discovery, this is a tale of not just finding the right person for you, but finding the timing amongst the life struggles that shape you into who you are.
This book was so well-written and so involving that I consumed it in less than twenty-four hours, fitting it in amongst my day because I just needed to keep reading, to see what happened next, and to experience the payoff for all of Lane’s pain and struggles. And I wasn’t disappointed.
September 24, 2018
This was a fun read, in part, because it incorporated some local Kansas spots. There's a prequel to it that I'm interested to check out next.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews