The Story of Us

Us

by Susan Wiggs

Don't miss this prequel story to bestselling author Susan Wiggs's novel, The Ocean Between Us!

As a good girl waiting for her chance to be bad, Grace McAllen felt lost and discontented. But all that changed one day when a gorgeous stranger with ocean blue eyes rode into tiny Edenville, Texas, on a Harley. Grace knew in her heart that the chance meeting was just the beginning of a grand new adventure…

Genres: Romance, Ebooks, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Short Stories, Novella

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.

According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.

The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually didn't realize this was a super short novella when I downloaded it. It didn't take me long to figure it out but MAN!! What a stupid, abrupt, waste of time ending. It just...ended. Are they happy? Are they not? It's impossible to tell because most of their marriage is told from whatever crap is going on inside her head. I'm completely irritated I even wasted 20 minutes on this.

[Judy Hankom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the prequel to the story The Ocean between us. This prequel introduces us to the two main characters: Grace McAllen and Steve Bennett.

Grace lives in a small town in Texas. She is not content with her life. Her parents want her to marry someone in the same town to keep up appearances. She is overjoyed when a handsome guy rides into her life on a Harley.

They decide to marry even though her parents disapprove and eventually disinherit her.

This story lets us meet Grace and Steve. In the next book, their story unfolds.

I enjoyed this story.

[Debbie Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like others, I did not realize this was a short story, basically. As I was reading, I kept thinking, “ This is moving too fast. How can it develop into a novel?” It did not.

Basically, this is a quick summary of the first 20 years or so of a Navy wife’s life. Apparently, the story is actually developed in Wiggs’ sequel to this story.

Disappointing and not what I expected.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short prequel to a much longer novel. I am glad I waited to read "An Ocean Between Us" so I could read this prequel first. The author covered a lifetime in a few short pages, but what a great way to do the back story to a novel. Enjoyed it.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start but good book

[Paschalis]

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[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give this 3.5 stars. It was too short to really delve deeply into anything.

[Avalon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace tells the story of her marriage and what it's like to be a navy wife giving up your hopes and dreams to follow your husband around the world.

[Jo Carole France · Rating 1 out of 5]

Left hanging

Both of these stories came to an abrupt end. Leaving you hanging for more of the story. I would not recommend reading this book.

[Kristin Schaefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not enjoy as much as the Ocean between us. And definitely felt it ended very abruptly.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story. It has a good build, resulting in a satisfyingly ambiguous ending.

I interviewed the author for Howe's Things a while back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X14Dl...

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the prequel to a book a read last week. It only comes in e-book form and is only 63 pages long. The first few chapters were great but as soon as you got to page 40 the book rushed through years and when I read that last page I kept thinking that there should have been more. I felt like the author just wanted to finish it and move on. Unless you have read the prequel "The Ocean Between Us" don't bother reading this.

[Patt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly short book, which I understand is the prequel to The Oceans Between Us, which I have now put on hold on Media on Demand. This book chronicles the early years of Grace McAllen's romance and marriage to Steve Bennett, a Navy pilot. They lead a typical military life style and it seems that will change in the next book. I'm looking forward to it.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I typically love her books because I can read them in a few hours and they are just fun romantic getaways. This was an easy read, but left me hanging, with the thought that she only wrote it so I would buy the more expensive "Ocean Between Us" as the sequel.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this little story, especially because it reminded me of my whirlwind romance with a Navy man and marrying him just a few months later and Norfolk, VA was our first station together. I wish it had been part of the book The Ocean Between us as a prologue. Other wise it was a great read.

[Angel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a disappointment after reading the Lakeshore Chronicles. I realize it was a prequel, but I didn't really like any of the characters enough to read the book, The Ocean Between Us, even though it has a great title.

[Lefty Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short overview to get you to buy the next book in the series. I like this author, but not sure I'm going to buy the next one...she will have free books & then tempts you to buy the rest in the series....had that with a 6 series collection.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful, short love story about a Texan young lady who marries a young man in the Navy. A tour in Italy and other places in the states. Looking forward to reading the next in the series. A nice summer beach read....

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has some spoilers for The Ocean Between Us. At first I was upset I didn't read this novella before The Ocean Between Us. But I am glad I read them in the order I did. So my suggestion.....Read The Ocean Between Us then The Story of Us.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this made me feel a bit sad. I'm not sure if it is because I have read the full length novel with Grace and know the problems that are coming her way, or because you see how much she changes through the years in this one.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't really a full story. Just kind of a lead in or advertisement for another book that I have already read and liked. If you've already read An Ocean Between Us this is kind of a waste of tme,. Disappointing.

[patricia cleary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good chance for a beginning

Character growth from young love to independent woman still in love but growing into complete person is the theme of this book. As a young lover she had a lot to learn.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prequel to An Ocean between Us, which I read quite a while ago. Will need to do that.

[Marnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice quick read, a prequel to Ocean Between Us. Now I will have to read that one to find out what happens.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book and it makes you really think I think it is another winner.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need a light, romantic read especially after ROOM. Too short. Just an intro into their lives. Moving on to the next one Oceans Between Us.

[Sheri]

This was a very short prequel to The Ocean Between Us. It wasn't necessary to that book. I read it first. I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read it after Ocean.

[Jewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this.

[Shell Roush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, to give background for "The Ocean Between Us." But, it was sweet and made me want to read the next book.

[Penny Linsenmayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed having the additional background information in this prequel, but it fell a bit flat for the most part.