Four Years Later by Monica Murphy: Review and Excerpt
Chelsea is not my type at all. She’s smart and totally shy. I’m pretty sure she’s even a virgin. But when she gives me the once over with those piercing blue eyes, I’m really over. But in a different way. I won’t deny her ass is killer, but it’s her brain and the way she seems to crave love—like no one’s ever given her any—that make me want her more than any girl I’ve ever met. But what would someone as seemingly together as her ever see in a screwed up guy like me?
We have seen Owen grow up through the One Week Girlfriend series. He has moved from the snooty little brother and pot smoking teenager to the college football playing heartthrob. He is now every girls dream....with a few issues. Poor Owen wants to help his mom, always has, but really that woman is beyond help. In walks Chelsea, the girl who is going to tutor him and ends up being the thing he needs most.
I loved the relationship between Owen and Chelsea, maybe as much as I love Drew and Fable (who I'm excited to say we get to spend some more time with). They compliment each other...each helping to bring out the best in their partner. One of the things I love about Monica Murphy's writing is that her characters are real. It's not always happiness and butterflies, there are battles to be one and obstacles to overcome. Not just externally, but internally as well. Growing up is hard to do, and Owen struggles with his choices.
“Sometimes, I hate that. Growing up, moving on. Being alone. Finding my footing, when all I do is stumble around in the dark. Fuck.” ~Owen
Chelsea may be exactly what he needs to finally make the right decisions. She is painfully shy, but such a perfect fit for the man Owen is becoming.
“Nobody. I’ve always been nobody. Why Can’t I be someone’s somebody?” ~Chelsea
I loved this book from beginning to end. If you are a fan of Drew and Fable there are some exciting things in store for you here, along with an amazing story! I can't wait to see what Ms. Murphy will do next!!!
“Anything else?” I ask them minutes later as I drop the check on their table. Owen slaps his hand against the piece of paper and drags it toward him.
“I think that’s it.”
“Great.” I smile but it feels brittle. “I can be your cashier or you can pay at the register.”
“Hey, what else can you be for us, huh?” one of Owen’s friends ask, making the other one laugh.
My cheeks are hot again and my mouth is open. I’m gaping at them like a dying fish and thankfully Owen rushes to my defense.
“Shut the hell up, Des.” He glances up at me, all traces of the buzzed foolish boy who first walked in here gone. “He’s drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying,” drunken Des mumbles, clamping his lips shut when Owen shoots him a deathly stare.
“It’s all right,” I say, backing away from them slowly. “Take your time.” I turn to flee from their table when I hear someone slide out of the booth, strong fingers curling around my upper arm and stopping me from leaving. He’s standing directly behind me, the warmth from his body seeping into mine and I go completely still. Willing myself not to react, not to say something stupid and embarrass myself. Look what he’s doing to me just by touching my arm. This sort of thing doesn’t happen to me. I don’t care about boys. I’ve been kissed a measly three times in my life, once by Cody Curtis the tongue thruster and he definitely doesn’t count. So twice. Twice I’ve been kissed and I’m a virgin. A freaking virgin. Owen Maguire has player written all over him. I’m nothing to him. So why is he touching me? Talking to me in that husky low murmur of his that slides over me like slow, warm honey?
“…need to talk to you. About this tutoring thing,” he’s saying and I wrench myself out of his grip, irritated that I didn’t pay attention to what he said at first.
“Just meet me Monday afternoon as scheduled and we should be good to go.” I turn to face him, a fake smile plastered to my face and he stares at my lips for a long, breath stealing second before he finally lifts those too pretty green eyes up to meet mine. My lips are tingling like he actually kissed them. God.
“I don’t even know your name,” he murmurs.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.
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