Without Reservation

Ever since Kristen could remember, her father was a stickler for education. Except for when it came to her; she was the beautiful daughter (a carbon copy of her mother) and caught in the conflict of sibling rivalry with her older sister Taylor (Daddy's little girl). In her attempts to win that love, she hides the fact that she has inherited her estranged maternal grandfather (Andrew Malone's) eidetic memory. She deliberately strives to do poorly since negative behavior seems to get Daddy's immediate attention.Kristen's plan is interrupted drastically by an unexpected run-in with a close friend of her brother Jimmy (Jeffrey Thomas), who has come back home after being away in the military for four years. Jeffrey is also the son of Joe Thomas, James's lifelong best friend. For as long as she could remember, she had a crush on Jeffrey. Kristen realized she still held a torch for Jeffrey when they were reacquainted recently at her place of employment.Kristen and Jeffrey share an intimate, life-changing moment that spirals into a whirlwind summer romance. The two fall hopelessly in love and realize their love has revealed a soulmate.Kristen confide in her father that she has a love interest and shares the fact that she lost her innocence. James struggles with the realization that his sixteen-year-old daughter is sexually active and encourages her to wait until she is a little older and wiser to love.Consequently, when James learns it's Jeffrey, both he and his son Jimmy feel betrayed. Jimmy's reaction is anticipated, and no one stands in his way, not even Joe Thomas, when he confronts Jeffrey with blazing fists.Joe is determined to teach his son a life lesson and comes up with a plan, and James is on board. The plan is to threaten statutory rape charges being filed if Jeffrey does not comply, and the agreement sends Jeffrey away until Kristen is of age.The book is divided into two parts with a ten-year gap. The thrilling novel takes yet another unexpected twist and ultimately leaves the fate of what happens to these lovers (past and present) in the hands of something bigger than them both.