Review: Loved this book and look forward to reading more by Brenda Rothert
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 3, 2013
I received a copy of Now and Then in exchange for an honest review.Emmaline's teenage years were spent in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Layla.  In high school, Layla was one of the popular cheerleaders, hanging with the football team while Emma, 2 years younger than Layla, spent her time with the art students and crushing on her older neighbor, Cole, who happened to the be the star of the football team that Layla also wanted to date.After high school, Emma spent time studying art in Paris where she finally feels that she has escaped the stigma of just being "Layla's little sister" and when she comes back home, she finds work as a graphic designer by day, and enjoys her art in her spare time.  Layla has graduated from law school and Cole has moved back home and he too has graduated from law school.Emma and Cole literally bump into each other at a coffeeshop, near to their work and unbeknownst to each other, both of them feel a strong attraction to each other.  Emma has a strong loyalty to her sister and is afraid to act on her feelings for the boy that her sister had dibs on during their teenage years and Cole realizes that at 17 and 14, they were worlds apart but that at 27 and 24, the timing may be right for them to get to know each other again, despite something that may be holding him back.I generally enjoy stories where an unrequited crush in high school has the chance to turn into a relationship years later and Now and Then is no exception for me.  I loved almost everything about Emmaline, although I did often share Cole's frustration when Emmaline would put Layla's happiness before her own.  I just wanted her to be able to accept that it wasn't on her to make her sister happy.  I absolutely loved Cole and as I got to know him, I could easily understand how Emma's crush for the teenage Cole could grow as she got to know the 27 year old Cole.This was the first book that I've read by Brenda Rothert, but I am looking forward to reading Now and Again, which is Layla's story.