Review: Well, if the platform stripper heel fits...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 7, 2013
Now that I've got your attention, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!I won this book in a contest. How freaking awesome that it was thrown in my lap, I might have missed it otherwise.  Now and Then is written in alternating past/present.  It was very helpful to understand the history of the characters to better relate to their current thoughts and actions.  Emma has been crushing on Cole since he moved across the street from her family when she was just a kid.  He noticed her beautiful older sister Layla, but he didn't see the awkward kid sister who was three years younger than him.  Now that all three are grown, can they get past the secrets that are standing in their way? Cole finally sees Emma, and he really likes what he sees.  The chemistry between them is hot, hopefully nobody lights a match in their vicinity or they will go up in flames.  I have to mention the three-alarm office scene, the book is worth reading for this alone.  My favorite quote, "My handprint looks so good on you." *fanning self*Can Emma admit to Layla that she is dating the guy that she wants?  Will Layla forgive her when she finds out? Can Emma trust Cole?  Can Cole let go of the secret he's been hiding for a decade?  When all of the secrets are revealed, will it tear them apart?  Sometimes the only thing standing in the way of now is then.I loved this story, I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day.  Brenda Rothert is a talented author, her writing is very smooth.  The dialogue flows seamlessly. I loved the family dynamic, the supportive parents, the sisters, and the neighbors across the street that spent time together.  I liked Emma's best-friend Dani who was willing to hide under the bleachers with her to watch the football players practice.  Friends tell you what you want to hear.  Real friends tell you what you need to hear.  Dani is a real friend.  I enjoyed Layla, even though she annoyed me at times.  I know a lot if her behavior was a mask to hide her insecurities.  Underneath it all she has a good heart and I want to see her get her HEA.  I look forward to the next book in the series, Now and Again, that is about her.