Books & Spoon Review: Until You by Jeannie Moon

When newly divorced Kate Adams is approached on the sunny deck of a California hotel by hockey star David Burke, and he invites her to dinner, she almost says no. He’s obviously younger than her. And charming. And drop dead gorgeous. But there’s also something sweet about David, so Kate—who hasn’t done anything spontaneous in a very long time—accepts his invitation.
It is, after all, her fortieth birthday.
However, a real romance with thirty-year-old David, whose picture is in the gossip pages as often as it’s in the sports pages, is out of the question. No matter how much she wants him, it’s just too risky.
But meeting Kate has been David’s lightning strike. She’s the one for him, and he has no intention of giving up on her.
So while Kate guards her fragile heart, David sets out to win her over with the same determination that drives him on the ice.
And he’ll break every rule in the book if he has to.

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Honestly, when I picked up this book, I thought it was going to be another one of those hot hockey player romances, with only a new twist of an older leading lady. Well, yes, there was that too, but oh so much more as well, I don't know where to start.
The characters were interesting, deep, and fascinating.
David is not only a star of the team, and former player of another field, he has depth, and wisdom, he is caring, protective, and devoted. He has some growing up to do, the mistakes of his past and present are piling up, but he is determined in his love for Laura, and willing to learn, mature, and never give up.
Kate is a mother, author, and a teacher. She has finally stepped out of the abusive nightmare of a marriage. Her emotions are raw and wide, but true and profound. To see her flourish and rise from her past, stand up for herself, embrace life and the possibilities it offers to her is a joy. It is not an easy road she has to travel, there's angst, sorrow, and lose, but also so much love, happiness, and wonder, it was a road worth taken.
The secondary characters bring more layers into the tale, the ex-husband Richard and his girlfriend Marie are scary with their insane hunger for money and power. Laura, the daughter, and the story with Jack was touching and heart breaking towards the end, somehow left me wishing for another kind of ending with them.
The whole story just blew me away, the emotions run high, at times the intensity and angst as high as in YA stories. The events and twists in the plot were interesting, and some unexpected. It is an emotional journey into life, that is so real, fresh, at times rough, but still so worth taking.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon at the side