That Certain Something by Clare Ashton is a romance about two people who fall in love and spend a most amazing evening together only they cannot be together and there is a legitimate reason why.
Pia Benitez-Smith is young and out to prove to herself that she can make a living as a photographer. We first meet her as she is climbing a tree to get a photo of a minister who is abusing his staff. When she takes a tumble and almost falls out of the tree there is a beautiful woman there to help her. Cate.
The attraction between them practically vibrates through the air and when their discussion leads them to the idea of love or money Pia chooses love and Cate is adamant that the perfect night will always be expensive. Pia takes on the challenge and gives Cate a magical night to remember on a budget. The evening ends with a mind blowing stay at an expensive hotel but Pia wakes up alone with no idea who Cate is or where to find her.
Fate, though, seems to have other plans for the two as real life and tough choices intrude on the romantic ideals in Pia’s life.
Will Cate really choose money over love or can they have the happy ending that Pia’s heart so longs for?
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Ashton is a master at emphasising the characters and their inner struggles. Her stories seem really simple when you look at the plot and yet so much of the story takes place with the characters and the complexities of making life changing decisions. This book is filled with character truths such as the lies we tell ourselves.
Jessica Jeffries does a stunning job with narrating the audiobook. When I have already read a book I hope that the narrator won’t mess it up and I am always happy when they manage to get it to the same sort of level as the original text. But a truly great narrator will elevate the story with a performance that is captivating. I am so happy to report that Jeffries is a great narrator and did exactly that with this book.
Heads Up
At 6 hours and 25 minutes it’s a short audiobook but it’s so jam packed with story and character moments that you won’t miss the extra two hours or so that is usual for contemporary romances.
The Conclusion
Ashton never writes simple stories. Her characters are as complex and interesting as you can hope to ever find in fiction.
Dressed as a contemporary romance, this one may gain a decent readership but don’t let the cover fool you, you get way more than fluff with this story. You get heartbreak and real struggles. You get deep love and hard choices. But don’t worry because ultimately you get the happy ending that will give every romance reader their heart’s desire.
Excerpt from That Certain Something by Clare Ashton
In a blurred second, the woman cursed, a squirrel shrieked and branches and twigs cracked with the falling weight of photographer.
‘Oh my God!’ Cate leapt forward without thinking. If she had thought, attempting to break the woman’s fall would have been a ludicrous thing to do, but her outstretched arms encountered only a falling camera.
The woman swung above her head, hooked over a branch. Her arms hung down towards the ground and her white T-shirt covered her face.
‘Christ, are you all right?’ Cate said.
The muffled reply from behind the T-shirt sounded strained. ‘I feel a bit sick.’
‘But are you hurt?’
‘I feel a bit sick,’ came the pathetic voice.
Cate grinned. The young woman hadn’t come to much harm. Cate peered up at the petite figure that swayed upside down. She had slim legs, hugged tight by her black jeans. Her toned stomach was exposed and Cate noticed her inviting and flawless skin. She peeped down at the bra, which glowed white against a dark Mediterranean complexion, and allowed herself to notice what a very poor job it was doing of supporting the ample breasts now it was the wrong way up.
Cate gathered herself and put down the camera.
‘Here. Let’s cover you up.’ She lifted the young woman’s T-shirt and tucked it beneath her belt. The sight of the revealed bright red face made her laugh. ‘We need to get you down before you explode.’
She put her hands beneath the woman’s arms and supported her head on her shoulder while the woman wriggled free. With a crack from a branch and a thud on the ground the curious photographer landed back on earth. She groaned and held her stomach. When the blood had receded from the photographer’s cheeks, Cate was taken aback by what a pretty face she had. She was fine-featured with beautiful lips. Large brown irises and inky eyelashes made her appear like a small helpless animal rather than a beast of the paparazzi. She was a few years younger than Cate, early twenties she guessed.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781499331189
Publisher: Indie Author / Breezy Tree
Audiobook Publisher: Clare Ashton
Narrator: Jessica Jeffries
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