Informationen zum Autor Paige Toon grew up between England, Australia, and America and has been writing emotional love stories since 2007. She has published fifteen novels, a three-part spin-off series for young adults, and a collection of short stories. Her books have sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide. She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her husband and their two children. Klappentext "A love stronger than distance. A fate determined by time. Nell and Van meet as children when their parents fall in love. They become best friends and each other's whole world. Then tragedy strikes and Van is sent to the other side of the globe. Five years later, they find each other again. But they're no longer children and the bond between them smolders into flames. New feelings surprise them both. They are destined, soulmates. Until an untimely discovery tears them apart again. For the next two decades, fate brings Nell and Van together every five years, even as life and circumstance divide them. They will have to make a choice, but it's bigger than their lives alone. Is it bigger than their love?"-- Leseprobe Prologue: Forty "Oh, baby," I murmur, brushing Luke's hair away from his forehead as he fights back tears. He's still my "baby," even if he is almost fifteen years old. "I can't believe I'm going to be holed up for the rest of the summer," he says in a choked voice. " And I'm going to miss Angie's party," he realizes. I suspect this fact hurts him even more than his broken ankle. "She'll probably get off with Jake and that'll be that, then," he adds bitterly. I lean in and squeeze his shoulder. "Angela Rakesmith looks at you like the light shines out of your backside," I say pointedly. "You have nothing to worry about there." Despite himself, my son grins, but it's quickly followed by a grimace. "Do you need more painkillers?" I ask with concern, my hand halfway toward the button to call the nurse. He shakes his head. "They make me feel sick." "I'm sorry you'll miss the party." I am genuinely sympathetic. Luke has been looking forward to it so much. "That sucks. But think of all of the attention you'll get when you go back to school. The girls will be clambering over themselves to sign your cast. Angie will be jealous as hell." His bottom lip wobbles and he swallows rapidly, but there's no holding back his tears of misery and frustration. "I had so many plans for this summer! How did I do this surfing?" He slaps his hand on the bed. "It could've been worse." I shudder at the thought. He rolls his eyes, putting a halt to the direction my thoughts were taking. "It could always be worse. That doesn't make me feel better, Mum." "I know it might not make a lot of sense right now, but one day..." A shiver goes down my spine as I hear myself saying the words, "...maybe five years from now, you'll look back and understand why this happened." "No, I won't," he retorts grumpily. "I'll just think I was a stupid dick for inviting Jensen to come surfing with us." I cast my eyes heavenward. That's how it happened. Luke's friend Jensen got caught up in the rip current and Luke went after him. They hit the rocks on their way back in. Jensen face-planted on the reef and had to have three stitches on his eyebrow, but was otherwise unharmed. My son was less fortunate. "You're right. You shouldn't have invited him," I say. " None of you should have been surfing at Porthleven in those conditions, especially Jensen, who is way too inexperienced." Unlike Luke, who has been surfing almost every day since he was ten years old. He bites his lip, knowing that he hasn't heard the last of this. "But," I persist with making my point, despite his earlier dismissal, "maybe some good will come of this. Maybe, one ...

Autorentext

Paige Toon

Zusammenfassung
**BEST FRIENDS. FIRST KISS. FIRST LOVE. FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT WILL THEY BE?

“Paige Toon's romances are powerful and poignant and never fail to leave me clutching her book to my chest.” – MIA SHERIDAN, author of ARCHER’S VOICE

In the spirit of Mia Sheridan*,* a heartbreaking story of star-crossed, fated love, and two people who are brought together and torn apart every five years until they must make a choice that’s bigger than their lives alone.**

Nell and Van meet as children when their parents fall in love. They become best friends and each other’s whole world. Then tragedy strikes and Van is sent to the other side of the globe.

Five years later, they find each other again. But they’re no longer children and the bond between them smolders into flames. New feelings surprise them both. They are destined, soulmates. Until an untimely discovery tears them apart again.

For the next two decades, fate brings Nell and Van together every five years, even as life and circumstance divide them. They will have to make a choice, but it’s bigger than their lives alone. Is it bigger than their love?

Leseprobe
Prologue: Forty

"Oh, baby," I murmur, brushing Luke's hair away from his forehead as he fights back tears.

He's still my "baby," even if he is almost fifteen years old.

"I can't believe I'm going to be holed up for the rest of the summer," he says in a choked voice. "And I'm going to miss Angie's party," he realizes.

I suspect this fact hurts him even more than his broken ankle.

"She'll probably get off with Jake and that'll be that, then," he adds bitterly.

I lean in and squeeze his shoulder. "Angela Rakesmith looks at you like the light shines out of your backside," I say pointedly. "You have nothing to worry about there."

Despite himself, my son grins, but it's quickly followed by a grimace.

"Do you need more painkillers?" I ask with concern, my hand halfway toward the button to call the nurse.

He shakes his head. "They make me feel sick."

"I'm sorry you'll miss the party." I am genuinely sympathetic. Luke has been looking forward to it so much. "That sucks. But think of all of the attention you'll get when you go back to school. The girls will be clambering over themselves to sign your cast. Angie will be jealous as hell."

His bottom lip wobbles and he swallows rapidly, but there's no holding back his tears of misery and frustration.

"I had so many plans for this summer! How did I do this surfing?" He slaps his hand on the bed.

"It could've been worse." I shudder at the thought.

He rolls his eyes, putting a halt to the direction my thoughts were taking. "It could always be worse. That doesn't make me feel better, Mum."

"I know it might not make a lot of sense right now, but one day..." A shiver goes down my spine as I hear myself saying the words, "...maybe five years from now, you'll look back and understand why this happened."

"No, I won't," he retorts grumpily. "I'll just think I was a stupid dick for inviting Jensen to come surfing with us."

I cast my eyes heavenward.

That's how it happened. Luke's friend Jensen got caught up in the rip current and Luke went after him. They hit the rocks on their way back in. Jensen face-planted on the reef and had to have three stitches on his eyebrow, but was otherwise unharmed. My son was less fortunate.

"You're right. You shouldn't have invited him," I say. "None of you should have been surfing at Porthleven in those conditions, especially Jensen, who is way too inexperienced."

Unlike Luke, who has been surfing almost every day since he was ten years old.

He bites his lip, knowing that he hasn't heard the last of this.

"But," I persist with making my point, despite his earlier dismissal, "maybe some good will come of this. Maybe, one day in the future, Jensen will think twice about surfing in similar conditions. Or you will. Or one of your friends will, and it might save their lives. Or perhaps there's something else you'll do this summer, someone yo…