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Cursive

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The past pulls. The future shoves. The present just begs for a time-out.

Aislynn Currington is searching for an escape from her tumultuous past, one that includes a severely broken heart and a very complicated relationship with a mother who uses criticism as her preferred mode of expressing love.

Jace Quinn is a driven businessman who, even after surviving a serious life-changing event, remains hell bent on avoiding any form of serious attachment.

Some define insanity as doing things repeatedly while expecting a different outcome. What will Aislynn and Jace need to do to break this endless loop?

With the help of their undeniably intense sexual attraction, witty banter, and love for high-end coffee machines, Aislynn and Jace learn to bravely battle through the challenges of falling in love at the most inconvenient time, in a place they did not plan to be, and with the person they can’t seem to stop running into.

Cursive's multiple layers of drama, romance, passion, and humor are tightly bound together by an unforeseeable major twist that will keep the reader engaged and connected until the very end.

359 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2013

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About the author

Phoebe Lane

7 books67 followers
I’m emotionally dynamic and of peculiar mind which is code for “hormonal and crazy.” Reading contemporary romance novels is my vice, and writing them is my most valued privilege.

I have a pretty average life. I wear the mom hat, the wife shirt, the daughter skirt, and the working woman peep-toe heels all day long. But when I strip all of that down, I am an author.

I’m still amazed I get to say that.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Christy.
4,113 reviews34.7k followers
July 8, 2020
The past pulls. The future shoves. The present just begs for a time-out.

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Cursive was one of those books I stumbled upon randomly, a friend of mine had read it and loved it so I thought I would give it a go. I was happy I did! I really enjoyed this one. It was a beautiful story, it was emotional, I laughed, I cried, and there was a pretty big twist that I didn’t see coming( I love when books can surprise me like that!) A compelling read I didn’t want to put down!


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Aislynn has spent the last year moving from city to city working on her novel. Writing has always been something she wanted to pursue, but it took something big happening in her life for her to go after it. Something traumatic happened to Aislynn about a year ago, but you only know the half of it. Aislynn is awesome. She has been through a lot, but she is fun and feisty. I really enjoyed her character. Thankfully, Aislynn has her best friend Ellie to lean on. She is currently staying with Ellie in SanDiego. One morning, she walks into her kitchen, barley dressed, and sees a very good looking man. A man who happens to be one of Ellie’s clients. Mr. Jace Quinn.

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Jace... I just loved Jace. Jace see’s Aislynn and he just knows she is different, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.
Thats it. She’s breathtaking and she doesn’t even know it. Such a dangerous combination.

Jace has had things happen in his life that make him very hesitant to get involved with anyone. When Aislynn’s friend Ellie, and Jace’s friend Evan become involved, Jace and Aislynn are kind of forced together on these ‘non-dates’. The more they get to know one another, the more they like each other. They decide to try for real. It is scary for the both of them. They both have secrets. After finding out about Jace’s past, everything makes sense. Aislynn wants to be there for him. He knows some things about Aislynn, but not everything. She isn’t sure if she can ever tell him the whole truth. But they make the decision to be together.

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Aislynn and Jace go through quite the journey together. It was wonderful to see Aislynn growing and learning about herself. Moving on, letting go, and healing.

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Jace and Aislynn were perfect together. I loved how they were both able to learn to love again, trust again, heal and let go of the past. A truly beautiful story. A great debut novel!!!
Profile Image for Elizabeth (Liz).
632 reviews404 followers
June 5, 2013
Phoebe Lane, I am at a loss. I absolutely adore this story. Adore it!! I can be very hard to please, almost obnoxiously so at times. I always aim to be fair and remember how much work authors put into pouring their souls onto paper, but…not every book is always a 5-Star or even a 4-Star read for me. Recently, though, it feels like there might be someone guiding my hand toward stories that are special and memorable. Cursive is both of those things, and it is so much more.

There are so many aspects of this story that I love, that make it shine for me. But, it all begins with the characters. The first few chapters of Cursive will almost make you think you’re reading a cute, lighthearted, romantic comedy. Or, to be more specific, those first few chapters will make you think that’s all you’re reading. Aislynn is funny, warm and yet closed off, and hiding enough secrets to fill a circus tent. I’ll be honest, I didn’t click with her immediately. But, there were moments, and I saw that the potential was definitely there if I gave her story time to unravel. Jace is…well, Jace is wonderfully real, decent, honest and SEXY. Lord have mercy. He also proves himself to be immensely romantic and charming. He is everything you could want in a man. Like Aislynn, Jace is full of complexities, as well. He has his very own story to tell. So, what bonds these two souls together? You think I’m going to say something really deep and profound, right? Well, they get there, but in the beginning…it’s coffee. Good God, do these two LOVE their expensive, barista-prepared coffee!

Aislynn and Jace aside, Phoebe Lane gives us fully fleshed-out secondary characters, as well. And, that? That is one of my greatest loves in a story! Aislynn’s best friend Ellie and Jace’s best friend Evan, as well as all of the assorted family members, combine to make this such a full and rich story.

Here’s another aspect of Cursive that made me fall in love: an almost absurd mix of lighthearted humor and deeply-felt pain. I told you that in the beginning you might mistake this book for a romantic comedy. Well, to my astonishment and Phoebe Lane’s credit, Cursive actually is a romantic comedy. It’s a romantic comedy. It’s an emotional, character-driven contemporary romance. It’s a sexy, sultry romp. It’s a deeply agonizing personal journey. Cursive is so many things, and, yet, somehow, they all come together perfectly and miraculously to make this uniquely-told and, at times, very surprising story. Honestly, I would never have imagined this could work. This author did imagine it, though. She imagined it, and she more than made it work! That is what leaves me so impressed with Cursive and with Phoebe Lane.

For me, what makes Cursive truly unforgettable is the depth and complexity of emotion. There is a terribly important aspect of this story that I refuse to spoil for you. But, you have to trust me that it is so well done (no matter if it remains a surprise or not) and so intensely felt. The feelings that situation engenders positively permeates the entire story. The realism with which both Aislynn and Jace face the personal fall-out of Aislynn’s greatest revelation is so powerful to me. Their conversation toward the end, when everything finally comes to a head, is simple and yet profound. Love and commitment are, without any doubt, cemented in that moment.

To be honest, I could probably continue discussing this story for another three or four paragraphs. So many scenes, seemingly inconsequential or not, are still stuck in my head. The epilogue is, as you would expect, funny and emotional, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the book. I want so badly to include a quote from the epilogue, my very favorite. But, it will mean so much more after you’ve traveled this journey with Aislynn and Jace.

In the end, I have to tell you that if you miss out on Phoebe Lane’s debut, you will honestly regret it. I’m pretty sure this one will capture a piece of your heart just like it did mine. If it does, please let me know. Let Phoebe know. Let your fellow readers know by writing a short review of your own. Share your experience. That’s the best part of reading, after all :-)


**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**



For more reviews, please visit Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews or visit us on Facebook.
Profile Image for Wendy.
526 reviews282 followers
May 28, 2013
Fabulous! A wonderful romance, between two scarred and flawed characters; that had me laughing, and sniffling the next. This truly is a feel good read, with great settings, vivid characters and just good old fashion romance. It's a winner!

Thanks to my buddy Elizabeth for another wonderful recommendation. Woohoo, we finally agree on a book! Thanks Lizzie!
Profile Image for Mo.
1,380 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2013
I see I am in the minority here on this one. It was a good enough book but no way would it be 5 stars or even 4 stars for me. Nice characters, nice writing. Nice that it was set in San Diego where I would love to visit sometime but there was just something lacking in it for me to bump it up another star.
Profile Image for Heather .
450 reviews146 followers
May 27, 2013
Sometimes when the world becomes too overwhelming, the mind does some... unusual things to protect itself. These things can be functional in protecting the mind, but dysfunctional in the real world.



Aislynn is living through a very painful time in her life. She has had a lot of pain to deal with and she hasn't been doing very well with it. Her life is a bit of a disaster and she is running from everything.



Jace is a business man who has had his own set of problems to deal with. His past has left him weary of relationships. He is successful and handsome and not ready for anything serious. Ready or not, Aislynn has caught him off guard and he is falling hard and fast. But he has his own secrets that may send her running.



This book is a hard one to review without giving too much away. I do not want to say too much because there were several significant twists and turns in this one that left me reeling. I absolutely fell in love with Jace. I loved Jace and Aislynn together.



I loved to hate Aislynn's mother, Pam. That woman was just evil. I felt horribly for Aislynn. No one should have to grow up with a mother like that.



This is one of those books that you will be thinking about for weeks. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. this book! I laughed, I cried, I cried some more and I came out of it all with that amazing warm fuzzy feeling that miracles can happen. *sigh*. If you haven't read this one, you simply must. This one could be a movie, like a seriously good movie!

5 Glorious HEA stars!!!

Check out this review and others at: http://johnstohbibliomaniac.wordpress...
Profile Image for NiteReader.
593 reviews55 followers
May 28, 2013
A SPECTACULAR READ! I loved it...
This is fantastic contemporary romance filled with just the right amount of humor, steam and drama. The characters are flawed but not overly so and are easy to fall in love with and root for... This is one of those books you don't want to put down until the beautiful end!
A shout out to the lovely Elizabeth at Sinfully Sexy who said it was OUTSTANDING and she was right!!
Profile Image for Lorie.
738 reviews116 followers
May 24, 2013
★★★★★

O.U.T.S.T.A.N.D.I.N.G. Cursive is a breath of fresh air!!!

Phoebe Lane has hit a homerun, kicked the winning goal, scored a touchdown……..whatever you want to call it, Phoebe Lane has done it with Cursive!!!!


I wasn't even through chapter 1, and I was declaring my love for this book. This is some of the best damn writing ever ! I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long long time. It's outstanding, brilliant, and absolutely wonderful.

Cursive is a stunning and brilliant debut! It’s hard to truly believe this is Phoebe Lane’s first book. It is extremely well-written with great character development and a wonderful pace and flow. It is filled with endearing characters, heartache, laughs galore, heart melting moments, and palpable sexual tension all mixed into a gloriously wonderful story. The dialogue is smart, sexy, fun, and witty, and Phoebe Lane' s writing style…. well, I JUST LOVE IT!!! The writing is solid and the level of maturity is remarkable, it will hook you from the very beginning.

You may think you know the story.... two people that have individually suffered a tragic event and have sworn off relationships..... but, you have NO idea. This is so refreshingly different. It is serious and heartbreaking but light and delightful at the same time. It will seriously knock your socks off (but don’t take your shoes off first…… because Cursive will knock those off, too).

I think I fell in love with Jace and Aislynn at the same time – YEP!!! It happened in Chapter 1. Both are so sweet, completely lovable, and REAL. Neither is looking for a relationship – while Aislynn is unwilling to confront her past, Jace refuses to relive his by getting attached again. They meet by chance – Aislynn will say life has a cruel sense of humor like that. But after a few “non-dates” not so subtly conceived by their well–meaning friends, they learn more about each other and realize they forgot how nice it feels to actually be interested in someone else. They decide to see where things go, and have a real honest to goodness D-A-T-E.

As the pair grow closer, both can tell the other is hiding something. With time, Jace and Aislynn open up about their pasts that hold them hostage. Jace goes first afraid that his confession will have Aislynn running. Aisylnn soon follows divulging what has her moving from city to city like a nomad for the past year. Jace and Aislynn need to decide if they can let go of their pasts in order to pursue the present with one another. Their pasts are the KEY and revealing anymore would ruin the wonderful story Phoebe Lane has crafted. I can say what they endured in their past have made them into the wonderful and lovable people they are today.

The supporting characters – the best friends, Ellie and Evan, and Jace’s family – are just as loveable and have just the right involvement and add a lot to the story. And, some of the throw back references had me smiling – Jem, Rainbow Brite, Cindy Lauper. Love, love, love this book!

Phoebe Lane, I’m glad you came out of hiding!!!! If you had THIS in you, I can’t wait to see what else you’ve got hiding in there.

*****Cursive is one sparkling gem of a book!!!!*****
Profile Image for Janey.
1,298 reviews
May 30, 2013
What a beautiful, humorous, emotional, endearing, loving, tortured, amazingly satisfying story. I was hooked from the very start of this enticing read, and then sat up until silly o'clock ploughing through it.

Watching Aislynn and Jace journey through their relationship was nothing less than stunning! Their broken souls, their reveals, their obvious deep love for each other was relayed so succinctly.

Phoebe Lane, you must be delighted with this debut novel, and its obvious positive response. If it was me, I would be peeing my pants with delight!
Profile Image for BestSellers BestStellars.
18 reviews25 followers
May 1, 2013
Cursive by Phoebe Lane
Review by Hetty, BestSellers & BestStellars of Romance

“A love exchanged effortlessly between two healing hearts.” ~Cursive

I was fortunate enough to receive Cursive as an ARC from Phoebe Lane in exchange for an honest review. It is expected to release May 14, 2013 and I strongly encourage everyone to get ready for some HOT one-click action that day.

Cursive is Phoebe’s debut novel and completely BLEW ME AWAY! I wasn’t sure what to expect because I am the first to write a review and it hasn’t released yet but WOW, I was very impressed! I thoroughly enjoy books with plenty of romance and passion but in order to keep things interesting, I appreciate added aspects such as secrets, suspense, and angst. Cursive was the perfect package of all my favorites! It grasped my full attention from start to finish. As the story progressed, I was slowly solving the mysteries behind Aislynn and Jace.

Speaking of Aislynn and Jace… these two are phenomenal! Individually they hold their own strength but once you get them together, the fireworks begin! Aislynn and Jace are both struggling with their past which keeps them from moving forward. They each have solid walls protecting them and refuse to let their guard down. Even with their pasts holding them hostage, Aislynn and Jace cannot control the attraction they feel for one another.

“She’s really nice. Spunky. Intelligent. And beautiful. If only I could take a sniff of her neck. I just want to smell her, and maybe taste her too.” ~Jace

With the help of their friends, Ellie and Evan, Aislynn and Jace find themselves together on a few ‘non-dates’. The connection they have is comfortable and easy, as though they have been friends for years. I really enjoyed how fun and playful they are, it made them very realistic. Slowly those walls begin to sway and wiggle. Aislynn daydreams about Jace… he is ‘swoon-worthy’. Jace can’t keep his thoughts off Aislynn either. Soon enough they find themselves going on a REAL date.

“You sure know how to impress a girl.”
“Just you. I only want to impress you.”
“Well, it’s working.”

As their relationship develops, it is crystal clear that they are perfect for each other. Jace opens up first and I felt that added another depth to his ‘swoon-worthy’ character. He trusts Aislynn and knows she is different. Aislynn is very protective over Jace and wants to take away his pain. Jace is very attentive and caring. He calms Aislynn, takes away her stress, and grounds her. She is “babydoc” and he is “sexy lips”. I LOVED when Aislynn would be thinking something then realize she said it out loud when Jace would answer her. There are too many endearing little details to count but they really make the story special.

“I had already started living my life in color again, but when you walked in, the colors just exploded. You make my life brighter and in high definition.” ~Aislynn
And oh my goodness… the sex is steamy and plentiful! The scenes are very well written without being crude or crass. Smokin’ HOT while still being tasteful.

I won’t give anything away but their story isn’t free of roadblocks and debris. They both have obstacles to overcome and pain to release in order to fully commit to each other. The secrets they have hidden allow the reader to slowly put the pieces of their puzzle together. The storyline is very well paced and put together. It will keep you interested page after page.

“I know. I screwed up. It’s not easy for me to ask for help. It’s not easy for me to admit that I… I need you. I want you with me.” ~Jace

Ellie and Evan’s relationship, although secondary, is fantastic. These two add a lot to the novel. Their support greatly influences the start of Aislynn and Jace as a couple. Pam, Aislynn’s mother, adds insight and aspects to the story as well. Although Pam is portrayed as negative, it allows the readers to understand more about Aislynn’s character and why she is guarded.

Congratulations Phoebe Lane on an extraordinary debut novel. I feel honored to be the first to review such an outstanding book. I cannot wait to read everything you write in the future!

5 Star rating!
Get your copy on May 14, 2013!
Profile Image for Musing.
473 reviews
May 11, 2013
Welcome to the writing world Phoebe Lane! Having just finished incredibly clever and compelling Cursive , I know I will be back for more of your work in the future!

As an avid reader, I am rarely surprised by events in books. Most follow a fairly predictable storyline with a few twists to keep the reader interested. From the very start of Cursive however, I was delightfully enraptured. As the story progressed, I was engrossed, then stunned, and by its conclusion, I was amazed. Very twisty. Very heart-wrenching. Very believable.

The heroine, beautiful, intelligent and funny Aislynn Currington, had distressing secrets that she held close to her chest. Even her wonderful best friend Ellie, who brought color to her monochrome life, (and to the story) didn't know the full extent of the heartache that this woman had endured. She was battered, broken but determined to end her repeated reaction of 'flight', to current and future stressors. However, she couldn't do this on her own, especially with the constant, malicious taunting from her indifferent mother.

Enter our gallant and gorgeous Hero, Jace Quinn. Like Aislynn, he had high, defensive walls protecting his wounded heart. The connection between Jace and Aislynn was sizzling, but their rapport was also rich in witty repartee, admiration and respect. Both struggled with trust. Both wanted more. To gain more, each had to relinquish their fiercely held control, believing that love could heal many wounds, and propel them to a place of healing, acceptance and a sense of peace. Could they achieve this or would their damaged hearts prove to be past recovery?

Cursive, written flawlessly in third person, and well paced, will keep you captivated. Saddening and stunning revelations kept coming throughout, especially as Aislynn confronted her past. Supporting characters were given just the right amount of air-time and provided fabulous backdrop to the main storyline. This was an extremely impressive debut novel. I sincerely look forward to more from talented Phoebe Lane.

Thank you Phoebe Lane for an ARC of Cursive. No compensation was received for this honest review.
Profile Image for Chris- Bookaddict.
756 reviews254 followers
May 14, 2013
This book is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL !!!! Honestly Add it to your TBR list NOW !!! I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

I was totally Blown away with this book. Pheobe had sent me a message and asked me if I would read and review this for her. I read the blurb and was like oh this does sound good , of course I will read and review it for her.

I was totally not prepared for what I read . Cursive's multiple layers of drama, romance, passion, and humor are tightly bound together by an unforeseeable major twist that will keep the reader engaged and connected until the very end <<<<< she was not lying about that …


“I had already started living my life in color again, but when you walked in, the colors just exploded. You make my life brighter and in high definition.”


Aislynn and Jace these two amazing people were absolutely phenomenal . This relationship that built with them was amazing. The whole relationship was a slow build , which made it even better in my opinion. Two people fighting with issues from their past and not looking to move forward with any kind of relationship , the running into each other at every turn , the banter back and forth it was great. I loved how we read thoughts from both of them throughout the book while they were talking to each other . It was perfectly clear these two were made for each other.



“She’s really nice. Spunky. Intelligent. And beautiful. If only I could take a sniff of her neck. I just want to smell her, and maybe taste her too.”


I loved Jace and the fact that he opened up to her when he knew she was the one he wanted in his life and nothing was going to stop him from telling her his truth’s and tell her about his past and all that he was dealing with. He opened right up to her when the time was right and he never lied to her, he was completely honest with her.

Aislynn , how her whole past developed into the story was absolutely beautiful . I felt so much for the pain she was dealing with the secrets she was hiding , even from her best friend. Her Negative Mother who does play a part in us seeing why Aislynn has grown into the woman she is. I laughed, I cried, I felt for her throughout her telling Jace what she had been through and what lead her to where she was.

“I know. I screwed up. It’s not easy for me to ask for help. It’s not easy for me to admit that I… I need you. I want you with me.”


This book will definitely keep you captivated as you read it, you will feel Aislynn’s Pain and sadness as she finally tells all About her past. You will shed tears with her as she tells Jace what happened. Your heart will ache for her and then your heart will swell with love when Jace reacts to what she tells him.


I loved Evan (Jace’s Best friend) and Ellie ( Aislynn’s Best friend) . I’m kinda hoping we might get a story about them as they develop more in their relationship.

Aislynn’s mom I will tell you now you will dislike her lol , but just know by the end of the book you will love Aislynn for how she finally deals with her mom.

There is an HEA and an amazing epilogue as well .

Phoebe Amazing Job on your debut Novel it is truly phenomenal and I am sure many people are going to enjoy it and being adding it to their favorites list just like I did.


Book Blurb:
The past pulls. The future shoves. The present just begs for a time-out.

Aislynn Currington is searching for an escape from her tumultuous past, one that includes a severely broken heart and a very complicated relationship with a mother who uses criticism as her preferred mode of expressing love.

Jace Quinn is a driven businessman who, even after surviving a serious life-changing event, remains hell bent on avoiding any form of serious attachment.

Some define insanity as doing things repeatedly while expecting a different outcome. What will Aislynn and Jace need to do to break this endless loop?

With the help of their undeniably intense sexual attraction, witty banter, and love for high-end coffee machines, Aislynn and Jace learn to bravely battle through the challenges of falling in love at the most inconvenient time, in a place they did not plan to be, and with the person they can’t seem to stop running into.

Cursive's multiple layers of drama, romance, passion, and humor are tightly bound together by an unforeseeable major twist that will keep the reader engaged and connected until the very end




review requested by author
Profile Image for Donna ~ The Romance Cover.
2,817 reviews318 followers
May 13, 2013
4 stars!!

What a brilliant debut by Phoebe Lane, this is one author I am going to be keeping my eyes peeled for!

Thanks to Phoebe for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cur-sive = adjective: written with the characters joined

This book has a bit of everything, romance, passion, love, angst, twists and turns, unexpecteds (if that is a word), highs and lows…well everything really. It gripped me from start to finish…this is the story of Aislynn and Jace!!!

Both Jace and Aislynn have had a lot of hard knocks in their life, especially their love lives…this makes both of them unwilling to love and trust freely ultimately making new relationships very hard to start and keep. Aislynn is a psychiatrist, she is on a sabbatical at the moment and wants to do something for herself…writing, she wants to write a novel…after her fiancé left her 2 months before the wedding she was heartbroken and couldn’t stay..she became a bit of a nomad staying in vacant places her best friend managed..in one of these places she meets Jace…and what a meeting it is. Jace has only ever had 2 serious relationships and each one has broken down as a result of something that happened in his past (I won’t say as it will spoil it) but if I was there at the time, those girls would not have been able to walk after I had dealt with them. Jace is soooo sweet, gorgeous, charming, loveable etc you get the picture…perfect!!! He knows that Aislynn is hiding something and running from something and whilst scared out of his mind about embarking on a new relationship, he makes the moves..jumps in and hopes he does not get burned as he doesn’t think his heart could take another rejection. This isn’t some instalust relationship, but a very slow build up to what fast becomes an intense relationship..it is beautifully written and was a book I didn’t want to put down.

It is obvious that Jace and Aislynn are perfect for each other, Jace takes the initiative first and shares with Aislynn the reasons that his past relationships have failed..he knows deep down that he needs to be one starting to break down the walls and just hopes that his confession does not make Aislynn run, she doesn’t…she steps up to the plate and becomes the rock that Jace needs…she however, needs to trust Jace with her secrets and let her emotions and demons go…they should be there for each other. Eventually she does let him in, very emotional, must admit I did get quite teary during this book. I was so pleased he was there waiting for her when she went to confront Christopher’s parents…it just made me love him all the more.

I can’t say too much as it would give the story away, but this is a little gem of a read and I am so pleased that through our blog we get to find them and hopefully bring them to you..

The side characters in this book are fab too…Aislynn’s best friend Ellie is what best friends are all about, she is always there for Aislynn through the highs and the lows.

Don’t get me started on Aislynn’s mother, she really is a piece of work and a lot of Aislynn’s insecurities stem from that nasty woman!

Absolutely adored the epilogue….I sincerely hope that this is not the end of the Jace and Aislynn story, I would love to see how things pan out for them in their future…perhaps giving us the Ellie and Evan story going forward with Jace & Aislynn too…just an idea Phoebe lol

Well worth a read for all us hopeless romantics.

www.theromancecover.com
Profile Image for Derna.
589 reviews287 followers
May 15, 2013
*Had to go back and add some of my favorite quotes*

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cursive is Phoebe Lane’s debut novel and I loved it. Any book that hooks me enough to keep me reading till stupid o’clock in the morning is hit with me.

This book had characters that I immediately fell in love with. Aislynn she was gorgeous, smart and I loved her sense of humour she had me laughing out loud many times. But at the same time she pulled on my heartstrings, as it was emotional watching her struggle not to let the secrets from her past effect her future.

Jace oh wow loved Jace, he was charming, attractive and so swoon worthy. I loved the way he talked to Aislynn, how patient he was with her, never pushing her to talk, always letting her know he would be there when she was ready to. When she did finally open up to him he was so supported, which was amazing considering he had and was still dealing with life changing events, which have also left him questioning his future.

The chemistry between these two, I could feel from the very first chapter. I loved the no dates, the sweet moment between them, that their relationship took time to develop. They didn’t just jump straight in to bed with each other, which I was pleased about as it meant they took time to respect, trust and open up to each other, however when the did get physical it was worth the wait. *Wink Wink*

The book had supporting characters that I loved some not so much. I liked Ellie and Evan relationship they were cute together. Ellie was a great best friend, knowing when and when not to push Aislynn. Evan was like a brother to Jace encouraging him to let down the walls around his heart he had built up due to past relationship.

I didn’t like Aislynn mother Jill I wanted to punch her, she was just awful; she was never going to win a mother of the year award. I wanted to hug Aislynn after the way she dealt with her mother in the end. Then there was Chloe, you know that saying, ‘if you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all’ well lets move on then.

Overall I thought this book was really good. I loved the romance, the storyline has enough drama to keep you satisfied and wanting to read more, but it wasn’t over the top. There are moments that make you laugh and moments that make you sad. There was a twist that I never saw coming, it was one that made me shout out loud OMG!!! No way!!!

Phoebe Lane has a new fan in me. I was really impressed with this book. Her writing style was engaging and I was hooked from the start. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. This is a must read book that won’t leave you disappointed.

Favourite Quotes

“Damm, he’s good, she thought and swooned. Yes, he’d actually made her swoon.”

“I had already started living my life in colour again, but when you walked into it, the colours just exploded. You make my life brighter and in high definition.” Aislynn

“Note to self: Don’t mess with Mama Bear.” Aislynn

“So I’m doing all the work tonight. This is going to be all about you” Jace

Cursive gets 5 stars from me.

Profile Image for *J* Too Many Books Too Little Time.
1,921 reviews3,710 followers
May 28, 2013
4.5 Stars!

LOVED it! This book kind of came out of nowhere for me. A friend added it and I thought it sounded good. Gave it a go and was really surprised by how good it really was. The story was better then I expected.

Of course, I didn't figure out the "twist" ahead of time. I am clearly not very perceptive when it comes to books! Ha! But I still enjoyed this one regardless.

Aislynn is looking to escape her past....a past that includes a broken heart and an overly critical mother. She doesn't stay in one place very long, constantly "running". Her latest stop is San Diego. She wakes up one morning to find a hottie in her kitchen. A hottie who just happens to be her BFF and roomies client. Oops!

Said hottie, is Jace Quinn. Jace is a successful business who has overcome his own obstacles. He doesn't do relationships. Jace and Aislynn proceed to "run in" to each other several times over the next week. And when Aislynn's BFF and Jace's BFF start dating they are forced together even more.

Aislynn and Jace start out as friends but eventually begin to develop stronger feelings for each other. They are both keeping the events of their past a secret and have to learn to trust each other in order to let go of the past and have a future. Overtime they do, and as a result their relationship grows stronger. I really liked both main characters....they had great witty banter and off-the-charts sexual chemistry.

This was a standalone with a HEA. Yay!!! Great debut from this author...

Profile Image for Jen O'grady.
210 reviews16 followers
September 29, 2013
I thought this was a sweet read, just guessed the story of Christopher before it was revealed in the book, but thought it had a good story line, and loved the banter between Jace and Aislynn.
Definitely another author ill look out for in the future.
Profile Image for BB.
36 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2013
Phoebe Lane where have you been hiding?
Phenomenal debut novel!
A true home run right out of the box!
This book will without a doubt go to my favorites list!

This book will grab you and keep you turning the pages from start to finish then floor you from left field.
I love to read a book that surprises you with a twist you never saw coming!
Great relationships, hot scenes, jaw dropping twists.
Top notch writing at its best!
A must read!


Excerpt:
The past pulls. The future shoves. The present just begs for a time-out.

Aislynn Currington is searching for an escape from her tumultuous past, one that includes a severely broken heart and a very complicated relationship with a mother who uses criticism as her preferred mode of expressing love.

Jace Quinn is a driven businessman who, even after surviving a serious life-changing event, remains hell bent on avoiding any form of serious attachment.

With the help of their undeniably intense sexual attraction, witty banter, and love for high-end coffee machines, Aislynn and Jace learn to bravely battle through the challenges of falling in love at the most inconvenient time, in a place they did not plan to be, and with the person they can’t seem to stop running into.

Cursive's multiple layers of drama, romance, passion, and humor are tightly bound together by an unforeseeable major twist that will keep the reader engaged and connected until the very end.


Profile Image for Kate M.
578 reviews
June 2, 2013
My rating is really higher than it should be, but I felt really bad rating a zero star, so I threw the author a bone.

I don't read a lot of contemporary romances, but those I choose to read are well-written. That is to say that they have a coherent story arc, characters that are fleshed out (no pun intended) and consistent, and they trust the reader to understand what the characters do and say without explaining it. Oh, and I'm a fan of REALISTIC dialogue, too.

This has a good basis for a story, but you get no sense that the characters are real, and thus no investment. It took ENTIRELY too long to get to romance. I was not convinced that they really wanted to date one another, and then once they did start dating I wasn't convinced that either really cared. There was entirely too much self talk among the characters too (i.e., the italicized thoughts) and it was not realistic--especially the males point of view.

This was one of those books that made me think I need to start writing, because I can do better. Seriously, and I don't think that a lot because I know how hard it is. But this was a waste of time. I was irritated while reading it, and that is never a good thing.
Profile Image for Simone.
798 reviews33 followers
June 1, 2013
10 out of 10 !!
PERFECTION
It was so freshing being amongst smart, funny, honest, caring, adults (sans Chloe and Pam) throughout the book.
I absolutely loved the structure of alternating between Aislynn and Jace POV because both had pure intentions and secrets that needed sharing
So pack the tissues boys and girls - you're going to need them for tears of sadness and a hell of a lot of joy xx
Profile Image for BeeH .
421 reviews3 followers
May 27, 2013
I like it.This is one of those book that you think you know where the story is going but then suddenly u are taken somewhere you didn't expect.I really did not expect the twist at the end.I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Jen.
22 reviews
May 28, 2013
This is one of those books where you think you've got it all figured out....

Funny, spunky, kinda troubled girl: check✅
Deliciously swoon worthy hottie with a kinda jacked up story: check✅
Exes in the mix: check, check ✅✅
Fan yourself cuz that was "SMOKIN HOT" moments: check✅.....and well we all know how the rest goes right?


WRONG & WRONG Again!!!!

The twist towards the end had me reading a certain few lines over and over and saying NO FREAKING WAY!!! Yeah, total shocker!! At that point the story took a whole different direction. Somehow that fun, a bit angsty, but steamy read turned into a touching and emotional story! Can't say much more with out giving too much away, so you'll just have to read this to find out what I'm talking about!! ;)

Profile Image for Beyond the Squee.
53 reviews8 followers
May 15, 2013
The past pulls. The future shoves. The present just begs for a time-out.

Aislynn Currington is searching for an escape from her tumultuous past, one that includes a severely broken heart and a very complicated relationship with a mother who uses criticism as her preferred mode of expressing love.

Jace Quinn is a driven businessman who, even after surviving a serious life-changing event, remains hell bent on avoiding any form of serious attachment.

Some define insanity as doing things repeatedly while expecting a different outcome. What will Aislynn and Jace need to do to break this endless loop?

With the help of their undeniably intense sexual attraction, witty banter, and love for high-end coffee machines, Aislynn and Jace learn to bravely battle through the challenges of falling in love at the most inconvenient time, in a place they did not plan to be, and with the person they can’t seem to stop running into.

Cursive's multiple layers of drama, romance, passion, and humor are tightly bound together by an unforeseeable major twist that will keep the reader engaged and connected until the very end.



This is Ms. Lane's debut novel. There's a nice balance of mystery, drama, and romance throughout this read. This is definitely for the over 18 crowd as once the spice kicks in, there's a lot of pepper!

Aislynn has put her career as a psychiatrist on hold. Her life was disrupted and she just needs to pause for a while. She's wanted to write since she was a young girl, so this seems like the perfect time to do that. At this point in time, she's in San Diego staying with her good friend, Ellie, who is an interior designer. Ellie has met a great guy, Evan, who happens to have a gorgeous friend. Aislynn and Jace go on several non-dates with the two love birds. It's not long before they decide that they might just need to explore their heart's desires, too.

Both Jace and Aislynn have had some recent life altering events. The reader is slowly led into the light as to what happened to each of them. Due to these events, they both have concerns about getting into a relationship right now as they both know they have some issues to work out. But isn't that how life sometimes happens? Sometimes love sneaks in when you don't think you are quite ready.

As the pieces of their lives come together, I found myself rooting for them to take the leap of faith into a relationship.

Ms. Lane tossed some surprises in our reading path, and into Jace and Aislynn's lives. She also gives us a character that truly made my teeth grind together. Aislynn's mother, Pam, is a piece of work. I began hoping for a real smack down. Thankfully, there is relief on that front!

I'm impressed by this author's first novel. I did think it could be a bit tighter in places and some of the repetition could have been cut, but overall this was a pleasant way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon.

I'm giving this FOUR BOOKMARKS...
The twist was unexpected and fun to read.


*Thank you, Ms. Lane, for allowing us to read your ARC.


This review may also be found at:
Beyond the Squee: Book Reviews
www.beyondthesquee.com
Profile Image for Holly.
510 reviews535 followers
May 29, 2013
I seem to be the queen of unpopular opinions with books lately.

I went into this with high hopes based on all the people who recommended it to me (not to mention all the glowing reviews I saw posted). But unfortunately, this just didn't work for me the way it did for so many others.

First of all, the pace of the book was very slow. I stuck with it because I had invested myself in the characters and wanted to see if I was right about one of the major twists (I was). Also, I am not a fan of endless drama, and this book had enough drama for about 3 books.

**BIG TIME SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT!!**



There were some very serious issues being tackled in this book, and I hate to say it, but...certain parts of this felt very soap opera-ish to me. And I am all for the H/h getting their HEA, but the ending felt a little too perfectly wrapped up and tied with a big shiny ribbon, if that makes any sense? And like I said, I know this is not the way the vast majority of people who read this book feels...but the ending just didn't seem realistic to me.

Perhaps it's partly due to this annoying reading funk I'm in, but this book left me feeling more than a little 'meh.
Profile Image for Maja.
33 reviews29 followers
July 24, 2013
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤



Loved loved loved this book! This was a wonderful and emotional book with amazing main characters. The story was about life, and it was heartfelt and real. A beautiful love story! Hot scenes! Amazing twist! Definitely a must read book!
Profile Image for SM READS.
67 reviews5 followers
May 26, 2013




This book was so refreshing and delightful.  It had moments to remember, moments that were tearful, and moments that made me laugh out loud.  The characters in this book had depth and charm and the men were just unbelievably beautiful.  I’m not just talking physically either.Aislynn, a 29 year old run away Psychiatrist from Texas, finds herself in San Diego with her best friend, Ellie, after a tragic break up.  She is working on a novel and her friend has made a connection with an editor for her. One morning she wakes up to unfamiliar sounds and goes to the kitchen to check it out.  She sees a man; a very hot man in the kitchen.  She is barely dressed and his desire is palpable.  As is hers:

"God, that mouth, she thought. Both his top and bottom lips were perfectly shaped, pouty and inviting. Aislynn was convinced the devil himself must have a hand in creating them because the images that were all of a sudden running through her mind were quite questionable.”



She is quickly introduced to Jace by Ellie.  She is an interior decorator and is going to be doing the interior work on his beach house.   Ellie is the opposite of Aislynn.  Both are professional, but Aislynn comes off as somewhat reserved where Ellie is full of color! At one point, Jace calls her Rainbow Brite and he means it! We later discover that Jace owns a stake in a local wine bar with Evan, his friend and business partner.  Aislynn and Ellie meet up at the bar, not realizing the connection, and relationships are formed between the four friends.  While Evan and Ellie jump right into dating, Aislynn and Jace go on a series of "non-dates" which further enhances their friendship and bond.  Something Aislynn really needs but doesn't realize.  She has little to no family and is carrying some pretty heavy baggage.

Aislynn's story is shrouded in mystery for most of the book.  As her relationship with Jace evolves, we learn that they both have secrets they are keeping. Jace has been getting by on 3 day dates that pretty much revolve around sex and his best friend Evan is worried.  After a ball game, Evan asks Jace his feelings. He doesn't want a hook up and doesn't make it easy on Evan.  But that doesn't mean he isn't thinking about Aislynn:

"And beautiful. If only I could take a sniff of her neck. I just want to smell her, and maybe taste her too. "

    

Jace is gun shy because of his past.  It's time to move on, but is Aislynn the one to try it with?  He senses there is more to her story and patiently awaits for her to spill it.  All along their courtship, she runs into Christopher, the fiance from her past.  But there are no answers for why he chose to break off the engagement.  Aislynn is beginning to fall for Jace and knows she must confide and trust in him, but trust is difficult when you haven't been treated with kindness from those that are supposed to love you the most.  Aislynn has problems with her mom which affect her behavior more than she cares to admit.  However, with Jace's help, she'll finally have the courage to deal with it.  

      

As time goes on, they fall in love and the secrets that threaten to destroy them are now exposed.  Through it all, they are there for one another in ways they could never have imagined. Jace grounds her and calms her like no one else.  Once he tells her his secret, he is free to love again and is willing to risk it all.  Aislynn never once leaves his side and is very supportive as he goes through a very scary situation.  Just as she is his rock, he is hers.  He grounds her and calms her.  Loving her despite not knowing the secret she so desperately holds on to.




It is so nice to get a whole book with an ending! I can really get into serials and series but I love a good old fashioned read too!  I will definitely be reading more by Phoebe Lane!

 

 

Profile Image for Echo.
319 reviews53 followers
October 19, 2015
I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Phoebe Lane made me cry. She has written such a beautiful story, filled with laughter, compelling characters, heartbreaking sadness and wonderful joy, lovely relationships, love and life. I am blown away with how much I loved and adored this novel.

Cursive is the story of Aislynn and Jace, and wow what a story. It starts with wonderful humor and a tad bit of questions. Aislynn and Jace have one of the sweetest relationships I have read in a very long time. From the first moment that they met on the pages, I knew I was in for a wonderful ride.

Aislynn is a wonderfully multi-layered and compelling heroine. She is very broken but she has such an amazing strength about her. We get little hints that something very bad has happened to her and eventually we learn what that something is. I felt her sadness and her struggle to become better and deal with the personal demons in her life. It was beautifully dealt with and was resolved in a very nice way. Her humor was absolutely wonderful to read and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times.

The Hero of our story Jace was completely adorable. I loved everything about him, his humor, his resiliency, his strength. I loved that he stuck by Aislynn thru all of her “crazy” (we all have “crazy”, we just have to find someone who loves our “crazy”) he was incredibly patient with her and when he decided to be all in, he meant it. Having demons of his own, and a painful past, it was interesting to watch how he dealt with not only his own baggage but ultimately Aislynn’s as well.

Now let’s talk about the secondary characters, Evan and Ellie, these two are awesome. *crossing my fingers that we get a story about them* Ellie is Aislynn's best friend and what a friend she is, I loved their relationship and it added to the story in such a perfect way. Evan was a great match for Ellie and a really good friend to both Jace and Aislynn.

Aislynn’s mother, Pam, was a nightmare. It was very sad reading the results of their fraying mother/daughter relationship but I thought that it was handled really well. It was a relief to meet Jace’s family, they where amazing and I loved that they gave Aislynn what her mother never could, a family. They really just accepted her, supported her and embraced her as their own.

I will admit that I guessed a piece of the puzzle to the twist of the overall story but it in no way made me enjoy the story any less and like I said I only guessed a piece of the puzzle and what Phoebe Lane did with it was both breathtaking and again, beautiful.

Cursive was a beautiful look inside a deeply broken but strong individual and reading her fall in love with someone so completely perfect for her was an incredible thing.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves reading contemporary romance novels and even if this genre isn’t your normal go to genre, grab it and give it a try anyway. It is beautiful, hopeful, heartbreaking and stunning. I loved every single thing about it.

I will definitely be adding Phoebe Lane to my favorites list and will be tuning in with bated breath for her next novel.

Originally posted on http://memyselfandbooksblog.blogspot....
Profile Image for Kathie (katmom).
689 reviews48 followers
May 15, 2013
This is Ms. Lane's debut novel. There's a nice balance of mystery, drama, and romance throughout this read. This is definitely for the over 18 crowd as once the spice kicks in, there's a lot of pepper!

Aislynn has put her career as a psychiatrist on hold. Her life was disrupted and she just needs to pause for a while. She's wanted to write since she was a young girl, so this seems like the perfect time to do that. At this point in time, she's in San Diego staying with her good friend, Ellie, who is an interior designer. Ellie has met a great guy, Evan, who happens to have a gorgeous friend. Aislynn and Jace go on several non-dates with the two love birds. It's not long before they decide that they might just need to explore their heart's desires, too.

Both Jace and Aislynn have had some recent life altering events. The reader is slowly led into the light as to what happened to each of them. Due to these events, they both have concerns about getting into a relationship right now as they both know they have some issues to work out. But isn't that how life sometimes happens? Sometimes love sneaks in when you don't think you are quite ready.

As the pieces of their lives come together, I found myself rooting for them to take the leap of faith into a relationship.

Ms. Lane tossed some surprises in our reading path, and into Jace and Aislynn's lives. She also gives us a character that truly made my teeth grind together. Aislynn's mother, Pam, is a piece of work. I began hoping for a real smack down. Thankfully, there is relief on that front!

I'm impressed by this author's first novel. I did think it could be a bit tighter in places and some of the repetition could have been cut, but overall this was a pleasant way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon.

I'm giving this FOUR BOOKMARKS...
The twist was unexpected and fun to read.


*Thank you, Ms. Lane, for allowing me to read your ARC.

This review may also be found at:
Beyond the Squee: Book Reviews
www.beyondthesquee.com
Profile Image for Jennifer.
320 reviews205 followers
July 26, 2013
4.5 Stars

I am in LOVE with this story and I am in LOVE with the characters!

This was a fabulous stand-alone romance that was funny, sexy and heartbreaking, with a storyline that kept you guessing until the end. Did I mention that it was sexy, steamy, hot?! Oh boy, the sexual tension and sexual relationship between the two main characters, Aislynn and Jace was off the charts!

But let me digress It also had some of the best written characters that I’ve read to date. I can honestly say, without a doubt, that my favorite female character is now Aislynn Currington. No matter how weak she may have felt around her mother she was incredibly strong, with a great sense of humor. I was so drawn to her because of her wit and sarcasm. I wish I could be as quick as she is in responding to situations.

I’m used to reading stories where there is a lot of internal dialogue from the main characters. This was so refreshing because there was mostly external dialogue and it not only made me laugh and cry, but I was hanging on to every word. There is no skimming through dialogue with this book.

I also have to mention that I’ve found a new book boyfriend with Jace Quinn – he should be added to everyone’s “list” from now on! His nickname for Aislynn was “babydoc”. I’m not going to tell you why, but it was so sweet He was such a supportive, kind hearted man. If all men could be like him…sigh.

Kudo’s to Ms. Lane for an awesome debut novel! I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author.


An ARC was kindly provided by the Author for an honest review.

Review posted at Love Between the Sheets
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Profile Image for Ji.
252 reviews
June 25, 2013
This was I think one of the best I've read in 2013 so far. The main characters are so witty, funny, smart and most of all realistic. You are able to relate to the female and male protagonist. The female protagonist (Aislynn) does not act stupid or childish. I loved how Aislynn's and Jace's love blossomed. They are both very insecure individuals, but they are able to give each other a shot. They have every right to doubt themselves and each other, but their feelings are undeniable and absolutely sexy. There is more to their sexual attraction. There are some jaw dropping twists in this book which I absolutely loved. It's bittersweet that I must part with this book. :(
Profile Image for Janell.
155 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2013
I love this book soooo much!! Definitely one that demands a re-read. It RARELY happens to me, but I love when a book draws you in from page one. No need to wait til page 50 for it to start getting good.

It's not a real "angsty" book (which I LOVE) - yet there is enough suspense, drama, tension that keeps you hooked. There was never a moment when I laid it down and thought, "I'm bored for now..." I actually was a little afraid throughout the book thinking my heart was gonna get crushed (thankfully it did not). LOVE the epilogue!!
Profile Image for Ashtrayheart.
379 reviews4 followers
June 2, 2013
Beautifully written story and characters..
This is a hard-hitting emotional story, that you just don't want to end..

The is a bit of mystery to the story at first, but it all slowly unravels at the end, that just leaves you shocked and wanting more...

i loved the ending so much, I was left grinning ear to ear :)
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