Reviewed by Tori

Carson Tucker is a recovering addict. Currently working as a tutor, she is only nine credits shy from getting her masters degree in teaching. Frequent anxiety attacks caused her to self medicate. She dropped out of graduate school and floated along in a drug induced haze until her friends stepped in and forced her to take a look at where she was heading. Now six months clean, Carson is attempting to get her life back on track. When she agrees to tutor a friend of a friend, she is shocked to learn it is the drummer from her favorite band.

Wyatt Sands, a hot as hell, bad boy drummer in an up and coming band, was going places until he is involved in a car accident that kills his best friend and the lead singer of his band and landed him in a wheelchair. Having cast aside everything from his life before the accident, Wyatt just wants is to finish his degree.

Carson and Wyatt’s relationship gradually moves from tutor/student to lovers though Carson isn’t sure that what they feel for one another is enough for either of them to let go of their fears and move towards a future together.

Until Tomorrow is a low angst contemporary romance that offers readers self-deprecating dialogue, introspective insight, and a slow, sweet, sexy romance that builds from an unintended friendship. Told completely from Carson’s point of view, her narrative indulges us with a personalized look at the issues that led her down the dark path she walked and the consequences she deals with as she struggles to find even ground on which to rebuild herself. Smooth pacing and engaging characterization appeals as Kelly builds her story with a lack of overly emotional drama and predictable plot conveniences.

Carson and Wyatt meet when she is hired to tutor him towards his degree. Like her, he only has nine credits to finish. It’s only after they have been together awhile that Wyatt informs Carson that they have met before. During one of her self medicated periods, she and Wyatt hooked up near the bathroom of a dive bar where he was playing. Embarrassment doesn’t even begin to cover Carson’s reaction to this news which highlights the precarious position Carson is in . Learning all the embarrassing and potentially dangerous situations she placed herself in while high on drugs spikes her anxiety to dangerous levels but she is working very hard on finding alternative healthy ways to deal with it.

Carson is a strong, likable heroine. Her wit, intelligence, and vulnerability was an easy sell. She doesn’t make excuses for the things she has done. She readily admits that no matter the reasons behind her drug use, the bottom line is she took the drugs and the blame lies squarely on her. She speaks honestly of her anxiety and fears with no attempts to sugar coat or claims of instant success in her healing. She says what she means when she means it.

Wyatt was a little harder to grasp an understanding of as we only see him through Carson’s eyes. His issues seem to stem from his fear of failure. The car accident caused some brain damage which required him to relearn the everyday motions that we all take for granted. He also suffers residual effects of his injuries such as hand tremors. Rather than risk trying and failing at something he loves, Wyatt chooses to rearrange his life in order to take the easiest risk-free available route. Lucky for him, he has some fierce fighters in his corner that refuse to allow him to sit back and let the past rule his future. He’s easy going manner is the perfect foil of Carson’s insecure nature though at times it felt that he wasn’t always on the same page as her.

Carson and Wyatt meshed well together. There is the usual first meeting awkwardness that comes across natural and humorous. The attraction is instant on both ends though they choose to go slow, building a solid friendship along the way. They are a lot alike which helps as they explore their attraction while encouraging each other to face their fears. I liked that Carson was upfront with Wyatt with her addiction and the issues that facilitated it and that neither of them played mind games. Steamy foreplay and sex scenes only reinforces this couple’s string chemistry.

Most of my issues with this story were reserved for Wyatt. I really wish we could have gotten some of his POV or narrative if only to understand where his mindset was and some explanations for his actions. He did some questionable things that made me doubt his feelings towards Carson at times. His omission of an important detail were not easy to overlook in my opinion.

The ending wraps up the storyline tout suite, using a misunderstanding that effectively pushes these lovers into taking that final jump. Until Tomorrow gives what it promises-a sweet romance that deals with family, expectations, and second chances. A few minor issues don’t distract from the story though it did leave me feeling a little unsettled.

GRADE: C+

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