The Space Between Us [Paperback]

Megan Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2012

Tesla Martin is drifting pleasantly through life, slinging lattes at Morningstar Mocha, enjoying the ebb and flow of caffeine-starved customers, devoted to her cadre of regulars. But none of the bottomless-cup crowd compares with Meredith, a charismatic force of nature who can coax intimate tales from even the shyest of Morningstar's clientele.

Caught in Meredith's sensual, irresistible orbit, inexpressibly flattered by the siren's attention, Tesla shares long-buried chapters of her life, holding nothing back. Nothing Meredith proposes seems impossible—not even Tesla sleeping with Meredith's husband, Charlie, while she looks on. After all, it's all in fun, isn't it?

In a heartbeat, vulnerable Tesla is swept into a spectacular love triangle. Together, gentle, grounded Charlie and sparkling, maddening Meredith are everything Tesla has ever needed, wanted, or dreamed of, even if no one else on earth understands. They're three against the world.

But soon one of the vertices begins pulling away until only two points remain—and the space between them gapes with confusion, with grief and with possibility….

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hart plunges into the mainstream fiction genre with this haunting, devastating, heart-wrenching tale. She masterfully weaves every off-hand mention of a seemingly incidental detail, every potentially eyebrow-raising plot point together in service to her story and the resulting dramatic climax, which then becomes believable, thanks to Hart's skill. This story will stay with you long after you reach the last page."-Romantic Times Book Reviews on Precious and Fragile Things

"Megan Hart is easily one of the most talented voices I've encountered." -The Romance Reader

"This isn't like the previous books I've read from Ms. Hart and I've definitely learned to expect the unexpected from her.... I know this book will speak to others differently; it's that kind of read. For me it was dark, disturbing, difficult, uncomfortable, heartbreaking, and finally, redemptive and life affirming.... It's not easy to try and face those dark nooks and crannies in our hearts and minds we prefer to pretend don't exist." -Manic Readers

About the Author

Megan Hart is the award-winning and multi-published author of more than thirty novels, novellas and short stories. Her work has been published in almost every genre, including contemporary women’s fiction, historical romance, romantic suspense and erotica. Megan lives in the deep, dark woods of Pennsylvania with her husband and children, and is currently working on her next novel for MIRA Books. You can contact Megan through her website at www.MeganHart.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin MIRA; Original edition (September 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778313085
• ISBN-13: 978-0778313083
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and then I lived a while and I did some stuff. Then I did some things and whatnot. Now, I mostly write books. You can find out more about me at my website, www.meganhart.com, my blog: www.readinbed.net, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/megan_hart or friend me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/megan.hart.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#73 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

#73 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars This is not your typical erotica, it's so much more! September 3, 2012

By Paula

Format:Paperback

This story is about a menage trois relationship and bisexuality but it's also so much more. It's about feeling connected, companionship, respect, trust, love, and family.

Tesla works in a coffee house called Mocha where she meets Meredith. Meredith is an exciting woman that gets the regulars in the coffee house to tell her their craziest stories where Meredith seems to want to live vicariously through these people's lives. Tesla finds herself attracted and enthralled by this blue-eyed, vivacious beauty. When Meredith asks Tesla to have sex with her husband while she watches, Tesla is a little unsettled by this offer but her crush on Meredith has her saying yes. After Tesla meets Charlie, they both find they have instant chemistry and from there, a menage relationship is formed.

There are two parts to Tesla's story, the present and the past. The reader is shown flashbacks of Tesla's life as s teenager. These stories are personal and intimate looks of her life where she is discovering and defining herself as a person. The reader will also see how she and her brother end up living with her friend, once crush, Vic and his family. This family has been her home and safety for many years. When things become complicated in Vic's home, Tesla decides it's time for her to move out where she then moves in with Meredith and Charlie.

Tesla walks to the beat of her own drum. Being in a menage relationship doesn't feel odd or strange to her. She's a free-spirit and makes no apologies for who she is or her sexuality. She's honest, kind, and straight-forward. There were times when I thought she was a little naive when it came to Meredith but far from stupid. She made some bad decisions that I think come from feeling rejected and abandoned. Tesla has a strong need and desire to feel safe and be a part of a family.

Meredith is a hard character to embrace. I was completely weary of her from the beginning. I immediately thought her character was overly abrasive. Her curiosity to know so much about Tesla made me feel suspcious. But then the author begins to show us a little bit more about Meredith - a softer side to her. And just when I would warm up to Meredith, she would do something that would raise my hackles. There are so many adjectives to describe Meredith. She's smart, beautiful, curious, manipulative, self-absorbed, and cold. This woman confused me. One moment she would be happy and care-fee, the next moment she would be upset about something. I began to wonder if she was bi-polar. It was really hard see beneath the layers of who Meredith really is. She came across as the villain in this story and who knows, maybe that's what the author was aiming for. Hats off to Meagan Hart for writing such a complex character.

And the final person in the menage relationship is Charlie, who is Meredith's husband. I found him to be a very kind and generous man who wears his heart on his sleave. I'm not surprised he and Tesla got along so well. They are both passive and laid back. They initially bonded because of Meredith but then they soon realized they have a lot in common and genuinely liked to spend time together alone, without Meredith. Oh, what a sticky, guilty web this wove. Charlie being passive didn't bother me. I'm married to a passive man myself. What bothered me is the way he let Meredith dictate their marriage. I really wanted him to step up. It bothered me that he didn't notice issues with Meredith before Tesla came into the picture. It makes me wonder if Charlie was completely oblivious to who his wife really was until Tesla came along. Thankfully, by the end of the story, Charlie found his balls, but I wish it was sooner rather than later.

The chemistry in the bedroom between these three was sizzling. I didn't have any uncomfortable feelings with the menage scenes since all three people were in agreement to be together intimately. What bothered me the most was the way Meredith was so stand-offish towards Tesla. I wish Tesla would have gotten a clue that Meredith wasn't genuine about their relationship. Meredith just wanted an experience while the other players in her game were emotionally invested and being hurt in the process. Her careless actions were a punch in the gut. I wasn't surprised by what happed between these three people but it didn't lessen the pain any less. My heart ached for both Tesla and Charlie.

Sometimes you read a book and you have certain expectations before you even start it. That was the case with The Space Between Us. I had read some reviews and there are quite a few mixed opinions on this book which caused me to form my own opinion before I even started reading this book. Nobody's fault but my own. But because I did this, I struggled with the characters at first. So, I put the book down for a little while and went back to it later after thinking about it. Once I picked it back up with a clear head, I was completely absorbed by the story, and unable to put it down. I don't think this story will be for everyone. I can guarantee the reader will be frustrated with Meredith. But without Meredith's character, I don't think this story would have been as enthralling to me. Her character added a lot of depth to the story.

Meagan Hart has a way with writing deep, emotional stories with realistic, flawed characters. Love can be messy and this story portrays exactly how messy it can be. By the end, I was so emotionally drained that it was good to see Tesla remain true to herself with some character growth and not be soured by her experience with Meredith.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Miz Hart pulls no punches. It hits you like a mac truck. September 1, 2012

By Letitia

Format:Kindle Edition

Rating: B- ... Heat: Hot

The Space Between Us starts with the end, so it only seems appropriate for me to do the same. This book very nearly does not give us a HEA. This stomach churning, emotion playing story waits to the last - the very last - possible moment to give us a hint, a peak, at the possibility of a HEA. Which, though it felt completely unsatisfying, did fit with the overall tone. Megan Hart did an excellent job toying with my emotions. By the very end, my stomach was such a mess that I wondered if a book could truly make me sick. This one came very close.

Tesla, our narrator, is a free spirit. A wild child, or so everyone assumes. She and her brother were raised by free lovin', commune living, swinger partying parents. Her summers were spent at the commune, where the children roamed free and were encouraged to... explore. So, for Tesla, her ways aren't wild. They simply... are what they are. She doesn't even consider herself bisexual, so much as open to all possibilities.

Which proves beyond intriguing to one of Tesla's coffeehouse patrons, Meredith. Meredith is beautiful and captivating and, quite clearly, bored with her life. She flirts and cajoles her way into people's lives, extracting their most interesting stories from them. Almost as if she gets a thrill living vicariously through them. And Tesla's stories are about as thrilling as it gets.

Many scenes throughout this story were told as flashbacks, Tesla sharing parts of her past with Meredith. And, wow, those memories pack a punch. Nearly every single one had me squirming in my seat... some because they were sexy, some because they were agonizing. Each memory left me feeling like a voyeur. Miz Hart writes with such realism that it almost feels like an invasion of someone else's privacy.

Eventually things between Tesla and Meredith move past the point of sharing stories in the coffeehouse. Meredith begins to invite Tesla out with her--dinner, drinking, dancing. The two women get to know each other better. Which is almost painful to watch, as Tesla's feelings for Meredith are clearly not reciprocated... and Meredith uses Tesla's feelings to her own benefit throughout.

The dates, the teasing, it all leads to Meredith asking Tesla to sleep with her husband, Charlie. And even though you know it's inevitable, you can't help thinking, `Oh, no, Tesla. C'mon. You know you should say no.' But she doesn't. And thus begins the most torturous and uncomfortable ménage that I have ever read.

Because Tesla wants Meredith, and Tesla wants Charlie. Charlie wants Tesla, and Charlie wants Meredith. And Meredith simply goes through the motions, clearly not truly wanting either. Meredith is searching for a feeling, a thrill, an experience. Which is relatable--we all get bored sometimes. But her actions make her so damn unlikeable. There wasn't a single moment that I thought, `Meredith is a good person.' Because if she is, it is buried way, way underneath.

The Space Between Us is the story of a ménage gone wrong. Of one woman finding her home, her place, in another person for the first time only to have it torn asunder. It is the story of another woman's selfish quest for excitement and the mess she leaves behind. And Miz Hart pulls no punches. It hits you like a mac truck. Be prepared to... feel.

Favorite Quote:
"Promise me," Vic said.
"What?" I pushed up on my toes to get closer to his mouth, so my lips moved against his.
"Promise me you'll never let anyone make you feel you're not beautiful. Or not worth something."

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Skip the prologue if you don't want any plot hints September 20, 2012

By Michele

Format:Kindle Edition

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review at SeductiveMusings.blogspot.com

I have to admit right up front that I am a huge fan of Megan Hart. One of the things I love most about her books is how she has, over time, created this vividly drawn world in and around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Characters from previous books often make appearances, but never in a way that expects you to have read those books or doesn't make sense within the current story. There are a wealth of both new and previously seen supporting characters in "The Space Between Us", most of whom we meet at Morningside Mocha, the coffee shop where Tesla Martin works.

Tesla is a woman who has survived so much early in her life and now only wants to exist from day to day. She's trying to avoid any additional drama but knows that she'll never have more than she does right now if she doesn't take any chances. Everyone thinks she's a wild child based on her past (if they know it) and how she presents herself to others, but the sad truth is that her life is so dull that it's practically standing still.

It's Meredith who sways Tesla into a sexual triad with her own husband Charlie, almost solely by her force of will. Charlie appears to be as passive as Tesla, but clearly loves his wife enough to make this change in his life to please her. But as Charlie and Tesla grow closer, it remains to be seen if Meredith will be content with their new arrangement.

As I said before, I'm a big Megan Hart fangirl. So it pains me to say that "The Space Between Us" was not one that I enjoyed as much as usual. A big part of this was her decision to include a prologue that I considered tantamount to a spoiler. When the author tells me upfront where the plot is going to go, it alters my ability to fully immerse myself in the story. Thanks to that prologue, I had a nagging thought the whole time, wondering when we would get to that part. This type of early reveal may not be a problem for others, but if I had the ability to read this again for the first time, I would go right to Chapter One and skip the prologue. The good news is that aside from that one concern, this was another beautifully written Megan Hart story and I enjoyed being back in her world.