{"product_id":"with-you-always-isbn-9781101982396","title":"With You Always","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Girl Before\u003c\/i\u003e comes a tense and incisive work of psychological suspense that examines how easy it is to fall into the wrong relationship...and how impossible it can be to leave.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the wake of a painful breakup and struggling to prove herself at work, Julia feels adrift. When Bryce blows into her life, he seems like the perfect anchor. Handsome, charming, secure, and confident, Bryce brings out the best in Julia, sweeping her off her feet with attention and affection while grounding her with his certainty and faith. Together they embark on a path guided by the principles of his family and their church, each step a paving stone leading to happily ever after.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut this is no fairy tale.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStep by step, one small concession leading to another, Julia is slowly isolated from her job, her friends, and her family, until she comes to find that her dream come true is a cage. Then one day everything changes...and Julia is faced with no choice but to find a way out.\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eWith You Always\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Compulsively readable.”—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“The psychological suspense ramps up to the final pages....Olsen, whose debut was\u003ci\u003e The Girl Before\u003c\/i\u003e (2016), has another page-turner here.”—\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Girl Before\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Easily the most disturbing and unsettling book I have read this year....As in the best suspense novels, there are mysteries within mysteries, and all is not what it seems—not to Clara, and definitely not to the reader.”—BookPage, A BookPage Best Mystery of 2016\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Gripping...A powerful, moving debut by therapist Olsen in which cruelty is counterbalanced by compassion and love.”—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “[A] thoughtful look at victims and perpetrators and the difficulties that arise for someone who is both at once....[\u003ci\u003eThe Girl Before\u003c\/i\u003e] moves at the pace of a mystery, but the novel is strongest when it allows Clara to unpack her past and consider who she will be going forward. A moving story of recovery and responsibility.”—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “[A] suspenseful but disturbing debut.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “I couldn't put it down. The novel is compelling, perplexing, and ultimately uplifting! The unusual structure is a perfect match for the magnetic voice of the central character. I predict this daring debut novel will make Rena Olsen “the girl ahead” among psychological suspense authors.”—Karen Harper, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eUpon a Winter’s Night\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eRena Olsen\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Girl Before\u003c\/i\u003e, a \u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e top mystery debut of 2016.  Olsen grew up moving around every few years, following her minister father from church to church, and her exposure to so many different people and environments sparked an interest in human nature. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in marriage and family therapy. A licensed therapist, she works in Des Moines, Iowa.Chapter 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It may have been a mistake to bring my work outside with me. It      seemed like a good idea at the time. My stuffy desk area barely      got sunlight from the window at the end of the hall, and I was      feeling claustrophobic. I imagined myself as one of those urbane      businesswomen, sitting on the edge of the fountain at the park      across the street, sipping coffee from a well-worn travel mug      while flipping through very important reports, pausing to smile at      the children playing at the park. Passersby would notice me,      respect my tenacity to work through the lunch hour. \"How      sophisticated she must be,\" they would say to each other.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The reality, unfortunately, was far from my fantasy. The sun, dim      from my desk, was brighter than I expected, and I had to squint      against the blinding whiteness of the paper to make out the      columns of numbers that made up my boss's expense report. The      coffee I'd picked up was already cold in the paper cup next to me,      and the wind was threatening to snatch the reports right out of my      hands. Not to mention the brats who were splashing on the other      side of the fountain. If I got hit with cold droplets one more      time, I was going to lose it. But I refused to give up and go back      inside just yet. Blowing my hair out of my face once again, I      reached for my cup. Even the bitter bite of the lukewarm coffee      would be worth the kick of caffeine to get me through the      afternoon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What happened next seemed to take place in slow motion. A      particularly large splash of water connected with my back,      drenching my new suit jacket from collar to hem. I arched and      sucked in a breath at the sudden chill, knocking my coffee over      onto my slightly wrinkled dress pants. At that exact moment, a      gust of wind finally succeeded in ripping the pile of papers from      my hands, sending them flying across the busy sidewalk.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Swearing under my breath, I scrambled up, ignoring the dampness of      my back and pants, and chased the papers as they danced away from      me and each other, in every direction, swirling as if playing a      game. People stepped around me as I ran, half-crouched, clutching      the mischievous papers to my chest. Finally I had gathered them      all, and I knelt in the grass, muttering as I tried to smooth out      the creases my mad grabbing had created.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I didn't notice at first when a pair of shiny black loafers      stopped in front of me. I jumped as a deep chuckle floated down      from above me. I followed the length of his legs, clad in      expensive slacks, up his torso, sheathed by a crisp white shirt      and decorated with a sharp purple tie, up to his mouth, where full      lips were forming words. I was entranced by their movement, and      their perfect placement on his symmetrical face, which itself was      devoid of any facial hair, not even a shadow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Are you okay, miss?\" His words finally penetrated the haze      surrounding my brain, and my mouth, which had dropped open at some      point, snapped shut. I looked up to meet crystal-blue eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm sorry, what?\" My first words were less than intelligent, but      the way his eyes sparkled showed me he didn't care. He was amused.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I asked if you were okay.\" His eyes crinkled at the corners when      he smiled, and I had to catch my breath again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Wind gusts pulled insistently at my papers, and I used it as an      excuse to break eye contact and look down at my stack of now ratty      reports. \"Um, yes. I'm fine. These reports tried to stage a coup,      but I got 'em.\" I laughed at my own corny joke, and was pleasantly      surprised when he laughed with me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm afraid you may have missed one,\" he said, holding out a piece      of paper with my boss's familiar unreadable scratches scrawled      across the surface.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My eyes widened. It was a list of all of her client dinners,      probably the most important report in the stack. Of course that      would be the one that almost got away. I reached for it, grateful      for my rescuer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Thank you so much, you have no idea. You've saved my life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He waited for me to grab the paper in his hand, but instead of      releasing it, he used it to tug me a step closer. A hint of his      cologne, rich and expensive, reached my nose. \"Saved your life?\"      he asked, eyes glinting with amusement and something deeper.      Curiosity? Attraction? \"This must be a pretty important paper.\" A      lock of dark hair escaped from his impeccable coif, falling onto      his forehead.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A shaky laugh fell from my mouth. \"Yes, extremely,\" I said,      tugging on the paper again. His hold remained steady, and my      stomach churned with excitement or discomfort. I didn't know how      to act in this situation. Should I pull harder? Let go of the      report and run screaming? Step toward him and see if he smelled      even better up close?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It must be worth something then,\" he said. \"Dinner, perhaps?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My cheeks warmed. I glanced down at my coffee-stained pants. Was      he asking me out? After he witnessed perhaps the most ridiculous      moment of my life? More ridiculous than my first day at the      marketing firm, when I spent the day with my brand-new designer      blouse misbuttoned. I had assumed the smiles directed my way were      in welcome, not because people were laughing at me. I couldn't      even market myself. \"Um,\" I stammered, \"I don't know if that's . .      .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He flashed straight white teeth as his voice took on a teasing      tone. \"Too much, too soon?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I nodded. \"I don't even know your name.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That is a dilemma,\" he said, his face turning serious. \"I guess      the question is, do you want to know my name?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Did I? No question. But this was all suddenly too much. I pursed      my lips. The best course of action would be to turn him down flat.      I'd had enough experience with men like him to know it wouldn't      lead anywhere good.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Undeterred, he grinned. \"Fair enough. Drinks then? Meet me here      after work. Around six? We can exchange names then, if you're      interested.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was on the tip of my tongue to say no. After all, what did I      know about him other than he had a symmetrical face and was good      at catching papers? The way he was looking at me, though . . .      there was an earnestness to his expression, as if this wasn't just      a game. Like he actually wanted me to say yes. What could it hurt?      Lately I'd been having a glass of wine in the evening to wind down      after long days. Why not go out for one? And the company would be      nice, even if just to look at. I couldn't deny that I found him      alluring. I nodded. \"Okay. Yes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His eyes sparked with excitement as he finally relinquished the      paper. \"Fantastic. Until then.\" He inclined his head toward me and      strode away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Until then,\" I whispered, clasping my sheaf of papers to my      chest, reports forgotten as my heart raced.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The shout of a child running past brought me out of my trance and      I shook my head, smiling to myself. My adrenaline pumped from the      encounter, and, bolstered by the idea that a random man could      recognize that I was worth spending time around, I turned and      strode back into the building. I attempted to organize the stack      as the elevator rose to my fourteenth-floor office, but they were      pretty much a mess. If only Elaine would get on board with an      electronic system for all these reports. At least it would save me      the trouble of trying to decipher her scrawling handwriting. I'd      gotten pretty good at it, but it still took more time than it      needed to.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dumping the pile on my desk, I glanced up to see that Elaine was      at her computer, tapping away at her keyboard, her forehead smooth      and relaxed instead of wrinkled concentration. Maybe today was my      day to be brave. With a deep breath, I smoothed my stained pants      and walked into her office, praying I looked as confident as I      felt.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I tapped on the door and waited for Elaine to glance at me before      stepping inside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Do you have those reports?\" she asked before I could formulate      the words I wanted to say.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What?\" I glanced back at the crinkled pile on my desk. \"Oh, yes,      almost finished.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Good, I'll need them first thing tomorrow.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Of course.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Elaine's focus was on her computer monitor, fingers flying over      the keys in a dance, no doubt corresponding with important people.      I fantasized about being one of those people, instead of being at      the beck and call of one. As my mind wandered, Elaine's fingers      slowed, and I looked up to find her watching me. \"Was there      something else, Julia?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This was my time to be brave. I took a deep breath. \"Actually,      Elaine,\" I began, \"I was going through your reports and almost      lost one to the wind, and it got me thinking-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You had my reports outside?\" Good thing I didn't tell her just      how many I almost lost.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes,\" I continued, \"but it gave me an idea.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her brow creased, but she leaned forward, listening as I outlined      my proposal, nodding along to my suggestions. I knew that by the      end of my speech, Elaine would start to see me in a whole new      light. And it would only be the beginning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ÒI canÕt believe youÕre actually going.Ó My sisterÕs voice sounded      tinny through the speaker of my cell phone as I held up one dress      after another in front of the mirror. I couldnÕt go out with my      mystery man in a damp jacket and coffee pants, so IÕd snuck out a      half hour early to run home and change. I hadnÕt really taken a      lunch anyway. My sister called as I surveyed my woefully      inadequate wardrobe, and was now hounding me for details about my      mystery man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Of course I'm going, Kate. You should have seen this guy. It's      like a Ken doll came to life.\" The yellow dress had some promise.      Flirty, fun, a bit flashy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's so unlike you, Jules,\" Kate said. \"You don't even know his      name.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was too bad Kate couldn't see how hard I rolled my eyes at      that. \"Maybe it's time for me to step out of my box.\" I dropped      the dress on the bed and rummaged through my makeup. A smoky eye      was probably too much for drinks. Maybe I should have said yes to      dinner. \"Besides, it's probably just his random act of kindness      for the day. Trust me, this man does not have problems getting      dates.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Don't sell yourself short. You said he had good taste. Clearly      that extends to women as well.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I shook my head, though Kate couldn't see me through the phone.      \"That's very sweet, Kate. Maybe you're right.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Okay, don't believe me, but I'm proud of you, little sis. Just      make sure you stick to public places.\" There was a teasing note in      her voice, and I laughed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'll be careful. I've got pepper spray in my purse.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Kate's laugh was interrupted by my nephew Kyle running into the      room. \"Moooom!\" I could hear the whine in his voice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Wait a sec, Ky,\" Kate said. \"I'm talking to Auntie JJ.\" The      noises continued in the background, but Kate ignored them. \"Tell      me what happened with Elaine! Your text was very cryptic.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My eyes shone with excitement as I held the yellow dress in front      of myself again. \"I pitched her an idea to look into streamlining      some of our data form entry and going electronic. There's this      great program I was researching called Sibyl that was created by      an amazing woman, which I thought would appeal to Elaine, and even      though it's pretty new, all the reviews coming back are phenomenal      . . .\" I trailed off, able to detect Kate's waning interest even      over the phone. Laughing, I jumped back into my story. She tended      to space out when I went into detail about my job. Kate always      wanted to hear every detail about any office drama, but when it      came to the actual work I did, the CliffsNotes version was the      best way to keep her attention. \"I wasn't prepared at all, I just      sorta marched in there and blurted it out, but she said she'd      consider it, and asked me to put together some ideas for other      systems we could consider as well.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's great,\" Kate said. \"Maybe if you're not spending all that      time shuffling paper, you'll get a chance to actually use your      marketing degree.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We can only hope,\" I said, keeping my voice light, though Kate's      words stung. She didn't mean anything by it, but I didn't need a      reminder that I wasn't living up to my \"potential.\" I hadn't moved      up as quickly as I'd hoped, and Kate was the usual recipient of my      complaints about the lack of larger responsibilities. \"Elaine said      she knew someone would come in someday and take the firm out of      the Stone Age. Honestly, I'm not sure how we're keeping up as it      is.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"By overworking poor overqualified assistants,\" Kate said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She wasn't wrong. If we could become more efficient on the paper      end, I could take on more duties with clients and actual      campaigns. As it was, just keeping Elaine organized took up the      majority of my time. Before I could respond, my other nephew,      Scott, came bellowing in on the other end of the phone. \"MOM!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'll let you go,\" I said. \"Let's get drinks this weekend, though.      Make Eddie take the kids for an evening.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's a deal,\" Kate said. \"Have fun tonight. Make bad choices.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"The worst,\" I said. \"Love you.\" I blew a kiss into the phone      before ending the call. Surveying my shoe collection, I picked out      a pair of almost-new red pumps. Kate bought them for a girls'      weekend and wore them once before passing them along to me. This      seemed like the perfect opportunity to take them out again.      Satisfied with my choices, I checked the time. I'd talked to Kate      longer than I thought.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I hung the dress in the bathroom to steam out the wrinkles and      jumped in the shower, my feet dancing their way through my      getting-ready routine as I hummed under my breath.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 2\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was a few minutes after six when I seated myself at the      fountain again. I had tried to be a little late, not to seem      overeager, but it appeared Prince Charming was playing the      fashionably late card himself, and better. The children from      earlier were gone, and most of the foot traffic left was office      workers, straggling out of tall buildings, heading home to      families or pets or possibly out to happy hour with coworkers. A      group of the assistants from my office piled out of the building      across from the fountain and headed for the nearest bar. They went      out about once a week, and usually invited me to join, but I often      declined. I was on good terms with most of the other assistants,      and we shared the woes of working our way up the ladder, dealing      with menial tasks better suited to an intern until we got the      opportunity to take on more responsibility. I used to go out with      them more, but I had seen too many promoted above me, and while I      was happy for them, it was too hard to maintain close      relationships in a workplace that encouraged competition, even if      it was friendly. Watching the group disappear around the corner, I      didn't notice when he walked up next to me.","brand":"G.P. Putnam's Sons","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304456999141,"sku":"NP9781101982396","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781101982396.jpg?v=1767744440","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/with-you-always-isbn-9781101982396","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}