Clara: Alex was my world when I was seventeen. I couldn’t function unless his skin was on mine. I couldn’t breathe unless he was inside me. Until they took him away, and I didn’t see him again for twenty-one years. I mourned. I raged. I nearly drowned in my grief. Now, when our paths cross for work, he's famous: a celebrity personal trainer with a global following. And I’m married. With twins. He’s not mine anymore. He’s public property. But my feelings for him are as intoxicating as ever. And I can’t stay away. Alex: I took a human life when I was high behind the wheel of a stolen car. I was only inside for two years, but the guilt is a life sentence. It’s a burden I carry every day. When I lost Clara, I lost everything. Exercise saved me. Gave me back my sanity. The trappings of my life today may look impressive, but inside I’m broken. Ravaged. Empty. Until I find Clara again. My guardian angel. The only woman who’s ever seen the real me and loved what she saw. Our past is the stuff of nightmares. Our future is a mystery. But one thing’s for sure. I can’t mess up her life twice. Tell me I’m right. Please note this book contains cheating (Clara cheats on her husband with Alex), substance abuse, death by dangerous driving and incarceration. Make Me Sweat is a standalone book (with appearances by characters from my Sorrel Farm and Love in London series) with a HEA. It was previously published as When Then Becomes Now. Reviews of the previous version of this book, which was published as When Then Becomes Now: ★★★★★ "Absolutely brilliant, this book grips you from the first page and holds you to the very last.” (Alexandra Lynett on Amazon) ★★★★★ "Yes this does have all the romance and steamy moments I’ve come to expect from this author but woven within this romance are deep issues about forgiveness, trust and taking chances.” (Jessica on Goodreads) ★★★★★ "Sara Madderson does a great job at exploring the psychological conflicts that the two main characters experience in this book.” (Elsa Razborsek on Amazon) ★★★★★ "I devoured this book in a matter of days (and as a slow reader that is an achievement). It has so much depth and I just fell in love with Clara.” (Jill L on Amazon) ★★★★★ "A story about never ending love, soulmates, ‘what ifs’ that will make you laugh, cry and reminisce.” (Bookshortie on Goodreads) Read less
Author
I like to change things up! I spent my 20s as a banker and my 30s bringing up small children and running my own fashion brand (Madderson London). Now, aged 43, I find myself writing, and I wonder why I didn’t do it sooner. I’ve always loved writing. My daughter Tilly has an old notebook of mine filled with half-finished stories and accompanying drawings. I’ve read for as long as I can remember, guzzling up books so quickly that my mum always protested that I couldn’t be reading them properly. You can see my original, dog-eared version of A Little Princess in my photo. Its protagonist, Sara Crewe, is one of my all-time favourite heroines (alongside Anne Shirley, naturally). I published my first book, Metamorphosis, in February 2020, right before lockdown happened. It’s a non-fiction book about escaping from our cocoons and living as a butterfly. As lockdown progressed, I found escapism in devouring lots of delicious chick-lit (for want of a better title) and I realised I had a few novels in me too. I have loved every single minute of writing them. I’ve published my books independently, and I love the freedom it provides. The world of independent publishing is fascinating and so empowering—I’m delighted to share more of my experiences of self-publishing if you’re interested.
