Publication Date: 04/07/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425274497
ISBN-13: 978-0425274491
(Received for an honest review from Berkley)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes
Lauren Christopher on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Sandy Cove
1. The Red Bikini
2. Ten Good Reasons
Coverart:
Synopsis:
In the latest Sandy Cove romance from the author of The Red Bikini, ten good reasons aren’t enough to keep Lia and Evan apart…
With a crazy eighty-hour-a-week job, an almost-boyfriend who’s left her for Bora Bora, and way too many terrible bridesmaid dresses in her future, Lia McCabe needs a change of pace before the imminent crush of the big 3-0.
First up, Lia is determined to help make sure her friend Drew’s whale-watching business takes off. But when an accident leaves him unable to man the boat, Lia’s only option is to convince Drew’s brooding, sexy brother to captain the ship (and save her butt).
For the last two years, Evan Betancourt has been sailing around the world to avoid the ghosts of his past. But when he pulls into Sandy Cove for a brief stop, Lia makes him an offer she won’t let him refuse.
And as these two opposites figure out how to work together, the murky waters between denial and attraction are creeping up fast…
Thoughts:
Ten Good Reasons is the latest book in the Sandy Cove series by author Lauren Christopher. This is a great summertime story that would be perfect for the beach or for those longing for the sand and sea. Christopher follows up The Red Bikini with a story about a very driven woman and a man who has a hard time dealing with his tragic past. Readers get treated to some insider info on both the marketing business and whale watching and sightseeing tours. A very good romance with compelling characters and some spice!
What I liked:
This was my first read from Lauren Christopher and I had really high hopes for it, because I love stories that take place near bodies of water. I just like the laid back kind of atmosphere the sea provides and this book certainly created that. Sandy Cove seems the perfect little seaside town. I liked that Christoper is able to create a cast of characters to populate it that are compelling and engaging, people that you wish you could meet and make friends with. The Whale watching angle was excellent and well researched as well. Setting is sometimes very important and I think it was here. The setting was very well written and made me long for that slower, simpler pace of life. But then we meet Lia.
Lia's life is anything but slow. She is a very driven marketing exec that kind of makes you want to pull your hair out when you first meet her. She is bossy, sassy, takes over everything she touches and is a bit self serving. I thought that profile of an exec was pretty much spot on, at least from my own experience. I do think some readers may be turned off by her attitudes in the beginning but give her chance, she grows on ya. I like take charge people but I don't want them to think I can be run over and I think that's the same attitude Evan took with her. He didn't let her push him around, at least not too much, LOL!
I love a good brooding hero and Evan certainly fit the bill here. He takes to the sea after the death of his wife and son. Some might consider that running from the past, but I think it was more of soul searching kind of thing. Trying to figure out who he was without them and he needed a little nudge to get back to himself. Well, Lia certainly provided the push, a big one. I loved the family dynamics in this one. The relationship between Evan and Drew as well as his relationship with Lia. Excellent situation and characters.
What I Didn't Like:
There were a few times when Lia's ambition got in the way of doing what was right. It seemed her need to help her friend Drew was more about getting the right position at her firm than going out of her way to help a friend. The motivations for her actions were a little sketchy at times, which gave me pause about truly committing to liking her as a heroine. But like I said maybe she needed to loosen up a little and not push so hard and maybe she did that at least to an extent here. I liked her... didn't love her.
Bottom Line:
This was a good book. I loved the theme, the information about whale watching tours, the marketing aspects of the story. I loved the town of Sandy Cove and I fell totally in love with our brooding hero, Evan. I did wonder about Lia's motivations and her attitude, but I think for all intents and purposes, it worked. Christopher did excellent work with setting and characters and provided readers with a little spice as well. A good addition to this series.
Ten Good Reasons is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
No comments:
Post a Comment