by: Jacquie Underdown
Published: Dec 1, 2015
Published by: Escape Publishing
Source: NetGalley
Links: Goodreads | Amazon
| B&N
A story about starting fresh, letting go, and risking it all for love…
For Hannah, Mercy Island is a refuge, a new beginning, and a place to find safety in her own skin. Here, in this peaceful, beachside place, she will rediscover all those pieces of herself her abusive ex stole away. For Bear, Mercy Island is a prison, a backwater, a place he can’t wait to escape. Away, in the city, he’ll chase his dreams and lose the bad memories haunting him.
When Hannah's home is damaged in an ugly storm, Bear offers his handyman services to repair it—a last job and a pretty girl to pass the time before he heads out. But Hannah is terrified to lose herself in another relationship, and Bear isn’t in it for the long haul.
However, their simmering sexual attraction refuses to be ignored, and just because love isn’t on the line doesn’t mean sex isn’t on the table. A no-strings-attached brief fling to curb the tension and take the edge off. No ties. No emotions. No pain.
But love has a way of coming in the windows, even when you’ve slammed the door, if only Hannah and Bear can stop looking to the past and find hope in their future.
This was such a refreshing story! It's a romance novel, but it's also chalked full of self-discovery and overcoming the odds to become the person YOU see when you look in the mirror!
The book begins kind of sad, with the passing of Hannah's grandmother. The family history there isn't exactly cookie cutter, but the love between the two was real, even though so much time had passed from the last time they communicated. When Bear literally comes to Hannah's rescue - twice - it starts the beginning of the friendship between the two. With the possibility of it growing into more than that - the fact that Hannah is on Mercy Island to start over and make a life for herself and Bear is chomping at the bits to leave as soon as he can - threatens to end anything before it can even get started.
Hannah took my breath away at times. The strength she possess in everything she puts her mind to is amazing. She was able to get out of a very difficult situation that many women have faced before, and she was able to turn it around and build something for herself. Something that she is proud of. The connection between Hannah and her grandmother still lives on and I adored the fact that she could take something from her grandmother and use it as a tool in her own self-discovery.
Bear was easy to like! With his charm and wit, you could not help but root for him. Ever the gentlemen, he could be the alpha when the times called for it, but it was his loving and softer side that really did me in. Also, the relationship he has with his sister - if I wasn't sold before, I was when this came into play.
For my own personal needs when it comes to novels, I felt like there could have been a bit more.. drama! Maybe throw in some tension.. a little bit of angst! The climax could have been built just a little bit bigger to give it that special umpth! I look for in the novels I pick. One example would be the issues with Alistair. With all the information we were given, I felt like that was a quick resolution. I was expecting it to turn into something a little more suspenseful and page-turning given all that we know about him and the kind of man he is. Overall, this novel was well written and a pretty good read. I would recommend it to romance lovers out there.
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Discuss with me in the comments! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
sounds like it fizzled - bummer
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