This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kelly Allen
Ellen is a city slicker lawyer who finds herself in a chain reaction when she falls from a dock and into the sea, only to be rescued by a handsome man called Roy. Roy is not her usual type, a carpenter with roguish good looks and a hope for a simple life with the perfect girl. Ellen is visiting Beacon to deliver a letter given to her by her Gran before she passed away.
Ellen and Roy keep crossing paths and it is obvious that there is a connection between them, but Ellen is in severe denial, especially when Hayden shows up at her hotel room. Ellen is due to be married to Hayden in three months time; Hayden is a slick businessman and cannot see past class, carbs and country life. Following this, her mother turns up and suggests that she is infatuated with her rescuer Roy, and it will simply pass once she is back home getting ready for the wedding.
Ellen has not only her own life to lead, she also made a promise to her Gran and when the truth unfolds, the clear message is that you really cannot help who you fall in love with.
The title of this book made me a little wary, as it is quite long and it didn’t draw me in. However, when I began to read the story, Ellen was such an endearing character that I couldn’t put the book down. Her stubborn nature, her constant sticky situation complex and the humour that derived from her being a strong, independent woman left me laughing out loud. The fact that by the end of the book she is still adamant that she wasn’t drowning and didn’t need rescuing by Roy says it all.
Roy was another enjoyable character to read, although he was a little short tempered, this came across as passion for his beliefs. He is the total opposite to Hayden, which was interesting as they joust verbally through Ellen at one point. I loved the build up to each meeting between Roy and Ellen, as well as the reputation Ellen builds within the small town, notably being nicknamed ‘The Swimmer’ and being given free drinks at the local pub.
I even cried when her Grandmother’s story unfolds and the truth is discovered. It is such a touching story and the balance between the past and the present is just right.
A very pleasant read that made me constantly hungry for blueberry muffins and apple doughnuts.
Simply delightful.
8/10
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