My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing
Georgie Tate is a survivor. She's survived an abusive relationship. She's survived the car accident that took the life of her controlling fiance. Now she just needs to survive the memories that haunt her. Escaping to her aunts' cozy home on a tiny island outside of Seattle, Georgie finds just the change of pace she needs to pick up the pieces of her life. Taking a job at a local seafood restaurant is the first step in reclaiming her sense of self, but she is completely unprepared for the battle that awaits her there.
Jace Lowe has loved and lost, and he's determined that it will never happen again. Hardened by heartbreak, he stays focused on his work as sous chef at one of the island's top seafood restaurants. When beautiful Georgie takes her place on the restaurant staff, Jace is resolved to keep her at arm's length, and his downright rudeness her first week goes a long way in achieving that goal. Georgie, on the other hand, doesn't want anything to do with Jace anyway and prickles against his abrasive behavior. As the combative pair comes together on a joint project for the restaurant, they find their distaste for one another dwindling. The connection is undeniable--and it terrifies them both. Can two people jaded by the past be softened by the promise of once-in-a-lifetime love, or is this just another recipe for disaster?
My Review
I love that this book made me feel the emotions of the characters! Not only Georgie and Jace, but even the minor characters were portrayed in such a skillful way that it was so easy to put myself in their shoes. The setting is evocative with the weather, locations, and travel giving the scenes a definite vibe. I especially enjoyed the fast pace and intensity of the interactions in the restaurant kitchen. It provides a contrast to the slower scenes and creates a nice flow throughout the story. The friendship and subsequent chemistry between Georgie and Jace builds slowly but steadily as they move past first impressions and bring light into each others' worlds.
I was drawn to Georgie's struggles with overcoming depression, sifting through painful memories, finding her true self again, and trusting new friends and people in her life. Her quirky-clever sense of humor, often self-deprecating, balances the heaviness of her introspection and also creates fun banter with Jace since he never knows what she is going to say :) Oh yeah, and I had to wipe away some tears at one point... and that afterglow feeling after finishing the book was wonderful!
The characters in this book are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There are some brief references specific to Mormons, but the overall themes are universal to all Christians and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.
(Thank you to Covenant Communications for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
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