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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the second book of Elizabeth O'Roark that gives me butterflies and blesses me with a bunch of good feelings. It had a lot of the things I enjoy in a romance: witty but mature banter (none of that immature, kindergarten-ish "i hate you, you ugly" stuff from two grown adults), a bit of a slow-burn that made me believe in their growing affection for each other; you're not just told by the author that they started to like each other and you have to believe it, even tho' you didn't see anything of the sort. Neither of the characters were perfect, and they sure had some frustrating moments, but they weren't there just for the sake of the drama, they made sense in the context of their past and personalities. Josh is definitely the kind of male hero I enjoy, protective without being alpha-boy, attentive without being controlling and overall mature .
The only thing I didn't enjoy, but I was willing to look past is the fact that in both of the books I've read by the author (and the last bonus novella you get in this book) you definitely see this tendency to put down other women and make the main heroines kind of not like other girls both in their heads as well as in the heads of the male heroes. As I said I managed to look past it because it wasn't very obvious or something the author draws attention to frequently in the story, it's just something I really don't enjoy in general so I'm a little sensitive to it.
All in all, I loved this, but fair warning that it's not a light-hearted romance, it has its emotional moments (I, um, definitely cried cause of the family moments) and I think some family dynamics could be triggering for some people. It's not a dark romance by any means, but it does touch on some more emotional and sensitive subjects so it's a good thing to know about it beforehand.
The only thing I didn't enjoy, but I was willing to look past is the fact that in both of the books I've read by the author (and the last bonus novella you get in this book) you definitely see this tendency to put down other women and make the main heroines kind of not like other girls both in their heads as well as in the heads of the male heroes. As I said I managed to look past it because it wasn't very obvious or something the author draws attention to frequently in the story, it's just something I really don't enjoy in general so I'm a little sensitive to it.
All in all, I loved this, but fair warning that it's not a light-hearted romance, it has its emotional moments (I, um, definitely cried cause of the family moments) and I think some family dynamics could be triggering for some people. It's not a dark romance by any means, but it does touch on some more emotional and sensitive subjects so it's a good thing to know about it beforehand.
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
🫧🪸🌸🍊🥥🌤️
She did it again! These books and this series are genuinely rent free in my mind right now. They are the perfect blend of banter, spice and swoon and I am eating them up. They just hit the spot of everytime and do not miss.
Elizabeth has a way of creating two characters you have no choice but to just fall in love with and then become attached to you just swoon, laugh and cry with the characters. This one had a little bit more theatritics at the end but it was all for the best.
The tension, she writes tension so well and when it snapped....
I loved the structure of this book and following them around the trip, also Josh was down bad from the beginning. I cannot wait to pick the rest of the series up when I need a mood booster because this series is quickly becoming a fave, it had me kicking my feet and giggling throughout.
tropes
🫧 holiday to Hawaii
🪸 ex boyfriend's brother
🌸 forced proximity
🍊 forbidden
She did it again! These books and this series are genuinely rent free in my mind right now. They are the perfect blend of banter, spice and swoon and I am eating them up. They just hit the spot of everytime and do not miss.
Elizabeth has a way of creating two characters you have no choice but to just fall in love with and then become attached to you just swoon, laugh and cry with the characters. This one had a little bit more theatritics at the end but it was all for the best.
The tension, she writes tension so well and when it snapped....
I loved the structure of this book and following them around the trip, also Josh was down bad from the beginning. I cannot wait to pick the rest of the series up when I need a mood booster because this series is quickly becoming a fave, it had me kicking my feet and giggling throughout.
tropes
🫧 holiday to Hawaii
🪸 ex boyfriend's brother
🌸 forced proximity
🍊 forbidden
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
By: Elizabeth O'Roark
Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor, Lee Samuels
Leave it to Elizabeth O'Roark to pull me into a story during a time I should be working! This is Drew Wilson's story. Involved in an on/off relationship with rocker, Six, she is invited to go on a family vacation to Hawaii with him. But in true fashion, Six gets himself arrested and now Drew is on her own...with his parents and brother Joshua with his girlfriend. What fun to be the fifth wheel! But what she finds is so much more. After being in the limelight of social media, she begins to see what life should be like. The caring parents, the fun experiences, and especially her workout time with Josh! Josh is attracted to Drew and can't understand what she is doing with his brother. But he knows she is off limits. Will they give into their attraction? Will Drew stay with Six? Does she want to go back to the rat race of her tour and crazy manager? I have to say that I love Drew. She is broken, but not so far gone she can't be saved. I love how she interacts with Josh's mom and the real feel of love and family she finds. Josh is an incredibly compassionate man. Being a doctor in a place like Somalia you would think would harden him, but he loves his job. These two have a real connection, and I love the slow burn. It's an entertaining listen, easy to get lost in and a great way to spend my day!
Samantha Brentmoor and Lee Daniels make it even better! They have a great chemistry when it comes to their dual narrations, and I love the way they connect with the characters. Brentmoor pulls out all the stops with Drew. There are a lot of layers to her, and she peels each one with an array of emotion. Samuels creates the warm and compassionate Josh, and makes us fall in love. It's a great team and an enjoyable listen!
By: Elizabeth O'Roark
Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor, Lee Samuels
Leave it to Elizabeth O'Roark to pull me into a story during a time I should be working! This is Drew Wilson's story. Involved in an on/off relationship with rocker, Six, she is invited to go on a family vacation to Hawaii with him. But in true fashion, Six gets himself arrested and now Drew is on her own...with his parents and brother Joshua with his girlfriend. What fun to be the fifth wheel! But what she finds is so much more. After being in the limelight of social media, she begins to see what life should be like. The caring parents, the fun experiences, and especially her workout time with Josh! Josh is attracted to Drew and can't understand what she is doing with his brother. But he knows she is off limits. Will they give into their attraction? Will Drew stay with Six? Does she want to go back to the rat race of her tour and crazy manager? I have to say that I love Drew. She is broken, but not so far gone she can't be saved. I love how she interacts with Josh's mom and the real feel of love and family she finds. Josh is an incredibly compassionate man. Being a doctor in a place like Somalia you would think would harden him, but he loves his job. These two have a real connection, and I love the slow burn. It's an entertaining listen, easy to get lost in and a great way to spend my day!
Samantha Brentmoor and Lee Daniels make it even better! They have a great chemistry when it comes to their dual narrations, and I love the way they connect with the characters. Brentmoor pulls out all the stops with Drew. There are a lot of layers to her, and she peels each one with an array of emotion. Samuels creates the warm and compassionate Josh, and makes us fall in love. It's a great team and an enjoyable listen!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I started reading this it took me like a month to get through 4 chapters and I don’t really know why. But I had such a good time with this book. I loved both the characters and the writing was so easy and their connection was so good. I loved the life Drew had because it was so interesting and showcased really well. The two of them just felt like they fit and I can’t explain it any other way. I also didn’t even care that she was with his brother for like half of this book which is saying something. I just had a good time and it’s another series checked off the list.