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A review by moodreaderhan
The Sea Ain't Mine Alone by C.L. Beaumont
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-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? N/A
5.0
5 SKY AND OCEAN STARS!
my brief summary:
Meet James: Our golden blonde who doesn’t share much is the up and coming local surfing pro who secretly has a crush on his one and only friend. With a mysterious past he doesn’t like to share about after coming from Vietnam, Jimmy Campbell is looking (while also doubting himself) to be the next surfing champion, even if he is a decade older than most of the other competitors.
Meet Sydney: Two-time winning Billabong Pipeline Masters Champion known by everyone as Danny Moore who always wears his hair or his aviators on his face from Oahu. He is a proud and intriguing asshole, and one of the only known gay surfers.
Our story set in the late 70s is about two men, one ocean, many waves and a love found in the middle of curiosity, tension, many bantering sessions and a heart for surfing. After a competition, where the previously winning champ loses to the rookie. Danny/Sydney volunteers to help Jimmy/James win the next Billabong Pipeline Masters. The push and pull of these two leads them into uncharted waters they haven’t been in before.
Thoughts:
To say I adored this book, and its characters is an understatement. If there is one thing anyone knows about me, it’s that angst books are part of my genetic make-up. This book gives you more than just angst though. It brings the sweetness, tenderness, and goofiness that makes my face turn into the happy pout or heart eye emoji. There are serious topics dealt with, but in such a careful way while not brushing it aside, which is so wonderful to see.
I could rave about Sydney and James all day! Their flirtation and banter is so pure and adorable. I laughed aloud and burrowed into my blankets at home happily while reading to just stay in their world. There are a lot of repeated phrases in this book, but they filled my heart so much each time they were said. For those in love for the first time who don’t always have a chance to express their love openly in front of others, they deserve every touch and soft phrase said a million times.
This book is read at a slower/medium-ish pace like waves crashing on the shore. It is to be absorbed while consuming. If you are in search of a love story with all the feels and a happy ever after, look no further!
I did my best to describe how this book made me feel, but words cannot do it justice. I loved it with all my heart!
Would I recommend this and to who:
YES - THIS IS A LOVE STORY THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD READ!
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-Book - Kindle Unlimited
How did I discover this:
My love, lila - I WAS BLESSED WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION! IN LILA I ALWAYS TRUST! <3
Pace:
Medium overall
POV:
James and Sydney
Quotes: (As per usual I will not apologize for how many quotes I have! I hope this entices you to read it, but be mindful this gives some spoilers of course!)
“You were brave”
“You want this,” Danny breathes, his voice uncharacteristically shaking. James’ answer falls effortlessly from his lips. “Yes.” Danny swallows hard and blinks. “With me?” The question is so small, so tiny and fragile in the air. The unspoken “and not Rob” hands like a trembling secret between them. James closes his eyes and thinks of holding a picture of a curly-haired little boy in his hands. “God, Sydney, yes. More than anything.”
“So, genius, is there anything you can’t take one look at and know fucking everything about?” Sydney knows he’s joking, but the answer that falls immediately from his lips comes from the truest pit of his chest. “You.”
“But honestly, that’s not even the insane thing. The insane thing is that I so badly just wanna say ‘fuck the Billabong,’ and fuck all those things that I wanted, because what I want more than anything right now is to stay here and kiss every inch of you.”
“You are a marvel.”
“Come on, man, tease me. Be cocky like that because I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, and you fucking got me.”
yes, I am here, can’t you see that it would physically hurt me to leave you? That the trails of kisses you left on my back would split open and bleed if I turned away? That I can’t ever go back?
“Stop thinking for five seconds and come fuck me,”
“Who the hell are you?”
“I love you.” Lost immediately to the rushing hiss of the water. “God, I love you.”
“No, no, no, this whole ‘captain’ thing has gotta go. Right now. Gone.” “Yes, Cap’n,” Sydney smirks.
“You are something else,”
“I’m not sure what the hell I did to deserve you.” James huffs as he runs his hands up Sydney’s spine. “I’m not sure either, because you can be a fucking asshole sometimes.”
“I wanted to see you again,” he whispers, and James draws in a breath at the raw sound of Sydney’s words. Sydney traces the scar. “I thought you were beautiful, and I wanted to see you, and I wondered what it would be like to hold you,
“You saved me,” he says, throat tight. “And I love you.”
Triggers:
Homophobia, Sexual Content, Mental Illness, War, Suicidal Thoughts, Grief, Injury, Death, Near-Death Experience, Trauma, etc.
🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
__________________________
RTC - Sydney and James may have not invented love, but they reinvented it!!
This might hands down be one of the best books I have read all year!
🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
__________________________
@49% and had to mark this quote: "yes, I am here, can't you see that it would physically hurt me to leave you? That the trails of kisses you left on my back would split open and bleed if I turned away? That I can't ever go back?' 🥺😭 THEM!
Apparently I'm not reading enough books at one time! 🙃
psssst - lila made me do it!
my brief summary:
Meet James: Our golden blonde who doesn’t share much is the up and coming local surfing pro who secretly has a crush on his one and only friend. With a mysterious past he doesn’t like to share about after coming from Vietnam, Jimmy Campbell is looking (while also doubting himself) to be the next surfing champion, even if he is a decade older than most of the other competitors.
Meet Sydney: Two-time winning Billabong Pipeline Masters Champion known by everyone as Danny Moore who always wears his hair or his aviators on his face from Oahu. He is a proud and intriguing asshole, and one of the only known gay surfers.
Our story set in the late 70s is about two men, one ocean, many waves and a love found in the middle of curiosity, tension, many bantering sessions and a heart for surfing. After a competition, where the previously winning champ loses to the rookie. Danny/Sydney volunteers to help Jimmy/James win the next Billabong Pipeline Masters. The push and pull of these two leads them into uncharted waters they haven’t been in before.
Thoughts:
To say I adored this book, and its characters is an understatement. If there is one thing anyone knows about me, it’s that angst books are part of my genetic make-up. This book gives you more than just angst though. It brings the sweetness, tenderness, and goofiness that makes my face turn into the happy pout or heart eye emoji. There are serious topics dealt with, but in such a careful way while not brushing it aside, which is so wonderful to see.
I could rave about Sydney and James all day! Their flirtation and banter is so pure and adorable. I laughed aloud and burrowed into my blankets at home happily while reading to just stay in their world. There are a lot of repeated phrases in this book, but they filled my heart so much each time they were said. For those in love for the first time who don’t always have a chance to express their love openly in front of others, they deserve every touch and soft phrase said a million times.
This book is read at a slower/medium-ish pace like waves crashing on the shore. It is to be absorbed while consuming. If you are in search of a love story with all the feels and a happy ever after, look no further!
I did my best to describe how this book made me feel, but words cannot do it justice. I loved it with all my heart!
Would I recommend this and to who:
YES - THIS IS A LOVE STORY THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD READ!
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-Book - Kindle Unlimited
How did I discover this:
My love, lila - I WAS BLESSED WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION! IN LILA I ALWAYS TRUST! <3
Pace:
Medium overall
POV:
James and Sydney
Quotes: (As per usual I will not apologize for how many quotes I have! I hope this entices you to read it, but be mindful this gives some spoilers of course!)
“You were brave”
“You want this,” Danny breathes, his voice uncharacteristically shaking. James’ answer falls effortlessly from his lips. “Yes.” Danny swallows hard and blinks. “With me?” The question is so small, so tiny and fragile in the air. The unspoken “and not Rob” hands like a trembling secret between them. James closes his eyes and thinks of holding a picture of a curly-haired little boy in his hands. “God, Sydney, yes. More than anything.”
“So, genius, is there anything you can’t take one look at and know fucking everything about?” Sydney knows he’s joking, but the answer that falls immediately from his lips comes from the truest pit of his chest. “You.”
“But honestly, that’s not even the insane thing. The insane thing is that I so badly just wanna say ‘fuck the Billabong,’ and fuck all those things that I wanted, because what I want more than anything right now is to stay here and kiss every inch of you.”
“You are a marvel.”
“Come on, man, tease me. Be cocky like that because I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, and you fucking got me.”
yes, I am here, can’t you see that it would physically hurt me to leave you? That the trails of kisses you left on my back would split open and bleed if I turned away? That I can’t ever go back?
“Stop thinking for five seconds and come fuck me,”
“Who the hell are you?”
“I love you.” Lost immediately to the rushing hiss of the water. “God, I love you.”
“No, no, no, this whole ‘captain’ thing has gotta go. Right now. Gone.” “Yes, Cap’n,” Sydney smirks.
“You are something else,”
“I’m not sure what the hell I did to deserve you.” James huffs as he runs his hands up Sydney’s spine. “I’m not sure either, because you can be a fucking asshole sometimes.”
“I wanted to see you again,” he whispers, and James draws in a breath at the raw sound of Sydney’s words. Sydney traces the scar. “I thought you were beautiful, and I wanted to see you, and I wondered what it would be like to hold you,
“You saved me,” he says, throat tight. “And I love you.”
Triggers:
Homophobia, Sexual Content, Mental Illness, War, Suicidal Thoughts, Grief, Injury, Death, Near-Death Experience, Trauma, etc.
🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
__________________________
RTC - Sydney and James may have not invented love, but they reinvented it!!
This might hands down be one of the best books I have read all year!
🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
__________________________
@49% and had to mark this quote: "yes, I am here, can't you see that it would physically hurt me to leave you? That the trails of kisses you left on my back would split open and bleed if I turned away? That I can't ever go back?' 🥺😭 THEM!
Apparently I'm not reading enough books at one time! 🙃
psssst - lila made me do it!