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Winter Storms
Two years ago Carly Roberts split from her lover, Daniel Edwards, after he caused a terrible sailing accident that cost her both the use of her right leg and her Olympic dreams. Unable to watch his climb to double Olympic success, she stayed in the Cornish village they grew up in, while he travelled the world.
Racked with guilt, knowing he destroyed her future, Daniel has finally returned home to make amends. But he didn’t expect to fall in love with her again.
Carly has her own life now and it doesn’t include him. She can’t forgive him for the catastrophic injuries that changed her life. While the storms of a Cornish winter lash their village home, can Daniel persuade her to give him a second chance?
"Sensuality Level: Sensual"
Racked with guilt, knowing he destroyed her future, Daniel has finally returned home to make amends. But he didn’t expect to fall in love with her again.
Carly has her own life now and it doesn’t include him. She can’t forgive him for the catastrophic injuries that changed her life. While the storms of a Cornish winter lash their village home, can Daniel persuade her to give him a second chance?
"Sensuality Level: Sensual"
154 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2013
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93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 11, 2013
What are the benefits of reading Winter Storms?
The character-building. I cannot say enough about the complexity of Oliver’s characters. So often in mass market fiction, we see repeated types: the aloof billionaire, the sacrificial female, the dark-hearted vampire, the sassy vixen. Carly and Daniel are nearly flesh and bone so detailed is Oliver’s characterization. They’re people: a mix of the heartache, the selfishness, the need for self-preservation, the need for love that we all have. Character emotion and motivation, storyline development, even the dialogue created realism. I felt like I knew these people, and because I knew them, I ached for them and all their troubles. I worried in the final scenes if fate would continue to test them and had to stop reading to gather courage.
The heroine, Carly. Although she is very different from most romance heroines, I adored her. She was not bubbly, or sex kittenish, or a wonderful nurturer... she was none of those stereotypes. Instead, she was scarred, a little bit embittered, a little bit angry, a whole lot unwilling to risk herself in love. And her anger toward the hero wasn’t a sassy affectation. It was honest-to-goodness my-life-was-ripped-from-me anger. She had a real dark side--like most of the adults I know. Life is hard, and we all bear scars, and that’s a truth that Oliver shows with all of her characters, especially Carly. But, despite Carly’s edgy nature, I really like her. She is resilient, determined, loving to her friends and family, hopeful about her career, motivated to support causes and to better herself.
The setting and sub-plotting. In some novels, setting and sub-plotting are little better than page-fillers, but in Oliver’s hands, these side elements have a true life of their own. While the focus of the novel is on the development of the romance between Carly and Daniel, Oliver weaves a world around them that is full of verve and interest. The sea. The storms. The community’s need for a new lifeboat. The future of Daniel and Carly’s careers. All of this concerned me. I didn’t have a single moment where I wanted to skim or wished Oliver had edited something out. Nothing in this book is tangential or unnecessary.
The suspense. Although this novel was not a mystery or suspense story, Oliver’s tale involves life-and-death issues: sea storms and the hard life of fishing communities. The ocean is not all sunny beaches and smooth sailing. These people spend their life on the sea because they have to, and it comes with costs. Even Carly, who loves sailing and competing, relied on her sailing as her profession. It was never a hobby. After her sailing injury, she runs an upscale boutique, but she has never forgotten the danger of the water, so she spends most of the book raising funds to replace the town’s aged lifeboat. Oliver uses this time to subtly warn us of the dangers of the sea; then, in the final chapters, when Carly’s loved ones are out in a storm, the book becomes almost impossible to read. With Oliver’s realistic look at people and life, you know this writer won’t give you a fake and glossy happily ever after, so you turn each page cautiously. With even more suspense than “suspense novels,” Oliver’s novel is engaging and touching in ways so few novels ever are. I highly recommend this author and can’t wait to see what other tales will follow this incredibly successful debut.
The character-building. I cannot say enough about the complexity of Oliver’s characters. So often in mass market fiction, we see repeated types: the aloof billionaire, the sacrificial female, the dark-hearted vampire, the sassy vixen. Carly and Daniel are nearly flesh and bone so detailed is Oliver’s characterization. They’re people: a mix of the heartache, the selfishness, the need for self-preservation, the need for love that we all have. Character emotion and motivation, storyline development, even the dialogue created realism. I felt like I knew these people, and because I knew them, I ached for them and all their troubles. I worried in the final scenes if fate would continue to test them and had to stop reading to gather courage.
The heroine, Carly. Although she is very different from most romance heroines, I adored her. She was not bubbly, or sex kittenish, or a wonderful nurturer... she was none of those stereotypes. Instead, she was scarred, a little bit embittered, a little bit angry, a whole lot unwilling to risk herself in love. And her anger toward the hero wasn’t a sassy affectation. It was honest-to-goodness my-life-was-ripped-from-me anger. She had a real dark side--like most of the adults I know. Life is hard, and we all bear scars, and that’s a truth that Oliver shows with all of her characters, especially Carly. But, despite Carly’s edgy nature, I really like her. She is resilient, determined, loving to her friends and family, hopeful about her career, motivated to support causes and to better herself.
The setting and sub-plotting. In some novels, setting and sub-plotting are little better than page-fillers, but in Oliver’s hands, these side elements have a true life of their own. While the focus of the novel is on the development of the romance between Carly and Daniel, Oliver weaves a world around them that is full of verve and interest. The sea. The storms. The community’s need for a new lifeboat. The future of Daniel and Carly’s careers. All of this concerned me. I didn’t have a single moment where I wanted to skim or wished Oliver had edited something out. Nothing in this book is tangential or unnecessary.
The suspense. Although this novel was not a mystery or suspense story, Oliver’s tale involves life-and-death issues: sea storms and the hard life of fishing communities. The ocean is not all sunny beaches and smooth sailing. These people spend their life on the sea because they have to, and it comes with costs. Even Carly, who loves sailing and competing, relied on her sailing as her profession. It was never a hobby. After her sailing injury, she runs an upscale boutique, but she has never forgotten the danger of the water, so she spends most of the book raising funds to replace the town’s aged lifeboat. Oliver uses this time to subtly warn us of the dangers of the sea; then, in the final chapters, when Carly’s loved ones are out in a storm, the book becomes almost impossible to read. With Oliver’s realistic look at people and life, you know this writer won’t give you a fake and glossy happily ever after, so you turn each page cautiously. With even more suspense than “suspense novels,” Oliver’s novel is engaging and touching in ways so few novels ever are. I highly recommend this author and can’t wait to see what other tales will follow this incredibly successful debut.
March 5, 2013
I was delighted to receive a copy of this book for review from the author, as I knew from the blurb that it would be up my street. I was not disappointed, and I thoroughly enjoyed my reading. I sat down to start reading the book one afternoon, and found myself frustrated to have to break to have dinner – then I went back and finished it by bedtime. It’s a fairly short book, but makes for compelling reading indeed!
Carly and Daniel are wonderfully vivid characters with whom it’s impossible not to empathise. Both are haunted by the accident that changed their lives and threw up a seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their relationship two years before, and as a reader I was moved by their tumultuous feelings – Daniel’s overriding sense of guilt, and Carly’s struggle with anger and an inability to accept the change in her life. I was quite swept away in their story, and found myself very keen to learn the details of that terrible day, which are expertly interwoven into the plot, and to see both characters make their peace with what was ultimately a terrible accident and no one’s fault.
At the core of the book is an exploration of what love really means – forgiveness, acceptance, flexibility in the face of change. I found Carly’s journey in particular inspiring and believable in terms of her thoughts and feelings. I love the fact that Daniel finds Carly just as beautiful after her accident than before; it is refreshing to find a hero in a romance novel who sees past disability in this way.
I adored the Cornish setting for the book – Cornwall is such a romantic county! If I could, I think I’d quite like to visit Carly’s little seaside gift shop and watch boats race out in the bay. I also loved the connections with the lifeboat station, and the Olympics. But beyond the place, the weather was also memorable. I found the wintry, stormy backdrop highly atmospheric in offsetting the lovers’ story.
In all, a delighted five stars from me, and a recommendation if you enjoy passionate, poignant romance.
Carly and Daniel are wonderfully vivid characters with whom it’s impossible not to empathise. Both are haunted by the accident that changed their lives and threw up a seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their relationship two years before, and as a reader I was moved by their tumultuous feelings – Daniel’s overriding sense of guilt, and Carly’s struggle with anger and an inability to accept the change in her life. I was quite swept away in their story, and found myself very keen to learn the details of that terrible day, which are expertly interwoven into the plot, and to see both characters make their peace with what was ultimately a terrible accident and no one’s fault.
At the core of the book is an exploration of what love really means – forgiveness, acceptance, flexibility in the face of change. I found Carly’s journey in particular inspiring and believable in terms of her thoughts and feelings. I love the fact that Daniel finds Carly just as beautiful after her accident than before; it is refreshing to find a hero in a romance novel who sees past disability in this way.
I adored the Cornish setting for the book – Cornwall is such a romantic county! If I could, I think I’d quite like to visit Carly’s little seaside gift shop and watch boats race out in the bay. I also loved the connections with the lifeboat station, and the Olympics. But beyond the place, the weather was also memorable. I found the wintry, stormy backdrop highly atmospheric in offsetting the lovers’ story.
In all, a delighted five stars from me, and a recommendation if you enjoy passionate, poignant romance.
April 26, 2013
This story is so full of atmospheric details of the Cornish coast, that you are literally sucked in to Ms Oliver's world - so much that you can almost feel the salty sea spray on your face and the snow-covered cobbles beneath your feet. I've been to similar coastal towns, and this book definitely reminded me of them! As to the characters, I have to give kudos for the author's ability to portray the heroine so beautifully. Carly is flawed, and not just physically. It's almost painful - but ultimately satisfying - to watch how she gradually works her way from bitter recluse, to someone who is capable of letting go of the past, and grasping the possibility of a future that she had thought was lost forever.
Daniel is a tortured hero; tortured by guilt, and tortured by memories. He followed his Olympic dreams, and left Carly behind, though it is clear that his actions play heavily on his conscience. He's constantly bewildered by the way Carly keeps blowing hot and cold on him, and his inner struggles are a nice balance with Carly's personal battles.
The cast of supporting characters is also fabulous - a vast array of locals, each with their own back story, and each bringing depth to the overall story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It had everything; a fabulous setting, a nice subplot that involved the whole of the ensemble cast, and a believable love story that had you rooting for a happy ending. This was an absorbing read!
Daniel is a tortured hero; tortured by guilt, and tortured by memories. He followed his Olympic dreams, and left Carly behind, though it is clear that his actions play heavily on his conscience. He's constantly bewildered by the way Carly keeps blowing hot and cold on him, and his inner struggles are a nice balance with Carly's personal battles.
The cast of supporting characters is also fabulous - a vast array of locals, each with their own back story, and each bringing depth to the overall story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It had everything; a fabulous setting, a nice subplot that involved the whole of the ensemble cast, and a believable love story that had you rooting for a happy ending. This was an absorbing read!
February 20, 2013
Don’t start Winter Storm unless you have the day to yourself – and if you do, then switch off your phone, put your feet up and dive into the warmth and love that exudes from this book. I’m a sucker for a second chance relationship and loved the way in which Ms Oliver kept Carly and Daniel apart yet together. Her sea scenes were depicted beautifully, I could taste the sea spray on my weather chapped lips from the comfort of my sofa and I loved the colours of the sun sets and rises. I’m told Cornwall has its own special light, and Ms Olvier’s writing only confirms that. And I almost feel I could sail a boat. Okay maybe not, otherwise I’d have that rescue boat out after me. What an exciting part of the book, and I have to admit to falling a wee bit in love with Mick too. I think every girl deserves a man like him in their life. I loved this book and very much look forward to more full length novels from Ms Oliver.
March 15, 2013
Winter Storms is beautifully written, rich in detail, and charged with emotion. I was astonished at how descriptive it was right from the beginning. I could almost taste the salty sea spray on my lips, feel the biting December winds whipping my hair in my face and penetrating my clothing. I thought, wow, this author has a talent for writing settings. Then she brought the characters to life with that same remarkable skill and I was transported entirely.
This is a moving story of destinies rewritten by tragedy, strong relationships broken, and losses that go beyond most love stories. The emotions run deep, yet they're still as raw as fresh wounds.
I found myself pulling for these damaged characters as they tried to revise and rewrite a new future and learn to heal from the inside and out. Could there ever be a future when the past seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle?
I highly recommend, Winter Storms.
This is a moving story of destinies rewritten by tragedy, strong relationships broken, and losses that go beyond most love stories. The emotions run deep, yet they're still as raw as fresh wounds.
I found myself pulling for these damaged characters as they tried to revise and rewrite a new future and learn to heal from the inside and out. Could there ever be a future when the past seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle?
I highly recommend, Winter Storms.
February 9, 2013
I was given the opportunity to read this book so I had absolutely no expectations about it. I thought it was a sweet story about second chances.
I liked and disliked Carly. I liked her fierceness to support her town and brother but I her stubbornness went overboard. I was so frustrated with her choices of how she reacted to the accident that I stopped feeling sorry for her and had a hard time routing for her. However once she got her head out of her ass I started to cheer for a possible HEA for her.
With Daniel he too is stubborn but it is more affectionate. He too made some bad choices but love never left his heart so he went all out to get what he wanted... which was Carly (broken, jaded and all).
I loved the small town they were in and the people in it. When the life boat got released for rescue my heart was in my throat for what was going to happen and I didn't expect that outcome to the story. It broke my heart but it was a part of the story that needed to happen to really get a sense of loss that a community can feel when tragedy hits.
A sweet story about second chances, loss, community, passion and love.
I liked and disliked Carly. I liked her fierceness to support her town and brother but I her stubbornness went overboard. I was so frustrated with her choices of how she reacted to the accident that I stopped feeling sorry for her and had a hard time routing for her. However once she got her head out of her ass I started to cheer for a possible HEA for her.
With Daniel he too is stubborn but it is more affectionate. He too made some bad choices but love never left his heart so he went all out to get what he wanted... which was Carly (broken, jaded and all).
I loved the small town they were in and the people in it. When the life boat got released for rescue my heart was in my throat for what was going to happen and I didn't expect that outcome to the story. It broke my heart but it was a part of the story that needed to happen to really get a sense of loss that a community can feel when tragedy hits.
A sweet story about second chances, loss, community, passion and love.
June 23, 2013
Excellent novel. Ms. Oliver sets her story on the Cornish coast, and I was THERE, ladies and gentlemen, amid the storm-tossed seas and small coastal town, quiet in the dead of winter, yet still charming, with its cobbled streets, warm pub, and sweet little shops. Her heroine, Carly, a former sailing champion, has been injured in a terrible accident, her leg mangled. Will her body - and her psyche - ever heal? And will the return of her former crew mate, now an Olympic Gold Medalist, help or hinder her recovery? No spoilers here, but I read the novel at a fast clip and something happened toward the end that took me by surprise. You see, I normally do not cry when I read, yet near the ending, I was so swept up with the characters and the plot that tears filled my eyes - sad and then happy tears - because of heartfelt tragedy and, afterward, a compelling resolution. Carly's world is so arresting, her bitterness deep and unrelenting, but she is redeemed in the end by lessons learned and a realization she has new worlds to explore. And yes, love conquers all.
January 28, 2013
I could smell, taste and FEEL this book. I was totally immersed in the community of Haven Bay with its myriad of characters. The sailing and life-saving aspects were fascinating and I was gripped at the climax, totally unable to put the book down.
The heroine, Carly, is struggling to come to terms with losing the use of her leg - and her Olympic gold dreams - after a terrible sailing accident. She's lost all confidence on the water and is in constant pain. Her ex-lover, Daniel, who persuaded her to sail that day has returned after leaving her two years ago. He feels responsible for her accident and is determined to have her forgive him and take him back.
I ached for these two to overcome their problems and get back together. Daniel totally proved himself worthy of Carly in the end and every time they were together I found myself holding my breath, desperate for a reconciliation.
A beautifully written and captivating story.
Highly recommended.
The heroine, Carly, is struggling to come to terms with losing the use of her leg - and her Olympic gold dreams - after a terrible sailing accident. She's lost all confidence on the water and is in constant pain. Her ex-lover, Daniel, who persuaded her to sail that day has returned after leaving her two years ago. He feels responsible for her accident and is determined to have her forgive him and take him back.
I ached for these two to overcome their problems and get back together. Daniel totally proved himself worthy of Carly in the end and every time they were together I found myself holding my breath, desperate for a reconciliation.
A beautifully written and captivating story.
Highly recommended.
February 18, 2013
There’s something about being near the sea in the winter that strikes a chord with me. I grew up near the coast, so a novel set in a Cornish fishing village was always going to appeal. The economy might rely on the tourism during warmer months, but there’s something special about having the sea to yourself in winter. Cold winds, salty air and romance – what more could I ask for?
Of course in the real world the sea can be a taker of life, it’s not just for romancing over. And that’s where this novel scores highly – the author hasn’t shied away from the life-taking powers of the tides.
Having witnessed the sailing competitions during the 2012 Olympics I am, of course, an armchair expert and there was enough detail about sailing to keep me happy.
This was a lovely read, the power of the sea leapt from the pages and there was enough sizzle to keep me sailing along. I hope the author releases more of her work – I think she’ll garner a loyal following within this genre.
Of course in the real world the sea can be a taker of life, it’s not just for romancing over. And that’s where this novel scores highly – the author hasn’t shied away from the life-taking powers of the tides.
Having witnessed the sailing competitions during the 2012 Olympics I am, of course, an armchair expert and there was enough detail about sailing to keep me happy.
This was a lovely read, the power of the sea leapt from the pages and there was enough sizzle to keep me sailing along. I hope the author releases more of her work – I think she’ll garner a loyal following within this genre.
March 3, 2013
From the first chapter, I knew I held something unique in my hands. Carly is a heroine in her own class—a woman who has been wounded, physically and emotionally, in a boating accident. Throw in the detail that she has trained in sailing all of her life in the pursuit of Olympic gold, and then pair that with a post-traumatic phobia of the ocean she grew up loving and the unfortunate fact that the love of her life is to blame for her accident and you have some of the best conflict I’ve ever read in this genre. This was a great read. The ins-and-outs of sailing captured my attention; this is a subject area I know absolutely nothing about, and the details were interwoven with the narrative seamlessly. By the end of the book, I felt as though I had been given a glimpse into a world I had only viewed from very far off. And on the subject of the end of the book—Wow! What a climax. I was on the edge of my seat. Well done, Ms. Oliver.
May 20, 2013
I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face at the homesickness that I feel. I grew up on the beaches of North Carolina. I can ‘see’ the ocean in this book and I long for the spray on my face the beautiful fury of the waves. I am enthralled with the amazing descriptive power of Lucy Oliver.
I can’t even begin to understand the devestation and resentment that Carly felt after the accident. To blame Daniel was the easiest thing to do and I can’t say I would have been any different. Daniel needs the forgiveness that only Carly can give him and comes home to show her how much he loves her.
Carly is angry and real. I love that about her. Second chance romances are always a toss up. You remember all the reasons that you loved them and got together and all the reasons it failed.
Beautifully written and I can’t wait for more!
I can’t even begin to understand the devestation and resentment that Carly felt after the accident. To blame Daniel was the easiest thing to do and I can’t say I would have been any different. Daniel needs the forgiveness that only Carly can give him and comes home to show her how much he loves her.
Carly is angry and real. I love that about her. Second chance romances are always a toss up. You remember all the reasons that you loved them and got together and all the reasons it failed.
Beautifully written and I can’t wait for more!
February 23, 2013
I love a good happy ending. So why is it that I like it when the characters have to suffer first before they get there? This is a second chance story where they have a lot of hurt and bitterness to overcome. I thought this was a lovely book with great writing and interesting characters. If you like a good angst-filled romance with a happy ending I highly recommend. I enjoyed it.
May 30, 2013
Loved the vivid details! This may be as close as I ever get to the English coast, but I really do feel like I've been there now. Characters you can root for, real-life issues and heartache, and a happy ending that leaves the reader satisfied. Nice job, Ms. Oliver!
January 31, 2013
Winter Storms is Lucy Oliver’s debut novel. This was a nicely written romance about a young couple once in love, that was destroyed by a tragic accident. The story takes place in a Cornish village by the docks, which is known for it’s terrible winter storms.
We meet our heroine, Carly Roberts at the beginning. Carly is somewhat disabled, with a bad leg caused by an accident two years ago, and now she needs a cane to walk. Carly owns and operates her own business, with a gift/trinket store. It is close to Christmas, and on a nasty night, she closes the shop early.
We then meet our hero, Daniel Edwards, who left town 2 years ago, after Carly’s accident. They were lovers, until the tragic accident, which Carly blamed on Daniel. Both were Olympic trainees for sailing, and now Daniel is a gold medal champion, and Carly resents him for what she no longer can have.
After two years, Daniel cannot forget his love for Carly, and comes home, but Carly still wants nothing to do with him. Carly has moved on with her life, and accepts her handicap. However, she finds she can’t forgive Daniel totally, and part of the reason is her own jealousy that he has succeeded as an Olympic champion, which she herself was also destined to do. As much as she knows she still loves Daniel, she doesn’t feel she can get past her resentment of him.
This was a wonderful story of two people in love, even with the two year separation, trying to overcome the obstacles in front of them. In the terrible winter storm, another tragedy occurs, bringing everyone in the town, and the two star-crossed lovers united in saving others. I really did enjoy this story, and Lucy Oliver does a great job with her debut novel. Her characters are wonderfully written, as you find yourself liking them. She created a wonderful couple, with issues to overcome to find love again. Winter Storms was a great read, and one I recommend.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
We meet our heroine, Carly Roberts at the beginning. Carly is somewhat disabled, with a bad leg caused by an accident two years ago, and now she needs a cane to walk. Carly owns and operates her own business, with a gift/trinket store. It is close to Christmas, and on a nasty night, she closes the shop early.
We then meet our hero, Daniel Edwards, who left town 2 years ago, after Carly’s accident. They were lovers, until the tragic accident, which Carly blamed on Daniel. Both were Olympic trainees for sailing, and now Daniel is a gold medal champion, and Carly resents him for what she no longer can have.
After two years, Daniel cannot forget his love for Carly, and comes home, but Carly still wants nothing to do with him. Carly has moved on with her life, and accepts her handicap. However, she finds she can’t forgive Daniel totally, and part of the reason is her own jealousy that he has succeeded as an Olympic champion, which she herself was also destined to do. As much as she knows she still loves Daniel, she doesn’t feel she can get past her resentment of him.
This was a wonderful story of two people in love, even with the two year separation, trying to overcome the obstacles in front of them. In the terrible winter storm, another tragedy occurs, bringing everyone in the town, and the two star-crossed lovers united in saving others. I really did enjoy this story, and Lucy Oliver does a great job with her debut novel. Her characters are wonderfully written, as you find yourself liking them. She created a wonderful couple, with issues to overcome to find love again. Winter Storms was a great read, and one I recommend.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
February 1, 2013
Reviewed by Desere
Before I started reading this one I already started crying! This book was so sad in some parts and in others very emotional but in the end it was all a little too much for me as reader.
The book is about Carly and the journey of recovery she embarks upon after her lover Daniel caused a terrible sailing accident that cost her the use of her right leg and also her change at Olympic dreams. Naturally she leaves him and tries to go on. However, two years later he's back and willing to do anything to make amends. Sounds heartbreaking right, it was .
For me as reader the characters were well written and outlined well, however the battle of forgiveness was almost dragged out a little too long. It was as if I needed the author to bring it to a close so the couple can move on just a little bit faster, and therefore the book seemed rather long.
The incorporation of the emotional upset that Carly has to deal with was a rather interesting touch as very little books focus on real life happenings, so there I will give the author a thumbs up.
The knowledge of sailing that I could pick up was very interesting to read about as I for one no nothing about it and seeing it pop up in a romance was unique and definitely another plus point.
The dialogue was very emotional to the point it brought me to tears, but it also had underlining messages of understanding, forgiveness and happiness hidden in it's depths, which left me with some rather interesting outlooks on life.
If your a fan of the sappy tear-jerker kind of romance this read is for you, if however you prefer a lighter kind of romantic read I will advise you select a different kind of book.
A sensual tear-jerker read guaranteed to leave you with memorable impressions.
4/5 star review
"Forgiveness lies within your reach"
Before I started reading this one I already started crying! This book was so sad in some parts and in others very emotional but in the end it was all a little too much for me as reader.
The book is about Carly and the journey of recovery she embarks upon after her lover Daniel caused a terrible sailing accident that cost her the use of her right leg and also her change at Olympic dreams. Naturally she leaves him and tries to go on. However, two years later he's back and willing to do anything to make amends. Sounds heartbreaking right, it was .
For me as reader the characters were well written and outlined well, however the battle of forgiveness was almost dragged out a little too long. It was as if I needed the author to bring it to a close so the couple can move on just a little bit faster, and therefore the book seemed rather long.
The incorporation of the emotional upset that Carly has to deal with was a rather interesting touch as very little books focus on real life happenings, so there I will give the author a thumbs up.
The knowledge of sailing that I could pick up was very interesting to read about as I for one no nothing about it and seeing it pop up in a romance was unique and definitely another plus point.
The dialogue was very emotional to the point it brought me to tears, but it also had underlining messages of understanding, forgiveness and happiness hidden in it's depths, which left me with some rather interesting outlooks on life.
If your a fan of the sappy tear-jerker kind of romance this read is for you, if however you prefer a lighter kind of romantic read I will advise you select a different kind of book.
A sensual tear-jerker read guaranteed to leave you with memorable impressions.
4/5 star review
"Forgiveness lies within your reach"
August 22, 2013
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Carly Roberts is now an ex-Olympic hopeful after she was disabled in a horrific sailing accident with her best friend and lover Daniel Edwards. She has spent the last two years rehabilitating and rebuilding her life in the small coastal town of Haven Bay where they grew up. Daniel, at a crossroads in his own life, has returned to his small hometown that he abandoned after the accident. Is there bitterness here? A mountain of it! Carly is resentful of Daniel, blaming him for the accident, envious of the gold medals that should have been hers and the glamorous life he has gone on to lead. Her self-esteem is wrapped up in the persona of the Olympic athlete she should have been…yeah, there are some mommy issues here.
Although the main storyline follows Daniel and Carly and his effort to try and break through her tough exterior and seek her forgiveness and reconnect, I found the sub-plot much more interesting. Lucy Oliver did a fantastic job portraying the economic hardships of a small fishing community and the heartfelt anguish these families deal with as their loved ones take to the sea either on fishing trawlers or in lifeboat rescues. Sailing is not just a recreational past time for these coastal inhabitants, it is a deep-rooted way of life ingrained from the get go.
Ironically, it was the last part of the book that had little to do with Daniel and Carly’s turbulent relationship and everything to do with a huge storm, its effects on the small community and the supporting characters that grabbed my undivided attention.
Winter Storms is about love lost and found, tragedy, forgiveness and second chances all wrapped up in a sweet little package.
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Carly Roberts is now an ex-Olympic hopeful after she was disabled in a horrific sailing accident with her best friend and lover Daniel Edwards. She has spent the last two years rehabilitating and rebuilding her life in the small coastal town of Haven Bay where they grew up. Daniel, at a crossroads in his own life, has returned to his small hometown that he abandoned after the accident. Is there bitterness here? A mountain of it! Carly is resentful of Daniel, blaming him for the accident, envious of the gold medals that should have been hers and the glamorous life he has gone on to lead. Her self-esteem is wrapped up in the persona of the Olympic athlete she should have been…yeah, there are some mommy issues here.
Although the main storyline follows Daniel and Carly and his effort to try and break through her tough exterior and seek her forgiveness and reconnect, I found the sub-plot much more interesting. Lucy Oliver did a fantastic job portraying the economic hardships of a small fishing community and the heartfelt anguish these families deal with as their loved ones take to the sea either on fishing trawlers or in lifeboat rescues. Sailing is not just a recreational past time for these coastal inhabitants, it is a deep-rooted way of life ingrained from the get go.
Ironically, it was the last part of the book that had little to do with Daniel and Carly’s turbulent relationship and everything to do with a huge storm, its effects on the small community and the supporting characters that grabbed my undivided attention.
Winter Storms is about love lost and found, tragedy, forgiveness and second chances all wrapped up in a sweet little package.
January 28, 2013
Romance is a genre that has a tendency to see novels easily slip into being a cookie cutter story. There truly is only so many twists that exist to make a love story work, and thus it is easy for an author to unknowingly slip into familiar vernacular.
Oliver has a touching tale to tell in Winter Storms and does so quite well, although there are a few slips into the romance vernacular. Her characters are quite unique and well crafted so that you do find yourself invested in what is going to happen to them. This hook is what draws the reader in to the very last word. There are plenty of twists and turns, that keep you guessing somewhat, though I will admit there was a good stretch that was just a tad too familiar. Another thing that was difficult to overcome was the language of the tale, it kept jumping from the European terminology to a localized slang, to bland universal language. This made reading a slight bit difficult, but was not a huge factor, most people wouldn't notice it, but this is why I am the "opinionated' reviewer.The story, in general, is unique... the setting creating a nuance that has a romantic magic alone.
One awesome thing about this tale is that it is a fast paced read, perfect for a vacation trip.
I think there is plenty of potential for future works by Oliver and hope she'll stop by the Library again soon.
Oliver has a touching tale to tell in Winter Storms and does so quite well, although there are a few slips into the romance vernacular. Her characters are quite unique and well crafted so that you do find yourself invested in what is going to happen to them. This hook is what draws the reader in to the very last word. There are plenty of twists and turns, that keep you guessing somewhat, though I will admit there was a good stretch that was just a tad too familiar. Another thing that was difficult to overcome was the language of the tale, it kept jumping from the European terminology to a localized slang, to bland universal language. This made reading a slight bit difficult, but was not a huge factor, most people wouldn't notice it, but this is why I am the "opinionated' reviewer.The story, in general, is unique... the setting creating a nuance that has a romantic magic alone.
One awesome thing about this tale is that it is a fast paced read, perfect for a vacation trip.
I think there is plenty of potential for future works by Oliver and hope she'll stop by the Library again soon.
Want to read
January 12, 2013 Review requested by author.
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