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Half Moon Bay
HALF MOON BAY
Ellie Wilding has been running from her past, but when the residents of Half Moon Bay call for help she knows it’s finally time to return home. As an international photojournalist, she’s used to violence in war zones, but she’s shocked when it erupts in the sleepy hamlet on the north coast of New South Wales, threatening all she holds dear.
Battle-weary Nicholas Lawson walked away from his military career leaving unfinished business. In a coastal backwater, that decision returns to haunt him. He remembers all too vividly his last lethal assignment in Afghanistan when Ellie’s sister, Nina, was shot and killed. Ellie’s been in his dreams ever since, even if she doesn’t remember him…
As a storm rages and floodwaters rise, Ellie struggles to save her community. But who can she trust? Nick Lawson, the dangerously attractive stranger with secrets, or an old friend who’s never let her down?
A compelling story of danger and desire by the award-winning author of Burning Lies.
‘Plenty of action, sizzling romance and page-turning suspense’ Book’d Out
‘Helene Young is a very accomplished writer, building her romance and suspense with verve and skill.’ Sisters in Crime
Ellie Wilding has been running from her past, but when the residents of Half Moon Bay call for help she knows it’s finally time to return home. As an international photojournalist, she’s used to violence in war zones, but she’s shocked when it erupts in the sleepy hamlet on the north coast of New South Wales, threatening all she holds dear.
Battle-weary Nicholas Lawson walked away from his military career leaving unfinished business. In a coastal backwater, that decision returns to haunt him. He remembers all too vividly his last lethal assignment in Afghanistan when Ellie’s sister, Nina, was shot and killed. Ellie’s been in his dreams ever since, even if she doesn’t remember him…
As a storm rages and floodwaters rise, Ellie struggles to save her community. But who can she trust? Nick Lawson, the dangerously attractive stranger with secrets, or an old friend who’s never let her down?
A compelling story of danger and desire by the award-winning author of Burning Lies.
‘Plenty of action, sizzling romance and page-turning suspense’ Book’d Out
‘Helene Young is a very accomplished writer, building her romance and suspense with verve and skill.’ Sisters in Crime
380 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2013
6 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
About the author
Helene Young
10 books215 followersHello! I’m Helene Young and welcome to my author page on Goodreads.
Seven years ago, after a rewarding career as an airline captain and senior manager with the Qantas Airline Group in Australia, I swapped the sky for the sea to go in search of adventure with my husband aboard our sailing catamaran. While that should have given me more time to write it seems the lure of exploring was too strong. But there is good news! My next book is in the safe hands of my publisher and I look forward to sharing title and cover details soon.
And you can be sure that all the adventures we’re having in our floating home will lead to many more books! The rural and remote places we visit, along with the fascinating people we meet, provide boundless inspiration.
I love exploring themes of social justice and delving into the complexity of human nature. Small towns and tight-knit communities are perfect settings for those, along with the messy ties that bind families together. I’d also like to think my varied career from waitress, to gardener, to rock climbing and sailing instructor, to cook, to pilot all help to add a little something to my stories.
I can’t believe it’s been 12 years since my first book, Wings of Fear, (Book 1 in the Border Watch Trilogy) released. I always be grateful for the support of readers so thank you to those who’ve already read my books and welcome if you’re browsing here.
If you’d like to keep up to date on my book news then please click follow button at the top of the page.
You can also find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeleneYoungA...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleneyoung...
Webpage : heleneyoung.com
I love sharing photos of our travels so come join in the conversations and be part of a wonderful world-wide community of book lovers.
Happy reading
Much love
Helene
Seven years ago, after a rewarding career as an airline captain and senior manager with the Qantas Airline Group in Australia, I swapped the sky for the sea to go in search of adventure with my husband aboard our sailing catamaran. While that should have given me more time to write it seems the lure of exploring was too strong. But there is good news! My next book is in the safe hands of my publisher and I look forward to sharing title and cover details soon.
And you can be sure that all the adventures we’re having in our floating home will lead to many more books! The rural and remote places we visit, along with the fascinating people we meet, provide boundless inspiration.
I love exploring themes of social justice and delving into the complexity of human nature. Small towns and tight-knit communities are perfect settings for those, along with the messy ties that bind families together. I’d also like to think my varied career from waitress, to gardener, to rock climbing and sailing instructor, to cook, to pilot all help to add a little something to my stories.
I can’t believe it’s been 12 years since my first book, Wings of Fear, (Book 1 in the Border Watch Trilogy) released. I always be grateful for the support of readers so thank you to those who’ve already read my books and welcome if you’re browsing here.
If you’d like to keep up to date on my book news then please click follow button at the top of the page.
You can also find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeleneYoungA...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleneyoung...
Webpage : heleneyoung.com
I love sharing photos of our travels so come join in the conversations and be part of a wonderful world-wide community of book lovers.
Happy reading
Much love
Helene
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 18, 2015
Half Moon Bay was a half cup empty for me. It was a great book to come across during my fun second hand book store escapades. A recent time on topic read, a photo journalist named Ellie in a quagmire of death defying and dangerous pursuits. Ellie has bought her journalist sister home from Afghanistan, a horrible situation for these sisters, Nina has been killed. But it's messy, from drug lords and dodgy Australian councilors and corrupt ex-defense personnel. I love reading about Aussie locations, this time in Northern NSW, one of my favourite places to be. It wasn't enough for me though, no suspense, I wasn't riveted in anyway, it was slow and really did drag on and on for me. I was reading for the finish and was not captivated. For those who know me know that I'll be cringing right now, I hate being negative here. I was disappointed. This was lacklustre, the different topics discussed here to my normal fare should have been enlightening for this reader, but I was dragged down.
July 5, 2013
I have been really excited to read this book. I love Helene Young’s work, and this one most definitely didn’t disappoint!
When the plane that photo-journalist Ellie Wilding was a passenger in landed in war-torn Kandahar with a fellow journalist, little did she know her life was about to be completely shattered. Her sister Nina, herself a journalist, didn’t meet Ellie on landing as was pre-arranged, and she felt a fission of worry. But when she was picked up by Australian soldiers and rushed to the nearby hospital to find Nina in emergency surgery after an abduction and subsequent gunfight, the terror hit Ellie like a punch to the stomach.
Two years later, Ellie was home again, after trying to run from her intense grief. But her dear friends Ron and Mavis had emailed her, begging her for help in her home town of Half Moon Bay in NSW. Evidence of corruption, drug running and shady dealings throughout the local council were rife, with the lord mayor seeming to be the main instigator…but with no proof, they needed Ellie’s help.
With Ellie’s dad, Tom, away, Shadow was Ellie’s only companion….oh how she had missed him while she had been away on her travels! But now they would work together to save Half Moon Bay…when devastatingly handsome Nicholas Lawson appeared on her doorstep, Shadow (normally not a dog to make friends easily) went straight to Nick with tail wagging. But Nick was the opposition, wasn’t he?
As tensions accelerated, suddenly the danger seemed to be everywhere. Stretching from an old friend in Sydney up to her home town, Ellie wasn’t sure who she could trust. It seemed the links from Afghanistan were stretching across the world, and the horror and violence was suddenly on their doorstep.
Would Ellie be able to save her beautiful town from destruction? Would she be able to save herself? And whose side was Nick really on?
The incredible pace of this novel, the tensions both in Afghanistan and Australia, the twists throughout, made for a brilliant read. Helene Young has a great talent for storytelling, and her best is only getting better!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
When the plane that photo-journalist Ellie Wilding was a passenger in landed in war-torn Kandahar with a fellow journalist, little did she know her life was about to be completely shattered. Her sister Nina, herself a journalist, didn’t meet Ellie on landing as was pre-arranged, and she felt a fission of worry. But when she was picked up by Australian soldiers and rushed to the nearby hospital to find Nina in emergency surgery after an abduction and subsequent gunfight, the terror hit Ellie like a punch to the stomach.
Two years later, Ellie was home again, after trying to run from her intense grief. But her dear friends Ron and Mavis had emailed her, begging her for help in her home town of Half Moon Bay in NSW. Evidence of corruption, drug running and shady dealings throughout the local council were rife, with the lord mayor seeming to be the main instigator…but with no proof, they needed Ellie’s help.
With Ellie’s dad, Tom, away, Shadow was Ellie’s only companion….oh how she had missed him while she had been away on her travels! But now they would work together to save Half Moon Bay…when devastatingly handsome Nicholas Lawson appeared on her doorstep, Shadow (normally not a dog to make friends easily) went straight to Nick with tail wagging. But Nick was the opposition, wasn’t he?
As tensions accelerated, suddenly the danger seemed to be everywhere. Stretching from an old friend in Sydney up to her home town, Ellie wasn’t sure who she could trust. It seemed the links from Afghanistan were stretching across the world, and the horror and violence was suddenly on their doorstep.
Would Ellie be able to save her beautiful town from destruction? Would she be able to save herself? And whose side was Nick really on?
The incredible pace of this novel, the tensions both in Afghanistan and Australia, the twists throughout, made for a brilliant read. Helene Young has a great talent for storytelling, and her best is only getting better!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
December 18, 2017
4.5 stars
A huge thumbs up for another excellent read by Helene Young, an author who knows how to pump out impressive and exhilarating tales of romantic suspense. And Half Moon Bay had suspense in droves and the two central characters Ellie and Nick were splendid - Ellie cute and feisty and Nick… whoa, he was hot! I’m completely deaf to the outside world when I’m absorbed in a book penned by Helene Young.
Not Helene Young’s usual setting of Nth QLD, most of this story is set on the north coast of NSW and a small amount in Sydney - a place I’m very familiar with, Ms Young gave such a vivid description I could feel the happy vibe and the vibrant atmosphere of this darling of a place, simultaneously the author had me shivering in my boots when the dramatic scenes were rumbling and tumbling. The author also paints a stunning image of the coastal town of Half Moon Bay that makes you want to pack your bags and head there for a relaxing holiday minus the nail-biting action, of course!
Highly recommend
May 23, 2013
With the wonderful balance of action, intrigue and romance which Helene Young always gets exactly right, Half Moon Bay is an exciting and engaging novel.
When the small community of Half Moon Bay is threatened by a corrupt Lord Mayor, international photojournalist Ellie Wilding returns to her home town determined to stop him. It doesn't take long for Ellie to uncover evidence of kick backs and blackmail but she is shocked to discover that O'Sullivan may also be complicit in a drug ring involving Asian casino operators, Afghani warlords, Australian ex-soldiers and the death of her older sister Nina, a journalist, three years before and half a world away.
Nick Lawson is stunned to find Ellie in the midst of the protests against the land development in Half Moon Bay. Working undercover, the ICAC operation he is managing could be compromised if Ellie recognises him as the soldier who was present in Afghanistan when her older sister Nina, a journalist, was shot and killed.
As Ellie continues to investigate the links between her sister, an old friend and the corruption in her home town, she has no idea of the danger she is in and Nick, desperate to keep her safe from harm, will have to tell her everything, except the truth.
Moving between war torn Afghanistan, a small Australian coastal town and the 'big smoke, Half Moon Bay is a fast paced, tension filled adventure. With consummate skill the author has developed a plot that is believable but not entirely predictable. I really enjoyed the way in which the story begins as if a fairly transparent case of greed but deepens into a complex web of crime involving corruption, drug running, kidnapping and murder.
Ellie is a capable, independent and strong protagonist. She is willing to fight for what she believes in and ignores attempts at threats and intimidation, but not to the point of fool hardiness. I love that Young's heroines don't take TSTL (too stupid to live) chances, and when the situation deteriorates, Ellie acts sensibly to minimise the risks to herself and others.
The romance between Ellie and Nick is complicated by a shared past that Ellie doesn't even remember. Nick however has never been able to forget the bravery and resourcefulness Ellie showed while trying desperately to save her sister's life. After failing to protect Nina in Afghanistan, Nick will do anything to ensure Ellie's safety but given his status as the 'enemy' with regards to the land deal, her general suspicion of him and his inability to share the truth of his connection to the whole mess, earning her trust could be an impossible task.
Once I began Half Moon Bay I was reluctant to put it down, caught up in it's exhilarating tale of romance and suspense. It was no less than I expected though from award winning author Helene Young. Half Moon Bay is a fantastic page turner and one I recommend you add to your must read shelf.
June 28, 2013
I know this review is quite overdue, particularly since I read Half Moon Bay about 6 weeks ago at the beginning of my honeymoon, however the notes I jotted down for my review have been misplaced somewhere so now I’m faced with writing a review while some of the plot details are a little hazy. Alas, Half Moon Bay was a much anticipated book for Australian romantic suspense fans with Helene’s first three novels in the loosely linked Border Watch series getting raving reviews (including 3 x 5 star reviews from me ). When I caught wind of that there was a new, different book on the horizon with Helene straying from her usual pilot role for her heroines I was definitely intrigued!
Ellie Wilding is a photojournalist who returns to her home town Half Moon Bay on the north coast of New South Wales after living and working abroad for two years. She’s avoided home since the death of her vivacious journalist sister in Afghanistan, the details of which Ellie hasn’t been eager to uncover until now.
Within days of arriving in Half Moon Bay, Ellie throws herself into the small town politics and finds herself head to head with the attractive Nick Lawson who on the surface appears to be a smooth-speaking town planner, but there’s also a hidden past that Ellie becomes determined to uncover. In the midst of unravelling Nick’s past she learns that their paths have crossed before, that this handsome man may have been involved in the death of her sister and know who is responsible. Ellie becomes caught up in a deadly investigation, conflicted by her attraction to Nick and her distrust of his motives, Ellie no longer cares what it takes to get to the bottom of what happened in Afghanistan even if there are people that will kill to keep the truth a secret.
What can I say? Helene Young does it again. Half Moon Bay is a fast-paced, intriguing suspense novel set against the backdrop of a tranquil setting. From conspiracies about drug smuggling in the Australian army, to the dangerous dealings of Afghanistan to the small town politics of northern NSW, Helene manages to cover all grounds while creating two intelligent and intriguing characters. Ellie is strong, determined and hardworking and instantly attracts the attention of charming, controlled Nick Lawson. Their attraction simmers throughout the novel and only exacerbates the tension. I’m not convinced that Nick’s secret was really bad enough to keep from Ellie right up until the very end, but I understand that Nick felt it was bad, he was ashamed of his behaviour even if it could have been viewed as protecting her sister and Ellie’s family in the end.
Half Moon Bay is everything I hoped it would be and I can’t wait to see what Helene comes up with next!
Ellie Wilding is a photojournalist who returns to her home town Half Moon Bay on the north coast of New South Wales after living and working abroad for two years. She’s avoided home since the death of her vivacious journalist sister in Afghanistan, the details of which Ellie hasn’t been eager to uncover until now.
Within days of arriving in Half Moon Bay, Ellie throws herself into the small town politics and finds herself head to head with the attractive Nick Lawson who on the surface appears to be a smooth-speaking town planner, but there’s also a hidden past that Ellie becomes determined to uncover. In the midst of unravelling Nick’s past she learns that their paths have crossed before, that this handsome man may have been involved in the death of her sister and know who is responsible. Ellie becomes caught up in a deadly investigation, conflicted by her attraction to Nick and her distrust of his motives, Ellie no longer cares what it takes to get to the bottom of what happened in Afghanistan even if there are people that will kill to keep the truth a secret.
What can I say? Helene Young does it again. Half Moon Bay is a fast-paced, intriguing suspense novel set against the backdrop of a tranquil setting. From conspiracies about drug smuggling in the Australian army, to the dangerous dealings of Afghanistan to the small town politics of northern NSW, Helene manages to cover all grounds while creating two intelligent and intriguing characters. Ellie is strong, determined and hardworking and instantly attracts the attention of charming, controlled Nick Lawson. Their attraction simmers throughout the novel and only exacerbates the tension. I’m not convinced that Nick’s secret was really bad enough to keep from Ellie right up until the very end, but I understand that Nick felt it was bad, he was ashamed of his behaviour even if it could have been viewed as protecting her sister and Ellie’s family in the end.
Half Moon Bay is everything I hoped it would be and I can’t wait to see what Helene comes up with next!
June 11, 2013
Is he her enemy or her protector?
Suffering with survivor’s guilt, Ellie Wilding has isolated herself for the last two years since the death of her sister Nina. Having been away from the war zone covering a story in the UK, she was unable to save her sister even after single-handedly arranging for the casevac from Afghanistan to Australia, so she’s been hiding around the world, losing herself in her photojournalism work. After she receives an email from the former mayor of her home town, Half Moon Bay, requesting her to return home to investigate some shady dealings taking place by using her finely-honed investigative skills, she finally makes her way back. Used to capturing brutal images through the filters, angles and lighting of her camera which has always enabled her to keep her distance, Ellie is unprepared for the development battle being waged amongst the residents and the new Lord Mayor and his sidekick development engineer, the arrogant Nicholas Lawson, threatening to overthrow the tranquillity of the town and all she holds dear. But who is Nicholas, and why does she get the distinct feeling that she knows him from somewhere?
Nicholas Lawson, a former Major who walked away from the army, disillusioned at the government’s inability to contain the drug-trafficking in Afghanistan and weary after the tragic accident which saw Nina being fatally injured, has arrived in Half Moon Bay to take up the position of property engineer for the development which is causing so much angst between its residents and the Mayor. While his first unexpected encounter with Ellie causes him concern, thankfully, she doesn’t recognise him, but he realises that he doesn’t need the added complications which she could present as he tries to deal with the secrets and cover-ups which have led him to this little town. Although he’s used to shouldering the blame, he’s just not prepared to see another Wilding sister die in the name of an international racket, especially one who has intruded so thoroughly into his thoughts, dreams and well-ordered life. If any operation is going to threaten to stretch his attachment to its limits, it’s going to be this one!
From overhearing private conversations, surfing the cool blue waters of Half Moon Bay to discovering that friends and family aren’t always who we want them to be, Ellie is thrust into the centre of a dark web of drug-trafficking, money laundering and duplicity, which has entangled two continents, and she learns that there is more to the tragedy which took place in Afghanistan and the man with a seemingly untraceable past.
Most of my reading lately has been somewhat focused on more emotional subjects, so it’s been a while since I picked up a romantic suspense novel. Of course, it would have been quite sinful to overlook Helene Young’s latest novel so it wasn’t long after requesting it that I eagerly devoured it. Thank you Helene for reminding me of the reasons why I have always loved romantic suspense!
Having read three of this award winning author's books (sorry Helene, I still need to read Burning Lies), it’s not surprising that Half Moon Bay was chosen as Get Reading’s June 2013 Book of the Month and I have come to love this author who centres her novels in authentic Australian settings. Even though this is her first stand-alone novel and she veers from her usual setting of Far North Queensland with the ins and outs of border security, to that of Half Moon Bay in NSW, she keeps one of her personal passions intact – that of flying. Despite the fact that it takes a bit of a backseat in this novel, there is no doubt in my mind that at least one of Helene’s characters will always have the ability to fly an aircraft and this certainly gives her writing a certain individuality!
Half Moon Bay is dominated by suspense and anxiety and, while her characters thoughts, feelings and actions are heartfelt, she seamlessly moves the story forward and keeps the tension mounting in every scene. The romantic elements are believable and moving yet understated, which, to my mind, certainly helps to keep the suspense factor alive. In particular her description of life in a war zone and the events which took place in Afghanistan are evocative, calling to mind another read about photojournalists in the midst of war. Of course, the fact that Ellie, her likeable heroine and I share a passion for photography, was an added bonus.
Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action and intrigue with some tantalizing romantic encounters, Half Moon Bay is a fantastic addition to Australian romantic suspense and truly is “love in the heart of danger".
I wish to thank the publisher, Penguin Australia via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this suspenseful read from an author at the top of her genre.
Suffering with survivor’s guilt, Ellie Wilding has isolated herself for the last two years since the death of her sister Nina. Having been away from the war zone covering a story in the UK, she was unable to save her sister even after single-handedly arranging for the casevac from Afghanistan to Australia, so she’s been hiding around the world, losing herself in her photojournalism work. After she receives an email from the former mayor of her home town, Half Moon Bay, requesting her to return home to investigate some shady dealings taking place by using her finely-honed investigative skills, she finally makes her way back. Used to capturing brutal images through the filters, angles and lighting of her camera which has always enabled her to keep her distance, Ellie is unprepared for the development battle being waged amongst the residents and the new Lord Mayor and his sidekick development engineer, the arrogant Nicholas Lawson, threatening to overthrow the tranquillity of the town and all she holds dear. But who is Nicholas, and why does she get the distinct feeling that she knows him from somewhere?
Nicholas Lawson, a former Major who walked away from the army, disillusioned at the government’s inability to contain the drug-trafficking in Afghanistan and weary after the tragic accident which saw Nina being fatally injured, has arrived in Half Moon Bay to take up the position of property engineer for the development which is causing so much angst between its residents and the Mayor. While his first unexpected encounter with Ellie causes him concern, thankfully, she doesn’t recognise him, but he realises that he doesn’t need the added complications which she could present as he tries to deal with the secrets and cover-ups which have led him to this little town. Although he’s used to shouldering the blame, he’s just not prepared to see another Wilding sister die in the name of an international racket, especially one who has intruded so thoroughly into his thoughts, dreams and well-ordered life. If any operation is going to threaten to stretch his attachment to its limits, it’s going to be this one!
From overhearing private conversations, surfing the cool blue waters of Half Moon Bay to discovering that friends and family aren’t always who we want them to be, Ellie is thrust into the centre of a dark web of drug-trafficking, money laundering and duplicity, which has entangled two continents, and she learns that there is more to the tragedy which took place in Afghanistan and the man with a seemingly untraceable past.
Most of my reading lately has been somewhat focused on more emotional subjects, so it’s been a while since I picked up a romantic suspense novel. Of course, it would have been quite sinful to overlook Helene Young’s latest novel so it wasn’t long after requesting it that I eagerly devoured it. Thank you Helene for reminding me of the reasons why I have always loved romantic suspense!
Having read three of this award winning author's books (sorry Helene, I still need to read Burning Lies), it’s not surprising that Half Moon Bay was chosen as Get Reading’s June 2013 Book of the Month and I have come to love this author who centres her novels in authentic Australian settings. Even though this is her first stand-alone novel and she veers from her usual setting of Far North Queensland with the ins and outs of border security, to that of Half Moon Bay in NSW, she keeps one of her personal passions intact – that of flying. Despite the fact that it takes a bit of a backseat in this novel, there is no doubt in my mind that at least one of Helene’s characters will always have the ability to fly an aircraft and this certainly gives her writing a certain individuality!
Half Moon Bay is dominated by suspense and anxiety and, while her characters thoughts, feelings and actions are heartfelt, she seamlessly moves the story forward and keeps the tension mounting in every scene. The romantic elements are believable and moving yet understated, which, to my mind, certainly helps to keep the suspense factor alive. In particular her description of life in a war zone and the events which took place in Afghanistan are evocative, calling to mind another read about photojournalists in the midst of war. Of course, the fact that Ellie, her likeable heroine and I share a passion for photography, was an added bonus.
Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action and intrigue with some tantalizing romantic encounters, Half Moon Bay is a fantastic addition to Australian romantic suspense and truly is “love in the heart of danger".
I wish to thank the publisher, Penguin Australia via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this suspenseful read from an author at the top of her genre.
June 21, 2013
I have been eyeing off Helene Young’s books for some time, but have always been wary of the “romance” part in romantic suspense fiction – romance not being one of my preferred genres. But in hindsight I am really glad that I have been given the opportunity to dive into one of Young’s books, as I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style – there was a lot of suspense, some remarkable characters, a great Australian setting and yes - a fair bit of sexual tension. It made a lovely change from the fare of gruesome murder mysteries I have been reading lately.
After losing her journalist sister Nina in a nighttime shooting in war torn Afghanistan, photojournalist Ellie Wilding has spent years travelling to escape her feelings of loss and guilt over not being able to help her sister. She only returns to Half Moon Bay, a small fishing village on the far New South Wales coast, when neighbours ask her to join the fight against corrupt politicians and developers who are threatening her hometown. When the mysterious Nick Lawson arrives in town representing the land developers, Ellie is both repelled by his presence as well as drawn to his enigmatic personality. Soon it becomes evident that Nick is somehow connected to the events leading up to Nina’s death in Afghanistan, and that the threat to Half Moon Bay has deeper and darker roots than expected. Not prepared to give up the fight even in the face of danger, Ellie must find out who she can trust in order to stay one step ahead of the threat and protect her own life.
Young has a flair for creating an atmospheric and authentic Australian setting and believable enigmatic characters. Having visited the part of the New South Wales coast Half Moon Bay is set in, I instantly had a vivid sense of place and could picture the scenery clearly – especially the surfing scenes brought back fond memories. The story unfolds so seamlessly and the dialogue is so engaging that it played out almost movie-like in my mind and kept me engrossed the entire time, reluctant to put the book down.
What I applaud Young most for is the fine balance between suspense and romance which made for a great read. At no point did Ellie and Nick’s relationship overshadow the storyline or dominate the narrative. Young has delivered a complex yet believable plot with enough twists to make for a suspenseful read, aided by current topical issues and a rural setting with its own natural hazards, such as isolation and bad weather. Protagonist Ellie is a plucky, independent and likeable heroine whose cause is heartfelt and worthwhile, and her motives for the risks she takes are always plausible. As for Nick – mmmh – despite his sometimes clumsy choice of phrase he sounds quite delectable!
Half Moon Bay should appeal to both Australian readers as well as an international audience, who will have no trouble picturing the idyllic setting of this small Australian seaside town (and instantly feel tempted to book a ticket to visit the beautiful Yamba area). I highly recommend Half Moon Bay to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense, or who has been (like me) a bit sceptical about the genre – consider me converted! I now can’t wait to read Young’s earlier novels, starting with Wings of Fear (which has been on my wishlist for a while).
A warm thank-you to Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out and to the author for providing me with a free preview copy of this novel, which gave me many hours of reading pleasure! The views expressed in this review are strictly my own. :)
After losing her journalist sister Nina in a nighttime shooting in war torn Afghanistan, photojournalist Ellie Wilding has spent years travelling to escape her feelings of loss and guilt over not being able to help her sister. She only returns to Half Moon Bay, a small fishing village on the far New South Wales coast, when neighbours ask her to join the fight against corrupt politicians and developers who are threatening her hometown. When the mysterious Nick Lawson arrives in town representing the land developers, Ellie is both repelled by his presence as well as drawn to his enigmatic personality. Soon it becomes evident that Nick is somehow connected to the events leading up to Nina’s death in Afghanistan, and that the threat to Half Moon Bay has deeper and darker roots than expected. Not prepared to give up the fight even in the face of danger, Ellie must find out who she can trust in order to stay one step ahead of the threat and protect her own life.
Young has a flair for creating an atmospheric and authentic Australian setting and believable enigmatic characters. Having visited the part of the New South Wales coast Half Moon Bay is set in, I instantly had a vivid sense of place and could picture the scenery clearly – especially the surfing scenes brought back fond memories. The story unfolds so seamlessly and the dialogue is so engaging that it played out almost movie-like in my mind and kept me engrossed the entire time, reluctant to put the book down.
What I applaud Young most for is the fine balance between suspense and romance which made for a great read. At no point did Ellie and Nick’s relationship overshadow the storyline or dominate the narrative. Young has delivered a complex yet believable plot with enough twists to make for a suspenseful read, aided by current topical issues and a rural setting with its own natural hazards, such as isolation and bad weather. Protagonist Ellie is a plucky, independent and likeable heroine whose cause is heartfelt and worthwhile, and her motives for the risks she takes are always plausible. As for Nick – mmmh – despite his sometimes clumsy choice of phrase he sounds quite delectable!
Half Moon Bay should appeal to both Australian readers as well as an international audience, who will have no trouble picturing the idyllic setting of this small Australian seaside town (and instantly feel tempted to book a ticket to visit the beautiful Yamba area). I highly recommend Half Moon Bay to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense, or who has been (like me) a bit sceptical about the genre – consider me converted! I now can’t wait to read Young’s earlier novels, starting with Wings of Fear (which has been on my wishlist for a while).
A warm thank-you to Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out and to the author for providing me with a free preview copy of this novel, which gave me many hours of reading pleasure! The views expressed in this review are strictly my own. :)
May 19, 2017
There was parts of this I really enjoyed - particularly the opening chapter, and the opening scenes where Ellie is trying to work out what's going on at the Council, and with the hero, Nick. The scene where she's caught under the desk in the council chambers, and when Nick and Ellie are surfing and assist the boy from a surfing incident - those are probably top of the tree for me.
I guess for all the scenes that I liked, there were parts of this that for me, dragged to the end and made the book feel over-long. I think also, I probably enjoy suspense more when I don't know who the bad guys are. The realisation about one of the major characters in the book being on the take, didn't work for me.
I guess for all the scenes that I liked, there were parts of this that for me, dragged to the end and made the book feel over-long. I think also, I probably enjoy suspense more when I don't know who the bad guys are. The realisation about one of the major characters in the book being on the take, didn't work for me.
May 11, 2013
Couldn't put it down!! It seemed everyone close to Ellie knew what was going on and what circumstances surrounded her sisters death, except her! I really enjoyed how this story unfolded and the strengthening relationship between her and Nick.
Things aren't always what they seem and the truth can be very confronting and healing at the same time.
As usual Helene Young has not disappointed and has become one of my favourite authors.
Things aren't always what they seem and the truth can be very confronting and healing at the same time.
As usual Helene Young has not disappointed and has become one of my favourite authors.
May 21, 2013
Ellie Wilding has spent the last two years running from the pain and guilt of losing her older sister Nina in Afghanistan. A photographer, Ellie has worked around the world, avoiding home. But it seems that she can’t run any longer – some neighbours have asked her for some help in fighting a corrupt mayor who wants to ignore a former resident’s wishes and sell off the land she left to the town to highest bidder. More than that, there’s some suspicious funds transfers going on and even more suspicious activities in the fishing trawlers who don’t seem to mind going out when there isn’t anything to catch.
Nicholas Lawson walked away from the Army after the incident that killed Nina Wilding. He knows that Ellie doesn’t remember him from that day she organised a medivac to get her sister out of the hellhole of Afghanistan so when they cross paths again, there are no happy reunions. Ellie wants to get to the bottom of exactly what Nicholas is doing in her home town and why his employers won’t take no for an answer about building their resort on a patch of land deemed for a community center. Nicholas wants her to butt out, lest she find herself embroiled in something far more dangerous than she can even imagine.
As Ellie gets deeper involved in this fight to save her small town from being taken over by a huge resort and who knows what else, she finds her life in danger – and her heart. She can’t trust Nicholas Lawson because his character inconsistencies and thinly veiled threats tell he that he’s up to no good. But she can’t deny the attraction she feels towards him either and Ellie has felt precious little in the recent years. And the more she digs, the more she feels like there’s something Nick isn’t telling her about her sister.
Half Moon Bay is Helene Young’s fourth novel and the first one in which she strays away from far north Queensland and the border security organisations. Instead we are introduced to Ellie Wilding, a photographer who was working in Afghanistan with her sister Nina, a journalist. Ellie left briefly to undertake another assignment and when she returned it was to find Nina in a coma from which she was not expected to survive. In the two years since, Ellie has been travelling the globe, running away from the memories and trying to avoid the grief and pain. Only a threat to Half Moon Bay, her beloved home town on the north coast of NSW, calls her home.
Ellie’s grief is so heartbreakingly palpable – she’s not just devastated at losing her sister, she blames herself for leaving her to take the other assignment. Saving Half Moon Bay is just another way to distract Ellie from the guilt and grief that has plagued her, even though being back here brings up so many memories of Nina. When she crosses paths with Nicholas Lawson, she has no recollection of him being there on the tarmac with her in Afghanistan as she prepared to get her sister out. But she has other reasons to distrust him – he’s attached to the new project designated for land that should’ve been used to benefit the community. The Mayor is lining his own pockets and the town isn’t happy but they need someone with connections, someone who can blow the whistle – Ellie.
Unfortunately for Ellie, the only man that’s interested her in years, she feels she can’t trust. Nicholas Lawson is up to his neck in this development – cosy chats with the mayor about funds and a schmoozing ability to cut a swathe through the opposition with his dark good looks and smile. When a journalist friend of Ellie’s tells her that Nicholas was in Afghanistan at the time Nina was killed, Ellie has even more reason to distrust him. After all, he hasn’t mentioned anything about knowing her sister. It further fuels her suspicions and further makes her reluctant to become involved with him. But that proves to be easier said than done as she continues to get closer to him, despite her best intentions not to.
The chemistry between Ellie and Nick is fraught with unresolved tension, both sexual and otherwise. Ellie wants to find out what secrets he’s keeping and Nick wants her to stay the heck away from all of this. His attempts to dissuade her make his actions seem all the more suspicious, especially as he attempts to threaten her in order to attempt to keep her safe. As far as threats go, they aren’t really Nick’s strong point and Ellie pays about as much attention to them as she does to a fly. But when it seems that her safety (and possibly even her life) might be in danger she has to wonder just how dangerous Nick might be. Is he what she thinks he is? Or is he in this for an entirely different reason?
I really connected with the setting in this novel – I grew up a couple of hours south of where Helene Young has mostly based this book (and the rest of my family still live there and I visit that area as often as I can) and the local small towns and communities are very familiar to me, as are the sights and scenery. I can understand the locals desire to protect their small haven as well as implement services they believe that the community will need and I can also understand how the temptation to succumb to boosting the economy can war with this. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot and what the link between Afghanistan and Half Moon Bay is but I enjoyed the way in which it all came together when it looked as if it might be drawing a long bow at the beginning at the novel.
It’s hard to top the love I have for Burning Lies, Young’s third novel but Half Moon Bay does come quite close. It’s a tightly knit story with some fantastically drawn characters. There’s a lot to uncover and it’s done with great timing. My only (tiny) criticism – I’d have liked Ellie to throw caution to the wind a little earlier. I know why she didn’t, because the story had to unfold. But I’m impatient that way.
Nicholas Lawson walked away from the Army after the incident that killed Nina Wilding. He knows that Ellie doesn’t remember him from that day she organised a medivac to get her sister out of the hellhole of Afghanistan so when they cross paths again, there are no happy reunions. Ellie wants to get to the bottom of exactly what Nicholas is doing in her home town and why his employers won’t take no for an answer about building their resort on a patch of land deemed for a community center. Nicholas wants her to butt out, lest she find herself embroiled in something far more dangerous than she can even imagine.
As Ellie gets deeper involved in this fight to save her small town from being taken over by a huge resort and who knows what else, she finds her life in danger – and her heart. She can’t trust Nicholas Lawson because his character inconsistencies and thinly veiled threats tell he that he’s up to no good. But she can’t deny the attraction she feels towards him either and Ellie has felt precious little in the recent years. And the more she digs, the more she feels like there’s something Nick isn’t telling her about her sister.
Half Moon Bay is Helene Young’s fourth novel and the first one in which she strays away from far north Queensland and the border security organisations. Instead we are introduced to Ellie Wilding, a photographer who was working in Afghanistan with her sister Nina, a journalist. Ellie left briefly to undertake another assignment and when she returned it was to find Nina in a coma from which she was not expected to survive. In the two years since, Ellie has been travelling the globe, running away from the memories and trying to avoid the grief and pain. Only a threat to Half Moon Bay, her beloved home town on the north coast of NSW, calls her home.
Ellie’s grief is so heartbreakingly palpable – she’s not just devastated at losing her sister, she blames herself for leaving her to take the other assignment. Saving Half Moon Bay is just another way to distract Ellie from the guilt and grief that has plagued her, even though being back here brings up so many memories of Nina. When she crosses paths with Nicholas Lawson, she has no recollection of him being there on the tarmac with her in Afghanistan as she prepared to get her sister out. But she has other reasons to distrust him – he’s attached to the new project designated for land that should’ve been used to benefit the community. The Mayor is lining his own pockets and the town isn’t happy but they need someone with connections, someone who can blow the whistle – Ellie.
Unfortunately for Ellie, the only man that’s interested her in years, she feels she can’t trust. Nicholas Lawson is up to his neck in this development – cosy chats with the mayor about funds and a schmoozing ability to cut a swathe through the opposition with his dark good looks and smile. When a journalist friend of Ellie’s tells her that Nicholas was in Afghanistan at the time Nina was killed, Ellie has even more reason to distrust him. After all, he hasn’t mentioned anything about knowing her sister. It further fuels her suspicions and further makes her reluctant to become involved with him. But that proves to be easier said than done as she continues to get closer to him, despite her best intentions not to.
The chemistry between Ellie and Nick is fraught with unresolved tension, both sexual and otherwise. Ellie wants to find out what secrets he’s keeping and Nick wants her to stay the heck away from all of this. His attempts to dissuade her make his actions seem all the more suspicious, especially as he attempts to threaten her in order to attempt to keep her safe. As far as threats go, they aren’t really Nick’s strong point and Ellie pays about as much attention to them as she does to a fly. But when it seems that her safety (and possibly even her life) might be in danger she has to wonder just how dangerous Nick might be. Is he what she thinks he is? Or is he in this for an entirely different reason?
I really connected with the setting in this novel – I grew up a couple of hours south of where Helene Young has mostly based this book (and the rest of my family still live there and I visit that area as often as I can) and the local small towns and communities are very familiar to me, as are the sights and scenery. I can understand the locals desire to protect their small haven as well as implement services they believe that the community will need and I can also understand how the temptation to succumb to boosting the economy can war with this. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot and what the link between Afghanistan and Half Moon Bay is but I enjoyed the way in which it all came together when it looked as if it might be drawing a long bow at the beginning at the novel.
It’s hard to top the love I have for Burning Lies, Young’s third novel but Half Moon Bay does come quite close. It’s a tightly knit story with some fantastically drawn characters. There’s a lot to uncover and it’s done with great timing. My only (tiny) criticism – I’d have liked Ellie to throw caution to the wind a little earlier. I know why she didn’t, because the story had to unfold. But I’m impatient that way.
May 31, 2013
This book was, in large part, enjoyable. I think Young hits her stride really well when writing about flying, and I could feel that unique spark returning toward the end of the book when Ellie got into the pilot's seat. More flying, please!
My big disappointment was my intense dislike for the romantic lead. This made it difficult for me to be swept up in the story. [weak spoilers ahead]
And I just switched off. Ugh.
Maybe this was edited between ARC and final version, though? Maybe?
My big disappointment was my intense dislike for the romantic lead. This made it difficult for me to be swept up in the story. [weak spoilers ahead]
And I just switched off. Ugh.
Maybe this was edited between ARC and final version, though? Maybe?
September 20, 2013
Quite a good, romantic suspenseful read is Half Moon Bay. I loved the setting of the Mid-North Coast of NSW, a place I’ve visited many times. The storyline was interesting and I probably would have given it 5 stars except it took me a while to actually like the main character Ellie…..All in all, a good easy read…..
April 28, 2014
There's little I can say about this emotionally gripping story that other far more articulate reviewers here on Goodreads haven't said already. I read this book nearly a year ago now and it says a lot that I still have Ellie and Nicholas in my thoughts.
December 30, 2013
And this is why Helene Young is one of my Favourite Australian Authors :) Treat yourself to this book because you won't be disappointed.
Romantic Suspense is a a genre that has been around for years, but one that is making a strong movement recently especially in Australia thanks to the likes of Bronwyn Parry and Helene Young. It was Helene Young’s first novel Wings Of Fear that first introduced me to the genre, and her subsequent novels that got me hooked and determined that I’d be a fan for life. There’s just something about an action packed novel, that combines the basic human notions of fear, hope and love together. What I particularly love about this genre as a whole however is how two completely different main characters are thrown together, usually in the worst imaginable situations, and they not only have to learn to work together, but must rely on each other to survive. What’s more, I love the very real emotions (and what heightened emotions they are!) that these characters can bring out in each other and the reader.
I first became aware of Helene Young’s work in 2012 when I devoured every single piece of work she had out on the market. So to say I was a bit excited about this latest release by Young, is something short of an understatement. As soon as I’d been granted approval on Netgalley I quickly stated reading this novel and had it finished in a matter of days. Likewise, as soon as it was released to the public in paperback I purchased not one, but two copies of this romantic suspense novel.
Unlike Young’s previously published novels (Wings Of Fear, Shattered Sky and Burning Lies), Half Moon Bay is a stand alone novel. It tells the story of Ellie Wilding, an international photographer known for her collaborative work with her sister Nina ( a foreign correspondent) in worn torn counties. After years away from home, Ellie has been asked to return home to capture evidence and record through her photos the crimes that the local government are committing against her sleepy Half Moon Bay town. Naturally Ellie is eager to agree and returns home with the ghosts of her past weighing heavily on her shoulders. For you see, on what was meant to be their last collaborative assignment in Afghanistan, Nina Welding was killed, overcome with guilt and the knowledge that she should have been there, Ellie can’t let the past go, nor can she stop looking for answers to Nina’s sudden death.
Nicholas Lawson was part of the military assignment that Nina was covering, what’s more he was there when she was killed. unbeknownst to Ellie, he was there when she arrived and carried out the heartbreaking mission of bringing her sister home. Now, years later, Nicholas has left the army and has once again found himself crossing paths with Ellie in Half Moon Bay. With a new job and a different lifestyle, Nicholas knowns all about Ellie and her struggle to find out what really happened to Nina in Afghanistan and he is determined to keep her away from finding out what really happened. After all one sister already died under his watch, and he is damn sure he won’t let another one fall victim to the same thing. Ellie see’s him as the enemy, but perhaps there is more going on in town than meets the eye…
After reading Burning Lies last year, I was worried about how Young was going to top that (Burning Lies is one of my all time favourite reads from 2012) and how she’d go about it. But dare I say it, I think Half Moon Bay is probably her best work yet (a big call from someone who didn’t want to let go of Burning Lies!). It’s grittier, and heart wrenching and the suspense could just kill you. Admittedly I found it slower in pace to Burning Lies and her previous work, but for some reason that didn’t bother me so much while reading, as the town itself is softer and the atmosphere of the book (or at least the parts set in Half Moon Bay) reflect this more sleepy and coastal lifestyle. As usual, Young’s characters are vibrant and true to life, and her writing so beautifully descriptive that you could almost seen them standing right before your very own eyes. I felt Ellie’s pain and Nicholas’ confusion as to how he can right the pasts wrongs. The characters and settings are so tangible that its as though you could smell the sea breeze, and felt Ellie’s fear when confronted with the answers to her questions.
The narrative itself is gripping and compelling, so much so that you’ll have a hard time putting the book down for any reason. I know I spent many a nights reading until the early hours of the morning only to face the following day exhausted and with black ringed eyes. A look I proudly kept until the books final page. It’s well paced and the romantic elements are forced or overdone. In fact, the romance takes a back seat to the criminal and dangerous figures lurking at large.
I highly recommend this novel to fans of the romantic suspense genre, or really anyone who wants to read a beautiful novel about the cost that comes with doing something the right way. It is heart wrenching beautiful, with a powerful love story that might just prove to be more powerful then them all.
Review was posted on The Never Ending Bookshelf on December 30 2013 and can be found here: http://nevendbookshelf.wordpress.com/...
Romantic Suspense is a a genre that has been around for years, but one that is making a strong movement recently especially in Australia thanks to the likes of Bronwyn Parry and Helene Young. It was Helene Young’s first novel Wings Of Fear that first introduced me to the genre, and her subsequent novels that got me hooked and determined that I’d be a fan for life. There’s just something about an action packed novel, that combines the basic human notions of fear, hope and love together. What I particularly love about this genre as a whole however is how two completely different main characters are thrown together, usually in the worst imaginable situations, and they not only have to learn to work together, but must rely on each other to survive. What’s more, I love the very real emotions (and what heightened emotions they are!) that these characters can bring out in each other and the reader.
I first became aware of Helene Young’s work in 2012 when I devoured every single piece of work she had out on the market. So to say I was a bit excited about this latest release by Young, is something short of an understatement. As soon as I’d been granted approval on Netgalley I quickly stated reading this novel and had it finished in a matter of days. Likewise, as soon as it was released to the public in paperback I purchased not one, but two copies of this romantic suspense novel.
Unlike Young’s previously published novels (Wings Of Fear, Shattered Sky and Burning Lies), Half Moon Bay is a stand alone novel. It tells the story of Ellie Wilding, an international photographer known for her collaborative work with her sister Nina ( a foreign correspondent) in worn torn counties. After years away from home, Ellie has been asked to return home to capture evidence and record through her photos the crimes that the local government are committing against her sleepy Half Moon Bay town. Naturally Ellie is eager to agree and returns home with the ghosts of her past weighing heavily on her shoulders. For you see, on what was meant to be their last collaborative assignment in Afghanistan, Nina Welding was killed, overcome with guilt and the knowledge that she should have been there, Ellie can’t let the past go, nor can she stop looking for answers to Nina’s sudden death.
Nicholas Lawson was part of the military assignment that Nina was covering, what’s more he was there when she was killed. unbeknownst to Ellie, he was there when she arrived and carried out the heartbreaking mission of bringing her sister home. Now, years later, Nicholas has left the army and has once again found himself crossing paths with Ellie in Half Moon Bay. With a new job and a different lifestyle, Nicholas knowns all about Ellie and her struggle to find out what really happened to Nina in Afghanistan and he is determined to keep her away from finding out what really happened. After all one sister already died under his watch, and he is damn sure he won’t let another one fall victim to the same thing. Ellie see’s him as the enemy, but perhaps there is more going on in town than meets the eye…
After reading Burning Lies last year, I was worried about how Young was going to top that (Burning Lies is one of my all time favourite reads from 2012) and how she’d go about it. But dare I say it, I think Half Moon Bay is probably her best work yet (a big call from someone who didn’t want to let go of Burning Lies!). It’s grittier, and heart wrenching and the suspense could just kill you. Admittedly I found it slower in pace to Burning Lies and her previous work, but for some reason that didn’t bother me so much while reading, as the town itself is softer and the atmosphere of the book (or at least the parts set in Half Moon Bay) reflect this more sleepy and coastal lifestyle. As usual, Young’s characters are vibrant and true to life, and her writing so beautifully descriptive that you could almost seen them standing right before your very own eyes. I felt Ellie’s pain and Nicholas’ confusion as to how he can right the pasts wrongs. The characters and settings are so tangible that its as though you could smell the sea breeze, and felt Ellie’s fear when confronted with the answers to her questions.
The narrative itself is gripping and compelling, so much so that you’ll have a hard time putting the book down for any reason. I know I spent many a nights reading until the early hours of the morning only to face the following day exhausted and with black ringed eyes. A look I proudly kept until the books final page. It’s well paced and the romantic elements are forced or overdone. In fact, the romance takes a back seat to the criminal and dangerous figures lurking at large.
I highly recommend this novel to fans of the romantic suspense genre, or really anyone who wants to read a beautiful novel about the cost that comes with doing something the right way. It is heart wrenching beautiful, with a powerful love story that might just prove to be more powerful then them all.
Review was posted on The Never Ending Bookshelf on December 30 2013 and can be found here: http://nevendbookshelf.wordpress.com/...
August 18, 2013
A suspenseful page-turner was just what I wanted while on holidays recently and Half Moon Bay by Helene Young fit the bill perfectly. Earlier reviews have been full of praise so I was keen to see whether the book lived up to the hype. It did – award-winning author Helene Young has convinced me that she’s an author to keep an eye on. The cover (love the colours) sets the scene well – a woman running along a windblown beach. It’s well designed to attract readers – who is this woman? Where is she running or what/whom is she running from?
For two years, international photojournalist Ellie Wilding has been running from her past, burying her devastation at the loss of her sister, Nina, but when old friends from Half Moon Bay call for help she knows it’s finally time to return home. The sleepy hamlet on the north coast of New South Wales is under threat from greedy developers and a corrupt council and Ellie has the connections to generate the publicity the residents need. She’s set aside four weeks for the “Battle of the Bay”, but has no idea what is underlying the shady deals and kickbacks she’s been told about.
Nicholas Lawson does know what’s going on. In fact, he’s embroiled in the midst of it all. A former Army major, who walked away from his military career after the assignment in Afghanistan that killed Nina, he’s now working with the corrupt Lord Mayor O’Sullivan. It’s no surprise to him that his meeting with Ellie is fraught with conflict, given that they’re on opposite sides, nor is it a surprise that seeing her makes him feel oddly protective. For, even though she doesn’t remember him, he remembers her from the day Nina died. He also knows that Ellie does not know Nina died while investigating a sinister connection between Half Moon Bay and Afghanistan. As Ellie gets closer to the truth, she has to figure out who she can trust … Nick, the attractive and frustrating stranger working against her, or Alex, an old journalist friend who has always been there for her.
I love a good romantic suspense novel and Half Moon Bay had all the elements needed to keep me wrapped in the story from start to finish: a headstrong but compassionate female lead, a decisive, attractive and protective male lead, a fast-paced, tense storyline with believable conflict and a well-teased out attraction between the leads. Young balances all these elements well and delivers an exciting page-turner with skill and style. There are a number of plot lines to tie together, and I while I wasn’t really surprised by the outcome, I couldn’t fault the way Young did this – overall, Half Moon Bay was tightly plotted with believable outcomes.
I’ve been reading a bit of rural fiction lately, so it was nice to read a book in another Australian setting: our beautiful coastline. I enjoyed the way Young incorporated the sometimes dramatic outcomes of Australian weather extremes (in this case, ‘flooding rains’) into the novel to add tension to the overall story. I also liked how gender stereotypes – at least in relation to Ellie – were set aside: Ellie can fly planes and is a photojournalist with no qualms about entering war zones. In contrast, Young drew out a softer side to Nick – his home, when Ellie saw it, was nothing like she expected from this very masculine man.
For lovers of romantic suspense, I’d highly recommend Half Moon Bay. As for me, I’m going to have to play catch up and Young’s earlier novels – I hear they’re well worth it.
For two years, international photojournalist Ellie Wilding has been running from her past, burying her devastation at the loss of her sister, Nina, but when old friends from Half Moon Bay call for help she knows it’s finally time to return home. The sleepy hamlet on the north coast of New South Wales is under threat from greedy developers and a corrupt council and Ellie has the connections to generate the publicity the residents need. She’s set aside four weeks for the “Battle of the Bay”, but has no idea what is underlying the shady deals and kickbacks she’s been told about.
Nicholas Lawson does know what’s going on. In fact, he’s embroiled in the midst of it all. A former Army major, who walked away from his military career after the assignment in Afghanistan that killed Nina, he’s now working with the corrupt Lord Mayor O’Sullivan. It’s no surprise to him that his meeting with Ellie is fraught with conflict, given that they’re on opposite sides, nor is it a surprise that seeing her makes him feel oddly protective. For, even though she doesn’t remember him, he remembers her from the day Nina died. He also knows that Ellie does not know Nina died while investigating a sinister connection between Half Moon Bay and Afghanistan. As Ellie gets closer to the truth, she has to figure out who she can trust … Nick, the attractive and frustrating stranger working against her, or Alex, an old journalist friend who has always been there for her.
I love a good romantic suspense novel and Half Moon Bay had all the elements needed to keep me wrapped in the story from start to finish: a headstrong but compassionate female lead, a decisive, attractive and protective male lead, a fast-paced, tense storyline with believable conflict and a well-teased out attraction between the leads. Young balances all these elements well and delivers an exciting page-turner with skill and style. There are a number of plot lines to tie together, and I while I wasn’t really surprised by the outcome, I couldn’t fault the way Young did this – overall, Half Moon Bay was tightly plotted with believable outcomes.
I’ve been reading a bit of rural fiction lately, so it was nice to read a book in another Australian setting: our beautiful coastline. I enjoyed the way Young incorporated the sometimes dramatic outcomes of Australian weather extremes (in this case, ‘flooding rains’) into the novel to add tension to the overall story. I also liked how gender stereotypes – at least in relation to Ellie – were set aside: Ellie can fly planes and is a photojournalist with no qualms about entering war zones. In contrast, Young drew out a softer side to Nick – his home, when Ellie saw it, was nothing like she expected from this very masculine man.
For lovers of romantic suspense, I’d highly recommend Half Moon Bay. As for me, I’m going to have to play catch up and Young’s earlier novels – I hear they’re well worth it.
May 31, 2013
I'm a little embarrassed to admit I've actually purchased not one but three of Helene Young's previous novels (Border Watch series) after seeing rave reviews from Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out. I even had said books signed by Helene at ARRC but still hadn't got around to reading them. Then Half Moon Bay came up on NetGalley and the gorgeous cover said "read me" so I did and I can finally say ... I've been missing out.
It's been a while since I read romantic suspense, I'd forgotten how good it could be and Half Moon Bay kept me up ... what started off as "just a few pages" quickly turned into "no! don't make me put it down."
From war torn Afghanistan to the small Australian coastal town of Half Moon Bay Helene Young covers complex ground - local government corruption, secrets and cover ups, drug running and as Ellie works to uncover this tangled web, danger mounts.
Photojournalist Ellie Wilding is a really likeable character, ballsy but not without vulnerability and the arrogant, mysterious consulting engineer Nick Lawson, well what can I say. Sparks fly between these two, their chemistry is smokin' and yeah in spite of one particularly obnoxious comment on Nick's part I lusted just a little ... he's ex-military and hot!
Not only does Helene's writing draw you in with natural dialogue and a realistic sense of place there's a wonderful balance of plot advancement and character development. I loved the setting which probably had a lot to do with the author's descriptions, I found them beautiful and strangely calming in the tension.
What an exciting intro to Helene's work and lucky me with 3 of her books to continue with :)
Recommend: without a doubt
It's been a while since I read romantic suspense, I'd forgotten how good it could be and Half Moon Bay kept me up ... what started off as "just a few pages" quickly turned into "no! don't make me put it down."
From war torn Afghanistan to the small Australian coastal town of Half Moon Bay Helene Young covers complex ground - local government corruption, secrets and cover ups, drug running and as Ellie works to uncover this tangled web, danger mounts.
Photojournalist Ellie Wilding is a really likeable character, ballsy but not without vulnerability and the arrogant, mysterious consulting engineer Nick Lawson, well what can I say. Sparks fly between these two, their chemistry is smokin' and yeah in spite of one particularly obnoxious comment on Nick's part I lusted just a little ... he's ex-military and hot!
Not only does Helene's writing draw you in with natural dialogue and a realistic sense of place there's a wonderful balance of plot advancement and character development. I loved the setting which probably had a lot to do with the author's descriptions, I found them beautiful and strangely calming in the tension.
What an exciting intro to Helene's work and lucky me with 3 of her books to continue with :)
Recommend: without a doubt
June 24, 2013
I've always enjoyed watching mystery/CSI kind of shows on TV but this was probably my first foray into the world of Romantic Suspense books and I wasn't let down.
The story starts with photojournalist Ellie Wilding on her way to Afghanistan to meet up with her sister, investigative journalist Nina but she ends up having to bring her home in a coffin. Two years later she is back home in the not so sleepy coastal town of Half Moon Bay when the locals need her skills to fight corruption and possible drug running which pulls her into the path of danger that had gotten Nina killed. Nick Lawson fell in love with Ellie the first time he saw her trying to organise a medivac for his sister and has never been able to get her out of his head. But she was the last person he expected to see in Half Moon Bay.
Ellie doesn't know who to trust, and trying to avoid falling for the hansom Mr Lawson is harder than expected, and if she could just remember where she knew him from he might be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together. But with so many lies can Ellie find the truth in time??
I loved this fast moving novel that has twists and turns to keep you hooked right to the end. I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Helene Young the other day and she is just as great as her books. I'm looking forward to reading her Boarder Watch Series
The story starts with photojournalist Ellie Wilding on her way to Afghanistan to meet up with her sister, investigative journalist Nina but she ends up having to bring her home in a coffin. Two years later she is back home in the not so sleepy coastal town of Half Moon Bay when the locals need her skills to fight corruption and possible drug running which pulls her into the path of danger that had gotten Nina killed. Nick Lawson fell in love with Ellie the first time he saw her trying to organise a medivac for his sister and has never been able to get her out of his head. But she was the last person he expected to see in Half Moon Bay.
Ellie doesn't know who to trust, and trying to avoid falling for the hansom Mr Lawson is harder than expected, and if she could just remember where she knew him from he might be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together. But with so many lies can Ellie find the truth in time??
I loved this fast moving novel that has twists and turns to keep you hooked right to the end. I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Helene Young the other day and she is just as great as her books. I'm looking forward to reading her Boarder Watch Series
July 20, 2013
Wow! I didn't think Helene could top the enjoyment factor of her first two books, but this is brilliant. The content is fresh and heart felt.
I immediately loved the tenacity of Ellie. There's something about a person who has lost so much in life and still has a fighting spirit, that makes me want her to succeed. And what can I say about the strong, sexy Nick? An action hero, slightly damaged, gentlemanly and utterly committed to his cause. There were a host of other creepy bad guys and wonderful members of the community who all touched my heart, but the effortless descriptions of Australian life was a real winner for me. You might think I'm just praising the quality of writing, but that's not so, this tale had me intrigued from the get go and built slowly like a wave on a calm day, gathering momentum and picking up debri as it built to a suspenseful crescendo. Definitely worth a read.
I immediately loved the tenacity of Ellie. There's something about a person who has lost so much in life and still has a fighting spirit, that makes me want her to succeed. And what can I say about the strong, sexy Nick? An action hero, slightly damaged, gentlemanly and utterly committed to his cause. There were a host of other creepy bad guys and wonderful members of the community who all touched my heart, but the effortless descriptions of Australian life was a real winner for me. You might think I'm just praising the quality of writing, but that's not so, this tale had me intrigued from the get go and built slowly like a wave on a calm day, gathering momentum and picking up debri as it built to a suspenseful crescendo. Definitely worth a read.
June 3, 2013
I always love Helene Young's stories and Half Moon Bay might be my favourite yet. The opening gripped me and the characters and story didn't let me go. Nick is a wonderful hero - loyal, honourable, forward-thinking, full of power, strength, conviction and love. Ellie is strong, accepting of people and their right to make a decision, but resourceful and stubborn for causes she loves.
This book handles a gritty topic in such a mature way, where blame is not the focus. I was left feeling sad for the wrong decisions people sometimes make. Helene Young has a real talent for shining a light on topics others steer clear of - and she always handles it well.
Another ripper read.
This book handles a gritty topic in such a mature way, where blame is not the focus. I was left feeling sad for the wrong decisions people sometimes make. Helene Young has a real talent for shining a light on topics others steer clear of - and she always handles it well.
Another ripper read.
August 5, 2013
Another great read by Helene Young. Once again I was captivated by the plot and the characters. I loved the setting in Half Moon Bay and even the trip to Sydney where I was able to visualise the icons by the harbour not far from where I grew up.
July 17, 2013
This book was an enjoyable read, but the main female character was annoying and she kind of detracted from the story. She is so stroppy and selfish, that I can't understand what Nick saw in her......maybe it was treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen?
October 24, 2013
Good plot but badly written. Annoying tendency to tell instead of show. As the author is a pilot one wonders how any description about flying missed out. Too much 'shivering' in my opinion. A good editor and a rewrite would have made this book fab!
February 1, 2015
Nothing beats a bit of mystery, international intrigue and a hot romance! Really enjoyed the story and the writing flowed nicely so that the story was easy to read and to immerse yourself in. Am looking forward to meeting the author at a writers conference in Canberra in a couple of weeks.
Want to read
November 1, 2018I really enjoyed this book, I read it in one day, barely stopping to do anything else
January 2, 2014
Current topic, well written enjoyable romance.
October 15, 2019
Not my favourite style. Easy reading.
August 5, 2016
Yawn. Is it over yet? Thankfully yes. I'm not quite sure how this book is classified as "romantic suspense". Sure I get the romantic part - there's the prerequisite future true love couple who are both introduced early on, one of whom does the hate you side of the relationship while the other does the whole brooding hero with a heart of gold side. Typical and eye roll worthy but understandable. It's the suspense part I don't get. For long stretches nothing happens, except pages of expository chatter that doesn't move anything forward. There were pointless conversations and characters. (Seriously, just about every Dan and Felicity scene could have been cut without harming the story.) Not to mention the fact that Ghost!Nina haunted everything. And by everything, I mean Ellie and every thought and action. If Ghost!Nina had been an actual ghost, that might have actually helped. Sadly she wasn't. She was just another plot device to slow down the story. When the action finally settled in at a decent pace, I found I just didn't care anymore. Besides, it was pretty obvious where the story was headed (I'd figured out very early on that the events were set in motion because Nina was an idiot).
I have a huge amount of dislike for the "yes, you deserve answers, but I just can't tell you right now. I will. Someday. Maybe. You know when the story has to quickly wrap up" plot devise. Rarely is that used in a good way. Most of the time I find it a lazy way to stall story, romantic or otherwise. Especially when you use that excuse for 3/4 of the book. Then it's made even more irritating by the fact that the one character who could have cleared up so much of the romantic entanglement mess - dear old dad - was purposefully kept way off finding himself (or whatever) by the author.
On a side note, I thin the story at some point stated that Shadow, the dog, was a doberman? Yeah. Not even close to what I pictured in my head. Since this was set in Australia, I pictured something more like a Cattle Dog or a Kelpie. Or even a shepard/ border collie-ish mutt type dog for that matter.
I wanted to like this one, really I did. Instead it made me want to go take a nap.
I have a huge amount of dislike for the "yes, you deserve answers, but I just can't tell you right now. I will. Someday. Maybe. You know when the story has to quickly wrap up" plot devise. Rarely is that used in a good way. Most of the time I find it a lazy way to stall story, romantic or otherwise. Especially when you use that excuse for 3/4 of the book. Then it's made even more irritating by the fact that the one character who could have cleared up so much of the romantic entanglement mess - dear old dad - was purposefully kept way off finding himself (or whatever) by the author.
On a side note, I thin the story at some point stated that Shadow, the dog, was a doberman? Yeah. Not even close to what I pictured in my head. Since this was set in Australia, I pictured something more like a Cattle Dog or a Kelpie. Or even a shepard/ border collie-ish mutt type dog for that matter.
I wanted to like this one, really I did. Instead it made me want to go take a nap.
February 14, 2014
Half Moon Bay is the fourth novel from award winning romantic-suspense author, Helene Young. It explores the sandy underbelly of the small coastal town of Half Moon Bay, and two adversaries irresistibly drawn together and into danger.
Photo journalist, Ellie Wilding, is pitted against ex-army major, Nicholas Lawson, in a fight over and impending development in Half Moon Bay. Their battle is infused with sexual tension, yet Ellie is still dealing with the death of her journalist sister, Nina, shot while on assignment in Afghanistan, and Nick plays a dangerous double-game linked to Nina’s death. What happened in the far off war-torn country isn’t the only thing that links Ellie and Nick. As danger closes in, Ellie finds the toughest battle is the one between her fragile heart and her need for the truth.
This is my favourite kind of escape: Half Moon Bay has romance, suspense and a storyline that goes deeper than the usual romantic plot. Whether Ellie and Nick get together (and we hope they do) is secondary to the question of survival and the truth about the danger lurking in the Bay. While Half Moon Bay has thrilling elements, it is not a thriller; the stakes are high but the pace is slower allowing the reader to connect with and understand the events that shape these characters. The early scenes in Kandahar are richly rendered, as is the coastal setting of Half Moon Bay – you can taste the salt and feel the rough wax on the surfboard beneath your feet, not to mention Nick’s eyes burning into yours! Those who prefer their settings as romantic as their heroes, may struggle with the opening scenes in Kandahar, however, these set up the drama and tension that follow Nick and Ellie to the Bay. And just like Ellie, we are quickly transported to the more familiar Australian setting of sand, surf and seething corruption.
With Half Moon Bay, Helene Young has delivered another satisfying read and easily lives up to her publisher’s claim that she is Australia’s answer to Nora Roberts.
Photo journalist, Ellie Wilding, is pitted against ex-army major, Nicholas Lawson, in a fight over and impending development in Half Moon Bay. Their battle is infused with sexual tension, yet Ellie is still dealing with the death of her journalist sister, Nina, shot while on assignment in Afghanistan, and Nick plays a dangerous double-game linked to Nina’s death. What happened in the far off war-torn country isn’t the only thing that links Ellie and Nick. As danger closes in, Ellie finds the toughest battle is the one between her fragile heart and her need for the truth.
This is my favourite kind of escape: Half Moon Bay has romance, suspense and a storyline that goes deeper than the usual romantic plot. Whether Ellie and Nick get together (and we hope they do) is secondary to the question of survival and the truth about the danger lurking in the Bay. While Half Moon Bay has thrilling elements, it is not a thriller; the stakes are high but the pace is slower allowing the reader to connect with and understand the events that shape these characters. The early scenes in Kandahar are richly rendered, as is the coastal setting of Half Moon Bay – you can taste the salt and feel the rough wax on the surfboard beneath your feet, not to mention Nick’s eyes burning into yours! Those who prefer their settings as romantic as their heroes, may struggle with the opening scenes in Kandahar, however, these set up the drama and tension that follow Nick and Ellie to the Bay. And just like Ellie, we are quickly transported to the more familiar Australian setting of sand, surf and seething corruption.
With Half Moon Bay, Helene Young has delivered another satisfying read and easily lives up to her publisher’s claim that she is Australia’s answer to Nora Roberts.
March 28, 2014
I have owned Helene Young's first book for several years now. I bought it after hearing the author speak at ARRC and instantly bought it on the back of that. Of course, buying a book is lot different to actually reading the book and even more different to reviewing it. Alas, it therefore sits on my bookshelf still unread.
Fast forward to Valentine's Day and I once again was lucky enough to hear Helene Young speak as part of a romantic suspense panel at our local Sisters in Crime chapter. I was fortunate enough to win one of the raffle prizes which included a book from each of the panellists (the other two being Cheryl Tucker and Bronwyn Parry) and a true crime book. This time though, I was determined to read the book, especially seeing as this was a standalone novel.
Having now read one of Young's books, I do kind of wish I had read her earlier books and it is something that I intend to rectify as soon as I have some space in my reading schedule!
Half Moon Bay opens with Ellie Wilding heading back to war torn Afghanistan where she works as a photojournalist alongside her journalist sister Nina. When Nina isn't there to meet her at the airport Ellie becomes concerned, with good reason as it turns out.
Fast forward two years, and Ellie is asked to do a favour for friends who believe that their local city council mayor is corrupt and they want Ellie's help to prove it. In the two years since Afghanistan, Ellie has been wandering around the world somewhat aimlessly, running from her grief, but now she is back in her home town and she is a woman on a mission. The mayor has sold off a parcel of land to a property developer that was specifically left to the town to build a community centre. It turns out though that there is much more than shonky property deals going on here. There are international drug dealers with ties in Asia but also leading back to Afghanistan, and to the story that Nina was working on when she was killed.
To read more of my thoughts head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2014...
Fast forward to Valentine's Day and I once again was lucky enough to hear Helene Young speak as part of a romantic suspense panel at our local Sisters in Crime chapter. I was fortunate enough to win one of the raffle prizes which included a book from each of the panellists (the other two being Cheryl Tucker and Bronwyn Parry) and a true crime book. This time though, I was determined to read the book, especially seeing as this was a standalone novel.
Having now read one of Young's books, I do kind of wish I had read her earlier books and it is something that I intend to rectify as soon as I have some space in my reading schedule!
Half Moon Bay opens with Ellie Wilding heading back to war torn Afghanistan where she works as a photojournalist alongside her journalist sister Nina. When Nina isn't there to meet her at the airport Ellie becomes concerned, with good reason as it turns out.
Fast forward two years, and Ellie is asked to do a favour for friends who believe that their local city council mayor is corrupt and they want Ellie's help to prove it. In the two years since Afghanistan, Ellie has been wandering around the world somewhat aimlessly, running from her grief, but now she is back in her home town and she is a woman on a mission. The mayor has sold off a parcel of land to a property developer that was specifically left to the town to build a community centre. It turns out though that there is much more than shonky property deals going on here. There are international drug dealers with ties in Asia but also leading back to Afghanistan, and to the story that Nina was working on when she was killed.
To read more of my thoughts head to
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2014...
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