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Undertow #1
Undertow
Secrets...
Evie Sandstrom has always had secrets. She has grown up with them and now they are coming back and chipping away at her confident facade. Always one for an adventure, she decides to leave after college break and spend the summer in Boston.
The Irish Gangster...
Finn Reilly is not only a bad-boy drug dealer but he is also Evie's first love. When they meet again in Boston, sparks begin to fly and although they share one huge secret that should have destroyed them forever, it unites them at a time when she needs all the help she can get.
The French Model...
Evie's mother, superstar actress Athena Donahue, has remarried to Etienne Fournier, a model who is eighteen years her mother's junior and wants to get to know Evie in more ways than one.
Once Athena drags her daughter back to L.A. under dubious circumstances, she is within the sights of Etienne yet out of the sights of Finn. Can they resolve their differences and will true love prevail or will life get in the way and spoil their chances of happiness?
Evie Sandstrom has always had secrets. She has grown up with them and now they are coming back and chipping away at her confident facade. Always one for an adventure, she decides to leave after college break and spend the summer in Boston.
The Irish Gangster...
Finn Reilly is not only a bad-boy drug dealer but he is also Evie's first love. When they meet again in Boston, sparks begin to fly and although they share one huge secret that should have destroyed them forever, it unites them at a time when she needs all the help she can get.
The French Model...
Evie's mother, superstar actress Athena Donahue, has remarried to Etienne Fournier, a model who is eighteen years her mother's junior and wants to get to know Evie in more ways than one.
Once Athena drags her daughter back to L.A. under dubious circumstances, she is within the sights of Etienne yet out of the sights of Finn. Can they resolve their differences and will true love prevail or will life get in the way and spoil their chances of happiness?
- GenresNew Adult
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2013
312 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 16, 2013
From my blog.
Before this book I hadn't heard anything about Elle Chardou or any of her books. The blurb for this one, however, sparked my interest.
When I started this book, I honestly felt a little bit disappointed. For some reason or another, the beginning dragged on and on. Maybe it was the background information we got about the characters and the fact that there was so much to swallow that I couldn't keep up with it all. And then the detail that Evie and Finn were back to together like that *snap*. My mind was on overdrive and nothing made sense for a while...
But don't worry because it got better. And when it did, it kept me on my toes until the last sentence. It made me turn the last page and stare at my computer for a while because it had just ended...
Evie and Finn didn't have an easy relationship. They had a long past that had bound them together forever and even after years apart, they were still very much in loved with each other. Yet the road to their happily-ever-after is as rocky as it can possibly be (from stupid decisions they make themselves to people who come between them).
In a way, it's not just a love story either. It's also a story about searching for a place to belong. Evie's parents seem like the worst ones in the whole world. Neither of them has even really wanted her and she's grown up feeling alone and maybe even a little lost. Her only REAL family and best friends are in Boston while she's been forced to live in Los Angeles since she was eight.
Evie is trying her hardest to find her independence when she's still forcefully linked to her mother, whom she absolutely hates. Although not all young adults are THAT dependent on their parents as Evie is, all of us still know how scary the world is without their support (in Evie's case, her mom's money).
Everything that Evie (or Finn) felt, I felt. When she hated her mom, I hated her. When she liked Etienne, I liked him. When she felt disgusted and dirty, I felt... Well, you get the gist. And while I'm pretty sure I'll never have to face a tenth of what she went through, I could still relate to her A LOT (and that's kind of the only thing I really expect from a book...). Still, in all honesty, it was a kind of messed up story, but definitely not in a bad way.
I really enjoyed this book after I got past the kind of long introduction. Once the base was set, everything just flowed and I had a really hard time trying to
The author ends this book with a note to the reader, saying that whether or not there will be a second book is totally up to them. The ending of this book was good and that's why I thought for a moment that it ended perfectly. Afterwards, however, I started to see more and more how much she actually had left open. Evie and Finn may have gotten their HEA-for-now, but they still have, in my opinion, so much problems to face together. Therefore, I'll be waiting for a second book.
Should you read this? If you're looking for something different in NA category, THIS IS IT! Yeah, it does have a bad boy in it, but this book was nothing like a typical bad-boy-meets-good-girl-and-falls-in-love-at-first-sight-and-changes-his-way-of-life-forever kind of story line.
Before this book I hadn't heard anything about Elle Chardou or any of her books. The blurb for this one, however, sparked my interest.
When I started this book, I honestly felt a little bit disappointed. For some reason or another, the beginning dragged on and on. Maybe it was the background information we got about the characters and the fact that there was so much to swallow that I couldn't keep up with it all. And then the detail that Evie and Finn were back to together like that *snap*. My mind was on overdrive and nothing made sense for a while...
But don't worry because it got better. And when it did, it kept me on my toes until the last sentence. It made me turn the last page and stare at my computer for a while because it had just ended...
Evie and Finn didn't have an easy relationship. They had a long past that had bound them together forever and even after years apart, they were still very much in loved with each other. Yet the road to their happily-ever-after is as rocky as it can possibly be (from stupid decisions they make themselves to people who come between them).
In a way, it's not just a love story either. It's also a story about searching for a place to belong. Evie's parents seem like the worst ones in the whole world. Neither of them has even really wanted her and she's grown up feeling alone and maybe even a little lost. Her only REAL family and best friends are in Boston while she's been forced to live in Los Angeles since she was eight.
Evie is trying her hardest to find her independence when she's still forcefully linked to her mother, whom she absolutely hates. Although not all young adults are THAT dependent on their parents as Evie is, all of us still know how scary the world is without their support (in Evie's case, her mom's money).
Everything that Evie (or Finn) felt, I felt. When she hated her mom, I hated her. When she liked Etienne, I liked him. When she felt disgusted and dirty, I felt... Well, you get the gist. And while I'm pretty sure I'll never have to face a tenth of what she went through, I could still relate to her A LOT (and that's kind of the only thing I really expect from a book...). Still, in all honesty, it was a kind of messed up story, but definitely not in a bad way.
I really enjoyed this book after I got past the kind of long introduction. Once the base was set, everything just flowed and I had a really hard time trying to
The author ends this book with a note to the reader, saying that whether or not there will be a second book is totally up to them. The ending of this book was good and that's why I thought for a moment that it ended perfectly. Afterwards, however, I started to see more and more how much she actually had left open. Evie and Finn may have gotten their HEA-for-now, but they still have, in my opinion, so much problems to face together. Therefore, I'll be waiting for a second book.
Should you read this? If you're looking for something different in NA category, THIS IS IT! Yeah, it does have a bad boy in it, but this book was nothing like a typical bad-boy-meets-good-girl-and-falls-in-love-at-first-sight-and-changes-his-way-of-life-forever kind of story line.
April 8, 2013
I’m always on the hunt for stories about love that are unique and different, stories that will stay with me. So when I was given the opportunity to review Undertow by Elle Chardou, it seemed interesting but the cover had me second guessing the fact I wanted to read this. Ladies and gentlemen, lesson learned AGAIN! Never judge a book by its cover. This is a dark and messed up story that I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s gritty, raw, shocking and one filled with hope.
I’ve seen reviews about this story stating that the story has a slow start but that’s not my impression at all. This is a slow building story that is character driven but by no means is it slow. There’s a solid foundation built for the key characters that you will come to love even if they do things that make you cringe. And believe me, you will cringe.
I had two areas of concern with the book. The topic of Kieran was glossed over but I’m guessing that was the author’s intention. However, as the reader, I needed a little more. It felt like an easy-breezy topic and in reality it rocked her to the core but I was left to figure that out on my own. And the ending felt anticlimactic and I felt somewhat let down. This is powerful and gritty story that didn’t need to finish up nice and neat. Parts of it could have been left broken and I would have been okay with that.
Evie is struggling to find independence and break free from her mother who is a complete nightmare. What she wants more than anything in the world is to belong and be loved but she has a tendency to self-sabotage. When she leaves L.A. to return to Boston, she is reunited with Finn. Finn has always been in her heart and vice-versa and their love is rekindled, let the drama begin! Think The Town (with Ben Affleck), replace bank heists for drug trafficking but with more romance and what’s not to love about a story set in Boston??
Elle Chardou took two deeply flawed individuals and made them so painfully vulnerable that they were the poster children for dysfunctional! Yet, they find solace and love with each other but what they do will have your jaw hit the floor.
This is not your typical NA story and if you need something different that will command your full attention, this is it!
I’ve seen reviews about this story stating that the story has a slow start but that’s not my impression at all. This is a slow building story that is character driven but by no means is it slow. There’s a solid foundation built for the key characters that you will come to love even if they do things that make you cringe. And believe me, you will cringe.
I had two areas of concern with the book. The topic of Kieran was glossed over but I’m guessing that was the author’s intention. However, as the reader, I needed a little more. It felt like an easy-breezy topic and in reality it rocked her to the core but I was left to figure that out on my own. And the ending felt anticlimactic and I felt somewhat let down. This is powerful and gritty story that didn’t need to finish up nice and neat. Parts of it could have been left broken and I would have been okay with that.
Evie is struggling to find independence and break free from her mother who is a complete nightmare. What she wants more than anything in the world is to belong and be loved but she has a tendency to self-sabotage. When she leaves L.A. to return to Boston, she is reunited with Finn. Finn has always been in her heart and vice-versa and their love is rekindled, let the drama begin! Think The Town (with Ben Affleck), replace bank heists for drug trafficking but with more romance and what’s not to love about a story set in Boston??
Elle Chardou took two deeply flawed individuals and made them so painfully vulnerable that they were the poster children for dysfunctional! Yet, they find solace and love with each other but what they do will have your jaw hit the floor.
This is not your typical NA story and if you need something different that will command your full attention, this is it!
March 22, 2013
Reviewed on Blog
The best thing about this book, something which is of great credit to the author, is the way she has brought together such powerful feelings; lust and jealousy. The book focuses on the different relationships that Evie has and how they develop, not only on her everyday life.
Evie...Evie...Evie!
What do we do with Evie? Well she has this cute (bad) boy who's her first love. She also has this French model, who just happens to be her step-father, as well as a rocky relationship with her mother. Usually books that just revolve around love-triangles are so not my thing, because I feel the author struggles to come up with unique ideas. However Undertow is not exactly like that. It's not a book that only has a love-triangle (which is different in its own respect) but it has a depth which I feel many authors fail to capture. I actually was able to connect and get to know the characters. For me it was not just a story being narrated by someone else and I was just standing there, no I was taken along in the journey that was Undertow. Elvie as a character grew on me and was different to the expectations that I had of her. I loved reading Undertow and I think you should definitely read it and see if its too your liking.
It has also made me want to check out some of Elle Chardou's other books.
The best thing about this book, something which is of great credit to the author, is the way she has brought together such powerful feelings; lust and jealousy. The book focuses on the different relationships that Evie has and how they develop, not only on her everyday life.
Evie...Evie...Evie!
What do we do with Evie? Well she has this cute (bad) boy who's her first love. She also has this French model, who just happens to be her step-father, as well as a rocky relationship with her mother. Usually books that just revolve around love-triangles are so not my thing, because I feel the author struggles to come up with unique ideas. However Undertow is not exactly like that. It's not a book that only has a love-triangle (which is different in its own respect) but it has a depth which I feel many authors fail to capture. I actually was able to connect and get to know the characters. For me it was not just a story being narrated by someone else and I was just standing there, no I was taken along in the journey that was Undertow. Elvie as a character grew on me and was different to the expectations that I had of her. I loved reading Undertow and I think you should definitely read it and see if its too your liking.
It has also made me want to check out some of Elle Chardou's other books.
June 6, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect from Dangerous Games but since I greatly enjoyed other books by SE Chardou, I knew I had to give this one a chance.
Evie hasn't had an easy life. Many of her choices were because she perceived things a little differently than they may have happened. Finn had always been a huge part of her life. They find each other again and things aren't easy but they grow together. They help each other see what they may have been missing. Especially Evie.
When I started the book, I had no idea which path it was going to take. There wasn't much predictability which worked so well for the book. This book is such a great read. It shows the different aspects of different walks of life even when that isn't the highlight of the story. No two people live the same life even if they come from similar backgrounds. Evie and Finn's story is heartbreaking and so lovable.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone. If you are on the fence about it or know you want to read it. It's a must read for sure.
Evie hasn't had an easy life. Many of her choices were because she perceived things a little differently than they may have happened. Finn had always been a huge part of her life. They find each other again and things aren't easy but they grow together. They help each other see what they may have been missing. Especially Evie.
When I started the book, I had no idea which path it was going to take. There wasn't much predictability which worked so well for the book. This book is such a great read. It shows the different aspects of different walks of life even when that isn't the highlight of the story. No two people live the same life even if they come from similar backgrounds. Evie and Finn's story is heartbreaking and so lovable.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone. If you are on the fence about it or know you want to read it. It's a must read for sure.
March 23, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. While this was not a typical love story that I'm use to reading, I still enjoyed it very much. The intense love between Evie ad Finn was amazing... for such a young couple their romance was so intense.
I think this book really portrays the typical lifestyles of the rich and famous. For me, it was sad to see how a young life could spin out of control because of lack of parental guidance. But I think Evie turned out pretty good considering!
I loved how the book ended and am hoping for a sequel to see how Evie and Finn's lives turn out!
I think this book really portrays the typical lifestyles of the rich and famous. For me, it was sad to see how a young life could spin out of control because of lack of parental guidance. But I think Evie turned out pretty good considering!
I loved how the book ended and am hoping for a sequel to see how Evie and Finn's lives turn out!
March 14, 2013
Undertow by Elle Chardou is a YA novel that has a little bit of everything mixed in it. All of the characters are fully developed and the dialogue is so intense that I found myself not being able to put my kindle down. Undertow has the perfect mixture of dysfunctional relationships, betrayal, lies, and of course love! This was my first time reading Elle Chardou but it definitely won't be my last!!!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Undertow in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Undertow in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2013
I liked this book at times it seemed to drag on and on but it really was a good book. I had to wonder what was going to happen and who she would end up with. The author did a great job of keeping you reading and wanting to know what was going to happen with the characters. This is the first book in the series and I can't wait to read other books in the series.
June 16, 2016
This story is about love can conquer all. Even with many obstacles and the insecurity of the female character Elvira. The male character Finn is a solid character and there is no mistake how deep his love for Elvira is.
I fell in love with Finn. The story was great.
I fell in love with Finn. The story was great.
May 14, 2013
3 3/4 stars
Review to come
Review to come
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews