Ties

Silver Strand #4

by Steph Campbell, Liz Reinhardt

Ties is a companion book in the Lengths series NOT a sequel. It was written as a stand-alone title. The other books do not need to be read prior to Ties in order to follow the story.

When a shiny new convertible arrives for her twenty-first birthday, Hattie Beckett has had enough of her absent dad trying to buy a place in her life. It’s time for him to face her--or get out of her life forever.

She tosses some clothes in a bag, looks up her father’s last known address, and sets her GPS for Silver Stand, California.

When she arrives at a beach-bum paradise that’s totally foreign to her New England upbringing and finds nothing but an empty lot where her dad maybe once lived, her immediate instinct is to pack up her car and head right back to Connecticut.

But she also finds... Deo. The half-brother she never knew she had. He and his hippy-dippy mom insist that Hattie stick around—at least for the summer. And with all of her friends spending the summer abroad, what else does she have to do?

Her ideas about family are blown wide open as Deo and Marigold pull her in with their charm and love. But there’s still a huge question mark where her dad is concerned, and that question mark definitely looms over her ideas about love and relationships.

When Hattie meets Ryan, the college dropout turned competitive sailor, her perspective flips with her heart. Like it or not, Hattie is falling fast and hard for Ryan... even if it’s the last thing that she expected - and the last thing her newly found brother wants for her.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, College, Erotica, Amazon, Young Adult

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2013

About the author

Mom.
Wife.
YA Author.
So Cal Native.
Bayou Transplant.
Reluctant Texan.
I hate shows with laugh tracks.

Reviews

[Cyndi]

I read enough of this to know that this poor h ends up with a guy that used to be f*ck buddies with her sister in law. Of course her sister in law is gorgeous! And it wasn't even in the distant past- I think it was less than 3 years ago. He was also a huge manwhore. I think she was a virgin- I don't even know. How do you ever have family get togethers knowing that your man used to go downtown on your brother's wife? I could never do it! And I don't want to read about it🙈

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need this book like I need air, and food, and books!!!!!!!!!!

------------------------- updated 27/8/13 -------------------------



OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, fan girl moment over, lets get back to the real reason for this post, my review of Ties. I received my copy by participating in a blog tour, and when I was filling the form out I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get accepted. So I may have been ridiculously excited, and may or may not have included a happy dance with my excitement.

Ties has a new protagonist, Hattie, she lives with her mum and the only contact she has with her Dad are expensive gifts for Birthdays and Christmas. Her latest gift, a light blue beetle, is all the push she needs to leave home that summer and find her father to return the car and tell him to stop with the guilt gifts. Upon arrival she meets Whit, who quickly see's the family resemblance to Deo, and after a very quick 'this is your sister', Deo is quick to give Hattie an emotional welcome. When Marigold is involved we all know how exuberant she is, and from Deo's welcome, and then Marigold's welcome, Hattie is quickly accepted into the family with open arms.

Ties, like it's predecessors. has a male protagonist in the form of Ryan, and for those who remember him from Lengths can remember him not really being particularly nice, in fact he is an ass. But don't worry, he has some redeeming qualities in Ties. When we first get to Ryan's chapters he is in work, and one thing that I love about this meeting is the reference to The Mighty Ducks. This movie is years old and I have never seen it mentioned in any book. I love these movies and they never get old, it's made me smile to see this and then read the proceeding paragraph, and even though the gif below isn't the scene that's talked about, I couldn't help but post it.


Source

Ties lets us see a different side to Ryan than the one we saw in Lengths, and I will have to admit to actually liking him. Yes he was an ass in Lengths, but in Ties it's like he is a different person completely. He is learning from his past and is actually making something of himself, doing a job he loves and participating in boat racing, where he is certainly making himself known.

I love how Hattie is so determined not to fall for Ryan, she is stubborn and exactly the right kind of person for him. She is a girl that won't come to his beck and call, makes him have to fight for her, and one that definitely knows who and what she wants. There is a lot of sexual tension in Ties coming from both Hattie and Ryan, and while part of me wishes that Hattie wasn't quite as stubborn, I admire her for sticking to her guns and making Ryan see the light of day, and really fight for what he wants.
This couple probably had everything against them, family, distance, history, and then Hattie's need for rules, yet they manage to figure things out, make some sacrifices, loosen up a bit, and have fun...good clean fun and some sexy times fun. I loved getting to see the characters from the other books in this series make an appearance in Ties, getting to see what they are doing now and how they have grown as a couple, they all open their arms to welcome Hattie into their extended family and make her feel like she is one of them, blood related or not.

There is a character that surprised me. I never expected them to be who they were, and when the truth was revealed I wanted them to stay as far away as possible. I was so happy to see they got what they deserved off more than a few people, and that make me extremely happy.

I demolished this book, no question about it. Each new chapter had me wanting to know more, get to know these new characters and see what happens between them. Ties is a real page turner and I could not put this book down.  Each new instalment in this series just gets better and better, and each new male lead makes you fall in love with them, and Ryan is no exception. I finished this book with a ridiculous grin on my face and a huge sigh of happiness. Move over Deo, Cohen and Adam, and make way for Ryan.

With the publication of Ties this series has made a full circle and has gone back to where it all began. This is a perfect way to end a series but I am desperately hoping that it's not really the end, that Steph and Liz have another secret instalment up their sleeves after we have finished Riptides.

[Fern (whirlwindbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever Steph and Liz write together magic seems to happen, and I do mean magic - its addictive, swoon worthy and exciting.


As someone who had read all the books in this series I loved getting more of some of my favourite characters, I also like dhow it doesn't matter if you have yet to read the other books in the series as this book is enough on its own - but I do suggest you add all of them to your TBR lists if you have not already.

Hattie .... hmmm I have been thinking about her for a little while now and as much as I want to love her I just find it a little difficult - I don't hate her I just found it a little hard to connect and understand her, after all there is only so many times a girl can push a guy away before it gets on your nerves.

Ryan . . . he was my highlight of this story if it wasn't for him I might of had to whack my head against the wall a few times. You know he is the perfect guy and I admire how he just doesn't give up - he has found his women and he will do anything to make her his. *swoon*

You know Ryan is trying to get over his bad boy ways - he no longer wants to be alone (or should I say have a different girl all the time) he wants a constant - something he can hold onto with both hands ans Hattie just happens to be that.

Despite not connecting with Hattie and having a few moments where I just had to shake my head I really enjoyed this read, it was light and perfect for the mood I was in and relaxing.

I really would recommend this book as well as the whole series to anyone wanting an opinion - I would also suggest reading the other books by these authors as they have yet to get it wrong.

4/5 stars.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog.

Overall Rating : 3.5/5

A New Adult book set in a coastal town in California, Ties was a fabulous summer book to be enjoyed on a day at the beach. With equal focus on both the romance and the family life, it was a great book that didn't follow the norms that other books in the genre usually follow.

The book is told in the dual POV of Hattie and Ryan. When we first meet Hattie, she has just received the latest gift from her absentee father. Deciding that she has had enough, she goes on a trip to find her dad only to end up in a small beach town in California where she finds out that she has a grandfather and a half-brother. Hattie was the sort of girl who was focused on her goals. She had plans for her future and she refused to let anything or anyone come in between her and her goals. So when Ryan stumbled into her life, he turned it completely upside down. In turn, she did her best to push him away. I understood why Hattie was wary of pursuing a relationship with Ryan. He was the complete opposite of her. He was the kind of guy who lived in the moment and didn't really think or prepare for his future. Still, she was frustrating with how she constantly drove him out of her life because she was clearly attracted to him and Ryan seemed like the guy who would do almost anything for her. It scared her that Ryan could get under her skin like he did because he reminded her of her father and she didn't want to wind up like her father. Nevertheless, it was annoying to watch her fight her attraction for Ryan because he was clearly a much better person than her dad and Hattie knew that very well. Ryan was the one who made Ties a delight for me. Ryan had made his fair share of mistakes, like sleeping around, but he was on the course of changing his ways when her met Hattie and her sudden arrival into his life just accelerated that change. I liked how Ryan wasn't the kind of guy who bowed down in the face of obstacles, but he fought for what he wanted. It broke my heart constantly when Hattie would push him away, but I was glad that he sweat to gain her trust.

Ties also had a wonderful cast of secondary characters, especially, Deo, Hattie's half-brother and her crazy grandfather, who were a blast. I love their interactions with the main character. What I loved about Ties was the interactions between the main characters and the secondary characters. The authors presented a family that was not only quirky, but endearing. Hattie's family embraced her and welcomed her with open arms. I love how they were depicted in a positive way. One other thing that I loved about Ties was the setting. It was gorgeous and the authors portrayed the small coastal town in a vivid way that made me feel like I was also present along with the characters. Ryan also took part in competitive sailing, so we got to see some aspects of that as well which was quite knowledgeable to me because I know almost nothing about sailboat racing. I was also amazed at the flow there was in the book. I thought some parts would be choppy because it's written by two authors, but Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt proved me completely wrong. The dual POVs were also so well written. It was easy to differentiate between the voices of Hattie and Ryan. All in all, this was a fabulous book for me.

If you're looking for a NA read that is on the lighter side to read on a warm sunny day, Ties is the book for you. The lack of angsty characters with depressing pasts and crazy amounts of drama made Ties a refreshing read.

[Chu]

Super Excited to read the next installment ♥

[Sue Tint · Rating 2 out of 5]

To say I am disappointed by this book is an understatement. Ties is part of the Lengths series, and centers around Hattie, who we find out is the unknown sister of the main character from , Deo. The first book in this series, Lengths, was definitely the best in the series, and I just fell in love with Deo and with Whit also. Luckily, we get some of Deo and Whit in Ties, as well as Genevieve and Adam and Cohen and Maren from the other books in this series. If not for Deo's crazy, fun family, this book may have completely fell flat.

Hattie Beckett, who has been raised by her single mom, is finally fed up with receiving extravagant gifts from a father she has never met, and decides to drive cross country to California to look him up. What she finds is not her dad, but a brother, grandfather and a family she never knew she had.

Ryan Byrne is a recovering manwhore who wants to race sailboats for a living. He has also been burned, pretty pathetically by a woman (which started his whoring around), and seems a bit lost himself. He also has a surprising connection to Hattie, in more ways than one, including a connection to Deo's wife, Whit. But, that's not really important to the story, as we, the reader finds.

The disappointment I felt about this book started immediately! Reading the book description, I knew that Hattie would be driving cross country on her own. And, that alone should have pulled the reader in, to experience who Hattie is, what makes her tick and gets her excited and frustrated. But,,, alas one chapter she is in Connecticut and the next, she's already in California. Then, she meets Deo and Whit and is introduced to his crazy family, including mom Marigold and Grandpa. Again, we think we will get to know Hattie and how she fits into the family. But,, again, a missed opportunity. The reader is exposed to only Hattie telling us in a few sentences:

I've shaken my hips and thrown up my hands during late night, impromptu, wine-fueled dance-a-thons with all of them and stayed awake until the sun came up exchanging childhood stories and looking through old pictures.

I have officially weaseled my way into this family.

I belong.

The problem is, the reader never gets the experience she is describing, and therefore, it's hard to connect with whether she really does belong. For me, reading is about experiencing what the characters are experiencing, not having them "tell me" how they feel, or what they have experienced.

A chance meeting with Ryan on a pier close to where Genevieve brings Hattie, begins the "relationship" between Hattie and Ryan into play. Hattie decides off the bat that she can't have a relationship, though, they can only have a fling, and she's got all sorts of rules that fall into what this fling should look like. The first rule is having "fun"! The thing is,,, who is this Hattie and why does she feel like she has to have "rules" to define her relationships? Unfortunately, I don't feel that we ever really get to know what makes Hattie tick, and she just grated on me the more I read.

Then, there is Ryan,, another 1-dimensional character (well, maybe 1 and 1/2 dimensions,, he is a bit more likeable than Hattie. Hattie knows that Ryan is looking for something more than just a fling, and he tells her that all the time! Yet, she still pursues him. And, unfortunately, Ryan is too weak a character to know what is best for himself.

My brain buzzes, mostly with a strong warning to stay the hell away from this girl with insane ideas about how relationships work.

Unless I'm looking for the most painful way to attempt a new relationship.

Stupid, stupid Ryan. Why can't he see that he has so much more to offer and should be treated with much more respect. He really should have held out for someone who could love him as much as he did in return. But, alas, this is only fiction, so I can't get too upset for a poor, pathetic (and hot) fictional character.

The more Hattie wavered between wanting Ryan, and wanting her perfectly planned out life, I never connected with her, and never felt like she had any redeeming qualities. And, the thing is, Hattie is a bitch. She is not trying to be a bitch - using that to her benefit - but she uses Ryan for her own pleasure and seems to not really care about his feelings. She is very selfish. I kept waiting for her to get her comeuppance, for Ryan to say, "you know what? Screw you,, I'm much better than you and I deserve more." But, with all of the opportunities to do so, Ryan caved every time. Every. Time.

At one point in the story, another character suggests that Hattie is very much like Maren, from , and that's when I realized how much I hated Hattie and hated this book. Depths is the 2nd book in the Lengths series and was also disappointing, and the Maren character was total snoozeville. I respect the hell out of these two authors (and have a secret author crush on Ms. Reinhardt, loving that we are both from NJ and both attended Rutgers, and I've loved her previous work), but it seems with this series there is a good book and then a not so good book, , then a good one again, , and finally with Ties, a not so good one again. So, my hope is that the 5th book will not be a complete disappointment.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an eARC of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review*

So, it’s no secret that I LOVE Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt and their collaborative Lengths series. Ties, book #4 in the series, was no different. It was a love story but it wasn’t a straight forward love story. Hattie and Ryan were from two completely different worlds which, on paper, made them seem a very unlikely match. Their attraction, however, was pretty instantaneous. The only problem was what they would do about that attraction.

I have to be honest, I found it really hard to like Hattie’s attitude towards life. I don’t think I have ever read about a character who was so single-minded and focused as she was. She was very much a rule follower – 1. get a good education. 2. get a good job because of that education. 3. don’t settle for anything less. 4. don’t let anything get in the way - including a guy she could possibly fall in love with. Reading how she constantly pushed Ryan away was hard – if she didn’t want him I’d have him!

What I did love about Hattie was how she threw herself in to life with her new family and how she allowed them to welcome her in to their lives. They were complete strangers to her but she embraced them and their craziness. I loved Hattie’s interactions with Whit and Deo, but the ones she had with her grandfather were my favourite. I really felt for her and the things she had missed out on with them.

Ryan, Ryan, Ryan – I LOVED him and his POV was my favourite. I really felt for him as he struggled to accept Hattie’s way of thinking. He’d done some crazy stuff in his life – when it was revealed who Ryan was I was like “oh, of course! Ryan!” I just hadn’t put 2 plus 2 together! – but he was reformed and ready for something stable. Unfortunately Hattie didn’t want to have a part in that. Ryan’s brother, Tommy, was one of my favourite of the secondary characters in this book. He just absolutely cracked. me. up! He definitely needs his own story please, Steph and Liz!

I felt like the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly and I would have liked to know more. That’s the sign of a good story though, right, when you’re not quite ready to let the characters go yet?

Ties was a quick read and one that I can definitely recommend, especially if you’re already a fan of the other books in the series. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did and fall in love with Ryan, too.

QUOTES
“We could talk. Like two civilized people,” I suggest, and she pulls a face. “What? You think I’m so handsome, I’ve never had to hold up my end of a conversation before?” - Ryan

“That kind of confidence is sexy as hell. If any guy doesn’t like it, kick him to the curb.”
“Are you just saying that because you want to remain on my curb?” she asks, laughing self-consciously.
“I’d be honored as hell to get to hang on your curb, Hattie Beckett.”
“That makes me sound like your pimp.”
She looks pleased, and I’ll take it. - Hattie and Ryan

“The Byrne men struggle with soft hearts and enormous wangs. It’s our cross to bear.” - Tommy – I think this is my FAVOURITE line from the whole book!

“If I could go back to that old version of myself, looking for something, anything to help him get over an epic broken heart, I would… I would go back to that stupid kid and tell him, ‘One day you’re going to meet her. Not the girl you stuck with because she was your first and you were too scared to let go. You’re going to meet the girl who tells you straight out of the gate that you have no chance, the girl you can’t let out of your sight. You’re going to fall fast and hard. And you’re going to wish you didn’t have to look her in the eye and tell her how you didn’t know she was coming into your life. Because you would have waited. You wish you’d waited.’” - Ryan

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dynamic duo (does anyone else have the Batman theme in
their head right now?) of Step Campbell and Liz Reinhardt has created
one of my favorite series, Lengths. So I was crazy excited when I was
chosen to review the newest book in the series, Ties. While I’m glad I
got to read it, and I’m still going to read anything they throw at me,
I just didn’t fall in love with Ties like I did the rest of the
series.

I think a lot of my problems had to do with Hattie. I
found her a hard character to understand. She pushed people away and
only brought them closer when it was convenient to her. I felt she
played with Ryan’s heart much too callously. It probably didn’t help
matters that Ryan was one of the sweetest characters. Actually, I
would probably leave my husband for any of the male characters in the
Lengths series. Wow, do Liz and Steph know how to create a sweet and
sexy man.

I also enjoyed how Hattie and Ryan were connected to the
rest of the characters in Lengths. I was a little worried that
because Ryan and Hattie didn’t have larger parts in the previous
novels I wouldn’t connect with them. Not so. I automatically connected
to the characters and loved the way their stories were woven into the
lives of the others.

Even though this definitely wasn’t my favorite of the
series, I still enjoyed the story. I’m also very much looking forward
to Enzo’s novella in September.

Read more amazing reviews at Love Between the Sheets
http://www.readlovelust.com/

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the previous books (yet as it seems), thank God this is a stand alone.

Another read for me where the female character tries to push the hero away. I understand Hattie's reasoning but I think that in the end she became what she didn't want to be. Her mother. She gave him up because she thought that leaving him was for the best. Her mother didn't ask for more from her father because was a free spirit. After seeing her father I am glad they never got married.

Most of the characters are known from the previous books. What I didn't understand was the Ryan-Whit-Deo thing. From the blurb of the first book (Lengths) I could see that Ryan and Whit where friends with benefits but I could get why they weren't speaking anymore and there was a big fuss about them. If anyone has read Lengths can please tell me what happened?

Hattie has her rules and is a little control freak. Ryan is an ex man-whore, now celibate who tries to convince her that he is worth.

I liked every single character. I am mist definitely going to read the previous books soon. This book is a great idea for a summer read. It's quick, without anything heavy and a hot leading male.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've come to understand that I don't have to agree with a characters choices to like a story overall. And I think that was the case here...because let me tell you...I liked the story over all but Haddie drove me nuts! I kept waiting for her to see the light...to have that come to Jesus moment...Dude, she never did! I don't see where she "grew" in this book. Ryan...he was awesome. He came so far. You saw him change, you saw him grow...not that I thought there was much wrong with him to begin with. He bent over backwards for her and I just still don't think she gave him an inch. She kept breaking his heart and he kept coming back for more. Maybe he did see what we all knew was in her head because she told us as readers...but never actually told him. Just a little frustrating for me to read it that way. I usually complain about that typical breakup that comes in every book, because well...you know its coming...not sure this was much better for me.

I did like the book though, overall. I didn't realize who Ryan was..that was a surprise for me :)

[Steph Campbell]

TIES is up for pre order on Amazon here: :)

http://www.amazon.com/Ties-Lengths-eb...

[Asheley T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ties is part of the Lengths series - which I am enjoying as I am reading through the series slowly - but while it is part of the series, it is meant to be a standalone. So you all can get this one and read it first if you want to! Or last. Or at any point during the series. I wasn't sure how that would work when I started the book but I have to admit that it is a really neat thing and I love it, and I love being able to pass this information along to you guys.

This excerpt is taken from my full review on Into the Hall of Books. Read more here: http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/201...

Okay, so moving on...we have Hattie Beckett. Hattie is the daughter of a single mother and has attended all girls' academies throughout her life. She's used to being the shoulder that the other girls cry on and has just one serious boyfriend in all of her life. Why? Because while she really liked the guy - he played guitar, was gorgeous, spoke multiple languages, etc - he just didn't have his act together. He was constantly late for dates, making lame excuses, and never returning calls - things like that. Hattie can't deal with things like that - she prefers order or nothing at all. I'm sure that part of this stems from her mother being completely the opposite - she fell in love with a man that obviously didn't love her back - he never was there for her, never showed up. Hattie's father never acknowledged the two of them except when he lavished extravagant gifts on Hattie for her events like her birthday. Hattie seriously wishes he would just leave her alone.

Daddy dearest really outdoes himself when Hattie ends up with a brand new car for her 21st birthday, which enrages her. While most people would be jumping for joy at the super-cute baby blue Beetle, Hattie wastes almost no time hopping in that car and driving across the country to to track down for her father and dump the car back in his lap. She wants to tell him to his face to leave her alone. When she arrives at her destination - miles and miles away from home, what she finds instead throws her for a loop.

Hattie doesn't find her father; no shock there! Instead, she finds a family. A family she never knew she had. A family that opens their arms and welcomes her in just as she is, without hesitation and with instant love. When Hattie decides to stay with them for a while, she kind of falls in love with them. Hard. I mean, HELLO! she has a brother? A grandfather? How could she have lived her life without knowing this? And they are SO GREAT.

What Hattie also finds is a boy, but this is something that she wasn't looking for. See, Hattie doesn't have time for a no-nonsense relationship in her life. Romance is something that you can't depend on, she thinks, so she doesn't want it. And that's that.

******************************************

Ties by Campbell and Reinhardt is a fun and easy read that was perfect for this warm part of the year that isn't quite summer still but isn't yet fall either. It's beach-y and warm and there is sand and an ocean. There is a girl that is on a quest to find herself and ends up finding so much more, which is delightful to read. And there is a boy that is trying to shake his bad-boy past and doing a pretty great job of it. I can see where this is a great standalone, but there is certainly plenty of the Lengths series in this book for fans of the previous books that have been released - characters that you have grown to know and love make plenty of appearances. I am particularly partial to Deo Beckett from the first book, as he ends up being Hattie's brother, and his wife Whit.

Hattie is one of those girls that has a chip on her shoulder when we meet her - she's sailing through life on her own terms - so fiercely independent! It's obvious that her father's non-existent presence in her life has left a void that causes a bit of...an attitude? a drive for success? ambition? But at times, this is also something that causes Hattie to need to relax a little bit. She drives across the country and ends up meeting these incredible people that love her instantly and even a great guy that could/would/might love her, but she is a master at holding almost all of these people at a distance. And for what? Read on, readers. Read on for some growth in Hattie's character.

Ryan Byrne is the boy. Now, Ryan appeared in earlier books, but I have to admit that I like him more in this book! Ryan is working to shed his bad-boy image (this is something that I always love about a male character). He has a steady job but also a steady passion/hobby, which is racing boats. He's love to be able to race boats for a living - being on the water, being in control even for a second of something that could totally swallow him whole - and this is something that he's working toward. It's one day when Ryan is working on his own boat that he meets Hattie for the first time, and that poor boy is a goner. Instant attraction (but not instant love).

Hattie makes Ryan work so hard for everything - taking her for something as small as a smoothie, taking her out for dinner, taking her out to watch the sun set over the ocean - everything. It isn't long before Hattie's "new" brother finds out exactly who Ryan is (based on his past - not realizing that "bad boy" Ryan is long-gone) and things get a little interesting.

There are a ton of things in to love in Ties:
1. I loved the setting, of course - a small town West Coast beach setting.
2. I loved the alternating points-of-view between Hattie and Ryan - these two are complete opposites to it is wonderful to see the differences in perspectives in almost everything - careers, love, everything. Plus it is nice to see each perspective as events in the story unfold. I love this type of story structure, particularly in stories like this one. It worked.
3. This is part of a series but it is also a standalone - works both ways! Plus the recurring characters that I love. Win, win, win! This means anyone can read this one and it isn't spoiled or difficult to follow.
4. Bad-boy turned good! Holla if you hear me.
5. Character growth in the main character, Hattie. If you hang in there with her, you win. So does she.
6. FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS. We love those, right? YES.
7. (I think Ryan Byrne may have been the shining star in this story! Loved him.)

I recommend Ties by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt to readers that enjoy New Adult Contemporary Romance, books with great settings (hello, ocean!), summer-y/beach reads, fun characters, and one of my personal favorites: great sibling/family relationships. I've said it already more than once, even though I've labeled this as a "#4" in this series up at the top of this post, ANYONE can read this one because it is a standalone within the scope of this series, and you will not be spoiled or lost. The Lengths series is one that I have enjoyed as far as I've read and I am continuing to enjoy and I will read as long as these gals decide to carry it.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ties is a book about two individuals who appear to be different, but underneath they find they're very much the same.

Ties is a book about learning from our past and finding things happen for a reason and learning we can't fight what is in store for us.

Harriet "Hattie" Beckett has been an only child who had a loving and devoted mother and best friend and spent her life living by rules, overachieving in everything she did, and making sure she lived up to the expectations others had for her. She sheltered herself from love thinking men were just not reliable and could not be responsible and found no one really met her high expectations. "She's layered....her game-face could afford her a solid career in professional poker." Her father took off when she was too young to remember him and shows his love by sending her expensive gifts twice a year which she resents. When he overdoes it by sending her a car for her 21st birthday, she decides enough is enough and she sets off on a journey to find him and tell him what she thinks of him, but that journey wasn't what she expected and wasn't as easy as she thought.

Her travels from Connecticut to California result in finding a long lost half-brother and grandfather and she learns about her past and heritage. She begins to learn about life. A chance encounter leaves her unraveled and begins to make her think that maybe rules were meant to be broken. Her chance encounter comes in the form of a striving professional sailor named Ryan Byrne. Ryan is a recovered player and reformed risk-taker. He lives life his way and lives solely to sail and see his dream come true. He is everything Hattie doesn't believe she needs- she thinks "he's a little bit of a slacker. Not my type." The one guy who meets her type, Ashwin, doesn't get her heart pumping and she is "so sure in that moment that perfect Ashwin was and is an absolute no for" her. So she suggests a fling with Ryan so she can set the rules and protect her heart. Rules....the only thing she feels she can rely on. Hattie believes you "can choose who you love, and you can do it using logic and feelings." The only problem is that doesn't work in real life and her heart had other plans.

Ryan Byrne lived a carefree life, just like the ocean he loved. He wanted so badly not to follow his his late father's footsteps and live a planned and organized life. He always felt like something was missing and he wasn't sure what. That was until he met Hattie. He was determined to fight for her while she fought against him the whole way.

My thoughts on this story? I liked a lot of things about this story, but there was something missing and I think it was that I couldn't find an inkling of my soul that liked Hattie. I honestly spent the majority of the book wondering what Ryan saw in her cause she doesn't show any vulnerabilities to him and never truly supported him or made him believe in himself at any point. She never made him feel better about himself, just the opposite. She constantly lets him know he wasn't good enough for her and constantly puts him down and ridicules him. I can't even figure out how her friends like her cause she is uptight and doesn't even seem to give them anything. I honestly wanted to believe in her and I always love the underdog overcoming their challenges, but she never got there. Honestly, I felt bad for Ryan the whole time and wished he moved on. I thought that Hattie was selfish and a coward. That said, Ryan....I loved reading about his journey and loved what he accomplished. I loved when he said "....there's no right way to do things, no certain path you can take when you meet the person you've been waiting for. The one who's worth taking a chance on. The one who proves you wrong, and makes you more than happy you're not right." This book makes you think a lot about your path in life and fate. No one or nothing is placed in our path by accident. A single charm can change someone's path and give meaning where there once was none.

I'll finish up with my favorite quote from the book from Deo- Hattie's half-brother:
"Destiny? Come on, stuff like that was never in your control. The whole time you were back there, you thought your life was one thing, but you had this whole other life you never knew about and never saw coming. You think that's it for surprises? You're brighter than that. It never stops. Life is going to keep throwing you curve balls. You're going to keep having to make tough-as-shit choices. Things will always be changing, and almost always, it won't be the way you planned."

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 to 4.5 stars
Hattie takes off to spend her summer in search of her long lost father, Dante after he sent one too many expensive birthday gifts. But what she found in Silver Strand, California was her half brother Deo, his wife Whit, his mom Marigold and...Ryan. We know these characters from Lengths and the other books in this series, so I was so glad to get to spend more time with them. Deo has always been my favorite, so seeing him in his new protective, big brother role made me smile.

Ryan is a reformed bad boy and womanizer. Well, he has actually been both the stable good guy in a long term relationship and the bad boy after a messy break up. But he has changed his ways, is trying focus on sailing and races, and it seems like his dreams are coming true as he acquires a new sponsor. And then he meets Hattie. She likes to play it safe and follow the rules. She likes to be in control. But with Ryan, she wants to go a little wild and have a fling. Normally Ryan likes adventure and to live life to the fullest. But with Hattie, he wants something more significant than a hot fling. So their views on what they want and how they live are on polar opposites.

What I wanted was to let her know there's no one right way to do things, no certain path you can take when you meet the person you've been waiting for. The one who's worth taking a chance on. the one who proves you wrong, and makes you more than happy you're not right.
The thing is, I don't think Hattie is okay with being proven wrong. In fact, I get the feeling she may want to be right more than she wants to come out of her comfort zone and give us a chance.

I loved Ryan. We saw some of him in Lengths, but I never really got a feel for him. In this book, he was honest abut his needs and feelings. He was charismatic, funny, charming, and caring. He was really trying to be a better man and truly invested an caring of Hattie. He had strong feelings and was not afraid to challenge her. He lives for his dreams and does not want to settle into a mundane, unhappy life.

Now Hattie is a different story. I had a love/hate relationship with her. I liked how she acted with her new found family and friends, but she made me so mad with how she treated Ryan. She was all about rules, but kept breaking them. And leading him on and then pushing him away. At times she was doing it for the wrong reasons, and at other times for the right ones. She was smart, sassy, a little aggressive, but at the same time scared and unsure. Her relationship or lack there of with her wayward father really screwed up her view of relationships and caused trust to be a huge issue for her. I found myself frustrated and wanting to shake sense into her often.

"Your dad goes all over the world like mad, so you buckle down and follow the rules. Mine was a steadfast martyr so I love the crazy life, unanchored. Total cliches. We should help each other find balance. "

They seemed so wrong, had different ideas about life and love, but in reality they were really right for each other. They challenged each other, pushed the other out of their comfort zone, and made the other strive to do better. Their chemistry was hot, even when they held back and they really had a good connection. There was a lot of angst, drama, avoidance and heart break. And a lot of crazy family dynamics and complications with Ryan's past colliding with the present.

"You don't make a lot of sense woman."
"Mmmm. I used to make sense. then I met you."

I have to admit that I felt like the end was a little bit rushed. It was not easy coming to some kind of resolution and at times I could not figure out if there really was a way for it to work out. But in the end I was left satisfied and it was realistic.

I love this series and these characters. I enjoyed spending more time with Deo, Whit, Marigold, Gramps and the Rodriguez clan. Their commitment to each other is unwavering and their ties are firmly in place. And each time a new person enters into their family, they just become stronger as a whole and show what great capacity for love they have. Even though characters from the other books appear in this one, it can easily be read as a stand alone as well. I am looking forward to Enzo's story in Riptides.

Thanks to Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.Reviews by Tammy and Kim

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Campbell and Reinhardt are two author that I look forward to reading every single time one of their books comes out because I know I will get a story that will pull at my heart strings, make me laugh, make me cry and make me smile. I know that I will get a story with characters that are rich with life and a storyline that will stick with me long after the story has ended.

I have loved this series from the very first book and the fourth one isn't any different. Once again they have managed to pull off a story rich in detail and brimming with emotion.

I loved Ryan from the very start, although I did already have a soft spot for him since his brief stint in Lengths with Whit, so it really was no surprise that he was able to capture my heart so quickly. If you can say one thing about this dynamic writing duo is that they know how to write a great leading man well. Each one is diverse and not like the others in the series and I love that they all aren't just a cookie cutter copy of the rest. I like variety in my stories and they always pull through with just that.

Hattie on the other hand, unlike the other heroines in this series, had to win me over, but, win me over she did. I had no doubt that she would with her gruff exterior and mathematical, analytical ways. She slowly worked her way into my heart and before long I was rooting for Ryan to win her over as well.

One of the best things about this series is that even though it is a series each book reads as a stand alone. Not only that, but in each book we get glimpses of the past characters and where they are at in their lives and I adore that. I love seeing all of the past characters I fell in love with and grew to care about. In this one, we especially get lots of Deo, Whit, Marigold, Rocky and Grandpa time and I couldn't have been happier. It was all very fitting since our first glimpse of Ryan was in Lengths, which just so happens to be Deo and Whit's story.

Grandpa, oh how I love thee. I hate to say it but some of the best moments in this one are between Hattie and Grandpa. He sort of stole the show. He is an amazing guy and he makes me long for a grandpa just like him.

I loved that there was more going on in this than just struggles between Hattie and Ryan and their pasts. I loved that we got more background info on Deo and Hattie's ever elusive father and most importantly, we get to see Deo and Hattie interact and get to know one another. Deo is an amazing guy and to see his acceptance of Hattie and love for this girl that he barely knew was truly heart warming. Definitely some of the best moments in the story.

But, even though Deo and Grandpa sometimes stole the show, no worries on the romance end ladies, because Ryan comes through with the swoon worthiness. Such a hopeless romantic that one and I love that he never gave up on Hattie even when she was being less than lady like and pushing him away.

I devoured this book and in fact stayed up until two in the morning reading it because I just couldn't put it down. Once again Campbell and Reinhardt have blown me away with their combined writing skills and their swoon worthy love stories. I will forever be a fan.

[Autumn Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree. This book can be read as a companion to the series, but why would you want to??? This is such a great series. I've so enjoyed getting to know Hattie and Ryan. They are fun, complicated, and romantic.

I loved Hattie pretty much immediately. She's not an obvious person to like. She's sassy, guarded, skeptical, but also very honest in a lot of ways. I liked Hattie. In search of her dad, she finds a new family. She develops a good relationship with her brother, his family, and his friends. Then, there's Ryan. They have an instant attraction to each other, but Hattie is unsure where it will go. For starters, she lives out east. Also, she doesn't think Ryan's career choice is all that promising. Plus, there's the fact that she's judged her past relationships on the shady relationship she's had with her dad. But, Ryan's determined to win her heart.

Ryan Bryne is one of the absolute sweetest guys. He's charming, caring, and sexy. His dream of racing is becoming a reality. He finally has the boat and financial backing he needs. He didn't plan on getting a girl either. Of course, Hattie only planned on their relationship being a summer fling, but Ryan wanted more. I loved Ryan and loved how he cared for Hattie.

One thing I wanted to mention that I haven't mentioned in past reviews for this series is the setting. I absolutely love the setting of this series. I'm a beach girl. Not only that, but my brother lives out in Southern California and I feel like I can totally picture where they are. It makes it even more special for me.

Overall, I loved it! I was so curious about Hattie coming into this book and I wasn't disappointed. I'll admit that I was a bit nervous with how things appeared to end, but thank goodness for epilogues. I was a happy girl. As I mentioned above, you can read this as a stand alone, but why would you want to? I did get to see some of the characters from the other books in the Lengths Series and it made me happy. It made me miss them all. Whether you read this as a stand alone or as part of the series, you won't be disappointed. Ties was a great read!

Quotes:
~"You bought all the varieties. I had to test them. And you kept saying they tasted like wine." She frowns and shakes her head solemnly. "That's not how you wine taste, Ryan."
"I don't think anyone wine tastes with six ounce bottle of twist cap wine," I point out.-Loc 1143

~She kisses like she argues.-Loc 1171

~"I want you out on my boat. The sea is calm, the moon is huge, I can pick up some food, some booze, you name it." I wait, my hand tight around my phone.
"Is there a chance I'll orgasm tonight?" she asks out of nowhere, her voice lazy and so hot, my body jerks, every muscle tensed.-Loc 1296

~"Well, I'm glad she's your ex. Anyone who'd want to date a dancing wiener over you is clearly and idiot."-Loc 1467

~What I loved about us is the fact that, when we were together, we were better versions of ourselves.-Loc 3882

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sadly disappointed in Ties, especially since there's nothing wrong with the story! I was very excited for this family reunion type plot, because I figured there would be a lot of Marigold being awesome. Well, not at all. Hattie is sick of her father sending extravagant gifts but having no contact with her. Ever. So when she gets a car for her 21st birthday, she drives across the country to return it to him. Instead of finding her father, she finds Deo, Marigold, and the whole Silver Strand crew who welcome her with open arms. Then she meets Ryan and becomes extremely annoying.

I could not stand Hattie. She is judgmental, a hypocrite, and a liar. At least she acknowledges she's a liar, but it was still annoying to read her dialogue, think that she's totally lying, then have her inner monologue confirm that she did indeed just lie. She also doesn't compromise on anything (because "everyone loses"). If things don't go her way, she just leaves. Even if things are in her favor, if it's not exactly what she wants, it's a no. She also tries to tell Ryan how he can and cannot live. Just because she likes rules and structure and having a plan, doesn't make other lifestyles less valid. But she also goes a step further and tells him how he's allowed to feel! He's being open and honest with her about getting his heartbroken previously, and she was basically like "No, that's not how you felt." And on top of that she keeps saying that Ryan isn't her type, but she cares about him and he turns her on and wants to have sex with him! But she's embarrassed to have her family find out because he's a slacker and she's a genius. Get over yourself! She thinks she's this independent woman with goals, but she's really just rude, mocking, and scared.

Hattie really ruined Ties for me. Actually, Hattie with Ryan ruined it for me. I really enjoyed the family scenes, because it's like she's a totally different person. She's warm and fun with them. She's not scared off by Marigold being touchy feely and a total hippie. But for some reason, she's this cold, stiff, control freak with Ryan and she keeps changing her rules to suit herself without telling him, then getting mad at him when he pushes her to break a rule that he didn't even know existed! I don't see how he could put up with her, especially when she was constantly putting him down and telling him that his dreams are stupid. That is not romantic to me.

I really wanted to love Ties. This series has been great up until now. There's the backbone of an amazing story here, with Hattie being mad at her father for keeping her a secret from her family, but being totally open to these people who have been strangers for 21 years. It's just the romance that made no sense, because Hattie was just awful.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this and other reviews at Madison Says.

For as HUGE of a fan as I am of Steph and Liz, Ties would be my least fave of the bunch. But that’s not bad because I still totally dug the story. They can’t all tie for first. Ha. See what I did there?

Honestly, though, my thought on this just comes from disconnect with Hattie. I tried, many times, to relate to her, and I just wanted her to be nicer. I could understand wanting a plan, and sticking to that plan (hello, my name is Madison and I’m extremely Type A), but more than that, she just always felt kinda mean girl to me. I loved Ryan. Totally reminded me of Jake Kelly (Yay, Team Jake!). And really, Hattie was kind of a bitchier Brenna. I knew Hattie meant well, but I just thought she shouldn’t have been quite so hard on Ryan. And damn, Ryan, grow a pair. He sort of let her walk all over him. Ryan … Whit … Ryan … Hattie … whoa. Added a whole other complication to the story, and I totally liked it! :)

Anyway, in terms of the story, the relationship between Hattie and Ryan gave me an ulcer. They were hot. Then cold. Then HOT. Ryan was hot. Is hot. Yum! It was great to see so many of my favorite other characters: Gen, Deo, Whit, Marigold! I loved how they helped Hattie on her journey, and provided plenty of advice, but also different challenges. She really grew up a lot on her trip, and I think, overall, she became stronger, but also softened.

Okay, well in all my verbosity, my point is this: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was great, as usual, and the relationships were well-developed, and while Hattie drove me bananas, she was believable. More so than probably most fictional characters. And that’s a reason I like reading so much. You don’t have to like or relate to every character. Why would you want to? Part of reading is getting outside yourself … so I prefer to be challenged. Hattie did that for me. She made me want to figure out what the hell was up her butt! :)

Reading these characters makes you feel like you belong in this totally rad extended family. It’s like reading a perfect rom-com. Everyone has their place in the group, and adding Hattie and Ryan to this mix was no different. It added another dimension, which I thought was great. So technically, this isn’t a ‘sequel’ in the series, rather a companion—but really, just read the whole damn series. There’s no reason not to. They’re all fabulous.

I’m super stoked to read Enzo’s novella next … and to figure out the mystery as to why it’s a novella!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I have to say I would love to be part of this amazing extended family, they care about each other, love so deeply, are considerate, thoughtful slightly overprotective of the people in their lives but ultimately want what’s best for them even if it’s against what they previously would have thought. I adored how they all just accepted Hattie and took her in with no thought what so ever.

Initially, it was a little weird because Ryan is Whit’s Ex, I have to be honest and say it did make me a little uncomfortable at the beginning, mirroring the reaction that Hattie had BUT it did also emphasis the point that people change and grow. Ryan certainly exceeded all my expectations as a character. Clarity was gained as to his previous actions and the impetus behind them. The dual, first person narrative adding to the emotion within the narrative and providing insight into the dynamics of the action as well as character interactions.

Hattie has always had careful control over her life, a clear plan that she hasn’t deviated from; this can be viewed as a direct result of deep seated abandonment issues at never really knowing her father. While it is clear that her mother loves her deeply, I felt that Hattie had missed out on a lot of nurturing in her life, having attended an all girls boarding school from a young age. Subsequently, resulting in a lot of emotional barriers and restrictions that she has placed on herself.

There is the whole fate and destiny element within the story add to the romantic elements, Hattie and Ryan may not have been looking for each other but all the components that brought them together add to a soul-mate connection *swoon* It’s ELEMENTAL ;) Ties is definitely a compelling, character driven story.

Beautiful use of simile enhances the imagery within the narrative; while the sensory encompassing descriptions immerse you in the story. Fabulous use of one-liners add a touch of humour to the story.

The progression of the other characters from the previous books adds to the ‘completeness’ (you know what I mean) of the story. I have only read Lengths so far (Deo :) ) but have certainly bumped Depths and Limits up my wish-list (countdown to pay day).

Anyone who loves New Adult books needs to read this series, heck anyone tempted to try New Adult this is the series for you :)

[Cari Sury (Girl+Book Love Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I'm pumped to be part of the Ties Blog Tour! Check out my post at www.girlbooklove.com!

Solid addition to the Lengths series!! Available August 26th!!

What I enjoyed most- how Hattie finds and connects with her family and how they just adopt her instantly and start to love on her! What a family!! I loved getting to see more of Deo, Marigold, Grandpa and Whit. I loved getting a dose of the Rodriguez family! I loved the “solution” at the end of the book, very sweet and I actually didn’t have it pegged before I finished! yay! RYAN. He is a saint! And I liked his growth throughout the book, he truly became the person he set out to become. I loved the sailing…I’ve never done it, but I’m in love with the idea!

Hattie. oh Hattie. You and I just don’t connect. All your rules and stipulations…I don’t like them! And I get that you’re just trying to protect your heart and all that….it just makes me sad how you keep pushing Ryan away. (WHY CAN’T YOU SEE WHAT’S IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE!)

I am also not a fan of Deo and Hattie’s father. I didn’t want Hattie to accept him, even the tiny bit that she did. He didn’t deserve it. (ohh he makes my blood boil!)

I really liked this book. I even stayed up super late to finish it! (our AC had gone out so it was super-hot, but I just couldn’t put it down!) And despite not connecting with Hattie, I’d highly recommend this book and the others in the series! There are so many other things in it that completely made it worth it! and of course the ending, it was really good.

My Ryan and Hattie-

[Carrie Stadtler · Rating 4 out of 5]

*received this book for exchange for my honest review~



Lets first off by saying I wanted to slap the crap out of Hattie thru out the whole book!! Who behaves the way she does..... but I guess people do.



This story was about Hattie and Ryan, I couldn't remember who Ryan was until I got half way to the point... where I was like "light bulb"... So if you have read this series, Ryan is the boy that Whit always went to before finding DEO. Ryan was the "sex partner", the one that was not strings attached, just SEX. I couldn't believe that's who Ryan was but I really loved him by the end of the story.. like a lot!!!!



Hattie is kid that lives on the East Coast. Has a never show up Dad, that always buys her crazy gifts. Well for her 21st birthday, he bought her a light blue bug- yep a Volks Bug. She did NOT want this crazy gift. She'd rather have a relationship with her dad, but of course she's never been with him. So Hattie's mission was to find her DAD and return this gift to him.. she didn't need it. She didn't want anything from him... Hattie was brilliant in school, had rules she lived by. She was just gonna find him, and drop the car off that's it. In California.



When Hattie arrived and realized that DEO is her brother, the crazy hippy family welcomed her with open arms..



She meets Ryan. The guy with no REAL goals. The boat racer. The one that wasn't safe. The one that could be a perfect summer fling.....



By the middle of story, trust me you wanted to ring her neck and think what the hell is wrong with this woman!! I hated Hattie. I really did. Game player.. and that just didn't sit well with me!!



But towards the end, you will love it... The journey Ryan takes.. and yes, you will love him.. and the most happy HEA!

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though 'Limits' is still my favorite book from this series, I have to say I did enjoy reading this book and seeing all the characters and what became of them. Deo he's just as cray cray as he was in 'Lengths' "I married you, doll. If you ran away from me, stole all my money, and shacked up with some other dude, you'd still have my heart. I'd be pi**ed as hell and probably break the other guy's face, but I'd still love you like crazy, and nothings gonna change that. Definitely not some tat." He grabs her by the waist. "Especially some tat of your fine, smoking-hot a**." And Gen that girl I sometimes think isn't all there but I guess it's excitement, "I knew you and I were just going to connect. Knew it. And I realize you just got here, but I get that Deo and everyone had to go to work and kind of leave you stranded, so I'm here. Because I only had one early class and I made way too much zucchini baba ganoush. I left a whole plate for Adam and still have all this." She pops open one side of a picnic basket and a truly heavenly smell wafts out. "There's this beach not far from here...it's so gorgeous, especially during the week when it's not crowded. I'm taking you there for a picnic, no arguments. I'll wait for you to change into your bathing suit." And Ryan that boy is seriously cocky, "so you ogle me and enjoy my whistle, but I don't even get to know your name." Hattie she's not afraid to ask questions, "is there a chance I'll orgasm tonight?" She asks out of nowhere, her voice lazy and so hot, my body jerks, every muscle tensed." I liked the book but 'Limits' still has my heart.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I may have found my favorite in this series, O
Ryan and Hattie . While the Lengths series can be read as standalone I feel like it's fun getting to know all these characters who grew up beach side and seemed like beach bums or just typical laid back peeps then they meet the one that makes them think hey may be there's more to our lives that just playing.

I must say yay for diversity and heroine's that aren't typical. Hattie was just that, personally being from her background I can say Steph and Liz captured the characteristics of the upbringing and such. I liked how she was honest, smart, and was had lots of love to give. She was on her own journey to find that missing piece in her life her dad, that leads her to the beach side town where she meets a family and makes new friends.

Le sigh. Ryan was just all around awesome, I personally like his passion for the ocean, his love of racing isn't just all about the winning and perks of it all. He was so determined to get under Hattie's exterior and shield of sorts, let me just say I applaud him she didn't make it easy. The way he cared and showed that it meant more to him to get to know her and build something.

Im enjoying this series not only with the fun dialogue also the interaction of the main characters combined with the setting it makes it work. The characters have all crossed paths in one way or another so it's like they're a extended family and builds. rapport. Of course we can't have no drama or some conflict but all in all I say it gets you excited to find the resolution. But I say this one is my favorite I don't really have a particular reason it just worked for me.

[Isamlq · Rating 2 out of 5]

TIES was going to be my favorite in the series.

SHE was going to be my favorite lead. What was doing it for me was her planning and seeing things a certain way. What was doing it was her non-fussiness about matters. What was working was how non-drama she was. She was all about 'drama notwithstanding.' (I LOVED that.) There's all the background on who she has and who she doesn't have, yet it's not all that determines her choices (except, maybe it was?)

HE could have been my second favorite after Deo in Lengths with him all about the race being in perfect contrast to her. What I was liking was the succinct, accurate summing up of who they were by him (truly, what a pair of clichés they were!) What was doing it was how He WAS such a screw up, but moving beyond the same. A lot like Lengths, the pair here have got a past BUT not completely bogged down by the same (him more than her) That the past matters is true...yet it's not all that does.

What killed it for me was the lousy translation. Tagalog isn't all that different from English in terms of conjugating verbs… that is having an ACTUAL verb might help, you know? I never thought myself a grammar nitpicker, but darn it, there are two of you collaborating on this one and then there’s the wonderful world of teh interwebz at both your fingertips so that you could so easily have found out that “Siya nagbigay” is missing a linking verb and that “pag-ibig” is a noun and not a verb!

To clarify, I was LOVING most everything in this till that popped up.. at 96% Way to ruin it for me, folks!

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hattie comes to California searching for her father, a man who lavishes her with expensive gifts but can never give her the one thing she wants. Him. But what she finds in the little sea side town of Silver Strand, California, is a family where she belongs and a man who shows her that falling in love, even if your heart gets broken, is worth it.
Hattie is a very analytic, very black and white person (except if she's had a little too much wine...then all bets are off). She speaks her mind and doesn't cut anyone a lot of slack. But beneath all that is a girl just trying to fit in. I felt for her, because she became a different person when she was openly embraced by her half-brother, Deo, and his family and friends. She'd been missing that most of her life, which is probably why she acts the way she does. Then she meets Ryan. Despite her initial thoughts about dating and what she was looking for in a relationship, Ryan breaks down Hattie's walls and her prejudices to show her that she can't always map out her life and keep it sterile to protect herself.

I really enjoyed all the secondary characters in this story. I haven't read any of the other Lengths series books, so being introduced to all these wonderful characters made the story for me. They were a big family that very easily welcomed an outsider from Connecticut and taught her that she can be loved for who she is and open herself up to people.

[RedRedtheycallmeRed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read the three previous books in this series, and they were all solid, four star books. This one I didn't like as much because of the heroine, Hattie. She was awful. I mean, I was reading the epilogue, 98% done with the book, and I still hated her. She was completely selfish and really mean to Ryan. I can't even fathom why Ryan liked her (other than obvious physical reasons). Her character was obnoxious and abrasive from the start and she never got any better.

Ryan I liked a lot. If you've read the first book (Lengths), you'll remember him as Whit's "friend with benefits". That was kind of a shocker. Ryan has grown up a lot since then and he comes across as a great guy. He's sweet and funny and so kind to Hattie, who just keeps throwing it back in his face. Ugh!

I was torn between giving this two and three stars, but I really did like Ryan. I just wished he would wise up and find a woman that deserved him. The other part of the book I loved was catching up with the characters from the other books: Deo, Whit, Marigold, Rocco, Grandpa and Gen. I wished there was a little more Cohen, Maren and Adam-they were mostly absent.

Bottom line, if you are new to this series, try any of the other three books (Lengths, Depths, Limits) first.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great stand-alone companion to the Silver Strand series. I loved seeing the other characters, Deo & Whit, Marigold & Rocko, and tying them into the story with what I know about them, but this can be read alone.

Let's see, Hattie is the heroine and she reminds me a lot of myself. She's fierce and headstrong and has a 10 foot steel wall around her heart. She's got a plan for her life and is intent on following it. Hattie's never met her dad but gets ridiculous gifts from him twice a year. On her 21st birthday she receives a brand new car and decides to drive across country to find him and return the car in person. What she finds is a family she never even knew about. A brother, Deo, a grandfather, and extended "family" that claim her as their own.

Ryan Byrne is the last thing Hattie needs. A boat racer intent on following the tides. Ryan continually tries to break her out of her shell and help her see that together they can be something amazing. The problem is, Hattie doens't want to end up like her mother getting left behind so he can follow his dreams.

The story is good and it's nice to see how the two of them connect, fall apart, then learn to compromise together.

[Caitlyn Percell · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review***

Ties is the 4th novel in the Lengths series by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt. I really enjoyed this novel, Hattie is a complex character and I think that really shows in this novel.

Having never known her father but the the disappointment never ending Hattie decides to make a choice and find her father at the last known address in California. There she meets Ryan the aspiring sailboat racer who has ties to both her father as well as Deo her half-brother.

Ryan has made mistakes what seems his whole life, but meeting Hattie and falling in love with her seems to be the smartest decision he's ever had. Getting Hattie to trust him, and finally break down those walls she's had in place her whole life won't be easy to overcome.

I loved reading Hattie and Ryan's story, although at times I felt that Hattie could be a little too headstrong in her unwillingness to open up to Ryan. I get that she was hesitant, but at some point you just have to let it all go and take a chance.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, I always look forward to reading the next one that comes out.

4 out of 5 Stars!

[Lea (Between fantasy and reality) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read for the summer. I went ahead and read the 2nd and 3rd book in the Depths series ( I read the firts book when it came out) even though Ties is not a sequel. I wanted to meet more characters that did appear in Ties. I have to say that though I loved Ryan, Hattie went on my nerves constantly so her POV was frustrating to me. Her rules and the way she views other people were really nonsense and even though I get it, she never met her father and he only sent her gifts as their only connection, her way of thinking made me mad. Ryan is  a great guy, I felt sorry for him, the way Hattie treated him, and I cant get how he fell in love with her, but love never makes sense so there¨is that. I liked Deo, his grandfather, Whit, Gen and all the other characters who we meet in the first 3 books of Depths series. I look forward to Enzo s story. 

[Alice Wulf · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh GOOD GOD. Just...GOOD GOD. Hated it. Absolutely fucking hated it. Hated Hattie and her pathetic, cowardly self. I mean, so your father abandoned you, you're going to judge every fucking guy by that? Sure, that's TOTALLY REALISTIC, YOU DUMB BITCH. God, I wanted to slap her so hard.

It was PAINFUL to get through this book. I was so upset because I loved all the others in this series. Two thumbs way down. WAY, WAY DOWN. Ryan was the only redeeming factor of this book, but I hate him too because he put up with Hattie's shit. I mean, she runs away after telling you that you'll never be together, "we'll always have Paris," being a pussy of the first degree and YOU RUN AFTER HER? Are you a masochist? Just talk to the hand.