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Silver Strand #6
Almost Lover
All he was looking for was a fresh start.
Enzo Rodriguez left behind the waves, his family, and Silver Strand--the only place he’d ever called home--for a move to Napa Valley and a chance for a total do-over.
A girl wasn’t part of the plan. And this girl definitely wasn’t.
The only thing that could screw up his new life is the one thing he’s powerless to stop. Like it or not, he’s falling hard and fast for off-limits Jordan Caletti.
But when your fresh start is based around a lie, how long before it all comes crashing down?
And when you can’t run again, how do you avoid taking the one you love down with you?
Enzo Rodriguez left behind the waves, his family, and Silver Strand--the only place he’d ever called home--for a move to Napa Valley and a chance for a total do-over.
A girl wasn’t part of the plan. And this girl definitely wasn’t.
The only thing that could screw up his new life is the one thing he’s powerless to stop. Like it or not, he’s falling hard and fast for off-limits Jordan Caletti.
But when your fresh start is based around a lie, how long before it all comes crashing down?
And when you can’t run again, how do you avoid taking the one you love down with you?
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2014
4 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
Steph Campbell
34 books1,139 followersMom.
Wife.
YA Author.
So Cal Native.
Bayou Transplant.
Reluctant Texan.
I hate shows with laugh tracks.
Wife.
YA Author.
So Cal Native.
Bayou Transplant.
Reluctant Texan.
I hate shows with laugh tracks.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 21, 2014
Enzo I love you, "a date. We make your mother believe that I'm the real deal, you let me take you out, Jordan. A proper date." His thumb makes this gentle back and forth notion to the delicate skin of my wrist." He jokes around a lot and I loved that making an awkward situation somewhat funny, "you could've just asked if you wanted me so bad, Caletti. Didn't have to throw yourself at me like that." I loved this book and I loved to see Jordan and Enzo's relationship grow.
September 25, 2014
Good book...I really wanted Enzo to get his happy ending. But one thing I didn't like....is that Enzo was the one to come crawling back and begging for forgiveness when it was Jordan who should have been groveling....liked the book but that just rubbed me the wrong way.
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September 13, 2014ALMOST LOVER will be released 9/30! :)
September 29, 2014
Reading Riptides, Enzo’s novella in the Silver Strand series, killed me. Enzo is a laid back surer with a romantic soul. But in Riptides his relationship with Jessica, a pastry chef with serious relationship issues (enter husband), rocks Enzo’s to his core. Now we get to watch as Enzo tries to figure out his life again in Almost Lover.
Enzo meets Jordan at her father’s second wedding. He helps Jordan wind down (get drunk) when the reality of her father marrying someone besides her mother starts to set in. Even though Enzo feels a connection to Jordan he thinks it’s best if he leaves her alone. His latest relationship ended in a disaster and he isn’t ready for a repeat. Only Jordan may have a solution to Enzo’s recent unemployment. Suddenly Enzo finds himself working with Jordan daily and he’s having a harder time saying no to his heart every day.
“I thought it was a crush. I though it would go away, but I think about you more and more all the time. I can’t stop thinking about you. And I don’t want to stop.”
Jordan’s family winery is massively failing. If something doesn’t happen soon they’ll have to declare bankruptcy. The only problem is Jordan’s mother, Etta, doesn’t believe in change, and she’s especially resistant to it when the new ideas come from her daughter. When Jordan hires Enzo she sees a way to make changes at the winery without her mother knowing they are coming from Jordan. Enzo will pretend to be in charge while Jordan makes all the decisions. It should be a win, win. Except Enzo hates taking credit for all the work Jordan has accomplished to make the winery successful.
This story was so beautiful. Campbell and Reinhardt now how to create characters that pull at your heart. Enzo was so head over heels with Jordan. Even though he’s had his heart broken recently he puts all his worries aside to try and be the man Jordan needs. Enzo is a romantic through and through but that doesn’t’ mean he’s a pushover. He’s definitely willing to fight for what he wants even if the girl he wants is trying to push him away.
He braces his arms on either side of my shoulders and drops his head so his lips just brush the curve of my ear. “I need to know what it feels like to kiss you as often as you’ll let me. What you taste like. What your skin feels like in all the places I’ve thought about touching a thousand times.”
My heart is beating so hard, I barely make out his last words before he leaves me pressed against my door as he heads back to his apartment.
“What it feels like to call you mine. Even if it’s just for one night.”
If you’re looking for a super sweet romance, this is it. There’s no unnecessary angst or weird twist that come out of nowhere. It’s just a love story about two people finding each other when they needed someone most. Reading Almost Lover is like getting a hug from a book. You feel warm and cuddled, full of love and happiness. And who doesn’t like that?
Review posted at Love Between the Sheets
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September 27, 2014
For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you know how much I love Steph and Liz's books, especially their Silver Strand Series. When I first heard about Almost Lover I was excited to see where they would take the characters, and what they had in store for Enzo. After a delay, which felt like years, I found out that Almost Lover was finally being published, so I immediatley went to pre-order my copy. A few days later I opened an email and this was my reaction
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE *insert happy dance*
I had filled in a form for a review copy, and had forgotten about it, so I found myself with a copy of Almost Lover earlier than expected.
Throughout most of the Silver Strand series, Enzo has always remained in the background, however his novella, Riptides, was the beginning of Enzo's story, that continues within the pages of Almost Lover. Enzo, moving from job to job and still trying to get over the woman who broke his heart, ends up coming to Jordan's rescue when he sees her upset over her Father's wedding. However, fraternizing with the guests gets him fired from his job, and Jordan quickly offers him a job at Golden Leaf, her Mothers vineyard. What happen next is a journey of love, broken hearts, and discovering where you are meant to be.
Almost Lover was read over a couple of days, things like work and getting to bed at a reasonable hour interrupted my reading time with Enzo. The minute I began reading Almost Lover I fell into this world hard and fast, and I found it hard to put down the book at night. I enjoyed following Enzo and Jordan in their path to persuade her Mother to take the vineyard into the technological century, using social media, websites, etc to promote the vineyard and the wine it sells. All of their plans are based on a lie, that Enzo is some amazing person who has a lot of knowledge of the business. I loved getting to see Enzo really appreciate his new job as he slowly learns about this business, and I also loved getting to see the sparks fly between Jordan and Enzo.
Almost Lover was just as enjoyable and just as hot as this writing duo's previous work, and was just what I expected from Steph and Liz. They always give enough detail to what is going on that you can just close your eyes and imagine you are at the vineyard, or imagine you are sitting at a table surrounded by the entire Rodriguez family. I have no idea is Almost Lover is part of a series, but I know that if it is I would not hesitate to pick up each and every new addition.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE *insert happy dance*
I had filled in a form for a review copy, and had forgotten about it, so I found myself with a copy of Almost Lover earlier than expected.
Throughout most of the Silver Strand series, Enzo has always remained in the background, however his novella, Riptides, was the beginning of Enzo's story, that continues within the pages of Almost Lover. Enzo, moving from job to job and still trying to get over the woman who broke his heart, ends up coming to Jordan's rescue when he sees her upset over her Father's wedding. However, fraternizing with the guests gets him fired from his job, and Jordan quickly offers him a job at Golden Leaf, her Mothers vineyard. What happen next is a journey of love, broken hearts, and discovering where you are meant to be.
Almost Lover was read over a couple of days, things like work and getting to bed at a reasonable hour interrupted my reading time with Enzo. The minute I began reading Almost Lover I fell into this world hard and fast, and I found it hard to put down the book at night. I enjoyed following Enzo and Jordan in their path to persuade her Mother to take the vineyard into the technological century, using social media, websites, etc to promote the vineyard and the wine it sells. All of their plans are based on a lie, that Enzo is some amazing person who has a lot of knowledge of the business. I loved getting to see Enzo really appreciate his new job as he slowly learns about this business, and I also loved getting to see the sparks fly between Jordan and Enzo.
Almost Lover was just as enjoyable and just as hot as this writing duo's previous work, and was just what I expected from Steph and Liz. They always give enough detail to what is going on that you can just close your eyes and imagine you are at the vineyard, or imagine you are sitting at a table surrounded by the entire Rodriguez family. I have no idea is Almost Lover is part of a series, but I know that if it is I would not hesitate to pick up each and every new addition.
January 3, 2015
After seeing Enzo get his heart stomped by that awful Jess in "Riptides", I really wanted him to get his HEA. It isn't necessary to read the Silver Strand series to read this book, but it's a great series, I love the Rodriguez family and their friends.
Enzo is such a sweet, loving guy. He's not a player/manwhore, he just wants to fall in love with someone who'll love him back. The most frustrating thing about him in this book (and in Riptides) is that he heaps the blame upon himself when things go wrong, and in this case Jordan was almost entirely to blame. Jordan started the lies, and pretty muched forced Enzo to go along with it. It took her too long to grow a backbone where her parents were concerned. But I did like Enzo and Jordan as a couple, their attraction was instant, but the relationship evolved slowly.
My favorite part was the visit to Silver Strand, I loved seeing the Rodriguez clan again!
Enzo is such a sweet, loving guy. He's not a player/manwhore, he just wants to fall in love with someone who'll love him back. The most frustrating thing about him in this book (and in Riptides) is that he heaps the blame upon himself when things go wrong, and in this case Jordan was almost entirely to blame. Jordan started the lies, and pretty muched forced Enzo to go along with it. It took her too long to grow a backbone where her parents were concerned. But I did like Enzo and Jordan as a couple, their attraction was instant, but the relationship evolved slowly.
My favorite part was the visit to Silver Strand, I loved seeing the Rodriguez clan again!
March 5, 2015
My first Campbell/Reinhardt novel and I can't say I regret it. I haven't heard much talk about this duo but I'm more than happy that a friend of mine gifted this novel to me.
It was a beautiful story, clearly a spinoff from the Silver Strand( not sure thats the right name) series, which I desperately need to read. I love Enzo's family and I'm extremely curious about his past and his siblings past.
This duo knew what they were doing. They wrote a beautiful story. A story that I fell in love with. I'm so going to buy more of their stories and spread them amongst my few reading friends that I go to school with. ☺️☺️
It was a beautiful story, clearly a spinoff from the Silver Strand( not sure thats the right name) series, which I desperately need to read. I love Enzo's family and I'm extremely curious about his past and his siblings past.
This duo knew what they were doing. They wrote a beautiful story. A story that I fell in love with. I'm so going to buy more of their stories and spread them amongst my few reading friends that I go to school with. ☺️☺️
September 30, 2014
the latest in the Silver Strand series, and in many ways my favorite. Of course a large part of that is I fell hard for Jordan,, the female lead. Steph knows what I like. First off she is a redhead. Next she is very smart. Third she has no idea how special she is, and needs to find the right person to show her. Ah, all my favorites.
Enzo too is a great character, and I will bet most women will find him more the swoonworthy.
This series is so good, it is like memories of life long freinds and family more than books. I am already looking forward to the next one!
Enzo too is a great character, and I will bet most women will find him more the swoonworthy.
This series is so good, it is like memories of life long freinds and family more than books. I am already looking forward to the next one!
October 1, 2014
This is EXACTLY what I wish we saw more of in NA.
Early twenties, trying to figute out who they are and what they want and making these big decisions that have LASTING consequences.
The setting in this book was just GORGEOUS.
I loved Enzo from Riptides, and to watch his personality gain some maturity was really fun.
I loved watching two people who didn't lean on each other or use each other, but who found themselves getting better and stronger on their own and then falling in love.
FAB read. Highly recommend for a great story w/ some fun twists, and some fab romance.
Early twenties, trying to figute out who they are and what they want and making these big decisions that have LASTING consequences.
The setting in this book was just GORGEOUS.
I loved Enzo from Riptides, and to watch his personality gain some maturity was really fun.
I loved watching two people who didn't lean on each other or use each other, but who found themselves getting better and stronger on their own and then falling in love.
FAB read. Highly recommend for a great story w/ some fun twists, and some fab romance.
October 2, 2014
SO GOOD! I just loved this book! Enzo was one of my favorite characters from the Silver Strand series and I couldn't wait to read about him again.
It was so interesting to see him navigating through life without his usual cast of characters, although they do make an appearance.
This was an awesome love story!
It was so interesting to see him navigating through life without his usual cast of characters, although they do make an appearance.
This was an awesome love story!
September 25, 2014
I missed the family and the beach! That was my favorite part of the book. Sorry...this book wasn't as good.
October 4, 2014
Cute, sweet story, but fairly predictable.
January 4, 2015
great story
I loved Enzo's story! It was fantastic! Jordan was unbelievably incredible! He found the love he deserved but got away from his family and found himself!
I loved Enzo's story! It was fantastic! Jordan was unbelievably incredible! He found the love he deserved but got away from his family and found himself!
November 9, 2015
Nice Story
Almost Lover is a nice story and an easy read. After each chapter I was interested to see where the next chapter would take us. The plot was solid but not real strong.
Almost Lover is a nice story and an easy read. After each chapter I was interested to see where the next chapter would take us. The plot was solid but not real strong.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews