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For schoolteacher Nicki Fitch, a summer in Hawaii is the perfect opportunity to overcome a lifetime of phobias and heartbreak. But when she gets to Maui, she discovers the guy who broke her heart in college is living in her paradise. How can she tackle her fears when the biggest one of all is walking around shirtless—and refuses to leave her alone?


About to turn thirty, Ansel has never wasted his life of privilege—if only his father saw it that way. When Dad cuts him off financially, Ansel moves into his family’s vacation home to make his own fortune in real estate. The last thing he needs is his sister’s leggy, beautiful friend distracting him. Unfortunately, he’s had little practice resisting temptation.


As the days and nights unfold along the luxurious Maui shores, Nicki and Ansel find themselves sharing more and more… and more. But will either one of them have the courage to bring what they find together home with them when the summer’s over?

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 3, 2013

944 people are currently reading
835 people want to read

About the author

Gretchen Galway

27 books367 followers
GRETCHEN GALWAY is a USA Today bestselling author who writes mystery, fantasy, and romance. She lives in Sonoma County, California.

To be the first to know about sales and new releases, and get a free short story, sign up for an email alert at www.gretchengalway.com.

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5 stars
380 (27%)
4 stars
486 (34%)
3 stars
402 (28%)
2 stars
94 (6%)
1 star
41 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Ting Channavong.
142 reviews
August 13, 2014
Overall, it's enjoyable and fun even addicting but it's not tattooed in my heart.

Ansel is not likable. he's a coward and too self-absorbed in many ways.

Nicki is a cute character. I'm especially impressed with how she overcame her water phobia.

The story is satisfying and not too surreal. However, I don't like the day by day description.
Profile Image for Marielle.
735 reviews2 followers
July 28, 2017
Sweet contemporary romance written in an original, very funny, writing style.

This is the second book by Ms Galway I've read, and again, she certainly didn't disapoint. I'm keeping my eye out for more of her books.

Enjoy!
Profile Image for Chrissie.
44 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2022
DNF I couldn’t relate to the characters at all. Others might like it but it wasn’t for me.
Profile Image for Danielle Urban.
Author 12 books166 followers
May 29, 2017
Diving In by Gretchen Galway is a steamy contemporary. The romance is brewing to a whole new level. The heat is just right. A school teacher who crushes on her hot friend soon learns that he is engaged to another woman. Feeling a bit betrayed and hurt, Nicki Fitch, leaves for Hawaii. There she gets to stay in a friend's house while relaxing...but then trouble soon finds her. What she didn't expect was to find her first love aka crush hotter than ever and living in the same condo...it was his condo.

But he doesn't tell her that nor corrects her. She's gorgeous and something about her...hits him hard. He can't remember but he definitely knew her...

Nicki finds her friend's brother at the condo...but he doesn't recognize her at all. That only makes her feel worse. But as they spend time together, their chemistry levels spike.

Diving In is intense,sweet, and funny. I loved the interaction between characters. Their issues were realistic. Gretchen Galway created a fun atmosphere with a feel good emotional journey attached. The rode to this new adventure starts out bumpy but ends up smooth...hot, addictive, and entertaining. I couldn't stop reading. Overall, I recommend this new romance to readers everywhere.
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews63 followers
June 24, 2023
If I thought the first book had heaps of dysfunctional family drama, this one ups the ante by another factor of magnitude entirely. Ansel and Nicki have well-ordered lives that are pretty close to exactly the way they like them. But then both of them meet outside forces that shove them off their garden paths. Nicki discovers that her best friend and secret crush is engaged to another woman. Ansel receives an ultimatum from his father to prove that he’s not just wasting his life and the family fortune. When they’re stuck under the same roof in Maui, they not only have to deal with all of the things that have disrupted their regularly scheduled lives, but also all the feelings and hurts from that decade-ago encounter that left a deeper lasting impression on one of them. I loved seeing the very careful way Nicki approached overcoming her fears and phobias. And I was particularly glad to see Ansel and his father sort out their differences. I loved Ansel and Nicki as a couple almost as much as they frustrated me. And I adored that we got to see the Happy Ever Afters of just about everybody from the first book as a special bonus to this one.
Profile Image for Denise Vasak.
481 reviews5 followers
July 13, 2017
This book succeeded despite itself. I really didn't love Nicki in the beginning - she was way too self-deprecating and glum for my taste. I don't know if the author is 6 feet tall herself, but the beginning definitely captures some of the feelings of a taller than average woman at probably some point in her life. I didn't need so much emphasis on that since it doesn't really impact the majority of the book. It was odd she dwelled on it for as long as she did.

I also didn't get the whole Miles part outside of the beginning. We never really get into what made him SO great - we didn't get to see it only hear about it and not even that much. There were lots of bits and pieces like that dropped as well as a super quick wrap up, but the essence was there. I felt like Ansel was a better developed character that had sides and some depth. I think I'm good on not reading another in this series but this one did make me want to see how it ended.
807 reviews
June 16, 2017
After an unrequited love gets engaged, Nicki is using her summer break to deal with all her reemergent phobias. But whom does she run into? An old school fling, if you can even call him that. Ansel is crashing at his parents' Hawaiian condo while he's in town on business. The arrival of Nicki just made his stay there an indefinite one. The two reconnect while Nicki challenges herself and overcomes her fear of water. Up until this point, the book is great- humorous and smart and emotionally real. Then there are some unexpected visitors, some overheard words, some unfriendly opinions and an argument about an early declaration of love. I agree. It was entirely too soon for him to make the declaration, but what follows doesn't fix the ridiculous nature of their relationship. Sadly, the novel falls into romance novel cliches and ends with the cliched HEA. So for plot and romance, this novel almost succeeded in being both realistic and uplifting. The characters were likeable and well-developed, but there was some narration that forgot key information, thus falling again into the RN cliche.

Overall an enjoyable read, but the ending fell flat for me.
Profile Image for Chessela Helm.
Author 7 books26 followers
May 30, 2017
This was a cute story with good characters. It's easy to sympathize with the heroine, who finds out the guy she's been obsessing over just got a new fiancee. She definitely has to mourn that loss of relationship, and it's not something she is going to be able to talk to most people about. I like that her anxiety and phobias are treated as challenges that are not insurmountable, and we get to see her deal with them. I liked the hero, too. It was nice to see him questioning things about his life and trying to figure out what his calling was. Fun read, well written, and it made me almost want to go to Hawaii.
Profile Image for Daniela Bernaldo.
310 reviews
June 11, 2017
Fear can be many things. Mostly, it is considered as an obstacle or an opportunity. hen we learn to let go of our fears, we learn how to live fully, without worrying all the time or having panick attacks. Life is supposed to be lived completely, but how are we supposed to do that if we are afraid? I am not saying that it is wrong to be afraid, because it is okay to be of some things, but the real problem comes when we let our fears dictate who we are and what we do.
140 reviews
April 13, 2021
Should have been a sweet story with sympathetic characters about overcoming obstacles and finding happiness in yourself and helping someone else do the same and then finding happiness together, but their combined neuroses were so overwhelming that they ruined the story. I had no idea where these two stood either with themselves, with their families and friends. or with each other. One step forward, 1-3 steps back. Very frustrating.
Profile Image for Paige.
1 review
June 7, 2017
Good quick lighthearted read

A quick read, with a good plotline. The characters are dynamic and very self introspective. The main characters had a lot of growth throughout, and the back round characters, provided some insight into the main characters neurosis' and flaws. A good, light read all around.
Profile Image for Anna.
Author 53 books111 followers
June 8, 2017
Even a week and a half after reading, this book stuck with me. The heroine's phobia was well done without making her look weak and worthless and the hero's issues with his father/the family wealth was thoughtful and ended far better than I expected. Overall, a fun read that also had more depth than is average for its genre.
Profile Image for Pratna Imrith.
188 reviews
August 7, 2017
DNF at 51 %. This is one of the most boring books I have ever read. It is a very rare occurrence that I dont complete a book, but I have been trying to push myself to finish this book, but I just can't take it anymore. The characters and story are both so slow paced that they make me want to fall asleep.
1,292 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2018
Phobias to overcome

Nicki has lots of fears. They keep her living in a tight spot. Just as she loses her male friend(who she never told of her love), she gets a free summer in a Hawaiian condo. She decides to work on her fear of the water there. On arrival she finds a man from her past and all bets are off.
Profile Image for Sandra Hutchison.
Author 11 books84 followers
Read
March 4, 2022
A fun read about a heroine with a lot of anxieties and a good heart and a sense of humor. For a book I picked up because it was free (and had an illustrated cover rather than this one), I really enjoyed it and found it well-paced and clear of any writing or editing issues. Hanging out in Maui during a chilly March in upstate NY doesn't hurt, either.
Profile Image for Sondra.
598 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2017
Loved it!

Such an awesome story. The story is about Ansel with the huge giving heart and Nicki who has anxiety and phobias to overcome. Their journey and discovery to find themselves and true love is a lot of fun. I loved every minute of this book!
23 reviews2 followers
June 6, 2017
Neurotic protagonist working through her stuff, sensitive guy that is a bit lost and meddling characters, Maui... This book had everything going for it but something just annoyed me. I was really disappointed with this book.
Profile Image for Purvashree.
14 reviews3 followers
September 29, 2017
I have loved all the books from Gretchen Galway.. Dis one was a add to it..
With a female character having many phobias.. And the male character supporting about it..
A very fun and breezy read.. And make u feel like you are on a beachy tropical island..!!
Profile Image for Rhane.
502 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2017
Love rocks

This book felt more like real life than any I've read before. It reminds me of Shakespeare with characters working at cross purposes but things coming right in the end. I loved Nikki and Ansel.
Profile Image for Marja.
197 reviews23 followers
August 18, 2017
Liked the writing style, easy to read. Realized it's part of a series, so they will probably go on my never ending to-read list :)
I liked Nicki a lot with all her strange but at the same time familiar fears!
Profile Image for Stacey Timmons .
640 reviews4 followers
February 17, 2018
Uch! I didn't even finish this book. It was boring. I got as far as 52% and gave up. Nothing really exciting happened to hold my attention. I struggled to get as far as I did. Just couldn't read anymore. Both main characters are boring.
Profile Image for Karol Southerland.
348 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2022
Hilarious story

A truly funny love story. Nicki and Angel figure it out when she wins a trip to his family’s condo in Maui. Angel happens to be there. That work together to have Nicki get over her anxieties bring about a HEA.
Profile Image for Kate Stead.
Author 2 books13 followers
March 26, 2022
This book was great. After reading another poorly written romance, this one was a real treat.
I was hooked straightaway on the characters and really invested in their love and life story.
Looking forward to reading more from Gretchen
Profile Image for Terren  Hoeksema.
395 reviews3 followers
August 17, 2024
Phobias lead to an HEA

This book was super cute where a girls best friend sets her up with her brother, while trying to tackle her phobias after being heartbroken by who she thought was the one
38 reviews
May 31, 2017
BORRRRRRRING...

Did I say BORING?? Boring boring boring boring boring boring boring boring....didn't hold my attention at all and I didn't finish reading it...smh
406 reviews1 follower
June 7, 2017
I like this book and all the phobias so many people have them then you think . So I like how Ansel
helped her with re fears .
Profile Image for Kim.
82 reviews2 followers
June 11, 2017
Fast read

Great, quick read. Enjoyed the story. Was able to compete over in a few days. I would recommend to a friend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

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