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Haven: Love & Disaster Book 1 (LOVE & DISASTER TRILOGY
Isn’t romance supposed to get easier after forty?
Not for Doctor Wesley Williams. A disease detective hunting for cancer-causing toxins, Wesley’s life is all about healing and preventing harm. So, why does he have a reputation for breaking hearts? It’s been over a decade since he got close enough to any woman to hurt her, and he’s fine keeping love at a distance. That is, until Sage DesChamps joins his acro-yoga class.
Meeting Sage has Wesley rethinking his whole keep-love-at-arm’s-length lifestyle.
At forty-three, photojournalist-turned-artist Sage DesChamps is planning her most ambitious exhibition ever, a multi-city event designed to raise awareness about environmental issues. Sage has no time for love, especially not with someone as complicated, and apparently dangerous, as Wesley. He may be the most interesting man she’s ever met—brilliant, sweet, funny, a strong yogi, and undeniably hot with eyes the color of a healthy tropical sea, but is dating him worth the risk?
When Wesley suggests a collaboration that may boost both their careers, Sage can’t resist the opportunity. As long as she remains professional, she’ll be safe from Wesley’s charms. But it’s hard to keep it professional with a man who seems so right for her. Harder still when a violent storm traps Sage and Wesley together for days. Now, they can’t ignore their attraction or the feeling that they belong together.
But can love born in a tornado survive?
Not for Doctor Wesley Williams. A disease detective hunting for cancer-causing toxins, Wesley’s life is all about healing and preventing harm. So, why does he have a reputation for breaking hearts? It’s been over a decade since he got close enough to any woman to hurt her, and he’s fine keeping love at a distance. That is, until Sage DesChamps joins his acro-yoga class.
Meeting Sage has Wesley rethinking his whole keep-love-at-arm’s-length lifestyle.
At forty-three, photojournalist-turned-artist Sage DesChamps is planning her most ambitious exhibition ever, a multi-city event designed to raise awareness about environmental issues. Sage has no time for love, especially not with someone as complicated, and apparently dangerous, as Wesley. He may be the most interesting man she’s ever met—brilliant, sweet, funny, a strong yogi, and undeniably hot with eyes the color of a healthy tropical sea, but is dating him worth the risk?
When Wesley suggests a collaboration that may boost both their careers, Sage can’t resist the opportunity. As long as she remains professional, she’ll be safe from Wesley’s charms. But it’s hard to keep it professional with a man who seems so right for her. Harder still when a violent storm traps Sage and Wesley together for days. Now, they can’t ignore their attraction or the feeling that they belong together.
But can love born in a tornado survive?
371 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2023
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5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 22, 2023
Disclosure: Review is based on an ARC of the forthcoming second edition. Cross-posting from original edition.
4.5/5 stars
When Sage DesChamps walks into Wes Williams' acro-yoga class, sparks fly between the two immediately. Despite yoga instructor Pasha's warning, Sage can't seem to stay away from the handsome researcher.
The two share a passion not only for yoga, but also for vegan food and raising awareness of climate change. Sage is a gifted artist who uses her photographs and paintings to show what climate change is doing to the environment; Wes uses his research to show what it's doing to human beings.
When the two are caught in a tornado while visiting a research farm, things get a whole lot deeper. Pretty soon, Wes is wanting to take the relationship to the next level ... and Sage isn't sure how ready she is, despite her feelings.
There is definitely a lot of heat on the page, so readers who prefer their romance a little more on the tame side may not be ready for this. I did find it just a trifle too convenient that these two strangers happened to share the same passions, but it wasn't enough to put me off of an otherwise enjoyable story. Readers are sure to learn some things along the way that they didn't know.
Overall, the book is an interesting blend of cli-fi and steamy romance, with a tiny side order of the challenges of an interracial relationship (this isn't really touched on very much until toward the end of the book). I enjoyed it.
4.5/5 stars
When Sage DesChamps walks into Wes Williams' acro-yoga class, sparks fly between the two immediately. Despite yoga instructor Pasha's warning, Sage can't seem to stay away from the handsome researcher.
The two share a passion not only for yoga, but also for vegan food and raising awareness of climate change. Sage is a gifted artist who uses her photographs and paintings to show what climate change is doing to the environment; Wes uses his research to show what it's doing to human beings.
When the two are caught in a tornado while visiting a research farm, things get a whole lot deeper. Pretty soon, Wes is wanting to take the relationship to the next level ... and Sage isn't sure how ready she is, despite her feelings.
There is definitely a lot of heat on the page, so readers who prefer their romance a little more on the tame side may not be ready for this. I did find it just a trifle too convenient that these two strangers happened to share the same passions, but it wasn't enough to put me off of an otherwise enjoyable story. Readers are sure to learn some things along the way that they didn't know.
Overall, the book is an interesting blend of cli-fi and steamy romance, with a tiny side order of the challenges of an interracial relationship (this isn't really touched on very much until toward the end of the book). I enjoyed it.
August 22, 2023
Haven is an engaging romance set in New Haven Connecticut and follows the blossoming romance of Wesley and Sage. Through the lens of global climate change and disaster, Wesley and Sage navigate a budding romance. Both scarred from previous relationships their romance is at times rocky and very naïve and their pettiness is at times a little distracting. While the references to climate change are very informative and shape the narrative, the constant reference to climate change sometimes becomes preachy and overtakes a lot of the storyline... Overall, Haven is a light summer read with a feel-good ending that everybody will be pleased with.
October 10, 2023
Disaster Strikes But Love Wins
This is an intelligent romance that highlights the devastation of climate change amid a love story. Art, scientific research, acro yoga, and a tornado all combine in a whirlwind of love and desire!
This is an intelligent romance that highlights the devastation of climate change amid a love story. Art, scientific research, acro yoga, and a tornado all combine in a whirlwind of love and desire!
October 30, 2024
I love it when I learn something from a book, and that was exactly the case with Haven, Book 1 of the Love & Disaster Trilogy by Tara L. Roi. This book tackles important issues, the most central one being climate change and its deadly impacts. The author clearly knows her stuff, and regardless of being quite well educated in the topic, I learned so much from reading this book.
Sage and Wesley’s love story also tackles so many other social justice issues. Sage is a real woman with real dimensions, and as such, she is a bundle of contradictions. A bit older but highly sensitive; somewhat fragile and yet so strong as she navigates her own emotional baggage and blockages stemming from her bi-racial identity (the systemic racism faced by racialized women becomes a central challenge to Sage and Wesley’s fledgling love story.)
Compellingly, Roi conjoins some of the grim realities of race to the economic and social impacts of climate disasters – that those in historically poorer neighbourhoods, which tend to have larger non-white populations, tend to suffer much more during climate-change related events, and are much slower to recover (ie. these hoods tend to be the last to have the lights turned back on).
Where I think the true magic happens in this book, though, are the moments when Sage’s vulnerability and artistic nature shine through. Sage is an artist/photographer, and I love the way the author foregrounds her concepts and materials as a vivid, life-affirming response to climate change. Also, the storm! SPOILER ALERT: once the action starts, it’s a breathtaking roller coaster. Terrifyingly real and yet so very hopeful! 4.5/5 stars
Sage and Wesley’s love story also tackles so many other social justice issues. Sage is a real woman with real dimensions, and as such, she is a bundle of contradictions. A bit older but highly sensitive; somewhat fragile and yet so strong as she navigates her own emotional baggage and blockages stemming from her bi-racial identity (the systemic racism faced by racialized women becomes a central challenge to Sage and Wesley’s fledgling love story.)
Compellingly, Roi conjoins some of the grim realities of race to the economic and social impacts of climate disasters – that those in historically poorer neighbourhoods, which tend to have larger non-white populations, tend to suffer much more during climate-change related events, and are much slower to recover (ie. these hoods tend to be the last to have the lights turned back on).
Where I think the true magic happens in this book, though, are the moments when Sage’s vulnerability and artistic nature shine through. Sage is an artist/photographer, and I love the way the author foregrounds her concepts and materials as a vivid, life-affirming response to climate change. Also, the storm! SPOILER ALERT: once the action starts, it’s a breathtaking roller coaster. Terrifyingly real and yet so very hopeful! 4.5/5 stars
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews