Where Sea Meets Sky

by Karina Halle

From the New York Times bestselling author of Love, In English comes a captivating story about finding yourself and finding love in the most beautiful places after a chance encounter leads two people on a life-changing adventure.Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can’t get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life. It’s not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma’s name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go—even when you know you have to say goodbye.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Travel, Fiction, Adult

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.

When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Emily May]

First line:

I get an erection the moment I first lay eyes on her.

Which is a) kinda weird and b) way too fast. Hell, whatever happened to flirtations and sexual tension? If you want me to give a damn about the guy's penis, then you gotta work a bit harder for it instead of speeding towards the ERECTIONZ. Jeez, just tease me.

Also, please don't refer to a woman's body as her "hills and valleys". Please.

[Rachel L · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars



This is probably the most difficult review I've ever written. I want to start off by saying that Karina Halle is one of my all time favorite authors and she will remain on my automatic purchase list because, well, I love her work. I went back and counted, and I've read a total of 17 books by Ms. Halle so far, and of those 17 books I rated eleven of them 5 stars, five of them 4 stars, and only one of them 3 stars. I'm making this known before my review so there is no doubt about the fact that I love her and her books. I just didn't love this one. And that's okay, because how often do you find an author who can literally make you love not just one, but sixteen of her books?

Where Sea Meets Sky follows the journey across continents of Josh and Gemma. Gemma is from New Zealand and has been traveling through Canada when she meets Josh at a Halloween party. The two ignite a spark almost instantly and have a steamy and hot hook up at the party, which then turns into a night of marathon sex and even more pleasantly unusual, a night of just talking to one another. Both Gemma and Josh find one another easy to talk to and connect with, but the problem is, Gemma flies back to New Zealand the next day.

After Gemma leaves, Josh reflects a lot on his life and what he wants to do with it. Upon hearing good news, Josh quits his job, scrounges up every single penny he has and sets of for New Zealand for an adventure...

I was incredibly excited going into this book. I loved Love in English, and Josh was a character we got a glimpse and who was such an amazing brother to Vera that I couldn't help but fall for him a little bit before he even got his own book. This book had a really strong start for me and although the characters basically slept together right off the bat, I was intrigued by the two of them. The point at which the book made me come to a screeching halt was when Josh found Gemma in New Zealand. From here on things will be in spoiler tags so read at your own risk.

I was honestly beyond shocked when Josh goes to New Zealand to find out that Gemma has a boyfriend. I know that Gemma and her boyfriend weren't technically together when she was traveling the North American continent, but I was flabbergasted. Upon returning to NZ, Gemma and her guy were together again, and since she didn't feel comfortable telling her BF that she slept with Josh, it obviously means it was not an okay thing to do. I don't really care that her BF was a total douche. I know it wasn't technically cheating but it was dishonest, especially to Josh who she encouraged to come to NZ.

Then Gemma invites Josh on a road trip with her and her cousin, even though she barely knows him, which prompts her boyfriend to come along. At this point I was wondering where Ms. Halle was going with this. Cue super awkward road trip where Josh has to listen to Gemma have sex with her dick guy. That sucked. But you know what was worse? It was worse when Gemma broke up with her guy and then still wouldn't get together with Josh again because he made out with her cousin. How freaking hypocritical of her! And so incredibly unfair to Josh!!!

About 75% in was when I stopped rooting for Josh and Gemma as a couple, because I honestly felt he deserved so much better than her. I loved the character of Josh throughout the book, but I couldn't stand Gemma. And I'm pretty easygoing when it comes to difficult heroines. It also was hard for me to believe that their one night stand was a strong enough connection to keep them fighting for each other because they didn't really know each other. And to me this was different from Love in English, because so much of that book was Vera and Mateo talking to each other and discussing their lives that they grew to understand and love one another for their faults. Josh and Gemma slept together, talked but it was mentioned after, and then rode in a van but didn't really talk there either.

Last peeve, and it was pointed out to me by another fellow reader (who shall remain anonymous). The plot of this book was eerily similar to Love in English. Except in this it's a guy (Josh/Vera) who goes to a foreign country (NZ/Spain) and falls for someone (Gemma/Mateo) who is unavailable because they are currently with someone else. Except for some technicalities, this book was fairly the same as the first book.

So via the Goodreads rating system, I am giving this a 2, because it was just okay to me. I didn't love it or like it, but I didn't hate this book. I debated giving this book a 3 for a long time because of fear of the backlash, but in the end I wanted to be honest. I still love Ms. Halle's work and will continue to read it, but like I stated earlier, this wasn't the book for me. I still encourage others to read this book and make up their own minds, because things I didn't like may be something other readers will love. So read more reviews than just mine, read the book and make up your own mind.

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4.0 stars

Where Sea Meets Sky was my ticket on an adventure to New Zealand driving through the countryside in 70’s van. My knowledge about New Zealand is limited so this trip was educational. When things were mentioned like waitomo glowworm’s I googled them out of curiosity. If I ever make it to that part of the world I will use this book as a tour guide for the places I want to visit.



I’ve been pondering my rating for awhile because I’m a fan of Ms. Halle’s writing but my hang up with this book is it reminded me of Love in, English’s plot line. Vera and her brother Josh basically switched roles and it’s his turn to experience love in a foreign country with a person who is emotionally/physically unavailable. A close friend posed this question, “I wonder would you have felt that way had you not read Love in, English?” I’ve been contemplating my answer to that question because as I’ve mentioned above I do like the way Ms. Halle conjures up a story.

While the story felt familiar to me the scenery did not. I enjoyed imagining what New Zealand must look like as this group of characters traveled around it. The story was 3.5 stars because, as stated before, it resembled Josh’s sister’s book; Love in, English. The writing however was superb and the scenery was enjoyable. Those two elements pushed my rating to 4 stars.

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
RELEASE DATE: 3/31/2015
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1vK3Roc

STANDALONE
It's a spinoff of the Love in, English series. You do not need to read that series prior to this book. Where Sea Meets Sky can be read as a standalone.

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

[Patrycja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Where Sea Meets Sky
Series: can be read as a standalone
Author: Karina Halle
Release Date: 31st March, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Cliffhanger:. No
HEA: Yes






Joshua Miles is trying to figure out his life and future, when he meets Gemma Henare, young woman on a trip across the world. They immediately click and share passionate night together that changes them. When the morning after comes and Gemma comes back to New Zealand, Josh still cannot stop thinking about her. Few weeks later he’s on a plane with plan of finding the beautiful girl who seemed to steal his heart.

If you’ve read Love, in English you sure know who Josh is. He is the little brother of Vera. Artistic, maybe a little bit weird, yet funny and sexy guy who in romantic fever decides to jeopardize his whole life to look for love.

Where Sea Meets Sky is a story full of heartbreak, suspense and adventure. Filled with drama, angst and funny characters, Josh and Gemma story should appeal to readers who enjoy reading about travelling or road trips as well as for those who seem to like complicated, explosive relationships. The plot is packed to the brim with thrills and spills. There is certainly no chapter to get you bored. Things are happening to quickly for that.

What I loved the most is the travel aspect. I’ve always wanted to go on adventure just like Josh and Gemma’s. Karina Halle painted incredible picture of New Zealand, she did something wonderful with descriptions of all mentioned places. She made me want to buy an airplane ticket and take a quick, unexpected vacations. It was so inspirational and exciting to read about New Zealanders. This part of the book was absolutely amazing, it was the romance part that fall short to me.



I’ve finished reading Where Sea Meets Sky quite some time ago. Thanks to it, I had a lot of time to think about it and decide wherever I liked it or not. Yet, I am still not exactly sure what to think.

There was time when I used to adore every book Karina Halle’s written, but her recent releases are getting harder and harder for me to love. Frankly, they’re missing the certain ‘spark’. Where Sea Meets Sky is another example of that. Even though, this novel is good and enjoyable read, it’s not something where the level of awesomeness could be comparable to the one from EIT series.

First of all, I had hard time with connecting to the main characters. I liked Josh. He was very admirable and nice guy, but something hadn’t let me understand him better. As for Gemma, I didn’t have patience for her. She wasn’t my favorite heroine. Some of her choices left me unimpressed and I got angry with her often.



What’s more, I felt a little bit disappointed with the storyline, which is in fact really similar with the one from Love, In English. Yes, there are plenty of twists and turns, but in some way Josh reminded me of Vera, falling in love in foreign country with someone who’s not exactly available.

If I am to be honest, there were moments when I started to wonder if this book is just pointless mix of epic drama and sex and oh yeah more sex. I hoped the plot would be more complex and not as dramatic. However, I still liked the book. Maybe it wasn’t stellar read and it definitely lacked in few departments, yet I don’t regret reading it. The charm of New Zealand and romantic adventure in foreign country still made my heart skip a beat.

Three stars for me!

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley

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[Christy]

DNF @40%

I am a huge Karina Halle fan. Her writing is always spot on for me. If I rated this book only on the writing, it would easily be a 5 star read.

I started the audio book and was really into the story. For the first 10-15%. Now I am at 40% and just not feeling the direction this story is taking. We’re almost half way through and The heroine is still with her boyfriend, sleeping with her boyfriend, and Josh is there tagging along. It’s super awkward for me. It’s not like she has a good reason to stay with him- they aren’t in love etc. I just don’t get it and I”m not feeling it.… I won’t be rating it since I didn’t actually finish the story. Just not for me at this time.

[[~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥]

DNF at 40%

This is one of those times when I've reached almost halfway and wonder why I am still reading this again?! The plot wasn't really gripping me. The characters I haven't fallen in love with and when I don't care how they end up I know to stop.

I love KH but I may be done with her NA books. They don't seem to have the same spark as her EiT and Artists Trilogy.

ARC provided by NetGalley

[Kim Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Karina Halle really knows how to ruin me. Each word she writes has a way of reaching deep down into my soul and tugging on a tiny piece of me ... My hopes, dreams, desires ... My regrets, pains and fears. I know that when I pick up a KH book I'm going on a journey ... and it's usually a very personal, very private moment. I get a possessive feeling that comes over me as I read ... like these words are written just for me. Of course, this is my crazy side showing. Let's just go with the fact that Karina Halle's writing is my personal form of crack.

This book is filled with beautiful imagery. I could so clearly picture all the wonderful New Zealand sights. I wish I could go there tomorrow ... it's a dream destination for sure. But Karina turns the landmarks and tourist destinations into a living, breathing entity. The place takes on a life of it's own, acting much like a character in the story. I've fallen in love.

Josh and Gemma are two of the most expressive and tangible characters ... even when they're broken and flawed. The journey (both individual, and as a couple) felt very real at all turns. I absolutely love the idea of self discovery. The themes of loss and letting go just elevated this aspect of the story for me. And I especially love the honesty in which KH presents fears ... we all have them ... this story really hits home, the ideas of facing our fears and learning what it takes to live life despite them.

So, like the true junkie that I am ... I'm adding yet ANOTHER Karina Halle book to my all-time favorites list. Judge me if you wish, but I'm truly in love with the amazing talent that is KH. Her words ... leave me speechless .....

Before this I was just going through the motions. Now I am the motion.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh's life is basically turned upside down when he meets Gemma. They have an amazing night together and then she leaves. Leaving Josh unable to think of much else besides her and just what exactly he is doing with his life.



I was really excited to finally get to read Josh's book and my favorite thing about the book was Josh being able to see through to who Gemma really is and how they connected through their art.

Gemma's been traumatized and that's caused her to put up quite a wall. She's blocked things out, closed things off and numbed herself to most of her feelings. She manages to get through life just fine until Josh.



I loved that Josh took the chance and went to New Zealand...even if he didn't find Gemma, he was doing something for himself. And I really love that he didn't let Gemma run him off. (for the most part)

When Josh does find Gemma, they both are really excited. Gemma's cousin, Amber, just arrived and they are going on a road trip and she invites Josh. But then her "sort of" boyfriend shows up and invites himself along. This leads to some uncomfortable situations.



The traveling was both amazing and wearisome. I loved reading about the sights and adventures and how Josh couldn't resist sketching and painting them but it was l-o-n-g and a tad overdone and I think I OD on Pink Floyd. Gotta love Mr. Orange though. I would have loved more of the group interactions that the barrage of sights. Plus it made me feel like I needed a shower in the worse way!



Getting to know Gemma's family was pretty great. It was obvious how much they adored her and I'm glad that the walls were starting to come down.



And I loved the phone calls between Josh and Vera. They have such a great relationship and it was wonderful hearing how Vera and Mateo are doing.



Josh and Gemma were pretty steamy...the story starts off with a good scene but then we have to wait quite a while for a repeat.



Amber was pretty interesting...and a little different. I was happy to find out that she has a book coming out called Racing the Sun, set to release in July.



The story ends well even if it was somewhat predictable. I hate what they went through but like Gemma's Pops said, “Then make them count, aye?”




Favorite quotes:

♥ “You Canadians talk about your dicks a lot.”

I casually lean one arm against the bar top. “Well, have you seen our dicks? It’s a point of pride for our country.”

♥ “We’re just more manly than you, Josh,” he says, spritzing himself with deodorant spray. “Germans can outdrink everyone."

♥ "I want you to be happy, too. Take the leap, Josh, or you’re going to regret it.”

♥ “Gemma,” he whispers into my hair, kissing the top of my head. “You’re beautiful. And that’s all I can say—you’re beautiful inside and out, and I’m here only because of you."

♥ “A funny, sweet, vulnerable little girl who hides from the world under a big sheet of ice. That’s who I found. That’s who I want. That’s who I have. The artist, the poet, the dreamer, the risk-taker. The lover.”

♥ “I’m here to learn,” she says softly, her hands gripping my shoulders, my hair. “Not just at school . . .” she breaks off and gasps as my fingers slide around her. “I’m here to learn from you. About art, about love, about everything. I’m not going anywhere.”


♦ BR w/Melissa!

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I’m living in a postcard. Every day I wake up and I’m part of a scene that steals my breath and brings tears to my eyes. If it’s not Gemma, it’s this god damned scenery."

Once again, Karina Halle proves that she is one of my favorite authors when it comes to writing style. Her writing flows so easily, creates its own form of literary art and completely hooks you into the story. Add wonderful and awe-inspiring setting of New Zealand. The countryside was a character on its own and I really liked that.

I wasn't the biggest fan of heroine though. Gemma was the one to always make the wrong and annoying decisions and I was struggling with her character throughout the whole book. Same goes for romance. It didn't hit the right buttons for me. But since it wasn't the only focus of the story, I was still able to enjoy this novel.

Where Sea Meets Sky is story about finding your own right place in the word, about finding the passion to live your life the way that makes you content. It is a story about finding your own "something" to complete you and make your life a happy place. I would not suggest reading this if you are looking for epic romance, but read it for beautifully written self-discovery novel that it is!



*ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review*

MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing

[Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karina Halle, you woman, stop being so awesome! And tempt me with beautiful description s of places I want to see.

What is the best way to describe Where Sea Meets Sky? Postcard romance. I started reading this book without knowing that it's actually Love, in English spin-off story about Vera's brother Josh. But don't worry, you don't have to necessarily read Love, in English to be able to follow Where Sea Meets Sky.

I loved all New Zealand descriptions and road trip parts of the story. If you love to travel, there is no way that you won't enjoy reading this, too. Romance was slow (despite the way everything started), there is angst and hotness and everything you need in great romance novel.

Where Sea Meets Sky is a perfect summer reading material.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had absolutely no idea what to expect from Karina Halle’s latest book, Where Sea meets Sky, knowing only that it’s linked to Love In English, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... which I loved, and is the story Vera’s brother, who made a small appearance in her book.
What a fabulous surprise!!! I absolutely loved Josh’s book!!!

There have been a lot of mixed reviews about this book so I am not going to go into the storyline but rather write down what made me feel so delighted as I turned the pages.

Josh Miles – what an unforgettable character. He had something special, something that made you want to meet him.

The choices he made in his life…not afraid of the outcome but looking forward to what the world could offer him…

“I believe,” I say slowly, “that everyone you meet leaves an imprint on you. By the end of your life, that imprint has shaped who you are and what life you’ve lived.”

Gemma Henare was an interesting character. At first I was unsure of how I felt about her. Her indecisiveness and all that angst…..but as things are revealed about her life, I began to see something inside her that made me warm up to her.

The secondary characters are eccentric, interesting and entertaining…like Gemma’s family, who you can’t help engaging with.

Then there’s the road trip you are taken on through New Zealand with Josh, Gemma, Gemma’s asshole boyfriend and her cousin……………what an extraordinary journey!!!

Karina Halle’s past as a travel writer clearly shows in the amazing and vivid way she describes the country, that makes you physically think you are there.

Karina Halle’s poetic and lyrical writing flows so beautifully, taking you to another place, meeting new people and at the end, leaving you with a feeling of just experiencing someone new and fabulous.

Here are just some quotes from the story that I loved –


A story and characters that are unforgettable

This is a book I will be reading again.

[ily]

DNF



Where do I even begin? I read fifty pages of Where Sea Meets Sky, and won't even bother with more because COME ON! Everything that could go possibly wrong with this book went wrong.

I get an erection the moment I first lay eyes on her.

Her body has just enough meat for me to grab a good hold of, and I imagine running my hands over her hills and valleys.

“I just had to come over here to tell you you’re the
best-dressed guy here. I mean, that must have taken some effort.”
I grin at her. “Game of Thrones fan?” I ask.
Another sly nod. “Of course. But who doesn’t love Khal Drogo?”

Because every woman in the world loves the abusive and rapist Khal Drogo, duh.

“Hey, girls can’t be the only ones to slut it up at Halloween.”

I’m pressed up against her ass and it’s like I’ve gone to heaven. It’s so firm and round that I’m starting to think that she’s magic. Of course, I’m also growing harder by the second and I know, I know, she can feel the magician’s wand.

Please tell me you just didn't refer to your penis in that way. Please.

But the moment you tell a girl that you like to draw comic books, they look at you like you just took a shit in front of them.

Dude, girls can enjoy comic books just as much as any guy. Girls draw comic books. Deal with it.

I quickly remember that I had put a condom in my satchel because I figured that pretending to be a ripped, violent warrior might just be walking lady porn.

I have a fit body but I work hard for it. I have to. I’m a personal trainer and a bit of a fitness buff. But even so, there’s always been a part of me that blushes and feels insecure when a guy sees me naked. All my insecurities run through my head—my thighs are too muscular, my shoulders too wide, my butt needs its own hemisphere. I could go on.

You have a killer body but you feel too self-conscious.

His desire not only fuels my own but gives me confidence.

That is so Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass. I'm disgusted.

See? You cannot blame me for giving up on this one. I mean, there was even a guy dressed up as a hot dog who thought his custome was “a complete
metaphorical representation of my penis”.

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I love this place, too, it’s imprinted on me as much as you are. But in the end, it’s still for you. I love you. I’m in love with you. I’m not going home. You are my home. I’m staying with you.”

----Karina Halle

Karina Halle, a Canadian USA TODAY bestselling author, pens her new novel, Where Sea Meets Sky that revolves around a young man and his wild infatuated trip through New Zealand to win over the heart of a girl whom he met in his town.


Synopsis:

Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can't get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life.

It's not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma's name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go even when you know you have to say goodbye.

This was my second Karina Halle book. I read Sins & Needles from The Artists Trilogy, and unfortunately that book failed to create any impression upon my mind and so I didn't bother to finish reading the rest of the books from the trilogy. One thing that impressed me about the author, last time when I read Sins & Needles, was her ability to write so flawlessly and turn the plot into something breath-taking. So when I received an ARC of this book to review I was bit doubtful yet happy to read about a romantic road trip story. And after reading it, my expression went from Huh! to Oh Wow!

The characters may not appeal to you that much, but the one thing that will make you fall for the book so deeply is the visual impact. Halle is a former travel writer, and maybe that's what made it easy for her to turn the plot into something enchanting and lively. One thing I know for certain is that New Zealand is next on my must-see-places list. And in this ICC Cricket World Cup fever and with New Zealand being one of the finalist, it's a good time to read a book about the Kiwis.

Josh is so stuck up with his odd jobs in a small town and it seems to be him like he has been stuck up with his life forever, until one night! Josh has been accepted to an art school and before leaving for his school, he wants to live his life for once, to explore the unknown. Gemma is a globe-trotter/backpacker who is on a journey to find herself, until one night. For Josh, this "one night" changes him and his exceptions and everything- let's just say, it changed his vision since it became such an unexpected turn in his life. For Gemma, this "one night" gave her hope and new determination to live life like on her own terms. Since on this "one night", Josh met Gemma at a party for the first time ever and soon their burning desire for each other led them to take the road to one-night stand.

But after returning back to New Zealand, Gemma falls back into her old pattern, whereas Josh is completely smitten with his nameless one night stand partner, thus leading him to take a chance by heading down to New Zealand with some few quids and Gemma's name. Upon reaching, He finds Gemma and he gets invited along on a trek across New Zealand with some other backpackers among whom Gemma's cousin was also a part of.

The story is so smooth that it takes hardly a moment to lose yourself into it's charm. The eloquent prose makes it easy for it's pace to be fast enough. There is nothing so elegant or expressive about the writing, yet it's very simple and riveting that captivates our soul completely. The narrative is free-flowing and catchy with the right emotions with the right amount.

Like I said, there is only one flaw and if it had been some other romance novel, I'd have criticized that flaw, instead, Halle makes up for this flaw with her descriptions about New Zealand. The characters are not easy to contemplate or connect with, in fact, it was really difficult for me to understand all the mind-games played by Gemma, at times, I wanted to slap her hard across her face to wake up and register what's happening around her. Josh, on the other hand, is a honest and funny guy, whose infatuation with Gemma is the one thing that at times turned the whole narration into something bit erotic. Yes, the chemistry, oh my, I could feel the heat right through the pages of the book. Their lust/passion-driven relationship soon falls flat once they realize that their attraction isn't something physical.

I would request and ask you all to read this book just for one thing- a breath-taking view of New Zealand. Halle captured it, transformed it, and finally breathed life into it with her words. I never read about any such author who can transform and capture the beauty, which can only be accounted and registered with our eyes, of a location so strikingly. I was not transported to the land of Kiwis, instead, when I looked up, I found New Zealand inside my room. Yes, that's the visual impact, I was talking about. I felt along with Josh and Gemma, I too was a part of that backpackers touring across New Zealand. With this gorgeous backdrop, Josh and Gemma's relationship started to evolve.

This is a book that will provoke your thoughts about taking risks and chances without thinking about the results. Moreover, it will enlighten you to try out new things in life along with letting go. This is an adventurous love story which is funny, emotional and have some oh-so-beautiful moments that will steal away your heart.

I never comment about any book's cover while reviewing, but this book forced me to comment something about it. The cover is heart-stirring that captures Josh and Gemma in one of their moments.

Verdict: This dramatic and apprehensive new adult road-trip book is a must read for everyone.

Courtesy: Thanks to the author's publicist, for providing me with an ARC, in return for an honest review.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initial reaction: I thought I would get something closer to an NA version of Kristen Hubbard's Wanderlove with this book and ended up being disappointed for more reasons than one.

Full review:

All right guys, this review is close enough to the actual release date to where I can post a comprehensive review of what I thought about this book. And to disclose, I really respect Karina Halle and her work (and I was a big fan of her Artists Trilogy), so this isn't an easy review for me to write. However, my interest in reading anything is maintaining my honesty for what I read and why, so honest (as always) I shall be in this subsequent reflection. Even if such critique could be deemed as "harsh" in some terms.

A few things to note before I get fully into this review: I assumed that this was a stand-alone and approached it as such, but it turns out it's a companion novel to Halle's series staring with "Accidentally in English." I have not read that series as of the time I'm penning this review. Maybe my mind will change once I read it (and I certainly plan on doing so eventually on my own time), but I judged this work on the quality of what it gave me in and of itself, so my perspective may be different than someone who may have read that series or is a fan of that aforementioned series.

Second thing, there are things in this book I take issue with because of my own personal experiences, interpretations, values and knowledge. I don't expect anyone and everyone to feel the same way or take issue the same way I do, but I will use those as talking points in the duration of this review and explain why something may be problematic for a number of reasons. I usually assume this is implied in every review I write, but I'm reiterating it just as a general point.

That said, "Where Sea Meets Sky" isn't one of the worst NA reads I've picked up (far from it actually). Halle is a good writer, but I don't think this was one of her best works to date. I struggled with this read more often than not, but there were a few highlights. The star of this particular novel is the setting - the details taken to New Zealand and the trek the characters take across the country is amazing. I loved that part of it, I think if that were more of a focus with characters that I could care about, this easily could've been a four or five star read for me. Many NA authors don't take such attention to detail to setting in their narratives, and it was refreshing to see Halle take a variant approach and incorporate that in the narrative. As well, I was glad to see such a diverse cast of characters from different countries interacting and playing a significant role in the narrative. Again, if the work had stronger characters I could care about, I probably would've loved this.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. I struggled to care about the characters in this novel. I wanted to. Dear goodness I wanted to, but I was irritated as heck reading about them. To me, I couldn't identify what I felt to be very cardboard, cliched characters in a cliche scenario which played into an overfocus on sex that was more telegraphed than intimate, and into heavily NA cliches that only served to piss me off more than humor me.

But I think I should start from the beginning.

Josh is a young man in his 20s struggling to make a living on his own and decide his future. (I at least identified with that part of his journey and found his voice to be valid to life on that note.) He's Canadian, and he ends up meeting a woman (Gemma) who turns out to give him the best sex of his life in a one-night rendevous. (The sexual parts were hard to really connect with because it was told, not shown, and I felt like it was too dictated to really feel the connection between these characters. So, quite notably, I felt nothing at all for Gemma and Josh's relationship from the get go. That's a bad sign, and I didn't like that Josh tried to sell this point to me in his narrative voice when it didn't feel intimate and it felt like it was more "OMG, her sex was awesome sauce". Maybe Bruno Mars can get away with saying "...sex takes me to paradise" in "Locked Out of Heaven", but Josh is not so charming, really, especially on account of things he says later on.)

So what does he do? He attempts to follow her to her home country of New Zealand, using what funds he has from the job he's quit in order to find his way, and maybe in the off chance he might run into Gemma again (because you know he will. It's inevitable.) At least he's self-aware enough to know that this might be a bad idea.

I decided to follow this scenario without much judgment to begin with, though this presents a problem that I see in New Adult a lot. Instead of a female character being instantly drawn to the "magic penis" power of a male love interest, this presents the opposite problem and it's really not an endearing quality to know that a supposedly geekish, lovable dude who's sex crazy reduces his lady love to the sum of her sexual parts (Because if his mantra is "Life is spreading her legs for me, I'm going in" - dude...that's not endearing. That was one of the worst lines I've read in an NA novel to date and I was seriously offended there, and I shouldn't have to apologize for feeling offended by that because it IS offensive. I'm so over this body gendered objectifying, reductive bullcrap. If this were said about a dude, I would be as equally incensed. It's not funny and it will never be funny to me. I wish NA authors would find more diversified ways to show the appeal of men's and women's bodies without reducing the person, and there are many, MANY ways to do this as a writer. This is a problem in the romance genre in places as well, but it's especially prominent in NA romance.)

Gemma's perspective seems palpable as she's a personal trainer (I identified with her at least on a surface level because, hey - fitness is my interest too), just coming out of a tumultuous relationship. But the problem I had with Gemma is that she's in a relationship with a jerk of a boyfriend and she knows that "Nick the Dick" (as Josh refers to him) isn't the one for her, and she makes comments that are a constant comparison to how Josh is better than him, forcing the dialogue and the relationship. Josh does the same thing, constantly making comparisons as to how other women are less in comparison to Gemma, including a comparison to a girl (Amber, who was probably the closest to any character I actually liked in the book, but she wasn't really a major character) he bonds with and kisses in a movie theater, but doesn't really feel anything for - he just fools around with her just because he can.

Maybe Gemma and Josh deserve each other for that similarity alone, but I certainly wasn't rooting for them in light of those details. I get they're young, naive, flawed characters, but they didn't have much flesh to pinch from in development or immerse me enough in their plights to really care about them. There were moments of insight I appreciated and scenes (like the one they dived into the lake) where I felt there could be more of an intimacy between them, but they were far and few between, and came after more than 50% in the novel. The majority of the time, the narrative tried to sell me on Gemma and Josh's intimacy by telling me, rather than showing me and letting me feel their connection on my own. I wasn't convinced by it most of the time.

Same with the geek and music references - some I appreciated, but I felt the references didn't flow always with the narrative. Pink Floyd I appreciated as the soundtrack to the journey they were on in the van, but I don't know if any of the songs really resonated with some of the moments of the novel. Some of the songs were in the painting scene, but the flow didn't really match it - I didn't connect.

I think as the novel went on, some of the dialogues weren't as painful and it got into more of the character's experiences of the country and travels. But I felt the last 15% or so with the conflict thrown in to drive a wedge between them - was a bit too forced in hand just to prolong the conflict. By then, despite some nice moments in the writing between with the attention to place and some environmental details, it wasn't enough.

In the end, I was disappointed and felt like I had to slog myself through this book just to see the end. That wasn't worth it for me, not when I felt a huge piece missing from the connection I could've had with the narrative.

Nice ideas and some moments were worth reading, but the execution left much to be desired as it was uneven, the characters too underdeveloped and too much in the line of overworn, even offensive cliches for me to believe in them, and the scenario too farfetched to me to feel real and symbolic with the thematics it tried to carry with it.

Overall score: 2/5 stars.

Note: I received this ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Atria Books.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog]

Excerpt:

Where Sea Meets Sky

Vancouver

Josh

I get an erection the moment I first lay eyes on her. She looks like no one I’ve ever seen before. Tall, curvy, with thick superhero thighs and a round ass, showcased in black Lycra that hugs every slope. Her big, high breasts and small waist are accentuated by her white tank top. Her body has just enough meat for me to grab a good hold of, and I imagine running my hands over her hills and valleys. I want to imagine more than that, but I’m horny as hell as it is and my erection is already inappropriate, considering I’m in public and all.

She finally looks my way, aware that I’ve been staring like an idiot. She catches my gaze, her eyes twinkling a vibrant yellow, her pupils large and wet. She smirks at me, causing a shower of glitter to rain from her cheeks, and brushes her purple hair over her shoulder before she bends over to slide a gun out from the harness strapped to her boot.

I try not to stare into the blinding sun of her tanned cleavage. I try to think of something clever to say to her. Something along the lines of, “I think I know who you are, but shouldn’t you have one eyeball instead of two?”

But it’s she who comes over to me, gun comfortably in her hand, and stops only a foot away. When she smiles at me, I see fangs.

Now I’m really confused. At least I know what to say now.

“Who are you?” I ask her, happy that my voice is hard and deep. I hope it makes her think of sex.

She raises a perfect brow and up close I’m struck by how bronzed her skin tone is. I don’t think it’s makeup. Not many people in Vancouver manage to keep their tan into the fall.

“You don’t know?” she asks. She has an accent. I immediately want to say she’s from England but that’s not it. It’s not Australia either.

“I thought I did,” I say. “But your eyes and fangs are throwing me all off.”

“I’m vampire Leela, from Futurama.”

I grin at her, happy that I was half-right. “Shouldn’t you just have one eyeball then?”

She reaches into her other boot and effortlessly pulls out an eye mask. It’s painted white, with a black pupil in the middle. She waves it at me. “I put it on for photos but I can barely see out of it. I walked into a wall, twice.” She raises two fingers for emphasis. “I figured I’ll just be a vampire the rest of the time.”

I can seriously listen to her talk all day. “I don’t remember any episode where Leela turned into a vampire.” Maybe it hinted at my secret nerd-boy status, but I watched the cartoon Futurama religiously.

She wets her lips for a moment and I try my hardest not to adjust my boxer briefs underneath my costume. “I like to think she’ll become a vampire in future episodes. Or maybe she was one once and Matt Groening scrapped the idea. I believe characters have more to their lives than the lives we are shown.”

“Kind of like people,” I say, hoping I come across as somewhat profound.

She gives me a slight nod – indicating I’m not as profound as I thought – and looks me up and down. “I just had to come over here to tell you you’re the best-dressed guy here. I mean, that must have taken some effort.”

I grin at her. “Game of Thrones, fan?” I ask.

Another sly nod. “Of course. But who doesn’t love Khal Drogo?”

“Last year I dressed up as the author George R.R. Martin,” I tell her. “People kept mistaking me for Ernest Hemingway, even though I was carrying a bucket of fried chicken around with me and had a pillow stuffed down my shirt.”

“So you went for something sexier…” she says as she lets her eyes trail over my body, which automatically makes me stand up straighter. I haven’t left much to the imagination. Jesus sandals, weird billowy pants that I think some granola dude dropped off at the thrift store, plus a leather corset over my abs and leather cuffs on my forearms. My upper body is bare and covered with bronzer and streaks of blue paint and I found a black wig with a long braid down the back. It kind of works. I guess if you don’t know the show, I look like some sparkling warrior who wears too much eye-makeup.

“Hey, girls can’t be the only ones to slut it up at Halloween.”

She raises her brow.

And once again, my foot goes in my mouth. “I mean, not that you’re dressed slutty or anything, I just mean--”

She laughs. “Don’t worry about it,” she says with a wave of her hand. “Everyone here is dressed slutty. That’s what the holiday is all about, isn’t it? Pretending to be someone else? This is actually my first Halloween, so I’m feeling a little overdressed. Or super nerdy.” She looks around her at the drunk girls—referees and fairies and nurses in wonderfully indecent outfits—and shrugs.

“I wholeheartedly disagree,” I say, trying not to ogle her all over again. I pause. “Wait, your first Halloween?”

“First proper Halloween. The North American kind. We don’t really celebrate it the way you guys do.”

I cross my arms, insanely curious now. “And who is we?”

“New Zealand,” she says. “I’m from Auckland.”

“Nice,” I say, “I was going to ask if you were from New Zealand.”

Her lips twitch and she gives me a shake of her head. “No you weren’t.”

“Well, I definitely wasn’t going to ask if you were from Australia. I know how you feel about that.”

For a moment her features look strained, then it passes. “Kind of like if I asked if you were American.”

“Exactly.”

“So,” she muses and steps closer. She lays her hand on my bicep and I suck in my breath. “Are the tattoos real?” She removes her hand and peers at her palm which is streaked with bronze shimmer shit. “Because your tan sure isn’t.”

Damn, I hope I’m not blushing. I clear my throat. “The tattoos are real, I assure you. I needed a bit of, um, help to get that Dothraki tan going on.”

“And this?” She reaches for my face and I am frozen in place while she gently fingers my goatee and beard. She grabs the end of it, which I had attempted to braid, and gives it a little tug.

“Ouch,” I say, though it doesn’t really hurt. It turns me on instead. Big surprise.

“So it is real,” she says. She sounds impressed.

I shrug. “I had a month to grow it in. I say, it’s all or nothing. But tomorrow everything is getting shaved off.”

She frowns and lets go. “Pity. I love a scruffy guy.”

I can’t help but smile. “Lucky for you, I’m scruffy for at least twelve more hours.”

Her mouth twists into a wry smile. I realize I’m being kind of forward with her, but at the same time, she just felt my bicep and fondled my man hair. Then again, I’ve never been very good at reading women. Half of them seem to love my tats and black hair and piercings; the other half seem to think I’m a delinquent from Skid row.

I’m wondering what she thinks about me when I realize I don’t know her name.

“I’m Josh, by the way,” I say to her, holding out my hand.

She gives me a surprisingly firm shake in return. “Gemma.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” I tell her. Even though I’m sincere, I’m aware that it’s very much a pick-up line.

Gemma snorts and it’s absolutely adorable. “Right. Well, in New Zealand, Gemmas are everywhere.”

“But I bet they don’t look like you.” Okay, so now I’m totally swerving into pick-up line territory. I push it further. “Can I buy you a drink?”

And there the question sits, floating between us, along with the haze of pot smoke that hangs in the air. The rejection might come fast, or if I’m lucky, not at all. But it’s Halloween, I have a three-beer buzz going on, and I’m feeling pretty good. Still, when she nods and says, “Sure” I feel my whole body lift with relief.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Take this opportunity … and find what makes you happy. You may never get that chance again. Time waits for no one.”

4 Road-Tripping stars

I’m a huge Karina Halle fan, and after falling in mad love with Love, in English, I was itching to get my hands on this book featuring Vera’s amazing brother, Josh. This book follows on really nicely from Vera and Mateo’s story, but don’t go expecting that this will be a repeat of their dramas. Where Sea Meets Sky is a completely different story, with a completely different feel – funny, sexy, sweet and heartbreaking with a touch of adventure - to me it felt like a coming of age story as two characters searching for that elusive “something” share an incredible journey which ends up changing their lives in ways they never anticipated.

I feel this lack. So much that it hurts. And I don’t know what it is. It just makes me sad. It makes me long and ache and I need something to fill it. It’s a constant pain and I’m so fucking tired of it.

Josh is in his early 20s and is coasting through life. He works meaningless jobs, has no real ties or commitments and still lives with his mother. He’s not a slacker though – he dreams of making a career with his art, he’s just tired with little motivation to chase after it. And then one night at a party he meets Gemma. A New Zealander travelling far from home all on her own, they share a deeply intense connection and they spend the night talking, opening up to each other, and of course having mad, wild monkey sex. Gemma is due to return home the very next day, but she leaves her mark on Josh, inspiring him to really start living his life. And when he is unable to forget about her, he decides to pack his bags and go off on an adventure of his own – to New Zealand, “the land of Gandalf and flightless bird and backward draining toilet water, in the hopes of experiencing new things and finding her again.

I love Josh! Freaking LOVE him! He is smart, funny, sarcastic and sexy, is tattooed and pierced and has that smug arrogance that Karina writes so well. But he also has a huge heart and a vulnerability and honesty about him that makes him so relatable. He’s absolutely amazing, and the fact that the book is dual POV and we get right inside of his head just makes it all so much better.

I’m acting like such a pussy-whipped tool. It was a one-night stand, it was just for that one night. That’s what they are there for. I’ve had at least eight one-night stands before and every single one of them remained exactly that. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am, and oh, you’re welcome, too.
Why was this one different? What did she do to me? What the hell was it about her that made her stand out from all the rest?
When did I lose my motherfucking mind?

Gemma has returned to New Zealand after four months of travelling to find herself right back in the rut that she was running so hard to try to get away from. But when Josh unexpectedly show up, he throws her life into a spin and she finds herself experiencing the same rush that she had when they shared their one night together. Just as consumed by him as he is with her, she invites him to join the month-long road trip that she is taking with her cousin. Josh gleefully accepts, only then to discover that Gemma has a boyfriend (possibly a fuck buddy, the ‘relationship’ is a clusterfuck).

So the road trip becomes a journey for four – full of angst, frustration, and a whole bus-load of UST. But Josh and Gemma’s connection can’t be denied, and as they explore the wonders of Gemma’s homeland, they both start to question what it is exactly they want from their lives, and as they gain confidence and come to understand themselves better, they fall and fall hard.

I love you, I think as my heart seems to expand inside me.
And you’ll hurt me.
You’ll burn me.
You’ll mark me.
But it’s already worth it.

I love a good road trip book, and this is a great one! Karina really does a wonderful job at selling New Zealand - I’ve road-tripped around NZ myself, and though I didn’t get up to all of the adventures that Josh and Gemma do, I’m inspired to go back and experience what they did. And it’s all beautifully tied in to what they are experiencing personally.

I feel like I’m living my life instead of just getting by. I’m doing something, being somebody. Before this…I was just going through the motions. Now I am the motion.

The writing is beautifully poetic, and I was constantly highlighting. I was sucked into their emotional journey as much as their physical one, but it’s not all deep emotion and poignant revelations. Josh and Gemma are both foul-mouthed, dirty minded and occasionally irreverent, and in between smutty banter, intense eye fuckery and some crazy hot hook ups (seriously… WOW! *fans self*), the romance builds beautifully, and becomes something really special - even under less than perfect circumstances.

“Attachments hurt when they’re taken away. You’re leaving”
“So what?” I tell her. “I’m attached to you already and I’m still leaving ... Doesn’t mean that the pain negates everything, that none of this was worth it.”
…
“At the very least, we should be screwing each other’s brains out until I get on that plane.”

“Gemma.” His voice is rough and heated. “Some people may expect nothing. Most people expect something. But you, you, should expect everything.”

But like I said, this is an angsty read, and there are a lot of hurdles to overcome before Josh and Gemma can find their happy ever after.

I must admit, I did get frustrated reading this book. Freaking Gemma! She is so stupidly oblivious about her douche ‘boyfriend’, and the fact that she was even with him irritated me. And that irritation became even worse when Josh came back into her life. Seeing the two men side by side, WTF was she thinking? And then stringing Josh along like she did! Ugh! Pretty much all of the angst and heartbreak was completely unnecessary, all because she was being so freaking stupid! And my heart broke right along with Josh’s as he struggled to understand it all.

“I’m not even mad anymore, Gemma. I’m just…I’m tired. I can’t figure you out for the life of me, and I don’t think you want me to try.”

*sniff*

But the book is all about figuring yourself out, and this is the journey that they have to go through to do it – literally and figuratively. It’s annoying, it’s heartbreaking, and I didn’t completely understand where she was coming from all of the time, but it was all part of her wake up call. And I had to keep remembering that I certainly didn’t have myself all sorted out in my early 20s, and I could relate to that feeling of ‘WTF am I doing?’ and the need for something safe.

I finished this book feeling like I had been on a journey. Josh and Gemma’s story may be frustrating, but it’s real, and it’s life changing for them. I thought Karina did a beautiful job with it.

“Let it be wild, let it be messy. It’s the first sunrise of many more to come. You can’t screw it up. If you do, there’s always tomorrow”

I loved it - 4 stars.


An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME
3.5 Stars!
(BR with Sharon)

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

*** 2.5 STARS ***

I really like Karina Halle’s writing but there are many other books by her that I’ve enjoyed more than this one. I did enjoy the beginning of the book and liked the characters but once I’d read about 60% of it, I noticed how I began losing interest in the story and started skimming the pages.

[Formerly Known as Spoiler W · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first 5 star read of books being released in 2015. Get your passport and map ready.

Where Sea Meets Sky...A travel guide to new adventures with new people and finding yourself along the way.

When I immerse into a story, I know what I'm looking for. I want to connect with at least one character. I want to get the feels of what the character(s) are feeling. I want the mood set. I don't want to look for something that's not there. I want the story to be told simply without other distractions. And with Where Sea Meets Sky, I got EVERYTHING.

I was completely hooked with the first thought Josh had, who is dressed in costume as Kahl Drogo AKA Jason Momoa AKA my man. He's completely enthralled with the woman who dresses as Leela who we get to know as Gemma. What leads into a one night/day stand turns into an unforgettable memory that neither can forget. Even being an ocean apart, they still hold a connection. When Josh takes a leap of faith and flys out to surprise Gemma, they're both surprised at what they see. On a once in a lifetime road trip thru New Zealand, self discoveries will be made, hearts will be broken, friendships are key and love is around the corner.

Josh and Gemma work together cause they're both "lost". They know how to get what they want but it's taking that unknown step to get it. I got their emotions and their connection. I felt the love. I had the FEELS. The storytelling and writing, as always, is impeccable. I love how I can get lost in Ms. Halle's writing world. Where Sea Meets Sky is definitely an adventure that I recommend to any and all.

*ARC provided by Atria*

[Vilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spirited, sexy romantic adventure penned in Halle’s distinctive and edgy style.

Karina Halle takes us on another epic adventure… a journey of self-discovery and love, of taking chances and redefining futures. We first met Josh in Love, In English. He’s Vera’s tatted, artist brother who lives at home. Like Vera, initially, Josh is going through the motions, feeling the need for something more, without knowing what is missing. But one night, Josh meets Gemma and they just click. She’s sexy, she’s fiery, she’s funny, she totally seems to get him and she’s there for just one night before she returns to New Zealand.

“This woman seems to be everything I’m looking for and I only have her for one night, if I even have her at all.”

They have one amazing night, cut too short. When Gemma returns to Auckland, we learn that she is lost too. She has a restlessness, a pent-up desire that begs for a different life, but with a past that has been anything but kind, she sticks to the safe and predictable.

Until Josh unexpectedly shows up across the ocean, looking for her.

“I think he can feel it in me, this wildness. I want to pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist and the rest of my life doesn’t exist and the only thing that’s certain is here and now.”

When Josh takes this leap, takes this risk, and goes in search of the girl he can’t seem to forget, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. But when he sees Gemma again, he realizes things are much different than he expected. More complicated. Gemma pushes Josh away, while at the same time, wanting him desperately.

“I want him to want me. I want him to not want me. I don’t know what I want.”

Gemma takes Josh on a journey through some amazing locations in New Zealand as they both learn about themselves, and each other. Pasts, insecurities, truths and hidden desires all see the light of day in a place that changes everything.

“Before this … I was just going through the motions. Now I am the motion.”

Gemma reminded me of Vera in so many ways, they were both edgy, bold women who seemed trapped within themselves. Their paths were different, but the search for the core of who they were… who they wanted to be… is quite similar. Gemma and Josh are apart for a large part of the story and I wanted to see more moments of connection and intimacy throughout their adventure, allowing us readers to feel them together as a couple. The last quartile or so of the book really gives us more opportunity to see them together and I loved that. In fact, I really enjoyed the volatility and angst that the last portion of the story imparted.

I absolutely loved Halle’s ability to whisk us away and make it seem as if we were in a far away place, where the beautiful sea does meet sky and sunsets burn into thoughts forever. It felt like an adventure. I also loved how vulnerable Josh seemed to be. I didn’t expect that, and I loved seeing his capacity to feel and go after what (and whom) he wanted. This is a great, sexy book in which to escape, and if you were a fan of Love, In English and Love, In Spanish, you are sure to enjoy.

“I love you, I think as my heart seems to expand inside me. And you’ll hurt me. You’ll burn me. You’ll mark me.”

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

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[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book and was distracted by it more times than not. As for the story, it wasn't my favorite. There are so many things in this story that I am just not looking for in a book. I love imperfect characters, but I need to be able to justify things and understand motives. I just wasn't able to here.

I love Karina's stories, this just isn't one of my favorites.

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come closer to release date

[Tough Critic Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was middle.

Okay, let me explain.

There are a zillion-thousand and one books out there, and Where Sea Meets Sky falls somewhere right smack in the middle. It was well written. It wasn't bad. It was good. But that is honestly where my review could end. Nothing really stood out.

I really don't mean for that to sound as harsh as it does. It is obvious that Karina Halle has a true talent. Her prose in depicting an adventurous road trip through New Zealand gave this story a realistic, almost tangible quality, but it was the plot that I found a little generic. There are so many books out there. I needed something that connected me with this book. These characters. Instead I found an extremely well written book, but one I set down several times only to return to later, and when I finished. It was over. No lingering feelings, or emotions.

My overall response could best be described as extremely linear. It was a book. I read it. It was good.

But like I said, with so many books out there, I need more.

Perhaps those who truly appreciate the artistry of a well written book, but don't necessarily want to spend days recovering from a book hangover should definitely give it a go. She really does do a beautiful job making the reader feel like they are actually on a road trip through New Zealand. Not to mention a pretty passionate scene involving a tree ;-)

READ ON!

More reviews at: http://www.toughcriticbookreviews.blo...

[London · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Where Sea Meets Sky
Author: Karina Halle
Rating: 2 *YAWN* oh..sorry. stars.
POV: Dual
HEA: .Yes.
Heat/Steam 2/5
Cliffhanger: . No.
Intolerable Heroine .a bit.
Über Douchebagery .No.
Taboo Subject Matter .No.
Cheating: .Technically no since neither are together at the time
Love Triangle .No.


Bored. That's what I felt the entire time. Absolutely bored out of my mind.



I felt no connection to any of the characters because we spend about 80% of the book just reading about the entire country of New Zealand. No really. I felt like I was reading someones travel diary article for National Geographic.

I like dialogue. A lot of dialogue. I spent pretty much the entire book just reading about the scenery or repetitive thoughts. We get barely any real story with the H/h actually together. They spend the entire book on this road trip all around NZ together and yet I can barely recall the times they were together..outside of sex. It's explained but not felt at all.
I have to agree with the reviews that state that the plot is similiar to Love, In English but only to a certain degree. I felt the connection so much more in Vera & Mateo's book. She was able to blend the culture, sightseeing, and romance together really beautifully in their book but something was just majorly lacking here.


For my Safety Gang
Warning spoilers ahead!

Ok so the H kissing the cousin thing.

She kissed him he does kiss her back for a minute but immediately feels it's wrong because he wants Gemma. The cousin puts her hands down his pants and he goes to stop the kissing and stuff but the lights in the movie theater turn on. He tells her the very next day that he's not interested in her and she's ok with it because she can tell he's falling for Gemma.

The cuddle thing happened once and it's not described.its mentioned in his inner monologue how he thinks the cousin might be getting the wrong idea cause she cuddled up to him one night when they had to share a tent. He doesn't cuddle her back he just mentions her snuggling close to him.

The kiss doesn't bother me because while he did get turned on he's thinking in the same sentence he doesn't want it because it's not Gemma. Besides the heroine was still banging her BF.

HOWEVER....when we get to 87% in the book and the H goes back to the US because the h tells him to leave and breaks his heart he does sleep with someone else. Three months have passed and he mentions going on a date with someone to get over the h and sleeping with her. That grossed me out big time. He was in love with her at this point and totally "heartbroken" so it disgusted me that he slept with someone so quickly.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read WSMS!!! I loved getting to know Josh Miles, Vera's younger brother from Love, In English. He is a passionate and lovable male character and once again Karina Halle writes a fantastic male POV. It was fascinating to be inside his head and get to live his journey. Although, I didn't always love Gemma throughout this book, I could understand the reason behind her actions. And New Zealand...WOW...I could say that New Zealand was the biggest and most beloved character for me in this book. I absolutely fell in love with the places described in WSMS. Karina Halle has a way of transporting you to the places that her books are set in. I always want to visit those places after reading her books. This book was no exception. I'm ready to head to New Zealand! 5 huge stars!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

3.5 “Comfortably Numb” Kisses

I have been beyond excited about Where Sea Meets Sky since the moment I knew it was going to be released. I’ve had a soft spot for Josh since meeting him in Love, In English …he doesn’t play a huge part, but his relationship with Vera and what he does for her drew me to him. Plus if he was anything like his sister, then it was going to be epic. Oh…if I only knew. Let’s see if I can get through this review without babbling my head off – but I’ll warn you right now, I make no promises. :-)

Joshua Miles…this man blew me away. To another planet…another solar system…gah he was everything and then some. He is just as amazing as his sister…possibly a tiny bit more so for about a million of inexplicable reasons because to truly value and appreciate the magic that is Josh, you have to read him. From the moment he described his Khal Drogo costume, I was in it to win it – he’s my sexy nerd dream come true. He’s smart and witty, talented, charming, kind, sweet…he’s just the total package. I mean I’m all for hot guys, and Josh is pretty freaking delicious – TDH (tall, dark and handsome), gorgeous blue eyes, tattoo’s and piercings…but looks aren’t everything – lucky for me, he had an awesome personality to back up the hotness. Josh had me swooning all over the place and laughing so hard I was crying – truly, it was his sense of humor that really got me. He might be one of the funniest BBF’s I’ve ever read…dry, sarcastic, I mean his liners were amazing. Josh is the ultimate threat in my book…he deserves nothing but the absolute best…and he’s got his heart set on Gemma.

‘He kisses me and the world around us slips away. His tongue is smooth but urgent, the tongue ring stimulating, and our kiss builds with desire until my whole body feels like it’s being licked by the sweetest flames. I’m sucked under, in a riptide, into the undertow, and it’s dark and I’m tumbling and I don’t know which way is up but oh god, how I don’t want it to stop. I could drown in his mouth. I could sink into him forever.
I barely know this guy. I’m leaving tomorrow and I’ll never see him again.
But I want to drown in every moment we have.’

Gemma Henare…I started out good with Gemma…she was a cool chick, I liked how different and unique she was, she clicked well with Josh…there were a few red flags that I was concerned about…but superficially, I was hopeful that I my feelings would continue to stay positive. That all got blown to smithereens after the road trip started. Gemma is…a lot of things…she’s incredibly independent…she’s strong, in many ways – physically, mentally, emotionally…she’s very self-contained, which can be a good thing but for me, it went past the point of frustration, but that wasn’t all there was. The few moments of vulnerability…where Gemma let go…brought down her walls and gave her and Josh a moment to just be…that’s when I felt like I got to see the real Gemma. There was so much potential there…so much just begging to be let free…dreams, wants, desires, hopes…but as quickly as my hopes would go up, she would smash them back down with those walls. *sigh*

“Josh?” I ask softly.
“Yeah?”
“Do you ever find yourself wanting something so badly but you don’t know what it is?”
His breath is heavy in my ear for a moment. Finally he says, “Yes. I do.”
I swallow, my throat feeling thick. “I have this…I don’t know what it is exactly. But I wake up and it’s there and it’s been there for a long time. It’s just this absence. It tells me that either something was there before and now it’s gone or that something should be there at this point in my life. But I don’t have it. I feel this lack. So much that it hurts. And I don’t know what it is. It just makes me sad. It makes me long and ache and I need something to fill it. It’s a constant pain and I’m so fucking tired of it.”
My voice chokes up a bit at the end and the tears that didn’t come during the sunset are coming now, slowly, cold on my cheeks. “I think I ache for things I may never have. I long for purpose, for life, and yet sometimes I think I’m too afraid to live.” I pause. “Do you ever worry, that there’s something out there that you’re missing?”
“I do,” he answers quietly, pulling back the edge of my hood. His warm lips brush against the rim of my ear and I close my eyes to intensify the feeling. “The feeling that you won’t be happy until you find it.”
“Yes,” I say, relief flooding through me at the realization that he understands. “Do you know what yours is?”
He pauses. “I have an idea. It’s becoming clearer day by day.”

Josh and Gemma are…well, like fire and ice and they come together to form this insanely combustible and addictive force that I couldn’t pull myself away from. They’re so different and yet have so much in common…it’s like a balance that shouldn’t work but was absolutely perfect. I loved their connection with art…it was almost like even with all the cultural differences, the things that should have made it harder for them to connect…art was their base line – the thing both of them had a deep love and appreciation for…no matter what, they both understood how much it meant to the other and they just got it. That and sex…I mean, that’s how this whole thing got started – the one night stand that crossed two continents. Their chemistry was never a problem and that was fine by me because let’s be honest, they were damn good at it. Good is putting it lightly, Gemma and Josh are fuckin’ hot as hell…they’re sensual, their physical connection is just off the charts in my book but it was only the first step in drawing me into them as a couple. It was like every moment…every memory they made together…each leg of their journey, I was watching Josh fall in love more and more with Gemma…and despite her best attempts to hide and deny her feelings, it was the same for Gemma. It pulled at every single romantic ounce of me.

“Am I your issue?”
She shoots me a quick glance but doesn’t say anything.
I put my hand on her face, making her look at me again. “Am I your issue?”
“I…I don’t want to become attached to you,” she says, and I can see it took a lot of effort to admit it.
I frown though something inside me is growing warm. “Why not?”
She balks like I asked a stupid question. “Because.” She sighs harshly. “Attachments hurt when they’re taken away. You’re leaving.”
“So what?” I tell her. “I’m attached to you already and I’m still leaving. I almost left right now. Doesn’t mean that the pain negates everything, that none of this was worth it.”
She swallows, looking surprised. “You’re attached to me?”
I shake my head incredulously and run my thumb over her lips, marveling at how fucking clueless she is. “Gemma, Gemma, Gemma,” I murmur. “I told you how I feel about you. I told you why I’m here. Of course I’m attached to you. And I know very well that I’m leaving, but that isn’t stopping these feelings from happening. In fact, it only makes it sweeter, stronger, because I know we don’t have much time together.”

Alright…I’ve got to rant so…if you don’t want to hear it – skip this paragraph. My main issue…actually, my only issue, with this book was…Gemma. I could not, for the life of me, understand this girl. It was like she deliberately was making the wrong decisions and with very little logical thought to rationalize those decisions. At the end of the day, I know every human is different and has the right to make their own choices but when even she wasn’t happy with the choices she was making…how the heck am I supposed to buy that? I get it…everyone deals with shit in their own way…we all go through tough times and emotionally, you do what you can but for the love of Kiwi’s…I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. Her behavior was like a cycle of good then bad…and I was right along for the ride, ranging from trying desperately to understand her, barely tolerating her and wanting to murder her. Maybe it was because I was so connected to Josh…maybe it’s because I couldn’t grasp why she was acting the way she was…I don’t know…but I really cannot think of any other time that I have had this negative a reaction to a heroine…and that’s one of my crucial things while reading, if I don’t connect to the heroine…I feel lost. I absolutely hate saying this, but if I was basing the book on Gemma alone, I shudder to think of what my rating would be…I might have even DNF’d it. Okay…rant over, hopefully.

‘When that first sun rose over that deserted beach on the East Cape and my fingers captured that moment, that feeling – hazy, grand, messy, warm – I felt like my heart rose as well.
I was shining on the inside.
It’s all because of Josh. All because of this funny, sexy, handsome, generous, adorable man who knows my body better than I do, who sees the real me underneath the ice and isn’t afraid of her. Who believes in who I am and what I can do, more than I can believe it myself.
That morning showed me what he saw in me, and it was beautiful.
That morning I realized I love him. Deeply, desperately, dangerously.
I am in love with Joshua Miles, and it’s bringing me to life.
It’s killing me.
It’s making me crazy.
I think I love that part, too.
It twists and loops around us, tying us to one another. It steals my thoughts and makes me think of him. It steals my hands and makes me touch his skin. It’s brutal and kind and sharp and soft and warm and cold and freeing and imprisoning. It’s an incognito imposter taking over my world, spreading itself like a disease.
It’s a million and one things, and it’s real to the bone.
It’s in my bones.
It’s love. And I have no idea what it’s going to do next.
I can only hope that I’ll have the strength to keep it in line.’

I haven’t been this conflicted over reading a book in a while…to have undying love for one character and borderline hate at times the other, it felt like I was being pulled in two. There were some tough moments…times that I needed to rant or scream out of shear frustration…and there were a couple of times that I questioned why I was still reading and the answer is easy. Josh. He made reading this book worth every single solitary moment of dealing with Gemma’s bullshit. I can’t even explain it – after talking with my bestie about it, she flat out asked me why I was still reading and when I said his name, it slipped out…I didn’t even have to think about it. I would give this book a million stars for Josh because he’s worth every single one of them…I’m not trying to make him out to be a saint, but good grief he did everything right in my opinion and I loved every second of him. Don’t get me wrong…I’m an angst whore – I love good angst and there was some fantastic angst going on initially, but somewhere along the way, I lost the good angst and was stuck with just frustrating decisions and no logic. Eventually…I got the logic…it does come, at like 92%...and it makes sense but by that point my brain was exhausted and my heart was too bruised.

“How can you love me?” I’m surprised that’s what comes out of my mouth but it’s the truth and it’s out there, floating in the dark.
He’s surprised, too. He balks at the question, his head jerking back.
After a long moment, the silence filled by the lapping water on the shore, he asks, “Do you want the truth?” Of course I want the truth. Of course I need to heart it. But I steel myself against it all the same. “It’s not easy to love you, Gemma,” he says, his fingers sliding up through my hair, gently, affectionately, in contrast to his words. “You are not an easy person to love because you don’t seem to have any use for it. You don’t want it. But the more you push, the more I pull. I fell in love with you because it was like staring at the frozen sea. I only saw the surface but I knew there was more underneath, miles of depth that no one has had a chance to discover.”

The other thing that kept me reading…Karina’s writing. By far and away she is one of my favorite writers ever – her books are unquestionably must-reads for me. Her tone is so distinctive and I’m addicted to it. Especially with this book and the Love, In English series…since they’re not based in the US, she is forced to take you to a different place, and there is a good chance that you’ve never been there before (I know I haven’t!) – but good gravy, does she a magnificent job of transporting you. Her ability to be so detailed and yet not make it flowery, over the top or boring is…pretty awesome, if you ask me. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details but the way Karina writes it, it’s like painting a picture before my eyes – I’m a visual person and considering I have no real concept of what these places actually look like in real life, but I truly felt like she took me there. The entire book was this epic journey across New Zealand and I loved experiencing every moment of it. I can’t imagine the kind of research that was put into making this as authentic and genuine…because that’s what it felt like to me…no detail was spared...and I appreciated all of them. Something random that I really liked and seems kind of minor…the different words for things, like a chilly bin instead of a cooler (heck…I might start using chilly bin cause…it’s just fun to say) or boot instead of trunk…petrol instead of gas…some of the words I understood because they’re similar to English (UK English, not US) words…but it was a tiny detail that made all the difference to me.

‘I wonder if I’ll run into him somewhere. I wonder what I’d say.
I know what I’d say. I’d tell him I’m sorry. I’d tell him I didn’t mean to hurt him. I’d tell him what he means to me in the big, bad world, how his arms are the ones that kept me safe, that his eyes are what still coax me out of my shell. He gave me the courage to try again, to create, to lay myself bare, and that won’t stop, even after he’s gone.
I want to tell him that I love him. So deeply that I’m afraid I’ll never be able to remove it, that I’ll have to carry it with me forever, like a badge. And I want to tell him that’s not a bad thing. It’s an honor to love him.’

The ending…ahh, the ending…I have a love/hate relationship with the ending. I love it because…well, if Josh is happy then I’m on cloud freakin’ nine…so it’s hard for me to find fault in that. Alas, the way things were resolved did feel a tiny bit too easy. There were so many feelings involved…anger, frustration, sadness…and I’m all about forgiveness but even just a 15 minute conversation or something to address things that needed to be said would have been nice. I mean…Gemma made huge strides…the fact that I didn’t want to kill her by the end of the book proves that, but I definitely feel like after what happened, she owed Josh a little more. At the end of the day, even though I had my ups and downs with Where Sea Meets Sky it still gave me exactly what I ask from every book I read…heartfelt, deep, raw emotion…and through the good, the bad and the ugly, I thrived off of every feeling.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I absolutely adore Karina Halle's writing, Where Sea Meets Sky was a little too new-adult for me. Yes, I realize that "new-adult" is pretty much the first description in the book synopsis but I rarely read synopses anymore. I like to be surprised these days, so just know my mediocre response to this novel is totally my fault.

One aspect of this book I really did like though was the courage these characters had to risk it all for a new experience. Not drugs or promiscuity, but packing up the few possessions you have and setting up shop in another country. Getting out of your comfort zone and following your heart.

“Take this opportunity … and find what makes you happy. You may never get that chance again. Time waits for no one.”

Does this always work out in nonfiction scenarios? Hell no! I mean, have you ever watched Locked Up Abroad?? But it was a nice thought :)

If you like the new-adult genre then you will likely love this book. Karina Halle is amazing!

My favorite quote:
“Let it be wild, let it be messy. It’s the first sunrise of many more to come. You can’t screw it up. If you do, there’s always tomorrow.”

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karina Halle does such an incredible service for the travel industry. Honestly, every location Halle writes about I want to visit. She has an ability to make me feel as if I am there with her and her characters. I want to repel walls, feel the sand between my toes, see the starry lights of glow worms while floating through caves, feel the blustery winds whip hair across my face on picturesque beachside cliffs and ultimately, I want to feel it all while holding hand of the man I love. It is literary magic, a song to my avid reader’s heart, and the best escape a book can give.

After a once in a lifetime night of amazing sex and conversation with a backpacker that’s on her last night in town, Joshua Miles has an epiphany. He hasn’t truly experienced anything grand or life changing before. His sister has, and this beauty that ensnared him for night has, but he, however, has not. Joshua is comfortable in a “meh” job and has just been accepted to an art school. With little time before he begins school, Joshua feels the need to escape, explore, and discover the wonders of the unknown. He’ll just do it in the way of his one night stand. Too bad he doesn’t even know her name.

Gemma Henare is struggling to find herself. She thought a break in her normal life and having time spent alone traveling would be just the thing. Especially after finding herself spending the last night before flying home with a guy she could talk to, and that she felt a connection with. She can be strong, start over, and change her life, her situation and her thinking. Well, until she arrives home and instantly falls back to who she has been.

With the help of some fellow travelers, Joshua finds his elusive Gemma and gets himself invited along for a trek across New Zealand. The only problem is - they aren’t alone. Gemma brings along her cousin and a pretty big piece of her unfinished past.

Where Sea Meets Sky is angst, drama, and a lesson in forgiving, loving, letting go, and moving on. Deciding what is best for yourself and learning that what you want isn’t always what’s best for your heart. It’s also a lesson in throwing caution to the wind, trying something new, and being willing to be scared, yet trying anyway.

Get your highlighters ready, it’s that kind of read :)

“You won’t see anything more inspiring than this,” I say, gesturing to the sky, now gold. “Recreate it, capture it. Let it be wild, let it be messy. It’s the first sunrise of many more to come. You can’t screw it up. If you do, there’s always tomorrow.”

T~

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[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I’m waffling between 2.5 stars and 3 stars on this one. The thing I enjoyed about the most about story: Josh. I loved Josh. His quirkiness, passion, patience, fearlessness, and honesty make him wildly appealing. I just wish he didn’t allow himself to be such a doormat.

I felt like a tourist along for the journey as Josh, Gemma, Amber, and Nick travel across New Zealand in Mr. Orange—a vintage Volkswagen van. It made me wish I was that adventurous and carefree. I got to know each character extremely well, but I think the trip lasts a bit too long. The amount of stops and details causes the story to drag in places.

My main issue with the book is Gemma. She can be fun and carefree, but 99% of the time, she is a total beatch with a capital “B”. She’s inconsiderate, rude, wishy washy, moody. She’s an emotional weakling with a brave façade. It’s difficult to enjoy a story when you dislike the heroine so much. I have no idea what Josh sees in Gemma, and quite frankly I would have preferred if Josh and Amber were a couple.

This is billed a New Adult self-discovery story with characters trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. The blurb doesn’t come with a warning, but perhaps it should. While the characters are in their very early 20s, I think it’s most appropriate for readers who are 18 or older. Let’s put it this way. The first line of the book is, “I get an erection the first time I see her.” It’s a hint of things to come (excuse the double entendre). Potential readers should aware of strong language and explicit sexual content.

My issues didn’t stop me from reading the entire story or caring about most of the characters, but it did affect my enjoyment.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

"I get an erection the moment I first lay eyes on her."

Oh, hi, did I catch you a little off guard there? make you a bit uncomfortable?
Good.
Join me.

This is the literal first line of the book.

It didn’t put me off entirely, but it’s pretty graceless to say the least. (also sorry but what guy is able to get a full on insta-erection from a single GLANCE? I mean, maybe he has sound reason for referring to his dick as his "magician's wand" after all... except nothing could justify that ever.)

This opening line set the tone for the rest of the book I managed to read. Tactless.
And although I decided to look past that opener, the MC did his damnedest to push me right over the edge of hating him.
There is a line between sexy confidence and presumptuous assholery. This dude falls squarely into the second category. He's way too aggressive. I find it extremely off-putting when a guy comes on that strong moments after meeting. I was so turned off by him and this... romance.

and why oh why does his name have to be Josh? There are too many Joshs I love, and I don't like the name being attached to this asshat.



Anyway, after the uber sexy hookup, Josh decided to fly from Canada to New Zealand in pursuit of her (yeah, yeah, to "explore". sure, okay). Without knowing this girl's last name, where in NZ she lives, NOTHING, he finds her the day he gets there after basically zero effort.
SURE THING.



I wanted to stick this out because I love travel and hate to DNF, but I cannot bother to continue reading a 300+ page story about people I can't stand on a journey I don't care about.