What do you think?
Rate this book
Breaking Beneath Emerald Waves
Twenty-five-year-old Mark Hayes has wings.
Wings that soar him away from his problems and drown out the swirling anxiety in his head.
He’s the life of every party, always sporting an infectious smile. But what’s beneath those wings and behind those bright green eyes?
Over the last five years, Mark has been pining for his best friend. He’s finally confessed his love to her, only to be rejected. The same week he finds out his mother is sick. When he moves to Boston to help take care of her, he decides to frame it as the perfect escape; now he doesn’t have to face any of the drama he’s leaving behind. Yay for convenient avoidance!
Mark keeps himself happily distracted by charming new friends and landing his dream job as head chef at an up-and-coming bistro. There’s only one problem . . . The best friend (the one he’s desperate to stop thinking about) flies three thousand miles to see him—showing up at his doorstep unannounced. Mark is trying to act like he’s not hanging onto life by a thread, but this might just be the thing that makes him finally snap.
Can this golden boy keep his wings steady as he flies above the mess he’s become a master at avoiding?
Wings that soar him away from his problems and drown out the swirling anxiety in his head.
He’s the life of every party, always sporting an infectious smile. But what’s beneath those wings and behind those bright green eyes?
Over the last five years, Mark has been pining for his best friend. He’s finally confessed his love to her, only to be rejected. The same week he finds out his mother is sick. When he moves to Boston to help take care of her, he decides to frame it as the perfect escape; now he doesn’t have to face any of the drama he’s leaving behind. Yay for convenient avoidance!
Mark keeps himself happily distracted by charming new friends and landing his dream job as head chef at an up-and-coming bistro. There’s only one problem . . . The best friend (the one he’s desperate to stop thinking about) flies three thousand miles to see him—showing up at his doorstep unannounced. Mark is trying to act like he’s not hanging onto life by a thread, but this might just be the thing that makes him finally snap.
Can this golden boy keep his wings steady as he flies above the mess he’s become a master at avoiding?
ebook
Published February 10, 2025
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Leah Joanne
2 books10 followersLeah Joanne has many passions, but two of them have now become a necessary part of her life; writing and traveling. Fiction has always been Leah’s coping mechanism of choice when life tastes sour. Traveling has opened her mind and heart. She combines those two passions to create a world for readers to escape to when they need to jump into a new life for an hour or two. Leah loves to entertain her readers while sneaking in powerful messages about complex human emotions. She writes with all heart and no fluff. Leah Joanne is currently working on the next installment of the “Onyx” series, a world of characters that readers are already addicted to. She takes her craft seriously, traveling with intention to the locations where her books take place, but sometimes she binges one of her favorite character dramas (as an excuse for more research and inspiration of course). You can’t get more messy and complex than Gilmore Girls after all.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 30, 2025
I am so incredibly honored to have met Leah. Over the past six months, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her, her books, and the unforgettable characters she’s created. Working with her has been an absolute pleasure.
Now… let’s talk about the book.
Mark. My baby boy. My love.
Book 1 leaves us with a sense of loss, heartache, uncertainty, and the ache of unresolved emotions. Thankfully, Book 2 picks up immediately where we left off.
Waves the Color of Onyx (book 1) focuses on Valletta, her life, her internal battles, her story.
Breaking Beneath Emerald Waves (book 2) shifts the spotlight to Mark. We still see Valletta, and we still hear her voice, but this is Mark’s journey.
After flying across the country with a broken heart, determined to rebuild his life, we find Mark in a turbulent emotional state. Caring for his sick mother becomes yet another way for him to bury his pain, to avoid confronting the wounds he’s carried for far too long.
I relate to Mark deeply. I, too, tend to bury my feelings and struggle with confrontation. Mark has mastered the art of wearing a mask, holding himself together on the outside while everything inside him threatens to crack. But the thing about bottling up your emotions is that eventually, the glass will shatter.
And when the love of his life, the one who got away, shows up on his doorstep, Mark is finally forced to face everything he’s been running from.
Breaking Beneath Emerald Waves is a story of love, loss, and the courage it takes to let go. It’s raw, emotional, and beautifully character-driven.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves stories that tackle tough subjects with honesty, compassion, and a deep sense of healing.
Now… let’s talk about the book.
Mark. My baby boy. My love.
Book 1 leaves us with a sense of loss, heartache, uncertainty, and the ache of unresolved emotions. Thankfully, Book 2 picks up immediately where we left off.
Waves the Color of Onyx (book 1) focuses on Valletta, her life, her internal battles, her story.
Breaking Beneath Emerald Waves (book 2) shifts the spotlight to Mark. We still see Valletta, and we still hear her voice, but this is Mark’s journey.
After flying across the country with a broken heart, determined to rebuild his life, we find Mark in a turbulent emotional state. Caring for his sick mother becomes yet another way for him to bury his pain, to avoid confronting the wounds he’s carried for far too long.
I relate to Mark deeply. I, too, tend to bury my feelings and struggle with confrontation. Mark has mastered the art of wearing a mask, holding himself together on the outside while everything inside him threatens to crack. But the thing about bottling up your emotions is that eventually, the glass will shatter.
And when the love of his life, the one who got away, shows up on his doorstep, Mark is finally forced to face everything he’s been running from.
Breaking Beneath Emerald Waves is a story of love, loss, and the courage it takes to let go. It’s raw, emotional, and beautifully character-driven.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves stories that tackle tough subjects with honesty, compassion, and a deep sense of healing.
December 28, 2025
I had the honor of reading this second book in the series early, and I loved it just as much as the first!
Right from the beginning, I was pulled into the world and the characters, their inner thoughts and their emotions. Leah has a really great way of writing strong emotions that can be uncomfortable for some people to sit in, but she got them so spot on. I especially felt for Mark in this one.
Definitely give this series a try. You won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for drama, friendship, romance, and a little bit of mystery with lots of tension.
This book has some kissing, but no spice.
Right from the beginning, I was pulled into the world and the characters, their inner thoughts and their emotions. Leah has a really great way of writing strong emotions that can be uncomfortable for some people to sit in, but she got them so spot on. I especially felt for Mark in this one.
Definitely give this series a try. You won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for drama, friendship, romance, and a little bit of mystery with lots of tension.
This book has some kissing, but no spice.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews