De sable, de soleil et d'écume

Almost #1

by Christie Ridgway

Le jour où Jane Pearson, coach en écriture, frappe à la porte du magnifique bungalow de Griffin Lowell, sur la plage de Crescent Cove, elle s’attend presque à trouver un ermite. Ce n’est tout de même pas pour rien que l’éditeur de Griffin l’a engagée pour aider le reporter de guerre à terminer ses mémoires : Griffin doit probablement vivre en reclus sur cette plage, seul face à l’angoisse de la page blanche. Mais à sa grande surprise, au lieu du solitaire déprimé qu’elle pensait rencontrer, Jane se retrouve nez à nez avec un athlète bronzé aux yeux bleu lagon, vêtu d’une chemise hawaïenne et entouré d’une nuée de jolies filles en bikini. Un athlète qui lui fait sèchement comprendre qu’elle n’a absolument rien à faire ici. Malgré cet accueil glacial, Jane ne se décourage pas : elle a désespérément besoin de ce travail et compte bien imposer sa présence à cet apollon, quoi qu’il lui en coûte…

 

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Harlequin, Military Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 1, 2015

Reviews

[Elizabeth (Liz) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Book doctor Jane Pearson arrives at the beach house of reclusive war journalist Griffin Lowell NOT expecting him to be hosting a party and surrounded by beauties in bikinis! She's been hired to help him through a case of writer's block, but Griffin makes it abundantly clear that he needs no help, especially from someone so prim and proper. Jane needs this job, though, and stands her ground. Who will win in this battle of wits...and reluctant hearts?!


Beach House No. 9 by Christie Ridgway is a fun and fairly lighthearted contemporary romance. The plot is straightforward and moves at a comfortable pace. Too comfortable on occasion, perhaps.

Aside from Griffin referring to Jane as 'honey-pie' throughout the story, their platonic relationship is sharp, funny and entertaining. Their sexual chemistry as a couple is adequate, but not entirely believable. I still find myself unconvinced that these two characters would be attracted to one another.

Christie Ridgway has long been an author I enjoy, and, while I *did* find much to enjoy about this latest release, I also felt the writer's voice was a bit lackluster. It was missing some of the spark that used to infuse this author's best stories.

In the end, I do feel like this is a good first entry in this series, and I'm looking forward to reading the books that follow!




**ARC courtesy of Harlequin via Edelweiss**

[♥ WishfulMiss ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me, I don’t think I’ve ready anything by this author before so I was surprised that I enjoyed her writing style so much. Her characters were fleshed out, layered and complex. They are unique and flawed but along with the bad, you also get the good. The story is built up so well that the more you read the more you fall into the lives of these characters and the magic that is Crescent Cove.

Quick Summary:
Jane is trying desperately to save her career after her last client (and ex-boyfriend) trampled on her heart and turned around and tore her down professionally. Getting Griffin Lowell to finish his book and meet his writing deadline is her chance to get back on track.

But Griff has no intention of writing his memoir. His memories are still too fresh, too real for him to explore, let alone record on paper. But Jane is a lot more determined than Griff had anticipated and their battle of wits soon grows into a reluctant and shaky friendship. A friendship that is threated by their insane attraction to each other. But both have been burned by life one too many times. Giving into their passion is easier than offering up their hearts.

This was a gritty emotional read. Griffin is basically hiding out at this beach house, content to party and drink his battered emotions silent. When Jane literally crashes the party with her innocent determination to get him back on track, Griff finds himself forced back into living again. Living and feeling and caring. Things that have been iced up and numbed out since he got back. The slow reveal to all the trauma he’s endured was heartbreaking. I wasn’t expecting the real angst here but I was glued to my kindle late into the night to finish this.

There were a few things that I could have done without (mainly the secondary plot line of Tess and David and Griff’s amount of grovel!) but overall the story was sweet and Griff does make up for his TSTL moment with some very romantic gestures. I loved everything about Jane. She was my favorite part of this book! She was just so sweet and resilient in her reserved way. She had such a tender heart even after everything that she’s been through with her family and her ex. Her vulnerabilities turned out to be her strengths. I just wished she’d held out a bit and really made Griff fight for his second chance. I loved the ending but it needed more grovel from Griff, just saying . . .

Memorable Moment:
I was a total puddle of goo over Griff’s birthday presents for Jane. They all had special meaning to him because they reminded him of Jane. Of the good memories she was making for him. And Jane’s reaction to them – not gonna lie, I got teary eyed!

SAFETY INFO:
Ages : Griffin is 31 and Jane is in her mid to late 20s

Cheating : None.

OM/OW drama : Yes. Both MCs have past S/Os that have hurt them and made them both emotionally guarded. Griff’s ex, another journalist, died while they were covering the war and Jane was cheated on.

Separation : None.

Push/Pull: Yes, the Hero does push the h away emotionally. Lots of angst for both of them.

Main Pursuer of relationship : Griffin is the main pursuer but they both mutually pursue their no strings attached fling.

Possible Triggers : Depression, PTSD, survivor’s guilt, dead ex, secondary storyline (Married couple, Tess and David).

HEA/HFN: Ends with a marriage proposal, so HEA.

[Lisa Filipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly missed my Christie Ridgeway romances, but she is back and I am LOVING this new series so much!!

Jane and Griffin are fun, sexy and just freakin adorable!

Full Review Posted on http://atastyread.blogspot.com

For anyone who doesn't know, the book that lured me back into reading romance after I finished college was NOT ANOTHER NEW YEARS by the very amazing and talented, Christie Ridgway. It was naughty and nice, and was the raunchiest book I had read, well, up to that point in my life, AND I borrowed it from my MOTHER IN LAW...I know...took me a few days to be able to look at her in the eyes...haha.

Anyway, after finishing the very sexy Ridgway Romance, I was HOOKED...and I ran right over to the library and read ANY and EVERY romance I could get my hands on. This was the point where I discovered the wonders that are Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kristan Higgins, Susan Mallery, Nora Roberts and the list can go on and on.

So, as you can see, I owe Christie Ridgway for taking my "V" Card when if comes to Romance Novels. Thank you Christie...I am forever grateful!!

Now, onto the good stuff...BEACH HOUSE NO. 9, the first in Christie's new Beach House Series, where we meet Jane Pearson, the book guru, who is supposed to be helping the ever handsome, Griffin Lowell, get out of his own head and get his memoirs onto paper, but Griffin is doing anything he can to get away from Jane and his memories of the time he spent in Afghanistan. Jane burrows her way into Griffins head, and maybe even his heart, but Griffin isn't looking for any entanglements and Jane doesn't want to fall for another man who doesn't see everything that makes Jane special.

Not only did I LOVE Griffin and Jane, who reminded me so much of my all time favorite Romance couple, Jane and Luc from Rachel Gibson's SEE JANE SCORE, but I LOVED all the wonderful secondary characters we meet, like Skye, and Rex Monroe, Tee Wee, Tess, David and ALL the kids. As usual, Ridgway spins her magic and has you falling in love with a broken hero and a heroine who is one of a kind, I mean...remember the bows!! Haha!

The secondary story with Tess, Griffin's sister, and her husband David was heartbreaking. Each time he would turn away my heart broke a little more. I do love a man who loves his family that much though, and for taking care of them when they REALLY NEEDED HIM.

And Tee Wee...let's get more of him...Thank you very much!! I am also VERY intrigued to know what the deal is with Skye and her pen pal, Gage, who is Griffin's twin brother. There is something going on there and I sooooo hope that Skye and Gage are getting their own book.

BEACH HOUSE NO. 9 takes you away with scenery so descriptive that you could feel the warm sand beneath your toes and the cool breeze across your face, and a pair of mix matched lovers who keep the pages turning long into the night! Ridgway is back and ladies, she has come out swinging!!

This is a highly recommended Top Tasty Read!!

Available now: Beach House Beginnings #.05 AND ITS FREE!!!

[Katie_la_geek · Rating 2 out of 5]

For this review and more my blog

A while back I read the second book in this series (Bungalow Nights) and I wasn’t a fan. When I was given the opportunity to review the first book in the series I was unsure but decided in the end to give it a go, Bungalow Nights could have been a one off. Unfortunately for me that was not the case and I am finally throwing in the towel where this series is concerned.

My first big issue with both the first and second books is that writing. Christie Ridgway is by no means a bad writer, she writes well and more than adequately. My issue is with her style, some people will love it but it is down to reader preference. For me her writing is just too wordy, it is full of stuff that I just do not care about. It lacks flow and excitement and makes the books just feel really, really long. Some people like a slow pace but it is just not for me.

My second issue is characters. Again there is nothing wrong with them but I find them bland. Jane is the better of the two leads. She is quite smart and sometimes I quite liked her but she still lets herself be talked down too by the men in her family. Griffin was less likeable he has been through some tough times but I found him selfish and rude most of the time. When his distraught sister and her children turn up on his doorstep after her marriage fell apart he acts as though she is wasting his time and tries to get rid of her. He does have some sweeter moments but mostly I found him irritating.

There was also a second storyline concerning Griffin’s sister and her husband who I found unnecessary and hard to understand. David (the husband) didn’t make much sense to me, he loves his wife and kids but he is pushing them away. It just all seemed out of place to be honest.

I wanted to give this series another chance but have come to the conclusion that it is not for me. Beach House No. 9 is a little better than its sequel but it is not enough to keep this reader interested.


The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Donna (BookDragonGirl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy these stories from Beach House #9. It’s such a magical place.
It was the best place for Griffin to end up when he came home after spending a year in Afghanistan as a Journalist witnessing the horrors of war. He comes home a broken man who puts up walls and shuts down, spending time around partiers, listening to loud music and drinking and whatever he can do to shut out his thoughts. He can’t sleep at night, and he does everything to avoid writing the book that Jane is sent to help him write. She has her work cut out for her.

The relationship between Griffin and Jane sneaks up on them. There’s definitely attraction, lots of attraction. Then lots of sex. But both of these characters have problems with relationships and so they fight their feelings and deny their feelings, until you want to scream at them.

But once they did admit their feeling, it was THAT MUCH SWEETER!!!

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In order to find our strengths, we must face our weaknesses. Never have I come across more powerful words than that statement. Almost Always is a proclamation of those words amplified. Ms. Ridgway speaks to the heart and mind with the courageous journey of Griffin Lowell. His adventurous spirit and inquisitive mind has taken him all over the world. His experiences have broken his heart, opened his mind and haunted his dreams, but his greatest challenge is born from writer's block. One women is determined to change all that and maybe find a little adventure of her own. Jane and Griffin learn the value of facing fear while following the heart and end up delivering a little balm to the soul.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. There's always a lot of humor and emotion in Christie Ridgway's books and this was no exception. I loved both Jane and Griffin. Jane has been sent to get Griffin back on track in writing his book about his year with the troops in Afghanistan. After the trouble she had reaching him by phone or email she wasn't expecting to find him in the middle of a party at his beach house. She also wasn't expecting the immediate zing of attraction she felt for him - something that was very unwelcome. She had just ended a job with another author with whom she had developed a relationship and then gotten burned. She needs this job with Griffin to work out. Griffin hasn't done any work on his book since he returned home. The memories of his time there, of the things he saw and the people who were lost, are too painful for him to revisit. He surrounds himself with people and noise trying to drown them out. He has also shoved his emotions deep so that he won't feel the pain. He lets Jane know that he doesn't want her around and does everything he can to drive her away. I really liked the way that Jane refuses to be dismissed. She is determined to make this job work and is very creative in her ways to try to prod Griffin into doing what needs to be done. I loved the way that she got to him with her unpredictability and refusal to be ignored. Besides her need to make this job work, she is also dealing with some issues stemming from her relationship with her family. She was raised by her father, an emotionless scientist who was constantly putting her down, calling her silly and emotional. She decided to take advantage of her attraction to Griffin and enjoy the physical relationship but keep her emotions out of it.

Griffin doesn't want to face his memories by writing his book. He tries to drive Jane away, but she won't go. He also discovers that she has invaded his thoughts and he can't get rid of her there either. She has read all the articles he wrote while he was in Afghanistan and knows that he has the ability to write a fantastic book, but tells him he has to put his emotions into it. When he finds out why she has to be successful in getting his book done he decides to go ahead and do it. He also realizes that having her there has made the process more bearable for him. He is still trying to convince himself that their relationship is just physical, but spends a lot of time doing things for her and to her to try to counter the effects her father and others have had on her. I loved the way that he was verbally so gruff and rude at times but if you watched his actions you could see the true Griffin that was under the ice. His final facing of his life and emotions was excellent and he was able to go after what he really wanted. I also loved all the secondary characters and stories. His sister Tess and her husband were having problems that had to be faced and I loved how real it felt. There was also a storyline with Skye and Griffin's twin Garrett that I suspect will be the focus of book three. The second book with one of Griffin's friend and the daughter of the other soldier looks to be fantastic. I also hope that we'll see more of the firefighter "Tee-Wee".

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Voto
.
“Parole in riva al mare” è il primo romance contemporaneo, scritto dall’autrice Californiana Christie Ridgway , che inaugura la serie “Beach House No. 9”, così composta:

0.5 – Beach House Beginnings (Prequel);
1 – Beach House No. 9 – PAROLE IN RIVA AL MARE;
2 – Bungalow Nights;
3 – The Night Shack.

Ho iniziato a leggere questo libro perché cercavo un intrattenimento leggero, qualcosa di facile che non mi entrasse troppo dentro. Ebbene, ho sbagliato libro. Perché è vero che ha molti momenti ilari ed altrettanti erotici, ma affronta anche delle tematiche piuttosto importanti. Immagino che leggendo la trama, non ho dato il giusto peso alla parte in cui si citava l’esperienza in Afghanistan.
Jane Pearson (per tutto il tempo l’ho immaginata quasi identica a Scarlett Johansson, con le sfumature descritte dall’autrice) è la protagonista principale, intelligente, ma con un po’ di complessi causati dal padre. Con gli occhi argentei, la pelle candida, i biondi riccioli ribelli e quella bocca a forma di cuore che sembra appartenere all’attrice ideale per un film muto. È una professionista che si occupa di revisionare, correggere, editare libri, ma anche e soprattutto, di aiutare gli scrittori in difficoltà, per ispirarli, per incoraggiarli, per far loro superare i momenti di stallo per poter alla fine rispettare le scadenze.
Segnata da un’esperienza difficile con un suo precedente cliente, che, dopo averla sfruttata le infanga ingiustamente la reputazione, Jane cerca ripulire la sua immagine ed accetta di andare in soccorso dello scrittore Griffin Lowell.
Lui è un reporter che ha trascorso un anno durissimo in Afghanistan, ha affiancato i soldati armato di carta e penna, ma ha visto esplodere bombe, proiettili che lo sfioravano, gente che moriva o restava mutilata. Ha respirato polvere e sangue, ha ingurgitato pastiglie perché potesse trovare finalmente un po’ di riposo. Poi, alla fine è tornato a casa, fisicamente sano e salvo. Psicologicamente, inevitabilmente cambiato.
Fa praticamente di tutto per evitare di affrontare il dolore che sente, per anestetizzarlo. Arriva anche a negarlo completamente, a negare di avere sentimenti. Rifiuta di ammettere di essere affetto dalla Sindrome Post Traumatica da Stress.
Già solo l’affrontare il tema di un giornalista che soffre di PTSD anziché di un soldato, pone l’accento sugli effetti della guerra su chiunque ne venga a contatto.
Fra i vari e spassosissimi scambi di battute fra Griffin e il “vecchio brontolone”, alias il vicino di casa Rex Monroe – che ho adorato -, anche lui cronista inviato in guerra, troviamo anche momenti in cui le loro schermaglie colpiscono al cuore il lettore.
.
Ci fu un attimo di silenzio,in cui Griffin fu certo di avere messo a tacere il vecchio vicino, ma poi l’uomo fece un gesto con la mano.
<>
Infastidito da quel tono altezzoso, Griffin incrociò le braccia al petto.
<>

Un’altra delle mie scene preferite (indovinate un po’.. è dolorosa!) è quella in cui lui, dopo aver accettato di mettersi finalmente al lavoro per finire l’autobiografia così da dare nuovo lustro alla carriera di lei, entra nell’ufficio allestito a tal fine in cui Jane aveva appeso le foto da lui scattate In Afghanistan.

" In versione apatica com’era al momento, entrò nella stanza ed esaminò la cinquantina di foto che Jane aveva sistemato. Per lo più erano dodici-diciotto e venti-venticinque. Raffiguravano soldati che si azzuffavano, dormivano, mangiavano. Che facevano la ronda, che usavano armi, che erano di guardia. Dall’altra parte della stanza Griffin guardò Jane.
<>
Già. Be’. Cercava di risparmiargli delle emozioni, naturalmente. <>
<> suggerì lui, sorprendentemente freddo.
Jane si strinse nelle spalle e sentì un brivido scorrerle lungo la schiena. Griffin tornò alle foto. Dopo averle studiate ancora un po’, allungò la mano e ne staccò una dal muro. In quella, c’era un ragazzino seduto sul suo letto che suonava la chitarra.<< E così lui. Morto.>>
fece de passi e si fermò davanti a un’altra immagine. C’era un giovane che stava flettendo il bicipite, e mostrando un tatuaggio aggressivo. <>
Oh, Dio. Un altro passo. <> Afferrò l’immagine di un soldato che faceva delle smorfie davanti all’obiettivo."

Il libro ha molteplici punti di vista, ed è interessante scoprire anche le storie che girano attorno a quella di Jane e Griffin.
La Ridgway, infatti, ci racconta anche di Tess, la sorella di Griffin. Ci parla del suo matrimonio in crisi, dei suoi quattro figli, di come si evolvono queste cose. Le due piccole canaglie di mezzo sono davvero adorabili!

<>

Vi ho parlato principalmente dei momenti emotivamente emozionanti, almeno per me lo sono stati, ma ci sono una miriade di momenti molto divertenti, e mi piace tanto la sagacia di Jane nel rispondere alle battute del Griffin, scorbutico ed aggressivo.
Mi è piaciuta moltissimo anche la delicatezza con cui l’autrice ha saputo descrivere le scene di sesso. Ha saputo renderle passionali senza mai cadere nel volgare. Molte di queste scene, sono inoltre fondamentali per comprendere come Griffin cambi lentamente e come cambino i suoi sentimenti.
Come dicevo, cercavo un libro “da ombrellone” e ho trovato un libro davvero molto bello. Consigliato!

[Christy Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally picked up book determined to read again after months of nothing. Hadn't felt it but I just started which I was glad of. This was a good boo and I really enjoyed most of it. The things I didn't I explain below.

Griffin was a journalist in the middle East and he's supposed to be writing his memoirs but the things that happened over there to his friends and no he came back but some didn't. Jane is determined to get Griffin to do the book and promises she will do anything that he needs but he just keeps putting it off even has his sister Tess and her four kids stay with Jane at her beach house so he claims he can work. It's a bunch of horse feathers though because Griffin still does nothing with the book.

Jane's been burned by former client already who she'd been also involved with. She learned the hard way that she was nothing but a muse to him. He slept some other woman and then thought they still be something. Jane's not wanting to get involved but it finally on what he finds is her birthday they end up going to bed. Things don't change on the book though which drives her nuts since she a professional. Griffin calls her a governess and librarian because of how she dresses most of the time.

It isn't until Griffin's publisher tells him about what Jane's ex did to her reputation that he buckles down. The memories are hard and a few times he falls back to his old ways when she first got there but for most part he's changing. However Griffin still can't process the nightmare he's having from the past and doesn't was to admit he has PTSD. He was a journalist he claims but his neighbor who was military from WWII tells him that along with Jane and his sister.

It takes til the last three pages for Griffin to see what he's about to lose with Jane leaving after one heated conversation between them. Falling off the cliff that he has jumped off many times is what does it. Jane fell he grabbed her and when they got back to shore he realized finally what he wants. It's not going back to the middle East like he's planned when his twin brother Gage asked him come be with him. It's Jane and he proposed right there. I thought it was sweet.

The thing didn't like was Tess, Griffin's sister's side story. I thought it was used as a filler and would been done if there was no marriage troubles just them on vacation. Her husband David annoyed me so badly and it took so long find out what his problem was that I wanted to skip that altogether. I also was himself the back and forth on how long took Griffin to man up with Jane. It's why I have it 4 stars.

[Renae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was...okay. Most of the plot centers around the fact that the hero OBVIOUSLY has PTSD but has no idea. Which...duh. There's also a beta romance about the hero's sister/brother-in-law that's 100% #MasculinitySoFragile. Eh. Well-written, but lots of filler and the plot sort of meanders.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: C

Jane Pearson needs to save her reputation and career as a “book doctor”, helping authors in any way she can, to get their books done. Her past client, and lover, decided to end their personal relationship but when Jane wasn’t too keen on keeping their professional relationship going, he bad mouthed her to anyone who would listen to his bestselling words and now Jane needs to get her career back on track, fast. Her current assignment is getting Griffin, a reporter who lived with the troops overseas, to write his experiences down for his book. Trouble is, Griffin absolutely, positively does not want to relive that experience through the process of writing.

Griffin is struggling with the year he spent overseas. He lost someone close to him who was also there reporting on her experience. He saw war up close, death, trauma and he’s trying to forget by living a life with too much partying, too much alcohol, he’s shutting his family out and he wants nothing to do with Jane. He’s growly, and I have to say it’s not a hot kind of growly early on. He’s tough to be around and he was a hard hero to like at first. He wants nothing to do with Jane, he ignores his niece, nephews and his sister, the only person he remotely seems to care about is his twin brother Gage. But Gage isn’t present in the story as he’s chasing his own thrills taking photos in high risk areas.

For as hard as Griffin was for me to warm up to, I liked Jane from the start. She’s trying to do the best she can and she’s also trying to ignore the unsupportive words her father used to say to her growing up. She does any and everything to get Griffin to focus on this book and when he doesn’t, she befriends his sister and her kids when they move in next door. Her romance with Griffin grows slowly but Griffin holds back through much of the book. He’s scared to love and eventually Jane starts to break those walls down.

Even though I found Jane to be interesting, I really struggled to get into this story. I can’t pin point why, other than Griffin didn’t grab me early on. When more of his experiences and feelings started coming out, it was easier to “get” him, but before that happens, he comes off as a bit of an ass. I have a hard time liking a hero when he ignores his family, especially cute little nephews! It’s mentioned that he had been doing things off page with them when he thought no one was looking, but I guess I just needed to actually see that side of him for it to work.

There’s a side story with Griffin’s sister Tess and her rocky marriage to her husband David. David has been standoffish for months now and Tess has no idea why. She moved out to Beach House No. 8 and now David is trying to get his family back but has no idea what Tess truly wants from him. I was really interested in this supporting story, even though I wanted to smack David a few times. There was something about the dynamic between David/Tess and their family that hooked me in.

This was a good read, I can’t say I was blown away by Griffin and Jane’s story, but it was a nice set up for this new series and my interest in the characters coming up in the next book is enough to keep reading. I would recommend reading this for Jane. I enjoyed her character and seeing her try to get Griffin to open up and deal with his pain that he’s been holding in put me in her corner.

[Janga · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conflict between Jane and Griffin is equal parts humor and poignancy. The reader is convinced that these two stubborn people burdened with baggage from their pasts belong together, and watching them reach this conclusion is fun. A strong cast of secondary characters gives the central story greater dimension. All the characters from a drama queen teen to a curmudgeonly Pulitzer Prize-winning neighbor to a wimpy kid grown into a hot firefighter add their own appeal. Hints about a connection between beach house landlady Skye and Griffin’s photojournalist, adrenaline junkie twin brother ensure interest in the series continues.

The subplot of Tess’s marriage in trouble rivals the main story for interest. It was this that kept the book a four-star read for me. At times I found myself more engaged with Tess and David’s story, more eager to know what had created the change in David, than I was in what was going on between Jane and Griffin.

If you’ve read Ridgway before, you won’t be surprised at the mix of heat and heart in this book. (There’s a storeroom scene that is a gem.) If you have never read Ridgway, Beach House No. 9 is an entertaining introduction. With the prequel novella, “Beach House Beginnings,” offered for free download at the usual outlets, and this first book to be quickly followed by Bungalow Nights (February 26) and The Love Shack (March 26), the Beach House No. 9 series is a great way to include some California sunshine with your particular winter mix.

See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2013/01...

[Romancing the Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Posted on Romancing the Books blog
Reviewed by Molly
Review Copy Provided by Netgalley

So, I wanted to read this series really bad. I loved the sound of the beach, the romance, characters that would become friends. But, sadly this was not quite what I was expecting.

Ms. Ridgway captured me in the beginning with Jane and her witty charm. She hooked me with the sexy Griffin and his tortured self. Then the story started to drag on for me with Jane and Griffin’s issues. Towards the end, however, it did pick back up and kept my interest. But, in the middle, I had a bit of issue staying focused on the story.

Jane’s character is well developed as she struggles with getting Griffin to meet his deadline. Griffin’s character is one you want to be mad at , yet be happy for. He was suffering from PTSD and so many times I wanted to tell him to wake up! But, I also was happy for him when he started to realize what Jane was all about and his feelings for her.

Ms. Ridgway does do a good job at working in the romance. When Jane and Griffin felt the pull of attraction, so did I! I wanted to be right there where Jane was.

Despite the slow middle, I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a good romance story. It’s sultry, summery and sparking with passion! I am looking forward to reading the next two books in this series and visiting Crescent Cove again.

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this new series, with an almost tropical beach in California where bungalows are rented to different people and bungalow number 9 bring out the romance in the air.
However I'm not a huge fan of double romances, with two couples in one book, as it always feels to me like the author was not able to develop either story and the characters of each couple enough to really fill in a book.
Moreover the beginning of this one was rather difficult to overcome: Jane was supposedly intelligent and professional but never behaved accordingly, while Griffin seemed to have the maturity of a 14-year-old. And it took them a long while to finally come to their senses.
Ok as an introduction to the series but not as good as some previous books written by this author.

[Shawna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ½ stars – Contemporary Romance

[Asheley T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first saw Beach House No. 9 when I was browsing my library's online catalog. I was very new to the adult contemporary romances at the time and noticed that the wait list was miles long for this one. Despite never having heard of the book nor the author, I put it on hold for myself since everyone else seemed to be reading it too - I figured I'd see what all the fuss was about.

This excerpt is taken from my full Three-Things Review on Into the Hall of Books. Read more here: http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/201...

The first thing you need to know is this:
Jane Pearson aka the Book Doctor is sent to Beach House No. 9 to help Griffin Lowell finish writing his war memoir.

Jane has no problem with her assignment; she's worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and can handle herself just fine. She was prepared for Griffin to be reclusive and a bit broody. She was not prepared for him to be a handsome party animal with a very rude attitude - who doesn't give a darn about his deadlines.

Jane arrives to Beach House No. 9 in the midst of a party and can't seem to get Griffin's full attention as he is too busy being host and seeing to his guests. Frustrated, she comes back the next day - only to find another party. It seems that Griffin is so uncaring about his deadlines and basically everything else that people generally walk all over him and use his Beach House as "Party Central" because they know he just won't care.

Somehow Jane snaps him out of it - she decides to join the party. If you can't beat them, join them - right? Griffin makes everyone leave and just like that - SNAP! - no more parties. The book does mention a time or two or twenty that both Jane and Griffin are very attracted to one another.

The second thing you need to know is this:
It takes some BIG WORK on her part to get him to do his work.

Griffin keeps saying over and over that he will work on his memoir, but it becomes clear that either he can't or he isn't planning on it. So Jane sets up a home office and makes herself very available (she's already moved into the Beach House next door, much to Griffin's annoyance) so he can meet his deadlines.

As Jane and Griffin begin to pour through Griffin's old journalism work from when he was embedded with the military during wartime, Jane begins to understand exactly why Griffin is having such a hard time and why he is exactly how he is. Griffin has some issues resulting from his time spent over there that he hasn't dealt with properly and this is affecting his entire life, including his interaction with everyone. Still, Jane is determined to meet those deadlines. And with her help, Griffin is able to work. He battles his demons and begins to produce the memoir that he is supposed to. It isn't easy, but that's what Jane is there for - it's her job to help him. And good grief, it takes practically everything she has to get the job done.

The third thing you need to know is this:
Needless to say, there is a massive amount of chemistry between Jane and Griffin.

Well, of course there is - this is a romance book! And Jane is beautiful, with her odd sense of style, her confidence, and her stick-it-to-him/I'm-getting-this-job-done-no-matter-what attitude. Even though Griffin acts like he is irritated by it, he also finds it very sexy. Even when he doesn't let Jane know, he thinks about her non-stop and he wants her.

Jane is really no different. She is so very attracted to Griffin because he is so very handsome. To tell the truth, she was taken aback by his good looks from her first glimpse of him - acting goofy at his party - but she's a professional and would've never let him know it. But man, she thought it!

After working closely together for a little while, the walls start coming down and the little jokes begin between the two of them. They become more comfortable around one another, which is saying a lot where Griffin is concerned. They start standing closer together and there is a brief touch to an arm here, and a hand on the small of a back there. And there are walks and she attends a function with him and so on. The attraction grows and good gracious, so does the talking and the thinking of what one wants to do to/with the other one. It basically just never ends with these two once it starts. (It made me giggle.) But I promise there is a ton of good story in there.

********************************************

Beach House No. 9 by Christie Ridgway is a nice, indulgent romance that has a great, great beach setting, a strong female lead, and one of those males that needs to be fixed. It's kind of a typical romance story with tons of steam mixed in and I found it fun and quite perfect for a summertime read.

Jane Pearson is a funny character, in my opinion. She's a bit wound-up. She's so wound-up that it's actually good that she ended up coming to Beach House No. 9 - so she could learn to let loose a little bit, let her hair down and have a little bit of a good time. She's been brought up by a father that expects no less than absolute success at all costs, so that's what her goal has always been as well. When she meets Griffin 1) she realizes that she may not actually achieve success this time and 2) she begins to question the importance of all success, all the time as she learns more about him - why he is the way he is, how difficult meeting his deadline will be for him, how she might prefer a personal relationship rather than a professional relationship with him - and she begins to re-evaluate everything her father taught her, which is actually a really good thing. As Jane helps Griffin with his work, she falls for him. She falls HARD.

This could be a problem, you see.

The problem with falling for a guy like Griffin Lowell is that he does everything in his power to push everyone away and keep them there. He holds everyone, everyone, everyone at arm's length to keep from getting close to them - even his own family. He just can't deal with another loss like he endured once before, first of all, and he also has never even coped or dealt with the tragic things that happened to him when he was embedded, so there are some definite post-traumatic stress issues going on - Griffin is almost unable to care about and love. Almost. Slowly, slowly as he finds himself having feelings for Jane that go beyond purely sexual, he also finds that he is experiencing feelings for other people: love for people in his family, respect for his neighbors, etc. This is such a shock for Griffin and so incredibly uncomfortable that he kind of flails a bit, and I love this vulnerability in him as a character.

I love Griffin's character. I know people in life like Griffin - scared to open their heart up to people for fear of getting hurt. I found that while Jane almost seems to be written as comic relief (I said almost, when compared to Griffin), Griffin felt very real and had much more depth, and I just loved him and connected to him and felt for him.

This book has an amazing setting - right on the beach, couldn't be any better! - and a great, great secondary cast. I love the great neighbors, and Griffin's sister and her bunch of children end up coming to stay at the Beach House unexpectedly when they have some issues at home. (This story line is really great as well and weaves into the Jane/Griffin story line perfectly.)

It's true that I felt like Beach House No. 9 is a little bit cheesy throughout the book because for some reason the sexytime/steam factor made me chuckle. But I also loved the indulgent fun-ness of the story. In fact, all of the story lines were good. At the end, each plot line had good resolution but there is just enough left open to make me want to pick up the next book at some point fairly soon, since it is summertime and these books take place on the beach.

I recommend Beach House No. 9 to fans of adult contemporary romance, great settings, and good family relationships. This series continues with companion novels, I believe, so I'll be checking out the next one in the near future.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was reviewed for SBTB's RITA Readers Challenge 2014.

The heroine, Jane Pearson, heads out to Crescent Cove, an idyllic, beach cottage-filled gem of not-stucco development in Southern California. Her job: to help Griffin Lowell, a journalist who'd (TRIGGER WARNING) spent a year embedded with American troops in Afghanistan, finish the first half of his memoir in time for the deadline.

Jane ruminates on her frizzy, dishwater-blond hair, her "pleasant but unremarkable features", plain gray eyes, and her white linen dress, which apparently started out "professional" and now looks "like a drooping Kleenex ghost". We get it, Jane - you think you're plain, like every other heroine in Romancelandia. She arrives at the cottage, expecting a brooding recluse - and interrupts a house party, where she womanfully ignores a comment from a drunken beach boy about being "some little thing from librarian school".

Griffin is dressed up as a pirate, wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt (whether or not it was tucked in is left a mystery, so your guess is as good as mine). Despite the fact that he has a bikini-clad beach babe on each arm, when he takes off the headband and eye patch he's wearing, her response is "Shiver me timbers." He's a blue-eyed, dark-haired, stubble-sporting hottie, and he wastes no time doing smoldering eyesex as he checks her out.

Griffin comes across as rather obnoxious - when she tries to talk business, he tunes her out, then checks her out again. The man's hardly said two words to her and Jane alternately considers giving him a figurative kick in the pants to get him to turn in the eleven pages that are overdue, and being so hot and bothered by this guy that she can't think. He calls her honey-pie, asks for alcohol, and propositions her. He also compares her to a governess (Jane Eyre, much? Also: this goes on throughout the book. She's either called a librarian or a governess and is described repetitively as "prim". If this is RageFlail-inducing for you, enter at your own risk.).

Jane touches his shin, which results in the usual "electric shock snapping, tingle going up her arm, etc" and her becoming more flustered and attracted to him. To nobody's surprise but hers, she's amazed by this because she'd "always assumed her interest was more in a man's mind than his... manliness."

We quickly learn that Griffin is "hyper-memoried" - not schizophrenic - but he always hears the memories playing in the background head, which is why he surrounds himself with people and noise to drown them out. Just as quickly, he decides Jane is a "small stubborn woman", a "bookish female", and

"he'd done his best to ignore her, but she wasn't easy to avoid, damn her pretty eyes."

So there we go: "I don't like you but I can't stop thinking about your eyes, dammit!" phase has commenced. He alternates between thinking she's sexy and thinking she doesn't have anything that would interest him, and says that nobody who looks like a librarian or governess will be allowed at Beach House No. 9.

Jane, of course, takes that as her cue to don sexy clothes, despite her discomfort with all the skin they reveal. Her desire to revive her career and professional reputation by making Griffin finish his book outweighs any qualms she may have about her clothing. Two random surfers both want to get with her, and Griffin comes to the rescue (of course) by shoving one guy, yanking her into his arms, and slamming his mouth down on hers. Sure hope poor Jane didn't end up with a busted lip, since Griffin kisses like it's WWF Smack Down. (On a side note, I wonder why all these other men don't find the heroine attractive until the hero comes around and decides she's the hottest thing since the gates of Hell? Why is this such a Thing in romance?)

Griffin wouldn't be a legit romance hero unless he had something(s) in his past to angst over. In his case, it's the year he spent embedded with troops in Afghanistan, his fellow journalist and former lover who was killed in an ambush, and the fact that his twin brother is still there, photographing his heart out and loving every moment. I totally get where Griffin is coming from here, as I did a tour in Afghanistan in the Army and know how hard readjustment can be, even years after the fact. He's a man who doesn't want to deal with his emotions. He doesn't even want to admit he has them, and this state of denial is the cause of a lot of his obnoxious and rude behavior towards everyone around him.

Jane's angst comes from the way a previous author she'd worked with (and dated) nearly ruined her career and reputation when she left him for being a cheating slimeball, and her dad, a distant, unemotional man who belittled her for being "silly and emotional". Her two brothers are geniuses, not the most sensitive or emotionally available guys around, and they were homeschooled. Jane didn't show any aptitude for math and science, so her dad judged that public school was "good enough for her". (Nice guy, right?) The only way Jane can obtain his approval is to succeed professionally. She's determined not to let Griffin get in the way of her professional renaissance, even if she does have a serious case of hornypants for him.

"Her breath quickened, even though she tried pretending she was all cool control. There was no denying that something about the man had found a previously hidden chink in her, an opening that allowed his male energy to worm its way under her armor, heating her up, loosening her muscles, almost... preparing her."

Avast, me hearties! New purple-tinted euphemism for the Mighty Wang off the port bow! Like many a contemporary romance heroine, Jane has had to take charge of her own life and sexual agency. No one has ever put her first in anything - not her family, not douchey former lover Ian Stone, nobody. With Griffin, she has to unlearn the habit of achieving her own sexual gratification and learn to trust that he will give her pleasure, rather than take his own and neglect her (as Ian apparently did). The sex scenes are pretty hot, though I did take issue with one scene, where Jane believes that he doesn't even know who she is, that she's just "a willing woman" for him to "exorcise his demons upon", and she goes along with it.

There is a side romance between Tess, Griffin's sister, and her husband David. These two encapsulate the Big Mis of the book, specifically because they each try to do their own thing instead of communicating with one another. I liked them both. I also wanted to slap both of them and wondered how on earth people can be married for the better part of 15 years and still have communication issues, especially since they have four kids to take into consideration. The couple for the next book is also set up here.

By forcing Griffin to work on his book, Jane forces him to confront the memories that haunt him. This leads to a lot of kicking and screaming and tantrums and throwing things on his part, because he doesn't want to feel anything, he doesn't want to love anyone, he just wants to go on ignoring his problems or trying to minimize their impact on him because he carried a camera, not a rifle. It takes Jane falling off a high rock into the water (she can swim, but she's terrified of the ocean) and his attempt to rescue her to make him understand how much he cares for her.

The proposal at the end struck me, and Jane (initially), as a reaction to adrenaline. However, I left the book with the sense that Griffin and Jane would have a fair chance of happiness, provided he got some professional counseling and support to help him adjust and cope with his emotional issues. As much as we like to believe that the Power of True Love (tm) will win out above all things, sometimes love just needs a bit of extra help.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free complimentary book and voluntarily reviewed it.

Almost Always is the second book in Christie Ridgway’s “Almost Paradise” series. This series takes place in Crescent Cove, California. This is the story of Griffin Lowell and Jane Pearson.

This book is a little different from Ms. Ridgway’s other books. This author skillfully writes this book with two distinct story lines. Each has its own profound theme and includes characters with great depth, intelligence and intensity.

Griffin was a newspaper reporter who spent time embedded in a military unit. During this time, Griffin had started a journal. Unfortunately, he is unable to work on it because he has returned with the same symptoms that befall many soldiers who return from war zones.

Ms. Ridgway does a fantastic job of allowing the reader to see into the mind of this war-torn reporter who can no longer live a “normal” life. His life is filled with terrifying memories, and he will do anything to get rid of the pain.

Jane is a “book doctor,” who is sent to help Griffin stick to his deadline. Her job is to tactfully urge the writer to continue his work and to help him “punch up” the emotional side of her story. She comes to Crescent Cove with her own set of problems.

There is a secondary storyline that the author threads throughout the storyline of Griffin and Jane. This is the story of Tess Quincy, Griffin’s sister. Tess leaves her husband, who seems to be losing interest in his family, and, with her four children, moves in with Griffith at Crescent Cove. I found Tess’s story and character as absorbing as Jane and Griffin.

Another interesting character is Rex Monroe, Griffin’s next door neighbor. He is a famous reporter who wrote about World War Two in his younger days. He has been a thorn in Griffin’s side since he was a little boy. In spite of their mutual hatred, Rex seems to be a voice of reason throughout this story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Always series. While I thought it would be Skye's story, instead it revolves around the Lowell siblings. The Lowell sibs also spent summers at Crescent Cove of Southern California. The twins Griffin and Gabe were always thrill seekers and as adults, Gabe is a world traveling photographer and Griffin a war correspondent. Tess, their sister, at eighteen was the famous OM girl, of the green tea gum commercial. Now she is the married mother of 4. Griffin is contracted to write his memoirs, but has not been able to get his head around it, so book doctor, Jane Pearson, is hired to help him. Jane is excellent at her job, but was burned by her last author and has vowed never to care for a man who couldn't love her back. Meanwhile, Tess has left her husband of fourteen years, who has been acting peculiar since his fortieth birthday. So there are two stories here, one about Griffin and Jane, and the other about Tess and David. The author always develops interesting characters, and conflicts, but always gives them a HEA, even when the characters don't think that they deserve one. In the first book, it was mentioned that Beach House No 9 (where Griffin is staying) was known for couples falling in love (from the song Love potion #9?) and magic did happen there.

I received an ARC from the author for an honest review. I have never read a book by Christie Ridgway that I did not adore.

[Terric853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Pearson is a book "doctor" who helps authors shape and edit their books. Griffin Lowell had been a reporter who was embedded with the Army in Afghanistan for a year. He's supposed to be writing his memoirs but instead is holed up in a small beachside town partying. Griffin's agent hires Jane to work with him and help him meet his deadline.

The problem is that Jane's persona is that of a librarian and Griffin resists her efforts at every turn. Except, she has the most kissable mouth Griffin has ever seen and he can't stop thinking about it and her. Jane tries to keep her distance because she fell for the last author she worked with, only to find out that he was cheating on her. That author has ruined Jane's reputation by telling everyone she is flighty and unreliable, so she's determined to force Griffin to meet his obligations and restore her reputation.

Of course, both of them are attracted to each other even as they fight the attraction. Thrown into the mix is Griffin's sister, Tess, who has left her husband of 14 years because ever since he turned 40, he's been emotionally distant and sexually unavailable. Tess brings her four kids to the beach to stay with Griffin and the subplot concerning her marriage takes up quite a bit of the story (and, to be honest, her husband's rationale made little sense to me).

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Griffin was a reporter imbedded with the military in the war. During that time, he submitted articles detailing the truth of the war. Now that he's back home, he's under contract to write a book on his experiences. Only problem is, he can't. He's suffering from PTSD but won't admit it. He's drawn away from life & his family. Enter Jane, the book doctor. She comes in to help authors organize their thoughts & get on track. Jane has low self esteem & it seems like Griffin is going to roll all over her but Jane has a tough side. When it comes to her career, she's determined to ride it out. After all, her father told her it's better to be competent than loved.

Ms. Ridgeway has a way of delving into a subject & involving her readers emotions from the beginning. She gives us a taste of what those in the war are subjected to with PTSD. I say a taste because I don't think we'll ever truly know what they go through. Her characters are well developed & three dimensional. Even though Griffin can be an egotistical jerk, his softness & affection for his family comes through. The gruff, grumpy ex-reporter living next door adds a lot of color & depth to the story along with his life experiences. Another excellent book by Christie Ridgeway!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Griffin was a reporter imbedded with the military in the war. During that time, he submitted articles detailing the truth of the war. Now that he's back home, he's under contract to write a book on his experiences. Only problem is, he can't. He's suffering from PTSD but won't admit it. He's drawn away from life & his family. Enter Jane, the book doctor. She comes in to help authors organize their thoughts & get on track. Jane has low self esteem & it seems like Griffin is going to roll all over her but Jane has a tough side. When it comes to her career, she's determined to ride it out. After all, her father told her it's better to be competent than loved.

Ms. Ridgeway has a way of delving into a subject & involving her readers emotions from the beginning. She gives us a taste of what those in the war are subjected to with PTSD. I say a taste because I don't think we'll ever truly know what they go through. Her characters are well developed & three dimensional. Even though Griffin can be an egotistical jerk, his softness & affection for his family comes through. The gruff, grumpy ex-reporter living next door adds a lot of color & depth to the story along with his life experiences. Another excellent book by Christie Ridgeway!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Always by Christie Ridgway takes a first impression of a shallow seemingly character to reveal a deeply troubled intelligent individual who is avoiding emotional distress any way that he can. Since Griffin Lowell had spent a year with soldiers in the Middle East reporting on the war against terrorism, this is a timely book. Jane Pearson who becomes his love interest in more than interested in having a job helping him write his memoirs, but is concerned for the man too. What a heartbreaking but insightful book on facing past painful memories to be able to embrace a brighter future.
Ms. Ridgway has written an emotionally charged story so that the reader is able share in the events and the emotions that they provoke. This well-written novel is character driven and soul searching. I will never watch another reporter on the news without now thinking of what they must have personally seen, experienced, and endured to give me the evening news.
One last note, this novel is said to be a re-issue. However, I was not familiar with this story until published under this title of Almost Always. It is book 2 in the Almost Series which takes place at Crescent Cove, Southern California.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach House No. 9 is book one in the Almost series by Christie Ridgway. War journalist Griffin Lowell was commission to write his memoir. However, for Griffin Lowell, writing this book was more difficult than he thought. To help him, Griffin's agent hired Jane Pearson. On arrival, Jane Pearson found Griffin having a beach party and highlighted that Jane could go home. However, Jane needed this job and stood her ground. The readers of Beach House No. 9 will continue to follow Griffin Lowell and Jane Pearson to find out what happens.

Beach House No. 9 is a charming romantic comedy. I engaged with Beach House No. 9 from the first page and continued until the end. I had to laugh at the antics of the characters. I love Christie Ridgway portrayal of characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Beach House No. 9 is well written and researched by Christie Ridgway. I like Christie Ridgway description of the settings of Beach House No. 9 that complement the book's plot.

The readers of Beach House No. 9 will learn about issues affecting journalists' when they work in war zones. Also, the readers of Beach House No. 9 will learn about the role of a war zone photographer.

I recommend this book.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the characters. Griffin spent a year as a journalist embedded with a military unit in Afghanistan. He was excited for the opportunity, but after seeing all the horrors of war, he came back a bit broken. He didn't want to feel anything for anyone. Jane has always been told by her family not to be silly and emotional, to be practical. She comes to help Griffin with his book and turns his world upside down. He can't deal with it. Griffin's sister Tess shows up with her "minions", her 4 children, and Griffin does not want to deal with them. He wants Jane to stand between him and his family. Tess has left her husband. She doesn't know what his problem is, but she can't live with him any more. Tess's husband, David, isn't going to let go so easily. As Jane tries to get Griffin to work on the book, she realizes that he isn't as unfeeling as he thinks he is. She watches him with an elderly neighbor, his sister and her children and knows that he isn't as unfeeling as he wants to be. Will she be able to get him to finish the book on time and will she be able to keep him?

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Almost Always by Christie Ridgway, the second book in her Almost series. This story is a re-issue from her Beach House series with updates. Jane Pearson is excited to be working with war reporter Griffin Lowell on his memoir but Griffin would rather hold frat house style beach parties than deal with the PTSD he is suffering from the time he spent in the Middle East. Prim and proper Jane might just be the distraction Griffin needs. As Jane works her wiles on Griffin, he is soon sharing his secrets as they trade kisses and spend time helping each other heal as they complete Griffin’s memoir. A second story within this one follows the troubles of Griffin’s sister and her children, who are staying next door to him.

Ms. Ridgway is a wonderful story teller, making me feel as if I was right there and making me want to spend time in Crescent Cove. Ms. Ridgeway included much of the emotional upheaval her characters were experiencing which also included their sexy time, I truly enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down. I definitely recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Deb Fernow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author just keeps them coming! I love all her books! Laugh, cry, sweat (from the steamy scenes), and feel good all over! This is Book 2 of the Always series and it is well worth the read.

A troubled war correspondent with PTSD and a literary agent/editor with the need to prove herself make a very interesting combination. Griffin Lowell wants to shut himself off from emotions and remembering the horrors he saw in a war zone. Jane Pearson fell in love with her last client and when he dumped her, he trashed her professional reputation. Griffin is her chance at redemption but she’s almost given up on him. Bit by bit she has chipped away at his tough skin with no success.

He doesn’t want to like Jane but he admires her tenacity and resolve. Just when he’s ready to finally work on his novel, she has already decided that she has to move on. But a near tragedy has them both rethinking their lives. Can either of them have happiness?

I received an ARC from the author for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for the review.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Griffin was sent to Afghanistan to spend a year with the military to report on the war he never expected to return still suffering from the effects of what he had seen. He has pushed everyone that was close to him away and prefers to try to forget by partying but the deadline to finish his book is approaching and now his publisher has sent Jane to get him on track.

Jane is successful at ensuring that the authors she assist remain focused so that they can meet their deadlines. She may appear meek and mild however she knows what needs to be done and won’t deter from her plan.

As they embark on their journey to complete this book they see each other as they truly are which include their strengths and weaknesses. They complete each other as he shows her how to have fun and she calms the memories that won’t go away. I enjoyed their story and look forward to whatever this author comes up with next. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Christyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a zing between Jane and Griff from the beginning. Both of these characters had something to overcome. Jane had a bad relationship that caused her problems in her career. Griff is recovering or rather hiding from a traumatic year embedded in the war. Jane brings some order and calmness to Griffin so he can deal with his experiences and losses. Griff gives Jane something no one else has, attention and appreciation for her true self. The story was both fun and emotional. The secondary romance with Tess and David was enjoyable too. It was nice to see how they dealt with the challenges of a long term marriage. The rest of the cast was fun and added a great deal of enjoyment to the story. I look forward to more stories from Beach House #9. It feels like a magical place to be! I received an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Sheila Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you review one of Ms. Ridgway's books BECAUSE there is never enough words to convey the sentiments you want to put on paper! I mean every book is better than the last, the dialogue draws you in and the situations are always so heartfelt and meaningful BUT the getting there is filled with angst and heartbreak, miscommunication and misconceptions and Griffin and Jane's story is no different! PTSD is so misunderstood that reading about the symptoms are so painful that I have to give Ms. Ridgway credit for addressing it with such strength,candor and sensitivity. Jane is a character with flaws but you gotta love her anyway and when she has the strength to share and forgive all bets are off for this couple. I absolutely love their happily ever after! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.