What do you think?
Rate this book
Paradise Bay #1
Between the Lines
For Olivia Marquis, moving back to the small northern Michigan town of Paradise Bay is a new beginning. She's leaving heartbreak, sadness, and everything that once held her down behind. The most important thing she's leaving behind, is trouble.
All she wants now is a quiet life surrounded by childhood friends, family, and her art. Paradise Bay is a place where dreams become reality, and she's ready to make something of her life. Of course, the last thing she expected was to be drawn to a man everyone in town warns her against, hopelessly caught up in his dark eyes and quick wit.
Andrew Silva, bestselling horror author, veteran, and notorious womanizer, has been living a mostly quiet life in Paradise Bay for the past year. After years of a revolving door of different women in his life, he's decided to swear off dating for a while.
Until he sees her. Until he meets the sweet, smart, creative, witty woman who turns his life upside down and, in the end, shows him what it is to truly love someone.
Between Andrew's issues and Olivia's haunting past, they'll have to fight every step of the way to build a life worth living, together.
(Note: Each book in the Paradise Bay Sweet Romance series is a full-length standalone novel. They can be read in any order, and there are absolutely no cliffhangers.)
All she wants now is a quiet life surrounded by childhood friends, family, and her art. Paradise Bay is a place where dreams become reality, and she's ready to make something of her life. Of course, the last thing she expected was to be drawn to a man everyone in town warns her against, hopelessly caught up in his dark eyes and quick wit.
Andrew Silva, bestselling horror author, veteran, and notorious womanizer, has been living a mostly quiet life in Paradise Bay for the past year. After years of a revolving door of different women in his life, he's decided to swear off dating for a while.
Until he sees her. Until he meets the sweet, smart, creative, witty woman who turns his life upside down and, in the end, shows him what it is to truly love someone.
Between Andrew's issues and Olivia's haunting past, they'll have to fight every step of the way to build a life worth living, together.
(Note: Each book in the Paradise Bay Sweet Romance series is a full-length standalone novel. They can be read in any order, and there are absolutely no cliffhangers.)
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2017
44 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 28, 2017
If you are in the mood for something light, and a small town where everyone is happy and successful and did I mention happy? This might be for you. Olivia has moved back to the small town of Paradise Bay where she spent many summers in her youth. She has had two serious relationships which didn't end well and she is ready for a new beginning. She is an artist (who happened to switch to marketing major in her last year) and her dream is to illustrate comic books, but she hasn't had a contract yet. She writes an online comic and becomes a part-time employee of a comic book store in Paradise Bay where she knows the two female owners. Because of that marketing degree, she agrees to help them with some new promotions.
Our hero is Andrew who was stationed in Afghanistan, suffers from PTSD and is now a famous horror writer whose books are made into movies. He is a known womanizer but is on a break from females and is a bit sarcastic. He meets Olivia in the comic book store and is attracted to her. But they both have commitment issues and when Andrew offers Olivia a job illustrating his graphic novel, she feels weird about sleeping with him since he is paying her. But eventually these two get romantic and a relationship develops.
There are a lot of ...things...in this book but I'm not sure how many felt genuine. Olivia is an artist, comic book designer, marketing guru. I felt like she was all of that, it wasn't just telling by the author - but - she excelled in every single thing she did. Which again led to the more happy tone of the book, but some flaws would have been interesting.
Andrew, I'm not so sure. He definitely felt like a writer but his military and PTSD background didn't feel as real in the book. More just tell rather than show. We also have the brewery and the brother who owns that has a farmer brother who grows all the hops. We have a derby team which Olivia is encouraged to join. A volunteer firefighter - every character has a great life and amazing job and everyone is friendly with everyone. And honestly, we probably don't get enough "nice" in romance books. But it was a little - too nice? Or we didn't go deep enough with the characters to really feel what their life is like.
The romance in this one is okay. Olivia admits to herself pretty early on that she is heading to the big L word with Andrew but she is afraid to push the relationship forward. I felt the drama at the end was a little forced.
Cute story - maybe a little more depth could have wooed me more.
Grade: C+
Our hero is Andrew who was stationed in Afghanistan, suffers from PTSD and is now a famous horror writer whose books are made into movies. He is a known womanizer but is on a break from females and is a bit sarcastic. He meets Olivia in the comic book store and is attracted to her. But they both have commitment issues and when Andrew offers Olivia a job illustrating his graphic novel, she feels weird about sleeping with him since he is paying her. But eventually these two get romantic and a relationship develops.
There are a lot of ...things...in this book but I'm not sure how many felt genuine. Olivia is an artist, comic book designer, marketing guru. I felt like she was all of that, it wasn't just telling by the author - but - she excelled in every single thing she did. Which again led to the more happy tone of the book, but some flaws would have been interesting.
Andrew, I'm not so sure. He definitely felt like a writer but his military and PTSD background didn't feel as real in the book. More just tell rather than show. We also have the brewery and the brother who owns that has a farmer brother who grows all the hops. We have a derby team which Olivia is encouraged to join. A volunteer firefighter - every character has a great life and amazing job and everyone is friendly with everyone. And honestly, we probably don't get enough "nice" in romance books. But it was a little - too nice? Or we didn't go deep enough with the characters to really feel what their life is like.
The romance in this one is okay. Olivia admits to herself pretty early on that she is heading to the big L word with Andrew but she is afraid to push the relationship forward. I felt the drama at the end was a little forced.
Cute story - maybe a little more depth could have wooed me more.
Grade: C+
Want to read
February 24, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/11/2019)! 🎁
February 6, 2017
A wonderfully warm and sweet romance that I believe will melt even the toughest of hearts. Welcome to Paradise Bay, my friends, and let the sun beat down on you, sink your toes into the sand, enjoy an ice cream on the boardwalk and enjoy the view - that is the seriously hot men that populate this town ;-) (fans self).
Livi comes to Paradise Bay to escape and rediscover herself, working in an old childhood friend's comic shop, whilst also working on her own projects as an artist and illustrator. Enter Andrew, seriously handsome, complicated and outrageous flirt, also a bestselling horror author. The sparks fly and the chemistry just about sizzles off the page. The journey to happiness for these two is not an easy one, but as a reader it is incredibly satisfying. The rest of the characters also spring to life and a strong sense of friendship and community shines through. I am really looking forward to hearing the stories that the rest of the characters have to tell.
Livi comes to Paradise Bay to escape and rediscover herself, working in an old childhood friend's comic shop, whilst also working on her own projects as an artist and illustrator. Enter Andrew, seriously handsome, complicated and outrageous flirt, also a bestselling horror author. The sparks fly and the chemistry just about sizzles off the page. The journey to happiness for these two is not an easy one, but as a reader it is incredibly satisfying. The rest of the characters also spring to life and a strong sense of friendship and community shines through. I am really looking forward to hearing the stories that the rest of the characters have to tell.
February 6, 2017
An absolutely wonderful story! I loved how Olivia was just a strong character despite her damaged past, but still had vulnerabilities. And Andrew was crazy sexy! I loved him. And together, they were great.
If you're looking for something sweet and light with a happily ever after, this is for you! I highly recommend!
If you're looking for something sweet and light with a happily ever after, this is for you! I highly recommend!
March 16, 2017
Loved it!
Andrew and Olivia's story is a sweet romance. It's gritty and real, I do, after all, believe in happily ever afters even if life isn't a fairly tale. Both characters are dealing with a past weighed down by trauma, and I appreciated how it wasn't just a fluffy easy road to find their happiness. They had to fight for it and work hard, together, to find their happily ever after.
It's as if the town of Paradise Bay is another character in this book. I could envision it completely, I felt as though I walked the streets and dined in the cafés alongside Andrew and Liv. I want to have a beer at Scott and Carter's bar and work at Gutters, maybe I'll buy the bookstore in the middle and make all of my dreams come true. I really did want to crawl into this book and live there...the lake cottage reminds me of Shadow Witch Rising and the stone cottage in the woods, it made me feel that same warmth and quaintness. I'd rent that any day if it meant that I could go hang out with this crew! Can't wait to read Carter and Iris' story!!
Andrew and Olivia's story is a sweet romance. It's gritty and real, I do, after all, believe in happily ever afters even if life isn't a fairly tale. Both characters are dealing with a past weighed down by trauma, and I appreciated how it wasn't just a fluffy easy road to find their happiness. They had to fight for it and work hard, together, to find their happily ever after.
It's as if the town of Paradise Bay is another character in this book. I could envision it completely, I felt as though I walked the streets and dined in the cafés alongside Andrew and Liv. I want to have a beer at Scott and Carter's bar and work at Gutters, maybe I'll buy the bookstore in the middle and make all of my dreams come true. I really did want to crawl into this book and live there...the lake cottage reminds me of Shadow Witch Rising and the stone cottage in the woods, it made me feel that same warmth and quaintness. I'd rent that any day if it meant that I could go hang out with this crew! Can't wait to read Carter and Iris' story!!
July 18, 2017
What a great find!
Similar style to early Kristin Higgins (which remain my favorite). I got this book on a Bookbub promo, and noticed the high ratings but the small number of reviews. This is definitely worth the read! One person market ho-hum, and I have had my share of a ho-hum – this is not it. Easy to read, Great detail and character. Not smexy, but surprisingly still romantically interesting with good tension.
Similar style to early Kristin Higgins (which remain my favorite). I got this book on a Bookbub promo, and noticed the high ratings but the small number of reviews. This is definitely worth the read! One person market ho-hum, and I have had my share of a ho-hum – this is not it. Easy to read, Great detail and character. Not smexy, but surprisingly still romantically interesting with good tension.
February 9, 2017
It really is a sweet romance.
I really enjoyed this. The main characters are quirky, Olivia is loveable but far from saccharin, while Andrew is a stereotypical 'bad lad' on the surface but with real vulnerability underneath. I loved the setting too, and very much looking forward to returning to Paradise Bay in the future.
I really enjoyed this. The main characters are quirky, Olivia is loveable but far from saccharin, while Andrew is a stereotypical 'bad lad' on the surface but with real vulnerability underneath. I loved the setting too, and very much looking forward to returning to Paradise Bay in the future.
March 21, 2018
I laughed, I cried!
Very, very good story! Not your usual cast of characters, which was pleasant right off the bat. I knew these two had to end up together in the end, just wasn't sure how ... They sounded SO fun & playful together, I'd love to see this made into a movie some day.
Very, very good story! Not your usual cast of characters, which was pleasant right off the bat. I knew these two had to end up together in the end, just wasn't sure how ... They sounded SO fun & playful together, I'd love to see this made into a movie some day.
August 12, 2018
Sweet read
I had a difficult time getting into this book. I was afraid it was going to be a flirt book, Jr. High style. It finally picked up and I am looking forward to reading the other books.
I had a difficult time getting into this book. I was afraid it was going to be a flirt book, Jr. High style. It finally picked up and I am looking forward to reading the other books.
December 2, 2021
Olivia and Andrew were an odd couple but, they each felt the attraction and wanted this to work out. This fast-paced, emotional story is definitely a keeper. The storyline was solid and the characters were wildly interesting. I Loved It!!!!!
February 1, 2017
Romance isn't normally my thing because everything is too perfect and the characters usually lack depth to me. I am head over heels in love with these characters. They're far from perfect but they have enough redeeming qualities to make them believable and real. Romances normally, to me at least, come off as fabricated issues to give the illusion of character depth. This book didn't feel that way at all. When reading through their past struggles, even without tons of detail, your heart goes out to them and you understand their reticence involving each other. If you're reluctant to give this book a try, I implore you to go ahead and download it and your time will not be wasted.
Merged review:
Magical
Romance isn't normally my thing because everything is too perfect and the characters usually lack depth to me. I am head over heels in love with these characters. They're far from perfect but they have enough redeeming qualities to make them believable and real. Romances normally, to me at least, come off as fabricated issues to give the illusion of character depth. This book didn't feel that way at all. When reading through their past struggles, even without tons of detail, your heart goes out to them and you understand their reticence involving each other. If you're reluctant to give this book a try, I implore you to go ahead and download it and your time will not be wasted.
Merged review:
Magical
Romance isn't normally my thing because everything is too perfect and the characters usually lack depth to me. I am head over heels in love with these characters. They're far from perfect but they have enough redeeming qualities to make them believable and real. Romances normally, to me at least, come off as fabricated issues to give the illusion of character depth. This book didn't feel that way at all. When reading through their past struggles, even without tons of detail, your heart goes out to them and you understand their reticence involving each other. If you're reluctant to give this book a try, I implore you to go ahead and download it and your time will not be wasted.
January 27, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. It's set in northern Michigan and with warm cozy cottages, quaint shops, and friends who know your business. I love strong women characters and although Olivia has had bad relationships previously she's romantic enough to try again. Andrew is also strong and yet a bit broken. I love how they discuss their careers and understand creative processes.
There are a number of quirky things in book but none more awesome than the "derby". A fine book which would work for beach reading!!
There are a number of quirky things in book but none more awesome than the "derby". A fine book which would work for beach reading!!
March 29, 2017
I received this book free from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing an honest review. This is about Olivia an art illustrator for comic books who has had a couple of horrible relationships and has decided to start anew in a small town where she spent summers growing up. There she meets Andrew a famous horror story author who has a reputation as a womanizer. They develop a working relationship that eventually starts to turn into more but they both have trust issues that get in the way. A sweet romance that has nothing outstanding to it to make you remember the book beyond the last word read.
January 31, 2017
Sweet New Series
The story started as a typical romance, but turned into a sweet tale of love. There was some depth to the story that I didn't expect. The settings were fresh with a modern twist to the characters professions. Some of the secondary characters are will hopefully become books of their own. I recommend this for a quick enjoyable read
The story started as a typical romance, but turned into a sweet tale of love. There was some depth to the story that I didn't expect. The settings were fresh with a modern twist to the characters professions. Some of the secondary characters are will hopefully become books of their own. I recommend this for a quick enjoyable read
February 7, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable romance with characters you'll fall in love with. I pretty much devoured this book in one sitting. I loved the funny, sarcastic characters. I'm looking forward to meeting more characters in Paradise Bay!
January 27, 2017
Lines of Greatness
Between The Lines is a story that grips your heart strings. The characters are so real and likeable that you wish you could just step into the book and be a part of their lives. I am looking forward to more of this series.
Between The Lines is a story that grips your heart strings. The characters are so real and likeable that you wish you could just step into the book and be a part of their lives. I am looking forward to more of this series.
January 28, 2017
I really loved Between the Lines, Olivia has left everything behind to start over and reclaim her life on her terms. And then Andrew walked into her life and all bets are off. This is a great story about two amazingly, wonderfully flawed characters that you can’t help but root for.
January 26, 2017
I love Liv
Small, lakeside town. Comic books, writers, and a microbrewery. What's not to like. Olivia meets her match in Andrew. I can't wait to read more about Paradise Bay.
Small, lakeside town. Comic books, writers, and a microbrewery. What's not to like. Olivia meets her match in Andrew. I can't wait to read more about Paradise Bay.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews