What do you think?
Rate this book
Seascape
Marine biologist Tess Hansen has left her high-tech lab at Evergreen College and returned to Washington’s northern coast to take care of her aging parents. Although her new job studying orcas in the Pacific excites her, she finds life in the small town where she grew up to be stifling and boring. Until she meets Brittany James.
Chemist Britt James has made the move from a hectic city to the rural coast as well, but she embraces the isolation. She’s looking for a way to reconnect with the environment and make amends for the damage her chemical company has done, and Tess’s center for orca research is a top contender for her endowment.
Change has become an unwelcome part of Tess’s life and a desperate hope for Britt. Can these two women find a place of refuge with each other?
Chemist Britt James has made the move from a hectic city to the rural coast as well, but she embraces the isolation. She’s looking for a way to reconnect with the environment and make amends for the damage her chemical company has done, and Tess’s center for orca research is a top contender for her endowment.
Change has become an unwelcome part of Tess’s life and a desperate hope for Britt. Can these two women find a place of refuge with each other?
242 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2018
17 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Karis Walsh
34 books153 followersKaris Walsh is a native of the Pacific Northwest and an adopted citizen of Texas. When she isn’t wrapped up in a book—either reading or writing one—she spends her time with her animals, playing music on her viola or violin, or hiking among the prickly pears.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 7, 2018
I have to admit I was disappointed in this book. It wasn’t a bad read, I would say average, but I really like Walsh and was hoping for more. Walsh is a very steady writer of books that make me feel comfortable, unfortunately that comfort was missing this time. It didn’t really feel like a Walsh book in all honestly.
I enjoyed the Pacific Northwest setting and felt it was used well in the book. On the other side I do think the job of being a killer whale researcher was a bit of a disappointment. I enjoy reading about marine animals and was excited about what I might learn. Walsh is always good at selecting interesting jobs for her characters and actually educating us a bit, but it fell flat in this book. Conservation for the orcas never really went anywhere. There was also a bit about wolves, but again that didn’t go anywhere either. It felt like a bunch of wildlife teases.
The other issue for me was the romance. It was the kind that is very introspective. Where the characters think about each other often, but don’t actually talk to each other much. There was not enough dialogue in this book for me and I was becoming bored. I don’t remember ever being bored from a Walsh book. She may write about things that are not very exciting, but she knows how to prevent boredom. Basically, this was a new and unpleasant feeling for me while reading one of her books.
I can’t personally recommend this and it disappoints me to say that. I do want to mention if you were a fan of her book Blindsided, the two mains from that book make a good length cameo in this one. This is not a bad read just not what I’m used to by Walsh.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
I enjoyed the Pacific Northwest setting and felt it was used well in the book. On the other side I do think the job of being a killer whale researcher was a bit of a disappointment. I enjoy reading about marine animals and was excited about what I might learn. Walsh is always good at selecting interesting jobs for her characters and actually educating us a bit, but it fell flat in this book. Conservation for the orcas never really went anywhere. There was also a bit about wolves, but again that didn’t go anywhere either. It felt like a bunch of wildlife teases.
The other issue for me was the romance. It was the kind that is very introspective. Where the characters think about each other often, but don’t actually talk to each other much. There was not enough dialogue in this book for me and I was becoming bored. I don’t remember ever being bored from a Walsh book. She may write about things that are not very exciting, but she knows how to prevent boredom. Basically, this was a new and unpleasant feeling for me while reading one of her books.
I can’t personally recommend this and it disappoints me to say that. I do want to mention if you were a fan of her book Blindsided, the two mains from that book make a good length cameo in this one. This is not a bad read just not what I’m used to by Walsh.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
December 1, 2018
Tess receives a call from her sister to say that their father has fallen and she needs to return home to care for him because their mother doesn’t have the strength and she’s pregnant. Reluctant barely describes how Tess feels about returning to the small town she grew up in, let alone how she feels about being in proximity to her family. The only positive is that, as a marine biologist, she will be close to her beloved orcas. Brittany is a chemist who has spent years as a specialist witness in defence of her company's unethical chemical dumping policies until one day she has a clarity of vision of what she has perpetuated.
I really enjoyed the environmental aspect of this novel, in particular learning about orcas and wolves. I don’t mind slow burn romances but not when the slow burn happens separately. Tess and Britt have very little interaction for most of the book. They spend a lot of their time thinking about each other but only a little with each other. This is more about the growth of two individuals; Tess coming to terms with her ideas around relationships with both family and partners, and Britt looking at her life in relation to the environment and her part in it.
In the end I was frustrated by their lack of interaction and didn’t fully appreciate their growth because of it. It’s still well written but not one of my favourites by Walsh.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the environmental aspect of this novel, in particular learning about orcas and wolves. I don’t mind slow burn romances but not when the slow burn happens separately. Tess and Britt have very little interaction for most of the book. They spend a lot of their time thinking about each other but only a little with each other. This is more about the growth of two individuals; Tess coming to terms with her ideas around relationships with both family and partners, and Britt looking at her life in relation to the environment and her part in it.
In the end I was frustrated by their lack of interaction and didn’t fully appreciate their growth because of it. It’s still well written but not one of my favourites by Walsh.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
November 1, 2019
Ah that old trope – the player and the non-player meet. Everything the non-player knows indicates that the player wishes to just be that (depends on the book – sometimes it’s everyone but the player saying this, sometimes it’s the player herself who says this). Meanwhile the player, either right before meeting the non-player, or at some point after meeting the non-player, realizes that she ‘wants something more’. More what? She doesn’t always know. Whereupon the ‘non-player’ character suddenly decides ‘if my only chance with her is as a fling, then . . . bring it on!’ (Or words to that effect). So things get flipped – kind of like here in this book (it rarely seems to be ‘player meets player’, though I’ve seen it; ‘non-player meets non-player’ happens all the time).
Right, so. One of the main characters finds out that her beloved family needs her. She drops everything and immediately goes to them to help them. I joke. This is also something of another old trope – lesbians and their families have ‘difficult relationships’ but, or should that be ‘yet?’ complete severance does not appear to occur (unlike, say, in real life). The difficulty here, and this is something of a twist, has nothing to do with the lesbian nature of the main character, but her politics. Pops, and his pops going back . . . maybe to just pop-pop, but maybe further back, worked at cutting down trees. Tess, the as yet unnamed character, found that horrifying while growing up. So was constantly in yelling arguments with pops. Doesn’t appear to have political differences with the mother, but also doesn’t appear to have much in common so they rarely talk. Sis and Tess always argued growing up. Sooo – kind of reluctant to take time away from being a professor at a college to go help the family. But . . . their family and stuff.
So that’s how one of the main characters ends up in this small town near the ocean – to go back to help pops who has . . . I think it was ‘injured his back’. Mother is too weak and old to help adequately. And Sis has a child so can’t be the primary helper. Oh, and the hospital bills were so much that they cannot afford home-care. So, again, that’s how Tess ends up back in her small hometown in the northern coast of Washington.
Meanwhile there’s that other main character. Brittany James has had a brilliant career, both as a chemist, and as an expert – an in-court expert. See, her company keeps ‘accidentally’ doing stuff like release gas near a lake and killing baby birds. And Brittany’s job, other than her normal chemist job, is to put a good spin on things. And she’s very very good at it. Book opens with her in another court trial (stop a second to note: it kind of went by quickly in passing, but the idea that I got lodged into my brain is that most, maybe all, of the cases Brittany worked on as an expert were accidents other people’s projects created, not her own). While waiting to testify, Brittany takes a little too much time gazing upon the poor dead baby bird pictures. Her boss and the lawyer notice and yell at her (quietly, they are in court). It’s never clear if Brittany succeeded, yet again, in swaying the jury, but she did testify. She then got into her car to drive . . . I forget if it’s ‘home’ or ‘back to work’. She ends up . . . ‘in the wilderness’. She just got into her car and drove. And drove. Ends up near some kind of nature trail. Whereupon she walked it – still dressed in court clothes (and shoes). People kind of stare at her.
Eventually the two main characters meet. Tess loves the ocean and sometimes thinks her real family is ‘out there’. Needing to visit the ocean, she pulls off the road at a certain spot. Takes a walk. Stands on the edge. Makes a motion like she might leap in (she’s not really – which is good as she’d leapt up, then down, and slammed into 3 inches of water). The motion is enough to cause someone nearby to make a noise. Whereupon Brittany and Tess meet (and no, Brittany didn’t walk there, she did eventually walk back to her car after walking in the woods– she drove there).
Tess, being the massive player that she is, immediately spots Brittany and shoots off some of the lamest pick-up lines of all time – all of which convey the temporary nature of her invitations. Brittany calls her on it. Tess realizes she’s flustered about the whole ‘heading home’ thing and other stuff. The two separate and go on their way.
Brittany, and yes I’m doing a massive info dump here, eh? Is important. Brittany made a ton of money as an in court expert (apparently some amount of money that the company saved by having Brittany testify ended up being a bonus to her). She wants nothing of this evil money. So she sets up a grant to unload herself of this burden. …. Tess needs some way to keep from being bored so has been visiting the local orca center. Learns of grant (though not of name of grantor). Applies for it. Etc. etc. Tess and Brittany meet again and use this as an excuse to spend time near each other and learn more about each other. (I’m leaving out the important part where the two kept bumping into each other in the small town area; Tess offered friendship, Brittany turned even that down; then the grant thing occurred).
So, yeah, player and non-player who kind of has a girlfriend meet, get friendly-ish, but not too friendly. Stuff happens. People learn things. Orcas swim around cute like and eyeball tiny humans. Fun is had by . . . well, the reader and probably a good number of characters in the book.
Heh. I’d known this aspect before I wrote the above, but, like several other things, I forgot to mention. In Brittany’s own thoughts she keeps thinking about how she wished Tess had pressed more, or if Brittany had said yes – either when Tess offered temporary sex, or friendship. I mention because the first thing I see highlighted in my book is:
Hmm. Actually that’s the only thing I colored with yellow highlighter. Hmms. Well I liked both characters, etc. etc., was fun, and was enjoyable. Etc.
Rating: 3.75
April 2 2019
Right, so. One of the main characters finds out that her beloved family needs her. She drops everything and immediately goes to them to help them. I joke. This is also something of another old trope – lesbians and their families have ‘difficult relationships’ but, or should that be ‘yet?’ complete severance does not appear to occur (unlike, say, in real life). The difficulty here, and this is something of a twist, has nothing to do with the lesbian nature of the main character, but her politics. Pops, and his pops going back . . . maybe to just pop-pop, but maybe further back, worked at cutting down trees. Tess, the as yet unnamed character, found that horrifying while growing up. So was constantly in yelling arguments with pops. Doesn’t appear to have political differences with the mother, but also doesn’t appear to have much in common so they rarely talk. Sis and Tess always argued growing up. Sooo – kind of reluctant to take time away from being a professor at a college to go help the family. But . . . their family and stuff.
So that’s how one of the main characters ends up in this small town near the ocean – to go back to help pops who has . . . I think it was ‘injured his back’. Mother is too weak and old to help adequately. And Sis has a child so can’t be the primary helper. Oh, and the hospital bills were so much that they cannot afford home-care. So, again, that’s how Tess ends up back in her small hometown in the northern coast of Washington.
Meanwhile there’s that other main character. Brittany James has had a brilliant career, both as a chemist, and as an expert – an in-court expert. See, her company keeps ‘accidentally’ doing stuff like release gas near a lake and killing baby birds. And Brittany’s job, other than her normal chemist job, is to put a good spin on things. And she’s very very good at it. Book opens with her in another court trial (stop a second to note: it kind of went by quickly in passing, but the idea that I got lodged into my brain is that most, maybe all, of the cases Brittany worked on as an expert were accidents other people’s projects created, not her own). While waiting to testify, Brittany takes a little too much time gazing upon the poor dead baby bird pictures. Her boss and the lawyer notice and yell at her (quietly, they are in court). It’s never clear if Brittany succeeded, yet again, in swaying the jury, but she did testify. She then got into her car to drive . . . I forget if it’s ‘home’ or ‘back to work’. She ends up . . . ‘in the wilderness’. She just got into her car and drove. And drove. Ends up near some kind of nature trail. Whereupon she walked it – still dressed in court clothes (and shoes). People kind of stare at her.
Eventually the two main characters meet. Tess loves the ocean and sometimes thinks her real family is ‘out there’. Needing to visit the ocean, she pulls off the road at a certain spot. Takes a walk. Stands on the edge. Makes a motion like she might leap in (she’s not really – which is good as she’d leapt up, then down, and slammed into 3 inches of water). The motion is enough to cause someone nearby to make a noise. Whereupon Brittany and Tess meet (and no, Brittany didn’t walk there, she did eventually walk back to her car after walking in the woods– she drove there).
Tess, being the massive player that she is, immediately spots Brittany and shoots off some of the lamest pick-up lines of all time – all of which convey the temporary nature of her invitations. Brittany calls her on it. Tess realizes she’s flustered about the whole ‘heading home’ thing and other stuff. The two separate and go on their way.
Brittany, and yes I’m doing a massive info dump here, eh? Is important. Brittany made a ton of money as an in court expert (apparently some amount of money that the company saved by having Brittany testify ended up being a bonus to her). She wants nothing of this evil money. So she sets up a grant to unload herself of this burden. …. Tess needs some way to keep from being bored so has been visiting the local orca center. Learns of grant (though not of name of grantor). Applies for it. Etc. etc. Tess and Brittany meet again and use this as an excuse to spend time near each other and learn more about each other. (I’m leaving out the important part where the two kept bumping into each other in the small town area; Tess offered friendship, Brittany turned even that down; then the grant thing occurred).
So, yeah, player and non-player who kind of has a girlfriend meet, get friendly-ish, but not too friendly. Stuff happens. People learn things. Orcas swim around cute like and eyeball tiny humans. Fun is had by . . . well, the reader and probably a good number of characters in the book.
Heh. I’d known this aspect before I wrote the above, but, like several other things, I forgot to mention. In Brittany’s own thoughts she keeps thinking about how she wished Tess had pressed more, or if Brittany had said yes – either when Tess offered temporary sex, or friendship. I mention because the first thing I see highlighted in my book is:
She [Brittany] briefly thought about driving to Forks [Tess small town] and cruising the streets, hoping for a sign of Tess. She could imagine what she would say if she did happen to find her. Tess! What a surprise. I just happened to be prowling through the residential neighborhoods in Forks today. Wanna have sex?
Hmm. Actually that’s the only thing I colored with yellow highlighter. Hmms. Well I liked both characters, etc. etc., was fun, and was enjoyable. Etc.
Rating: 3.75
April 2 2019
December 18, 2018
As someone who is usually complaining that books aren't long enough to develop a good story, this just seemed long for long's sake. It fully developed the emotional environmental aspect of the story. However, at the expense of the romance IMO. This author has a wonderful descriptive style that pulls you into the surroundings. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the chemistry between our two main characters. It's a nice read and I would read another book by this author. This one was ok for me.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2018
Britt James, a chemist, has an epiphany as she testifies for the defense in a case involving the environment. Seeing the large blown-up photos of the dead birds the company she works for has killed because they ignored the protocols of dumping chemicals sends Britt into a tailspin and she runs away - from her job, her girlfriend, and herself. She heads northwest from Seattle and ends up on the wild, untamed coast near Forks, a small town at land’s end.
Tess Hanson, a marine biologist, has taken a leave of absence from the college she teaches at for a few months to return to the northern coast near Forks to help take care of her father after he injures his back. She knows she’s going to be bored and stifled just as she’d been as a teenager. She begins volunteering at a lab studying her beloved Orca whales and that helps her to remember why she wanted to be a marine biologist in the first place.
When the two women meet, there’s chemistry, but each knows she will be returning to “civilization” so neither wants to start something that can never be finished. But there’s that attraction thing going on…
Walsh has captured the wildness of the Forks area perfectly. Her characters are likable, including the curmudgeonly characters who live there. The writing is smooth and well done.
There are times when Britt bogs down Walsh’s very real portrait of a woman at a crossroads, and you may find yourself wishing Britt would make a decision, any decision, regarding what she wants to do with the rest of her life.
Tess Hanson, a marine biologist, has taken a leave of absence from the college she teaches at for a few months to return to the northern coast near Forks to help take care of her father after he injures his back. She knows she’s going to be bored and stifled just as she’d been as a teenager. She begins volunteering at a lab studying her beloved Orca whales and that helps her to remember why she wanted to be a marine biologist in the first place.
When the two women meet, there’s chemistry, but each knows she will be returning to “civilization” so neither wants to start something that can never be finished. But there’s that attraction thing going on…
Walsh has captured the wildness of the Forks area perfectly. Her characters are likable, including the curmudgeonly characters who live there. The writing is smooth and well done.
There are times when Britt bogs down Walsh’s very real portrait of a woman at a crossroads, and you may find yourself wishing Britt would make a decision, any decision, regarding what she wants to do with the rest of her life.
September 4, 2019
This is well-written with two characters who both start out a little unlikable, but grew on me. I loved the setting of the research station and killer whale studies. Fascinating. My favorite Karis Walsh book so far.
November 29, 2018
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is not my favourite Walsh story. It was ok, but I just couldn’t really get into it. Tess is a marine biologist who is taking a sabbatical to help look after her father, Britt is a chemist who has a crisis of conscience and decides to give away all of the money she earned getting her company off the hook for environmental damage. They both end up in Forks and are attracted to each other pretty much from the get go.
I didn’t find either character compelling, and didn’t think that improved when they were together. Tess spends a LOT of time spouting exposition about the environment and at risk animals, which got old fast (I’m all for saving animals/enviromental protection but found the way this was presented in the story a bit boring).
Tess’s family issues are also nothing new, although the scenes with her sister lent some interest. In all honesty I found Melissa and Justin and Alex and Jim to be the most entertaining parts of the book. Oh, and Cupcake the puppy was cute.
The book’s well written, and obviously well researched, but just didn’t do anything for me. Maybe if I’d been able to connect with either main character it would have been better, but for me this was just an average read, and it took me a few days to get through it. 3 stars.
This is not my favourite Walsh story. It was ok, but I just couldn’t really get into it. Tess is a marine biologist who is taking a sabbatical to help look after her father, Britt is a chemist who has a crisis of conscience and decides to give away all of the money she earned getting her company off the hook for environmental damage. They both end up in Forks and are attracted to each other pretty much from the get go.
I didn’t find either character compelling, and didn’t think that improved when they were together. Tess spends a LOT of time spouting exposition about the environment and at risk animals, which got old fast (I’m all for saving animals/enviromental protection but found the way this was presented in the story a bit boring).
Tess’s family issues are also nothing new, although the scenes with her sister lent some interest. In all honesty I found Melissa and Justin and Alex and Jim to be the most entertaining parts of the book. Oh, and Cupcake the puppy was cute.
The book’s well written, and obviously well researched, but just didn’t do anything for me. Maybe if I’d been able to connect with either main character it would have been better, but for me this was just an average read, and it took me a few days to get through it. 3 stars.
December 16, 2018
You make a list, I make a list, we all make a list. I appreciate the ah ha moment Brittany James, the chemist had in regard to what she does for a living. When she jumped in her Lexus and drove to the small town to figure out what she wanted to do next, she got much more than she expected. Tess Hansen, the marine biologist, has a strained relationship with her family but when they need her, she responds. This read is about the environment and the importance of doing our part. It is also about family and friendship. The story is told very well with a descriptive picture of the environment and the unique people. The romance with the character self-talk provided a foundation for why the characters were doing what they were doing. For example being logically and sequential by making lists.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley.
Read
December 10, 2018
Seascape
by Karis Walsh is a contemporary romance about two women who meet accidentally when both wind up in the rural area of Washington’s Northern coast. Marine biologist Tess Hansen is there against her will, forced to come and help her ailing parents in the small town that she escaped from when she went to college. She misses her life at Evergreen College even though she does go to work trying to help the local orcas. She resents having to come back to a place that holds bad memories for her. Chemist Britt James is hoping the isolation will help her figure out how she can make amends for the environmental damage wrought by the chemical company she worked for.
Karis Walsh is an exceptional author. She describes such a beautiful setting that I wanted to push my way into the pages of the book and experience the place first hand. The main characters are well-developed and easy to relate to. Most of the secondary characters are as thoroughly established.
I did have some problems with the story. The book was marketed as a contemporary romance, but there was really not much romance in this story until near the end of the book. The characters hardly communicate for most of the first half of the book. This story was really about the two main characters coming to grips with their pasts and, especially in Britt’s case, trying to find a better future for themselves. I would have loved to see them help each other more, and talk to each other more. There was really very little conversation between the two. This novel needed more dialogue and more interaction between the main characters. I truly believe that would have made it a much better story.
I do want to mention one more positive element of this book. It is something that many reviewers including myself often forget to talk about, but it really is an important part of the book, and that is the cover. A cover can influence sales since it is often the first thing a person sees when they are looking for something to read. A good cover can mean the book catches the eye of a potential buyer. A bad cover could mean the buyer moves on without checking the book out further. I felt the cover of Seascape was beautiful, colorful and eye-catching, exactly what you need to catch the buyer’s eye. To Sheri at Hind Sight Graphics, you designed an excellent cover for this book. Congratulations!
To those of you who like novels that have the characters doing an awful lot of soul searching and you don’t mind a lack of romance in the story, you might like this one. If you are looking for a lot of romance, this might not be for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Karis Walsh is an exceptional author. She describes such a beautiful setting that I wanted to push my way into the pages of the book and experience the place first hand. The main characters are well-developed and easy to relate to. Most of the secondary characters are as thoroughly established.
I did have some problems with the story. The book was marketed as a contemporary romance, but there was really not much romance in this story until near the end of the book. The characters hardly communicate for most of the first half of the book. This story was really about the two main characters coming to grips with their pasts and, especially in Britt’s case, trying to find a better future for themselves. I would have loved to see them help each other more, and talk to each other more. There was really very little conversation between the two. This novel needed more dialogue and more interaction between the main characters. I truly believe that would have made it a much better story.
I do want to mention one more positive element of this book. It is something that many reviewers including myself often forget to talk about, but it really is an important part of the book, and that is the cover. A cover can influence sales since it is often the first thing a person sees when they are looking for something to read. A good cover can mean the book catches the eye of a potential buyer. A bad cover could mean the buyer moves on without checking the book out further. I felt the cover of Seascape was beautiful, colorful and eye-catching, exactly what you need to catch the buyer’s eye. To Sheri at Hind Sight Graphics, you designed an excellent cover for this book. Congratulations!
To those of you who like novels that have the characters doing an awful lot of soul searching and you don’t mind a lack of romance in the story, you might like this one. If you are looking for a lot of romance, this might not be for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
December 30, 2018
I was really excited to read this story having grown up in the Pacific Northwest and having such a love for whales. I absolutely love the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands and would love to see the resident orcas someday, so any part of the book that talked about the whale research or sightings was fun and interesting to read. I even learned a few things about orcas..
The storyline was not a disappointment but it just didn’t really excite me and the romance was a bit of a slow build. That being said, I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves whales!
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this e-copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
The storyline was not a disappointment but it just didn’t really excite me and the romance was a bit of a slow build. That being said, I would still recommend this book to anyone who loves whales!
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this e-copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
December 3, 2018
I love all Karis Walsh books but this wasn't one of them.
Tess is a marine biologist and Brittany is a chemist.
I enjoy learning about environment and orcas but the romance between them wasn't all that engaging because all they did was think about each other more then they spent time together.
So it was hard to get into the book but even though I didn't enjoy it I will still recommend this book because I love the author.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tess is a marine biologist and Brittany is a chemist.
I enjoy learning about environment and orcas but the romance between them wasn't all that engaging because all they did was think about each other more then they spent time together.
So it was hard to get into the book but even though I didn't enjoy it I will still recommend this book because I love the author.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2018
Tess a college professor of marine biology especially killer whales takes a leave of absence to go to her hometown coastal to take care of her ailing father. Tess has never been close to her family but she was always attracted to Wales which gave her the only piece and her early life and she fantasized about being raised by a pod of whales. One morning when she was out on the beach she runs into Brittany Who seem lost. Tess starts a conversation with her and realizes that she's very attracted to Brittany but her relationship style is to enjoy a woman for the night with no long-term plans. Britney wants no part of that and so even though she's attracted to Tess she turns her down at every opportunity to go on a date with her.
Tess starts to volunteer at a local whale research place but they have no money to pay her but offer her the opportunity to fill out a grant which could possibly bring in money to the research center and enough to give her a stipend . The whale research center was asked to meet with the person offering the grant money which test is readily only to find out that the person offering the money is none other than Britney who has a ton of money which she got as a bonus from the chemical company she worked for when she testified in court when the chemical company had some type of violation against the environment. Britney was very successful in her work and accumulated an awful lot of money for the testimony she gave in court. However the last case she was involved with was a life-changing case where for the first time she realizes the damage that the chemicals have done to plants and animals. So she leaves her job immediately and heads to the small coastal town where she met Tess.
Now with Britney in charge of the grant money and Tess desperately want to use that money for the research center puts both women in a conundrum because Tess would still like to date Brittany; Britney realizes that she would like to date test but it would be unethical for the two of them to develop a relationship.
I love the story not only was there a slow burn relationship developing but the author provided very interesting information about the environment and whales that was very interesting and eye-opening . The author put many twists and turns in the story that kept me riveted until I got to the last page. This book is so well written in the story was fascinating .
Tess starts to volunteer at a local whale research place but they have no money to pay her but offer her the opportunity to fill out a grant which could possibly bring in money to the research center and enough to give her a stipend . The whale research center was asked to meet with the person offering the grant money which test is readily only to find out that the person offering the money is none other than Britney who has a ton of money which she got as a bonus from the chemical company she worked for when she testified in court when the chemical company had some type of violation against the environment. Britney was very successful in her work and accumulated an awful lot of money for the testimony she gave in court. However the last case she was involved with was a life-changing case where for the first time she realizes the damage that the chemicals have done to plants and animals. So she leaves her job immediately and heads to the small coastal town where she met Tess.
Now with Britney in charge of the grant money and Tess desperately want to use that money for the research center puts both women in a conundrum because Tess would still like to date Brittany; Britney realizes that she would like to date test but it would be unethical for the two of them to develop a relationship.
I love the story not only was there a slow burn relationship developing but the author provided very interesting information about the environment and whales that was very interesting and eye-opening . The author put many twists and turns in the story that kept me riveted until I got to the last page. This book is so well written in the story was fascinating .
January 1, 2019
I can honestly say I’m a fan of Ms Walsh’s work, so when I got the chance to read this new book I couldn’t wait. Starting with Marine Biologist Tess Hansen who left her home in Washington’s Northwest Peninsula hoping to never have to return again. Growing up there was enough for her but when she’s call to come help with her father who’s in poor health she doesn’t feel she has much choice but to go. There she meets Chemist Britt James who needed to escape, go somewhere where she can think. She needs to decide just what direction she needs to take now that she’s finally reached the end in her career. She can’t go on lying about the damage being done to the environment by the company she works for. As with most books done by Ms Walsh I always come away feeling like I actually learned something. This one isn’t any different. Great read. Very enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley
ARC via NetGalley
January 27, 2019
I loved this story. A believable story about two different women trying to find their goal in life. In the end it all comes together and makes sense. Along the way you learn interesting information about the chain of life and the importance of the survival of the killer whales, otters, wolves and even a fallen tree. The characters are rich, likeable and very interesting. The dialog is crisp, funny and very clever. The romance grows at an even pace and has some interesting twists. Although the love scenes were a bit limited but very realistic......But a bit limited. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
December 10, 2018
I really enjoy Walsh’s books but I have to say this was not one of my favorites. I don’t know what it is that didn’t click for me. It wasn’t a bad story but it was just missing something. Maybe more dialogue would have helped to make this flow better.
January 17, 2019
I rec'd a copy from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books for an unbiased review. No synopsis needed.
An angst filled romance with beautifully written descriptions of the northwest environment. The storyline dragged somewhat where the relationship between leads Tess (marine biologist) and Brittany (chemist) was concerned and family interactions seemed stilted. I would've liked more dialogue between the main characters but the overall theme of chemical companies and accountability (or lack thereof) re the environment held my interest. Ms. Walsh always covers interesting topics and this was no exception. 3 stars.
An angst filled romance with beautifully written descriptions of the northwest environment. The storyline dragged somewhat where the relationship between leads Tess (marine biologist) and Brittany (chemist) was concerned and family interactions seemed stilted. I would've liked more dialogue between the main characters but the overall theme of chemical companies and accountability (or lack thereof) re the environment held my interest. Ms. Walsh always covers interesting topics and this was no exception. 3 stars.
February 4, 2021
Tess Hansen is a marine biologist who seems to be ponderously self-absorbed. Somehow, we cannot connect to any character who is not being nice to a partner (even if it is a one-night stand), especially when the partner is really nice. The first chapter of the book has Tess doing just that. Plus she is quite an ass with her perfectly ordinary family. So, right away we developed a dislike.
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
December 24, 2018
2.5 Stars. This book was okay. It was about a marine biologist, Tess Hansen who has to come back to her hometown to take care of her ill father and Britt James, a chemist who is going through a crisis after realizing she is working for a side of chemistry. Tess and Britt meet at the beach, where Tess looks like she is going to jump into the ocean. They flirt with each other, but Britt catches on and does not want a fling with Tess. They wind up meeting up again and again since they are both in the small town. Britt just winds up there after driving and driving and not knowing what to do with her life. Britt and Tess wind up connected through Britt's grant and spend more time together.
I only thought this book was okay for a couple reasons. There was a lot of talk about marine biology, which did not interest me at all. Another reason is that Tess and Britt did not have enough interactions, in my opinion. They had some interactions, but it seemed like it focused on other things, which makes sense, but I just didn't feel their relationship. Their interactions were good and I sort of felt like their relationship and interactions evolved, but it took a while to get there. I was reading and reading to get to when they actually interact and start spending more time together. I am not sure I would recommend it.
I only thought this book was okay for a couple reasons. There was a lot of talk about marine biology, which did not interest me at all. Another reason is that Tess and Britt did not have enough interactions, in my opinion. They had some interactions, but it seemed like it focused on other things, which makes sense, but I just didn't feel their relationship. Their interactions were good and I sort of felt like their relationship and interactions evolved, but it took a while to get there. I was reading and reading to get to when they actually interact and start spending more time together. I am not sure I would recommend it.
December 28, 2018
This was a very sweet book. I did not know what to expect when I first started it, but Karis Walsh has written a few of my favorite lesfic books, so I knew I had to read this. The two main characters were okay, but I really liked Kelly the best even though she was a minor character. I felt like Tess's reasons for leaving her family were really thin and a little immature sounding which she ultimately acknowledged near the end of the book.
This is a book about a woman Brittany who runs away from home after realizing that everything she has ever stood for is a lie and she has been okay with her entire working life. She goes off the deep end though and tries to do all of the "good" things at once. She is a little lost and unbalanced for most of the book, but I found he character arc to be the most satisfying. I did think her wanting to be a vegetarian was a little much, and at first she just seemed to be drifting, but ultimately she does some good and finds the love of he life along the way.
Tess wasn't the most enjoyable of characters, but she was alright. She was consistent in the story, and that made it enjoyable.
This is a book about a woman Brittany who runs away from home after realizing that everything she has ever stood for is a lie and she has been okay with her entire working life. She goes off the deep end though and tries to do all of the "good" things at once. She is a little lost and unbalanced for most of the book, but I found he character arc to be the most satisfying. I did think her wanting to be a vegetarian was a little much, and at first she just seemed to be drifting, but ultimately she does some good and finds the love of he life along the way.
Tess wasn't the most enjoyable of characters, but she was alright. She was consistent in the story, and that made it enjoyable.
December 4, 2018
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
Tess is a Marine Biologist that is taking a break to help her father after his fall. Her mother does not have the strength to look after him and her sister is pregnant. Britt is a Chemist that decides to give away the money she earned after she got her company off for environmental damage.
Both characters end up in Forks and the attraction is almost instant. The story line flowed well for me. I even learned a little about Orcas (my favourite whale) and the author tells you about the environment as well, which I found interesting. The author really done her research for this book.
I highly recommend giving this book a read, especially, if you are into the environment and/or whales.
Tess is a Marine Biologist that is taking a break to help her father after his fall. Her mother does not have the strength to look after him and her sister is pregnant. Britt is a Chemist that decides to give away the money she earned after she got her company off for environmental damage.
Both characters end up in Forks and the attraction is almost instant. The story line flowed well for me. I even learned a little about Orcas (my favourite whale) and the author tells you about the environment as well, which I found interesting. The author really done her research for this book.
I highly recommend giving this book a read, especially, if you are into the environment and/or whales.
December 12, 2018
It was tough for me to connect to the characters in this book, which was clearly well-written and thoroughly researched. The most memorable moments from the book include the principled stance taken on by one main character with respect to corporate green-washing, especially in the face of catastrophe. I was impressed with the fictional portrayal of an interest in wildlife that is rare to come by in my experience. The romance was less convincing, though not because the characters lacked depth. Rather, I reckon the narrative structure contains a lot of stopping and starting new threads, which never seemed to be satisfactorily tied up at all. This was my first reading by this author, and cannot recommend this book to anyone except wildlife buffs and those unfamiliar with the conservation context in the Pacific Northwest.
*ARC received in exchange for honest review via Netgalley.
*ARC received in exchange for honest review via Netgalley.
January 4, 2019
3.5/5
Marine biologist Tess Hansen is forced to move back to her hometown and leave her job in Evergreen College to take care of her parents. Chemist Britt James is looking for solitude to find herself and make some choices that could change her life. When Tess and Britt meet, they can't seem to find their attraction.
The different settings and descriptions were beautiful and entertaining but I think it went a bit too long. The writing is great and has a great flow.
However, I was a bit bored with some parts of the book. There wasn't enough dialogue or interaction between the main characters, something I think it is important, specially when developing a romance story. I think a bit more interaction between the main characters would have made this book perfect and sweet.
This book was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Marine biologist Tess Hansen is forced to move back to her hometown and leave her job in Evergreen College to take care of her parents. Chemist Britt James is looking for solitude to find herself and make some choices that could change her life. When Tess and Britt meet, they can't seem to find their attraction.
The different settings and descriptions were beautiful and entertaining but I think it went a bit too long. The writing is great and has a great flow.
However, I was a bit bored with some parts of the book. There wasn't enough dialogue or interaction between the main characters, something I think it is important, specially when developing a romance story. I think a bit more interaction between the main characters would have made this book perfect and sweet.
This book was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
February 14, 2019
This book has simplistic characterization, and blocks of lectures about environmental conservation, and icky stuff like the superficially depicted history and presence of natives (Quileute), although not as bad as I have read so many times in white lesfic. But it's a decently slow burn, despite them being attracted to each other right away, and the MCs interactions can even be witty and caring at times. So I was considering rating it 1.5 stars, rounded up. Except that, of course, they had to break up for no real reason, before moping about each other and finally getting back together.
December 23, 2018
This book, like all of Ms Walsh's books, is excellent.
It is a beautiful romance, which immerses us in the field of environmental protection and orcas, subject very interesting.
I have always loved Ms Walsh's books, always well written, with strong women.
Nevertheless, it lacks a few dialogues, but does not prevent from appreciating the ecological content.
The cover would have deserved something other than this orange color.
A very good book, therefore, that I highly recommend.
It is a beautiful romance, which immerses us in the field of environmental protection and orcas, subject very interesting.
I have always loved Ms Walsh's books, always well written, with strong women.
Nevertheless, it lacks a few dialogues, but does not prevent from appreciating the ecological content.
The cover would have deserved something other than this orange color.
A very good book, therefore, that I highly recommend.
December 11, 2018
A charming romance. Solid without being stolid. The two leads are well nuanced and have good back stories that keeps the characters interesting. The wild life details, especially the facts about the orcas were great and added to the enjoyment of the story. What was the game her dad was playing, can I get it, it sounded like lots of fun?
November 19, 2020
Lesbian romance including environmental activism, with character development. Nice.
February 23, 2019
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
When I think of Karis Walsh novels, the two aspects that distinguish them from those of many authors are the interactions of the characters with their environment, both the scenery and the plants and animals that live in it. This book has all of that in abundance, as well as a pair of heroines who are rethinking their careers and their place in the world.
Brittany James is a chemist working in a research lab, who is frequently called to give evidences in cases where her employer has been accused of causing harm to people or the environment. She loves both aspects of her job, right up to the point where the photographs of dead wildlife presented in court by the other side provoke an extreme emotional reaction. Unable to face returning to work, Britt takes a period of extended leave to consider her options, beginning with using some of her squirrelled-away bonus payments to set up a charitable grant for an organisation working to improve the environment. She chooses the Olympic Peninsula by chance as a place to stay while she considers her options, and there encounters Tess Hansen.
Tess is an academic researching orcas, who has taken a leave of absence in order to return home and care for her parents after her father injured his back in a fall. Although she and Britt are attracted to each other, Tess has a far more casual approach to dating than does Britt and so they agree not to pursue the connection during their respective stays in town. As her father begins to make progress toward recovery, Tess visits the local marine research station, hoping that a few hours volunteering there will aid both them and her. She is excited to discover that some of their projects could potentially overlap with hers, particularly when she hears of a grant that might fund an expansion of the work.
When the women realise that Tess is an applicant for Britt’s grant, they begin to develop a deeper friendship, and Britt’s various efforts to ensure that all potential recipients get to show their projects in the best possible light lead to new connections being formed between the various charities and wildlife organisations. In the end it’s Britt that decides to move the relationship onward on a temporary basis, just as Tess has started to consider the possibility of something more serious.
Ultimately, they find a solution that suits them both, and gives Britt a potential new career direction, all with the help of a couple of characters from one of the author’s previous books. I plan to read that one soon.
When I think of Karis Walsh novels, the two aspects that distinguish them from those of many authors are the interactions of the characters with their environment, both the scenery and the plants and animals that live in it. This book has all of that in abundance, as well as a pair of heroines who are rethinking their careers and their place in the world.
Brittany James is a chemist working in a research lab, who is frequently called to give evidences in cases where her employer has been accused of causing harm to people or the environment. She loves both aspects of her job, right up to the point where the photographs of dead wildlife presented in court by the other side provoke an extreme emotional reaction. Unable to face returning to work, Britt takes a period of extended leave to consider her options, beginning with using some of her squirrelled-away bonus payments to set up a charitable grant for an organisation working to improve the environment. She chooses the Olympic Peninsula by chance as a place to stay while she considers her options, and there encounters Tess Hansen.
Tess is an academic researching orcas, who has taken a leave of absence in order to return home and care for her parents after her father injured his back in a fall. Although she and Britt are attracted to each other, Tess has a far more casual approach to dating than does Britt and so they agree not to pursue the connection during their respective stays in town. As her father begins to make progress toward recovery, Tess visits the local marine research station, hoping that a few hours volunteering there will aid both them and her. She is excited to discover that some of their projects could potentially overlap with hers, particularly when she hears of a grant that might fund an expansion of the work.
When the women realise that Tess is an applicant for Britt’s grant, they begin to develop a deeper friendship, and Britt’s various efforts to ensure that all potential recipients get to show their projects in the best possible light lead to new connections being formed between the various charities and wildlife organisations. In the end it’s Britt that decides to move the relationship onward on a temporary basis, just as Tess has started to consider the possibility of something more serious.
Ultimately, they find a solution that suits them both, and gives Britt a potential new career direction, all with the help of a couple of characters from one of the author’s previous books. I plan to read that one soon.
April 18, 2021
Wow, this book! I enjoyed it so much! I loved the way it touched on other things, not just the romance, which I feel not a lot do. It was really amazing to see as the characters developed! I loved the way Britt took a good look at herself and her life and worked to change it! This novel had a bit of slow-burn happening and I enjoyed the journey very much!
November 29, 2018
This book is classic Karis Walsh. Her ability to paint a picture in your mind with her words is unparalleled. She depicts such beautiful environmental and animal scenes. I have never been disappointed by one of her books. I appreciated the realistic struggle she presented for each of the main characters and their growth individually and together. Other reviewers have hashed out the plotline so I'm going to keep this short. This is a well written book that is well worth your time.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2018
I liked the book not my fav by this author but it's an ok read I took one and half day. At the middle I got so board with britt she's complaining a lot about being indecisive or being lost. She was over the top, whole thing got so exaggerated in my opinion. Nevertheless it's well written and very educational, tho sadly i was not fully interested in these parts so I skipped them. the end was cute. however. Wished I knew their age.
thank you for giving me a free copy in exchange of an honest opinion
thank you for giving me a free copy in exchange of an honest opinion
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews