Between The Waves

Love Overseas #1

by Ellie Malouff

Sex, suspense, and romance in one enticing tale of former pro surfer Jake Garrant and a mysterious woman who calls herself Audrey Logan.

AUDREY
I moved to a small town on the island of Maui, ready to live out my days on my own and far away from the monster I left back in Chicago.

It was the perfect reset until I needed something more. Someone more.

When I met Jake, the hottest guy in board shorts this side of the island, I started living again. He's teaching me how to surf, making my toes curl from pleasure, and is the one person I want to let into my world, with one condition...

He can never know my real name.

No one can.

Because if I'm found, I'll have to give up the life I'm building with Jake.

JAKE
Where did this girl come from?

My life was on a straight trajectory—waking up at dawn, getting my brother off to school, heading to the shop, and watching surfers come and go—until a beautiful woman named Audrey Logan moved to town. She's guarded and mysterious, but I'm drawn to her in a way I can't resist.

I'm determined to break down her walls one surfing lesson at a time, in hopes that she'll stay in Maui and let me love her, come what may.

Genres: Contemporary Romance

150 pages, ebook

First published June 28, 2018

About the author

Hi!

I'm Ellie and I love sharing romantic goodness with friends far and wide. Want to be looped in? Sign up at https://www.elliemalouff.com/newsletter.

P.S...if you sign up you'll also get to see a *very* embarrassing photo of me from middle school.

*The stuffy official bio*
Ellie Malouff has been dreaming up stories for as long as she can remember. When she’s not writing, you can find her parked on the couch in Colorado with her husband, kids, and cats. She loves traveling to Ireland whenever she gets the chance.

Reviews

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read for me. I read it in one night and thoroughly enjoyed it!! It’s a great book to read on a beach! I love the setting and the characters interactions with each other felt so genuine. The suspense element towards the end really picked the pace up. I wish it was longer, I’d love to know more about how their lives end up. Maybe there will be a second book? I know I’d read it!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between The Waves is the debut novella by Ellie Malouff. I quite enjoyed it. It is set in Hawaii. You have a girl new to the island and a hunky surfer. He ends up teaching her how to surf. It was the perfect, short, summer read that allowed me to take a quick vacation to to Hawaii. I loved the town and characters created. I was captivated until the very end.




I voluntarily read an early copy.

[Ivy Deluca]

I had the privilege of beta reading for my friend and I was thrilled. There's action, adventure, some sweet banter and above all, romance. I have a standing rule that I don't rate my beta reads, but I had to say that I loved it and love this author. Looking forward to more from her. :)

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. I loved this story about Sara/ Audrey and Jake. Sara is on the run and is hiding in Manalua Hawaii. She keeps to herself. Deciding to venture out to the coffee shop, she is told to see Jake, a local surf pro who gives lessons. Jake is done with the pro scene. He is trying to raise his brother Sam and run the surf hut, his family's business. He almost turns Audrey away thinking she is a tourist but when she says she will commit to six lessons he agrees. There is an instant Chemistry between then. He knows she is hiding something but not what. Finally she reveals some of her secrets but not all. Follow their adventure as Sam graduates, a fire destroys history, a threat to their lives and a shark spotting. Definitely recommend reading this very well written story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janine Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!
This book gets a solid five stars from me! A well written love story with so much going for it: a great setting (Hawaii), hot and steamy romance with a good dose of mystery & suspense. Jake and Sara are adorable together and I really enjoyed the time spent reading their story. I will be checking out more books by this author.

[Michelle Hillstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, fun, and swoon-worthy
I want my own demi-god-like surfer after reading this book! Jake is so yummy!
You’ll feel like you just took a trip Hawaii after reading this one because Ellie Malouff does such a great job creating the scene.
Such a fun book with well-developed and likable characters! Add this to your TBR!

[Carol Hibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Between the Waves by Ellie Malouff

I loved the story, the love, thrill and excitement. I felt Connected to the characters. I’d like to go to Hawaii now and experience all that I can.

[Lindsey Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read, with great descriptions.

The relationship between the main characters is cute and you can’t help but fall in love with their romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it quickly hooked me into the plot line.

[Kristen Granata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SUCH a sweet book! Read this if you’re looking for something with two loveable characters who don’t have any relationship issues & who will warm your heart. There’s one major conflict & there aren’t any constant ups & downs that kill you as you read. It was totally pleasant & a breath of fresh air with all these other books that put unrealistic things in a story for shock value. This actually reminded me of Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. I love the author’s writing & can’t wait to read more of her stories because I’m officially hooked!

[Amanda Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a beachy, summer read, I recommend Between the Waves.

This story pulls you in from page one with the introduction of Audrey. New to the fictional small town of Manalua, she is thousands of miles away from home. From the start, it’s understood she’s running from something. She's hesitant about being too friendly and revealing too much. But! she can’t stay in the house forever and decides it’s best to try and blend in. She heads to the local surf shop to ask about lessons, only to discover the surf instructor is a former pro named Jake. Their playful first meeting to their encounters that follow, go from cute to HOT. Mmph.

Audrey and Jake’s attraction is instant and natural. Their connection solidifies through surfing lessons, the tight knit community they inhabit, and his genuine interest in wanting to know more about her... oh the challenge!

They are perfect together. Individually, they are strong characters due to their backstories and experiences. It makes sense that their connection would be immediate and near perfect, because this match would be right anywhere. Luckily, we get to visualize it happening in one of the most beautiful places!

Malouff drops hints about what Audrey is running away from steadily throughout. And when the reveal happens, the details were surprising. The circumstances about why she fled made perfect sense. The author includes elements that mirror recent news in how powerful men can get away with far too much. So, when Audrey talks about her mysterious past, the story becomes the very definition of current.

Written in first person narrative with alternating viewpoints (my preferred format for contemporary romance), Malouff's debut is compulsively readable, sexy, and fun.

Romance readers: Between the Waves is a one sitting type book. You’ll want to zip through it in an afternoon. Perfect for summer.

*Many thanks for the ARC I received. It was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here.

Originally posted on my book blog: https://amandachristina.com/2018/06/2...

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, fast paced read!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 1/2 Stars!! This story began from the first page and kept you guessing why Audrey is running from her past. She is careful and does not want to let her guard down, but the welcoming of the small community softens her. Jake, Thor as she likes to call him, comes into her life and everything changes. The passion between them ignites instantly and a whirlwind relationship begins. Her past and his family collide for the suspenseful ending.

I enjoyed the characters and storyline. It moved along quickly. A perfect beach/pool/rainy (anytime) day read.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book found me at just the perfect time. I needed something that would help me escape into another world (at least for a few short hours). The characters are so vivid with palpable personalities. The landscape comes alive on the pages to the point where I can smell the sea air and feel the sand beneath my toes. It had romance, lust, intrigue and suspense all wrapped in this fun little package. If you need a brief release from the day to day, this is it!

[Cassie Faber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story which takes place in Hawaii. The characters are well developed and the story well written. Early on you get a sense that Sara/Audrey has a secret. When she meets buff surfer Jake there's a natural connection between them that just feels right. It's easy to bond with these characters and you quickly fall in love with their romance. It's a nice summer read filled with action, adventure and romance, a must read! Well done Ellie!

[Christi Whitson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong heroine with a mysterious past? - check!
Tall, sexy surf god? - check!
Humor, drama, and steamy sex scenes? check, check, CHECK!

This was a quick and amazing read, and I have no doubt I’ll read it again. Once again, Malouff has captured my imagination with her authentic characters and skilled use of setting. I read these a little out of order, but that doesn’t matter. Can’t wait to read the third book in the series!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author for me. I enjoyed it. It was well written, had a great storyline and characters. Jake is strong, loyal, taking care of his brother and running the family business. Sara is running, hiding, did she run far enough. Can Jake and Sara overcome their pasts and make their HEA? I recommend this to all. I received it as an arc and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Eden Rayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tourism Hawaii should use this book in their marketing package, because I was ready to head down there by the end of the second chapter! Between the Waves was a quick, fun and flirty read. I loved the instant rapport between the two main characters, Jake and Audrey. The way they connected over random topics was endearing and seemed so natural for them. I highly recommend this book!

[P.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, hot, and all the fun!
Surfing in Hawaii provides the perfect backdrop for this fun lovestory that has a surprising thread of suspense. My only complaint was that it left me wanting more!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/30/2019)! 🎁

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.

Ellie Malouff's debut, Between the Waves, caught my attention as soon as I read the blurb. A woman who is trying to escape her past and find a new life in Hawaii? Heck yes. Sign me up. This is the kind of escapism I can totally get behind. I loved the setting. It really made me want to hop on a plane to Hawaii. And that's a long flight for someone who doesn't enjoy flying. 😉

Audrey (aka Sara) was a great heroine. I appreciated her strength and determination to move on from her past. And, you know, try to feel a little less like an outsider in Hawaii. Surfing lessons with a hot as sin surfer seems like a great place to start. Jake was totally yummy and a really good guy, which was exactly what she needed. I enjoyed their romance a lot. It was very swoony and sexy.

Between the Waves was a super quick read. The setting and the romance were both wonderful. There was also a little bit of suspense in a storyline I really didn't see coming. I liked what it added to the story though. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ellie in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The attraction was there for the couple, and I liked both of them. She was "Newbie" and he was "Thor". I do think the love part of this was rushed a bit. When I read a book I want to feel like this couple will make it, they wont ever break up, they can handle what life throws at them and grow old together, and I didn't quite get there with these two. The writing was good but a few things were left out or not developed into a later conversation.



SPOILERS:
She dated the most eligible bachelor from Chicago, rich, good family, constantly in the press for philanthropy. But soon after he started being weird and controlling so she broke up with him, they didn't even sleep together. So he stalked her, filmed himself in her place, escalated and threatened her so she had to distance herself from friends to getting a new identity and running away. The stupidest thing she did was where her Cubs hat everywhere, and talk about them so much. The smartest thing she does was once she realizes one of her new friends is the chief of police she goes and tells her everything. I haven't seen much of that in woman on the run books, and I thought it was good.
The hero is an ex pro surfer with flaky/selfish parents. His dad died when he was younger and his mom doesn't seem all that great either. He said that he has kissed dozens of women, so I'm glad we don't hear about his past sex life. We know nothing about the h's except the guy she ran from. After they have sex and grow close she realizes its unfair to keep lying about everything so she tells him the gist of it, but not that she isn't using her real name, dyed her hair, or her stalkers full name. She gets online and see's her stalker left a cryptic status on Facebook about burning it all down and she can't find anything that says he is still in Chicago, so she freaks and goes to run away. But she realizes she can't leave the H and goes to the bonfire instead. Then the H's hut/job gets set on fire. His little brother thinks its the "gang" he left, which was an added plot that only ended up being his brother getting into trouble a little. The h knows it was the stalker though and leaves to grab her stuff. The H figures everything out, especially since a guy who gave him the creeps came by that day, too bad he used the h's real name when talking about her. The h doesn't just leave, she goes to the H's super private hard to find cabin on the beach. He figures that out and tells the chief she will never find it without him, but of course the stalker found it and has been staying there. He attacks her, the H was all "I'm going to end him" then see's him and is the opposite of Thor. He pushes him, keeps talking to him, the stalker goes on to tell him that this was all a game, she likes to run and make guys fall for her, she is a pro manipulator, often using the running from a stalker story on stupid guys. The H keeps looking for her, turning his back on the bad guy. He finally finds her, tackles the guy, kicks him in the stomach. She wakes up and he asks her if it was real?? He actually questions everything, and is confused and heartbroken.....Until the guy knocks him on the head, grabs her, and tries to rape her. He runs over and covers her and the Chief comes in. Bad guy pulls out a gun and she shoots him, he dies.
The next chapter is about a month later. She went to therapy to handle everything, her friends are coming to visit in a few weeks, and his little brother is graduating. During everything with the bad guy I have a lot of questions that were not answered. 1. How did he find her? 2. He mentioned that they had sex in ways she didn't know? What the heck does that mean??? 3. People back home didn't believe her about the bad guy, she couldn't even get a restraining order. People made fun of her, his other women said she was doing it because he ended it, and he had a powerful family. What was the backlash on that? Would have loved to see press on him being the monster she said, people being shocked or mad. Lastly, his letting that guy confuse him, actually thinking she played him the whole time and questioning everything they had for a moment was never talked about or discussed. I wish a conversation would have been had, because she was just waking up when he asked is this real? and might not even know he was confused. This is what makes me question if their relationship could last. Then it goes on to say that everything they went through makes stuff like the timing in a relationship not important. So he proposes and she says yes. And he said he would live anywhere as long as she was there but is very happy she loves it there and wants to stay, so he fixes up his business.

[Samantha Bilodeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just realized that this is basically a novella, which explains a lot. I enjoyed these characters, the setting, and the mystery of Audrey/Sara... But I really felt like there was a lot missing that never was fleshed out, which made many things seem off.

Audrey's dad was gay... And decided to have a kid all by himself? Never dated? He was also apparently filthy rich and left it all to Audrey... Where did the money come from?

We later learn that Audrey was some sort of a socialite... But barely any info is actually shared about that. She dated another socialite, and he became obsessed with her. Okay. Did they not know each other before? They obviously ran in the same circles, and most situations like that would have had them going to schools together, etc.... Not a lot of socialites teaching high school drama, either, so... What was that about?

There were also a bunch of questions about the big suspense scene... Like how a tiny Hawaiian town got on Brandon's radar at all (or why his ID said Colorado... Was it fake?). Audrey's reaction to his Facebook post, how she knew what it meant, wasn't explained. Or why she went from normal and "If he shows up, I'll still be okay because I am not alone" to surprised he showed up and winding up in the position she was... What happened between Brandon pinning her against the wall being about to assault her and her being put into a random bed fully-clothed? Did Brandon hear Jake and go tuck her in?

Their first sexy scene seemed to be missing some descriptions, too. I backtracked to see what I missed at least once, but had to just assume what was going on (I don't need it super graphic, but going from fingers to tongue without any mention of a position change was a bit odd!).

I liked this. I did. I just think another 100 pages or so would have taken it from good to great!

[Mary Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot surfer...check. Strong and independent woman...check. Swoon worthy romance...check. Life threatening action...check. This book has it all! And I loved every minute of this.
Audrey (not her real name) moves to Maui to get away from a crazy ex. She meets Jake and starts taking surf lessons from him. Those surf lessons start out to be more and pretty soon they are in a fun romance. But her stalker is out there and might know where she is, waiting for the opportunity to arise for him to get her.
This is a fun and fast read. I found myself finishing it in one day. I couldn't put it down! The author pulls in the reader from line one until the end. My only complaint is that I want more. I loved Audrey and Jake. They have quickly become one of my favorite book couples. But this book has more than romance. There is great action. Also the author keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved the beach descriptions and the surfing tips. And I also loved all the minor characters. As a whole this book was awesome and I highly suggest it! I can't wait to read more from this author. What an amazing debut.

[TheQDB · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a super fun, quick summer read, look no further. Audrey is escaping a situation in Chicago that has her perpetually looking over her shoulder when she meets Jake, ex pro-surfer who agrees to take her on as a student. Inevitably, a relationship develops. It’s an adorable story, set in a gorgeous landscape (Maui). I do wish it were a full length instead of a novella to give the characters a little more time to develop but overall it was great. I’m looking forward to the next one with hopes that I’ll be able to dig my claws into the characters and storyline just a teensy bit more.

Overall: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥
Feels: 🤔☺️😰💗

~QD Story Details~
Tear jerker: No
Paranormal/Fantasy: No
Location: Manalua, Maui
Character age range: Late 20s / early 30s
Lead: Audrey
Love interest(s): Jake
HEA: Yes

~QD Book Info~
Kindle Unlimited: No
Audible: No
Series: No - Standalone -

~QD ~
Sex/kink type: penetrative, oral,
Possible triggers: death of a parent, abusive relationship, stalking, domestic violence -

[Stef (Noveltea Corner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Logan is in hiding on Maui and trying to blend in after leaving her life behind when her path crosses with local Jake surfer, Jake. Surfing lessons becomes friendship becomes something more until her past comes back to haunt her.

I had never heard of this book or this author before I received a copy of it in a book box and I was pleasantly surprised by this short, easy to read romance with a hint of suspense. I also appreciated the author's note at the beginning highlighting the impact of tourism on Hawaii (worth a read and being aware of). This was just a fun, light holiday read, with fun main and side characters.

CW/TW: Violent ex-partner

Tropes/Keywords: Small town, Hawaii, surfing, teacher, size difference, secret identity, dual POV

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book. It was light but had substance. It was sexy and sweet. I had a smile on my face for the majority of the book. There were a few hurdles Jake and Audrey had to jump over but it didn't consume the story and it was resolved before I starting chucking my kindle in frustration. Jake was perfection. One of the best book boyfriends I've ever read. The whole counting smiles thing? C'mon! How adorable was that? Gah! I never wanted this book to end. There was serious heat and even more heart and it made me want to move back to Hawaii. Ellie is becoming one of my favorite authors. This is a book that I will re read many times over.

[Claudia |✨Cushin Violeta's Bookish Realm✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surfing swooy read 🏄‍♂️🏄‍♀️💗

At first we get to see Audrey shifted to the paradise place of Maui. She meets new people and gets to Jake who's the famous surfer there with his own surf merch shop.
But there's something that Audrey is running from, something that has made her flee not only from her country but also change her name.
Yet as her friendship and relationship with Jake intensifies and she goes to make new friends, not wanting to leave this paradise, danger is sure waiting for her.
I had fun reading this one. Beach, sand and a handsome Thor like hero, what's not to like. 😍😎.
But what I loved is Jake, the many friends who welcome Audrey with open arms, their surfing lessons and the hot, hotter chemistry between Jake and Audrey. 💗💗💗

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet and just right for a simple vacation read. There were definitely a few words or phrases I would have changed but the writing was good and got the picture across in the short amount of pages. Jake was sexy in such a cute way. I loved how he was with his brother. I can’t lie, I preferred the name Audrey over Sara and kinda wished she had just changed it but that’s just my personal opinion. A cute little romance with just the right touch of angst. I’d give it 2 🔥🔥 out of five for spice. Not because it was bad but when there was spice, it didn’t go into great detail (I assume to keep page numbers low) and I think she really could’ve had great spice scenes with more detail.

[Jes Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between the Waves was an enjoyable sweet debut novella by Ellie Malouff.

Audrey Logan is new to Manalua and after hiding out for a month she has decided to get out and try something new – surf lessons. Jake Garrant use to-be a Pro Surfer years ago but now he run’s the local surf shop. When these two meet for the first time, it’s instant chemistry. But can you fall for someone if you’re using an alias and hiding your past?

If you’re looking for a quick summer book that has great characters and is a little sexy then this is the book. Can’t wait to read Ellie’s next book!

[Rylie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book! It was pretty short, but was fun to read! I loved the setting of it and the overall relationship between the two main characters. I loved their little playful type of love, and both the characters as individuals.
The whole stalking part of the book was a little random, but like I get it??? Haha I’ve just never read a book like that but I didn’t hate it!
I do believe I could have given this book 5 stars if it was a bit longer, which automatically brings more details, but other than that I loved it :)
Can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She left and changed her name to make a new life for herself. She is now bored so she takes surfing lesson. The instructor is fit and not so that helps. He has step in to help his younger brother and gives lessons. She comes along and he finds it hard to keep his mind on the job. What will happen between them? See by reading

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.