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Pine Cove #2
Troubled Waters
Scout Duffy doesn’t know what’s worse. The fact that his scorching one-night-stand is his bratty new client, or the fact that he doesn’t even remember Scout. But beneath all the bravado, Scout can see Emery is terrified, and he’ll do anything to protect him from his attacker. If only he would lower his walls and let Scout into his heart as easily as he lets him dominate in the bedroom.
Being out and proud his whole life means Emery Klein has never been safe. But now his charity work and social media fame have put a target on his back from bigots, and his friends force him to hire a private bodyguard. Emery doesn’t need to be judged by some straight former-boxer, but his attraction to the gorgeous hunk is insatiable. When Emery finally recognizes Scout, they can’t keep their damn hands off one another, if only for as long as Scout’s in town.
There’s a reason Emery never looks too closely at the men he sleeps with, just like there’s a reason Scout lives out of a suitcase in motel rooms. Will two men hiding from hurt realize the love that could heal them both is right in front of them? Or will Emery’s attacker take everything before they have the chance?
Troubled Waters is a steamy, standalone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.
Being out and proud his whole life means Emery Klein has never been safe. But now his charity work and social media fame have put a target on his back from bigots, and his friends force him to hire a private bodyguard. Emery doesn’t need to be judged by some straight former-boxer, but his attraction to the gorgeous hunk is insatiable. When Emery finally recognizes Scout, they can’t keep their damn hands off one another, if only for as long as Scout’s in town.
There’s a reason Emery never looks too closely at the men he sleeps with, just like there’s a reason Scout lives out of a suitcase in motel rooms. Will two men hiding from hurt realize the love that could heal them both is right in front of them? Or will Emery’s attacker take everything before they have the chance?
Troubled Waters is a steamy, standalone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2019
145 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
H.J. Welch
41 books290 followersHJ Welch is a British author of contemporary American MM small town series and books in multi authored shared universes, including the international number one bestselling Homecoming Hearts. She lives just outside of London with her husband and three balls of fluff that occasionally pretend to be cats.
She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over half a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s usually dancing, singing, filming music videos, taking long walks, working on jigsaw puzzles, drinking prosecco, or talking about Eurovision.
She also writes contemporary British MM fairy tale adaptation as Helen Juliet, including bestsellers Thorn in His Side, A Right Royal Affair, and Three.
She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over half a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s usually dancing, singing, filming music videos, taking long walks, working on jigsaw puzzles, drinking prosecco, or talking about Eurovision.
She also writes contemporary British MM fairy tale adaptation as Helen Juliet, including bestsellers Thorn in His Side, A Right Royal Affair, and Three.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
November 3, 2019
We met Emery in book one, he is Robin’s best friend from school. He is out and proud and very fem. He is who he is, and stuff everyone else. He is an Instagram star, but he is so much more too. But people don’t see that side to Emery, he doesn’t let many people in. Scout is very much a man’s man: big and bulky, ex-boxer, but he loves fem guys. That’s why Emery caught his eye in the club, that first time. Why Emery continues to push Scout’s buttons while they try to figure out what’s going on. Why Emery continues to PUSH Scout, in every which way. Why Scout pushes Emery to open up, to talk to him. Why Scout’s heart breaks when Emery pushes him away. Why Scout’s heart damn well stops when he realises the danger Emery has walked into.
I loved this; I really did! I’ve been in such a book slump for a while, and this book, this deliciously sexy, heart stopping book, was just the book I needed to get me out of it!
Emery is such a character! I loved him in Safe Harbor, and I fell in love some more with him here. He is so much more than the image he presents to the world; he really is. You don’t see that in book one, but here you get the full Emery experience and I loved it! Scout is quite a character too, just not quite so in-yer-face as Emery is.
Emery is very clear about what and who he wants, and so this book is somewhat more explicit than book one, but I ain’t complaining, no ma’am, I ain’t! A tad more violent though, what with car bombs, and nutters, and things but I think they are needed here, they really are.
Both guys have a say, and both voices are very different. I need to listen to this now! I heard Emery’s voice in my head, but it wasn’t *quite* right, and since we don’t get Emery is all his glory in Safe Harbor, I need to listen to hear him fall apart when Scout touches him, when it all goes down, and when things are settled after.
Ava, Robin’s sister, plays a part here, and Robin, Dair and Swift, (eldest brother to Robin) pop up. So pleased about that!
I loved this; I really did! I’ve been in such a book slump for a while, and this book, this deliciously sexy, heart stopping book, was just the book I needed to get me out of it!
Emery is such a character! I loved him in Safe Harbor, and I fell in love some more with him here. He is so much more than the image he presents to the world; he really is. You don’t see that in book one, but here you get the full Emery experience and I loved it! Scout is quite a character too, just not quite so in-yer-face as Emery is.
Emery is very clear about what and who he wants, and so this book is somewhat more explicit than book one, but I ain’t complaining, no ma’am, I ain’t! A tad more violent though, what with car bombs, and nutters, and things but I think they are needed here, they really are.
Both guys have a say, and both voices are very different. I need to listen to this now! I heard Emery’s voice in my head, but it wasn’t *quite* right, and since we don’t get Emery is all his glory in Safe Harbor, I need to listen to hear him fall apart when Scout touches him, when it all goes down, and when things are settled after.
Ava, Robin’s sister, plays a part here, and Robin, Dair and Swift, (eldest brother to Robin) pop up. So pleased about that!
September 27, 2019
Is it just me, or did H.J. Welch take inspiration from that Key & Peele sketch about Office Homophobes? Because for most of this book Emery’s whole character was just a massive case of “Oh, I’m not persecuted. I’m just an asshole.”
I will be fair here, femme guys in romance books aren’t my first choice to read. Not because I have an issue with men breaking gender stereotypes, or I am uncomfortable with flamboyance. But rather that they often end up being a stereotype themselves, and it is uncomfortable for me to read. I have read some very, very feminine male characters that I loved (see: Sandy, from T.J. Klune’s “The Queen and the Homo Jock King”). But they are few and far between, mostly because I think the majority of straight, female authors are bad at writing them as well-rounded, reality grounded characters. And that is just who writes the vast majority of the romance genre. Emery is definitely a stereotype in this book. Now, that seems to have been intentional. But that doesn’t mean I hate it any less.
I didn’t like Emery. At all. In fact I kind of hated him. But that isn’t because he was effeminate, or gay. It was because he was an asshole. Emery is a flamboyant, over-sexed character type. I didn’t find his being a brat endearing, I didn’t find his whining cute, and I didn’t find his demanding personality adorable. I found him to be annoying, immature, and judgmental to the extreme. For example, the petulant inability for Emery to take “no” for an answer drove me mad. It was cringey, and gross. I get it being a kink thing, but trying to talk or provoke someone into sleeping with you just makes me uncomfortable.
And I get that the judgment was a kind of coping mechanism, but I don’t find that redeems the amount of straight up bitchery that Emery participates in. It was exhausting, and Emery needed to keep his own prejudices in check. His whole “everyone, ever, in the whole wide world hates me for being me” was tired. Yeah, sure, there are a lot of assholes. But clearly not everyone hates him – otherwise he would have been a failure as an influencer. You can’t have it both ways. And him overlooking that just grated. I don’t want to read a character with a victim complex the size of a small planet.
**WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD**
And then we get into the plot-related stuff about Emery that irritated me. His whole fight with Scout about why they have to wait until after Scout is not longer protecting him, for his own safety, was dumb. Scout was absolutely right. The right thing to do was to wait to continue seeing each other romantically, so that Scout could do his job properly. It wasn’t his fault that Emery is a literal child who took “we need to wait a little while to pursue this” to mean “I’m rejecting you and everything you stand for and I only used you for sex”. Then, to add insult to injury, Emery goes on about how Scout made him feel cheap and disposable and how dare he. Only Emery is allowed to make someone feel cheap and disposable like that! Which is incredibly hypocritical, especially given how Emery makes Scout feel exactly this by forgetting about their tryst in the beginning. God, it was so frustrating reading that. And what only made it worse was Emery acting like a petulant child who had his candy taken away, when in reality it was more like Emery punching himself in his face and then blaming Scout who told him not to do it. AND THEN SCOUT TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMERY PUNCHING HIMSELF IN THE FACE. This was in no way Scout’s fault, and yet he and Emery both act like it is. Scout was being responsible, Emery was acting with a reckless disregard for not only his own safety, but his bodyguard’s as well.
In fact, Emery lacked any sort of survival instinct for most of the book. He didn’t want to involve the FBI, didn’t want to call the police, didn’t want to do anything about the fact he was just assaulted (and almost killed) in his own home! He may not have been selfish, but he was still a moron. He made stupid decisions that repeatedly put him in danger and I just can’t with it. It was not a shock when he got kidnapped in the end, because he was making reckless decisions about his safety literally from Go. And I can’t get behind that kind of behavior, I just can’t.
Which brings me to the plot. Despite my feelings towards Emery, of which I admittedly have many, I liked the plot for the most part until the point where Emery gets kidnapped. Then it starts to devolve. The ending had such potential. H.J. Welch could have taken this in so many directions. Instead, she chose to validate Emery’s twisted world view in the least surprising ending ever, yet also somehow the least plausible in reality. Instead of it being someone that Emery has wronged, or it being personal (as is implied earlier) it is literally no one we know. No one that Emery knows. There is no connection to Emery driving their actions, just some weird attenuated circumstances that pushed them to target Emery for….literally no reason. Which, statistically, is unlikely in reality. Oh and also, somehow, they were those one random guys that no one remembers because they were inconsequential. Remember that one random waiter that had a problem with a gay couple or something half a book ago? No? Well he was actually the bad guy all along! Aha! Got you! It was such a dumb ending to an otherwise good plot. I felt cheated. The baddies were like cartoon villains, they were hollow caricatures. Which made the ending very unsatisfying, considering how good the build up was.
Otherwise, the book was good for the first 75%. And then if falls off a sharp cliff. I actually really liked Scout (even if his name is fucking dumb. Not as fucking dumb as Emmerich. But it’s close). He was a good guy, with a good head on his shoulders. And I liked the whole “we slept together, but he doesn’t recognize me and now I work for him” angle. As much as it frustrated me, I actually liked that Emery thought Scout was straight. It made for an amusing first half of the book, and created some natural drama when everything came to light. There was a ton of potential with this book, and then the plot fell flat on its face.
I will be fair here, femme guys in romance books aren’t my first choice to read. Not because I have an issue with men breaking gender stereotypes, or I am uncomfortable with flamboyance. But rather that they often end up being a stereotype themselves, and it is uncomfortable for me to read. I have read some very, very feminine male characters that I loved (see: Sandy, from T.J. Klune’s “The Queen and the Homo Jock King”). But they are few and far between, mostly because I think the majority of straight, female authors are bad at writing them as well-rounded, reality grounded characters. And that is just who writes the vast majority of the romance genre. Emery is definitely a stereotype in this book. Now, that seems to have been intentional. But that doesn’t mean I hate it any less.
I didn’t like Emery. At all. In fact I kind of hated him. But that isn’t because he was effeminate, or gay. It was because he was an asshole. Emery is a flamboyant, over-sexed character type. I didn’t find his being a brat endearing, I didn’t find his whining cute, and I didn’t find his demanding personality adorable. I found him to be annoying, immature, and judgmental to the extreme. For example, the petulant inability for Emery to take “no” for an answer drove me mad. It was cringey, and gross. I get it being a kink thing, but trying to talk or provoke someone into sleeping with you just makes me uncomfortable.
And I get that the judgment was a kind of coping mechanism, but I don’t find that redeems the amount of straight up bitchery that Emery participates in. It was exhausting, and Emery needed to keep his own prejudices in check. His whole “everyone, ever, in the whole wide world hates me for being me” was tired. Yeah, sure, there are a lot of assholes. But clearly not everyone hates him – otherwise he would have been a failure as an influencer. You can’t have it both ways. And him overlooking that just grated. I don’t want to read a character with a victim complex the size of a small planet.
**WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD**
And then we get into the plot-related stuff about Emery that irritated me. His whole fight with Scout about why they have to wait until after Scout is not longer protecting him, for his own safety, was dumb. Scout was absolutely right. The right thing to do was to wait to continue seeing each other romantically, so that Scout could do his job properly. It wasn’t his fault that Emery is a literal child who took “we need to wait a little while to pursue this” to mean “I’m rejecting you and everything you stand for and I only used you for sex”. Then, to add insult to injury, Emery goes on about how Scout made him feel cheap and disposable and how dare he. Only Emery is allowed to make someone feel cheap and disposable like that! Which is incredibly hypocritical, especially given how Emery makes Scout feel exactly this by forgetting about their tryst in the beginning. God, it was so frustrating reading that. And what only made it worse was Emery acting like a petulant child who had his candy taken away, when in reality it was more like Emery punching himself in his face and then blaming Scout who told him not to do it. AND THEN SCOUT TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMERY PUNCHING HIMSELF IN THE FACE. This was in no way Scout’s fault, and yet he and Emery both act like it is. Scout was being responsible, Emery was acting with a reckless disregard for not only his own safety, but his bodyguard’s as well.
In fact, Emery lacked any sort of survival instinct for most of the book. He didn’t want to involve the FBI, didn’t want to call the police, didn’t want to do anything about the fact he was just assaulted (and almost killed) in his own home! He may not have been selfish, but he was still a moron. He made stupid decisions that repeatedly put him in danger and I just can’t with it. It was not a shock when he got kidnapped in the end, because he was making reckless decisions about his safety literally from Go. And I can’t get behind that kind of behavior, I just can’t.
Which brings me to the plot. Despite my feelings towards Emery, of which I admittedly have many, I liked the plot for the most part until the point where Emery gets kidnapped. Then it starts to devolve. The ending had such potential. H.J. Welch could have taken this in so many directions. Instead, she chose to validate Emery’s twisted world view in the least surprising ending ever, yet also somehow the least plausible in reality. Instead of it being someone that Emery has wronged, or it being personal (as is implied earlier) it is literally no one we know. No one that Emery knows. There is no connection to Emery driving their actions, just some weird attenuated circumstances that pushed them to target Emery for….literally no reason. Which, statistically, is unlikely in reality. Oh and also, somehow, they were those one random guys that no one remembers because they were inconsequential. Remember that one random waiter that had a problem with a gay couple or something half a book ago? No? Well he was actually the bad guy all along! Aha! Got you! It was such a dumb ending to an otherwise good plot. I felt cheated. The baddies were like cartoon villains, they were hollow caricatures. Which made the ending very unsatisfying, considering how good the build up was.
Otherwise, the book was good for the first 75%. And then if falls off a sharp cliff. I actually really liked Scout (even if his name is fucking dumb. Not as fucking dumb as Emmerich. But it’s close). He was a good guy, with a good head on his shoulders. And I liked the whole “we slept together, but he doesn’t recognize me and now I work for him” angle. As much as it frustrated me, I actually liked that Emery thought Scout was straight. It made for an amusing first half of the book, and created some natural drama when everything came to light. There was a ton of potential with this book, and then the plot fell flat on its face.
September 1, 2020
Where to begin with this one? I don't really know. I really enjoyed parts of it. I tolerated others and I hated parts. At least it was a hell of a ride.
It's fast paced and intense which was what I needed right now.
Scout was a great character. So caring and loving. I just wanted to hold him and tell the gentle giant that everything was going to be fine. It wasn't his fault.
Emery though. Emery I couldn't stand. He's supposed to be a good guy. A guy standing up for LGBTQ rights. Knowing what's right and wrong. Yet he's a judgmental prick. The way he judged Scout, played mind games with him and acted like a brat when he didn't get his way. It didn't work for me. It really didn't work for me. I get that it was mostly a facade and that he was suffering from a lot of ghosts however, it didn't work for me. The redemption arc of Emery's story was... well nothing. I needed much more work from him. As it was now Scout took some blame for actions Emery was responsible of.
The mystery part was interesting and kept me entertained.
The high lights of this book except for Scout was without a doubt Kamran the Uber driver. He was a hoot and needs his own book asap.
It's fast paced and intense which was what I needed right now.
Scout was a great character. So caring and loving. I just wanted to hold him and tell the gentle giant that everything was going to be fine. It wasn't his fault.
Emery though. Emery I couldn't stand. He's supposed to be a good guy. A guy standing up for LGBTQ rights. Knowing what's right and wrong. Yet he's a judgmental prick. The way he judged Scout, played mind games with him and acted like a brat when he didn't get his way. It didn't work for me. It really didn't work for me. I get that it was mostly a facade and that he was suffering from a lot of ghosts however, it didn't work for me. The redemption arc of Emery's story was... well nothing. I needed much more work from him. As it was now Scout took some blame for actions Emery was responsible of.
The mystery part was interesting and kept me entertained.
The high lights of this book except for Scout was without a doubt Kamran the Uber driver. He was a hoot and needs his own book asap.
August 11, 2019
Unbearable main character
I couldn't go beyond 49%. One of the main characters had no redeemable characteristics, was juvenile to a fault and didn't care how he treated other people. But oh his own emotions were so precious. I found myself hoping something terrible would actually happen to him so the other guy could get away. Pass if you're not into reading about selfish, immature and entitled MCs, I don't mind a bad guy trope but one's who acknowledge their shortcomings and don't care make for a better reading than an oblivious type. Awkwardly written.
I couldn't go beyond 49%. One of the main characters had no redeemable characteristics, was juvenile to a fault and didn't care how he treated other people. But oh his own emotions were so precious. I found myself hoping something terrible would actually happen to him so the other guy could get away. Pass if you're not into reading about selfish, immature and entitled MCs, I don't mind a bad guy trope but one's who acknowledge their shortcomings and don't care make for a better reading than an oblivious type. Awkwardly written.
August 25, 2024
This is my third listen and and what bothers me, is how vanilla it is. Emery is proud to be a brat and behaves imature. Scout obviously is not fit to be a bodyguard. They dabble in handcuffs and dominating sex but it is very sweet and tender.
The narration is spot on. But it makes me wonder if reading it without hearing that kind, gentle voice, will change my opinion about the vanilla tendencies of the story.
The narration is spot on. But it makes me wonder if reading it without hearing that kind, gentle voice, will change my opinion about the vanilla tendencies of the story.
March 21, 2021
Emery was a cute and fun character in the first book, so I enjoyed getting to know him more. On the surface, he is a drama queen diva, but there is so much more depth to him. He is getting death threats and seems to have a stalker. His friend convinces him that he needs a bodyguard, and who shows up but the faceless guy he was with the night before. Scout remembers Emery, but Emery never really looked at faces in an attempt to distance himself from others. They had chemistry for sure. Right off the bat, they seemed to gel with each other and that scared them both. Scout wanted to be able to focus on his job and Emery didn't want to get attached or have feelings for anyone. Luckily, these guys realize that communication is important, Scout helps Emery with his stalker situation, and they get an HEA. I really enjoyed the story. There were elements of mystery, action/drama, mild kink, and heat. It was the perfect balance for a story.
edited to add:
I did a re-read of this using the audiobook, and Nick J. Russo did an awesome job! The character's voices were great, and I fell in love with them even more than I did on paper.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
edited to add:
I did a re-read of this using the audiobook, and Nick J. Russo did an awesome job! The character's voices were great, and I fell in love with them even more than I did on paper.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
August 10, 2019
So darn judgmental
So it was ok. For all the kink they promised you get barely anything. But worst of all is how absolutely judgmental Emery is...for all his supposedly wonderful attributes he seems like someone who uses them to just cover up who he really is. And yet all you hear through the first 50% of the book is how straight white males are awful and don't understand someone like him. Like...the book had been much better if he actually practiced what he preached about acceptance and not judging a book by its cover. Just seemed like the author wanted everyone to know their personal views on straight white males but having no valid argument behind except for preconceived notions. So ya...not my favorite and not even worth the read for the smut. 2 stars at best
So it was ok. For all the kink they promised you get barely anything. But worst of all is how absolutely judgmental Emery is...for all his supposedly wonderful attributes he seems like someone who uses them to just cover up who he really is. And yet all you hear through the first 50% of the book is how straight white males are awful and don't understand someone like him. Like...the book had been much better if he actually practiced what he preached about acceptance and not judging a book by its cover. Just seemed like the author wanted everyone to know their personal views on straight white males but having no valid argument behind except for preconceived notions. So ya...not my favorite and not even worth the read for the smut. 2 stars at best
May 12, 2021
I really liked this one - after the first book it was a very good second book in this series.
Emery was interesting and Scout was fine as well.
but I had some troubles with the big misunderstanding ... it was portraid as Scouts fault and I agree, he should have said something.
but Emery was not so faultless as well and his total misregard for other people feelings at the beginning was not really mentioned
nevertheless, it was nice and I will continue this series, as it is something for rainy days
Emery was interesting and Scout was fine as well.
but I had some troubles with the big misunderstanding ... it was portraid as Scouts fault and I agree, he should have said something.
but Emery was not so faultless as well and his total misregard for other people feelings at the beginning was not really mentioned
nevertheless, it was nice and I will continue this series, as it is something for rainy days
November 23, 2019
DNF at abou 11% - It was BAD, like really BAD. We could talk about the horrific near racisist/homophobic stereotype used but it would be better just to leave this book to rot in a darkened place where it will hurt no-one ever again. This could be the worst book I've read so far this year. AVOID!
September 30, 2019
2☆
I liked Emery better in the first book
Because he was just so full of sass and cuteness
I was excited to read his HEA but #ugh he was such an
judgemental ass!
I can't even...
I liked Emery better in the first book
Because he was just so full of sass and cuteness
I was excited to read his HEA but #ugh he was such an
judgemental ass!
I can't even...
November 20, 2022
DNF…one of the MCs is just too self centered, egotistical, and unlikeable. I liked the other MC and the writing that allowed me to empathize with him so much was well done. However I could not get past my complete lack of interest in the other MC. Emery is a brat. I don’t care if it’s a defense mechanism. He treats people badly because he’s been treated badly? He’s judgmental because people judge him? Just no. I tried to stick with it hoping things would improve and got to about 43% but I just couldn’t do it anymore after the crisis scene where Emery again treats Scout like shit, Scout feels awful and like things are his fault, and Emery has the nerve to be mad. And no, Scout was not lying.
I really want to know the suspense storyline but I just couldn’t read anymore about Emery and his self centered whiny crap.
I really want to know the suspense storyline but I just couldn’t read anymore about Emery and his self centered whiny crap.
January 30, 2023
I'm listening to these. It was a cute story
July 19, 2023
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
"Troubled Waters" by H. J. Welch, the second book in the Pine Cove series, left me feeling deeply frustrated and disappointed. I stand by my previous points and would like to add further criticisms regarding the problematic dynamics between the characters.
One significant issue I encountered was Emery's relentless pressure on Scout to come out. Emery continuously pushes and pushes, accusing Scout of being homophobic and insisting that he must confront his sexuality. This relentless behavior, rather than fostering understanding and empathy, creates an uncomfortable and manipulative atmosphere. The notion that Emery's abrasiveness is somehow endearing or romanticized is perplexing and troubling. It perpetuates the idea that pushing someone beyond their comfort zone without their consent is acceptable or even desirable, which is simply not the case.
Furthermore, as the story progresses, Emery and Scout's relationship is marred by constant fighting and accusations. Emery repeatedly asserts that he does not want to be Scout's "backup" and implies that Scout enjoys the challenge of his difficult behavior. This toxic dynamic, in which emotional manipulation and verbal conflicts are mistaken for passion, is deeply troubling and unrealistic. It undermines the potential for a healthy and supportive relationship between the characters.
The portrayal of Emery's behavior and its effects on Scout in the book left me deeply unsettled. It is crucial to address such dynamics responsibly and provide a clear message that healthy relationships are built on trust, respect, and open communication. Unfortunately, "Troubled Waters" fails to deliver this essential aspect, instead perpetuating a harmful narrative that pushes boundaries without considering the consequences.
In summary, my initial frustrations with "Troubled Waters" are compounded by the troubling dynamics depicted in the book. Emery's relentless pressure on Scout to come out and the ensuing fights and manipulation cast a shadow over the story. This portrayal not only fails to resonate but also reinforces harmful stereotypes about relationships and personal boundaries. As a result, I cannot recommend this book to others and would caution readers to be aware of these problematic aspects before engaging with the story.
Please note that this review reflects my personal opinion and interpretation of the work. Individual experiences and preferences may vary.
July 20, 2023
DNF at 60%
I tried, I really did. I don't usually rate books below 3 stars if I at least finish them. Could not torture myself to finish.
I love the narrator and I enjoyed book one, but Emery is a train wreck without many redeeming qualities. He is simply awful. And Scout allowed himself to be emasculated...so just, no... and then groveling when he did nothing wrong but try to be professional and protect the ungrateful ass...nope, and then the power imbalance that was almost abusive. Don't get me started on Emery's female friend (so forgettable I forget her name) who was just as bad. I hated them and was rooting for the stalker to get them both to put me out of my misery.
I don't typically DNF books, if I start, I try to at least give it a real go, and I did, but this one just took all the joy out of my day,...I felt like ramming my car into a tree while listening to Emery go on and on an on. I just wanted to yell, shut the f up!!!
Hard pass, and I think I am done with this series, too. Too bad since I have the entire series on audio but I will have to be desperate to subject myself to this kind of dysfunction again. Sheesh.
2 Stars for the narrator
**and now I feel bad for writing this
I tried, I really did. I don't usually rate books below 3 stars if I at least finish them. Could not torture myself to finish.
I love the narrator and I enjoyed book one, but Emery is a train wreck without many redeeming qualities. He is simply awful. And Scout allowed himself to be emasculated...so just, no... and then groveling when he did nothing wrong but try to be professional and protect the ungrateful ass...nope, and then the power imbalance that was almost abusive. Don't get me started on Emery's female friend (so forgettable I forget her name) who was just as bad. I hated them and was rooting for the stalker to get them both to put me out of my misery.
I don't typically DNF books, if I start, I try to at least give it a real go, and I did, but this one just took all the joy out of my day,...I felt like ramming my car into a tree while listening to Emery go on and on an on. I just wanted to yell, shut the f up!!!
Hard pass, and I think I am done with this series, too. Too bad since I have the entire series on audio but I will have to be desperate to subject myself to this kind of dysfunction again. Sheesh.
2 Stars for the narrator
**and now I feel bad for writing this
June 17, 2020
Drama, Baby, Drama, irgendwie hatte ich damit bei Emerys Story gerechnet. Trotzdem wurde sie dann noch viel besser als von mir erwartet.
Emery konnte man schon im ersten Band von Pine Cove kennen lernen. Er ist ein bekannter Influencer, LGBT-Aktivist und nutzt seinen Social-Media Kanal um anderen Mut zu machen und junge Homosexuelle zu unterstützen. Leider hat er sich damit auch Feinde gemacht, denn nicht jedem gefällt sein Lebensstil. Er ist schrill, tuntig und provokant. Deshalb wird er sogar von einem Stalker bedroht und seine beste Freundin besorgt ihm einen Leibwächter. Dieser Leibwächter ist Scout und ausgerechnet der Mann, mit dem Emery am Abend zuvor einen One-Night-Stand in einem Club hatte.
Mir hat die Geschichte um Emery und Scout gefallen, beide sind anfangs nicht an einer Beziehung interessiert. Doch schnell merken sie, wie gut sie eigentlich zusammen passen. So richtig spannend wird es dann zum Ende, als Scout seine Fähigkeiten als Bodyguard beweisen muss. Ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Teil.
Emery konnte man schon im ersten Band von Pine Cove kennen lernen. Er ist ein bekannter Influencer, LGBT-Aktivist und nutzt seinen Social-Media Kanal um anderen Mut zu machen und junge Homosexuelle zu unterstützen. Leider hat er sich damit auch Feinde gemacht, denn nicht jedem gefällt sein Lebensstil. Er ist schrill, tuntig und provokant. Deshalb wird er sogar von einem Stalker bedroht und seine beste Freundin besorgt ihm einen Leibwächter. Dieser Leibwächter ist Scout und ausgerechnet der Mann, mit dem Emery am Abend zuvor einen One-Night-Stand in einem Club hatte.
Mir hat die Geschichte um Emery und Scout gefallen, beide sind anfangs nicht an einer Beziehung interessiert. Doch schnell merken sie, wie gut sie eigentlich zusammen passen. So richtig spannend wird es dann zum Ende, als Scout seine Fähigkeiten als Bodyguard beweisen muss. Ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Teil.
August 6, 2019
Dnf @60%
It couldn’t hold my interest unfortunately
It couldn’t hold my interest unfortunately
July 14, 2020
Scout was the worst bodyguard ever. Emery was a brat, and not at all in a cute way. The kidnapping was basically a joke. This was just...bad.
Read
June 7, 2021DNF
tried this and i just can't give a shit with any of the mcs.
tried this and i just can't give a shit with any of the mcs.
August 11, 2021
Tried to finish the book but Emery was just so annoying; a spoilt brat.
June 3, 2020
Darum geht's:
Scout Duffy hat mit diesem verführerischen, provokanten und schönen Mann eine sehr heiße Begegnung in der Toilette eines Nachtclubs. Noch bevor Scout nach Name, Telefonnummer oder einem Wiedersehen fragen kann, ist der Schöne allerdings verschwunden. Am nächsten Tag wird ihm die Akte seines neuen Klienten präsentiert, den er vor einem unbekannten Stalker beschützen soll - ausgerechnet der Schöne von letzter Nacht soll sein Klient sein. Und als Scout und sein Klient Emery aufeinandertreffen, erlebt Scout den nächsten Schock: Emery erkennt ihn nicht mal wieder!
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
Scout Duffy hat mit diesem verführerischen, provokanten und schönen Mann eine sehr heiße Begegnung in der Toilette eines Nachtclubs. Noch bevor Scout nach Name, Telefonnummer oder einem Wiedersehen fragen kann, ist der Schöne allerdings verschwunden. Am nächsten Tag wird ihm die Akte seines neuen Klienten präsentiert, den er vor einem unbekannten Stalker beschützen soll - ausgerechnet der Schöne von letzter Nacht soll sein Klient sein. Und als Scout und sein Klient Emery aufeinandertreffen, erlebt Scout den nächsten Schock: Emery erkennt ihn nicht mal wieder!
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
May 21, 2024
Emery is an asshole. He doesn't even remember Scout, but he expects him to come clean and he is angry he didn't confront him when he recognized him? Really? Does he even care how hurtful it is to not even be remembered? He is just an asshole 🤮.
Also I hate it when an idiot gay guy assumes about another guy that he is straight, just because he is not flashy 🤮🤦🏻♀️. Fucking idiot asshole hypocrite with preconceptions!!! 🤬🤬🤬 I hate those assholes so much.
This asshole calls Scout "straight" fucking 14 times, and he says it like an accusation. How fucking homophobic is that?! Why the hell are only straight people homophobic? Gay people are even more homophobic and that is so fucking ironic!!! I fucking hate this asshole Emery so much!
Emery doesn't like to be judged for being a flashy gay man, but he turns around and does it to everyone else and that is just hypocritical. I hate that in books. Why would you write that, if you don't believe it? How can you be pro right, pro gay people, against racism, if you are such a hypocrite who just turns around and can only hate on "straight white cis dudes"? Why? Aren't we all people? If you don't want to be hated for being gay, don't hate me for being straight. And also, don't fucking assume that I am straight!
OMG! And now his friends take his side, that Scout is shit! No no no! Emery is the shit! I hate it that nobody tells him he is an idiot.
I don't even have to finish this book. It is a total HATE HATE HATE. SO SO MUCH HATE!!! It is not ok how Scout is treated, how Emery used him and still he is the offended one! And I hate it that his friends take his side and are against Scout.
Yeah, I agree with several other comments here, the Uber driver was cool. I think, in this book, I only liked Scout and Kamran. I hated literally everyone else. Even the police, they were shit.
Also I hate it when an idiot gay guy assumes about another guy that he is straight, just because he is not flashy 🤮🤦🏻♀️. Fucking idiot asshole hypocrite with preconceptions!!! 🤬🤬🤬 I hate those assholes so much.
This asshole calls Scout "straight" fucking 14 times, and he says it like an accusation. How fucking homophobic is that?! Why the hell are only straight people homophobic? Gay people are even more homophobic and that is so fucking ironic!!! I fucking hate this asshole Emery so much!
Emery doesn't like to be judged for being a flashy gay man, but he turns around and does it to everyone else and that is just hypocritical. I hate that in books. Why would you write that, if you don't believe it? How can you be pro right, pro gay people, against racism, if you are such a hypocrite who just turns around and can only hate on "straight white cis dudes"? Why? Aren't we all people? If you don't want to be hated for being gay, don't hate me for being straight. And also, don't fucking assume that I am straight!
OMG! And now his friends take his side, that Scout is shit! No no no! Emery is the shit! I hate it that nobody tells him he is an idiot.
I don't even have to finish this book. It is a total HATE HATE HATE. SO SO MUCH HATE!!! It is not ok how Scout is treated, how Emery used him and still he is the offended one! And I hate it that his friends take his side and are against Scout.
Yeah, I agree with several other comments here, the Uber driver was cool. I think, in this book, I only liked Scout and Kamran. I hated literally everyone else. Even the police, they were shit.
August 5, 2019
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Troubled Waters is the second stand alone in HJ Welch's Pine Cove series. I enjoyed Scout and Emery's story but unfortunately didn't love it as much as I did the first book in the series. Troubled Waters is about Scout Duffy, a former boxer turned bodyguard, and Emery Klein, influencer and LGBT Activist. Emery is receiving death threats and being stalked so his friends hire Scout to keep him safe. One problem, Scout and Emery had a crazy one night stand and Emery doesn't remember Scout because he blocked it out. Scout has to keep his feelings from interfering with his ability to protect Emery.
I significantly liked Scout's character more than Emery's. Emery's self centered, immature attitude, even if it was a mechanism to keep people at a safe distance, really bothered me. Deep down he cared about his friends and family and puts their safety above his own but all his on the surface bull sh*t was frustrating. Also, for someone who was such an advocate for the people being accepting he was hardcore judgmental of Scout and made endless assumptions of his character. Scout was an absolute sweet heart and I couldn't get enough of his caring and protective personality. He tried so hard to not let Emery's actions hurt his feelings and every time my feelings hurt for him. He was just a giant teddy bear that I absolutely loved.
The story itself was middle of the road for me, it was interesting and had a some good plot twist but overall it was diminished for me with Scout and Emery's back and forth. There's a lot of assumptions, hurt feelings, sexual tension, and hot and heavy sex scenes. Their relationship gave me a bit of whip lash but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Troubled Waters is the second stand alone in HJ Welch's Pine Cove series. I enjoyed Scout and Emery's story but unfortunately didn't love it as much as I did the first book in the series. Troubled Waters is about Scout Duffy, a former boxer turned bodyguard, and Emery Klein, influencer and LGBT Activist. Emery is receiving death threats and being stalked so his friends hire Scout to keep him safe. One problem, Scout and Emery had a crazy one night stand and Emery doesn't remember Scout because he blocked it out. Scout has to keep his feelings from interfering with his ability to protect Emery.
I significantly liked Scout's character more than Emery's. Emery's self centered, immature attitude, even if it was a mechanism to keep people at a safe distance, really bothered me. Deep down he cared about his friends and family and puts their safety above his own but all his on the surface bull sh*t was frustrating. Also, for someone who was such an advocate for the people being accepting he was hardcore judgmental of Scout and made endless assumptions of his character. Scout was an absolute sweet heart and I couldn't get enough of his caring and protective personality. He tried so hard to not let Emery's actions hurt his feelings and every time my feelings hurt for him. He was just a giant teddy bear that I absolutely loved.
The story itself was middle of the road for me, it was interesting and had a some good plot twist but overall it was diminished for me with Scout and Emery's back and forth. There's a lot of assumptions, hurt feelings, sexual tension, and hot and heavy sex scenes. Their relationship gave me a bit of whip lash but overall it was an enjoyable read.
August 8, 2019
I love a story where the love interests are total opposites. This is the second book in the Pine Cove series, and again, at it's heart it's a sweet love story. I especially liked how the bigger guy was love sick for the smaller femme guy, it's so often the other way round in many books.
Saying that, there was an awful lot going on in the story. Characters from the first book were popping in and out, I enjoyed meeting Dair and Robin once again. There's also a background mystery, which came as a pleasant surprise. I love mystery stories.
Emery is one fiesty, strong minded young guy, everything he is, he's worked hard for. He's such a juxtaposition. He's a self confessed brat, but also does so much good for the LGBTQ community.
Unfortunately for him, there are those who resent his success, and therein lies his need for a bodyguard. Scout is a real character, and is totally bowled over by Emery. I liked the solidness and loyalty of Scout, he's the sort of guy you'd want on your side if you're in trouble.
It was a fun and quite exciting novel! It never lost my attention. Well written, with good character development, I enjoyed reading about the romance as well as the drama that came with it. Definitely will read book 3.
Saying that, there was an awful lot going on in the story. Characters from the first book were popping in and out, I enjoyed meeting Dair and Robin once again. There's also a background mystery, which came as a pleasant surprise. I love mystery stories.
Emery is one fiesty, strong minded young guy, everything he is, he's worked hard for. He's such a juxtaposition. He's a self confessed brat, but also does so much good for the LGBTQ community.
Unfortunately for him, there are those who resent his success, and therein lies his need for a bodyguard. Scout is a real character, and is totally bowled over by Emery. I liked the solidness and loyalty of Scout, he's the sort of guy you'd want on your side if you're in trouble.
It was a fun and quite exciting novel! It never lost my attention. Well written, with good character development, I enjoyed reading about the romance as well as the drama that came with it. Definitely will read book 3.
November 1, 2019
* AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *
I loved this story, it was sweet but also a little annoying (in good ways).
Emery is really a annoying bratty little queen, but Scout is unshakable and so sweet. They are very different but still fit like a puzzle coming together.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good and fun dialogues
Steamy love scenes
Characters is well described and developed in to semi realistic personalities with their own quirks.
I feel like I know them at the end of the story and that gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling 😍
I love these two and their story is building nicely to a happy ending.
Narrator:
Clear pronunciation and read with feelings so it’s easy to be engaged in the story.
I loved this story, it was sweet but also a little annoying (in good ways).
Emery is really a annoying bratty little queen, but Scout is unshakable and so sweet. They are very different but still fit like a puzzle coming together.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good and fun dialogues
Steamy love scenes
Characters is well described and developed in to semi realistic personalities with their own quirks.
I feel like I know them at the end of the story and that gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling 😍
I love these two and their story is building nicely to a happy ending.
Narrator:
Clear pronunciation and read with feelings so it’s easy to be engaged in the story.
August 5, 2019
One hot rollercoaster
This was a great book.
Fast paced and very hot.
I loved Emery in the previous book, and we get to discover so much more of him in this one, what makes him click, and I love that he is who he is, no matter what.
I loved Scout, gruff and tough, but with such a golden heart. He was a great character.
I loved the plot, and that it shows how today's world is crashing on its head, with crimes that are senseless.
Great book, loved the last chapter and epilogue, it was the ending they both deserved. Can't wait for the next book
This was a great book.
Fast paced and very hot.
I loved Emery in the previous book, and we get to discover so much more of him in this one, what makes him click, and I love that he is who he is, no matter what.
I loved Scout, gruff and tough, but with such a golden heart. He was a great character.
I loved the plot, and that it shows how today's world is crashing on its head, with crimes that are senseless.
Great book, loved the last chapter and epilogue, it was the ending they both deserved. Can't wait for the next book
August 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this fast paced, action packed romance. Emery and Scout are combustible together. Their chemistry jumps off the page. I liked how their relationship evolved. They grew to trust and love each other.
This book had drama, humor, steam and romance. The characters are interesting and likeable. The story was entertaining and definitely kept me glued to the book. Loved it!
This book had drama, humor, steam and romance. The characters are interesting and likeable. The story was entertaining and definitely kept me glued to the book. Loved it!
August 9, 2019
"Troubled Waters" is the second volume of "Pine Cove", a really enjoyable and worth reading series created by H.J. Welch. Let's be honest from the very beginning, in my opinion this part is clearly better than the previous one, as it is rich not only in feelings but also in action. But first things first. The story presented by the author in this volume combines predictable elements, resulting from common patterns linked to the bodyguard motif, with more original ones which main source is the selection of the main characters. Thanks to such a fusion, "Troubled Waters" is an extremely interesting and really well written novel. We find here great humor, which is one of the reasons we have a positive attitude not only towards the novel but also the life, great action that keeps us in suspense to the last page, and what's more, we have an insight into the thoughts and feelings of our characters, thanks to which we get to know them better and we slowly but surely fall in love with them. What more could we want?
The story presented in "Troubled Waters" revolves around the feelings and desires between a bodyguard and a client he protects, and that is why, as I've mentioned above, we find here some patterns, which is simply inevitable in this case. For this reason, we should take a closer look at the manner in which the author approaches this theme. I have to admit that what I really liked about "Troubled Waters" was the perfectly and clearly presented problem concerning the danger of getting involved with a protected person. This is all the more important because the novel also gives some arguments for the relationship, as it supposed to help protect the other person, not interfere with this task. This is why it is so important that the author shows us in a very clear way what the problem is in this case. Thanks to this, at some point we fully understand Scout's internal struggle, as his feelings clash with professional ethics. It is also worth adding that the theme of love vs. work was presented in such a way that we can easily relate it not only to the work of a bodyguard, but also to many other professions.
Another huge advantage of "Troubled Waters" are the characters, and I want Emery, one of the most interesting protagonists of the series, to be my first object of analysis. Emery is a walking, living gem in so many ways that it is certainly impossible to list all his qualities. From the beginning of the novel, the readers are his huge fans, and the better they get to know him, the more they love him. Emery is perfect, I don't have the slightest doubt about it. He's a character of great emotional contrasts. On the one hand, he is a tough, confident person who knows his value. On the other hand, we see that sometimes he feels insecure, has doubts and low self-esteem. He fights against prejudices and judging people by their cover, and yet he falls into the trap of doing exactly that. What's more, he is a sob with a great loving heart, and this combination so charming that it's simply super cute. Emery is a person who really needs someone who fully accepts him, and I think that's why "Troubled Waters" conquers our hearts so quickly.
Scout Duffy is also a well-constructed and very valuable character who has a lot to offer to the readers. In the case of his creation, I really liked the fact that we clearly see that he often convinces himself of the rightness of his actions. However, the main reason behind my love for this character is his opinion about Emery. That's so cute! Well, I must add that Scout can really surprise us. I admit that there was a scene in the novel that shocked me and made me cover my face with a pillow saying to myself "Gods, he is a fool!". His total lack of knowledge on certain topics made me howl – with rage, disbelief, laughter, frustration. You really have to read this novel and see the scene I am writing about! You just have to. And believe me, you will immediately know that is the one. It was a perfect lack of perfection that I will remember for a long time. Love it!
In summary, "Troubled Waters" is a really amazing book that, from the first page, makes the readers addicted to it. This fantastic, romantic, funny and suspenseful novel is truly irresistible. Once we start reading it, we are fully engrossed in its world until we reach the last dot of this brilliant, captivating story. I love "Troubled Waters" and I really highly recommend you this novel!
________________________
„Troubled Waters” to drugi tom „Pine Cove”, bardzo przyjemnej i wartej czytania serii tworzonej przez H.J. Welch. Nie będę owijać w bawełnę i już na początku powiem jasno, że ta część jest lepsza od poprzedniej, jako że jest bogata nie tylko w uczucia, ale także w akcję. Ale po kolei. Przedstawiona przez autorkę w tym tomie historia łączy ze sobą elementy przewidywalne, wynikające z szablonów powiązanych z motywem ochroniarza, z elementami bardziej oryginalnymi, których głównym źródłem jest dobór głównych bohaterów. Właśnie dzięki takiej mieszance „Troubled Waters” jest powieścią bardzo, bardzo ciekawą i naprawdę dobrze przedstawioną. Znajdziemy tu bowiem doskonały humor, który nastraja nas pozytywnie nie tylko do powieści, ale także do życia, zawrotną akcję, która trzyma nas w napięciu aż do ostatniej strony, jak również mamy wgląd w myśli i uczucia naszych bohaterów, dzięki czemu poznajemy ich lepiej i powoli, ale nieubłaganie obdarzamy ich miłością. Czy można chcieć czegoś więcej?
Historia przedstawiona w „Troubled Waters” obraca się wokół romansu ochroniarza z ochranianym klientem i właśnie dlatego, jak wspomniałam powyżej, znajdziemy tu nieuniknioną szablonowość. Z tego też powodu należy zwrócić uwagę na to, w jaki sposób do tego motywu pochodzi autorka. Muszę przyznać, że tym, co niesamowicie spodobało mi się w „Troubled Waters” był doskonale, zrozumiale i dosadnie przedstawiony problem niebezpieczeństw płynących z zaangażowania się w związek z ochranianą osobą. Jest to tym ważniejsze, że w powieści pojawia się również argument, jakoby związek miał niejako sprzyjać, a nie przeszkadzać w ochronie. Dlatego właśnie tak ważne jest to, że autorka czarno na białym pokazuje nam w czym tkwi problem. Dzięki temu, w pewnym momencie o wiele lepiej rozumiemy wewnętrzną walkę Scouta, w przypadku którego uczucia ścierają się z etyką zawodową. Warto również dodać, iż motyw miłości na przekór pracy został przedstawiony w taki sposób, że z łatwością możemy odnieść go nie tylko do pracy ochroniarza, ale także do wielu innych zawodów.
Kolejną, ogromną zaletą „Troubled Waters” są bohaterowie i tutaj chciałabym zacząć od postaci Emery’ego, jednego z najbardziej interesujących bohaterów serii. Emery to chodzący skarb pod tak wieloma względami, że z pewnością nie sposób wymienić wszystkich jego zalet. Czytelnik od początku powieści jest jego zagorzałym fanem, a im lepiej go poznaje, tym bardziej go kocha. Emery jest perfekcyjny, co do tego nie mam najmniejszych nawet wątpliwości. To postać wielkich emocjonalnych kontrastów. Z jednej strony jest twardym, pewnym siebie człowiekiem, który zna swoją wartość. Z drugiej jednak, kryje w sobie niepewność, zwątpienie, niską samoocenę. Walczy z uprzedzeniami i ocenianiem ludzi „po okładce”, a jednak sam wpada w ich pułapkę. Co więcej, bywa dupkiem o wielkim serduchu, co jest tak rozkoszne, że aż słodkie. Emery jest osobą, która naprawdę potrzebuje kogoś, kto w pełni go zaakceptuje i myślę, że właśnie dlatego, „Troubled Waters” tak szybko podbija nasze serca.
Scout Duffy również jest doskonale skonstruowaną i bardzo wartościową postacią, która ma czytelnikom naprawdę wiele do zaoferowania. W przypadku jego kreacji bardzo spodobało mi się to, że tak naprawdę na naszych oczach niejednokrotnie przekonuje sam siebie o słuszności swojego postępowania. Jednakże tym, co zaważyło o mojej miłości do tego bohatera jest jego opinia na temat Emery’ego. To takie słodkie! Muszę jednaj dodać, że Scout naprawdę potrafi nas zaskoczyć. Przyznaję, że w pewnym momencie powieści całkowicie mnie rozbroił i sprawił, że złapałam się za głowę mówiąc do siebie „Bogowie, to przecież głupek!”. Jego całkowity brak wiedzy na pewne tematy sprawił, że po prostu wyłam – z niedowierzania, śmiechu, frustracji. Musicie przeczytać tę powieść i dotrzeć do tego fragmentu! Po prostu musicie. I wierzcie mi, od razu go poznacie. To był perfekcyjny brak perfekcji, który zapamiętam na bardzo długo. Cudo!
Podsumowując, „Troubled Waters” to prawdziwe cudeńko, które zniewala czytelnika już od pierwszej strony. Tej fantastycznej, romantycznej, zabawnej i trzymającej w napięciu powieści naprawdę nie sposób się oprzeć. Kiedy już zaczniemy ją czytać, jesteśmy straceni dla świata, póki nie dotrzemy do ostatniej kropki tej genialnej, wciągającej historii. Kocham „Troubled Waters” i naprawdę gorąco polecam Wam tę powieść!
The story presented in "Troubled Waters" revolves around the feelings and desires between a bodyguard and a client he protects, and that is why, as I've mentioned above, we find here some patterns, which is simply inevitable in this case. For this reason, we should take a closer look at the manner in which the author approaches this theme. I have to admit that what I really liked about "Troubled Waters" was the perfectly and clearly presented problem concerning the danger of getting involved with a protected person. This is all the more important because the novel also gives some arguments for the relationship, as it supposed to help protect the other person, not interfere with this task. This is why it is so important that the author shows us in a very clear way what the problem is in this case. Thanks to this, at some point we fully understand Scout's internal struggle, as his feelings clash with professional ethics. It is also worth adding that the theme of love vs. work was presented in such a way that we can easily relate it not only to the work of a bodyguard, but also to many other professions.
Another huge advantage of "Troubled Waters" are the characters, and I want Emery, one of the most interesting protagonists of the series, to be my first object of analysis. Emery is a walking, living gem in so many ways that it is certainly impossible to list all his qualities. From the beginning of the novel, the readers are his huge fans, and the better they get to know him, the more they love him. Emery is perfect, I don't have the slightest doubt about it. He's a character of great emotional contrasts. On the one hand, he is a tough, confident person who knows his value. On the other hand, we see that sometimes he feels insecure, has doubts and low self-esteem. He fights against prejudices and judging people by their cover, and yet he falls into the trap of doing exactly that. What's more, he is a sob with a great loving heart, and this combination so charming that it's simply super cute. Emery is a person who really needs someone who fully accepts him, and I think that's why "Troubled Waters" conquers our hearts so quickly.
Scout Duffy is also a well-constructed and very valuable character who has a lot to offer to the readers. In the case of his creation, I really liked the fact that we clearly see that he often convinces himself of the rightness of his actions. However, the main reason behind my love for this character is his opinion about Emery. That's so cute! Well, I must add that Scout can really surprise us. I admit that there was a scene in the novel that shocked me and made me cover my face with a pillow saying to myself "Gods, he is a fool!". His total lack of knowledge on certain topics made me howl – with rage, disbelief, laughter, frustration. You really have to read this novel and see the scene I am writing about! You just have to. And believe me, you will immediately know that is the one. It was a perfect lack of perfection that I will remember for a long time. Love it!
In summary, "Troubled Waters" is a really amazing book that, from the first page, makes the readers addicted to it. This fantastic, romantic, funny and suspenseful novel is truly irresistible. Once we start reading it, we are fully engrossed in its world until we reach the last dot of this brilliant, captivating story. I love "Troubled Waters" and I really highly recommend you this novel!
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„Troubled Waters” to drugi tom „Pine Cove”, bardzo przyjemnej i wartej czytania serii tworzonej przez H.J. Welch. Nie będę owijać w bawełnę i już na początku powiem jasno, że ta część jest lepsza od poprzedniej, jako że jest bogata nie tylko w uczucia, ale także w akcję. Ale po kolei. Przedstawiona przez autorkę w tym tomie historia łączy ze sobą elementy przewidywalne, wynikające z szablonów powiązanych z motywem ochroniarza, z elementami bardziej oryginalnymi, których głównym źródłem jest dobór głównych bohaterów. Właśnie dzięki takiej mieszance „Troubled Waters” jest powieścią bardzo, bardzo ciekawą i naprawdę dobrze przedstawioną. Znajdziemy tu bowiem doskonały humor, który nastraja nas pozytywnie nie tylko do powieści, ale także do życia, zawrotną akcję, która trzyma nas w napięciu aż do ostatniej strony, jak również mamy wgląd w myśli i uczucia naszych bohaterów, dzięki czemu poznajemy ich lepiej i powoli, ale nieubłaganie obdarzamy ich miłością. Czy można chcieć czegoś więcej?
Historia przedstawiona w „Troubled Waters” obraca się wokół romansu ochroniarza z ochranianym klientem i właśnie dlatego, jak wspomniałam powyżej, znajdziemy tu nieuniknioną szablonowość. Z tego też powodu należy zwrócić uwagę na to, w jaki sposób do tego motywu pochodzi autorka. Muszę przyznać, że tym, co niesamowicie spodobało mi się w „Troubled Waters” był doskonale, zrozumiale i dosadnie przedstawiony problem niebezpieczeństw płynących z zaangażowania się w związek z ochranianą osobą. Jest to tym ważniejsze, że w powieści pojawia się również argument, jakoby związek miał niejako sprzyjać, a nie przeszkadzać w ochronie. Dlatego właśnie tak ważne jest to, że autorka czarno na białym pokazuje nam w czym tkwi problem. Dzięki temu, w pewnym momencie o wiele lepiej rozumiemy wewnętrzną walkę Scouta, w przypadku którego uczucia ścierają się z etyką zawodową. Warto również dodać, iż motyw miłości na przekór pracy został przedstawiony w taki sposób, że z łatwością możemy odnieść go nie tylko do pracy ochroniarza, ale także do wielu innych zawodów.
Kolejną, ogromną zaletą „Troubled Waters” są bohaterowie i tutaj chciałabym zacząć od postaci Emery’ego, jednego z najbardziej interesujących bohaterów serii. Emery to chodzący skarb pod tak wieloma względami, że z pewnością nie sposób wymienić wszystkich jego zalet. Czytelnik od początku powieści jest jego zagorzałym fanem, a im lepiej go poznaje, tym bardziej go kocha. Emery jest perfekcyjny, co do tego nie mam najmniejszych nawet wątpliwości. To postać wielkich emocjonalnych kontrastów. Z jednej strony jest twardym, pewnym siebie człowiekiem, który zna swoją wartość. Z drugiej jednak, kryje w sobie niepewność, zwątpienie, niską samoocenę. Walczy z uprzedzeniami i ocenianiem ludzi „po okładce”, a jednak sam wpada w ich pułapkę. Co więcej, bywa dupkiem o wielkim serduchu, co jest tak rozkoszne, że aż słodkie. Emery jest osobą, która naprawdę potrzebuje kogoś, kto w pełni go zaakceptuje i myślę, że właśnie dlatego, „Troubled Waters” tak szybko podbija nasze serca.
Scout Duffy również jest doskonale skonstruowaną i bardzo wartościową postacią, która ma czytelnikom naprawdę wiele do zaoferowania. W przypadku jego kreacji bardzo spodobało mi się to, że tak naprawdę na naszych oczach niejednokrotnie przekonuje sam siebie o słuszności swojego postępowania. Jednakże tym, co zaważyło o mojej miłości do tego bohatera jest jego opinia na temat Emery’ego. To takie słodkie! Muszę jednaj dodać, że Scout naprawdę potrafi nas zaskoczyć. Przyznaję, że w pewnym momencie powieści całkowicie mnie rozbroił i sprawił, że złapałam się za głowę mówiąc do siebie „Bogowie, to przecież głupek!”. Jego całkowity brak wiedzy na pewne tematy sprawił, że po prostu wyłam – z niedowierzania, śmiechu, frustracji. Musicie przeczytać tę powieść i dotrzeć do tego fragmentu! Po prostu musicie. I wierzcie mi, od razu go poznacie. To był perfekcyjny brak perfekcji, który zapamiętam na bardzo długo. Cudo!
Podsumowując, „Troubled Waters” to prawdziwe cudeńko, które zniewala czytelnika już od pierwszej strony. Tej fantastycznej, romantycznej, zabawnej i trzymającej w napięciu powieści naprawdę nie sposób się oprzeć. Kiedy już zaczniemy ją czytać, jesteśmy straceni dla świata, póki nie dotrzemy do ostatniej kropki tej genialnej, wciągającej historii. Kocham „Troubled Waters” i naprawdę gorąco polecam Wam tę powieść!
August 9, 2019
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT.
What a gorgeous heart warming story... I fell in love with Emerey in pine cove one itself but in this one he totally stole my heart.. I just love your character potrayal of him. Flabouyant n mouthy and just so extra... N good lord alll that glitter... Ughhh... I love him.
To begin the story with such a hot sex scene really got me going.. How they put up a show for the vouyers listening. How he tells Scout that no means yes, yes means harder and guppy means no(sexy) . I love the dom sub thing its so hott.. How Emerey never looked at Scout's face even when he was completely enjoying the experience.. How he chose to focus on other parts of his body (the wolf tattoo) and just blurred his face out. And for Scout... It meant so much more n he felt so gutted when Emerey upped n left right after... He was completely taken with Emerey. The way you portrayed how unnerved n upset Scout was that Emerey left was so real.. It really touched me. It didn't feel like just a hook up to him n he wanted to see Emerey again his little minx whose name he didn't even know. And even though Emerey felt like the hook up with Scout was profound and couldn't get him out of his mind he had already blurred his face out. Omg it must have been so scary to go back home n find out that there was an intruder. I love how brave Emerey is inspite of knowing his life was at risk he goes back into his house to save his hedgehog Sonic even though the intruder was in the bedroom (how brave, how adorable) .... Even if he did get hit on the head.. Im so glad he runs for his life n gets saved... It was so brave. Ava made the best decision when she decided to get him a private body guard. And the fact that he only agreed to it becuase he didn't want his neightbors to be at risk showed his big heart. Im so glad Scout accepts the job and didn't let his guilt take the upper hand and confess to his boss that he had hooked up with the client. I know it was heart breaking and a big bash to Scouts ego when Emerey didn't seem to recognize him.. Especially when Scout had been pining for him ever since the hook up at the aquarium. Emerey finding him hott but also being irritated about someone taking away his privacy.. Emerey had been keeping scout at a distance.. But when the bomb goes off and Scout literally shields Emerey with his own body n then proceeds to hold him n console him broke n warmed my heart at the same time.. It was so beautiful... Emereys feelings for Scout slowly start changing. When his VA calls him n tells him that he won't be coming with him to hawaai he must have been gutted.. But im so happy that Scout agrees to acompany him. Scout is so attentive n sweet to him.. I found it so funny that Emerey just assumed that Scout was straight n continued to try and push his limit. Emerey flouncing around in the pool looking completely delectable must've been so hard for Scout who was trying very hard to be professional. When Emerey realizes that Scout might have been turned on by him. All his notions of him being straight are flushed down the toilet. I feel so sorry for Scout at the showers when Emerey really pushes him and he has to confess hes gay. And when Emerey pushes him further for sex and he accidently says guppy..omg! Scout should never have left Emerey alone when he went to the gym to work out for so many hours.
When Emerey finds him in the boxing room Scout is all hott n sweaty and Emerey is literally salivating and they have the hottest sex.. But Scout suddenly grows a conscience and decided him hooking up with a client is wrong... I felt so bad for Emerey when he felt like he was being rejected. Ughhh... Emerey being alone for a very long time was not a good idea.. Scout didn't do his job properly. Emerey went on to ignore him unless it was to tell him anything important... Ughh my heart broke. Scout was back outside the house guarding while Emerey was crying to Ava... But i love how Scout comes back to make it right... And he definitely makes it right again. Omg all that hotttttttt sex that follows.. I can't even..nhhhggg. I love how
real feelings develop between both of them and they both don't know what to do about it... The intracasies of thier feelings for each other is brought out so beautifully. I love how Scout talks about his abusive father and loving mother and Emerey tells him more about eklienhater.. His life his career his followers his passion the rainbow foundation his parents etc.. I love how they get to know each other. It is really beautiful. How during the self defence lesson Scout irrationaaly loses his mind and comes running to protect Emerey when actually nothing was going on.. His realization that the only people that he reacted like this for was his mom and Emerey was enlightening. Ughh Emerey finding those blasted photos... Hes such a selfless person.. Ughh my heart.. How he pushed Scout away to protect him.. And gets into the fake uber... Lord..... So scary when the uber driver and his brother turn out to be the attackers.. My heart burst when they punched him. But he was so brave im so proud of him for sending Scout the location. Omg Scouts face when the actual uber came... Ughhh... Shit!! But that uber driver kamran was so kick ass.. I love how he stepped up to save the day.. How he took over and drove them towards the location... Omg less than 11 minutes to get to the location.. It was like fast and the furious... That kamran was such a boss. He just took over like a star. And he got them there. When they reach that side road and Scout hears someone screaming he knows it's Emerey.. I love how he just runs all the way.. And instead of just bursting in.. He actually watches and plans his moves especially since hes sans gun. Omg.. Emerey is sooooo brave.. Even when they rough him up he doesnt completely break.. And the video they make him take part in and the lines he has to read.. Shit... Im sooo proud of him for standing up for himself and saying no and fighting with all he has.. Omg and when Scout shows up with a log like rambo n beats the shit out of those idiots.. I was soo happy.. But the tall one really gave it everything he had fighting hard.. But i loved how Scout straddeled him n punched him till Emerey begged him not to kill him and to come back to him. Ughhh... I love how they cling onto each other for dear life once the attackers were tied up and secured... How they both realized they love each other. Omg i loved the part where officer Padilla tells Scout he didn't need to go all Schawarzenegger on the guys omg.... I love how Emerey introduces Scout to Kamran as his boy friend (finally) ... Ughhh my heart.. This was so beautiful... I love how all their friends and even Emererys parents accept thier relationship... Awww Scout moves in with Emerey.. And rents his own boxing ring to give lessons... And the proposal one year later.. Was just everything... It was so them it was so beautiful so perfect... This story made my heart sing. The perfect story for when you're down and you just need to smile and feel all warm and fluffy inside.. So beautiful. Gosh this was brilliant
What a gorgeous heart warming story... I fell in love with Emerey in pine cove one itself but in this one he totally stole my heart.. I just love your character potrayal of him. Flabouyant n mouthy and just so extra... N good lord alll that glitter... Ughhh... I love him.
To begin the story with such a hot sex scene really got me going.. How they put up a show for the vouyers listening. How he tells Scout that no means yes, yes means harder and guppy means no(sexy) . I love the dom sub thing its so hott.. How Emerey never looked at Scout's face even when he was completely enjoying the experience.. How he chose to focus on other parts of his body (the wolf tattoo) and just blurred his face out. And for Scout... It meant so much more n he felt so gutted when Emerey upped n left right after... He was completely taken with Emerey. The way you portrayed how unnerved n upset Scout was that Emerey left was so real.. It really touched me. It didn't feel like just a hook up to him n he wanted to see Emerey again his little minx whose name he didn't even know. And even though Emerey felt like the hook up with Scout was profound and couldn't get him out of his mind he had already blurred his face out. Omg it must have been so scary to go back home n find out that there was an intruder. I love how brave Emerey is inspite of knowing his life was at risk he goes back into his house to save his hedgehog Sonic even though the intruder was in the bedroom (how brave, how adorable) .... Even if he did get hit on the head.. Im so glad he runs for his life n gets saved... It was so brave. Ava made the best decision when she decided to get him a private body guard. And the fact that he only agreed to it becuase he didn't want his neightbors to be at risk showed his big heart. Im so glad Scout accepts the job and didn't let his guilt take the upper hand and confess to his boss that he had hooked up with the client. I know it was heart breaking and a big bash to Scouts ego when Emerey didn't seem to recognize him.. Especially when Scout had been pining for him ever since the hook up at the aquarium. Emerey finding him hott but also being irritated about someone taking away his privacy.. Emerey had been keeping scout at a distance.. But when the bomb goes off and Scout literally shields Emerey with his own body n then proceeds to hold him n console him broke n warmed my heart at the same time.. It was so beautiful... Emereys feelings for Scout slowly start changing. When his VA calls him n tells him that he won't be coming with him to hawaai he must have been gutted.. But im so happy that Scout agrees to acompany him. Scout is so attentive n sweet to him.. I found it so funny that Emerey just assumed that Scout was straight n continued to try and push his limit. Emerey flouncing around in the pool looking completely delectable must've been so hard for Scout who was trying very hard to be professional. When Emerey realizes that Scout might have been turned on by him. All his notions of him being straight are flushed down the toilet. I feel so sorry for Scout at the showers when Emerey really pushes him and he has to confess hes gay. And when Emerey pushes him further for sex and he accidently says guppy..omg! Scout should never have left Emerey alone when he went to the gym to work out for so many hours.
When Emerey finds him in the boxing room Scout is all hott n sweaty and Emerey is literally salivating and they have the hottest sex.. But Scout suddenly grows a conscience and decided him hooking up with a client is wrong... I felt so bad for Emerey when he felt like he was being rejected. Ughhh... Emerey being alone for a very long time was not a good idea.. Scout didn't do his job properly. Emerey went on to ignore him unless it was to tell him anything important... Ughh my heart broke. Scout was back outside the house guarding while Emerey was crying to Ava... But i love how Scout comes back to make it right... And he definitely makes it right again. Omg all that hotttttttt sex that follows.. I can't even..nhhhggg. I love how
real feelings develop between both of them and they both don't know what to do about it... The intracasies of thier feelings for each other is brought out so beautifully. I love how Scout talks about his abusive father and loving mother and Emerey tells him more about eklienhater.. His life his career his followers his passion the rainbow foundation his parents etc.. I love how they get to know each other. It is really beautiful. How during the self defence lesson Scout irrationaaly loses his mind and comes running to protect Emerey when actually nothing was going on.. His realization that the only people that he reacted like this for was his mom and Emerey was enlightening. Ughh Emerey finding those blasted photos... Hes such a selfless person.. Ughh my heart.. How he pushed Scout away to protect him.. And gets into the fake uber... Lord..... So scary when the uber driver and his brother turn out to be the attackers.. My heart burst when they punched him. But he was so brave im so proud of him for sending Scout the location. Omg Scouts face when the actual uber came... Ughhh... Shit!! But that uber driver kamran was so kick ass.. I love how he stepped up to save the day.. How he took over and drove them towards the location... Omg less than 11 minutes to get to the location.. It was like fast and the furious... That kamran was such a boss. He just took over like a star. And he got them there. When they reach that side road and Scout hears someone screaming he knows it's Emerey.. I love how he just runs all the way.. And instead of just bursting in.. He actually watches and plans his moves especially since hes sans gun. Omg.. Emerey is sooooo brave.. Even when they rough him up he doesnt completely break.. And the video they make him take part in and the lines he has to read.. Shit... Im sooo proud of him for standing up for himself and saying no and fighting with all he has.. Omg and when Scout shows up with a log like rambo n beats the shit out of those idiots.. I was soo happy.. But the tall one really gave it everything he had fighting hard.. But i loved how Scout straddeled him n punched him till Emerey begged him not to kill him and to come back to him. Ughhh... I love how they cling onto each other for dear life once the attackers were tied up and secured... How they both realized they love each other. Omg i loved the part where officer Padilla tells Scout he didn't need to go all Schawarzenegger on the guys omg.... I love how Emerey introduces Scout to Kamran as his boy friend (finally) ... Ughhh my heart.. This was so beautiful... I love how all their friends and even Emererys parents accept thier relationship... Awww Scout moves in with Emerey.. And rents his own boxing ring to give lessons... And the proposal one year later.. Was just everything... It was so them it was so beautiful so perfect... This story made my heart sing. The perfect story for when you're down and you just need to smile and feel all warm and fluffy inside.. So beautiful. Gosh this was brilliant
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2020
Synopsis: Scout Duffy doesn’t know what’s worse. The fact that his scorching one-night-stand is his bratty new client, or the fact that he doesn’t even remember Scout. But beneath all the bravado, Scout can see Emery is terrified, and he’ll do anything to protect him from his attacker. If only he would lower his walls and let Scout into his heart as easily as he lets him dominate in the bedroom. Being out and proud his whole life means Emery Klein has never been safe. But now his charity work and social media fame have put a target on his back from bigots, and his friends force him to hire a private bodyguard. Emery doesn’t need to be judged by some straight former-boxer, but his attraction to the gorgeous hunk is insatiable. When Emery finally recognizes Scout, they can’t keep their damn hands off one another, if only for as long as Scout’s in town.
Review: While there are aspects of this story that don't resonate for me, the overall story is very good. Both heroes have to let go of their preconceived notions of the other and embrace their vulnerabilities. The author does a great job of revealing the inner world of both heroes and making them come alive for the reader. The writing is solid and the packing is good.
Review: While there are aspects of this story that don't resonate for me, the overall story is very good. Both heroes have to let go of their preconceived notions of the other and embrace their vulnerabilities. The author does a great job of revealing the inner world of both heroes and making them come alive for the reader. The writing is solid and the packing is good.
March 12, 2021
I'd give this a 3.5, rounded up to 4. It was enjoyable and I was fully invested throughout. It was probably very unrealistic in some areas and the characters periodically made some very stupid decisions, but if you're willing to suspense some disbelief and overlook the times the author slipped into British words in Washington State characters, I'd say go for it. Scout and Emery are terribly imperfect people, but perfection can be boring, right? There's also a pretty fun character, Kamran, (I believe that's the spelling - I did audio, so not positive). He doesn't appear for some time, but I found him a highlight and hope he continues to pop up again throughout the remainder of the series, though that might be wishful thinking.
The narration was good, very typical of the narrator, so if you've listened to him before and liked him, this should be no different.
I've already started the next book.
The narration was good, very typical of the narrator, so if you've listened to him before and liked him, this should be no different.
I've already started the next book.
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