Adrift

Haven Island #2

by Isabel Jolie

I can be your dream girl…for a price…

Ever heard of Only Fans? It’s not my ideal job, but it pays the bills.
It’s even made me somewhat of a celebrity. My subscribers love my provocative shots, and I’m oh-so-good at teasing them.
Then he shows up in my small town and complicates everything.

See, Mr. Green-Eyed Gazillionaire is so far out of my league it’s ridiculous. We’re polar opposites.
That doesn’t change the fact that even though I’m a fantasy to most men, I only want to be his reality.
But nothing real can ever happen between us. Logically, I know that.

Too bad logic and I have never had anything but a passing acquaintance.
Because now, if I’m not careful, I’m afraid this sexy billionaire will smash my big, sappy heart into oblivion…

A delicious billionaire small-town romance featuring two polar opposites adrift on a resort island with a small-town atmosphere, right off the coast of North Carolina.

This is a steamy contemporary romance with a happily ever after, no cliffhanger, and no cheating.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2021

About the author

Apple Books Contemporary Romance Bestselling Author of spicy thrillers where love always wins. Get free books + early access: https://isabeljoliebooks.com/#newsletter

Heart-pounding romance. Unforgettable heroes. Sizzling happily-ever-afters—with a side of suspense that'll keep you up way past bedtime.

I dreamed of being a writer as a kid but took the "safe" route: journalism degree, advertising career, MBA, corporate gigs at Chase and Universal. Then in 2020, I said screw it and published my first book. Twenty-five books later, I'm living the dream.

I'm also a mom to two teenage daughters who are perpetually mortified by my career choices. My husband's an entrepreneur whose latest product is Nampons (yes, it rhymes with tampons and yes, it's for nosebleeds). Between my spicy romance and his biz... we've cornered the market on parental embarrassment.

My books feature tough characters facing tougher choices, compelling suspense, and storylines that'll make you think. But no matter how dark things get, my people always choose love.

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Reviews

[Itssandra.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25/5 estrellas. [Reseña en español abajo]
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‘Adrift' is a story that I think is new and that I enjoyed a lot. Both for the setting, the story and the characters.
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With the pandemic, Poppy lost her job as a waitress. Therefore, finding herself overextended with the situation and having to pay the bills, she decides to make an account on Onlyfans, a platform where you can get a lot of money in a short time, and in a seemingly easy way. But after having overcome the pandemic, the consequences of what he did arrive, because society is not yet ready to accept depending on what jobs.

Gabe is a billionaire who returns to Haven Island for work and there he meets Poppy. Regardless of her situation, he feels he must help her because seeing someone suffer is never easy and even more so if you are attracted to and feel a connection with that person.

This has been a book that I have enjoyed very much, and I found it very interesting, but let's go by parts.

On the one hand, I find very interesting and important the social criticism that there is, or that I think it intends to show, about all the stigma that depends on professions. In this case, the protagonist must face criticism for uploading content to a platform that has been very stigmatized since its release. Yes, in the end, you need the money, and you want to open a profile because it is what will help you pay your bills, but it seems super respectable. But it's true, you can't deny the stigma and the comments that it raises in real life, so clearly in the book it's represented and also very truly, I think.

I also enjoyed the romance a lot. I liked the relationship between Poppy and Gabe from the beginning, and I also felt a lot of chemistry between them, which I think is difficult to get through the pages, but I felt as if they were my friends, and the scenes were happening in front of me. It is true that there were some details, especially from Gabe to Poppy that I did not love, but I think they are justified by the type of story and the type of character he is.

Since I am talking about characters, I'll tell you that Poppy is a character that I enjoyed a lot and that I fell in love with. I cannot say that she is my favourite female character, but she's definitely a character that I think is very good.

Gabe is also a character that I think is very cool, but I lacked some charisma to say that he is a great main character. Some attitudes I think are not exactly ideal, as I have already told you, and that kind of made me lose some points in what has been my final feeling towards him. Likewise, that more social plot around him being rich has seemed very interesting to me.

I have to say that it is a second part of a saga, but independent, so it has not affected my enjoyment or understanding of what happens in the book. In fact, I found out that it was the second part after starting the book and I hope to get to the first one in the next few days because the truth is that it has piqued my curiosity even though I already know who the main characters are going to be.

And in collation with this, I also want to read more of this author because I really liked her way of writing and her way of narrating. I am starting to read more in English, and the truth is that I am finding it very very easy to read. The reading has been super fluid and from the beginning she managed to catch me and make me connect with the story almost immediately.
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RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL
‘Adrift’ es una historia que me parece novedosa y que he disfrutado un montón. Tanto por la ambientación, como por la historia, como por los personajes.
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Con la pandemia, Poppy perdió su empleo como camarera. Por ello, al verse sobrepasada con la situación y teniendo que pagar los recibos decide hacerse una cuenta en Onlyfans, una plataforma en la que se puede conseguir bastante dinero en poco tiempo, y de forma aparentemente fácil. Pero después de haber superado la pandemia, las consecuencias de lo que hizo llegan, porque la sociedad todavía no está preparada para aceptar depende que trabajos.

Gabe es un billonario que vuelve a Haven Island por trabajo y allí conoce a Poppy. Independientemente de la situación de ella, siente que tiene que ayudarla porque ver sufrir a alguien nunca es fácil y más si te sientes atraído y sientes una conexión con esa persona.
Este ha sido un libro que he disfrutado muchísimo y me ha parecido muy interesante, pero vamos por partes.

Por un lado, me parece muy interesante e importante la crítica social que hay, o que yo creo que pretende mostrar, acerca de todo el estigma con depende que profesiones. En este caso, la protagonista tiene que hacer frente a las críticas por dedicarse a subir contenido a una plataforma que desde su salida ha estado muy estigmatizada. Si, al final, tú necesitas el dinero y quieres abrirte un perfil porque es lo que va a ayudarte a poder pagar tus facturas, pero parece súper respetable. Pero es verdad, que no se puede negar el estigma y los comentarios que suscita en la vida real, por lo que claramente en el libro está representado y además muy realmente yo creo.

El romance también lo he disfrutado un montón. La relación entre Poppy y Gabe me gustó desde el principio, y además sentí mucha química entre ellos cosa que creo que es difícil que traspase las páginas, pero yo sentí como si fueran amigos míos y estuvieran sucediendo las escenas delante mía. Vamos, que shippee muy a gusto. Es cierto que hubo algunos detalles, sobre todo de Gabe a Poppy que no me acabaron de encantar, pero que creo que están justificados por el tipo de historia y el tipo de personaje que es.

Ya que os hablo de personajes, os diré que Poppy es un personaje que he disfrutado un montón y que me ha enamorado. No os puedo decir que sea mi personaje femenino favorito, pero sin duda es un personaje que me parece muy bueno.

Gabe también es un personaje que me parece muy guay, pero me ha faltado algo de carisma para decir que es un gran personaje principal. Algunas actitudes creo que no son exactamente las ideales, como ya os he dicho, y eso como que ha hecho que perdiera algunos puntos en lo que ha sido mi sentimiento final hacia él. Igualmente, esa trama más social que hay en torno a él por el hecho de ser rico me ha parecido muy interesante.

Tengo que decir que es una segunda parte de una saga, pero independiente por lo que no ha afectado a mi disfrute o a lo que es entender lo que ocurre en el libro. De hecho, yo me enteré de que era la segunda parte después de empezar el libro y espero ponerme con la primera en los próximos días porque la verdad es que me ha picado la curiosidad a pesar de ya saber quienes van a ser los protagonistas.

Y en colación con esto, también me apetece leer más de esta autora porque me ha gustado mucho su forma de escribir y su forma de narrar. Estoy empezando a leer más en inglés, y la verdad es que me está resultando muy muy fácil de leer. La lectura ha sido super fluida y desde el principio consiguió atraparme y hacer que conectara con la historia de forma casi inmediata.

[Kate G {A Grand Romance} · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: repeated fat shaming, past toxic relationship and bullying, past sexual assault, repeated slut shaming, misogyny, use of the word “transvestite” by the author

Gabe is a NYC “high finance”, hedge fund manager who becomes embroiled in a complicated financial scandal that has the FBI and SEC coming after him.

Poppy is a decade younger at 25, living on a quiet island in North Carolina. She is a somewhat naïve, Onlyfans creator who does lingerie shoots for money after cashing in big during the pandemic (this book takes place in a post-pandemic future). Poppy has been treated terribly in her life by men because of her trusting nature and her voluptuous shape.

When Gabe meets Poppy at first, he just wants to use her like every other man but then he takes her on as a “project”. He’s going to “improve her self-esteem” while dating her temporarily before he goes back to New York. Unfortunately, everything he does only cuts down her self-esteem. Gabe is not a great guy for most of the book. It’s only at the very, very end that he suddenly decides that he loves Poppy.

Adrift has a lot of moving parts: with the case against Gabe and Poppy trying to become a restauranteur, so much so that the romance takes backstage. The romance itself is not that great. Gabe is a jerk for a large part of it; first when he treats Poppy as little more than a prostitute, then when he sees himself as her savior / teacher. Gabe never seems to see her as a person. The sex scenes are also quite awkward. Then at the very end Gabe has an a-ha moment suddenly (during sex and not from his point of view) and decides he loves Poppy and everything is wrapped up very tidily. Needless to say, this book was not enjoyable for me. It’s difficult to take the rampant misogyny, fat and slut shaming and other abuses that Poppy has to endure. Not enjoyable at all.

[Michelle Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot shot hedge fund manager, Gabriel Chesterton, is in a bit of hot water. A stock he and his firm invested in and backed has been revealed to be a giant scam, triggering a Justice Department and SEC investigation. To escape the heat, he heads down to Haven Island to visit a friend. There he meets Poppy, a gorgeous twenty-something with one of the best chests he's ever seen. He's intrigued by her and--let's be honest--her beauty. He's determined to get to know her better while he's dealing with the perils of working on Wall Street.

Poppy Smith is a small town girl at heart. Plus-sized and from a poor, working class family, she's had to struggle her whole life with how people perceive her. A challenge made even more difficult since she's become a Model and Influencer on OnlyFans. People see her and judge her without ever getting to know her, and when she meets the gorgeous Gabe the same thing happens. Except, he seems to actually want to get to know the real her. Can she open her heart to allow him in? Or is Gabe just too good to be true?

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This review will contain mild spoilers.... mostly so I can talk about trigger warnings. The book contains frank discussion about child neglect, Transphobic language, fatphobia, body shaming, slut shaming, sex positivity, classism, elitism, bullying, sexual harassment, prostitution, and self-esteem issues. Make sure you're in a good place before reading this book.

I've got feelings about this book. Lots and lots of feelings. All the feelings.

The author is new-to-me and I admit I was intrigued by the premise of a Wall Street Player falling for and staying with a Plus-sized Sex Worker. The book takes place after COVID-19 and the fallout from that. During the pandemic when the restaurant workers were out of a job, the heroine joins OnlyFans to make money in order to stay alive. It's sex work, plain and simple. And it's not illegal, nor should it be. But it is highly stigmatized to the point where people assume that because she's selling pictures of herself that she's selling her body and that she's available all the time for the right price. It's something that I've long wanted to see addressed... like ever since the 90s. So, the book hit a Pretty Woman vibe, and I wanted to see where it went. I was there for Sex-positive and body-positive messaging. And I didn't get it, at least not initially.

In the beginning, the hero, Gabe, is pretty self-serving, selfish, sexist, misogynistic Bro of a dude. The first time he sees Poppy, he reduces her down to her chest saying "...deep cleavage. Perfect for motorboating." I just about put the book down right there. But I persevered, hoping that the author would take us on a good character arc journey. But for a lot of the book, Gabe was really unlikable. He'd do something right and then follow it up with a thought that turned my stomach. For a lot of the book, he doesn't listen to Poppy and pushes his own will on her. He's a bit stalkery and it put me off of him for a lot of the book. I was not rooting for him to end up with Poppy for much of the book. However, he does mature, change. And his character arc about coming to respect Poppy and her choices and respect her as a person is a good one. I just wish it went further.

I was 100% here for Poppy initially. However, I wasn't there for her internal fatphobia and self-esteem issues. Yes, I know it's a thing in this society. But I'd like to see characters embracing their curves and rolls. The book doesn't pass the Pizza Night test with Poppy rarely eating (she throws out so much food without eating it.) In a lot of ways, the book was fatphobic while trying to be body positive. It didn't land. I did like that Poppy was intelligent and knew how her audience worked. I liked that she had her own goals that were separate from the hero's and that raised my opinion on this book.

I almost DNF'ed this book several times until I reached the 60% mark when the seeds the author planted started coming to fruition and I got sucked in. I did like that there is an explicit message that sex workers aren't for sale all the time and that there are lines and that their work should be respected not vilified or disrespected. I was there for that message. Sex work is hard. Making it as a online content creator is hard. I liked that aspect of this book.

So there's a lot of good in this book, it just takes a really long time to get there and there are some big missteps--use of transphobic language, continued fatphobia from most characters, a few missing scenes where I went "Wait. What?"--along the way. (As well as some little ones... like it should be Optics not Myopics when referring to how things are viewed... aka "The optics of dating a stripper don't look good if you're trying to fly the space shuttle." (Hi! Independence Day reference).)

In all, I enjoyed this small town romance. But it took a long time for me to get there and I'm still torn about this book as a whole.

And for that, this gets....

Three Stars

I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrift is the second book in the Haven Island series by Isabel Jolie. This small town contemporary romance is written in alternating POV and while it is a part of a series it can be read and enjoyed as a complete stand alone as well.

Gabe and Poppy are complete opposites- he comes from a life of privilege, luxury and has never met a problem that he couldn't solve with money, while Poppy has lived a life where she had only herself to rely on but continues to work hard to attain her goals- even if it meant posing for provocative pictures for her OnlyFans account. When Gabe's childhood best friend resurfaces on Haven Island after a 10 year disappearance, Gabe goes out to check up on him and meets the curvy, fun and enthralling Poppy who quickly puts him into the friend zone. So when Gabe's entire life goes up in flames from an investigation of a sham investment gone wrong, Gabe finds himself drawn away from New York back to the quiet little island in North Carolina and the girl with the most amazing blue eyes.

There is a lot to unpack in this book. There is the whole OnlyFans aspect where Poppy had found that she could make her living while the world shut down during the pandemic then work on saving for her dream of opening a restaurant- but along with that she was so ashamed of the stigma of what people assumed she did as an OnlyFans girl, as well as the constant belittling of her own body image and self confidence. I can't even get into what Gabe does for a living- hedge funds, stock markets and all that just flies right over my head but it's interesting to see other aspects of that world- the parties and gifts and how those relationships outside the investments can create certain optics. The author does a great job of incorporating so much information about these jobs throughout the story that you can get an appreciation for the amount of work that they do on a daily basis. Poppy can come off as too self conscious- even though that was something that had been berated into her since she was a small child- it was still hard to read chapter after chapter where she wasn't believing in herself either professionally or physically. Gabe kind of drove me crazy- he was too arrogant and was really good at talking before realizing how his words made him sound so woefully out of touch with everyday people outside of his high class lifestyle. I loved when he made it his mission to help Poppy gain confidence even if at first is was still more about him than her. With so many moving parts in this story I did feel like the actual relationship wasn't really fully developed and was kind of lacking something but it all still came together by the end!

[Claire Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Haven Island series, it is easily read as a standalone.

Poppy lost her job in the pandemic and became an Only Fans girl in attempt to earn money, but only doing provocative shots, nothing more. She earned so much money that she continued, saving money for her dream of running a restaurant.

Gabe is a billionaire and is back on Haven Island visiting his friend who has been gone for the past 10 years (book 1 Rogue Wave), where he meets Poppy and is instantly attracted to her big curved, big blonde hair and big blue eyes. She tells him what she does for a living and he immediately follows her account. Whilst Gabe is after something more than friendship, Poppy has firmly placed him in the friend zone.

Gabe is a Hedge Fund specialist dealing with stocks and shares and wotnot, and wants to help Poppy out as much as he can. He sets her up to take night classes to help her realise her dream. But his job is in jeopardy, he has been connected with a scam artist and so moves back to the Island for a change of pace, determined to woo Poppy and get out of the friend zone.

Talk about polar opposites with these two! Poppy is shy and very self conscious about her curves, even being on Only Fans, which she is very strict about what she posts and how she shoots her shots. She has had a bad relationship experience which has done real damage to her self confidence and self worth, but she is determined to make her dream come true and run her own restaurant.

Gabe was born into a wealthy family and has wanted for nothing. He works hard, with the author going into quite some detail about his job, the details and the benefits, as well as the scam. He is quite arrogant and self assured, has a very bad choice of friends and doesn't but his brain in gear before speaking, dropping himself in the deep end with Poppy on numerous occasions.

It's a slow burn read, with the build up on the friendship. I loved how Gabe make Poppy his priority and how he changed from getting to know her, realising his goals and what he wanted out of living had changed also. I loved the push and pull between these two, but they did drive me to distraction at times with their behaviour. It all comes good in the end though. A good read.

[Meghann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know about this book. It’s apparently the second book in a series, but I’m not sure what happened before this but I don’t think I missed much if anything by not reading it.

The book starts with Gabe at work in his financial firm in NYC. The firm comes under investigation for some bad investments and to escape it all he flies down to North Carolina to see a friend he hasn’t seen or talked to in 10 years. They are in a restaurant and run into a girl who makes a living on OnlyFans. She shows him her page and he asks to go home with her. From there it’s just....meh. I was actually irritated with the characters most of the time. The author spends a lot of time talking about their looks....how Gabe has dimples and chiseled abs and how Poppy is always sucking her stomach in. I feel like they had no depth. I just wanted to slap them both.

That probably ruined a lot of the book for me. That and the fact that Poppy spends a lot of time making excuses for and defending why she poses in lingerie for money. Her self confidence is crap and it’s annoying because it’s brought up way too much. I felt like she whined a lot which completely turned me off.

I thought this book would be a lot sexier. It just didn’t do it for me. Felt like a trip to Walmart. I couldn’t find what I was looking for and left the store irritated and empty handed.

⭐️⭐️ Two Stars. I may be in the minority but this book wasn’t for me.

*** Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review ***

[Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book free from Noctivity Inc through Eidelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

This book turned out to be more than I expected. I thought it was just your typical beach romance but it really was so much more. Jolie touches on a lot of issues, privilege, fat phobia, and sex workers. In the beginning Gabe was a pretty hard to take character and I wasn't sure I would end up even liking him let alone routing for him. He is self possessed, rich, and oblivious to the working class. Poppy is a hard working plus sized woman from a lower income family. Her mother has been married 5 times and relies on men to support her. Poppy doesn't want to fall into this trap. During the Covid shut down she found Fan's only a site where women post provocative, sometimes nude photos of themselves and get subscribers, in some countries where prostitution is legal they even set up dates. Poppy's site only shows her clothed in negliges and sexy outfits, there are also makeup tutorials etc. While Poppy is not ashamed of what she does she is ashamed of her body. She doesn't like being a bigger girl and doesn't see her own sex appeal.

Overall I really liked this book. I thought the romance was good and I really liked the fact that Poppy wasn't a skinny stick with a perfect body, because those really only exist in books. This is a stand alone book even though its part of a series, and the characters do intersect you don't need to read them in any particular order.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and beguiling....a wonderful read!

Adrift is the second book in the Haven Island series and is the story of Poppy and Gabe. Their slow burn romance is an intriguing story-line that is expertly crafted combining emotion, wealth, family, desire, need, friendships, romance, commitment issues, insecurities, and a lot more. Both Poppy and Gabe are dealing with life as it has hit their doorstep, but they are doing it in different ways. Gabe ends up on Haven Island off the shores of North Carolina trying to escape from what is happening in his life and with his business. Meanwhile Poppy is finding a way to keep a roof over her head and food on the table, even if it is very unconventional and some would condemn her for it. Their story is all about what learning that what you desire you cannot always get with a click and then what happens when temporary may not be enough.

I really loved this well written, fascinating and compelling book. I fell in love with Poppy and came to really enjoy Gabe. She is a woman who is not about to make things easy for this billionaire and he is about to learn a lesson that money cannot always buy what you desire. Together they are a great mix.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Gin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated Poppy's ambition. However, I didn't understand why she tells Gabe about OnlyFans when she first meets him. As far as Gabe is concerned, he was a jerk for most of the book and I can't tell how much of it was him and how much of it is a result of his upbringing and him being clueless as to his behaviour. We meet some of his friends and colleagues, most of which are bigger a-holes than he is, and I don't know if this is to make him look good in comparison. I mean, he takes Poppy to dinner and then flirts with the waitress. Then, instead of reassuring Poppy he likes her, he smirks and calls her jealous. Finally, he has the nerve to say he knows "how to treat women well." He picks up on the fact that the one bank employee had sleazy intentions, but has no suspicions when it comes to Ben. Much later in the book, when Gabe and Poppy get it on, he says he's "never come with the girl on top. Ever." Just what any woman wants-- to be reminded of the other women a guy's slept with while still in bed with him. He seems to come around very late in the book, but his efforts are a bit over the top. I could go on, but I think I've made my point.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Linda Olinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrift
A lot of things changed in the last year. From what you could do to where you could go and even what you could do to make a living! And in the face of so much sudden change a lot of people were set adrift!
Though this book is not set during the pandemic, it shows with real insight the plight of many people. This is the story of Gabe, a wealthy mover and shaker in NYC and Poppy, a laid off server/bartender in coastal North Carolina who has found a way to make ends meet that some people would condemn. When these two meet Gabe has bought an oceanfront home on the island where Poppy lives. He moves there to escape the pressures of a Justice Department investigation into his company because of their connection to a person who has defrauded investors out of billions with a B!
Used to getting what he wants, Gabe learns tact and humility in his pursuit of Poppy.
But, this is just supposed to be temporary, isn’t it? What happens when Gabe’s name is cleared? What is Poppy realizes her dreams of her own restaurant?
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is my first book by Isabel Jolie and I loved it! Check it out. I think you will too!

[Stephanie Bolen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeesh, not just no

It's obvious Ms. Jolie's favorite "romantic" movie is Pretty Woman. And if you're going to go there don't wimp out. Then we add in the fat girl trauma. Being a poor fat girl I can sympathize. It wasn't just one of them it was most "relationships" that I wasn't good enough for. And their whole relationship he continually puts her into a box: play thing, obsession, friends with benefits, and then finally girlfriend. And she should have told him to lose her number the first time he insulted her. Not been nice and said we can be friends. When someone told me they wanted to be the only one who sees sexy pictures of me or told me he'd pay to keep me. But wouldn't want to tell anyone we were dating. I usually said, "Dude you're married and I don't need that karma." If a single man had the audacity, I'd just laugh. I wouldn't under any circumstances continue to humor someone under the delusion that I could be bought. This idea is stupid not because pros don't deserve love. But the premise of a man who sees a woman as a commodity ever in any lifetime deserving of the time of day, let alone a HEA.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Poppy finds herself unemployed and with no support system, she doesn’t have a lot of options. Desperate times call for desperate measures so if she needs to support herself by posting pictures that she wouldn’t normally then she will accept the negative that go along with it.

Aaron was raised in a wealthy lifestyle so when legal troubles commence at the firm where he works he decides to escape to Haven Island to visit a friend. When he and Poppy meet he is attracted to her personality and voluptuous figure despite their very different personalities and their lifestyles.

Poppy bears the emotional scars of feeling that she isn’t enough while Aaron’s professional life is in turmoil which causes a little turmoil along the way but in each other they find a sense of peace and acceptance that they have never felt before.

[Floraljoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really for me:
This was an opposites attracts, small town romance and whilst part of a series, it could be read as a standalone.
I didn't feel as close a connection to the characters as I would have liked, largely as for most of the book Gabe wasn't a very likeable character and Poppy was rather insecure. It is only near the end of the book that these two are in love with each other and I would have liked to have seen more romance and tenderness. I felt that their relationship was secondary to the other points that the author was trying to make.
I appreciated that the author took on some serious issues such as self-esteem and body shaming, however it made for a heavier read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an interesting read. The main characters, Gabe and Poppy, are very much opposites in more ways than one, but how they navigate through their ups and downs is quite thought-provoking. Gabe is a billionaire who appears to have had no financial problems growing up. Poppy, on the other hand, has not grown up with money and has had to work hard to get where she is. She's also what I would call a "curvy" girl with some low self-esteem issues. Combine all those issues and an FBI investigation and you've got yourself an intriguing, different contemporary romance. I have to admit there were times when Gabe made me quite angry, but I'm glad I stuck it out, because he definitely redeemed himself! Another unique read by Ms. Jolie.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Argh! I can’t quite tell if this pair was determined to make their relationship work or make it fail. Gabe and Poppy and all the sparks firing between them intrigued me in the previous book. Needless to say, I was excited to see where all that chemistry was going to lead. I can safely say that the twisty push-me/pull-you dance of this story was not at all what I was expecting. I spent half the book wanting to hug one or the other of them tight and promising everything would work out. And the other half, I wanted to smack sense into the pair of them. I absolutely adore where their relationship finally gets them, but wow, it’s one heck of a learning curve to get them there.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I could not put down although it is the second book to the Haven Island series and although I started on this review copy first I will defnitely read the first one!

It is heartwarming for a reader to see character growth in a angsty want to rip your hair out of frustration book- for the main characters are so stubborn and one dimensional in the beginning but grow into the characters you know they can be!

A slow burn with sparks that sets your kindle/ device ablaze with the chemistry between these two opposites- an Onlyfans vlogger Poppy who wants to open her own Restaurant that lives on Haven Island and a finacial investor whizz Gabe who wants to make partner that lives in New York but visits Haven Island as a reprieve.

Yet somehow they bring the best out of each other with a growing friendship and support that could be so much more!

Will Gabe realise he has been adrift all his life in dreary mundane New York and Poppy is the woman that will be the anchor he needs who can brighten and fulfill his life in Haven Island like flying his plane does?

Will Poppy get over her insecurities regarding her voluptuous body?

A read I can defnitely recommend if you like a slow angsty burn!

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serial prejudices
4,5
I liked that the narrative begins with a story of possible insider trading but that ultimately, even if it remains an element of the story, it is not the main element, and that around it is added an unlikely romance by chance, of two people from two different worlds. In the end, in the story of Poppy and Gabe, I had more empathy for Poppy who by her temporary choice of career, seems to be easy even if it is not part of her services, and despite her past and all that, she remains strong and sticks to her choices.
I really liked Poppy and Gabe's story.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A curvy woman and a hot man, Poppy and Gabe made an interesting couple. I loved her independence in running her own business online and beginning her own real-world job. She was smart and determined, even when her insecurities came out. Gabe started out as a bit of a jerk to me, but he did redeem himself as he became more involved with Poppy. He was protective, caring, and definitely, hot and loving. I felt they complemented each other quite well with the differences in their upbringings. I really enjoyed this story.

I received a copy of this story through Xpresso Tours, and this is my unsolicited review.

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

We met our hero and heroine in this book in Rogue Wave which I reviewed a little while ago. While it was clear in that book that there was something going on between Poppy and Gabe in that book, we don't really see much of their relationship and there is plenty to discover here.
Gabe seems to have it all, he's rich, successful and doing well in life. Poppy is in a very different situation, she dreams of running her own restaurant but having lost her job after Covid, she is now making money using Only Fans. While it might be a good way to keep money coming in, when combined with her very low self-esteem, it's clear that it's not something that she can keep up for long.
I have to admit that I struggled with Gabe somewhat in this book. Poppy has a lot of issues and I'm not sure that he is the best to deal with them. She has been treated very poorly in the past by men and she sees him doing the same. In some ways, he is no better and doesn't see her as much more than a project and something that he can fix. Even with his plans to help her feel better about herself, he doesn't really understand her and I'm not sure that he makes a great effort to do so.
Having said that, this isn't just a story about Poppy realising her true worth. Gabe has a lot of growing to do and while it might not be as obvious to begin with as for Poppy, he does change over the course of the book. Ultimately, becoming someone worthy of Poppy's love.
I enjoyed this read, Isabel Jolie's books aren't light and fluffy romances, there's far more depth here with bigger issues dealt with.

[Phyllis Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposite Attraction

Isabel Jolie’s second book in her ‘Haven Island’ series is anything but adrift in the ratings. This book has plenty of adventure and suspense. Gabe and Poppy, the main characters, are certainly as opposite as opposite can be. Poppy is an ordinary home town girl that has an Only Fans following to earn money. Gabe is a wealthy New York financial expert. Poppy has put Gabe in the friends zone but he wants more than that. I really enjoyed reading this book. Highly recommended and definitely a MUST read!

[Demi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy meets Gabe when he flies down to visit his fried Tate on an island off of North Carolina. Poppy is sweet and sensitive and somewhat introverted. Gabe is brash and charismatic and somewhat rude. They are both attracted to one another. But Gabe lives in NYC and Poppy hopes to open a business on the island. Watching them navigate one another and learn to trust is fun! Love how they change one another’s lives!

[Margery Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chance for a new life
When Aaron’s employer starts going through some legal troubles he decides to visit a friend on Haven Island. Poppy, too, is going through a rough period being unemployed and alone. In order to survive she has posted pictures on the Internet. They are attracted to each other, but will their mutual acceptance be enough? Will he forgo success for love?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Gloria Wenman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smiles galor

I do so love when a man messed up, and Gabe certainly did that where Poppy was concerned, although he really did try to make it up to her. Thrilled to bits that an author has decided that non stick thin females are desired by men. All men should go for what's inside a person, women too. I really enjoyed this story, it had me smiling A LOT.

The front cover would get 5 stars on its own...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this emotionally charged romance. There was much for both of them to learn and grow from in this relationship and during this pivotal time in their lives. The ending was so perfect and I loved how everything worked out after all they both went through.

I received an ARC copy from Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[J.M. Ralley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Billionaire romances. One of my favourite genres and love finding new authors who write this.
However, I was left feeling disappointed by this story. The plot was good but needs strengthening.
One minute she’s refused g to sleep with him. A few pages later she’s inviting him in.
In honesty, I felt I was reading about a couple of stroppy teenagers.

[Ashley Cestra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesss!! I was waiting for one of these plots!
I very much enjoyed this one! This author is still new to me, and so far I’m enjoying her writing! I do wish the twist was a little twistyer but this was a good one!

[MamaBee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much to love about this book. I loved Poppy. And the issues addressed in this book. So well done. I choked up quite a few times. Amazing. Can’t wait for the next book. *I received an ARC copy and this is my voluntary review

[Danelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

What a sweet story. I love this writer's style. Poppy and Gabe are a great couple and their differences are very well defined by the author in away that really "grabs" the reader.

[Kellee Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect!

Every now and then you fall in love with a novel that is sweet, sexy and well written.
Adrift kept me captivated from start to finish. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Haven Island Series…

[Evelyn Goughnour · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really good book!

A young woman that has to scrape to get by opens her own photography business online. When COVID hit it was all she could think of to keep herself with clothes and fed.