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Planet Lara #3
Sanctuary
Finan is gone, Jacinta has disappeared, and Lara is holding on by a thread. She will do whatever it takes to recover the other half of her heart, even if it means trusting those most unworthy of her trust. As terrible new threats burst onto the scene, Lara must rely on her Thalia Island family to bring Finan home in one piece—and save the utopia her grandfather fought so hard to create.
With the curtain pulled back on incendiary secrets concealed for decades, reckoning comes from all sides: Who is telling the truth, and who pays the price for the sins of our forebears?
With the curtain pulled back on incendiary secrets concealed for decades, reckoning comes from all sides: Who is telling the truth, and who pays the price for the sins of our forebears?
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2021
8 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Gordon
26 books556 followersBest-selling author, freelance editor, and supercaffeinated entrepreneur Jennifer Sommersby has worked in the publishing biz for over twenty years.
Writing under Sommersby and Eliza Gordon, Jenn is the award-winning author of thirteen novels and three novellas. Her YA debut Sleight was named a Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Book for Kids & Teens (Fall 2018) and an Ontario Library Association Best Bets Honourable Mention (2019). She also was awarded a BC Arts Council Grant in 2019 for a climate fiction work-in-progress (The Bright Day Is Done). Her rom-com debut, Must Love Otters (as Eliza Gordon), hit #1 in the Barnes & Noble store in 2014, with additional titles reaching top 100 charts on Amazon, Apple Books, and Kobo.
Her editorial résumé (via Plumfield Editing) includes many projects from numerous internationally best-selling and seven-figure authors from Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. Through her company SGA Books (sgabooks.com), she supports indie authors through editorial services, publishing resources, and mentorship. When invited, she presents webinars, workshops, and classes on whatever juicy publishing topic the organizer desires and is occasionally called in to mentor fellow authors with their terrific work.
In 2026, she will expand her teaching portfolio with a series of live and on-demand publishing intensives via SGA Books and is looking forward to publishing her FIRST nonfiction craft/confessional/how-to called Please Don't Make Me Read This.
Writing under Sommersby and Eliza Gordon, Jenn is the award-winning author of thirteen novels and three novellas. Her YA debut Sleight was named a Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Book for Kids & Teens (Fall 2018) and an Ontario Library Association Best Bets Honourable Mention (2019). She also was awarded a BC Arts Council Grant in 2019 for a climate fiction work-in-progress (The Bright Day Is Done). Her rom-com debut, Must Love Otters (as Eliza Gordon), hit #1 in the Barnes & Noble store in 2014, with additional titles reaching top 100 charts on Amazon, Apple Books, and Kobo.
Her editorial résumé (via Plumfield Editing) includes many projects from numerous internationally best-selling and seven-figure authors from Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. Through her company SGA Books (sgabooks.com), she supports indie authors through editorial services, publishing resources, and mentorship. When invited, she presents webinars, workshops, and classes on whatever juicy publishing topic the organizer desires and is occasionally called in to mentor fellow authors with their terrific work.
In 2026, she will expand her teaching portfolio with a series of live and on-demand publishing intensives via SGA Books and is looking forward to publishing her FIRST nonfiction craft/confessional/how-to called Please Don't Make Me Read This.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 14, 2021
4.5 Stars
Coming off the cliffhanger from the second book, I was ready to dig into this one. And boy, did it deliver. It also hurt. Actually gutting me at times. Honestly, I'm not sure what to say about this one. I don't want to allude to anything spoilerish. It wrapped up the mysteries from the first two books and revealed some things that I hadn't seen coming. Potentially good things, I might add. Overall, the book was thorough and highly detailed. Just like I like it. I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion.
December 7, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC.
Sooooo worth the wait - and I am glad I did not have to wait long. At the end of the second book Finan was missing and there were so many unanswered questions. I really had no idea how the author would wrap up the story, but wrap it up they did!
There's all sorts of adventure and intrigue as Lara reveals the truth behind long buried secrets. The ending starkly contrasts with the beginning of this series - Lara is surrounded by the people that love her, having found her purpose and herself. (Hope that's not a spoiler - HEA was guaranteed by the author at the end of the last book).
I devoured this book in one sitting - regretting a little that it's all over now.
Humboldt forever!!
Sooooo worth the wait - and I am glad I did not have to wait long. At the end of the second book Finan was missing and there were so many unanswered questions. I really had no idea how the author would wrap up the story, but wrap it up they did!
There's all sorts of adventure and intrigue as Lara reveals the truth behind long buried secrets. The ending starkly contrasts with the beginning of this series - Lara is surrounded by the people that love her, having found her purpose and herself. (Hope that's not a spoiler - HEA was guaranteed by the author at the end of the last book).
I devoured this book in one sitting - regretting a little that it's all over now.
Humboldt forever!!
December 8, 2021
UGH. Ugh because it’s so, SO good and ugh because it’s over after having breezed through it in a day, and ugh because I can’t have daily Harmony updates IRL. There are so many twists and turns (some of which I didn’t clock before they happened, which is the highest of compliments coming from me). While we all knew we were heading towards a happily ever after (we picked up a romcom for a reason after all), it was still beautiful and funny and heartwarming and everything I needed after three books, two of which ended with mild to rage inducing cliffhangers. I will forever think back on Harmony yelling, “Long live the Queen,” and smile. Thank you to Eliza Gordon and Booksirens for gifting me a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
P.S. Eliza, if you ever read this, hear me out: Planet Harmony… just sayin’ (we can workshop the title)
P.S. Eliza, if you ever read this, hear me out: Planet Harmony… just sayin’ (we can workshop the title)
December 9, 2021
Eliza Gordon did it again! I’ve been anxiously waiting for the third book in this series since the minute I finished the second one. Sanctuary is the perfect resolution to this exciting, thoughtful and heart wrenching series.
The suspense was turned up in this book, so much so that I literally jumped when my name was called while lost in the story at one point. Unsolved mysteries from the beginning of the story were resolved, in creative and interesting ways. Plot points that felt totally separate at points came together in this interesting and interconnected web.
Lara’s evolution in this book was authentic and heartwarming. The bratty, immature girl from the beginning of this adventure was long gone and in her place was a thoughtful, honest and brave woman. She calculated fear and risk for her found family and it was emotional to experience that growth as a part of the resolution.
The characters and relationships are honestly one of the best parts of this series. Characters are developed and their motivations and dialogues are authentic. Relationships evolved throughout and in the third book people were portrayed as raw, flawed people still so deserving of love and forgiveness.
I feel a little pang of emptiness now that I’ve finished the series. It is so consuming and enjoyable.
Thank you to Eliza Gordon and BookSirens for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy. I received this book for free, and I am sharing my review voluntarily.
The suspense was turned up in this book, so much so that I literally jumped when my name was called while lost in the story at one point. Unsolved mysteries from the beginning of the story were resolved, in creative and interesting ways. Plot points that felt totally separate at points came together in this interesting and interconnected web.
Lara’s evolution in this book was authentic and heartwarming. The bratty, immature girl from the beginning of this adventure was long gone and in her place was a thoughtful, honest and brave woman. She calculated fear and risk for her found family and it was emotional to experience that growth as a part of the resolution.
The characters and relationships are honestly one of the best parts of this series. Characters are developed and their motivations and dialogues are authentic. Relationships evolved throughout and in the third book people were portrayed as raw, flawed people still so deserving of love and forgiveness.
I feel a little pang of emptiness now that I’ve finished the series. It is so consuming and enjoyable.
Thank you to Eliza Gordon and BookSirens for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy. I received this book for free, and I am sharing my review voluntarily.
December 4, 2021
Tempest had the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. Chills, pit of my stomach fear, endless worst case scenarios passed through my head. Sanctuary picks up mere minutes after my heart fell through my body, and yet the entire novel takes place in such a short period of time. The stakes are high in an attempt to recover the stolen member of the Thalia Island family. Lara creates odd and dangerous alliances, because nothing will stop her in getting her heart back.
So much carnage, so many twists and turns, and moments that make this conclusion nearly impossible to put down. I don’t recommend starting this at a time when you plan to dilly dally with a book, as it simply won’t let you do that. Your heart will pound, your blood will rise, and oh, you will cry (both heartache and happiness)! Sanctuary takes you through all of the emotions, in order to make you appreciate once you finally feel safe, at home, with those you hold dearly.
So much carnage, so many twists and turns, and moments that make this conclusion nearly impossible to put down. I don’t recommend starting this at a time when you plan to dilly dally with a book, as it simply won’t let you do that. Your heart will pound, your blood will rise, and oh, you will cry (both heartache and happiness)! Sanctuary takes you through all of the emotions, in order to make you appreciate once you finally feel safe, at home, with those you hold dearly.
December 5, 2021
Planet Lara: Sanctuary is the thrilling, supremely satisfying, happily ever after ending to the Planet Lara trilogy.
Planet Lara: Sanctuary is action packed. A page turner like no other. There are no dull moments in Sanctuary. I honestly could not put it down. I read past my bedtime, and then picked it right up as soon as I woke up. It's that good. I was that invested!
In the finale of this trilogy, we finally meet Lara as we always knew she could be. ❤ What a joy to watch her grow through these 3 books. She comes into her own in Sanctuary. The cast of characters on Thalia Island continue to evolve, and the idea of found family is so wonderful to see!
Sanctuary is filled with drama, thrilling events, action, edge of your seat, and WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?!??! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the twists and turns. Eliza Gordon does an amazing job showing her characters blossom, putting them in dangerous situations, and keeping them safe.
The trilogy should be read in order, they are not stand alone stories. I was so excited to read the conclusion that I did not go back to Book 2. There are enough breadcrumbs in the first few chapters to get you right back into the storyline.
I will be reading the Planet Lara trilogy again soon. This is not a one read and done. This is a special series. Get your copies! Ask your library to order the series. Read it!
I received and ARC from the publisher for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Planet Lara: Sanctuary is action packed. A page turner like no other. There are no dull moments in Sanctuary. I honestly could not put it down. I read past my bedtime, and then picked it right up as soon as I woke up. It's that good. I was that invested!
In the finale of this trilogy, we finally meet Lara as we always knew she could be. ❤ What a joy to watch her grow through these 3 books. She comes into her own in Sanctuary. The cast of characters on Thalia Island continue to evolve, and the idea of found family is so wonderful to see!
Sanctuary is filled with drama, thrilling events, action, edge of your seat, and WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?!??! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the twists and turns. Eliza Gordon does an amazing job showing her characters blossom, putting them in dangerous situations, and keeping them safe.
The trilogy should be read in order, they are not stand alone stories. I was so excited to read the conclusion that I did not go back to Book 2. There are enough breadcrumbs in the first few chapters to get you right back into the storyline.
I will be reading the Planet Lara trilogy again soon. This is not a one read and done. This is a special series. Get your copies! Ask your library to order the series. Read it!
I received and ARC from the publisher for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 5, 2021
Eliza Gordon has woven a twisty turny nightmare tangle of anxiety that will keep you on edge─gasping, heart pounding, gut wrenching─as the culmination of malevolent forces accelerates at a dangerously rapid velocity toward the stunning conclusion to this intense, romantic suspense trilogy that will overwhelm your emotions and have you furiously flipping pages.
The stalwart little whirlwind Harmony and the hope that Gordon had not gone full dark side were the beacons leading me through the carnage of foes old and new (more bad guys!?) hoping everyone would be safely delivered to an HEA.
Prepare the essentials and clear your schedule because once you start Sanctuary you will NOT be able to put it down.
If there is one series from 2021 that you NEED to read, it is THIS one. Grab the entire Planet Lara series NOW!
The stalwart little whirlwind Harmony and the hope that Gordon had not gone full dark side were the beacons leading me through the carnage of foes old and new (more bad guys!?) hoping everyone would be safely delivered to an HEA.
Prepare the essentials and clear your schedule because once you start Sanctuary you will NOT be able to put it down.
If there is one series from 2021 that you NEED to read, it is THIS one. Grab the entire Planet Lara series NOW!
December 13, 2021
I was so happy when book 3 of Planet Lara arrived - I couldn't wait to see what happened next! Book 2, Tempest, ended on a cliffhanger, and book 3, Sanctuary, reveals on a day by day basis how the people of Thalia respond. Lara, in particular, completes her transformation from selfish to selfless princess, putting the wellbeing of those she loves first and foremost. The tension is high during the crisis, and there are some incredible (and emotional) plot twists that make it difficult to put the book down. Eliza Gordon has developed unique characters and believable storylines that you won't want to let go of when book 3 ends. Definitely worth reading.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 6, 2021
Eliza Gordon’s conclusion is both incredibly romantic and suspenseful! Laura‘s adventure picks up right where Tempest shoved you off a cliff. This book was another that I just could not put down, and loved seeing how much Lara grew throughout the entire series. Be ready for plot twists, feats of amazing heroism and finally experience the love between a once spoiled rich girl and an entire community solidify. You will love every moment, every page of Eliza’s newest adventure. Hold onto your seats, or smart phones, it’s about to be a very bumpy ride!
December 10, 2021
It's here, the final Welcome to Planet Lara and boy is it a doozy. Answers to all the questions we've had along the way are answered and one of the reveals was shocking. Did not even see it coming. I have enjoyed watching Lara grow through each book and finally blossom into the person her grandfather and Number 2 knew she was. This book is Lara finally coming into her own and finding happiness and shedding so much of her past traumas. Highly recommend.
December 9, 2021
Oh, what a ride! This third book about Lara and her friends on Thalia island was very intense, reading it made me feel I was watching a James Bond movie.
True, in the beginning of book 1 I wasn't one to like Lara, nor Wes Singh who helped het get away with some things. But.. well.. she just needed time and patience, indeed. Don't we all?
Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of the book.
True, in the beginning of book 1 I wasn't one to like Lara, nor Wes Singh who helped het get away with some things. But.. well.. she just needed time and patience, indeed. Don't we all?
Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of the book.
January 7, 2022
What an exciting end to the super suspenseful series, get ready for a ride of your life as you brace yourself for another enthralling read. The story picks up from where book 2 left off so it's highly advisable to read books 2 & 3 first.
A beautiful end to a story that kept me engaged and entertained. It is exciting to watch how Lara has matured as an individual and how her interactions and friendships with the townsfolk have improved by leaps and bounds from book 1.
The characters are super interesting and engaging. The romance, drama, mystery, and action in this series come together well and brings the story to a satisfying conclusion.
Highly recommend reading this series. Looking forward to more from Eliza !!
I would like to thank Eliza Gordon and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book.
A beautiful end to a story that kept me engaged and entertained. It is exciting to watch how Lara has matured as an individual and how her interactions and friendships with the townsfolk have improved by leaps and bounds from book 1.
The characters are super interesting and engaging. The romance, drama, mystery, and action in this series come together well and brings the story to a satisfying conclusion.
Highly recommend reading this series. Looking forward to more from Eliza !!
I would like to thank Eliza Gordon and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book.
February 21, 2022
This one got a bit convoluted and very conspiracy theory heavy for the first 2/3's of the book. So many different bad guys, so many different plots going on. Finally things got cleared up and sort of back to normal on the island. Lara learned a lot about herself, her family, good and bad. By the end of this book she is a very different person, a better person and you can tell that she will lead a happy life, very different from what she knew, but a better one.
December 10, 2021
The rollercoster in Lara's life has made a new turn. Finnan's abduction. Can they reach him in time or will the captors kill him? A twisted story with secrets revealed that will put Lara's world upside down. But a really good end.
December 27, 2021
Full thoughts: https://fictionmajorette.blogspot.com...
This was a really fantastic end to this romantic suspense series. This book really hits the ground running and there's a lot of really great tension, suspense, and mystery elements. As this is a romantic suspense series (and thus should not be a surprise to anyone), Lara and Finan are reunited and then the last 30%ish of the book is a lot of wrapping up and checking in with all the different characters and seeing how everyone is recovering after the events of the book. As a single reading experience, having this much wrap up at the end really felt like it messed with the balance of the book and the pacing dragged a little bit in comparison to the pretty non-stop pacing of the first 70% of the book. When I then think about that 30% of wrap up in comparison to the whole trilogy, then it does feel like a more appropriate proportion of the narrative is being spent in this phase.
I really enjoyed the characters and how much we got to see Lara's interactions with the other townsfolk. Lara's character growth over these three books is really fantastic and there's a stark difference between book 1 Lara and book 3 Lara and I think that difference and growth is really earned on her part. We really see her come into her own as a person finding her way in life and figuring out what is important to her. The trilogy takes place over about 4-5 months but there's a lot of plot stuffed into that time period. I really enjoyed seeing Lara's relationship with the other people on the island grow and change as well.
Gordon does a fantastic job with the suspense elements in all three books but I think her efforts really came though in this final installment. I mentioned in my book 2 review that I felt like a lot of that book was rehashing the events/information we saw in book 1 and I was a little worried we'd get that same issue with book 3. However, we really jumped feet first into the situation and drama of trying to find Finan as well as figure out how all these different secrets are involved in this situation. I was really pleased with the twists the mystery/investigation took and how Gordon was able to pull in so many different seemingly unrelated aspects and weave them all together.
Despite my earlier explained issues with the pacing of the ending, I thought the resolution for the series was perfect. I think, overall, it was a good choice to have such a long resolution section that also allowed us more time to get back into the 'romance' side of this romantic suspense story. I especially loved how we got to see not only Lara and Finan's romance resolution but also relationships and friendships of all types across the other characters. I 100% cried at the ending which if that isn't a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
Overall, this was a really strong ending to a great series. Books 1 and 2 do end on cliffhangers, but now that the trilogy is finished, you can just read straight through! I think it can sometimes be hard to get the balance right with romantic suspense books but Gordon does a great job at developing both sides well.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for the ARC - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a really fantastic end to this romantic suspense series. This book really hits the ground running and there's a lot of really great tension, suspense, and mystery elements. As this is a romantic suspense series (and thus should not be a surprise to anyone), Lara and Finan are reunited and then the last 30%ish of the book is a lot of wrapping up and checking in with all the different characters and seeing how everyone is recovering after the events of the book. As a single reading experience, having this much wrap up at the end really felt like it messed with the balance of the book and the pacing dragged a little bit in comparison to the pretty non-stop pacing of the first 70% of the book. When I then think about that 30% of wrap up in comparison to the whole trilogy, then it does feel like a more appropriate proportion of the narrative is being spent in this phase.
I really enjoyed the characters and how much we got to see Lara's interactions with the other townsfolk. Lara's character growth over these three books is really fantastic and there's a stark difference between book 1 Lara and book 3 Lara and I think that difference and growth is really earned on her part. We really see her come into her own as a person finding her way in life and figuring out what is important to her. The trilogy takes place over about 4-5 months but there's a lot of plot stuffed into that time period. I really enjoyed seeing Lara's relationship with the other people on the island grow and change as well.
Gordon does a fantastic job with the suspense elements in all three books but I think her efforts really came though in this final installment. I mentioned in my book 2 review that I felt like a lot of that book was rehashing the events/information we saw in book 1 and I was a little worried we'd get that same issue with book 3. However, we really jumped feet first into the situation and drama of trying to find Finan as well as figure out how all these different secrets are involved in this situation. I was really pleased with the twists the mystery/investigation took and how Gordon was able to pull in so many different seemingly unrelated aspects and weave them all together.
Despite my earlier explained issues with the pacing of the ending, I thought the resolution for the series was perfect. I think, overall, it was a good choice to have such a long resolution section that also allowed us more time to get back into the 'romance' side of this romantic suspense story. I especially loved how we got to see not only Lara and Finan's romance resolution but also relationships and friendships of all types across the other characters. I 100% cried at the ending which if that isn't a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
Overall, this was a really strong ending to a great series. Books 1 and 2 do end on cliffhangers, but now that the trilogy is finished, you can just read straight through! I think it can sometimes be hard to get the balance right with romantic suspense books but Gordon does a great job at developing both sides well.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for the ARC - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2022
CAWPILE Rating: 3,42
Characters: 6
Ambient / Worldbuilding: 3
Writing style: 7
Plot: 3
Intrigue: 0
Logic / Relationships: 3,75
Enjoyment: 1,25
First of all, thank you so much Book Sirens and Eliza Gordon for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
I am very sad to see that the third instalment in what was one of my favourite series of 2021 ended up being an utter disappointment. Also, doubly sad because I didn't expect it at all.
What I would like to mention first is that I think part of the problem is mine and mine alone. That is, there is nothing wrong with the book and, even though I still think it is the least good of the three, some of the score I gave it on CAWPILE could have been higher if my current mindset was different. But I read it at this moment and these are my thoughts. It's pointless to lie to myself or pretend I enjoyed it. Maybe if I reread this in the future I would change my opinion.
I feel like most of its essence is gone in this one. It is true that it develops into a totally different direction and the result of widening the world was risky. Why do I say it was risky? Because the island, the environmental issues and the whole ambient is one of the strongest points in the book, so shifting the focus could have a lost in interest as a result. As I think it was my case.
I didn't give a damn about the whole drug cartel stuff. I even found it annoying (because I personally don't like those types of plots). And the fact that 80% of the book is just about didn't help at all.
There is also a lack of strength in the characters. I struggled remembering who was who (I still can't distinguish between Wes and Rupert, or even know where Len came from, who Dakota, Catrina and the rest of friends were...). Maybe it is because I wasn't interested at all, but in general I just tagged them as 'people from the island'.
To sum up, I enjoyed the first two books and pretend the third never happened. Although even that I can't do because the two first books finish with a huge cliffhanger. This ending, obviously close, felt feeble, too. As I said... a total disaster for me. Farewell, Lara!
Characters: 6
Ambient / Worldbuilding: 3
Writing style: 7
Plot: 3
Intrigue: 0
Logic / Relationships: 3,75
Enjoyment: 1,25
First of all, thank you so much Book Sirens and Eliza Gordon for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
I am very sad to see that the third instalment in what was one of my favourite series of 2021 ended up being an utter disappointment. Also, doubly sad because I didn't expect it at all.
What I would like to mention first is that I think part of the problem is mine and mine alone. That is, there is nothing wrong with the book and, even though I still think it is the least good of the three, some of the score I gave it on CAWPILE could have been higher if my current mindset was different. But I read it at this moment and these are my thoughts. It's pointless to lie to myself or pretend I enjoyed it. Maybe if I reread this in the future I would change my opinion.
I feel like most of its essence is gone in this one. It is true that it develops into a totally different direction and the result of widening the world was risky. Why do I say it was risky? Because the island, the environmental issues and the whole ambient is one of the strongest points in the book, so shifting the focus could have a lost in interest as a result. As I think it was my case.
I didn't give a damn about the whole drug cartel stuff. I even found it annoying (because I personally don't like those types of plots). And the fact that 80% of the book is just about didn't help at all.
There is also a lack of strength in the characters. I struggled remembering who was who (I still can't distinguish between Wes and Rupert, or even know where Len came from, who Dakota, Catrina and the rest of friends were...). Maybe it is because I wasn't interested at all, but in general I just tagged them as 'people from the island'.
To sum up, I enjoyed the first two books and pretend the third never happened. Although even that I can't do because the two first books finish with a huge cliffhanger. This ending, obviously close, felt feeble, too. As I said... a total disaster for me. Farewell, Lara!
January 6, 2022
I have to write this review right away after finishing this third & final book in the Planet Lara Series ❤️ Wow.
Author Eliza Gordon- you nailed it with this finale.
This book picked right up where book two left off, so I definitely encourage readers to read book 1 & 2 first. And then- hold on for a WILD ride! This book adds so much more suspense, violence, heartbreak, adventure- I felt like I was holding my breath for most of the journey!
The characters in all three books are unbelievable- but this book specifically takes them to another level. Eliza’s deep characterization truly makes you feel so invested in their stories. Rupert & Wes- I love the strong, protective, and kindhearted character of Wes. Harmony- where do I start? Her spunk, her style, her heart, her smarts, her devotion to Lara & Humboldt. I love Dakota, and Jacinta, and Len. And of course Lara and Finan. I appreciate that Lara’s character makes a transformation for good- but also still has little peeks of the “old” her that pop in, making it feel all the more realistic & believable. And the “villains”!? Yikes!! You truly feel fear and hate when they come on the scene.
I loved that Eliza took the time to tie up this story and all the characters- and gave it the pages it needed to truly wrap it all up. There was no rush there, and I was thankful for that. The ending was straight out of a movie, and I had to wipe tears and take a deep breath when it was all over!
If you love: romance, books set in BC/Vancouver, books about friendship, community, & family, adventure, suspense, mystery, environmentalism…. you’ll love this series!
Author Eliza Gordon- you nailed it with this finale.
This book picked right up where book two left off, so I definitely encourage readers to read book 1 & 2 first. And then- hold on for a WILD ride! This book adds so much more suspense, violence, heartbreak, adventure- I felt like I was holding my breath for most of the journey!
The characters in all three books are unbelievable- but this book specifically takes them to another level. Eliza’s deep characterization truly makes you feel so invested in their stories. Rupert & Wes- I love the strong, protective, and kindhearted character of Wes. Harmony- where do I start? Her spunk, her style, her heart, her smarts, her devotion to Lara & Humboldt. I love Dakota, and Jacinta, and Len. And of course Lara and Finan. I appreciate that Lara’s character makes a transformation for good- but also still has little peeks of the “old” her that pop in, making it feel all the more realistic & believable. And the “villains”!? Yikes!! You truly feel fear and hate when they come on the scene.
I loved that Eliza took the time to tie up this story and all the characters- and gave it the pages it needed to truly wrap it all up. There was no rush there, and I was thankful for that. The ending was straight out of a movie, and I had to wipe tears and take a deep breath when it was all over!
If you love: romance, books set in BC/Vancouver, books about friendship, community, & family, adventure, suspense, mystery, environmentalism…. you’ll love this series!
January 3, 2022
The twists & turns keep coming as we storm to the ending!
This is the conclusion to the Planet Lara series and picks up straight away from the cliff-hanger we finished with in Tempest.
The book provides for a very satisfying conclusion, but if you think it’s going to be a straight ride to the finish then the twists and turns in this book will give you whiplash! Gordon has crafted a breathtaking conclusion to the series, just when you think to catch your breath something else unexpected happens. The novel is well paced; in fact, the story over the three books has been well written, well-paced, thrilling and unexpected with a cast of superb characters and great character development. When you think about where Lara started; a selfish, entitled spoilt brat with anger issues; to where she finishes, with friends who love and care for her and an audience of readers who are rooting for it to all turn out for her, that’s a hell of a turnabout but Gordon did a masterful job of redeeming Lara and making you love her.
I had to wait four months for this final outing to be published, do yourself a favour and start at the beginning and read straight through.
This is the conclusion to the Planet Lara series and picks up straight away from the cliff-hanger we finished with in Tempest.
The book provides for a very satisfying conclusion, but if you think it’s going to be a straight ride to the finish then the twists and turns in this book will give you whiplash! Gordon has crafted a breathtaking conclusion to the series, just when you think to catch your breath something else unexpected happens. The novel is well paced; in fact, the story over the three books has been well written, well-paced, thrilling and unexpected with a cast of superb characters and great character development. When you think about where Lara started; a selfish, entitled spoilt brat with anger issues; to where she finishes, with friends who love and care for her and an audience of readers who are rooting for it to all turn out for her, that’s a hell of a turnabout but Gordon did a masterful job of redeeming Lara and making you love her.
I had to wait four months for this final outing to be published, do yourself a favour and start at the beginning and read straight through.
December 21, 2021
Hold onto your chair, there is a lot going on in this final installment of the Planet Lara series! So much so you may want to have the first two books open so you can reference back to them to refresh your memory!
This final book takes Lara to darker and more difficult places as she is driven to save Finan, cope with Rupert's illness, and find out vital details about her mother, father and grandfather. I felt this book was lacking some of the humor of the first two books, but it was appropriate given the different nature of the conclusion to many loose ends.
While I would recommend this series, I do feel they should be read without any time delays in between each book. As I am reading these as ARCs there have been several weeks between each book for me - I would have enjoyed the overall story more given the opportunity to not have time in between.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This final book takes Lara to darker and more difficult places as she is driven to save Finan, cope with Rupert's illness, and find out vital details about her mother, father and grandfather. I felt this book was lacking some of the humor of the first two books, but it was appropriate given the different nature of the conclusion to many loose ends.
While I would recommend this series, I do feel they should be read without any time delays in between each book. As I am reading these as ARCs there have been several weeks between each book for me - I would have enjoyed the overall story more given the opportunity to not have time in between.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 3, 2022
I am addicted to this series and anxiously await each new book from this author. I love to see the progression of growth in Lara as she moves from spoiled socialite to actual down-to-earth socially-conscious human being. Surrounded by a cast of wonderful characters, a drooly crazy hound, a super-smart young girl who will definitely be a future doctor, and the love of her life - Finan, Lara is trying to keep eco-friendly Thalia Island running the way her grandfather envisioned while trying to keep out the criminal element determined to take it over. In this book, she is trying to rescue the kidnapped Finan from a drug cartel leader who wants someone she loves in exchange. She faces loss, joy, pain, love, and even more spiritual growth and maturity during the amazing adventures this time and readers will love just how unpredictable this series can be. I am so glad that I took a chance on this author and this series. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
February 9, 2022
I received a review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.Thank you Eliza Gordon for my copy.
What an ending to this series that got my heart, my attention and my appreciation.
In this thrilling conclusion to the Planet Lara series, Eliza Gordon spins quite the web of secrets that are finally uncovered after all this time.
We continue to see Lara mature and face all the things hidden from her past, while battling today's monsters. From kidnappings to viruses, to some graphic scenes we find all inside the action.
This book series was a whole, with quite the liniar action and that subtle flow of time. I devoured the 3 book and it rarely happens that all get 5 star ratings and I a bookhangover.
Sanctuary is a bit darker that the 2 other books but that only adds to the charm and pull of this book
What an ending to this series that got my heart, my attention and my appreciation.
In this thrilling conclusion to the Planet Lara series, Eliza Gordon spins quite the web of secrets that are finally uncovered after all this time.
We continue to see Lara mature and face all the things hidden from her past, while battling today's monsters. From kidnappings to viruses, to some graphic scenes we find all inside the action.
This book series was a whole, with quite the liniar action and that subtle flow of time. I devoured the 3 book and it rarely happens that all get 5 star ratings and I a bookhangover.
Sanctuary is a bit darker that the 2 other books but that only adds to the charm and pull of this book
July 4, 2022
I read the first Planet Lara book before it came out, and then had to wait suuuuuch a long time to find out what happened after that cliff hanger, so I was smarter with this book and waited until I had book 3 in my hands before I started book 2. This also means that the second I set book 2 down, I picked book 3 up and started into it, and THUS, books 2 & 3 have merged into one in my brain and I'm going to review them as one.
Loved them. I'm a big fan of books that cross genres and incorporate lots of random elements, and these ones did just that. Mystery and romance, cults and family drama, kidnapping and biological warfare...etc. Really glad I didn't have to wait between 2 & 3—definitely buy the entire trilogy at the same time. ;)
Loved them. I'm a big fan of books that cross genres and incorporate lots of random elements, and these ones did just that. Mystery and romance, cults and family drama, kidnapping and biological warfare...etc. Really glad I didn't have to wait between 2 & 3—definitely buy the entire trilogy at the same time. ;)
December 20, 2021
I had been looking forward to this final book in the Planet Lara trilogy/series.
The story jumps right in after the crazy ending of book two. The book was impossible to put down because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Seeing the growth Lara has experienced and the friendships she's made has been so wonderful. She has really matured a lot and I also loved her and Finan together!
The romance, drama, mystery, and action have all been building and this book brings them all to a satisfying conclusion. I really enjoyed this story and series!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
The story jumps right in after the crazy ending of book two. The book was impossible to put down because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Seeing the growth Lara has experienced and the friendships she's made has been so wonderful. She has really matured a lot and I also loved her and Finan together!
The romance, drama, mystery, and action have all been building and this book brings them all to a satisfying conclusion. I really enjoyed this story and series!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
December 26, 2021
Book 3 and the final in Gordon's Plant Laura series. Picks up where book 2 (Tempest) leaves off. This book should be read in series order and not as a stand alone! But be forewarned that each ends in a cliffhanger and will captivate and enthrall you. Laura is dangling by a thread and the question is - what could possibly happen next?!? A well written , fun, beautiful, heartwarming read that provides the perfect conclusion to this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2022
Such a superb wrap up for this trilogy! It started out fast, right in the middle of action where Tempest left off, and it was a non-stop ride until the end. All the loose ends were tied up, and the endings for the characters were wonderful. This series has a bit of everything for everyone - romance, mystery, suspense. It really is a wonderful series, but I do recommend that anyone read this from the beginning, Welcome to Planet Lara.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 16, 2023
As the last of the serial books I was kind of disappointed in this one. Yeah there is adventure, danger, mystery all tied up with HEA at the end but was not satisfying to me. I was hoping Lara would be a full grown adult at the end but she was still so immature in many ways.
The ending was sappy to me and I feel so many things were not explained or glossed over (how did Juanita survive? how did she get away? What happened to the bio hazard? so many, many questions. The wrap up felt like a Hallmark movie ugg.
The ending was sappy to me and I feel so many things were not explained or glossed over (how did Juanita survive? how did she get away? What happened to the bio hazard? so many, many questions. The wrap up felt like a Hallmark movie ugg.
December 18, 2021
This is book three in the series and should be read in order.
This author writes such original and engaging stories.
The emotions that the characters and storyline draw out of you range from joy, angst and everything in between.
So many twist in the series. Love the environmental piece of this series.
I loved the way the story answered all the questions and left me feeling so happy for Lara and her Love. I highly recommend this book and series.
This author writes such original and engaging stories.
The emotions that the characters and storyline draw out of you range from joy, angst and everything in between.
So many twist in the series. Love the environmental piece of this series.
I loved the way the story answered all the questions and left me feeling so happy for Lara and her Love. I highly recommend this book and series.
December 27, 2021
Harmony ♥️♥️♥️
I am just glad I didn't have to wait at all after reading Book 2 to dig into this.
Absolutely beautiful. The love from everyone in Thalia Island is so wholesome…
Do yourselves a favour and grab all 3 copies at once cause the cliffhanger from Book 2 sent my heart racing
Oh did I mention Harmony ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you Eliza Gordon and BookSirens for giving me this ARC to review voluntarily
I am just glad I didn't have to wait at all after reading Book 2 to dig into this.
Absolutely beautiful. The love from everyone in Thalia Island is so wholesome…
Do yourselves a favour and grab all 3 copies at once cause the cliffhanger from Book 2 sent my heart racing
Oh did I mention Harmony ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you Eliza Gordon and BookSirens for giving me this ARC to review voluntarily
April 1, 2025
A mixture of grand scale escape, plot twisty suspense, and characters to root for—what’s not to love? Add humor, warmth, and intelligent writing to seal the deal. (Warning: You might find these novels hard to put down!)
I’ve now completed this Planet Lara trilogy and would highly recommend it. Having already read this series, I know I’m in good hands with Eliza Gordon; so I’m looking forward to her Must Love Otters as my gateway to summer reading!
I’ve now completed this Planet Lara trilogy and would highly recommend it. Having already read this series, I know I’m in good hands with Eliza Gordon; so I’m looking forward to her Must Love Otters as my gateway to summer reading!
December 20, 2021
A beautiful ending to a story that left me captivated, enthralled and enraptured. To watch Lara come full circle and grow as a person has been a delight made more enjoyable by the rich, secondary characters that are lively and vivid. By far, my favourite series that I've read this year. Thank you for another enthralling read.
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