5 Stars
Coming Alive is the first book in the ‘Welcome to Carson Series’ by Renee Harless. It is an incredibly sweet, passionate, erotic and touching second chance at love/contemporary romance.
I really think Ms. Harless has excelled herself with this first instalment, in what I think is going to be a really wonderful series. I never expected to be so drawn to both the characters and the beautiful story. I fell for the charming, well-conceived and complex characters, not just the two leading characters, but the whole cast were just fantastic. Ms. Harless brought them into being with her wonderful descriptive details and they in turn brought the story to life. I love her attention to detail and her fluid, compelling and sexy writing style. I am really looking forward to reading more of this talented author’s work.
Avery Poindexter is only 24 years old and has already experienced more loss and heartache than most, but she’s stronger than she gives herself credit for, a survivor who found the will to keep going when most others would have given up. That’s not to say that she wasn’t shattered, just that she kept going- but has spent the past few years struggling to come to terms with her past and has been basically just moving through her life, not really living- masking the pain she still feels inside. Avery knows she really needs to move forward, but she really doesn’t know how.
So, when her friend suggests that a new location and job may help Avery put everything behind her, she decides that moving may just be the fresh start she needs- after all she has nothing to lose. So, Avery packs up and moves to Carson, finds a housemate and a place to stay and secures a job in a flourishing medical centre. Everything should be fantastic- but her heart is still shrouded- her fear of pain and loss keeping her from opening her heart or forming connections. Can the sexy physician who has caught her eye at her new workplace, finally spark her heart back to life? Will she allow him the opportunity to get to know her, or will she shut him down before she can be tempted by all his sexiness?
Logan Chamberlin is a 29-year-old physician working at the busy medical centre in the quaint town of Carson. He has suffered betrayal in his past, which has made him very wary and untrusting. Particularly of women. That’s not to say that he doesn’t enjoy their ‘company’- he didn’t get his playboy reputation by going home alone every night- but he’s not interested in a relationship, only in hooking up and moving on to the next conquest. He uses his work, gruelling workouts at the gym, and sex, as distractions from the painful memories that threaten to overwhelm him. So, when he meets Avery, he’s completely thrown off-kilter by the intense chemistry between them and the firestorm of sensations that bombards him whenever she was around. He feels such a strong connection to her, unlike anything he’s ever felt before, he can’t stop thinking about her. It was as if she was made specially for him. She was so perfect.
But he can see that she carries a burden, that she has secrets that weigh heavily on her. He knows that she was only capable of offering friendship, but he also knows that she feels the electricity between them- he just has to find a way to break through her defenses and convince her that he is worth risking her heart for. Will he be able to get through her defenses? Will she let him in? Will he be able to breathe new life into her withered heart?
I really loved Avery and Logan. They were so perfect for each other, they were written so well, that their connection was palpable. My heart broke for Avery and what she’d been through. She’s remarkable- so pure hearted, kind, generous and loving. After her horrible upbringing, coupled with all the loss she suffered- she could have been forgiven for giving up or shutting down, becoming cold hearted or closed off. But she wasn’t, and yes, she was hurting, but her beautiful nature still shone through the whole time. Logan is such a gorgeous hunk of a man. He worked so hard to move on from his painful past and make something of himself. Even though he had every reason to be distrusting, he let his barriers down for Avery- recognising the beautiful person she was inside and out, and was determined to win her over. He surprised me, because he really was so thoughtful, romantic and loving. The perfect boyfriend. When these two finally come together, it’s explosive, incredibly passionate and pantry melting HOT! And, yes, the author really put them through the wringer and made them work for their happiness- but this only made me appreciate the story and the way Ms. Harless wrapped the whole thing up, all that much more.
I am already anticipating the next book in the series and can’t wait to see what she has in store for us.
Thank you Ms. Harless!