Romero Pools

by Alyssa Hall

Twenty-three-year-old Marin is trying to move on. It’s been three years since the tragic car crash that left her and Tyler in comas. Now having started a new life in Tucson, she is trying hard to leave the past behind. But Tyler had been the love of her life and, not really knowing what had been his fate, she just can’t let him go. While hiking near Romero Pools, in the Santa Catalina Mountains, hoping for some solace, Marin discovers a badly injured Adam high on the mountain trail. Marin finds him easy to talk to, and while they make their way to safety, she tells him her incredible story of survival and loss. But she also reveals there are mysteries around the accident and its aftermath that continue to confound her, making it hard for her to get on with her life. Before his return to Toronto, Adam is unable to re-connect with Marin to repay her kindness in seeing him safely down the mountain. Once back in Canada, feeling he wants to do something to thank Marin, Adam makes it his mission to find some answers and help uncover some of the secrets that plague her. With only a few details, Adam doesn’t have much to go on, so he enlists the help of a private detective in Washington, where the car crash happened. As each new detail emerges, Adam inadvertently begins to unravel a much bigger story of secrets, lies . . . and possibly murder.

279 pages, Paperback

Published December 8, 2021

About the author

Alyssa was born in Newmarket Ontario. She grew up in a muti-generational household which included her four siblings and her Russian parents and grandparents, who were WWII refugees. Following her schooling she spent two years travelling and working in Europe, after which she returned to Newmarket to start a family. She currently resides in Langley, BC with her husband David. The couple divide their time between Langley and Oro Valley Arizona where they enjoy their winters while road cycling, hiking and the art of preparing southwestern cuisine. On the urging of a dear friend, Alyssa started her Covid-induced writing in April 2020, needing a project. Trusting Claire was her first novel, parts of which were drawn from her early life experiences. Alyssa's second novel, a British detective murder mystery is entitled Wanting Aidan. Her third is a mystery set in Tucson Arizona and is a follow-up to Trusting Claire. Her fourth is a return to her British PI character and is titled Hero of Blackpool.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a 4..that said because I liked the romance of the characters and the romance of the sights and sounds and food of Arizona. This is obviously a very special place Romeo Pools ..what better place to do a Romeo and Juliet story.
Interesting how the author was able to tie in characters from her previous books ..like meeting an old friend.
The book moves along at a good pace ,I liked the 2 central characters Marin and Adam telling their stories separately.

[Lukanyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyssa Hall is romance writer of note, and being rather cynical of romances, it’s safe to say that this is a novel that could move even the hardest of hearts. I, myself can’t even blame tears that trickled down my cheek while reading the last page on the dust in my living room.

Romero pools tells the story of Marin who is dealing with the post-trauma of a car accident that lead to her wake up after months in a coma and finding out her boyfriend had not survived the accident. In the lush Arizona, Marin goes on her regular hikes where she can reflect. On one particular hike a fate-altering or perhaps fate-destined encounter occurs, where she meets Adam who quite literally falls at her feet. Marin supports Adam who is severly injured, back along the trail and sees that he is taken to hospital. Within the brief time they share Marin tells Adam her story, feeling that she can confide and be free with him. Unfortunately, time and circumstance don’t allow them to see where this budding relationship will lead, but like Marin, Adam feels that her story has a lot of unanswered questions and needs investigation. Why does it seem like the people in Marin’s life are hiding things from her. Adam travels back to his home country, Canada feeling moved by Marin and wishing to help her. Leading separate and distant lives, Marin works on healing and moving forward while Adam tries to find answers.

This whimsically romatic novel moves at a fast but plausible pace, plunging you right into Marin and Adam’s meeting. The exhibition is lovely and gives a sense of the evocative imagery and unstilted writing style that persists throughout the whole novel— making for a smooth and relaxing read. The sweet story of paths crossing is narrated beautifully with the constant shift between Marin’s and Adam’s perspective, a dynamic that adds to the hope that their paths will cross again.

The mystery that Adam is trying to investigate despite being the core plot, ties in unintrusively with the story’s essentially romanitic genre. The story is deeply introspective as it poses thoughts on love, it’s meaning, feelings that never die, the finding of kindred spirits and the trials and tribulations of relationships.

The characters are wonderfully constructed and true to life. Both serve as parallels to each other as they work on overcoming deep roots of childhood trauma and how this will always spring buds of doubt, fear and reluctance in the present. Adam with his fear of having children, Marin with hurt over her mother’s treatment and how it affected her behavior.

This novel makes you believe in long-lasting love and and the power of destiny. It’s a must-read.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romero Pools, by Alyssa Hall, is an intense love story wrapped in the sharp, sunlit folds of the Arizona desert. The book follows Marin, a young woman still grappling with grief and guilt years after a traumatic accident claimed her fiancé, Tyler. While hiking alone, she stumbles upon Adam, an injured man who has just fallen down a ridge. Their shared journey down the mountain becomes more than a physical one, it’s emotional, raw, and revelatory. As their connection deepens, so too does the mystery surrounding Tyler’s death, ultimately pulling the reader into a web of memory, secrets, and healing.

I really enjoyed Hall’s ability to make the desert come alive with so much character. The way she writes about light, heat, and silence makes you feel the weight of every step on the trail and every breath between two people learning to trust. The dialogue flows naturally, sometimes playful, sometimes heavy, but always honest. Marin and Adam feel like real people, broken but trying, hurt but still relatable. I found myself rooting for both of them in a way that made the end surprisingly heartbreaking. It didn’t feel like a gimmick. It felt like life.

I did feel the writing leaned on telling more than showing at times. The exposition, especially when the backstory was shared through dialogue, could get a bit weighty. I wished for more scenes to unfold slowly instead of being relayed in a block of conversation. Still, there’s something comforting about the voice Hall uses. It’s gentle, it’s warm, and even when the story dips into darkness, it doesn’t feel hopeless. The twisty thread of maybe-Tyler-still-being-alive added a quiet tension that never quite resolved, and honestly, I didn’t mind. The book was never about plot fireworks; it was about emotional honesty.

Romero Pools left me thoughtful and a little wistful. It’s a book for anyone who’s lost something they didn’t think they could live without, and for those trying to start again, however messy that looks. I’d recommend this to readers who love slow-burn romance, quiet personal dramas, and stories that find beauty in the ordinary.

[Frank Giampa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I disclose that Alyssa Hall is a friend. Alyssa is an effortless storyteller. Her ability to set a "stage" and then weave a story is quite exceptional. She writes what she knows - and what she knows, she knows well. This story is complex and rich at many levels. There is a genuineness and respect for her characters that is particularly sensitive. She acutely understands the base of humanity and the wisdom it has generated. Romero Pools is a joy to read and I highly recommend this book.

[Lori Giampa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this book the most out of Alyssa’s three books. It’s a good story & the fact that the chapters are short help make it a faster read. I will be meeting Alyssa this week & can hardly wait!