Whitewater Awakening

by Rita Potter

Can two lost people find themselves, and possibly each other, halfway around the world?

After a tragic accident, Quinn Coolidge leaves everything behind, hoping to find solace in a secluded life in the Ozarks. Her solitude is disrupted when her best friend unexpectedly shows up with a proposition she may not be able to resist.

Faced with a series of failed relationships, Aspen Kennedy is left wondering why she can’t find true love. With each new partner, she immerses herself in their interests, hoping to find the connection she’s been missing. That should make her the perfect girlfriend, shouldn’t it?

Come along with Quinn and Aspen as they travel to Africa to take on one of the most grueling whitewater rafting courses in the world. With the amazing Victoria Falls as their backdrop, the pair will have to look deep inside to discover what holds them back. Will the churning waters of the Zambezi River defeat them, or will it lead them to a whitewater awakening?

Genres: Romance, Sports, Contemporary, LGBT, Lesbian

413 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2022

About the author

Rita Potter has spent most of her life trying to figure out what makes people tick. To that end, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and an MA in Sociology. Her favorite pastime is crawling around inside peoples’ brains. Her loved ones are grateful that she now has characters whose minds she can explore, so maybe she’ll stay out of theirs.

Rita’s writing reflects her belief that in some way we are all damaged and must conquer our demons in order to create a fulfilling life. Being an eternal optimist, she maintains that the human spirit is remarkably resilient and can overcome even the most challenging obstacles. That optimism is the wellspring of her life goal- to provide encouragement and support to help people thrive.

In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors. She is especially drawn to the water, which is ironic since she lives in the middle of a corn field. Her first love has always been reading, which has spurred her writing. She rides a Harley Davidson and has an unnatural obsession with fantasy football. More than anything she detests small talk, but can ramble on for hours given a topic that interests her.

She lives in a small town in Illinois with her wife, Terra, and their cat, Chumley, who actually runs the household.

Rita is a member of American Mensa and the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is currently a student of the GCLS Writing Academy 2021.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I loved this story very much. This is a book about best friends, loss and grief, letting go and finding new friends and starting life anew. But it's also about finding your own way and standing up for yourself. There is also a lot of adventure with white water rafting on the Zambezi River, good conversation, and a lot of teasing and humor. My first book by Rita Potter, but definitely not the last. An adventure story with profound themes.

[Simone11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not an easy read but worth every minute. I liked especially the character depth in which the two MCs were described. They grow together into their better future selfs.
I’ll definitely read more of this author in the future.

[Alicia Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rita Potter

Whitewater Awakening


The story opens up with Quinn at her shop when she receives a surprise visit from someone she hasn’t seen in years, but it’s an old friend. Quinn has a lot of pain that she is trying to live through or hide from, no matter how she speaks.



This is a unique story. I have never read a sapphic novel where white water rafting is the center of the story. Quinn's story is very complex. There are many layers to this story.  Quinn carries guilt for what happened to Stella. Her life was never the same after that accident that took away a piece of her heart. Unfortunately, guilt can do so much to a person. You can change yourself,  you look in the mirror one day and don’t even recognize who you are. It can also drive you to addiction, shame and isolation.



I don’t want to give the story away, it is just so meaty; there’s so many layers to it. There are twists and turns in the story as well, even surprises that you may not see coming in  the relationship that Quinn has with Stella‘s sister Natalie. I found it quite intriguing find there’s definitely something else brewing between the two of them, but it’s kind of a mixed bag.



I did not care for Peyton and her friends. They were all not that nice except for the one young lady, LeAnn. Everyone else was bad news.  

DaKota was the worst, always trying to push Aspen’s  buttons .



Side note : The fact that the author's storyline for the book is about white water rafting and that it takes place in Africa is simply outside of this world.


Quinn‘s love for the water is what helped her come back to herself. The author did an amazing job giving the description of Africa and the water adventures that the group went on through. This was a very unique story but one that had tons of adventure and action.


Quinn was struggling to move forward to live her life again and have fun and just enjoy what she loved most, which was the water. She was hiding from life , but there was a pull between her and Payton that just felt so natural. They were able to sit and talk. They just connected from the very first night.



It was nice to see the author mention Alex and Jill from Broken Not Shattered, one of my favorites by the way


In my opinion, I felt like Quinn gave Aspen the courage to take up for herself, defend herself and be the strong independent woman.  Quinn gave Aspen courage. Aspen's intern helped Quinn  breathe again, to feel like there was something to live in, because Quinn felt passion and she began to notice what was going on around her. It’s like they both blew life into each other. They were able to give them the self-esteem, the courage and the tenacity to move forward and what they were lacking when they met.



The relationship between Quinn and Aspen was built off of a friendship. They had an inside joke that I found quite cute. The relationship was built from trust and honesty and their friendship was the foundation. I believe they already loved each other because they developed their friendship and Aspen supported Quinn even in her pain of losing and dealing with Stella‘s demise.





This was a sweet story about finding yourself again is letting go of the past and new beginnings!! I would like to thank the author for the arc 5 stars

[Conny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I love about Rita Potter is that none of her books is similar in any way. I am amazed about all the ideas she has and brings on paper or to our ereaders. There is one thing some characters might have in common like a tendency of being stubborn sometimes. ☺️ But compared to Rita’s first book Broken Not Shattered I never wanted to shake anyone. Lol

This story contains so much to much it an incredible. We get lot of action while we witness the characters going on their whitewater rafting adventures. There is grieve about and saying goodbye to a beloved person. It’s about finding yourself and knowing what you really want in life. About deciding to live again.

While Quinn and Aspen are totally different from
the outside they have one big thing in common, both haven’t really lived their lives for a long time. It’s like destiny that they meet on this adventure in Africa, because in the end both set something free in the other that helps them to find their way.

The love story doesn’t play the biggest role in this book. For me what I just mentioned about finding back to life is much more important. Also the standing up for yourself or the description of different kind of friendships. This was actually a bit funny because I expected a shoe to drop at some point, one that never dropped in the end. And I loved this.

If you’re in for all these topics and are ok with a super slow-burn love story that is like I mentioned not the main topic in this book, please read this book. Also if you look for something different in this genre, this is your story. It’s amazingly written and it‘s just wonderful to see how much Rita improves with every story.

I received a copy from the author and voluntarily leaving a review.

[bookster · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quinn is hurting, has been for 5 years since the unfortunate accident of Stella her fiance'.Stella is brain dead but her ultra religious parents won't let Quinn visit her, and they won't take her off life support. So Quinn is hiding in the Ozarks giving up her life as a whitewater guide based in Boston. Until her bestfriend and ex business partner comes to her with a proposal, take a group of rich women into Africa to raft, all down a river all expenses paid and 25,000 per person. That's where Aspen comes in, as her girlfriend Peyton is organizing the expedition.
What an adventure!!! And the friendship between Quinn and Aspen is forged. LOVE THIS BOOK!! 5 stars!!

[Neen Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has given me a total roller coaster ride … or more accurately a rapids run.
All the emotions, the full range.
Intense topics like grief and mourning are covered and yet balanced perfectly with brilliant friendships and banter.
The writing is beautiful with scenery you can almost taste and the development of characters is so beautiful and heart wrenching.
The entire journey was one big chefs kiss of deliciousness.

[Yahli Rot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an incredible ride!!
This was such an intense experience, the story is engaging and touching qnd handles really hard topics very well. I can't recommend this book enough.
I especially loved that most of the book is focused on friendship and emotional connections, personal growth and mental health, not sex and dating. I can't say the ending completely satisfied me, but I think I get the author's choice, even if it feels too real and unjust.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a light and fluffy romance, it deals with heavy and dark sides of the life, such as graving, mental health problems, low self esteem and family conflicts. The writing is brilliant and the characters unique and likable, along the way I learnt a thing or two about whitewater rafting. I appreciate that the author didn't harry up the romance, gave the couple time and space to recover from their trauma and rebuild their lives before finally dip into dating.

[Marybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The MC's are so well drawn that I walked away feeling like they were my friends. I loved the story where people keep challenging themselves in what feels like impossible challenges but succeeding. The setting on the Zambesi river is finely described and I felt like I was rafting with the crew. I am so happy I read this book.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

the premise of this book was brilliant but it was so slow paced that i was so close to DNF’ing because i felt like i was crawling though it at a snails pace

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about personal growth, finding yourself and moving on to something that potentially can be the best thing thing that ever has happened to you.

[Sandy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop reading this book!

This was a sweet, sad, funny, mad, intense and heartwarming story. So yeah, like life! It was so well written I couldn’t put it down. Rita Potter is a wonderful writer. I have enjoyed all of her books, and this one especially.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a frustrating book to review, because it was excellent, but not the book I thought I was reading. I’d give it five stars if it wasn’t for the blurb about being a perfect girlfriend and finding true love. That just set my expectations wrong, and I spent the book waiting for something that didn’t come.

So let’s rewrite the blurb to be about finding yourself, who you are and equally importantly who you’re not, finding and being a great friend instead of a perfect girlfriend, finding a way out of incapacitating grief and the missteps it brings on, finding the depth in every person around you… there was a lot to love in this story, it just wasn’t about perfect girlfriends and only barely scratched the surface of true love. I mean, there were plenty of relationships in the story… the main ones just didn’t get sorted until very very very late, and as a result didn’t feel like the focus. It seemed to be a book about the journey more than the destination.

In any case, I thought the characters were outstanding, and nearly all of them got both depth and development… you can’t always be quick to trust your first (or even second) impression. The rafting action was generally excellent, though I did find that Ghostrider didn’t quite live up to the build-up that it received. About the only part that really threw me was when a third-party turned up some critical information, it seemed nearly magical — not a bit on how they did it and I wasn’t even convinced the time sequence allowed them the advance notice required to do so? Sure, I suspended disbelief because it kept the story moving, but that was the one time I actually noticed myself doing so.

So… if you introduced this to me as a book about friendship, finding yourself, life-changing experiences, working through grief, and etc. it would be a clear five stars. Well-written, insightful, and fun to read with beautiful characters and entertaining action sequences. Maybe I’ll read it again with better expectations and bump my rating up? This first read, though, it didn’t really deliver on what I thought I was supposed to be waiting for.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitewater Awakening by Rita Potter
5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved this book. There was a healthy balance between heavy emotions and lighthearted fun. It was such a page-turner to the very end.

Quinn Coolidge, a ghost of her former self, hides in the Ozarks after a tragic accident. Aspen Kennedy is jumping through loveless relationships, trying to please her partners. Aspen’s newest girlfriend whisks them off on the trip of a lifetime with a group of friends whitewater rafting in the African Zambezi River. Quinn and her best friend Mick guide the tour. As Aspen and Quinn become friends, will there be a whitewater awakening?

Following the friendship building between Quinn and Aspen was lovely. I wasn’t even rooting for a romantic outcome, just one which involved their strong bond. It was amazing to feel their bond growing.

I loved the juxtaposition where the author swaps between Mick and Quinn’s kayaking and the rest of the group watching the live stream. It was really well written. Additionally, as the whole group rafted together, the author swapped between the points of view. It added to the action and anticipation.

This book was a page-turner with quite an adrenaline rush just reading about the rapids. Having only kayaked on class III rapids myself, I can only imagine the class V rapids of the Zambezi River. I had to look up videos on YouTube of people rafting and kayaking the Zambezi. Now I want to get out on some whitewater when I next kayak!

[Char Dafoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in knowing this book lacked something I usually need in a story for me to truly and fully enjoy, and in already knowing this fact, I made sure to keep my mind open. I have already read one book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'm not surprised that I liked this book too... even more than the first! Potter obviously did her homework for the whitewater trip and she effortlessly weaved a heart-wrenching tale with a fun, adventurous trip that kept me on the edge and up way past my bedtime. It's been a while since a book has affected me so. At first, Aspen annoyed me, but that usually happens to me with femmes, but she quickly turned it around and I found myself siding with her, rooting for her, and just all around enjoying her presence. Quinn, now there's a woman who captured my heart right off the bat, as did her buddy, Mick. The whole group was a dynamic, fun, at times infuriating, and lively bunch, adding to the rich and deeply emotional story. Even in the end, some of the less favourable characters redeemed themselves. Good job, Potter.

5 out of 5!

Side note: I vote that Potter write us readers who are curious about Quinn and Aspen's budding relationship a novellete/novella highlighting their romantic relationship including a sneaky-peek under the covers ;)

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but the fact I was able to put the book down in the middle of one of the high octane tension scenes suggests I didn't quite buy in. Having said that, when I picked the book up again, continuing to read the high octane scene I was engrossed! We were not supposed to like one of the mains current girlfriends and I didn't although despite us seeing a gradual change and the past was explained I still couldn't get my head around why they were together. I loved one of the side scenes when the main was talking to a side character about how the the main was changing, but the immediate scene after was again the mains girlfriend and besties being totally self absorbed.
I didn’t buy in to the big fight. However the scene after almost made up for it. There is a family dynamics plot that has almost cartoonishly bad parents. I’m not sure they get their comeuppance but the important thing changes.
Parts 3, parts more than 3, parts less than so a comfortable 3.

[SUTTON (Kade) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of beauty. Not flowers and sunshine - but the beauty of true emotional growth and friendship.

I am giving no spoilers, although there are some unfortunately if you read these before you read the book.

I listed to the audiobook with Rita Porter’s preferred narrator. The book is a work of pure art; the art of words, storytelling, building relationships, and developing an entire world that encompasses love, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, despair, disappointment, cattiness, privilege, joviality, family, joy, adventure, and so much more.

When you have every human emotion in one book and it isn’t forced, there are surprises, there is the good, bad, love, pretense, and various levels of friendship then you have everything. Rita Potter always brings in quirky characters, friendship, reality vs privilege, hypocrisy? Joy, and pain. It is always the unexpected that you will find endearing.

[AllSapphicBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! wow I don't know why it took me so long to read a Rita Potter book but I am so glad I finally did. This book pulled me in from the blurb and the concept of whitewater rafting and did not disappoint.

The whitewater rafting side of the story was intense and such an adventure getting to read. However, the characters made it even better. Quinn suffered a tragic loss in the rapids and is working to overcome her fears and grief. Aspen is trying to find herself and not be who her girlfriends want her to be. Together they face the thrill of the Zambezi River rapids, getting to know each other, while overcoming some of their demons.

I did cry more than once reading this book because not only is a sweet romance, it is a book about finding yourself, overcoming grief, and facing your fears. Amazing book and I can't wait to read more from Potter!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

I have listened to one other audiobook by author Rita Potter, which was about storm chasers, and I like the adventure she brings to her books. Set for a time on the rivers of Africa, this book brings adventure and friendship and the possibility of love for Quinn and Aspen.

There is an attraction and a friendship between Quinn and Aspen and the ending may be their beginning and it would be interesting to read a follow-up story on them. An interesting backdrop, mixed in with an emotional tale, makes Whitewater Awakening an appealing choice.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Tammy Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

A story of love that has to be let go to be able to live again. Quinn just want what is right for Stella for fiancee that is in a vegetation stage of life after an accident. Mick is trying to help her get back to what Quinn love after a group hires them to take them on their dream trip to Africa. The ghost rider part of Virginia Falls river. Aspen has no luck in relationship but is trying to be more independent and forth right. Not knowing how to raft she tells Quinn and a friendship develops. The two are understanding but Stella is still on everyone's mind. A beautiful story till the end not giving everything away. Read the book

[Doreen HOWARD · Rating 5 out of 5]

t's not often there is a story where the backdrop is in Africa but this one has it in spades. The description of the scenery had me googling several times for images of the Devil’s Pool and some of the rapids. Never having been whitewater rafting I felt every movement of the raft whilst reading this book. The author was unknown to me but not anymore. If you are into armchair adventure with your sapphic romance then this is a must-read.

[Kymbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgiveness

This book covers a realm of issues and emotions with characters that you can't help pulling for. The thing that stands out the most for me is the story of love and forgiveness.... especially, forgiving yourself. Both Aspen and Quinn face this struggle as it their relationship develops throughout their journey together and apart. Kudos to the author for a truly engaging story.

[Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

Everything about rafting and whitewater was fascinating. I always love to learn things while following some people's lives. The traumatic experience was so cruel, I couldn't even imagine it. But it was so well balanced with the dynamics and banters of our favorite couple and friends.

Lovely story ! Highly recommend!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love Rita Potters books. I didnt think this was as good as "Broken not Shattered", but that was a stellar read. This was still up there tho. Again completely different from her others. Its obvious she does her research which i respect and love abt her work. Good characters, great setting, plenty of drama and as usual top quality writing.

[Marsha Wheeler]

Great Read!

I can't say enough about this one! The story line was great, the characters were great, and there were hardly any editing errors (and this is a pet peev of mine). If you're debating, get it. You won't be disappointed.

[Trippentigger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely done

An interesting story that keeps the pages turning. Really likable MCs with the side characters having nice depth as well. The primary antagonists are proper twat waffles, but the story wouldn’t work without them.

[Jackie Dailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

sad & heart warming

This is a lovely story. Very sad in parts. But looking to the future is always good.
I loved the MC’S. They were both really sweet.
I would definitely recommend

[Jess Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

I can't believe it took me so long to read this. It was so super sweet and really fun. Planning a whitewater rafting trip as we speak! I do wish it were longer. I'd like to see them together a bit but I still loved it

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read.

This is the 1st book I have read by author Rita Potter, But it will not be my last. Thank you