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Passion Fish
With $3 million for the Santa Barbara Museum of Art on the line, curator Eve Carwyn hardly has time to focus on the state of her love life. Struggling to escape the clutches of a creepy ex and looking to add some adventure to her personal life, Eve is off on a much needed escape, and a business trip to Boston. But before she goes, her pack of dedicated girlfriends plan a send-off party that includes mind-bending kisses from not one, but two, sensational -- yet anonymous partners. Will a chance encounter and a searing kiss somehow end in a love match? Will her career take off or lie in ruins when the grant results are in? Join Eve on her whirlwind journey through intrigue and ingenuity, terror and true love. Once the passion fishing starts, her life will never be the same.
Passion Fish is one part romance and one part heart pounding thriller. An innocent game of sexy distraction ignites a spark of love and a dangerous obsession in this exciting debut novel from Alison Oburia and Jessica McQuinn. Oburia and McQuinn offer an intriguing, suspenseful spin on the games people play when it comes to love, and the surprising lengths to which they ll go to earn it... and to keep it.
Passion Fish is one part romance and one part heart pounding thriller. An innocent game of sexy distraction ignites a spark of love and a dangerous obsession in this exciting debut novel from Alison Oburia and Jessica McQuinn. Oburia and McQuinn offer an intriguing, suspenseful spin on the games people play when it comes to love, and the surprising lengths to which they ll go to earn it... and to keep it.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2010
7 people are currently reading
1061 people want to read
About the author
Alison Oburia
4 books49 followersAfter living in New England for the first twelve years of my life, my family moved to Florida and never looked back. I spent many years in Orlando and then moved to Tampa, where am now with my wonderful husband of twenty years and two teen boys.
I began writing Passion Fish after having a very vivid dream (basically the Passion Fish bar game chapters). When I couldn't figure out where the story should go from there, I 'hooked up' (sorry, fish pun) with Jessica McQuinn, plot queen extraordinaire, and together we created the novel.
My second novel, Between the Lies, is a story that mixes international intrigue with plot twists and romance and is based on some real events of people I know who have had life-threatening "encounters" with the Mafia (one in Ukraine, the other in Indonesia). It's scheduled for release in October, 2012.
I began writing Passion Fish after having a very vivid dream (basically the Passion Fish bar game chapters). When I couldn't figure out where the story should go from there, I 'hooked up' (sorry, fish pun) with Jessica McQuinn, plot queen extraordinaire, and together we created the novel.
My second novel, Between the Lies, is a story that mixes international intrigue with plot twists and romance and is based on some real events of people I know who have had life-threatening "encounters" with the Mafia (one in Ukraine, the other in Indonesia). It's scheduled for release in October, 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 6, 2012
I read this back when it was on fanfiction with the Twilight cast as the main stars. I enjoyed it immensely then and after re-reading this version I still loved it.
Such a charming story. I thought was fun to pick out the familiar characters with their new names, eye colors and hair do's. But I would like to add kudos for these authors making the characters their own, BEFORE publishing their fanfic. I could only recognize them because I knew the parts they played in the original. And even then, I found myself, more than once, realizing I had been wrong. Overall though, while it was the twilight cast on fanfic, the characters in this book are not the same.
I consider myself twice privileged since I got to read this twice, in two different ways. I did really enjoy the fanfic, since I actually got interaction with the authors and got to leave comments and such. Also, I have to add, the ending was much better on fanfic. I understand they had to change it so it read more consistent throughout, but I really liked that you weren't positive who it was. And honestly, I was surprised when I first read, because of the way the ending was written, I honestly thought it was the other guy. Which, was probably their intent. That part is lost in this book, since you know who it is first and then see the action unfold.
Overall, wonderful, intriguing, original plot. Love how all the characters feel so real and so new. Even knowing the story before I read the book, there were parts, when I couldn't put it down. There were certain parts when I stopped, just to enjoy the happy feeling I had, due to the characters. But even those, never lasted to long, I didn't want to finish it, because it was so hard to say goodbye, I didn't feel like I was watching a movie, it was more like I was along for the ride. Great job ladies. Hope you have more to read soon.
Such a charming story. I thought was fun to pick out the familiar characters with their new names, eye colors and hair do's. But I would like to add kudos for these authors making the characters their own, BEFORE publishing their fanfic. I could only recognize them because I knew the parts they played in the original. And even then, I found myself, more than once, realizing I had been wrong. Overall though, while it was the twilight cast on fanfic, the characters in this book are not the same.
I consider myself twice privileged since I got to read this twice, in two different ways. I did really enjoy the fanfic, since I actually got interaction with the authors and got to leave comments and such. Also, I have to add, the ending was much better on fanfic. I understand they had to change it so it read more consistent throughout, but I really liked that you weren't positive who it was. And honestly, I was surprised when I first read, because of the way the ending was written, I honestly thought it was the other guy. Which, was probably their intent. That part is lost in this book, since you know who it is first and then see the action unfold.
Overall, wonderful, intriguing, original plot. Love how all the characters feel so real and so new. Even knowing the story before I read the book, there were parts, when I couldn't put it down. There were certain parts when I stopped, just to enjoy the happy feeling I had, due to the characters. But even those, never lasted to long, I didn't want to finish it, because it was so hard to say goodbye, I didn't feel like I was watching a movie, it was more like I was along for the ride. Great job ladies. Hope you have more to read soon.
September 9, 2010
I was asked if I wanted to read and review this book on my blog a little while ago. I apologize for taking so long to get this review up....Real Life has been really crazy lately...especially on the work front. Really, I am glad that I was asked to read and review this book. It was a step back from what I had been reading up to that point.
As stated in the title of this post, this is going to be a mini review. Basically, I really liked this book....a fraction of a step away from LOVING this book. This book was an emotional rollercoaster...full of all sorts of twists and turns. It's sexy, funny, got some romance thrown in and a bunch of "OMG!" too. Once I started reading this book I found it VERY hard to put it down...It just sucks you in and you HAVE to know what's going to happen next!
As stated in the title of this post, this is going to be a mini review. Basically, I really liked this book....a fraction of a step away from LOVING this book. This book was an emotional rollercoaster...full of all sorts of twists and turns. It's sexy, funny, got some romance thrown in and a bunch of "OMG!" too. Once I started reading this book I found it VERY hard to put it down...It just sucks you in and you HAVE to know what's going to happen next!
April 13, 2010
Four girlfriends play the Passion Fish game occasionally in a bar called Stratus. One girl, who is blindfolded, is the bait and is kissed by the "fish" men whom the other girls have deemed worthy to passionately kiss the bait. Thus this is the beginning of a story that has romance, sex, passion, obsession, and more romance. To be perfectly honest I usually don't read this type of book but it was fun to read and actually took me away from all the "serious" novels that I have been reading lately. Thank you Alison and Jessica!
July 30, 2012
I was disappointed in this book and actually skipped pages to get to the end. I felt like the author was explaining the characters back story and situation instead of really focusing on the dialogue between the characters. Also, there was too much going on with two love stories at the same time that I lost interest in what I thought was the main story of Eve and Will.
June 7, 2011
I don't normally read romance novels and probably won't again for a very, very long time.
December 3, 2012
So awful I couldn't finish it giving myself credit for getting as far as I got. No idea why goodreads recommended it.
July 11, 2011
Reviewed for www.BookChickCity.com (7 out of 10 on the blog)
Do you ever have a book that sits there for ages and you put off reading it? 'Passion Fish' was one of those books for me. I think it's because I'm quite fussy about my genres, for example I like romance books, but have recently gone off what I would class as 'chick-lit'. And, from reading the back cover, this book seemed more chick-lit than romance. However, while it has a touch of chick-lit about it, I would say it is more romance and I actually ended up really enjoying it.
Eve is a curator for the Santa Barbara museum which is applying for a $3million grant to build a new wing, and is just about to go on a business trip to Boston as part of the application process. But her personal life is a bit of a mess after escaping from a bad relationship and a seriously creepy ex.
Before she goes her friends plan a night out and decide to make Eve the victim of their favourite game passion fish. This game requires Eve to be blindfolded while her friends choose several hot guys to kiss her anonymously, in order to remind her that passion still exists out there. But the rules of the game state that the chosen men must leave the club and not pursue things that night.
After two icky kisses, fish number three is sweet, but fish number four completely blows Eve's socks off. This begins a new journey for Eve, as her career takes on a new track with the grant application process and her love life for the first time in years takes on a very exciting new twist.
While Eve is the central character to the book, but the novel is much about her friends lives as it is hers. It circles around Eve, Skylar, Josie and Noelle, all of which work at the museum with Eve, with the exception of Noelle who is a nurse, and their loves and lives.
While we have Eve's love story which is more sedate and a slow grower, I did actually really enjoy the fact they did not fall into bed straight away, like you see in a lot of romances. Skylar's story is completely the opposite and complements Eve's perfectly, the more cautious versus, the wild and bold. And if you're a lover of sizzle in your romance, then Skylar gives you plenty of that!
Underpinning the story is the role of Eve's nasty ex, who moves from creepy to scary stalker type in his unrelenting pursuit of her. This adds an element of suspense and drama to the book.
I do have a couple of criticisms, overall I think the book was slightly longer than it should have been, this maybe because it covered the lives of four women, two in detail and two at a peripheral stage. But in general the story just needed tightening up a touch. There was a lot of two-ing and fro-ing and also a lot of wrapping up at the end. This book was obviously written by two authors who loved their characters and wanted to give them all the endings they deserved, but it felt just slightly too long to me. That being said, it didn't affect my enjoyment.
Additionally the back blurb states 'Passion Fish is one part romance and one part heart pounding thriller'. While it did have some great suspense parts to the story, I'm not sure I would call it a 'heart pounding thriller'. I think a little bit more could have been made of Eve's ex and I would have loved a bit more of the thriller part. This probably says a bit more about me and my reading tastes, but I would like things to have got a bit bloodier ;-)
VERDICT:
Apart from my two criticisms, this is a really entertaining and readable romance, I found the pages turned quickly and I enjoyed each of their personalities of the four women featured and their partners. At times it was funny, sexy and dark and there are plenty of scenes to make a romance fan's heart melt.
Do you ever have a book that sits there for ages and you put off reading it? 'Passion Fish' was one of those books for me. I think it's because I'm quite fussy about my genres, for example I like romance books, but have recently gone off what I would class as 'chick-lit'. And, from reading the back cover, this book seemed more chick-lit than romance. However, while it has a touch of chick-lit about it, I would say it is more romance and I actually ended up really enjoying it.
Eve is a curator for the Santa Barbara museum which is applying for a $3million grant to build a new wing, and is just about to go on a business trip to Boston as part of the application process. But her personal life is a bit of a mess after escaping from a bad relationship and a seriously creepy ex.
Before she goes her friends plan a night out and decide to make Eve the victim of their favourite game passion fish. This game requires Eve to be blindfolded while her friends choose several hot guys to kiss her anonymously, in order to remind her that passion still exists out there. But the rules of the game state that the chosen men must leave the club and not pursue things that night.
After two icky kisses, fish number three is sweet, but fish number four completely blows Eve's socks off. This begins a new journey for Eve, as her career takes on a new track with the grant application process and her love life for the first time in years takes on a very exciting new twist.
While Eve is the central character to the book, but the novel is much about her friends lives as it is hers. It circles around Eve, Skylar, Josie and Noelle, all of which work at the museum with Eve, with the exception of Noelle who is a nurse, and their loves and lives.
While we have Eve's love story which is more sedate and a slow grower, I did actually really enjoy the fact they did not fall into bed straight away, like you see in a lot of romances. Skylar's story is completely the opposite and complements Eve's perfectly, the more cautious versus, the wild and bold. And if you're a lover of sizzle in your romance, then Skylar gives you plenty of that!
Underpinning the story is the role of Eve's nasty ex, who moves from creepy to scary stalker type in his unrelenting pursuit of her. This adds an element of suspense and drama to the book.
I do have a couple of criticisms, overall I think the book was slightly longer than it should have been, this maybe because it covered the lives of four women, two in detail and two at a peripheral stage. But in general the story just needed tightening up a touch. There was a lot of two-ing and fro-ing and also a lot of wrapping up at the end. This book was obviously written by two authors who loved their characters and wanted to give them all the endings they deserved, but it felt just slightly too long to me. That being said, it didn't affect my enjoyment.
Additionally the back blurb states 'Passion Fish is one part romance and one part heart pounding thriller'. While it did have some great suspense parts to the story, I'm not sure I would call it a 'heart pounding thriller'. I think a little bit more could have been made of Eve's ex and I would have loved a bit more of the thriller part. This probably says a bit more about me and my reading tastes, but I would like things to have got a bit bloodier ;-)
VERDICT:
Apart from my two criticisms, this is a really entertaining and readable romance, I found the pages turned quickly and I enjoyed each of their personalities of the four women featured and their partners. At times it was funny, sexy and dark and there are plenty of scenes to make a romance fan's heart melt.
September 9, 2012
Let me begin by saying that I loved the characters of Will and Eve and I also enjoyed their story. That being said, I think this book could have been much better than it was. First off, there was just too much going on with the many other characters for me to thoroughly enjoy this book. I prefer when a story focuses on the main characters and their story. Supporting characters are of course necessary but focusing on so many different stories within the same book becomes confusing and somewhat annoying for me. As I was reading, I kept thinking that I just wanted to get back to Will and Eve’s story. I wasn’t interested in Josie & Beau, Skyler & Gage, or Noelle & Thomas. I just wanted more Will and Eve.
Additionally, the writing style bothered me a great deal. It was much too passive instead of active. Even if you’re not one to usually notice, there is quite a difference between active and passive writing. Active writing is direct and to the point. It grabs your attention and is written in the active tense (think action). Passive tense writing tends to be slow and sluggish. It lacks energy. This type of writing slows down my reading as well as my enjoyment of a story. There was no spark or excitement. And although Will was sweet and adorable, I found his dialogue annoying because it sounded somewhat stuffy and formal for a 28-year-old guy.
Well, there you have it. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It was just okay for me. What would have made it better besides changing the writing style would have been focusing solely on Will and Eve’s story and adding to the intensity of their developing relationship. The ideas were there, I just don’t think those ideas were adequately expressed.
By the way, does anyone else think that the author was an “All My Children” fan?
Additionally, the writing style bothered me a great deal. It was much too passive instead of active. Even if you’re not one to usually notice, there is quite a difference between active and passive writing. Active writing is direct and to the point. It grabs your attention and is written in the active tense (think action). Passive tense writing tends to be slow and sluggish. It lacks energy. This type of writing slows down my reading as well as my enjoyment of a story. There was no spark or excitement. And although Will was sweet and adorable, I found his dialogue annoying because it sounded somewhat stuffy and formal for a 28-year-old guy.
Well, there you have it. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It was just okay for me. What would have made it better besides changing the writing style would have been focusing solely on Will and Eve’s story and adding to the intensity of their developing relationship. The ideas were there, I just don’t think those ideas were adequately expressed.
By the way, does anyone else think that the author was an “All My Children” fan?
September 4, 2012
This one READS like a fanfiction. Which isn't surprising because it was fanfiction previously... but it lacked a lot of polish. Quite honestly, I couldn't relate to any of the characters. I skipped over a LOT of parts in this book - especially over Skye's parts. Her romance didn't interest me at all. The story was way longer than it needed to be - a lot could have been edited out of it. It was predictable and kind of boring for me.
The premise was interesting and I will admit that the beginning started off well - but it just plummeted into predictable fanfiction plots for me. No developed characters. I'm sure if I read it as a fanfiction, I would have enjoyed it a little more because the basic profiles of the characters would already be familiar to me but this story lacked a sense of originality to it. I also noticed a few editing problems in the book - there was a reference to Seattle, which was never mentioned otherwise in the book. And also the perspectives jumped around a lot, which broke up the flow of the story and bothered me.
I wasn't a huge fan of this book - but it did have a good premise to it. Personally, I think it just needs a good edit and restructuring to really make it a decent book.
The premise was interesting and I will admit that the beginning started off well - but it just plummeted into predictable fanfiction plots for me. No developed characters. I'm sure if I read it as a fanfiction, I would have enjoyed it a little more because the basic profiles of the characters would already be familiar to me but this story lacked a sense of originality to it. I also noticed a few editing problems in the book - there was a reference to Seattle, which was never mentioned otherwise in the book. And also the perspectives jumped around a lot, which broke up the flow of the story and bothered me.
I wasn't a huge fan of this book - but it did have a good premise to it. Personally, I think it just needs a good edit and restructuring to really make it a decent book.
December 31, 2012
Wow, great book.... I wish I could give it a 4.5 because it was almost a 5. But not quite. I loved it though!!! I'm actually a little shocked at how much I loved it because it was really 2 main stories, plus 2 other stories so 4 in total, in one book. Normally that would drive me crazy, but I loved the 2 main stories so completely, and the 4 couples in this book soooo much that I didn't care!! There were a few times it was a little slow for me but I really enjoyed reading this book. The epilogue was amazing it had me laughing, crying and swooning!!
January 1, 2012
I originally read this as a fan fic and loved it. It was hard to see the characters as different ones than I had originally loved. The actual book only gets 4 stars due to trying to see it as a separate entity than the fanfic Will seemed a bit of a pansy and a bit too perfect. The Eve/Will romance had the romantic tension but not a lot of spark. However Gage and Sky had enough passion to compensate. It was a unique change to see a romance of two drastically different couples in the same book.
March 14, 2012
Ok not great. I reluctantly gave this book a three star...it was more like a two and a half. I felt the character development was weak at best and Will the male lead bordered on weak/girlie. The storyline was confusing at times and I found myself skipping past the Gage and Skylar relationship.
And Julian...don't get me started on him...totally gross and unbelievable as the villain.
Overall the idea of the book was solid and interesting but, the actual writing was just so so.
And Julian...don't get me started on him...totally gross and unbelievable as the villain.
Overall the idea of the book was solid and interesting but, the actual writing was just so so.
December 8, 2013
This book was up and down for me. The sense of danger was a big plus in a lot of the scenes and created great suspense. That is always a bonus, but the unrealistic lunges into love, that I found hard to believe. However, the fact that it was written so sweetly, and Will had so many redeeming qualities, I couldn't help but soften towards the outrageous amounts of love bursting off the pages. It was a truly sweet and easy read.
March 26, 2012
A cute, easy read. Not a lot to the plot, but sometimes that is just what I need. Julian & Jeanette were just annoying to no end, but hey, they are the bad guys. I wish there had been a little more to the story of Josie & Beau, I felt that was just stuck in there randomly. The concept of the Passion Fish game was cute.
April 15, 2010
This was a great book! It only took me two days to finish it, because I could not put it down. The game described in the book sounds like a blast (too bad my friends are not interested...)! This book is laugh-out-loud funny and very steamy! Enjoy!
May 30, 2010
Talk about an emotional ride! Sexy, funny, romantic mixed in with a wee bit of oh my! What's going to happen! Loved it from cover to cover. I look forward to what these talented ladies will come up with next.
September 5, 2012
Great read!! The story painted (pun intended haha) like a real story.. with all the couples stories branched out and then coming together. I also love reading books that shows off the two lovers' POV. I appreciate that! Will & Eve find a great love while other people try to separate them!
September 18, 2012
I liked this story but the ending was so rushed, i wasnt able to enjoy the different love stories. I wish i could have gotten more out of each couple, it was a wonderful start and great concept but it was way to rushed for me.
October 16, 2012
I want Syke, Josie and Noelle to be my bff's and their significant others too! This story was a good mixture of sweet romance, mystery and a couple of crazy people mixed in. I loved Gage and Will and seeing how two completely different guys tried to get two completely different girls.
November 30, 2012
I loved the whole concept of the game.
I was a little disappointed with the slow progression in Boston but loved the twists with the other charachers.
If you liked Boycots and barflies you will like this!
I was a little disappointed with the slow progression in Boston but loved the twists with the other charachers.
If you liked Boycots and barflies you will like this!
February 1, 2013
Loved this! When I first saw the title of this book I thought it couldn't possibly be interesting. I am so glad I was wrong. What an amazing story of two people brought together by chance and connected through an innocent game and a kiss. I would most definately reccomend this book.
March 3, 2013
I really like the idea of the book and enjoyed the beginning and the end but I got bored in the middle. It was longer than it needed to be. Parts I loved but some parts could and should have just been left out of the story. It just felt like it drug on and I was ready for it to be over
February 23, 2010
This was a lovely story, with love, intrigue and danger. We are rooting for the hero to come in and make the heroine's life complete. Very sweet and delightful story.
March 24, 2010
I loved this book!
Want to read
February 27, 2010Meagan- I am pretty sure this is the blindfold one you were talking about- I saw it on the Boycotts and Barflies page- looks like it is from the same publisher.
March 9, 2010
I read this on ff.net when it was posted there, and loved it then. I look forward to reading it again and getting as lost in the story as I did the first time!
March 31, 2010
Wonderful!
May 28, 2010
Read the original before publishing in 2008.
November 22, 2011
2 1/2 to 3 stars
Overall, a pretty cute story.
Overall, a pretty cute story.
December 28, 2011
Really enjoyed this story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews