Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Harlequin HQN (2013), Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Description
Fiction. Romance. HTML: USA TODAY bestselling author Christie Ridgway introduces a sizzling new series set in Crescent Cove, California, where the magic of summer can last forever... When Jane Pearson arrives at Griffin Lowell's beach house, she expects a brooding loner. After all, his agent hired her to help the reclusive war journalist write his stalled memoir. Instead, Jane finds a tanned, ocean-blue-eyed man in a Hawaiian shirt, hosting a beach party and surrounded by beauties. Faster than he can untie a bikini top, Griffin lets Jane know he doesn't want her. But she desperately needs this job and digs her toes in the sand. Griffin intends to spend the coming weeks at Beach House No. 9 taking refuge from his painful memories--and from the primly sexy Jane, who wants to bare his soul. But warm nights, moonlit walks and sultry kisses just may unlock both their guarded hearts.....… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member beckymmoe
On the whole, I enjoyed this book (and the prequel novella Beach House Beginnings) and am really looking forward to the rest of the series. I absolutely adored Jane and every single pair of her shoes. (At first I didn't get why we were suddenly given a detailed description of her shoes as she
But...there were some parts that didn't quite do it for me. First, Griffin's brother-in-law's midlife crisis that caused the minions to move next door to their uncle for the summer? Yeah, it was a head scratcher. Even once it was explained it seemed like an extreme overreaction. That side story ended up being resolved nicely, but the reasons behind it in the first place just seemed bizarre. Secondly--and for the HEA of the story more importantly--I'm not sure I buy into Griffin's turnaround at the end. It's not that I don't think he and Jane should be together--I totally do--but after everything he'd been going through it felt like it was all "fixed" much too easily. In my mind he obviously still has a whole lot of work to do to make it to a place where he can be with Jane. For him, the book ended too soon.
However, I still ended up giving this book four stars. In spite of those two issues, I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to read the next two. Now, how can I sign up for my own bungalow?
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walked towards Griffin's beach house. But soon it all. became. clear. The shoes. An awesome part of the story all on their own, thanks to Griffin.) I loved Griffin's sister and all four of her "minions". Cantankerous Rex from next door was a riot, and I enjoyed his back-and-forth banter with Griffin as well as his more serious side. Skye, the manager of the properties, is a bit harder to get a real handle on since we don't see all that much of her, but I am definitely looking forward to reading her story in book three. I liked the idea of a non-combatant suffering from PTSD, as Griffin does. His character was absolutely wonderful, and I was pulling for him the entire book to realize what he needed to do to get his life back. But...there were some parts that didn't quite do it for me. First, Griffin's brother-in-law's midlife crisis that caused the minions to move next door to their uncle for the summer? Yeah, it was a head scratcher. Even once it was explained it seemed like an extreme overreaction. That side story ended up being resolved nicely, but the reasons behind it in the first place just seemed bizarre. Secondly--and for the HEA of the story more importantly--I'm not sure I buy into Griffin's turnaround at the end. It's not that I don't think he and Jane should be together--I totally do--but after everything he'd been going through it felt like it was all "fixed" much too easily. In my mind he obviously still has a whole lot of work to do to make it to a place where he can be with Jane. For him, the book ended too soon.
However, I still ended up giving this book four stars. In spite of those two issues, I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to read the next two. Now, how can I sign up for my own bungalow?
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LibraryThing member scoutmomskf
Fantastic book. There's always a lot of humor and emotion in Christie Ridgway's books and this was no exception. I loved both Jane and Griffin. Jane has been sent to get Griffin back on track in writing his book about his year with the troops in Afghanistan. After the trouble she had reaching him
Griffin doesn't want to face his memories by writing his book. He tries to drive Jane away, but she won't go. He also discovers that she has invaded his thoughts and he can't get rid of her there either. She has read all the articles he wrote while he was in Afghanistan and knows that he has the ability to write a fantastic book, but tells him he has to put his emotions into it. When he finds out why she has to be successful in getting his book done he decides to go ahead and do it. He also realizes that having her there has made the process more bearable for him. He is still trying to convince himself that their relationship is just physical, but spends a lot of time doing things for her and to her to try to counter the effects her father and others have had on her. I loved the way that he was verbally so gruff and rude at times but if you watched his actions you could see the true Griffin that was under the ice. His final facing of his life and emotions was excellent and he was able to go after what he really wanted. I also loved all the secondary characters and stories. His sister Tess and her husband were having problems that had to be faced and I loved how real it felt. There was also a storyline with Skye and Griffin's twin Garrett that I suspect will be the focus of book three. The second book with one of Griffin's friend and the daughter of the other soldier looks to be fantastic. I also hope that we'll see more of the firefighter "Tee-Wee".
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by phone or email she wasn't expecting to find him in the middle of a party at his beach house. She also wasn't expecting the immediate zing of attraction she felt for him - something that was very unwelcome. She had just ended a job with another author with whom she had developed a relationship and then gotten burned. She needs this job with Griffin to work out. Griffin hasn't done any work on his book since he returned home. The memories of his time there, of the things he saw and the people who were lost, are too painful for him to revisit. He surrounds himself with people and noise trying to drown them out. He has also shoved his emotions deep so that he won't feel the pain. He lets Jane know that he doesn't want her around and does everything he can to drive her away. I really liked the way that Jane refuses to be dismissed. She is determined to make this job work and is very creative in her ways to try to prod Griffin into doing what needs to be done. I loved the way that she got to him with her unpredictability and refusal to be ignored. Besides her need to make this job work, she is also dealing with some issues stemming from her relationship with her family. She was raised by her father, an emotionless scientist who was constantly putting her down, calling her silly and emotional. She decided to take advantage of her attraction to Griffin and enjoy the physical relationship but keep her emotions out of it. Griffin doesn't want to face his memories by writing his book. He tries to drive Jane away, but she won't go. He also discovers that she has invaded his thoughts and he can't get rid of her there either. She has read all the articles he wrote while he was in Afghanistan and knows that he has the ability to write a fantastic book, but tells him he has to put his emotions into it. When he finds out why she has to be successful in getting his book done he decides to go ahead and do it. He also realizes that having her there has made the process more bearable for him. He is still trying to convince himself that their relationship is just physical, but spends a lot of time doing things for her and to her to try to counter the effects her father and others have had on her. I loved the way that he was verbally so gruff and rude at times but if you watched his actions you could see the true Griffin that was under the ice. His final facing of his life and emotions was excellent and he was able to go after what he really wanted. I also loved all the secondary characters and stories. His sister Tess and her husband were having problems that had to be faced and I loved how real it felt. There was also a storyline with Skye and Griffin's twin Garrett that I suspect will be the focus of book three. The second book with one of Griffin's friend and the daughter of the other soldier looks to be fantastic. I also hope that we'll see more of the firefighter "Tee-Wee".
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LibraryThing member Cats57
This was an interesting book. It is not one that I particularly liked, but it was interesting. Actually, this particular book reminded me a lot of several different books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and I couldn't help but compare the two authors. Sadly, Ms Ridgway didn't come out on top with this
The protagonists seemed a bit on the dull side, the story line has been over-done lately and the angst from both Griffin and Jane is almost intolerable for me at times.
Jane is a book doctor and is enlisted to help Griffin write his memoir and to apparently help him out of his funk that he is in, from his year that he was imbedded with the troop in Afghanistan. Naturally, it was not pretty and people that seem to be close to him have died.
Jane is going to do anything she can do to make Griffin get his butt in gear and start on this book. Griffin is the master of procrastination so this will be the main part of this story line. Jane has also had her own disappointments in life -he Father, her brothers and the last person she was under assignment to.
So we have a man who has vowed to NEVER get involved with a woman for more than a one night stand -and a woman who vowed to NEVER fall in love again. Well guess what, did you really think that they are going to stick with their vows? Therefore, what this book is is the perfect story of the hunter/hunted and advance/retreat with the typical ending. The last few chapters are a little less predictable than the bulk of this novel, but I don't think that it is enough to make up for the 'tortured hero/brooding, angst filled macho man' story line. Unfortunately, for me, the writing and everything else did nothing to make up for this trite and clichéd book for me. There is nothing new or fresh here.
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particular book.The protagonists seemed a bit on the dull side, the story line has been over-done lately and the angst from both Griffin and Jane is almost intolerable for me at times.
Jane is a book doctor and is enlisted to help Griffin write his memoir and to apparently help him out of his funk that he is in, from his year that he was imbedded with the troop in Afghanistan. Naturally, it was not pretty and people that seem to be close to him have died.
Jane is going to do anything she can do to make Griffin get his butt in gear and start on this book. Griffin is the master of procrastination so this will be the main part of this story line. Jane has also had her own disappointments in life -he Father, her brothers and the last person she was under assignment to.
So we have a man who has vowed to NEVER get involved with a woman for more than a one night stand -and a woman who vowed to NEVER fall in love again. Well guess what, did you really think that they are going to stick with their vows? Therefore, what this book is is the perfect story of the hunter/hunted and advance/retreat with the typical ending. The last few chapters are a little less predictable than the bulk of this novel, but I don't think that it is enough to make up for the 'tortured hero/brooding, angst filled macho man' story line. Unfortunately, for me, the writing and everything else did nothing to make up for this trite and clichéd book for me. There is nothing new or fresh here.
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LibraryThing member Conkie
What I really liked about this story? Watching and listening to the Hero (a war-time journalist), as he relives his year spent embedded with American Troops in Afghanistan. This book enlightens as it entertains. What I waffle about when thinking about this book? The Heroine. She seems like two
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different people, but not in a deliberate way. I'm not sure the author had a good handle on who she was. What I also liked? The well developed secondary storyline and the subtle setup for the third book, which is about Griffin's twin, Gage. Show Less
LibraryThing member jendoyle2000
I loved this book. Great characters, great family (once again), and laugh out loud funny in places. Griffin as a character might be one of my favorites, ever. It was, hmmm, nice isn't exactly the word yet it's the only one that comes to mind, to see a semblance of a reaction to living through war
The only thing that kept this from being a straight 5-star rating for me was the Tess/David story. Although I did get where David was coming from (and really loved the two of them together), it just didn't work as a counterbalance to the Griffin/Jane story. David's backstory might have been weighty enough for me in another book, but when compared to Griffin, it just dragged things down for me.
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and then having to somehow come back to the life you had before. Though I don't always (often) love books about book people, Ridgway handled this one perfectly, including the way both Jane and Griffin dealt with happy-ever-after-type endings. The only thing that kept this from being a straight 5-star rating for me was the Tess/David story. Although I did get where David was coming from (and really loved the two of them together), it just didn't work as a counterbalance to the Griffin/Jane story. David's backstory might have been weighty enough for me in another book, but when compared to Griffin, it just dragged things down for me.
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LibraryThing member jbarr5
Beach House #9 - Crescent Cove, CA Jane is to help a war hero write his story. Griffin lets her know he doesn't want her. He's in party mode and she's in work mode and he has a deadline.
Hot steamy sex scenes. Love the detailed descriptions of the surrounding beach area. Love the pet names and how
Story also follows his sister and her family and their troubles.
Hot steamy sex scenes. Love the detailed descriptions of the surrounding beach area. Love the pet names and how
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understanding and patient it takes him to take care of her and her needs.Story also follows his sister and her family and their troubles.
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LibraryThing member rosetyper9
Sadly, I couldn't finish this book. It came to me via my Harlequin monthly subscription and the blurb looked promising. Well, I find Ms Ridgeway's writing to be like Steven King's, there is just too much of everything. Too much description and just too much. The words were tightly packed on the
I think the plot looks promising and if you like overly descriptive writing this will probably be a great book for you! This one just wasn't for me.
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page and it took like a paragraph just to find out what color hair this person had or what that person was wearing. I was weary from trying to read it.I think the plot looks promising and if you like overly descriptive writing this will probably be a great book for you! This one just wasn't for me.
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LibraryThing member Pam50627
Griffin was a reporter imbedded with the military in the war. During that time, he submitted articles detailing the truth of the war. Now that he's back home, he's under contract to write a book on his experiences. Only problem is, he can't. He's suffering from PTSD but won't admit it. He's drawn
Ms. Ridgeway has a way of delving into a subject & involving her readers emotions from the beginning. She gives us a taste of what those in the war are subjected to with PTSD. I say a taste because I don't think we'll ever truly know what they go through. Her characters are well developed & three dimensional. Even though Griffin can be an egotistical jerk, his softness & affection for his family comes through. The gruff, grumpy ex-reporter living next door adds a lot of color & depth to the story along with his life experiences. Another excellent book by Christie Ridgeway!
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away from life & his family. Enter Jane, the book doctor. She comes in to help authors organize their thoughts & get on track. Jane has low self esteem & it seems like Griffin is going to roll all over her but Jane has a tough side. When it comes to her career, she's determined to ride it out. After all, her father told her it's better to be competent than loved. Ms. Ridgeway has a way of delving into a subject & involving her readers emotions from the beginning. She gives us a taste of what those in the war are subjected to with PTSD. I say a taste because I don't think we'll ever truly know what they go through. Her characters are well developed & three dimensional. Even though Griffin can be an egotistical jerk, his softness & affection for his family comes through. The gruff, grumpy ex-reporter living next door adds a lot of color & depth to the story along with his life experiences. Another excellent book by Christie Ridgeway!
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013-01-29
Physical description
384 p.; 6.6 inches
ISBN
037377740X / 9780373777402