Genre: Contemporary RomancePublication Date: 1st October 2013
Pages: 320
Book Source: Harlequin Mira
Synopsis: At the age of eighteen, Julia Jones left her hometown — the small beachside town of Middle Point — with a head full of grand plans. Plans for an exciting life in a town that didn’t involve a main street with one pub or a particular boy named Ryan Blackburn.
But after fifteen years and a lifetime later, Julia’s forced to put her career and big-city life on hold when she returns home to finalise her mother’s estate. Which is exactly where she runs smack-bang into the town’s hero, Ry. As in Ryan Blackburn.
The sensible thing to do? Stay the hell away from him and head back to Melbourne as fast as her stilettos can carry her! But instead, Julia finds his offer of a helping hand and a hot body too delicious to refuse.
Soon, Julia’s ignoring her better judgement and diving into an ‘I’ll think about it tomorrow’ fling with Ry. But what she doesn’t realise is that tomorrow has a way of sneaking up on you...and that saying goodbye to her home town — and to Ry — is so much harder the second time around.
My Thoughts:
I loved, loved, loved the setting, the small fictional beachside
town of Middle Point on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.
And you don't need to have been to know, Victoria Purman's descriptions are so
vivid, you can feel the sea breeze as you take in the stunning view, taste the
salt, smell the coast. It's a Sea Change without leaving your loungeroom.
Julia Jones is back in Middle Point to settle her mother's estate
and running into her old love Ry Blackburn, plays havoc with her head and heart. Sizzling chemistry mixed with nostalgia, hurt, regret and
mistrust, what a melting pot of unresolved history.
Despite Julia having a chip on her shoulder that made me want to
give her a good slap, I enjoyed her growth over the course of the book, she
wasn't afraid to take an honest look at herself, her perceptions and prejudices and make decisions on what was really important in life. Both Ry and Julia felt very real to me and
Victoria Purman sure knows how to turn up the heat, those steamy sex scenes
weren't a hardship to read ... nope, not at all.
Nor does the author skimp on minor characters or friendships (I loved
Lizzie's humour and loyalty) or the challenges facing residents in a small
coastal town, their survival dependent on the influx of holiday season
tourists. Kudos to Victoria Purman for a debut novel that feels like a breath
of fresh air.
What more could you want?... sand, sea, surf, good love,
good friends and good wine. *Sigh* ... idyllic.
Up next in the Boys of Summer trilogy, Dan & Lizzie, I like
them already and can't wait to watch their story unfold.
Cover: gorgeous!
Connect with Victoria Purman
Purchase Nobody But Him
GIVEAWAY:
Up for grabs 2 copies of NOBODY BUT HIM by Victoria Purman thanks to the generosity of the team at Harlequin Australia. Please leave a relevant comment and let me know if you have a favourite romance setting.
Please specify if you're an international or Aus/NZ entry.
International ~ eBook copy
Australia/New Zealand ~ print copy
Extra Entries:
+ 2 tweet giveaway and leave a link
Giveaway ends 7th November, winners will be drawn via random.org and announced on my blog. Good luck everyone!
I love all different kinds of romance settings, but I suppose cabin romance would be fairly high up on the list. I like books where the h/h spend a lot of page time together.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to checking this book out; my mum lives just round the corner, so I'm quite familiar with the setting! :)
@kaetrin67
Ohhhhhhhhh this sounds GOOD!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat review Sheree, I'm looking forward to more coastal lit!
ReplyDeleteSounds good :) She cover girl reminds me of someone...hm
ReplyDeleteMy favourite setting is an outdoor, wooded area. I guess with a small cabin too. I am an International entry.
ReplyDeletejoanneboykoATyahooDOTca
I checked my "where I've read" list and found that I've read one book this year that takes place in Australia. This books sounds like one to remedy that!
ReplyDeleteNOBODY BUT HIM does sound wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading more about the location.
ReplyDeleteMost settings can lend themselves to romance beautifully. Tropical islands do have a certain something.
AUSTRALIA
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hmm sounds like a winner for this debut author, I must check and mark it on Goodreads. I like it when a reader has a reaction to a character, characters aren't perfect, although I always think they should be better than me! Haha.
ReplyDeleteNZ entry. :)
I don't read many books set in Australia and now I'm wondering why. I need to fix that!
ReplyDeleteNobody But Him sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteNot speaking from experience but a snow covered cabin in the woods sounds cosy and romantic.
Victoria Purman here! Obviously I don't want to win my book ;) but I wanted to thank everyone for entering and your lovely thoughts. And THANK YOU to The Eclectic Reader for your review. I really feel as if you understood my characters and what I was trying to do. Happy reading everyone - and good luck!
ReplyDeleteVictoria Purman here! Obviously I don't want to win my book ;) but I wanted to thank everyone for entering and your lovely thoughts. And THANK YOU to The Eclectic Reader for your review. I really feel as if you understood my characters and what I was trying to do. Happy reading everyone - and good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe beach for a romantic setting for me. But the setting doesn't really matter in a story so long as the chemistry is just right!
ReplyDeleteAustralian entry.