Review: Riding the Wave by Lorelie Brown

Riding the Wave
Author: Lorelie Brown
Reviewer: VampBard
Rating: B+

What I’m Talking About:

Riding the Wave was my maiden voyage through Lorelie Brown’s writing. I. Love! Ms. Brown is now on my auto-buy list. I have already purchased the novella that introduces the Pacific Blue series.

I really liked Avalon as a main character. I was impressed with how she remained true to herself and how she never let anything get in her way. As the best friend of Tanner’s sister, she could have done anything to move out of the ‘kid’ zone with the dude she’s had a crush on for, like, forever. But she didn’t. I think that Avalon is a great role model for young women because she didn’t cave, and didn’t let herself get pushed around. Which is part of what I think Tanner liked about her. And an even bigger part of the reason he fell in love with her. I suppose the fact that she’s an epic surf photographer helps, especially since she’s assigned to be Tanner’s shadow until the huge competition. Which seemed a bit like the World Cup of surfing to me.

I thought Tanner was a bit of an arse for a chunk of the book, though. Sure, he’s a hot surfer god. And if you’ve ever seen someone that does competitive surfing up close, well… *nods sagely* … yeah. Nice. It’s no wonder Avalon was crushing on him so hard. But this huge secret he was keeping from his mom and sister? About his dad screwing around? Totally not cool in my book. I guess I understand why he did it, and the logic in the plot was solid, but I don’t have to like it. Not one bit. I suppose that’s what makes this such a good title, though. Ms. Brown seemed to want her reader to have an opinion, which helped draw out the feelings and emotions associated with the news of dear ol’ dad’s infidelity.

Tanner’s inner conflict about the secret he kept for his father as well as whether he should be sleeping with his sister’s best friend was perfect, in my opinion. I loved the way he related to his mom and sister, and how important family really was to him. Even though he didn’t realize it for the past few years.

The emotional connection between Avalon and Tanner wasn’t that insta-love thing. It started out as ‘we’ll sleep together as a friends-with-benefits’ thing until it isn’t convenient any more. But it grew in some pretty amazing ways throughout the novel. Even though Avalon was crushing hard on Tanner, I don’t think she even kidded herself that she truly loved him. Not that there was anything remotely casual about their relationship; things were intense from the beginning. The balance that they found as a couple was spectacular.

There are a couple conflicts that really drive the plot, and I enjoyed the ride. The story moves along at a pretty quick pace, and there doesn’t seem to be too many places where there’s just exposition or introspection where it isn’t warranted. Ms. Brown took utmost care in crafting her plot as well as her characters. Probably with readers just like me in mind.

Given the surfing theme in Riding the Wave, it would be a great warm-weather vacation read; maybe just before leaving, to prepare for the beautiful weather, and gorgeous men on the beach. It could even spruce up a cold and snowy winter with some heat *waggles eyebrows*.

Even though Avalon and Tanner were initially having casual sex, it was passionate and extremely hot. *fans self* If this is your beach read, be sure there’s a breeze. Or a tall, cool drink at your side.

I really liked this first title in the Pacific Blue series, and I look forward to reading more titles from Lorelie Brown in the future.

My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot

About the Book:

The gray-green swells of San Sebastian haven’t changed in ten years, but Tanner Wright has. The last thing he expects to find back on his home turf is the love of his life…. 

With a make-or-break world championship on the line, professional surfer Tanner Wright has come back to the coastal California hometown he left a decade ago, carrying only his board and the painful knowledge of his father’s infidelity. Now that Hank Wright is dead, Tanner intends to keep the secret buried to spare his mother and sister the burden.

The last time Avalon Knox saw her best friend’s brother, she was fourteen and he was a twenty-year-old surfer god. She’s never understood or respected the way Tanner distanced himself from the family that has embraced her. But now she has the professional chance of a lifetime: to photograph Tanner for the competition—if he’ll agree.

Out on the waves, they find in each other passion that’s impossible to resist. And Tanner’s not the only one trying to move forward from his past. As the competition heats up, secrets get spilled, and lust takes over. How close can Avalon get to this brooding surfer…without getting burned?

Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Series: Pacific Blue #1
ISBN: 978-0451468420
Genre: Contemporary Romance with Erotic Elements
Format(s): paperback (336 pages), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/NetGalley

Purchase Info:
Riding the Wave (Pacific Blue #1)