HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO SAMANTHA YOUNG AND BOOK 2 IN THE INTO THE DEEP SERIES - OUT OF THE SHALLOWS!!!
4 Smoldering Stars
Review by Lisa Kane
This is the sequel to Into the Deep. At the end of the first book, Charley and Jake had finally resolved their differences and were together after their 4 year separation. Jake had broken up with Melissa and wanted to fix things with Charley; to right the wrongs that he committed. Unfortunately, Charley's family doesn't want to see her back with Jake; they are the ones who were left picking up the pieces of what was left of her life after Jake dumped her and moved away. She has a huge argument with her sister and the two are both so stubborn, neither wants to be the one to give in and call the other. Charley's parents are angry about Jake, but are going off the deep end because Charley not only told them she is back with Jake, but she doesn't want to go to law school, she wants to go to the police academy instead.
Review by Lisa Kane
This is the sequel to Into the Deep. At the end of the first book, Charley and Jake had finally resolved their differences and were together after their 4 year separation. Jake had broken up with Melissa and wanted to fix things with Charley; to right the wrongs that he committed. Unfortunately, Charley's family doesn't want to see her back with Jake; they are the ones who were left picking up the pieces of what was left of her life after Jake dumped her and moved away. She has a huge argument with her sister and the two are both so stubborn, neither wants to be the one to give in and call the other. Charley's parents are angry about Jake, but are going off the deep end because Charley not only told them she is back with Jake, but she doesn't want to go to law school, she wants to go to the police academy instead.
This novel's format is told in alternating chapters switching from the past to the present, just as it was in the first book. Sometimes this can break up the continuity of the story, but it still works. In the present, Jake and Charley are broken up again! Grrrr...and something horrible has happened in Charley's family. But it is not revealed what happened, just that whatever it is, it caused her to break up with Jake. The poor guy has no idea what is going on, and Charley will not open up to him.
Meanwhile, the secondary characters are still having significant roles in this story, same as in the first one. Jake's friends are still actively pursuing their music careers with their Indie rock band, The Stolen. Beck is still back and forth with Charley's best friend, Claudia, and there is a ton of unresolved issues with them. Melissa, Jake's ex, is still her same old passive/aggressive self. She seems to be friendly to Charley, when in reality, she is one claw away from a cat fight just waiting to happen. Lowe is still hung up on Charley, but is respectful of Jake, even though he and Charley aren't together.
Charley really frustrated me in this book. She creates a lot of her own drama. Had she talked to her sister when they had their blow out, the issues with her family would not have escalated as they did. I really didn't understand her reaction to the tragic event that happened to her family. She hurt them and Jake over and over and I was losing patience with her and her inability to confront conflict-her fight or flight instincts leave something to be desired. Jake tries so hard to fix his relationship with her, but he doesn't seem to do anything right.
Except for wanting to shake some sense into Charley, I enjoyed this story. I have to admit I would like to see Charley and Jake's lives a little further down the road, as there are still unresolved issues. Young has created a strong cast of characters with this series, they have such colorful personalities, I would welcome spin offs for several of them, namely Beck and Claudia or poor Lowe, I'd like to see him appreciated for more than the lickable sex on a stick he seems to be. Here's hoping I'll get my wish.
Book 1 in the Series - Into the Deep
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Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She's been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestselling novel ON DUBLIN STREET. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha's first adult contemporary romance and has been sold in twenty six countries.
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