Name: Exit Through Tortuga Bay
ISBN: 9781735235370

Alicia Crofton

Noah is in hiding, but he can't stay away from the blue-eyed beauty who captures his heart. He wants to help her break out of her shell, but can he keep her safe while living on the run?

Exit Through Tortuga Bay

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In exchange for an honest review, I received Alicia's advanced reader's copy. Here is my final, official review, summarized from my bookstagram. You can find the details of what I said at each checkpoint in the posts I wrote during my reading of ETTB.

Exit through Tortuga Bay offered action, romance, high stakes, and a dual narrative, which I always enjoy. My favorite type of narrative is the two-person narrative. It is also gratifying when the dual narratives stand out from one another, such as these do. A well-developed cast of characters, easy narrative flow, and a consistent pace make for a cohesive story. Nearly every chapter contains some interaction between the two, if not multiple characters, so I find myself thoroughly engaged. It is also a beautiful setting. It is wonderful to have the possibility of falling in love while on vacation. I love being in an unknown place where one can leave whatever they do behind. There is only one difference in ETTB: Grace would like to keep Noah forever. 

"Transport yourself to the sandy beaches of Costa Rica in this fun-loving action-packed romantic comedy. This can be read as a standalone, or read as the second book of the Escape in Paradise series."

I absolutely adore the moments of subtle hand-holding in this novel. I think it's a lovely aspect of a relationship, so I enjoyed that element. It is such a joy to be around Noah and Grace. They make me feel butterflies. I was enchanted by their quirky relationship. Aside from Noah's modesty and mannerisms, I'm also attracted to his subtle imperfections. There are some cute nose-scrunches, and he has this cute voice. It's all perfect. The perfect blend of messy and perfect. (For the most part, that's what relationships are.) Even so, I believe that the characters make realistic decisions in this story. In my opinion, they seem realistic enough to believe they exist. Somewhere, right now, someone is sharing the same story. In addition to the excellent writing, the supporting characters are also enjoyable. The novel is packed with adventures, marketed exactly as it is. The story is a journey that encompasses love, stakes, family, and everything in between. 

The way Alicia uses the word "adventure" can apply to anything and everything, from their relationship to the cartel, to being in an unknown place, or to Grace's career shift and mindset when she is living the Pura Vida lifestyle. There is adventure around every corner. My favorite moment in the book was Noah and Grace's first kiss. Seeing such tasteful sex scenes was also refreshing. These scenes are very intimately written. There were not too many sexual encounters, but there was enough to truly understand the sexual chemistry between the two. Noah has captured my heart. What a cutie! Having the opportunity to read this was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a long time. Both Grace and Noah share a similar outlook; however, they struggle to decide what their next step should be. There's no better novel for twentysomethings.

Notes: 

+ It's an absolute dream to watch Noah and Grace's relationship.
+ Having Tessa around was great; she was a good friend.
+ When it comes down to it, we are all Aunt Judy.
+ Well-written, descriptive, excellent pace, and extraordinary human characters with flaws.
+ I never felt bored; the adventures were plentiful. There are so many ways to use 'adventure' in this novel.
+ (view spoiler)[I liked Todd coming back into the fold at the end of the book; it was a nice touch. It is a friendly exchange. (hide spoiler)]
- (view spoiler)[There is only one complaint; I would like to see a second book with the engagement and wedding, lol. (hide spoiler)]

Exit Through Tortuga Bay

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