Ria Wilde

These Rough Waters 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️

Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻

Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️

Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂

These Rough Waters was my very first book by this author. I saw it recommended on Booktube (honestly I can't remember where) but I was intrigued because I just love the whole setup of this being a dark small town romance. Most small town romances are so tame, rarely do they have this level of tension and darker elements to them so whenever I find one of those I just have to go for it. I especially love the island theme to the story. I really was hooked pretty quickly into the story. The premise of the story just immediately pulled me in.

The clouds overhead tumble, rain lashing against the sea as lightning and thunder clash across the sky.

These Rough Waters begins with seeing the beginning to Torin. Torin we see lose his wife and son to a dangerous storm on the sea and this is where he loses himself and gives up everything including his career as an assassin. He settles in a island town to stay hidden in and nurse his bitter emotional wounds. When a lone woman and her daughter, who are obviously on the run and abused take refuge on his boat, his reaction isn't the most welcoming and Maya despite what she has suffered has spirit and strength and she stands against it. As Maya and her sweet daughter settle in this small town, they charm the heart of Torin and have him opening his heart to love and family once again and no matter who Maya is running from, he will protect her at all costs.

Now this story packed such a punch and I just didn't want to set it down. I had so much fun with it. I am definitely intrigued by this author and want to read so much more of her work. I loved how the plot developed and beautiful relationship that builds between these three especially was so endearing. It had a bit more inner relationship angst than I was honestly expecting but I didn't mind it. Some aspects of it was very refreshing and I felt like the author really developed the angst very well in many regards. The setting was rich and quite atmospheric and I was surprised how well drawn in I was into this story. I became so easily captivated by the relationship between Maya and Torin. They had such a connection and each of them need to go on a journey of healing and the spice in this was "on point"!

I do think that this story could have been a bit longer but overall was a solid win for me.

These Rough Waters is a humbling romance that delivers powerful healing, renewal from trauma and a love being built in some surprising turns! A CAPTIVATING READ!

Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance

Character Types: Male Assassin, Single Mother, Abused

Themes: MC on the Run, Island/Nautical Setting

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy Sunshine

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖.5
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5


First Impressions
These Rough Waters was my very first book by this author. I saw it recommended on Booktube (honestly I can't remember where) but I was intrigued because I just love the whole setup of this being a dark small town romance. Most small town romances are so tame, rarely do they have this level of tension and darker elements to them so whenever I find one of those I just have to go for it. I especially love the island theme to the story. I really was hooked pretty quickly into the story. The premise of the story just immediately pulled me in.

First Line
The clouds overhead tumble, rain lashing against the sea as lightning and thunder clash across the sky.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Torin
Assassin Hero
Grumpy and Broody
Tortured
Widower

The Heroine:Maya
MC on the Run
Abused
Single Mother

Summary
These Rough Waters begins with seeing the beginning to Torin. Torin we see lose his wife and son to a dangerous storm on the sea and this is where he loses himself and gives up everything including his career as an assassin. He settles in a island town to stay hidden in and nurse his bitter emotional wounds. When a lone woman and her daughter, who are obviously on the run and abused take refuge on his boat, his reaction isn't the most welcoming and Maya despite what she has suffered has spirit and strength and she stands against it. As Maya and her sweet daughter settle in this small town, they charm the heart of Torin and have him opening his heart to love and family once again and no matter who Maya is running from, he will protect her at all costs.

What I Loved
Now this story packed such a punch and I just didn't want to set it down. I had so much fun with it. I am definitely intrigued by this author and want to read so much more of her work. I loved how the plot developed and beautiful relationship that builds between these three especially was so endearing. It had a bit more inner relationship angst than I was honestly expecting but I didn't mind it. Some aspects of it was very refreshing and I felt like the author really developed the angst very well in many regards. The setting was rich and quite atmospheric and I was surprised how well drawn in I was into this story. I became so easily captivated by the relationship between Maya and Torin. They had such a connection and each of them need to go on a journey of healing and the spice in this was "on point"!

What I Struggled With
I do think that this story could have been a bit longer but overall was a solid win for me.

Overall View
These Rough Waters is a humbling romance that delivers powerful healing, renewal from trauma and a love being built in some surprising turns! A CAPTIVATING READ!

Favorite Quote(s)

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance
Character Types: Male Assassin, Single Mother, Abused
Themes: MC on the Run, Island/Nautical Setting
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy Sunshine

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend of both

Song This Book Inspires
You Stay by Lauren Daigle

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can do either

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

These Rough Waters

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