Source/Format: Author (Thanks!) || e-book
[I received this book from the author. This in no way affects my review.]
[I received this book from the author. This in no way affects my review.]
Mandy Hardy lost more than a breast to cancer; she lost her fiancé when he dumped her a week before her mastectomy. Her ego bruised and her self-esteem battered, Mandy’s sure she’ll never fall in love again.
Justin Seward is a headstrong Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer with a heart of gold and the supernatural ability to command the seas. He had to hide his feelings while Mandy was engaged to his best friend. Now that she’s free, he’s vowed to make her his.
Together, they may hold the key to each other’s salvation. But when Justin’s past catches up with him, and Mandy’s ex-fiancé wants vengeance, they realize they might not live long enough for happily ever after.
In my many years of reading, I've found that I always enjoy books that have a genuinely good love story. This is why I enjoyed The Calling so much - it has a simple love story that's compelling and feels real, and I love the bit of a paranormal aspect tossed in.
Surprisingly, I didn't crush on Justin as much as I would any romance hero - but that doesn't mean I don't think he was a great guy and the perfect match for Mandy. In fact, I think that's why I couldn't really crush on him (though I may have swooned at things he said or did) - I thought he and Mandy were absolutely perfect together and I rooted for them from the beginning of the book till the end of it.
I loved the simplicity of the story - how Ashley brings us two very different people, each of whom have their own burdens to bear. It started out slow and sweet, with just a tiny hint of the paranormal aspect that would kick in later on. I love how it (the paranormal part) is revealed bit by bit, finally reaching a crescendo towards the end of the book. Ashley manages to effortlessly weave the romance and the paranormal together into this wonderful book.
I think The Calling is a refreshing read, and would interest those who want a romance novel with a very light paranormal aspect to it.
You're welcome Ashley! The novel was a pleasant surprise and I'm glad to have read it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks you, Alexa, for a wonderful review. I'm glad you enjoyed the book. :)
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