J.B. Salsbury has a surprise release today! My F*cked Up Paradise is available now!
A trip to Hawaii does not go to plan in this funny, angsty, emotional and romantic read that twists and turns and that had me captivated. Full of surfer boys and all the feels, I couldn’t put this book down, and read until the early hours of this morning, and I loved it!
Amazon
Blurb
The vacation was supposed to drive my career. Not drive me into the arms of a surfer with a bad attitude and a worse reputation.
Three weeks in paradise. Ten photos for my portfolio. Seems easy enough. Well, it’s not.
The airline lost my camera bag, my hotel is a dump, oh, and did I mention I nearly drowned? The locals say I’m lucky to be alive. And I owe it all to the heavily tattooed surfer with a blood-curdling scowl.
Forget him. I have bigger problems. My photos suck—no better than a tourist with a smartphone. I lost my mojo.
I’m hoping a stay on the North Shore will spark my artistry. To my surprise, it’s the grumpy surfer who awakens my imagination.
I don’t want to need him, but I do. Risking my pride, I beg for his help.
He saw the warning signs. He knew I was falling for him. And he could’ve saved me from heartbreak and humiliation. All he needed to do is tell me the one thing that would’ve changed everything.
The truth.
Review
5 stars!
What do you do when one of your favourite authors drops a surprise release? Well, you drop everything to dive right in, and OMG, what a ride!! JB Salsbury has delivered a funny, angsty, emotional and romantic read that twists and turns and that had me captivated. I couldn’t put this one down, and read until the early hours of this morning, and I loved it!
Elsie is a professional photographer working on her portfolio, and she’s sure that the beauty of Hawaii will give her the perfect material to help her win a hotly-contested internship in Italy. So, she and her hilariously filterless best friend, Quinn, head off to Honolulu for three weeks of fun and photo taking. But from the moment they touch down, it’s a series of disasters – from missing bags to dodgy accommodation, poopy water (OMG, ewww), and a near-death drowning. And though Elsie and Quinn never lose their sense of humor, Elsie has sadly lost her creative mojo.
Their trip takes a turn when they ditch their dodgy accommodation and end up on the North Shore, moving into a shared beach house with a bunch of professional surfers who spend their days surfing, and their nights partying. They are both swept up into the fun and freedom of it all, and Elsie even has a hot young surfer getting flirty with her, but it’s the quiet, scowly surfer, Mateo, who sparks her creativity. Even though Mateo seems to want nothing to do with her, Elsie begs him for his help showing her around the island and telling her the local history and folklore. And the more time they spend together and get to know each other, Elsie realises there is more to the broody and mysterious man than she initially thought, and she knows that this holiday will leave its mark on her forever.
Mateo is going to ruin me. And I’m begging for it.
I was so effortlessly swept up into this book. Elsie is a fabulous character – realistic and relatable, confident yet a little bit awkward and vulnerable, and I instantly loved her. The setting is beautiful, yet we also see the unpleasant realities of travelling, and I felt like I was right there with Elsie as she experienced it all. And then the romance… holy hot chemistry, there’s so much going on in this story. Knowing she’s only in town for a little while, Elsie is open to a holiday fling, knowing it can’t go anywhere, but when feelings become involved, things get a little twisted and intense. Yes, there is a bit of a love triangle, and yes, things get a little murky between Elsie the two boys, but it’s clear where her heart truly lies.
He rests his forehead against mine, eyes closed. “I could easily fall in love with you.”
The emotional connection is so beautifully written, and OMG, it’s so freaking hot! The sexy time is absolutely sizzling, and even knowing that their time together is short, they fall hard and fast, and I felt it all with them.
“Elsie, Fuck,” he says against my skin. “What is this?”
This is once in a lifetime. This is the kind of thing that lasts. This could be forever if we wanted it.
But there is a dark history within the group of locals, and secrets that will change everything, bringing drama and emotion, and heartwrenching twists to the story, and oh, my heart!
“I don’t want you to regret me.”
“I won’t.”
This isn’t a straightfoward romance, and I would recommend you don’t go looking for too much information before you read it, just experience Elsie’s story with her as she figures it all out. I was so invested and completely enthralled, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to end. But I was so happy with how the story finished, the epilogue providing great closure and a beautifully happy ending.
I loved this book so much. It’s one of those reads that completely sweeps you up, making you feel everything, and the characters, the love story, even the angst, were beautifully written.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Check out our J.B. Salsbury Author Spotlight for more awesome reads!