Heat Wave

I loved the writing, the setting, and the idea behind it, but I just didn't LOVE the book. I read another review that said that they wanted to feel that Ronnie truly wasn't second fiddle to her sister and while we almost got there, I just didn't quite make it. I always had the lingering feeling as to what would have happened IF, and I think for this to have totally 100% worked for me, I should have lost that. Despite that, I still enjoyed the book overall. It was a slow burn, I think I'm just wishing that it would have burned a little longer to completely burn off the shadow of Juliet.

What an amazingly emotional, beautiful journey this was for Logan and Veronica. Veronica has spent her life in the shadow of her older sister, always trying to be like her. Logan had a dream of getting away and starting a business of his own, and made some choices to get there that he soon regretted. The forbidden desire is more than they can handle, and the slow burn leads to a raging fire with these two, and they definitely heat up the pages with their all consuming love and seriously hot intimate moments. I devoured this book, and loved the visual the author creates of beautiful Hawaii, including local lingo and traditions that were fun to read about, that tie together everything this book is about. Amazing read by a very gifted author.

A lovely story of finding your family and allowing yourself to.
I always enjoy Halle's work and this one did not disappoint. She writes with such honesty that I can't help but want to be Ronnie's best friend.

I absolutely love everything that Karina writes. She has an uncanny ability to transport her readers into a story seamlessly and this book is no exception. The perfect read over a gloomy weekend - I've been living in Kauai and I don't want to come back! Logan & Ronnie's story had so much substance to go along with the steamy times, a perfect combination.

Heat Wave is romantic story about two people who should not love each other, but do. Veronica has moved to Kauai to work as a chef in a hotel after getting fired from her last job. There she encounters Logan, a man from her past and present. Will these two be able to let their love win, or will their forbidden attraction ruin everything? This was a beautiful and at times a little heartbreaking story about true love and loving a forbidden person. I loved the friendships of the employees at the hotel and how everyone is like one big family. One of my favorite things about this book is the descriptions of Kauai. Sometimes in books, Hawaii can be portrayed in a cheesy, predictable manner, but the author has a way with words which really makes Kauai seem magical. I could actually imagine myself there, which is sometimes hard for me to do. If you are looking for romantic, at times heartbreaking, forbidden story, then Heat Wave is for you.

Whoa, I need a cold shower after that! Karina Halle never ceases to amaze me and with Heat Wave...she has totally changed up my reading game. Not only did she deliver a seriously sexy Aussie (my favorite, Sorry McGregor boys) but she also proved once again why she is a best selling author...she absolutely nailed a complex and breathtaking storyline. Logan and Ronnie were everything that I needed, Ronnie is every young girl who has big dreams and makes mistakes but also knows what she wants. Logan, ugh he's everything. I wasn't expecting this kind of story and I will say it took me for a ride with how slow it burned, but just like anything worth having, the wait was so so worth it. Not to mention she set it so perfectly in an exotic land, which was perfect and I truly felt furthered the whole story. Heat Wave is one of my top reads of 2016, hands down. Slow burning sexy goodness that I know I will read over and over again!

Karina Halle is just an amazing writer. Her way with words keeps me mesmerized when I'm reading one of her books. I loved Ronnie and Logan's story and I am determined to go to Hawaii sometime soon. Buy this book. You'll love it.

BREATHTAKING. I couldn't put this book down. I've never been to Hawaii, but I felt like I could see, hear, feel, smell, taste...just everything about the island. It's such a beautiful book ranging from the cover to the actual words that Halle writes.

What would you do if you are given another chance to be with that one person you loved and lost?
Would you take it?

"Have you ever met someone and you knew that, without a doubt, he was supposed to be with you?"

I stayed up all night reading Heat Wave by Karina Halle and I could not put it down! I have read a few books by this author and to me this one is my new favorite by her. Very different, and unique. I could just picture the setting of this story.

Veronica and Logan were perfect for each-other plain and simple. They get one another. The chemistry was hot...... No smoking!!

Lot's of steam, romance, and an unforgettable love story!

Karina has done it again. This book transports you to yet again another beautiful destination. Logan and Veronica are a couple who's love affair can withstand the hardest of times. I loved this story.

“Heat Wave” is yet another fabulous dream come true.
That left me overheated, sexed up, feeling angsty, thrilled and drawn. GASPP a beautiful story that held me captive. Left me on the edge of with anticipation. God Mrs. Halle can write one hell of a thriller. Which seemed to have invaded my mind. Then held on to my heart like a vise grip!
Karina Halle has seemed to carve out another tremendous hit.

What an incredible book! Once again Ms. Halle delivers an emotional, character driven story with such amazingly detailed descriptions you actually feel like you're there in Hawaii. The location is almost a character all by itself.

Once I started Heat Wave, I was so sucked in to the story and devoured it. It's an angsty, emotional, slow burning steamy wonderful story.

Ronnie and Logan will capture your heart with their chemistry. This is definitely a must read book that I highly recommend starting right away! You won't be sorry.

???Talk about a slow burn.....but it's totally worth it! This was a much needed escape and Karina's beautiful imagery of Hawaii made the most magical setting for my book vacation! My emotions were all over the place while reading! The angst slowly bubbled, the tension was palpable, but every sizzling second was worth the eruption when Veronica and Logan finally unite. Heat Wave is most definitely an appropriate title! It will make you HOT!
I don't think I could ever get tired of reading something from Karina Halle! All of her stories are one of a kind - her characters are all unique, her settings are brought to life with her beautiful words! And every single one of her books (I've read them all!) are always SO GOOD!!! You can literally never go wrong with anything you read from her. Don't wait, Heat Wave is a MUST READ!!

My heart breaks for Veronica when she thinks she has met the man of her dreams...only to lose him the next minute to her perfect sister. Years later, when circumstances drive Veronica to Logan's hotel to work for him, she realizes Juliet may not have been as perfect as she thought. Veronica also comes to the conclusion that Juliet may have lied to her about her marriage to Logan. Veronica and Logan definitely still feel the sparks between each other, but is it possible to love despite all of the obstacles they face? I absolutely LOVED this book. I could not put it down until I read the last page. Thank you, Karina, for another amazing book!!

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS - This isn't the best book I've ever read by Karina Halle but it is all about location, location, location! Karina is my absolute favorite author & right now she is gallivanting all over Kauai with her adorable husband & I'm very jealous. Kauai is my favorite place in the entire world, everywhere you look a complete postcard moment, pinch me I must be in a movie. The romance seems a bit like instant love but it is something that happened with one glance, went sideways, and then comes back together seven years later with the same intensity like they've been longing for each other that entire time. Veronica Locke, AKA Ronnie, is the daughter of the Deputy Mayor of Chicago, a constant disappointment as an aspiring chef who sleeps with her boss & is destroyed by his playboy attitude. Older Australian hottie Logan Shephard walks into the picture & Ronnie will never be the same, when Logan's dream of running an inn on Kauai is a better dream with her sister Juliet by his side. Seven years later Ronnie & Logan have both lost Juliet, Ronnie is confused about their marriage, & she is the new chef at Moonwater Inn. There are so many clever, funny & deep moments as Ronnie & Logan discover they are flawed but perfect for each other. He sings Purple Rain as he surfs, he saves her from a flash flood because she's a pain in the butt. "I do. I do like the stubborn girls." "Because I should have been with you, Ronnie. It's always been you." "I've waited so effing long to enjoy you from the inside." Oh yes, Mr. Logan is pushing 40 but he is absolutely gorgeous & is a silver tongued devil. My favorite part is how beat down Ronnie is by her family & yet she discovers an entire different family, a fan club, on Kauai, people who really have her back & are proud of her. The ending is beautiful because she finally stands with Logan & refuses to back down, fights for her happiness on her island paradise. Her roommate Kate said it best: "Love is never too good to be true because it is the original truth. And everyone deserves it. Everyone."

4 stars!

“There are moments if your life, people in your life, that when they cross your path and meet your eye, you know.”

Heat Wave is the story of Ronnie, a chef who was fired from her last job and traveling to Kauai, Hawaii to the only job that will have her. But it’s even more complicated than that. Her parents got her the job as the owner of the resort restaurant where she’ll work is that of her brother in law. He was married to her sister who passed away two years before. And the man Ronnie fell for before he fell for her sister.

Logan’s not an easy boss to work for, he’s angry and grumpy. But it only makes Ronnie want to prove herself more that she can pull her weight at the hotel. The more time she spends with Logan, the more she begins to feel for him. But at the same time, her guilt grows as well.

“You reap what you sow. I chose what I thought was the lesser of two evils and not a moment goes by that I’m not reaping it.”

Karina Halle delivers an emotional and angsty romance readers everywhere will love. I used to travel to Kauai a lot when I was younger and this book felt like an escape back to an island that I love, Halle obviously knows this island well.

Ronnie and Logan are an unforgettable couple, caught in an inescapable web that was created by a mistake made years before. I felt for Ronnie for much of the book, her family was so horrible to her and I just wanted to give her a hug. I loved that Logan was always supportive of Ronnie, even when they weren’t together.

If you’re looking for a story of second chances and righting past wrongs, this is the book for you. Just be prepared for the feels about to come your way.

“You’re like…. a hurricane. And she was the….”
“Calm before the storm?”
“No. She was the underground bunker. The shelter. Could withstand anything and come out looking clean while everything around her is destroyed. She could hide and avoid damage.”

Karina dit it again! Yep once again, Heat Wave is a instense and beautiful story...I'm gonna be honest, I cried... a lot...as always with her books! I can't help myself...Karina always write the kind of story that's gonna break your heart... but there is always feeling, and hope...I'm not gonna repeat the blurb. I'm just gonna say that I really loved this book! it's a standalone that is gonna sweep off your feet! It's funny, hot and really intense..
Veronica is a young woman who is attracted to Logan... but she shouldn't...Logan is attracted to her too... but...he shouldn't eather... The attraction between them is off the charts.. but it's very complicated relationship...They're not perfects, they have flaws... they're just humans... like everybody... and they want to live... really live... this book is gonna break your heart but it will make you smile at the same time.

If you don't Known Karina Halle, you should read this one... and if you know her, you already read it ahah!

Karina, you rock! Can't wait to read the next one

3.5 stars

Heat Wave was another enjoyable read by Karina Halle. Ms. Halle knows how to take you there with her fabulous descriptions. You definitely felt the atmosphere of the island of Kauai and will make you day dream about being there.

Heat Wave is the story of two people that meet but one of them makes a choice that alters their path to being together. Years later they reconnect but with that comes guilt about how they feel.

I did take issue with Veronica because I just didn’t find her to be very admirable or strong. I kept waiting for her to have her big moment and stand up for herself but it never came. When she finally had to make a stand she had Logan by her side. I don’t think she ever would have done it on her own. I just never felt like she grew as a person. I really liked Logan. He made a mistake early on and chose the wrong path but he saw his second chance and went for it.

Copy received in advance for voluntary review

You can view this story in two different ways: The ultimate example of sloppy seconds... or characters who choose to live in the moment, consequences be d@mned.

Aren't they kinda sorta the same thing though? Just kidding.

Basically, the romance in Karina Halle's Heat Wave has a pretty significant emotional obstacle that creates a forbidden feeling to the relationship dynamic. But love is love is love so embrace it when you find it. Regardless of the questionable relationship (or maybe because of it), Heat Wave's sexy factor was in full force. Like for real! But the jump from sexual tension/lust/bow chicka wow wow to full-blown love was instant which gave me a tiny bit of whiplash to be honest. I actually checked to make sure I didn't accidentally skip a chapter or two. However, I can easily forgive this because the additional chapters may have snowballed into series territory and oh how I am loving standalone novels these days! Warning: the relationship drama in this book was both palpable and eye-roll worthy in my opinion. It was right there at the fence between my emotions and nerves and just sat there teetering. However, Heat Wave's Kauai setting was absolutely stunning and I felt transported - all my senses had an opportunity to participate in the reading experience and I loved that! If you have been following Karina Halle's contemporary romances, make sure to add Heat Wave to your list!

My favorite quote:
"People fall in love, people fall out of love. But in the end, almost everyone in the world gets to feel it, live it, taste it. Love is never too good to be true because it is the original truth. And everyone deserves it. Everyone."

Wow. This story seriously gripped me and just kept squeezing tighter!! I absolutely loved it, even when my heart was being wrenched in two. This book pulls out all of the stops and gives you all the feels and then some! Love and hope and grief and acceptance... Everything about this book is all-consuming and visceral. The immersion into the Hawaiian paradise on Kauai, the heartache you feel for Veronica at her mother's words, the insane sexual tension between Ronnie and Logan, the action during their hike, the super hot sex. Seriously just so RAW and intense in the best way! Every sense is acknowledged in this one and makes the story envelop you whether you want it to or not (and oh, you will!).

Alright, so I'll try to be a bit less worshipful in my review now, haha. It was just that good though!!

There are some deep issues here, mostly focused around family. I really appreciated the 'ohana' aspect, especially as I am, as bittersweet as it is, able to relate to both Ronnie and Logan. In this story, the message that rings loudest is that one should be true themselves and know that family, which is so much more than just sharing blood, will always be there for you, no matter what. The way things wrapped up in that regard is so very true to life with "family" like Veronica's and I'm happy that it was not made light of.

I loved Logan's and Ronnie's stubbornness, strength, passion for life, and how much heart they had. Both were very solid characters that you couldn't help but care for, and their mostly level heads made this refreshing (Did I want to smack Veronica at the major climax? Yes, but oh how I loved what happened in the flash forward afterwards!). All of the supporting characters were also a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed all of the Hawaiian culture woven around everything. It all felt very genuine and natural.

Everything about this was so incredibly immersive. I didn't just read it - I was there. Even Logan's sexy aussie accent was clear as day to me, very little aussie slang needed!

Read this. You will not regret it!

Overall Opinion: This was an ok read. I've definitely read better by this author, but I didn't hate it either. I liked the setting being in a Hawaiian paradise, but there was just too much talk about it all for my liking. I actually skimmed a good bit (at least in the beginning), because I was bored. I also hate it anytime when a mc plays the martyr in a book, and that sadly happens here. I also think it would've benefited the story a lot by having the H's POV in more than just the epilogue. There were many times that I wondered what he was thinking or his reasoning behind some of his actions that it would've come in handy with. I know I might be thrown out of the cool kids club, but I actually like the premise of the dead sister and the h falling in love with her widower. I love me some angst when it's done well, and I am a total sucker for unrequited love type situations...so I was all about it! Too bad it didn't quite reach the high pedestal I was trying to put it on ;(

**See Goodreads.com/NMmomof4 for my full review with spoilers**

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Veronica and Logan's story. They meet one night at one of Veronica's moms parties, and they connect instantly until they are interrupted by Veronica's older sister. Logan ends up marrying her sister, and the story really begins when she is going to Kauai to work as a cook in his hotel's restaurant. They don't necessarily like each other, but both need each other in a way. They dance around each other for a while because of the taboo nature of their relationship. After some big secrets are revealed, they stop fighting their strong attraction and fall in love...and get a HEA ending.

POV: This was told in Veronica's POV with the epilogue being in Logan's.

Overall Pace of Story: Ok. It was a little wordy on the descriptions of the island and other things that didn't feel necessary. I did skim at times over those things and I don't feel like I missed anything. It took a while for me to get into the story mainly for this reason.

Instalove: Not really. They do connect instantly, but I wouldn't call it instalove.

H rating: 3 stars. Logan. I liked him, but I wish that he was more forthcoming about his reasoning for choosing the sister in their past and about his relationship with his deceased wife.

h rating: 3.5 stars. Veronica. I liked her, but her martyr act ticked me off towards the end.

Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.

Push/Pull: Yes

Heat level: Moderate. They have some hot chemistry and scenes, but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW/OM drama: Yes

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: Yes

Closure: This had ok closure. I wanted a further jump ahead epilogue, but I would (reluctantly) call this one a HEA ending. I still had a few unanswered questions at the end. I did appreciate that we got the H's POV for the epilogue though.

How I got it: I got it with my kindle unlimited subscription.

The Hawaiian islands are a paradise just waiting to be discovered. Full of scenery and local favorites to enjoy. For Veronica - it is a refuge to escape her current life. Ronnie is a chef but has ‘burned’ her chances of finding a job in her hometown. Desperate for work, she turns to the place that is her salvation and fear all at the same time. Traveling to Hawaii will put her face to face with the man that was a piece of her past. A temptation and tragedy all rolled up in one.

Logan was someone that Ronnie fell for years ago, but those dreams were dashed the minute Logan laid eyes on her sister. The two had a whirlwind romance that quickly led to a marriage. After a tragic accident, Ronnie was left with so many questions surrounding her sisters death. All of them centered around Logan and the secret her sister confided with her. Logan runs the hotel that Ronnie will be working as a chef for. Placing the two in direct contact with one another. Tempting a longing from the past, and opening wounds that are a fresh as the day of the accident.

As their work relationship expands, Logan and Ronnie find their attraction is as hot as ever. The forbidden attraction plaguing their every move. Logan’s bout with anger subsides with Ronnie near. The lack of feeling ‘good enough’ that Ronnie feels all around her is lessened every moment she spends with Logan. A forbidden attraction that few could understand. Now the only question that remains is can they continue in a boss/employee relationship without acting on the heat that clearly exists whenever the other is near.

Heat Wave is the latest romance to grace your reader from Karina Halle. Known for her extra unique twist on romance, Halle creates an unconventional love story that teases you with what will come. Love is never easy, and Logan and Ronnie know first hand how different their attraction seems to be. Each secret that lies around the corner entices you to dive in deeper and discover what Logan knows that could affect his future. Ronnie’s relationships throughout life cause her to doubt every move and decision that she ever makes. A tainted romance is no different. Can they discover what lies ahead of the blue waters? Will they make the biggest mistake of their lives? Only time will tell if they can find that happy ending amongst their tattered lives.

"There are moments in your life, people in your life, that when they cross your path and meet your eye, you know. Maybe it's all in the chemistry, certain pheromones that react when they mix together, maybe it's a smell that triggers a memory, maybe it's a glimpse at a future you don't recognize or a hint at the past, a life you've lived and forgotten. Whatever it is, you know that moment, that person, is going to shape you for the rest of your life."

"He is in complete control and I surrender. I surrender completely. I want him to take me, take me over, devour me, annihilate me. I want every single part of him, deep, deep, deep. I want to see how much of him I can take, how he feels from the inside, what it feels like to be thoroughly f***ed by Logan Shephard."

What a delicious and intriguing little read Heat Wave is. Now, I don't know about you guys, but I have been waiting in anticipation to read Heat Wave. I was so intrigued by the synopsis, I just knew I had to read this book....

Heat Wave is an intoxicating and intriguing read. From the moment you pick up this book, you will become lost in Ronnie and Logan's story. You will have questions and will be desperate for answers. You will want to know what happened to Ronnie and Logan. You will want to know why Ronnie's hatred is so strong for this man, but their attraction is out of this world. Yes, the attraction between this two is intense. The air just seems to crackle around around the two of them, turning their sexual tension into a very palpable thing. It will have you waiting with baited breath to see one moment to the next; to see what will happen with Ronnie and Logan....

Heat Wave is a fantastic read from start to finish. Heat Wave is unlike anything I've read from this author before and I love just how truly unique this story was. It is a second chance romance with a bit of a forbidden flare to it. This story will have you asking questions and will leave you surprised with the answers that you find. This story will pull at your heart and will frustrate the hell out of you. My only complaint and it is kind of a small one is that I do feel like parts of the story were a bit rushed. I feel like there was a slow build to the overall story and romance, setting the stage for the story, but then somewhere around 50-60%, things just happened at too fast of a speed. To me, it just didn't sit right with the story and I would have liked it to have just slowed down a bit.

Despite my issue with the pacing of this book, I found this book to be very well written and an overall enjoyable read.

As readers we go through many books, some we enjoy for the moment, some stay with us forever.We love some books so much that they are completely relatable and utterly unforgettable.
And at times we come across a rarity-a book which you might not agree with on a principle level, but they reel you in, make you think and remain unforgettable!
And that is something very difficult to achieve.

I've been a fan of Karina Halle for years beginning with the Experiment In Terror series(Dex & Perry-love em!).The thing that I love about Halle's writing is that she is able to take up a difficult subject matter,one you might frown upon in reality and turn it into something wholly beautiful!Something that we begin to root for..(like with her book Love, In English)

In Heat Wave, we have Veronica Locke-talented chef,always-ignored-second-daughter of her mother: the mayor.Her elder sister Juliet was always the perfect one-the one her mother loved,the one people gravitated towards,the one who always left her in that shadow..But Juliet is dead and Ronnie has arrived in Kauai to work for Logan Shephard-the man who could have been her "one" and her sister's widower.
Ronnie lost her job in Chicago when her relationship with the head chef turned sour and when she was accused of setting fire to the kitchen.Due to this she might never get hired in the future.Her only option is to work in Kauai and gain some experience.The island is perfect with her co-workers being superfriendly and fun-loving.Her only problem is Logan- the hotel owner and her ex-brother-in-law.He infuriates her and gets under her skin like no other.She wants to hate him, but she can't.She has always been attracted to him, from the first moment that they met.

But as they begin to spend more time in close quarters, she begins to realize that all the things that she believed about him might be wrong and there is something brewing between them which has been a long time coming.But will this fragile relationship survive her mother's wrath,society's preconceived motions and the memories of the past?

The book had me hooked from the first line of the prologue.
"I saw him first.
It shamed me to think it then, it shames me to think it now."

I really emphatised with Ronnie and was kind of irritated with Logan in the beginning.But he slowly grew on me.The descriptions of Kauai, emphasis on Ronnie's character development and well-fleshed out characters were honestly wonderful.The writing was the best part about the book!It flowed seamlessly and is so effortlessly vivid!
And then we come to the relationship between Logan and Ronnie.I really had no issue with the fact that he was married to her sister initially.The thing that prickled me initially was the fact that he chose Juliet despite knowing Ronnie..And I was kinda unhappy about that.But he explains the whole thing in the most honest way and I understood his reasons, the same way Ronnie did.
Sometimes life happens and we end up making decisions in fear or with misguided beliefs not realising that the thing you need has been in front of you all along.

"I loved her."His words are a fist to my gut."But I didn't like her.Does that make sense?"
"Perfect sense," I whisper.
"Look," he says to me, leaning in so his nose is brushing against mine."Sometimes you love someone but you don't actually like them as a person.Like family, right?"

More than just a romance, this book is also about letting go.We build up people in our heads and think them to be perfect, but mostly they aren't.We learn to forgive ourselves and them for letting us down.Life goes on.
In the end, do what makes you happy.Do it for yourself alone as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.We live such short spans that are nothing when compared to the size of this galaxy and universe.Might as well enjoy it when we can! :D

Heat Wave is a very beautifully written contemporary romance that renewed my belief in Love. I definitely mark this book as one of my favourites read for 2016! It contains every element needed to earn a 5-star rating but the most important element that I noticed was the passion. Karina has put her heart and soul into this this book and it is so evident in her words, her beautiful quotes, her amazing descriptions of the surroundings, and the love she has put from pen to paper.

This story is set in the very beautiful Kauai, Hawaii and the author has put her actual visual experiences on paper for us to see through her eyes. She has honestly described the sights, sounds and scents in such detail that I could shut my eyes and envision being there.

The characters are so down to earth that you can easily place yourself in their group and become part of their chosen ohana (family). I love it when I feel so attached to the characters in a story that they become a part of me and I a part of them. Karina has managed that so well with Heat Wave. I’m sure that she will open the minds of many with this story on many different levels and start the thought process of the many possibilities that are to be had in life. We should not be led by our fears but by our desires. This life is very short, and many will relate to it being shorter for some than others. Take it by the horns and live it. The life of Veronica and Logan is a dream come true for many and if we only get to live it vicariously through this book, then so be it, but I for one have a new destination on my bucket list. I hope that Karina inspires you to look inside yourself, at your true desires, and live it, don’t sell yourself short, you can do whatever you set your mind to.

Heat Wave tackles many issues: death and grief, family’s (blood and chosen), loyalties, moral dilemmas, and how they all become a matter of the heart and teaches us that you can still be respectful while taking care of your own heart. Many people are going to have very personal feelings brought to the surface while reading story, as I did. This story made me reflect on my own feelings of losing my sister unexpectedly at a young age. I hope she helps with those reflections in at least a small way. Love is not always easy, especially when you love someone you don’t really like, because you have too. Doing the ‘right thing’ can break you, gut you irreparably, but it can
also heal you and make you soar.

I absolutely loved being absorbed in Veronica and Logan’s world, watching their love blossom, even through their fears, their guilt, and their shame. They have such a build-up and a slow burn to their relationship, it fired you up and prepared you for the beautiful fireworks that erupted when they finally decide that their love is real and worth fighting for. Their love made me smile and their pain made me sob. No matter that I understood the choices they made, I didn’t have to like them. I had faith in Karina though and she did not disappoint. She has not left me in a book hangover, but rather she has left me with beautiful memories, memories that seem real, these characters are like my best friends who are waiting for me to jump on a plane and join them in paradise. She has also left me with a calmness to my own heart and circumstances and the peace to accept my own grief for what it is. Remember with respect but be true to myself and live how I need to in order to survive with happiness in my heart.

This story flows so smoothly and is utterly perfect from beginning to end. Karina has managed to write a story that opened my eyes, gave me food for thought on my own circumstances in life, fall in love with the beautiful Kauai, be more cautious and aware of the dangers of the ocean, consider all that love can be and what we are willing to sacrifice in the name of love. If you are looking for some sexual tension and release, Karina provides that too, in some very hot and steamy ways. This woman knows how to curl your toes and get your juices flowing. Logan was so flawed and broken but Veronica was so good for him and brought out his amorous animalistic side in a very good way. Veronica was so meek and lacking confidence and watching her fall more in love with Logan and watching him build her up with his words was so heart-warming. He is a man after my own heart and I’m certain he will have many women falling in love with him.

Karina, I thank you for your absolutely amazing ending and perfect Epilogue. You have covered all the bases. No stone left unturned, everything has come full circle. Having Logan’s POV was exactly what I needed. You have allowed me the time to settle my feelings and reflect on everything that happened. Of course, I am sad that it is over, but in the end, you made me smile, made me remember what love is about and how important family is. How important it is to accept our flaws, perhaps learn from them and do the best we can in this life while remembering to support those around us in their dreams, not our dream for them. Well done! Stay proud!

I received an advanced copy to voluntarily leave an honest review.

Reviewed on behalf of The Book Boyfriend Addict (bookboyfriendaddict.com). A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

He was mine, even before he knew it. He was mine in some strange way that I still don’t understand.

It only takes a moment, just a moment to determine if your life goes one way or takes a drastically different turn. That’s what happened when Veronica “Ronnie” Locke first sets eyes on Logan Shephard. An instant connection forever changed by a twist of fate that sent them on very different paths for the next seven years, until the day she shows up at the hotel he runs in Hawaii about to start her new job helping to run his restaurant. Time and circumstances have changed Logan and the man she remembered is replaced by this surlier, angrier version but for all his a$$hole-ishness she still can’t help the insane attraction she feels whenever she sees him. As she spends more time on the island she also ends up spending more time with Logan and realizes that there may be more to Logan’s story than she originally thought. Given their shared connection and past, Logan should be completely off limits but the heart wants what the heart wants. Is their connection strong enough to withstand the scandal that their relationship will surely create?

“We’re adults,” Logan says. “We can make our own decisions. We can decide what’s right for us, not anyone else, not because of what anyone else thinks.”

To say that Ronnie and Logan’s situation was complicated would be a severe understatement. I thought this was a great twist on a forbidden romance, it wasn’t what I was expecting but it was definitely juicy and I totally felt the weight of the potential implications of their pairing throughout the entire story. Fate dealt them a crap hand seven years ago and even though things are seemingly clear for them to be together now, it’s not as cut and dry as that. I loved getting to unravel what really happened and exploring the guilt and feelings that went along with their growing attraction. There was definitely a slow burn and there were parts where I wasn’t even sure if I did/should like Logan but as the book progressed I was totally on board with them as a couple and was rooting for them to make it work.

“The other side of desire is fear,” he murmurs, his voice reaching through me like a hot knife. “The other side of fear is desire. What side controls you?”
“Fear.” I pull away, staring at him with wide eyes. An ounce of strength and common sense is rising through me and if I don’t use it now, I never will. “Because of what will happen to me if I give in to you.”

Pretty much the whole story is told from Ronnie’s POV which was great because as a reader we only got to know certain things when she did, which kept me guessing and unsure of Logan for a while. We were able to live through the shift in her feelings towards him and get swept away along with her when things finally take off between them. I liked that Logan was a bit of a mystery for much of the first half, but I ended up really loving his character. These two had so much stacked against them but I totally believed in their connection.

I loved the setting for this book, I felt like I was there on the island with them, the scenery and settings were described in spectacular detail. I also loved the little ‘ohana’ that Ronnie found on the island with the other employees at the resort. Seeing how that dynamic evolved over the course of the book was just as great as seeing Ronnie and Logan’s relationship develop. I think that if Karina Halle ever feels the urge to write about any of these other characters that people would gladly read them, I know I would! Overall, I really enjoyed this story and couldn’t have asked for a better ending!

“… Veronica, I want you. I want all of you. All the time, every day, until the end. I want to tell the world just how much you mean to me because you are my world.”

When an author utilizes the setting of her story as something other than a backdrop for her characters’ drama, I’m drawn further into the storyline because the author allows the location to personify the characters’ emotions and the trials that they endure, making the site an important supporting character, one that both pushes the hero and heroine together as well as provides an obstacle that must be surpassed.

Kauai, Hawaii and all of its beauty and danger clearly depicts Veronica Locke’s relationship with Logan Shepard and the circumstances that surround their reunion after their initial meeting 7 years ago. Just like the island itself, looks can be deceiving and one person’s perception can differ greatly from another when it comes to matters of the heart…truth versus lies…shame versus desire. Hawaii’s opulence and what it offers the soul easily draws visitors in…captivating them and allowing them to feel a sense of ohana, but beneath the splendor is the harsh reality of what nature can do on this island and the turmoil it can create, reinforcing the idea that in order to weather the storm, people must be strong and own who they are and what their actions say about them.

One idea is made clear from the start of Heat Wave…Veronica Locke is nothing like her older sister, Juliet, and in the eyes of her family, that fact is a disappointing one, but it also sheds light on the fact that Veronica has always felt like a failure, never living up to her sister’s grace and achievements even after Juliet’s death. But despite Veronica’s imperfections, she tries to own who she is even while her sister’s ghost remains a constant presence, and as she makes Kauai and Moonwater Inn her home, the connection she’s always had with Logan intensifies and it pulls her to him with every concealed look and spark of emotion, complicating an already difficult situation, but also proving to both Logan and herself that choosing what’s real instead of what’s safe should have been their decision from the beginning.

Karina Halle, once again, writes a character driven story that poses a series of questions about life and the idea of humanness and the emotions and actions that go along with that knowledge. The forbidden aspect of Veronica and Logan’s relationship has the potential to not only shake-up but also destroy everything they’ve worked for, and that risk must be acknowledged and dealt with in order for their respective careers and future commitment to one another to not be destroyed before it ever truly begins. There’s always a price to pay when indulging in something that others see as uncouth or inappropriate but as readers experience Veronica’s new life with her and begin to understand who she truly is as well as who Logan has always been to her and for her, it’s clear that they’re the perfect team and it shouldn’t matter what other people think because in their hearts, they’re true to themselves, which is exactly how life should be lived.

4.5 Poison Apples

"The other side of desire is fear," he murmurs, his voice reaching though me like a hot knife. "The other side of fear is desire. What side controls you?"

From the moment Veronica "Ronnie" Locke laid eyes on Logan Shepherd, she knew he was the man for her. Unfortunately, life had other plans and Logan ends up married to her sister, Juliet. With the help of her parents, Logan and Juliet lives out Logan's dreams by building a hotel in Hawaii.

A tragic accident leaves Logan alone and running the hotel. When Ronnie ends up jobless and having difficulty finding a job in Chicago, she is forced to look elsewhere. She never would have guessed that she would end up at Logan's hotel but that's exactly what happened. Her widowed brother in-law and the man she has always wanted his now her boss.

The past couple of years, Ronnie has grown to not have the most pleasant thoughts about Logan so when she shows up to report for her job, she is not surprised to see that he's just as grumpy and the same jerk she's gotten to know over the past few years. They completely butt heads and don't seem to be getting along. Will Ronnie be able to get past his attitude and feel comfortable in Hawaii or will he wear her down and send her packing back home to Chicago?

First of all, I'm going to Hawaii next month and Karina Halle has now set up some serious expectations!

This was a delicious forbidden love story. There is so much push and pull. First when Ronnie ends up in Hawaii. Both her and Logan are super stubborn and they fight all the time. He's rough around the edges and short with her. She's bossy with her ideas for the hotel. Even if they make sense, Logan doesn't want to hear it. I like the build of the chase. I also think that adding in another factor that drove a wedge between the two of them other than just Logan marrying her sister really helped to strip down their relationship and cause them to work hard to build it back up.

I really enjoyed the sense of family that was created with the hotel staff. Everyone had a place and held their own. Everyone looked out for everyone else. I grew to love the staff just as much as I did both Logan and Ronnie.

Karina Halle's writing always captures me. It just flows so easily and it's descriptive perfectly. There is always this great balance of delivering the story and helping you build the background in your head. Her books are always a must for me. If she writes it, I read it. No matter what.

Overall, I really enjoyed this forbidden love story. If you are looking for a little angst, a bunch of stubbornness and overall a beautiful love story, then this is the book for you!

Karina Halle proves over and over again that she can write a captivating romance. Heat Wave is so gorgeous you have to keep reminding yourself you really aren't in Hawaii. There were moments when I really thought I could smell the Plumeria flowers. I was captivated by the detail from flora, fauna, to the beaches, and ocean, even the her buildings come to life. I adore that about her stories. I'm consistently swept away to exotic destinations.

Logan and Veronica's story is unique. Because of this I expected so much more angst. Don't get me wrong, this book is full of angst. I just wouldn't have minded even more. Falling in love with your dead sister's husband would do that, it should be angsty. Logan definitely fits the bill of broody, angry, widower. Veronica lived in her sister's shadow and this is a chance for her to come out from under. Nothing should be easy in that kind of relationship. Add in mommy issues and you have the makings of an excellent story.

On a side note, I couldn't help but catch the reference to wolverine. Logan is from Australia and is described at one point looking like Hugh Jackman. Wolverine...right?

hot in an older, burly Hugh Jackman kind of way, yes....

I did struggle a bit with these characters. It was too much and not enough, all the puzzle pieces are there they just don't all fit. I can't quite put my finger on what was lacking, maybe it was developing more of the attraction between Logan and Veronica. I felt at times that Veronica was comfortable living in her sister's shadow. That she'd just fallen into her place. Maybe what I need was more of Juliet's story. In fact I really thought we were going to get that at one point. Juliet confides some information to Veronica which I just assumed was metaphorically correct. I thought maybe her sister realized and saw more than she let on. But that never really comes out so I'm not sure

There is no denying Logan is there for Veronica. I never doubted who he was. But I did doubt Veronica. I had a hard time connecting with her. She does at times come across immature. And she was to some extent. However, we didn't see that natural progression of growth with her character she just sort of stayed the same. I'm still really torn with how I feel overall.

You will always belong in my heart. It's your home.

The one thing I do know is that Ms. Halle continues to be one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to her writing.

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book *

I can say with all honesty, there are an extremely few authors who produce books every single time that give me all the required elements of a good story. Karina Halle is one of those authors. She always provides her reader with extremely complex, complicated characters, settings with such clarity and detail that you feel you are there or you want to go there as soon as possible, plots that are intricate, and a secondary cast of characters who round out the story brilliantly.

Heat Wave has all of these elements and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. To say that Logan and Veronica have a complicated past doesn’t quite do their story justice. If you read the prologue, you know Logan and Veronica have a chance meeting in Chicago and the connection is instantaneous. They both recognize a kinship in the other but fate and circumstances can be cruel and people make wrong choices all the time.

We flash forward a bit in time and we find that Veronica (Ronnie) is moving to Hawaii to start a new job as a chef at a hotel. Sounds lovely, right? Moving to paradise and getting paid for a job you love is everyone’s dream, right? Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy. Logan is the owner of the hotel and these two haven’t had much interaction since the first encounter because….hold your breath for this one….Logan married Veronica’s sister, Juliet. Yes, you feel the pain ooze off the page. To make it even worse, Juliet has passed away and to say the sisters had a complicated relationship is only brushing over the surface.

There are so many secrets and lies between these two and Karina Halle takes you on an emotional ride as they fight for and against their connection. Add in the beautiful setting of Kauai and you have an epic story unfold on the pages. You can tell that Karina travels to the places she writes about because the detail is fantastic and it is easy to close your eyes and imagine yourself their with the characters.

The secondary characters are worth the read as well. Somehow, Karina invests you in their lives and stories without taking away from the heart of the story between Logan and Veronica. You love some of them and you hate others and I think when an author elicits those emotions from a reader through secondary storylines, you have a true storyteller on your hands.

I keep waiting for Karina to disappoint me….she has a long list of books…but she never does. She is a exemplary storyteller and I can never get enough of her work. Don’t miss Heat Wave. And while you are at it, dig into her backlist. You will not regret it.

<b>4.5 'Forbidden Romance in Paradise' Stars!</b>
Wow! I've found myself a new favorite Karina Halle book! Heat Wave takes place on the lovely garden isle of Kauai and reliving all there is to the Hawaiian islands was the cherry on top!

Veronica (Ronny, Ron, Freckles) is an unemployed professional chef. Losing her last job in a not-so-professional way, her resume is dismal. So her parents push her to take a bit of a sabbatical in Kauai at the Moonwater Inn they co-own with her brother-in-law. After her sister died in a tragic car accident two years ago, she worries moving into such close quarters to him, a young widower, may be difficult for both of them. Especially because she hates him...

Logan is a rather grumpy Australian chap- running the resort and living day to day in the aftermath of Juliet's untimely death. He loved her but their marriage was anything but perfect. When his sister-in-law offers to jazz up their menu by cooking for his restaurant, he can't pass it up but is surely leery how co-habitating on such a small island will bode for them.

Heat Wave will surely hit the spot for fans of grouchy heros, or that angsty tug of war between a natural physical chemistry and true deep-seated hatred. Ronny has such hard feelings against the kind of husband Logan was yet everything she see's in front of her screams the opposite...her body screams the opposite.

Nestled in the garden island of Kauai, Karina Halle captured the Hawaiian life perfectly. In fact, she apparently wrote the book while basking in all its beauty. There's a true spirit to the Hawaiian islands and I loved revisiting all those things... luaus, leis, Mai Tais, poi, Hawaiian endearments, you name it. These details just further heightened my love of this book. It's more than a trope about "you can't choose who you love" it's about friends, family (ohana), loving the land and living in the spirit of the islands.

The romantic element of the book was a slow burn, perfectly paced. Both characters having scars, false impressions of each other- and it just takes time to break down those barriers. And what better place than learning how to surf or hiking in the deep forest. This story was a true experience for both the characters and the readers following along for the journey towards happiness after tragedy.

Heat Wave is a full-length standalone novel. I hope this isn't the last we hear from this crew... Mahalo!

What could be more magical than an emotional and fiery love story set in the tropical surroundings of Hawaii? I couldn’t ask for anything more, as Karina Halle transports us to the beautiful, sun-filled beaches during the day and steams up the nights with the sizzling romance between Logan and Veronica.

Veronica is the disappointing daughter of the deputy mayor of Chicago, is a disgraced chef, and has appointed herself as the black sheep of her prestigious family. She’s always lived in the shadow of her perfect sister, Juliet. While attending yet another party for her mother, Ronnie meets Logan, the enigmatic man with a delicious accent. She feels an immediate and undeniable connection with him. She’s sure of it…until he meets her sister.

Logan always wonders “what if” after marrying Juliet and losing touch with Ronnie. Several years later, Logan finds himself a widower, very alone and extremely grumpy. After Ronnie’s unceremonious dismissal from her job in Chicago, she winds up becoming his employee at his hotel in Hawaii. Sparks fly from the moment Logan comes face to face with Ronnie again and a burn-down-the-house combustible relationship follows.

This book had me feeling all of the things! I loved Ronnie and Logan’s tumultuous relationship from the very first page. Even from the prologue, you know that things are about to get very interesting. I felt bad for both Ronnie and Logan and their situation--betrayal and guilt run deep on both sides. They are like oil and water, and it makes for a delicious, explosive, somewhat forbidden, somewhat enemies-to-lovers, somewhat second-chance romance.

I really liked Logan when he was gruff and grumpy, but I really loved him when he was talking dirty and being all sweet and mushy. (The fact that he’s a younger version of Hugh Jackman certainly doesn’t hurt, either!) Ronnie is so strong, but she never measures up to her sister, and her mother never lets her forget. I loved watching her work through her insecurities and discover just how brave she truly is.

Heat Wave is a captivating read and will envelop all of your senses. The beautiful atmosphere, the mouthwatering food, the gorgeous water are all depicted perfectly. Everything comes together with the brilliant writing and a fantastic cast to make a gorgeous story. Karina Halle truly outdid herself with this book!

This was one fantastic book!! Heat Wave is filled with passion, longing, love, finding yourself, letting go of the past & moving forward, and knowing who your true family is.

Ronnie is one of those female lead characters that you just love right off the bat. My heart broke for her right from the prologue and then throughout the book, it was like when she found happiness, something or someone was there to ruin it for her. She was very strong, independent, walked to the beat of her own drum, but all the while, trying to get her mother and sister to notice and accept her. Logan broke her heart and I don't even think he knew it until years later, but Ronnie pushed forward and did what she had to do to survive. I seriously wanted to jump into the book and give Ronnie a big hug and just be her best friend!! I loved how free she felt when she moved to Hawaii. Her passion has always been cooking, but that passion dimmed a bit after the incident at Piccolo, but when she started working at Logan's hotel, it's like her passion was renewed, just like her passion for Logan.

Logan is a full on alpha male with an Australian accent...cue wet panties!! He was determined to make his hotel dream come alive and when that happened, he was determined to keep it alive for a very long time. The logical side of me understood his reasoning for unintentionally breaking Ronnie's heart, but the female & romantic part of me didn't understand and was so mad at Logan for a big chunk of the book. When truths are revealed and the air is cleared between Logan & Ronnie, I admired what Logan did. Logan always believed in Ronnie and loved her, even when she shouldn't have. I loved seeing the transformation of grumpy Logan to in love Logan.

These two characters have always had chemistry, ever since they met, but it went dormant for quite a few years, but when they are thrown together again, that chemistry and passion becomes an inferno in each of them and they are powerless to stop it. I loved meeting all of the Hawaii family and I just absolutely hated Ronnie's mom and I wasn't fond of Juliet either. Karina Halle wrote a book that was passionate, forbidden & thrilling. I was hooked from the first line and didn't stop reading until the book ended. Hopefully some of these characters will get their own book!! This book is one of my top 2016 reads and I can't wait to see what Karina Halle comes out with next!!

HEAT WAVE by Karina Halle was EVERYTHING I thought it would be and SO MUCH MORE! Halle always gives us amazing heart wrenching romances, but THIS…something about THIS BOOK right here, captured my whole heart and soul and it still hasn’t let go. There is absolute beauty in every word this author writes. It’s poetry. It’s intoxicating. It’s EVERYTHING! Not only was I sucked in from the very first page, but I was unable to look away at any point in time. Nothing else mattered when I was transported to the beautiful setting that Ms. Halle created for us. The prologue…I was a freaking goner! The epilogue…still a goner! Just like every single one of Karina Halle’s romances, HEAT WAVE will not only stick with you for days after you’ve finished, but it will be a romance that you will base all other romances off of. Halle is an absolute genius in the contemporary romance genre. There is a reason why she is one of my all time favorite romances authors, and HEAT WAVE is one of those reasons!

I’m not going to regurgitate the synopsis of this story for you. This is a book you will NEED to experience on your own. I can tell you all day long that you will be mesmerized, enchanted, and overwhelmed with feelings for these characters, but trust me when I say, this book will move you to the ends of the Earth and back again.

HEAT WAVE is a STEAMY and EMOTIONAL romance with a forbidden twist that is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. How does Halle do that every single time? She continues to surprise me, even though I know the story is going to be spectacular. I have complete faith in this author and so should you. She will definitely take you where you need to go for Veronica and Logan’s story. This is a story about never giving up hope, no matter how many odds are stacked against you. You may find it hard to believe at first that there will be a happily ever after, but trust me when I say, not only will there be an HEA, but it will be an HEA that you will feel in your body and in every single part of your heart. Do yourself a favor. Let this author’s words take you on a great escape, where nothing else matters but what you feel. It will be the BEST DAMN ESCAPE that any romance has ever taken you on!

*ARC provided by the author*

What a beautiful book! OMG it was everything. All the feels I've gone through.

You know, I've read almost every book by Karina Halle (keep in mind I'm still catching up on all of them and have still some waiting on my kindle), but this one....god damn!

To be swept of to Kauai was like to go on vacation yourself. The way Karina describes this island with all its beauty, smells, tastes - your senses are on high alert. You crave to be there and see it yourself.

The epic, deep love at first site you have the pleasure to explore, that's what makes this story so unforgettable.

"There are moments in your life, people in your life, that when they cross your path and meet your eye, you know.
...
Whatever it is, you know that moment, that person, is going to shape you for the rest of your life."

And with lines like these you are pushed right in Ronnies life, her first glance at Logan.
Veronica, Ronnie or Ron like she prefers, the second daughter of a highly respected family in Chicagos high society always stood in her sisters shadow and seen as a failure. But she wants them to see that she also can be someone, to be as perfect and golden as her sister Juliet. She wants to be a chef of a restaurant kitchen.
At just another fancy party her parents give, she meets Logan. Like herself, she sees that he rather wants to be anywhere but among this crowd. And like a moth to the flame her steps bring her to him and the instant they lock eyes, she knows it. (see lines above)
Like Ronnie assumed, Logan feels out of place. He's only attending at this party because his friend Warren asked him to. The place he wants to be is Kauai, living his dream, running his own hotel. He feels the connection with Ronnie too and asks her to get away from this party as soon as possible.
But than Juliet, Ronnies sister enters the room....

Seven years later Veronica is forced to go to Kauai and work at Moonwater Inn. She will work for Logan, her sisters husband, the man she know she hates, only saw last at her sisters funeral.
She's determined to make this work, to not make the same mistakes like back at home and to get answers.
But Ronnie soon is confused. Old feelings, or feelings that were always under the surface, are coming back. Truths are revealed, Ronnie never thought could be possible. And she's not the only one who opens up her heart.
Logan always saw the real her, the woman in the shadows of his dead wife.

"“She’s the most flawed of us all, and you know that. It’s what makes her weaker than you’ll ever be. Because you have strength in every dark crevice, you’ve had to fight and you have the scars. That’s why you scare her, that’s why you scared both of them.”

As the truth is come to light and Logan and Veronica finally can be who they're meant to be , what they're meant to feel....it's pure love what leaks out of the story.
But as Veronica's mother threatens her to ripp the hotel from Logan, Ronnie is forced to make a sacrifice, that make you break all the way with both their hearts.

"They say that life isn’t measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
...
As the late Leonard Cohen said, the cracks are where the light gets in. And with that light comes hope."

And hope you need in this book. Like I said earlier, HEAT WAVE was everything. It was beautiful places, good food, ever changing weather, friendship, hot sex and deep rooted, pure love.
The feelings I'm gone through were intense and raw and like I were the characters themselves. Karina Halle took me with her on the Hawaiian island Kauai, build this love in me, broke my heart and put it back together in the sweetest way possible.
I'm endlessly thankful for this journey and am again more than proud of her. She's one of these authors who're staying true to themselves and has the ability to make your life more with her words.

If I could, there were more than 5 stars.

Thank you Karina Halle!

Heat Wave is Karina Halle’s newest standalone novel. It’s a second chance/forbidden type romance. I love reading any book by Halle. Her words always speak to me, and this story was no exception. This book takes place on the island of Kauai and let me tell you, the descriptive writing with the beautiful scenery- you can imagine yourself transported to that beautiful island while you’re reading.

Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Locke is traveling to Kauai for a job. She has no choice, really. She is a chef and right now, she’s out of options for work due to some choices she made at her last job. Ronnie hasn’t had an easy go of it. After losing her sister, it’s been hard. She’s looking forward to her new job, but there will also be a blast from her past there. Logan Shepard. Ronnie never believed in love at first site till she laid her eyes on Logan. But in a flash, that was gone and he became forbidden.

Logan can be grumpy, but he has his reasons. He runs a hotel in Kauai and that’s been his dream for as long as he can remember. Aside from living in paradise, something has been missing in his life. And that something may very well have been Ronnie.

I loved both Logan and Ronnie. Ronnie has been through a lot and although her family never made her feel like she was good enough, she was strong and tried hard not to let it get to her. For as grouchy as Logan could be, he had good reason and his attitude was endearing. I loved the two of them together and watching things build up between them and finally explode- it was a sight to behold.

Heat Wave is a gorgeous second chance romance that has emotion, angst, and a fantastic slow burn to it. It definitely gave me the feels, along with being kept on the edge of my seat. As I said, it had a slow burn but when all that tension finally came to fruition, it was well worth the wait. We all know Karina can write some steamy scenes! Be prepared to fall in love with Logan and Ronnie, as well as the beautiful island of Kauai! Highly recommend for all lovers of second chance romance!

Karina Halle once again managed to give us a forbidden love set into paradise.

Veronica has been enchanted by Logan from the start. She just knew he was the man for her but unfortunately, fate had other plans. Logan saw the younger girl , but fell for the image of her sister, Juliet.

After the loss of her sister, after seven years, she finds herself to the Kauai island and the hotel Logan owns. She hates him but wants him too. She is scared to get close to him but cannot help herself.

Logan on the other hand, has lived with his grief and he is a shadow of himself. He is gruff, a beast of a man, until he sees again the girl that has stolen his thoughts from the beginning. Juliet might have been his choice as a wife, but his heart said that he chose the wrong sister.

I loved how much Logan changed throughout the book. Love made him softer, he made him find his smile again and hope. It was obvious from the beginning that he wanted Veronica and though he kept his distance, he finally claimed her. There was a wildness in his spirit that was connected to the island. He was beautiful and scary like the placed he lived on.

Veronica on the other hand has a lot of fear in her heart. Having being hurt by her family and their expectations, she is quicker to judge but soon she finds that things are not always what they seem. She has insecurities and the ghost of her sister is haunting her but their attraction is bigger than her guilt.

Their love is born in this island and as always this author succeeds making you fall in love not only with the couple but the place too. There is this phrase that says that if you want to travel, open a book and Karina follows this to her heart. Her descriptions of the place are magical, they just transfer you there.

Will their love in this idyllic place overcome their fears and their guilt or the ghost of their past and the unknown promise of tomorrow will tear them apart?

You only have to read this book to get all the answers!

Reviewed on behalf of 2 Girls Who Love Books Blog
Heat Wave was my first book from this author and since I really like discovering new books/authors and heard really good things about this book in particular I was eager to get started.
In the beginning I was a little bit disappointed. The writing style was good and it flowed throughout the story. There were no plotholes and I had no problems diving into the story. However, the plot itself was really predictable. I’ll try to keep this review spoilerfree, but I don’t know if I can do it completely without spoilers. The prologue set the goal for the whole story. I knew what would happen throughout the book which kind of spoiled it for me. I mean, I know that there are only so many versions of lovestories one can read without getting an idea what would happen next, but this one really was a little bit too predictable for me. I would have loved a little more angst or excitement.
That changed towards the end. As predicted the plot went on, but after the big fallout I felt myself getting more and more invested in the story. The feelings the author presented were getting more real, more deep and made me more excited. I felt more with the characters than about them which made the book so much better in the end than in the beginning.
What I really loved were the descriptions of the landscape. I have never been to Hawaii, but I would easily imagine the landscape and everything the characters saw in front of my inner eye and this book made me want to fly there immediately. Really good job with that one. I would have loved to get even more detailed descriptions of the landscape and of the food. There was so much food mentioned I do not know. I would have liked to know more about that, because it was important for the character…
Last but not least… I hate, really really hate Juliet. She is a bitch.
Four stars, because this book got only better in the end and the landscape makes up for much!

Veronica spent her whole life living in the shadow of her older sister Juliet. When a tragic accident happened and she died, she remained unattainable ideal. The loss, parents’s expectations and not so thoughtful choices put her in a situation when she was out of work possibilities. When the opportunity to work in a hotel in Hawaii came, she had no choice. It could be a dream job, but a meeting with the owner and her brother in law, scared her and excited at once.

Logan Shepard always dreamed to run the hotel in Hawaii, but the unexpected loss made him grumpy and bitter man. When Veronica came to his hotel, she becomes his greatest temptation and the worst reminder.

My thoughts: Between Logan and Ronnie is a big chemistry from the very start. The past connects them and sentenced to failure. It’s exciting but also bitter sweet. I really liked these characters, but I couldn’t get rid of that feeling. But that’s for sure promises you an emotional and angsty reading.

The beautiful surroundings and descriptions of the island soothes it all for you. As several people have already mentioned, it really takes you there and you will miss the sun and hot summers. Supporting characters also deserve attention because they bring a lot of entertainment to the story. I love their dynamics and sense of belonging to the ohana.

In summary it’s a paradise among the bitter memories and sweet promises. A second chance, emotional and super hot story with mystery in the background. The plot will draw you quickly and you will want to discover all its secrets. Logan and Ronnie relationship is forbidden and complicated, and thereby perhaps even more breathtaking.

It wasn’t five stars reading for me just because of this bittersweet feeling. But really, each of my book from Karina Halle was a fantastic reading. She writes quite unique and wonderful stories. You can safely sit down in a comfortable chair and enjoy her another amazing story. But be prepared, it will draw you in, and you will not want to leave this place.

Three things to know about it:
1. It’s stand-alone book located on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.
2. It’s forbidden and second chance love story. A bit of angst and emocional.
3. There is age gap between them and some very steaming moments.

This is a lovely second chance romance and a beautiful escape to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Karina Halle is amazingly descriptive in her writing especially with her destinations and travel, and I feel a little bit like I have just made a journey to the tropical island myself. The sand, the ocean, the stars, the foliage, and everything even to the bare feet of the island people…she just has such a way of pulling me and taking me away!

I also always enjoy her characters in her books, and I have even fallen a little bit in love with some of her leading men. Where I enjoyed Veronica’s character in the story, having empathy for her situation with her family and admiring her determination, I struggled with Logan’s character. I completely understood his ‘grumpiness’ stemming from his loss of Juliet and not having his true love to himself. I could feel the angst as they fought against being together, and I understood their love/hate feelings they both had towards each other.

The problem for me was how he expressed his love to Veronica with beautiful words, but I just didn’t really feel them from him until the ending of the story. There was just a disconnect for quite a bit of the story which left me struggling with their relationship and void of feeling. Perhaps, I just needed a little more of a glimpse into Logan’s heart (similar to the Epilogue) sooner in the story, because honestly, how could reading such an expression of love not be a wonderful thing?

'You can’t always choose who you fall in love with and only sometimes are you lucky enough to have a second chance at love. What I have with Veronica, though, goes far beyond a second chance.'

Overall, I enjoyed this love story of second chance and the true meaning of ohana, or family. It offers angst, struggle, passion, and happiness, and I couldn’t go on more regarding the incredible setting within!

*** 3.5 Stars ***

At one of her mother’s numerous events, Veronica can’t help but feel out of place. That is, until she sees him, a handsome man who looks as bored as she is, and gathers her courage to go talk to him. His name is Logan Shephard, and just as she thinks that she could have him, her sister walks into the room.

As expected, all the focus went to the beautiful and perfect Juliet Locke, who could do no wrong in her mother’s eyes, and Logan is as captivated as everyone else. Even if she was the one who saw him first, he could never have been hers with such a bright light eclipsing her.

Seven years later, Veronica has to go work as a cook at Moonwater, a hotel located in Hawaii, because of an affair at her previous workplace. She dreads seeing her new boss, who’s none other than Logan, and who she hasn’t seen since the funeral.

The attraction she’s felt when they first met is still very present even if she’s been trying to bury these feelings deep within herself. And Logan seems to be interested too. Anything can happen in Hawaii, but getting together would be absolutely and completely wrong.

This novel isn’t connected to any other books and is a complete standalone.

Karina Halle has done it yet again. She’s delivered a unique forbidden romance that wrecked me, and put me back together. I loved being in Veronica’s head. She was such a lovable and relatable character. The author described Hawaii in such a way that made me want to be there myself and enjoy the moment. It was a slow burn with plenty of sexual tension, but when the characters finally get together, it was explosive to say the least. This story was different from any other books that I’ve read by her before, and it was perfection. This was a story of second chances and how family is more than just blood. This beautifully-written romance is a must read!

Have you always felt like you were the black sheep of your family? Ever wanted to get away from them as you feel like you can never please them? For Veronica aka Ronnie Locke, she was the younger daughter of the Deputy Mayor of Chicago. Her older sister Juliet was the one everyone put on a pedestal; she was the perfect sister, and the one everyone was blinded for and wanted. While at one of her mother's rubbing shoulders parties, it is love at first sight for Ronnie as she spots Logan Shepard. They talk, and it seems things are on an equal plain and she finally has someone interested in her, that is until her sister steps in and Ronnie is once again pushed to the side. Seven years pass, Ronnie has lost not only her sister Juliet after an accident, but her career has been flushed down the toilet, and her last resort is Logan's hotel working as a Chef. Ronnie has never stopped loving Logan, but after the way he supposedly treated her sister, she has learned it is easier to hate him. What will happen though when her feelings for Logan are reignited, and she discovers that he feels the same way? Is it wrong to fall in love with the guy that is your sister's widow? What will happen to her perception when she discovers that her sister wasn't the perfect Juliet that everyone painted her to be? Just as things start to heat up completely between Logan and Ronnie - like a Heat Wave, what will happen when her parents find out and order her to choose. Choose Logan and he loses his hotel or leave him, come back to Chicago, and Logan keeps his hotel? Will she sacrifice her happiness to save the man she loves? Will Ronnie ever get her HEA with the guy that she has always loved?

Find out in this fast-paced Hawaiian ( it made me want to go to Hawaii) Romance and readers, get ready for the Heat Wave that this scorching romance will leave you feeling.

3.5 stars

Logan Shephard catches the eye of Veronica (Ronnie) Locke's at one of her mother's political fundraisers. There's no denying the attraction between them, but the moment Ronnie's sister, Juliet, walks in the room..Ronnie suddenly ceases to exist. Seven years later a lot has changed. Juliet has been gone 2 years, leaving Logan a widower, and Ronnie finds herself moving to Hawaii to take on a new position as chef for Logan's hotel.

I won't deny Ronnie and Logan had chemistry, but they're relationship felt imbalanced. They were on two separate wave lengths for most of the story and I struggled to grasp what they had beyond physical attraction. It's obvious Logan really had feelings for Veronica and was doing his best to make her see him for him. However Veronica..she may have been in love with Logan, but she didn't trust him or take him at face value and continually let others influence her thinking. I kept hoping Ronnie would have that come to Jesus moment, wake up, and stand up for herself, but her immaturity and indecisiveness..quite frankly, it wore me out.

I normally love Halle's writing, but I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I liked Logan and got a kick out of the quirky supporting cast of characters. On the other hand..I wish Veronica had shown more maturity than she did. If nothing else, her character wouldn't have seemed so shallow to me. HEAT WAVE was a good second chance romance, but because I was so frustrated with Ronnie's behavior the story fell short of great for me.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Inkslinger and Karina Halle.

Julie-Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

Yup. I've finally been to Hawaii. Not technically but in spirit. Karina Halle made damn sure of that. The descriptions were done so vividly that it was impossible for me not to envisage how Hawaii looked like or how stunning this island was. She captured it beautifully. I want to go there now and experience what Ronnie and Logan did.

Ronnie was a great heroine who struggled with acceptance from her parents especially her mother, who only wanted Ronnie to be as perfect as her older sister Juliet. Ronnie didn't let that define her and went her own ways. She did what she wanted to do with her life even if mother dearest disapproved. It wasn't easy especially when the man of her dreams married her sister. I liked Ronnie's loyalty and love for Juliet. Even though they didn't keep in contact Ronnie was always there for her sister.
Logan was fabulous and definitely swoon worthy. He was a beautiful and kind man who chose ambition over love. He regretted it too but made the best of the situation. His heart was filled with love for Ronnie and he saw her. Everything she was and in his eyes she was perfect. His love for Ronnie never wavered and he fought for her when it mattered. Their chemistry was steaming hot and what I really enjoyed was the history they shared. They both acknowledged it and respected each other's choices. They were simply each other's worlds.
The secondary characters at Moonwater In were amazing as well. Ronnie definitely found her real family - her ohana. Kate, Charlie and Johnny added a lot fun to the story.

This was another hit from Karina Halle. She knows how to write romance and this gave me exactly what I needed. Forbidden love, island dreams and fun times. I couldn't ask for more.

4 BadAssDirtyFrecklesStars