Romance Down Under: Small Town Romance Starter Set

Romance Down Under: New Zealand Romance Starter Set is by Tracey Alvarez. The book is cute and easy to read. The characters and plot are realistic and is something you can see if you visit the islands.
Piper Harland was proud of the job she did. She was on the Police National Dive Squad and spent her time recovering bodies. This wasn’t her first one but it was the first who resembled Ryan Westlake, her first love. She knew she hadn’t done as well as expected; but she didn’t expect the dive master to put her on desk work. Instead, she finds herself on the way home to help her brother Ben at the beach house that had been in the family for years. However, can she help him? He wants to swim with shark cages to bring in customers and she doesn’t want to. To top it off, his dive manager is none other then Ryan Westlake.

These both have the makings of two great series, and I am so glad to have found them.

The protagonists of the first story "In Too Deep", Piper and West, are old friends turned lovers turned adversaries. The story centers on Piper and a lot of family dynamics in the years since she's left home to be a police diver, running away from family troubles and brokenhearted over losing West. And ah West, a man who talks a lot but says very little, and doesn't really let anybody in.

Piper and West are dealing with their own demons, and struggling with an attraction that never went away, and falling slowly but inevitably in love, and I simply had to keep reading to find out how it ended. I finished this one in a marathon late night, and found the entire story satisfying and delightful. I have already read book 2 in the series (Ben and Kezia, and if I liked West, I LOVED Ben), so I'm off to buy book 3!

The author has a knack for a flowing phrase and handles the transitions between characters smoothly. The writing is really strong, and the characters are well drawn and quirky without veering into caricatures. It's nice, solid escapism, with a hit of heat, and I love the Due South world.

"Hide Your Heart" and the Far North series is a bit of a departure from the Due South series. Both series feature good writing and interesting characters, but the Far North stories are a little more insular, and a little more serious. Instead of a large cast of characters roaming throughout town, it focuses more on the two main characters interacting largely at home with each other. It's a slightly different tone from the other series, their problems are somewhat more dire and the character development is a little richer. The author writes characters that I just plain like, and storylines that keep my interest. If she keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them!

Tracy Alvarez does it again! Saved me thousands of dollars. Now I have enjoyed New Zealand again without leaving home! Wonderfully written, and wonderfully entertaining. My Kindle has become my drug of choice! I can visit whenever I wish, wherever I am! Hurrah for Tracy!

Love the story line that knows that beautiful doesn't mean stupid or inept. Also the acknowledgement that abusive people hide under many public personae.
A strong female character doing the best she can will always get my vote.

These stories take place in New Zealand. The first in Oban on the southern most island and has lots of scuba and free diving. The second in northern New Zealand at Bounty Bay. This couple have lots of fears to overcome.

I loved how the love between two people can wonderful. It get difficult because they are not willing to share true feelings because they do not see what others see. At last love is Possible but will they said up in time?

Loved both books - Highly recommended author and series.

In Too Deep - 4 stars

I really enjoyed this book and I'm definitely going to continue the series.

I loved the writing, strong characterization and worldbuilding. Initially, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy a small, rural community setting but the author wrote it so well that you couldn't help falling in love with the place.

Piper and Ryan (West) have spent years dodging each other and as the story develops we being to understand why. The author skillfully builds longing and angst and I really felt the emotions of both characters. I felt it dragged a little in the middle and I thought I'd die if they didn't get their act together.

Both characters develop and grow throughout the story and eventually learn to let each other in. It was really sweet and romantic (and there's plenty of steamy action too!)

The ending was a bit too cheesy for me (though I'm not usually opposed to a bit of cheese)and the only other thing I didn't like was the slight change in perspective and tense on occasion which was jarring. Minor complaints though. For a debut novel, I think it's very accomplished, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Hide your Heart - 5 stars

This is book one in Tracey's new Far North series and as a massive fan of her Due South series I was really looking forward to getting stuck into this book.

Hide Your Heart tells the story of Lauren and Nate. Lauren is an ex-model hiding from a troubled, dark past. She will do everything to protect her young son Drew, including ignoring her growing attraction to hot newcomer Nate.

Nate is a photojournalist who has purchased the nearby house as an investment. Taking time out from his busy career, he plans on fixing up the house and selling it to a developer who intends to use it as a celebrity retreat.

Lauren, naturally, isn't happy about his plans as she is desperately trying to shield herself and her son from that world. As their paths intertwine, she finds it harder and harder to deny her feelings for him. The attraction is mutual and Nate is also trying to avoid giving into his heart. Nate's plan for the future is to travel the world taking photos and he has never entertained notions of tying himself down. Until Lauren.

As the story progresses both Lauren and Nate are on a journey of self-discovery. Learning to trust in themselves and each other is a challenge they embark on together.

This book is written in Tracey's usual enthralling style and the words flow beautifully on the page. The setting is again a small rural community but it's evocative and visual and I found myself wishing I lived there. Sigh :) The characters are complex and well written and I was definitely rooting for Lauren the whole way through. Her son Drew is an adorable character and so desperately in need of a father-figure. I was hoping that Nate wouldn't let him down.

The only slight issue I had with this book was I felt the pacing was a little slow in the first third. However, thereafter I was drawn in and it galloped along at a great pace.

If you are a fan of Tracey Alvarez' Due South series, or you like well-written contemporary adult romance, then I highly recommend this book.

Overall Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars.

In Too Deep: A New Zealand Enemies to Lovers Second Chances Romance (Due South Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
A good free book is hard to find, but this one is great! It made me fall in love with New Zealand. Piper and West's story had me crying, laughing, and hoping for a HEA and boy did I get it. I can't wait to read the next one in this series! I volunteered to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hide Your Heart
Hide Your Heart was a great read. The length enabled me to read it quickly and would be great for someone looking for a shorter read with a complete story, NO CLIFFHANGER. I loved the setting! The vocabulary section was helpful. Lauren’s son added a lot to the story. I enjoyed the relationship between Nate and Lauren and felt that the love scenes were well done without too much detail. You can't go wrong with this set from a great author!

These two books tick so many of my boxes.... great writing (including great editing), beautiful love story with well developed characters including secondary characters and communities you get invested in, well written steamy scenes without awkward stilted language and the bonus is that the stories are based 'Down Under'! New Zealand is painted with gorgeous imagery and use of local language and slang that makes these stories especially relatable as well as more believable. And to get TWO stories that tick all those boxes all wrapped up into one package just makes it all the better!
I'd definitely recommend both stories if you're looking for fun, humourous, stories with depth and a lot of heart (and maybe a bit of steam too!).

This starter set of two stories was absolutely magnificent.The characters of each story draws you inside their stories.It is like you are right there with them through each of their trouble and triumphs

Both of the 'starter' stories in this set were fun to read. The characters were complex and real, with histories, hang ups, and things to work through. I enjoyed the way Tracey Alvarez included not only the couple of each story, but also their families and communities to create a well rounded story world. A romantic read. * note: Both books include sex scenes.

Enjoyed the story about a couple who fall in love, go different ways and then discover again they are in love.

Really enjoyed the bonus romance about a man and a woman who fall in love and can't admit their love even to themselves.
Joycejones@eastex

Love the story line that knows that beautiful doesn't mean stupid or inept. Also the acknowledgement that abusive people hide under many public personae.
A strong female character doing the best she can will always get my vote.

These stories take place in New Zealand. The first in Oban on the southern most island and has lots of scuba and free diving. The second in northern New Zealand at Bounty Bay. This couple have lots of fears to overcome.

I loved how the love between two people can wonderful. It get difficult because they are not willing to share true feelings because they do not see what others see. At last love is Possible but will they said up in time?

Loved both books - Highly recommended author and series.

In Too Deep - 4 stars

I really enjoyed this book and I'm definitely going to continue the series.

I loved the writing, strong characterization and worldbuilding. Initially, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy a small, rural community setting but the author wrote it so well that you couldn't help falling in love with the place.

Piper and Ryan (West) have spent years dodging each other and as the story develops we being to understand why. The author skillfully builds longing and angst and I really felt the emotions of both characters. I felt it dragged a little in the middle and I thought I'd die if they didn't get their act together.

Both characters develop and grow throughout the story and eventually learn to let each other in. It was really sweet and romantic (and there's plenty of steamy action too!)

The ending was a bit too cheesy for me (though I'm not usually opposed to a bit of cheese)and the only other thing I didn't like was the slight change in perspective and tense on occasion which was jarring. Minor complaints though. For a debut novel, I think it's very accomplished, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Hide your Heart - 5 stars

This is book one in Tracey's new Far North series and as a massive fan of her Due South series I was really looking forward to getting stuck into this book.

Hide Your Heart tells the story of Lauren and Nate. Lauren is an ex-model hiding from a troubled, dark past. She will do everything to protect her young son Drew, including ignoring her growing attraction to hot newcomer Nate.

Nate is a photojournalist who has purchased the nearby house as an investment. Taking time out from his busy career, he plans on fixing up the house and selling it to a developer who intends to use it as a celebrity retreat.

Lauren, naturally, isn't happy about his plans as she is desperately trying to shield herself and her son from that world. As their paths intertwine, she finds it harder and harder to deny her feelings for him. The attraction is mutual and Nate is also trying to avoid giving into his heart. Nate's plan for the future is to travel the world taking photos and he has never entertained notions of tying himself down. Until Lauren.

As the story progresses both Lauren and Nate are on a journey of self-discovery. Learning to trust in themselves and each other is a challenge they embark on together.

This book is written in Tracey's usual enthralling style and the words flow beautifully on the page. The setting is again a small rural community but it's evocative and visual and I found myself wishing I lived there. Sigh :) The characters are complex and well written and I was definitely rooting for Lauren the whole way through. Her son Drew is an adorable character and so desperately in need of a father-figure. I was hoping that Nate wouldn't let him down.

The only slight issue I had with this book was I felt the pacing was a little slow in the first third. However, thereafter I was drawn in and it galloped along at a great pace.

If you are a fan of Tracey Alvarez' Due South series, or you like well-written contemporary adult romance, then I highly recommend this book.

Overall Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars.

In Too Deep: A New Zealand Enemies to Lovers Second Chances Romance (Due South Series Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
A good free book is hard to find, but this one is great! It made me fall in love with New Zealand. Piper and West's story had me crying, laughing, and hoping for a HEA and boy did I get it. I can't wait to read the next one in this series! I volunteered to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hide Your Heart
Hide Your Heart was a great read. The length enabled me to read it quickly and would be great for someone looking for a shorter read with a complete story, NO CLIFFHANGER. I loved the setting! The vocabulary section was helpful. Lauren’s son added a lot to the story. I enjoyed the relationship between Nate and Lauren and felt that the love scenes were well done without too much detail. You can't go wrong with this set from a great author!

These two books tick so many of my boxes.... great writing (including great editing), beautiful love story with well developed characters including secondary characters and communities you get invested in, well written steamy scenes without awkward stilted language and the bonus is that the stories are based 'Down Under'! New Zealand is painted with gorgeous imagery and use of local language and slang that makes these stories especially relatable as well as more believable. And to get TWO stories that tick all those boxes all wrapped up into one package just makes it all the better!
I'd definitely recommend both stories if you're looking for fun, humourous, stories with depth and a lot of heart (and maybe a bit of steam too!).

I really enjoyed this book. The main characters - Piper and West - are interesting. Piper is a police diver, who finds lost bodies. She chose this work after losing her father who was diving. The setting in New Zealand , with lots of local references and diving locales added to the story. This is the first book I have read by thie author, and I will now be looking for more of her books to read. Well worth the read for me.