Showing posts with label Gansett Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gansett Island. Show all posts

Monday, May 11, 2020

Susan's Review of Rescue After Dark: A Gansett Island Novel by Marie Force

They've both been unlucky in love. Is their luck about to change?

Reality TV star Jordan Stokes is taking time to figure out her next move—tucked away from prying eyes in her grandmother's home on Gansett Island with her identical twin sister, Nikki. Eastward Look is the perfect place to heal and regroup. It's not lost on her that her sister was busy falling in love with Riley McCarthy while Jordan's world and marriage were falling apart in front of an audience of millions.

Fire Chief Mason Johns might put out flames for a living, but the fitness buff firefighter with a god-like body sure knows how to heat things up. When he locks lips with the island's newest resident during a rescue, he feels an undeniable spark that he can't ignore—no matter how hard he tries. The recovering alcoholic has had his fair share of bad relationships, but Jordan could be a game changer.

He saved her life… but she just might rescue him right back.

The summer is heating up as we take the ferry back to Gansett Island for another story about love and redemption and second chances. Catch up with series favorites, including Blaine, Mallory and Quinn, Luke and Sydney and of course, Mac and Maddie McCarthy.


While on a mountain bike ride, Gansett Island Fire Chief Mason Johns observes smoke and flames coming from a nearby house. Mason rescues reality TV-star Jordan Stokes from a fire in her grandmother’s home. Something unusual passes between the couple when Mason performs mouth- to- mouth resuscitation on Jordan. Marie Force gives Mason and Jordan an immediate, almost magical connection and this drew me into the story immediately.

Mason Johns and Jordan Stokes have been featured in other storylines in the series. I was intrigued by the pairing of the tall, workaholic, sexy fire chief with the reality TV-star.

During the summer months, the island is invaded by tourists and summer residents which tax the island’s police and fire departments. The added work-related stress adds to Mason’s workload. As a recovering alcoholic, he struggles with his sobriety every day. To keep himself on track he chooses to attend daily AA meetings with Quinn and Mallory (Light After Dark) and has a rigorous exercise program. I am glad that Marie Force continued the Mason, Quinn and Mallory storyline in this novel. The three friends understand the challenges of staying sober and support each other.

Jordan Stokes has escaped to her family’s home on Gansett Island. Her life is a nightmare. Brendan, her rapper husband, released a video of the two of them having sex. Brendan’s fans blame her for his arrest for domestic abuse, her reality TV show is in limbo and Brendan is refusing to sign divorce papers. She’s not looking for a relationship as her life is based in Los Angeles. Marie Force provides more details about Nikki and Jordan’s complicated childhood in this story—this helped me understand Jordan’s struggles.

Rescue After Dark is a fast-paced character driven novel with all the feels. Mason and Jordan’s journey is emotional and heart breaking at times. I loved the connection between the sexy fire fighter and the reality TV star and was cheering for them from the beginning of the book. Loved that the couple brought out the best in each other. Maintaining sobriety, dealing with stress and domestic abuse are woven into both this novel. Mac McCarthy is coping with work related stress and family pressures, too. Mac and Maddie McCarthy, Luke and Sydney Harris and Big Mac and Ned are featured in the story.

If you are looking for a feel good read that’s all about love, friendship and second chances – then Rescue after Dark is the perfect book for you!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book purchased through Amazon
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and erotic romance. Her series include Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont and Quantum.

Her books have sold nearly 10 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller more than 30 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, as well as a Speigel bestseller in Germany.

Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.

Monday, March 20, 2017

Gansett Island Series-- Episode 1 Victoria and Shannon-- Marie Force


Gansett Island Episodes: Season 1, Episode 1

Gansett Island midwife Victoria Stevens loves taking care of people, in her job and in her personal life, especially when it comes to her boyfriend of one year, sexy Irishman Shannon O’Grady. Fueled by combustible chemistry, her relationship with Shannon has been H-O-T from the start. But she’s begun to wonder whether theirs is destined to be a short-term fling or possibly the love of a lifetime. When she goes looking for answers about his past, she learns something she was better off not knowing and isn’t sure what to do with her newfound information. What will happen when Shannon finds out she’s been asking questions about him, and will they be able to overcome the obstacles standing between them and happily ever after? Find out in this first Gansett Island Episode, which also includes the arrival of some long-awaited island babies.




Review

This is the first book in the Gansett Island Episodes by author Marie Force. The well-paced 106- page novella focuses on two secondary characters from the author’s Gansett Island series and takes place over a four-day period.

Victoria’s story appealed to me and drew me into the story immediately. Working as a Nurse Midwife, Victoria witnesses couples becoming families with the birth of their child. She sees how her patients work together and support each other through pregnancy and childbirth. She’s been dating Shannon for a year—and she longs for her happily ever after, too. Victoria asks Seamus, Shannon’s cousin, if he knows why Shannon can’t move forward. Seamus tells Victoria about Shannon’s past and she’s not sure how to approach Shannon with the information.

Victoria walks into a busy morning at the clinic-there are two Island moms in labor! She doesn’t have a minute to think about her problems as these moms are keeping her busy! Victoria doesn’t have a chance to talk to Shannon because of the surprise arrival of Gansett baby three. He finds out by accident and is not pleased. He knows he is stuck in the past but doesn’t know how to move forward. I emphasized with Shannon, his past was tragic, but was surprised that he didn’t relate his story to Victoria.

I enjoyed that the author wove in a total of three couples and their stories into this novella. It was great fun catching up with the characters and Victoria’s experience with one couple moved me to tears. I loved the couple’s book and was thrilled that they got their HEA! Several other much loved characters provided support to Victoria and Shannon and added to the fast- paced storyline. I enjoyed this short story and my ferry ride over to Gansett Island. Victoria and Shannon’s story is a poignant story about friendship, community, faith and love. The ending of this book was beautifully written and perfect for Victoria and Shannon.

Looking forward to the next full length Gansett novel and Episode 2!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
ARC provided by publisher
Photo of Celeste by Susan Gorman



About the Gansett Island Episodes . . .

From Marie:
My fictional island has become such a huge part of my life—and yours—over these last six years, and I’ve created so many characters who speak to me between books and during the writing of new ones. I can’t possibly give them all a new story in every book, but I still have so much to say about them. With that in mind, I’ll be launching a new “Gansett Island Episodes” series in 2017, featuring shorter stories about past characters who readers love and want more of. Mixed in with these episodes will be at least one full-length book a year. So we’ll have plenty more from our favorite island, with new stories for past characters as well as all-new stories, too. I’m looking forward to this new adventure and hope you’ll take the ferry to Gansett for the new episodes!

Read an excerpt!