Saturday 9 April 2016

Review: Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O'Roark

*****5 Stars*****
 
 
This book was so not what I was expecting and then some, the first chapter or so I thought I knew where this forbidden coach/student romance was going and then the author proved me so very wrong. What a brilliantly written book that is different from any book in this area of romance with a fairly dark twist at the heart of the story.
Olivia is a talented runner but unreliably so and her temper doesn’t help, this sees her starting over at a new university and she really isn’t a people person so her snarkiness is full on. Her first encounter with her new coach Will doesn’t go well as they prejudge each other. However, Olivia is also hiding a secret so dark that she isn’t sure of the truth of it herself. The more she is under pressure the more the problem manifests itself and affects her running which in turn gives Will more reason to turn up the pressure. What exactly is she running from?
When Will learns of Olivia’s issue he sets out to do all he can to help an unwilling Olivia and so puts himself in the precarious position of overstepping boundaries as attraction start to bloom. The tension between them both proves for some compelling reading that had me flipping the pages both to see what Olivia’s secrets were and because I wanted Will to step over the line. Poor Will was under so much pressure and his constraint was admiral.
There is a cast of brilliantly written side characters that all add to this story that is brilliantly paced and flawlessly written. This is definitely a book I would recommend that you read, my first from this author whose other works I’ve already bought.
 
Reviewed by Vikki Ryan
 
 
"That girl isn't just trouble of the not-a-team-player, not-a-reliable-runner variety. She's trouble of the devious, manipulative, too-f***ing-hot-for-her-own good variety. She's the kind of girl who causes trouble merely by existing, and then makes sure to cause more.
And the last thing I need right now is more trouble."

A failing farm.
His father’s debt.
And a struggling college track team.
Will Langstrom has too many responsibilities, and the last thing he needs is Olivia Finnegan, a beautiful but troubled new transfer student.

A smart mouth.
A strong right hook.
And a secret that could destroy her.
Olivia is her own worst enemy, with a past she can’t seem to escape, and the last person she wants help from is a cocky track coach she can never seem to please.
Refusing to be pushed away, Will is determined to save her.
And determined to resist an attraction that could destroy them both.
 
 
 
 


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