The Island Duet boxed set:Book One:How far would you be willing to go to change your life?All I wanted was to find some peace.To find myself again.Falling in love wasn’t part of that plan.But everything changed the day I met them.Gabe and Michael.So different.And yet together, they are perfect.I can’t decide which one I love more.And maybe I don’t have to.Because they both love me too.Can three … decide which one I love more.
And maybe I don’t have to.
Because they both love me too.
Can three people really love each other?
Or was it the air of the island messing with our hearts and minds?
Book Two:
I don’t know how it happened.
But everything got complicated.
So complicated.
I don’t know where it all started,
all I know is that it all fell apart.
Two men have my heart.
Loving them both made me lose one.
Now I may lose the other.
Hearts are fragile.
And mine still beats for two.
Can we save what we once had?
Or is it too unconventional?
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I really liked reading this story because you can feel the characters. You learn their backgrounds, you understand why they are doing what they are doing and where they want to go next. This takes you on a roller coaster ride of different emotions, from depression, unworthy, unloved, shunned, to feeling cherished and protected and fulfilled. Great story line, great characters, great everything.
Amie is on the backside of a devastating divorce and is feeling worthless. Her friend tells her to go to some tropical island and have a fling or two. Instead she signs up to do volunteer work rebuilding homes after people lost everything in a flood. It just so happens to be in Hawaii. She is shunned by the women that are working there, for their own power trip at first, then in jealousy. She hangs out with a guy who helped her get situated and then his friend shows up. The two guys are sharing a shack that they could share with her. She would have her own room instead of sleeping on the couch. (The girls rooms have two beds in each room and each girl has her own room except Amie.) She hangs out with both of the guys when they aren’t working and it seems that she is working with one of them most of the time.
Gabe and Michael went through the foster care system. They weren’t blood brothers, but very young they bonded and did everything to remain together even with the few years age differences. They have plans for their lives. Right now, they are paying their dues just before they start on their plans. Good karma and all. When Amie shows up, Gabe sees how the girls are treating her and takes her under his wing. They are instantly attracted to each other, but try to fight it. When Michael is also attracted to her, all the better.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Island Duet consists of book one, Unexpected and then book two, Unconventional. One of the things that I loved that this author did was that she released the duet together and we didn’t have to wait to get our hands on the other book. At times releasing it separately works, but when they are far apart it takes a while to joggle your memory. So, this way allowed us to take a break or continue right on. Loved it! Plus, I loved the cover (yes, I am a cover girl). This is the first set of books I have read by this author and I will be adding her to my list of more books to read.
In Unexpected we meet Amie, Gabe and Michael. Amie coming off from a bad divorce and trying to find her new norm, her BF, Tony decides to plan a trip for her to getaway. Score one for Tony cause this was the best thing for Amie! Instantly once Amie lands on the Island when she meets Michael and Gabe you can feel the intense chemistry coming off these characters. She connects with each man differently. Michael is the fun one with some stuff he tries to hide (I will leave it at that to avoid a spoiler). Gabe is the sweet one, but also the rock for Michael and Amie. You feel lucky that they both get to share her cause being with just one wouldn’t make anyone truly happy. It isn’t all lovey dovey on the Island and it leads you to ask the same questions that you see portrayed by the characters when it comes time to go back. I loved what Amie does back home, that was sweet! Seeing as we know it’s a duet you know that while you have your heart at the moment that it will drop at the end. Drop it did! That was Unexpected on who it was at least for me!
In Unconventional we know it’s not the typical everyday relationship and seeing as there is three it will come with more battles and hurdles. Boy did this book tear me apart! It picks up right where Unexpected left off and you hurt for them all. Michael oh Michael is what I will say to avoid any spoilers. Gabe throughout it all stays the strongest, but you can see that between the three of them while it works, and they are happy they aren’t happy, and you will see why. The author broke us, made us laugh and then heals us in this book. You truly see how each man held a certain relationship with Amie that made them all whole together. Gabe’s rule of three is spot on for these musketeers and that brotherly love was just the right touch. You will see some Unexpected characters surface in this book, but it puts a smile on your face. One thing that had me feeling like I missed something was a comment in the Epilogue on Tony. Hoping this means he gets book. That ending though is heartwarming and while Unconventional Amie, Gabe and Michael need three hearts instead of two for it to beat properly.
I truly enjoyed reading this duet and even though my heart hurt many times and I had to wipe my tears, it just goes to show us that the most Unexpected and Unconventional things sometimes work better than before. I loved many of the secondary characters and I look forward to reading more books by this author.