“Such a truly beautiful story! The writing is gorgeous, the scenery is beautiful… You should definitely pick up this one! Superb, unique, and sexy.” -Author Tia Louise
-What impact would it have when everything suddenly faded to black? For Mia, a crowded subway ride changes her entire life. Retreating to the wilderness helps her cope with a world that is suddenly too loud, too turbulent. Her … wilderness helps her cope with a world that is suddenly too loud, too turbulent.
Her existence safely contained to the small cottage on the lake, she is unprepared for the neighbor that moves across the bay
A career-ending injury has Jared permanently benched. His reputation as The Enforcer won’t survive the unanticipated responsibilities awaiting him.
Away from the public eye, he adjusts to his new reality, under the quiet observation of the intriguing hermit on the other side of the water.more
Favorite Quotes:
You can’t do that to a kid who’s got more wrinkles than an elephant’s scrotum.
A change in tide… When you get caught in a rip current or strong tide, the best way to prevent getting pulled under is to ride it out. You can struggle against it, but you’ll only exhaust yourself, and eventually drown. Just ride it out, Mia, pace yourself, but ride it out. It may get bumpy, but there is always, always calmer water on the other side.
Life is messy, and unless you want to live alone on an island, completely cut off from the world, the mess will find you.
So you should know by now that life has no track. It just bounces you around. But if you want to enjoy the good stuff, you have to take the bumps that come along with it. You can’t control it—that’s an illusion— because the moment you’re in control, you’re no longer living— you’re merely existing.
My Review:
I have delighted in every well-crafted book I have read from Freya Barker, she is definitely a treasure. Her latest book, A Change In Tide, was a thoughtful, entertaining, and observant read. Her books are not the type I can read in one setting, as her work is far too observant, poignant, emotionally rousing, and thought-provoking. I am more inclined to savor, take pleasure, and absorb her craft at a more leisurely and indulgent manner than I do most novels. The quality of her skill and the allure of her characters certainly merit the time and attention, although reading her entertaining and engaging stories is definitely not a chore. I enjoy her humor and steam but also the real-life problems, older characters, realistic flaws, and the well-researched challenges, exchanges, and encounters her stories involve. Sigh, I just adore Freya Barker.
What impact would it have when everything suddenly faded to black?
For Mia, a crowded subway ride changes her entire life. Retreating to the wilderness helps her cope with a world that is suddenly too loud, too turbulent.
Her existence safely contained to the small cottage on the lake, she is unprepared for the neighbor that moves across the bay
A career-ending injury has Jared permanently benched. His reputation as The Enforcer won’t survive the unanticipated responsibilities awaiting him. Away from the public eye, he adjust to his new reality, under the quiet observation of the intriguing hermit on the other side of the water.
This book is amazing. I love how this author makes the town as well as the characters feel like they are part of you. The love story between these two characters is amazing. I can’t wait to see what happened next in the next book. I highly recommend this book. You won’t regret it.
4.5 stars
I have really enjoyed this author’s other books so far, and the Northern Lights series is her first foray into sports romance/ contemporary romance without the suspense element. A Change in Tide is a wonderful story featuring Freya’s trademark relatable, mature characters with just the right amount of emotion, humor and heat and I have been trying to write a review that adequately relays my thoughts. Not sure if I succeeded, but here goes!
“When you get caught in an rip current or strong tide, the best way to prevent getting pulled under is to ride it out. You can struggle against it, but you’ll only exhaust yourself, and eventually drown. Just ride it out, Mia, pace yourself, but ride it out. It may get bumpy, but there is always, always calmer water on the other side.”
Fourteen years ago Mia’s life was irrevocably changed by an unexpected event and she has become a completely different person in the ensuing years. She now lives quietly in a cabin on a lake which provides her sanctuary as she tries to cope with the onset of agoraphobia in the aftermath. A simple trip to buy groceries can trigger a panic attack so she has narrowed her world to a very limited set of contacts and experiences. When a new neighbor moves in across the cove, she has no idea her world is about to tilt on its axis yet again.
Jared Kesla is used to living his life in the spotlight as a skilled and charismatic NHL player, but now that his career is over thanks to an injury, he is looking forward to a quieter and more private life in his new home. First impressions are misleading when Mia (and the reader) meet him for the first time, but it doesn’t take long until the record is set straight and we begin to see Jared’s true character. When Mia comes to his rescue in a moment of crisis, he sees a radically different version of his closed off neighbor as she becomes a confident, calming and take charge presence. She is the complete opposite of the women who have put themselves in his path in the past, and he is more than intrigued by her strength and the cause of her choice to live in solitude.
Since Jared has entered her life, Mia has been forced to face exactly what she has lost in the last decade or so. He is reminding her what it is is like to live again, and she is terrified of allowing herself to take a chance or to feel deeply again because if it all goes wrong, it may just destroy her permanently this time. Jared is a natural born protector though and he does everything possible to shelter her as she takes baby steps toward living a full life again. When the madness of publicity due to his celebrity status reaches out to their quite little corner of the world, she is forced into the spotlight and all of his careful maneuvering may be for nothing. Jared’s sister and Mia’s new friend Jordy gives Mia some good advice; she just has to decide if Jared is worth the risk.
“So you should know by now that life has no track. It just bounces you around. But if you want to enjoy the good stuff, you have to take the bumps that come along with it. You can’t control it— that’s an illusion— because the moment you’re in control, you’re no longer living —you’re merely existing.”
I said it before but I will say it again: I loved this book! Jared is far from perfect which just makes him a “real” guy. He is hot, sexy and protective but he bumbles around a bit when it comes to love and a real relationship. His love for his sister Jordy and his nephew Ole is obvious, and Jordy doesn’t hesitate for a moment to put big brother in his place with a verbal or literal smack in the head when he is being an idiot. Jordy herself is a complex character whose story runs secondary to Jared and Mia’s journey, and she was an integral part of their lives. All in all, I definitely recommend getting your 1-click on for this book and I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series!
To start with, this is my first read from Freya Barker but it DEFINITELY won’t be my last!!
I loved so much about this book; I loved Freya’s writing style. So down-to-earth, so earthy, not fast-paced or with a whole lot of superfluous information…clean, clear-cut, straight-to-the-point, but in no way was it boring or did it ever feel forced! The character development was superb, from beginning to end, making me fall equally in love with both Jared and Mia, as well as Jared’s sister Jordy! There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, along with quite a few that set my hair on fire…even a few that had tears clouding my vision as I read! The sex scenes were heart-palpitatingly good and all-in-all, I just loved everything about this book!
I have to say that Mia is one of my all-time favourite heroines! She’s oh-so-damaged (she made me want to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything would be ok), yet, at the same time, I so admired her for her tenacity and her determination to overcome her issues (with me cheering her on the whole way!) I don’t think I’ve ever talked to my kindle like I was talking to the characters in a book before, but that’s the kind of impact both Mia and Jared had on me! Lol, I hope the straightjacket isn’t on it’s way!
This book is an absolute MUST READ for me and I will have no trouble recommending it to anybody who will listen!
Being someone that loves her quiet time sitting at the lake watching the tranquility of wildlife move at a slow leisurely pace, I was immediately pulled into the setting of this book. The relaxed pace of this book is refreshing while heightening the feeling of emotions of her characters as they fight to do more than just exist by taking back their lives and living.
When Mia lost all that once was her life, her career, husband and home she finds herself on the secluded lake. Only keeping in contact with a few special people from her past. People that understand her fears and problems. As lost as Mia is in her PTSD she is indepentant so long as she has her routine.
Jared is pretty damn lost in life at the moment, not exactly sure where to go next. His hockey career taken from him due to injury. He finds himself trying to settle down and take a step back out of the limelight. Stepping up to help his sister when she finds herself alone. He finds solitute in his new lakeside home. But he is not too sure about his quirky new neighbour.
Mia doesn’t truly realize how much she misses parts of her old life until she is thrown into a situation. Digging deep and finding her inner calm to make sure thing have a positive outcome. Jared is awed by her control one minute and her obvious fear and skittishness the next. The more time he spends with Mia the more interested he becomes. But will Mia’s first impression and her fears push him away? Will Jared over power and get what he wants like usual or will their jointed past only push them further away?
An emotional read about two very different people harbouring pain & fear that discover a calm in the storm when they are together.
This is a very well written book and I can’t wait to see where Freya takes us next in her Canadian adventures.
Let’s start by saying this one jumps right into the rump at the very beginning. And then it fizzles out.
There is nothing g overly spectacular about the plot or the characters and yet it’s just enough to keep you pumping along.
Those adult scenes well they are just that. Same words and patterns that seem to fall into every adult novel. It just didn’t seem an different from book A or book Z so to speak.
I will admit that the minor twist here and there are probable what pushed me to finish. There had been 3 maybe 4 if I recall correctly. But some them came and went in fell sweep.
The narrators did a fantastic job helping to make the characters feeling and thoughts come more alive.
But it still wasn’t enough to make this book more then just a book.
This is a review of the audiobook.
This is my first read by Freya. While it wasn’t bad, it just had that simple small town vibe, but I felt it needed more prominent secondary characters to add something to the story. Things were just convenient with what was going on and even with the characters backgrounds. I will say I like the cover, but it doesn’t fit the story season frame.
Narrators Charley Ongel, and Tor Thom were perfect for their characters.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.