Jo Harrison is a lucky lady. Not only has the incredibly, handsome Peter Mattson saved her from nearly drowning, Jo’s Uber driver Tony is always around for her emotional rescue.Here’s the glitch: Jo and Peter believe they’re inches away from falling in love, but are Jo’s emotions based on hero worship because Peter saved her life? Is Peter’s attraction to Jo only physical after watching her … watching her shower in a wet T-shirt?
Or, does fate have an agenda more everlasting in mind for them?
Come join these would-be lovers as they discover what made Asbury Park famous, and enjoy a fun ride in Tony’s Uber – You won’t want to miss this one!
more
Sharing Sea Glass is a delightful contemporary romance set on a sunny boardwalk locale by the Atlantic. Full of tender moments and sensual scenes, the story features Jo Harrison, a beach-loving woman who works in a sweet shop on the boardwalk, and newly immigrated Londoner, Peter Mattson.
In the first scene—a terrifying experience at best—Peter comes to Jo’s aid when she’s swept out by the rip tide while searching for sea glass in the sand, an activity she and her mother have enjoyed doing for years. With Ricci’s incredibly realistic descriptions, readers will feel the ocean engulfing them, suffer the fear and panic of near-death, and experience great relief when strong arms reach down to save her from the surf.
I particularly enjoyed Ricci’s descriptions of her characters, for example:
“Jo looked up into his eyes for the first time. Chocolate brown and kind, the brows above were a few shades darker than his hair. The guy’s lips were obscenely sensual, soft looking for a man. Although his hair was still damp, it framed his face in a fetching way, curling up at the ends. He was tall, too, but not the clumsy, reedy kind –all six foot of his body shouted muscle.”
I also found the character Peter to be wonderfully empathetic and sensitive to Jo’s needs. After rescuing her from the sea, he almost seems to immediately think of her as his responsibility, and with that new-found dedication he defends her the same morning against a trio of jerky men who are ogling her after her incident. Peter’s simple action of giving her a towel to wrap up in when her suit is ripped during the near-drowning shows his deeply caring personality.
Multiple examples of Peter’s deeper character make the very quick physical romance more than tolerable. It’s not just one of those “they met on the beach and had sex” kind of stories.
I did find myself yelling at Jo when she jumped to some erroneous conclusions that almost destroyed her potential for a happy future, but that’s also the sign of a good book—when the reader gets reeled in and involved in the story to the extent that they care!
There are a few “I didn’t see that coming” type twists at the end as well, but I won’t include any spoilers in this review.
Enjoy this fun read while sitting on a beach or curled up by the fire, wishing you were on the beach. You will be transported to warm sand and sticky sweet ice cream instantly. The memorable characters will linger in your mind for a long time.
I’ll be looking for more books by this enjoyable author.
A Delightful Romance
“Sharing Sea Glass” is a warm romance. The author, Susan Ricci, immediately engages the reader’s attention as Jo Harrison searched for sea glass along the beach. When giant waves sweep her out into the ocean, she’s unable to fight her way back to shore. Surrendering to the inevitable, Jo takes her last breath and sinks beneath the surface. As Jo is on the verge of being swallowed by the turbulent waters, a hand reaches down, raises her up, and pulls her to shore. When she opens her eyes, she gazes at her rescuer’s handsome face. Peter and Jo feel an instant spark of attraction.
The next day, Jo asks her faithful Uber driver, Tony, who can’t stop giving her advice, to take her to the beach where she hopes to see Peter. Thrilled to see him there, looking for her, a romance begins to blossom as the chemistry between them is undeniable.
Peter’s recently widowed mother relies on him. When she meets Jo, she gifts Jo a rare piece of sea glass that Jo treasures until a woman from Peter’s past re-enters his life and attempts to derail their relationship. Will she succeed?
Jo, Peter, and Tony are well developed, likeable characters. Tony is exceptionally funny. The author cleverly puts a unique twist in the story when Peter’s mother needs medical care. “Sharing Sea Glass” is a well-written, endearing love story. Highly recommended!
***** What a Lovely Story!
First off, I can see why this author is a USA Today Best selling and award-winning author. The book begins with a powerful Prologue, where Ricci manages to combine dangerous ocean waters, a near drowning, a realistic rescue, and romantic sparks, all in one fell swoop. Now, that takes talent.
When Jo Harrison gets herself in trouble looking for beautiful sea glass in the ocean, she nearly dies. But luckily, Peter Mattison is nearby and saves the day. A touching scene evolves where he stays with her to make sure she’s all right and even calls her the next day. How fortunate for her. Why? Because he’s kind, he’s British with a lovely mum nearby, and…he’s gorgeous. Next thing you know they find themselves caught up in something more explosive than either one of them had ever experienced. So strong, that we soon witness their overwhelming mutual physical desire (there’s a great description of “foreplay” on the beach under a towel!). Youza.
Meanwhile, we are introduced to another thing that makes the story different. For example, the entire time, Jo keeps using the same Uber driver, Tony, who seems to be at her beck-and-call. (Wow. Why can’t I have that kind of driver?) I very much enjoyed their relationship. We soon learn he is not just her driver, he also seems to be her priest for confessions, her shrink, and ultimately, her moral compass. She bounces her ideas, love life and dilemmas off of him, and his wisdom keeps her in check. REALLY liked their banter throughout.
At first I thought the title was a bit different, odd even. But we soon learn the significance of it. That beautiful glass, a small gem from the great ocean, also has another significance. Jo has started a memoir, about all the things lost in the sea after Hurricane Sandy, and gets an agent to represent her as soon as she sends it out.
So all seems perfect, right? Not so. Something interrupts their happiness –– big time. Will their newfound attraction and apparent devotion survive? Or will it all have just been a fast, potent romance gone astray? Read this compelling book and find out! Definitely recommended.
Always a good read with a Susan Jean Ricci romance.