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Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Book #Review: The Reef by Nora Roberts

Book Title: The Reef
Author:  Nora Roberts |WebsiteFacebook|
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Format: Mass Market
Cost: $7.99
Pages: 435
How I got it: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher ( Author's Bookstore)
Publication Date: October 1, 1999
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Synopsis:
A "suspenseful" novel by the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author-now in a French flap trade edition. Nora Roberts delivers an exciting tale that takes readers to the depths of the Caribbean-and the heights of passion and suspense-as a marine archaeologist and a salvager join forces to search for a legendary treasure.
I love how Nora writes these books giving us a really good past and the motivation for the rest of the story, swinging into the present and sharing the adventure, and then the future with just enough of hint of what life to the character will be like to leave it open to interpretation. 

Unlike the other romantic suspense books she's written this one is more of an adventure tale, it's gotten sunken treasure, pirates, villains, revenge plots and romance. What more can you want?? Reading this reminded me of Fool's Gold that movie with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. It was such a good adventure story and I kept hoping and reading as they searched for the different boats. I was so invested in the story and really wanted them to find those historic finds and even got so invested in the hunt for the smallest clue that might lead them to the treasure.  Nora writes in such a way that even if you've never snorkeled much less took the diving class you feel like you have and that you understand and that you are right there with them.  From the way in which Tate loves everything about the sea, not just the treasure hunting but the small details that make the coral come alive. It was just beautiful.

From the very beginning, I was sucked in with the past laying down the foundation of the craziness that treasure hunting will cause for each of the characters and the cost that being the first to find a sunken treasure will bring to their lives.   The story starts with a murder then we jump forward to this family on the hunt for two Spanish boats that went down in the Caribbean during the 1800s.  As they searched and they grew as a crew and as friends to family, the chemistry between Tate & Matthew was so much so that it was no surprise that they then developed into future lovers. I was so invested in them and the journey, I was overjoyed when they began finding hints of the treasure and as the story unfolded I felt all the joy, excitement, happiness then the despair that the hunt brought to their lives.  Even as we celebrated their finds, I just knew trouble was on the horizon but even I couldn't have predicted that. 

As the story moved and we learned more about the sunken ships, we also learned how the loss of a treasure can affect each of the crew differently. I was so anxious as the story progressed and as they grew closer to finding the treasure. I grew nervous as things began to unfold, betrayals are revealed, relationships are lost and love gets sacrifficed. 

I absolutely loved the story and the characters. We didn't really get a lot of backstory or much screen time with Tate's family beyond a few snippets here and there so I really didn't get a agood picture of what her parents looked like as I was building them in my head. Same for Bucky the uncle, I just had vague outlines of them, but their character as people came out when they needed to show it the most. I absolutely loved how Tate's mom came through for all of them in the end. 

As each character develops throughout the story, and their motivations are revealed you feel certain emotions attached to them as the story grows. You despise the villain, are shocked by the betrayal, feel the despair and sadness of those who have paid a deep cost for being in the ocean.  You fall in love all over again with a couple that has managed to stand the test of time and you feel the joy of budding young love and rekindling of old feelings. 

I was thoroughly invested in this story, I wanted to know what happened in the end so I read as fast as I could.  For me, there was no lag time within the story as everything laid the foundation for the end and I couldn't' wait to see how cold the revenge would be served.  I loved the big blowout Tate and Matthew had and the emotional upheaval that it brought.

I can't wait to read more from the Nora Roberts shelf now. I highly recommend as a great summer read.  If you're a fan of the ocean but don't want to get too up close and personal with it this is for you. And if you're a person who needs to breathe sea air to feel alive then this is for you as well. 
 ★★★★☆
RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Movie Fool's Gold starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson

Having Diving and good sailing Happy Reading my loves, 

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