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Good Vibrations (Welcome to Paradise #1)
   by: S.L. Scott

Publication Date: June 10, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from AToMR tours and author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 214 pages
Order Links: Amazon| B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars


               
My Review:

If you're looking for a summer read with a steamy romance and plenty of angst, that's set in the gorgeous Hawaii- this book is for you! What I wouldn't do to have a friend that lived in Hawaii who would let me come stay with her for the summer?! And- this book is dual POV! You know how I love those! We mainly get Mallory, but Evan takes the reigns quite a few times too. I loved that. Evan is definitely a character whose head you want to delve into.

Let's address the steam factor in this book. So steamy! S.L. knows how to write a good love scene, that's for sure! The chemistry between Mallory and Evan is awesome- but it drives you crazy at the same time. They are very back and forth with each other, and even though they both know they shouldn't be together (for different reasons) they can't stay away either. I think that was my main issue with this book. I was always constantly on the alert for something to go wrong- someone to mess it all up.

Mallory is our main character, who is visiting her friend in Hawaii for the summer. She meets your typical cocky, arrogant bad boy at the airport making out with another girl, but doesn't waste time in flirting with Mallory at the same time! Needless to say, she's disgusted by this display and definitely calls him out on it. He ends up giving her a ride, as her friend is unable to get her, and things progress from there. I will be honest, I was a bit surprised as to the turn of events this early in the novel. I definitely did not see that scenario playing out the way it did! (Sorry- no spoilers here!) I was a bit confused by Mallory's actions, as they completely contradicted her thought process and what she was saying to Evan. She starts off snarky and sarcastic and not going to take any crap- but then it seems like she's a bit of a pushover. Then again, if I had a hot surfer guy hitting on me, I probably would have thrown caution to the wind too.

Evan. Oh, Evan. As I said, he certainly has guts. He is quite cocky and self-assured, but I like his honesty. He doesn't hold back in saying the hard truths- that he doesn't do relationships and doesn't want anyone to rely on him for anything. He knows he can't back them. There's a lot we don't know about Evan- why he's so against relationships, why he's so closed off from his feelings, and we don't know what happened in his past. He does eventually begin to open up to Mallory, but at the end of this first book there are still a lot of things we have yet to learn about him. You can't help but feel for the guy. He is in one of those messy predicaments with his family situation- he is expected to fulfill a certain role and have a certain lifestyle, both of which he doesn't want. He wants to be free to make his own decisions.

Mallory and Evan's relationship was constantly back and forth. He made it clear from the get go he wasn't interested in a relationship and Mallory let herself be hurt time and time again by him shutting her out. Just when she said she was done letting him hurt her, he would swoop back in and turn her world upside down all over again. Watching the two learn how to trust each other and watch Evan's character grow and develop was a big positive in this book. By the end of the book, he is very different than when we were first introduced to him.

We have some great side characters in the story also. Sunny, is Mallory's sweet best friend, who she's staying with; Kate, who is Evan's fun-loving older sister; Noah- he is a local guy who frequents the bar Sunny and Mallory are working at. He expresses interest in Mallory, but also has some history with Evan. I'm looking forward to finding out exactly what this bad blood is all about in the next book. Evan's friends Zach and Murphy are also a treat to read about.

We do not have a cliffhanger, but I didn't get closure at the end of this first book. I still feel like there will be more trouble in paradise. If you don't mind a bit of angst, definitely check this one for a good read in a summer setting!


About the Author:


S.L. Scott has a degree in Journalism and is the author of the novels—Naturally, Charlie, and A Prior Engagement as well as several novellas, including Sleeping with Mr. Sexy and Morning Glory--all currently available on Amazon. Pursuing her passion for telling stories, she spends her days escaping into her characters, letting them lead her on their adventures. She is a Contributor to Huffington Post and writes for her own blog along with several other popular sites.

Travelling, music festivals, and surfing are a few of the hobbies she loves, but she doesn't get to enjoy on a regular basis. She has an obsession with movies, a varied taste in books, and collects Fitz & Floyd teapots. With a memory full of useless trivia facts, and a Keurig addiction, she loves a fun night in with her family as much as a loud night out with her friends.

Scott lives in the lively city of Austin with her husband, two young sons, and two Papillons, enjoying life in the beautiful hill country of Texas.

She welcomes your notes at sl@slscottauthor.com.

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