Review: Four Stars: A NA romance without heavy drama and angst and a nice ending.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 26, 2014
Georgia quickly tugs her suitcase toward the cruise ship. She and her best friend, Yasmin, are running late. Georgia fights back the feelings of anxiety, she is here to enjoy herself for seven days, and hopefully escape the nightmare that has become her life. Her hopes are dashed when she comes face to face with her ex boyfriend, Hunter, in the elevator. It has only been a few short weeks since they broke up, and Georgia's heart hurts to remember that this was the cruise where they were to share a large, luxurious stateroom and even possibly get engaged. Everything came crashing down when Georgia shared with Hunter the awful truth about her past. Now she is rooming with Jace one of Hunter's fraternity brothers in a small cramped cabin. Jace has a reputation for being a playboy, and Georgia has no intention of spending much time with him, but that all changes once Jace starts to see through her facade. Can Georgia and Jace help each other overcome their demons?What I Liked:*I have become a bit disillusioned with the NA genre as I think too many authors are following the same worn out story lines. Thankfully, Full Steam Ahead steers away from the heavy drama and angst and provides a pleasant romance and a bit of suspense. I appreciated that this one didn't linger too long on the negative and it was all about learning to overcome difficulties and open yourself to another. If you are a fan of NA this is a great book to add to your collection.*The romance was well done. I liked that it started with attraction, you have to have chemistry, right? However, it was much more than lust. Georgia and Jace both have some burdens in their past, nothing that is gut wrenching or extreme, but they definitely have some difficulties. Jace begins to pay close attention to Georgia, and he starts to see through her phony public veneer. He sees a girl who has lost a lot of weight and appears to be hiding something. He begins to dig, and eventually gains her trust. Once the two open up and start to share, (Georgia even reveals that she secretly reads zombie books) they form a friendship and help each other heal... oh and there is an intense attraction that heads into some steamy territory. I liked that this romance was about trust and learning to be open.Speaking of steamy, I liked that the sex scenes were tantalizing and hot, but they didn't go on and on and delve into explicit detail. There was just enough to get the picture. I have read plenty of NA where the sex scenes border into the erotica and some that should be erotica, so I always appreciate a NA that doesn't go over the top.*I was drawn in by the mystery and the suspense. In the beginning, Georgia is trying to escape something bad. She is being blackmailed and it is draining her dry. I was most eager to learn more about the blackmail and to understand the big secret that she didn't want anyone to know. I liked the mystery thread, it kept me engaged.*The book takes place between Christmas and New Year, but don't think it is about snow and cold. This book takes place aboard a Caribbean cruise ship, so prepare for sunny days, and poolside drinks and lots of relaxing in the sun. I loved the sun soaked setting, it is perfect for summer or even winter when you are longing for a bit of sun.*I appreciated that the book ends on a high note, and that it concludes on a positive note. No cliffhangers or open endings, however there are some story lines that I am eager to follow up on in the next book.And The Not So Much:*The book is fast paced and at times I felt like it moved too quickly and I wanted more details. I would have loved to know a bit more about Georgia's background, especially when it came to her parents. They certainly sounded like selfish, greedy people and I was curious about Georgia's relationship with them. I also would have liked to know more about Jace's family. Yasmin, Georgia's best friend, was trying to overcome her sister's death. I wasn't clear what happened with her sister. There was some type of illness.. cancer? I am guessing I will learn more about Yasmin in the sequel, which is about her.*While I liked that the ending was on a high note and that it tied off the loose ends, I felt it was a bit rushed. I was expecting a bit more as far as the whole blackmail storyline went, and I thought that the way it ended was a bit of a fizzle. I wanted Georgia to really stand up and fight and show him that he shouldn't take advantage of people like that. I wasn't convinced that it was over.*Elise, one of the girls who worked on the ship, was another character that I liked, and I was wanting to see more of her, but she just disappears. I am hoping that she will resurface in the next book.Full Steam Ahead was a quick romantic NA with a bit of mystery. I loved that it was all about letting go of false facades and opening up to trust and friendship. It is a book about healing, overcoming and moving on that comes about with the beginning of a new romance. This is a NA read that isn't heavy on drama and angst. It is a nice easy read.I won a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.