Undercurrent (Kill Devil Hills, #1)

by Kaylea Cross

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Undercurrent by Kaylea Cross is the first book in her Kill Devil Hills series. The story introduces Bowie Davenport and Aspen Savich. Bowie is a retired Coast Guard turned mechanic. Bowie struggles with guilt stemming from an incident in his past and he has difficulty  forgiving himself even though it was out of his control. He closed himself off from committed relationships out of fear of history repeating itself. However, he never expected to meet Aspen, who had him feeling things he never thought he would feel again.

Aspen came to Kill Devil Hills to start her life anew. A decision she made after inheriting a house and car from her great uncle, which placed her in the crosshairs of a disgruntled relative. On arriving in Kill Devil Hills she went looking for a mechanic to have the car tuned up and her search led her to Bowie. They had an immediate attraction to each other  which led to a friendship and romance developing between them.  However, demons and threats from their past would come knocking, threatening to destroy their newfound happiness.

I enjoyed this story from start to finish. It moved at a steady pace for most of the story, with the pacing picking up speed in the last twenty percent. Cross supplied sufficient information to whet one’s appetite and having one waiting anxiously for the other shoe to drop.

Despite the immediate attraction between the protagonists, the romance that developed was a slow burn one. It took awhile for Bowie to come to terms with his feelings for Aspen, because the guilt from his past held him back. In the end he relinquished the guilt, allowing his heart to be free to love again. Their honesty and openness with each other helped in the growth of their relationship. It took them awhile to open up about the tragedies from their past, but when they did, there was no holding back.

The secondary characters, some of whom were likeable, and some who were not, added depth to the story. Meeting Bowie’s sibling proved a treat, and I am eager for their stories. Aspen’s new neighbour, Jack, had me smiling each time he made an appearance. Beneath his grumpy exterior lay a heart of gold, and his dog Sinbad would melt your heart.

Undercurrent dealt with issues which many readers can relate to. Issues such as loss, grief, greed and jealousy. If you enjoy romantic suspense, Undercurrent would make a wonderful addition to your shelf.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading