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One Good Reason
After years of feeling numb to the world, Ava is finally ready to move on with her life. A spontaneous trip to Thailand with her best friend, Olivia, goes horribly wrong when Ava is kidnapped and held against her will in a secluded house deep within the Thailand forest. Her only contact is with the Thai men who kidnapped her and the mysterious Australian man who insists she has information that he needs, information he will do anything to secure.
Hayden knows from the moment he first met Ava that the assignment wasn’t as black-and-white as he had expected it to be. He was sent to Thailand to retrieve the information from a suspect—Ava—who was linked to a known terrorist. But Ava isn’t like any of the other suspects he’s dealt with before, and as every day passes, his suspicions that there is more to the story than he is being led to believe continue to grow.
When Ava and Hayden are faced with the real possibility that the reason for her kidnapping goes beyond what either of them could have ever imagined, they must move past their differences and find a way to work together if they want any hope and chance of survival.
Hayden knows from the moment he first met Ava that the assignment wasn’t as black-and-white as he had expected it to be. He was sent to Thailand to retrieve the information from a suspect—Ava—who was linked to a known terrorist. But Ava isn’t like any of the other suspects he’s dealt with before, and as every day passes, his suspicions that there is more to the story than he is being led to believe continue to grow.
When Ava and Hayden are faced with the real possibility that the reason for her kidnapping goes beyond what either of them could have ever imagined, they must move past their differences and find a way to work together if they want any hope and chance of survival.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 30, 2013
Well, well, well, muy bueno. This books tells the story of Ava, who was kidnapped when she and her friend, Olivia went on a vacation to Thailand.
Ava is a girl in her 20's, who's still dealing with the death of her mother and the lack of a father figure. Sometimes she came across as stubborn and younger than she's supposed to be, but she's a very lovable character. Her dad is a journalist, who is pretty much out of her life. When Ava is kidnapped she's interrogated about an information that she supposedly has. The guy in charge of the interrogation is Hayden, an australian agent, who's done the same on many occasions. He is the bad guy, or not?
I have to say that it was a bad idea to start this book at 11pm, I couldn't put it down. The way the author describes the scenes, especially when Ava is held captive, were gripping. You could feel Ava's pain but also her strength. One thing I liked is that the story is narrated from a 3rd person, so you get to see a bigger picture, like a movie. Even though the plot might be a tiny bit predictable I have to say that the journey was pretty awesome, and there were things that I wasn't actually expecting.
I don't want to give too much away so you can enjoy it as much as I did. Yes, there is a romance involved but is not the center of the story and the best thing is that is slowly built.
This is the first book that I read from this author so I'll probably look forward to more of her novels.
Read on, and enjoy :)
Ava is a girl in her 20's, who's still dealing with the death of her mother and the lack of a father figure. Sometimes she came across as stubborn and younger than she's supposed to be, but she's a very lovable character. Her dad is a journalist, who is pretty much out of her life. When Ava is kidnapped she's interrogated about an information that she supposedly has. The guy in charge of the interrogation is Hayden, an australian agent, who's done the same on many occasions. He is the bad guy, or not?
I have to say that it was a bad idea to start this book at 11pm, I couldn't put it down. The way the author describes the scenes, especially when Ava is held captive, were gripping. You could feel Ava's pain but also her strength. One thing I liked is that the story is narrated from a 3rd person, so you get to see a bigger picture, like a movie. Even though the plot might be a tiny bit predictable I have to say that the journey was pretty awesome, and there were things that I wasn't actually expecting.
I don't want to give too much away so you can enjoy it as much as I did. Yes, there is a romance involved but is not the center of the story and the best thing is that is slowly built.
This is the first book that I read from this author so I'll probably look forward to more of her novels.
Read on, and enjoy :)
August 13, 2014
Gahhh!
Thank you Nicole for letting me have one of the first reads of this book!
i dont even know where to start!
i loved this book.!
Ava is just a small town girl - with a tragic past, when Ava and a friend go on a spontaneous holiday, last thing they expect is someone is after them.
and then comes along Hayden - Australian bad boy. with his super good looks and serious personality.
this is a story about love, trust, betrayal and finding your happy ending after such a horrible past.
5 stars. *****
Thank you Nicole for letting me have one of the first reads of this book!
i dont even know where to start!
i loved this book.!
Ava is just a small town girl - with a tragic past, when Ava and a friend go on a spontaneous holiday, last thing they expect is someone is after them.
and then comes along Hayden - Australian bad boy. with his super good looks and serious personality.
this is a story about love, trust, betrayal and finding your happy ending after such a horrible past.
5 stars. *****
September 13, 2013
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review. I can honestly say that this has been by far her best work! This book has everything you can imagine. Suspense, romance, mystery and even humour. From the start of the book I wasn't sure what to expect as the book starts off with a bit of mystery. Yet as the story develops your heart breaks for the main character Ava who's been through an emotional heartbreaking life.
The author captivates you by bring the sadness and pain that Ava goes through that I was shocked by. One minute your feeling Ava's sadness the next the book turns suspenseful. I felt the book didn't drag on it flowed beautifully and developed and showed the strength in the authors writing.
The big turn around for me is towards the ending when things start to change for Ava with an unlikely character who surprised me. Throughout this book you will be shocked and surprised by the way the story is written. It's not the type of book I'd normally read but having been a fan of the authors two previous books I knew this book would be another hit! A truly captivating and heart racing book that will leave readers glued to the page. I highly recommend this book & cannot wait for her authors next novel. A WELL DESERVED 5 STARS *****
The author captivates you by bring the sadness and pain that Ava goes through that I was shocked by. One minute your feeling Ava's sadness the next the book turns suspenseful. I felt the book didn't drag on it flowed beautifully and developed and showed the strength in the authors writing.
The big turn around for me is towards the ending when things start to change for Ava with an unlikely character who surprised me. Throughout this book you will be shocked and surprised by the way the story is written. It's not the type of book I'd normally read but having been a fan of the authors two previous books I knew this book would be another hit! A truly captivating and heart racing book that will leave readers glued to the page. I highly recommend this book & cannot wait for her authors next novel. A WELL DESERVED 5 STARS *****
July 29, 2014
What I thought about the plot:
Holy political cover-ups was this a great book, one freaking thrill ride with a steamy twist! I loved every minute of it. Yes, even the creepy slimy scenes that you cringe after reading were sooo worth it...yes, I'm a sick puppy! From a small town in Australia to the forests of Thailand, the reading adventure was on, with so many Oh crap moments, this is a MUST weekend read. Ava and her friend Olivia have no idea what that spur of the moment trip will cost them. Hayden, is going to learn that sometimes rules are meant to be broke, Paul is going to realize that family is most definitely worth everything.
What I thought of the Characters:
Ava: My goodness what a fighter, coming out of the shell that she has lived in, the adventure she gets she is not expecting. She makes the phrase "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" to a whole new level, the word perseverance is ingrained in her soul. Coming out of her sad and hurtful past into a nightmare, she doesn't take it sitting down. Oh, no her fight or flight kicks in and her true metal shines through. In true sarcastic/ smart ass fashion she adds humor into the most horrid of situations. Nothing keeps her optimum down.
Olivia: She is Ava's rock through this whole experience even when she's not there, the friendship Ava and her share give hope to Ava to persevere. Not willing to let her friend go unfound she is a bad ass and will go to whomever to find her.
Hayden: I had mixed feeling about him, but the more I got into the story the more I became soft on him. His feeling are mixed about what he made to do, as compared to what he knows he should do. Yeah, he's between a rock and a hard place, but once things start coming to light he takes matters into his own hands. Strong and sexy his ways are brutal, and sometimes ruthless (not really physically, but mentally ). Guilt eats at him, and from personal experience he is bound and determined to make all wrongs right. The only thing is that he didn't count on his heart to be a factor in his ultimate deciding factor.
Paul: Really he should have put his family first, and if he was that restless being away from the hunt of a story...he should have never had any contact with his family what so ever.( not like he did anyway, but still.) Sometimes I was disturbed by his absence and void of relationship with his daughter but, there was a reason and they ultimately resolve their relationship.
Things I loved:
The speed of the book, it was never a dull moment and I love how the twisted scene worked to give the characters more of a believability. The emotions were so vivid you felt them, and they will have you gasping, angry and blushing along with them as the story gets intense. This book was everything I love in a book: suspense, a strong female character, almost unbeatable odds, a sinfully sexy strong male character and an awesome bestie. The steamier scenes had me swooning and blushing while screaming FINALLY! YOU BIG DUMMIES...lol yes lots of shouting going on while reading, and sometimes the words where not pleasant. :)
Things that annoyed me:
Stevenson, what a prick... he's a love to hate character basically the scumbag of the story along with others, it's his plot and ploy that lead to making this story great. Evidently his treacherous ways have slowly become his undoing. Paul, gosh who puts their family on the back burner to spread their carrier wings? Why give up on the only people who can love you unconditionally ? I was upset, and felt the hurt in Ava , at the loss of the daddy figure being but only a memory. But as this all annoyed me to no end, it fueled the hunger to finish book to see what happened in the end. I really wanted an Epilogue or a more filling ending, for me it ended abruptly and if felt a little cheated, again this is a great read don't get me wrong... but for me I'm greedy and want more.
Favorite Quote(s):
"You have everything you need here. You have a family that loves you. Don't make the same mistake I made. Family is worth so much more. Don't end up like me..."
" ...I can't let you leave, Ava. I can't protect you if I don't know where you are."
"I know what he did was wrong, but I also know the kind of guy he is. He can protect you, Ava"
"...You make me feel like I've never felt before. You make me feel alive. I don't know how we will make this work, with your work and everything, but I'm willing to give it a try if you are."
In a nutshell:
What are you waiting for?!?! if you want Hot, fast moving and slightly disturbing delicious read...by all means get this book! it's not for the faint of heart, there is some slightly heavy stuff involving kidnapping and some rough physical aspects. All that aside if you have a weekend that is just lacking excitement, or a few days off and want to skip laundry duty... This book will fill your day, with a heart pumping ,gut wrenching awesomeness of a story. Get comfy and Happy Reading :)
** Reviewed as part of Fun Fab and Tantalizing Reads**
Holy political cover-ups was this a great book, one freaking thrill ride with a steamy twist! I loved every minute of it. Yes, even the creepy slimy scenes that you cringe after reading were sooo worth it...yes, I'm a sick puppy! From a small town in Australia to the forests of Thailand, the reading adventure was on, with so many Oh crap moments, this is a MUST weekend read. Ava and her friend Olivia have no idea what that spur of the moment trip will cost them. Hayden, is going to learn that sometimes rules are meant to be broke, Paul is going to realize that family is most definitely worth everything.
What I thought of the Characters:
Ava: My goodness what a fighter, coming out of the shell that she has lived in, the adventure she gets she is not expecting. She makes the phrase "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" to a whole new level, the word perseverance is ingrained in her soul. Coming out of her sad and hurtful past into a nightmare, she doesn't take it sitting down. Oh, no her fight or flight kicks in and her true metal shines through. In true sarcastic/ smart ass fashion she adds humor into the most horrid of situations. Nothing keeps her optimum down.
Olivia: She is Ava's rock through this whole experience even when she's not there, the friendship Ava and her share give hope to Ava to persevere. Not willing to let her friend go unfound she is a bad ass and will go to whomever to find her.
Hayden: I had mixed feeling about him, but the more I got into the story the more I became soft on him. His feeling are mixed about what he made to do, as compared to what he knows he should do. Yeah, he's between a rock and a hard place, but once things start coming to light he takes matters into his own hands. Strong and sexy his ways are brutal, and sometimes ruthless (not really physically, but mentally ). Guilt eats at him, and from personal experience he is bound and determined to make all wrongs right. The only thing is that he didn't count on his heart to be a factor in his ultimate deciding factor.
Paul: Really he should have put his family first, and if he was that restless being away from the hunt of a story...he should have never had any contact with his family what so ever.( not like he did anyway, but still.) Sometimes I was disturbed by his absence and void of relationship with his daughter but, there was a reason and they ultimately resolve their relationship.
Things I loved:
The speed of the book, it was never a dull moment and I love how the twisted scene worked to give the characters more of a believability. The emotions were so vivid you felt them, and they will have you gasping, angry and blushing along with them as the story gets intense. This book was everything I love in a book: suspense, a strong female character, almost unbeatable odds, a sinfully sexy strong male character and an awesome bestie. The steamier scenes had me swooning and blushing while screaming FINALLY! YOU BIG DUMMIES...lol yes lots of shouting going on while reading, and sometimes the words where not pleasant. :)
Things that annoyed me:
Stevenson, what a prick... he's a love to hate character basically the scumbag of the story along with others, it's his plot and ploy that lead to making this story great. Evidently his treacherous ways have slowly become his undoing. Paul, gosh who puts their family on the back burner to spread their carrier wings? Why give up on the only people who can love you unconditionally ? I was upset, and felt the hurt in Ava , at the loss of the daddy figure being but only a memory. But as this all annoyed me to no end, it fueled the hunger to finish book to see what happened in the end. I really wanted an Epilogue or a more filling ending, for me it ended abruptly and if felt a little cheated, again this is a great read don't get me wrong... but for me I'm greedy and want more.
Favorite Quote(s):
"You have everything you need here. You have a family that loves you. Don't make the same mistake I made. Family is worth so much more. Don't end up like me..."
" ...I can't let you leave, Ava. I can't protect you if I don't know where you are."
"I know what he did was wrong, but I also know the kind of guy he is. He can protect you, Ava"
"...You make me feel like I've never felt before. You make me feel alive. I don't know how we will make this work, with your work and everything, but I'm willing to give it a try if you are."
In a nutshell:
What are you waiting for?!?! if you want Hot, fast moving and slightly disturbing delicious read...by all means get this book! it's not for the faint of heart, there is some slightly heavy stuff involving kidnapping and some rough physical aspects. All that aside if you have a weekend that is just lacking excitement, or a few days off and want to skip laundry duty... This book will fill your day, with a heart pumping ,gut wrenching awesomeness of a story. Get comfy and Happy Reading :)
** Reviewed as part of Fun Fab and Tantalizing Reads**
February 12, 2014
This was really good. Ava's mom dies on the way home from her high school graduation. For three years Ava has been depressed and not really living. Then one day she wakes up and decides to live again. First thing she does is book a trip for her and her best friend Olivia to Thailand. Only on her first day there she is kidnapped while shopping with her best friend.
Ava is held in an empty room with dirt floors and no window. Her only comfort is a sheet on the floor. She is told by a man named Hayden that if she answers his questions she will be rewarded. Disobey and she will be punished.
Here was my issue. Hayden knows from the moment he sees Ava that something is off. But he still keeps her locked up for thirteen days and still punishes her when she doesn't have the answers. Why isn't he listening to his life long instincts? Now he doesn't lay a hand on her but I did have issues with him saying I never hurt you. I beg to differ on that one. He never used his fists or a weapon, but he did starve her and didn't intervene when the guard who pull her hair or hit her. Or lets say when she was humiliated by having to bathe in front of him or use the bathroom in front of the other guards. Or when he would mess with her head and offer her all the food and water she wanted if only she would talk. Then take it away when she still couldn't
tell him anything. After all she knows nothing! I will say though that Hayden does redeem himself and I ended up loving him .
What I liked was that Ava was smart and she saved herself.That doesn't mean that she is out of danger, in fact she in even more danger because of what she did. Then there is the mystery of why she was taken and you find out pretty quickly. I liked that there were many POV.
Another issue, a small one but still was with Olivia. She doesn't act the way I thought a best friend would act when seeing the man who kidnapped your best friend. She was all singing his praises and telling Ava what a good man he is. She should be pissed and then be like okay he screwed up but.... he's a good guy.
For me this was a really enjoyable and easy to read book. Nothing to dark and some sexual tension but nothing over the top and unbelievable.
Ava is held in an empty room with dirt floors and no window. Her only comfort is a sheet on the floor. She is told by a man named Hayden that if she answers his questions she will be rewarded. Disobey and she will be punished.
Here was my issue. Hayden knows from the moment he sees Ava that something is off. But he still keeps her locked up for thirteen days and still punishes her when she doesn't have the answers. Why isn't he listening to his life long instincts? Now he doesn't lay a hand on her but I did have issues with him saying I never hurt you. I beg to differ on that one. He never used his fists or a weapon, but he did starve her and didn't intervene when the guard who pull her hair or hit her. Or lets say when she was humiliated by having to bathe in front of him or use the bathroom in front of the other guards. Or when he would mess with her head and offer her all the food and water she wanted if only she would talk. Then take it away when she still couldn't
tell him anything. After all she knows nothing! I will say though that Hayden does redeem himself and I ended up loving him .
What I liked was that Ava was smart and she saved herself.That doesn't mean that she is out of danger, in fact she in even more danger because of what she did. Then there is the mystery of why she was taken and you find out pretty quickly. I liked that there were many POV.
Another issue, a small one but still was with Olivia. She doesn't act the way I thought a best friend would act when seeing the man who kidnapped your best friend. She was all singing his praises and telling Ava what a good man he is. She should be pissed and then be like okay he screwed up but.... he's a good guy.
For me this was a really enjoyable and easy to read book. Nothing to dark and some sexual tension but nothing over the top and unbelievable.
September 13, 2016
HATS OFF TO NICOLE SALMOND!! read for an almost spoiler free review....
This is the first book I've read from this author and it will not be my last. Great cast, plot, and execution.
While the story is basic about a young girl on vacation getting kidnapped. During her captivity(and I will not tell you what is done to her)she experiences a level of fear and pain that could drive anyone nuts. I love how realistic it all was.
I love how you can relate to the heroine. Ava was scared, but did not lose hope or her wits. I honestly felt like I was in that room with her. All her fears and thoughts were the same that went through my head..... Will she be beaten? raped? will she live? an most importantly how much more can she take?
Her captor is not a nice man, but is he a bad guy? well you have to read to find out...
Overall this was a great read. The writing style was my favorite part. N.S. gave us the right amount of details to get a visual without being too gritty. And the heroine was a survivor I love her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a suspenseful romance with the right amount of darkness without being over the top(the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I prefer a book with more detailed romance scenes. Its more like a 4.5.)
This is the first book I've read from this author and it will not be my last. Great cast, plot, and execution.
While the story is basic about a young girl on vacation getting kidnapped. During her captivity(and I will not tell you what is done to her)she experiences a level of fear and pain that could drive anyone nuts. I love how realistic it all was.
I love how you can relate to the heroine. Ava was scared, but did not lose hope or her wits. I honestly felt like I was in that room with her. All her fears and thoughts were the same that went through my head..... Will she be beaten? raped? will she live? an most importantly how much more can she take?
Her captor is not a nice man, but is he a bad guy? well you have to read to find out...
Overall this was a great read. The writing style was my favorite part. N.S. gave us the right amount of details to get a visual without being too gritty. And the heroine was a survivor I love her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a suspenseful romance with the right amount of darkness without being over the top(the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I prefer a book with more detailed romance scenes. Its more like a 4.5.)
September 29, 2013
Wow, this book was really a surprise for me. I loved it. It is very Australian but it still had some good action and sexual tension. Its about a girl abducted by an SAS officer who has been ordered to get info about a terrorist that the girl supposedly knows about. Our officer is pretty mean to the girl at first until he slowly realizes that something is wrong and this girl knows nothing about any terrorist.
His suspicions are confirmed and he realizes that both he and the girl are in the middle of a much bigger story and now he goes from interrogator to protector. And, of course......
But its a great little story and a very good read.
His suspicions are confirmed and he realizes that both he and the girl are in the middle of a much bigger story and now he goes from interrogator to protector. And, of course......
But its a great little story and a very good read.
November 1, 2013
I picked this up when it was a new release and free and I must say it was a pleasant surprise that exceeded my expectations!
Just the right amount of family drama, suspense and mystery leading up to a slow-simmering romance that leaves you wanting more.
When Ava is kidnapped and held by people who think she is the answer to their mission...unexpected circumstances launch her into a desperate run for her life. Along the way she teams up with an unlikely but not altogether surprising ally and together they fight to find the truth and a passage to safety.
This new novel is filled with action, passion and some pretty scary situations that cause terrifying nightmares for Ava...but she learns to fight for strength to survive against all and emerges at the end, a new woman.
There are a few typos and some words and phrases that I suspect some people won't understand since the author is from Australia and there a few expressions I didn't get...but it didn't affect the story and it was a quick, fast paced read that is great for an afternoon at the beach!
I gave it 5 stars for the entertainment and inventive story as well as the fact that it was very well written and deeper than some books of this genre. Look forward to reading more from Nicole Salmond!
Just the right amount of family drama, suspense and mystery leading up to a slow-simmering romance that leaves you wanting more.
When Ava is kidnapped and held by people who think she is the answer to their mission...unexpected circumstances launch her into a desperate run for her life. Along the way she teams up with an unlikely but not altogether surprising ally and together they fight to find the truth and a passage to safety.
This new novel is filled with action, passion and some pretty scary situations that cause terrifying nightmares for Ava...but she learns to fight for strength to survive against all and emerges at the end, a new woman.
There are a few typos and some words and phrases that I suspect some people won't understand since the author is from Australia and there a few expressions I didn't get...but it didn't affect the story and it was a quick, fast paced read that is great for an afternoon at the beach!
I gave it 5 stars for the entertainment and inventive story as well as the fact that it was very well written and deeper than some books of this genre. Look forward to reading more from Nicole Salmond!
March 16, 2015
Meh...On the fence about this one/b
The idea of this story is a good one, the execution is off for me. It reads more like a first draft than the final copy. This book is based in Australia, but takes place in Thailand, mostly. It has the English versions of words (realized is realised) and that always throws me off, but I did get used to it. There was one time that she spelled realized with a z though, so go figure.
There were things that happened that were hard to swallow for me, like her friend showing up at the hotel, without going into too much detail about it, I am just saying; the believability of it is questionable. There are more scenario's like that throughout the book.
In retrospect, I originally gave this 3 stars, I think I'm going to change it to 2.5 Stars now. It wasn't completely unenjoyable.
The idea of this story is a good one, the execution is off for me. It reads more like a first draft than the final copy. This book is based in Australia, but takes place in Thailand, mostly. It has the English versions of words (realized is realised) and that always throws me off, but I did get used to it. There was one time that she spelled realized with a z though, so go figure.
There were things that happened that were hard to swallow for me, like her friend showing up at the hotel, without going into too much detail about it, I am just saying; the believability of it is questionable. There are more scenario's like that throughout the book.
In retrospect, I originally gave this 3 stars, I think I'm going to change it to 2.5 Stars now. It wasn't completely unenjoyable.
August 11, 2014
I received this book free through the Goodreads First Read program.
I really wanted to like this book more. I liked the character of Ava but the story was fairly predictable - most would presume the ending after reading only a few chapters. I love how Ava uses self-talk/motivation to help her continue on through awful circumstances, profanity excepted. This was a quick read (I finished in just over 2 hours) and suitable for a mild distraction from life.
P.S. Couple errors/issues in print - Page 100 has 'taken' when 'taking' is the word needed and page 165 has only 2 words on it.. which just looks odd.
Overall a 3/5.
I really wanted to like this book more. I liked the character of Ava but the story was fairly predictable - most would presume the ending after reading only a few chapters. I love how Ava uses self-talk/motivation to help her continue on through awful circumstances, profanity excepted. This was a quick read (I finished in just over 2 hours) and suitable for a mild distraction from life.
P.S. Couple errors/issues in print - Page 100 has 'taken' when 'taking' is the word needed and page 165 has only 2 words on it.. which just looks odd.
Overall a 3/5.
September 10, 2013
Release Date 20th September 2013!
Well I must say I loved it- but that's because I wrote it! LOL
Very different from any of my other work, but definitely worth the read! :)
Well I must say I loved it- but that's because I wrote it! LOL
Very different from any of my other work, but definitely worth the read! :)
Want to read
September 27, 2013Amazon freebie 9/27/13
Thanks KC!
Thanks KC!
Want to read
September 29, 2013Free on Amazon! Sep 28, 2013
October 23, 2013
This was more of a 3.5 star for me but I still liked it more than to just give it a 3!
November 2, 2013
najaaaaaa. ging so
December 29, 2013
Review to Come
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