Oh the bliss of it. What perfect words from the novel to describe how wonderful the book was!
Author Jody Hedlund crafted a beautiful world and well-built characters. The scenery--whether of a beach or mountains--was gorgeous, and the characters were so vivid I almost saw them with my eyes instead of my mind. The inner conflicts of the main female protagonist, Willow, and the main male protagonist--Caleb--were carefully crafted into the book, and something was always happening. You have to love that Caleb writes poetry, that there's a map at the beginning, and the side characters Daisy and Juliet... who I have a feeling will be in this series' next novels!
For the characters, the book wasn't always "bliss". They went through hard times, there was turmoil and confusion, and they had harsh physical injuries. But this showed Jody Hedlund's good writing all the more as, in my mind, I ached for the protagonists and begged for them to make the right choice. I cannot get over her good writing overall, from how Jody had a quick-moving plot to how she gave the characters' perspectives sharp contrast, which made me mentally beg for them to understand each other, rooting for them all the more.
I have to admit the novel was too intimate (or “spicy” and "steamy"). Don’t get me wrong–I like the tender callous of his finger around her wrist, her heart speeding up, or him feeling her hair. But laying down and being pressed against other’s bodies, or herself briefly imagining her body on top of his? I had to skim over those parts, and others. Again, the physical part of romance wasn’t bad overall, but now and then, it was too much--at least, for me.
All the same, the romance was very sweet, and from character development to plot layout, the novel was incredibly well-written. I found myself almost seeing the characters and the scenery surrounding them, and my heart would ache and cheer for Willow and Caleb, always on their side. Although this is a new series, I'd say this is Jody Hedlund's finest Bride Ships book yet! 4.5/5 stars!