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Between Two Worlds #3
Welcome, Reluctant Stranger
A Riveting Tale of Love, Loss, and Finding Your Own Way.
Can a family bury its secret past?
Like her long-lost father, Leilani heals people. But can she heal herself? Accept the awful truth about her father―left behind when her family fled the troubled country of Costa Mora eighteen years ago?
Brokenhearted, Justin just wants to drown his sorrows. But he finds more trouble than he’s looking for when thugs assault him and a mysterious woman with a dead aim rescues him.
A young woman’s inner journey accepting her past spun within a tale of love and past political intrigue.
Can a family bury its secret past?
Like her long-lost father, Leilani heals people. But can she heal herself? Accept the awful truth about her father―left behind when her family fled the troubled country of Costa Mora eighteen years ago?
Brokenhearted, Justin just wants to drown his sorrows. But he finds more trouble than he’s looking for when thugs assault him and a mysterious woman with a dead aim rescues him.
A young woman’s inner journey accepting her past spun within a tale of love and past political intrigue.
318 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
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533 people want to read
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August 23, 2015
“The present changes the past. Looking back you do not find what you left behind.”
---- Kiran Desai
Evy Journey has penned a soul touching contemporary romance novel, Welcome, Reluctant Stranger which is the third book in the Between Two Worlds series, that tells the story of a young woman who saves the life of a stranger by some local thugs thus bringing these two unknown souls together.
Synopsis:
A Riveting Tale of Love, Loss, and Finding Your Own Way.
Can a family bury its secret past?
Like her long-lost father, Leilani heals people. But can she heal herself? Accept the awful truth about her father―left behind when her family fled the troubled country of Costa Mora eighteen years ago?
Brokenhearted, Justin just wants to drown his sorrows. But he finds more trouble than he’s looking for when thugs assault him and a mysterious woman with a dead aim rescues him.
A young woman’s inner journey accepting her past spun within a tale of love and past political intrigue.
Leilani moved to US when she was a little girl from Costa Mora, followed by a scandal involving her father. Now a grown up woman, Leilani is leading her own life along with her mother in the US, when one day, she saves the life of a stranger who was getting thrashed by some local thugs. Thus an instant friendship is strike between Leilani and the stranger named, Justin and with his sister and his husband, which finally makes Leilani and Justin fall for each other. Until one day, news come knocking at Leilani's doorstep that there is a way to save her father who couldn't flee with them back in the time. Now Leilani needs Justin's help to save her father, whereas Leilani is split between the idea whether she should get serious with an US citizen, like Justin to get help.
The book deals with some strong issues like political stigma, scandals as well as with bitter past that the author has strikingly depicted into her story line. The writing style is articulate layered with lots of emotions. The narrative is kept exciting to the point and the plot unfolds with great depth thus pulling the readers into it's vast intensity. The book is not a page turner, but has enough power to keep the readers glued till the very last page, especially considering the twists that the author introduces into her plot skillfully.
The book has its own humorous moments that is enough to tickle the funny bones of the readers. The characters are drawn realistically, with vivid depths into their past. The main protagonist, Leilani is layered under lots of complexities given the fact that she knows nothing about her past. Justin on the other hand is a caring and a thoughtful man, who himself goes through lots of personal troubles after falling for Leilani.
Their mild chemistry will keep the readers engrossed into the story and the constant roadblock of Leilani's reluctance to have peace with her inner soul as well as her own past, keeps both the protagonists from getting one another peacefully. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I believe anyone with an interest for contemporary fiction will love to read this book.
Verdict: Perfect for a beach read.
Courtesy: I received this book for a blog tour.
---- Kiran Desai
Evy Journey has penned a soul touching contemporary romance novel, Welcome, Reluctant Stranger which is the third book in the Between Two Worlds series, that tells the story of a young woman who saves the life of a stranger by some local thugs thus bringing these two unknown souls together.
Synopsis:
A Riveting Tale of Love, Loss, and Finding Your Own Way.
Can a family bury its secret past?
Like her long-lost father, Leilani heals people. But can she heal herself? Accept the awful truth about her father―left behind when her family fled the troubled country of Costa Mora eighteen years ago?
Brokenhearted, Justin just wants to drown his sorrows. But he finds more trouble than he’s looking for when thugs assault him and a mysterious woman with a dead aim rescues him.
A young woman’s inner journey accepting her past spun within a tale of love and past political intrigue.
Leilani moved to US when she was a little girl from Costa Mora, followed by a scandal involving her father. Now a grown up woman, Leilani is leading her own life along with her mother in the US, when one day, she saves the life of a stranger who was getting thrashed by some local thugs. Thus an instant friendship is strike between Leilani and the stranger named, Justin and with his sister and his husband, which finally makes Leilani and Justin fall for each other. Until one day, news come knocking at Leilani's doorstep that there is a way to save her father who couldn't flee with them back in the time. Now Leilani needs Justin's help to save her father, whereas Leilani is split between the idea whether she should get serious with an US citizen, like Justin to get help.
The book deals with some strong issues like political stigma, scandals as well as with bitter past that the author has strikingly depicted into her story line. The writing style is articulate layered with lots of emotions. The narrative is kept exciting to the point and the plot unfolds with great depth thus pulling the readers into it's vast intensity. The book is not a page turner, but has enough power to keep the readers glued till the very last page, especially considering the twists that the author introduces into her plot skillfully.
The book has its own humorous moments that is enough to tickle the funny bones of the readers. The characters are drawn realistically, with vivid depths into their past. The main protagonist, Leilani is layered under lots of complexities given the fact that she knows nothing about her past. Justin on the other hand is a caring and a thoughtful man, who himself goes through lots of personal troubles after falling for Leilani.
Their mild chemistry will keep the readers engrossed into the story and the constant roadblock of Leilani's reluctance to have peace with her inner soul as well as her own past, keeps both the protagonists from getting one another peacefully. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I believe anyone with an interest for contemporary fiction will love to read this book.
Verdict: Perfect for a beach read.
Courtesy: I received this book for a blog tour.
March 7, 2018
This had so much potential to be an awesome story. But it ended up just being a good story.
This is the third book in a series and I didn’t know that going into this book, so I would recommend picking up the other books before you start this one as it will be easier for you to follow and more enjoyable.
This piqued my interest because of its exploration of psychology, the mind, and human nature. Those are some of my favorite topics being a psychology student. Anytime I can analyze characters and see great development I get super exciting. I enjoy reading about the motives behind why people do what they do. This just left me lacking more.
The book follows the main character Leilani who is a sheltered child. She is suddenly pulled from her life and school by her mother. Who puts her on a plane and they move to America. As a character, she is shy, quiet, and often quite awkward. She is forever cautious and very careful. She says away from relationships and is deeply afraid of losing people and getting close to them. She was quite a relatable character in many ways and I enjoyed that.
Overall this book was okay. The storyline and writing were interesting but lacking depth. The pace was far too slow and at points, I found myself just wishing it would be over. I thought the ending was little more exciting but it was quite predictable. It was a pleasant and insightful read. I am glad I gave it a chance even with its many issues.
This is the third book in a series and I didn’t know that going into this book, so I would recommend picking up the other books before you start this one as it will be easier for you to follow and more enjoyable.
This piqued my interest because of its exploration of psychology, the mind, and human nature. Those are some of my favorite topics being a psychology student. Anytime I can analyze characters and see great development I get super exciting. I enjoy reading about the motives behind why people do what they do. This just left me lacking more.
The book follows the main character Leilani who is a sheltered child. She is suddenly pulled from her life and school by her mother. Who puts her on a plane and they move to America. As a character, she is shy, quiet, and often quite awkward. She is forever cautious and very careful. She says away from relationships and is deeply afraid of losing people and getting close to them. She was quite a relatable character in many ways and I enjoyed that.
Overall this book was okay. The storyline and writing were interesting but lacking depth. The pace was far too slow and at points, I found myself just wishing it would be over. I thought the ending was little more exciting but it was quite predictable. It was a pleasant and insightful read. I am glad I gave it a chance even with its many issues.
February 24, 2018
This novel by Evy Journey tells the story of a woman named Leilani who has led a rather troubling life with her father suddenly disappearing and her mother not always being there. One day, she sees a man (Justin) being assaulted. She helps to free him from the assaulters and they eventually start a romantic relationship after meeting yet again a week later. However, Leilani suddenly receives startling news that her long-lost father might actually be alive but is held captive, and she embarks with Justin to help free him. Will they succeed or end up causing major damage?
The novel is an interesting mix of the mystery and romance genre. It’s a fun action-packed read which makes it ideal for those looking for a somewhat easy read. At 314 pages, it might be a little long for some, but overall, if you’re looking for a new interesting read, definitely try this novel.
The novel is an interesting mix of the mystery and romance genre. It’s a fun action-packed read which makes it ideal for those looking for a somewhat easy read. At 314 pages, it might be a little long for some, but overall, if you’re looking for a new interesting read, definitely try this novel.
May 4, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. While reading I was able to get immersed in the characters, the plot, and the author’s writing style. In this story Leilani’s family secrets starts unveil when a friend of her father, who disappeared, knocks at their door. All the while she meets Justin who is an adorable computer nerd who gave up on love. Leilani is still not sure if her father is a hero or a villain, all she knows is she must save him from their old island home. This book captivated my attention from the first few pages and I was left intrigued by what would happen next. I liked how the story unfolded and enjoyed the many interesting twists. This is a thrilling book and a great installment to the series. I highly recommend the series.
March 11, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Leilani “Lani” Torres comes to the rescue just in time. Justin Halverson is a man with troubles that he’s trying to internalize – not talk about. None of these characters seem to have a simple life – seem more complex. There are times that you’ll wonder what each of them is thinking but not being told you have no way of knowing. So you will need to pay attention to the scenes as they go by to see if those blanks get filled in.
Some of the story may appear to be suspenseful but we get some international intrigue as well. Leilani is in the dark about her father but so are we. I don’t really get a sense how our main characters are going to intertwine their stories. I’m almost to the halfway point but don’t feel how these two are going to connect. But then the author surprises me - as if she knew what I was thinking.
I have to tell you that I had this story all wrong. I thought this was Leilani’s story to tell. Another surprise this author gave me was when I was getting my post ready and I looked back at the first two books. This book is not Leilani’s story to tell but Justin’s. This series is his family’s story. And that must have been why I was so interested in his sister Elise’s story.
There were times where it was easy to get pulled away in order to get things done. It wasn’t a DNF feeling because I didn’t have an issue picking the story back up again. It’s not a story that I was in a rush to read but even the television was able to pull my attention away from what was going on. It seemed like it took forever for anything between Leilani and Justin to develop. Almost as if the story was a little one sided. So if you want to learn from me it would be to start this series from a beginning so you get a sense of Justin and his family and how he got where he was at the beginning of this book – it may or may not help. But if we don’t try, we’ll never know.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Leilani “Lani” Torres comes to the rescue just in time. Justin Halverson is a man with troubles that he’s trying to internalize – not talk about. None of these characters seem to have a simple life – seem more complex. There are times that you’ll wonder what each of them is thinking but not being told you have no way of knowing. So you will need to pay attention to the scenes as they go by to see if those blanks get filled in.
Some of the story may appear to be suspenseful but we get some international intrigue as well. Leilani is in the dark about her father but so are we. I don’t really get a sense how our main characters are going to intertwine their stories. I’m almost to the halfway point but don’t feel how these two are going to connect. But then the author surprises me - as if she knew what I was thinking.
I have to tell you that I had this story all wrong. I thought this was Leilani’s story to tell. Another surprise this author gave me was when I was getting my post ready and I looked back at the first two books. This book is not Leilani’s story to tell but Justin’s. This series is his family’s story. And that must have been why I was so interested in his sister Elise’s story.
There were times where it was easy to get pulled away in order to get things done. It wasn’t a DNF feeling because I didn’t have an issue picking the story back up again. It’s not a story that I was in a rush to read but even the television was able to pull my attention away from what was going on. It seemed like it took forever for anything between Leilani and Justin to develop. Almost as if the story was a little one sided. So if you want to learn from me it would be to start this series from a beginning so you get a sense of Justin and his family and how he got where he was at the beginning of this book – it may or may not help. But if we don’t try, we’ll never know.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
September 30, 2024
loved this book!
Captivating, engaging, interesting, well developed, and flawless, and some of the words that I would use to describe this book. The author made an incredible job when writing this sensitive novel that blends suspense, romance, and a deep exploration of emotional and physical displacement.
One of the characteristics that made this book stand out from others is the way in which the author created the characters, the multidimensional characters captivate the readers whose internal struggles are relatable and deeply felt. Also, the author got to balance romance and suspense very well, healing to make the book emotional and thrilling. Also, this novel portrays the sensitivity of the immigrant experience, talking about themes like identity, cultural displacement and longing for home. Overall, this book is a memorable read for those interested in themes like healing, personal transformation and identity.
Captivating, engaging, interesting, well developed, and flawless, and some of the words that I would use to describe this book. The author made an incredible job when writing this sensitive novel that blends suspense, romance, and a deep exploration of emotional and physical displacement.
One of the characteristics that made this book stand out from others is the way in which the author created the characters, the multidimensional characters captivate the readers whose internal struggles are relatable and deeply felt. Also, the author got to balance romance and suspense very well, healing to make the book emotional and thrilling. Also, this novel portrays the sensitivity of the immigrant experience, talking about themes like identity, cultural displacement and longing for home. Overall, this book is a memorable read for those interested in themes like healing, personal transformation and identity.
October 3, 2024
My favorite one
This book was my favorite among the three in the series, and I assure it will be yours too. The entire plot presents a story of love and political tension, but this time with more intense and interesting narratives. What I liked most is that the reading explores challenges and prejudices in a divided, multicultural world where interpersonal relationships are visible in a context of political instability, where cultural differences are both a barrier and a bridge. I felt a connection to the characters as I live in a country different from the one I was born in, and I also had to confront my own beliefs and fears while trying to build meaningful connections in a new world. I really enjoyed this book; it reminded me of my past, helped me reflect on my identity, and made me understand the power of love in difficult times.
This book was my favorite among the three in the series, and I assure it will be yours too. The entire plot presents a story of love and political tension, but this time with more intense and interesting narratives. What I liked most is that the reading explores challenges and prejudices in a divided, multicultural world where interpersonal relationships are visible in a context of political instability, where cultural differences are both a barrier and a bridge. I felt a connection to the characters as I live in a country different from the one I was born in, and I also had to confront my own beliefs and fears while trying to build meaningful connections in a new world. I really enjoyed this book; it reminded me of my past, helped me reflect on my identity, and made me understand the power of love in difficult times.
February 26, 2018
I love a good romance mixed with mystery and that is exactly what I found in Welcome, Reluctant Stranger. Although this is the third book in the series, you can read it without being lost. Each book is based on a different love story, with some of the characters from the previous books appearing in this one. The story is that of Leilani and Justin. Leilani comes to Justin's rescue after she sees him being assaulted and saves him by wielding a gun. The plot thickens as she and Justin fall in love despite Justin's recent, nasty breakup, and Leilani's doubt of their ethnic differences, and news arrives of Leilani's missing father. This was a good, slow-paced romance sprinkled with mystery and an ending that will make you smile.
October 3, 2024
Learning and accepting our own past can be truly healing.
This read caught my attention from the first page on. Leilani is a mesmerizing character full of secrets and complexity. She has it in her to be the main character for sure. What I found very evident in this book is the importance of our past for our future. It can really mess with you, when you don’t work on yourself and your past experiences. It can have a huge impact on how you behave and what decisions you take later on. I found it admirable that Leilani actually did something to stop avoiding what had been hunting her for so long. Learning and accepting our own past can be truly healing.
This read caught my attention from the first page on. Leilani is a mesmerizing character full of secrets and complexity. She has it in her to be the main character for sure. What I found very evident in this book is the importance of our past for our future. It can really mess with you, when you don’t work on yourself and your past experiences. It can have a huge impact on how you behave and what decisions you take later on. I found it admirable that Leilani actually did something to stop avoiding what had been hunting her for so long. Learning and accepting our own past can be truly healing.
October 3, 2024
I have found this series of books to be very interesting and relatable. I believe that family issues will always be very important in anyone's life, that's why I found this specific book so interesting. The book focuses on understanding the protagonist's relationship with her missing father, it tells how all that search leads her to the truth and to have even more questions about her history. The narrative hooked me completely from book one to this installment, plus the author manages to connect with you through the characters and their stories, which for me makes the book more interesting and exciting. It is an easy to read and very entertaining book.
May 25, 2015
`I owe my rescue to your expert handling of a gun. Are you a female James Bond?'
Follow Evy Journey on her website and worlds of creativity open. She states as her lead in, `I see. I watch. I think. Therefore, I write.' But reading all the information she offers there about the career of writing among many other topics is a satisfying experience. Journey earned her PhD from the University of Illinois and has enjoyed a career in a mental health program in both research and evaluation. She writes love stories - four to date - and enjoys the experience of entering her characters' minds and emotions. `My novels deal with protagonists' insecurities and disappointments, love/hate relationships with parents, characters who seem to behave out-of-character, and even life events not typically included in romantic fiction. My stories do have happy epilogues, and I've tried to work in intriguing plotlines into them....So, why write romance? The main reason, of course, is I like reading a good well-written romance. My love for reading, after all, was sparked and sustained by devouring Jane Austen. I'm also a sucker for happy endings. I find enough that depresses me about real life, but seek no catharsis by writing about it. I want escape, entertainment. I don't strive to enlighten. Not consciously, anyway, but because my previous training has given me a bias, I'm also interested in the inner lives of characters, including the passages they go through. I also love beautiful prose. I confess to being enchanted with words that evoke lyrical or haunting images and written with much thought in choosing the most economical, liveliest prose possible.'
The pleasure of reading EJourney (the moniker under which she writes) is like dining in a fine restaurant: the word are placed on the page in a seductive way, assuring that interest in the characters and their development progresses with such urgency that pausing between chapters seems almost a crime. Her story is so well developed that it begs explanation to readers unfamiliar with EJourney's gifts. This being Book 3 of the Between Two Worlds series Evy in the Prologue provides the background information of the childhood experience Leilani Torres endured moving from her island home on Costa Mora in the beginning of the series - eloquent, rich in detail, yet not repetitive. In Chapter one Leilani is a therapist in San Francisco, some 18 years later, and for the quick summary of the plot we turn to Evy's lines:' Nine-year-old Leilani and her family mysteriously flee their country, leaving her father. Eighteen ears later, her peaceful solitary life ends when she rescues Justin Halverson from thugs and learns her father plotted to kill the murderous Costa Moran president. With Justin, she returns to smuggle her father quietly out of Costa Mora, where she reconnects with her roots. But can she forgive her father, accept him for who he is? Can she finally be at peace with who she is? The book interweaves a love story into a tale of past political intrigue and Leilani's inner journey, accepting her past.'
Once again we have substantial proof that EJourney is an important author of substance. Romance, intrigue, a study of family...it is all here.
Follow Evy Journey on her website and worlds of creativity open. She states as her lead in, `I see. I watch. I think. Therefore, I write.' But reading all the information she offers there about the career of writing among many other topics is a satisfying experience. Journey earned her PhD from the University of Illinois and has enjoyed a career in a mental health program in both research and evaluation. She writes love stories - four to date - and enjoys the experience of entering her characters' minds and emotions. `My novels deal with protagonists' insecurities and disappointments, love/hate relationships with parents, characters who seem to behave out-of-character, and even life events not typically included in romantic fiction. My stories do have happy epilogues, and I've tried to work in intriguing plotlines into them....So, why write romance? The main reason, of course, is I like reading a good well-written romance. My love for reading, after all, was sparked and sustained by devouring Jane Austen. I'm also a sucker for happy endings. I find enough that depresses me about real life, but seek no catharsis by writing about it. I want escape, entertainment. I don't strive to enlighten. Not consciously, anyway, but because my previous training has given me a bias, I'm also interested in the inner lives of characters, including the passages they go through. I also love beautiful prose. I confess to being enchanted with words that evoke lyrical or haunting images and written with much thought in choosing the most economical, liveliest prose possible.'
The pleasure of reading EJourney (the moniker under which she writes) is like dining in a fine restaurant: the word are placed on the page in a seductive way, assuring that interest in the characters and their development progresses with such urgency that pausing between chapters seems almost a crime. Her story is so well developed that it begs explanation to readers unfamiliar with EJourney's gifts. This being Book 3 of the Between Two Worlds series Evy in the Prologue provides the background information of the childhood experience Leilani Torres endured moving from her island home on Costa Mora in the beginning of the series - eloquent, rich in detail, yet not repetitive. In Chapter one Leilani is a therapist in San Francisco, some 18 years later, and for the quick summary of the plot we turn to Evy's lines:' Nine-year-old Leilani and her family mysteriously flee their country, leaving her father. Eighteen ears later, her peaceful solitary life ends when she rescues Justin Halverson from thugs and learns her father plotted to kill the murderous Costa Moran president. With Justin, she returns to smuggle her father quietly out of Costa Mora, where she reconnects with her roots. But can she forgive her father, accept him for who he is? Can she finally be at peace with who she is? The book interweaves a love story into a tale of past political intrigue and Leilani's inner journey, accepting her past.'
Once again we have substantial proof that EJourney is an important author of substance. Romance, intrigue, a study of family...it is all here.
June 9, 2015
I enjoyed this sweet and clean romance. It made me feel all nice and good. I loved Leilani and Justin's relationship and I can somehow relate to a whirlwind romance when things change before you know it.
I was approached by the author to read the book and I was a little concerned that this was the third book in a series and whether I could approach it as a standalone.
But I needn't have worried because the series looks at stories of one couple every book. This book looked at Leilani and Justin.
Leilani is from Costa Mora, a small country shrouded in disputes, civil wars, unrest, corruption and political upheavals. Her family brings her to safe lands when she was young and she has wondered about why they really moved since then.
Justin is a dashing man who finds his life upturned when his girlfriend breaks up with him and he is accosted by thugs.
What happens when a chance encounter happens. How does life play Cupid with Leilani and Justin?
I wondered when I read the book, about the chemistry between Leilani and Justin. It is latent, so to speak. There are books where the chemistry, the action and indeed the feeling between the leads is so apparent that you feel swept away. This book was a lot more slower and indeed, made you read between the lines to discover a familiar sort of camaraderie that had formed between Justin and Leilani. From this camaraderie came a need to be with the other person which superseded their friendship and transformed it into love.
I do know how it feels to have that one person who suddenly becomes a sounding board for everything you have to say. So I could feel how Justin had somehow taken on that role of being Leilani's sounding board and became someone she could depend on.
There is also an element of suspense in the book related to Leilani's past and I think it made good reading. The author has written very well about Leilani going headstrong to confronting her past.
However, I feel, the author hurried up the end too much which is why I deducted one star. I felt she hurried through Leilani's past and also the Epilogue was badly constructed in terms of the writing. There were lot of unanswered questions which somehow didn't feel answered and I felt I didn't get proper closure about the characters when I read the Epilogue or the end of the book. It felt too abrupt and did not transition smoothly.
I do hope I get a chance to read the other 2 books which preceeded this book because I am interested in the story now.
I was approached by the author to read the book and I was a little concerned that this was the third book in a series and whether I could approach it as a standalone.
But I needn't have worried because the series looks at stories of one couple every book. This book looked at Leilani and Justin.
Leilani is from Costa Mora, a small country shrouded in disputes, civil wars, unrest, corruption and political upheavals. Her family brings her to safe lands when she was young and she has wondered about why they really moved since then.
Justin is a dashing man who finds his life upturned when his girlfriend breaks up with him and he is accosted by thugs.
What happens when a chance encounter happens. How does life play Cupid with Leilani and Justin?
I wondered when I read the book, about the chemistry between Leilani and Justin. It is latent, so to speak. There are books where the chemistry, the action and indeed the feeling between the leads is so apparent that you feel swept away. This book was a lot more slower and indeed, made you read between the lines to discover a familiar sort of camaraderie that had formed between Justin and Leilani. From this camaraderie came a need to be with the other person which superseded their friendship and transformed it into love.
I do know how it feels to have that one person who suddenly becomes a sounding board for everything you have to say. So I could feel how Justin had somehow taken on that role of being Leilani's sounding board and became someone she could depend on.
There is also an element of suspense in the book related to Leilani's past and I think it made good reading. The author has written very well about Leilani going headstrong to confronting her past.
However, I feel, the author hurried up the end too much which is why I deducted one star. I felt she hurried through Leilani's past and also the Epilogue was badly constructed in terms of the writing. There were lot of unanswered questions which somehow didn't feel answered and I felt I didn't get proper closure about the characters when I read the Epilogue or the end of the book. It felt too abrupt and did not transition smoothly.
I do hope I get a chance to read the other 2 books which preceeded this book because I am interested in the story now.
September 21, 2015
BOOK REVIEW:
The third instalment of the series lived up to the expectations I had from the previous books I had read. It followed the already established romance / drama pattern and lived it up with strong female characters. This time, the story is about Leilani, a pampered child whose family takes a sudden flight from one country to another due to various reasons. What happens nearly decades later when her random act of bravery and kindness opens up a portal to her past and how she reacts to all that forms the rest of the story.
I actually sympathised with Leilani as I felt she was trying to find out the meaning of love and trying to recover from drastic, life changing truths that shake a very comfortable existence. In times like these, deepest emotional turmoil would plague even the strongest of people. Anyone who faces what Leilani faces would start questioning their own identity. While the previous books were about Elise and her mother, this one also has Elise in an important role, as a really good friend.
The story is about Elise’s brother Justin who starts dating Leilani. But then a series of lies, hidden truths and past secrets start haunting Leilani and through all this, she has Justin by her side, supporting her. The role reversal between the lead couple, Justin and Leilani and the way they met is a refreshing change from the usual run of the mill stereotypical man – saves – woman – and – carries – her – off – into – the – sunset kind of books.
It takes a lot of effort to write an intriguing story and still manage to keep the strong surge (undercurrent) of emotions going strong. E Journey does it again. Her words are easy to understand, follow and the language is a joy to read. The characters are not exactly god like and flawless but they make very human mistakes that make them endearing. The books can be classified into many genres.
The overall plot is nicely woven and the character description is a joy to read. The reader would immediately pick favourites from the book and feel an immediate connection with them. I greeted Elise like an old friend and also loved the central focus of this book. And this is the book where I felt the title added more intrigue to the story.
E Journey has once again written a book that prevented me from noticing the time once I got involved in it. Really loved the story line. Yes, it had a few faults, but nothing hampered the overall reading experience.
The third instalment of the series lived up to the expectations I had from the previous books I had read. It followed the already established romance / drama pattern and lived it up with strong female characters. This time, the story is about Leilani, a pampered child whose family takes a sudden flight from one country to another due to various reasons. What happens nearly decades later when her random act of bravery and kindness opens up a portal to her past and how she reacts to all that forms the rest of the story.
I actually sympathised with Leilani as I felt she was trying to find out the meaning of love and trying to recover from drastic, life changing truths that shake a very comfortable existence. In times like these, deepest emotional turmoil would plague even the strongest of people. Anyone who faces what Leilani faces would start questioning their own identity. While the previous books were about Elise and her mother, this one also has Elise in an important role, as a really good friend.
The story is about Elise’s brother Justin who starts dating Leilani. But then a series of lies, hidden truths and past secrets start haunting Leilani and through all this, she has Justin by her side, supporting her. The role reversal between the lead couple, Justin and Leilani and the way they met is a refreshing change from the usual run of the mill stereotypical man – saves – woman – and – carries – her – off – into – the – sunset kind of books.
It takes a lot of effort to write an intriguing story and still manage to keep the strong surge (undercurrent) of emotions going strong. E Journey does it again. Her words are easy to understand, follow and the language is a joy to read. The characters are not exactly god like and flawless but they make very human mistakes that make them endearing. The books can be classified into many genres.
The overall plot is nicely woven and the character description is a joy to read. The reader would immediately pick favourites from the book and feel an immediate connection with them. I greeted Elise like an old friend and also loved the central focus of this book. And this is the book where I felt the title added more intrigue to the story.
E Journey has once again written a book that prevented me from noticing the time once I got involved in it. Really loved the story line. Yes, it had a few faults, but nothing hampered the overall reading experience.
December 8, 2015
Note : This review has been published in my blog - Book and Ink
As the title suggests the book is all about the newest addition to Halverson family – Leilani – the exotic looking psychologist with a troubled past from a faraway tiny island. The first two books were about the Halversons, while this third book is more about Leilani. Given that the second book ended in a mysterious note about Peter and his illness, I expected a substantial story line about him, sadly there was hardly any mention about him.
Justin, Elise’s older brother, simply wants to drown in his sorrow after his girlfriend of 7 years leaves him for a woman. He ends up in a dingy pub and is beaten black and blue by thugs who attempt to mug him. Leilani rescues Justin and thus begins the typical cycle of getting to know each other and eventually falling in love. This journey to find love is complicated by Leilani’s mysterious past and her father’s story from her home town of Costa Mora.
The writing like the previous book was perfect, simple and got me hooked up. Leilani’s (Lani) character and her past was well craft and took up predominant part of the story. But I was sort of irked by how quickly Elise and Leilani hit off, it doesn’t happen that way. Afterall, Lani is a stranger. All characters emoted perfectly to the situation. I could actually visualize and empathize with certain scenes from the book which were simply an emotional roller coaster. That would be the USP of this book – the meticulously portrayed emotions. The characterization was good, though I felt some characters could have been all together avoided – like Bernie or Lani’s older sister. If the book had been all about Justin moping about after his breakup, it would have been one unpleasant and boring read. Thankfully the writer chose to give importance to Lani’s story there by making the book a gripping and interesting read.
MY SAY: An interesting read well-crafted with elements like cultures, love, feelings of guilt and forgiving in the right proportion.
RATING:
PLOT: 8/10
CHARACTERISATION: 7/10
NARRATION: 8/10
BOREDOM QUOTIENT : 2/10 (Lower the better)
OVERALL RATING: 8/10
As the title suggests the book is all about the newest addition to Halverson family – Leilani – the exotic looking psychologist with a troubled past from a faraway tiny island. The first two books were about the Halversons, while this third book is more about Leilani. Given that the second book ended in a mysterious note about Peter and his illness, I expected a substantial story line about him, sadly there was hardly any mention about him.
Justin, Elise’s older brother, simply wants to drown in his sorrow after his girlfriend of 7 years leaves him for a woman. He ends up in a dingy pub and is beaten black and blue by thugs who attempt to mug him. Leilani rescues Justin and thus begins the typical cycle of getting to know each other and eventually falling in love. This journey to find love is complicated by Leilani’s mysterious past and her father’s story from her home town of Costa Mora.
The writing like the previous book was perfect, simple and got me hooked up. Leilani’s (Lani) character and her past was well craft and took up predominant part of the story. But I was sort of irked by how quickly Elise and Leilani hit off, it doesn’t happen that way. Afterall, Lani is a stranger. All characters emoted perfectly to the situation. I could actually visualize and empathize with certain scenes from the book which were simply an emotional roller coaster. That would be the USP of this book – the meticulously portrayed emotions. The characterization was good, though I felt some characters could have been all together avoided – like Bernie or Lani’s older sister. If the book had been all about Justin moping about after his breakup, it would have been one unpleasant and boring read. Thankfully the writer chose to give importance to Lani’s story there by making the book a gripping and interesting read.
MY SAY: An interesting read well-crafted with elements like cultures, love, feelings of guilt and forgiving in the right proportion.
RATING:
PLOT: 8/10
CHARACTERISATION: 7/10
NARRATION: 8/10
BOREDOM QUOTIENT : 2/10 (Lower the better)
OVERALL RATING: 8/10
January 18, 2016
Welcome, Reluctant Stranger is the third book in the Between Two Worlds series by E Journey. I enjoyed the first book Hello, My Love! and also the second book, Hello, Agnieszka! which I can now say was my favorite of the three. All three can be considered stand-alone novels but we have characters from Book One revisit in Book Two and a lot more in Book Three.
I was drawn to this third book, once again, because it had a different premise and also dealt with an immigrant family, this time of South Pacific decent. Leilani, along with her mother and siblings fled her country when she was nine. Her father, who was at that time the president's personal doctor, was to follow suit but he never did. We don't know if he was involved in the attempt to assassinate the president and therefore was thrown in prison or executed. This part of the story, which I loved the most, was slowly revealed by her mother and then became clearer toward the end of the book.
Leilani falls in love with Justin and this is their love story. Justin is Elise's brother, so Elise and Greg, lovers from Book One played a big role in this book. Although I liked this story, I wasn't taken in by the romance between Leilani and Justin, probably because Justin had just been left by his long-time girlfriend of seven years. A few weeks later he is declaring his love for Leilani and I just thought it was all too quick, too fast. It takes a long time to get over someone, so this felt like a rebound relationship. Not enough built-up like in the first two books.
Anyhow, the premise of political intrigue with Leilani's father being caught in a political coup was the best part of this book and I wished the author would have explored this more instead of including several scenes and friendly banter with characters from Book One that didn't do much for the plot. I was itching for more action and less dialogue.
Having read all three of E Journey's books I can say that her forte is in characters that are from immigrant families and that have a past. It seems that she is most comfortable and can easily build these characters and their stories. I hope that Journey explores more of this in her writing and I would be ready to read more of her work.
I was drawn to this third book, once again, because it had a different premise and also dealt with an immigrant family, this time of South Pacific decent. Leilani, along with her mother and siblings fled her country when she was nine. Her father, who was at that time the president's personal doctor, was to follow suit but he never did. We don't know if he was involved in the attempt to assassinate the president and therefore was thrown in prison or executed. This part of the story, which I loved the most, was slowly revealed by her mother and then became clearer toward the end of the book.
Leilani falls in love with Justin and this is their love story. Justin is Elise's brother, so Elise and Greg, lovers from Book One played a big role in this book. Although I liked this story, I wasn't taken in by the romance between Leilani and Justin, probably because Justin had just been left by his long-time girlfriend of seven years. A few weeks later he is declaring his love for Leilani and I just thought it was all too quick, too fast. It takes a long time to get over someone, so this felt like a rebound relationship. Not enough built-up like in the first two books.
Anyhow, the premise of political intrigue with Leilani's father being caught in a political coup was the best part of this book and I wished the author would have explored this more instead of including several scenes and friendly banter with characters from Book One that didn't do much for the plot. I was itching for more action and less dialogue.
Having read all three of E Journey's books I can say that her forte is in characters that are from immigrant families and that have a past. It seems that she is most comfortable and can easily build these characters and their stories. I hope that Journey explores more of this in her writing and I would be ready to read more of her work.
September 12, 2015
Leilani Torres had a very comfortable life on the island of Costa Mora. Growing up rich on an island in the Pacific is everything a young child could ever want. With two adoring parents, siblings, friends, and servants, Leilani was definitely well-cared for. And at nine years of age, Leilani was spoiled, and couldn’t imagine ever leaving the island. Decades later, she would reflect on how her childhood was about to undergo a dramatic change.
As an adult, in her late twenties, Leilani adjusted to life in the United States. Leilani’s ability to help people resulted in her becoming a therapist. It seems that she only ever works and doesn’t have time to really connect with people outside her immediate family. All that is about to take a turn, when Leilani meets brother and sister duo: Justin and Elise. I like how the author shows friendship between Leilani and Elise. Too often, women are seen as competitors and not friends. However, in this book, friendship between the two women plays a critical role.
On the other hand, Leilani is cautious about starting a relationship with Justin. There are many complex reasons for this and we, the audience, come away with such depth in a character. Another poignant part of Leilani’s relationship with Justin is how he is the one eager to get married. Most of the time, we are presented with the stereotype of the woman pressuring the man to marry as soon as possible. It was refreshing for the roles to be reversed. I also like that the marriage between Elise and Greg seems to be of equals.
An important of the book for me came when Brenda, Greg’s cousin, clearly displayed sexism and racism all in one setting. Leilani handled Brenda with such politeness and elegance. I thoroughly enjoyed that Leilani was able to reconnect with her roots by returning to Costa Mora for the most important reason in the world. Sacrifice comes in many shapes and forms in Costa Mora!
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
As an adult, in her late twenties, Leilani adjusted to life in the United States. Leilani’s ability to help people resulted in her becoming a therapist. It seems that she only ever works and doesn’t have time to really connect with people outside her immediate family. All that is about to take a turn, when Leilani meets brother and sister duo: Justin and Elise. I like how the author shows friendship between Leilani and Elise. Too often, women are seen as competitors and not friends. However, in this book, friendship between the two women plays a critical role.
On the other hand, Leilani is cautious about starting a relationship with Justin. There are many complex reasons for this and we, the audience, come away with such depth in a character. Another poignant part of Leilani’s relationship with Justin is how he is the one eager to get married. Most of the time, we are presented with the stereotype of the woman pressuring the man to marry as soon as possible. It was refreshing for the roles to be reversed. I also like that the marriage between Elise and Greg seems to be of equals.
An important of the book for me came when Brenda, Greg’s cousin, clearly displayed sexism and racism all in one setting. Leilani handled Brenda with such politeness and elegance. I thoroughly enjoyed that Leilani was able to reconnect with her roots by returning to Costa Mora for the most important reason in the world. Sacrifice comes in many shapes and forms in Costa Mora!
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2015
This is my third review of a book in author E. Journey's Between Two Worlds series and I have enjoyed every one. They are well written, boast intriguing plots and are easy to read (you pick up the book for what you think will be a few minutes, then are shocked when you put it down at how much time has passed). The author's mix of mystery, intrigue and romance is sure to be a hit with readers. Each book offers strong female characters, tough life challenges to face and a love that endures despite challenges.
In book one we heard the story of Elise and Greg. Book two was a prequel in many ways where we are offered a flashback to Elise's mother story. For book three, the plot heads into new territory when Elise's brother, Justin. starts to date Leilani - a woman who had to flee her island homeland at an early age because of political intrigue. Her father was to follow them, but never appeared. No one seems to know what happened to him.
When word comes he might still be alive, Leilani has to return to her country of birth and navigate a minefield of deceit to find out the truth. Mixed into this story line is her growing relationship with Justin, a partner who is at her side to support her in any way he can and is determined to win her heart.
Kudos to the author for offering not just a great read, but tucking in a bit of insight as well. Setting down roots in a new country can be challenging. How does one keep their culture, but find a way to embrace that of your new home. Returning for a visit to your birthplace, it also becomes evident how much you have been changed. Immigrants can find themselves feeling "between two worlds." Where is home?
This is a great series. I think you should read it in order from book #1 through book #3. but each can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
In book one we heard the story of Elise and Greg. Book two was a prequel in many ways where we are offered a flashback to Elise's mother story. For book three, the plot heads into new territory when Elise's brother, Justin. starts to date Leilani - a woman who had to flee her island homeland at an early age because of political intrigue. Her father was to follow them, but never appeared. No one seems to know what happened to him.
When word comes he might still be alive, Leilani has to return to her country of birth and navigate a minefield of deceit to find out the truth. Mixed into this story line is her growing relationship with Justin, a partner who is at her side to support her in any way he can and is determined to win her heart.
Kudos to the author for offering not just a great read, but tucking in a bit of insight as well. Setting down roots in a new country can be challenging. How does one keep their culture, but find a way to embrace that of your new home. Returning for a visit to your birthplace, it also becomes evident how much you have been changed. Immigrants can find themselves feeling "between two worlds." Where is home?
This is a great series. I think you should read it in order from book #1 through book #3. but each can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
September 21, 2015
The third installment of author E. Journey’s Between Two Worlds series opens with quotes by Albert Ellis and Noam Chomsky, the subsequent prologue occurring on a hot day in the schoolyard of a Catholic school on a tiny island in the Pacific, likely fictional, called Costa Mora, with the then-nine-year-old Leilani serving as the chief protagonist, she and her older sister and brother, Carmen and Rudy, not to mention their mother, flee the isle due to political revolution, the Torres family’s patriarch suspiciously missing. The main chapters pick up Leilani’s story years later when she works as a psychologist and values the American holiday of Thanksgiving in her new home in California.
Leilani, throughout the story, constantly yearns for her absentee father, Dr. Renato Torres, although another political refugee from Costa Mora, General Huang (whose surname seems to somewhat clash with the island’s likely Spanish heritage), hints that he might still be alive. Leilani further forges friendship with the married couple Greg and Elise, who have a baby named Goyo. Characters from previous installments of the series such as Agnieszka Halverson eventually play part in the latter chapters, although those who haven’t read the book’s predecessors can certainly enjoy the third entry on its own. Leilani further forms a romantic relationship with a man named Justin, and in the final chapters decides to revisit her homeland of Costa Mora to settle the fate of her father once and for all
Ultimately, this proves to be an enjoyable romance novel that receives sufficient conclusion, although there are occasional filler chapters consisting mostly of banter between characters, although this reviewer would very much recommend the third entry to those who enjoyed its predecessors and typically like romance novels.
Leilani, throughout the story, constantly yearns for her absentee father, Dr. Renato Torres, although another political refugee from Costa Mora, General Huang (whose surname seems to somewhat clash with the island’s likely Spanish heritage), hints that he might still be alive. Leilani further forges friendship with the married couple Greg and Elise, who have a baby named Goyo. Characters from previous installments of the series such as Agnieszka Halverson eventually play part in the latter chapters, although those who haven’t read the book’s predecessors can certainly enjoy the third entry on its own. Leilani further forms a romantic relationship with a man named Justin, and in the final chapters decides to revisit her homeland of Costa Mora to settle the fate of her father once and for all
Ultimately, this proves to be an enjoyable romance novel that receives sufficient conclusion, although there are occasional filler chapters consisting mostly of banter between characters, although this reviewer would very much recommend the third entry to those who enjoyed its predecessors and typically like romance novels.
August 8, 2015
found the story a little slow moving, but I still enjoyed the book. Leilani is driving home from work late one evening in a bad neighbor when she sees a man being mugged and beaten. Taught at a young age how to handle a gun Leilani pulls over and scares off the men beating Justin on the ground by pointing her gun at them. They run off and Leilani gets Justin into her car and takes him to the hospital for his injuries. Later that day at the hospital Leilani meets Justin's family, She finds that she likes Justin's sister and her husband who are so appreciative of her help and welcomes her into their family, they all except Leilani for who she is. Leilani is from Costa Mora and could pass for being Asian or Hawaiian, etc. Leilani's family had to leave Costa Mora when she was a child because of her father's political involvement against the President of that country. Leilani's family gets out but father he is caught and is imprisoned. Her family loses contact with him and with the constant upheaval and rebellion in Costa Mora they never can find out if he is dead or alive. Eighteen years later, a man who was imprisoned with her father shows up at her mother's home with info on the father and how they get him back to them. With the help of Justin, he helps Leilani and her family, but they both find themselves falling in love with each other. Leilani is afraid to fall an American and with him not being from her culture, could her mother and her family except him? But Justin is ready to jump into a relationship with Leilani even after a bad breakup, just recently, with a woman he was living with. But does love conquers all? This is a sweet love story with a happy ending you will like.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2015
From lost uncertainty to revived hope
This book, filled with drama and romance centers on the main character Leilani Torres and the changes she had to endure when her mother and brothers quickly fled the country. And innocent girl under the age of 10 had to endure unanswered questions as to why they were abruptly leaving and why her father would not be coming along.
Their arrival in California from fleeing Costa Mora will highlight Leilani "Dr. Torres "as a mature woman of 27 who is a psychologist. Her brave rescue of a young man named Justin from muggers will not only save his life but repair his soul from a girlfriend that walked away from him seven years ago. As Lonnie meets Justin's sister and becomes friends so too will a friendship with Justin begin – casual at first and then later as lovers.
Leilani's absence of her father from her life for 20 years will be answered by General Huang who escaped from military prison three months ago. Discover the secret her mother had to keep all those years regarding the truth of her fathers serious crime. It will shake Leilani to the core as she labels herself as an "assassin's daughter".
Is her father dead or alive and or will she ever be able to see him reunited with the family? This is a story that will solidify the fact that we can be one day from a breakthrough miracle. I am reminded in this book that it is not so much how we begin that matters as well as how we finish. May the theme of this book help you to never discount how tough times can change with a little persistence. Check out and enjoy this five-star book as you will not be disappointed.
This book, filled with drama and romance centers on the main character Leilani Torres and the changes she had to endure when her mother and brothers quickly fled the country. And innocent girl under the age of 10 had to endure unanswered questions as to why they were abruptly leaving and why her father would not be coming along.
Their arrival in California from fleeing Costa Mora will highlight Leilani "Dr. Torres "as a mature woman of 27 who is a psychologist. Her brave rescue of a young man named Justin from muggers will not only save his life but repair his soul from a girlfriend that walked away from him seven years ago. As Lonnie meets Justin's sister and becomes friends so too will a friendship with Justin begin – casual at first and then later as lovers.
Leilani's absence of her father from her life for 20 years will be answered by General Huang who escaped from military prison three months ago. Discover the secret her mother had to keep all those years regarding the truth of her fathers serious crime. It will shake Leilani to the core as she labels herself as an "assassin's daughter".
Is her father dead or alive and or will she ever be able to see him reunited with the family? This is a story that will solidify the fact that we can be one day from a breakthrough miracle. I am reminded in this book that it is not so much how we begin that matters as well as how we finish. May the theme of this book help you to never discount how tough times can change with a little persistence. Check out and enjoy this five-star book as you will not be disappointed.
December 18, 2015
Welcome Reluctant Stranger was a wonderful read! The beginning of the book is quite captivating. Leilani, who is a therapist is traveling home one evening after work and helps out a stranger who was being mugged. Little did she know that this would be the beginning of a life changing journey for her and her family. There are many twists and turns within this novel, but the author maintains that reader's attention throughout and wraps up the ending beautifully. There are no cliff hangers, but there is enough content from the ending of the story that the author could make a sequel if so desired. Make sure that you read the prologue because it gives a ton of detail into Leilani's life prior to her living in the US and becoming a therapist. Leilani is a complex character and she finds herself with Justin, the reluctant stranger, who she finds herself a worthy companion. Justin shows great growth from the beginning of the book to the ending. Justin is charismatic, charming and relentless. Leilani is strong willed and quite intriguing. The reader can't help but like these two strong main characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mysteries with a romantic viewpoint. The book flowed very well and was a fast read. I could hardly put the book down because there was so much awaiting among the next pages. There were twists that I even did not foresee. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2015
The author's skills shine in Leilani. Leilani is a wonderful character which readers will grow to love as the book progresses. The author illustrates a deep understanding of human nature through Leilani--and allowing her own skills as both a writer and as a self-professed people watcher to shine through. I think Leilani was one of my favorite characters in E Journey's books.
E Jouney offers another human-focused story in Welcome, Reluctant Stranger. I have said this with every book I've read from E Journey--but, I love that her books offer much more of a life story than a same old/same old romance tale. This book moved a little more slowly than the other books of the series; but, the character development and emotions of the story keeps readers hooked until the storyline picks up momentum. Readers will find realistic emotions and human-focused, real-world characters and story.
Would I recommend Welcome, Reluctant Stranger! by E Journey? While I find myself comparing the three books from E Journey's series; this book really stands alone as its own story. It wasn't my favorite of the three books, as it did move a bit more slowly--but, it was still one of the best books I've read this summer. If you enjoy romance novels with a little more depth and realism--I would recommend the entire series by E. Journey.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
E Jouney offers another human-focused story in Welcome, Reluctant Stranger. I have said this with every book I've read from E Journey--but, I love that her books offer much more of a life story than a same old/same old romance tale. This book moved a little more slowly than the other books of the series; but, the character development and emotions of the story keeps readers hooked until the storyline picks up momentum. Readers will find realistic emotions and human-focused, real-world characters and story.
Would I recommend Welcome, Reluctant Stranger! by E Journey? While I find myself comparing the three books from E Journey's series; this book really stands alone as its own story. It wasn't my favorite of the three books, as it did move a bit more slowly--but, it was still one of the best books I've read this summer. If you enjoy romance novels with a little more depth and realism--I would recommend the entire series by E. Journey.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
June 7, 2015
This was an enjoyable book written about a woman's journey to find out who she is with regard to a perplexing past. Leilani is a complicated character who finds herself helping others through her therapy practice, but deep down wants to come to terms with who she really is and why her past has remained such a mystery. She was born on the island of Costa Mora, but fled late at night with her mother and siblings to the United States when she was nine years old. She loved her father and was told he would be joining them later, but he never did. The story continues eighteen years later.
While driving home from work one evening, she spots a man who is being attacked and decides that she needs to help him. Justin has had his heart broken and is searching for true love. Could this man help bring her the answers that she has been longing for? I won't spoil it for you. This book is well written and keeps the reader's attention. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends who enjoy a good mystery/romance novel. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While driving home from work one evening, she spots a man who is being attacked and decides that she needs to help him. Justin has had his heart broken and is searching for true love. Could this man help bring her the answers that she has been longing for? I won't spoil it for you. This book is well written and keeps the reader's attention. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my friends who enjoy a good mystery/romance novel. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2015
Welcome Reluctant Stranger was an emotional and deep romance novel. Leilani moved to the US as a child, with her family escaping a dangerous situation involving her father being involved in an attempt to overthrow a corrupt government in their home country. Leilani’s family escapes, but her father does not, leading to a great hole in Leilani’s life, which extends into her adulthood. Justin, who Leilani saves when she sees him being jumped and manages to get him to the hospital, is a man who had his life turned upside down when his girlfriend of seven years leaves him for someone else. At first, the relationship builds as Justin is putting himself back together, and the growth of both characters and their relationship is well written and thoughtful. As their relationship builds, Leilani’s family receives news about her father that throws Leilani for a loop and she turns to Justin for support. I thought that this book dealt with the difficult emotions and issues that both characters faced really thoughtfully and made it a really great read.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2015
This was my favorite book in the Between Two Worlds series. While this is book three in the series, you certainly don’t have to read them in order, or even all of them. Each book has its own set of characters and its own story line. So pick up anywhere in the series, with a story that sounds good.
I was intrigued with the back of the book info, but it happened to sit on my shelf until the very last moment. (In fact I actually finished it this morning, but shhh) To be honest, I don’t know why that was. I liked the premise of the book, I liked the author’s other books, this one though just didn’t scream at me to read it.
Once started, it was a great story though. It read in the same manor as her other books. Meaning that while it is a slower pace book, it jumps right into the thick of it, and you get caught up in the characters. The stories are all well told, you get a full sense of what is going on. She is an amazing story teller. This book, unlike book two, had me guessing. I did not see the plot twist coming. That was a huge perk.
You can see my full review at http://www.confessionsoftheperfectmom...
I was intrigued with the back of the book info, but it happened to sit on my shelf until the very last moment. (In fact I actually finished it this morning, but shhh) To be honest, I don’t know why that was. I liked the premise of the book, I liked the author’s other books, this one though just didn’t scream at me to read it.
Once started, it was a great story though. It read in the same manor as her other books. Meaning that while it is a slower pace book, it jumps right into the thick of it, and you get caught up in the characters. The stories are all well told, you get a full sense of what is going on. She is an amazing story teller. This book, unlike book two, had me guessing. I did not see the plot twist coming. That was a huge perk.
You can see my full review at http://www.confessionsoftheperfectmom...
June 15, 2015
I thought “Reluctant Stranger” by E. Journey was a powerful story of love, healing, and redemption. I immediately fell in love with Leilani, when reading the prologue, and I felt that the protagonist was very real, a psychologist, who has issues of her own, but doesn't deal with them because she is helping everyone else with their problems.
Leilani has great insight into people, as does her mother. When Leilana brings Justin, a man that she helps but gradually finds herself falling for, to her Mama's house, Leilani's Mama, a Pacific Islander, who had so many times tried to set up her daughter with the right man, thinks that “Americans have trouble staying in relationships. One irritating problem and they run.”
Author Journey paints colorful scenes and offers some powerful messages through her prose. The writer knows how to show a story rather than just tell it.
I would recommend “Reluctant Stranger” to anyone who loves a good story with romance, drama and intrigue blended together at a steady pace.
Leilani has great insight into people, as does her mother. When Leilana brings Justin, a man that she helps but gradually finds herself falling for, to her Mama's house, Leilani's Mama, a Pacific Islander, who had so many times tried to set up her daughter with the right man, thinks that “Americans have trouble staying in relationships. One irritating problem and they run.”
Author Journey paints colorful scenes and offers some powerful messages through her prose. The writer knows how to show a story rather than just tell it.
I would recommend “Reluctant Stranger” to anyone who loves a good story with romance, drama and intrigue blended together at a steady pace.
September 25, 2015
Unexpected hero
Leilani not only reads people's mind but also saved a man's life. It seldom happen when a woman saved a man's life from the bad guys. She is remarkable and not only pretty but very brave too.
Leilani grow up privilege until one day when they moved out of the country to save her Mom's siblings life. She grew up to be independent but wants to forget her childhood past. This book is full of love, mystery and funny too. I love Leilani and Justin aside from Elise and Greg.
You can read this book stand alone but better when you read the first two books. Ms. Journey is one amazing author. I think this story reminds me of my native country and Leilani looks a typical pretty girl from my country.
It brings sweetness to my heart while reading this book. I think it is my favorite among the three books. If you love romance with suspense, this book is a must read for you. I highly recommend it aside from history, crimes and passion.
Leilani not only reads people's mind but also saved a man's life. It seldom happen when a woman saved a man's life from the bad guys. She is remarkable and not only pretty but very brave too.
Leilani grow up privilege until one day when they moved out of the country to save her Mom's siblings life. She grew up to be independent but wants to forget her childhood past. This book is full of love, mystery and funny too. I love Leilani and Justin aside from Elise and Greg.
You can read this book stand alone but better when you read the first two books. Ms. Journey is one amazing author. I think this story reminds me of my native country and Leilani looks a typical pretty girl from my country.
It brings sweetness to my heart while reading this book. I think it is my favorite among the three books. If you love romance with suspense, this book is a must read for you. I highly recommend it aside from history, crimes and passion.
December 14, 2015
In this book, Leilani, a therapist who helps others to heal, but has problems herself, has to deal with her father’s past and the secrets surrounding him. She fled to the United States with her family when she was young, except for her father, who was involved in the political struggles of the island where she lived. She meets Justin, the reluctant stranger, who gave up on love when his girlfriend left him for someone else years ago.
The characters felt very real and the story had more depth than I expected at first. It was a little hard to get into it at the beginning, but the story was intriguing and I wanted to know more soon after. Leinani and Justin had great chemistry, beginning as friends and then, as lovers. I don’t often read stories such as this one, but it was enjoyable.
The book was well-written and fast paced. I would recommend this to those who like a good mystery novel.
The characters felt very real and the story had more depth than I expected at first. It was a little hard to get into it at the beginning, but the story was intriguing and I wanted to know more soon after. Leinani and Justin had great chemistry, beginning as friends and then, as lovers. I don’t often read stories such as this one, but it was enjoyable.
The book was well-written and fast paced. I would recommend this to those who like a good mystery novel.
October 20, 2015
I loved this story...It's so interesting reading about Leilani, a young woman from Costa Mora, whose family flees the country when there is civil unrest, leaving her father to an unknown fate. It's suspenseful and emotional throughout the book. In America, when Leilani rescues a man being beaten on the street by three thugs, it starts her life in an unexpected direction, one filled with romance and love. As the two fall in love, she is filled with turmoil behind the scenes with wondering what happened to her father. It's a compelling story that is fascinating to read. I highly recommend this book...thanks to the publisher and Goodreads for providing the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2015
Welcome, Reluctant Stranger by E Journey is the last book in the “Between Two Worlds” series. I have to say that this was my least favorite book in the series and I am not sure why. I just didn’t feel like I could connect with these characters as well as I did with the other characters in the first two books. There were also places where this book didn’t seem to flow as well. Now with all that being said I did still like this book. I like that you don’t have to read all the books to know what is going on. If you love romance novels than I would check out this series because even though I liked the first two books more than this one I would still recommend the entire series to you.
FTC:I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
FTC:I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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