When The Ocean Roars ~ Reader Friday

Patricia Bradley Reader Friday 35 Comments

When The Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess is this week’s Reader Friday. I loved this book set in Japan! Here are the first two lines: “Midas? Are you lost?” No one ever called him Midas.

But first the photo. I shot this the other day on my morning walk. (Stopped my watch to take it. lol) Even though I walk a 17-19 minute mile, I have time to take in the beauty of God’s creation. And this year the magnolias have out-bloomed themselves! And I love that verse. It reminds me of what I should always be doing!

Now for When the Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess. Here’s the back copy and cover:

When the Ocean Roars by Charlsie EstessHe needs to surrender. She needs to fight. Are they ready for their next battle?

Weeks before the Ultimate Fighting World Championship, Keane “The Golden Lion” Temple lands in Japan for the battle of his professional life. The adored prizefighter is primed to take the win. And nothing has ever distracted him from victory in the ring.

But when his path collides with an intriguing woman, he gives in to impulse and asks her to spend his day off from training with him. Surely, he can keep his heart safe for one day.

Ami Ono cannot pass on the invitation but also hides her full identity. As their extraordinary day bleeds into night, both realize one day won’t be enough. Then the excursion ends in disaster when Keane discovers who Ami is. They part ways, but compelling circumstances and an undeniable attraction draw them back together, driving their attraction—and her high-society family drama—to something more intense than Keane has ever faced. As the forbidden romance threatens to take down his principles in the knockout of his life, he struggles to honor his beliefs. Will The Golden Lion surrender his heart? Will Ami defy the domineering men in her life and accept it? Do they stand a chance against nature?

My take:

Oh, wow! This was an amazing story and captivated me from the first page until the last with an ending I didn’t see coming! Charlsie Estess had me rooting for the two strong characters, Ami and Keene when it seemed impossible that they could get together. After all, she was the brother of the man Keene traveled across the world to fight. And then there’s the fact her father had already arranged her marriage.

Estess wove the love story through the story with plenty of romantic tension against the backdrop of Japan. Her descriptions drew me in and made me want to visit Japan more than ever. Her characters are well drawn and there’s plenty of conflict to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you finish it.

You can read it in KU or purchase it on Amazon.

When The Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess is this week's Reader Friday. Be sure to read my review and leave a comment on the blog and you might win a book from my library! Share on X

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And…if you want to see the interview I did with Mike Briggs out in California, click herel

 


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Comments 35

  1. Edward Arrington

    Good morning, Pat! The fact I’m up this early may give a clue that it is not starting out as a good day for me. I’m up early because of several bouts with angina during the night. I finally decided to get up and prepare for the day. Maybe I can get some rest later. I love the picture. At first glance, I thought you had taken a picture of a gardenia. But the leaves gave it away. A closer look at the flower also confirmed it was not a gardenia. We have a bush at the edge of our front porch. It has really been showing off this year. It did very little last year, but it’s making up for it this year. I like that verse with the picture.

    The book sounds interesting. I have not heard of that author. I’m reading Vanishing Legacy by Kate Angelo. It isn’t convenient at the moment, but I am enjoying it. I think someone else shared the first line several weeks ago. I seem to be running behind on all the new releases.

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      Patricia Bradley

      Oh, Edward, I hope you’re feeling better by now. Angina isn’t anything to fool around with! I had a beautiful gardenia a few years ago–it was covered in blooms, looked like a giant snowball. lol But the hard freezes the past three years took it down. It tries to come back, but so far it hasn’t made it. I keep hoping!

      I’m like you and always running behind on the new releases. I met Charlsie at a writing retreat in May and read her book. It is really good. She a debut author, which I forgot to mention. I’m really looking forward to reading more of her work.

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    2. Edward Arrington

      Thanks to each one who has prayed for me. I’m tired from too little sleep last night, but the angina has not bothered me since about 8:45 this morning.

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  2. tajkkj

    Stunning photo, Pat. And the verse you chose is both fitting and inspiring.

    I’m currently reading Susan May Warren’s “One Last Chance” from her Alaska Air One Rescue series. The opening lines are: “He was tired of the river winning. Axel Mulligan crouched on the bank, the cold seeping into his bones despite the dry suit, shivered, and tried to read the foamy, lethal water. His entire body shook, his hands scraped and a little bloody, and he shut out the sound of a man keening behind him. Grief. Horror. Regret. Guilt, maybe.”

    Axel rescues people. He’s good at it. But once in a while, he needs rescuing. This is a really great story, but that should come as no surprise to anyone who’s read Susan’s books.

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  3. Barbara Diggs

    Wow, that magnolia smiles right in your face! Gorgeous! The Scripture is perfect for these days, Pat.

    When the Ocean Roars sounds like a great story. Once again, you gave us an intriguing review. Just added it to my list.

    I’ve have layovers twice in Japan, but have never gotten to see the country. I hope you get to go one day, then can tell us all about it. (Airport restrooms are spotless.) 🙂

    I’m reading another fabulous book by Stephenia McGee. The Whistle Walk is the first book in her Ironwood series. The first lines reads, “Lydia pinched her nose to stifle the sneeze that surely would betray her hiding place.”

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      Patricia Bradley

      I thought you’d enjoy the magnolia, Barbara! They have just bloomed and bloomed this year. And if I get to go to Japan, I’ll be sure tow write about it. 🙂

      Stephenia is a fantastic writer. I’m reading the riverboat one as soon as I catch up!

    2. Barbara Diggs

      The Riverboat one IS a great story. Excellent characters.
      Yep, loved the Magnolias. Just wish I could have smelled them! Lol

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  4. Mary G

    Wow! The magnolia is gorgeous and a great verse! The beauty of spring is a great reminder to praise God!
    Edward, I pray your day goes much better!!
    Pat, kudos to you for your recent reviews of Mary Alford’s Framed for Murder and Felicia Ferguson’s The Choices She Made . Both books were great reads! When the Ocean Roars sounds like another winner. Thank you for the introduction to new authors and new books!
    I am just beginning Celebrity Pastor by Creston Mapes. “How can a mega-church pastor – a man with thousands of people looking up to him and depending on him – fall into the kind of flagrant misconduct and moral failures of which this man is being accused? How can this happen?”

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  5. gda523

    When the Ocean Roars caught my attention a while back and is on my wish list. Glad that you enjoyed it.
    Chapter 1
    Savannah Webster should have known the bright July day would be upsetting the minute she saw old Boo Radley blocking the brick walkway to her classroom.
    What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker
    Gloria A

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  6. L. Murphy

    Magnolias will forever hold a special place in my heart; my dad gave one to my mom on their first date. With them both in their late 80s now, I treasure their love story and the time spent with them.

    I too am reading Celebrity Pastor. Creston Mapes is a fantastic author. I look forward to checking out Charlsie Estess; her book sounds fascinating.

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    Caryl Kane

    Pat, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. When the Ocean Roars sounds like one I will enjoy reading.

    1. Dottie

      Hi Patricia! I love your photo of the magnolia bloom, the petals are so pure and white. You could put together an awesome calendar with your photos of God’s beauty!
      When The Ocean Roars sounds like another book for my reading list.

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        Patricia Bradley

        Thanks, Dottie. I made a calendar once of my photos from Israel and each month enjoyed a scene all month long. I think you’d enjoy When the Ocean Roars!

  8. Natalya Lakhno

    Thank you for sharing! Sounds like a wonderful story!

    I’ve actually just read a RomCom that kept me chuckling and smiling. Great comedy!
    Her Surprise Vacation Date by Liwen Y. Ho (here is the beginning):

    “It takes real planning to organize this kind of chaos.” ~Mel Odom

    I, Hope O’Connor, plan my life down to the Ts. As in timely, tidy, and thorough. Not to mention, tenacious. Because it takes a lot of careful planning to stick to an itinerary. Or so I imagine. As someone who’s also thrifty, I’ve only taken a handful of trips in my three decades of living.

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  9. sallyjopitts

    Enjoyed listening to the interview with Mike Briggs. I relate to your description of thinking through your fingertips and it is easier to kill someone off than getting them together with someone!

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