Series: Burying Water, #4
Published by Atria Books Publication Date: October 27th 2015
Pages: 320
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The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and Burying Waterβwhich Kirkus Reviews called βa sexy, romantic, gangster-tinged page-turnerββreturns with a new novel packed with romance, plot twists, and psychological suspense.
Ivy, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is finally looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have found it in San Francisco, but all that changes when she witnesses a terrible crime. Sheβs ready to pack up her things yet again, when a random encounter with a stranger keeps her in the city, giving her reason to stay after all.
That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter wasnβt random. Not at allβ¦
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Blog Tour, Inkslinger PR, NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
Surviving Ice is the 4th book in the Burying Water series and can be read as a standalone. Β We are introduced to Ivy in one of the other books but we don’t know much about her.Β Surviving Ice takes us to San Francisco where Ivy Lee has finally decided to possibly plant some roots since her uncle who she loves like a father lives and runs his tattoo parlor. Β Ivy is a truly talented tattoo artist who is generally has a tough as nails exterior and personality to go along with it. Β The intensity of the plot line starts immediately when her uncle is murdered and Ivy is the only witness. Β Enter Ice/Sebastian who is supposed to find a lone VHS tape that can’t get out about his employer.
Sebastian is a former Navy Seal with a not so honorable discharge now working for a company where he is a bit of a mercenary. Β He is sent in because of his efficency and precision. Β He forces a meeting with Ivy and the two quickly begin a complicated dance around each other. Β There is an instant chemistry between Ivy and Sebastian but both have walls built up around them that are almost impenetrable. Β As the story unfolds, Ivy begins to trust Sebastian although their relationship is built around large lies. Β Sebastian gives Ivy more of himself than he has to anyone in the last few years of his life but is it enough to build a relationship.
The ending of this book was a bit anticlimatic. I wanted more action and a bit more suspense. Β However, KA Tucker sets a steady pace and creates some of the most fascinating characters in her books. Β Burying Water has been a great series to read and every book is so different from the next. Β I enjoyed Surviving Ice and look forward to Ms. Tucker’s next series.
And donβt miss the previous titles in the Burying Water Series!
BURYING WATER:
AmazonΒ **Β Barnes & NobleΒ **Β iBooksΒ **Β KoboΒ **Β IndieBound
BECOMING RAIN
Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound
CHASING RIVER
Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound
βWeβre closed!β I yell, whipping my head around, my anger at myself for not locking it launched.
A man Iβve never seen before stands motionless in front of me, amusement in his eyes as he stares. Nothing else about him betrays his thoughts, though. His stance is still and relaxed, his angular face perfectly composed.
My heart begins to race with unease.
βIβd like some work done.β His voice is deep, almost gravelly, his tone even and calm.
I climb to my feet, because I donβt like anyone towering over me. And because his piercing eyes unsettle me. Unlike the two-hundred-and-fifty-pound biker who just left, this guy makes me nervous. The wrench is still in my fist, and I grip it tightly now. βIβm not working today.β
βTomorrow.β
βIβm not working tomorrow either.β The corner of his mouth twitches as we face off against each other. βWhen will you be working again, then?β
Heβs patient. Itβs annoying. But he also seems very interested in this tattoo, which makes it less likely that heβs here to hurt me. I relax my grip on the wrench. βI wonβt be. Not here, anyway. Black Rabbit is closed for good, or at least until it opens under new ownership.β
He pauses, his shrewd gaze weighing so heavily on me that I finally have to look away from him. I feel like a sophomore year science class dissectionβthe unfortunate amphibian donated in the name of education. βThatβs a shame.β
Either heβs not from around here or he hasnβt read the news. Or heβs one of those sickos who gets a kick out of crime scenes. βIt is.β Whatβs really a shame is that this guy didnβt come a few weeks ago, because I gladly would have agreed to mark his entire body with my hands then.
On first-glance impression, he actually reminds me of Jesse Welles, the love of my teenage life, though Iβd never admit that to anyone. This guyβs eyes are lighterβa cool chocolate rather than near-blackβbut they have that same intensity; a similar smirk sits atop his full lips. He, too, has dark hair coating his hard, masculine jaw; itβs just sculpted to a perfect short beard. Heβs taller and broader than Jesse. Harder looking, not just by a few years of age but as if by life itself. Thatβs a little concerning, given the kind of life that Jesse Welles has already lived.
But thereβs something distinctly different about this guy, too. I canβt quite place it, but I can feel it. Something slightly βoff.β Or maybe itβs just this place thatβs making everything in my life feel offβafter all, my mind is still in a haze over Nedβs death. The last thing I should be thinking about right now is this guy or Jesse or getting laid.
Thank you so much! ~Jessica, InkSlinger PR