4.5 stars
I have really enjoyed this author's other books so far, and the Northern Lights series is her first foray into sports romance/ contemporary romance without the suspense element. A Change in Tide is a wonderful story featuring Freya's trademark relatable, mature characters with just the right amount of emotion, humor and heat and I have been trying to write a review that adequately relays my thoughts. I'm not sure if I succeeded, but here goes!
Fourteen years ago Mia's life was irrevocably changed by an unexpected event and she has become a completely different person in the ensuing years. She now lives quietly in a cabin on a lake which provides her sanctuary as she tries to cope with the onset of agoraphobia in the aftermath. A simple trip to buy groceries can trigger a panic attack so she has narrowed her world to a very limited set of contacts and experiences. When a new neighbor moves in across the cove, she has no idea her world is about to tilt on its axis yet again.
Jared Kesla is used to living his life in the spotlight as a skilled and charismatic NHL player, but now that his career is over thanks to an injury, he is looking forward to a quieter and more private life in his new home. First impressions are misleading when Mia (and the reader) meet him for the first time, but it doesn't take long until the record is set straight and we begin to see Jared's true character. When Mia comes to his rescue in a moment of crisis, he sees a radically different version of his closed off neighbor as she becomes a confident, calming and take charge presence. She is the complete opposite of the women who have put themselves in his path in the past, and he is more than intrigued by her strength and the cause of her choice to live in solitude.
Since Jared has entered her life, Mia has been forced to face exactly what she has lost in the last decade or so. He is reminding her what it is is like to live again, and she is terrified of allowing herself to take a chance or to feel deeply again because if it all goes wrong, it may just destroy her permanently this time. Jared is a natural born protector though and he does everything possible to shelter her as she takes baby steps toward living a full life again. When the madness of publicity due to his celebrity status reaches out to their quite little corner of the world, she is forced into the spotlight and all of his careful maneuvering may be for nothing. Jared's sister and Mia's new friend Jordy gives Mia some good advice; she just has to decide if Jared is worth the risk.
I said it before but I will say it again: I loved this book! Jared is far from perfect which just makes him a "real" guy. He is hot, sexy and protective but he bumbles around a bit when it comes to love and a real relationship. His love for his sister Jordy and his nephew Ole is obvious, and Jordy doesn't hesitate for a moment to put big brother in his place with a verbal or literal smack in the head when he is being an idiot. Jordy herself is a complex character whose story runs secondary to Jared and Mia's journey, and she was an integral part of their lives. All in all, I definitely recommend getting your 1-click on for this book and I can't wait to see what comes next in the series!
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