leahkarge's review against another edition
3.0
Though I didn’t absolutely love them, I enjoyed the first two novels of this series. However, reading Broke Deep, the third, was an exercise in staying focused. That’s not to say the novel was bad. It was just boring.
Read the full review on my blog.
Read the full review on my blog.
cadiva's review against another edition
3.0
This was an odd one. I'm not sure it quite made its mind up about what sort of story it was telling with a kind of mystery, kind of suspense, kind of ghostly vibe muddled together.
The problem was none of the threads was really strong enough to hold the narrative up and the romance part was okay but with the kind of 'passing references' to them having sex that isn't quite fade to black or closed door but just turns into disappointment.
I've said it before but I think FTB or closed door romances make a story less impactful. Without the intimacy and trust that comes with letting yourself be vulnerable with a lover, the stakes never seen as high.
With this, I'd have had no problems if Dominic never came back to Morgan because the latter was a complete arse at times throughout the book!
Still, it wasn't all bad, I liked the historic element of the shipwreck and the local connections to it and I liked the friendship Morgan and Dominic grew between them.
The problem was none of the threads was really strong enough to hold the narrative up and the romance part was okay but with the kind of 'passing references' to them having sex that isn't quite fade to black or closed door but just turns into disappointment.
I've said it before but I think FTB or closed door romances make a story less impactful. Without the intimacy and trust that comes with letting yourself be vulnerable with a lover, the stakes never seen as high.
With this, I'd have had no problems if Dominic never came back to Morgan because the latter was a complete arse at times throughout the book!
Still, it wasn't all bad, I liked the historic element of the shipwreck and the local connections to it and I liked the friendship Morgan and Dominic grew between them.
ctsquirrel's review
4.0
Enjoyable, more mystery than romance. Sex is on page but low in description (somewhere between sensuous body rubbing and full penetration) enough to get some seafaring innuendos in. Ending is a strong HFN with clear potential.
mrnnprsns's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
suze_1624's review
3.0
I liked this one fine, it did take a while to get going. I was expecting a bit more of a paranormal slant but did like the digging into local history, sorting out mostly truth from local legends.
Morgan's dementia fear, whilst I can understand, did grate after a while and I thought the falling out was a bit contrived.
Dominic and Morgan together were fine, mostly I enjoyed their talk but at times it was almost trying too hard. Some good funny lines though!
A nice read, fairly gentle and easy.
Morgan's dementia fear, whilst I can understand, did grate after a while and I thought the falling out was a bit contrived.
Dominic and Morgan together were fine, mostly I enjoyed their talk but at times it was almost trying too hard. Some good funny lines though!
A nice read, fairly gentle and easy.
the_novel_approach's review
4.0
Since the blurb does such a great job of describing the basic plot of Broke Deep, I won’t waste words on a rehash of events, but I will say that there’s a lot to like about this installment in the Porthkennack series, thanks to Charlie Cochrane’s proficiency at telling a solid story with likeable characters, and setting the stage with plenty of local flavor.
Broke Deep is a slow-burn romance, with its share of ups and downs, beginning as a burgeoning friendship, and running alongside the mystery of a long-ago shipwreck off the Cornwall coast that Dominic is researching because of the suspicion that one of the crewmen survived only, perhaps, to be murdered later in a crime of passion. I loved the sense of comradery that built between Morgan and Dominic as Morgan revealed more about himself and his possible familial connection to the events surrounding the Troilus’s sinking as they sifted through local legend and tall tales, including a particular event that strikes fear in Morgan’s heart due, not it small part, to its eerie implausibility.
But where this story really resonated with me on a personal level is with Morgan’s mom, who suffers from dementia, and the reality of losing a parent by degrees—not to a slow death but to the slow ravages of memory loss and the unraveling of personality as well. Watching the rare moments of lucidity slip away before Morgan’s eyes was touching, and the helplessness and frustration so relatable to anyone who has lived through it, not to mention the always underlying concern that you can’t escape your gene pool.
One of the things I love about this author is that her characters are consummately English, whether she’s writing a historical or contemporary novel, and the dialogue tells the story as much as it reveals about her characters: their thoughts, feelings, and personalities. Morgan has just gone through a rather humiliating breakup, and is a bit on the prickly side at times, isn’t particularly looking for a rebound romance, not to mention everything he’s going through with his mother, and I liked how his moods highlighted Dominic’s presence as the more even keeled character; although, Morgan’s moods are understandably turbulent rather than gratuitous for the sake of added drama. These two men can be playful as well, and completely endearing as their connection is tested and, in the end, becomes stronger.
This being the third installment in the Porthkennack series, and the second I’ve read after Joanna Chambers’ The Gathering Storm, I can say that this is shaping up to be another successful Riptide collection of novels. Each book is written as a standalone within the -verse, and Broke Deep is reliable Charlie Cochrane in plot, prose, and characterization. This is a book that fans of the author should enjoy just fine.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
Broke Deep is a slow-burn romance, with its share of ups and downs, beginning as a burgeoning friendship, and running alongside the mystery of a long-ago shipwreck off the Cornwall coast that Dominic is researching because of the suspicion that one of the crewmen survived only, perhaps, to be murdered later in a crime of passion. I loved the sense of comradery that built between Morgan and Dominic as Morgan revealed more about himself and his possible familial connection to the events surrounding the Troilus’s sinking as they sifted through local legend and tall tales, including a particular event that strikes fear in Morgan’s heart due, not it small part, to its eerie implausibility.
But where this story really resonated with me on a personal level is with Morgan’s mom, who suffers from dementia, and the reality of losing a parent by degrees—not to a slow death but to the slow ravages of memory loss and the unraveling of personality as well. Watching the rare moments of lucidity slip away before Morgan’s eyes was touching, and the helplessness and frustration so relatable to anyone who has lived through it, not to mention the always underlying concern that you can’t escape your gene pool.
One of the things I love about this author is that her characters are consummately English, whether she’s writing a historical or contemporary novel, and the dialogue tells the story as much as it reveals about her characters: their thoughts, feelings, and personalities. Morgan has just gone through a rather humiliating breakup, and is a bit on the prickly side at times, isn’t particularly looking for a rebound romance, not to mention everything he’s going through with his mother, and I liked how his moods highlighted Dominic’s presence as the more even keeled character; although, Morgan’s moods are understandably turbulent rather than gratuitous for the sake of added drama. These two men can be playful as well, and completely endearing as their connection is tested and, in the end, becomes stronger.
This being the third installment in the Porthkennack series, and the second I’ve read after Joanna Chambers’ The Gathering Storm, I can say that this is shaping up to be another successful Riptide collection of novels. Each book is written as a standalone within the -verse, and Broke Deep is reliable Charlie Cochrane in plot, prose, and characterization. This is a book that fans of the author should enjoy just fine.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
susanscribs's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love Broke Deep, but I liked it better than many GR readers apparently. Is it exciting and action-packed and full of angsty passion? No, but that's not why I read Charlie Cochrane and that's not why I love her Cambridge Fellows series. I like her subtle, slyly clever, British approach to romance in which two people gradually glow closer as they find comfort and joy in each other's arms. Morgan and Dominic may not be able to hold a candle to the beloved Jonty and Orlando from Lessons in Love et al but they are still a sweet couple with a promising future.
Having said that, I do agree with several reviewers who complained that the mysteries about Morgan's dreams and the the sailor who may have survived the wreck of the Troilus were not resolved very satisfactorily, and in fact were not very engaging parts of the plot. However, I was happy to hang out with Morgan and Dominic as they took endless pots of tea together and walked the beaches of the fictional but lovely Porthkennack.
Having said that, I do agree with several reviewers who complained that the mysteries about Morgan's dreams and the the sailor who may have survived the wreck of the Troilus were not resolved very satisfactorily, and in fact were not very engaging parts of the plot. However, I was happy to hang out with Morgan and Dominic as they took endless pots of tea together and walked the beaches of the fictional but lovely Porthkennack.
olive2read's review against another edition
2.0
Omg this was sooooooo slllllloooooooow. Ugh. Morgan isn’t especially likeable and Dominic doesn’t seem to be much to write home about. Nowhere near as fun as the other parts of the series so far.
More...