summermusings's review
4.0
Unexpected read
I bought this book on sale and after a recommendation from a blogger I follow with a similar taste in books. I knew going into it that something traumatic occurs in the beginning. What happened was not what I would have expected. This book does need to come with a few trigger warnings, but if I listed them out, it would give away that initial plot point. I will say the author didn't make it anywhere near as vivid or gritty as some other books I've read. She also has the character tackle it in a way that works, ill be it with a few instances of good fortune usually only found in fiction (but it's the attempt that counts ☺). It was a solid read overall with a "unique" beginning and an end that makes me interested in the next books in this series focusing on the secondary characters from this story.
I bought this book on sale and after a recommendation from a blogger I follow with a similar taste in books. I knew going into it that something traumatic occurs in the beginning. What happened was not what I would have expected. This book does need to come with a few trigger warnings, but if I listed them out, it would give away that initial plot point. I will say the author didn't make it anywhere near as vivid or gritty as some other books I've read. She also has the character tackle it in a way that works, ill be it with a few instances of good fortune usually only found in fiction (but it's the attempt that counts ☺). It was a solid read overall with a "unique" beginning and an end that makes me interested in the next books in this series focusing on the secondary characters from this story.
bookladysreviews's review
4.0
I picked this book up having no expectations, which usually happens when I come across a book I want to read but haven't heard anything about. I came across it completely by accident and it intrigued me so much that I had to get my hands on it! And I'm so glad I did because it was so much more than I could've asked for!
First of all, the plot is so fascinating and interesting, which became clear to me just by reading the synopsis! At the beginning, you might expect something different but in a cliche way that is very common among contemporaries and especially NA novels! They're always more than exciting to read, something like a guilty pleasure, but they rarely blow your mind with their unexpectedness. Which is exactly what happened with this book. Everything started off pretty normal and took an unpredictable turn from the very first chapters! With I was obviously not ready for!
Ivy, our main character, goes through something truly horrifying and is left broken and traumatized. She's betrayed by the person who was supposed to protect her in the worst way and everyone turns their backs on her. But even though she goes through hell and back, she survives and manages to build a life for herself and her son. She moves to a new town and as the years pass, she really doesn't let anyone in. Until Reed comes into the picture. He's truly a prince charming. He spends every single day asking her to give them a chance, until she gives in. And the rest is kind of history.
The romance between the two was very slow build, but at the same time, made me want to keep turning the pages and reading like a maniac, in order to see what would happen. But the story was so much deeper than that! It portrayed a very sensitive and kind of taboo topic in a very honest way. Nothing was sugarcoated or not talked about, which I really appreciated!
I can't say that the characters were relatable, in the sense that what Ivy went through was the worst kind of nightmare. Which doesn't mean that I, as a reader, could not understand what she went through or that I was unable to connect with her. She was brave, caring and determined to make the best life she could for her family, even though she was basically dying on the inside. She is the definition of survival and I couldn't have been more in awe of everything she managed to accomplish.
We were also introduced to some of the characters that will be in the rest of the books and got a taste of what'll follow. Because I'm definitely picking up the rest of the series as soon as I can! Just a side note!
The writing was beautiful, which is always a great thing! The reason though I gave Deep Down a four star rating - even though the voice inside my head was screaming at me to give it a five - is because I found it a bit short and rushed. I would've loved it if some events were explained a bit better and the author gave us a bit more content to ''work'' with. I sincerely think that, if it was a bit longer, it would've made things so much better and we wouldn't have been left desperate and hungry for more.
To conclude this review, I just want to say that, if you're triggered by subjects concerning rape and abuse, I wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise, I cannot recommend Deep Down enough! It was a heartbreaking, beautiful and heartwarming story about survival and making a better future by leaving behind the past and focusing on the present!
First of all, the plot is so fascinating and interesting, which became clear to me just by reading the synopsis! At the beginning, you might expect something different but in a cliche way that is very common among contemporaries and especially NA novels! They're always more than exciting to read, something like a guilty pleasure, but they rarely blow your mind with their unexpectedness. Which is exactly what happened with this book. Everything started off pretty normal and took an unpredictable turn from the very first chapters! With I was obviously not ready for!
Ivy, our main character, goes through something truly horrifying and is left broken and traumatized. She's betrayed by the person who was supposed to protect her in the worst way and everyone turns their backs on her. But even though she goes through hell and back, she survives and manages to build a life for herself and her son. She moves to a new town and as the years pass, she really doesn't let anyone in. Until Reed comes into the picture. He's truly a prince charming. He spends every single day asking her to give them a chance, until she gives in. And the rest is kind of history.
The romance between the two was very slow build, but at the same time, made me want to keep turning the pages and reading like a maniac, in order to see what would happen. But the story was so much deeper than that! It portrayed a very sensitive and kind of taboo topic in a very honest way. Nothing was sugarcoated or not talked about, which I really appreciated!
I can't say that the characters were relatable, in the sense that what Ivy went through was the worst kind of nightmare. Which doesn't mean that I, as a reader, could not understand what she went through or that I was unable to connect with her. She was brave, caring and determined to make the best life she could for her family, even though she was basically dying on the inside. She is the definition of survival and I couldn't have been more in awe of everything she managed to accomplish.
We were also introduced to some of the characters that will be in the rest of the books and got a taste of what'll follow. Because I'm definitely picking up the rest of the series as soon as I can! Just a side note!
The writing was beautiful, which is always a great thing! The reason though I gave Deep Down a four star rating - even though the voice inside my head was screaming at me to give it a five - is because I found it a bit short and rushed. I would've loved it if some events were explained a bit better and the author gave us a bit more content to ''work'' with. I sincerely think that, if it was a bit longer, it would've made things so much better and we wouldn't have been left desperate and hungry for more.
To conclude this review, I just want to say that, if you're triggered by subjects concerning rape and abuse, I wouldn't recommend it. Otherwise, I cannot recommend Deep Down enough! It was a heartbreaking, beautiful and heartwarming story about survival and making a better future by leaving behind the past and focusing on the present!
elenajohansen's review
1.0
Even though this romance dealt with deep issues, like single motherhood, rape, and incest, it felt shallow and lacking in subtlety. The heroine had something terrible happen to her, but after that, everything fell into her lap--a place to stay after her ordeal, a job and apartment when she moved, a surrogate family, a boyfriend worth having, and finally, to top it all off, a multi-million-dollar inheritance. The narrative kept saying how hard she worked as a single mom, but there wasn't much evidence of it--her son was an abnormally perfect and well-behaved child who never caused any trouble or disrupted the charmed events of the story. Even the heroine's desire to go back to school (accomplished in part by online classes) was barely dealt with, and the revelation that she always wanted to write felt hollow because there was no mention of it in the beginning, before the supposed dream was dashed by her inability to go to college.
kjanie's review
3.0
I loved the story and the character building of the story, but I just thought it was emotionally unattached.
thatlisachic's review
4.0
Im really glad this book comes with a trigger warning but that said, I love the way Rothert develops the character Ivy. It was a little of a stretch for me to believe that she was so easily able to overcome her issues. This is the first book in a long time that i just couldn't put down.
jessreads82's review
3.0
I really liked the story and the characters, and felt it all had great potential. But I felt like I read a rough draft before all of the details were added in. The book should have been at least 100 pages longer, and situations deepened so we could be shown the story instead of told it.
Although the subject matter was ultra sensitive, I felt the author handled it realistically with minimal angst that's found in other NA novels. Perhaps I would have liked to find out what happened to Ivy when Reed did, instead of at the very beginning. It would have given the story more suspense.
I want the author to write a newer version, because I really did love the characters!
Although the subject matter was ultra sensitive, I felt the author handled it realistically with minimal angst that's found in other NA novels. Perhaps I would have liked to find out what happened to Ivy when Reed did, instead of at the very beginning. It would have given the story more suspense.
I want the author to write a newer version, because I really did love the characters!
lori_'s review
2.0
ugh the way they all acted like she was irrational for being angry that he was defending a rapist when she's a survivor pisssed me off. she was in the right and they were all wrong, idc if it's just his job. he should've proved his love for her by quitting the case, or even not accepting it in the first place. who the hell defends a rapist when the woman they love is a survivor??
jansgarland's review
4.0
What an awesome read! Brenda Rothert really knocked this one out of the park! It was so original...it wasn't anything I'd ever read before and I devoured it! Picking up one of her books is never a disappointment.