N.R. Walker

“Between the stars and the sea, I found a story that broke me and put me back together.”

This book left me in tears—soft, aching ones that come from watching two broken souls find solace in each other. It's a slow-burn romance that gently unfolds, allowing the characters' pain and healing to resonate deeply.

Synopsis:

Ethan Hosking seizes a harrowing opportunity to escape his abusive relationship by walking into a raging bushfire, leaving his old life behind. Emerging as Aubrey Hobbs, he show more carries only his grandfather's telescope and a fragile hope for a new beginning. Guided by the Southern Cross, he arrives at Hadley Cove, a secluded town on Kangaroo Island.

Patrick Carney, the lighthouse keeper of Hadley Cove, has lived in solitude since the tragic loss of his lover four years prior. His life is a quiet routine, shared only with a tabby cat and the vast ocean. When Aubrey arrives, Patrick's world is gently disrupted, and a connection forms between two men scarred by their pasts.

Spoilers Ahead:

As Aubrey and Patrick's bond deepens, secrets loom. Aubrey's past, particularly his relationship with a powerful ex-boyfriend, threatens the fragile peace they've found. When the truth surfaces, the strength of their connection is tested. Yet, through vulnerability and trust, they navigate the storm, proving that love can be a beacon in the darkest times.

Favorite Quotes:

“Some days it was bearable; some days it burned. Grief was like the great Southern Ocean; it moved in ebbs and flows, often turbulent and rough, or peaceful and settled, and even over time when I could navigate the waters, the tide never stopped.”

“There was an ocean of warmth in him, of protection and safety, that shone like a lighthouse beacon.”

Final Thoughts:

Galaxies and Oceans is a beautifully written tale of healing, love, and the courage to start anew. It's a reminder that even after the most devastating storms, calm waters and clear skies are possible. This story touched me deeply, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a poignant and redemptive romance. show less

An epic roller coaster ride. This is a great example of what it’s like to recover from an abusive relationship. Whether the abuse is mental, physical, sexual, or some combination it leaves scars that forever change the survivor. It is so easy for people to ignore those on the streets. For most it’s easy to turn a blind eye when they see someone being bullied and justify it by saying it’s not what it looks like or saying maybe they did something to deserve it. Yanni’s story is a show more shining example of why playing ignorant is a horrible idea. It is a beautiful story about how one person doing what they can in the moment followed by another, followed by another can be enough to pull a kid out of hell and help him to hold his head up and become an inspiration.

Yanni’s story isn’t about how he rescued himself. It’s about how he chose to fight and accepted the help of others when he didn’t have the means on his own. It’s about how he took steps and fell on his face, got up again and kept pushing forward. It’s about the power of one person’s offering a hand to hold and simply being present for a few hours can save a life. And holy cow, but the power of sharing your story with someone for no other reason than to tell them they aren’t alone and there is hope.

The story is fiction, but I have personally known a lot of people who have been where yanni’s was or similar. I know what it’s like to think there’s no way out of a hopeless situation. I know the power a spark of hope can hold.

I can’t recommend everyone read this story bc it could be a serious trigger for survivors. Walker does not pull punches. But I think it could be extremely empowering to survivors who are able to stomach it. (And if you are a survivor reading this review who doesn’t think they can read it, that’s ok too. If you want to but aren’t sure, maybe have someone who knows you well and you trust read it and go from there. And it’s ok to not be ok. It takes strength to identify and accept personal limits). Other than that, I think most humans should read it if for no other reason than to help you understand that even the most hopeless, broken people deserve hope and a chance
I’m going to stop there before this becomes a soap box speech


Also, it’s heavy on the caring daddy kink. Just FYI. show less

A fight for what’s right becomes a fight for his life.
This is a slow simmering story that leads to an explosive burn. The plot of this one, is in no hurry to unwind...when it does it's so slow and seems to take Matt's life with it along with his and Kira’s newfound relationship. We read of lies, both spoken and those that are told by simple omission, and we learn the consequences of doing the wrong things for what feels like all the right reasons.

The story opens as Matt who is no longer show more an LA detective is off to join the cage-fighting game, on a more permanent basis. He is also suffering from a heavy burden of guilt carried over from the events that occurred in the last book, Point of No Return. Matt, and the reader, both know that what happened to Kira was way beyond any of his control...was not in any way his fault, but he feels as though they absolutely were his fault... if only by association.

The author hits the emotions of his conflicts right on the nail-head. This quickly and completely, draws the reader into all the heartache right along with Matt and Kira. It's fiction and only a story but still, it will literally break your heart and take your breath away.

Matt had stayed with Kira...never left him alone through all of his recovery from the kidnapping, (book #1), but he had ignored the glaring reality that he had never dealt with the guilt that it was his job as a police officer, was what put Kira in danger and got him hurt in the first place, and that’s the deep, dark hole that Matt has fallen into, and all we can do is watch as he flounders and stumbles over and over.

I discovered N.R. Walker's works several years ago. She has since joined the list of the "It's an imperative that I read "all that they write" authors. She takes the reader to, and through, the disaster that we can so easily see coming, causing us to not be able to put the book down or to turn the pages to get on with what will happen, fast enough.

The anticipation is almost tangible by itself... then, in a frighting way...we watch Matt’s world crash and crumble around him and then see him lose everything under the weight of his guilt and the lies he told everyone in his quest to "do the right thing". From the anticipation of it all coming down, to its inevitable conclusion, watching it all unfold with his family and friends, the author, N.R. Walker so effortlessly catches us up in all the emotional fallout, right along with Matt and Kira.

Don't let all the seemingly endless heartbreak get to you...stick with it.... you'll be glad that you did. Like all of N.R. Walker's books, this is really a great story and a wonderful addition to the "Turning Point" series. It's filled with love, intrigue and danger, all wrapped up in characters that are all too easy to fall for and to love. 5-stars and on to the last one in the series. I don't suppose someone could talk Ms. Walker into writing and adding 20 or so more books to this series? show less

Think of your favorite film or book about travel related catastrophes and shenanigans during the holidays and you can add this little offering to them. Poor Hamish from Australia, where Christmas it seems, as hard as it is to imagine, is in the summer...and if even if it was in the season that it belongs in... there evidently wouldn't be 25 feet of snow falling in one giant blizzard. As a result of the blizzard, his flight is diverted to Montana instead of Idaho. Now he's in the wrong state show more and has no idea how to get to Idaho except to rent a car. He's a grown man so How hard could it be? Except...he has never driven in the U.S., and he has never driven in snow, much less a blinding blizzard, and he's never even seen snow before. So, it's no surprise that he ends up in a ditch in "No Where", Montana. His first and only thought is "I'm just going to die, and my body won't be found until spring. I had to laugh at Hamish's experience with the rental car. I drove in Ireland once and was less than happy to have not remembered that not only did I have to drive on the WRONG side of the road, but I had to sit on the WRONG side of blooming car to do it!! This was problem #1 for our Hamish. Combined with everything else that had gone wrong with this trip...he is now freezing to death in a Montana ditch. Summer clothing, and summer footwear will hasten his death if he gets out...and where would he go? He doesn't even know where he is, except in the middle of nowhere! Just when he is panicking about something that he saw in a movie.... of all things, "serial killer bears", he’s rescued by Ren Brooks who lives nearby in the town of Hartbridge, Montana. Ren and his dog...who is adorable...take him home...and after he establishes that Ren is not a serial killer...he settles in. Turns out that they are only an hour and half from the Idaho state line and Hamish's sister. Ren was attracted to Hamish right away and the feeling was mutually returned. They spend a few days together and find they both like the domestic feelings that each brings. They do make it to Hamish's sister's and spend Christmas. Hamish & Ren have to decide if they want to have the budding relationship continue or just say it was fun while it lasted. Hamish is going to be in the U.S. for two years...but Ren and Hamish both want to try and see where it will go. N.R. Walker has created two masculine leading men who are beautiful and unapologetically gay. They sing along with Mariah, quote "Schitt’s Creek" endlessly, watch piles of Hallmark movies, and share a love of "Legally Blond". There’s a fabulous gay tone to this exceptional story. I found the character development to be refreshing and enjoyed meeting Ren and his dog and this lovely Australian character. This is the sweetest of all sweet stories. Ren and Hamish fall in love while enjoying simple, homegrown holiday traditions. It’s warm and wonderful and has a perfect happy ending....and any book that mentions "Snuffleupagus" from Sesame Street is okay with me. show less