Riptide

Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances, Book 2

By: Michelle Mankin

Narrated by: Wen Ross, Kai Kennicott

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Rock star Ramon Martinez can have any woman he wants, and he frequently does because he can’t have her.

Karen Grayson.

Surfer girl.

My band mate's wife.

The one woman I can't have.

The one woman who could have my heart, though I can never let her know.

Ramon Martinez.

Romeo.

Completely forbidden.

I wanted him back at the beginning, but he didn’t want me.

So I made the safe choice.

The wrong one.

We were once friends.

Now we’re not even that.

But we’re both back in Ocean Beach, and that dangerous attraction remains.

©2017 Michelle Mankin (P)2018 Michelle Mankin

A SECOND CHANCE THAT TOOK 15 TURBULENT YEARS

They were once all happy friends.. Dominic, Karen and Ramon.. three teens.. two handsome band mates.. two boys in love with the same girl and, as their fame grew, it would be sensible loving Dominic that would remain grounded and marry the girl. Ramon on the other hand was a womanizer who didn’t want to settle down.. and he’d missed his opportunity with Karen anyway so he threw himself into the rocker lifestyle.

But, as the years passed, attitudes changed.. priorities changed.. lives changed.. emotions changed.. situations changed.. loyalties changed.. dynamics changed, friendships changed and love changed. Dominic went to war, Ramon became a Rock God and Karen?.. well for years she was left in limbo trying to support her husband and hold on to their one-sided marriage. And, as Ramon and Karen fought their mutual attraction for fifteen years, it would be a neverending emotional rollercoaster of loyalties vs friendships, hunger vs heartbreak, pleasure vs pain, anguish and angst. Because, despite their chemistry and attraction, these two characters suffered from mistrust, bad timing, misunderstandings, mistruths and insecure anxieties over each other’s feelings.

Told in present-past-present dual POV. I did enjoy this multi-layered impressive slow burn of an enduring love story. But, as the hours counted down to mere minutes, I was a bit miffed because there just wasn’t enough time for me to wallow in a chapter or three of the gooey reveal afterglow feels before - bang - the Epilogue. This was because it took too damn long for them to finally tell each other how they truly felt and I seriously wanted to knock their heads together. The sex scenes, when they eventually err ‘came’, were long overdue, sexy and hot. Kai and Wen’s awesome duet style of narration gave it a more realistic feel with each sticking to their own genders voices.. and IMO they always bring it to life.. they always give 5 star performances.. and they always make listening a pleasure.

Worth a credit? Yeah sure.. Destiny gave Ramon and Karen a second chance.. but Fate made them hurt and wait a long long looooong time for it.

OMG!!!!

When I was reading the first book to this series, I totally fell for Karen. I totally wanted her to have a HEA like her best friend did. If anybody deserved it, it was Karen! I mean she's so sweet and lovable! Just saying! I really adored this book! There were parts that drove me nuts but in the best way possible. I can't really criticize this book too much. I adored it. It was sweet and not at all predictable. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the third one. Is it possible we will see another band mate finding a HEA? Only time shall tell! I fully recommend this book!

Surfer rockstar romance

If you could sum up Riptide in three words, what would they be?

Fun, Refreshing, Love

Who was your favorite character and why?

Karen because she is a strong female chatacter

What about Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross ’s performance did you like?

Felt like I was listening to a play

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end

Any additional comments?

Great summer beach read

Heartfelt!

Remon was best friends with his band mate Patch. Patch married Karen and left for the military. Remon was in love with Karen but he lived the wild life with other women. Patch was really mad when he found out that Remon had bought Karen a surf shop. Patch was killed in service. Did Remon let Karen know he loved her? You will have to listen to the fantastic narration by Wen and Kai!

Another great narration

This was another great narration by Wen Ross and Kai Kennicott. Definitely recommend this one.

Very enjoyable read!

This is the second book in the Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances Series. Now we get Ramos and Karen’s story and it can be read as a standalone but I prefer to read them in order.
This book takes place over a span of 15 years and it goes back on for from present to the past. I enjoyed getting their backstory. Ramon started out as being a total jerk toward Karen and not able to show his true feelings towards her so she settles for marrying his best friend and fellow bandmate, Dominic. Then fast forward a few years and we get to see the complex friendship and attraction that forms between the two when Dominic’s away in the military. Then we enter the present and Karen’s back in Ocean Beach and dealing with what’s left of her life after the death of her husband. And Ramon is back too after the end of his band’s final tour. Their attraction for each other is very much still there too! Can Ramos and Karen finally admit to the feelings that they have for each other and maybe find happiness for once in each other? Enjoyable read and look forward to book 3 in this series. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration. Wen and Kai did a great job!
I received a credit from the author and voluntarily left my honest review.

Love Triangle between friends

This story is great. Ramon and Karen deserve a second chance to make things right between them. There is so much emotion in this story but it is also full of love. Dominic found his own path but where did that leave Karen? Michelle the surf board scene in the epilogue was perfect. Narration as always was fantastic! This series is must read!

Sucker for Second Chances

Let me start with this.... Michelle Mankin is a rock writer goddess...
Riptide did not disappoint one bit.

Listening Rome and Karen's story though frustrating at times because Hello Captain Obvious but it's so real because let's be honest love is not always easy, kind or without a mess and that is exactly what this is.

A real honest to goodness love story.

As always Wen and Kai cast the magic that they do and pull you in and hold you captive through out.

Great Book

Riptide (Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances Book Two) by Michelle Mankin was another great read by the author. Ramon is a rockstar who has only wanted the one person he can’t have. Karen is the girl he wants, but she’s his band mates wife. After many trials they are no longer friends. I loved reading Ramon and Karen’s story and can’t wait to read more.

So Realistic

I loved getting to find out what really happened to Patch. I loved how real this story was and how it doesn't shy away like a bunch of stories do. I loved that there was so much realistic life in it and how it just really seemed to tell the honest truth. Ramon and Karen's story is sweet and beautiful while at the same time being brutal and honest. This was just a great story to me and I really loved it. Kai and Wen did a beautiful job narrating this story and really did it justice.